Island News & Advertiser

Mairi Therese and Sgoil Lionacleit students star in orchestral concert See Page 10

Superfast

BROADBAND

the facts

TRAVELPULL-OUT Short breaks close to home Coll, Canna, Tiree

See Page 7

island news Edition 08

October 2012

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OPTIMISM OVER FUTURE OF HEBRIDES RANGE The Hebrides Range West Camp.

The MOD buildings on St Kilda.

Taigh Chearsabhagh is looking for Trustees

Significant MOD investment in Uists and St Kilda

200 local jobs secure for now Hebrides Range has been particularly busy for the past two years and its future looks more secure for the 16 remaining years of its current management agreement, according to a QinetiQ spokesman.

Missile firings including High Velocity Missiles eg BVRAAM (Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile) and Rapier missile camps have kept the Range busy with RAF and Royal Navy clients, in a move away from the Army training of former years.

A senior manager from QinetiQ told a recent meeting of the Hebrides Range Task Force in Benbecula that the MOD and former defence minister Peter Luff had confirmed their commitment to the range in future, and that considerable investment in range equipment was underway.

He said a multi million investment in a new microwave link, telemetry and a trials control system was underway on the Uists and St Kilda, and other work will need to be undertaken for the buildings.

He said: “The current buildings on St Kilda are believed to have been destined for Aden [now

Yemen] in the 1950s and are totally inappropriate for the climate. They are slowly decaying.

Urgent work is being planned for a new infrastructure, but has not yet started. However approximately £1million is currently being spent on repairing storm damage to the slipway.”

The manager said that while the skills to operate new equipment were different from the old ones and staff will need to be trained, he did not expect the manpower numbers on the range to change substantially in future. The range currently employs around 200 people.

He added that two more graduates and four apprentices were being recruited this year.

He said that the ‘danger area’ surrounding Hebrides Range is the biggest in Britain, another factor in its prospect for a good long-term future.

The maintenance of West Camp facilities presents a challenge, he added. A nucleus of about 10 staff reside there, but occupancy can shoot up to 500 during camps.

He said: “It will cost a lot of money to maintain the buildings and equally cost a lot to take any of them down, however the accommodation is needed and no decision has been made yet.”

Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust is looking to strengthen and diversify its voluntary board with skilled and enthusiastic people to help us build our organisation for the future.

Since 1995, Taigh Chearsabhagh has been a respected and thriving Art Gallery & Museum in Lochmaddy in North Uist. It is an accredited museum and Foundation

To register your interest,please send a copy of your CV with covering letter in which you explain why you would like to be involved in the work of Taigh Chearsabhagh to:

Organisation of Creative Scotland.

Judith Entwisle-Baker Chair, Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust, Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre, Lochmaddy, North Uist, HS6 5AA

We are looking to create a pool of willing applicants to our board, so that vacancies from our AGM in January 2013 can be filled.

We welcome expressions of interest from those with a strong interest in the Creative and Heritage sectors, and are particularly looking for enthusiastic and skilled individuals who can bring experience in one or more of the following fields: ●

Business management

●

Human Resources

●

Finance (ideally with an accounting qualification)

●

Marketing and Public Engagement

●

Health and Safety

●

Fundraising

●

Law

All applications will be acknowledged, but application does not guarantee inclusion on the list, which in turn does not guarantee an invitation to join the board.

Closing Date for Applications: December 1st 2012 www.taigh-chearsabhagh.org Taigh Chearsabhagh is Registered Charity SC022145

THE FREE MONTHLY NEWSPAPER OF THE HEBRIDES

island news & ADVERTISER - October 2012 Issue 8

INBRIEF

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Dear Editor I read your article with interest following the survey which showed that Uist and Harris was the third most expensive place in the world to buy petrol.

award Ceolas up for H&I touncriesm summer school sic and da South Uist’s Gaelic mu d sted for a Highlands an Ceòlas has been shortli ent in the Best Cultural Ev Islands Tourism Award category.

Film ainst Kingussie’s Food on Ceòlas is competing ag the otland’s Celebration of Festival, and Historic Sc Centuries event. ed s said:“With the continu Iain MacDonald of Ceòla on our successful events progression and building rd recognised for all the ha every year it is nice to be team do at Ceolas.” work that the very small Friday October 5 in the The awards take place on ess.

Drumossie Hotel, Invern mmunity Event at the Ceòlas won the Best Co TradAwards 2008.

2012 Angus MacLeod memorial lecture: A revolutionary view of crofting This year’s Angus Macleod Memorial Lecture will be given by renowned Gaelic scholar Donald Meek on Thursday October 25 in Pairc School, Gravir at 7.30pm.

Tiree-born Professor Meek has entitled his lecture (which he will deliver in English) ‘Pushing at an Open Door? An Alternative View of Crofting History and Highland Development since 1930 from the Gaelic Writings of the Rev. Dr T. M. Murchison (1907-84).’

The lecture is co-hosted by Islands Book Trust (IBT), Comunn Eachdraidh na Pairc and Angus Macleod’s family.

For more information, please contact John Randall of IBT on 01851 880365 .

L POETRY DAY CELEBRATING NATIONAear sabhagh, 8pm.

Ch Thursday October 4, Taigh

Alex Cluness “Stars”

The theme this year is ” mean to you?

What does the word “stars chime with the t tha Please bring poems idea of “stars.” ning, the poet In the second half of the eve g his own readin Alex Cluness will be own stars of the his ng uci rod poems and int poetry world. join in these Everyone is welcome to informal poetry evenings listen to good Come to read or just to poetry being read aloud.

This news comes as little surprise. While the Norwegians may pay a few pence more for fuel their average take home pay is vastly greater than that of the average islander.

Given that the vast majority of what we pay at the pumps goes straight to the UK Government in tax, as do all the taxes raised from companies operating in the North Sea I believe that the UK Government has a duty to act on this matter.

If UK Ministers continue to ignore the on-going campaigns over fuel prices in rural Scotland then they only serve to make the case for fuel revenue to come directly to Scotland and for prices at the pump to be influenced by an Independent Scottish Government, rather than them.

Meanwhile, fuel prices are reaching the stage where they are causing actual hardship for many people who struggle to get to their workplaces, run businesses, fuel their fishing boats, or just get to the shop.

I sometimes wonder if Westminister has any idea of the human impact of fuel prices in the islands, and I would encourage your paper to continue to campaign on this issue.

Yours sincerely, Alasdair Allan MSP Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Hebrides wildlife TV series to screen next year A landmark natural history series on

the Hebrides will air on BBC television from next spring.

The series, some three years in the making, has received ‘the full blue chip treatment usually reserved for places like the Arctic and Antarctic” according to producer Nigel Pope of Maramedia.

Benbecula drainage committee reinstated A committee has been formed to tackle the longstanding drainage problems associated with the Benbecula main drain.

For years the drains have not been cleared causing extensive flooding in winter, with consequent damage to crofting and flora and fauna.

The new committee members are Archie MacDonald (Torlum), Angus MacDonald (Balivanich), Roddy Henderson (Griminish), Hugh MacCormick (Torlum) and Neil MacPherson (Nunton).

Committee chairman Roddy Henderson invites anyone with an interest in the Benbecula main drain network and its maintenance to contact him: roderick.henderson@btinternet.com

island news IS THE FREE MONTHLY NEWSPAPER OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES Edition 01

March 2012

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NEWSDESK 01876 510758 editor@islandnewsandadavertiser.com ADVERTISING: 01871 810634 ads@islandnewsandadvertiser.com Design: Tim Mason Managing editor: Susy Macaulay

Readership 30,000 and growing

Mr Pope and his team, including cameramen John Aitchison and Doug Anderson spent the past 18 months filming on Hebridean islands, including this summer in the Outer Heb rides.

St Kilda visitor numbers up Visitor numbers to St Kilda this year are up by almost 1000 on last year to 4,081.

Some 20 cruise ships landed a total of 1400 passengers, and more than 2,000 visitors came via day land boat services. National Trust for Scot the said Bain n Western Isles manager Susa good nally ptio exce to record figure was due .

June and weather in May

MacMillan Coffee Morning

Macmillan Cancer Support is holding a coffee morning in Carinish Hall, Nort h Uist on Saturday October 6 at 11am. All welc ome.

October 2012 Issue 8 - island news & ADVERTISER

island news Edition 01

March 2012

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& ADVERTISER

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remote and out of sight out of mind by mainland dwellers, so this month we begin editorial coverage of our neighbours Coll, Tiree and Canna.

We celebrate this new relationship with a four page travel supplement

Sandary Lodge,

highlighting these islands as great destinations for short breaks from our

Cnoc An Torrain,

shores, whether by ferry or by air from Oban with Hebridean Air Services.

Isle of North Uist, HS6 5ED. Let us know if it’s a gift and

Our new page Neighbours will be a regular feature, and we’d like to thank the communities of Canna, Coll and Tiree for their willingness to

we’ll put in a FREE notecard

be part of our newspaper.

from you to your recipient.

