Issue #243 | Tain & District Picture Post | February 2021 by K & N Concepts Ltd - ePublishing

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

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

#243 FEBRUARY

2021

FEBRUARY 2021

LODGE ST DUTHUS’ MADE IN TAIN GIFT

CORONATION PARK FORGOTTEN GROUND

THROUGH THE LENS WITH MARK JANES

Lodge St. Duthus No. 82 had a very active month in December, working alongside Made In Tain. p7

We take a look back at the history of Coronation Park - the former home of St. Duthus Football Club. p10

This month’s column looks into how we can preserve and protect our old photographs. p20

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.

FEBRUARY 2021

TDPP

EDITORIAL Dear readers, It has been an interesting month so far at TDPP HQ. Home schooling in particular has been an education, pardon the pun! I think most parents, like us, will have developed a new found respect for teachers over the past month or so. We’d love to hear from parents on how they have kept lockdown learning interesting - please drop us an email at info@tainpost.co.uk with your stories and photos! With very little happening in the way of activities and public events to share with you, we have been ever the more grateful for bits and pieces sent our way to include in the magazine, such as old photos, stories, or even short anecdotes or memories. In particular, I enjoyed putting together this month’s piece on the history of “Coronation Park”. The painting on the cover of this month’s issue prompted me to look into it further, a “location” which has long since disappeared. It would be great to hear from anyone who may have played on the park, as a school pupil or as a footballer. Some good news for those who enjoy looking back! We have managed to upload three more “classic” issues to our digital online archive, which is growing in its collection of past editions of the Picture Post. Issue numbers 4, 5 and 6 from the summer months of the year 2000 have now been uploaded to Issuu and are available via our archive site at tainpost.co.uk/archive, which is also accessible via the Issuu app for phones and tablets at issuu.com/tainpost. We recommend viewing all issues in landscape view, and in full-screen mode for the best reading experience. As always, we appreciate you taking the time to support the magazine. Let us know what you enjoy reading by getting in touch at the email address below - and please let us know what you’d like to see more of too. Thank you for reading. Best wishes, Niall Harkiss 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 or via Issuu at issuu.com/tainpost Front cover photo - “A View from the Links” by Torquil Macleod, courtesy of Tain & District Museum.

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

TDPP

HAVE YOUR SAY Members of the public are invited to view and comment upon the draft Tain Conservation Area Appraisal and Conservation Area Management Plan. The draft documents have been drawn up to help safeguard the distinct architectural and historical features of Tain, ranging from its origins as a place of pilgrimage and sanctuary, its Royal Burgh status, the unusual amounts of trees within the unique conservation area and the rich range of architectural features. The draft documents are available to view online at http:// consult.highland.gov. uk between 18 January and 12 April 2021.

ST. DUTHUS BOWLING CLUB Due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions the committee has decided to postpone the AGM until restrictions are lifted enough to have a face to face meeting. The present committee members are willing to stay in their posts until at least that meeting time. Letters by post will be sent out as well as this notification to ensure that all members know the situation Here’s hoping that we not only can hold the meeting but we may be able to return to some sort of bowling activity.

TAIN COMMUNITY

LOCAL NEWS & NOTES TEMPORARY CHANGES TO HLH LIBRARY SERVICES Following the Scottish Govt. announcement to move mainland Scotland into Level 4 restrictions, High Life Highland library buildings will remain closed to the public until further notice. The collect and return service will also remain unavailable at this current time. All books out on loan to customers will be automatically renewed. To continue to access their online services and for any service updates please visit www. highlifehighland.com/ libraries FUEL SUPPORT FUND FOR HOUSEHOLDS Low income households within Highland region who are experiencing fuel insecurities can now apply for a non-repayable £60 grant. The Scottish Government has made funding available to local authorities to support people experiencing financial hardship over the Winter period as a result of COVID-19 - and this has included providing a contribution towards fuel costs. For more information, please contact the Welfare Support Team Welfare. support@highland.gov.uk / 0800 090 1004, or visit https://www.highland. gov.uk/fuelsupportfund FREE MEALS FOR KIDS AT ASDA Asda Cafe are continuing this free meals for kids

A very Happy 90th Birthday to Alistair Munro, Inver With Lots of Love, from all his Family, Inver & Nairn X

(accompanied by a paying adult) throughout January. The scheme, which is designed to provide children under the age of 16 with a meal completely free of any charge when accompanied by an adult, was first announced in November. Richard Dent, Asda’s Vice President for Fresh Food said: “We know that it’s been a really difficult year for families across the UK with many having to turn to food banks and local community groups for support which is why we want to support as many children as we can by offering them a meal in one of our cafes.” TAIN TENNIS CLUB Notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of Tain Tennis Club. Due to current circumstances the AGM of Tain Tennis Club will be held by zoom on Wednesday 17th February 2021 at 7pm.

