Stewart Mackay

The untimely death yesterday, of my friend and great friend of the River Spey, Mr Stewart Mackay, of Home Farm Aberlour, leaves me saddened, as, at 58 years, he was far too young.

I had known Mackay Family since around the age of 14, when I shot pigeons on one of their farms near Elgin, but not until I moved to Knockando and begun to shoot pigeons on Stewart’s farm at Aberlour did I get to know him properly.

As with a lot of us, lack of time in his early years meant Stewart had little or no interest in either shooting or fishing, however, this all changed around the late 1980s when he decided to take up both, and I have to say, never have I been in the company of anyone, new to fishing or shooting, who embraced each sport for all the right reasons, and I know for a fact there will not be a ghillie or keeper in the whole of Scotland who would dispute my sentiment. Although a hard businessman, Stewart was a people person, more than anything, he loved company during any days sport, and would never dream of shooting or fishing alone. To him, it was never about the bag, but always about the company.

I can recall many wonderful days on the Spey, both at Knockando and on the Brae Water, where we caught a great many fish, but, of the many fun days we had, the one we had earlier this year, for me, epitomised everything he liked best about a day’s sport. Good company, good fishing, a good large long lunch, and most of all, a good laugh; and on this day, the laugh was to be on me!

Having taken all rods on beats 1 and 2 of the Brea Water he found himself one rod short and, instead of ghillieing, I was asked to join the fishing group. As was normal, lots were drawn and we all slipped away to our respective pools, me landing the Flats, a nice glide just above the Rock on Beat 2, knowing I would then drop down to the left bank of the Rock, I fancied my chances, however, as is quite normal in salmon fishing, the gods had penned a script, slightly different to that going on in my head!! As lunchtime approached and I had fished over a great many fish but caught nothing; knowing what this party was like, an ominous sense of foreboding begun to envelop me. The fact I had seen at least 5 fish being taken by the others, left me almost panic stricken in the midst of this mischievous party. Slowly each of the team arrived back at the fishing hut, and although still fishing more than 100 meters away, on surveying the scene, I could see the grins getting wider and more cheesy, none more so the Stewart himself! Eventually, at around ten past one, which it has to be said, only made matters worse, I begun the slow walk with head hanging, toward the now extremely happy group sitting on the lunch table outside the fishing hut. With each step I saw bigger grins and more teeth! “How many then Ian”, roared Stewart, ensuring all within ten miles could hear, whilst at the same time finding it hard to contain himself. Knowing what was about to come, I answered, Not a pull Stewart! What!!!!!! An expert fishing behind a load of beginners and catching nothing!!! “We’ll have less of the beginners”, came from the lunch table, and from that moment on, lunch got louder and funnier, my fishing prowess, or lack of it, at the heart of each, less than complimentary remark.

So, on this particular day it was me, on many others it was Stewart himself, whilst on others it was one of his many sporting friends. Every day I ever spent on the river with Stewart Mackay ended with words to this effect – Well thanks for another fantastic day Ian, “By Christ we had a lot O fun” and abody enjoyed themsells”! Just Great!! But, in essence, it was himself who made the day fun.

I for one, and I know many others, will miss his humour and fantastic appreciation, not only of the river but also those living and working on it.