Mull & Iona Life #51 Autumn / Winter 2023

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King’s honour is a shared thank you

Mull champion Mary-Jean

Devon says her British Empire Medal is to share.

The island stalwart was presented with the King’s birthday honour at a special ceremony at Tobermory’s Western Isles Hotel in front of about 80 family, friends and associates – including CalMac ‘boys’ who all played a part in her receiving the medal.

Mary-Jean served 15 years on Argyll and Bute Council, representing Mull and

standing up for children’s rights and needs, before retiring in April last year.

Previous to her time on the council, she spent 20 years in Glasgow working with disadvantaged young people and with the Boys Brigade.

On Saturday, the Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute, Jane MacLeod, was at the celebration to

present Mary-Jean with her medal. Mull ward councillors Willie Hume and Andrew Kain were also there, and Claire Mackenzie-Noble created a commemorative cake.

Councillor Hume, who presented her with fl owers on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council, said Mary-Jean had served “a remarkable length of time” as a ward councillor.

He added: “Over the years

Over the years she has been on countless committees with one thing in mind, to listen to her constituents and put them first and foremost.

she has been on countless committees with one thing in mind, to listen to her constituents and put them fi rst and foremost. We all wish her well in the next chapter of her life.”

Councillor Kain also made a speech at the event about MaryJean’s achievements.

Despite stepping down from Argyll & Bute Council, MaryJean continues to serve her community by being on Mull Community Council and the Independent Ferry Board.

Mary-Jean told The Oban Times that Saturday was “the best day ever”.

“It was just lovely to celebrate with people I’ve got to know over my lifetime so far – including two of my special friends who represented Scotland in the paralympics and my family, of course, and those, including the CalMac boys, who have made it possible for me to carry out my work and responsibilities with my MS. This medal is to share with them all,” she added.

Tobermory doctor features on RNLI 200 Voices podcast

A story of turbulent times for the charity in its infancy was the focus of a recent episode in the RNLI 200 Voices podcast series presented by Tobermory volunteer Dr Sam Jones.

Fascinated with its history, Dr Jones looks at the early years of the institution. In Weathering the Storm she tells how wild weather and forbidding seas are not the only challenges the RNLI has faced and reveals how the charity came about.

Other Scottish episodes already available to listen to include the stories of veteran Largs lifeboat man Ronnie Copeland who was instrumental in saving 296 lives. Another in this 200 Voices series celebrating the charity’s bicentenary is the Courage in Wartime: a First World War rescue from Fraserburgh when in 1915, seas carried an extra danger, after a steamer was sunk by a submarine. RNLI lifeboat Lady Rothes was launched and Fraserburgh Sea Cadets pick up the story.

In another, two women volunteers in Scotland will also be telling their stories. Other episodes include Rich Rewards: Kessock crew member Olivia Davison celebrates mucking in, coming out and enjoying being part of the team, and

in Punching Through, Peterhead’s Sarah Paterson reflects on being crowned Miss European, and the reactions she gets when people discover she is a lifeboat crew member

200 Voices also hears a shout out for Lochinver from sitcom Gavin & Stacey’s Ruth Jones , while in Action Stations: Duncan Barbour the North Berwick volunteer shows he is no no stranger to action whether co-ordinating Hollywood chase sequences or launching a lifeboat.

Available across all podcast platforms and the RNLI’s website, listeners can hear Dr Jones’s episode and the

others.RNLI strategic content manager, Rory Stamp said: “We knew we had to do something really special to mark the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, which is such a monumental milestone.

“200 Voices is an incredible collection of stories that are emotive, powerful, inspiring and heart-warming. The series gives us a chance to hear from a whole variety of amazing people who have played a part in or been touched by our lifesaving charity.’

To find out more about the RNLI’s bicentenary, visit www. RNLI.org/200

Tobermory Lifeboat Operations Manager Dr Sam Jones being presented with a cheque for £404.15 by Tobermory Distillery Manager Olivier MacLean earlier this year to keep up the RNLI’s good work.

