ISSUE 228 NOVEMBER 2011 ISSUE 228 NOVEMBER 2011 ISSUE 228 NOVEMBER 2011

HOLIDAY ANTLER
COMBINED DECEMBER & JANUARY ISSUE
The combined December 2011 and January 2012 issue will be sent to the printers on Thursday 17th of November. Items for this issue will need to be in the hands of the Editor by Sunday 13th of November..

A BLACK,

, GREY AND GREEN TREATMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL & COMMUNITY ISSUES

Derby Day at Waterfoot on Saturday September 24th. Photo courtesy of Dave Mercer. See page 4 for Dede Robertsons report.

INDOOR CAR BOOT SALE PENINVER HALL

Tables will be charged at 7 or 5 in the car park.

2-4pm SUNDAY 23rd OCTOBER

Alasdair McPhee
FINANCIAL SERVICES

IFA

REVIEWING YOUR FINANCES? Areas of Financial Planning Protection - Personal, Mortgage, Business and Income. Savings / Investments - Annual ISA Allowance / Low interest rates, there are alternatives offering potentially greater Capital Growth and or Income. Pension Planning - Plans should be reviewed on a Annual Basis. Under the current Economic Climate reviewing your Finances should be seriously considered. We offer, in the privacy of your own home, a free Personal Review covering all the above, meetings can be arranged by calling:Contact numbers are 01586-552598 / 0779 857 4890 / or 0141 887 6778.
Alasdair McPhee, Financial Consultant was born in Carradale, lives and works in Campbeltown. Financial Planning Made Simple
e-mail: amcphee@hotmail.com, St James Business Centre, Linwood Rd, Paisley PA3 3AT Tel: 0141 887 6778 Fax: 0141 887 6344
Alasdair McPhee Financial Services is an appointed representative of Personal Touch Financial Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Contact Hilary Lord 01586 552488 to rent a table. Teas and biscuits.
NETWORK REOPENS FRIDAY 21st OCTOBER Winter hours 11am-4pm
Closed Wednesdays &Thursdays

GOLF ANNUAL DINNER DANCE

Carradale Golf Club is holding its Annual Dinner Dance in Carradale Hotel on Saturday 5 November 2011, 7 for 7.30pm. Tickets are priced 23 per person and are available NOW from Alan Walker, Dede Robertson and Janeta King. On the night, there will be the Presentation of Prizes and a raffle. M. Richardson.

NETWORK CARRADALE LIMITED

Annual General Meeting

Carradale Village Hall Library 7.30pm Friday 11th November

All welcome but only members are eligible to vote.
If YOU ...

VILLAGE QUESTIONNAIRES
The Editor would like to thank Antler distributors and others involved in preparing and delivering two recent . village questionnaires, one which almost doubled the weight pushed through East Kintyre letterboxes. No summary results were published from the first issue, but is hoped to receive a feed-back from the second, once replies have been received and classified.

would like to be a part of some interesting village projects, would like to influence what could be done in Carradale
Then you should become a member of

Network Carradale Limited.

Pick up a leaflet in the Post Office

IN THIS ISSUE - IN THIS ISSUE - IN THIS ISSUE - IN THIS ISSUE

P 2 Environmental matters - the SKDTs USA hair shirt. P 3 Honest Johns explosive ideas and Wind-farm topics. P 4 Green issues, Duncan McEachran and Banking. P 5 Community Business, CHUG, Rain, Guild & RNLI. P 6-10 Carradale Harbour and Tourism: some ideas. P 11 Duck race results, Gardens, Mens Golf & Cars.

P 12 Primary school topic, South Kintyre Seniors Forum, & Repairs to the War Memorial.

Principal Alasdair M. McPhee

Cert.PFS MLIA(dip)

CARRADALE GOLF CLUB

THE SECRETARY IS MARGARET RICHARDSON

2, OLD SCHOOLHOUSE CARRADALE PA28 6QJ

TELEPHONE 01583 431788 Further information is on page 11.

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were taking a bath. (in the non-drought Kintyre situation the logic of this statement is as much at risk as the implied faulty logic that a shower saves half as much as a bath, - should that be twice as much?). SHORTEN YOUR SHOWER (No, forget sawing it down - just use less rare Scottish water) Every minute you cut from your shower (theyve got the saw out again) is roughly 5 gallons of water ( this is a new version of the saying time is money Im sure Scottish Water will be pleased to learn that time is water) The less time your shower takes, the lower your impact on the environment (unless in common American practice after your larger American shower you reach for a hot dog and settle your 16 stone into a sagging chair in front of a gas flame fire). RECYCLE GLASS If you do not recycle this, it will take a million years to decompose. (Those abstainers who do not indulge are not playing their part and must start drinking right away to share in the recycling process). TURN DOWN YOUR THERMOSTAT Every degree lower in the winter or higher in the summer you put it is a 10 percent decrease on your energy bill. (If you dont have, or cant afford to run central heating or air-conditioning, show your support by wearing an extra green pullover ). DO NOT GET A PAPER PHONE BOOK Instead of getting a paper phone book. (Obviously not for those in Waterfoot who are still waiting for the 2009, 2010 & 2011 directories) Use a online directory instead (You havent got a computer? When you get one youll be using even more electricity). GO TO A CAR WASH Going to a car wash is a lot more water efficient then washing your car at home. (What a pity we dont have enough rain in Kintyre to wash the cars for us). GET A REUSABLE BAG You can not recycle plastic bags, instead get yourself a reusable bag so that you will not have to worry about carrying your necessities. (Obviously American bags have wheels and engines taxis). PLANT A TREE It is good for the air, can keep you cool, and can increase your property value (Youll certainly face more insurance questions and costs). WALK OR RIDE YOUR BIKE WHEN (if) YOU CAN If you have to go somewhere close consider riding your bike or walking there instead of your car. It is better on the environment and healthier. (This advice is at a time when the only retailer of cycles and cycle spares in Campbeltown has closed his business). The unfortunate thing about the serious work being done to save resources is now encouraging a return to an early form of Puritanism where a bath is seen as an instrument of the devil, enjoyment is no longer allowed and deviation from the official environmental line is an offence to the community at large and should be suppressed in line with the latest community plan; curtains will part to see if septic tanks and sewer outfalls are running over with bath suds. The big American brother is now wearing a kilt and has supporters in Burnside Square. SKDT should clean up their already attractive web-site with its mountainous seaside view and remove inappropriate add-ons. For those not in the know: SKDT was a funding follow-on from the Dalintober and Millknowe Tenants and Residents Association, after the Council & the Scottish Government decided that with Campbeltown losing its areas of depravation (at least in housing terms) the need was to extend financial parameters and embrace the southern half of Kintyre. This gave rise to appointments in Campbeltown to spread the development word further north. Co-incidentally the rise of Community Forums and the introduction of a flurry of initiatives around the concept of Community Planning came under threat from Scottish Government Funding, unless Argyll & Bute Council agreed to a complicated series of community initiatives. This has now seeped down through the Councils community council structure and community planning groups, flourishing under SKDT advice and help in the form of community planning projects and developmental initiatives.
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ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
DOES ONE SIZE HAIR SHIRT FIT ALL?
VERY FRIENDLY AMERICAN ADVICE FROM S.K.D.T Despite the good work being carried out in Campbeltown by the South Kintyre Development Trust, under its Project Officer, Malcolm McMillan, and by East Kintyre Community Council in its drive towards a Community Plan, a disturbing trend is emerging to find inspiration from alien cultures for community plans and environmental projects. The most recent evidence comes from an add-on to the SKDT web-site from an American provider. Please do not presume from the following Antler comments (in bold italic) that community plans and environmental projects are necessarily out of kilter with local communities, but that there is a constant need to calibrate how appropriate the proposals are for specific localities; a one size fits all approach is unlikely to match the unmet requirements of third world communities and the profligacy of developed countries. Here is an edited selection of advice from the American Green Living addition to the SKDT web-site. THE SOUTH KINTYRE DEVELOPMENT TRUST WEB-SITE GREEN LIVING TIPS.

