Issue #245 | Tain & District Picture Post | April 2021 by K & N Concepts Ltd - ePublishing

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

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

#245 APRIL

2021

APRIL 2021

HISTORY OF CAMERON BUILDINGS

THE STORY OF GEORGIA’S FLOCK

KNOCKBRECK PUPILS’ EASTER ART

Margaret Urquhart looks back at the history of Cameron Buildings on Lamington Street p10

Christina Munro writes about her daughter Georgia and her growing relationship with lambs over the years. p19

A look at some of the fine artwork being put together by Knockbreck Primary’s P2 pupils. p12

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.

APRIL 2021

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EDITORIAL Dear readers, So here we are - Spring has well and truly sprung, the clocks have changed and with restrictions being lifted, bit by bit it is beginning to feel like we can resume our lives and see our loved ones again. It will be refreshing to see our local shops and businesses reopened, too, and for the town to be abuzz with activity once again. I never thought I would look forward to a visit to the hairdresser quite as much as I am this April. I think I speak for many people when I say things have got to the quite unmanageable stage - and for some reason it seems as though my hair has grown at a more formidable rate than it did during the first “lockdown”! At TDPP HQ we have all booked ourselves in for urgent appointments to sort out, in the words of Basil Fawlty, the “rat’s maze”. For viewers of our online archive at tainpost. co.uk/archive, I am pleased to say we now have a handful more archived issues online and available from the year 2000 - which takes us up to Issue 10. They are well worth the look back to see some forgotten faces, but also a reminder to some that the more times change, the more things stay the same... We hope you have a wonderful time over the Easter period, catching up (safely) with family and friends and enjoying the holidays. I conclude by wishing Lucy and Nikki a happy birthday this April - two milestone birthdays just a week apart. I love you both very much. Thank you for reading, Best wishes, Niall Harkiss Editors - Niall Harkiss & Lucy Veals Email info@tainpost.co.uk Tel 01862 857366 Mob 07527 134574 Subscribe online - www.tainpost.co.uk or call 07527 134574 or email info@tainpost.co.uk Digital archive - www.tainpost.co.uk/archive or via Issuu at issuu.com/tainpost Front cover photo - Mark Janes

Does your business have a website? Can your 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

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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 22 February 2021 at 7.30pm. Present: Mr N Munro (Chair) Mr G Amos (Vice Chair) Mr N Akeroyd Mr D Macrae Mr G Holdsworth Mr A Mohan Ms S Smith Mr Louden (Councillor) Mr Rhind (Councillor) MATTERS ARISING Item Knockbreck water problem – Mr Louden has not been able to set up a meeting to address the water problem at Knockbreck. However, now the weather has improved a meeting can be convened. HIGHLAND COUNCILLOR’S REPORT Mrs Robertson spoke about the anti social behaviour by youths and abuse of a member of the public. The fence has been fixed and anti climb paint has been put on. The Burgh has received town centre funding from the Scottish Government Tain received £70.000 which will go towards improving the toilets , drainage of the paths in the Rose Garden and CCTV – HC to run the contract. The contract has to be awarded before the end of March. There are draft plans for the 3-18 campus – there maybe a stakeholders meeting before the end of March and a CC representative will be

invited. The campus has to be finished by August 2024. HC issued Covid update which will be circulated to Community Councils from now on. HC budgets are being prepared at the moment. Funding from the Crown Estate is happening and projects for this will coming forward soon. Questions were asked and answered on youths in the Mansfield Estate with agreement that the Crimestoppers telephone number is put in these minutes – 0800 555 111. New paths are being laid in the Rose Garden where the water will pass through. Mr Louden reported that he is working with the Administration of HC to get a balanced budget. The paperwork will probably be out tomorrow. It was agreed at the Ross-shire Area Committee that the roads budget will concentrate on fixing the potholes rather than repairing stretches of roads. The environmental improvements has not been done because of Covid – this money is being used for potholes in the Mansfield Estate. Questions were asked and answered about ditches, damp areas.

the pupils.

COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY Mr Munro reported that a portrait of Hugh Ross at TRA has been removed as he had links to slavery. After discussion, it was agreed Mr Munro to contact TRA, and suggest it could go to the Museum – in consultation with

FINANCE AND TREASURER’S REPORT Mr Macrae reported that there had been no pay outs for the month.

CHAIR’S REPORT Mr Munro indicated that it was good that the A9 50 mph speed limit is now enforced. It was noted that the was another accident at the Lidl junction recently. He is delighted the 3-18 campus project is moving forward. There are still issues at the Woody Braes and there is a meeting next week to discuss – Mr Amos will be attending for the CC. Mr Munro attended the AGM of the Tain Initiative Group (TIG) recently. Some of the land near to the tennis court which is owed by TIG was sold off in order to fund any potential future project for the rest of the site at that location. To be discussed at a future meeting of the Tain Initiative Group. rising out of a discussion on the long queue at the chip shop on Friday night was the update of the High Street buildings, which can prove expensive. VICE-CHAIR’S REPORT Mr Amos reported that due to the snow the repairs to the benches have not been worked on.

