Issue #236 | Tain & District Picture Post | July 2020

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

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

#236 JULY

2020

JULY 2020

SHADI SHOWS RACISM THE RED CARD

IN MEMORY: DEREK WHYTE (1935-2020)

TAIN AS A MARKET TOWN (P1)

Teenager Shadi Ali and his remarkable 100km run in aid of funds for Show Racism the Red Card charity p9

John Gordon recalls the life of the late Derek Whyte in his piece: What a Tainite did with his life after he emigrated to Canada - p14

Margaret Urquhart begins a new series looking at Tain as a market town over the years p22

TAIN & DISTRICT PICTURE POST

PRICE £1.95

WELCOME TO THE

DISTILLERY EXPERIENCE

The Glenmorangie Distillery Tain, Ross-shire IV19 1PZ, Scotland.

On the A9, 45 minutes from Inverness, 1 mile north of Tain.

Tain Inverness

Perth Glasgow Edinburgh

THE ORIGINAL TOUR

1 hour, £8 per person

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

By the tranquil shores of the Dornoch Firth, amidst the golden barley fields of Ross-shire, lies the Glenmorangie Distillery. Here you will find a warm Highland welcome from the legendary Men of Tain, the skilled craftsmen who ensure that Glenmorangie is made in the same unhurried and uncompromising way it has always been through its long and distinguished history.

We offer a range of tours with unparalleled access to the Distillery and its warehouses. With the help of our expert guides you will experience all stages of the whisky making process from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation. Within our Still House (we call it our Highland Cathedral) stand the tallest stills in Scotland, their long copper necks are the same height as a fully grown giraffe! As a result only the lightest and purest vapours make it to the top, giving a smoother, more elegant whisky.

On your visit to our traditional earth floored warehouses we will explain why Glenmorangie has for many years led the industry in the pioneering use of only the finest casks in which to mature our whisky.

As part of your tour, why not visit our own distillery shop?

January - March & November - December: Monday - Friday, 10am & 2pm THE SIGNET TOUR

1.5 hours, £35 per person June - August: Monday - Sunday, 2.15pm Wednesday, 6pm, New for 2019 April - May & September - October: Monday - Friday, 2.15pm (January - March & November December: not available) THE MEN OF TAIN TOUR

2.45 hours, £95 per person

May - September: Tuesday, 9.45am (October - April: not available) THE SUNSET TOUR

1.5 hours, £45 per person

June - August: Wednesday, 6.00pm (September - May: not available) For more information call 01862 892477 email: tain-shop@glenmorangie.co.uk or visit www.glenmorangie.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ONLINE BOOKINGS PLEASE VISIT WWW.GLENMORANGIE.COM Pre-booking is recommended and essential for some of the tours or large groups.

The Glenmorangie Distillery is a working distillery. For a few weeks a year we undergo essential maintenance when tours may be restricted.

Closed for the 2 week period over Christmas & New Year. The information on this advert is valid throughout 2019.

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

TDPP

JULY 2020

EDITORIAL Dear readers,

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K & N CONCEPTS

Welcome to our July edition of the Tain & District Picture Post, which marks two full years since we took the reigns as editors of Tain’s community magazine. We cannot thank everyone enough for continuing to support us since that time.

Here’s to many more years.

It is with sadness that we learned of the passing of one of our readers, Mr Derek Whyte, who having left Tain for Canada, lived a life as “a born adventurer”. It was in Canada that he met and married his equally adventurous wife Karen with whom he shared a life full of unforgettable memories that spanned the globe. Our thoughts and condolences go to his wife Karen and their family. In this issue, we are honoured to share a piece written by John Gordon, who having known Derek since they were both children, tells the story of the remarkable life Derek led.

In lieu of Tain’s big summer events not going ahead this year, we called upon readers of the magazine to share some photos from past galas, carnivals and games. We begin by looking back at one of Tain’s original “carnivals” from back in 1949, when in fact, my great auntie Lewis (Fraser) was crowned as Carnival Queen some 71 years ago. Our thanks go to Tain Museum for making this collection available to us. We have also shared a selection of photographs taken at Highland Gatherings, with a few excellent snaps shared by Willie Laidlaw - all the way from South Bend, Indiana in the United States! The photograph on the cover of this month’s magazine is one from Willie’s collection, picturing his sister, piper Shona Laidlaw alongside former Chieftans Forbie Urquhart and Wattie Louden in 2006.

Lastly, we note the edition of the Letters to the Editor section to the right - please don’t be a stranger! We love to receive emails, letters or notes on previous issues - or indeed something altogether that may be of interest to our readers.

Thank you once again for picking up a copy today, we hope you enjoy reading.

Best wishes, Niall & Lucy

WHERE TO BUY THE TDPP Tesco (Shore Road, Tain) Co-op (Tain High St) Tain Bothy (Tain Post Office) Bannerman’s Seafood, Tain Highland Prime, Fearn Alness Newsagents

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ANKERVILLE STREET On P10 of the current issue you show a picture of Ankerville Street from the East. In the accompanying text you mention a young Monkey Puzzle tree and a “not insubstantial Rookery”.

The tree is now very substantial as is the rookery which has been as large as 30 nests over the 30 years we have lived in Rosebank.

It is nowadays augmented by 10 or more Jackdaw nests making it a very raucous corner of the garden and, thanks to the birds droppings, not a great place to park!

Yours faithfully, David Mack Rosebank

SCOUT CAMP PHOTOS “I refer to Scout camp photo in May edition of TDPP and the associated names from the June edition.

Next to myself, I think the ? is Raymond Smith.

If I recall correctly, the Smith family would not have been in Tain very long in 1954 andlived up Scotsburn Road opposite Arthurville House.

Next to Raymond is Ian (not Jackie) Ross (Jellicoe!)”

Iain Forbes, Stonehaven

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LOCAL NEWS & UPDATES

TAIN COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY POLICING NEWS

TAIN YOUTH CAFE

Lunch Club - We will be open for a “Grab & Go” style lunch club every Monday – Friday of the school holidays providing free lunches for all primary school aged children. Due to current Covid-19 restrictions this will be a lunch bag able to be collected from outside of the Youth Cafe between 12-1 each day – perfect for taking on a picnic!

