Main heading: Arran’s climate change champions

Arran’s climate change champion will head off to the States today (Saturday) to put the island on the world stage.

As reported in the Banner last month, environmentalist Howard Wood will be flying the flag for Arran at the Global Climate Action Summit taking place next week in San Francisco.

The co-founder and chairman of the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) is one of 22 climate trailblazers from all over the world contributing to the international debate.

For Howard it is a chance to show how individuals, businesses and community groups on Arran are already doing a great job in tackling climate change with renewable and environmentally friendly projects.

He will also use the summit to promote Arran’s long term commitment to become carbon neutral in the not too distant future, and his own favoured topic of the protection and conservation of blue carbon stores.

Before he left he told the Banner: ‘It’s imperative that Individuals, communities and government all step up to the climate change challenge.’

The three-day conference, which starts on Wednesday, is being held midway between the historic Paris Agreement, reached at the 2015 conference, and the climate change conference in Poland in 2020.

Here are three more examples of individuals on Arran who are helping to fight climate change with simple measures at home.

Eric Kay, Kings Cross

Eric Kay lives in Kings Cross and after Arran Eco Savvy’s energy auditors Derek and Charlotte visited his home, he was noted as being an exemplary resident on Arran for taking action against climate change with three big changes.

When Eric moved into an old cottage that had inefficient storage heaters he knew he had to something to become more energy efficient and wanted to do this as environmentally as possible. With knowledge about the government incentives and the easiness of implementation, Eric decided to have anair source heat pump and solar PV installed. This now heats his hot water, home and means he is generating his own electricity!

Discussing the solar PV Eric, a volunteer at the Eco Savvy shop, said: ‘It’s so lovely to do your washing on a sunny morning knowing that the sun is providing your energy.’

Helen and Martin Ross, Whiting Bay

‘We love our old house in Whiting  Bay but our first night in it was spent with both of us sitting in deck chairs shivering alongside a not very efficient panel heater.  We decided something had to be done to make it more energy efficient and warmer for less money.  At the same time, we could create a healthier home with better air quality and reduce our carbon emissions.

‘As a public health professional, I am well aware of the challenges posed by climate change and the urgent need to do whatever I can to reduce our impact on the environment.

‘With the friendly, impartial and professional advice of Home Energy Scotland we decided to take a whole series of measures to improve our home.  We took the decision to insulate our loft because we weren’t actually heating the house; the heat was going straight out through the roof.  The loft insulation has already made a real difference.

‘We love having a multi-fuel stove but it does produce air pollution which affects health and can sometimes be hard work on a cold winter’s evening.  Therefore, we looked at the options available to us and decided to have an air source heating system installed so that we could benefit from a renewable source of heating.  Small things can also make a big difference and most of our lights had halogen bulbs fitted.

‘Next on our list are external wall and solar panel installation so that we can continue to make our home energy efficient and benefit from renewable energy system that harnesses the power of the sun.’

David and Emma Ingham, Lamlash

‘We were in the fortunate position to be able to build a new home, our design brief for local architect Ian Cook was for a warm, well insulated and efficient house . His advice to us was, build a  SIPs or Structurally Insulated Panels house. Not only is this method of construction fast,  it also offers superior insulation properties.

‘Because SIPs builds are generally air tight, a heat recovery system was installed. This provides continual fresh air circulating within the house.  Stale warm air is extracted  via a heat exchanger where the heat is transferred to the fresh air which is being drawn in from outside at around 90 per cent efficiency, very little heat is wasted. Both domestic hot water and underfloor heating are powered by an air source heat pump which can provide up to 3 units of heat energy for every one unit of electricity.  Our energy bills are now a fraction of what they were before.’

Eric Kay chats with a fellow volunteer in the Eco Savvy shop. NO_B36summit01

David and Emma Ingham on the patio of their eco-friendly home in Lamlash. NO_B36summit03

The heat pump and energy monitor used by Helen and Martin Ross. NO_B36summit04 and NO_B36summit05

The post As Howard heads to the States we salute… appeared first on Arran Banner.

A total of 14 players were lucky to avoid the showers on Saturday August 18, and so were able to play the club’s annual progressive pairs competition for the George Watson Trophy. The eventual winners by one point in a keenly contested afternoon were Jim Gourlay and Jim Nichols.

Highest scores for August were: August 4, Charlie Weir and John Robinson (+7); August 6, Keith Kelsall and Aileen Latona (+9); August 8, Sid Allan and Jim Gourlay (+14); August 11, Aileen Latona, Sid Allan and Andy McCrindle (+16); August 13, Andy McCrindle, Kenny Mabon and Ernie Stanger (+5); August  15, Les Mitchell and Jim Nichols (+11); August 20, Les Mitchell and Ian Davidson (+12); August 22, Keith Kelsall and Charlie Weir (+6); August 25, John Lauder and Kenny Mabon (+12); August 27, Andy McCrindle, Jim Nichols and Jim Gourlay (+7); August 29,  Jim Gourlay and Charles Hendry (+6).

