Issue 197 - February 2009 - e-mail edition

- MARGARET MARY BROWN MACADAM (PEARL)

- NETWORK CARRADALE LTD/CARRADALE HARBOUR
- CHRISTMAS QUIZ
- OUI-JE : NON-NEIN:
- GROGPORT RAINFALL
- THE FISHERIES EXHIBITION IN LONDON, 1883 - another chapter from the Martin family history
- MALAWI FUND HAMPER
- LOCAL ACTION GROUP GRANTS
- SALLY’S WALK DOG JOBBIES
- BLUE TARN ARRIVES SAFELY
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
- BLUEBEARD - CARRADALE DRAMA CLUB’S PANTOMIME
- HELP THE AGED - Fuel Poverty Programmes
- COLONSAY COMMUNITY NURSING
- UNNECESSARY WINTER DEATHS
- SOUTH KINTYRE SENIORS FORUM
- SADDELL & CARRADALE GUILD CHRISTMAS DINNER
- ACHA NEWSLETTER
- LOOKING AHEAD TO XMAS 2009 - TWO AMERICAN XMAS INITIATIVES
- CREW CAMPAIGN
- FORESTRY ECONOMIC GLOOM
- LEASING FORESTS
- ON NOT LEASING FORESTS
- BIOFUEL PROBLEMS
- COMMUNITY COUNCIL REVIEW
- COMMUNITY COUNCIL - A SYNOPSIS OF THE NOVEMBER MINUTES
- CARRADALE PRIMARY SCHOOL - OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2008
- WHAT’S ON IN 2009 ?

MARGARET MARY BROWN MACADAM (PEARL)

Pearl was born in Carradale in 1928, 1 of 7 children, growing up in a fishing household, and then moved to Glasgow to
become a children’s nanny. There she continued with her love of Gaelic singing and sang in the Glasgow Gaelic choir
for a number of years. She was also keen on highland dancing. She met Ian in 1948 at the Highlanders Institute in
Glasgow and they married in 1951.

Ian was by then working as a vet in Surrey and they lived there for about a year; and then began their lives of foreign
travel and living, spending in the end 31 years in Africa. Ian joined the Colonial Veterinary service and served in Nigeria
from 1952 to 1965; this was followed by time living in Zambia, Tanzania, the Gambia, Borneo and Iran.

In 1979 they lived for a short time in Campbeltown, followed by 5 years in Zimbabwe and a short time in Bahrain.
Through this time Donald and Finlay were born and raised and developed their own love of travel and experiencing
different places and cultures.

Pearl got to know the local people wherever they were living and making many friends along the way, She spent time
keeping chickens, growing vegetables and breeding German Shepherd dogs.

On their return to Scotland Pearl and Ian settled in Edinburgh, and Pearl ran a Bed and breakfast, which financed 8
cruises on the Canberra, continuing with their love of travel.

Eleven years ago, Pearl and Ian moved back to Kintyre, living at Lorne Campbell Court here in Campbeltown. Pearl
loved Kintyre, loved everything about it and was pleased to have come home.

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Through her life Pearl has continued to sing- singing for family parties, singing for pleasure, singing in worship. And it
is this aspect of life that Pearl has also found important to be able to worship wherever she was in the world,
sometimes in the Church of Scotland, sometimes in the local church where they were living, and here at Lorne and
Lowland for the last 11 years.

Pearl loved her family, her own and her extended family, love of kinship, knowing who you are related to and being
proud of it.

Over the last few years Pearl has had to battle with illness, success in overcoming some, allowing others to take their
course, always with a matter of factness.

There are two things that I want to highlight from the reading from Hebrews. The first is that wherever you have been
in the world, wherever you have made you home, whatever you have done, the important thing is that we do not have
enduring city, we do not have a place here on earth that lasts forever, but we are to look for the city that is to come- the
heavenly city, the place where we are with God.

The second is that we are to continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that praise his name. Through
her life Pearl has done just that through her hymns and songs, offered to God worship and a sacrifice of praise.

And Pearl has also found the city that is to come, she is now with her lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Earlier we sang
one of Pearl’s favourite songs “What a friend we have in Jesus“ she is now with her friend and saviour Jesus Christ.
Let us in our lives continually offer to God our praise and our worship- and look for the city that is to come.
And so this afternoon we say goodbye to Pearl, give thanks for all that she meant to us and all that she continues to
mean for us.

NETWORK CARRADALE LTD/CARRADALE HARBOUR

When Network Carradale Ltd was set up in 1997 it was anticipated that it would form the basis of a central hub for
local business development. The only successful one to be created was the Heritage Centre and Tea-room. I am sure we
are all delighted at the success it has had under the management of Jose MacKinnon and we wish her continuing
success.

Under the Carradale Harbour User’s Group (CHUG) and following a number of good meetings with Argyll and Bute
Council and our elected local Councillors a programme of developing the harbour is now underway.

Successes to date are -

The appointment of Matthew McMillan as Harbour Operative and his job will be to keep the harbour tidy and carry
out or report to A&B Council any matters of maintenance or repair. Matthew’s job will be extended to ensure the
collection of harbour dues from all visiting pleasure craft from now on.

The considerable clearance of redundant gear and general rubbish from the original net storage area. The Council
allowed the temporary use of the harbour car-park as an interim storage area and the net storage area will be re-instated
by new bays being white-lined and offered to fishermen provided the gear is suitably stored either in boxes or on
pallets. The use of the net storage area is conditional on fishermen being reasonably up to date with their landing dues.

Confirmation has been received that Lakeland Marine intend to base the proposed fish farm in Carradale and will be
located between Port-na-Cuille and Grianan Island. It will produce salmon instead of the original intention of cod.

Argyll and Bute Council wish a local management company to be set up acting between harbour user’s and the Council
(the owners of the pier). Consideration is therefore being given to using Network Carradale Ltd as the vehicle for this
purpose. With this in mind an EGM of Network Carradale Ltd will be called and consideration will be given to the
appointment of new directors who will have specific interest in harbour matters. A review of all existing directors will
be made and some may be asked to stand down. Those involved in the Heritage Centre and Tea-room will continue to
operate as a separate committee under Network Carradale Ltd.

Future plans for the harbour could include : the possibility of a small pontoon facility to encourage greater use of the
harbour by pleasure craft; the installation of shower facilities in the toilet block on Shore Road; provision for a building
for Lakeland Marine and further general development of the area around the harbour. These ideas are based upon past
studies carried out by external consultants.
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 CHRISTMAS QUIZ
The Christmas Quiz was held in a seasonably decorated Village Hall on Saturday 20th December. Donald Macalister
Hall was Quiz Master in Tony’s absence.Twelve teams took part. Questions in ten categories covered a wide range of
topics. Most favoured were those entitled Squares, Clothes, Babies and Rocks. Least liked were The Beijing Olympics,
General Knowledge and Dates.

Contestants’ comments to the quiz setter/ scorer were that it was generally considered to be easier than past quizzes.
This was borne out by good overall scoring which combined with judicious use of the joker provided scores ranging
between 54 and 86%, and with seven teams scoring over 75%.It proved a close run contest with a tie breaker question
needed to decide the ultimate overall winning team. This with 93 points was team ‘Christmas Crackers’ comprising
Audrey & Brian Gee with Mary and Geoffrey Page. Each received a mug filled with chocolates. Runners up also with
93 points were “Prologic” (Fay & Jas Webb, Marcus Adams and Dave Walker) and their team won a consolatory box
of chocolates.

A similar prize also went to CYT a 3-person team & the only team to include children ( Elizabeth Dunlop, Jamie and
Liam Paterson) who commendably achieved over half marks. The Quiz question setter was given a lovely festive
Christmas floral arrangement.

Christmas crackers and mince pies were provided, and the Village Hall Committee ran a bar and a raffle with numerous
prizes.

