Mr Donald F.A. Maclachlan (Chemistry 1957, DIC Materials 1964)

Provided by Judith MacLachlan

Donald MacLachlan was born in Hillingdon in 1935 but spent his early years in Glasgow. When Donald was twelve the family moved to Watford where, having missed taking the eleven plus, he was sent to a secondary modern school. Fortunately his academic ability was soon recognised. He transferred to Watford Grammar School and then, when the family moved again, to Hampton Grammar School (now Hampton School). From there he went to Imperial College to read Chemistry. Always very much his own person Donald nearly failed to be awarded his degree owing to his apparent inability to pass the examination in Scientific German but the authorities seem to have eventually relented.

After Imperial Donald expected to be called up for National Service but having heard of his father's experiences in the First World War he was a committed pacifist. During his time at Hampton he had taught himself glass-blowing and he took a job as a glass-blower with a small company G.V. Planer Ltd who specialised in the production of scientific equipment, "Just until," as he used to say, "They take me off to prison." Somehow this never happened and George Planer, the founder of the company soon recognised his other talents.

Although Donald had left Scotland as a child he still had a deep affection for the Highlands and while still at school he used to cycle up there from London. Once there he would walk the hills and camp rough. He often said he would like to be a youth hostel warden. It was in fact while staying at the youth hostel at Achiltibuie in Wester Ross that he met his future wife Judith, then an art student working as a temporary warden during the vacation. They married in 1962 and went to live in a flat off Ham Common where he designed a catarmaran and built it in the living room.

Eventually Donald decided he would like to live in the Highlands and build boats full-time. In 1966 Judith and he moved up to Skye where they lived in an old shooting lodge and he built a trimaran in what had been the drawing-room, re-designated "the boat room". This boat although now rather battered is still afloat on Loch Greshornish. Donald was still working part-time for Planers but it was a chance encounter with a fellow amateur yachtsman who was also a phoneticist at Edinburgh University that led him to experiment with making electronic pressure measuring equipment (the prototype was baked in the kitchen Aga). This experiment led, with the help of Planers and the Highlands and Islands Development Board, to the setting up in Dunvegan of a company Gaeltec to manufacture this equipment which was is still used by a number of hospitals and universities. The company was awarded a Queen's Award for Industry in 1983. It provided much needed local employment and still exists.

During these years Donald and Judith had two children; Brigid, born 1966, and Donald Lawrence, born 1971. They re-built a ruined house by the sea at Stein and Donald became interested in growing hydroponic vegetables. This developed into an interest in growing organic vegetables which remained a passion for the rest of his life. In 1980 they moved to Cornwall for five years but eventually returned to Skye and re-built another cottage at Camus Lusta. The children also found their way back to Skye and Donald, who always rather unconvincingly claimed to hate children, found himself living in a little community which included three grandchildren and two step-grandchildren by whom he was affectionately known as "Grumps".  

Donald was a man of many interests and whatever interested him was always studied with a scientific thoroughness. He enjoyed walking, eating and buying wine in France and became an excellent cook. He produced recipes based on the vegetables he had grown, illustrated by photographs he had taken. He took a great interest in Judith's painting and encouraged her to set up the gallery at Camus Lusta which displays her paintings and that of other local artists. Above all he was interested in sustainable living and grew an amazing variety of fruit and organic vegetables many of which one would not have expected to succeed on Skye.

He died on 13 April 2007 of a sudden heart attack while walking with friends in Glen Affric, a place that he loved. The massive turn out at his secular funeral showed the respect and admiration in which he was held locally.