Robert Sutherland
‘All of us would have these bows and arrows’Born: 1954
Duration: 11m 39s
Type: Audio
Filesize: 15Mb
Recorded: 5 September 2019
About this recording
Robert Sutherland recalls the gang fights of his childhood in Pulteneytown. “Murchison Street had a gang, and Nicolson Street had a gang, and Kennedy had a gang and Cairndhuna had a gang,” he says, “and we all fought.” Often these battles would involve makeshift bows and arrows. “How we never took somebody’s eyes out I don’t know,” he reflects. “It was very dangerous! But it’s what we did.”
Robert also remembers football and cricket matches between the rival groups, as well as up to 50 children playing games of Leavo that would spread from one side of town to the other.
There are stories too of misbehaviour on kick ’e doorie night.
Robert spent 31 years in the police force and has lived in Thurso for over 25 years. This is one of several recordings he has made for Wick Voices.
