Biographies of Pupils of Carnan Public School 1940 – 1949

ContentsCarnan School Group 1952 / 53...................................................................................................................3

Elizabeth Catherine MacLellan (Lisag Sheonaidh Shomhairle)...................................................................3

Joan MacAulay (Seonag Dhomhnaill Chailein).............................................................................................4

lain Johnson (lain Beag Rhuairidh Chailein).................................................................................................4

James Johnson (Seumas Rhuairidh Chailein)...............................................................................................4

Colin Malcolm MacAulay (cailean Dhomhnaill Chailein).............................................................................4

Margaret MacRury......................................................................................................................................5

Ann Margaret MacAulay..............................................................................................................................7

Morag Johnson (Morag Rhuairidh Chailein)................................................................................................8

Marion Ann MacLellan (Morag Sheonaidh Shomhairle)..............................................................................8

Ronald Allan Pudney....................................................................................................................................9

Dolina Mary MacAulay..............................................................................................................................10

Roderick Johnson (Ruairidh Rhuairidh Chailein)........................................................................................11

Catherine Mary MacAulay.........................................................................................................................11

Angela MacAulay.......................................................................................................................................11

Ronald MacCormick...................................................................................................................................11

lain MacLellan (lain Sheonaidh Shomhairle)..............................................................................................11

Agnes MacDonald......................................................................................................................................12

Betty Sweeney...........................................................................................................................................12

Archie Nichol.............................................................................................................................................12

Jessie Fisher, Helen Graham and Maria Morris.........................................................................................12

Sadie McCoy..............................................................................................................................................12

Joseph Quinn.............................................................................................................................................12

James Chalmers.........................................................................................................................................12

Carnan School Group 1952 / 53

Carnan Public School Group, c 1928.

Back row left to right : Roddy Johnson, John MacLellan, Angus MacAulay, Ronald Pudney, Archie Nichol, Miss Peggy MacDonald (teacher .Middle row : Colin MacAulay, Freddie Pudney, lain Johnson, Elizabeth MacLellan, Joan MacAulay, Alan Maclntyre, James JohnsonFront row : Cathy MacAulay, Ann MacAulay, Morag Johnson, Morag MacLellan, Maria Morris, Margaret MacRury, Mary MacRury, Lena MacAulay, Jessie Fisher.

Elizabeth Catherine MacLellan (Lisag Sheonaidh Shomhairle) Elizabeth was born on 26 March 1941 a daughter of Margaret MacDonald and John MacLellan of Sandivaig

When Elizabeth left Carnan School she continued her education at Paible School, North Uist and Inverness High School. She then went to Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen. Having worked on the

mainland for a few years, Elizabeth took up employment in South Uist where she met and married Angus Murdoch MacLeod. They set up home in North Boisdale and have a family of two sons and two daughters.

Joan MacAulay (Seonag Dhomhnaill Chailein) Joan was born on 2 May 1941, she is the oldest child of Katy Mary Maclnnes and Donald MacAulay of Burnside, Lochcarnan.

When she left school Joan went to Lochboisdale to help her uncle Donald John and his wife who had a business there. She left South Uist and went to Jura, Glasgow, where she worked in the Highlanders institute, and other places to work until she went to lnverness to do her nursing training. She met and married Bruce Henning in lnverness and they moved to London for a few years. They returned to Scotland and settled in Forres. Joan and Bruce have four children and Joan is now the Matron of an Old Folks’ Home near Forres.

lain Johnson (lain Beag Rhuairidh Chailein) lain was born at Holmar, Lochcarnan on 9 May 1941, a son of Isa Johnson and Roderick Johnson.

lain didn’t start school until he was seven years old, his father kept him at home as a protest because there was no school transport. School transport was eventually provided, after a long fight with lnverness County Council, in 1948. It was a lorry driven by Donald John Maclntyre of Clachan, Lochcarnan, it came as far as where the turning for the pier is today and the children had to walk down to meet it there. lain started school a year late, on the same day as his younger brother, James, but according to his teacher, Miss Maclntyre, he quickly caught up with his contemporaries. lain passed the 11+ exam but he didn’t want to leave home, so he went on to Gerinish Junior Secondary School when he left Caman School. lain, like his brothers, took up the sea as a career. He married and settled in Glasgow and had one daughter. Sadly lain died very suddenly some years ago.

