Ruth Watson, whose father Fred Low died in the early seventies, was making a second trip to the area, having been one of a seven-strong party of family members who spent a wonderful couple of weeks based at Jarman's Hotel in Forfar in 1986.

On this occasion, Ruth brought along her son Daryl, keen to show him where his grandfather spent his early days prior to emigrating to Canada in 1906.

Having flown from Calgary to Gatwick on June 8, Ruth and Daryl spent a few days in London and some time in Lancaster, before travelling north to Edinburgh and then Dundee.

It was during their time in Tayside in the early part of last week that the Watsons found time to make a day trip to Forfar - and pop into the Castle Street offices of the Forfar Dispatch.

Now aged 77, Ruth was able to tell us that her father Fred Low featured in the local press when he made two visits back to his home area in 1961 and 1963, well over half a century after upping sticks and heading for Canada.

Prior to emigrating, he was employed as an agricultural worker at The Spott, Glenprosen, then farmed by a Major Whyte.

He went on to make good in Canada, hard work leading him to purchase a homestead in Mimburn, Alberta, going on to work 1000 acres of farmland, growing wheat and grazing cattle.

Fred was one of a very large family, who lived throughout the Angus area in the early 1900s - the Low name cropping up in Lintrathen, Airlie, Cortachy, Tannadice and Whitehills in Forfar.

Fred went on to have a family of ten himself, three of whom are still alive today.

Ruth now resides in a place called Olds in Alberta, Canada (population 3,500) and, last Monday, talked fondly of her previous visit to Forfar.

She was highly complementary of the staff of the former Jarman's Hotel where she stayed, and was disappointed that the once-popular hostelry was now no more.

Mrs Watson only had a day to spend in town - and left our office hoping to catch up with old friends.

If you remember Ruth from her last visit to town in 1986 and missed her on this occasion she can be contacted through her son Daryl Watson at Box 6, Site 13, RR1 Bowden, Alberta, Canada, T0M0K0 (e-mail address - dwatson@airenet.com).