Highland News Group
Opinion, North Star,
OPINION
OUR SAY…
Celebrating
contribution
of Highland
drovers
THE unveiling of a lifesize bronze bull,
drover and dog in Dingwall last week
marked the culmination of a five-year
project to remember and celebrate the
huge contribution that cattle drovers
made to the Highlands.
In centuries past, these were the
men who herded cattle hundreds of
miles through the Highland glens to
markets in the south. Cattle was the
currency and it was the drovers’ efforts
which played a vitally important role in
keeping the poor Highland economy
afloat.
Dingwall has a long history as a
significant market town and was one
of the centres, along with places such
as Crieff and Falkirk, where drovers
would take their livestock for trading.
Several years ago, Dingwall and
Highland Marts Ltd took the decision
to move out of the town centre and
invest heavily in a new purpose-built
modern facility on the outskirts of
Dingwall.
The new mart, and the space it
provided, acted as the impetus for a
group of volunteers from the farming
community to come together to
launch the Highland Drovers Project,
comprising an exhibition at the mart
building, an extensive archive and now
the drover statue.
The installation of the drovers
sculpture on the hill outside Dingwall
Mart is a highly fitting tribute to
the tough heroes of the past who
drove cattle to the trysts, but it also
underlines the on-going role the busy
mart plays today in sustaining the
Highland rural economy, acting as a
trading centre for crofters and farmers
from all over the Highlands and
Islands and helping to bring welcome
business to Ross and Cromarty.
Arthritis
care week
EVERY day millions of people
across the country struggle to
cope with arthritis, a painful
condition which affects people of
all ages.
Although this condition is
relatively common, few people
appreciate the devastating impact
it can have on the lives of those
Dochcarty Road,
Dingwall, IV15 9UG
Hypocrisy on dualling of A9
HYPOCRISY is a word too
often used these days, but
when I examined the Liberal
Democrats’ conduct over
the A9, I could not find any
alternative.
The SNP had only been in
power a few months in 2007
when the shout went up by
the Lib Dems to “Dual the
A9”, ignoring the fact that
they had been part of the
Scottish Government for eight
years and did nothing.
This has gone on right until
the present day, despite the
fact that the SNP are the only
party to have given a firm
commitment to dual the A9,
with work to begin in 2012.
I was particularly
irritated to see recently in
a Highland newspaper a
large photograph of Danny
Alexander with two well-
rehearsed girning faces
alongside him staring at the
A9. I couldn’t believe he could
have such a nerve to do this,
as this man, now known as
“Mr Cuts”, was primarily
responsible for slashing the
Scottish budget.
Readers may remember
a serious accident that
happened some years ago
at Ballinluig on the A9, when
a member of the Israeli
cabinet and his whole family
were wiped out. My son was
highways manager at the
time. He visited the scene, as
did the police.
Both made their reports
to the Lib Dem/Labour
Government in Edinburgh.
The results were almost
identical. Both called for
urgent action.
The replies received simply
said they had no money.
Rumours at the time said that
had this happened in the
Central Belt, action would
have been taken immediately.
The transport minister at
the time was none other than
the present Liberal Democrat
leader Tavish Scott.
Regular travellers down the
A9 will know that substantial
roadworks at this notorious
accident blackspot were
completed last year.
John S Jappy
Moy Bridge Cottage
Urray
Muir of Ord
affected. For many, even making
a cup of tea or getting a good
night’s sleep can be a challenge.
their pain is unbearable before
visiting their GP.
Coping with arthritis is far from
As president of Arthritis
Care, I’m grateful to have this
opportunity to draw your readers’
easy, but there is plenty of help
and support available through
Arthritis Care. Our confidential
attention to Arthritis Care Week, helpline gives information on
which this year is from May 9-15. all types of arthritis, including
Around 10 million people in treatments and how to manage
the UK have arthritis, the biggest the symptoms, along with tips on
cause of physical disability in the how to live life to the full.
country. There are more than 200 For a confidential chat, support
different types, with pain being or information, I encourage
the most common symptom. your readers to ring our helpline
Sadly, many people wait until free on 0808 800 4050. The
Thursday, April 28, 2011 7
editor@north-star-news.co.uk
Writers must supply a name and address.
