Strathpeffer Social

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

Strathpeffer Burns Club

Visit the Burns Club page to see photos of the 29th and 70th Burns suppers.  There is also a report of the 70th Anniversary of the Strathpeffer Burns Club.

Burns Cover

Attribution: unknown

Fodderty SWRI

In November 2002 the Fodderty SWRI celebrated its 73rd Anniversary. In 2002 it had approximately 20 members ranging in age from 35(ish) – 90+. They had meetings at 7.30 pm on the third Thursday of each month in Strathpeffer Community Centre.

Below is the 2002/2003 session programme of open meetings:

19th September – Local Artist Esther Armstrong

17th October – Metal Detecting with Sandy Snell

21st November – Munro’s Nurseries with Colin Munro

16th January – Visit to India and Bangladesh with Dr. Kitty Campbell

20th February – The work of the RSPB with Kenna Chisholm

20th March – Cookery Demonstration with Maureen Ringrose.

Our evening starts with a short business meeting followed by our speaker for the evening and finishing off with a light supper.

Due to restricted numbers for catering/transport, members-only meetings take place on –

19th December – Christmas Dinner

17th April – Spring Outing

25th May – AGM

Strathpeffer Amateur Operatic Society 1959-1982

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.

Col Olaf and Mrs Hester Macleod

Attribution: unknown

Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band

The Pipe Band was formed in 1980 primarily to entertain visitors in the village square at Strathpeffer. The Pipe Band perform every Saturday night in the square from May to September; while the band have a break during the performance tourists are entertained with a display of Highland Dancing. The band wears the tartan Mackenzie of Seaforth, while the logo on their ties is of Castle Leod; permission for this was given by the late Earl of Cromartie.

At the time this photograph was taken the band played under the leadership of Drum Major Duncan Sutherland and Pipe Major James Mackenzie. Several band members have been with the band since it was formed. Members of the Pipe Band give their time and energies voluntarily. They practise every week during the winter and continue to perfect their music during the summer. As well as playing every week in the Square, they often perform at local Highland Games and Gala days.

Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band

Attribution: unknown

Royal British Legion

The Strathpeffer Branch of the Royal British Legion was founded in the 1930s. By 1946 there were 81 members. The Chairman at that time was W. H. Fraser and the Honorary Treasurer was A. Barnie, the local Chemist. A year later in 1947 the Chairman was Mr. Munro and the Secretary of the Branch W. J. L. Mackenzie. In 1949 Major E. W. Whitelaw became the Honorary President , the Chairman being W. Smith of Contin and the Secretary was T. S. Henderson. The Vice-Chairman during this period was Mr. A. Macleod, who later took over the post of Chairman.

In 1951 Major General H. Macdonald, C.B., presented the King’s Colour and Branch Standard in the Parish Church at the dedication of the standards from ten different branches. The Branch Chairman was Lt. Col. O. E. B. Macleod.

During the 1960s Mr. Fred Hoare and Mr. W. Watts alternated as Chairman. After Fred Hoare’s death in the 1980s, Bill Watts continued as Chairman, supported first of all by Iain Nicolson as Treasurer-Secretary and then by Walter Chaloner. Lt. Col. Murdo Macdonald succeeded Bill Watts. The present Chairman is Mr. Hamish Galbraith and the Treasurer-Secretary is Peter Rathbone.

The late Rory, Earl of Cromartie acted as Honorary President for many years. He has now been succeeded by Captain R.W. K. Stirling.

The Victory Hall acted as the Branch’s Headquarters for many years but recently meetings have been held in the Strathpeffer Hotel.

The membership for the year 1999-2000 is around thirty. Part of the duties of the Branch is the attendance with the Standards at Remembrance Day Service and also raising around £1000 annually for the Earl Haig Fund. The Branch’s Annual Dinner is held in the Strathpeffer Hotel as part of the Fund Raising Events.

Strathpeffer Highland Games

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Victorian Day - June 1999

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Open Air Entertainment - August 1999

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Opening of new Strathpeffer School

