No 52, Mar 2016

page 32 Issue No 52, March 2016 a huge thank you to our sponsors delivered free to every address in Kilmallie We welcome Letterfinlay as our latest new sponsor, with grateful thanks. Also our sincere apologies to our other recent sponsor - Fort William Tyres - as their logo didn’t print properly last issue due to a printer’s error. A huge thank you to all the businesses below who are sponsoring the newsletter this year. Our newsletter costs have been met by their sponsorship donations, from KCC’s limited funds, from donations from the community and in kind from all our many volunteers.

in this issue KCC from the chair – p2

on the buses - p2 KCC meetings – p3 community policing – p4 new health facility - p4 planning applications - p4 pedestrian’s predicament - p5 road safety update - p5 Councillors’ Corner - p6 Corpach on Colour – p7 Locheilnet - p7 Telford Marina update - p7 Kilmallie Playgroup - p8 Banavie School Reunion - p9 Banavie School News - p10

let us us know let viaoursuggestion boxes High Notes - p11 Canal News - p12 Friends of Banavie Park - p13 Quarry Liaison Group- p14 Rugby Club - p14 Community Centre - p15 Country Dancing - p15 Canal repairs 1920s - p16-17 faster, furiouser, feardier Lochaber Beekeepers - p18 Annette Hobson’s plight (see page 5) is not unique. Please help by: Kilmallie Shinty - p18 Even the fittest most agile person can get nervous  completing and returning the enclosed BOYD BROTHERS CLYDEBoyd FOCAL - p20 crossing with young children, pushchairs, dogs, or questionnaire, or filling it in online at Corpach Woods - p20 kayaks, with the speed limit 40mph, no traffic www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DHKQ9F3 (HAULAGE) LTD Fort William Ltd Wild about Kilmallie - p21 island, and timber and fish lorries bearing down.  getting as many other people as possible to do

resplendent residents - p22 the same. You don’t have to be resident in Back in March 2014, in response to concerns raised Kilmallie to fill it in. Lots of people living further Art Lochaber - p23 by Care Lochaber, the Banavie Parents Council and west need to cross to the shop too, and lots of Mòd Lochabair - p24 many individuals, KCC produced a strategic plan for visitors need to cross at the canal. Get in touch Green Fingers - p24 increasing road safety in Kilmallie. But getting if you need more copies. Book Groups - p25 official bodies to take notice, let alone take action, We need hundreds of people to respond before it is a painfully slow business. We have had a few Curious Craft – p25 is likely to have any impact. If you can help the successes so far, but it’s not enough. Louise campaign in other ways, we’d love to hear from district nursing - p26 Pescod, chair of Banavie Parents Council has raised you - we five volunteer members of KCC can only focus on folk – p27 their concerns again about the lack of a crossing at achieve so much on our own. Spotlight: Men's Shed - p28 the school, and it is clear that a really concerted Lochaber Environmental - p29 effort is required before Transport Scotland will even begin to take our concerns seriously. Focus on Business - p30

Shelter - p30 Arthur Cowie of the Lochaber Disability Access slower, Ruth’s poem - p30 Panel is trying to build a case for crossings at feedback - p30 Glenfinnan, Corpach and the canal. KCC are keen would you like to become a sponsor too? to support him in this, as well as to safer, smilier

We rely on the contributions from our business community for the cost of producing and distributing this free newsletter to every be? what should KCC’s priorities puzzles from pithean - p31 address in our area. We welcome sponsorship from all businesses located in Kilmallie, or with principal key personnel resident in support Banavie Parents, Annette and sponsors - p32 please help, Kilmallie. If you would you like to see your name or logo in print supporting your community newsletter, please join with our everyone else. But nothing’s current sponsors. All donations, big or small, are hugely appreciated. Please contact us at [email protected] for details. likely to change unless we collect questionnaire hard evidence of the need. enclosed We can make more things happen if more people help, just page 2 informally, like Sue or Annette, or perhaps as an associate page 31 kilmallie member, even if you don’t fancy becoming a full member of the community council. community To be or not to be Fortunately KCC achieved our minimum requirement of 4 people, but 27 Community Councils across Highland failed to “some straight, some cryptic, some easy, some not so easy” Across

re-establish at all, when not enough people came forward to council 1 2 3 4 5 6 Alive and kicking stand for election.*** Even if a CC’s time, energy and powers 1 These bells have a cult following (7) are limited, and its budget is peanuts, it’s still valuable for a 4 This firth sounds like it’s just missed a medal (5) This newsletter might be the first indication you’ve had since community to have statutory representation in place for 7 Me and the start of Gandalf makes girl (5) November that KCC does still actually exist! Apologies if so. 9 See chin from the East (7) when need arises. 7 8 9 We didn’t manage to bring you a newsletter in December (I 10 Leaking about joint (7) was unable to do the desktop publishing at the time) but as It will be interesting to see how things work out for Fort 11 Second in line’s mum (5)

you can see from the delivery of this issue, KCC is still alive William. Their CC re-established after the CC elections, but 12 Decline rubbish (6) and kicking, and continuing to work in lots of ways on the then they dramatically resigned en masse soon after, as they 14 United in America (6) 10 11 community’s behalf. felt their voice wasn’t being listened to - a common 18 These could be chicken, salmon or arable (5) complaint amongst CCs and certainly familiar to KCC. 20 Things land here (7) Election results FWCC members have set up an action group in the CC’s 22 Can they be found in a pot? (7) KCC was successfully re-established on 18th November after place, but it can’t have the same formal status as a CC - it 23 Direction of mixed thorn (5) the Highland-wide Community Council elections. Out of 12 13 14 15 16 can’t for example be a statutory consultee for planning and 24 Art he is around and beating (5) Kilmallie’s seven previous community council members, five 25 Ola and Rose make a spray (7) licensing applications, so they risk their voice being even less 17 decided to stand again for another four year term. No other heard. This could disadvantage the FW community in the nominations were received, so all five of us were re-elected Down future. On the other hand, freed from the constraints of a CC 18 19 20 21 unopposed: Carol Anne Campbell, Christine Hutchison, Jan constitution, the new FW group might find greater 1 Acrobat holds drinks (7) MacLugash, Russell Leaper and myself. 2 Start (5) empowerment in more informal ways. We’ll watch (and listen!) with interest. 3 Cher and Al work together for her (6) Losses and gains 4 22 can be this (5) 22 23 Kshama Wilmington and Geoff Heathcote decided not to We’re engaged! 5 Authorise again (2-5) stand again: we were very sorry to lose them and thank 6 Nay, he may be the laughing kind (5) KCC’s meetings aren’t usually overcrowded, in spite of the them both hugely for their past work on behalf of the attraction of tea and cake, but through this newsletter we 8 Closes in on points holding hearing device (5) community. Kshama had completed a full four year term, are in touch regularly with the entire community, and 24 25 13 Taiwan was about so far, Mo (7) Geoff had joined us only latterly, but both made a very probably 200 people have been directly and actively involved 15 Shroud city (5) valuable contribution to KCC’s achievements. with KCC over the last four years. I hope that means we are 16 Latches unlocked for school bag (7) It’ll be impossible to sustain the level of work that we doing an OK job. We rely on you to tell us what you’d like us 17 Sickness (6) 18 Could be gold or green (5) managed as a team of seven, but we’re delighted that Sue to be doing. 19 Rupture (5) Chadney has offered to help and is already doing great stuff picture quiz no 9 Mandy Ketchin, Chair 21 Gores mixed up monsters (5) on the newsletter team. And it’s great to have Annette where in Kilmallie? Hobson’s help with Slower Safer Smilier - we’re helping her *** Some managed to re-establish when they got a second chance and she’s helping us - what’s not to like! in February, but eg Ardgour and Mallaig are still without a CC. Thank you to Tony Whitelocke for another great crossword.

by minor downturns in the economy. Some of the poorest countries have the most to teach us about public transport. Answers to these puzzles are on the website on the buses We have become trapped in a downward spiral of declining www.kilmallie.org.uk Listening to the complaints about bus services at a recent services resulting in fewer people using them, leading to (follow the link on the RHS of the homepage) 2016 is InternationalYear of Pulsethe (lentils notheartbeats) and will also be published in the next issue of Lochaber Transport Forum meeting left me wondering ‘how further declines. Reversing the spiral is possible. The extra the newsletter for people without access to did we get here?’ The level of anger was much stronger than train services to Oban have encouraged many more people to generousthe mystery whoresident has donated to £30 newsletterthe the internet. the usual grim despair over declining public services. This to use them.

was real fury directed at the bus operators. A clearly KCC has had an ongoing campaign to protect bus services. The most recent cuts at the end of last year have been on the Answer to Picture Quiz No 8: demoralised representative of Highland Council, who provide Ruined footbridge across the River Loy near 919 Fort William to Inverness route. There is no alternative funding for many of our local bus routes, also faced a barrage Achnanellan. DANGER – DO NOT CROSS! option when there is no bus. We now have a situation where of criticism and had no answers except that there was simply not enough resources to tackle many of the problems. it is not possible to visit Fort William from Inverness for the Answers to last issue’s crossword: Procurement rules require that contracts for public weekend, visit friends or relatives in Raigmore Hospital from Across: transport are given to the lowest bidder regardless of any Fort William on a Sunday, or to get to Inverness on a Sunday 1 COMMENT, 4 TARTS, 7 BEGIN track record of actually delivering the service. So although from the islands and other remote areas. These services 9 RICHARD, 10 AMNESIA, 11 SOAPS the Council is in the process of inviting tenders for new were all cut without any consultation with the people that 12 ENVOYS, 14 STREET, 18 DUCKS contracts, there is no expectation that anything will improve. use them. Citylink have acknowledged the difficulty and 20 HEXAGON, 22 AIR PUMP, 23 STATE Despite also being there to complain about cuts to bus distress that the cuts have caused and will be reviewing re- 24 YOYOS, 25 SAUCERS services I did feel a little sympathy for the bus company instating some of these services over the next few weeks. If Down: representatives. Those of us with cars all have a collective you would like to see these services restored then now is the 1 CABBAGE, 2 MEGAN, 3 TARTAN did know... you responsibility for the low priority given to public transport. time to make your views known. 4 TICKS, 5 REAL ALE, 6 SIDES The state of public transport also cannot be explained away 8 NASTY, 13 VACANCY, 15 TEXAS Russell Leaper, Secretary 16 TANDEMS, 17 THAT IS, 18 DAFFY a huge thank you you a huge thank 19 SLEDS, 21 GRAVE

page 30 any ideas for articles on the history of Kilmallie? distributorfor RB Distributors/Nisbets whoare one of thelargest productsand have access to many more through beingmaina foodproducts. On the equipmentside we stock over200 catering ordercustomers. We manufacture stockor inthe region of1600 restaurantsand thoughwe also have a number ofprivate and mail Wemanufacture anddistribute foodproducts primarily to hotels What does your company do? Weare based in Annat Industrial EstateinCorpach. Where are you located? Smokeryand also milka distribution business. Theothers are Letterfinlay Catering Equipment, Letterfinlay Wehave companies,4 themain one being Letterfinlay FoodsLtd. What is your company name? being pilotedby Shelter Scotland in newA service Lochaber private landlords in freeNew service to help them tenantsand give advice on helpavailable to qualityand professional service to their landlordsinLochaber to providea high

The Private LandlordSupport Projectis poems you wrote for us back in 2013. in us back for you wrote poems of the one to re-print nice be it would thought we memory, your in Ruth: much very Thanks cats. her of escapades the about mainly her poems, and reading Corpach in out striding her seeing miss We will contributions. regular her with newsletter the to gave she support the appreciated really We 2014. Dec 48, Issue in on Folk Focus our of the subject was Ruth December. in died Miller Ruth hear that to saddened We were RuthMiller And no betterwelcome know I ofthan that. walk I in thegate to be met myby cat, Myhouse ismy castlehomea – that I treasure, Forhere Ibelong and find infinite pleasure, I’mpart of thevillage and here will I stay. Welaugh and exchange allthe news ofthe day. Are those thatknow I and offriends whoknow me, go downI theroad and the facessee I To thesize and maturity now that theyshow. Fromseedling or plantletIsaw them allgrow Foreach did I nourishand lovingly tend, Whenwalk I inmygarden, each plant isa friend Of theloch and themountains, the skiesand theseas. Of thebricks and the stones, ofthe plantsand the trees, I’ve livedhere so long nowIfeel I’ma part Myhome in theHighlands isdear to my heart, HIGHLANDMY HOME IN CORPACH - was launchedat the end ofJanuary. - aimed at helping private

business onfocus

professionalas possible. We’ll advise on withit to help private landlordsbe as expertise and knowledge Shelterof Scotland aspirations. tailoredto a landlord’sindividual provideinformation and practicalassistance community,our new serviceisdesigned to safe, secureand affordable homesfor the Officer, says:“With a shared passion for accommodation. excellentquality, private aspirations and ensure they provide Lochaberto help themmeet their own workingtogether with private landlords in information and practicalassistance by Association. The service offers tailored partnershipwith Lochaber Housing

“The freeservice brings thesubstantial Bryan Powell,Private Landlord Support

extracosts associated with being basedhere. isIta beautiful place tolive and work.That alone makes upfor any Kilmallie? What do you and your business like about being in Wehave 13 full timestaff andalso employ seasonalstaff. How many people do you employ locally? basedwas up at Letterfinlay. Wehave been based at Annat since1998. Previouslythe factory How long have you been operating in Kilmallie? gameand cheese. smokehousesmaking a widerange ofsmoked salmon, meats, catering equipmentdistributors inthe UK. We also have 2 - Letterfinlay, the latest company to join our band of rented This This time our business focus is on Robert Provan of

feedback generous sponsors. (RP) behalf... time and effort ouron commitmentofvoluntary KCC for their equal do commendI thecurrent suchpapera interms oftime and effort) and of howdemanding can bethe production of newsletter(I have some personal experience do congratulateI you allon thequality of the contemporary photographsfrom that time). more than50years ago (and havemyown islandsImyself visited as a (just) teenager, issuecontained an article aboutthe Skelligs... 50extremely informative; bizarrely, thelast andpaper itsarticles. Not only did findI issue congratulate youallon the quality of the in thatsense!) (Banavieisa long way fromArdgour, at least aboutlocal history and local personalities immenselyas Itry to learn as much as Ican arrivalat theend ofApril. have I enjoyedit receive to copies ofyour newsletter since our Ardgour), years,initially in Drimnin andlatterly in have lived inLochaber for more than 20 relative As newcomersto the area(although I priorities. Bryan ishappy to discusstheir improvement Email: [email protected] Bryan Powell:Mobile: 07493 047942. thefuture.” and ensurescapitala and social return in looksafter the bricks and mortar investment stay longer. Providinga long and tenantsare happier and more likely to also it means theproperty is easier to let maintain or increasetheir property’s value, improvement. onlyNot does ithelp spendingtime, money and energy on “There aremany benefits tolandlords of for for grantsand financial assistance. propertyand energyefficiency and applying meeting legal requirements,improving getting registered, understanding and

Private Landlordsare invited to contact

mywifeand Ihave been delighted

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CommunityCouncil. viewsthe of the newsletter team or of Kilmallie Viewsexpressed inthis newsletter are not necessarily [email protected] Emailusat Mandy Ketchin ChadneySue JanMacLugash 772383 Christine Hutchison 772252 newsletterYour team: newsletter, then pleasecontact one of the team. youarea.If know of anyone doesn’twho receive the newsletter to every home and businessin the Kilmallie We’dtolike thank everyone who helps ingetting the Sue. newsletter team and hope you enjoy thechallenge, newsletter. We welcome Sue Chadney to the the with newsletter and the delivery of the haveWe had some new volunteerswilling helpto newsletter teamreceived that at time. Mandyto and the support and understanding the thankto you allforthe kind expressions of sympathy tookmatters precedence with all us. of We wouldlike husband,Iandied at the end of November and family isthat necessary to produce the newsletter: Mandy’s reforminNovember 2015, we couldnot give the time producea newsletter in December. AlthoughKCC did Youwill allbe aware that KCCdidn’t manageto Vice ChairVice Treasurer Member Secretary Chair checkthe website or Facebook incase of changes. every monthexcluding July and December. Please KilmallieCommunity Centre on the 4th Monday of meetings. Meetingsare currently held at 7:15pm in Membersthe of publicare welcomemost at allour COUNCIL COMMUNITY KILMALLIE community community

kilmallie

news [email protected] Salen,Banavie PH33 7LY JanMacLugash [email protected] House,Canal Banavie,PH33 7LY Carol AnneCarol Campbell Christine Hutchison RussellLeaper [email protected] Mandy Ketchin

