DAVID MCKELLELECTRICIAN

9 ISLE VIEW, MACHRIHANISH, CAMPBELTOWN ARGYLL PA28 6PY PHONE 01586 810472 MOBILE 07786 650937 DAVIDMCKELL@YMAIL.COM

IN THIS ISSUE : P1 Looking to 2011, Deo Volente P2 EKCC, Surgery, Seniors Forum & Africa. P3 In memoriam - the community gardens.

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.

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.

THE COMBINED

THE SECRETARY IS DR R. J. ABERNETHY,THE ARCH, TORRISDALE PA28 6QT.

TEL: 01583 431321 FURTHER INFORMATIONIS ON PAGE 7.

CARRADALEGOLF CLUB

Although the effects of the Westminster Government’s‘Comprehensive Spending Review’ will hit a widerange of services and seriously affect the elderly,those with disabilities, the unemployed and redundantpublic workers, there is evidence that Kintyre is at lastjoining the rest of the UK in celebrating improvedcommunity facilities.

While the Scottish Government’s policy to delayfacing the inevitable spending cuts until after the nextelections, Kintyre is striding into the second decadewith a bit of bravura.

To partner the now well-used Aqualibrium, and thestate-of-the-art police station, a new dental surgery isabout to be handed over to the university authoritiesand the local practice; it will come into operation inJanuary. Finally, in advance of most of Britain save theSouth-west and north-west of England, the 11th and25th of May sees the opening of terrestrial digital ser-vices. A little further down the line a new creamery anda larger Tesco will grow in Campbeltown, enhancingsales of diary products, helping to keep shoppers awayfrom catalogue companies and encouraging them toshop in the town rather than in Oban or Glasgow. But the latest worrying news concerns the buildingin front of the new dental surgery - Campbeltown Hos-pital. More changes are in prospect including a reduc-tion of beds from almost 50 to 25. It seems as soon asa policy settles-in the NHS designers want to change it.Whereas the policy to return patients to their homes assoon as possible after treatment is preferred by many,it often results in patients having to alter their normalpractices - ‘bed time’ is what fits best with a local planrather than the individual patient. Whatever the newpreferred choice the decrease in the number of localbeds will mean even more people having to travel todistant hospitals to see their relatives. Single sex wardsand single room provision may be the ‘in’ thing, but forhow long? As a patient would you prefer to be in anopen ward in Campbeltown rather than in a single ward40 or 90 miles away from your home area? So, withhospital accommodation its swings and roundabout -you win some you lose some - but should it really betreated as a recreational game when the services areso vital to patients, members of their families and thecommunity. Ed.

STORMS AND FLOODING IN NOVEMBER! IMPROVEMENTS & PROBLEMS IN 2011? GUILD XMAS FAYRE

Carradale Village Hall2.30pm SATURDAY27th NOVEMBER

Usual stalls, teas, coffeeEntry £3 Children £1.50

DEO VOLENTE‘God willing’, this won’t be one of the last vesselsto collect wind turbine towers from CampbeltownHarbour, but help was provided by ‘Give, Give,

Give’ - but no collection boxes were in evidence!

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Matthew McMillan clearing atree blocking Shore Road.Photo courtesy of Rachel Grant.

A private sea wall at Waterfootdestroyed on 7th/8th of November

Further evidence of the damageby SE gales in early November 2010.

RNLI BONUS BALL WINNERS4th Sept B. McMillan. 11th Sept D. Macalister Hall18th Sept No Winner 25th Sept M.O.2nd Oct M. Richardson 9th Oct R. Grant16th Oct M.O. 23rd Oct J. Ramsay30th Oct Jimmy G. M.O

2 The ANTLER 2

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EAST KINTYRE COMMUNITYCOUNCIL OCTOBER MINUTES

THURSDAY 7 OCTOBER 2010PRESENT: Shelagh Cameron, Tom Adams, RonnieBrownie, Andrea Hopkins, Councillor Robin Currie,Councillor John Semple.APOLOGIES: Lachie Paterson, Stuart Irvine, Coun-cillor Annie Horn.Convenor Shelagh Cameron welcomed everyonepresent.MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: Proposed by Ron-nie Brownie seconded by Shelagh Cameron.MATTERS ARISING FROM LAST MINUTES:· Offshore wind farm at Machrihanish - a discussion

took place and as most people are against thedevelopment for various reasons it was agreedConvenor Shelagh Cameron would write a letterto the Scottish Office reiterating the reasonsagainst the proposals.

· No decision on Woodlands.· Gritting north of Carradale - Area Committee

agreed to this, but still has to be confirmed byArgyll and Bute Council.

· Treasurers Report - no change.· Planning - none.· Community Gardens – no one was wiling to come

forward to do these gardens voluntarily it wasagreed by the Community Council that they wouldbe willing to pay someone to do the gardens, anadvert will be put up shortly.

· Pontoons - progress report, no update as yet.· Village plan / ideas survey – a discussion took

place but nothing: was decided until ConvenorShelagh Cameron had spoken to Alison Youngerand also Councillor Robin Currie said he would puther in touch with the person who collected theideas for Jura, Further update at next CommunityCouncil meeting.

· Tangy 2 wind farm grants – to date only Peninverhave applied for a grant. If anyone wishing toapply for a grant from the above please get intouch with Shelagh Cameron, Closure date withinnext two weeks.

CORRESPONDENCE:Kintyre Initiative Working Group - letter

ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS:Transmitter building on point - what will happen tobuilding mast when we go digital, Convenor She-lagh Cameron to phone BBCConvenor Shelagh Cameron thanked everyone forattendingDate of Next Meeting: Thursday 4 November 2010.

THE SOUTH KINTYRESENIORS FORUM

The South Kintyre Seniors Forum met on the 14th ofOctober and planned meetings for the Autumn andNew Year. The next meeting is on 11th November in Car-radale and subsequent meetings are on Thursdaysat 2pm - the 9th of December at the Guide Hall inCampbekltown, the 13th of January at the samevenue, the 10th of February, the Guide Hall again on10th of March and the 14th of April, at Southend on12th May and an outing on the 9th of June. Both the Chairman, George McMillan and theSecretary, Ian Teesdale would like to retire in theNew Year so volunteers are urgently required. Con-cern was also expressed about changes to fundingwhich may restrict the amount of grant which theForum normally receives. There was an invitation for the rural areas tosupport the Forum by attending the monthly meet-ings held in Campbeltown and in local villages.

CARRADALE SURGERYPATIENT GROUP MEETING

29TH NOVEMBERThis year the Patient Group AGM will take place in thesurgery on Monday 29th November at 7.30pm. Anyinterested patient registered at Carradale Surgery iswelcome to come along to this meeting. The patientgroup was formed a few years ago as a mechanismfor communication between the practice and its pa-tients and is comprised of both patient and practicerepresentatives, who are elected at the AGM. Current patient representatives are JosephineBlount, Alan Briggs, Val Cannell, Jennifer Conley,Mary Ann Gosling and Paul Murphy. Any nomina-tions for patient representatives should be intimatedin writing before the date of the AGM to the PatientGroup Secretary, c/o Carradale Surgery togetherwith the name of the proposer.

SEASONAL FLU AND PNEUMOCOCCALIMMUNISATIONS

As usual we have been offering flu vaccinationthroughout October to all patients deemed ‘at risk’.“At risk” groups include those with diabetes, chronicheart, kidney, neurological or respiratory disease orthose patients with immuno-suppression due to dis-ease or treatment. Flu immunisation is also being offered to thosewho care for someone who would be “at risk” shouldthat carer fall ill. It is also recommended that patientswho are aged 65 and over should have a pneumo-coccal immunisation. Unlike the flu vaccine, thisdoes not require to be given every year. If you are in any of these groups and have not yetbeen invited for your seasonal flu and pneumococcalimmunisation as appropriate, please contact thesurgery to make an appointment.

SOUTH AFRICA 2008A MEDICAL PROBLEM

SOUTH AFRICA 2010A ‘COMPREHENSIVE SPENDING REVIEW’ SOLUTION

Martin Mears says he took the first picture in SouthAfrica in 2008, and his daughter has just sent him anupdate. He acknowledges that it's nothing to do withKintyre, but he thought it might amuse the Editor, butfollowing the October meeting of Argyll & ButeCouncil’s Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Isles AreaCommittee, is he right, or is something similar likely tohappen to local surgeries? Perhaps in a similar veinwith the birth rate in Kintyre falling and the number ofpensioners rising perhaps it might be time to turn atleast one under-capacity school into a crematorium!

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3 THE ANTLER 3

A NEW COMMUNITY COUNCIL INITIATIVESince Christmas 2008, when the two volunteers hadto give up their self-imposed task, the gardens at theBroomfield corner are overgrown; behind the WarMemorial the gardens are unkempt and damaged. Now the Community Council has decided thatmoney will be found to return the gardens to theiroriginal state, it is appropriate to establish what theBroomfield garden contained when it was laid outfollowing grants by Argyll & Bute Council in 1999and, in the case of the War Memorial, the extent ofhard landscaping and planting when it was set up in2006/7 with finance from East Kintyre Wind-farmTrust. Over the course of the years daffodils wereplanted at both gardens and a large number snow-drops at the War Memorial garden. Additionally Jon-athan Hooper gave a number of rhododendrons tothe War Memorial garden and local residents haveadded perennial geraniums and a variety of shrubs. Structurally the Broomfield garden is sound buta considerable amount of damage has been done tothe steps and to the higher level round the ‘A’ frametable behind the Memorial. Whoever is paid for restoring and then maintain-ing both gardens would be well advised to consultthe original perpetrators so that damage to plantshidden by weeds and larger shrubs is minimised.

