No 56, Mar 2017

Home , Corpach, Kilmallie, Kyles Athletic, Oban Camanachd

page 28 Issue No 56, March 2017 a huge thank you to our sponsors delivered free to every address in Kilmallie 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

bicycles carbon & traffic - p2

KCC meetings – p3

sawmill - p4

plans afoot- p4

on the buses - p5 missives from MSPs - p5 Councillors’ Corner - p6

ELLCT - p7

the big pedal – p8

community bike clubs - p9

Friends of Banavie Park - p9

Banavie School News - p9

High Notes - p10

Corpach in Colour - p11

Christmas Lights - p11

Canal News - p12

Community Company - p13 BOYD BROTHERS CLYDEBoyd Gleann Laoigh - p13 On behalf of himself and his wife Jessie, Bobby Henderson receives KCC’s Local Heroes certificate Fort William Ltd Community Centre - p14-15 and £50 worth of Co-op vouchers from Jan, KCC’s treasurer. (HAULAGE) LTD CREEL - p16

ten years ago - p16 FORT Rugby Club - p16 local heroes Music for All - p17 In the last newsletter KCC Two of the winners, nominated by class there some twenty years WILLIAM Shinty Club - p17 announced our Local Heroes a number of people, wanted to ago. They were keen to Award - Co-op vouchers to be remain anonymous and asked acknowledge the hard work of the Art Lochaber - p17 TYRE given to four local heroes as a that their £50 worth of vouchers small group of people who have FOCAL - p18 very small token of the be donated to the Lochaber Food also served and continue to serve SERVICES food for thought - p19 community’s huge thanks for Bank, which we have done. The on the hall committee. Kinlocheil camelids - p20 making a valuable voluntary other two were a couple: Jessie contribution to the people, places and Bobby Henderson. Many congratulations to our wild about Kilmallie - p21 and community in Kilmallie. anonymous winners, and to Jessie nature notes - p22 This idea for an award came about Although not living in Kilmallie, and Bobby, and thank you again Green Fingers - p23 after a local resident generously Jessie and Bobby have raised to all our Local Heroes on behalf donated £50 worth of vouchers to thousands of pounds for various of the Kilmallie community. We rely on the contributions from our business Focus on Business - p23 KCC. KCC decided to contribute a charities in and around Kilmallie, community for the cost of producing and distributing this Focus on Folk – p24 free newsletter to every address in our area. We welcome further £50, enabling us to award and were instrumental in saving sponsorship from all businesses located in Kilmallie, or our Thomas Telford - p25 £25 to four people. Kilmallie Community Centre when with principal key personnel resident in Kilmallie. If you spotlight - p26 its future was threatened by its would like to see your name or logo in print supporting We invited nominations with the poor state of repair. your community newsletter, please join with our current Puzzles from Pithean - p27 intention of putting it to sponsors. Kshama Wilmington Sponsors - p28 community vote to decide the They have worked hard on the All donations, big or small, are hugely appreciated. would you like to become 07557 051205 please send YOUR letters,us stories, articles, pictures for next issue Please contact us at [email protected] for details. a sponsor too? 01397 772499. winners. As it turned out we committee of the Community received nominations for just four Centre for years and, of course, people, so no vote was needed. they began the Old Tyme Dancing crossing there. It seems unfair if criteria that apply in urban page 2 page 27 kilmallie areas are being used here. The results of a pedestrian survey carried out at Banavie Swing Bridge in October 2016 have still not been divulged to KCC. community David Devine of Transport Scotland is planning on attending “some straight, some cryptic, some easy, some not so easy” Across our meeting on Monday 27th March in Kilmallie Community 1 Swimming aid provides the music makers with 1 2 3 4 5 6 Centre at 7:15pm when I hope he will give us the results and weapons (7) council offer some ways of making crossing the A830 safer for 4 Right in the heat keeps beating(5)

everyone. Our meetings are open to everyone so please 7 AA gel can be blue green (5) Brick walls 9 Omen for ten in port (7) come along if you have concerns about crossing the A830 - 7 8 9 Do you ever feel you’re banging your head against a brick being able to demonstrate your backing is really important. 10 It’s normally dark then (2.5) 11 Swiss song (5) wall? I certainly do and one big issue on my mind (and that In the last newsletter I said ‘I wasn’t comfortable in the 12 It’s mad mad lets in (6) of KCC members) is the A830 through Kilmallie - trying to Chair’ - but I’m trying to be more comfortable. Whether it’ll 14 You might find this burner in the chemistry class find a safer way for everyone to cross. Whether it is at the 10 11 be ‘a comfortable chair’ during our March meeting, I don’t (6) Banavie Swing Bridge, Banavie School road end, at the Co-op know but I’ll try my best to get a safer way forward for us all. 18 She may be forwards or backwards, it’s all the in Corpach or at Drumfada Terrace. Another subject that is a head-banging issue is getting same (5) Our Slower, Safer, Smilier Campaign has had some success in 20 In case the cad makes the waterfall (7) movement on the new Belford Hospital site - as you know it 12 13 14 15 16 22 She’s said to have a fabulous box (7) that the speed limit along the A830 from the roundabout at is earmarked to be built in Kilmallie. Some 15 months after a the Police Station to the 30mph sign near Tomonie has been 23 Bet it does in the Himalayas (5) steering group and sub-groups were formed, not much has 17 reduced from 60mph to 40mph - so crossing near Banavie happened - but it is re-starting so hopefully we’ll have some 24 Eva and Ed get together and avoid things (5) 25 Precisely (7) Swing Bridge is slightly safer but not safe enough. news for everyone later in the year - again we must be 18 19 20 21 positive! Circumstances have changed with the planned Down Another positive is that plans are being made for 1 The song says there’s a sweet home here in the expansion of the smelter which surely reinforces the improvements at the Banavie School road end, but that is it! USA (7) business case that the NHS will have to make for funding. I have heard comments that they are not ideal - but let’s be 2 This girl was included in the mega night out (5) 22 23 positive. I hope this finds you looking forward to spring and to a good 3 The despot rearranged where the buses stay summer and any plans you have for yourselves, your family overnight (6) How can it be so difficult and take so long to get 4 You’ll find the prince’s Rolls Royce in the hay (5) improvements? or your business. 5 You should find them at meetings (7) 24 25 KCC have had a meeting with Transport Scotland and BEAR Best wishes, 6 The lot can be found when you go to talent Scotland back in August 2016 when we heard that results of Christine Hutchison, Chair contest (5) a pedestrian survey done near the Co-op in June 2016 did 8 Rowing crew (5) [email protected] Thank you to Tony Whitelocke not give sufficiently high numbers to get a pedestrian 13 She’s a Material Girl (7) for another great crossword. 15 Use PT in distress, distressed (5)

16 Stop! None try troubled (2,5) few traffic issues. So it would only take 17 When glaciers ruled (3.3) bicycles, a small effort to keep traffic numbers Answers to last issue’s crossword: 18 Canadian leaf (5) below the critical threshold. Across: 19 Elk (5) 1 TEMPLAR, 4 STEAM, 7 NOUNS 21 Ta bob at the monastery (5) carbon The Big Pedal initiative and Richard 9 CEILING, 10 GRENADE, Bowman’s ideas for cycle clubs are a 11 HUMAN good start. If we all replaced one in four 12 THAMES, 14 ERASED, 18 CACHE of our car journeys into town with one picture quiz no 13 20 OAK TREE, 22 EVOLVED, Not technically within KCC’s current boundary, though we think of it as ours! and by bike, even just over the summer, it 23 DRAKE. 24 MAYOR, Where, when and who? would reduce the number of cars 25 READMIT With thanks to Andy Goodwin for sending us the picture. enough to keep the traffic flowing. traffic Keeping traffic to levels the network Down: can support has been shown to be 1 TONIGHT, 2 MOUSE, 3 ROCKET A few weeks ago Susan Carstairs However, greenhouse gas emissions much more effective than new roads or 4 SHISH, 5 ENIGMAS, 6 MEGAN presented a fascinating talk at Kilmallie cause the same damage wherever they bypasses which often just shift the 8 SPADE, 13 ANCHOVY, 15 RAKED Community Centre about her research come from. Trying to reduce car use problem elsewhere. The proposed Caol 16 RE-ELECT, 17 WONDER ourheroes! local to all you thank on greenhouse gas emissions in would also have much more immediate link road might seem like a solution but 18 CREAM, 19 ELVER, 21 REALM Lochaber. And in this issue there are benefits. In the busy summer months is prohibitively expensive and there is two articles encouraging greater use of there are always occasions when traffic no real prospect of funding at that Answer to last issue’s bicycles. Car use is a major contributor on the A82 through Fort William comes scale. A little effort from those that are Picture Quiz No 12 to CO2 emissions, and as Susan’s to standstill. Traffic flows fine up to a able will make a big difference locally Kinlocheil Outdoor Education Centre

So many people are heroes ways... are people in so many So many detailed research showed, our critical point when a very small increase and also contribute to the global emissions in Lochaber are about double causes everything to grind to a halt. challenge of climate change. The saying the national average per person. Flow measurements on the A82 show ‘Think Global, Act Local’ has been Answers to these puzzles are on the Pollution is most obvious in the cities, an average of 17% more traffic in the around for a long time... it’s as relevant website www.kilmallie.org.uk where we can see, feel and taste it first peak season from June-August when now as it’s ever been. (follow the link on the RHS of the hand. So it is easy living in Lochaber to congestion problems occur, compared homepage) and will also be think that pollution is not our problem. to May and September when there are Russell Leaper, Secretary published in the next issue of the newsletter for people without access to the internet. page 26 thank you for carers, and to all who care... readers popularBook Bugsessions foryoung childrenbut young stopsAsthe are relatively short the vancannot offer the childrento browse and borrow. associated written informationare put thein van for the a on certaintopicand relevantreference books and teachersinform the library when a classis planning a project everyvan 3 weeksand Angus parks there for2 hours. The area'sthe primary schools. Banavie School welcomesthe vanThe also providesa term areas! Ardnamurchananother – brilliant resource for outlying Angusroute, does deliver the booksforone Book Group in Althoughthere areno Book Group members theon Kilmallie specialrequests thefrom regular clientson the routes. Williamprovides a new selection ofitems as as well fulfilling mobilelibrary fullyis restockedand the base library Fort in changinglocal needsattendances.and Every week the upkeep with changes such asnew houses being built or placesince1975; routesstopsand areregularly reviewedto Highlandarea. The Council cleaned.There a is totalofvans 8 serving the whole the of Councildepot at Carr's Corner where it is maintainedand notWhen out on its therounds van keptis at the Highland usage.their impairmentsto guidethem safely intothe van and facilitate customerswell they can oncall users withvisual door.Because Angus and his relief driver know their regular forwheelchairand users: ithasan adaptable lift at themain vanThe provides easyaccess forthose withlimited mobility fiction and non borrowaudio books and DVDs as aswell widea range of People comingto the van canexchange their loans and can accessthe High School library, perhapsthat notis surprising. only group missingtotally is teenagers! But,asthey can schooling familiesuse the van asan essential resource. The youngerfamilies especially, insome locations, where home majority of borrowersareolder, but hethat also tolends betweenlocations and dates. Angus observes that the allocatedto Kilmallie locations. The number usersof varies accordingto the immediate population todoors the library users. stoppingThe period is set van,setsup his computer,tootshis horn and opens the routineThe is the same at every stop. Angus parks the up boundaryand Duror the southern. AugustusFort inthe north; Kincraig theis north Arisaig,from Lochaline and Kilchoaninthe west and up to travelsthat the roads of Lochaber,covering a huge area a is large,yellow 7½ ton specially thenoticed van– well, youcan't really itmiss if you seeItit! and GuisachTerrace Corpach. in For anyone who has never stoppingplaces in Kilmallie– FassfernCottages, Kinlocheil MacIver,the libraryvan driver, draws up at thedesignated 2 HighlandCouncil mobilelibrary. 3Every weeks Angus In Kilmallie we haveourvery own librarythe in ofform the Kilmallie’slibrary own

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Sue Sue Chadney NetworkLibrarian, fortheir helpand their time. thanksMany to Angus MacIverand to Anne Nicholson, canthat and does enrich allaspects of our lives. ofand the world of booksand reading in generala – world andabout parked up raises the profile ourof library services, CouncilHighlife/ Highland website. Seeing the van going libraryand theon van as well asonline from the Highland alwayswelcome. scheduleThe availableis from the main residentsand theto whole community and new users are mobileThe libraryprovides a valuable service to Kilmallie one! bedo patient andgive Angus cheery a toot not animpatient longand vehicle,soifyou are stuck behinda bigyellow van, times! Corners need be to taken quite slowly, being alarge unusualthat was asAngus ensures that itlooks good at all customer remarkedhow dirty the van was that andday how vanthe with muchbacking and forwardingand care. nextHis wasno mobilesignal, he was on own his and had to extricate Angusonce bogged got down a softin verge and, as there Singletrack roads require oflots stops in passing places; problem. CorranFerry from runningon the wrongday, that ISa from maintainingschedule,his although iffogstops the challenges.Snow and windhave never preventedAngus Drivinga large van around Highland roads canpresent publicthe for shorta while. toattends sit and have storya read while the vanis closed to children’sbooks on display.Inone areathe localnursery

of the of newsletter team or ofKilmallie Community Council. Viewsexpressed inthis newsletter are not necessarily the views Emailusat [email protected] Mandy Ketchin ChadneySue JanMacLugash 772383 Christine Hutchison 772252 newsletterYour team: appreciatedand worthwhile. really helpsknowto that all the voluntary effort we putin is anAnd extrathank you this time to the people thank who us    Asthreeusual huge‘thank you’s Members Treasurer Secretary Chair December. Please checkwith the Secretary in ofcasechanges. Centretheon 4th Monday of every monthexcluding July and Meetings arecurrently held 7:15pmat inKilmallie Community Membersthe of publicare welcomemost at allour meetings. COUNCIL COMMUNITY KILMALLIE going. toand oursponsors, without whomwe simply couldn’tkeep unaffordable; Kilmallie neverbe ableto geta newsletter to every householdin ouramazing to delivery teams somethingof interestthat you’d like share;to simplyhappen to orlivework inKilmallie and have Kilmallie, in but also articles about any topic at youall if articles get specifically about the people,places and events abe regular, occasional orone andstories the like,sodo please get touch in ifyou’d tolike new for material, whether articles, features, news, photos, contributorssomeand new ones too. We’re always looking everyoneto who’s contributedto this issue

community community

the postage costswould be completely kilmallie

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

news

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think needsthink to be discussed. atIf 20least people last minute arrangements) meeting, we are obliged toconvene one within Rememberyou don’thave to wait fora regular (residentand eligiblevote)to request a special campaign for crossings on meeting if there is something urgent that you 14days. Even iflessthan 20 people requesta will attend ourdiscussto (check with secretary for accommodateone ifurgent and practicable. (but (but checkwithSecretary incase ofany last your your ideas and concernsabout local issues special meeting, we would always try to 7:15pmat Kilmallie Community Centre meetings welcome Monday 27th March slower, safer, smilier (Transport Scotland) at KCC at KCC minute changesorcancellations) Monday 24April Monday 26June Monday 22May David Devine the placethe to share the A830 next meetings: all all

page 3 ... so this issue is dedicated to... page 4 people who plant flowers & trees in our public places;

for years for (thoughless sofor some when the reported that thenoise has been an issue not overnightaccording to Andy. Residents butthe sorting process runs Monto Fri and Overallthe plantruns 24/7 with kiln drying proposalsin2017/18 to help mitigate it. noisiestarea, and hope to implement lochside.BSW are conscious that this isthe awayfrom theroad and nearest the plantis locatedinthe SE partofthe site, ie clunksthat were disturbing people. This seemedaccount to for the intermittent loud conveyorthat kicks off rejectlogs. This thatthe likely sourceof worst noise was the Fromthereports ofresidents, itseemed disturbance during unsocialhours. theoperations in general, merelythe thesawmill: folkare not complainingabout Kilmallieand expressed a lot ofsupport for Residentsrecognise the valueof industryto complaints generallyrelated to night compliancewith requirements. The noise levelsare notmonitored by BSWfor (quieter)one for night curve’ daytime for and evening, and lower a grantedwas seta permissible ‘noise rating site acrossfrom theroad. The consent that for planningconsent to move to thepresent ando acoustic survey** whenthey applied placeon the site. BSWhad been required to understand thetimber processingthat takes showeda useful video which helpedus alsoadversely affected. Andy and Oliver morepeople living in thesame vicinity are attendedthough it became clearthat many numberofmembers of thepublic also night meeting 23 on Stephen fromBSW attending for KCC’s Weare grateful to Andy Rogersand Oliver have beendetermined. months,up to 07/03/17. Some may already noticed on the Weekly Listsin the last three Hereare the localapplications that we’ve plans afoot 08/12/16 12/12/16 15/12/16 05/01/17 12/01/17 03/02/17 09/02/17 09/02/17 07/13/17 07/03/17 - time noisefrom the sawmill. small A

sawmill rd 16/05506/MSC 13/03643/PIP 16/05535/FUL 17/00025/ADV 16/05747/FUL 17/00500/FUL 17/00631/FUL 17/00471/FUL 17/01080/FUL 17/01089/FUL Jan to discussissues of - time***. Noise

