Tribute paid to Chrissie, 104
Loving tribute has been paid to one of Lochaber’s oldest residents, Chrissie Hamill, who has died aged 104.
Mrs Hamill passed away peacefully on Monday August 6 at her self-contained flat in Victoria Court, Fort William.
Despite a life hit by many tragedies, well-known Mrs Hamill led a full and active life until hip trouble took its toll. However, she still enjoyed feisty conversations and opinionated debates, said her son-in-law Robert MacFarlane who lives in South Africa.
‘She will be missed by many and while her funeral will be a time of sadness, it will be a celebration of life. I presume she would have been the oldest or at least one of the oldest residents in the area. She was definitely the oldest staying at Victoria Court,’ said Mr MacFarlane.
Born just before the outbreak of the First World War, Christina MacLean was the fourth of seven children born to Archibald MacLean and Jeanie Hay, living across the loch from Fort William, where her father was the Treslaig ferry man. She attended secondary school in Oban and on completing her education trained as a children’s nanny in London, spending many happy years with a family down south with local connections.
She came back home in 1943 to help look after her father who was unwell and met her husband Sam Hamill, an army engineer working in the area. They married on November 18 that year, shortly before Sam left for active duty abroad. He was away for nearly three years, latterly as part of the occupation forces in Japan, said Mr MacFarlane.
She was widowed in 1965 when Sam died following a long illness, aged just 51. By then Mrs Hamill had moved back to Lochaber and lived for many years in Corpach before being one of the first residents of Victoria Court where she had lived since.
In 1996 she lost her 47-yer-old daughter Tina to an accident in South Africa and then in 2009 her son Sam died from a long illness at the age of 64.
‘Chrissie was well known in the area and led a very active life until hip problems restricted her movement in her mid-90s. Before that she would be seen walking to and from the shops, only latterly taking a taxi back with her shopping bags,’ said Mr MacFarlane.
In 2014 she celebrated her 100th birthday in Victoria Court surrounded by family and friends and received a telegram from the Queen.
‘In 2017 she made headlines when she underwent emergency surgery at the Belford Hospital, creating a record for the Belford and probably for Scotland. Chrissie continued to live in her self-contained flat in Victoria court helped by carers, family and friends who kept a close eye on her.
‘She had a constant stream of visitors who could enjoy a feisty conversation with Chrissie. She had her opinions on current affairs and could debate them ably,’ added Mr MacFarlane.
Mrs Hamill, a longtime member of Duncansburgh Church, is also survived by four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a daughter in law and numerous nephews and nieces in Fort William.