On Tour - Nicola will be out and about this summer in Inver/ Port (Monday), Fearn (Wednesday), Edderton (Thursday) & Balintore (Friday) starting from Monday the 13th of July. Please follow our social media (Facebook or Instagram) for more details of this as it is subject to current Government guidelines and also daily weather!

We are still hosting the Food Bank, if anyone would like to access it or get some more information please do not hesitate to contact Mandy on 07708 583962 or 01862 328006

TAIN & DISTRICT GARDENERS’ CLUB

At the moment TDGC cannot hold trips or meetings but a full programme has been arranged for the 20202021 season, and will resume when meetings become possible.

For details contact Heather McAllister (892302).

Or find them on Facebook (Tain Gardeners’ Club)

As we move further towards restoring a new normality, we will soon see the opening of pubs and restaurants.

This is welcome news to those who run our local establishments and also to the many of us who enjoy their hospitality. In the meantime we have enjoyed meeting up with family and friends for barbeques and some much welcome time together.

I would like to remind everyone that if they plan to enjoy a drink in the good weather over the summer months to please leave their car at home.

Drink or drug driving remains a cause of much suffering in our communities and my officers are committed to the prevention and detection of this selfish and reckless crime to keep people safe and prevent tragedy.

There is a minimum 12 month driving ban if you are caught, a criminal record, a substantial fine and the possibility of a prison sentence. Drink driving wrecks lives, so it is simply

not worth it for the sake of one drink. Please plan ahead, think about how you are getting home and continue to respect the law, other road users and yourself.

A driving ban can have huge implications when living in a rural area such as ours.

It can affect employment, family life and smaller things like shopping or socialising.

Scotland’s Summer Drink Drive Campaign began on 29 June 2018 and this will see a focus on the issue by officers. We will be carrying out intelligence-led high visibility patrols and roadside checks to detect those driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

Officers will also be looking out for early morning motorists that may still be under the influence from the night before.

These patrols will be carried out by local officers but as ever we will be supported by our colleagues in the Roads Policing Unit. These specialist officers are based in Dingwall and routinely patrol in the Easter Ross

area where they carry out a large amount of work on the A9. These highly trained officers also investigate serious and fatal traffic collisions where science and engineering is applied to assist in determining the cause of such incidents. They are also trained to examine vehicles for any mechanical faults which may have contributed.

I think it’s important that the people of Tain and Easter Ross know that they are receiving the same level of expertise in road traffic matters as anywhere in Scotland.

It’s certainly reassuring to me to have their expertise at hand to help us keep the roads around this area safe.

Please enjoy these summer months and the beer gardens when they open but take a moment to make arrangements for getting home safely. It’s simply not worth it to risk lives by driving while under the influence.

James Rice

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TAIN & DISTRICT FIELD CLUB

COMMUNITY PRAISE FOR ‘GOOD SAMARITAN’ STUART A Tain dog walker became the subject of widespread praise from the community this past month -- after he took the decision to tackle a build up of overflowing dog waste at Aldie Burn.

The Aldie Burn dog waste bin, which is maintained

by Scotland Forestry and Land, had been filled to excess and eventually started to overflow during the months of lockdown, leading to expressions of disappointment from frustrated dog walkers on social media, who took to Facebook groups to criticise “lazy� dog owners, who have been leaving dog mess on the ground next to the bin instead of taking it home.

It was on the 28th June, that “good samaritan�

Stuart Stanyer came to the rescue, and cleared the mess.

This act of kindness was shared on the Tain Community forum on Facebook by long-time Aldie Burn visitor Angus Jack, who said; “To the gentleman Stuart Stanyer who contacted me yesterday and offered to clean up the dog poo mess, a huge thank youđ&#x;‘?for an

excellent job. In future If the bin is full PLEASE take your doggie’s poo home to dispose off, that is the least you can do.�

Stuart, who owns Stanyer Cleaning Services Ltd in Tain, responded on the Tain Community Facebook page, saying, “It wasn’t a problem to do, as I do worse every day for work. But it was getting silly...been there for 2 or 3 weeks. I’m a dog walker, with 2 dogs, and yes...my bags are in there too (in the bin of course!)� “I appreciate the well placed bins around the town. I only emptied this one once, and it was gross, but there’s guys who do this job regularly (yes they’re paid, but I bet they’d prefer a less smelly responsibility), so I hope these guys are appreciated a little more now. “When it comes to stuff like this, its not somebody else’s problem, it’s ours, every single one of us, including me. To not let it get to this again, to use a little common sense, and to take responsibility for ourselves, our community, and our beautiful town and surrounding areas.�

These photographs were taken by a TDFC member who lives just south of Loch Fleet.

This is a comma butterfly which gets its name from the small comma shaped white mark on its outer wing (shown in the second photo).

A butterfly of woodland edges it looks remarkably like a withered oak leaf when its wings are folded. The caterpillars feed mainly on nettles.

This butterfly has an interesting history. In the early19th century it was widespread in England, Wales and southern Scotland reaching Fife on the east coast. In the latter part of the 19th century it suffered a rapid decline disappearing from Scotland and most of England with only a few colonies known in the Welsh Borders. Then in the 1930s it began to expand its range across southern England and up the east coast. By

the time “The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland� was published in 2001 it was again found throughout England, Wales and the Scottish Borders with a few records as far north as Edinburgh. Four years later it had recolonized Fife and there was a single record of a comma in Strathspey.

In recent years it has become established as a breeding species along the Spey and this spring one was found on the coast near Nairn. Then on 12th June this one turned up near Loch Fleet. This is the most northerly record of this species in the British Isles so far. There must be others in between here and Nairn so keep a watch in your garden.

If you see one let us know by e-mailing TDFC@ davidmcallister.co.uk or better still post a photo on our Facebook page (https://www. facebook.com/tain.fieldclub).

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TAIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

TAIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM VIRTUAL MEETINGS HELD (BY ZOOM) IN APRIL / MAY 2020 25 MAY 2020 7.30 PM Present: Mr N Munro (Chair) , Mr G Amos (Vice-Chair) Mr N Akeroyd, Mr G Holdsworth Mr D Macrae, Mr Mohan Mr Louden (Highland Councillor) Planning Glenaldie Farm – farm shed to production of firewood processing – support. Section 42 amendment condition to extend cessation of shellfishing until September 2022. After discussion it was agreed that Mr Munro and Mr Louden would contact Mike Harvey and ascertain more information. If there are any concerns, then the TCC members will be contacted and an objection lodged.

