Mr Donald MacInnes has been appointed manager of Messrs Reith and Anderson, auctioneers, Dingwall. For the past twenty years he has been associated with the West Highland Auction Mart.
MR Jack Macdonald, son of Mr and Mrs William Macdonald, St James Street, Dingwall, has passed his final examinations in medicine at Edinburgh University.
The Rev Kenneth Maclennan, Fortrose, a brother of Mr John Maclennan, Keltic Warehouse, Dingwall, has received a call from the congregation of Alexandria North UF Church.
Mr George M Drever, agent for the Bank of Scotland at Avoch, has been promoted to the Agency at Kirkcaldy. At Avoch he has been succeeded by Mr George F MacGregor, High Street Office, Inverness.
The following office-bearers have been installed in Lodge Rosehaugh, Avoch: RWM, A Munro; DM, J Mann; SM, L Macleman; JW, T Macdonald; Chaplain, Rev E J Brechin; secretary, J S Nairne; SD, D Jack; organist, K Maclean; BB, J Patience; Stewards, J Elliot, G Jack, A Macleman and J Barclay; Tyler, W Smith.
Dingwall Poultry Society, which was resuscitated last year held its second show in the Carnegie Hall. There was a total entry of 379 exhibits - poultry 183, pigeons 56, rabbits 20, eggs four, cage birds 116. The organising committee was: President, Bailie Hugh Ross; vice-presidents, Messrs S D Murray, G Mackenzie and John Macmillan; members: Messrs Ewen Cameron, Ned Young, J Campbell, J Gordon, H M Scott, R Munro, A Fraser, D Cameron T Mackenzie, J Murray and A Mackenzie, with Mr John F Reid, High Grove, as the ideal secretary. Special, prizewinners were: Best Pigeon, A Matheson, Wick; Cage Bird, J M MacArthur, Wick; Bantam, D A Skinner, Allanfearn; Best in Poultry classes, A Falconer, Gollanfield; Bignold Cup for Best 1923 Bird in Poultry Classes, bred by exhibitor, A Falconer; Best Utility Hen or Pullit (confined), Mrs A Rugg, Munlochy; Best Border Canary (confined) D Shearer, Thurso; Norwich Canary (confined), J M MacArthur; Breeding Cock or Hen, heavy or light, Ewan Cameron, Lochussie; Best Rhode Island Red, A Falconer; Rabbit, J Campbell, Grant Street, Dingwall; Duck, Leslie Fraser, Evanton; Best British Bird in Show, P and G Grant, Inverness.
Friday, 14th December, 1923
OBITUARIES: Robert Collie, aged 95 years, Master Tailor, Tain, husband of the late Margaret Rae. At Dunira, Muir of Ord, Hugh Douglas Jack, aged 65 years, husband of Elizabeth Ann Macdonald, eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs John Jack, Muirtown Farm, Munlochy. Jessie Macdonald, wife of James (Bunny) MacBeath, Cluny Road, Dingwall, youngest daughter of the late Hugh and Mary Macdonald, Braefoot Cottage, Hilton, Fearn, sister of Mary and Bunty. Donald Ross, elder son of the late Donald and Annabella Ross, Blackwater Cottages, Contin. At 15 Golfview Terrace, Invergordon, James Sangster Shivas, husband of the late Aimee Duruz, son of the late James Sangster Shivas, Veterinary Surgeon. Edward Smith, husband of the late Annie Dewar, 20 Largo Place, Glasgow SW1, president of the National Deposit Friendly Society, Scotland, and late works manager, Govan Shafting and Engineering Company.
Ross and Cromarty County Council has received applications for planning permission in principle to site an aluminium smelter, etc, in the Invergordon area. The applications were submitted by Alcan Aluminium (UK) Ltd, and the British Aluminium Company Ltd. The Council are favourably disposed towards granting permission in principle, subject to certain requirements being carried out. Final determination of the applications will be made at a later date. Having regard to the area concerned, the Council agreed to amend their development plan to zone appropriate areas for Industrial purposes as well as associated housing development. It was reported that the Highland Agricultural Executive Committee had "reluctantly" agreed to the rezoning of approximately half of the area proposed in the amendment for Industrial purposes. The Highlands and Islands Development Board had also given its approval.
