Issue #259 | Tain & District Picture Post | July 2022

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

THE FIRST AND LAST DOG OF JOHN THE WILD FOWLER

JULY 2022

The story of the late John Skinner of Inver, and his dog Thatch. p18

PHOTOS: TAIN AMATEUR SWIMMERS

Photos of several Tain Amateur Swimming Club members celebrating their Spring achievements. p17

CORONATION SOUVENIR

John A Gordon shares a memento presented to school children at the time of the Queen’s coronation. p12

GLENMORANGIE DISTILLERY EXPERIENCE

Enter our Highland world, where all tastes are possible. Swirling with aroma and flavour, the Glenmorangie Distillery is the beating heart of our wondrous whisky creation. Here you will meet the Distillers of Tain. Deeply versed in our anything-ispossible style of whisky making, these men and women possess skills built over generations. Truth be told, we couldn’t create our delicious whiskies without them.

DISCOVER OUR WORLD

Immerse yourself in the art of our whisky making. In the company of our passionate guides, see how we use barley, water, wood and time to bottle the taste of our imagination.

Discover the flavours that 100% Scottish barley and our uniquely mineral-rich spring water bring to our whisky. Gaze up at our copper stills, the tallest in Scotland, with necks the same height as a giraffe. See how they take our whisky on a longer journey, for a lighter spirit, with more ‘space’ for taste and aroma. Then, in the darkness of a traditional warehouse, explore our endless quest for the best casks. Cut from 100-yearold oaks, they slowly pass their incalculable flavours on to our whisky.

ORIGINAL TOUR

Get to know our creamy, complex single malt as you trace the journey of our signature whisky, The Original, through our Distillery. Scent the fruity aromas that emerge in our lighter spirit and see the bourbon casks in which our whisky mellows for 10 years. Finish with a two dram tasting from our Core Expressions 1 hour, £18 per person, 2 dram Max 12 per tour - Children welcome

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

January – March & November – December: Monday – Friday, 10am & 2pm

COCKTAIL CONNECTION

Want to try whisky a different way? Join our resident mixologist in our stretch tent for cocktails and learn new ways to enjoy the complex flavours of our single malt.

1hr, £20 per person, 2 cocktails Over-18s only

June – September: Monday - Friday, 4pm

INNOVATION TOUR

Dive into our experimental side on this in-depth flavour adventure. Begin with a dram of our signature whisky The Original. Then explore our relentless quest to create new flavours by experimenting at every turn. As you tour, enjoy three of our most ground-breaking single malts.

1.5 hours, £45 per person, 4 drams Max 12 per tour - Over-18s only June – August: Daily 3pm

PRIVATE TOUR

Bespoke Tour for you and for your group tailored to your guests knowledge, intrigue whether newcomer to whisky or an aficionado. Full Distillery tour & sensory experience finishing with a tasting journey through from our Core range, Prestige and cocktail for the complete Glenmorangie Experience.

1.5 hrs £600 by advanced booking only, Max 12 per tour

May – September: Monday - Friday 2:30pm

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking. Please savour our whiskies in moderation.

TAIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES

ask Asda to place a bin.

TAIN AND DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST (TDDT)

Minutes of the Community Council of the Royal Burgh of Tain meeting held on May 30 at 7.30pm.

PRESENT

Mr G Amos (Chair), Mr D Macrae (Treasurer), Ms S Smith, Mr N Akeroyd, Mr G Holdsworth, Mr A Mohan (Vice-Chair), Ms E Houliston, Mr Louden, Mr Rhind, Ms Rawlings –Highland councillors

POLICE REPORT

Apologies from Inspector Matthews to the meeting as he is on annual leave. The Police report was previously circulated and Mr Amos read out the statistics.

MATTERS ARISING

Public toilets – it was noted that that the specification for the repairs of the toilets should be asked for, and how much money was spent. Mr Rhind believed that the toilets were meant to be made of vandal-proof material. Toilets are now open, and the Police are investigating the vandalism crime.

Bin at Albyn house on way to Asda – noted that there still is not a bin in place. It was agreed to

Mr Macrae reported that the recent community market was well attended with 30 stallholders. There is a gardening Grow-aSunflower competition. Tain Task Force did a volunteer recruitment drive. There are going to be more food festivals in the Seaboard villages. There are discussions with other Development Trusts. More work on the Old Picture House required including applying for more funds.

COUNCILLOR REPORT

Mr Louden thanked the public for their support, and will work and try and improve things. Mr Rhind and Mr Louden are in the Administration Group. None of the standing committees in May, June or July. Mr Louden has got in touch with the Chief Executive about the 3-18 campus – the work is more expensive than anticipated. Costs will be discussed at the Committee meeting at the end of June. Local contractors are able to bid for sub-contractor work.

COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY

Alan Ogilvy reported that he was at the meeting to explain about a housing development at Knockbreck and Burgage From. The owner had an offer from a developer and they

accepted. At present the planning application is being prepared. Copies of the development were passed around. There has to be some affordable and self-build housing. Proposals including room for 2 –5/6 bedroom houses. He understands that sewerage has capacity for the proposes development. The full project may take 10 – 15 years. Wish to keep the path between Burgage and Asda. Once the application is in, it can take up to 4 months to process. Flyers and questionnaires were left.

YOUTH REPORT

Noted that pupils from TRA were undertaking a Growing Together for Alzheimer’s project. Mr Amos to speak to Rob Parkes to get a brief outline on this.

CHAIR’S REPORT

Mr Amos reported that the Old Folk’s Party is on Friday, and he asked for volunteers to help. Donations for the raffle prizes are welcome. Mr Macrae to bring along the cheque book. Re the bins on the High Street – hope to get rid of them for the street party.

VICE-CHAIR’S REPORT

Mr Mohan reported on the bike track progress –as a group they can not take on a lease of land but would have to form a community interest group.

FINANCE AND TREASURER’S REPORT

Mr Macrae read out the

balances in the bank accounts.

