Highland Christmases of Yesteryear: what was making the headlines in festive seasons in the north of Scotland in decades and centuries long past?

We’ve been having a look back through the archives to reproduce snippets from past Christmas and New Year editions of the paper in decades and centuries long past.

It kicked off on Christmas Eve with part one of our Christmas of Yesteryear feature, and what better way to mark Christmas Day itself than to share part two.

And there was plenty of fascinating news on the go in Christmases of long ago. Fifteen foot deep snow in Caithness, a dramatic lorry fire on the Inverness-Beauly road and a surprise appearance by Santa at a full council meeting were among just some of the stories making the headlines in years gone by.

1844

INVERNESS AND PERTH RAILWAY - Surveyors are busily engaged under the directions of Mr Mitchell, the engineer of the line, in surveying and mapping down the line of the intended Inverness and Perth railway, in the immediate vicinity of Inverness. The line will commence, not near Petty Street, where some wise-acres predicted, but where common sense would dictate, near the harbour, and with a view to its extension still further north at a future day.

ROSS-SHIRE - SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS - We learn that there are at present several young and able-bodied fellows traversing different parts of Ross-shire, under pretext of buying hare and rabbit skins, and, when practicable, offering some commonality in exchange. Their appearance is calculated to excite suspicion as to their intentions. We are informed that one of the gang thrust his hand into the pocket of a poor man and extracted the only half-a crown it contained. Other breaches of honesty are imputed to the lawless band; and we trust the authorities will be on the out-look. One of the parties has been frequently seen in the vicinity of Dingwall.

INVERGORDON - On Thursday last several of the respectable inhabitants entertained Mr Charles Gauld, accountant, North of Scotland Bank, to a public supper, on the occasion of his removal to another agency. Mr Polson occupied the chair, and Mr Hay, agent for the bank, acted as croupier. There were about thirty present, and a very happy evening was spent. Mr Gault leaves Invergordon with the respect and esteem of all, and his exertions for the promotion of religious instruction will be long remembered. The entertainment took place in the Commercial Hotel and the arrangements were creditable to Mr and Mrs Forbes.

1855

CAITHNESS - Before the recent thaw, snow lay from twelve to fifteen feed deep at Ord of Caithness. The mails were carried on horseback.

SKYE - Our Skye correspondent writes, on December 21st:- "After alternations of frost and snow, wind and rain, we have now keen frost again, with exceedingly cold wind. We would be better of snow to protect the herbage.

"Some of the more extensive farmers have been ploughing their lands, and sheep-smearing is concluded.

"Braxy, that incurable malady among sheep, and which, it would appear, cannot be guarded against, has, I am sorry to say, carried off a number of hogs and older sheep. The present very cold nights must att to the prevalence of the disease, which formed a serious drawback annually upon sheep-farming, some tacksmen losing as many as a thousand a-year, when the disease is severe.

"Our poor population are now beginning to feel the cold of winter, and are ill provided. There is no clothing society here, as in Inverness and other places, and the scattered state as to residence of those who might be expected to do something operates against union for this and other objects. Several clergymen regret that for want of clothing some of the poor parishioners are prevented from attending church."

1934

ALARMING MOTOR LORRY FIRE - A sudden fire which broke out on a large motor lorry loaded with bales of hay caused considerable alarm to motorists on the Inverness-Beauly road on Wednesday afternoon and blocked all traffic for some time. The consequences might have been more serious if it had not been for the action of Mr W. MacColl, Eastgate, Inverness, who unscrewed the petrol cap off the tank in order to prevent a serious explosion.

"The lorry was proceeding along the main road near Bunchrew when the outbreak occurred through, it is thought, the shortening of the ignition cable. Motorists who were held up, quickly rendered assistance in unloading the bales of hay.

When Messrs Fraser and MacColl, ironmongers, Eastgate, to whom the lorry belonged, were notified, Mr MacColl hurried to the scene, and, with commendable courage, unscrewed the petrol cap, thus preventing a serious explosion. The tank contained some six gallons of petrol.

The engine and part of the front of the lorry were destroyed, but the body of the lorry was not much damaged,

1945

FESTIVE ACTIVITIES AT THE LEACHKIN - During the festive season the school children in the Leachkin district were entertained to lavish Christmas treat by the local Entertainments' Committee, Mr Donald Macphail, member of the Education Committee, who extended a cordial welcome to parents, ex-pupils, and future pupils, said he was simply amazed at the wonderful variety of eatables, and hoped that one and all would have a most enjoyable afternoon. He had great pleasure in extending to one and all the greetings of the season.

Mr T. Maclean, headmaster, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Macphail for his continued interest in the welfare of the Leachkin district, said that they all hoped that next year they would all celebrate our Christmas treat amidst the joys of victory. (Applause). In spite of the stringent war conditions, thanks to the splendid co-operation of parents and friends and the good work done by the local Entertainments' Committee, they were able to provide a Christmas treat as near as humanly possible to a pre-war one. (Applause). Their only regret, and it was a sincere one, was that owing to indisposition, Miss J. Robertson, infant teacher, was not with them, but he was sure they all wished her a speedy recovery. (Applause).

1981

SANTA INTERVENES - The meeting, the last of the full Council this year, was enlivened at an early stage of the proceedings by the arrival of Father Christmas in the person of Mr Mario Bernardi suitably disguised in traditional garb.

"During a light-hearted interlude he extended seasonal greetings to his fellow-councillors, and presented gfts of boxed miniature flower arrangements to the four women councillors. Mr Bernardi had arrived at the meeting from Scotscraig children's home, where he had earlier distributed other gifts from his sack.

Races in snow at Forres - Conditions for Forres Harriers' Christmas handicap cross country race on Saturday were such that the conventional course was abandoned in favour of the safer option or seven laps of the Grant Park.

The recent spate of illness in Inverness reduced the Harriers team to a mere five, which was less than half of what was expected, and they finished in third place behind Elgin A.A. and Forres Harriers, who tied in points with Elgin winning on a tie-breaker.

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