Members wishing to join the AGM on zoom must email the club ( taintennis@gmail.com) by Sunday 14th February with their details and intention of participation to allow the zoom link to be emailed to them. Any nominations for committee members should also be emailed to the club by 14th February. TAIN GALA 500 CLUB WINNERS FOR JANUARY 1st prize of £200 - Dawn Mackay 2nd prize of £100 - Catriona MacRae 3rd prize of £50 - Valerie Harcus 4th prize of £50 - Jim Harkiss 5th prize of £20 - Denis Macdonald 6th prize of £20 - Linzi Wallace 7th prize of £20 - Neil Bannerman 8th prize of £20 - Samantha Ross 9th prize of £20 - Kenny Vass Congratulations to all who won this month.

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TAIN COMMUNITY

TAIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES Minutes of the virtual meeting of the Community Council of the Royal Burgh of Tain, held on Monday 30 November 2020 at 7.30pm. Present: Mr N Munro (Chair) Mr G Amos (Vice Chair) Mr N Akeroyd Mr D Macrae Mr G Holdsworth Mr Mohan Mr Louden (Councillor) Mr Rhind (Councillor) REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY Mr Munro reported that he went along as representative of the Community Council and the RAF at the Collegiate Church to lay a wreath. MR LOUDEN’S REPORT Mr Louden reported that he is on the Brexit working group. As part of a previous plan he identified the most important issues as the supply of food and medicines. He believes a Prosperity Fund is coming on stream some point in the future, as well as a Rejuvenation fund (which may be located in the north of England). He has also attended a full HC meeting, Knockbreck, Milton and Craighill PS Parent Councils, Ward Business meetings, Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Climate Change Conference, Adverse Childcare event, Corporate Resources Committee, Health Social Care and Resources Committee, Logie Eaaster and Kilmuir East wreath laying ceremonies. Progression is being made at the Old Picture House – electric is now on, but asbestos must be gotten

rid of – it is the most encouraged Mr Louden has been about this project for a long time. A question from Mr Akeroyd about a sign blown down at the top of Geanies Street – Mr Rhind confirmed it has been taken away for the moment. MR RHIND’S REPORT Mr Rhind reported that on Saturday night was the virtual switch on of the Christmas Lights. He thanked the workers and volunteers for helping with the lights, There may be speakers on the High Street playing Christmas music the week before Christmas Day to provide some cheer. A pre-recorded Hogmany show is being done just now for playing virtually at 11.30 pm on Hogmany. It is being professionally recorded – funding provided by sponsorship. There is concern about the behaviour of a small element of young people, especially in the Mansfield Estate and the High Street – meetings on this matter taking place. The Gully Emptier was in Tain this week. The abandoned car on Hartfield Street has been dealt with. The pavement at the bookies is an issue at the moment and will be progressed. In response to questions re: 3 – 18 school campus - site investigation works are continuing, and a at the moment the completion date is 2024. TAIN & DISTRICT DEV. TRUST (TDDT) Mr Macrae reported that the recent Christmas market was cancelled due to a high number of local

COVID cases. It was agreed to carry over the CC funding money for organisations to have free stalls at the next one. There is a virtual public consultation on 17 December – there will be a question and answer section. There is a time lapse camera in the Old Picture House. There was a joint funding application for the Christmas Lights of £500. In future it is likely that the annual funding should be sought from the Ward Discretionary Budget. CHAIR’S REPORT Mr Munro reported it was good to see a development on Bank Street. He noted that 50 mph signage is on the bypass but not unveiled as yet. It was talked about

getting revenue from speeding cars. Mr Louden to enquire over the next year how many people were prosecuted for speeding. Mr Munro helped facilitate a Tain beach clean of debris with the RAF – it was reported in the newspaper. It is not known when the civic amenity site will be back to full services. Mr Louden to try and find out. Noted lots of potholes in the area. It was noted that there may be a change to ward boundaries – with a suggestion Edderton comes in with Tain and Easter Ross, which would result in less rural Councillors. Mr Munro wished everyone well at Christmas.

