From our 27th June edition

25 YEARS AGO

(23rd June 1989)

IT was a historic occasion on Sunday at Dornoch Cathedral when the last four ministers, their term extending back to 1936, were together for a service of Communion and Thanksgiving for 750 years of worship in the historic building.

Incumbent minister since 1976 Rev James Simpson was joined by Rev John Levack of North Berwick (minister at Dornoch from 1936 to 1951); Rev William Edgar of Nairn (1951–58); and Rev Fred Fulton (1958–76).

A concert takes place at the cathedral, tonight staged by the prize-winners in a competition held earlier this month as part of the anniversary celebrations.

GREATER priority should be given by the government to improving the A9 at Helmsdale.

Constituency MP Robert Maclennan has expressed his disquiet at the "laid-back" attitude of Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, Parliamentary under secretary of state in the Scottish Office with responsibility for trunk roads.

Mr Maclennan had written to ask about the timing of the Portgower to Green Park; Crakaig to Culgower; and Helmsdale to the Ord sections of the A9.

Lord James responded that the earliest time at which construction could start at the Ord would be the summer of 1991.

PEOPLE interested in hearing the message of American preacher Dr Billy Graham who is to preach at Earl’s Court, London, have the opportunity of going to either Dingwall or Wick to see him "live" by satellite television.

Sutherland counsellors have already been in training for their sessions in Caithness. The live link is being beamed out to Wick and the Town Hall, Dingwall, with 239 other stations around the British Isles.

THE Highland Health Board has agreed to advertise the post of limited specialist in anaesthetics, with duties also in the new geriatric unit about to be completed at the Lawson Memorial Hospital, Golspie.

The board agreed at its last meeting to fill the new full-time post at Golspie but as yet no appointment has been made.

Doubts are now being entertained by staff about the promise that surgical facilities would continue at the hospital until 1995, the end of contract of the present surgeon, Mr Mervyn Rosenberg. He has said that the cover envisaged by the health board would be unworkable.

Secretary of State Mr Malcolm Rifkind has given his formal approval to the closure of Cambusavie Hospital, when the new geriatric unit at the Lawson opens later this year.

The board will then be making arrangements for the disposal of Cambusavie, which was opened in 1910 as an infectious diseases hospital.

50 YEARS AGO

(26th June 1964)

TWENTY-ONE railmen at Helmsdale will be out of work by September when their jobs will become redundant. They will be offered alternative employment outside the county.

The railmen, whose families make up a tenth of the village population, have been given this ultimatum because the motor power department at the local station is to be closed on 6th September.

This is the start of the winter timetable and the new service is to be worked from Inverness and Wick instead of Helmsdale.

The men include six guards and one clerk. Although they will be offered work elsewhere, it is a severe blow to the village and to the county as a whole, with a population of only 13,000.

Stationmaster Mr J Prosser, will also have to go but he will be replaced by a lower grade official. The station will be downgraded from class one to class three.

Two of the men have each about 45 years’ service. Mr George Sutherland, driver, with two years to serve until retirement and Mr Malcolm Beaton, senior driver, three years.

The loss to Helmsdale is especially serious as the seine-net fishing is not nearly so lucrative as it used to be and the local fleet has dwindled badly.

The county council has been trying to attract new industry but so far without success.

THE Edinburgh Sutherland Association is making good progress in its preparations for its centenary celebrations in 1966. Its aim is to raise £500 and already they have prepared a programme of events to help them on their way.

THE Marrel, West Helmsdale, Gartymore and Portgower Common Grazings committee want to run a free gift scheme and use the profits to help them maintain and supervise their grazings.

But last week Sutherland finance committee turned down their application for registration under the Lotteries Act on the grounds that this was for private gain or commercial purposes and not for charity.

SUTHERLAND planning committee has approved an application by the Countess of Sutherland for change of use of part of Dunrobin Castle from a private house to a boys’ boarding school. It was stated that very few rooms were being reserved for her own use.

The new school is to be opened in September of next year.

75 YEARS AGO

(29th June 1939)

NEVER before have residents seen Loch Shin at such a low level as it is at present. The scarcity of water in the district has now developed into a problem and the public are advised to refrain from using water for their gardens and other unnecessary purposes.

If Lairg was still dependant on its old supply, householders would have no water. The new supply has proved a great benefit but unless rain comes shortly it is feared that the supply will have to be regulated.

Dear Sir – Volunteers are urgently wanted in all parts of the country to train as nursing auxiliaries to form a reserve for service in hospital or in district nursing within reasonable distance of their homes.

A scheme for the training of nursing auxiliaries has now been worked out for the county of Sutherland. The course of training will include full first aid course, ARP practice and hospital nursing.

Already many women in the county have been trained in first aid and hold certificates of the British Red Cross Society, and that will be accepted as evidence of sufficient training on that subject.

Persons not holding that certificate may commence their training on other subjects and will be trained in first aid later.

Training in hospital nursing will be carried out at the Lawson Memorial Hospital, Golspie, where a class of 10 to 12 can be catered for at one time.

It is pointed out in a circular issued by the British Red Cross Society that there is no form of National Service in which the previous training of its members will be of more value and that persons accepted for the Civil Nursing Reserve may still remain members of their detachments.

KA Macrae

Medical Officer of Health.

100 YEARS AGO

(25th June 1914)

WE deeply regret to record three sudden deaths which took place in Golspie district within the past week. Early on Thursday morning Mrs Thomson, wife of Pipe-Major Colin Thomson of the 5th Seaforths, passed away after a brief illness.

On Tuesday Mrs Morrison, wife of Mr AS Morrison, baker, died. Mrs Morrison had been unwell for some time but was supposed to be recovering. On Tuesday morning an unexpected relapse took place and the end came peacefully shortly thereafter.

Mr James Ross, Littleferry, who was considerably past the allotted span, breathed his last on Tuesday morning.

WHILE the thunderstorm of Thursday last was passing over the district, the house occupied by Mr Alexander Matheson and family, Poles Muir, Skelbo, was struck by lightning, sustaining considerable damage.

A chimney head was blown down and several holes were made through the slated roof.

Pieces of the slates were afterwards found upwards of 200 yards away, and all the walls were badly shattered.

The family of six had a most miraculous escape from injury. They were all at the time seated around table at dinner and within a few inches of their chairs the lightning made holes in and out through the walls and floor, setting fire to some clothing and breaking up the staircase.

It would appear that the lightning travelled all through the walls, bursting out here and there all over the house, smashing woodwork and tearing down plaster.

The whole house was filled with dust and mortar, blinding the inmates so that it was some moments before they could see or realise what actually had happened.

To themselves and the whole district it is a matter of great satisfaction that they all so providentially escaped without a scratch although suffering from very severe shock.

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