by John Ferguson (Pedlar)
Index — Chapters: 1 — 2 — 3 — 4 — 5
Introduction
John Ferguson, universally known in Strathdearn by his nickname “Pedlar,” was born in Glasgow in 1940. He described himself as “the lucky one” when he was fostered by a kind Tomatin family a few years later. It was lucky for Tomatin too. In 2005, he wrote a remarkable book about his life here — one that captures the spirit of a time gone by with warmth, humour, and a keen eye for detail. His book is a legacy that any community would take pride in.
He was a natural storyteller with a gentle, dry sense of humour. Drawing on his experiences as a child in the 1940s and his working life in the local distillery, on farms, and on hunting estates throughout Strathdearn, Pedlar weaves together a vivid portrait of a community and a way of life that is both entertaining and a historical record. He takes us on a walk through the area as it was then – house by house, family by family – bringing each one to life with affectionate and funny tales. His love of nature and deep understanding of the countryside shine through, offering sharp insights into rural life.
For social historians, for all who love the countryside, and especially all who live in Strathdearn today and in the future, this book is a treasure – a lasting tribute to a time, a place, and a man who truly belonged to it.
His book is now out of print but before he died in 2016, Pedlar gave the rights to his great friend Jimmy Geddes with a request that any who enjoy it might consider making a donation to Maggies, Highlands, a cancer charity in Inverness. With Jimmy’s help and generosity, we are able to share it here on Strathdearn Community Website and safeguard it for future generations. Thanks also to Strathdearn Community Trust for their financial support.
To make it easier to find your place again when reading online, we have added some sub-headings to the longer chapters, and an index. Luckily, the book takes the form of a journey so the text can be naturally sub-divided into geographical areas of Strathdearn without losing the flow of Pedlar’s original. We also corrected a few minor typos, but otherwise the book is just as Pedlar wrote it.
Index
Introduction
Book Cover
Preface and dedication
CHAPTER ONE – THE BEGINNING
CHAPTER TWO – TOMATIN
— The Station
— Station Road
— Back Station Road and the Distillery
— Free Farm Road and the Freeburn Hotel
— Old A9 – Freeburn to the Shop
— Shop Brae
— Inverbrough, Balvraid and Corrybrough
— Raigbeg and Soilshan
CHAPTER THREE – THE GLEN
— Bridgend to Clune
— Knockando, Strathnoons and Dalmigavie
— Coignafearn
— Coignascallan, Daltomach, and Glenmazaran
— Garbole, GlenKyllachy and Dalarossie
— Auchintoul, Kyllachy and Woodend
CHAPTER FOUR – BACK TO THE SHOP
— Bridgend, Morile and Hazelbank
CHAPTER FIVE – THE FUTURE
Book Cover
Preface
This book started off as a way of telling my sons and my grandchildren of my life before I got married. How I came to live in Tomatin, my friends there and a way of life in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
How a child had such freedom to go where they wished, how they were welcome in any house to share in a meal or tea and home baking and where no one was turned away from a house without being offered something to eat.
To enjoy the wild life, to go fishing and when all boys carried a knife as part of their dress, even getting into trouble for not having one to sharpen their pencils at school. A knife was a tool and never regarded as a weapon
The thrill of the days of steam on the railways, of travelling on the foot plate of a steam engine but most of all of being a boy growing up in a Scottish village……
I dedicate this to the memories of the MacRae Family: Sattie, Duncan, Alistair, Kathleen, Robin and old Tom.
Without their love and support I would not have had the life that I have enjoyed in Tomatin.
Also to the late Freddy Kelly for the memories we shared together, whenever we met.