Iain Noble
Encyclopedia
Sir Iain Andrew Noble, 3rd Baronet of Ardkinglas and Eilean Iarmain was a businessman, landowner in the Isle of Skye and a noted Scottish Gaelic language
activist. He died at home in Skye on 25 December 2010.
Noble was born in Berlin in 1935 as son of a British diplomat and a Norwegian
mother. He received his primary education in Argentina
, before attending Eton
and University College, Oxford
. Noble hailed from a family of bankers and began his career by establishing a merchant bank, Noble Grossart, in Scotland. When he was bought out, he used the proceeds to buy the MacDonald Estates in Skye. Noble had subsequently developed many business interests on Skye and elsewhere, including Hotel Eilean Iarmain and the whisky company Pràban na Linne which produces a vatted malt
whisky called Poit Dhubh (literally the "Black Pot" or "Illicit Still". The company also produces two blends, Té Bheag nan Eilean
("small dram
of the islands") and Mac na Mara (the "Son of the Sea").
Although not a native
Gaelic
speaker Noble became an enthusiastic learner of the language and used his position as landowner to support the language, introducing an employment policy of positive discrimination in favour of Gaelic speakers. He was directly responsible for the erection of the first Gaelic road signs in Scotland
, and the holder of the first ever Gaelic cheque book, issued for him by the Bank of Scotland
.
Noble was the original founder of the Gaelic medium college Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
which is located in Sleat, Skye. The original "Large Hall" (the Talla Mòr) was part of the MacDonald estates.
Noble was married to Lucilla.
He died 25th December 2010 aged 75 and was succeeded in the baronetcy
by his brother, Timothy Peter Noble.
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
activist. He died at home in Skye on 25 December 2010.
Noble was born in Berlin in 1935 as son of a British diplomat and a Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
mother. He received his primary education in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, before attending Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
. Noble hailed from a family of bankers and began his career by establishing a merchant bank, Noble Grossart, in Scotland. When he was bought out, he used the proceeds to buy the MacDonald Estates in Skye. Noble had subsequently developed many business interests on Skye and elsewhere, including Hotel Eilean Iarmain and the whisky company Pràban na Linne which produces a vatted malt
Vatted malt
A blended malt, formerly called a vatted malt, or pure malt, is a blend of different single malt whiskies from different distilleries. These terms are most commonly used in reference to Scotch whisky....
whisky called Poit Dhubh (literally the "Black Pot" or "Illicit Still". The company also produces two blends, Té Bheag nan Eilean
Tè Bheag
Té Bheag is a blended whisky made by Pràban na Linne Ltd. It is one of Sir Iain Noble's Gaelic Whisky range, which has its headquarters at Eilean Iarmain on the Isle of Skye.-External links:*...
("small dram
Dram (unit)
The dram was historically both a coin and a weight. Currently it is both a small mass in the Apothecaries' system of weights and a small unit of volume...
of the islands") and Mac na Mara (the "Son of the Sea").
Although not a native
Native Speaker
Native Speaker is Chang-Rae Lee’s first novel. In Native Speaker, he creates a man named Henry Park who tries to assimilate into American society and become a “native speaker.”-Plot summary:...
Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
speaker Noble became an enthusiastic learner of the language and used his position as landowner to support the language, introducing an employment policy of positive discrimination in favour of Gaelic speakers. He was directly responsible for the erection of the first Gaelic road signs in Scotland
Gaelic road signs in Scotland
In the Gaelic-speaking parts of Scotland, the use of the Gaelic language on road signs instead of, or more often alongside, English is now common, but has historically been a controversial issue of symbolic rather than practical significance for people on both sides of the debate.- History :In the...
, and the holder of the first ever Gaelic cheque book, issued for him by the Bank of Scotland
Bank of Scotland
The Bank of Scotland plc is a commercial and clearing bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland. With a history dating to the 17th century, it is the second oldest surviving bank in what is now the United Kingdom, and is the only commercial institution created by the Parliament of Scotland to...
.
Noble was the original founder of the Gaelic medium college Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is a Scottish Gaelic medium college located about north of Armadale on the Sleat peninsula of the island of Skye in northwestern Scotland. It is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands and also has a campus on Islay known as Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle.The college was...
which is located in Sleat, Skye. The original "Large Hall" (the Talla Mòr) was part of the MacDonald estates.
Noble was married to Lucilla.
He died 25th December 2010 aged 75 and was succeeded in the baronetcy
Noble Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Noble, all in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.The Noble Baronetcy, of Ardmore and Ardardan Noble in Cardross in the County of Dumbarton, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 25 July 1902 for the Scottish...
by his brother, Timothy Peter Noble.