Make them laugh, that's a great expression for me
Recorded 4 years ago
About this recording
Willie Mackay has acted as compere at countless community events in Caithness. He has kept crowds entertained and informed with his cheerful, chatty style at concerts, ceilidhs, games, galas and fun days.
However, Willie wasn't always so comfortable speaking in front of an audience.
"To tell you the truth, I was a wee bit shy at school," he recalls in this recording. "I used to sit at the back of the class and if the teacher asked a question I would never put my hand up and answer."
Originally from Embo in Sutherland, Willie came to Caithness in 1970 to run the AI cattle breeding service - hence his nickname, "AI Willie".
He reveals how he only took up public speaking after being persuaded to give an address at the Latheron Show Committee dinner dance in November 1999. He still has the "wad of notes" he used for that event in the Portland Arms in Lybster.
He had soon mastered the art of being a confident, upbeat master of ceremonies. "I always think it's a good hint to practise beforehand," he says.
"The great secret about compering is that if you've got the audience in the palm of your hand you can say anything."
Even with royalty present - such as at the Mey Games - Willie remains unflappable. He points out: "Prince Charles knew who I was because I was responsible for inseminating the cattle at the Queen Mother's farm at Longoe. He would come along and chat away."
In due course Willie was persuaded to give local government a try. He was elected to Highland Council in 2007 and has been comfortably re-elected at two subsequent elections. He served as Civic Leader of Caithness before taking on the title of Provost of Wick.
He is in demand at Burns suppers locally and also (thanks to technology) in Argentina. Willie explains how he managed to learn all 101 lines of Holy Willie's Prayer.
He also talks about his long-standing voluntary role as chairman of the local branch of Enable, the charity for adults with a learning disability.
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