Jim Dallas

James (Jim) Dallas was born on 3rd May 1937 in ‘Cultulloch’, (presently ‘Kildonnan’) East Terrace, Kingussie, twin of sister Jean and younger brother of John (Jock). He was educated at Kingussie Primary and Senior Secondary School which he left in 1952 to serve his apprenticeship as a joiner at Donald Fraser’s yard in King Street. (The building is now part of the Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore)

Jim left Kingussie for Inverness to find work in 1957 due to redundancies at the yard brought about by a severe winter. He married his wife, Irene in 1960 and they spent some time in Inverness and then Glasgow, finally returning to Kingussie in 1975 where they built their house, ‘Millburn’ in Mill Road on land that had belonged to his grandfather who had run the grain mill there. There they brought up their family, Joan

(b.1961), Alistair (Ali) (b.1964), Alison (b.1966) and Andrew (b.1972).

On his return to Kingussie Jim started his own joinery business which he ran until his retirement when he handed it on to his son, Alistair.

Jim has detailed memories of his grandfather’s mill by the Gynack River, his childhood in Kingussie, including World War II years, and knowledge of the history of buildings in the town.

Jim’s great grandfather John Dallas, the miller; his son, John Cameron Dallas (standing), a famous shinty player; and a young Ian Dallas, Jim’s father, in front. Taken at Mill House beside St Columba’s Churchyard.