Issue #235 | Tain & District Picture Post | June 2020 by K & N Concepts Ltd - ePublishing

COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR THE ROYAL BURGH OF TAIN AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

#235 JUNE

2020

JUNE 2020

ALLY HITS THE AIRWAVES

FROM TRIUMPH TO TRAGEDY

TAIN ACADEMY’S EXPLOSIVE RECTOR

Ally Mackintosh on the unexpected launch of his increasingly popular internet radio show. p5

The rise and tragic story of Hugh Macleod - Tain’s “International” football player. p12

The story of Mr Mackie - the Tain Royal Academy rector who had a fascination with blowing things up! p22

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

PRICE £1.95

WELCOME TO THE

DISTILLERY EXPERIENCE

The Glenmorangie Distillery Tain, Ross-shire IV19 1PZ, Scotland. On the A9, 45 minutes from Inverness, 1 mile north of Tain.

Tain Inverness

Perth Glasgow Edinburgh

THE ORIGINAL TOUR

1 hour, £8 per person

June - August: Monday - Sunday, every 30 minutes, 10am - 4pm April - May & September - October: Monday - Saturday, every hour, 10am - 3pm

By the tranquil shores of the Dornoch Firth, amidst the golden barley fields of Ross-shire, lies the Glenmorangie Distillery. Here you will find a warm Highland welcome from the legendary Men of Tain, the skilled craftsmen who ensure that Glenmorangie is made in the same unhurried and uncompromising way it has always been through its long and distinguished history. We offer a range of tours with unparalleled access to the Distillery and its warehouses. With the help of our expert guides you will experience all stages of the whisky making process from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation. Within our Still House (we call it our Highland Cathedral) stand the tallest stills in Scotland, their long copper necks are the same height as a fully grown giraffe! As a result only the lightest and purest vapours make it to the top, giving a smoother, more elegant whisky. On your visit to our traditional earth floored warehouses we will explain why Glenmorangie has for many years led the industry in the pioneering use of only the finest casks in which to mature our whisky. As part of your tour, why not visit our own distillery shop?

January - March & November - December: Monday - Friday, 10am & 2pm THE SIGNET TOUR

1.5 hours, £35 per person June - August: Monday - Sunday, 2.15pm Wednesday, 6pm, New for 2019 April - May & September - October: Monday - Friday, 2.15pm (January - March & November December: not available) THE MEN OF TAIN TOUR

2.45 hours, £95 per person

May - September: Tuesday, 9.45am (October - April: not available) THE SUNSET TOUR

1.5 hours, £45 per person

June - August: Wednesday, 6.00pm (September - May: not available) For more information call 01862 892477 email: tain-shop@glenmorangie.co.uk or visit www.glenmorangie.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ONLINE BOOKINGS PLEASE VISIT WWW.GLENMORANGIE.COM Pre-booking is recommended and essential for some of the tours or large groups. The Glenmorangie Distillery is a working distillery. For a few weeks a year we undergo essential maintenance when tours may be restricted. Closed for the 2 week period over Christmas & New Year. The information on this advert is valid throughout 2019. The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking. Please savour our whiskies in moderation.

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JUNE 2020

EDITORIAL Dear readers, It is great to be back in print and on sale in shops once again after a couple of issues in lockdown. While not all of our regular stockists are open for business just yet, we hope that you have managed to get your hands on a copy of the Picture Post via those outlets who are now trading. As we’ve said before, there is no real substitute for the printed word and while our online alternative serves as a good “back-up” it certainly remains our preference in the long-term to be putting ink to paper each month! We hope that you are all keeping well, and continuing to stay safe. Every day remains a learning process as we take those gradual steps back towards going about our daily lives - in whatever way we live them. For us at the Post - it shall be nice just to get down to the new office in Ross Street, having moved our equipment over in February. The time couldn’t have been more unfortunate though, having moved all of our equipment out of the house only to find ourselves confined to the house in “lockdown” just two weeks later. As they say, hindsight is a wonderful thing. We wish to say a quick thank you to those of you who have been in touch over the past couple of months, while we have been off-radar, so to speak. Although we have continued to publish the magazine online, we recognise that for many it will have passed them by. It has been heartwarming though to have received many kind comments from those who have read recent issues. We also wish to say a special thank you to those who have made generous donations in lieu of being able to purchase the magazine while we were unable to put it on sale. We greatly appreciate it. Best wishes, Niall & Lucy

Niall Harkiss & Lucy Veals - Editors 5B Ross Street Tain IV19 1BA Telephone: (01862) 857366 Email: info@tainpost.co.uk Web archive: www.tainpost.co.uk/archive FRONT COVER PIC CREDIT: Mark Janes

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POLICING / OLD FILE

COMMUNITY POLICING UPDATE As we move in to Phase 1 of our journey towards normality I would like to thank everyone for their brilliant efforts so far. It has taken considerable patience and discipline to keep to the guidance and live in a way which has restricted our freedoms. From a policing perspective, it has made my officers’ jobs that bit easier. This is a collective effort and every selfless act and sacrifice of freedom contributes to reducing the risk and mininises opportunity for this virus to spread. Unfortunately the virus is still amongst us and I would ask you all to

remember this as we start to meet friends and family we might not have seen in some time. Please enjoy the new opportunities to start to live a more normal life but be mindful of the guidance as you do so. Do not be distracted from Scotland’s route out of this by events South of the border. By moving forwards in a “canny” Scots style we can continue to help save lives and get back to normality without increasing the risk to the vulnerable amongst us. Take care of each other and enjoy the fine weather. Inspector James Rice

