From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of January 14, 2000
Two new business projects aimed at attracting inward investment and new jobs to the East Sutherland area, and Golspie in particular, took a step forward this week. Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise’s commitment to a new £720,000 high quality business park at the south end of the village was officially confirmed at a community council meeting on Tuesday. Meanwhile Highlands and Islands Enterprise chiefs revealed they had decided to go ahead with a plan to convert a chain of units on existing industrial sites in East Sutherland villages, including Golspie to make them suitable for use as “mini” call centres.
Hunters of Brora are set to expand their workforce following an investment of more than £100,000 in new equipment. Managing director Robert Beattie announced this week that the textile firm had recently placed an order for two electronic Jacquard looms. Four extra shop floor workers are being taken on in conjunction with the purchase of the new machinery.
Two small beacon bonfires marked the entrance to Smoo Cave for the start of the millennium celebrations on Hogmanay. As darkness fell, the cave was lit with over 100 candle lights. For just over a couple of hours, Durness folk and visitors listened to music from John and Marty, spooky stories from Graham Bruce, lit sparklers and ate barbecued beefburgers.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of January 17, 1975
A new small industry for Bonar Bridge gets off the ground on Monday. It is being backed by a Bristol couple, Mr and Mrs Ron Charlton, and the firm’s name is Sutherland Model Casters Ltd. They make scale models of such as steam engines, cars, buses and boats in white metal kits. There will be a show room for visitors and the developers are hoping that the business will flourish in the export market, as well as catering for summer visitors and so provide increasing employment. One of their long-term aims is to build a model railway capable of carrying youngsters and sited round their factory which has been built by Sutherland County Council at the public car park at Bonar Bridge.
The finance committee of the Highland Regional Council recently discussed a proposal that tourist information centres should be sited at Rhiconich and Scourie in Sutherland. The area tourist officer for Sutherland was said to be arranging for a sub-committee to look at the whole question of information centres in Sutherland and would be in a position to report back on this shortly.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of January of January 15, 1925
Mr Alexander Ross, engine driver, who has been employed on the Dornoch Light Railway since it was opened, has just retired after a long period of 52 years’ service. Mr Ross, who was well known on the Highland line, has seen many improvements during his service. He was known as one of the most careful drivers in the employment of the company. He is still remarkably active, and looks quite fit. He intends to live in Dornoch in his retirement. His place is taken by Mr Murdo Ross, who has been on the Perth-Inverness section. Mr Ross, it may be remembered, was the driver of the ill-fated train which went down in the disaster near Aviemore when the Battengorm Bridge was swept away.
Mr Munro, wood merchant, has erected a large coal store at Little Ferry, and English coal can be had for little more than the price charged for Scotch coal. This will prove a great boon to crofters and farmers who are able to do their own carting. Little or no coal has been shipped to the ferry since Captain Love died.
