Challenge match between men in firm

“I ENJOYED reading the recent article in the farming section of The Courier in which leading auctioneer Roley Fraser was interviewed regarding his involvement within the family firm Messrs MacDonald, Fraser & Co. Livestock auctioneers,” emails Thomas MacFarlane of Wolfhill.

“Coming from a farming background myself I have strong memories of how most farms kept livestock in years gone by. As a youngster I used to accompany my father when he drove a cattle float for the now defunct firm AS Park of Auchterarder.

“It is astonishing to reflect upon the fact that today there are no remaining livestock marts within Perthshire and only a handful of livestock contractors left to serve the industry.

“Things were much different during the 1950s and 60s and I have memories of bustling livestock marts not only at three sites in Perth but also at Milnathort, Aberfeldy, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Killin, Dalmally and Lairg.

“Mr Fraser mentions that the company at its peak had

Dingbats “FURTHER TO my memories of Tayside House in Perth which appeared in the Craigie column recently ,” writes Bob Macdonald of Abernethy, “the above is a photograph of the single men employed there with General Life prior to a challenge match against the married men.

“One or two of us, including myself, 14 or 15 separate marts but I cannot recall any of the others although it does run in my mind that a very small sheep mart was once in existence just behind the Star Hotel in the High Street, Auchterarder.

“Hopefully, I will also have sparked the odd memory. Someone might be able to recall the other marts which Mr Fraser spoke about.” “I WAS looking at last week’s photograph of the group of ladies,” emails David Grant. “I do not know where it was taken or any of the ladies.

“However, the heavy leather bags they are carrying look very similar to those carried by the ladies who used to empty Cupar gas meters of old pennies.

Find the familiar phrase, saying or name.

Garfield ® could hardly have been described as footballers, but with the presence of Len Dudman, who, in addition to his cricketing prowess, was also capped for Scotland at football at junior level, we managed to overcome the more elderly opposition by six goals to two.

“Those taking part were, back row, left

“The lady would arrive already heavily laden then empty maybe one pound (sterling) from our meter.

“She would then offer, or perhaps beg, my mum to exchange a few shillings for a pile of pennies to put back in the meter. All this only 30 yards from the home of your correspondent Stewart Bett!” to right, Colin Fidler, Bob Macdonald, Dick Paton, Stan Keay, Alistair Philip and Norrie Smith.

“Front row, from left, Dougie Reid, Kenny Kinnear, Bill Fenton, Len Dudman and Charlie Ferrier.”

Did other firms in the area arrange sporting fixtures like this? Do let us know! FRANK GLOAK of Perth writes: “I was interested in a recent article with regard to certain words which were probably most commonly used in Angus and Perthshire.

The following examples I remember being used as I grew up in the Carse of Gowrie: Thochty – a small amount Daidle – bounce a child on knee

Gruppit – indigestion problem Hoagers – slippers Huppen – nappie Dowp – posterior “READING ABOUT ‘a hing’ brought to mind when I worked in day nurseries in the 1950s,” emails Doreen Dingwall. “If a child had been absent for three days, they had to be passed fit by a doctor to prevent the spread of infection.

“When you explained this to the mother, the reply was often that there was nothing wrong, she was just ‘a bit hingy’.”