From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of June 2, 2000
Plans to erect a hill-top memorial above Helmsdale to the victims of the Highland Clearances have taken a big step forward with an application for planning consent and the appointment of a project manager. Behind the idea is Helmsdale-born mining millionaire Dennis Macleod, whose home base is now Scatwell House in Strathconon. Now a company has been formed, the Highland Clearances Memorial Centre Ltd, and an application lodged for outline planning consent to erect a 71ft-high monument on Creag Bunullidh, overlooking the fishing village to which many were cleared from the Strath of Kildonan.
Determined Sutherland farmers have gone into fighting mode to stop Skibo Ltd, managers of the exclusive Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle, from evicting young tenant farmer Graham Burnett, his wife and three small sons, to make way for a second championship golf course for the use of their well-heeled members. Mr Burnett was last week served an eviction notice by sheriff’s officers and given 12 months to quit the 374-acre Pulrossie Farm at Whiteface, which his family have farmed for 40 years. Chairman of the Sutherland branch of the National Farmers’ Union, Angus McCall, himself a tenant farmer at Culmaily, Golspie, told an emotion-charged meeting in Lairg on Wednesday that a wrong had been done and it was up to members to put that right.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of June 6, 1975
Valuable equipment and stock were destroyed when in the early hours of Wednesday morning, fire broke out in the pottery workshop at 68 Gartymore, Hemsdale, run by Mr and Mrs David Woodley. Previously, they had been operating from county council premises at Helmsdale Harbour, but at the New Year they had moved all their stock and equipment to a barn beside their house at Gartymore. The intention was to use the harbour premises as a shop. Mr Woodley and his wife, Penny, moved to Helmsdale two years ago from Oxfordshire.
Lairg and district on Wednesday, switched on to STD and the last call on the old telephone exchange was made by Mrs Ann Macdonald, whose husband, the late Mr R. D. Macdonald, was the first operator in 1928. Mrs Macdonald was the guest of honour at the changeover.
The old hall at Strathnaver has been prepared for painting and decorating and entrances and exits have been brought up to the standard required by fire regulations. Toilets, cloakrooms and extra accommodation are now at the planning stage. The recently formed hall committee are forging ahead with their improvements plans and are encouraged by the support given by the general public.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of June 4, 1925
The youth, John Sutherland, Dalchalm, Brora, who received injuries in the recent shooting occurrence at Brora, and who was receiving treatment in the Lawson Memorial Hospital, Golspie, has unfortunately, contracted scarlet fever, and has been removed to the County Hospital at Cambusavie. It is the sincere wish of all that he will make a good recovery.
In response to notices, signed by 19 fishermen, an open-air meeting was held in Lower Brora, on Friday evening, to form a new management committee to take charge of the Fishermen’s Hall in place of the old one, which, through the passing away of the original members and other causes, has ceased to exist for a number of years. The meeting gave the committee full powers to apply for the key of the hall, and it is the earnest wish of all that the hall will soon be available again for the use it was erected for.
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