BANK HOLIDAY EDITION
A little less news than usual perhaps, but that reflects a fairly quiet time locally. Breezy, not so many visitors as usual and everybody very busy in connection with the big IaaO conference. The conference went well, despite difficult weather conditions on the Wednesday, but has not been reported here as it will no doubt be covered elsewhere.
CONCEALED DANGEROUS GOODS OFFERED FOR SHIPMENT
Ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne is advising all hauliers who use their services that they will fully support any action taken by the MCA (Marine Coastguard Agency) when pursuing hauliers who may be carrying undeclared dangerous goods.
CalMac was reacting this week to the sentencing of Barra-based hauliers Barratlantic Ltd, which was fined £5,000 at Oban Sherriff Court. Barratlantic had pleaded guilty to two charges relating to a failure to declare dangerous goods which were being shipped from Oban to the Island of Barra.
On the November 19, 2002, Barratlantic presented a curtained-sided vehicle for shipment between Oban and Barra. During a routine inspection by officers of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), accompanied by Strathclyde Police, the vehicle was found to contain 67 undeclared Propane and Butane gas cylinders. The total quantity of undeclared gas was 1068 Kg.
The unplacarded vehicle was waiting in the queue to join the late afternoon ferry when the inspectors asked for the curtain to be opened. The gas cylinders were found loosely stowed between general goods and building materials.
Propane and Butane gas cylinders are banned from being carried on passenger ships, but because of supply consideration to the islands, procedures are in place to allow the carriage of these banned dangerous goods subject to them being declared to the Ferry Operator 24 hours before departure, so that appropriate safety procedures can be put in place before the vessel sails.
A spokesman for CalMac said: "We share the concern of the court and the MCA. These charges are extremely serious involving a serious risk to the public and, obviously, the passengers and crew of the ferry. The maximum penalty which the law allows is £5,000 on each charge making a total of £10,000. The fact that the Sherriff has imposed a fine of £5,000 should be a warning to everyone that shipment of undeclared goods will not be tolerated."
"CalMac is extremely concerned that any haulier would place the safety of passengers and crew on any Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry at risk. We hope that the outcome reminds all hauliers of the importance of their responsibility to declare to port staff when dangerous goods are to be transported on our ships."
Editorial comment:
The above story has been received and published in good faith. It raises worrying questions as regards the attitude of our legislature, because in the same week an airline passenger was jailed for SIX MONTHS when found to be in possession of a few bullets, although he had no gun and was not suspected of any evil intent. Does this mean that airplane passengers and crew are valued more highly than those of us who travel by sea?
LPG is, of course, gas in a liquified state - it has to be transported with care, and in an upright condition. If it is carried on its side (as is likely in an illegal shipment) the valves become vulnerable to damage - if one of them is broken off, the gas will escape in its liquid form, with quite literally catastrophic results. Remember Flixborough? It is heavier than air, will rush downwards to find the first source of ignition and will then cause an almighty primary explosion.
Here is a typical news story: " 189 hurt in gas explosion - From a correspondent in Ankara; NEARLY 200 people were injured, several seriously, when a series of explosions rocked a petrol station in the Turkish capital late today, sparking several fires which rapidly swept to nearby buildings, officials said.
A number of small blasts occurred as a tanker truck filled with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was discharging its load at the station in the centre of town. They were immediately followed by a large explosion which set nearby buildings alight, eyewitnesses said."
Or another: "1978 Los Afaques, Spain A tanker delivering propane to a camp site exploded 216 people died and another 200 were injured"
As stated, "The Corncrake" has only the information which was quoted and perhaps there were mitigating circumstances beyond imagination, but it seems extraordinary that the shipment of SIXTY SEVEN cylinders should have received anything less than an exemplary punishment. The fine imposed was less than £75 per cylinder - it is almost as if a bulk discount was awarded. At the very least, one might have expected the lorry to have been confiscated.
Scottish Islands to Participate in €1.1 million Networking Project
Island Communities throughout Scotland will soon be offered the opportunity to participate in a new project aimed at promoting their sustainable development.
The European Small Islands Network's Inter-Island Exchange Project (ESIN IIEP) will promote greater cooperation between small island communities and the agencies that represent them - providing funding for island exchange visits and giving small island communities the opportunity to communicate their views to those responsible for formulating national and regional development policies.
The project will involve an intensive three year period of inter-island networking and exchange, addressing key themes which include island identity and culture, ecologically sustainable development and the provision of public services and facilities on small islands.
Alan Davis has established that Malcolm McNeill (on the War Memorial) was son of Alexander McNeill (Lieut. Colonel Madras Staff Corps), and through him the grandson of Malcolm McNeill, Col. Madras Cavalry, married to Emily Bennett, both dec'd by 1865 This is revealed by Alexander's marriage that year to Annabella Campbell, 28 yrs; Alexander's age is 47, with an address at 91 Princes St., Edinburgh and Isle of Oronsay.
