From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 23, 1999
A second woman minister will shortly join the Sutherland presbytery of the Church of Scotland, with the induction of Heather Olsen to the linked charge of Creich and Rosehall. Miss Olsen (56) follows in the footsteps of the Rev Susan Brown who made history as the area’s first female minister when she took over the pulpit at Dornoch Cathedral in February last year.
Scourie Primary School Choir, competing in the Inverness Music Festival recently, came away with a top trophy. Singing in two parts as well as in unison, they gained a distinction award and won the Culduthel Cup.
Bettyhill based firemen were delighted to take delivery of a new fire appliance last Sunday. The machine was handed over to Station Officer James Mackay, of the local volunteer group, by Highland councillor for Farr and Tongue, Mr Sandy Mackay.
The Burghfield House Hotel in Dornoch has been bought by a consortium of six Americans who have previously been regular guests at the hotel. Five come from Indiana and the sixth from Illinois.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 26, 1974
The developers who want to build major complexes at Eaglefield and Davochfin, in the parish of Dornoch, are not to have their applications for planning consent considered immediately. First there is to be a comprehensive survey of the Dornoch Firth area which will attempt to specify suitable sites for certain types of holiday or other developments. Sutherland Planning Committee, at Dornoch last Monday, appointed a sub-committee to carry out this work.
Sutherland Education Committee have agreed to advertise a teaching vacancy at Scotland’s smallest school - at Loch Choire. The teacher there, Mrs Linda Frost from Staffordshire, is moving with her husband Tim who has got a job in Perth. There are only two pupils at the school, Catriona (9) and Iain (8) Cairney, the children of gamekeeper Mr Jock Cairney and his wife, Kay. Their third child, Alexandra (5), will bring the school roll to three.
Prescriptions are now free for children up to the age of 16 and for women of 60 years of age and over. Formerly, prescriptions were free for children up to the age of 15 and for women over the age of 65
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 24, 1924
Golspie is now the proud possessor of a Freemasons’ Lodge. The ceremony of consecration and erection was performed by the Right Honourable the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, Grand Master Mason of Scotland. Never was such a gathering of the men of the “Square and Compass” seen in Golspie. Freemasons were present from all the northern lodges. The day’s proceedings will long be remembered by those who had the privilege of being present at the ceremony.
The Brora Pipe Band marched through the “city” and gave splendid selections of pipe music at the Fountain on Saturday evening to celebrate the winning, by the Rangers F.C., of the Stafford Cup. Large crowds turned out to hear the band and all were delighted at the success the local boys have had this season by wining the Pattison, Capt. G. A. Sutherland and Stafford Cups.
The outbreak of influenza in Rogart has been of a severe nature, but fortunately the epidemic is now showing signs of passing over.
Mr A Edwards,plumber, Brora, has been appointed as inspector of the Embo Water Works which are now well in hand.
