Willie Duff
Willie Duff, Gamekeeper, Musician, 1810-1882
"Willie Duff . . . entered the late Duke of Athole's service as
game-watcher in 1839 . . . From his willing disposition and ready
handiness, Willie had an important share in all the late Duke's
sports. In otter-hunting, he carried the spade and implements
for unearthing the otter. As a fisherman, he is most patient
and skilful; he always rowed the Duke's boat on the Tay, and is now
the Duchess Dowager's fisherman at Dunkeld.
Willie joined the Athole Highlanders in 1839 and was Lord
Glenlyon's henchman at the Eglinton Tournament. Willie has
read a great deal and has a curious amount of miscellaneous
information; he ties salmon flies very dexterously and can knit
stockings of elaborate patterns; he sings Gaelic songs extremely
well and when younger, his voice had much pathetic sweetness; he is
a good performer on the violin and bass and writes down music from
ear."
Source: Kenneth Macleay, The Highlanders of
Scotland, 1870, quoted in The Atholl Experience, Vol 9 (1), p
40
Illustration: Willie Duff and his grandson,
reproduced by kind permission of Atholl Estates, in The Atholl
Experience, Vol 9 (1) p40 |
"Duff was six feet three inches high
and had a striking appearance, his beard being large and luxuriant
and his hair long and curly and flowing over his massive
shoulders.; he was known, indeed as 'Bearded Willie', or in Gaelic,
Voolie mhat, or 'Big Willie'."
Source: unattributed, The Atholl Experience, Vol 9
(1) p40
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