Last Minutes Mr Amos approved the last Minutes of 27 April 2020, seconded by Mr Holdsworth.

Matters arising from the Minutes of 27 April Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Company – the yearly amount has been put in the account - £2,969. Covid 19 Ward Discretionary Grant award – Helen Ross has indicated that the CC was successful in being granted £500 for Covid 19 PPE items. She has made it clear that the CC will have to have receipts for all the funding given. In addition, the CC has been successful in obtaining £1,550 in funding for PPE equipment. After discussion, it was agreed that the money will be distributed as fairly as possible amongst the local schools and Care Home. Final amounts to be confirmed by the next meeting.

Changing Signatories Mr Munro has changed the signatories to the correct people. Insurance Policy renewal – Mr Munro to forward details of the insurance policy renewal to Mr Macrae for progression to payment.

Mr Louden’s report Mr Louden reported that there is going to be a Corporate Resources Committee meeting in June to approve new budgets. He attend the Climate Change Group, and it is hoped that they will be more regular when restrictions ease up.

Virtual Zoom meetings It was noted that Mr Holdsworth has upgraded his Zoom account so the meeting would not

stop after 40 minutes. It was agreed that Mr Holdsworth would forward the invoice for this to Mr Macrae for reimbursement for the payment.

Co-opted members It was agreed to contact Helen Ross to clarify the number of co-opted people who can join the CC. It was also agreed to ask the 3 members of the community to be co-opted on. Again to be confirmed by the next meeting.

Data Protection It was agreed to pay the £40 to the Information Commissioner for Data Protection costs.

Treasurer The unaudited accounts were previously emailed round and it was agreed they were correct. As they were agreed they could be forwarded to Helen Ross and thereafter the annual grant will be forthcoming.

Tain and District Development Trust (TDDT) Mr Macrae reported that community grants has been given to various groups in the Burgh.

Meals on Wheels has taken off from around 53 at the start to over 400 now. 900 packs of toys have gone out to children in the area, and the feedback received have been positive.

The CC congratulated the TDDT for getting the Ecommerce project up and running.

27 APRIL 2020 7.30 PM Present: Mr N Munro (Chair) , Mr G Amos (Vice-Chair) Mr N Akeroyd, Mr G Holdsworth Mr D Macrae, Mrs Robertson, Mr Louden & Mr Rhind (Highland Councillors) Mr Nutt – Tain Youth Cafe Beinn Tharsuinn Mr Munro reported he had emailed Phil Tomalin over the budget available in the Beinn Tharsuinn Community Company, but no reply as yet.

Tain Youth Cafe Mr Nutt reported that the Youth Café (YC) initially worked in partnership with TRA on picnic boxes as some families needed help.

Vulnerable families are contacted regularly.

The YC received a small grant from MFR – Cash For Kids which can be used by families. The Foodbank is inundated with requests for food and the YC space is being utilised. Last year 667 meals were given out the whole year. In the last 4 weeks 457 meals were given to people because of job losses and people wai ting for Universal Credit. There is the opportunity for phone referrals. Mr Nutt gave an invitation for Community Councillor’s to visit the Foodbank on Tuesday or Thursday. Mr Munro thanked Mr Nutt for all he was undertaking for the community. It was noted that HC are offered £500 Ward Discretionary grants for COVID 19 items, and it was agreed that this grant to be applied for PPE equipment. It was noted that the Masked Crusader, an individual who made facemasks and gave them away was continuing this work.

Tain District Development Trust (TDDT) Most of our work has been COVID 19 related.

TDDT have a become Key partner within HC resilience plan taking referrals from their phone hub.

We appealed for Ambassadors and volunteers to help us through the crisis and now have these 15 Ambassadors and 91 volunteers who respond to the requests received from the Highland Hubs or through the Street Ambassadors.

These Ambassadors are issuing information leaflets into every household in Tain and then patrolling daily to check any household that have their green tick up and it has not changed to a red cross. They have also given their contact number to everyone in their area and can be contacted with requests for help. These requests are then coordinated through Mr Macrae either to volunteers or the Ambassadors themselves who do what is required. Thanks must also be given at this stage to the Ambassadors families who are supporting them in this role.

TDDT have received confirmation of funding from Glenormorangie and NHI. £22k has already gone out in funding across the district to support emergency efforts. £9k to food bank and £3.5k to YMCA. TDDT are starting a Meals on Wheels scheme for over 70’s - supporting Seaboard and starting one in Tain. Starts tomorrow in Tain..

Twice a week for the next 4 weeks and then it will be reviewed. The Hub has been closed and all of our resources including staff and money set aside for different projects has been poured

TAIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

into the Covid crisis response.

Tourism project is also top of the TDDT agenda- we are currently working with the tourism steering group and Glenmorangie’s marketing and branding teams to help bring this project forward. A new funding application has been submitted last week to help push this project forward as it is vital for our businesses that tourism is increased as soon as possible. If successful then the money should be with us by June and we can start the public consultations for this project.

We have set up a Community resilience fund where community groups involved in Covid-19 projects can apply for up to £500 at a time That fund is now live. Application, Review panel includes two board members and three members of the public. Coral - Business development Manager has been working with the team to collate the details of all businesses within the district so that she can make contact with them all. Regular newsletters and updates are issued to individual members, business members and also via In The Loop update and via Tain & District Picture Post. E-commerce platform. TDDT are Currently working on building an e-commerce platform to help support businesses in the district. We can either sell vouchers on their behalf, sell their products for them or help to promote their own websites.

Picture house A funding application has gone in recently. This project continues in the background. And only last week we received a quote for restoring power to the building and it is hoped that this work will start as soon as possible given the current restrictions.

Mrs Robertson reported that Highland Council (HC) meetings are held via Skype, although they are trialling Microsoft Teams. There are concerns over the budget situation and there will be an emergency meeting soon. HC are looking to bring back the brown bin collection. It was noted that fly tipping is increasing. Work is ongoing on a key worker testing centre, SQA tests and planning to return to work.