Pre- KCC’s meetings KCC’s onof theMonday 4th (excludingmonth every www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pre Lochaber Chamber of Commerce (but in check Secretary with any of case last all welcome at welcome all place time and thesame as remain before your and for ideas issues local concerns 7:15pm at Kilmallie Centre Community changed our our changed minute changes or cancellations) of Partnership Nevis Landscape www.lochaberchamber.co.uk/events AngelaMacLean Lochaber High School Debatechaired by Laurence Young Election debate schedule MalcolmMacKay Open Open public,to admission free, 20th April, 6:30pm we have we have JohnFinnie but registerbut fortickets at Monday 28th March talk from Pate Lewis July and December) LindaStewart Monday 25th April Monday 27th June Monday 23rd May the place share to Kate ForbesKate we we now meet hosted by 20948596817 more infoat - - Liberal Democrats

Green Party - - Conservative election - - Labour SNP

debate

tickets

page 3 are you following us on facebook yet? page 4 come to KCC meetings for great homemade cake! public tocome along to hear what theirCC is doing forthem and heldusually at KilmallieHall and would encourage members of the in. I personallyattend the vast majority of the monthly meetings canwe best serve thediverse communitiesthat we live and work Scotland’sagenda and itisan integral partofunderstanding how Thepolice liaisonwith community councils isvery high on Police withinKilmallie. directbearing on day to day livingwithin Lochaberand morelocally relateto themspecifically, unlike atabloid which often has no a is very effective way of informing the communityofissues that believe I the newsletteris a importantvery part of whatKCC do and distributesand to thelocal community itserves. dozenarticles for the quarterly newsletter which the producesCC CommunityCouncil for over years4 now and have written over a have I fulfilledthe role localof liaison officer Kilmalliefor the Blar facility on healthnew update on policing community afoot plans 26/02/16 23/02/16 12/02/16 19/01/16 21/01/16 22/01/16 25/01/16 23/12/15 23/12/15 08/12/15 09/12/15 27/11/15 07/12/15

16/00599/FUL 16/00667/PNO 16/00628/PNO 16/00025/MSC 16/00245/FUL 16/00282/FUL 16/00294/FUL 15/04754/PIP 15/04755/PIP 15/04289/FUL 15/04437/FUL 15/04392/OHL 15/04443/PIP

permissionalready granted), OHL= Overhead Electricity Line PNO= Prior Notification, MSC =Matters SpecifiedConditions in (ie typically follow =PIP Permission inPrinciple, FUL Full= Application, LBC =Listed Building Consent. WeeklyPlanning Lists,see the Sept 2014 edition of Kilmallie Community News week ending04/03/16. Some mayalready have beendetermined. For furtherinformation about Herearethe local applications that we’ve noticed theon WeeklyLists the lastin three months, up to

Proposedalterations & extensionto storage building, Kinlocheil OutwardBound Centre, Achdalieu PriorNotification farm for Farm Erection of house, Land 40MEast Ramona,of Banavie Erection of house, Land 85M NE Ramona,of Banavie Erection of house,Plot Campbell4 Road Banavie Erection of dwelling house, LandNW Heisker,of Banavie Jetty consistingof approx 800 Tonnes rockof fill, Boyd Brothers (Haulage) Ltd, Annat Pier, Corpach Demolition of existing flat roof garage & erection ofnew hippedroof garage, Almorness, Corpach Badabrie Camanaich, flat, granny one bedroom a form house to to Alteration Bridge Swing Banavie Bridge, Swing Railway the Banavie of operation the with connected Canal the Caledonian within (pontoon) platform inspection aofpermanent Installation Fassfern House, Fassfern of East 150m Land connection, 33KV of Camus 25m NW Land 10/03304/PIP) of (renewal dwelling Erection - relatedbuilding works, Craigdhu Banavie Morearly inmid of the Tesco developmentsite on the Blar Followingthe HighlandCouncil’s purchase willagree thescope of theproject and others,isrepresented on theGroup which KilmallieCommunity Council, along with ‘NewFort William HealthFacility’. thespecification and development of the assembledhas a Steering Group to oversee Engineeringand Maths) and NHSHighland itsSTEM Centre (Science, Technology, West HighlandCollege UHI istaking forward makingearly progress with their plans. supportedthe Council in thatbidare community planning partnersthat

- relatedbuilding, Darachbeg Barn, Banavie - 2015,two of the Tel.101 for non PH337GA MOR,BLAR Fort William Fort WilliamPolice Station PoliceService ofScotland [email protected] Liaison Officer for Kilmallie Community Council Andrew Bilton, PoliceSergeant commentsor on local Policing in the KilmallieLochaberor area. per As previousnewsletter articles,I would welcome any feedback http://www.scotland.police.uk/recruitment/police getor intouch withme formore information: new career?Check outour recruitment advert at the followinglink currentlyrecruiting! Who knows what 2016 might holdfor you: a greatplace toliveand work: speakingofwhich PoliceScotland are enjoy thegreat outdoors thatwe have hereinLochaber. It’sa know I’mlooking forwardto somebrighter weather tobe able to As thewinter snow meltsand the winter storms hopefullysubside, I thePolice otherwise.or voiceany opinions concernsor you may have,whether related to

- The emergency

giveus regular progress reports. theon Steering Group and she willaim to ChristineHutchison isKCC’s representative health facility! reasonit’s not yet called a hospital buta simply focuson a new building – for that keep to the scopeof thebrief wide and not encouragementisbeing given at stagethis the at service model for Lochaber, every policy. Highland strategyand Scottish Government clinicaland service model, allto fit withNHS supervisedevelopment and delivery of the

Because theproject will be looking

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Ha, Annat View -Ha, Annat

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officers/

‘usedate by’ themon they so last will longer. purchasingpurchase to try perishable items with the furthest awareof whatis inyour fridge and datesproducts. of When thefor: thisfood label can be disregarded you if are shopping. Be until’ ‘Display ‘sell or by’ tells the shop staffhowlong to display theafter best before date: however check for tasteand quality.

Know your dates save thepennies and help the environmentallat the same time! Sohere are some toptips to reduce your householdfood waste, thatcould have been eaten isput into landfill. theproduction andtransportation of food also is wasted when food damaging thancarbon dioxide. Theenergy and resources used for planet.our Food waste produces methane, a greenhouse gas more impacton our bank balance, but italso has detrimentaleffect on £470for theaverage household. Food waste may havea negative out fromScottish homes. This waste costs over £1billion a year, or tonnes offood (which could have beeneaten) and drink are thrown amountof foodsent to landfillin Scotland. At present 630,000 campaignLove Food Hate Waste (LFHW)that aims reduce to the One ofthe projectcampaigns isto promote thenationwide promoting re before’date labels tell you aboutfood quality. canYou eatfood defrostthem in the refrigerator and use within hours. 24 ‘Best productsbefore their use bydate: then when need you them food its after use by date as it can be dangerous. You can freeze ‘Usedate by’ labels about are food safety: should you noteat datelabel means. becomeconfusing! very is importantIt understand to whateach Therelots are of dates now productson and at times it can encouragebehaviours thatextend the life initiatives to increase household recycling, reduce food waste and andencourage behaviours that extend the life initiatives to increase household recycling, reducefood waste projecttoaims develop and maintain community based Lochaber across towards the goal ‘Zeroof a Lochaber.Waste’ The Voluntary,Statutory andPartner agencieswithin communities TheWaste Zero project is currently working in partnership with iswhatthey had to say about their projects. entailand whateach are aiming to achieve within Lochaber. Here year last where they shared with the group whatboth projects projectcame toalong speak to the Kilmallie Community Council Onemember the Zerofrom Waste VCAP and Carbon Reduction Programme(VCAP), Woodfuel and Carbon Reduction project. running– Zero WasteVolunteer and Community Advocate LochaberEnvironmental Group(LEG) currently has three projects - use, repairuse, and sharing options) across thelocal area.

maintainingcommunity based Theproject focuses on developing and a of ‘Zero Waste’Lochaber. Lochaber,isworking towards the goal agencieswithin communities across voluntary,statutory and partner Zero WasteProject, inpartnership with Lochaber EnvironmentalGroup‘s (LEG)

- cyclesofproducts (eg by

- cyclesproducts of

ZeroWaste Lochaber. alsoon Facebook and Instagramas [email protected] are asup great shopping bags, email us at freeglass recycling bagsthat also double withus, or would liketo grab one ofthe foodwaste tips you would liketo share aboutour project, haveor your own youIf would like any more information sizedyogurt pot. is theequivalent tothesize ofa computer mouse or averagean ingredients:for examplean average adult portion of uncooked rice Youcan even useeveryday householditems to measure Measureitems out beforecooking using scales, measuringor cups. Weareall very guilty ofcooking portion sizesthat aretoo big! Portion allup your leftovers. scotland.lovefoodhatewaste.com/for some recipes to help you use useitto make a bread and butter pudding.Have alook at http:// pastasalad? Breadleft over after dinner andstarting to go stale: intoa whole newmeal. Leftover pasta: how about usingforit a tomorrow’slunch or dinner.Or you can be creative andturn them Leftovers don’t haveto go inthe bin, they can be usedfor leftoversUse needyou it. Youcan pop the cubes straight intoyour coffee ortea! Toptip: freeze semi refrigeratorand cook within 24 hoursofdefrosting until piping hot. theminto a labelledcontainer inthe freezer, defrostin the throwitaway and waste money. If you have leftovers, cool, and put somethingmeans you can keep itfor another day, rather than Youcan freeze fresh,cooked and pre packaged food. Freezing Freeze it areyou not hungry:a hungry shopperalways spendsmore! yourshopping list. When you head tothe supermarketmake sure meal.Check what you already haveinthe cupboardsbefore making can for theweek and geteach member of thefamily to suggest a getto the supermarket.Sit down and planfor as many meals as you aSet budget to preventoverspending impulseor buying once you Plan before you buy (egbypromoting re swappingevent be will Lochaber at Yacht Club on 5 events repair across Lochaber over thenext months. 7 Our first householdsreuse to products byhosting upcycling, swappingand Lochaber. across Weare encouraging communities and Theproject encouraging is also the extension product of lifestyles usefuladvice tohowon reduce household waste. food communityengagement activities that deliver practical and the of environmental and economic impact of food waste via FoodLove Hate WasteCampaign which seeks raise to awareness planning,budgeting and correct portioning. This will promote the sessionsnext early year whichcover will basic cookery skills, meal information booklets.We are also launching a seriesof cookery educational classes in schoolsand providing householders with recyclingthrough the co HighlandCouncil WasteAwareness officer to increasehousehold local present area.At working we are in partnership with the [email protected]. at dress,based we are in the DrochaidAn building. you canOr email attendingof our some cookery sessions donatingor an unwanted infinding out moreaboutour projects becomingor a volunteer, make inthe form Partyof a Swish:there be will dress a hairswap, and - updemonstrations and refreshments. If you interestedare

- skimmed milk inice cube trays to use when - use,and repair sharing options)across the

- deliveryof information stands,

th Dec, 2

- 4pm

page 29

remember earth hour... Saturday March 19th, 8:30pm glare of the sun. How do you manage page 5 page 28 a pedestrian's predicament to cross between the big lorries full of logs, the oil tankers, the aggregate spotlight Once upon a time, the Scottish processing factory. All these mean trucks and the hundreds of cars and Highlands were a haven of peace and heavy lorries, tankers and vans plying vans? It is a daunting challenge and this This time Donald Grant from Corpach tranquillity. You rarely saw any traffic, up and down the road daily. In the is why I would very much like to see a is in our spotlight, telling us about the local settlements seemed few and far summer the traffic swells with tourism. proper pedestrian crossing, either a between and when you met anyone it zebra crossing or a green man crossing Men’s Shed project As a local resident who lives in Banavie was usually somebody you put in here, not just for me but for on the east side of the A830, I have to knew. Nowadays, however, it is everyone else who struggles to cross cross this road just about every day,

completely different. The advent of the safely. I have had tourists comment to

sometimes more than once a day, in Bothan Obrach a’Ghearisdan motorcar, tourism, industry and an me about how difficult it is to cross this order to walk down the canal to increasing population means that it is road: they are standing there waiting Corpach, or to catch buses or to go to Fort William Men’s Shed impossible to find any space or peace for ages for a gap in the traffic so they the shops in Caol. There are no shops in unless you try and escape to the very can get over the other side to Banavie and both the Co-ops in Caol The Men’s Shed movement was started in Australia in the remotest glen, and even there you are photograph the boats or the steam and Corpach are on the other side of mid 1990s as a response to concerns regarding the physical likely to turn a corner and come across train and so on. I find it incredible there the main road to me. and mental health of older men. a coach load of tourists bristling with is not a designated, safe crossing place cameras, guide books and smart What's the problem, I hear you ask - here and I'd be very interested to know The Men’s Shed concept has proved successful in reducing phones. lots of folk cross this road. Ah, but you what others think about this state of the incidence of a variety of problems associated with older try crossing it if you are disabled or affairs. The biggest problem, and this is the men, eg heart disease, loneliness, stroke, isolation etc, while elderly or trying to hang onto young case for most places now, is the Surely it is everyone's democratic right improving the quality of their lives. The concept has gone children. increase in traffic. The more popular a to be able to go about their lives in global and expanded its remit to become more inclusive. destination is, the more people will visit At the Banavie swing bridge which is a safety regardless of their age, disability

it, along with their cars, caravans, main crossing point for locals and or lifestyle. Pedestrians deserve some There are now no barriers of gender or age. Thousands of motorhomes and so on. In Kilmallie we tourists alike, there is no safe crossing thought too, and in this increasingly Sheds (Bothanan Obrach) have opened up in New Zealand, are blessed to live in a scenic and point other than a dropped kerb to the busy world we live in the emphasis Ireland, UK etc. Many of them have the financial backing of historic area. We have attractions such south of the bridge or an island to the seems to be on how to get to where their governments and/or local authorities, this due to the as the Caledonian Canal, the mighty Ben north near Old Banavie Road. There is you want to be as fast as you can on health and social benefits a community experiences as a Nevis, the West Highland Way and nothing to stop the traffic, or slow it four wheels, to the detriment of those result of the activities of the Sheds. In other words and in film nightsfilm coming soon Great Glen Way both of which run down to give the pedestrian safe on two legs or two wheels! official jargon, Men’s Sheds are cost effective in reducing through the area. We also have the passage across. This is highly nerve- demands on the NHS, Social Work and other Community Annette Hobson A830, the main road from Fort William racking for me personally as I am Services. away up to Mallaig, which is a very busy severely visually impaired. Imagine to Please help KCC help everyone cross the road used by tourists, locals and yourself, standing at the side of the In Fort William our Shed is run by a group of volunteers who road safely and without anxiety - industry alike. We have businesses such road and you cannot see very far in please respond to our questionnaire

are constituted as a Charity, No SCO 45365. We recently as the sawmill at Corpach, the quarry in either direction, your eyesight is very (either the paper copy inside this moved in to our first premises on the Blar Mhor Industrial Banavie and numerous industrial blurred and, on bright sunny days, you newsletter or online at Estate. There will be a lot of work to make it comfortable. estates dotted about as well as a fish can hardly see at all because of the www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DHKQ9F3