Thank you to all those who helped run the event, and to those that participated. ML

OUI-JE : NON-NEIN:
The Christmas quiz on December 20th had all its usual appeal, and despite the smaller turn-out, inquiring minds
enjoyed yet another series of interesting and odd questions, ably composed by Tony & Margaret Leighton and under
the no-nonsense control of Donald Macalister Hall. Several given answers were questioned, including the interface with
mysterious powers. The assertion that the correct answer ‘oui-je’ was met with sporadic bursts of ectoplasm and tables
‘knocking’ with little human assistance. Despite protests Donald and Margaret would not accept the view that the
French-German title is ‘Oui-Ja,’ literally ‘Yes-Yes’. One foursome led almost throughout but were taken to a ‘row-off’
when a question on the date of the first Oxford-Cambridge boat race brought replies at least 40 years too late, but in
true boating tradition one crew caught a crab and the other won by a canvas. Thanks to the Hall team on the bridge
and those in the galley.

GROGPORT RAINFALL
NOVEMBER

Since keeping rainfall statistics October 2008 proved to be the wettest. November this year, by contrast, proved to be
the driest of all Novembers over the past eight years. The November range had previously been between 155mm and
305mm but the total rainfall this November was just 141mm (between 5and 6 inches).

Of this total over half fell on just five days:- on the 8th 14mm, the 9th 12mm, the 11th 25mm, the 23rd 14mm and on
the 27th 13mm; with nine completely dry days and with only a mere trace on six more this meant that half of
November was atypical, in what is usually a consistently wet month. Daytime weather was however more true to form
being generally overcast with only rare uninterrupted sunshine. Frost on several occasions and very low day time
temperatures made this November a dry and exceptionally cold month.

DECEMBER

It was a very cold month with pre Christmas December weather being the coldest and frostiest for many years but
rainfall was no more than average for the month. A total of 164mm was recorded, of that the majority (129mm) fell on
just seven days, with particularly heavy figures recorded on just two days :-

2nd 4th 12th 13th 16th 19th and 21st

12mm 30mm 16mm 26mm 11mm 21mm and 13mm.

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ANNUAL RAINFALL IN 2008

We had unusual weather patterns in 2008.The normal predominantly South Westerly winds were eclipsed by unusually
prolonged areas of high pressure with frequent northerly and easterly winds. Throughout the year there were greater
extremes. Conditions were very dry in May, very wet in October and very cold and frosty in November/December.

Temperatures in both the Summer and the Winter Seasons were lower than one might have expected. Rainfall instead
of the more normal “little and often” was concentrated into “less frequent but heavier” rainfall. The total rainfall
recorded for the year was 1783mm (71inches).This compares with the annual range of between 1535 and 2253mm (61
and 90 inches) and with an average annual rainfall of 1900mm (76inches). So in comparison, and in the wider scheme
of Weather Statistics rainfall in 2008 was near the mean and just below average annual rainfall for this area. This
because a wet end to the year evened things out after a seemingly dry year overall up until the Autumn.

Giving credence to the saying “What goes around, comes around” And what weather we can expect? Forecasters
predicted a cold winter. Sara Coleridge in her poem “ The Months” says of the start of the year :- “January brings the
snow, Makes our feet and fingers glow. February brings the rain, thaws the frozen lake again”. Only time will tell. M.L.

THE FISHERIES EXHIBITION IN LONDON, 1883

This is another chapter from the Martin family history,
modified a little for publication here by its author, Angus Martin.

Following the death of my father’s unmarried sister, Sarah, on 12 June 1970, I helped clear her house at 38 Saddell
Street (later demolished and replaced with a hideous blank-walled whisky warehouse). My grandparents had moved
there from Gayfield Place (also demolished, and now the site of a school play-ground) at the head of the Broom Brae;
and with them had gone their accumulated possessions. At that time, there was scant awareness among the ‘working
class’ of what might or might not constitute an antique; but, in any case, I was more interested in the treasury of old
photographs, books and documents which emerged as cupboards and drawers were emptied.

Among such stuff of Sarah’s which I kept, was a cutting from the Campbeltown Courier of 24 January, 1931 – a
photograph of ‘Kintyre Fishermen at the London 1883 Exhibition’. Though creased and yellowed with age, it was all
that I had until 2004, when a friend in Carradale, Lachie Paterson, showed me a copy of an original of the photograph
which he had received from his father’s cousin, Archie Paterson, Port Righ, whose grandfather, Dugald Paterson, had
been one of the Carradale delegates (the other was Colin Campbell). It too had been punished by time and was torn in
places, but Lachie scanned it into his computer and set to work repairing the damage. The result – a superb
reproduction, from which all traces of damage have been erased – accompanies and enhances this account.

That photograph, however, would have been historically worthless without the captioned cutting to complement it,
because I doubt if anyone alive could have identified the occasion far less the men; which is, of course, the recurrent
problem with family photographs of a certain age. An image, when fresh, is familiar to all and needs no accompanying
information; but two or three generations later, it might well have become so obscure that no one in an entire family,
not even the oldest member, can name a single person in it.

In my own collection of family photographs, I have several of these puzzles – nineteenth century portraits which the
last of my aunts, twenty and more years ago, failed to recognise. Most of those mystery people were no doubt in-laws
and friends on the periphery of the family. Some, however, by facial resemblance alone, beg to be remembered, but
remain – and will probably forever remain – nameless.

In the photograph of the delegates to the London Exhibition, my great-grandfather John Martin is seated beside
Duncan Martin, who may be his brother who apparently emigrated after a bitter family quarrel and died, estranged
from the family, in Otaki, New Zealand, in 1911; and if he isn’t his brother, then he must be his second cousin, the
redoubtable Captain Duncan Martin, referred to in last month’s article.

Behind John stands Archibald McAlpine – one of the family known as ‘the Keppies’ – who was both John’s cousin and
his brother-in-law. Archibald’s mother, Mary McFadyen, was a sister of John’s mother, Elizabeth McFadyen, and he
married Mary Campbell, a sister of John’s wife, Sarah Campbell.

John, Duncan and Archibald all belonged to Dalintober, though in the brief article, published with the photograph in
1931, there is no mention of Dalintober. By then, no doubt, the distinctions between Dalintober and its bigger
neighbour were considered – if considered at all – so insignificant as to be immaterial. Therefore, only ‘Campbeltown’
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and Carradale fishermen are identified in the photograph. There was, however, one other Dalintober fisherman in the
group, John McMillan, and yet another, Dugald Robertson, who travelled with the delegation but was somehow absent
when the photograph was taken. The specific origins of a few of the remaining six fishermen are uncertain to me –
James Finn, for example, could arguably be claimed for Dalintober – but that even five out of the eleven delegates
came from the much smaller community, testifies, I think, to the quality of the fishermen there.

The idea of sending delegations of Argyll fishermen to the London Exhibition originated with Lord Colin Campbell,
elected Liberal Member of Parliament for Argyll in 1878, and a son of the 8th Duke of Argyll, George Douglas
Campbell. Reasoning that the experience would be ‘educative and useful’, he initiated a fund-raising effort to finance
the visit.

A Campbeltown meeting, to explain the proposal and test the fishermen’s response, was arranged for 23 March in the
Town Hall. Provost Duncan Colville, who was in the chair, explained that a fund-raising committee would be formed,
and, depending on how much money was subscribed, the deputation’s expenses would be partially or wholly paid.
Further, if a combined delegation of 200 Argyll fishermen could be guaranteed, then one of the rail companies had
agreed to run a special train at the reduced fare of 30s return per passenger.

John Martin was the first of the fishermen to speak and immediately explained the ‘cool’ attitude of the local fishermen
and the consequent poor turn-out at the meeting: ‘The simple reason was, that a few years ago, when they adopted the
trawl net as the best method of fishing, the whole country went against them and put them down.’ Now, however, that
‘the country had come to see that the trawl net was the best for catching fish’, he was not persuaded that local
fishermen could ‘learn of any better system’ by going to London, and he was ‘not in favour of the scheme at all’.

His implication that ‘the country’ as a whole had converted to trawling (or ring-netting, as it was to be known later) was
certainly unrealistic. There remained, on Loch Fyneside, the Kyles of Bute and elsewhere in home waters, an
unassuaged hostility to trawling among the dwindling communities of drift-net fishermen, and a succession of bitter
conflicts between ring-net and drift-net fishermen, on both the East and West coasts of Scotland, lay ahead as the
method’s geographical range was extended.