The Council adopted a motion by Captain I W Macpherson, Delny, seconded by the Rev J R Muirden, Rosskeen, that "the County Council considers the time has come to state that large-scale industrial development, particularly in the Invergordon area, would be enthusiastically welcomed in order to improve the economic viability of the area generally, and that industrial development in the area in question should be encouraged".
Mr Alastair Rose, Cromlet Drive, Invergordon, has taken up an appointment with the New Zealand Shipping Company as a radio officer. Alastair gained his Postmaster General (First Class) and Radar Maintenance Certificate at Leith Nautical College. Previously he had been employed as a carpenter with Messrs Duncan Logan Builders, Muir of Ord.
l Invergordon Academy Country Club teams took first and third places in the Ross and Cromarty and Inverness Districts Young Farmers' Clubs' Junior Speechmaking competition at Inverness. The winning team was: Donald Shaw (chairman), Maureen Pope, Andrew Robertson and Don Milton. The third placed team from Invergordon was: Alastair Macleod (chairman), Jennifer Mackay, Elspeth Mackay and Peter Swanson.
The strengthening of the bridge over the railway on Ferry Road, Dingwall, is expected to be completed within three months.
The appointment of Mr William A Easson, Seaforth Place, Maryburgh, as Town Clerk of Invergordon, will give much satisfaction to many friends in the County. Mr Easson and his family came north to Ross-shire from Dundee in 1956, when he succeeded Mr Roderick Mackay as chief education clerk to Ross and Cromarty Education Authority. Outside his normal working life, however, Mr Easson is much in demand as a preacher of some merit by various congregations, and for his appearances on discussion panels. Mrs Easson is president of Muir of Ord and Conon WRI and has had success in the coaching of school choirs. With her daughter Elizabeth, a pupil of Dingwall Academy, they form a talented singing duo. The Easson's son David is a student at St Andrew's University.
Ross County Football Club defeated Clachnacuddin 7-0 in a Highland League fixture at Dingwall. The victory brought home to County fans the benefit of using orthodox wingers, who opened up play and the opportunities which were taken by two first-class wingers, Ian Marshall and Robert Bannerman. Both struck great form and established a good understanding with their colleagues. Their positional play was excellent; they knew how to use the ball to advantage, and their crosses were always accurate. As a result the inside forwards came into their own, varying their approach on goal. Hugh Thom was in brilliant form as he opened the scoring with a well-placed header. In all he notched six of the seven goals, the seventh being credited to Sandy Mackenzie.
Two Ross-shire boys have been selected for the North of Scotland Schools Football squad to play the Highland League Under 20 select at Inverness in January. They are goalkeeper Robert Leitch, Fortrose, and Richard Hart, Tain Royal Academy, outside left. A third player, Junior Belli, Dingwall Academy, is a reserve.
Members of the Ullapool Harbour Trust are: Messrs John Macrae, William MacCulloch, Kenneth Macleod, Arthur Pollock, James Mackenzie, John Mackay and Murdo Macleod.
Mrs Davidson, Marsule, Craig Road, Dingwall, who is a member of the Scottish Society of Women Artists, has had a picture hung in the exhibition in the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh.
l At a meeting of Ross and Cromarty property and works committee, Mr George Baxter Smith, Muir of Ord, who is a member of the County Architect's Department, has been appointed Chief Assistant Architect. At present he is working on the new Tain Royal Academy project.
Miss Patricia Bain, Dingwall, convened a meeting to re-form the Ross-shire Ladies' Hockey Club. There was a good attendance and hopes are high that the club will be in operation in the coming year. Pat was appointed secretary. Other office-bearers will be appointed after the first practice.
Weather conditions caused the cancellation of the bulk of games in the Second Eleven Football competitions, but in Dingwall, the local Thistle defeated Avoch Rovers 5-3 in the first round of the Football Times Cup competition.
During the summer months Plockton Old School is to be let to the Military Authorities at a nominal rent of £25.
Ross and Cromarty education authority is to purchase the Drill Hall house and garage in Ullapool at the district valuer's figure.
