Issue 194 - November 2008 - e-mail edition

NOTE - There is now an index of all the "Kintyre On Record" documents on scribd,
including 'back numbers of 'The Antler'
at http://www.scribd.com/doc/6399146/Whats-Online-Here-A-to-Z-Guide

- IT NEVER RAINS - BUT IT POURS

- THE PICTURE HOUSE
- HARRY HUNTER DOUGLAS
- ARTS CULTURAL CENTRE - AUDIT NOW UNDERWAY
- CONGRATULATIONS - HAVE WE THREE J. K. ROWLINGS IN OUR MIDST ?
- THE RED RAIN SLICKER - THE PRIZE-WINNING SHORT STORY BY FAY WEBB
- SEPTEMBER RAINFALL
- EAST KINTYRE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES - THURS 4TH SEPTEMBER 2008
- COMMUNITY COUNCIL THANKS
- EAST KINTYRE COMMUNITY COUNCIL - OCTOBER ISSUES
- A PHARMACY MINOR AILMENT SERVICE - WHAT IS THE NHS MINOR AILMENT SERVICE ?
- BLUE TARN’S ATLANTIC ADVENTURE - THREE (KINTYRE) MEN IN A BOAT
- BLUE TARN’S ATLANTIC ADVENTURE - THREE (KINTYRE) MEN IN A BOAT
- HARBOURING RUBBISH
- GARY APPEALS - THE CARRADALE GOAT WEB-SITE
- SALLY’S WALK DOG WASTE BINS
- A HUGE SUCCESS - 12TH DUCK RACE AT CARRADALE
- NEEDING TO FLY TO GLASGOW URGENTLY ? FLYBE and LOGANAIR INSIST ON A PHOTOGRAPHIC
IDENTITY CARD
- MONEY ADVICE
- ARDNACROSS REFINERY - LADY MITCHISON’S INTEREST
- SEEING RED - TELECOM OUGHT TO HAVE ITS EARS BOXED : A LETTER TO ABC COUNCILLORS
- UPDATE ON MALAWI CLINIC
- SOUTH KINTYRE SENIORS FORUM
- HIBERNATION - by Robert Gittings
- PHOTOGRAPIC MATTERS - IN THE BUFF
- SKIRTING THE TARTAN ISSUE
- ACACIA ATTRIBUTION
- DUNCAN RITCHIE
- TRAFFIC TROUBLES

IT NEVER RAINS - BUT IT POURS - A SEVERE RECYCLING WARNING

Argyll & Bute Council, ever proud of its self-proclaimed titles, proposes to set up its first food recycling service in the
Helensburgh area -

‘The Council will pilot the collection of food waste, recycling material and domestic general waste in the Helensburgh and
Lomond Area. Householders will be provided with indoor and kerbside outdoor food waste caddies (with compostable bags) and
a blue recycling bin for paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and cans. If a premise is not suitable for these collections or cannot store
such bins and containers then other arrangements will be considered by the Council’.. The general waste wheeled bin will be
collected on a fortnightly basis from the collection point on a specified day’. More in next month’s Antler.

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 THE PICTURE HOUSE
Sat 18 Oct 2008 for 6 days at 8.00 pm RocknRolla cert 15

Sat 25 Oct 2008 for 6 days at 8.00 pm Stone of Destiny cert PG

Sat 1 Nov 2008 for 5 days at 8.00 pm (Not Monday) The Women cert 12A

Mon 3 Nov 2008 for 1 day at 8.00pm (First Monday Presentation) The Duchess cert 12A

HARRY HUNTER DOUGLAS

Harry was born in the early hours of the morning of July 22nd 1907 in Brechin, in a house opposite his maternal grandfather’s
shop and linen making business in the High Street. On the death of his grandmother in 1911 he moved with his parents to the
imposing Airlie House and spent his formative years under the eye of grandfather Baillie David Dakers.

Harry, said to be a delicate child, was confined at one stage in a darkened room with suspected St Vitus Dance, but under the
influence of Mrs Cameron, a talented neighbour, became involved in musical and drama activities.

He attended Brechin High School, leaving at seventeen following what he called a ‘slight nervous breakdown’.

In his early teens he spent his holidays with his Aunt and Uncle in Aberdeen and occasionally went with them abroad. One year
they went to Paris and attended a performance at the Folies Bergeres, even though it was quite out of character for them to visit a
show of this kind.

Harry started playing the piano at the age of seven and soon went on to study singing and to play church organs. In 1926, at the
age of 19 he was appointed organist at the church at Edzell, six miles from Brechin, but continued to take parts in local amateur
dramatics, joining the Brechin Operatic and Dramatic Society. Later his father moved to Stonehaven and commuted weekly from
Brechin. Harry took the opportunity to become organist at the South Church, exchanging ‘digs’ with his father which gave him
the chance to visit His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen.

Harry’s father took him to see the Empire Exhibition at Wembley and brought an opportunity to see Sybil Thorndike, and a
young Celia Johnson with Sir Gerald du Maurier in a performance of ‘St Joan’. After appearing in a number of plays, and taking
part in those broadcast from the Aberdeen Studios, Harry decided to give up his pianoforte teaching and to join the Fay Compton
Studio of Dramatic Art in London.

After two tear’s study at the Studio, and a meeting with Tyrone Guthrie, Harry was set loose to find work through the Denton
and Warner’s agency. After parts in performances in Saltburn and Bridlington he became one of Raymond Massey’s soldiers from
Outer Space in H. G. Wells ‘Things to Come’.

Following acting engagements in Cheltenham, Bournemouth, Basingstoke, Scarborough, Halifax and in Cornwall, and incidentally
sharing a stall with Charles Laughton at a charity event organised by Noel Coward, Harry was ‘called up’ in 1940 and worked as
adjutant at an air training school. On demob he branched out in stage, film and radio roles playing Ned Dugan in the radio serial
‘The Robinson Family’ and a small part as the Scottish uncle in ‘Mrs Dale’s Diary’. As part of a touring company he visited
Orkney and Shetland, but while performing in Dundee fell, breaking his arm, and re-gaining consciousness was fussed over by
Peggy Mount – a formidable figure known to many many through her aggressive character in TV farces. During this period the
company travelled 9,000 miles and gave performances of five plays in eighteen villages in Central Scotland for ninety one-night
stands.