Another fisherman, John McDougall of Campbeltown – who would also go to London as a delegate – expressed the
same negativity; but no sooner had he finished his speech, than Martin rose again to qualify his earlier remarks. He
remained convinced that the local fishermen could not ‘learn any better method’, but admitted that ‘they would see
something there they never saw before, which might be a benefit to them’, and now moved that the scheme should
proceed.

Donald Munro, fisherman in Dalintober, moved that Martin was the ‘best person’ to represent the fishermen’s
interests, an opinion perhaps influenced by the fact that they were brothers-in-law, Munro having married Elizabeth
Martin in October of the previous year.

The honour of representing the Campbeltown fishermen at the opening ceremony went, however, to Neil Morrison.
He appears in the 1881 Census of Campbeltown, aged 35 and living in Main Street with his Achahoish-born wife, Mary,
and baby daughter, Jane. He belonged to the Morrison family of crofter-fishermen at Pluck, Saddell, and in company
with his nephew, Daniel Morrison, had a pair of skiffs, the Agnes and the Elizabeth, which latter was popularly known as
‘Neil Morrison’s Flying Machine’, from her fast-sailing reputation.

As a side-show of the 1874 regatta at Campbeltown, Neil – then at Saddell – had challenged any 23ft. skiff to sail
against his Janet, built by the Carradale fisherman and boat-builder, Mathew McDougall. William Cook with his Jessie
accepted the challenge, but lost the race – and the £3 wager – by 23 seconds.

Neil must have been one of the seven Argyll fishermen – Donald MacNeill of Gigha was another – present when the
Prince and Princess of Wales performed the opening ceremony on 12 May, but the event wasn’t mentioned in the
report he gave to the committee on his return. There was another Kintyre man there, not in body but in the spirit of
his art – William McTaggart, some of whose sea paintings were displayed in the fine arts gallery adjoining the ‘grand
entrance’.

The Argyll fishermen were met in London by Lord Colin Campbell, who arranged private lodgings for them, having
pronounced as ‘not good enough’ the dockside sailors’ home into which all the delegates had been booked. With a
daily allowance of 12s for ‘driving about’ and 2s for ‘dinner’, they were all set to see the sights. Accompanied by a
guide, they visited, among other attractions, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Battersea Park (by steamer from London Bridge),
Regent’s Park, Drury Lane Theatre, and the National Picture Gallery.
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Lord Archibald Campbell, a brother of Lord Colin’s, took them one day to his London house, where they had dinner
and were served with beer, his lordship ‘drawing the corks like any butler’. Having given each of the fishermen a plug
of tobacco, he took them out into the garden and told them, ‘Take your smoke’. The visit ended with a ‘deoch an
dorus’, or parting glass of whisky. On their final day in London, Neil and companions at last got around to visiting the
exhibition, but ‘had only time to take a rapid run through it’ and ‘did not see anything ... to benefit us in our line of
fishing’.

The main delegation from Campbeltown, Dalintober, Carradale and Gigha (D Graham and A Henderson represented
the island fishermen) travelled to London in the following week to view the exhibition on its 23-acre site. Fish, fish-
eating birds, model boats – Clyde herring-carrying steamers among them – and fishing and nautical equipment aside,
there was much to marvel at, including, ‘dragon boats of full dimensions and fishermen’s temples’ from China; also
from China, a boat ‘with men and trained birds for catching fish’; a 63-ft. long, 21-oared state barge from the reign of
James I; ‘two Esquimaux, fishing through a hole in a large block of ice’ and looking ‘very cold’; and a ‘patent floating
breakwater, made of sheet iron’, of which it was remarked that ‘it would do well to protect Dalintober Quay’.

One Scottish invention, moveable guard-rails credited to John Gunn of Golspie, was ‘very strongly recommended’ by
the deputation, who pointed out that ‘when a heavy sea swept over the boat, fishermen were frequently carried over the
side, owing to the absence of any fixture which they might catch hold of’. That safety measure, 125 years on, awaits full
implementation !

In 1931, when the photograph was published, three of the delegates were still alive: John McNair, John McMillan –
with his Roxana of 1927, the pioneer of modern seine-netting in Kintyre – and James Wareham, all of whom,
coincidentally, are in the back row. The fund which financed that trip of a lifetime was also flourishing, for the money
raised far exceeded the needs of the occasion, and 47 years later, the balance – well into three figures – languished in a
local bank in the joint ‘names’ of the M.P. for Argyll and the Provost of Campbeltown.

Amounting to about £136 by 1944, the fund appears to have been used in the following year to send a party of elderly
Campbeltown fishermen to an exhibition on Scottish fisheries at the Royal Museum, Edinburgh, and just as well,
because the money could only ever be used for such a purpose, and since 1975, when the Royal Burgh was consigned
to history in the reorganisation of local government, Campbeltown has ceased to have a provost. So, by the legal
requirements governing the fund, the money could probably never have been touched.

PHOTOGRAPH CAPTION. Back row, L-R: James Finn, Archibald McAlpine, John McNair, James Wareham, Tom
Hatton, Dugald Paterson, John McMillan. Front Row, L-R: Duncan Martin, John Martin, Robert Hendry (fishery
officer, Campbeltown), Colin Campbell, John McDougall, James O’Hara.

MALAWI FUND HAMPER

Margaret Richardson confirms that the Hamper Raffle was won by Ishabel McConnachie. The tickets which were sold
in aid of the Malawi Fund raised £91.00. Margaret would like to thank everyone who donated items to the Hamper and
supported it by buying tickets. Our total so far raised is £1524.00

LOCAL ACTION GROUP GRANTS

Argyll and the Islands Local Action Group (LAG) held its fourth decision-making meet-ing on applications to the
Programme on Friday 12th December 2008 in Rothesay.

4 projects were awarded funding in this fourth round: Argyll & the Isles Bio-energy Centre (£18,019) Arran Wildlife
Events Programme (£16,848) Development of millport.org web site (£750) & Kintyre Way Development Phase 2
(£52,788).

Further information on all pro-jects funded can be found on www.argyllandtheislands.org.uk. The next meeting will be
held on 27th March 2009 (deadline 13th February 2009). Subsequent meetings will be held quarterly through-out the
life of the Programme Initial enquiries can be made to Project Coordinators: Lorna Elliott 01631 563016
lorna.elliott@argyllbute.gov.uk or Sheila McLean 01631 564424 sheila.mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk .

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 SALLY’S WALK DOG JOBBIES
New supplies of the dog glove/bags have arrived for both machines and they will now be back in operation. The cost
pf the bags have remained constant since Gary Sutherland sought a grant from the East Kintyre Wind-farm Trust to
have them installed, but it still represent a drain of the Trust to the extent of over £104 a year.

Unfortunately the freely available ‘ordinary’ bags will not fit the machine so dog owners are asked to be as economical
as possible with their pet’s performance! The community volunteer has to take the filled bags home to place in her own
bin, so anyone keen to lighten her task should follow her example.