THE WAR MEMORIAL GARDEN

Snow

drops & shrubs

Perennial geranium

s

Daffodils,Shrubs, iris

bistort

Larger shrubs

THE BROOMFIELD CORNER GARDEN 1999

CARRADALE COMMUNITY GARDENS’ SALVATION?

TABLE

SEAT

SE

AT

Phormium

Snowdrops & azaleas

Snow

drops & daffodils

Snowdrops & daffodils

Daffodils,heathers, shrubs

Dorothy’sseat

Shrubs and perennialgeraniums

TABLE

SEAT

SE

AT

A variety ofPerennials and

shrubs

BistortOphiapogons and a

few remainingJunipers

Sisyrinchiumbrachypus

Bistort invaded bygrass

Cornus mas

Cotoeaster horizontalis

Alchemilla mollis

TABLE

Phormium tenax variety

Azaleas, snowdrops, daffodils Snow

drops, daffodils,P

erennial geraniums

Daffodilsheathers

roses

Snowdrops, iris, perennial geraniums

Primula, bistort,willow, tulips,

buddlea

Rhododendron, cornus,

other shrubs

Perennial geraniums,rock roses, daffodils,

Shrubs

Shrubs

THE WAR MEMORIAL GARDEN 2006/7

Slope

AREA SET WITH PAVIOURS

AREA SET WITH18” CONCRETE SLABS

The Broomfield Garden in 1999, immediately aftercompletion and, below,

the War Memorial Garden in Spring 2007.

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‘RIVER OF FIRE:THE CLYDEBANK BLITZ’

JOHN MACLEODNearly seventy years after the Glasgow Blitz, JohnMacLeod, a columnist on the Scottish Daily Mail, haspublished a detailed account of the horrifying airattacks 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 forthe attentions of the Luftwaffe.

On the evening of 13th March 1941, Clydebankwas targeted by German bombers using a primitiveradio navigation system. In less than an hour a vasttimber yard, three oil stores and two distilleries wereablaze, pouring a ribbon of fire into the Clyde. Guidedby the fires, high explosive bombs and land mines werethen rained down without warning on the townsfolk.

This is an amazing and thoroughly researchedbook which everyone, and certainly everyone inScotland, should read. It describes not only theBlitz, but reveals in readable style the conditions ofnineteenth- and twentieth-century Scottish towns,including many poignant first-hand descriptions.

Referring to records and survivors’ memories,John MacLeod relates in detail the death and de-struction inflicted on Clydebank, and speculates onwhy it has been widely forgotten.

One of the first casualties was 17-year-old JimMacKinven of Carradale, a former pupil of Campbel-town Grammar School and Keil School in Dumbar-ton, who was killed soon after his arrival in Glasgowto take a course at Skerry’s College. He was alreadydisplaying considerable talent as a poet, and wasencouraged and helped by Naomi Mitchison, theprolific poet and writer who lived in Carradale House.

Three of Jim’s uncles travelled to Glasgow toretrieve his body from the rubble, but as time passedwith no news, Naomi Mitchison became so dis-traught, that she too made the journey and remaineduntil his body was found and brought back to beburied at Brackley cemetery at Carradale.

Jim’s cousin, April Simpson, a resident of Car-radale, who knew him as a child, supplied copies ofhis work and much information, which was of consid-erable use to John MacLeod.

It is sad that one of his best poems figured theevacuee who was billeted from Glasgow with hisfamily in Carradale during the blitz. The photo showsJim with his father; Jim is wearing his kilt for whichhe was well known in Carradale. Gloria Siggins is researching Jim's life for a bookof his poems and essays to commemorate the 70thanniversary, in March next year, of his untimelydeath. M.M.

OUR EVACUEEOh! little Oliver's a chap

Who very seldom gets the strap, For 'tis said that at the school, He's never known to ‘play the fool'. He came to bide at Carradale, And here he found things pretty stale, Far from the bustling streets and wide, Instead a bleak and cold hillside. As up the pier his steps he took, His eyes were filled like a brook, Running wi' memory free and fast, Of when he had seen Glasgow last. A handsome lad he is withal, And never once is known to bawl, When told to wash his hands and feet-- Or like some rich man's son, to greet And man, he's grown since here he came, And perhaps a fisherman o' fame, He'll grow to be, and with a will When herrings good the poorer fill. And oh, it's good to see the young, With songs of sweet ambition sung, And sad it is to see plans fair, T'be dashed into a dark despair. Temptation's path is black and grim, And often our clear dreams grow dim, But hold you tight, and the anchor chain, Will firm on the path of life be lain. James MacKinven.

STEPS ARE BEING TAKENEast Kintyre Community Council are seeking a con-tractor to rebuild the War Memorial steps and toprovide a safer walking climb from the harbour to thegolf course. While the Memorial problems havebeen under consideration for over a year, thosefrom the harbour have a history going back wellbefore Scottish Water were blamed for water in-gress and damage following sewage work. Whoknows whether this work will remain in the ‘pipe line’or if EKCC will ‘rise to the occasion’?

PLANNING APPLICATIONSTORRISDALE 10/01510/PP Erection of dwelling-house and detached garage and formation of newvehicular access. Land West Of South Lodge, Tor-risdale, Mr & Mrs D. Macalister Hall Listed buillding.+ consevation area consents 186212-688005CARRADALE 10/01643/PP Erection of sunroomextension. Ballymenach, Carradale, Campbeltown,PA28 6SA Mr & Mrs M. McMillan, Sea View East,Carradale, Campbeltown, PA28 6SQ. EquilloShurig, Peninver, Campbeltown, PA28 6QP 01 -Householder Development 181337-638667TORRISDALE Site for the erection of two dwellinghouses and associated works Land South-west ofGreenhill Torrisdale. Franz Ludwig GrafStauffenberg, C/o Agent J. R. Dixon, Barfad FarmOffice, School Road, Tarbert PA29 6UL. 03BHousing local,179410 634530

5 THE ANTLER 5

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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 withoutattracting the necessary Euros. It is not known if a Greek vessel was taking part in the naval exercise orwhether, if it was, if it came with wind assistance.

A83 ROADWORKSROADWORKS ON A83 BETWEEN INVERARAY

AND CAIRNDOWA83 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 withtemporary traffic signals. The road improvementschemes, represent a £0.5 million investment andare set to bring significant benefits to the A83. A mix of overnight closures and single laneclosure will be used to ensure the work can becarried out with minimum impact to road users,whilst ensuring both the safety of workers anddrivers.

GENTLE JOHNNY RAMENSKYA NEW BOOK BY ROBERT JEFFREY

Gentle Johnny Ramensky is the astonishing tale ofa boy reared in the poverty of the Gorbals whobecame one of the world's most extraordinary safeblowers. He spent more than 40 years in jail. Adaring escaper, he broke out of Scotland's grimprison fortress of Peterhead five times - three timesin one year! A likeable rogue, he was a gentle manwho in peacetime shrank from violence. But heserved his country with exceptional bravery and skillin the Second World War. Recruited into the Com-mandos, he was parachuted behind enemy lines tobreak into the safes of the German High Commandto steal vital documents from Rommel and Goering.Back in civvy street he could not resist a return to theexcitement of roaming darkened rooftops and break-ing open the toughest of safes. Tragically he wasbehind bars when he died, by then a true Scottishlegend. Robert Jeffrey, who has a house in Waterfoot, isa long-serving Glasgow journalist and the formermanaging 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 bookthe morning before the Antler went to print and, aftera brief glance at its contents, recommends it as anexcellent Christmas gift. A more personal review willbe contained in the February Antler, out in late Jan-uary.

A BARREL OF BLOOMThanks to everyone who offered to adopt a flowerbarrel.  We had a great response and Carradale willbe blooming again next summer. T.H.

TOWN HALL CLOSEDArgyll and Bute Council has temporarily closedCampbeltown Town Hall, on health and safetygrounds. Gaps in the slates have allowed birds toenter the roof space. The council is now assessing how thecontamination they have caused can be cleared.The roof has already been identified as an areawhich needs repair. The council is continuing work to establish abusiness case for the future of the building. This isexpected to take between nine and 12 months.Some funding has already been allocated to helppay for long term improvements to the building,although more is needed. The council would like to reassure residents thatthe town hall building remains a priority building forthe Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative.

