THE COMBINED
IN THIS ISSUE : P1 Looking to 2011, Deo Volente
P 4 River of Fire & weather forecasts.
P 5 Greek blades, roads, Ramensky
P 6 Mountains, weather report.
P 8 Biber to Dubinski, rainfall & Sneem
P10 Drugs, Wind-farm grants.
P12 Phytophthora, trains, rocks, cakes.
Carradale harbour developments.
STORMS AND FLOODING IN NOVEMBER!
IMPROVEMENTS & PROBLEMS IN 2011?
Matthew McMillan clearing a
tree blocking Shore Road.
Photo courtesy of Rachel Grant.
A private sea wall at Waterfoot
destroyed on 7th/8th of November
Further evidence of the damage
by SE gales in early November 2010.
FRESHLY CAUGHT
PRAWNS
Various sizes
Squat Lobsters
(Whole or Tails) Squid etc.
Phone 07917151047 or
07989235630
DAVID MCKELL
ELECTRICIAN
9 ISLE VIEW, MACHRIHANISH, CAMPBELTOWN ARGYLL PA28 6PY
P2 EKCC, Surgery, Seniors Forum & Africa.
P3 In memoriam - the community gardens.
P 7 Emma & Siobhan.
Golf & Camera Clubs, photos.
P 9 School closure proposals, rainfall.
P11 Geocaching, fuel poverty, house prices.
P13 The Kintyre Magazine - the 68th edition.
P14 & 15 Artists in Kintyre. P16 Mind mapping, EKCC minutes.
GUILD XMAS FAYRE
Although the effects of the Westminster Government’s Carradale Village Hall
‘Comprehensive Spending Review’ will hit a wide
range of services and seriously affect the elderly,
2.30pm SATURDAY
those with disabilities, the unemployed and redundant 27th NOVEMBER
public workers, there is evidence that Kintyre is at last
joining the rest of the UK in celebrating improved Usual stalls, teas, coffee
community facilities.
While the Scottish Government’s policy to delay
Entry £3 Children £1.50
facing the inevitable spending cuts until after the next
elections, Kintyre is striding into the second decade
with a bit of bravura.
To partner the now well-used Aqualibrium, and the
state-of-the-art police station, a new dental surgery is
about to be handed over to the university authorities
and the local practice; it will come into operation in
January. Finally, in advance of most of Britain save the
South-west and north-west of England, the 11th and
25th of May sees the opening of terrestrial digital ser-
vices. A little further down the line a new creamery and
a larger Tesco will grow in Campbeltown, enhancing
sales of diary products, helping to keep shoppers away
from catalogue companies and encouraging them to
shop in the town rather than in Oban or Glasgow.
But the latest worrying news concerns the building
in front of the new dental surgery - Campbeltown Hos- DEO VOLENTE
pital. More changes are in prospect including a reduc- ‘God willing’, this won’t be one of the last vessels
tion of beds from almost 50 to 25. It seems as soon as to collect wind turbine towers from Campbeltown
a policy settles-in the NHS designers want to change it. Harbour, but help was provided by ‘Give, Give,
Whereas the policy to return patients to their homes as Give’ - but no collection boxes were in evidence!
soon as possible after treatment is preferred by many,
it often results in patients having to alter their normal
practices - ‘bed time’ is what fits best with a local plan
CARRADALE
rather than the individual patient. Whatever the new
preferred choice the decrease in the number of local
GOLF CLUB
beds will mean even more people having to travel to THE SECRETARY IS DR R. J. ABERNETHY,
distant hospitals to see their relatives. Single sex wards THE ARCH, TORRISDALE PA28 6QT.
TEL: 01583 431321 FURTHER INFORMATION
and single room provision may be the ‘in’ thing, but for IS ON PAGE 7.
how long? As a patient would you prefer to be in an
open ward in Campbeltown rather than in a single ward
40 or 90 miles away from your home area? So, with RNLI BONUS BALL WINNERS
hospital accommodation its swings and roundabout - 4th Sept B. McMillan. 11th Sept D. Macalister Hall
you win some you lose some - but should it really be 18th Sept No Winner 25th Sept M.O.
treated as a recreational game when the services are 2nd Oct M. Richardson 9th Oct R. Grant
so vital to patients, members of their families and the 16th Oct M.O. 23rd Oct J. Ramsay
community. Ed. 30th Oct Jimmy G. M.O
PHONE 01586 810472 MOBILE 07786 650937
DAVIDMCKELL@YMAIL.COM
2 The ANTLER 2
EAST KINTYRE COMMUNITY CARRADALE SURGERY
COUNCIL OCTOBER MINUTES PATIENT GROUP MEETING
Phone THURSDAY 7 OCTOBER 2010
PRESENT: Shelagh Cameron, Tom Adams, Ronnie
29TH NOVEMBER
This year the Patient Group AGM will take place in the

KeeF
Brownie, Andrea Hopkins, Councillor Robin Currie,
Councillor John Semple. surgery on Monday 29th November at 7.30pm. Any
interested patient registered at Carradale Surgery is
APOLOGIES: Lachie Paterson, Stuart Irvine, Coun- welcome to come along to this meeting. The patient
cillor Annie Horn. group was formed a few years ago as a mechanism
Need a repair or a small Convenor Shelagh Cameron welcomed everyone for communication between the practice and its pa-
job done? Can’t get a present. tients and is comprised of both patient and practice
tradesman to come out? MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: Proposed by Ron- representatives, who are elected at the AGM.
DIY nie Brownie seconded by Shelagh Cameron.
Current patient representatives are Josephine
Tiling MATTERS ARISING FROM LAST MINUTES: Blount, Alan Briggs, Val Cannell, Jennifer Conley,
· Offshore wind farm at Machrihanish - a discussion
Joinery Mary Ann Gosling and Paul Murphy. Any nomina-
took place and as most people are against the
Fencing tions for patient representatives should be intimated
development for various reasons it was agreed in writing before the date of the AGM to the Patient
Decking Convenor Shelagh Cameron would write a letter
Shelving Group Secretary, c/o Carradale Surgery together
to the Scottish Office reiterating the reasons with the name of the proposer.
Decorating against the proposals.
Path laying · No decision on Woodlands. SEASONAL FLU AND PNEUMOCOCCAL
Domestic repairs · Gritting north of Carradale - Area Committee IMMUNISATIONS
Dry-stone walling agreed to this, but still has to be confirmed by As usual we have been offering flu vaccination
Flat-pack assembly Argyll and Bute Council. throughout October to all patients deemed ‘at risk’.
· Treasurers Report - no change. “At risk” groups include those with diabetes, chronic
Your local · Planning - none. heart, kidney, neurological or respiratory disease or
handy-man · Community Gardens – no one was wiling to come those patients with immuno-suppression due to dis-
who won’t let forward to do these gardens voluntarily it was ease or treatment.
you down agreed by the Community Council that they would Flu immunisation is also being offered to those
& won’t charge be willing to pay someone to do the gardens, an who care for someone who would be “at risk” should
the earth advert will be put up shortly. that carer fall ill. It is also recommended that patients
· Pontoons - progress report, no update as yet. who are aged 65 and over should have a pneumo-
No job too small · Village plan / ideas survey – a discussion took coccal immunisation. Unlike the flu vaccine, this
place but nothing: was decided until Convenor does not require to be given every year.
01583 431614 Shelagh Cameron had spoken to Alison Younger If you are in any of these groups and have not yet
07786 838996 and also Councillor Robin Currie said he would put been invited for your seasonal flu and pneumococcal
her in touch with the person who collected the immunisation as appropriate, please contact the
ideas for Jura, Further update at next Community surgery to make an appointment.
Council meeting.
· Tangy 2 wind farm grants – to date only Peninver SOUTH AFRICA 2008
have applied for a grant. If anyone wishing to A MEDICAL PROBLEM
apply for a grant from the above please get in
touch with Shelagh Cameron, Closure date within
next two weeks.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Kintyre Initiative Working Group - letter
ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS:
Transmitter building on point - what will happen to
building mast when we go digital, Convenor She-
lagh Cameron to phone BBC
Convenor Shelagh Cameron thanked everyone for
attending
Date of Next Meeting: Thursday 4 November 2010. SOUTH AFRICA 2010
A ‘COMPREHENSIVE SPENDING REVIEW’ SOLUTION
Tracy & Fiona would like
to welcome you to the
THE SOUTH KINTYRE
Ashbank Hotel SENIORS FORUM
The South Kintyre Seniors Forum met on the 14th of
Carradale October and planned meetings for the Autumn and
Fully licensed New Year.
XMAS MENU AVAILABLE The next meeting is on 11th November in Car-
FROM 1ST DECEMBER radale and subsequent meetings are on Thursdays
WINTER OPENING at 2pm - the 9th of December at the Guide Hall in
TIMES: Campbekltown, the 13th of January at the same
Tuesday - Sunday venue, the 10th of February, the Guide Hall again on
11am - 2.30pm. 10th of March and the 14th of April, at Southend on Martin Mears says he took the first picture in South
Evening meals:6pm - 8pm 12th May and an outing on the 9th of June. Africa in 2008, and his daughter has just sent him an
Please pre-book lunches Both the Chairman, George McMillan and the update. He acknowledges that it's nothing to do with
Take away menu plus all items from the Secretary, Ian Teesdale would like to retire in the Kintyre, but he thought it might amuse the Editor, but
main menu, just order before 1 pm New Year so volunteers are urgently required. Con- following the October meeting of Argyll & Bute
Parties, Events & Outside Catering
available to suit your needs cern was also expressed about changes to funding Council’s Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Isles Area
e-mail: ashbankhotel@tiscali.co.uk which may restrict the amount of grant which the Committee, is he right, or is something similar likely to
Internet www.ashbankhotel.com
Free Wi-fi & parking Forum normally receives. happen to local surgeries? Perhaps in a similar vein
There was an invitation for the rural areas to with the birth rate in Kintyre falling and the number of
For further details please support the Forum by attending the monthly meet- pensioners rising perhaps it might be time to turn at
call 01583 431 650 ings held in Campbeltown and in local villages. least one under-capacity school into a crematorium!
 3 THE ANTLER 3
CARRADALE COMMUNITY GARDENS’ SALVATION?
THE BROOMFIELD CORNER GARDEN 1999

TOM
GRANT
PARTNERSHIP
A variety of
Perennials and
shrubs
ARCHITECTS
Cornus mas
Bistort
Ophiapogons and a
Cotoeaster horizontalis

Alchemilla mollis
few remaining
Junipers
Bistort invaded by
grass 41 Longrow
Sisyrinchium
brachypus
AREA SET WITH PAVIOURS
Campbeltown
Argyll PA28 6ER
Tel: 01586 554727
Fax: 01586 551727

THE WAR MEMORIAL GARDEN 2006/7 24 Argyll Street

THE WAR MEMORIAL GARDEN Lochgilphead
TABLE
TABLE
TABLE Argyll PA31 8NE
Tel: 01546 603050
Shrubs

Mobile 0370 538 661

Shrubs
SEAT
SEAT

TOM GRANT
SEAT

Phormium Perennial
Shrubs andgeraniums,
perennial
SEAT

Rhododendron, cornus,

rock roses, daffodils,

geraniums
Dip., Arch.,
Larger shrubs

Phormium tenax variety

other shrubs

Slope R.I.B.A., R.I.A.S

Perennial
Snowdrops

Azaleas, snowdrops, Primula, bistort,

& azaleasdaffodils
Perennialgeraniums
Snowdrops,

Snowdrops Daffodils,
Snowdrops& &

Daffodils,
Daffodils willow, tulips,
Shrubs, iris
heathers,
heathers Dorothy’s buddlea
bistort
shrubs
roses seat

