Issue #241 | Tain & District Picture Post | December 2020

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

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

#241 DECEMBER

2020

DECEMBER 2020

IN PICTURES: BEACH CLEAN-UP AT TAIN

FREE TENNIS SESSIONS IN OCTOBER

TAIN & DISTRICT MUSEUM

Photos and news of a coordinated clean-up at Tain Beach, to clear up and remove washed up debris p22

Tain Tennis Club ran free coaching sessions throughout the October. p18

Stories and photographs from Tain & District Museum p16

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.

TDPP

DECEMBER 2020

EDITORIAL

Dear readers, It is hard to believe that we are putting together our Christmas edition of the Picture Post, but here we are. The common complaint come December is that the year has passed all too quick, but with all that has taken place this year, it really does feel in many ways that the year never really got started. So many events have been cancelled this year -- many of which would be key points or highlights on the calendar.

Just this month, the annual turning on of the Christmas Lights was postponed - at least in terms of the proposed street market and gathering. It is pleasing to know that people in the town will still be able to see the lights being turned on via a virtual feed on Facebook, such is the way that we do many things now. The news of the vaccine approval is certainly very welcome though, and hopefully it means before long we can get back living life to the fullest.

We are pleased to be able to bring you a 32 page issue this month - with some great photos and content once again. Looking back over 2020, we are full of appreciation for those who have stuck with us throughout the year, especially with most of the town’s clubs and associations on pause - without their commitment we would have very little to share with you of a month.

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

On that note, we would just like to wish all of our readers, advertisers and contributors a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes around. Here’s to 2021 being a year to remember!

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Best wishes, Niall & Lucy Tain & District Picture Post Editors: Niall Harkiss & Lucy Veals Email info@tainpost.co.uk Tel 01862 857366 Subscribe online - www.tainpost.co.uk Digital archive - www.tainpost.co.uk/archive Front cover pic - Mark Janes

WEBSITE DESIGN Small Business | Personal | Responsive DATABASE DEVELOPMENT Bespoke CRM | Statistical archives | MySQL PRINTING & DESIGN Photocopying | Booklets | Programmes Posters | Flyers | Business cards Find us at: 5B Ross Street, Tain, IV19 1BA (01862) 857366 Email niall.harkiss@kandnconcepts.co.uk

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AMELIA’S RAFFLE My name is Amelia Flinn and I am 8 years old.

For the last 3 years, I have asked for your help with donations for local animal charities - but this year I would like to do something a little different!

My mum has made some hampers and has some raffle prizes to raffle off.

I am selling strips for £5 each. With the money raised I would like to make bags of food, treats, toys etc. for any local families who have either dogs or cat that may be struggling this year.

I am also accepting donations of cat/dog treats, toys, tins etc.

Proof of receipts will be provided for everything i have bought.

Thank you for reading. You can find me on Facebook at facebook.com/ emma.flinn.33

TAIN COMMUNITY

TAIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL Minutes of the virtual Community Council of the Royal Burgh of Tain meeting held on 26 October 2020 at 7.30 pm.

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES – the previous minutes of 28 September 2020 were approved by Mr Holdsworth and seconded by Mr Akeroyd.

DRAINS – Ms Smith reported blocked drains on Victoria Road/Quebec Avenue/ Knockbreck Road. It was noted that most of the drains in Tain require clearing. After discussion, it was agreed to contact Donna Manson, and Malcolm Macleod from Highland Council and request the drains are cleared. It was further agreed that Ms Smith would send photo evidence to Mrs Mackay.

CO-OPTEES – Mr Munro thanked Ms Smith and Ms Webber for joining the CC. Mr Munro to visit the 3rd co-optee to get their current email address.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY COMMEMORATION – Mr Rhind reported that there is a socially distanced Church Service, with Mr Munro invited to attend to represent the CC. DORNOCH LIFEBOATS – Mr Akeroyd reported that the new Lifeboat shed has had the planning application approved. Whilst there is some funding for this project, some more is required. After discussion, it was agreed that this organisation can apply to get one of the CC funded spaces at the Community Market. They can also apply to HC Discretionary Spend Grant scheme, plus the Co-op money for communities.

PLANNING – Erection of general purpose building, Bogbain Road, - note (Mr Louden declared an interest).

HIGHLAND COUNCIL REPORT - Mr Louden reported that there are ongoing discussions about Brexit. Covid briefings have been re-instated – likely Highland in level 1 as determined by the Scottish Government. Discussion at Economy & Infrastructure Committee and at the Recovery Board over Port of Cromarty Firth and Port of Nigg seeking Free Port status. HC will take a view on it over the next few weeks.

There are pros and cons. The biggest pro is clearly jobs as the ports expand. They are also seeking to switch more and more from oil & gas to renewables with a particular focus on hydrogen research & development aiming to de-carbonise transport and the production of heat in residential and industrial settings. The cons are fears over the environment, not paying their way on taxes and lack of public accountability.

The debate is ongoing with Councillors keen to hear arguments from both sides.

MR RHIND’S REPORT - Mr Rhind reported that funds from the Ward Discretionary Spend will go towards clearing weeds, hedges, car park at Queen Street, Rose Street. Grass cutting coming to an end. All local live events have been cancelled due to Covid. Questions – car club/ Post Office car spaces leaving less for the public in Queen Street. Concern for derelict caravan in Queen Street car park and a car outside TRA. Concern at the grass at the area at the back of Craighill at the swingpark. It was

noted that Craighill Residents Group was in abeyance just now. Concern about hole in the pavement at the Bookies, and one in Geanies Street (Councillor’s to speak to landowners and investigate further).

TAIN AND DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST – Mr Macrae reported that he had attended Kilmuir & Easter Logie Community Council, which was a good experience – he will be visiting all the CCs in Ward 7. The poll has closed on rebranding the area for tourism – outcome will be known soon. Still giving funds to organisations for recovery from Covid. It is hoped to undertake public consultation soon to direct the TDDT work.

It was noted the local charity organisations that up taken up the opportunity of a space at the Community markets.

CHAIR’S REPORT – Mr Munro noted the lack of working drains, and the amount of campervans in the area.

VICE-CHAIR’S REPORT – Mr Amos re-iterated the blocked drain at Morangie Road. It was noted that HC had vehicles to clear drains previously, but they were no longer with HC. School meals – Ms Smith indicated that she thought that there are no hot meals provided at Tain Primary schools – Mr Rhind to clarify the situation. Arising out of this item was a discussion of spare items of furniture in Knockbreck Primary – Councillor’s to follow up.

The meeting ended at 2105.

The date of the next meeting was agreed as Monday 30 November 2020.

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TAIN COMMUNITY

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LOCAL NEWS AND UPDATES Tain Tennis Club now have their own clothing available to buy online from https:// arbollcrafts.com/ collections/tain-tennisclub.

Arboll Crafts is a local business in the Tain area and will be providing the club with t-shirts and hoodies from kids to adults in all sizes. There will also be the option to have names on the front right of each piece of clothing.

