Yesterday's heroes...

Heroes Index

Foyers 1947-48

Back Row From L to R; Bob MacLeod, Anga MacGruer, Jackie Batchen, Calum MacInnes Jim Muir, Teep MacDonald, Simon MacRae, Wattie Dunbar and Sime Junor (trainer).
Front Row From L to R; Peter Grant, George Paulin, Alfie Hardy, Ian MacGillivray and Colin MacRae( Coco).

Foyers Camanachd, season 1947-1948.


Foyers Camanachd pictured at The Factory Field Foyers in, probably the start of the 1947-48 season. The reasoning behind this, the player Colin MacRae front row far right, was killed as the result of an accident in early Nov 1947.        The Foyers team turned out in their traditional black and green hoops, in contrast to Stratherrick's  black and gold hoops.  

As far as we are aware there are few surviving members of this team alive today apart from, Teep MacDonald . Unfortunately, Anga McGruer (rear second left) passed away in January 1999. He was a fine sportsman and particularly enjoyed fishing on Loch Ness along with his brother Ala. Anga went on to Play for Beauly in the late Fifties and gained a Sutherland Cup winners medal, scoring I believe, in the final.  Beauly at that particular time, had a very strong team and it is a testimony to his skills that he was a very respected member of their team. Both his nephews Alan and Andrew Sumner have played for many years for Boleskine and Alan is our current Full Centre.
Jackie Batchen was, of course, Willie Batchen's brother and no mean player himself although he did not get involved in refereeing as his brother and father did.

Peter Grant was known of as 'The Diver', the story being that on playing a particularly large salmon on the loch one afternoon, he decided he would have to stand up in the boat to gain a better purchase on the, said fish. However a few moments later he was having to be hauled aboard himself by his crew mate Bob MacLeod (also pictured). I never found out if the fish came aboard with them!

Any more information on the lads pictured, or the Foyers team, would be very welcome, just drop me an E Mail.

Footnote; Peter Grant was awarded the Humane Medal around this time for a daring and brave rescue. The soul involved in the dramatic event was Frankie, a rather rotund terrier belonging to Duncan (Birch) MacDonald.

The animal had disappeared from home and after two weeks all hope had gone of finding the animal alive. However the faint whines of the poor dog were heard one morning and he was spotted cowering on a ledge near the bottom of The Falls of Foyers, some 85 feet below. There was no possibility of reaching the animal unless someone were to be roped up and lowered vertically downwards to retrieve him. Peter was on hand to volunteer his services. By all accounts the process was deemed to be straight forward and Peter carried out the task with little regard to his own safety. On reflection, however the full magnitude of the rescue attempt was realized as being an act of extreme bravery and he was given the award which he richly deserved.

Frankie? He went on to make a full recovery and soon resumed his position of authority on the Shinty team's Committee making vital decisions on such matters as club policy and tactics!

© D M D 2000