End of an era at Merkinch PO

JULY 31 marks the end of an era at Merkinch Stores and Post Office when postmistress Joan Smith (left) hands over the reins to Lesley O'Rourke.

It is seven years, almost to the day, since Joan and husband Javed took over at the popular corner shop and brought the sub-PO under the same roof. There have been a number of PO closures in recent years - at Muirtown, Greig Street and Tomnahurich Street - but the future of the Merkinch branch is assured.

Lesley, who originally came from Dalkeith, and her Perth-born husband Keith, who will be running the shop, both have many years' experience in the retail grocery trade, in Safeways and Tesco's. Their careers with the major players have taken them all over, from Belfast to the Isle of Man. When the couple decided to go into business for themselves, they liked the look of Merkinch and moved to Westhill in May.

"We're looking forward to being part of the community and welcome all customers, old and new," she told News & Views.
Joan has no plans in the meantime. "We're taking some time out," she said. "But we're really going to miss it - we'll never forget our customers."
However, Joan will still be around as recently they moved into their new home in Lochalsh Road.

Bobbies on the Merkinch beat

THERE was some concern earlier this summer when Community Beat Officer Anne Urquhart was promoted to sergeant when the force's CBO strength in the area was already depleted. However, two new CBOs have joined the team and are quickly becoming familiar faces around Merkinch.

Constable Ali Macrae (35) will be primarily working in Merkinch, though he belongs to the team that also covers Central, Muirtown and Charleston. He started in his new post on 1st June. Born and raised in Inverness Ali has been in the Northern Constabulary for the last three years. But he has always worked in some aspect of security, having been a special constable for 10 years, a store detective and a civil custody officer.
Married to Nicola, Ali has a three-year-old son, Lewis. He doesn't have to go to the gym to keep fit, he says. Looking after his son keeps him well enough exercised.

Officer Macrae was joined last month by CBO Pat Underwood (41).

Pat is also an Invernessian-in fact she was born and brought up in Merkinch, in lower Kessock Street where Kirk Care now stands.
She went to Merkinch Primary and Inverness High schools and she always wanted to be a policewoman. However, the former height restrictions for entering the force thwarted her ambitions-she is five foot two - and she worked for many years as a nurse at Raigmore and in Inverness Prison.
When the height restrictions were relaxed, Pat signed up-that was three and a half years ago and up until now she has been on general operational duties in the West Sector.
Pat has three teenage children, two boys and a girl, and she says her hobby is taxi-ing them around! The new CBOs were set to be "officially" welcomed to Merkinch at the Community Centre on Thursday 29th July.

T-shirts for Trinity Church Boys' Brigade

TRINITY Church Boys' Brigade set off for their trip to France last month sporting splendid matching t-shirts sponsored by the Carse company F.S Autobody. Pictured are, left, Alex MacMillan of the BBs receiving one of the t-shirts from Mark Stewart, owner of FS Autobody, who is a former BB. The back of the t-shirts tells the story that the wearers are from Trinity Church BBs in Inverness.

All roads lead to Merkinch Gala

PREPARATIONS for Merkinch Community Centre's Gala Day were well in hand as we went to press this month.

Pictured right, youngsters at the Centre were helping Eden Court outreach worker Tina Olsen to make giant replicas of The Cup and other Clach memorabilia for the Gala Parade which was due to leave Grant Street car park at 12.45pm on Saturday 31st.

Half an hour later Inverness Provost Bill Smith is set to crown Gala Queen and King, Amy Thomson and Jordan Ross, who will be accompanied by their Prince and Princess, brother and sister Douglas and Sophie Maclennan.

The Singing for Pleasure group's Sunday session at the Ferry Point which kicked off the gala week events, was blessed with fine weather and a good many turned out to share in the singing (pictured below). Their Tuesday evening session was open for anyone to come and join in.

Other events in the week leading up to the Gala Day included an open day at NCH in Quayside Court on Wednesday afternoon and the Local History group's first Story Walk, "Shifting Tides" on Thursday evening. And after Saturday's Gala there is a disco at the Community Centre.

Thornbush mini-market reopens under the Mace banner

MUCH to the delight of residents of Merkinch and in particular South Kessock, the former Thornbush Stores re-opened on 9th June under the Mace flag after lying empty for two or three years.
New owner is Innes Macdonald, who already has much experience in the convenience store business as he has been running a similar establishment in Conon Bridge for the last three years and learned his trade in his father's shop in Scourie, in north-west Sutherland.