OLD FILE We are once again grateful to John Gordon who has been in touch to help out with information in last month’s Old File photos. Re: Names for Scout Photo on Page 20 of Issue 234 L-R Standing Alistair Ross (Scout Master half face), Derek Sydenham, Terry Duncan, Norman Cooper, David Dunoon, Brian Knefseay, Billy Ettles, Duncan MacKenzie (Assist Leader at Back), Joe Williamson, Robin Cattanach, Ian Cattanach, Billy Gordon, John Gordon, Billy Grant (Assist Leader at Back) Jackie Bird. L-R Kneeling – Donald Cumming, Malcom Anderson, Ian Forbes, ? , Jackie Ross, Brian Sturrock, Stuart Strachan. Re: Names for Tain Post Office photo in Issue 234 The second Tain Post Office photo reminded me that I worked in the Tain Post Office as a holiday relief Telegram Boy, and for that I had to sign an Official Secrets Acts Form. I did remember some faces but had to check with Billy Grant about some names. L R Sitting Mary Fox, Elizabeth MacMillan, Enid Tree, ?, ?, Mrs Anderson(She was not married when the photo was taken but I remember her from a Tree Planting Ceremony at Craighill Terrace & the Scouts & Guides were involved) Second row directly behind Mary & Elizabeth is Beatrice Shand and Bertie MacDonald is standing behind the Gent sitting.

Thank you to Margaret Nic for sending in this group photograph of Tain Royal Academy classes 1-2, dated 1926-1927. Back row: Norman Ewen, Alfred Benson, Addie Thomson, Hugh Mackenzie, Roddie Christie, Leo Robertson, Willie Burgess, David Beattie, John Ross (Inver), Donald Fraser, Donald Chivas Third row: Miss MacVicar, James Corbett, Gregor Ross, ?, Colin Macknzie, John Mackay (Edderton), J A Mackenzie, Robert Reid, John Macdonald, Miss Diack Second row: ?, Katie Mackay, ? Margaret Nicholson, Laura Macdonald, Mr Andrew Mackie (Rector), Grace Ross, Olivia Rattray, Isobel Ross, Catherine Holmes (Toll), Helen Ross (Aldie) Front row: Isobel Strachan, Cissie Skinner, Cathie Ferguson, Kyra Mann, Mary Henderson (Hilton), Violet Macangus, Bunty Mackintosh (Logie)

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TAIN COMMUNITY

GOLF CLUB’S GRATITUDE SHOWN TO COMMUNITY The captain of Tain Golf Club took to the Tain Community group on Facebook this past month to express the club’s appreciation for the respect shown to the 130 year old course during its time of inactivity. “On behalf of the Members, Committee and Staff at Tain Golf Club, I would like to personally thank those of you who have taken the opportunity to exercise over our fantastic Links for the last 2 months. Whilst many other courses in the UK have suffered from levels of abuse or vandalism, you have been very respectful of the Golf Course and it’s surroundings. You have also been extremely complimentary about the condition of the course but by staying clear of the playing surfaces and taking any waste home, you too have played your part in this. Golf will recommence at Tain GC on the 29th May at 08:00 and as much as it was great to see so many people on the Links, can I please ask that you be more mindful of golfers being on the Course from this time onwards. For those of you that wish to continue using the Links for your daily exercise can I ask that you stick to the paths where possible. When we get the go ahead to reopen the Clubhouse, why not call in for a drink next time you are out for a walk? A social membership is available and we can always supply a bowl of water for your 4 legged friends. Many thanks, Gus Gurney, Captain at Tain GC”

ALLY TAKES TO THE AIRWAVES WITH MANSE CRESCENT RADIO What started out as a bit of fun has become a regular slot for weekend radio listeners as far as Brazil! Ally Mackintosh, who works for Global Project Services at Nigg, has been plying his trade as a DJ for almost ten years, having first hit the decks in Tain Youth Cafe at the age of 17. He later went on to become a regular fixture at “the Underground” nightclub in Tain. Lately, he has been spending his weekend evenings as the host of Manse Crescent Radio. “I started doing it on the first Wednesday night of lockdown for a bit of a laugh. It allowed me to do some DJing in my own time, from the comfort of home while people enjoy the music and the craic during lockdown.” The show quickly gained popularity and has become a hotly anticipated fixture in the weekend calendar of listeners, who will text and contact Ally with their requests for songs to be played on air.

“It has transformed in to a regular show airing two nights a week. Friday nights are usually reserved for theme nights such as party discos and country nights. Saturdays are always for dance anthems. As word has spread, so has the reach of Ally’s new station. “I have had listeners tune in and get in touch from all over the world - ranging from Tain, Edderton and Dingwall to Edinburgh, Dubai and even Brazil. There has even been a pipeline FM theme night for the night shift boys at Nigg when they were back on the 12 hour shifts.” “If I can put a smile on peoples’ faces, that is my goal.” Listeners can tune in to the show from 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays at the following link: http://www.virtualdj.com/ user/allymack93/broadcast. html

TAIN GAMES VOLUNTEERS RECOGNISED In May, Tain Highland Gathering celebrated Volunteers Week by making the following announcement on their social media pages. “On this Volunteers Week we would like to give a big shout out to all of our volunteers who come and help with our Highland Games every year. Be it helping to set up the field, stacking and unstacking tables and chairs, taking admissions at the gate, directing traffic, making soup, baking, providing tea and sustenance on the day, litterpicking, selling raffles, erecting signs, banners and flags, marshalling, and, of course, putting it all away when it’s over. We couldn’t do it without your help and assistance and we are eternally grateful to each and every one of you. Hope you are all staying safe and well and look forward to seeing you next year!”