French family thanks Tobermory

Mull Museum has been donated a ‘volume’ of information about how Tobermory helped save a young French boy’s life.

Museum volunteer John Bailey, 85, was on duty when a French family holidaying at Glengorm called in and handed over a large book which told the story of when their grandfather took ill on a ship in 1924.

The ship carrying Bernard Binich had to divert to Tobermory and took him ashore before leaving him in the care of the townspeople and continuing on its voyage.

Bernard went on to recover from Typhoid and was eventually reunited with the ship before returning home to France – via Glasgow.

Bernard’s family wanted to say thank you to Tobermory for looking after him.

His grandson translated the story of what happened into English and presented it, along with the article that had appeared in a magazine bound in a big book – along with other editions of the

publication. Photographs in the magazine include one of Bernard in his sick bed and a photograph of a Mrs Elizabeth Fearquhar and her aide stood outside a house –the improvised hospital where the patient was being cared for.

Mull Museum archivist Georgia Satchel looked up minutes of the old Tobermory Borough to find out more and managed to find reference to the incident.

using their house as a fever hospital.

“The town was very welcoming, they looked after this poor boy who otherwise would probably have died –but it ended up costing them an arm and a leg.

The town was very welcoming, they looked after this poor boy who otherwise would probably have died

“It cost £73 plus another eight pounds to hire a nurse from Glasgow, pay for all the equipment and presumably to compensate someone for

“The French Consul eventually coughed up some of the expense but only after a lot of toing and froing.”

The story of Bernard is now in safe keeping at the museum.

Georgia said: “We get quite a lot of people coming in to donate items to our collection but this was one of the most unusual.”

27th & 28th October

From Pu ns and Orca to Banjo Beale and Colin Macintyre

Mull’s Colourful Characters Showcased at the 2023 Tobermory Book Festival

The Tobermory Book Festival, West Over Sea, returns in October with a two-day programme packed with writers exploring all aspects of life in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. The Festival celebrates some of the Isle of Mull’s more colourful characters including puffins and the West Coast Community of Orcas from the natural world, and historical residents Saint Columba and Sir Fitzroy MacLean of Duart. Contemporary island names include interior designer Banjo Beale and musician and novelist Colin Macintyre who both introduce their new books. The Festival also welcomes the best-selling authors Isabella Tree, who discusses her follow-up to Wilding, and Alexander McCall Smith, a regular

visitor to Mull, who hosts one of the two evening dinners. Tobermory Book Festival takes place on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 October 2023 at the Western Isles Hotel and An Tobar. The Children’s Fringe runs alongside the Festival at An Tobar on Saturday 28 October. Tickets are now on sale from www. antobarandmulltheatre.co.uk.

Duncan Swinbanks, owner of Tobermory’s bookshop and one of the organisers of the Tobermory Book Festival, said “Building on the success of the event in 2022, this year’s Festival celebrates Scotland

and the Hebrides in all its varied forms. Come and enjoy great food, wonderful scenery and stimulating conversations about our wildlife, our history, our produce and some of our colourful residents – both historical and contemporary.”.

Full details of the Tobermory Book Festival programme can be found at www.westoversea. co.uk and tickets are available from An Tobar and Mull Theatre at www.antobarandmulltheatre. co.uk.

Islanders’ agony over dentists

Getting dental appointments for people on Mull is a pain, the island’s community council is hearing.

A number of people have been in touch raising concerns about getting their teeth treated.

Tobermory has just one dentist, which means many have to journey over to Oban for appointments.

The island used to have a mobile van but that was stopped.

A recent community council meeting also heard from Tiree that although it has a regular visiting dentist, usually once a fortnight, 75 per cent of its population travel to the mainland – some going as far as Glasgow to get checkups and treatment.

Mull Community Council will be raising the issue with Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership.

Earlier this month The Oban Times reported how Argyll and Bute has been hit by a shortage of NHS dentists – with no space at all for new adult patients.

A local campaign, urging the Scottish Government for help, was sparked by The Hollies Dental Practice in Dunoon de-registering from NHS dental services to adults from 30 September 2023.

