17/2/50
WEDDING
On 2nd February, in the Free Church, Tolsta, Catherine Bella MacKay, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Angus MacKay, was united in marriage to John, a son of Mr. George Murray, 45 North Tolsta. Rev. A. Finlayson officiated.

7/4/50
WEDDING
On Thursday, 30th March, in the Free CHurch, Margaret, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Angus MacKenzie, New Tolsta, was married to Murdo the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Donald Murray, 13 New Tolsta. Rev. A. Finlayson officiated.

21/4/50
DEMOBBED
Kenneth Finlayson, 10 North Tolsta and Donald MacLeod, 74 North Tolsta. Both have returned from foreign service ith the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

19/5/50
FISHING PROSPECTS
Prospects for the herring fishing are not too bright but the crews of the "Sandy Bay" and "Elspeth Smith" are getting ready.
Fishermen who know what it means to be hove to off the Summer Isles on stormy winter nights, will be grateful to Councillor Cameron for the two guiding lights that are to be put up, one on Priest Island and the other within Loch Broom.
The intensive seine-net fishing of the Butt of Lewis and within the Minch, is believed to be responsible for the poor catches by small line fishers.

26/5/50
THE SCHOOL PIANO
A piano has now been installed in the North Tolsta Public School and the Headmaster is very grateful to the young folk of the village for the very handsome contribution which they made towards the purchase price.

16/6/50
ROAD REPAIR
Whoever is responsible, the good folk on New Street and Shore Street, are very thankful to have their road tarmacadamed and in record time. The new method in road surfacing ends the shovel era.

21/7/50
CLOUDBURST
On Wednesday, a section of the village was struck by the heaviest cloudburst within living memory. Culverts were choked by debris and some houses flooded.

28/7/50
CONGRATULATIONS
We congratulate Mr. Angus MacLeod, Hill Street, who graduated M.A., at the June graduation in Glasgow University.

25/8/50
APPOINTMENT
We are interested in the appointment of Mr. Donald MacDonald, M.A., 38 North Tolsta, as Headmaster of Broomhouse School, Edinburgh. This is a new school and will have a staff of 15 teachers.

15/9/50
GOODBYE TO PARAFFIN
About one half of our village folk have now switched on the electric light. The Hydro Electric Board's employees are busy fixing meters and within a short period, every house will bid goodbye to the paraffin lamp.

TEACHING APPOINTMENT
Mr. Angus MacLeod, M.A., a former pupil, is now temporarily on the teaching staff in Tolsta School.

22/9/50
CANTEEN
Mr. MacLean, Headmaster, has the oversight of a large family and seeing that over 100 meals are served daily this is no light problem.. The cooking, serving and indeed the whole scheme, are voted a huge success.

27/10/50
DEMOBILISED
Norman MacIver, Green Cottage has been demobilised from the Army.

TELEPHONE
Thanks to the Head Postmaster, Stornoway, a telephone kiosk has now been installed in the local Post Office.

15/12/50
GOOD FISHING
The little episodes of life! One rock fisher using a piece of herring for bait, landed a two-pound sea-trout. Another caught a smaller one about the size of a herring. The third fisher hooked a saithe, but the gut snapped and he lost the lot. Using his spare tackle he continued to fish successfully, finally hooking the runaway fish gut, flies and lead complete.

EVENING CLASSES
The Evening Classes held in the school are well attended. Monday, a Psalmody Class, Wednesday, sewing and Thursday, navigation.
^top

19/1/51
CONGRATULATIONS
We offer congratulations to John Murray, 8 New Tolsta and Murdo MacKay, 18 New Tolsta, on receiving the Bronze Medal and the Royal Humane Society's Certificate for life-saving. Mr. Murray is serving on the Fishery Patrol Vessel "Vaila" and Mr. MacKay is home on holiday from the Merchant Service.

SHEPHERD
Hector MacMillan, 6 North Tolsta, has been appointed Shepherd for this township for the current year.

