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Tom Miller has been associated with the Isle of Arran for many years.
Coming on holiday with his parents who always took a house at the Southend of the island in Kildonan for many years, then Tom and his children followed on years later.
Tom worked with the Royal Bank of Scotland and eventually came to the Whiting Bay branch which is now a private house.
He lived at Nia roo across the road from the bank.
Tom was only in Whiting Bay for a few years when the Royal Bank called him back to the mainland. He remained there until 1995 when he took early retirement and purchased Auchenhew Farm which eventually became Auchenhew Holiday Cottages.
In 1999 he convinced his partner Jean to move from the mainland to Arran to help him keep the business running. Meanwhile, Tom also worked with Argyll and the Islands as a small business adviser, a position that he loved, helping people establish small businesses on the island.
He was very proud of that part of his job and was willing to help anyone.
Tom still fished with his lobster boat and sailed with his yacht. He could be seen many a day off Pladda lighthouse, fishing or just pottering, and he loved the sea.
He was also a very proud member of the Isle of Arran Rotary Club.
In 2003 a new house was built at the side of the old house and Auchenhew Holiday Cottages was expanding with business doing very well.
Tom and Jean were married by special licence in the Breadalbane Hotel, Kildonan in 2006 and all had a great time. No other person was ever married in the hotel.
In 2008 Tom and Jean decided to retire, and Auchenhew was put up for sale. In November of that year the new owners took over. Tom and Jean moved to Fife to be near his daughter. In the August they came back to the house where Tom holidayed as a child with his parents and brought their grandchildren with them.
The rest is history. Tom and Jean holidayed in Canada in the September where he initially took ill on the second day there. He was eventually well enough to come back to the UK but was only home two weeks when he took ill again. He was taken to hospital and put on a life support machine.
Tom lost his fight for life on Tuesday November 3; a very sad day for all.
His family will be back on the island in January to cast Tom’s ashes on his beloved Arran. Mrs Jean Miller
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