Who is owner of engraved stick?
A MAN from Connel who stumbled upon an engraved stick while walking his dog is appealing for the owner’s descendants to get in touch, writes David McPhee.
Alan MacGregor was walking at the sports pitch in Connel, where upgrades are taking place, when he discovered the item. He said: ‘It caught the corner of my eye. I kicked it and thought, “What’s that?” And the silver bit appeared.’
The engraving on the stick reads: ‘Presented to Mr J Murray as a mark of much esteem by staff at Parkmore Distillery 08.02.1930.’
Mr MacGregor added: ‘It was covered in mud so I cleaned it off and read it, and thought that seems pretty interesting.
‘The thing that has gripped me is how did it get there? How did it get from Dufftown to Oban? It would never have been unearthed if the boys had not dug up the park.
‘If a descendant comes along and says that’s my family member, they can have it.’
Mr MacGregor says he has been offered a bottle of whisky for the stick by Dufftown Whisky Museum, but is would prefer it went to a descendnt of Mr Murray.
Parkmore Distillery, in Dufftown, hasn’t been in operation since 1931.
If anyone has any information regarding the stick or Mr Murray, contact The Oban Times on 01631 568000 or email editor@ obantimes.co.uk.