Issue #240 | Tain & District Picture Post | November 2020 by K & N Concepts Ltd - ePublishing

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

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

#240 NOVEMBER

2020

NOVEMBER 2020

HISTORY OF THE GROVE

CARING FOR YOUR MIND

THE SAINTS GET THEIR SEASON UNDERWAY

A new series from Margaret Urquhart on one of the town’s oldest surviving nonEcclesiastical buildings p14

Maggie Mercer returns with a look at the wider benefit of sharing our thoughts and feelings with those around us p18

Match reports and youth graduate news from St. Duthus Football Club. p24

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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NOVEMBER 2020

EDITORIAL Dear readers, In preparing this issue, I took a look back at the photographs from last year’s Remembrance day celebrations, specifically the dazzling light show which was projected on to the walls of the Tolbooth and clock tower last November. I quickly realised that this in fact took place two years ago! It’s safe to say 2020 certainly has passed very quickly. If the restrictions weren’t enough to put you off guising on Hallowe’en night, the wet and wild visit of Storm Aiden made sure it was a wholly unpleasant night for anyone daring to try - let alone those wearing capes or anything else that might cause them to take off. I hope that whoever made it out had a nice time - here’s to nicer weather next year. At TDPP HQ, we stayed home and enjoyed some hallowe’en party games with the kids. I did attempt some singing, although Fraser, at age 2, stopped me in my tracks after two minutes with a cry of “Alexa, off”. I don’t even know what can be said about that! I just want to thank those again who have contributed articles and stories in recent months. The restrictions and general quietness of everything just now does make it difficult to bring you news of events and happenings from a lot of the clubs and associations we are used to hearing from - but it is great to be able to set out our pages with some original content from those who send writing or photographs our way. As ever, we welcome new contributors at any time. Please just drop us an email, even if it’s just with an idea. Finally, to businesses or individuals wishing to promote something for Christmas - our deadline for December advertising shall be November 20th - please get in touch to find out about our festive advertising offers. We hope you enjoy this issue. Best wishes, Niall Tain & District Picture Post Editors: Niall Harkiss & Lucy Veals Email info@tainpost.co.uk Tel 01862 857366 www.tainpost.co.uk/archive

WHERE TO BUY THE TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST Tesco (Shore Road, Tain) Co-op (Tain High St) Tain Bothy (Tain Post Office) Bannerman’s Seafood, Tain Grants Bakery, Tain Highland Prime, Fearn Alness Newsagents

K & N CONCEPTS

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TAIN GALA ASSOCIATION Unfortunately due to current circumstances with COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s Bonfire Fire, Christmas Light Switch On and Hogmanay Street Party will not be taking place as usual. Alternative Christmas Light Virtual Switch On - Light Up Tain Together Although this event will not be going ahead in its traditional format we are asking all Tain residents to get involved and spread some Christmas cheer from the comfort of your own home. Join with us online using Facebook on Saturday 5th December to Light Up Tain together from the comfort of your own home for this community event. The idea is that everybody can switch on their own house Christmas Lights at the same time as the Virtual Switch On of Tain High Street Christmas Lights at 6pm. We are hoping that people will put up their Christmas Trees and decorate a window of their house, it would be lovely to see some Christmas decorations in gardens throughout the town. Together we can Light Up Tain and stay safe and well from the comfort of our own homes. ** Keep an eye out for our Virtual Event details closer to the time. **

TAIN COMMUNITY

TAIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL Minutes of the virtual Community Council of the Royal Burgh of Tain meeting held on 28 September 2020 at 7.30 pm. MEETINGS Mr Munro and Mr Louden reported that the HC Committee had decided that CC meetings could still be carried out virtually. CO-OPTEES Mr Akeroyd reported that he is still trying to get in touch with one of the co-optees. Mr Amos reported he had spoken to another of the cooptees, and has not managed to speak to the other one (Mr Munro to phone this person). RESIDENT OF TAIN Mr Munro spoke to the resident close to the Rose Garden about the inappropriate behaviour of some youths. It was noted that Mrs Robertson is helping pursue this with the Police. Mr Louden reported there was a multi-agency meeting about this matter (and other matters). One of the lamp posts is going to get anti slip paint on it. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Mr Rhind reported that the Christmas lights are arriving today to be checked, any faulty ones are being identified. The £750 requested from the Community Council as to pay back Metalwork for work done on light holders. There is an issue over payment to lighting engineer. MR LOUDEN’S REPORT Mr Louden reported that there is a special meeting for HC to look at the revenue budget. Item 5 of the meeting – capital spend – he was pleased to note that the Tain 3 – 18 Campus was still on

it. It is understood there is more preparatory work being done on the site in October. Mr Louden, who is on the Economy Committee, noted that there is no present plan for Brexit. He has got a meeting with Agriculture leaders. HMS Elizabeth exercises are happening at present. He noted that there is an issue of support for families wishing respite, and spending on Women’s Aid. He noted that the 50 mph on the byepass are not up yet (although the whole’s had been dug. Mr Louden to chase up. PLANNING Agricultural building, Bogbain Road (Mr Louden declared an interest), change of use to top floor to flats and microbrewery, retrospective planning for house and garage – Hartfield Road, erection of single garage beside house, Kingsway Avenue – no comment. MR RHIND’S REPORT Mr Rhind reported that is it good that the 3 – 18 school campus is still in the capital budget and hope it becomes a reality. There is still a problem with weeds, hedges getting cut, and pot holes. The Burgh has received money from the Ward budget for 2 people to scrape weeds away. The repair of the King Street car park is going to start soon. The reduced flowers are looking good. DRAINS Mr Munro reported that there was still an issue with drains. Tain had the mechanical sweeper for a couple of days. Mr Rhind reported that he has raised the stationery car on Scotsburn Road, and was trying to get it shifted.

PLANNING Conversion of steading at Bogbain - noted. Erection of building at Blar Liath (Mr Munro declared an interest) – noted. Alterations and change of use at Easter Ross Vets – noted. Demolition of steading and erection of house at Tain Fields, Heathmount – noted. It was noted that Tain Initiative had been granted 2 sites at Knockbreck Road – and outline planning permission had been granted, and hoped to put them on the market soon. TAIN & DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST Mr Macrae reported that 9 community groups had asked for stalls at the Community Market, out of the 12 which were available. Mr Munro to contact the Football Club to see if they were interested. Any one think of any other community group who may be interested, to drop Mr Macrae an email. MUSSELS Mr Louden reported that the survey of the mussels was delayed, but he will try and find out what’s happening for next month. SHOP It was noted that one of the Market Street shops which is vacant is owned by a family. REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY Mr Rhind reported that there are still discussions taking place, but there may be small events. British Legion will let organisations know. WEBSITE Mr Macrae to arrange for payment to the internet provider. The meeting ended at 2030.

