Brora man (94) has life story turned into book
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A fascinating book of stories from the life of a Brora nonagenarian has just been published.
Alisdair Sutherland (94) has collaborated with local historian and writer Christina Perera to produce the book, entitled One for the Pot: My Life’s Journey.
Ms Perera spent “two enjoyable years” listening to Mr Sutherland recall stories from his life. She then edited them into book form.
She said: “Alisdair is a gifted story-teller with a phenomenal memory. His stories come alive.”
Mr Sutherland began life not in Sutherland, but in Glasgow where his father was working in the Singer Sewing Machine Company.
One of the stories in the book describes how the family returned to the north after Mr Sutherland was ‘kidnapped’ as a baby in his pram.
He said: “One day my mother took me out in the pram to do some shopping. Prams were not allowed in shops and so my mother left me outside, which everyone did.
“When she came out, the pram was gone. Eventually, it was located about two miles away being pushed by a woman.
“She claimed that she had taken it because the child inside (me) looked weary. I believe that the woman had a mental health problem, but I do not know what happened to her after the ‘kidnapping’ event.
“I do know that my parents had had enough of Glasgow, and within a very short time we were back in Sutherland. I often wonder what direction my life would have taken if I had not been ‘stolen.’”
Mr Sutherland describes his schooling and his youth on crofts in Clyne parish in the 1930s and ‘40s.
He also gives an account of how busy Brora was in those days. His recollections include the abundance of birds—golden plovers, grouse and partridges—which have sadly disappeared from the area.
After leaving school, he tried a number of jobs before eventually ending up as a shepherd at a remote hirsel in Strath Kildonan, living alone at the stunningly beautiful but extremely isolated Loch Choire.
He tells of his later crofting experiences and his escapades on sporting estates across the Highlands.
Ms Perera said: “Alisdair kept numerous fascinating papers including documents from his father’s sojourn in Australia in the 1920s and correspondence with the agent to the Prince of Luxembourg for whom Alisdair was a stalker.
“Unfortunately, he had very few photographs to record his life’s journey, but several people loaned images so there are plenty of pictures which bring the past to life.”
One for the Pot: My Life’s Journey is available, priced £10, from Dornoch Bookshop. It can also be ordered from Ms Perera with an extra £2.50 for postage in the UK. Email: cmuperera@me.com
