Campbeltown Courier From Our Files - 21.2.25

TWENTY FIVE YEARS
Friday February 25 2000

 

Ferry ditched!

 

Campbeltown was dealt a stinging blow this week when Sea Containers announced that it is giving up on the Ballycastle ferry route.

 

The ferry giant, which ran it under subsidiary company Argyll & Antrim Steam Packet Company (AA Line), backed away despite efforts by councils, tourism operators and political figures.

 

However, a united voice has emerged this week promising to do everything possible to secure the ferry service under a new operator.

 

Efforts are being made to obtain a Public Service Order for the route which would make it eligible for subsidy and open it up to competition.

 

Officials are in talks with several potential new operators interested in running the route and major efforts are being made to try to have the service up and running for this coming season.

 

Announcing that Sea Containers was abandoning the route, AA Line Managing Director Hamish Ross claimed that he had looked at ‘every conceivable possible opportunity’ but could not justify keeping the route - even when offered a rumoured six-figure funding package.

 

He said: "It should be remembered that, apart from assistance last year with marketing support costs, AA Line received no funding or subsidy for the service or for the purchase of the MV Claymore."

 

He went on to say that the recent funding package offered by the Northern Ireland and Scottish Executives was not enough.

 

He told The Courier: "We particularly appreciate the efforts of the Minister of State at the Scotland Office, Mr Brian Wilson MP over the last few weeks in formulating a proposed package of support, but it was insufficient to cover estimated losses."

 

Despite constant complaints for the last two years that not enough was being done by Sea Containers to market the route, Mr Ross was adamant that the company spent a "great deal of time" marketing the route and "could not have done more" to promote it.

 

Brian Wilson said that the Scottish Executive went "as far as possible" to stop Sea Containers from leaving, including an offer to seek European approval for a direct operating subsidy. He has now resolved to offer the same package of support to a new operator.

 

Neil sees how the Vikings did it!

 

Neil Baird from Tarbert was part of the HMS Shetland crew which came face to face with sailors from a different age during Up Helly Aa, a Viking festival held every year in the Shetland Isles.

 

The Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel had taken a short break from her fishery protection duties to berth in the islands’ capital, Lerwick.

 

Up Helly Aa is a descendant of the ancient feast of Yule, which the Vikings held to celebrate the rebirth of the sun after the long winter nights.

 

HMS Shetland hosted a party of Vikings on board and supplied a six-man crew to take part in the traditional Yule rowing race against local boat clubs.

 

It was Neil’s third visit to the islands but his first experience of the Up Helly Aa festival.

 

Thirty-seven-year-old Neil, who joined the Royal Navy in 1978 a year after he left Tarbert Academy, has spent 17 of his 21 years on fishery protection vessels, including three years on HMS Shetland. His role on board is Leading Radio Operator and he also runs the ship’s canteen.

 

Since leaving the Northern Isles, HMS Shetland has resumed her fishery protection duties. She is one of five patrol vessels monitoring 80,000 square miles of fishing waters around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

 

As well as helping to enforce international legislation governing the fishing industry, she is often called upon to help fishing vessels in difficulty.

FIFTY YEARS AGO
Thursday February 20 1975

 

Argylls on recruiting drive

 

The recruiting team of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders visited Campbeltown last Thursday, on a one day recruiting drive.

 

The display unit and attachments were attractively laid out at the harbour side car parking place, and W.O. Sutherland of the team revealed that there were five enquiries during the short visit to the town.

 

"Campbeltown," he said, "compares favourably with similar-sized burghs in Argyll, and indeed, is considered a good recruiting area."

 

W.O. Sutherland, before leaving the town, paid a very fine compliment to the excellent service the team experienced in a local hotel and remarked on the kindness of the local people to the members of the team during their stay in the "Wee Toun".

 

The team hope to be back in the town on April 14.

 

Warrant Officer Sutherland tells us that the 1st Battalion of the Jocks are at present serving at Osnabruck in Germany. They are to be operating as a mounted mechanised unit there for four years.

 

The recruiting team also visited Lochgilphead and Tarbert.

 

In Campbeltown some of the team were invited to a private party on the Thursday evening of their visit.

 

"In general," said Mr Sutherland, "the hospitality of the townspeople can only be described as excellent."

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Saturday February 21 1925

 

Skipness Ploughing Match

 

The following gentlemen have agreed to act as judges at the forthcoming ploughing match at Skipness next week: Ploughing, Messers A. M’Sporran, Point Farm, Tayinloan; Malcolm M’Lean, Brackley; Gilbert Livingstone, West Fernoch, Lochgilphead.

 

Horses and Harness, Messrs Matthew Andrew, Drimvore, and John Mitchell, Kilochonoch, Kilmichael-Glassary.

 

Parish council meeting

 

A statutory meeting of the Parish Council of Saddell and Skipness was held in the Schoolhouse, Carradale, when the following members were present:- Rev. J. A. Argyll Baker, M.A. (chairman), Mr J. MacLeod Campbell and Mr Wm. Semple. The roll of poor was revised.

 

Claim from the Parish of Glasgow, was submitted and admitted. A claim was also submitted from the Parish of Lochgoilhead, and was left in the Inspector’s hands to deal with. Some accounts were passed for payment.