Mull&Iona
SPRING/SUMMER 2022
Issue 45
Life
MULL RALLY HOTLINE FOR RESIDENTS
HOW GORDON BUCHANAN’S ‘30 YEARS IN THE WILD’ BEGAN ON MULL VETERAN MULL COUNCILLOR SAYS HER FAREWELLS 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 David Bogie took a class win in his Ford Escort in 2021.
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Photograph courtesy of LindsayPhotoSport
EDITORIAL editor@obantimes.co.uk
ADVERTISING
Suzanne Taylor 01631 568000
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PRODUCTION Kevin McCubbin
PUBLISHED BY
Wyvex Media Limited, PO Box 1, Oban, PA34 4HB Tel: 01631 568000 www.obantimes.co.uk
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Rescued sea eagle thriving on Rum says wildlife charity Mull Rally hotline for residents SOS - any room for Mull CalMac crew? Mull Theatre celebrates the darkness of ‘Our Carnal Hearts’ Hamish donates Dervaig gig profits to Mull Music Makers Mullman New Mull gallery offers up ‘shed’-load of art Veteran Mull councillor says her farewells Funding boost for 50th anniversary Mull Rally Mull hosts Scotland’s newest arts festival Mull round-up How Gordon Buchanan’s ‘30 years in the wild’ began on Mull Mull Museum celebrates 50 years
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Rescued sea eagle thriving on Rum, says wildlife charity A rare white-tailed eagle saved from the rising tide on Mull’s coast is thriving on Rum months after being rescued. In a joint effort by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scotland the bird, also known as a sea eagle, has been treated and rehabilitated at its National Wildlife Rescue Centre at Alloa. Scotland’s animal welfare charity was alerted to the bird after he was found dazed and struggling to fly in October last year by a member of the public, Jamie Ramsay, and then rescued by Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland’s Mull Officer. Scottish SPCA National Wildlife Rescue Centre assistant manager April Sorley
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explained: ‘White-tailed sea eagles are one of the rarer species that come to our centre and always cause a bit of excitement. He came
into our care on October 17 and was immediately checked over by our veterinary team. ‘He was underweight so we weighed him regularly to check his progress and gave him the time he need-
ed to regain his strength for life in the wild. ‘He was ringed and released on November 6 back at Treshnish Farm, where he was originally found, with the help of islanders. ‘Knowing a wild animal is doing well after being in our care is the most rewarding aspect of our work at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre.’ When the eagle was found, Mr Ramsay called the RSPB for assistance. He said: ‘I am so pleased to see the white-tailed sea eagle I found on Mull has been spotted alive and well on the Isle of Rum. ‘I stumbled across the eagle while on a walk and immediately noticed something was wrong. ‘The bird managed to take to the air but something told me to check he had flown safely to a rocky outcrop. I
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COMMUNITY then spotted the eagle about 200m out to sea and in obvious distress. The eagle used his wings to swim back to shore. The next morning I returned at first light and luckily found him huddled next to a rock, drenched and clearly exhausted. ‘I noticed the eagle was below the tide line and the tide was coming back in. ‘I tried to usher him up to higher ground but he seemed to have lost his fight. ‘The Scottish SPCA was unable to attend but I managed to get in touch with Dave from the RSPB. He was soon on his way and successfully rescued the now clearly-exhausted eagle. ‘Seeing the image of that same eagle alive and happy and, most importantly, in the wild where he belongs, fills me with so much joy. ‘I didn’t know much about sea eagles before eagle, I think he was probabut now I have learned their bly just an hour or so away history I can from drowning appreciate just as he was how special Knowing a wild cold, wet and that bird is.’ exhausted and animal is doing The eagle has couldn’t move well after being recently been from where he in our care is the was with the seen on Rum, around 50kms most rewarding tide rising. from the site aspect of our The sea eagle where he was was exhausted work released at the after ending up beginning of in the sea off November. Mull. Mr Sexton added: ‘When ‘He didn’t have the energy Jamie and I rescued the to resist capture.
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‘Maybe he was relieved. We rushed him to Oban on the CalMac ferry and into the care of the Scottish SPCA. To see him now feeding at a deer carcass on the camera trap set by Sean Morris on Rum over four months later is wonderful. ‘He’s clearly thriving and, with all the bad news in the world just now, it really helped to lift my spirits to see this young eagle surviving a tough winter, back in the wild where he belongs.’ Photograph: Scottish SPCA.
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COMMUNITY David Bogie took a class win in his Ford Escort in 2021. Photograph courtesy of LindsayPhotoSport.