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SPORT & PASTIMES

SPORTS & PASTIMES BEGIN SLOW RETURN Lockdown has left many of us with an itch to scratch when it comes to missing out on our favourite recreational sports and pastimes -- but it looks like there could now be some light at the end of the tunnel. The first phase of the Scottish Government’s routemap back to normality has opened the door for noncontact outdoor activities such as golf, hiking and angling to be practiced. Racquet sports such as tennis were also among the activities allowed to resume. Following the May 28th announcement, Tain Tennis Club issued a notice to members to confirm that courts shall reopen for bookings from the 29th onwards, although 1 to 1 coaching has not yet been permitted. St. Duthus Bowling Club responded to the relaxation of on non-contact activities with a statement on social media confirming that “it has been decided that we are working on opening the green on Sunday the 7th of June.” with members to be contacted on how to access the rink. Tain Golf Club shared the news on Facebook on the 28th that the course is now open to members with some strict rules in place relating to social distancing and playing procedure when coming off and on the course. The Pro Shop, however, remains closed to walkin trade. Greeting over 100 people onto the course upon reopening, club professional Stuart Morrison said, “It’s great to get the members out again - and although they have missed out on April and May, even

the most competitive are just glad to be out playing again in some capacity.” But greater concerns remain regarding the long term effects of the pandemic on institutions like Tain Golf Club, who have already seen a number of regular international visitors shelf plans for 2020. “The worry for the club is the loss of visitor revenue, as it cannot survive on member subscriptions alone. Thankfully, a number of visitors have deferred their plans until 2021, as opposed to cancelling altogether.” Morrison also confirmed that members of Royal Dornoch Golf Club who live closer to Tain have been invited to play locally during the current restrictions. “This is a return of goodwill that we’ve had may times in the past from our friends at Royal Dornoch, and we are more than make the course available to

those who cannot get to Dornoch.” Team sport, however, remains firmly on the backburner. Although the top tiers of professional football have stated their desire to start a closed-doors season in August, the Scottish Football Association issued a statement on grassroots football which made it clear that the lower tiers of the game would have to wait a while yet before any sort of organised football can be played. The statement also confirmed that while clubs and associations can proceed to register their competitions in preparation, the grassroots game (from amateur, youth and lower senior levels such as the North Caledonian FA all the way to walking football and five-aside) will be unable to play any football, in the form of competitive, friendly or exhibitions/festivals -- or to even hire a facility to play football.

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LODGE ST. DUTHUS

LODGE DONATION FOR MICHELE’S MS FIGHT

OLD FILE In March, the RWM John Mackenzie along with members of Lodge St. Duthus, Tain, had the pleasure of presenting a cheque for £1,000 to motherof-two from Tain, Mrs Michele Murray, who is attempting to raise £42,000 for what she hopes will be lifechanging treatment in Russia. Michele has been battling Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for the past fifteen years and had to retire from work eight years ago. At present she has to use a walking stick, rollator and wheelchair -- and she plans to travel to The National Pirogov Medical Centre in Moscow to undergo

a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT), a treatment designed to stop the effects of MS from progressing. Unfortunately she does not qualify for this treatment in the UK and to pay for it privately in the UK is double what she has to pay in Russia. On the donation, Mr Mackenzie said, “We understand the amount raised now stands at £36,000. Hopefully it will not be too long before Michele target is reached.” Michele has also launched a GoFundMe page which can be found a tthe link below: https://www.gofundme. com/f/kn5g4-go-fund-me

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MESSAGE FROM CLLR. DEREK LOUDEN

ANDREW VASS

DOES WORLD WAR ONE GIVE YOU THE BLUES OR MAKE YOU SEE RED? ANDREW VASS WRITES

My usual monthly surgery is cancelled at present. Please feel free to contact me at any time on: 01862892734 07876774412 Or via email at LoudenDW@aol. com.

Happy to help any local resident with any problem at any time.

CONTACT TDPP Do you have an article or photos you’d like us to print? Please email:

info@tainpost.co.uk or call 01862 857366

Every school child has had the blues from studying the trenches and the poetry of war. It’s a sickening story of ‘the monstrous rifle’s rapid rattle’ and of gas - of ‘floundering like a man in fire or lime - under misty panes and thick green light’. And as adults we see red when we ask ourselves why? Why did humans and/ or God allow this sickening stain on human nature to take place? What does it show us about human beings? Are we really rational? Or do we just go through the motions of being rational - as in our rituals of remembrance which may sometimes be more about us than them. And yet the mud does not stick now. Perhaps it might have if the war had started earlier. Consider how it almost happened when the Kaiser visited Morocco in 1911. He made his interfering speech there knowing it would infuriate the British who saw Morocco as their sphere of influence. The British threatened Germany. But Germany had a financial crisis and backed down. Might the alliances have been triggered into action in 1911 if that financial crisis had not put pause to the dark arts of diplomats? And if it had, what then? Could Germans have been persuaded that war was legitimate when it was just about a scrap of colonial acquisition? Would there have been any signs of legitimacy to generations yet to come? Might we have learned the truth about human irrationality sooner? In 1914 things were different. The struggle between empires

and rival models of civilisation became unavoidable once the real tinder-keg of the Balkans was set alight. This was where Imperial designs met and felt most under threat. This was where a massive war was most likely to be excused. And it was excused! All over Europe there was rejoicing in the streets. War would give all patriots everywhere cake to eat. It would drain the marshes of global interference in a country’s rightful business. Politicians who stand up for their country are what you need. The role model was Otto von Bismarck. He had been at the helm when Germany won wars against Denmark, Austria, and France culminating in the unification of all Germans in 1870. No, he had not done it in a moral way- but morality (as we all know) is only for one’s familial life. He had maintained the privileges of the nobles of Germany- the Junkers. The class system seemed then to be a necessary bulwark against forces of disorder- trade union strikes, Suffragettes, racial hatreds, and anarchists. Privilege, order, continuity, and stability would indeed soon be facing Trotsky’s trains. The confused struggle between Communism and Capitalism would consume our attention for most of the 20th century. At its best any defence of continuity and order is deemed Conservatism. At its worst it is privilege that becomes insular- a law unto itself, gung-ho, and careless. On the one hand there were those like Winston Churchill, John Buchan, and Lloyd George

who wanted to be systematic, decisive, and cautious- who read the runes and saw the dangers of populism. But they too (like Tony Blair) at times got things wrong. On the other hand, one had generals on each side who were donkeys leading lions into war. Siegfried Sassoon captured their macho foolhardiness in his poem THE GENERAL. “Good-morning, good-morning!” the General said When we met him last week on our way to the line. Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of ‘em dead, And we’re cursing his staff for incompetent swine. “He’s a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack. But he did for them both by his plan of attack. Perhaps the best example of generals behaving like donkeys was the story of Verdun. This battle in 1916 started with a brilliant defensive strategy. The French were on a bulge at Verdun so could be bombarded from three sides. The Germans would just lure more and more French soldiers into that killing field until French morale could be decisively broken. It seemed a great idea and it was doing the job perfectly until the Germans threw caution to the wind and changed the plan to a more soldierly one of having a grand offensive. The idea of a

