The first car that ever came to Coll was a black 4-seater, 2-door Ford saloon with a roll back canvas roof. It belonged to the Hotel keeper, Archie Macinnes. He was originally from Uist. Maybe they had lots of cars there for all we lads knew. The year was 1924 and I was 12 years old.

I had heard about the car's arrival in the Village. Hadn't everybody? We lived at Elleraig and with our own shop and all at the East End I had never been to Arinagour. It was another world. The road from Arinagour to the East End stopped at Gallanach. Our road from Sorasdal ended at Comaigbeg gate.

My older brother Lachie, and I were desperate to see the new vehicle but knew it was hopeless even although the roadmen were working at joining the two ends of the east End road. We were walking homewards by Struan bemoaning the fact when, like a prayer being answered, THE CAR drove up behind us. Archie Macinnes had somehow got over the half built section of road.

"Want a lift, boys?" Not only had a prayer been answered, a dream was coming true. Just wait till we told everyone in school next day!

Archie leaned over and opened the passenger door, pushing the front seat forward. Lachie moved in first so I was the one that got the front seat. The seats were covered in lovely soft black leather. The hood was down and the air rushed past.

I was so proud to be the first person in the East End - with my brother , of course! - to have sat in a car. And in the front!

We didn't say a word, so in awe were we.

At Elleraig road end the car slowed down. We had tongues to say our thank-yous but I had no notion how to get out and, like as tho' I was in our old cart, I jumped up over the seat and louped up and over the side window. What a volley I got from Archie as I ran on down the track breathless to tell everyone at home about our great good fortune.

It wasn't long before other cars came to the island. A lot of them had fold back roofs. I think the weather must have been sunnier then.

Charlie Stewart at the New Castle was next. His car was very fancy. Then Robert Sturgeon's father at Tigh na mara got a bull nose Morris Cowley. Neil MacDougall, postman, at Sorisdale had a square 2 seater Morris 8. Likewise Nicholson, the farmer at Grishipol, who went round selling mutton from the back of his Morris. Archie McDonald in the Village delivered goods in his vehicle from the pier to Sandy McKinnon's shop at Struan.

Sturgeon did a lot of hires especially in the summer with visitors. He was the first to get a petrol pump and tank installed. The tank held 500 gallons; the pump, with a handle to turn, was none too accurate. A one gallon dispenser between pump and car kept everyone happy. The site was at Tigh na Mara. I remember the men rolling the barrels of petrol from the middle pier up the brae to Tigh na mara. No health and safety rules then!