Last resident of an abandoned island dies, aged 100
THE last surviving native of the Island of Seals, off the far north coast of Scotland, has died, aged 100.
Kitty Ann Macqueen’s family were the last to leave Eilean Nan Ron, a mile off Skerray in
Sutherland, 81 years ago.
Mrs Macqueen died peacefully on Tuesday at her adopted home in Norwich after a short illness.
The retired schoolteacher attained a national profile 11 years ago when she made a nostalgic trip back to the island by helicopter as part of a TV documentary.
She had by then given up hope of setting foot on her homeland again, given the regular access by boat and the need to negotiate a set of steep cliffside steps.
Mrs Macqueen was quick to take up Caledonian TV’S offer to fly her and her daughter Margaret to the island, which had for many years hosted a vibrant Gaelic community.
In the documentary, she recalled her days growing up and starting her teaching career there. As a 20-yearold teacher, her only pupils were her two younger brothers.
Mrs Macqueen recalled her family’s angst as they realised that they could no longer remain on the island, now commonly known as Island Roan.
She said: “We had mixed feelings – we were all sad but we knew that we had to leave the island. The population was falling and it was getting older, and so leaving wasn’t a decision that was made suddenly. It had been thought about for a long time.”
She spoke effusively about the community spirit among the islanders, most of whom shared family ties.
Each of those who left their homes in 1938 were given £100 in compensation by the Countess of Sutherland to help them resettle.
She said: “We left in the summer, but for the last people to leave in the winter, it was sadder still as all the lights were out on the island.
“Even the people on the mainland said they had never seen the island in darkness before that night. We were all sad to leave but the older people felt it the most. They had lived there all their lives.”
During her visit, Mrs Macqueen was able to roam among the cluster of abandoned houses and the building which housed the school .
She said: “It was a wonderful place to grow up and we were very happy. The summers could be glorious. It was lovely and we never felt lonely”.