A representative for Tain LTC said, “The club feels it is important to support a local buisness during these times and for the club to have its own clothing which we hope to add more of in the near future.”

Asda Cafe in Tain are doing their bit to keep the younger members of our committee well fed - by offering kids the chance to eat for free throughout December.

From the 1st to the 31st, children under the age of sixteen will be permitted to eat without cost when accompanied by an adult as part of a single household (per table).

For more information, please enquire at Asda Cafe in Tain.

Do Soccer Academy has

been continuing to run sessions since football was permitted again for youngsters.

Training P3 - S3 players, the club has taken part in some games too, specifically the U15s team.

It has been a season of new sponsorship for the U15s also, with two new strips to wear (pictured right).

Club chairman Zak Khan said, “The club would like to extend thanks to Delny Glamping for sponsoring the new U15s Home kit and Emac Engineering ltd for sponsoring the U15s Match day tops.

The community help has been tremendous from parents to businesses, to local enterprises such as the Seaboard Trust - and all who have helped the club give football to the youth of the area. Thanks for all the support!”

Tain Royal Academy have launched their new website.

Their existing site was several years old, and the functionality of that site made it hard to update and provide all the information required for parents and pupils.

The project was led

by TRA parent council Chair, Wendy Hennem who worked closely with two former TRA pupils,

The Tain Over 60s club wishes all members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hope we can all meet again soon.

Chloe Mackay and Lily Macdonald, and the site was built with help from a local web design company.

Chloe volunteered to be involved from the outset as she has a keen interest in marketing and design and left TRA in 2020 to study Business Management at UHI. She liaised with the school to gather and create all the content as well as keeping a close eye on the overall design. Lily Macdonald, fellow pupil and now at Edinburgh Napier University studying Photography, took all the photographs for the new site.

Pupils, parents, and teachers were all invited to contribute, and Chloe held workshops with pupils across the year groups to find out what they wanted the new

website to look like and what information it should contain. When the site was nearly complete, parents were asked to road test it and provide their feedback, which helped to shape the final version.

Mark Jones, Headteacher at TRA said, “I am really pleased with the final version of our new website. It is informative, easy to navigate and edit and a big improvement on our old site. The project has been a truly collaborative effort involving pupils, teachers, and parents and I would like to thank everyone who was involved, especially our former pupils Chloe Mackay and Lily Macdonald” You can view the new website at www. tainroyalacademy.org.uk

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TAIN COMMUNITY NEWS

PUBLIC CONSULTATION FOR TAIN WILDLIFE POND KIOSK PROPOSAL

CHRISTMAS MARKET CANCELLED In a statement on the Tain & District Development Trust’s Facebook page, the group confirmed that their planned Christmas Community Street Market would now be cancelled.

“With the health and safety of the local community uppermost in our minds, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Christmas Community Street Market, due to take place on Saturday 28 November.

Our Community Market will be back in 2021 but until then please keep supporting local businesses and shop local.”

The move follows recent clusters of coronavirus in the wider area, with 35 seven day positive cases having been confirmed across the Highland region towards the end of November.

A change of use of the Wildlife Pond Kiosk at Tain Links has been proposed, which would see it become a café outlet providing food and beverages.

The kiosk was previously used for hiring and storing boats for use on the Wildlife Pond but has lain empty for a significant period of time. The property has been marketed for lease for over two years and a proposal has now been received from a local couple to lease the kiosk for an initial period of 5 years for the purposes changing it into a café providing food and drinks.

The kiosk is located approximately 17.5 metres west of the Wildlife Pond.

The area of the proposed site totals 230.58m²or thereby comprising the building (including toilets) and a 3 m circulation space. The kiosk and its location are shown in the images below.

At this stage, the proposal relates to change of use only as any initial lease will only be of 5 years duration and, as such, is not considered to be a disposal by Highland Council.

Any subsequent lease exceeding 10 years would constitute a disposal and would need to be the subject of a separate consultation process.

CONSULTATION Section 104 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 requires the Council to consult local communities when considering disposing or changing the use of Common Good assets.

Therefore, before taking any decision, and to inform the decision making process,

Highland Council are keen to hear the views of the community, in particular: • What are your views on the proposed change of use of the kiosk at the Wildlife Pond?

• Do you have any views on potential benefits of the proposal?

• Do you have any issues or concerns arising from the proposal?

• Do you have any additional comments?

REPRESENTATIONS Consultation closing date – 19 January 2021 For full detail, visit: www.highland.gov.uk/ downloads/download/1926/ wildlife_pond_kiosk_tain_ links_consultation

Easter Ross Area Citizens Advice Bureau Citizens Advice Bureau is also able to help with benefit entitlements and claims, employment rights, debt and money and housing issues, and is available by:

• Alness phone: 01349 883333 • Dingwall phone: 01349 864850 • Tain phone: 01349 883333

Physical wellbeing and concerns around Coronavirus: www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus - Latest coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance from NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government, including physical distancing measures and advice for infected households. www.readyscotland.org/coronavirus - is the official channel of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Division. It provides COVID-19 specific advice on finding extra support.

Financial Help The Council’s Welfare Team will identify all the benefits that are available for your personal circumstances and will complete applications on your behalf.

For example, if you are self-isolating and on a low income, we may be able to help with heating, travel and other costs. Our Welfare Team will also claim on your behalf any benefits you may be entitled to, including reductions that may be available from your Council Tax. This service is free and confidential. Contact our welfare specialists:

• FREEPHONE on 0800 090 1004 (9am – 5pm); or • Email: welfare.support@highland.gov.uk

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TAIN COMMUNITY

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COMMUNITY POLICING UPDATE

Anti-Social Behaviour is a term we hear regularly, we hear it on the news, we read it in articles and its used in casual conversations as well as in professionals meetings.

What does it mean to us in Tain? Anti-social behavior is a very wide-ranging issue which encompasses many aspects of criminal and noncriminal behaviour.

The term is used to describe a range of issues which cause distress to our communities and make them feel unsafe.

If I asked the readers of this magazine I would expect that collectively they would list all the main ones. Vandalism, noisy neighbours, youth disorder, littering, drugs, violence and other disorder linked to licensed premises etc. This list is not exhaustive but these are the ones we commonly group together

under the term.

Darker nights often lend a more sinister feel to any rowdiness as opposed to the summer months where the same behaviour can be seen as less menacing and merely high spirits. It a human condition to feel more vulnerable at night.

I have been made aware of some recent concerns in the Tain community around antisocial behaviour by young persons. It is worth stressing that the vast majority of young people do not come to the attention of police and should not be tarred by the actions of a few. We are in regular contact with various partners in the community and are committed to working together to reduce and deter anti-social behaviour and get any wayward young persons back on a better path.

Whilst many reports of antisocial behaviour may not constitute criminality, officers will note details from all young persons involved.