- Erection of one dwelling house, Land NW FordOf Cottage. Badabrie Erection of house, Site 40MNorth East Of Hillview.Banavie (Renewal) Erection of extension, Achdalieu Cottage, Achdalieu Advertising Signs, Co Erection ofsingle storey three Works.Corpach Installation of storm a tank, control kiosk andthe re 180MLand NWOf Camus Erection of house. Amendmentto planning permission 10/01981/FUL Nevis Bakery,Unit 5 Annat Point IndustrialEstate, Corpach Extension toexisting commercial bakery toform new product dispatch area showerroom with toilet, 4 Guisach Terrace,Corpach Extend house with singlestorey extension to side and rear containing entrance,hall, bedroomand Erection of house and garage,New Build, Camaghael time.

    followingmonth’s meeting) included: presentation, or afterwards, orat the Otherpoints made (either duringBSW’s leastin thefirst instance. soundrecording apps for mobile phones,at residentrecommended the simpleuseof discussed butnothing definitive agreed. One Waysto achieve ongoing monitoring were it islikely to be only shorta spot check. accuratelycapture theextent of theissue as BSWby or HighlandCouncil may not wasIt generally feltthatan acoustic survey living higherup the hill. cannothelp the manyaffected residents sounddisturbance at ground level,and soundscreening will only helpmitigate to Residentspointed out thattrees used as morningmight not be BSW. noisedisturbance at this time of the clankingand thumping. Andy suggested any 1am,or even 2 6am,as and can continue aslate as midnight seconds. Thedisturbance can startas early months,with deep thumpingsevery few buthas gotmarkedly worse inlast12 sawmill was on theother side of theroad) FUL = FullFUL= Application PIP = Permissionin Principle contact Secretary.KCC liketo receive weekly lists by email, please KilmallieCommunity News. youIf would PlanningLists, see theSept 2014 edition of Forfurther information aboutWeekly causing disturbance. light pollutionfrom the portis also disturbance port alsocan be causing noise shipsand plantand operations at the BSW, someare handled by Boyds not allthe logsare theresponsibility of company,only during daylight hours chippingiscarried out aby Black Isle

- Op Shop,Op Royal Bank Buildings,Corpach - 3aminthe morning,with -

Na - Ha,Annat View,Corpach - bedroomhouse, Schiehallion, Banavie

profiling ofland, Waste Water Treatment

alreadygranted) typicallyfollow MSCMatters= Specified Conditionsin (ie ADV = Advertisement OHL= Overhead Electricity Line, PNO= PriorNotification, LBC Listed= Building Consent www.engineeringtoolbox.com. information about noise rating curves try applyingto other businesses too. For a is useful place tosearch for conditions sawmill (seebelow). Theeplanning website conditions applyingto noise levels atthe Noticein the same list: it sets outthe ***Youcan seethe PlanningDecision oflist documents. 12/00398/FUL andlook ‘Noise for Report’in wam.highland.gov.uk/wam, to search for via HighlandCouncil’s eplanning website. Go **TheNoise Impact Assessmentisavailable constructive discussion. Everyone feltithad beena useful and listeningattentively to residents’ concerns. Oliverfor attending the meeting and areKCC extremely grateful to Andy and affected. Pleaselet know us andif howyou are noise levels) theeasier itwill be address. to Environmental Healthhave (dates,times, informationthat KCC, BSW and agreed. Inthemeantime, the more firm beendiscussed by butKCC nothing as yet Provisionofmonitoring equipmenthas also not justaffecting a fewisolated individuals. Environmental Healthso they are aware itis is unacceptable. KCC will speak to Environmental Healthif theyfeel the noise informed. Residents can also inform accuratelywere and comprehensively theywere suffering disturbance so thatBSW BSW(773860) at any time of night when problem.KCC suggested residents phone areasat nightto assess the extent ofthe BSWsaid theywould try to visit the affected

- amended design - up details a to permission

patronage ofan influential civic improver–Sir William Pulteney – withthe local gentryand thusmade contactsthat enabled the learnand achieve. Within thesmall Eskdale school Telford mixed schools gavehim theconfidence and motivation to continually thatprovided a high standard (for the day)ofeducation in village ruralorigins as majora factor inhis success. A Presbyteriansociety Theauthor ofthis book (JulianGlover) refers to Telford'sScottish engineeringcareer. ofage 25 commence to hisextraordinarily productive civil becomeapprenticed to astonemason but rode off to London at the it boastedonly 2 tea kettles! Telford left schoolat the age of 12 to birthplace,Eskdale, was so remote anyfrom formofprogress that Whata journey! Thebiographer, Samuel Smiles, wrote that his technicalbrilliance, to his burial inWestminster Abbey in1834. familyofa shepherd inrural Dumfries Britain”explores Telford'sjourney from his birth in1757 into the newA biography “Man of Iron:Thomas Telford and the Building of theCrinan Canal. churches,plus our own Caledonian Canal and a redesign ofpart of of goodroads, over 40 new or improved ports andover 30 designsand supervised thework for 1,000 new bridges,1,200 miles Sweden. The Highlandsbenefited significantly as providedhe the And notonly inGreat Britain; Telforddesigned the Göta Canal in superbly designedand executed bridges,aqueducts andcanals. abilityto move around thecountry via his roads and for his of Great Britainowe Telforda debt ofgratitude for improving their (nowKilmallie House)and several lock CaledonianCanal as well as theCanal Superintendent's house buildings;living in Kilmallie, we often passthem daily.We have the Werecognise ThomasTelford for local feats ofengineering and   at:built Telford’sother Parliamentary Kirks were Plockton(photo Roger Davies). NorthCorran (photoRichard Webb) Iona(photo KeithLaverack) there survivesat Onich (though the Telfordchurch ParliamentaryManses. One ofhismanses knownas Parliamentary Kirksand Actan ofParliament in1823, hence they are ‘getyou your eyein’. They werefunded by standard design, instantlyrecognisable once theHighlands and Islands,built to Telford’s Thereare 32 churches and manses all over Ullapool (in useto 1935, now a museum) At rightfar fromtop to bottom:                

“our” Thomas Telford Berneray (converted to artist’s studio) Acharacle Berriedale (out ofecclesiastical use) Knock(since demolished) Hallin(in useas artist’s studio) Duror Croick Carnoch Quarff Cross (in useto 1905, since demolished) Portnahaven Poolewe Risabus use(in 1930, to now derelict) Lochgilphead(demolished 1885) holidayaccommodation) Kinlochbervie Keiss Kinlochluichart Kinlochspelve(nuse as self wasdemolished in1900).

catering

- - keepers'houses. The people shire, througha life of

  OnichManse, now aprivate house) Below:Iona Manse (now a museum, and MandyKetchin Rothemurchus,Salen (Mull) and Sandwick. Muckairn, North Ronaldsay, Rannoch, Insh,Innerwick, Kilmeny, KirktownofFoss, storeyvariants) were built at Deerness, addition, In manses(in single        built withadditional alterations) Timsgarry (disputedas TelfordChurch, Church,key featuresaltered 1900) in Tomintoul(unrecognisable as Telford Ulva (privatelyowned). Tobermory (demolished1895) TelfordChurch to not be listed) Strontian(key features altered Strathy (convertedto house) Stoer use(in to 1963, derelict since 1970 Stenscholl foundations) Shieldaig(rebuilt using Telford's

Sue Sue Chadney simpleand peaceful beauty ofTelford's church there. backand again. Or perhapstake a driveout toDuror andenjoy the thedigging out of thelocks, rushing from one project to thenext stovepipe hat, surveyingtheroute, frequently presentoverseeing thatbusy and driven geniusinhis Victorian weatherproofs and So,thenext time you walk up besideNeptune's Staircase, imagine did... a of shepherd born in Englandwould not havesucceeded as Telford hison arrival inLondon. Glover observes that the workingclass son

- and two

only

page 25 and lots of other people too... early eighties I was part of a group that evolved into The page 24 Friends of The West Highland Line. I became its founder constituency page 5 focus Chairman and we fought successfully against Scotrail not don’t forget to vote... only to preserve, but to develop, the line. One of the results of that initial campaign was the arrival of the steam train, boundary local council which I hear with pride every day of summer. on folk elections Last year saw me running a passenger vessel from Banavie changes up to Loch Lochy for a Greenock company, which I’ll be Many thanks to Niall McKillop, who lives in Badabrie, for An excellent turn out at KCC’s participative session in December. Thurs 4th May doing again this year. I’m a competent naturalist so there’s agreeing to be in our focus this time. Results of the national consultation are now published on if you care about education, social care and nothing we see on the canal I can’t identify and talk about. www.bcs2018.org.uk. health, local roads, planning, public transport, I’m also becoming increasingly fascinated by the work of I was born, to my Highland shame in Scunthorpe, near where You have until 27th March to comment on any of the submissions, housing, litter, rubbish and recycling, leisure Thomas Telford and the ingenious methods he used in my mother’s family farmed in Yorkshire. At a week old I was though be aware the search function does not easily throw up all facilities, museums, footpaths and cycle paths, designing and building the canal, much of which comes into taken to Edinburgh where my father had returned to the known submissions for Corpach, Banavie, Kilmallie, food safety, and so much more... the live commentary I give on board. At the end of the University after a war spent in India and Burma with the Fort William or Lochaber. season, as usual, we will be in rural Italy, our favourite Cameron Highlanders. After he graduated my parents settled holiday destination. in Inverness where my father had been born and brought up, We contacted Shiel Buses who confirmed this but explained that they couldn’t publicise the matter since the details had not yet and where he set up his architectural practice, working Niall McKillop across Scotland and the Isles. He kept up his connection on the buses been finalised with the Council. with his regiment, designing the 1st Battalion’s war It would have been very helpful (and would have saved a lot of memorial at Kohima battlefield, where he had fought , and in Niall omitted to tell us that he is a published author. Public transport contract people being very anxious and angry) if the Highland Council had the early fifties designed the original seating plan for the Drawing on his extensive knowledge as an amateur been able to co-ordinate the timetables from all the operators at Edinburgh Military Tattoo as a favour to a fellow Cameron naturalist in 2000 he wrote and published a book entitled changes in Lochaber the same time and made a single explanatory announcement. officer who was its first director. The plan has changed little "Rondo One-Eye: A seal's story" which is set around Every few years the Highland Council lets contracts Shiel Buses is a local firm based in Acharacle and we wish them since then, as I saw for myself last October. Loch Shiel. for bus services that are not commercially viable and these will well. Their proposed timetable is not finalised as we go to print but come into effect on 24th April. We first became aware of the we are led to believe it will be similar to the current one. The western edge of Inverness where I grew up was still very proposed changes through the Stagecoach Bus Timetable when the There are also a few proposed changes to the Fort William - situation looked grim since the proposed timetable for Corpach to rural. There was a moor behind our house, now a housing Inverness service operated by Citylink and we will have to see what Fort William showed only evening buses from 18:30 with no service estate but then replete with fur and feather. It was five is finalised. minutes walk to Lochardil Farm where, as a boy I learned to the Medical Centre! All the new timetables will operate from Monday, 24th April 2017. useful things from Mr Duncan, the farm grieve: how to milk; We therefore attended the Stagecoach drop-in consultation in Fort to put a calf in a barrow and take it to the byre so its mother William High Street on Wednesday 1st March and, while speaking For further information you should contact the operators of the would follow, wring the neck of a hen and much more to Ben Thompson, one of our Ward 12 Councillors, it became clear routes you are interested in, or contact the Council’s Transport Co- besides. that the reason the Corpach daytime service and that to the ordination Unit at [email protected] or phone Medical Centre were not on the Proposed Stagecoach Timetable 01463 252951. Fond of boats of all kinds since I first fished on Loch Maree was that they had lost the Council contract to Shiel Buses.

with my father, aged six, at thirteen I left Inverness Royal Academy and went to a school in North Wales, HMS Conway, to prepare me for life at sea as a navigating officer. Round the world twice by the time I reached twenty-one I missives from MSPs had by then visited some very remote, memorable places It’s the turn again for our constituency MSP Kate Forbes. We put to her that but decided a few years later to come ashore and continue ‘KCC have long been campaigning, to little avail, for pedestrian crossings on the isolated, lonely and fearful. It can have a my education. In 1971 I arrived at Glasgow University, stayed A830 at the Corpach Co-op and Banavie swing bridge. Transport Scotland have knock-on effect on basic tasks like shopping twenty-four hours then got on a bus back to The Highlands. I carried out surveys, but we don’t expect to meet their stated minimum criteria for groceries or visiting the doctor. So, I was never going to be a city boy. for the number of vehicles and pedestrians. Meanwhile residents and visitors don’t in any way underestimate the alike continue daily to suffer danger, difficulty and anxiety from the lack of importance of securing a safe crossing on Years later, after doing a wide variety of mostly interesting safe crossing places. One member of our community had an alarming near miss the A830. We’ve made progress on ensuring things, I had the opportunity to buy a passenger boat from recently trying to cross at the swing bridge. What can you do to help us get that children attending Banavie Primary can Jacobite Cruises in Inverness which I brought to Fort William the crossings we need?” cross safely, and now we must make sure that everybody else can cross too at and ran from the town pier. At the end of the decade I There is a very pressing need for safe Scotland concluded that there wasn’t a high Corpach Co-op and Banavie Swing Bridge. returned to sea before moving into the marine side of the crossings on the A830. I promised during my enough number of people to justify a I will personally continue to press Transport oil industry where I remained until the downward spiral of election campaign to press Transport crossing. Since then, I have been pressing Scotland to do far more than they are two years ago when I was, effectively, forced into retirement Scotland to include safe crossings, and I Transport Scotland to do another survey but currently doing to progress plans for a just short of my 67th birthday. I didn’t really mind too much. haven’t forgotten that promise. I know that to widen their criteria. If we can secure crossing. I’d welcome any correspondence many people, particularly those who are another survey and make sure that we on the matter by telephone on 01349 863 Farming is in my blood from both sides and my interests vulnerable on their feet, who have visual or demonstrate just how critical a crossing is 888 and by email have always been in the countryside. It’s one of the reasons I hearing impairments or who are walking then we will move closer to getting safe [email protected]. like Kilmallie so much, and this house on the edge of wild with children and babies, are scared to cross crossings for everybody. the A830 at the Corpach Co-op or the Kate Forbes MSP the run who help people centre; community moorland in which we’ve lived now for twenty-two years. It is, of course, vital that we have good Banavie Swing Bridge. Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Although I haven’t shot for decades I fish at any roads that enable people to travel. But it is 07825 532230 opportunity. I’ve also been involved in the politics that at Surriento Very soon after I was elected last May, I met even more important that people are able 01349 863 888 people who make a difference in lots of small ways; of lots in small who make a difference people with Transport Scotland to ask what they to cross local roads without feeling like they increasingly surround angling, and some years ago now led https://kateforbes.scot/ the (unsuccessful) community bid to purchase the River We try to spread our Focus on Folk amongst an even intended to do about it. As readers will are taking their lives into their hands every know, a survey was conducted of people time they do so. The roads are only going to Nevis. I stood in the first Scottish Parliamentary elections spread of young and old, men and women. It’s a while Let us know if there are any crossing the road – but it appears that the get busier as the summer approaches and under the banner of the Highlands and Islands Alliance, since we’ve featured a young person - we’d love to hear questions of local relevance that you criteria was very narrow and it did not we welcome another record year of visitors. suggestions for or from any Kilmallie youngsters under 18 would like us to put to our regional believing with others that a Scottish Government would include everybody who is more vulnerable There is a huge impact on people who don’t who are leading unusual, challenging or interesting lives. MSPs next time. largely ignore the needs of rural areas. We were right. In the in some way. Frustratingly, Transport feel safe crossing a road – it makes them It is time for pruning roses! If you are very keen, there are page 6 several books giving you instructions. However, I tend to cut page 23 our Highland councillors’ corner green them pretty hard, take away the shoots growing inwards and generally try and create a fairly 'open' plant. I give a feed of We are coming up to local elections in May. Looking back at the last four year term, we asked our three councillors what either sulphate of potash or similar. Clematis were pruned impact their actions and decisions as a Highland Councillor have had on reducing carbon emissions in Lochaber, and in Kilmallie fingers in Feb and also fed. Buddleias are taken back to about 4" in particular? from the previous year's growth. Get climbing roses tied in