Fortunately this has been enough to identify Alexander's father as being the 4th son of John McNeill, the "Old Laird". "Malcolm McNeill, Lieutenant Colonel and Brigadier General, Honourable East India Company Cavalry. Governor of Vellore. Military Commandant of Arcort. Fell leading attack on Prome 1852".
Vellore and Arcot are only a few miles apart, between Madras and Bangalore; Vellore had been a garrison town and the Central Church had a graveyard for officers and their families. Prome, in Burma, was the scene of an inconsequential battle: "In the beginning of July an expedition proceeded up the Irrawaddy to Prome, at this time a large and populous city. Captain Tarleton R.N., conducted this expedition, and finding little sign of prepared defence he landed and took possession almost unopposed, capturing twenty guns, many of them of large calibre, and many war boats, barges etc. This operation may be said to have brought to a close the first phase of the Second Burmese War." In another source, we read that Commander Tarleton's steamers "found themselves without loss or hindrance under the stockades of Prome. The marines landed at once and took the place, the sole casualties being a single seaman killed, one officer wounded in the arm, and another in the foot." Possibly Malcolm was one of the wounded, possibly he died somewhere else and death "leading the attack on Prome" sounded more glorious? [See also, letter below just received from Roderick Drummond, with additional detail).
It is interesting to note that the grandson, Calum Beag, died of malaria on the Western Front in the Great War. In addition to "Ptomi", information on Annabella Campbell and Emily Bennett would be of interest - possibly the latter was Irish and may have married and/or died in India? Could Annabella have been a daughter of Sir Colin Campbell? She was brought up at "Blairshaw (?), Ayrshire".
Work on "Colonsay's Fallen" is on target for publication in July. Anybody wishing to support this project is invited to contact House of Lochar or The Editor now. No payment will be taken before publication, and the list of subscribers to the limited edition will be included in the published work. Response to date has been very encouraging, but the support of another ten or twelve persons would be most welcome.
Thanks to Mike Peacock, RSPB for the following information:
"The number of singing male corncrakes on Colonsay and Oronsay continues to increase with (16) 2002 and (19) 2003 on Colonsay and (9) 2002 and (13) 2003 on oronsay. There is a concentration of birds at Machrins Farm, with (9) 2002 and (8) 2003. Garvard and Scalasaig farms attracted birds for the first time in 2002, with birds returning in 2003. In 2003, two birds were calling from Seal Island where there are large stands of nettle and hogweed."
Mike's comments were published in "Corncrake Newsletter and Initiative Report 2002/2003" and was part of a comprehensive review of an encouraging situation. In 2003, observers recorded 830 calling males in the entire UK, an increase of 73% in ten short years. The authors of the study are particularly interested in reports from "outwith the core areas" so readers elsewhere are urged to make the effort to submit additional information. Here in Colonsay there is ample opportunity to listen to the bird, but it is of course a criminal offence to disturb it in any way - do not try to approach or flush a calling bird; stay on the road and you will do no harm.
Incidentally, the first cuckoo arrived at Scalasaig about April 10th. And David Jardine kindly mentions the presence of a Mute Swan on Mid and West Loch Fada - "a rather out of the ordinary sighting; I am aware of 3 other records in the last 30 years...but it was my first! Also still a Moorhen on Loch Fada - less than regular".
Although there has been no further correspondence since the letter in our last issue, many people seem to feel that the writer had a point. Since then, it is understood that feedback from the recent IaaO drew unfavourable attention to the general state of our island. Coincidentally, the subject has also been discussed by Colonsay Community Council and is to be given further consideration.
At the CCC meeting, it was agreed that it was hard to know where to begin, not least because through familiarity we residents are barely conscious of any problem. Therefore, to help councillors in this task, all readers of "The Corncrake" are kindly requested to identify the three or four locations which they think could most benefit from some sort of intervention. Please identify those sites which are particularly untidy or unappealling, either through neglect or any other cause, also sites which are unexceptional but which would benefit from some attention. Mention as many as you like, but please rank them in order of importance.
This exercise is open to visitors and islanders alike - if there is anything that you regard as an environmental blot, this is your chance to help. Just send your contributions to The Editor and they will be carefully noted; CCC want to identify any areas of particular concern, and will then find ways to address them. No individual response will be published, but it might be possible to publish some sort of summary of any concerns expressed.