BLUE TARN ARRIVES SAFELY

After leaving Campbeltown on Tuesday, September 30th and Las Palmas on 23rd of November, Michael and Tony
made landfall at St Lucia in the Lesser Antilles. on Wednesday 17th December.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Application Ref: 08/02069/DET
Officer: Peter Bain, Telephone: 01546 604082
Ward Details: Kintyre & The Islands
Proposal: Erection of bothy - renewal of previous consent ref no. 04/00490/DET
Location: Land South East of Narachan Hill, Tayinloan, Argyll & Bute
Applicant: Vecata C/o Stewart Marshall, Rhuval, Tarbert, PA29 6YF
Development Type: 5B
All other developments:
Minor Grid Ref: 176358 646632

Application Ref: 08/02071/DET

Officer: Tim Williams Telephone: 01546 604084
Ward Details: South Kintyre
Proposal: Erection of extensions to dwelling house, erection of replacement sun room and erection of porch
Location: 54 Limecraigs Road, Campbeltown, Argyll And Bute, PA28 6JT
Applicant: Mr & Mrs D Renton 54 Limecraigs Road, Campbeltown, Argyll PA28 6JT
Agent: Gillian Wright Lochside, Low Askomil, Campbeltown, PA28 6EP
Development Type:1
Householder Development.
Grid Ref: 172128 619817

Application Ref: 08/02099/DET

Officer: Richard Kerr. Telephone: 01546 604080
Ward Details: South Kintyre
Proposal: Erection of temporary clubhouse
Location: Golf Course, Machrihanish, Campbeltown, Argyll & Bute, PA28 6PT
Applicant: Kintyre Development Co. Ltd Auchengare, Station Road, Rhu, by Helensburgh, G84 8LW
Agent: Alexander T Dobbie Glenburn Lodge, 24B Queen Street, Helensburgh, G84 8LG
Development Type: 5B
All other developments:
Minor Grid Ref: 165916 624253

BLUEBEARD - CARRADALE DRAMA CLUB’S PANTOMIME

As someone who has always been a grumpy old man, even, in adolescence, the passage of 60 years has not dimmed the
ability to find a reason for not doing something. Being dragged along in mid-December to an amateur-dramatic
performance was about as attractive as having an endoscopy. Never-the-less, under pressure, the car was parked for a
quick get-away and with the loss of ten pounds from the housekeeping, the performance began. While cries of ‘oh yes
he is’ and oh no he’s not’, smiles became chortles and, for everyone else, laughter was derigeur. To turn Churchillian
once again - never was so much enjoyment provided by so many well trained thespians for so little expense.

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Jock Rockbottom played his part to perfection, ably supported by the vivacious Flora and the overwhelming Ruby -
don’t bother coming back John McCallum, your successor has been found.

The ‘baddies’ in the shape of Bluebeard and Lurkin provided just the right balance of genteel debauchery and animal
cunning, with Lurkin out-doing anything traditionally associated with the part - next time you attend the surgery make
sure its not Quasimodo offering prescriptions in a blue bottle.

Fetch and Carrie thigh-slapped their way in the traditional manner and added well-practised age variations to climbing
through open windows. Robin Reliant played an amiable part in keeping with her nature and the car of the same name.
Younger members of the cast, performed impeccably in their dual task as members of Bluebeard’s kitchen staff and as
protesting villagers. Finally Mrs Shivers seemed to be half-way through face surgery or just giving euthanasia a trial run -
both equally scary.

Was it worth the financial and skills investment? It certainly was the most entertaining and enjoyable afternoon
imaginable - a credit to all those involved and a challenge to those planning future events.

CAST

JOCK ROCKBOTTOM: Robert Abernethy.

RUBY ROCKBOTTOM: (his daughter), Neil Thomson.
FLORA ROCKBOTTOM: (his younger daughter), Lynn Galbraith.
FETCH: (his servant) Louise Lee.
CARRIE: (his servant) Isobel Williamson.
ROBIN RELIANT: Gail Macintosh.
BARON BLUEBEARD: Donald Macalister Hall.
LURKIN: (his ‘hunch’ man) Sue Stansfield.
MRS SHIVERS: (his housekeeper) Pauline Burrows.
MARIE (a French kitchen-maid) Heather Mackinnon.
A BUTCHER: Ceri Strang.
THE SHAPE: (a ghost) borrowed from Carradale Hotel.

TRADES PEOPLE, VILLAGERS & BRIDES:

Oskar Baxter, Shauna Brown, Lauren Burns, Niall Gemmill, Katie McMillan, Bethany Paterson, Ceri Strang, Louisa
West, Bobby Willan, Gemma Willan.

DIRECTOR: Mary Macalister Hall.

STAGE MANAGER: Donald Macalister Hall.
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Stuart Irvine.
PROMPT: Carol Abernethy.
STAGE CREW: John Durnan, Dave Hobson, Tom Lee.
CROWD CONTROL: Morag Allan.
COSTUMES: Shelagh Cameron.
SCENERY: Elizabeth Vischer.
FRONT OF HOUSE: Sylvia Irvine & Margaret Leighton.

HELP THE AGED - Fuel Poverty Programmes

The Scottish Government has unveiled the future shape of its fuel poverty programmes. Making the announcement to
Parliament, Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, said that the Scottish Government had
accepted the key recommendations of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum and from next April will extend the scheme to
include younger low income households as well as offering far more effective help for homes in rural areas.

The scheme will replace the central heating and warm deal programmes with an 'Energy Assistance Package' that will be
accessible through a single free phone number.

The package will consist of four stages with everyone eligible to phone the number regardless of whether they are in
fuel poverty or not. Those who are on low incomes or are likely to be in fuel poverty will be passed to the second stage,
where they will be offered a tariff check to ensure they are paying as little as possible for their energy and they will be
offered a benefits check to make sure they are claiming all the benefits to which they are entitled. People who are not
8
fuel poor will be offered energy audits and signposted in the direction of other places they can get help reducing their
fuel bills.

The third stage is similar to the previous Warm Deal programme, and anyone in the Carbon Emissions Reduction
Target (CERT) priority group will be eligible for it. This includes everyone aged 70 or over but also anyone receiving
any of the following benefits: council tax and housing benefit; attendance allowance; disability living allowance; a war
disablement pension which includes a mobility supplement or constant attendance allowance; a disablement pension
which includes a constant attendance allowance; and pension credit. As far as possible, the third stage will be paid for
and delivered by energy companies under their CERT commitments, which will mean that anyone who meets any of
the above criteria will receive the insulation measures for free.

The fourth stage of the Energy Assistance Package is very similar to the central heating programme but will offer a far
more comprehensive set of measures, particularly for 'hard to treat' homes that are off the gas-grid.

For example, where gas central heating is not available, homes will instead have the possibility of receiving micro-
renewables such as air-source heat pumps which are far cheaper to run, although more expensive for the government
to install. The fourth stage will be available to anyone aged 60 or over who does not have central heating, anyone aged
75 or over who lives in a poorly insulated house and anyone aged 60 to 74 who lives in a poorly insulated house and
receives the guarantee element of pension credit. For the first time, the programme will also be open to low income
families with a child under the age of five and low income families with a disabled child under 16.

Responding to the announcement, Nick Waugh, Policy and Parliamentary Officer for Help the Aged in Scotland, said:
"We are delighted that the key recommendations of the Fuel Poverty Forum will be implemented by the Scottish
Government. The new Energy Assistance Package is more closely targeted at the most fuel poor households and offers
those households far more effective help than the current programmes. The central heating programme has been
excellent overall but it had reached the point where it was not able to help rural fuel poor households sufficiently and
there was a strong argument for making sure it better targeted the fuel poor. We also welcome the extension to younger
low income families because the legacy of ill-health caused by living in poorly insulated, cold, damp housing can last a
lifetime and tackling fuel poverty among these families will help prevent future ill-health for tomorrow's pensioners.

"The Energy Assistance Package is an excellent step in the right direction but much more investment will be needed by
both the Scottish and UK Governments, as well as private home owners, landlords and housing associations, if we are
to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016".

COLONSAY COMMUNITY NURSING

MAKI AREA COMMITTEE (ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL)
KINTYRE & THE ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE

This report from Christina West, Clinical Services Manager (Primary Care), Oban Lorn & Isles locality, Argyll and Bute CHP, provides
an opportunity to compare health services in Colonsay and Kintyre.

COLONSAY has a resident population of 126 people. Of this total, 10 are primary school aged children and 3 are pre-
school aged children.

HEALTH SERVICE PROVISION

The General Practitioner, Dr. John Currie is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergencies. Surgery times are
9 - 10am and 5 - 6pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

A locum GP provides holiday cover for Dr Currie. The Colonsay community nursing team is part of a wider
geographical nursing team (Clachan / Seil / Easdale / Colonsay) in order to provide professional support and
supervision for the lone nurse based on Colonsay.

In terms of governance, continuing professional development and absence cover this ensures a safer more sustainable
nursing service to the community of Colonsay.