After a very open, mild winter, in which and prune out any dead wood and just generally tidy them What impact have your actions as a work has continued with the rationalising not to leave vehicles idling. This can have it was easy to get out and do some up by removing the long straggly stems. Highland Councillor been on reducing of all the workplaces in Fort William for a saving of £50,000 across the Highlands. I carbon emissions in Lochaber and in council administrative staff by utilising the am still very much involved in the Fort digging, tidying etc, the ground has In the herbaceous borders, divide any plants that have Kilmallie in particular, is another great old school site in Achintore Road. The old William bypass discussions which would become very wet and difficult to work. However, the become too big. If you take a couple of garden forks, put thought-provoking question from the heat-inefficient offices are in the process surely save millions in unnecessary potatoes are set out in their boxes, the sweet peas are sown them back to back and pull the plants apart, you can get compilers of your Kilmallie newsletter. of being turned into modern highly emissions and time whilst we are stuck in and the broad beans will be planted in the greenhouse Looking at it narrowly, in Kilmallie, I insulated flats while a new carbon- summer traffic jams. This, for Kilmallie shortly. We did them early last year, thought we were being several new ones from this and give some to your friends. would say that is difficult to quantify, but friendly office suite is created alongside travellers, is even more vital as the smart, but the mice ate the first lot and the second lot were It’s hard work but quite satisfying. If you ordered any plug it has become so embedded in council life the old school which will also be shopping development at the factory road far too tall when they were eventually planted out. plants they will be arriving shortly so will need to be potted that it is now automatic to assess your refurbished. We are also in the process of end takes shape and the exciting on as soon as they arrive.. actions. Any action or proposal that creating a bus stop for this development proposals from Liberty have been The greenhouse has been lined with bubblewrap and all the comes through the council is now also to encourage public transport usage. launched. seed trays washed. We have bought several bags of Check the mower is ready to go. Nothing worse than checked for climate change or carbon compost: some will be used for seeds and some for pricking deciding to cut the grass and mower is having a tantrum! clever implications. On a Highland wide basis, but having an On a personal note I have also thought out the seedlings and also for the fuchsias I have somehow impact on Kilmallie, as chair of carefully about my own usage, so managed to keep over winter. The conservatory plants, If you have a dog, and you brush it. put the hair in an old bird For me in Lochaber and Kilmallie the main community services I have been replaced the old diesel, bigger engine, car pelargoniums, streptocarpus and others I have lost the feeder as the birds love it for their nests. actions in the past 5 years have been the encouraging the 4 year programme to with a smaller highly efficient- i stop labels for, will all be re-potted into pots one size larger. We rationalisation of the Highland Council replace all street lights with LED bulbs, version which produces a far more are going to try shallots and onion sets in cells in the If it's a nice day, have a seat in the garden. property estate which started with greatly improving efficiency but still acceptable m.p.g. greenhouse this year. The propagators will be in use to start Depending on the time of day, either tea replacement, or refurbishment in the case drastically driving down power usage. the begonias and any of the seeds that need a bit of heat. and a scone or a dram and a bag of of Lochaber High, of older and inefficient Another interesting piece of work I have Cllr Allan Henderson Dahlia tubers can also be looked out and started to come crisps. Enjoy just sitting and looking at the school buildings by modern highly been involved in and presented as a spring flowers, the buds on the trees and insulated buildings heated by biomass budget saving is the monitoring of all the back to life. I forgot to lift mine so it will be a surprise if they listening to the birds singing. instead of diesel. The second phase of this council vehicles which encourages drivers pop up. They were rubbish last year, far too tall with very small flowers in wishy washy colours. Need a different Morag Mackell Last week an Inverness Councillor, Inverness. My carbon footprint of driving It was the case until last year that voting variety and more care. Thomas Prag, jokingly called me, “Mr to Inverness twice a week would be on Council motions couldn’t be done over Hologram”, for the amount of time he around 5 tonnes each year and the cost to video conference. With my colleague sees me on the video conference screen the taxpayer would be around £5000. As Andrew Baxter, we managed to get that It’s three years since It is definitely not idle talk to say that the incredible impact that rather than in person. Since becoming a it is, I managed to cut my travel to practice changed, by demanding to vote we focussed on the social media along with the more recent advances in mobile and focus digital marketing is making all types of businesses re-evaluate Snowgoose Mountain Highland Councillor, I have made a Inverness to around once or twice a over video conference. Since then, I’m

conscious effort to limit unnecessary month – the rest are done by video or glad to see others have started voting Centre, one of the how folks now make bookings and purchase goods or services.

travel to the minimum, primarily to save teleconference. That saves as much as 3.5 remotely as well. newsletter’s sponsors. We all fail to embrace this at our peril.

on travel expenses, but also for tonnes of carbon emissions and around on Here they give us an For the past three years Snowgoose Mountain Centre has been environmental reasons. While there are £3500 per annum to the taxpayer. I would like to see more of my colleagues update on their one of a few Highland based Duke of Edinburgh Award AAPs many meetings I feel compelled to travel make use of video conferencing. Not only business. (Approved Activity Providers) for expeditions and residential to, there are a lot more where phoning or It also enables me to make much better because of the financial and business courses. John is again looking forward to the return of several videoing in to the meeting is more than use of my time as the 6 or 7 journeys I environmental saving, but because it is It is really interesting to look back and see what has stayed the DofE groups who will be completing their Gold and Silver Walking enough. miss each month up to Inverness, save me promoted as a way of improving the same in our business and what has changed in this time or Paddling expeditions in the Lochaber area as well as new about 20 hours each month that I’d range of courses available at smaller rural particularly over the past 12 months. groups and other folks returning to take advantage of his unique It is unfortunately still unusual for otherwise spend driving. schools. I have my reservations about blend of common sense in the outdoors combined with Councillors to use video conferencing widespread use of video conferencing for Overall as a business we are doing pretty much the same – with “adventure with attitude”. regularly. A half dozen or so of us from There can be disadvantages to not being teaching, based on using the technology all the usual ups and downs. Thankfully not much of the latter! Lochaber, Skye and Caithness and in the Chamber. For important meetings, myself. I wish more Councillors were The past summer was definitely our busiest on several fronts Internally, John was busy last summer altering our reception area Sutherland are the only frequent users. the discussion outside the meeting room frequent users so that the debate on extending well into the autumn– we were really glad when and moving Tina’s office into what was a loft area. This has To put the cash saving in context, I’d can be as important as the discussion widespread use in schools was better December came! The highs of last summer have been followed by greatly improved the reception area for clients – with Tina now in estimate it costs as much as £2000 in inside. Video conferencing is a great tool, informed. our quietest January since we started with cancellations into the “back office”. travel expenses alone to convene all and fairly slick, but you do miss the ability February – all due to the lack of snow and our wonderfully Highland Councillors in Inverness. That to judge body language, and that makes Cllr Ben Thompson unpredictable weather. However, the coming spring and summer Fiona has been steadfastly working with us for the past nine years people who sharepeople offer cars and lifts doesn’t include accommodation contribution to debate more difficult. For are now looking really positive. keeping our landscaping, gardening and maintenance (indoors allowance (which I’ve never claimed) that reason, for the more important and outdoors) in shape. We were joined by Safron in 2015 as our which could add a similar amount again. I meetings, where decisions are being Our fleet of open canoes, river and sea kayaks has been expanded main housemaid and she has done a great job in keeping us on

nature notes unicellular but sometimes a filamentous species. The fungus is usually an Ascomycete. Epiphytes Here is a question that people sometimes ask either when Moss and Liverwort (known collectively as all about demonstrating support at this point; it’s very enjoying the outdoors, or in the context of some proposed Progress developments in Lochaber: “What is an epiphyte?” Bryophytes) powerful to be able to say that we have over a thousand behind us… The “stems” and “leaves” are not similar in structure to We held another series of public meetings in February, being those of flowering plants. These lower plants reproduce by th An epiphyte is a plant which uses another plant as a suitable eighteen in total since we started, including the earlier At the handover from RTA to GFG Liberty on 19 December spores. Mosses produce their spores in capsules. Liverworts base on which to grow, it has no roots and is not a parasite round to test community ideas. The meeting in Kilmallie the First Minister said, ”GFG’s ambitious and far-sighted usually have a flat thallus: this is a flat structure not divided th and the foundation plant is not usually adversely affected. Community Centre on 8 February was attended by around approach will really benefit the local community and I am Epiphytes also grow on rocks, bare ground, and buildings, into leaf, stem or root; but some have “stems” and “leaves” 35 people. The purpose of the recent meetings was to particularly pleased that GFG have agreed to engage with showing that they do not need other plants to survive. in rows of three. explain the steps that had been worked through during 2016 the community over a community land transaction. The fact

Examples include lichens, mosses, liverworts and ferns and to share the plan for the coming months. that the East Lochaber and Laggan Community Trust now growing on trees and rocks. Ferns and associates has over 1,000 members shows how the prospect of The Trust, which was set up in order to buy the Rio Tinto These lower plants reproduce by spores, and are more ownership can galvanize communities.” Epiphytes need clean air and are sensitive indicators of air complicated in structure than bryophytes. They have fronds Aluminium Estate following the owner’s announcement of a pollution as they quickly show signs of stress or die. An rather than true leaves. All ferns have two alternating review, was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee Although the Scottish Government has a target of One epiphyte obtains water, and sometimes nutrients, from phases in their life-cycle: the sporophyte which produces in April 2016 but, in order to engage with Rio Tinto Million Acres in community ownership by 2020 (600,000 rainwater and as it contains chlorophyll it is able to make its spores and is the familiar fern plant; and the other phase Aluminium (RTA) we had to sign a non-disclosure agreement acres so far) our political support is across the spectrum. own food by photosynthesis. starting when the spore develops into a prothallus which in which restricted any publicity from the outset. Our directors are drawn from across that spectrum too but none is a member of a political party. Our aims are for most ferns is soft, very small, and does not last long. The initial board is Patricia Jordan, Fort William; Campbell community development and are not political. Lochaber is one of the best places in the British Isles to see Slimon, Laggan; Flora McKee, Inverlochy; Ben Thompson, epiphytes, both in the diversity and quantity present. This is Dr Mary Elliott Erracht; Andrew Baxter, Kinlochleven with me, John We have had very strong support from Highlands and Islands because the clean air and damp, relatively mild climate is Hutchison, Badabrie, as Chair. The directors have Enterprise and to be able to make a binding offer we had to very suitable for lichens, mosses, liverworts and ferns to considerable collective experience of community gain sufficient confidence. The very experienced Faye grow. The mature oak woods in the Atlantic coastlands are development and land management. The Trust does not Macleod, of Campbell Stewart Maclennan of Portree, Kyle particularly rich, with many unusual species. You might like permit directors to be paid. and Benbecula carried out a financial analysis and continues to see if you can spot some Tree Lungwort (Lobaria to work with us. We know that the estate has much pulmonaria) the next time you pass a mature oak tree. This In July, RTA went public with confirmation that they were potential and the scale of our purchase is critical and hydro lichen is so-called because its green lobes resemble the assessing potential investors, buyers and partners which

rents are essential. Our proposals also had to pass several smaller chambers in our lungs! pleased us greatly since we could now report to the hurdles of scrutiny from a major lending bank. community and build up the membership. Since the RTA Here’s a short description of some epiphytes provided by my process didn’t allow parties to bid solely for the land, we So, given that we have some encouragement from GFG mother who is a botanist. acted initially within a consortium which comprised an Liberty and have their assurance that they are a family- experienced power generator and an aluminium interest; owned, community-facing business, we now press on with Alga (plural = algae) safeguarding jobs was important to us. our aims. Being able to meet round a table rather than virtually across an ocean is a considerable advantage. Over A large group of lower plants, once regarded as one set, now Although the initial consortium bid was unsuccessful, we the next few months we will continue to grow community classified into: blue-green algae, green algae, brown algae, negotiated to be able to continue to Stage Two with other backing and membership, and work closely with the GFG red algae, and diatoms and their allies. Algae may be single- parties and eventually pressed further to be able to bid in alliance, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Land celled that is unicellular, or filamentous and multi-cellular. our own right too, solely for the land. We spent much of Fund, which has been set up particularly to help with the Marine algae are commonly known as seaweeds. 2016 asserting our position and building credibility with RTA, One Million Acre target. the Scottish Government and lending banks. It gradually Fungus (plural = fungi) became clear that RTA’s preference was to sell to a single In order to introduce democracy into the Trust, which simply These organisms have no chlorophyll: any green fungi are party. While we were naturally disappointed to be wasn’t possible initially because of the non-disclosure coloured by other substances. They are all either parasites unsuccessful at the first attempt we were very pleased agreement and negotiations, we are now aiming for an EGM or saprophytes (= feed on dead organic matter). A fungus indeed with an outcome that gives security for the Smelter. (Extraordinary General Meeting) in April when all of the consists of a mycelium which is a web of minute tubular We always saw the interests of the Trust as being less initial directors will resign but are permitted to stand again. threads, called hyphae. These give rise to the fruiting important than retaining jobs and never wanted to do We’ll shortly circulate the members to give details of the

