This site is a tribute to Donald Barr (1941 - 2024)

https://www.scotstream.net/donald-gilmour-barr

Donald Barr, beloved husband, father, grandfather, musician, educator, and champion of Scottish culture, passed away peacefully, with family by his side, on Wednesday the 10th of April 2024 at the age of 83 years.
 
Born on the 2nd of February 1941 and raised in Paisley, alongside his brothers, Norman and Brian. The family spent their summers in Newtonmore, the ancestral home of his mother, Anna Cattanach. His father, James Gilmour Barr, was Director of Music for the Glasgow Corporation. Donald was educated at Paisley Grammar School and Glasgow High School.
 
From a young age, Donald had a deep love of music and he learned to play the viola, violin and piano. He studied at the RSAMD and Jordanhill College, qualifying as a Music Teacher. Donald set out to do something about the virtual absence of Scottish Music from the Scottish curriculum, including pipes and fiddle music.

Donald went on to become Principal Music Teacher at Lochaber High School, Wick Academy, Buckie High School, and Speyside High School, where he inspired countless students. Music remained central to Donald's life. He founded both the Speyside Fiddlers, Strathspey Fiddlers and Badenoch Fiddlers. He adjudicated at the National Gaelic Mod, directed Buckie Choral Union and various Gaelic choirs.

A firm believer in Scottish independence, Donald was also a political activist with the SNP and stood as a candidate for Parliament. A pillar of the Church of Scotland, he served as an Elder in Keith and in Badenoch. His love of nature and Scottish history led him to write, with his brother Brian, the book 'The Spey from Source to Sea'. 

With a characteristic dose of self-deprecating humour, he once described himself as "last in the queue when God was handing out singing voices." This, however, did not deter him from bringing magnificent oratorios to the wee fishing town of Buckie - this included performances of Haydn's Creation, Handel's Messiah, and Verdi's Requiem.
 
Donald will be remembered as a gifted storyteller, an eloquent orator, a mountain-climber and a lifelong ‘Buddie’ (St Mirren supporter). He was a loving husband to Morag, and a devoted father to Douglas, Alasdair, Elise, and stepfather to Kerry. He cherished his grandchildren Callum, Rowan, Brady, Martha, Harry, Eva, and Jamie.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mains House Care Home for their outstanding care over the past few years and particularly in his last days of life.

Details of Donald's funeral service can be found below. In the meantime, we would like to invite you to pour yourself a dram and share your memories, messages, photos and music.