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10/1/70
SAD NEW YEAR
It was indeed a sad New Year for one Lewis family this year.
Early on New Year's morning Mr.and Mrs.Angus Maciver,25,North Tolsta,received
word that their 25-year old son Roderick,had died in hospital in Nelson
New Zealand.Details are not to hand but the accident happened the previous
day.He was on the New Zealand Company's ship "Hertford"and had
left home three monthes ago.
This is the second tragedy in this family.Another son on his first as
cabin boy was fatally injured aboard ship at Antwerp.
The sympathy of the whole community goes out to this family in their sorrow.
31/1/70
INTO THE NEXT ROUND
Tolsta Youth Club have won their way into the next round of the Lewis
Youth Clubs Association's 1970 Clubs Youth Contest.
The teams taking part in last week's quiz were:Back Youth Club-Alasdair
I. Macleod(Captain),Angus W.Macdonald,Margaret M.Martin,and Mairi Macleod.
Tolsta was represented by Donald J.Graham,(Captain),Iain Murray,Murdo
Morrison and Erica Macdonald.
25/7/70
46 YEARS LATER ON
Mr.Norman Morrison,46,North Tolsta,who was on the emigrant ship "Marlow"in
1924 is visiting all his old haunts for the first time.
A brother is in Kinlochleven,another in Back and sisters in Fort William
and Back.
CAPPED
We are happy to know that Murdo Maciver 18,North Tolsta,has been capped
M.A.in Glasgow,and John G.Macdonald 38,North Tolsta,B.Sc.in Aberdeen.
PRESENTATION
Mr.Donald Macdonald M.A. F.E.I.S of 38 North Tolsta,recently retired after
a distinguished teaching career lasting over forty years.For the past
fifteen years he had been headmaster of Corstorphine School,Edinburgh.
To mark the happy occasion Mr.Macdonald was presented with a set of crystal
and a scroll signed by his former staff,at a dinner given in his honour
at the George Hotel Edinburgh.Mrs.Macdonald,who comes from Balallan was
presented with a bouquet.
7/11/70
PRESENTATION
A pleasant function took place in the school when Miss Annie Mackenzie
M.A. "Tulloch Ard" was presented with many gifts from the villagers,the
school staff,the canteen staff and the pupils on the occasion of her retirement
after a lifetime's teaching.
Miss Mackenzie knew her role as teacher and in teaching she excelled as
many of her older can testify.
FARES
The recent increase in bus fares-return Tolsta to Stornoway 9/-has taken
few by surprise.
The wonder is that it took so long in coming when wages have doubled and
in some cases trebled since 1950.
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11/12/71
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
The first A.G.M.of the Community Association was held last Tuesday.
During the Chairman's report it was announced that the first project tackled
-the village car park-now under construction, had been taken over by the
County Council.which had recently released funds for such rural schemes.In
recognition of Tolsta's display of inititive and self- help
the local project was to be the first on the Council's list.
Other items in the report included provisions of community facilities
and an adequate playing field connected with the projected new school,and
the
conservation of and access to Garry and Giordal beaches.
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1/1/72
PRESENTATION
At a very pleasant ceremony in front of his former colleagues at H.M.Institution,Cornton
Vale,Bridge of Allan,ex Chief Officer Murdo Macdonald of 38 North Tolsta,was
presented with the Imperial Service Medal by Mr.Scrimgeour,Director of
Prisons,Scotland.
The Director paid glowing tributes to Mr. Macdonald's loyalty and efficiency
during his 25 years in the Borstal Service.
Mr.Macdonald was awarded the D.S.M.and the B.E.M.during his war service
in the R.N.R.
12/8/72
VICTORY AFTER TWENTY EIGHT YEAR FIGHT
A twenty year fight was won at the weekend with the announcement that
the Secretary of State,Mr.Gordon Campbell,has offered a grant of 75% towards
the approved cost of providing an eight mile stretch of new road between
Ness and Tolsta.
Ross and Cromarty County Council and the Highlands and Islands Development
Board have both recommended the construction.
17/10/72
OBITUARY
We regret to record the death of Mr.Kenneth Macdonald 51 North Tolsta,at
the age of 75.He was an elder in the Free Church and was for many years
the local correspondent for the Stornoway Gazette.
4/11/72
PRESENTATION
A representative gathering of Tolsta Free Church congregation met in the
church to bid formal farewell to their minister,Rev.Angus Finlayson,who
is shortly to retire from the active ministry.
In charge of the evening's proceedings,the Rev.Angus Smith of Ness preached
an appropriate sermon based on a verse from 2nd.Timothy chapter iv.:"I
have fought the good fight.I have finished my course.I have kept the faith."
Mr.Smith reminded the congregation of their good fortune in having had
a minister possessing the physical and moral courage to stand up always
for the truth,not only in his own pulpit but in the press,qualities with
which not all Christians were endowed.He also paid tribute to Mrs.Finlayson
for her enthusiastic contribution to the Sunday School.
In presenting Mr.Finlayson with a wallet of notes Mr.Donald Maciver of
33 North Tolsta,the senior elder present,spoke of twenty-one years of
friendship and goodwill which existed between minister and congregation.
Mrs.Christina Macdonald,a former Free Church Missionary in Peru,made the
presentation to Mrs.Finlayson.
On behalf of the Sunday School,Miss Peggy Murray presented the minister
with a coffee-table and reading lamp.Miss Murray,who is a communicant
member of the congregation,was one of the first infants to be baptised
by Mr.Finlayson on his arrival in Tolsta.
