The Saughs

A Memory of Ochtertyre.

My Mother (know as Betty Scott in those days) who is now 91 lived at The Saughs (Saughs Cottage now) from 1923 to 1936 (ish)  - probably aged 3 to 17. Mum was a foster child and went there to live with "Auntie" (Christine Hunter Mc Kay) who looked after foster children on the Ochtertyre Estate that was owned by Lt Colonel and Mrs Dundas. Lt Colonel Dundas was very fond of Mum and she  used to visit the Colonel and his wife at Ochtertyre House where they had parties for the tenants and the children. She also talked about visits to Carrat Farm which was owned by Mr Young and possibly the Rattrays after that. Auntie had a small holding known as The Saughs, Ochtertyre Estate and Mum had a pet goat called "Billy" who used to follow her to school. She was visited there by Nancy and Jean Binnie and Robbie Campbell who was related I believe to Auntie McKay. She also talked of Kitty and Ruth and Annie McLaren. Mum had a very happy childhood there and spoke for the rest of her life about the kindness of Lt Colonel Dundas and his wife - and of course her Foster mother Auntie Mckay. She went to Kincardine Junior School where the headmaster was a Mr Meikle - then she went to Callander High School. She talked about going "Up to Doune". Mum sadly has dementia now but I recently visited Saughs Cottage which is over 200 years old and owned by Tony? and his wife who have happily kept most of The Saughs as it was. I have some photos of Mum at The Saughs and at Carrat Farm which I am trying to have returned to me by my sister (long story). Even tho Mum doesn't know me now her face lights up when I mention Ochtertyre and the Saughs - and talks about her happiness there. I would be interested in talking to anyone who has any distant connection to my Mum.  Mum became a nurse at Falkirk/Grangemouth and met my father Charles Randalls (who became Head of Pensions with DHSS in 1970s) whom she nursed - subsequently  married. She lived the rest of her life outside Scotland and had a very happy life with 2 daughters. She puts her longevity down to being brought up on goats milk at The Saughs!! She now lives in Newcastle upon Tyne. (Joyce Rawlings, daughter, 23 June 2011)

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