LETTERS Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Ltd (BTW) An BTW application has been received from Tain

Tennis Club for £1,500 for resurfacing the Tain Tennis Club car park. After discussion, it was agreed to the £1,500 payment. Mr Munro declared an interest in this item. Made in Tain A letter has been received from Made In Tain asking for some financial assistance. Mr Munro and Mr Louden declared an interest and Mr Louden took the Chair for this item. It was noted that if they wished funding from BTW they would have to put in an application. There may be other financial avenues to help them. If the other avenues are unsuccessful they can come back to BWC after 1st April when more funding comes in. PLANNING MATTERS Erection of house at 35 Knockbreck Road/ Erection of house and soak-a-way at Bogbain Road (Mr Louden declared an interest), Erection of a house Quebec Bridge, Old Picture House works (Mr Macrae and Mr Louden declared an interest)– no comment. UNEXHAUSTED REMITS No reports on any of the items except; Cemeteries – gates require repair – some drivers driving in which is disappointing. Mussels – the survey on the Mussels was not conclusive but there is some growth, and a more in depth survey to be carried out. Website – Mr Munro to get introduction remarks

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to Mr Holdsworth for the website. Green Environment – there is a bush sticking out at the bottom of Moss Road – Mr Robertson indicted that she would try and get the resident to cut it back. There is ivy growing over the wall at Quarry Lane which is blocking the light and there has been complaints about this. The path between Hartfield Road and Craighill Terrace is getting narrower due to bushes needing to be cut back. The Highland

Councillor’s to bring up with HC officials. TAIN & DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST (TDDT) The report had been previously circulated (details noted in March issue article). There are issues with the organisation employed to deal with the asbestos. Once the asbestos has being taken out new windows can go in. The street markets may go in the High Street instead of the Rose Garden. The CC sponsored tables are

still active to use. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Hot meals at Craighill PS – it was noted that there is a problem with providing hot meals for the pupils at Craighill PS – Parent Council sorting out – Mr Loudent to contact school. Asda Free Meals – it was noted that Asda are doing free meals for children is £1 is spend in store (for takeaway) – this event is running until Easter. This event to be put in the TDDT newsletter. Parking on

Geanies Street – noted that parking restrictions come into force in May for Geanies Street. Mr Louden to speak to Mr Manning on the forthcoming restictions as HC concentrating on tourist partking at present which doesn’t include Tain. Home Improvement Scams/ Pilgrims Way Sign – to be discussed at the next meeting. Meeting ended at 21:30. The date of the next meeting was set for Monday 29 March 2021.

BRIGHT SHINING LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

After a long and difficult Winter living with Covid restrictions there is now a bright shining light at the end of the tunnel. The role out of the vaccine is progressing well and I would like to add my personal thanks to all our NHS staff who have done such an amazing job. It would be really disappointing for us to see all that good work being undermined by us becoming a bit slack in terms of adhering

to the guidelines. We must summon that last bit of discipline and determination to see us over the finish line and back to a safe and more normal life with the worst of the virus impact firmly in the rearview mirror. The Scottish Government has announced the easing of some restrictions in April which will be very welcome to us all as we can finally get our home haircuts fixed by the professionals. It’s

not just the barbers and hairdressers who have gained a new level of respect for the talent they have, it’s all the services and the hospitality industry we normally rely on to add the nicer things in life. Perhaps we have taken them and other professions a little bit for granted. Gyms will also soon re-open and local outdoor sport will get going again which will be of great benefit. All in all, it’s a more positive outlook but it is vital we keep the ship steady through the last part of the storm. The restrictions remain in Scotland as I write this, and we must not be confused by the messages from Wales and England regarding the easing of restrictions there. If you are unsure or need reminded, then please have a look at the up-to-date guidance on the Scottish governments

website which can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/ collections/coronaviruscovid-19-guidance/ My local police officers continue to respond to reports and concerns regarding individuals or households breaking the guidelines and we will continue to do so. As previously we will always look to educate and encourage people to stick to the guidelines and fines will be for those who fail to take advice or whose conduct is such a blatant breach of the guidelines that we are left with no choice. I would ask that rather than let our guard down, everyone keeps working together to make sure we get ourselves to the other side of this as soon and as safely as possible. Inspector James Rice Police Scotland