Some aspects on which we are strong are good craic, sharing

skills, teaching skills, blagging materials, help, re-cycling, KCC highlighted the issues faced by making and sorting stuff for the community and ourselves. many others like Annette back in Issue Transport Scotland slow Basically we are a group that want to do things while 44, Dec 2013. Many have experienced enjoying ourselves and using our collective skills and talents. the fear of being stuck on this narrow = Kilmallie not safe, not smiley traffic island with small children, while It is 18 months since we were Similarly it is years now since To give you a bit o’ history of The Fort William Men’s Shed... extend their work delivering arts facilities to young people a bus and a timber lorry go past at the pleased to report the the 20mph part time signs at About 2 years ago it was first mooted by Age Concern and a living in outlying areas of Lochaber. So, we are already same time in opposite directions welcome arrival of the the High School stopped BREAKING group of volunteers formed the board. Names of interested contributing to the community and thoroughly enjoying flashing 30mph signs either flashing. KCC have chased and parties were gathered and a couple of outings were ourselves. side of Corpach (Sept 14 chased, again to no avail. We NEWS! organised, funded by Age Concern, to Westhill Aberdeen issue). Why have Transport gather there are practical The Oban Times

reported 10/03/16 and KCCAnnette in Oban Times recently? -twoarticles on the frontpage Men’s Shed, the first Shed to be established in Scotland. On Saturday 2nd April, 10am to 2pm, we will be having an Scotland still not got them difficulties related to keeping working? KCC have been the water out of the electrics. that BEAR Scotland Another excursion to Fort George was enjoyed and the open day and showing off the renovations and facilities. chasing them, to little avail so That is certainly plausible, but assured the flashing difficult business of finding suitable premises and funding We'll provide tea coffee and food. Donations welcome but far. it’s not an acceptable excuse speed signs would be was started. The funding part has been ‘interesting’, and has not necessary. Come along, have a blether, sign up (it's free), for inaction for SO long, operational by Friday Lochaber Weal Common Lochaber contrasted significantly with the experience of other Men’s and join us for some craic and fun. particularly where the safety 11th March. We went Sheds in Scotland and the rest of the world. For example of schoolchildren is along on Saturday 12th Australia and Ireland governments provide funding for their All are welcome it's not a shed just for men but a shed for all. concerned. to see for ourselves. Sheds; Aberdeen provides premises at a nominal rent. Our We thought we maybe We’ve had indications that own Highland Council are charging us a commercial rent for Donald Grant glimpsed a glimmer of something might happen to light, but traffic passing premises. This has meant that in order to get the Men’s Shed sort both these issues soon. If at 40mph failed to Fort William off the ground, members have found it Men's Shed Fort William not, you may see us step up trigger any response you see did necessary to dip substantially into their own pockets. Unit 9a. Blar Mhor Estate, Lochyside, Fort William our campaign for action whatsoever. Phone 01397 706182 through the local press. But maybe they’ll be Currently we are involved with the BUZZ Project helping to The ghostly outline of the signs that have never lit up - and it’s not fully operational by the renovate a second bus for them in order that they can because everyone has been obeying the speed limit, as we know time you read this??? from Police Scotland’s recent speed checks.

My main piping inspiration and influences are Martyn Bennet, page 6 Gordon Duncan and Allan MacDonald of Glenuig. Martyn was really page 27 the first piper to mix piping genres. Allan MacDonald is an our Highland councillors’ corner focus on innovative piper and composer who took Piobaireachd back to the original gaelic song base which made it sound more varied and This time we challenged our three councillors to comment on the subject “Council Tax - freeze or thaw?” As the fabric of natural. public services gets ever more threadbare, attacked by round upon round of severe budget cuts imposed by Westminster I'm involved in the Feis movement and teach at Feis Rois, and Holyrood, and as communities (most especially the poorer people in communities) feel the direct pain of these sharp folk Lochaber, Acharacle and Eigg. Being at a Feis is always good: the cuts, we suspect this is a topic that will increasingly be aired round kitchen tables. Eigg Feis is particularly good fun as it's so small and friendly. I teach Allan and Bill sent us their pieces before Highland Council's budget debate on 25 February. Ben sent his afterwards. This time Angus Binnie, who lives in Corpach, spoke to Sue the whistle at Mallaig primary school and travel to other schools in the area through the Youth Musical Initiative teaching whistle. You The huge budget cuts, and they are massive raise £5 million, Highland would have been problems for elderly care services, and Mandy about his life as a traditional musician. Sue put Angus’s words onto paper for us. need to learn to blank out the noise of 30 tin whistles but it's cuts, coming through from government in £13 million worse off. education and delivery of community worthwhile as the children get to keep the whistles and some carry the name of the reduced block grant services. It is clear that the voluntary sector I was brought up in Cromarty, but have west coast roots: my father on with their music. I also take private piping pupils. settlement with golden shackles attached, It is patently clear that government wants neither has capacity, nor an appetite to take came from South Uist and my mum from Caol. There's no musical I own three sets of pipes – one set of Highland pipes and two of currently make freezing or thawing a non- councils to reorganise, but at the same time on more, such as grass cutting, running tradition in the family and my piping interest started when I went bellows pipes. My large pipes date from the 1890s, they came from question to local authorities. During are not willing to take the flak by saying toilets or cleaning streets, so the to Feis Rois aged 11 where piping was actually my third choice! someone's loft in Cromarty and were given to me. They have ivory January, Councils were looking along the what services they want cut across the communities will suffer. Then I went on to be taught by Rona Lightfoot in Inverness. She mounts which can pose a problem when travelling to the USA as lines of thawing council tax or even country. It would be unfair to have differing was one of the first woman pipers to compete against men (in the the pipes can be seized and destroyed. Happily this didn't happen overheating it by as much as 18% which services and standards in one area to the If the councils are not allowed to thaw 1960s) and she taught using the "canntaireachd" – a piping when I travelled there! I'm always learning and still need to would have been totally unacceptable to next, or almost a postcode lottery situation council charges then the only route open, if "language" in which you almost sing the tunes. I decided to make practice. The electronic chanter is useful as I can take it anywhere, council tax payers. In Highland, councillors of council services. The fact is, the reduced services are to remain as at present, is to piping my career and when I was 18 I went to study music at Lews plug in the headphones and practice a tune. I'd like to learn and looked at a more modest 5% to raise settlement combined with increased charge extra for providing services such as Castle College in Benbecula where I was taught by Iain MacDonald. own a set of Uillean pipes, traditional Irish smallpipes: they’re the approximately a further £5 million, national insurance and pension brown bin collections, usage of toilets, all I went on to Strathclyde Uni studying first the Highland pipes, most difficult pipes to play. especially if the expected golden shackle of contributions leads to a funding shortage council parking and any other then adding the bellows pipes and the whistle. I played with many Most of my leisure time is spent on music- I like to listen to hip- £3 million was to be waived. However it and councils unable to deliver. non-statutory services. This will different traditional musicians in Glasgow in pubs and at gigs. But I hop, dance and some folk music. I compose music but I'm not good soon became clear that £3 million was not clearly not be an easy decision was ready to move back up to the Highlands after 6 years in at finishing a tune to make it ready for playing at a session – that's the penalty, but a whopping £18 million, as While the council tax freeze has been very for any councillor to endorse. Glasgow and came to Corpach. my New Year’s Resolution, to finish more tunes! In Glasgow I did claw back after clawback was dragged out of acceptable to hard pressed homes it is now I've piped locally in the Glen Mhor pipe band and have been some techno DJ-ing and I do like to go ski-ing when I can. the ministerial hat. So for a 5% increase to an antiquated policy that is causing Cllr Allan Henderson with them to the World Pipe Band Championship but I find it difficult to find the time to play with the Pipe Band as I'm busy Listen to Angus and FRAS performing Castlerock from teaching and playing traditional music in bands. At the moment I their upcoming album on YouTube The Scottish Government agreed to freeze were warned would face us if we voted Yes Chambers all talk about devolving real play the smallpipes in two bands. ‘Sketch’ has produced 2 CDs: one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNdmAd_h-_4 Council Tax for the entirety of this in the referendum has come to pass not powers with budgets to match as they know member is Ian Copeland of the Peat Bog Faeries. We played this

Parliamentary session and, to date, Highland because we voted Yes but because we voted that is what the public wants to hear. year's Celtic Connections at the Travelling Folk concert: it was quite More about Angus and FRAS at Council, in return, has received lump sum No. scary knowing that our performance was going out live! The second www.facebook,com/frasband yearly payments. By lifting the freeze on Notwithstanding that it would save money band is ‘Fras’ (gaelic for ‘shower’) and our first CD will be coming

Council Tax we will hit the working poor I take issue with the view that the only way and services, they have no intention of giving out in May. I play sessions with Fras, and sometimes other More about Angus and Sketch at where every pound counts. It is wrong to to protect front line services is to end the up their power base in Inverness. They have musicians, in various places around Lochaber. We regularly play in http://totalsketch.com/ talk about social justice and poverty and Council Tax freeze as a short term measure. had ample opportunity in the past to do just the Lochailort Hotel and the Laroch Bar in Ballachulish. We're Buy Sketch’s latest album at http://skyerecords.com then go on to hit some of our more Later this year, the Scottish Government will that. These Councillors believe in planning a tour of Skye and the West Coast, hopefully this summer.

vulnerable residents by ending the freeze on bring forward proposals for a fairer and centralising powers in Inverness. In Kilmallie I've played at sessions in Tradewinds in the past. Council Tax. Those who are calling for the more progressive system of local taxation. Lochaber is certainly a good place to be a traditional musician. My freeze to be lifted are not thinking about Why would anyone decide to end the People do not have to be on their knees to weirdest gig ever was a few years ago when I was asked to go to those residents who have to budget for Council Tax freeze at this stage unless it was appreciate the Council Tax freeze. £50 here the Cayman Islands to pipe the Scottish Women's Seven-a-Side every pound. for Political reasons? Those who are at the or there may not be a great deal of money to rugby team into the stadium.

is is reducingthe fundingto Community Councils top end of the salary scale should not be those who would argue for an increase but, Sometimes I'm asked to pipe at wedding and funerals. Piping at Some say that it will end the misery of going down the road that would adversely to others, it eases financial pressure. In the a funeral can be quite difficult as if it's cold the fingering is difficult inKilmallie whenwehave manysogood musicians? budget cuts. Unfortunately, it would be at affect residents at the opposite end of the meantime, the freeze on Council and it can be emotional if I know the family. the expense of many of our residents. They scale. We have the largest Councils in Tax should continue. are not responsible for the financial mess we Europe and we should now be thinking of are in. Cuts are being imposed on the having small Local Authorities representing Cllr Bill Clark Scottish Government. Everything that we local people. Politicians in the Council

"Representation without taxation" to fine councils (and certainly not because Highland residents might well feel they "the freeze is fully funded"). live music The Highland Council on February 25th don't want to see services reduced to that agreed it's 2016/17 budget. All else being extent. In which case the only lever the The question has really become, after nine equal, the council would have had a budget council has to increase income meaningfully years of effectively no tax powers, should of around £600 million to spend on is council tax. Each 1% increase raises £1 local government get its tax raising (or Highland services from April. As it turned million for the council. cutting!) powers back? The current Scottish

Highland Council out, mainly due to decisions at Holyrood government, through its actions, appears to

can imagine that Nurse Martin was kept busy with her page 26 maternity duties. By the time you read this we hope that ‘spring has page 7 District Nursing sprung’ and the daffodils that we planted last The next round of the morning jobs was the daily care of Corpach in autumn have appeared in the tubs and are disabled or bed-bound patients, and the weekly baths. The brightening up the roadside. We hope to do the elderly and disabled had the services of regular home helps. summer planting in late May/early June. We have in Kilmallie These wonderful, much-loved helpers (all were middle-aged around 40 tubs placed along the main road and women) did everything from cleaning the house and Colour down at Corpach Station, plus the boat at Kilmallie First of all we would like to say a big “thank you” to Gardens. If anyone would like to help please preparing and serving meals to getting the messages, in the toileting patients, emptying catheter bags and often just everyone who has donated to Corpach in Colour - contact us on the number/email below - or stop having a cuppa with their clients as they invariably became whether it is a direct donation of money; change and say hi if you see us out and about! close. Sometimes the nurse and home help would work popped into the collection tins; the local businesses 1960s and 70s together washing a patient then getting them up to their that display our collection tins- the Co-op, Harbro, and Finally, we are pleased to announce that we are hosting chair – no hoists or bed lifts at that time, just muscle power! Treasures of the Earth; or the volunteers who donate their another Flower and Produce Show this year. It will be held

The residents of Kilmallie were cared for in the 1960s and time to help with planting, weeding or watering. We are very on Saturday 3 September 2016 in Kilmallie Community 70s by Nurse Martin. Flora Martin belonged to Benbecula. Very few houses had showers, so a bath seat and more grateful. As a voluntary organisation who aim to enhance Centre, Corpach. We are planning the schedule at the She had done her nursing and midwifery training and then muscle power was used for the weekly bath. Before or after the appearance of our village through the use of flowers, moment and it will be available soon. had trained as a Queens Nurse – a specialised course in the bath the district nurse might well have shared a plants, tubs and containers, we appreciate every bit of help domiciliary health care – which entitled her to wear the welcome cup of tea and a scone with her patient. This that comes our way - we realise that we cannot accomplish Louise and Nicola (Corpach in Colour) coveted Queens Nurse Badge on her hat, although it is seemingly social interlude might appear a waste of time for a our aims without the assistance of volunteers and the kind unlikely to have entitled her to a higher salary! Nurse highly trained nurse but two purposes were fulfilled – the bath enabled the district nurse to check on the patient's skin donations from yourselves, so: thank you! (contact Nicola: 772870 or [email protected]) Martin lived in the Nurse’s House in Corpach which was owned by the (then) Highland Health Board: rural areas in and nutrition condition, giving early warning of any pressure Scotland had their own district nurse living in a tied house sores or ulcers, and the blether would show if the patient time we are also expanding geographically and will soon be which usually had an attached treatment room for baby was becoming depressed or confused requiring investigation able to service the Appin, Duror, Onich areas and Salachan. clinics, renewing dressings, etc. The Corpach Nurse’s House or action. Our service is wireless and does not need a phone line; we had no clinic room so care and treatments all took place in beam a signal from point to point to end up at your house patients' homes. The Nurse returned to the Nurse's House at lunchtime to call or business and it requires only a very small antenna dish the surgery for messages from the GP about additional mounted on your property and an electric socket inside. We District nurses wore royal blue dresses (definitely no patient visits needed. In the late 1970s pagers came into use provide everything including the wireless router and trousers in that era!) plus a smart blue Harris tweed coat or a to alert the nurse of messages, but they had a limited range installation is usually very simple and quick. navy blue gabardine raincoat. The royal blue pillbox hat was in rural areas. Also around this time the Health Board donned every morning and not taken off until the nurse installed answering machines - which were about the size of We have recently installed a second fibre optic line at our returned home at night: it was worn throughout the day's a shoe box - in the Nurse’s House so patients and GPs could An update from Lochaber’s local main relay station which has given us the capacity to offer travelling and nursing activities. Nurse Martin had a leave messages. community broadband service our service to more customers. We believe that our pricing capacious leather Gladstone bag which was much envied by packages are competitive and our service is comparable to, As the district midwife, Nurse Martin ran the weekly the younger nurses who had to make do with an NHS issue provider or better than many other providers and certainly is the

metal attaché case. She had use of a car which was essential antenatal clinic one afternoon with the GP in the doctor's only non-satellite service available to many Lochaber areas. surgery in Caledonian Road. She was on call 5 nights a week due to the distances to be covered. Often it was a mini-van Locheilnet provides high speed broadband to areas of to give room for deliveries of zimmer frames, commodes, to go out to see women in labour, to unblock catheters, and, If you have no broadband, a poor landline-based service, or particularly, to care for terminally ill patients. There were no Lochaber that others can’t reach. Locheilnet is a Community incontinence pads etc to patients, as the nurse assessed the owned Company that is run mostly by volunteers and which an expensive satellite service then why not check out our specialised services such as hospices or MacMillan Nurses website and contact us to see if we can help improve your need for all such items and organised the supply. Nurses also has expanded in the two years of operation to having nearly until later, so the team of GP and district nurse, both of life with a fast service backed up by real, local people from a carried around plastic bowls and washing equipment as 300 customers spread around Lochaber from Achnacarry some rural houses, even in the 1960s, might not have too whom would be well known to the dying patient and their community owned non-profit making company. family, cared for many a patient during the end stage of their and Letterfinlay in the north, Glenfinnan to the west, many mod cons. Clovullin and Ardgour to the south and almost anywhere in life. considerbeen suggested to breaking Highland smaller backinto Councils between. With new infrastructure being installed all the www.locheilnet.co.uk Tel: 01397 773 128

promotes the use of our library, which can The term from October to books tightly in rows. Excitement menus, taking orders, making soup, would like to recommend? Why did you decide to join a Book only be good. J - "The Radleys" by Matt Haig. I had never

