Mr Tom McDonald, Salisbury’s oldest inhabitant and South Africa’s oldest journalist, died in July aged 100. Mr McDonald joined the American gold rush in his early days, then sailed for South Africa when he heard of the Transvaal gold strike. He then turned to journalism. He founded the Beira Post in Mozambique and later was associated with newspapers in Southern Rhodesia and Johannesburg.
Mr Ronald M. MacDonnell, Deputy Under-Secretary of the Canadian Department of External Affairs, has been appointed Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The Secretary-General is the chief executive officer of ICAC, a specialised agency of the United Nations, whose membership consists of 73 sovereign states.
The Rev. Norman MacDonald, Kilarrow Parish Church, Bowmore, Islay, has been admitted a corresponding member of the Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy of Sweden. Mr MacDonald is the only Scotsman to hold this honour, which is in recognition of his research work in Celtic folklore. He is a native of Staffin, Skye.
Mr John B. Macdonald, Dingwall, maintained a family tradition when he was appointed Halberdier to Dingwall Town Council. He is a nephew of Mr D. Macdonald, his comrade in this post, and a grandson of the late Mr W. Macdonald, who held the office for many years.
The Carolinas branch of Clan Donald lost a highly esteemed member by the death of Leon Monroe McDonald, who was killed by a bull on his farm near Olivia in western Barnett County. He was on the Carolinas Council of the Clan Donald Society and one of a committee studying the keeping of genealogical records for clan members.
Visitors to South Uist this year included John MacDonald, remembered locally as Shonny MacAlasdair is Phadruig, who was back in Iochdar for the first time since he emigrated to Red Deer, Alberta in 1923. Mr MacDonald is a farmer.
Started ten years ago under Mr John A. MacDonald, the Gaelic Department of Bellahouston Academy, Glasgow, has gone from strength to strength. Mr MacDonald is now lecturer in Gaelic at Jordanhill Training College. and his successor is Mr Donald A. MacDonald of North Uist, who has just completed his first year in charge of the department. Seven passes were secured by pupils taking Gaelic in the leaving certificate examinations. Six Macdonalds won prizes for Gaelic this year.
The enthusiasm for amateur drama and the high standard of acting and production in the North of Scotland at the present time owe much to Mr Peter MacDonell, the brother of the Chief of Glengarry. After seven years as area adviser to the Highland division of the Scottish Community Drama Association, Mr MacDonell has taken up an educational appointment in Leicestshire.
Captain Ranald Alexander Macdonald, 25th Chief of Clan Ranald, went to Nova Scotia in August to open Cape Breton’s 21st Gaelic Mod.
Mr Donald Macdonald, North Tolsta, was the chairman at a Ceilidh in the Hall of the Clans, Edinburgh. to raise funds for the Lewis and Harris Folk Museum at Stornoway.