| Administrative History | Born in Wick in 1920 Donnie Mackay, volunteered to serve with the RAF (volunteer reserve) during WW2 rather than waiting to get called up. Donnie served in the RAF from 1940 to 1946 after training in England as an Aircraft Electrical Technician.
He went on to work on various military aircraft that would take part in the Battle of Britain.
He was then transferred to India and worked on many RAF stations there, servicing and repairing aircraft for the Burma Campaign. Donnie was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal.
Following the end of World War II Donnie should have been released from the RAF, however as a single man and with transportation being limited, he remained in service until March 1946.
On returning to Great Britain he worked in the Clyde Shipbuilding industry as an electrician. Conditions were so poor he commenced his own taxi business in Glasgow and this is when he met his future wife Jean, who resided in Bearsden Glasgow.
On marrying the couple moved back to Wick and took over "The Ensign " Newsagents in Stafford Place on the retiral of the previous owner, Mr T. Craig. They ran this as a successful business from 1954 to their retiral in 1988, raising 4 children: Eswyl, Dan, Thomas and Alexander who all participated in the running of the newsagents from a young age.
Donnie and Jean Mackay were well known and respected in the Wick community and the shop is still remembered fondly as being a busy hub for the locals. |