William MacDonald

Published on Tuesday 12 August 2008 21:46

Educationist and headteacher

THE death of William MacDonald has robbed Scotland of a leading educationist; one who, over 40 years, left his mark throughout the country in the work of primary education.

One of four boys, Willie (as he was familiarly known) was born and brought up in Ness on the island of Lewis and educated there and in the Nicholson Institute in Stornoway. But this was at the beginning of the Second World War and Willie enlisted in the Royal Navy, joining the coastal commando forces and serving on motor torpedo boats.

Like many others, Willie said little about his experiences in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, and it is only in recent years that his family came to know of his bravery during that time; that he was mentioned in dispatches and was in fact the only surviving member of the original crew of MTB 634.

On demob Willie entered Glasgow University to study maths and history, then progressed to Jordanhill College of Education for teacher training. He began his teaching career in Paisley in 1951, teaching those subjects. There, in 1952, he married Marion, whom he had met many years before in the Nicholson Institute in Stornoway – a marriage that was to last 56 years.

From Paisley he was appointed to Melvich in North Sunderland and from there appointed headteacher of Watten Primary in Caithness. Thereafter, he became the first head of a new primary school in Thurso. He finally took up a challenging position as head of the large primary school at Lismore in Edinburgh, where he left his mark before retiring in 1981.

After four years he and Marion moved to Kiltarlity before returning to Marion's old family home in Carloway, Isle of Lewis, but after a few years in splendid isolation they felt the need to be near their family, who were all on the mainland, so made their home in Maryburgh, Ross and Cromarty.

Throughout his life Willie had many interests and became heavily involved in youth organisations, especially the Boys' Brigade. He played football with those organisations and on one occasion succeeded in breaking a leg at Scripture Union camp. A lover of all things Scottish, especially music, he put his good voice to use and on occasion taught the Gaelic choir.

He never lost his love of football (we are not sure when he finally hung up his boots) but in his last years he was often to be found on a Saturday afternoon in the Jail – that is the Jail end of Ross County stadium. And if he were not there he would be in his shed listening intently to the game on radio.

He was a keen gardener and a lover of nature. He was his own weather man and collected and filed copious amounts of information. As if that were not enough he would take his small boat and go fishing for mackerel under the stars and bring them home to be attended to by Marion.

Probably his involvement in the Prison Fellowship in Saughton and Peterhead gave him most pleasure. He felt privileged to serve God in this way. He would take prisoners on home visits and entertain them in his own home. In all his ways he demonstrated that he was a devout Christian man who spoke ill of no-one and looked for good in all things – the very embodiment of the Gospel message.

He was an active church member, having been ordained an elder in Watten and maintaining his work as such in his various congregations, last in Ferintosh Church. He was involved with the Scripture Union and the Gideons International. It was a privilege to be in his company.

But above all Willie was a family man who loved nothing more than to be in their company and the fellowship they would offer. When the family were young, caravanning holidays were the order and they were overjoyed when grandchildren arrived.

He prized his cars and took great care of them and we understand that on one return journey with a new car, when it came to the Berriedale Brays in Caithness, the family had to make the ascent on foot.

He is survived by wife, three sons, two daughters and 11 grandchildren.

JOHN O SUTHERLAND