McColl’s Clippings

BALLYHOUGH CENTRE.

In April the centre was officially opened by Lord Bruce-Gardyne accompanied by Lady Harris and Douglas Hutchinson (a trustee of the Rank Foundation,) who arrived by helicopter shortly before the proceedings were due to start; there was also a delegation from the Presbytery of Lorn and Mull.

Islanders including all the school children had been invited to attend the event, and they heard Major Bristol in his opening speech explain why it had been necessary to develop this centre for the training and selection of Project volunteers, how the work had been funded, and their plans for its future development. Afterwards an excellent lunch was served in the new dining hall, which had been prepared by the Project Staff.

21st BIRTHDAY PARTY. On September 3rd the Ballyhough Centre was used by Major & the Hon. Mrs. Bristol to celebrate the coming-of-age of their eldest son, Charles, when they gave a big dance to which islanders, a wide circle of friends and people connected with Project were invited. The music was provided by Paddy & Libby Shaw from Taynuilt, plus some disco friends of Charles' from Aberdeen. Excellent refreshments and drink were provided during the evening, and a great time was had by all.

GOLF. The Coll Golf Course is still being developed, helped this year by the acquisition of a new mower. The Golf Open was held in July, and was won this year by Neil Morrison after a play-off against Davey Moore Junior. In August the Coll team travelled to Mull for a match against the Tobermory side, which was won by Mull with a score of 4 - 1.

INTER-ISLAND MEETING. On November 5th a very successful (& not especially explosive!) inter-island meeting took place at the Great Western Hotel in Oban in order to get the views of the various islands about the possible privatisation of Caledonian-MacBrayne.

The meeting was attended by Regional & District Councillors, representatives from the var-Executive & General Manager of Cal-Mac, the National Union of Seamen, and two M.P.s including Mrs. Ray Michie for Argyll. Donald Campbell and Mrs. Stewart, represented Tiree and Coll. & expressed the islands' concern at the possible deterioration of services both for passengers, cargo & livestock. However there was a unanimous vote against privatisation and after a subsequent meeting by a delegation with Lord James Douglas Hamilton, the Goverment upheld the islanders decision.

LOCKERBIE AIR DISASTER. After the tragedy of the Lockerbie air crash shortly before Christmas, Superintendent Angus Kennedy of the Strathclyde Police and a well known Collach, was seconded to help Dumfries and Galloway Police as the offical Press Officer. He remarked that it was one of the most harrowing assignments he had ever had to cope with, but he was amazed by the courage, fortitude and kindness of everyone involved in such an international calamity. His duties have since taken him on an extensive tour of the U.S.A. meeting with relatives of the victims.

COLL PANTOMIME AND CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY. Last Xmas Eve Coll Players presented 'Jack and the Beanstalk' after the Childrens' Xmas Party in the Village Hall. This was a delightful and slightly more ambitious pantomime than the previous year's 'Snow White comes to Coll'.

The highlight of the extremely humorous panto was the scene set in the Giant's house where Jack arrives looking for food and refuge. Hiding behind a beer barrel, he sees the Giant tucking into a hearty shepherd's pie with a real live sheperd in it. Lots of tomato ketchup rounded off the tasty dish! The pantomime went without a hitch, was very well received and finished with hearty applause and lots of hand-drawn curtain calls.

CAST Jack - Alan Brodie: His Mother - Pete Smalley; Giant - John English Giant's Wife - Lavinia Bristol; Cow(Daisy) - Karen Taylor/Moira Maclntyre; Bull - Ali Anderson; Hen - Neil Morrison; Piermaster - Sue Galbraith; Salesman - Lee Bell; Giant's Dinner - lain Cochran; Narrator - Vicky Greaves; Costume - Fay Anderson; Director - Mike Taylor.

ISLAND TRAVELOGUE On March 4th Mairi Hedderwick (alias Katie Morag) gave a slide show in the Village Hall on her six month solo campervan tour of the Hebrides. Starting in Arran in March '88 and ending up in Lewis, via St. Kilda, in October, the journey encompassed 40 islands. Hundreds of sketches for her first adult book 'An Eye on the Hebrides’ (some of which were shown in slide form as well as photographs) were the outcome of the trip.

There was a great turnout for the event, nearly everyone arriving exactly on time, which took Mairi quite by surpise as did the most generous ‘silver’ (mostly green paper) collection in aid of Coll Magazine funds.

WHILST DRIVE BY CANDLELIGHT. Over the winter there were various functions of a regular nature such as dances, whist drives and an Easter Daffodil Tea run by the Mothers' Committee.

But the most irregular event must have been the Candlelit Whist Drive. The whist drive billed for the Tuesday before Xmas was in aid of the Village Hall Funds. At 6.50pm, precisely, as sandwiches were being buttered, and champions like Calum and Hugh were honing their actuarial minds. and extra socks and jumpers were being layered on prior to leaving cosy firesides for the Hall. the mains electricity supply was cut off. A clamboat dredging off Sorasdal had severed the mainland supply cable.

Telephones buzzed. Forty eight islanders arrived at the Hall armed with candles, gambling spirits a-glow.

The pace of play and shuffling was somewhat tardy on account of the golden but dim light but all agreed that the atmosphere was very romantic. By 10.30 pm the Hydro station generator on Tiree was supplying electricity. Vision and speed were greatly improved and with £100 added to the Fund, everyone agreed it had been the best night out for a long time.

Suffice it to say that the mainland supply was only reconnected in the middle of May, all being grateful, however, for the precautionary retention by the Hydro Board of the generator in Tiree. This was decided two years ago when the connection with the national grid via Mull was established.

Now we know why there is a need for so many poles on Coll.