Meet the Aberfeldy Man Who Bought a Stetson in 1987 ‘in Case Something Like This Ever Happened’, and Has Finally Taken It Out of the Box

By our Local Characters Correspondent

In 1987, Morris Lennie went on a bus trip to a country and western weekend in Blackpool, and came home with a Stetson. He has never worn it. Until now.

“I always said there’d be a reason one day,” said Morris, 74, who lives in a cottage just off the Square in Aberfeldy. “My wife said there’d never be a reason. She said, ‘Morris, we live in Highland Perthshire. Nobody’s going to need a cowboy hat.’ Well. Who’s laughing now?”

The hat, which is cream, wide and in excellent condition, has spent 39 years in a box at the top of a wardrobe, alongside a fondue set, a Rubik’s Cube and an exercise bike manual.

Since hearing about the Texas twinning, Morris has worn it to the Co-op, to the chemist and to the bowling club. “People have been very nice about it,” he said. “Some of them have laughed. But I think they were laughing with me. Mostly.”

He has also started practising his Texan accent. “Howdy,” he said, in an accent that sounded like Aberfeldy with a cold. “Not bad, eh? I’ve been watching cowboy films. I think I’ve got it. My wife says I sound like John Wayne if John Wayne had grown up in Kenmore.”

Morris says he hopes to meet visitors from Salado if they ever come over. “I’ll take them for a pint,” he said. “I’ll wear the hat. They’ll feel right at home. And if they want to swap, I’ll give them my bunnet. Fair’s fair,” he added.

The real story: Aberfeldy twinning (The Courier)