IN JULY of last year we had a special day attending the 97th birthday of Rob Wilson in the Meadows Nursing Home, Dornoch, where he was in good health and all assembled expected him to make the century of celebrations.
But, sadly, it was not to be.
Perhaps he had the foresight that it might be his last, for he had made all the arrangements even down to the lunch menu. A starter of broth, and (no surprise) salmon for the main course, cruachan for sweet, but for himself, brose made to his mother's recipe.
Rob was born in Brora in 1914 just a few months after the outbreak of the Great War. His grandparents, followed by his parents, Jim and Jeanie, owned and ran the established family bakery and grocery business, R Wilson & Co in the village.
But Rob was born into the era of rising technology and aviation and it was this path he followed.
As a boyhood prank he took his first exploration into flight, a box kite with a lamp inside it which he flew over the village, scaring the locals and sending them scurrying indoors. The "loose star" was the village gossip talk the next day.
Flight was in his veins and from Clyne Junior Secondary School he obtained a scholarship to the De Havilland Aircraft company in 1933, gaining ground engineer's licences for several aircraft types and also a flying licence.
With the onset of the Second World War, he joined the Air Ministry, rising to the rank of Wing Commander, and, as an aircraft crash investigator, he was involved in establishing many of the principles still used today by the present Air Accident Investigation Branch.
As a boy his first love was fishing. He was introduced to the sport by his father and he caught his first salmon at the age of 10.
But his favourite fish was the sea-trout, best caught at night or early morning. He discovered this when his father, who played cornet in the village dance band, would arrive home from the village Friday night dance and, before going to the bakehouse to fire up the ovens, he would rouse Rob and take him down to the river for a few night-time casts.
After the hostilities of war, Rob returned to Brora in 1947 to have the good fortune of being able to make a living from his hobby, building fishing rods, fly tying and eventually opening a sporting retail shop, Rob Wilson Rods and Guns.
After marrying his wife Anne in 1960, two sons, Charles and John, were born and with the family tradition in retail endeavour, his business sustained the family for over 20 years until his partial retirement in the early 80s.
During his working years he wore away some two inches of plane blade in his small workshop above brother Jock's bakehouse, working on the hard greenheart and cane for the rods that were the envy of many top fishermen.
Estate owners regularly phoned him to order up tackle for their guests and Prince Charles purchased two rods following a visit to Brora in 1977 when also he received a casting lesson outside a Brora hotel.
His knowledge on fishing and shooting was sought by many and for years he continued to give instruction on fly casting at fishing weekends run by sporting hotels, and at country fayres.
He also turned his hand to writing, contributing to fishing journals, producing a Highland Tourist Board guide to Highland trout fishing and writing articles for the local press.
He had learnt to play golf as a boy on the Brora "Gleneagles" course, a few roughly fashioned-out holes on the south side of the village river.
His first club was found for him by his non-golfing father and caused some amazement for the other boys when Rob was striking the ball with the side of the club which had the maker's name and stamp on it until they worked out it was a left-handed club he was using!
Still, he became a single handicap golfer and joined the Brora Golf Club committee, progressing to the office of president in 1954.
He stood back from the golf club in 1956 due to his business commitments which included the role of director on the board of Brora Coal and Brickwork Company.
In his senior years he returned to golf and became a founding member of the Brora Old Boys section.
In the golf club's centenary year he was co-opted onto the Centenary Committee and, reminiscing on his early years, contributed a piece to the centenary book on "Gleneagles" where as a boy his mother had sent him every day to take and return the family milking cows who grazed there.
His death after a short illness in early December 2011 stunned the community, who had lost one of its oldest at just three years short of an amazing 100.
Two tributes were given during the service, his eldest son Charles finishing his with the motto of the RAF "Per Ardua ad Astra" - "Through Adversity to the Stars"
The funeral service was held in the Clyne Church of Scotland and conducted by the Rev John Sterret, assisted by Rev Chris Mayo (Scottish Episcopalian Church), and burial was next to the Wilson family grave in Clyne Cemetery.
With his insight, contribution and fishing knowledge, given freely to the Loch Brora Angling Club, the trolley bearing the coffin was taken into the cemetery by its members.
At the head was club president Douglas Sutherland and Secretary Bert Kennedy accompanied by Bill Main, John Clarkson, Donald MacLennan and Murdo Ballantyne.
At the graveside the chief mourners were Charles and John Wilson (sons), and relatives Robin Wilson, James Wilson, Ross Wilson, Stanley Smith, Ted Gregory. From Northampton were nephews Keith, Michael and Robin Thomson, completed by close friends Duncan Matheson, Brora, and Tom Tew, Dornoch - contributed by Charles Wilson and Robin Wilson.
