Mr John Macrae, The Garage, Dingwall, who has a listening-in radio set in his home in Ferry Road, was successful between 12.30 and 2.30am on Saturday morning in getting in touch with America. The Station was WGY New York, and the programme consisted of a concert by a choir which rendered "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean"; and two solos "Silver threads among the gold" and "Sailor Beware". The singing and speaking were very clear. This was the first time Dingwall was in direct communication by wireless with the United States.
Tain Lawn Tennis Club has decided to convert two of its courts into hard courts.
Preparations are well advanced preliminary to laying the greater part of Tulloch Street in Dingwall with Tarmacadam.
About £200 was realised at the annual sale of work held by Dingwall UF Church congregation in the Carnegie Hall.
Mr Alex Thomson, Conon Brae, won the trophy presented by Mr Frank Mackenzie, Balavil, for competition among members of Conon and Maryburgh Rifle Club. Scores were: A Thomson 194; A Jack, 193; A Fraser, 190; DE Fraser, 190; C Dingwall, 188; W Tuach, 177.
The Rose Bowl presented by Mr DG Munro to the Conon and Maryburgh Lawn Tennis Club for a Ladies' Singles competition, has been won by Mrs Macdonald, Croftcrunie, for the third year in succession. It now becomes her property. In the final Mrs Macdonald defeated Miss Betty Macdonald 7-5, 6-4.
The Rev Norman Mackenzie, St Andrew's Church, Auchterarder, who has accepted a call to Helmsdale, is a younger brother of the late Mr D Mackenzie, farmer, Blackwells, Dingwall, and of Mr Ian Mackenzie, Balloan, Urray, and is the former secretary of the London Gaelic Society.
Mr George Mackay, son of Mr Hector Mackay, plasterer, Dingwall, was presented with a handsome gold watch, travelling rug and silver cigarette case by his workmates before he left for Ontario. Mr Mackay had been a chauffeur with Messrs John Macrae and Son, The Garage, Dingwall.
Muir of Ord Golf Club prizewinners for the season were: Men's Section: Monthly Medal, George Cameron; Patron's Cup, C Urquhart; President's Prize, CJ Ross; D Forbes Cup, David Mackenzie. Ladies' Section: Qualifying Rosebowl, Mrs Fowler; runner-up, Miss Manson; D Forbes Cup, Mrs Fowler; Mrs Mackenzie of Ord's Rosebowl, Mrs Campbell; Treasurer's Prize, Miss Manson.
The younger members of Dingwall Lawn Tennis Club organised a fancy dress parade which attracted thirty entries, which were judged by Mrs Robertson, The Manse; Mrs C.J. Maciver, Mayfield and Bailie JG Russell. Winners were: Ladies: 1 Tinkers, Miss Dorothy Ingram and Miss Dorothy Smith; 2 Summer, Miss Elspeth Macdonald; 3 Hiawatha, Evelyn Mackenzie. Gentlemen: 1 South Sea Islandere, JD Macrae; 2 Pirate, Ronald Duncan. Special prizes: 1 Nurse and Patience, the Misses Rita and Bunty Mackenzie; 2 Gipsy, Miss Annie Mann.
A very successful Highland Games at Killen attracted a large crowd, who witnessed several exciting races and other competitions for adults and youngsters, attracting competitors from far and near.
Friday, 28th September, 1923
OBITUARIES: At Struy, Beauly, Kenneth Cumming, formerly of Scatwell, husband of the late Johanna Munro. At Vancouver, BC, Hugh Jack, brother of Alex Jack, Drumview Munlochy and Mrs Margaret Maciver, 33 High Street, Avoch. Margaret Ann Bethune, Hollysyde, Fortrose, wife of the late Alexander Mackay.
Lord Hughes, Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, opened the new Roadside Rest overlooking Loch Ewe between Tournaig and Aultbea. The Rest consists of a park for 20 cars cut out of the Torridon sandstone on a hillside a few feet above the road. It is designed so that motorists may sit in their cars safely off the narrow road, which in summer is increasingly busy, and enjoy the magnificent views of the Torridon mountains to the South West. On a grass-covered viewpoint for pedestrians, a panoramic photograph prepared by Mr Tom Weir of the National Trust for Scotland, enables visitors identify the peaks.
At the annual general meeting of the South West Ross Piping Society in Dornie, office-bearers were appointed as follows: President, Miss Dorothy Macrae of Conchra; vice-president, Dr FA Macrae, Kyle; secretary, Mrs D Renwick, Lienassie; treasurer, Mr Allan Macdonald, Stein. The committee includes the three Piping Instructors - Messrs George Mackenzie, Inverinate and Dornie; R Macleod, Balmacara; and Mr D Dewar of the prospective Chanter Class at Kyle.
Once again the annual Sea Angling Championships at Ullapool were an outstanding success. A new event was the Ullapool (International) and British Skate Championships, which were held in conjunction with the West Highland Championships. A total of 95 competitors took part in the Skate Championships. Owing to the sudden death of a notable, popular Ullapool boat hirer, Mr William Macrae, on the day of his funeral activities were suspended. As the majority of competitors were fishing for monster skate only, the weight of fish taken in the West Highland Championships was not as great as usual, but even so a grand total of 3,550lbs was landed over three days. Seven skate of over 100lbs each were caught, the Swedish team with four to their credit. Perhaps the highlight was the two-hour struggle of fifteen-year-old J Rae, who successfully landed a 127lb skate on his home-made rod and line on the last day. All the social events went with a swing. On Tuesday there was a Skate Queen Dance in the Royal Hotel, at which Miss Peggy Nipper from South Africa was crowned Queen.
