Mr. Ewen William Cameron

Ewen William Cameron Born Raigmore Hospital, Inverness 6th August 1956 Parents: Hector Cameron, Railway Clerk and Angusina Cameron (nee Tuach) Siblings: Patricia (Pat), Michael and Lesley. Ewen being the youngest. Step-mother: Amelia (Milly) Cameron (nee Robertson) Step-sister Catherine Mackay. Half siblings; Martin and Fiona. Ewen was born in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands on 6th August 1956, his family at the time were living in a Station Cottage in Alness where he lived with his siblings Patricia (Pat), Michael and Lesley. In 1957 the family moved, 7 miles, to the Station House in the small village of Kildary, where Ewen’s father was station master. Ewen broke his arm there when he stood on his tricycle to try to reach the sneck (latch) on the shed door. His best pal at the time was Catherine whose parents ran the nearby general store; Catherine is 9 months younger than Ewen. (more on Catherine later). Happy times there, playing along with the other children in who lived in the nearby station cottages. In 1961 Ewen’s mother was taken into hospital with cancer. Ewen and Michael went to stay with their aunt Mary at Inverbroom Farm, near Ullapool in the West of Scotland, where they both attended school – and church. Sunday was a very strictly observed in the West of Scotland, with long sermons, we used to get a “Pandrop” which is a hard-boiled mint flavoured sweet, once Ewen dropped his and the congregation could hear it roll down the wooden floor – so no more Pandrops for Ewen. Pat and Lesley went to stay with another aunt in Auldearn, then moved to another aunt in Plockton. During August that year the family were reunited at their paternal grandmother’s house in Nairn, ready for the new school term. Sadly, Ewen’s mother, never got out of hospital and passed away in August 1961, three weeks after Ewen’s 5th birthday. Ewen’s father at that time was doing relief Station Master duties at several different stations in the West of Scotland so staying with “Nanna in Nairn” was the only real option for the family. In 1962 The family moved with the family to the Station House in Alness. In 1963 Ewen’s father married Catherine’s mother (Catherine’s father had died from cancer). Later two more children came along; sister Fiona and brother Martin. All living in the house attached to the General Store. Ewen attended school in Kildary. Weekend highlights often consisted of the whole family getting into the car and travelling around remote parts of the highlands, great adventures for the kids. Ewen and his step-mother sometimes had a fractious relationship, but the children all got along very well and still do today. Ewen left senior school (Invergordon Academy) in 1971 and worked in a Fish Factory before leaving to join the Army on 13 September 1971. (the smell of fish announced his arrival home each evening). Ewen made many friends in the army, several have remained in touch throughout the remainder of his life, and have been supportive of his family following his death. His army career took him to many places including Germany, Canada, Belize and probably others. In 1978 Ewen left the Army and returned to Kildary, he worked at a builder’s merchant in Invergordon then at the port of Nigg where they were building jackets for the North Sea oil rigs. He liked to keep fit and did a lot of running and played soccer, for several local teams. He also ran soccer coaching and training for local youngsters. He followed the local Ross County and Scotland national soccer teams. In 1984 Ewen married and lived in Alness, had a lovely house which he did a lot of work on. However, the marriage didn’t last and following divorce in 1989 Ewen went to work in London. 1994 in London, Ewen met Donald “Don” Macleod, by chance, and worked on various sites for him between 1994 and 1998. In 1998 Don introduced Ewen to John “Sean” Kelly with whom he went to America. Ewen married (2003/4?) Alexandra and was very proud to speak of his step-daughter Marisia, in his rare communications with brother Michael. Following Ewen’s cancer diagnosis, contact with his family in the UK was much better (thanks to Facebook), it became clear that he had made many good friends in the US and had made a better life out there than he would have had if he remained in the UK. It is comforting for the family to know that he had no regrets about leaving the UK, this was confirmed when he decided that his ashes should remain there following his death. Ewen’s family will always be grateful to those who have helped Ewen throughout his time in the “States” and those who supported him through his illness. I don’t know the names of all his friends and buddies, but would especially like to pay tribute to Alexandra who did a huge amount to help him through his illness, and for keeping in touch with me. Also, Jerry who was a very good friend to Ewen as well as his boss. The last time I saw Ewen face to face was at my daughter Mhairi’s christening October 1989, when he was godfather to her. I think his last visit to the family in Kildary was in 1993. Additional material sent to me by Catherine, she was away in Sweden when I last visited Kildary: Before he became my brother, he was my friend. There is a lovely picture of the two of us in the front garden and Ewen has just given me a plastic ring he got in a lucky bag- we were engaged!!! aged four (me) and five ( Ewen). Ewen has his gun and holster on. With Ewen being less than a year older than me, we did lots of things together. I remember, together with Magnus Campbell we made a secret den half way up the road to the station, on the bank on the right in amongst broom bushes. I remember we took rhubarb out of the old station garden and tried to eat it raw! Ewen munched happily on it but I couldn’t it was so sour. Also I soon learnt that if I screamed when Ewen put a worm down my back, he just did it again, so I steeled myself and didn’t react and he soon stopped. We played cowboys and Indians in and out of the various sheds at the old station. The day he tripped and fell on a big glass sweetie jar in the shop store, and it broke and he had a terrible cut to his hand and wrist and blood everywhere, and had to be rushed to the doctor for stitches. When he got back, Mam served tomato soup for lunch and none of us could eat it!! Later on when he was third year at Invergordon Academy he went out with the prettiest girl in his year, he was quite a charmer and I remember him all dressed up for the Christmas school dance, complete with bright orange cravat! When he had his men’s clothes shop in Alness, I would pop in when up on holiday, and there was always a great welcome and there was no way he allowed family to pay full price no matter how much you said you wanted to. I will always remember his big smile, the way he said “ Gosh Catherine “ when he was surprised to see me or hear my voice. On the phone we talked about everyday things he remembered from home. One day I mentioned Frey Bentos pies! He said he hadn’t tasted one since he left the UK. Next phone call he told me he had found somewhere that sold them and had bought a case of a dozen- he gave most of them away! Being just 9 months older than me, Ewen was my age when he passed away, my Birthday in May and his would have been in August had he lived. Too young, too young. Michael, if you want to add any of that to what you have put together, that is fine, if not that is fine too. Ewen won’t be forgotten, I will think of him every time I eat a Frey Bentos steak and kidney pie! Xx

Mr. Ewen William Cameron

August 6, 1956 - July 15, 2024