Tradition, innovation and experiment may make for a strange mix but they appear to be the recipe for the continued success of An Comunn Collach - The Coll Association in Glasgow.

The Association's syllabus for their last session 82/83 included not only these ingredients but added a dash of informality, friendship, willing support, and the result - a fulfilment of the Association's aims.

A traditional ceilidh opened the session with entertainment in gaelic and english from artistes including Mod gold medallists. Thereafter events followed on a monthly basis. The highlight this year was the Annual Dinner and the guest of honour and after dinner speaker was Mr C. K. M. Stewart of Acha, Coll. "The Laird" as he is more commonly referred to is a longstanding and popular member who has supported the Association over many years and to mark this he was presented with a bronze statuette during this special evening, which included a Contribution from Coll member and Member of the European Parliament, Mrs Winnie Ewing.

Tradition and innovation were coupled when the Association held their first "Tatties & Herrin'" night. Bad weather prevented the supply of Coll potatoes but the salt herring did come straight from Loch Fyne! Music. singing and convivial conversation not to mention a dram or two completed a grand evening.

A ceilidh dance was an experiment which proved to be highly popular and successful. Dropped from the syllabus some years ago it was reintroduced as a result of the general upsurge of interest and support from members. In true Coll fashion the ceilidh dance provided something for everyone and to all ages.

Mr John Crawford from Edinburgh who has a house at Sorisdale Coll presented his excellent Coll tape slide show at a Film Night, and again the Coll spirit was working as an unscheduled and additional highlight turned out to be a visit by nine Coll school children who were visiting the mainland for the first time as a party competing in the Lanarkshire Music & Verse Festival where they gained a total of nine awards. Each child received special gifts to mark their visit and members and friends were entertained by the children performing their prizewinning pieces.

Not all of the Association's activities and events are held indoors or indeed in Glasgow- This last session included a visit to the studios of Scottish Television, a golf match at Cowal when Coll emerged the victors against a team from the Tiree Association and a Spring outing to Arrochar with a ceilidh included!

A special summer event was a gala day in Coll in association with Scottish Television where Coll sponsored an inter-island football match Coll vs. Tiree and a Grand Concert and Dance in the Village Hall with topline and international artistes whose names are household words in Scotland.

The Association plans to continue to provide a social scene which will enable "Collachs" separated from the island by geography to continue to meet together in the same friendly spirit as exists on the Island. A.K.