Groom dies a few weeks after wedding

A YOUNG Dornoch widow has spoken of her heartache at losing her husband less than three weeks after they married.

Alexander Campbell and Helen Needs brought their wedding forward to October 19 after learning he did not have long to live.

It was a joyous occasion in front of around 100 guests at Dornoch Cathedral followed by a reception in the West Church Hall. There followed a honeymoon to Belfast with a close-knit group of Alexander's school friends.

Alexander, who had oesophageal cancer, died at the couple's home at Achinchanter on November 5, aged 45.

The flag at Royal Dornoch Golf Club, where he worked for a number of years flew at half-mast for his funeral, also in the Cathedral.

Helen, an Australian native who has taken time off from her job as a chef at the town's Luigi's restaurant, said: "I'm just going to take my time. It's difficult just going through things in the house. Everywhere I go there are reminders of him."

Alexander, a former Dornoch Primary School and Golspie High School pupil, was the son of the late Alexander John and Annie Campbell, and was one of six children.

A graduate of Robert Gordon's University, Aberdeen and Napier University, Edinburgh, Alexander had a varied career, working at Royal Dornoch's pro shop; spending time in Spain in his early days selling real estate and later working in hospitality recruitment in Edinburgh. Latterly he was a lecturer in golf management at the North Highland College UHI.

His former PE teacher, Willie Mackay, spoke of Alexander's prowess on the football field and as an athlete. He said: "Some say it is the taking part that counts. With Alexander it was play to win and everyone in his team had to be the same. Even with ill health, his fighting spirit was there."

Royal Dornoch manager Neil Hampton said: "Whoever he met never forgot him and while small in stature, he was huge in personality."

Club captain Rob Murray said: "He lived life to the full and we will all miss him but he will never be forgotten around the club."

Robert Bostwick, a friend through golf, said: "Alexander was a personality unique in my well-travelled lifetime and we will not know his like again."

Helen met Alexander many years ago and kept in contact and the two became a couple when he returned to Dornoch in 2013. She said: "I want to say how thankful I and the Campbell family are for all the love and support shown to Alexander through his illness and to us after his death."