Turn to page 8.

COMMUNITY SKIP WITHDRAWAL DISMAY The sudden withdrawal of the community skip service has caused dismay among Southern Isles residents.

The service which saw skips for the disposal of bulky household waste rotated around townships was credited with stopping fly-tipping around the islands.

CnES has withdrawn the service in response to ‘serious concerns’ raised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) during a programmed inspection of the Comhairle’s Waste Service.

HSE officer Jean Edgar said: “The health and safety risks to council employees and members of the public, particularly children, who may be potentially attracted to such sites, appears to have been largely overlooked or ignored.”

A Comhairle spokesman said: “There have been no instances of injured children

as far as we are aware but that doesn’t prevent our obligations as highlighted by HSE. It was clear from the uncompromising nature of the letter from the Health and Safety Executive that the service in its current format was not sustainable and has had to be temporarily withdrawn.”

The Comhairle says current financial constraints rule out providing more Household Waste Recycling Centres in the Western Isles.

HSE requires community skips to be fenced and manned, and Ms Edgar’s report suggested that these responsibilities should be devolved to the local communities.

The Comhairle says a number of pilot projects will be set up in consultation with local community groups, ‘ideally community councils or other groups

previously involved in the management of the community skip service.”

North Uist councillor Neil Beaton said: “At the moment the preferred option is a roving skip around the townships with monitoring of what is going into the skips. I can see the point of some of the health and safety concerns but the overall result is too draconian.”

Resident Jean Branagan was one of many people who contacted IN&A to express their concern.

She said: “The councillors should stand up to HSE. HSE shows a complete lack of understanding of what goes on in rural communities. It’s different

Cnoc An Torrain township repairs 84 pothole road Residents of Cnoc An Torrain township, North Uist, turned out to fill in all 84 potholes on the road which runs along Loch Sandary between Cnoc an Torrain and Balemartin.

The initiative was set up by local councillor Neil Beaton who has Iona and Evelyn MacDonald long campaigned to have the and Neil Beaton tackle the potholes. council fill in the ruts.

He said: “In the current economic climate and with a roads budget of only £27,000 for all the Southern Isles, it was clear that the road would never get done. I spoke to Donnie Johnson from the roads department and he agreed to supply

No1 filler for us to fill up the holes.”

Mr Beaton said he initially asked if the labouring could be done by people under Community Payback orders, but he was told there were not enough available.

He said: “The material costs around £1800, but the labour would have cost up to £3,000. Everybody’s pulling together to do it. I think this is what a number of other townships will have to look at to get things done.”

Local crofters were roped in, and their visitors were not exempted.

Evelyn, Iona and Euan MacDonald, visiting their father 86 year old Angus ‘Moy’, wielded shovels while their brother Hamish worked the tractor. Fergus John MacBain and Mr Beaton also laboured and John Allan Maclellan of Hougharry donated his services on the roller.

from the cities.

“Do we want to go back to the old days where people tipped stuff into the water because they had no choice?

“This will have bad repercussions, the place will look desperately untidy with stuff rotting in the gardens and around the croft, and that certainly will be dangerous.”

Have your say: editor@islandnewsandadvertiser.com

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island news & ADVERTISER - October 2012 Issue 8

Isles pupils in pre nursing pilot Ten Southern Isles pupils are preparing to become the nurses of the future even while they are still at school.

In a new pilot scheme for remote and rural areas, seven S5 and S6 pupils from Sgoil Lionacleit and three from Sgoil Bagh a’Chaisteil have embarked on an SQA Skills for Work Health Sector qualification to run alongside their existing school studies.

The group undertook a residential week this summer in Stornoway at Stirling University’s Western Isles campus, doing theory, group work, simulated practice and social activities. In February, the fledgling nurses will undertake a work experience week on the wards of their local hospital, observing nurses at work, and chaperoned by a third year student ‘buddy’.

New brand will ‘benefit all isles”

Budding nurses. Centre: Mairi MacInnes Left to right Mando Mphande, Emma MacDonald, Joanne MacLennan, Hannah Campbell, Katy MacLellan.

The two year pilot project is designed to support recruitment into nursing in the Highlands and Islands.

The scheme is funded by NHS Education for Scotland, and run by Stirling University on their Highland and Western Isles campuses in conjunction with the local authorities and local health boards.

Stirling University’s lead nurse for recruitment and retention based in its Highland campus in Inverness is Isobel Chisholm.

She said: “It gives young people in remote areas the opportunity to get work experience in their local health sector. We have been inundated with requests and increased our Western

Isles places from three to ten, with people already asking about next year.”

Fifth year Sgoil Lionacleit student Mairi MacInnes, 16, said she had been thinking about going into nursing from a young age and that the course was a great opportunity.

She said: “I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was six, so I have spent a lot of time in and out of hospital seeing how good the doctors and nurses are with everyone. The course is 160 hours on top of my four Highers, so it’s a lot of work, but I am planning to stay on for sixth year and then apply to do nursing, preferably midwifery.”

The recently launched Outer Hebrides marketing brand will benefit the whole island chain,according to Outer Hebrides Tourism Industry Association(OHTIA).

Visitors will be encouraged to view the islands as one destination, with island-hopping encouraged.

OHTIA chairman Ian Fordham said: “There is recognition in the industry that you have to work as one global destination. Individual isles don’t have that kind of critical mass. By this kind of joined-up thinking, we want people to view the Outer Hebrides as one destination and to travel throughout the isles, maybe over several holidays. We are flagging up the unique selling points of each island and encouraging people to move around.”

He added: “Providers in one island don’t have to worry about people moving off their island, because there will be more coming in from other islands.”

OHTIA says the strapline Outer Hebrides: Experience Life on the Edge sums up the unique and rich diversity of the islands’ environment and culture.

The group plans to launch their new Visit Outer Hebrides website before Christmas. It will have pages for each individual island, with a free basic listing for every business and residents encouraged to take possession of their page by entering information for visitors.

ROARING AND RUTTING IN HARRIS North Harris Trust is running a series of walks to witness the spectacular red deer rut this autumn.

Guided by ranger Matt Watts, you will be able to watch the stags fighting to defend their harem of hinds, hear their spinechilling roaring and learn about Britain’s largest land mammal and the management of the North Harris deer herd.

The Grade B walks take place at Crabhadail on Thursday October 18, 10 to 2.30 pm; Ulladail on Saturday 27, 10am 3pm; Langadail on Thursday November 1 between 10am and 2pm.

For full details contact the North Harris Ranger Service on 01859 502222 or email ranger@north-harris.org

Opportunities for home workers in the Southern Isles Southern Isles residents are being urged to get their names onto a skills register held by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for homeworking jobs currently available across the UK. The jobs involve working for financial services like insurance providers, catalogue companies like Littlewoods and K & Co (formerly Kays); boiler servicing companies and even a company helping people create photobooks.

The main requirement is good customer service skills and the ability to talk to customers over the phone. Financial services and foreign language skills are a bonus. The hiring companies provide training.

Most of the jobs are salaried, some are for self-employed people.

HIE senior business development manager Donnie Morrison said to date the HIE skills register has one person in Barra and two from Uist.

He said: “These are real jobs, very flexible, and ranging in commitment from around 15 hours per week. Pay starts at around £8 an hour.

You decide when you want to work, based around your availability.”

Mr Morrison added there are currently 145 jobs available and that interested parties should register on the HIE website: from the Home page go to Highlands & Islands>Growth Sectors>Business services>Skills Register.

Islanders come with a natural advantage, he said. “It’s well recognised that a Highland lilt is greatly admired within the contact centre industry.”

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October 2012 Issue 8 - island news & ADVERTISER

UHI EXPANSION PLANS FOR UIST Expansion through local partnerships is the way forward for growing the UHI presence in the Uists, according to UHI Lews Castle College principal, Iain MacMillan.

Speaking on a recent visit to the Southern Isles, Mr MacMillan said the Uists offered a unique opportunity for the ambitions of UHI as a university.

He said partnership working with organisations like Taigh Chearsabhagh, Ceòlas and Cothrom provides “a wonderful opportunity to develop and build upon the uniqueness of Uist.”

Mr MacMillan, who is originally from South Uist, said: “The Uists have one major advantage, and that is a clear identity. Uist is Uist, unlike the Outer Hebrides or Eilean Siar where the identities get a bit lost.

From Berneray to Eriskay we have something in common, a sense of community that extends beyond the townships and villages to the islands as a whole.”

He said that the existing specialisms like Art and Music

available on the islands are the core elements from which UHI should be able to build other university activities like archaeology, Scottish history and literature.

Mr MacMillan said he was developing UHI’s partnership with Taigh Chearsabhagh so that both organisations can help one another fulfill their requirement to provide educational opportunities.

He said UHI has been formalising its partnership with Ceòlas and praised Ceòlas’ ambition for a cultural centre in Daliburgh.