THE
geraniums
daffodils,
shrubs

Snowdrops
Snowdrops, & daffodils
iris, perennial geraniums
daffodils

AREA SET WITH

18” CONCRETE SLABS
ROYAL
BANK
A NEW COMMUNITY COUNCIL INITIATIVE
Since Christmas 2008, when the two volunteers had
OF
to give up their self-imposed task, the gardens at the
Broomfield corner are overgrown; behind the War
SCOTLAND
Memorial the gardens are unkempt and damaged. ‘Where people matter’
Now the Community Council has decided that
money will be found to return the gardens to their P.O. BOX 13,
original state, it is appropriate to establish what the
Broomfield garden contained when it was laid out
11 CASTLEHILL
following grants by Argyll & Bute Council in 1999 CAMPBELTOWN
and, in the case of the War Memorial, the extent of
hard landscaping and planting when it was set up in
ARGYLL
2006/7 with finance from East Kintyre Wind-farm PA28 6AP
Trust.
The Broomfield Garden in 1999, immediately after
Over the course of the years daffodils were
planted at both gardens and a large number snow-
completion and, below,
the War Memorial Garden in Spring 2007.
CARRADALE
drops at the War Memorial garden. Additionally Jon- BRANCH
athan Hooper gave a number of rhododendrons to
the War Memorial garden and local residents have OPEN
added perennial geraniums and a variety of shrubs. THURSDAY
Structurally the Broomfield garden is sound but
a considerable amount of damage has been done to
10 to 11 a.m.
the steps and to the higher level round the ‘A’ frame
table behind the Memorial.
Whoever is paid for restoring and then maintain-
ing both gardens would be well advised to consult
the original perpetrators so that damage to plants
hidden by weeds and larger shrubs is minimised.
4 THE ANTLER 4
‘RIVER OF FIRE:
Kilbrannan THE CLYDEBANK BLITZ’
Catering JOHN MACLEOD
Nearly seventy years after the Glasgow Blitz, John
MacLeod, a columnist on the Scottish Daily Mail, has
published a detailed account of the horrifying air
attacks of 1941. ‘River of Fire: The Clydebank Blitz’
describes vividly the destruction and personal trage-
dies. As the foremost shipbuilding port in the world,
Clydebank was an obvious but unprepared target for
the attentions of the Luftwaffe.
Quality catering to On the evening of 13th March 1941, Clydebank
arouse your senses. was targeted by German bombers using a primitive
We cater for parties large radio navigation system. In less than an hour a vast
and small, at your home, timber yard, three oil stores and two distilleries were
at your business or other ablaze, pouring a ribbon of fire into the Clyde. Guided
locationof your choice – by the fires, high explosive bombs and land mines were
we promise you stress then rained down without warning on the townsfolk.
free entertaining.
This is an amazing and thoroughly researched
Book your Xmas or New book which everyone, and certainly everyone in
Year event with us today Scotland, should read. It describes not only the
– you won’t be disappointed. Blitz, but reveals in readable style the conditions of
Visit our website: nineteenth- and twentieth-century Scottish towns,
www.kilbrannancatering.co.uk including many poignant first-hand descriptions.
Telephone Anne Referring to records and survivors’ memories,
on 01583 431581 John MacLeod relates in detail the death and de-
or Jennifer on struction inflicted on Clydebank, and speculates on
01583 431632 why it has been widely forgotten.
One of the first casualties was 17-year-old Jim
MacKinven of Carradale, a former pupil of Campbel-
town Grammar School and Keil School in Dumbar-
ton, who was killed soon after his arrival in Glasgow
to take a course at Skerry’s College. He was already
OUR EVACUEE
Oh! little Oliver's a chap
displaying considerable talent as a poet, and was
Who very seldom gets the strap,
encouraged and helped by Naomi Mitchison, the
For 'tis said that at the school,
prolific poet and writer who lived in Carradale House.
He's never known to ‘play the fool'.
Three of Jim’s uncles travelled to Glasgow to
retrieve his body from the rubble, but as time passed He came to bide at Carradale,
with no news, Naomi Mitchison became so dis- And here he found things pretty stale,
traught, that she too made the journey and remained Far from the bustling streets and wide,
until his body was found and brought back to be Instead a bleak and cold hillside.
buried at Brackley cemetery at Carradale. As up the pier his steps he took,
Jim’s cousin, April Simpson, a resident of Car- His eyes were filled like a brook,
radale, who knew him as a child, supplied copies of Running wi' memory free and fast,
his work and much information, which was of consid- Of when he had seen Glasgow last.
erable use to John MacLeod. A handsome lad he is withal,
It is sad that one of his best poems figured the And never once is known to bawl,
evacuee who was billeted from Glasgow with his When told to wash his hands and feet--
Superb self-catering family in Carradale during the blitz. The photo shows Or like some rich man's son, to greet
accommodation in Jim with his father; Jim is wearing his kilt for which And man, he's grown since here he came,
Castle or Cottage in he was well known in Carradale. And perhaps a fisherman o' fame,
absolutely fabulous Gloria Siggins is researching Jim's life for a book He'll grow to be, and with a will
surroundings. of his poems and essays to commemorate the 70th When herrings good the poorer fill.
Ideal for a relaxed anniversary, in March next year, of his untimely And oh, it's good to see the young,
death. M.M.
holiday. Bird With songs of sweet ambition sung,
watchers paradise. And sad it is to see plans fair,
PLANNING APPLICATIONS T'be dashed into a dark despair.
TORRISDALE 10/01510/PP Erection of dwelling- Temptation's path is black and grim,
Colour brochure from house and detached garage and formation of new And often our clear dreams grow dim,
vehicular access. Land West Of South Lodge, Tor- But hold you tight, and the anchor chain,
TORRISDALE risdale, Mr & Mrs D. Macalister Hall Listed buillding. Will firm on the path of life be lain.
+ consevation area consents 186212-688005
CASTLE CARRADALE 10/01643/PP Erection of sunroom
James MacKinven.
Carradale,
Campbeltown,
extension. Ballymenach, Carradale, Campbeltown,
PA28 6SA Mr & Mrs M. McMillan, Sea View East,
STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN
East Kintyre Community Council are seeking a con-
Argyll PA28 6QT Carradale, Campbeltown, PA28 6SQ.
Shurig, Peninver, Campbeltown, PA28 6QP 01 -
Equillo
tractor to rebuild the War Memorial steps and to
provide a safer walking climb from the harbour to the
Tel: 01583 431233 Householder Development 181337-638667
golf course. While the Memorial problems have
Web-site TORRISDALE Site for the erection of two dwelling been under consideration for over a year, those
www.torrisdalecastle.com houses and associated works Land South-west of from the harbour have a history going back well
Greenhill Torrisdale. Franz Ludwig Graf before Scottish Water were blamed for water in-
e-mail Stauffenberg, C/o Agent J. R. Dixon, Barfad Farm gress and damage following sewage work. Who
machall@torrisdalecastle.com Office, School Road, Tarbert PA29 6UL. 03B knows whether this work will remain in the ‘pipe line’
Housing local,179410 634530 or if EKCC will ‘rise to the occasion’?
 5 THE ANTLER
HEY MISTA. YOU LIKEA NICE GREEK TURBINE BLADES?
DOES ONE GREEK TURN DESERVE ANOTHER?
Our reporter hoped to snap a few foreign naval vessels in the Campbeltown Loch on Thursday 14th October,
but had to be satisfied with six slightly rusting turbine blades, said by a well-known independent Campbel-
town hairdresser to have been returned to the town from Greece where they had lain for sometime without
attracting the necessary Euros. It is not known if a Greek vessel was taking part in the naval exercise or
whether, if it was, if it came with wind assistance.
A83 ROADWORKS
ROADWORKS ON A83 BETWEEN INVERARAY
AND CAIRNDOW
A83 Glaschoine (1.2 Km north of Cairndow)
resurfacing scheme: Wednesday 10th November-
26th November - (Monday to Friday only) Day works
(0700 hours to 1900 hours). Single lane closure with
temporary traffic signals. The road improvement
schemes, represent a £0.5 million investment and
are set to bring significant benefits to the A83.
A mix of overnight closures and single lane
closure will be used to ensure the work can be
carried out with minimum impact to road users,
whilst ensuring both the safety of workers and
drivers.
5
D.McNAIR
& SON
Fuel Merchant
KINLOCH ROAD
CAMPBELTOWN
PA28 6EG
TEL: 01586
552020 /552039
GENTLE JOHNNY RAMENSKY FAX: 01586 552039
A NEW BOOK BY ROBERT JEFFREY
Gentle Johnny Ramensky is the astonishing tale of
a boy reared in the poverty of the Gorbals who
became one of the world's most extraordinary safe
blowers. He spent more than 40 years in jail. A
QUALITY HOUSE
daring escaper, he broke out of Scotland's grim COALS
prison fortress of Peterhead five times - three times SMOKELESS &
in one year! A likeable rogue, he was a gentle man COOKER FUEL
who in peacetime shrank from violence. But he
served his country with exceptional bravery and skill CENTRAL
in the Second World War. Recruited into the Com- HEATING OIL
mandos, he was parachuted behind enemy lines to
break into the safes of the German High Command FREE DELIVERY
to steal vital documents from Rommel and Goering. MONDAY TO
Back in civvy street he could not resist a return to the
excitement of roaming darkened rooftops and break-
FRIDAY
ing open the toughest of safes. Tragically he was
behind bars when he died, by then a true Scottish
legend.
Robert Jeffrey, who has a house in Waterfoot, is
a long-serving Glasgow journalist and the former
THE GLEN
managing editor of the Herald group of newspapers.
His many best-sellers include ‘Glasgow's Hard Men’,
‘Blood on the Streets’, ‘Glasgow's Godfather’ and
‘Crimes Past’. The Antler Editor received the book
the morning before the Antler went to print and, after
a brief glance at its contents, recommends it as an
excellent Christmas gift. A more personal review will BAR AND
be contained in the February Antler, out in late Jan- RESTAURANT
uary.
CARRADALE
A BARREL OF BLOOM Offering a warm & welcoming
Thanks to everyone who offered to adopt a flower family atmosphere with an ex-
barrel. We had a great response and Carradale will cellent menu of home-cooked
be blooming again next summer. T.H. food. Locally caught sea-food
a speciality. Home-made ice
TOWN HALL CLOSED cream. Full disabled and
baby-changing facilities.
Argyll and Bute Council has temporarily closed Functions catered for.
Campbeltown Town Hall, on health and safety Takeaways - free delivery on
grounds. Gaps in the slates have allowed birds to food orders over £10 in the
enter the roof space. Carradale area
The council is now assessing how the
BOOK YOUR XMAS OR
contamination they have caused can be cleared. NEW YEAR EVENT NOW
The roof has already been identified as an area Xmas menu from
which needs repair. 1st December
The council is continuing work to establish a Open 12.30pm to late
business case for the future of the building. This is every day
expected to take between nine and 12 months. Food served 12.30 - 2pm
Some funding has already been allocated to help
& 6pm - 8.30pm
pay for long term improvements to the building,
To book a table in the restaurant ‘phone
although more is needed. Sue or Penny on 01583 431431
The council would like to reassure residents that or e-mail us at
the town hall building remains a priority building for info@theglencarradale.wanadoo.co.uk
the Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative. Web address www.theglenbar.com
6 THE ANTLER
MOUNTAINS FOR TOURISTS
TOMMY To most minds, Kintyre has no mountains, none
that is until one considers a feature on Kintyre,
‘Kintyre Collection’, which appeared in the May
MILLAR 2002 issue of the ‘Climber’ magazine where writer
Kevin Howett tells us that "the Northern Highlands
are becoming less and less remote because of
Highland Council development with EU Directive 1
funding, single-track roads are dug up in favour of
6
MOUNTAINS FOR ‘NEENIE’
‘Neenie’, always noted for his perspicacity and natu-
ral reticence, has gone where few others would dare
to tread; he recently paid a visit to Arran with one of
his legion of kind friends and acquaintances and
stopped the Editor on Saturday the 23rd of October
to tell of his latest achievement with the words:
“ArranGoatFellclimbedtopArranGoatFell”.
Once again congratulations are very much in order.