 December was extremely busy and was building as we created our pizzas and cheese scones which they Group? read a book about vampires before (nor full of lots of fun learning “very own” advent calendar using served and ate for snack. D & C – As I had recently moved to Kilmallie What do you gain from your Book Group? would I ever have chosen to!) but it made opportunities. The group have junk materials and Lynne sneakily I felt it was a good way to meet people. C – It's great to meet others, to be able to me laugh! hear other readers' views in an environment D - "For Faughie's Sake" by Laura Marney. become very good at helping the hid a treat behind the numbers for Now it was time to learn about J – I enjoyed going to a Book Group where I lived previously so I actively searched for where we all respect differing opinions. I This came up as a recommendation from each child to uncover. We started personal care: our role play area teachers plan what they want to one here. find that I read more and my vocabulary has another member. It's set in the West do and give lots of ideas using learning about the story of was transformed into a hair salon. improved – I'm much better at Scrabble Highlands, is gently humorous and has an now! endearing, but alcoholic, central character. photos, writing and chatting to Christmas and familiarising It was great fun working with Where and when is the Book Group held and what made you choose this particular J – I enjoy hearing the different views about C – "The Lights Between Oceans" by M L help change the playroom and ourselves with the words of the rollers, brushes, combs, hairdryers Group? the books; I find that I listen better and am Stedman. Set in Australia, this was a songs for our nativity play. and straighteners. The children outside area around. Our small J – It's held on the third Wednesday more open to and tolerant of others' challenging read; a gripping and often sad physical room was transformed were learning lots of new words afternoon of every month in the Library in opinions generally. story. into an amazing construction site Disaster: we were struck down with linked to styles, equipment and the with house plans, varying sizes of chicken pox... aaargh! We were left role of the hairdresser. Everyone building blocks, work benches, with 3 children for our play and worked hard, mark-making on diggers, measuring tapes, protective party. What were we to do? One sheets to highlight what kind of curious clothing, real tools including of the boys suggested “for a treat hair they had. Liz arranged for her hammers, safety googles and going to soft play”. This we did and niece Ashleigh from Caol Cuts to assorted lengths of pipe. We were re-scheduled the nativity for spend a morning with the children. craft having such fun building and being January. What a lovely way to This was great fun: parents hardly These weird vessels were spotted digger drivers that Carole arranged start our new term: all the recognised their children at home going down the canal towards the Mummies, Daddies, Grannies, time with so many new hair styles. for one of the Dads from Corrie end of last year. It took a while to Construction to bring a digger and Papas and extended families joined figure out what they were, but a bit a dumper for us to “drive”. The us to see us all dressed up and sing contd on next page of googling tracked them down. They day was very cold and wet. It are military hovercraft, Griffon didn’t stop us going out and having 2400TDs, designed and built by Griffon Hoverwork for the Royal lots of fun, tooting the horn and Marines. Diesel powered, they have turning the “really big steering foldable side decks to reduce their wheel”. We learned lots about width to facilitate transportation by levers, sizes and shapes of dumper road and air. buckets, wearing protective hats A modified version, which carries two snow scooters and can travel and hi-vis vests: could there be sinceHanoverian troops burned townshipthe at Barre in Glenloy over ice, is used by the Swedish some apprentices among us? Coast Guard in the Northern Baltic.

Our budding builders create roads, houses and hydro schemes on a daily basis in the outdoor garden….the bark and stone pathways are disappearing very 270 years270 quickly. Everyone is so busy - 20th March is International Day of Happiness 20th isMarch International shovelling, brushing, digging, raking and working with wheelbarrows that our garden takes on a new look regularly. What “a team” we are - everyone loves being out in the fresh air. Mòd ann an Sruighlea an là a bha sin agus cha dh’fhuair sin cus Kilmallie Playgroup contd sent an email to Fort William fire page 24 fharpaiseach. A dh’aindheoin sin, chòrd an latha le mòran. Bha station and are excitedly waiting page 9 còisir ùr Lochabair ann, a dèanamh deiseil airson a’ Mhòid Mòd Nàiseanta, agus bha iadsan mìorbhalach. Ged nach robh farpais Burns day arrived and our teachers on a date to go for a visit. ann, bha an là feumail do chompàirticean a’ sireadh breitheanais really helped us to learn about the air dè cho deiseil ‘s a bha iad airson a’ mhòid mhòire. language of Scots, traditional foods Recently we were awarded £2500 Last year we moved to Friday and Saturday in the hope that we and about the “olden days”. A from the local co-op community Lochabair could stage competitions for adult choirs and other adult events. number of children worked really fund. As you can imagine this is a Tha mòd ionadail air a bhith againn ann an Lochabair fad linntean. The first day was in the Gaelic School, as usual, and the adult Cha mhòr nach eil cuimhne agam a’ dol dhan seann thaigh-dhealbh competitions were held in Caol Community Hall. Unfortunately the hard making kilts and searched on fantastic boost for playgroup and air an ard-sràid gus pairt a ghabhail le sgoilearan eile bho Bhun- Stirling Mòd was on the same day and we didn’t have many entries. the internet to find their own we would like to thank not only Despite that, many enjoyed the day. The new Lochaber choir were Sgoil Bhanbhaidh trath anns na leth-cheudan. Aig an àm sin bha tartan, while others created the co-op but everyone in the dithis no triur a’ teagaisg san sgoil aig am bheil a’ Ghàidhlig bho there, preparing for the National Mòd, and they were magnificent. pictures of heather and thistles community that took the time to thus. ‘S ann Eilean Rouma a bha Mhairi Chamsron. Rinn Muriel Although the event lacked a competitive element it was useful to NicPharlain, as a’ bhaile seo fhein, obair miorbhalach na entrants seeking an adjudication to see how ready they were for the using an assortment of materials. vote for us. We look forward to big Mòd. sgoilearean a dh’ualachadh airson a’ mhòid. We had our very own Burns sharing with you all photos of some We have had a local mòd in Lochaber for ages. I can just about Supper: haggis wasn’t very popular, of our new purchases. remember going to the old cinema in the High Street to participate Le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig tha sinn air a bhith a fastadh Riona in one with Banavie School pupils in the 1950s. At that time there Whyte clann sgoile ann an tri bun sgoiltean a dh’ullachadh airson a however biscuits and cheese and were two or three native Gaelic speakers on the staff. Mary mhòid. B’abhaist dhuinn tuilleadh sgoiltean a’ chuideachadh ach shortbread was a big hit. Scottish We continue to be grateful for all dh’fhag dithis saor-thoilich, a bha obair sgoinneil a’ dèanamh, an Cameron was from Rum and Muriel MacFarlane, from Fort William music played all day and the the wonderful help and support we itself, performed miracles preparing the kids for the mòd. sgire. Tha sinn fhathast a’ lorg daoine ùra airson na -h obrach. children enthusiastically have from our parents. To date we With support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig we have been engaging Riona Tha mod againne a’ dol fhathast. O chionn bhliadhnaichean thoisich Whyte to prepare pupils in three primary schools.We used to be participated in a very active have had parents forming a able to help more schools but in recent years volunteers who were sinn ga chumail air Oidhche-ardaoin agus fad an là Dihaoine ceilidh. cleaning/maintenance group chionns gun robh sin nas fhasa airson clann sgoile ach, air sgath doing this work have left the area and we are still looking for new ensuring the interior is cleaned to a nach robh sin freagarrach do inbheach, as deidh greis, cha robh ann folk to take over this role. ach clann. At the moment we are busy being high standard, parents painting Our mòd is still on the go. Years ago we started to hold it on a Theid am Mòd a chumail Dihaoine 10mh agus Disaithairne 11mh an fire men and ladies and our whole the toilets, replacing coverings on Enrolment week for 2016-17 has t-Ògmhios am bliadhna anns an Sgoile ùr Gàidhlig Lochabair. Thursday evening and all day Friday as that was easier for school room has been turned into a fire the sand pit, replacing rhones passed, however we still have a few pupils but, as that wasn’t really suitable for adults, after a short Thathar a’ tuigsinn gum bith Còisir Muile agus Burach a’ tighinn, a bharrachd air Còisir sgoinneil Lochabair. Air adhard agus gu h-ard. station. The climbing frame not around the building, felting the available places. time only children were involved. th th The Mòd will be held on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 June this year only has hoses which we stretch shed roof, creating a fantastic in the great new Gaelic School. It is understood that the Mull Choir Ghluais sinn, an-uiridh, gu Dihaoine agus Disathairne, anns an and use to put out lots of fires but outdoor water feature, providing Playgroup enquiries can be made dòchas gum b’urrain dhuinn farpaisean a chur air doigh do and Burach, as well as our own Lochaber Choir are already steps up the side that resemble the wood chips as a playing surface on 01397 772016 or via e-mail còisirean ‘s eile. Bha sinn anns an Sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ chiad là, mar as committed to coming. Onwards and upwards. àbhaist, agus chaidh farpaisean nan inbheach a chumail ann an fire engine ladder. All the children and continually working hard with [email protected]. Talla Coimhearsnachd a’ Chaol an ath là. Gu mi-fhortanach, bha Ron Cameron eagerly put on their helmets, fundraising. Without this the Additionally we now have our own protective clothing, and breathing children would not enjoy the website: kilmallieplaygroup.org.

mask and talk to one another quality care and learning

multi-purpose. We have tried lots of different ones over the either on walkie talkies or through environment that we have within Carole years, but the manufacturers seem to change the formula green every year or so: what worked last year may not be so good the megaphone. We have recently the community. this year. Make sure trays and pots are cleaned before use.

Potatoes can be put into trays to sprout before sowing. We fingers have also sown broad beans but, after the mice eating every single one last year, we have covered them with mouse Banavie School Reunion netting. Mice seem to be able to climb anything! Last year’s School reunion was really good and well planned. They even had a raffle with some funny prizes. The Music Early spring was mainly from the 60s and 70s and I would guess at the most about 80 or 90 people were there. There was also plenty The days are getting longer, the bulbs are flowering and all The rhubarb is poking through so we have put 10" pots over of good craic. Here’s a picture taken by Anthony ("Scoop") of the entire crowd (while they were still sober). the about towpath getting resurfacedat Banavie and Corpach getting ready for another gardening year. it to help it along. We are also considering covering the veg beds with black polythene to warm up the soil and also Andy Goodwin We have sown leeks, onions, chillis, sweet peas and lobelia giving an application of Growmore or Chicken Pellets to the Camusnaha means Bay of the Kiln (Camus H-atha)Na seed in the greenhouse: these are in propagators. I have soil, as all the nutrients will have been washed away with all some sweet peas, grown in October, that are now about 4" the rain. high, so it will be interesting to see if they are any better than those sown now. If you have kept begonia corms over It is also time to prune the clematis, roses, some shrubs and winter, check and see if there any vine weevils keeping cosy also to cut autumn-fruiting raspberries to ground level. inside them: if so pick them out. Sometimes the corms are ruined. I plant the corms in a deep seed tray and give them a It is also time to treat yourself to little bottom heat, if there is any room in the greenhouses! some new plants and to pore over great news the garden catalogues popping The second greenhouse has been lined with bubble wrap as through the door. An expensive there is still a danger of frost. Neil has some Cheshunt and lovely time of year. Compound, now off the market I believe, which is good for

did you know... watering on small seedlings to prevent damping off. There Happy gardening. are lots of different composts on the market but it is best to use one for seeds to begin with and then prick out into a Morag Mackell Contd from previous page page 10 page 23 Peafowl are also surprisingly long-lived (not uncommonly living 15 years or more unless killed by a predator - our current ‘senior male’ must be about 10 years old). But like all poultry they are vulnerable to predators – particularly foxes and pine martens. In general they are fairly safe from ground predators, because they do roost quite high up Throughout the past year (since October) the Banavie in trees – and this is a trick which the chicks are taught very early. For P7 class have been very busy. We started a project in Our school Christmas concert was in December and weeks after hatching they show little increase in body size: all the August but carried on right through to December. was a great success. At the concert we did not just growth is going into the development of wing feathers, so that the mother will take them up into low trees at night from only 2-3 weeks This was an enterprise that we could create to help have the lovely performances, we also had the P7s

of age. Only once they are fully-flighted do they start to actually grow us raise money towards a residential trip. We were all selling items to do with their enterprise and a raffle in size. They are of course susceptible still to being taken at night by given roles and we made our business logo and name. as well. On the two nights we had all pupils take pine martens, and despite roosting in trees, peafowl actually nest on the ground, so that through the long incubation period (28-30 days), part. The nursery- P2 did 'Twas the night before the The name is B.E.S.T (banavie enterprises smashing females are very vulnerable to being taken by foxes. Indeed we lost night before Christmas, P3- P6 did Straw and Order team) and the arty ones in the class made a very one of our more experienced peahens that way our first summer here. and then the P7s did 'Twas the night before good logo. With this enterprise we made a dishtowel Even the males are vulnerable when displaying (when the ‘tail’ Christmas. We hope that all of the audience and it went very well! We have also been doing feathers are fanned they cannot see very well behind them). When in thoroughly enjoyed it as much as the children. Ardgour, we lost a mature male to an otter. monthly tuckshops and made profit from them too. Sadly we had to say goodbye to Miss McGhie who Altogether we have made just under £1000! We are Rory Putman retired after 9 years at Banavie. To replace her we very grateful for it and appreciate anyone who has have a new teacher called Mrs Harley who is teaching donated or participated. P4/5. (Miss McGhie’s old class). Shortly after P7 made their enterprise, they decided that the St Andrews celebrations would be a perfect By Poppy & Mia P7 first event to sell their dishtowel at. This was just a starting point as you were only able to order and pay. Then at the Christmas concert you could receive the towel. To help the P7s even more, we had 2 coffee mornings that helped a lot. Since they were such a great success we have decided to have a ‘Spring Fling’ coffee morning and a ‘Summer Bash.’

for this year;sfor Flower and Produce Show buthallo to Alyson’sbras and bike ride, 23rd April time to start sowing time sowing to start

Art Lochaber has had a great start to 2016 with two weekend workshops both led by local artists: Dorothy Kelly on Collage and Alistair Smyth on the clothed model. In late February we have Anne Dye to look forward to, leading a batik workshop at The Ariundle Centre in Strontian. The last workshop of the programme is 12/13th March: acrylic painting with Bella Green

farewell Heather’s Walk, Walk, farewell Heather’s from the Borders.