He said: “It’s clear that the government’s preferred way of moving forward is in partnership with UHI. But we need something in Lochmaddy and something in the south. We can’t do anything that damages anywhere else, we’ve got to add to what’s happening and make ourselves stronger by working together.”

Mr MacMillan said the current limited studio space and accommodation shortage need imaginative solutions, as does transport for students over such a widespread area as the Uists.

He added: “We must be bold in terms of ambition. It’s clear that students want to come here, and we must ask them how we make it more attractive and easier to be here, especially in terms of accommodation and travel.”

Meanwhile Mr MacMillan stressed the current opportunities in the Southern Isles to study distancelearning courses via videoconferencing facilities in Benbecula College and Taigh Chearsabhagh.

Mr MacMillan said: “Distance learning courses have been available here for some time but we are expanding that capability with an extra VC at Taigh Chearsabhagh.”

A variety of UHI archaeology courses are available in the Western Isles.

Distant time,distance learning UHI archaeology degree modules are now available via UHI’s new video conferencing facility in the research room at Taigh Chearsabhagh, Lochmaddy, North Uist.

Students can choose from three honours degrees which are available across the whole UHI network: Archaeology, Scottish History and Archaeology, Archaeology and Environmental Studies.

The courses can be taken full time, or part-time structured or unstructured.

A postgraduate MLitt in Archaeology is also available on a similar flexible basis.

Former regional archaeologist Mary MacLeod will be academic tutor to anyone wishing to embark on one of these courses.

She said:“Lews Castle is the second biggest centre for archaeology study in UHI, with fifty students at the moment.”

Two A levels or three Highers at C level are required, or access can be gained via interview if you have a different background.

Online enrolment is available via UHI Lews Castle College website. Ms MacLeod can be reached on mary.macleod@uhi.ac.uk.

FREE

N. HUGHSON JOINER Kitchen looking tired? Now’s the time to put it in the capable hands of Norman Hughson for a makeover.

Norman has been a joiner for 30 years, learning his trade from his father and uncle, Hughson Bros, who built the first kit houses on the islands, including in Harris and the Uists.

Norman is now offering a bespoke service in the Southern Isles for kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, floors and Norscot timber frame homes.

Wide selection of kitchens, free design service.

QUALITY WORKMANSHIP, CRAFTMANSHIP AND RELIABILITY Norman says: “I pride myself on maintaining a good and lasting relationship with all my customers.

I relish the opportunity of coming to work in the Uists and if business takes off in the Southern Isles, I’d like to employ local tradesmen to bring you my high standards of reliability and workmanship.”

N. HUGHSON JOINER - 15 Newton Street, Stornoway HS1 2RE

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WORKTOPS (exc. solid timber)

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island news & ADVERTISER - October 2012 Issue 8

Discover old favourites in the reserve collection Fans of old books displaced from the library shelves by new releases stand a good chance of finding their favourites in the Western Isles Reserve Collection, held in Stornoway Library.

Some 6,500 books are held in the collection, which is open to the public every Thursday between 5 and 8pm.

Librarian Kathleen Milne said: “We haven’t enough space to keep everything out on the shelves, so we have to move books on.

“The reserve collection contains those that are too old and tattered and precious to move on, and rarer, out of print titles.

“Sometimes new books just don’t satisfy the way old favourites do, and there are all kinds to be found in the collection.

“In classic crime, you’ll find authors such as

Josephine Tey, Marjory Allingham (the Campion detective series) and Leslie Charteris (The Saint series), not to forget Agatha Christie, as well as more current crime titles.

“Sci-fi and fantasy never seem to go out of fashion. We find dedicated readers are very good at searching out older titles, rather than sticking to the new releases. We have a big collection of these including Ursula Le Guin, Michael Moorcock, Ben Bova, Anne McCaffrey and HG Wells, to name but a few.”

Ms Milne added: “Historical books are perennial favourites including Catherine Cookson, Georgette Heyer and Dorothy Dunnett.”

The reserve collection also contains classics by Dickens, Hardy, John Buchan and

Graham Greene, and Scottish novelists like William Black and Stornoway-born Agnes Mure Mackenzie. Action and adventure writers Douglas Reeman and Patrick O Brien

The Reserve Collection in Stornoway library.

Wildlife

The giant hawkmoth trapped in Carinish.

ARTIFICIAL BURROWS AID PETREL RESEARCH

RARE PLOVER SPOTTED IN SOUTH UIST

Artificial burrows have been deployed to help understand the decline of Leach’s storm-petrels in St Kilda.

The third ever UK sighting of a Semipalmated Plover was observed in South Uist last month.

The petrels are one of the rarest seabirds in Britain, with St Kilda A petrel in its wooden nest box. hosting 94% of the known breeding population.

A study on Dun, one of the St Kilda islands in 1999 found 45,000 pairs of petrels, but by 2003 the number had halved. The population continues to decline.

In an attempt to find out what is happening to the birds, the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) which manages St Kilda, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and inverness College joined forces to create wooden nesting boxes from which to monitor the petrels’ behaviour over the breeding season.

Early prototypes proved unpopular with the petrels for being too palatial. The birds like to breed in hollows and cracks in the rocks.

A smaller, more cramped nest box was designed, and crafted by Inverness carpentry students.

feature also along with slightly older titles by current authors such as James Patterson and Robert Goddard.

Ms Milne said: “Anyone can check the library catalogue to see what books we have in stock - http://lib-cat.cne-siar.gov.uk/#focus – and request books from their local library.

Requested items are travelling around our branches all the time, whether in Stornoway stock and requested in Castlebay, or in Lionacleit stock and requested in Shawbost.”

As from November 1, Stornoway library will go live with a new computer management system making it easier to check the online catalogue and request and renew books online. The remaining Western Isles libraries should have the new system up and running by the end of March next year.

John Kemp spotted the North American wader on the shore between South Glendale and the Eriskay causeway.

Local naturalist Steve Duffield said:“It’s the New World equivalent of our Ringed Plover, and migrates as far as Patagonia in winter.

“It’s very similar in all plumages The rare plover spotted in although the call is different South Uist. being a “chu-itt”. Plumage-wise the main difference is that the brown mask meets the bill at the upper mandible and a narrow strip of white extends above the gape of the bill whereas on Ringed Plover this brown mask meets the bill at the gape and therefore lacks the narrow white strip. Other subtle differences include a stubbier, shorter bill, slightly smaller overall size and palmations between the toes.”

MASSIVE MOTH TRAPPED IN NORTH UIST

In field tests this season on St Kilda, the petrels took to the boxes and one fluffy chick has emerged, the first ever Leach’s storm-petrel to hatch in an artificial burrow.

Steve Duffield writes:“We trapped this beastie – a Convolvulus Hawkmoth at Carinish overnight 23rd/24th August. It is the 6th (known) record of this moth for the Outer Hebrides.

Gina Prior, St Kilda’s Seabird and Marine Ranger said: “To have such success in the first year of the project is extremely rewarding for everyone involved and shows the importance of continuing this work in the years to come. We hope that the presence of the birds in these new nest boxes will enable us to gain a better understanding of the cause of their decline.”

“It is an immigrant species into the UK with most records coming from the south and south-east of the country although it can occur anywhere. It is found between June and December in this country but is generally scarce or rare depending on the year. It first migrates to southern Europe from Africa (where it is resident) and breeds.The offspring from these moths then move north

with some reaching Britain in the late summer and autumn depending on weather conditions.

“It has a wingspan of 8 – 12 cm. The one in the photograph was around 11 cm. It measured 7 cm from the nose to the wing tip. As an adult it feeds on bindweeds, Convolvulaceae, with a very long proboscis that is longer than the length of its body.”

More on moths of the Outer Hebrides and recent bird sightings can be found on Steve’s website: www.western-isles-wildlife.com.

October 2012 Issue 8 - island news & ADVERTISER

Next generation

BROADBAND

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There is no disagreement: fast reliable broadband is crucial for the sustainability and economic development of these islands.

IN&A sets out how the future looks for getting fast broadband to everyone in our communities.

THE FACTS

WHAT IS NEXT GENERATION BROADBAND (NGB)?

NGB is the superfast broadband. UK Government wants to see NGB in 95% of the country, improving the remote delivery of public services, enabling new forms of remote working and remote education in rural communities.

WHO WILL DELIVER IT? Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) is tasked by the UK government to do this in our region.

HIE says it is committed to delivering NGB to all parts of the Highlands and Islands, in a project “designed to lay the foundations to meet the Scottish Government’s target of world-class NGB by 2020, and delivering a significant first step towards the 2015 target of providing 85-90% of premises in Scotland with 4080Mbps broadband and the rest with 2Mbps or better.”

HOW? HIE’s project will cost between £200m and £300m. The Scottish Government has allocated £120m for the project. BT is now the preferred bidder, but negotiations are still ongoing.