TRAVEL Romanesque carriageways and tourist 'attractions'

COUNSELLOR
FFor all your Travel and
Holiday arrangements put
your trust in your
own Travel Adviser
proliferate everywhere".
"The over-riding feeling after a visit to The Mull
THE NEW TOOTH FACTORY
The Campbeltown Dental Centre building was hand-
(of Kintyre)," continues Kevin Howett, "is a sense of ed over to the new occupants in November. While it
having been somewhere utterly remote from modern now seems less like an ‘air terminal building’ it is
society, a place unfettered by the will of progress, a
good feeling".
certainly no delight to the eye. Prince Charles might
be justified in calling it a ‘toothless smile’ on ‘the
According to Kevin Howett, Kintyre is "miles from well-kent face of Campbeltown’; inside might be a
anywhere. Which would be OK if it had mountains different story.
and scenic splendour but, travelling down the A83
you leave that behind at Tarbert and enter a surreal
landscape of agriculture by the sea. It is neither
mainland nor island and (it) conjures up an image of

TOMMY an English Bible-belt country for 'hic's”.

"There is one main town, Campbell (!), placed as
MILLAR far from civilisation as geographically possible. It
should be picturesque but fails due to the local
council's lack of architectural foresight back in the
Tel: 0845 0587589 60's council-housing boom”.
e-mail: "It has a run-down appearance with its derelict
tommy.millar@travel shops, young boy racers cruising the 'drag', spittoon
counsellors.com pubs that haven't changed with the times, a harbour
Web-site and a ferry linking it with Arran (Oh ?) and some-
times with Northern Ireland. So what on earth would
www.travelcounsellors attract someone to visit“?
.co.uk/tommy.millarr
"If you're into skin-tight rubber, the surf's good
and if your penchant is big planes, then you can
watch the USAF Stealth bombers taking off and
landing at Machrihanish air force base. It beats the
Leuchars Air Show and it's free!"
PATERSON’S Well, what indeed would have encouraged anybody
BAKERY & to visit the area back in 2002 after such a glowing
write-up? Kevin Howett came anyway, heading for
POST OFFICE a holiday at The Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse cottages,
these he tells us are owned by The Northern Light-
house Board and, managed on their behalf by The
Licensed Grocers National Trust for Scotland, are available for let by
Bakers and telephoning 0131-243-9331 or e-mailing them at
Newsagent holidays@nts.org.uk
Correcting himself, 'beyond Campbeltown',
Kevin Howett "made the interminable drive along the LOCHAIN SELF-CATERING
THE SHOP sometimes small and twisty road, always through ACCOMMODATION
rain, sometimes dodging locals who drove on the
IS OPEN wrong side of the road, one old man speeding past LOCHAIN is a semi-detached property set in the
Thursday 8-1 only to be met again minutes later after his car left coastal village of Carradale. The property has views
Sunday 10-11 the road and settled on top of a dyke on the edge of of the 9-hole Golf Course. This cosy cottage is
a sea cliff" ! comfortably furnished. Three Bedrooms, twin, King
Other days: size and single. All kitchen utilities, bed linen and
8-1 & 2-5 According to Kevin Howett, it was one Bill Skid- towels provided. Pets allowed, small garden and car
more, a former council roads surveyor who first park for two cars. Enquiries Phone 01583 431612
THE POST explored the climbing opportunities around The Mull
of Kintyre Lighthouse, who made it a pre-requisite
OFFICE IS that a car park was built at the end of the public road
OPEN to The Mull.
Monday to Though Kevin Howett's otherwise excellent fea-
Saturday 9-1 ture, describing in some detail the dozen and more
climbs around the area between The Mull Light and
its foghorn, is not to be faulted and makes an
Try our freshly baked important contribution to our understanding of Kin-
morning rolls, crusty tyre's potential for attracting tourists, one wonders if
bread, tea bread and his general observations about the area are indeed
cakes, baked in our old- how "ithers see us" ! If so, it might be an idea to do
fashioned stone oven. some 'mountain climbing' ourselves, 'take ourselves
to the tops' and focus on Kevin Howett's 'surreal'
views of Kintyre.
Tel: 01583 431725 An article by the late Donald Kelly of Muasdale.
 7 THE ANTLER 7
DIG EMMA & SIOBHAN CARRADALE GOLF CLUB
TWO COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS OCTOBER MEDAL – LGU BROOCH
The last medal of the summer was played on 14 October with
CARRADALE
GOLF
Margaret Richardson (36) Nett 70 winning the brooch.