Mr Rhind reported that he thought the Civic Amenity Site should be opened up. It was noted that people can only go out for 3 reason – daily walk, food and medical appointments.

Grass cutting not being down as too many people about.

Mr Louden reported free school meals are being used more in Tain than the rural areas. There was a discussion on who was eligible for free school meals. Mr Macrae asked about 2nd homes being used, and it was noted this was a Police matter.

Mr Amos reported that one of the repaired benches are back in place. A discussion on potential co-optees and 3 have been identified – Andrea Webber, Sandra Smith and Donald Macivor. It was agreed to approach them with a view to asking them to attend the next meeting. Coronavirus and lockdown are still upon us and things have changed for all of us.

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THROUGH THE LENS

THROUGH THE LENS WITH MARK JANES ISSUE #30

FREEDOM BECKONS!

So, the virus is in retreat and restrictions on contact and travel are being relaxed. For most of us this means the chance to re-connect with favourite places and, maybe most importantly, to meet up with friends and family.

This “re-awakening” is a once in a generation event. As we immerse ourselves in the company of those closest to us, and enjoy the simple act of a drink in a pub garden, it will be easy to get caught in the moment and forget what extraordinary times we are living through.

Of course, we all have one tool in our pockets that has a great memory; our camera! So, do take some time to capture some of these rare moments oncamera as you experience them. Even better, take your phone or memory card down to the local supermarket and get those photos printed.

While it can be wonderful to instantly post our photos on social media, and maybe to share them with friends and family a long way away, there is nothing quite like holding a physical print in your hand!

As my children were growing up, my photography consisted mostly of capturing family moments with a small, handy point-and-

shoot camera; holidays, birthdays, Christmas, family get-togethers, etc, etc. The little 6’ x 4” prints from these photos, many of dubious quality, sit in albums which line our book-shelves. One of life’s great pleasures, when the children (and their children) come to visit, is opening these albums and reminiscing over happy times. These days, that handy camera is likely to be our phone – and most of them are capable of producing really good pictures.

But phones break, get lost or go out of date. Don’t trust a lifetime of memories to a tiny box of fragile electronics.

Printing is easy and cheap.

During the lockdown many photographers have attempted to capture the spirit of the times;

rainbows in windows, eerie empty streets, folks clapping the NHS and so on. But, as we experience the fun and pleasure of “unlocking”, let’s not forget that this is very much a part of the whole experience; one we can look back on and share with our children and grandchildren as we remember these remarkable events.

By the time this article is published, most of us will be enjoying much more freedom of action in our photography.

So, from next month, look out for a series of articles revisiting some of the basics of how to create an eye-catching, memorable photo.

Have fun, keep safe and look out for next month’s “Through The Lens”.

YOUNG FOOTBALLER TACKLES RACISM

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YOUNG FOOTBALLER SHADI SHOWS RACISM THE RED CARD Teenage footballer Shadi Ali had been keeping fit during “Lockdown” by running up to six times a week when he decided to channel his energy and fitness into raising money for a cause close to his heart.

In just one week, 16 year old Shadi ran a total of 100km raising almost £800 for the anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card.

Shadi, who is a footballer with St. Duthus FC’s Under 17 team, completed runs ranging from 15-21 kilometres each day to achieve the impressive feat.

Shadi and his family left a war-torn Syria in 2016, and he arrived in Ross-shire at just ten years of age with barely a word of English. He became a pupil at Invergordon Academy, where he began playing football. It was on the football field that Shadi experienced racism first hand, and it was this which made his decision to raise awareness of antiracism charities an easy one.

“I wanted to raise as much money as possible for the charity, Show Racism the Red Card” Shadi said. “It will help them to visit more schools in Scotland and run more workshops to educate children about tackling racism.”

First introduced in Show Racism the Red Card are an anti-racism education charity, who use the high profile status of football to help tackle racism and discrimination in schools, workplaces and society.

Shadi believes the message behind tackling racism is clear.

“Colour, race, religion, nationality - it doesn’t matter.

We are all human beings and

PHOTO: CALLUM MACKAY

there is no room for racism in this world. “ Shadi has experienced plenty of support from the wider community, including the Show Racism the Red Card charity itself, who tweeted their appreciation of his efforts; “Well done Shadi Ali. #ShowRacismtheRedCard appreciate all the incredible support our charity is recieving. Education is the key to end racism.”

The fit and determined Shadi will now be looking forward to the restart of the new football season, where he plays as a right winger for St. Duthus in the Highland Football League North U17 division.

Shadi’s fundraising page is still running and can be accessed at https://www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ shadi-ali To find out more about Show Racism the Red Card, please visit theredcardscotland.org

GRANTS BAKERY Rolls, Baking, Sandwiches & Hot Snacks

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

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NOSTALGIA WITH ALEX GRAHAM

NOSTALGIA WITH ALEX GRAHAM

NOSTALGIA WITH ALEX GRAHAM

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TDPP PRINTING Tickets | Programmes | Posters | Leaflets | Bespoke phone: (01862) 857366 | email: info@tainpost.co.uk

TAIN

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0790 095 8665

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IN MEMORY: DEREK WHYTE

WHAT A TAINITE DID WITH HIS LIFE AFTER HE EMIGRATED TO CANADA Derek Whyte, living with his family at Culpleasant was brought up in Tain. I first met Derek through our involvement with the Boy Scouts as they were called then, and we attended a Scout Camp at Buckie in 1950.

Derek first worked in Donald Leitch’s Grocery Shop on Stafford Street for about nine months, when his brother David who was a Message Boy in Wallace & Frasers, told him that Bruce Ross was leaving Wallace & Frasers to go to Australia.

Derek subsequently applied and got ‘Brucies’ job. Brother David also left to work as an Apprentice Slater with ‘Baggie’, Douglas Rankine took over from him, and I followed Douglas.

In 1955 Derek emigrated to Canada to work for the Hudson Bay Company and he stayed with them for about two years. Life with the Hudson Bay company did not suit Derek, so as he put it, he sullied forth to Calgary which became his base for most of the rest of his life. There he worked for the Telephone Company for a couple of years and then went to Art College for four years. After Graduating he worked as a Custom Hand Weaver and then became the Curator of Calgary’s Art Gallery.

