David Walker, Lairg
DAVID Adrian Walker was born on July 30, 1937, in Stockport and died in Bonar Bridge on May 20, 2016, in Bonar Bridge, aged 78.
For many years David Walker ran the Sutherland Arms Hotel in Lairg, a gracious old coaching inn in an area renowned for fishing, stalking and stunning scenery.
Under his managership it became well known for the friendly, comfortable atmosphere, good food and superb position overlooking Little Loch Shin in the centre of the village.
In this, his wife Margaret and a team of loyal hardworking staff helped him. The hotel at the time provided employment for 40 full and part time employees and was the largest employer in Lairg.
David was born in Stockport, greater Manchester, and he and his brother, Ian, were the two children of Austin and Gwen Walker.
In 1953 David joined British Transport Hotels as a trainee manager. Starting on the bottom rung he worked in all the departments learning all about the hospitality industry. He served his National Service in the RAF, and worked in catering, rising to the rank of Acting Sergeant.
He returned to the British Transport Hotels in 1958 and spent the next two years in France, Germany and Spain and became fluent in French and German which was a great help in his later career.
In 1960 he was appointed junior assistant manager at The Midland Hotel in Manchester. He married Garrie Dawson in 1962, and in 1963 became the proud father of twin boys, Michael and Simon. In 1964, a daughter, Suzanne joined the Walker family.
Following a brief period running a woollen goods and craft shop in Wales, David joined Trust House Forte and worked in Oxford and Rye before spending time with a catering company in London.
In 1971 he joined Scottish Highland Hotels and spent the next three years at the Caberfeidh in Stornoway, rejuvenating the hotel for the Mackenzie Family.
In 1974 he was offered the post of manager of the Sutherland Arms Hotel in Lairg, which was under ownership of Scottish Highland Hotels.
This was a 24 bedroom hotel with six self catering cottages attached, and was a long established old coaching inn with a faithful clientele who returned year upon year for the excellent fishing and stalking in the area.
David then used his energy and talents to make the SA, as it was known locally, into a first class hotel.
Sadly, in the early eighties, he and Garrie divorced. In 1983 he married Margaret Feeney and in 1985 their daughter Sarah was born.
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In 1990 David and Margaret purchased Park House, a substantial property also overlooking Little Loch Shin with a view to running a guest house.
Shortly after the purchase the SA was sold by Scottish Highland Hotels and the new owner proceeded to run the place down.
David resigned and he and Margaret then put all their energy into making Park House into a first class guest house, becoming known for excellent food and a fine cellar. David was able to offer fishing and stalking and they achieved 4 stars with the Scottish Tourist Board and were Michelin recommended.
It was a great sadness to David that the old SA was shortly closed, then vandalised and subsequently demolished.
Although he had been a hotel manager for many years, and now running his own business, David still found time to be involved with local community groups.
He helped run the Lairg Gala Week, and was on the Scottish Tourist Board committee promoting central Sutherland – the Dornoch Firth bridge had opened in 1991 and there was a danger that the Bonar Bridge, Ardgay, Lairg and Edderton area would be by-passed.
David was on the Lairg Community Council from 1997 to 2011 and was chairman for three terms during this time. He loved Lairg and always fought for the interests of the area.
During his time on the community council, the construction of the Dalchork Bird hide, the provision of a Highland Council Service Point and the purchase of land adjacent to The Ferrycroft Centre were achieved. He was also tenacious in following up queries and complaints from the community with the Highland Council.
He was the treasurer of The Lairg and District Community Initiative for many years and worked tirelessly with the directors to achieve charitable status, access grants, and negotiate an option on the right to buy the old SA Hotel site for the community.
The LDCI also ran the Ferrycroft Visitor Centre in Lairg, an Interpretation Centre and Tourist Office.
This involved employing paid staff. He always enjoyed working as a team with the other directors and committee to achieve things for Lairg and to try to fulfil the expectations of the community which had given him so much over the years.
He loved walking and was often to be seen with his black flat-coated retrievers Becky and Molly and latterly Skye, his border collie, in Ferrycroft, Gunns Wood and Dalchork.
He was also passionate about fishing and was an honorary member of the West of Scotland Angling Club.
He was on the Migdale Action Group that fought for the new Migdale Hospital in Bonar Bridge under the chairmanship of the late Stephen Mouat and it was very fitting, therefore, and a great comfort to his family, that he spent his last days at Migdale, looked after wonderfully by the caring staff of the hospital.
David is survived by his first wife and their three children, and by second wife Margaret and their daughter Sarah – Jonathan Brett Young.
