DAMNING DENUNCIATION!

The ‘wee donnie’ episode, reported in a previous issue of the ‘Highlander’ has certainly set the cat among the pigeons and rightly so. The anonymous hate e-mail can do nothing towards helping the town of Invergordon to revitalise its image, trade or even raise it’s self-esteem.

Then hard on the heels of issue 65A came a damning denunciation in the North Star by Saltburn Village resident, Mr Sonny Rhind. The article was particularly scathing over the objections and fears raised by private house owners and Albyn tenants, on the impact that the proposed refuge for children, should it be established on Bermuda Road, would have on the older folk’s amenities along with the devaluation that private property owners would suffer.

Apparently Social Work Services did not advise, or seek the Bermuda Road residents co-operation, or that of Highland Councillor J. R. Connell, or even that of the Invergordon Community Council, before announcing in the local press that such a facility was now ready for occupation at number 34, Bermuda Road, Invergordon.

Naturally objections were raised and rightly so, although everyone knows that some kids do need a ‘like facility’ sometimes, thrusting it un-announced among the older generation could spell trouble for both the established residents and the incoming kids. Lets not forget that ‘wee donnie’ said, ‘he would stay with his foster dad and get beaten up, rather than go to the now widely publicised proposed refuge in Invergordon.’

Mr Rhind in his spiel in the North Star said that if he had space at his home in Saltburn he would be prepared to provide accommodation for ‘kids’. Reminds me of the story of the two communists who were talking about comradeship when the first one said, “Brother, if I had two cars I would give you one.” The other not to be outdone replied. “If I had two cows I would give one to you.” “You are very kind Ivan, but I would not give you a shirt.” “Why ever not?” Ivan asked. “Well you see Ivan, I do have two shirts,” his companion responded. The moral of that wee item is that’s its easy to promise something when you have no intention of delivering!

However Mr Rhind was not content at offending the West Invergordon residents by his unsolicited outburst in the North Star over their concerns about the possibility that numbers of ‘wee donnies’ could be thrust upon them over a time but he also took umbrage to a copy of the ‘Highlander’ being dropped through his letter box. I wonder why, is there a connection somewhere?

Such was Mr Rhind’s resentment to the unsolicited mail, that at 15.45 hours on Monday 13th February he knocked on my door, refused my invitation to come in and then launched into a tirade over the ‘Highlander’ being sent by post to his address. I pointed out to the Highland Council Leisure Centre Manager, that the letter was addressed to both he and his wife. Mr Rhind did agree that that was so and that his wife Marion did read the offending epistle. Then again I said I got a whole lot of unsolicited mail by post but agreed not from him. When I questioned him on whether he supported the writer of the hate e-mail at kids.invergordon@hotmail.co.uk? Mr Rhind said he did not support anonymous letter writing. (Hopefully kids.invergordon@hotmail.co.uk will be identified shortly.)

The manager brought both Highland Councillor J. R. Connell and Invergordon Community Council Chairman, Donald MacKenzie, into the conversation and began to talk what I can only describe as dribble. Eventually I told him in no uncertain terms to “F**k Off” before firmly closing the door.