Category: Writings
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The Day We Haud
Barrowsgate is fond of the Scottish customs and traditions around New Year and remembers the children in his village would go knocking at Hogmanay for presents.
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A veteran of the crook and plaid
This is a portrait of Hugh Rose Smythe, Barrowsgate’s uncle. “Aul Hughie” lived from 1858 until 1952 and, at the time of writing (1936), he was “only” 78. Seven years before the article was written, Aul Hughie received an award from the Marquis of Aberdeen and Tremair for sixty years’ service as a shepherd on…
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Sold All Round
Weelum, a gamekeeper-turned-poacher had successfully evaded capture for years. The new Laird of Pulwiddie decides to put a stop to his activities and lays a trap. While the gamekeeper and Police scour the hillside for Weelum, some hand-reared pheasants disappear from an enclosure in the Head Keeper’s garden. Published in the Buchan Observer under the…
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Blareonomy, Beuk I
Local crofter and musician Blairy and his daughter are persuaded to perform with Northie at a dance in Fraserburgh (“Broch”).
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The Doctor’s Revenge (a.k.a. “Dr Bolton”)
This story of around 350 words was published in Buchan Observer in November 1936 under the name “Anzac”, and a typescript survives with the label “Burnfield, Rothiemay”, which indicates that it was probably typed up later – between 1943 and 1953. This story is likely to be based on events that happened during Barrowsgate’s time…