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29/7/60
RESEEDING
In an effort to enrich the common grazing two plots of 20 and 50
acres have been reseeded.
AFTER TWENTY-NINE YEARS
On the eve of their departure after 29 years service in Tolsta J.S.
School Mr.and Mrs.Angus Maclean were presented with various gifts
from this community as a whole ,from the teaching staff,the canteen staff
and the pupils as a token of esteem and the bond between them and the
community.
All the village wish them all that is good in their new home in
Kingussie.
24/9/60
THE STRIKERS
Vanloads of unemployed seaman travel to Stornoway most nights
in support of the unofficial strike.
With the whole world in a state of tension it is not surprising
that spasms should affect us here,but we cannot understand why men who
prefer to differ should be prevented from going about their legitimate
business.
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4/4/61
GOLDEN WEDDINGS
Mr.and Mrs.Angus Maciver,67,New St.and Mr.and Mrs.Murdo Macleod,76 Hill
St. have celebrated their golden weddings.
Mr.Macleod is the last Tolsta survivor of those who fought at Jutland.
FROM NEW ZEALAND
Mr.Donald Macdonald who holds a skipper and pilot's certificate gained
in New Zealand is now in Aberdeen undergoing a course of instruction to
comply with Board of Trade regulations. A new boat is being built for
him and his crew.
CADET
Mr.William Macritchie,a former pupil of Lews Castle College,has joined
the "City of Lancaster"as a cadet.
GALE DAMAGE
Friday's gale did some damage to houses,overturned corn rigs and
haystacks while Councillor Cameron's boat was smashed to pieces.
Electric cables were torn off poles yet the village was without
electricity for only twenty four hours,thanks to the efficient
repair service of the Hydro-Electric Board.
WRONG SIDE
Hospital cases are always with us but the return from hospital of Alexander
Macdonald,38,North Tolsta,is of special interest.His case was uncommon-
his appendix was found to be on his left side
11/4/61
NORTH TOLSTA TRIES AGAIN
The let of North Tolsta school for a dance tonight was unanimously approved
by the Lewis Education District sub-commitee at their meeting on Tuesday.
They had a request before them from Mr.Neil Mackenzie,41,North Tolsta,
for the use of the school to hold a dance within recent years.
At their last meeting a similar request was also granted,but the dance
was cancelled because of a death in the village and when it was held the
following Friday only twenty young men and one girl turned up.
Councillor Allan Cameron supported the request seconded by Mrs.E.Graham.
Had there been any objections from the neighbourhood?, asked ex-Provost
Roderick Smith."No"said Councillor Cameron"We had the honour
of the minister attending,and what more could you want?"(Rev.Fraser
Macdonald,Free Presbyterian minister at Tolsta,accompanied by one of his
elders and an elder from the Free Church visited the school during the
dance)
The letter incorporated a request for the use of the school till a later
hour on this occasion.School lets normally terminate at midnight,but Councillor
Cameron reminded the committee that British Summer Time was now in operation,and
added,"It is'nt that the youth are afraid of being seen going to
the dance but they are busy on their crofts till late in the day."
The committee granted an extension till 12.30 a.m.
1/8/61
TRAINEES
The latest bunch of trainees went aboard the "Islesman"on Thursday
of last week-the North Tolsta group who hope to have their boat by September.
The boat will be owned by three men,two brothers,Donald and John Macdonald
and their partner John Murdo Macleod.
The Macdonald brothers had both settled in New Zealand,when one of them
came home for a visit and saw the possibility of beginning again in local
fishing.Both had fished in New Zealand,Donald for fourteen years and John
for five.
Donald Macdonald,the new skipper,brought a New Zealand wife home with
him,and three of a family-to which a fourth has been added since their
arrival.
Two other men from North Tolsta,who will be crew members,are also on the
"Islesman"-Angus Maciver and Allan Macleod.They will be joined
later by Jackie Morrison,Stornoway.
Their new boat is to be named "Highland Chieftain".
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6/3/62
NEW BOAT
Councillor Cameron's brand new boat has now been delivered.Built at Ness
by their veteran boat builder,she is an acknowleged beauty.
STEWARDESS
Catherine,the daughter of Mr.and Mrs.Alex.Campbell "Lochside"
is a stewardess aboard the cruise ship "Transvaal Castle"
DAIRYING
CROFTER
Mr.Archie Maclean who is gradually buildling up a small dairy business
has now completed new premises capable of housing sixteen cows.
He scooped the pool for the first calves to be born under the new A.I.
Scheme.On Sunday morning a calf,Ayrshire crossed with Beef Shorthorn was
born to one of his cows,followed shortly by a second,this time pure Ayrshire.
This by local standards is a remarkable achievement by a crofter.
