The death has been announced of Callum Ian Macmillan, a seasoned political campaigner.
Mr Macmillan of Stornoway passed away suddenly yesterday (Tuesday), aged 64 years.
Although best known for his involvement in local politics, as a teenager Mr Macmillan
played a role in the Stornoway punk revolution scene in the late 70s starring as
the drummer in the Noise Annoys band and the music producer behind the 1981 iconic
‘Sad day We Left the Croft’ protest album - a complex exercise in these days - featuring
anti-establishment overtones from various groups such as The Rong, The Bland, The
Subjects, Bruce Wayne Band, all balanced by gentler melodies from Ado Matheson.
He worked in the Doune Braes Hotel and the Crown Hotel which his family owned, and went on to spend most of his working life at the Lews Castle College, after graduating from Napier University in Edinburgh, initially as a businesses studies lecturer, retiring in recent years as head of marketing.
Callum Ian served for a period on the Stornoway Trust.
He was also a board member of Western Isles Enterprise, making local investment decisions through one of ten decentralised development agencies under the Highlands and Islands Enterprise umbrella before the network was abolished and control centred in Inverness.
He was chairman of the Western Isles Constituency Labour Party - which expressed
sadness at his death - in the 1990s during some of the Western Isles Labour Party’s
most successful campaigns.
Between 1994 to 1999 he represented the Aignish ward as a Labour councillor and led the Labour group on the comhairle during that time.
Torcuil Crichton, Labour candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, said: “Callum Ian brought
energy and innovative ideas to many successful Labour campaigns over the years.
“His family roots were embedded in the local Labour Party and we pay tribute for his service.
“We express our condolences to his family Christine, John, Andrew and Katie at this sad time.”
As a mark of respect the Western Isles Labour Party will be suspending election campaigning in Stornoway for the next few days.
Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Kenny Macleod, also paid tribute to Mr Macmillan.
The convener said: “As an elected member of the comhairle and throughout his life Callum Ian Macmillan was a determined and dedicated political campaigner.
“Callum Iain was a committed councillor who took a keen interest in matters within his own ward and the wider community of the Western Isles.
“He was a member of a number of committees: Arts and Leisure, Education, Development Services, Policy and Resources and Transportation.
“In his professional career Callum Iain Macmillan held a number of positions at Lews Castle College, including commercial and marketing director. In his roles with the college Callum Ian prioritised the education of students alongside opportunities to further the economic growth of the Western Isles.”
Death of local political campaigner, Callum Ian Macmillan
12 June 2024