TAIN AND EASTER ROSS ROTARY CLUB

LOCAL NEWS AND UPDATES In October, Tain & District Development Trust and Tain & District Youth Cafe were two of 12 groups to benefit from a share of funding from the latest round of support from the Beatrice Partnership Fund, which saw over £400,000 distributed to causes around the Highlands, including the community council areas of Edderton, Tain, Inver and Tarbat. Funds made available for TDDT with help the Trust to pay for a new tourism initiative designed to attract people to the local area in a bid to improve visitor numbers, while the Youth Cafe’s windfall will allow them to pay for three-years worth of funding for a children’s development worker to be employed to carry out outreach work. It will also cover free school meals sessions and their young carers programme. On the back of police warnings for the public to be on the lookout for counterfeit banknotes, it was reported this month that two people had been charged in connection with handing over fake notes over in Tain. The news follows a spate of similar reports of fake notes being used in Inverness and the surrounding areas in recent months. Local councillors welcomed the news that the proposed Tain 3-18 Campus project would now be considered Highland Council’s top priority for going

forward. The Campus, originally set to be realised by 2021, will now work towards a target date for opening in 2024/25, with the intention that the site will “shovel-ready” by April 2022. It was noted in the release from the Highland Council that a substantial amount of work will be required during the preceding design phases to ensure that the requirements of the revenue funding model are met. Speaking to the Rossshire Journal in October, Cllr. Fiona Robertson said; “I am delighted that finally it can move forward. Our community are now fully behind the [proposed] site.”

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TAIN COMMUNITY NEWS

IAN SWAPS THE SEA FOR AN MG Congratulations go to Ian Finlayson, who retired on 21st October after working for the same company for 45 years. Having joined JP Knight Caledonian Towage based in Invergordon as a tug engineer on 21st October 1975, he worked his way up to Chief engineer and served mostly in UK waters at ports from Shetland to Portsmouth and all around the coast, occasionally travelling further afield.

ROTARY BULB PLANTING Some Rotary activities are tricky if not impossible at the moment - we can’t meet together, we can’t fundraise at events - but not all. Last year we planted 3 or 4 hundred daffodil bulbs on the roundabout at the Meikle Ferry South side of the Dornoch Bridge. Today, a small number of us returned to have another go, planting just shy of a thousand bulbs - more than a hundred crocuses and lots more daffodils. We were delighted to be able to do this and to do it safely within government guidelines. And we hope that, next year, the bright display on either side of the roundabout might make passing travellers smile. Pictured above: Rotarians Graeme McGlauchlin who organised the planting and Buster and Liz Crabb who helped plant the bulbs.

He planned his retirement a couple of years ago when he bought a wee MG TF. Ian’s wife Christine said: “Many hours were spent working on this to bring it up to the standard it is today. The plan to get out and about touring has been put on hold due to the Covid situation but hopefully that will improve by next spring and he will get the retirement he planned.”

TAIN ARTIST’S WORK ON SHOW New paintings are now on show at The Art Room, Ross Lane in Tain by local artist Jim Jardine. The pieces include beautiful landscapes, boats and other subjects. Jim’s work will be on show until Friday 6th November. Please drop by to take a look.

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COMMUNITY POLICING

COMMUNITY POLICING UPDATE Its OK not to be Ok. One of the many challenges we have faced together in this year blighted by Covid is that of maintaining our mental health. For some of us it may yet become the greatest individual challenge out with the virus itself. As we enter the darker colder months facing a potential second wave of coronavirus cases it might begin to seem that things are never going to get better. The situation we currently find ourselves in is likely to impact upon all of us in terms of mental health. As a Police officer of 25 years I have witnessed ever increasing instances of us responding to people in a mental health crisis. Sadly, from my own experience, this has been largely an increase in younger people who are finding the demands of making a life for themselves in our modern society more and more difficult. with Covid, some of our usual coping mechanisms have suffered from the restrictions. Things like dinner with a group of friends, an evening at the pub, visiting family or shouting at Ross County matches have all been affected by Covid. These things will all eventually return to normality but until they do we must find other ways to cope. On a more positive note I have also noted a significant improvement in the services available to assist people in crisis. One example of such a service is Mikeysline.

co.uk who are a charity in Inverness which grew from tragic circumstances. They have been doing incredible work throughout the area to support young people in their time of greatest need. We have all struggled at times in our life whether through bereavement, family illness or problems at work etc. One of the most effective ways of coping in all these times is a fundamental method which has always been there in our communities... talking about it. If you are struggling just now with everything that’s going on or how it’s affecting you, maybe even because of the uncertainty, please talk to someone. Discussing your struggle with a partner, brother, sister, parent or friend can often be cathartic in terms of opening out all your bottled up feelings and negative thoughts. Sometimes however, it’s easier to talk to a professional and there are many excellent trained counsellors out there who can help you on the journey back to good mental health. The main thing is to talk about it. There is a great deal of truth in the old saying “A problem shared is a problem halved”. Good mental health and wellbeing should not just be the concern of those who are struggling. It’s important we also take care of ourselves and each other even if we feel we are doing okay. Sharing how you have

been coping is also a positive as it may give work colleagues or family some new ideas to brighten their evenings or weekends. Earlier in October, to mark World Mental Health Day, Highlands & Islands Division encouraged our officers, staff and everyone living in the communities we serve to open up about mental health, to talk and to listen. Supporting our officers and staff with their mental health and tackling the stigma that can often be attached is one of our main priorities, and for the past ten months a dedicated mental health and wellbeing project officer has been supporting Police in the Highlands in creating a plan which allows us to make improvements to our culture, practice and policies on mental

health. This was done in collaboration with See Me, the national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination. Highlands & Islands Division was the first employer in Scotland to employ someone specifically for the See Me in Work Programme, and I am proud we are leading on this unique partnership. It’s good to talk. Its also good to listen so I would ask you all to please take a moment in your day to ask someone you know if they are doing okay. You never know just how much that might mean to them. seemescotland.org mentalhealth.org.uk samh.org.uk mikeysline.co.uk Inspector James Rice

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MARK JANES - THROUGH THE LENS

the biggest challenges with night photography. The best approach is to plan ahead and use manual focussing to focus on a distant object during the day. Secure the focussing ring on the lens with a piece of sticky tape to prevent it moving in your bag. If you need to focus at night, try to find the brightest star you can, and focus on that.

