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Reflections from the old files of the Ross-shire Journal 100, 50 and 25 years ago; A tragic death on the Black Isle; Plug pulled on Ross ferry link and honour for Achiltibuie officer on long march A tragic death Ferry pulled Army on march


By Hector MacKenzie

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From the edition of November 5, 1920

The tragic death of Avoch father-of-eight and fisherman Douglas Macleman was lamented in the close knit community.

The fisherman had anchored a short distance from the harbour beside a bar of sand known as ‘The Sanel Sands’. Normally passable, unknown to the crew, the day before a steamer had grounded astern and her propeller made a huge cavity in the sand. It was into this dip that Mr Macleman disappeared.

The others were saved and managed to return to the boat.

His body was recovered but life was extinct. Rev T. Kerr referred to the loss of an active member, Sunday school teacher and temperance worker.

Mr Macleman, described as being in his forty-sixth year, was survived by six daughters and two sons. His late wife had died after a lingering illness two years prior.

From the edition of November 6, 1970

Ross and Cromarty Highways Committee approved a recommendation to terminate the contract it had with the operator of the Balblair to Invergordon ferry.

The service was subsidised to the tune of £840 per year, the cost being shared between Invergordon Town Council and Ross and Cromarty County Council. The joint committee felt the return from the operation was “ludicrous in comparison with what they were paying out”.

It heard debate about possible future demand for the service, given the Invergordon smelter, and also heard of difficulties getting in to Invergordon harbour.

It was noted that three or four passengers a week were being carried and a subsidy of £16 was being paid. It was agreed to give three months’ notice to the ferryman, Mr G. Aburrow, with the subsidy being withdrawn the following January.

From the edition of November 10, 1995

A team of Nepalese Gurkhas led by an Army officer from Achiltibuie in Wester Ross marched off with a top award in one of Britain’s toughest military tests.

Lieutenant Dan Rex (23) steered his team from the 3rd Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles to a bronze in the gruelling Cambrian Patrols in Wales. The 50-mile challenge attracted 90 teams from as far afield as Canada, the United States and the Netherlands.

Lieutenant Rex, who learned to speak Nepalese and was commissioned two years after graduating from university with a degree in archaeology and ancient history, told how his men’s fitness stood them in good stead for covering tough terrain with 70lb backpacks through ‘enemy’ territory.

His career to date had taken the Indian-born officer globe-trotting to countries including Hong Kong and Kenya.

Related: More from our old files


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