A sense of belonging

“Aberlemno is a place which has great resonance for my family,” emails Ruth Watson. “My mother-in-law’s parents moved from Aberlemno before she was born but she maintained her links to the area, her sister being evacuated to live with relatives in Forfar during the Second World War.

“Her sister married a young airman she met there and settled in Forfar. My mother-in-law has a Waterloo medal, cast for one of her ancestors, Mr Fenton, from Aberlemno. She decided to research her roots and found her family had worked as farm servants and quarriers on the lands of The Mains of Tillywhanland as far back as records exist.

“My husband and I moved to work and live in Kirriemuir at the turn of the millennium, and two of our children were born here. Subsequently, we lived overseas for 10 years but often came to Forfar to see our relatives.

“When we returned to Scotland, part of the reason we moved to Kirriemuir was because our youngsters, having lived their lives outside of Scotland, didn’t have a sense of belonging anywhere. Coming to this area, seeing family names in the Kirrie graveyard, looking down from the Caterthuns and looking across to Aberlemno, they know they are looking at lands their ancestors have trod for centuries.

“In my house is a chest of drawers which has travelled around the world with us. It came from the manse at Aberlemno. Like my family, it may have taken the long way round but it came home in the end.”

This postcard, sent in by Jim Howie of the Postcard Club of Tayside, shows Broughty Ferry esplanade as it looked in 1904. “The view is very different today,” says Jim.

“The picture above shows a Fraser’s advert which was included in an Arbroath Town Council Official Guide in the early 1970s,” says Ken Morris of St Andrews. “The bedspreads were popular wedding gifts.”