1920 – 2017
Hotelier and yachtsman - Ian Fyfe
THE DEATH of Ian Fyfe marked the end of an extraordinary life. From humble beginnings in Moodiesburn, Lanarkshire, he went on to become well known in Lochaber and beyond as a successful hotelier and yachtsman. He served for seven years in the RAF and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (1939 to 1946) as a navigator flying long-range bombers and Swordfish torpedo bombers. After the war, he owned a grocery shop and photography business. He also wrote match reports for the Daily Record. After holidaying in the Highlands, he became aware of the rapidly expanding tourist industry and the need for accommodation, which led him to purchase a croft near Fort William in 1963. The croft dwelling was developed into a large guest house before he then designed and built the Clan MacDuff Hotel in 1967. He continued enlarging and improving this over the following 35 years.