Biography

John W. M. Bannerman was born on the 13th of August 1932 in the old manse at Balmaha, where he lived almost all his life. His father, Lord Bannerman of Kildonan, was a famous Liberal, and known as a man who stood for Gaelic rights, and as a rugby player who played for Scotland internationally.

His mother was Ray Mundell from Sutherland and they had four children. Ray Michie, who was a Member of Parliament for Argyll and Bute from 1987 to 2001, was John's sister. Gaelic was important to him. Between leaving school and going to university, he spent a year in South Uist with John and Anna MacKinnon of Daliburgh, becoming more fluent in the language and learning songs from singers such as Kate MacDonald (Bean Eairdsidh Raghnaill) [12]. He graduated with Honours in Celtic Studies from the University of Glasgow and then went to Cambridge University. He spent a year at the University of Aberdeen before taking up a post as a lecturer in Scottish History at the University of Edinburgh in 1965. When his father died in 1968 John took over the farm at Balmaha and for nearly thirty years he did two jobs – farmer and lecturer. When he retired from lecturing in 1997, he farmed full-time.

John married Chrissie Dick from North Uist in 1959 and they had five children – Annie, Mary, Kate, John and Gilbert.

John was an exceptional scholar. Though somewhat shy by nature, he was greatly respected by his students, and many who teach history today were influenced by him. His output can also be seen in a series of important books he wrote: Studies in the History of Dalriada (1974); Late Medieval Monumental Sculpture in the West Highlands (1977); and The Beatons (1986), a book about the MacBeth clan who were famous physicians in many parts of Scotland from the 14th to the early 18th century.

John died on the 8th of October 2008 at home in the old manse at Balmaha.