Posthumous honour to legendary Kincraig angler and hotelier with long-awaited dinghy launch
Loch Insh has a new craft among its little flotilla, following Monday’s special launch of the anglers’ dinghy ‘Marion’.
The boat has been floated and named in honour of one of Kincraig’s legendary anglers - and something of a life-saver to the man now creating the village’s unique R&R base for all the services, Forces Manor.
As he launched Marion as a memorial to the late Marion Ramage, a triumphant Tony Brown told the Strathy: “This has been a campaign almost worthy of military honours!
“For years I have wanted to say a thank you to Marion, who died in 2001. I have encountered strategic delays, civilian faffing and more empty promises than a quartermaster with a broken clipboard, but we have finally deployed our newly commissioned fishing boat.
“Operation Cast & Relax is now live at Loch Insh Outdoor Centre.”
The vessel—modest in size but mighty in spirit—is now offering “a slice of calm amidst the storm.
“Designed for members of the armed forces, past and present, it’s a chance to drop anchor from the daily grind and try your luck on the loch. Civvies from the local area are more than welcome too—we believe in inclusive ops and tight-knit community nets.”
He was at pains to point out that the smart new boat was not named ‘after a hurricane or mythical sea beast, but the woman who made an immeasurable impact on his life.
“At the age of 13, when I was more camouflage than common sense, Marion welcomed me into her Highland home. She was a fierce fisherwoman—undaunted by wind, rain, or rogue midges—and she once cast her line for Scotland herself.
“Beyond that, she was the proud owner of the Ossian Hotel, one of Badenoch and Strathspey’s finest and now reborn as Forces Manor. Naming our boat in her honour felt not just appropriate—it felt right. A tribute to a woman who knew both hospitality and Highland waters like the back of her weathered hands. She was a lady I feel so privileged to have known.”
The boat itself became reality thanks to the generosity of the wider military community. Donations came in from across the country—brothers and sisters in arms rallying behind the cause with true esprit de corps.
One particularly special contribution came from a fellow tank transporter, the legendary ‘Spy’, said Mr Brown.
“As a permanent nod to his support, Spy’s name will be featured proudly on the boat, sailing with us on every mission, every ripple, every cast.”
He added: “Thanks to the generosity of the Laird of Dunachton Estate, we have a seasonal fishing permit. Our allies at Loch Insh Outdoor Centre have provided safe harbour for Marion, mooring her securely and supplying life vests for those who’ve forgotten that ‘safety first’ wasn’t just a phrase for parade ground drills.
“The kit includes all the essentials of an amphibious expedition - minus the rations and war cry. An outboard motor, oars, rods, reels, nets, and a proud selection of lures—all primed and polished for a successful fishing foray.”
More information is available on the Forces Manor website or through Tony on 0779 212 6357.
