Neil MacKechnie was born in Scarinish on the Isle of Tiree on 19 November 1919 . His father Donald MacKecknie was a landholder. Neil attended the University of Glasgow from 1938-1940 , taking classes in Celtic (Ordinary), Natural Philosophy and Mathematics (Ordinary) in his first year and Logic and Metaphysics, Mathematics (Highter) and Celtic (Higher) in his second and final year. He came joint first in the Celtic (Ordinary) examination in 1939 and second in the Celtic (Higher) examination in 1940. He then interrupted his studies to serve in WW2 and was subsequently granted an exemption to completing his third year by the War Service Concessions Committee. Neil graduated with an MA (Ordinary War Degree) in April 1946 .
From the guide to the Papers of Neil MacKechnie, b1920, arts student, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1938-1939, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
