Police presence

“I enjoyed the Traces Through Time feature on Invergowrie,” emails Willie MacFarlane. “My great grandmother and great aunt used to live in a pensioner’s flat in Johnstone Avenue just next to the park and I recall many a visit to Invergowrie.

“A few years ago when I was researching material for a book which I had published – The History of the Perthshire & Kinross-shire Constabularies – I managed to uncover quite a few interesting facts and stories about Invergowrie.

“Although there had been a police presence within Invergowrie since 1842, many of the early bobbies either lived in rented accommodation or were single men residing in lodgings.

“It was not until 1928 that a proper police station appeared in the village. It was, in fact, the brand new local authority house at 13 County Place (later renamed and renumbered 9 Main Street). A large notice board with the words County Police is said to have hung from the front wall of the building but other than that there were no other marks/lamps or signs to distinguish it from any of the other houses in the block.

“One Sunday night, resident constable Dave Young is said to have arrested a pair of locals, their crime being the theft of logs from the woods of a wealthy estate. Having missed the last bus to Perth and having no transport of his own Constable Young was faced with a dilemma with regard to the care of his prisoners.

“The answer was plain – he simply trussed the pair up and thrust them into a broom cupboard warning them to behave themselves otherwise they wouldn’t get any breakfast. The following morning at 8am with his prisoners suitably handcuffed, the bobby stepped onto the service bus bound for Perth and upon arrival at the court handed the men over to the custody sergeant.”

The photograph above, sent in by Frank Zwolinski of Gauldry, shows members of Abernethy Church choir in 1970. Pictured, from left, are Margaret McNaughton, Isobel McDonald, Mrs Ross, Angela Carr, Mrs Copeland, Helen Winton, Edith Taylor, Mrs D. Winton,...

“Following the recent correspondence about goldfinches,” says Arthur Bruce, Almondbank, “we have had them visit our garden for at least the last six years. At times we have had as many as six at the one time. The photograph above was taken in 2013.”