One of the prizewinners at Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology in Aberdeen, is Miss Christine B Caie, Ullapool, who received the Gordon Pharmacy Exiles Prize.
Through the kindness and generosity of Mrs I Moore, Plockton Hotel, a Tattie-and-Herring Supper was held in the hotel in aid of funds for the older residents' Christmas Dinner. About forty people sat to an excellently purveyed meal. Mr D Gillies said Grace, and afterwards songs were sung by members of the company, and piano and accordion selections were contributed by Mrs Cameron, Duirinish and Mr M Mackenzie, Plockton.
Mr William Mackenzie of the Summit School of Motoring, Rosemarkie, has been elected a member of the Institute of Master Tutors of Driving (Minst MTDF). He is the first instructor to hold the Diploma of Membership of the institute in the area of Dingwall, Fortrose and Avoch.
Mr Alasdair Maclennan, area youth leader for the mainland of Ross and Cromarty, gave a talk about the Youth Service to members of Dingwall Rotary Club.
Friday, 15th December, 1967
TWO MEN employed by the Highland Regional Council water and sewerage department have retired and were honoured by their colleagues. Mr James Macrae, 1 Wyvis Terrace, Dingwall, is an inspector, and Mr Robert (Bob) MacWhirter, 9 Riverbank Road, Conon Bridge, retires after nine years' service. At a presentation in the department's offices on Strathpeffer Road, Dingwall, each received a wallet of Treasury notes from the youngest member of staff Mr David Begg, Alness.
A shortage of pipers is affecting the Ullapool and District Junior Pipe Band. As a result the past summer season has been the organisation's worst as far as parades were concerned. At a largely attended annual general meeting, Mr Willie Macrae, chairman, said the pipers who had remained active, had not let the community down.
All requests for appearances at ceilidhs, concerts, weddings, etc, had been fulfilled. Five pipers, two drummers and three Highland dancers were among a group of artistes who carried out a 10-day exchange visit to Radnevo in Bulgaria, a visit which had proved an outstanding success. Mr Macrae also revealed that as a result of the good work of Pipe Major Norman Gillies, eleven pupils from Ullapool and Achiltibuie Schools had for the first time in four years competed with a high degree of success in the Inverness Piping and chanter competitions. The 8-13 year old youngsters had now graduated to the full pipes and were being tutored by PM Gillies, Mr Alasdair Fraser, headmaster at Achiltibuie School, former PM Alison Sinclair and Piper Duncan Macleod, Achnahaird. The 12-strong Drum Corps also suffered a blow following the retiral of Instructor Jim Urquhart, Maryburgh after eight years' service. His successor is 18-year-old Miss Janice Douglas, Inverness, one of the country's leading side drummers. In the course of the evening Mrs Louise Maclean presented 13-year-old Douglas Beck and nine-year-old Suzie Lee, Ullapool, with the Kenny John Mackenzie Memorial Shield and Seaforth Shield respectively. The awards were made on the recommendation of PM Gillies for years of work, endeavour and dedication.
Rapidly expanding Conon Bridge has a new "suburb" - the Macrae Homes Development at Riverford, which is at an advanced stage of development. On the suggestion of the local Councillor, Mr Hamish Fraser, it is to be called "Ellis Park" in tribute to the last tenant of Riverford Farm Mr Donald Ellis, who farmed there for fifty years. Mr Ellis, who passed away in 1974 at the age of 73, was a very popular personality in Conon village.
Mrs Charmain Entwhistle, Marybank, has won the Scotvec National Award HND in the Business Studies course at Inverness College of Further Education. She presented the best project out of 600 entries, and received the RBS Award as the Best Student in the Second Year group.
Alness Academy have again several of their basketball players featuring in the Scottish Basketball International teams. Andrew Menzies is to represent Scotland in the Under-15 team while Kevin Craig will play for Scotland in the Under-17 fixture. Andrew Mardon plays for the Under-15 team.
Tain Amateur Swimming Club Champions are: Junior Boys, Christopher Brown; Senior, James Conner; Junior Girls, Lisa Hay; Senior Girls, Gail Colliar.
Friday, 15th December, 1989