people christmas who putpeople lights; up our structures, often the feature by which the fungus is anything that would destabilise opportunities for the EGM and the process for nominating directors. We need recognised. Smelter. 10% of the membership to be quorate at the EGM, which number includes proxies. The AGM will be around October We have had considerable success through 2016 with the The fungi are divided into four groups according to the to better fit with the financial year end and, in future, membership now at 1145, being 990 ordinary members, 146 shape of the fruiting body: directors will stand down by rotation at annual general associates and 9 junior members. I would very much like to  the mushrooms and toadstools meetings in the usual way. groups; community and clubs run who help people  the ball-shaped species eg the puffballs see an increase in junior members (12-15 year olds) since  the funnel and cup-shaped species our aims are far more about them than my generation. As we persevere with our aims for the land we wish GFG  and the bracket types. These photos show that Epiphytes grow in and by water and also in drier Please consider becoming a member if you haven’t already Liberty well with the Smelter and their expansion plans. There are around 100,000 species of fungi in the world, with locations. My walking stick is to show scale. The white lichens and bushy done so; it’s free and can be done online at mosses are easier to see in the photos. Look at the newsletter in colour at www.eastlochaberlaggan.scot. Alternatively, please contact John C Hutchison, Badabrie over 10,000 of these growing in the British Isles. www.kilmallie.org.uk and see how many different epiphytes you can spot in these photos? me direct at [email protected]. Membership is Chair - ELLCT hope that by encouraging our children to walk and cycle to naturalist to distraction. Chiffchaffs may The much plainer garden warbler page 8 school over the last two weeks of March we will see a appear by the end of March, a couple of arrives later, and is relatively unknown, page 21 reduction in congestion and pollution around the school wild weeks before the willow warblers. although it is quite common in the area. the big pedal gates, as well as helping the children feel healthier and Willow warblers are flourishing in this This is a skulking warbler, given to happier.” part of the world, in sharp contrast to singing from deep cover, but on a fine Join The Big Pedal and You’ll declines seen in much of southern day males can be perched on an Deserve a Medal! Councillor Support about Britain. Here, they are very adaptable, exposed branch. The song is similar to and have taken well to conifer that of a blackcap but faster. Local Councillor Allan Henderson had this to say "This is one plantations, as well as native woodland, Lochaber High School is encouraging pupils, teachers and of the most exciting and sustainable initiatives to help scrub and gardens. We have three other warblers that parents to jump on their bikes for THE BIG PEDAL 2017 ‐ a promote a healthy life style for our youngsters I have ever summer in Kilmallie. Sedge warblers are national challenge to get more young people cycling and seen. I would like to compliment Off Beat Bikes, who are kilmallie Another close cousin, the wood bold and larger, with a notable dark walking to school. using this opportunity to give publicity to the event and warbler, appears a little later still, and eye-stripe. They are very noisy with a Nevis Cycles who have kindly donated prizes. What better may not start breeding before May. This The Big Pedal 2017, which runs from Monday 20th to Friday way to get our youngsters to participate in exercise than Warblers – chattering series of notes and whistles, is a brighter leaf warbler, with greenish and often rise several feet in the air 31st March, will see participants across Lochaber and the UK travelling to school on the cycle paths that have been heralds of summer yellow upper-parts and white under- leave their cars at home and get on their bikes for their constructed across Lochaber, whether off‐road or on shared whilst singing. They prefer willows and As the days lengthen and the sun parts. It is particularly fond of oak journeys to and from school. Powered by national walking pavement surfaces. Hopefully the youngsters will continue scrub in wet areas, and can be found in becomes stronger we start looking woodlands, and has one of its British and cycling charity Sustrans and funded by the Bicycle to use this mode of travel and other schools will take up the this habitat adjacent to the canal. eagerly for the first of the spring strongholds in Lochaber. Several males Association on behalf of the cycle industry through its Bike baton and the Big Pedal will be rolled out across the Whitethroat are distinguished by a grey migrants to arrive from their wintering usually sing in the native woods at Hub scheme, The Big Pedal is the UK’s largest competition of Highlands." head, white throat and chestnut wings. grounds further south. The first of Muirshearlich and Erracht and in oaks its kind. During the 10 days participating primary and They also have a scratchy song, and can these, usually by the third week of all along to Loch Arkaig. There are two secondary schools will compete with one another to make March, is often the sand martin, which parts to the song, a cascading trill, be seen perched at the top of scrub or the most journeys by bike. Support from Sustrans Sustrans, the charity enabling people to choose healthier, can be with us almost a full month which is often likened to a stack of coins even on telegraph wires. They are less

cleaner and cheaper journeys, is delighted with the before the more familiar swallows start falling, followed by a descending common locally and are worth looking The proportion of children walking and cycling to school has sequence of long single notes. At the out for. The last warbler to arrive is been declining since 1995, with the number being driven to commitment from those in the Fort William area. Dr Cecilia to reappear on the telegraph wires. In Oram, who is Sustrans Scotland’s Smarter Choices Co‐ the Western Highlands migrant birds peak of the courting season males often the grasshopper warbler. This bird primary school increasing each year ‐ as many as one in four ordinator for Education and Young People said “It’s really appear a little later. Stragglers such as become over-excited, their whole gets its name from its song, which cars on the road during the morning peak are on the school wonderful to see how Lochaber High School pupils, staff, swifts and spotted flycatchers may not bodies quivering as they sing, often run. Children in the UK now lag far behind their peers in sounds a little like a grasshopper parents and Active Schools Co‐ordinators have totally be with us before the end of May, rising off their perch a couple of inches other nations for active travel. Only about 2‐3% of UK continually chirping, and is often embraced the challenge of the Sustrans Big Pedal. It’s a UK‐ giving them precious little time to breed into the air with the effort. described as reeling. Males reel in the children walk or cycle to school compared to 49% of all wide schools challenge so Lochaber will be measured against before they are off again. The summer early morning and late into the evening, Dutch primary school children. Two other warblers may be secondary schools up and down the country. They have the really starts for me, however, when the but can be very difficult to spot. They encountered in local gardens. The Last year more than 1,500 schools signed up to take part and most organised strategy in any school I’ve seen so I do hope willow warblers return. All of a sudden will clamber through reedy pasture and they do really well” they are there, males singing from what blackcap has a fine song, often likened teachers, parents, siblings and pupils made more than a bog from stem to stem rather than seems like every shrub and tree. On a to that of the nightingale. These also million journeys (1,179,900) to school on their bikes. flying. Glen Loy is a good place for We are appealing to everyone in the Kilmallie area to fine late April day the air can be full of often appear before the leaves have The Big Pedal 2017 is open to all individuals and those support this project and get out on their bikes for the ten the melodious, if slightly mournful, song thickened. Only the males have black them, but they again are probably involved are hoping that plenty of pupils living in all areas of days starting 20th March. More information about this of this unassuming little bird. Often the caps, the females having an attractive under-recorded throughout our area. Fort William (and particularly Kilmallie) will take part. initiative can be found on the Lochaber High School Website first can be heard in Corpach, as reddish-brown cap. Blackcaps may well By early September all ‘our’ warblers at http://www.lochaberhigh.org/news/the‐big‐spin‐the‐big‐ migrants tend to move up navigable use garden feeders. We had them on will have gone, so enjoy them while the Support from Lochaber High pedal routes such as the sea lochs, before the peanuts last year. In much of Britain summer lasts! Jim Sutherland, Head Teacher at Lochaber High School, said dispersing finally into their breeding blackcap have started to winter here (although these may well be migrants “We’re really excited to be taking part in The Big Pedal. We Nicola Forster grounds. Jon Mercer from further north), and can be seen in Glenloy Wildlife Warblers are the classic ‘little brown the garden in winter. I would be jobs’ of the bird world, often difficult to interested to hear of any local reports. spot, particularly once the trees are in leaf, and hard to distinguish from each other. The best way of picking them up is to listen out for their songs, and this also is often the best way to distinguish them from each other.

The chiffchaff is a much scarcer ‘leaf' warbler, which has been spreading

people thewho contributepeople newsletter;to north into the Highlands in the last couple of decades. It is now reasonably

as she hit the headlines of local papers and will ward off foxes from flocks of  free courses like first aid, cycle ride leader and trailside page 20 stating 'alpaca farmer's sales soar as dairy sheep. Although wary of dogs, they will The Big Bike Revival repair page 9 Kinlocheil farming goes into decline'... a remarkable also quickly get used to your own pet so  dedicated support from your own Big Bike Revival lady. After two days with such an that was important for us, as at the time wants to get the Development Officer interesting teacher, I was ready to meet we had two very large Alaskan  affiliation to Cycling UK (complete with insurance, our potential new 'family'. Malamutes! community cycling magazine, shop discounts and more), Camelids  a starter pack full of advice and guidance, We were taken to a nearby farm and On the whole, alpacas are very clean Cycling UK is working with community groups across  networking opportunities, In 2006, as soon as we'd bought the 5.5 shown two 'pairs' of male geldings. There (they poo in the same place!), inquisitive Scotland to encourage more people to get cycling, focussing  and of course, some fantastic cycling. acre croft at Kinlocheil and long before we was the older pair who were both 6 at the and affectionate. They don't bite or butt on increasing participation and confidence, rather than started to build our new house, my mind time: Amber (brown) and Ozzy (black), and have no claws or horns. They have sport. was set on organising the fields around then the younger pair who were both 2: only bottom teeth which they use to 'nip' If you are interested in setting up a Community Cycle Club

our prospective new pets: alpacas. They Barnaby (brown) and Destiny (white). grass against an upper dental pad. If they or for more information, please get in touch. are part of the South American camelid Although I was under strict instructions are confused or frightened, alpacas tend Would you be interested in starting a Community Cycle Club family which includes guanocos, llamas not to get carried away, I found myself to lie down rather than attack. Their main in your community? We are offering free training, support Richard Bowman and vicunas. They originate from the saying 'I'll take all four' and before we form of defence is spitting, which is and guidance to help groups get off the ground. Big Bike Revival Development Officer North Scotland Andes in Peru, Bolivia and Chile. knew it we were heading north in search normally confined to fellow alpacas! An [email protected] of a livestock trailer! We had had a great alpaca lives for up to 20 years and a Community Cycle Clubs offer activities such as led rides for 07887 567361 There are two types of alpaca: huacayas week-end in Penrith, but more breeding female will produce around 15 beginners, bike maintenance and bike recycling. They and suris. Huacayas (which we opted for) importantly, we had learned so much 'cria' (young) in her lifetime. The provide a social environment to gain confidence and skills are much more predominant in the UK as useful and helpful information to ensure gestation period is around 11.5 months on a bike, improve fitness and have fun! Clubs can access a they are very hardy, helping them to cope we were able to properly care for our and strangely, cria are usually born on a wide range of support from Cycling UK, including: with our extreme weather! They do not new pets. dry day from daybreak to early afternoon like to be closed in, although they like to - never at night! keep out of driving rain (or intense heat - If any of you are thinking of following in not something we have to bother about our footsteps, here are a few more Sadly, we have lost our two older alpacas much!). To this end we started building technical details. Alpacas have been bred leaving Barnaby and Destiny as just two... our robust, three sided shelter. Alpacas and valued for their fabulous fleece for until a couple of years ago when we had are ruminants whose principal diet is thousands of years. In South America, to hand-rear two abandoned lambs. We’ve made a lot of progress in the last hear we’ve got the funding for the grass. They will also 'browse' so we had clothes woven from their fibre were worn Because they are such caring creatures, few months. December saw Hilary and study soon and then we can fire ahead to be careful that none of the many plants by Inca royalty! They also make very Barnaby & Destiny 'adopted' Bunty and Lisa travel to Glasgow to meet some with the improvement plans. that are poisonous to them were good easily-kept pets. We were Biscuit and made lovely 'dads', being very key members of the Scottish Canals We’d love to have some more local accessible from their field (eg particularly attracted to them as there attentive and protective towards them. rhododendron, azalea, bracken, ragwort team at their head office. This was a parents, grandparents or carers join us would be no slaughter involved for meat The four of them are still living together, really constructive meeting and we now on the committee. We’re a small and etc). production. Husbandry is also relatively happily ever after... have a much clearer picture of the friendly team of volunteers and there simple: organisation’s position and priorities really isn’t much of a time commitment Once the fields were fenced (normal  annual shearing and filing of teeth as Linda Gallagher sheep fencing will suffice, with no barbed necessary and what support they can offer us. involved. If you’d like to be part of the wire necessary) and their new Clockwise from top: Barnaby, aka Ken Dodd, team that makes Banavie Park better

 6 monthly vaccinations against Barnaby meets Bunty, The doting Dads accommodation was ready, together with clostrodial diseases Following on from that meeting, we for the kids, please do get in touch two friends I headed off to Penrith to  6 monthly worming, or as necessary have applied for Scottish Government through our ‘Friends of Banavie further my knowledge on alpaca (would recommend regular checks for funding to allow us to do a feasibility Park’ Facebook page or call Lisa husbandry and to pick our new pets. We fluke in stools) study on the area. This is needed before Wharton on 07799 747375. were to do a two day intensive course  toe nail clipping 3 or 4 times per year we can go ahead with applying for more with an amazing lady who was, in fact, the  daily feeding (in addition to grass, we funding and tendering out for Thanks for all your support. first lady farmer of alpacas in Britain. Pat add haylage and a camelid coarse mix) contractors to supply new equipment. was in her late seventies when we met and ensuring a plentiful supply of We’ve got our fingers crossed that we’ll Friends of Banavie Park Committee her but was still a very strong and capable fresh water. farmer. At one time she had a herd exceeding 200, but had reduced her Alpacas are herd animals and should alpaca count to around 70 - still coping never be kept alone. We were advised to totally on her own! She was ridiculed by start with a minimum of 3, all of the same fellow farmers initially, but soon revered sex. They can be kept with other livestock

This term we have been doing many fun things; This term P7s went mountain biking up Nevis Range. We STEM - On Wednesday the 18th of January 2017 the split into two groups; there was a morning group and an P7s went to the Lochaber High School. It was a afternoon group. To get there we went in a mini bus. Transition day for all the P7s to get to know each other. First we got gloves, helmets and bikes. As soon as we