Press this button

These are some of the tips which can help you to make the world a little bit more greener. (This is obviously not for those who are jet-washing moss off their roofs, or algae from their plastic fascias) CHANGE TO FLUORESCENT BULBS If every house in the UNITED STATES changed all of the light bulbs in their house, that would be equivalent to taking one million cars off the streets. (Cars are already off some Carradale streets which are too narrow for parking, or are occupying wider sections, officially designated as passing places). HANG OUTSIDE TO DRY (No not another American rendering technique) - Get a cloth(e)s line or rack to dry your cloths. Your cloths (weather permitting) will last longer and you will save money GET RID OF BATHS Do not take baths, take showers. (Goodbye to soothing relaxing Radox you will need to buy more calming replacement drugs bring back tobacco) You will in average save about half the amount of water that you would if you

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VOLCANIC OUTLOOK
HONEST JOHN & SPs EXPLOSIVE LOGIC Car fanatics and Telegraph readers are aware of the excellent advice offered by the most unlikely title for a motoring correspondent and one-time vehicle dealer, but in a recent issue he ventured to include a letter from SP of Narborough which has some startling environmental statements. SP begins by saying that last years Icelandic volcanic eruption produced more carbon dioxide than was saved by five years of Government and voluntary reduction. Continuing the same theme SP states the the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 discharged more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the whole human race has emitted thoughout its entire existence. Going further SP refers to the additional pollution from solar and cosmic activity and bush fires as well as the 800 year warming and cooling climatic cycle and finishing with a flourish and an acknowledgement that during the past century the earth has cooled by 0.7deg. Not to be outdone Honest John comments that vehicles are responsible for global cooling! But what can we deduce from the contrast between the contested scientific views of the Green lobby and the defence from those who have a vested interest in the traditional pleasures of the open road? Is it to extend investigations into alternative sources of energy without desecrating land and seascapes, moderating the insistent demands of the Green lobby or simply economising on the earths limited resources in a sensible manner. The government view that industrial pollution is the only important cause of climatic change is akin to a blinkered political or religious belief; change is inevitable in every aspect of life. Blaming all atmospheric pollution on those who drive vehicles, use solid fuel, oil, gas or electricity to maintain the semblance of a developed society will have the effect of returning western democracy to mediaeval times, where a single unelected figure or authoritarian group determines the future of the nation. G.P.

THE SCENE IN OTHER COUNTRIES

With Greece constantly in the news it was particularly interesting to read that Crete has a tourist attraction in the form of the plain of the thousand wind machines. Unfortunately, although they are given a version of the Forth Bridge treatment with a new coat of paint every year, they dont actually produce any electricity. It seems that some areas of the United States which embraced windpower several decades ago have a similar problem - areas of the West Coast have their Green attractions in the form of derelict towers with blades missing and little prospect of repair or removal because of inadequate financial outlay for decommissioning.

TOO WINDY TO WORK

MINDY & MORK TAKE CONTROL OF WIND-FARM INCOME While Kintyre has had at least one problem with control gear failure resulting in blades spinning out of control in high winds and buckling a tower, it is not clear if and when local wind-farm blades have been feathered to stop damage. However it seems that there have been instances elsewhere where a windfarm company was paid more than 1 million to stop producing electricity for more than eight and a half hours simply because of fears that the electricity network would be overloaded in high winds. In total Eleven wind-farms were shut down during the period when high winds from the disintegrating hurricane Katia - almost certainly compensating payments made to the companies will be passed on to consumers.

UNABLE TO WORK WITHOUT WIND

Reports coming in from one of the heat-stressed areas in West Sussex, where the local district council has refused applications for the installation of small wind generators in rural areas because the benefits outweigh the disadvantages of noise, visual impact and possible electromagnetic interference, suggest that land-based turbines in Britain supply energy typically for 25% of the year and the capital cost per kilowatt-hour generated is likely to be three times or more that of conventional generators. While the situation with noise and electromagnetic interference has not been a problem for wind-farms in Kintyre and isolated single wind generators are unlikely to cause problems except to their owners, this is another case of one policy not suiting all communities. The recent experience in Southend makes it imperative that all residents must make their views known well before planning permission is considered.

