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Reflections from the Ross-shire Journal files from 100, 50 and 25 years ago


By Hector MacKenzie

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Munlochy Primary School in 2015 at a footy competition.
Munlochy Primary School in 2015 at a footy competition.

100 Years Ago

Friday, April 4, 1919

STRATHPEFFER has suffered considerable inconvenience for want of a resident butcher during the war. A butcher's shop has again been opened.

Gunner Murdo Macgregor, Ross Mountain Battery, who served from the original landing to Gallipoli onwards, having now been demobilised, has, under approval of the Ministry of National Service, taken over the butcher's shop in Spa Buildings, and thus returns to civil occupation of which he has much knowledge and skill.

Provost Grigor gave a very serious warning to those who are guilty of maliciously destroying the lamps in the burgh of Dingwall. The opportunity was taken in the case of three young boys charged at the Dingwall Police Court on Friday with smashing a lamp at the west-end of the town and who pleaded guilty. The delinquents, promising to make good the damage done, were admonished, but the Provost stated that if another case came before him he would be compelled to order the birch.

A horse being tried in the Tulloch Avenue, Dingwall, on Monday, took fright and bolted down the hill. Failing to stop at the Craig Road it crashed into a tree at the foot of the avenue and so injured itself that it had to be shot. The horse was an Army one, belonging to Mr D.

Macdonald, Evanton, who purchased him at the Dingwall Horse Sale on Saturday.

50 Years Ago

Friday, April 4, 1969

SALMON fishing on the River Conon was the worst on record this year, but now that the weather is not quite so cold there appears to be a few more fish in the river. Salmon up to 18 lbs have been taken recently as far upstream as the Coul Water below Torr Achilty Dam. The Boat Pool at Moy Bridge has now yielded a few fish and this week the first salmon of the year was taken in the Blackwater, near Rogie Falls, by R. Hendry, Craigdarroch, weighing 7 ½ lbs.

Mr John Fraser, Mill Street, who retired last week from his employment as a mechanic and welder with the well-known Dingwall firm of millwrights and engineers, Reids of Bridgend, was presented by his colleagues with a handsome pewter tankard and their best wishes for a long and happy retirement. Before joining the staff at Reid's, Mr Fraser was for several years with Mackay's Garage in Tulloch Street.

25 Years Ago

Friday, April 1, 1994

AN Easter Ross hamlet tagged as a forgotten village is likely to lose its only combined shop and post office by the summer leaving pensioners and other residents struggling to cope.

The fear is Barbaraville, near Invergordon, will be left with only a token community post office, open for a few short hours a week.

One resident said, “What are people going to do for pensions, their papers or morning rolls? What are the elderly residents of the village going to do?

“We would have no school, no pub, no shop, no post office, no road signs, and the church is only open every second week.”

Caberfeidh's much postponed first round Glenmorangie Camanachd Cup tie with Division 2 leaders Lochaber was transferred from Castle Leod, Strathpeffer, to Spean Bridge, on Saturday, because the Ross-shire ground was again unplayable.

Over the year, Cabers have found Lochaber to be their bogey-team at critical periods of their season, and so they proved on Saturday, when the Strath club went down 0-3 to their opponents, who appear likely to be playing in Division 1 next season.


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