Flora Macaulay

Who is Flora Macaulay?

Flora Macaulay was a long-time editor of The Oban Times newspaper in Oban, Scotland.

Born Flora Anne Cameron, her father was Duncan Cameron, who was associated with the printing and stationery firm of Macniven and Cameron of Edinburgh, Scotland and the inventor of the "Waverley" pen nib. Her mother was Mary Brown Small, a descendant of the Smalls of Dirnanean. Flora's younger sister was Scottish painter Mary Cameron.

Flora firstly married Robert Blair, a minister, on 29 October 1889.

In 1911, after the death of her first husband, Flora married Edinburgh policeman, George Macaulay. After his retirement, the couple moved to Oban, where under the name Flora Macauley, she became editor of the Cameron family owned The Oban Times newspaper. Flora and her husband lived on the second floor of the Oban Times building, allowing Flora to be involved in every aspect of the paper's production. Her editorial style was very pro-Gaelic, including supporting Highland bagpipers and the ancient Scottish sport of shinty. In 1947 Flora established the Macaulay Cup for shinty. Flora remained involved with the management of the newspaper until her death at age 99.

Her nephew, Alan Cameron, eventually succeeded her as editor.