Lessons by Loch Ness 24/3/2015

We had a great turnout on Tuesday 24th March 2015 for an illustrated talk by Anne Fraser (of the Highland Archive Centre at the Bught, Inverness).   Anne was born in the area, and brought up at Borlum, near Scaniport.   For years, she has been fascinated by the story of schools, their teachers and pupils in the area bordering the SE shore of Loch Ness.   Anne has been able to amass a huge amount of information, including many entertaining anecdotes, and also photographs, regarding these little schools, their characterful staff and the young folk who got their education in them.   Adding colour to her descriptions, Anne told us a bit more about past life in South Loch Ness by including some fascinating tales from – for example – the local policemen.  Their reports of wartime goings-on, for instance, were rather reminiscent of Dad’s Army.   Everyone, of course, has been to school, so there was no shortage of questions and further personal stories from our large audience after Anne had given her talk.   Shortly before Christmas, Anne had published the story of South Loch Ness schools under the heading ‘Lessons by Loch Ness’, and several members of the assembled company were glad to get the opportunity to buy a copy.   Many thanks to Anne for coming to speak to us on such an interesting and very human topic!