Donald was born on the croft at 72, Camaghael, in April 1947 and from an early age showed a passion for livestock and the crofting way of life.

But, in his early teens he began to question why things were done the way they were and became a bit disillusioned with crofting and the old ways. This was resolved when Donald enrolled at the agricultural college at Balmacara, which stimulated his thirst for knowledge.

Whilst there, he realised that his questioning of the old ways was justified and in turn, returned home and started to change things, rather than complain about them. He was a capable student and was asked to return as dairyman for a few months when his course finished.

But beef cattle were his real passion. In particular, breeding quality calves that were shown by himself and others both locally and nationally. In his own right, he won several local supreme championships and had success at the Winter Fair and at both Thainstone and Caledonian Marts.

In the 1970s, his close friend, Alistair Coutts, trained him to do AI. This allowed him to use the best bulls available and before long, calves bred at 72 Camaghael were competing at the highest level. The highlight was in 1990 when not one but two Camaghael bred calves were exhibited at the Royal Smithfield Show. One of them winning his class – some achievement for a crofter from Fort William with 12 acres.

Donald's DIY AI skills were much sought after in Lochaber and further afield, partly because of a success rate that many professionals would be proud of, but also because he would never let anybody down.

His eye for a good beast was much appreciated by his peers and over the years he was invited to judge at several shows – Ayr, Keith and the Black Isle, to name a few. He credited a cattle dressing course by the late Bert Rugg as instrumental in how he presented his cattle.

In true Donald form, he then helped many people to bring out and show their animals and taught many young people how to clip and dress cattle.

Donald was a regular competitor at the local ploughing match, winning it at Ardgour in 1978. He also enjoyed sheepdog trials and had a bit of success locally and further afield with his dog, Barflat Jim. He was also course director for the Great Glen Sheep Dog Trials Society for many years.

He was proud of his crofting heritage and went to great lengths to preserve its integrity. He was chairman of the local grazings committee for more than 20 years and his help and guidance could always be relied upon and was given selflessly and without expectation of reward.

Over the years, he transported thousands of animals for scores of people all over the highlands with his pickup and trailer. His second Toyota Hi-lux was the favourite because it covered over 330,000 miles on the original clutch and engine, mostly pulling a trailer and in the end, he got £1000 from the scrappage scheme for it. Something he was particularly proud of.

Although Donald was excellent at feeding his stock, he wasn't so good at looking after himself. The onset of diabetes, followed by a stroke, left him housebound and a care package was needed.

Although he put a brave face on it, it must have been incredibly tough for someone who had known such freedom all his life to suddenly be so confined. He was diagnosed with cancer less than a month before he died and, in the end, left us all very suddenly.

He didn't have any family of his own, but he loved to encourage young people in their chosen paths, especially his grand niece and nephew, Alice and Archie. He celebrated his 75th birthday in hospital, just a week before he died and it made his day when Archie played a couple of sets on the pipes outside his bedroom window.

Donald was laid to rest in Kilmallie Cemetery following a service to celebrate his life in Kilmallie Free Church. He was carried out of the church to the sound of Robert Nairn playing the Balmoral Highlanders. One of his favourite box players, playing his favourite tune.

He was a real character and his presence in agricultural circles in the west highlands will be sorely missed. Time, money and possessions meant nothing to him. He didn’t own a watch, a TV or a computer – what mattered to him were cattle, people and the craic!