I first met Hamish Henderson, who died yesterday, on the avenue at Dunstaffnage House, Connel, in the s. Even then the similarities between these two struck me: the aristocratic manners; love of learning; effortless command of languages.
When Hamish called on my father that evening they spoke in Gaelic. I have in front of me a photograph that epitomises Hamish's lifelong energy and cultural commitment. The Blairgowrie boy pupil of the famous ''Dancie'' Reid is in full Highland regalia, performing the Fling.
His mother was the formative influence, Hamish's father, a Royal Scots Fusiliers officer, having died following war service. Hamish's mother sang Scots and French songs, and even competed in.
When his mother moved to a position in Somerset, Hamish seemed to become a high-class Sassenach: prep school, Dulwich College, Cambridge. But the kilted student from Perthshire participated in ceilidhs with. There was always a mystique about Hamish Henderson. Had he been a secret agent? Certainly at Cambridge he worked with the Society of Friends to encourage those who were opposing the Nazis in Germany, and to help Jewish refugees to escape.
Both men found creative inspiration in the heat and dust of North Africa. In the notebooks he used to write down his own poems, Hamish scribbled songs he collected from allied, German, and Italian soldiers. He even read. Italian partisans' translations of Sorley's poetry, being one of the first to proclaim the man from Raasay's genius.
