25 YEARS AGO
(December 26th, 1986)
The third major road bridge to be built in Sutherland within 10 years - over Little Loch Shin at Lairg - was officially opened last week by Mr John Young, chairman of Highland Region's roads and transport committee.
Before cutting a ribbon to open the two-lane, £600,000 link on the A839, he said: "Many people who live on the periphery of the Highland Region think that, since reorganisation of local government, all the money has been spent in Inverness, or at least the inner Moray Firth.
"But this is the third major bridge which has been opened in Sutherland during my time as chairman of the region's roads and transport committee. First we had the Halladale Bridge on the north coast, then the Kylesku Bridge on the west and now the Black Bridge which links east and west."
Dornoch firemen, officials and staff of Sutherland District Council were thanked last week for their efforts in restricting fire damage in the council offices at The Meadows to one corner of the building.
Mr George Durrand, director of housing and technical services, said that the fire had started in the night, due possibly to a faulty electric heater. In total the damage amounted to more than £40,000 plus the loss of plans and records which would be difficult to replace. It was a "heartbreak," said Mr Durrand, and he confessed that it had almost reduced him to tears.
The East Sutherland Running Club are organising the traditional Dornoch Hog Jog. This popular event has proved a great success in previous years and the organisers anticipate a large turnout for 1987. There are routes of two miles, 3.7 miles and six miles through Camore Wood.
Santa came early to the pensioners in Rosehall on Saturday when sacks of logs were delivered. This was made possible by a donation from the Rosehall Sheepdog Trials run by Mr Pat McGettigan and a very generous load of wood was provided by Mr N Graesser. The Rosehall Residents Association committee, along with some of the very young, distributed this throughout Rosehall and Altass. The pensioners were delighted with this Christmas surprise and the committee would like to thank all those who made this possible.
50 YEARS AGO
(December 29th, 1961)
Sutherland this week experienced its coldest spell for very many years. One Brora reader puts it at 90 years. Tuesday was perhaps the coldest day and the temperature at 5pm at Golspie was 12 degrees below freezing point. There was thick ice on the burn at Duke Street, Golspie, and with the water there running fairly fast, this was an unusual sight for the nearby residents.
But fortunately the roads in the main were clear of ice and on the trunk road on the east coast traffic was unimpeded. But on Wednesday night, when it seemed there would be a thaw with rain falling heavily late in the afternoon, there was a sudden return to frost and a slight fall of snow. Roads were treacherous yesterday morning and traffic had to proceed with caution.
Scotland's "Christmas village," was how a national newspaper last Sunday described Golspie. The reporter was referring specifically to the three parties provided by Golspie Fire Brigade for the young folks of the parish and the dinner in the Golf Links Hotel for the old folks, not to mention the worthwhile free gifts distributed by Santa Claus at the shop of Mr Alex Cunningham in the west end
The firemen, headed by Mr Ned Melville, entertained over 300 children and all got presents from Santa. In the article referred to, the firemen were described as "the men who have helped bring the true spirit of Christmas to Golspie".
In future all school children of the requisite ages will have the opportunity, whatever their parents' circumstances, of going on educational excursions, such as the cruises on the Dunera. Parents of limited means will be told that they should not hang back on that account. Sutherland Education Committee want to assure them that no pupil will be cut out because of lack of financial means.
But so far as the immediate excursions are concerned, there is no time to formulate a scheme that will ensure fairness all round, so far as possible, but steps are to be taken to make the best of the position. Meanwhile, children have already been told that the committee are prepared to offer financial help.
The Duke of Sutherland as usual contributed £80 towards the cost of providing Christmas parties in schools in the county. The following shared in this kind gesture - Dornoch Academy; Helmsdale J S School; Clyne J S School; Golspie S S School; the STS, Scourie, Skerray, Tongue; Embo; Loth; Blarich; Rogart and Rhilochan.
75 YEARS AGO
(December 31st, 1936)
On Monday afternoon, 21st inst., through the generosity of their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, the children of the Embo Public School were hospitably entertained to a sumptuous tea, the teachers seeing to it that all were satisfied.