WIND-FARM EXHIBITION
NORTH BEACHMORE WIND DEVELOPMENT : OUTDATED INVITATION Tayinloan: 5-8pm Sunday 25th September & 4-7pm Monday 26th The project is for one 500-900KW wind turbine which will connect to the national grid. The turbine will be owned and operated by a partnership between Community Energy Scotland (Trading) which is the trading arm of a registered Scottish charity and a local farmer. Community Energy Scotland (CES) is a registered Scottish Charity supporting community development through renewable energy initiatives. It has supported many projects within Kintyre and offers free advice and support to all community and non profit making organisations. CES Trading's income from the turbine will be donated to Community Energy Scotland to improve its support for community groups. In addition there will be local community benefit payment of 5,000 per annum. (This is twice the average commercial rate for a turbine of this size). The site has been designed to reduce impact wherever possible. Come and see our proposal, discuss our ideas and give your own thoughts on the project and potential benefits of the community fund. Further information can be requested from kevin.dickspin @community energyscotland.org.uk.
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GREEN WITH ENVY

HOW TO MAKE A PRINCELY SUM Although most people are prepared to pay a bit more for their electricity if they know that part of their payment goes to encourage the development of alternative means of producing power, but when this extra tax is used to boost subsidised wind turbines on their neighbours house, resistance starts to mount. However when it turns out that those with large houses and even larger schemes are benefitting most from the largesse of the energy companies Government inspired scheme, things take on a very different aspect. The latest news is that Prince Charles, always a supporter of Green initiatives, will receive over 600,000 from the subsidy after installing 400 panels on his Home Farm dairy this spring, just before the tariff was reduced. The widely published figures quote an installation fee of 300,000 producing 27,000 a year for 25 years. While we may well hesitate to spend 7,000 to 12,000 in response to TV and newspaper advertising, the subsidy may well disappear when the Governments European obligations are met. Although Charles is guaranteed his income, those of us still trying to work out if the cost of small private schemes will find projected incomes disappearing as quickly as water runs off a Waterfoot plastic ducks back.

DUNCAN McEACHRAN
THE GLOBAL REACH OF THE ANTLER I recently offered a short note for the Antler on the distinguished son of a Campbeltown Blacksmith who went on to become the father of modern Veterinary Education. Duncan McEachran was virtually unknown in his native Kintyre and I felt it was of interest to get something of his story into the Antler. For me it is nowadays the best information Journal that we have. I did not realize, however, how international its readership was until I received an email message from the other side of the world. After my article appeared, the Campbeltown librarian received a message enquiring about my address which she passed on to Councillor Kelly and eventually I received a letter from a distinguished Canadian Veterinarian, Dr. David Green, who in his retirement had been contracted to write the definitive biography of the famous Canadian Veterinarian McEachran and had used my article, which he had read in the Antler, as a starting point for describing his early life in Kintyre. David Green has very much more information than I was able to garner about the man and his book which should be published next year will finally put on the record one of Kintyre's most distinguished sons. One of the interesting snippets that he has acquired is the information that the two plaques on the plinth of the Campbeltown Cross, one in Gaelic and the second a translation from the Gaelic were provided and paid for by McEachran in 1905. Whether he was a descendent of the Ivar McEachran named on the Cross I do not know but it is an interesting speculation. Another of Dr Green's discoveries was that McEachran was not educated in the Grammar School as I had thought. In fact as his father was an adherent to the breakaway Gaelic Free Church established by Rev. McNab at the disruption of the Kirks in 1840, he was educated in the Free Church School that McNab and his congregation established, presumably the building now being converted into a bunkhouse at the Big Kiln. As another Campbeltown veterinarian who has tried to influence international veterinary education, I am very grateful to Mr Page and his organ for providing me with this route into furthering my knowledge of Duncan McEachran and his achievements. I am also very impressed with the internationality of its readership. Yours Sincerely, Ronald J. Roberts. Dr. Roberts, Emeritus Professor of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Chairman of Argyll & Bute Countryside Trust, and Bill Middlemiss, the Trusts Manager, were instrumental in sourcing funding for the now well-known Network exhibition and tea room in Carradale, and in encouraging local residents to become involved in the conversion, research and stocking of the dilapidated forestry buildings. Ed.

GREEN STREET TRADING

UNCHARITABLE REPORTING Be warned - if you put some of your garden produce out for sale you may be reported to the Council. However if you have a trading licence, or are collecting on behalf of a charity and the charity is aware of your action on its behalf, no action will be taken. Argyll and Bute Council Legal Department was made aware of someone selling produce outside their home in Kintyre and were obliged to contact the house-owner, but what a sad day when someone is so upset by a neighbour that they have to resort to these kind of tactics. Gardeners in other rural parts of the UK offer surplus fruit, vegetables and flowers outside their property at prices well below shop prices and without a trading licence. Why not here?

ABBEYFIELD
ABBEYFIELD REGAINS ITS COUNTRY STATUS Abbeyfield in Scotland became a Region of England in 2007. Over the past 18 months, Stuart Irvine, Chairman for Scotland, has been campaigning to restore the organisation in Scotland to have devolved Country status. As a Region of England, Scottish Societies paid the same affiliation fee as English ones but received very little benefit from the main office in St Albans. This was mainly due to devolution of Government in Scotland and the fact that all the Regulators in Housing, Care, Charities and Local Authority were based in Scotland. There were many differences in practice between the two Countries. At the Annual General Meeting in London, covering the whole of the UK, it was agreed that Scotland, and indeed Wales and Northern Ireland would revert to having Country status. Along with this was a reduction in affiliation fees of 50% to 75% of what was paid in the past. Stuart says It was a long and harrowing exercise but with a very satisfactory ending. Abbeyfield in Scotland has 23 Societies totalling 48 Sheltered Houses and 8 Care Homes.Throughout the whole of the UK there are now around 300 Abbeyfield Societies and Abbeyfield in now also represented in 15 overseas Countries including France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, USA, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand & Japan.
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GREEN PRODUCE
CAMPBELTOWN COMMUNITY ORGANIC GARDEN New! - Fresh, seasonal, organic garden produce delivered to your door. We are starting a 3 month pilot study, delivering fresh, community garden produce to those who find difficulty in shopping for their fresh fruit, veg and herbs. We have been granted funding to pilot a scheme which aims to provide one area of the support needed to help isolated elderly and disabled people remain living independently within their own home. We are looking to deliver our seasonal community garden produce to those finding it difficult, for whatever reason, to shop for these items themselves. Although our prime aim is the isolated elderly and disabled, your age will not exclude you from our delivery service. We are currently compiling a list of possible customers and if you, or someone you know, could benefit from our delivery service please contact Sandra on 07510179394. Steve Byrne.

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No job too small

WHAT IS OUR COMMUNITY BUSINESS?

