Obituary: Gill James (Plockton) 1936 - 1926
The sudden passing of Gill James at her home "Uig Cottage" Plockton on August 19 came as a great shock to her many friends over a wide area.
Gill James.
Gill had only been unwell for a couple of days and was even driving the week before, although she was 90 years old.
The Village had a big party on her 90th birthday on January 16 2026.
Gill was born in Heswall on the Wirral in 1936 and was brought up in Wallasey and educated in her fathers private school.
She married Don, her first husband in 1856 and had three sons, Kevin, Steven and Ian. She moved to Warrington in1968 and married her second husband Alan in 1980.
Gill started work in Liverpool where she saw the Beatles playing at the Cavern Club and she also remembered seeing Cilla Black.
Drama was always a passion for Gill. She was involved in a drama festival involving all the Unilever Companies at Port Sunlight.
Alan and Gill moved to Plockton in 1983, buying the Creag nan Darach Hotel and then selling it in 1990 and moving to Uig Cottage, Cooper Street in 1990, where they ran a Bed and Breakfast and a holiday cottage.
Alan sadly died in 2014 after some time at Home Farm Portree.
Gill was the secretary of Plockton Amateur Dramatic Society for 22 years and remained on the committee after that.
She was also Treasurer of South West Ross Division of SCDA who organised the local One Act Festival every year. She was also on the Highland Division Committee.
Gill took part in many plays and pantos - Womberang, produced by her friend Gill Coe being the first. At one point Gill had to dance on a table wearing a corset but it didn’t bother her, the production came third in the Scottish Finals.
Some of her favourites that she produced were Bridal Terrorism, Last Panto in Plockton, Last Panto in Lockdown, and Billy Comes Home, written by her friend Ann MacLaren.
One of her all time favourites was a Respectable Funeral by Jimmy Chinn which won through to the Scottish Finals held in Orkney that year.
Many people thought that Gill’s life was all about Drama but for 24 years she was secretary/treasurer of Plockton and District Community Council - a role she excelled at.
She was also on the Village Hall Committee for over 20 years and was a star player for Plockton Badminton Team.
Gill was a wonderful character and Plocktons oldest resident. She was always happy and smiling and willing to help. She was loved by everybody young and old.
She was also a valued member of Plockton Book Club. The village will not be the same without her.
Gill’s Funeral service in a packed Village Hall was conducted by Rev. Andrew Jones. Brothers Steven and Ian did the Eulogy and granddaughter Ailsa James recited the poem "Smiling is Infectious".
Another grand-daughter Stephanie James sang "To make you feel my love" and the poem "Let Me Go" was read by grandson Ruaridh James.
Piper Duncan Sweenie led the Cortege as far as Plockton Stores before a burial took place at Balmacara Cemetery.
Sympathy is expressed to sons Kevin in London, Steven in Newcastle and Ian in Plockton, and also to her sister Judith Webster in Preston.
The collection for Crossroads raised £1038.
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