Harvest Home

“Harvest is now all but over for another season,” writes Barbara Kennedy of Forfar. “In the not too distant past, many farms celebrated with a Harvest Home dance, where the farmer, along with employees and helpers, had an evening together.

“The Harvest Home on the right was at Cransley Farm in 1955. Mt husband’s parents lived and worked there at this time and always attended these occasions. This one was held in the loft of the steading.

“The farm grieve, who is sitting, bottom left , is Dave Webster and it was he who built the miniature grain-stack. Standing behind him is the farmer’s daughter, Marjery Bell. Some of your readers may be able to name some of the others and also the accordionist. My husband thinks he may have been a member of the Hawthorn dance band.

“I wonder if Harvest Homes are still held in some places today.”

“I was later to find out that amongst other things, our main cargoes were bringing pit props over from Norway to Scotland.

“She was owned by Salvese, 29 Bernard Street, Leith. I was on that ship for over a year and the ‘Old Man’ (Captain) told me he would have liked to have taken me with him on his next ship which was a two year trip to the whaling.

“However, as I was only on a boy’s wage, he would be doing me an injustice as I would be due a promotion shortly, which would, of course, mean more wages for me.

“The SS Folda’s sister ship, the SS Tronda, was the ship they used in the making of the film Hell Below Zero with Stanley Baker and Alan Ladd. I have seen the film many times and it brings back happy memories of my first ship.

“I never did a trip on a steam ship again so I think the SS Folda must have been one of the last steam ships around too. I am pretty sure she was scrapped not long after I left her.” ● their first church was built in the loft of Brown and Allan’s Seabraes spinning mill. The Rev Roxburgh went on to become minister of Free St John’s Glasgow, and served as moderator of the Free Church of Scotland in 1867.”

A Harvest Home at Cransley Farm. The picture was taken in 1955. See more on the left.

“Spotted on the links,” says a reader. “Any good for the frying pan?”