DURING the weekend there was an enormous number of naval craft in the Cromarty Firth. Over 90 vessels included the largest of battleships and cruisers down to the more humble, but deadly, submarines. Never was so large a fleet assembled in the firth.
Mr James Mackenzie, saddler, Dingwall, the organist in Urray Parish Church, has been appointed organist in Dingwall UF Church.
Mr Alan Reid, who has served in the Invergordon Branch of the North of Scotland Bank, for the past seven years, has left for Aberdeen on promotion to head office.
Dingwall Vics FC defeated Nelson 3-1 in a Junior League match at Dingwall. Hendry, Graham and Sinclair were the Vics' scorers, and their team was: Jackie Cross, J Hendry and J Macmillan; D MacGregor, J Robertson and Norman Watt; John Mackay, J Maclean, P Graham, A Williamson and D Maclennan.
Tain Whist Club has resumed its weekly meetings in Fraser's Temperance Hotel. Mr Joseph Ross, North of Scotland Bank, was appointed secretary, with the following committee: Mrs Thomson, Railway Hotel; Mrs MacTavish, Messrs Charles Ross, A Wight, A Fraser, W Connor, J MacHardy and W Stevenson.
Mr Colin Mackenzie, National Bank, Dingwall, who for the past two years has been the energetic secretary of the Dingwall Victoria United FC has received an appointment in the south. Before he left the town, Bailie Hugh Ross, club president, presented him with a pocket-book of Treasury notes on behalf of players and officials.
Fairburn Men's Club officials are: Hon president, Captain John Stirling of Fairburn; hon vice-president, Mr Grant, factor; president, Rev S Knox-Johnstone; vice-presidents, Mr Fraser, Marybank and Mr Simpson, Arcan Mains; committee: Messrs Colin Finlayson, J Stocks, Rod Grant, Andrew Mackenzie, SJ Mackenzie, James Maclean, William Grant and W Mackenzie.
Caberfeidh Recreation Club, Maryburgh, has appointed the following office-bearers: Hon president, Lady Seaforth, Brahan; hon vice-presidents, Dr Maclean, Mr W Peterkin and Dr Brodie; president, Mr A K Scott; vice-president, Mr George Macdonald; secretary and treasurer, Mr J Matheson; committee: Messrs D Mackenzie, CJ Cameron, R Mackenzie, D Fraser, D Stewart and J Fraser.
The annual meeting of St Clement Royal Arch Chapter was held in Dingwall, Mr John Munro presiding. Office-bearers appointed were: PZ, T Hewitt; PH, J F Hunter; PJ, A Dinsdale; Scribe E, James Munro; Scribe N, Duncan Maclennan; treasurer, Donald Innes; Sojs, 1st GW Hay; 2nd John Maclean; 3rd, John Macdonald; Capts of Veils, 3rd GW Fraser; 2nd WG Mackay; 1st Alex Fraser; S of W, Roderick Mackenzie; BB, Donald Maclennan; Sw B, GM Smith; St B, WS Dewar; Organist, MD Revill.
The inaugural meeting of Dingwall Academy Former Pupils Club was held in the academy. Office-bearers are: president, Mr G L Turnbull; vice-president, Mr Alex Macrae; secretary, Mr A Macfarquhar; treasurer, Mr Ron Duncan; committee: Miss Isobel Sinclair Miss Peggy McCallum and Mr A Macrae. Officials at various education centres: Aberdeen, Miss F Mackintosh and Mr J Ross; Edinburgh, Miss Mary Sinclair and Mr T Collocott; Glasgow, Miss Ellis Clark and Mr A Fraser; St Andrews, Mr Ross Munro.
Mr Alexander Stewart, JP, Dingwall, was installed Provincial Grand Superintendent of Ross and Cromarty, on which occasion the Supreme Grand Chapter met in Dingwall, performed the installation ceremony and formally constituted the Province of Ross and Cromarty. The re-constitution was occasioned by the division of the earlier jurisdiction: Inverness-shire was formerly associated with the Province having been constituted a new Province. Other commissioned officers installed were: Superintendent Depute, Col AF Mackenzie; H, JE Macdonald; J, John Munro; Scribe E, DM Watt; Scribe N, Bailie Macleod, Tain.
Friday, 5th October, 1923
OBITUARIES: At Ashlynn, Craig Road, Dingwall, Isabella MacVicar, widow of Donald Macdonald, merchant, Dornie, mother of Katie and Myra. Jessie, youngest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs John Rose, formerly of Redbank, Strathpeffer. At his home in Poolewe, Alexander Ross, aged 82, retired post office linesman, husband of Isabella Maclean. Dot Mackay, widow of Dr Leonard Thorp, Lymm, Cheshire and Beddgelant, North Wales. At Tallysow, Evanton, Duncan Macrae, husband of Marion MacGillivray, father of Edith.
Invergordon is to honour two residents of long-standing, who have given yeoman service to the town over a long period of years. Ex-Provost John Mackay was a member of the Town Council for over twenty years until his retirement early this year; and the Very Rev Dr Duncan Fraser, a former Moderator of the Church of Scotland, who is retiring after forty years' service as Minister of the Parish Church, and former member of the Town Council and the County Education Committee.