From 1952 to 1959 Harry was Drama Adviser for the Central and North-eastern area of the Scottish Community Drama
Association, visiting and giving advice to Dramatic societies, Women’s Rural Institutes and Townswomen’s Guilds, and though
the agency of Education Committees, children’s drama groups during school holidays. His visits to Shetland and Orkney being
particularly rewarding in fostering community drama.

In 1955 in a short respite from the SCDA, Harry decided to lease His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen and run a season of
repertory there. Among the company was Mary Caughie, now better known as TV’s Mary Marquis, Audrey Craig-Brown - the late
Mrs Rikki Fulton and another TV star, Victor Carin.

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Leaving the SCDA in 1959 Harry ‘free-lanced’ as a professional producer. Among his achievements were performances of
‘Oklahoma’, ’Brigadoon’, ’South Pacific’, ’Guys and Dolls’, and the ‘Desert Song’.

The Climax of Harry’s career came with three events, the Forfar Pageant in 1965, the Stromness ‘Per Mare’ in 1967 celebrating the
granting of the Burgh Charter in 1817 and the Brechin Cathedral Pageant in 1977, all were very ambitious events and involved a
great deal of planning. The Forfar Pageant celebrated the third centenary of the re-granting of the Burgh Charter – Cromwell had
taken away the earlier charter, and was a series of fifteen episodes from Forfar’s history. The Brechin Cathedral Pageant covered
the period from a Royal Wedding in 1237 when the Cathedral opened to its recognition as a Cathedral in 1902; all were performed
with tumultuous acclaim.

Harry’s connections with Campbeltown go back to the days when he adjudicated drama festivals in the town in the 1950s and
placed Angus MacVicar’s group second by one mark in the Anstruther Gray Competition in 1957. He also produced a smaller
pageant for Edinburgh Palmerston Place Church’s celebration in 1975 written by Angus MacVicar.

After periods of retirement in Edinburgh, with David Heft in Portugal and Carradale, and later as a resident at the Abbeyfield
Retirement Home, and The Lynn of Lorne, Harry died on Friday 10th of October during his 102nd year in the care of the staff of
Auchinlee in Campbeltown.

ARTS CULTURAL CENTRE - AUDIT NOW UNDERWAY

Following successful applications to the Scottish Arts Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Campbeltown Common Good
Fund and the Leader Programme, the Kintyre Cultural Forum has now commenced with a needs Audit for a potential
environmental cultural / arts centre in Campbletown and also a culturally focussed website. We would like readers of the Antler to
contribute to the idea for the cultural /arts centre and web site which came out of the Cultural Seminar which was held in the
Campbeltown Heritage Centre on September 25th 2007. Since then the project has gained much support locally and nationally
meaning that an audit of the cultural needs of groups and individuals in Kintyre is essential in building a solid plan of what is
needed.

The audit is being conducted by project worker Iain Johnston and will be done in stages. The first stage will gather information
using two questionnaires, one covering the potential users (artists, musicians, promoters) and the second, a survey of the potential
audience to find out what people in Kintyre and visiting the area would like to see in the proposed centre.

With endless possibilities, a cultural / arts centre(s) could be: a theatre, exhibition space, cafe, shop, nightclub, recording studio,
rehearsal spaces, workshops, conference facilities, accommodation for artists, TV / radio studios, genealogy and archiving centres.
Likewise there are many possibilities of the services that could go on in and form a cultural / arts centre(s) performances,
rehearsals, tutoring, recording, conferences, children's activities, storytelling, heritage walks, archaeological digs, tourism, archiving,
volunteering...... The KCF has already opened up preliminary discussions with national bodies to assist with both the needs
assessment and to help deliver on the results of the audit.

If you would like to contribute to the audit as an organisation, individual or both please email
kintyreculturalforum@hotmail.co.uk or phone 01586 552034 and Iain will either conduct the questionnaire or arrange a meeting
for a more in depth interview. We would like the audit to be as comprehensive as possible so please get in touch.

CONGRATULATIONS - HAVE WE THREE J. K. ROWLINGS IN OUR MIDST ?

Fay Webb of Torrisdale has won £50 as writer of the ‘Short Story of the Year, 2008’. This event, open to all writing groups in
Scotland, is organised by the ‘Writers Umbrella’. Other writers honoured include Fran Thomson of Kintyre and Elizabeth
McTaggart of Drumlemble - older students of CGS may remember the latter name.

THE RED RAIN SLICKER

THE PRIZE-WINNING SHORT STORY BY FAY WEBB
The morning story on Radio Four had just finished. Helen glanced out of the window. The thunder was right overhead now; the
rain unceasing and relentless. Restless, she wandered around the storm-darkened room, and, as she did every day, she lifted her
daughter’s photograph. Taken thirteen years ago, at the hour of her glory, as the crowd roared home an untried eighteen year old
beating all the well known names; jumping her horse to victory at the local show ground, the year of her father’s death. How
proud of her Helen had been that day.

3
She replaced the picture carefully, remembering how insidiously, over the following months the glacial wall between her daughter
and herself had arisen. Vainly, she had attempted to bridge the estrangement. Ignored on her doorstep when visiting, her phone
messages left unanswered, letters never acknowledged. Clearly, her daughter had decided for reasons of her own, there was no
room in her life now for her mother.

A heavy crack of thunder; followed almost instantly by a sizzling flash of eye searing light, temporarily blinded her. She sighed;
closing her eyes; Helen missed her daughter dreadfully, but did not regret her decision to leave town; moving five hundred miles
to build another life.

She had remarried three years later, sparking a brief flare of hope when she had received a polite refusal to the wedding invitation;
she should have realised it was only her daughter’s impeccable manners preventing her from allowing the invitation go
unanswered. Helen smiled at the memory.

The room grew dark as the thunderclouds raged overhead, and she switched the lights on; the flickering log fire no match for the
overcast skies, and listened to the rain hammering on the glass. She looked up and was startled; she thought she had glimpsed a
brief flash of red pass the window, outside. Seconds later, she heard the chimes of the doorbell, and as she hurried to the front
door, she thought whoever was braving the foul weather must be completely mad. Helen recognised her immediately. Taller than
she remembered, her daughter was standing on the step, dressed in her riding clothes, water streaming off her hooded red rain
slicker. She was smiling.

