Petition the Prime Minister online...

...support the call for an enquiry into inflated delivery charges to The Highlands

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/highlanddelivery

This petition argues the need for a enquiry into the inflated charges imposed by some couriers/suppliers for delivery to parts of the Scottish Highlands which now have communications links of standard similar to (if not better than) other UK regions.

It submits that the charges relating to many parts of the Highlands are outdated and are restricting economic and social growth in order to simply increase the profits of delivery companies or suppliers.

Wildlife & Nature

Another 2 months gone already? I'm aghast.

Even now, as the nights are creeping further back each evening and the sun sneaks into the sky a little earlier each morning, our latest 'shift' of wildlife and reported spottings has arrived!

Things Feathery: late last month, we had some foreign visitors: Waxwings, which were raiding the various berry-bearing bushes with all the ferocity of their fellow Scandinavian coast-raiding forebears. They are still around - lurking in the treetops and eyeing up those juicy berries that the Thrushes don't guard.

We have managed - largely through dogged persistence - to encourage some Goldfinches to attend our daily bird buffet in the front Garden. These beautifully coloured, nimble (and noisy!) birds make a welcome addition. There are rumours of a Long-tailed Tit over to the west end of the village, however, the bird in question has not ventured this far east! More encouragingly, the almost legendary Great spotted woodpecker HAS made it to the easternmost edge of the village, after teasing us with reports of its presence in everyone else's gardens for the last month or so! The Woodpecker was somewhat flummoxed at our feeders, when it tried to climb a metal pole, but couldn't get a grip!

Whilst driving to work, somewhere near Contin, I was forced to stop at the roadside and watch SEVEN red kites 'playing' with each other about 45 ft off the ground, in the stiff breeze. One, okay. Two, perhaps - but SEVEN?

Things Furry: just before Xmas, a local lady who is hostess to a regular late-night deer 'tea party' (she feeds them not far from her home), reported that she was challenged by a stag early one morning! The lady was walking down into the village centre, when she encountered the Stag. The beast was obviously being territorial, and seemed focused on the bag which the woman was carrying at the time. Thankfully, other than the woman becoming a little nervous, nothing came of it. It does, however, remind me that docile as deer seem, they can present a threat - as the old (and true) tale of the Fannich forester will demonstrate (see 'Looking back...')

Otters have also appeared nearby (well, a Highlands-type 'nearby' anyways) according to our Angling correspondent, as one or two have swum over his fishing lines whilst he was out on the loch!

Our correspondents in the shadow of Ben Wyvis, report that their Pine Marten has returned but it appears that it has learned to use a ladder! Perhaps it’s been on a roof tiling course...


Also from the same direction came rumours of an incredibly rare species: the Scottish Grey, Black and White Branch Squirrel. Sadly, these rumours were quashed when it was discovered that it was a Badger which was climbing a branch in their garden, to 'steal' the bird food!

The ingenuity of all of our local creatures remains an inspiration.

Sadly, last week, a young doe who had been hanging about behind our place, and had been subsequently rescued by a one of our caring local folks (who gave it 'bed and board') died. This is a reminder that no matter how well-intentioned we remain, Nature will - in the end - have her way!

In closing, I have one last question: When do the Siskins come back? I'm really looking forward to hearing and seeing them noisily darting to and fro with total disregard for the safety of the other 'air traffic'.

Oh hurry up Spring!

Jim Curry

In Brief

* Included in the New Year's Honours List, is Joan Healey, a Dingwall-based volunteer with the Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB). Mrs Healey received an MBE.

* The plan for the Lochluichart wind farm has been deemed acceptable. Permission has been granted by the Scottish Government for work to commence, subject to conditions detailed in the document of Approval.

* Scores of shoppers bade a fond farewell to a Dingwall High street Institution. The Town's branch of Woolworth's slashed prices by 70% (later 80%). Whilst customers were keen to snap up the bargains, they were sad that Woolies, having served Dingwall for many years, was closing with the loss of 14 jobs.

