From our files - Argyllshire Advertiser August 2 2024

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Friday, July 30 2004

Hospital work starts

Scottish Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm visited Lochgilphead on Tuesday to officially start the work on the £18 million Mid Argyll Community Hospital.

The Minister said the hospital, which will provide a range of health and social care services under one roof, would be ‘marvellous’; encouraging more joint working among the professionals and allowing patients to make just one trip to access numerous services there.

‘Mid Argyll Hospital is an excellent example of how local communities can redesign care to meet local needs, one which I hope can be replicated in other parts of Scotland,’ said Mr Chisholm. 

A range of innovative solutions have been employed to make best use of the skills of the whole team. For example, the Lochgilphead GPs have trained to provide acute and intermediate care for the 15 inpatients beds and accident and emergency services provided at the hospital. 

‘The new hospital will help to further promote these kinds of patient-centred services. Outpatient and treatment rooms will be used for nurse-led clinics, for example in diabetes, as well as clinics by visiting consultants,’ the Minister added. 

FORTY YEARS AGO

Friday, August 3 1984

Bobby swings it at the last

Sweet swingin’ Bobby Willan put his act together on Sunday at Lochgilphead Golf Club when with dusk gathering, he slotted a two foot putt for a gross 65, net 58 to win the annual Open Trophy, a voucher for £50 plus sweep money, and a 40 oz bottle of whisky for his tee shot at the last finishing nearest the hole.

All this caused considerable consternation in the nearby clubhouse, where Bob Hendrie was celebrating what he hoped was his own victory, as he was leading the field at the time, also with a net 58.

However, Willan’s dazzling inward half of 30, which included an eagle 2 at the thirteenth hole, was enough to pip young Hendrie at the post leaving him with the £30 runner-up voucher. 

Eddie Brown had led the nearest the hole competition for hours until Bobby struck a superb nine iron at the last.

County Champion, Dougie McIntyre from Oban was leading the scratch event with a 68, when, in the space of a few minutes, first Alex MacAulay and then Jimmy Litster came in with 67s. Bobby Willan’s 65, of course, then beat them all, but no competitor is allowed to win more than one prize, so the trophy went to Litster with his better inward half.

Conditions had favoured the late starters with those teeing off in the morning having to contend with heavy rain which meant that Tommy Armour’s early gross 70 was a splendid score in the circumstances.

Hard luck story of the day must belong to local hero Duncan MacKay who led the field nearly all day with a nett 63 forged out of the wind and rain, only to see the late surge of low scoring push him back to 13th place!

Not far behind in the hard luck stakes was Walter Johnston who would have featured in the prize list but for a 14 at the 6th!

Out of a massive entry of 107 who came from as far as Monifeith and Birmingham, with the usual large entry from Oban, it was good to see Club Captain and golfing enthusiast extraordinary Jim Watson come in to take 3rd net prize on nett 59, this being just reward for his work the previous day in helping to get the course into such good shape.

Afterwards Jim thanked tournament organisers Tommy Angus, Bill Ross and David Adamson for all their hard work during the day, Alex MacAulay and his staff for all their good work on the course, and club steward Mr Jackson and his wife and helpers for providing refreshments.

Not forgotten were the ball spotters who kept down the ball bills and who contributed so much to the smooth flow of play. The club would also like to thank sponsors for their generous support. 

SIXTY YEARS AGO

Tuesday, August 4 1964

Lochgilphead police have dog in custody

Forlorn, and miles from its master, a handsome Golden Labrador/Boxer pads dejectedly around the kennels at Lochgilphead Police Station this week.

But the police, who are appealing for the owner to come forward, have reason to believe that he will not do so for when the dog hurtled through the air from a Morris 1100 car travelling on the Rest and Be Thankful on Sunday afternoon, the car did not stop.

And a police spokesman said on Wednesday that nobody had reported the loss of the dog to any police station.

The dog, which was wearing a collar, was slightly injured in its fall from the car but a passing motorist who saw the incident, picked the dog up and took it to the police station at Succoth.

Commenting on the dog’s disappearance, the police spokesman said the driver of the car could have been in no doubt that the dog had left the car and now the police had reluctantly come to the conclusion that the dog may have been thrown out.

If not claimed in a week, the dog will be disposed of. Enquiries to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Police Station, Lochgilphead.

Argyll pupils leave on cruise

Aboard the M.S. Devonia when she sailed from Dundee on Friday on an educational cruise to Iceland and Norway were 106 pupils from Argyll schools, accompanied by adult leaders.

Both boys and girls travelled from Dunoon Grammar School, Lochgilphead Secondary School, Oban High School, and Tarbert Secondary School.

The Devonia, a former troopship converted for educational cruises a few years ago, calls for the first time at Reykjavik in Iceland and at Andalsnes and Eidfjord in Norway.

The Land of the Midnight Sun will be approached after circumnavigating the new volcanic islands and the Devonia will anchor in Reykjavik on Monday afternoon. 

On the following day the passengers will visit Thingvellir, scene of the oldest legislative assembly in the world, and Kevid, where they will be able to see a volcanic crater and several hot springs.

At the little town of Eidfjord in Nor-way, one of the shore excursions passes Vornsfors waterfall, the highest in Norway with a sheer drop of 500 feet.