James Johnson (Seumas Rhuairidh Chailein) James was born at Holmar, Lochcarnan on 11 October 1942, a son of lsa Johnson and Roderick Johnson.

James went to secondary school in Daliburgh. He left home quite young to go to the mainland for work. He took up brick laying and worked in various places in the building trade. He settled in Glasgow.

Colin Malcolm MacAulay (cailean Dhomhnaill Chailein) Colin is the second child and oldest son of Katy Mary MacInnes and Donald MacAulay of Burnside, Lochcarnan, he was born on 22 November 1942.

When he left school Colin stayed at home for a while and took up weaving in the small weaving shed that used to be beside the shore at Burnside. Then he went to the mainland and worked on the Mallaig road before joining the Navy. He was at sea for several years but he came ashore’ when he married. His wife is Ellen Strain and the wedding took place in Glasgow. They settled in Glasgow, where they still live, and Colin works in the building trade. They have three children.

Colin MacAulay

Margaret MacRury Margaret was born on 14 February 1943, her parents were Murdoch MacRury and Marion Morrison of East Gerinish. Margaret and her sister Mary started school in East Gerinish and, when that school closed, they were transferred to Carnan School. This was before the road was made to East Gerinish and, because the journey from their home to school was so long, they had to live away from home from Monday to Friday. They left home on Monday mornings, crossed Loch Sheilavaig and walked from the

Cairidh Mhor on the Calternish shore to the pier at Sandivaig where they caught the transport to school From Monday evening to Friday morning they boarded with Annie and Angus Maclntyre at Sandivaig, then on Friday evenings they walked back to Loch Sheilavaig where their father met them with a boat to take them home for the weekend.

After Carnan School Margaret went to Daliburgh School and then to Lochaber High School near Fort William. She joined the Civil Service and worked for DAFS in Balivanich for a while. She met and married

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John MacLellan [missing?]

Ann Margaret MacAulay Ann is a daughter of Katy Mary Maclnnes and Donald MacAulay of Burnside. Lochcarnan; she was born on 27 March 1945.

Nan, as she is known, started her nurse’s training at Bon Secours Hospital in Glasgow and finished it in Perth. She married Arthur Walker in Perth and they made their home there. Nan and Arthur have two girls and Nan is still nursing in Perth Royal Infirmary.

Morag Johnson (Morag Rhuairidh Chailein) Morag was the youngest daughter of Isa and Roderick Johnson of Holmar, she was born on 20 April 1945.

After her primary schooling at Carnan School, Morag left home to attend secondary school at Daliburgh and afterwards she went to work on the mainland as a nanny. She married Aldo Cecchini from Italy and they settled in Troon where they have a catering business. Morag and Aldo have three children, two boys and a girl. Morag and the family visit South Uist from time to time.

Marion Ann MacLellan (Morag Sheonaidh Shomhairle) Morag is the youngest daughter of Margaret MacDonald and John MacLellan, Sandivaig, she was born on 2 September 1945.

When Morag completed her primary education at Carnan School she attended Daliburgh Secondary School and then Lochaber High School.

She trained as a school teacher at Jordanhill College of Education in Glasgow. Morag worked some years in Glasgow where she met and married Neil MacLean from Grimsay, North Uist. They now live in Benbecula where Morag works as an itinerant teacher.

Maggie MacLellan with her children Iain, Lisag, Morag and John

Morag MacLellan outside the wooden classroom at Carnan School

Ronald Allan PudneyRonal Allan is the second youngest son of Dolina MacLean of Rhudhgashernish and Ernest Pudney, he was born on 15 March 1946.

The family moved to the mainland when Ronald Allan was a young boy.

Freddie and Ronald Allan Pudney

Dolina Mary MacAulay Lena was born on 17 November 1946, a daughter of Katy Mary MacInnes and Donald MacAulay of Burnside, Lochcaman.

When she finished school Lena went to Glasgow, Perth and Strathpeffer working in hotels. In Strathpeffer she was working in the Ben Wyvis Hotel along with Anna MacCormick from Rhudhgashernish. She met and married Neil Sinclair in Strathpeffer and they lived there for about

twenty years. They have 2 children, Kevin and Fiona. After she got a croft in Rhudhgashernish Lena and her family returned to live in a new house which they had built at the Cnoc Soillear on the Rhudhgashernish road.

