John arrived as a small boy from Glasgow during WW2 having been abandoned by his mother, along with his brothers and sister, during the blitz She was never traced.
He was fortunately fostered by the Macrae family in Station Road and had a very happy childhood in Strathdearn.
He wandered everywhere and knew every place and burn where he fished for trout.
On leaving school he went into farm and estate work and eventually became a shepherd at Tomintoul.
He has many amusing stories of his experiences and gives a picture of the great freedoms children had while growing up in Tomatin.
[This interview was recorded on 20/11/2013 as part of the “Not So Long Ago” project. The interviewer is Sandra Day, assisted by Betty Watson]
Interviewed: 20/11/2013
