The death has been announced of Mrs Eleanor MacFadyen, wife of Iain, and his constant companion throughout his long piping career.
Eleanor passed away in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, surrounded by her family. She had been ill for several months and visits to the hospital were made all the more heart rending given the isolation regulations of the pandemic.
Eleanor was known throughout the solo piping world and was a regular and popular attendee at all the big contests and recitals as well as at Highland games all over Scotland.
A Highland dancer in her early years, Eleanor was fully supportive of the family’s move to the Highlands when Iain was appointed one of the first schools’ piping instructors there in the early 1970s.
She quickly adapted to the Highland way of life and was a well known and respected member of the community in Kyle of Lochalsh, Wester Ross, where the family settled and thrived.
Iain’s success in restoring and resurrecting piping in that part of the world was due in no small part to the support and contribution made by Eleanor. She was actively involved in organising local recitals and competitions. The hospitality she showed to visitors to their home overlooking the Inner Sound between Skye and the mainland was legion.
Eleanor will be fondly remembered by all who knew her, and the piping world will, I am sure, wish to join with me in sending sincere condolences to Iain, Iain jnr., Karen and the rest of the family. RW