After graduating Derek married Karen, a School Teacher, and they subsequently had twin girls, another daughter and then a son. When the children were 4, 5 and 6, Derek & Karen decided that they would go and teach in a Catholic Mission in

Liberia, West Africa for a two-year period. For many reasons Derek did not enjoy that experience but through the instigation of a native Liberian Bishop with whom they had become friends, they returned for another year, to help Liberian teachers with their teaching methods. Derek found that a much more rewarding experience.

As their children had flown the nest, Derek & Karen left home to go and teach in an International School in Japan, which ostensibly was for a two year period, but after a few months they decided to extend and ended up staying in Yokohama and Kawasaki for ten years. Derek’s wife Karen is a Librarian as well as being an English Teacher and at different times Derek was a High School and Grade Coordinator as well as Teaching Art and French.

Derek wondered what ‘Beefy’ would have thought about that. Although they said that they were ‘home for good’, two years later, Derek and Karen returned to Japan for another period.

During that time, Derek was Editor and Re-writer for a Japanese Financial Management Company, editing and rewriting reports written by Japanese managers. To be able to do that Derek had to learn to operate a Japanese computer keyboard.

The computer typed in English, but the keyboard and directions were all in Japanese. The office which Derek worked from was in the Middle of Tokyo and he rode the train back and

BY JOHN GORDON

fore to Tokyo Station every day. Luck was on Derek’s side on the day of the Sarin Gas attack on the Japanese Railway system. He missed that, as he was on an earlier train.

After returning to Calgary around 2003 Derek & Karen started planning a move to Vancouver Island.

Their oldest daughter was living there in Nanaimo and the weather there is like Scotland’s and the winters are not so long or severe as they are in Calgary.

Around this time Derek was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease but as it was caught early, with new medication

and a watch which buzzed to remind him when to take his pills he managed life at a slower pace. Notice of their new address in Vancouver Island was sent out in July 2007. It was about this time that Derek was introduced to the Tain & District Picture Post.

Through the magazine and the internet, he was able to make contacts with Tainites who knew or remembered him, like me. At his new home Derek developed a passion for gardening, a fence was built to keep the deer and rabbits out, a waterfall was resurrected, and a greenhouse and other

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FUNDRAISING / ROTARY CLUB

features were introduced.

If required, visitors were involved with any heavy work that was required as his Brother Gerald found out on more than one occasion.

About two years ago Derek & Karen returned to Calgary and a new Whyte House which is located near to the largest Rodeo Centre in the world. In 2018 Derek had a fall and broke his Hip but he recovered and with help he managed to move around.

Unfortunately, this year in April he had another fall and was hospitalised during the CODV Restrictions when normal family visits were not allowed. In Scouting vernacular Derek Went Quietly Home on the 1st of June 2020 at the age of 84.

Through the natural progression of life, Derek’s sister and two brothers predeceased him.

He therefore returned to Scotland several times and I met him briefly on one of these occasions. He had not changed much from the time we first met 70 years ago which is verified by the photo below which was taken four years ago in his garden at Vancouver Island.

Derek touched the life of many people worldwide. He was a very genuine person with a rare sense of fun and humour which he never lost.

He did not wish for a funeral service, a wish honoured through a world endemic.

His immediate family which he leaves in Canada, his wife of 56 years, three Daughters, a Son, eight Grandchildren and a Great Granddaughter propose to hold a Celebration of Derek’s life when COVID restrictions will permit. The Party Menu will include Ice Cream and Gin and Tonic which, I am sure, would receive Derek’s Seal of Approval.

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AMAZING ABIGAIL RAISES FUNDS FOR TAIN DEMENTIA RESOURCE CENTRE Nine year old Abigail Earl, accompanied by her 12 year old canine companion Toby, undertook a 2.6 Personal Challenge in June, to raise funds for Tain’s Dementia Resource Centre.

Abigail, who goes to school at Knockbreck Primary, completed two laps of her local housing estate each day for six days, raising over £800 for the local day care.

Abigail’s mother Joan said, “I’m so very proud of her. She was just delighted doing it. It may seem like it’s a short distance, but each night we were going more than a mile. People were banging on their windows, and waving saying how well she did. Her target was £150 and we reached that within the first hour!”

Abigail is still accepting donations via her fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/joan-earl

NEW ROTARY CLUB PRESIDENT

The Rotary Club of Tain and Easter Ross this month appointed Carol-Anne Parker as their new Club President.

Upon the appointment, outgoing President Mark Sutherland-Fisher said on Facebook: “I am sure you will all join me in congratulating Carol Anne Parker for assuming the Presidency of the Rotary Club of Tain and Easter Ross today. We all wish her well and look forward to sharing in the future direction the club takes under her leadership.”

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TAIN CARNIVAL 1949

LOOKING BACK: TAIN CARNIVAL 1949 CARNIVAL QUEEN MISS LEWIS FRASER ACCOMPANIED BY MISS MURIEL SMITH (ARDGAY) AND HELEN CAMPBELL (PORTMAHOMACK)

HERALD WATTIE LOUDEN

CARNIVAL QUEEN MISS LEWIS FRASER PLANTING A TREE AT THE BOTTOM OF CASTLE BRAE, WHICH STILL GROWS TODAY

TAIN CARNIVAL 1949 CARNIVAL PROCESSION THROUGH THE COLLEGIATE CHURCHYARD

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OLD FILE / JOHN GORDON

SUMMER CAMP AT BALCONIE CASTLE

65 Years ago, in July 1955 Tain Scouts held their Summer Camp at Balconie Castle, Evanton from Saturday 9th July to Tuesday 19th July 1955.

18 Scouts in three Patrols attended the whole camp although several other Scouts in the Troop attended on a day basis because of summer jobs which they had.

Prior to the Balconie Camp, several weekend camps were also held at the High Mills and the attached photos record the Scouts who attended the weekend and main camps.

Photo 1 – Group at High Mills, Tain L-R Back Row. Ronnie Duncan, Joe Williamson, Bryan Kneafsey, Ian Cattanach, Stewart Strachan, Robin Cattanach, Derek Sydenham, Billy Grant, Alistair Ross.

L-R Middle Row. David Denoon, David MacKay, Brian Sturrock, George Urquhart, Norman Cooper, Jackie Bird, Billy Gordon,

Terry Duncan.