CARRADALE CAMERA CLUB

THE GREAT BIG CARRADALE PHOTO CHALLENGE
On 13 December 2010, the children of Primary 4-7 together
with members of Carradale Camera Club will hold a photo-
graphic exhibition in aid of school funds. The children have
CLUB
been set a challenge of taking photos either of people at work
or play and or animals. We all hope that as many local people
as possible will support us. There will be more information to
follow.
SPRING PROGRAMME
10 January F Stops David Mercer
Black and White Developing Allan McLay
24 January Composition – what makes a good picture Eliza-
beth Vischer
FEES
Juniors Adult
7 February Competition Night - Humorous - Slides Round £7 £16
21 February Scanning Photographs and Slides - Johnny Dur- Daily £10 £20
nan Weekly £35 £75
7 March Evening Photography – outside locally, practical Two weeks £45 £95
session + download/feedback Country membership £119
Emma Downie and Siobhan Dandy are, so 21 March Competition Night – Magic Moments – Prints (May play in Club Competitions)
far, the only Carradale residents to offer 4 April TBC ( Photos for Print of the Year to be handed in) Affiliate Club Members £10
their services to bring the War Memorial 18 April Print of the Year Competition – Judge Meri Wrightson
Garden back to its former glory. They 9 May AGM For further information
worked almost until dark on Sunday 24th of NOTE – On nights where the published programme finishes contact The Secretary,
October on the thankless job of weeding it early, a practical session will follow after the specific topic. Dr R. Abernethy,
before the annual War Memorial Service. The Arch,
Their efforts to pay tribute to those who NO FOREST SALE Torrisdale,
gave their lives in two World Wars and to SAYS SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
return the garden to its former state will go Media reports claiming that the majority of Britain's national Carradale,
some way to assist the Community Council forests are to be sold off are "total nonsense and wide of the PA28 6QT
in its intention to present Carradale in its best mark" Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said to- Tel: 01583 431321
possible light in the coming tourist season. If day. Speaking at the annual Scottish Forestry Forum in Battle-
only there were knowledgeable and equally by, she said:
enthusiastic helpers among the working age
"These reports show a very clear misunderstanding of the
population and pensioner groups willing to
devolved nature of forestry across Britain. Forestry policy has
tackle the overgrown Broomfield garden.
been a devolved matter since April 2003. It is quite clearly a KINTYRE
NO WAY TO BEE-HIVE matter for Scottish Ministers to determine the future of Forestry
Commission Scotland and the national forest estate in Scot-
VERMIN
A QUESTIONABLE INDIAN
COMMUNICATION SERVICE
land - it is certainly not a decision for Westminster. There may & PEST
Many of us have the doubtful experience
be a review of forestry in England but that does not include
Scotland.
CONTROL
of being contacted by ‘phone and offered
services we don’t need and would not wish This review has no remit whatsoever north of the border. Prompt & Efficient
to purchase. Our reactions can vary de- We are certainly living in very difficult and challenging times Attention
pending on how polite the enquiry and how and with swingeing cuts being imposed on Scotland we need
sympathetic we are to third world need. to plan carefully for this. The Scottish Government is continu-
One local resident was invited to join a ing to look for opportunities to simplify and streamline public
broadband and telephone package called bodies in Scotland and Forestry Commission Scotland, along
‘HIVE’. After listening to the sales pitch he with other public bodies, will be part of that ongoing process.
asked if he could have a written quotation However, let me be quite clear, we have no plans to dispose
and details of the service before commit- of the national forest estate in Scotland and there is no review
ting himself. Subsequently he received a of Forestry Commission Scotland being undertaken.
bill as if he had agreed to join. He protest- I do have considerable concerns over the review of Forest-
ed at this and was played a tape recording ry Commission England and its potential impact in Scotland
of the original call with the proviso omitted. therefore I have written to my counterparts in England and
He insisted that the tape was ‘doctored’, Wales to suggest a meeting to discuss issues surrounding VERMIN/PEST
refused to pay and threatened legal action
forestry. The Scottish Government views Scotland's forests as CONTROLLER:
if HIVE did not cancel this unauthorised
a source of national pride and an important public asset which Proprietor
transfer. On rejoining BT he benefited by a
can help deliver many benefits in economic, environmental
better package than he had before. Moral:
and social terms."
DONALD KELLY
don’t get stung by Indian HIVE bees.
Telephone/Fax:
(01586) 810391
CAMPBELTOWN COMMUNITY GARDEN CAFE & SALES Mobile: 07977 327751
Strathmore, Drumlemble,
NOW 11AM -2PM EVERY THIRD THURSDAY Campbeltown, Argyll
OF THE MONTH PA28 6PW
IN THE GUIDE HALL, KINLOCH ROAD, CAMPBELTOWN
Tea, Coffee Soup plus Local Produce for sale SERVICE & SUPPLIES
(N.P.T.A)
8 THE ANTLER
FROM BIBER TO DUBINSKI
15 LONGROW
CAMPBELTOWN
Failed Internet
search to find a
likeness.
Cleaning One of the most delightful features of life is finding
some one who is knowledgeable about a particular
materials subject, knows how far to go without boring listen-
ers, but allows their enthusiasm to shine through
Housewares untarnished by personal bias.
Ironmongery Consequently when Saddell & Carradale Guild
decided to ask Cameron McNair of Grogport to pay
& hardware a second visit to the Church on Tuesday 26th Octo-
ber members of the local church guild and their
Hand tools friends were the captivated audience for a recorded
recital under the title of ‘Hidden Gems of Sacred
Power tools Music.’
Key cutting At the earlier recital Mr McNair sought out lesser
known northern and western composers of church
Locks music, but on this occasion he decided to extend
listeners appreciation a little by surreptitiously
Wooden creeping towards southern and eastern Europe.
mouldings Starting with the Kyrie from Missa Bruxellensis by
Heinrich Ignatz von Biber, the cosmopolitan com-
poser who lived from 1600 to 1750, Mr McNair
moved delightfully through music of the intervening
552954 years to Fyodor Dubinski (1890-1966) with a mix-
ture of recorded baroque and more recent choral
music.
In an enquiringly schoolmasterly way he either
enthused over aspects of the performance or invited
J.A.A.
comments from the appreciative audience. Al-
though no one wished to expose their lack of knowl-
edge by asking a question at the end of the evening,
CRAIG
it was clear that any questioner’s voice would be
somewhat of an anti-climax after the sonorous
tones of Slav male voices, the rich sound of the
controversial Rumanian ‘diva’ Angela Gheorghiu
Joiners and the powerful Agentinian Mercedes Sosa.
Timber Suppliers Although Mr McNair’s enthusiasm for Eastern
Key Cutters Orthodox performances was evident throughout, he
was a little dismissive of one essential element of
& Ironmongers the Baroque sound - the voice of boy choristers.
All types of Where would the tradition be without the sounds of
Joinery King’s College Chapel at Christmas or the ‘castrati’
& Furniture of the early Vatican choirs? Johann Sebastian Bach
and Vivaldi both attempted to change the accepted
Repairs norms of their period, but the essential quality of the
boy soprano remains critical in assessing the quality
of baroque performances. At least, once the short
17-19 tenure of their contribution is over, they are fortu-
nately without the popular decline associated with
SADDELL some well-known young female ‘church’ choristers,
and indeed at least one male character whose sing-
STREET ing voice has ‘slurred’ him into the smoke machines
and multi-coloured sing-alongs of ‘Songs of Praise.’
CAMPBELTOWN During the interval refreshments were available
and a draw allowed two members of the audience
Telephone to carry away some magnificent performances on
CDs.
01586 552944
The meeting opened and closed with prayers by
Margaret Leighton, appropriate for the nature of the
evening, and for its part in the life of worshippers.
J.A.A.C Carol Abernethy thanked Cameron McNair for his
presentation, especially when coming to terms with
a family bereavement and carried the appreciation
of all those who attended. G.P.
8
OCTOBER RAINFALL
October had a wet start, a dry middle and a very wet
end! However, it was another month of below aver-
age rainfall with 183mm recorded in total. This com-
pares with the decade average for October of
206mm. The highest October rainfall in the last 10
years was 312mm in 2008, whilst the lowest was
109mm in 2003.
Exceptionally heavy rain was recorded on the 3rd
(19mm), 26th (23mm) and 30th (35mm). There was
also heavy rain on the 5th, 18th, 20th, 22nd and 28th.
However, no rain was recorded on fourteen days, so
the overall total for the month remained low.
The year’s total rainfall to date, for the months
Jan-Oct inclusive, stands at 1100mm (about
44inches). So 2010 remains the driest year since our
record keeping began in 2000, but the gap is short-
ening to the next driest, 2003, which at a similar
stage had recorded a total of 1176mm.
The final two months will be interesting. Just how
much rain will we get and will records be broken? By
the law of averages, we’d best have our umbrellas
handy (providing the gales don’t prevent our using
them!) M.L.
TINDALE SNEEM
SEVERE WEATHER WARNING FOR BBC
ISSUED BY VIEWERS
Following the Editor’s comments ‘In the very far
North’ in the October issue, ‘The Telegraph’ on Satur-
day 16th October carried a very similar view -
SIR - The BBC weather forecast is more suited
to a drama channel than the news (leading article,
October 14). At least in the heady days of Michael
Fish's mistake, it was assumed that the common
man understood a simple weather map with its
fronts, troughs and isobars. These have given way to
over-clever graphics, ‘severe weather warnings’
whenever a lump of cumulonimbus appears on the
horizon, and advertising for the odd sporting event
that the BBC has managed to retain.
Come on, BBC. Treat us like adults with a degree
of common sense and a bit of inbred knowledge of
weather matters. Get rid of that silly map showing ‘spits
and spots of rain’ over Ascot-under-Wychwood and a
bright interval over some obscure location in Durham.
Consign the rest of the weather presenters with
their flailing arms and catwalk outfits to the back-
room and show us a map with the meteorological
situation at 0800 tomorrow on it. The Daily Telegraph
one will do. And if you do have to have a presenter,
get them to stand in front of Scandinavia, not Ireland.
Richard Tindale Sneem, Co Kerry, Ireland.
Perhaps it is that the BBC, ITV and STV have
left-handed policies and forbid right-handed present-
ers from ‘performing’ while ‘standing’ on France or
Holland. There is, however, one presenter who uses
both hands at the same time, possibly because he
doesn’t want to ‘come out’ as a right-handed fore-
caster, but even he has an objection to a continental
perch and continues to cold-shoulder the Outer Isles
and Ireland. But since the maps they stand in front of
are not really behind them and are hidden to the right
of the TV picture, perhaps the Hebridean and North-
ern Isles are merely a figment of the weather
presenter’s imagination and certainly not suitable for
casual display to those of a gentle disposition.
Ed.
QUIZZLE 2010: AN APOLOGY
This year’s Quizzle is now out and is available from
Hall Committee Members and local shops. Unfortu-
nately, it contains one typing mistake - in Question
71. As a result, this question will not count towards
the overall total. Tony Leighton.
 9 THE ANTLER 9
ABC EDUCATION BUDGET LIST OF PROPOSALS
REVIEW PROPOSALS
Proposed Receiving School Amalgamating School/s
(and 2010/11 rolls) McCormick’s
CONSULTATION BEGINS 1 Ardrishaig Achahoish(15)
Argyll and Bute Council will consider proposals to 2 Hermitage Primary Luss(21)
consult on the amalgamation of schools, reducing 3 Port Charlotte Keills (24)
the number of primary schools from 80 to 54 at a 4 Castlehill St Keiran's (0)
special meeting of the executive, to be held on 5 Drumlemble Southend (26)
Tuesday 2 November. Under the proposals 26 6 Dalmally/Kilrnartin Ardchonnel (0)
primary schools would amalgamate into 20 7 Easdale Lumg(19)
receiving schools. 8 Garelochhead Rosneaih (85), Kilcreggan(70) Fresh fish
The proposals are the result of a
9 Hermitage A/John Logie Baird Parklands (7) delivered to your
comprehensive review of the council’s education
10
11
Innellan
Lochgilphead Glassary (20),
Toward (20)
Minard (10} door
budget, which began in May 2010 and aims to 12 Lochnell Ardchattan (5),
identify ways the council could continue improving Achaleven (9),
the education service while at the same time Barcaldine (23)
recognising the need to reduce the council’s overall 13 Rothesay North Bute (51)
budget by 15%. The review revealed 59% of the 14 Salen Lochdonhead (14}
council’s primary schools are less than half full, with 15 Sandbank Strane (42)
some having fewer than five pupils. Similar rural 16 Strachur/Tighnabruaich Kilmodan (22)
council areas only have an average of 29% of 17 Clachan Skipness (1), Haddock,
schools less than half full. School rolls have been
falling for a number of years. Latest predictions
Rhunahaorine (14), Whiting, Sole,
show a reduction in the number of school age pupils 18 Taynuilt
Glenbarr (11)
Kiichrenan(10)
Cod Fillets,
in Argyll and Bute of around 13% by 2015 and by 19 Tayvallich Ashfield (8) Fresh Salmon,
19% by 2020. The review also considers how cost
effective each school is, including the amount spent
20 Dervaig Ulva (7)
Rainbow Trout,
on maintenance. The council’s maintenance spend KINTYRE: SCHOOL RUNNING COSTS Smoked &
is below that required to keep buildings in their
current condition. Reducing the number of buildings
School Occu- Cost per Energy Use Peppered
allows more money to be spent on others. As a pancy pupil/yr KWh/yr/pupil Mackerel,
Clachan 20.8% £10,620 5,549
result the council will consider proposals to consult
on the amalgamation of some schools, creating Glenbarr 22.0% £12,785 7,202
Kippers.
larger, more sustainable schools which can Rhunahaorine 42.4% £9,741 6,999
continue delivering the good results already found Skipness 3.0% £113,925 14,798
across Argyll and Bute. Councillors will be asked at Post amalgam 69.8 % £ 6,015 1,650
TELEPHONE:
a meeting of the executive committee on 2
November to begin formal consultation with all
Drumlemble 33.3 % £6,220 3,322
01586 554338
interest groups on proposals amalgamate schools.
No decisions will be made over which Southend 35.1% £6,787 2,774
amalgamations will take place until everyone has Post amalgam 59.6% £4,711 1,858
had the chance to make their views known during a
consultation period.
Cleland Sneddon, Argyll and Bute Council’s
Castlehill
St Kierans
50.0%
0.0%
£3,972
£125,908
1,985
0 KENNEDY’S
executive director for community services, hopes
residents will take the opportunity to share their
views.
He explains: “The council has a clear vision for
Post amalgam 50.0%

LOCAL NEWS WE COULDN’T

£3,669 1,985
SHOE SHOP
50-52
its education service, and strives to improve the
quality of education for all in Argyll and Bute. At the
TELL YOU ABOUT IN 2010 Longrow
BECAUSE WE WEREN'T TOLD
same time we face challenging financial times. Carradale & District Seniors Group activities, Car- Campbeltown
Education accounts for more than one third of the
council’s total budget. If we don’t make savings in
radale Activity Play Park fireworks, Carradale Volun-
teer Firefighter’s car wash. Recent Carradale Cricket
Walking Shoes
our education service we will have to make bigger Club results. Tarbert & Loch Fyne Gaelic Choir’s Mod
Dress Shoes
savings from other services. There is a real risk that
we won’t achieve our vision unless we make
visit. The Pool Competition & charity cycle rides. Walking Boots
Dress Boots
significant changes. “But the council won’t take
these decisions lightly or in isolation. There will be
BUT WE CAN TELL YOU All your
ABOUT THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVED IN 2010
full consultation and I hope everyone will share their
thoughts so everyone can be sure our decisions are Throughout 2010 the continuing dedication of 21
footwear needs
the right ones. Our priority is to keep improving the Antler distributors, many of whom helped with the first under one roof
standard of education on offer and realistically we issue in July 1992, the hardworking postal officer
can only do this by making significant changes.” whose leisure activities are seriously curtailed one
Ladies & Gents
The council’s executive will consider the weekend a month, the dedicated advertisers without Wide fitting
proposals on 2 November. No decisions have been whom the Antler would ‘fold’ and the subscribers
whose additional donations, helped keep the Editor’s
specialists
made, and can only be made by the council after full
consultation. This will not happen until spring 2011. head and antlers above water.
Children’s fitting
Note: Argyll and Bute Council has a total budget That just leaves the efficient and friendly Krisp-
of £278m. The council anticipates a budget shortfall Print staff and a number of regular contributors who ‘K’ ‘CLARKS’
of between £9million and £13 million each year, for pull out all the stops to offer something new and
the next three years. The council has a target of interesting - if only there were more submissions of ‘LOTUS’
reducing its total spend by 15% over the next three ever greater variety. ‘ROHDE’
years. The current total spend on education is £99.6 The Editor wishes everyone a rewarding Christ-
million. A 15% saving equates to almost £15 million. mas and an interesting and transforming New Year. Shoes,
If the spend on education is protected these savings The hope is that the magazine will forge ahead into its
Shoes,
Shoes
will have to be found from other areas. nineteenth year ably supported by everyone who is
Argyll and Bute Council deferred making a decision currently involved and by those who are too shy to
on the future of its school estate until 25 November. have their achievements recorded for posterity.
10 THE ANTLER 10
CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION?
WHAT’S YOUR CHOICE FOR COMMUNITY OR SELF HARM ?

