THE ROTHESIAN Sept 2009 Sponsored by Johnnie Hodge Issue No 47 It gives me great pleasure to sponsor the ‘Rothesian’, a magazine I have admired since its first printing. It is a real quality production, and keeps us up to date with what is going on at home. Growing up in Rothes Money was scarce, unemployment extremely high and school leavers found it impossible to find employ- ment. Many choose to join the boy’s service in the I was born on the 22nd February, 1925 at 11 New Royal Air Force, some of whom did not survive the Street when all births were at home. A midwife was Second World War. in attendance and all fathers were definitely absent. I also have vivid memories of unemployed men pass- Changed days indeed. I was the middle of three with ing down North Street daily on their way to the woods my older sister Mima and younger brother Jim. My and returning with heavy loads of wood on their shoul- memories of my childhood in Rothes are all pleasant der to keep the fires burning. The rule was – No horse ones. drawn vehicles – Just take what you can carry. It was back breaking work. This went on to the late 30s just We had a good school with good teachers who in our before the start of the Second World War. time up to the qualifying class never changed. The rule then was that if a female teacher married she had School holidays were spent at home, away holidays to resign her post so they were all spinsters. Miss being out of the question. The best we could expect Troup, Miss Peterkin, Miss Hogan, Miss Macdonald, was the Sunday School trip by train to Lossiemouth. Miss Dunn, Miss Grant and the one and only Miss With a bonus outing to Hopeman if you had attended Annie Robb. She really was someone to be feared and the English Church Sunday School as well. Many had capable of reducing the bravest to tears. However, she - with just that perk in mind. could teach and if you failed the Qualifying Exam it However, we were never bored in Rothes. There was certainly was not her fault. Another teacher in the no such thing as TV, or many wireless sets but there Higher Grade who taught for a long time in Rothes was always somewhere to go or something to do. I was Miss Gow the English teacher who was well re- notice from the many activities in the Rothesian Diary spected. She always took a photo of the last class be- that is still the same today. fore leaving and our one appears in this issue. Sadly she died a short time after so this is her last photo- The Spey was always an attraction to us during the graph. summer holidays especially the Boat Hole at the top end of the town. It was a safe place for swimming and As children we lived through one of the longest and it was there that the older boys taught us younger ones to swim. There was a fresh water oyster bed where you could spend hours opening shells in the hope of finding a Spey pearl. If lucky you could get a six- pence for it from Watchy Davidson who displayed them in his shop window. I never knew if they were for sale or display but there never was a price on them. It is now illegal to disturb a fresh water oyster bed. On the days when the Spey was low you could wade across and spend some time on the Sandy Hill which sadly is no longer there, or climb Ben Aigen, which was a good day out. Sourden was also a good spot on the rock, but you had to be a good swimmer if you dived in there. Another activity which kept us fit and occupied was guddling for trout in the burns, all of which had different names to the ones we hear today. We knew them as the Toons burn or the Dounie burn, most severe recessions the country has experienced. the Glengrant Burn and the Greens burn. There was a You may contact The Rothesian by e-mail, using the following address: [email protected] ditch at the Blackburn which entered the Spey at the LORNA’S BIG CYCLE CHALLENGE Boat Hole which we would never have called a burn. The Glen Grant and Greens burn entered the Toons Lorna MacInnes will be taking part in an exciting burn before it entered the Spey. challenge in March next year. She will be cycling In 1940 I left school and joined the railway at Rothes 350km to raise money for 4 different cancer charities. as a trainee clerk to be told by the station master, Mr The Big C Cycle Challenge will be raising money for James Ogg ‘Keep your nose clean and you have a job Children With Leukaemia, The Lymphoma Associa- for life. Forty three years later his words became true tion, Marie Curie Cancer Care, and Ovarian Cancer when I retired. It was a nomadic style of life finishing Action. over the border but I enjoyed it. Like so many people, Lorna’s family has been affected by cancer. Her Dad was diagnosed with a Lymphoma At 18 I was called up to the Navy and served on con- cancer 2 years ago, and her grandmother has been for- voy escorts and minesweepers. While engaged on D- tunate enough to recover from ovarian cancer. Day operations we struck a mine and sank in under 5 The cycle will be taking place in the Rajasthan area of minutes, losing 7 members of the crew. It was the India, starting at the Taj Mahal. Lorna is very appre- swimming lessons in the Boat Hole on the Spey that hensive, but excited about the challenge. She has re- saved my life because cently been planning some fund-raising events, and we all had to jump and will be holding a raffle on 31st October. She has asked swim for it. local businesses to help with her sponsorship, and would like to say a special thank you to Walkers In between time I served Shortbread, who have made a generous donation, and for 6 years on Rothes are also contributing to Lorna’s raffle. Baxters have Town Council, was also contributed to the raffle. treasurer of Rothes FC If you would like to sponsor Lorna, you can donate when we won the High- online at: www.justgiving.com/lorna-macinnes1 land League and a mem- ber of the Rothes Amen- ities Committee which raised sufficient cash to replace the Bowling Green which was washed away in 1945 by the Toons’ burn in spate. A drinking foun- tain was also placed in the park using the base of the old fountain which had got knocked down in the square by a military lorry. The bowling green when completed was handed over to the Rothes Town Coun- cil who appointed two members of the committee, Alan Clark and myself, and I was immediately ap- pointed the first secretary. Rothes is my home town and I am very proud of it. I am fortunate to be near enough to be able to return whenever the longing occurs but there are not many kent faces there now. I look forward to receiving the Rothesian by courtesy of Jenny Widgery who I learn keeps another 21 happy by posting a copy to them. Alternatively, you can put a cheque, payable to Big Thank you Jenny it is very much appreciated. Cycle Challenge, through Lorna’s door at 75 High Street. If you would like to buy a raffle, you can do so Johnnie Hodge from Lorna. There will be 44 people taking part in the challenge, with Lorna the only one from Scotland taking part. Hopefully you can help—she will need plenty of en- couragement as she trains in and around Rothes over the next few months! 2 This issue sponsored by Johnnie Hodge ROTHES HORTICULTURAL & INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY. The Society are gearing up for their Annual Show on 5th September, in the Grant Hall. Staging will be erected on the Thursday evening (3rd) from 6pm and we would welcome any offer of assis- tance on the night. Friday night (4th) will see us collecting in the entries from 6.00pm until 9pm and then again on the Saturday 1ST ROTHES RAINBOWS & BROWNIES morning (5th) from 7.30am-9.30am. Schedules are still available in the local shops if you fancy entering, a The Rainbows & Brownies have recommenced warm welcome awaits new competitors. back after their summer break, the time flew by so Doors will open to the public at 1.30pm and the trophies quickly, we are back to the throngs of the Flower will be presented at 3.30pm. Show and the Rainbows have been colouring in an There will be refreshments on sale in the afternoon from Olivia picture and the Brownies have been making Friends of Linnburn. bookmarks. We have welcomed a few new girls to This year after the show we are hoping to have a Pro- Rainbows and Iona & Lucy moved up to Brownies. duce Sales Table with any donations left by the compet- We are looking ahead to September, Girlguid- itors, all donations from the sale will go to Society ing Moray will be launching our 100th year on the Funds. 5th at an event in RAF Kinloss, some of our girls During August the Rothes Gardens were judged and the will be taking part by carrying our flag & banners.