2/2/51
RESCUE
A small motor-boat sheltering at Haysker, north of Tolsta Head did not attract particular attention until a flare and rockets were observed in the evening by John MacDonald, New Tolsta, who phoned for assistance. The lifeboat was soon on the scene and the boat with it's two of a crew ws towed to Stornoway. One of the men was Donald MacMillan, Glen Tolsta, now residing in Stornoway.

23/3/51
WEDDING IN GLASGOW
At the Prince of Wales Halls, Glasgow, on Thursday, 8th March, Catherine MacDonald, daughter of the late Murdo MacDonald and of Mrs. MacDonald, 1 Lochside, Tolsta, became the bride of Mr. Angus Campbell, son of Mr. Angus Campbell and of the late Mrs. Campbell, 1744 Paisley Road West, Glasgow.

30/3/51
PLOUGHING
Mr. Murdo MacKenzie, School Road, who has purchased a new tractor, has started ploughing. With two tractors in the village, the work will proceed at a faster pace than last year. Horses are being shod and they have their part to play as well

31/8/51
BACK TO SCHOOL
The School has reopened again and we have lost a popular teacher in Mr. D. MacDonald, M.A.,who has been appointed to Bayble. In his place comes Mr. D. Smith, M.A., a native of Bragar, who we hope will feel at home among us. Mr. John Murray, M.A., 30 North Tolsta, also joins the Staff. We trust Miss A. MacKenzie, M.A., will soon be back on duty again.

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Miss Annie Christina Murray, 30 North Tolsta, who has recently qualified as a Nurse.

28/9/51
CONGRATULATIONS
We wish to congratulate Angus Murray(Jun)29,North Tolsta,on passing the Board of Trade examination for Second Mate(Foreign Going),not an easy thing to do from the lower deck.
Angus is at present serving as Third Officer on the S.S.Clan Royal.
This should give encouragement to all the young men of Tolsta to follow Angus's example,because we know that most of our young seamen have the capacity to learn the art of navigation.

P.S.PROMOTIONS
Four Lewismen are included in the first list of promotions under the
Admirality's re-organisation scheme for the Royal Navy Patrol Service.
They are serving officers who have been given the option of transferring from the Skipper class appointments to R.N.ranks.
Chief Skipper Angus Murray(skipper of the "Sandy Bay")29,North Tolsta, is promoted to Lieutenant(P.S.)R,N,R.Promoted from Skipper to Sub-lieutenant are Skipper Angus Mackay,North Tolsta,Skipper Alexander Macdonald 38,North Tolsta and Skipper Malcolm Macinnes 34,Achmore.

5/10/51
GLEN ROAD
The tar-macadamed road leading to Glen Tolsta, is about the best in Lewis today. Like many other things it has come rather late in the day, when the place is almost deserted, but the road is a real boon to the three families residing there.

12/10/51
CONGRATULATIONS
His many friends at North Tolsta wish to congratulate Angus Murray, jun., 29 North Tolsta, on passing a successful Board of Trade examination at Cardiff as Second Mate, foreign going.

WEDDING
With a family of daughters Mr.Duncan Maclean is finding it no easier to walk unconcernedly up the aisle to give away yet another daughter.
The bride was Christina and the bridegroom Colin Campbell,47,North Tolsta.
The officiating minister was the Rev.A.Finlayson.

BUSINESS CHANGES HANDS
Mr.John Macleod,Butcher,has retired owing to ill health and the business is to be carried on by Donald Maciver,General Merchant,64,New Street.