Soon after we arrived at the high school we all received were all ready we set off up the witches trail. Some of us shop; local our support who people a number. Whatever number you were given you had to found it difficult and others found it easy. people newcomers who welcome topeople area; the go into that group. We did activities such as: Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Last Thursday the 16th we had the Valentines disco. It started at 6:30 PM- 8:00PM. It had a great turn out. Drum Fun was held on Monday the 30th of January for P7s are sad it’s our last time. We all had a great time. P1-7. This is organised by a man called Steve who came into school. We were learning how to make a rhythm on By Erin, Archie M and Rachael. the drums and to learn songs from the Gambia. It was a lot of fun and we are all sad because it’s our last time. commitment, aiming to educate and inform source platform called Open Food Network, endeavouring to page 10 of the horrors which took place at Auschwitz help re-model our big broken food system. page 19 and throughout Europe. In preparation for the visit, the two pupils from Lochaber High, food for The Open Food Network (OFN) is a charitable organisation Jordan Lawrie and Mikey Harris, attended originally founded in Australia. OFN was brought to the UK I decided to become a young ambassador two seminars in Edinburgh. At these they as a collaboration between four established food hubs, learned about the historical context of the Deputy Head Teacher for the RSNO (Royal Scottish National eager to develop and share a collaborative approach to the Orchestra) because I wanted to learn more Holocaust, the camp itself as well as hearing appointed moving survivors’ accounts of life in a thought development and maintenance of the software that about what happens behind the scenes of concentration camp and in Nazi-occupied connected them to their community. Fort William is getting classical music. Every couple of months we on the OFN map - there are currently two OFN shops - all gather in Glasgow to go and see one of Europe. In November the pupils visited Where does your food come from? the concerts playing that night and to Auschwitz and were given a guided tour of Doughies, a weekly micro-bakery making slowly fermented, discuss topics relevant to that work. For both Auschwitz One and Auschwitz If you are reading this in your house in Kilmallie, it is highly wholesome sourdoughs; and Fort William Organic Food Hub, example, our last forum was focused on the Birkenau. The tour included visiting the ruins likely that a large proportion of the food currently residing in a not-for-profit community group coordinating organic, of the gas chambers, the huts in which age gap that is becoming apparent in the your kitchen cupboards and fridge comes from one of Fort locally grown veg box orders every two weeks. RSNO chorus as that night we saw Verdi’s people were kept and many other infamous parts of the camp. This revealed the horrors William’s many supermarkets - Morrisons, LIDL, Tesco Small producer shopping does require a change in consumer Requiem. From doing this we can give Express, Co-op or Farmfoods. And as I write, this suite of feedback to the RSNO about what we think and immense suffering of the hundreds of habits. In contrast to the big supermarkets (with their local supermarkets is growing, with groundworks for a larger the constraints and restrictions may be for thousands of prisoners who were held and constantly open door and stocked shelves) small producers young people interested in music. I’ve really killed there. Both pupils found the visit a Tesco, a Marks and Spencer Food and an ALDI currently in and food hubs are typically open only intermittently, remarkable and incredibly moving enjoyed being a young ambassador so far as progress (at varying speeds). producing to order and generally costing more - but waste is it has allowed me to meet people around experience and have been sharing with others their knowledge and experience. As I write, our big UK supermarkets are grappling with the low to none, provenance is high, and true knowledge of my own age who share the passion and where your food comes from and what goes into it, well devotion that I have towards my instrument great lettuce crisis of 2017 - due to unseasonal weather in STEM event that’s priceless. and music, classical and contemporary. southern Europe, where we import from during the UK’s Congratulations to Mr Eric Groat who has Primary 7 pupils from our Associated “hungry gap”. And whilst it is easy to chuckle away at the been appointed to the post of Depute Head Schools Group were recently invited to be Adam Veitch My job as a young ambassador is to engage panic lettuce buying (and prior to that courgette buying) Teacher. He will be Year Head for S3 and S4 transported to Mars! They all came to LHS and spread awareness to young people of and will have management responsibility for on 18 January where they had the chance to going on in some parts, it is an eye opener into our current Open Food Network the opportunities currently in the music Learning & Teaching, ICT and Management experience some of the challenges faced by broken food system. The real junk food project recently openfoodnetwork.org.uk/ scene and of the work the RSNO do. If Information Systems. Mr Groat joined the people living in a hostile environment (Mars, reported that south of the border, whilst one Tesco store in you’re interested, please look at the RSNO staff of the school as a Maths teacher in not LHS!). In the five different activities Hull was rationing lettuce, a Morrisons store a few miles Fort William Organic Food Hub season 2016/17 brochure: http:// 2007 and has been Principal Teacher of organised by Miss Platt, Physics and Science openfoodnetwork.org.uk/fort-william-organic-food-hub/ www.rsno.org.uk/wp-content/ away was disposing of lettuces for being 12 hours past their Support for Learning since 2014. teacher, the pupils made spacesuits to uploads/2016/03/RSNO-Season-1617- best-before-date. shop protect potatoes; used fruit and vegetables Glasgow.pdf. to make electricity; programmed robots to Doughies So the best feature of large supermarkets (namely consumer Royal Scottish National traverse the surface of Mars; made their choice) appears to also be its biggest downfall - having doughies.wordpress.com/ Orchestra Ambassador Lessons from Auschwitz own mini-robots to take home and used access to everything, all the time, leads to several stark openfoodnetwork.org.uk/doughies/shop This year Holocaust Memorial Day fell on solar cells to power vehicles. Approximately facts. No seasonality in produce means an increased My name is Rachel Simmonds. I am a Fifth 120 pupils jumped in to the activities, gave Friday 27 January, marking the 72nd environmental footprint of the food on the shelf - Year pupil at Lochaber High School and I their full effort and enthusiasm to every

anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz- play the Bassoon! I started playing this task, engaged with all the senior helpers and supermarkets for example have recently been looking as far instrument about four years ago and quickly Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. As afield as the US west coast – more than 5,300 miles from part of its involvement in the Holocaust had a thoroughly cosmic two hours! began to love the sound of it. As soon as I Britain – to meet current lettuce demand. That is a lot of could make some coherent notes, I knew Educational Trust, Lochaber High School has continued its tradition of sending two senior Following on from this introductory event, food miles. And time in storage and travelling those food that it was the instrument for me. Over the Miss Platt has started a STEM club (Science, miles to us non-local, out of season consumers means an years my admiration for the instrument pupils to visit Auschwitz, as part of the Trust’s ‘Lessons From Auschwitz’ Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) increase in the un-named food processing aids introduced in itself has only prospered and my with over twenty P7 pupils attending each appreciation of classical music has magnified programme, along with pupils from schools order to preserve that food. And once it reaches us, it may across Scotland. As well as witnessing the Wednesday to explore further experiments just end up in the bin - UK supermarkets throw away an with my involvement in local music groups and challenges. such as: Lochaber Music School, our school’s camp first hand, the pupils have been estimated 115,000 tonnes of perfectly good food each year. Senior Wind Band and Big Band, The passing on what they have learned to Highland Youth Regional Orchestra and also younger pupils as part of their ‘Next Steps’ People are starting to wake up though to the true cost of The Highland Schools’ Wind Band. Although cheap food, and now rightly question - where does my food the bassoon does tend to take over my life come from? And what went into it? As a country, Scotland at times, countless hours of practice have is aspiring to be a Good Food Nation; a country where paid off as I recently auditioned for The people from every walk of life take pride and pleasure in, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and and benefit from, the food they buy, serve, and eat day by was accepted to join them in 2017. day. But how best to fix the current system of how we

source food? who keeplimit;people tospeed the Sometimes the best way to fix a system is to start a new one. There are some really innovative small food projects popping up across Scotland - from micro food producers to farmers’ markets, from bulk buying hubs to food assemblies. All of them tend towards the gathering of a community of people, and getting people to source seasonal, low-waste, organic produce, often from local small-scale producers. people who look after community-owned woodland; who look people And the small producers in this country need this innovation, so as to focus on growing, baking, brewing and rearing good food, whilst at the same time connecting with consumers. One cool new tool in the small food renaissance is an open We usually do the summer planting in late May/early June – page 18 we need help this year with funding to purchase flowering page 11 plants, compost and a few new containers, as well as help Corpach planting and maintaining the tubs and containers…

Friends of Caledonian Canal Lochaber There are around 40 tubs placed along the A830 from the Corpach sign near the Banavie school road end to Harbro Delightful practices... in Colour Country Store out at Annat. We also plant the boat at Kilmallie Gardens and take care of the tubs and flowers We’re loving the spring colour from the small clumps of down at Corpach train station. If anyone would like to join daffodils and crocuses that have been planted alongside the our team of volunteers please contact us on the numberor canal by various groups and individuals over the years. email below or leave a message on the Corpach in Colour

Facebook page. ... and revolting practices We’re all well aware these days that it is not only anti-social Hopefully by the time you read this, daffodils have appeared to let your dog foul public places, but it is also illegal. KCC in the tubs and are brightening up the roadside. drew everyone’s attention to this a few years ago when they included a free poo bag with every newsletter. Fortunately We would like to say a big “thank you” to everyone who has donated to Corpach in Colour so far - whether it is a direct most people with dogs behave very responsibly and have got We can’t think of any excuse for not putting the bags in the donation of money, change popped into the collecting tins, used to picking up their dog’s toilet in bags and putting it in dog bins, or taking them home. And this isn’t just an the local businesses that display our tins (the Co-op, Harbro, the special dog bins provided. But a new practice seems to occasional oversight. and Treasures of the Earth), or the volunteers who have be taking hold with a small anti-social lazy minority. donated their time to help with planting, weeding or A growing quantity of poo bags are being left lying on the We counted THIRTY poo bags watering. ground alongside the canal. It’s not just absentmindedness (forgetting to pick it up on the way home) as they’re being alongside just 5 metres of path. We look forward to hearing from you  thrown deliberately into the undergrowth, sometimes even thrown up into trees. This is disgusting repulsive behaviour, Yuck Yuck Yuck. Nicola and Louise

worse even than not bagging it at all. It pollutes the local It would certainly help if Scottish Canals could install some Contact Nicola on 01397 772870 or at environment, and can be very difficult indeed to clear up. additional dog bins at strategic places, but it would help even Corpach in Colour is a voluntary organisation which aims to [email protected] What a grim message it sends to visitors on the Great Glen more if the culprits started behaving responsibly. enhance the appearance of our village through the use of

Way about our local community. flowers, plants, tubs and containers. We cannot accomplish Please help to persuade all irresponsible dog owners that our aims without the assistance of volunteers and we are Is it that the dog owner is too poor to buy poo bags? Well this is squalid, anti-social, harmful to the environment, and desperately seeking volunteers and new committee they’re supplied free by Highland Council so that can’t be it. criminal. It is an offence not to clean up immediately after members (especially a treasurer and secretary). Is it that the dog bins are too far away? Well one heap of poo your dog in any open space where the public have access. bags we saw were only 50 yards from a bin, so that can’t be If you have information regarding irresponsible dog owners, it either. Is it that the dog bins aren’t emptied often enough please let Highland Council know by phoning 01349 and are overflowing? Don’t think so - the bins we checked all 886603: they need times, locations, and a description of the KILMALLIE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FUND had plenty room in them. owner and type of dog. To the relief of committee members our lights performed to The switch-on ceremony was well attended and was fully a more satisfactory level this year. Only two of the pole reported in the previous newsletter. We plan to stick with FOCAL is a subgroup of the Kilmallie Community Company (entirely independent from Kilmallie Community Council) For more info, or to be added to our mailing list, please contact Jan MacLugash 01397 772383, email: [email protected] lights failed and even these lasted well into January. On the formula of a simple, short ceremony followed by a get examination it looks as if repairs will be fairly together in the Community Centre afterwards. Thanks to straightforward. “Star for Harris” for their continuing support in this.

The task of erecting and dismantling the pole lights is always Our list of “thank you”s seems to grow each year. Apologies a major challenge. This year we were fortunate to be joined to anyone who has been missed out: by Stuart Hood from Rockhopper Kayaking. Stuart is  Fund Raising - Linda, Duncan and Tradewinds customers approximately half the age of the rest of us and  Repairing lights and fixtures - Dougie Dykes consequently we had the lights down in record time. We are  Pole Lights ( erecting and dismantling) - Dougie Dykes, extremely grateful – and relieved! Kevin Byrne, Stuart Hood  Access equipment – Robert The lights on the two Christmas trees provided a bright and Skinner, Angus MacDonald cheerful display but we still have difficulty in finding garlands  Supply of two Christmas trees – which are resistant to our extreme weather conditions. We Gary Servant will look into this further over the summer months.  Safety checks and advice - Andy MacDonald, Robbie charities; for local who raisepeople money The “living tree” lights are a success and have been much Milne ( Council Lighting admired. We hope to leave these in place throughout the Dept.) year and, if satisfactory, even to equip another tree nearby.  General helpfulness in Both of these proposals would require Council approval. Kilmallie Community Centre - Jimmy Once again, Linda and Duncan at Tradewinds hosted a Race Milne. Night in aid of our funds in December. This eases our

peoplewhooffer help theto elderly, disabled, thoseand less fortunate financial burden greatly. We are very grateful to them and Paul Brian, Chairman to their customers. We will have three new seasonal exception. They chose 3 quartets played Music for All's next concert is in page 12 members of staff starting on the 6th in full which allowed appreciation of the Lochaber High School on Friday 31st page 17 March and three returners coming back development of each piece through the March at 7:30pm when the pianist canal news on the 20th March. We also have two movements; we heard one of Haydn's Martin Roscoe will perform. This is the short-term seasonal staff starting on Prussian Quartets, a Mozart quartet last concert of the season but the Over the winter, we have a small team SEPA are also looking to introduce flood 15th May. The canal could not operate nicknamed "Dissonance" from the lack Newsletter aims to inform the of five who have been involved with a monitoring gauges at Gairlochy as part without the additional support these of harmony in the opening and a community about the next season's number of jobs: of the Great Glen Flood Protection Plan. guys provide: they have a lot to learn in Mendelssohn piece. concert dates later in the year. • new gates and fences repaired at Working alongside the access officer a very short space of time to ensure the Banavie entrance, Moy Farm & and Kilmallie Community Council we safety of our customers on both the The Ruisi quartet had come hot foot Sue Chadney Banavie Basin hope to replace a couple of gates just water and bankside. These guys are the from London on a brief tour of Scotland • facility (Toilet) maintenance all up from Mount Alexander: these gates face of Scottish Canals and we are From the Wigmore Hall, London... to and were heading off to Islay the painted & grouted: Gairlochy, will stop cars and vehicles accessing the always looking for friendly Kilmallie Hall, Corpach! following day. One musician told us that Banavie & Corpach towpath from there but still allow accommodating staff who can give "this is the most beautiful place they • replacement of hooks, Gairlochy access for horses and pedestrians. visitors a good experience when visiting At the Lochaber Music for All concert had ever been to" – he obviously hadn't • pressure washing lock gates and the canal, the Highlands, Scotland. on February 25th a large audience was noticed the non-stop rain that day! sides, Corpach and Banavie All going well and the sea-lock gates at treated to a wonderful programme of • overhanging branches and fallen Clachnaharry (Inverness) are fixed, we Looking forward to the 2017 season, music from the Ruisi String Quartet. In the interval we enjoyed a fund- tree, chipping Gairlochy to Banavie start passing boats through the canal on meeting with many of you out walking Music for All always features world raising cream tea. It was an inspiring • jetty repair, Gairlochy (replacing the 20th March. We start our seven etc. Remember that for many of us the class musicians and these four, young way to spend a very wet day. rotten timbers). day a week operating on Monday 27th canal is our gymnasium. chamber music players were no March. Opening hours 8:30 am to Other regular jobs include lock-keeping; 17:30 pm. John Stafford Reserve Team waste & dog bin emptying; greasing Canal Superintendent 4th March Speyside vs Kilmallie lock gates & bridges; cleaning & Kilmallie 11th March No game replacing life-saving equipment; filling 18th March Kilmallie vs Inverness potholes (weather permitting); boat 25th March Lochaber vs Kilmallie lifts; gritting etc. 1st April Kilmallie vs Boleskine Shinty Club 8th April Newtonmore vs Kilmallie Contract Works: 15th April Lovat vs Kilmallie  Bear Waterproofing Banavie Bridge The shinty season started again on Saturday 4th March. The 22nd April Kilmallie vs Glengarry  Land Engineering removal of scrub Kilmallie 1st team are playing in the Premier Division this throughout whole District year. Here are the fixtures:- The admission to 1st team games this year is £5.00 and  Fuel Systems new diesel tanks, £3.00 for concessions. There will be a collection at the Corpach. 1st Team Reserve team games. 4th March Kilmallie vs Glenurquhart New for 2017 11th March Kingussie vs Kilmallie We had a good AGM in January and two new Directors came Work starts beginning of March on 54 18th March Lovat vs Kilmallie on Board, Mrs Ann MacDougall and Donald Lamont Jnr. metres of pontoons at Banavie Basin. 25th March Kilmallie vs Glasgow Mid Argyll This is badly needed in summer as we 1st April Kilmallie vs Oban Camanachd Hope to see you at Canal Parks! have additional holiday vessels 8th April Kilmallie vs Kyles Athletic operating along the Caledonian Canal. 15th April Kilmallie vs Inverness Linda Campbell We have very limited space at Corpach 22nd April Glasgow Mid Argyll vs Kilmallie Secretary Basin, only 120 metres of quay and if, like last year, we have regular visits and stops in the basin from Lord of the Our programme of art workshops so far this year has included local Glens (44 metres) & Flying Dutchman painter Alistair Smyth leading a figure drawing day in The Hub Fort (40metres) it leaves very little space for William, the celebrated Helen Michie with a ceramics taster day in leisure vessels to stay. We also have Glenuig Hall, and Karen Strang from Stirling leading a weekend people up litter;who pick people vessels that will run into the canal for workshop “Figure in the Landscape” in Glencoe Visitor Centre. shelter when strong winds are coming Last workshop of this season will be a colourful weekend of batik Highlight of our calendar the Annual Exhibition will take place at up Loch Linnhe - thinking of Souter’s led by Anne Dye on 25/26 March out at Strontian. Ring Catherine Ben Nevis Distillery 27th May – 7th June. Do drop in to browse or on 01397 772774 or Lorna on 772806. All levels of ability very buy - there will be lots of interesting new work for sure! Lass & small private yachts when they

welcome. newsletter; the who deliverpeople will make a run for shelter. As we are Lorna Finlayson deemed a Port at Corpach, we try to

make sure we keep a safe haven for them.

