COLONSAY DIARY

The schoolchildren are working hard in preparation for a Christmas Play, and are going on an expedition to the theatre in Edinburgh. Whilst in Edinburgh they hope to visit the museum, and to see Viking and other treasures of Colonsay, on permanent display. This ties in with some fieldwork here in the island - the children are visiting significant archaeological sites, and imagining what it may have been like to live here in ancient days.

On top of Dun Ghallain

Walter and Ena hosted a magnificent party for the Golden Wedding - visitors came from far and near and were overwhelmed by the hospitality. Guests from their wedding attended, and the Best Man was good enough to give us a few details of the courtship. Enough to say that Ena was in Wigtownshire in connection with Milk Marketing business and caught the eye of one and all; but by all accounts Walter was a dark horse who won her heart before the others had even heard the "OFF". We also heard some good stories about a chap called Pat.

There is yet another brouhaha about the ferry timetable. Seemingly Coll dozed off whilst their neighbours on Tiree out-manouevred them and got the better service; now Coll has thrown its toys out of the pram. In order to mollify Coll, a meeting of the Advisory Committee on 11 December will now re-address the 2004 timetabling. Colonsay Community Council has expressed its concern, but there is every danger that our service will suffer a knock-on effect. It will be too late to make an announcement in the Christmas Corncrake, but the Colonsay Website will be edited to reflect any change. Follow the button marked "Getting There" to see the timetable as currently planned, and look again about Christmas if you need to see any changes that might have been made. To get more details of the campaign, have a look at the Coll website. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, it is absolutely scandalous that this petty squabble has undermined the well-ordered promotion and operation of CalMac's vital services. We have been unable to obtain details of the service which Coll seeks to reject, but can confidently predict that it is superior to our own.

The National Trust "Black Prince" will visit Colonsay in June next year, when 400 passengers will be coming ashore to visit Colonsay House Gardens and other beauty spots.

The new Petrol and Diesel pump is nearing completion and should be open for business on schedule, on or about 26 November. Ask Pede about Green Shield stamps.

Many thanks for the latest issue of "The Torch" by Macfie Clan Society of Canada. The review of Colonsay's website had appeared in "Celtic Heritage" but was new to us, and very encouraging!

HIE representatives are due in Colonsay at any moment, with an offer of Broadband connectivity. A high takeup is anticipated; anybody who is undecided might like to apply the money saved on a Sky subscription (see below) towards to cost of Broadband.

The children were entertained by a magnificent bonfire and fireworks display, as is seen in our splendid picture. Many thanks to Lucy - perhaps we should swap cameras for a bit.

COLONSAY STATISTICS, 2003

For the first time, it has become possible to attempt to quantify some aspects of Colonsay's summer visitor economy. A base-line of March 2 was selected, upon which date it was assumed that the island population of persons and cars was at its "normal" level. During the period March 3 - October 31, a running total of visitors and cars was maintained, from which it was possible to calculate the total number of non-resident bednights and the number of visiting cars on the island. The results are given in tabular form.

Please note that figures for day-trip visitors and cars have been excluded for clarity; and that therefore the figures of "Value" ignore the financial benefits derived from daytrippers. There were additionally some 25 cruise-ship visits to the island, also many yachts, RIBs etc, none of which benefits are included here.

The maximum number of overnight visitors was 397 on August 18^th, and the average number over an eight-month period was 157. It may be argued that some visitors were staying with island resident relatives or friends, or in privately owned second-homes, but it would not be true to say that accommodation provided in that manner is without value. In economic terms, the accommodation provider who has elected to accept a nil payment has merely chosen to "pay" the cost themselves.

Calculation of value is highly subjective, and the figures used are explained below. In effect, it is suggested that a couple would spend about £560 during the course of an April week in Colonsay, including all meals, accommodation, drinks and miscellaneous expenditure, but excluding travel and insurance. For a couple with two children the cost of a week in August might be about £1,330 all found. These sound fairly convincing, but some of our readers might be able to say if they are in fact wide of the mark.

COLONSAY'S WEBSITE

It is in the interests of one and all that the website be kept accurate and up to date. As will have been seen from the article on Summer Visitors, demand for accommodation runs at a very high level and it is essential that intending visitors are given useful and factual information. If you offer any sort of accommodation or service, please have a look at the information you are displaying, and please notify Kevin Byrne of any changes that are required. Details of availability and price are vital, but please check the telephone number, email address and postcode as well. It is no trouble to make these small changes, and it is a great frustration to users if information is inaccurate.

Human nature being what it is, people sometimes fail to update or remove information when they have withdrawn or abandoned a particular facility. Therefore it would be helpful to receive third-party assistance - if any user of the website spots something that needs amendment, please email the Editor.

