Calum Bàn
Calum (Bàn) Robertson died on Friday 6 March 2009, following a heart attack on Tuesday afternoon. Calum was 59 and was until recently a Director of Sleat Community Trust. He was born and bred in Sasaig, Sleat. After working as a volunteer abroad he returned to Sleat and worked for Fearann Eilean Iarmain and then Highland Council before spending the last 13 years at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig where he was Head of Corporate Services. Representatives of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig eloquently describe how we all feel about Calum.
Roddy John MacLeod, Chairman of the Trustees of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig said: “Calum was a man of wit and wisdom, with a sharply incisive mind. He was also highly able and conscientious and did so much, in so many ways, for the good of his native Sleat and more particularly for the good of the College over the 13 years he spent at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. He could say in a very few words more than others could say in very many. He is – and will be – sorely missed by all of us and we wish Christine, Donald and Iain every support in the devastating loss they have suffered.”
College Director, Boyd Robertson added: “Calum’s untimely death leaves a huge void within the College and in the local community. Not only was he greatly respected for his intellect and organisational abilities, he will also be remembered for his keen sense of humour and his contribution to local community development. Our sympathies are very much with his immediate family at this sad time.”
Calum was indeed a main stay of Sleat Community Trust serving as Director and its Treasurer for 4 years. He continued this work even after he stepped down last November, managing the complex accounts of the Trust's business. His detailed preparation aided the successful Lottery application to buy the Armadale Filling Station. Only two weeks before his death, his work was rewarded with a substantial grant from the Tudor Trust. He was meticulous in his work and always brought a smile with his acerbic wit.
There is no doubt that Calum established the firm foundations of the Sleat Community Trust as a business. Calum will be remembered and thanked for that.