The post Brodick Bowling Club August results appeared first on Arran Banner.

North Ayrshire Council is offering residents on Arran the chance to give their plants a boost at one of their free compost giveaway events.

On Tuesday September 10, council officers will drop off six tonnes of loose compost at the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Market Road, Brodick. The compost will be available for collection from noon.

To collect a share of the compost, simply head to the recycling centre – but remember, it will be loose, so take a bag and ashovel with you.

Almost 12,500 tonnes of food and garden waste is collected from North Ayrshire each year. This is then recycled into rich compost which is made available for use by the council and also offered to residents for free.

By recycling the right stuff in the right bin residents can help the council reduce some of the £2.5 million spent disposing of waste and instead contribute to environmental initiatives such as these which give something back to the community.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, cabinet member for place, said: ‘This is a great opportunity for community groups and individuals to reap the rewards of our commitment to recycling.

‘We’re recognised as one of the leading local authorities in Scotland for recycling, but we hope that initiatives such as these will allow our residents to see first-hand just how beneficial recycling can be.

‘We would encourage all those who could make use of the compost to head along and grab their share.’

Compost supplies are limited and will be offered on a first-come first-served basis.

The post The great council compost giveaway appeared first on Arran Banner.

North Ayrshire & Arran MP Patricia Gibson has renewed her calls on the UK Government to protect shoppers from losing out on millions of pounds of gift card cash.

The UK Gift Card and Voucher Association estimates the UK gift card market to be worth around £6,000 million a year, with around £300 million going unspent. The minimum period and policies for gift cards vary across retailers, and some have very short or hidden expiry periods with no indication on the card of when this arbitrary date may be. As a result, many people end up losing their money because the card has expired and the retailers effectively get money for nothing.

Mrs Gibson, who is the consumer affairs spokeswoman for the SNP, has repeatedly urged the UK Government to introduce greater protections for consumers, and has now written to the new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Kelly Tolhurst MP, calling for the introduction of a minimum five-year expiry period on all gift cards sold in the UK.

Mrs Gibson said: ‘More transparency around expiry dates on gift cards is essential.  Expiry dates vary and are unclear, which leaves consumers out of pocket with unspent vouchers being clawed back as profit by retailers.

‘It is important that at the very least a minimum across the board five-year expiry date is introduced to protect consumers.

‘America already has a blanket minimum five-year expiry date for gift cards enshrined in federal law, with Ireland set to follow suit. The EU is also set to act on this issue which means post-Brexit, consumers in the UK will enjoy less protection than their European counterparts unless the UK Government urgently acts to regulate this industry.

‘If the UK Government fails to act, we will see a divergence in consumer protection between the UK and EU citizens which the UK Government has assured us would not occur.

‘The gift card industry is a £6,000 million industry with £300 million of gift cards unspent each year; money parted with which ultimately buys nothing. The regulation of expiry dates is now essential.’

The post MP steps up pressure on gift card rip-off appeared first on Arran Banner.

The meetings of the Brodick Embroidery Group will commence on Thursday  September 20, at Brodick Library from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

All are welcome to attend the meetings, from beginners to the more experienced embroiders. This is an opportunity to meet with others who share a common interest, to exchange ideas, learn new techniques or just to get help to get started.

Tuition is available and there is no need to commit to every week. For more information on the classes Ann Hollingworth can be contacted on 01770 840270.

The post All welcome at embroidery group appeared first on Arran Banner.

Head teacher Barry Smith presents Nastassja Alberti with the Dux award at the annual Arran High School award ceremony which was held at the school last week. See centre spread for a full report. 01_B36dux01

The post Nastassja is new Dux appeared first on Arran Banner.

The Arran food bank, located in the vestibule of Brodick Church, is urgently appealing for donations of non perishable food items to be able to provide for those most in need.

The food bank currently has no supplies of tinned meat, fish, fruit and puddings and is also short of toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo and deodorant.

Differing from most food banks, the Arran food bank requires no registration, no referral and is completely anonymous and incredibly discreet. Anyone that requires some assistance and is in need, is welcome to visit the church, during the day or night, and help themselves to whatever they need. Besides the usual staple food items there is also a fridge containing meat, items for children and babies, and items for personal hygiene.

One foodbank volunteer said: ‘ We are grateful for the Arran community’s continued support of the food bank and know that it makes a big difference to island residents who find themselves in need of some extra help.’

The Arran food bank is organised by Arran Churches Together and is kept stocked up by supporters within the Arran community. Donations can be left at any of the Arran churches, with a note saying it is for the food bank, or in the basket at the big Co-op.

The post Food bank donations are urgently needed appeared first on Arran Banner.

HIJOBS, Scotland’s leading platform specialising in rural recruitment has become even smarter and more cost effective.

