Locations: Conon Bridge, Invergordon, Swordale, Scatwell
Milestones
Birth: March 24 1910 - Invergordon
Marriage:
November 21 1936 - Invergordon to Donald Uilleam Macmillan
Brief Profile
Catherine Aird McIntosh was born on 24th March 1910, the last of six surviving children of Robert John McIntosh and Annie Munro or McIntosh. The family lived above their father’s business, the London House, Invergordon.
In the days before a qualification was necessary she started her teaching career, in her late teens, in Swordale. In 1936 she married Donald Macmillan. They brought up their two boys in Castlehill Conon Bridge. Returning to teaching in the 1950s she was in great demand as a supply teacher in primary schools throughout the county. Ultimately appointed to a permanent post, as the head – and only – teacher in Scatwell, it was a great sadness to her to know that when she retired the school was to be closed.
On retiring she started to travel abroad and played ever more bridge with her husband as partner until he became too unwell to travel. She nursed him through a long illness at home until his death in 1980. In her last 10 years she took up bridge again but got most pleasure in the company of her grandchildren – and from hearing, often at first hand, the success stories of her former pupils.
She is survived by her sons Michael and Robin and six grandchildren.
Invitation
Appreciations are invited. These should be sent to registrations@milestonesscotland.co.uk.
Death Notice
MACMILLAN. – Suddenly at the Barmekin, Old Ferintosh, Alcaig on 23rd March 1990 Catherine Aird Macmillan nee Macintosh, formerly of Invergordon and Conon Bridge, widow of Donald and dearly loved mother and grandmother. Interred at Urquhart cemetery on 27th of March .
Appreciations
Known as Ninny’ to her other set of grandchildren, Granny Mac‘ was very much at the centre of our family as we grew up on the Black Isle in the 1970s and 80s.
Although not large in stature she was definitely larger than life. Strong in character and even stronger in opinion (not always palatable, even in the 1980s!) and she loved us dearly.
One of the ways she showed her love was, traditionally enough, through food. Even now, more than 30 years after her death we still swap and re-swap the recipe for Granny’s cookies and our Christmas trifle is always made in her special way (banana angel delight in place of the cold custard that we kids didn’t like).
Many of my other memories of her are strongly food and drink related, random things that I specifically associate with her – quiche lorraine (family joke being that she pronounced it ‘queesh’); chocolate mars bar cake; Simmers biscuits; mint imperials; separating the cream from the top of the milk so she could have it on her Special K and also the Sunday lunches she would treat the whole family to at local hotels around the area.
And finally was her special tipple. A cinzano and lemonade, just occasionally.