The Colonsay website is about to be re-developed in order to improve navigation and to facilitate a much wider range of functions. In its new guise there will be a notice board, there will be locations for CCDC, CCC and other organisations to publish minutes and there will be ample opportunity for every business and interest to be fully represented. The revised site will appear in due course, but please act NOW to ensure that the existing site is accurate and to assist in a seamless roll-over.

Mr. Dugie McGilvary on Remembrance Sunday

RAILWAY NEWS

On 7 November 2003, the "Derby Evening Telegraph" reported that a Litchurch Lane firm, Bombardier, appeared to be considering closing plants in Britain and Germany, after missing out on a £250m train order to German rivals.

Local MP Mr Laxton's speech to the House was reported at length, and took cognizance of Colonsay's concern.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to bring before the House this matter of vital importance to my constituents. Derby has been at the centre of train manufacturing for 163 years - a long and proud tradition.

Bombardier employs 1,800 people at its Litchurch Lane plant in Derby. It sources 80 per cent of its manpower and materials from within the UK. This amounts to £450m. A total of £30m is on its wage bill, while £50m goes to suppliers within a 30-mile radius of Derby. A total of 10,000 people could be affected by a closure.

… I would like, at this point, to thank my local newspaper, the Evening Telegraph, for the excellent and energetic campaign it ran over the summer against job losses at Bombardier.

More than 3,000 people signed up to the campaign - people from Argyll, Cumbria, Newcastle and the Isle of Colonsay; people from Australia, Canada, the United States and France."

It is good to see such widespread continuing support for Derby. An earlier Highland attempt to revitalise the economy thereabouts came to nought in 1745, but it is probably wise to keep a foot in the door.

VILLAGE HALL SUPREMO

Following a recent meeting of the Hall Committee, all island residents have been invited to ballot upon a proposal to appoint a "dedicated Project Officer whose job it would be to attract a greater use of the Hall."

The idea has met with an enthusiastic reception and the Committee will be left in little doubt that their initiative is heartily endorsed. We are fortunate in having such a splendid facility, and it will surely flourish with greater use, greater funding and a larger budget for maintenance and enhancement.

If we understand the proposal correctly, the Project Officer will actively market the premises to third-parties in order to raise funds, but will also explore opportunities for enhanced public use. If this means travelling exhibitions, opera-go-round, concerts, live theatre and literary events then it is a very welcome development. With the best will in the world, there is no way in which a traditional committee can spare the time or develop the skills required for such a challenge. A Project Officer would be able to devote quality time to the task, and would also be able to assist individuals and groups in their own efforts. As a bonus, additional activity at the Hall will also be of assistance to the island economy, and may even assist in extending the visitor season.

There is as yet no guarantee that this plan can proceed, but the ballot closed on 21 November and an announcement will follow shortly.

SATELLITE TV CARDS

Anybody wishing to view ITV etc. via Sky, but who does not wish to subscribe to a menu of Sky programming (minimum cost over two years is in excess of £200) should NOT respond to the telephone number displayed annoyingly across the middle of the screen.

The number required is 08700 541800; you need to have your original viewing card to hand, plus a credit card. The charge is Residential £23.50 or Commercial £105.75. This is a one off payment, but there will be a period of about a week when you will be without ITV. You must apply for your free to view card before 31/12/03 and the service will operate at least until 31/12/05.

NOOKS & CRANNIES: Dunan a' Chullich

We have mentioned this location before, but it might be worth reminding readers of such a suitable objective for a gentle ramble over the Christmas period. William Stevenson mentioned it in his report published in Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 1880-81. "On the hill, Ben-a-Tuadh, above the present mill near Kiloran is Dunan-a-Chullich or Boars Dun. It was not visited".

The present writer made regular attempts to locate the site over a period of fifteen years, completely without success, and it remained a bit of a mystery until it was finally "discovered" by chance in recent years by Dr. Richard Gulliver during his botanical survey of the island.

Although the site seems to have become forgotten, Loder includes "Dunan a' Chullaich" in his list of placenames. Obviously Loder obtained this list from third parties, and from internal evidence he seems to have made much more use of Professor Mackinnon's work than just the notes which had been published in "The Scotsman" 1887 - 1888. One way and another, it seems probable that Dunan a' Chullaich was still remembered in the 1930's, although no tradition has been recorded.

As far as one can judge, it was a "model" farmstead, created in the mid-sixteenth century and a mirror-image of Dun Ghaillionn. They formed the "twa killoderans" mentioned in a lease of 1541 and it is likely that archaeology would prove an occupation of little more than a century.

Approach the site by walking up the track towards to Scottish Water treatment plant at Loch an Sgoltaire, but on passing the newly-completed filtration unit allow the track to bear away to your right and descend across the heather to cross the small burn ahead of you (Abhainn nan Toitichean). As you ascend on the north side of the burn, Dunan a' Chullaich is about two-thirds of the way up towards the fence, an outcrop of green grass on top of a heathery knoll. Traces of the original entrance can be seen, also the dwelling and steading.

WHAT'S ON IN COLONSAY

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