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TAIN COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY POLICING UPDATE WINTER IS COMING One of the few positives from the Covid lockdowns has been that many people have undertaken new outdoor interests and pursuits. With limited current opportunities to socialise or enjoy the hospitality sector many have decided it is the ideal time to improve their fitness by cycling or walking etc. Improving your fitness in the outdoors also has great benefits to mental health which should not be underestimated. Even a short stroll around your neighbourhood can make you feel a lot better. We are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of Scotland where we have walks and cycling routes on our doorstep. As with any physical activity there are risks attached but we can all minimise the risks by taking the time to plan our activity and by ensuring we are properly equipped. We should also be wary of our own limitations and this

is particularly important when hill walking in Winter. Scotland’s mountains are incredible places to walk but wintery conditions can render them treacherous for the inexperienced. I would urge all hill walkers and people visiting beauty spots to make sure they are doing so in line with government regulations and ensure they are prepared for all eventualities. There have been a number of recent mountain rescue incidents in Scotland where inexperienced walkers have narrowly avoided serious harm after having underestimated the wrath of mother nature in Winter. Mountain Rescue Teams and other emergency services have had to attend where people have travelled out with their local authority areas and required assistance due to illpreparedness. If you do find yourself in need of assistance because of being lost, injured, or in an emergency when outdoors, then phone 999, ask for police then

Mountain Rescue. You will always be helped. Police Scotland supports Scottish Mountain Rescue #ThinkWINTER campaign which was launched in early December – please search for the hashtag #ThinkWINTER on social media and have a read if you are considering some walking. The wider principles of preparation apply to every level of activity. The #ThinkWINTER quick checklist includes: Check the mountain weather forecast – pay particular attention to wind speed, temperature and cloud cover. Take warm layers, waterproof clothing, hat, gloves and boots with good grip plus a headtorch or torch with spare batteries. Pack plenty of food and drink to keep you going, plus some extra just in

case. Build up your navigation skills and confidence with shorter, smaller days before taking on bigger hills and longer days. Let someone know where you are going, what time you will be back and what to do if you don’t return when expected. Be prepared to turn back if the weather or conditions change. As an old gentleman I met on a stormy mountain told me “The Hills will still be there the next time” I hope that as the weather improves our freedoms will return and those of you who have taken up new fitness hobbies continue with it and maybe some more will discover what is one their doorstep. Inspector James Rice

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TAIN COMMUNITY

TAIN GOLF CLUB shared the sad news of the passing of Jean Russell, one of its greatest members and supporters. The club shared the following statement from Jean’s family; “It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that our Mum, Jean Russell, passed away peacefully earlier today in Raigmore. She was very proud to be asked to be Vice-President and had enjoyed many years of golf at Tain. As a previous Lady Captain she was a very strong supporter of the Ladies Section and it was a hugely proud moment for Mum and the family when she

won the Handicap Ladies Club Championship aged 89. Mum also held the office of Captain of the Highland Veteran Ladies Golf Association. She will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her.” A representative for the Golf Club commented: “On behalf of all the Captain, Committee, Staff and all Members at Tain Golf Club we would like to pass on our heart felt condolences to Jean’s family for their sad loss. Jean was a stalwart of Tain Golf Club, always supporting the Ladies Section and the club in general. Jean will be sadly missed by us all.”

LODGE ST. DUTHUS’ GENEROUS ‘MADE IN TAIN’ GIFTS Lodge St Duthus No 82 have had a more active month during December than has been the norm. As we all know the current pandemic and lockdown procedures have meant that individuals and families have had to cope with stresses that have impacted on the health and well being of many amongst us. In order to try to alleviate this impact Lodge St Duthus No. 82 this year decided to give a gift at Christmas to all of its members and their partners. We also included widows of members that have passed away. This was to remind all, that although we were all isolating Lodge St Duthus No. 82 was thinking of them. Lodge St Duthus decided to purchase gifts from ‘Made In Tain’ who have struggled greatly as a result of COVID19. We decided to support Made In

Tain and in turn the young people by purchasing over 50 gift packs which included soap, smellies, shortbread and chocolates all made and packaged by the young people. These gifts and a card were then all distributed by the brethren the weekend before Christmas. Whilst brethren met in the Lodge to distribute the gifts the opportunity was taken to present a gift of a lamp from Tain Pottery to our retiring Treasurer PM Dan Patience. Bro Dan has served the Lodge as treasurer for nearly 20 years and we were delighted to be able to present him with this gift as a small token of our appreciation. The lamp was presented by the RWM John Mackenzie and Bro Dan was also congratulated by PGM Robin Cattanach who was also in attendance. D MACRAE

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NOSTALGIA WITH ALEX GRAHAM

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CORONATION PARK

TAIN’S FORGOTTEN FOOTBALL GROUND

The cover of this month’s issue is an eye catching piece of work by Torquil J Macleod, entitled “A View from the Links”. It currently hangs on the wall of the Tain Town Council Chambers. Dated 1966, the scene depicts the view looking across Tain from the North East, most likely from the railway line, or Shore Road which runs across the back of the railway behind the Links playing fields. If you were to paint the same scene today, you would be looking on to the back of the Collegiate Church, across a Tesco superstore car park - as shown at the bottom of this page. Unwittingly though, Macleod’s painting offers a rare (and final) look at “Coronation Park” - the home for a relatively short time of St. Duthus FC, at the height of their post-war ambition.