Even if someone appears not to be directly involved in nuisance behaviour their presence in large groups spectating around the activity of core offenders can add

to the level of intimidation for the community. Keeping poor associations can be a sign of other vulnerabilities and welfare needs in a young person and they may increasingly become drawn into offending. In short, police and partner agencies want to intervene with young people before lawlessness becomes a habit, not afterwards.

To that end I am looking for the residents of Tain to be the eyes and ears of the community and assist us in reducing any issues and identifying young persons responsible or those who may be on the cusp of getting in to trouble in order that we can provide the suitable support to get them back on track.

It’s a worthwhile investment of police and partner agency time to work with young people to avoid future problems associated with criminality and substance abuse. It’s not a good outcome for them, their families or the community they live in.

I would ask the readers who are parents or guardians of young persons to take a moment here to pause and think. Do you really know where your child goes of an

evening or who they meet with? In my many years in policing I have seen so many families who had no idea their child was offending until police came to their door and who would have taken appropriate action if they had only known sooner.

Anyone who has concerns about anti-social behaviour in the area can contact police by calling 101 as promptly as possible if an incident is ongoing. You can also provide information by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. We also have an online reporting facility of the Police Scotland website.

I’m asking for any information you might have so we can build a clearer picture of what’s happening, where it’s happening, when it’s happening and who is responsible. If we know what the issues are we can take direct action to do something about it.

Wishing everone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Inspector James Rice

KEEP CALM AND KEEP GARDENING This time last year Tain & District Gardeners’ Club were preparing for their 6th Annual Christmas Tree Festival on 7th December.

This year, of course, they were unable to hold the festival due to Covid-19 restrictions - but they hope to see lots of people along, raise money for local causes again this time next year.

In the meantime, from all at TDGC - have the best Christmas and New Year that you can - and don’t forget it’s time to start looking at seed catalogues for your gardens in 2021.

Above: Tain Parish Church Hall with the trees ready for the crowds to arrive in 2019.

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MARK JANES - THROUGH THE LENS

THROUGH THE LENS MARK JANES ISSUE #35

STRIKING THE RIGHT (WHITE) BALANCE As winter descends and the days reach their shortest, we photographers find ourselves shooting indoors more (especially around Christmas and Hogmanay).

Shooting indoors usually means shooting under artificial light, whether that be from house lights or your camera’s flash. You might also find you’re shooting under street lights in town at night. This is a time when choosing the right white balance is important.

What is White Balance?

White Balance is a setting on your camera that allows it to reproduce colours naturally, irrespective of the type of light the photo is taken in. We may not realise it from day to day, but different types of light have different “colour temperatures”.

For example, the light from the sky on a cloudy day is much “cooler” (more blue) than the warmer light from a traditional tungsten light bulb (which is much more yellow). This has an effect on the way colours in your photo show up.

For example, someone’s bright red Christmas

jumper will tend to look more purple in cool light and more orange in warm light.

Our eyes do a remarkable job of compensating for these changes in the colour of light, so we usually see colours as we expect to see them, irrespective of the colour-temperature of the light. Although our eyes compensate, different colour temperatures do give the light a different “feel”.

You may have seen light-bulbs on sale in shops advertised as “warm white” or “cool light” (or “daylight”).

Warmer light tends to give a cosier feel, whereas cool light tends to be more energising.

Cameras are much more sensitive to colour temperature, and are more easily fooled than our eyes. All have an “Auto White Balance” setting, which is usually the default when you turn your camera on. Most of

the time this works just fine, and does a good job of compensating for the colour of the light you’re shooting in. But sometimes the camera gets fooled by the light.

This can happen when: • There’s a mix of light sources in the picture (for example, daylight and artificial light), or • When there’s a lot of white in the picture A typical example of this is pictures of snow, when you might have noticed they tend to come out too blue.

Changing The Balance Setting

White

Most cameras let you change the white balance to one of a range of presets (Usually “Daylight”, “Shade”, “Tungsten Light”, “Flourescent Light” and “Flash”).

Some also let you dial in your own setting in “Kelvin” (K). The lower the K, the warmer the light. As a guide, an average day outside is around 5,500 – 6,000K. It’s worth playing around

with the white balance settings to see the different effects, so you know which one to choose in different conditions.

The picture below shows some examples of different kinds of light and their colour temperatures.

Just one tip; If you change your white balance setting, it’s worth setting it back to “Auto” before putting the camera away. Otherwise you could end up with some weird colours next time round!

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 COMMUNITY

THE EARTHWORM 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. This month, we bring you “The Earthworm”.

One day in May two earthworms met Deep down beneath a lawn.

They stopped to pass the time of day And have a little yarn. ‘’Good morning Fred’’, one earthworm said, ‘’Hello, Ted’’ said the other. ‘’I do declare each day you get More like your elder brother’’. ‘’I hope that isn’t true’’, said Fred ‘’For I would have you know, Two days ago my brother, Ned Was swallowed by a crow’’. ‘’I’m sorry, Fred, to hear such news, It takes my breath away.

For I was talking to your Ned As late as Wednesday’’. ‘’Aye, Aye’’, sighed Fred. ‘’That’s how it goes, A little joy, much sorrow.

One day you’re happy eating earth, Then you are gone tomorrow’’. ‘’’Tis true, ‘tis true, old friend’’, said Ted, ‘’Especially in May, For then the birds have young to feed, They’re hunting us all day’’. ‘’How right you are I know too well’’, Grimly muttered Fred. ‘’Indeed ‘twas but an hour ago I nearly lost my head’’. ‘’I heard a pattering above, And thought, the rain is here.

I wriggled up to have a look And through the grass I peered.’’ ‘’There, not twelve inches from my head, A great big blackbird stood.’’ ‘’Ha! ha!’’ he said. ‘’You’re welcome worm, You are my favourite food’’. ‘’I thought the end for me had come,

I’d see my friends no more.

And then the Lady of the house Came bustling through the door’’. ‘’I’ve never cared for humans much But that time I was glad To see her scare that bird away.

Boy! he was hopping mad’’. ‘’That was a narrow squeak’’, said Ted. ‘’You’re lucky to be here.

I never stick my nose outside Unless the coast is clear’’. ‘’But now I must go wriggling on, For I’ve a lot to do.

Remember me to all your folk.

It’s been nice meeting you’’. ‘’I’ll tell them that I met you, Ted. They often talk of you.

You must drop in some afternoon And bring your sister too’’. ‘’Thank you,’’ said Ted. ‘’That would be nice We’ll maybe call next week.’’

Poor Ted, he little knows he soon Would fill a blackbird’s beak.

Ted, just like all the other worms, His future life had planned.

But perverse fate stepped in that day And took a cruel hand.

Ted went his carefree wriggling way, Ignoring lesser bugs, Till suddenly he popped into A trench a man had dug.

That morning it had not been there.

Oh! Cruel, cruel Fate!

Ted sought the shelter of the earth, Alas! It was too late.

A waiting blackbird spied him there. ‘’Ho! Ho!’’ he said, ‘’here’s food’’.