LETTERS

Correspondence has been received regarding the vandalism of the public toilets. After discussion it was agreed to leave it to the Police to deal with. Mr Rhind/ Mr Louden to check if the CCTV system is working. If you wish to report a crime phone 101, and pick option 4.

PLANNING MATTERS

Change of use to commercial unit and sign at gym – Blar Liath – no comment. Erection of garage – 39 Knockbreck Road – no comment.

COMMON GOOD FUND

Mr Louden still waiting for a reply to his query on land at Blar Liath as it is owned by the CGF. As an aside, Mr Louden to get update on the community windfarm.

UNEXHAUSTED REMITS

Social Media – Mr Holdsworth reported there was a message on Facebook about the state of the Pond at the Links – Mr Amos to speak to Mr McAllister.

Trees and Green Environment – Mr Louden/Ms Rawlings to invite Hamish Torry from Glenmorangie Distillery to the next meeting. A invite has been sent to Ken Robertson of Distillery of Mid-Fearn but no response. Noted some of the weeds at the Mansfield Estate are a foot high. A tree

at Seaforth Road is bending over and could cause damage – Mr Louden to progress. Some grass cutting done perfectly. Tidy Up Tain day tomorrow. Community Paybacks clients are undertaking work around the area –it is hoped they will paint the railings at the Duthac Centre.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The CC were invited to a Service of Thanksgiving at Tain Parish Church on 5th June at 8 pm. Noted disabled access is not good around Tain – pavements not wide enough, but there may be some funds available to improve them.

Traffic calming – 20 mph speed limit, no information – Mr Louden to chase up. Also he can ask about the Police level of staffing.

Note AGM at the next meeting in June.

The meeting ended at 9.30pm.

The date of the next meeting is Monday June 27th 2022.

WATSON (Tain/Invergordon)

Peacefully, at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, with her family by her side, on Thursday 9th June 2022, aged 65 years. (Formerly of Hilton, Balintore). Much loved mum of Mel and David, mother in law of Donald and Shelley, loving granny of Lauren, Fraser, Lexie and Lachlan, loved daughter of Patsy and the late James, dear sister of June and the late Caroline and sadly missed by former husband and still dear friend, Les.

ROBERTSON (Tain)

Peacefully, in Innis Mhor Care Home, Tain, on Friday, 17th June, 2022, Roderick “Roddy” Robertson, aged 86 years of Viewfield Farm, Tain. Founder of Robertsons of Tain. Beloved husband of Liz, much loved father of Donald, dear brother of George and Annie, a loving uncle and a very dear and special friend to many.

IN MEMORY

ROBB (Balintore)

Peacefully, in the County Community Hospital, Invergordon, on Monday, 13th June, 2022, James “Jim” Robb, aged 88 years, 18 Ross Crescent, Balintore. Beloved husband of Alitia, loving father of Rosalind, Douglas and Jacqueline, much loved granda, great-granda, dearly loved father-in-law, dear brother, uncle and loved by all the extended family and friends.

MACKAY (Tain)

Peacefully, in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, on Wednesday, 1st June, 2022, Donald “Donnie” Robert Mackay, 32 Manse Crescent, Tain. Beloved husband of the late “Dora”, a much loved father of Donnie, Heather and Shirley, a dearly loved granda, great-granda, father-in-law, and loved by all the extended family and friends.

MACDONALD (Fearn)

Suddenly but peacefully in his home, “Claonaig”, Sutherland Street, Fearn on Sunday 3 July 2022, Rev. Neil Macdonald, (former Free Church Minister of Hilton, Fearn and Lochalsh Free Churches), much loved husband of Cathie, dearly loved father of Mary, Rona and Niall Iain, dear fatherin-law of William and Alistair, a loving grandpa of Corrie, Finlay, Hannah and Catriona and a wellrespected minister to many.

BROWNING (Balintore)

Peacefully in Mull Hall Care Home, Barbaraville, Invergordon on Monday 20 June 2022, William John Browning (Willie John), formerly of Parkland Place, Balintore. A dearly loved father of John, Evelyn, Caroline, William and the late Isobel, a loving granda, great granda, a dear father-in-law and loved by all the extended family and friends.

MACDONALD/ROBSON (Tain)

Very sadly as a result of an accident at work in Shetland on Sunday 5 June 2022, Liam Stephen Macdonald, 12 Craighill Terrace, Tain, aged 23 years, much loved son of Wendy Robson, doting brother of Lauren, dearly loved grandson of Ally and Rosaline and Willie and Babs a loving nephew and loved by all the extended family and friends.

EDITORIAL COMMENT & NEWS

EDITORIAL COMMENT

From the month of August onwards, the Tain & District Picture Post will become a bimonthly publication.

After a lot of deliberation, we have taken this decision to avoid future breaks or difficulty in getting the magazine out to our subscribers and stockists in a timely fashion.

With young children at home and full-time work commitments, we feel this is the most workable solution going forward to both ensure that the magazine can continue and that the overall quality of the magazine does not suffer.

We remain indebted to everyone who has stuck by the magazine, particularly over the past year which has proved to be a real challenge for us, timewise.

We hope that as well as improving the efficiency when producing the magazine, that this will actually lead to more content in each issue, and an opportunity to explore new ideas for items to include.

As always though, if there is anyone out there who would like help or assist in the production of the Tain & District Picture Post, please do get in touch, either via email to info@tainpost. co.uk or by phone on 01862 857366 between the hours of 9am and 5pm.

Niall Harkiss Editor, TDPP

TAIN AMATEUR SWIMMING CLUB – SPRING NEWS

It’s been great to have competitions back up and running this year! The TASC swimmers have been very busy training and their hard work and dedication is paying off with lots of personal best achievements and medals won!

Back in March, we held our Club Championships at Sutherland Swimming Pool after a break of 2 years! Lots of brilliant swims and great fun by everyone that could attend.

At the end of March a small Team Tain attended North & Midland District LC Meet at Aberdeen Sports Village. All swimmers gained personal best times in all swims and lots of medals gained -

Eleanor Ross - Silver in 400m IM, Gold in 400m Freestyle and Bronze in 200m Freestyle.