STUMBLING BLOCKS TO IMMEDIATE FAST BROADBAND

Backhaul Backhaul is the capacity of the link between the islands and the mainland link to the internet. It is extremely limited in the amount of traffic it can handle.

IT expert Angus Doyle explains:“If you imagine the network traffic inter-island being an eight lane highway, only then to be pushed down a single track road as it leaves the islands. This causes the bottleneck effect which results in slower access to the internet. It is a major stumbling block to economic growth here.”

Outdated technology in BT enabled exchanges The two broadband-enabled exchanges in the Southern Isles, Benbecula and Lochboisdale work on ADSLMax technology, which means that the broadband speed reduces the further away you are from the exchange. Anyone living more than around seven miles from the exchange is unlikely to have BT coverage.

SOLUTIONS

CO M M E N T

Undersea Cable An undersea fibre cable is planned from Gairloch to Ullapool, travelling down right the islands and going across to Skye.

HIE senior development manager Donnie Morrison says:“The cost is eye-watering, but until we get that it is not possible to upgrade or increase capacity. It is not likely to be in place before 2014/2015.”

ADSL2+ Through Broadband enabled telephone exchanges Angus Doyle says: “ADSL has come a long way since ADSLMax and were BT to upgrade the exchanges with ADSL2+ then the bandwidth could effectively be increased to 20mbps without the need for expensive fibre. This would also potentially extend the range to up to 20miles from the exchange giving 90% coverage to the Uists. The costs associated with this kind of upgrade is minimal in comparison to fibreoptic.

However we have no confirmation from BT that they are considering this.”

HIE’S PROPOSED TIMETABLE - SUBJECT TO SIGNING CONTRACT WITH BT WHICH IS EXPECTED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR ● 2013 – Rollout to begin ● 2014 – Minimum of 50 settlements in the region connected and receiving NGB services. Backhaul ‘points of presence’ (PoPs) established across the Highlands and Islands area; ● 2015 – 20km radius covered from each of a minimum of 50 settlements and 2Mbps coverage to all; ● 2017 – NGB coverage progress check; and 2020 – NGB to all.

IT EXPERT ANGUS DOYLE OF VOOVE, BENBECULA SAYS:

The investments in HIE’s Connected Communities Project which led to Hebrides.net meant BT lost out on a major source of funding and has therefore been unable to expand its broadband service cost effectively to those exchanges not already covered.

Hebrides.net has provided a basic broadband service to those not covered by ADSL, and whilst its concept was a great one back when it started, it’s just not enough to meet the demand for speed and efficiency now, simply put it’s “Dial Up for the 21st Century”. The Connected Communities rollout has been expensive and time consuming, and still not complete. The people need a faster broadband service that is reliable and accessible 24/7, for this to happen the Connected Communities project needs to be rethought for the 21st Century or abandoned in favour of an over copper or fibre solution from the like of BT. Thankfully there is possible light at the end of the tunnel. Due to the investment across the islands in renewable technologies there is a need to increase the power distribution capacity. There are plans to lay new electric cable to the mainland, there will also be fibre links laid at the same time. It would make sense for BT Openreach to run its own fibre cable at the same time, which would increase the island bandwidth exponentially, effectively future proofing the telecoms infrastructure.

UNTIL THEN… For those not currently on a broadband-enabled BT exchange there are two simple choices at the moment.

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The mobile phone networks have no plans to supply 3G or 4G broadband to the islands at this time.

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8

island news & ADVERTISER - October 2012 Issue 8

Neighbours Fèis Chanaidh 2012

They came from Barra, South Uist, Eriskay, Mallaig, Elgol, Fort William and Lochaber to join Canna’s resident population of 13 for five days.

Canna’s second ever Fèis welcomed more than 180 people to enjoy a week of music, dance, crafts, folklore and stories.

From South Uist, a team from Cèolas brought the benefit of their experience, along with Mairi MacInnes who shared her recipe for the traditional Michaelmas bannock, Bill Innes who shared tales of his childhood and island pilot escapades, and Katie Mary McIntosh who taught

Gaelic at the start and finish of every day.

Margaret Bennett hosted workshops on the Canna emigrations to Canada and ran spinning and dyeing sessions complete with waulking songs.

Local resident Julie McCabe had everyone collecting natural products to dye home-spun wool and also ran spinning, knitting and weaving sessions.

Among the many highlights were local history walks, tours of Canna House with Magda Sagarzazu and a croft and

farmland walk hosted by Canna farmer Geraldine MacKinnon.

Gillebride MacMillan gave lessons on “Puirt a Buel” (mouth music) and those who took part went on to form the very first Canna Gaelic choir.

The week finished with the main ceilidh, attended by more than 150 people.

Stewart Connor, National Trust for Scotland Property Manager, Canna said: “The Canna Community would like to thank Ceòlas Uibhist for their great help

in making the fèis a success and in particular Mary Schmoller for all her hard work. Also the National Trust for Scotland, Caledonian MacBrayne and local restaurant the Gille Brighde for their sponsorship, Charlie MacKinnon from Fort William for arranging the Saturday numbers and all who attended.

Creative Scotland is funding the fèis for the next two years, so here’s to the next one, which will be on or around the first two weeks in August 2013.”

TIREE MAN FUNDRAISES FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPICES A remark by a 13 year old boy in a children’s hospice touched Tiree hotel worker Stephen-Henry Pearson so profoundly that he resolved to fundraise to help children with life-limiting illnesses.

Canna community shop takings help fund island broadband Canna’s first ever shop opened in March and has subsequently raised more than £3,000 to help the community fund a high speed broadband connection.

The Buth Na Co-Chomann is run and managed on a voluntary basis by community members.

Situated by the pier, the unmanned shop supplies local produce including food and crafts, with payments made using a record book and honesty box.

With 9,000 visitors to the island each year, the buth has shown a tidy profit.

The takings, coming in at £2,500 to £3,000 each month are divided among the producers, with 20% going to the community association.

The income is being used to replace Canna’s existing expensive satellite broadband with high speed terrestrial wireless broadband supplied by Eigg Community Interest Company Hebnet, in an initiative to link all the Small Isles.

Stephen-Henry, known to all as Pearson, was visiting Robin House, the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) hospice in Balloch with a colleague. They were playing computer games with the young lad, when he paused the game to say: “It means a lot that you are here to play with me. I know I’m in here to die, but until that day, I intend to live.”

The boy’s words haunted 25 year old Pearson, and he came up with the idea of

organising Sound for CHAS, a dinner and ceilidh evening to raise funds for CHAS. Pearson is originally from Glasgow and was working in the fairground business at the time, touring galas and fairs with a candy floss stall and other attractions.

He brought his candy floss stall to Tiree for the agricultural show this year- and ended up falling in love with island, staying on and getting work in the Tiree Lodge Hotel.

After making the move, Pearson embarked on organising his big CHAS fundraiser.

The event will take place on February 23 in the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow and has been organised with a Tiree twist.

The band is Gunna Sound, led by Tiree’s Campbell Brown. Popular actress,

New community centre and bunkhouse for Coll Coll has a brand new multi-purpose centre and 14 bed bunkhouse.

The centre is called An Cridhe, meaning ‘the heart’, and was officially opened by HRH Princess Anne this summer.

Located in the village of Arinagour, it is managed by Development Coll, the island’s own community development organisation.

As well as being used by local people and visitors, it will act as a business centre to provide opportunities for local enterprise. It will also be a place for social gatherings and provide the community with sports facilities, music and exhibition space.

The new bunkhouse provides quality hostel accommodation, an ongoing

musician and singer Isobel Rutter, also from Tiree is the after-dinner speaker.

The menu is Scottish themed, and the attire Scottish.

Pearson said: “I’ve had so much support from the Marriott, and also Cal Mac who are putting the poster on the ferries, and really good prizes are coming in for the raffle. In my heart I want to raise £10,000 for CHAS, so I’m still looking for sponsors to help out.”

Tickets cost £40 per person, are for over 18s only and must be pre-purchased. The Marriott is offering a special double room rate of £85 (single £75) including breakfast for those attending the event.

For more information contact Pearson on s.h.pearson@me.com or visit his Facebook page facebook.com/soundforchas

Coll seeks dark sky status Coll’s starry skies could be turned into a major tourist attraction if its application for Dark Sky status is successful.

Princess Anne with some of the development team.

source of revenue for the community centre.

The population of Coll has experienced an increase in population by over 60 percent in the last 30 years and currently stands at approximately 220.

The purchase of the land and construction of the £2.5 million community centre and bunkhouse was funded by European Regional Development Funding, BIG Lottery, sportscotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Community Energy Scotland, Argyll and Bute Council and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Residents have applied for Coll to become Scotland’s first dark skies island. Galloway Forest Park is the only other official dark sky site in the country.

Coll has no street lights and very little else in the way of light pollution. Stargazing sites have already been earmarked and an application to the International DarkSky Association is well underway.

