Almost 300 people visited Forss hall last weekend to enjoy an exhibition of mart memorabilia.

The Thurso mart open event, which had to be extended to include the Sunday as well as the Saturday due to the amount of interest, was organised by long-serving auctioneer Peter Mackay and Iain Thomson, who was the first managing director of Hamilton’s & UA Partnership Ltd.

Mr Mackay said he was delighted by the response.

He was particularly pleased to welcome Marian Andrew, the daughter of Ian Matheson, who was manager at Thurso mart from 1968 to 1992. He was highly thought of by farmers and customers and was regarded as one of the top auctioneers of his time.

Marian and her husband Gavin made the trip up from Inverness specially to attend the event.

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The exhibition followed a public appeal for local Hamilton’s & UA Partnership Ltd items by Mr Mackay and Mr Thomson. The Thurso mart closed in 2007.

Mr Mackay explained that by 5pm on Sunday 272 people had signed the visitors' book.

The Miller family from Buckies, who gifted a lot of catalogues, asked that the collection taken should go to Cancer Research UK. The sum of £1130 was raised.

Mr Mackay said: "I would like to thank all who contributed to the memorabilia and all who took the time to come along and make the weekend so memorable. I would also like to thank the Thurso mart staff who helped to make it such a nostalgic reunion, and particularly Avril Henderson whose catering skills were enjoyed by all those who visited the canteen."

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