30/11/51
LEWIS LAD KILLED IN EGYPT
The Cameron Bren-gunner killed by Egyptian terrorists in the ambush near Tel-El-Kebir on Monday was a Lewisman-21 year old Donald Maciver,formerly of Roadside North Tolsta.
Bren-gunner Maciver is the twenty-eighth British soldier murdered by
Egyptian terrorists.He is the first Lewisman.
News of his death was given in a telegram from the Army Records Office in Perth,received on Monday night as his mother was going to church.
"If it was war time we would have been prepared for it,but it came as a terrible shock".
In the action the Cameron Highlanders patrol was caught by terrorists in what was apparently a well-planned trap on the south bank of the Sweet Water Canal,less than a mile from a British road block and filtration plant at one of the main entrances to the ordnance depot at Tel El Kebir
The patrol came under fire from three sides,and Bren-gunner Maciver was shot in the head by a sniper who then picked off the officer who took over the gun.
Men of the 3rd.Grenadier Guards were sent to the spot-in the same area as last Saturday's first major action in which 12 terrorists were killed and 41 captured-and bren-gun carriers were ferried across the canal under heavy fire.
A concentration of 3in. mortars was laid on the terrorists' positions
which were also engaged by medium machine-gun fire.The Cameron Highlanders' patrol and the casualties were brought over in the carriers.
His father was 32 years in the R,N,R.and was a prisoner-of-war for four years after the fall of Antwerp during the First World War.
^top

18/1/52
ELSPETH SMITH
We were relieved to hear that the crew of the "Elspeth Smith"were saved when during a southerly gale in Loch Claidh her cable parted and she piled on to the rocks before they could get the engine going.The men managed to jump ashore before she heeled over and sank in nine fathoms of water.
They remained on the cliff without any shelter from 3a.m.till daybreak.
They then trecked through difficult country until they came to a gamekeeper's house also uninhabited.They found peats and started a fire while the skipper signalled for to the village of Maaruig.The signal was noticed by a woman who raised the alarm.A boat was launched and the crew were ferried across Loch Seaforth where they were treated with the customary wholehearted hospitality of the Harris folk.
Tolsta members of the crew were-Alex.Macdonald,Skipper,38,John Angus and
Donald Murray,37,and Donald Smith,75,Hill Street.

25/4/52
AFTERMATH OF THE STORM
Though much damage was done to property it is surprising that things were not worse.
Many windows were broken and slates ripped off houses placing crofters in a difficult position as these asbestos slates are unobtainable now
A considerable quantity of unthreshed grain fodder and hay has been lost.

SHEPHERD APPOINTED
At a public meeting,John Macritchie was appointed shepherd for this township.

CONGRATULATIONS
John Murdo Macmillan,son of Mrs.Macmillan and the late John Macmillan, East View North Tolsta,a second year student at the Scottish Hotel School Glasgow,was among seven students picked to represent the College at the recent Hotel Olympia Exhibition in London.
They brought back one gold medal,two silver and one bronze medal,and three awards of merit.John Murdo was the only competitor to receive a professional award.Congratulations John Murdo.

EMIGRANT
Angus,the son of Mr.and Mrs.Murdo Maciver,16,New Tolsta,has emigrated to New Zealand.He was a train driver on the Inverness-Kyle route.

WORKING LATE
The planting of potatoes and the sowing of oats goes on at full speed.
The tractors are working late and using their headlights.

16/5/52
SUCCESS
The Tolsta Primary Choir were runners-up to the Nicolson Institute
at the recent Musical Festival.

RAVENS
Much loss is caused by ravens in this area so our bouquet for the week goes to Christina Macdonald,a 14 year old schoolgirl who surprised one attacking a lamb.With a stout walking stick she knocked it on the head and a neighbour coming on the scene soon despatched it. It measured 3 ft.7 ins between the wingtips.

29/6/52
HUSH-HUSH TRIALS
Secret naval trials are being carried out off North Tolsta.
The Navy has closed an area of five square miles to all shipping.
Scores of sailors come ashore every weekend in Stornoway for leave but the main ship in the trials,(H.M.S.Ben Lomond,a heavy tank-landing ship)never enters harbour.It anchors out of sight of the town.
A foreign fishing vessel has been seen working close to the forbidden area.
It is thought to be a Norwegian shark-hunting boat of which there are a number in Hebridean waters at present.

