Group wants building to be named after former Nairn Provost
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NAIRN River Community Council is proposing the new flats and CAB office development in the town centre car park should be named Ronnie Watson House after the last Provost of the former Town Council.
The community council was asked by the Highland Council corporate address gazetteer (CAG ) team to propose, on behalf of the local community, a suitable name for the new block of 12 social housing flats and the new CAB HQ which are nearing completion on the site of the former community centre in King Street.
Suggestions received from the public were tabled at the community council meeting for discussion.
Community council chairman Hamish Bain said they had received several nominations from the public but he submitted a shortlist of four which had received more than one nomination.
These included: Jubilee (to commemorate the Queen’s platinum jubilee year), Tom Heggie in memory of Councillor Heggie, Ronnie Watson and Isobel Gowdie – The Witch of Auldearn.
Community councillor Mandy Lawson declared an interest as her father, the late John Lawson, wrote the play The Witch of Auldearn.
But she said perhaps a street in Auldearn may be more appropriate for that name.
Brian Stewart, of Nairn West and Suburban Community Council, said Isobel Gowdie’s was a character whose significance was perhaps undervalued. It was agreed to write a letter to Auldearn Community Council for this to be considered in the future.
The community council unanimously voted in favour of Ronnie Watson House.
Mr Watson ran a fruiterer’s business at the corner of Gordon Street and High Street.
He was Nairn Provost when McDermotts arrived to start building the yard at Ardersier for the construction of oil rigs.
At the time it was recognised there was going to be a massive influx of workers and extensive house building immediately began at Cranloch and Croft Field to cope with the growing population. A portrait of Ronnie and his son Alan by local artist Jason Walker is exhibited at Nairn Museum.