Mull Rally hotline for residents Mull Rally is keeping its foot and 12 replies needed more of a response, said Richard on the consultation pedal. Crozier giving A new email an update at address is Mull Commubeing set up We’re moving nity Council at residents@ more from recently. mullrally.org for consultation to ‘We’re moving people to get more on-going more from in touch with residents’ liaison consultation to event organismore on-goers. now ing residents’ With 2022 liaison now,’ he rally dates set said. for October 13 to October The next official stage of 16, 19 responses came planning will be to apply for back from an initial conan event permit. That will be sultation across the island - four had no real concerns, followed by an application to Argyll and Bute Council three were giving feedback
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for road closures. A rally guide will be out in June or July, then in August all island residents will get sent a pack containing full details of the rally and useful contacts. Mull Community Council convenor Tom Nelson said: ‘Keep up the consultation and communications with everyone.’ The rally’s Gordon Milne said organisers would also be putting more in place this year in terms of a post-event clear up. Litter and behaviour will also be a focus.
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SOS - ANY ROOM FOR MULL CALMAC CREW? CalMac has sent out an SOS to find all-year accommodation for the crew of Mull’s new ferry when she sets sail in June. With just two months to go before the Mull-based Loch Frisa service starts, the ferry operator is asking islanders for help. Finding homes for workers is Mull’s ‘number one problem’, so CalMac has no other option than to put crew in mobile homes or vans, according to Joe
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Reade, Mull and Iona Ferry Committee’s (MIFC) chairman. ‘It’s a pretty tall ask at this late stage. Accommodation is Mull’s number one problem. We’ll do our best to help, but I think they will end up bringing in mobile accommodation for them,’ said Mr Reade, who flagged up CalMac’s plea for help at a recent community council meeting. Between 30 and 40 crew members are needed and
CalMac is asking for living space for 14 workers unlike the MV Isle of Mull, the Loch Frisa does not have live-aboard crew accommodation. In September, CalMac launched a search for workers already living on the island but it seems there were not enough takers locally for the jobs. ‘They are in a difficult situation. ‘When we first heard about Loch Frisa we did
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COMMUNITY offer to help them find accommodation for crew because we knew it would be difficult, but I think they decided to see how many staff they could recruit from Mull first. ‘It looks as though they were 14 short. ‘If we’d been getting a new boat it would have taken years to build so they would’ve had years to plan accommodation. ‘Buy a second-hand boat and you don’t get that time.’ A CalMac spokesperson said: ‘CalMac is working with the community by currently assessing options for the provision of accommodation for crew. Once all options have been assessed, the outputs will be shared.’ Mull and Iona Ferry Committee is putting a survey online to gauge feelings on a ticketing system model from Denmark that could help guarantee spaces for islanders. If it gets the island’s support, MIFC will push for it. The island-proofed idea comes from the island of Samsø, a similar size to Mull, with similar competition for ferry tickets between locals and visitors during the summer, Mr Reade told community councillors. Unlike Mull, they have a different method of allocating car deck space. This summer CalMac is due to bring in a new IT ticket system but islanders say running it on a ‘first come, first served’ booking
help shape a fairer, more basis is prejudiced against equal booking system for them. The ferry service in Samsø islanders. In a MIFC statement, operates a two-ticket system Mr Reade said: ‘We think - one for locals and other regular users like commuters Samsø has the best example and delivery drivers and then we have found yet of a fair ticketing system tailored to another for visitors. our unique circumstances as When regulars present the Islands Act requires.’ a green ID card they can A Scottish government buy a ticket from the local spokesperson allocation for said: ‘Scottish that sailing Ministers and the ferry It is clear we understand company keep need a ferry the impact records on service that of capacity a sailing-bymeets the constraints on sailing basis needs of island islanders and of how many appreciate the car spaces are communities suggestion of used by green some level of card holders prioritisation. to help predict how many ‘There are, however, need to be saved for future differing views on the way sailings. If a regular turns up and no to achieve this and we are mindful of wider implications spaces are left - a visitor, or for island businesses by one of the trailers the ferry carries, is moved to the next restricting availability of tickets for freight and sailing. tourists. Although it seems a ‘It is clear we need a ferry ‘slamdunk’ solution for Mull service that meets the needs and Iona, the meeting did of island communities. acknowledge some tourists ‘CalMac Ferries Limited and holiday property owners might not be so enthusiastic. and Transport Scotland are looking at potential The thought of being short term measures that ‘bumped-off’ from one could be introduced to sailing to another could be help alleviate the current off-putting and possibly capacity challenges. A deter some people from recent example of this is the visiting. change to motorhome fares MIFC is still waiting for and standby arrangements, a response from Scottish which were key requests Transport Minister Jenny from the Mull and Iona Ferry Gilruth and Islands Minister Committee. We remain Mairi Gougeon after calling committed to continue to for an Island Community working with stakeholders Impact Assessment (ICIA) to be carried out that would on these issues.’
