Nicknames

Nicknames   I often wonder why parents give nice sensible names to their children at birth or christening and then proceed to call them by shortened versions, or by completely different names, which then stick to them all of their days. My own name is Catherine...

Village Shops

The Villages Shops When I was ten to twelve years old I must have been the most sought after message girl on our street. There were several girls in neighbouring families but none of my own age, some were older, others younger. As well as doing most of our own...

Helen Skinner – Three Kings Story

Three Kings Story Helen Skinner   On the North side of the Moray firth there is quite a historic tale to be told and happened about the year 850. On these shores are three little fishing villages; Hilton, Balintore and Shandwick. In these days there were three...

Jock Frasers Poem – McRaes of Balintore

MCRAES OF BALINTORE   I SAILED ACROSS THE OCEAN BLUE AND FROM A FOREIGN SHORE MY WONDERING EYE LED ME TILL I FOUND THE ROAD TO BALINTORE AND MY JOURNEY ENDED THERE WHEN I MET THE MACRAES BADE ME WELCOME, MADE ME STAY FOR MANY HAPPY DAYS.   WITHIN A PARADISE...

Hector McNair – Contentment

CONTENTMENT   CONTENTMENT WHAT A BLESSING BESTOWED UPON SO FEW YOU’RE RICHER THAN A MILLIONAIRE IF IT’S BESTOWED BY YOU. FOR WEALTH IS BUT A VISION AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE AND THE ONE WHO HAS CONTENTMENT IS THE REALLY WEALTHY ONE.   THEY’RE TOILING OUT IN...

Artar Ross – The Kings Sons

THE KINGS SONS/THREE KINGS REEF   THE BIG SHIP THAT WAS SAILING THE OCEANS, SHE CAME IN ONE GLOOMY NIGHT, AND SHE WAS LOST IN THE DARKNESS, AND THE STORM THREW HER INTO CADBOLL.   SHE REMAINED THERE FOR A TIME WITHOUT MOVING. AS A BROKEN VESSEL AMONGST THE...

Stories and Folklore

There are many local folklore tales, historical stories, songs and poems surrounding the Seaboard Villages. Please find a selection of our favourite tales and poems in our ‘Stories and Folklore’ menu or click on the titles below:  ...

Hilton School on the Hill Song

HILTON THE SCHOOL ON THE HILL   IT STANDS BY THE ROAD ON THE LOW HILL SIDE NEAR THE SHORE OF THE GREAT NORTH SEA AND ROUND IT THE FIELDS STRETCH FAR AND WIDE THE SCHOOL THAT IS DEAR TO ME THOUGH SMALL IT MAY BE AND UNKNOWN TO FAME ITS MEMORY YET BRINGS A THRILL...

Ronnie John McAngus Hart Memories

The Story of Seaman Ronnie McAngus Hart. 1923 – 1956     Beneath a grassy mound on a hillside graveyard in Wales lie the remains of a brave young Scotsman. In the year 1956, after succumbing to the after affects of ingesting ship’s fuel oil in October 1939,...

Memories of Mr Crawford

MEMORIES OF GORDON CRAWFORD, AN INSPIRING TEACHER AND FRIEND   Written by Eleanor Beaton I’ve typed this piece about Mr Crawford using sketched notes prepared by our aunty Katie. – Eleanor Beaton I was approaching ten years of age when Mr Crawford became...

Article on Mr Crawford

Article on Mr Gordon Crawford   One of the busiest and most versatile men in the Highlands without any doubt was Mr Gordon Crawford. Dominie at Hilton in Easter Ross. If you asked him what he was doing the chances were he was just pottering about from one thing...

Voices

  Voices   World War II had begun, in schools or village halls throughout the country lectures were given on security and home defence. Citizens were advised to be diligent at all times, to be very wary of any strangers in their midst and to report anything...

During the War

During the War   Just after World War II began a large part of Scotland, from Inverness northwards was declared a prohibited area. Visitors needed a permit for entry and there was a strict censorship on all outgoing mail. These were just two of the inconveniences...

A direct hit

A Direct Hit  Billy Davidson had an air-gun and he was envied by all the other boys in the school. He went down to the shore every evening and he would aim at targets in the water. He even tried to hit seals when they chanced to surface. Jonathan was just a little boy...

At the Corner

At the Corner   Every small village has its own particular spot where folk like to meet and in Hilton young and old used to gather at the corner. Many years ago there was much more open space there than there is now, it was an advantageous spot for seeing a lot...

A Helping Hand

A HELPING HAND In recent years much has been done to alleviate the hardships of the elderly. If household chores become too strenuous home help is available and under qualifying circumstances “meals on wheels” can be arranged. Telephones have been installed in many...

Katie Ross

Catherine Ross (Katie)   12th January 1918 – 5th June 2013 We take this opportunity to acknowledge and recognise just how remarkable a person Katie was, her support and encouragement over the years will not be forgotten and she has left the Seaboard community...

A Fishing Trip

A FISHING TRIP It was a pleasant evening when the four men set out. Sandy, Bill, Jack and Davie intended to go fishing but because a strong wind had sprung up on their last trip, their boat had to be put ashore at Tarrel Bothy. It meant a walk of several miles below...

Fish Wives and Herring Girls

  Fish Wives and Herring Girls Fishing was very much a family affair in the Seaboard Villages with all of the grown up family members participating in some way. The women of the Seaboard Villages didn’t work at sea but sometimes life back on the shore was just as...