Mull & Iona Life #41 Spring 2021

Mull&Iona

SPRING 2021

Issue 41

Life

CASH HELP FOR 13TH CENTURY CASTLE ON MULL MULL NURSES HOT FOOT IT TO DELIVER VACCINES HELICOPTER HELPS IN MULL BEACH CLEAN WITH A TWIST MULL AND IONA’S FREE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTED TO OVER 1,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES ON MULL & IONA

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welcome fàilte

FRONT COVER PICTURE

Duart Castle Shutterstock.com

contents 4

Mull nurses hot foot it to deliver vaccines

editor@obantimes.co.uk

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Mull man’s ‘tanks’ to the NHS

ADVERTISING

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Oban’s NLB star bows out after 35 years

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Mull salmon farm’s ‘fantastic’ results

EDITORIAL

Fiona MacInnes 01631 568000

PRODUCTION

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Mull serves up help to ease Covid impact

Kevin McCubbin

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Let’s do it for Megan and mental health

PUBLISHED BY

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Helicopter helps in Mull beach clean with a twist

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Recipe

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Cash help for 13th century castle on Mull

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Funding for Mull and Iona art trail

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Lucky ticket wins seahorse in RNLI raffle

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New home is Owen’s best birthday gift

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Finn the elf gets up to mischief - again!

Wyvex Media Limited, PO Box 1, Oban, PA34 4HB Tel: 01631 568000 www.obantimes.co.uk

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Mull nurses hot foot it to deliver vaccines Community nurses on Mull are tackling wild terrain and the elements on foot to vaccinate residents.

District nurse Moira Westland and staff nurse Cara Donnelly have been going the extra mile to get Covid-19 vaccinations to remote clients by relying on their own two feet to reach remote residents’ homes that are not easily accessible from the roads.

District nurse Moira Westland has also been walking to reach some of Mull’s most remote homes to give residents their Covid vaccinations Most of the island’s roads are single-track and narrow, with off road trails to get to some places surrounded by wilderness and high cliffs plunging to the sea, secret sandy beaches and rocky coves.

Moira said that determination to keep the vaccination programme on target is powering her on.

‘My priority is keeping my team safe and reaching the most vulnerable residents here on the island as quickly as possible. The programme rollout has been a group effort which we’re delighted to be involved in. Residents can be assured that even

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Staff nurse Cara Donnelly has been going the extra mile on foot to get Covid-19 vaccinations to remote clients. with the winter pressures, we are determined to stay on target with the island vaccination programme.

‘I really enjoy my job. The vaccination programme is a really good example of challenges we have to overcome due to the rural location of

some of the residents living on the island.’

Cara, who grew up in Barra and only transferred to Mull in September after a time nursing in Glasgow, said extra layers and thermal wellies are also helping get the job done.

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‘Moira and I both chose to and the complex challenges which can occur in remote be nurses because of the and rural areas, desire to help but Moira has people and care been an excelfor them in rural The people of lent mentor and settings. I grew Mull can be takes the lead up in Barra assured that on ensuring risk and my nursing we are surging assessments career took me ahead with are carried to Glasgow to the vaccine out to ensure train and work our own daily and in Septemprogramme. wellbeing and ber I transferred safety. to the Isle of ‘The people Mull. I am relof Mull can be assured that atively new to rural nursing

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we are surging ahead with the vaccine programme and with our extra layers and thermal wellies on, we are determined to meet our targets.’

At the latest Oban Community Council meeting, councillor Kieron Green paid tribute to the people of Argyll and Bute for sticking to Scottish Government guidelines.

He said by following regulations they were driving virus cases down.

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MULL MAN’S ‘TANKS’ TO THE NHS

A self-employed business owner on the Isle of Mull is doing his bit to support the NHS. Gerry Kangley, 47, of Kangley Construction based at Tobermory, has recently expanded his eight-year-old business to include septic tank emptying and drain jetting. With the NHS close to his heart and family, Gerry is well aware of the pressures they have faced during the pandemic and has decided to help by making a £10

donation from every customer using his new service on the island. The new kit has been decorated with an eye-catching ‘Thank you to the NHS’ and Gerry said he hoped other businesses would follow suit by also making contributions to help the NHS. Mr Kangley said his wife Riona also plans to make their self-catering holiday home at Upper Tobermory available for a single week, depending on availability, to

an NHS front line worker.