Roderick Johnson (Ruairidh Rhuairidh Chailein) Roddy was born on 13 February 1947, the youngest child of Isa Johnson and Roderick Johnson of Holmar.

After leaving school Roddy worked on the “Mull" then when that vessel was scrapped, he worked deep sea for a while. He came ashore and married Mary Ann MacPhee from South Uist. They settled in Fort William and had two children. Roddy worked for British Telecom in Fort William for a number of years. The family returned to South Uist and now live in lochdar. Roddy worked for British Telecom in Uist for several years until he left due to ill health. Now fully recovered he works the croft, cuts seaweed and does a hundred and one other jobs.

Catherine Mary MacAulay Cathy was born on 18 January 1948 to Katy Mary Maclnnes and Donald MacAulay of Burnside, Lochcarnan.

After leaving school Cathy went to work in a hospital in Glasgow, then moved to Fort William and then inverness to work in the telephone exchanges. Cathy returned to South Uist and worked in the Benbecula telephone exchange. She is now married to Donald James MacPhee and lives in Cuidhe nam Gamha in Carnan with her three children.

Angela MacAulay Angela is the seventh child of Kay Mary MacInnes and Donald MacAulay of Burnside, Lochcarnan; she was born on 25 March 1949.

After her school days were over Angela went down to London to work with the Walker family for a couple of years. She then went to Glasgow to do her nursing training. She married Johnny Strain in Glasgow and they have three children. (Johnny’s sister is Ellen who is married to Angela’s brother Colin). Angela now works with deaf people in Glasgow.

Cathy and Angela MacAulay with ?

Ronald MacCormickRonald was born in the forties, he was the youngest child of Angus MacCormick and Mary MacRae.

Ronald left South Uist quite young and went to the mainland to work as a labourer, then he started work for the Gas Board where he is still employed. He is married and lives in Stockport.

lain MacLellan (lain Sheonaidh Shomhairle) lain is the youngest child of Margaret MacDonald and John MacLellan of Sandivaig. Sadly lain’s father died before he was born, in 1949.

lain left Carnan School to begin his secondary education at Gerinish School and then moved to the new lochdar Junior Secondary School. He was employed with the MOD for a few years before going to Glasgow College of Nautical Studies. He later joined the Merchant Navy. Iain now lives at home with his mother in Lochcarnan.

Agnes MacDonald After leaving Carnan School Agnes attended Gerinish School until it’s closure a couple of years later. She then transferred to lochdar School.

On leaving school Agnes took up hotel work . After having been employed on the mainland for a few years Agnes returned to Uist where she met and married George Stephenson. Agnes, George and their two sons now live in Iochdar, South Uist.

Betty SweeneyBetty was fostered as a young child by Annie and Angus MacIntyre of Sandivaig, Lochcarnan.

After she left school Betty worked locally for a few years in hotels and then she went to Fort William where she married and settled. Her husband is Murdoch MacLean from Lewis.

Archie Nichol Archie Nichol was fostered by Annie and Angus Maclntyre of Sandivaig.

After leaving school Archie went to sea, his first boat was the Army vessel the “Mull”. He came back to Sandivaig after the Mull was scrapped and worked for the Army in Balivanich. When his foster father died Archie left South Uist and went to live in Fort William.

Jessie Fisher, Helen Graham and Maria Morris Jessie, Helen and Maria were also fostered by Annie and Angus MacIntyre of Sandivaig, Lochcarnan. All three girls went to live on the mainland when they left school.

Sadie McCoy Sadie was fostered by Lilly MacLellan of Sandivaig and when Lily became ill she moved to live with Mrs. MacLeod at Carnan lnn.

Sadie did domestic work for a while after leaving school and then went to live on the mainland. She is now married in lnverness.

Joseph Quinn Joseph was fostered by Lilly MacLellan and when he was about twelve he went to live with foster parents in Barra.

Joseph left school and went to sea.

James Chalmers James was fostered by Lilly MacLellan and later by Mrs. MacKinnon in Howmore.

When he left South Uist James went to work for MacRae and Dick in lnverness. He started as a petrol pump attendant and has worked his way up to become the Managing Director of MacRae and Dick.