A community business is a not-for-profit distribution legal entity set up to run a project, or projects, on behalf of the community, all profits or surpluses are used by the business for other projects of benefit to the community. For example, the Campbeltown Community Business Ltd operates the Picture House. Network Carradale Limited (NCL) has run the Heritage Centre for the last 15 years and for the last five years it has leased the Network Tearoom to the present excellent manager, Josie McKinnon. But what is the future of the business? Despite its name, from the beginning Network Carradale Ltd. was set up to Preserve, conserve, restore and improve the environment and, in particular, the area of Carradale and East Kintyre, Argyll. NCLs remit, in fact, covers not only the village of Carradale, but the entire area of the present survey which will form the basis of the East Kintyre Community Plan. About 18 months ago the Carradale Harbour Users Group (CHUG) was brought under the auspices of NCL. With the support of a public meeting for consultation, CHUG is now working towards a plan for the harbour and looking into sources of funding. NCLs interests have grown to include Carradale East as well as the Heritage Centre and Tearoom in Carradale West. But where should the business go next? Everyone has had the opportunity to contribute to East Kintyres Community Plan for the future by filling in the survey questionnaire. The results of the survey will be published in a few months. Already exciting ideas are floating about which could be implemented by NCL. A community owned petrol pump? Workshop units? Self-contained offices? A small ferry to Arran? A snooker hall or a gym in the old Glen Restaurant! Go to www.villageweb.org.uk to read more look for East Kintyre Pipe Dreams. Network Carradale Limited invites all the residents of East Kintyre to its Annual General Meeting on the 11th of November at 7.30pm at the Carradale Village Hall. Come and join in the discussion. Better still, if you are not already a member of NCL, join us. There is still time. You will need to complete an application form and buy a share of the company for 1. The forms are available in Semples and Patersons shops. If you would like to be a director the NCL secretary, Stuart Irvine, must receive your application for membership and nomination as a director as well as your pound by Thursday the 3rd of November (7 clear days before the AGM). His address is on the application form. All company members are entitled to vote for resolutions, the adoption of accounts, the appointment of directors and to offer themselves as candidates for membership on the board of directors. At this extraordinary AGM all of the current directors of NCL will be standing down and a new board of directors will be elected by the company members. No director is paid, (sorry, not even a little tiny bonus) but, in these interesting times, the job should be its own reward. Directors, Network Carradale Limited.

HMS Sutherland: travelling south in Kilbrannan Sound on Sunday 2nd October before returning to Libya. Photos courtesy of M.M.

The following day a Border Agency vessel was watching for illegal entrants, locals fleeing to Iberia for the winter and others likely to be engaged in borderline illegal environmental acts.

SEPTEMBER RAINFALL
Theres a saying It never rains but it pours. This is certainly true of this months rainfall statistics, as there were only three dry blinks in September- at the very beginning, at the very end and right in the middle(14th/15th). When it rained it rained.. not the odd shower but heavy prolonged rain. In total 216 mm was recorded (over eight and a half inches.) Surprisingly this high total was not record breaking as September totals in 2004, 2006 and 2005 were all higher with monthly figures of 219mm, 222mm, and 242mm respectively. This brings the total rainfall to date in 2011 as 1222 mm (nearly 49 inches) much as one might expect in an average years rainfall at this stage of the year. The final outcome will depend on how wet an autumn and early winter we get. Only time will tell. M.L.

CHUG
The latest harbour committee meeting took place on Thursday October 6th. We expect to send documents to Argyll & Bute Council shortly regarding our preliminary proposal for a joint management structure for this area. If and when agreement is reached it will allow us to take over various aspects of the harbour management and permit the raising of funds for future development of the harbour environs. It was also agreed to actively pursue the placing of moorings off the harbour entrance once matters regarding insurance and logistics have been satisfactorily attended to. This is considered a project that should be achievable within the next 6 months. Marcus Adams.
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GUILD MEETINGS: CHANGED DATES

There are changes to the subject of two meetings; Alistair Cousin will give his talk on Life of a Kintyre Vet at 7.30pm on Tuesday 21st February and David McEwan has agreed to talk on Old Campbeltown 2.30pm on Tuesday 31st January. M.L.

RNLI BONUS BALL WINNERS

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It is a dictum in the tourist industry that to succeed an attraction needs a loo, a view, and a brew. Carradale harbour has a spectacular view, it could be provided with better toilets and a caf but what is its actual attraction? The appeal of Carradale lies in its natural beauty and tranquillity. However, in this regard, Carradale does not especially stand out from countless other seaside villages in Scotland. Unless people have historic family connections, they have no particular reason to come here rather than any other pretty, peaceful little place. Visitors are drawn by shopping opportunities or a visitor attraction. This might be a heritage asset - a stately home, a garden or an archaeological site but Carradale has no such unique selling point. In the era of the ring net fishing the harbour was such an asset but today it cannot compete with the charms of Gigha and Tarbert. Other places have demonstrated that with audacity it is possible to invent a visitor attraction. The London Eye, and the Eden Centre are iconic. The Falkirk Wheel and The Loch Fyne Oyster Bar are more modest examples. None of these relied on heritage to justify themselves. Out of the blue someone had an idea which became a catalyst for a range of associated enterprises. Carradale cannot not compete in terms of scale with these projects, nor would many of us want to. But if we set ourselves to marshal sufficient resources Carradale could put itself on the map by doing something outrageously different, whilst not undermining its existing tranquil appeal. The population of East Kintyre is a little over 800. If Carradale is to win significant funding for physical improvements, we will need to make a case for the benefits reaching more widely than our immediate community. We need a focal point with the potential to make a regional impact we need to think big.

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CARRADALE HARBOUR AND TOURISM

THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THE MANY PIPE DREAMS FOR EAST KINTYRE BEING SHARED AT WWW.VILLAGEWEB.ORG.UK. THERE IS STILL TIME TO SHARE YOUR DREAMS omy. A clock with many moving parts would not do well externally in our climate so the clock will be inside. An exception to this will be the Tide Staff which displays the current tide, the height of the high and low tide, and indicates whether the tide is ebbing or flushing. This will be displayed prominently outside. The aim will be for the clock to mark numerous events. Events create a sense of occasion and an excuse for being there. Despite our digital age people love mechanical gadgets from the Falkirk wheel to The Waverley. In many cities, particularly on mainland Europe, tourists gather on the hour to watch little figures emerge from clocks and strike bells. Daily at 1pm tourists in Edinburgh gather for the one-o-clock cannon. At Greenwich and a few other coastal locations a Time Ball is still lowered at 1pm. The most frequent event will be a the striking of the naval one to eight bells every half hour with, as is apparently traditional, sixteen bells at New Years Eve. But daily events such as the highest elevation of the sun, and the highest and lowest tides will also be marked along with periodic momentary events such as the precise moment of full and new moon, the solstices and the equinoxes, the transit of the sun from one part of the zodiac to the next, spring and neap tides. While the emphasis will be on mechanical movement there will also be computer displays showing the time around the world and the night sky. People will be free to visit the clock and any ancillary exhibits, but the clock room can also serve as a tea room or a restaurant, or both, so that when Arran is invisible visitors can contemplate the clock while sipping their brew. The windows will show a spectacular view of Arran as well as the harbour, and an outside terrace, like the Skipness sea-food cabin, will provide fair-weather dining with sunshine and a view. The building will contain a toilet block. When the cafe-restaurant and the clock room is closed, the toilet block, with showers and laundry facilities, will still be open to the public. The building will also contain a bunk house to accommodate the growing numbers of budget travellers using the National Cycle Route and the Kintyre Way. The development will also include a petrol and diesel filling station, a new slipway, a promenade, a small-boat store, a re-cycling point, and four smaller buildings: The Gate House, The Compass Room and two sheds.

