The Invergordon Archive

Oakes Villa was where my grandparents David and Millie Ross used to live and they also ran their dental practice from here. My mam and dad Bill and Rosa Smith moved there with the family in 1968.
The house was sold in 1979. I have lots of happy memories of the house and huge garden where I kept my horse.

Hi Alicia, can you remember you had a pony and when Florence and I got married in 1970 we lived in the Neuk? Remember we used to let the pony eat the grass in our garden? I have a photo of you holding the pony with our son Allan on it. Those were the days. It was such a lovely little house.

The area at the rear/left of Taylors was used for dumping old vehicles and was a major "play" area for kids in Joss Street, and around, in the 40s and 50s. We had endless fun with the old cars and trucks dumped here.

Yes, Billy, I remember sitting behind the steering wheel of some old wreck and changing gears with the stick shift, and no glass in the windshield, had to make our own fun back then.

Hello Alicia I remember your Mum and Dad, particularly your Dad who was my teacher for Higher Woodwork and Technical Drawing. There were only two of us in the class so we got good training. He also helped me build my first boat, a GP14.

The lane/Path between Taylors Garage and the house - as far as I remember this led up to the catholic Church.

Doug, do you recall the military buildings on Outram St during the war? - right across the street from Buckies? Were they Naval or Airforce? I remember the buildings but not the Force, or maybe it was multi....

Harry, the military building on Outram Street was further along towards Shore Road. It was used as a supply area for fire fighting equipment. It was a corrugated iron building painted a reddish colour. I think there is mention elsewhere that the windows etc were all smashed up. Right across from Buckies was an open space which we called 'Yellow Lane' where the prefabs were erected. Bobby Fair lived in one.

Bill and Harry, the area behind Taylor's was indeed a good "play area" in all the old cars. Also there were lots of gooseberry bushes which we used to eat. Oh! the stomache ache afterwards when the fruit was not ripe enough for eating. Good happy days though.

Rosalie, I once remember playing on my own among the cars. I was on my tricycle and toppled over into a huge patch of high nettles. I lay there screaming and afraid to move in case I got even more stings. My saviour was Billy Sutherland who heard the bawling and came to rescue me. Even today I can feel the gratitude I felt towards him at the time!

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