Author Archives: Archivist (Editor)

On Saturday forenoon we had a meeting of the teachers of Story Parish to consider the S. Bd’s [School Board’s] offer of £400 towards a bonus. Resolved to decline bonus & to ask again for Craik Scale. It was also agreed that in the event of refusal Headquarters be asked to offer the resignations of the Nicolson Institute staff! … Stornoway 10th Mar. 1919

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Archivist (Editor)

Mr Gibson and his teaching colleagues have resolved to agitate for better terms and conditions; he is also pleased to see more of his pupils returning home safely from the First World War.  Lord Leverhulme is back on the island … Continue reading →

Posted in Gibson collection | Comments Off on On Saturday forenoon we had a meeting of the teachers of Story Parish to consider the S. Bd’s [School Board’s] offer of £400 towards a bonus. Resolved to decline bonus & to ask again for Craik Scale. It was also agreed that in the event of refusal Headquarters be asked to offer the resignations of the Nicolson Institute staff! … Stornoway 10th Mar. 1919

Lord Leverhulme comes tonight … The town is being swept up today and the mud carted away … Stornoway 6th Mar. 1919

Posted on June 2, 2023 by Archivist (Editor)

This week Mrs Gibson relates how Stornoway has been spruced up in readiness for the arrival of Lord Leverhulme. Cases of influenza (the post-war “Spanish flu” pandemic) are rife, and Nicolson Institute pupils are planning peacetime careers in medicine. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Gibson collection | Comments Off on Lord Leverhulme comes tonight … The town is being swept up today and the mud carted away … Stornoway 6th Mar. 1919

… we discussed educational and Lewisian problems … The Story. Bd. had offered £400 of a bonus. The teachers’ committee had recommended its apportionment as salary … But Mr. Maciver, Tong, was not satisfied with the amt. … and made a most convincing exhibition at the meeting of how far we are from being a profession yet … Stornoway 2nd Mar. 1919

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Archivist (Editor)

Having marked the centenaries of the emigration sailings of spring 1923 during the last few weeks, the Tasglann blog will revert to its usual publication schedule, picking up with the events of early 1919. This week, there is an exciting … Continue reading →

Posted in Gibson collection | Comments Off on … we discussed educational and Lewisian problems … The Story. Bd. had offered £400 of a bonus. The teachers’ committee had recommended its apportionment as salary … But Mr. Maciver, Tong, was not satisfied with the amt. … and made a most convincing exhibition at the meeting of how far we are from being a profession yet … Stornoway 2nd Mar. 1919

Mr. Rennie was in on Saturday afternoon for a bit … Did I tell you that his second daughter went to Canada with the emigrants … Stornoway 15th May 1923

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Archivist (Editor)

During the spring of 2023, the Gibson posts of the Tasglann blog will mark the centenaries of the sailings of the SS Marloch from Lochboisdale on 15th April 1923 and the SS Metagama from Stornoway on 21st April 1923. Several … Continue reading →

Posted in Gibson collection | Tagged , | Comments Off on Mr. Rennie was in on Saturday afternoon for a bit … Did I tell you that his second daughter went to Canada with the emigrants … Stornoway 15th May 1923

Telegram recd to-day that the “Metagama” had arrived at noon on Wednesday at St. Johns, New Brunswick. She had been diverted from her course as there was too much ice in the St. Lawrence … Stornoway 3rd May 1923

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Archivist (Editor)

During the spring of 2023, the Gibson posts of the Tasglann blog will mark the centenaries of the sailings of the SS Marloch from Lochboisdale on 15th April 1923 and the SS Metagama from Stornoway on 21st April 1923. Several … Continue reading →

Posted in Gibson collection | Tagged , | Comments Off on Telegram recd to-day that the “Metagama” had arrived at noon on Wednesday at St. Johns, New Brunswick. She had been diverted from her course as there was too much ice in the St. Lawrence … Stornoway 3rd May 1923

Another party of emigrants for Canada is being got up for June and this party Mrs. Fraser and Callum Macaulay will accompany. Papa was describing a girl interviewing him today for it – “all painted and powdered”. Query was it the one we saw in Edinburgh? Or is there another? … Stornoway 30th Apr. 1923

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Archivist (Editor)

During the spring of 2023, the Gibson posts of the Tasglann blog will mark the centenaries of the sailings of the SS Marloch from Lochboisdale on 15th April 1923 and the SS Metagama from Stornoway on 21st April 1923. Several … Continue reading →

Posted in Gibson collection | Tagged | Comments Off on Another party of emigrants for Canada is being got up for June and this party Mrs. Fraser and Callum Macaulay will accompany. Papa was describing a girl interviewing him today for it – “all painted and powdered”. Query was it the one we saw in Edinburgh? Or is there another? … Stornoway 30th Apr. 1923

Donald J. Stewart (1920-1992) of Stornoway : local and national politician, Member of Parliament and Privy Counsellor

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Archivist (Editor)

Donald Stewart was a Stornoway Town Councillor and Provost; he was elected to Westminster as its sole Scottish National Party Member of Parliament in 1970, and was awarded the Freedom of the Western Isles. Attribution: Wikipedia and The Independent During … Continue reading →

Posted in Nicolson Institute Vignettes | Tagged | Comments Off on Donald J. Stewart (1920-1992) of Stornoway : local and national politician, Member of Parliament and Privy Counsellor

Roderick Smith of Stornoway: pharmacist and local politician

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Archivist (Editor)

Roderick Smith was twice Provost of Stornoway; he fought to ensure The Nicolson Bequests remained true to their original purposes, and was granted Freedom of the Burgh in 1961. By Sandy Matheson During 2023, to mark the 150th anniversary of The … Continue reading →

Posted in Nicolson Institute Vignettes | Tagged | Comments Off on Roderick Smith of Stornoway: pharmacist and local politician

Sandy Matheson (born 1941) of Stornoway: pharmacist and local politician

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Archivist (Editor)

Alexander (Sandy) Matheson was the last Provost of Stornoway and the first Vice Convenor of the Western Isles Islands Council; he was Convenor from 1982 to 1990, and Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles from 2001 to 2016. Attribution: Who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Nicolson Institute Vignettes | Tagged | Comments Off on Sandy Matheson (born 1941) of Stornoway: pharmacist and local politician

Here it hasn’t been the races but the emigration to Canada which has been the excitement. I was down at the quay for a little while but the wind and dust were just too much for me so I came home and did my arrears of darning. Katie was out all day seeing her sister off and came back “a’ begreettin” poor lass! She is more cheerful now … Stornoway 27th Apr. 1923

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Archivist (Editor)

During the spring of 2023, the Gibson posts of the Tasglann blog will mark the centenaries of the sailings of the SS Marloch from Lochboisdale on 15th April 1923 and the SS Metagama from Stornoway on 21st April 1923. Several … Continue reading →

Posted in Gibson collection | Tagged , | Comments Off on Here it hasn’t been the races but the emigration to Canada which has been the excitement. I was down at the quay for a little while but the wind and dust were just too much for me so I came home and did my arrears of darning. Katie was out all day seeing her sister off and came back “a’ begreettin” poor lass! She is more cheerful now … Stornoway 27th Apr. 1923