Mary Ann & Barry Heck
Mary Ann's Cottage, CaithnessImage provided by VisitScotland/Kenny Lam
We came to Dunnet in 1990, by that time Mary Ann had gone to live in Seaview Nursing Home in Wick. Her friend and near neighbour ‘Barry Heck’ (Barbara Calder) lived on the hill behind Mary Ann’s cottage.
There were so many ‘Calders’ in and around Dunnet village that everyone needed a nickname, there was already a Mary Calder so, Mary Ann was always known as Mary Ann. Barry got the nickname ‘Heck' from her habit (and her Father’s apparently) of saying ‘oh heck'.
Barry was not related and was slightly younger than Mary Ann, she would do her messages and both women’s mode of transport was the bicycle. When Mary Ann went into the nursing home, Barry Heck took her bicycle as it was in better condition than her own.
When we were looking for a house in 1994, Barry’s cousin, advised us to ask about Barry’s house since by then, Barry was also in Seaview Nursing Home. So we came to live on the hill in Barry Heck’s house. My mother who had moved to live near us then volunteered for many years at Mary Ann’s cottage. As my mother had farmed all her life she had a direct connection to the life of Mary Ann on her croft.
Many thanks to this anonymous submitter for sharing with us the story behind their journey stone, created as part of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.
WHAT IS A JOURNEY STONE?
Prior to the beginning of the stitching of each tapestry panel, each stitcher of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands was tasked with telling their interpretation of the 'Spirit of the Highlands and Islands' within a blank outline of a stone. The possibilities were truly endless - is it represented in the land? The people? A historical site? A favourite memory?
In any case, each journey stone represents the connection between of each individual stitcher, their story, and their own sense, or 'spirit', of place. Discover more of the stories behind the journey stones of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands here.