Since the late 1800s, the piece of land that sits between Chapel Street and Shore Road had been occupied by a nursery, then owned by the Holmes family – first by W G Holmes, an outstanding horticulturist and a seed merchant with a shop on the High Street, followed by his son Craig Holmes. The photo of Strawberry Pickers on the next page was taken in the

father’s time probably in 1899/1900 – he is the gentleman wearing the suit and tie. The postcard picture above it shows the nursery half of which was an orchard (on the LHS) with eating & cooking apples, pears, plums and geans (cherries) and partly taken up with rows of strawberries. [See articles on Nurseries, Allotments, Orchards,

Gardens, TDPP, Feb & Mar 2016.] Prior to being the nursery, it seems to have been just a big open field. Below the orchard the area later taken up by a car repair garage and Garden furniture, housed BP and Shell petrol depots. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the ground was redeveloped for use as a football playing

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CORONATION PARK

“NEW PITCH”

In the words of Wattie Louden

field. It appears that St. Duthus Football Club had become the owners of the land by 1952 at the earliest, having been named as recipients of a grant of £150 awarded by the National Playing Fields Association and a seperate grant from the local education authority. It is uncertain how the football club came to hold the lease on the ground (noted in 1952 to have been a disused nursery), although it is worth noting an interesting historical connection between the Holmes family and St. Duthus FC. James “Jimmy” Holmes son of William and brother of Craig - in his younger years was a standout outside forward for the “Saints”. He played in the famous 1924 winning of the North of Scotland Junior Cup - the club’s greatest achievement prior to their promotion to the senior ranks in 1971 and it was remarked that he was one of the team’s most impressive players. Jimmy was also a law scholar and such was his relationship with the club at the time that despite

his early years, he was named as the club’s secretary, before moving to Edinburgh to continues his studies. It was there that he would also sign as a professional footballer for Heart of Midlothian football club in 1926. While Jimmy eventually made his home down South, it is possible that the Holmes family retained some sort of affection or link to the football club after their starlet son’s departure. By 1938, there was a significant amount of ambition to “ready” the club for promotion to the Highland League - with securing a private park the main item on the agenda. Then came the war, after which St. Duthus

plodded their way into re-existence. It took until 1947 for the committee to reassemble and a few more years to get a team back together. The war had also taken its toll on the Links playing fields, which had been used for multiple purposes during the conflict and was deemed unfit for purpose, despite many “rag-tag” combinations doing their best to play local matches on it. The acquisition of their new ground (which would later be named Coronation Park) proved to be the catalyst for their full recovery in 1952, as is evident in a article in the Daily Mirror (shown on the next page) highlighting their sudden

One day, while playing at our “new pitch” at Coronation Park – where Morrison’s Yard is today – we were taking on the Seaside Rovers from Hilton, Balintore and Shandwick area, a formidable team at any time and to have to face them with eight players was daunting to say the least. [Three players had called off at short notice] At this time our President, one Hugh Aird who owned the St Duthus Hotel, was standing on the by-line and just after half-time – we were only five goals down then – shouted to us “Come on boys you have them on toast” at which an exasperated Hughie” Banan” Macdonald went over to him and said “If you can’t shout something sensible shut your mouth.” I think he went home after the eighth goal! He must have been the supreme optimist or very short-sighted!

upturn in popularity with local players. By the mid 50s, the team was back in full-swing, and most notably won the Ross-shire Welfare League championship in 1955 (the victorious team are pictured on the next page). The committee did not beat around the bush when it came to encouraging success, as evidenced in their rewarding their league winning charges with a bus trip to Hampden in