We are also hoping to replace the three jetties in Corpach reach with a pontoon previously used by Jacobite Cruises in Inverness.

We are also looking to introduce an electricity car charging point at Corpach Basin. congratulations to Alex Gillespie, for the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Mountain Festival to Gryff Rees Jones, for his supporting role alongside Banavie’s Morag Aitken in BBC’s recent Mountain programme to Doc Wee Craig on his new appointment, though many of us will miss his kindness and care at the Glen Mor surgery fear Alasdair Camshron ann an 1772 a rèir aithisge a sgriobh page 16 Uilleam Moireasdan mu dheidheinn Oighreachd Lochiall. Bha page 13 Gleann Laoigh: Alasdair a’ cur 15 bobhlaichean coirce as t-earrach agus 450 FRAS had promised us a night of fhaighinn air ais as -t fhogair gach bliadhna. ‘S e àite truagh a storm-fuelled tunes but that bh’ann. Tha mi air leugh gun robh Camshronach Barre na turned out to be a major àite mo ghaoil shaighdear comhla ri an Coirnealear Iain Camshron, Fasadh Fearna, aig àm cogadh Napolean agus, sdocha a bha e aig an àm ud a fhuair understatement. They were Ged nach eil mi a’ fuirich ann, tha Gleann Laoigh a misg na àiteach na daoine aige a’ bhrog. Nach bochd sin? positively torrential, hurricane as fheàrr dhomh an Alba. Cha b’urrainn dhomh a dhol ann gun a There are great wee hills on each side of the glen, Beinn Bhan to force, sea-state-phenomenal, bhith a’smaoineachadh cho àlainn ‘s a e le craobhan darach ri the north and Drum Fada to the south: hills that are great for a volcanic. Each and every one of taobh aibhne riochdail agus mill taitneach os mo chionn. A barrachd short day walking the dog. Beinn Bhan (Fair Hill) is a Corbett and them a veritable tornado. And not air fèith dearga tha iomadh seorsa creutair eile ann mar an torc has a long level ridge between its two tops which gives a really fiadhaich, an taghan, fithich, iolairean mara agus iolairean dearga. a drop of musicality was sacrificed enjoyable high level walk with magnificent views as you go round Chithear comharraidhean gu bheil iad ann ged nach eil na to their awesomely tight pace. the top of Coire Mhuillin. Druim Fada (The Long Ridge) offers a beathaichean gu tric ri fhaicinn. Local they might have been longer walk if you start at Inverskilavulin, go over Stob a’ Ghrianain (Corpach, Arisaig, Acharacle, Although I don’t live there, Glen Loy is among my favourite places (The Point of the Sunny Place) and carry on to Glen Sulaig and Ballachulish and Glenelg) but the in Scotland. I can’t go there without thinking how beautiful it is with Fassiefern. On the way up through the forest you pass the ruins of music that Kirsten, Angus, Tam, its oak trees beside a magnificent river and pleasing hills rising the village of Barre, whose inhabitants were cleared long ago. In Colin and Murdo treated us to last above me. In addition to red deer there are many other sorts of 1772, according to the Morrison report on the Lochiel Estate, it was month in the packed hall at Caol wildlife such as wild boar, pine marten, ravens, white tailed sheep tenanted by one Alasdair Cameron who habitually planted 15 bowls eating eagles as well as the more usual golden eagles. The signs are of oats each spring and got 450 in return. It was not very fertile. I could hold its own on any world there to see even though the critters aren’t seen too often. have read that there were Camerons from Barre fighting with Col stage. Thanks FRAS for a brilliant John Cameron of Fassiefern during the Napoleonic Wars. Perhaps it gig - you truly took us all by storm. Fhuair mi a’ chiad obair agam ‘sa ghlinne direach as deidh an sgoil fhagail agus a’ feitheamh air a’ dol dhan oilthigh ann an 1966. Bha was about that time that they got the boot. A sad possibility.

After Top Floor Taivers in May, cùmhnant agam agus co-ogha agam bho Coimisean na Coiltearachd Raghnall Camshron na meanglan as iosail a ghearradh bhon a h-uile ceathramh craobh. Ronald Cameron we’re looking forward to a (Brashing, mar a chanas iad.) Fhuair sinn £10 gach acair, pàigh a bha Colonsay/Sardinian fusion from air leth fialaidh aig an àm sin. Tha e coltach gun d’rinn iad mearachd The van that Ronald bought from MacRae and Dick in Fort William for £165 Donald and Jen MacNeill and agus fhuair sinn dà uair ‘sa bu chòir. Cheannach mi mini-van a bha (including tax and insurance). Roberto Diana in July, and we’re tri bliadhna a dh’aois aig deireadh an t-samhraidh leis an airgead hoping to clinch a date with The agus chum sin air an rathaid mi gus an deach mi dhan Afraga ann an Poozies later in the year. 1971! I got my first job in the glen just after I left school and was waiting To find out more, to join our to go to university in 1966. A distant cousin and I had a contract mailing list, or share ideas, please from the Forestry Commission to cut the lower branches from email Susie or me at every fourth tree, a process called brashing which no longer [email protected] happens. We got £10 per acre, very generous pay at that time. It seems that they made a mistake and we got paid twice as much as Mandy Ketchin we should. I bought a three year old mini van for £165 with the

proceeds at the end of the summer and that kept me on the road CREEL is the local not-for-profit until I went off to work in Kenya in 1971. Thank you Glen Loy community group bringing gigs and entertainment to small venues in and Thathar ag radh nach eil rud sambith ann mar droch aimsir ach around Kilmallie direach droch thadh dhèidheag! Tha feum againne ann an Loch Abar air rud a dhèanamh air na laithean mosach a th’againn aig àmanan. Tha Abhainn Laoigh an abhainn goirid as fheàrr dhomh a’ theirinn ‘sa churach agam air là bog fluich. Theid i an ard gu slaodach agus sios arithist gu luath ach ‘s e abhainn inntinneach, meadhanch doirbh, a th’innte na tuil le eas beag a leantainn eas News from our community woods - A work party in the woods beag eile gus an ruigear Drochaid Laoigh. Tha mi air mòran uaire Tom Guisach Pinewood Please note a date for your diary, on Saturday 22nd April from 10 sònraitche a’ cur seachad, le càirdean chòir, air an abhainn a tha am we will have a work party in the Pine Wood. The plan is to seo. & Cnoc nam Faobh Oakwood spend some time working on the network of informal paths. If we It has been said that there is no such thing as bad weather, only a Thankfully it has been a quiet year in the woods (touch wood!). The get a dozen people or more it is amazing what can be achieved in a bad choice of toys. In Lochaber we need something to do on the trees are another year older. The danger is that we just take them couple of hours. dirty days that come our way now and again. The Loy is my for granted; we would certainly miss them if they suddenly favourite short river for a kayak run on the sort of day on which you who don’t drop people and it! disappeared. Paul Biggin wouldn’t put a dog out. It comes up slowly and needs a lot of rain. It drops off quickly when the rain stops but it’s an interesting river with one little waterfall after another until you reach Loy Bridge. I New players of all abilities are welcome – have had a lot of great trips with good friends on this great wee if you fancy giving rugby a try, come and see us at Banavie. burn. st We are 1 left after the Moorings Hotel Tha beanntan beaga air gach taobh a’ ghlinne, Beinn Bhan air an www.lochaberrfc.co.uk taobh tuath agus Druim Fada gu deas, beanntain a tha math airson cuairt bheag a ghabhail leis a’ chù. ‘S e Corbett a tha ann an Beinn What's On Forthcoming Forthcoming Bhan agus tha an druim comhnard fada, eadar an dà mhullaich aice, Calcutta Cup Quiz Night a chòrdadh gu mòr ruim. Gheibhear seallaidhean breagha a’ coisich Saturday 11 March 2017 Youth Fixtures Home 1XV Fixtures timcheall mullach Coire Mhuilinn. Tha Druim Fada a’ tabhainn tùras Sat 4 Mar –v- Ellon (H) nas fhaide ma cumas sibh oirbh bho Inbhir Uisge Mhuilinn thar Stob 7.30pm Sun 5 March -v- Highland (H) (U14’s) Sat 01 Apr –v- Deeside (H) a’ Ghrianain gu ruigeas sibh Gleann Sùileag agus Am Fasadh Fearna Max 6 Per Team ach, tha e math air là goirid direach a shreap Stob a’ Ghrianain. Air

Kilmallie Community Centre We were very sorry to receive the Our thanks once more go to our Centre Please note that we have new contact details resignation of Jimmy Smith from the Manager, Jimmy Milne, for all his hard work for the Centre as follows: committee at our AGM in November 2016. and dedication over the past three years as Kilmallie Community Centre Jimmy has been a vital part of the Kilmallie he moves into his fourth year of service! Tel: (01397) 600111 A Company Limited by Guarantee Community Centre and he will be greatly E-mail [email protected] Station Road missed. We know that Jimmy will continue We wish all readers and users of the Kilmallie Corpach to support us as much as he can but we Community Centre a happy spring! Sarah Kennedy FMAAT FCCA (Treasurer) would like to express our heartfelt gratitude Fort William for his commitment and help over the 13 PH33 7JH years he has been on the committee. Scottish Charity SC042509 Company Reg. No. SC404410 We would really appreciate folk completing a membership form (see next page, either copy it or just cut it out) and dropping it into If you would like to support the Centre by becoming a member please carefully read the box in the foyer in the Centre. It will and complete this form. help prove that the Centre has the support of the community in our area. About Membership In October we had an excellent Buttons and The company does not have shares and any profit will be used to further the Bows concert which was enjoyed by all and company's aims and will not be paid to its Members. Instead each Member of the raised £497.00 for the Centre! company undertakes to guarantee the Company's debts to a maximum amount of £1. Further details of the Company are available on request. The December Xmas Fayre was very successful and we managed to raise a Objectives fantastic £720.67! A huge thank you to The Company’s objective is to provide an open, inclusive, accessible and affordable Bobby and Jessie Henderson for their herculean efforts in organising sales of fruit recreation meeting facility for the residents and visitors of Kilmallie and the wider and veg and getting the donations from Lochaber area. various companies. A big thank you to Norma, Ellen and Sheila who assisted with Application for membership (There is no charge for membership) the lovely refreshments. It was great to see I understand that the Board of Directors of the Company whose decision will be final, so many varied crafts on show and for sale will consider applications for Membership. If accepted for membership, I understand and it was a super time for all concerned! I will be expected to abide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. I agree to support the principal aims of the Company and apply to be On 17th December we were pleased to loan chairs to our local Fire Brigade for the admitted to membership of the Kilmallie Community Centre. I confirm that I am 16 or Children’s Christmas Party. over. Please complete your individual or business details below.

We also had a super Hogmanay Ceilidh evening arranged by Jimmy Cameron and Name ______Bobby Henderson – it was a great evening of singing, dancing and music for all ages to Address ______see in the New Year and thoroughly enjoyed by all! We offer a big thank you to Mairi MacColl for her donation of £400.00 from ______the funds that were raised from the evening. Postcode ______Customers who have used the Centre over the past few weeks are: Telephone______Children’s Party, Community Carol Service, 60 years wedding anniversary party, E-mail ______Hogmanay Ceilidh, surprise retirement party, Lochaber Environmental Group, East Lochaber and Laggan Community Trust, SNP, Music for All. Signature of Applicant ______Kilmallie Community Centre CHAIRMAN post vacant at present Our thanks go to our regular customers for SECRETARY Please return this completed form as soon as possible to Kilmallie Community supporting the Centre: A Company Limited by Guarantee Mrs Norma MacLellan, Centre, Station Road, Corpach, Fort William PH33 7JH The Mustardseed Fellowship, Parents & Station Road, Corpach, Fort William PH33 7JH 12 Hillview Drive, Corpach, Fort William 01397 Toddlers, Zumba classes, Scottish Country Scottish Charity SC000604 772597 Dancing, NHS Highland, Olde Tyme Dancing, Company Reg SC404410 TREASURER Mrs Sarah Kennedy 0776 880 5040 Kilmallie Community Council. fear Alasdair Camshron ann an 1772 a rèir aithisge a sgriobh page 16 Uilleam Moireasdan mu dheidheinn Oighreachd Lochiall. Bha page 13 Gleann Laoigh: Alasdair a’ cur 15 bobhlaichean coirce as t-earrach agus 450 FRAS had promised us a night of fhaighinn air ais as -t fhogair gach bliadhna. ‘S e àite truagh a storm-fuelled tunes but that bh’ann. Tha mi air leugh gun robh Camshronach Barre na turned out to be a major àite mo ghaoil shaighdear comhla ri an Coirnealear Iain Camshron, Fasadh Fearna, aig àm cogadh Napolean agus, sdocha a bha e aig an àm ud a fhuair understatement. They were Ged nach eil mi a’ fuirich ann, tha Gleann Laoigh a misg na àiteach na daoine aige a’ bhrog. Nach bochd sin? positively torrential, hurricane as fheàrr dhomh an Alba. Cha b’urrainn dhomh a dhol ann gun a There are great wee hills on each side of the glen, Beinn Bhan to force, sea-state-phenomenal, bhith a’smaoineachadh cho àlainn ‘s a e le craobhan darach ri the north and Drum Fada to the south: hills that are great for a volcanic. Each and every one of taobh aibhne riochdail agus mill taitneach os mo chionn. A barrachd short day walking the dog. Beinn Bhan (Fair Hill) is a Corbett and them a veritable tornado. And not air fèith dearga tha iomadh seorsa creutair eile ann mar an torc has a long level ridge between its two tops which gives a really fiadhaich, an taghan, fithich, iolairean mara agus iolairean dearga. a drop of musicality was sacrificed enjoyable high level walk with magnificent views as you go round Chithear comharraidhean gu bheil iad ann ged nach eil na to their awesomely tight pace. the top of Coire Mhuillin. Druim Fada (The Long Ridge) offers a beathaichean gu tric ri fhaicinn. Local they might have been longer walk if you start at Inverskilavulin, go over Stob a’ Ghrianain (Corpach, Arisaig, Acharacle, Although I don’t live there, Glen Loy is among my favourite places (The Point of the Sunny Place) and carry on to Glen Sulaig and Ballachulish and Glenelg) but the in Scotland. I can’t go there without thinking how beautiful it is with Fassiefern. On the way up through the forest you pass the ruins of music that Kirsten, Angus, Tam, its oak trees beside a magnificent river and pleasing hills rising the village of Barre, whose inhabitants were cleared long ago. In Colin and Murdo treated us to last above me. In addition to red deer there are many other sorts of 1772, according to the Morrison report on the Lochiel Estate, it was month in the packed hall at Caol wildlife such as wild boar, pine marten, ravens, white tailed sheep tenanted by one Alasdair Cameron who habitually planted 15 bowls eating eagles as well as the more usual golden eagles. The signs are of oats each spring and got 450 in return. It was not very fertile. I could hold its own on any world there to see even though the critters aren’t seen too often. have read that there were Camerons from Barre fighting with Col stage. Thanks FRAS for a brilliant John Cameron of Fassiefern during the Napoleonic Wars. Perhaps it gig - you truly took us all by storm. Fhuair mi a’ chiad obair agam ‘sa ghlinne direach as deidh an sgoil fhagail agus a’ feitheamh air a’ dol dhan oilthigh ann an 1966. Bha was about that time that they got the boot. A sad possibility.

