Christmas 1973: Heavy 24-hour snowfall in the Highlands disrupts power supplies, telephone services and travel
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Heavy 24-hour snowfalls accompanied by gales brought disruption to Inverness and the Highlands the week before Christmas 1973.
In many areas, the snow lay at a depth of eight inches, roads were blocked, telephone services failed and electricity supplies broke down.
The Inverness Courier of December 21 reported that as the blizzard grew fiercer, Inverness was almost isolated as traffic came to a complete stop, buses were cancelled as roads became impassable despite the efforts of town and county roadmen and for a time the railway was the only way out of the town although train services were subject to long delays. Air services were also cancelled.
- Christmas 1983: Remember Tiny Tears, Terrahawks and an Inverness-produced game Taliesin?
- What were the must-have gifts for Christmas1993?
As the thaw arrived and the town struggled back to normality, there were further hazards.
Dirty melting snow piled high in the town centre's gutters made it a test of agility for pedestrians to step from the street to the pavement.
The report continued: "Many and varied, too, were the impromptu dance steps executed by the ladies – young and not so young – who despite the treacherous conditions underfoot, stuck bravely (?) to the fashionable high-heeled or platform shoes and boots."
Pedestrians in Tomnahurich Street, meanwhile, faced the risk of being submerged by avalanches of melting snow from the roof tops.
But for those who did make it into town, there was serious last-minute Christmas shopping to be done.
The Model Shop in the New Market Hall advertised Christmas gifts for boys of all ages – but no mention of girls.
The range included the once popular British-invented construction toy, Meccano, Airfix kits and model railways by Hornby, Wrean, Lim and Minitrix plus chemistry, electrical and electronic sets.
For pop fans, Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade was top of the local pop charts published by Record Rendezvous in Church Street.
Taking the number two slot was I Love You Love Me by the now disgraced Gary Glitter with My Coo-Ca-Choo by Alvin Stardust at number three while another Christmas-themed song, Wizzard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday was number six.
Those doing their Christmas shopping at the Co-op departmental store in Academy Street could make extra savings with their dividend stamps.
Suggestions included hostess gowns for ladies (£7.35 to £10), acrylic knitwear for men (from £2.50) and bri-nylon slacks for children (from £1.20) plus the store included a toy fair.
There was also a toy fair and Santa's magic cave on the first floor at Camerons in High Street.
The store's fashion range included leopard-look coats trimmed with leather-look cuffs (£25.99), crimplene jumpers (reduced to £2.99), Pretty Polly tights (50p for three pairs).
Meanwhile, with 15 shopping days left to go, Masons, which had shops in Eastgate and Waterloo Place, was advertising cassette recorders (from £19.50), stereograms with six free LPs with everyone bought during December and eight-track car stereo units (£26.50).
"Please her ...pamper her with French Perfume" was the suggestion for last-minute shoppers from chemists T. Mackenzie & Co at the corner of High Street and Church Street.
It stocked a wide range – and was keen to point out the shop did not close for lunch.
Preparations for Christmas 1973 came against the background of industrial action by coal miners and railways, warnings of looming power cuts and the introduction of a three-day week for commercial users to conserve electricity.
Enterprising Inverness TV Service in Tomnahurich Street had the answer – a battery portable TV to beat the power cuts.
Certainly, who would want to be without a TV with the BBC's Christmas Day viewing that year including Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game with Anthea Redfern followed by The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show and then the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show with special guests Vanessa Redgrave, Hannah Gordon, The New Seekers, John Hanson and guest appearances of Yehudi Menuhi, Rudolf Nureyev, Laurence Olivier and Andre Previn.
Other festive entertainment included the screening of Dirty Harry with Clint Eastwood and The Light at the Edge of the World with Kirk Douglas and Yul Brynner at La Scala which also had special children's matinee every Saturday.
Jimmy Martin and the Big Band and Dr Feelgood were appearing at the Caledonian Hotel which issued a special notice that male patrons wearing boots would not be admitted to the ballroom.
The Pavilion Ballroom in Strathpeffer was the place to be on Christmas Eve.
Promoting itself as "the nite spot of the north", the 1973 Christmas Eve dance was with broadcasting band Ian Reid supported by Transit and Ziggy Stardust.
The dancing went on until 1.30am with free transport from Inverness bus station, Tain, Invergordon, Rosemarkie, Munlochy and Muir of Ord.
