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2004 – Memories Margaret Harvey (nee McPherson) aged 89 from her childhood days.

Notes in italics have been added to expand and make it clearer for the reader.

These hand written notes were completed by Margaret Harvey(1916-2006), the daughter of William McPherson (Wull Peddie) (1877-1955) and Isabel More (1883-1922). They lived at 6 New Street. 

From the documents – Ann McPherson(1876-1953) or Annak as she was known was from the McPherson Daich family and she married James McPherson(Jeem Peddie) from the McPherson Peddie family. – All very confusing!

Margaret Ann McPherson(1874-1946) was a sister of Annak.

• John McPherson  

Annak

Mrs James McPherson had a heart of gold but no one would know who you were referring to as she was known as ‘Annak’ and nothing else. Her husband was a quiet man whom Annak called ‘Oor Jeem’ and who no one noticed if Annak was around as she took over the conversation which filled every waking moment and saved Jeem to think, and so he left it to her.

She had a little shop in part of the house and supplying a warm fire in her living room where anyone was welcome on a cold day and living near the harbour it was a haven for droppers in. Strangers to the village soon found her little shop and warm hospitality. She had three sons and a daughter all of whom she worshipped with a super mother love.  Annak was always a restless type so no one was surprised when she announced she was emigrating to Canada – bags and baggage. So her house at 64 Harbour Street was sold along with all her furniture and the day Annak, Jeem and family left for Canada the village got up early and a bus load escorted them to the station in Elgin several miles away, leaving an emptiness which has never quite been filled in the village. There just couldn’t be another Annak and I do hope that she found happiness in her adopted country. (They left during 1929 for Vancouver and settled in Campbell River.  Photo was taken in Canada.

The Birthday

Annak, (Ann McPherson) my aunt, and her sister Margaret Ann McPherson (Daich) known as TAN or her initials MAM were two of the kindest people I have ever met. Annak had her husband my uncle Jeem Peddie (James McPherson) and her family, not to mention her hens and geese what had to be fed and the budgies and parrot who settled in her living room. A large fire and jolly company and all the young men. (Annak & Jeem lived at 64 Harbour Street across from the Black Sheddie where they had a shop and tea room for the fishermen at the harbour).

TAN was twice married. First to Jock Ross a Burghead man and after he died she married a widower with a grown up family. His name was Alexander (Don) Main. No family of her own so she adopted a little girl known as Winnie Ross.

Now Tan’s birthday was a day to remember and we were invited living next door so that was four of us. Then there was the younger members of the first family all her three brothers families, there must have been twenty to twenty five? – don’t suppose Tan ever counted them. I can still see us still in my mind’s eye trouping behind her under the bridge and on to the playing fields. It is now all nice and well-kept but not at that time. All up hills and down dales, but sometime between 1925-1930 a native of Hopeman (Innes R Cameron) left the money to provide work and improve the place. It is now used by the school for games and the Gala Fete in the summer. Wooden seats were scattered around, just a natural arena, so in all it was a great improvement.

To get back to the tale of Tan’s birthday picnic she carried a large basket on her arm like bakers would use. It was packed with buns, cakes and of course wastel’s which were large triangular whole meal scones at least six inches, lovely.  The boys carried the kettles, milk and other heavy objects. Eventually we arrived at a large hollow just below Hopeman Lodge, there was a fresh water spring and just a knob to press on the wall.  The boys had to gather firewood usually whins to start fires to boil the water for tea, we all did justice to this then the games and races. Before we started for home all had to be tidied and fires stamped out.  Lastly came the scramble and I’m sure Tan had a stone bag of sweets under everything in the basket and what fun to see Tan with all her weight racing here and there so that everyone got a share.  The homeward journey the boys carrying plates and cups and the kettles now black with soot.  Everyone was happy and exhausted. I walked alongside Tan on the homeward walk and I heard her say ‘Goad sake ten shillings would pay it all’. This was 50 pence in our money today and I quite believe her as she would get a discount seeing it was to treat the children.  A banquet hall would not have given so much pleasure and Tan enjoyed her birthday immensely.

Later (1929) Innes R Cameron provided money to build a tower and clock placed at the front of the Church of Scotland. It was seen all over the village. It is known to this day as the Whisky Clock. He made his money in a distillery and as the McPhersons were all Baptists and so disapproved of the Whisky Clock but were pacified that the clock did not belong to the Church of Scotland but for the good of all the Hopeman people.

 

 

 

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