Remembering Frank McDiarmid
Everyone at Arbroath FC were saddened to hear of the passing of local cartoonist and artist Frank McDiarmid.
Frank was a Lichtie and also a big supporter of Arbroath Cricket Club and owned the Turnkey Gallery in Arbroath.
Frank was born in Clydebank and was brought up in Moss Park, in the south west of Glasgow attending Allan Glen’s Secondary School.
Serving his country for 2 years in the RAF national service Frank had a very unique career as he joined DC Thomson in Dundee in 1955 training as an illustrator and cartoonist where he would work until 1966, before working on the Cheeky Comic, by Fleetway from 1970 to 1990.
Frank was known as the “Master of Cheekery” as he drew the likes of Roger the Dodger for the Beano as well as Whizzer and Chips, Krazy Comic, Whoopee!, Wow!, Monster Fun and Rover, Hotspur, Wizard and Adventure.
There is a great story on Frank’s Cartoon career on this wonderful tribute from downthetubes.net https://downthetubes.net/?p=124496
Frank was involved in his local community serving as Chairman of the Carnoustie Community Council after moving there with his late wife Moira, before a move to Arbroath where he served on the Arbroath Courthouse Trust, and introduced Rotary Arbroath Day.
Frank was a talented artist away as well as a cartoonist and painted beautiful landscapes and held galleries at Stracathro Hospital as well as Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre in Forfar.
Frank’s work and cheek has brought smiles and laughter to hundreds of thousands of children and adults all over the UK and beyond.
Our thoughts go out to Franks’s wife, Helen and his children and his fans around the world.
Rest in Peace Frank