Mr Kangley said he has bipolar disorder and ADHD and it was important for people to speak up about the conditions and the help of the NHS. Anyone wishing to use his services should call or text 07938 999420 or visit the business page on Facebook. It can be accessed via the shortlink http://bit.ly/3bYSQHf or at www.facebook.com/ Kangley-construction

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COMMUNITY

Oban’s NLB star bows out after 35 years Hurricanes in the Caribbean, North Sea oil rigs in winter and spring time in Oban with the buoys and gulls - Captain Eric Smith has spent a life on the ocean wave.

But after 47 years at sea 35 of them with the Northern Lighthouse Board and 30 based out of the Gallanach Road depot - the Master of the NLV Pole Star is now ‘swallowing the anchor’ as they say in maritime circles.

Eric, 62, officially retires on April 1 but due to the monthon, month off rota, his final day arrived on March 4 2021.

His last trip with the 15-crew was to a broken buoy off Barra.

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It brings to an end three decades with the NLB covering a vast territory from the Isle of Man to all of Scotland’s rugged coast and islands tending navigation buoys, lighthouses and oil rigs.

There was no pub party to send him off due to Covid, so Eric toasted his retirement on Zoom with family across Scotland, having shut cabin door 01 for the last time.

Standing at the dockside and nodding towards the Pole Star, Eric said: ‘Half the year that’s been my home. Six months of the year. It’s a very different kind of lifestyle and you’re very quick to find out whether that’s for you or not.

‘I’ll be 63 in a couple of weeks and when I look back I will think of all the people I’ve met - seafarers. They’re a family. But you know yourself when that is it and you’ve done enough.’

Yet as a young lad hailing from the Isle of Lewis, Eric had his heart set on terra firma.

‘Working at sea was never really at the forefront. What I had a notion for was to become a policeman.’

But with the bobbies of yesteryear insisting on loftier candidates, it wasn’t meant to be.

Not that Eric has looked back. With a keen interest in navigation, he sat it at O-level

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COMMUNITY

and was spellbound by the and Europe and the Pacific Stornoway teachers, all former islands. seafaring men.

Redundancy in 1986 took Friday September 13 1974 him to the NLB at Stromness was lucky for Eric. He joined on the old Pole Star. Then a his maiden voyage The transfer to Oban in 1991 at Chemical Explorer in Rotterthe age of 33 saw him join the dam bound for the Gulf of MV Fingal.

Mexico and calling at jumping Now a luxury floating hotel American ports including New in Leith, Fingal’s memory lives Orleans. onboard the Suntanned and Pole Star with a His with brass in tender named in encouragement pocket, 16-yearher honour. and mentoring of old Eric knew he Eric has also had made the captained the cadets starting right choice.

NLV Pharos their careers at With no named after the sea leaves an internet then or historic lightimportant lasting house in ancient mobile phones, legacy if you wanted Egypt. to stay in touch Eric’s daughyou wrote a letter ter Caroline home.

Smith works for CalMac. Eric served 12 years deep But from now on for Eric, it’ll sea travelling to New Zealand, be more time on the fairways Japan, India, South Africa, than the sea lanes.

South America, North America A member of Glencruitten Golf

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Club, he’s seen all the world he wants to see and simply plans to spend more time visiting Lewis.

And with a nod to coronavirus, Eric quipped: ‘I’m just looking forward to doing anything. We can’t go for a meal, we can’t go for a pint, we can’t go for a cup of coffee.’

Mike Bullock, chief executive of the NLB said Eric had been a key member of the team, contributing to the safety of mariners throughout Scottish and Manx waters.

‘His encouragement and mentoring of cadets starting their careers at sea leaves an important lasting legacy,’ said Mr Bullock. ‘As does documenting his work on TV in the Gaelic language. We will miss him greatly and wish him all the very best for a long and happy retirement.’

