A remarkable story which starts more than 50 years ago.

The recent football derby between Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, brought back some special memories which prompted Graham Haddow to contact the Gazette.
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Between 1964 and 1969 Graham’s dad Murray, now 95 years of age, was the designated Children’s Officer for Ross Shire, which at that time included the Isle of Lewis.

Based in Dingwall he was responsible for the fostering and adoption of babies in the north of Scotland area.

He was also a keen supporter and a director of Ross County Football Club, a Highland League team at the time.

Graham picked up the story at this point, saying: “One Saturday morning he and my mother picked up a just weeks-old baby from temporary foster parents in Dingwall and set off to Inverness Airport to meet a couple who were flying in from Stornoway for the life-changing event of collecting their new baby!

“However, as was often the case at that time, the flight from Stornoway was cancelled because of fog!

“My parent's plans for the day were to meet and hand over the baby to the new parents then to watch Inverness Caledonian play Ross County at Telford Street Park.

"Undeterred, they kept to their original plan and attended the game together with the very young baby in their arms! He or she must have been the youngest ever spectator to 'watch' such a football game.”

The anxious parents eventually got to meet their new baby when they arrived at Inverness airport the following Monday, as there were no flights on a Sunday!

Graham continued: “My father can't remember the year or whether it was a baby boy or girl but he is absolutely certain this is the only adoption to Lewis he was involved in between 1964 and 1969.

"Looking at past fixtures between the clubs in Inverness during months when fog might occur I think it must have been Nov 65, Apr 66, Dec 67 or Jan 68, but I may be wrong.”

So someone who is approximately 53-56 years of age, was adopted, and has lived some or all of their life on the island could well be this baby, or perhaps the adoptive parents remember their fog-bound flight.

Let us know if you could be the person. Email: [email protected]

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