One of Tiree’s oldest residents Christina Campbell McNeill – Chrissie- will be celebrating her 90th Birthday next weekend.
Chrissie was born on 28th February 1920 at the family home, Balinoe Post Office and lived there with her parents Flora and Lachie (a postman), three sisters Flora Anne, Alix & Phem, and her father’s sister Julieanne, who ran the Post Office. Chrissie’s memories of growing up at Balinoe are happy ones, she and her sisters were all taught how to run the Post Office by their Auntie, but by her own admission Chrissie was not a lover of school and couldn’t wait to leave. During the war she joined the WRENs and spent some time in England. On her return to Tiree she married Lachie MacFarlane from Balemartine, living first at Manitoba in Balephuil and then at the Upper Square, Hynish where they lived with their sons Iain & Lachie. (Lachie’s arrival into the world made headline news as the first baby to be born (mid-air) on Loganair’s Ambulance Plane).
Sadly, Chrissie’s husband, Lachie died in 1996. As well as bringing up her sons, Chrissie worked in Brown’s shop at Balemartine and the knitwear factory in Crossapol and provided a welcome holiday home for Christine and Neil, two of her grandchildren, each school holiday. Her other grandchild Ross stays on the mainland. She has three great grand children, and over the years a great deal of time has been spent playing many a game of whist, draughts and dominoes with Kenny and Nicola, the older two.
After spending a while living with and being cared for by Iain in Hynish Chrissie has now moved into Tigh a Rudha where her cheery disposition, wit and sense of humour means that the Staff and visitors have many a laugh with her and look forward to enjoying her company for many years to come.
to a very special
Gran and Greatgran.
All our love on this
wonderful day
Christine, Neil, Kenny,
Nicola and Michael