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MULL SALMON FARM’S ‘FANTASTIC’ RESULTS Scottish Sea Farms is piloting a new power system at Loch Spelve on Mull to significantly reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

The company said it is part of its drive to be more sustainable and contribute to the Scottish Government’s ambition to be net zero by 2045.

It involves a ‘bespoke

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hybrid power system’ aboard its feed barge.

Alan Tangny, Loch Spelve Farm manager, said the results after just four months have been ‘fantastic’ achieving environmental and cost savings.

‘We used to be filling our diesel tank at least once a week and now we’re probably getting four times longer between fills,’ said Mr

Tangny.

The kit was designed, built and is monitored by Aqua Power Technologies.

It has been shown to have offset more than 32,000kg in carbon since the pilot began in September - comparable to the weight of a standard fuel tanker.

Sam Etherington, Aqua Power Technologies founder, said the systems had been

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Alan Tangny Loch Spelve Farm manager in existence for 20 years but are between 10.30am and 2.30pm so all those other is typically used in cars, underground trains and off-grid hours before and after, the hybrid maintains homes. power to the It had not The hybrid farm, enabling been deployed system can savings to be on a salmon be remotely made.’ farm until he The system approached configured includes a Scottish Sea farm by farm, real-time monFarms. according to itoring platform Mr Etheringpower needs, to providing an ton said: ‘The yield the highest insight into the hybrid system farm’s power can be remotesavings. use. ly configured Sheena Gallie, farm by farm, Scottish Sea Farms environaccording to power needs, ment manager, said: ‘This to yield the highest savings. level of monitoring of our ‘The peak feeding times

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power use is something we wouldn’t have had otherwise.’

The total annual carbon offset over the course of a year is estimated at 79,400kg, the company said.

The annual net saving in diesel costs, based on today’s prices, is calculated at around £18,000.

The company plans to identify other farms where it might be used.

Ms Gallie said: ‘There is a clear opportunity for the company to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and, in doing so, significantly reduce carbon emissions.’

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MULL SERVES UP HELP TO EASE COVID IMPACT From making sets of scrubs to stitching facemasks, volunteers on Mull have also been cooking and delivering hot meals to those in need.

Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) has also been helping support people impacted by the pandemic.

Fundraising and volunteers during Covid have helped pump £100,000 back into the Mull community.

Moray Finch, MICT general manager, said: ‘Mull residents have really come together The community on Mull has embraced initiatives to support and embraced the initiatives that have been put in place fellow islanders during Covid over the last year. masks can be used in any Scotland and is awarded by ‘The assistance and fundZero Waste Scotland. situation. More than 4,000 raising over the last year has Last summer, MICT co-orface coverings were made put £100,000 back into the dinated a group of volunteers community. MICT has been by volunteers, with many who wanted supporting in the distributed to those in need to do more to background but with others available for sale support local Mull residents the community to raise money for the Covid has done some have really come health services and sourced a Winter Hardship Fund. amazing things. together and pattern to make MICT is also backing a dedThey have embraced the scrubs, initially really pulled the icated group of locals who initiatives that using whatever stops out.’ have been taking it in turns to have been put in spare fabric they Even though deliver food parcels and pick had available, the island’s place over the then fundraising up prescriptions and grocerRevolve certified last year. ies for Mull residents who are to buy material. second-hand Together the isolated or shielding. store MESS Island Castaways is shut dur- volunteers made nearly 100 Some islanders have been sets of scrubs in various sizes cooking and delivering hot ing the pandemic, its parent which were gifted to healthorganisation MICT has kept meals to those who needed care workers on the island. up amazing work. it, preparing 30 meals a day The group is now making Revolve is the re-use quality and delivering them in the face masks, sourcing HEPA standard for shops which material to make filters so the MICT electric van. sell second-hand goods in

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Let’s do it for Megan a CalMac staff in Oban are flying the flag for mental health as a ‘beautiful’ colleague continues her recovery.