INDEX OF MOST HARMFUL DRUGS

Harm to others (CW 54) Harm to users (CW 46)

Overall harm score

Alcohol
Heroin
Crack
Methylamphetamine
Cocaine
Looking for the Tobacco
perfect gift idea?
Then look no further than our Amphetamine
EAST KINTYRE COMMUNITY
CHRISTMAS Cannabis
SELECTION OF
COUNCIL WIND-FARM TRUST
GBH The Wind-farm Trust met on Thursday, 4 November
HAMPERS to review grant applications in the Autumn tranche.
Benzodiazepines
& GIFT BOXES There were 11 applications from which there were
Order on-line Ketamine two rejected, three were granted less than the
amount applied for and six were granted the full
www.scottishtablet Methadone amount of their application. The total distributed
company.co.uk amounted to £7,500. The following is a list of the
New for 2010 Mephedrone successful grants: -
'Build your own Hamper' Butane £
for brochure and order form Footnotes Dancing 400
Khat Campbeltown Running Club 200
Telephone Scottish Community Drama Association 1000
01583 431581 Anabolic steroids Carradale Playpark –Fireworks 300
Campbeltown Airbase 2000
Ecstasy
Senior Citizens Red Cross transport 1000
LSD Kintyre Juvenile Pipe Band Assoc. 1000
Homestart 600
Buprenorphine Campbeltown Cinema 1000
It should be remembered that there are fairly strict
Mushrooms
guidelines laid down giving criteria for granting
awards. Our geographic area is East Kintyre from
Why go to Glasgow for *Cumulative Weight Cour to Peninver. However some discretion is al-

XMAS Source: The Lancet lowed for applications from outwith this area.
J.S.I.