Lewis Austin - Bronze in 50m Breastroke.

Alison Wood - 4th place in the 50m Butterfly.

On the 2nd of April Team Tain attended Inverness Graded Meet and again every swimmer gained a PB, lots of medals were won and even a speeding ticket was achieved.

The winners were:

Ross Marshall - Silver in 50m Backcrawl, Silver in 50m Freestyle and a Gold in 50m Butterfly

George Milligan - Bronze in 100m Breastroke

Cora MacAngus - Gold in 100m Backstroke, Gold in 100m Freestyle, Bronze in 100m Breastroke and a Speeding Ticket for the

100m Butterfly and for being the fastest girl.

Shaelynn Pettigrew, Alexandra More, Cuba Nicolson and Elizabeth Connelly - Bronze in the Girls Medley.

Shaelynn Pettigrew, Alexandra More, Cuba Nicolson and Eilidh Fisher - Silver in the Freestyle Relay.

The Scottish National Age Groups (SNAGS) Championships were attended by Eleanor Ross, Alison Wood, Lewis Austin and Liam Macrae under the Highland Swim Team banner in mid-April.

Individual events took place over the 5 days for Eleanor, Lewis and Alison with Liam joining as part of the boys’ relay team.

Strong swims by everyone with Lewis achieving some finals along with Eleanor who also became a Scottish Medalist achieving a 3rd

place finish in the 400m Frontcraw in her age group!

Eilidh Fisher represented Highland on the 23rd April at the Scottish Disability National Open Swimming Championships in Grangemouth and achieved lots of PBs and Gold Medals in the 50m Backcrawl, 50m Freestyle and the 50m Butterfly. She also gained Siler medals in 100m IM and 50m Breastroke and a Bronze medal as part of a Highland/Tayside mixed relay team.

TAIN & DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST

As part of our work to improve health and wellbeing across our communities, we are starting to install some new signage across public/community benches to help break

More photos from TASC on page seventeen.

down the barriers of social isolation and get people talking.

Our ‘Happy to Chat’ benches will carry the message to stop and say hello. Simply stopping to say hello to someone at the Happy to Chat Bench could make a huge difference to vulnerable people in the community.

According to research public benches can help improve people’s mental health and wellbeing. They are often used as a stopping place for those with limited mobility and can also help break down the barriers of social isolation and get people talking.

To start the initiative, in collaboration with the Tain & District Museum and Clan Ross Centre, we have installed the Easter Ross Peninsula‘s first Happy to Chat bench on the grounds of the Collegiate Church in Tain with plans to site another soon with our friends at the Seaboard Centre, Balintore.

This initiative is made possible by money raised through our community

events. If you or your community are interested in having a sign for a bench in your community please get in touch.

LEAF OPEN FARM SUNDAY AT FEARN

The Leaf open farm Sunday at Fearn Farm was a huge success, with several families attending.

A spokesperson for the farm said: “We really enjoyed showing everyone around the farm, explaining what we do. We’d like to say a well done to our team and everyone else who helped make the event happen including Stuart Wilson who had various bits of machinery on display.

“It was great also to have the RHET highland trailer with its informative posters and cow ready for milking.”

Visitors were treated to a tractor pulled tour of the sheep and cow fields on the farm, before they took in a display of farm vehicles and equipment.

The action wasn’t all contained outside, as the farm welcomed Ryan

Maclean and Freddy Fulford to carry out some shearing for onlookers, with Nellie rounding a puckle of sheep up.

TAIN GALA ASSOCIATION UPDATE

Well that’s Tain Gala 22 over for another year! Despite the rain, we still managed to do all we had arranged for the programme. It was lovely to see the floats parading down to the links from the High Street behind the pipe band and Queen, Attendant and Prince in the horse and carriage kindly pulled by 2 of the Shire horses who performed layer in the afternoon.

The pipe band had to retreat to the bar! Where else?

Playing a couple of spots, followed by Highland Dancers and Ruairidh Gollan and Megan Mackay - fantastic performances by all under difficult circumstances.

The YMCA provided a lovely breakfast or afternoon tea for everyone

and there was plenty craft stalls, inside and outside to browse through.

Alasdair Mackintosh had a great time comparing for the Soap Box Racesmade all the more fun due to the rain and he returned in the evening as Almac Sound supporting act to the Anne Dixon band.

The massed pipe band played on the High Street before being given permission to disband from the Gala Queen.

Thank you again for the support shown to us by the public who braved the torrential rain and to all our helper volunteers, whose help is much appreciated by all the committee members making the Gala the success it is.

We look forward to seeing you all next year!

SEARCH FOR TAIN MAN

FINN CREANEY GOES ON

THE search for an Easter Ross man posted missing exactly three months ago today is continuing with an appeal to well-wishers to share his information as widely as possible.

A dedicated group has been set up to help coordinate the search for 32-year-old Finn Creaney, of the Tain area, who was last seen on March 25.

He was last seen around 2.15pm on Friday, March 25 at Altnaharra in Sutherland near Loch Naver. The experienced bushcraft enthusiast was posted missing on March 28.

Anyone who may have seen Finn or have any information at all is urged to contact Search for Finn Creaney FB Page OR Police Scotland on 101 or speak to any officer quoting reference 0912 of 28 March.

BOOK FESTIVAL CONFIRMS 2022 RETURN

St Duthac Book and Arts Festival, which held its first event last year, will run from September 22 – 26 with a varied and exciting programme planned.

The festival, which takes its name from the patron saint of the town – St Duthac – is said to be the first of its kind to be held in Tain or the surrounding area.

Festival goers will be invited to attend events over the five day festival with authors, storytellers, musicians, poets and artists from across the area and beyond taking part.

Venues across the Easter Ross peninsula, such as castles, churches, hotels and village halls, will this year play host to awardwinning local writers as well as exciting names from further afield.

Family friendly events are also planned, and there will be the welcome return of the hugely popular pop-upbookshop in Tain.

The festival will feature iconic local tales as part of the celebrations for Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.

To help bring some of the stories to life, there will be walks and talks in several of the stunning and historically important places where the stories are set.

