Niall Campbell BEM, Chief of the Camanachd Association; born November 6, 1918, died June 15, 1998
Five pipers from the Strachur Piping Association fittingly paid the final tribute to Niall Campbell BEM, of Strachur, Chief of the Camanachd Association, shinty's ruling body, at his funeral.
His many friends from the worlds of shinty, farming, piping and military service gathered in his local Strachur Parish Church in acknowledgement of a long and dedicated service in many key areas of Highland life.
Mr Campbell, who worked Succoth Farm in Strachur along with one of his brothers, died in the comforting surroundings of Cowal Hospice on Monday evening after a long illness, bravely borne. ''Mr Niall'', as he was universally known, was 79 and would have been 80 in November.
Born in Strachur, one of a family of five, he was to spend most of his working life shepherding. He was brought up in his formative years at nearby Inveraray where he received his education. His father was estate manager in Strachur and it was there Niall returned, eventually, to play for, and become president of, the local shinty club.
Shinty, piping, and young people were this Highland gentleman's great loves, preferably in combination, with an Argyllshire link binding them together, as evidenced in his commitment to the Dunoon Grammar School Former Pupils' Pipe Band. Mr Campbell was a well-known piper, who taught hundreds of schoolchildren throughout Argyll, right up to the point where his illness robbed him of his abiding passion.
A former pipe major of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, he was eternally proud of the regiment's roll in major events during the last war, such as the Normandy landings. As a war veteran, Niall had a certain affinity with the late Sir Fitzroy MacLean, whose family bought the Strachur estate from lady Joan Campbell of Strachur in the late 1950s, and still own it. Mr Niall was honoured to have been Sir Fitzroy's personal piper for many years.
His commitment to the community which became his home was reflected in the honour bestowed on him in November, 1986, when he was presented with the British Empire Medal for services to the community and piping by Col Campbell Preston at a special ceremony in Sir Fitzroy's famous Creggan Inn.
Camanachd Association President Duncan Cameron described Mr Campbell as ''a distinguished servant of the game whose loss will be keenly felt''. After a number of years as vice-chief, Mr Campbell was elected to shinty's highest office in 1994, only the 13th incumbent of the post in the association's 105-year history.
Many tributes have also been paid locally, where Mr Campbell was a well-known and respected figure through his agricultural, musical, and sporting activities. He was for some time driver of the local school bus, but it is through his piping and shinty that he won most of his many friends.
Kenny MacLeod, a close friend from the Strachur shinty club, said: ''Mr Niall cannot really be replaced. He was tremendously good to us and it is not that long since he was still able and willing to help us with lining the field. He was always there with the pipes when we needed him as well. It just will not be the same attending games and not seeing him there. This is a great loss to our club.''
Mr Campbell is survived by his wife Margaret, four daughters, and two sons.
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