He picked Ted up and took him home To feed his hungry brood.

And often on a summer day Fred to his friends had said ‘’Each time I hear a Blackbird’s song I think of dear old Ted’’.

Adam Holm (1916 - 1971)

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TAIN CATS PROTECTION TAIN & DISTRICT BRANCH CATS PROTECTION would like to give a big thank you to Easter Ross, Johnston & Farrell and Rogart Vet Practices for their help, support and advice over the past year. They have all been very supportive to our Branch throughout the year, negotiating the restrictions laid upon their Practices and our own way of trying our best to help the cats in our care due to Covid-19. They have continued their very high standard of care to all the cats who have been in our care.

We would also like to thank, again, the lovely group of ladies, called The Knit Wits, who normally would meet in Tain library two Saturdays a month, to knit for good causes and have a ‘bit of a blether.’

Obviously because of Covid-19 they have been unable to do this, but have still managed to keep knitting from home. We have lost count of the number of blankets they have knitted for use in the beds of the cats in our care. These blankets, too, offer a degree of comfort when the cats are homed, as the blankets with the familiar smell of the pen on them, are given away with every cat homed. The familiar smell of the blanket gives them some comfort when being taken to a new home with new and unfamiliar smells.

Many folks during the year drop off food, beds, scratch poles, toys etc. for the cats in our care, and these are all very much appreciated. It helps add some lovely extras which the cats in our care can enjoy.

We would also like to thank everyone who sent a photograph of their cats to be included in our 2021 calendar. This has been very successful and we would like to thank everyone who has purchased one to help with our fundraising. We still have a few left, around 20, and if anyone would like to purchase one, please get in touch through our facebook page.

We would also like to thank TDPP, namely, Niall and Lucy for helping us advertise some difficult to home cats, mainly through being older, and therefore a bit more difficult for which to find homes.

Jean Jardine

GRANTS BAKERY Rolls, Baking, Sandwiches & Hot Snacks

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

HAIR DESIGN DOWNTOWN

an appointment you can get her on 07802 537188 or PM on Facebook.

Let’s hope next year is a better one! Looking forward to seeing you all in 2021, best wishes from all the team at Hair Design Downtown!

Wishing you all a Merry 2 Station Road, Tain Christmas and a Happy, Call 01862 892228 Healthy New Year!

Follow us on Facebook A very big thank you to all our clients for your support and loyalty following us to our new premises.

We have had lots of lovely comments on the cabin. If anyone is looking for a new salon to try we are a very happy friendly team and would make you very welcome.

We also have a nail technician, Juicy Nails

by Lucy - if you’re interested in making

TDPP

PATRICK VICKERY

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THE WOOD BURNING STOVE

During the dark winter evenings I teach the dogs to wink. It has been an ongoing process involving a lot of seriously strong cheddar. They are not very good at it, but at least they have the potential to improve which is more than can be said for the cat. Occasionally they wink on demand, although the increase in dog slobber can be challenging.

Coincidentally I chanced across an elderly sausage dog with the ability to wink in appropriate situations. I was chatting to the dog’s owner about meteorological matters when he pointed shrewdly to a conical glass container protruding from his rose bed and announced proudly that he had been recording the average daily rainfall for the last twenty years.

At this point the elderly sausage dog took a drink from it, winked and then waddled off in the direction of an old bone. The conversation crumbled, so we moved swiftly on to discuss scientific measurements of a different kind, barometer and temperature readings, until I could contain my laughter no more and emitted the sort of noise that was acutely embarrassing under the

circumstances. The notion of historical rainfall data being called into question by an elderly sausage dog with winking capabilities rendered me devoid of all self-restraint. The last time I succumbed to such raucous combustion was at a Scottish Country Dancing Class near Muir of Ord where my lack of co-ordination contrasted starkly with the other members of the group.

Country Dancing is a collaborative activity, you know, not a solo one, so there’s no escaping the spotlight if you laugh heartily when all around maintain a deafening silence.

With the arrival of autumn the tail lights of summer fade, winter’s shroud threatens and the annual resurrection of log burning stoves and woolly hats re-commence. With this in mind, here is both a warming and a warning tale: The dog scorched her tail whilst leaping about in front of the log burning stove. The acrid smell of singed hair alerted me to the situation. At the time I was haphazardly snoozing on the sofa, one ear tuned to the television (‘Handmade Britain’presented by Kirstie Allsop) when it became apparent that the dog’s rear end was about to ignite. A brief period of mayhem and pandemonium ensued until the dog was removed to a place of safety and all was well.

The dog in question, golden retriever, Molly, otherwise referred to as

‘Molly the shaggy one’, shaggy tail now singed, was none the worse for wear and wholly unfazed by the commotion going on around her, although she was certainly curious about the unusual smell emanating from her rear end. That’s dogs for you.

I don’t make a habit of watching ‘Handmade Britain’ because men in big gardening boots don’t normally watch that sort of thing, but following the flammable dog incident my senses were fully alert to everything going on around me. I noted that Kirstie enthused about the handicraft activities of the Bramley Women’s Institute whose themed entry into the New Forest and Hampshire Show had something to do with the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.

Goodness me, complicated stuff, but I wasn’t really watching, so I can tell you no more.

At the end of the program the usual round

of television adverts followed. One caught my eye - an advert about wrinkle cream. Men in big gardening boots don’t normally concern themselves with wrinkle cream because wrinkles and raggedy hands are the norm if you garden professionally, only this advert was different.

Buy their brand of wrinkle cream, it said, and your wrinkles will disappear. The cream contains organic burdock, apparently, as well as molecular ‘twenty four twelve’, better known as jasmonic acid, a plant derivative vital for good potato growth without which a potato will not flourish. So I, too, I conjectured, could have a face as smooth as a new potato. It must work. After all, when did you last eat a wrinkly potato? But what the advert didn’t mention is that a smile alone knocks ten years off your age and costs you nothing.

Patrick Vickery

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NOSTALGIA WITH ALEX GRAHAM

NOSTALGIA WITH ALEX GRAHAM

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Easter Ross Area Coronavirus Help and Support The Highland Council has put a range of measures in place to help those affected by the Coronavirus outbreak.

The information below will help you to understand the various kinds of support we can offer.

• Food Support – Food can be provided for those in crisis who require emergency access to food. This includes people who have to self-isolate and have no other way of getting food supplies.

• Prescriptions – These can be collected for you if no other local option is available.

Both services will be confidential if you request that we do not share your details with third parties.

Coronavirus Helpline: 0300 303 1362 (operates Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm and is FREE to call) If your query is related to other urgent Council business, please contact our Service Centre on 01349 886602. You should also continue to use online forms and resources as much as possible to ensure those most in need of assistance can be supported.

www.highland.gov.uk/coronavirus

HEALTH MATTERS

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

Contact us for your plant training needs Approved training centre at Evanton

Email us at ajward67@aol.com

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HEALTH MATTERS

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HEALTH MATTERS Coronavirus is still very much with us at the time of writing this column at the end of November 2020. Although things look different with access to the building, we are providing lots of access by phone appointments and video NearMe appointments as well as face to face appointments as needed.

