From our June 12 edition
25 YEARS AGO
(8th June 8th 1990)
THE Church of Scotland congregations in Durness and Kinlochbervie are to hold a Service of Union to mark the joining of the two.
Communicant church members in the two communities met last week and unanimously decided that the two churches should unite. The Rev Ian McCree, Brora, presided at the Kinlochbervie meeting and the Rev John Rushton, Helmsdale, at Durness.
Up until now, the two churches have been linked under one minister but each congregation has had its own office bearers. With a union, there will be only one set of office bearers.
STEPS to reduce the dosage of aluminium compounds in water treatment plants in East Sutherland are to be taken to conform with EC regulations.
This follows concern in some quarters about a supposed relationship between aluminium and Alzheimer’s disease.
But Mr Denis Addly, director of water and sewerage at Highland Regional Council, is at pains to stress that further research is needed to establish a relationship.
DORNOCH’s tree nursery will be closed by the Forestry Commission in March next year unless a buyer is found before that.
Fourteen people were employed at the nursery until the commission announced two years ago it was to concentrate its nursery operations in Morayshire. Now only five workers are left, nine having taken voluntary redundancy.
FROM 18 birds sent out from Darlington last Saturday, only two came back in the qualifying time to lofts of Golspie Pigeon Club members. They were pigeons belonging to K and J Gunn and Angus Mackay.
A FATAL accident inquiry has been ordered by the procurator fiscal at Dornoch into the drowning of a fisherman at Lochinver in March.
Witnesses will give evidence concerning the death of skipper James Gardiner (44) of the fishing boat Mary Francis. Mr Gardiner’s home was at Portgordon, Buckie.
The "traditional Highland problem" of young people moving south in search of better salaries can be stemmed if local employers offer adequate training.
Sir Robert Cowan, chairman of the Highlands and Islands Development Board, made this point as he launched the penultimate annual report of the board, which will be replaced next year by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
50 YEARS AGO
(11th June 1965)
THE British Railways Board feel that the site of its old railway station at the Mound, at the side of the A9, a few miles south of Golspie, is an ideal spot for a holiday caravan park or motel, or both.
At a public inquiry at Dornoch on Thursday an appeal by British Railways was heard against Sutherland County Council’s refusal of planning permission for the development on road safety grounds.
AT a recent meeting of Sutherland Health Committee, Mr D McBain, Lochinver, appealed for toilet facilities at Kylesku Ferry, operated by the county council. Last year some 14,000 vehicles used the ferry. The committee agreed to ask the county architect for a report.
ALEXANDER Ross Nicolson (65), a retired seaman, had just drawn his first pension at Helmsdale Post Office when he was knocked down and killed at a railway level crossing at Marrel last Saturday.
While his sister, Mrs John Grant, had been in hospital, Mr Nicolson had been living in Inverness.
He had been visiting his old home at Marrel when the accident occurred. Mrs Grant is presently in the eventide home at Dornoch. Mr Nicolson is a native of Shetland.
QUITE a number of visitors have arrived at Grannie’s Heilan Hame holiday caravan park and, as before, all are loud in their praise of Embo and its environment.
Mr R J Mackay, former district council chairman, recalls that in 1910 when he was at school, he took a census of the population at the behest of the schoolmaster.
Two wars, which helped to encourage the drift south and lack of employment, have seen Embo’s population fall to round about 260. Now Embo, off the beaten track though it be, is attracting holidaymakers galore year after year.
Mr Mackay paid tribute to Mr John G Mackintosh, Embo House, who a few years ago, sponsored the Grannie’s Heilan Hame project.
75 YEARS AGO
(13th June 1940)
A SYSTEMATIC re-census of gas masks in Golspie is being made. Any defects will be noted by the warden and replacements made where these are considered necessary.
In regard to cardboard containers, however, it should be noted that, in the event of any damage to these, the holder is responsible.
A suitable cover should be provided for any containers in which there is a defect. The public should not fail to report any defect they themselves detect to their wardens. In Golspie there has been a redistribution of sectors and your warden will tell you in whose sector you are. Please assist him in every possible way.
At 4.30pm on Monday, Italy handed to the British and French ambassadors a declaration of war, while Mussolini, in a speech, later, intimated it to the Italian people.
In an official statement issued in London, it was revealed that the preparations of Britain and France were complete and they would "meet the sword with the sword".
Mr Duff Couper described Italy’s actions as "one of the vilest crimes in history".
In a broadcast early on Tuesday morning, President Roosevelt said that America would extend to the Allies the material resources of the nation.
MUSSOLINI has now gone to the support of his fellow gangster. The hell broth boils. This nation and this people are now more than ever before facing the greatest crisis of our existence as a nation and as a people.
We cannot even think of capitulation. With the help of every free man and of every free people, we must fight on till the powers of darkness that dream of conquering are broken for ever. Courage, brother, courage. The victory must be ours.
100 YEARS AGO
(10th June 1915)
SHERIFF Campbell and a jury held an inquiry in Dornoch on Tuesday into the death of Mr John George Noble, mason, Gartymore, Helmsdale, who died on 23rd April as a result of an accident received at a building in Lairg.
Mr Peters, procurator fiscal, appeared for the Crown and Mr Archd. Argo, solicitor, Golspie, watched the proceedings on behalf of the widow and children of Mr Noble.
The deceased was employed in erecting a gable at the north side of the addition to the Lairg Hotel.
Noble fell away when part of the gable gave way. He fell outward on to the adjoining roof and from there to the ground. Part of the gable fell on top of him.
The jury found no blame was attachable to anyone for the accident and unanimously desired that the fees to which they were entitled should be given to the widow and family of the deceased. Mr Noble left five children, the oldest of whom was only 14.
RECRUITING appeal by the Duke of Sutherland: A recent census of unenlisted men of military age in the county of Sutherland shows a total of 1076 – 846 single men and 230 married men. A few have since joined – say a score – and about 50 are actually known to be unfit; but this shows still a total of about 1000 who, subject to medical examination and fitness, come within the limits of service.
The first line of the 5th Seaforths – the county regiment – is now in the trenches and it is inevitable that drafts will shortly be required by it. The second and third lines are still far short of their numbers and 800/1000 men are required to bring them up to strength. The county of Sutherland has already done well for both the navy and the army, but much has still to be done.
We must take our share in getting the reserve lines of the local regiment up to strength. Let me appeal to every fit man and especially the unmarried, to come forward and join those now training at Dunrobin for the cause of their King and Country.