Popular Megan Baillie, 22, who worked on the MV Isle of Mull ferry, remains under specialist care nine months after attempting to take her own life on May 19.

A ‘livewire’ member of the team with a ‘smile which lit up the room’, nearly 40 colleagues are taking part in the Megan’s Miles fundraising challenge from March.

They will carry out 126-miles of exercise each to represent the distance between the Oban terminal and the Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh.

Donations are going to the Scottish Association for Mental Health via an online JustGiving page set up by Megan’s friend Nicky MacKechnie, from Oban.

Nicky works aboard the MV Clansman and the pair bonded while serving their apprenticeships together.

In no time at all, the fund passed its £2,500 target and has now topped £4,400.

Supporters have dug deep to help fund services for those often suffering in silence.

There had been no outward sign Megan was feeling the way she was. It was only later that ‘heartbreaking’ notes were found on her phone, her older sister Lauren told The Oban Times. It was clear Megan had been putting a brave face on, she said.

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With that in mind, Megan’s mum Helen Hogarth urged people to talk and genuinely listen at all times - not just when people are ‘visibly’ down.

‘We need to get people talking before they feel that suicide is the only way out for them,’ said Helen.

‘Talking - not just when they’ve had one too many cocktails or pints and people think: ‘It’s just drink talk’.

‘Talking - not just when they’ve had a bad day at

work and people think: ‘Aw, it’s fine things will get better’.

‘Talking - not just when they have split up from their boyfriend or girlfriend and people say: ‘Oh well, there’s plenty more fish in the sea’.

‘But instead, talking when they’ve had a good day - a funny, eventful, productive day - but when they still can only think about when, how and where to take their own lives.’

Despite her family initially being told she may not

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an and mental health only a fantastic and kind thing survive, Megan has shown to do, but is so important for remarkable strength and awareness of mental health.’ determination during her Among the range of organifightback. sations the family thanked are While her memory has yet to return, she has been sitting first responders and those at up and talking but must learn the University Hospital Crosshouse ICU and the Astley to stand alone and walk Ainslie Charles Bell Pavilion, again. which provides rehabilitation The family is keen to get for patients with her back to her brain injuries.

North Ayrshire They also believe Helen said home where sisthat positive everyone ter Lauren and younger brother thoughts, prayers involved had Logan desperand well wishes done ‘absolutely everything in ately await her from hundreds their power and return in Steof friends and ability to keep venston, along work colleagues our beautiful girl with step-dad here with us’.

Richard Hogahave had a part She added: rth, Megan’s dad to play.

‘They also Murdoch Baillie believe that posand step-mum itive thoughts, prayers and Elaine McCulley. well wishes from hundreds of Mum Helen added: ‘We friends and work colleagues have been so lucky to get a have had a part to play.’ second chance with Megan Recently, at the Oban Ferry but tragically not all families Terminal, Megan’s colleagues do.

‘That’s why Megan’s CalMac Nicola MacKechnie, Alan work colleagues raising mon- MacInnes, Ian Rodgers and Keith MacMillan gathered ey for the Scottish Associain specially-made ‘Megan’s tion for Mental Health is not Miles’ t-shirts as the countdown to the challenge got under way.

They remember Megan as a ‘total livewire’ who, despite her young age, seamlessly slotted in to life onboard holding her own with ‘guys who had been at sea for 35 years’.

As friend Ian Rodgers quipped: ‘Within a couple of

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weeks, Megan was running the ship!’

He added: ‘You’re living with people for two weeks and it’s one big family and everyone was genuinely devastated.

The whole company is behind it - not just the crew on the boats, but the office as well.’

Recently, work colleagues took part in a special video call with Megan and could not believe the progress she had made. ‘She has blown us all away and is defying all the odds,’ said Ian. You can donate at www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ megansmarchmiles

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Helicopter helps in Mull beach clean with a twist Three-and-a-half huge bags of washed-up marine litter has been cleaned off a remote beach on the Isle of Mull - with the help of a helicopter.

Skyhook Helicopters, part of Craignure-based TSL Contractors Ltd, kindly agreed to uplift the ‘dumpy bags’ full of plastics and fly them to the nearest roadside after they proved too difficult to shift from the remote location.