New simplified processes mean a platform that was already quick and easy to use is even slicker.

Posting a job or signing up as a candidate has never been easier. Laura Saunders and Christopher Snelgrove, HIJOBS’ founders, have a very technical term for the platform’s ease of use, according to them: ‘It’s an absolute doddle’.

When Laura and Christopher are not blinding everyone with similar kinds of highly technical jargon, they are constantly looking at ways to make HIJOBS both simpler and more cost effective in these challenging times.

As Laura says: ‘We cannot ignore the impact that the tough economic climate and the continuing uncertainty over Brexit has caused, particularly in our heartland of rural Scotland.

‘It is our job to bring recruiters and candidates together – and our track record shows that we are exceptionally good at it. But we understand that employers are becoming increasingly anxious about the cost of recruiting, especially in the areas which we serve.’

As a result, HIJOBS have unveiled a new, more affordable price structure that will suit every kind of business, whether a one-man-band or a multi-national company.

Christopher explains: ‘We are so confident in our ability to deliver that if you haven’t used HIJOBS before, we will give you a free job credit, allowing you to advertise any vacancy for 30 days.’

After that, a single credit will cost £49 or a bundle of five credits will cost £199 with no expiry date – use them whenever you want.
These packages will typically work for small to medium-sized businesses that will be recruiting sporadically.

However, a new unlimited package is now available for larger organisations who recruit on an ongoing basis which at £99 per month offers unbelievable value for money – even better value if you opt for the annual up-front charge of £999.

With more than 100,000 users every month, HIJOBS is THE solution for businesses across rural Scotland. A second-to-none platform at the cutting edge of technology that quickly reaches the best, relevant candidates via Google Jobs, social media, email and the fantastic HIJOBS app.

What are you waiting for? Give HIJOBS a try. Just remember – it is an absolute doddle!

For more information visit www.hijobs.net or call Laura on 01397 779003.

The post HIJOBS – now even better value for money appeared first on Arran Banner.

While most of the transport concerns in recent days have surrounded the ferries the public will have their chance to have their say on transport on Arran itself at a community gathering to be held next week.

It will be an opportunity for residents to suggest innovative solutions to overcome the lack of community connectivity on the island.

Arran Eco Savvy and Arran Locality Partnership are co-hosting the Arran Community Transport Gathering at 6pm on Tuesday September 18 at the Ormidale Pavilion.  This event has been pulled together to enable local discussion around solutions for sustainable travel and transport on Arran.

With many problems being highlighted by residents on an ongoing basis the gathering seems necessary for collective solutions as well as added insight from guest speaker Daniel Lafferty of Transport Scotland.

Jude King, project manager for Arran Eco Savvy said: ‘Eco Savvy’s underpinning quest is to make Arran a greener and more sustainable island. Previous projects have predominantly focused on waste, now focus is on energy efficiency, but the more we analyse the island and what we need to become greener and more sustainable, the more we are pointed to improving transport and travel. Arran residents have already identified the problems and we hope that all will attend this gathering to identify solutions, and potential community facilitators and collaborators to ensure results.

Councillor Ellen McMaster, chairwoman of Arran Locality reports that a lack of community transport was a consistent high priority theme which emerged from the series of island wide Locality Partnership roadshows held earlier this year.  Transport is one of the key priorities of the Arran Locality Partnership along with social isolation and housing. People expressed deep concern that continuing lack of community transport options, supplementary to the present strategic level of ferries and buses is hampering the connectivity of communities on the island and the ability of all ages to have access to work, leisure, activities and services such as Post Offices, GPs and general shops. They recognise that this lack of community transport affects all aspects of island life and is a root cause of social isolation for many in more remote communities.

It will also provide opportunity for Transport Scotland to note, as a part of their consultation for the National Transport Plan for the 20 years, the island specific community travel and transport issues faced by islanders on a daily basis.

‘We hope many of the community will be able to attend as it is open to all, Jude added. Light refreshments will be provided.

The post Public urged to have say on local transport appeared first on Arran Banner.

The Arran Trust, the island’s visitor gifting scheme, was delighted to continue their partnership working with Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) on improving visitor access to some of the key areas of Arran.

FCS had built a forest road from Giants’ Graves for harvesting, and were able to link this to the public road at High Kildonan. There was a small roadside layby at this point and the with support from the Arran Trust to the tune of £3,377.84, FCS was able to  develop this area into a small carpark at Dippen.

The project opens up a long distance recreation route giving more options to walkers, cyclists and pony trekkers as well as to those who want the option of sitting and enjoying the view.

The picture shows Trustee Margie Currie presenting the cheque to Arran forester, Andy Walker.

The post New car park at Dippen appeared first on Arran Banner.

The final training sessions for the Lamlash Splash are now over and all the entrants are hoping for calm seas and no jellyfish at the event being held today (Saturday).

