From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 4, 1997
Bettyhill crofter John Kenneth Mackay was honoured at the weekend for his long-time active involvement in community affairs in north Sutherland. Mr Mackay (72) passed up the opportunity of a trip to Buckingham Palace in favour of being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire at a social function in the village.
Northern Times readers who attended local primary schools during the 1950s and 1960s are being asked to cast their minds back, to see if they recall being given sunshine therapy. The Highland Museum of Childhood in Strathpeffer is looking for information in this practice which apparently took place in primary schools throughout Sutherland up to 50 years ago.
Brora octogenarian and keen knitter Mrs Kate-Ann McDonough is taking part in a Highland Hospice fundraising challenge to knit the longest scarf in Scotland. Proceeds from the sponsored knit will go towards building a palliative care centre for the Highlands.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 31, 1972
The governing body have decided to close Dunrobin School, Golspie, at the end of the summer term. The company, Dunrobin School (Sutherland), Ltd., will go into voluntary liquidation. The governing body's decision was forced by the drop in the number of boys to 67 from a previous peak of 87, and the consequent large financial loss. The proprietors of Dunrobin School are the Countess of Sutherland and her husband Charles Janson. Lady Sutherland said the closure was a "very great disappointment".
The last provisional figure for the population of Sutherland – in June last year – was 12,900 and so below the "magic" figure of 13,000, according to a report by D. J. C. Cameron, the county's medical officer of health.
Sutherland doctors are gravely concerned at a suggestion that the geriatric hospital at Cambusavie, in the parish of Dornoch, might be closed at some time in the future and not replaced.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 30, 1922
The annual dinner of the London Ross and Cromarty and Sutherland Association, which was held on Friday, 17th ult., was notable for the presence of the Duke of Sutherland for the first time since he came of age. He made a neat and eloquent speech and there were a variety of other addresses which dwelt on every phase of life in the two northern counties.
The Dornoch Cinema Coy. is still forging ahead and this is not to be wondered at as the Coy. on every occasion throw on the screen the most up-to-date, entertaining and expensive films, which always give entire satisfaction to their numerous patrons.
Having received an unanimous call to be parish minister of Hobkirk, near Hawick, and which call the Presbytery of Dornoch agreed to, the Rev. D. L. Cattanach, Golspie, preached his farewell sermon in the Golspie Parish Church on Sunday before an exceptionally large congregation. The whole service was a touching one.
