My association with the Highland bothy (December 7) goes back to the winter of 1942 when I was sent on a sniping course in Invernesshire, eight miles up the glen from the village of Struy.

This course turned out to be one of the highlights of my life. I was greeted on arrival by Mr and Mrs Fraser and family outside their bothy, Braulen, which was to be my home for the next month.

Mr Duncan Fraser was the head ghillie on Lord Lovat's estate and most days were spent with him and his son, John, deer-stalking over the Highlands.

Life at the bothy was primitive but very homely. Water was collected from the stream, lighting was by oil lamp and heating by fire using logs and peat.

Food was top class: Venison, salmon, trout plus home produce and vegetables, bread etc. The bothy is still lived in, John having succeeded his father as ghillie.

-Frank Edwards, Craven Road, Brighton