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LOCAL NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Facebook page of the Tain & District Development Trust reads; “This beautiful building is only one of so many in Tain! The actual plan starts on page 119 and you will see the recommendation to ‘Support the owners of the former Town Hall, Tower Street in finding a new use for this fine building’ on page 126. Consultation closes on the 12th of April.” Interested parties can comment via the Highland Council Portal: https://consult. highland.gov.uk/kse TAIN AND DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST COMMUNITY MARKET The community markets will return later this month, as was confirmed by the Tain & District Development Trust. The next market, scheduled for Saturday April 17th will take place under strict Covid-19 safe guidelines. A statement on their Facebook page read; “We asked what your thoughts are on the Tain Community Market returning in mid-April and we had a very positive, solid response from the majority of you being in favour of it taking place in April, as long as we ensured all covid restrictions are followed.” “So in response, we propose to run with the Community Market

on Saturday 17 April, as planned, and we will be publishing full information shortly.” Stallholders are invited to get in touch by sending an email to info@tainddtrust.com. A MESSAGE FROM TAIN & FEARN MEDICAL PRACTICE We have now started working our way through our 55-59 years of age category for Covid vaccinations. There are still quite a number of the At Risk category that we have been unable to reach by telephone. We have sent texts and posted letters to try and catch everyone but if you feel that you have been missed, or even if you have received a letter or text but have decided you do not wish to have the vaccine, please get in touch and let us know.

When we phone our number may show up as “withheld” or an “0800” number or even a “89****” style number. Please try and answer this call so we can make an appointment for you. If you are over 60 and have not yet received a phonecall from us please get in touch with the reception staff as we do have a small number of patients that we have been unable to reach by phone and have sent letters to. ABSESTOS REMOVED FROM PICTURE HOUSE The Tain Picture House Restoration Project took a stride forward with the successful removal of asbestos from the building this past month. Local residents are encouraged to take a look at the Tain Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan. A statement on the

TAIN YOUTH CAFE GRAB & GO DATES Tues 6th - Fearn Football Pitch Wed 7th - Edderton Football Pitch Thurs 8th - Inver Football Pitch Fri 9th - Balintore Scout Hut Mon 12th - Tain Links (Playpark end) Tues 13th - Fearn Football Pitch Wed 14th - Edderton Football Pitch Thurs 15th - Inver Football Pitch Fri 16th - Balintore Scout Hut On Tour Activities are strictly for those in Secondary School, although Grab & Go is available to all - if you’re coming for lunch, please collect and take away with you to aid social distancing. On tour activities are limited to the first 12 who arrive.

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TAIN ACADEMY REMOVE PORTRAIT OF SLAVE PLANTATION OWNER A large portait has been removed from the walls of Tain Royal Academy, after it emerged that the subject - Lt. Col. Hugh Rose of Glastullich and Cromarty (1767–1846) - had links to the slave trade. The four foot tall oil portrait, which was painted by Henry William Pickersgill in 1833, had been a fixture on the wall of the Academy’s assembly hall for many years. Hugh Rose - also known as Hugh Rose Ross was one of a group of gentlemen responsible for the founding of Tain Royal Academy in 1813. He was born in Sutherland and in his teens went to the West Indies where he built up a considerable fortune before returning to Scotland at the beginning of the 19th century. History books paint a more colourful picture of Rose, as a philanthropic character interested in agricultural reform and tree-planting projects. Curiously, he is also thought to have fought the last duel in Ross-shire over a dispute which occurred in the local council. Most recently though, it has emerged that Rose’s links to the slave trade include a shareholding in the Geanies plantation in Berbice, British Guyana which he held along with J Crawford Macleod of Geanies and John

Bethune in the early 1800s. An article written by Wendy Chamberlain, Lib Dem spokesperson for Scotland in October also suggests that the eventual building of the original Tain Royal Academy - the now disused Duthac House - was funded for the most part by donations from slavers in Berbice, some of whom had connections to Hugh Rose. At the time of writing, the portrait has been offered to the Tain & District Museum to add to their collection.

ABOVE: The portrait (top right), can be seen hanging on the wall of Tain Royal Academy Assembly Hall, during a visit from MSPs John Swinney and Gail Ross in 2019.

YOUTH CAFE LAUNCH DART FOOTBALL FOR EASTER BREAK Having sourced funding last year for new activities, Tain Youth Cafe have purchased equipment to offer a brand new activity which will be available throughout Tain and the surrounding area. Get ready for - Dart Football! Youth Cafe representative Karen Begg said; “Dart Football is something that is not out there already, it is completely and it is something that is fairly easy for us to transport to the lcoal villages as well as being based in Tain.” The 3.5m high dart board, which darting hopefuls will aim to hit

with inflatable footballs, will have its first outing at Fearn football pitch on Tuesday 6th April. The Youth Cafe will be running their Lunch Club Grab & Go throughout

the Easter Holidays, and Dart Football will be offered as a tour activity. A full schedule of the Youth Cafe’s Easter dates can be seen on page six.

