12th Aug 2021

It is with great sadness this week that we mourn the passing of Donald (Don) Mitchell. Don was a founding director of the MACC group who can be credited with hatching the idea of buying the former RAF Airbase on behalf of the community - with help from some coffee and a few Kitkats. He was a vital part in developing the plan to complete the most complicated community asset purchase ever attempted in Scotland and tirelessly drove it on through thousands of voluntary hours of effort.

Dons’ history with the site dates back to the 1960’s when he arrived as part of the engineering team responsible for the expansion of the site’s main runway to its current 10,003ft to accommodate the UK’s V-Bomber fleet and larger NATO aircraft that used the site in the Cold War era. After retiring from the local council Don was head hunted to help the with sites maintenance in the latter years of military ownership. His encyclopaedic knowledge was infamous and put to great use in helping the MoD and then MACC keep the site operating.

Ever a gentleman, Don was a vociferous and eloquent defender of the founding principles that govern MACC. He always made time for those who wanted to know more. Respected and admired by all who knew him he will greatly missed by everyone here at MACC.

On Tuesday 17th of August Don will be laid to rest, a funeral cortege will leave his home at 1pm and travel from Limecraigs through Ralston Road, Main Street to Kilkerran Cemetery, those who wish to pay their respects can line the streets to do so.

Pictures – Don Mitchell opening Machrihanish Gun Club and handing over a charitable donation to the local Kidney dialysis campaign.