GIFTS
Unable to walk without assistance, require support
CARRADALE SURGERY of persons trained for lifting and handling, has a
PUBLIC HOLIDAY medical condition has potential to deteriorate if trav-
when you have quality The surgery will be closed over the festive season eling by an alternative method. Escorts may only
on your doorstep? on Monday the 27th and Tuesday, the 28th of De- travel the patient if the patient is –
Beautiful jumpers, cember, 2010 and on Monday the 3rd and Tuesday,
A child, is deaf or blind, is unable to understand
cardigans, hats, gloves, the 4th of January, 2011. Please order your repeat
the doctor, has communication problems or is re-
slippers, belts, wallets, medication in good time.
ceiving results of specialised tests.
handbags, soft toys, There will be no the red cross transport on
Rugs and of course - This includes patient Trans Service transport
a wonderful a selection Thursday, the 6th of January, 2011.
between Glasgow Airport and hospitals. The sur-
of top quality deerskins During public holidays, as at other out-of-hours peri- gery has a supply of claim forms for reimbursement
and goat skins. ods, if requiring a doctor telephone NHS 24 on 08454 of part of transport expenses incurred by patients
Come and look round 242424 or in life-threatening emergencies dial 999.
you’ll be surprised. attending distant hospitals.
Open most days and most We have had a request for more youthful magazines HEARING AIDS
times but usually in the waiting room. If anyone has some at home Members of the Campbeltown audiometry team
9-6 Monday to Friday & they are finished with, please hand them in at recep- held a successful session at the surgery in 2010 to
2.30-6 on Saturdays & tion. We would also be grateful during the winter for give patient general guidance on using hearing aids.
Sundays any assistance with replenishing the bird table Those that attended found the session very useful.
If no one is there erected in memory of Isobel Campbell. If you are interested attending a similar session in
just ring the bell! SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERVICE 2010 please let the that surgery staff know.
TORRISDALE Service eligibility criteria: The Scottish Ambulance PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY
Service have issued us with the following reminder
CASTLE which we would like to bring to patient’s attention. ‘It
We would like to remind patients that unless we
have the patients explicit written permission to do
TANNERY & is important that only patients that are eligible to so, it is not possible for surgery staff to give out test
CRAFTY travel by the patient transport service are booked by results etc. to anyone other than the patient them-
SHEEP SHOP the GP and hospital staff. These patients should selves.
have a medical need, for example -
 11
GO GEOCACHING?
Whilst on holiday recently we took up a new hobby
called geocaching. We are now enthusiastically
hooked on a fascinating activity that already has a
world wide participation and following.
What is it? In a nutshell it is treasure hunting -
finding a hidden cache.
To participate you need to enjoy walking, to like
visiting scenic and interesting places, to like mys-
tery, intrigue and a challenge ….. and who doesn’t?
They are all good simple pleasures and all in the
healthy open air.
Like most hobbies you need some equipment to
get started but in this case this just includes a com-
puter with internet access which most people have
already and a hand held GPS (Global Positioning
System) or the equivalent facility on a mobile phone.
People all over the UK (and the world) have
hidden caches and entered details of where to find
them on the geocaching web site. You download the
GPS location and details of any hidden cache in the
area you plan visiting. They are graded in degree of
difficulty and the nature of the terrain and you can
select accordingly. To pinpoint the location a de-
scription is given and an additional hint can be
decoded to reveal for example, in a tree trunk, under
a large stone or perhaps in a prickly place.
Using the information you head to the given
parking/starting point and try to find “the treasure”
using the GPS for guidance. “The treasure” is usual-
ly a plastic box- anything from small to lunch box
size; but they can vary. One we found was a screw
topped test tube, and another a very tiny “nano”
one-a tiny 1cm magnetic cylinder no bigger than the
top of your little finger. Each hidden cache has a
note book or other means to record your name and
the date you found it. Once home you can record the
treasure you have found on the geocaching web site.
The caches are in both rural and urban locations
which are also places of interest, which you might
otherwise pass by.
I have to admit to being childishly excited when
we made our first find in a tree stump which was
close to the village of Falstone not far from the
Kielder dam in Northumberland. Our visit to the dam
was interesting in itself, but this cache lead us to a
nearby snell which is a carved stone and steel
monument recording the history of the homesteads
and villages that were submerged and their occu-
pants relocated when the dam was built.
Other caches are in scenic locations, in places
of historical, botanical or of other general interest.
We found other rural caches on or near Holy
Island, in an extensive and impressive Arboretum at
Hawick Gardens, and at places along Hadrians
Wall. One directed us to the oldest yew tree in
Nothumberland - at Beltingham. The tree is at least
700 and possibly as much as 2000 years old.
The most challenging was the nano cache in the
town of Corbridge. Its tiny magnetic form hidden at
ankle height made it a real challenge and all the
more rewarding when finally found. Another urban
one was in Petersfield which we found whilst we
journeyed further south.
Non geocaching members of the public are
known as muggles.
You are asked when treasure hunting, to keep
the exact locations secret so that the caches are not
vandalised or removed so clandestine subterfuge is
sometimes required especially in urban areas.
Wearing a Columbo style raincoat and looking sus-
picious is not advisable! We spent a lot of time
pretending to tie our shoe laces!
People that originally place a cache go back at
intervals to maintain and check it, so that the details
THE ANTLER 11
on the web site are accurate. Others can then con-
tinue to enjoy hunting for it. It is obvious that families
with children enjoy geocaching and anything to en-
courage a healthy family activity that involves ener-
getic youngsters must surely be commended.
Children have additional fun because small objects
balloons, ornaments, toys, sweets etc are initially
put in the box and finding “the treasure” you are
optionally invited to take an object of your choice
from the contents, replacing it with a small item of
your own thus maintaining an on- going “treasure”
supply. Those that placed the cache have the enjoy-
ment of seeing when, who and how many have
UGADALE
found their treasure.
We really enjoyed our opening foray into geo-
VETERINARY
caching and we will certainly continue to hunt for
treasure. We can thoroughly recommend it to others.
SURGERY
Back home we are looking forward to finding the
cache which we know is buried at Carradale. There
UGADALE
are some in Campbeltown, and others dotted
around Kintyre.
COTTAGE
by CAMPBELTOWN
For more information and perhaps getting in- PA28 6QR
volved in geocaching yourself, visit the web-site
www.geocaching.com T.& M.L.
FUEL POVERTY
TARGETS UNDER SCRUTINY B.Sc., B.V.M & S., M.R.C.V.S
Ahead of the last full term of the Scottish Parliament
before the statutory duty to end fuel poverty in 2016 is pleased to provide
must be met, the national charity Energy action veterinary care for
Scotland is calling for a detailed and well-resourced
route map from government as to how it will be
your pets
achieved.
Opening a major conference in Glasgow (Wed 3 Please telephone
– Fri 5 November), Energy Action Scotland Director,
Norman Kerr will make the case for prioritising the
01586 552427
fuel poor, saying: “It is essential that in all the plans for an appointment
for tackling climate change and securing energy
supplies, the focus is first and foremost on helping
the most vulnerable people who are cold in their
homes.
“Too many people in Scotland still fear the onset
of winter and the perennial struggle to pay for do-
mestic fuel bills. Government at all levels needs to BROTHERS
set out how the target to end fuel poverty will be met Engineering Ltd.
and to make available the funding to support house-
holds that cannot afford to make their homes more The Complete Service
energy efficient.”
The conference will also hear from officials from
Groundcare &
the Scottish Government, the UK Government De- Agricultural
partment of Energy and Climate Change, the Ener- Equipment Sales,
gy Retail Association and the Scottish Campaign on
Welfare Reform.
Service & Hire.
MOT & MOT Repairs
A panel of MSPs from the main parties will also
take questions on their plans for eradicating fuel
poverty from an audience representing all sectors. LOCAL SERVICE DEPOT
For further details contact: Elizabeth Gore, PR Roading,
Manager, Energy Action Scotland on: 0141 226 Campbeltown
3064 or mobile: 07764 212564 Telephone
BACKGROUND NOTES: 01586 553031
Energy Action Scotland is the national charity which
campaigns to end fuel poverty and works to promote Head Office: Greenock Road,
warm, dry homes for all. Website: http://www.eas. Bishopton PA7 5AP
org.uk Fuel poverty is defined as having to spend Tel: 01505 862010.
Fax: 01505 862221
more than 10 per cent of income on domestic fuel.
Around 1 in 3 (800,000) households in Scotland are Email: info@hamiltonbros.co.uk
Web-site ww.hamiltonbros.co.uk
estimated to be in fuel poverty. The Scottish Gov-
ernment has a statutory duty to end fuel poverty, as
far as is practicable, by November 2016, as required
by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
Energy Action Scotland Suite 4a, Ingram House,
227 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1DA Tel: 0141 226
3064 Fax: 0141 221 2788 Email: christine.mcarthur
@eas.org.uk Web: www.eas.org.uk - Working for
Warm, Dry Homes -
MASSEY FERGUSON
12
THE PICTURE
HOUSE
Sat 20 Nov 2010 for
6 days at 8.00pm
RED (12A)
A LADY ON THE
BAKE
NETWORK INFORMATION
OPENING TIMES 11am - 4pm
CLOSED WED & THUR
The tearoom is closed from the
21st December until the 14th
January 2011. Orders are still
being taken for Christmas baking
up to 14th December, which in-
cludes mince pies, chocolate
logs, meringues, brandy snaps,
shortbread and rich fruit cake -
marzi-panned and iced. Last or-
ders for fruit cake taken on 26th
November. Wishing all my cus-
tomers a very Merry Christmas!
Thank you, José.
A MAN ON THE
TRAIN
Those who like happy endings
and who enjoyed John
MacMillan’s story of Torrisdale in
the 1930s, and 1940s will be in-
terested to know that three weeks
after arriving in Canada he start-
ed work cleaning carriages for
the Canadian National Railway.
For 45 years he worked
through the ranks and retired as
Mechanical Officer (Technical) in
charge of maintenance. Inciden-
tally the main CN Rail Yard in
Ontario at Toronto is called the
MacMillan Yard. For those who
are not familiar with the CN it
operates across Canada, but al-
so, after purchasing several U.S.
rail roads, down to Mexico .
THE BOY ON THE
ROCK
Donald H. Milne has been a Car-
radale holidaymaker since the
1930's and it was after seeing a
photograph of himself waving to
the departing ‘Davaar’ in Donald
Kelly's article in the February is-
sue, that he wrote to the Editor
saying that the picture was taken
by his mother in 1938, when they
were seeing a visiting aunt off on
her ‘voyage’ back to the Broomie-
law in Glasgow.
THE ANTLER 12
PHYTOPHTHORA IS HERE
UPDATE ON AN ARTICLE ON FUNGUS ADVERTISE IN THE ANTLER
PATHOGENS IN THE ANTLER IN APRIL 2008
According to information released to residents attending
60sq.cms., for £7 a month
the November community council meeting, the disease
is spreading in Argyll. One plant has been destroyed in
a garden behind the Abbeyfield in Carradale and other CARRADALE HARBOUR
shrubs susceptible to the pathogen within 3 metres had USERS GROUP
to be removed and burnt. Dr Stephen Murray, the There have been 3 meetings during the last 2
National Trust for Scotland’s project officer, suggests months to discuss the further regeneration of the
that a property owner’s requirement to remove and burn harbour area. Local representatives of the fishing
plants known to be affected by phytophthora may be industry, tourism and retail have met to ascertain
extended to 100 metres from the plant. The following the best way forward. Initial discussions have
information was included in issue 187 of the Antler in taken place with the company responsible for
April 2008.
mooring facilities in Campbeltown and Lochranza
NOTE : ‘Phytophthora (translated from the Greek to decide a preliminary layout for harbour pon-
meaning ‘plant destroyer’) is the generic name for a toons, plus discussions are ongoing with HIE and
group of fungal-like pathogens, containing many of the ABC with regard to finance and management.
most destructive plant diseases. Both P. ramorum and
P. kernoviae are aerial Phytophthoras, which attack the
More detailed information will be available soon
but anyone wishing to contact the present com-
above ground parts of trees and shrubs. They produce mittee can phone:-
spores on infected leaves of host species such as
Alan Milstead 431 226 or Stuart Irvine 431 278
rhododendron and these spores may then infect the
bark of trees such as Fagus (beech) and to a lesser
extent, Quercus (oak), and a range of unrelated
species. Both Phytophthoras can be transmitted by
rain-splash, wind-driven rain, irrigation and ground-
water, but not by wind alone. Long-distance spread
occurs by movement of contaminated plant material,
growing media, and in soil carried on vehicles,
machinery, footwear or animals. The symptoms vary
depending on the host species but on broadleaved trees
a dark coloured fluid oozes from the bark on the trunk
(also known as a bleeding canker). This is caused when
Phytophthora attacks and kills the underlying bark. As
the infection spreads, it girdles the trunk and causes
death in a few years. In rhododen dron, the symptoms
are a rapid shoot and leaf blight with brown to black
CROSSAIG LODGE
discolouration. Two cases of Phytophthora ramorum Special local Winter offers
have been found in private gardens in Argyll belonging from 5th November
to the National Trust for Scotland. The Trust have been
fully co-operative with Scottish Government agencies in
Bed & breakfast only £10pp
helping tackle this potentially serious outbreak’. When you book for dinner
PRE CHRISTMAS MENU
LETTER TO THE EDITOR AVAILABLE FROM
HOUSE PRICES 1st December to
Dear Geoffrey,
I refer to your article on house prices in Carradale which
24th December
appeared in last month's Antler. Whilst I have no prob- LUNCH 12 till 2pm
lem whatever in your reference to freedom of informa- Minimum 4 people £19.95
tion available under the Act of 2000 I think a simple
reference was all that was required and matters should
DINNER 6 till 7.30pm £22.50
have been left at that. ALSO OPEN FOR
The reality is that the figures published reflect what CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH
was shown in each transaction as the consideration B.Y.O.B
(that is the price paid) for that particular property but the
figures do not show what interest was conveyed or how Please book as we are a very
