In January, Harrison Pires and Lucas Brown enjoyed a snow day in Ross-shire after an amber weather warning wreaked havoc on Highland transport and schools. Picture: James Mackenzie
As 2024 draws to a close, it’s a great time to take stock and have a look back at what has happened over the course of a typically tumultuous year.
Watching every step of the way have been our hardy photographers Callum Mackay and James Mackenzie, charting life through their lenses (and doing their very best, in the sprawling county that is Ross-shire, to defy the laws of physics by being in two places at the same time!)
The images they create capture a fascinating moment in time whether it be a set-piece event of great significance to a local community or something less predictable, such as a snow day off school
Some of the children from North Kessock Primary, breaking ground at their new garden with the help of outdoor learning charity Flourish. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Whether in amongst the sweaty crowd at a packed Black Isle Peat & Diesel gig or shivering on sledge-strewn snow-clad slopes in Easter Ross, they go the extra mile to get the pictures you see week in, week out in the Ross-shire Journal.
The selection here shows Muir of Ord bowlers sporting their smart new tracksuits, children at North Kessock Primary paving the way for a new garden and local heroes Crystal Mackintosh and Grace Lennox quietly putting in the hours as volunteers sprucing up the Alness environment.
Muir of Ord Bowling Club members with their new tracksuits, in May 2024. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Over the course of the year we also threw the spotlight on a community effort to get a defibrillator in Invergordon and an amazing effort by pupils at Tarradale Primary School to pull together a superb haul of shoe box gifts for onward distribution by Blythswood.
Look out for another selection next week.
Peat & Diesel on stage at their Black Isle Belter music festival in May, which was dubbed a 'resounding success'. Picture: James MackenzieAlness friends, Crystal MacKintosh and Grace Lennox, who have been gardening for the town over the last 30 years. Picture: Callum Mackay.Pupils from Alness' Coulhill Primary School enjoying an early morning walk in the sunshine to start their 50th birthday celebrations in May. Picture: Callum Mackay.South Lodge Primary head teacher David Hayes-Macleod received a defibrillator from Laura Dryburgh, Kim Dryburgh and Georgia Dryburgh from Lifeaid Defibrillators. They were given the defibrillator after a woman collapsed at the school, forcing staff to "rush around" the town to find a defibrillaltor. Picture: Callum Mackay.Dingwall Gaelic Nursery tots having a laugh, while celebrating becoming officially manged by Dingwall Primary in May. Picture: Callum Mackay.Tarradale Primary School pupils holding their shoe box donations for Blythswood Care's annual shoebox appeal, in November. Picture: James MackenzieDrew and Dee Graham, parents of 2024 Paralympic gold-medal-winning cyclist Fin Graham. They pose in front of their son's collection of cycling shirts from competitions around the world. Picture: James MackenzieAnna Wells, who scaled all 282 Munros in Scotland last winter, on Sgurr nan Conbhairean in March. Picture: James Mackenzie.
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