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CORONATION PARK

April 1956 to watch Scotland play England in front of a crowd of 132,817. Despite their best efforts, problems with drainage killed their hopes of developing Coronation Park into a worthy home, and by 1963 they were back playing on the Links. The Saints’ 13 year lease on the four acre piece of land came to an end in the Spring of 1965, when the ground was sold to Alexander Morrison (Builders) Limited for a fourfigure sum. Despite a great deal of voluntary labour and initial funding, the cost of installing a proper drainage solution proved a step too far for the club’s resources. The club’s treasurer, Leo Pieraccini, said of the sale, “Due to the heavy rateable value the ground was a terrible liability to us and this, plus the costs of running a team, was almost unsurmountable.” “The gate money for home fixtures could be as little as 2/or 3/- and on odd occasions we have drawn between £2 and £3. This, of course, is not nearly enough to run a club and although we ran other social functions it seemed impossible to get out of the red.” “Now we will be in a position to pay off our liabilities and still

have a balance in the bank.” Mr Morrison said of the purchase, “I will now be able to erect a complete new workshop with suitable and adequate office accommodation for the staff I have to employ to look after the 350 men on my payroll.” During the time it was a football park, the ground was also used by pupils of Tain Royal Academy. The following announcement appeared in the Ross-shire Journal – “The Coronation Park in Tain is no longer available to pupils of TRA as a sports field, as it is being used for an industrial development.” Morrison Construction made more of a profitable effort with the ground than St. Duthus FC did of course and in 2008, several years after their Tain offices had been moved elsewhere, the former Coronation Park was sold to Tesco Stores Ltd for redevelopment as a superstore and car park. Thank you to Tain & District Museum, Margaret Urquhart, Jason Ubych and the British Newspaper Archive for their research and assistance.

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MISC NOTICES

TAIN CATS PROTECTION

FELIX AND MURPHY ARE LOOKING FOR A VERY SPECIAL HOME TOGETHER Felix and Murphy have not had the best of starts in life, and we are hoping to change that for them. Felix was found seeking shelter in an abandoned car while Murphy lay nearby in the bushes. We think the home which would best suit them is one with a couple on their own or a single person and no other animals in the home. As we are unsure of their background, a home with children would not be suitable. Let us tell you a bit about them: Murphy - his age is estimated to be around 7 years old. He is a long haired cat and is neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. Like Felix, he was vet checked when he was first taken into our care and found to be in very good health. Although the older of the two cats, Murphy gets the feeling of security when he is with Felix and that is why we would prefer them to be homed together. Murphy is quite happy for his fosterer to pet and brush him, but if there is hesitation in putting his hand towards Murphy, this seems to frighten Murphy. When being petted or playing with toys, Murphy forgets he’s scared and will roll around on his back exposing his tummy. Murphy does enjoy

company and when in a loving and stable environment, he will get over his fears in time. Felix – is thought to be around 2 years old. He, as you can see is a short haired cat and is neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. He was vet checked when he was first taken in by us and found to be in very good health. Felix is a bit more confident than Murphy and enjoys being petted and brushed. He loves a cuddle, but only for so long as all he wants to do is play with his toys and of course with Murphy. He still acts like a kitten. In the photograph, Felix is the cat at the front with Murphy in the background. If you feel you could offer Felix and Murphy a home together, please contact us in the usual way: Website: www.tain.cats.org.co.uk : email: equiries@tain.cats.org.uk Facebook: Tain & District Branch : Tel: 0345 3712737

Well Done to Tain Royal Academy S3 Pupil Michael Shaw who achieved his 500-hour Saltire Award in recognition of his volunteering efforts at The Hub in Bonar Bridge.

TAIN & DISTRICT MUSEUM

SCOTSBURN SILVER DUX MEDAL This is a silver Dux medal from Scotsburn School which was awarded to Annie Douglas sometime in the 1930s, the exact date is not known as the date on the back has been scratched away in frustration. The back is inscribed; Alick Mackay Medal. Awarded to Annie Douglas as Dux in Scotsburn Public School. Annie taught at the Scotsburn Sunday school and it is thought that she scored the dates from the medal when she wasn’t allowed to go to train as a teacher. The reason being that Annie was the youngest of six children so had to stay at home to look after her parents.

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MESSAGE FROM CLLR. DEREK LOUDEN

ANDREW VASS

ANDREW VASS DRAWING THE CURTAIN DOWN ON THE TRUMP ERA If you check the He-drum Ho ceilidh band website you will find a survivor from Outlander- a bard who waxed lyrical about Scotland and its past. One of his songs is this one- which I quote below. THE DONALD GOLF COURSE

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

TRUMP

I’ve a story to tell that you know very well

Well, he fought against wind farms Using all his charms He told them that he was the evidence He’d invest a billion quid If they’d just accept his bid

It’s a song that will surprise, full of lots of porky pies

In the land of the Donald Trump golf course

From the land O’ the Donald Trump Golf course Chorus Where the wild thistles grow, where the cool waters flow Through the land O’ the Donald Trump Golf course, Oh! I really like to brag about my huge investment plans In my land O’ the Donald Trump golf course. Now there’s many-s a plan aye and many a golfing man

