NEIL ANGUS MACDONALD, who died in Inverness Royal Infirmary after a

long illness, was one of Scotland's leading pipers and an authority on

Gaelic language and culture. He was 84.

Born on Barra, and educated at St Mungo's Academy, Glasgow, he was a

graduate of Glasgow University and trained as a teacher at Jordanhill

College.

His first teaching appointment was to two-teacher Eoligarry School on

his native island, but before he could take up the appointment, the

headship became vacant and he was made headmaster.

After war service with the RAF in India, where he was invalided out of

the service with polio, he became headmaster of Castlebay Secondary on

Barra in 1947, and six years later at St Joseph's School, Inverness.

He was a member of Inverness Gaelic Society and tutor to the city's

Gaelic Choir.

Descended from a line of pipers, he studied under the late Pipe Major

John Macdonald, and won many prestigious awards for his playing. He

became a teacher himself and a much-

respected judge.

He was a member of St Mary's parish, Inverness, where his requiem mass

last Friday was attended by his widow Nan, their two sons and two

daughters, and eight grandchildren.