In their Highland Football League fixture with Buckie Thistle at Dingwall, Jim Hosie opened the scoring for the home club with a header, the ball going in off a post. Thistle equalised and later took the lead. Late on in the game, County salvaged a point, when Peter Borley was brought into the forward line and scored. Caley head the league table with 14 points from seven games; County have 13 from the same number of games; Elgin City and Inverness Thistle 10 points from, five and seven games respectively.
Mr Ian MacNeill, the Ross County FC manager, has decided to withdraw from a short-leet for the £2,000-a-year post of player-manager of the English non-League club Hastings United. At present Ian is unemployed following the winding-up of the Ross-shire Engineering Company in Dingwall by whom he was employed as a draughtsman.
Mr George Munro Stewart, town chamberlain and housing factor, Wick, has been appointed to similar posts in Dunoon. Munro is the elder son of Mr James Stewart, auctioneer and musician, Bridgend Avenue, Dingwall, and the late Mrs Stewart. His wife Morag is the only daughter of Mr J L Munro, JP, and the late Mrs Munro, formerly of the National Bank House, High Street, Dingwall, now of Stirling. Mr Stewart has been town chamberlain at Wick for the past two years and for the previous six had served in the treasurer's department of Caithness County Council.
The Knockfarrel Hill Race, which was organised by Ross-shire Sports and Athletics Club attracted entries from all over Scotland and took place in wet and windy weather - excellent conditions for the dedicated cross-country or hill runner. Principal placings were: 1 John Linaker, Pitreavie, 39 mins 07 secs; 2 Don Ritchie, Morayshire, 39.40; 3 Pete Duffy, Aberdeen (last year's winner), 40.07; 4 John Clare, Lossiemouth, 40.25; 5 George Davidson, Forres, 40.55; 6 Ian Mackenzie, Forres, 42.30 William MacDonald, Glasgow University, 42.38, who received the North of Scotland Milk Marketing Board Cup for the first local runner home under 21 years of age. Neil Cameron of the Ross-shire Sports and Athletics Club, received the Tom Mackenzie Cup for the first local athlete. Forres Harriers won the team event. Mr Jock Watt presided at the prizegiving, and Mrs Yates, Dingwall, presented the prizes.
A special service to mark the 200th anniversary of the erection of Resolis Parish Church was held on Sunday, October 1. The Very Rev Dr Duncan Fraser, Invergordon, presided. The Church had been built during the incumbency of the famed Rev Hector MacPhail, one of the most eminent Ministers of his day, who died in 1774. Other Ministers in the parish included Robert Arthur, 1774-1821; Donald Sage, author of the Highland classic "Memorabilia Domestica" 1822 until he "went out" in 1843; Robert Cumming MacDougall, 1871-1911; Rev Archibald Campbell, 1911-1920; Rev Roderick Mackenzie, 1920-1844; Rev Archibald Bell, 1945-1952; the Rev Dr S M Walker, lecturer in Leeds University; and the Rev J A Newall, who was inducted in 1959.
The handsome sum of £434 was realised at the sale of work held by the congregation of Castle Street Church of Scotland, Dingwall.
The Norscot Hotel Tankard Stableford golf competition played over the Strathpeffer Golf Course resulted: George Sutherland, 40 points;. Egan Roska, 39; J Waite, 38; D Murray, 38. The President's Prize Stableford resulted1 Donald Dewar, 34 points; Alastair Cameron, 34.
Richard Hart, Tain Royal Academy, who is a son of Mr Robbie Hart, Balintore, the former Ross County outside right, has been selected for the outside left position in the North of Scotland Schools Football Team to play the Midlands at Perth.
Invergordon District Council has offered Ross and Cromarty County Council £1,000 towards the cost of building a swimming pool if one is to be provided in the landward area of Easter Ross.
Mr R W Fraser, ARIBA, chief assistant architect with Ross and Cromarty County Council, has been appointed depute county architect for Roxburghshire, and Miss Doreen Monteith, head typist in the architect's department, who is leaving to work in South Africa, were honoured by their colleagues, and presented with gifts by Mr Peter S Leask, county architect.
Mr James Curr, county music organiser, was honoured by members of the education authority staff, and presented with a handsome radiogram, a gift much appreciated by Mr Curr. The presentation was made by Mr R Macdonald, director of education,
Quiet, unassuming 56-year-old Mr Robert (Bob) Bain, Aldie Farm, Tain, was guest of honour at a dinner in the Royal Hotel, Tain, to mark his completion of thirty years' service at Aldie Farm. Bob also received the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society's Long Service Medal. The presentation had been arranged by his employer Lt Col Richard Ropner. Mr David Munro, Morangie, Tain, president of the Easter Ross Branch of the NFU, paid tribute to his long and loyal service and presented him with a Silver Medal. Bob who was born in Culrain first went to Aldie in 1937 when it was farmed by the late Mr Finlay MacGillivray and stayed on when Mrs Ropner took over during the War in 1943, while the Colonel was serving in the army.
lIn a Junior Secondary Schools project organised by the Saltire Society, Avoch JS School was commended for its project "Reclamation of Munlochy Bay".
