Corncrake Body 1

Les's tyre next morning ....

TROUBLE IN TOYTOWN

On Wednesday morning, Kevin Byrne climbed into the school-bus as usual, to start his rounds - and was very surprised to find that it had evidently just returned from an unscheduled nocturnal outing. Various controls were at unlikely settings and there were signs that the mystery journey had involved heavy braking. Having conducted a safety check of the vehicle he carried on as normal - noticing, with some surprise, John and Diane's Fiat Punto lying on its side in the ditch at the Cachlach Mhor. On collecting wee Lewis at Uragaig, Don MacLeod reported seeing Les's red van hurtling around at about four o'clock in the morning, and then Morag Grant at Kiloran farm remarked that her grannie's car had disappeared in the night and could not be found!

By now, the school-bus was on maximum alert. Everybody was familiar with the story of Little Noddy and his troubles, but this seemed to be a much bigger affair and the story of the Midwich Cuckoos came to mind. Had there been an alien invasion? Was Kilchattan School going to suffer a population explosion in a few years time? Should we buy a bigger bus? Eyes peeled, the young sleuths unfortunately failed to notice Eleanor's car, abandoned outside Follalie's annexe and teetering on the very edge of the bank; nor did they detect the missing keys from McLellan's van, nor indeed those from the annexe. But there was a whoop of excitement when they spotted yet another wrecked car in the ditch at Machrins, about 15 feet off the road…. Possibly it had been dropped there from a flying saucer?

Everybody was very puzzled … what on earth had happened? As the day progressed, Les's van was discovered "trashed" and abandoned at Colonsay House and all sorts of rumours circulated. We heard that Iain McGilvary's car had in some mysterious way been turned inside out (or was it back to front?) and that he had actually arrived whilst an alien was still in it. Later we heard of John Olivant's alarming experience - they say that his caravan was hitched to his Mercedes, did three circuits of the island and was then silently returned; mercifully he slept right through it, or possibly his memory has been blanked.

All in all, there has not been so much excitement in the isles since the moony in Coll ("It certainly wasn't a local girl…", exclaimed an indignant local). At the end of the day, however, we must record that John and Diane's car was really quite badly damaged and as a result they had to cancel their holiday, which was planned to commence on that very day. The police are looking into the matter and the rest of us will be on the look-out for tiny E.T.'s in the months ahead.

This week's crop....

GANG WEIGH-HEY!

The ferry was just nudging the roundhead on her arrival last Friday night when the smaller of the two gangways was caught by a gust of wind, rolled forward and plopped dramatically into the sea. Blame was naturally ascribed to the person who had greased the wheels so well. Captain Cameron paused the ship and held her motionless, like Njinski in mid-leap, whilst pier staff peered into the troubled depths and ventured opinions as to the qualities of the hazard. The witches of Cawdor would have seen more in the bottom of their broths, and their divinations would have been about as useful. Fortunately, the tide was high and eventually "Lord of the Isles" made a fresh approach and was successfully berthed.

Saturday saw the pier staff plumbing the depths with grapples and fiddling around with bits of rope until the gangway was eventually secured and properly positioned for final recovery, whereupon Nigel and his big forklift completed the process. Three people and four short hours of free entertainment for the visitors was all it took. Happily, the equipment was completely undamaged and it is understood that steps have been taken to avoid any action replay of the incident.

THE TORCH

The May 2004 issue of "The Torch" is to hand, Volume 10, No 2, newsletter of the Macfie Clan Society in Canada. Membership there is quite active and the Society has made generous financial contributions recently to the Juno Beach Centre at Courseuilles-sur-Mer, to St. Andrew's Charitable Foundation "Breaking the Poverty Cycle", to the 16,400 km Trans Canada Trail project and also to the Clan's Colonsay Project Fund.

"The Torch" reminds us that the Clan Macfie Homepage is now at http://home.austarnet.com.au/macfie/macfie.au and that this is now the official site as endorsed by societies worldwide. We are also reminded that Dr. Earle Douglas MacPhee wrote five small volumes of source material and research notes regarding the Clan, its Colonsay and other origins, and its activities in the New World. All five volumes can still be obtained - anybody who has any sort of Colonsay library should take advantage of this opportunity - email grandmac26@shaw.ca to place your order. The Prince Edward Island volume costs CAN$5.00 and the other volumes are produced to order, at cost.