THROUGH THE LENS WITH MARK JANES

Moving On – Aurora Photography

ISSUE #34

PHOTOGRAPHING THE NIGHT SKY Living in the Highlands we are blessed with some spectacular night skies. The lack of light pollution and clean air lead to views of the stars that would be the rival of locations such as the Sahara Desert. Oh, and we get the Northern Lights too (sometimes)! Now, photographing planets, nebulae, star clusters and other “deep space” objects requires skill, practice and dedicated equipment. But “wide field” photography is accessible to anyone with a reasonable camera and a tripod.

Wide field subjects include; the Milky Way, Northern Lights, stellar constellations and noctilucent clouds. Getting Started The Milky Way is a great place to start. It is predictable, easy to find and can provide some beautiful photographs. By contrast, trying to photograph the aurora can be frustrating, but worth trying if you don’t mind the odd disappointment. In Northern Scotland the milky way is visible somewhere in the sky any time from September to April. Outside this time the sky never really gets dark enough to get a good shot. In the Autumn the best views can be had towards the south

/ south-west, where the milky way tumbles down towards the horizon. Camera settings can be a case of trial and error but, as a start, set your standard kit lens to its widest focal length (1824mm). Shooting in manual mode, open the aperture as wide as it will go and try a shutter speed of 20 seconds with ISO set to 3200. This shutter speed should “freeze” the stars and render them as pinpoints rather than trails. Choose a dark, moonless night and set your camera on the tripod. Allow your eyes to adjust to the dark and you should see the milky way as a misty white band in the sky. Focussing can be one of

The aurora (Northern Lights) is actually very easy to photograph. You just need a view towards the northern horizon. Try setting your aperture to its widest, shutter speed of around 15 seconds and ISO 1600, but be prepared to experiment. The challenge with the aurora is its relative rarity. It appears over an 11-year cycle and, just now, we are near solar minimum. However there have already been some reasonable displays this year. Keep an eye on www.auroraalerts.uk for real-time information on whether the aurora is visible. Did you like this article? Why not email me and let me know what you’d like to see covered in future issues. If you’ve got any questions about the settings on your camera, email me those too and we’ll see if we can put them together into a “Q&A” section. If you’re a Facebook user, why not join our online photoclub? (Tain and District Online Photo Club) we’d love to see your pictures there.

markjanesphotographer@ gmail.com.

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TAIN TASK FORCE

AUTUMN COLOURS

ALONE Our thanks go to John Gordon, who has shared a collection of poems from Adam Holm. We shall endeavour to share a different one with you each month.

I wandered lonely late one night When all the world was still, Except for one poor peewit’s call Which echoed o’er the hill. Poor bird, are you condemned like me This lonely world to room? Have you, too, lost the one you love? Have you, too, got no home? But you are luckier that I, Whose heart cannot give up, Your sorrow quickly passes by, But I must drain the cup. Next year another mate you’ll find And happy then you’ll be But I must bear this hopeless love, Which will not set me free. Yet freedom is not what I seek Thraldom is what I crave, Could she but say, ‘’I love you, dear,’’ I’d gladly be her slave.

Adam Holm. (1916 – 1971)

With the TDDT Community markets having been held in October, it is worth acknowledging the fantastic autumn colours on display in the Rose Garden, as shared by Tain Task Force in the photos above.

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NOSTALGIA WITH ALEX GRAHAM

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MESSAGE FROM CLLR. DEREK LOUDEN

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

ANDREW VASS

LESSONS FROM HISTORY ANDREW VASS WRITES Nowadays it is fashionable to teach patch history. Kids at school just have to study one era, or one topic during a course. Perhaps they have the HOLOCAUST, or THE SLAVE TRADE, or PIRATES, or WAGGONS WEST as their carefully boxed topic. In the ‘good old days’ when ‘Mafeking was relieved’ we studied surveys. You might get the whole of British history in one term. You might learn about ‘Good King Richard’ and ‘Bad King John’. One might copy flowchart diagrams showing the knock-on effect of events, which helped one to see clearly how the Reformation developed just before Mary Queen of Scots came back to Scotland and how it was in unstoppable full swing as she hobbled onto her throne. History was about ‘events dear boy’ and the values and bigotry which made the events historically important. History focused on change. The battle of the Somme brought a curtain down on a way of life which had gone back to Beaker people times. The old lie ‘Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori’ had been exposed, and a people in shock would never be the same again. Did the survey approach have more potential to teach lessons or did it possibly just inculcate or indoctrinate young minds? You know- as in the phrase; ‘Give me a

child until he is 7 and I will give you the man’. The survey approach was too superficial but perhaps but it did focus on the skill of valuing. And valuing is such an important quality for living. I am not sure people can get valuing in Religious Education- unless they have religious leanings. I am not sure people can get valuing in Science because ‘sciencetraining’ is often focused on skills of empiricism and the study of physical sciences. And if we leave valuing to Guidance and Personal and Social Education, might we sometimes confuse feelings with values. For example, if one likes LOYALTY as a nice feeling, then is loyalty a supreme value? To work on values, one needs to work on the overlap between various disciplinesone has to be multidisciplinary. Then one can see lessons on the nature of valuing from studying the Weimar Republic-and that period of German history which saw the rise to power of Adolf Hitler. History helps us to attend to contrast between then and now. Weimar had a multitude of different political parties- very different from now. The parties had their own newspaperspropaganda pieces. Democrats could not work together against Hitler because they were divided, the parties were

just interest groupstheir ideologies insular and precious rather than unifying behind a clear programme. I recently created a promotional video for He-drum Ho- a ceilidh band in Edinburgh. You can find it on their website or by visiting the website address https:// www.freakmusic.co.uk/ scotland/edinburgh/ bands/heedrum_ho#. Xu2njHdFzIU. As the bard I dip into history. Is the bard an S.N.P. politician exposing concerns about Donald Trump’s golf club plan, or is he a Gaberlunzie beggar from the 18th century who has popped in to say hullo? Clearly, he is fascinated by and yet repulsed by modernity. Why might he see the beggars of the past as his heroes? Is there something to admire about mere beggars? Compare my attempt as ‘The Bard’ with a video from 1901 on a march by The Band of Hope. Find Manchester Band of Hope 1901 on google. What were the aims which this organisation had? The video tells how The Band of Hope had Sunday School magic lantern displays which