The Colonsay community nursing service currently comprises 20 hours per week of qualified nursing input and 10
hours per month of health care assistant input. Five of the qualified nursing hours are currently resourced by Argyll and
Bute Council’s Social Work department to support and supervise the home care staff, undertake joint visits, liaise with
9
social work, plan respite care, undertake CARENAP assessments and reviews and undertake assessments re the use of
telecare equipment. These five hours are subject to annual review.

The current nursing service provision was recently reviewed by the community nursing team leader and 20 hours are
considered to be sufficient to meet the current health needs of the communities’ 126 residents. The hours have been
determined by reviewing the health needs of the community, utilising the clinical expertise and experience of the
community nursing team leader.

There have been ongoing difficulties recruiting a substantive post holder to the Colonsay nursing post and we are
currently advertising the community nursing vacancy for the third time in two years. In consultation with the
community, Argyll and Bute CHP have placed a copy of the job advert in the ‘Corncrake’, the monthly Colonsay
community newspaper, in the hope that this will provide wider distribution, alongside the normal advert on the Scottish
Government Health Department web-site and internal notice boards.

In the absence of a post holder based on the island and in order to ensure continuity of nursing provision, Argyll and
Bute CHP are currently providing a nurse from the mainland Wednesday- Friday. We are hopeful that the current
vacancy advert will attract applicants.

HOME CARE PROVISION There are currently 3 members of home-care staff based on Colonsay who provide a
total of 84.25 hours of community based support for residents on the island, comprising 61.75 hrs free personal care
and 22.5 hrs domestic care.

JOINT WORKING Argyll and Bute CHP and Argyll and Bute Council have worked closely together to ensure a safe
and sustainable service delivery to the community of Colonsay. Recent staffing shortages within the home care team on
Colonsay have been covered by a community nurse and a member of the Integrated Care Team based in Oban to
ensure continued service provision. Kilchattan Schoolhouse on Colonsay has been leased under a short term agreement
from Argyll and Bute Council from 6th August 2007 - 31st March 2008 for use by a community nurse who undertook a
short term contract on the island. The rent was nil and the NHS and Council agreed to the nominal fee of a
reimbursement to the Council of the cost of the buildings insurance. This allowed Argyll and Bute CHP to provide a
resident nursing service over the course of Monday - Friday, as opposed to the concentrated service provision
(Wednesday- Friday) which is currently provided. Argyll and Bute Council have expressed a continued willingness to
negotiate a lease agreement in relation to Kilchattan schoolhouse if Argyll and Bute CHP are successful in recruiting to
the current community nursing vacancy.

THE REMOTE SERVICES FUTURES PROJECT: The Remote Service Futures is a Knowledge Transfer
Partnership (KTP) Project which has Colonsay as one of its participating communities. It aims to work with
stakeholders to design sustainable services for the future of small, peripheral communities. Stakeholders in the project
include local members of the community, health and social care professionals, the NHS, the Council, community
planning, voluntary organisations, the Scottish Ambulance Service, education providers, politicians and any others with
an interest in the local and wider community. The idea of the project is to facilitate exchange of information within and
between stakeholders to help ease decision-making about what services should be like in the future. The role of the
project is to facilitate stakeholders in: identifying their service requirements; identifying information needs; locating
information; taking information to stakeholders and working with them in using it to plan sustainable services for the
future. The project seeks to involve stakeholders in innovative ways.

One outcome of the project should be service design plans for the communities that have emerged from stakeholder’s
ideas and that are realistic and informed. The idea of the project is that stakeholders are integrated in the planning
process and therefore service designs that emerge are consensual and can be implemented. The project aims to develop
within NHS Highland the knowledge, skills and understanding to devise and implement new methods of public
engagement, with the ultimate goal of producing a toolkit to facilitate remote and peripheral service reconfiguration
involving all stakeholders, particularly the public.

Christina West, Clinical Services Manager (Primary Care), Oban Lorn & Isles locality, Argyll and Bute CHP.

UNNECESSARY WINTER DEATHS

Dear Editor,

When is it acceptable for the greediest companies to profit at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society, our
poorest older people and children? Quite literally freezing them to death? As Consumer Focus's Chief Executive states
10
“The UK has a relatively free market, but the freedom to cut prices in the early years now seems to be the freedom to
raise prices with impunity".

Energywatch highlights that in the last five years the average gas bill for British Gas customers has risen by 76.7% to
£653, and electricity bills have risen by 74.3%, to £413. This year British Gas / Centrica has seen a 40% rise in
operating profits to £1.95bn, with prices rising 29.7% on average in the UK compared with 15% in the EU.

Age Concern highlights that older people with existing health problems are more at risk of death in the winter.

“Spending too long in the cold will lower the body temperature which can often aggravate circulatory diseases‚ which
can lead to strokes and heart attacks or respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or pneumonia”. The 'Excess Winter
Deaths' figure, as defined by the Office of National Statistics, has risen in the last five years‚ to more than 130‚000
people over 65 dying from cold related illnesses during the winter months in Britain. Eight older people every hour.

The UK has a higher number of winter deaths than in colder European countries.

This is why we campaign to bring essential services back in to public hands. To literally save lives. No other party
challenges this greed over need.

Your faithfully, Deirdre Henderson Branch Organiser, Solidarity,

Crocken Cottage, Southend, Argyll PA28 6RU

SOUTH KINTYRE SENIORS FORUM

MEETING OF HELD AT VILLAGE HALL, TAYINLOAN THURSDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2008

Present: John Mclntyre, Catherine Mclntyre, Marjorie Gillies, Jean Miller, Janet Russell, Ian Teesdale, George
McMillan, Margaret Turner

Apologies: Betty McCormick, Cynthia Butter, Eric Edwards, Agnes Nugent, Mary-Margaret Hanna, Isobel Johnstone,
Emily McDonald, Florence Lamont, Geoffrey Page, Ruth Young, Agnes Brown, Val Cannel, Alan Briggs. Chair:
George McMillan

The Minutes of the previous meeting of 9th October were approved. George McMillan proposed and John Mclntyre
seconded.

Matters Arising: Ian Teesdale expressed regret that he had not had a reply to a letter sent to Douglas Blades.

Speakers: George McMillan proposed having a person invited to talk on heating for pensioners as he was aware a
Forum Member was experiencing difficulties regarding her choice of heating and the high cost of installing gas.

Val Cannell reported to Catherine Mclntyre that she had not received minutes for the meeting of 9th October.

Jean Miller told the Forum that she never received minutes of any meeting of SKSF.

AOCB: Catherine Mclntyre gave an up-date on a Kintyre Community Care Forum she attended on Wednesday 12th
November 2008.

Susan Paterson asked for a volunteer from the Seniors Forum to join a committee of South Kintyre Fit Community.
The meeting will be held on 26th November 2008 at Lome Campbell Court at 11am.

John Dreghorn informed KCCF there is now a receptionist at A&E and if not available patients are to complain to
Donnie Cameron. Re - long waits at A & E: Mr Cameron insisted nurses have a TV screen at the nurses station and are
able (from that distance) to monitor patients waiting for attention and assess (again from that distance) whether patients
should be attended to quickly or not.

Mr Cameron compared A & E to a London Hospital where the wait can be 4 hours, whereby in Campbeltown it is half
that. Complaint forms are available at A & E.Mr Dreghorn assured the meeting no dementia sufferers would be sent
out with the area to e.g. Inverness as that option had been dropped. Regarding surgery appointments he said if patients
can't get an appointment quickly GPs offer an appointment within 48 hours. Non-emergency patients going to A & E
if they can't get an appointment with a doctor are adding to the wait at A & E.
11
Mr Dreghorn suggested that the expectations of local people are too high. Mr Dreghorn said the Sunshine Room was
funded by Palliative Care endowments and not with money from public subscriptions in answer to questions raised by
Mrs Margaret Turner at a previous meeting. Roxanne Docherty told KCCF that slippers are available for over 65s and
can be had on referral to Marie Kennedy.