MOUNTAINS FOR TOURISTSTo most minds, Kintyre has no mountains, nonethat is until one considers a feature on Kintyre,‘Kintyre Collection’, which appeared in the May2002 issue of the ‘Climber’ magazine where writerKevin Howett tells us that "the Northern Highlandsare becoming less and less remote because ofHighland Council development with EU Directive 1funding, single-track roads are dug up in favour ofRomanesque carriageways and tourist 'attractions'proliferate everywhere". "The over-riding feeling after a visit to The Mull(of Kintyre)," continues Kevin Howett, "is a sense ofhaving been somewhere utterly remote from modernsociety, a place unfettered by the will of progress, agood feeling". According to Kevin Howett, Kintyre is "miles fromanywhere. Which would be OK if it had mountainsand scenic splendour but, travelling down the A83you leave that behind at Tarbert and enter a surreallandscape of agriculture by the sea. It is neithermainland nor island and (it) conjures up an image ofan English Bible-belt country for 'hic's”. "There is one main town, Campbell (!), placed asfar from civilisation as geographically possible. Itshould be picturesque but fails due to the localcouncil's lack of architectural foresight back in the60's council-housing boom”. "It has a run-down appearance with its derelictshops, young boy racers cruising the 'drag', spittoonpubs that haven't changed with the times, a harbourand a ferry linking it with Arran (Oh ?) and some-times with Northern Ireland. So what on earth wouldattract someone to visit“? "If you're into skin-tight rubber, the surf's goodand if your penchant is big planes, then you canwatch the USAF Stealth bombers taking off andlanding at Machrihanish air force base. It beats theLeuchars Air Show and it's free!"Well, what indeed would have encouraged anybodyto visit the area back in 2002 after such a glowingwrite-up? Kevin Howett came anyway, heading fora 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 TheNational Trust for Scotland, are available for let bytelephoning 0131-243-9331 or e-mailing them atholidays@nts.org.uk Correcting himself, 'beyond Campbeltown',Kevin Howett "made the interminable drive along thesometimes small and twisty road, always throughrain, sometimes dodging locals who drove on thewrong side of the road, one old man speeding pastonly to be met again minutes later after his car leftthe road and settled on top of a dyke on the edge ofa sea cliff" ! According to Kevin Howett, it was one Bill Skid-more, a former council roads surveyor who firstexplored the climbing opportunities around The Mullof Kintyre Lighthouse, who made it a pre-requisitethat a car park was built at the end of the public roadto The Mull. Though Kevin Howett's otherwise excellent fea-ture, describing in some detail the dozen and moreclimbs around the area between The Mull Light andits foghorn, is not to be faulted and makes animportant contribution to our understanding of Kin-tyre's potential for attracting tourists, one wonders ifhis general observations about the area are indeedhow "ithers see us" ! If so, it might be an idea to dosome 'mountain climbing' ourselves, 'take ourselvesto the tops' and focus on Kevin Howett's 'surreal'views of Kintyre.

An article by the late Donald Kelly of Muasdale.

MOUNTAINS FOR ‘NEENIE’‘Neenie’, always noted for his perspicacity and natu-ral reticence, has gone where few others would dareto tread; he recently paid a visit to Arran with one ofhis legion of kind friends and acquaintances andstopped the Editor on Saturday the 23rd of Octoberto tell of his latest achievement with the words:

Once again congratulations are very much in order.

6 THE ANTLER 6

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THE NEW TOOTH FACTORYThe Campbeltown Dental Centre building was hand-ed over to the new occupants in November. While itnow seems less like an ‘air terminal building’ it iscertainly no delight to the eye. Prince Charles mightbe justified in calling it a ‘toothless smile’ on ‘thewell-kent face of Campbeltown’; inside might be adifferent story.

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DIG EMMA & SIOBHANTWO COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS

Emma Downie and Siobhan Dandy are, sofar, the only Carradale residents to offertheir services to bring the War MemorialGarden back to its former glory. Theyworked almost until dark on Sunday 24th ofOctober on the thankless job of weeding itbefore the annual War Memorial Service.

Their efforts to pay tribute to those whogave their lives in two World Wars and toreturn the garden to its former state will gosome way to assist the Community Councilin its intention to present Carradale in its bestpossible light in the coming tourist season. Ifonly there were knowledgeable and equallyenthusiastic helpers among the working agepopulation and pensioner groups willing totackle the overgrown Broomfield garden.

CARRADALE GOLF CLUBOCTOBER MEDAL – LGU BROOCH

The last medal of the summer was played on 14 October withMargaret Richardson (36)  Nett 70 winning the brooch.

CARRADALE CAMERA CLUBTHE GREAT BIG CARRADALE PHOTO CHALLENGE

On 13 December 2010, the children of Primary 4-7 togetherwith members of Carradale Camera Club will hold a photo-graphic exhibition in aid of school funds. The children havebeen set a challenge of taking photos either of people at workor play and or animals. We all hope that as many local peopleas possible will support us. There will be more information tofollow.

SPRING PROGRAMME10 January F Stops  David Mercer Black and White Developing    Allan McLay24 January Composition – what makes a good picture Eliza-

beth Vischer 7 February Competition Night - Humorous - Slides21 February Scanning Photographs and Slides - Johnny Dur-

nan 7 March   Evening Photography – outside locally, practical

session + download/feedback21 March Competition Night – Magic Moments – Prints 4 April  TBC ( Photos for Print of the Year to be handed in)18 April  Print of the Year Competition – Judge Meri Wrightson 9 May AGMNOTE – On nights where the published programme finishesearly, a practical session will follow after the specific topic.

NO FOREST SALESAYS SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Media reports claiming that the majority of Britain's nationalforests are to be sold off are "total nonsense and wide of themark" Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said to-day. Speaking at the annual Scottish Forestry Forum in Battle-by, she said:"These reports show a very clear misunderstanding of thedevolved nature of forestry across Britain. Forestry policy hasbeen a devolved matter since April 2003. It is quite clearly amatter for Scottish Ministers to determine the future of ForestryCommission Scotland and the national forest estate in Scot-land - it is certainly not a decision for Westminster. There maybe a review of forestry in England but that does not includeScotland. This review has no remit whatsoever north of the border.We are certainly living in very difficult and challenging timesand with swingeing cuts being imposed on Scotland we needto plan carefully for this. The Scottish Government is continu-ing to look for opportunities to simplify and streamline publicbodies in Scotland and Forestry Commission Scotland, alongwith other public bodies, will be part of that ongoing process.However, let me be quite clear, we have no plans to disposeof the national forest estate in Scotland and there is no reviewof Forestry Commission Scotland being undertaken. I do have considerable concerns over the review of Forest-ry Commission England and its potential impact in Scotlandtherefore I have written to my counterparts in England andWales to suggest a meeting to discuss issues surroundingforestry. The Scottish Government views Scotland's forests asa source of national pride and an important public asset whichcan help deliver many benefits in economic, environmentaland social terms."

7 THE ANTLER 7

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COMMUNICATION SERVICEMany of us have the doubtful experienceof being contacted by ‘phone and offeredservices we don’t need and would not wishto purchase. Our reactions can vary de-pending on how polite the enquiry and howsympathetic we are to third world need.One local resident was invited to join abroadband and telephone package called‘HIVE’. After listening to the sales pitch heasked if he could have a written quotationand details of the service before commit-ting himself. Subsequently he received abill as if he had agreed to join. He protest-ed at this and was played a tape recordingof the original call with the proviso omitted.He insisted that the tape was ‘doctored’,refused to pay and threatened legal actionif HIVE did not cancel this unauthorisedtransfer. On rejoining BT he benefited by abetter package than he had before. Moral:don’t get stung by Indian HIVE bees.

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8 THE ANTLER 8

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FROM BIBER TO DUBINSKI

One of the most delightful features of life is findingsome one who is knowledgeable about a particularsubject, knows how far to go without boring listen-ers, but allows their enthusiasm to shine throughuntarnished by personal bias. Consequently when Saddell & Carradale Guilddecided to ask Cameron McNair of Grogport to paya second visit to the Church on Tuesday 26th Octo-ber members of the local church guild and theirfriends were the captivated audience for a recordedrecital under the title of ‘Hidden Gems of SacredMusic.’ At the earlier recital Mr McNair sought out lesserknown northern and western composers of churchmusic, but on this occasion he decided to extendlisteners appreciation a little by surreptitiouslycreeping towards southern and eastern Europe.Starting with the Kyrie from Missa Bruxellensis byHeinrich Ignatz von Biber, the cosmopolitan com-poser who lived from 1600 to 1750, Mr McNairmoved delightfully through music of the interveningyears to Fyodor Dubinski (1890-1966) with a mix-ture of recorded baroque and more recent choralmusic. In an enquiringly schoolmasterly way he eitherenthused over aspects of the performance or invitedcomments 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,it was clear that any questioner’s voice would besomewhat of an anti-climax after the sonoroustones of Slav male voices, the rich sound of thecontroversial Rumanian ‘diva’ Angela Gheorghiuand the powerful Agentinian Mercedes Sosa. Although Mr McNair’s enthusiasm for EasternOrthodox performances was evident throughout, hewas a little dismissive of one essential element ofthe Baroque sound - the voice of boy choristers.Where would the tradition be without the sounds ofKing’s College Chapel at Christmas or the ‘castrati’of the early Vatican choirs? Johann Sebastian Bachand Vivaldi both attempted to change the acceptednorms of their period, but the essential quality of theboy soprano remains critical in assessing the qualityof baroque performances. At least, once the shorttenure of their contribution is over, they are fortu-nately without the popular decline associated withsome well-known young female ‘church’ choristers,and indeed at least one male character whose sing-ing voice has ‘slurred’ him into the smoke machinesand multi-coloured sing-alongs of ‘Songs of Praise.’ During the interval refreshments were availableand a draw allowed two members of the audienceto carry away some magnificent performances onCDs. The meeting opened and closed with prayers byMargaret Leighton, appropriate for the nature of theevening, and for its part in the life of worshippers.Carol Abernethy thanked Cameron McNair for hispresentation, especially when coming to terms witha family bereavement and carried the appreciationof all those who attended. G.P.