The 1.3 mile swim will start from the Holy Isle at around 11.30am with the first swimmers back at Lamlash Pier about 30 minutes later or, if last year’s times are anything to go by, it might even be earlier.

All 40 places for this popular event were taken up within two weeks of being posted online, however there have been a few changes to the initial list with a number of call-offs and others taking their places.  This year there are quite a number of entrants swimming in the Splash for the first time and to finish the event will be a big achievement.

The RNLI, Coastguard, Arran Sailing Club and Arran Kayak Club will all be on the water supporting the swimmers.  After all the swimmers are back at Lamlash Pier the Ali Bodie Plate for the person showing the most courage and determination in completing the swim will be presented by the Heather Queen, Keira Willis.

There will be 12 locals swimming – Charlotte Clough, Lynsey Cuthbertson, Ann Hart, Paul Hewie, Rory Hunter, Zabdi Keen, Georgina Maclean, Jaqui McFarlane, Mike Mellor, Eric Milton, Heather Raeside and Jo Totty.

Will Rory Hunter be first male back this year after being beaten out of first place by 10 seconds last year?  Will Georgina Maclean, who swam 10k from St Fillan’s to Lochearnhead in a fantastic time of 4 hours 38 minutes last weekend, have recovered enough to retain her title as first local lady?

The swimmers all appreciate the support from spectators, so please come along to view this exciting challenge.

The local Splash entrants ahead of their final group training session. NO_B37splash01

The post Get ready for Lamlash Splash appeared first on Arran Banner.

An Arran business say they have been made a scapegoat over the damage caused to the ramp of the MV Caledonian Isles which has caused serious ferry disruption all week.

Travel between Arran and the mainland has been badly disrupted for days after a ‘perfect storm’ saw both first the  Caley Isles and then the MV Isle of Arran needing to go out of service for repairs at the same time.

Murchie Sand and Gravel say they are being blamed for bringing an overweight crane on to the island which caused the damage to the main Arran ferry which is still operating with only her bow ramp.

However, they insist that the huge Liebherr crane brought over to remove the temporary bridge at the roadworks on the Brodick hill did not exceed the weight limit of the ferry.

Indeed it was the third time the crane has been on Arran after in put the temporary metal bridge in place and then moved it from one carriageway to the other. The crane has also been to other Scottish islands by CalMac ferry.

The crane was hired form the 3b crane hire firm in Ayr but Donald Murchie Jnr insisted it was not overweight despite persistent rumours, many of them on social media.

At the company depot in Market Road, Brodick he showed the Banner paperwork showing the crane weighed 41.3 tonnes – well under the 44 tonne limit of the MV Caledonian Isles and even with chains and accessories added the weight was still just 42.3 tonnes.

Donald said: ‘We are upset that we seem to have been made a scapegoat for the damage to the ferry. We are a small family firm operating on a close-knit island. These reports have caused distress to the family and are completely unjustified. We just want to set the record straight.’

A CalMac spokesman said: ‘Investigations into the damage to the MV Caledonian Isles’ ramps, which has resulted in disruption to the Ardrossan-Brodick service, are ongoing and it would be premature and inappropriate to speculate at this stage on the precise cause of this damage.’

There is also some speculation that the limits on commercial vehicles is due to concerns about the repair to the ramp. However, the spokesman added: ‘It is routine practice when operating a reduced service to manage the types of vehicle carried to maximise the space available on the vessel. For example, large vehicles can limit the use of mezzanine decks and also can limit the overall weight carried.

‘The MV Caledonian Isles has the added issue at present of operating single-ended which presents challenges in turning large vehicles, which can then impact on turnaround times. These limits are not connected with the repaired ramp.’

The post We’re the scapegoat for ferry disruption appeared first on Arran Banner.

Bird Notes for August by Jim Cassels

While the mean temperature for August was a couple of degrees lower than July, the mean temperature this August was identical to the mean temperature of last August. This August was drier than last August with about 20 per cent less rain. The relatively dry summer continued. Towards the end of the month, with slightly lower temperatures, there was just a hint of the approach of autumn.

Having said that, summer visitors were still to the fore including: a swift over Torrylinnwaterfoot on 2nd, a spotted flycatcher in Merkland Wood on 3rd, two common sandpiper in Blackwaterfoot on 10th, 26 willow warbler in Corriecravie on 11th, one grasshopper warbler in Shiskine on 12th, 20 sand martin in Glen Catacol on 15th, a chiffchaff in Brodick on 20th, 75 swallow in Sliddery on 11th and 120 house martin in Shannochie on 30th.  Please try to give me your last record for swallow and house martin this year. Last year there were October records for both species.

