Hello everyone!
I've just been reading Donald's life story since leaving school. I hope we're going to get Joan's version too! Joan, who stood beside me in the choir and whose nose used to go down when she sang ooooo and spring up again when she sang other vowels! Thanks Donald. Are we all really these old folks? Not really!
After leaving Tain...
Well, I went to Edinburgh University, although I really wanted to be a nurse, when I left school. I had made friends with Jeannie Chisholm from Bonar when I was working in the "caferina " in Ardgay, in the summer holidays and she suggested we look for digs together. She had already done 2 years at Moray House and had had enough of hostel life. We advertised for lodgings and went to see what was on offer. I was totally puzzled by the "no men" rule, having gone to a co-ed school and lived with men and boys! (and my sisters). Why?
I soon realised!
I used to meet Scott Macrae and Andrew Macalpine from time to time, also Catherine Mackenzie, whose parents had moved to Edinburgh. I suppose I was a bit home-sick but also excited about meeting so many people of my own age. I had a ball but did hardly any work. In my second year, I made friends with a lot of fellow students who happened to be Scottish Nationalists. Some were from Lewis, some from Yorkshire and many had gone to Esdale, a boarding school for ministers daughters! They were all a bit mad so I had found my own kind of people! I also became friendly with some Arabic medical students and some Sudanese. (I blame my Sunday school teacher!) They were wonderful friends.
As you all know my life had not been without sadness and in 1961, my only brother Hugh was drowned. That was a difficult time but with friends and family we pulled through. It was only when I met Charlie in my third year that I started taking my course seriously. He had discovered subjects like moral philosophy for himself and was really enthusiastic about it! Also about the same time a friend had taken me to a fine art lecture and I loved it. I discovered it counted as a history subject, so I did 2 years of it. Charlie had been to art college and was happy to take me round art galleries and discuss the paintings I had to write about. So the romance blossomed and we got married in 1964. Kathleen was born almost immediately and then Douglas in 1967.
I had a baby and graduated in the same year and being a pessimist (or canny Scot) I thought I'd better get myself qualified to do something, so I went to Moray House to do Primary teacher training. Later I found my "thing" in teaching mentally handicapped children. I did that until 1975, when fate brought us to Rosehall. My father's last brother died while we were visiting him and we ended up buying the old family home from the estate. I got a job in Bonar Bridge Primary and was surprised to find "latch-key" children even in Bonar. It was when Nigg was at its height and tradesmen were leaving their jobs for the "big money " at Nigg. Then I was asked (I think current parlance is "head-hunted!!) to take over the "special" class in Bonar, which I eventually did after some persuasion. I loved it but eventually got the head teacher's job in Rosehall. I enjoyed it too, but decided to take early retirement in 1997, when it was on offer.
Meanwhile Kathleen (still single) had done a degree in sociology and various postgraduate courses, ending up living and working in Ullapool (where my father's people had come from) and Dougie had tried all sorts of Yop schemes, which were a farce, so he got a job locally with a builder and then went to Edinburgh, did a joinery course, worked for a bit, went to college to do outdoor education, was on a tallship for a year and then worked with "inner city youth", and is now settled down in Edinburgh with Deidre (Australian) and his two lovely little girls Ellie (4) and Romy (nearly 2). He works as a handyman for Scotland's "Top Hostels".
The city- bred Charlie adjusted very well to living in the country, provided he could get to Edinburgh at least once a year for some "culture". Having complete darkness in winter was a real shock as he'd always been used to street lights.
Now we are busier than ever- involved with the local history society, (just in the middle of getting a book of old photos published). I sing in the Lairg Gaelic Choir. We are both members of Rosehall Community Arts, (me) with the Blythswood Charity, Charlie with the local Action Group, both of us with the S.N.P. Charlie meets friends once a week to play jazz, blues etc and I'll sing anything! Also on the Village hall Committee and so on !
I'm sorry this is so long. I could go on all night about my wonderful mother-in law, my dreadful sisters-in-law and our overseas trips. Charlie had a few years of rheumatism etc but is really well just now. I'm fine, just a bit overweight ! Kathleen has health problems which are a source of great worry but she has tremendous strength and is facing another brain operation next week. We love having grandchildren and our daughter in law is one in a million! Aren't we lucky?
Looking forward to seeing you all! Love from Lily
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Lily and Charlie Byron