Reflections from Ross-shire 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago
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100 Years Ago
Friday, June 29, 1917
THE Strathpeffer season has opened. Water and baths are fully available, and generally the Spa is fully prepared. Unfortunately, visitors are very few. A number of north of Scotland people have been taking the water and baths, but generally speaking, the effects of the war are markedly reflected on the quiet which prevails, where formerly there were gay crowds of people. Doubtless the high railway fares – a wartime expedient – has much to do with the greatly restricted number of visitors, and this condition undoubtedly will continue, at all events during the war. Strathpeffer is singularly pretty at this season.
There has been rain and sunshine within the past week. Not too much rain, there has been less sunshine than might be looked for, and the winds have at times been quite cold. On Saturday, the temperatures were very low, and there was even June snow in the Wyvis Valley. Still, on the whole the weather has been favourable to crops, and there is much growth. Pasture has improved under the rains, and keep it likely to be reasonably plentiful.
Maggots and slugs have successfully raided the cabbages of Invergordon plot holders. There will be a poor show unless the late cabbages hold out.
75 Years Ago
Friday, June 26, 1942
FOLLOWING his election as Chief of Scottish Clans Association of London for a second term, Lord Alness gave an impressive resume of Scotland’s part in the savings campaign. He was impressed with the fact that the Scottish people are probably not only among the most industrious people in the world, but also the most prudent and thrifty. What was wont to be a joke in normal times has become one of the supreme virtues in the war period at home. In War Weapons Week and Worship Week Scotland provided £108,000,000.
In Garve Public Hall on Friday evening, Newfoundland friends employed at a neighbouring lumber camp, held a most enjoyable dance in aid of the Red Cross Fund, which will benefit thereby to the handsome amount of £19.10s. Excellent music was generously contributed by the Garve orchestra under the able leadership of Mrs Ross, Caberfeidh.
n Mrs Kennedy, Ivy Cottage, and Mrs Murray, Holly Lodge, have undertaken the organisation of a jam centre at Strathpeffer, which is to be run under the auspices of the Fodderty Branch of the WRI.
Alexander Nicol, Dingwall, playing over Strathpeffer golf course one evening last week, with bailie Tom Maclean, Major W S Dewar and Robert Hay, Dingwall, did the 10th hole in one stroke.
50 Years Ago
Friday, June 30, 1967
PLANS for Dingwall Fire Brigade Club’s Gala Week this month are proceeding apace. At the moment, the club are
in the process of selecting a Gala Queen, and the first heat in the competition
was held in the town hall at the
weekly teenagers’ dance last Saturday.
The second is taking place tomorrow night (Saturday). The six girls selected
last week by bailie Robert Macleod,
Verna Macleod and Gloria Thomson were: Valerie and Avril Ross, Angela Finnie, Sheila Macdonald, Helen Scroggie and Theresa Savery.
Last Wednesday was an unforgettable day for members of the Over-60 Club. A trip to Aviemore had been organised and two bus loads set off at 1.30pm. There was a break for a cuppa at the Muirtown Motel, Inverness; they arrived at Aviemore Centre at 5pm. A delicious high tea was serviced and after a short rest, the party were taken on a conducted tour of the centre. This was most interesting, and although the long run was tiring for a few of the older members, it was voted an excellent trip.
A boys’ competition was organised by Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club over 13 holes this week. Thirteen boys took part, and the following were the leading scores – Ian Mackenzie, 62, Derek MacGillivray, 64, Ian Macintyre, 64, W Thomson, 65, Alistair Porter, 68, L Maclean, 69,
D Maclennan, 70, N Macleod, 74.
25 Years Ago
Friday, June 26, 1992
MANY friends in Garve and district were saddened to learn of the death on June 10, in the General Hospital, Invergordon of Roderick MacRae, The Cottage, Gorstan, Garve.
Born in Strathconon, 88 years ago, Roddy, as he was familiarly known, was the elder son of a large family of the late Mr and Mrs R MacRae.
When his father began work on the railway the family moved to Stromeferry. Roddy attended school there prior to going to Plockton Higher Grade and Dingwall Academy.
Later the family came to live at Station Road, Garve, when his father was transferred to the Garve section. Subsequently, Roddy too became a member of the permanent way staff where he remained until he retired as sub-inspector in 1969.
The long battle to save Newmore Primary School near Invergordon from possible closure could end soon with parents quietly confident councillors will back their case and not the recommendations of regional council education chiefs.
The optimism follows a consultation meeting last week at the school between parents, council officials and councillors.
Lochbroom certainly gave Alness
a run for their money in the Ross-shire Amateur Cup final on the Jubilee Park, Dingwall, on Saturday evening. The previous week, the Ullapool lads had gone down 2-8 to the Easter Ross club. However, Lochbroom goalkeeper,
David Lews, a Dingwallian, and
principal teacher of PE in Ullapool High School was in good form. He kept his opponents at bay until just as extra time was looming. John MacInnes took advantage of a defensive lapse to slam the ball home.
