| W. Bro. Jim MacKinnon P.M. Hon. Assistant Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland 1916 - 2005 |
In 1980, at the age of 64yrs, he decided to retire and return to Skye, his ancestral home. He soon became aware of the lack of dentistry facilities on the island and especially the poor state of its children's teeth. Again in his caring capacity, he came out of retirement and set up a practice in Portree. In 1985, after another dentist had come to Skye and was more than capable of looking after the populations dentistry needs, Jim finally hung up his tools and definitely retired, approaching his 70th birthday. He had served the people well. I had the privilege of meeting Jim in 1986 here in Lodge St. Kilda. I hardly knew a soul, but he made me feel so welcome and at home and we developed a special friendship, albeit he was a generation older than me. Jim always made his fellow masons feel special and always had a humble outlook himself. He was well known throughout North Skye for the little yellow and black 1932 baby Austin motor car that he used to drive. He had purchased the vehicle for his son Ronald's 9th birthday. Jim looked after it whilst his son was working abroad. |
| In the late 1980s Lodge St.Kilda were in financial difficulties. In the 1940s an eminent local resident, Sir Clifford Kitson,(obviously after whom a local street was named - Kitson Crescent), bequeathed to the Lodge a valuable and rare coin. This was known as the Bonnet Piece and was valued at some £2000. It had been struck to commemorate the royal visit by King James V to Skye in 1540 and from whence the name Portree originates, (Port-righ - the port of the king). It was the first Scottish coin to bear a date. Due to its severe financial situation, the Lodge reluctantly chose to sell this valuable artefact for its current market value. Jim, who was also a keen numismatologist, or expert in coins, was requested to arrange the sale and the money was subsequently paid to the Lodge. Unbeknown to the Brethren, Jim had bought the coin himself, with the hope that one day it could be returned to its moral and rightful owner, the Lodge. In 2003 the St Kilda found itself to be in a good financial state and Jim approached me with the tale, wondering if the Lodge would consider wanting to own the coin again. The coin by this time had increased in value, from £2000 to well over £3000. However, all that he would request was the original £2000, irrespective of the value increase and his loss of interest on the £2000 in over 15 years. Next page > |
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Welcome to the website of Lodge St Kilda No. 881 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
Brethren visiting the Isle of Skye, be assured that a very warm Highland welcome awaits you
at Lodge St Kilda.