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.

FLORENCE If you have an appointment with a practice nurse or healthcare assistant regarding your blood pressure (or other condition) you might be offered Florence.

This is an easy-to-use healthcare system provided on your mobile phone which is primarily a text message-based system.

We are currently using this to enable our patients to monitor their blood pressure at home. A reminder text message is sent to the patient twice a day (morning and night) asking them to reply with their blood pressure reading.

We have a supply of blood pressure monitors that we loan to the patient during this time. These readings are then presented as graphs which help us to track long term health issues and trends. Health tip reminders can also be sent to the patient to help them manage long term conditions. More information is available at: www.getflorence.co.uk - the messages come at no cost to the patients.

FLU All local practices are well advanced with flu vaccination. There are different phases so please keep an eye on

facebook and practice websites for information regarding this.

Patients are strongly advised to attend for flu vaccine if invited to protect themselves, to protect our community and to try to reduce winter pressures on the NHS. COVID VACCINE At the time of writing there is certainly plenty in the news about vaccines but arrangements for patients to receive the vaccine aren’t finalised yet, please keep an eye on the news, your practice website and Facebook for more information TYPES OF SCREENING If you’re invited to be screened, you’ll be tested for a particular condition — for example a bowel screen only looks for signs of bowel cancer.

In Scotland, screening is offered for: • abdominal aortic aneurysms • bowel cancer • breast cancer • cervical cancer • diabetic retinopathy www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/ screening/screening-in-scotland CHRONIC DISEASE REVIEWS We have restarted reviews for most long term conditions. You might be asked to have part of your review in the health centre (eg blood tests and blood pressure etc) and then the remainder of the review might take place by phone. This is to reduce footfall into the building to protect patients, staff and our community. Please don’t hesitate to contact your practice if you have concerns about your health whether a

new symptom or a long term condition.

There is some good information here on who you should see – www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-andrights/nhs-services/doctors/generalpractice-services MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT ONLINE Whilst we can have troubles with mental health at any stage in our lives we are seeing an increase in people struggling just now and this is understandable.

Have a look at some help and advice on the nhs inform website in the first instance. www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-andconditions/infections-and-poisoning/ coronavirus-covid-19/your-mentalwellbeing/coronavirus-covid-19-yourmental-wellbeing The best source of information on coronavirus is: www.nhsinform.scot www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-andconditions/infections-and-poisoning/ coronavirus-covid-19 Tain & District Medical Group www.facebook.com/TainDoctors

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TAIN & DISTRICT MUSEUM

GOING TO AMERICA The following transcription is part of an incomplete letter found in the documents of the Rosses of Pitcalnie and was likely written by Naomi Ross, widow of Alex Ross of Pitcalnie. The letter clearly explains her fears for the people and suggests the tenants at Corromulie (likely Corriemulzie in Kincardine) were already considering leaving for America.

there will be nothing more but Slaves, and though they will be the greatest sufferers to be thus decoyed away, yet it will be a loss in general to the Country, on which acct. and sympathy for the poor deluded people, must give great concern to every thinking person and wellwisher of their Country.

The letters that are currently reported to have come from America with great & favourable accts. of that Country from some of the Ringleaders that went there and took several of the poorer sort along with them, are now made use of by such as want to play the same game to raise again the spirit of going to America among the poorer People. It is an effectual way for those that have anything of funds to enable them to go there & support themselves till they take in Land to get Slaves in a manner for nothing which is the riches of that Country as every Planter sent the value of ÂŁ50, at least upon a Black Slave & I suppose no less upon a White.

I was glad when our Corromulie tenants asked if they could get what victual they would need for this year as it gives reason to expect they will continue as they are and give over thoughts of going to America at least for some time till they can know more about it. I heartily wish they may be so wise for their own sakes as well as mine. Do you and your Clerk have the Gallick, which unluckily I want, pray lay before them the great danger & hardships that much attend going such a far distance by sea & land to a country of a different climate abounding with venomous serpents, wild beasts & many diseases unknown to us, that even those who have gone upon the best footing to these countries were not able to stand it out for any time but were obliged to return. We hear indeed of the few that prosper, but not a word of the thousands that die or return without making anything of it.

And what of our poor people that leave to go

I speak from sad experience as I lost a

Letter to John Mackenzie at Dunskaithness (Nigg) from Lady Pitcalnie 27th. Feb. 1773 Sir,

Husband, five Brothers & four cousins Germain in these countries, besides other distant relations and many acquaintances, and some that were spared to come home for all their long stay made no fortune but were rather poorer than when they sent out and into the bargain had lost their constitutions, so as already observed all that die or do not succeed are never thought of or mentioned but only the very few that happen to be more fortunate out of the numbers that miscarry. It is further to be observed that the People in general in these countries are Immoral, cruel and tyrannical, which in some measure may be owing to the numbers that are transported yearly, & oftener too, out of all the prisons in Britain.

Then they have but few

Clergy Established among them, and the most of them become as wicked as themselves and as bad company corrupts good manners I have heard it owned that it is next to impossible to continue virtuous among them & one thing for certain they are so accustomed to tyrannise over their slaves & dependents that they lose all the tender feelings and know not what it is to have compassion, which the poor people that have been or may be deluded to go among them will find, whatever we may hear - so that where they can have the benefit of the Gospel and the Laws of the Land to protect them, is surely a much better & safer Country for them to stay in, even under all the disadvantages that can be said to attend it.

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TAIN & DISTRICT MUSEUM

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FUN FACT Did you know that the oldest surviving Rolls-Royce in the world used to belong to Kenneth Gillies from Tain?

Kenneth’s old car, a 1904 RollsRoyce 10HP two-seater, sold at auction in 2007 for the eyewatering price of 3.5 million pounds.

GIANT WOODEN SPOON This giant wooden spoon from our collection was from Arthurville Poor House in Tain. The menu from the poor house, dated 1852, offered such delights as oatcakes and pea soup, rice and milk, herring and potatoes, barley-broth and treacle water for supper!

PORTMAHOMACK HEROES On the night of the Saturday 3rd December 1910, the ship S.S. Sterlina and its crew of three- Captain Richard Macrae, David Mackenzie and Donald Macleod were heading down the Dornoch Firth, bound for Glasgow with a cargo of wood, when their engine failed. The ship drifted and became stuck on the dangerous sand bar the Gizzen Briggs.

The crew, after a failed attempt to launch their ‘small boat’, sent out distress flares, and although these were seen in Tain and Potmahomack, no rescue attempt could be made due to the roughness of the sea.

With the tide rising and the wind increasing the

vessel began to break up and as the night set in the crew climbed the rigging and desperately tried to hold on. Captain Macrae managed to climb to the top of the mast but when he called for others to follow they were unable to do so. They said they were done and about two or three hours passed before Macleod said he was finished. Mackenzie also called out “I am done, Dick, goodbye”. He heard nothing more from them after that.