DEATH
It is with regret that we record the passing of Evander Maciver 43 North
Tolsta."Forty" as he was affectionally known was one of the
pioneer bus-owner drivers in Lewis and as such was well known as a kindly,genial
and most patient gentleman.In those days their were no conductresses and
no regular timetable-you simply waited for it,but with Evander the customer
was always right.Incidentally he got his nickname from his regimental
No.3040 in the old Militia.He is survived by his widow and six daughters.
He was 83.
7/8/62
SERVICE
The Sabbath English service in the Free Presbyterian Church was conducted
by Mr.John Macdonald,6,North Tolsta,who is home on holiday.
WELCOME SAILORS
Quite a few of our lads are "in" from the sea;among them is
William Robertson,Hill St.Donald Mackay No.2 and Angus Murray Hill St.who
have been flown home from Japan after two years in foreign waters.Donald
Maciver detained in an Antwerp hospital with a hand injury is now home.Another
"sailor"is Catherine Campbell 7 Lochside who has made three
trips to South Africa as stewardess on the "Transvaal Castle".
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8/1/63
BOYS ONLY
In North Tolsta they have a boys' club with a large membership, but nothing
is done for the girls of the village.Some time ago when boys and girls
mixed at a club meeting,several parents threatened to take their sons
away from the club if girls were allowed to join.After this outcry membership
of the club was confined to male members only to avoid ill-feeling.
Our schools are co-educational so that boys and girls mix freely from
five to fifteen.If they remain in school byond fifteen and go to university
they continue to mix freely. Most people in Scotland hold that co-eduction
is much healthier than the segregation of boys and girls on the lines
of the English public school.Why then the objection to mixed under proper
supervision? It is not as if the ban kept boys and girls apart.When you
travel through the Lewis villages at night you can often see mixed groups
walking along the road together or sheltering somewhere from the rain.
It would be much better for Tolsta if the girls could join the existing
club or could have a club of their own.
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8/2/64
HEROES
Two Lewismen received Royal Humane Society testimonials on Friday.The
two men,Murdo Maciver(23)5 North Tolsta and John Macdonald(19)of No.51,rescued
a seaman from Stornoway harbour on April 12 of last year and after bringing
him to safety disappeared without giving their names.
They both declined to attend a ceremony in Stornoway Town Hall where it
was intended that they would receive the testomonials.The ceremony was
held in Mr.Macdonald's home and Provost Donald Stewart,accompanied by
Chief Inspector John Mackenzie and Councillor Allan Cameron attended to
make the presentation.Shortly after 11 P.M.on April 12 John Murdo Macdonald
of 1 North Tolsta,slipped and fell while walking along a quay and plunged
into
the icy water.As he struggled to gain a hold of the pier supports two
young men rushed up.The first,Maciver,jumped in and held Macdonald above
water but he grew tired after a while because of the weight of his clothing.
John Macdonald then jumped in and together they dragged him to the steps
and on to the quay. A nurse who had witnessed the incident gave artificial
respiration and when an ambulance,a doctor and police arrived on the scene
within five minutes,the two shy heroes had disappeared.
After Friday's ceremony they both packed their cases and left to join
their ships.
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30/10/65
CONGRATULATIONS
The community congratulates Mr.Murdo Macdonald,51,North Tolsta,on obtaining
his master's Foreign-going certificate.Mr.Macdonald has been with the
Bank Line Ltd.since he left Lews Castle College.
SAFE
Able Seaman John Mackenzie,1,New Tolsta,was on the tanker"Esso Wandsworth"
badly damaged in a collision on the Thames.No one was injured.
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26/2/66
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
The Stornoway Trustees decided at the weekend to change their official
records to correspond with the postal addresses.The result is that South
Tolsta will cease to exist.The re-designation means that South Tolsta
will become North Tolsta,and North Tolsta will become New Tolsta.
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Content to be added
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Content to be added
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15/2/69
CASE 693
Sir-I was interested in "Case 693" the recent radio account
of the "Iolaire"disaster.An order from the bridge not to launch
the boats was heard by me on that tragic night when most of the men in
the saloon were lost.I gained the deck by breaking a window,leaving behind
some of my experienced neighbours.The deck was full of men and I let myself
away by rope to be washed ashore unconcious.I was rescued by another survivor
but assistance from land would have saved many exhausted and injured men.
Yours etc.
Survivor Tolsta
FROM AUSTRALIA
Word has been received that Roderick Maciver has died at his home in Barcaldine,
Queensland.Roddy, born at 25,North Tolsta,79 years ago,emigrated to Australia
in 1908.During the First World War he fought in France with an artillary
regiment and rose to commissioned rank.
16/8/69
NESS-TOLSTA ROAD
A squadron of Royal Engineers have surveyed the possible route of the
Ness-Tolsta Road,and approval of grant is wanted by Ross and Cromarty
Highways Committee.However the Scottish Development Department are not
prepared to make a move until they receive a recommendation from the Highlands
and Islands Development Board
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