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ANDREW VASS

informed children about the ways drink could be linked with poverty and disease. Does the organisation seem illiberal or does it seem caring? Does it remind you of the influence of the Salvation Army (which was big at that time)? Do you sense that the values behind this activity were salubrious? Do we miss not having these values nowadays? Some people might think that we don’t really need to study values. After all, an ice hockey goalkeeper is willing to face a missile hurled towards him and take the pain of stopping a shot on goal in the service of the valued aim- of being a good ice hockey player. In that case then, values are just ‘aims’ and any theoretical concern about values which people like myself have, don’t ‘cut it’ for you. Perhaps your value is just a valuing of loyalty to a political party. But political parties are always having to change via metamorphosis so they can reinvent themselves to meet changing attitudes. These parties can’t afford to always stay with your ideological convictions (or mine)and if they do, they may find themselves back in the follies of Weimar- a time when many parties simply acted as ineffective interest groups- and evil triumphed. Perhaps a history of philosophy can help us think about values. Aristotle wrote that there are many kinds of virtues. Every career has its’ virtue. The

virtue of a doctor lies in his desire to treat patients for example. But there has to be superordinate values. Aristotle suggests that such values point to a flourishing life- a life well lived, and a civilised society. How would you know if you were cultivating a flourishing life? Well you could think of a seminal moment. Try this exercise. Imagine you won a lifetime achievement award in 10 years. What would you like the person behind the podium to say about you? Now are you prepared to try to live in ways which are consistent with these values? Can you allow yourself to live without having to have things go your way all the time? Are you willing to do some things which are difficult in the service of real values? Can you minimise some mental pain so you stay on course? Are you willing to have purpose and meaning in your life? Can you break role by using Mindfulness as a way of pacing yourself and accepting yourself and things you can’t change? For those of you who have not followed my articles dealing with Mindfulness let me briefly tell you that Mindfulness is about. Mindfulness is about being calmed by an anchor so that one can have psychological flexibility. S.L.O.W. might be a good acronym for trying it out. S. stands for soften cheeks and tummy. T equals take deep gentle breaths. L.= lighten up, let go. O.= observe scenery

and how body reacts as you let go. W. stands for wishing oneself well. Perhaps one could wish that one lived up to one’s values and focused appropriately on them in the next half hour, the next week or month. Mindfulness is perhaps best explained by suggesting that it involves having an awareness of self as context. For exampleyou are not your body. Your body may be aging, but you are ‘the same old joker’. You are not your feelings, or thoughts. They can change. You can stand back from their flow and judgements. Mindfulness then points towards the importance of standing back from the noise within. The lessons of history are similar. We can stand back from where we are now and see the contrasting features of the past to the present. We can then stand back from our own time, and critically appraise it. The history of recent times also shows that we have had our share of errors. Even a renowned scientist can unleash

errors. Richard Dawkins published his book, ‘The Selfish Gene’ in 1976. The book took Darwin’s theory of evolution as its starting point. Now, as we are all naturally creatures of survival (evolution is about ‘survival of the fittest’) selfishness is ‘a driving force for change, rather than a flaw which drags us down’. We need to both resist and manage the selfish tendency. Based on the one concept ‘selfishness’ society could be remodelled and transformed. But we rather more than just selfish creatures, and the error in Dawkins’ view is that it encourages unsympathetic attitudesto the selfish. Lessons of history, by contrast are more multi-dimensional. They are about our need to develop valuing rather than our right to condemn people who ‘are different’ or label them as ‘selfish. We need to grow personality, rather than ‘cast the first stone’. And the man who first suggested that deserves to be remembered.

In 2021, St. Duthus football club will celebrate their 50th anniversary of joining the North Caledonian League. We would love to hear from anyone who has memories of playing for the club over the years, as well as old photos, news cuttings or other collectable pieces. Please email info@ tainpost.co.uk if you can help, as we continue to piece together the club’s history!

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MARGARET URQUHART

THE HISTORY OF “THE GROVE” – PART 1 I had already decided to write an article about the Grove and had begun my research when I learned of the sad news of the passing of Jim Arthur. I would like to express my condolences to Shona and family and dedicate these two articles to Jim’s Memory. As always, with all the articles I write, this one is based mainly on information available in the museum archive, and inevitably there are gaps, so it may not be the full story. To visitors and newcomers to the town, today the Grove is seen as a burnt out shell (pictured above), viewed from the High Street and located just below the forecourt of the postal sorting office and next to Cunarder Lane. However, this building was one of Tain’s oldest surviving

non-Ecclesiastical buildings. Photo 2 shows it in its heyday with a little cottage extension on the left and the stable block/garage behind it. In the view from below from the Kirksheaf Road (pictured bottom right on next page), other additions to the basic original building can be seen. All in all this was a substantial property. Just when the Grove was built and for whom, I do not know but it already existed in 1812, so it, or what is left of it, is over 200 years old. A valuation undertaken in 1812 by the Tain Presbytery to enable them to make out a stent (assessment) towards the building of a new church (currently the Duthac Centre) lists (the) Grove as one of a number of properties owned by George Murray Esq. He was one of a

family of merchants and bankers who dominated much of the public life of Tain from the late 18th century and well into the 19th Century, and who between them occupied various positions including that of Provost. Kenneth Murray, whose monument stands in the Rose Garden, was his Great Nephew. The George Murray mentioned above died in 1830 and his brother William in 1836 so by 1839 the Grove was in the hands of his nephew, George Murray of Rosemount, who in that year was offered “£5 sterling for the Grove office for 1 year…..upon his putting it in a proper state of repair as a public office in both apartments.” It seems this George did not keep up his side of the bargain properly, as in 1841 he was sent a

letter by the Town Clerk which stated that the Grove office was in a “disagreeable state” and as George had declined to do anything about it he was going to “remove the public records to a safer and better keeping”. Not a good advert for the man who had been elected Provost in 1840 – a position he still held when he died in 1848. Although owned by members of the Murray family, they may not actually have lived there as George and William are always referred to as being of Westfield (later known as Pitcalzean) and Rosemount, and nephew George as being of Rosemount. Throughout much of its history the Grove seems to have been used for multiple uses of one kind or another, residential, professional and commercial. The first residents I have information for appear in the 1851 census when James Christie, accountant & grain merchant, was living in the Grove along with his apprentice clerk nephew, two female house servants and one male servant who also served as a stable boy. So part of it at least must have been in a reasonable state. No one else is listed as actually living there in that year, although the ‘office’ part may have been in use again either by James or someone else. Nephew George Murray’s widow was living in Rosemount House. James Christie appears in several documents dating from 1839 to 1866, during which time he had a number of positions. As a member

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MARGARET URQUHART

of the Parochial Board, he acted as Collector of the Poor Rates. He was the Assessor of the Burgh of Tain over most of this period and a Councillor at least in 1866. So he was a man of reasonable public standing. I was unable to establish where he was living by the 1861 Census. He would just have been a tenant while he was living at the Grove. There is a reference in a document of a disposition of property in Manse Street in 1863 to a Robert Murray “residing at the Grove” and a photograph (pictured right) entitled “Mr Robert Murray, Grove” is included in an album of photographs dating mostly from around this time. Although not certain, I think this must be the Robert Murray who appears as living in Lamington Street in the 1861 Census, aged 28, with his wife Mary and 2 domestic servants, and given as a “Fund Holder” (?). Although the name ‘Grove’ does not appear in the record, its location would be considered as in Lamington Street. Curiously, a second household is included in the same Census Record. This consisted of a James

