Fred was born in 1942, the eldest child of Reverend Donald MacLeod and Margaret Gillies. He became an electrician and returned to his father’s home on the island of Berneray with his wife and two children, living initially at 3 Pol an Oir and from 1981 in the newly built An Caladh in Backhill.

Later he was passed Bealach an Fhuarain by his aunt Effie, and he lived there with his second wife.