Patient and escort travel with Flybe is by issue of a number per person through a booking agency by an admin clerk at
Campbeltown Hospital.The next meeting of the Forum will be held in Kinloch Hall Campbeltown on Thursday 11th
December @ 2pm (Christmas Meeting)

Catherine Mclntyre Minute Secretary 13th November 2008

SADDELL & CARRADALE GUILD CHRISTMAS DINNER

On Monday the eighth of December, 16 members of the Guild were present at the annual Christmas Dinner, this year
held in the Carradale Hotel. They enjoy a happy evening with a delicious meal and excellent service from Marcus and
Mo. This was followed by surprise visit from no other than ‘Santa’ and his’ little helper’ with gifts for all.

ACHA NEWSLETTER
By the time you get this Newsletter the stock transfer will be two years old. The two years have gone by very quickly
and they have not been without their challenges. The Association hasn’t got everything right but, as an organisation, I
hope we learn quickly from any mistakes to get it right second time.

Over the two years we have installed 1,722 kitchens and bathrooms, 868 heating and rewires, 846 windows and doors
and 9 re-roofs and cladding. We are now on site in Campbeltown & Garelochhead with our first new build housing
schemes. We hope this will be the first of many in the years to come to meet the areas housing needs.

The Association has also taken a stance in dealing with anti social behavior resulting in a number of evictions. I am sure
we have the support of the vast majority of tenants in taking this action and I would like to thank all of our tenants who
have worked with us to allow us to tackle anti social behavior in all its forms.

The Association’s Community Action Fund has also proved very successful. This fund has invested nearly £10,000
through small grants of up to £300 to community projects across Argyll and Bute. The Association’s work is also
having a wider economic impact. Many Argyll-based businesses are now tied in with ACHA’s long term investment
programmes which has a spin-off in terms of retaining and expanding tradesmen opportunities.

The future will not be without its challenges but we have made a good start and with the partnership and support of
our tenants and the wider community, ACHA can be a force for much good in Argyll and Bute.

Can I finish on a personal note and wish you all the very best over this festive season.

Alastair MacGregor, Chief Executive.

LOOKING AHEAD TO XMAS 2009 - TWO AMERICAN XMAS INITIATIVES

SANITISED BY THE EDITOR FOR UK USE, AFTER BEING SENT IN BY DONALD KELLY

CHRIS-MUKKAH
Continuing the current trend of large-scale mergers and acquisitions, it was announced today at a press conference that
Christmas and Hanukkah will merge in future. An industry source said that the deal had been in the works for about
1300 years.

While details were not available at press time, it is believed that the overhead cost of having twelve days of Christmas
and eight days of Hanukkah was becoming prohibitive for both sides. By combining forces, we’re told, the world will
be able to enjoy consistently high-quality service during the Fifteen Days of Chris-mukkah, as the new holiday is being
called. Massive layoffs are expected, with lords a-leaping and maids a-milking being the hardest hit. As part of the
conditions of the agreement, the letters on the dreydl, currently in Hebrew, will be replaced by Latin, thus becoming
unintelligible to a wider audience.

12
Also, instead of translating to “A great miracle happened there,” the message on the dreydl will be the more generic
“Miraculous stuff happens.” In exchange, it is believed that Jews will be allowed to use Santa Claus and his vast
merchandising resources for buying and delivering their gifts. One of the sticking points holding up the agreement for
at least three hundred years was the question of whether Jewish children could leave milk and cookies for Santa even
after having eaten meat for dinner. A breakthrough came last year, when Oreos were finally declared to be Kosher. All
sides appeared happy about this.

A spokesman for Christmas, Inc., declined to say whether a take-over of Kwanzaa might not be in the works as well.
He merely pointed out that, were it not for the independent existence of Kwanzaa, the merger between Christmas and
Chanukah might indeed be seen as an unfair cornering of the holiday market. Fortunately for all concerned, he said,
Kwanzaa will help to maintain the competitive balance. He then closed the press conference by leading all present in a
rousing rendition of “Oy Vey, All Ye Faithful.”

Ed: Hanukkah:or Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. Dreydl: a 4-sided toy marked with Hebrew letters and spun
like a top in a game of chance. Oreos: a dark flavoured cocoa biscuit. Kwanzaa: a holiday for peoples of African
descent.

TO SANTA FROM MUM

Dear Santa,

I’ve been a good mum all of 2008. I’ve fed, cleaned and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the surgery more
than my doctor, sold sixty-two bags of sweets to raise money to plant a tree on the school playground and worked out
how to attach nine patches on to my daughter’s scout sash with staples and a glue gun.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son’s red
crayon, on the back of a receipt in the kitchen between washing-machine cycles, and who knows when I’ll find anymore
free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes for Christmas 2009 : I’d like a pair of legs that don’t ache after a day of chasing kids
(in any colour, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don’t flap in the breeze but are strong enough to
carry a screaming toddler out of the sweet and confectionary aisles in the COOP and Tesco’s.

I’d also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you’re hauling big ticket
items I’d like a car with fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn’t
broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the salad
drawer where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, “Yes, Mummy” to boost my parental confidence,
along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don’t fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up
without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, “Don’t eat in the living room”
and ‘Take your hands off your brother,’ because my voice seems to be just out of my children’s hearing range and can
only be heard by the dog.

And please don’t forget the Playdoh Travel Pack, the hottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of pre-schoolers. It
comes in three fluorescent colours and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the in-laws’ house seem just like
mine.

If it’s too late to find any of these products, I’d settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same
morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don’t mind I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much
trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable ? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they
were the bosses of an organised crime family; or if my toddler didn’t look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat
contraband ice cream in his pyjamas at midnight.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants
his crayon back. Have a safe trip in 2009 and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry
13
off by the fire so you don’t catch a cold. Help yourself to pastries on the table but don’t eat too many or leave crumbs
on the carpet.

Yours always . . . Mum.

P.S. - One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

CREW CAMPAIGN
Friends of the Earth Scotland has just re-launched its extremely popular Communities Reducing Excess Waste (CREW)
campaign . CREW is an exciting waste prevention programme designed to educate and motivate householders and
businesses in communities across Scotland.

We are holding a free training day in Oban on the 11th of January, if your interested in the project and would like to
attend the training day to become a Waste Prevention Champion please fill out the inquiry form by logging onto
http://www.reducewaste.org.uk

You don't have to be a member of Friends of The Earth Scotland to attend the free training.

The CREW campaign aims to :

1. Recruit and empower community waste prevention champions, by training volunteers keen to promote waste
prevention in their local communities.

2. Train and provide the champions with the tools, ideas, knowledge and resources to encourage and motivate
householders and businesses to reduce their waste.

3. Provide fun, motivational workshops to householders, community groups and workplaces to encourage them to
reduce their waste.

Warm regards

Samantha Adderley, Waste Prevention Project Officer, Friends of the Earth Scotland,
5 Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PR Tel: 0131 243 2707

FORESTRY ECONOMIC GLOOM

A package of measures to help the Scottish forestry industry face the current economic downturn has been developed
by Forestry Commission Scotland and trade members.

A recent meeting with ConFor and UKFPA (Friday 7 November) has highlighted steps that can be taken now as well
as raising other ideas for consideration.

Welcoming the Commission’s action, Minister for the Environment, Michael Russell, said: “These are unprecedented
market conditions and we all understand the need to move fast in response to the fluctuating market.

“The Commission has taken steps to ease the pressure on hard pressed businesses and is looking hard at additional
ways in which it can help the rural industries.

“We aim to support the whole forest industry in a fair and even-handed manner so that it is better placed to respond
strongly to the next upturn.

"Working with the industry, we have come up with these practical, everyday measures that should bring a degree of
stability and confidence to forest operations.

“The whole downturn in forestry is not something that the Commission can resolve alone. The whole sector has to pull
together until we see a return to normal trading conditions.”

Key measures that have been agreed include :

14
Continuing where ever possible to operate normal contract and credit arrangements

Offering reasonable extensions to existing contracts

Enabling customers to work high priced contracts alongside more recently purchased lower priced contracts in order to
reduce their impact on cashflow

Negotiating changes to payment profiles in exceptional circumstances

Continuing to offer Sales Plan volumes to the market to ensure continuity of supply and retention of skills

Setting sale reserves based on a realistic view of the market

Ensuring that harvesting contractors and hauliers are paid promptly

The Commission will enter discussions with any customers who request support. Anyone who would like to explore
options should contact Les Bryson in Forest Enterprise Scotland's Inverness office on 01463 232811.

