A classic house Inverailort Castle – and the Shackleton crash on 21 December 1967.

There was a piece on Facebook with a picture of Inverailort castle in poor repair. The military had a long history of use during the war. I am sure it was featured on the television on Secret Scotland ? The RAF got to use the house as. Base after a tragic crash of a Shackleton aircraft that crashed on the 21 st Dec 1967. It was a tragedy that tested the team to the full.

John Hinde who was the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team leader at the time wrote a very detailed account of the tragedy “I sent Gordon Ballantyne and Dave Ward with two others up to the crash, which was still burning, and we set up base in the ballroom of Inverailort Castle where we were very hospitably received by the lady of the castle, Mrs L P Cameron-Head” From John Hindes Dairies well worth a read.

Older team members have memories of that tragic day. Yet they have fond memories of staying at Inverailort with its Officers toilet and old military signs remnants from the past military use.

We used the Castle a lot over the years and MRS Cameron Head was great company. We would get some incredible stories of the past. Dougie Crawford “ When in RAF mountain rescue, we used to sleep on the floor of the main hall, whilst there on exercise. There was a huge painting of one of the 17th century Cameron above the fire, who’s intense eyes used to follow you around the room….so sad to see it in this state.”

It’s a strange world where a beautiful house like this falls into disrepair. Hopefully this wee piece may bring some stories to the fore before they are lost for ever,.

Comments welcome as always