Maths Bee

EIGHT SCHOOLS MATHS BEE AT INVERLOCHY PRIMARY

Iain Ferguson Like me, you may remember every school day started with reciting the ‘times tables’ parrot fashion, up to12x12 = 144. While this may have fallen out of favour over the years, personally I still find it useful by remembering that 9 x 8 = 72, or even 11 x 11 = 121, without having to devote ever so precious reasoning power to work it out or turn to a calculator.

While not quite in the same mould, Inverlochy Primary School helped bring numbers to life by inviting another seven local schools to take part in a ‘Maths Bee’. This was also the first time for a few years that such a large number of pupils and teachers from different schools had come together in one place, mix and enjoy each other’s company in a friendly, yet competitive and educational event.

In the run-up to the event, each school - Banavie, BunSgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar, Caol, Invergarry, Inverlochy Lundavra, Spean Bridge and St Columba’s - ran their own heats to put forward two finalists per year group to compete against peers from the other schools in answering mental maths puzzles.

Questions for the event were set by Mrs Jemma Calderwood from Lochaber High School who was there on the day.

In what was an exciting, fun and educational day, the climax was a series of tiebreakers amongst a few schools culminating in a speed answer round.

Hosts Inverlochy eventually collected the prize of maths games as the school with the overall winning average.

Acting head teacher Tanya Ross said: ‘It was incredibly close between a number of the schools.

‘We were grateful to be joined by two guest speakers, Shelley MacGillvray from MOWI and Sean Murdison from the Belford’s Pharmacy Department, who shared their love for maths to help inspire our young mathematicians.

‘All pupils attending impressed everyone with their maths skills and it was nice to see winners from a spread of the schools over the different stages.’

Last month when emailing the editor using a new device, I admitted that at my age new things are diffi cult. Next day we all heard of the death of Queen Elizabeth and we had a new King. Much was said by monarchists and republicans about how the late Queen coped with change over her 70 year reign. At 95/6 she used Zoom for the fi rst time - for important state business. That thought shamed me.

The reign of Charles the Third will be some weeks old by the time you read this. However, I watched the ceremonies when, fi rst, the Scottish crown and subsequently the other offi ces of state were removed from the late Queen’s coffi n. They reminded me of a scene in the book of Revelation where elders surround the throne of God in Heaven.

They throw their crowns down in front of the throne and say, ‘Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory, honour and power. For you created all things and by your Will they were given life,’ Rev 4 11.

Reportedly, the late Queen said she looked forward to doing just that. Her faith in God and knowledge of the Bible were referenced frequently. I wonder if she also knew God’s promise a few verses earlier in a modern paraphrase:

‘Don’t quit, even if it costs you your life. Stay there believing. I have a life-sized crown sized and ready for you,’ [The Message]

I should also not be fearful of new things but look forward to the promise at the end of the book. Rev 21 5. ‘Then the one who sits on the throne said ‘And now I make all things new’.

Kinlochleven Primary School pupils celebrated Children in Need with a ‘spotty’ day which featured dotted clothes, faces and cakes. Everyone had great fun raising funds for the good cause. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, The

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THE EDGE OF EACH ROUGH REGION

Iain Ferguson …and to continue the above title of the book ‘Church and Community in the Great Glen’.

Researched and written by Adrian Varwell, who was minister of Fort Augustus and Glengarry from 2001 until his retirement in 2011, thereafter acting as locum in Fort William and Kilmonivaig, he was always interested in the history of the parishes throughout the Great Glen.

Of his own charges, he found little information immediately to hand, but spent time examining what records there were, gradually piecing together a history, not only of the churches but their interaction with the communities they served.

In his preface to the book, he writes: ‘Most historical sources dealt with the larger neighbours from which the two parishes had been created and these accounts carried only scant reference to the communities I sought to minister.

‘… I found that both of my parishes did, in fact, have a rich Christian heritage and that Fort Augustus once formed a signifi cant parish, Abertarff , in its own right.’

‘Abertarff ’ denotes the mouth of the River Tarff where it enters Loch Ness, which designation of the district predates the present day name of Kilchuimen, which takes its name from Cuimen, a colleague of St Columba and later the Abbot of Iona, although Adrian also reveals other tales for the name change.

This is all fascinating. There is so much information about the area, the church, the activities, lost churches and note from visits by Presbytery offi cials, it is impossible to summarise here - but a mustread from a historical point of view.

Much ado in 1866 when the decision was made to build a new church in Fort Augustus after it was decided that the existing building was beyond repair. The foundation stone of the new building was laid and what we would understand as a fundraising campaign launched.

An extract from an advert placed in the Inverness Courier of October 18 1866 states: ‘The committee, in the attempt to restore the old fabric of the church, found the building in such a dilapidated state that they were compelled to take it down and raise a new structure.

‘The funds are inadequate to meet this increased expenditure and the committee are again obliged to appeal to the generosity of the public to assist them with the means to liquidate the debt that has been incurred by this necessary change in their plans…’

Want to know more? I would recommend getting a copy of this book which covers the entire Great Glen and the churches therein. It’s well worth it.

Copies are on sale at West Highland Museum and Fort Augustus Gift Company, Fort Augustus, or available as an Amazon paperback or on Kindle.

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BRYAN WHYTE MEMORIAL DARTS FEST AT TRADEWINDS

Iain Ferguson The Tradewinds Bar in Corpach was home to a weekend Dartsfest with pairs and single competitions over three days.

Sixteen pairs entered the Tradewinds-sponsored competition and the pick of the first round draws saw Donald Macdonald and Davy Grant make an early exit, followed by several others, until the first semi-final with James Whyte and Ross Montgomery v Brian Barbour and Ross MacKenzie.

The second semi-final saw Liam MacAskill and Martyn Cameron clinch a 4-1 victory. Despite some exceptional play, they were beaten in the final by James and Ross, the winners in 2016.

Twenty five players turned up next day for the Bryan Whyte Cup, held annually in memory of the late darts champion who was on the cusp of becoming professional when he died in a road traffic accident. The event is always very well-attended, attracting the cream of local players.

In the final of the Bryan Whyte Cup, one of the main tournament organisers Martyn Cameron faced Kenny Henderson. Martyn took an early 2-0 lead but his opponent pulled it back to equal the score. In a series of highly entertaining legs, scores see-sawed back and forwards, with Invergarry man Kenny eventually taking the trophy.

Australian visitor Ash Britt, who was visiting the area, stayed on for the tournament and took part in a ‘consolation final’ in which he beat local Liam MacAskill.

A charity raffle was held during the weekend, raising £2,030 which was presented to mental health charity ‘Centred’ which has a base in Fort William.

Martyn Cameron said: ‘Thanks to everyone for the craic, the darts, the karaoke and the side show of raising a new record amount of cash for charity which was largely organised by my fiancé Hannah and to the Tradewinds staff who performed brilliantly.

‘It was a great weekend, with Bryan’s brother James taking the pairs trophy and other members of his family not only supporting the event, but presenting his trophy. Truly a great event in his memory.’

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