Some signs of successful breeding this month included: red-breasted merganser with five young by Fisherman’s Walk on 6th, eider with four young at Cosyden on 7th, juvenile great spotted woodpecker in Glen Cloy on 9th, juvenile water rail and juvenile greenfinch in Corriecrave on 11th, juvenile golden eagle in Glen Rosa on 20th and juvenile little grebe and juvenile moorhen in Mossend Pond on 24th.  In August there was an exceptional number of reports of sparrowhawk in gardens including many young birds. Their breeding success may be reflecting the breeding success of the many small birds on which sparrowhawk prey.

In August, breeding is coming to an end, and after breeding a number of species begin to flock together, some in preparation for migration. These included: 42 house sparrow at Silver Sands on 6th, 38 curlew at Corriecravie on 7th, 56 golden plover at Machriewaterfoot also on 7th, 350 starling at Sliddery also on 7th, 21 ringed plover at Drumadoon on 10th, 142 meadow pipit at Sliddery on 13th, 140 linnet and 30 goldfinch on Cleat Shore on 20th and 160 pied wagtail on Braehead Farm on 21st.

All around the coast were signs of birds on migration, including: a merlin at Corriecravie Pond on 7th, a greenshank at Blackwaterfoot also on 7th, three sanderling at Drumadoon Point on 10th, a knot on Silver Sands also on 10th, 30 dunlin at Porta Buidhe on 12th, three wheatear at Sliddery on 13th, a black-tailed godwit at Porta Buidhe also on 13th, a osprey over Sliddery Shore on 19th, 200 manx shearwater in Brodick Bay on 20th, 20 white wagtail on Braehead Farm on 27th, two whimbrel at Kildonan also on 27th and four sandwich tern in Lamlash Bay on 30th.

Among the 100 plus species reported in August there were a number of other noteworthy ones. These included: a goosander at Machriewaterfoot on 7th, 30 gannet off Cosyden also on 7th, a dipper at Glenashdale Falls on 19th and six Canada geese at Blackwaterfoot on 21st.  In addition there were two reports of red kite the first on Sliddery Shore on 4th and the second report from Lamlash Golf Course on 6th.  This was the third report of this occasional visitor this year. The first was in April. The previous record before this was May 2016.

September sees the start of the peak migration season when many birds are on the move. It is the time to expect the unexpected. I look forward to hearing from you.

Enjoy your birding

Please send any bird notes with ‘what, when, where’ to me at Kilpatrick Kennels, Kilpatrick, Blackwaterfoot, KA27 8EY, or e mail me at jim@arranbirding.co.uk  I look forward to hearing from you.  For more information on birding on Arran purchase the Arran Bird Atlas 2007-2012 as well as the Arran Bird Report 2017 and visit this website www.arranbirding.co.uk

A female sparrowhawk, one of many sightings, reflects a good breeding season. Photo Arthur Duncan No_B37bird01

Little Grebe feeding its young. Photo Nick Giles No_B37bird02

Osprey, one of the birds migrating through Arran in August. Photo Brian Couper.No_B37bird03

Swallow – look out for the last ones this year. Photo Carl Reavey No_B37bird04

The post Summer visitiors enjoy Arran sunshine ahead of migration appeared first on Arran Banner.

By Elanor McNamara

The Arran Riding Club held their third annual Techniques de Randonnée Équestre de Compétition (TREC) competition last weekend.  TREC is the result of French trail riding exam candidates enjoying their tests so much that they wanted to do it all again.  This year is the 20th anniversary of the challenge making its way to Britain.

The competition has three parts, all designed to test the competence of riders and their horses to lead people riding in the outdoors. To do well, horses and riders must be versatile and calm in the face of a challenge.

The orienteering phase tests the riders’ navigation and their ability to judge speed.  The routes are as off road as possible and get more adventurous as you go up the levels, and might well include fords, high bridges, soft ground, rocky ground, narrow paths and riding at night.

The second phase is called the ‘control of paces’ and sounds easy – riders canter as slowly as possible and walk as fast as possible along a 100-150m marked out corridor on grass. Its far from being easy in practice.  Cantering slowly requires quite an advanced level of schooling where the horse has learned to carry itself in a collected way, like an advanced dressage horse.  Its also difficult to achieve your horse’s best free walk in test conditions, especially as items like road signs are often left along the corridor making it harder to keep the horse straight, and all points are lost if the horse steps out of the corridor.  You also lose all points if you break pace into trot in either direction.

The final phase is usually set on a cross country course, using the natural jumps like ditches, steps up and down, logs and hedges, with extra challenges added in.  There is a long list of obstacles for organisers to chose from including staircases, footbridges, gates to open, low branches, narrow corridors, fords, and moving sideways and backwards, too.  Everything has to be performed in good style, with penalties being incurred for growling at your horse, or using a whip, for example.  Taken together the whole thing is a great test of your partnership with your horse, your trust in each other, and your ability as a horseman. Its also great fun.

This year’s competition was held at Glenkiln, making good use of the undulating field in front of the farm. Many thanks to Eleanor and Kenny for hosting, and for all the good natured competitors who came along, making for a good day.