Speaking on behalf of Mrs.Finlayson and himself,the minister reminisced
over his twenty-five years in Tolsta.After such a long time it was natural
that he should regard it as home,and that his imminent retiral still had
an air of unreality.
Two things gave him immense satisfaction above all else.Firstly,in a period
of a quarter of a century,no member of the congregation had ever approached
him with a complaint against another,surely a remarkable record of amity.
Secondly,despite the natural disappearance through death of most of the
original kirk session,a second generation had grown up to fill their places.
The good wishes of the people of Tolsta,for a long and happy retirement
for Mr.and Mrs.Finlayson,follow them to their new home in Stornoway.
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10/2/73
PROMOTION
We wish to congratulate Mr.John Morrison of the Metropolitan Police on
his promotion to to the rank of Commander at Scotland Yard.The post, which
entails charge of the Regional Crime Squad for the whole of London,is
one of only nine such squads in all England.This is indeed a proud step
forward for a lad who left Tolsta School at the age of 14,and who never
saw a secondary thereafter.
The new Police Commander is a son of late Mr.and Mrs John Morrison of
4 New Tolsta.Like most of his contemporaries he joined the R.N.R.before
the war and was called up in 1939.He left the Navy in 1946 as a leading
seaman.
Having joined the Metropolitan Police in 1947,he has been climbing the
ladder of promotion ever since.
Mr Morrison has a family of four,and is married to Annie Morrison of North
Dell,who is a sister of Alexander Morrison,Chief Constable of Aberdeen.
Mrs.Morrison,a schoolteacher,is one of the leading lights of London Gaelic
circles.
The Commander's eldest brother, George,is a retired headmaster in Glasgow
and has for many years been writing for the "Gazette"under the
pen-name "Breve".
Tolsta is proud to add the name of John Morrison to the list of its distinguished
sons.To us it has always been a source of wonder that Lewis after two
centuries of emigration and one century of educational creaming can still
produce men of such talent.In this we must agree with the truth of the
Gaelic proverb-"Theid dulachas an agaidh nan creag".
18/8/73
FISHING
We are pleased to report that the Tolsta boats based at Stornoway are
getting a fair share of the recent good landings at the port.
The "Wavecrest","Comrade"and "Braes of Garry"are
still engaged in prawn fishing,while the "Strathgarry",Highland
Chieftain"and the "Olive Branch" have changed over to fishing
for pout.
It is most encouraging that the local fishermen have purchased the differing
types of gear to enable them to diversify from one type of fishing to
another as the situation demands.
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION REPORT
Playing Field
After two-and-half years of frustrating paper work,this project costing
about £10,000,is now in progress.
Memorial
Having decided to donate to the new school a tablet inscribed with the
names of former pupils lost in the wars, the Committee have now completed
the necessary documentation.Thanks were given to Mr.Donald Macdonald,Edinburgh
and Mr.George Morrison,Kinlochleven,who so genourously gave of their wide
knowledge of local history.An order will be placed with an
Edinburgh firm of bronze founders for a tablet which is expected to cost
about £500.(It actually cost around £1,000)
Cemetery
Road
After communication between the Road Surveyor and the Committee,the ditches
on both sides of the road were cleared and fifty tons of dry chips were
placed in the worst stretches.
Gress Road
Work has now started on new, badly needed passing places on this road.
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22/5/76
OFFICIAL
OPENING
Tolsta Primary School and Community Hall costing around £100,000
was opened on Friday by Mr.Donald Macdonald,M.A.former headteacher of
Corstorphine Primary School,Edinburgh and a former pupil of Tolsta School.
23/10/76
RAFFLE
The Community Association are at present selling tickets for their annual
raffle,price 4d,and books of tickets can be obtained from committee members.
The Association has been mainly responsible for such worthwhile community
ammenities as the car park,the playing field and the improved access to
Giordal Beach.Undeniably these are useful to everybody in the community
irrespective of how they view raffle tickets.
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12/2/77
NO GAMBLING RULE
North Tolsta Community Association are to cut out raffles and all other
forms of gambling from their fund raising activities during the coming
year.
This was decided at the association's annual general meeting after it
had been moved by two ministers who attended,the Rev Malcolm Maclean,Free
Church and the Rev.Duncan Maclean,Free Presbyterian Church.
The ministers told the meeting that it went against the teaching of the
Bible to hold raffles and other forms of gambling.
They suggested that raffles be replaced by door-to-door collections as
a means of raising funds,and that the sales of work should continue-but
without the wheel of fortune normally run.
Not all present shared the ministers'view.One member argued strongly against
the move,pointing out that with raffles and sales of work,including a
wheel of fortune,they had been able to raise £1,000 in a year.He
doubted whether this could be done if the new policy was adopted.
A counter motion against the 'no gambling' ruling did not get a seconder.
A spokesman for the association said the decision might only last a year.
They would see if they were still able to raise sufficient funds without
it.
FUNERAL FUNDS
The A.G.M.of the North Tolsta Funeral Fund Association was held in the
local school.
In the year under review it was disclosed that the total money collected
was £135.10.The total outgoings for the year was £586.90,leaving
a balance of £3,692.12.
As the annual subscription had remained at 10p per person for the past
15 years,it was decided to double it in the face of dramatically rising
costs.
GRAZINGS COMMITTEE
At the recent A.G.M.the subjects discussed included the cemetery road,
rabbit control,village boundary fences and feu allocations.
The bank balance stands at £186.38.
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