John Moyce

John Moyce was born in 1952 in Newbury Berkshire. His father was from London and his mother from Edinburgh. He first came to Kingussie on holiday in 1961 when his uncle (Jock Hay) became signalman at Kingussie. Jock was married to his mother’s sister Eileen. He came up on holiday usually twice a year by sleeper or car. John spent much time in the signal box with Jock. He has many memories of the railway and the people who worked there. Aunt Eileen worked at the bookstall at the station.

John enjoyed his Kingussie holidays; there was plenty to do and trains to watch. He went for walks with Jock and helped him with odd jobs. Jock worked for various

people: the Silverfjord Hotel, Dr Savy at Sonnhalde, Morrison’s market garden in Spey St. He cut grass with a scythe in various graveyards. Jock would often collect broken things and mend them. John would learn from Jock and loved helping him. As recently as the year 2000 the pair of them would visit skips looking for things to mend.

John moved to Kingussie permanently in 1998 when he married Dot Nicol, a teacher at Kingussie High School. John likes living in Kingussie and always enjoyed his holidays here – a nice place, quiet but not isolated.

John, as a boy, in the cabin of a train at Kingussie Station

Jock Hay at Kingussie Station