40 Minutes on Tiree

Bobbie Garvie

Visitors to Coll and residents alike were amused and bemused in August 1989 to hear the tale of one tourist who, for the sake of (partial) anonymity, I shall refer to simply as "Stuart". Stuart, who was staying at Tigh na Mara, had a whim to take the ferry to Tiree and return on the same day. As you know, the boat stays at Tiree for about 40 minutes only, and does not return again for two days. Stuart was fully conversant of this fact and assured his hosts and fellow guests that he just wanted to have a look at the island, to get an impression, and would see them for lunch.

He was not seen to come ashore later in the morning but a phone call was made from Tiree to Coll to advise that he had missed the boat, as they say. Meanwhile, the story of his exploit, with added embellishments at each retelling, was already spreading round the island. Our reluctant hero was amazed to find out later that a fisherman had offered to bring him back for £40.

But the most interesting part of this story is yet to come. Two days later, when the next boat arrived from Tiree, the reception committee was astonished to see Stuart disembarking accompanied by an attractive young lady and carrying an overnight bag. This was all the more curious in view of the fact that just a few minutes earlier Mrs. Sturgeon had remarked to the assembled company that "he met this girl here earlier in the week and she left for Tiree . . ."

No one really believed him when he told us that he had run along the pier at Tiree begging the Captain of the retreating vessel to throw him a rope.