​The Chieftain for 2025 is Mr John Miller from Durness.

John was born in Caithness, the only son of George and Jessie Miller. At the age of 4, John moved to Durness with his parents after his father George had secured a job at Keodale Farm and his mother Jessie at The Cape Wrath Hotel. In 1960 John started his schooling at Durness Primary School before, in 1967, he took the weekly bus trip to the nearest Secondary school at the time in Dornoch. On leaving school John began his working life at R.Mackay & Son, the General Merchant store here in Durness. After a spell lobster fishing, John went to work at the Nigg Yard and it was here that he met his future wife Carol whilst staying in Dornoch. John and Carol were married in Dornoch in 1984 and shortly after moved back to Durness where John once again worked at R.Mackay & Son. They went on to have 4 children, James, Fiona, George and Donald and have 6 grandchildren.

John has been involved in many local groups over the years in Durness including the local Fire Brigade which he joined in 1990. John served with the Fire Brigade until he retired from the service in 2017. John has been a member of the Durness Highland Gathering Committee for over 30years. Having retired a couple of years ago John now enjoys a leisurely lifestyle although he still helps out with the lambs on numerous crofts locally and afar, especially at lambing time. John is looking forward as always to the last Friday in July, where he has been delighted to accept the invitation to be this years Chieftain and along with his family he will be very proud to carry out his duties.

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