The manager at Thornbush Road is Lily Urquhart who was promoted from the Conon Bridge staff. She is assisted by Debbie Mackenzie and four locally-based part-time staff. However, so well has the shop been going since it opened on 9th June that they may well need to expand their staff.
The shop is open from 7.30am to 7.30pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 7.30pm on Saturdays and 9am to 6pm on Sundays.

The shop has been totally refurbished and is bright and clean, full of a wide range of groceries and frozen foods. Bakery goods come from Deas in Dingwall, and fresh vegetables and fresh meat from other local suppliers, for Innes has a policy of sourcing as much as possible locally. There are also fresh sandwiches and it is hoped soon to have hot pies and rolls for sale.
They accept babies' milk tokens and aim to open a section for baby foods soon. Besides groceries, the shop also has a range of wines, spirits and beers and a selection of newspapers and magazines. It also has a lottery facility.

"We are testing the waters, as far as stock goes," says Lily. "When we find there is a demand for a particular item, we will get it."

Mace has set up a link with Somerfields' supermarket chain, so their prices are even more competitive than ever.
An example of offers (up until 19th August) includes: 12-pack Strongbow Cider, £5.99; 24-pack Budweiser (207ml) £10.49; 2l Lilt/Dr Pepper/ Sprite 89p each; 24-pack Walkers crisps ££1.99; Nouvelle toilet tissue (9 rolls) £1.99; Hall's Willie Winkie sausages, buy one get one free. A regular leaflet outlines the current offers.

Since the new shop opened it has been really busy. Local customers are finding the re-opening of a corner shop with supermarket prices in South Kessock has been tremendously helpful.
"We used to only shop once a week, and have to take a taxi home," said one. "Now we can pop in anytime we need something."

The write stuff blossoming

The Merkinch Writers' Group, which emerged from a couple of events at the Arts in Merkinch Festival in April, held their July meeting in the Janny's Hoose. The group is being led for the first few months by Kurdish writer Choman Hardi (centre) who was writer-in-residence in the Arvon Centre at Moniack Mhor. Anyone interested in joining the group should contact Brian Macleod, Community Project Officer, on Inverness 240085 for details.

Janny's Hoose plans

ALTHOUGH the Janny's Hoose is closed for all activities except the antenatal clinic over the holidays, Jean is still hard at work (in the Hoose and digging drains on the croft!). We are planning lots of exciting new activities when the schools go back.

First on the list - Christina Edgar, the Health Visitor will be running a child health clinic. So if you want to get your baby weighed and checked over, come along to the Janny's Hoose between 2 and 3.30pm any Thursday afternoon starting on the 19 August. Come and have a blether and a cup of tea with us while you're here.
We'll also have a drop-in coffee morning every Wednesday, and we're planning a return of health matters - a chance to find out about different aspects of health.

Maree has left us for a job with the NHS and we are also recruiting someone to help so there will be two new faces. Cath will be back with us too. If there's anything you'd like us to put on, let us know and we'll see what we can do. Looking forward to seeing you after the holidays, Jean, The Janny's Hoose, 226348

Well done Tina!

CONGRATULAIONS to Tina Olsen (pictured right) who last month graduated from Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh, with a BA Honours in Drama and Theatre Arts. Tina (22) who lives in East Mackenzie Park previously studied drama at Inverness College. She has succeeded Claire Crowle as the Merkinch area's outreach community theatre worker at Eden Court.

briefs.

• THE now-you-see-it-now-you-don't Lochiel Bar is once again in business. Under new management, the doors were once again opened on 9th July.

 

• FED-UP residents of Wyvis Place are asking local dog-walkers to note that the large car park at the end of Wyvis Place is not a dog toilet. "If you must walk your dog there, please clean up any mess after you," one says.

 

• LOCAL artist Bette McArdle, who lives in Telford Road, is holding a one-man exhibition of her paintings, drawings and glass at Eden Court Theatre throughout the month of August.

 

• THE over-70s can look forward to a £100 tax-free bonus along with their £200 winter fuel allowance next month. The money is meant to go towards their council tax bill. The over-80s will receive £400 altogether, including their enhanced £300 winter fuel allowance.

 

• TO celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Leprosy Mission, a Prom Praise concert with Noel Tredinnick and the All Souls Orchestra is being held in Eden Court on 20th August.

 

• SOUTH Kessock Tool Club is now open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10am- 12 as well as weekday evenings, 6-7.30pm.

New consumer advice service launched

A NEW service to empower consumers and change the face of consumer relations UK-wide was launched in Scotland last month by Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

"Consumer Direct" is the first service of its kind in the UK and enables consumers to get quick, practical advice on any consumer issue just by phoning one national number. Nigel MacKenzie, Head of Trading Standards within Highland Council was at the launch of this exciting new service in Edinburgh on 12th July.

