John Nicolson, Portree | |
24 October 2013 Everyone at Skye Camanachd, and the wider shinty community will be saddened to hear of the passing of John Nicolson, who died after a short illness in Portree on Thursday 24 October 2013. John, who was 90, and universally known as John "The Caley" had a long association with Skye Camanachd. He hardly ever missed a game and served the club as chairman, chieftain and committee member — repairing sticks for all the club's junior and senior teams right up until the onset of his illness. Yet shinty was just one of numerous community groups and organisations to benefit from his sterling service. Over the years John, who earned his nickname from his time working as the barman in Portree's Caledonian Hotel, gave years of voluntary service to the Royal British Legion, Portree Community Council, the Skye Games, The Skye and Lochalsh Sports Council and the King George V Playing Fields committee. A native of Raasay, John had served with the Royal Artillery during World War II, and after being demobbed in 1947 he served with the lighthouse board in Orkney until moving to Portree in 1954. In Portree he was also the school janitor for many years, and performed duties as court officer until the age of 70. In 2009 John's many years of dedicated service to the local area was honoured when he was awarded the Freedom of Skye and Raasay. In so doing he joined a small list of esteemed people including record breaking round-the-world yachtswomen Dame Ellen MacArthur and the revered Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean. John's input and wisdom — not to mention his fearlessness when it came to taking on authority when the need arose — will be sadly missed on the island and beyond. John is survived by wife Mavis, three daughters and grandchildren. Thoughts are with them at this sad time. |