The hope is that having dark skies status will help attract astronomers from further afield outside the peak tourism season.Last month,Dave Chalton of Dark Sky Scotland visited the island to hold a series of activities aimed at encouraging stargazing. Around 100 people attended the events,which included an indoor planetarium,rocketmaking workshops and meteorite handling. Organisers hope that this can be repeated and that Coll will become a beacon for those in search of unpolluted skies.

island news & ADVERTISER

Discover the jo ys of

Canna, Coll and Ti ree MAKE THE MOST OF THE OCTOBER HOLIDAYS

TRAVEL SPECIAL Adventure, beauty, history, great hospitality and great food - our island neighbours have it all.

And they’re closer than you think!

with a short break close to home

island news TRAVELSPECIAL

Tiree

II

& ADVERTISER

Make the most of the October holidays with a short break close to home

Everybody’s going windsurfing...

THIS MONTH the sunshine island of the Inner Hebrides welcomes wind-surfers from all over the world for the famous Tiree Wave Classic.

John Skye and Jamie Hancock.

As well as the professional fleet, last year’s event in Tiree attracted the largest number of amateur entrants ever assembled on the island.

The week-long Tiree Wave Classic, Britain’s most prestigious windsurfing competition, starts on October 13. It’s now in its 26th year, with organisers expecting another world-class field, with 45 amateurs and at least 10 pros.

The competition forms the crucial third leg of the British Wavesailing Association’s UK Wave Tour.

Already this year there have been events in Wales and Ireland, with Welshman Phil Horrocks leading the professional standings ahead of

“We’ve loved seeing so many faces last year for the 25th anniversary, and we had a brilliant week of action,” said Jim Brooks-Dowsett, event organiser.“We’re looking forward to seeing them back again this year – and many more besides,”he said.

Registration for this year’s event is now open at www.tireewaveclassic.co.uk

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Make the most of the October holidays with a short break close to home

island news TRAVELSPECIAL & ADVERTISER

So what makes Coll so special? For a start, this is a thriving community.

Unlike many other Hebridean islands, numbers are on the rise and how! Now standing at approximately 220, up by around 60% over the last thirty years, the population is young and vibrant.

The local primary school, close to overflowing, tells its own story.

Quite simply, Coll has a charm that tends to get under your skin.

Ambling from beach to beach (there are 23 in total) encounters of the human kind are few and far between. At around 13 miles long and 3 miles wide the island

is a great size for getting out and about on foot or by bike - big enough to find your own peace and quiet but small enough so that you don’t get lost!

Nature and wildlife feature highly amongst reasons to visit Coll. Birdlife flourishes under the protection of the RSPB, including the rare corncrake and resident flocks of greylag geese. The machair moorland on the reserve also provides breeding habitat for snipe, dunlin, lapwing and redshank whilst raptors such as hen harrier, peregrine, shorteared owl and merlin can be spotted.

The waters around Coll are a hotspot for basking sharks throughout the summer, so much so that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has recently begun a tagging programme aimed at charting their movements. SNH also work to protect the fragile ecology of Coll, most notably the many rare species of flower such as Irish Lady’s Tresses and the Hebridean Spotted Orchid. The rich biodiversity also includes several types of bee including the Great Yellow Bumblebee.

The Isle of Coll is the traditional home of a sept of the clan Maclean, signified by the two castles which

dominate the head of Breachacha Bay. The island’s earlier heritage can be seen in the Bronze Age crannogs (artificial islands) located throughout the lochans. Standing stones, such as the mysteriously named ‘Na Sgeulachan’(Teller of Tales) at Totronald, are Coll’s earliest recorded monuments, dated c.2500 BC. Despite its remote setting, Coll is relatively well connected with daily ferries during the summer months and flights from Oban three times a week. There is now a variety of accommodation from B&Bs and the Coll Hotel, to the newly opened Coll Bunkhouse, not to mention the campsite and a range of self-catering cottages.

With the opening of the new community centre, An Cridhe, there are events and functions throughout the year from ceilidhs and concerts to fishing competitions and the half-marathon.

With so much going on there’s simply never been a better time to visit Coll.

Coll

The Call of Coll

III

Images courtesy of VisitScotland. visitscotland.com/surprise

island news TRAVELSPECIAL

Canna

IV

Make the most of the October holidays with a short break close to home

& ADVERTISER

You Canna Beat It VISITING the jewel in the Small Isle’s crown makes a perfect weekend break from the Uists, writes Susy Macaulay.

We set sail from Mallaig in the mist, but as we reach Rum just over an hour later a rainbow is pushing apart the clouds to reveal glimpses of Kinloch Castle. A knot of walkers disembarks for an island camp-over, and we sail on.

A further hour later, a rainbow splits the clouds again to reveal the gentle slopes and skerries of the Small Isles’ most westerly island.

It’s a Saturday and we have from 10am until 6.30pm to explore Canna.

My companion sets foot on Canna for the first time in her life. It’s an emotional moment. She has tried to land there twice before, and failed. Now on a calm day with sunshine just dominating the mist, she walks for the first time on the island her father once owned.

I’m with Johanna Frampton, nee Thom. The Thom family owned Canna from 1881- 1938, and although Johanna was born after her father Robert sold the island to John Lorne Campbell, that period in her family’s history and the island’s mark upon her father has given her cause for deep thought over the years.

Canna is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and its manager Stewart Connor is there to greet us.

As we walk up to Canna House – the good thing Rhu Church of Scotland about a day trip to Canna is you can walk everywhere if you’re averagely fit- he points out landmarks of interest, including Rhu Church of Scotland, built by Johanna’s grandparents and modelled after the old Irish roundtower churches. It was consecrated in 1914. We go in and stand silently by her grandparents’ grave.

Canna House is much as it was when John Lorne Campbell handed the island to NTS. It’s easy to imagine how it must have been in its heyday with Campbell and his wife Margaret Fay Shaw entertaining guests from around the world, drawn to them by their charisma and scholarship.

Magda Sargazazu comes to meet us and show us round the house.

She says: “I remember the house full of music and laughter.”Magda, a gentle Basque woman, first came to the island with her family fifty years ago. Her admiration for the Campbells and passion for Canna has lead to her living permanently on the island and working as archivist to their prodigious collections Johanna and Magda outside Canna of music and writings.

House.

Johanna has brought with her some of her father’s diaries. She reads some excerpts to a fascinated Magda.

We wander up to the fank where members of the McKinnon family are hard at work tagging sheep. The McKinnons have been on Canna for generations and their livestock is highly prized by mainland buyers. Johanna, herself a hill farmer in Perthshire, is impressed.

“Nice fat lambs, good tight skins”she observes of the Cheviots coming through the fank ready to head to the next sale in Dingwall.

Getting to Canna from the Uists is surprisingly straightforward - sail to Uig, leave the car at Armadale, and take the ferry to Mallaig.

There you must spend the night, but the town has a full range of accommodation, best book in advance.

The ferry to Canna leaves at 07.30 on Saturdays. You arrive at 10am and have until 18.30 on the island. The ferry has a good canteen, but you might need refreshments for your day ashore. The Gille Bridghe restaurant , famed for its local produce and many delicious ways with rabbit, was closed when we were there, but is open in the autumn, check their website.

Stewart Connor says: “Canna is all about peace and tranquility.

Come and soak up the atmosphere away from traffic and mobile phones. All the historical sites are within easy walking distance, you can walk right round the island and take in the spectacular scenery and wildlife. Canna is special.”

Until October 20, there are plenty of Mallaig-Armadale ferries, and an 18.15 sailing on Sundays to see you home from Uig. The service continues in reduced form over the winter, check the CalMac site.

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anna House was a cherished family home for many years and remains much as its celebrated last occupants,

John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Fay Shaw left it Open to the public to coincide with ferry sailings on Wednesdays and Saturdays

Why not immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty and history of Canna with a stay in one of our self-catering cottages, or Kate’s, our Enjoy a guided tour of this fascinating time

hill Bothy

capsule, including elements of the Campbell and

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Shaw collections

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For NTS accommodation call 0844 493 2108

October 2012 Issue 8 - island news & ADVERTISER

9

Crofting ‘Grazing constables’must report on the condition of crofts From 1 October 2012 a grazing committee is obliged to report to the Crofting Commission on the condition of the common grazing and the condition of every tenanted and owneroccupied croft with a share in the grazing, writes crofting law specialist Brian Inkster.

They must also report on “any other matter the Commission may require” although it is not clear at present whether the Commission will actually be requiring any other information to be reported on.

Where a grazing committee consider that a crofter is not complying with the duty to reside within 32 km of their croft or are misusing or neglecting their croft or not

cultivating and maintaining their croft then this must also be reported. The report may also include information on any other matter affecting the common grazing or crofting in any township associated with the grazing, as the committee consider appropriate.

The report requires to be submitted to the Crofting Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the first year of the relevant section of the

Conference explores getting the most out of Blackland Jildou Frisou and Lucia Hermans

Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 coming into force (which was 1 October 2011) and every 5 years thereafter.

