It was with shock and the greatest of regret that we heard of the death of Susan MacConnell on the morning of Saturday 17 November. It was known that Susan had become unwell in recent weeks and that she had been in intensive care following an operation, but everyone had hoped and prayed that she had turned the corner following a marked improvement on Sunday 11th. In the event, this was a false dawn and family members gathered to be at her bedside, including daughter Audrey, now resident in Canada but who had managed to get home at short notice.
There was a Service of Remembrance in Clydebank for friends who were unable to come to Colonsay, and the heartbroken family and supporters brought Susan home on Wednesday. Rev. Alec Rodgers led the coffin to the Parish Church, and mourners followed silently on foot. The funeral on Thursday was attended by all islanders and friends whose health permitted, and Mr. Rodgers welcomed the presence of all others in spirit. A dignified and moving service included renditions of songs and music particularly dear to Susan and Archie, and a brief oration by Mandy on behalf of all the children. The cortege made its way to the graveyard by way of Upper Kilchattan, so as to be able to pass home.
The floral tributes were magnificent and came from friends and family both far and near - one knew how very much Susan would have appreciated them. A lone piper, Angus MacColl from Oban, played at the church and again at the graveyard. Following the interment, mourners were invited to refreshments at the Village Hall, which were of a truly generous nature, and for which Susan's son, Iain, gave warm thanks to May and Charlie MacKinnon plus their team.
Susan was one of a family of thirteen and is survived by three of her siblings; she was predeceased by her late brother, Graham Campbell. Her sorrowing family include her husband Archie, children Iain, Lorainne, Audrey and Mandy and her beloved grandchildren. She was known to us all for her good nature, her generosity of spirit and her zest for life - we are diminished by her passing.
The Church of Scotland has adopted a new policy, whereby all meetings of the Congregational Board and of the Kirk Session will be held in public as a matter of normal practice. It will, of course, be possible to meet privately to discuss matters of a personal or confidential nature, but any such private meetings will be very much the exception to the rule.
Welcoming the new arrangements, the Board met on Sunday 16th following the Service conducted by Rev. Freda Marshall, the Parish Minister. The matter of the proposed disabled access was raised again and it is clear that urgent progress is felt to be highly desirable. The movement towards joint worship with the Baptist Union was discussed and it is hoped that the traditional joint services (four per year) will be extended to include all services in April, May and September, which will be held in the different churches on alternate Sundays. To minimise confusion, it is envisaged that the times will be harmonised (probably at 11.30 a.m. from January) and the order of rotation will have to be widely publicised; all offerings would be divided equally between the two churches.
These proposed arrangements are of course subject to the consideration and comments of members of the Baptist Church, and are subject to modification. Both congregations have been working closely together for many years, and in addition to services operate a joint Children's Club Meeting.
FULL TIME PERMANENT STAFF REQUIRED
HOUSEKEEPER
GARDENER / HANDYMAN
The Isle of Colonsay Hotel, one of Britains most remote hotels is offering a unique opportunity to a couple wishing to live and work on this beautiful island. The successful applicants should be experienced, self-motivated and hard working with a good sense of humour and outgoing personality. Please contact Christine Bailey on 01951 200 316 or e mail: colonsay.hotel@pipemedia.co.uk for more information.
SEASONAL STAFF (MARCH SEPTEMBER)
BAR / WAITING STAFF
ASSISTANT CHEF
GENERAL ASSISTANT
The Isle of Colonsay Hotel, one of Britains most remote hotels is offering a unique opportunity to you! Good customer service skills, sense of humour and outgoing personality are required for all positions. Experience required but not essential as training will be provided. Couples / singles welcome. Please contact Christine Bailey on 01951 200 316 or email: colonsay.hotel@pipemedia.co.uk for more information.