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Mull Theatre celebrates the darkness of ‘Our Carnal Hearts’ The singing of a ‘Celtic coven’ will be heard round the halls of Mull and UK-wide in April and May as An Tobar tours its production Our Carnal Hearts: ‘a brilliant, grubby, morally questionable celebration of our darkest impulses to compete and conquer’. Written by award-winning theatre maker Rachel Mars, with original music by Louise Mothersole, this choral piece is ‘a gleeful, thrilling and murky celebration of envy, competitive spirits and all the round the fires of jealousy times we screw each other that rage when we don’t; over’. four glorious singers join This new Hebridean in a raucous cacophony of co-production with An Tobar surround sound, calling on and Mull Theatre reimagines the gods for advantage and this contemporary classic crowing over the bodies of through a Gaelic lens, rootthe losers. ing a primal ritual to all con‘Audiences can expect a suming envy in the aesthetic joyous confession of everytraditions of one we’ve ever ancient Britain. wanted to be Directed by a gleeful, thrilling and everything the artistic we’ve ever and murky director of wanted to own. celebration of An Tobar and Our Carnal envy, competitive Hearts is a Mull Theatre and Arch spirits and all the place to whoop 468 Rebecca times we screw at our own fraAtkinson-Lord, gility and delight each other over it’s a show ‘filled against our with women better nature, unashamed to show us their a toast to our competitive ugly bits’. spirits and a rumbling dance A spokesperson for the for the ugly gutter-tramping company said: ‘The show parts of our souls. features a Celtic coven sing‘It is a show that seeks to ing hymns to the powerful prove envy makes us better.’ urge to win and dancing Director Rebecca Atkin-
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son-Lord added: ‘Rachel Mars is one of this generation’s most innovative theatre writers. ‘Her work captivates the audience with cleverness and delight before leaping out from behind a curtain to make us squeal in surprise. ‘She has a knack for capturing the essence of our complicated modern existence and distilling it into stories that feel infused with ancient knowledge that will resonate for years to come. ‘Having worked with Rachel for more than a decade, I’m honoured to be granted the opportunity to direct this first major revival of her work.’ Our Carnal Hearts is being staged at Byre Theatre, April 28; Dunoon Burgh Hall, April 29; Rosehill Theatre, April 30; before heading to Oxford, Reading, Hampshire, Cardiff and Oldham.
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Theatre, Creative Learning, Exhibitions, Live Gigs, Workshops, Classes and much more... In The Weeds at Mull Theatre then touring throughout the UK
Bobbi Cameron exhibition at An Tobar Gallery An Tobar Café and Gallery are open seven days a week from 10am - 4pm, serving amazing coffees, drinks, meals & cakes (gf & df).
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HAMISH DONATES DERVAIG GIG PROFITS TO MULL MUSIC MAKERS More than 100 tickets were to decorate the village hall. sold for a Hamish Napier gig More than 100 tickets were at Dervaig Hall, with a home- sold - so it was a sell out gig. ‘Lovely atmosphere and grown support act. a great community effort,’ The sell-out night made a said Laura Mandleberg from £300 profit which Hamish MMM. donated to the Mull Music Hamish was joined on Makers’ (MMM) project. stage by top traditional fiddle Supported by 10 young player Patsy Reid. musicians from the He said: ‘What a special island-based project, night we all had in Dervaig. multi-instrumentalist and This is clearly a strong composer community that Hamish’s final communicates night of The What a special well and Woods tour was night we all had loves to work a huge hit. in Dervaig on together. The gig Saturday. This is ‘You could just coincided with tell that from clearly a strong news that speaking with community MMM has all the people secured the final involved and all funds needed the preparation work they to run another free Mull put in for the event. Fiddle Week of tuition and ‘The place just looked performances this summer. amazing - a real team effort. ‘The Dervaig night on April ‘We had to try to find extra 2 was a resounding success. chairs on the night for all ‘Everyone rallied round
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the people who showed up. It was one of those totally magic community evenings with a highland ceilidh atmosphere and many smiling faces. ‘Patsy Reid is such an energetic teacher and worked for two hours in the afternoon with the youth music group, the Mull Music Makers, who were focused and engaged and played so well on the night. ‘It was particularly kind of local fiddle player Hannah Fisher to drive from Fionnphort especially to come and help Patsy work with the children. ‘One of the more experienced of the young musicians, Mimi, asked me if I would accompany her playing a fiddle solo and she played brilliantly. Her volunteering to play a solo just proves how crucial it is for young musicians
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to get proper performance experience like this to help them gain confidence, develop their musical skills and to inspire them. ‘You could tell the audience was proud to see the young musicians play so well.’ Now Hamish is wondering about running a series of three village hall events in collaboration with MMM across the island next year - possibly Fionnphort in the south of Mull with another hall in between. Patsy Reid will be returning
to Mull sooner to lead the Festival Week in Tobermory this August. Generous raffle prizes donated by businesses and artists from the area helped pay for hall costs at the Dervaig gig. Thanks go to Tobermory whisky, to Turus Mara for Staffa boat trip vouchers, Catriona’s hair and beauty salon, the Bellachroy Hotel and the Foodie Shack - a new pop-up pizza business. Laura added: ‘So many comments from people
saying how fantastic it was to hear our Mull Music Makers play after two years of Covid restrictions. ‘They played two energetic arrangements that Patsy put together specially for last year’s first Mull Fiddle Week. ‘MMM has just secured the final funds needed to run Mull Fiddle Week again this August in Tobermory. ‘The Hamish/Patsy gig was stunning - the closing night of the Woods tour as well which is safe to say, I think, ended on a high,’ said Laura.