It perhaps now makes ‘Grazing Constable’ a very apt title. So if you are a member of a grazing committee you will have to consider your duties to report such matters to the Crofting Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after 1 October 2012. And if you are a crofter and

you spot a member of the grazing committee inspecting your croft you will now know what they are up to.

It is understood that the Crofting Commission are creating an easy to use form to facilitate this reporting requirement. It is assumed that this will be issued by them to Grazing Clerks for completion and return and/or be made available for download on their website.

NORMAN SAYS GOODBYE TO PET LAMBS Left to right, Dr Oliver Knox, Charles Fraser, Louise Cook and Mary Norton examine the blackland.

The third annual Blackland Conference was held in Kenary, Grimsay. It opened with a series of talks by visiting scientists from SAC and Edinburgh University, attended by some twenty people including local crofters, on the characteristics of blackland.

The term ‘blackland’ is used to describe the wet, acid, highly organic soils common in the islands and west of Scotland. In the Uists they range from heavy, deep fields along the eastern coastline to shallow, rocky strips bordering the machair in the west.

Delegates went out onto the croft to test the Mary Norton’s Blacklands Index, an easy to use method that gives you a basic evaluation of the potential for agricultural use of a blackland field or area, focusing on various aspects of the test area such as the slope of the land, protection from the wind, structure of the soil, drainage and vegetation.

According to Dr Oliver Knox from SAC Edinburgh, the blacklands were used extensively in the past, until they were largely abandoned in the 1960s. Currently blacklands are mainly used for grazing, because several factors prevent crofters from working the land. Not being able to use machinery due to the boggy nature of blackland, for example, and as Dr Ken Davies from Edinburgh University explained, only few crops tolerate the low pH (acidity) of blackland soil. However, certain crops being used in European countries could do very well here, such as buckwheat, an example of a poor-soil crop, and a great mobiliser of phosphorus.

Crofters attending the conference talked of the challenges they face in restoring their blacklands, mainly the labour involved with time in short supply when they have a full-time job to deal with.

Speaker Barbra Harvie of Edinburgh University, a teaching fellow in Geography and the Lived Environment, said: “There are wonderful opportunities, but they could take a lot of hard work.”

Young North Uist crofter-in – the-making Norman MacDonald wasn’t altogether unhappy to sell off some of his pet lambs at the recent Lochmaddy sales.

He admits he got fed up with looking after with no less than 16 pet lambs this year.

Now he wants concentrate on building up his Cheviot and Suffolk flock.

Norman, 14, of Balranald helped his gran Annie out this spring when 16 orphaned or rejected lambs were handed into the family’s care. He fed them every afternoon after school without fail.

The MacDonalds’ concern for animals has seen dozens of lambs and even a horse left at their croft over the years.

Norman has helped Annie looking after pet lambs since he was nine. Last year the family looked after 12 pet lambs, but this year was exceptional. “They just kept turning up, handed in or left in the field,” Annie said.

Annie has a soft spot for the Hebridean lambs she took on, but Norman has no time for them. “They climb over the walls, I just don’t like them, “ he said. Fetching £2 per head in the sales only served to confirm his aversion to the breed.

But there was much better news with his other male lambs - four brought him £58 per head, and three £31 per head, giving Norman in a tidy sum which he says will go towards a tractor.

Meanwhile his flock of Cheviots and Suffolks now stands at 25. Norman is planning to take on some cattle when he is 16.

10

island news & ADVERTISER - October 2012 Issue 8

Music Uist & Benbecula Accordion & Fiddle Club News

Uist & Benbecula Accordion & Fiddle Club’s opening ceilidh was a great success.

The 2012-13 season of the Uist and Benbecula Accordion and Fiddle Club has kicked off in style with a long-overdue visit from the Lewis and Harris Accordion and Fiddle Club, writes Christine Mitchell.

Re-establishing the annual exchange visits that were a feature between 2000 and 2004, it was our turn to host the ceilidh in Benbecula at the Dark Island Hotel on Friday 14 September.

More than thirty members of the Lewis and Harris Club travelled south. Roddy Shaw of Berneray was Fear an Tigh for the evening and, after welcoming the audience, he introduced Fiona Mackay, our guest piper.

With a mixture of club sets and individual spots, the local musicians, joined also by drummer Paul Maclean, then got the night underway. Once we were through, Dol Macdonald took over the mic to introduce the Lewis and Harris musicians who each played with one or two other musicians joining them.

Another two pipe medleys from Fiona opened the second half of the evening for the Uist and Benbecula musicians to perform. Taking over from the local musicians, the Lewis and Harris Club certainly saved the best for last, notably Ian Tonkan Macdonald, Andy Yearley and four young musicians who were noteperfect and stole the limelight. Music is in good hands up in Lewis! Eager to join together for a final stramash, the musicians jostled for chairs and mics on and off the stage and played long into the night. Everyone enjoyed the music, the dancing and the friendly atmosphere and we are left with one question – can we wait a whole year until the two clubs meet again in Stornoway?

The Uist and Benbecula Accordion and Fiddle Club regular fortnightly ceilidhs this month are on Saturday October 6 and Saturday October 20. They are held in the Griminish Church of Scotland Hall and admission is by minimum donation of £2 (children free) to cover refreshments.

We welcome new musicians of any age or ability to join us. You do not have to play an instrument or, indeed, be a member to come along. Further information is on our shared website www.ceoluibhist.co.uk or tel. 01870 602682 or 602432.

Trad music sessions Unmissable dates for trad music fans. Benbecula College is hosting the following Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland sessions throughout the Uists: 5th October – Borrodale Hotel 1st November – Dark Island Hotel 10th November – Lochmaddy Hotel

Uist and Benbecula students’ orchestral work premiered

Composer Eve Harrison and conducter Garry Walker in Sgoil Lionacleit.

A new work for chamber orchestra and folk musicians has been premiered in Sgoil Lionacleit to an enthusiastic packed house.

Anticipation of the Light was composed by Eve Harrison, National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS) outreach practitioner, together with students from Sgoil Lionacleit.

The 15 minute piece developed in workshops last spring and a weeklong residency run by Ms Harrison and members of Camerata Scotland, the pre-professional orchestra of NYOS. The work features the human voice, pipes, drums, accordion, xylophone

and guitar as well as the more traditional chamber orchestra instruments. Fifteen pupils and young local musicians joined Camerata on stage for the performance.

Ms Harrison, 29, said: “The young people wrote the the melodies, all the identifying parts of the music in the workshops which gave me the ideas for the kind of music they wanted behind it, the textures the orchestra would play. I was working with the pipe band, S1 and the senior and junior music students all separately,

so I came up with a structure to pull all the ideas together.”

The work has been recorded by Wee Studio in Carinish Hall to provide CDs for all the performers and NYOS. Anticipation of the Light was the centerpiece in a programme of chamber music performed by 20 Camerata musicians conducted by Garry Walker.

The programme featured some challenging pieces by Bartok, Beamish, Haydn, Mozart and Sommerro.

South Uist’s Mairi Therese gives up holiday to play solo on the night Bridging the gap between the musical worlds of classical and folk was a theme which ran through the evening’s performances writes Sophie Stephenson.

This was no better demonstrated than in the performance of Henning Sommerro’s Follow The Moonstone, a medley of traditional melodies in an orchestral setting led by Mairi Therese Gilfedder on solo violin.

From West Gerinish, Mairi Therese’s musical background is in traditional Mairi Therese Gilfedder.

West Coast fiddling. When she got a phone call, out of the blue, asking her to join Camerata Scotland for the special concert at Sgoil Lionacleit, Mairi Therese had already booked a holiday to Croatia. Such an opportunity, however, was not one to be turned down.

The experience of playing solo violin with a classical orchestral ensemble was quite different to the type of concert Mairi Therese might usually play, accompanied by guitar or piano. Mairi Therese said that on her first rehearsal with the orchestra, the day before the concert, she was absolutely terrified to be playing in front of so many classical musicians. However, she said that it was the tremendous feeling of mutual respect for each other’s musical idioms that made her completely at ease for the final performance. Mairi Therese is now back in Glasgow for her final year of a BA in applied music at the University of Strathclyde.

Sgoil Lionacleit pupils, local musicians and Camerata receive rapturous applause after the performance of Anticipating the Light .

October 2012 Issue 8 - island news & ADVERTISER

Lynne’s Prince’s Trust voluntary work honoured

11

People

A Uist woman’s mission to help young entrepreneurs in the Southern Isles has been recognised with a Prince’s Trust Award.

Lynne MacMillan was recently awarded Outer Hebrides Regional Volunteer of the Year.

Originally from Edinburgh, Lynne’s background in law and running her own businesses, including the successful Hebridean Oysters, makes her an ideal mentor for young entrepreneurs.

She got involved with the Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust eight years ago when she started working as a

member of the Business Gateway team covering South Uist and Barra.