OCTOBER RAINFALLOctober had a wet start, a dry middle and a very wetend! However, it was another month of below aver-age rainfall with 183mm recorded in total. This com-pares with the decade average for October of206mm. The highest October rainfall in the last 10years was 312mm in 2008, whilst the lowest was109mm in 2003. Exceptionally heavy rain was recorded on the 3rd(19mm), 26th (23mm) and 30th (35mm). There wasalso heavy rain on the 5th, 18th, 20th, 22nd and 28th.However, no rain was recorded on fourteen days, sothe overall total for the month remained low. The year’s total rainfall to date, for the monthsJan-Oct inclusive, stands at 1100mm (about44inches). So 2010 remains the driest year since ourrecord keeping began in 2000, but the gap is short-ening to the next driest, 2003, which at a similarstage had recorded a total of 1176mm. The final two months will be interesting. Just howmuch rain will we get and will records be broken? Bythe law of averages, we’d best have our umbrellashandy (providing the gales don’t prevent our usingthem!) M.L.

TINDALE SNEEMSEVERE WEATHER WARNING FOR BBC

ISSUED BY VIEWERSFollowing the Editor’s comments ‘In the very farNorth’ in the October issue, ‘The Telegraph’ on Satur-day 16th October carried a very similar view - SIR - The BBC weather forecast is more suitedto a drama channel than the news (leading article,October 14). At least in the heady days of MichaelFish's mistake, it was assumed that the commonman understood a simple weather map with itsfronts, troughs and isobars. These have given way toover-clever graphics, ‘severe weather warnings’whenever a lump of cumulonimbus appears on thehorizon, and advertising for the odd sporting eventthat the BBC has managed to retain.

Come on, BBC. Treat us like adults with a degreeof common sense and a bit of inbred knowledge ofweather matters. Get rid of that silly map showing ‘spitsand spots of rain’ over Ascot-under-Wychwood and abright interval over some obscure location in Durham. Consign the rest of the weather presenters withtheir flailing arms and catwalk outfits to the back-room and show us a map with the meteorologicalsituation at 0800 tomorrow on it. The Daily Telegraphone 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 orHolland. There is, however, one presenter who usesboth hands at the same time, possibly because hedoesn’t want to ‘come out’ as a right-handed fore-caster, but even he has an objection to a continentalperch and continues to cold-shoulder the Outer Islesand Ireland. But since the maps they stand in front ofare not really behind them and are hidden to the rightof the TV picture, perhaps the Hebridean and North-ern Isles are merely a figment of the weatherpresenter’s imagination and certainly not suitable forcasual display to those of a gentle disposition. Ed.

QUIZZLE 2010: AN APOLOGYThis year’s Quizzle is now out and is available fromHall Committee Members and local shops. Unfortu-nately, it contains one typing mistake - in Question71. As a result, this question will not count towardsthe overall total. Tony Leighton.

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ABC EDUCATION BUDGETREVIEW PROPOSALS

CONSULTATION BEGINSArgyll and Bute Council will consider proposals toconsult on the amalgamation of schools, reducingthe number of primary schools from 80 to 54 at aspecial meeting of the executive, to be held onTuesday 2 November. Under the proposals 26primary schools would amalgamate into 20receiving schools. The proposals are the result of acomprehensive review of the council’s educationbudget, which began in May 2010 and aims toidentify ways the council could continue improvingthe education service while at the same timerecognising the need to reduce the council’s overallbudget by 15%. The review revealed 59% of thecouncil’s primary schools are less than half full, withsome having fewer than five pupils. Similar ruralcouncil areas only have an average of 29% ofschools less than half full. School rolls have beenfalling for a number of years. Latest predictionsshow a reduction in the number of school age pupilsin Argyll and Bute of around 13% by 2015 and by19% by 2020. The review also considers how costeffective each school is, including the amount spenton maintenance. The council’s maintenance spendis below that required to keep buildings in theircurrent condition. Reducing the number of buildingsallows more money to be spent on others. As aresult the council will consider proposals to consulton the amalgamation of some schools, creatinglarger, more sustainable schools which cancontinue delivering the good results already foundacross Argyll and Bute. Councillors will be asked ata meeting of the executive committee on 2November to begin formal consultation with allinterest groups on proposals amalgamate schools.No decisions will be made over whichamalgamations will take place until everyone hashad the chance to make their views known during aconsultation period. Cleland Sneddon, Argyll and Bute Council’sexecutive director for community services, hopesresidents will take the opportunity to share theirviews. He explains: “The council has a clear vision forits education service, and strives to improve thequality of education for all in Argyll and Bute. At thesame time we face challenging financial times.Education accounts for more than one third of thecouncil’s total budget. If we don’t make savings inour education service we will have to make biggersavings from other services. There is a real risk thatwe won’t achieve our vision unless we makesignificant changes. “But the council won’t takethese decisions lightly or in isolation. There will befull consultation and I hope everyone will share theirthoughts so everyone can be sure our decisions arethe right ones. Our priority is to keep improving thestandard of education on offer and realistically wecan only do this by making significant changes.” The council’s executive will consider theproposals on 2 November. No decisions have beenmade, and can only be made by the council after fullconsultation. This will not happen until spring 2011. Note: Argyll and Bute Council has a total budgetof £278m. The council anticipates a budget shortfallof between £9million and £13 million each year, forthe next three years. The council has a target ofreducing its total spend by 15% over the next threeyears. The current total spend on education is £99.6million. A 15% saving equates to almost £15 million.If the spend on education is protected these savingswill have to be found from other areas.

LIST OF PROPOSALSProposed Receiving School Amalgamating School/s (and 2010/11 rolls)1 Ardrishaig Achahoish(15)2 Hermitage Primary Luss(21)3 Port Charlotte Keills (24)4 Castlehill St Keiran's (0)5 Drumlemble Southend (26)6 Dalmally/Kilrnartin Ardchonnel (0)7 Easdale Lumg(19)8 Garelochhead Rosneaih (85), Kilcreggan(70)9 Hermitage A/John Logie Baird Parklands (7)10 Innellan Toward (20)11 Lochgilphead Glassary (20), Minard (10}12 Lochnell Ardchattan (5), Achaleven (9), Barcaldine (23)13 Rothesay North Bute (51)14 Salen Lochdonhead (14}15 Sandbank Strane (42)16 Strachur/Tighnabruaich Kilmodan (22)17 Clachan Skipness (1), Rhunahaorine (14), Glenbarr (11)18 Taynuilt Kiichrenan(10)19 Tayvallich Ashfield (8)20 Dervaig Ulva (7)

KINTYRE: SCHOOL RUNNING COSTS School Occu- Cost per Energy Use pancy pupil/yr KWh/yr/pupil Clachan 20.8% £10,620 5,549 Glenbarr 22.0% £12,785 7,202 Rhunahaorine 42.4% £9,741 6,999 Skipness 3.0% £113,925 14,798 Post amalgam 69.8 % £ 6,015 1,650

Drumlemble 33.3 % £6,220 3,322 Southend 35.1% £6,787 2,774 Post amalgam 59.6% £4,711 1,858

Castlehill 50.0% £3,972 1,985 St Kierans 0.0% £125,908 0 Post amalgam 50.0% £3,669 1,985

LOCAL NEWS WE COULDN’TTELL YOU ABOUT IN 2010

BECAUSE WE WEREN'T TOLDCarradale & District Seniors Group activities, Car-radale Activity Play Park fireworks, Carradale Volun-teer Firefighter’s car wash. Recent Carradale CricketClub results. Tarbert & Loch Fyne Gaelic Choir’s Modvisit. The Pool Competition & charity cycle rides.

BUT WE CAN TELL YOUABOUT THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVED IN 2010

Throughout 2010 the continuing dedication of 21Antler distributors, many of whom helped with the firstissue in July 1992, the hardworking postal officerwhose leisure activities are seriously curtailed oneweekend a month, the dedicated advertisers withoutwhom the Antler would ‘fold’ and the subscriberswhose additional donations, helped keep the Editor’shead and antlers above water. That just leaves the efficient and friendly Krisp-Print staff and a number of regular contributors whopull out all the stops to offer something new andinteresting - if only there were more submissions ofever greater variety. The Editor wishes everyone a rewarding Christ-mas and an interesting and transforming New Year.The hope is that the magazine will forge ahead into itsnineteenth year ably supported by everyone who iscurrently involved and by those who are too shy tohave their achievements recorded for posterity.