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Mullman
I slept in our garden last night. Why? Well, one only has to look up at the night sky on a clear spring evening with very little light pollution to see why. Thousands of twinkling stars and the occasional shooting star shone down on me. I focused on my deep conscious breath until I drifted asleep wrapped up in my sleeping bag, several blankets, hat and scarf. I woke up for the toilet during the night and could hear the distant wheezy screech of a barn owl. I got back into bed and listened to it as I drifted back to sleep. I was awoken in the morning by an unfamiliar angry bird call but, as I awoke more into this land where dreams come true,
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at least three song thrushes I realised it was not a bird singing at different layers, but, instead, one of our but the nearest to me was wonderful shy and rarely singing covers. seen mammals. First, an accurate rendition I have not seen a stoat in of buzzards latest track, years so I was very happy to hear one coming from the followed by curlew and oystercatcher. Blackbird, wild overgrown garden next wren, robin, door. pheasant, It yikkered A sea eagle’s geese, more angrily for call fell upon song thrush some unseen and other and unheard my ears from artists that were reason for a few its distant nest hard to isolate minutes before wood where all singing at stopping. they are now once to make My attention incubating up this most was then beautiful song. drawn to the A hoodie dawn chorus landed on a fencepost right that was reaching an beside me and let out a loud impressive and deafening caw, which frightened me crescendo. Drumming and chipping snipe made up the half to death then flew away when I jumped. percussion, accompanied The crow seemed to signal by an electronic synth in the form of lapwing. I could hear the end of the dawn chorus
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Sea eagle. Photograph: John Speirs. and it faded away. I don’t think I have ever heard such a beautiful one; each one a unique and original hit. There was now enough light to see, so I got up, made my morning coffee, repositioned my bed to the front door patio and wrapped myself up with my binoculars to see what I could see. The bird song continued; a skylark had taken up the mike. An early female hen harrier flew into view, hunting the rushy fields below our house. It drifted by a couple of red deer hinds with calves from last year and the year before catching the first rays of sun. As I followed the harrier with the sea scape
behind, the islands of Inch Kenneth and the distant sacred Isle of Iona drifted by. A sea eagle’s call fell upon my ears from its distant nest wood where they are now incubating and I scanned around to see an adult bird rising up from the wood, off to hunt for breakfast. Another passing raptor caught my eye so I switched to that. A large female sparrowhawk circled higher and higher and a resident buzzard joined it nearby. The three quarters moon was fading behind and I heard the distant seven whistle call of a whimbrel. I sat there with my, by now cold, coffee and soaked up the splendour before my
children woke and disturbed natures ‘peace’. They, too, are part of nature’s wonder, but not nearly so relaxing because they demand breakfast and morning cuddles. My Mullman website is now up and running at mullman. co.uk featuring my wildlife tours by foot and/or vehicle, overnight cave camping adventures with campfire, foraging, bushcraft and other rewilding experiences. These articles are not rewarded with the instant gratification and likes of my facebook addiction so I am especially grateful for the messages of thanks I am getting from readers who enjoy my passionate wildlife ramblings.