Festival chair Catherine Williams said: “The group has brought together an impressive line-up to take part in this year’s Festival. There is something in the programme of events for everyone and we are

thrilled to be part of Museums and Galleries Year of Stories 2022.

“Once again the group is pleased to be working with Nigg Book Fair, whose event takes place on Saturday September 24, and with local schools where authors will once more visit to encourage and entertain pupils and staff.”

Marie Christie, head of development at VisitScotland said: “We are delighted to be supporting St Duthac Book and Arts Festival through the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund.

“Events play an important role in our communities as they sustain livelihoods and help to celebrate and promote our unique places, spaces and stories.

“Themed Years are all about collaboration and Museums Galleries Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund and VisitScotland are pleased to work in partnership to create this fund to showcase community stories.

“By supporting events taking place within our communities, including St Duthac Book and Arts Festival, new opportunities with be provided for locals and visitors to come together and find out more about the diverse stories, past and present, that our communities have to share.”

The festival committee has secured funding from a

range of bodies to enable the festival to take place, including the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund, Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Fund (through Edderton and Kilmuir and Logie Easter Community Councils), Arnold Clark Community Fund, Balnagown Estates Ltd, North Highland Initiative and Global Energy Group.

Further details of the Festival are expected to be released soon.

CORONATION SOUVENIR FROM 1953

The following souvenir, from 1953, was sent to us by long time TDPP subscriber John Gordon, Inverness.

When the Queen was crowned in 1953, the school children in Tain were presented with souvenirs’ and I still have mine.

The first photo is of the New Testament Bible with its paper cover open and the Complimentary Card which was inside.

The second photo shows the Bible and the Propelling Pencil with

its cardboard box. The pencil was never used. and the spare lengths of lead are found by unscrewing the Crown.

The third photo shows a Souvenir Envelope & the back and front pages of a Lords Day Observance Society Booklet.

The fourth photo shows the back of the souvenir Envelope with a Stamp indicating that the envelope was issued with the Authority of the British Philatelic Association & the Philatelic Traders Society.

Tain Task Force got their baskets up around the town last week.

Thanks to all who helped at the polytunnel and down the street.

Thanks especially to the cherrypicker and the fire service, without them we couldn’t get the job done.

The baskets and planters are settling in well now.

History of Tain Royal Academy MURDO MACKENZIE

most influential of western cattlemen.”

By Heather and David McAllister

the Matador Land and Cattle Company (founded in Dundee in 1882) which owned 100,000 acres and had rights over another 1,500,000 acres. It ran 40,000 head of cattle and 265 horses.

and Saskatchewan, Canada. The cattle were eventually sold in eastern markets such as Chicago. At this time a town called Murdo, after Mackenzie, was established in the South Dakota “Badlands” at the rail head where his cattle from his overland trails transferred to trains.

CATTLE ranges, trails, cowboys, settlers, cattle barons, ranchers, rustlers; this is the stuff of 1950s, 60s & 70s Hollywood but few realise that Scots were at the centre of these events and an ex-pupil of TRA, born on a croft in Edderton, was the most important of the late 19th century cattlemen.

1850 – Murdo Mackenzie was born at Rhamore, Edderton on 24th April. He was the second son in a family of eleven (7 boys & 4 girls).

1863-69 – Went to TRA

1869 – Left TRA and studied law for one year and then took a job as a legal agent in the bank in Tain. He left this to take up the post of Assistant Factor in Balnagowan estate, then in the ownership of Sir Charles Ross.

During this time his

parents moved to the larger lowland farm, Craigroy, where his father, brother and nephew farmed, in turn, until the middle of the 20th century.

1876 – Murdo married Isabella Stronach MacBain. They had three sons and two daughters.

1885 – Impressed with his skills as a land manager he was recruited by the Prairie Land and Cattle Company (which had been founded in Edinburgh in 1880). He and his family moved to Colorado.

1886-7 – Disastrous winter – large numbers of cattle died in blizzards in the northern United States and as a result many cattle companies failed.

1891 – He accepted the post of manager at

1892 – Murdo Mackenzie developed a system of wintering 2 year old Texas cattle on northern grass in Wyoming, South Dakota

1906 – The “Hepburn Act”, controlling railroad fares and conditions for shipping cattle, was passed after Murdo Mackenzies’ testimony

“The

to Congress. President Theodore Roosevelt called Mackenzie “the most influential of western cattlemen”. He and the President became friends.

1908 – Roosevelt appointed Mackenzie to the National Conservation Commission which compiled an inventory of U.S. natural resources and made policy recommendations on their management.

1909 – David George (Dode) Mackenzie, Murdo’s eldest son and manager of the Dakota Division of Matador, was shot in a bar room brawl, the details of which are still disputed.

1911 – Murdo to became head of the Brazil Land, Cattle and Packing Company.

1912 – The family moved to São Paulo where Murdo oversaw millions of acres and 300,000 head of cattle.

1913 – President Roosevelt visited Brazil and while there stayed with the Mackenzies and picnicked on the prairie with them.

1918 – Returned to USA and was elected a director of Matador and remained in this position until 1937.

1923 – He became a Director of the Denver branch of the Federal Reserve Bank, a post he held until 1935.

1939 – Died in Denver. on 30th May.

Murdo Mackenzie was a man of contrasts. He was an astute business man and strict disciplinarian. He bannied drinking and

gambling on the range and refused to tolerate disobedience in his employees.

Despite living in very troubled times in the west he never carried a gun. At home he was a humorous and hospitable friend and father. He enjoyed social events and played the fiddle for dances.

However his story doesn’t end there. In 1992 a book was published in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and finally in English. It was “The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck”. Chapter 3 is called “The Buckaroo of the Badlands”. In this chapter the young Scrooge McDuck goes to Montana where he’s hired to guard cattle for none other than Murdo Mackenzie who gives him his horse, Hortense.

One night an important bull is stolen and in order to get the animal back Scrooge follows the bandits to the Badlands where he meets Theodore Roosevelt for the first time. Scrooge succeeds in taking the bull back.

