Webelieve no-oneshould gothrough dementia alone.

Dementia affects around 69,500 people in Scotland.

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s leading dementia charity providing advice, support and understanding to people with dementia and their carers. We have services on over 60 sites throughout Scotland.

For information, support or just someone who understands, contact our 24 hour freephone Dementia Helpline on 0808 808 3000.

If you would like to support Alzheimer Scotland visit www.alzscot.org to see how you can get involved.

Registered in Scotland 149069 Scottish charity no. SC022315 Our main cover image shows a curling competition on Cumbrae. See our feature on ‘the roaring game’ on page 34

The View of the Month (page 28) shows the late fifteenthcentury bridge at Stirling

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M m i is published by Warners Group Publications plc, 5th Floor, 31-32 Park Row, Leeds, LS1 5JD, UK website: www.scottish-memories.co.uk

PUBLISHER Janet Davison janet.davison@writersnews.co.uk

EDITORIAL Editor: Matt Hill mhill@writersnews.co.uk Tel: 0113 200 2912

Deputy Editor: Rachel Bellerby rachelb@writersnews.co.uk Tel: 0113 200 2922

Consultant Editor: George Forbes. Contributors: Jean Brittain, Steven Doherty, Myra Douglas, Keith Fergus, Mark Hamblin, James Hendrie, Stephen Houston, Allan Hunter, Dolina Munro, G Barclay Robertson, Alan Stewart. Landscape photography: Dennis Hardley

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BACK ISSUES Back issues are available from the Scottish Memories subscriptions department, tel: 01778 392030. ISSN 0968-7874 DISCLAIMER The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every care is taken to ensure that the contents of the magazine are accurate, but the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory transactions, but will immediately investigate any written complaints.

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M m i

W lc m t Was life really better in the good old days? Moray couple Shaun and Vee certainly think so, in fact such is their admiration for the wartime years they’ve decided to live as if it was the 1940s, complete with the appropriate clothing and food (see page 22).

Most of us aren’t quite as keen to recreate the past, but it’s true to say that we look back at earlier events with a niggling feeling that things won’t be quite the same again. And of course, it’s only natural to remember the good times rather than the bad. But take a closer look at the people and events around us and there are still plenty of reasons to be cheerful as we head into a new decade.

As you’ll see from many of this month’s features, across the land people are working together to not only remember our history and heritage, but to keep it alive and allow new generations to create their own memories. Tourism is on the up and traditions are being recalled and protected. The new decade will be sure to give us plenty more gadgets and gizmos to change the way we live, but there will always be a place for tradition too. So here’s to another ten years of the best of Scotland – new and old!

C t ts5ThenandNow

News and events, headlines from the past, and interesting facts

10 The crofting war

Dolina Munro looks at a new initiative designed to preserve the memories of the crofters of Skye and Lochalsh.

15 A grandiose folly

Myra Douglas visits Floors Castle, one of the largest inhabited castles in Scotland

16 Memories Mailbox

Readers’ letters. Plus, George Forbes’ Writing to Remember column

18 Open all hours… for romance!

The man whose name was synonymous with anvil marriages for over forty years

20 This month in Scottish history

Events and news from years gone by

22 Living like it’s wartime

Jean Brittain meets a couple who live their lives as if it was the 1940s

26 WIN! Competition

Your chance to win a stay for two at the Stirling Highland Hotel, worth £150!

27 Destination Stirling

Your guide to Stirling, including View of the Month

Matt Hill, Editor

34 The curling county

Keith Fergus looks back at the heyday of curling

36 Finding your roots

Your monthly guide to genealogy from family history expert Alan Stewart

38 Scottish Superstitions

The rights and rituals connected with finding a future spouse

40 Scotland remembered

Reader memories of family holidays in 1920s Argyll, and the arrival of Clydebank evacuees

44 Saving the Highland Tiger

The new project to save the wildcat

46 Scotland’s forgotten heroes

The tale of the Stonehaven scientist who invented the world’s first pneumatic tyre

47 Wee Harry

Wee Harry and his pal bring their local streets to a standstill

48 Sights and sounds of Scotland

CD and book reviews

50 Puzzles WIN!

Test your knowledge to win a Scottish Quest board game or a dictionary set

51 A taste of Scotland

Warming Thai scented broth, plus a reader recipe for Scotch pancakes

Cl FREE t r t u n ad r r t sc p i r S ag 21 r d s… Cl FREE t r t u n ad r r t sc p i r