9/9/52
THE"PORT JACKSON"
Two New Tolsta seamen are on board the "Port Jackson" reported on
fire for nine days before it was brought under control.They are
Murdo Maciver,16,and Murdo Mackay,18,New Tolsta.

2/9/52
TOLSTA'S NEW MINISTER
The congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church, North Tolsta, inducted the first minister they have had since 1893.From that year the church has been served by a missionary.
There was a large concourse of visitors from all parts of the island to welcome the new minister,the Rev.Fraser Macdonald,who hails from Oban.
The congregation raised more than £3,000 to build a manse for their new minister who is an Edinburgh graduate.

23/12/52
HOTEL FIRE
William and Annie Macdonald,51,North Tolsta,who were on the staff of the Royal Hotel,Nairn,recently damaged by fire, have returned home.
Miss Macdonald lost all her personal belongings.

PROTEST MEETING
A mass meeting was held in the school to protest against the cut in the Tolsta bus Service.The bus owner,Mr.Mitchell,who was invited to attend,did not appear.
A representative committee was appointed to confer with the operator and to contact the M.P.and the Traffic Commisioners.

CONCESSION FARES
On the bus front workers' single concession fares at 1/10 came into operation as from September 1st,The old rate was 3/3 return and as the new return is 3/8 it is difficult to see where the "concession"comes in.

AN ISLAND GRIEVANCE
"We have more or less to buy our dead" was the striking phrase used by Councillor Allan Cameron when he criticised the high freight charges on remains brought home to Lewis for burial,when seamen die in mainland ports.
To take the body of a seaman home from London to Stornoway costs £87.3.5d.
"We are a seafaring race,and we send our youth to the Merchant Navy.When any of them die we want them brought home"said Councillor Cameron.
Inverness Chamber of Commerce is conducting an enquiry into the effect of transport costs on the life of the Highlands.They agreed to include Councillor Cameron's comments in their report.
^top


No content available
^top

2/2/54
FROM"WAVE VICTOR"
Hugh Macleod,20 North Tolsta,who arrived home several days ago was a seaman aboard the naval oil tanker "Wave Victor"which went on fire.At seventeen he was probably the youngest member of the crew.
He lost all his personal belongings.

OBITUARY
We regret to learn of the death of Murdo Mackay,42 North Tolsta,at Inverness.
Murdo was a strong well built lad,but the war years coupled with the
additional strain and ill treatment in prisoner-of-war camps seriously impaired his health.

5/4/54
THE LATE MRS. CAMPBELL
The death of Mrs.Mary Campbell 54 North Tolsta,was not unexpected as she had been in poor health for some time.During the 1914-18 war her husband six brothers and six brothers-in-law were on active service.
Four did not return.She was 72.

29/6/54
EIGHT NURSES
Eight girls from the village are training as nurses.The latest to join
Agnes Campbell 51B,and Janet Maciver 25 North Tolsta.

PRESENTED WITH WATCH
Mr and Mrs.Angus Macdonald, Kinlochleven,were home for three weeks visiting the old haunts.Mr.Macdonald was one of those who received a wristlet watch from the firm for 30 years service.He has been with the British Aluminium Company for 35 years.

TOLSTA BRIDGE
An earthen lean-to and a dwarf wall of turf 2 ft.high has been built
at Glen Tolsta Bridge and a whole bag of cement used to seal a bad
crack in the bridge itself.Wanton expenditure.

NEW FREE CHURCH
The foundations of the new Free Church has now been laid and work
thereon is in full swing.For a small congregation it is a formidable
undertaking.

12/10/54
OFF TO SEA
Another three young boys are away to get their sea legs.They are
Donald Macmillan,Lochside,John Macleod,Carran Ban,and Norman Maciver,11 North Tolsta.Another sailor, home on leave before joining ship as radio officer is John Maciver 69 New Street.

