The Invergordon Archive
No: 1710 Contributor: Donald Macleod Year: 1954
Donald (Sonny) Macleod and Harry O'NeillMe with Harry O'Neill, on the right, in my backyard in 1954. We were both in the army cadets.
Picture added on 05 March 2016 at 12:55
I also had a dramatic experience, a pal of mine was doing a John Wayne impression with a rifle 'Hands up' sort of thing, when the officer came in and told him not to point the rifle at anyone. My friend casually replied ' It's not loaded' pointed it at the roof and pulled the trigger, with loud bang the bullet went through the roof!
Added by Sonny Macleod on 07 March 2016
Are you Kathleen Macleod's brother?
Added by Janet Shoosmith on 10 March 2016
Hi Janet, yes I am the same person. Are you Janet (Nee) Macpherson who has a younger brother Billy, I seem to remember a post some time ago when I put two and two together. I hope you are all well. Few of the Inverg. people knew my name was Donald James Macleod so I still get a lot of confusion, albeit I have answered to a few names in my time. Nice to hear from you.
Kind regards
'Sonny'
Kind regards
'Sonny'
Added by Sonny Macleod on 10 March 2016
Hi Sonny, yes I am Janet Macpherson. I visited Invergordon about five years ago and was surprised how the town had changed so much. Hope you are in good health. Janet
Added by Janet Shoosmith (Macpherson) on 10 March 2016
Hello Sonny, good to see your photo. I used to go around with Jimmy Will and Robert Macrae. Did you live on the corner of Shore Road next to the Bonemill?
Added by Billy Macpherson on 10 March 2016
Hi Billy, nice to hear from you. I remember you well, many a good laugh we all had. Fowler the shoemaker's shop was on the corner on the High Street and I lived next door in a big house which is now demolished, just directly opposite the Royal Hotel. When we were little we used to stick our heads through the wooden railing in front of the Royal, and of course got stuck and had to be rescued. I got friendly with Robert in my later teens, he stays in Evanton now. I still see his brother Richard and his sisters sometimes.
Regards
Sonny
Regards
Sonny
Added by Sonny Macleod on 11 March 2016
Hi Sonny your comment about sticking your head in the Royal Hotel railings we used to dare each to bang the dinner gong in the hotel foyer and then move fast down the Royal Lane.
Added by Billy Macpherson on 11 March 2016
Hi Billy, did you live at the bottom of King Street? Jimmy is my younger brother, he lives in Leslie, Fife.
Added by Gordon Will on 14 March 2016
Hi Gordon, I lived at The Bungalow 2 Joss Street. I Remember your house on Shore Road, it was an upstairs house. Jimmy was in my class, Mrs Wilson was the teacher.
Added by Billy Macpherson on 14 March 2016
Hi Gordon, you are correct re a Macpherson that lived at the bottom of King St. It was The Black Prince, Michael Macpherson.
Added by Harry O'Neill on 15 March 2016
You have the wrong person.
Added by Kenny Macpherson on 30 March 2016
Hi Sonny! Glad to hear you are still alive and kicking! The NAAFI Nissan huts used to be broken into in the winter for roller skating activities. I think the huts had fallen out of use so no harm done. The area around the huts (in Joss Street) were a major play area for kids of all ages in the early 1950s. On winter evenings, despite the dark and cold, scores of kids would be out there playing "Kick the Can" and other games. No wonder so many of our generations live to good ages, we had the benefit of healthy active childhoods...outdoors and the benefits of the early NHS which ensured that even the poor received proper nourishment and vitamins.
Added by Bill Geddes on 24 April 2016
Hi Sonny, remember you more than well. I was from Alness. I recall you were an excellent swimmer and won most races. I was not too bad myself but you were always ahead of me. Also remember the "Greasy Pole" at Galas. This was at the old sea pool on the road to Saltburn and I could always look forward to a dry off and a mug of Bovril.
Added by Samuel Kennedy on 28 April 2016
We had an indoor firing range at the drill hall on Joss Street. I remember one individual whom I will not name here, who was terrible at rifle firing. He had an annoying habit of lowering the rifle barrel as he squeezed the trigger. This caused the bullet to ricochette off the concrete floor and find its way back towards the firing ramp, causing all there to duck. Much to our relief he was taken off target practice.