After tea, the children adjourned to the Public Hall, where they entertained the aged people to a splendid programme of songs, etc. A Christmas tree fully decorated was provided by the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland. Miss J. Macrae, teacher, acted as Santa Claus, to the great amusement of young and old, presenting each child with gifts. On going home the children received sweets.
Mr J G Phimister, headmaster, referred to the generosity of their Graces the Duke and Duchess, which is much appreciated, and called for a hearty vote of thanks to them, which was heartily responded to.
The Matron, Cambusavie Hospital, The Mound, begs to acknowledge with thanks the following gifts for the hospital: - £3 from the Spinsters' Ball, per Miss Macrae, Roslyn Hotel, Dornoch; fruits, sweets and cakes from Mrs G. S. Macaskill, Torrisdale House, Dornoch; fruit and sweets from the Doll branch SWRI; Christmas box of assortments from Clyne branch SWRI, per Mrs F. M. Thompson, Brora; books, crackers and decorations from Mrs J. F. Hardie, Clashmore, Skibo; turkey from Miss J. Hunter, Aldersyde, Brora.
There were two candidates forward for the vacancy in Golspie Church of Scotland and voting took place in Fountain Road Church on Monday. The ballot disclosed a majority in favour of Rev. Peter Higgins, assistant in S Inans, Irvine. The other candidate was Rev. James D. Thomson, assistant in St. Mary's, Edinburgh. A total of 139 votes were cast with 97 going to Rev. Peter Higgins, 40 to Rev. James D Thomson and two against either preacher.
There have been removed by death on Friday two of the oldest inhabitants in the parish of Dornoch. Mrs Millar, Balvraid Schoolhouse, was in her 96th year, and was the mother of Miss Millar, headmistress. The deceased came to reside with her daughter on the death of her husband, who belonged to Easter Ross. She was favoured with excellent health during her long life.
Within a few hours of Mrs Millar's death, another old and well-known native passed away (after an illness of several months' duration). In the person of William Forsyth, retired Skibo Estate worker. He was a native of Skibo district, but owing to infirmity of age, went to reside with his son-in-law, Mr William Mackay, Balvraid, where he passed away. He was 94 years of age.
100 YEARS AGO
(December 28th 1911)
The curlers of Golspie, through the aid of their new artificial pond, have had a good innings at the "roaring game" during the past few days, The introduction into the district of an artificial pond has supplied a long felt want. In recent years the frost has not been very severe and the consequence was that numerous competitions, through lack of ice, had to be abandoned. Such a state of matters, to a great extent, will be done away with, and with the presence of a few degrees of frost, the curlers are now assured of plenty of sport. A rink of curlers from Brora, on Tuesday, had a match with Golspie on the new pond, and after a pleasantly contested game, the home club were victorious by a narrow margin.
During the year which is now drawing to a close, the building trade in Brora has been very busy and the latest addition to this progressive little town is the handsome hall in connection with the Church of Scotland, which has been built close to the church, within the grounds, for the purpose of holding church meetings, lectures, social functions and other gatherings in co-operation with church work. The hall has now been completed and on Friday night a large number of the congregation and the general public were present to witness the opening ceremony, which was performed by Mr D MacLean, factor for the Duke of Sutherland.
A meeting of medical practitioners resident in the county of Sutherland was held on Friday in the Sutherland Arms Hotel, Lairg, to consider the position of medical men in the Highlands under the National Insurance Act. Representatives were present from all parts of the county. It was unanimously agreed to form a County Medical Committee, with Dr Maclachlan, provost of Dornoch as convener, and Dr Bremner, Golspie, as secretary.
A motion that the committee should act in concert with the Scottish Medical Union was proposed by Dr Simpson, Golspie, and seconded by Dr Jameson, Scourie, and was carried with enthusiasm. The secretary was instructed to communicate with representatives of the medical profession in the Highland counties with a view to co-operation.
