Perth Museum & Art Gallery
Alan McKirdy’s Two Pound Talk yesterday afternoon attracted around 40 visitors to hear about the changing landscape of Perthshire. It’s always a pleasure to chat to visitors who come in for the lunchtime talks, and we were delighted to discover that some of the objects on display in the museum held very personal memories for two families in the audience.
Ian and Muriel McPherson were leaving the lecture theatre after the talk, when they stopped to admire some of the photographs on the wall. Ian was surprised to see his 11-year-old self in one of them, captured while playing cricket on the North Inch in 1953. The scene, which was posed for the photographer, shows Ian (or Shorty as he was known then) along with his friends as they enjoyed a game in the scorching sun.
Unlike most of the lads, Ian has kept his shirt on and wife Muriel explained that his auburn hair meant he wouldn’t have risked exposing his pale skin to sunburn! Although the image is in black and white, Ian recognised himself by his hairstyle.
One of the most interesting facts revealed in the conversation with Ian (also known as T.I. McPherson), was that he went on to play cricket for Perthshire and Scotland between 1978 and 1982. In the photograph he is seen to the right of the wicket, in long socks with his hands ready to catch the ball as the leg slip fielder, but his preferred position was as a slow left bowler.
This image is one of several old photographs chosen to feature in our upcoming 2016 calendar, which will be on sale before Christmas.
Ian McPherson with a photo taken on the North Inch in 1953.
What a talent !
What a talent !