Somerset Charrington, of Treshnish Farm near Calgary, started beach cleaning along a large inaccessible shore in 2019 while keeping an eye on his lambs. He amassed such a large quantity that he placed it in large feed bags to stop it blowing around.

But the location of the rubbish - more than a mile from the nearest vehicular access - meant it proved a headache to shift as there was no way of transporting them back to the farm.Carolyne Charrington, who runs Treshnish and Haunn Cottages, said: ‘Our wildest dream was to get a helicopter to lift it out to a place where we could reach it with a vehicle but we baulked at the potential cost of this.’

However, before Christmas they got word that Skyhook was going to be lifting packs of fencing materials into position on the Isle of Ulva in the

washing up continues to be a huge issue. Finds include lobster tags from Newfoundland, Canada, and fishing buoys from Providence, Maine.

A neighbour also found a boat on the shores of Loch Tuath between Mull and Ulva, having fallen off a container ship on its way from Denmark to Greenland, she said.

Carolyne said: ‘Treshnish New Year and got in touch to has four miles of coastline ask if they could help. and as much as we would On Saturday February like to, it is just not possible 6, a helicopter piloted by to keep every inch picked operations manager Murray clean of the marine plastic Graham and assisted by and rubbish that washes in ground crew Terry Maughan with the tides. and Matthew Rowbottom, ‘But we do what we can removed the bags. and usually where there is Carolyne said: ‘It took all access with a quad bike or a of five minutes. We both felt tractor.’ quite emotional with tears in Guests had often helped our eyes at the sight of the by picking up beach plastic, bags disappearing over the hill. We are so very grateful to while Mull Otter Group has also organised beach cleans Skyhook for doing this.’ too.

Murray, who pilots the ‘All this is a great help and AS350 B3 Plus - aka ‘the makes the never-ending single squirrel’ - said Skytask feel less onerous,’ said hook had been flying out bundles of fencing from Mull Carolyne. to Ulva and the job of uplifting the litter was no effort at all with them only too happy to help.

The six-seater helicopter can uplift 1.2 tonnes on an underslung load and TSL owner Andy Knight is from Mull with the company established there.

Carolyne said plastics

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RECIPE

�e���� ...

INGREDIENTS 750ml water 125g malted rye 200g dark rye flour 1/2 cup of raisins

FINNISH MÄMMI EASTER RECIPE MAKES 5 -6 PORTIONS

METHOD

2 tablespoons of ground bitter orange

1. Boil the water and let it cool. Mix in malted rye and rye flour and let the mixture stand in a warm place for 1.5-2 hours.

1 teaspoon of salt

2. Add raisins, orange peel and salt. Mix until even.

3. Heat the mixture gently on a cooker for 10 minutes, mixing it constantly, being careful not to let it burn.

4. Pour into a deep baking tray leaving enough room to allow for rising and leave to cool.

5. Bake in the oven at 170°C for around two hours.

6. Can be served with cream, milk, a sprinkling of sugar or whatever Easter treat you fancy.

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Mull Funeral Services

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CASH HELP FOR 13TH CENTURY CASTLE ON MULL Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull is to receive £17,625 in recovery funding from Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

The sum has been awarded to the Duart Castle Partnership to help with work at the 13th-century castle as it plans for the next visitor season.

As part of the project, a one-way system will be developed so visitors can explore the castle safely.

The Historic Environment Recovery Fund was launched in October with two funding streams available.

It was announced to support the recovery of Scotland’s historic environment sector from the impacts of Covid-19.

Funding totalling £1,916,238 to more than 40 organisations across the country has been made by HES. Alex Paterson, chief executive at HES, said the funding would support projects the length and breadth of the country. He said: ‘By helping to protect jobs, reopen historic sites and maintaining investment in traditional skills training and apprenticeships, we hope to support the wider recovery of the sector and Scotland’s economy.