Ross, aged 45, farmer, farming 12 acres, his sister and a herd boy, but recorded as living in “Farm House, Fendom”. Could that have been the little left hand extension seen in the photo showing the house from below (pictured bottom left) It seems unlikely that an entirely separate building would be shown on the same record. Although I have not been able to establish a link, it seems likely this Robert Murray, was related in some way to the Murray family who owned the Grove from at least 1812. To have his photograph included in this particular album, he must have been of some substance. However, I have no trace of him after 1863. The next known resident was an Edward James Maguire, Supervisor of Inland Revenue, Excise, who shows up in the 1871 Census, aged 44, with his wife, Ellen Mary, both born in England. At this point they have 3 children all born in Tain, the oldest in 1868, so they were already living in Tain, at least by that year. As with Robert Murray above, the location is given just as Lamington

Street but on a Voters Roll for 1870-75, Edward is recorded as being the tenant of “house & Garden, The Grove”. They had 3 female servants – a “General Domestic”, a “Housemaid” and a “Domestic”. The latter servant, although included on the same Census Record like the farmer above, was also indicated as being a separate household, “house name, Hilton”, perhaps occupying one of

the annexes. The Maguire family was still living there in 1881, although Edward himself seems to have been absent, at least on census night, but clearly not deceased as Ellen was given as “Wife of the Head of Family” – a family now consisting of seven children. One of their two servants was a nurse, the other was a cook. No additional household was recorded. To be continued...

TAIN

Now at 9 Geanies Street

Wednesdays 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm

Tel: Evelyn 07511 133 108

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

www.highlandprime.co.uk @HighlandPrime

01862832061

We have made some fantastic sausages and dry cure bacon from outdoor bred Gloucester Old Spot pork.

To access our free delivery service, message us on Facebook. If you require a Christmas order, please make sure you contact us before the end of November.

We will be at the Christmas Market in Tain, Sat. Nov. 28th.

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MAGGIE MERCER

CARING FOR YOUR MIND BENEFITS EVERYONE During one of my recent trips to Tain High Street I couldn’t help feeling a wave of sadness looking at the closed up shop fronts and other businesses. Some of these closures are as a result of the pandemic, but others due to the recession that took hold some 10 years ago. However, did we not have the sense pre-covid that businesses were starting to come alive and, in some cases, thrive again? That businesses were finding innovative new ways to survive and grow? Perhaps the severity of the pandemic may be clouding my perception of the previous few years. Its pro-longed impact might be giving some of us the feeling that we have been restricted for far too long, and that our sense of freedom and hope for the future has been relegated to a distant past. But are there positives to be gained from this chaos? Many agree that covid restrictions have brought us back to basics, whether that be learning new skills, spending more time with our children or even having our eyes opened to the work we should be putting more value on. It has also given us awareness that, for us to thrive, it is important to have meaningful human connections. Selfishness, greed, indifference towards environmental issues did the pandemic need to happen for us to change our ways? Whatever our personal stance on this, it can be interesting to

examine how our own values have changed because of it. Is the title of this article such a bold statement? Every person counts towards influencing the whole, whether that is in a negative or a beneficial way- the ‘butterfly effect’ – the idea that small changes at the individual level can influence a community further down the line. So if we feel inspired to work for the benefit of community, the work needs to first start within ourselves. The sense of despondency currently around us will have influenced each and everyone of us at some level. If a larger societal change is to occur then we first and foremost need to look at ourselves - as the old saying goes “As within, so without, as above, so below”. This is taken to mean that the quality of your thoughts and feelings will directly affect how your life plays out and whether you influence others in a detrimental or beneficial manner. Taking care of your mental health is even more important at this current time. We can take practical steps to do this, for instance, ensuring we stay connected to family and friends, eating and drinking healthily and keeping ourselves physically and mentally active. It is also important to press the ‘pause button’ regularly in order to reset ourselves, as quiet time is so valuable. Whilst it is wise to keep ourselves informed about what matters in the world around us,

we should set a limit on our consumption and remember not to believe everything that’s put out there. Doing this can lead to our outlook being perpetually skewed to the negative, ramping up our levels of anxiety. Also, it’s always wise to carve out time to do things that we enjoy. Many health professionals will view these practical steps as the basis of mental health maintenance, from which we are better placed to progress to what might be termed as ‘higher order personal maintenance’. This is having the ability to look within ourselves, and dig a bit deeper. To understand and increase our awareness of the mental patterns we have created and notice what they are doing to us. Asking ourselves ‘How do these serve me’? Making a commitment to becoming more selfaware can be very freeing and bring its own sense of fulfilment. It can help us show more compassion to ourselves and others and be open to trusting our life journey. Yet there are many of us who don’t have the fortune to attain these levels of thinking, who are not in the space practically or psychologically whether through poverty, abuse or other traumas - some of which will be exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19. In Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’, individuals need food, shelter, safety, a sense of belonging, etc., before they can realise their full potential

as integrated human beings. Although this ‘hierarchy’ is not linear (for instance, some of us can reach higher levels, but because of life challenges slip backwards) it helps us see the fundamental ways we need to be nurtured in order to attain inner growth. Life can become extremely tough at times. This is part of the human condition and not a weakness or failure. When you get overwhelmed, embrace the support that it is out there. Sharing your thoughts and feelings lightens the burden and can create space in your life. You can do this with friends, family, in an online support group, in a private journal or with a trained counsellor. Reach out when you need to, and look after your thoughts, emotions and feelings, as in doing so everyone will benefit. Maggie Mercer - Counsellor & Psychotherapist (I practice my counselling work from my room at Shandwick Bay in the Seaboard Village of Shandwick. I can offer face to face counselling or on-line Zoom sessions. For more information and to enquire about rates you can visit www. openmindshighland. co.uk or you can telephone me on 07943449731).

