Ex-Glenlyon postie Jimmy McDonald dies aged 81

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Highland Perthshire pays tribute to popular ex-Glenlyon postie Jimmy McDonald

Perthshire AdvertiserJimmy McDonald, Glenlyon postman for 20 years, died on December 6 at Perth Royal Infirmary, aged 81Jimmy McDonald, Glenlyon postman for 20 years, died on December 6 at Perth Royal Infirmary, aged 81

​Glenlyon’s much-loved former postie, Jimmy McDonald died on December 6, aged 81 at Perth Royal Infirmary.

He was warmly remembered at a service held at Perth Crematorium on December 17 and after at McDiarmid Park, Perth.

Growing up in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Jimmy trained as an apprentice electrician. He was a trusted driver for important military personnel during his national service.

Later he moved to Strathtay where he worked as a gardener, tractor driver and farmworker on estates there.

In 1978 Jimmy joined the Royal Mail and so began his connection with Glenlyon; for his was the postal route from Aberfeldy to Loch Lyon at the top of the glen.

At a time when things moved more slowly, his red bus was a welcome sight and he regularly provided the only transport for those who didn’t drive. He was glen postie for 20 years.

Jimmy-the-Post (as most knew him), met Dorothy Smith on his travels and when he retired from driving the mail, he went to live with her at Gallin, Meggernie.

As an older person he supported anything happening in the community, a regular at school plays and coffee mornings and a crack-shot at local clay pigeon competitions.

Known as a fiercely competitive person, his interests also covered golf, darts, pool, bowls, and fishing. Friends point out he always made sure he had the full kit for everything.

Perhaps his most passionate pastime was his music. Jimmy was a fine fiddle player and a master of the five-row button accordion. He was in a band called the Four Squares and later formed the Taybells. Playing all over Scotland, perhaps his greatest moment was when he was asked to play by Jimmy Shand to cover the interval at a concert.

A most practical man, Jimmy always had something going on in his workshop. In his later years and even with the onset of Parkinson’s, Jimmy was always sawing and hammering. He made many of the signs for the woodland walks created over Meggernie Estate and his enduring mantra was, “No problem”.

Jimmy leaves behind two daughters and two grandchildren.​