From our July 8 edition

25 YEARS AGO

(July 5, 1991)

AN investigation is to be held into the fitness of north sheriff Ewen Stewart to hold office.

Allegations were made about Sheriff Stewart’s professional conduct in a BBC Scotland programme A Law Unto Themselves, part of the documentary series, Focal Point, aired last November.

It was claimed he had lunched with two accused whose trial he was hearing at Dornoch and that he had criticised two senior members of the judiciary.

Subsequently local MP Robert Maclennan and other MPs made representations to Scottish Secretary Ian Lang whose decision to hold an investigation was announced this week.

Mr Maclennan has described the investigation as “regrettably necessary”.

He said: “It is well known that widespread public concern has been expressed about Sheriff Stewart’s conduct in a number of cases that have come before him.”

Sheriff Stewart has sat on the Dornoch bench since 1977 and celebrated his 65th birthday in April. Retirement age for sheriffs is 72 and he has made it known that he has no intention to retire before then.

DURNESS Golf Club has marked the opening of its new clubhouse just three years after the course was built.

THE Scottish office has confirmed that it will be the end of July before the Dornoch bridge is open to traffic.

Minister for Home Affairs, James Douglas-Hamilton, said: “Contractors estimate that the likely date for traffic being allowed across the bridge is July 26.”

LAST Friday Douglas Kyme, one of the Kinlochbervie Fishermen’s Mission superintendents, was presented with a 20 year service medal. The ceremony took place aboard the yacht Maresca 3 whose 68ft mast dominated the harbour skyline.

Captain John Clarke, owner of the 50ft yacht, is a member of the RNMDSF council and presented Mr Kyme with his medal. The yacht is on its maiden voyage and left Hamble near Southampton a month ago, calling in at west coast ports with missions.

Mr Kyme joined the mission in 1970 and came to Kinlochbervie in 1988. He has also served in Lochinver and Ullapool.

50 YEARS AGO

(July 8, 1966)

A REAL catastrophe was narrowly averted last Saturday afternoon when two boys, pupils at Dunrobin School, were plucked from the sea about 200 yards from Dunrobin Point by a helicopter from RNAS Lossiemouth.

The boys had been out with three other boys and one of the masters in two sailing dinghies which were hit by a heavy swell and capsized.

A rescue boat, manned by another master and two other schoolboys, went into action but it broke down with engine trouble.

Mr Simon Hall, one of the school principals, had been taking athletics on the games field and was returning to the castle when he noticed what had happened.

He telephoned to Lossiemouth for a helicopter but by the time it arrived the rescue boat had been restarted and had gone to the aid of the boys in the first of the two dinghies.

The boys in the second dinghy had righted and bailed it out, reaching the shore shortly after. They set off again to help those in the other dinghy, but their boat capsized again.

The helicopter, piloted by Lieutenant John Hall, picked up 14-year-old Brian Stout, Inchture, Perthshire, and flew him to the Lawson Memorial Hospital, Golspie, where he was admitted suffering from cramp and exposure.

Naval Officer Geoffrey Ebden was lowered by winch and grabbed John Grice (14), Bootle, Cumberland, who was holding on to his overturned dinghy.

None the worse of his “ducking”, John was flown back to a nearby road. The other boys were taken back to the shore by the rescue boat.

There are 49 boys at the school and each boy has to sail once a week as part of the curriculum. Some sail voluntarily twice a week.

The school has always insisted on safety measures when the boys go sailing and it was unfortunate that on this occasion the rescue boat’s engine broke down.

An upturned dinghy, found floating in the Moray Firth about 23 miles from Buckie last Monday by the fishery vessel, Clupea, and handed over to the receiver of wrecks at Buckie, has been identified as one of the two dingies which capsized.

75 YEARS AGO

(July 10, 1941)

SKILLED builders and craftsmen are urgently needed for the rapid construction of munition, armament and aircraft factories. It is a race against time to beat the Nazi war machine.

Skilled labour is also needed for the many other vital jobs to meet the needs of our fighting men and to repair bomb damaged homes.

Every householder is asked to bear this in mind if he is considering putting in hand new repairs or decorating his home.

If such work is not essential, let it wait. Skilled workers must not be diverted form the task of meeting the nation’s urgent wartime needs.

By refraining from carrying out non-essential repairs, householders are making an important contribution to the war effort.

THE County of Sutherland, which is aiming to raise £30,000 during its War Weapons Week, is likely to exceed this objective by a considerable sum.

A public appeal has already being issued by the Lord Lieutenant, County Convenor and Provost of Dornoch.

Local committees are being formed in every parish. It is understood that a number of large sums have already being promised to swell the county total.

While final arrangements have not yet been completed, it is expected that several public demonstrations will take place.

DEEP sympathy is extended to Mrs Falconer and to Miss Mary Mackenzie, Lochside, Achmelvich, for the loss of their nephew, Henry Macartney, who, as the result of an accident, passed away at the Lawson Memorial Hospital, Golspie, to where he had been conveyed by ambulance, on Thursday night.

Henry was returning home from Lochinver when it is thought a string of fish which he had tied to the handlebars of his bicycle got entangled in the front wheel.

100 YEARS AGO

(July 6, 1916)

THIS week an interesting competition was held at Kinbrace Public School. The children competed for prizes for gathering, drying and picking sphagnum moss, previous to being despatched to the War Dressings’ Supply Association at Edinburgh.

The children were very keen and enthusiastic in this contest and there were beautiful prizes of work boxes, writing cases, attache cases etc.

For the past two years every patriotic scheme has been well supported by scholars in their efforts to do their “bit”. Collections for the Belgians as well as for YMCA huts have been taken in hand and pupils’ zeal and diligence have been amply rewarded.

Great credit is due to Miss Edwards, the teacher, who has loyally tutored pupils in every effort and, although only 10 months in charge of the school, has won not only the esteem but also the affection of all her pupils for her kindly, impartial manner.

CAPTAIN D Sutherland, of the Leicesters, son of Sergeant Sutherland, Sibell Road, Golspie, has so far recovered from a severe wound to allow a furlough at home.

Captain Sutherland rose from the ranks and his promotion was a rapid one. He participated in all the fiercest actions at the outbreak of the war in France, coming through it uninjured and was later drafted to Mesopotamia.

It was there that he was severely wounded. So severely wounded indeed, that it is a marvel to see him so far recovered as he is.

He will not be fit for some time yet for active service.

It may be mentioned that Sergeant Sutherland, who in his time served in the British Army for 21 years, has three sons at present with the colours. Besides Captain Sutherland already mentioned, the other two sons are sergeants in the Seaforth Highlanders.

REV DL Cattanach of the Golspie Parish Church has made arrangements for serving in the forces. On Sabbath last he made a brief, appropriate reference to his work in Golspie during his ministry.

Now that he expected to be away for a period, he hoped the work of the Church, and especially of the Sabbath School, would be carried on with unabated vigour and success.

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