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TAIN MUSEUM

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Prisoners in Tain were kept in the Tolbooth only until their punishment was carried out unless they were imprisoned for debt, in which case they had to stay in jail until they had paid their original debt plus the costs of keeping them in jail. Some crimes were less usual than others; in 1766 an ox was charged with eating a lady’s gown (value 15s). This was not the ox’s first offence. Unfortunately, we do not have a record of the sentence passed. Normally punishments were handed out at the Mercat Cross which now stands at the tolbooth door. These punishments were harsh to discourage others from breaking the law – here are a few examples from the Tain & Balnagown Documents: 1687 - Donald Pender as a common notorious thief, after drinking all day with Andrew Bain he returned that evening and broke in and stole 80 merks from their chest. The court ordains that you are to suffer punishment instantly, today, be taken by the hangman to the Meikle tree standing next to the schoolhouse and your ear to be nailed to it with one double-ended nail by the hand of the hangman 1706 - Alex. Reach . . . blooding Alex. Ross and casting him in the heart of the fyr and for casting Alex. Ross’s wife Muriel Forrester on her back in the dubs and trampling on her . . . fined 70 ... lie four hours in the stocks at the Mercat Cross and to be in prison till payment of his fine and his continuance in the said stocks to be during said Muriel’s pleasure. [It seems doubtful whether this allowed Muriel to prolong

the ordeal beyond four hours, or only to shorten it if she took pity, or saw the fellow badly pelted, as men in stocks often were. 1741 - Case of robbery at Knockbain, tried at Tain. Accused . . took 4 horses out of the stable and a musket .... The Sheriff ordains that for the Musket . .he be taken from prison to the bridge at (Little) Tain and there by the hands of the common hangman to receive 7 lashes of the common whipping cord upon his naked body thereafter 7 . . opposite to the house of Bailie Manson . . 7 at the Cross, lastly 7 at the bridge in the upper end of the burgh and then to be dismissed . . For the horses . . . carried to the common place of execution . . hanged . . . till he be dead dead . . . 1743 – Denoon carrier confessed that he received a cask of spirits to convey to the ferry of Cromarty to be shipped to London . . at the Sands of Nigg he and accomplices pierced it with a gimlet and embuzled 10 or 12 Scots pints. . . . The bailie ordaines him to be in prison 8 days then stand for an hour at the mercat cross with a paper on his breast inscribed “For Breach of Trust.”

At this time of year St Duthus Bowling Club are usually playing indoor on the carpets but due to current restrictions, and for the safety of all we have not opened the club. The situation will be monitored constantly and if things change members will be informed. However some running costs associated with the club have still to be paid. (Insurance, rates, licence fees, heating and electricity in winter) Therefore we are asking any member who is in a position to pay indoor fees for their help. A number of members have already paid and some have indicated that they are willing to. If any member can help in this way I ask them to contact Stephen Maclennan . Please give this some consideration to help the club in these difficult times. Thanking you and stay safe and healthy. Wilson Corbett, President St Duthus Bowling Club

Does your business have a website? Can you customers (and potential customers) find you on the web? Is your website secure and compatible with modern devices? If you need help modernising and updating your website and establishing an online presence using social media, please give me a call on 01862 857366 or send an email to niall.harkiss@ kandnconcepts.co.uk Niall Harkiss, K & N Concepts Ltd

Shirley first started Hair Design just over 30 years ago in Tain and has spent the last 15 years in the shop at the top of Geanies Street. The move to Hair Design Downtown, at the bottom of Chapel Brae, was scheduled to happen at the end of March but due to the whole country being in lockdown this only happened recently. Shirley, Fiona, Lorraine & Aimee are enjoying the new premises and the shop is open Tuesday - Friday 9am till 5.30pm, with a Thursday late night till 7pm and open Saturday 9am till 1pm. Appointments outside of these hours may be available by contacting us on 01862 892228. Shirley would like to thank the many customers over the years for all their support and is looking forward to welcoming old and new customers to Hair Design Downtown. We have social distancing & covid-19 measures in place to ensure everyone is safe. Follow us on Facebook

HAIR DESIGN DOWNTOWN

Our Festive Afternoon Teas will be available from 1st of December to enjoy in the restaurant at ÂŁ18.50 per person or to take away at ÂŁ15.00 per person. Vegetarian & Vegan options available. We require 24 hours advance notice.

This Christmas an alternative to a works night out would be a Greens luxury festive buffet delivered to you. For more information on these festive offerings please contact us on 01862 893874 or email on enquiries@greensrestaurant-tain.co.uk

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TAIN ROTARY CLUB

TAIN AND EASTER ROSS ROTARY CLUB Sometimes you find yourself scrolling through social media - going down several ‘rabbit holes’ and for no good reason or purpose but sometimes it can lead to something fantastic! Recently, there was a conversation on the Tain Community Facebook group about current government restrictions on visiting one another’s homes. There was a collective lament that there would be no guising this Halloween. “The kids are having another thing taken from them”, was the cry. Marilyn Wallace, an artistic lady who lives locally, spotted the conversation and sent me a message. She knew I’d be interested as she and I had had some creative conversations over a year ago about “maybe... possibly” working together to do some sort of window festival, something in the dark months when the displays would be at their brightest, but we’d never quite made it happen. So, this year, watching the unfolding conversation on the community group, we took a punt: “We may not be able to take our children guising around each others houses,” we wrote back, “but how about keeping them busy through the October holiday with a Halloween window decorating competition which would result in a trail of windows for them to enjoy safely - with their families?” To our delight, the response was a resounding “YES!” And the enthusiastic YES, a few short weeks later, became more than 100 entries to the fun competition! In between those “YES” moments, we set up a facebook page @shinealightontain to encourage interest and support. And with Tain and Easter Ross Rotary agreeing

to sponsor the event, we were able to produce art packs with everything a family would need to decorate their window. This meant that our event could be inclusive and no one would be left out, something we as a club are very proud of. We budgeted initially for 50 art packs but interest was far greater than we had imagined and, thanks to Marilyn and Jennifer from Jen’s Art Room who worked to make the packs, we soon found we’d given away 150 more!! The packs, after being quarantined, were held at Jen’s Art Room and the local development trust Hub for people to pop in and collect them. The hope was that even those without guisers at home would join in to do something positive for our children, pulling us all together, young and youngat-heart. We kept up the momentum, gathering together a judging team made up of Margaret Lyon, our newest Rotary member, Marilyn, of course, and local artists Brodie Nairn, glassmaker, and Lucy

Woolley, silversmith. And thanks to our Vice President, Will Cowie, we were soon equipped with a digital platform which went live in the fortnight leading up to Halloween so that people could share photos of their windows and perhaps enter the competition for Scariest display, Funniest, Autumnal, Creative, or Care for Nature. At the time of writing, the competition has just closed and we have entries in from Hilton, Balintore, Edderton and of course Tain. The results will be announced on Halloween with prizes for category winners and a shield, donated by Rotary, for the overall winner. More important than prizes, though, have been the numerous messages which came to the Shine a Light Facebook page, from families who had used their rainy October holiday to help their children design and make their windows. They were genuinely full of thanks for having had something joyful to do with their kids during these uncertain days.