At the weekend, the 12th Ross-shire (Avoch) Scouts were the guests of the 1st Nairnshire Troop and stayed with them in the Scout Hall. They took part in various activities including a football match, which ended in a 7-7 draw. A visit was paid to the swimming baths, and in the evening a film show was followed by a sing-song. On Sunday morning the boys attended Morning Service in the Congregational Church. Afterwards the Avoch youngsters were entertained to lunch in the homes of a Nairn Scouts.
Friday, 6th October, 1967
FOR THE first time in many years - fifteen it was said - Ross County FC has gained a place in the Scottish Cup proper as a result of their 4-2 quarterfinal win over Keith at Victoria Park. County set their mark on the game as early as the 7th minute with a sparkling opening goal from Gordon Connelly courtesy of a well-placed cross from George Stewart. Late-comers to the game missed this counter, but savoured the other two first half goals marvelling at the clinical precision with which they were executed in the 25th and 43rd minutes. The first followed a move set up by Somerville and Williamson, and completed by O'Brien with a powerful header. The third goal came before half-time from Williamson following good work by Somerville and Connelly. Keith reduced the leeway but then Stewart beat an offside trap and slipped the ball to James Mackay for County's fourth counter. Willie Garner scored Keith's second goal. The County team was: Rudkin; Somerville, Campbell, Williamson, Lemmon, Cowie, Stewart (Wilson), Robertson, Mackay (Allan), Connelly and O'Brien. County has received a home tie with Elgin City in the semifinal stages of the competition.
Miss Jayne Barnetson, Munro Place, Dingwall, has been selected for the high jump and the heptathlon in the Scottish women's team of ten in next year's Commonwealth Games in New Zealand. Jayne was one of the six automatic choices for the team as she had achieved qualifying standards in both events. She will be competing in her second Commonwealth Games having taken part in the previous event at Edinburgh, when she finished seventh in the high jump with a clearance of 1.83m. In the present season she is the leading Scot with a personal best of 1.91m.
The thrust of early victories seems to have deserted Caberfeidh Shinty Club for the time being. At Kiltarlity on Saturday they went down by five goals to three to Lovat in a Marine Harvest Division One fixture. Neil Urquhart (2) and David Morrison were their scorers. At Balmacara, Kinlochshiel lost by three goals to nil to Skye. In Division Two, Inverness defeated Lochcarron 5-3. Division Four results affecting Ross-shire teams: Caberfeidh 7 (Sandy Gorski 4, Donald Mellis, Gary Sinclair and Sandy Macdonald), Strathglass 0; and Inverness 1, Shiel 0.
"Fancy tackling the Herring Trail?" - a group of runners toiling up Ben Wyvis on a recent weekend was asked by Dave Warren, an engineer with the Water Board in Dingwall. Not one of them had heard of a "Herring Trail", though it was gathered that it was a route over the hills from Ullapool to the east coast and vice-versa, followed by those interested in the fishing industry on the respective coasts. Dave's off-the-cuff suggestion received a warm response, and in late September five runners - Dave Warren, Alex Brett, Neil Cameron, Henry Cassie and David Watt together with Alex's Labrador dog set out from Croick Church bound for Ullapool. The run was completed in a time just over five hours.
A total of 613 families are represented on the Roll of St Clement's Parish Church in Dingwall, according to the latest figures presented by Mrs Elspeth Galloway, a member of the Kirk Session, who has been revising the register on behalf of the Minister and session. There are a total of 1,060 adults on the roll, and these include 245 communicants and 627 adherents.
At a well-attended meeting in Fortrose, it was decided to form a writers' group, the aim of which is to teach, encourage and assist anyone with a desire to try their hand at the craft of writing, in whatever form. Sixteen members were enrolled in the group which will be co-ordinated and tutored by Mrs Betty Marshall, otherwise known as Elizabeth Sutherland, who is well-known as a writer of novels and as a researcher. The group is to meet within the Town House, Cathedral Square.
A committee has been formed with a view to launching the Avoch Heritage Association. The chairperson, Mrs Kathleen Maclennan, said there had been a growing interest in the idea of collecting, exhibiting and preserving artefacts and other material reflecting on life in bygone days. The project is focused on all aspects of life in the area of which Avoch is the centre - a fishing community in the village itself, the surrounding countryside with its fertile farmland and estates, and all things which contribute to the lives of the people. The association is looking for fishing and farming equipment, domestic utensils, tradesmen's tools, old photographs, documents, recorded memories. There are encouraging signs of local support. The association is urgently seeking premises for their activities.
Five members of the Dingwall Judo Club competed in the Scottish Junior Championships at Grangemouth, and two successfully fought their way into medal positions with Wendy Jack and Danny Oakley taking bronze. Andrew Wilby came within one fight of a bronze and David Wilby had a very tough draw, but fought his way into the fourth round before being eliminated. Tara Jaffrey had a very tough first fight, but unfortunately finished out of the medals.
Friday, 6th October, 1989