* With the announcement that 26 year-old Matt Smith is to be the new Doctor Who, critics warned of a "toddler in the Tardis". However, the young actor has been widely praised for previous TV and Stage roles - three of them alongside former Doctor Who companion, Billie Piper.

* Ross-shire folk are being asked to recycled their Christmas cards as part of an ambitious annual scheme which helps fund the planting of new woodland. I wonder how this is done? Waste Aware Scotland has teamed up with conservation charity - Woodland Trust - for the scheme, which started on January 5th, 2009.

* January 4th, 2009, marked the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille. Braille opened the door to literacy and independence by inventing his code of raised dots for blind and visually-impaired people.

* Making sure the 'sleep mode' switches off your computer's hard disc and monitor when they haven't been used for 15 minutes, is an easy way to save energy - especially if you have a tea break habit According to the Energy Saving Trust, a lunch hour switch off will save 9kg of CO2 per year.

* There is growing evidence that noise-related stress is a significant health hazard. According to the World Health Organisation, unwanted noise is causing hearing impairment, including Tinnitus, disturbed sleep and triggering stress hormones that could in turn affect the immune system and metabolism. The biggest offenders are loud music, aircraft and traffic noise.

* The wonder of the night sky is under growing threat from light pollution. When the night is clear - and skies are truly dark - you can see thousands of stars splashed across the heavens. A blanket of light pollution allows only a few of the brightest stars to shine through. Main offenders are badly-designed streetlights, security lights (including those fitted by householders) and floodlights used for large areas such as games pitches.

Pam Morrison

Lochside

Our Angling correspondent reports that there has been a great deal caught on the Lochs in December.

Whilst looking through his journals for the past few years, he has made some interesting observations when he compared the size and the amount of pike caught to the point in the Lunar cycle at which they were caught!

According to our man, the New Moon and 1st Quarter phases proved most fruitful, though fish were still being caught during the last quarter and Full Moon phases. Lighting conditions have had little to do with the catch rates, as fishing did not take place in the dark hours.

"Is this some kind of modern tie-in with the Moon's influence, from Lore?", I hear you ask.
Well, not exactly.

In the UK, several other leading (Trout and Salmon) fishermen have already noted a correlation between the Moon's 'pull' and freshwater fish yields.

In the USA, the sportsmen there call it SoLunar theory, and it has quite a following.

It was first researched there with any seriousness, back in 1935, by John Alden Knight. Put simply (the only way I know how...) - the further away that the Moon was, more Large fish were landed. So, it appears that the Moon's nearness/distance has some effect on the fish, perhaps triggering or delaying their feeding cycle - and therefore their susceptibility to bait/lures.

The following comes from the Sportsmen's webpage
http://www.alfredny.biz/sportsmen/solunar-Moon-phase-chart.htm

"PROVING THE THEORY To substantiate the Solunar Theory, insofar as fish are concerned, John Alden Knight attempted a systematic inquiry to acquire complete details surrounding the capture of record catches. Both individual large fish ... and large numbers. He examined approximately 200 of these catches. Over 90 percent were made during the dark of the Moon (new Moon) when the effects of the Solunar Periods appear to be greatest, and, more important, they were made during the actual times of the Solunar Periods. Initially, only the behaviour of fish was considered. During 1935 to 1939 Knight made extensive studies of game birds and animals. As had been suspected, these also responded to the prompting stimulus of the Solunar Periods."

So there you have it!

Jim

January

A New Year has started, the old one is past.
New Year resolutions, a fresh die to cast.
Out with the old year, in with the new.
We're each a year older, remaining years, few?
This may sound gloomy, this may sound sad,
like pretend friends you never really had!

What a lovely Xmas, mild with blue skies
For three days I fished with the sun in my eyes.
I took off my jacket, t'was the Summer again
No fish did I catch, but who's to complain?
The water was still like a millpond, so flat.
I put on sunglasses, but took off my hat.