80th Anniversary of Colonsay's War-Memorial

The war memorial was dedicated on 20th July 1924. The 80th Anniversary is to be marked by a brief ceremony at 6pm on Tuesday 20th July 2004, under the auspices of the custodians, Colonsay Community Council. A general invitation is extended to everyone in Colonsay and Oronsay to attend, and islanders who have roles in emergency or civic occupations are asked to wear uniforms if convenient. Persons entitled to wear medals are asked to do so.

COLONSAY DIARY

Between 3 and 4 pm on 25 August, it will be exactly 100 years since the McNeill lairdship of Colonsay was transferred to the Strathcona family - see Magazine section below; the school had its Sports Day at Machrins last week, in brilliant sunshine; mackerel fishing has been excellent recently; it has been confirmed that all CalMac routes will definitely be offered to competitive tender and that rumours to the contrary can be dismissed; the Johnston's new house at Archie's croft is almost wind and watertight - five McNeill households are fast being overtaken by the MacIain clan, now up to four; the Port Mor otter has been found dead by Sid, washed up on the shore; "Lady Jayne" got her gunwhales damaged by a visiting yacht, and elsewhere JB cannot imagine what happened - "I have relied on that rope for more than twenty years, this is the first time it let me down":

WHAT'S ON IN COLONSAY

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.

Mondays, 6 - 7pm in Hall - YOGA @ Ł2.00 per session. Call Jo 0789 907 0153 for details

July 3rd - Climb the Paps of Jura - see "Lady Jayne" trips
July 5th - Community Council meeting at Village Hall
July 6th - Pedie and Jen MacNeill in concert
July 10th - Day trip to Iona (see below)
July 10th - Ceilidh in aid of Poppy Appeal
July 13th - Pedie and Jen MacNeill in concert
July 17th - Hall Committee's Ceilidh
July 20th - Commemorative ceremony on 80th anniversary of the War Memorial, 6pm
July 20th - Pedie and Jen in concert
July 27th - Pedie and Jen in concert
July 31st - Hall Committee's Ceilidh
August 2nd - Community Council meeting at Village Hall
August 3rd - Pedie and Jen in concert
August 7th - The Visitors' Ceilidh, in aid of Hall funds
August 10th - Pedie and Jen in concert
August 12th - Development ompany's Ceilidh
August 17th - Pedie and Jen in concert
August 21st - Golf Club Ceilidh
August 24th - Pedie and Jen in concert
August 31st - Pedie and Jen in concert

Badminton on every Tuesday and Thursday

Football on Wednesdays

Dental Visit: 6 - 8 July Call 01688 302105 to book appointment

Colonsay House & Gardens, open each Wednesday 12 - 5pm. Light lunches and Afternoon Teas. Also Fridays, 3 - 5pm Afternoon Teas

Lobster and Crab: Freshly caught, telephone Bill Lawson 01951 200315

Village Hall for rent: Ceilidhean, dances etc. Ł50; private parties Ł75; weddings Ł100

The Pantry Restaurant:
Sunday 2.30 - 8pm
Monday - Friday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm

The Village Stores
Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm; 2pm - 5.30pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

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:
4th July John Cook, at Baptist Church
11th July John Cook, at Church of Scotland
18th July Prof. Jim Parratt, at Baptist Church
25th July Katherine Rennie, at Church of Scotland
1st August - Baptist Church
8th August - Church of Scotland
15th August - Baptist Church
22nd Augusr - Church of Scotland
29th August - Baptist Church
5th September - Church of Scotland
12th September - Baptist Church
19th September - Church of Scotland
26th September - Baptist Church

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.
Note: On most Saturdays, an all-day guided trip to the top of the Paps of Jura (2,570ft)
IONA ... All day trip to Iona, July 10, July 24, August 7, August 21
Colonsay Boat Hire

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://home.austarnet.com.au/macfie/macfie.htm

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.

Dear Sir/Madam,
I have for a short while been attempting to find the final resting place of Antonio Nardone who was a victim of the Arandora Star. Antonio Nardone was my paternal grandfather.

I happened upon your website article and felt that maybe a general enquiry to your readers may be the best option to obtaining further information. I am aware that some of the victims were given graves with headstones, presumably by relatives. However I was anticipating that the majority at least may have been interred into a mass grave and some sort of memorial erected. Unfortunately I have been unable to find this either.

My grandfather had been living in Middlesbrough, in North Yorkshire (now Cleveland) in England, at the outbreak of the war and had been for about 25 years previously. I would appreciate if someone could shed some light on this, to perhaps close it out for the surviving members of the family.

