page 32 Issue No 49, March 2015 a huge thank you delivered free to every address in Kilmallie

to our sponsors A huge thank you to the businesses below who have sponsored the newsletter this year. Our newsletter costs have been met by donations from all the businesses below, from KCC’s limited funds and in

kind from all our many volunteers.

in this issue KCC from the chair – p2

KCC meetings – p3

guilty parking - p4

community policing – p4

planning applications - p4

HUSTINGS - p5

councillors’ corner - p6-7

cold callers – p7

slower safer smiier - p7

Local Development Plan - p8

Banavie Primary - p9

Playgroup p10-11

High Notes - p12-13

Corpach in Colour - p13

Banavie Floral - p13 let us know via our suggestion boxes suggestion our via know us let Community Centre - p14

Locheilnet - p14

New Year Ceilidh - p15

Banavie Play Park – p16 Jan, KCC’s treasurer, presents the cheque to the school’s Eco Committee Music for All - p17

Showstoppers – p17 Rugby Club - p18 KCC support Shinty Club- p19

Cameron’s Monument - p19 Lochaber Beekeepers - p20 Banavie Primary’s BOYD BROTHERS CLYDEBoyd green fingers - p21 Fort William Ltd art lochaber - p21 (HAULAGE) LTD wild about Kilmallie - p22 Seed to Supper project passage to Terra Nova - p23 Jan and Mandy were delighted to present Banavie democracy, and how the Scottish Government eachdraidh Bhanbhaidh - p24 School with a cheque for £100 from Kilmallie encourage communities to make their voices heard poem from Ruth - p24 Community Council at the beginning of March. This through Community Councils.

FOCAL - p25 donation will go towards the school’s Seeds to Supper project, where the pupils get hands-on Within the school, the pupils are used to expressing history snippets - p26 experience of self-sufficiency, growing fruit and their voices through the Pupil Council, where they ten years ago - p26 vegetables and learning how to eat well. The pupils can discuss, debate and make decisions on the things they want to happen in the school. Mrs picture quiz no 5 – p27 will tell us all about it in a future newsletter. Dunham explained that the role of a Community Women’s Aid - p28 The older pupils have already been working on the Council was to do the same for the whole local letters - p28 Seeds to Supper project up at the Rural Complex. community. They told us how they’ve sown and grown and would you like to become a sponsor too? Lochaber Environmental - p29 Everyone agreed it would be a really good idea to harvested and eaten lots of their own produce. We rely on the contributions from our business community spotlight - p29 They’ve even made pizza with toppings made from hold a Junior Kilmallie Community for the cost of producing and distributing this free newsletter to every address in our area. focus on folk - p30 Council meeting at the school, so We welcome sponsorship from all businesses located in Kilmallie, or with principal key personnel resident in Kilmallie. If you their own home grown vegetables. what should KCC’s priorities be? KCC’s should priorities what that all the children get a chance would you like to see your name or logo in print supporting your community newsletter, please join with our current sponsors. focus on business - p30 Before the presentation, the head teacher Mrs to express their views about FOCAL All donations, big or small, are hugely appreciated. puzzles from pithean - p31 Dunham gave an inspiring speech to the assembled what they’d like to see happen Please contact us at [email protected] for details. announcescanine sponsors - p32 pupils about the role of government, the in our community. Watch importance of expressing “Your Voice” in a this space... prizewinner!page 25 everyday-value marketing might have you believe otherwise. page 2 New supermarkets certainly don’t spring up to serve the interests page 3 kilmallie of families on low income. Tesco has admitted binning 28,500 tonnes of food in just 6 months of last year. By my reckoning that come along community council equates to about a billion pounds worth of food in a year, thrown away by just one supermarket. If they really cared about households on low income they’d offer it all at heavily discounted Food for thought? prices or even for free to their low-income customers and those Food poverty is deeply distressing. The direct experience of it is to KCC’s meetings who rely on food banks. obviously deeply distressing for the people affected, and its very existence in 21st C Scotland is distressing. The phrase itself also What should our community wish for in terms of food shops? distresses me. Food poverty isn’t any special kind of poverty: it is Should the provision of food shops be determined by the the place to share poverty pure and simple, writ large, and extreme. interests of local communities or by the interests of big business? Should food shops be owned and managed by big businesses, It’s shocking that extreme poverty is no longer just affecting small businesses, co-operatives or communities? Should they your ideas and concerns people out of work, or people who have hit very hard times. It serve a large area and be dependent on car use, or local and can affect families where mums and dads are in work. But their accessible to all? Should they be in the centres of settlements, wages are so low that they can’t afford to eat all week. Hence the for local issues on the edge, or outside settlements? How would Kilmallie be food banks that have sprung up in the last few years. Every time I affected if our Co-op were forced to close? Decent food needs to hear the phrase ‘food bank’ I flinch with shame. So severe is the be affordable for all, but who benefits in the long run in the race increase in poverty** that food banks have become a normal to sell cheaper junkier food? and some interesting speakers lined up

