Splash McKillop

I've just heard the very sad news that Splash McKillop has died. Splash and his late brother John were the livewires of Berneray – an island just above North Uist, ringed with sand and the most flower-strewn machair I've ever seen. Prince Charles would agree. Splash was his "minder" during the Prince's tattie-planting period 20 years ago, and guarded the royal presence so well, the press didn't know his royal fingers has been on Uist until he'd gone.

I met Splash and his equally feisty Australian wife Gloria three years ago, cycling up the Western Isles for a BBC Radio series and afterwards a book. Despite his reputation for savaging journalists, Splash spared me. Indeed every time I visited thereafter it was like meeting a part of my own family. Recent years for the McKillops were taken up with lengthy trips to Glasgow for treatment to combat cancer, but neither Splash nor Gloria let the pain or worry dent their determination to live to the full with as much laughter and general nonsense as they could pack in. Since I've just read the sad news online and not been able to speak to Gloria yet, I don't know what finally brought the great man down. He was funny, fiery, playful, practical and patient with Hebridean novices and long, convoluted stories (especially if he was telling them!) His patience with the authorities however was far shorter. Splash and his brother John had grown up in nature, not looking at it from a window. And they both bitterly resented intrusion – even if it was intended to help. Here's a wee exchange from the book with John and Splash that sums up the brothers. I feel so sorry for Gloria and for John's widow Kate who will feel his loss all over again with today's sad news.

"Ah yes. We used to kill a seal every year. Just one. And we used the blubber for the horses – they had beautiful coats afterwards. We just forced the blubber into their mouths. And then we boiled down the seal oil for ourselves. It cured everything."

"…and more." Splash has a healthy disdain for the infinite.

"It cured my pleurosy in two weeks and my wife's arthritis."

I was starting to get interested again.

"Of course it gave you TB if you took too much."

"Tuberculosis?"

"Yes. TB."

"Well maybe that's why doctors didn't want you to use it?"

"Ah, but we always knew when we had enough."

By now I was on the edge of my seat as John lent forward and opened the palm of his large hand.

"When the oil gathered in a pool in the centre of your palm, then you knew you had taken enough seal oil."

"Yes, that was enough then," said Splash. "You would be cured."

I looked long and hard at the two brothers for any hint of mischief making. They were absolutely serious.

"Now we have seals everywhere but no seal oil, geese everywhere and we can hardly shoot them and even rabbits across the causeway. And what can we do to get balance? Nothing."

John's fist banged on the table -- the tea cup wobbled again..

Comments

[Donald Morrison]

A wonderful tribute to a great man! You put into words what we all think. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gloria.

[John P O"Dea]

I grew up at Temora NSW Australia and knew Gloria's family well.I recall a dinner party at my family's home at which Gloria and Donald were guests during one of their trips home to Australia to visit Gloria's family.
I would like to contact Gloria by email and I would appreciate it if you would email her email address.