100 YEARS AGO

From the files of 'The Forres Gazette' of Wednesday, February 14, 1912.

Fire at Darnaway - On Friday a fire broke out on the farm of Newton of Darnaway, the damage being estimated at £47. The outbreak originated in the implement shed.

Visit - From an advertisement in another column it will be seen that Mr J. G. Nowlan, an Alberta farmer, and accredited representative of the Canadian Government, is on a visit to Forres for four days and will be glad to give information to all enquirers at the at the Moray Arms Hotel as to the opportunities and prospects for settlement in the far West.

Special edition - We shall issue a special edition this (Wednesday) afternoon, with the King's speech at the opening of Parliament.

50 YEARS AGO

From the files of 'The Forres Gazette' of Wednesday, February 14, 1962.

Not umbrella country - With a recording for the year of only 20.40 inches, Forres has the distinction of being the driest place in Scotland during 1961.

The town's best rival is usually Nairn, and it is notable that on this occasion the western neighbour had over two inches more. Elgin was closer with 21 inches.

Those who grumble at the weather should compare those figures for the Laich with records obtaining in the West and South-west of the country - such as 91.10 inches at Achnashellach, 46 at Glasgow or 143.36 at Loch Sloy!

In hours of sunshine Forres had 1243, Kinloss 1225, Elgin 1313, and Nairn 1330. These figure seem to give validity to the claim that the area is the Riviera of Scotland.

Mean temperature (48 degrees F.) was half-a-degree above average.

A Forres swimming pool - Every four years or so there has been an attempt in the Forres Council Chamber to have a swimming pool built for the townspeople - and always the plan has been resisted because of fear of the running costs.

It is well-known that for many years there has been in existence the Munro Bequest for the construction of such a project, but it is unlikely that, in the face os present-day costs, the money would build a pool now.

A new attempt to have a pool for the community was started at the monthly meeting of the Town Council on Monday evening. It is an attempt with a difference, however, in that it envisages the town going into partnership with the Joint County Council in the construction of such a facility.

25 YEARS AGO

From the files of 'The Forres Gazette' of Wednesday, February 11, 1987.

Learning 'curse' lessons - Forres Academy have won the full support of the area schools council for taking a bold step to inform senior pupil of the facts and risks surrounding AIDS.

Although the Government have produced information packages to help teachers deal with the AIDS problem, there are few non-sensational guides available for school pupils and the Academy initiative is among the leaders.

Rector Mr Alistair Maclachlan told the council meeting at Dyke Primary School last week that there is no time to waste in letting 17 and 18 year olds know the dangers of the disease which council chairman Mr Donnie Williamson described as "the curse of the century".

Knockomie House opening doors - One of West Moray's most attractive country houses opens this week as the area's most prestigious hotel.

Knockomie House stands on a knoll overlooking Forres on the Grantown road and is making a bid to become one of the Moray Firth area's top notch private hotels with a high standard of accommodation and first class food.

Local hoteliers Mr Barry Morris (42) and his wife Pat bought the former private house in November and have extensively updated the property to create a hotel with a unique atmosphere in an idyllic wooden setting.

The owners, who will live on the premises, are well known in the area where they have spent the past four years at Dunphail's popular Braemoray Hotel.

"We'll be sad to leave the Braemoray," Mr Morris said this week, "but there's a lot to look forward to at Knockomie."