42913: Malcolm Macleod

Malcolm, son of Murdo Macleod and Ann Macleod, 11 Balallan married Ann Macleod, 3 Balallan and resided at 35 Balallan. Malcolm was for 30 years the local postman in the days when the round included a call to Eishken thrice weekly. The mails were exceptionally heavy and the reward for carrying overweight loads for 7 or 8 miles, partly across moorland, was small.

He was renowned for his strength and endurance. On one occasion when he had to ferry a ram to one of the islands on Loch Trialaval, he carried the boat on his back, an oar under each arm and the ram’s tether tied around his waist.