The Kintyre Clock

This proposal is for an attraction with a strong maritime theme. It will be a building by the harbour car park. The building will contain, and to some extent be, a large and complex clock. The clock will not simply display the time but show the state of the tide, the phase of the moon, the time and location of sunrise and sunset, eclipses, and more. It will build on the strong links between nautical navigation, time and astron-

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Potential spin-offs
A significant attraction at the harbour will strengthen the case for a passenger/cycle ferry from Arran to Carradale (see Annex 1). The ferry would land at the new slipway. The presence of a ferry would itself be a force for change and bring custom to local businesses. A companion to this proposal suggests a circular walk around the village (see Annex 2) the Carradale Loop (subject to the agreement of land owners). The walk includes a sea-front walk linking the harbour to Port Righ and Carradale Bay, with their restaurants and the caravan park. Following the theme of the clock one could imagine two or three large sundials at various stages on the loop things to go and see. If there were more people coming to the harbour there would be more justification for a fresh fish shop or stall dealing both with salmon from the fish-farm and fish landed by the boats (see Annex 3). Throughout the country there is growing interest in dark skies (see Annex 4). Kintyre is well placed for dark skies. Dark skies and astronomy generally would fit well with the clock theme. A bunk house in the forestry could be designed to facilitate star gazing. We do not make enough of the fact that the man known as the father of astro-archaeology, Professor Alexander Thom (1894 1985), was born at the Mains Farm in Carradale.

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will depend on how it is used. It may be needed for storing chairs and tables, dry goods, freezers and the like. The entrance to the east shed could become an ad hoc fish shop. Alongside the east shed are the above ground fuel tanks for the fuel pumps. The objective is to serve both the petrol and diesel needs of the village and of visiting boats. The presence of a filling station, if well signposted, would itself be an attraction to the harbour for some travellers along the east road. The slipway is designed to be long enough to provide access to the water at all states of the tide. It has a vertical side so that, when there is sufficient water, boats can pull up alongside and people can disembark without having to climb ladders. This would be particularly important if there were to be a passenger/cycle ferry from Arran (see Annex 1). Subject to the permission of land owners the development includes a path through Spoot Wood up towards the centre of the village. The walk includes a covered viewpoint the Compass Room with views over the Sound and fixed binoculars.

If the attraction succeeds, the Clock House could become a venue for wedding parties, small conferences, courses and the like. The development encompasses the area currently occupied by the car park and the fishermans storage area. It also builds out over the rocks to reach sufficiently deep water to build an all-tide slipway. In this proposal the stretch of the shore road which runs alongside the car park is removed and the car park relocated to exploit this space and to create space on the water-side of the car park for a promenade. The promenade is curved both to aesthetically complete the harbour and also to allow space for large vehicles, such as coaches, comfortably to turn around. The current re-cycle 5 bins are relocated to the other end of the car park allowing the re-cycle lorry to empty the bins without obstructing the road. The fishermans store is re-modelled to provide both outdoor space in bays and a covered store or workroom the west shed. This building will also provide a visual screen from the Shore road to the outdoor store. The outdoor store will be further screened by a wooden fence on the road-side. A second shed, the east shed provides both storage for the fish farm and for the Clock House. The storage needs of the Clock House
7

The Clockhouse
The Clock House is the centre-piece of the development. The intention is that it should have a strongly maritime feel. The building is topped with a tide staff which gives a full size representation of the state of

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the tide. In this draft design, the three horizontal disks indicate the position of high tide, low tide, and the current state of the tide. The cone at the top points up on a flushing tide and down on an ebb tide. The outside of the building is encased in vertical timber cladding. A covered way provides sheltered access to the toilets while also making them accessible to the public when the rest of the building is closed. It also encompasses a ramp for disabled access.

The ground floor plan

On entering the building though the lobby the clock is immediately to the left. The clock is some three metres wide by five metres high and consist of numerous different displays. The clock passes up though a space in the upper floor and light floods down from roof lights around the tide staff. When the downstairs room is being used as a tea room customers will, if they choose, be able to sit at their tables and look at the clock. The downstairs room opens out on to the terrace which in fine weather can be used for sitting out. The kitchen has a counter to the downstairs room, a door to the terrace, a dumb waiter for serving the upstairs gallery, and a separate door out to the bins. It also has its own private toilet and washroom. The public toilet has three uni-sex toilets each equipped for disabled access and babychanging, and with their own wash-hand basins. There are two showers, a laundry area, and a cleaners store. The first floor gallery is open to the roof structure. It has a large end window giving a spectacular view over Arran and the harbour approach so that people will have a close view of boats coming and going. At the other end of the room a balcony looks out over a space in front of the clock. The gallery spaces to either side of this space have wall space for additional dis8

plays related to the clock and its theme. In the centre of this space hangs the lower half of the tide staff. People will be able to read off the measurements for states of the tide. The first floor, apart from the main gallery space, also contains a simple bunk house. The bunk house includes a sitting room with a view up the Sound. The room includes a sink and space for a microwave. There are two bedrooms each with two bunks. In addition, regulations permitting, there is a loft space which can take additional mattresses. The bunk house is accessed from an external staircase and balcony. It does not have its own bathroom but makes use of the public facilities below.

The Gate House

The Gate House is seen as a gateway to the village for people arriving by boat. It marks the start of the path which will run up to the centre of the village. The building will include a small office for use by the fish farm. The office will be provided with its own toilet and washroom. The gateway includes another decorative clock that will chime the nautical eight bells. This small external clock will be something to see when the Clock House is closed.