Everything peaceful I fell quietly asleep
and woke with a start when my bite alarm bleeped.
It wasn't a fish, but an Otter had swam
into my line, then across it again.
I watched as its bubble disappeared out of sight.
No chance for a photo, but that was alright!

Each time that I see one, it's gone in a flash
Diving down deeper with hardly a splash.
I've bought a fish finder and will give it a go
Then maybe an Otter I'll see down below.
But they don't seem to worry, they know I'm no threat
And I'll get a photo of one of them , yet!

And again, just off Duck Bay, next day I did see
a big one come up, not ten yards from me.
I sat quietly on boat, camera ready in hand
But they're having me on, never come up again!
After Xmas came thick frost, each day was so cold.
Like my mates, I stopped fishing - Gee, I'm getting old!

It seemed to take all day, just to get out of bed.
then it's sawing up firewood and getting birds fed.
I feed them so much they eat more than me.
But at night, I'm in the warm, whilst they're in a tree!
Each morning I feed them, Coal tits - from my hand
and they come to the back door, on paintings they land.

The Robin - he watches, then he takes his cue.
He won't be left out, so he comes in too!
The weather forecast into the New Year:
More cold and frost - so no let, I fear.
Just maybe it'll kill of MIDGIE larvae as well
but, until it's summer, we can't really tell

Now that would be a blessing, I think you'll agree
If this year there's no Midgies to bite you and me!
So a belated Merry Xmas, but a Happy New Year
to you - one and all - Good health and Good Cheer.

David Willis

Recycling News

Last News and Views I didn’t write a recycle update because I couldn’t tell you anything new. Now this time I have lots of very good news to share with you.

More and more people now realise how much waste we are making and are thinking seriously of ways to bring waste down to a minimum. Also caring for nature and the environment, on which our lives depend, is not a new hype but a given.

I am very happy to tell you that recycling is finally making a fantastic impact in the Highlands, with the recycling of plastic bottles coming to your front door very soon.

I’m so excited and can’t wait until I can throw my own collected plastic bottles in my own bin.
Graham Imrie of Invergordon, the plastic bottle factory, is getting a competitor now. The Highland Council! This sounds very good to me.

The HC is introducing a new kerbside recycle scheme in our area.

The new service will start in March and households involved should receive information in January. Households will be provided with a new, blue, wheelie bin.

Paper, cans, plastic bottles and cardboard should placed in the bin loose and these will then be separated at a material recovery facility, then recycled.

The collection will be every 4 weeks and a calendar will be provided with the bin service. (For more information see the next item).

The big wheelie can container that belonged to the school was taken away by the HC and will not be returned. If the school wishes to collect cans the HC offers to pick these up and the school can still receive funds for items collected.

Head teacher, Mr. Quigley, is willing to do this, with the option for monthly collection being a possibility.

The recycling bank is looking tidy. I’ll make sure a new pan and brush is provided! Newly added to the bank is a container for clothing. So come spring, all those clothes you haven’t worn can go to Garve and move on to help those in need.

There have been queries about the collection point for plastic bottles in Ullapool disappearing from the Troll Yard. After some phone calls I found out that it is being moved to the shipyard/harbour. So do look there in the future.

For commercial customers the HC has offered, since April 2007, a scheme which requires a signed permit, this enables an equivalent amount to be recycled in council recycle points. This only applies to glass, paper, cardboard, tins, cans and garden waste. (Glass collection other than the Highland Council are Baillie Brothers in Elgin and Viridor Waste).

That’s it for now, more next time.

I wish all News and Views readers and writers a very good New Year!

To my friends I haven’t seen yet, a big hug and smile for a great New Year!
Larisa

If you have any questions Larisa can be contacted on 01997455230.



New Rural Recycling Collection Service
A rural kerbside recycling collection service is shortly to be rolled out in our area from the boundary with Contin CC up to and including the village of Garve and the Gorstan area. This service will commence in March and will go to all of the households that do not currently receive kerbside recycling.