“Jasmine!” Helen cried “How wonderful!” Stepping forward, she gathered her in her arms, hugged her, laughing, crying tears of
joy. “You’re soaked, come in. Come in.” She led her through to the kitchen, taking her rain slicker, throwing it carelessly over the
back of a chair. “Sit down. You must be freezing, I’ll make some tea.” Helen’s heart was beating fast and her hands shook as she
lifted down the teabags and the mugs. She couldn’t keep her eyes off her dear face.

Jasmine smiling, said “It’s O.K Mum!” Helen carried the mugs past her into the living room. “Come and sit by the fire.” she
called, “You’ll soon warm up.” Putting the mugs down, she glanced back towards the kitchen. “Just through here, darling.” she
called.

There was no reply. Helen ran to the kitchen. There was no one there. Frantic, she checked the other rooms. There was no sign of
her. The house was icy cold and totally still. Empty. She ran outside into the rain. Still, there was no one. As she slowly made my
way back to the house, she could hear the telephone ringing and hesitantly stumbled into the kitchen to answer it.

“Hello ?”

“That you Mum?” her son said haltingly, “I’ve bad news.”

“I know.” she said.

“Jasmine was thrown from her horse just an hour ago. She was killed outright.” he added, “Something odd. Her red rain slicker
disappeared.”

“I know.” Helen said again. “She left it here, with me.”

“Mum. Are you O.K ? ”

“Yes. I’ll call you back.”

Slowly she replaced the phone, and let her tears fall onto the red rain slicker thrown carelessly over the back of the empty kitchen
chair.

SEPTEMBER RAINFALL
Rainfall totalling 187mm was recorded (between 7 and 8 inches). This was above average for the month (the September average
being 150.9 mm, 6 inches) The weather throughout the month was very poor; and it didn’t take records or statistics to confirm
that. The days were predominantly dull and overcast, sunshine was in short supply.

Temperatures too, were low and felt lower in strong & blustery northerly or easterly winds. Up until the 21st September there was
rain and more rain, some of it very heavy.
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The week between the 21st &27th, brought welcome respite but the month again closed on a wet note with 10mm on the 29th
and 21mm recorded on September 30th. The leaves continue to fall. Autumn has arrived! The rainfall total for the year, to date,
now stands at 1164 mm (about 46inches)

If Nature evens itself out and the wet trend continues in the final quarter of the year, 2008 will probably finish as a year of marked
contrasts but despite contrary impressions, a year of just average rainfall. M. L.

EAST KINTYRE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES - THURS 4TH SEPTEMBER 2008

Present : Shelagh Cameron (Chairperson), Stuart Irvine (Treasurer), Andrea Hopkins, Sheena McAlister, Ronnie Brownie

Attending : 16 members of the community, Cllrs. J McAlpine, Donald Kelly

Apologies : Geoffrey Page, Lachie Paterson, Cllrs, Robin Currie, John Semple and Ann Horn

Minutes of Last Meeting : All present had an opportunity of reading the minutes which were then proposed by S Irvine and
seconded by R Brownie.

Matters Arising from minutes not on agenda : None

Treasurer's Report : S Irvine confirmed that the current balance in the Account was just under £1,500. A refund from Scottish
Right of Ways had been received as they had charged us twice. The admin grant has still to be received from A&B

Community Nursing Cover : 4 representatives from Campbeltown, Jan Armour, John Dreghorn, Louise Burke, John Dreghorn
and Donnie Cameron attended as a panel.

Jan Armour gave a verbal presentation on the current pilot study on Community Nursing Cover. This then led to a considerable
debate and questions from the floor. The main concern centred around the fact that it was felt by many at the meeting that
Carradale, and north to Skipness, was being put in a very vulnerable position due to the age profile of the community and the
increasing need for nursing care. It was stressed that the pressure put on Council Care Workers would increase. The pilot study
started on 1 August and runs for three months. It was also felt that Carradale should have been consulted earlier and we have
been reassured that consultation with our local community will take place before any final decisions are taken. Every effort was
made by the panel to reassure those present that there was confidence in the success of the proposals. However, everyone in the
community has been urged to report any problem either direct to Jan Armour or via Shelagh Cameron on the EKCC.

Deer Hill Walk : A letter had been received from Trish Hurst concerning the damage caused by the Forestry Commission in
relation to the first part of the walk from the playing fields. She requested a complaint be sent to the Forestry Commission. A
apology has been received. This is another case of lack of prior consultation with the local community.

Road Safety : This matter began by a point raised by David Currie, who has to use a mobility scooter. His point, about the
general state of our local roads, fuelled a considerable discussion on the state of roads throughout Kintyre.

Repairs were generally not carried out properly. It was also suggested that any utility breaking in to a road should restore the
surface properly to allow for subsidence. A suggestion was made that we demand the attendance of someone from A&B from the
Roads Dept. to discuss this whole matter.

We should also press for the new road signs which have been promised for months including cleaning ones which are obscured.
Cllr Donald Kelly pointed out that A&B have a new plan for tackling road repairs but so far nothing has materialised. EKCC will
send a letter, addressed to S Stevenson at Kilmory, requesting a face to face meeting with someone in authority. The Chairperson
confirmed that a Roads Inspector, Stuart Turner, is supposed to be visiting our area.

J Durnan drew the Councils attention to a very dangerous hole in the road around the 30mph sign at Dippen. He also pointed out
that despite a number of calls to the Street Lights Dept there were a considerable number of lights still out. This includes ones at
Tosh's Park, Kiloran Guest House, Semple's Garage Shore Road. There is also the need to cut back branches at Fishermen's
Corner.

Cllr John McAlpine confirmed A&B were now "bottom of the league" for the state of our roads.

5
As a contingent matter, Jim Williamson suggested that the new speed signs around Carradale were in the wrong position, e.g. The
30mph sign just after the bridge at Dippen should be operative from somewhere up Dippen Hill. The 30mph sign, going towards
the Glen from Carradale at Kiloran Guest House should be moved further back towards Carradale past the Network Centre and
entrance to the Caravan Park. Finally, with the entrance to the new path to the Village Hall, the 30mph sign just before the school
should be moved back to coincide with the 40mph sign going towards the Village Hall.

