The death of Anastasia Noble removes from Argyll one of its most remarkable characters, a
kenspeckle figure who made a lasting impression on many.
Born on Christmas Day, 1911, she was the younger daughter of Sir John Noble. Ardkinglas, built by her grandfather Sir Andrew Noble, was her home until the death of her brother John in 1972, when she removed to a cottage near the kennels where her famous Scottish deerhounds resided.
Once a most lively ''leader of the dance'', at her 80th birthday at the Cairndow HalI, John Renton composed The Miss Noble of Ardkinglas Waltz, which she danced with enormous pleasure.
Anastasia's ruling passion was her kennel of deerhounds, for many years the foremost in the country. She won her first championships in 1950 with Ch Tessa and the great dog, perhaps her all-time favourite, Ch Monarch. Forty years later she produced Ardkinglas Val, the first winner of the top show dog in Scotland award. She won 20 club championships and sold more than 150 hounds for export. She travelled the world as an eminent deerhound judge. She was also a breeder of hackney horses. Ardkinglas Marquis and Ardkinglas Northern Light were champions in America. Her horsewomanship was recognised in her twenties when she drove four-in-hands for Bertram Mills at the Dublin horse show in fearless manner.
Her attendance at dog shows was tireless. She had a driving licence but no car. However she knew how to get herself and her dogs to Arrochar station or into Glasgow, as she cultivated friendships with lorry drivers passing through Cairndow. A favourite was Big Sandy from Skye; the Royal Mail's stern injunction ''no lifts'' was set aside when ''Miss Anastasia'' was on the move with three or four dogs.
She had decided views on many topics, but was indifferent to politics, though her brother Michael was Scottish secretary. An expert knitter of kilt stockings, she heaped scorn on the white stockings which she felt had taken over.
Her common sense, often wittily expressed, was her chief characteristic and appreciated by all who met her. Her mind was lively to the end. A few months before she died she defeated her great nephew at backgammon. ''Tasia'', as family and friends called her, will leave a gap not to be filled. She treated everyone the same regardless of rank or status, and never talked down to the young.
At her funeral her coffin was piped to the grave with the moving slow march My Home. No more appropriate tune could have been played.
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