Argyll and Bute Council deferred making a decisionon the future of its school estate until 25 November.

10 THE ANTLER 10

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CARRADALE SURGERYPUBLIC HOLIDAY

The surgery will be closed over the festive seasonon Monday the 27th and Tuesday, the 28th of De-cember, 2010 and on Monday the 3rd and Tuesday,the 4th of January, 2011. Please order your repeatmedication in good time.

There will be no the red cross transport onThursday, the 6th of January, 2011.

During public holidays, as at other out-of-hours peri-ods, if requiring a doctor telephone NHS 24 on 08454242424 or in life-threatening emergencies dial 999.We have had a request for more youthful magazinesin the waiting room. If anyone has some at homethey are finished with, please hand them in at recep-tion. We would also be grateful during the winter forany assistance with replenishing the bird tableerected in memory of Isobel Campbell.

SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERVICEService eligibility criteria: The Scottish AmbulanceService have issued us with the following reminderwhich we would like to bring to patient’s attention. ‘Itis important that only patients that are eligible totravel by the patient transport service are booked bythe GP and hospital staff. These patients shouldhave a medical need, for example -

Unable to walk without assistance, require supportof persons trained for lifting and handling, has amedical condition has potential to deteriorate if trav-eling by an alternative method. Escorts may onlytravel the patient if the patient is – A child, is deaf or blind, is unable to understandthe doctor, has communication problems or is re-ceiving results of specialised tests. This includes patient Trans Service transportbetween Glasgow Airport and hospitals. The sur-gery has a supply of claim forms for reimbursementof part of transport expenses incurred by patientsattending distant hospitals.

HEARING AIDSMembers of the Campbeltown audiometry teamheld a successful session at the surgery in 2010 togive patient general guidance on using hearing aids.Those that attended found the session very useful.If you are interested attending a similar session in2010 please let the that surgery staff know.

PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITYWe would like to remind patients that unless wehave the patients explicit written permission to doso, it is not possible for surgery staff to give out testresults etc. to anyone other than the patient them-selves.

CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION?WHAT’S YOUR CHOICE FOR COMMUNITY OR SELF HARM ?

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

Overall harm score

Alcohol

Heroin

Crack

Methylamphetamine

Cocaine

Tobacco

Amphetamine

Cannabis

GBH

Benzodiazepines

Ketamine

Methadone

Mephedrone

Butane

Khat

Anabolic steroids

Ecstasy

LSD

Buprenorphine

Mushrooms

*Cumulative Weight

Source: The Lancet

INDEX OF MOST HARMFUL DRUGS

EAST KINTYRE COMMUNITYCOUNCIL WIND-FARM TRUST

The Wind-farm Trust met on Thursday, 4 Novemberto review grant applications in the Autumn tranche.There were 11 applications from which there weretwo rejected, three were granted less than theamount applied for and six were granted the fullamount of their application. The total distributedamounted to £7,500. The following is a list of thesuccessful grants: - £Footnotes Dancing 400Campbeltown Running Club 200Scottish Community Drama Association 1000Carradale Playpark –Fireworks 300Campbeltown Airbase 2000Senior Citizens Red Cross transport 1000Kintyre Juvenile Pipe Band Assoc. 1000Homestart 600Campbeltown Cinema 1000It should be remembered that there are fairly strictguidelines laid down giving criteria for grantingawards. Our geographic area is East Kintyre fromCour to Peninver. However some discretion is al-lowed for applications from outwith this area. J.S.I.

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GO GEOCACHING?Whilst on holiday recently we took up a new hobbycalled geocaching. We are now enthusiasticallyhooked on a fascinating activity that already has aworld 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 likevisiting 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 thehealthy open air.

Like most hobbies you need some equipment toget started but in this case this just includes a com-puter with internet access which most people havealready and a hand held GPS (Global PositioningSystem) or the equivalent facility on a mobile phone. People all over the UK (and the world) havehidden caches and entered details of where to findthem on the geocaching web site. You download theGPS location and details of any hidden cache in thearea you plan visiting. They are graded in degree ofdifficulty and the nature of the terrain and you canselect accordingly. To pinpoint the location a de-scription is given and an additional hint can bedecoded to reveal for example, in a tree trunk, undera large stone or perhaps in a prickly place. Using the information you head to the givenparking/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 boxsize; but they can vary. One we found was a screwtopped test tube, and another a very tiny “nano”one-a tiny 1cm magnetic cylinder no bigger than thetop of your little finger. Each hidden cache has anote book or other means to record your name andthe date you found it. Once home you can record thetreasure you have found on the geocaching web site. The caches are in both rural and urban locationswhich are also places of interest, which you mightotherwise pass by. I have to admit to being childishly excited whenwe made our first find in a tree stump which wasclose to the village of Falstone not far from theKielder dam in Northumberland. Our visit to the damwas interesting in itself, but this cache lead us to anearby snell which is a carved stone and steelmonument recording the history of the homesteadsand villages that were submerged and their occu-pants relocated when the dam was built. Other caches are in scenic locations, in placesof historical, botanical or of other general interest. We found other rural caches on or near HolyIsland, in an extensive and impressive Arboretum atHawick Gardens, and at places along HadriansWall. One directed us to the oldest yew tree inNothumberland - at Beltingham. The tree is at least700 and possibly as much as 2000 years old. The most challenging was the nano cache in thetown of Corbridge. Its tiny magnetic form hidden atankle height made it a real challenge and all themore rewarding when finally found. Another urbanone was in Petersfield which we found whilst wejourneyed further south. Non geocaching members of the public areknown as muggles. You are asked when treasure hunting, to keepthe exact locations secret so that the caches are notvandalised or removed so clandestine subterfuge issometimes required especially in urban areas.Wearing a Columbo style raincoat and looking sus-picious is not advisable! We spent a lot of timepretending to tie our shoe laces! People that originally place a cache go back atintervals to maintain and check it, so that the details

on the web site are accurate. Others can then con-tinue to enjoy hunting for it. It is obvious that familieswith 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 objectsballoons, ornaments, toys, sweets etc are initiallyput in the box and finding “the treasure” you areoptionally invited to take an object of your choicefrom the contents, replacing it with a small item ofyour own thus maintaining an on- going “treasure”supply. Those that placed the cache have the enjoy-ment of seeing when, who and how many havefound their treasure. We really enjoyed our opening foray into geo-caching and we will certainly continue to hunt fortreasure. We can thoroughly recommend it to others. Back home we are looking forward to finding thecache which we know is buried at Carradale. Thereare some in Campbeltown, and others dottedaround Kintyre. For more information and perhaps getting in-volved in geocaching yourself, visit the web-sitewww.geocaching.com T.& M.L.

FUEL POVERTYTARGETS UNDER SCRUTINY

 Ahead of the last full term of the Scottish Parliamentbefore the statutory duty to end fuel poverty in 2016must be met, the national charity Energy actionScotland is calling for a detailed and well-resourcedroute map from government as to how it will beachieved. Opening a major conference in Glasgow (Wed 3– Fri 5 November), Energy Action Scotland Director,Norman Kerr will make the case for prioritising thefuel poor, saying: “It is essential that in all the plansfor tackling climate change and securing energysupplies, the focus is first and foremost on helpingthe most vulnerable people who are cold in theirhomes.  “Too many people in Scotland still fear the onsetof winter and the perennial struggle to pay for do-mestic fuel bills. Government at all levels needs toset out how the target to end fuel poverty will be metand to make available the funding to support house-holds that cannot afford to make their homes moreenergy efficient.”  The conference will also hear from officials fromthe Scottish Government, the UK Government De-partment of Energy and Climate Change, the Ener-gy Retail Association and the Scottish Campaign onWelfare Reform.  A panel of MSPs from the main parties will alsotake questions on their plans for eradicating fuelpoverty from an audience representing all sectors. For further details contact: Elizabeth Gore, PRManager, Energy Action Scotland on: 0141 2263064 or mobile: 07764 212564

BACKGROUND NOTES:Energy Action Scotland is the national charity whichcampaigns to end fuel poverty and works to promotewarm, dry homes for all.  Website: http://www.eas.org.uk Fuel poverty is defined as having to spendmore than 10 per cent of income on domestic fuel.Around 1 in 3 (800,000) households in Scotland areestimated to be in fuel poverty. The Scottish Gov-ernment has a statutory duty to end fuel poverty, asfar as is practicable, by November 2016, as requiredby the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.Energy Action Scotland Suite 4a, Ingram House,227 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1DA Tel:  0141 2263064 Fax:  0141 221 2788 Email:  christine.mcarthur@eas.org.uk Web:  www.eas.org.uk - Working forWarm, Dry Homes -

