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Before you leave Turriff,go and visit the statue of the Turra Coo at the east end of the main street. The cow was seized by bailiffs in 1911; National Insurance had just started. That's generally a good thing, but at the start country people couldn't see the point when all the National Health hospitals would be in the big towns, and unemployment insurance wouldn't cover casual seasonal work. The government wanted to make an example of the farmer for refusing to pay stamps for the employees. THE TURRA COO In 1911 Lloyd George did decide That National Insurance would have to be paid Even by the men who were working the land Including Rob Patterson's hardworking band chorus Tooralay, tooraloo Haven't you heard of the great Turra Coo. 2 "Pay National Insurance?" says Robbie "No fear!" So in front of the sheriff he had to appear "Pay up!" said the sheriff"or for your freedom you'll pine" But the neighbours all chipped-in and paid Robbie's fine 3 Three pounds nineteen and tenpence was still overdue so the bailiffs impounded Rob's finest house coo And they auctioned the coo in turra toon square To cover the debt, the expenses and mair 4 But nobody offered to bid for the coo And a riot of 1,000 folk then did ensue The auctioneer had to run off and hide And they pelted the bobbies from every side 5When they cut the coo loose she went down wi' her heid And up wi her tail and away she did speed She breenged around Turra 3 hours, more-or-less Until she was caught and placed under arrest 6 But the rioters worked out a plan of attack And by hook or by crook they got the coo back And the neighbours all said "What a fine how d'ye do!" And the star of it all was the great Turra Coo The pathleaves the west end of the bridge where the main road goes westwards out of Turriff towards Fogieloan. There is a webcam in the tree at the town end of the bridge; it takes a photo once a minute to show the state of the water to anybody who is thinking of booking a fishing holiday. So if you have mobile internet with you, you can click here to watch yourself waving to yourself. The path is good for the first mile then around Forglen House there are a lot of trees fallen across the path. After that, there are fishing paths most of the way to Bridge of Alvah. Then you can make your way through the woods of the Duff House estate, to reach the sea between Banff and Macduff.Any comments or stories or photos about your walk along the deveron?.....
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