UNUSUAL MEETING RECALLED
We regret to record the death of Angus Mackenzie 1 New Tolsta.
Angus was one of those jolly lovable characters one meets occasionally and he will be missed from his pew in the Free Church where he was a deacon.
During the first world war he served as a gunner in the Merchant Navy and was captured by a German submarine.After interrogation he was placed aboard a neutral ship proceeding to the U.S.A.This ship was later intercepted by a British destroyer and forced to proceed to Falmouth.
Many years later Mr.Mackenzie was recognised by a former member
of the submarine's crew aboard a German Klondyker while
S.Y."Glenesk"was delivering herring.
He was 78 years of age.
^top

24/5/55
Football
There was something of a "local derby" atmosphere about this Kemnay Cup match played at North Tolsta on a somewhat cramped but otherwise excellent field given by Councillor Allan Cameron.The rain made good play difficult but these young boys put many senior elevens to shame by the way they trapped and controlled a very greasy ball.
In two good teams the centre-halves and goalkeepers were outstanding.
There was no scoring at half-time but in the second half with the
wind and rain behind them,Back dictated play and scored four good goals.
Only superb goalkeeping by the Tolsta 'keeper kept several other shots from finding the net.
Score-Tolsta 0,Back 4

21/6/55
BUSY SEASON
All available motor lorries are now on the road taking home
the years fuel.

FOSTER MOTHER
After waiting patiently for four weeks a young lad who placed two
duck eggs in the nest of a black-backed gull has two healthy
ducklings.A few years ago another lad had three chicks hatched
by a seagull.

X-RAYED
On June 23rd practically all the pupils in the school were
X-rayed.

THE SIDON
Donald Smith,24,North Tolsta,is on the salvage ship"Swin"which helped to raise and beach the submarine "Sidon"
He was on the job for a fortnight.

21/11/55
WAITING FOR THE RAINS
The drought continues and most wells are down to a trickle.
The well at Murdo Macdonald's 3 croft has proved a real boon and
is free to all comers.

SIGHT RESTORED
We are thankful and rejoice with Mrs.William Macdonald 48,North Tolsta who has had her sight restored after being blind for nearly three years.The successful operation was performed in the Lewis Hospital.
She is in her seventies.

19/7/55
WELCOME HOME
Its welcome home from us all to Annie Maciver,43 North Tolsta,who
arrived home on Saturday fit as a bell. She has been in hospital
for almost seven years.

21/11/55
WHO SAILS THE SEAS
Norman Macleod 20,and William Gunn 70,had a pleasant surprise
when they joined their new ship and found five shipmates from
the village already on board.
Kenneth Macleod The Bungalow,John Murdo Macdonald 28 and John Mackay 64,are in hospital in foreign ports.

SALUTE
Salute to the North Tolsta infant class(26 pupils)for seven weeks perfect attendance.
^top

No content available
^top

No content available
^top

2/9/58
GIFT
Mr.Alexander Murray formerly of 29,North Tolsta,an electrical engineer in Canada,has presented an electric clock and a bible to the new church in Tolsta.

Mr.JOHN NICOLSON
It is with sorrow that we learned of the death of Mr.John Nicolson senior elder and oldest member of the Free Presbyterian Church.
A shoemaker by trade he was a first class craftsman and gave his best in serving the village.
He was a lay agent here for many years before the congregation had a minister settled over them.
^top

16/6/59
WATER FOR ALL
A squad of County Council workmen are busy connecting branch pipes to the main water supply line and are doing a really good job.
Housewives are finding it a blessing and much more so those in the
Carnan where the water had to be carried in buckets up an exceptionally steep brae.In winter with snow and ice this job was really hazardous.

18/8/59
MAKING PROGRESS
We are happy to learn that Murdo Smith,52,North Tolsta,hurt in a
cycle accident,is maaking slow but steady progress.
After being unconcious for twenty-four days he is now able to recognise and speak to visitors in Kilearn Hospital.

1/12/59
THRESHING
Mr.Murdo Murray,30,North Tolsta,has added a mobile threshing mill to his growing array of crofting implements.This should encourage
crofters to grow more oats.
^top