‘While historic sites and visitor attractions have been impacted by the closure of

sites throughout the 2020 visitor season and the loss of revenue, other organisations in the sector have also had to adapt the way in which they carry out their work, put crucial traditional skills training and educational activities on hold and look at new ways to generate income and we hope this funding will allow the recipients to prepare for the future.’

He added: ‘The historic environment sector provides countless benefits to local communities – including providing jobs and generating tourism spend - and it is vital we support these organisations and ensure their important work can continue as we face the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and seek to harness opportunities ahead.’

Fiona Hyslop, cabinet

secretary for culture at the Scottish Government, said: ‘Scotland is internationally renowned for the quality and diversity of its historic environment.

‘Our historic environment plays a crucial role in defining who we are as a nation, supporting wellbeing and sustainability within communities and promoting a positive image of Scotland across the world.

‘I am pleased that a wide range of projects will benefit from Scottish Government funding as part of the Historic Environment Recovery Fund.

‘The support delivered through this fund will safeguard our shared heritage for future generations, protect jobs and help to strengthen Scotland’s wider economic recovery.’

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Funding for Mull and Iona art trail Funding has been awarded explore the arts with the help for a new art trail showcasof a special map highlighting ing creative talents on Mull locations and venues that and Iona in time for Easter. can be visited. A new webFinancial support from the site will also be created.

Scottish Government’s Visit Mull and Iona hopes Scotland Loves Local fund the Art Trail project will help means Visit Mull & Iona (VMI) bring in a new audience of can keep on artist Alicia arts admirers and culture Hendrick to co-ordinate and seekers. deliver the project.

The Scotland Loves Local VMI chairperson Margaret Fund is administered by Matthew said the islands Scotland’s Towns Partneralready have a flourishship. ing cultural scene and the Alicia said the art trail funding will help highlight this project is still in its early days vibrant aspect of island life but is likely to take the form even more. a map and an ‘The Scotland artists’ direcIt’s an Loves Local tory, marking opportunity to award, that will out venues and provide an Art artists to flag up build on our Trail and assocultural heritage. the vast wealth ciated website, of creativity It’s for the local will help inform across the two audience as well islands. and encourage as visitors. locals and visi‘It’s an opportors to explore tunity to build the creativity on our cultural on offer in the islands,’ she heritage. It’s for the local auadded. dience as well as visitors. We Once up and running, Mull are a big island, including and Iona Art trail will be the Iona. It may be that people first stage in a campaign in the north are not so aware supporting the cultural life of of what’s happening in the the islands. south and vice-versa. It will People living there and link artists up as a way of visitors will be encouraged to networking too. It might be

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that we can all come together for some kind of future funding for more projects.

‘It’s early on but the possibilities are already exciting.

We want to make sure the map will be an asset for now and in the future. Through this time of Covid, a lot of artists who are self-employed have lost out on a lot so they need all the support they can to be visible,’ added Alicia who was formerly An Tobar’s Arts Officer and has her own studio on Mull.

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COMMUNITY

Lucky ticket wins this seahorse in RNLI raffle Hundreds of pounds has been raised so far in a raffle to own a seahorse.

Tobermory’s Peter Macgregor had his work cut out for him when he decided to transform a chunk of cedar into a fundraiser for the town’s lifeboat.

The seahorse stands out of the water at almost six foot, weighing about 40 kilos, and has already attracted more than 50 bids at £5 a go.

People had until noon on Sunday February

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‘I’ve been wanting to raise funds for the RNLI for sometime now.

‘If you live in a place like Mull you either know people who are on the lifeboat crew or someone who has needed their help at some point.

‘It’s a great cause. I’d hoped the seahorse would make about £400 but it’s already over £700, which just shows how many people want to support the RNLI right now,’ said Peter who had to cut short travels in New Zealand when the pandemic first struck.

Since December, the 23-year-old, who qualified as a civil engineer specialising in wood, has been carving out a lockdown career for himself as a wood sculptor. His next project is going to be a life-size selkie.

Although Peter, who plans to become a tree surgeon like his dad, has been woodturning for 15 years, it was only in lockdown that he decided to try his hand at sculpting.