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NOSTALGIA WITH ALEX GRAHAM

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CAMERON BUILDINGS

THE HISTORY OF CAMERON BUILDINGS (LATER KNOWN AS THE CHOCOLATE SHOP) PT. 1

The building shown in the photo above, taken possibly in the late 1890s, was historically known as Cameron Buildings. As can be seen in the photo, it has 2 shops on the ground floor with residential accommodation above, hence, although really one building it was referred to in the plural and is currently numbered 4-8 Lamington Street – Nos 4 and 6 for the shops and No.8 for the house above. I don’t have an exact date for when this building was built. It does not show on a plan showing the layout of Tain in 1832, although the line of buildings joined onto it on its east (RH) side is marked on this 1832 plan. These buildings still exist and are obviously earlier

in style. Information on Cameron Buildings’ history, prior to when this photo was taken, is rather scant. There is a hand written list in the museum of supposed proprietors of Cameron Buildings which includes George Murray, Westfield, with the date 1826, but as it wouldn’t have existed then, he would, at that point, merely have owned the site on which the building was later built. The next person on the list is Murdoch Cameron, painter, with the date of his proprietorship given as 1848-64. If these dates are correct, the building would seem to date from sometime between 1832 and 1848. Reference is made in a much later document to a disposition

being made by the Trustees of George Murray of Geanies (nephew of the above George) in 1848/9 in favour of Murdoch Cameron which would seem to confirm the date of Murdoch’s acquisition. Unfortunately it only vaguely refers to “Leasehold Subjects” – no building is specified. Murdoch Cameron was certainly living on the north side of Lamington Street at the time of the 1851 census, and is designated as “House Painter and Glazier”, so one can presume the building certainly existed by that date. How much of the building he occupied is not clear but Slater’s Directory of 1860, lists “Mrs Donaldina Gordon, of Cameron Buildings” under “Gentry”. I assume she

was the same person as listed in the 1851 Census as Donaldina P Gordon, FC Minister’s widow, then living in Esther Row (Esther Place) with 5 children aged 8 to 16 years. Whether she moved to Cameron Buildings or merely owned it or part of it is not clear. My assumption had always been that the building was named for Murdoch (usually referred to as Murdo) but Paul Donnachie in his article in the TDPP Issue No. 81, Aug 2007, says it was given that name as it had been “a home of the local Sheriff”. The only reference I have to a Sheriff with the surname Cameron is in a letter dated 12/10/1857, from a Sheriff George Cameron, Inverness, to Sheriff Clerk

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Depute Andrew Ross, Tain. Although it would seem more likely that the building would have been named after a Sheriff than a house painter, the evidence as mentioned in the previous paragraph would suggest in favour of Murdo. The surname may be a coincidence or perhaps Murdo was related to the sheriff who may originally have been based in Tain. Murdo’s uncle, who was also called Murdo Cameron, was minister at Creich, and was presumably Murdo’s father’s brother. So perhaps Murdo’s father was the sheriff in question. If Paul Donnachie should read this, he might be able to give the source of his information. Donald Fraser, merchant, Mayfield, with the dates 1864 to 1882, is the next supposed proprietor but according to the Slater Directory of 1860 his business was then located in the High Street, and all later references confirm this location. He was listed under both “Grocers” and “Wine & Spirit Merchants”.

His shop can be seen in photo 2 at 43 High Street next to the original London House which is where the business remained into the early 1900s with his son joining and then succeeding him. The business was then taken over by Roderick (Scoop) Mackenzie. Perhaps Donald Fraser owned the building. He certainly didn’t live there as the 1851 census shows him living at Springfield, where the house called Mayfield still stands on part of the site of a former nursery. Back to Cameron Buildings, the next supposed proprietor on the list is a Duncan MacPhail for the dates 1882-1929. Unfortunately, so far I have not found any other mention of Duncan MacPhail at all, far less in reference to Cameron buildings. However, during this period, there is an advert in the Northern Chronicle & GA for N. Scotland of 10/3/1886 for “Hugh A Ross, painter, Lamington Street”. It is quite common that when premises change

hands they are often taken over by someone in the same line. The museum has a ledger for William Urquhart, Painter & Decorator, covering the period 1898-1917, which includes invoices with printed heading of “William Urquhart, 4 Lamington Street, Tain - painter, gilder and decorator.” As can be seen in Photo 1, he occupied the left hand shop on the ground floor. He may have taken over from Hugh A Ross but the date of when this happened is not certain as there may have been an earlier ledger. The only reference I have found to Grant & Co, wholesale & retail merchants, the occupant of the right hand shop, is an advert which appears in the Tain Free Lance, June 30th, 1892, which makes the plea to “Drink/ Grant & Co.’s/ Teas! [Appears 3 times!] Another reference mentions a James P Fraser, as having a Drapery and Outfitting Warehouse located in Cameron Buildings, in the late 1890s, so he must have taken over

