From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of December 4, 1998
Durness crofters are set to assume control of a north-west Sutherland Estate in one of the largest community land takeovers yet seen in the north. Negotiations are well advanced for the Durness crofters, all members of Keoldale Sheepstock Club, to take over the 22,260-acres Keoldale Estate, owned for the last 77 years by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department.
Residents in remote Assynt were celebrating this week after hearing the area had won the title of Scottish Community of the Year. Assynt Community Council was named as joint overall winner of the first Calor Gas Scottish Community of the Year Awards The council also came top in the Rural Community of the Year category.
Workers at the Jobs and Enterprise (JET 2000) unit in Golspie were last Friday issued with redundancy notices. Five full-time workers are employed at Golspie JET, which offers courses in catering, general building, engineering, and information technology.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of November 30, 1973
By 10 votes to 6, Sutherland County Council agreed at Dornoch last Monday to delete from future contracts a ban on Sunday work. Contracts already let will not be affected. The question had been raised by the Rev. J. R. Aitken, president of the East Sutherland branch of the Lord's Day Observance Society, who wanted to know if it was true that there had been Sunday work on the council's factory site at Dornoch. Sutherland Finance Committee, who were told that there had indeed been Sunday work in contravention of the usual ban, remitted for matter for decision to the council.
Caithness County Council want to use the old school at Melness as an outdoor recreational centre – local pupils now go to Tongue.
Along with most of the country Sutherland shivered in the icy winter yesterday, after the fairly heavy snow fall at the beginning of the week. Snow ploughs and gritters were out in force.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of November 29, 1923
As Clashmore school was four miles distant from his residence, Mr W. C. Allison, Ospisdale, was granted the regulation lodging allowance for his three children. The arrangement is to hold good during the winter months only. Mr Allison only asked for this concession during the winter months. Sutherland Education Authority chairman Andrew Lindsay said: "We welcome that spirit of Mr Allison. Some people would ask for a great deal more."
It is recommended that suitable closets be provided for Farr Public School, also to introduce a water supply, scullery, sink, and W.C. to the head teacher's house.
The attendance at side schools must number 300 in a school year, and with the view of carrying out the regulation, the Authority decided that instead of teaching being carried on at Aultilaird and Loch Choire, one half day each, that the pupils be taught at Loch Choire. The teacher appointed does not feel inclined to fall in with the decision.
