From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of June 30, 2000
When the door closes around lunchtime today at remote Loch Choire School, 17 miles from Kinbrace, it will sadly be for the last time. The school’s only pupil, 11-year-old Eileen Grant, is moving on to secondary education at Golspie at the start of the next academic year in August, and there is no pre-school intake. It is a very poignant time for Eileen and her teacher Mary Harris who for the past seven years have been together six hours a day. Loch Choire Primary School opened in 1970 to cater for the education of estate workers’ children. Latterly the education authority estimated it cost £26,000 a year to keep the school open - more than the cost of a place at Eton. The average roll at Loch Choire over the years was two to three pupils but at one point the number rose to an all-time high of five.
A rose garden at Seaforth House in Golspie, dedicated to the memory of senior social care worker Andrew Macrae, who tragically drowned while on holiday with his family near Lanzarote in December 1997, has been officially opened by local councillor Ian Ross. It is hoped eventually to have a garden area surrounding the home, linking up with the biblical Garden to the front.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of July 4, 1975
The restoration of the old jail at Dornoch by the Town Jail Craft Centre Ltd., and Sutherland County Council has been acknowledged by the Civic Trust. The conservation scheme has earned one of the trust’s 52 awards in Scotland in this European Architectural Heritage year. The building was purchased by Sutherland County Council from the Ministry of Defence in 1974. The council wished to have the building restored and put to a use which was compatible with the environment and situation at the centre of Dornoch. The building could not be altered externally because it was part of the Dornoch conservation area. Internally, 3ft thick walls and domed ceilings precluded the alteration of the rooms. By a happy coincidence in 1973, Mr and Mrs Hart were looking for a building of historical or architectural interest in which to establish a craft centre. Detailed plans were submitted and accepted and work began on the jail in January 1974. It has taken six months to restore the jail and to transform it into the Town Jail Craft Centre.
Mr A McArthur Bennie, district dental officer with the Highland Health Board, is extremely critical of the Kojak lollipop-sucking habit now firmly established, he claims, in Sutherland. He said that in his opinion lollipops “simply dissolve teeth”.
100 years ago
From the newspaper of July 2, 1925
A meeting of the Meikleferry Committee was called in connection with the proposed purchase of a sailing boat for the Meikleferry. The discussion centred round as to what would be the most suitable size of boat to procure. Mr Couper offered to do all he could in connection with the procuring of a boat and suggested that they should, in the first place, advertise for a new or second-hand one. As he was acquainted in most of the fishing centres, if they did get an offer of a boat, he could get one of his acquaintances to go and inspect it. Mr Couper’s suggestion was agreed to. It was thought that a sailing boat 25 feet in length would be suitable, but to make certain of what would suit, Mr Robert Mackay was delegated to consult the ferryman. The matter of the purchase of the boat will be finally disposed of by the Road Board.
A start has been made with hay cutting in Brora and it was a fine sight to see seven young men with scythes mowing down grass in a field in the “city”.