Please email:

In the land where the white heather grows

or call 01862 857366

In the land O’ the Donald Trump Golf course

It’s a story I know you’ll enjoy

Do you have an article or photos you’d like us to print?

info@tainpost.co.uk

Building on Menie sand

So, they spent a few grand

Well, these days are now gone we know we got it wrong No sign of the billion investment But there’s a Mexican flag on high, and a farmer ye canna buy In the land O’ the Donald Trump Golf course. Was Donald Trump one of us, or was his heart really elsewhere? Some of his supporters were convinced that the Bible in the White House was the one used in the famous Lewis Revival of the 1940’s. That sounds very Scottish! But one fact alone seems to undermine such a claim. The Bible he had, is in English-not Gaelic. Neither he nor they were Scottish enough to

reflect on that. And were the Evangelical who supported him then the same people as our Evangelicals? Or were they essentially American- steeped in a U.S. tradition idealising revolution and conflict? The moderates who fought for the Confederacy were as paranoic about losing their Anglo-Saxon identity as the extremists who later enacted the horrors of Klan mobs lynching people of colour. This makes American moderate conservatives quite different from Scottish moderates who have been inspired by Scottish culture and heritage- the culture of Robbie Burns, Lewis Grassic Gibbons and Neil Gunn. Of course, Donald Trump in his time doing ‘The Apprentice’ exhibited all the features beloved by Neoliberal thinkers on both sides of the Atlantic. Entrepreneurial valuesthe valuing of efficiency, dynamism and talent, perhaps supplanted other values such the valuing of democracy, community, and integrity. Margaret Thatcher suggested she had slight reservations towards Neoliberal theorising when she called it a religion rather than just an economic creed. She was a Christian so I expect that she might have been a

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ANDREW VASS

little uneasy when she made that statementfor the Bible tells us to have ‘no other Gods but me’ and ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand’. One lesson we can all learn is that we can’t allow politics to become a religion. Instead, we must look over our shoulders watchfully in case some who seem to be our fellowtravellers are going along a path which leads to authoritarianism, and away from democracy. And we need to realise that the philosophy of Rationalisman inheritance from the Enlightenment has affected politics and religion in the west. While the foremost philosopher of the Enlightenment Leibnitz said that; ‘there is nothing in the mind but intellect’ previous philosophers of Ancient times showed greater awareness of the insidious power of emotions. Modern therapies tell us to beware emotional reasoning, confirmation bias, and dualism. These tendencies come from brains. Brains influence minds insidiously. The Bible when looked at from a psychological angle tells us something similar- after all it was written in preEnlightenment times. In its pages we see great examples of characters needing help with their tendency to be in denial. Jonah is in denial about his disobedience when he refused to minister to the Ninevites. He angrily went his own way until God had him put in a whale- perhaps in a way that is similar to being impeached. Peter was headstrong in usurping Jesus’ role in several

occasions. Only when he had denied he knew Jesus three times did he develop buyer’s remorse. Buyer’s remorse is an interesting phrase which helps us capture Peter’s sense of sadness and shame when he realised that he had let Jesus down in the time of trial. It’s a phrase we all need to be familiar with so we think carefully about it when we embrace political choices. History after all is only written with hindsight. And James tell us that when we give the best seats in church to the rich, we are failing to keep the spirit of Jesus’ new commandment; ‘to love the Lord our God and our neighbour’. If we give the worst seats to a neighbour, we are hardly showing him or her real love. We must beware the tendency to make Fundamentalist conclusions from the Bible. To be fundamentalist is to take every sentence of Holy Scripture as being equally important and to read Scripture literally. An example of a Fundamentalist interpretation of Holy verse is from Romans 13. Paul wrote; ‘everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established’. This was one argument Evangelical leader, Franklin Graham gave for supporting Trump. But it can lead one to be disobedient to the Lord’s Commandmentas James saw it. Unless we address such considerations, we can’t draw a curtain down on the Trump era.

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TDPP

FOOTBALL SEASON SUSPENSION EXTENDED St. Duthus Football Club face an anxious wait to find out whether or not their season will end prematurely for a second successive year, following a Scottish FA imposed suspension on playing activity, which has now been extended into the middle of February. The North Caledonian League had previously been granted an “elite sport” exemption based on an agreement between the Scottish Government and football governing bodies, but a decision made by the league’s teams to suspend football during lockdown brought about a temporary “pause” to proceedings. The North Caledonian League’s pre-emptive measure was followed by the Scottish FA later in the month, as they elected to impose a nationwide suspension on all football below the full-time professional level, until at least the 15th of February. With several games still be played in the 2020/21 season calendar, it remains to be seen how much time will be afforded to allow the campaign to finish should the nationwide suspension be lifted. With 8 games of 10 played, St. Duthus are well ahead of schedule, and currently sit third in the North Caledonian League Division 1 table.

