"…. the telephone system. Our house, the old Tigh na Mara, was the Post Office and Telephone Exchange, linked to Tiree. The New Castle, Acha and the Lodge were the only connections on the island. By special arrangement the locals were allowed to use the service on occasion. My father sold gramophone records and when the Tiree folk got to know of this they were keen to buy but wanted to hear the selection before sending any money. "No bother!" said my father, "Just pick up the 'phone!" And that's what he did - played the records over the 'phone to Tiree. Songs with singers like Neil MacLean, Jenny Curry and Margaret Duncan - our Thirties 'Top of the Pops'

Robert Sturgeon