STRANGE ISSUES
Apologies for another unconventional issue. Things are very busy in Colonsay at present, but it seems worthwhile to publish whatever is possible because we are fortunate enough to have received some very interesting genealogical material. It would be a pity to delay and we will continue to do our best to maintain a schedule throughout the summer. Perhaps in the autumn there will be time to resume a more conventional approach.
COLONSAY DIARY
Mike and Liz McNichol had a splendid house-warming party in their new house; ladies enjoyed the chance of the full tour and everyone was impressed with the spacious accommodation afforded by the open-plan reception area. Mainland contractors have laid a magnificent tarmacadam surface to the road giving access to the new houses and workshop units at Scalasaig. Duncan "Sandy" McAllister is back in Colonsay with "Wild Rose", much to the relief of his pet Atlantic Seal who really does not like to have to catch his own supper. There were ten schoolchildren in the bus on Friday night for the last time this term, but hopefully it will not be too long before we see that number again - at present, nine children are expected to enroll for the coming session. The weather has continued to improve and the island has been very busy - all ferries are being well-utilised and there are growing numbers of Oban visitors enjoying the Thursday cruise via Corrievreckan. The proposed timetable for next winter has been published - there are no additional sailings, so the Oban schoolchildren will still be unable to get home at weekends. The proposals for a scheduled air-service are still going ahead and it is thought that building work may commence within a matter of months; the latest information suggests that the runway will remain grass and that the only hard-surfaces will be for marshalling etc.
RARE BIRDS
Rumour has it that the full Planning Committee of Argyll & Bute Council is to pay a visit to Colonsay to inspect the proposed site for a house. Apparently a large number of objections have been raised to the prospect of a new house in an area of designated gentrification. This is thought to be something of a new departure - the Planning Committee has not shewn any particular interest in Colonsay hitherto, so it will be interesting to find out more.
Where is the site? Are there unusual characteristics to the design of the proposed house? Who are the objectors? Is the Planning Committee following its normal procedure? What on earth is going on? If anybody knows the answers, please contact The Editor. All jokes aside, there are serious implications to this story and it would be helpful to know the facts.
HI, HEIDI
Andrew MacGregor has gone to collect his eagerly-awaited craft from the Clyde. He had misfortunes on earlier attempts (head gasket, then dirty fuel), so we wish him better fortune this time.
FIRE-SERVICE MODERNISATION
Our photographs show the presentation of certificates to two Colonsay firemen on the occasion of their retirement from the service. Keith Rutherford had served for 25 years and 1 month, whilst Sid Bowman had served for 4 years and 198 days. The presentation was made by District Officer W. Grant on June 10 2003, and provided the opportunity for all members of the Volunteer Unit to thank them for their service and to wish them well. All members of the community will wish to be associated with those sentiments, and to express their thanks to the ongoing Volunteers for their dedication
FROM THE PAPERS:
30 May 2003, Newsquest Media Group Newspapers: This is Skipton,The Dales
c Copyright 2003 Newsquest Digital Media.
"RENOWNED Giggleswick author Bill Mitchell, who has written more than a hundred books, is now seeing his work translated into Japanese.
Two of his books were written following a visit to the remote island of St Kilda in 1988. One of them, a biography of intrepid islander Finlay MacQueen, is now being translated for the Japanese market.
A spokesman for his publisher, House of Lochar, based on the Hebridean island of Colonsay, said: "Unfortunately there aren't thousands of dollars in this project for us, or for Bill Mitchell, but it does sound like a lot of yen."
The former editor of The Dalesman says that writing is occupational therapy. "I like to keep the brain cells stirred."
When he went to St Kilda, sited 50 miles west of the Scottish mainland, he sent a postcard home in a wooden container cast into an ebb tide. He had not been back long when it was picked up on a Hebridean beach and delivered to his home in Giggleswick.
Bill, 75, told the Craven Herald that the biography had been selected for the Japanese market because, being an island people themselves, they enjoying stirring stories of life on remote islands.
This is the first time that one of his books has been translated for sale abroad.
The jacket illustration for the translation is a drawing by Dales artist Janet Rawlins."
By Billy Briggs; 5 June 2003; The Herald
(c) 2003 SMG Newspapers Ltd.
A TEAM of rowers is to retrace the epic sea voyage St Columba undertook from Ireland to Iona in 563.
