Aye, they were Old Inverness characters 'rite eenuff'

A small book giving an intriguing look at colourful bygone characters from in and around Inverness is proving a big hit with locals.

The fascinating volume highlighting 50 charismatic worthies who lived in or near Inverness from the early 19th Century to within living memory has proved so popular that scores of the initial 500 copies printed have already sold within weeks.

Inverness & Thereabouts - Worthies, Characters and Other Folk, compiled and written by Inverness Local History Forum president Maureen Kenyon, following many hours of research over months in Highland Archive files, local histories, old newspapers, obituaries and local library material, features vivid artwork and many photos from the Joseph Cook Collection and other sources.

History enthusiast Maureen said: “Although the idea for this book was born after an event based on local worthies and characters in 2012, to celebrate the Forum’s 20th anniversary, it had been sitting on the back burner while we were working on other projects and publications.

“During the Covid pandemic when the forum was unable to meet or hold our monthly talks, I decided to look at the Worthies’ research and find an interesting format to tell their individual stories.

“The research involved creating a file for every photograph and name I had come across and pull together any information I could find on each individual person. I ended up with more than 50 files full of information and photographs.”

Working with publishing expert and History Forum vice-convener, Adrian Harvey, who is also the book’s editor, Maureen worked out the best format.

It was further enhanced with artwork from local man Rylan Harvey who created the illustrations, which along with photos, bring the characters to life.

A few older folk may just remember seeing the happy tramp Forty Pockets – whose likeness graces the front cover - wandering the streets of Inverness and as far afield as Nairn, Forres or Elgin up to the 1940s.

Or more recently, the cheery face of Edinburgh-born orphan Suzie Mackay, author of the poignant volume A Discarded Brat, who despite many setbacks in life, eventually found peace in the Highlands and became a dedicated charity worker.

The pithy little verses of blind local poet Alistair Grewar, are sprinkled throughout the book helping to preserve names and places from the past, familiar to townsfolk 70 or 80 years ago.

Join Dunk Culloden as he holds court in the Plough Inn on Petty Street, picture street music makers like Cappie Eppie or Sally Come Up around the riverside.

You can almost hear Dick Kirkwood the fiddler entertaining tourists arriving off the Loch Ness steamboat or playing for the townsfolk watching the farmers at the feeing market employing new ploughmen, cattlemen and milking maids.

Visualise the feared poacher Farquhar of the Gun travelling on the Kessock Ferry on his way from the Black Isle to Inverness; Tibbie Main from Ardersier coming to the Inverness market and laying out her earthenware plates and pots for sale on the unpaved streets around the High Street.

Or imagine Nanny do Dolan attacking Donald Ross, the Inverness Hangman in the same market place, for daring to slap a local woman across the face with a fish.

Inverness & Thereabouts, by Maureen T Kenyon is available at several local outlets, price £12.99. All profits from sales go to the funds of Inverness Local History Forum.

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