Community councillors at the Mull meeting highlighted a petition, Reinstate NHS Dentistry Dunoon and Cowal, that has attracted more than 700 signatures since May.

Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), said there is a national shortage of NHS dentists and confirmed out of the 14 dental practices in Argyll & Bute HSCP none are currently accepting new adult patients.

In other news, West Coast Motors is reviewing stopping its discount card used by residents.

The discount is now featured on a phone app instead, the community council heard, but not everyone has access to the app and there is not always reliable

phone signal on the island.

The community council has asked the bus company to look at reinstating some kind of card that can be shown to the driver.

West Coast Motors is also looking at whether or not to bring back the 7.20am service from Fionnphort but has asked the community council to gather evidence to show the service would be needed and used by people living on the Ross of Mull and Iona.

Also, concerns continue to be raised about a bulging wall in Tobermory’s Breadalbane Street, a designed safe route to school.

Talks with a nearby landowner are still ongoing. Community councillors are worried about pupils’ safety in the meantime. Argyll and Bute council is working on options.

And finally, community councillors hope verge cutting will start earlier next year to keep better control of bracken at roadsides across the island, giving motorists better sight-lines.

Plans for new Mull woodland

Council chiefs will raise no objections to plans to create a new woodland on the Isle of Mull, a report has revealed.

Argyll and Bute Council’s planning offi cers have decided not to register any dissent to the plans for Muddy Puddles Croft near Bunessan.

tion to the community by enabling easy public access into the newly-planted woodlands for recreation.”

A planning offi cer said in the report: “The Argyll and Bute Woodland and Forestry Strategy recognises there are a number of opportunities for positive woodland management in the area.

ed in the strategy. No further constraints have been identifi ed in this consultation other than those highlighted in the plan and therefore there are no issues from a development management perspective.

area.

Scottish Forestry said its plans for a native woodland would “enhance the natural biodiversity of the area, help mitigate climate change, generate fi nancial income for the business and provide a positive contribu-

“A Woodland Creation Operational Plan has been submitted which identifi es opportunities and constraints relevant to the management of the forest and the objectives proposed are promot-

“Overall, the proposal appears to not raise any land use planning concerns. However, this assessment is based solely upon a desk exercise examination of the information supplied and the planning authority accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information provided.”

The offi cer concluded: “I recommend Argyll and Bute Council raise no objections to the proposals provided the planting is carried out in accordance with the particulars contained in the application form and the accompanying plans.”

The Argyll and Bute Woodland and Forestry Strategy recognises there are a number of opportunities for positive woodland management in the

MULL RALLY GATHERS MOMENTUM

13TH-15TH OCTOBER 2023

The Beaton’s Building Supplies Mull Rally will return with a new look this year, ensuring the 51st edition of the island event returns to its roots.

This year’s rally will take place between Friday October 13 and Sunday October 15, with entries already open.

The Mull Rally can be traced back to the road rallies of 1969 and it has since grown into an iconic and challenging closed-road event.

A fresh approach to the format this year means a new itinerary for entrants, with a focus on retaining “everything that is special” for the rally’s 2023 edition.

More than 125 crews have already signed up to contest the revised formula, and the rally will again visit almost every corner of Mull’s north and mid-segments.The

“Fanzone’s” will also provide the opportunity to get up close and personal to the cars in Ledaig car park, Tobermory on the Friday, and Cheese Farm the next day.

After the now traditional shakedown at Duart Castle, the first leg will ease crews in with three, short sharp stages.

Starting in Tobermory, the rally’s opening day will largely take place in daylight, but concludes with the returning Glen Aros/Hill Road test ahead of an early evening halt in Salen.

A leisurely Tobermory restart on the Saturday precedes the classics, such as Mishnish Lochs and Calgary Bay, albeit in a revised format.

Competitors can expect more than 53 miles of action in daylight and there will just be enough time for a short respite before the action resumes with

a Salen restart at 6pm.

