Campbeltown Courier From Our Files - 17.4.26

Human remains found on beach

Campbeltown Police have confirmed that the remains found on the beach at Machrihanish were human and were probably from a man aged between 40 and 50.

The bones, which are thought to be very old, had been in the water for some considerable time and have now been sent to Aberdeen for DNA testing.

Police believe there is nothing suspicious about the man’s death.

Campbeltown Auxiliary Coastguards scoured Machrihanish Beach last Wednesday evening after the discovery of the human remains. A member of the public found part of a jawbone with hair attached and other bones.

SIXTY YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 22, 1966

He caught Britain’s biggest brown trout

A Campbeltown man now holds the record for the largest brown trout caught in the United Kingdom. 

He is 73-year-old Kenneth Grant, of 23 Glebe Street, and his record-breaking fish weighed 18 lbs 2 oz. It was 34 inches long and 22 inches in girth.

Mr Grant, who caught the fish at Inchlaggan Loch, Invergarry, last autumn, has now had the record accepted by the British Record Fish Committee and will receive a certificate from them soon. 

He said yesterday: “My rod is still bent as a result of my fight with this brute.”

Mr Grant was fishing from a boat with his brother when he landed Britain’s biggest brown trout. 

When he hooked the fish, he thought at first it must be a salmon and, when, after a tremendous fight, he brought it into shallow water to land it (his net was too small to take it) he judged by its size it must be a pike. It was only when he moved closer that he identified it as a trout by its spots.

When he returned to his hotel, the Tomdown, at Invergarry that evening, he offered the trout to the proprietrix (a Mrs Grant but no relation) for cooking purposes. 

“She told me,” he explained, “that it would be a shame to consign such a magnificent fish to the kitchen and persuaded me to have it stuffed and framed.”

Mr Grant, an old member of Kintyre Angling Club, said the trout was kept in a deep freezer near Invergarry for a time before being sent to a Carlisle taxidermist.

Footnote: It was only after a photograph of the trout appeared in a well-known national magazine that it was suggested to Mr Grant that he claim the national record. After innumerable letters had passed between himself and the Record Fish Committee, it was finally recognised.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Saturday, April 17, 1926

Recreation ground

The committee in charge of the scheme for the acquirement of ground for a recreation field as a measure of unemployment relief, reported that the Clerk has written to Mr Lothian asking on what terms the Duke of Argyll would be willing to feu to the Corporation an area of approximately 9 acres of ground at Crosshill, and that at Mr Lothian’s request the Convener has subsequently proceeded to the ground and pointed out to him the area referred to.

After discussing the matter with Mr Lothian on the ground an area of approximately seven acres was agreed upon, and Mr Lothian intimated that he would submit the matter to the Duke.

M’Phail at Portsmouth

M’Phail, the Campbeltown man who is goalkeeping for Portsmouth, gave a great display in a drawn league game against Port Vale on Saturday. 

Bob Pursell wrote by post-card to the Courier to the effect that M’Phail was magnificent and adds: “It was the finest goal-keeping; made one proud to have been born in the same old town.”