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PHYTOPHTHORA IS HEREUPDATE ON AN ARTICLE ON FUNGUS

PATHOGENS IN THE ANTLER IN APRIL 2008According to information released to residents attendingthe November community council meeting, the diseaseis spreading in Argyll. One plant has been destroyed ina garden behind the Abbeyfield in Carradale and othershrubs susceptible to the pathogen within 3 metres hadto be removed and burnt. Dr Stephen Murray, theNational Trust for Scotland’s project officer, suggeststhat a property owner’s requirement to remove and burnplants known to be affected by phytophthora may beextended to 100 metres from the plant. The followinginformation was included in issue 187 of the Antler inApril 2008. NOTE : ‘Phytophthora (translated from the Greekmeaning ‘plant destroyer’) is the generic name for agroup of fungal-like pathogens, containing many of themost destructive plant diseases. Both P. ramorum andP. kernoviae are aerial Phytophthoras, which attack theabove ground parts of trees and shrubs. They producespores on infected leaves of host species such asrhododendron and these spores may then infect thebark of trees such as Fagus (beech) and to a lesserextent, Quercus (oak), and a range of unrelatedspecies. Both Phytophthoras can be transmitted byrain-splash, wind-driven rain, irrigation and ground-water, but not by wind alone. Long-distance spreadoccurs by movement of contaminated plant material,growing media, and in soil carried on vehicles,machinery, footwear or animals. The symptoms varydepending on the host species but on broadleaved treesa dark coloured fluid oozes from the bark on the trunk(also known as a bleeding canker). This is caused whenPhytophthora attacks and kills the underlying bark. Asthe infection spreads, it girdles the trunk and causesdeath in a few years. In rhododen dron, the symptomsare a rapid shoot and leaf blight with brown to blackdiscolouration. Two cases of Phytophthora ramorumhave been found in private gardens in Argyll belongingto the National Trust for Scotland. The Trust have beenfully co-operative with Scottish Government agencies inhelping tackle this potentially serious outbreak’.

LETTER TO THE EDITORHOUSE PRICES

Dear Geoffrey,I refer to your article on house prices in Carradale whichappeared in last month's Antler. Whilst I have no prob-lem whatever in your reference to freedom of informa-tion available under the Act of 2000 I think a simplereference was all that was required and matters shouldhave been left at that. The reality is that the figures published reflect whatwas shown in each transaction as the consideration(that is the price paid) for that particular property but thefigures do not show what interest was conveyed or howthe consideration was arrived at or agreed. Forexample,  in the case of an executry or private familysale/purchase transaction one family member could bepurchasing from other family members without a formalvaluation and the consideration shown would only re-flect the proportional interest being conveyed. Therecould also be a back dated date of entry in which eventthe consideration would reflect the value of a property atthat particular date. Such transactions cannot be compared with the saleof a 100% interest  in a property on the open market.There can also be a situation where a property has beensold on a ‘lock stock and barrel’ basis with no apportion-ment made between heritable property and moveableproperty. In such a case the price would be inflated bythe amount of moveable property included in the sale. Asale may also have a business element included. Theproblem is that the information you published can belikened to a bikini - what  is revealed is interesting butwhat is concealed is vital. Any information gleaned fromthe Land Register should always be taken ‘cum granosalis’. (with) a grain of salt. Yours sincerely, Alan Walker.

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AVAILABLE FROM1st December to24th December

LUNCH 12 till 2pmMinimum 4 people £19.95

DINNER 6 till 7.30pm £22.50ALSO OPEN FOR

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCHB.Y.O.B

Please book as we are a verysmall restaurant

Please phone, e-mail ordrop in for menu details

Tel: 01880 760369e: info@crossaiglodge.co.uk

We are two miles north of Grogport

12 THE ANTLER 12

A LADY ON THEBAKE

NETWORK INFORMATIONOPENING TIMES 11am - 4pm

CLOSED WED & THURThe tearoom is closed from the21st December until the 14thJanuary 2011. Orders are stillbeing taken for Christmas bakingup to 14th December, which in-cludes mince pies, chocolatelogs, meringues, brandy snaps,shortbread and rich fruit cake -marzi-panned and iced. Last or-ders for fruit cake taken on 26thNovember. Wishing all my cus-tomers a very Merry Christmas! Thank you, José.

A MAN ON THETRAIN

Those who like happy endingsand who enjoyed JohnMacMillan’s story of Torrisdale inthe 1930s, and 1940s will be in-terested to know that three weeksafter arriving in Canada he start-ed work cleaning carriages forthe Canadian National Railway. For 45 years he workedthrough the ranks and retired asMechanical Officer (Technical) incharge of maintenance. Inciden-tally the main CN Rail Yard inOntario at Toronto is called theMacMillan Yard. For those whoare not familiar with the CN itoperates across Canada, but al-so, after purchasing several U.S.rail roads, down to Mexico .

THE BOY ON THEROCK

Donald H. Milne has been a Car-radale holidaymaker since the1930's and it was after seeing aphotograph of himself waving tothe departing ‘Davaar’ in DonaldKelly's article in the February is-sue, that he wrote to the Editorsaying that the picture was takenby his mother in 1938, when theywere seeing a visiting aunt off onher ‘voyage’ back to the Broomie-law in Glasgow.

THE PICTUREHOUSE

Sat 20 Nov 2010 for6 days at 8.00pm

RED (12A)

CARRADALE HARBOURUSERS GROUP

There have been 3 meetings during the last 2months to discuss the further regeneration of theharbour area. Local representatives of the fishingindustry, tourism and retail have met to ascertainthe best way forward. Initial discussions havetaken place with the company responsible formooring facilities in Campbeltown and Lochranzato decide a preliminary layout for harbour pon-toons, plus discussions are ongoing with HIE andABC with regard to finance and management.More detailed information will be available soonbut anyone wishing to contact the present com-mittee can phone:-Alan Milstead 431 226 or Stuart Irvine 431 278

ADVERTISE IN THE ANTLER60sq.cms., for £7 a month

13 THE ANTLER 13

THE KINTYRE MAGAZINE: NO 68THE JOURNAL OF THE KINTYRE ANTIQUARIAN

AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETYThe Antler Editor was pleased to receive the latest Kintyre Magazinein mid November and delighted to find that it contained articles andreferences to artists with Campbeltown connections - J. CampbellMitchell RSA, James Caw Senior, Sir James Caw, William McTaggart,and George P. McKean Stewart. With two articles on J. Campbell Mitchell, one written fairly recentlyby Murdo MacDonald and other published in the August 1921 issue ofScottish Country Life by J. Shaw Simpson, an article by Angus Martinon James Caw Senior and an appreciation of George P. McKeanStewart by his son George John Stewart, the issue is packed withinteresting 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 Martincontributes a ‘Review of Singing Songs of the Scottish Heart’ – inhonour of the work of William McTaggart - and there are submissionsby Agnes Stewart, Christine Russell, James MacDonald, Murdo Mac-Donald, covering flora, otters, butterflies and education together with ahalf-page tribute to Hamish MacKinven and Donald Kelly. Finally thereis a summer into winter ‘By Hill and Shore’ account of Angus Martin’s2009 experiences with friends in the South Kintyre’ countryside. All-in-all a very worthwhile winter’s indulgence by the fireside anda handy reference to Campbeltown’s artistic connections.

ARTISTS VISITING KINTYREIn seeking to underline Angus Martin’s interest in the artistic attractionsof Kintyre, the Antler Editor carried out some research in the early1990s into the shipping records of the paddle steamers and othervessels carrying passengers from Glasgow to Carradale, Saddell andCampbeltown, and, in conjunction with accompanying list of resourcesproduced the following notes of artists known to have visited or workedin Kintyre, particularly in Carradale or around the old Waterfoot ‘studio’.Since the research was carried out Lady Mitchison has died and thereferences to paintings in Carradale House are no longer applicable. With acknowledgements to Paul Harris and Julian Halsby forbiographical details from ‘The Dictionary of Scottish Painters 1600-1960, ‘to ‘The Argyllshire Herald,’ ‘The Campbeltown Courier,’ ArgyllPublic Libraries, Murdo MacDonald until recently the full-time CountyArchivist, Galleries in Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and a number ofother galleries, but above all to the residents of Kintyre with paintingsin their possession and the reminiscences of holiday visitors.

ROBERT WEIR ALLAN (1851-1942) (1888) RSW., 1880 NEAC., 1886ARWS., 1887 RWS., 1896 VPRWS., 1908-10. Born Glasgow, theson of an amateur painter. Studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts andthe Atelier Julian 1875-1880. Influenced by the Impressionists.Specialised in a ‘blottesque’ technique. Subject matter includedmarket scenes and harbours. Settled in London during the 1880sundertaking both oil and water-colours. Travelled widely, India1891-2, Japan 1907, North Africa 1911-12. Also painted in Italy,France, Spain and Holland. Scottish subjects included the fishingvillages of the east and west coasts. Influenced a wide range ofartists through his friendship with ARTHUR MELVILLE.

LOUISE RICHARD ANNAND (1915- ) (frequent visitor) Educated atHamilton Academy and Glasgow University. Encouraged to paint

by J. W. Ferguson, she joined the New Art Club at its inception in1941 and exhibited with the New Scottish Group in 1943/5. Influ-enced by Adler, Herman and J. D. Ferguson her work includesmurals and book illustrations. President of the Society of ScottishWomen 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. Hespecialised in marine pictures, usually water-colours, mostly ofScottish subjects. He was a keen yachtsman and had an intimateknowledge 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, Dorkingand London.

