Murdo Morrison

Murdo was the second of eight sons of Donald Morrison (“The Gladstone”) of 14 Adabrock, three of whom became policemen after the war and he also had three sisters. Known in Gaelic as Murchadh a Ghladston he was known as “Jellicoe” to all. The family were described as tall, strong and handsome.

A blacksmith, like his father, he worked from 14 Adatock through the war years and into the late 1950s, later moving. He was the last blacksmith in Ness. He would make all sorts of tools including the essential peat digging spades which could be made to a size to suit the owner. He spent some time working on water schemes in Lewis.

He married Annie Campbell and the had four children, two girls and two boys.

He wrote rhymes and songs, often about the local area. He was often sought out to write wedding telegrams.

He was an elder in Cross Free Church for 27 years.in later years his writing was mainly spiritual poems.

In his final years he was confined to his home at 150 Cross Skigersta by ill health. His funeral was described as one of the largest in Ness for some time.