OLD FILE

OLD FILE: FROM THE ARCHIVES

JUNE 2000

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ST. DUTHUS F.C.

ST. DUTHUS F.C. - CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

ABOVE: TOP GOALSCORER BEN BRUCE IS CONGRATULATED BY TEAM MATES. PIC: DONALD CAMERON

It was with some surprise in October that we learned that the North Caledonian League had been afforded “elite sport” status along with our neighbours in the Highland League - which allowed us the privilege of playing football during the multi-tier restrictions imposed towards the end of 2019. The matchday protocols set out by Sport Scotland and the SFA were comprehensive, and never in our imaginations had we contemplated the levels of risk assessment and planning that had to be carried out - just to play a game of football. Our Vice Chairman Tony Farquhar bravely took on the role of Covid Coordinator, and in doing so worked intensely hard to prepare the club to meet the criteria set out by the governing bodies. As a committee, I believe we have followed his action plan very well, and the feedback from visiting teams and players has been favourable when

it comes to adhering to protocol and ensuring their safety. The SFA’s decision to forbid the use of changing rooms and showers at match venues has been a source of frustration for players though, even greater so when a long trip is involved. Those players who have been braving the journeys for the love of the game should be commended for their efforts, not to mention our managers Stuart and Andrew for ensuring that things run smoothly for them on the day. I hope that the overall satisfaction of being able to participate in team sport in a safe environment trumps the hardships associated with these protocols which are ultimately designed to keep us safe and to prevent the spread of the virus. That, ultimately, has to be our main objective in playing games - to continue to promote the health and wellbeing benefits of outdoor sport in the safest way possible.

But as much as it has been refreshing to get some games played for our senior team and our Under 17s, the biggest challenge that we have faced, and that we will continue to face going forward - is fundraising. From the sidelines, North Caledonian League football to most will look like a fun pastime, but a season at this level of senior football can cost anything from £10-20k to run each year, depending on how many games you play, or where the fixtures take us - and it takes a tremendous amount of effort behind the scenes to make it all possible. The Covid-19 pandemic has presented voluntary clubs and associations like ours with a whole new set of challenges - and the same will be the case for all groups and charities who rely on kindness and the ability to hold events to raise funds. It often feels like a passing gesture, but a raffle on the day of a game can cover the fees and travel costs of our visiting referees - and over a season these costs alone can exceed £1,000. Tighter restrictions on travel and increased costs for bus hires have seen our travel bill almost double when compared to 2019/20 - despite playing less games. In December, the club had to spend £1,400 on just one away game, travelling all the way to Stromness and back. The lads picked up a 2-1 win on the day though, which took some of the sting out of the ferry bill and the long journey home! The loss of income for clubs has not been lost

on football’s governing bodies. Along with our fellow North Caledonian League members, we were very grateful to receive a grant of £2,000 in January, which was awarded by the Scottish FA to assist clubs playing during the pandemic. But we will have to redouble our efforts this year to get the club back onto a healthy financial footing for the future. We welcome any help or advice the wider community in Tain may have to offer. But we also move into 2021 taking stock of several positives. Just before the pandemic hit, we began work on a new tea hut at Grant Park, which is almost complete. We look forward to being able to welcome supporters back to watch us at some point in the future for a hot beverage and a snack! Late in 2019, we also struck up a new partnership with Tain Golf Club to ensure the longer term upkeep of the ground itself. Looking ahead, we would like to remind everyone in the local area that the door is always open at St. Duthus FC for people willing to volunteer their time by getting involved in the running of the club - whether it be just some time on a match day at the weekend, helping to promote what we do - or something else behind the scenes. Best wishes, Niall Harkiss Chairperson, St. Duthus FC

TDPP

MARK JANES - THROUGH THE LENS

ISSUE #37

THROUGH THE LENS

PHOTOGRAPHS; PRECIOUS MOMENTS, FROZEN IN TIME There’s a general theme in this month’s Picture Post, of looking back. And of course, one of the best ways to do that is going back over photographs we have taken in the past. Whether it’s whipping out your phone today, or raising the Kodak Instamatic to your eye 50 years ago, cameras have been faithful companions during our life events, major and minor, for as long as we can remember. If, like me, you’ve been around awhile, you probably have a mixture of pictures taken on film, printed at a high street lab, and digital pictures on your phone or tablet. When our children come to visit, the old albums from family holidays and birthdays soon come out, and it’s a great re-bonding experience to gather round and reminisce over past times shared together. Personally, I love looking at physical prints. They’re also a very secure way of keeping your memories, safe from problems such as hard-disc crashes and phones being dropped in water! However, prints do have one big drawback compared with their digital counterparts, especially in these times of restricted travel; you can’t share them with far-flung loved ones on social media or by email. Or can you? It’s actually the easiest job in the world to open up your photograph albums and simply take snaps of your most precious pictures with your phone.

