From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 20, 1998
A MOVE to close Mackay House Hostel in Golspie - where pupils from north-west Sutherland stay in order to attend Golspie High School - is being opposed by parents. Highland Council's education committee is considering closing the hostel as a cost-cutting measure and putting pupils instead into digs. It is claimed this would save £103,312 a year. But at a consultative meeting in Kinlochberive, all parents present, in an unofficial show of hands, voted for keeping the hostel open.
There was good news this week for Rogart residents who have been experiencing interruptions to their water supply in recent months. The North of Scotland Water Authority (NoSWA) has bowed to pressure and agreed to carry out £700,000 worth of extra works in a bid to solve the recurring problem of burst pipes.
Highland Council's education department has approved a grant of £6,950 for the construction of a nursery/playgroup classroom at Lochinver Primary School.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 16, 1973
Durness and Eddrachilles District Council are anxious to dispose of the residue (£274) of the Williamina Mackay Bequest, made to them in 1944 for the purpose of providing a hearse to serve the area. Miss Mackay was a business woman in the south of Scotland who had Achriesgill connections. The bequest originally stood at £629 but in 1948 a second-hand hearse was bought for £300, but it had a very limited life. The residue of the bequest is in a savings bank and the district council hope that a public appeal will raise sufficient extra captial to provide and maintain a hearse to serve the north-west Sutherland area between Kylesku and Erribol.
A BRORA plumber suffered multiple fractures to his right arm last week after he pushed a young boy from the path of a JCB excavator at Kinlochbervie. Hamish Ross (28) was working on the port’s new surgery when he saw the boy in the path of the excavator. He pushed the youngster clear but his right arm was crushed against a wall by the excavator’s shovel.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 15, 1923
A VERY enjoyable concert was held in Loth School on the evening of Friday last. The chair was occupied by Mr Donald Ross, who in his opening remarks, explained that the object of the function was to help in wiping off the deficit in the War Memorial Fund. There was a large audience and a substantial sum has been realised. To Mrs Ross, The Schoolhouse, much praise is due for her indefatigable efforts in getting up the entertainment, and the very efficient and pleasing manner in which the school children sustained their part of the programme reflects great credit on her training.
A GOOD many of our young men and women from Embo are sailing for America and Canada this week, and a few others next month. Why, one asks, should these people have to leave home and we sadly answer: There is no work. Would these people who have the say in those matters take note, especially our member of parliament. It is for them to use their influence to devise work schemes.