from either Urquhart or Grant. I have already mentioned in my articles on London House, that A McDuff Ross was temporarily located in Cameron Buildings after fire destroyed his premises located on the north side of the High Street in 1895 , until he took over the premises now occupied by Greens restaurant over a year later. Another Hugh Ross seems to have been associated with Cameron buildings, at least as a resident. Some time ago I received an enquiry about a Hugh Ross born in Tain in 1890, and whose marriage and death certificates showed his address as being Cameron Buildings. No dates were provided and unfortunately, the enquirer never got back to me with any more details. Possibly he only occupied the accommodation above the shop and may even have been the son of the painter mentioned above. Another resident, certainly 192729, was Bob Stenhouse, a retired ghillie, who was then being paid a weekly allowance by an H.R.Taylor Esq, Oakleigh, Cheam, Surrey, who perhaps had used Bob’s services as a ghillie. When we come to the end of the shadowy Duncan MacPhail’s supposed proprietorship, we are finally on firmer ground. In 1928 the building was purchased by the Pieraccini brothers so began the relatively long era in which it served Tain as “The Chocolate Shop”. This will be dealt with in a later article. Margaret Urquhart

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KNOCKBRECK PRIMARY

KNOCKBRECK PUPILS’ EASTER ART

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MESSAGE FROM CLLR. DEREK LOUDEN

My usual monthly surgery is cancelled at present. Please feel free to contact me at any time on: 01862892734 07876774412 Or via email at LoudenDW@aol.com Happy to help any local resident with any problem at any time. Anyone can phone at any time with any request.

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

THOUSANDS MANAGE TO LIVE WITHOUT LOVE W.H. Auden asserted that ‘thousands manage to live without love, but none can live without water’. Are there words here for us, as we celebrate Easter? Do we need both water and ‘the bread of life’? Or is Christianity just another of the futile loves which grow old and surrender to the law of impermanence? Wilfred Owen suggested that when we are faced with real horror, then we question God’s existence; ‘For God’s invincible spring, our love is made afraid, for love of God is dying.’ Certainly, Auden’s phrase has its use to therapists. It can be used to focus on how we love many thingsalcohol, tobacco, political hopes, nice food, romance, sex. But even if we suffer an illness which deprives us of all these, and leaves us bedbound, we should still take the Corona-vaccine, and have regular hospital checks for cancers or heart disease, because it is still important to aim to minimise real suffering- that prolonged and acute pain or fear which may result from having Cancer, heart disease, or the Coronavirus. Even if our many loves are regularly thwarted, we are wise to remain focused on long termist goals- at the very least concerning the management of risks. And political loves are often thwarted. My two cats met in the lobby the other day and gave each other a piece of their minds. It was akin

to Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon bumping into each other in the Tain Royal Hotel. I hope that joke causes no offense. Whatever one’s political views, it is sad to see the demise of political icons. But does political loyalty not sometimes come with a cost? I recall reading about a U.S. Presidential campaign of the 19th century, which was summed up by a contemporary historian thus; ‘We’ll vote for Tyler therefore, without a why or a wherefor.’ Too much political loyalty, too much fanaticism, and too many false dawns- that is the story of the twentieth century. Poets like Auden dabbled in Communism, Fascism, and Socialism until horrific events unfolded which drove them towards disillusionment. This poem captures his struggle with identifying truth. HERE WAR IS SIMPLE Here war is simple like a monument: A telephone is speaking to a man; Flags on a map assert that troops were sent; A boy brings milk in bowls. There is a plan For living men in terror of their lives, Who thirst at nine who were to thirst at noon, And can be lost and are, and miss their wives, And, unlike an idea, can die too soon. But ideas can be true although men die,

And we can watch thousand faces Made active by one lie:

And maps can really point to places Where life is evil now: Nanking. Dachau. No wonder Auden wrote; ‘thousands manage to live without love’. Much admired political ideas had hideous consequences in his era. Ideas which once seemed youthful and idealistic led men to war. We don’t have war right here, right now. But we do have political disunity. It has erupted within families- suggesting that anger seems a natural human tendency. Perhaps its because our nervous systems take over minds over so easily- driving us into fight, flight, or freeze reactions. Yet many don’t know about our flawed brains and continue to believe in their own natural goodness, their own wisdom, their own intelligence. Does Christianity have anything to say to the times we live in? Jesus said (according to Mark 8; ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow me.’ How might one deny oneself? Mark 10.31 gives us some help. Jesus refers to the coming Kingdom and tells us that the exalted shall be humbled and the humbled exalted. Perhaps we exalt

