Canadian Jock and Jack Sutherland

You do not really get well-known until you have a nickname

Born: 1933

Duration: 19m 11s

Type: Audio

Filesize: 14.7 Mb

Recorded: 25 February 2023

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About this recording

John Sutherland (Canadian Jock) and his son Borden John (Jack) share a range of reminiscences in this joint interview.

Although Canadian Jock's parents came from Clyth, Caithness he was born in Canada in 1933 and lived in a town called Borden until he was 16 years old when the family returned to Caithness.

They talk about crofting and how at the age of 39 Jock bought a boat and began fishing, accompanied by his son Jack. They fished for crabs, lobsters and salmon as well as herring and they describe their venture into curing and selling salt herring.

In return for his kind hospitality, many visitors to Caithness have shown their gratitude by sending spoons from around the globe. Canadian Jocks collection, which now extends to more than 2,000 spoons, started when he visited Canada in the 1970s. As well as the spoons he has a collection of envelopes with addresses such as Canadian Jock, Lybster, Scotland.

He claims, "You don't really get well-known until you have a nickname.”

Over many years he made and distributed Canadian Jocks fudge to sixty countries. Recently he has taught his son Jack the skill of fudge making.

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