Construction of a particularly public nature seems to have played a major part in village life over the past year, with both Hotel and Bed and Breakfast trades benefiting from the extra custom of billeted workmen.

Down at the pier, Caledonian MacBrayne completed the construction of a new ticket office and pier store/waiting room. Passengers must now purchase their tickets before they board the boat and waiting behind the ticket counter in a newly created job is Pat Graham.

In the village there is a new Fire Station - which has already been given enough of a mention between these covers - and less visible, but no less important, is the new sewerage system for Arinagour. An enormous hole by the Middle Pier will shortly accommodate a very big septic tank.

Moving a little way beyond the village, the Doctors' House and Surgery are currently undergoing a major facelift. Work is not completed yet, but soon islanders will enjoy all the benefits of a purpose- built surgery.

People
It is never easy to keep track of who lives here and who doesn't, but the arrival of an empty furniture removal van does signify quite a momentous move - and there have been a number of these over the past year. Fond farewells go to Colleen and Deryck Stove and family; Tina and Alfie Simpson and family; Dr Geraldine de Mornay; Mike, Karen and Emily Taylor and Margaret and Sandy Munro and family. We shall miss them all.

Arriving with a full furniture van are Dr George Carle, his wife Eilidh and their children Erin and Ethan. Also making a move to the island are Tom and Elizabeth Davidson. A warm welcome to them all.

Jessica Bell, eldest daughter of Lee Bell, Arinagour, has successfully been selected to go overseas with Project Trust for a year. Eighteen year old Jessica has almost completed her studies at Oban High School.

Stewart Kennedy, eldest son of Ian and Gail Kennedy and former pupil of Arinagour Primary School, graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a BSc (First Class Honours) in Quantity Surveying. He is currently on a Masters Course in Facilities Management.

An Easter Concert
There was standing room only for latecomers as Arinagour Village Hall filled up for an evening of outstanding musical and dramatic entertainment on Easter Saturday.

To open the programme the Malin Ceilidh Band (with Ron Davies on the drums, Lavinia Bristol on the keyboard, Will Tunnell on the fiddle, Tammie Rutherford playing the flute and the whistle and Patrick Rutherford on guitar) played some lively tunes to set the hand-clapping, foottapping tone which prevailed throughout the evening.

Continuing on an upbeat musical note, guitarists Allan MacKechnie and Patrick Rutherford played two excellent instrumentals of their own composition.

Next to take the floor, aptly and sprucely attired in his kilt, was Ali Anderson, with an interesting and amusing tale of MacSponran.

John Porrelli, in fine singing form, took the more senior members of the audience hack to the headier days of the 50s and 60s with first `The Ballad of Bethnal Green' and secondly, accompanied by the Malin Ceilidh Band, 'Putting on the Style', to which few could resist singing along.

That great double act, Lee Bell and Moira Macintyre, could do no wrong in their 'retiral performance' as they sang old Scottish favourites `Roaming in the Gloaming', `Will You Stop Your Tickling Jock', `I Love a Lassie' and `The Bonny Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond', accompanied by Lavinia Bristol on the keyboard.

Music was back on the agenda next with Will Tunnell on the fiddle accompanied by Patrick Rutherford and Ron Davies. A melody on the harmonica `Dancing With Molly' by Ron Davies followed, accompanied by Patrick Rutherford and Lavinia Bristol.

The first half concluded with more lively tunes from the band and an impromptu dance from Mistresses Bell and Maclntyre who, overwhelmed by the tumultuous applause, might reconsider their plans for retirement.

After a sociable interval, the second half opened with tunes on the keyboard by Amy Mitchell, aged 9. The schoolchildren then sang `Where Have the Seals Gone?' accompanied by Headteacher Lorna Barr on the keyboard. Amy Mitchell and Helena Porrelli played two recorder tunes.

Then, once again, for those who have not yet heard it, Peter Smalley recited the tale of the unfortunate Albert and his encounter with the lion at the zoo.

The stage was now set for the climax of the evening: `This is Your Life' as presented by Michael Aspirin (John Fraser, where did he get that tie?) to a very unsuspecting Brian Maclntyre.

In rapid succession we met and heard from Nannie Miss Terchance (Lavinia Bristol); Great Grannie and Granpa Ramsbottom (Peter Smalley and Ron Davies); Miss Henrietta Lochgelly (Mairi Hedderwick); Allie All-Black (Ali Anderson); the Ded Leppelins (Allan MacKechnie, Neil Morrison and John Porrelli); Slack Gretel (Isobel Hume); Miss Whiplash (Lee Bell); Lily Savaged (Lachie Neil Bristol) and Charlie Birdseye (Charlie Self), not to mention the long suffering wife, Moira. There was scarcely a dry eye in the room.

The evening was very ably coordinated by Peter Smalley and scriptwriter of the sketch was Main Hedderwick. £614 was raised for Jessica Bell as part of her fund raising for her forthcoming trip with Project Trust.