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A VASS / TAIN FIELD CLUB

grand offensive is a euphemism for throwing soldiers forward to dodge machine gun bullets and vault over barbed wire. It was a lazy plan, uncosted in terms of human capital, and more fantasy than strategy. Under Petain the French held firm. Ils ne passeront pas became the slogan that expressed French defiance, and German casualties grew to the same grotesque level as those of the French. Generals might have been playing with toys for these 4 years- but for soldiers the war had been no game. Countless survivors of the war bore unspeakable memories. Family lives were affected by the traumas of the war, and divorce rates climbed. It is impossible to estimate how many participants in the war remained psychologically scarred. Estimates suggest that every family in Europe had lost a relative or friend. The disabled were vivid memories of the sacrifices of the war. The war left such maimed soldiers with shattered lives. Some quarter of a million British soldiers had limbs totally or partially amputated. For years and decades afterwards, war invalids were readily visible in Europe as part of the social landscape and as a reminder. Some preferred that soldiers with mutilated faces should live their lives out in secluded hospitals out of sight. ‘out of sight, out of mind’. Despite this, the lesson poet Wilfred Owen taught about the old lie, ‘that it was honourable to die for country’ was not learned. Instead rituals of remembrance often focused on patriotism and heroics. In many countries, the myth of the “New Man” argued that the “storms of steel” of industrial war had forged a new model of heroism, an ethos of toughness, and a social model for unity. Writers such as Italian Romantic poet Gabriele D’Annunzio captured a Fascist desire for greatness.

As Benito Mussolini said; ‘it is better to live one day as a lion than a hundred years as a lamb’. Injuries and traumas could be treated as collateral. Human nature can do that. Wilfred Owen wrote ‘cursed are all dullards who no canon stuns’ to no avail. World War 2 was just a stone’s throw away. And the Cold war with its real danger of Nuclear Armageddon was just round the corner. The lesson is that we have to seek lessons to be learnedabout human nature. Ritual is not enough. Remembrance Day services compete with war films which depict the same old heroics. Politicians compete for our attention by promising to be ‘strong and stable’. But we need to keep in mind that some of them are in reality ‘strong and unstable’. Don’t be lulled into complacency by a faith in rationality. Have a sense of context. Is history repeating itself? We must not be led into macho games of euphemising about the costs of change. But we must also beware the cynicism that emerged after the war. The war had battered earlier common notions of progress and liberal ideas. Contemporaries spoke of their great disillusionment, questioning all “great ideals,” faiths, and certainties, and resorting to irony to hide their despair. Contemporaries also spoke of a hardening of the spirit, of people becoming desensitized to scenes of war, and of perceiving the inhumane increasingly as normal. The ideological dimension of the Great War continues to work itself out in world history. The claims of nationalism, demands for self-determination, and ethnic aspirations that came to the fore in World War I are present today as well, worldwide. Humans can grow to be more balanced if they understand the human capacity for irrationality. We must not grow old as those who were left after World War 1 grew old.

FIELD CLUB CELEBRATE 40TH SEASON ON ZOOM

On 9th May, Tain & District Field Club had planned our 40th Birthday Party to celebrate the end of the 40th season of TDFC events. (our inaugural meeting was on 30th September 1980 in Room 6 at Tain Royal Academy). The Birthday Party was to be held at the Torroy Bothy at Spinningdale with a walk to Migdale. In the present circumstances that wasn’t possible and as there was heavy rain most of the day it would have been a terrible

day for a picnic! However like so many groups at the moment technology came to the rescue and some club members got together on ZOOM on a BYOC (bring your own cake) basis and enjoyed more than 30 minutes of chat. Some members of the club have been gathering records for the Botanical Society of Scotland “Urban Flora of Scotland” project which records wild plants growing in towns (some of you might call those weeds!)

The pictures below show meadow saxifrage (rare) and ivyleaved toadflax (common) both growing in Tain. See if you can find them!

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NOSTALGIA WITH ALEX GRAHAM

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TRIUMPH TO TRAGEDY

FROM TRIUMPH TO TRAGEDY

THE TALE OF HUGH MACLEOD - TAIN’S “INTERNATIONAL” FOOTBALLER On the afternoon of Saturday, May 22nd, 1925, the following men took to the field at Thistle Park in Inverness in the North of Scotland Cup Final to represent St. Duthus against CatchMy-Pal of Inverness:

feature of the game. He has a fine sense of covering up his partner and saved a certain goal under the bar when Harkness, the goalkeeper, was drawn out.”

Ross, W (Dot) Macleod, I Macdonald, A MacTavish, A Macleod, Taylor, D Mackay, Vine, W B Dunnett, H Macleod, J Macrae For the Pals, the team had been unchanged for most of the season, and rightly so, having already captured the North of Scotland League title and the Mid-Ross Shield - the standouts of the North of Scotland junior scene. But the fiery determination of the young “Saints”, a feature of their season so far, saw them make an immediate impact, as described by a writer for the Ross-shire Journal: “Playing open and penetrative football, Tain were early in the picture. Their forwards harassed the Pals’ backs to such an extent that from a cross from the left, Vine netted.” This early goal sparked some life into the Pals and an onslaught on the St. Duthus backs ensued. Steadfast, “Dot” Macleod stood up to the challenges at full back alongside Ian Macdonald. Within moments, they succumbed to the pressure, as a foul “close in” to the goal resulted in a free kick for the Inverness side, from which, Mackenzie, the Pals’ outside right, lashed the ball home to equalize. At 1-1, play raged from end to end in a game described as having “plenty of thrills and excitement”. It was the Saints, however, who were next to find the net. “The visitors were worthy of the goal they got, when H. Macleod scored the best goal of the match from well out, the ball completely deceiving the Pals’ goalkeeper.” Hugh Macleod’s stunning strike was