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ourselves. Does our need to have pride, drive us when we make judgements? Do we listen carefully to others and try to avoid being swept up in ‘confirmation bias’? Do we always want to exalt ourselves? Turn to another verse from Jesus’ time of trial. Its John 2 13 where Jesus seems to be angry about the buying and selling going on in the Temple precinct. This event possibly was a reason for his later arrest and trial. Is it possible to have righteous anger, (like Jesus did back then) or is anger always simply the result of the nervous system’s fight or flight reaction? Anger may sometimes have good reasons. Jesus may perhaps have been angry that not all could participate in the Temple sacrifices because one needed money to buy the sacrificial animals. Perhaps he saw the opulence of the Temple as characterising the cold-heartedness of the class hierarchies of

his time. He had after all regularly criticised the rich for their condemning attitudes towards the poor. Equally he may have been laying down a marker for the later church, that we must not be concerned with what the world thinks about us- because Jesus was not accepted by the world. In a world of darkness, don’t be perturbed when we find that religions are misused and then religious people are all in some way classified as outsiders. Of course, one has to be wary of one’s righteous anger. Anger can be dictatorial. One is announcing; ‘Look its my way or the highway.’ But it also can be a cry for help. People can be angry because of fear of loss of control. Anger then can be linked to sad feelings. People do have sad feelings at times, and they are capable of being in lamentation (as the Psalmist so often shows us). Anger can also be instrumental. It can point

towards a wrong that needs righted, an injustice that needs to be resolved. And of course, it can enlighten us about the way minds and brains work- the way the nervous system can give us our characteristic reactivity. The famous conjurer Harold Houdini left us a memory which casts a light on the way minds can become confused by nervous systems. He had gone round the prisons of various European countries, had himself handcuffed, chained, and locked inside. Each time he amazed people by his escapology. Only when he came to Ireland did his reputation suffer. In Ireland he failed to break free from the prison. Afterwards he asked his jailor; ‘What did you do? I tried every trick I knew, I became frantic and angry, but could not succeed.’ The jailor replied; ‘To be sure, I think I forgot to lock the door.’ Are we sometimes in prisons which we can’t escape from? Jesus said;

‘Behold I stand at the door and knock.’ Now if we think; ‘Oh I have to unlock that door- how can I possibly do it in time?’ Then we just tell ourselves that we have to know so much and believe so many things, and change our lives so completely, that like Houdini we get confused and fail to open the door of our prison. Jesus is patient with us. In the example above of him being angry, he was just trying to make the Temple into a sacred space for everyone who wanted it. If we can find a sacred space inside our own heads, we may find religion to be uplifting. Auden is perhaps right to say that people can live without many of the things they love, if they find inspiration. Inspiration makes you a bigger personwell just a tad! So, one can be overwhelmed by the waves and fears of life, or see oneself as the waterpart of a mighty ocean. And as services start up again, I wish all readers a happy Easter.

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BIKEABILITY

ACTIVE SCHOOLS - BIKEABILITY SESSIONS

The focus is on fun and each of the sessions are delivered in an off-road traffic free setting like the playground. Bikeability sessions are primarily aimed at P5, although younger and older children have been taking part. It all depends on the schools’ size, for example the smaller schools will have all children take part, even

P2, so that the sessions are inclusive. Some of the activities can be adapted to suit younger children with less confidence but it is also important for the P7’s to go back to basics and reiterate their need to focus on basic skills, which they have sometimes forgotten. The course lasts for 5 weeks and works through

important elements of bike safety such as: • bike checks, • helmet checks, • basic handling skills, • use of brakes and gears. Due to the pandemic I think it has been very beneficial for the children’s health and wellbeing just to get out on their bikes with their classmates. It has been

a great boost for them. Usually part of my work is to deliver training to teachers/parents to enable them to then roll out the activity/sport to their own school but because of the pandemic I have been delivering this training myself as the use of volunteers/staff is limited now. However, this has really helped me engage with the kids again and I am thoroughly enjoying it. The children will be rewarded with a certificate and a badge when the course is finished and then they usually go on to do the on-road sessions which is for P7. “Primary 7 really enjoyed Bikeability, they learned how to properly set down their bike and carry out the proper safety checks in the correct order, they also learned how to check

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GEORGIA’S FLOCK

the fit of their helmet. It is essential that the children know how to check their equipment in order to maximise their safety when on their bikes.” - Miss MacLeod KB p7

THE STORY OF GEORGIA’S FLOCK

“Bikeability is useful so that pupils have more road sense when on their bikes.” - Lucas P7 “Bikeability is a good way to get some exercise and know your way on the roads.” - Joell P7 It has been great to have Julie come and deliver bikeability to us. She has so much knowledge to share which we otherwise wouldn’t have access to. She even brought to our attention the importance of a correctly fitted cycling helmet and the three things you need to do to ensure this. We were then able to share this on Seesaw with the parents which they loved and found very informative. We informed Julie of our childrens current cycling ability and she gave great advice on how to help the children get started with cycling if they hadn’t already (the initial set up and push of on the peddle) which has given us something to practice with these children when she isn’t there. Julie is very flexible in giving us support specific to our school and children and has made me feel comfortable approaching her for lots of help and advice. All the children love Julies visits and have been practicing their cycling in the playground after school with parents and at the weekends. (Jemma Clarkteacher Hill Of Fearn)

