Brief Profile

Donald  Uileam Macmillan was the youngest in the family of Colonel Angus L. Macmillan and Jeannie Lindsay, Dalmore. He followed  in his father’s military footsteps, serving in the Seaforth Highlanders during World War II.

‘DU’ began his career with the Commercial Bank in Invergordon. On demobilisation he had to change career perforce. He became an insurance agent, subsequently inspector, for the NFU Mutual Insurance Society. His territory initially was the whole of the Highlands and Islands. Only gradually did it become more manageable as the Society appointed part time staff in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland but he covered a prodigious mileage in days when, fortunately, road congestion was unknown.

An elder of Ferintosh and Conon Bridge church, he was a friend and curling and fishing companion of its minister the Reverend John Sellar.

Closer to retirement, he devoted himself, more and more, to public service, being elected or appointed to various bodies, local and pan-Highland.

In 1938 he married Catherine McIntosh also the youngest of a large family. They had two boys . Michael and Robin who became respectively solicitor and civil engineer. In his latter years until curtailed by ill health he enjoyed bridge with his wife and teasing his grandchildren.

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Death Notice

Peacefully at Castle Hill, Conon Bridge, on 18th January, 1980, Macmillan, Donald Uilliam Macmillan, youngest son the late Colonel and Mrs Macmillan, beloved husband of Catherine and father of Michael and Robin. By his own request funeral private.

[from the Ross-shire Journal]

Obituary

Mr D U Macmillan who served well his day and generation in a variety of ways, died at his home Castle Hill Conon Bridge on 18th January aged 66 following a protracted period of ill health .

Mr Macmillan was born at Dalmore, Alness where his father the late Colonel A L Macmillan was chief Customs and Excise officer. Colonel Macmillan had commanded the 5th Seaforth Highlanders during World War One and between the wars was Colonel of the 4^th/ 5th Territorial Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders. Mr Macmillan himself was commissioned in the same regiment and mobilised with the 4th battalion on the outbreak of war in 1939. He received his early professional training in banking at Invergordon becoming insurance agent for the NFU Mutual Insurance Society for the Highlands and Islands on demobilisation.

Mr Macmillan was ordained an elder of Ferintosh and Conon Bridge church in 1957 and was senior elder in the joint charge of Urquhart and Resolis. At the time of his death Mr Macmillan, a former vice convener of Ross and Cromarty District Council and member of the Highland Regional Council from its formation until 1978 when he resigned for health reasons, a circumstance regretted by all. He also served on the former Ross and Cromarty County Council; he was also a member of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority the Consultative Council of the Highlands and Islands Development Board and a former chairman of the Dingwall Licensing Court. To all he brought the charm of manner and friendliness of approach which so marked his whole character, coupled with his undoubted ability in matters of finance all of which earned him the respect and esteem of fellow councillors and public alike. Socially Mr Macmillan was the best of companions and he was blessed with a happy home and family life. Sympathy will be extended to Mrs Macmillan and their family of two sons Michael in private practise as a solicitor in Alness and Robin a civil engineer also other relatives. The funeral was private.

[ CAM from the Ross-shire Journal ]