"Consumers will now be able to phone a single national telephone number and receive advice on complaints ranging from a £20 pair of jeans, to a £2000 house repair, or a £20,000 car. "Advisors will give consumers information on their rights and empower them to take the matter further". He adds "The new service will also offer practical information via www.consumerdirect.gov.uk. And online users will be able to e-mail their queries to advisers."

The scheme is funded by the DTI and will only be available in Scotland initially but will be rolled out across the UK over the next couple of years.
Calls will be charged at a local rate from landlines although rates may vary depending on the telephone service provider.
Fully trained consumer advisers, based at the brand new contact centre in Shawbost, Isle of Lewis, will also offer help on how to avoid possible pitfalls when buying goods or services and give advice on consumer rights.
Previous research by the DTI has shown that 50% of consumers did not know where to go for advice and do not know how to pursue consumer complaints.

Pilot projects have been run in three regions to test 'Consumer Direct' showed that each consumer who used the service saved an average of £100.

Nigel MacKenzie continues, "Consumer Direct Scotland, though primarily a service for consumers will also be able to help businesses by providing them with information and advice on consumer issues. "And if consumers have been caught out by a rogue trader or dodgy salesman, Consumer Direct will pass details on to the relevant Trading Standards department so enforcement action can be taken. Consumer Direct is viewed very much as an asset to the trading standards community and we will work in daily partnership with them to protect consumers and promote consumer rights."

Consumers can contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 between the hours of 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Fridays and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays excepting bank holidays and public holidays.

Overall 22 new jobs have been created in the contact centre at Shawbost and 17 of these are consumer advisers. All of whom have successfully completed their intensive initial training course and will continue to receive professional development training leading to a full university accredited qualification in 12 months' time.

Highland Council trading standards is at 38 Harbour Road, Inverness. Trading Standards Service is part of Transport, Environment and Community (TEC) Service, Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness.

Join the Merkinch website

LOCAL clubs and organisations, businesses and churches, youth groups and pensioners clubs, those with an interest in history and those wanting to advertise some future event - all are invited to take part in the Merkinch community website. And it's FREE!

The site is a platform and a portrait, a commercial as well as a cultural outlet, a place to gather and broadcast information, reminiscences, opinions. in other words, whatever the folk of Merkinch want it to be.

What you can see now is just the beginning. The areas open at the moment include: information about the Community Council and the Community Centre; a list of traders with contact details ; the text of the book "Merkinch Revisited"; areas of special interest including health, education etc; and a gallery.

Last but not least, you can find the contents of News & Views since January/February 2004 on the Community Website, with links to all the News & Views archives elsewhere.

So join in and have your say. Its success is in your hands. In the first instance email info@merkinch.info or phone Merkinch Enterprise on Inverness 240085.

Summer of celebration for Clach

Pictured left - time for a chat at the Clach strip stall with its range of club goodies.

Earlier this summer, there was a civic reception held at the Town House in honour of Clach's double success in the Highland League and the Cup. Pictured right is Club chairman David Dowling with Inverness Provost Bill Smith and some of the trophies - while a couple of busts of the great and the good look on!

THE weather may have been mixed for the Lilywhites' summer celebration at Grant Street park on 17th July, but all those who attended thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
The club's haul of silver trophies was on show and there were a range of stalls, competitions and activities.

Left - Lilies Lollies were the order of the day; the smile came free!

Sporting Nooz

Lucky number seven twice over for Robert

ROBERT Mackenzie broke two of his own records in the North Of Scotland finals last month by winning the Singles for the seventh time and the Doubles, also for the seventh time. To make it more remarkable he has hardly played any competitive darts in the past season only returning to league darts in the past few weeks.

In the Singles he has won four times in the last eight years and in this year's final he beat Stevie Mitchell. The losing semi-finalists were Kevin Clark and Ian Macleod.

In the Doubles it was five out of the last seven with the last three in succession and the last two with the same partner Allan Mackinnon.

This year's runners-up were Stevie Mitchell and Ian Macleod; losing semi-finalists were Kevin Clark & Malcolm Johnstone and Nigel McEwan & Paul Macdonald.

Diane Baird retained the Ladies' Singles beating Caroline Smart in the final. Losing semi-finalists were Sylvia McEwan and Joyce Pharoe.

Diane also made it to her fourth Ladies' Doubles final in a row but just failed to emulate last year's success in winning both titles. This year's winners were Caroline Smart and Pam Cassie who beat Diane and her partner Sylvia McEwan.