Rotary really hopes that families will think of leaving guising for another year and will, instead, put together a trail to follow round the houses with their wonderfully decorated windows. And next year, with luck - and probably a great deal of ingenuity and sacrifice from us all - the virus will be less, but our children may be left with a new tradition to enjoy while guising. Rotary is pleased to have partnered with Marilyn in making this happen - big big thanks to her - but credit goes also to our communities for their positivity and enthusiasm and to all those who have helped to brighten dark October nights, encouraging families to keep us all safe but have a lot of fun at the same time.Sometimes you find yourself scrolling through social media - going down several ‘rabbit holes’ and for no good reason or purpose - but sometimes it can lead to something fantastic! Carol-Anne Parker, President

School/formal Childcare

If you cannot work from home

Shopping

Contact with others Strictly follow the guidelines when shopping

Following a workplace risk assessment, your employer should make the necessary adjustments to your workplace to protect you The majority of workplaces can be made safe

Strictly follow the guidelines when shopping

Following a workplace risk assessment, your employer should make the necessary adjustments to your workplace to protect you

The majority of workplaces can be made safe

Follow the level advice to the general population

Level 1

Level 0

Follow the level advice to the general population

The majority of workplaces can be made safe. Where you have a concern you should discuss this with your employer. If your workplace cannot be made safe, you can discuss whether you need a fit note with your GP or consultant

Following a workplace risk assessment, your employer should make the necessary adjustments to your workplace to protect you

Strictly follow the guidelines when shopping

Avoid one metre zones

Reduce the number of people or households you have face to face contact with

Level 2

Parents or guardians should discuss with their GP or clinician whether children should still attend

Children on the shielding list should not attend in person

Please note that this does not automatically mean you should not attend work. You should discuss this further with your employer, and if this results in adequate protection, you can continue to work

However, at this level the Chief Medical Officer will issue a letter which is similar to a fit note and which will last for as long as your area is under Level 4 restrictions. This letter can be used in the few cases where it is not possible to make your workplace safe

The majority of workplaces can be made safe. If you have any concerns you should discuss these with your employer

Shop at quieter times

Shop at quieter times Speak to your employer to ensure all appropriate protections are in place

Strictly follow the guidelines when shopping and limit the number of times you go to a shop

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Strictly follow the guidelines when shopping and limit the number of times you go to a shop

Limit meeting people outside your own household, avoid indoor public spaces

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This is advice, consider which level of protection is right for you.

Extra protection level advice for people at highest risk from coronavirus (COVID-19)

Strategic Framework

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SAINTS U17S STEP UP St. Duthus FC are now seeing the benefits of the youth team they introduced in 2018, as several teenage prospects have signed up for the 2020-21 season with the first team. The Saints formed an Under 17 side in 2018 to compete in the Highland Football League’s North division. Aiden Stainke and Keir Carson were the first players to make the step up from youth football after its first season - but this year no fewer than five players are expected to play a part in 2020-21. Aneek Khan, Taylor Anderson, Shadi Ali, Calum Robinson and Luke Widdows are the latest to “graduate” from the youth set up to the ranks of senior football - and have already been included in matchday squads this season.

LOCAL FOOTBALL

SAINTS GET NEW SEASON UNDERWAY

The new Macleod & MacCallum North Caledonian League season kicked off on Saturday October 17th - and St. Duthus couldn’t have asked for a harder start than an away game against Easter Ross rivals and title favourites Invergordon. In the end, despite a valiant second half fightback, St Duthus finished on the wrong end of a narrow 3-2 derby defeat. New signings James Mackay, James Skinner, Kyle Mackenzie, Aneek Khan as well the returning Steven Martin and Barry Kenny were all involved in the squad for Saints’ first competitive game of 202021, while John Skinner missed out due to injury. Invergordon were first on the attack, making ground down the right hand side before the ball was spread to Kyle Maclean on the left. His ball into the box was

ABOVE: NEW SIGNING ARRON CHRISTIE MADE HIS DEBUT IN THE 5-5 DRAW WITH ORKNEY (PIC: CHARLIE DAWSON)

nodded into the path of Scott Houston who headed far and wide of the post. A minute later, Saints were awarded a free kick just inside the Invergordon half for a foul on Ben Bruce. Ross Tokely floated the ball into the box and connecting with a glancing header James Skinner forced Grant Beattie to scramble the ball just past the post. From the resultant corner, the ball was cleared out to Jon Campbell who fired wide from the edge of the area. Invergordon continued to threaten down the right and on the quarter hour Niall Docherty broke clear to register the first shot on target of the game with a strike from an acute angle. Steven Martin, though, was up to the task in the Saints goal, getting down

low to stop the shot. The opener arrived in similar fashion on 18 minutes though, and it was Docherty again who broke down the right, this time finding Russell Macintyre, who turned and fired the ball into the far corner to make it 1-0 for the hosts. Five minutes later, Martin had to be alert again to save a shot from Ken Morrison after the midfielder had been played into space by Shaun Kerr. Despite a difficult first half, Saints weren’t without chances, and they were unlucky not to equalise on 33 minutes when a James Mackay free kick was nodded into the path of Barry Kenny who headed towards goal from 5 yards into the arms of Beattie. Invergordon extended their lead on 37 minutes

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LOCAL FOOTBALL

with a stunning opportunist goal. Collecting a loose ball 25 yards from goal, Kyle Macdonald made no mistake when he sent the ball sailing over Martin and into the net to double his side’s advantage. A torrid first half got worse for St. Duthus two minutes before the break when a neatly taken corner kick on the left hand side found Docherty on the edge of the box, and the Invergordon man’s shot at goal delflected beyond a helpless Martin to make it 3-0. The only way was up for Saints as they restarted the match for the second half, and within eight minutes they had pulled a goal back. Collecting a Charlie Macdonald throw, Jon Campbell did well to turn inside before laying the ball to Cammy Mackintosh who sent a looping first time ball into the box. The ball found Ben Bruce who timed his run to perfection before finding the bottom corner with a cool left foot finish.Saints showed greater determination in the second period and enjoyed more frequent spells of possession as they aimed to further beg back the hosts. With five minutes left, Saints reduced the deficit to one goal and it was Bruce again who found the net after good work between Charlie Macdonald and Glenn Fell down the left hand side to hit the hosts on the counter attack. A frenetic last few moments saw little in terms of scoring opportunities other than a shot from substitute Kyle Mackenzie which didn’t trouble Beattie, and a free kick sent well wide of target at the other end. One last push from a free kick saw a volleyed shot