Planning : There was nothing to report from the Planning Sub Committee

Correspondence :

a) Grass Cutting - letter from A&B regarding limited grass cutting on A83 between Kennacraig CN
b) Letter from A&B regarding grants for private water supply.
c) Letter from Scottish Health Council
d) Letter from Firth of Clyde Forum
e) Letter from Scottish Government regarding marhes and parades
f) Letter from A&B asking for consultation on town centres and main streets
g) Summer bulletin from Assoc of Argyll Y& Bute Community Councils h) Letter from Scottish Government regarding
"Sustainable Seas for All"
i) Sheena McAlister showed the Chairperson a letter going back to 1991 from The Council regarding vehicular access to the
avenue at Saddell. This could be helpful if Landmark tried to close off the avenue with a rerouted access,

A.O.C.B.

i) J Durnan reported that the quay at Torrisdale is now in an extremely dangerous state and requires a notice advising the
public.
ii) J Durnan also raised the matter of the seat. Proposed by Cathie McDougall The Chairperson and JD will sort out
location, anchoring, etc.
iii) Windfarm Trust grant application forms are now available for the Autumn tranche from Shelagh and Stuart
iv) Jim Williamson enquired what would be done with the dog bins along Sally's Walk when Gary Sutherland moves.
v) Tom Adams requested an update on the bus shelter. He also pointed out 2 loose steps at the memorial
vi) Noise from the Pump House was reported. Cheryl Greenwood, Minute Secretary.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL THANKS

BAY GATE DAMAGE : Thanks go to Jock McCulloch and ‘Ken’ for straightening the bay gate.

WAR MEMORIAL GARDEN : Brian Gee was thanked for helping to keep the garden free of weeds; he welcomes the help of
anyone keen to keep it looking tidy.

EAST KINTYRE COMMUNITY COUNCIL - OCTOBER ISSUES

Despite the Community Council’s decision not to publish community council minutes until they have been approved at a
subsequent meeting, some of the following issues were raised at the meeting on October 2nd and a request was made that all four
should be noted in this issue of The Antler.

ACHA HOUSING : If anyone wishes to rent ACHA housing they are advised to contact one of the ABC Councillors attending
the meeting (Carradale - Cllr John McAlpine 01880 820196) (Saddell & Peninver - Cllr John Semple 01586 554861)

COMMUNITY NURSING : Following the presentation at the last EKCC meeting, there have been no comments or
complaints from users of the service or from carers affected by the changes. If this remains the case Shelagh Cameron will be
unable to ask for improvements or a return to the status quo.

FIRE ALARMS : Owners seeking a ‘Home-fire Safety Visit’ to install smoke alarms should contact Robert Strang. (01583
431704)

OIL THEFT : Following a recent theft and another attempted theft, Constable Malcolm Hannah asks those who store diesel or
heating oil to lock their tanks

6
 A PHARMACY MINOR AILMENT SERVICE
WHAT IS THE NHS MINOR AILMENT SERVICE ?
Everyone can go to their pharmacist for advice or to buy a medicine for a minor illness or complaint. But this is an NHS service
for people, including children, who don't pay prescription charges. It means that if your pharmacist thinks you need it, they can
give you a medicine for a minor illness or complaint without you having to pay for it. It will save you making an appointment with
your GP simply to get a prescription for a minor complaint.

You can use the NHS Minor Ailment Service if :

• you are registered with a GP surgery in Scotland,

• you don't pay for your prescriptions, and
• you don't live in a nursing or residential care home.

You will be able to get advice and free treatment (if you need it) from your community pharmacist for minor illnesses and
complaints such as : acne, athlete's foot, backache, cold sores, constipation, cough, diarrhoea, earache, eczema and allergies,
haemorrhoids (piles), hay fever, headache, head lice, indigestion, , nasal congestion, pain, period pain, thrush, sore throat,
threadworms, warts and verrucae.

Your pharmacist, like your doctor, can only give out certain medicines and products free of charge. You may not get the medicine
or product that you would normally buy. If your pharmacist feels that it is better for you to see your GP, they may refer you
directly or ask you to make an appointment with your GP.

BLUE TARN’S ATLANTIC ADVENTURE - THREE (KINTYRE) MEN IN A BOAT

“You start on Monday with the idea implanted in your bosom that you are going to enjoy yourself. You wave an airy adieu to the boys on shore, light
your biggest pipe, and swagger about the deck as if you were Captain Cook, Sir Francis Drake, and Christopher Columbus all rolled into one. On
Tuesday, you wish you hadn't come. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, you wish you were dead. On Saturday, you are able to swallow a little beef
tea, and to sit up on deck, and answer with a wan, sweet smile when kind-hearted people ask you how you feel now. On Sunday, you begin to walk about
again, and take solid food. And on Monday morning, as, with your bag and umbrella in your hand, you stand by the gunwale, waiting to step ashore,
you begin to thoroughly like it.” (Jerome K. Jerome, ‘Three Men in a Boat’)

THE PLAN

To depart Campbeltown at the end of September, sail across The Bay of Biscay, down the coast of Portugal, out to Madeira and
then on to the Canary Islands. There we will join the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (The ARC) http://www.worldcruising.com/arc/.

A map of Blue Tarn's Atlantic crossing and her diary can be followed on the internet at http://blog.mailasail.com/bluetarn

This annual transatlantic rally starts this year on November 23rd in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Rally is the largest trans-
ocean sailing event in the world. This year there are 225 yachts entered from all over the world. (There is one yacht that is smaller
than Blue Tarn in the event.) The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in St.Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Lesser
Antilles. The 2700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route should take us between 21 and 28 days. The skipper and crew
plan to return to the UK for Christmas and the New Year. We will then return to the Carribean which we intend to fully explore
before sailing back via Bermuda and the Azores, arriving back in Campbeltown in June 2009.

THE BOAT

Blue Tarn is a Nicholson 35 sloop-rigged yacht. The vessel’s principal dimensions are 35’ 3" LOA, 26’ 9" LWL, and 10’ 5" Beam.
By today’s standards, this design is purely a cruising boat, although when originally designed, she would have likely been
considered a cruiser/racer. The hull features a low-aspect fin keel with a large, unbalanced spade rudder mounted on a full-length
skeg. The 35 has a very attractive sweep to the sheer, nicely balanced overhangs and a low-profile cabin house that results in a
handsome look that, although nearly 30 years old, does not seem dated or old-fashioned.

THE CREW

Skipper : Michael Foreman (Carradale); Crew : John Mactaggart (Campbeltown) and Tony Leighton (Grogport).

