Oban Times From Our Files - 20.2.25

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO

Thursday February 24, 2000

Council gets a taste of pensioner power as budget cuts begin

Kilmory had a taste of pensioner power as councillors sat down to decide where the axe must fall in this year’s budget.

The headquarters of Argyll and Bute Council was picketed by pensioners’ action groups from all over the area. After their peaceful protest outside the building the pensioners filed into the council chamber to hear the housing and social work committee debate where it would make cut backs. 

Cathy Stevenson of Strathclyde Elderly Forum addressed the committee on behalf of the campaigners. She said she was speaking for all of the elderly of Argyll and Bute, especially those less able, and unable to be there in person: ‘Year after year we face cuts that mean more and more people sharing fewer resources. Care in the community was supposed to mean that we could live independently and with some dignity in our own homes for along as possible. We take no pleasure in having to fight our own corner, knowing we are competing with other vulnerable people in the community.’

FIFTY YEARS AGO

Thursday February 20, 1975

Luing ferry dispute: MP wants quick settlement

Support for the ferrymen whose strike action has cut off the island of Luing, south of Oban, came this week from Mr lain MacCormick, MP for Argyll.

After meeting the men involved at Cuan, he said: ‘I am wholly convinced of the justice of the ferrymen’s case. I am also convinced of the need to get the service restored as soon as possible.

‘Any situation in which an island and its essential services are cut off is very serious.’

He added that he had taken up the case with the trade union at Glasgow level and would be pressing the county council to reach a just and quick settlement.

The ferrymen withdrew their labour at 4.45pm on Saturday after giving the islanders a chance to get to the mainland to stock up. The dispute is over pay and conditions.

What brought things to a head was the announcement that the county council could not work out a productivity scheme for ferrymen which was promised on November 5 and which would give them a 10 per cent bonus.

Other road workers - the Cuan men are classed as roadmen - are receiving the payment. 

The strikers have pledged that they will operate for medical emergencies or to take over Luing islanders who left before the strike began.

An islander said this week that so far the community had not been too badly affected by the strike. There were sufficient supplies of food on the island to last for some weeks and even if these did run out there were plenty of boats on the island which could ferry supplies from the mainland.

One of the main worries of the islanders is that coal supplies will run out, but this would not happen for some weeks.

A spokesman for the Luing Community Association said this week: ‘We will not starve. We can always bring food to the island by boat. But we are getting no post - we are virtually cut off. And the strike is inconvenient from the point of view that any appointments on the mainland have had to be cancelled.’

A county council spokesman said: ‘The position at Cuan was reported to members of the county council at a meeting in Lochgilphead on Tuesday.

‘It was noted that representatives of the men had met the county engineer last Friday when it was indicated that the three men were withdrawing their services at midnight on Saturday, because of the council’s decision that retrospective payments for standby allowance, etc., be not made beyond July which was the date when the claim for these was made by the men.

‘Members also agreed that steps should be taken to have meetings as soon as possible with a view to reviewing the ferry service to Luing.

‘It was reported that private arrangements had been made to get the children from the island to school on the mainland.’

Green light for Iona ferry

Iona this week came a step nearer to obtaining a vehicle ferry service with an announcement that the Secretary of State has granted Argyll County Council’s application to build terminals at Iona and Fionnphort.

The county council has been trying to provide a better service since 1968, and when the roads committee heard the decision yesterday there was delight that the green light had been given before the council went out of office.

The ferry is for commercial vehicles and island vehicles — no tourist cars are to be carried. MacBrayne will operate it for the county council.

The islanders who objected feared an influx of tourist traffic and escalation of fares, and a group of them came forward with an alternative scheme using a ‘Sea Beaver’ and dolphins.

A public inquiry was held in Bunessan in December 1973 into objections to the proposal, but after taking these into account the Secretary of State has borne in mind the need for the improvement of the ferry service for the benefit of the local inhabitants and the type of structure envisaged.

Because of the delay the cost of the terminals has risen to over £250,000.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO

Saturday February 21, 1925

Ancient game of shinty, a wireless talk by Lt-Col MacRae-Gilstrap

A talk on the Highland game of Shinty was given by Lieutenant-Colonel John

MacRae-Gilstrap of Balliemore and Eilan-donan from the Glasgow Station of the B.B. Company on Friday evening last. 

He referred to the great antiquity of the game, and quoted Dr Alex. McBain, the Gaelic scholar and historian, who wrote that the game was as old as the Gaelic Language itself; King James IV included the game among his pastimes.

It has an inspiring influence which particularly appealed to the young manhood of the Highlands. The game was becoming again popular in the Highlands, and nowhere was it more so than in the Tighnabruaich district of the Kyles of Bute. The Kyles Athletic Club were the holders of the Camanachd Cup, the blue ribbon of the Shinty world, while the Club were also the holders of the second division Sutherland Cup.

Both Kingussie and Kyles Clubs had the distinction of having won the Camanachd trophy six times. 

Lord Lovat had been the Chief of the Camanachd Association for many years. In concluding the speaker emphasised the noble part played by members of the Association when the War broke out in 1914, pointing out in this connection that the roll of honour of the Beauly and Kyles Athletic Clubs numbered respectively 25 and 20.

Lieut-Colonel MacRae-Gilstrap is Deputy Hereditary Keeper of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, member of the Royal College of Archers. He raised and commanded the 11th Battalion of Royal Highlanders.

West Highland Cottage Hospital ex-matron honoured

Last Friday afternoon a deputation waited on Miss Maud Wilson, ex-Matron of the West Highland Cottage Hospital, Oban, and presented her with a token of respect from former patients and friends. 

Provost Mitchell, in the name of the subscribers, made the presentation. In doing so, he referred to the good work which Miss Wilson had done during her term of service at the Hospital. 

Miss Wilson had not only carried out her duties efficiently, but had endeared herself to the patients who came under her care. It was always a very gratifying thing to anyone to feel that any service rendered to the public was appreciated, and it was doubly so when these services were recognised in such a tangible form, as in this instance.

In name of the subscribers Provost Mitchell handed to Miss Wilson a cheque for £40. Miss Wilson suitably replied.

Ex-Provost Black, Dr MacArthur and Dr Kenneth Campbell also spoke, and emphasised the splendid work Miss, Wilson had done during the seven years she was in charge of the Hospital. She had earned the confidence and gratitude of managers, medical staff and patients in the highest degree. 

Under her care the Hospital was a real home, and her influence would be felt for many a day.

Ex-Provost Black moved a vote of thanks to the Ladies’ Committee, who had so ungrudgingly spared no pains to bring the presentation to so successful an issue, and also a vote of thanks to Miss Catherine Wilson for her hospitality.