and people who rescue others in trouble on theon mountains; trouble others in who rescue people and £2 Per Person Entry Wed 15 March – Canadian Pauline Donaldson an rathad tro’n choille theid sibh seachad air tobhtaichean Barre, Everyone Welcome Touring Team (U16’s) baile as an deach na daoine a’ fuadaich o chionn fhada. Bha e le We will have three new seasonal exception. They chose 3 quartets played Music for All's next concert is in page 12 members of staff starting on the 6th in full which allowed appreciation of the Lochaber High School on Friday 31st page 17 March and three returners coming back development of each piece through the March at 7:30pm when the pianist canal news on the 20th March. We also have two movements; we heard one of Haydn's Martin Roscoe will perform. This is the short-term seasonal staff starting on Prussian Quartets, a Mozart quartet last concert of the season but the Over the winter, we have a small team SEPA are also looking to introduce flood 15th May. The canal could not operate nicknamed "Dissonance" from the lack Newsletter aims to inform the of five who have been involved with a monitoring gauges at Gairlochy as part without the additional support these of harmony in the opening and a community about the next season's number of jobs: of the Great Glen Flood Protection Plan. guys provide: they have a lot to learn in Mendelssohn piece. concert dates later in the year. • new gates and fences repaired at Working alongside the access officer a very short space of time to ensure the Banavie entrance, Moy Farm & and Kilmallie Community Council we safety of our customers on both the The Ruisi quartet had come hot foot Sue Chadney Banavie Basin hope to replace a couple of gates just water and bankside. These guys are the from London on a brief tour of Scotland • facility (Toilet) maintenance all up from Mount Alexander: these gates face of Scottish Canals and we are From the Wigmore Hall, London... to and were heading off to Islay the painted & grouted: Gairlochy, will stop cars and vehicles accessing the always looking for friendly Kilmallie Hall, Corpach! following day. One musician told us that Banavie & Corpach towpath from there but still allow accommodating staff who can give "this is the most beautiful place they • replacement of hooks, Gairlochy access for horses and pedestrians. visitors a good experience when visiting At the Lochaber Music for All concert had ever been to" – he obviously hadn't • pressure washing lock gates and the canal, the Highlands, Scotland. on February 25th a large audience was noticed the non-stop rain that day! sides, Corpach and Banavie All going well and the sea-lock gates at treated to a wonderful programme of • overhanging branches and fallen Clachnaharry (Inverness) are fixed, we Looking forward to the 2017 season, music from the Ruisi String Quartet. In the interval we enjoyed a fund- tree, chipping Gairlochy to Banavie start passing boats through the canal on meeting with many of you out walking Music for All always features world raising cream tea. It was an inspiring • jetty repair, Gairlochy (replacing the 20th March. We start our seven etc. Remember that for many of us the class musicians and these four, young way to spend a very wet day. rotten timbers). day a week operating on Monday 27th canal is our gymnasium. chamber music players were no March. Opening hours 8:30 am to Other regular jobs include lock-keeping; 17:30 pm. John Stafford Reserve Team waste & dog bin emptying; greasing Canal Superintendent 4th March Speyside vs Kilmallie lock gates & bridges; cleaning & Kilmallie 11th March No game replacing life-saving equipment; filling 18th March Kilmallie vs Inverness potholes (weather permitting); boat 25th March Lochaber vs Kilmallie lifts; gritting etc. 1st April Kilmallie vs Boleskine Shinty Club 8th April Newtonmore vs Kilmallie Contract Works: 15th April Lovat vs Kilmallie  Bear Waterproofing Banavie Bridge The shinty season started again on Saturday 4th March. The 22nd April Kilmallie vs Glengarry  Land Engineering removal of scrub Kilmallie 1st team are playing in the Premier Division this throughout whole District year. Here are the fixtures:- The admission to 1st team games this year is £5.00 and  Fuel Systems new diesel tanks, £3.00 for concessions. There will be a collection at the Corpach. 1st Team Reserve team games. 4th March Kilmallie vs Glenurquhart New for 2017 11th March Kingussie vs Kilmallie We had a good AGM in January and two new Directors came Work starts beginning of March on 54 18th March Lovat vs Kilmallie on Board, Mrs Ann MacDougall and Donald Lamont Jnr. metres of pontoons at Banavie Basin. 25th March Kilmallie vs Glasgow Mid Argyll This is badly needed in summer as we 1st April Kilmallie vs Oban Camanachd Hope to see you at Canal Parks! have additional holiday vessels 8th April Kilmallie vs Kyles Athletic operating along the Caledonian Canal. 15th April Kilmallie vs Inverness Linda Campbell We have very limited space at Corpach 22nd April Glasgow Mid Argyll vs Kilmallie Secretary Basin, only 120 metres of quay and if, like last year, we have regular visits and stops in the basin from Lord of the Our programme of art workshops so far this year has included local Glens (44 metres) & Flying Dutchman painter Alistair Smyth leading a figure drawing day in The Hub Fort (40metres) it leaves very little space for William, the celebrated Helen Michie with a ceramics taster day in leisure vessels to stay. We also have Glenuig Hall, and Karen Strang from Stirling leading a weekend people up litter;who pick people vessels that will run into the canal for workshop “Figure in the Landscape” in Glencoe Visitor Centre. shelter when strong winds are coming Last workshop of this season will be a colourful weekend of batik Highlight of our calendar the Annual Exhibition will take place at up Loch Linnhe - thinking of Souter’s led by Anne Dye on 25/26 March out at Strontian. Ring Catherine Ben Nevis Distillery 27th May – 7th June. Do drop in to browse or on 01397 772774 or Lorna on 772806. All levels of ability very buy - there will be lots of interesting new work for sure! Lass & small private yachts when they

welcome. newsletter; the who deliverpeople will make a run for shelter. As we are Lorna Finlayson deemed a Port at Corpach, we try to

make sure we keep a safe haven for them.

We are also hoping to replace the three jetties in Corpach reach with a pontoon previously used by Jacobite Cruises in Inverness.

peoplewhooffer help theto elderly, disabled, thoseand less fortunate financial burden greatly. We are very grateful to them and Paul Brian, Chairman to their customers. commitment, aiming to educate and inform source platform called Open Food Network, endeavouring to page 10 of the horrors which took place at Auschwitz help re-model our big broken food system. page 19 and throughout Europe. In preparation for the visit, the two pupils from Lochaber High, food for The Open Food Network (OFN) is a charitable organisation Jordan Lawrie and Mikey Harris, attended originally founded in Australia. OFN was brought to the UK I decided to become a young ambassador two seminars in Edinburgh. At these they as a collaboration between four established food hubs, learned about the historical context of the Deputy Head Teacher for the RSNO (Royal Scottish National eager to develop and share a collaborative approach to the Orchestra) because I wanted to learn more Holocaust, the camp itself as well as hearing appointed moving survivors’ accounts of life in a thought development and maintenance of the software that about what happens behind the scenes of concentration camp and in Nazi-occupied connected them to their community. Fort William is getting classical music. Every couple of months we on the OFN map - there are currently two OFN shops - all gather in Glasgow to go and see one of Europe. In November the pupils visited Where does your food come from? the concerts playing that night and to Auschwitz and were given a guided tour of Doughies, a weekly micro-bakery making slowly fermented, discuss topics relevant to that work. For both Auschwitz One and Auschwitz If you are reading this in your house in Kilmallie, it is highly wholesome sourdoughs; and Fort William Organic Food Hub, example, our last forum was focused on the Birkenau. The tour included visiting the ruins likely that a large proportion of the food currently residing in a not-for-profit community group coordinating organic, of the gas chambers, the huts in which age gap that is becoming apparent in the your kitchen cupboards and fridge comes from one of Fort locally grown veg box orders every two weeks. RSNO chorus as that night we saw Verdi’s people were kept and many other infamous parts of the camp. This revealed the horrors William’s many supermarkets - Morrisons, LIDL, Tesco Small producer shopping does require a change in consumer Requiem. From doing this we can give Express, Co-op or Farmfoods. And as I write, this suite of feedback to the RSNO about what we think and immense suffering of the hundreds of habits. In contrast to the big supermarkets (with their local supermarkets is growing, with groundworks for a larger the constraints and restrictions may be for thousands of prisoners who were held and constantly open door and stocked shelves) small producers young people interested in music. I’ve really killed there. Both pupils found the visit a Tesco, a Marks and Spencer Food and an ALDI currently in and food hubs are typically open only intermittently, remarkable and incredibly moving enjoyed being a young ambassador so far as progress (at varying speeds). producing to order and generally costing more - but waste is it has allowed me to meet people around experience and have been sharing with others their knowledge and experience. As I write, our big UK supermarkets are grappling with the low to none, provenance is high, and true knowledge of my own age who share the passion and where your food comes from and what goes into it, well devotion that I have towards my instrument great lettuce crisis of 2017 - due to unseasonal weather in STEM event that’s priceless. and music, classical and contemporary. southern Europe, where we import from during the UK’s Congratulations to Mr Eric Groat who has Primary 7 pupils from our Associated “hungry gap”. And whilst it is easy to chuckle away at the been appointed to the post of Depute Head Schools Group were recently invited to be Adam Veitch My job as a young ambassador is to engage panic lettuce buying (and prior to that courgette buying) Teacher. He will be Year Head for S3 and S4 transported to Mars! They all came to LHS and spread awareness to young people of and will have management responsibility for on 18 January where they had the chance to going on in some parts, it is an eye opener into our current Open Food Network the opportunities currently in the music Learning & Teaching, ICT and Management experience some of the challenges faced by broken food system. The real junk food project recently openfoodnetwork.org.uk/ scene and of the work the RSNO do. If Information Systems. Mr Groat joined the people living in a hostile environment (Mars, reported that south of the border, whilst one Tesco store in you’re interested, please look at the RSNO staff of the school as a Maths teacher in not LHS!). In the five different activities Hull was rationing lettuce, a Morrisons store a few miles Fort William Organic Food Hub season 2016/17 brochure: http:// 2007 and has been Principal Teacher of organised by Miss Platt, Physics and Science openfoodnetwork.org.uk/fort-william-organic-food-hub/ www.rsno.org.uk/wp-content/ away was disposing of lettuces for being 12 hours past their Support for Learning since 2014. teacher, the pupils made spacesuits to uploads/2016/03/RSNO-Season-1617- best-before-date. shop protect potatoes; used fruit and vegetables Glasgow.pdf. to make electricity; programmed robots to Doughies So the best feature of large supermarkets (namely consumer Royal Scottish National traverse the surface of Mars; made their choice) appears to also be its biggest downfall - having doughies.wordpress.com/ Orchestra Ambassador Lessons from Auschwitz own mini-robots to take home and used access to everything, all the time, leads to several stark openfoodnetwork.org.uk/doughies/shop This year Holocaust Memorial Day fell on solar cells to power vehicles. Approximately facts. No seasonality in produce means an increased My name is Rachel Simmonds. I am a Fifth 120 pupils jumped in to the activities, gave Friday 27 January, marking the 72nd environmental footprint of the food on the shelf - Year pupil at Lochaber High School and I their full effort and enthusiasm to every

The chiffchaff is a much scarcer ‘leaf' warbler, which has been spreading

people thewho contributepeople newsletter;to north into the Highlands in the last couple of decades. It is now reasonably

common in Kilmallie, and we usually footprintswho keeppeople their carbon low; hear one singing from scrub in the garden at Glenloy. It is closely related to the willow warbler and very difficult to tell apart from this by sight. The monotonous ‘chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff’ song is unmistakeable, however, but can drive even the most ardent Lichen page 22 page 7 This plant is the result of a symbiotic relationship between East Lochaber and Laggan Community Trust Auntie Mary’s an alga and a fungus. They grow together in a definite arrangement. The alga provides the energy from photosynthesis; the fungus fixes nitrogen and provides shelter. The alga is usually a blue-green or green, frequently

conscious effort to limit unnecessary month – the rest are done by video or glad to see others have started voting Centre, one of the how folks now make bookings and purchase goods or services.

travel to the minimum, primarily to save teleconference. That saves as much as 3.5 remotely as well. newsletter’s sponsors. We all fail to embrace this at our peril.

attend around 2 meetings per week in made, I’ll always make the journey. to cover most eventualities. We continue to offer our adventure our toes, being a source of local information – as well as being a various who volunteer capacities;people in based instruction courses and guiding services in mountain great cleaner. We were also joined in November by a live-in pine activities in summer and winter, canoeing, kayaking, dinghy martin above our office who as resisted all inducements to leave As you know I am a member of the South received and I have to attend a further As you may already know, I am not sailing. Over the years, it is interesting to see the impact the including doses of camphor oil. Planning Applications Committee. For this two committees prior to the election on 4 contesting the forthcoming election but increasing urbanisation of adventure has had on trends for our reason, I feel that due to the subject May 2017. would like to take this business and others like it. All in all, we have had a pretty solid past 3 years…. and it looks as matter of your request for the KCC March opportunity to wish Ward 12 though we will be having another busy and very interesting year newsletter, it is not appropriate for me to I am sure you will understand and this is residents and KCC every success We have invested in developing our web portals for both the in front of us all – in many ways. contribute an article on this occasion. This the first time over the years that I have in the future. adventure activities and accommodation and we have signed up subject can be fairly controversial due to been unable to contribute an article. for an in-house online booking facility for our self-catering Tina & John Cuthbertson some of the Planning applications Cllr Bill Clark apartments, hostel and bunkhouse which has been a real boon. early eighties I was part of a group that evolved into The page 24 Friends of The West Highland Line. I became its founder constituency page 5 focus Chairman and we fought successfully against Scotrail not don’t forget to vote... only to preserve, but to develop, the line. One of the results of that initial campaign was the arrival of the steam train, boundary local council which I hear with pride every day of summer. on folk elections Last year saw me running a passenger vessel from Banavie changes up to Loch Lochy for a Greenock company, which I’ll be Many thanks to Niall McKillop, who lives in Badabrie, for An excellent turn out at KCC’s participative session in December. Thurs 4th May doing again this year. I’m a competent naturalist so there’s agreeing to be in our focus this time. Results of the national consultation are now published on if you care about education, social care and nothing we see on the canal I can’t identify and talk about. www.bcs2018.org.uk. health, local roads, planning, public transport, I’m also becoming increasingly fascinated by the work of I was born, to my Highland shame in Scunthorpe, near where You have until 27th March to comment on any of the submissions, housing, litter, rubbish and recycling, leisure Thomas Telford and the ingenious methods he used in my mother’s family farmed in Yorkshire. At a week old I was though be aware the search function does not easily throw up all facilities, museums, footpaths and cycle paths, designing and building the canal, much of which comes into taken to Edinburgh where my father had returned to the known submissions for Corpach, Banavie, Kilmallie, food safety, and so much more... the live commentary I give on board. At the end of the University after a war spent in India and Burma with the Fort William or Lochaber. season, as usual, we will be in rural Italy, our favourite Cameron Highlanders. After he graduated my parents settled holiday destination. in Inverness where my father had been born and brought up, We contacted Shiel Buses who confirmed this but explained that they couldn’t publicise the matter since the details had not yet and where he set up his architectural practice, working Niall McKillop across Scotland and the Isles. He kept up his connection on the buses been finalised with the Council. with his regiment, designing the 1st Battalion’s war It would have been very helpful (and would have saved a lot of memorial at Kohima battlefield, where he had fought , and in Niall omitted to tell us that he is a published author. Public transport contract people being very anxious and angry) if the Highland Council had the early fifties designed the original seating plan for the Drawing on his extensive knowledge as an amateur been able to co-ordinate the timetables from all the operators at Edinburgh Military Tattoo as a favour to a fellow Cameron naturalist in 2000 he wrote and published a book entitled changes in Lochaber the same time and made a single explanatory announcement. officer who was its first director. The plan has changed little "Rondo One-Eye: A seal's story" which is set around Every few years the Highland Council lets contracts Shiel Buses is a local firm based in Acharacle and we wish them since then, as I saw for myself last October. Loch Shiel. for bus services that are not commercially viable and these will well. Their proposed timetable is not finalised as we go to print but come into effect on 24th April. We first became aware of the we are led to believe it will be similar to the current one. The western edge of Inverness where I grew up was still very proposed changes through the Stagecoach Bus Timetable when the There are also a few proposed changes to the Fort William - situation looked grim since the proposed timetable for Corpach to rural. There was a moor behind our house, now a housing Inverness service operated by Citylink and we will have to see what Fort William showed only evening buses from 18:30 with no service estate but then replete with fur and feather. It was five is finalised. minutes walk to Lochardil Farm where, as a boy I learned to the Medical Centre! All the new timetables will operate from Monday, 24th April 2017. useful things from Mr Duncan, the farm grieve: how to milk; We therefore attended the Stagecoach drop-in consultation in Fort to put a calf in a barrow and take it to the byre so its mother William High Street on Wednesday 1st March and, while speaking For further information you should contact the operators of the would follow, wring the neck of a hen and much more to Ben Thompson, one of our Ward 12 Councillors, it became clear routes you are interested in, or contact the Council’s Transport Co- besides. that the reason the Corpach daytime service and that to the ordination Unit at [email protected] or phone Medical Centre were not on the Proposed Stagecoach Timetable 01463 252951. Fond of boats of all kinds since I first fished on Loch Maree was that they had lost the Council contract to Shiel Buses.

