Ronald Chalmers, chief executive of Chalmers Bakery, passed away on 18 October 2011 at the age of 85.

Ronnie was highly respected in the industry and was renowned for baking for the royal family at Balmoral. He opened his first shop at Bucksburn, Aberdeen, in 1956 and continued to grow the business with an additional seven shops in the north east.

He was asked to bake a 50lb cake at his Ballater branch when the Queen Mother inaugurated Shell UK’s Eider and Tern North Sea oil fields in 1989, which took four weeks to make.

Chalmers was also known for baking the Duke of Edinburgh’s 65th birthday cake in 1986.

In 1997, he was awarded an MBE for his contribution to the baking industry and was invited to become a member of the British Confectioners’ Association and served as its vice-president.

Chalmers’ thriving chain of baker’s shops across the region employs more than 300 staff.

His twin daughters Pamela and Angela, and son John have followed in his footsteps into the industry.

His funeral took place on Saturday at Bucksburn Stoneywood Church.