Her volunteering work involves helping youngsters take their ideas all the way from business plan to Prince’s Trust board interview, and if successful at that stage, to the launch of their new enterprise.

Lynne said: “There is a lot of work to be done on the way to getting a business off the ground, and it can be very daunting for young people. We provide the necessary

tools to get them there, and then an aftercare programme to make sure they are compliant with their statutory obligations and managing their cash flows, sorting out any teething troubles.

“Then we stand back, but we will mentor in the background for as long as they need.”

Lynne is particularly proud of one of her protégées, hairdresser Anna Donnachie of Barra.

HALLOWEEN DANCE STARTS NURSERY BUS CAMPAIGN

North Uist preacher’s sermons published A book of 21 sermons by the late Reverend John Ferguson is on the bookstore shelves after a labour of love by his family and friends.

Mr Ferguson, a native of Cnoc An Torrain, North Uist The late Rev had been working on his book, John Ferguson.

Crown Him Lord Of All, for a number of years and had managed to see the first proof before he died in January 2009.

His widow Effie found it emotionally hard initially to pick up where he had left off, but with the support of family and friends has now fulfilled her promise to her husband to get the book published.

Mrs Ferguson said: “It’s been an emotional journey but I have a sense of fulfilment of the promise I gave him and of doing something for him after he has gone.”

Crown Him Lord of All consists of seven sermons drawn from the New Testament, seven

North Uist parents have started a campaign to raise funds for a minibus for Saoghal Beag nursery, with a target figure of £10,000.

The first event is a Halloween dance at Carinish Hall, North Uist on Friday November 2, 9pm until late. Fancy dress is optional but preferred.

There will be a fully licensed bar and music

by Soladale, who are giving their services free.Tickets are £10.

Organiser and nursery parent Cheryl Nicholson said:“ We are fundraising for Saoghal Beag Nursery, for the purchase of a

from the Old Testament and seven from Epistles.

Mrs Ferguson said: “John was a well-loved man with a gift for preaching. For the book he picked sermons he liked and felt he preached best. I have met a number of people who have told me they remember a particular sermon from the book, it made an impact on them.”

Mr Ferguson’s first charge was in Ness, Lewis, followed by Portree Parish Church from 1980 until his retirement in 2002.

Crown Him Lord Of All is published by Lewis Recordings, Drumsmittal, North Kessock Inverness priced £7, and is available in local bookshops.

DIARY DATE: Comann Na Mara annual lecture This year’s Comann na Mara (CNM) Dr John Macleod memorial lecture will take place on Friday November 2 in Lochmaddy Hall, North Uist at 7:30pm.

It will be given by internationally renowned scientist, Dr Anushka Miller, head of communication at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban.

The talk will be on her involvement on the INIS Hydro Sea Mapping Project, a collaboration between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland to create high-resolution charts of 1400 square km of key coastal seabed areas for safe shipping and effective management and conservation of the marine environment.

She said:” Anna has developed a very good business, she is always training and updating her skills, and she enjoys the freedom and independence of being her own boss.”

Lynne has now changed her job to the new Include Us programme to help 14-19 year olds achieve their work aspirations, but says she wants to continue her volunteering work with the Prince’s Trust despite her new commitments.

Dr Miller will outline the core objectives of this unique project and how it will touch upon the Outer Hebrides.

The evening will include the inaugural performance of the newly formed Comann na Mara Gaelic choir supported by Paul MacCallum and Neil Campbell. A popular fixture from last year’s lecture, the children’s choir Clann na Feise will also perform.

mini bus, to enable the children to have outings to the beautiful islands we have, to places such as the beaches, Lochmaddy forest, nature reserve, visit local schools and places of interest, to enhance their learning and development like the fire station and airport. Currently the children do not have access to do this due to health and safety restrictions and the immediate road structure.”

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island news & ADVERTISER - October 2012 Issue 8

Emma’s Further Tale of Peter Rabbit translated into Gaelic Sgeulachd Eile Mu Pheadar Rabaid is the Gaelic translation of Emma Thompson’s newly launched book,The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Emma Thompson with illustrator Eleanor Taylor at the launch of The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit in Glasgow.

In it Peter’s adventures take him beyond the boundaries of Mr McGregor’s garden all the way to the Scottish Highlands, where he meets the gentle giant Finlay McBurney (Fionnlagh MacMhathain), a distant Scottish relative.

The Gaelic version of the tale, published by Grace Note Publications has been translated by Ian MacDonald and Margaret Bennett. It is in hardback, complete with captivating Potter-esque illustrations by Eleanor Taylor.

VISIT OF GAELIC POET MEG BATEMAN Poetry Evening at Taigh Chearsabhagh Thursday October 25, 8pm.

Meg Bateman speaks about her writing, and reads her poems in Gaelic and in English.

Meg has taught Gaelic in Edinburgh and Aberdeen Universities, and now teaches literature and philosophy through the medium of Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

She has brought out three collections of Gaelic poetry with English translations.

Everyone is welcome. Admission is free with a donation towards the refreshments.

On Friday October 26 from 9.00 – 11.00am, Meg will lead a poetry writing workshop for people who write in Gaelic or English.

Numbers limited. Cost £10 For details contact: pauline@pauline-prior-pitt.com or

phone: 01876 560360

PUPS IN TROUBLE The first grey seal pup rescue of the season has taken place in North Uist, and more pups in trouble are expected to follow.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue - Outer Hebrides team intervened after observing the seal in Hougharry for 36 hours.

The seal had been found by a member of the public on and reported to BDMLR via the SSPCA and the Coastguard.

It was a 1.2m long whitecoat pup and had a large, deep wound on its left side and several bites, and although still quite fat it was beginning to lose weight after being separated from its mother and was still too young to survive on its own.

BDMLR volunteers observed it for a day and a half to make sure that its mother was no longer with it. As there was no sign of the mother and the pup had visibly lost body condition and was beginning to show signs of dehydration the decision was made to take it in for treatment.

It was taken by ferry to Skye before being relayed by BDMLR volunteers to the new SSPCA wildlife rescue centre in Alloa.

Sandy MacDonald of BDMLR said:

HARRIS CHILDREN SEE THEIR LANDSCAPE FROM THE AIR Children from Leverhulme Memorial School and Shelibost Primary went to Northton beach to create part of a national exhibition about landscapes in Scotland.

They used a special balloon kitted out with a camera to photograph their surroundings from above.

The project was organised by Architecture and Design Scotland, whose educational team is going round different areas of Scotland to encourage children to explore their landscape and see how their community interacts with it.

The children used umbrellas, fabric and ribbon to mimic the coastline on the ground, and this was photographed by the camera balloon.

The work created by the children will form part of Architecture and Design Scotland’s upcoming exhibition – Above Scotland – which is a collaboration with RCAHMS – giving a birds eye view of Scotland’s towns, cities and landscapes.

The exhibition opens at The Lighthouse, Glasgow, on October 25th.

Available soon,RRP £12.99.

“Please do not attempt to touch a pup if you find one, no matter how cute they look as they can, and will, inflict very nasty bites and the human smell you will leave on the pup will cause the mother to abandon it if she is still around.

“Also, please do not attempt to put any seal pup back in the water as they are not very good swimmers when they still have their whitecoats nor when they are thin and weak or exhausted after battling rough weather and forcing them back in the water may cause them to drown.

“With the bad weather starting I’m sure there will quite a few more pups in trouble over the coming days and weeks.”

If you find a seal pup on a beach please phone BDMLR on 01825 765546 during office hrs and 07787 433412 out of office hrs.

CO CHOMUNN AN IOCHDAIR LTD

CARNAN STORES CARNAN, SOUTH UIST Phone 01870 610205 Fax 01870 610216 Email: managercarnanstores@aol.com

Dog and Cat Food Promotion Breederpack Premium Dog & Cat Food 12 tin pack - normally £5.94 For one month (October) only £4.94 While Stocks Last All prices inclusive of VAT

Open: Mon to Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sat 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

This is just a small selection of what we have in stock. Call in and look around

October 2012 Issue 8 - island news & ADVERTISER

Sport

Uist and Barra football

End of season report Reporter: Archie MacCorquodale

Uist & Barra League Table 2012 P

The Uist and Barra Football season came to end recently with defending champion Iochar saints the runaway winners again.

Saints dominated the season from the outset but found themselves only five points clear at the midway stage and with Eriskay cutting the deficit to only two points when they won the first match after the midpoint of the season, Saints then produced a great sequence of results when the won all 10 of their fixtures after the halfway point.

Indeed Saints only lost five points all season with a solitary defeat against Eriskay and a draw against Benbecula the only blemish on their league campaign.

They also reached the milestone of scoring 100 league goals in their 20 matches. Saints also reached the final of both cup competitions but it was Eriskay who stopped a treble for Saints by lifting

the R.J.Macleod cup but when both sides met in the Billy McNeil cup final it was Saints who took revenge by winning the trophy by 3-0.