L-R Front Row. Donald Cumming, Malcolm Anderson, Iain Forbes, Ian Ross.

Photo 2 – Patrol at Balconie Castle, Evanton L-R. Billy Gordon, Murdo MacRae, Trevor Moir, Stewart Strachan.

Kneeling – Willie Forsyth, Iain Forbes.

Photo 3 – Patrol on Rock at Balconie Castle, Evanton L-R. Back Row. Terry Duncan, Willie Waugh.

Front Row. Alan Lawson, John Corbett, Ian Ross.

Photo 4 – Striking Camp at High Mill, Tain L-R . James Moody with Mallet, Ian Ross, Jackie Bird, Stewart Strachan, Joe MacLennan, Trevor Moir.

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HIGHLAND GATHERING OVER THE YEARS

TAIN HIGHLAND GATHERING OVER THE YEARS

HIGHLAND GATHERING OVER THE YEARS

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TAIN AS A MARKET TOWN

TAIN AS A MARKET TOWN (PART 1) The Mercat Cross and Tolbooths dealt with in recent articles existed because of Tain’s importance as a market centre from early times. This was partly due to its position on the coast between the fertile plains of Easter Ross and the relatively wild Highlands of Sutherland and Kincardine. However, it was also because it possessed certain rights and privileges, traditionally granted

by Malcolm Canmore in 1066, although the earliest extant charter (from James VI) dates from 1587/8. This charter concedes that Tain had previously held these rights and confirmed its burgh status including the right to hold markets and 5 fairs - “…with privileges of the free markets following Mydsomer or Feast of St John, St Barquhan’s Day which is the third day after the feast of Peter Ad Vincula called Lambes, the feast of St Duthosius… and the feast of St Makharboche….”

The following descriptions of these occasions in Pre- Reformation (pre1560) Tain are summarised, first, from “Mercat Cross and Tolbooth” by Craig Mair and, secondly, from “Researches into the History of Tain” by the Rev. William Taylor produced in 1882 – The burgh’s piper’s music brightened up fairs and markets; these were rogues, fond of drink and lassies and often sobered up in a tolbooth cell; fairs were originally held on days of religious significance and occurred during the farming season when there was a surplus of produce. On fair days, the whole town centre, sometimes the entire burgh, was filled with jostling crowds, herds of animals, market stalls, entertainers & musicians (pipers, jugglers, dancing bears, acrobats, fiddlers, fire-eaters etc. & various sporting contests), peddlers shouting their wares, alehouses overflowing; a holiday as much as a market; sometimes horse races or archery competitions took place on common land outside the town; Crowds flocked to the great religious festivals held in St Duthus’s Church; fairs or markets were held immediately after in the churchyard and from there extending into the High Street, to which country people carried the produce of their farms and

rude home-made manufactures for sale in little carts with railed sides and solid wheels and then took home their purchases; dealers also came from the far south with all sorts of goods; fairs so important and enjoyable, that even neighbouring proprietors and their families attended; a market guard was appointed under the command of a captain to keep the peace.

A later charter of 1612 re-affirms Tain’s trading rights and names the same festivals, albeit spelt differently, giving their dates, and “also four free weekly markets upon Saturday for buying & selling wine, wax, bread brought and allowed linen & woollen cloth, fishes, flesh, horses, ………., sheep & all other goods & stapel commodities used & accustomed & of transporting packing ………..the same; And also of levying & receiving all & sundry tolls & customs of the sd. fairs & markets…..” Income from rents and customs of goods brought into market were a potential main source of revenue for the burgh.

Moving on to the 18th Century, the following extracts from Burgh Records seem to indicate markets did not always take place regularly and that attempts were made to regularise the market price of goods but were not always successful.

In 1716 a committee was appointed to draw up a scheme for a “flesh” weekly market every Friday and also to erect a “meall mercat”. In 1744 Council minutes listed the following Markets/ fairs - St Duthus mercat, first Tuesday of March; The Midsummer mercat, last Wednesday of June; The Lambas , first Wednesday following 2nd August; The Michaelmas, first Tuesday of October; The Cormack Fair, first Tuesday of December; the St Duthus (Fair?), Tuesday preceding 25th December – and announced that “all to continue each….full three days….clerk to advertise in the Edinburgh Almanack”.

In 1763 a resolution is made “to revive the weekly Tuesday and Friday markets for fleshes and other country products” as these had fallen into disorder and disuse during the Jacobite activities of 1745 and 1746. Then in 1791 once again a committee is appointed to draw up a plan for a weekly market. Several

previous attempts are mentioned and the next year a weekly market was established “for fleshes, vivers [victuals], & country commodities…to be sold only on Fridays at the market place appointed.” 1796 saw the council standardising weight of bread made and sold by bakers. Finally in 1798 it is stated that as a weekly market had been firmly established, tolls were to be charged.

A tragic incident is directly linked to Tain as a market centre as it served not only for most of Easter Ross, but part of Sutherland. The Meikle Ferry was the main link with the latter, being the shortest and most direct route north. On the morning of the 16th August, 1809, the ferry boat was crowded with people (too many as it turned out) on their way to a market in Tain. Half way across the ferry boat capsized and sank, throwing everybody into the water, resulting in 99 people being drowned. There were only 12 survivors. A relief fund (the Meikle Ferry Fund) was launched for the bereaved families and raised £3,300 – a considerable sum for that time. The disaster probably hastened the building of a road bridge between Ardgay & Bonar.

Up to this point, Tain’s market activity was centred in the area at and around the Tolbooth and the Mercat Cross.

However, things were about to change.

On 10th May 1809, Sir Charles Ross (of Balnagown and Provost of Tain) stated to the Council that he had been informed by the Magistrates that “a very great inconvenience arose to the Town from the want of a proper market place for butcher meat, meal, fish and other articles. As all that was present to answer the purpose of a Flesh Market was a small shade built at the end of the Tolbooth, not suitable for the purposes and the place for the market equally inconvenient. That it had been suggested to him, that the property lying upon the south side of the High Street and belonging to Mr. MacLeod of Cadboll and lately possessed by Angus Ross, merchant, and now by his widow extending from the High Street at the North to the back street at the South would be a very convenient and

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TAIN AS A MARKET TOWN

centrical situation for the purposes.”

