Turra Coo facts for kids
The Turra Coo was a famous white dairy cow from Scotland. Her name means "the Turriff Cow" in the local Doric language. She lived near the town of Turriff in Aberdeenshire in the early 1900s. This cow became very well known because of a big argument between her owner and the government. The argument was all about taxes and a new rule for national insurance.
Why the Cow Became Famous
A New Insurance Law
In the 1910s, the government introduced a new law. It was called the National Insurance Act of 1911. This law said that employers had to pay money for their workers' insurance. This was for people aged 16 to 70. The idea was to help workers if they got sick.
Farmers Were Unhappy
Many farmers in the Turriff area were very upset about this new law. They felt the payments were too high for them. They also argued that farmers rarely took time off work due to illness. So, they thought it was unfair to pay for something they might not use.
Robert Paterson's Stand
There were many protests in Turriff. A farmer named Robert Paterson refused to pay the insurance for his workers. Because of this, he was charged under the new law. He had to pay a fine of £15. He also had to pay the missing insurance money. Mr. Paterson paid the fine, but he still refused to pay the missing insurance.
The Sheriff's Challenge
On November 13, 1913, an order was given. A sheriff's officer named George Keith had to take property from Mr. Paterson's farm. The value of the property needed to be £7. This was to cover the unpaid insurance. But it was hard to do. Local people refused to help the officers move anything. They were protesting too!
The Cow's Big Adventure
The Cow is Seized
The sheriff's officer found one thing that was easy to move. It was Mr. Paterson's white milk cow. The cow was going to be sold in Turriff on December 9. The sale was delayed because local markets supported Mr. Paterson. They refused to sell the cow. So, a special permit was needed for a public sale. An auctioneer had to come from another town.
The Protest in Turriff
On the day of the sale, the cow was led from the farm to Turriff. People in the town found the cow tied in the village square. She was decorated with ribbons. Someone had painted the words 'Lendrum to Leeks' on her. This was a joke about the government official, Lloyd George, who was from Wales (leeks are a symbol of Wales). It showed how the farmers felt about the government's actions.
A Lively Auction
The cow was put up for auction. But things quickly got out of hand. A crowd of about 100 people started throwing rotten fruit and soot at the sheriff's officers. In all the chaos, the cow got away from her handler! She ran off and was later found in a nearby barn.
The Trial and Verdict
Eight farm workers were later put on trial in Aberdeen. They were accused of causing trouble. But all of them were found "not proven." This means the court didn't have enough evidence to say they were guilty or innocent. The Turra Coo was also part of this trial!
The Cow's Triumphant Return
The cow was eventually taken to Aberdeen. There, she was sold to a farmer for £7. But a local girl, Bryony Miller, and her husband, John Miller, had an idea. They gathered the community together. They raised money to buy the cow back for Mr. Paterson's farm.
On January 20, 1914, the cow was brought back to the Patersons. It was a huge event! More than 3,000 people came to see her. The cow was paraded through Turriff in triumph. She wore ribbons and garlands of dried flowers. She was painted with a new slogan: "Free!! Divn't ye wish that ye were me." A band played happy music. The cow returned to the farm at Lendrum. She lived there for six more years and was buried on the farm.
Remembering the Turra Coo
The Cow in Film
A film was even made about the Turra Coo! It was shown in cinemas in Aberdeen in February 1914. The film was also taken to Turriff for a special showing. People cheered when they saw familiar farmers on the screen.
Statues and Souvenirs
The story of the Turra Coo became very famous. Many souvenir items were made. They had pictures of the cow. Often, they also had the slogan "Lendrum to Leeks."
The foghorn at Girdle Ness Lighthouse was even nicknamed the 'Torry Coo'. This was because its sound was like a cow's bellow.
On October 31, 1971, a monument was put up at Lendrum. It has a plaque with a cow's head. The plaque tells about the famous "Turra Coo" incident in 1913. It mentions Robert Paterson's fight against unfairness for farm workers.
On November 20, 2010, a new sculpture of the Turra Coo was unveiled. It is in Turriff town centre. This spot is now called "Coo Corner." The sculpture looks like a real cow named "Alese." Alese herself is on display at the Aberdeenshire Farming Museum.
Celebrating the Centenary
In 2013, Turriff celebrated 100 years since the event. There were many events. The main one was a play that re-enacted the whole story.
In 2014, the local football team, Turriff United F.C., got a new mascot. It was based on the Turra Coo!
