Christmases of Yesteryear: A 195-year-old letter with surprising relevance to today, a narrow escape on the railways, and new year revelries made headlines in past Christmas editions

1827

TO THE EDITOR: Sir, I am rather surprised, Mr Editor, that you have hitherto taken no notice of the contagious and fatal Fever so prevalent here at present. In other places, visited with a like calamity, public measures are resorted to in order to check, as far as possible, the spread of contagion, keeping worthier motives out of view, self preservation would justify the adoption of similar measures here at this time.

Pray endeavour to draw the public attention to this subject in your first number, for without some exertion on the part of the higher classes, we may bitterly experience the truth of the old saying that “A Black Yule mak’s a fat Kirk-yard.”

Yours, A Constant Reader.

1893

LANDSLIP AT CRAGGIE –NARROW ESCAPE OF A NAVVY: Yesterday, an accident occurred on the new Aviemore section of the Highland Railway, at Craggie, whereby John Buchanan, a navvy, had a very narrow escape. It appears that a number of workmen were employed in the vicinity of an embankment, when suddenly a large portion of the ground gave way. The whole of the men, with the exception of Buchanan, succeeded in escaping. He, however, was covered by a quantity of the earth which descended. He was quickly extricated and conveyed to his lodgings, when it was found that he had been very severely bruised upon both legs, one of which was fractured. He also sustained internal injuries. Dr Kerr, Inverness, was summoned and he attended to the unfortunate man. It may be stated that the work at Craggie is being rapidly pushed forward, and at present there are over fifty men employed at this portion of the line.

1934

THE NEW YEAR – 1934 WELCOMED BY LARGE CROWD AT THE EXCHANGE: The New Year was ushered in quietly in Inverness and the North. With Hogmanay falling on Sunday the streets of Inverness were not as crowded as is usually the case, but there was, however, a surprisingly large gathering at the Exchange at midnight. Indeed there were several hundred people at the Exchange, and when the Steeple clock struck the hour cheers were raised and the usual hand-shaking and exchange of good wishes followed. Some more enthusiastic spirits set off sky rockets across the river at Ness Bank. With the Town Hall flood-lit and the Greig Street Bridge illuminated the town had quite a gay appearance. The weather was very mild, and first-footing was as popular as ever.

1958

PANTOMIME AT THE EMPIRE THEATRE: Excellent performances are being given by the young Invernessians appearing in the pantomime, Aladdin, which began in the Empire Theatre on Christmas Eve. On Saturday afternoon the pantomime was rapturously received by a crowded “house” of children at the matinee performance and by adults later in the evening. Smartly produced an attractively staged, with excellent choruses and dances, the pantomime is most amusing, and last night Morag Donachie, who plays the part of Widow Twankey with the aplomb of a professional and who was celebrating her birthday, received presents to mark the anniversary.

1979

SNOW TOO LATE FOR CHRISTMAS – INVERNESS AGAIN LUCKY: Inverness and the North enjoyed a dry spell of weather over the Christmas period, with sunny spells, and a frost overnight on Sunday, which persisted for most of Monday. However, there was a marked contrast when, despite a rise in temperatures, snow fell on Wednesday night and continued until mid-morning yesterday, before the skies cleared to give a sunny afternoon. No earthquakes or floods were experienced.

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