EDITORIAL
"Many thanks for the copy of the Coll Magazine that arrived last week - I was very impressed with it. Even if you don't know everybody, you feel that you do and it does help to keep in touch with island goings-on." One of the most important elements in the continued production of this imprint, aside from the dedicated work of the magazine committee, must surely be the enthusiasm of the readership.
Over the past few years, letters of praise and recommendation have arrived from Australia, New Zealand and America as well as from all over Britain. One visitor from California on a fleeting two day trip to Coll wrote, "I found the 1993 Coll Magazine to be the most wonderful community publication that I have ever read - it genuinely displays the true warmth and beauty of your island and its community." High praise indeed! Thank you.
For many, the subscription to the Coll Magazine is a real and positive way to keep in touch with Coll, its present and its past. A reader from New South Wales, Australia, wrote, "I was absolutely thrilled with the presentation and content of the articles ... being a third generation descendant of a Coll native who migrated to Sydney on 20th. January 1888 via the Brilliant, I have been deeply absorbed with the magazine articles."
We must not, however, rest too heavily on our laurels. The format and style of the magazine was set 12 years ago by its founder, Pat Barr together with Mairi Hedderwick. We have continued with little deviation from the original layout and with each year aim to fulfil the expectations of our subscribers. Such expectations cannot, however, be fulfilled without enthusiastic contributors and we have many of these. Each year turns up a number of unexpected and interesting articles, sometimes not until the last minute. There are times when the editorial committee is not even sure what the magazine will contain. This edition has been something like that. As always, however, we hope that the usual mixture will absorb, inform and entertain.
Once again thank you very much to all readers and contributors alike.

The present editorial committee includes: Fay Anderson, Barbara Jones, Mairi Hedderwick, Martin Lunghi, Alison McVey & Mike Taylor. In addition, many helpful and colourful suggestions have come from the residents of Coll.