The Compass Room

The compass room is the name given to the covered view point on the path up to the village. The Compass Room is a simple octagonal shelter containing bench seats and a fixed pair of powerful binoculars. The floor will be decorated with a compass rose and each of the columns will be labelled with

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the name of the corresponding compass point. On the four sides which are open to the view there will be marks and text indicating landmarks that can be seen from that direction. The text will name the land mark and its distance from the viewer.

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For further details please call 01583 431 650 Tourists coming from England or the south would be able to leave their cars in Ardrossan and come by ferry/bus/ferry to Carradale making it more attractive to people who might be tempted to moor or store their boats at Carradale. Argyll and Bute Council already operate a passenger/cycle ferry at Lismore and support a passenger ferry to Jura. Maybe a Carradale fishing boat could act as a ferry in the summer? A Carradale based ferry operator might be able to work on demand outside of the high season and might be able to offer other services such as from Arran to the Landmark Trust properties at Saddell allowing renters to arrive by sea.

Obstacles
There are clearly many obstacles to realising this scheme, not least the expense. The tide staff and the clock are substantial and specialist items of engineering and will require the input of various experts. The particulars of the actual clock are not being shown here since even its outline design will need significant input. Other obstacles include the necessary sewerage arrangements along the Shore Road; the rules and regulations which no doubt are involved with dealing with fuel supply; the unknown marine engineering issues involved in building a slipway and adequate storm protection to the building and car park; and generating sufficient operational income to make it viable. There is also a question as to whether it is realistic to build anything at all on a plot of land so vulnerable to storms. However, if the logic of the situation is that a significant visitor attraction is required to act as a catalyst for economic development, something out of the ordinary is required.

Annex 2: A proposal for

The Carradale Loop While Carradale has many paths it could benefit from a named walk, in the same sense that the Kintyre Way is a named walk. The 10 km Carradale Loop would be a good mornings or afternoons walk that embraces the village. To make a complete loop requires forming two new sections: a cliff-top walk around the golf course and a path across the base of Carradale Point, linking Port Righ to Carradale Bay. These will clearly require the agreement of the land owners. In the case of the golf course there is already a footpath across the middle of the golf course, although on the ground its route is not clear. Our proposal would establish a clearly signposted route around the edge of the golf course, which would not cross any fairways, and which might actually reduce the number of walkers crossing the golf course. This walk would take in Airds Castle which is currently under exploited as an attraction. The additional path on Carradale point would be a short section, about 200 metres, linking the entrance to the old Nature Reserve, below Dunvalenree, to Bruces cave and on to the existing path that goes down the spine of Carradale Point. The Loop would link to other walks, such as Sallys walk, Carradale Point, Crow Wood, and Deer Hill. It provides visitors at the caravan site with a coastal path to Port Righ and the harbour. It will bring walkers past the facilities at Port Righ and The Network Centre, as well as any future facilities at the harbour. Creating the Loop would involve clearing paths, building steps and small bridges, adding finger posts, seats, and creating publicity material.

The Storm over The Kintyre Clock with apologies to William McTaggart

Annex 1: A proposal for a Carradale Arran passenger/cycle ferry

If there is a single change which has the most potential to transform Carradales prospects it is surely to change Carradales status from cul-de-sac to feature on a circuit. If Carradale were linked by a small seasonal, subject to weather, passenger/cycle ferry to Arran then it would open up the kind of circular walks and cycle rides which growing numbers of tourists want. The Claonig ferry and a new Carradale ferry could become the two ends of a section of the Kintyre way. Similarly they could effectively link two of the National Cycle Routes, NR73 and NR78. A ferry would open possibilities for day trips from Carradale to visit the stone circles at Machrie or for walks in the Goat fell area.
9

Annex 3: Fish shop and fish club

Using modern communication technology, SMS texting and/or e-mail, it ought to be possible for Carradale fisherman to report what fish they are bringing in for which they do not already have a buyer. These details could be displayed on a screen somewhere around the harbour. Or it could be on a web site with the option that potential clients can buy the fish in advance. If people knew what fish was available then there would be a motivation to go to the harbour and buy direct either direct

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from the boat or from a community outlet at the harbour. This would be valuable for residents, local restaurants, and visitors alike. Even without the internet communication there would still be value in a community outlet (or a commercial outlet) through which surplus fish could be sold for a greater mark-up than would be got through a commercial wholesaler. The fish shop (or stall or self-service freezer) could also be an outlet for the fish farm to sell salmon direct. It would be possible to set up a fish club where potential buyers were put in touch with potential sellers, rather like a simplified form of e-bay or Amazon marketplace. Members would register with a web site either as a buyer or a seller. An on-line form would let a seller (a fisherman) maybe using a smart-phone to say what they had, what price they wanted, a time of availability, and maybe choose a delivery option (e.g. at the boat, at some shop/office at the harbour, home delivery in Carradale?). This item would then appear on the web site and, optionally, be sent as an e-mail to all registered buyers. If a buyer wanted it they would then go the web site and confirm that they were buying it at which point they would be committed and the listing would disappear from the web site or it would be shown as sold. An automatic e-mail would inform the seller who was buying. The web site would not deal with the money. Similarly, a buyer using another form could publish a request I am in the market for... with a time frame i.e. I need this for tonight, or any day this week. It would be possible to come up with some on-line system of offers but probably the easiest is that a potential seller could then e-mail the potential buyer with details of price. If the fish club worked it could be broadened to include other fresh food stuffs such as venison, baking, vegetables, fruit etc.

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TOWN HALL WEB-SITE LAUNCHED

A new web-site dedicated to the Town Hall in Campbeltown was launched on September 30th; www.campbeltowntownhall.org provides members of the public with the latest information regarding the Town Hall Project along with regular updates by the newly appointed Town Hall Community Development Worker, Claudia Albrecht.The website will enable people to have their say and put their ideas forward in creating a 21st Century Town Hall which is built around them and their needs. Talking about the launch, Claudia said: The web-site raises awareness of the Town Hall and enables the people of Campbeltown to have their say on what they would like to see happen to it. The Town Hall is an important asset to the town and its extremely important that peoples opinions are heard. Id also like to say a huge thanks you to Trevor Oxborrow, Director, South Kintyre Development Trust (SKDT), for his tireless work in creating the web-site and to everyone who helped by providing images for the web-site and helping to pick a domain name. The project is funded by LEADER Argyll and the Islands and Investing in Ideas. Cara Browning, Administrative & Finance Assistant, Campbeltown Town-scape Heritage Initiative

