Old friends reunite at Achfary Hall's 70th anniversary celebration
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A COMMUNITY connected by their links to a remote primary school and village hall in Achfary, on Grosvenor’s Reay Forest Estate, Sutherland, came together on Saturday, June 10, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the building.
Around 80 people attended the event, some travelling more than 200 miles to north-west Sutherland from as far afield as Edinburgh.
They reunited with friends, sharing their memories and photos of the former school. Many hadn’t seen each other in more than 30 years.
Neil Macdonald, who has worked for nearly 20 years with Reay Forest Estate, welcomed visitors and reminisced on days gone by.
Estate manager Ben Mardall also welcomed everyone and gave a brief update about the estate’s strategy. He thanked the team at Reay Forest for the hard work and effort they had put in to make the day such a success.
Past pupils, teachers and estate staff took time to view the wide variety of displays featuring photos of life on the estate, the school and the hall throughout the last century.
As well as a buffet lunch which was provided by the estate, a cake to mark the occasion was cut by Linda Gill, the last teacher at the school.
The hall was constructed as part of a significant investment in the area, which also included new homes to house families working for Grosvenor’s Reay Forest Estate.
The building was officially opened on May 13, 1953, by G K Ridgley, agent for the 2nd Duke of Westminster.
The hall has consistently been the hub around which the community revolves, from weddings, parties, Women’s Institute meetings, sports and social clubs, film shows and a drama society as well as for other community functions.
When the building opened, part of the hall was set aside for a primary school. It was thought at the time that it would be a temporary measure, but the school remained in operation until 2012.
