COLLachs

During the past year we have lost a number of familiar faces: Katie Kennedy of Arinthluic; Peggie MacKinnon; Archibald MacLean; Donald Bremner, Angus Kennedy and Duncan MacKinnon. All were born and brought up on Coll and each has been laid to rest in the cemetery at Cill Ionnaig. The following pages are a small tribute to each of their lives

Archibald MacLean

The Island of Coll in general and the Free Church here in particular suffered a severe loss in the death of Mr Archibald MacLean, the congregation's only elder, at the age of 94. Mr MacLean loved the Lord's house, and it was there, while engaging in prayer at a funeral service, that he suffered a seizure and passed away.

Mr MacLean was born on Coll in 1900, the third of a family of six. During his early years he engaged in fishing and spent a year in the Royal Navy in 1918.

In 1924 he went to Glasgow where he spent over 25 years in the service of the City of Glasgow Police. Older readers will recall that during the 1930's some parts of Glasgow were troubled by razor gangs and it is well known that Mr MacLean, well over 6 feet tall and of strong physique, was involved in the difficult and dangerous situations of that period.

Mr MacLean was a God-fearing man who loved his Church and was faithful in observance of the Lord's Day. He became a communicant member of Duke Street Free Church, Glasgow during the ministry of Rev. Andrew Sutherland, and was elected to the Eldership there in 1950.

On his retiral and return to Coll later that year, he bought a boat and engaged in fishing for a good number of years. His main concern, however, was for the well-being of the Church.

He served the Coll congregation faithfully as Session Clerk, Deacon's Court Clerk and Treasurer until his death.

A native Gaelic speaker, he was not infrequently called upon to preach, and over many years he was active in giving pulpit supply on Coll, Ardnamurchan and in Tobermory. One member recalls that he preached in Tiree, although there was no Free Church there.

That he was loved and esteemed by all was shown by the large number who came from all over the island to his funeral on the 5th October.

Mr MacLean's life may be best summed up in the words of Job 1:1 "That man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God and eschewed evil."

We commit his only surviving sister, Mrs Katie Sproat, to the grace and comfort of the Lord.

Huite Sliep. (I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr Donald Jack for his help in the prepartion of this obituary.)
 
'Katie Arinthluic'

Katie was one of my nearest neighbours, though she lived about a mile along the shore from Hyne. On warm summer afternoons I'd walk over to see her, knowing that, as always, she'd he at home. Mick the dog would hark as I approached the isolated stone house and during all the years I visited, it and Katie were ever the same.

Her room had an ancient iron stove with an old-fashioned black kettle on top, a large dresser, its niches stuffed with papers and 'bits', well-worn chairs and a grand view of the empty bay. Katie always wore a long, grey dress with an apron over, wellies, a woolly hat pulled around her small, crinkled face.

In their total 'island-centredness' Katie and her brother Angus the fisherman, were thoroughly a part of the old Coll community that was already fading away when I first saw it in the 1960s and has practically vanished now.

In the distant past Katie had been to the mainland, but when I knew her she simply 'stayed put' in Arinthluic, her longest excursions being to the village shop and the Free Church. She lived quietly alone and seemed content that the modern world had passed her by. When I came, she'd make tea and we'd chat (about the weather, village doings, her dog, my cat) and sometimes when I left she'd put on her mackintosh (however sunny the day) to come outside and wave me away. I see her standing there yet and treasure the memory; but it saddens me too because I shall never see her like again.

Pat Barr.

Margaret MacKinnon

Peggie, as she was always known, was born at Bousd on the 21st September 1908 and died on the 29th of September 1994.

Her schooling was at Bousd and she remembered enjoying lessons, especially with Mr Fowler from Inverness-shire. On fine days he would take the children to the beach and there they would practise their letters and numbers with sticks on the sand.

On leaving school she went to work at Ballyhough, then one of the many farms engaged in the famous Coll Cheese industry.

After a spell on the mainland where her fine singing voice contributed to the success of the Edinburgh Gaelic choir, she returned to her native isle.

