Reflections from Ross-shire - a look back at our old files from 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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From the newspaper of October 29, 1920
Remarkable lady
The death of Ann Morrison “who attained the remarkably old age of 106”, was marked by the Ross-shire a century ago this week under the heading “Death of a Gairloch centenarian”.
It reported how Mrs Morrison, of Lonmore, Gairloch, had lived under six British sovereigns and was a quiet, bright, highly intelligent woman who had never suffered from any serious illness.
Until recently she had managed the one-and-a-half mile walk to church. In her younger days, in company with other women, she used to walk to the Lothians to work at the harvest there and she had a store of interesting reminiscences to relate of those far away days.
Mrs Morrison was predeceased by her late husband by some 17 years.
From the newspaper of October 30, 1970
Totally plastered!
How many plasters to the mile?
That was the “blistering question” on Saturday when the Mid Ross Young Conservatives completed a sponsored walk from Dingwall to Fortrose.
The First Aid kit was depleted as sore feet were tended to as every step raised funds for needy children’s charities. The first checkpoint after the Leanaig was Tore where apples and cheese was dished out to walkers as sustenance.
Further checkpoints followed at Munlochy and Avoch. The final pair to complete the course, after some four hours, were Mary Macduff-Duncan and Anne Standing “who showed that where there is a will there is a way!”
The young participants were then setting about collecting pledges from friends.
From the newspaper of November 3, 1995
Black belts’ joy
Neil Houston of Easter Ross had achieved a first for Scotland through his school of martial arts – the Scottish Kempo Ju Jutsu Academy, based in the village of Balintore.
Mr Houston had gained his third degree black belt making him the only holder of that title in Scotland recognised by the relevant authority.
With a membership of around 200, the academy ran classes in Tain, Balintore, Alness, Dornoch and Inverness.
Senior coach Helen Beattie of Balintore was also pictured in that week’s edition. She had secured her second degree black belt, improving her rating as the only female black belt recognised by the British Association.
They were both graded by Britain’s top Kempo Ju Jitsu master, Peter Browne – a sixth Dan black belt from London.
