| Administrative History | Sir “Tommy” Macpherson was born 4 Oct 1920 in Edinburgh. He was the youngest child of Sir Thomas Stewart Macpherson, who was a judge in the Indian Civil Service, and Lady Helen Macpherson, daughter of the Rev. Archibald Borland Cameron. Lady Helen Macpherson, lived to be 100 years of age, and was one of the first group of women to enter Edinburgh University in 1893. After Sir Thomas retired from the Indian Civil Service the family relocated to Speyville House, Newtonmore. At the outbreak of the Second World War Sir “Tommy” Macpherson joined the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, and subsequently volunteered for the Commandos in 1940. He was believed to be the most decorated surviving veteran of the war. Among his many military exploits was he single-handedly forced the surrender of the 23,000 strong SS Panzer division Das Reich in France in 1944. After the war Sir “Tommy” joined timber company William Mallinson & Sons, which signalled the beginning of a long and illustrious career in business. He held many directorships, including at Brooke Bond Group, Birmid Qualcast, Scottish Mutual Assurance, Independent Insurance and the National Coal Board, and was chairman of Annington Holdings, Boustead, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce (1986-1988), and Eurochambres (1992-1994). He also fulfilled many important roles in the Territorial Army, The Royal Company of Archers, and The Worshipful Company of Dyers. In 1953, Sir “Tommy” married Jean Butler-Wilson and they went on to have three children Angus, Ishbel, and Duncan. The family combined life in London, where Lady Jean opened Hyde Park Nursery School, with their ancestral home in Newtonmore, at Balavil House and latterly Craig Dhu House. |