Charles Kennedy was immensely proud of his Kennedy forebears many of whom had lived on Lochyside since 1801, ever since Cameron of Lochiel intervened to stop them being banished to Canada.

He was a Highland romantic, and when I wrote about his family at the time of his son Donald's birth in 2005, he regularly told me how pleased and moved he was.

Having been brought up in Lochaber I had known some of the legendary stories about the Kennedy clan and Mr Kennedy was delighted for the world to know.

He showed no inclination to athleticism - he had not even climbed Ben Nevis - but was hugely proud of his athletic relations, particularly his grandfather, Donald, who had survived the horrors of the first World War and was a distinguished all-round athlete, musician and crofter, all of which he achieved with only one hand.

Mr Kennedy was much feted in London and abroad yet he never ever forget where he was from. He had no identity crisis - he would say he was a Highlander, a Scot, a Briton and a European.

His politics were rooted in Highland liberalism despite earlier dalliances with the Labour Party and the SDP. Highland history, social justice, fairness and authenticity were his guiding lights whether he was speaking on the floor of the House of Commons, at fancy dinners, or at friends' firesides. He was often self deprecating, usually entertaining, and was one of the few who could command the attention of his peers.

Mr Kennedy first crossed my radar in BBC Highland in the early eighties when he worked there for a summer.

He left to tour the United States basking in the glory of having won the Observer Mace, the Oscar of the debating world. While he was there the SDP began looking for a candidate in Ross & Cromarty & there were many transatlantic calls persuading him to have a go.

Mr Kennedy, accompanied by his fiddle-playing father, Ian, who had worked for the hydro, and was often the star of the public meetings, confounded the sceptics, and the rest is history.

He justifiably feared what he dubbed "the night of long sgian dubhs" when the SNP swept all before them at the recent General Election. He was down but not out and promised to continue to champion the UK and membership of the EU.

Certainly he criticised the Better Together campaign but to suggest his heart was not in the fight is simply not true.

Mr Kennedy was plagued by the demon drink but his achievements were many. History should judge him well, not only for his contribution to the political debate but for his humanity and tolerance and his struggle to do the right thing in face of adversity.

Catherine MacLeod is a former political editor of The Herald and was a special adviser to Alistair Darling when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.