ELIZABETH BLACKADDER (1931- ) (not established although LadyMitchison confirmed that she visited on several occasions) ARSA.,1963 ARA., 1971 RSA., 1972 RA., 1976. Born Falkirk, she studiedat Edinburgh University and Edinburgh College of Art where herteachers included Sir William MacTaggart. She travelled to Yugo-slavia, Greece and Italy on a Carnegie Scholarship. In 1956 shemarried fellow-student John Houston and joined the staff of Edin-burgh College of Art part-time. She works primarily in water-colourand 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 ArtClub. He had no formal training; worked as a textile designerbefore turning to painting, coming under the influence of JamesDocharty. Worked in both oils and water-colour, painting dramaticviews of highland moors and mountains in wet washes and richcolours. Specialised in evening, moonlight and winter effects. DiedLamlash, 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 ofScottish artists. Curator of the National Galleries of Scotland (1907)and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (1895). He also paintedlandscapes in pastels and watercolour, often choosing coastalscenes. 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 SouthKensington, winning Gold Medals at the RA in 1876 and 1877. Hethen moved to Paris 1882-5 and on his return became a foundingmember of the New English Art Club. In 1893 he returned toGlasgow. Christie was known for his genre and allegorical paint-ings executed in a broad style and for his pictures of children andscenes from Burns. He returned to London in 1906 but retained hisassociation with The Glasgow Boys. Died in London.

ROBERT McGOWN COVENTRY (1855-1942) RSW., 1889 ARSA.,1906. Attended evening classes at the Glasgow School of Artunder Robert Greenlees before studying in Paris. Closely associat-ed with artistic life in Glasgow, he painted Scottish fishing villageson both the east and west coasts in oil and water-colour in the'blottesque' technique associated with the Glasgow School. Healso painted in Belgium Holland and the Middle East. Died inGlasgow.

FRANK DICKSON (1862-1936) (visits 17.1.1891/9.1.1892) RBA.,sometime resident. Landscape painter. Born in Chester, educatedin Liverpool. Studied at St. John's Wood Art School and RASchools. Exhibited at the Royal Academy and elsewhere. Lived inUpper 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 aperiod designing calico ,he took up painting as a profession in1882. Studied in Paris in 1894. Lived and worked in KilkerranAyrshire, but also painted in the Highlands and European coun-tries, visiting Venice on several occasions. Work in water-colourexhibits good composition and sensitive colour. Died in Glasgow.

DAVID FULTON (1848-1930) (visit undated) RSW., 1890. Born atParkhead, Glasgow. Studied at the Glasgow School of Art. Painted

Loch Fyne Skiffs by J. Campbell Mitchell

in oil and watercolour, often of figures in fields beside streams. Healso 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 ofAnglo-Scottish parents. Studied at Goldsmiths College, NewCross, London and Glasgow School of Art (1940-1943), returningfor a post-Diploma scholarship. In 1948-9 she travelled in Italy andFrance producing work which was subsequently shown at her firstone-painter show at the GSA in 1949. During the early 1950sEardley spent some time in the depressed areas of Glasgowsketching and photographing in preparation for easel painting in oil.In 1950 she began to paint at Catterline, taking up semi-residencethere in 1956. Specialised in landscape and seascapes in charcoaland 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 RSASchools. Lived in Edinburgh, working mainly in water-colour. Earlywork has a detailed precision which developed into a looser wetterstyle. He worked in the east coast villages, in Perthshire and in theCentral 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, butmoved permanently to Glasgow in 1852, becoming a well-knownfigure in the Glasgow Art Club. Early work consisted of genre andcommissioned portraits, but in the early 1870s he discovered histalent for painting the sea, possibly influenced by the work ofMcTaggart. His early seascapes are dark in tone but by the 1880shis work had become lighter and more atmospheric, standingcomparison with McTaggart’s own work. On the death of his firstwife in 1886 he married McTaggart’s daughter. Henderson wasinstrumental 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 in1901.

GERTRUDE HERMES (1901-1983) (frequent visitor) RA., Born inBritain of German antecedents. Studied at the Leon Underwood’sBrook Green School of Painting and Sculpture. Work includes linoand woodcuts, sculptures in wood stone and bronze, includingnearly fifty portrait heads of poets, musicians, politicians and chil-dren. Also involved in architectural projects including a sculpturedfountain and a mosaic pool floor for the Shakespeare MemorialTheatre at Stratford upon Avon, her main interest was in woodengraving being a founder-member of the now defunct EnglishWood 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 firmin Leith. Studied at the RSA Schools. His main artistic influencecame from the Hague School which he first studied seriously duringa trip to Holland. The water-colour technique of Israels, Mauve andthe Maris brothers as well as their subject matter - studies ofpeasants, figures by the sea, church interiors - were important toKerr. He painted portraits of Scottish fishermen, crofters and elderlyladies in a 'wet' water-colour manner. He also painted scenes ofScottish life in water-colour. His work was very popular during hislifetime. 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 RSASchools, having been apprenticed to a cabinet maker. He paintedquiet landscapes showing a Dutch influence. Painted in Fife and inNorthern France working in both oil and water-colour.

NEILS MOELLER LUND (1863-1916) ( ) RI., ROI., ARE., Born inDenmark, 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

include landscapes in Scotland and Northumberland, dark in mood andlarge in size.EXHIBITS LAING ART GALLERY, NEWCASTLE, ROYAL ACADEMY,LONDON 1887-1904 Catalogue 888 ‘On the Kintyre Coast.’ 1889TORRISDALE CASTLE (Private collection)ALEXANDER MacBRIDE (1859-1955) (visit 3.8.89) RSW., 1887 RI.,

1899. Born in Glasgow. Studied at the GSA and the AcadamieJulein, Paris. Painted landscapes in oil and water-colour, choosingtranquil rural scenes often with sunlight coming through trees, orbetween figures by a river. Influenced by Impressionism, he workedin Scotland, England and Italy. Died in Glasgow.

WILLIAM McCANCE (1894-1970) ( ) Born Cambuslang andstudied at Glasgow School of Art. He married a fellow studentAgnes Millar Parker and moved to London in 1920. Influenced byPryde and Nicholson his style developed under the influence of theVorticists and Cubists. While not completely abstract his picturesplay homage to Leger and the machine age. He wrote art criticismfor art journals and The Spectator. He was taught painting and in1930 became Controller of the Gregynog Press in Wales, estab-lishing a reputation as a typographer and book designer eventuallylecturing on the subject at Reading University. He contributed artcriticism to Picture Post magazine and other newspapers, but hisfirst one-man exhibition was not held until 1960. Indeed his reputa-tion was not widely established until after his death in 1975 througha 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 TrusteesAcademy. Painted rural scenes with farm workers and cattle, oftenworking on the spot. Avoiding muddy tones in his painting he stroveto keep his colours fresh and invigorating. He acted as Secretaryof the RSA from 1906 to 1924 and was responsible for publishinga 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 theshores 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) Residentof Glasgow and a student at Glasgow School of Art from 1876-1885where the records gives his occupation as an engineer, but whenexhibiting at the Royal Scottish Academy he stated that he was anarchitect.

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 associatedwith the cave painting on Davaar (1856-1938).

WILLIAM McTAGGART (1835-1910) (frequent visitor) ARSA., 1859RSA., 1870 RSW., 1878. The son of a crofter, McTaggart was bornat Aros, Campbeltown. Entered the Trustees Academy Edinburghin 1852. Influenced by the Italian Primitives his early work has anaffinity with the Pre-Raphaelite Movement. By 1860 his work wasbeing attacked for its lack of finish, and by the early 1870s it wassuggested that he was moving closer to the French Impressionistsalthough is no evidence that he had any direct contact with them.On his marriage in 1863 he moved to Fairlie although he stllfrequented other areas including Lochranza, Loch Fyne andCarnoustie, returning to Machrihanish for the summer. McTaggart’sdirect method of painting unencumbered by academic theory, hada great influence on younger Scottish painters. He died in Broom-ieknowe where he had lived since 1889.

EXHIBITS CAMPBELTOWN MUSEUM & LIBRARYWILLIAM MACTAGGART (SIR) 1903-1981 ARSA 1937, RSW 1946,

RSA 1948, PRSA 1959-69, Knighted 1963, Born Loanhead, thegrandson of WILLIAM MGTAGGART, he studied at EGA with GILLIESCROZIER and GEISSLER as fellow-students. Crozier was ten yearsolder than MacTaggart and knew France and Italy and theirlanguages, and had a considerable influence on MacTaggart. Ongraduating, he visited Paris to study under Lhote, then started astudio in Edinburgh with Crozier and later with Gillies. He became a

14 THE ANTLER 14

‘The Studio’, Waterfoot

founder member of the 1922 Group, and in 1924 held his first one-man inCannes. He joined the SOCIETY OF EIGHT in 1927 and in 1929 held his firstScottish one-man in Edinburgh. He was greatly impressed by the Munichexhibition which was organized by the SSA in Edinburgh in 1931 and thisadded to the Expressionist influence already evident in his work. In 1937 hemarried the Norwegian Fanny Aavatsmark, organizer of the Munch exhibition.After the war he painted much in France, being influenced by the 1952Rouault retrospective in Paris. His later still-lives, flower paintings, land-scapes and seascapes have rich glowing colours set against darkbackgrounds. Died Edinburgh. (no proof of a visit but is assumed to havevisited)

JOHN CAMPBELL MITCHELL (1862-1922) (visit 6.7.95 ) ARSA., 1904 RSA.,1918. Born in Campbeltown, he studied at the RSA Schools and settled inEdinburgh where he remained all his life. Painted broad expanses of moor-land and rolling countryside seen under changeable skies - some areasbathed in strong sunlight, others turning from blue to purple as the cloudscast their shadows. He also painted seascapes and represents the besttradition of Scottish marine painting - a fluent oil technique and great senseof movement. Rarely used water-colour but competent in the medium. DiedEdinburgh.