The new Rural Recycling Service will consist of the provision of a blue wheelie bin in which householders can recycle their paper, cardboard, food tins, drink cans and plastic drink bottles. This bin will be collected once every four weeks from the householder’s normal collection point.

All households that will be part of the new service should have received an introductory leaflet. During January / February the bins will be delivered along with an information booklet advising what can and cannot go into the bin; a calendar detailing the collection dates; details of our recycling centres and recycling points and information and advice on how householders can further reduce, reuse and recycle their waste.

Emma Leel is the waste awareness officer and can be contacted on 01349 868627 or by email at emma.leel@highland.gov.uk

DEADLINES FOR ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL 2009:

Issue out on 27 March - deadline: 13 March

Issue out on 23 May - deadline: 8 May

Issue out on 24 July - deadline: 10 July

Issue out on 25 September - deadline: 11 September

Issue out on 20th November - deadline: 6 November

Are you affected by someone else’s drinking?

It’s families that count the cost...

With one in every five adults in the UK now described as regularly abusing alcohol, popular attention has focussed on the burden of criminal damage, road accidents and the effect on health and police services.

Little thought is given to the damage done to families of those with drink problems. A growing cause for concern is the four or more people who are in close contact with serious problem drinkers, who may also be adversely affected.

Al-Anon Family Groups offer support to those who are affected by someone else’s drinking, whose lives are affected in many ways. Embarrassment at the drinker’s behaviour causes families to hide the problem, or deny it to themselves and others, creating a climate of secrecy and shame within the home.

Desire to help can become an obsession with ‘fixing the problem, taking over the family’s life in much the same way that alcohol obsesses the drinker.

Al-Anon Family Groups is a worldwide fellowship. In the UK and Ireland, around 800 groups meet weekly, to offer understanding and encouragement, and to share their experience of dealing with their common problem.

For many member of Al-Anon Family Groups, just knowing they are not alone in their struggle to cope with the destructive nature of problem drinking, is a great help. Al-Anon Family Groups provides a safe environment in which anonymity is assured, where people can gain insight into their problems, and learn from the experience of others how best to improve the quality of their own lives, whether the drinker sobers up or not.

Meetings are held weekly in the Gairloch area, call the Al-Anon Family Groups Helpline on 020 7403 0888 for more details, or visit the website at
www.al-anonuk.org.uk or
email mailto:alanonuk@aol.com

A good time was had by all!

The Christmas dinner for the over 60’s was a very enjoyable evening, thanks to the many people who gave up their valuable time to make it happen.

The dining room at Aultguish was warm and inviting, and as soon as we sat down the children from Strathgarve school sang carols and gave us a fun start to the evening.

The food was excellent, and the service efficient, it was relaxed, and the tables laid out in such a

way that we could join in several conversations at once. (Which has got to be good).

In addition we were entertained by singer Moira Harris accompanied by Steve Jones on the piano, as well as Alex Mackenzie on the ‘box’ and a song from Johnnie Matheson - we were totally spoilt further by being given boxes of sweets, and we even had a free draw for a hamper - which was won by Jeanette Menzies.

The organisers had things running smoothly - to those who travelled to Aultguish on the night and helped serve the meal, wash up, entertain and generally look after everyone - thank you all very much.

Thanks also to Dario and Lesley, who made us all so welcome and gave us such a lovely party atmosphere.

Helen Grainge

Looking Back…

Churchill and Lochrosque
There are many anecdotes and historical facts surrounding Lochrosque, and I shall certainly cover these in future issues. The following story is recorded by Martin Gilbert in his biography of Churchill.

