Woodlands
I am not sure just when Joanna moved to Glenmoriston, but it must have been post WW2, and she died in June 1962, aged 86, in Glasgow, at the home of Bill, Jennie and Grant Fordie at 30 Willowbank. I have not see Grant since that day, although his father came to visit my father in Switzerland in about 1982 or 1983. My father sold the Woodlands following her death. Two years ago, my research showed that the same family to whom he sold still own it.
My father was posted in Africa, so our visits to Glenmoriston during Home Leaves were infrequent but have left lasting memories for me (I have popped down the track to see the house on several occasions when we’ve been in Scotland and was rather sad to find a camp site where the farm must have been). I remember having baths in a big zinc tub in front of the fire – there was no electricity or running water in the 1950’s when I was aged between 4 and 10 – and having to pass under a pair of wall mounted antlers to get to my little room upstairs which terrified me! My mother and I would walk to the village shop/Post Office or better still, hitch a ride on a passing cart. We used to sing Keep Right On Round the Bend (?). Returning in the dark one night we walked smack into a horse who was quite alarmed at my mother’s screams! No country gal, she!
I remember quite distinctly having tea in the Jeans’ cottage: they were terribly kind to my grandmother. My greatest joy was to spend time with Christine Innes, who must have been about 12 at the time, on her parents’ farm. She had a pet lamb called Lambkin who, proverbially, followed her everywhere. I recall she had an elder brother, too. And Miss Alexander, who my father thought was just the bee’s knees at the Glenmoriston Arms who had two little dogs. The daily arrival of Hamish The Post was another highlight: Joanna did not receive much mail, but he would bring her up grocery essentials anyway. Joanna had a Pekingnese dog called Buddy and an enormous Ginger cat called Roger. Neither were particularly approachable! My father used to spend time with the then Laird – also very kind to Grandma – and we would go stalking.