Eriskay finished the season in runner`s up spot despite a gallant effort. A home defeat to Saints and another away defeat to Benbecula gave the islanders no chance of catching Saints but with a cup win and another final appearance losing to Saints it has been a fruitful season for Eriskay.

Benbecula and Barra occupied the midtable positions and their positions tell its own story with inconsistency being both their problems whilst being able to beat any team on their day to also being able to get beat at the same time remains a

1 2

C

W

D

L

F

A

GD

PTS

Saints 20 18 1 1 100 19 81 55 Eriskay 20 12 3 5 74 49 25 39

3 Benbecula 20 10 3 7 67 42 25 33 4

Barra 20 9

2 9 73 55 18 29

5 North Uist 20 3

1 16 28 106 -78 10

6 Southend 20 3

0 17 33 104 -71 9

mystery to both of the sides’ managers.

Both Southend and North Uist Utd so often battling out at the top of the table this season found themselves trying to avoid a bottom place finish. It was North Uist who avoided the wooden spoon leaving Southend bottom although both sides have gone through a transitional season with youngsters being blooded they will look to come back stronger next season.

Katlyn MacLellan and Owen Vesey.

UIST YOUNGSTERS COMPETE IN STORNOWAY

BILLY MACNEIL CUP FINAL

Two members of North Uist Amateur Athletics Association were invited to compete in Stornoway sports centre against Stornoway, Helensburgh, Aberdeen and Clydeside Athletics Clubs.

Reporter: Archie MacCorquodale

Iochar Saints 3 Eriskay 0 Iochar saints made it a league and cup double when they lifted the Billy Macneil Cup last weekend.

Another large crowd was in attendance to witness a repeat of the earlier R.J Macleod cup final between these two sides but unfortunately the teams could not repeat the excitement of the that match.

Saints looked the stronger of the sides in the opening exchanges but neither side could get a shot on target in the opening 20 mins. John “Ma” Macisaac had a shot on target for Eriskay but Peter “Pedro” Macdonald saved comfortably.

The game became bogged down in midfield and with two many passes being over-hit in the difficult windy conditions.

Saints did take the lead when some hesitation in the Eriskay

13

defence let in Carl “Doo Doos” Macphee who skipped in between Sean Mackinnon and goalkeeper Duncan “Bolt” Maciness to fire the ball into the net. Eriskay were missing the influence of player manager Martin “Cherry” Macaulay at the back and with Sean Mackinnon having to play in defence there midfield was weakened and Saints began to dominate this area.

Ally Downie then had a chance to make it 2-0 for Saints but depite his shot beating the keeper it also slide past the post.

Eriskay almost equalised though when Ali Macdonald had a shot which went over the top. At the start of the second

half John “Ma” Macisaac rose highest at a corner but his header came back of the crossbar. Saints then made it 20 when Joe Maciness drove at the Eriskay defence and drilled a cross cum shot into the box which deceived everybody and nestled inside the corner of the Saints net.

From this point on there was only one side lifting the cup, Saints were now well on top without threatening the Eriskay goal on too many occasions Joe Maciness again tried his luck but this time Duncan “Bolt” Maciness denied the youngster with a fine save diving to his left to turn his shot round the corner.

Saints did get a third goal

Katlyn MacLellan, 14, came first in the 75m under 16 girls’ hurdles and Owen Vesey, 13, hampered by a knee injury, came fourth in the 1500m under 16 boys.

when Ally Downie pounced on a short pass back by Owen “Callum” Maciness and beat the keeper to make it 3-0.

A well deserved victory for Saints who made it double winning season for the second time in as many years.

Eriskay on the other hand will look back on a At the heart of the Community successful season with a cup win ● Wide selection ● Friendly service and runner`s up ● Local meat, fish, eggs and seasonal veg spots in both league and cup. ● Fresh baking ● Daily papers ●

Fuel

Uist Camanachd U14 team makes it to Oban finals Uist Camanachd U14 became the first Western Isles team to qualify for a national final.

They beat Skye B, Lochcarron and Ballachulish to get there, but were ultimately beaten by a much more experienced Inverary team from an area with a strong shinty tradition.

The team played well and did themselves and Uist proud. They are now looking to build on their achievements next year and attract more players to the squad.

Open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm

Telephone: 01876 510257 Bayhead, North Uist

14

island news & ADVERTISER - October 2012 Issue 8

Paw Prints

Welcome to Paw Prints, where your animals get their chance to shine.

With winter round the corner, funloving Wisp needs his socks to keep warm. He lives with Christine and Geoff McDonald in Balivanich.

GRRRR - we’re NOT W***IES! IN&A must apologise to a troop of CAIRNS terriers on North Uist for describing one of their number in last month’s Paw Prints as a Westie.

Top dog Willoughby says: ‘The white things, the W****s were actually bred from the Cairns in the early 1700s.”

IN&A is suitably hangdog.

On ground, left to right: Robbie, Fergus,Willoughby, Freddie Dougal. On rock, left to right: Barley, Laddie.

Pack leader Jenny Taylor of Ard Heisgeir put them up to this.

Dougie can’t quite get his head round this eruption in his garden.

He lives with the MacLellan family in Hougharry, North Uist.

A Taste of Scottish Goodness The ‘Original’ Complete Dog Food – Since 1958.

Keep your pet in tip top condition ●

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airidh fort. He lives with Ru Socks loves his com North Uist. s, MacDonald in Solla

Candy and Chubb, tired after a long walk. They live in Howmore, South Uist with Kylie MacDougall and Jamie MacKenzie.

Email your hi-res photos to pawprints @islandnewsandadvertiser.com with your name and address, your pet’s name and anything you’d like to say about them.

Grab yours when you show this page at

Wilson’s Dog Food stockist,

Then look out for your photo on IN&A’s Paw Print page over the coming months!

CARNAN STORES, South Uist. managercarnanstores@aol.com

www.wilsonspetfoods.co.uk

SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 6) Front runner, 8) Gem, 9) Net, 10) Last leg, 12) Braid, 13) Robot, 14) Aspic, 15) Shame, 16) Thief, 19) Faint, 20) Debated, 21) Web, 23) Pew, 24) Level-headed DOWN: 1) Arm, 2) Knead, 3) Crate, 4) Sneer, 5) Fen, 6) Ferris Wheel, 7) Recommended, 10) Limited, 11) Go ahead, 17) Fever, 18) Bathe, 19) Feral, 22) Bed, 23) Peg.

Tel: 01870 610205 Fax: 01870 610216

October 2012 Issue 8 - island news & ADVERTISER

THE ADVERTISER

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CLUES ACROSS 6) Candidate expected to win the seat (5, 6) 8) Very reliable person, a precious thing (3) 9) Not reducible so remaining after all deductions (3) 10) The one whole ham and hock not sold (4, 3) 12) Woven band of decorative trimming (5) 13) Automatically carries out a mechanical process (5) 14) Gels together eggs, game or pretty vegetables (5) 15) He has me turning red with embarrassment (5) 16) “Stop .....” the one who stole my things (5) 19) Pale and dim, timid and indistinct, sometimes unconscious too (5) 20) Talked about at length in a formal way (7) 21) World Wide this roll of printing paper spider spun (3) 23) Enclosed compartment for a family’s worship once (3) 24) Not liable to panic and very well balanced (5-6)

CLUES DOWN 1) Limb of manipulation to start an explosive chain reaction (3) 2) Work into a paste by pummelling (5) 3) Old ship or plane in dubious state of repair (5) 4) Smile and speak with belittling contempt (5) 5) Low, marshy land, reclaimed perhaps but often boggy (3) 6) Tall showground attraction for a ride around (6, 5) 7) Suggested as fit for the purpose (11) 10) Restricted to a few examples or a maximum temperature (7) 11) Carry straight on, forward as you are (2, 5) 17) Nervous excitement might equate to a very high temperature (5) 18) Envelop with light or give a fluid wash (5) 19) Once domesticated but now quite free (5) 22) Anywhere for rest, a layer made to lie on (3) 23) Short shift made of Margaret with a pin to stabilise wages (3)

CLUES ACROSS 6) Leading contestant (5, 6) 8) Precious stone (3) 9) Web (3) 10) Final mile? (4, 3) 12) Intertwine thread (5) 13) Android (5) 14) Savoury jelly (5) 15) Disgrace (5) 16) Bandit (5) 19) Pale (5) 20) Discussed (7) 21) Net (3) 23) Church seat (3) 24) Mentally wellbalanced (5-6) CLUES DOWN 1) Support (3) 2) Manipulate (5) 3) Old aeroplane (5) 4) Scoff (5) 5) Wetland (3) 6) Fairground ride (6, 5) 7) Vouched for (11) 10) Partial (7) 11) Proceed (2, 5) 17) Passion (5) 18) Immerse in water (5) 19) Untamed (5) 22) Plot (3) 23) Dowel (3)

Combinedcrossword CRYPTIC AND COFFEE TIME Solutions on page 14

15