The story of Turras most famous coo begins in 1911, the year the government introduced National Insurance.
A bronze statue of Turra Coo in Turriff.
National Insurance is a good thing, but back then people were skeptical.
Many Scottish farmers remained unconvinced of the merits of state support for those in need.
Some felt the level of contribution required from them was too high.
He refused to stamp the insurance cards of his employees.
The authorities were upon him at once.
Paterson paid the fine, but refused to make up the arrears.
But the whole thing became tied up in an emotional incident because they took the little white cow.
Turriff’s agricultural marts refused to organize the sale and no local auctioneer came forward to conduct it.
The square was packed with people.
There was a palpable tension in the air.
The crowd was agitated, the cow was agitated.
Then somewhere nearby, as some people recall, a dog barked.
Others suggested that Paterson himself came up and shouted yoo hoo and scared the cow.
The frightened beast bolted down the streets.
Then the riots broke out.
A 100-strong mob proceeded to pelt the sheriff’s officers with rotten fruit, eggs and soot.
Somebody let off firecrackers.
But all were acquitted because of lack of evidence.
The presentation of the cow back to the Patersons on 20 January 1914 was a major public event.
Divn’t ye wish that ye were me and accompanied by playing band.
Coo died six years later and was buried in a corner of Patersons' farmland in Lendrum.
But she was hardly forgotten.
The cow became a sort of emblem of the town.