A sting in the tail follows, with over 63 miles of racing on some of Mull’s finest roads in the rally’s longest nighttime leg in more than 10 years.

Crews will then reach the all-important rally finish and Champagne spray in Tobermory’s Ledaig Car Park at around 12.40am, undoubtedly elated to finish one of the toughest rallies of the year.

Clerk of the course, Richard Crozier, said: “Trying to pull together over 133 miles of closed roads on Mull certainly takes some doing and it always shocks me how much hard work and dedication the entire team put into making the rally happen.

“Our aim is always to keep innovating and ensuring that the rally remains fresh for those competitors who

Photos courtesy of Lindsay Photo Sport

come back again, but exciting enough to draw in a swathe of newcomers too.

“I think we have captured the full essence of the Mull Rally this year and retain everything that is special about the rally.”

Mr Crozier added: “Perhaps, it feels like more of a back-tobasics approach, but it’s by no means an easy one. It’s nice to have a huge variation of names on the list of entries, many of which are in with a

shout of a win.

“The organisers are carrying a very prestigious baton and we are doing all we can to continue the special legacy of the event and the island.”

“Our thanks must go to Beatson’s Building Supplies for their continued support and to the entire island for welcoming us so warmly year after year. Thanks also to Argyll & Bute Council and Police Scotland, as well as the ongoing support

of Event Scotland. We can’t wait to welcome you all to Mull in October.”

Organisers have again decided the rally will partner with Carbon Positive Motorsport as part of an environmental road map and take significant steps to mitigate its carbon footprint. More information about the Mull Rally is available from www.mullrally.org and from the rally’s social media channels.

Tobermory lifeboat marks 50 years with four call-outs

Tobermory RNLI marked the 20th anniversary of their volunteer crew’s lifeboat with four call-outs in 36 hours earlier this week.

It was during West Highland Yachting Week 2003, that Tobermory RNLI’s previous Arun Class lifeboat led the station’s brand new Severn Class lifeboat, Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey, into Tobermory Bay for the fi rst time.

During this year’s event, the Tobermory RNLI vessel

marked this anniversary by covering more than 90 miles, with two journeys to the Isle of Coll and back.

The lifeboat was fi rst tasked with assisting a 43foot yacht with engine failure at the north end of the Sound of Mull on Tuesday at 4.58pm.

The yacht had four adults and four children aboard, representing three generations of the same family.

Having assessed the situation, the lifeboat crew passed a tow to the yacht and recovered her safely to Tobermory harbour, in the company of a small pod

of dolphins. Tobermory’s volunteer crew were then tasked on Wednesday at 2pm to aid a person with a serious ankle injury on an outcrop close to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse.

Two volunteer crew gave casualty care and the person was evacuated by the UK Coastguard’s Rescue 151 helicopter from Inverness.

This was the fi rst launch for new crew member, Sharyn Murray, who had received her pager for the fi rst time on Tuesday evening.

While at the scene, the lifeboat was tasked to respond to the report of another injured person, who was this time aboard a yacht at Arinagour on Coll.

lifeboat for an impromptu tour.

The children also met Alex Page, a Coll coastguard offi cer who recently kayaked around the islands of Coll and Tiree to raise funds for the Tobermory RNLI lifeboat.

We certainly marked our Severn Class lifeboat’s 20th anniversary with a momentous 36 hours.

The person had sustained a serious hand injury and crew members again gave casualty care until the person was airlifted by the UK Coastguard’s Rescue 199 helicopter from Prestwick.

Once the person had been safely evacuated, the crew were able to welcome some local children aboard the

The crew were able to thank Alex in person for the £3,146 he has already raised to help kit out and train a new lifeboat crew member at Tobermory.

The volunteer crew returned home to get some well earned rest, but their pagers sounded again at 1.45am on Thursday.

Tobermory RNLI were tasked to return to Coll where the family of the

injured person aboard the yacht had become concerned that their mooring was dragging in windy conditions.

The volunteer lifeboat crew secured the yacht and took the family to Tobermory to stay for the night.