7
This annual transatlantic rally starts this year on November 23rd in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Rally is the largest trans-
ocean sailing event in the world. This year there are 225 yachts entered from all over the world. (There is one yacht that is smaller
than Blue Tarn in the event.) The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in St.Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Lesser
Antilles. The 2700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route should take us between 21 and 28 days. The skipper and crew
plan to return to the UK for Christmas and the New Year. We will then return to the Carribean which we intend to fully explore
before sailing back via Bermuda and the Azores, arriving back in Campbeltown in June 2009.

HARBOURING RUBBISH
Earlier this year I wrote to the Antler with observations and hopefully some ideas that may help benefit the Carradale harbour
area. On a recent visit I made the following observations :

1. Through reading copies of the Antler I see that various bodies are trying to ‘manage and tidy’ the harbour area. More
power to your elbow folks, and do not give in. Please keep trying, Carradale, with a little tidying up could be an even better place
to stay or visit. Come on you locals tidy up the harbour rubbish.

2. The area of rubbish around the shop has been fenced in. This seems a very strange action. What good is a fence ? I do
not know the owner or his aims, but all he is doing is running down the place. From the sea the place looks like a dumping
ground, old caravans etc. Recently a yacht sailed into harbour. The crew looked around and promptly left. I asked why and they
merely pointed at the piles of rubbish. They were looking for an attractive mooring where they could have a meal and spend the
night. How many times does this happen? Some may not even enter the harbour.

Hopefully all parties will come together and improve the place. Carradale as a whole will benefit.
Name & address known, but withheld.

GARY APPEALS - THE CARRADALE GOAT WEB-SITE

As the date for our move draws ever closer the future of the web-site has become a topic for conversation. Contrary to one
rumour, we're not looking to sell it for hundreds of pounds, although it's a nice idea. We have been approached by one or two
parties, however, interested in taking it over. It must be remembered that nothing in life is free, and anyone taking it on will need
to bear in mind that I've been funding it myself these last few years to the sum of several hundreds of pounds. Anyone taking it
on will need to pay for renewal of the domain name (due in October), as well as finding server space to physically store it on. It
currently occupies around 170MB of disc space. On top of this must be considered bandwidth usage. This is the amount of data
that is passed between the web-site and people visiting it. Currently that can be as much as 3GB per month and some Internet
service providers will want to charge extra for this.

Of course some of the web-site's features will no longer be available when we move. The web-cam, weather station, and ship
plotter are all dependant upon electronic equipment that will be moving with us. Replacing these alone would cost several
hundred pounds. Even the Guest-book feature costs money each year. There is no done deal yet, anyhow, and it may be that the
site will just be frozen when we go.

We have been very touched by the number of emails from people saying how much they enjoy the site and will miss it if it ends.
Thank you all. Gary Sutherland

SALLY’S WALK DOG WASTE BINS

A little less glamorous perhaps, (than joining the fire and rescue service) but also serving a useful purpose in the community, a
volunteer is required to take over the task of emptying and servicing the dog waste bins at either end of The Avenue/Sally’s Walk.
I’ve been doing this job myself for the last three years or so but will be moving away from Carradale in October and so won’t be
able to continue.

The job involves removing the bags containing dog waste from the bins once a fortnight, and re-filling the dispensers with new
collection bags.

It isn’t a dirty job or even a particularly smelly one as all waste is bagged. A visitor to the area recently enquired why the council
didn’t take care of it. Well, Argyll and Bute Council’s view seems to be that they’re too far from the road for the bin men to walk
to.

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We are indebted to East Kintyre Wind-farm Trust who have supported this project from the start. Argyll and Bute Council
doesn't provide any form of help at all. Gary Sutherland.

A HUGE SUCCESS - 12TH DUCK RACE AT CARRADALE

Over 300 people turned up for the 12th Annual Duck race at Carradale. 340 ducks took part in the race down the Carra River.
The organisers were very grateful to all donors of prizes of which there were 11 winners together with a further 2 to include the
booby and "best named duck". The latter was called "If eider only known !"

There was a wide variety of stalls including BBQ, teas, crepes, soups and sweets. This year there were many games for the children
including juggling duck, coconut shy, hook a duck, skittles donk a duck, bowling and face painting.

Once again we were most grateful to Moira and Michael Foreman for the use of their garden, a truly excellent location for such
fun and excitement.

All helpers are thanked and their efforts rewarded them by raising £4850 as a donation to the funds of Saddell and Carradale
Church.

THE PRIZE WINNERS WERE : 1st James Walker - £150. 2nd Val Conley - £100. 3rd P Burns - Cal Mac voucher. 4th C&M
Davidson - half lamb 5th Nick Westacott - Golf Voucher. 6th Hugh McMichael - pair of curtains. 7th Pat Laud - Meal for two at
Carradale Hotel. 8th Donlie McMillan - 2 hours free grass cutting. 9th Sarah Semple - voucher for Network Tearoom. 10th Jim
Cordiner - Special labelled bottle of whisky. 11th Ryan McConnachie- Spanish Olive oil. Booby prize - J Broadley. Best named
duck - Mrs Westacott.

NEEDING TO FLY TO GLASGOW URGENTLY ?

FLYBE and LOGANAIR INSIST ON A PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTITY CARD
October brings changes to the air services between Machrihanish and Glasgow airports. Although Loganair will still run the
service, aircraft will carry the Flybe livery.

More significant is the imposition upon travellers to carry a photographic ID, and in the absence of anything bearing a
photographic image of the user, the need to purchase a ‘Citizencard’ for an introductory price of £5. There is NO NEED to
complete an application for a ‘Citizencard’ if you already have - a passport, an up-to-date (photographic) driving licence, a Scottish
Government or Strathclyde concessionary travel card, an armed forces or police warrant card, a security pass, an electoral identity
card or an NUS or a university or college photographic identity card.

An application involves reading and completing five sides of the six page three-part A4 sheet including a complicated list of
character ‘verifiers’.

Copies of the application leaflet are available from a number of sources but can be obtained from Carradale Surgery. Standard
applications could take up to three weeks, but urgent applications are not effective until the day after verifier approval is received
with £21 in cash or by credit or debit cards - cheques are not accepted for urgent applications.

Children under 16 do not require a card when travelling with a parent, but children over 12 years old will need a photographic ID
card when travelling alone. Be prepared; you never know when you may need to fly to Glasgow urgently.

