News & Views can be accessed from all around the world every month on the Merkinch Enterprise website, and we have just received the following letter from Ellen Morrison in (we believe) Canada.

Dear News & Views

I have just come across this page and feel such a closeness to the Merkinch. I was not born there, but came to live in Grant Street when I was five years with my family and went to the Merkinch School. Grant Street was then a thriving community; my sister, brother and I went to “Campbell’s Sunday School” as we called it. Mr Campbell was the grocer who had a store opposite the Welfare Hall and we lived in a flat above it.
My grandmother, “Granny Innes”, loved to sit in the window and watch people standing under the clock waiting for the bus, and we just loved her “tea-leaf sessions” when her old cronies used to come to the flat to get their cups read!
My mother Evelyn Innes worked in Myrtle’s bakery on the corner of Grant Street and I think it was Madras Street, and I used to open the shop with her at 6.30am in the morning before going to school. Her regular customers would come in for their morning rolls - oh, how I loved the smell of hot butteries first thing in the morning!
As this was the early ’50s there was not much money (my mother was a single parent) but we had great times - it was such a friendly, warm community to live in. Neighbour knew neighbour and if there ever was any trouble, you didn’t need to ask for help, it was freely offered.
I still visit Inverness as often as I can, and in fact Pat Chisholm and I started school together and have remained close friends since then.
Long may the community spirit thrive in the Merkinch and I look forward to reading more letters and comments about local people from the area. If anyone remembers our family, please write me, I would love to keep in touch.

Ellen Morrison
brian.morrison@sympatico.ca

Does anyone remember Ellen? Unfortunately, we don’t have a “snail-mail” address for Ellen - but remember, you can always find internet facilities at Merkinch Enterprise - Ed.