The Annual Exhibition, 21st May to 1st June, takes place again at Ben Nevis Distillery, so do please come along and see the wide range of work on display, all produced here in Lochaber. Times 10-6pm. Closed Sundays. Anyone interested in attending workshops or exhibiting please contact Lorna on 01397 772806 or Dorothy on 01855 821296.

the trees (they have a favourite for the summer and a favourite for regular supporters. Guests were served a page 22 the winter). Indeed shortly after being released, one adult male traditional four-course meal prepared by page 11 was panicked by something and took off across the canal, crash- Kevin Fraser and May MacLeod. The haggis resplendence landing in a birch tree on the other side. He was a bit dazed and was piped in by Ally Weir and addressed by stayed over that side of the water for the rest of the day, but Ronan Cameron; Mr MacLean said the returned as expected at dusk to roost in the usual night-time tree Selkirk Grace and the evening was chaired (a large Sitka spruce). Mock Council of the the British Council, and Baroness Neville- by Sharlene Campbell. After dinner the in residence Rolfe, who encouraged pupils to consider main speaker of the evening was John It may seem rather an exotic species to contend with the Lochaber European Union careers in EU institutions. Finlayson, Head Teacher, Portree Primary I gather many people have noted our arrival at Woodend, if only weather, but in fact this particular species (the Indian peafowl: School, who toasted the ‘Immortal

because of the simultaneous arrival of our peafowl, relocated here Pavo cristatus) occurs across the Indian subcontinent and often at Sasha MacKinnon and Alistair Macleod, Memory’. Jim Sutherland recited ‘Holy Two of our Sixth Year pupils were selected from our previous home in Ardgour; we were very amused to see considerable altitude, so they are actually quite well-adjusted to both Advanced Higher French pupils, were Willie’s Prayer’ with Jordan Jamieson ably to take part, with 26 other schools from them featured in the Canal-side Quiz of issue 50, so soon after our the cold. Wikipedia tells me that the species has been spotted as selected to represent France, and toasting ‘The Lassies’. ‘The Lassies Reply’ or across the UK, in the Mock Council of the arrival. far north as Schomberg, Ontario, thriving in its newly adopted undertook weeks of research on France's ‘Revenge’ was eloquently delivered by European Union at the Grand Locarno suite northern climate. What they hate however is the wet, and the position on the Digital Single Market and Hannah Calder who also sang ‘Rantin Rovin at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. When we first brought them here, we kept them enclosed in a large expression “madder than a wet hen” gains a particular poignancy the Circular Economy. There followed an Robin’ and ‘Ae Fond Kiss’, accompanied by Organised by the British Council with the (open-fronted) shed for about a month, to enable them to reset when you see the disconsolate peahens sheltering miserably in the invaluable meeting with a European affairs Ally Weir on guitar. The entertainment was European Commission and the FCO, this their internal compass, as it were: if released immediately, they bushes. specialist at the French Embassy in London, rounded off by Leigh MacGillivray who event gives pupils the opportunity to debate would simply have flown off – and in all probability back to during which pupils were also invited to recited ‘To A Mountain Daisy’. Dancing went two issues currently before the Council of Ardgour, because that is what they had been used to as their home sign the condolences book for the victims of on until late with music from Andrew the European Union and to gain an insight -base. But even if no-one was actually able to see them, they would the recent Paris attacks. Macdonald and Lauren Moir. into international negotiations and the have been very hard to miss; a distorted version of the powerful workings of the decision-making bodies of call was, I believe, used to dub the calls of velociraptors for the film On the day, Sasha and Alistair made a Thanks to all who supported the event, the European Union. The event also Jurassic Park (unless that is simply an urban myth!). We released strong contribution to proceedings, and, especially Mrs Hume who coordinated included addresses from the Head of the them a few at a time (some got out by accident a bit earlier than working with the professional interpreters, everything and our sponsors the Alexandra European Commission Representation in planned!) and they have adjusted well: they are very faithful to presented partly in French. Many helped Hotel and the Ben Nevis Distillery. The final the UK, the Director of Erasmus schemes at their established home and thus do not wander far from Woodend. the school and the individual pupils along amount raised was £1232. the way; thanks must go in particular to the Peafowl are very social birds and if they become separated or British Council as chief organisers, and to cannot see one of their number, both males and females call, with the French Embassy and Caledonian Sleeper Quick Picks that peculiar contact-call - which has stopped many a passing for their generous assistance. Two Quick-Pick units have made an canoeist in their tracks! Males perform that louder territorial call attractive and practical addition to the on which velociraptors may have been modelled at almost any time Charles Kennedy Library. The bespoke of year, but the main calling season is between April and June Burns Supper display units, commissioned and funded by (coinciding with the breeding season). At this time our two males We held our annual Burns Supper on our Parent Council, and crafted by local (otherwise good friends for the most part) become very intolerant Saturday 30 January in the school hall. The cabinetmaker Peter Davis, are proving of each other and set up ranges at different ends of the property. event was a fundraiser for the forthcoming popular with Library users. Mrs Masson, Sadly, they also call from first light, so that probably everyone in Sixth Year trip to London and provided Librarian, reports increased book borrowing any llamasin any Kilmallie? Banavie can hear them at that time, from around 4am. (Hopefully entertainment for parents, staff and other from the new displays. the sound is muted by the time it reaches you: the crew on the

Corran ferry always told us they quite enjoyed hearing the calls in

the morning mist…).

People often assume that they cannot fly particularly well, but in fact they are reasonably strong flyers (really they are simply a form

of outsize pheasants) and although they wander about on the Keirandprizewinners! essay Jaynie -Rotary lawns most of the day (unless huddling from the rain under a convenient bush…) they habitually roost at night quite high up in have you spotted congratulations opportunities for enjoying the natural history of the region. The page 12 Lochaber Geopark Visitor Centre situated in Fort William High page 21 canal Street will act as a focal point for the Festival, and further wild about information about events can be found there. The Visitor Centre will also be hosting its own event to welcome folk to the newly news refurbished facilities on Monday 23rd, during which an updated booklet of the successful Wild Lochaber Trails will be launched. Canal Operational Hours Kilmallie For up to date information and details of any additional events, please visit the website www.wildlochaber.org and see our 2016 Wild Lochaber Festival 2016 Facebook page ‘Wildlochaber’ (please remember to ‘like’ us!). If advance booking is required then please contact the activity Did you ever feel that you wanted to get to know your local providers directly to reserve your place. If you have any queries, Re-open to boats wildlife and environment a little better? If so, there is a great st suggestions or comments please feel free to contact Lochaber Monday 21 March opportunity coming up shortly. The 5th Annual Wild Lochaber th Geopark on [email protected] or ring 01397 705314. to Friday 25 March Festival will be held between 21st and 28th May. There will be

9:00 am till 4:00 pm plenty of events for both families and individuals, including Another forum for environmental concerns is the Lochaber Local several taking place in and around Kilmallie. The Festival will kick Biodiversity Action Plan Group. This is an informal group of off on the Saturday evening with a ‘Go Wild on the Canal’ event Seven days operations organisations and individuals working locally in the th at Neptune’s Staircase, which will give folk a chance to talk to a begin 28 March environmental sector. The original purpose of the group was to number of organisations involved in environmental matters, as provide a local biological action plan to highlight issues and

well as enjoying all the fun of the raft races. Glenloy Wildlife will Spring possible solutions for the protection and conservation of our th th host a residential butterfly break to look for local specialities 28 March to 29 May local species and landscape. The document ‘Living Lochaber’ was such as the chequered skipper and pearl-bordered fritillary. We 8:30 am till 5:30 pm produced several years ago to draw attention to some of our key will also provide an opportunity to watch our local pine martens species and habitats and proposed a number of possible actions new full time members of being fed, and are running a ‘whisky and wildlife’ all-day tour. to help conserve them. This document is still available through Summer staff, Andrew Hervo and Rockhopper are offering the chance of an overnight kayaking th th Donna Ireland the Highland Council, and is a fascinating and pertinent read, 30 May to 4 September and camping trip. Lochaber Natural History Society have a walk along with the wider Highland Biological Action Plan, published 8:00 am till 6:00 pm looking for spring flowers and birds. A little further afield there last year. The Lochaber LBAP group is hoping to become more Further funding has also been secured through: they are the monthly bridge will be boat trips, otter, eagle and searchlight safaris, bushcraft active as central Highland funding becomes scarce. We would Autumn to upgrade the towpath up the flight at maintenance swings requested by Bear/ and herb workshops, geological walks, a programme of events th th like to revise the action plan, become a more open conduit 5 September to 6 November Neptune’s staircase passed the Transport Scotland and for when staff on the Isle of Rum and much more. As part of the week’s through which concerns about the environmental effects of local 8:30a.m. till 5:30 pm Moorings Hotel. Again please be need to be trained in the bridge activities, Glenuig will once again run a Seashore Festival on planning decisions can be channelled, and also a vehicle for vigilant while work is taking place. operation. Due to the number of staff Sunday 22nd, which is a great family day out within easy reach instigating project work, particularly where several organisations Winter who have retired or left, we will be of the Road to the Isles. can work together. In order to make the process work, more th 7 November carrying out training as soon as the community input is needed, along with volunteers to actually Banavie Bridge The Wild Lochaber Festival is being organised this year for the Monday to Friday bridge re-opens. help carry out some of the project work we would like to see Work is nearing completion on Banavie first time by the Lochaber Geopark. The Geopark celebrates not 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. progressed. If you would like to become involved or would like Bridge. They are on schedule for us re- only the underlying geology of the area, but also the wildlife and more information please contact me on 07817 443370. opening in March. Staff human cultural activities that have arisen within this landscape.

Towpaths A couple of new full-time members of Working with other environmental organisations within Jon Mercer The bridge is part of the main trunk staff joined the team at the beginning Lochaber it is hoped that the Geopark will be increasingly seen Scottish Canals has recently secured Glenloy Wildlife road network and it is the responsibility of February. Donna Ireland from as a first port of call for raising awareness of and providing funding to upgrade the condition of the towpaths both sides between Corpach of Bear Scotland to carry out repairs Banavie will be based at Corpach sea- and Banavie. This work will begin in etc. Scottish Canals are the operators. lock and Andrew Hervo from Caol will March and should be completed by end We endeavour to minimise the number work between Banavie & Gairlochy. of May 16. of bridge swings we carry out in a day as most of the staff live and work locally Events up to June 2016 The north side (Corpach) will be and know the frustration drivers completely closed while work is taking sometimes feel when the bridge is Go Wild on the Canal, st place but the south side (Caol) will closed. evening of Saturday 21 May what TectonicSliding within the Moinian DivisionLoch Eil isallabout? !!! remain open as there are numerous entrances to the canal along this Time restrictions in place when the Alyson Stewart’s Bras and Bicycle Ride, stretch. During this work please be bridge will NOT swing: 23rd April aware banksmen from the contractors Monday to Friday, 8:30 am till 9:00 am th th will be in situ to direct you through the Monday to Friday, 1:30 pm till 2:00 pm. Sail Caledonia, 28 May till 4 June th works. Please also keep a close watch Caledonian Challenge, 11 June All bridge swings are recorded and any Ben Nevis Charity Challenge, 18th June.

how aboutentering the raft race this year? on your dogs (personally I advise you to keep them on a lead): heavy machinery delays over 15 minutes are reported to will be working in the vicinity and you Transport Scotland. There will be a John Stafford don’t want your dogs walking into a number of additional swings you might Canal work site. witness when boats are not going Superintendent

KILMALLIE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FUND

Friends of page 20 Caledonian Canal page 13

Lochaber

A lot has not happened since the last newsletter six months ago. The Scenic Party in the Park Routes competition has been and gone. KCC hosted a very well attended consultation event to gather views on the three entries that had been shortlisted 2015 and 2016 by Scenic Routes and Scottish Canals. All three designs were almost unanimously

slated as inappropriate, pointless, and in some cases downright dangerous. ‘Friends of Banavie Park’ held its first- Fortunately, the judges in Glasgow seemed to agree - at least they concluded that ever fundraising event at the end of none of the entrants was a worthy winner, and no entry was worthy of being September 2015 and despite the built. Neptune’s Staircase had won a reprieve. soaking wet weather, there was a

Meanwhile, an alternative community proposal has been developed, using fantastic turn out for the fun-packed Neptune’s Staircase to create a scenic route of eight viewpoints. It hasn’t been afternoon. It was all about raising funds widely aired yet, but initial feedback so far has been enthusiastic and positive. and awareness to help improve this We hope KCC will present it to the community and the local canal team for popular play park area. It was also a comments soon, and, if favourable, perhaps Scottish Canals will consider taking it great opportunity to get all the forward. It would attract visitors and enhance people’s enjoyment of the canal in community together and it was brilliant lots of ways. to see the whole space being used and

Also meanwhile, we hear news that one of the other Scenic Routes winners is enjoyed. The event was supported by going walkabout. A mirrored box (like the one at Balquhidder) will be visiting Scottish Canals and No Fuss Events, Neptune’s Staircase for a few months this summer as a temporary installation. with funding from the Highland Council No news of Scottish Canals’ other proposals for Banavie: things have gone quiet ‘Lookout’ mirrored box in Balquhidder Glen Discretionary Fund but not gone away. photo: Elizabeth Angus The event kicked off with a bang, when FOCAL is a subgroup of the Kilmallie Community Company (entirely independent from Kilmallie Community Council) Steve from Drumfum led the kids in an For more info, or to be added to our mailing list, please contact Jan MacLugash exciting and very noisy drumming 01397 772383, email: [email protected] workshop in the huge No Fuss Events

saddlespan tent. Then a kids’ ceilidh got everyone up dancing, leading on to an awesome disco from Cheezy Beats, plus storytelling, face painting, and delicious home baking. Outside in the park it was A changing climate Clearing bracken just as busy, with a ‘cross the swamp’ Well, we still have the community woods- the trees are still At our AGM last October, directors were elected: Chris Strong, Gill challenge run by Forestry Commission standing in spite of having worked our way through half an Barnes, Lee MacKenzie, Colin Grey, Angela Mercer, John Ireland, Scotland, nature crafts in the orchard, a

alphabet of gales. Even though our aim is to keep the woods as Jan MacLugash and Alan Thomson. There was a discussion about they are, we do have to think ahead. To that end we have recently clearing bracken. Some people just don't like bracken and would fire pit with toasting marshmallows, organised a work party when we successfully planted pine seedlings like to see the whole lot cleared. But bracken is part of the Shetland pony rides, a bouncy castle in the wood above Guisach Terrace. These are intended to fill the ecosystem, it has its place along with all the other plants and trees. and karaoke tent. gaps left by previous gale damage and to create a range of trees of Where it is a real nuisance is alongside paths. Here along with different ages and not just rely on the 180 year old trees standing brambles it needs to be cleared. Anyone can do this. The best The event raised a whopping £1,330.00, up to the gales forever. method is in the spring and early summer when the bracken fronds thanks to the amazing generosity of

are young and tender is to swipe and break the tops with a stick. At Fassfernawas there Farm Hotel YorkinNew We still have a group of windblown trees lying in the SW corner of Lochaber folk. We’d like to say a huge any time of year anyone out for a walk can take along a pair of ‘thank you’ to all the lovely people who the pine wood. SSEB have been clearing trees and branches which secateurs and remove any overhanging brambles. might interfere with power lines. SSEB have a volunteer scheme donated their time, equipment, and under this they have volunteered to clear up this tangled mass Take a walk in your woods, and feel the spring, as the woods come expertise and enthusiasm. The list of of blown trees. We look forward to this going ahead. This will make into leaf. volunteers is too long to give here, but room for a few more trees to be planted and allow a better repair we’d like to say a particular thanks to Secretary: Paul Biggin, Shore Lane House, Corpach, Fort William, to be made to the path which comes up from Guisach Terrace. No Fuss Events for the kind use of their PH33 7JJ Tel: 01397 772459 email: [email protected] tent and to Highland Wood Energy. A A date for your diary special thanks also to Spook for his On Saturday 23rd April and Saturday 30th April (from 9:30 to 12.00 invaluable help in so many ways over am) we plan to have work parties in the Druim Fadha oak wood. the weekend! There is plenty to do: clearing up rubbish, pulling out invading holly seedlings, but the main job is to do some repair and maintenance So what next for Banavie Park? We 100 years ago details are confirmed, we’ll be ready to to the drainage of the woodland path. know that Scottish Canals still has The date is yet to be confirmed, but progress with park plans. we’ll bring you all the details in a future If you can't make it to the work parties then just joining the fantastic plans for the area around the