In her latter years Peggie was very much part of a Village day - particularly a boat day. Her familiar figure, shopping bag and stick in hand, coming along the street, sometimes painfully crubach, is sadly missed.

One of her favourite savings was "You have got to he cheery!" This was used even on the darkest, windiest Winter days when the ferry missed.

She was a loveable, independent character who, even up to the last kept a look out, with a twinkle in her eye, for the next bonnie boat on the horizon.

JD & MH

Donald Bremner MRCVS

Donald Bremner died in an Oban hospital on January 9th 1995.

The eldest son of Catherine and Frederick Bremner, he was born at Lower Totamore, Coll, on January 10th 1925.

He was a true son of the croft. Helping his parents with the day to day livestock husbandry during his younger years was to influence his later professional career.

After completing his primary education at Grishipol School on Coll, he won a four year scholarship to attend Keil School for Boys in Dumbarton, where he excelled in academic studies and on the sports field. On completion of his studies at Keil he gained admission to Glasgow Veterinary College, where he subsequently qualified MRCVS.

Apart from a short spell as a student veterinary officer in Ayrshire, Donald spent his whole working life attending to the health of animals, mostly in North Argyll and the Islands, with his base in Oban.

Donald possessed a great personality and sense of humour and had a wide circle of friends within and without his profession, and was acclaimed by the farming community for his professional competence.

A fluent Gaelic speaker he had a great love of his native island and it was fitting that although he spent his adult life on the mainland his remains were brought 'home' for burial in Killunaig.

The sympathy of the community is extended to his relatives.


Duncan MacKinnon.

The island was saddened by the passing of Duncan MacKinnon at Strathcannon Hospice, Denny on March 4th 1995 after a long illness borne with great courage and fortitude.

Born on Coll on January 2nd 1920, Duncan spent some 52 years of his life on Coll, having worked with the laird at Breachacha and, from 1954 onwards at Gallanach as manager for Mr Kerr Elliot.

Duncan married Mary Margaret MacDonald in 1948 and they had two children, Mary and John.

In 1972 following the marriage of Mary and Roddy, Duncan and Margaret left Coll and moved to Strachur where Duncan became Estate Manager to Sir Fitzroy and Lady MacLean.

Following Mary Margaret's untimely death in 1984, Duncan spent more and more time with his daughter and son-in-law and their family at Condorat, Cumbernauld where he finally took up residence in 1991, following the death of Auntie Jeannie.

Duncan will be remembered by those who knew him as a quiet and reserved man, ever willing to give practical assistance to anyone in need. He served the Coll community in the Home Guard during the war years and as a Special Constable in the Argyllshire Police, gaining his long service medal in 1975. He also participated in the life of the community by serving on the Hall and Show Committees over a number of years.

Above all he will be remembered for his love of the land, of his animals and for the love and devotion to his family. His company will be sorely missed.


Angus Kennedy

A much loved son of Coll, Angus was born and brought up at the family home at Torastan where his father, also Angus, was shepherd to James Paterson at Gallanach.

Angus attended Bousd school in the East End of and on leaving school worked for a time at Gallanach before leaving to take up a job as a tractor driver with the Department of Agriculture working on farms on the mainland and the islands where there was much need for his skills.

It was then that Angus joined the Post Office Telephones, now B.T., first of all based in Tobermory, Mull and then throughout Argyll and the Islands for the rest of his working life until his retirement. lie became a linesman and rose to be a foreman in charge of his own gang, and many are the tales of the kindness and help given to individuals and communities by Angus and his gang.

A keen shot with many medals to prove it Angus was a fit and active man with many outdoor sporting interests but sadly his latter years were dogged by disablement. Famed for his humour and yarns, Angus never lost his love of Coll and spent as much of his time as possible at his residential caravan at Cornaig, scene of his Coll childhood days.

He will be missed and remembered by many, especially in his love for fishing, particularly the East End lochs and Fada and most especially as the founder of the now Coll institution of the Annual Fishing Competition of which he was proudly 'The Commodore'.

To his widow who shared his life, we extend the deepest condolences.