MONEY ADVICE
Hi Geoff,

For your info - the CAB no longer comes here on the first Wednesday of the month. They came for a few months but became
less busy and they could not justify sending someone down if no one turned up for support. I still get queries (as people need help
more than just the 1st wed of the month) and I direct them to the CAB number or James McCorkindale at the Council. People
definitely like the face to face help. I think that the support needs to be local and frequent or it misses people when they need help
(as I am sure you know). Hopefully with the new posts advertised recently at CAB they can train up volunteers or set up a regular
service in our office again.
Cheers,
Deirdre Henderson
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 ARDNACROSS REFINERY - LADY MITCHISON’S INTEREST
Dear Editor,

As I remember, Naomi was one of the principal advocates of this scheme that thankfully never got off the drawing board. I was a
member of the forerunner of the EKCC, then known as the Carradale Ratepayers Association and this subject came up for much
discussion at meetings. Although Mrs Scott's letter is dated Jan 74, I'm sure the idea of a refinery north of Peninver had been
mooted earlier, possibly as early as 1972. Naomi saw it as a boost to employment in the area but didn't appear to recognise the
downside of positioning a refinery in such a lovely area, or the effect on the infrastructure and environment.

If it had gone ahead it would probably have followed so many subsequent employment schemes into the great Kintyre trash bin
and left us with a colossal blot on the landscape.
Brian Gee

SEEING RED - TELECOM OUGHT TO HAVE ITS EARS BOXED

A LETTER TO ABC COUNCILLORS
Dear Member

You will be aware that the Council recently submitted objections to the proposed removal of payphones across our area. Whilst
we have not heard any outcome of the consultation BT have been in touch to advise that they are promoting a scheme called
‘adopt a box’.

This scheme says it gives recognition to the fact that the traditional red phone box is sometimes viewed as a very integral part of
the heritage of our towns and villages. What BT are proposing is that where the intention is to remove a red phone box, the local
authority can ask to ‘adopt a box’.

In essence this means that if The Council agrees to take on the maintenance and responsibility for the red phone box they will
leave the box itself in situ – though will remove the phone mechanism.

Looking back through the comments which the MAKI committee made in our objections these were primarily focused on the
provision of the actual phone service, not the box itself for any heritage reason. Some might call me a philistine but I can see lots
of down sides to adopting what is essentially simply the shell – a convenient ‘toilet’ perhaps or prime vandalism opportunity
which The Council would then pick up responsibility for … not to mention visitors sighing with relief to spot a phone, only to
find that there is nothing in it…

However if you do feel particularly strongly about the heritage value of the red phone boxes (please see list attached for location)
and you would like The Council to express an interest in retaining the shell (should BT continue with proposals to remove the
phone service) then please can you let me know no later than Friday 26th September 2008 which box you would like to propose
we ‘adopt’ – the deadline for logging interest with BT is next week.

Many thanks
Alison Younger, MAKI Corporate Services Manager

UPDATE ON MALAWI CLINIC

Our Malawi Clinic fund now stands at £1,433.32. The Clinic is to be called (after a diplomatic coup) ‘The Carradale Centre’ in
direct recognition of the generosity of our village. There will be a clinic area - housing two examination rooms, a store, a
dispensary, a pre-school room and, quite probably, a small library attached at one end. Progress has been slow due to a number of
bureaucratic requirements to make it official. The Ministry of Health has now given the go ahead and all the Chiefs from the
surrounding villages have agreed to start the moulding of the bricks, building the ovens and starting the firing of the bricks. The
local people are hoping to have all the bricks finished by the time the rainy season starts (November) and to have them covered
ready to start building next year. Our funding will pay for the security doors and windows as well as the roof. Any surplus
funding will be used for materials that the Community cannot provide for example, the provision of solar panels in lieu of
electricity.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been drawn up so that everything is legal and litigation proof, and no one person can lay
claim to the project or any of the building materials etc. A Project Committee is to be formed represented by one person from
10
each village and our friend Janet who will make up the membership of this body. Progress can therefore be constantly monitored
and any problems that arise can be quickly sorted out.

Again, many thanks to all who very generously helped to fund this project, and if anyone still wishes to give to The Carradale
Centre, we would be delighted to receive your donations. We can all be justly proud in what we have achieved and the knowledge
that there will always be a little memento of ‘Carradale’ in Malawi.

The approved floor plan layout is shown………

Margaret and Mike Richardson

SOUTH KINTYRE SENIORS FORUM
Extracts from the minutes of the meeting of South Kintyre Seniors Forum Held at Argyll Arms Hotel, Southend Thursday 5th
June 2008

Present : Catherine Mclntyre, John Mclntyre, George McMillan, Emily McDonald, Marjorie Gillies, Mary-Margaret Hanna, Alan
Briggs, Judith Falconer, Ruth Young, Margaret Turner, Isobel Johnstone, Janet Russell, Florence Lamont Apologies: Diana Brodie
(Argyll & Bute Council), Agnes Brown, Geoffrey Page, Ian Teesdale, Jean Miller, Ailsa Stewart, Douglas McKerral Chair: George
McMillan

The Minutes of the previous meeting were proposed by George McMillan and seconded by John Mclntyre.

George McMillan read a letter received from Councillor Anne Horn, regarding Carradale patients advising the Forum to meet
with Mr Peter Harper. A meeting will be arranged in due course. George also read a letter received from Alan Reid MP advising
that there were no plans to close Bengullion Ward at Campbeltown Hospital and that he would supply an up-date. George has a
view that there is little or no discrimination regarding age.

An information leaflet on a population decrease at the 2001 Census was forwarded to the Seniors Forum by Geoffrey Page. The
decline was particularly severe in south Kintyre being 16%, although there was a 7% increase in North West Kintyre.

Catherine Mclntyre pressed the point as to why dropped kerbs at pavements were placed diagonally instead of horizontally at
either side of the road for safety to invalids as the way they are at present invalid carriages are on the road longer and are not
insured for roads. Hand bars on wails to aid disabled to enter shops are non-existent in shops. George will check if they are a legal
requirement.

