Alex Miller - a true man of Arran 29 July 1932 to 3 August 2015
The death of Alex Miller, husband of Kareen, family man, farmer, shepherd, dog trainer and trialler is particularly sad because Alex, man of Arran, was a ‘worthy’ whose kind are becoming too few. He was born, lived and died in Margenaish, Kildonan, of Arran-born parents. He was 83.
Alex was a farmer first and foremost, but took time to give to the community as a long-serving member of Kildonan Hall committee, a member of the Coastguards (acknowledged for long- service in 1986) and as an assistant in local events for more than half a century! He served also for many years on the Arran branch committee of the Scottish National Farmers Union, always campaigning for the rights of small farmers. Indeed, he was among a delegation from Arran to a SNFU rally in Edinburgh in 1998. He was a director also of Arran Farmers Society. As a young man, Alex played football and was noted to be in the Southend United league championship winning team in 1954.
A great part of Alex’s life was his hobby, passion and skill at sheepdog trialling.
He made many friends on and off Arran and competed in mainland as well as Arran trials with his equally wellknown dogs, Sheila, Di and Anne. He just missed being selected for the Scottish national team. Latterly, Alex was in demand as a trials judge as his knowledge and skills were widely valued.
A strong man not easily deterred by wind or weather, Alex was one of three intrepid ‘doggy men’ (the others being Jimmy ‘Jumpy’ McNeil and Willie McConnell) who, when the ferry was on strike in 1988 at the time of the Scottish nursery finals, managed to hitch a ride on a fishing boat to Troon and back owned by the Latona family. It had been hired to bring essential provisions to Brodick during the strike. No tickets were collected from the passengers, of course, but fares were paid in kind when the skipper (no doubt aided by the team) broatched a case of whisky destined for Willie McConnell’s Rock Hotel. It arrived a lot lighter in weight than when it left Troon!
Those who will miss Alex most are Kareen, his Arran-born wife of many years, son Robert, daughters, Lannis and Vanessa, and his three treasured grand-children, Jessica, Lawrie and Finlay, who loved their Grandpa.Alex’s many friends and other family members here and overseas will miss a very fine Arran man.