EIGHT HOUSES are to be built in Kyle of Lochalsh under the Housing Scheme. The cost is not to exceed £600 each.
Mr Donald Campbell Macdonald Ross, postman at Delny, has been awarded the Imperial Service Medal.
Over £26 was realised at a Cake and Candy Sale in aid of Girl Guide and Boy Scout funds in the Drill Hall, Fearn.
A large quantity of wood, which cannot be used in the construction of the Badentarbat Pier, is to be sold to the inhabitants of the district to alleviate the distress caused by the failure to secure a supply of peat for the winter this season.
A whist drive and dance were held in the Ardross (Dublin) Club in aid of the Inverness Royal Infirmary. Winners were: Ladies: 1 Miss L Matheson; 2 Miss Chisholm; 3 Miss C Robertson; consolation, Miss A Murdoch. Gentlemen: 1 G Innes; 2 W Macrae; 3 A Kyle. At the Dance the music was discoursed by Miss Aird and Mr Grieve.
A social was held in the Recreation Hall, Strathconon under the auspices of the WRI. An excellent programme was sustained by Miss Mackie, Dingwall; Mrs Fowler, Muir of Ord; Miss Macrae, Fairburn; Miss Beaton, Strathconon; Mr Maclennan, Strathconon; and Mr Addison Watson. A sketch, "Slightly Mixed" was presented by Miss M Palmer, Miss J Diamond, Miss F Ross, Miss K Wood and Miss M Macdonald.
Fingal Lodge of Freemasons appointed their office-bearers as follows: RWM, J F Hunter; DM, Duncan Maclennan; SW, John Macdonald; JW, G W Hay; secretary, Alick Fraser; treasurer, Mr W S Dewar; SD, G Mackay; JD, Frank Ross; Chaplain, Rev D Y Robertson; BB, A Wilkie; D of C, John Munro; organist, D W Baxter; JG, Harry Masters; jeweller, G M Smith; stewards: John Maclean, MD Revill and W Macdonald; tyler, Hugh Munro.
Members of the Dingwall UF Church under Mr James Mackenzie, organist, and the Dingwall Amateur Orchestra, under Mr A R Campbell, visited Invergordon Hospital, and entertained the patients and staff to a delightful programme of music. Besides contributions by the orchestra and choir, others who gave their services were: Miss Scott, Miss I White, Miss Sinclair, Miss Muriel Mackenzie, Miss Marion Reid, Messrs Morris Mackenzie, Ian MacGillivray, C Macrae, John Macrae, E Reid and H Macfarquhar.
The Rosskeen and Kilmuir Ploughing Association office-bearers are: Hon president, Mr Milne, factor, Tarbat; president, Mr Gill, Tomich; vice-president, Mr Mackenzie, Polnicol; treasurer, Mr Grant, Tarbat; joint secretaries, Messrs W S Robertson and Maclean; Messrs Christie, Delny; Innes, Invergordon Mains; Davidson jr, Kincraig; MacGregor, Rosskeen; Morrison, Priesthill; Anderson, Pollo; Macdonald, Balintraid; Gray, Ardross; Gray (Factor), Newmore; Bethune (Banker), Invergordon; and Davidson, (auctioneer), Invergordon.
On Friday in the Balnagown Hotel, Ardgay, a concert was held in aid of the Kincardine Nursing Association. Sir Robert Brooke, DSO, MC, Bart of Fearn, was chairman. Artistes taking part included Piper Malcolm MacPherson, the Misses Mary Fraser, Mary Ross, Una Wallace, and Hyslop, Captain L Fraser Mackenzie, DSO, MC, Allangrange; the Bonar Bridge Orchestra conducted by Mr J Davidson; Miss Hughina Ross, Mr Mackie, MA, Tain; Miss K Ross, Miss W Walker, Mrs Mackenzie of Ord, the Misses Brooke, Macdonald, and Bremner, Fearn; Miss Marie Mackay, Tulloch; Mr W D Frater, Master Ian Seex, Evanton; and Miss K A Macdonald. The Rev H F MacNeil proposed the vote of thanks to Lady Brooke and her committee.