The crossing, to commemorate the anniversary of the journey that brought Christianity to Scotland, will begin on Monday in a 37ft replica Irish-built curragh. It is open to the elements and built of wood and canvas.
The rowers, from Scotland, Ireland, and the US, will eat the same food as the 6th century monks, such as dried fish, meat and wine, will dress in robes, and sing ancient hymns as they row across the chill waters towards the island that became the centre of Scottish Celtic Christianity for centuries.
The leader of the project is Donald McCallum, 65, a Scots-born American and retired US Navy ship designer.
Also to row across the Irish Sea is Robert Gould, 61, a Scottish artist who is suffering from cancer and plans to raise money for charity. Although he has endured gruelling chemotherapy for the past year, Mr Gould, a painter from Erskine, Renfrewshire, has trained on a rowing machine.
Mr Gould who has just returned to Scotland following a successful exhibition of his paintings in the US which resulted in a contract with a prestigious gallery, said he was both excited and terrified at the same time.
"I have no idea what is ahead of me. I'm no sailor by any means at all, so I do have mixed feelings about the crossing. I've had a hard year with cancer and I'm hoping that the trip will give me further inspiration for my paintings," he said.
The rowers will arrive at Southend, Mull of Kintyre, on June 9; the Isle of Gigha on June 11; Loch Crinan on June 13; Easdale on June 14; Iona on June 15; with the return journey via Colonsay and Islay from June 17 to 19.
Daily Telegraph on 7th June voted Kiloran Bay the runner up in its
travel section's Guide to the World's Best Beaches, in the Escapist
Category :
"Over a mile of golden sand on the north west coast of this remote
little island. Backed by magnificent dunes, with rockpools, technicolour
sunsets, sheets of silky clear Atlantic water rolling in and
uninterrupted views to the New World"
The winner was Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Also nominated -
Bird Island in the Seychelles and Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.
NOOKS & CRANNIES: Muileann Dubh
There used to be plenty of "Black" mills in Colonsay, and one of them is now a scheduled monument. They consisted of wooden paddle wheels set sideways into a circular chamber, on a vertical axle, with the grindstone on top. The bottom axle of such a mill is beside Tobar Odhran at Colonsay House. Although most of the mills have disappeared, the chambers can still be recognised at a number of locations. Our picture shows quite a good example, about 50 metres to the southwest of Eilean Mhartain on the coast of Baleromin Dubh. Many thanks to John Clark for mentioning this site.
WHAT'S ON IN COLONSAY
Tuesday 17 June - replica St. Columba- style leather boat expected from Iona, special church service to be announced.
Tuesday 17 June, School Open Day (with tea, baking etc.), 2 - 3.15pm
Wednesday 18 June: Craft Fair at Village Hall, 12 - 7pm
"Tides" Seafood Shop - Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 1 - 5.30pm
Colonsay House Gardens - every Wednesday and Friday afternoon; refreshments are available
Boat Trips - daily, obtain brochure at Hotel, Pantry, Shop, P.O., Bookshop or Pier.
Note: On Mondays, the service to Port Askaig connects with the Kennacraig ferry.
Quiz in the Hotel every THURSDAY at 9.30 pm.
Evening Meals: 6pm - 9pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
5pm - 9.30pm on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Lunches served daily 12 - 2.30pm
Bar open: 12 - 2.30 and 6pm till late (from 5pm on Friday and Sunday).
The Pantry - Summer hours apply
Tel 01951 200235
Church Service
Please note that services in both the Baptist Church and the Church of Scotland are at the new time of 11.30hrs. Services are held regularly - see notices in the shop and hotel for details.
DIARY DATE - 26 July 2003
We are reliably informed that ever-popular musicians "Follow that Camel" are coming to Colonsay Hall on the Saturday 26th July, 2003.
The idea is for a concert followed by a dance..... there will be a big group coming with the band and the concert will feature singers, pipers and highland dancers.....followed by a dance to "Follow that Camel"", live!!
Graham Fuge has promised to give us more details nearer the time, but for the moment it should be sufficient to clear your diary, open your card and book your partners.
TOPICAL LETTERS
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 of a topical nature were received. Meantime, please note that we have vacancies for contributors - in particular, columns on Nature Notes, the Social Whirl, Local News. All you need to do is to write the piece and email it to the editor, but please contact him first.
The Magazine Section
