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- I am just in from the meeting of the school Literary Society. They had a Gaelic debate: “Has emigration been beneficial to the Highlands?” They went into it with great vim and seemed to enjoy it greatly. Several times it resolved itself into little duels in which there seemed to be excellent bits which brought down the house, and retort would follow retort to everybody’s delight… The affirmative won by 35 votes to 14; some did not vote… Stornoway, 28th Feb. 1917
- There have been some fine catches of herring this last week, one day 5000 crans. The Minch has been getting “swept” and the mail-boat is running regularly. Oatmeal scarce; we have had to fall back temporarily on Quaker oats… Stornoway 22nd Feb 1917
- This week’s letter highlights a difficult truth which is very pertinent, given that it is Black History Month. In the course of transcribing the letters we occasionally encounter racist language which is extremely offensive and considered abhorrent today. The fact that a highly educated woman like Mrs Gibson would use this particularly horrible word in such a context reflects the racist ideas prevalent in Britain at this time. We thought carefully about whether to publish this letter on the blog, but we feel it is important not to cover up the past and that we should bring it out into the open, as the attitudes of people in the past are an important part of the historical record. In another sentence of the letter there is a reference to insanity in a particular family. We have not revealed the family’s identity in case this causes distress to any descendants.
- I had letters this week from Wm. B. Macdonald, who is with a battery in France and has had one or two narrow escapes, from J. W. Matheson, in Salonika, and from Alick Thomson, in the training camp at Gailes. He is enjoying the change from the trench-mud. Did I mention that Simon Mackenzie, who has been on a minesweeper off the west coast of Ireland, is now home, discharged on account of his health?… Stornoway, 15th Feb. 1917
- He told us of a mule who had a spite against a man and waited patiently for an opportunity to pay him out [get revenge]. One day the man was grooming the third mule from his enemy. The watchful one saw his chance and laid the man out with a kick delivered below the bellies of the two intervening mules. What do you think of that? E. says they never forget anybody who has beaten them…Stornoway, 9th Feb. 1917
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Monthly Archives: November 2011
Feasgar còmhla aig Sgoil Bharabhais
Air an 22mh An t-Samhain, choinnich sgoilearan bho an latha an-dè agus an-diugh ann a Sgoil Bharabhais airson feasgar neo-fhoirmeil a chuir na tidsearan, clann agus na pàrantan air dòigh airson cuimhneachan làithean na sgoile. Ged a bha gèile agus … Continue reading
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Tagged Bord na Gaidhlig, cuimhneachadh laithean na sgoile, leabhar latha Sgoil Bharabhais, leabhar mionaidean Bord Sgoile Bharabhais, Sgoil Bharabhais, sgoiltean a' dunadh
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A new home for Comann Eachdraidh Nis
Comann Eachdraidh Nis (CEN), the most north westerly historical society in the European Union, have moved house from their premises in Habost to their new home in the former Cross School. CEN have amassed a large collection of photographs and … Continue reading
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Memories of Airidhantuim School
On the afternoon of the 8th December, Airidhantuim School is holding an informal ceilidh for past and present pupils to help them learn more on the history of the school. They want to hear from past pupils and staff about … Continue reading
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Tagged Airidhantuim Primary School, Bord na Gaidhlig, schools project, Tasglann nan Eilean Siar
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Memories of the Mills
Stornoway Historical Society are holding a talk tonight on the Harris Tweed mills of Stornoway, led by Malcolm Macdonald and Ian Maclennan. The talk will be held in the Comhairle Chamber, Sandwick Road tonight, doors open at 6.30pm and … Continue reading
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Tagged Harris Tweed, Stornoway Historical Society
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Taic airgid bho Maoin Dualchais a’ Chrannchuir Nàiseanta airson Caisteal Steòrnabhaigh
Dh’ ainmich Maoin Dulchais a’ Chrannchuir Nàiseanta an-diugh gu bheil iad a’ toirt £4.6millean seachad airson taigh tasgaidh agus tasglann ùr a cruthachadh aig Caisteal Steòrnabhaigh. Bheiridh seo goireasean taigh-tasgaidh aig àrd ìre chun an Eilean agus bidh an cothrom … Continue reading
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Friday photo; Lews Castle Staff
David recently met with Douglas Davidson who provided us with the above image for today’s Friday Photo of staff of Lews Castle circa 1890s-1910. Douglas’s grandmother and great aunt both worked as servants for the Matheson family, his grandmother is in … Continue reading
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100 years of Harris Tweed
Tomorrow in the Old School, Shawbost, the Islands Book Trust is hosting an event called ‘An Clò Mòr, An-dè, an-diugh agus a-màireach’ celebrating the centenary of Harris Tweed. The event is open for registration from 9.30am and features a talk from … Continue reading
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Tagged An Clo Mor, Harris Tweed, Islands Book Trust
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Islands Book Trust event tonight; Over the Hebrides – using Aerial Photography to portray a Cultural Landscape
Tonight in An Lanntair, Stornoway, the Islands Book Trust are hosting an event with Angus and Patricia Macdonald at 7.30pm. They will talk about their new book which looks at the human impact on the landscape of the islands. The … Continue reading
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Tagged An Lanntair, Islands Book Trust, Taigh Chearsabhagh
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Friday photo; Scalpay School
Last night Scalpay School kicked off their programme of events to mark the school’s closure in 2012 with an informal ceilidh evening to gather memories, photographs and artefacts of the school history. There was a fantastic turnout to the event, … Continue reading
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