KCC is represented on the quarry liaison group by Russell Liaison Group Leaper. The group is there to address any issues associated Banavie Quarry is a prominent scar on the landscape, with the impact of quarry operations on the local especially when seen from Ben Nevis or heading west across community. It meets 2-3 times a year to discuss any issues or the Blar. Since the last rock was extracted from the back face complaints. a few years ago there have been various attempts to

encourage vegetation to grow to allow the face to blend in If you do have any concerns about the operation of the more to the surroundings. Restoration of this face to reduce quarry then please contact both the quarry and the liaison the visual impact was a condition for continued operations group straight away. It is much easier to investigate and at Banavie Quarry when planning permission was granted in address problems at the time, particularly if these involve April 2004. Unfortunately it is now apparent that the cliff is noise, dust, smells or lorries travelling too fast. too steep to allow anything to grow. Breedon Aggregates, who own and operate the quarry, are now looking to acquire Blasting happens at the quarry every few months and can some land beyond the current boundary at the top of the be quite a shock if you are not expecting it. The quarry staff

face to allow it to be made less steep. This should then allow issue notices to all the properties close by but are also the vegetation to grow back. establishing an email list. If you would like to be added to this list to be notified of blasts please email the site Having gone back as far as possible, the rock extraction has manager Graeme Platt at continued by working down. There is still rock to keep the [email protected]. quarry going for a number of years but it is now coming from

FORTHCOMING HOME FIXTURES AT BANAVIE

Sat 26 Mar, 3pm Lochaber -v- Ross Sutherland for ‘In Shadowthefor of Ben Nevis’

Sat 09 Apr, 3pm Lochaber -v- Kinloss Eagles Sat 30 Apr. 12 noon ANNUAL SEVENS TOURNAMENT

Everyone Welcome to Come & Watch

ADULT & YOUTH RUGBY TRAINING INFORMATION

Every Tuesday hostKCCto a community debatefor upcomingthe EU referendum? 7pm Adult Training

Every Thursday 7pm Adult Training 7pm Midi Rugby Training (Age 14+) 7pm Girls Rugby Training (Age 14+)

congratulations to Ian Every Saturday 10am Mini & Midi Rugby For Boys & Girls from P3-S2

Some action shots from this season New players of all abilities

are welcome – like you would if you fancy giving rugby a try, come and see us at Banavie. We are 1st left after the Moorings Hotel

www.lochaberrfc.co.uk Within Lochaber, there still remain certain areas which are ‘varroa page 18 free’, mainly due to the vast area and the distances between page 15 honeybees & colonies. A drone (male) honeybee will be readily accepted into a different colony than the one where he was born, and if that bee is Kilmallie Community Centre carrying varroa, that colony will also become infected. There is

beasties currently no cure for this parasite, only treatments to keep the A very Happy New Year to you all! Customers who have used the Centre over the past weeks Few, if any, had the notion that in choosing to keep honeybees, we numbers down. Anyone who keeps honeybees and is unsure of are: In October we had an excellent Buttons and Bows concert would equally have to become ‘mini vets’ to ensure the wellbeing whether their colony is affected can send their floor scrapings Xmas Carol Service (debris) to SASA (Scottish Agricultural Science Agency) who will which was enjoyed by all and raised £262.39 for the Centre! of the honeybee colony. Nevertheless, that is what we have to do. Local residents Birthday parties analyse them for you. This is a free service and for the cost of a The December Xmas Fayre was very successful and we The Scottish Crofters Commission Honeybees can suffer from a wide variety of diseases – some will postage stamp, will tell you your results. have little effect on the colony as a whole - others are immensely managed to raise a fantastic £778.35! A huge thank you to Michael Bowman Transport Training detrimental and are easily spread between colonies: it is therefore Honeybees can also suffer from many other diseases: Bobby and Jessie Henderson for their herculean efforts in Caledonian Canal Training. imperative that the beekeeper recognises them all and medicates  braula (a wingless fly) arranging the Clootie Dumpling Competition, organising sales Our thanks go to our regular customers for supporting the the colony accordingly.  chalkbrood (a fungal disease where the larvae die and become of fruit and veg and inviting Bruce Lindsay & Company to play ‘mummified’) Centre: live at the Fayre. It was great to see so many varied crafts on One of the worst parasites is called varroa. By its full name alone –  nosema (an infection of the hind gut caused by fungus) Mums & Toddlers show and for sale. varroa destructor – it tells you precisely what will happen to the  acarine (tracheal mite) Olde Tyme Dancing colony if left un-treated. It is a cunning little beastie – the female to name just a few – there are many more. The colony can also We also had a super Hogmanay evening that was held on Zumba classes (picture below) will lay on average 5/6 eggs in (predominantly) a come under attack from a variety of outside predators – mice, drone (male) cell, just prior to the developing larva being closed. Thursday 31/12/15 in memory of the late Charlie MacColl. The Mustardseed Fellowship woodpeckers, wax moth, badgers and pine martens. It is vital that The Hogmanay Ceilidh was Charlie's brainstorm after the Kilmallie Community Council The first egg to hatch is a male, which goes on to fertilise the rest of a beekeeper knows their area and the potential predators which fantastic BBC Hogmanay celebrations in 2014 and he wanted NHS Highland the eggs in the cell, which are all female. After feeding off the may disturb bees. With so much information currently available on larvae the females emerge, with the, by now, poorly developed to repeat the experience. Despite his failing health he was Music For All

the internet, anyone who keeps bees and has the welfare of the bee, and are ready to continue the reproductive cycle. Before long, colony at heart can readily access all the information necessary to fully involved with Jimmy Cameron and Bobby Henderson Scottish Country Dancing. the whole honeybee colony is heavily infested. It is of vital with planning this Hogmanay Ceilidh. Jimmy and keep a healthy, happy colony. Please remember that the contact details for making importance that the beekeeper recognises this mite, treats the Bobby continued effecting his dream and the result was a bookings is our Centre Manager (Jimmy Milne) on E-mail: colony with their chosen method of control and above all, does not As a beekeeper you may be unsure as to whether you keep bees in great evening of singing, dancing and music. It was a great a known affected varroa area. The Scottish Beekeepers Association [email protected] move infected bees into areas which are so far unaffected. night for all to see in the New Year and thoroughly enjoyed (SBA) have a varroa map which they are in the process of updating, mobile: (07787) 866813, tel (01397) 712663. and will no doubt be available to view shortly by visiting their by all! We offer our heartfelt thanks to Mairi MacColl for her website – www.scottishbeekeepers.org.uk. donation of £400.00 from the funds that were raised from We look forward to continuing to serve the community over the evening. the next few months! The Lochaber Beekeepers Association (LBA) similarly has lots of Sarah Kennedy useful information which can be easily accessed by visiting We are delighted to advise that we were successful in our www.lochaberbeekeepers.org. As an association with the health application for a grant from Awards for All for the new chairs, Kilmallie Community Centre and wellbeing of our honeybees first and foremost, we would tables and freezer. We hope you are enjoying sitting on the Station Road, Corpach, Fort William PH33 7JH

request that honeybees are not brought into Lochaber, and current keepingfor numbers ofback KilmallieNews new chairs and finding them nice and comfortable! Scottish Charity SC000604 beekeepers do not move infected bees. For future talks, events, CHAIRMAN post vacant at present apiary demonstrations and dates for this year’s Beginners’ Course We also have been awarded £194 from Lochaber Housing SECRETARY Mrs Norma MacLellan, in May - feel free to visit our website or our Facebook page. Association towards the resurfacing of the car park and hope 12 Hillview Drive, Corpach, Fort William 01397 772597

to manage to get further funds to get this much needed work

Please take care of your TREASURER Mrs Sarah Kennedy 0776 880 5040 bees – they are vital to carried out. us all! Marion Affleck Lochaber Beekeepers Association Kilmallie Scottish Country Dance Club What do you do on Tuesday evenings? Kilmallie Shinty Club Kilmallie Scottish Country Dancing Club meets in Kilmallie Kilmallie held a very successful shinty The Robert Hood Shield The first team also had success in winning the Iain Community Centre every Tuesday from 8 till 10 pm. th fun day on Saturday 7 November at First Team Player of the Year Aitchison Cup which was played against Ballachulish We are always pleased to welcome new members. If you've the new Gaelic School. Children of all Liam Cameron and the BSW Cup which was played against ever done Scottish Country Dancing, you know you would ages participated and we’ll hopefully Lovat. The reserve team won the MacColl Shield. The Mungo MacLeod Shield love it! If you haven't, why don't you come and give it a try? have another one this year.

any old photos Kilmallieof in the attic? Reserve Team Player of the Year Liam MacDonald was chosen for the International Donald MacRae Country Dancing is a sociable and inexpensive way to have Kilmallie were unsuccessful in beating shinty senior squad against Ireland. Kilmallie had 2 Kingussie in the playoff on Saturday The Alastair MacIntyre Cup players at the player development camp at fun and keep fit at the same time. It only costs £2 per night, 28th November. The team hadn’t Under 17’s Player of the Year Kilgraston – Donald MacRae and Dean Jeffrey. Craig including a cup of tea and a biscuit. played a game in 8 weeks and the Innes Blackhall MacIsaac and Shane Gillies were both chosen for

weather was the worst that it could The BOSS Trophy the Under 17’s Development Squad. Norma MacLellan, our teacher, explains the dances and we

possibly have been. The bus on the Under 17’s most improved player have a walk through before dancing to music. In the ArchiveLochaber Centre way home was great craic with a lot of The Club had a fundraising bag pack in Morrison’s Dean Jeffrey th summer, we often have visitors who are on holiday, and songs being sung, our thanks to Ronnie on the 28 December when over £500 was raised. Norma keeps the programme simple so that they can join in. MacAlister the bus driver. The BSW Shield know Rod, who lived at Banavie and was one of our regular Under 14’s player of the year The new shinty season starts on the 5th March with dancers until very recently, when he moved to Edinburgh. Members enjoyed a beautiful meal and Dan Nixon a home game for the first team against Caberfeidh Twice a year, in May and October, we host dances, when we have a band and welcome dancers from all over the great atmosphere at the annual dinner The Kilmallie Shield and the second team are away to Boleskin. We all really enjoy our Tuesday evenings - do come and join thanksto and dance in the new Caol Community Under 14’s most improved player Highlands and beyond. The picture shows Roddy Johnston's us! If you would like any more information contact Norma Centre. The following awards were Cam Clark Linda Campbell band playing for us at one of our dances. Some of you will 772597 or Joy 772459. made: Thanks again to Andy Goodwin, our ex-patriate correspondent from Gothenburg, for sending us another interesting old photo Looks like they forgot to do their risk assessment for working at height over water! of Corpach sea-lock repairs in the 1920s. Andy wonders does anyone recognise any of the workers - are they your grandfathers, great grandfathers, or great great grandfathers... ? (Though it’s hard to see for the bunnets.)

It’s also a beautiful portrait of a steam-powered winch. It illustrates too the original mechanism for opening the lock gates, with the spars used for turning the capstans stowed neatly upright. Whose car would that have been just to the left of what is now the Canal office? And whose cow is that beside it?

Behind the building that was the Caledonian Warehouse is the pine wood Tom Giubhais, in community ownership for the last ten years (see page 30) Thanks again to Andy Goodwin, our ex-patriate correspondent from Gothenburg, for sending us another interesting old photo Looks like they forgot to do their risk assessment for working at height over water! of Corpach sea-lock repairs in the 1920s. Andy wonders does anyone recognise any of the workers - are they your grandfathers, great grandfathers, or great great grandfathers... ? (Though it’s hard to see for the bunnets.)

Behind the building that was the Caledonian Warehouse is the pine wood Tom Giubhais, in community ownership for the last ten years (see page 30) Within Lochaber, there still remain certain areas which are ‘varroa page 18 free’, mainly due to the vast area and the distances between page 15 honeybees & colonies. A drone (male) honeybee will be readily accepted into a different colony than the one where he was born, and if that bee is Kilmallie Community Centre carrying varroa, that colony will also become infected. There is

to manage to get further funds to get this much needed work

weather was the worst that it could The BOSS Trophy the Under 17’s Development Squad. Norma MacLellan, our teacher, explains the dances and we

possibly have been. The bus on the Under 17’s most improved player have a walk through before dancing to music. In the ArchiveLochaber Centre way home was great craic with a lot of The Club had a fundraising bag pack in Morrison’s Dean Jeffrey th summer, we often have visitors who are on holiday, and songs being sung, our thanks to Ronnie on the 28 December when over £500 was raised. Norma keeps the programme simple so that they can join in. MacAlister the bus driver. The BSW Shield know Rod, who lived at Banavie and was one of our regular Under 14’s player of the year The new shinty season starts on the 5th March with dancers until very recently, when he moved to Edinburgh. Members enjoyed a beautiful meal and Dan Nixon a home game for the first team against Caberfeidh Twice a year, in May and October, we host dances, when we have a band and welcome dancers from all over the great atmosphere at the annual dinner The Kilmallie Shield and the second team are away to Boleskin. We all really enjoy our Tuesday evenings - do come and join thanksto and dance in the new Caol Community Under 14’s most improved player Highlands and beyond. The picture shows Roddy Johnston's us! If you would like any more information contact Norma Centre. The following awards were Cam Clark Linda Campbell band playing for us at one of our dances. Some of you will 772597 or Joy 772459. made: digging down. This will require some changes to access page 14 routes within the quarry site itself. Much of the working, page 19 Banavie Quarry including the large crushing plant, will remain hidden from view.

FORTHCOMING HOME FIXTURES AT BANAVIE

Sat 26 Mar, 3pm Lochaber -v- Ross Sutherland for ‘In Shadowthefor of Ben Nevis’

Sat 09 Apr, 3pm Lochaber -v- Kinloss Eagles Sat 30 Apr. 12 noon ANNUAL SEVENS TOURNAMENT

Everyone Welcome to Come & Watch

ADULT & YOUTH RUGBY TRAINING INFORMATION

Every Tuesday hostKCCto a community debatefor upcomingthe EU referendum? 7pm Adult Training

Every Thursday 7pm Adult Training 7pm Midi Rugby Training (Age 14+) 7pm Girls Rugby Training (Age 14+)

congratulations to Ian Every Saturday 10am Mini & Midi Rugby For Boys & Girls from P3-S2

Some action shots from this season New players of all abilities

are welcome – like you would if you fancy giving rugby a try, come and see us at Banavie. We are 1st left after the Moorings Hotel

www.lochaberrfc.co.uk

Friends of page 20 Caledonian Canal page 13

Lochaber

Highland Council covers of33% the land in Scotland company is a way of giving support and taking an interest. You can Banavie section of the canal; however, issue. see details including an application form on the community we have been told that this area is not In the meantime, we will continue to Lisa Wharton council's web site at www.kilmallie.org.uk. Joining does not cost going to be a main focus for this year. raise awareness of the project and anything but we do welcome donations. Every little helps: just to While we are disappointed that we we’re happy to say that we will be keep the company going we need to cover expenses for insurance, don’t yet have a firm commitment from holding a similar ‘Party in the Park’ meetings in the hall, materials for fences, and so on. You can get Scottish Canals about the extent of their family afternoon later this year. We more details from any of the directors (see below) or the secretary. Lots more photos of last year’s future support, we are hopeful that were delighted to receive a £1,000 party on KCC’s website they will be able to confirm this soon. share of the Co-op’s Community Fund Few signs of spring in the oakwood at the beginning of March, www.kilmallie.org,uk but some fungi are thriving Watch this space! As soon as support to allow us to put the event on again. opportunities for enjoying the natural history of the region. The page 12 Lochaber Geopark Visitor Centre situated in Fort William High page 21 canal Street will act as a focal point for the Festival, and further wild about information about events can be found there. The Visitor Centre will also be hosting its own event to welcome folk to the newly news refurbished facilities on Monday 23rd, during which an updated booklet of the successful Wild Lochaber Trails will be launched. Canal Operational Hours Kilmallie For up to date information and details of any additional events, please visit the website www.wildlochaber.org and see our 2016 Wild Lochaber Festival 2016 Facebook page ‘Wildlochaber’ (please remember to ‘like’ us!). If advance booking is required then please contact the activity Did you ever feel that you wanted to get to know your local providers directly to reserve your place. If you have any queries, Re-open to boats wildlife and environment a little better? If so, there is a great st suggestions or comments please feel free to contact Lochaber Monday 21 March opportunity coming up shortly. The 5th Annual Wild Lochaber th Geopark on [email protected] or ring 01397 705314. to Friday 25 March Festival will be held between 21st and 28th May. There will be

KILMALLIE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FUND

The AGM of Kilmallie Christmas Lights Fund will be held on Wednesday, 11th May 2016, in Kilmallie Community Centre at 7pm. can anyone us anyone tell can A full report of our activities will be in the next newsletter. Paul Brian the trees (they have a favourite for the summer and a favourite for regular supporters. Guests were served a page 22 the winter). Indeed shortly after being released, one adult male traditional four-course meal prepared by page 11 was panicked by something and took off across the canal, crash- Kevin Fraser and May MacLeod. The haggis resplendence landing in a birch tree on the other side. He was a bit dazed and was piped in by Ally Weir and addressed by stayed over that side of the water for the rest of the day, but Ronan Cameron; Mr MacLean said the returned as expected at dusk to roost in the usual night-time tree Selkirk Grace and the evening was chaired (a large Sitka spruce). Mock Council of the the British Council, and Baroness Neville- by Sharlene Campbell. After dinner the in residence Rolfe, who encouraged pupils to consider main speaker of the evening was John It may seem rather an exotic species to contend with the Lochaber European Union careers in EU institutions. Finlayson, Head Teacher, Portree Primary I gather many people have noted our arrival at Woodend, if only weather, but in fact this particular species (the Indian peafowl: School, who toasted the ‘Immortal

Corran ferry always told us they quite enjoyed hearing the calls in

the morning mist…).