the consideration was arrived at or agreed. For small restaurant
example, in the case of an executry or private family Please phone, e-mail or
sale/purchase transaction one family member could be
purchasing from other family members without a formal
drop in for menu details
valuation and the consideration shown would only re- Tel: 01880 760369
flect the proportional interest being conveyed. There e: info@crossaiglodge.co.uk
could also be a back dated date of entry in which event We are two miles north of Grogport
the consideration would reflect the value of a property at
that particular date.
Such transactions cannot be compared with the sale
of a 100% interest in a property on the open market.
There can also be a situation where a property has been
sold on a ‘lock stock and barrel’ basis with no apportion-
ment made between heritable property and moveable
property. In such a case the price would be inflated by
the amount of moveable property included in the sale. A
sale may also have a business element included. The
problem is that the information you published can be
likened to a bikini - what is revealed is interesting but
what is concealed is vital. Any information gleaned from
the Land Register should always be taken ‘cum grano
salis’. (with) a grain of salt.
Yours sincerely, Alan Walker.
 13 THE ANTLER
THE KINTYRE MAGAZINE: NO 68
THE JOURNAL OF THE KINTYRE ANTIQUARIAN
AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
The Antler Editor was pleased to receive the latest Kintyre Magazine
in mid November and delighted to find that it contained articles and
references to artists with Campbeltown connections - J. Campbell
Mitchell RSA, James Caw Senior, Sir James Caw, William McTaggart,
and George P. McKean Stewart.
With two articles on J. Campbell Mitchell, one written fairly recently
by Murdo MacDonald and other published in the August 1921 issue of
Scottish Country Life by J. Shaw Simpson, an article by Angus Martin
on James Caw Senior and an appreciation of George P. McKean
Stewart by his son George John Stewart, the issue is packed with
interesting details of artistic endeavour with Kintyre connections.
The issue also contains an article by Gerald Carruthers entitled
‘Fresh light on Robert Burn’s Note on “Highland Mary”.’ Angus Martin
contributes a ‘Review of Singing Songs of the Scottish Heart’ – in
honour of the work of William McTaggart - and there are submissions
by Agnes Stewart, Christine Russell, James MacDonald, Murdo Mac-
Donald, covering flora, otters, butterflies and education together with a
half-page tribute to Hamish MacKinven and Donald Kelly. Finally there
is a summer into winter ‘By Hill and Shore’ account of Angus Martin’s
2009 experiences with friends in the South Kintyre’ countryside.
All-in-all a very worthwhile winter’s indulgence by the fireside and
a handy reference to Campbeltown’s artistic connections.
Loch Fyne Skiffs by J. Campbell Mitchell
ARTISTS VISITING KINTYRE
In seeking to underline Angus Martin’s interest in the artistic attractions
of Kintyre, the Antler Editor carried out some research in the early
1990s into the shipping records of the paddle steamers and other
vessels carrying passengers from Glasgow to Carradale, Saddell and
Campbeltown, and, in conjunction with accompanying list of resources
produced the following notes of artists known to have visited or worked
in Kintyre, particularly in Carradale or around the old Waterfoot ‘studio’.
Since the research was carried out Lady Mitchison has died and the
references to paintings in Carradale House are no longer applicable.
With acknowledgements to Paul Harris and Julian Halsby for
biographical details from ‘The Dictionary of Scottish Painters 1600-
1960, ‘to ‘The Argyllshire Herald,’ ‘The Campbeltown Courier,’ Argyll
Public Libraries, Murdo MacDonald until recently the full-time County
Archivist, Galleries in Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and a number of
other galleries, but above all to the residents of Kintyre with paintings
in their possession and the reminiscences of holiday visitors.
ROBERT WEIR ALLAN (1851-1942) (1888) RSW., 1880 NEAC., 1886
ARWS., 1887 RWS., 1896 VPRWS., 1908-10. Born Glasgow, the
son of an amateur painter. Studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and
the Atelier Julian 1875-1880. Influenced by the Impressionists.
Specialised in a ‘blottesque’ technique. Subject matter included
market scenes and harbours. Settled in London during the 1880s
undertaking both oil and water-colours. Travelled widely, India
1891-2, Japan 1907, North Africa 1911-12. Also painted in Italy,
France, Spain and Holland. Scottish subjects included the fishing
villages of the east and west coasts. Influenced a wide range of
artists through his friendship with ARTHUR MELVILLE.
LOUISE RICHARD ANNAND (1915- ) (frequent visitor) Educated at
Hamilton Academy and Glasgow University. Encouraged to paint
13
by J. W. Ferguson, she joined the New Art Club at its inception in
1941 and exhibited with the New Scottish Group in 1943/5. Influ-
enced by Adler, Herman and J. D. Ferguson her work includes
murals and book illustrations. President of the Society of Scottish
Women Artists 1977-79. Chairman of the J. D. Ferguson Foundation
EXHIBITS CARRADALE HOUSE, KINTYRE (Private collection)
ANDREW BLACK (1850-1916) (visit 18.7.1885) RSW., 1885. Born and
worked in Glasgow. Trained at Glasgow School of Art & in Paris.
Worked as a designer before turning to art full-time in 1877. He
specialised in marine pictures, usually water-colours, mostly of
Scottish subjects. He was a keen yachtsman and had an intimate
knowledge of the waters around Scotland.
WALTER T. BARKWORTH (active 1884-1893) (visits 24.5.90/ 9.1.92
/20.8.92) Landscape painter. Resident in Tunbridge Wells, Dorking
and London.
ELIZABETH BLACKADDER (1931- ) (not established although Lady
Mitchison confirmed that she visited on several occasions) ARSA.,
1963 ARA., 1971 RSA., 1972 RA., 1976. Born Falkirk, she studied
at Edinburgh University and Edinburgh College of Art where her
teachers included Sir William MacTaggart. She travelled to Yugo-
slavia, Greece and Italy on a Carnegie Scholarship. In 1956 she
married fellow-student John Houston and joined the staff of Edin-
burgh College of Art part-time. She works primarily in water-colour
and prefers landscapes, still life, cats, flowers and portraiture.
EXHIBITS CARRADALE HOUSE, KINTYRE (Private collection).
ALEXANDER KELLOCH BROWN (1849-1922) (visit 18.7.1885)
RSW., 1878 RI., 1878. ARSA., 1892 RSA., 1908. Born in Edin-
burgh and brought up in Glasgow. President of the Glasgow Art
Club. He had no formal training; worked as a textile designer
before turning to painting, coming under the influence of James
Docharty. Worked in both oils and water-colour, painting dramatic
views of highland moors and mountains in wet washes and rich
colours. Specialised in evening, moonlight and winter effects. Died
Lamlash, Arran.
JAMES CAW fl. 1840s Glasgow portrait painter.
JAMES CAW (SIR) 1864-1950 Born Ayr, studied GSA. Author of
Scottish Painting Past and Present (1908), the first and most com-
prehensive work on Scottish art, and of several other studies of
Scottish artists. Curator of the National Galleries of Scotland (1907)
and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (1895). He also painted
landscapes in pastels and watercolour, often choosing coastal
scenes. Died Lasswade.
JAMES ELDER CHRISTIE (1847-1914) (visit 18.7.85) NEAC., 1887.
Born in Fife, he trained at the Art School in Paisley and at South
Kensington, winning Gold Medals at the RA in 1876 and 1877. He
then moved to Paris 1882-5 and on his return became a founding
member of the New English Art Club. In 1893 he returned to
Glasgow. Christie was known for his genre and allegorical paint-
ings executed in a broad style and for his pictures of children and
scenes from Burns. He returned to London in 1906 but retained his
association with The Glasgow Boys. Died in London.
ROBERT McGOWN COVENTRY (1855-1942) RSW., 1889 ARSA.,
1906. Attended evening classes at the Glasgow School of Art
under Robert Greenlees before studying in Paris. Closely associat-
ed with artistic life in Glasgow, he painted Scottish fishing villages
on both the east and west coasts in oil and water-colour in the
'blottesque' technique associated with the Glasgow School. He
also painted in Belgium Holland and the Middle East. Died in
Glasgow.
FRANK DICKSON (1862-1936) (visits 17.1.1891/9.1.1892) RBA.,
sometime resident. Landscape painter. Born in Chester, educated
in Liverpool. Studied at St. John's Wood Art School and RA
Schools. Exhibited at the Royal Academy and elsewhere. Lived in
Upper Norwood, London.
ALEXANDER BROWNLIE DOCHARTY (1862-1940) (visit 12.9.1885)
Nephew of James Docharty, a landscape painter who worked in oil,
he studied part-time at GSA under Robert Greenlees, and after a
period designing calico ,he took up painting as a profession in
1882. Studied in Paris in 1894. Lived and worked in Kilkerran
Ayrshire, but also painted in the Highlands and European coun-
tries, visiting Venice on several occasions. Work in water-colour
exhibits good composition and sensitive colour. Died in Glasgow.
DAVID FULTON (1848-1930) (visit undated) RSW., 1890. Born at
Parkhead, Glasgow. Studied at the Glasgow School of Art. Painted
 14 THE ANTLER
in oil and watercolour, often of figures in fields beside streams. He
also painted children accompanied by animals in the open air.
EXHIBITS OYSTERCATCHER GALLERY, CAMPBELTOWN, KIN-
TYRE Dec.1992 ‘Autumn in Kintyre’ undated
JOAN KATHLEEN HARDING EARDLEY (1921-1963) (not estab-
lished) ARSA., 1955 RSA., 1963. Born in Warnham, Sussex of
Anglo-Scottish parents. Studied at Goldsmiths College, New
Cross, London and Glasgow School of Art (1940-1943), returning
for a post-Diploma scholarship. In 1948-9 she travelled in Italy and
France producing work which was subsequently shown at her first
one-painter show at the GSA in 1949. During the early 1950s
Eardley spent some time in the depressed areas of Glasgow
sketching and photographing in preparation for easel painting in oil.
In 1950 she began to paint at Catterline, taking up semi-residence
there in 1956. Specialised in landscape and seascapes in charcoal
and oil, expressed in a powerful style. Died in Killearn.
EXHIBITS CARRADALE HOUSE, KINTYRE (Private collection)
JAMES HAY (ACTIVE 1887-1914) (visit 20.8.1892) Edinburgh painter
of genre and still life in oil and water-colour.
THOMAS MARJORIBANKS HAY (1862-1921) (visit 20.8.1892) RSW.,
1895. Began as a designer of stained glass. Studied at the RSA
Schools. Lived in Edinburgh, working mainly in water-colour. Early
work has a detailed precision which developed into a looser wetter
style. He worked in the east coast villages, in Perthshire and in the
Central Highlands specialising in mist covered hills and mountains.
He also painted a number of 'pot-boilers.' Died in Edinburgh.
C. E. H. HEALEY ( ) (visits 25.8.1894/6.7.1895) Coatbridge &
London. Exhibited at the SS in 1890 ‘Before the Gale.’
JOSEPH HENDERSON (1832-1908) (visits 18.7.85 & 20.8.92)
RSW.,1878. Foundation member of the RSW. Born in Stanley,
Perthshire and studied at the Trustee Academy, Edinburgh, but
moved permanently to Glasgow in 1852, becoming a well-known
figure in the Glasgow Art Club. Early work consisted of genre and
commissioned portraits, but in the early 1870s he discovered his
talent for painting the sea, possibly influenced by the work of
McTaggart. His early seascapes are dark in tone but by the 1880s
his work had become lighter and more atmospheric, standing
comparison with McTaggart’s own work. On the death of his first
wife in 1886 he married McTaggart’s daughter. Henderson was
instrumental in the development of Glasgow as an artistic centre.
Died in Ballantrae.
GEORGE E. HENDRY ( ) (visit 25.8.1894) Arrochar & London.
Exhibited a work entitled ‘Autumn Leaves’ at the Royal Academy in
1901.
GERTRUDE HERMES (1901-1983) (frequent visitor) RA., Born in
Britain of German antecedents. Studied at the Leon Underwood’s
Brook Green School of Painting and Sculpture. Work includes lino
and woodcuts, sculptures in wood stone and bronze, including
nearly fifty portrait heads of poets, musicians, politicians and chil-
dren. Also involved in architectural projects including a sculptured
fountain and a mosaic pool floor for the Shakespeare Memorial
Theatre at Stratford upon Avon, her main interest was in wood
engraving being a founder-member of the now defunct English
Wood Engraving Society and the Society of Wood Engravers.
EXHIBITS CARRADALE HOUSE, KINTYRE (Private collection)
HENRY WRIGHT KERR (1857-1936) (visit 9.1.92) RSW., 1891 AR.,
1893 RSA.,1909. Born in Edinburgh, worked in a commercial firm
in Leith. Studied at the RSA Schools. His main artistic influence
came from the Hague School which he first studied seriously during
a trip to Holland. The water-colour technique of Israels, Mauve and
the Maris brothers as well as their subject matter - studies of
peasants, figures by the sea, church interiors - were important to
Kerr. He painted portraits of Scottish fishermen, crofters and elderly
ladies in a 'wet' water-colour manner. He also painted scenes of
Scottish life in water-colour. His work was very popular during his
lifetime. He died in Edinburgh.
GEORGE WHITTON JOHNSTONE (1849-1901) (visit 21.9.95)ARSA.,
1883 RSW., 1885.RSA., 1895. Born in Glamis. Studied at the RSA
Schools, having been apprenticed to a cabinet maker. He painted
quiet landscapes showing a Dutch influence. Painted in Fife and in
Northern France working in both oil and water-colour.
NEILS MOELLER LUND (1863-1916) ( ) RI., ROI., ARE., Born in
Denmark, but mainly resident in London. Studied at the Royal Acade-
my Schools and the Acadamie Julian, Paris. Painter of landscapes,
portraits and town scenes. Exhibited at the RA from 1887. Subjects
14
include landscapes in Scotland and Northumberland, dark in mood and
large in size.
EXHIBITS LAING ART GALLERY, NEWCASTLE, ROYAL ACADEMY,
LONDON 1887-1904 Catalogue 888 ‘On the Kintyre Coast.’ 1889
TORRISDALE CASTLE (Private collection)
ALEXANDER MacBRIDE (1859-1955) (visit 3.8.89) RSW., 1887 RI.,
1899. Born in Glasgow. Studied at the GSA and the Acadamie
Julein, Paris. Painted landscapes in oil and water-colour, choosing
tranquil rural scenes often with sunlight coming through trees, or
between figures by a river. Influenced by Impressionism, he worked
in Scotland, England and Italy. Died in Glasgow.
WILLIAM McCANCE (1894-1970) ( ) Born Cambuslang and
studied at Glasgow School of Art. He married a fellow student
Agnes Millar Parker and moved to London in 1920. Influenced by
Pryde and Nicholson his style developed under the influence of the
Vorticists and Cubists. While not completely abstract his pictures
play homage to Leger and the machine age. He wrote art criticism
for art journals and The Spectator. He was taught painting and in
1930 became Controller of the Gregynog Press in Wales, estab-
lishing a reputation as a typographer and book designer eventually
lecturing on the subject at Reading University. He contributed art
criticism to Picture Post magazine and other newspapers, but his
first one-man exhibition was not held until 1960. Indeed his reputa-
tion was not widely established until after his death in 1975 through
a touring retrospective exhibition in Scotland.
? McILHENNY ( ) (visit 11.4.1896) Belfast marine artist.
WILLIAM DARLING McKAY (1844-1924) visit 24.5.90) ARSA., 1877
RSA., 1883. Born Gifford, East Lothian, he trained at the Trustees
Academy. Painted rural scenes with farm workers and cattle, often