So in Murdo Mackenzie from, Edderton we have the only ex-pupil of Tain Royal Academy that we know of:

• to have advised an American president.

• to have a town named after him.

• to have appeared in a Disney cartoon!

Correction: In the May TDPP article on TRA buildings the Rector standing at the door is Mr Arthur Smyth not Mr Hay.

Another Book Written by Tainite

Hamish Ross

HAMISH Ross was brought up during the years of the second World War and he attended Knockbreck Primary School and then Tain Royal Academy.

After completing his National Service in the Royal Air Force, he worked in the Scottish education system in both Schools and University, latterly he was a Senior Official in Educational Administration.

Hamish then became an Author, and his first book was a biography of Paddy Mayne, the revered leader of the wartime SAS.

He then wrote Freedom of the Air an inspiring story of a Czech Airman and his dog that flew with him in Bomber Command. Interestingly, Hamish was awarded the Commemorative Medal by the Czech Republic for writing Freedom in the Air, which was presented at the Czech Embassy in London. However, the Czech Squadron involved in the story was stationed at Tain.

His next book was From SAS To Blood Diamond Wars with the legendary Fred Marafono. Another of Hamish’s books is Wrongs Hushed Up which is a collection of nine short stories and which in some, there is a reference to Tain.

Most of the above has previously appeared in different issues of the T&DPP.

Hamish has recently had another book published - Baden Powell’s Fighting Police the S. A. C. (South African Constabulary) This Was The Boer War Unit That Inspired The Scouts. This book has been released by the Pen & Sword publishers.

The writing of this book started when Hamish who was in the 1St St Duthus Boy Scouts in Tain, discovered that his Grandfather served in the SAC in the Boer War, and he questioned him about it.

Beginning with what he learned from his Grandfather, Hamish has carried out a great deal of detailed research and his findings are explained in the book.

I have started to read this book and find it is going to be a history lesson for me.

Strangely, the terrible things that happened to the Boer Civilians were carried out by the British Army and Inspector General Baden Powell issued direct orders to his Unit not to do what the British Army were doing.

Now today, terrible things are happening to Ukrainian Civilians which are being carried out by the Russian Army in an attempt to Annex Ukraine.

John A Gordon 10 June 2022

ISSUE #52

Capturing a Coastal Narrative

Last month I talked about the benefits of keeping it local and looking for the beauty in your immediate area. (I also referred to petrol approaching £1.70 a litre. The good old days, eh?!) This month I thought we’d expand on that theme

THROUGH THE LENS MARK JANES

and focus on one thing that largely defines our area, and that you’re never really far from in Easter Ross; the Coast.

The great thing about photographing the coast is that there is something for you to capture, almost irrespective of the type of photograph you like to make. Landscapes, seascapes and the sky all make perfect subjects to capture around the coast. Our ever-changing weather

and spectacular skies mean that you can go back to the same location over again, and never get bored with the photos you capture. Every day is different.

For me, however, one thing that makes the coast interesting is the human element. People have been drawn to the coast for thousands of years, making the most of its natural resources for food, transport and trade, as well as gaining spiritual and physical

renewal. It is this human element of the coast that I find makes a great challenge to capture photographically. I’m rarely happier than when I have a couple of hours to spare wandering, usually alone, around a coastal town or village, looking for clues to the location’s past. What brought people here? Was it fishing, ship-building, the area’s location on the mouth of a river? Perhaps there was a ferry here in the past?

Coastal communities, like most places, have not stood still over time. A coastal village today may be a very different place compared to 50 or 100 years ago. Wandering around with the camera and a keen eye can reveal some of these echoes and ghosts of the past.

How To Capture the Story of a Coastal Location

The challenge with this type of photography is to avoid spreading yourself too thinly. This can be a recipe for timewasting and frustration. I normally try to limit myself in several ways; I’ll pick a subject (for example, coastal architecture or artefacts) and I’ll usually choose just one lens or focal length. I’ll typically choose one lens aperture (f/stop) and leave everything else on “Auto”. This way I can concentrate on letting my eyes do the wandering, seeking out those “photographer’s shots” that many people might miss, without having to worry about the camera or its settings.

Sticking with just one focal length, as well as giving you less to have to think about, will give your photos a consistent look and feel. Capturing the spirit or story of a coastal location will rarely be achieved in just one shot (although if you can achieve that, congratulations to you!). So

having a consistent look to your pictures is important, allowing them to form a “body of work” that tells your story.

Although it can be outside many photographers’ “comfort zones”, capturing pictures of people can really bring your coastal photography to life. Fisherfolk landing their catch or maintaining their boats can be real characters with stories to tell. So do approach them and ask before photographing. It’s the polite thing to do and you might just reveal an interesting story or two. Just bear in mind that this is these folks’ working environment, so be conscious of not getting in the way or wasting time. Once you’ve got your set of photos, why not consider using one of the print-ondemand services to produce a small photo-book. Services such as Blurb or Bonusprint are very easy to use online, and can yield a beautifully presented keepsake of your photos at an affordable price. (Other suppliers are available).

Whatever you choose to photograph around our coast, remember that you don’t have to travel to the ends of the Earth to find it. That “hidden gem” of a photo might be hiding in plain sight, right in front of you!

I hope you enjoyed this article about coastal photography. Why not join our local photography Facebook group? Just look for “Tain and District Online Camera Club” and you’ll find us. You’ll see some great examples of coastal photos from many local photographers and, hopefully, some inspiration too. See you next month!

TAIN YMCA HELPERS AT FOOD FEASTIVAL

Photo credit: Mark Janes (also front cover)

TAIN AMATEUR SWIMMING CLUB

The first and last dog of John the Wildfowler

saga of the on goings to renovate his house but that’s another story.

For some reason or other, my husband and John always seemed to end up in the Inver pub!

Evelyn Cumming, Nairn

never been to school, and therefore, could speak little or no English. Her language was Gaelic. This old lady was very fond of a pinch of snuff, a habit she tried to conceal from her neighbours. Mind you, though ,it was well nigh impossible, because the colour of her nostrils gave her away.

snuff that was worrying me.”

