Even before her marriage to Paul McCartney in 1969, Linda had
begun her long-standing love affair with Kintyre. Paul had purchased
High Park Farm in 1966 as a retreat from the stresses of his musical
lifestyle. When pressures surrounding the dissolution of "The Beatles"
started to build, it was to Kintyre that they escaped and sought sanctuary.
Quiet, rural Kintyre was seen as a perfect antidote to their previous life
in the fast lane, and the McCartneys chose  to bring their children, Heather, Mary, Stella and James, to the area where they could ride the hills on their ponies and swim in the surf away from the glare of the media spotlight.
At this time, the family were regular visitors to local events such as the
annual agricultural show and were also keen patrons of
Campbeltown's historic cinema.

It was also in this peaceful haven that Paul and Linda's new band "Wings" began to take shape. Ultimately, this led to the creation of a new anthem which put this hitherto unknown area in the international spotlight when the "Mull of Kintyre" record, with its striking cover image of Davaar Island, became one of the best-loved songs in the McCartney canon.

Saddell Beach

Rocks at Mull of Kintyre

Locals fortunate to have been involved in the wonderful "Mull of Kintyre" experience, still recall the filming of the famous video on Saddell beach and the role of the local Pipe Band in what became the UK's biggest selling record in its day, and for many years to follow. Kintyre people also recall Linda's kindness and determination that everyone present was looked after and fed by herself and her helpers. It was this natural kindness, and of course the importance to her of her family, which so endeared her to all who met her. She was also an extremely generous benefactress, under condition of strict anonymity, to many Kintyre charities over the years.

Latterly, though her health was failing, Linda still insisted on her Kintyre holidays and impressed and inspired everyone by her tremendous bravery. Linda died in 1998, at the early age of fifty-seven.

At her emotional memorial service in London, which was attended by a small representative group of her Kintyre friends, it was perhaps fitting that a lone piper from Campbeltown played the "Farewell" for someone who had come to be  cherished by the local community  here in South Kintyre.