Special mention to Vicki Yuill and Velvet, who had the best walk; Alison Currie and Tia, who had the best canter, and Lois Ashley on Kippen and Clair Hendry on Colin, who had the highest scoring rounds on the cross country course.  Everyone chose to ride as a pair, and the way the scoring works is that each partner’s control of paces and cross country scores are added together, with penalties incurred on the orienteering taken off.  This year Laura Tulloch on Gem and Daisy McNamara on Toby came out on top, having made a big effort to be very accurate on the orienteering course, and with consistent performances in the other phases.  Second were last year’s winners – Alison Currie on Tia and Rona Fulton on Ricky.  Third were Clair Hendry on Colin and Hollie Adamson on Lexus, and fourth were Vicki Yuill on Velvet and Kirsty Morrison on Pearl.

Competitors watch Clair Hendry starting out on the obstacle course. No_B37TREC01

Kirsty Morrison and Pearl, and Vicki Yuill and Velvet approach a checkpoint on the orienteering phase. No_B37TREC02

Alison Currie and Rona Fulton on Tia and Ricky in the forest. No_B37TREC03

Clair Hendry on Colin and Hollie Adamson on Lexus approach the end of the orienteering. No_B37TREC04

Laura Tulloch and Daisy McNamara on the orienteering course. No_B37TREC05

The post Riders put through their paces at TREC event appeared first on Arran Banner.

The September exhibition at the Brodick Library is a photographic display with the apt title of ‘Scotland in Books’ by Celeste Noche.

Celeste is a Filipino American photographer from San Francisco, California, whom is living in Portland, Oregon. She graduated from Stanford University with degrees in English Literature and Ancient Greek— neither of which have really come in handy for her as a photographer now. She currently freelances and specialises in documentary food, travel, and portraiture.

Scotland in Books was inspired by her visit to Wigtown, Scotland’s national book town in Dumfries and Galloway. In 2017 she completed a three month artist residency in the town, during which she travelled around the country photographing second-hand bookshops, libraries, and private collections.

In this age of ever-increasing digitisation, she wanted to explore the ways in which we continue to make and keep space for books, and was delighted to visit Arran during one of her first research trips. Although her visit to the island was brief, her visits to local homes, preserved collections at Brodick Castle, seeing the mobile library in action, and finding books for sale at the chandlery all reinforced the idea that physical books continue to play a critical role in our daily lives.

Celeste Noche taking photos at Innerpeffray Library, Scotland’s oldest free public library. No_B37library01

The post Critical role books still play appeared first on Arran Banner.

Brodick Church Hall resounded to much laughter and music recently when a coach load of dancers from Brisbane and east coast cities of Australia, joined by friends from Hamburg, visited the Arran Scottish country dancing group.

The international group of visitors decided to pay their Scottish counterparts a visit after attending the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Summer School in St Andrews.

The Arran group hosted the evening, putting on a programme of dances which included The Sleeping Warrior, Reel of the Royal Scots, Goatfell Gallop and Culla Bay, all places for which dances have been devised, as the visitors had been touring Scotland to dance in them.

Scottish country dance meetings will resume on Tuesday September 25, and are described as a fun way of exercising both body and mind, it is also incredibly social and a great opportunity to listen to music from bands from across the world.

Dancing takes place in the church hall from 7.30pm on Tuesday evenings and includes a tea break. Everyone is welcome to join in and go and see what it is all about.

The post International country dance visitors appeared first on Arran Banner.

Copperwheat Knockout Cup Final

Brodick 0  Southend 6

The Arran football year drew to a close on Saturday with the final of the knockout cup which is now sponsored by the Copperwheat Coffee House.

Both teams were aiming for a domestic double with Southend fielding arguably one of their strongest squads of the season but Brodick had a lot of key players missing.

This was the story of the game as Southend inflicted Brodick’s biggest defeat for many years. Lewis Kennedy opened the scoring for Southend with an instinctive strikers finish. Corey Allen then made it 2-0 after his shot was deflected by Finlay Sillars into the Brodick goal. The third goal was made up by some brilliant link up play between Willie Sillars and Gregor Crichton down the right handside before Gregor snuck the ball under the legs of Finlay Sillars.

In the second half Southend’s pressure continued and they made a lot of substitutions to showcase their younger players who maintained the high tempo. Donald Park, who has been dominating in the midfield, was rewarded with a goal and Willie Sillars also got on the scoresheet. James Currie, who is just 14 and one to watch, then made a bursting run down the left wing and calmly finished to round of the scoring for the MBS boys. The score could have been even more but Southend missed a penalty which was well saved by the Brodick keeper.

It was the first time the Southend boys had won the knockout cup since 2014 and they did it in style. Sponsor John Copperwheat presented the trophy to captain Danny Head and he very kindly donated refreshments to all the boys.