I gave her the snuff, securely wrapped in two wrappers and tied with a piece of thin twine.

This is a story written by the late John Skinner of Inver, in the 50s. He was a fishing and shooting friend of my late father-in-law George Cumming of High Mills. My late husband Garry knew him through that association and I met John when we holidayed at St Catherine’s Cross, Fearn, when John worked at Loch Eye House for Admiral Prickett and Colonel Hill.

John was a very interesting character, regaling many stories he spoke and wrote well in Gaelic, and wrote a lovely poem about his ‘friend Cumming’ when George died in 1957 aged 52 years.

I also met his beloved dog, Thatch. He taught the dog to sit on a chair at the table with a paw on either side of the dog’s dinner plate and bow its head till John said Grace.

When it came to the Amen, Thatch would gobble down his dinner. I also enjoyed the

My dog Thatch and I live by ourselves in an old-fashioned cottage on the shores of the Dornoch Firth, a strip of water that separates part of Ross-shire from Sutherlandshire, and a beautiful stretch of water it is, nestling beneath the rugged Sutherlandshire mountains, and although I view this Highland scene from my cottage window every morning, its beauty throughout the changing seasons of the year never fail to fascinate me.

Now, first of all, I’m going to tell you about my oldfashioned cootage which is one of the few remaining of its kind throughout the Scottish Highlands. It has a fire-place in the centre of the floor, and a huge open chimney arrangement made of clay and fir saplings, where the smoke finds it way out on its own without the aid of vents or artificial draughts. Sometimes, of course, and mch too often for my liking, an adverse wind blows half the smoke out the chimney, and the other half finds its way out through the window or door.

It was in a cottage similar to mine, that I remember now well over thirty years ago, an old woman named Annack used to live. She had

In those days, snuff was considered to be a great luxury. It was fourpence halfpenny per half ounce, and, when I began work at the age of fourteen, in a nearby town, six miles away, Annack entrusted me with the secret assignment of bringing her home a half ounce of snuff from the chemist’s shop every Friday. Also, if she had saved a little money, I’d be asked to bring her a black pudding from the butchers.

I can well remember, when on one of these secret snuffbuying missions. I entered Annack’ s thatched cottage to find her room so filled with smoke that I could hardly draw my breath. In fact, I could scarcely see her sitting by her fire of whin sticks, upon which there was sizzling a frypan containing the remnant of a black pudding I had brought from the butchers a few nights before. Poor old Annack! That was her one and only table delicacy, her chief food being potatoes, meal and salted herring.

After I managed to get my breath, I remarked to Annack in Gaelic.

“It’s awful the smoke you have tonight, Annack. It’s like to choke me.”

To which, came the following reply, also in Gaelic - “Ach, what’s a little smoke? I’ve had it for the best part of eighty-six years. lt’s whether you would remember the

The twine was too fine for Annock’ s gnarled fingers to undo the dainty package the proper way, so she pierced the package with her thumb nail, and took a sniff direct from the package, and then carefully placed it on a saucer. After that, she began to examine, with the aid of a lighted whin stick, the black pudding she had on the frying pan, when, suddenly, down came a lump of soot from her thatched roof right on to the frying pan.

“Look, Annack,” I said, “Look what has fallen on the frying pan! You can’t eat the pudding now.”

“Why not?” said Annack. “What difference will a little soot make, isn’t it black whatever, and besides it is the only sauce I can afford.

And Annack, quite unperturbed, removed the soot covered pudding on to a plate, and started to enjoy her evening meal.

I could tell you plenty more stories about bygone days, but, instead I must tell you about my dog Thatch and why I’ve called him such an unusual name.

It was very stormy on the day I brought him home, as a seven week’s old puppy. I brought him from a mansionhouse some three miles away. My own cottage had a thatched roof at the time, and, just as I was entering the door with the puppy in my arms, down came a lump of thatch right on to his head. So, ever since then, l’ ve called him Thatch, seeing as he was - as it were - christened with it.

Now a dog means a great lot to me, not only as a pal,

but also as a hunter. Part of my Iivelihood depends on hunting wild duck or goose, during the winter months, and without a good dog, all my hunting expeditions would be of no avail. You see, very often, Thatch has to swim out in deep muddy pools, inaccessible to me, in search of a duck or goose, and you should see how triumphantly he brings them to me with an attitude as if to say - there you are, Boss, if you can’t do it, I can.

Nothing pleases Thatch better than to go wild duck hunting, and immediatelky, he sees me making the necessary preparations, such as changing into my thigh waders. He just goes wild with excitement.

Our best time to go wild duck hunting is at dusk. It’s then that Thatch and I will conceal ourselves in some cavity, hacked out by the raging seas, and wait for the duck to come.

Thatch always sits on my right, practically motionaless, except from his head turning in all directions to see if there any signs of approaching duck.

In the semi-darkness, he sees them long before I do, and will then remain perfectly still and motionless, waiting to see if they will come near enough for me to bring one home for the pot.

Frequently, oyster catchers pass our way, and although, it is somewhat difficult to distinguish them from duck in the semi-darkness, still Thatch takes no notice of them, as he knows perfectly well I would never bring home an oyster catcher for the pot.

Indeed, their hautning, melancholy cry is music to my ear, when Thatch and I have a quiet stroll along the shores of the Dornoch Firth during the tranquility of a summer’s evening.

One bad habit Thatch has, and no matter how often I scold him for it, he still persists in doing it at every available opoportunity. His bad habit is, that, when on our way to the wild duck hunting ground, he comes across a dead seagull or any other half-rotten sea bird on the beach, and he will roll himself over it several times, thus bringing with him a most objectionable odour.

Now I’ll tell you why Thatch does that – it is simply due to the fact that it is his original hunting instincts being revived. Dogs used to hunt for their own food in the wide open spaces, and, us all creatures of prey have a very keen sense of scent, and all dogs have a somewhat doggy odour, - well Thatch’s motive for rolling himself on those dead birds, is to try and remove the doggy odour, as his forebears did centuries ago, in order ro take their prey by surprise, especially when hunting with a down wind.

