Amateur Operatic Society ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

Amateur Operatic Society

Attribution: unknown (The ruin of Free Church in Jamestown)

Introduction

The Chairman of the Strathpeffer Amateur Operatic Society, John M.M. Fleck, in his Foreword to the programme of ‘The Yeoman of the Guard’ (1971) wrote –

The Strathpeffer Amateur Operatic Society began in 1958, and ever since has been delighting audiences with its performances of Gilbert and Sullivan Operas. Its reputation has been achieved by much hard work and co-operation, but three people stand out as those most responsible for its high standards.

Lt. Col. Olaf Macleod, was the Society’s founder and Chairman until 1970. The magnificent costumes and scenery which characterize our productions have been designed, and in many cases made, by him. He has directed the Society’s affairs with great wisdom and energy, and its members fully realise how much they owe him and his wife.

The heavy responsibilities of these twelve years have taken their toll of time and health, and for the time being Colonel and Mrs Macleod are taking a rest from active participation in the Society.

We are fortunate in still having Mr Fred Henson who has been Musical Director from the beginning. His quiet but thorough training of the singers has given great pleasure to both members and audiences. This year he achieves his ambition of having an Orchestra to bring out the beauties of Sullivan’s fine score. Next year for the first time we shall be tackling a non-Gilbert and Sullivan Opera.

If you would like to take part in this production and are not at present a member of the Society, please complete the tear-out portion on page 5 and hand in to the Box Office as you leave the hall.

Attribution: unknown

Elizabeth Burns recalled in January 2002 the following

Col. Olaf Macleod (founder member and Chairman) designed, and, with some assistance, physically made the sets for the G. and S. operas. Being employed by the Hydro Electric he had available large stocks of strong cardboard (the cartons in which cookers, fridges, etc. were packed). He himself painted the back-cloths. He also designed all the costumes for G. & S. and these were made by the company. At the AGMs Olaf would show us a minature set painted in a shoe box with full backcloth and wings and one or two cardboard cutout figures in costume.

After 1970 costumes were designed by Elizabeth Burns, Esther Jones and Ruth Gilvray. Sets were (mainly) by John Crawford.

John Fleck, who produced most of the later Viennese and other operettas, organised the moves he wanted the cast to make, with a supply of pennies and halfpennies, labelled with the letter or number of each chorus member. These he moved about on his table and wrote down the resulting positions for instruction of the chorus.

Attribution: unknown

Productions

1959 The Mikado
1960 HMS Pinafore
1961 The Gondoliers
1962 Iolanthe
1963 Princess Ida
1964 The Yeomen of the Guard
1965 The Mikado
1966 The Gondoliers
1967 Patience
1968 Pirates of Penzance
1969 Iolanthe
1970 Ruddigore
1971 The Yeomen of the Guard
1972 The Merry Widow
1973 The Maid of the Mountains
1974 The Mikado
1975 Die Fledermaus
1976 Gipsy Queen
1977 The Pirates of Penzance
1978 White Horse Inn
1979 Glorious Gilbert and Sullivan
1980 Lilac Time
1981 The Merry Widow
1982 La Vie Parisienne

Attribution: unknown

View photographs from some of the productions

We have received some photographs from some of the productions which we have included in albums on this page. We also have further details of a couple of the productions, so please do visit the pages for more information.

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images

Strathpeffer » Strathpeffer History » Strathpeffer Events » Strathpeffer Heights Heritage Exhibition Sept 2001 » Strathpeffer Heights Heritage Work and Play

Four at Garage

Coach trip to Achnasheen (photo courtesy of Robin Watson, Drynie)

Lambing. Two pet lambs with Mrs Macdonald, Caberfeidh, and Spot the dog.

Turkeys getting ready for Christmas. Note the old Home Guard hut 'rescued' from the Common and now the henhouse.

Caberfeidh Shinty Club

Caberfeidh Shinty Club, which won the Harrow Cup in the 1947 season, photographed at Castle Leod. Back row (left to right): Ian (Parky) Mackenzie, Norman John Mclennan, Willie Macdonald (Blackwater), Roddy Shields, Alan (The Smith) Macdonald and Neil Taylor (Contin). Front row: Tommy (Rocks) Macdonald, Willie Spence, Hector Mackenzie, Tommy Sinclair, Alistair Macdonald and Angie MacRitchie.

A Caberfeidh Shinty Club team from the fifties:

A Caberfeidh Shinty Club team from the fifties: Back row (left to right): Sandy Bartlett, Bert Stephen, Tommy Macdonald, Roy Munro, Murdo Campbell and Roddie Macleod. Front row: Tommy Sinclair, Johnny Sinclair, Donnie Macdonald, Evander MacRitchie, Arthur Anderson and Ian Macdonald.

Caberfeidh shinty team 1927.

Coach and Horses

Harvesting

Harvest Problems at Redbank - 1960's

Harvest-time with Bert and Mag Souter on Drynie farm.

Stacking at Drynie

Harvesting at Drynie (Maggie Souter on right).