In September 1914, when Churchill was the First Lord of the Admiralty, he travelled through Ross-shire on his way to visit the fleet at Loch Ewe. At Achnasheen an aide drew Churchill’s attention to a searchlight on the roof of a large private house. They were puzzled. And they wondered if it was a spy’s searchlight used to alert Zeppelins to the naval base. When they arrived at Loch Ewe this was mentioned to one of the officers who reported that an aeroplane had been spotted in the area, but had not been traced. Convinced that he had unearthed a possible German spy network, Churchill decided that he would return to the house and find out, and with armed men proceeded to travel back to Lochrosque Castle.The butler answered the door, and told them the house belonged to Sir Arthur Bignold, a former Conservative MP. Churchill demanded to see him. On questioning (and being told who they were) Sir Arthur explained that the light had been installed to catch the gleam in the eyes of the deer on the hillside, so that it would be easier to stalk them the next day.

Churchill was still suspicious and even went so far as to inspect the light, and contrary to Sir Arthur’s wishes took essential parts from the light, so that it was no longer functional. Of course Sir Arthur wasn’t happy.

When Churchill returned to London he wrote to Admiral Oliver, who had accompanied him to Lochrosque, saying “...I do not understand why the searchlight placed on the roof of Sir Arthur Bignold’s house in close proximity to an anchorage of the fleet, has not been made the subject of police report. Let the fullest report be made on the circumstances in which this searchlight came to be placed in position, together with all other facts about Sir Arthur Bignold, his guests, friends and servants. There are repeated rumours of aeroplane activities in the neighbourhood. Are there any suitable landing grounds for aeroplanes in the neighbourhood? …”

Of course, all checks found nothing untoward, all guests were cleared, and no Germans were found in the area, nor any confirmation that a plane had crashed or had ever been in the vicinity.

As author Martin Gilbert says in his book “The adventure had been harmless. But had the house contained German spies instead of patriotic Scotsmen it might have had a less simple ending…”


The photograph (apologies for the poor scan), shows Lochrosque Castle with the searchlight intact (before Winnie dismantled it!)





Queen Victoria
It is recorded that at 4.45pm on the 12 September, 1877, Queen Victoria embarked from a special train at Achnasheen to make her way by horse-drawn vehicle to Talladale (Loch Maree) - it is rumoured that the vehicles, coming from Kinlochewe, were delayed and that she had to stay the night in Achnasheen in the house known as The Cottage (if anyone know where this story originates I’d be grateful for the reference for further reading and clarification). Her party included her youngest daughter Princess Beatrice, General Ponsonby (secretary), Sir William Jenner (court physician), the Duchess of Roxburghe, John Brown, and the Queen’s collie (Noble). At the time she recorded in her journal “…very shortly after this (Glen Docherty) you come across the loch, which is grand and romantic...”

At the time the Station Hotel, Achnasheen, was run by Murdo MacIver who also operated the Kinlochewe and Gairloch mail service. Mr MacIver was a religious man and when it was requestedt for him to provide horses and mail service to carry the queen’s post on the Sabbath during her stay, he politely refused. I wonder if this is where ‘we are not amused’ was first used by Her Majesty.

A stone commemorating the Queen’s visit can still be seen at the front of the Loch Maree hotel inscribed in Gaelic, together with a stone translating “The Queen in her gracious condescension willed that this stone should be a remembrance of the pleasure she found in coming to this part of Ross-Shire".

John Maclennan and the Stag
I’ve been told different stories about this poor man, and finally found a book called The Deer Forests of Scotland by A. Grimble published in 1896 (I believe that only 500 copies of this book were ever published).

In it the author gives a good account of the ensuing tragedy, “In the winter of 1891 a bad accident happened in the enclosed deer park at Strathbran. With the tame deer there was a royal red deer stag, who had been taken as a calf out of Corrie Reoch in Fannich by John Maclennan, the forester there. It has been hand-fed with mil, and eventually turned out into this park, and was eleven years old at the time of the tragedy.”

In December 1891 it seems, for some reason (not given in the book, but some believe to attend a funeral) John came across from Fannich to Strathbran “...he crossed the park where he well knew this stag was, while at the same time he was equally aware he was a dangerous beast. The rash man had not even so much as a stout stick with him, and had gone but a short distance were he was attacked and killed, his cries for help being heard, but not understood, by some women in the road…”.