I currently reside in Perth, Western Australia, although I still have many close relatives who still live in the Middlesbrough area. Thanking you in anticipation.
Regards Joe Nardone

Note: Hopefully one of our readers will be able to assist, perhaps to identify the grave of Antonio Nardone. He is memorialised in the chapel at Bardi, Parma, which was built by local citizens for this very purpose. They were supporting the Association for the Arandora Star Victims which was formed in 1968 and continues its work (contact Beconti@libero.it ) Victims are remembered in many places - on July 2nd, a floral tribute will be placed privately upon the sad remnants of a surviving lifeboat, where it lies peacefully ashore in the Isle of Mull. The story of the "Arandora Star" is attracting more attention nowadays, and in September representatives from Colonsay hope to be present in Lucca when the community there will be honouring the memory of all the victims. Antonio Nardone was born 20th October 1882, so was 57 yrs old when the war started, having spent most of his adult live as a resident of Britain. Some were even older - Giacom Ferdenzi was 81 years, hardly a threat to the nation. There are very many people who are looking for grave sites or some form of "closure" - today we received a query about Domenico Pontone, born 13 August, 1885 and will be grateful to receive any information. If any reader can identify any gravesites, please forward the information so that we can publish it - Editor

Corncrakes Calling

Just a quick note to thank everyone on Colonsay who I interviewed in Summer 2003. My MSc was not only successful in the sense that I received a distinction but I also managed to get a job out of it. I am now working for Scottish Natural Heritage on Islay (don’t worry all the interviews remain confidential….) My thesis has just been released by the University of Edinburgh and I am just letting everyone know there will be a copy available at the Service Point. 2003 was a good year for corncrakes. With increased communication between the different interest groups; understanding and awareness of both corncrakes and land managers needs should be improved. Thank you once again for all your input.
Louise Gregory.

The Magazine Section

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100 YEARS AGO

As is well known, 2004 is the centenary of the entry of the first Lord Strathcona into his estate in Colonsay. The following document gives the details and hints at one or two other documents which might be worthy of pursuit or comment. The "Inventory of writs" might open up new avenues of research for the McNeill era, and the references to droving rights in Jura remind us that Ardlussa marched with Colonsay but was owned by the same family; whereas Tarbert also marched with Colonsay but was very definitely owned by the remarkable Campbell family. There was a famous court case, which Campbell lost in a spectacular fashion, and it is interesting to see the judgement so prominently remarked upon in the disposition. The McNeills may have lost Colonsay, but they could still take a parting kick at the Campbells in Jura.

Incidentally, John Mercer refers to "a court case in 1739, involving 300 "fine cattle to fold" from Colonsay", and to a further dispute in 1812. On the other hand, Jura gained to the extent that McNeill of Colonsay built the (Telford?) jetty at Lagg and in 1814 extended the road northwards from there to the present boathouse at the head of Loch Tarbert, to say nothing of building Ardlussa House.

"Disposition by Trustees of the deceased Sir John C. McNeill to Donald Alexander, Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal

"At Edinburgh the twenty fifth day of August in the year one thousand nine hundred and four, between the hours of three & four afternoon the Disposition underwritten with Warrant of Registration thereon was presented by Ronald Brown, writer, Edinburgh, and is with said warrant of Registration recorded as follows vizt. We, Malcolm McNeill, C.B., Vice President of the Local Government Board for Scotland of fifty three Manor Place, Edinburgh and Henry Vetch, Solicitor Supreme Courts Edinburgh, the Trustees nominated and appointed by and acting under the Trust Disposition and Settlement executed by the now deceased Sir John Carstairs McNeill VC, GCVO, of Colonsay and Oronsay in the County of Argyll dated the fifteenth day of August nineteen hundred and three and registered in the Books of Council Session on the twenty second day of June nineteen hundred and four and as such Trustees heritable proprietors of the lands and others herein after disponed in consideration on the sum of forty four thousand pounds sterling instantly paid to us by the Right Honourable Donald Alexander Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal of Glencoe in the County of Argyll and of Mount Royal in the Province of Quebec, G.C.U.G. as the price thereof of which sum we hereby acknowledge receipt and discharge him do hereby sell and dispone to the said Donald Alexander Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal and his heirs and Assignees whomsoever heritably & irredeemably All and Whole the lands and island of Colonsay containing and comprehending the lands and others underwritten videlicet the two merk and a half merk lands of Ballinhard the five merk lands of the two Kildramiss, the two merk and a half merk lands of the two Kilchattans, the two merk and a half merk lands of Machrynaclief and Balliveroy the two merk and a half merk lands of Kilbreve and Machrybegg, the two merk and a half merk lands of the two Eriskinishes, the two merk and a half merk lands of the two Balbryinishes, the sixteen shilling and eight penny lands of Skallisaig and the sixteen shiling and eight penny lands of Garvat AS Also ALL and Whole the island of Oronsay extending to a five merk land the said whole lands and islands extending in whole to twenty seven and one half merk lands of old extent with houses biggings yards orchards mills multures mosses muirs meadows woods fishings grazings pasturages annexis connexis outsets insets parts pendicles with their universal pertinents whatsoever lying in what was formerly the Parish of Jura and Colonsay but is now the Parish of Colonsay and Oronsay and within the County of Argyll and also the heritable office of bailliary of the said lands and all the fees profits amerciaments immunities liberties privileges and emoluments of the said office together with our whole right title and interest as Trustees foresaid present and future in and to the lands and others foresaid and the whole servitude and other rights effeiring thereto including any right or interest we have in (first) the irredeemable servitude right and tolerance in favor of the proprietors servants and possessors of the lands and others hereby disponed of landing driving pasturing and embarking horses sheep cattle and bestial on the lands of Ardlussaig and Knockintavil in the Island of Jura and County of Argyll and the other rights reserved in a disposition of the said lands of Ardlussaig and Knockintavil by the late John McNeill of Colonsay in favor of the late Captain Alexander McNeill dated the third day of May eighteen hundred and thirty four and in the Instrument of Sasine following thereon recorded in the General Register of Sasines at Edinburgh on the ______ day of _____________, and (second) the irredeemable servitude right & tolerance in favour of the proprietors tenants and possessors of the lands and others hereby disponed of passage for cattle horses sheep and lambs through the lands of Tarbert in the said Island of Jura and of landing embarking and padsturing the same and the other rights (so far as effeiring to the lands and others hereby disponed) expressed in a Deed of Agreement entered into between James Campbell of Jura the said John McNeill and Alexander McNeill younger of Colonsay, dated the twenty fifth and twenty seventh days of July and the first day of October and recorded in the General Register of Sasines at Edinburgh on the sixteenth day of November all in the year eighteen hundred and thirty eight and in an Extract Decree of the Lords of Council and Session dated the ninth day of March eighteen hundred and thirty nine in an action at the instance of Colin Campbell of Jura against the said John McNeill and Alexander McNeill by which decree the said Lords interponed authority to the said Deed of Agreement, with entry at the date hereof, And we as Trustees foresaid assign the writs and have delivered those enumerated in the Inventory thereof annexed and signed as relative hereto And we assign to our said disponee and his foresaids all right competent to us to have the other & prior writs of the subjects disponed made forthcoming, And we as Trustees foresaid assign the rents including rents accrued and accruing and arrears thereof so far as not already collected prior to the date hereof, And we as Trustees foresaid bind ourselves to free and relieve our said disponee and his foresaids of all feu duties casiualties and public burdens applicable to the period prior to the term of Whitsunday (fifteenth May) nineteen hundred and four And we as Trustees foresaid grant warrandice from our own facts and deeds only and we bind the Trust Estate under our charge in absolute warrandice but excepting from such warrandic the feu rights current leases and other rights of possession but without prejudice to our said disponee and his foresaids impugning the same on any ground not inferring warrandice against us or the said Trust estate And we as Trustees foresaid consent to registration hereof for preservation and execution In Witness Whereof these presents written on this and the preceeding page by Ronald Brown, Clerk to Messieurs Skene Edwards and Garson, Writers to the Signet, Edinburgh, are along with the Inventory of writs hereto annexed subscribed by us both at Edinburgh on the twenty fourth day of August nineteen hundred and four before these witnesses Richard Barker and Alistair Cameron Grant both Clerks to Messieurs McNeill and Sime, Solicitors, Supreme Courts, Edinburgh (signed) Malcolm McNeill, Henry Vetch, Richard Barker, witness, A.C.Grant witness _________

12 MONTHS WEATHER

COLONSAY 2004	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Highest Max	16.2	14.0	13.4	15.1	19.0	20.8	26.8	26.0	20.0	15.1	15.9	11.1
Lowest Max	4.5	2.9	5.1	7.4	10.1	11.4	15.0	15.7	12.9	8.6	7.8	5.1
Lowest Min	-1.0	-4.9	-0.8	3.9	3.5	6.1	7.9	6.9	4.5	0.5	1.1	-2.7
Highest Min	8.9	8.8	8.2	8.6	12.4	12.9	15.2	17.1	13.8	11.1	11.9	9.8
Average Max	9.1	8.2	9.5	10.9	13.4	16.0	18.2	18.7	15.8	12.2	11.1	8.6
Average Min	4.3	3.3	4.5	6.5	7.9	9.2	11.4	11.8	9.7	6.6	7.5	4.3

