Charles Bannerman

Mind you that one rather looks as if it was taken just as the bomb was dropping!

I did indeed. Between the two Billies in the back row?

And here I was thinking they normally maximised their sense of journey once they passed Castlecary Arches.

Aye - that an' all!

SOON??? Yerjokeenmun!!!! Not at the rate Highland Council seem to be progressing.

That will be Kevin Corbett who is the mascot at the front I think. How time passes - I was at Stevie Polson's 50th in the Caley Club just a couple of weeks ago. Other familiar faces in there include Johnston Bellshaw (is that him back left?), Nero MacDonald, Billy MacDonald, Billy Urquhart, Martin Lisle, Sandy anderson, John Doc, Duffers?, Peter Corbett, Wilson Robertson. And do we have Roddy Davidson and Herchie in between Nero and Billy MacDonald/

That was a reaction to telegrams which began quite early in WW1. Casualties were so severe that telegrams started arriving everywhere in great numbers and very quickly became associated with bad news. This continued during WW2 and certainly my grandparents, all of whom lived through both world wars, for the rest of their lives used to get agitated if a telegram ever arrived for any reason. My last direct experience of a telegram was in 1973 when I was in Orkney holidaying with student friends. My mother and father were in Wick with my grandparents who weren't on the phone and the only way I could get word to them from Kirkwall that I was going to join them on my way back south was by telegram. Apparently my granny in particular got very agitated when it arrived.

Yes, it's amazing the difficulty some people have in making that out! On the other hand once they get it the first time it's usually less of a problem thereafter. The likeness to a German soldier of World War 1 is incredible, in particular the moustache which was popular at the time and the shape of the helmet which is subtly different from the WW2 design. Charles you are getting your helmets mixed up or your world wars, unless you are seeing a different German's head than me No, definitely not IBM. The WW1 German helmet - the ordinary one, not the pickelhaube - was used up until around the early 30s. The shape is essentially the same as the WW2 helmet but the earlier one looks that bit more substantial. You got me reading up on helmets Charles! The Pickelhaube with the spike I associated with WW1 but it was replaced in 1916 with the Stahlhelm which continued in use into WW11 which I had on my German toy soldiers. I think I would be due pass marks in my history for that Yes indeed, and it's two slightly different styles of the Stahlhelm I was talking about. The WW2 version was just that little bit less bulky than the WW1 - sort of like the way Cream Eggs have got smaller over the years. One of the right-leaning organisations of German WW1 veterans which sprang up immediately after the war was known as the Stahlhelm. The stahlhelm design of helmet has also been used by some other countries, including Ireland.

I was quite lucky since only three teachers ever belted me, they were all women and only Mrs Ballantyne - my P7 teacher and next door neighbour! - could lay it, albeit without the power of a man. I briefly had David Thom for Higher Latin and he was pretty OK. On the other hand if he was crossed or if anyone was sent to him, he used to respond pretty vigorously. He had two sons, and when became a chiropodist and the other a dentist, they apparently became known as Foot and Mouth!

Ballifeary Road with the RNI at the top of the picture, 1 & 3 Springfield Gardens a visible, the old camp is on what is now Torvean Avenue. I have never herd of any camp being there will need to rely on the elder generation This might be an immediately post-war photo and if so it's possible that these Nissen huts were being used to accommodate families pending the construction of the likes of Dalneigh and Old Hilton. I do believe that this did happen in Inverness in the late 40s. The space where the huts are in the photo has since become Torvean Avenue, with Dunachton Road and Springfield Gardens arriving above that and Warrand Road towards the top right.

While not all semis used to be at Hamden, the games that attract bigger crowds used to be played there. There is no way a Scottish Cup Semi against Celtic would be played anywhere other than Hampden if it was available. But the point is they don't have to be. This game could be played at a neutral venue, not in Glasgow, be a sell out and would still be able to be seen on TV. Atmosphere would be miles better that will be generated at Hampden. Still maintain the SFA could have had our game on the Saturday which would have been a bit better than the Sunday. On a personal level, having the game on a Sunday makes it more difficult for me to travel to so am in danger of not being able to attend. Having been at all our major cup semi finals before, this really annoys me. What 'neutral' venue do you have in mind?! The Global Energy Stadium?

Is this you trying to write "The Ancient Mariner" or "Kubla Khan" again Scarlet?

Yes, it's amazing the difficulty some people have in making that out! On the other hand once they get it the first time it's usually less of a problem thereafter. The likeness to a German soldier of World War 1 is incredible, in particular the moustache which was popular at the time and the shape of the helmet which is subtly different from the WW2 design. Charles you are getting your helmets mixed up or your world wars, unless you are seeing a different German's head than me No, definitely not IBM. The WW1 German helmet - the ordinary one, not the pickelhaube - was used up until around the early 30s. The shape is essentially the same as the WW2 helmet but the earlier one looks that bit more substantial.

That's right BM, it's right beside the electric burn - which i believe got that title after a small hydro electric plant was put there.

That photo was taken in, as it says, June 1893 and the Midmills building was opened in February 1895. Note all the Masonic gear on the guys at the front (although nobody seems to have their trouser legs rolled up!) This Earl of Haddington guy was pretty high up in the organisation - as it says... "Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason". They certainly go in for really grandiose titles don't they!

Yes, Davie Thom certainly had the reputation for being able to lay it.

That's Whin Park and Canal Field. Relatively recent indeed with the rugby pitch fenced off.

Remember.... "My name's Harry Worth".... He was hilarious.

Does defeating Partick Thistle and their posse of QCs in the eventual vote to get into the SPL in 2004 not count as an away win?

The building's exterior looks in a lot better nick then (late 50s) than it does now although the place is still going strong.

There's something telling me Kinmylies although I have no positive elements of ID. Or is it the edge of Craig Phadrig during the construction of Scorguie?

I also vaguely remember the Household Bazaar and my granny speaking about Lord Roberts' Workshop for ex servicemen. And might the Academy Restaurant be a posh name for the Academy Street chipper? The four digit phone numbers indicate a date before the arrival in Inverness of STD (and I don't mean syphilis or gonnorhea!), which I think was in the late 50s/early 60s.

Yes, it's amazing the difficulty some people have in making that out! On the other hand once they get it the first time it's usually less of a problem thereafter. The likeness to a German soldier of World War 1 is incredible, in particular the moustache which was popular at the time and the shape of the helmet which is subtly different from the WW2 design.

Probably not. As far as I recollect MacRae amd Dick was founded in 1878 (so had to wait another 8 years to start sponsoring Caley )

A sign of our modern times BM. I'm not sure if I mentioned this before on another thread but currently in Inverness the Midmills Building (opened 1895), the former Royal Bank, now the Exchange in Academy St (1792) and Dunbar's Hospital (1668) are all still going strong. All are former homes of Inverness Royal Academy or its predecessor the Grammar School. However the current Royal Academy building (1977) is a festering tip which may or may not fall down of its own accord before it is pulled down on the opening of the new school.