From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 25, 1997
Controversy over the powers wielded by Scottish Natural Heritage, particularly its reported blocking of a small scale hydro electric scheme proposed by the Assynt Crofters Trust, was one of the issues to be thoroughly ventilated at a lively general election hustings in Lochinver last week. Between 50 and 60 people attended the good natured debate in the Culag Hotel at which six of the seven candidates seeking election in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross answered questions for nearly three hours on a wide range of topics.
Memories of Embo's "Declaration of Independence" nine years ago were revived when two villagers recently visited their "twinned city" of Kaunakakai on the island of Molokai in Pacific Hawaii. Struan and Liz Robertson were the guests of Hannah and Will Johnstone, who spend half the year in their Hawaiian residence and the other half in Embo. Liz said it had taken them more than 24 hours to reach Honolulu from Edinburgh. Embo celebrated its Independence Day on July 16, 1988.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 1, 1972
Scotland's first ever golf week – from September 23-30 – is to be linked with a "Come late to Sutherland" holiday campaign being launched by the local area tourist organisation. News of the golf week was intimated by Mr W. Livingstone, the county tourist officer, and he explained that nearly all the golf clubs in Scotland had received copies of the programme and these would also be going out to English clubs. There would be an advertising campaign in golf magazines and newspapers. Three courses are to be used – Royal Dornoch, Brora and Golspie – and highlight of the golf week will be the appearance of famous Ryder Cup players Dai Rees and Max Faulkner, who will be available for tuition.
The new trunk road diversion, including a high-level bridge at the south entrance to Helmsdale, is expected to be open for traffic in July, Mr Gordon Edmond, county surveyor, last Friday night told a public meeting in the local school. Traffic going over the bridge will have a commanding view of the village.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 20, 1922
The Chief Constable's report for the year ending 18th April, 1922, was submitted to Sutherland Licensing Court and favourably commented upon by the members. The report was to the effect that there were 30 licensed premises in the county, composed of 26 hotels, three licensed grocers, and one public house, giving an average of one licence to every 593 of the population. Eight special permissions were granted during the year compared with four last year.
A SOMEWHAT serious accident befell Mr Wm. Sutherland (Lezy), 18 Shore Street, Golspie, at Dunrobin Station on Monday afternoon. Mr Sutherland, while in the execution of his duties was in the act of removing a heavy bag from a railway waggon to a cart standing alongside, when he lost his footing, and fell heavily to the ground, receiving severe injuries to head and body. The unfortunate man, who was rendered unconscious for a considerable period, is recovering as well as can be expected under the circumstances.
