20th Century Caveman

[ColinShearer]

Henry Ewing Torbett

This man was by all accounts a well to do banker in Dundee who was engaged to marry gave it all up to live the rest of his life as a hermit/caveman in a cave widely known as the cave of Sawney Bean - the man ho made hannibal lecter seem like a *****cat.

This cave was Bennane Cave just north of Ballantrae !!

Mr Torbett as known as "Snib Scott" and a very private proud man all the same who would accept nothing and shout at you but locals from Ballantrae and surrounding area would leave a sandwich or a cigarette or a sunday dinner by his cave or the shore or maybe on top of a bin in the village when he ventured out and he would accept the gift.

Many local teens would go and sit by his cave or fire a while and he would chat to them.

Latterly he fell on the rocks and broke his leg - on discharge from the hospital in Girvan the council/social work wanted to house him in Girvan or Ballantrae but he refused all help. His address on discharge was given as 1 Bennane Cave,Ballantrae !!

He died in 1983? and the locals missed him very much. A cairn of local stones was erected with a plaque in his memory near to the cave. He is still talked about and has been given great reference in print by respected author and GP Dr Tom Smith.

Snib Scott - Respected & Independant