Friday, 21st December, 1923
OBITUARIES: As a result of a motor accident in Zambia, Babs and Andy Ballantyne, youngest daughter and son-in-law of the late Mr and Mrs J Dunbar, Ferintosh Distillery, Dingwall, sister of Mrs A W Fraser, Oakwood, Dingwall. As a result of an accident, Anne Campbell, aged 76 years, 6 Grosvenor Street, Invergordon, wife of the late John Robert Campbell. At the residence of her daughter, Mrs Mackenzie, Broadtraik Kennels, Skene, Aberdeenshire, Maggie Ritchie, wife of the late Thomas Christie. At The Bungalow, Croftcrunie, Tore, Mary Morrison Davidson, wife of the late George Gammie. At 19 Rubislaw Park Crescent, Aberdeen, Jessie M Horne, widow of James M Mackenzie, elder daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Ralph Horne, formerly of Teaninich, Alness. At 23 Tarradale Terrace, Muir of Ord, John Ferguson Maclennan, husband of Jane Murray. John A Macleod, Drumgar, Saltburn Road, Invergordon, formerly of Kirkcaldy, husband of Anne Mackenzie Wilson, father of Donald, eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs Donald Macleod, Ardvreck, Saltburn, Invergordon. John, third son of the late Mr and Mrs Hugh Tulloch, Alderwood, Helmsdale, late of Brae, Balnabeen, Conon Bridge.
The severe weather during the first week of December affected the attendance at Plockton High School from outlying places, particularly on the Friday when little more than a third of the secondary pupils turned up, and the only school buses running were from Kyle and Achmore.
A large company, including many former residents, gathered in Achmore Hall to honour Mrs E Davidson, who has retired after twenty-four years as head teacher of Achmore School. Mr and Mrs MacAllan and their daughter travelled from Morvern, Argyllshire, for the occasion, as did Mr and Mrs Denholm, Achany, Lairg, their two daughters, and Mrs Denholm's mother, Mrs Colthart. Mr Duncan Macrae, Achmore, presided and spoke of the esteem in which Mrs Davidson was held in the district, and of her manifold services to the community. Mrs J Strachan presented Mrs Davidson with an electric fire, a tea-maker, and a sum of money. Other speakers were Mr Ogilvie, head forester; Mr J Mackenzie, subpostmaster at Stromeferry; and Mr MacAllan. After a service of tea the company was entertained by the Kenraeson Band. A native of Glenmazeran, near Tomatin, Mrs Davidson was a widow and has two sons. She is to remain in the district.
A Scottish curling team comprising Major Allan Cameron of Allangrange; Ken Maclennan, Inverness; Tom Pendreigh, Dalcross; and W W Mackintosh, Perth, has returned from a successful tour of Sweden, where they won the Solstad Cup, a new trophy presented by the Swedish Curling Association for International competition. There were 37 teams in the competition. The Scottish team played seven games undefeated to win the trophy.
Coventry City, the English First Division Football Club has appointed Jimmy Andrews, Invergordon, the former Invergordon and Dundee outside left as their new coach. Jimmy has had previous coaching experience with Queen's Park Rangers, Millwall and Chelsea.
In the Masonic Hall, Dingwall, Most Excellent Companion John S Macmillan, Dingwall, was installed as Grand Superintendent of the Province of Ross and Cromarty by the Most Excellent Depute First Grand Principal William B Allan. A Deputation from Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter was present at the ceremony. Afterwards a dinner was held in the National Hotel.
There were no happier football fans on Saturday than those of Ross County, who again showed tremendous form to make light work of their Highland League opponents Forres Mechanics at Dingwall, where the won by ten goals to one. In their last two games County have scored 17 goals and conceded one. Four goals in the Forres match came from the penalty spot. Scorers were: Hugh Thom (4), Jim Hosie (3), Sandy Mackenzie, Jack Lornie and Ian Marshall. The County team was: Fraser; Borley and Brett; MacNeill (Wallace), Macmillan and Mackenzie; Marshall, Lornie, Thom, Hosie and Bannerman.
Ross Sutherland Rugby Club go forward to the Brin Cup semifinal in March. In a final tie at Invergordon, they defeated Caithness by nineteen points to three. In the final they will meet the winners of the Moray v Highland tie. Ross Sutherland had a bigger share of the ball against Caithness and did most of the attacking. Their team was: Aitchison, Scott, McCallum, Craib, Donaldson, Fraser, S Mackenzie, Morris, Mackay, A Mackenzie, Mann, Chamberlain, D Mackenzie, J Mackenzie and Leask.
Fortrose Town Council, who were one of the objectors to the proposal of Ross and Cromarty County Council, to grant planning permission to Messrs Herring By-Products Ltd for the erection of a fish reduction factory at Avoch, have been advised that the Secretary of State for Scotland has decided, on the recommendation of Sir Robert Russell, to refuse the County Council's request for a direction under Article 8 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development) (Scotland) Order.
