John MacDonald was born in August, 1943, in Inverness – his father, Willie, was a Black Isle farmer whilst his mother, Margaret Munro, hailed from Wellhouse, near Beauly.

The eldest of four in the family, he was followed by Gordon, the late Morag and Graham.

John’s father farmed for a time at Leckmelm on the shores of Lochbroom. This meant that John’s first school was Ullapool Primary. He would walk the four miles to Ullapool each day.

His father also farmed for a while in Achindrean at the same time as Farquhar Renwick (Senior) was farming on the neighbouring Inverbroom. After Achindrean it was Aberchalder, near Fort Augustus. At the time of that move his father bought the house at Munlochy that became the family home for decades and John found himself attending the local Munlochy school.

At the age of twelve he moved on to Fortrose Academy and it was there that he would forge a lifelong friendship with Professor Alasdair Munro. John and Alasdair were of a similar mindset and the bond forged immediately but he would spend only a year in Fortrose before suffering from kidney failure. He would spend six months in the Royal Infirmary followed by two years of nursing at home. It was the end of his school years.

A job opportunity afforded itself to John in the banking world and his father seemed keen that he should avail himself of it but farming was in his blood so instead he was sent with Simon MacKenzie (‘Simie the Shepherd’) to tend the flock at Achindrean. It was a lifesaver for John. He was in his element and he would receive the very best of tuition from ‘Simie.’

John’s expertise in the sheep world was second to none. His North Country Cheviot flock produced top class stock year after year. He was sought after when it came to sheep judging and there will be many a sheep man who was trained in the art of shearing by him.

In1971 he married Catherine Patterson from Barvas on the Isle of Lewis and they settled down to family life at Leac, near Fort Augustus. Soon Andrew arrived and their hands were full. Sadly Catherine would succumb to cancer whilst Andrew was at the tender age of three. It was a heartbreaking time. John and Andrew moved back to the family home at Munlochy.

In 1984 John married Marion MacIver from Callanish on the Isle of Lewis and soon after Tina came along. They forged a warm and welcoming home and seldom a day passed but someone crossed over the door.

John farmed from the Black Isle for many a year. A good bit of his work involved wintering sheep, particularly for ‘West Coasters.’ But he also ran is own haulage business. He was well known in the farming and business world and was held in the highest of esteem, and rightly so, he was a paradigm for others to follow. His absence in that world will be marked.

He was a member in the local Free Church congregation but he also served for thirty years as an elder. He was no ordinary elder, he was faithful to a fault, he was salt of the earth.

John loved his family and his family loved him. He loved his church family and his church family loved him. He loved his community and his community in turn loved and respected him. The enormous crowd that attended his funeral was testimony to the esteem he was held in. His passing leaves an enormous gap.

Eight years ago John became unwell and was diagnosed with a tumour on his kidney. But he received treatment and got over it and returned to the busy life he was used to. However, about a year ago he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He was told from the word go that he would be fortunate to make Christmas of it. The medics were right, he lived only five weeks past Christmas.

John bore his burden with great dignity and fortitude. He and Marion rallied together in the midst of the storm and John started to get things in order. He would be visited by his local minister and he would tell him he was paying such and such a farmer today so that there would be no outstanding bills to attend to when he was no longer here. He approached his end with courage, common sense and commitment to the Saviour he had trusted from his earliest years.

If John had an ounce of energy in his body he used it. Six days before he passed from this world he was out and about in his pick-up. Not that he could do much, he was ravaged by the illness but he just wanted to keep on the go if at all possible.

The last time he was visited by his minister he did something he hadn’t done for over two years. He shook his hand, and he did it heartily. Because John was so vulnerable on the last lap of his life he took every precaution in the face of Covid 19, so he never did shake hands, as would have been common in pre-Covid days. Not for a moment did it appear to be the last time, but it was. Did he know something others didn’t know? We’ll never know.

But one thing we do know, John has gone to be with ‘The Shepherd.’ For him it is far better but for those who remain the absence is profound. We offer our deepest condolences to his wife, Marion, to his son Andrew and daughter Tina and to Hannah, Toby, Elennah and Lydia and to the wider family circle.