The football Association would like to thank all its sponsors from the 2018 season, especially John Copperwheat, Arran Dairies and Arran Haulage. The continued support from these companies is a major driving force in keeping the football going on Arran.

The victorious Southend team are presented with Knockout Cup by sponsor John Copperwheat who hands the cup to captain Danny Head. 01_B37final01

Desparing Brodick keeper Finlay Sillars can’t keep out an early Southend goal. 01_B37final03

Brodick’s Brazilian defender Thor cuts out another Southend attack. 01_B37final04

The Brodick keeper Finlay Sillars under pressure in the box. 01_B37final06

Opponents in a tight tussle for the ball. 01_B37final07

Matt Keir is pursued by a Southend player. 01_B37final10

Finlay Sillars goes the right way to save a Southend penalty. 01_B37final11

James Currie is poised to slot his solo effort into the Brodick goal. 01_B37final14

James is congratulated by his team mates. 01_B37final15

The post Brodick hit for six as Southend lift the cup appeared first on Arran Banner.

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne have launched an international search to find vessels to plug the gap caused by serious delays to the new Arran ferry and her sister ship.

It comes as Arran residents are bracing themselves for days of disruption ahead as ferry services are hit by continuing turmoil and amid concerns that travel woes could hit next week’s important September weekend tourist trade.

A number of holiday businesses have already been hit by cancellations and disruption caused by the inability to get supplies at what is still a busy time on the island.

This weekend the Arran Sportive is trying to get 140 cyclists over to the island today (Saturday). Also trying to get over are MG cars for an island rally, competitors for the Lamlash Splash and a visiting football team – and that’s before any islanders travels arrangements are considered.

It has been another calamitous week for travellers, islanders and local businesses who have had to face serious ferry disruption owing to technical issues affecting both of the island ferries on the main Brodick to Ardrossan route.

But as the MV Caledonian Isles limps on with one ramp the MV Hebridean Isles is being drafted in from Islay to help cope with demand.

As CalMac admit they are facing ‘operational challenges’ it has become clear that the age of the vessels serving the route has contributed to the crisis. The MV Isle of Arran and the MV Caledonian Isles have a combined age of 59, which means there is no quick fix to the reliability issues.

Arran MSP Kenneth Gibson said: ‘CalMac may be working round the clock to restore Arran ferry services to normal as soon as possible but it is deeply disappointing that repeated breakdowns continue to occur.

‘The age of the fleet is clearly an issue which, had it not been for the delay in it entering service, theMV  Glen Sannox would now be addressing.

‘Transport Scotland and Scottish ministers are well aware of these issues. Vessels in Norway and Denmark have been examined to buy or lease until new vessels enter the fleet. However, whilst none suitable have yet been found, there is a determination to ensure a robust, resilient and reliable service for Arran, its people and its visitors and that work is ongoing.’

Mr Gibson added: ‘I completely understand the deep sense of frustration and anger shared by islanders and visitors alike the major loss of ferry services due to breakdown.

‘A “heavy load” – as CalMac put it – damaged the front and rear ramps of the Caledonian Isles last Friday, causing the cancellation of vehicle carrying services. It is shocking that this damage happened and I have asked how and why?

‘Meanwhile, The Isle of Arran suffered a recurrence of her oil distribution box technical fault, has been withdrawn from service and is at Garvel in Greenock being repaired.’

These  are scheduled to continue until tomorrow (Sunday) with the MV Isle of Arran due to return Monday, the last week of the summer service.

MV Caledonian Isles will continue to operate single-ended up to Tuesday September 18, thereafter she will spend the following two days being repaired in the dry dock, when the MV Hebridean Isles will return.

Meanwhile, VisitArran have issued their members with a survey seeking to gain an insight into the cost of losses and extra costs incurred as a result of ferry disruptions in an effort to quantify the financial impact.

A CalMac spokesman said: ‘We have been assessing capacity demand on services this weekend and into next week and are planning the following redeployment of vessels to ensure that all needs are met. Communities can be assured we have taken into account a number of important island events taking place this weekend as part of this assessment.

‘Additional capacity will continue to be provided on the Lochranza-Claonaig route by MV Loch Linnhe operating alongside MV Catriona. Work on the MV Isle of Arran’s technical fault is ongoing and we will provide an update on her progress in due course.

‘We recognise that these arrangements will impact on a number of communities but customers can be assured we explored a wide range of options before arriving at this plan, which we consider to be the best we can do with the resources available to us.

‘We apologise for any inconvenience caused and, as ever, are grateful for customers’ patience and understanding at this time.’

• See letters page

The post CalMac on international search for ferry solution appeared first on Arran Banner.

A new mural at the Drift Inn in Lamlash has been causing quite a stir.

The mural on the gable end of the shorefront pub and bistro is proving an eyecatching invitation to explore just what the inn is offering by promoting local produce.