One thing I know that puzzles Thatch and that is why do I never try to bring home a nice big fat shell duck for the pot. This is simply because their flesh being imbued with a somewhat salty tang, they are not very good to eat, and, apart from that, they lend so much charm to the beach during the summer months, that I’d never think of hunting the shell duck.

The shell duck is a very gaudily coloured specimen of wild duck, the predominate colours being white, gold and black, and they love to sport themselves at the mouths of river estuaries where there is usually an abundance of washed up sea shells. They invariably feed on middy scaups (?) and, would you believe it, children, that a duck like the shell duck, who loves to live

in such conditions, actually builds its nest and hatches out the young ducklings inside rabbit burrows.

This is because, if it were to nest in the open like other birds, its gaudy colours would be too obviously displayed and make it a victim of prey for its numerous enemies.

Most birds at nesting time choose environments similar to their own colourings. Of course, I know there are several exceptions. In the case of the shell duck, if it were to choose a suitable environment for its nest, it would need to be something like a clump of fully blooded daffodils, and that would be out of the question, so it goes for the rabbit burrows.

Now, I will tell you somethine of the young shell ducklings, and they are the most fascinating, delightful creatures I know of. If you could only see them on a summer’s evening, preening themselves, or better still, sunning themselves on a river bank, you would be intrigued beyond words. They look so important in the first of their gaudy colours, lined up like toy soldiers beside their parents with a somewhat ‘who but I’ or Monarch-of-all-I-surveyattitude, it is little wonder therefore that the Gaelic for the shell duck “Eoin breck shickach” is directly associated with its young moaning “the tartan chicken, of the shells.”

Now I’m going to tell you a story about Thatch, when he was just over a year old, five years ago, and we had been out wild duck hunting at the mouth of a river estuary on a stormy night in November.

I sent him to retrieve a duck that had fallen some distance away in the water.

Thatch also saw the duck falling, and required no coaxing to plunge into the icy cold water in search of

the duck. It was getting dark at the time, and I knew I had made a mistake in allowing Thatch to go after the duck. To make matters worse, there was a strong current at the time, in accordance with the ebbing tide.

I watched Thatch until he disappeared from my view, and then my worst fears were realised; he’ll never make it, I thought, and I stayed on the river bank until it was pitch dark, blowing my whistle repeatedly, but there was no sign of Thatch. I returned home with a heavy heart, and very angry with myself for allowijg him to go after a duck in such stormy water. After I had lit the fire, and prepared myself a hurried meal, I felt so perturbed over Thatch that I couldn’t rest myself, and decided to go back to the estuary about a mile away, to see if I could find any trace of him, and if necessary, stay out all night.

But I didn’t need to leave the house, for, just as I was preparing to leave, Thatch came into the house, and it was both pathetic and comical to see him in the centre of the floor, covered all over with mud, and blood dripping from a gash on his nose, with the duck in his mouth, and an expression in his eyes, which seemed to say, “Here’s your dinner after all, Boss. Trust a pal like me never to let you down.”

From that very night, I’ve become greatly devoted to Thatch, a devotion that will remain deep in my heart until the end of my days. I wouldn’t part with Thatch –no, not for all the gold and silver ever produced, and although Thatch has never told me, I am quite certain he wouldn’t exchange the old-fashioned cottage on the shores of the Dornoch Firth for the most luxuriously furnished mansion house in the whole world.

Childhood memories of Inver, an interview

Below are some extracts from an interview conducted between Nellie Haddow nee Skinner and Marie Macleod, October 1986.

INTERVIEWER: Have you always lived in Inver?

NELLIE: No, I was born in Inver and left in 1939

INTERVIEWER: What year were you born?

NELLIE: I was born in 1908, in this actual house that we are in now

INTERVIEWER: You will have lots of memories of what Inver was like at the turn of the century. Was it as big as it is now?

NELLIE: No, No, a lot smaller and all the houses, except two, were identical. They were all very much the same, a room, a kitchen and a tiny bedroom. The kitchen was actually a living room cum kitchen. We had no running water and no electric light. The water came from the well and paraffin lamps. Coal fires mostly sticks were burned. We went to the Korrich for the whine. The men went to the woods for “ceeps”, (there was a wood up at Arbol, it was cut down during the First World War). “Ceeps” were the roots of the trees, they used to dig them out and bring them home. They made beautiful fires, just like coal.

INTERVIEWER: Was Gaelic your first language?

NELLIE: Yes, my granny taught me the Gaelic, according to my parents. I could speak Gaelic before I could speak English. I must have been a problem because the first words I picked up from her were the words she often said

to me, “The mi naire leat, cuiridh mi sa mhuirthu”. (I am ashamed of you, I’ll put you in the sea). In school, we spoke English. My father and mother spoke Gaelic and I went to Gaelic services with my people.

INTERVIEWER: Did the whole of Inver speak Gaelic at that time?

NELLIE: Yes, all my generation spoke Gaelic, but not now, very very few speak Gaelic now.

INTERVIEWER: Were there many children in the village?

NELLIE: There were big families, but we didn‘t have a big family although the majority had.

INTERVIEWER: What kind of clothes did the ladies wear?

NELLIE: They all wore different clothes. In my generation, they wore capes and wee black hats with sparkly bits in them, like mutches, but they were black. They were very dressy. That was in my grandmother’s day. In my mother’s day, it was different. My mother was small, slim and very petite and she always wore Queen Mary’s style. Coming from Inver, as she did, I suppose this is very hard to believe, but she had a great flair for millinery and she copied Queen Mary’s “touck” as she called them and always made them up herself and then wore them. The “touch” was made from either velvet or whatever material she had. I can remember her in a black coat with a little askrakan collar. She was very conscious of her dress. Coats had come into fashion then and capes had gone out. When I went to school I had

a white pinafore and we all looked just like the “railway children” right down to our boots. The old ladies made our pinafores.

INTERVIEWER: Did you have a resident dress-maker in the village?