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New Mull gallery offers up ‘shed’-load of art ‘There’s a little group of There’s sheds...then there’s people who love tin sheds tin sheds crafted from and I’m one of them,’ she corrugated iron - or in Mull artist Charlotte Mellis’s case said. Charlotte’s corrugated ce- ceramic. ramics that will be on show Charlotte’s new gallery as part of her first Tin Shed also happens to be in a exhibition are not like perfect purpose-built tin shed and models: ‘They are very is dotted in the middle of nowhere between breathtak- rough, as though they have lived a very long time. ingly beautiful Calgary and ‘Corrugation Torloisk. is a thing of Verging on There’s a little beauty. I love her 70th year, group of people the colours as Charlotte it rusts and celebrated the who love tin decays. It’s opening of her sheds and I’m something I Tin Shed Galone of them discovered an lery on April 1. interest in while Within pottering distance of the towering living in Australia,’ she said. Charlotte shared her love home she built from a pile of of corrugation with her late stones with her now retired zoologist husband, Charlotte Australian artist friend Roy Jackson and work from his is revelling in having a fine estate will be sharing space purpose-built ‘des-res’ for at the Tin Shed’s opening her colourful creations that exhibition. is doubling up as a showRoy has been described case for others’ work. as one of Australia’s most Built from scratch, the shed’s outer-walls are black distinctive abstract painters. Roy, who died in 2013 and and the roof is clear, to let in natural light all the time. ‘It’s whose paintings are held quite something,’ said Char- in collections including the lotte, who admits she has ‘a National Gallery of Australia and National Gallery of thing’ for tin sheds.
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Victoria, had visited Charlotte on Mull and would ‘be tickled he was showing in a little shed in Scotland’, she said. ‘There’s not much corrugation in the work we will be showing, but he loved it too,’ said Charlotte. His partner is bringing some of his works on paper over especially for the exhibition entitled The Edge which will stay on show until June 5. Other friends who will be joining Charlotte in The Tin Shed are York-based printmaker Meredith Andrew, whose series of work Plenty has been inspired by her allotment featuring plants, animals and produce - dates for this show are June 10 until August 14. From August 19 to October 2, Charlotte has invited her former tutor from Harrogate Art College Dennis Farrell with his Hidden Landscapes ceramic pieces responding to observations of rural and coastal landscapes; each work has been built by hand and fired to 1,120 degrees centigrade.
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Charlotte was aged one when she first landed on Mull with her family. Her father was in the Navy and over the years the island became their base. ‘I was one of three children but I was the one who really loved it here and kept coming back until I finally settled here for good in 1991, met,
then married my husband. Charlotte hails from a family of well-known artists including two aunts - Margaret Mellis, who was one of the early members and last survivors of the group of modernist artists that gathered in St Ives, in Cornwall, in the 1940s and also Ann Stokes, who was a gifted
and much celebrated potter. Both saw joy in colour and Charlotte continues those colour bursts within her own work which includes domestic ware. See for yourself at Tin Shed Gallery opening noon until 5pm Wednesdays to Sundays. You can also follow on instagram @ tinshedgallery
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Veteran Mull councillor says her farewells Veteran independent councillor Mary-Jean Devon is standing down at this May’s local election. The Mull councillor gave her goodbyes, thanks and regrets at a recent meeting of Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee. Amid the warm words and memories of battles won and lost, Mary-Jean Devon revealed she had decided to leave following hurtful comments on social media over the last year. Councillor Devon, Oban South and the Isles, said: ‘I have been a councillor for 15 years and during that time I have had three policy leads. ‘I think the highlight has been the Corporate Parenting Board. The Scottish Government brought out the Children and Young People Act in 2014 and I think it was one of the best things any government could do. ‘Within weeks, we had 55 young people getting driving lessons, we got them passes
into all of Argyll and Bute’s leisure centres, we got them into computers. ‘Unfortunately, financially that has not happened in the last couple of years, but it was a great board and it was just such a great thing the government did, protecting even more of our young people.
‘I’ve enjoyed my time as a councillor, but the last year I found it becomes very personal with some people. You know, they just think they can say what they like, when they like and they put it up on Facebook, and it does, it hurts. I think more than anything it hurts your family and my family were getting quite upset about things, so time to go. ‘But I’ve enjoyed it, and I know we are leaving our young people in a much better place than they were in. We might not be very good at many things, but we are good at our care. ‘I’ll miss it. There’ll be no early mornings - no four o’clock or half four getting up and standing in the rain waiting on the bus to take me to the ferry. I will miss that as well, believe it or not. But it’s been great working with you all and no doubt I’ll see you about Oban at some point.’
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Mull Funeral Services
Isle Of Mull
Complete 24 hour Confidential service Golden Charter Funeral Plan Tel: 01680 812435 Mob: 07721 623854
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Osian Pryce and Noel O’Sullivan celebrate their victory in the first Mull round of the British Rally Championship last year. Photograph courtesy of LindsayPhotoSport.
FUNDING BOOST FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY MULL RALLY Mull Rally has received a welcome funding boost ahead of its 50th anniversary event later this year. Organisers of the Beatson’s Building Supplies-sponsored event have received confirmation that their application for £15,000 to Argyll and Bute Council’s strategic events and festivals (SEF) fund has been successful. Gordon Milne, assistant clerk of the course, who made the application, said: ‘This is the 50th running of Mull Rally and we are trying to deliver an exceptional programme.