Credit: Tain Museum

all that would be added to the scoring in the first period, despite Alick Mactavish striking the cross bar just before the break. Fine showers of rain wetted the Thistle Park turf as the second half began, and the Pals, undeterred by the deficit in the score continued to press forward. St. Duthus goalkeeper Ross was commended for his performance between the sticks, with several of the Pals’ attempts “handled in masterly fashion” by the Saints’ goalkeeper. Against the run of play, St. Duthus were awarded a penalty - but Macleod, looking to add to his goal tally, miskicked the ball and shot wide. Spectators and the Saints men alike may have been wondering whether or not there was to be a twist in the tale. As the game drew to a close though, the Pals were all but spent and right to the end they were defending against waves of Saints attacks, having resigned themselves to defeat. As the referee’s whistle blew for time, the visiting support rejoiced, witness to their club’s moment of unprecedented success. The victory had served as a showcase of the abilities of the young Saints players but also spoke volumes for the strength of Ross-shire Junior football. Teams from Inverness had so often dominated the North of Scotland Junior Cup, and in Ross-shire it had been deemed to be winnable only by the “county select” side, known as Victoria United (who just four yars later would become Ross County).

With their win, the Saints had made their mark as a footballing side and offered a reminder of talent outside of Dingwall. Indeed, for that moment in 1925, St. Duthus were the best junior football club in the North. In just four years though, triumph turned to tragedy, with the untimely passing of Hugh Macleod in 1929. Hugh, or “Uisdean” as he had become known when he resided in Tain, was the son of ex-Baillie Donald Macleod and after leaving Tain Royal Academy in 1926 he travelled to Edinburgh to study medicine - just a year after playing his part as a standout in that cup win in 1925. With his football abilities and strong build, it came as no surprise that he had won the admiration of football scouts while playing for his university at an academic level. Before long he had won a contract with Queen’s Park football club in Glasgow – then one of Scotland’s few remaining top-flight amateur clubs. He played regularly for the Queen’s Park Strollers (the reserve team) before earning his place at left back for the first team in 1927, making his home at Hampden Park. In a letter to the Ross-shire Journal during his first season with the “Queens”, he was noted for his ability. The following describes his efforts during a match against Motherwell: “He displayed great power of kick and was rarely beaten by the redoubtable Stevenson-Ferrier wing. The play of Macleod was a

His abilities were such that he was called up to the Scotland amateur International eleven for a match against England at Hampden Park on April 19th, 1928 – only the second of its kind. Playing alongside seven of his Queen’s Park comrades, Scotland recorded a 3-2 win over the “Auld Enemy”. Soon after, injury befell Hugh during a match against Hibernian, forcing him to take some time off to recover. During this time he was also taking his 4th year exams, and battling what he believed to be a chill, he finished his term and returned to Tain for his Christmas holidays. It was then that he was unexpectedly struck down with Rheumatic fever. His condition worsened and within days he had succumbed to the illness and died. As reported in the Inverness Courier in February 1929: “The Queen’s Park directors heard of the sad news shortly after the start of the match against Airdrieonians, and immediately the flags were lowered to half mast. Quiet and modest, he was a likeable young man and a great favourite amongst his associates. A brilliant career had been cut short by his untimely death, and the greatest sympathies to his sorrowing father and mother.” Although only twenty-one at the time of his death, it could certainly be argued, having played in Scotland’s top division and having been capped for his country, that Hugh Macleod’s achievements on the park in such a short space of time are unrivalled as far as football players coming out of Tain. Were it not for his untimely passing who knows what heights he may have reached, not only as a sportsmans but in the medical field?

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HEALTH MATTERS

HEALTH MATTERS Coronavirus and lockdown are still upon us and things have changed for all of us. So, in this column we will look at video calls using NearMe, Mental Health awareness, registering when you move house and changes of address, contraception, chronic disease management reviews, and skin conditions. NearMe We have mentioned NearMe before and we are using this more and more – this will likely be in all Scottish practices for some time to come. NearMe is internet based and allows a video call between the patient and your healthcare professional. It works best on Chrome or Safari rather than any other browser. You will be directed on what to do if this is appropriate for your appointment. #MentalHealthAwareness Week Samaritans Scotland are encouraging everyone to be kind to themselves with their new, free self-help app.The app is full of simple techniques and activities which can help you feel better. Find more at selfhelp.samaritans.org #KindnessMatters you can also find good sources of help here https://www.nhs.uk/ conditions/stress-anxietydepression/mental-healthhelplines/ Ensuring registered with a practice, changing address We have noticed in recent weeks that we have had lots of people newly registering with the practice some of whom have lived in the area for some time but hadn’t got around to registering. You can start the registration process with a GP practice via their website – it is always good to be organised with

TAIN & DISTRICT MEDICAL GROUP

these things – although we all appreciate how busy it is when moving house! Please also remember to tell your GP practice when you change address. It is particularly important if you have a hospital appointment pending to also let them know. Contraception Please note practices are still providing contraception services. Please give your practice a call and our expert GPs and nurses can discuss your options with you by phone or by video call using NearMe Chronic disease reviews Normally patients would be invited in for annual or 6 monthly checks for various ‘chronic diseases’ eg hypertension, diabetes, asthma, copd etc. Just now this is something that we cannot do face to face. Therefore you might find yourself receiving a phonecall (an invitation for a NearMe video call) with your nurse/ GP to see how you are getting on. If you are concerned in any way that the person calling isn’t from the practice, please call us to check, patient safety is our number one priority now as always. Skin conditions As we are still trying to keep footfall through the health centre to a minimum, to protect both patients and staff, we are often asking patients to take a photo and email this to use for skin conditions. This picture is retained as part of your medical record and our email address is securely protected as part of the NHS. net service. If you need to do this you will be directed by a member of the practice team on what to do.