MARK JANES

Most phone cameras are of sufficient quality that even a small 6” x 4” print from an album will give you a decent digital photo that you can share online. To get organised, you’ll need good, low-contrast light. The natural light from a window is ideal, so try to work on a table near to a window. Avoid a window in direct sunlight though. Make sure you hold the phone in the same orientation as the print. (So, if the picture is landscape format, hold the phone on its side to take the picture). Try to keep the phone parallel to the print in the album, so your picture looks rectangular and doesn’t have leaning-

in edges. Adjust the phone up or down to fill the field of view with the print. (Don’t worry if you don’t get it quite right; you can always crop the photo slightly in editing afterwards). Using this method we have successfully “digitized” whole albums of family photos in just a few minutes. So, now you have the best of both worlds; a lovely print to take out and look at from time to time, and a digital copy that you can send across the world! If you have some spare time, why not organise the digital copies by creating albums on your phone. You could give them the same names and structure as your actual albums of

prints, so it’s easy to find a particular photo and share it online. Whatever you do with your old photos, don’t let them gather dust. Look at them, share them, make sure they do what they are designed for; bringing back memories. Who knows; you might have some really interesting photos taken around the town that Niall here at the Picture Post would love to publish! Did you like this article? Why not email me and let me know what you’d like to see covered in future issues. markjanesphotographer @gmail.com.

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TAIN COMMUNITY

TAIN & DISTRICT GARDENERS’ CLUB and TAIN & DISTRICT FIELD CLUB Although we are all locked down with the prospect of a very slow return to a more normal life it is good to see the natural world progressing from winter to early spring as always. Often at this time of year Gardeners’ Club and Field Club members would be out looking for the signs of nature waking up. Before the next TDPP is out many spring flowers will be blooming. There are two naturalised plants we always look for as harbingers of spring, snowdrops and winter aconites. Both come into flower in early February.

Snowdrops and winter aconite in flower at the Bishop’s Walk, Nigg Birds such as blue tit and blackbird are already beginning to sing and rooks are repairing their nests. Some of the first terrestrial animals to put in an appearance are amphibians with the first frogs usually moving in the third week of February. For many years TDFC members have recorded the first dates of frog spawn in the local area.

Frog in our garden and spawn at the Gearrachoille, Ardgay 21st February 2020 This year the clubs cannot meet for these activities but you can watch the progress of spring plants and animals in your garden or on your daily exercise. For many years TDFC members have recorded the first dates of frog spawn in the local area. You can find more about the clubs on our facebook pages facebook.com/Tain-Gardeners-Club and facebook.com/tain.fieldclub - Heather and David MacAllister

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TAIN & DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST

TDDT COMMUNITY INFORMATION News | Information I Useful Numbers If you are struggling with lockdown and need some help with day to day things like shopping or picking up your prescription, please get in touch and we can put you in touch with the right people to help.

WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS the NHS will NEVER ask for money for Vaccine Vaccination roll out Tain & District Medical Group and Tain & Fearn Medical Practice You don't need to phone to enquire about vaccinations they will get in touch with you. Vaccine rollout is supply dependant, so, dates for specific groups cannot be given. Think about whether you want the Vaccine before you receive the phone call. Think about how you are going to get to the Heath Centre â&#x20AC;&#x201C; appropriate lifts, Dial a Bus, Taxis?

CCAST is available via digital services, to support the community with foodbank referrals, housing support, benefits advice, a private & confidential befriending phone service for people whose mental health has been affected by the COVID 19 pandemic/lockdown. Contact: 01862 328006

Missing shopping? Well, now you can Love shopping Local online! We have made it so easy for you to continue supporting local businesses during lockdown by creating an online marketplace designed to encourage you all to keep it local. You can find local shops you never knew about, or even buy gift vouchers for family and friends. If you want to join us then get in touch. It couldn't be easier to LoveLocal - just type this link into your browser: http://bit.ly/TDDTLovesLocal

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