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Strathpeffer » Strathpeffer History » Strathpeffer Events » Strathpeffer Building Neil Gunn Memorial 1987
Neil Gunn Memorial
Neil Gunn Memorial
(photo John McGhie, Muir of Ord)
A view of the surrounding area before construction
A view of the surrounding area before construction
02 Excavating the site.
02 Excavating the site.
Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
01 The site
01 The site
Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
03 Unloading the memorial stone
03 Unloading the memorial stone
Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
04 The stone being placed in situ
04 The stone being placed in situ
Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
05 Building the surrounding wall
05 Building the surrounding wall
Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
06 Some planting
06 Some planting
Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
07 Allan Haldane inscribing the memorial stone
07 Allan Haldane inscribing the memorial stone
Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
08 Dingwall Academy pupils loading walkways
08 Dingwall Academy pupils loading walkways
Dingwall Academy pupils loading walkways under supervisition of technical subjects teacher Hamish Mackay (on right). Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
09 Walkways in place
09 Walkways in place
Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
10 More planting
10 More planting
Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
11 The memorial stone
11 The memorial stone
Photograph courtesy of Steve Clouston
Memorial stone
Memorial stone
The Neil M. Gunn Memorial Gate (1987)
The Neil M. Gunn Memorial Gate (1987)
Gathering for the formal opening
Gathering for the formal opening
Dr Kerr Yule (instigator of the project) in foreground
Dr Kerr Yule (instigator of the project) in foreground
Unveiling the site
Unveiling the site
On left: Finlay Macrae (piper), Allan Haldane, Dr Kerr Yule, in front of whom is Mrs Annie Green, Halkirk (wearing red scarf) who unveiled the site. Mrs Green, a cousin of Neil Gunn, donated the memorial stone which comes from her family quarry in Halkirk, Caithness.
Mrs Annie Green
Mrs Annie Green
Subsequent tree planting
Subsequent tree planting
Subsequent tree planting (c.1990) by S3 chemistry class, Dingwall Academy, with Dr Kerr Yule standing back left. (photo Ann Gould)
The Neil M Gunn Memorial
The Neil M Gunn Memorial
The Neil M Gunn Memorial, Heights of Brae, Strathpeffer - opened 31 October 1987. (photo John McGhie, Muir of Ord)
Interpretative panel at Neil Gunn Memorial - 2001
Interpretative panel at Neil Gunn Memorial - 2001
Interpretative panel at Neil Gunn Memorial - 2001, Katharine Stewart having just unveiled panel. Ann and Kerr Yule to the right.
Unveiling of interpretative panel at Neil Gunn Memorial
Unveiling of interpretative panel at Neil Gunn Memorial
Unveiling of interpretative panel at Neil Gunn Memorial, Heights of Brae, June 2001. l-r: Alison Wilkie, Ann Yule, Katharine Stewart (author)
Unveiling of interpretative panel
Unveiling of interpretative panel
Unveiling of interpretative panel at Neil M. Gunn Monument, Heights of Brae. Allan and Dorothy Haldane in centre of picture.
Interpretative panel covered in a Gunn tartan rug
Interpretative panel covered in a Gunn tartan rug
Interpretative panel covered in a Gunn tartan rug. l-r: Councillor Margaret Paterson, Douglas Murray, Katharine Stewart (author), Kerr Yule (Chairman of Neil M. Gunn Trust), Ann Yule.
Interpretative panel at Neil Gunn Memorial
Interpretative panel at Neil Gunn Memorial
Interpretative panel at Neil Gunn Memorial, Heights of Brae - June 2001. l-r: Mr. Neil McKechnie, unknown, Alison Wilkie.
Neil M. Gunn Memorial - June 2001
Neil M. Gunn Memorial - June 2001
Neil M. Gunn Memorial - June 2001.l-r: Hilda , Katharine Stewart, Fiona, and baby Catriona (Katharine, her daughter, grand-daughter and great grand-daughter - four generations.) Tom MacIver, former Ross and Cromarty Further Education Officer, on right. (Tom died in 2014 at the grand old age of 106.)
Carved Heptagon
Carved Heptagon
The carved heptagon is made of Caithness slab. It was made by Mr Jack Green at his quarry at Halkirk, Caithness. On this feature, the carvings by Allan Haldane indicate the directions of important places in the surrounding landscape.
The Neil M. Gunn Monument
The Neil M. Gunn Monument
The Neil M. Gunn Monument was erected on Heights of Brae, Strathpeffer in 1987, as a consequence of the enthusiasm of the Trustees, seven local people. The monument itself consists of a central 'standing stone'; round the base are carved Caithness slabs, depicting themes central to Neil Gunn's writing. The Monument is situated in a very natural setting near the foothills of Ben Wyvis, and close to the route taken by the author as he made his way on his daily walk from Brae Farm House, up through the fields behind the house and on to the moor to the North of the monument. The thinking behind the 'Tryst Gate', the wrought-iron gate at the entrance to the monument, was of Neil's words being read and their influence radiating in all directions to other peoples.

Armistice Day 1999

Every year the local members of the Royal British Legion attend a church service; the colours are presented and the two-minute silence observed at 11am. After the service the colour party and members of the public go to the War Memorial at Fodderty Cemetery where poppy wreaths are laid; a piper from the local pipe band is present and plays a lament.

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This year 2000, we have been taking photographs of what is happening in our school. We also have pictures of interesting places we visited. We stored this information in a computer. Now we have put our pictures and reports on this Web Site for anyone to read. We would like to hear from other schools in the world.

Millennium Celebrations - photo 7

Attribution: unknown

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