The best source of information on coronavirus is: www.nhsinform.scot h t t p s : / / w w w. n h s i n f o r m . scot/illnesses-andconditions/infections-andpoisoning/coronaviruscovid-19

www.facebook.com/ TainDoctors Tain & District Medical Group 28th May 2020

MSP PETITION TO PREVENT TSB CLOSURE Jamie Stone, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, has launched a petition to prevent the closure of TSB’s High Street branch in Tain on June 10th. In a branch review, TSB confirmed the closure and also provided details of how customers could continue to use their services. “The way our customers bank with us has changed and continues to change. In the last two years we’ve seen a 17% decrease in the number of overall transactions in our branches. 2.5 million of our customers now choose to bank online, with over 1 million accessing their account on our mobile app. We want to make sure we meet the future needs of our customers, as well as having the right number of branches. So while we continue to invest in existing and new services and technology, this will mean closing some branches. “ “We’ve looked carefully at our Tain branch at 29 High Street, Tain, IV19 1AE and how it is used, and we’ve taken the decision to close it.” Following the announcement, Jamie Stone MSP wrote to the bank asking them to reconsider. “On 14 April, I wrote to TSB asking them to discuss their planned closure of the Tain branch. I wanted to know if they would consider cancelling all planned closures until further notice – just as Clydesdale bank has agreed to do. TSB ignored the offer of a meeting and committed to closing their branch in Tain. Following the response from TSB on 24 April, I reached out to the Treasury seeking clarification on what the Conservative Government are doing to support banks in rural communities. The answers have now been published - you can read them here!. In response to my questions, John Glenn MP – Minister for financial inclusion – stressed the importance of online banking and using the Post Office. Responding to these disappointing responses, I then tabled a Parliamentary motion on the topic to raise awareness about TSB’s decision and put pressure on them. Still, TSB refused to budge. “ “We have to coordinate our efforts and give one last push. If you want to read more about the campaign, and want to add your name, visit www.jamiestone.org.uk/tsbtain”

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1st May 2020 Craighill pupils came together to celebrate Global Love Day

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The Tain and District Development Trust have developed an on-line market place that will support local businesses during the Covid 19 pandemic. In a statement on the new website, the Trust states, “From our popular local market events, we know that our community love local produce and artisans. If you would like to continue to show your support to local businesses with Tain & District then you can either buy a voucher or purchase products via our on-line market place.” The new scheme, located at lovelocaltaindistrict. co.uk, already includes listings and products from Tain Silver, North

TAIN & DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST

TAIN TRUST LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE DURING PANDEMIC TAIN & DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST Coast Glass, Simply the Best Fair Trade Gifts, Forbes Jewellers, Woodland Treasures, Highland Woodwork, Made in Tain, Studio Smith, Jane Foster Jewellery and Scot Land, Sea & Sky. The site explains, “It’s a simple concept. You can buy a single £10 voucher or multiples of £10 vouchers to be spent at the business you have chosen, the voucher will be valid for 18 months.

After purchase, you will receive a confirmation email and we will then send you an email with your voucher attached. You print the voucher and present it when you are ready to redeem. Please ensure you check the Terms & Conditions on the voucher page! After the funds have been processed, 100% of the purchase (minus a small commission the Shopify platform takes) is transferred to the business to support them

financially during the coronavirus outbreak. We have set up this platform to try and help local businesses. We don’t take any payment or commission for this service.” If you are a business who wish to become involved please contact the Trust via email at: info@tainddtrust.com

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TAIN GARDENING CLUB

UPDATE FROM TAIN & DISTRICT GARDENERS’ CLUB Under lockdown we cannot visit one another’s gardens but work on flowers and vegetables continues in our own gardens. Heather’s rockery shown below. We now have a full programme of talks for the TDGC 2020-2021 season arranged but in these strange times we are unsure when the programme will resume.

Tain & District Branch Cats Protection Telephone: (0345) 371 2737 Email: taincats@aol.com www.tain.cats.org.uk

GRANTS BAKERY LOOKING BACK

Heather McAllister (the present Chair of TDGC) and Tonie MacDonald (founder and previous Chair) visiting Craighill Primary in 2009 to judge a flower pot decoration competition.

Rolls, Baking, Sandwiches & Hot Snacks

Winners of the Silver Award for Scotch Pie Competition High Street Tain (01862) 892315

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TAIN’S TOLBOOTHS (PART 3)

TAIN’S TOLBOOTHS

MARGARET URQUHART Part 2 concentrated mainly on the Tolbooth’s function as a jail. Similar to previous tolbooths, as well as the steeple which forms the current tower, the Tolbooth incorporated a townhouse described as an adjoining “Counsell house of tuo houses hight”. The council met there regularly so it was from here, the town’s affairs were administered. Pre-Reformation administration was by heritable bailies and the clergy of the Collegiate Apostolic See which was marked by 4 widely distributed girth crosses. Post-Reformation (1560), it was secular, in spite of a long drawn out contest between the council and the Collegiate Provost and Abbot of Fearn, Nicholas Ross, and his successor. Numbers on the council varied considerably over the years, but the posts remained basically the same – Provost, Dean of Gild (guild), Treasurer and Bailies. Its main duties were to regulate trade, to select parliamentary candidates and to perambulate the marches. Local families vied for power on the council. For many years the Rosses of Balnagown held sway, but the Macleods of Geanies and Cadboll also played a prominent part at various times. For a long while Tain did not have a written constitution to define the composition of the council and by the early 1700s things had got so out of hand that the Convention of Royal Burghs had to step in with recommendations. From then on the total number was set at fifteen. There were usually 6 or 7 lairds on the council, the number rising in 1808 to a majority of eight. Apart from the Provostship, the other official posts of Dean of Gild, Treasurer, & Bailies, almost always were held by townsmen, landlords attending very few meetings, except those involving local or

