From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of December 8, 1995
It is worth keeping foreign deep sea trawlers away from the Lochinver-based home fleet even in harbour because of possible damage by the big French and Spanish boats. For this reason, the regional roads and transport committee is being asked this week to refurbish the old Culag fish mart building for use by the visiting European community partner boats. In a report to members, harbours superintendent Robert Massie said the fish mart had a crumbling asbestos roof, doors which were unsafe and general structural decay.
The cost of replacing fallen tiles in the showers at Golspie’s swimming pool will have to be met by the district council, despite the fact it is only 18 months since the pool was refurbished. The pool and leisure complex will be closed for five weeks over the Christmas and New Year period to carry out major repair work to the shower area. Amenities officer Graham Nichols said it was 18 months since the job was done and it was outside the liability period.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of December 11, 1970
Mr Alick Buchanan-Smith, Scottish Under-Secretary of State, hopes that it will be possible to let Sutherland County Council known early in the New Year what the prospects are for work going ahead next year on the £90,000 development plans for their white fish pier at Loch Bervie. It had been confidently expected that work would begin next April but now doubts have been raised and Mr Buchanan-Smith said a guarantee that a grant could be provided next year could not yet be given.
It had been suggested that in the event of Britain joining the European Common Market, fishing limits would be reduced from 12 miles to three miles. If that happens, it could well mean the end of Sutherland's white fish ports at Kinlochbervie and Lochinver. That was stated by Mr Donald MacBain, convener, at last week's county council meeting when he said MP Mr Robert Maclennan should be asked to make representations with a view to getting some clarification of what would happen.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of December 9, 2020
Three cases came before the Chief Magistrate, Provost Mackintosh on Wednesday morning at Dornoch Police Court. The first was against Donald Bruce, crofter, Badininish for breach of the peace and disorderly conduct on the street, which resulted in him having to be locked up for the night. He pled guilty and was fined 5s. In the second case Gavin Gray, sawmiller, Poles, pled guilty to riding a bicycle without a light in Castle Street between 9 and 10 o’clock at night. A fine of 5s was imposed.
The third case was one of a class which Mr Sutherland, the Burgh Prosecutor stated was becoming increasingly common in the Burgh, that of leaving horses yoked to carts on the public street unattended by any person while the drivers visited the hotel bars. The case in question was against William Mackay, wood carter, Spinningdale, and Thomas Ross, wood carter, Whiteface, both of whom were found in the bar of the Eagle Hotel, while their four horses and carts were left unattended. Ross was fined 7s 6d and Mackay 5s.