THE TRON BAND

BELATED BUT VERY APPRECIATIVE THANKS It was with excitement, anticipation and a bit of disbelief that we made our way to the village hall on Saturday 17 July to hear the legendary Tron Band. The last time I heard Duncan McCrone was when the Clydesiders played the hall, must be, 15 or so years ago. And here he was, back with a group of fabulous musicians : Cy Jack, keyboard and bass; Chris Stout, fiddle; Finlay MacDonald, pipes; Ray Laidlaw, drums and Michael Brian guitar. From the start the atmosphere was good, the hall set out cafe style, filling up with an enthusiastic audience. The first set featured the whole band playing Duncans ballad style songs, traditional and original. There was a lump in my throat when he sang The Surf and the Silver Fishes. The tempo hotted up when the amazing duo of Chris and Finlay, fiddle and pipes, played the most exciting, energetic and foot stomping set. They were FANTASTIC, I didnt want them to stop. But then the full band regrouped for a final few songs and encores. The gig was a gas, an unexpected treat .and the Carradale rolls and sausage were well worth the wait! A huge thank you to Shelagh, Lachie and all the helpers for bringing such a seminal piece of Scottish culture and music to Carradale. Not to be forgotten. Linda Martin.

Annex 4: Dark skies

A recent item on the BBC web site highlighted the growing importance of Dark Sky tourism and how an areas lack of light pollution can be an asset (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine11949767). The top image on the left shows light pollution levels. Despite some pollution around Campbeltown, central Kintyre is protected from the lights of Glasgow by Arran. The lower image also shows clear nights per year which shows how Kintyre does better than most of highland Scotland. In 2009 The Galloway Forest became the first Dark Sky Park in the UK, and one of the first in Europe. Exmoor also now has a Dark Sky park. The sky over Kintyre is darker still. Dark Sky park status and Dark Sky community status is a title awarded by the International Dark Sky Association (www.darksky.org) Wouldnt it be good if East Kintyre could acquire this status? There are also Dark Sky Discovery Sites which is a status awarded by Dark Sky Scotland (www.darksky scotland.org.uk). So far there are just two sites, Glen Nevis and Newbattle Abbey in Dalkeith (see guidelines for establishing a discovery site). One of the attractions of Dark Sky tourism is that its best time is from October through to April in other words the time when other tourism is quiet, as are the midges. One can promote Dark Sky Tourism without any special infrastructure but facilities such as bunk houses in the forestry would be an advantage. The Dark Sky park in Galloway was set up and organized by the Forestry commission. Cathy Forbes & Eric Dudley.
10

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DUCK RACE RESULTS

The 15th Annual Duck Race was held on Saturday 24th September to raise funds for Saddell & Carradale Church. A sunny day resulted in a great turnout and everyone enjoyed the burgers, sausages, chicken and clams from the BBQ. There were also stalls serving soups, crepes, roulades, drinks, sweets and teas accompanied by the usual high standard of home baking. There were also activities for children, including a coconut shy and skittles. Local young piper Charlotte Semple piped the crowd to the banks of the river Carra and 340 ducks were released at the starting line. The prizewinners were as follows:1. Pauline Burrows (150) 2. Jas Webb (100) 3. I. Tinny (Round of golf at Carradale Golf Club for 4) 4. B. & M .Owen (Calmac voucher) 5. Mariam McNair (Seatours voucher) 6. Alison Milstead (Springbank Whisky) 7. Callum Irvine (Aqualibrium voucher) 8. Kenny McNab (Carradale Hotel voucher) 9. F. Morran (Camera Club photograph) 10. Tommy McKinnon (Network voucher) 11. R. Murchie (Ashbank voucher) 12. Cathie Baker (G10 Bistro voucher) 13. Jamie & Lorna Campbell (Carradale pony trekking voucher) The Booby prize for the last duck was won by Julie, Sandra & Gavin Small, and Raymond & Zoe Gosling won the prize for the best name WILMADUCKWIN Once again we were most grateful to Michael and Moira Foreman for the use of their garden. Also a big thank you to all of our sponsors, those who bought a duck, donated to the event, or worked so hard to make the day such a success. A total of well over 4500 was raised for church funds. Dede Robertson.

CARRADALE GOLF CLUB

MENS SECTION COMPETITION WINNERS IN 2011 The following won the competitions held between June and October: June Medal: R. J. Abernethy 60 (scratch 67) Presidents Cup: J. Robertson 43pts (scratch 65) Fishermens Cup: J. Robertson 61 (scratch 68) July Medal: J. Paterson 64 Duncan Fisher Mem: D. Dunlop 58 (scratch 66) July Open: W. S. Ritchie 58 (scratch 70) Walker Quaich: J. McFadyen 67 August Medal: D. Dunlop 67 Captains Day D. Galbraith 37 pts Foulds Martin Trophy: D. Dunlop 59 (scratch 66) August Cup: D. Dunlop 65 September Medal: A. G. T. Walker 60 Matchplay Champion: J. W. Campbell Club Championship: J. W. Campbell 204 Greenkeepers Cup: J. Paterson 196 Billy Martindale Mem.: J. W. Campbell & D. Galbraith 58 October Medal: A. Dunlop 63 Medals Final Trophy: W. S. Ritchie 69 (bih)

IN-CAR-CERATED AT LONG LAST

THE DASTARDLY VILLAIN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DRAMA?
What a fume, Down the road, Left in its wake, A cloud of smoke, Made people choke. Going places, Up and downhill, At your will, Not to kill, Over bumps, Round bends, Give them thrills and chills. The engine roars, Doing its chores, Coughing and spluttering, As winter came, Isnt it a shame, If the car had a brain, It would go insane, As if to complain. Paintwork rusty, "Couldnt sell this car", Mr Claxton said in woe, "The only thing that works, Is the radio. The door creaked, The petrol tank leaked, The boot springs open, The car is no hoping. The brake, accelerator and clutch, Don't work, We'll have to get a towing truck. The truck appeared, off to the dump, Clitter, clatter sighs of woe, The dump is the place to go, At the dump the driver stops, He relaxes and sighs, "That car has had its chances, Tyres worn, Metal torn, Ages old, can't be sold. The car lies there, Like a lump, In all that pile, Of forgotten junk. John Bain of Oban

GARDEN OF THE MONTH

With no sight of a return to the days when local residents opened their gardens in an Open Day or competed for class prizes at the Produce Show, perhaps it is time to search out and praise those who spend their free-time among the flowering plants and vegetables, making East Kintyre a bit more photogenic. With individual residents continuing their valuable tub planting, and the Community Council into planting fruit trees and seeking sites for birch trees raised by Elspeth Anderson, the Antler invites readers to send in nominations for a Garden, or Gardener, of the Month. Although November is not noted for its exuberant displays, spring is just around the corner!