The mural is by Whiting Bay artist David Aitcheson, which is Dutch in influence, portrays not only scenes of Arran but the vast array of local produce on offer inside.

The main section of the mural features Glenkiln Farm, home of Drift Inn owner Kenneth Bone, and its animals at the top and the view of Holy Isle from the Drift Inn at the bottom. Inbetween is a feast of Arran meat, fish, fruits wine and spirits. To the left is a selection of vegetables and to the right a seascape of  everything fresh from the sea. The mural carries the slogan: Eat Local, Eat Fresh, Eat Responsible.

The mural is the brainchild of the inn’s management team of  Amy Rickard and Euan Henderson. Amy said: ‘It was a bit of a tired wall and we just throught if we could brighten it up is might attract some more passing trade, but we did not expect the reaction we have had.’

David took far longer to paint it than he had planned as he kept being stopped by interested passers-by. The mural has been photographed hundreds of times by patrons.

Euan added: ‘We have commissioned Andy Surridge to produce a photograph of it for inside the bisto and we have been asked if postcards are available to buy which we are looking at.’

However, the whole point of it is to promote the ever growing range of local produce available in the bistro and a glance at the menu shows how extensive that is.

There’s steak and beef sausages from Glenkiln Farm itself, Skipness Smokehouse hot and cold smoked salmon most of their other fish now is sourced through Tim James. Award winning Arran cheese including blue, brie, camembert and cheddar, Robin Gray’s salad leaves, and vegetables from Woodside Arran organic farm in Kildonan.

They also sell Wooleys oatcakes, Arran sauces and pickles and, of course, a wide range of  Arran Dairies ice cream. The caramelised lemon tart comes with Arran gin and tonic sorbet and of course there are also a range of Arran whiskies and local beer.

Amy said: ‘The slogan on the mural is very much our philosphy. We try to use as much local produce as possible as the quality is exceptional and we want to continue to expand this. It is important that we support the community as they support us.’

Artist David Aitcheson at work on the mural. 01_B37mural01

The finished mural on the gable wall of the Drift Inn. 01_B38_muralo2

The post Drift Inn mural in praise of local produce appeared first on Arran Banner.

Saturday September 12, 1998

Digital TV

Digital TV, the biggest change since colour in 1967, is coming to Arran next month. Digital TV is a new technology which can transmit hundreds of TV channels to the viewer simultaneously in perfect picture quality and perfect CD quality.

The existing analogue TV system is old and leaves no room for improvement, or any expansion to the amount of programmes that we will be able to view. It is also affected by interference and weather and the picture can be grainy, snowy or ghosty. Digital TV suffers from none of these annoyances because of the robust nature of the signal. Sky digital satellite TV plan their launch on October 1 and it will supply around 200 channels for TV and around 40 for CD quality radio. Shopping, banking and learning will all come online and the set top box will be able to receive these services right away.

Double Dux

Amazingly for a school of Arran High, five candidates achieved five highers in their exams last May. They were: James Primrose, Chris Kennedy, Eleana Cameron, Colin Tinto and David Thompson. On top of these, Colin and David achieved the holy grail of exams results by getting five As.

For the first time in its history the school decided that, because grades were so close, there would have to be a runner up prize which went to Colin Tinto. As for the honour of being Dux, this went to David Thompson whom, once he leaves school, is hoping to attend Glasgow or Strathclyde university to study maths and physics.

School sale

Bidding for something is wide open unless there is a price guide of sorts. When Kildonan school and schoolhouse went on the market, no guide was given. It had already been the subject of some uncertainty when it was realised that precise ownership could not be determined. Although declared surplus to requirements by the former Strathclyde education department it had taken a long time to clear up the title matters and offer safeguards to any potential buyer. North Ayrshire also decided to build a car park at the foot of the ground which may have affected the level of interest.

What is in no doubt is that it is a desirable property in a desirable location. Thus when offers came in the range was wide. There were eight in total ranging from £99,000 from a private buyer on the mainland, to several around £20,000. The highest offer has been accepted.

Arran textiles Project Orchil organised a Latin American day in Whiting Bay Hall last Thursday and invited Fabiana Galante from Argentina along. Fabiana will return to Arran next month to give more tuition on Latin America. 01_B38twe01

A Country Fair was held recently at Brodick Castle just above the Rangers Centre. Featuring all things country, stickmaker extraordinaire Stewart Lambie of West Glensherraig sold some of his handiwork. 01_B38twe02

Kildonan Sheep Dog Trials winners, John McKillop, centre, second Geoff Brookes, left, and third place Neil McEachern. 01_B38twe03

Too close for just one, Arran High School had a Dux, David Thompson, left,  and a runner up, Colin Tinto – both achieved five As. 01_B38twe04

Arran Golf Association’s 1998 Champion of Champions is Dougie Macfarlane of Lamlash. 01_B38twe05

The post Arran Banner 20 years ago – week 38 appeared first on Arran Banner.