Staff and regulars of cafe share memories of a 'kind, friendly and inspirational' Ullapool musician

Staff and regulars of an Inverness café have shared their memories of a 'kind, friendly and inspirational man'.

Iain Gordon Macfarlane (32) died at a property in Strathspey Place on December 4. As a very familiar face at Café 1668, his sudden death has left the community in shock.

A keen musician, Ullapool-born Iain Gordon was fondly known as 'Iain guitar' to those at Café 1668.

A regular customer of the café, which supports people in need, said: "Here we always call him Iain Guitar.

"When you say Iain, people won't know who you're talking about, but you say Iain the guitarist, it was yes, alright!

"It's struck everybody so hard, because he was such a nice guy. My thoughts are very much with his family."

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Café volunteer Michael said: "He brought a smile to everybody's face. He was just so, so happy.

"He was kind, friendly, and was so into his music, which was inspirational for me.

"After going through a bad time myself, being in a deep depression and losing my passion for things, Iain was part of the reason I got back to myself again."

His friends at the café shared that whenever Iain Gordon came in, he said hello to everyone.

They also said that it would take him time to get places, as he knew so many people, he would stop and talk to them on the way.

Staff member Eva said: "He was always here. He was part of the furniture in the café. And not only in the café, but he was always around, always with a smile, always with something funny to say, something cool to say."

When asked if he played his music in the café, Eva replied: "He wasn't allowed, but he tried many times!"

Eva recalled a particularly fond memory of Iain Gordon, when they went on a walk around the Ness Islands and he brought his fiddle with him.

She said: "He was playing his fiddle and we came up with a song together.

"He he said: 'Oh, that's Eva's theme now.' He recorded it.

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