HMS INVINCIBLE MODEL

Destined for the Invergordon Naval Museum & Heritage Centre. The thirty one foot long model may be a long way short of the `real thing' but never-the-less, very impressive.

Reading the news in the Aberdeen Press & Journal one morning over breakfast, Aviemore resident, and Community Councillor, Duncan Cameron, was delighted to learn that at last Invergordon was making headway against the tide of apathy that has surrounded the establishment of a Naval Museum in the town for almost twenty years.

There and then he contacted a member of the steering committee and very generously offered his one ton model of the HMS Invincible on a long term loan for exhibition purposes to the museum.

Retired from his regular radio controlled aerial photography work, where he used remotely piloted aircraft with a nine foot wingspan to carry his cameras to remote areas on behalf of a host of customers, Duncan still has his finger `on the pulse' so to speak, regularly building aircraft and other radio controlled models.

The story of how the 31 foot model came into his possession is well worth relating. Built before the real HMS Invincible became a reality the model was used all over the country by the Royal Navy as a form of publicity in their recruiting drive.

On one such occasion when navy personnel were visiting a location with recruitment in mind, the local hotel did not have dark rum in stock and so caused a rumble `from below decks'. Duncan then stepped in and bought the CPO (recruiting) Graham Dunley a dram of the real McCoy, a few drams later Duncan claimed that he could almost land one of his model planes on the flight deck of the 31 foot Invincible.

Perhaps it was just as well that the weather changed and changed their outlook, so their ploy was abandoned. Some three years later Duncan received a telephone call from Graham asking if he wanted the now redundant Invincible model. Naturally Duncan jumped at the chance, however there was just one small snag the boat had to be uplifted within the next three days.

No problem thought Duncan, believing the Invincible was based at Rosyth Dockyard, unfortunately it was actually lying at Portsmouth! A few hurried phone calls later a means of removal and transportation was established and a dream became a reality.

Since then the model Has been exhibited from Guernsey in the Chanel Islands to the Highlands, and now it will in time, become a feature of the Invergordon Naval Museum and Heritage Centre, on a long term loan.

It was suggested that if Duncan was willing, an appearance and a demonstration of the model would be a great crowd puller at next year's Invergordon Raft Race. Contacting Danny Coutts, who has served in the Invergordon Lifeboat the Douglas Aikmann Smith for the past seventeen years, the last eighteen months as Coxswain, seeking approval for exhibiting the model met with outright approval. So if all things go according to plan the public will see a spectacle worth remembering next August as the model of the HMS Invincible shows her paces in the Cromarty Firth.

In the next issue Duncan will provide a brief history of the real HMS Invincible for The Museum News readers

Hospital employee, Mr Sonny Rhind, was quick of the mark when it came to saving irreplaceable antique hospital equipment from being disposed of, as redundant.

Sonny contacted a museum member and suggested that it would be very appropriate if an effort was to be made to remove the items to a place of safe storage. These artefacts will be exhibited in the museum on a `long term loan basis'.

Briefly cataloguing the equipment reveals that there is an iron lung, operating tables, anaesthetic trolleys as well as various gas bottles. Still at the hospital premises, numerous smaller item are being catalogued daily. These include as yet an unidentified wire cage, a hair restorer and a strait jacket. Sonny suggested that many of the Invergordon folk would welcome seeing your editor being clothed in it! Lastly a complete skeleton in a cupboard is yet another historic item at the hospital.

YOUR SUPPORT IS EARNESTLY REQUESTED

The Invergordon Naval Museum and Heritage Centre needs your support in many ways. Initially `feed back' to the Museum News would be greatly appreciated, and secondly historical material of all kinds is needed to boost local exhibits when the Hayes Hall is officially opened as the Invergordon Naval Museum and Heritage Centre.

Thank you for showing your support to this exciting Invergordon based project, by buying the Museum News. Profits go towards funding development and research. The Directors

A MAGNIFICENT GIFT

The Late Ernest
James Privett

Many adjectives can be ascribed to the word `chest' but none can be as appropriate as treasure. Unbeknown and tucked away in an outhouse in Invergordon, a veritable Aladdin's Cave of photographic memorabilia, lay for several decades untouched, truly a Treasure Chest of photograph history.

Ernest James Privett, a professional photographer from the early nineteen twenties until the late forties, and Invergordon Burgh Surveyor, amassed a substantial collection of cameras and associated paraphernalia for use in his business.

When he retired his `tools of the trade' were relegated to a shed in the garden, where they lay until his benevolent daughter Joan, for health reasons, had to sell her home Sunny Side Cottage and move into the renowned Care for the Elderly Home, Mull Hall, just a few weeks ago.

Joan heard through a friend, that progress had been made towards establishing a Naval Museum and heritage centre in Invergordon. This she though is where her father's material and tools of his trade should go. Then contacting a member of the `Board' she saw the wonderfully historical photographic items being uplifted and stored safely, for display in the museum at a later date. In addition a splendid portrait of her father was gifted to the fledgling project and although in need of minor restoration, it is a stunning exhibit.

Born and raised in Sunnyside Cottage, next to the Invergordon open swimming pool, provided Joan with a wealth of insight and patience, as can be seen by the wonderful display of roses in the photograph. (for technical reasons The Museum News can only be produced in black and white at present,) however if you want to appreciate Joan's garden in colour clock on to the Invergordon Naval Museum Web Site at the end of the month.

The Invergordon Naval Museum & Heritage Centre,
c/o Hayes Hall, The British Legion, High Street, Invergordon,
Ross-shire, Scotland IV18 0AE.
Telephone: +44 ( 0 ) 1349 8548911
e-mail: info@invergordonnavalmuseum.co.uk