Everything happened in the Inver Arms

About this recording

Winifred Sutherland shares some stories from her 18 years of running the Inver Arms at Dunbeath. She had begun her working life at the age of 13 as a waitress at the Latheronwheel Hotel (“The Blends”) before getting a job at the Clydesdale Bank in Wick.

Supported by husband Ben, Winifred was a friendly and welcoming face behind the bar. She didn’t stand for too much nonsense, though, and Winifred (known to many as Fred) recalls how she dealt with one annoying customer who, despite a warning, persisted in squirting a water pistol at her.

She could find herself acting as an agony aunt and also as a barber, as she would offer haircuts to customers. She did as many as nine haircuts in one night, all free of charge.

Winifred would often drive the Boozers’ Bus, a van that transported the pub’s pool and darts teams to other venues. She also talks about sheep sales (the pens were just outside the Inver Arms), Boxing Day competitions in the pub (darts, pool, dominoes and Scrabble), harbour days and the Dunbeath Highland Games.

“Everything happened in the Inver Arms,” Winifred says. “It was good fun, I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Winifred and Ben have hosted motorcycle rallies for more than 30 years, raising funds for a number of charities.

After her time was a publican came to an end, Winifred started her own business, FreKel (www.frekelhandbags.co.uk), producing unique handbags, many of them upcycled and given a new life.

Photos: View from the bar; Winifred, or Fred as she was known to many, with Geordie Gunn (left) and Harold Groat after a pool competition in the Inver Arms; Winifred at the bar with her cousin Yvonne Goodall; The Inver Arms with sheep pens nearby for livestock sales that were held in Dunbeath; The lounge bar at the Inver Arms; the public bar; Winifred in fancy dress; Winifred's husband Ben working on refurbishment in the pub.