OBITUARY: Michael Macpherson, Rogart
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The biggest funeral Rogart has seen in many years took place on January 12 when several hundred friends and family attended the Free Church at Pitfure to say goodbye to Michael John Alexander Macpherson.
Whether you knew him as Mike, Mac, Pherse or Michael, he was a force of nature. With his rich, deep voice and desert-dry one-liners he was the life and soul of many a party. Tributes were paid by his former army colleague, Charlie, his nephew Paul, and on behalf of his wife, Jean. They all painted a picture of a funny, warm, loving, straight-talking and mischievous man.
Michael was born on July 24, 1958 to Joan and Ian Macpherson. The family lived at Knockarthur with three of his grandparents and his older sister, Helen.
He attended Rhilochan Primary School where, with only four pupils on the roll, lessons were often held in the cosy living room of the teacher’s house. The class was occasionally interrupted by the arrival of the teacher’s husband, a little worse for wear from drinking. When Rhilochan closed in 1965 Michael moved to Rogart School. One of his abiding memories was of Mr Nelson stopping the class, rapidly exiting the classroom, followed by a loud bang, and returning clutching a dead pheasant.
Going to high school was not his favourite activity but he managed to convince his teachers that living in the heights of Knockarthur, he would be snowed in a lot. This could be at any time between October and April, although, amazingly, on these days he did manage to get down to Sonny’s garage at Pitfure to help out for the day.
He was very close to his older sister, Helen, and when she got married, it was Michael, who gave her away at the age of 14.
Michael joined the army in 1974 where he became known as Mac. While serving in 2 Squadron, 1 Armoured Division Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport, he took part in tours and exercises in Northern Ireland, Canada, Belize and Germany where his job was to watch and wait for the Soviet hordes that never came.
The army also gave Michael lifelong friends, as evidenced by the number of his former comrades who were there to support Jean at the end.
After nine years, Michael returned to civilian life. One of his first jobs was driving livestock transports for Robertsons at Lairg. This included transporting sheep to the Rogart Mart. It was not an easy place to reverse into, especially with the eyes of the Rogart pub patrons across the road fixed on him. But he did it perfectly first time and breathed a huge sigh of relief as he would have been teased mercilessly if he had botched it up.
His army training as a bulk fuel operator stood him in good stead as this led to him driving tankers, eventually becoming depot supervisor with Scottish fuels.
By the time they married in 2021, Jean and Michael had been best friends and partners for more than 30 years. During that time Michael was a wonderful stepfather to Jean’s children, Iain and Jennifer. He even taught Jennifer to drive, although one lesson ended with them in a ditch.
As an uncle, he could be quite blunt with his two nephews. One of them, Paul, remembers: “When we were kids he used to take us on his quad bike out to shoot. Once, we were out with the rifle, and I was about to shoot a rabbit when, out of nowhere, a deer appeared in front of us. Uncle Michael grabbed the rifle off me and shot the deer. He then took my brand new knife, which I had just bought off, and proceeded to cut up the deer. I was absolutely devastated, my new knife was covered in blood and guts and scratched to bits. He could see how upset I was and all he said to me was ‘I’ll bloody get you a new one, be quiet.’”
When Jean lost her son, Iain, in 2018, Michael, along with Jennifer, was a staunch support.
In and around Rogart, Michael (usually known as Young Pherse and then just Pherse) was involved in numerous parish activities. He enjoyed fishing, (including a spot of poaching) and was a good shot. He was a keen motorcyclist and regularly went to the Northwest 200 race in Ireland and to watch the motorcycle trials at Fort William. Michael also loved his dogs: Finn his collie and Ailagh the “little therapy dog “ as he called her. He was involved in the curling club and even volunteered to be a strippergram at a local 40th birthday party. But he was never happier than when he was in his shed – he even bought a fridge for it.
Michael’s pedigree has deep roots in Rogart. On his father’s side he was descended from the Macphersons of Ardachu, Mackays and Sutherlands of Muie, and the Ross family of Kinnauld. His mother’s ancestors were Maclennans of Laide, Bells of Inchomney, the Innes family of Knockarthur and Frasers of Dalreavoch.
The huge attendance at Michael’s funeral was a testament to his life, and the esteem in which he was held.
Michael will be remembered with great love and affection as a devoted husband, stepfather, brother, uncle, friend, colleague and brother-in-arms. Christina Perera
