APPRECIATION: Alistair MacDonald of Glencoe
‘Alistair decided that he must try to save the land of his ancestors. ’
Tributes have been paid to one of Glencoe’s staunchest defenders, Alistair MacDonald, after he passed away at the start of this month.
Born in 1939 in his parents’ house in Glencoe, Alistair was the youngest of four siblings, the others being Archie, Grace, and Muriel.
He attended the school next door and helped out in the holidays attending to his mother’s livestock. This was ultimately to shape his life in the years ahead.
When sheep gatherings took place in the upper reaches of the glen, Alistair used to cycle the few miles to be part of this learning curve of life in the glen. Later when he left school and became old enough to drive, he was employed as a stalking/fishing ghillie with the Strathcona family who owned the Glencoe Estate.
This was an enjoyable experience for him as he learned more skills of the countryside of which he was passionate about.
When National Service call-up came, Alistair enlisted with the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, based at Wellington Barracks in London. He adapted well to army life and made many friends in the three years he spent there.
When his parents required help on the croft, he returned home after serving his time in London. It was during this time he met a young girl from Ballachulish, Rosalin Fraser, and romance blossomed.
After a long courtship, they married, and Alistair secured work on the Altnafeadh Estate, owned by the De Spoelberch family. Children Elaine and Alexander followed and many happy years were spent during the next decade as the children gained an intimate knowledge of wildlife in all its forms at Altnafeadh and later Black Corries Estate.
During this period, Alistair was offered the chance to buy some sheep on land owned by the National Trust for Scotland in Glen Etive. This was a turning point in his life as his dream to become owner of his own sheep-rearing venture became a reality.
Life was challenging in those days, as he battled the elements on Buachaille Etive-Mhor, with no modern day clothing or footwear which is normal today.
There were days when sheep became stranded on high ledges and help was required from neighbouring farmers at Achtriachtan and Achnabeich, even managing to film some of these dangerous episodes.
Blessed with an innovative mind, Alistair became acutely aware while being a member of the local rescue team of the dangers of mountain accidents.
He worked on a device which he believed could assist climbers who got into difficulty at night. He applied and was invited to attend The John Logie Baird Innovation Awards, sponsored by Deloitte, at Glasgow University.
His invention was among a host of top scientific inventions of the day being mentioned with much interest and he was delighted to be named as runner-up among such prestigious scientists of that time.
Alistair also enrolled his working border collie in the Search and Rescue Dog Association.
Roy had worked with sheep and was alert to everything around him and proved to be one of his loyal companions searching the hills around Glencoe.
Working days in Glen Etive were never dull, as the glen was a thriving community, with a school and post office, game-keepers and shepherds, which Alistair enjoyed as he journeyed there every day.
He would often assist hill walkers who had set off from a point, only to find they had to walk back by road, which was an arduous journey, and it was quite common for walkers to be given a lift in a trailer of sheep fleeces.
He continued with his sheep enterprise for the next 30 years, when it was time to move back to the village and a less demanding way of life building dry stone walls which he enjoyed.
In 2002, the last remaining lands of the Strathcona Estate came up for sale with much interest attached. Local groups had tried to purchase it but were unsuccessful and with time running out Alistair, being the man that he was, decided he must try to save the land of his ancestors.
The next 72 hours were crucial as he acquired unsecured loans from six donors who believed in what he was doing. His bid for the land was successful and he immediately set up Glencoe Heritage Trust, a non-profit making trust to secure the Glencoe lands and river.
Sadly, Alistair was to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, which he bore with great dignity for 18 years. He was alert in mind and spirit until he passed away peacefully after a short illness on February 2 at Grantown-on-Spey.