‘The event has enjoyed great support from the council over the years, which is an essential component to our delivery. ‘To receive financial aid is particularly appreciated as we endeavour as a team of amateurs to deliver the most professional event possible.’ Included in this year’s plans are a stage in Tobermory on the Friday and what organisers believe to be the longest stage in the current era of the rally on Saturday night - a 30-mile test. Mr Milne added: ‘Key to our application this year was to
enhance the online offering so that spectators and supporters who are unable to be on Mull can be fully engaged. ‘We hope this offering, using a variety of channels, will increase our audience without overwhelming the island and showcase Mull and Argyll as a destination. ‘If we can encourage our audience to visit Mull at other times of the year we will be supporting the island’s industry and giving something back to the area.’ This year’s Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally will take place on October 14-16.
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COMMUNITY Musician Hannah Catherine Jones, aka Foxy Moron.
Peruvian poet Daniella Valz Gen.
MULL HOSTS SCOTLAND’S NEWEST ARTS FESTIVAL Scotland’s newest arts festival sees the Isle of Mull host a weekend of radical work, featuring performance, music, art, sound installation and film screenings. Daughter of Cups in the North features performance, music, art, sound installation, dance and new writing. Curated by artist Bobbi Cameron, the festival takes over An Tobar Gallery and Mull Theatre from April 29 to May 1. Artists include awardwinning choreographer Mele Broomes, Glasgow-based musician Quinie, Peruvian artist and writer Daniella Valz Gen, London-based artist, musician, multiinstrumentalist Hannah Catherine Jones - aka Foxy Moron - and international DJ, artist and cultural curator Sarra Wild. A moving image programme will also screen works by 2021 Turner Prize nominee
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Evan Ifekoya, 2021 Jarman Award shortlisted artist Sophia Al Maria, British Art Show 9 featured artist Grace Ndiritu and internationally acclaimed artist Linda Stupart. The festival’s invited artists are all working with and expanding on themes of ancestry, pushing the boundaries of what it means to inhabit space, connecting with spirits and breaking down barriers between worlds. Taking its title from the Tarot card of the same name, Daughter of Cups in the North speaks of creativity, new possibilities, ancestry and psychic intuition. Developed as part of artist Bobbi Cameron’s residency at An Tobar, the festival will include a new sound installation by the artist entitled Without Time, Without Distance, Without Mind. Exploring spirituality and
ancestry through working with reiki energy, Cameron has created a method of opening up passages to the future as well as caring for moments of the past. The sound is a collage of originally composed solfeggio frequencies, archival sound and meditative guidance, a soundscape that travels and shifts throughout the gallery in its own temporal architecture. Painted fabrics hang within the space which hold and guide the sound. Mele Broomes will premiere a live performance of her digital work Wrapped Up in This which was first shown as part of the Take Me Somewhere Festival 2021. Wrapped Up in This explores a journey of rebirth, of connecting with Broomes’ ancestry to ask the question is this who you want me to be? Peruvian poet, artist and card reader Daniella Valz Gen
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COMMUNITY art practice, whose work has artist, musician, multiwill showcase a series of had the power to move me material compositions derived instrumentalist Hannah and to haunt me in the most Catherine Jones’ from contemplations of performance turns to celestial brilliant ways. inner and outer landscapes. ‘The festival presents bodies that subvert colonial Daniella’s work explores the artworks in the forms of rule, Owed to Humana is spaces between languages, mapping an escape from the films, sound installations, cultures and value systems sculptures, music, all-consuming event horizon with an emphasis on performance and dance. of whiteness embodiment There are works that offer to imagine an and ritual, you the space to listen otherwise – an through the We’re delighted mediums of to support Bobbi otherwise where deeply. There are movement works that explore journeys performance, Cameron’s vision there are new of rebirth. There are sounds myths for the installation, for the An Tobar cosmos, new that offer spaces of healing, conversation Festival sculptures that offer spaces ways of relating and text. As of grounding and songs that with the world, part of An Tobar open channels to Scottish and new paths Festival, Daniella ancestry. to liberation. will also run workshops ‘Across all of the works Owed to Humana is the exploring oracular practice there are environments latest iteration in Jones’ and divination connected to that encourage your spirit ongoing body of work. the land. to travel, to open, to The Oweds are a temporal Glasgow-based musician discover the unknown. This form of self-reparation, a Quinie sings in old scots programme seeks to provide method of connection with in the style of the Scottish an offering for audiences who ancestry through sonic traveller communities that interact with it, a platform she is connected to. Her style ritual, using combinations from which they can travel of voice, theremin, stringed is inspired by the traditions instruments and visuals which to explore their own sites of of Scottish traveller singers openness and discovery.’ are sometimes orchestrated Lizzie Higgins, 1929-1993, Artistic Director of An Tobar though predominantly and her mother Jeannie and Mull Theatre Rebecca improvised. Robertson, 1908-1975. Atkinson-Lord said: ‘We’re Speaking ahead of the Collaging together source festival artist Bobbi Cameron delighted to support Bobbi material, she amalgamates Cameron’s vision for the An said: ‘This festival has been sean nos style melodies, Tobar Festival. We’re excited launched and grown out of children’s rhyme, story to host such poems and snippets of more my residency a diverse with An traditional tunes to create programme Tobar Gallery. a bleak and extended blur of artists Coming out of of narratives rooted in an for what the pandemic, imagined Scotland. promises to I wanted to The festival’s invited be one of invite other artists are all working with the cultural artists to and expanding on themes highlights share this of ancestry, pushing the The weekend festival is curated not just in space and boundaries of what it means by artist Bobbi Cameron, left, and Mull but the this platform to inhabit space, connecting has been developed through her wider Scottish with me. with spirits and breaking residency at An Tobar which has also festival Artists who down barriers between resulted in a new sound installation inspire and worlds. at the gallery entitled Without Time, calendar.’ challenge my London-based Without Distance, Without Mind.
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MULL ROUND-UP A contract to build Tobermory’s new car park has gone out to tender. Mull Community Council heard from the town’s Traffic Management Group (TMG) that it could be another three months before the contract is awarded which means it might be towards the end of this year when work starts on it at the top of Tobermory near the graveyard at Baliscate. ‘Who would start digging up Tobermory in June? No-one really and how would you find accommodation for people working on it? It would be impossible. It’ll probably be October or November when it can start, I’d think,’ said Angus Williams, a TMG member.
Reports of overhanging and fallen trees in Tobermory has prompted a recommendation by community councillors that Argyll and Bute Council surveys the area to make sure it is safe for people to walk round. The community council is also aware there is a hole in the all-weather pitch in the town and is contacting Argyll and Bute in the first instance to get it fixed. Police on Mull have reported a number of people being stopped for having no insurance or MOT. A non-insured vehicle can be seized by the police.
A letter is being sent to Argyll and Bute chief executive Pippa Milne about street lights between Back Brae and the Western Isles hotel in Tobermory not working again. It took more than two years to fix and for some to be replaced in 2021 after repeated There is a kiosk at the popular spot but it can only fit nine people when social-distanc- complaints but just a few months into 2022 some are out of order again. ing, community councillors heard. A request has been made for more outdoor public seats at Fionnphort near the bus and ferry stances.
There is no bus shelter and bus drivers can only let people onboard 20 minutes before departure times. A letter will now be sent to Argyll and Bute’s Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services Jim Smith.
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How Gordon Buchanan’s ‘30 years in the wild’ began on Mull Wildlife presenter and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan has a remarkable story to tell, three decades since he got his big break in a Mull restaurant. Before his ‘30 Years in the Wild’ anniversary tour came to Oban’s Corran Halls on February 27, Gordon shared a few career highlights with Mull and Iona Life. Tell us a bit about your childhood - how did it prepare you for a career in wildlife film making? ‘I grew up on the Isle of Mull,
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which is a very wild part of Scotland, and I think that drove my passion for being outside and close to nature. School didn’t do it for me: academically I wasn’t really present - all I wanted was to be outside and the classroom was torture. I’d see the scallop divers and I’d think: that’s a really good way to spend your working life.’
end with making wildlife films. I was 17 and working in a restaurant on Mull at weekends and evenings to earn a bit of money and the husband of the owner was a cameraman. He was going to Sierra Leone for 18 months to make a film about the animals in the Gola rainforest and he asked me if I wanted to come along as his assistant.
How did you get into making nature films as your career?
