A former shinty stalwart has been presented with a personalised caman to mark his 82nd birthday, and the decades of devotion to the team he once played for.
Donald Macaskill played both outfield and in goal for Lovat Shinty Club and also served as bootman.
He received the hand-crafted caman at Urray House Care Home in Muir of Ord where he is a resident.
Mr Macaskill, a well-known figure in Kiltarlity, began playing shinty in 1959 after leaving the RAF.
He played in the Lovat second team forward line during his first season and later played in goal, including a spell in the first team.
He competed throughout the 1960s and, after hanging up his own boots, became club bootman, cleaning and preparing the players’ boots ahead of matches.
He continued to watch Lovat for many years and still follows the team.
Mr Macaskill said: “I never missed a match for years on end. I was a huge Lovat supporter and still love listening to matches on the radio. This caman means the world to me.”
The special caman was made by Alan MacPherson, also from Kiltarlity and a former Lovat player, who runs Inverness-based Tanera Camans.
Mr MacPherson was contacted by a care worker at Urray House with the idea for the caman.
He said: “I remember Donald fondly as a kid growing up in Kiltarlity. He was a very nice man and always encouraged us to play shinty.
“I was absolutely delighted to make the stick and personalise it for him.”