LEASING FORESTS
Environment Minister Michael Russell today said he was adopting an ‘open door’ approach on the current options
being explored in the consultation on how Scotland's national forests can be used to tackle climate change.
One option that has generated much interest is the possibility of leasing up to 25 per cent of Forestry Commission
Scotland's forests to help raise new money to put back into tackle climate change.

After a meeting today with John Hume MSP, union representatives and delegates from the forestry and tourism sector,
Mr Russell said : "We have recently started our consultation process and at this stage I wish to gather views and ideas
on how we can make Scotland's national forests work harder for climate change. I'm very open to views and welcomed
the opportunity today to talk through some of the innovative proposals we are putting forward for consultation. We
can't stand still and wait for things to happen when it comes to climate change - we need to take action now. The
national forest estate is currently valued at £850 million and it is right that we explore how some of this capital can be
freed up to meet climate change challenges. Our consultation will help shape a future direction on achieving this”.

Talking specifically on the lease option he added: "I was keen to reinforce my commitment today that if a lease
arrangement ever became a reality we would ensure access and recreation was secure and there would be an
unbreakable commitment to continuing the highest environmental standards of forest management. The land would be
leased for up to 75 years and would remain in the public sector - it would not be sold off.

Staff within the Commission also have a triple jobs guarantee. There will be no compulsory redundancies, their rights
would be fully protected by TUPE and if any member of staff didn't want to transfer to another organisation then the
Commission would make the strongest efforts to ensure they would have a job within the Commission. The
consultation is just what it says it is - an open opportunity for all ideas and views to be considered. I'm very happy for
this to continue and welcome as many views as possible."

The consultation paper - Climate Change and the National Forest Estate in Scotland - outlines proposals to:
Develop renewable energy projects to help the Scottish Government meet its ambitious greener energy targets
Plant more trees as part of plans to increase the area of Scotland covered in woodland by the second half of this
century

Comments can be submitted until 27 January 2009 and a copy of the paper is available at:
www.forestry.gov.uk/fcsclimateconsultation

Media enquiries to Steve Williams, Forestry Commission Scotland press office 0131 314 6508.

15
 ON NOT LEASING FORESTS
‘DANGER TO PUBLIC ACCESS, WILDLIFE & JOBS’
SUNDAY HERALD WEBSITE: 23 NOVEMBER ‘08

Rob Edwards, Environment Editor, reported that - ‘Plans by the Scottish government to raise hundreds of millions
of pounds by giving control of vast areas of Scotland's forests to foreign multinationals are facing furious opposition
from trade unions and Labour politicians’.

‘The SNP has been accused of proposing to "sell off our family silver" to forestry companies, threatening hundreds
of jobs. Public access to forests and the protection of wildlife are also in jeopardy, critics allege’.

‘However, environment minister Michael Russell promised there would be no compulsory redundancies and
guarantees to protect access and wildlife‘.

‘The government needed to raise money to combat climate change, he said.“In a consultation paper the government
has proposed powers that would enable ministers to lease more than 25% of the nation's forests to private companies.
The leases, which could run for 75 years, would give the companies rights to fell timber for commercial purposes.
Among those likely to be attracted to such a business are logging companies from around the world’.

‘The plans have incensed the forestry workers' trade unions, GMB, Unite, Prospect and PCS. They "represent the
biggest challenge to our jobs, the integrity of the Forestry Commission and the sustainability of Scottish forestry that
we have seen for more than 10 years," said Edward Shephard, secretary of the commission's trade union group. "We
support the need for forestry to contribute to solving climate change, but we believe these proposals could jeopardise
the long-term future of the Scottish forest industry and cost up to 200 good-quality jobs in some of the remotest parts
of Scotland," he added. Shephard said there was "no viable business model" to back up the proposals. Opposition
within the Forestry Commission was "widespread", he said, and the unions were launching a major campaign to block
the plans’.

‘Labour's environment spokesperson, Sarah Boyack MSP, said the plans had to be opposed. "This is not a minor
change, it's a fundamental shift which would see over a quarter of our public forests being managed by big forestry
companies," she told the Sunday Herald. "Effectively the SNP would be selling off our family silver to big overseas
firms. There are tough questions that need to be asked about the financial implications of the leasing arrangements"

'Boyack was particularly concerned about the impact on skilled jobs in fragile rural communities. "The Forestry
Commission has also been successful in developing access and bio-diversity work," she added. "These proposals would
severely undermine that progress and rule out new opportunities".

BIOFUEL PROBLEMS
HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS FACE BIO-FUEL CHALLENGES

A fuel study commissioned by the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), HIE and The Highland
Council, raises concerns over the feasibility of introducing bio-fuels into the Highlands and Islands. The study suggests
that the region potentially would face significant increased costs for fuel compared with elsewhere in Scotland.

At their meeting today (Friday 5 December) HITRANS Board members will press for some means of supplying bio-
fuels to be found without imposing additional cost to consumers in the Highlands and islands. Board Chair Duncan
MacIntyre said, “This report should be considered to be a start point for on-going work to address the issues between
local and national government and agencies. It provides us with the facts now we must start working towards solutions
which will support our communities.”

Bio-gasoline and bio-ethanol will be introduced across the UK if it is to meet the Renewable Transport Fuels
Obligation (RTFO), and their storage and transportation may pose problems for remote and island suppliers. Bio-
gasoline’s instability when in contact with water means there are risks in sea transportation, forcing some suppliers to
ship the components separately and blend them locally, which would require significant capital investment.

Given the volatile nature of the component E100, the ferry companies will need to be consulted with to ascertain the
viability of shipping such product in road tankers.

16
On the forecourts, the report notes, owners of filling stations which have older fuel storage tanks may face the major
costs of having them cleaned and re-lined because it is vital that all tanks storing E5 Bio-Gasoline across the entire
distribution chain are clean, totally free from water and maintained in such a way as to prevent water getting in.

The report additionally examines the difference in fuel costs across the urban and rural/island areas, in light of
significant concerns expressed in the past about the apparently disproportionate cost of fuel at rural filling stations.

Findings show that taking into account low turnover and high running costs, the prices being charged for fuel generally
reflect market conditions and supply costs that exist across the region.

HITRANS Board Chair Duncan MacIntyre said, “The value in having this study done is that it has shown the facts
behind the fuel costs, and shows why rural and island filling stations are more expensive. We can see that operators are
justified in their charges, taking into account delivery costs, smaller delivery sizes and lower volumes of sales.

Experian/catalist were commissioned in February 2008 to do the research on behalf of HITRANS, Highlands and
Islands Enterprise and The Highland Council. The research process included thirty consultations with forecourt
operators, local authorities, businesses and industry trade bodies and associations. There 231 existing petrol stations in
the Highlands and Islands which between them provide 308 million litres of fuel each year.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL REVIEW

Since the January Antler went to print in the first week of December - primarily to spread Krisprint’s work over a
longer period and avoid the Christmas rush, things have moved on in the development of the Review.

On Tuesday 16th of December, David Price of Avich & Kilchrenan Community Council, Nigel Millar of Helensburgh
Community Council and I were invited to meet the the Director of Corporate Services and two of his staff to discuss
the Review.

As a result of this meeting there has been a better understanding of the Council’s aims and proposals. With the
agreement of Corporate Services, members of the Association of Argyll & Bute Community Councils Executive
Committee are arranging meetings in each Council area to allow all community councillors to hear the background to
the Scottish Government’s plans to bring decision making closer to grass-roots level, and to take part in further
discussions. With the support of the Area Corporate Service Manager, Alison Younger, I have arranged with Jim
Martin of Campbeltown Community Council to hold a meeting in the Town Hall, Campbeltown on Monday 19th
January at 7.30pm to which all South Kintyre Community Councillors are invited.