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MARGARET URQUHART

parliamentary elections. Attendance at council meetings was sometimes not as desired. In 1739 several recommendations were made which illustrate that there was often laxity and abuses and long periods without any council meetings. In addition to the cells, from 1714 the steeple part of the Tolbooth housed the burgh documents – all sorts of agreements, legal matters and property transactions – secured in a lockable chest. The town’s arms were already being kept there and from 1715 onwards it was in use every night for the town guard. And of course it continued to house the town clock - a very important feature for a burgh as many people would not possess a fobwatch (attached to a chain and kept in a waistcoat pocket) which was the only portable means of telling the time. In 1818 the steeple and the council house were described as “insufficient and uncomfortable” and as stated in Part 2, the former was not very secure, hence the building of the new, short lived, Jail and Court house. However, the steeple was saved demolition and also survived the fire which destroyed the new building in 1833. It resumed its former function for a few years e.g. in 1835 William Innes Mackenzie, Ardcronie (Ardchronie), wrote a letter to his brother James at Kings College Aberdeen, stating “two robberies has [sic] been committed on the market and that the three individuals are in Tain Jail”. It was seemingly even being occasionally used after another new jail was built in 1846. In 1854 some of the women injured while resisting the evictions in Strathcarron were brought to Tain and locked in the tower on the orders of the procuratorfiscal. When the old tower finally was abandoned, the functions of prison and council were from then on physically separated. The ‘new’ prison, described as a “plain but secure structure”, still stands in Scotsburn Road. It in turn was replaced by the current police station in Victoria Road and has been occupied by various social work offices for some time now, its former function evident by the bars on some of the upper floor windows. The site adjacent to the tower remained “a desolate mass of ruins” and seventeen years were to elapse before a new court house finally opened for

business on 23rd January, 1850, the foundation stone having been laid in September 1848 with much pomp and ceremony as was the style in the 19th Century. The following summary of the latter event is based on a report in the Inverness Courier. The foundation stone was laid with full masonic orders, by Provost Murray of Geanies. C.3000 people, old and young assembled on the High Street to witness the proceedings as the masons were joined by the Magistrates and Council and proceedings were conducted from a raised platform. After the Rev. Lewis Rose delivered a prayer, coins and documents were placed in a sealed bottle and put into a cavity after which the corner stone was laid. Murray in his speech claimed that “perhaps no street in provincial Scotland has in the last four years undergone a more visible improvement than Tain High Street” and he referred to the fire 14 years ago in which a prisoner, due to be released the next day, lost his life. After the ceremony was completed, c.100 workmen repaired to the “George & Dragon Hotel” for dinner – this was located at the top of Castle Brae later known as the Royal Hotel predecessor of the current Royal Hotel. The court house was built in the Scottish Baronial style and the two buildings were cleverly made complementary by changes to the tollbooth door and window, the use of a continuous hood moulding above the doors and windows of the two buildings, and the use of bartizans on the courthouse. Other alterations made at the same time were the lion panel, representing the town’s arms, made by London sculptor, Beauclerk, installed above the doorway and several internal changes including an interior stair leading up to the first floor with a connecting door to the court-room, replacing an outside stair. This courthouse is usually said nowadays to have been designed by, Thomas Brown, an architect who had worked on a number of prisons, courthouses and council chambers, including the courthouses at Dingwall, Stornoway and Dornoch. But a forthcoming book on a local family of architects contends that one of them, rather than Thomas Brown, designed the Tain courthouse and made the alterations to the tolbooth. In 1873, an

extension in similar style, designed by Tain architect, Andrew Maitland, was built on the site of the original Royal Hotel. The accompanying image was scanned from a Christmas and New Year greetings card using a 19th Century print and produced by “The Book Shop, Tain” in the early 1960s for the Royal Burgh ahead of its planned celebrations for its 9th Centenary in 1966. It shows the courthouse before the extension was built and with the original one faced John Ross clock still in place. The current three faced clock which replaced it in 1877, was not manufactured locally but by an Edinburgh firm, James Ritchie & Sons. It was financed by a legacy bequeathed to the burgh by Frederick Campbell Taylor, grocer, glass & china merchant, a Town Councillor and Treasurer from c1840-early 1870s, whose shop was at the corner of the High Street and St Duthus Street, now occupied by Grant’s bakery and newsagents. His house was part of the same building accessed from St Duthus Street but the entrance area has at some point been filled in. The clock still functions today thanks to Neil Forbes, who restored it in 1965, and his son Gordon Forbes who inherited his parents’ Jewellery shop in the High Street, and also took over the mantle of maintaining the town clock. The remaining part of Tain’s 18th Century Tolbooth, the tower, seems to have had a charmed life surviving not only the fire that destroyed the 1826 courthouse in 1833, but in more recent times had a lucky escape when Tain Post Office, then in the premises situated at the west end of 24-28 Tower Street, went on fire on the early hours of Tuesday 20th February 1900. According to a newspaper report, “a strong gale was blowing and the other premises in the block plus the Tolbooth, County Buildings and Royal Hotel looked in danger. Fortunately, sufficient water was played on the fire” and so the danger was averted. It also seems to be much more structurally sound than its predecessors so hopefully it and the courthouse will continue to be an important part of Tain’s built heritage for many more years to come.

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TAIN MUSEUM

NEW RECTOR As the schools have been closed for over a month now and also wanting to keep things light-hearted I thought I would write about a rather strange story I discovered in the newspapers about Mr Mackie, the Rector of Tain Royal Academy who loved to blow things up. Mr Mackie became rector late in 1843 after the academy had been closed for over a year due to lack of funds, only reopening after receiving generous donations of money from around the world, including substantial sums of money and help from Sir James Matheson of Achany, who made his fortune selling opium but that is another story! Sir Matheson’s donation also allowed the school to buy new equipment but with the lack of money still, a serious issue, Mr Mackie, offers to raise money for books for the school by giving three public lectures on “Voltaic Electricity”, which the board readily approved.

