Scoop’s still a star

 A FORMER pupil of Merkinch School recently featured in the columns of the Inverness Courier. Veteran Highland reporter Alex “Scoop” Fraser won a Mackintosh bursary, which enabled him to complete his secondary education at Inverness Royal Academy.

Now aged 80 and living in Fairfield Nursing Home, Alex was famous in press circles in his day for some of his antics as well as his reporting skills and musical talents. One such incident involved introducing a camel into the chilly waters of Loch Ness – photographs of this passable Nessie look-alike were said to be very popular in America!

Though physically frail following a stroke which partially paralysed him 18 months ago, Alex is still mentally very lively and enjoys a craic with old pals in Lauder’s Bar on a Saturday night.