from Bruce blocked on the edge of the area, and with that, time was called. A week later, at home to Orkney - it was defintely more of a game for the neutrals - as Saints surrendered the lead five times before having to settle for a point. John Allan was recalled in goal for his first start of the new season following the departure of Steven Martin, while Jake Lockett and Finn As-Chainey also made their first starts. There were debuts for new signings Arron Christie and Christopher Mailley in defence, while Adam MacDonald also made a return to the bench following a two year layoff. St. Duthus were dominant in the early going, threatening down the left and right as Orkney tried to stem the tide. The could keep the hosts at bay for only six minutes until Glenn Fell broke the deadlock with a superb strike from an angle after Jake Lockett had played him in on goal. Just moments later, Ben Bruce should have doubled his side’s lead after beating his man to fire towards goal - but Orkney keeper Findley Cooper was up to the challenge with a good stop. The eventual theme of the match began five minutes later when Orkney pulled a goal back - albeit in fortuitous circumstances. A Niall Mackay free kick into the box looked unthreatening but connected with the head of Saints defender Chris Mailley who in an attempt to clear accidentally diverted the ball into his own net. Saints were quick to get themselves back in front though and just three

minutes later they scored coming down the other flank. A neat exchange between Finn As-Chainey and Ben Bruce sent the former clean through and he lashed the ball into the net with authority to make it 2-1. Orkney grew into the game and on 32 minutes they levelled the score again. Pouncing on a defensive error, Liam Delday opened his account for the season with a finish from close range which Johnny Allan almost kept out. At 2-2, Orkney were now pushing to take control and with five minutes of the half remaining, they were awarded a penalty for a foul on the far edge of the area. Johnny Allan though, was up to the task and produced an excellent reaction save to prevent Ewan Stevenson’s effort from 12 yards. The penalty save spurred Saints on and they quickly retook the lead. Great work down the right again, this time from Bruce, created space to find Lockett in the middle, who laid the ball to Glenn Fell for another excellent finish. Saints had a chance to extend the lead further just on the stroke of half time with a Jon Campbell shot that flew just over the bar.Just five minutes into the second half, Fell was denied a hat-trick after he turned a glorious chance over the bar getting on the end of a great ball from Bruce.With the score in Saints’ favour at 3-2 for the longest period of the match during the second half, they were understandably disappointed to surrender their lead for a third time on 70 minutes, when Delday found Owen Young inside the box with a neat through ball, the latter

slipping the ball under Allan with ease to make it 3-3. Ever undeterred, St. Duthus bounced back within 60 seconds, and the goal came from a set piece. A looping Arron Christie free kick found its desired target as captain Cammy Mackintosh steered the ball past Cooper to head into the far corner. At 4-3, surely they couldn’t throw it away now? For ten minutes, Saints maintained their lead and looked good value for it but a ball across the edge of the eighteen yard line met first time by Delday, flummoxed Allan as it zipped through a packed box and spun over him into the net. It now seemed like it could be anybody’s game, but substitute Kyle Mackenzie had other ideas on 87 minutes as he made an instant impact, breaking clear down the right hand side to play a ball across for Jake Lockett, and unmarked, the striker cartwheeled the ball into the net at the far post to make it 5-4. A tense final few moments saw chances at either end as St Duthus looked to close the game out, Orkney going all out to take something. With mere seconds remaining, Orkney eventually hit back with the cruelest of goals to snatch a draw - with the final attack of the game. As the ball spun in all directions, a chance deflected into the path of an unmarked Young inside the area, and the island striker easily slotted under Allan to completely knock the wind out of Saints’ sails - as they conceded the lead for a fifth and final time.

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TAIN CATS CALENDAR ON SALE

TAIN TENNIS CLUB

1ST WEEK JUNIOR AUTUMN CAMP

This year, the Tain Branch of Cat Protection Society have had to deal head on with the problem of most events having been cancelled due to Covid-19. To combat this, they decided to have a calendar produced to help them raise much needed funds. Jean Jardine, of Tain & District Cats Protection, said; “We posted on facebook for folks to send photos of their cats and we would choose the best and make a calendar featuring local cats. We had a super response, over 100 photos were sent. When it came down to it, we decided to choose, what we thought were the really striking ones for the main photo, but asked if we could include thumbnail photos of the others, just so everyone who sent a photo of their cat, could be included.” The new calendar is now on sale for £6 from Jean on Facebook.

This year’s Junior Autumn Camp, as in previous years, was once more a great success with all the juniors showing a great improvement. Even the times it rained did not put them off enjoying being on court. On Friday, 16th October we held an 8&Under Fun Tournament and a 9&Over Boys Single and Doubles and a Girls Single and Doubles Tournaments.

Boys Doubles Won by Rory Skinner and Nathan Farquhor. Runnersup Archie McCloud and Evan Stewart Girls Single Won by Morven Thompson and Runner-up Cuba Nicholson Girls Doubles Won by Cuba Nicholson and Charlotte Walker, Runnersup Morven Thompson and Sophia Walker.

allowed the Junior Autumn Camps to be FREE. Included in this funding was a FREE TENNIS RACQUET for all the 8& under children who attended It is understood that the racquets for both weeks will be presented after the holidays to each child – date and time to be confirmed shortly after the school holidays.

All the Winners got Gold Medals and the Runner-ups Silver Medals plus everyone received a present and chocolates.

The normal Saturday Junior Morning Coaching is continuing as follows: 10 am to 11 am for the 8&Under 11am to 12 noon for the 9&Over. The Fees per session are £2.50 for Members and £3.50 for Non-members.

The 9 & Overs Played in the following Tournaments:-

A VERY BIG THANK YOU must go to all the youngsters who attended the above week’s one and a half hours sessions of coaching for their enthusiasm, behaviour and improvement in their tennis – it was a joy to coach them. We also thank the parents who helped us as it was much appreciated.

Newcomers are always welcome. For more information phone John on 01862 851410 or go to the Club’s website https:// clubspark.lta.org.uk/TainTC where you will also find details of Head Coach, Scott Fraser’s Private Coaching Sessions and contact numbers.

Boys Single Won by Rory Skinner and Runner-Up Archie McCloud

This year the Club received a Grant from Highlife’s Green Nature Funding which

John Waring, Senior Coach

The 8 & Under Fun Tournament consisted of a number of various games where they could show what they had learnt and gain points with the player with the most points being the Winner of that game. All the Winners got a Gold Medal, the Most Improved Player also got a Medal and everyone received presents and chocolates. Below is a photo of all the 8& Under Medal Winners.

QUOTE TAIN NOV/DEC FOR FREE ORIGINATION

billy@thomsonpartnership.com

thomsonpartnership.com

M a d e In T a in S C IO Scottish Charity no: SC043549 ‘A Young People’s Social Enterprise’

GRANTS BAKERY Rolls, Baking, Sandwiches & Hot Snacks

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

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

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Subscribe Have the magazine delivered direct to your door for £40 per year. Visit www.tainpost.co.uk for more information. Digital Archive A growing Digital Archive of

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

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Address 5B Ross Street, Tain IV19 1BA Phone 01862 857366 Web www.tainpost.co.uk