From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of August 14, 1998
The carcass of a 40ft sperm whale, which died after being stranded on Farr Beach, Bettyhill, last Thursday, was finally disposed of this week. Local drainage contractor Charlie Cowan brought in heavy plant to dig a trench along the beach through which to drag the 40-tonne whale for burial deep below sand dunes.
There was nothing to smile about for sellers at Britain's biggest one-day sale of ewe and wether lambs in Lairg this Wednesday – with prices down an average £16.54 on last year. "Desperate, disastrous and depressing" were some of the comments from crofters, bitterly disappointed in the ring.
The North of Scotland Water Authority (NoSWA) has been fined £5,000 for polluting a burn in the Dornoch area. Discharges of effluent in concentrations of 3700 per cent more than the permitted level were pumped into the Birichen Burn which flows into the River Evelix. The effluent in such concentrations can damage spawning beds for trout and salmon.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of August 10, 1973
A 13- year-old boy on holiday from England was severely injured in a fall from cliffs two or three miles west of Rispond, Durness, last Monday. He was Brian Foran of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, who was rescued by sea by Sir Reginald Rootes, who lives at Rispond and is the former chairman of Rootes Motors, now part of Chrysler; his caretaker, Mr John Morrison and Dr C S Sandeman, Durness. Also in the rescue action were the shore rescue team led by Mr Gordon Clark, postman. The boy suffered head injuries, a fractured left leg and cuts.
Sutherland County Council agree in principle that a civilian airstrip be provided at Durness. But before going ahead with it, they want to know what grant the Highland Development Board will put up. Mr C Campbell, Durness, told the council last week that they must take action before October 1 or the airstrip would be built somewhere else for training purposes by the Army – the airstrip is to be built under the Army's OPMAC scheme. The project represented good value for money.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of August 9, 1923
Kinbrace and Kildonan United Free Churches held their joint Sabbath school picnic at Borrobol last Saturday, where they were entertained to tea on the lawn before the lodge by Mrs Sykes who also provided the prizes for the various races and games.
On it becoming known that Mr John Seaton, who has been stationmaster and postmaster at Kildonan for 29 years, was retiring under the age limit, opportunity was taken by the inhabitants to present him with some token of esteem. At a public meeting in the Kildonan Drill Hall, he was asked to accept a solid gold watch and handsome cheque, and Mrs Seaton a beautiful travelling case.
Sir Archibald and Lady Sinclair, during their tour through the constituency, paid a visit to the district. Throughout they were received with great enthusiasm, bunting being displayed in each of the hamlets and the inhabitants congregating in convenient places at, or near, the main road.