On Sunday morning one man was seen still on the rigging and fishing boats from Inver and Portmahomack headed out into the treacherous sea to attempt a rescue.

After 16 sixteen hours exposure, Captain Macrae was rescued by the Portmahomack fishing boat the ‘Auricula’ crewed by Skipper David Mackay, James Skinner, Donald Mackay, Alexander Macdonald and William Smith. The skipper thought it was unlikely they could reach the survivor but after much difficulty tacking back

and fore, they managed to get a rope to Macrae, who was exhausted but still alive in the rigging.

The crew for their bravery were given rewards from the Board of Trade and the Carnegie Hero Trust and the Skipper David Mackay was given a fine set of binoculars from the Tarbat Council.

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TAIN TENNIS CLUB

TAIN TENNIS CLUB RUNS FREE SESSIONS As a result of receiving generous funding from Think Health Think Nature, Tain Tennis Club ran free coaching sessions throughout the October holidays for all ages of youngsters.

Over 70 signed up and despite the torrential rain on Monday, improving to very cold on Friday, everyone had a great time learning new skills.

Scott Fraser, our LTA Accredited Level 3 coach ran the sessions, ably helped by some of his teenage players.

The younger children received a Nature Pack, racket and balls with which to practice.

On Sunday there a very successful Parent and Child and once again

was free Day, the

courts were packed, which was great to see.

5 weeks of free adult coaching and Cardio Tennis followed, which are already proving to be very popular.

Written by Joanie Whiteford Check it out on the following website: clubspark.lta.org.uk/ TainTC

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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MESSAGE FROM CLLR. DEREK LOUDEN

Wishing you a

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

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

HAVE YOURSELF A HYPNO LITTLE CHRISTMAS 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

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ANDREW VASS

which this organisation had? The video tells how The Band of Hope had Sunday School magic lantern displays which 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

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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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TAIN BEACH CLEAN

BEACH CLEAN AT TAIN AIR WEAPONS RANGE When the Tain Air Weapons Range (AWR) was closed for a day in November, Landmarc Support Services (Landmarc) staff along with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Training Safety Officer, Phillip Curtis decided to get out to the beach to have a clear up of all of the washed up debris that had appeared over the last few months.

Landmarc’s Team Leader, Neil Munro, explains more.

On one of the few bright sunny days in November, we had what was the culmination of a long held desire to make a small, but hopefully meaningful, difference to the condition of the beach which is shared between the local town of Tain and the Tain Air Weapons Range.

“The “bombing range”, as it is known locally, is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), but is managed and operated by Landmarc, DIO’s industry partner for the delivery of a wide range of support services that enable our Armed Forces to live, work and train.

I think ever since I can remember I have always wanted to clear some of the larger pieces of debris from the beach, which sadly includes litter such as lumps of concrete, the odd washing machine and old sign posts.

Obviously not an easy job to do and one that would be made easier with a bit of assistance.

I asked the question of both Landmarc and the MOD and was delighted with the enthusiastic support offered from local and regional bosses with regards to people and machinery to help with the job.

At Tain we have a good selection of suitable plant and machinery which would

normally be used to maintain the range for operational use, so when the green light was given it was just a case of deciding on a suitable day.

With Friday 6th November decided on it was simply a case of getting our suitably clad staff transported safely down to the beach and hopefully not needing the rainwear. I had even asked for the tide to be delayed, but the chairman of the Tain Community Council failed to come good on that!

As you can see from the photos, the sun did shine all day, and a good productive morning was had by all, while

observing the necessary covid-19 guidelines.

Some of the rubbish must have been there for at least 30 years or so, and in all seriousness really made this operation entirely worthwhile and one that all the staff here at Tain were glad and proud to be a part of.

Time and tide literally wait for no one, so with this in mind we wound up our beach clean at about mid-day.

At this point I would like to give my thanks to a few people.

Firstly, Al Coleman, Landmarc’s Area Delivery Manager, Maj (Retd)

Phillip Curtis DIO Tain and Billy Livingstone and Zoe Cumming, site photographer and Tain management respectively.

Also thanks go to Euan ‘the digger man‘ Cumming and Paul Grant, who I think was picking litter all the way round to Glen Morangie Distillery, as well as the rest of the staff who made it down to the beach and back.

It is good to see MOD, private business and a desire from local people to help make and keep this area as beautiful as possible.

TAIN BEACH CLEAN

TAIN BEACH CLEAN: IN PICTURES

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MARGARET URQUHART

THE HISTORY OF “THE GROVE” – PART 2 The next family to be associated with the Grove, was meanwhile (1881) living in Geanies Street.

This was the Kennedy Family, headed

by Dr. William Kennedy, from Aberdeen-shire and a graduate of Aberdeen University. His wife was Jessie Isabella Dunbar born in England, and they had 4 children, 2 born in Canisbay, Caithness, and 2 born in Tain. The birthdates suggest the family came to Tain between 1876 and 1878. They had 2 servants – a Housemaid and a General Domestic.

Sometime between 1881 and 1891 the Maguire family moved elsewhere and the Kennedy family replaced them at the Grove.

There they had 3 servants, a cook, a housemaid and a coachman. The elder son, John was a “student of medicine” and interestingly one of Edward Maguire’s sons, Ernest, was recorded as a “visitor” and also a “student of medicine”. In the 1901 Census, only the

two daughters were living at home with their parents.

They were both single but no occupations were listed for them. The younger son, also William, was probably still at university studying medicine. He eventually became a doctor in Thurso. John would have been a practicing GP by 1891.

The photograph below shows the Kennedy family, enjoying a tea party, possibly taken in the late 1890s.

I do not know if the elder daughter, Rachel, ever qualified for anything but she died still in her 20s pre-deceasing her father who died in 1909. His wife Jessie, a prominent member of the Women’s Guild, outlasted her husband for a good number of years.

The younger daughter, Janet Kennedy, became an art teacher and taught at Tain Royal Academy. In the photograph on the next page we see Janet with one of her art classes in the grounds of the old

Academy. Before she died in 1958, aged about 80, she was living in 1 Victoria Terrace, Upper King Street.

I’m not sure when the Kennedy family’s association with the Grove finally ended or if the Kennedys actually owned it or like the Maguires were merely tenants. But from a list of those paying feus in Tain from 1922-1940 it would seem that the Grove was owned by members of the Young family of Cadboll Farm, at least from 1922 to 1934/5, but the “Misses Young” mentioned were not necessarily living there.

By the early1930s, Mrs Katherine Mackenzie was living in the Grove and advertising “Board Residence”. A James S Cree who was County Road Surveyor round about this time is supposed to have lived in The Grove, perhaps as one of Mrs Mackenzie’s boarders. An advert dated 1935 stated that “Mrs Mackenzie is no longer in the Grove which has been

sold”.