The back street being referred to was a street parallel to the High Street which later became Queen Street and part of Manse Street. The property in question was in the area now known as Market Street but at that point in time there was in fact no through street. The property was acquired* and an area was duly set aside for the purpose of the market and walled off and suitable buildings erected including a Market House. This became known as Market

Place. In 1813 the street leading to the market levelled and paved and eventually the street was opened up to make a north- south through street between and parallel to King Street and St Duthus Street and named Market Street. A report dated 1818 stated – “in the last few years, the town at its own expense has built a Market Place for £500.” [*Part of the area originally purchased from Cadboll was conveniently found surplus to requirements and sold off

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in 1812 to William Murray, banker, who was Treasurer on the Town Council at the time, on which he built a house – the building at the corner of Market Street and High Street currently partly occupied by a pharmacy . He was also able to buy an additional piece for his garden. His brother was also on the Council at the same time.]

Part 2 will deal in more detail with the new Market Place.

Margaret Urquhart

OLD FILE Tain & District Garden Club members enjoying a June evening with Duncan Ross, the owner of Poyntzfield Herb Nursery.

9th June 2008

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FOOTBALL

SAINTS SET TO PLAY IN TOP TIER FOR SHORTENED 2020-21 SEASON The league management committee of the North Caledonian F.A. held their Annual General Meeting via online video conference on Sunday June 21st, and in doing so, unanimously agreed that for the 2020-21 season only, member clubs would be divided into a twotier league programme with new/returning clubs joining the bottom tier.

The temporary move confirms that St. Duthus will participate in what will surely prove to be a fiercely contested top division involving the six highest placed teams from last season.

Three new clubs seeking membership (Loch Ness F.C., Nairn County F.C. ‘A’ and Scourie F.C.) were accepted into the association without objection, while existing members Alness United also confirmed that they will resume participation from 2020-21.

The divisions for 2020-21 were determined as follows: Macleod & MacCallum North Caledonian League “League 1” Golspie Sutherland, Halkirk United, Invergordon, Orkney, St. Duthus, Thurso Macleod & MacCallum Ness Cup League “League 2” Alness United, Bonar Bridge, Bunillidh Thistle, Inverness Athletic, Loch Ness, Nairn County ‘A’, Scourie It was agreed that the league would return to one division for the 2021-22 season.

The management committee agreed to reconvene at

ABOVE: STRIKER BEN BRUCE WON THE CLUB’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 2019-20

a later date to add cup competitions to the schedule if the season calendar allows.

League secretary Sandy Stephen said, ”The two-tiered league structure and the reduced schedule presents us with a variety of options depending on when the season can get going. If it is sooner than expected and we do finish the league campaign early, we have the option of scheduling one of our cup competitions to add to the calendar.” ”Moreover, having a schedule to work towards now allows our member clubs to plan financially during this difficult time.”

ST. DUTHUS FC CALL TO SUPPORTERS FOR HELP As a “grassroots” club, St. Duthus FC have never charged supporters to come along to watch their games — but they have always been able to count on the kindness of those who do come along to watch - whether that is by buying a tea, coffee or a pie, or just a couple of raffle tickets.

The sudden end to the 201920 season has left them in a challenging position when it comes to fundraising.

As well having missed out on their remaining home games, they have been unable to hold fundraising events this year, and were forced to cancel their annual

Sportsman’s Dinner, which as their marquee fundraiser in the calendar year has been one of their main sources of income.

With that in mind, they wish to make a plea to supporters to consider making a donation to the club, in an effort to help them meet their aims this coming season.

Any amount, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated by everyone at St. Duthus FC. To donate in whatever way you wish, please visit www. stduthusfc.co.uk/news_ article.php?id=418

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OLD FILE: SPORT

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OLD FILE W.H. MACKAY’S INTERNAL MATCH CIRCA 1981/82 OFFICE STAFF (BLUE) Back row L to R: Ian Glazier, Fraser Grant, Gordon Ross, Steve Paterson, Brian Kirkpatrick, Brian Strachan. Front row L to R: Colin More, David Skinner, Jim Jardine, Hamish Turnbull WORKSHOP (RED) Back row L to R: Richard Watson, Bruce Begg, Andrew Ross, Graham Mackintosh, Graham Mackenzie, Alastair Melville Front row L to R: Russell Marshall, Billy Wilson, Graham Skinner, Sandy Haddow, Dennis Patience Thank you to Hellen Vass.

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MESSAGE FROM CLLR. DEREK LOUDEN

My usual monthly surgery is cancelled at present.

Please feel free to contact me at any time on: 01862892734 07876774412 Or via email at LoudenDW@aol. com.

Happy to help any local resident with any problem at any time.

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

Please email:

info@tainpost.co.uk or call 01862 857366

ANDREW VASS

CONTINGENCY MANAGERS R’ US? ANDREW VASS WRITES What is a human? Why do we have nails for scratching with?

Why do we have complex brains?

It’s because we are programmed to be ‘contingency managers’ of course. A contingency is an unexpected event which we have to adapt to. We sense that we need to gather our thoughts and get a sense of our bearings when we face contingencies.

But are there specific tools which help us acquire the contingency managing skill?

Here are some in a list I have compiled; 1. Brainstorm possible contingencies ahead, and possible solutions. 2. Make an Obstacles diagram which helps you see how the main aspects will likely pan out. 3. Consider how to solve or rethink the issues in your obstacle diagram. 4. Use 3 WC’s- if you are walking on egg-shells with folks around you.

This involves considering three ways of stating (or carrying out) a difficult communication so you can evaluate the effectiveness or potential repercussions of each choice. 5. Use a worry continuum so you don’t catastrophise too quickly. This is a line between zero and ten which helps you consider how bad the aspects of the problem are. Once you have done it, you may find yourself giving your problem a mark like 7 rather than 10. This is because most of us prefer having just misery to deal with rather than suffering.

We prefer to de-catastrophise.

And de-catastrophising is often achievable.

Why do we need such skills?

Firstly, it’s because nothing stays the same for long. Our conditioned core ways of thinking which suit a time of normalcy often don’t meet the needs of unexpected

contingencies. Secondly, minds are unaware of how historical forces have conditioned them.