Tobermory RNLI coxswain, David McHaffi e said: “We certainly marked our Severn Class lifeboat’s 20th anniversary with a momentous 36 hours. We would like to thank the fi shing boat who assisted the yacht during our fi rst shout, as well as the crews of the coastguard helicopters from Inverness and Prestwick.All of us at the station send our best wishes to those involved and we hope they have a speedy recovery from their injuries. We were also pleased to be able to meet up with Alex and welcome the local Coll children on board.”

Tobermory pupils use VR to retell Gaelic stories

A class at Tobermory High School has been learning stories in Gaelic as part of a unique project that involves recreating them in virtual reality (VR).

Second-year pupils in Karen McDonald’s class have been working alongside Dr Alasdair Whyte from the University of Glasgow to tell them in this alternative way.

The class were also visited by Nick Pattinson, a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teacher from Australia, who helped the pupils to create the stories in VR.

They started by learning about how to use a VR platform called CoSpaces, which they used to create worlds and people that move around and talk.

Afterwards, the pupils spent an enjoyable day visiting sites around the Isle of Mull to learn Gaelic stories, walking to castles and lochs to help learn the stories.

The next day they started to put their stories together on CoSpace, adding lots of characters and details in a team effort.

Miss McDonald and her pupils said: “Creating the

worlds and getting the characters to speak in Gaelic was fairly easy to do, because we all helped each other.

“We worked together to learn how to code the program, for example we made characters move, speak and added music and built castles.

“At the end, we reflected on the project and hope to help Nick’s class in Australia to create worlds in VR, and hopefully other Gaelic-speaking schools, as we learnt a lot during the project.”

ANJA’S FUNDRAISING KEEPS UP THE PACE AT MULL 10K RACE

Iona’s Anja Jardine has raised more than £3,810 at the last count as a thank you to cancer nurses and support staff at Oban’s Macmillan Day Bed Unit.

Anja, who is a breast cancer survivor and works as a cook at Iona Abbey, took part in the Mull 10k in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Her original goal of £250 was smashed early on in her fundraising appeal.

“The run went well, though it was pretty hard running in such heat. It was such a well organised event, lots of cheery runners, the water stations at the right points with encouraging marshals,” said Anja, who has just finished treatment after a diagnosis led to a mastectomy in November, followed by eight rounds of chemotherapy in Oban, then radiotherapy in the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow.

A few friends from Iona and the Ross of Mull were also running at the event, so Anja had great company.

“While I wasn’t there to break records, I was pleased with my finishing time.

“I’m astounded and hum-

bled by all the support I’ve received, and cannot thank people enough for their donations,” she added.

You can still support Anja at www.justgiving. com/page/anjajardine-1685699715378

Above: Anja Jardine at the finishing line at the Mull 10k in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Support.

Round Mu Race

In it’s 38th year, Oban sailing clubs much anticipated annual Ardfern Yachts and Owen Sails sponsored Round Mull Yacht race took place over the last weekend in June.

The race is run from Friday to Sunday, with three legs totalling 94 nautical miles and taking in overnight stops

in Tobermory, Bunessan and racing through the sound of Iona and the Torran rocks. Throw in Staffa and you really have a bucket list race, reports Steven Forteith.

A total of 28 yachts arrived at the start in Oban split into four classes with a handful of yachts also competing for the double handed trophy.

The starter gun was fi red at midday and the classes raced off in fi ve minute intervals. One or two boats were a bit keen to get going with Elixir of Lorn being scored OCS in class two, while a couple of class one yachts returned and exonerated themselves.

“A fresh white sail fetch

took the yachts over to Lismore light and then the angle eased with spinnakers set for a reach up the sound of Mull. But as usual the sound of Mull had other ideas and the race turned into an upwind lottery. With the breeze dying the race team set a fi nish outside Tobermory. Unfortunately several yachts had to retire unable to make the time limit.

