TEN YEARS AGO
Friday, April 18, 2014
Islay had a royal visitor when whisky enthusiast HSH Prince Albert of Monaco landed at Islay Airport.
The monarch and his party flew in on a seaplane from Loch Lomond recently and joined whisky writer Charles MacLean, a fellow patron of the Monte Carlo Whisky Society, in sampling drams from the nine distilleries on Islay and Jura over the weekend.
Mr MacLean, from Edinburgh, said: “Last year he expressed a desire to go to Talisker and said that the following year he wanted to go to Islay.
“The weekend was a huge success and the prince enjoyed travelling to Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg by bicycle.
“The Islay malts are greatly admired and we were handsomely looked after.”
Asked what the prince’s favourite malt was, Mr MacLean replied: “He appreciated them all.”
Toddlers and babies in Campbeltown can take advantage of soft play equipment and games at the newly revamped Jellytots.
The toddler and baby group, run by Springbank Evangelical Church, has purchased soft play shapes, while organising a programme of interactive games for the youngsters in spring.
The group, which will be relaunched on Wednesday, now offers 10 to 20-minute activities such as crafts and song time for toddlers and babies.
Pastor Ross Ferguson of the church said: “It used to be mothers and carers sitting and playing with their toddlers with toys and we realised they wanted more than that. We have some new toys and soft play shapes which we got two weeks ago and the children loved.”
TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
Friday, April 16, 1999
Twice world cycling champion Graeme Obree launched Argyll’s first designated National Cycle Route between Claonaig and Campbeltown last Thursday.
Graeme, who was twice world individual pursuit champion and four times British champion, cycled across Scotland via ferries to Arran and Claonaig on Thursday morning.
He was met at Claonaig by Campbeltown cyclist William Brian who joined him in cycling down the 30-mile Kintyre cycle route.
Making their way to the Campbeltown Ferry Terminal, Graeme then officially opened the route during a ceremony involving local dignitaries and council officials.
He was welcomed to Campbeltown by Campbeltown Brass Band who played him in to town.
Transportation and Property Committee chairman councillor Donnie MacMillan and roads official Carl Olivarius introduced Graeme Obree and spoke about hopes for the future use of the cycle route including linking it with routes in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in Scotland.
Argyll and Bute Council’s Transportation and Property Service arranged for the route to be designated National Cycle Route 73, in partnership with Forest Enterprise.
Transportation Director Alistair Gow said: “This is the area’s first designated cycle route and it will not be the last.
“The council is committed to the promotion of cycling in recognition of the sport’s health benefits, as well as recognising it has no negative effects on the environment.”
Graeme Obree, who hit the headlines when he used part of a washing machine to create a new cycle design, covered the route on a standard mountain bike.
Launching the route, he said it was like a connoisseur of wine comparing good wine to plonk – the new Kintyre cycle route to him was one of the best there is.
He said: “I am familiar with the Kintyre peninsula and although I have cycled all over the world, I can say this is one of the most beautiful coastlines I have seen.
“Argyll and Bute Council is taking an important step by promoting cycling as a healthy pursuit. Ten years ago people rode a bike if they couldn’t afford a car – now they do it through choice.
“I don’t hold a driving licence and yet I never feel I’m missing out.”
After the route was officially opened, a group of local cycling enthusiasts, including Campbeltown Grammar School pupils, were among the first to cycle the route.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 18, 1974
Once again this week, Campbeltown is the centre for an important naval occasion.
For the first of the new submarines being built by Scott Lithgow’s for the Chilean Navy is being tested in the reaches of the Clyde around Campbeltown Loch.
There has been much political controversy about the government’s decision to sell warships to Chile.
But the mariners from that country, who are our guests at the moment, are not concerned with political decisions.
They, like the men of any other navy, are professionals, dedicated to following careers at sea with all the possible hazards that ensue from such a decision.
Above all, they are technical experts. And they are spending long, hard hours afloat or submerged testing every tiny detail of the new submarine.
It will be some weeks before the Chileans are finally satisfied that all is to their liking and up to specification.
The submarine, when it is accepted, is to be called the O’Brien in memory of a famous naval officer who helped the Chileans to throw off the Spanish yoke and lay the foundations of the modern republic.
The Chilean officer in charge of the trials is Commander Arturo Garcia – a good-looking dark, smiling man.
He told the Courier: “While there are one or two things to be sorted out, we are very well pleased so far with the course of the trials.”
We asked him how things were being carried out.
“Half the crew are Chileans and the other half come from the Royal Navy,” he replied. “It’s a little overcrowded on board.
“You see we’re carrying so many technicians that we have 30 more people at sea than the normal complement of the submarine would be.”
Were there, we asked, any language difficulties?
“None that matter,” said Commander Garcia. “We carry out the trial conversations in English. Then at night my countrymen and I get together and work out in our own language any misunderstandings that may have arisen. And of course, there’s always Tod to help out.”
Tod is Lieutenant-Commander Tod Slaughter, RN, who is on the staff of the Admiral, commanding Britain’s submarines. He has been detailed as liaison officer for this operation.
Lieutenant-Commander Slaughter also thought things were going very smoothly. We asked him about the submarine: “It’s a conventional submarine, very similar in type to the Oberon class in use by the Royal Navy.”
The Chileans are evidently enjoying the hospitality which the Wee Toun is ever ready to offer and so are the men of the Royal Navy.
And no one this week at any rate could or would speak ill of the weather.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Saturday, April 19, 1924
Recently the population at Castlepark, the new Corporation houses, was increased by the arrival of a little son to Mr and Mrs John Wareham.
This being the first birth in the new houses, Hon. Treasurer John Smith, convener of the Housing Committee of the Town Council, has very thoughtfully recognised the event by presenting the baby with a silver spoon.
The spoon bears the following inscription:-
‘Presented by Hon. Treasurer Smith, Convener of Campbeltown Housing Committee, to David F. Wareham, first child born at Castlepark.- 4th March, 1924.’
It is an interesting coincidence that the baby is the first grandson of Councillor James Wareham.
Owing to the continual depredations of steam trawlers over the fishing grounds and the great destruction of gear, writes a fisherman correspondent, the cod line fishing has been a complete failure this year and last year.
On that account, the fishermen and their dependants are now at starvation point, and are compelled, owing to these pirates, to send in an application to the Government for assistance.
What a shame and disgrace to say that poor fishermen, struggling hard for a living, are brought to such a condition by these sea robbers.
Unless the waters off here are closed to steam trawling during line fishing operations, by a line drawn from the Mull of Kintyre to the Mull of Kintro in Islay, a once flourishing occupation is done for ever, and the older men are left to perish and the young men are driven to foreign lands.
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