Mr Donald Matheson

Mr Donald Alexander Matheson

Donald was born on 1 May 1936   in Coll, Isle of Lewis .  He grew up in a traditional Gaelic-speaking Hebridean community with three much loved elder sisters,  Chrissie , Ina and Annie.

 Donald  qualified as a marine engineer in Glasgow, spending five  years at sea    with P&O sailing across the globe.    He  later worked in the offshore and onshore oil  industry for very many years. This was with his “dream job” for Lloyds Register. He lived weeks at a time on many of the North Sea ‘s oil rigs, a veritable “North Sea Tiger” as he would joke. Thereafter, he moved onshore  as Lloyds Register Engineer Surveyor-in-Charge of the oil fabrication yards at both Nigg and Ardesier in the North of Scotland and at Arnish on Isle of Lewis.

He retired early due to some ill health and lived  in Ross-shire for around 35 years; first at  Ardvannie House, Edderton on the Dornoch Firth for 25 years, later moving to Barbaraville,  Invergordon, also by the sea.    He enjoyed a wonderful retired life in Ross-shire within a vibrant community in the company of lifelong friends.

 Married to his beloved wife Helen, they recently both celebrated 90 year birthdays as well as 65  years of marriage.  He was very proud  of his 2 grandchildren  Marleen & Robert  and also of his USA born & bred nieces and nephews (Christine, Norman, George & Sandra) and their families, gladly sharing in all their lives well into their adulthood .

 In his final few years, he moved south to live with his daughter Helen & son- in-law Paul in Sawbridgeworth. In his final months he was well cared for at Ashwood Care Home in Ware where he often led impromptu singing to a varied mix of  country&western, scottish and gaelic songs.

 RNLI is a Charity devoted to saving lives at sea and it is no accident that Donald’s express wish is for  any donations, if desired, to be  made to support their activities.