The news of Charles Kennedy death stunned the Highlands, particularly his native community in Lochaber.

One woman in Fort William High Street summed it up: "It is just like a family bereavement. It really is. We are all feeling it."

One was his friend the writer, broadcaster, shinty historian Hugh Dan Maclennan who was brought up in Caol near the Kennedy croft at Lochyside, outside Fort William. They had been at Lochaber High School at the same time.

He said "I remember when the rest of us would go and play football and shinty at lunch time, Charles would go to the school hall and practise public speaking. It paid off. By the time he left school he had put the school on the map by winning the Observer Mace for debating. The rest of his didn't know what it was.

He said the Kennedys were one of the oldest crofting families in the area. It had produced great athletes, shinty players and musicians. "I used to joke with Charles it was understandable he had gone into politics, given he clearly hadn't inherited the athleticism or the musical gifts of his forbears.

"He gave his life to politics, but sadly I think politics took his life away. I know how deeply he regretted the break up of his marriage to Sarah and he was totally devoted to his young son Donald James,10.

"Charles had problems with alcohol, which many do. But his were made very public indeed because of his chosen career. He lost his father just before the election, and his mother two years ago, When I saw him lose his seat in May, I worried for him."

Dr Michael Foxley, formerly a GP in Fort William and LibDem leader of the Highland Council was a friend of his for more than 30 years. "It is just so sad. We have lost somebody important to the Highlands. Charles was from that radical tradition of the Highland Liberal established in the late 19th century by the land leaguers. It resonates still in an area like this and across the crofting community.

"He had every right to (oppose the Coalition), having been the most successful leader in the party's electoral history. He knew why people voted LibDem.

"However it has to be said that he paid a heavy price for his life in politics. His problems with alcohol meant his health suffered, and so most definitely did his personal life. But it says a lot for the man that hardly anyone in the Highlands will remember him for anything other than for his warmth, his humour and that he would always listen very carefully to them, so he could properly understand their problems."

Donnie Munro, formerly Runrig's lead singer who is now development director at Skye's Gaelic college stood against him for the Labour Party in 1997.

He said "I first met him in Inverness at BBC Radio Highland just after he was elected in 1983. People across the Highlands from all parties took great pride in him as a young Highlander of great ability. He had come in and beaten a government minister at the age of 23. "

He said that Charles Kennedy had managed to conduct his politics in a "non-partisan" way. "His greatest weapons were his warmth, wit and humour, which engaged people. He just came over as a very humane and human person, which he was.