Harvesting at Drynie.

Harvest at Drynie

Home Guard on exercises.

Breaking-in a horse at Drynie

Hydro-electric linesmen

The group from Strathpeffer at Rosehaugh in 1894.

A day's outing to Rosehaugh from Strathpeffer - transported by Lunn's excursion coach in 1894.

Garden teaparty at Drynie.

Ploughing

Hydro Pylon

Ravens' Rock quarry workers 1936.

Resting Ladies

A sudden fancy to have a picnic seized us one day last year, so we came down here, a stone's throw below the garden on the bank of the burn that takes the water from the mill wheel. (Drynie)

Blacksmith

View from the Strathpeffer Games of Saturday, 24th August, 1912

View from the Strathpeffer Games of Saturday, 24th August, 1912, and a historic occasion for the Highlands, showing the first flight of an aeroplane in the Highlands - flying low at Achterneed. Both photographs by Mr F W Urquhart, Dingwall.

Mr G C Hucks, the pilot is seen with local personalities, beside his aircraft a "Daily Mail" Firefly

Mr G C Hucks, the pilot is seen with local personalities, beside his aircraft a "Daily Mail" Firefly. Both photographs by Mr F W Urquhart, Dingwall.

Counting the Sheep

Ravens' Rock quarry workers, 1920s.

Sheep shearing

Sheep shearing. l-r: ?, Cecil Macintyre, Maclennan, Ormiston, Tommy Maclennan, Annie Maclennan, Dave 'Stag', Duncan Findlay, Rorie and Colin Urquhart, Bobby Couch.

Clipping sheep, Drynie, 1927.

Clipping sheep, Drynie, 1927. Back row, l-r: George, Maggie and Willie Souter Middle row, l-r: Peter Loudon, ?, Jockan Macritchie, Bella Crombie Seated: Jock Stewart, ?, ?, Bob Miller, Ormiston ('Orm') Armstrong

Sheep shearing at Heights of Brae

George Macdonald, Malcolm Macleod (standing), Duncan Mackenzie sheep shearing at Heights of Brae.

Shinty teams at Castle Leod.

Shinty team

Back - partly hidden Angus Mackay (Strathpeffer Hotel), Ali Mackay, ??; Donnie Forbes; John Mackenzie, Duncan Mackay; Willie Forbes; James Cameron; John Mackenzie; D MacLennan (Timaru) Front - Pat MacKenzie, ??; Alick MacKenzie; John Corbett; Donald MacKay - boys Hon Walter MacKenzie and the Earl of Cromartie.

Shooting Party?

Strathpeffer Higland Gathering - August 7th 1926

Strathpeffer Higland Gathering - August 7th 1926 SITTING - Capt D Finlayson O.B.E., Mrs Laidlay, Mrs McArthur, Lady Isobel Blunt-Mackenzie, Colonel Blunt-Mackenzie, The Countess of Cromartie (Chieftain), Mr Angus Mackay (Convener), Mr John Logan, Mr F W Todd (Secretary). STANDING (Front Row) - Mr Angus Macpherson, Mr James Macintosh, Mr H N Noble, Mr A Cross, Mr J Robertson, Mr W A Forsyth, Mr K Mackenzie, Mr W Ogivile, Capt J G Russel, Dr MacLeod, Mr T A MacArthur, Mr G Shields, Mr J Laidlaw, Mr A T Watters Macrae, Mr D Mackintosh, Mr J Metheven, Mr K Mackay. STANDING (Back Row) - Capt Stirling, Mr W H J Miller, Mr N Laidlay, Mr D Forbes (Vice Convener), Mr J Macmaster, Mr Douglas Watt, Mr W Sutherland, Mr John Mackenzie.

Tattie 'howkin'

Tattie 'howkin' with Robbie Junor.

Threshing

Sheep gathering with Robin Watson on top of Ben Wyvis.

Sheep gathering with Robin Watson on top of Ben Wyvis. At rear, l-r: ?, Hugh Mackenzie, manager of Hamilton's Auction Mart. Front, l-r: ?, Robin Watson, ?

Ploughing with a tractor

Tug of war team

Tug of war team, Brahan Company, 1st VBSH, winners of the Littlejohn Challenge Cup, Strathpeffer Highland Games 1905 and 1906. Standing l-r: Alex Mackenzie (Achterneed), Sgt. Paddy Hefferman (Regulars), Kenny Matheson Contin), Colin MacDonald (Heights), Rod. Mackenzie (Achterneed), Wm. MacLennan (Station Cott.) Lieut. Hogg (Dingwall) Seated l-r: Wm. Sutherland (Slaggan, Heights), Tom MacDonald (Keppoch), Rod. Mackenzie (Team Captain, Inchvannie), Sandy Fraser (Brahan), Rod. Mackenzie (Fairburn)

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Unknown Productions

While creating this website we found some photos from the Operatic Society which weren’t associated with any production. If anyone knows which production any of these photos belongs to, please contact us and let us know.