EXHIBITS OYSTERCATCHER GALLERY, CAMPBELTOWN, KINTYRE ‘Onthe Kintyre Hills,’ December 1992

AGNES MILLER PARKER (1895-1980) (frequent visitor) Born in Irvine andstudied at the Glasgow School of Art 1911-1917 eventually joining the stafffor a short period. She married the painter William McCance in 1918 and livedin England much of her life, returning to Glasgow in 1955. Her early work wasinfluenced by the Vorticist movement, in common with her husband. Woodengraving was a special interest associated with book illustration, notableamong which are engravings for ‘The Fables of Aesop (1931) ‘Through theWoods’ by H. E. Bates (1936), editions of the works of Shakespeare andHardy. 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 GlasgowUniversity before turning to art. Painted landscapes in oil and water-colouralmost entirely of Highland and East Coast views. Although his water-colourtechnique is rather heavy, with the paper being well-worked and the coloursabsorbed into the scrubbed surface, his work can capture the grandeur of theHighlands. 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, riversand pastoral scenes especially in Holland, Northern France, Spain andVenice. Influenced by the Dutch School, his water-colours are well composedand 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 andpresumably at the RSW, of which he was a member. Titles at the RA aremostly coastal scenes and fisher-folk, as well as landscapes. Painted inEngland, Scotland, Ireland, Holland and also Venice.

EXHIBITS ‘The Herring Fleet, Carradale.’ ‘The Morning Catch.’ ‘The FirstSnow 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 QueenVictoria in 1872. Retired from the RA in 1914. A prolific portrait painter butinterested in allegorical female figure painting and genre subjects. As aportrait 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 ofKenneth 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 anddetailed manner, but with naive charm. President of The Glasgow Art Club1884-5

J. WALLACE ( ) (visit 30.6.1894) GlasgowEDWARD 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 inRenfrewshire. Studied at Glasgow School of Art and in Dusseldorf, workedwith members of the Glasgow School. Worked at Roseneath, in Surrey, in theTrossachs and in Helensburgh but spending more time at Cockburnspath. Hespent ten years in Chelsea as a neighbour of Sir John Lavery and JamesAbbott McNeill Whistler. During his period in London he spent severalsummers in Suffolk at Wenhaston not so far from Charles Rennie Mackin-tosh's Walberswick. A master of both oil and water-colour techniques hecontinued to return to paint pastoral scenes in Suffolk when he made his

permanent home in Edinburgh in 1904, but he madeother trips abroad to Algiers, Spain and Belgium and tovisit Galloway. In 1914 he was elected President of theRSW. He died in Edinburgh.

FRANK WALTON (1840-1928) (visit ) RI.,PROI.,RBA.London based painter of landscapes and coastal scenes,in oil and water colour. Exhibited at the RA 1862-1924.BI, SS, NWS, GG & elsewhere. Titles at the Royal Acad-emy include views on the coasts of England, Wales andthe Channel Isles.

EXHIBITS WALKER ART GALLERY, LIVERPOOL,TORRISDALE CASTLE, KINTYRE (Private collection)

PETER MACGREGOR WILSON ( -1928) (frequent visitor)RSW 1885. Studied at Glasgow School of Art, in Londonand Antwerp. Travelled widely, working in America, India,Persia, Russia and Europe. His watercolours are alwayscompetent with firm composition and solid colours, but attimes his drawing is weak. Painted landscapes and riverscenes on the west coast.

PATRONS: WILLIAM BURRELL (visitor 30.6.1894) Glasgowship-owner and patron of the arts.

15 THE ANTLER 15

Neils Moeller Lund

‘MIND MAPPING’: THE VILLAGE PLANThe news that East Kintyre Community Council members may getinvolved in ‘Mind Mapping’ to help distinguish the ways in whichlocal residents can make plans to improve their communities,brings to mind earlier attempts by experts to add to their kudos andradiate ideas by confusing the intelligent and emboldening theactivists. Visions of flip-charts, of large sheets of paper spread over thefloor attracting a melee of bodies wielding monster felt tips, hasmore to do with the current Argyll & Bute Council inspired fashionthan distilling the possible from the unlikely. A few years back the title was used to demonstrate that mostadults and teenagers had no idea where Sheffield or Bournemouthwere on a blank map of Britain; Glasgow was a little easier for theScots but even the youth of Surrey knew that the city was north ofWatford. Will this be the same for local community councillors? In an effort to find the current explanation of the term ‘mindmapping’ the Editor consulted Wikipaedia and found solace in thefollowing - ‘A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas,tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central keyword or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure,and classify ideas, and as an aid to studying and organizinginformation, solving problems, making decisions, and writing’. ‘The elements of a given mind map are arranged intuitivelyaccording to the importance of the concepts, and are classified intogroupings, branches, or areas, with the goal of representingsemantic 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 andorganizational tasks. Though the branches of a mindmap representhierarchical tree structures, their radial arrangement disrupts theprioritizing of concepts typically associated with hierarchiespresented with more linear visual cues. This orientation towardsbrainstorming encourages users to enumerate and connectconcepts without a tendency to begin within a particular conceptualframework’. ‘The mind map can be contrasted with the similar idea ofconcept mapping. The former is based on radial hierarchies andtree structures denoting relationships with a central governingconcept, whereas concept maps are based on connectionsbetween concepts in more diverse patterns.’ Now before we forget what ‘mind mapping’ involves andcertainly before the EKCC ponticum tree is struck by yet anotherfungus pathogen - plans without product - lets hope that thought isgiven to the capacity of the community council to formulate a villageplan, fully supported by the community, one which avoids the longgestation of the ‘harbour development’ and the delays to the ‘WarMemorial’ and ‘harbour to golf course’ step programmes. Taking one step forward, two steps back and one step withoutmoving perceptibly makes any journey into the future somewhatpointless. Have EKCC members the drive to suceed? Are theywilling to share the toil or will they leave it to the Convenor? G.P.

EKCC MEETING 4th NOVEMBERMINUTES STILL AWAITED AT 8PM ON COMPILATION DAY 10/11/2010Present: All 7 community councillors and ABC Unitary Authority CouncillorDonald Kelly, plus five residents. Apology: Councillor Robin Currie.The minutes of the October meeting were accepted – proposed RonnieBrownie, seconded Tom Adams.MATTERS ARISING: OFFSHORE WIND-FARM: The Convener hadcomplained about the proposal & Tom Adams had been on the ‘OffshoreAction Group’ web-site and spoke of the alleged real cost of the proposals.GRITTING: The Convener was in contact with Stuart Park, seeking bettercover of the B842 north of Carradale. An undertaking had been receivedthat gritting would take place when possible, but concerns were expressedthat the use of larger lorry for ‘round trips’ would increased the danger of itgoing 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 clearingweeds and debris. The tools they had borrowed to do the work had beenreturned and he had paid them for filling 13 bags. Tom Adams suggestedthat a set of tools could be stored in the Hotel shed and Kathy Forbesoffered to provide tools. It was agreed to seek contractors for the repair ofthe steps.TREASURER’S REPORT: Following the receipt of £111 from ElaineBiggart for the use of Wellpark, the total stood at £1,999.HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS: Lachie Paterson and Stuart Irvine reportedon the meetings of the Harbour committee. They expressed concern overthe possibility of pontoons affecting fishing movements in the harbour andthought that some pontoons could be damaged by fishing boats enteringthe harbour, especially in north-east winds.VILLAGE PLAN: The Convener displayed documents about the Tarbertplan and thanked Mrs Horn for her offer of help with the Carradale plan.However the view was expressed that Carradale should make its ownproposals without following Tarbert’s example or becoming involved withthe South Kintyre Development Trust, the members of which seemed to bemore concerned with affairs in Campbeltown. There was some support fora ‘Mind Mapping’ exercise.CORRESPONDENCE was received from the Scottish Rights of Way andAccess Society, the Forestry Commission, from a Rhododendron pathogensresearch group, from AABCC about the postponed AGM, a seminar onplaying fields, and applications for wind-farm grants from agencies seekingEKCC help from its share of the second Tangy wind-farm income. (Theseapplications 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 workon steps from the harbour to the golf course. Ronnie Brownie was askedto 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.

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