Obituary

Nairnshire Telegraph January 14th 1986

Although known to his Nairn-shire friends only during his years of retirement at Croy and Nairn, Mr Roderick R. F. Maclennan who died at his home, 10 Glebe Road, on  January 2, was a man who, in his earlier life, had made his mark both in business and in the field of sport. Son of a regular officer in the Gordon Highlanders, Mr Maclennan was born 82 years ago in Glasgow, but the family soon moved first to Aberdeen, where he attended Aberdeen Grammar School and then to London where he attended the Merchant Tailors' School. 

His father and elder brother were both killed in the First World War. After working in London for a time he joined I.C.I in 1929, eventually being appointed the big chemical firm's area manager in Northern Ireland where he became one of the best known figures in business circles.  Beside his duties as I.C.I. chief in Belfast he was a director of Richardsons (Ulster) Ltd., a past-chairman of the Society of Chemical Industry (Northern Ireland section), a member of council of the British Institute of Management, Northern Ireland Region, and an active supporter of many other bodies, ranging from the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society in the Belfast Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Maclennan's flare for sport became evident early in his life. As a schoolboy he won the middle-weight Public Schools' Boxing Championship and his progress in the rugby field earned him first a cap for Middlesex and then for England.  He was a member of the English side which played Scotland in the inaugural match at Murrayfield and 50 years later took part in the celebration of that event.  While in Ulster he sustained his interest in the game through membership of Malone RFC and the North of Ireland Rugby and Cricket Club. He was also a member of the Royal Belfast Golf Club and of Royal County Down.

It was due to ill health that he retired in 1965 to the old family home at Croy but in his years of retirement had a number of interests.  He was a member of Inverness County Council for a time and was a former elder of Croy Church.  He was also Honorary President of the Clan Maclennan Association and a member of Nairn Golf Club and of the Nairn Men's Bridge Club. Mr Maclennan is survived by his wife, his step-daughter, Mrs Ann Burrow (who was home from Canada at the time of his death) and by his stepson, Mr Richard Bibby.