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Dugald Gillespie, known as Dougie, was a popular singer in Gaeldom for many years. He was born in Portnahaven, Islay, and was educated there, leaving Islay at the age of 15 to start an engineering apprenticeship. He met his future wife, Marie, at the Highlander’s Institute and after two years at sea with Ellerman Lines, travelling the world, Dougie and Marie got married in Riddrie, Glasgow. They had three children – Sheena, a radiographer, Neil, an opera singer, and Mairi, a teacher.
After joining the City of Glasgow Police in 1960, Dougie started to sing with the Police Male Voice Choir, enjoying some interesting trips abroad and also making successful recordings. This ignited his passion for singing and in 1981, at Lochaber, he joined the ranks of Islay’s national Mod Gold medallists, including his great friends Donald Macleod and Ian Carmichael. His friend Willie Cameron said: ‘I remember when he won the Gold Medal at Fort William in 1981 and the great ceilidh that followed.
‘He was also a regular at the mid-week Park Bar Ceilidh, alternating with Ian Carmichael and many cracking nights there. Many nights at The Dorchester Hotel also. ‘There were three national Mod Gold medallists from Portnahaven, Islay – Mary C MacNiven and Donald M MacLeod and Dougie Gillespie. ‘Dougie was also a past president of The Islay Association.’
Working through the police ranks and promoted to Inspector, Dougie was asked to head the unit which drew together the members of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, and he was thrilled to be in charge throughout the boys’ record-breaking run of six consecutive world titles. Willie said: ‘Angus Lawrie composed a lovely tune for Dougie entitled simply, Dugald Gillespie. It appears in the Gordon Highlanders’ collection and was often used in compilations. ‘Dougie was one of the most in-demand and popular singers for the Highland Annual Gatherings’ busy scene of ceilidhs, formal and informal. Dougie was always in demand for many decades. ‘The Glasgow Highland associations (of which there were many) held six-monthly ceilidh dances a year. The night usually featured a male and female Gaelic singer, a piper and box player.
At the same time as heading up the unit which drew together the members of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, Marie and Dougie had moved to Garrowhill, and enjoyed many years of playing and socialising at Garrowhill Bowling Green, where they made many life-long friends. He was also an elder at Mure Memorial Church in Garrowhill. They enjoyed numerous trips to London to visit Neil and his partner Michael, to Holland to visit Mairi and her husband Jamie, and to Islay to visit Sheena and her husband Douglas. By this time they had been delighted to welcome their first grandchildren, Gregor and Euan. Sadly Marie’s health deteriorated and she passed away in October 2009. She never got to meet Mairi’s daughter Katie, who came along in 2010, but Dougie spent many happy times with them, both in Holland and Scotland.
After Marie’s death Dougie’s enthusiasm for singing waned and he rarely sang in public. The ceilidh crowd at Kilmeny were delighted last year, however, wh Dougie had only very recently returned to live in Portnahaven, when he discovered his heart was failing.
He passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 2 at the age of 87, and was laid to rest with Marie, at Nerabus, ‘beside the sound of the sea’. He will be missed by the family and all who knew him, but remembered with love and affection.
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Marion Gillespie died April 15, 1964. Burial Bowmore Church Cemetery, Bowmore, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
Mary Gillespie died Jan 27, 1940. Burial Bowmore Church Cemetery, Bowmore, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
ISLAY CEMETERIES
The Tombstones at Kilnave Cemetery- on the edge of Loch Guinart in background.
To the memory of DUNCAN GILLESPIE, Farmer, Kilnave, who died 18th day of April 1876 at 92 years. His son JOHN, died 22nd Sept 1878 at 38 years. His son, ARCH, farmer, Kilnave, FLORA, daughter of Arch who died 5th October 1876 at 5 years & 5 months. Jane Brown, wife of Arch, who died at Columkill, also their son, ARCH, farmer Gigha, who died 10 September 1916 at 54 years, also their son DUNCAN, who died 18th July 1940 at 70 years.
In memory of ARCH GILLESPIE Craig M’ Hor, who died 15 January 1888 at 75 years. Also his daughter, CATHERINE, who died 7 August 1874 at 17 years, and his daughter, JANET, who died April 1857 at 1 years & 11 months. His son, DONALD, who died 26 December 1916 at 65 years. His wife Ann McLellan who died December 1921 at 97 years. Their daughter, MARGARET, who died August 1926 at 74 years. His son, ANGUS, who died February 1958 at 79 years.
Record Count: 4
Source: The Oban Times; Richard Sheil, Researcher of New York – used with permission.
Photos of Kilnave Cemetery, Isle of Islay, Scotland
copyright Richard Sheil, New York, 2000
