MERKINCH was well represented at the “Coronation Re-visited” exhibition marking the Queen’s Coronation Golden Jubilee with school photographs and pictures of the local Boys’ Brigade. The impressive show in Dr Black’s Halls, which was organised by the Inverness Local History Forum, was visited by many holiday-makers as well as local people including almost 600 children from Merkinch and other Inverness schools.

Thousands of items were on display, from clothes, toys and household items to a wide range of pictures and memorabilia. There was still food rationing in the 1950s and this was well illustrated alongside actual ration books.
The Local History Forum first started 11 years ago to keep a record of life in the Highland Capital. Membership is now around the 200 mark, and there are regular meetings. Founder member Mrs Sheila Mackay told News & Views: “We thought it important to record the social history of Inverness and we have a huge archive, including 80 tapes of Invernessians reminiscing about what life was like when they were young.”

“We have material from the farms of Culduthel to Carnarc Point,” she said. Much of their archive is on CD, and they also have various video recordings, one of which was running during the week-long show.
“The committee collects and processes exhibits and prepares exhibitions,” said Mrs Mackay, adding that they did not have premises to store their material in, so it mostly is stored in suitcases on top of members’ wardrobes or under their beds!

The Merkinch children were very interested in the show and thoroughly enjoyed themselves as well as learning a lot about what life looked like 50 years ago.

This is one of the school photographs from 1953 to be displayed at the Coronation Re-visited exhibition. Sadly some of those pictured have since died. But here on the brink of life are Primary 6 as they were then, from left...
Back row: Willie MacKay, Sidney Grant, David Cymbalist, Ian Ennis, Alistair MacKay, Lyall McRobb, Alistair Corbett, Victor Fridge, Norman Rothnie, Charles Fielden, Christopher MacKenzie.
Middle row: Tom Walker, Brenda Quinn, Margaret Watson, Fiona McBain, Kay Munro, Pat Brown, Elizabeth MacKenzie, Ann Colquhoun, Pat Whitecross, Nancy MacPherson, James Beaton.
Front row: Donald Smith, Betty MacDonald, Thomasina Ross, Irene Shand, Maureen Cuthbert, Doris Mearns, Winifred Rose, Ruby Fraser, Pat McGregor, Phyllis Wiseman, Kathleen Forbes, Kenneth Bussey.
This photograph was kindly lent to us by Phyllis Pieraccini (neeWiseman), who recently met up with some of her old classmates. They are wondering if anyone in the picture would be interested in holding a Class Reunion? She can be contacted on Inverness 222407.

Some of the Merkinch Primary School pupils who visited the exhibition are pictured with teacher Mrs Val Moffat.