G.P.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL - A SYNOPSIS OF THE NOVEMBER MINUTES

The chair welcomed everyone to the November 2008 meeting of the EKCC

1) IN ATTENDANCE: Shelagh Cameron, Chair, Lachie Paterson, Geoffrey Page, Stuart Irvine, Ronnie Browne,
Andrea Hopkins, Sheena MacAlister, Cheryl Greenwood, Minute Secretary, PC Hannah, ABC Councillors John
McAlpine & Rory Colville and eleven members of Carradale and Saddell communities. APOLOGIES: None

2) MINUTES: The Minute Secretary corrected a mistake over amount of money in the accounts. The minute should
have read that £1291 was in the current account at the beginning of the year and with the addition of the administrative
grant and the return of an overpayment from the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society, the balance now stood at
£1665. Acceptance of the minutes were proposed by Stuart Irvine and seconded by Ronnie Brownie

3) MATTERS ARISING from October’s minutes: There appears to be no improvement to the passing place signs
with some of them still missing, although the Roads Department are currently scrubbing the signs on the Skipness
road.

HILL 60: The plastic bins at hill 60 are due to be replaced with metal bins. Rory Colville announced that the council
will be cutting the grass at Ugadale, Saddell and Peninver brae.

4) TREASURES REPORT: 73p interest had been added. Gus Gillies had been paid £83.43 for fencing and the
Minute Secretary £50
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5) COMMUNITY NURSING: Jan Armour spoke to the community council on the 20lh October and has been on e-
mail contact with Shelagh. It is hoped that Jan Armour will return at the December meeting. Molly has concerns with
Jan Armour on nursing cover she highlighted as part of the Community Profile. John Dreghorn is without home help
problems at present, although there is a rumour that nursing cover is being changed again,

6) GROWING FRUIT IN EAST KINTYRE Shelagh proposed that the Community Council initiate the planting
fruit trees within the village of Carradale. The consensus was that this was a good idea although some work would be
needed to done to establish planting sites, the kinds of trees and how to harvest the fruit. Cheryl mentioned the idea of
a community garden for Saddell.

7) ROADS AND LIGHTING

There are currently bad patches in the road surface at the Shore Road and Allt Cruach. John McAlpine said that pot
holes need to be more than 2 inches deep before contacting ‘’Maria’ at the Roads and Lighting Department. Verge
damage will not be attended to as promptly.

8) CHRISTMAS TREES.

The missing Christmas tree lights from Saddell have been found. It is not known if the lights will work after being in
the grass so Sheena is looking to purchase a new set of lights from community council funds

9) PLANNING

A continuation planning application has been advertised for Beinn an Tuirc to reduce administration in the future.

There was a discussion about an on going planning application for a new house at Ugadale. It was agreed to make some
kind of representation when the application was advertised.

12) CORRESPONDENCE

Shelagh had received a customer satisfaction questionnaire concerning open spaces and parks. It was considered
important that this was completed to safeguard the existing play areas. She also received a letter asking if communities
needed any new street nameplates; request sent to Shelagh will be passed on to the relevant department. A climate
change enquiry, a Community Justice annual report and other correspondence was received from the Scottish Rights of
Way & Access Society, a development agency dealing with care in the community and from Argyll & Bute Trust with a
cheque for £55 for the beach clean.

13) AOCB

Stuart Irvine pointed out that the job for an harbour operative has been advertised and includes a commitment of 6
hours a week. Applications should be returned by 14th of November.

All fishermen have been asked to remove all old equipment from the harbour area. Bays will then be marked for
paletted or boxed storage.

The Harbour Users Group will meet to see what can be done to the entrance of the harbour. Lakeland Marine is also
going ahead with its proposal to raise salmon in Kilbrannan Sound.

Stuart reported that Abbeyfield House in Carradale can hold up to 7 with one room for respite care, but, currently
there are only four residents. Unless all rooms are filled, the Abbeyfield will be wind down with 12 month’s notice of
closure being given. Members of the Council were urged to help the situation in any they can.

The Kintyre Way has been re-routed to take it past Port-na-storm.

A letter was received from Brian Gee about the telephone boxes. Since the community council did not approve
local boxes being transferred to card use, and the intention to remove the equipment, the Council are wondering if the
community council would like the box retained as a decorative feature. Adverse suggestions were made about its likely
use.

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Notice was given of the Council’s intention to review the role, function and geographic distribution of
community councils; elections are likely to be put back to September 2009. The police were called to a fireworks
display in Saddell due to a misunderstanding.

It was pointed out that the fireworks were in fact let off correctly in the play-park and were never let off in the Abbey.

Shelagh thanked everyone for their attendance The date of the next meeting is on the 7th of December 2008.

CARRADALE PRIMARY SCHOOL - OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2008

During the latter half of the Autumn term Carradale Nursery children and Primaries 1, 2, 3 and 4 have been
investigating The Emergency Services'.

They have had a very exciting few weeks as they visited Carradale Police Station with PC Hannah, Carradale Fire
Station with Mr Robert Strong and Mrs Eila Durnan, and they met Mr Johnny Durnan at the bay where he kindly
explained all about his work as a coast guard. We also had a visit from Mrs Judy Semple in her capacity as a nurse, and
she told the children about her work, particularly dealing with diabetics, and helped to tell us something of the
ambulance service's duties. The children all had great fun, but they also learned a lot about these very important
Emergency Services. Hopefully you will be able to see their glowing faces in The Courier soon.

Our thanks go to all who gave their time to talk to us and we sincerely hope we never need to call them on a
professional basis !

Valerie Conley [class teacher]

WHAT’S ON IN 2009 ?
The Scottish Government, helped by Argyll & Bute Council and one other SNP council, will banish the Council Tax in
favour of a local income tax, which few in Campbeltown will earn enough to pay.

More public telephone boxes will lose their equipment and remain as decorative as they were when they weren't
working.

Post offices will be open for card accounts until 2010 unless......?

Thanks to recent Council enhanced Government grants for berthing spaces, Campbeltown will become the Scottish
base for Somali pirates, Helensburgh with extensive new crescents will be known as the Bath of the north, Oban will
compete with Bangkok for waterside shopping, Dunoon’s ferries will rival Dover’s and Rothesay will not be quite so
far ‘doon the water’.

Carradale Golf Club’s new pavilion will be opened to other faiths

Saddell becomes the first midge-free village in western Scotland.

Community Councillors will be as rare as visiting ABC Councillors.

Argyll & Bute Council may inveigle East Kintyre, West Kintyre, Southend, Laggan and Campbeltown into sharing a
community council.

Thanks to Forestry Commission action, Rhododendron Ponticum will become a sought-after rarity in Kintyre forests.
Himalayan and Japanese Knotweed will be protected species.

As the rest of Britain warms and Kintyre gets wetter and colder, escaped wild boar will return to Beinn-an-Tuirc,
followed by wolves and lynx from Sutherland and bears from the Arctic.

Beavers will denude Knapdale of trees and then emigrate to Kintyre.

Argyll & Bute Council’s ‘Fairer Argyll’ programme will correct the in-balance deliberately built into its previous policies

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The Community Planning Partnership will dictate what people should think, invent a new language which even their
officers can’t understand and be offered a ‘Gobbledygook award’ or corporate membership of the Plain English
Campaign.

Main roads will no longer be ‘salted’ in the winter and holes in the road will be deliberately deepened to stop residents
using their cars.

Head-teachers who ban school photographs from appearing in the ‘Antler’, will continue to seek cuedos in the
‘Campbeltown Courier’.

The new Campbeltown Plan and parking survey will lead to residents having to travel in on the new miniature ‘park &
ride’ rail link from Davaar Island, or shop in Dumbarton or Glasgow.

No one will be eligible to vote in a Kintyre local election unless they are related to Alen Oman or can trace their
forbears back to the bronze age.

Despite the Council’s ‘indicator 45’ aim to reduce the number of Scottish public bodies by 25% by 2011, partnerships
will increase by twice the number of ‘bodies’ reduced.

‘Campus officers’, will appear in Kintyre schools and reports will be written for the child’s whole life before entering
primary education and will contain no critical comments, thereby encouraging their full development before being seen
by the Children’s Panel.

G.P.

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