Aclean 1948-2022
Linda also travelled the world on many exotic holidays and had some amazing experiences – too many to mention here.
Some years ago, a group of children from Belarus who had been affected by the Chernobyl disaster of 1986 came to Fort William on a holiday, and Stewart and Linda hosted them at their home in Onich and took them on visits around Lochaber.
Several years ago, one of the boys who had been on that visit came back to Fort William and met up with Stewart to personally thank him.
Linda sadly passed away in April 2013, and Stewart continued with his work both at home and in South Africa.
In an attempt to help fill the huge gap in his life after Linda died, Stewart purchased a 38ft motorboat by the name of ‘Liberty’ and, along with family and friends, he spent many happy hours on the water and meeting fellow ‘boaties’ at the marinas in Tobermory, Oban, Mallaig and the Outer Hebrides.
Stewart was a very loyal and sociable person, and no matter where he went he engaged with everyone, asking questions, listening and took an interest in who they were and what they did.
It was during their visits to South Africa that Stewart and Linda had met Jane, and five years after Linda died, a spark was kindled between Stewart and Jane, and soon after that she came to live in Onich.
Finally, a sadness that had been with him since Linda’s death had been lifted and there was again a sparkle in Stewart’s eyes and a spring in his step.
They got engaged on Christmas Day, 2019, but then Covid, combined with the onset of Stewart’s illness, came along, so their plans from then on had to be put on hold.
Stewart was involved in many local issues here in Lochaber, including the ‘Teabag’ campaign to save the Belford Hospital from being downgraded to a cottage hospital; the A82 Partnership to improve the local trunk road, the Local Enterprise Company and many more local issues over the years.
It was after Linda’s death that Stewart set up a fund in her memory to help any small businesses that wished to apply.
Stewart, along with his brother Ronnie and others, was also a director of Fort William Football Club for five years, where he again took a leadership role.
Stewart is survived by brothers Ronnie, Fergie and Lewis; sisters-in-law Nishie, Rosie and Helen; nieces and nephews Margaret, Shona, Heidi, David, Louise, Eilidh, Martin and Lindsey.
Stewart may have been a man who trained in accountancy, but he was someone who knew the value of the things in life that really matter.
Whether it be here in his native Lochaber, or further afield, such as in South Africa, those places are all the richer for the life of Donald Stewart Mac’ean and all the poorer with his passing.