People often assume that they cannot fly particularly well, but in fact they are reasonably strong flyers (really they are simply a form

of outsize pheasants) and although they wander about on the Keirandprizewinners! essay Jaynie -Rotary lawns most of the day (unless huddling from the rain under a convenient bush…) they habitually roost at night quite high up in have you spotted congratulations Contd from previous page page 10 page 23 Peafowl are also surprisingly long-lived (not uncommonly living 15 years or more unless killed by a predator - our current ‘senior male’ must be about 10 years old). But like all poultry they are vulnerable to predators – particularly foxes and pine martens. In general they are fairly safe from ground predators, because they do roost quite high up Throughout the past year (since October) the Banavie in trees – and this is a trick which the chicks are taught very early. For P7 class have been very busy. We started a project in Our school Christmas concert was in December and weeks after hatching they show little increase in body size: all the August but carried on right through to December. was a great success. At the concert we did not just growth is going into the development of wing feathers, so that the mother will take them up into low trees at night from only 2-3 weeks This was an enterprise that we could create to help have the lovely performances, we also had the P7s

for this year;sfor Flower and Produce Show buthallo to Alyson’sbras and bike ride, 23rd April time to start sowing time sowing to start

farewell Heather’s Walk, Walk, farewell Heather’s from the Borders.

Mòd ann an Sruighlea an là a bha sin agus cha dh’fhuair sin cus Kilmallie Playgroup contd sent an email to Fort William fire page 24 fharpaiseach. A dh’aindheoin sin, chòrd an latha le mòran. Bha station and are excitedly waiting page 9 còisir ùr Lochabair ann, a dèanamh deiseil airson a’ Mhòid Mòd Nàiseanta, agus bha iadsan mìorbhalach. Ged nach robh farpais Burns day arrived and our teachers on a date to go for a visit. ann, bha an là feumail do chompàirticean a’ sireadh breitheanais really helped us to learn about the air dè cho deiseil ‘s a bha iad airson a’ mhòid mhòire. language of Scots, traditional foods Recently we were awarded £2500 Last year we moved to Friday and Saturday in the hope that we and about the “olden days”. A from the local co-op community Lochabair could stage competitions for adult choirs and other adult events. number of children worked really fund. As you can imagine this is a Tha mòd ionadail air a bhith againn ann an Lochabair fad linntean. The first day was in the Gaelic School, as usual, and the adult Cha mhòr nach eil cuimhne agam a’ dol dhan seann thaigh-dhealbh competitions were held in Caol Community Hall. Unfortunately the hard making kilts and searched on fantastic boost for playgroup and air an ard-sràid gus pairt a ghabhail le sgoilearan eile bho Bhun- Stirling Mòd was on the same day and we didn’t have many entries. the internet to find their own we would like to thank not only Despite that, many enjoyed the day. The new Lochaber choir were Sgoil Bhanbhaidh trath anns na leth-cheudan. Aig an àm sin bha tartan, while others created the co-op but everyone in the dithis no triur a’ teagaisg san sgoil aig am bheil a’ Ghàidhlig bho there, preparing for the National Mòd, and they were magnificent. pictures of heather and thistles community that took the time to thus. ‘S ann Eilean Rouma a bha Mhairi Chamsron. Rinn Muriel Although the event lacked a competitive element it was useful to NicPharlain, as a’ bhaile seo fhein, obair miorbhalach na entrants seeking an adjudication to see how ready they were for the using an assortment of materials. vote for us. We look forward to big Mòd. sgoilearean a dh’ualachadh airson a’ mhòid. We had our very own Burns sharing with you all photos of some We have had a local mòd in Lochaber for ages. I can just about Supper: haggis wasn’t very popular, of our new purchases. remember going to the old cinema in the High Street to participate Le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig tha sinn air a bhith a fastadh Riona in one with Banavie School pupils in the 1950s. At that time there Whyte clann sgoile ann an tri bun sgoiltean a dh’ullachadh airson a however biscuits and cheese and were two or three native Gaelic speakers on the staff. Mary mhòid. B’abhaist dhuinn tuilleadh sgoiltean a’ chuideachadh ach shortbread was a big hit. Scottish We continue to be grateful for all dh’fhag dithis saor-thoilich, a bha obair sgoinneil a’ dèanamh, an Cameron was from Rum and Muriel MacFarlane, from Fort William music played all day and the the wonderful help and support we itself, performed miracles preparing the kids for the mòd. sgire. Tha sinn fhathast a’ lorg daoine ùra airson na -h obrach. children enthusiastically have from our parents. To date we With support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig we have been engaging Riona Tha mod againne a’ dol fhathast. O chionn bhliadhnaichean thoisich Whyte to prepare pupils in three primary schools.We used to be participated in a very active have had parents forming a able to help more schools but in recent years volunteers who were sinn ga chumail air Oidhche-ardaoin agus fad an là Dihaoine ceilidh. cleaning/maintenance group chionns gun robh sin nas fhasa airson clann sgoile ach, air sgath doing this work have left the area and we are still looking for new ensuring the interior is cleaned to a nach robh sin freagarrach do inbheach, as deidh greis, cha robh ann folk to take over this role. ach clann. At the moment we are busy being high standard, parents painting Our mòd is still on the go. Years ago we started to hold it on a Theid am Mòd a chumail Dihaoine 10mh agus Disaithairne 11mh an fire men and ladies and our whole the toilets, replacing coverings on Enrolment week for 2016-17 has t-Ògmhios am bliadhna anns an Sgoile ùr Gàidhlig Lochabair. Thursday evening and all day Friday as that was easier for school room has been turned into a fire the sand pit, replacing rhones passed, however we still have a few pupils but, as that wasn’t really suitable for adults, after a short Thathar a’ tuigsinn gum bith Còisir Muile agus Burach a’ tighinn, a bharrachd air Còisir sgoinneil Lochabair. Air adhard agus gu h-ard. station. The climbing frame not around the building, felting the available places. time only children were involved. th th The Mòd will be held on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 June this year only has hoses which we stretch shed roof, creating a fantastic in the great new Gaelic School. It is understood that the Mull Choir Ghluais sinn, an-uiridh, gu Dihaoine agus Disathairne, anns an and use to put out lots of fires but outdoor water feature, providing Playgroup enquiries can be made dòchas gum b’urrain dhuinn farpaisean a chur air doigh do and Burach, as well as our own Lochaber Choir are already steps up the side that resemble the wood chips as a playing surface on 01397 772016 or via e-mail còisirean ‘s eile. Bha sinn anns an Sgoil Ghàidhlig a’ chiad là, mar as committed to coming. Onwards and upwards. àbhaist, agus chaidh farpaisean nan inbheach a chumail ann an fire engine ladder. All the children and continually working hard with [email protected]. Talla Coimhearsnachd a’ Chaol an ath là. Gu mi-fhortanach, bha Ron Cameron eagerly put on their helmets, fundraising. Without this the Additionally we now have our own protective clothing, and breathing children would not enjoy the website: kilmallieplaygroup.org.

mask and talk to one another quality care and learning

did you know... watering on small seedlings to prevent damping off. There Happy gardening. are lots of different composts on the market but it is best to use one for seeds to begin with and then prick out into a Morag Mackell The pre-Christmas weeks saw us our “Here we go up to Bethlehem” Fort William. I had previously belonged to a D - Enthusiasm for reading and books is page 8 out and about in the local woods song. It was great fun and everyone Group that met in members' homes and I infectious! I am reading more and am now page 25 felt that being held in the library would more likely to read different genres, both and old park collecting leaves and was extremely proud of all the Book make us focus our discussion more on the fiction and non-fiction, rather than choosing twigs which we added into our children. actual books rather than the books taking the old safe, familiar authors. number area. We selected some of second place to social chit-chat. C – We now hold a lunchtime meeting every them for making spiky hedgehogs Encouraging the children to become C – I like the central location and daytime 3 months which combines a social event meeting, also the library staff are really with a book discussion and all the members in the playdough and sand pit area independent people and take care Groups helpful in facilitating the book loans and really enjoy this. and used some of the other of themselves is integral to our Many thanks to Jenny (Muirshearlich), they often join in the discussion. J – As we always discuss other books we materials to make bonfires for Guy daily practice. They had previously Denise (Camas na Ha) and Caz D- As the library staff select the books from have read I now have a long ‘to read’ list (Kinlocheil) for chatting to Sue about a set resource list there is no discrimination and I no longer struggle to choose books. Fawkes Night. We changed all the been learning about looking after the local book group they belong to. that might arise from members choosing the books round in the bookcase and their teeth and “good foods” and We’d love to hear if other Book books. The library staff are great: we get to Can you tell us of one book that you excitedly placed Christmas themed had enjoyed the café, making Groups meet in the Kilmallie area. hear about other library events and it have read through the Group that you

part ofpart VictoriaCottage was once ausedas butcher’s shop? Her day would start early in order to get around all the diabetic patients to record their blood sugar and give them There were colourful characters who enriched the life of the their insulin injection. Today virtually all diabetics manage district nurse. Were there more then than there are today? One well-kent ‘gentleman of the road’ lived on Locheilside in their own condition, but in those days it would be a rush to During the winter, we have worked closely with Gael Force a caravan. He was regularly pulled out of the ditch - having get around all the patients so that their post-injection Engineering, a successful Highland company, to further shape breakfast wasn't too late. District nurses in rural Scotland parted company with his elderly and wobbly bike - by the thomas telford our layout plans for the marina. Scottish Canals have also been were also the community midwife so the next job on the Nurse on her rounds. actively involved in this process. The revised designs will take daily round was to visit the mums with new babies. Although corpach marina account of hydrographic and topographic surveys conducted last strict hygiene was practiced, it was considered safest Nurse Martin was a well-loved and respected, if formidable, year, which demonstrated the need to move the floating practice to visit a new baby, who was vulnerable to infection, member of the Kilmallie community who is still remembered infrastructure into deeper water. We have also received very by some older residents for her care and kindness. After she Brief Update on Thomas Telford helpful feedback from the Kilmallie Community Council and as early as possible in the day when the uniform was at its others which we are working to reflect in the new design, for cleanest. For a new mum to be up and dressed to receive the retired in the mid 1980s, practice-attached district nurses Corpach Marina, February 2016 replaced the Corpach based nurse, and the house was used example the scale of the project is likely to be midwife's visit at 8.30am after a bad night with a young baby smaller, with around 60 berths instead as nursing offices for a few years. – and for the obligatory 10 days - must have been a mixed Preparatory work for the Corpach Marina project has been given of 80. The public slipway will remain a did you know did know you blessing! The Pulp and Paper Mill had opened in the mid 60s a boost in the last month or so with confirmation of a £40,000 key feature. It is our intention to consult with young families moving into the Drumfada estate, so we Sue Chadney funding package. The project group are grateful to HIE, the widely on this final scheme in the very Highland Council, Scottish Canals and The Crown Estate for near future. providing this finance and continuing their commitment to our goals. We are now in a position to press ahead with applications The marina committee continues to for a Marine Scotland licence and planning consent, and have if you have memories and stories of days gone by, meet monthly and to press ahead a Highland Commission’s retained Arch Henderson, consulting engineers, to assist us in enthusiastically with the project. we’d love to hear from you this task. My main piping inspiration and influences are Martyn Bennet, page 6 Gordon Duncan and Allan MacDonald of Glenuig. Martyn was really page 27 the first piper to mix piping genres. Allan MacDonald is an our Highland councillors’ corner focus on innovative piper and composer who took Piobaireachd back to the original gaelic song base which made it sound more varied and This time we challenged our three councillors to comment on the subject “Council Tax - freeze or thaw?” As the fabric of natural. public services gets ever more threadbare, attacked by round upon round of severe budget cuts imposed by Westminster I'm involved in the Feis movement and teach at Feis Rois, and Holyrood, and as communities (most especially the poorer people in communities) feel the direct pain of these sharp folk Lochaber, Acharacle and Eigg. Being at a Feis is always good: the cuts, we suspect this is a topic that will increasingly be aired round kitchen tables. Eigg Feis is particularly good fun as it's so small and friendly. I teach Allan and Bill sent us their pieces before Highland Council's budget debate on 25 February. Ben sent his afterwards. This time Angus Binnie, who lives in Corpach, spoke to Sue the whistle at Mallaig primary school and travel to other schools in the area through the Youth Musical Initiative teaching whistle. You The huge budget cuts, and they are massive raise £5 million, Highland would have been problems for elderly care services, and Mandy about his life as a traditional musician. Sue put Angus’s words onto paper for us. need to learn to blank out the noise of 30 tin whistles but it's cuts, coming through from government in £13 million worse off. education and delivery of community worthwhile as the children get to keep the whistles and some carry the name of the reduced block grant services. It is clear that the voluntary sector I was brought up in Cromarty, but have west coast roots: my father on with their music. I also take private piping pupils. settlement with golden shackles attached, It is patently clear that government wants neither has capacity, nor an appetite to take came from South Uist and my mum from Caol. There's no musical I own three sets of pipes – one set of Highland pipes and two of currently make freezing or thawing a non- councils to reorganise, but at the same time on more, such as grass cutting, running tradition in the family and my piping interest started when I went bellows pipes. My large pipes date from the 1890s, they came from question to local authorities. During are not willing to take the flak by saying toilets or cleaning streets, so the to Feis Rois aged 11 where piping was actually my third choice! someone's loft in Cromarty and were given to me. They have ivory January, Councils were looking along the what services they want cut across the communities will suffer. Then I went on to be taught by Rona Lightfoot in Inverness. She mounts which can pose a problem when travelling to the USA as lines of thawing council tax or even country. It would be unfair to have differing was one of the first woman pipers to compete against men (in the the pipes can be seized and destroyed. Happily this didn't happen overheating it by as much as 18% which services and standards in one area to the If the councils are not allowed to thaw 1960s) and she taught using the "canntaireachd" – a piping when I travelled there! I'm always learning and still need to would have been totally unacceptable to next, or almost a postcode lottery situation council charges then the only route open, if "language" in which you almost sing the tunes. I decided to make practice. The electronic chanter is useful as I can take it anywhere, council tax payers. In Highland, councillors of council services. The fact is, the reduced services are to remain as at present, is to piping my career and when I was 18 I went to study music at Lews plug in the headphones and practice a tune. I'd like to learn and looked at a more modest 5% to raise settlement combined with increased charge extra for providing services such as Castle College in Benbecula where I was taught by Iain MacDonald. own a set of Uillean pipes, traditional Irish smallpipes: they’re the approximately a further £5 million, national insurance and pension brown bin collections, usage of toilets, all I went on to Strathclyde Uni studying first the Highland pipes, most difficult pipes to play. especially if the expected golden shackle of contributions leads to a funding shortage council parking and any other then adding the bellows pipes and the whistle. I played with many Most of my leisure time is spent on music- I like to listen to hip- £3 million was to be waived. However it and councils unable to deliver. non-statutory services. This will different traditional musicians in Glasgow in pubs and at gigs. But I hop, dance and some folk music. I compose music but I'm not good soon became clear that £3 million was not clearly not be an easy decision was ready to move back up to the Highlands after 6 years in at finishing a tune to make it ready for playing at a session – that's the penalty, but a whopping £18 million, as While the council tax freeze has been very for any councillor to endorse. Glasgow and came to Corpach. my New Year’s Resolution, to finish more tunes! In Glasgow I did claw back after clawback was dragged out of acceptable to hard pressed homes it is now I've piped locally in the Glen Mhor pipe band and have been some techno DJ-ing and I do like to go ski-ing when I can. the ministerial hat. So for a 5% increase to an antiquated policy that is causing Cllr Allan Henderson with them to the World Pipe Band Championship but I find it difficult to find the time to play with the Pipe Band as I'm busy Listen to Angus and FRAS performing Castlerock from teaching and playing traditional music in bands. At the moment I their upcoming album on YouTube The Scottish Government agreed to freeze were warned would face us if we voted Yes Chambers all talk about devolving real play the smallpipes in two bands. ‘Sketch’ has produced 2 CDs: one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNdmAd_h-_4 Council Tax for the entirety of this in the referendum has come to pass not powers with budgets to match as they know member is Ian Copeland of the Peat Bog Faeries. We played this