feature in our social landscape within just a few years***. The efforts of food bank organisers, volunteers and donors Community thoughts on such questions can and should influence themselves are utterly admirable, and food banks are the West Highland and Islands Local Development Plan (see page 18 March Sue Chadney undoubtedly lifesavers for many people who have to resort to 8). KCC would be interested to hear your views. And if you can them, but we needn’t accept that they have any permanent role persuade me that a new supermarket on the Blar or the North telling us about the work of Citizens’ Advice Bureau, and to play in our social landscape. Road will reduce poverty, I’ll gladly change my mind.

the fulfilment of being a volunteer So is food too expensive? No! If anything it is too cheap. The ** Over 8 million people in the UK are living on incomes below drive for cheaper food also drives to grossly inhumane animal what is needed to cover a minimum household budget, up by 15 April Corpach Marine welfare, to practices that degrade our soils, to exploitation of more than a third from 5.9 million in 2008/09. (Joseph Rowntree food producers (often themselves in abject poverty in other Foundation 26/2/15). giving us a catch up on their ideas, plans and progress countries) and to unacceptably low wages for supermarket employees. It is a shameful irony when a Scottish supermarket *** Food banks were established in the United States out of 20 May Donald Cameron, Younger of Lochiel worker has such a low income that they too have to rely on food necessity due to the problems caused by their absence of a banks. Thus it is a cruel irony that food banks indirectly welfare state. The growing dependence on them in the UK and Estate Manager Astie Cameron indicates the erosion of the welfare safety net and the creation of

unwittingly subsidise the profits of the largest supermarkets. The problem is that low wages are way too low. Not that food is too a low wage economy. Are we to see a return to the poorhouses telling us about the work of Achnacarry and Lochiel Estates expensive. at Camaghael and Muirshearlich next?

So should we be calling for lower food prices in Lochaber? Well As well as our normal meetings and correspondence over the last yes and no. Yes we should be demanding food that is affordable