The poor man was found, eventually, lying with his head on his arm, his body pierced in two places - the heart and chest. He was buried in Lochbroom.

However, it is known that Sir Arthur Bignold placed a monument to the memory of John Maclennan, and this lies in the woodland nearby to this day. I shall be reporting more on this, as I will investigate further and, hopefully will be able to take photographs of the monument and publish here.

It is interesting to note, that previous to this terrible tragedy that the same beast had attacked another forester, Duncan Fraser, who struggled with the animal for some time - the book states “...after three quarter of an hours fight with the stag, who surprised him quite unarmed, whereupon Duncan instantly jumped plump onto the stag’s head, holding on by the horns, and being a strong man, he contrived to keep his seat, while the stag kept carrying him round the enclosure. At last his cries for help were heard by a shepherd, the father of the John Maclennan this stag killed….” With assistance Duncan managed to struggle free and make his escape, but was so exhausted by the experience that he fainted immediately.

No further mention to these incidents is made in the book - one can only presume that the stag was promptly despatched.

Other people mentioned in this informative book include Donald Mackintosh, the head forester, who lived in Achnasheen for over 30 years - unfortunately, it doesn’t say exactly where. However, contained in the papers for the auction sale of Sir Arthur Bignold’s estate, in 1920, there are some interesting insights into who lived where at that time, explaining that “the cottages on the Lochrosque estate are substantially built…”, the details are as follows:

Head Keeper’s House, containing two sitting rooms, three bedrooms, kitchen, wc. Water laid on. Lit by electric light.

A cottage, containing sitting room, bedroom, kitchen and wc, occupied by the estate electrician. Lit by electric light.

Cottage at Badavinich, containing sitting room, three bedrooms, kitchen and wc. Near the cottage are byre for two cows and a small barn.

Cottage at Druimdbhu, containing sitting room, two bedrooms, kitchen, wc.

A pair of cottages in Achnasheen - one occupied by A. McRae, stalker, containing sitting room three bedrooms, kitchen and wc. Small byre and barn.

Let to Murdo Mackenzie, grocer, containing two bedrooms, kitchen, wc. There is also an old cottage in Achnasheen let to Murdo Mackenzie, grocer, and used as a shop, a store house adjoining, and a commodious barn.

Elsewhere in the papers it states “There is a post and telegraph office at Achnasheen, and there is a daily delivery of letters.”

Under the section listing the Game Bag an interesting comment was made “...in 1913 stalking ceased on 27th September owing to a death in the Mansion House…”

This refers to Capt Bertram Dickson who died at Lochrosque, and who is buried at Achanalt - more about this fascinating man next time...

Jackie
======

My grateful thanks to the Seligman family for granting me ongoing access to family archives, plus their help and assistance in compiling the information regarding Sir Arthur Bignold, Lochrosque estate, family members and the interesting visitors to Lochrosque, Strathbran and the surrounds.

If you have further information, photographs, or would like to comment on any item mentioned please contact me via email or post. All photographs will be scanned and returned.

From the desk of the editor

Hello!

With the festivities behind us (or in front of us if you are really organised!), we’re now looking forward to next ‘round’ of community events.

Easter Fayre - of course I blame Mrs Debbie Peters for what has turned out to be another community event - the Easter Fundraising Fayre at Ledgowan Lodge Hotel.

Debbie kindly offered four Easter eggs for the children’s competition - little did Debbie know that neither Charlotte or myself had even thought that far forward (she does now!). So this got us thinking, and after a swift exchange of emails Charlotte came up with the ad (thanks Charlotte!), and we agreed that the children should display their entries, somewhere. To cut a long story short, Ledgowan offered their function room for free, and now we’re having a Fayre with fundraising tables, alongside the displaying and judging of the competition entries.

The judging will be done by you, dear reader - come along on the day and vote - and just before the Fayre closes we’ll count the votes and award the eggs to the winners.