Minds are believing systems.

They tell you what you know, but don’t want to focus on what you don’t know. Minds see wisdom as being knowledge. Knowledge is like fruit on a tree. Just reach out for it. Ah but the trees cannot always be taken for granted.

The sinister one in the Garden of Eden ensnared us- and has kept us ensnared ever since. The wisest writers have told us that ‘all is vanity’. This means that trees can’t always be trusted.

Thirdly, consider what is a mind? I think of a mind as being chameleon-like.

It changes almost imperceptibly from being a snow-globing, fixating entity, to being more like a board-room of careful thinking. A snow-globing mind is activated by a hurt inner part (or parts) or by ideological leanings, and has become a little foggy. A board room mind is not foggy. It critically analyses downsides to choices and avoids being forced into early ‘decisionmaking’ when the wisest course is to ‘hold your fire’ for a bit. It is proficient with risk-analysis methods and knows how mindful breathing gives one a little calmness in difficult moments.

Okay, one important point I made is that history can be blindsiding us. How? Perhaps this is seen more clearly from the history of failed states.

Why did the great Roman Empire decline? Why did civilised Europe slip into two terrible world wars? What has gone wrong in the Arab spring? Is the U.S.A. now in decline? Have we similar cultures to those socalled ‘civilised states’ which declined? When cultures begin to decline, can they be rescued?

Rescuing is the result of rethinking one’s ideological convictions.

Ideological convictions can be in a cocktail with religious or atheistic ones.

Consider how both an antiSemitic tradition in European Christianity and an atheistic belief in the survival of the fittest led to the holocaust. These different ideologies actually were combined together by Nazi propagandists. Dangerous cocktails polarise previously united societies and become a harbinger of doom. In pre-Nazi Germany, communists were often lined up and shot as the respectable conservatism of the imperial tradition saw fit.

Hostility bred hostility. Hatreds divided fathers and sons. The demonising of communists opened the door for Hitler. But this was respectable in Weimar Germany. Respectability can be the winning argument that trumps wisdom. Many American Evangelicals believe that Donald Trump was named after a leader of the famous Lewis Revival and the Bible he has in the White House is the one which Reverend Campbell used in that awesome event. Both facts are wrong. For a start the Bible in the White House is in English, the original one was in Gaelic.

Time for some Mindful breathing. Use S.T.O.L.E. on this occasion. STOLE stands for the following. S= soften cheeks T= take deep breaths. O=observe surroundings or inner thoughts.

L=lighten up, let go. E= engage again with life’s issues or

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ANDREW VASS / TAIN JOGSCOTLAND

one’s spirituality, and emerge refreshed with greater openness to what life teaches.

But why is this a time for contingency managing? The answer is that this Coronavirus will bring change. Some of us will lose relatives and friends. Some of us will find our employment does not recover. For others there is exhaustion and mixed feelings- as they care for those who are ill or isolating. For others there is just a hint of new opportunities around the corner.

For example, if global tourism does not pick up then national tourism may be the beneficiary.

And if the sense of continuity is replaced by an awareness of impermanence then the timeless things which museums, artists and religions point towards, may become of greater importance in the post-virus world.

Compassion for others is kindled by this common tragedy. And compassion has its roots in many religions. In the Tanakh— the Hebrew Bible—the word translated as compassion derives from the same root syllable from which the word for womb comes. In fact, the word for womb, rehem, is itself occasionally translated as compassion. Both words are related etymologically to ar-Rahman, meaning “the exceedingly compassionate,” one of the Qur’an’s 99 most beautiful names for God. Compassion doesn’t keep its distance; it literally means “to experience or endure with.”

Compassion is willing to be with suffering up close because it has learned to accept rather than resist suffering. But compassion is done best with a board-room mind rather than a snow-globing one. Just for a moment attend to how compassion feels in the body. By carefully watching the various components of your body with curiosity and openness, you are extending to your own physical nature the same calm compassionate attentiveness you might offer to a good friend.

By giving calm compassionate

attention to our bodies, we come closer to healing our fearing, emotional, and perfectionist natures.

The mindfulness tradition comes through many religions. It recognizes that we must meet our basic body needs, but it also sees the danger of attachment to the world of things. Over 1,600 years ago, Saint Augustine observed that the self, longed to experience the pleasure of having godlike powers and assuming God’s place at the centre of the universe. Augustine suggested that this grandiose endeavour was precisely what alienated us from the divine, other people, and ourselves; in other words, it was the attachment that caused us to suffer. So, mindfulness is a way to debunk- to become real. Focusing attention on the breath and returning to it when the mind strays, constitutes the basic mindfulness practice.

It’s a strategic activity which only takes a few moments.

Understanding what you are trying to do is all you need. Our practice of mindfulness teaches us to allow thoughts to rise and fall on their own—like all impermanent reality. Stay with breathing, with prayers or with compassion in that momentas you stand back from your thinking apparatus.

Mindfulness traditions are different from therapeutic mindfulness in that the traditions carry forward a belief in some kind of spirituality.

Therapeutic or secular mindfulness understandably, is for all comers- whether you have or have not any spiritual bones in your body. Contingency managers can use both secular and traditional Mindfulness as they seek to be freed from core beliefs from the past and conditioning which hamper adaptability.

Thinking with openness allows wholesome thoughts to create a propensity for more wholesome thoughtsand this helps with contingency managing.

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TAIN JOGSCOTLAND INVENT NEW WAYS TO MOTIVATE GROUP VIA FACEBOOK

The local Tain Jog Scotland group couldn’t meet up due to restrictions this past month, so they have been using their Facebook page to post runs and motivate each other to get out. Karen, one of the leaders, organised virtual run and her daughter Kallie decorated a stone that could be carried around their area and left safely for the next member to collect and take on a new adventure.

The stone began it’s journey in Shandwick, travelling through the Seaboard Villages, to Inver

and Newton, and then into Tain and surrounding Heathmount and Scotburn.

The final destination was Dornoch.

Families were able to join in and jogging was not the only form of exercise. Some of the journeys were completed by walking and on bikes. It was all about getting outside.

Leader Karen said; “The adventure covered 150.7km and involved 22 members. We all look forward to getting back to group in the future. “

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