NELLIE: No, my mother was the dressmaker in our house. There was no dressmaker. You would have had to go to Balmuchy where there was a Miss Colson and a Miss MacDiarmid who were both dress-makers. Miss MacDiarmid made all my best clothes.

INTERVIEWER: When you say your father and other men of the village were fishermen, did they go away for days?

NELLIE: No. They used to go to the herring fishing. The women went to Yarmouth and Kirkwall, but the first world war put an end to that. My auntie used to go to the fishing and it was grand when they came home with their trunks full of fancy things. They had bought them in other shops which were different from here.

INTERVIEWER: Can you recall any of your mother’s memories?

NELLIE: My mother was a very quiet woman. She had a handicapped sister who was tied to the house. When my father married my mother, he came in here, as my mother couldn’t leave her sister and her old mother was still alive too. There was a lot of people in this house at one time. I don’t know where they all stayed. My auntie was a more outgoing person than my mother. She was a spinster who went to Tain and all around.

INTERVIEWER: I take it

you had to walk to Tain?

NELLIE: He did originally, but then my father bought a pony and trap. We were awfully well—off having a trap. We went to Tain Church as my grandpa was an elder there in what is now known as the Parish Church. It was then the United Free church. Later, in the 30s, there was a bus that went to Portmahomack, so we then attended Tarbet Church. Inver is now in the Parish of Tarbet. During the war, the Fendom Road was closed because of the Aerodrome, which was on both sides of the road. It was suggested that the members of the church which we attended in Tain should join with the Tarbat Church and this was how we came to worship there.

INTERVIEWER: I believe there is an old, ruined village around here?

NELLIE: Yes, but there was nothing there but stones when I was a wee lassie. Evidently, Inver started on the other side of the burn, called the “Ault“ and this would have been the first settlement. It is very sandy along there and there used to be very high sandbanks which have now disappeared. The outlet to the sea was blocked and they came along here. The corner where they are working on the sewerage at the moment used to be a gravel point and this is where the boats were tied up.

INTERVIEWER: Thank you very much for your time and information.

NELLIE: Och time? I have plenty time.

TAIN GATHERING AXED DUE TO MARQUEE PROBLEMS

TAIN Highland Gathering, which was due to take place on Saturday August 13 this year, has been cancelled for a third successive year. The committee decided to cancel the games after a number of set backs, citing a lack of available marquee tents to hold the event as one of the biggest issues.

Gathering organisers have confirmed that they will not be looking at a new date for 2022, and instead will now plan for the 2023 games.

The Tain games were last held in 2019, with both the 2020 and 2021 events postponed due to

the Covid pandemic.

A representative of the committee said: “We are all very disappointed but decided to make the decision sooner rather than later as many folk, trade stands and the athletes taking part, are all making travel arrangements and factoring the day of the games into their plans.

“The biggest problem we encountered was we were unable to hire any marquees. Everything is booked solid and this is largely due to weddings being rescheduled after being cancelled during the Covid pandemic.

“We need the

marquees for the craft tents, dancers and hospitality and if we were blessed with glorious sunshine all day, we could probably manage without them but we all know what the Scottish weather can be like.

“Thankfully we received a quote this morning for marquees for next year so hopefully everything will be good to go for 2023, but even they were saying they are about to close the diary for next year already.”

Organisers offered their sincere apologies to supporters for any inconvenience caused.

WHAT a week it was for St Duthus walking football team.

The club, who formed earlier this year, entered their first ever organised competition on Saturday June 25, taking part in the North Region Walking Football Festival.

The event, which was held at a sunny Canal Park in Inverness, featured teams from all over the North of Scotland.

The games were played in a round robin format with men (over 50s) and women (over 40s) representing their sides.

St Duthus were handed a tough start against a very capable Scone side, who were well organised and won the match 2–1. The Tain men redeemed themselves in the next game against Elgin A with a score draw.

FERRIES AT THE DOUBLE WITH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP AND SENIOR WINS

THE Tain Golf Club Club Championship Finals took place on June 25th with the Handicap Final teeing off at 2:15 and the Scratch Final teeing off at 2:30.

Good mates Rab Walker and Russell Anderson competed for the Handicap Championship and old adversaries Billy Ferries and Graham Mackintosh met for the honour of being this years Club Champion.

Billy was Graham a repeat of this year’s Seniors Club Championship Final, and the outcome was the same with Mr Ferries claiming the trophy, becoming only the second person to win

both the Senior Club Championship and the Club Championship in the same year.

The last person to

achieve this was Peter Moscati in 2000.

Russell Anderson won the Handicap Championship.

achieve this was Peter Moscati in 2000.

Russell

won the Handicap Championship.

Anderson

They picked up their first win of the festival with a 2–0 victory over Drumnadrochit, and hit their stride after that with a resounding win against Portree Pirates – putting their swashbuckling counterparts to the sword with four goals to their name.

A much anticipated Easter Ross derby was to follow as Saints came back from certain defeat to draw with Ross County in the final seconds of the game. Star man Mike Sutherland levelled the scores with a last gasp kick of the ball.

The peak result of the afternoon was a slender yet impressive 1–0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, which was just reward for great play all afternoon from defenders Jeff McDermid and Allan Whiteford who kept a tight ship, capably aided by the safe hands of Brian Macangus in goal.

Elgin B then held St Duthus to a 1–1 draw as the legs began to tire and for the first time on the day,

WALKING FOOTBALLERS HAVE HIT THEIR STRIDE

they drew a blank against Fort William, losing 2-0.

A 2–2 with Lochaber followed, before the day’s festivities were rounded off with a final game against Scone, losing 1–0.

The team continued their week with an exhibition game against Ross County Girls U18s, which featured

a half of walking football and a half of regular football.

Then on Friday July 1, they took part in Gala celebrations in a “red and whites” vs “Tain Sports” walking football cup match, sponsored by St. Duthus FC senior team.

The red and whites took

the spoils on the day with a good time had by all who joined in.

The team has been praised locally for its inclusiveness, with men and women taking part, of all ages.

Sessions continue every Thursday at TRACC. All welcome.