If you are a fundraiser for the community, school or local charity get in touch with us and we’ll reserve you a table for free. However, please don’t book a table unless you really know you can make it, because we’ll only have a few tables available, and we wouldn’t want anyone to miss out because you don’t turn-up. It happens - trust me, I know. Sorry no commercial tables on this occasion - fundraisers and charities only.

So thanks to Debbie we now have another community event organised - and thanks to Ledgowan for the free use of their lovely facilities.

Do come along and vote for your favourite design, at the same time support some of our local fundraisers.

Whilst talking about events, please see under ’Announcements’ a note from Caroline Gamble who is looking for volunteers with a view to starting a community entertainments/events and fund raising group for Garve. If you are interested do contact Caroline.

Local history - since the last newsletter Jim and I have been researching local history, via our friend Mr Google, and coming up with some really interesting stuff. And thanks to Anne Stewart, who has provided us with some interesting background regarding Achnasheen school. Plus I received a telephone call from Mark Seligman of Strathbran inviting me to look at some of the family archives.

I spent an afternoon with Mark looking at all the wonderful historical records he and the family have amassed over the years. And, since then, both Mark and George have emailed with further material. My grateful thanks to them both. I am now building a wealth of information going back to the time of Sir Arthur Bignold, together with records of people who visited, anecdotes and wonderful tales of times gone by. All this I’ll be reporting in this, and future issues of the newsletter as well as archiving on the website.

This is all going to take time, there’s so much of it - so I’m going to start with a few items this time, and, of course, if you can shed further light on anything I report I welcome your input. I’ll be dedicating a special section to local history - ’Looking back…’ do have a read.

However, I will mention here the Achnasheen Beaker (pictured) found in a Bronze Age burial cist. Discovered by chance, in July 1959, when the council were working on the main road into the village. The stone cist was destroyed before it was recognised, and only the two-thirds of the beaker was found. The find has been recorded as significant “..for beakers of any class are rare in NW Scotland. The siting of the graves gives added weight to the supposition that Strathbran formed part of a natural route through which contact could be maintained at this period between the west coast and the lands round the Firths of Beauly and Cromarty…”

The beaker now resides in the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland. Thanks to the online archives of the Highland Council Environment Record for this information - if you’d like to view the full report go to http://her.highland.gov.uk

There’s an easy search section, use it and you’ll be surprised (I think) at what has been recorded.

Hope you enjoy what I have discovered.

Until next time - next issue 27 March. deadline for all submissions 13 March.
Jackie

Race Night - it was a winner!

On the 28th November people of all ages braved the very cold weather for a get-together in Garve hall. The WRI provided a buffet supper of lovely hot stovies, with a variety of finger foods, gateaux and cakes. The entertainment came from video's of horse races which had been sponsored, the horses were named (at a small price) then bets were taken by the bookies, Marion and Sheree.

The commentaries for the races and descriptions of the horses were really funny, and brought out laughs and groans in about equal numbers.

The event was organized by Uisdean to raise funds for the Community Council, Strathgarve School, and Garve WRI.

The grand sum of £885 was raised for the groups. Charlotte Mackenzie for the Parent Council, Helen Grainge for G.C.C, and Jean Baille for the WRI are pictured above with their cheques for the monies raised on the night.
Thanks to you all!

Garve Christmas Bazaar

This was the first Christmas Bazaar in the Village Hall and it was a great day out for all young or old with lots of different stalls, with the old man from the North (Santa) paying a visit, thanks Santa!

Strathgarve school parents supplied tea and hot mince pies for visitors, they also ran a stall, with the best sales team in The Highlands doing their bit.



It would have been possible to buy almost every thing for Christmas from the selection of items on sale, from watches and perfume, to decorations and vegetables, as well as winning bottles of almost anything all in beautifully decorated surroundings.

At midday Santa came in carrying a big sack of toys, and was a very popular figure in his little grotto.