From that point the feu was being paid by a Rev. J Frazer until 1938/9, presumably having purchased it from the Youngs. I found no other information about this gentleman. There was a Rev. Alexander Frazer who was the minister for the Tain United Free Church 1901-1910, before leaving for Edinburgh and later Aberdeen. Perhaps Rev. J Frazer was a son of Alexander? Frazer with a “z” is less common than Fraser. Whatever, he was succeeded by Miss Mary Cameron, who was related to Duncan Cameron, Bank Agent for the Commercial Bank which was in the building on the other side of the what is now the Rose Garden but then belonged to the bank.

I’m not sure how long Miss Cameron possessed it but probably the next owner was Shona Arthur’s father Alexander (Alex) Macleod from early early/mid 1940s (?) and at last some continuity in ownership and occupation was reestablished. If Shona reads what follows perhaps she can correct any details I may have got wrong and/ or add to it.

I believe part of the Grove was commandeered for military purposes during WW2 - as a medical centre.

Immediately post-war, in 1946, Alex (by-name “Dow”) sold that part of the Grove land that now forms a forecourt/carpark for the sorting office. The Grove was the Macleod family home but also provided a photographic shop and workroom for Alex’s business as “Photographer & Photographic Finisher” in one of the extensions.

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MARGARET URQUHART

Other uses of parts of the Grove were to follow.

This advert appeared in the Tain Parish Church Women’s Guild Recipe book dated 1947 – “The Grove Tearooms - Small children’s parties catered for”. Who ran the tearooms and for how long, I don’t know.

The upper part of the main building became a surgery for dentist David Geekie and his dental mechanic, A Redvers Halliday, known as Bert. Geekie was Provost of Tain from 1945 to 1949.

His son, David, had a fruit and vegetable shop in Market Street and later ran the Pro-shop at Tain Golf Club. I don’t know the dates, possibly the 1950s, but Sandy and Jean Banks occupied a flat in the Grove for a while. Sandy had a successful painting contractors business and was drummer in the Tain Pipe Band for a good number of years.

The property then became the home of the most recent owners the Arthur family, Alex’s daughter, Shona, having married James (Jim) Arthur. It is not for me to write about this most recent period of the Grove’s history, given that the building is still the property of the Arthur

family.

The building ceased to be occupied in 2010 when Shona added the following comment to the photograph of the Grove on the Museum Image Library – “Alas! The owners, who always expected to live out their days in the Grove, have had to move out. The deterioration due to old age, their own and that of the house, has made staying in it no longer a viable option.”

Sadly the building eventually became the target of vandals

culminating in its being ravaged by fire in October 2014 as was seen in the previous issue. The photograph shows the scene in Tain High Street/ Lamington Street on that fateful day. In 2018, plans for developing the site with new homes were lodged with Highland Council, by Jim and Shona’s son, Alex.

I did not see the plans myself, but quote some details from a newspaper article. It was proposed that “three new flats could be built within its walls and a further four semi-

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detached homes erected elsewhere in its grounds….

A modern extension to The Grove’s main building would also be flattened and replaced with a home adjoining the flats…… the four semi-detached homes would be built on the property’s border with Kirksheaf Road……. would stand two-storeys high and boast three bedrooms, as well as attached garages.”

I don’t know what the current situation is but over two years have passed and still no sign of any development.

I sincerely hope something will happen that would preserve some of the character of the original building and at the same time remove what is currently “a derelict, dangerous and prominent eyesore” in the middle of Tain’s main thoroughfare.

The two articles have shown that the Grove has played a long and varied part in the life of Tain. It would be a tragedy if it was to be completely demolished. Tain has lost too much of its historic past already.

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

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

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TDPP

NEW COMMITTEE TAKE REIGNS OF TAIN CLUB

LOCAL FOOTBALL

YOUNG SAINTS DEBUT NEW KIT FOR SEASON OPENER

A new committee have been formed to take the reigns of one of Tain’s longest running youth football clubs, in a bid to safeguard the future of football coaching for primary school age children in the area.

Tain Juniors F.C., who were first formed in 1997, had at their peak provided evening coaching to groups of over 100 primary age kids from around the Tain area.

But following the resignation and retirement of many long serving members over the past few years, the club had entered into a period of uncertainty - and now a new committee has been formed with a view to breathing some new life into the group.

Gary Ross was appointed Chairman of the club, spearheading the seven person committee of David Wood (Club Secretary), Niall McVicar (Treasurer) Tony Farquhar, Alan MacKenzie & Andrew Deeth.

Gary is hopeful the group can bring Friday night football back in time for 2021.

“Our committee is made up of parents of children who have attended and enjoyed Friday Night Football and know first-hand how important these sessions are to local children. Due to COVID-19, Tain Juniors have been out of action since March this year and it is hoped that with a new committee and more volunteers coming forward that we can get things up and running again for our youth early in the New Year.”

After almost ten months of inactivity, St. Duthus Under 17s got their 202021 pre-season underway with a friendly against Alness United on Sunday November 22nd.

After a solid start which saw the scoresheet kept clean for 65 minutes of the match - Alness eventually emerged as victors. The Tain youngsters can take nothing but positives from the game, perhaps wanting only in match fitness and game time (it was after all, their first game back) as they looked organised, confident and a threat going forward against an Alness side many consider to be the best in the North.

Their new change kit, sponsored and donated to the club by Blueprint Architecture, Tain, was on display for the first time and worn for the friendly. The team looking

ABOVE: SAINTS’ NEWEST CROP OF UNDER 17S GOT THEIR SEASON UNDERWAY WITH A FRIENDLY MATCH AGAINST ALNESS LAST MONTH.

resplendent in the new “Columbia” blue Macron strip. It is intended that this kit will be the team’s “primary” kit for the 2020-21 whenever it gets underway.

With the future of the Highland League North competition still in doubt for this season, it has emerged that a noncompetitive Ross-shire Youth League season may start in January - and St. Duthus U17s would likely become part of this schedule.

This season’s squad is made up of the following players; Alex McDonald Jamie Bonthrone Ben Loy Connor Mackenzie Ross Mackenzie

Aiden Morgan Callum Morrison Robert Sutherland Kyle Ubych Johnie Beattie Angus Chapman Jack Mackay Alex Mackenzie Josh Rooney Harry Spence Drew Bremner Harris Mackenzie Ross McDermid Ross Nicol Keith Ross For information on sponsoring a player, and the team’s activities in general please visit this website: www.stduthusfc.co.uk/ docs/u17_player_ sponsorship.pdf

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LOCAL FOOTBALL

29

ST. DUTHUS SUFFER CUP EXIT IN DISAPPOINTING RUN

Pic: James Gunn

It all started so well for St. Duthus and it seemed like it may become a November to remember with a 2-0 win away to Halkirk United on the 7th - but things went from bad to worse, with bottom place in the North Caledonian League 1 now looming and an early exit form the cup making it a miserable month for the club.