Highland Council out, mainly due to decisions at Holyrood government, through its actions, appears to

and Westminster, the council had to cut its The main criticism of Council Tax is that it is believe not. I for one believe local littlewhyso cloth by £50 million. a regressive tax - band G residents pay only government should have those powers - 2.5x band A approximately. But that's and let councillors face their electors if they There are many expenses the council has nothing like as regressive as reducing get those decisions wrong. little or no control over: for example services, which the current crop of cuts teachers' wages, teaching staff numbers unavoidably will do. Cllr Ben Thompson and interest payments owed to the UK government for capital projects. In effect, Whether the council should raise council those 'uncontrollables' made the £50 tax to offset these "austerity cuts" is really a million cut to services well over 10% of the moot point. The Scottish government has council's manageable budget. effectively ruled it out through threatening glare of the sun. How do you manage page 5 page 28 a pedestrian's predicament to cross between the big lorries full of logs, the oil tankers, the aggregate spotlight Once upon a time, the Scottish processing factory. All these mean trucks and the hundreds of cars and Highlands were a haven of peace and heavy lorries, tankers and vans plying vans? It is a daunting challenge and this This time Donald Grant from Corpach tranquillity. You rarely saw any traffic, up and down the road daily. In the is why I would very much like to see a is in our spotlight, telling us about the local settlements seemed few and far summer the traffic swells with tourism. proper pedestrian crossing, either a between and when you met anyone it zebra crossing or a green man crossing Men’s Shed project As a local resident who lives in Banavie was usually somebody you put in here, not just for me but for on the east side of the A830, I have to knew. Nowadays, however, it is everyone else who struggles to cross cross this road just about every day,

completely different. The advent of the safely. I have had tourists comment to

Some aspects on which we are strong are good craic, sharing

page 4 come to KCC meetings for great homemade cake! public tocome along to hear what theirCC is doing forthem and heldusually at KilmallieHall and would encourage members of the in. I personallyattend the vast majority of the monthly meetings canwe best serve thediverse communitiesthat we live and work Scotland’sagenda and itisan integral partofunderstanding how Thepolice liaisonwith community councils isvery high on Police withinKilmallie. directbearing on day to day livingwithin Lochaberand morelocally relateto themspecifically, unlike atabloid which often has no a is very effective way of informing the communityofissues that believe I the newsletteris a importantvery part of whatKCC do and distributesand to thelocal community itserves. dozenarticles for the quarterly newsletter which the producesCC CommunityCouncil for over years4 now and have written over a have I fulfilledthe role localof liaison officer Kilmalliefor the Blar facility on healthnew update on policing community afoot plans 26/02/16 23/02/16 12/02/16 19/01/16 21/01/16 22/01/16 25/01/16 23/12/15 23/12/15 08/12/15 09/12/15 27/11/15 07/12/15

16/00599/FUL 16/00667/PNO 16/00628/PNO 16/00025/MSC 16/00245/FUL 16/00282/FUL 16/00294/FUL 15/04754/PIP 15/04755/PIP 15/04289/FUL 15/04437/FUL 15/04392/OHL 15/04443/PIP

Proposedalterations & extensionto storage building, Kinlocheil OutwardBound Centre, Achdalieu PriorNotification farm for Farm Erection of house,Plot Campbell4 Road Banavie Erection of dwelling house, LandNW Heisker,of Banavie Jetty Jetty consistingof approx 800 Tonnes rockof fill, Boyd Brothers (Haulage) Ltd, Annat Pier, Corpach Demolition of existing flat roof garage & erection ofnew hippedroof garage, Almorness, Corpach Badabrie Camanaich, flat, granny one bedroom a form house to to Alteration Bridge Swing Banavie Bridge, Swing Railway the Banavie of operation the with connected Canal the Caledonian within (pontoon) platform inspection aofpermanent Installation Fassfern House, Fassfern of East 150m Land connection, 33KV of Camus 25m NW Land 10/03304/PIP) of (renewal dwelling Erection Erection of house, Land 40MEast Ramona,of Banavie Erection of house, Land 85M NE Ramona,of Banavie - relatedbuilding works, Craigdhu Banavie willagree thescope of theproject and others,isrepresented on theGroup which KilmallieCommunity Council, along with ‘NewFort William HealthFacility’. thespecification and development of the assembledhas a Steering Group to oversee Engineeringand Maths) and NHSHighland itsSTEM Centre (Science, Technology, West HighlandCollege UHI istaking forward makingearly progress with their plans. supportedthe Council in thatbidare community planning partnersthat Morearly inmid of the Tesco developmentsite on the Blar Followingthe HighlandCouncil’s purchase

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before’date labels tell you aboutfood quality. canYou eatfood defrostthem in the refrigerator and use within hours. 24 ‘Best productsbefore their use bydate: then when need you them food its after use by date as it can be dangerous. You can freeze ‘Usedate by’ labels about are food safety: should you noteat datelabel means. becomeconfusing! very is importantIt understand to whateach Therelots are of dates now productson and at times it can Know your dates save thepennies and help the environmentallat the same time! Sohere are some toptips to reduce your householdfood waste, thatcould have been eaten isput into landfill. theproduction andtransportation of food also is wasted when food damaging thancarbon dioxide. Theenergy and resources used for planet.our Food waste produces methane, a greenhouse gas more impacton our bank balance, but italso has detrimentaleffect on £470for theaverage household. Food waste may havea negative out fromScottish homes. This waste costs over £1billion a year, or tonnes offood (which could have beeneaten) and drink are thrown amountof foodsent to landfillin Scotland. At present 630,000 campaignLove Food Hate Waste (LFHW)that aims reduce to the One ofthe projectcampaigns isto promote thenationwide promoting re encouragebehaviours thatextend the life initiatives to increase household recycling, reduce food waste and ‘usedate by’ themon they so last will longer. purchasingpurchase to try perishable items with the furthest awareof whatis inyour fridge and datesproducts. of When thefor: thisfood label can be disregarded you if are shopping. Be until’ ‘Display ‘sell or by’ tells the shop staffhowlong to display theafter best before date: however check for tasteand quality. andencourage behaviours that extend the life initiatives to increase household recycling, reducefood waste projecttoaims develop and maintain community based Lochaber across towards the goal ‘Zeroof a Lochaber.Waste’ The Voluntary,Statutory andPartner agencieswithin communities TheWaste Zero project is currently working in partnership with iswhatthey had to say about their projects. entailand whateach are aiming to achieve within Lochaber. Here year last where they shared with the group whatboth projects projectcame toalong speak to the Kilmallie Community Council Onemember the Zerofrom Waste VCAP and Carbon Reduction Programme(VCAP), Woodfuel and Carbon Reduction project. running– Zero WasteVolunteer and Community Advocate LochaberEnvironmental Group(LEG) currently has three projects - use, repairuse, and sharing options) across thelocal area.

- cyclesofproducts (eg by

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ZeroWaste Lochaber. alsoon Facebook and Instagramas [email protected] are asup great shopping bags, email us at freeglass recycling bagsthat also double withus, or would liketo grab one ofthe foodwaste tips you would liketo share aboutour project, haveor your own youIf would like any more information sizedyogurt pot. is theequivalent tothesize ofa computer mouse or averagean ingredients:for examplean average adult portion of uncooked rice Youcan even useeveryday householditems to measure Measureitems out beforecooking using scales, measuringor cups. Weareall very guilty ofcooking portion sizesthat aretoo big! Portion allup your leftovers. scotland.lovefoodhatewaste.com/for some recipes to help you use useitto make a bread and butter pudding.Have alook at http:// pastasalad? Breadleft over after dinner andstarting to go stale: intoa whole newmeal. Leftover pasta: how about usingforit a tomorrow’slunch or dinner.Or you can be creative andturn them Leftovers don’t haveto go inthe bin, they can be usedfor leftoversUse needyou it. Youcan pop the cubes straight intoyour coffee ortea! Toptip: freeze semi refrigeratorand cook within 24 hoursofdefrosting until piping hot. theminto a labelledcontainer inthe freezer, defrostin the throwitaway and waste money. If you have leftovers, cool, and put somethingmeans you can keep itfor another day, rather than Youcan freeze fresh,cooked and pre packaged food. Freezing Freeze it areyou not hungry:a hungry shopperalways spendsmore! yourshopping list. When you head tothe supermarketmake sure meal.Check what you already haveinthe cupboardsbefore making can for theweek and geteach member of thefamily to suggest a getto the supermarket.Sit down and planfor as many meals as you aSet budget to preventoverspending impulseor buying once you Plan before you buy [email protected]. at dress,based we are in the DrochaidAn building. you canOr email attendingof our some cookery sessions donatingor an unwanted infinding out moreaboutour projects becomingor a volunteer, make inthe form Partyof a Swish:there be will dress a hairswap, and swappingevent be will Lochaber at Yacht Club on 5 events repair across Lochaber over thenext months. 7 Our first householdsreuse to products byhosting upcycling, swappingand Lochaber. across Weare encouraging communities and Theproject encouraging is also the extension product of lifestyles usefuladvice tohowon reduce household waste. food communityengagement activities that deliver practical and the of environmental and economic impact of food waste via FoodLove Hate WasteCampaign which seeks raise to awareness planning,budgeting and correct portioning. This will promote the sessionsnext early year whichcover will basic cookery skills, meal information booklets.We are also launching a seriesof cookery educational classes in schoolsand providing householders with recyclingthrough the co HighlandCouncil WasteAwareness officer to increasehousehold local present area.At working we are in partnership with the (egbypromoting re - updemonstrations and refreshments. If you interestedare

skimmed milk inice cube trays to use when - use,and repair sharing options)across the

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- 4pm

page 29

remember earth hour... Saturday March 19th, 8:30pm page 30 any ideas for articles on the history of Kilmallie? distributorfor RB Distributors/Nisbets whoare one of thelargest productsand have access to many more through beingmaina foodproducts. On the equipmentside we stock over200 catering ordercustomers. We manufacture stockor inthe region of1600 restaurantsand thoughwe also have a number ofprivate and mail Wemanufacture anddistribute foodproducts primarily to hotels What does your company do? Weare based in Annat Industrial EstateinCorpach. Where are you located? Smokeryand also milka distribution business. Theothers are Letterfinlay Catering Equipment, Letterfinlay Wehave companies,4 themain one being Letterfinlay FoodsLtd. What is your company name? being pilotedby Shelter Scotland in them tenantsand give advice on helpavailable to qualityand professional service to their landlordsinLochaber to providea high newA service Lochaber private landlords in freeNew service to help

business onfocus

“The freeservice brings thesubstantial Bryan Powell,Private Landlord Support

feedback generous sponsors. Ardgour), years,initially in Drimnin andlatterly in have lived inLochaber for more than 20 relative As newcomersto the area(although I (RP) behalf... time and effort ouron commitmentofvoluntary KCC for their equal do commendI thecurrent suchpapera interms oftime and effort) and of howdemanding can bethe production of newsletter(I have some personal experience do congratulateI you allon thequality of the contemporary photographsfrom that time). more than50years ago (and havemyown islandsImyself visited as a (just) teenager, issuecontained an article aboutthe Skelligs... 50extremely informative; bizarrely, thelast andpaper itsarticles. Not only did findI issue congratulate youallon the quality of the in thatsense!) (Banavieisa long way fromArdgour, at least aboutlocal history and local personalities immenselyas Itry to learn as much as Ican arrivalat theend ofApril. have I enjoyedit receive to copies ofyour newsletter since our thefuture.” and ensurescapitala and social return in looksafter the bricks and mortar investment stay longer. Providinga long and tenantsare happier and more likely to also it means theproperty is easier to let maintain or increasetheir property’s value, improvement. onlyNot does ithelp spendingtime, money and energy on “There aremany benefits tolandlords of for grantsand financial assistance. propertyand energyefficiency and applying meeting legal requirements,improving getting registered, understanding and priorities. Bryan ishappy to discusstheir improvement Email: [email protected] Bryan Powell:Mobile: 07493 047942.

Private Landlordsare invited to contact

mywifeand Ihave been delighted

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CommunityCouncil. viewsthe of the newsletter team or of Kilmallie Viewsexpressed inthis newsletter are not necessarily [email protected] Emailusat Mandy Ketchin ChadneySue JanMacLugash 772383 Christine Hutchison 772252 newsletterYour team: newsletter, then pleasecontact one of the team. youarea.If know of anyone doesn’twho receive the newsletter to every home and businessin the Kilmallie We’dtolike thank everyone who helps ingetting the Sue. newsletter team and hope you enjoy thechallenge, newsletter. We welcome Sue Chadney to the the with newsletter and the delivery of the haveWe had some new volunteerswilling helpto newsletter teamreceived that at time. Mandyto and the support and understanding the thankto you allforthe kind expressions of sympathy tookmatters precedence with all us. of We wouldlike husband,Iandied at the end of November and family isthat necessary to produce the newsletter: Mandy’s reforminNovember 2015, we couldnot give the time producea newsletter in December. AlthoughKCC did Youwill allbe aware that KCCdidn’t manageto Chair checkthe website or Facebook incase of changes. every monthexcluding July and December. Please KilmallieCommunity Centre on the 4th Monday of meetings. Meetingsare currently held at 7:15pm in Membersthe of publicare welcomemost at allour COUNCIL COMMUNITY KILMALLIE Treasurer Secretary

Vice ChairVice Member community community

kilmallie

news [email protected] Mandy Ketchin JanMacLugash [email protected] RussellLeaper Canal House,Canal Banavie,PH33 7LY [email protected] Salen,Banavie PH33 7LY Christine Hutchison Carol AnneCarol Campbell

Green Party - - Conservative election - - Labour SNP

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page 3 are you following us on facebook yet? We can make more things happen if more people help, just page 2 informally, like Sue or Annette, or perhaps as an associate page 31 kilmallie member, even if you don’t fancy becoming a full member of the community council. community To be or not to be Fortunately KCC achieved our minimum requirement of 4 people, but 27 Community Councils across Highland failed to “some straight, some cryptic, some easy, some not so easy” Across

in this issue KCC from the chair – p2