Hamish Grant is convalescent at home have suffered a fractured hip; the non-nursing saga drags on, no real news; two island patients have recently been removed to the mainland; Keith Johnston's "Hebridean" has safely arrived in Colonsay, a magnificent Red Bay RIB, still undergoing trials; house kits for Drumclach and four-and-a-half Glassard have arrived; the Corncrake was heard at Archie's on 26th April; the site has been prepared for the shop extension; Christine and Seamus have become engaged; two policemen were here to investigate malicious reports about local residents - we hope to identify their source in our next issue; a mainland enterprise is rumoured to be planning to site a number of caravans at Scalasaig near the Pantry; filming is under way for a tv programme celebrating an aspect of the island year; Donald Gibbie reports a 30 foot whale ashore in Ardskenish; Andrew has gone to collect "Heidi" from Crinan; remember that the Wednesday ferry has a special timetable from 26 May onwards; magnificent Early Purple orchids in bloom.
Please note that there is also a Notice Board on the Homepage; anybody wishing to publicise any event or attraction is invited to send details to the Editor.
CHURCH SERVICES: Weekly Services are held each Sunday at 11.30 a.m. The Church of Scotland and the Baptist Church work closely together and frequently hold joint services - please see notice at Shop for details of venue. All are welcome and our visitors are cordially invited to join the island congregation. Immediate schedule is:
2nd May Marshall Gibson, at Church of Scotland
9th May Marshall Gibson, at Baptist Church
16th May Freda Marshall, at Church of Scotland
23rd May John McAlpine, at Baptist Church
30th May John McAlpine, at Church of Scotland
BOAT TRIPS: Daily boat trips operate throughout the season; details are elsewhere on this site, also comprehensive brochures are available at Hotel, Shop, Pantry, Bookshop etc.
STOKES MEMORIALS will be in Colonsay in May or June to work at the graveyard. Telephone 01369 702162 for further details.
Clan Macfie will be holding its 15th International Gathering and 9th Clan Parliament in Inverness from 6th to 11th September 2005. This will be followed immediately by a Clan visit to the historic homeland the Islands of Colonsay and Oronsay.
Dates for the Colonsay visit are (subject to CalMac timetables in 2005) arrive on Sunday 11th September, depart on Wednesday 14th September or later should members so wish.
All Clan members have been notified that they are individually responsible for arranging their own accommodation reservations and payments.
Further details from: Clan Macfie Secretariat Email: macfie@austarnet.com.au
Clan Macfie Home Page address: http://www.orishanet.com/clanmacfie/
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.
Dear Sir,
I was given your name and address from the "Oban Times". I was extremely interested in the article printed a few weeeks ago about the group of Italians that visited Colonsay. Did they know that one of the "Arandora Star" lifeboars lies on Mull? I know several people that remember, as children, when the boat was hauled up the beach. There is not much of her left as you can see from the photos. I often visit that beach when I am over and was last there two days ago, and purely by chance met a lady who knew exactly what I was talking about, as her father, obviously as a boy, was there when the boat was brought ashore.
Yours truly,
Margaret G. Jack
Dear Kevin,
The Lt. Col. Malcolm McNeill inquired for in Corncrake issue 92 appears to be a grandson of Brig. Gen. Sir Malcolm McNeill,G.C.B.,Governor of Vellore and Commandant of Arcot, fourth son of the Old Laird, and younger brother of Lord Colonsay. Sir Malcolm, who married a Miss Bennett, was killed in action in India in 1852 while leading the attack on Prome, and had five sons and four daughters, the eldest son being Alexander, father of Malcolm ("Calum Og").
According to my records, Lt.Col. Malcolm McNeill was at one stage a Captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was awarded a C.M.G. and a D.S.O., and died in 1917. I cannot find any information as to whether he married, nor have I any knowledge of Walter B. McNeill of Glendaruel.
Captain Forbes McNeill and his first wife Beatrice Mundell, inquired for in issue 91, appear to have had a son James, who died in 1846, and a daughter Hester (1830-1890). I can find no record of any descendants of the first marriage, although there are living descendants of Forbes' second marriage to Beatrice McDougall.
Yours sincerely,
Roderick Drummond
Hello Kevin,
Many thanks for all your devoted work in getting the Corncrake launched and the vast amount of your time given to editing it for nearly five years. It certainly put Colonsay "on the map" judging by the great interest shown in it by the correspondence pages. I have printed each copy out from the time that you informed me of its existence. Unfortunately due to Easter and family holidays I missed downloading N0, 92 the first two weeks of April 2004 and it does not yet appear in the Archives. Should I be more patient ?
The Issue 93 was most interesting, containing details of the Oransay Memorials. As we used to make annual pilgrimage to the Priory and have taken many photos of the priory and memorial stones It would have been most helpful and useful if we could have had all those details during or visits !
Many Thanks for a very informative article.
With kindest regards Oscar Bingham
[Have updated the archive now - sorry for delay, Editor]
The Magazine Section