“Once the handicaps were applied, the X332 Madog from Helensburgh won the Mishnish Bucket for best overall corrected time with the Chalmers Sigma 400 Sunrise second and Alison Chadwick with team Hot Toddy third on the Moody 336.

Saturday dawned with a big forecast for the back of Mull, so for the fi rst time in years, the race team decided it would not be safe to head to Bunessan with a forecast of over 30 knots. So the decision was made to race in the sound of Mull, from Tobermory down to Salen and back.

“A start was set in Tobermory harbour and the fl eet blasted out to a turning mark and rounded for a downwind roller coaster ride to Salen. With the wind gusting at over 30knots some yachts hoisted spinnakers and double digit speeds were recorded. Once at the Green Isle the yachts set for a beat back to Tobermory with much

reduced sail plans. Winner of the day and the Bunessan Hall trophy was Cameron Still’s Maxi 1300 Maximoose Too with a strong showing, with the J92 Satisfaction coming in second after a fl ying downwind ride. Third was Sunrise with some consistent sailing.

“The yachts returned to Tobermory harbour with many tall tales and a general consensus that not going to Bunessan was the correct decision.

“Sunday morning and the breeze was back on for the race to Oban taking Kerrera to Port. Spinnakers were set and the fl eet stormed down the sound of Mull, with kites being held all the way to Lismore. A brief fetch followed to Kerrera, then a run up the sound to the fi nish line off Oban Sailing club. Once the results were calculated Autism on the water was declared the winner with a beaming Murray MacDonald taking the Glencoe trophy for the best corrected time on the leg. Maximoose Too was second and the Forteith’s 31.7 Shadowfax fi nally showed some form to fi nish third.

“With all three leg times

added together Cameron Still and the team on Maximoose Too having sailed consistently all weekend, were declared overall Round Mull race winners, winning the Torran Rock and Class one. Sunrise took second in class two with the Balmforth’s Tangaroa taking third. Madog won class two, with Shadowfax second and Nick Marshall’s J92 Satisfaction third. Class three was won by Hot Toddy, with Jon Fitzgerald’s Sigma33 White Lightening second and Alastir Pugh’s Contessa 32 Marisca third. Restricted sail was won by Calisa with nobody else managed to complete all three legs.

“The Sigma 33 White Lightening won the double handed trophy, an excellent performance given the conditions over the weekend.

“Oban sailing club wishes to thanks main sponsors Owen Sails, Ardfern Yacht Centre, Forteith RHPS, T,Barbour Fuel limited and the Oban Seafood hut. Thanks also to the race team and James Hardie and the lovely committee boat Madadh. And a huge thanks to all the club members that made the event a success.”

A start was set in Tobermory harbour and the fleet blasted out to a turning mark and rounded for a downwind roller coaster ride to Salen.

BOTTLE-NOSED WHALE IS A FIRST FOR MULLMAN

I woke up to a message from John Spiers, good friend and local wildlife photographer, that he had seen a northern bottle-nosed whale off Loch Don the day before. So, having never seen one before, I hitched down to Craignure, jumped on a bus to Grasspoint road end and then started walking, writes Daniel Brooks, The Oban Times’ columnist Mullman.

I soon got a lift from Mathew Dean, his wife and territorial little dog in their camper and they took me all the way to the viewpoint car park near the road end. Whilst they had some breakfast I walked up the hill and started searching the seas of the Firth of Lorn, the stretch of sea between south Mull

and the mainland. I spotted a number of common dolphins feeding below diving gannets, not so common for this area. In fact, I had seen the first pod of common dolphins from the Oban to Mull ferry just a week earlier. A week or so prior to that, the living legends, orcas John Coe and Aquarius were also seen in this area for the first time.

After about 20 minutes though, I was scanning with my scope when I saw what looked like the left over of some large disturbance in the water some 4kms away to the south. Then, sure enough, the bottle-nosed whale launched out of the water in full view and came down with a huge splash!

Yay! Another new species of cetacean off Mull for me!