Total Rain mm	188.5	39.8	69.8	76.0	48.5	72.3	43.6	40.9	70.6	72.1	157.5	130.7
Last year	77.2	46.5	44.0	31.2	21.4	125.1	62.0	34.4	61.3	122.3	113.8	39.2
[Ave 1951 - 80]	[133]	[81]	[81]	[67]	[67]	[71]	[89]	[90]	[125]	[136]	[140]	[140]
Greatest Fall mm	23.4	7.3	15.2	12.3	10.8	18.1	6.3	9.3	14.9	12.1	21.4	23.5
No. Days of Rain	25	9	13	16	212	16	14	10	16	16	27	21
No. Days > 5mm	15	4	5	5	4	4	3	2	5	6	11	9

Days of Frost	1	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
Groundfrost	6	9	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6
Days snow/sleet	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Days Hail/ice	5	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	1
Days of Thunder	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0

Days of Gale	1	2	4	3	0	0	0	0	2	3	2	1
Highest Gust knots	51	67	60	45	N/a	33	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a
Ave Highest Gust	32	28	28	24	N/a	23	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a
Ave at 09.00hrs	13	9	12	9	7	9	9	8	8	11	12	10
Ave Direction	185	120	170	160	140	160	150	145	190	140	170	185

Cloud cover 09.00	85%	54%	63%	79%	62%	62%	74%	57%	65%	63%	65%	79%
Hours Sunshine	36.2	114.8	154.4	175.0	227.2	163.3	154.4	206.8	122.9	109.6	56.1	24.0
Daily Average	1.1	3.9	5.0	6.2	7.3	5.6	5.2	6.8	4.1	3.5	1.9	0.7
[Tiree 30 yr Ave]	[1.3]	[2.4]	[3.7]	[5.8]	[7.0]	[6.6]	[5.1]	[5.2]	[3.9]	[2.5]	[1.5]	[0.9]
Ferry Cancelled	Nil	1	0	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	1	1	Nil

Regulars

Readers Write

From:
Subject: Lachlan McCaig

The above my great great grandfather was the factor on the island for the lairds, having been poached from his job building the first railway in Scotland
Louis Dunn

Dear Editor,
I so much enjoy reading the Corncrake editions since I discovered this site. Some time ago there was mention of the upcoming bicentennial of that Spencer voyage in 2006. I am a great-great-great-grand-daughter of Duncan Darrach and Margaret MacMillan. I would appreciate any news of plans to mark that event of 1806.I do have photos of the PEI gravesites of many of my forebears who made that voyage. I plan to get copies to send to you in the near future, if you would like them.

PEI was my birthplace and home for 22 yrs and I visit yearly with family living there.I now live in B.C., but home will always be PEI, where my roots are. I'd appreciate any info you could provide re: my query.
Sincerely, Marilyn (Darrach)Hofmann

Editor's note: Plans for the 2006 voyage have floundered to date, as we have not secured the boat. One reason for my planning to relinquish "The Corncrake" this autumn is to try to get time to get the project back on track. Whatever shape the bicentennial adopts, full details will appear here… plans remain ambitious and we will keep you posted - and yes please, photos will be welcome.

Hi there.
I am Alasdair MacGillivray, a relative of Ann Mcgilvray (that's how the spelling appears on the marriage details in the Old Parish Registers for Colonsay). She married Duncan McLellan on 15th December 1835, and neither of their names appears in the 1841 Census Data for Colonsay, so it seems they must have left between these two dates.

I would be very grateful if you could let me know if you have any information that might clarify when they left and where they went.
Regards.
Alasdair (email address is MacGillivray_Alasdair@msn.com

Editorial Policy

Corncrake is published to keep all our friends in touch with life on the island. Contributions are invited and welcomed.
Fortnightly editions will carry details of coming events, special offers etc. Please send letters and proposals for specific articles to
the Editor
Brief genealogical and related queries are also welcome from Colbhasachs overseas, as are obituaries and family traditions relating to Colonsay emigrants.
This publication will hopefully develop to reflect the interests of the readership so please feel free to make your contribution. The magazine section needs articles on flora, fauna, geology, fishing, crofting etc.