The North Junior Singles title was won by Donnie Maclean who beat Wayne Ridgers in the final. Robert Mackenzie and Alan Mackinnon both scored four 180s, Kevin Clark and Stevie Mitchell got two and one each came from Ally McGinely, Richie Devlin, Nigel McEwan and Kevin Maclean.

Top check-outs were Malcolm Johnstone 155, Robert Mackenzie 119, Alan Mackinnon 115, Gareth Stewart 112, Ian Macleod 108, and Stevie Mitchell 100.

Spotlight on the Lilywhites

Michael Sanderson

Where & when born. Raigmore Hospital, 24/11/77
School. Charleston Academy
Occupation. Driver with White Arrow
Partner. Jackie; kids - Kelsey and Liam
Previous clubs. Elgin City, Forres Mechanics, Nairn County, Caley, and Caley Thistle
Position usually played. Midfield/forward
Best moment in football career. Winning the League
Worst moment in football career. Getting beat by Buckie in the Q-Cup final.
Hobbies/other sports. Pool, the gym
Favourite food. Pizza, curries
Favourite music. Dance, rap
Favourite holiday spot. Ibiza
Who is your football hero?. Zidane
What is your ambition?. To play for Clach forever!
Where do you see yourself in five years' time? Grant Street Park.

Out of School

• WINNERS of Merkinch Primary's Safety Group colouring competition were: Peter Watt-Ogilvie, Paige Mackay, Kaitlin Irvine, Chloe MacKay, Kieran MacKenzie, Samantha Thomas, Dennise Gordon, Leighanne Ryan, Jade Campbell.

 

• SO wet has it been this spring that the Garden Club have been struggling to keep on top of things in the school garden. However, gardeners are philosophical and they take the view that at least they haven't had to water anything!

 

• A TOTAL of 94 MPS pupils received Gold Awards last term, earning 95 per cent or more points.

 

• PUPILS from P1/2L put on a play, "The Bad-Tempered Ladybird" at the last infant assembly of the summer term.

 

• MISS Birrell and Miss Leslie recently too part in a seven-mile sponsored Commando Run with Squadron 669 to raise money for school funds.

 

• HEBRIDEAN names seem to be the fashion at MPS these days -the names of Hebridean Islands, that is. For Mrs Black returned to school before the holidays after a short break for maternity leave, having had a baby girl called Iona. And Mrs Young, who had a boy called Coll, is expected back after the holidays.

 

• NO-ONE can say that MPS pupils don't get plenty of exercise. P2, for instance, had 10 weeks swimming lessons at the Aquadome and can now swim with floats. And P3S have been doing funky dancing, while pupils from P4 and P5 went walking in the woods in beautiful Glen Affric. Sadly the poor weather put paid to a school sports day, but the various classes held their own mini-sports when they could.

 

• THE pupils' artistic side is not forgotten either. Besides exhibiting work in the Arts in Merkinch Show at Easter, senior pupils had portraits on display at Eden Court the following month. Various class outings have included a trip to the opera at Eden Court, and an adventure back in time at Fort George.

 

• SCHOOL re-opens on Tuesday 17th August and the Garden Club meets on Thursday 19th, 3-4pm.

Underfootnote

A broken drain (pictured right) in Grant Street has been clanking under passing traffic for some years until it was reported this summer. Now it's sorted and silent, and there was a bonus for those who witnessed the process - a glimpse of the cobbles that once covered the whole street.

mp33

Hi there!

Capers continues to run their programme of events every Tuesday over the summer for teenage parents and parents-to-be.

In August there will be Strathspey trips - to the Funhouse at Coylumbridge and to Landmark.

If you want to take part in any of the trips either contact Dell at NCH on 712572 or Roni at mp33 on 717639 for a booking form. As always, parents will be responsible for their own children on these trips.

Meanwhile the Escape Group and mp33 will both be running a summer programme of events as follows:

Wednesday 4th August - MACDUFF SEA-LIFE. Meet Merkinch Community Centre at 9.30am, returning 4.30pm. Cost £3 for adults, £1 for children.

Wednesday 11th August - "ON YOUR DOORSTEP". Meet at Merkinch Community Centre at 11am. Adults £1, children, free.

Remember:

• Trips must be paid at mp33 before the day of the trip.

 

• Adults are responsible for their own children at all times.

 

• If you want, bring your own packed lunches and drinks - it works out cheaper.

 

• There are cameras at mp33 if you want to take one, have a word with Roni.

At mp33 we are open over the summer, so drop in sometime to find out what else is going on. See you soon.

All at mp33,
August '04

Summer fun on mp33 outings

SO far it may not be the best of summers, weatherwise, but Capers and the Escape Group were fortunate to enjoy sunshine for their July outings.