It then breached a further eight times or so and I managed to get some photographs. What a stunning animal, looking more like a bottle-nosed dolphin on steroids than any whale I have ever seen. Whilst surfacing after its display it did not always show its melon head or beak and it looked identical to a minke whale surfacing. I wondered yet again, how many times whale sightings are assumed to be minke, when, in fact, they are another species.

Mathew turned up just as it stopped breaching but did get a brief view of it surfacing with my scope. His first whale sighting – what a rarity

to be his first. We saw it a few more times surfacing in the same area then searched for other goodies.

Bottle-nosed whales are a specialised deep water species and their presence in inshore waters off the west coast of Scotland has often proved to be a sign that something is wrong with them. Sometimes ending in their death. It is believed by some, including myself, that this species, along with others, are often accompanied by a friend or family member to these inshore waters to either die, or heal and then return to their usual habitat.

Let’s hope this one is either just on holiday to visit the famously stunning Isle of Mull, that it heals itself and heads back out to sea, or at least has a good death.

All things must die after all, it is all just a wonderful

part of the miracle that is life. This species does tend to turn up at this time of the year most of all, which might suggest they are coming in for other reasons?

I would guess at least 40 common dolphins were spread out feeding in small groups below the diving gannets.

its starts to get its beautiful white grey plumage.

Mathew spotted a whitetailed eagle flying across the nearby hills and I picked up an adult and a newly fledged young perched in a tree.

Then, sure enough, the bottle-nosed whale launched out of the water in full view and came down with a huge splash!

A male hen harrier flew from nearby us across the water to Kerrera and then we had a couple of sighting of other ringtail harriers. In the bird world we call the brown harriers ringtails, as its very difficult to tell if it is a female which is brown, or a young male, which is also brown for the first year or so before

There were seals feeding in Loch Don and I got a brief view of an otter swimming in the shallows before it vanished.

Porpoise porpoised along near Lady Rock Light, something ironically not common to see. Porpoises actually porpoising that is! What a magical place. What an amazing hour or so wildlife watching, all from the same spot.

Have fun rewilding yourself.

Mull Music Makers make it to Edinburgh Festival

Mull Music Makers performed as part of this year’s opening fanfare for Edinburgh International Festival, which opened on Saturday August 5.

Introduced on stage by star violinist Nicola Benedetti, more than 23 young people from MMM took part in the amazing event, which was all about celebrating youth and community music in Scotland.

Among those there to see it was MMM’s chairperson Tom Forrest who sent The Oban Times this report on the youngsters epic trip to the capital.

He said: “It was a joy to see the Music Makers in their new standout sweatshirts take the stage of the Ross Bandstand with confidence and play their pieces, from memory, in great style.

“The MMM 20-minute programme started in rain but the weather gods must have been listening because it stopped after the first number.

“They returned to the stage later for the grand finale where all the performers of the day, over 300 people, helped to create the first performance of a piece written for the occasion and introduced by Nicola Benedetti. MMM were in the centre of the stage, easily seen in those sweatshirts!

“The young players were all, of course, excited to be part of such an important occasion. Parents were emotional and very proud to see all the time spent at workshops and on practise reap their benefits. The MMM year could not have ended in a better way.”

Mr Forrest said it would not have happened without MMM co-ordinator Laura Mandleberg’s boundless commitment and organisational skills.

“That one day alone must have taken so much time and care. But we have to remember that it came on the tail of five days of the summer Fiddle Week, including a ceilidh in

Aros Hall on the Thursday night. I was also able to see the MMM tutors at work.

“The amazing Patsy Reid, another ball of energy, with Vanessa Edwards and Marian Lloyd, and trainee tutor Anna Garvin, who guided the players on and off stage and provided all the encouragement that was needed for the players to believe in themselves. Thanks go to the Music Education Partnership who covered the travel cost from Mull.

“It was a day that everyone will remember for a very long time. And that includes me. The whole event and the speech by Nicola Benedetti reminded us all of why what we do to nurture groups such as MMM really matters. Uplifting. Roll on next year – but I’m not yet sure what we can do to top this!”

The young players were all, of course, excited to be part of such an important occasion.