Sir James Matheson of Achany who made his fortune selling opium

ERRATIC BEHAVIOUR One of these lectures is reported in great detail in the Inverness Courier in November of 1844. At the lecture hall of the academy, Mr Mackie demonstrated how to construct a battery which would create electricity and how it could be used for the “new art of blasting”. After the lecture, he arranged two practical demonstrations at the High Mills. Word in town had got around and a great crowd gathered to watch as Mr Mackie first impressively blasted in two, a giant granite boulder estimated to weigh 41 tons. The second part of the demonstration, the ‘submarine’ blast, did not quite go to plan. Kids looking for a bit more of a display put rocks on top of the explosives as Mr Mackie returned to set the charge. Things didn’t quite go to plan.

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TAIN MUSEUM

“A tremendous explosion took place, a cloud of spray and smoke arose, and several of the large stones were thrown into the air, one of them fully the size of a man’s head, spinning toward a crowd of people who thought they were at a safe distance. The rock landed a few feet from two ladies, who like most of the crowd were fleeing in panic, it embedded itself a full eight inches into the ground”. Luckily no one was hurt and the article finishes by congratulated Mr Mackie on “instructing the young gentlemen on this highly interesting and important application of ‘Voltaic Electricity”.

BALINTORE HARBOUR One of the spectators at the lecture, Hugh Rose Ross of Calrossie, was so impressed that the following summer he hired Mr Mackie during his holidays, to help him with a the “widening and deepening of a fine natural harbour at Balintore”. He wanted to widen the entrance and remove several ledges of rocks that were hidden even at low tide. Bore holes for explosives were drilled in sets of three to six over 120 square feet of rock and with the use of a large galvanic battery the explosive charges were set off simultaneously. At one point thirty-two charges were exploded together successfully splitting the rocks vertically. A crowd of people had gathered to watch the spectacle, as the “numerous successive splashes of the descending fragments of rocks, as they reached the water, produced a striking effect”. With only a few bores still to explode the tide came in too far for them to continue. It seems from the article the project was not a total success as it states; “the most formidable portion of the work remains to be executed”.

THE FOUNDRY STORY The final explosive story involving Mr Mackie appears in the newspapers in November 1848 and was all I initially intended to write about before researching the story and discovering that it was not an isolated incident. The manager at the Tain Foundry approached Mr Mackie for advice on blasting a large piece of iron, too big to be melted down. It was a described as being “in the form of a cylinder, fully seven feet long, and fifteen inches in diameter, with a bore of two-and-a-half inches diameter. One end plugged up with iron so that it formed a large gun of about six inches in thickness and very small calibre” For safety, the piece of iron was carted to a field a quarter of a mile to the west of Tain and placed

Advert for Mr Mackie’s Lectures in the Inverness Courier

behind a large dung heap to prevent the fragments exploding in the direction of the town. The bore was filled with first gunpowder, then a charge, followed by more gun powder and about three foot of dry sand. Mr Mackie sheltered behind a stone dyke sixty feet away before making the circuit. “Upon his drawing the cord, the circuit was completed, and the most terrific explosion instantly took place, the iron being shattered into numerous pieces, some of which were projected, to incredible distances. One-piece weighing about 4cwt hit the dry stone dyke which was being used as a barricade. A piece weighing 2cwt was carried almost a mile from the point of explosion landing close to the beach”. They estimated they only lost just over one tonnes of iron from the original twelve tonnes and luckily, again, no one was hurt. I have not found any other explosive incidents in the newspapers but it would not surprize me to find more. Mr Mackie retired as Rector around 1850 and as far as we know it had nothing to do with him blowing anyone up! Tain & District Museum remains closed during the current restrictions, however you can visit their various online resources here: Web http://www.tainmuseum.org.uk Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Tain-District-Museumand-Clan-Ross-Centre-222578941260401 Twitter http://www.twitter.com/TainMuseum

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OLD FILE

“OLD FILE” - FROM THE PAPERS

The advert above is from the Press & Journal, dated 22 March 1974 on the building of new homes at Mansfield Estate. The cutting above is from the Press & Journal, dated 2 July 1994 on the opening of Taste of India.

NORTH OF SCOTLAND FOOTBALL REVIEW VOL. III (2020) PRE-ORDER INFORMATION Thank you to everyone who has pre-ordered this year’s football review for the North of Scotland. As a self-published venture, this stage of producing the book is so important and as always, the support has been great! This year’s unique review will include: - Appearances and goals statistics, results and scorers for ALL Scottish Highland Football League and North Caledonian Football League players involved during the 2019-20 season. - League tables and cup final lineups and reports - Key statistics for the Scottish Junior FA North Region Superleague, as well as league tables and results from the NRJFA lower divisions. - Facts and figures from the North of Scotland FA and Aberdeenshire & District FA development leagues. - A detailed insight into what a Tier 6 could mean for football in the North. - A look also at the latest happenings in youth football and the recreational game. - An overview of match programmes issued during the 2019-20 season. - A blend of excellent local photography throughout. Last year’s annual proved to be in high demand, so please place your PRE-ORDER NOW using the link below for the reduced price of £10.99 to ensure you don’t miss out. Pre-order link: http://www.tainpost.co.uk/review

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Sweets & Confectionery, Ice Cream, Hot Dogs Snacks, Kids Toys Newspapers & Magazines Stationery, Hardware, Electricals, Handmade soaps, candles, cards and gifts, made on the premises by young people preparing for work, are available to browse and buy in our shop in Tower Street, Tain. Opening hours: 9.00am – 4.00pm (Monday to Friday) 10.00am – 4.00pm (Saturday) Seasonal plants and produce available to buy at the shop or directly from the Garden Project at Edderton – open Mondays and Thursdays 9.00am – 4.00pm 24 Tower Street, Tain, Ross-shire, IV19 1DY. Telephone 01862 892221 Email madeintain@gmail.com Find us on facebook

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back issues is now available via www.tainpost.co.uk/ archives.php Get In Touch You can contact the Tain & District Picture Post using the following details;

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