Sundowner of the Skies author to visit Sutherland and plans to gift family artefact to Strathnaver Museum
An Australian author who wrote a book about the historic aviation achievement of her Sutherland born father is to visit the county later in the year.
And Mary Garden is to bring with her a unique family artefact which she plans to present to Strathnaver Museum.
Her biography Sundowner of the Skies charts the flight made by Oscar Garden who set a record for being the youngest and most inexperienced pilot to fly solo from the UK to Australia in 1930.
The book has been a huge success, selling out in New Zealand and Australia as well as the UK. The publisher is now considering a re-print.
Oscar, whose early life was spent in Tongue, was the grandson of Robert Garden, a wealthy trader who opened a string of shops including a store in Tongue which was taken over by the Burr family in the 1930s.
He made the groundbreaking flight in a second-hand open cockpit Gypsy Moth and survived several forced landings.
His daughter’s book also examines the strained relationship he had with his family.
She called it Sundowner of the Skies after the Australian term sundowner which means an “Australian swagman who arrives unexpectedly out of nowhere at sundown and disappears the next morning."
Mary contacted the Northern Times to say she intends to travel to Scotland in May to promote her book and would be in Inverness on May 2 with a few days to spare before attending Ullapool Book Festival from May 8-10.
She would be happy to give a talk at Golspie should any group be interested in hosting her – she has already arranged to speak at Tongue and Kirkwall following the festival.
She also revealed that, as well as extra copies of her book, she would be bringing with her a unique illuminated address as a gift to Strathnaver Museum.
It was presented to her grandfather Robert Garden more than a century ago by north coast residents who wanted to show their gratitude to the entrepreneur, who as well as being a merchant, was also a great benefactor and used his wealth to help the poor.
Mary said: “I never took much notice of it until recently, but in the various homes my parents owned, the pride of place went to a magnificent illuminated address in a walnut frame.
“At the top of the carved frame is an inlay of mother of pearl, with a carving of a motorcar. The address itself is in old English script in five colours and is interspersed with miniature watercolour paintings of various scenes including Sir John’s Square in Thurso, the Melvich Hotel and 'Dunvarrich'."
In researching her family history, Mary came across a report in the Northern Times in February, 1908, about the presentation to her grandfather.
It reads: “An event unparalleled in the history of the district, took place in Tongue hotel … when Mr Robert Garden was presented with an illuminated address and gold appendage, in recognition of his invaluable services in opening up the country and facilitating the means of transit of passengers and goods by substituting motor power for the slow and cumbrous means formerly in use.”
