InstagramFacebookTwitter
  • Home
  • Topics
    • War
      • World War One
      • World War Two
    • Boats and Disasters
    • Fishing
    • Hilton of Cadboll School
    • People
    • Stories
      • Katie Ross Stories
    • Villages
    • Seaboard Community Photography Project
    • Gaelic
    • Sports
  • Fisherfolk Festival
  • Seaboard Timeline
  • Tell Us Your Story
    • Register
    • Login
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Submit your Story
  • More Info
    • About Seaboard
    • ‘Down to the Sea’ Research Project
    • Videos
    • Contact Us
    • Useful Links
  • DONATE

A website dedicated to the social history of the Seaboard Villages

Constable Ross Balfour B.E.M.

by Seaboard History Editor | Sep 21, 2026 | People, People of the Seaboard Villages

    Constable Ross Balfour of Hilton has been awarded the British Empire Medal for gallantry, the highest award that can be given to a policeman for bravery. While on service with the British Airports Authority Constabulary at London Airport on the 3rd of...

Oona the Internationalist.

by Seaboard History Editor | Sep 8, 2026 | People, People of the Seaboard Villages, Sports

September 1969, Oona Ross, daughter of Mr. and Mrs Gregor Ross, The Schoolhouse, Hilton, has been invited to join the Scottish Schoolgirls team for the home international. Oona a pupil of Tain Royal Academy, won the intermediate group long jump championship at the...

Football, never on a Sunday.

by Seaboard History Editor | Aug 10, 2026 | People, People of the Seaboard Villages, Sports

January 1974, Britain is in the middle of a power strike and football has to be played in daylight, no floodlights. Jimmy Allan, 19 year old Swindon Town goalkeeper, became Soccer’s first conscientious objector yesterday when he withdrew from his club’s...

James Allan, in line for a cap?

by Seaboard History Editor | Aug 5, 2026 | People, People of the Seaboard Villages, Sports

November 1971, it is understood that a native of Balintore, James Allan, is in line for Scottish professional youth international honours. James, who is a goalkeeper, and was transferred from Brora Rangers to Swindon Town two seasons ago, has been recommended by...

Mary Allan, Balintore, December, 1942.

by Seaboard History Editor | Aug 4, 2026 | People, People of the Seaboard Villages, World War Two

Acting Corporal Mary Allan of 1 Port Street, Balintore, who is serving the Women’s Auxiliary Air force, has passed a balloon operating course for N.C.O.’s. Mary will shortly be posted to a barrage balloon site, where she will be one of the two...

James Allan, July 1930.

by Seaboard History Editor | Jul 29, 2026 | Fishing, People, People of the Seaboard Villages

Deep regret was felt in Balintore and district when Mrs. James Allan, Port Street, received the sad news that her elder son James had passed away at Lerwick Combination Hospital. James, who was only 17 years of age in February, had been acting as stoker on board Ins....

Balintore harbour rescue.

by Seaboard History Editor | Jul 13, 2026 | People, People of the Seaboard Villages

In July 1953, with a full tide in the harbour, boys were in the water swimming. Nine year old J. Patience got into difficulty. Donald Ross, on seeing the boy struggling, dived in fully clothed to rescue him. After reaching him Patience began to struggle and both boys...

Shandwick Bay drowning.

by Seaboard History Editor | Jun 9, 2026 | Boats and Disasters, People of the Seaboard Villages

On the 18th of July 1932, around noon, four boys decided to go for a swim in Shandwick Bay. There was a full tide, a terrific ground swell and huge rolling waves were breaking on to the beach. The boys were not strong swimmers, after a few minutes Robert Ross, 9 Bank...

Tragedy at Balintore harbour.

by Seaboard History Editor | May 26, 2026 | Boats and Disasters, Fishing, People of the Seaboard Villages

  A tragedy occurred at Balintore harbour in July 1961 when 67 year old David Vass of Port Street fell from the end of the harbour and was drowned. Mr. Vass, who was retired merchant navy sailor, was seen by a woman standing on the end of the harbour,  seconds...

David Skinner’s great escapes.

by Seaboard History Editor | May 19, 2026 | Boats and Disasters, Fishing, People of the Seaboard Villages

David Skinner, a salmon fisherman from Balintore, had a narrow escape from drowning in February 1938. While letting out the anchor, his foot became entangled in the rope and he suddenly found himself at the bottom of the sea, a depth of about thirty fathoms of water....

Roddy Mackenzie, Bank Street, Balintore.

by Seaboard History Editor | Apr 27, 2026 | People, World War Two

Roderick Mackenzie was the third son of George and Mary Mackenzie of 7, Bank Street, Balintore. Roddy was in Royal Naval Reserve at the start of World War Two and was called up to serve in the Royal Navy. His first ship was a cargo vessel, Royal Navy personnel on a...