‘My first design was a very rough bear. My next door neighbour loved it so I gave him it. Within three of four days, people who had seen it were getting in touch so I’ve just kept doing it.

‘I’ve done a barn owl in flight and pet portraits - which you have to get absolutely right. It’s like drawing someone’s child. One of my next commissions is going to be a full-size selkie - that’s going to be a fun one,’ he said.

Peter Macgregor with his seahorse carving in aid of Tobermory RNLI.

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COMMUNITY

New home is Owen’s best birthday gift one of the new houses came What do you get a six-yearold boy for his birthday? How as a huge relief, after living short-term in a number of about a house? properties and at one point That’s exactly what Mull’s fearing her family could be Owen de la Rey got on his made homeless or have no special day this year. other choice but to leave the While most young lads island. can only dream of getting Ruth took Owen along as toy cranes or trucks for their a birthday surprise to see birthday, Owen got the real the pre-fab units of their new thing when his family’s new home being unloaded - they house was delivered to Ulva hope to move in by April.

Ferry on the island’s west ‘It was really wonderful coast. to get the good news that The big event, marking an we’d been selected for one exciting fresh start on the of the housisland for Owen, es. I’d almost his mum Ruth, We found out been homeless sister Phoebe, before. It means nine, and brothlast week the I can relax now er Robin, 13, first house had we have a just happened arrived on the long-term rental. to coincide with site and the next There was a the youngster’s one coming was point I thought birthday.

‘It had to be going to be ours we’d have to leave Mull,’ said his best birthday Ruth. present ever,’ Both Owen and big sister said Ruth, who works at the Phoebe will be joining other Spar shop in Salen and was pupils at Ulva Primary School one of 31 hopefuls wanting once Covid allows a return to to be allocated one of the class. four new affordable homes ‘We found out last week going up for long-term rents the first house had arrived on a site at Oskamull as part on the site and the next one of a Mull and Iona Commucoming was going to be ours nity Trust project working and going to be delivered on with Ulva School Community Owen’s birthday. He really Association (USCA). loves cranes so it was a Ruth, who hails from special treat to watch it get Edinburgh but has lived on Mull for three years now, said unloaded, He wanted to know which bit was going to news of being selected for

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be his bedroom.’ Two of the new homes have three bedrooms while the others have two bedrooms. Built by The Wee House Company, the homes are 90 per cent ready before leaving their Ayrshire factory and are delivered on site ready-fitted with kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing and electrics.

MICT general manager Moray Finch said all of the 31 applications were assessed against an allocation policy which had previously been drawn up in consultation with the community. Scores to each bid were given in accordance with the policy.

There was a balanced but strong weighting in favour of families with primary school age or younger children to help sustain numbers at Ulva Primary School. Other factors taken into account included applicants’ housing circumstances, the length of time living in the area and any links to it.

Mr Finch said all four properties have now been allocated.

‘This is an incredibly proud moment for myself and Helen MacDonald, our hard-working housing project manager. It is the culmination of seven years work, working alongside volunteers from the community and Ulva School Community Association,’ he added.

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Finn the elf

gets up to mischief - again!

Mull’s own elf on the shelf has been up to his tricks again.

Mum Naomi Marsh from Tobermory has been raising cheer once more by putting up daily posts of 22-monthold son Finn getting up to all sorts of naughtiness dressed as a cute elf.

Last year The Oban Times published some of Naomi’s photographs of Finn wreaking havoc and it was such fun. Here is a taste of just some of the latest mischief he got up to for Christmas 2020.

Naomi said: ‘Finn has well and truly jumped back into the role of the mischievous elf. He’s decorated the toilet, visited Spoonville in Tobermory to add a newly decorated festive Spork The Stag, wrapping paper bombed my mum’s office at Island Holiday Cottages, wrapped up all the

shoes in the house with cling film and even made a bath full to the top with balloons!

‘We’ve had so many nice comments from people saying the posts are really

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making their day and they look forward to each post.

‘Finn has been having such a laugh getting up to mischief and it’s really nice to share that smile.’

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BUSINESS

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