Letters may be shortened at the editor’s discretion.
AbErdEEnshirE
Auchtercrag (Ellon)
Crimond (Crimond)
Glencairn (Fraserburgh)
Grove (Kemnay)
Kynnaird (Fraserburgh)
Sunnybank (Cruden Bay)
CEnTrAL
Airthrey (Falkirk)
Alloa Care Home (coming soon)
Belleaire (Greenock)
Forthland (Edinburgh)
Hilton (Rosyth)
Ivybank (Falkirk)
Kincaid (Greenock)
Leven Beach (Leven)
highLAnds
At-Home Independent (Inverness)
Kinmylies (Inverness)
Konnie Huq – backing British Red Cross Week. Manor (Nairn)
sit our
Meallmore Lodge Please vi over the
Be one in
for a family who have lost disc
(Inverness) website to ent groups
everything in a house fire. Redwoods (Alness) various cli throughout
The Red Cross is hard at
r
catered fo blishments
St Olaf (Nairn) our esta
a million
work helping victims of the
disasters in New Zealand
and Japan and the conflicts Meallmore Ltd
in Libya and Cote d’Ivoire, Caulfield House, Cradlehall Business
I HAVE supported the fantastic as well as hundreds of other Park, Inverness IV2 5GH
work of the British Red Cross crises that don’t make the
for more than five years, news. Tel: 01463 795050
and have witnessed both I’ve decided that I’m going E: info@meallmore.co.uk
international and domestic to be one in a million and I
www.meallmore.co.uk
projects first-hand. hope that you will too.
In Angola I saw how the Konnie Huq
international tracing and Broadcaster and British
message service helps to Red Cross supporter
reunite loved ones separated
by conflict or disaster.
Golf club
Here in the UK, I’ve worked
to encourage young people
to learn first aid skills and to
fundraise through the Dance
for Life competition.
I’ve seen the impact the
research Windows, Doors,
Facias, Soffit
Red Cross can have on I’M researching golf clubs
people in crisis whoever and and courses that no longer & Gutters
wherever they are, which is exist. I would particularly like
• Conservatories
why I want to help them to information on Edderton Golf
continue this work. Club which I believe existed
• Garage Extensions
Every year, the British in the first half of the 20th • Loft Conversions
Red Cross has one week of century. • Flat Roofs
intensive fundraising called Perhaps your readers could • Diamond Drilling
Red Cross Week. This year help with Edderton or any
it takes place from May 1-8 other clubs and courses that no hassle (bottom price)
and the Red Cross is asking no longer exist in your area.
no irritating phone calls
you to be ‘one in a million’ by I would particularly like
getting involved and helping information on location of no decisions on the day
to raise £1 million.
Every action, no matter
courses, number of holes,
course layout, prominent
for a free quote call
t: 01463 248888
how big or small, makes a members/officials,
competitions, dates, pictures.
difference. You could sign
up to shake a bucket, hold Any help you may give
a cake sale or take on a
sponsored challenge.
would be much appreciated.
John Llewellyn
e: sales@alban.co
To fundraise this Red Cross 14 Church Lane
Week, please see www. Barton under Needwood
redcross.org.uk/redcrossweek. Staffs
Even as little as £1 can DE13 8HU
feed a malnourished baby for johnllewellyn4@gmail.
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opening hours are extended to
9am-5.30pm weekdays during
Arthritis Care Week. Alternatively,
people can email Helplines@
arthritiscare.org.uk or visit www.
arthritiscare.org.uk.
I do urge anyone affected to
contact us and to spread the stoves
stoves
march
march
2011.indd
2011.indd1 1
word to anyone who needs help,
especially during Arthritis Care
Week. Remember, no one needs
to suffer in silence.
Jane Asher
President
Arthritis Care