Jocky Grant


From Moriston Matters, Issue 27, February 1982.

The death in hospital after a short illness, of Jocky Grant on November 7th removed from the community a notable son of Glenmoriston. Born 64 years ago (He was the first baby to be baptised in the new - that is, the present - Church of Scotland building at Invermoriston) of parents who came into the Glen and settled at Culnacarn he grew up with a great love for and interest in his surroundings. His awareness of them would no doubt be fostered early as he walked the four miles to and from Dalchreichart School each day. After a period of war service with the 4th Battalion Cameron Highlanders when he was seriously shell-shocked and wounded be became a bus-driver with MacBraynes, first on the Whitebridge route and then on the Fort Augustus one. As well as driving the bus (in turn with his mate, Sandy MacDonald of Fort Augustus) he attended to mails, newspapers, parcels, messages of all kinds and the passengers. He knew all the 'regulars' and had a cheery word for each and in those days with twenty or thirty schoolchildren travelling to Glenurquhart there might be standing room only for parts of the journey.

With the completion of the dams he found employment as a fitter/driver with the Hydro-Electric Board, and this seemed an ideal arrangement, for the shift work left him with an opportunity to carry out a long-cherished dream and bring the old croft at Inchewan, where he built a house for him family, back into production, and for a while he concentrated on pig-rearing. He also found time for his other great love - fishing. He was one of those whose pioneer efforts brought TV to Invermoriston, and at first the nerve-centre of the piped system was housed in his attic. All these interests brought him many friends and acquaintances for any of whom he would have done a good turn at any time. Although suffering from spells of ill-health in recent years ho continued to live life as fully as possible, and only last summer on a beautiful afternoon he took the writer to look for the site of an old croft in connection with an article for Moriston Matters. To his mother and the many other members of the family we offer our sincere sympathy.