DISCOVERING DAISY 7 YEARS AGO

As written by Christina Munro Seven years ago my daughter and I came home to find a small Zwartble lamb in our loo under the heater. A friend’s lamb had triplets and this lamb was the runt and not doing well. We named her Daisy. I put her next to my bedroom so I could hear her during the night. For the next few weeks I worked hard day and night keeping her alive. I had to teach her to take a bottle as she wouldn’t suck. Then finally she grew and got more mobile and mischievous. We set up a milk machine in the garden and put Daisy along with a few other orphans out there so they could play and run around all day. Daisy was still very special and was convinced she was a person. No matter where she was if you called “Daisy Doo” she would

BABY TUII GETTING BRUSHED AND CUDDLED BY GEORGIA

come running (still does in fact). Daisy and my daughter, Georgia, went on many adventures together. They were best pals along with our collie, Ofi. They were the three Musketeers. Daisy, being a Zwartble, grew and grew and grew! By then she was out in the field with the rest of the sheep but still went on regular adventures with Georgia and Ofi. We soon realised Daisy was going to be a nuisance. She can (and does) open any gate to wander wherever she wants. That’s not too bad but she often lets the other sheep out. She also runs up and harasses you when you are feeding. And if you are feeding at night she’s not too easy to see as she’s black. I think everyone has stories about falling over Daisy in the dark during feeding. By the time Georgia was 7 years old she had

saved up enough money to buy her own flock. So 7 Suffolk ewes go added to Daisy’s group. Then Daisy started having her own lambs. She was a great mum and had beautiful big lambs. Georgia’s flock was growing. Daisy was still a pet but none of her lambs were. We decided this year would be Daisy’s last lambing. It was the first year we had a Zwartble tup so it would be the first time Daisy had full Zwartble lambs. Then Daisy shocked us and had quads!! Three boys and a girl. The girl was small and needed help. We soon moved her into the house to help her along. We named her Daisy Too but call her Tuii (pronounced Two-ee). She has become a much loved pet. We get great comfort knowing once Daisy is gone we will still have a Daisy on the place being a nuisance but bringing so much joy and laughter.

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MARK JANES - THROUGH THE LENS

THROUGH THE LENS MARK JANES

ISSUE #39 MARCH WINDS AND APRIL SHOWERS …Bring forth great light for photography! Spring is here. The nights are drawing out and British Summer Time has begun. As I write this column we’re also on the cusp of regaining some of our freedom to socialise and move around. For photographers, Spring brings the ever-changing light that can bring your outdoor photography to life. Light is the photographer’s raw material. After all, the word “Photography” means “drawing with light”. Learning to recognise different types of light, and the effect it has on a scene, is one of the most important things

you can do to improve your photography, so let’s have a look at some different types of light, and what subjects photograph best in them: Soft, Warm Light: You find this towards the end of the day, or early in the morning. The light is not as harsh as during the middle of the day. Shadows are longer, bringing out texture in the landscape, and colours are more saturated. It’s perfect for big, epic landscapes, especially if there’s interesting detail in the sky. Hard, Mid-day Light: This can be tough to shoot in. Shadows are hard and the sun is strong

and overhead. Try to make use of the shadows and look for how they form interesting shapes to photograph. If you want to photograph people at this time, take them into the shade of a tree or building, or use your camera’s flash to fill in some of those shadows. Luckily, at this time of year in the far north, the sun is still fairly low in the sky, even during

the middle of the day. So mid-day lighting conditions are not as harsh as you find further south. Flat Light: Found on cloudy days, this kind of light casts few, if any, shadows. It can be great for photographing subjects with a lot of detail, such as plants or animals, as you don’t get the distracting glare and shadows associated with mid-day light. Landscapes

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MARK JANES / FOOTBALL

photograph less well in this type of light, and can look flat and featureless. If you like to photograph delicate Spring flowers such as crocuses and daffodils, then a cloudy day can be the best time. Don’t be put off going out just because “the light isn’t great”. Stormy Light: Take an umbrella to protect your camera and head out on a showery day. The intermittent way the sun shines through the clouds and lights up parts of

the landscape can lead to some really dramatic photographs. This kind of light rewards patience; once you’ve found a nice composition or viewpoint, it pays to wait for the moment when the light is just perfect! Landscapes can appear as if on stage, lit by the limelight of the sun. Have a look at the photo of Nigg and the Cromarty Firth, lit by the dramatic light of evening sun streaming through rain

clouds. This kind of stormy light can transform an ordinary scene into something special! Whatever the weather and the light, there are subjects to be photographed this Spring. However, it is a very changeable season. So, if the light isn’t cooperating, work with it and change what you’re shooting to suit the light conditions. The days are getting longer, the weather is improving (slowly), so now is the perfect time

to blow the dust off that camera. However, we’re not totally out of the woods with regard to the Covid pandemic, so please be mindful of the impact on your surroundings when photographing, and give other folk plenty of space. 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.