[N.B. "Corncrake" is delighted to receive and advertise details of employment opportunities in Colonsay - Editor]SHOPPING INCENTIVE
Colonsay Bookshop can obtain any book in print for its customers, and for those living locally can fulfill such special orders at a 10% discount on published price.
As a special Christmas incentive, any customer spending £20 or more gets a FREE entry into a draw for a basket of goodies worth quite a lot of money. It is on display in the office and looks very tempting. This is all Jenni's idea, and if it is a success Jenni will get all the credit; if not ....
Have just been told that Amazon have rated House of Lochar's latest children's book at 5 star category... which is up there with Harry Potter. If you doubt it, go to
Due to refurbishment, The Hotel will be closed for meals and accommodation from 30 September until further notice. The Bar will be open as follows:
Monday - Saturday 12.00 - 14.30 and 19.00 - Late
Sunday 12.00 - 14.30 (closed at night).
The Pantry will be open for meals etc. throughout the winter. The winter opening hours are as follows:
Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10.00 - 14.00 hrs.
Saturdays 10.00 - 15.00 hrs.
Evening meals and take-away meals can be catered for by arrangement. To make such arrangements, telephone the Pantry on 01951 200325 or call May MacKinnon at home 0n 01951 200341
Quiz in the Hotel every Wednesday at 9.30 pm.
Church services every Sunday, alternating between the churches: 11 am at the Church of Scotland, Scalasaig, and 12 noon at the Baptist Church, Kilchattan. See shop notice to check venue.
Community Council Meeting on Monday 3rd December.
A.G. M. of Colonsay Community Development Company on Tuesday 4th December at Village Hall - see shop for details.
NOTICE
If any reader knows of gravestones anywhere in the world mentioning Colonsay, please send details to the Editor.
Hector is back in Colonsay, working with Don MacLeod; Ivor is talking of coming back for a few months; the school is advertising for a Relief Cook and for a Cleaning Person; there is a splendid stockproof fence now surrounding the new houses on the glebe, and will probably permit magnificent terraced gardens rivalling those of ancient Babylon; a major House of Lochar customer is said to have gone bust, owing them over £2,000; a bull went over one of the cliffs and was killed; the Binnie's new house is almost complete, the furniture went in this week; Don and Mary have got a boat; Jocky has made a great start on the new access to the church; and the cattle grid at Port Mor has started to disintegrate, but luckily a new one is on order.
Nooks & Crannies: THE WEIGHING MACHINE
In the past, the Harbour had quite a range of facilities. Following an unfortunate incident in St. Kilda in WWI (when that island was shelled by a German submarine), the cannon was removed to Colonsay House on the outbreak of WWII. The crane that stood on the jetty was only removed about fifteen years ago, and the maker's plate was preserved by Bill Lawson and mounted on a plaque which is displayed at Colonsay Hotel. There used to be a saw-pit, which is marked on the Ordnance Survey 1st Edition, but which was replaced by the Nissan Hut whose foundation walls survive. At the junction of the slipway and the modern linkspan there stood a corrugated iron shed which appears in many old photographs and was known latterly as "Peter's Shed". In fact it replaced an earlier one, which was swept away in a gale very shortly after it had been vacated by people who had gone down to see if there was any word of an expected ferry. The pole which stands in the harbour is said to mark the Colonsay end of an undersea telegraph wire running from the north end of Jura to Beinn Orasa and laid in 1912 in association with gunnery trials observed by Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty.
Our picture shows all that remains of the Weighing Machine; it was also included on the Ordnance Survey 1st Edition, but has been out of use for many years. One of the weights was discovered amongst the ballast in the "Thrive" after she was broken up, and is now preserved at Homefield.
For convenience of readers, letters now appear in two sections. Anything to do with current events appears here, and letters to do with the Magazine section or historical research etc. will appear at the end of the Magazine section.
No letters were received. Instead, the chance is taken to include a picture of the Macfie family from New Zealand here in c. 1918 and relaxing at the hotel.
The Magazine Section
