Anna Macaulay Rowe, September 10, 1953 - March 1, 2022
Anna Macaulay Rowe, who died on Tuesday March 1, was a well-known presence in the village of Plockton and her lively personality ensured she was ‘well kent’ across the whole of Lochalsh.
Originally from Laxdale in Lewis, she moved to Plockton in 1982 when she married Bob Rowe, a local fisherman and outdoor pursuits instructor.
They set up home in Duncraig, but shortly after their children, Alanna and Aonghais, were born they moved into the middle of Plockton at 25 Harbour Street and An Caladh (The Haven) lived up to its name in terms of the hospitality afforded all visitors, whether locals dropping in for 10 minutes or paying bed and breakfast guests.
Anna could be described as an anchor at the heart of the village. She had a great love for her native language and worked with the National Mod when it came to Skye.
She was one of the initial lead campaigners to have the Gaelic Medium school established in Plockton and later worked for many years in the Gaelic nursery and primary school and in the high school hostel, looking after students who were away from home studying at the National School of Excellence in Traditional Music.
The affection in which she was held was apparent in the many tributes the family received from musicians across Scotland.
Anna played a big role in Lochalsh Gaelic Drama in the 1980s and 1990s and was always willing to keep a ceilidh going with her little yellow book of Gaelic songs.
She started to take her fitness seriously in the early 2000s – walking the West Highland Way and doing a sponsored cycle from Glasgow to Plockton. This led to great love of walking.
This same energy shone through during her time spent with her grandchildren, who loved her dearly. She set off every day with a caring smile and a cheery remark for young and old and everyone responded accordingly. No matter who she met or who called in, they all got the same lovely reception.
She was interested in people, what made them tick and she had a great way of drawing them out. Many of us, over the years, used Anna as a sounding board; her counsel was always spot on and secrets were safe.
Despite her gregariousness, her early life had not been easy. Her father died when she was 14 and left a widow with two young children. She was very fond of her father and the impact of his death was profound. Perhaps that hard lesson in life’s fragility at such a young age shaped her resilience. She became ill in late November with what we all thought was a chest infection.
At the time she was busy planning going to Cirencester where her daughter, Alanna, and her partner, Grant, were expecting her third grandchild. Sadly, this was not to be. Layla Annabella was born on Sunday January 9 and two days later Anna was taken to hospital. The final diagnosis was inoperable lung cancer – the cruellest irony for someone who was so fit and had never been a smoker.
Anna came home in early February. She spent her last weeks surrounded by her beloved family, including her two grandsons, Joshua and Sam, and her new granddaughter Layla.
Many who were privileged to call her a friend have been rocked by her sudden and early departure, but blessed with great memories.
The funeral service held in Plockton Free Church, where Anna was a regular attender, was conducted by the Reverend Roddie Rankin and was packed to capacity. The collection raised £1,900 for Kyle Community Nurses fund and Macmillan Nurses.
Anna is survived by Bob, Alanna and Grant, Aonghais and Louise, and Joshua, Sam and Layla.