Mary MacDonald, known universally as Mary ‘Drum’ was an active and much-loved stalwart of the Cowal community which was her home for all of her 86 years.

During those eight decades, and especially in the Kyles of Bute, she made a huge contribution to local life as postwoman and in a variety of volunteer roles to care for the elderly, support young farmers and pursue sporting passions for golf, bowling and shinty.

Born on 6th May 1938 at Drum Farm, Kilfinan, Mary was the second of five children to Neil and Betty Paterson.

Against the backdrop of the second world war it was a tough but happy childhood on the farm along with older brother Neil and younger siblings Jenny, Ann and John. Later they would be joined by an unofficially adopted family member when neighbour Dugie ‘Whaler’ Thomson moved in to lodge at Drum.

Farming life required everyone to do their bit and get stuck in – and this was an approach Mary applied throughout her life in whatever she did.

As much as she enjoyed working with the cows and pigs, farming couldn’t provide full time employment so in 1958 Mary joined the post office. Her first job was at Kilfinan, delivering the mail on motorbike before moving to Tighnabruaich Post Office in 1976.

There was much more to the job than handing in the letters each day.

For many residents she would bring shopping, their pensions, cooked meals they had asked for the previous day or just be there for a friendly word and to give the general news from the district.

This sense of generosity was never better demonstrated than at Christmas time when Mary would invite local folk who lived on their own for lunch at her home in Kilfinan, before cooking for the Drum family at night.

For her service to the community Mary was named as the Post Office Personality of the Year, and in 1990 she was awarded the British Empire Medal. This was an accolade she was especially proud to receive, having been nominated by the people of the village.

She spent almost her entire working life delivering the mail in Kilfinan, Tighnabruaich and surrounding areas before eventually retiring in 2002.

Her origins on the farm encouraged a good social life.

She joined the West Cowal Young Farmers Club at 15 and soon took on the role as secretary. The shows and dances they all attended at the time would help form many lasting friendships and associations.

It was the blue, white and red of the Kyles Athletic shinty team, however, which held the greatest part of Mary’s sporting affection.

She had been a good player herself in her school days at Kilfinan, turning out in matches against Tighnabruaich.

Later, she and sister Jenny helped form a Kyles ladies team which travelled to play matches against Newtonmore and Oban. They were ahead of their time, as this was decades before the establishment of the women’s game as we know it today.

Whether it was primary, junior or senior teams Mary would follow Kyles everywhere.

She took the collection at home games and, in a job she inherited from her mother, she made the tea and Bovril at half time – a gesture that was always appreciated by players and referees in the days of winter shinty.

She took on numerous fundraising duties, and organised dances to help keep the club running. There was no prouder supporter when the club lifted trophies – and especially memorable moments came watching son Fraser win the Camanachd Cup on two occasions.

Even in later years, when still able to drive, Mary and her partner Jimmy Mitchell would head off every Saturday to follow ‘the boys’. Their touchline presence, from Kingussie to Oban, was a continued source of pride and encouragement for the players every week.

Aside from the shinty Mary was a keen and competitive golfer at the Kyles of Bute club. She won the Ladies Championship several times and in the pairs formed a formidable, and successful partnership with Tam Whyte.

Always keen to encourage the younger generation she took on the role of junior convenor and introduced dozens of children to the game over many years.

Bowling was another sport she enjoyed, playing at Kilfinan and Innellan.  Thursday night at Kifinan was bowling night, a great social occasion which often sparked the sort of impromptu party for which her home at the Old School House was renowned.

It could be said that Mary’s happiest years came following retirement. Although knowing Jimmy Mitchell for years through bowling and young farmers, they found love later in life and Mary moved in with Jimmy in Toward.

They went on numerous cruises together, loved going to music festivals, ceilidhs, carpet bowls and shinty matches.

Jimmy passed away last December and his passing had a major impact on Mary, whose health had deteriorated in recent months.

She will be best remembered as an energetic, cheery character with a big heart and who always strived for the best for her community and family.

Mary died on Wednesday 18th September, surrounded by family, at Ashgrove Care Home in Dunoon.

Sympathies are extended to children Fraser and Kirsteen, daughter in law Karen, son in law John and grandchildren Aimee, Rachel and Callum, as well as sister Jenny and brothers Neil and John, Robin Christie, Dugie Thomson and extended families.

The funeral service will be at 11am on Tuesday 8^th October at Kyles Parish Church and thereafter to Millhouse cemetery.