From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 29, 1995
Accepting the Freedom of Sutherland in a ceremony on Monday, long serving district councillor John Mackay – the only individual to be awarded the honour – took the opportunity to justify his stance on the controversial wind farm debate. He told a packed council chamber, including local MP Robert Maclennan and Lord Lieutenant David Houston, that he had fallen out with a number of local people due to his support of the two successful applications to erect wind farms at the back of Helmsdale. But Mr Mackay, a Portgower crofter, said he thought the trust fund to be set up by the two wind farm developers was too good to turn down and would bring prosperity to Helmsdale.
Golspie farmer Angus McCall represented Sutherland at a crisis meeting of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland this week, at which it was agreed to call for cattle over the age of 30 months to be removed from the human food chain in a bid to restore confidence in British beef in the wake of the BSE scare.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 26, 1971
In the event of emergency, doctors and ambulance drivers will be able to use the new Kyle of Tongue crossing, although construction work on the bridge and causeway is still in progress. This will mean an all-round saving of 40 minutes. This £500,000 project has made splendid progress – the bridge is now complete, except for the hand rail, and the causeway is above high tide level. It is hoped the bridge will be open to traffic some months ahead of the original date of Decembe
Two young men from Farr, Bettyhill, are to receive an award from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for saving a man from drowning after his boat was almost wrecked on rocks in Farr Bay on July 18 last year. They were Mr Peter Matheson (24) and Mr Hugh Mackay (20) who rescued Mr George Mackay, of Newlands, Bettyhill, a weekend lobster fisherman. George's engine had broken down when he was returning from lifting his creels and his boat hit a rock. It was beginning to sink when rescue came.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 24, 1921
A PUBLIC meeting was held in Rogart School on Monday night, 14th ult., at which the plans and estimates which the War Memorial Committee had decided to recommend were submitted for approval. The proposed plan seemed to meet with general approbation. It takes the form of an ornate Celtic cross on a rustic base and was designed by Messrs D. & A. Davidson, sculptors, Inverness. After a short discussion, in which a few minor alterations were suggested and adopted, it was unanimously resolved to accept the design. The total cost will exceed the funds in hand and it was decided to make a second appeal to the public locally and otherwise.
A FINE organ, supplied by Messrs Logan, Inverness, has been installed in the United Free Church, Ardgay, and proves a great success. The congregation is very fortunate in having secured the services of Mr Simmonds, Culrain, as organist. It had previously been agreed that an organ for the service of praise was needed.