Elizabeth Taylor MacKay, killed in Great Yarmouth, 1943

by Seaboard History Editor | Mar 30, 2026 | People, World War Two

Elizabeth Taylor MacKay lived at Easter Rarichie, her parents were Donald [a cattleman] and Johan Mackay, she was their eldest daughter. Elizabeth was a housemaid to the Rugg family in Wester Rarichie before war broke out in 1939. Elizabeth, or Bess, as she was known...

Louisa Skinner, Sister/Tutor of the nurse training school at Raigmore .

by Seaboard History Editor | Mar 3, 2026 | People

Louisa Skinner became the first Sister/Tutor of the Nurse Training School At Raigmore Hospital, this went on to later become the Highland College of Nursing and Midwifery. Louisa held this post from the school’s inauguration in 1946 until her retirement in 1968....

1901 Census

by Seaboard History Editor | May 15, 2025 | History, Latest News, People of the Seaboard Villages

Hilton. Hilton School House. James Watt, M, 38, M, Banffshire, School Master, born 1863. Died 1932. Christina Watt [nee MacDonald], wife, 42, F, Urray, School Teacher, born 1859. Died 1931. Alexander M. Watt, son, U, 7, M, Fearn, Scholar, born 1894. James R. Watt,...

1871 Census

by Seaboard History Editor | May 15, 2025 | History, Latest News, People of the Seaboard Villages

Hilton. David McAndrew Ross, M, 48, M, Fearn, Carrier, born 1823. Margaret McAndrew Ross [nee McInnes], wife, 40, F, Fearn, born 1831. Margaret McAndrew Ross, daughter, U, 18, F, Fearn, Domestic servant, born 1853. Alexander McAndrew Ross, son, U, 15, M, Fearn,...

1851 Census

by Seaboard History Editor | May 15, 2025 | History, Latest News, People of the Seaboard Villages

Hilton. David McAndrew Ross, M, 48, M, Fearn, Carrier, born 1823. Margaret McAndrew Ross [nee McInnes], wife, 40, F, Fearn, born 1831. Margaret McAndrew Ross, daughter, U, 18, F, Fearn, Domestic servant, born 1853. Alexander McAndrew Ross, son, U, 15, M, Fearn,...

1841 Census

by Seaboard History Editor | May 15, 2025 | History, Latest News, People of the Seaboard Villages

Balintore. Finlay Skinner, M, 35, M, Fearn. Lily Skinner, wife, 35, F, Fearn. Helen Skinner, daughter, U, 15, F, Fearn. John Skinner, son, U, 9, M, Fearn. Andrew Skinner, son, U, 6, M, Fearn. George Skinner, son, U, 3, M, Fearn. Janet Skinner, 26, F, Fearn....

Death of Norman Mackay 1943.

by Seaboard History Editor | Jun 25, 2019 | People of the Seaboard Villages

From the Newspaper of Friday, May 14, 1943. Norman Mackay, a fourteen year old schoolboy, belonging to Balintore, was fatally injured when he fell over the cliffs at Nigg Hill. Norman MacKay at 2 Shore Street, Balintore, 1930’s Here is the first hand account of...

Sutherland [Streedie] Family, Hilton.

by Seaboard History Editor | Nov 7, 2018 | People of the Seaboard Villages

Family Matters, Sutherlands’ story, extracts from family history, compiled by George and Jean Chalmers. Andrew Sutherland was born in Hilton in 1877, his mother was Annie Brown [nee Sutherland], his father’s name is not known, Andrew had a younger brother...

Seaboard Merchant Seamen.

by Seaboard History Editor | Nov 10, 2017 | People of the Seaboard Villages

Thomas Vass Hughes. Thomas Vass Hughes was born in Balintore on the 17th of March 1919, he was the son of Samuel and Annie Hughes, Bank Street, Balintore. As Hughes is not a Balintore surname we assume that his mother, Annie, was a Vass. Thomas was educated at Hilton...
« Older Entries

Latest blog posts

  • Constable Ross Balfour B.E.M.
  • Oona the Internationalist.
  • Football, never on a Sunday.
  • James Allan, in line for a cap?
  • Mary Allan, Balintore, December, 1942.

Latest comments

  • jimj467 on Hilton of Cadboll Primary School 1956
  • Seaboard History Editor on Hilton of Cadboll Primary School 1956
  • jimj467 on Hilton of Cadboll Primary School 1956
  • Seaboard History Editor on Hilton Sailor
  • Rita Beardsmore on Hilton Sailor
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
PRIVACY   |   © 2023 SEABOARD HISTORY