working on the spot. Avoiding muddy tones in his painting he strove
to keep his colours fresh and invigorating. He acted as Secretary
of the RSA from 1906 to 1924 and was responsible for publishing
a book - The Scottish School of Painting (1906). He died in Edin-
burgh.
KENNETH LESTER McKENZIE (1863-1899) (frequent visitor / resi-
dent Torrisdale from 1892) Believed to be born in Sutherland.
Sometime resident in Holyhead, Anglesey, London, Torrisdale,
Kilchrenan and Forres. Painter of large, low-toned highland land-
scapes in oil.
EXHIBITS ROYAL ACADEMY LONDON 1885-1899, 1244 ‘On the
shores of Kintyre ‘1889, 642 ‘Dawn-Kilbrannan Sound ‘1892, 950
‘Twixt the gloaming & the murk’ 1892, 399 ‘Carradale Bay ‘1893,
ROYAL GLASGOW INSTITUTE 1896, TORRISDALE CASTLE,
KINTYRE (Private collection)
ARCHIBALD MacKINNON (active 1876-1899) (visit 18.7.85) Resident
of Glasgow and a student at Glasgow School of Art from 1876-1885
where the records gives his occupation as an engineer, but when
exhibiting at the Royal Scottish Academy he stated that he was an
architect.
EXHIBITS ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY, ‘Saddell Castle, Kin-
tyre’ 1879, ROYAL GLASGOW INSTITUTE ‘Tir Fergus Glen, Kin-
tyre’ 1879. This Archibald MacKinnon is not the one associated
with the cave painting on Davaar (1856-1938).
WILLIAM McTAGGART (1835-1910) (frequent visitor) ARSA., 1859
RSA., 1870 RSW., 1878. The son of a crofter, McTaggart was born
at Aros, Campbeltown. Entered the Trustees Academy Edinburgh
in 1852. Influenced by the Italian Primitives his early work has an
affinity with the Pre-Raphaelite Movement. By 1860 his work was
being attacked for its lack of finish, and by the early 1870s it was
suggested that he was moving closer to the French Impressionists
although is no evidence that he had any direct contact with them.
On his marriage in 1863 he moved to Fairlie although he stll
frequented other areas including Lochranza, Loch Fyne and
Carnoustie, returning to Machrihanish for the summer. McTaggart’s
direct method of painting unencumbered by academic theory, had
a great influence on younger Scottish painters. He died in Broom-
ieknowe where he had lived since 1889.
EXHIBITS CAMPBELTOWN MUSEUM & LIBRARY
WILLIAM MACTAGGART (SIR) 1903-1981 ARSA 1937, RSW 1946,
RSA 1948, PRSA 1959-69, Knighted 1963, Born Loanhead, the
grandson of WILLIAM MGTAGGART, he studied at EGA with GILLIES
CROZIER and GEISSLER as fellow-students. Crozier was ten years
older than MacTaggart and knew France and Italy and their
languages, and had a considerable influence on MacTaggart. On
graduating, he visited Paris to study under Lhote, then started a
studio in Edinburgh with Crozier and later with Gillies. He became a
 15 THE ANTLER 15
founder member of the 1922 Group, and in 1924 held his first one-man in permanent home in Edinburgh in 1904, but he made
Cannes. He joined the SOCIETY OF EIGHT in 1927 and in 1929 held his first other trips abroad to Algiers, Spain and Belgium and to
Scottish one-man in Edinburgh. He was greatly impressed by the Munich visit Galloway. In 1914 he was elected President of the
exhibition which was organized by the SSA in Edinburgh in 1931 and this RSW. He died in Edinburgh.
added to the Expressionist influence already evident in his work. In 1937 he FRANK WALTON (1840-1928) (visit ) RI.,PROI.,RBA.
married the Norwegian Fanny Aavatsmark, organizer of the Munch exhibition. London based painter of landscapes and coastal scenes,
After the war he painted much in France, being influenced by the 1952 in oil and water colour. Exhibited at the RA 1862-1924.
Rouault retrospective in Paris. His later still-lives, flower paintings, land- BI, SS, NWS, GG & elsewhere. Titles at the Royal Acad-
scapes and seascapes have rich glowing colours set against dark emy include views on the coasts of England, Wales and
backgrounds. Died Edinburgh. (no proof of a visit but is assumed to have the Channel Isles.
visited) EXHIBITS WALKER ART GALLERY, LIVERPOOL,
JOHN CAMPBELL MITCHELL (1862-1922) (visit 6.7.95 ) ARSA., 1904 RSA., TORRISDALE CASTLE, KINTYRE (Private collection)
1918. Born in Campbeltown, he studied at the RSA Schools and settled in PETER MACGREGOR WILSON ( -1928) (frequent visitor)
Edinburgh where he remained all his life. Painted broad expanses of moor- RSW 1885. Studied at Glasgow School of Art, in London
land and rolling countryside seen under changeable skies - some areas and Antwerp. Travelled widely, working in America, India,
bathed in strong sunlight, others turning from blue to purple as the clouds Persia, Russia and Europe. His watercolours are always
cast their shadows. He also painted seascapes and represents the best competent with firm composition and solid colours, but at
tradition of Scottish marine painting - a fluent oil technique and great sense times his drawing is weak. Painted landscapes and river
of movement. Rarely used water-colour but competent in the medium. Died scenes on the west coast.
Edinburgh. PATRONS: WILLIAM BURRELL (visitor 30.6.1894) Glasgow
EXHIBITS OYSTERCATCHER GALLERY, CAMPBELTOWN, KINTYRE ‘On ship-owner and patron of the arts.
the Kintyre Hills,’ December 1992
AGNES MILLER PARKER (1895-1980) (frequent visitor) Born in Irvine and Neils Moeller Lund
studied at the Glasgow School of Art 1911-1917 eventually joining the staff
for a short period. She married the painter William McCance in 1918 and lived
in England much of her life, returning to Glasgow in 1955. Her early work was
influenced by the Vorticist movement, in common with her husband. Wood
engraving was a special interest associated with book illustration, notable
among which are engravings for ‘The Fables of Aesop (1931) ‘Through the
Woods’ by H. E. Bates (1936), editions of the works of Shakespeare and
Hardy. Lived at Lamlash on Arran and died at Greenock.
EXHIBITS CARRADALE HOUSE, KINTYRE (Private collection)
BARBARA S. PEDDIE (active 1881-1908) (visit 20.8.92) Edinburgh painter of
flowers and landscape.
ALEXANDER WELLWOOD RATTRAY (1849-1902) (frequent visitor) RSW.,
1885 NEAC 1887.,ARSA., 1896. Born in St. Andrews, educated Glasgow
University before turning to art. Painted landscapes in oil and water-colour
almost entirely of Highland and East Coast views. Although his water-colour
technique is rather heavy, with the paper being well-worked and the colours
absorbed into the scrubbed surface, his work can capture the grandeur of the ‘The Studio’, Waterfoot
Highlands. Died Glasgow.
ARCHIBALD DAVID REID (1844-1908)(visit ?) RSW.1833., ARSA.,1892.,
ROI.,1898Born Aberdeen, the brother of Sir George Reid and Samuel Reid,
studied at the RSA Schools. Travelled in Europe painting architecture, rivers
and pastoral scenes especially in Holland, Northern France, Spain and
Venice. Influenced by the Dutch School, his water-colours are well composed
and restrained in colour. His figures are often wooden in character.
EXHIBITS SOTHERBYS, 1992 ‘Arran from Kintyre’
FREDERICK STUART RICHARDSON (1855-1934) (visit 9.1.1892) RSW.,
ROI.,RI., RWA.,RBC. Landscape and genre painter. Lived at Sandy, Bed-
fordshire. Exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1885, at the SS, NSW and
presumably at the RSW, of which he was a member. Titles at the RA are
mostly coastal scenes and fisher-folk, as well as landscapes. Painted in
England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland and also Venice.
EXHIBITS ‘The Herring Fleet, Carradale.’ ‘The Morning Catch.’ ‘The First
Snow of Winter.’
JAMES SANT (1820-1916) (visit 1897) ARA 1861, RA 1869. Portrait painter.
Pupil of John Varley and A. W. Calcott. Appointed portrait painter to Queen
Victoria in 1872. Retired from the RA in 1914. A prolific portrait painter but
interested in allegorical female figure painting and genre subjects. As a
portrait painter he enjoyed the patronage of many noble and landed families.
Extant work in many English country houses.
EXHIBITS TORRISDALE CASTLE, KINTYRE (Private collection)’Portrait of
Kenneth McKenzie’ 1897
J. D. TAYLOR (active 1875-1900 ) (visit 5.8.99) Glasgow based oil and water-
colour artist specialising in marine subjects, executed in an accurate and
detailed manner, but with naive charm. President of The Glasgow Art Club
1884-5
J. WALLACE ( ) (visit 30.6.1894) Glasgow
EDWARD ARTHUR WALTON (1860-1922) (visits 3.8.89 & 9.1.92) RSW 1885,
NEAC 1887, ARSA 1889, RP 1897, RSA 1905, PRSW 1914-1922. Born in
Renfrewshire. Studied at Glasgow School of Art and in Dusseldorf, worked
with members of the Glasgow School. Worked at Roseneath, in Surrey, in the
Trossachs and in Helensburgh but spending more time at Cockburnspath. He
spent ten years in Chelsea as a neighbour of Sir John Lavery and James
Abbott McNeill Whistler. During his period in London he spent several
summers in Suffolk at Wenhaston not so far from Charles Rennie Mackin-
tosh's Walberswick. A master of both oil and water-colour techniques he
continued to return to paint pastoral scenes in Suffolk when he made his
 16 THE ANTLER
CAMPBELTOWN MOTOR COMPANY Snipefield Industrial Estate, CampbeltownTelephone 01586 553200
‘MIND MAPPING’: THE VILLAGE PLAN
The news that East Kintyre Community Council members may get
involved in ‘Mind Mapping’ to help distinguish the ways in which
local residents can make plans to improve their communities,
brings to mind earlier attempts by experts to add to their kudos and
radiate ideas by confusing the intelligent and emboldening the
activists.
Visions of flip-charts, of large sheets of paper spread over the
floor attracting a melee of bodies wielding monster felt tips, has
more to do with the current Argyll & Bute Council inspired fashion
than distilling the possible from the unlikely.
A few years back the title was used to demonstrate that most
adults and teenagers had no idea where Sheffield or Bournemouth
were on a blank map of Britain; Glasgow was a little easier for the
Scots but even the youth of Surrey knew that the city was north of
Watford. Will this be the same for local community councillors?
In an effort to find the current explanation of the term ‘mind
mapping’ the Editor consulted Wikipaedia and found solace in the
following -
‘A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas,
tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key
word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure,
and classify ideas, and as an aid to studying and organizing
information, solving problems, making decisions, and writing’.
‘The elements of a given mind map are arranged intuitively
according to the importance of the concepts, and are classified into
groupings, branches, or areas, with the goal of representing
semantic or other connections between portions of information.
Mind maps may also aid recall of existing memories’.
‘By presenting ideas in a radial, graphical, non-linear manner,
mind maps encourage a brainstorming approach to planning and
organizational tasks. Though the branches of a mindmap represent
hierarchical tree structures, their radial arrangement disrupts the
prioritizing of concepts typically associated with hierarchies
presented with more linear visual cues. This orientation towards
brainstorming encourages users to enumerate and connect
concepts without a tendency to begin within a particular conceptual
framework’.
‘The mind map can be contrasted with the similar idea of
concept mapping. The former is based on radial hierarchies and
tree structures denoting relationships with a central governing
concept, whereas concept maps are based on connections
between concepts in more diverse patterns.’
Now before we forget what ‘mind mapping’ involves and
certainly before the EKCC ponticum tree is struck by yet another
fungus pathogen - plans without product - lets hope that thought is
given to the capacity of the community council to formulate a village
plan, fully supported by the community, one which avoids the long
gestation of the ‘harbour development’ and the delays to the ‘War
Memorial’ and ‘harbour to golf course’ step programmes.
Taking one step forward, two steps back and one step without
moving perceptibly makes any journey into the future somewhat
pointless. Have EKCC members the drive to suceed? Are they
willing to share the toil or will they leave it to the Convenor? G.P.
Carpet, Upholstery Cleaning & Window Cleaning Service
16
EKCC MEETING 4th NOVEMBER
MINUTES STILL AWAITED AT 8PM ON COMPILATION DAY 10/11/2010
Present: All 7 community councillors and ABC Unitary Authority Councillor
Donald Kelly, plus five residents. Apology: Councillor Robin Currie.
The minutes of the October meeting were accepted – proposed Ronnie
Brownie, seconded Tom Adams.
MATTERS ARISING: OFFSHORE WIND-FARM: The Convener had
complained about the proposal & Tom Adams had been on the ‘Offshore
Action Group’ web-site and spoke of the alleged real cost of the proposals.
GRITTING: The Convener was in contact with Stuart Park, seeking better
cover of the B842 north of Carradale. An undertaking had been received
that gritting would take place when possible, but concerns were expressed
that the use of larger lorry for ‘round trips’ would increased the danger of it
going off the road.
WAR MEMORIAL GARDEN: Stuart Irvine said that the ‘two young ladies’
who had volunteered their help had been working on the garden clearing
weeds and debris. The tools they had borrowed to do the work had been
returned and he had paid them for filling 13 bags. Tom Adams suggested
that a set of tools could be stored in the Hotel shed and Kathy Forbes
offered to provide tools. It was agreed to seek contractors for the repair of
the steps.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Following the receipt of £111 from Elaine
Biggart for the use of Wellpark, the total stood at £1,999.
HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS: Lachie Paterson and Stuart Irvine reported
on the meetings of the Harbour committee. They expressed concern over
the possibility of pontoons affecting fishing movements in the harbour and
thought that some pontoons could be damaged by fishing boats entering
the harbour, especially in north-east winds.
VILLAGE PLAN: The Convener displayed documents about the Tarbert
plan and thanked Mrs Horn for her offer of help with the Carradale plan.
However the view was expressed that Carradale should make its own
proposals without following Tarbert’s example or becoming involved with
the South Kintyre Development Trust, the members of which seemed to be
more concerned with affairs in Campbeltown. There was some support for
a ‘Mind Mapping’ exercise.
CORRESPONDENCE was received from the Scottish Rights of Way and
Access Society, the Forestry Commission, from a Rhododendron pathogens
research group, from AABCC about the postponed AGM, a seminar on
playing fields, and applications for wind-farm grants from agencies seeking
EKCC help from its share of the second Tangy wind-farm income. (These
applications and the dearth of local applicants were discussed at the Wind-
farm Trust meeting which took place following the present meeting)
AOCB: Further discussion on repairs to the War Memorial and its garden.
Stuart Irvine said he thought that local residents might help fund the work
on steps from the harbour to the golf course. Ronnie Brownie was asked
to contact the owners of Spout Wood in an attempt to obtain their permis-
sion to allow its improvement.
NEXT MEETING: 9th December – the hall is in use on the 2nd.
THE ANTLER WELCOMES ADVERTISERS, SUBSCRIBERS & CONTRIBUTORS
Please contact the Editor at Benbecula, Waterfoot, Carradale, Campbeltown Argyll PA28 6QX
Tel: 01583 431281 e-mail geoffreyf.page@homecall.co.uk
Mob: 07799 395709