From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of June 7, 1996
Lochinver and Kinlochbervie could be the first British ports to have an electronic auction system – "buying a wire" – which would allow fish buyers elsewhere in the UK and on the continent to bid via computer terminals. The system, widely used on mainland Europe, is being researched by the Highland Council, the ports' owners, in association with Belgian company Schelfhout.
A former pupil of Golspie High School has just been promoted chief of all Grampian TV's production facilities, including outside broadcast units, studios and links with other networks. He is Derrick Thomson (33), elder son of George and Flower Thomson, Seaforth Road, Golspie.
The damage caused by timber lorries to Sutherland's fragile network of single-track roads is causing concern to councillors. Already a 7.5 tonne weight restriction has been imposed on the Glen Loth road following damage to a culvert. It will stay in force for 18 months.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of June 4, 1971
Sutherland Education Committee are hoping that work on the new school hostel for boys in Golspie will start next March and that the plans for a second new hostel, for boys and girls, in Golspie, will be completed by next April. When the subject was raised at the committee's meeting at Brora recently, Mr John Mackintosh, Dornoch, said he wondered what their long-term plans were for the old Sutherland Technical School at Drumuie, (now known as the Golspie High School annexe). He thought the building was beautifully located and if it was to become redundant, it could become a hostel for boys.
Miss M. L. Macleod, Ardvreck, Cambridge, has suggested to Sutherland County Council that Ardvreck Castle ruins and the Lairds of Assynt family vault in Inchnadamph churchyard should be signposted. Her brother, Col R. Macleod, had intimated that he would be willing to assist financially. But the owner of the land on which the castle stands is unwilling to have it signposted.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of June 2, 1921
Dr J. D. Macrae, a member of Sutherland Education Authority, drew attention to the overcrowding of pupils in one of the rooms of Rosehall school. Thirty to thirty-two pupils were in a room that was not fit to hold more than twenty, while on the other hand, the headmaster's room, which was seated for forty had only twenty pupils in it. It was suggested, as a simple way out of the difficulty, to transfer the infants to the headmaster's room. The matter was left in the hands of architect Mr Horne to inspect the school and report back.
Scourie school, under its very able and highly qualified headmaster Mr H. G. Fraser is keeping up its high reputation as a most efficient educational unit, and the H. M. Inspector's report which has come to hand bears this out in every respect. Year after year the reports have been stamped excellent, and it is pleasing to note that candidates for Intermediate Certificates always do credit to their able tutor so much so that H. M. Inspector makes special mention of it.