The funds raised by the Community Council went towards the over 60s party, the school did a roaring trade with their tea towels, bags and Christmas decorations, and the WRI seemed very happy with their stall which looked beautiful.

Announcements - January 2009

New Arrival
Eilidh arrived safe and sound on the 7 January, weighing in at 7lb 12 3/4 oz, everyone is well and delighted. With love from Grandma and Grandpa, and Auntie Sue Tarr

Thanks from Margo
The MacMillan Cancer support coffee event held at Margo's house in Strathvaich raised a whopping £652 !!! This is a fantastic total and every one who came for the event, donated money, cakes, and helped in any way at all should be very proud of themselves. Lots of coin was donated for "guess the amount in the jar" and the bottle of whisky was given by Catherine Ann Fraser. The donated cake for "guess the weight" was won by Brenda MacPhail and the donated bottle of wine was won by Neil Brown. Thank you so very much for supporting this very worthwhile cause. Every one was extremely generous and I hope all 46 of you who wended your way up the glen enjoyed the outing. Helen, my chief bottle washer and supporter, and I was so pleased to see you all. A big thank you from us both. Margo

Thank You Ronnie!
Many readers will remember the treacherous icy conditions mid-December which resulted in many cars leaving the road between Achnasheen and Garve. Our journey from Ault Dearg to the public road was equally hazardous but we were very kindly assisted by Ronnie from Achnasheen who steadied the rear of the car with a rope on the icier patches. Without his help we might well have joined the list of casualties and we wish to thank him publicly for his neighbourly assistance. Agnes and Ailsa, Ault Dearg, Lochluichart

Thanks to you all!
A big thank you to all groups, parents and children, and anyone who contributed to the success and attended our recent community events.
Thanks to you all, and especially those who dug deep into their pockets! Uisdean

Who ventured out on THAT cold night?
Thank you to the people who came along and supported the 'New Year Hooley in the Hall' on the night of the 1st January, it was a super family night out and we raised £50 in the raffle for Strathgarve Primary School funds. This was something my family organised as a 'one-off'' and it was very useful to gauge how much interest there would be in such an event. It proved to me that the people of Garve will come out and support this kind of thing, even on one of the coldest nights of the year. Caroline Gamble

Anyone interested in...
…starting a community entertainments/events and fund raising group for Garve? The type of events I am thinking of for the future are dances, coffee mornings, arts events, local history group, whist drives, evening classes etc to name a few but the possibilities are many. The Garve Village Hall is being spruced up, improvements are ongoing and it is a great facility for the village and my aim is for it be used more as a meeting place for our village, especially as our shop is gone and the PO opening times are limited. Caroline Gamble. Little Garve. 01997 414384

Singing, Writing and...err...Kayaking....

Moira Harris moved from London to Fionn Cottage (the wooden house!), Achnasheen in October 2007.She and her husband, Steve Jones, love the great outdoors and so are thrilled to be able to live here.

Moira is also familiar with this part of Scotland as her mother’s family is from the Isle of Lewis and she spent all her childhood holidays there.

Moira is a professional musician, having primarily worked as a classical singer in the UK and abroad.

Her work is very varied and as well as performing in opera and concerts, it includes singing at weddings, private parties, corporate events, recording for advertising, commercial CDs and sound tracks for film and TV.

Before moving to Achnasheen, she performed with English National Opera in London for 10 years. She has been an active union representative for the performing artists’ union, Equity, and has been instrumental in instigating several important changes to working conditions and defending performers’ rights.

During the past five years, Moira has been studying part-time towards a Psychology degree with the Open University. She has completed a large research project and exams last October. Also, she has always been interested in writing poetry and prose and hopes to pursue these further, now she is living in Achnasheen.

Moira hopes to continue her performing career in Scotland. She also taught singing extensively whilst living in London and has now started taking pupils again.

If the truth were told though, she would probably prefer to be walking up mountains, going for long runs in the hills, cycling round Scotland, learning to kayak and seeing more of her family and friends!