George completed a questionnaire from Help the Aged based on Forum members. The questions related to a wide range of issues
regarding the elderly and discussed proposals for the transfer of Dental services to the Health Centre. Mrs Turner reported on
newly acquired ground at Tayinloan for a new bus shelter. Following attendance at a meeting in Inveraray Mrs Turner reported on
proposals for an alliance of all Senior Forum Groups in Argyll.

George thanked everyone for attending what was a pleasant afternoon and wished everyone a nice holiday break and hoped that
everyone enjoyed the tea and cakes.

HIBERNATION
by Robert Gittings

Over the yellow autumn leaves

A late white butterfly slowly glides,
As if it looked, as if it sought for
Summer and something else besides.
But then the mists rise on the spider’s weaving,
The whistling migrants flock and go,
And half the world’s round head is plunging
Into the cap of cold and snow.
Into the blackening glint of frost
The drifting myriads flutter on,
With one last hope, with one last question,
Seeking the sun they know has gone.

11
 The many die; and the few remaining
In rusty barns fold up their wings.
Yet they, whom Spring’s green light releases,
Carry the tint of newborn things

PHOTOGRAPIC MATTERS - IN THE BUFF

4 Cross View
Norham, Berwick upon Tweed TD152LH

Dear Sir,

So, its come to this. Pictures of young ladies in the buff - as we used to say -posing apparently without shame. I happen to
recognise this pair and the father needn't think he hasn't been rumbled. I'm not surprised he didn't want his name published
(September Issue, page 12). A disgraceful way to behave supplying nude photographs of his daughters to a public journal. And
for what? Not very much I dare say! Apart from this (what next I wonder?!) I think the Antler is doing a marvellous job -best
wishes and long may it continue !

Yours sincerely,
Neil Robertson.

SKIRTING THE TARTAN ISSUE

David Currie wrote to correct the titling on a photo of three children, two of whom were posing ‘bottom up’ on page 10 of the
September issue. He said “I was rather puzzled until I realised that the two representatives of the fair sex were, in fact, Ian’s two
younger brothers who at the time, were gazing into a wishing well near Poole, Dorset during the summer of 1960”.

The Editor apologises for this inexcusable error but, given that that the younger ones were wearing undergarments, and legs were
two diffuse to spot the lack of subcutaneous fat below the knees, he acknowledges that not everything was at it seems.

ACACIA ATTRIBUTION
Neil MacDougall also contacted the Editor to point out that the date associated with Duncan Ritchie’s photo of the fishing boat
‘Acacia’ leaving Castlebay could not have been in 1947. Neil was ten years old when he attended the launch at Portavogie in June
1949.

DUNCAN RITCHIE
Duncan was born in 1926 at the Pier House, Carradale, the youngest son of Johnnie and Meg Ritchie. His older brothers, Neil
and John, pre-deceased him in 2004 and 2005 in Rothesay and Melbourne, Australia respectively.

Duncan's grandfather and great-grandfather had been pier-masters and his father was post-master at the Carradale East office,
when it was in a room in the Pier House. Duncan would help by delivering telegrams. For this reason, he was one of the first
among his peers to have a bicycle, but he caused consternation among the elders and deacons of the church by riding it to the
Sunday School. A meeting was called and it was made clear to Duncan's mother that this inappropriate behaviour must stop. The
two factions managed to reach a compromise, however, and it was agreed that he could cycle to the church, as long as he hid his
bike in the bushes before going in.

When Duncan left school in 1939 Naomi Mitchison offered to have him trained as a gardener at Carradale House, but Duncan
had other ideas. He went to the ring-net fishing as cook on the Florentine and then, when she was commandeered for Naval
Military Service, on the Thalassa. He probably thought at the time that he would be a fisherman all his days, like most of the men
on both sides of his family for generations, but this was just the first in a series of interesting and varied jobs Duncan fulfilled
during his lifetime.

In 1944 he trained as a wireless operator at the Scottish Signal School in Glasgow and then joined His Majesty's Rescue Tug
Service as a Radio Officer, serving mainly in the Indian Ocean. He had a wealth of stories from his time in the far east, such as
when the Mate got cabin fever and started fishing for flying fish from the bridge of the ship. In recent years, he enjoyed meeting
up and reminiscing with his old ship-mates at H.M.R.T. reunions in Campbeltown and elsewhere.
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In 1947, after he was demobbed, he joined the Forestry Commission for a time before returning to the fishing on Donald
McAnsh's boat the Betty and then Matthew McDougall's Acacia, fishing in the north.

Duncan's life-long love of cooking started at the fishing. On the ferry between South Uist and Barra with Christine a few years
ago, he remembered that he had once made a clootie dumpling on that very stretch of water fifty years before. He never disclosed
the secret of his delicious pastry, though. It seems that there was a baker in Lochboisdale who baked big batches of pastry which
he then kept in a drawer. Young Duncan would buy a slice whenever he went ashore there and then pass it off as his own in the
fo'castle. His steak pies were legendary, and usually shared with the crew of the neighbour boat. His favourite shellfish dish on
the other hand, wilk omelette, was probably not quite so popular.

In 1952 he again served as a wireless operator for two years aboard the Campbeltown-based TRV-82 Air-Sea Rescue boat,
travelling to and from the town on his pride and joy at the time, a Norton motorbike. At this time he was also nursing his mother
through her last illness with great tenderness, even to the extent of pushing her in her wheelchair through the fields to the back of
the house at the shore where she was born, so that she could look down to see where she had played as a child.

Johnnie and Meg died within a fortnight of each other in September 1954 and Duncan and his childhood sweetheart, Betty
Paterson, were married the following year. They used to say that they had first met as babies when their mothers were pushing
them in their prams along the Shore Road. Coincidentally, Betty's family had moved to the very house that Duncan's mother had
grown up in, and where Duncan ended his days. He liked the fact that he lived in the house in which both his mother and his
wife had been born and raised.

When his uncle Kay Ritchie took over the Strome Ferry hotel in Wester Ross, Duncan joined him there as handyman and, a new
departure, crofter on the adjoining croft. Some of Duncan’s best stories dated from this period. He couldn't understand why his
first attempts at shepherding were not succeeding until he realised that the sheepdog could only understand Gaelic. He became
an expert ploughman, though, and even began to be hired out to neighbouring crofts. He typically showed great determination to
succeed against all the odds when one of his lambs escaped and ended up in the loch. He managed to fish it out only for its
mother to reject it because it had lost its scent in the sea water. The old crofters in the hotel bar advised him just to give up on it
at this point but no, Duncan milked the sheep (with some difficulty) and smeared the milk over the lamb’s wool, so that she
accepted it again and let it feed.

