Reflections from Ross-shire from 100, 75, 50 and 25 Years Ago
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Stuart Greaves sits astride the new mountain bike which was presented to him to mark his retirement from Culbokie Primary School after 14 years service as head teacher
100 Years Ago
Friday, 13th April, 1917
AN excellent opportunity is provided to Dingwallians to increase food production. As will be seen from our advertising columns, Messrs D & W Ross, Bridgend Dairy, Dingwall, are offering a field suitable for potato planting. It is ploughed and manured and ready for the seed. Only a nominal rent will be charged. All information can be had at the farm. This is the first offer of the kind in the district, and it is one worthy of emulation by others.
Black Isle: Fortrose – A well attended meeting was held in Fortrose Drill Hall on Thursday evening to consider as to the formation of a Volunteer Company locally. Provost Fraser having announced the purpose of the meeting, called on Sir Thomas Henderson to explain the scheme as pronounced at the County Meeting in Dingwall. This having been done, several gentlemen spoke on the subject, and it was unanimously agreed to form a company, with Fortrose as the headquarters. About 40 were enrolled, which was considered very good for a start, and canvassers were appointed to visit the districts.
Winter, despite the lengthening day, refuses to yield to spring, and day after day for nearly three weeks, there have been snowfalls, none of them heavier than any experienced throughout the winter and in the aggregate forming a period of wintry weather, which in length of time as well as severity, can have few parallels in living memory.
75 Years Ago
Friday, 10th April, 1942
MRS Campbell, of Elliot Road, Invergordon, has received information that her son, Sgt. A Campbell, MM , Cameron Highlanders, has been wounded in the Middle East. He won the Military Medal recently for bravery on the field. A brother, Corporal N Campbell, Royal Scots, is reported missing at Hong Kong. Another brother Pte Ken Campbell, served in France with the Seaforths.
Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club is to carry on for at least another season. This was decided at the annual meeting which was held in Dingwall. Bailie T Maclean, captain, presided, and there was a representative attendance of members.
Bailie Maclean remarked that taking everything into account, the Club was in a wonderful position. The fact that they had been able to keep going during the past season was encouraging in itself. The principal reason they were in existence was due to Mr Robert Hay, their hon. Secretary and treasurer.
They were fortunately placed in him. It was entirely due to his energy and enthusiasm that they were alive today.
Tonight (Friday) and to-morrow (Saturday) in the Dingwall Picture House, America’s first comedian, Bob Hope, and glamorous Dorothy Lamour, will be seen in “Caught in the Draft”, a humorous skit on army life in America.
50 Years Ago
Friday, 14th April, 1967
DINGWALL Town Council are protesting strongly against the proposal by the Ministry of Transport that the railway line from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh should eventually be closed. Mr Saunders Burns remarked at this week’s meeting of the Council that the whole question had been thrashed out some years ago, and it was regrettable that is should be raised again. If traffic was to be encouraged to use the railway, then they should take a good look at the time-table and revise it. Mrs C S Brown felt the bus company should be asked to co-ordinate their times of departure with the arrival of trains. Mr Burns said British Rail did not appear to consider the public when they drew up their time-tables. Bailie Robert Macleod, however, felt this was being done deliberately, and Mr Burns added that the best patronised train services had been withdrawn. The Council agreed to send a strong letter of protest to the Minister of Transport, with a copy to Mr A R Mackenzie, M.P. For Ross and Cromarty.
Well, well, well! Of course it was to be expected!
Ross County fairly tore Caley to shreds on Wednesday evening, and won as they pleased by five goals to nil. It could have been more too.
Jim Hosie (2), Jack Lornie, Colin Brett (penalty), Don MacMillan got the goals.
25 Years Ago
Friday, 10th April, 1992
SPRING arrived with a blaze of colour at Alness Horticultural Society’s annual bulb show in the Perrins Centre. Despite the wintry outside conditions and for those who braved the elements it was judged to be the best yet, particularly in the bulb, pot plant and floral art sections.
Disappointingly, the baking, handicrafts and children’s sections were slightly down on last year but throughout the quality of exhibits were high.
With the pressure of the MacEwan’s Lager North of Scotland Cup final lifted, Ross County are setting their minds on retaining the TSB Highland League Championship against the might of Caley and Huntly. All three clubs are in with a chance of taking the title, although the advantage lies with Caley, whose recent performances have swept them to the top in an avalanche of goals, which might yet count if there is a tie at the end of the day.
County defeated Lossiemouth 1-0 the North of Scotland Cup final at Kingsmills. Brian Grant scored the winner, but County had goalkeeper Stevie Hutchison to thank for saving brilliantly from Stewart on two occasions in the closing minutes.
Firemen at Gairloch tackled a car fire in the early hours of Friday morning. No one was hurt in the blaze, a fire brigade spokesman said later, but the Toyota was completely destroyed. The spokesman was unable to give the cause.