with my father, aged six, at thirteen I left Inverness Royal Academy and went to a school in North Wales, HMS Conway, to prepare me for life at sea as a navigating officer. Round the world twice by the time I reached twenty-one I missives from MSPs had by then visited some very remote, memorable places It’s the turn again for our constituency MSP Kate Forbes. We put to her that but decided a few years later to come ashore and continue ‘KCC have long been campaigning, to little avail, for pedestrian crossings on the isolated, lonely and fearful. It can have a my education. In 1971 I arrived at Glasgow University, stayed A830 at the Corpach Co-op and Banavie swing bridge. Transport Scotland have knock-on effect on basic tasks like shopping twenty-four hours then got on a bus back to The Highlands. I carried out surveys, but we don’t expect to meet their stated minimum criteria for groceries or visiting the doctor. So, I was never going to be a city boy. for the number of vehicles and pedestrians. Meanwhile residents and visitors don’t in any way underestimate the alike continue daily to suffer danger, difficulty and anxiety from the lack of importance of securing a safe crossing on Years later, after doing a wide variety of mostly interesting safe crossing places. One member of our community had an alarming near miss the A830. We’ve made progress on ensuring things, I had the opportunity to buy a passenger boat from recently trying to cross at the swing bridge. What can you do to help us get that children attending Banavie Primary can Jacobite Cruises in Inverness which I brought to Fort William the crossings we need?” cross safely, and now we must make sure that everybody else can cross too at and ran from the town pier. At the end of the decade I There is a very pressing need for safe Scotland concluded that there wasn’t a high Corpach Co-op and Banavie Swing Bridge. returned to sea before moving into the marine side of the crossings on the A830. I promised during my enough number of people to justify a I will personally continue to press Transport oil industry where I remained until the downward spiral of election campaign to press Transport crossing. Since then, I have been pressing Scotland to do far more than they are two years ago when I was, effectively, forced into retirement Scotland to include safe crossings, and I Transport Scotland to do another survey but currently doing to progress plans for a just short of my 67th birthday. I didn’t really mind too much. haven’t forgotten that promise. I know that to widen their criteria. If we can secure crossing. I’d welcome any correspondence many people, particularly those who are another survey and make sure that we on the matter by telephone on 01349 863 Farming is in my blood from both sides and my interests vulnerable on their feet, who have visual or demonstrate just how critical a crossing is 888 and by email have always been in the countryside. It’s one of the reasons I hearing impairments or who are walking then we will move closer to getting safe [email protected]. like Kilmallie so much, and this house on the edge of wild with children and babies, are scared to cross crossings for everybody. the A830 at the Corpach Co-op or the Kate Forbes MSP the run who help people centre; community moorland in which we’ve lived now for twenty-two years. It is, of course, vital that we have good Banavie Swing Bridge. Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Although I haven’t shot for decades I fish at any roads that enable people to travel. But it is 07825 532230 opportunity. I’ve also been involved in the politics that at Surriento Very soon after I was elected last May, I met even more important that people are able 01349 863 888 people who make a difference in lots of small ways; of lots in small who make a difference people with Transport Scotland to ask what they to cross local roads without feeling like they increasingly surround angling, and some years ago now led https://kateforbes.scot/ the (unsuccessful) community bid to purchase the River We try to spread our Focus on Folk amongst an even intended to do about it. As readers will are taking their lives into their hands every know, a survey was conducted of people time they do so. The roads are only going to Nevis. I stood in the first Scottish Parliamentary elections spread of young and old, men and women. It’s a while Let us know if there are any crossing the road – but it appears that the get busier as the summer approaches and under the banner of the Highlands and Islands Alliance, since we’ve featured a young person - we’d love to hear questions of local relevance that you criteria was very narrow and it did not we welcome another record year of visitors. suggestions for or from any Kilmallie youngsters under 18 would like us to put to our regional believing with others that a Scottish Government would include everybody who is more vulnerable There is a huge impact on people who don’t who are leading unusual, challenging or interesting lives. MSPs next time. largely ignore the needs of rural areas. We were right. In the in some way. Frustratingly, Transport feel safe crossing a road – it makes them page 4 people who plant flowers & trees in our public places;

night meeting 23 on Stephen fromBSW attending for KCC’s Weare grateful to Andy Rogersand Oliver for years for (thoughless sofor some when the reported that thenoise has been an issue not overnightaccording to Andy. Residents butthe sorting process runs Monto Fri and Overallthe plantruns 24/7 with kiln drying proposalsin2017/18 to help mitigate it. noisiestarea, and hope to implement lochside.BSW are conscious that this isthe awayfrom theroad and nearest the plantis locatedinthe SE partofthe site, ie clunksthat were disturbing people. This seemedaccount to for the intermittent loud conveyorthat kicks off rejectlogs. This thatthe likely sourceof worst noise was the Fromthereports ofresidents, itseemed disturbance during unsocialhours. theoperations in general, merelythe thesawmill: folkare not complainingabout Kilmallieand expressed a lot ofsupport for Residentsrecognise the valueof industryto complaints generallyrelated to night compliancewith requirements. The noise levelsare notmonitored by BSWfor (quieter)one for night curve’ daytime for and evening, and lower a grantedwas seta permissible ‘noise rating site acrossfrom theroad. The consent that for planningconsent to move to thepresent ando acoustic survey** whenthey applied placeon the site. BSWhad been required to understand thetimber processingthat takes showeda useful video which helpedus alsoadversely affected. Andy and Oliver morepeople living in thesame vicinity are attendedthough it became clearthat many numberofmembers of thepublic also have beendetermined. months,up to 07/03/17. Some may already noticed on the Weekly Listsin the last three Hereare the localapplications that we’ve plans afoot 08/12/16 12/12/16 15/12/16 05/01/17 12/01/17 03/02/17 09/02/17 09/02/17 07/13/17 07/03/17 - time noisefrom the sawmill. small A

sawmill rd 16/05506/MSC 13/03643/PIP 16/05535/FUL 17/00025/ADV 16/05747/FUL 17/00500/FUL 17/00631/FUL 17/00471/FUL 17/01080/FUL 17/01089/FUL Jan to discussissues of - time***. Noise

- Works.Corpach Erection of one dwelling house, Land NW FordOf Cottage. Badabrie Erection of house, Site 40MNorth East Of Hillview.Banavie (Renewal) Erection of extension, Achdalieu Cottage, Achdalieu Advertising Signs, Co Erection ofsingle storey three Installation of storm a tank, control kiosk andthe re Land 180MLand NWOf Camus Erection of house. Amendmentto planning permission 10/01981/FUL Extension toexisting commercial bakery toform new product dispatch area showerroom with toilet, 4 Guisach Terrace,Corpach Extend house with singlestorey extension to side and rear containing entrance,hall, bedroomand Erection of house and garage,New Build, Camaghael Nevis Bakery,Unit 5 Annat Point IndustrialEstate, Corpach time.

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Na - Ha,Annat View,Corpach - bedroomhouse, Schiehallion, Banavie

profiling ofland, Waste Water Treatment

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patronage ofan influential civic improver–Sir William Pulteney – withthe local gentryand thusmade contactsthat enabled the learnand achieve. Within thesmall Eskdale school Telford mixed schools gavehim theconfidence and motivation to continually thatprovided a high standard (for the day)ofeducation in village ruralorigins as majora factor inhis success. A Presbyteriansociety Theauthor ofthis book (JulianGlover) refers to Telford'sScottish engineeringcareer. ofage 25 commence to hisextraordinarily productive civil becomeapprenticed to astonemason but rode off to London at the it boastedonly 2 tea kettles! Telford left schoolat the age of 12 to birthplace,Eskdale, was so remote anyfrom formofprogress that Whata journey! Thebiographer, Samuel Smiles, wrote that his technicalbrilliance, to his burial inWestminster Abbey in1834. familyofa shepherd inrural Dumfries Britain”explores Telford'sjourney from his birth in1757 into the newA biography “Man of Iron:Thomas Telford and the Building of theCrinan Canal. churches,plus our own Caledonian Canal and a redesign ofpart of of goodroads, over 40 new or improved ports andover 30 designsand supervised thework for 1,000 new bridges,1,200 miles Sweden. The Highlandsbenefited significantly as providedhe the And notonly inGreat Britain; Telforddesigned the Göta Canal in superbly designedand executed bridges,aqueducts andcanals. abilityto move around thecountry via his roads and for his of Great Britainowe Telforda debt ofgratitude for improving their (nowKilmallie House)and several lock CaledonianCanal as well as theCanal Superintendent's house buildings;living in Kilmallie, we often passthem daily.We have the Werecognise ThomasTelford for local feats ofengineering and                   at:built Telford’sother Parliamentary Kirks were Plockton(photo Roger Davies). NorthCorran (photoRichard Webb) Iona(photo KeithLaverack) Ullapool (in useto 1935, now a museum) At rightfar fromtop to bottom: there survivesat Onich (though the Telfordchurch ParliamentaryManses. One ofhismanses knownas Parliamentary Kirksand Actan ofParliament in1823, hence they are ‘getyou your eyein’. They werefunded by standard design, instantlyrecognisable once theHighlands and Islands,built to Telford’s Thereare 32 churches and manses all over “our” Thomas Telford Quarff Portnahaven Poolewe Risabus use(in 1930, to now derelict) Knock(since demolished) Lochgilphead(demolished 1885) holidayaccommodation) Kinlochspelve(nuse as self Kinlochluichart Kinlochbervie Keiss Hallin(in useas artist’s studio) Duror Cross (in useto 1905, since demolished) Croick Carnoch Berriedale (out ofecclesiastical use) Berneray (converted to artist’s studio) Acharacle wasdemolished in1900).

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        OnichManse, now aprivate house) Below:Iona Manse (now a museum, and MandyKetchin Rothemurchus,Salen (Mull) and Sandwick. Muckairn, North Ronaldsay, Rannoch, Insh,Innerwick, Kilmeny, KirktownofFoss, storeyvariants) were built at Deerness, addition, In manses(in single  TelfordChurch to not be listed) Church,key featuresaltered 1900) in Tomintoul(unrecognisable as Telford Tobermory (demolished1895) Strontian(key features altered Strathy (convertedto house) Stoer use(in to 1963, derelict since 1970 Stenscholl foundations) Shieldaig(rebuilt using Telford's built withadditional alterations) Timsgarry (disputedas TelfordChurch, Ulva (privatelyowned).

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page 25 and lots of other people too... page 26 thank you for carers, and to all who care... readers popularBook Bugsessions foryoung childrenbut young stopsAsthe are relatively short the vancannot offer the childrento browse and borrow. associated written informationare put thein van for the a on certaintopicand relevantreference books and teachersinform the library when a classis planning a project everyvan 3 weeksand Angus parks there for2 hours. The area'sthe primary schools. Banavie School welcomesthe vanThe also providesa term areas! Ardnamurchananother – brilliant resource for outlying Angusroute, does deliver the booksforone Book Group in Althoughthere areno Book Group members theon Kilmallie specialrequests thefrom regular clientson the routes. Williamprovides a new selection ofitems as as well fulfilling mobilelibrary fullyis restockedand the base library Fort in changinglocal needsattendances.and Every week the upkeep with changes such asnew houses being built or placesince1975; routesstopsand areregularly reviewedto Highlandarea. The Council cleaned.There a is totalofvans 8 serving the whole the of Councildepot at Carr's Corner where it is maintainedand notWhen out on its therounds van keptis at the Highland usage.their impairmentsto guidethem safely intothe van and facilitate customerswell they can oncall users withvisual door.Because Angus and his relief driver know their regular forwheelchairand users: ithasan adaptable lift at themain vanThe provides easyaccess forthose withlimited mobility fiction and non borrowaudio books and DVDs as aswell widea range of People comingto the van canexchange their loans and can accessthe High School library, perhapsthat notis surprising. only group missingtotally is teenagers! But,asthey can schooling familiesuse the van asan essential resource. The youngerfamilies especially, insome locations, where home majority of borrowersareolder, but hethat also tolends betweenlocations and dates. Angus observes that the allocatedto Kilmallie locations. The number usersof varies accordingto the immediate population todoors the library users. stoppingThe period is set van,setsup his computer,tootshis horn and opens the routineThe is the same at every stop. Angus parks the up boundaryand Duror the southern. AugustusFort inthe north; Kincraig theis north Arisaig,from Lochaline and Kilchoaninthe west and up to travelsthat the roads of Lochaber,covering a huge area a is large,yellow 7½ ton specially thenoticed van– well, youcan't really itmiss if you seeItit! and GuisachTerrace Corpach. in For anyone who has never stoppingplaces in Kilmallie– FassfernCottages, Kinlocheil MacIver,the libraryvan driver, draws up at thedesignated 2 HighlandCouncil mobilelibrary. 3Every weeks Angus In Kilmallie we haveourvery own librarythe in ofform the Kilmallie’slibrary own

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Members

Kilmallie neverbe ableto geta newsletter to every householdin abe regular, occasional orone andstories the like,sodo please get touch in ifyou’d tolike new for material, whether articles, features, news, photos, contributorssomeand new ones too. We’re always looking going. toand oursponsors, without whomwe simply couldn’tkeep unaffordable; ouramazing to delivery teams somethingof interestthat you’d like share;to simplyhappen to orlivework inKilmallie and have Kilmallie, in but also articles about any topic at youall if articles get specifically about the people,places and events everyoneto who’s contributedto this issue

community community

the postage costswould be completely kilmallie

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

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page 3 ... so this issue is dedicated to... crossing there. It seems unfair if criteria that apply in urban page 2 page 27 kilmallie areas are being used here. The results of a pedestrian survey carried out at Banavie Swing Bridge in October 2016 have still not been divulged to KCC. community David Devine of Transport Scotland is planning on attending “some straight, some cryptic, some easy, some not so easy” Across our meeting on Monday 27th March in Kilmallie Community 1 Swimming aid provides the music makers with 1 2 3 4 5 6 Centre at 7:15pm when I hope he will give us the results and weapons (7) council offer some ways of making crossing the A830 safer for 4 Right in the heat keeps beating(5)

in this issue

KCC from the chair – p2

bicycles carbon & traffic - p2

KCC meetings – p3

sawmill - p4

plans afoot- p4

on the buses - p5 missives from MSPs - p5 Councillors’ Corner - p6

ELLCT - p7

the big pedal – p8

community bike clubs - p9

Friends of Banavie Park - p9

Banavie School News - p9

High Notes - p10

Corpach in Colour - p11

Christmas Lights - p11

Canal News - p12