LATE SUBMISSIONS
Although the deadlines for the combined December 2011/January 2012 are on the front page, it is worth reinforcing the message that the Antler usually goes to print on a Thursday at 9am in the middle of the month. As the following month proceeds, the chance of finding space diminishes. This month the Cinema advert was withdrawn as no dates had been received, and a late request to include suggestions from one of the many dreams for Carradale and Kintyre from www.villageweb. org.uk, had to be left with a number of other articles for possible inclusion in the next issue. It is often the case that an interesting article is promised, takes three weeks to arrive and contains something which could be written in twenty seconds on the back of a postage stamp!
11

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PRIMARY SCHOOL JOINT HEADSHIPS
ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL LOOKS AT JOINT HEADSHIPS FOR CERTAIN PRIMARY SCHOOLS Argyll and Bute Council is to explore the establishment of joint headships of primary schools in the wake of a highly successful pilot project. The move follows an in-depth evaluation of the pilot at Carradale and Drumlemble primaries, which have been sharing a head teacher since May 2010. Today, the council agreed to looking into establishing similar arrangements in the future in other locations, provided various criteria are met. The decision was welcomed by Argyll and Butes spokesperson for education and lifelong learning Councillor Ellen Morton, who said it could prove a major factor in helping to ensure that the areas schools remain sustainable. In the Carradale and Drumlemble case, both sets of parents and parent councils were consulted on the proposal before it actually happened and the pilot went ahead with their approval. The resulting evaluation - along with the direct feedback we received from the parents, staff and pupils in both schools was overwhelmingly positive and the arrangement will now become a permanent one. The obvious benefits of a joint headship are clear to everyone who has been involved in this pilot, and I am delighted that this is an option which we will now be able to consider, in appropriate circumstances, in the future. At present, a significant number of head teachers in Argyll and Butes smaller, more rural schools have a class teaching commitment, which can be as much as three and a half days each week. The remaining time is used for managing the day to day running of the school and its ongoing development. Councillor Morton said: Even in a school with a relatively low pupil roll, managing the school and teaching a class can be extremely demanding as it is sometimes difficult to maintain an appropriate balance between the two roles. Matters of high importance cannot always be left until later and, as a result, teaching time can be disrupted when a head teacher has to deal with such issues. In addition, access to a head teachers time for meetings with parents, visitors and other staff can be limited by that teaching commitment, putting additional pressure on a head teacher to fit management duties into a limited period each week.

PLEASE PHONE JOHN ON 01583 431522 OR ROBERT ON 01583 431128 MOBILE 07582 744321 38 Tormhor Carradale East, Campbeltown PA28 6SD

The council believes that joint headships of two geographically close schools could have major benefits in such a situation. These benefits would not necessarily include significant cost savings, as additional class teachers may be taken on perhaps in promoted posts to pick up the teaching requirements in both schools previously covered by the head teacher. The feedback from those involved in Carradale and Drumlemble primaries has been extremely positive with teachers, parents and carers and the head teacher herself all indicating their satisfaction with the arrangement. Among the most obvious benefits were having a full time class teacher who does not have to leave the class to deal with managerial issues, having access to the head teacher at any time of day and the opportunity for staff from each school to meet with their counterparts from the other school on an organised basis to share experiences and ideas and plan common activities for the benefit of both schools. The feedback from this pilot has been so overwhelmingly positive that it has encouraged us to consider that this might be a suitable arrangement in other locations, Councillor Morton said. Any opportunity for a similar arrangement which arises in the future will be considered on its own merit, and will be assessed against a comprehensive list of criteria. We will of course involve parent councils at an early stage in any proposed joint headship. We want to ensure that we do all we can to keep our rural schools vibrant and sustainable, and this could well prove a significant way of enabling that to happen in particular circumstances. The council agreed today that the criteria for considering future joint headships in Argyll and Bute should be: 1. Suitable head teacher vacancies becoming available in schools. 2. A maximum of two schools for a joint headship arrangement. 3. Location of partner schools (member of an existing cluster) and within a reasonable drive time. 4. The consideration of schools similarities and differences based on each schools self-evaluation information, council evaluations and HMIE reports. 5. Travel implications for a joint headship (costs, travel times etc). 6. The ability and experience of applicants to match the criteria set out in the Scottish Qualification for Headship. 7. Consultation with both parent councils and the wider parent body. 8. Financial sustainability.
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SOUTH KINTYRE SENIORS FORUM

MINUTES OF THE MEETING AT KINLOCH HALL, CAMPBELTOWN ON 8TH OCTOBER 2011 The meeting opened with an interesting talk on the history and local workings of the Red Cross from Ann Cousin. APOLOGIES: Ailsa Stewart, Geoffrey Page, Jean Miller & Douglas McKerral. MINUTES: The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed, proposed by Janet Miller and seconded by Jenny Miller. TOWN HALL: It was agreed that Claudia from the town hall project be invited to come to the next meeting. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Margaret Turner advised that there was 282.99 in the bank account. It was agreed to change the bank signatures. Ian Teesdale and Val Cannell should be taken off and Emily McDonald and Margaret Turner should be put on and George McMillan should stay on. 100 stamps were given to AVA for mailing out minutes and calling letters for meetings which should be sent out near the next meeting.It was agreed that Margaret Turner would write to Rotary to ask for a donation to cover rent and stationary. AOCB: Some members have been having trouble with their televisions since the digital changeover. This will be reviewed at the next meeting. A letter had been received from Age Scotland inviting members to an assembly.

WAR MEMORIAL
After years of neglect and promises the Carradale War Memorial has been restored. Way back in the 1990s Community Councils made pleas for the post to be removed, repairs to be carried out to the Memorials surrounding wall and for the lettering to be treated. A number of residents have also made representations to the Council and at last, thanks to their efforts and a plea from Lachie Paterson, things are looking a bit tidier just in time for this years ceremony. Lets hope that another over the next twenty years that residents will keep an eye on its condition and help to keep it tidy.

EDITORIAL CONTACT: 01583 431281

or geoffreyf.page@homecall.co.uk
A COLOUR VERSION OF THE ANTLER IS AVAILABLE ON THE CARRADALE GOAT WEBSITE & ON THE KINTYRE COMMUNITY FORUM WEB-SITE THROUGH THE AGENCY OF SCRIBD.