A win in Caithness is always one worth writing home about and while fortunate at times to keep an organised Halkirk at bay, a resilient performance from the makeshift back two of Jon Campbell and Andrew Macleod earned Saints their first clean sheet in almost a year.

It was 0-0 at half time with neither side doing enough to test the opposition goalkeepers, and it took until the 74th minute for the deadlock to be broken and it came from captain Cammy Mackintosh who fired into the top corner from close range after a cut back from Finn AsChainey.

It was tight to the end, but some good opportunist play from Jake Lockett on the

byline allowed the striker to play Ben Bruce in on goal, and Saints’ top marksman made no mistake in finding the far corner with a good finish to wrap up the points.

As well as picking up a win in that game, St. Duthus were delighted to welcome Adam MacDonald back into the first team fold, starting his first game for Saints since September 2017.

Tain native Adam, who was awarded the club’s Young Player of the Year award back in 2016/17, suffered a cruciate ligament and meniscus tear in his left knee just two games into his second season for Saints.

The injury ruled him out for several months before he made a brief return as a substitute against Halkirk United in February the following year, but it was to be an ill-fated attempt as he suffered a dislocated shoulder after just 20 minutes!

Now - three years on extensive rehabilitation involving an operation and physiotherapy have helped

Adam get himself ready for a return to first team action - having first rejoined the squad to begin a light training schedule during the 201920 campaign.After starting at left back against Halkirk United on Saturday, he is hopeful that this can be the turning point for a successful return to playing.

“It is great to be back playing.

Pic: Donald Cameron

I just need to build some match fitness now to get to a place where I can help out when I can.”

A week later, St. Duthus left it late in their home league clash against Thurso, with Adam Allan netting on 89 minutes to secure a point for his side.

A game marred by a series of offside calls (some highly debatable) again ended 0-0 at half time, perhaps justifiably so as little had separated the sides in terms of chances.

The opener arrived for Thurso on 58 minutes when new signing Bobby Gunn knocked home a rebound after the ball had cannoned off the Saints crossbar. Less than ten minutes later Thurso had the ball in the net again, this time from a neat move down left which Sean Campbell finished from close range.

It took just two minutes for Ben Bruce to get Saints back into the game, thanks to a touch of fortune - his goalbound shot careering off a Thurso defender and in off

30

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FIXTURE CALENDAR December 5 St. Duthus v Halkirk Utd Grant Park, Tain Kick off 1pm December 12 Orkney v St. Duthus Stromness, Orkney Kick off 2.15pm January 9 St. Duthus v Invergordon Grant Park, Tain Kick off 1pm January 16 Thurso v St. Duthus Sir George’s Park, Thurso Kick off 1pm

STANDINGS Macleod & MacCallum North Caledonian League I’gordon P5 W4 D1 L0 Pt13 Golspie P5 W3 D0 L2 Pt9 Halkirk P5 W2 D1 L2 Pt7 Duthus P6 W1 D2 L3 Pt5 Thurso P4 W1 D1 L2 Pt4 Orkney P3 W0 D1 L2 Pt1

LOCAL FOOTBALL

(continued from page 29.)

the keeper.

On 85 minutes, a long Liam Rostock throw was nodded into the path of Adam Allan who found the far corner with his header, but the well established offside flag was raised once again, disallowing the equaliser.

Allan was not to be denied though, and he got his deserved goal on 89 minutes, this time side footing home on the end of another knock on from another Rostock throw.

Thurso will have felt defeated by the late equaliser, but it was some encouragement for Saints who at the heart of everything are still coming together and gelling as a team coping with long term injuries and the loss of their core defensive line.

With Charlie MacDonald having left for Nairn St. Ninian, Saints already had a job on their hands filling the void at the back. They are still without stalwart centre half John Skinner as he recovers from an ankle injury, while Ross Tokely also joins him on the injured list. It would have been a great opportunity for young Will Ross, who deputised often at centre half last season and looked great in doing so. The club continue a period of adjustment following the signing of former Strathspey Thistle defender Duncan Davidson, along with the experienced Christopher Mailley. Sean Scott (Edderton) and Andrew Macleod (Hilton) have also made returns to the squad.

On the 21st, Saints turned to cup action in the first round of the North Caledonian Cup and a first time meeting with new boys Loch Ness F.C. at their temporary home of Canal Park in Inverness.

Loch Ness have made a bit of a name for themselves this season, having from the amateur ranks to join the

North Caledonian League.

Before they had kicked a ball, they had attracted attention for their unique brand of replica shirts - with the Loch Ness Monster printed on the front. The designs caught the attention of several main stream media outlets and before they had kicked a ball in anger they found themselves becoming the adopted club of fans across the world.

It wasn’t to be against Loch Ness though. St. Duthus fought back from a goal down to put themselves in the driving seat on route to a place in the North Caledonian Cup quarter finals, before two second half goals for the hosts compounded them to an early exit.

A free kick on 16 minutes handed Loch Ness the opener when Ross Harrison fired into the St. Duthus wall and taking a wicked deflection off Alan Geegan, the ball was diverted into the bottom corner.Undeterred, Saints had the better of it in the spell that followed and came close with a series of corners and Ben Bruce, who came close with a free which Loch Ness stopper Michael Miele had to tip over his crossbar.

With 34 minutes gone, a handball inside the Loch Ness led to a penalty award for Saints - and from the spot, Ben Bruce blasted the ball home with authority to level the scores.St. Duthus took a deserved lead shortly before the break, when a deep cross from Finn As-Chainey found the head of the Saints striker who nodded past Miele to make it 2-1.

Saints hadn’t started the second half in quite the same fashion, and shortly after the hour mark they paid the price when a looping ball into the box caused problems for John Allan in goal, as the ball cannoned off the back of Ricky Lee on the goal line to

level the scores at 2-2.

There was a short interruption in the game to remove a dog from the park, but otherwise neither side produced a great deal in terms of opportunities - until the 80th minute when Loch Ness broke on the counter to take the lead, Ricky Lee again the scorer. Saints came close in the latter stages to pulling a goal back, include one effort with Loch Ness had to clear off the line, but the score remained in the hosts’ favour.

The worst was yet to come as a week later, when an ill fated trip to Golspie resulted in the worst league defeat Saints have suffered in four years.

The overall winning margin of 4-0 most likely flattered the hosts, and with the scores remaining 0-0 until the final quarter hour - it is fairer to call the defeat a late (albeit monumental) collapse.

Some positives could be taken from the debut of 17 year old Aneek Khan another St. Duthus U17s graduate - in goal. The scoreline does not seem like it would be a great advert for a goalkeeper, however all those in attendance would agree that the scoreline was not a reflection on the youngster’s performance, and in fact it is thanks to his sharpness between the sticks that the scoreboard remained 0-0 in the first half, having been called into action on a number of occasions.

St. Duthus now head into the Christmas break with just two games left to play - a home game against Halkirk United and a trip across the water to meet Orkney.

They will resume fixtures on January 9th with a home game against closest rivals Invergordon.

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