Biography

Iain Smith, Iain Beag Pàdraig Smith, was born in South Boisdale, South Uist, on 5 February 1923.

He attended Garynamonie Primary School, followed by Daliburgh School and Lochaber High School. Still a young man when the Second World War began, he served in the Air Force and spent part of the war in Burma and the Dutch East Indies.

On 20 July 1960, he married Chrissie MacPhee, Ciorstaidh Dhòmhnaill ’ic Nìll, from his own village. They had two sons: Iain Anthony, who worked for a time as a news presenter with Grampian Television, and Donald Allan, who worked for Caledonian MacBrayne in Lochboisdale. Chrissie passed away in January 2007.

After the war and into the 1950s, Iain worked for several years at the seaweed factory in Orosay. He also owned the Post Office in South Boisdale and helped there when needed. He later spent more than thirty years working for the Hydro in the power stations at Daliburgh and Lochcarnan, remaining there until his retirement.

Although he did not often sing in front of an audience, Iain would sing at ceilidhs and weddings in South Uist.

He passed away in January 2016.