Friday, 22nd December, 1967
THE National Hotel, Dingwall has changed hands for the second time in the past two years. The present owners, Ross and Yvonne Rhan, who took the National over in March 1988, have sold it to Mr John Robertson of Balnamuir Hotels, Pitlochry. It is understood that Mr Robertson, a native of the Isle of Lewis, a former banker with the Bank of Scotland, will retain the present staff and management team of Robin Murray and Kim Jenkins. The once State Management District Hotel, was taken over originally by Mr and Mrs Bert Ross of the Lochardil Hotel, Inverness, when it was sold by the SMD in 1972, along with other premises in the Cromarty Firth Area. Among other owners were Mr George Maclean, formerly of the Fairmile Inn, later the Moorings, Muir of Ord, and now of the Muirtown Hotel and Jacobite Cruisers, Inverness. The more immediate owners had been Mr and Mrs Stuart Williams, who had sold it to Mr and Mrs Rhan.
A Muir of Ord teenager has won seven gold medals at the World Games for Disabled Youth in the USA. Fourteen-year-old Gayle Gollan, 4 Tarradale Terrace, who is partially sighted, and a pupil of the Royal School for the Blind in Edinburgh, was one of fourteen girls and thirteen boys between the ages of thirteen and nineteen, chosen to represent Scotland at the Games in Miami. Over 600 children from fifteen countries took part, the Scottish team winning 122 medals, 109 of them gold for swimming, long jump, shot putt and running. She hopes to be selected for the Paralympic Games in 1992.
There was a large gathering of members and friends of the Invergordon Branch of the Royal British Legion, at the official opening of the refurbished club rooms, which are a credit to manager/secretary Mr Duggie Macleod and members of the Invergordon Branch. The Opening Ceremony was performed by the Branch president, Commander William (Bill) Dewing, who was introduced by the chairman, Mr Cliff Bell. In his address, Commander Dewing said the new-look club rooms were a credit to the good sense and initiative of the chairman and his committee. He was sure great advantage would be taken of the facilities offered. Mr Dougal MacDougall, Dingwall, chairman of the Highlands and Islands Area of the RBL Scotland, said it was gratifying to see such excellent work completed by the enthusiastic committee and members of the Invergordon Branch.
At Fortrose Academy, the production of the musical "Grease" was presented to packed audiences over four evenings in the academy hall. There was such enthusiasm from pupils to take part that not one, but two, casts had been formed. The show was most professionally produced by the team of Mrs Anne Mackay, Mrs Sheena Munro and Mrs Liz Ward. The multitalented cast performed with great gusto, displaying a variety of ability, singing, dancing and acting. The cast was supported by the school band directed by Miss Aileen Fraser.
The Earl of Cromartie, one of Ross-shire's best-known sons passed away at his home at Castle Leod, Strathpeffer, in his 85th year. The news has cast a deep gloom over the area where he was much loved and highly respected. During the War His Lordship served with the 4th Bn Seaforth Highlanders and was taken prisoner at St Valery. Roderick Grant Francis Mackenzie was the fourteenth in line of the Cromartie Mackenzies, Baron Macleod of Castle Haven and Chief of the Clan Mackenzie. He is succeeded by his son and heir Viscount Tarbat.
The former Highland businessman, Mr Frank Thomson, who has passed away in Sydney, Australia, was a legend in his own colourful life, a man of vision, in many ways a controversial character involved in various projects, including the establishment of a distillery at Invergordon and the formation of a world-class pipe band. He had been closely involved in the campaign to save the Kyle Railway Line from closure. His close association with Ross County Football Club led to the club's success in Highland League and cup competitions, including the Highland League Championship. Frank later moved to Australia, where he became a senior business advisor to the New South Wales Authority.
Bronze medal winners at the Northern Area Judo Championships at Aberdeen were Sarah Shand, Deas Avenue, Dingwall, and sisters Jane and Cheryl Swanson, Hill Street, Dingwall. The girls engaged in the sport just under a year ago and are making steady progress under the care of Raymond Wilby at the Dingwall Leisure Centre.
The winners of an International Wheelchair Dance Festival in Wales were Norma Davidson, Strathpeffer, 1st Adult Disco A Section; and Evelyn Murray, Fairburn House, 2nd Place Adult Section.
The 1st Maryburgh Girl Guides have donated almost £2,000 to charity as a result of a Silent Action in the Maryburgh Amenities Centre.
The donation was presented to Mrs Elizabeth Hope, mother of Miss Ruth Hope, the Maryburgh youngster, who tragically lost her battle against leukaemia. The money is to be donated to the Leukaemia Society.
Friday, 22nd December, 1989