three months, KCC members have: Outstanding Contribution to the Subsea Industry award award Industry Subsea the to Contribution Outstanding news of KCC’s new Community Fund Community new KCC’s of news for everyone, but much better to raise low wages than lower  attended the Lochaber Area meeting food prices which would only drive low wages down even lower KILMALLIE COMMUNITY  attended the Ward Forum for people throughout the food industry. kilmallie  attended the Lochaber Transport Forum COUNCIL Is the arrival of more supermarkets locally going to give us more  attended a meeting on traffic congestion in Fort William affordable food? I’m not convinced it will. We already have a  attended meetings of the new Partnership of Fort William Members of the public are most welcome at all our community meetings. Meetings are currently held at 7:15pm in Kilmallie Morrisons, a Lidl and a Tesco in the town, as well as the more Area Community Councils outlying Spars, Londises and Co-ops, so there is competition  requested repairs to potholes, and road signs Community Centre on the 3rd Wednesday of every month already. One new large out-of-town-centre supermarket (on the  joined the Scottish Rural Parliament, and attended its AGM in excluding July and December, but please check the website North Road or the Blar) is likely to push one or more of the others Perth news or Facebook in case of changes. out of business, since the overall quantity of food consumed (in  raised issues about litter outside the Co-op We hope you enjoy this issue. We keep trying to limit it to both senses of the word) in Lochaber is going to stay exactly the  raised concerns about proposals to reduce evening gritting on 24 pages, but it just keeps growing and growing, to 32 Next ordinary meeting dates are: same. So after a brief flurry of supermarket warfare, any benefit the B8004. pages this time! As ever. thanks to all our fantastic 18 March 15 April 20 May 17 June for Leadbitter Alf to consumers from increased competition will quickly be lost. If  not forgotten the concerns about fly tipping at Mount contributors and all the volunteers who brave the winter Morrisons or Tesco are pushed out of central Fort William, the Alexander weather to deliver the newsletter through all the Kilmallie The next AGM is 17 June 2015. town centre will suffer as fewer shoppers than ever will make it  put Canadians in touch with their Kilmallie relatives letterboxes. Please continue to give us feedback and to  helped resolve some longstanding procedural issues with send us articles, photos, ideas, opinions and information Chair Mandy Ketchin coming soon... comingsoon... to the High Street. If any of the smaller supermarkets in the outlying areas are pushed to the wall, the local communities will Planning applications about things going on in Kilmallie. The deadline for material [email protected] th suffer, especially the elderly, disabled, car-less and others who  and continued to promote our Slower Safer Smilier campaign. for the next newsletter is 20 May, for publication in middle can’t easily travel far to shop. Even if they survive, the local of June. Secretary Russell Leaper With Russell away in the Antarctic, there has been extra work to shops will lose custom to the competition and be forced to raise Your newsletter team: Canal House, Banavie, PH33 7LY share around, so we’ve very much appreciated the extra help and prices, not lower them, further penalising local people on low Christine Hutchison 772252 [email protected] involvement of Geoff Heathcote and Carol Anne Campbell in the incomes. Either way, a new large supermarket will primarily Jan MacLugash 772383 last few months. Many thanks to them both. Treasurer Jan MacLugash benefit the winner of the supermarket war (whether that be Kshama Wilmington 772499 Asda, Aldi, Tesco, or whoever) plus the developer plus those who Do email any of us, or come along to meetings, if you have Mandy Ketchin Salen, Banavie PH33 7LY profit from the sale of land. concerns or ideas for Kilmallie. Or use the suggestion boxes email us at [email protected] [email protected] at Corpach and Banavie. New supermarkets ride into town to make profit, not to serve the Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the Other members Christine Hutchison needs of the community, though their homespun farmfresh Mandy Ketchin, Chair [email protected] views of the newsletter team or of Kilmallie Community Kshama Wilmington

Council. congratulations Associate member Chris Pellow page 4 happy spring equinox... March 20th

different withrole Police stillScotland, locally. based the Primary Banavie following for officer area liaison School has been Constable Brian in appointed Heriot. Constable Lochaber new a the and period in Christmas again schools respective beyond. Easter swingaswe and approach as full season the into tourist kicks some spring to forward andsunshine busier willget things doubt no A82 andin A830 the particular. the of patrols additional utilise resource for this valuable are to able we and William Fort in based Group Policing Roads Trunk a having the day ahead Highland along will them. have Council of and Scotland Bear from gritters and ploughs snow the hills, the to flocking be will skiers the whilst and ground higher on predicted is Snow basin. Corpach the and waterfront Caol the for place in alert flood a is there and up whipping is wind the article, this write I As wheelchair users,users, mobility even scooter people just walking pavementbe.forlifeIt makes difficult parents can buggies, with inconsideratehome pun (no just the on intended) how parking husbandhas started use amobility to driven it’s scooter, been haven’t causeon wantedto the my anobstruction But road. since oncausing the obstruction because but an pavement, usually I guiltyof the with it having innot done to myself any past, intention pavement,can anything do wondering about and it. ifKCC plead I We have received people from complaints parking the abouton pleading guilty policing community update bus plans afoot plans 20/02/15 09/02/15 09/02/15 13/01/15 05/01/15 23/12/14 19/12/14 15/12/14 5/12/14 27/11/14

Heriot replaces Constable Joan Maciver who has moved into a into moved has who Maciver Joan Constable replaces Heriot their with touch in getting been have officers liaison School looking are we memory distant a is period festive the that Now of benefits the see will Lochaber that this like times at It’s