‘I knew nothing about what it involved and I had no idea really what I was getting into, but I knew it was the sort of life I wanted and I never
‘I was right in at the deep
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about big cars and having didn’t realise the impact stuff. But the mentality has human beings were having changed and tomorrow’s on wildlife. Now we underdecision-makers are being stand that so much better formed by that.’ and I’m acutely aware of it in every way, from my own carbon footprint to questions There must be a lot of contenders for this - but could around changes that need to be made by governments you share a few career ‘But if getting there was highlights? across the globe if we’re serendipity, and while it was going to stop the damage. definitely the best break I ‘A few years ago I was Right now we’re losing ever had, those 18 months working with animals before were tough going. I was so arctic wolves young and being so far from we even knew on Ellesmere home was hard. But I knew it their species But the other Island in was the way forward, I knew existed. That’s a huge change Canada. It’s it was an incredible opportu- tragedy.’ across the really remote; nity and I knew I’d be able to years has been there are no build on it and move into the Given all that, people there. I how optimistic life I’d love.’ the increased are you about realisation about got to meet a pack of wolves the future? How has wildlife filmmakhow vulnerable who had no ing changed over the years and fragile these preconceptions ‘Despite the that you’ve been doing it? areas of the whatsoever immense diffi‘Right now I’m on my way to culties I do have world where I’m about humans. What I realised hope for the Brazil for a conservation sefilming actually is that wolves ries - we’ll be filming jaguars. future. I spent are. have been viliThe technology has changed time at COP26, fied for centuin my home city hugely over the three decries by humans, but they’ve of Glasgow, and was really ades since I started out. It’s been totally misrepresented. moved by how children and always been about showing They’re actually highly young people are making viewers the parts of nature intelligent animals and I felt their voices heard. we’ve never been able to ‘At the moment it’s the suits honoured to spend time with see before and technology them.’ who are making the deciallows us to do that more sions, but soon it will be the and more. Do you ever find yourself turn of the new generation in danger? What sort of and they’re going to under‘But the other huge change stand the climate emergency scary situations have you across the years has been been in? in a different way, which the increased realisation I think will make for real about how vulnerable and ‘I’ve been chased by bears, change. fragile these areas of the tigers and elephants - but world where I’m filming not all at the same time. And ‘My growing-up years were actually are. let me tell you, that’s when the 1980s, when we were Thirty years ago we didn’t you discover how fast you all in awe of the US and know - the world was a lot can run.’ consumption. It was all bigger then and we simply wavered from that belief. So having never been abroad never even been on a plane - there I was a month after leaving school, setting off for a year and a half on the other side of the world.
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MULL MUSEUM CELEBRATES 50 YEARS later in the Masonic Hall. On February 2 1972, a This wasn’t good for the group of about 20 people exhibits, especially fragile gathered in the Spinning Wheel Café in Tobermory to documents and photodiscuss starting a museum. graphs, being spread out on tables, then packed away in An encouraging speech members’ attics and sheds from the chairman for the until the next year. evening Angus MacIntyre In 1986, permanent premgot things under way. ises came in the shape of It was agreed to form a store in Columba Buildthe Mull and Iona Folklore ings, gifted by Jessie Craig, Museum, and Duncan supported by her sisters MacQuarrie was electDaisy and Ena and brother ed chairman, with Roddy George. MacNeill vice The museum chairman, Alick We have is still in these Yule treasurer everything premises and and Chrissie from geology the team is MacInnes and forever grateDaisy Craig as and prehistory, ful for this gift joint secretarthrough the which changed ies. clans, to the everything. A selection of wars. Renovations the kind of obto the buildjects that might ing, which had be displayed in suffered from damp, crea museum was laid out on ating an internal staircase, the table and John O’Hare shelving one of the rooms commented that more items might come forward if upstairs for the library and archives and flooring the suitable premises could be attic for storage all took time found. - years and years, in fact, At first the displays were of volunteer commitment, temporary summer exhibifundraising and hard work. tions in the old school and
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The list of names of those involved runs into the hundreds but special tribute must be paid to those who worked so hard, particularly renovating and converting the Columba Buildings site from its previous uses - a store, a butcher’s shop and a bakery - the oven still exists!. Alastair and Hilary Garvie, Elizabeth Normand, Ted Brockie, Val Thomas, Bruce Whittaker, Anne MacGregor and Norman MacDonald (contractor) were all involved in those early challenges. Since then interesting displays have been mounted and the museum has welcomed visitors from all over the world. Just before the pandemic it had up to 27,000 through the door each year between April and October. All the time the collection of artefacts, documents and photographs continues to grow and during the pandemic visitors were welcomed virtually by offering its catalogue online and answering queries. The
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building opened again in 2021 and has been open from April this year. Thanks to go the army of volunteers who make it all possible and it is hoped new volunteers will join them and make the next 50 years as successful. To celebrate the anniversary, the museum had a student, Beata Szeleczki,
who created a beautiful and imaginative window display telling its story. Beata was funded by CHARTS Heritage Horizons project, enabled by Scottish Power. The window display will be there until October. Denis Broad, chairman of Mull and Iona Folklore Museum, said: ‘We have everything from geology
and prehistory, through the clans, to the wars. ‘They are putting up a display on the car rally - that has been a big thing since 1968. ‘History is happening all the time. ‘We will have something to say about Covid when that becomes history - as we hope it does.’
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