This photo of a lovely blackhouse was taken by DJ Maclean, who was headmaster at Valtos School. It is obviously somewhere in Lewis, though not necessarily in Uig and we certainly can’t place it. Note the further thatched houses up the road, and the car and lorry.  Any suggestions?  I’m wondering if it’s Calbost.

Thanks to Susan Maclean for the image.

Back: Murdo Nicolson Miavaig, Angus Maclean Breanish, John Mackay Uig Lodge, Angus Maciver (Bain) Geshader, Norman E Morrison (Dola) Breanish, Angus Macleod Timsgarry, Finlay Macdonald Timsgary.

Front: Donald Macleod Geshader, Rev Angus MacFarlane Baile na Cille, Malcolm Matheson Ardroil, John Maciver Crowlista, Rev William Macleod Uigen, Malcolm Buchanan Valtos.

Missing: John Macdonald Timsgarry, Murdo Buchanan Uigen, Peter Macdonald Crowlista.

See also the companion picture: the ladies who did the tea and a couple more in the album.

Back: 1. Sandy Morrison Balallan?
2.
3.
4. Molly Morrison from Bragad, teacher at Valtos School, married to Sandy Morrison Balallan
5. Molly’s sister?
6. Norman Buchanan 8 Valtos
7. Peggy Buchanan (ms Newall) 6 Kneep
8. Shonnie Buchanan 8 Valtos?
9.

Middle: 10. Donald Murdo Buchanan 8 Valtos
11.
12. Isobel Newall
13. Ann Newall
14. Murdo Morrison (son of Molly)

Front: 15. Malcolm John Buchanan 8 Valtos
16.
17.

According to the legend on the back of the photo, in this group are “Uncle Alex, Norman Buchanan and his three boys, the teacher, her sister, husband and uncle and two boys, Calum Smith’s boy and one of Kenneth Beag’s grandchildren” – some of which are covered above. If you can add anything please do.

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These photographs date from 1897-98 and come from an album belonging to the family of William E Lawson, a London barrister who took Uig Lodge for those two seasons.  The photos show Lawson with his dogs and other family entertainments, a pony and trap on the beach, local girls at the shieling (predating our existing shieling photos by nearly 30 years), and the gamekeeper Roderick Mackenzie and his son Donald.

Hugh thanks to Sue Milward, great-grand-daughter of WE Lawson, for contributing them, and to Jim Henderson for suggesting that she do so.

Bonfire at Crowlista School, circa 1950. Tonight is also bonfire night! Pictures to follow.

Our wedding collection is growing slowly but surely, and new in today are 1960s wedding telegrams and some lovely photos. Most will be on display in the tearoom within a week or two but meanwhile…

Mrs and Mrs Kenny Maclennan, 15 Kneep (Coinneach a’ Loin and Agnes Smith, Lochcroistean – above) were married 22 Nov 1962 at Baile na Cille church, with the reception at the Crown Hotel in Stornoway. Agnes and Kenny’s wedding was also the occasion for which am Bard Bochd wrote Banais Una.

Congratulations, may all your cross words be puzzles.

Congratulations, sentence passed no reprieve.

Man is made of ashes and dust but the bite from his side is a good bit of stuff.

May your joys be as deep as the snow in the glen and your sorrows as few as the teeth in a hen.

May your joys be frequent as Uig rains, your sorrows rare as Uig trains.

Congratulations, insure your nightie in case it gets lifted.

Congratulations, Hearts two, United one, juvenile results later.

Mr and Mrs Malcolm Campbell, Garrabost, married 17 March 1960 (Dollag Scoddie, 5 Ardroil, and Bidan; a nurse and a butcher). We also have Dollag’s wedding dress on display.

My good friend Kate always said to me
Be sure and marry a Lewis lassie
Now Calum has done it for better not worse
He lost his ulcer but he won the nurse

Congratulations, may the outcome of this union be a howling success.

May all your troubles be little butchers and nurses.

Meallanaigheachd Dolly, bho fhuair thu Beedan feuch nis gu fiagh thu beedan eile.

Heartiest congratulations; invasion at midnight beware secret weapon.

Give him ham, give him spam, give him strength to push the pram.

Congratulations; orange blossoms this year, orange juice the next.

May more than a fence run round your garden.

Navigation lights not required on tonight’s mission.

Cuimhnich Delilah [Remember Delilah]

There are some wartime wedding telegrams here.

From the Stornoway Gazette supplement, 18 December 1959.

Wedding bells have been ringing in Mangersta for the past year. Cupid started at one end of the village leaving a spate of marriages in his trail. The most recent of these was solemnised in the East Church, Inverness, on the 10^th November when Mary Morrison, eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs John Morrison, 13 Mangersta, became the bride of Alexander Smith, only son of the late Mr and Mrs William Smith, 9 Kneep. The Rev Donald Macfarlane, minister of the church, officiated. The bride, looking happy and beautiful in her gown of white late and short veil, sailed up the aisle on the arm of her brother Peter, who is expert at the job, this being the last of the bunch of beautiful sisters he has given away at the altar.

She was attended by her cousin Kathleen Morrison, also of Mangersta, who looked lovely in pink nylon. The duties of the best man were ably carried out by Calum Iain Macdonald, Crowlista, cousin of the ’groom.

After the marriage ceremony a large number of relations and friends motored to the Glen Mhor Hotel, where they were received by Mrs Kate B Buchanan, sister of the bride, and Mrs Peggy Parsons, sister of the ‘groom. A sumptuous feast was spread and everybody was welcome.

The toast to the bride and ‘groom was proposed by Rev Mr Macfarlane, and replied to by the ‘groom. The toast of the bridesmaid was replied to by the best man. Other speakers were the Rev John Newall, Resolis; Mr Peter Morrison, the bride’s brother; Mr Tom Mackenzie, the bride’s uncle and Mr John A Maciver, schoolmaster, Logie, who read a sheaf of congratulatory telegrams, coming from as far apart as Breanish and Benghazi.

After the excellent meal the floor was cleared and the young folk danced away the hours. To give them a breath, songs were sung of every variety, making the evening most enjoyable. All good things come to an end and the guests started to make for home, but not before giving the young couple a rousing send-off. The ‘groom was carried shoulder high to the waiting taxi, minus shoes and stockings, while the stars sparkled in the frosty Invernessian sky.

By now they have returned to Uig, where they will make their home in beautiful Creaga-na-Troghad, at Kneep, overlooking the lovely sands and the Sound of Pabbay. We wish Sandy and Mary very many happy years together n this most peaceful setting.