Intimating his desire to be relieved of his charge of Rosskeen Church of Scotland, Invergordon, on the grounds of ill-health, the Very Rev Dr Duncan Fraser said he had received the Call to Invergordon in this same Presbytery meeting room some forty years ago. After Mr John Ross, Session Clerk, and several members had paid tribute to Dr Fraser's faithful service to church and community for almost half a century, the Brethren regretfully accepted Dr Fraser's decision.
Mr Donald Yule, Sub-Postmaster at Culbokie Post Office for the past twelve years has retired, and has been succeeded by Mrs MW Bethune, Glentyan, Culbokie.
Drum Sergeant Alec Duthart of the Invergordon Distillery Pipe Band, has been appointed Tutor of the Drum Corps in the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band. While at Invergordon he has played in seven out of the Band's eight World Championships.
Two Easter Ross First World War veterans - John Ross (70) The Plaids, Tain, and Thomas Munro(72), Rhynie, Fearn - who were originally members of the 4th Bn Seaforth Highlanders befored being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, are to attend a reunion of the Corps in Grantham at the laying-up of the Corps Banner, and the unveiling of a Memorial Plaque by the Duke of Gloucester in St Wulfram's Cathedral. The journey takes the men back half a century in time, and is being made possible by Tain Branch of the British Legion. The chairman, Mr Hector Mackenzie, said the idea started when his attention was drawn to the fact the ceremony was taking place, and that six local men, former members of the Corps, were qualified to attend. An anonymous donor had offered to meet costs.
Friday, 29th September, 1967
Ross Sutherland Rugby Club opened their Midland League campaign with a fine 36-3 victory over Kinross. The Ross backs ran the ball at every opportunity, and in the process scored five out of seven tries. David Whiteford contributed to the overall result with some good direct running and inter-play with the forwards. Likewise Andrew Gowrie timed his runs well and made some large holes in the Kinross defence.
Fourteeen-year-old Susan Gray, 3 Castle Gardens, Dingwall, who has been a member of St James' Church, Dingwall, and St Anne's Strathpeffer Episcopal Church Choirs for the past five years, has brought great honour to Ross and Cromarty. She has been placed second equal in the BBC Choir Girl of the Year competition in St Bride's Church in Fleet Street. Susan was the youngest competitor, and the only representative from Scotland. The competition is open to girls who sing regularly in a Church Choir and are aged between 12 and 17 years. Susan sang Faure's "Ave Maria" and "Tell me lovely Shepherd" by WM Boyce. The winner of the competition was Ruth Forey (16), Sutton Coldfield. Susan's father, Duncan, is choirmaster at St James and St Anne's Choirs. Susan, whose teacher is Russell Grant, organist and choirmaster at St Andrew's Cathedral, Inverness, has passed her Associated Board Grade 8 Singing examination this year.
A Book of Sponsors is to be kept permanently in Cromarty's 18th century Courthouse after its opening next year in its new role as a "living museum" to the local heritage. The restoration work will cost more than £220,000 of which £185,000 has been secured, with Ross and Cromarty District Council a major contributor.
Mr David Green, a crofter from Achiltibuie has been elected Regional Councillor for the Loch Broom and Conon Valley ward of the Highland Regional Council, in succession to Mr William Fraser, Torachilty, who resigned during the summer. Mr Green, who is married with four children moved to Achiltibuie four years ago after spending six years running the Brunstane Lodge Hotel in Strathpeffer. At the election, there was a 36.6 per cent turnout of the electorate. Voting returns were: David Green, Achiltibuie, 470; Bernard Rogers, Ullapool, 207; Hugh Piggott, Scoraig, 137; and Catherine Mackenzie, Contin, 124.
"Dingwall Academy: A History" has been produced to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the opening of the "New Academy" on Tulloch Brae in September, 1939. It traces the origins of Dingwall Academy from its earliest beginnings in the years of the mid-19th century. The author / compiler is Mr DD Macdonald, presently Depute Rector of the Academy, a former pupil and a graduate in History of the University of Edinburgh.
Among Ross-shire Nurses who qualified as Registered General Nurses from the Highland College of Nursing and Midwifery at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, are: Caroline Fowler, Muir of Ord; Isobel Fraser, Avoch; Janie Morris, Edderton; Mairi MacNeill and Elizabeth Taylor, both of Aultbea.
British Rail Civil Engineers Road Transport drivers, who were presented with Safe-Driving Awards included Messrs Duncan Mackay, Tain; Donald Kalinowski, Achnasheen; and Charles Bowie, Dingwall.
Mr Stan Williamson, 21 Bayne Drive, Dingwall, won the BP Cup when he represented the Ross and Cromarty Advanced Motorists' Group in an arduous series of tests of driving skill and knowledge at Tulliallan, near Stirling. Stan, who teaches Chemistry in Alness Academy, received a trophy and a cheque for £300 towards his Group's funds. This was the first time the Ross-shire Group had been represented in the competition. Stan drove his own car, a Maestro, in the Assessment run, and a Rover 216 in the other test. The Ross-shire Group was formed in 1982 and now has 41 members.
Friday, 29th September, 1989
