From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 5, 1995
Although a petition is being canvassed in the tiny Assynt village of Drumbeg to save its 118-year-old school, hopes are not high that the Highland Council's education authority will give it a reprieve. Its closure, along with the shut-down of Macleod House Hostel in Golspie because it is no longer needed, is proposed in an effort to make substantial savings in the education budget. At least eight other schools may also face the axe, through a consultation process on overprovision of school places. But the education committee has decided by 21 votes to 12 to review in detail the future of Fort William Primary School following strong local protest.
The first of Dingwall Auction Mart's spring store cattle sales held on Wednesday saw the number of entries decimated and the cattle which made it into the ring selling for lower than average prices as a direct result of the BSE scare. Only 350 animals were entered compared to the normal figure of around 1000, and in the event there were only 200 beasts put through the ring.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 2, 1971
A COLOURFUL figure in his two-tartan mini-kilt, orange T-shirt and bright beret with huge bouncing pom-pom, red-bearded Kenny Campbell, of Invershin, last weekend achieved perhaps his most astonishing feat of strength and determination. Single-handed, he pulled to the top of Ben Bhraggie a heavy cart containing an armchair on which was ensconced attractive Helen Bryson (21), a member of Aberdeen Students' Charities Campaign Committee. The event was to raise money for the charities campaign.
So serious has become the silting up of Helmsdale harbour that the owners Sutherland County Council, are asking their consulting engineers to say how feasible it would be to divert the river course. This has been put forward by some of the local fishermen as the only solution to a problem which was highlighted last Friday night when children were walking across the harbour entrance, something never seen before. It is feared it will soon be impossible for seine net and lobster boats to use the port.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 31, 1921
The mortal remains of John McLeod, Upper Bighouse, were laid to rest on 23rd inst., in Kirkton Cemetery. Deceased, who was deaf and dumb from infancy, was 63 years of age, and had been in failing health for several months past, and some time prior to his demise little hope was entertained for his recovery. He resided with two surviving sisters, one of whom is a deaf mute.
In early life Mr McLeod was apprenticed to the tailoring trade. He proceeded south and found employment with a firm of high-class tailors and clothiers in Princess Street, Edinburgh. Returning home he followed his calling for a number of years, and had the reputation of being a superior craftsman. The funeral was largely attended.
The "strike" at Ribigill school, Tongue, has ended. The parents, on the advice of Mr Arthur, solicitor, Dornoch, legal adviser to the Authority, have sent their children back to school. It will be remembered the parents refused to send their children to school, but have now done so under protest.
