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Stag gets plastered





Members of the 31st Inverness Aviemore Scout swimming team in November 1993 with a gala trophy they had won. Pictured are (back l to r:) Sarah Crymble and leader Marilyn Hemingway. (Front l to r:)Keith Crymble, Blair Fyffe, Duncan Hemingway, Billy Hemming
Members of the 31st Inverness Aviemore Scout swimming team in November 1993 with a gala trophy they had won. Pictured are (back l to r:) Sarah Crymble and leader Marilyn Hemingway. (Front l to r:)Keith Crymble, Blair Fyffe, Duncan Hemingway, Billy Hemming

From “The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald”

of February 5, 1987

There is no more a stag-ger in the walk of the Monarch of the Glen thanks to the effort of a Strathspey vet.

When a red deer stag broke its leg in the autumn, vet George Rafferty decided plaster was the answer.

So after stalking the magnificent beast at Caignafearn near Tomatin, he brought it down with a dart rifle – then applied a plaster cast to the broken limb.

Since then the stag has been foraging the wild terrain around the village, untroubled by the cast.

Last week, the plaster came off after Grantown-based George again brought the stag down with a rifle then revealed a perfect healing of the injury.

It is believed to be one of the very few times in Britain that such treatment has been applied to a wild stag.

Adventure all the way on transatlantic trip.

IT SEEMS the Monckton family of Newtonmore just can’t get the sea out of their system.

Four years ago the family, who own Newtonmore’s Craigower Lodge, crossed the Atlantic in a catamaran – now two sons and a daughter-in-law have repeated the trip by themselves.

Twenty-one year old Nick Monckton captained the 31-foot, yawl-rigged sailboat “Aquarius” between Fort William and Florida, with brother Martin, (23), and sister-in-law Jacqueline, (22). But their four-month trans-Atlantic trip was far from plain sailing. The left Fort William on September 15 and, using only a sextant for navigation, sailed west.

Winter storms, hostile port authorities and a broken engine were just a few of the trials of adventure, which nevertheless all three say more than rewarded their patience and perseverance.

Thumbs down for Moray transfer.

THREE Spey Valley councils say they will not support suggestions that Strathspey should seek a transfer to Moray district.

And ‘Herald’ readers who were invited to cast their vote have polled 25 to six against any changes in the area’s administration.

The suggested changes were called for by local historian George Dixon, who claimed at a Grantown Community Council meeting that the town was getting a raw deal from the Kingussie- based Badenoch and Strathspey district authority.

Carrbridge councillors have decided to back their chairman David Ritchie in opposing any transfer from Highland, while the Newtonmore council – which could be affected by Mr Dixon’s suggestion that Badenoch should merge with either Nairn or Inverness district authorities – did not even discuss the issue.

And Boat of Garten’s village council decided to write to their Grantown counterparts saying they too were happy where they were.

Royal polish on Michael’s boots.

THEY’RE changing the guard at Buckingham Palace – and into place is marching 19-year-old Leading Aircraftman Michael S. MacLean of Newtonmore.

Michael is the younger son of John Alick and Isabelle MacLean, 5 Church Terrace, Newtonmore.

He recently successfully completed an intensive training course at RAF Catterick in Yorkshire where he was awarded the Best Marksman Trophy.

Michael was also one of the few selected to serve in the Queen’s Colour Squadron at RAF Uxbridge for four years.

That means worldwide travel for Michael who will attend ceremonial occasions in the presence of the Royal Family.

His tour of duty begins in March when he goes on guard at Buckingham Palace and after that to Gibraltar, Germany, Belgium and at the end of the year Australia.

Michael completed his basic training at RAF Swinderby in Lincolnshire.

Doubts over future of sports facilities

AVIEMORE may be well off for sports facilities now but these could all be in jeopardy in the future according to local Community Council chairman, Mr Ian Malcolm.

“All the sports facilities in Aviemore are privately owned and therefore subject to the shims of private developers,” said Mr Malcolm.

The community council were seeking facilities owned by the public for use by the public.

“Aviemore does not have a sports hall, a games hall, golf course, bowling green, community playing field, or even a clubhouse for any sport,” said community councillor Mrs Audrey McKenzie.

“There is a swimming pool in Aviemore which has an uncertain future and our village hall is only big enough for one badminton court.”

She added: “We need a centre where local people can enjoy sport, a chat, and social meetings in a relaxed atmosphere.”


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