This kind-heartedness towards animals persisted until his last days. He had a particular fondness for robins and there was always
at least one tame one in the garden which would feed from his hand. During his many stays in hospital in recent years, one of his
main concerns was always whether "his" birds were being fed regularly.

Because of the necessity of going to and from Wester Ross, and the arrival of their daughter Christine in 1956, the motorbike was
replaced by an old Baby Austin car which Duncan recently admitted to having driven with neither tax nor insurance. At one point
there was a police blockade at Inveraray because of a murder investigation, but he managed to drive straight through without
being asked for his papers, as the police were too busy looking at the funny old car with the carry-cot in the back.

The next new departure came in 1957 when Duncan and his brother Neil bought a fishmongers', kipperers' and smoked salmon
business in Rothesay on the island of Bute. The business thrived, especially the smoked salmon mail-order operation, when it was
written up in the Observer by Jane Grigson and elsewhere by other food writers. Unfortunately, Duncan's involvement with the
business had to come to an abrupt end in 1973 when he suffered his first heart attack and was strongly advised not to return to
work.

By 1977 his health had recovered enough to allow him to take on a much less stressful job as assistant custodian in Rothesay
Castle. Duncan's gregarious nature and love of historical research made him ideal for this work and many a tourist came away
with more information about the castle and the island than they had bargained for. He also enjoyed keeping an eye on the
ducklings and cygnets hatching beside the castle moat from his vantage point up in the Great Hall.

The thirty years in Rothesay were very happy, especially having such excellent neighbours in John McAnsh (the son of his former
skipper from Greenhill) and his family. Duncan suffered another major heart attack in 1982, however, and he and Betty decided it
was time to retire to Carradale. They extended and renovated the old house and spent eleven years together there until, sadly,
Betty died in 1993.

Duncan was delighted that his good friend Bill Mitchell had also retired back to Carradale and was a near neighbour on the Shore
Road. They enjoyed a blether together nearly every day since. It was even better when they were joined by Charlie McDougall
when he returned to live in the village more recently. Duncan and Charlie had shared a desk on their first day at school and had
13
been firm friends ever since. All three greatly enjoyed reminiscing about the old days, and they last came together on Duncan's
82nd birthday in February.

Anybody passing his house would realise that gardening was of no great interest to Duncan (maybe Mrs Mitchison's offer of a
job put him off for life), but he did have a thriving vegetable patch until recently, most of the produce being given away to friends
and neighbours.

Duncan's main passion was for photography, ever since he was given a camera by an aunt who came over from Canada when he
was ten years old. He had an urge to record important events in the village even at that age, from the outbreak of war being
discussed by a group of locals at the quay, to the last ever sailing of the Davaar from Carradale, on Friday, March 15, 1940. He
was late for school that day, but the schoolmaster decided not to give him the strap when he explained the reason.

A keen member of the Rothesay Photographic Club for many years, Duncan joined Carradale Camera Club a few years ago and
enjoyed the company and inspiration of like-minded enthusiasts. As recently as February this year, he continued his tradition of
making a dumpling for his birthday and taking along slices for everybody at the Club meeting.

Local history became another great hobby for Duncan after he returned to Carradale, and especially after he started using a
computer in the early nineties. He took to this new technology like a duck to water and amassed a huge amount of genealogical
data on local families. He would often startle people by wishing them "happy birthday" when he met them at the paper shop (his
software would tell him whose birthday it was when he switched the computer on in the morning). The back seat of his car was
covered with copies of old photographs and printouts of family trees, ready to give to the appropriate people when he next saw
them in the village. He also received letters and e-mails from all over the world for information on families with roots in East
Kintyre. He was always generous with his time and resources to provide the necessary information, with usually a couple of
stories from his own memory thrown in.

Most weekends, to avoid the risk of getting in the way of forestry vehicles during the rest of the week, he would drive to the far
reaches of Carradale and Rhonadale glens so that he could explore every corner of the area, identifying and photographing
abandoned crofts and other landmarks. He was proud to have come across a previously undiscovered pre-historic site: a small
stone circle, which has since been investigated, and authenticated, by archaeologists. This interest in the past was combined with a
life-long love of the latest gadgets. Using a hand-held sat-nav and mobile phone, he would send a text message, with the grid
reference of the spot where he was eating his sandwiches, to Christine in Oxford, who was then expected to get the ordnance
survey map out to find where he was. Although unsaid, this was probably partly so that somebody knew where he was in case he
took ill and didn't return home from the hill. John Strang kept an eye for his car passing from his farm at Achnabreck too, and
would come out on his quad bike to have a yarn.

He and Christine were close friends as well as being father and daughter, and they enjoyed each other's company on holidays to
places like Shetland, Norway, Ireland and Iceland. They also revisited his old fishing grounds in the Hebrides and the Isle of Man.

After a period of relatively settled health, it suddenly deteriorated when he suffered the first of a series of heart attacks in
December 2003. Things got progressively worse in subsequent years and Christine took the decision to come up to Carradale to
be with her father in January. Although there were many difficult times when ambulances had to be called and much time spent
in hospital, the seven months together were happy and she will treasure many memories, in particular one as recently as the end of
July, of her father sitting on a rock at Grogport with his shoes and socks off and his feet in the water.

The very next day he took ill yet again and had to be flown to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. On first name terms
with most of the ambulance crews and hospital staff, Duncan withstood these regular bouts of seriously ill health with remarkable
courage and good humour. He used to joke that he had heart attacks like other folk had the hiccups. When friends and
neighbours heard that he was in hospital yet again they would often say “Well, he’s in the best place”. He certainly is now.

TRAFFIC TROUBLES
22 August 2008

Just a couple of days into the new school term and already there has been trouble on the roads. At Claonaig, the bus taking
children from Skipness to Tarbert was held up on the single track road when the driver of a white van refused to reverse and
make room for it to pass. The driver of the van is reported to be a certain Carradale boat owner who has a reputation for blocking
and refusing to give way. The road was blocked for around half an hour, with a queue of vehicles built up behind the blockage
and the Claonaig to Lochranza ferry being forced to delay its sailing. Free passage was only restored when police attended the
scene and instructed the driver of the van to move his vehicle.

14