WILLIAM Macdonald, a familiar and colourful figure in Cowes, died at St Mary’s Hospital last Friday, aged 60.
Mr Macdonald was born on May 26, 1949, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia, a British colony). He spent much of his childhood on the banks of the Zambezi River, leading a wild and enchanted life. He returned time and again to this personal paradise.
As an adult, Mr Macdonald led a peripatetic life, living in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique, working as a chef, hotel manager and proprietor, accountant, wildlife guide and dealer in curios.
He lived through a turbulent period of Rhodesian history, leading to Zimbabwean independence in 1980. The ensuing economic decline led Mr Macdonald to emigrate in 2007.
He moved to Cowes, the home of his uncle. Until recently, he lived in York Road and was a regular at the Duke of York pub and a member of Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club. Dressed all year round in shorts with desert boots, or "veldskoen", he displayed his colonial heritage proudly.
Mr Macdonald was admitted to hospital on February 10 and was nursed in the intensive care unit.
He is survived by his son, William, who lives in the Netherlands, daughter, Morayne, in Phoenix, USA, stepson Quinton, in Stoke-on-Trent, three grandchildren, his sister, Sheila, and brother, Angus.
His funeral will be at the IW Crematorium at 9.45am on Wednesday, followed by a gathering at the Duke of York.
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