Mystery of slate memorial
THE LOCHABER TIMES has been asked to unravel a bit of a mystery concerning a memorial stone carved on a piece of slate and discovered in a local river, writes Mark Entwistle.
Last year, when Aaron Brennan, from Ireland, was over in Lochaber, he noticed something in the water at the lower falls in Glen Nevis.
Pulling it out from the river, Aaron, who has been working at a local campsite, discovered a dark slate memorial stone, measuring about 16 inches in length.
On it was carved a simple, heartfelt tribute to someone named ‘Ruairidh’. Next to the message there was a heraldic emblem with what looks like a shield bearing a stag’s head.
The words read: ‘Ruairidh, Goodbyes are not forever, Are not the end, It simply means I will miss you. Until we meet again, forever and always, Eilidh and the boys Xxx.’
The section of slate appears to have been attached to something, either a tree or area of stone, by nail, with the nail holes now broken, which could explain how the slab came to be in the water.
Speaking to the Lochaber Times abound his find, Aaron told us: ‘I was over here last year as well and just came across the tablet lying in the river at the lower falls. I didn’t have time last year to do anything about it, and didn’t feel right just leaving it lying on the ground, so thought it best to hang onto it until I returned and maybe had a bit more time to speak to folk about.’
Despite various inquiries made by the Lochaber Times, including with the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, we have been unable to discover the story behind the memorial tablet.
If anyone has any information that might help us return the tablet to the family that erected it, please contact us on 01397 703003.