NEW SUPPORTERS CLUB A HIT FOR SAINTS

ST. DUTHUS FOOTBALL CLUB As St. Duthus Football Club prepare for a return to the football field following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, they have taken the decision to launch an all-new Supporters Club, in a bit to raise funds. In an announcement on their Facebook page, they made an appeal to fans and spectators who may have come along to support the club over the past year - but were not allowed to, due to the banning of spectators from games. The statement read; “For football clubs, fundraising has never been so hard.” “For the past 12 months we have missed having people down to watch our games and get behind us - but we’ve also missed out greatly on the opportunity to raise much needed funds to run the club - whether that be through raffles, tea and coffee sales or just small donations.” “If you would have normally come along to watch St. Duthus play this year, or last year, and bought a cup of tea or a raffle ticket when doing so - we’d like to ask you to please consider supporting this club a different way as we start to prepare for a return to football.” In just three weeks, the club has

now raised over £1,000 in new memberships from a mixture of supporters, former players and business donors from around the globe, from as close by as Tain, and as far away as Thailand and Texas. St. Duthus, who are this year celebrating their 50th anniversary of joining the senior ranks of Scottish football, have taken strides off the park to enhance the supporter experience with the building of a new refreshments hut, situated next to the pitch at Grant Park in Tain. The club have promised any new members of the Supporters Club a free tea or coffee along with a hot

snack upon the opening of the new hut. Pictures of the new hut were shared with Supporters Club members this past week, along with the following statement; “Thanks to the generosity and sponsorship of our new away shirt sponsor Tain Joinery & Carpentry / Scott Paton we have been able to achieve our goal of having a facility to serve tea, coffee and hot food to spectators at our new park. A big thank you to Scott and his guys for making this possible for us. “We now look forward to being able to hand over a hot beverage or two when restrictions allow!”

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TAIN & DISTRICT MUSEUM

TAIN’S HORRIBLE HISTORIES

THE STORY OF JANET NEIN GIBBIE GOW

JOHN MACKENZIE THE ‘FENDOM FLYER’ An anecdote, from the late Forbie Urquhart, on how John Mackenzie earned the nickname “Flyer”.

Tain Burgh Books, 18th March 1662. ‘That today we consider it necessary to call for a trier of Witches to this burgh it is ordered that an address be made to the magistrate of Inverness . . . and their advice taken.’ This request for a witch trier from Tain came as Scotland was in the grip of witchcraft hysteria, during 1662, embarking on one of its largest-ever witch hunts. As arrests and accusations grew in the south, the fear of witchcraft rapidly spread across the country, and the Privy Council of Scotland issued commissions to try all suspected witches. The first reference to ‘Jonet nein Gibbie Gow’ is on the 27th of February 1660, when her family and friends are warned against helping her. But it is only an entry in the burgh books three years later that we learn that Janet was; ‘accused of the odious crime of sorcery and imprisoned and now like to starve for want of maintenance.’ The

burgh only decides to write to Inverness requesting a ‘tryer of Witches’, after Janet has been imprisoned for over two years. This request in March is likely the reason for the arrival in Tain, only a month later, of John Dickson the Witchpricker. We know nothing of poor Janet’s treatment, but on arrival in Tain John Dickson turned on the wrong person - a sixty-six-year-old man called John Hay who was accused of witchcraft by a “distracted woman”. Mr Hay strongly protested against his treatment and successfully petitioned the government informing them that; “ane cheating fellow, named John Dick, to fix ane blott of perpetuall infamie upon the petitioner by shaving all the parts of his body, and ther after pricking him to the great effusion of his blood and with much torture to his body”. Dickson was eventually captured and imprisoned in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh. Here it was discovered that John Dickson was really a

woman named Christian Caddell, who had for several years been dressing as a man in order to be a Witchfinder. On 4 May 1663, Christian was sentenced to transportation to the plantations of Barbados and was never heard of again. Janet, a poor elderly victim of superstition, has been arrested, denied any help from her family and friends; accused of witchcraft, likely faced the horrific treatment of the Witchpricker and is starving in prison three years after her initial arrest. We don’t know what happened to poor Janet and there is no further mention of her in any records. As sourced from: Tain and Balnagown Documents Vol2, No. 1158 & 1165 Tain and Balnagown Documents Vol1, No. 238 The register of the Privy Council of Scotland. 3rd ser.:v. 1 1661/1664.

“All sorts of antics would take place during the carnivals. One in particular I remember was of John Mackenzie, plumber and fire master, dressed up as a fairy, and entered into the fancydress competition as the “Fendom Flyer”. He had fixed an endless rope from the top of the town clock down to one of the pillars at the entrance to the Royal Hotel. When his name was announced as first prize winner, he ’flew’ down on a pulley coming to rest safely in front of the Carnival Queen, climbed the steps to receive his prize, stepped back, missed the step and fell, receiving great applause from all present. What they didn’t realise until the following day, was that he had broken his ankle! Incidentally, from that occasion onwards he was known as “Flyer” as was his son, Malcolm, in true Tain fashion.”

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