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Erection of dwelling Erection LandEilLodge,of 65mLoch house, NW Fassfern InstallationforestLandof 150m road, at FassfernEstate, Kinlocheil Installationforestof 430m road, Fassfern Main Forest FassfernEstateBlock, Constructionof dwellingwith house altered house design revisedsite and 13, Fassfern Plot boundary, extension re 1.5 Storey to provide extensioncottage to additional livingand currentaccommodation storeysingle Proposed extensions, Banavie internalAros Cottage, alterationsand of oneErection &a half storey annexein WilsonBanavie ground, Arkaig, Way, garden 33kv overheadWilliam lineBanavie rebuild, Fort to Upgrade existingFassfern access, Forest, forest Kinlocheil separate Craiglea sale from Craiglea Cottage of Craiglea, 70

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nominations aretillApril, 9 open sothere may be more to come. At of thetime going to press the known candidates are, Caol, Kilmallie, Fort Inverlochy Williamand &Torlundy Caol Community CentreCaol Community Charles Kennedy (Liberal Democrat) Allcandidates the are being invited, but Then comeThen along to ourcommunity’s to thecandidatesin constituency our Lindsay McCallum (Conservative) HUSTINGS Do you want to better be informed Anne Thomas (Scottish Green) about thecandidatesabout before you 6:30 for 7:00pm an opportunityan to questions put All welcome. is free Admission decide how to cast your vote? Joint hosts for this event are (Ross Skye Lochaber). and General Election 7thMay Chris Conniff (Labour) in alphabetical order: Ian BlackfordIan (SNP) Community Councils. 14th April

page 5 our Ross Skye & Lochaber constituency area is the largest in Britain

page 6 our Highland councillors’ corner our Highland councillors’ corner page 7 This time we asked our three councillors: “How will Highland Council’s budget cuts impact on Kilmallie?” The budget decisions taken by Highland more emphasis on communities looking certainly eventually lead to a reduced choice We always offer equal space to the three of them in the interests of balance and impartiality but this time Cllr Clark council and passed by councillors in the after their own amenity spaces. Waste of subjects, with a teacher facing the class, th needed more. We’re happy to redress the balance in later issues. ruling administration, on the 18 December, disposal will be reviewed with paper and tin in the high school. It is proposed to use on- For background, Cllr Clark is a member of Highland Council’s ruling coalition (SNP with Labour and LibDems) who are will have many and far reaching impacts on deposits being removed from the recycling line services for some subjects. Increased responsible for managing the budget. residents of Kilmallie, just as it will on the centre. You will have car parking charges if charges and a tightening up of free use will Cllrs Henderson and Thompson are both Independent, and are effectively ‘in opposition’. whole of the Highlands. These decisions are you venture to Fort William on a Sunday. impact on all our youth and sports also set for the next 4 years. Of course we Winter roads maintenance will also change organisations and clubs that use the have all become used to budget cuts since dramatically as initially primary and facilities available at the schools. Highland Council budget cuts are not in any It is impossible to say how much the budget an effect on everyone to some degree. way Ward or area specific. Highland cuts will affect families or individuals until Highland Council currently charges £505 for 2008, but up until now most could be secondary routes only will be concentrated All these cuts combined with an eventual

rd Council cannot make budget cuts without they take effect. Of course, we can all make an interment and this will rise to £740 by considered efficiencies, although drivers on, when there is a heavy snowfall. This will 50% cut in the grants to 3 parties some of those cuts having an effect one way various levels of negative predictions. On year four (2018/19). Once other Local travelling across numerous pot-holes will no be necessary as there will be less vehicles to ( community centres, sports & leisure, or another on residents. Like other Local the other hand, we can be more positive in Authorities make changes to their charging doubt, and rightly, disagree with this get round the 4000 + miles of Highland museums, youth work, village halls) will Authorities throughout the country, our predictions for the future. Most changes schemes, Highland Council will be statement. roads that are not classified as trunk roads make life really difficult for all the voluntary

The latest cuts and that is what they are, (Transport Scotland-Bear look after them). organisations in Kilmallie.

Highland Council legally has to deliver a will begin to take effect from May 2015 but somewhere in the middle for charging. balanced budget. Agreeing budget cuts others are delayed to 2016 and in some There will also be a reduction in Ward along with increased charges, are really Roads with less than 20 cars (between 9pm Certainly after this budget, life will change from a fixed pot of money that will cases 2017. discretionary budgets over four years spread impacting on front line council services and and 6am) will possibly also not be pre- as we all knew it in Kilmallie. inevitably affect residents is not a pleasant By cutting the education budget by only 2% evenly across all 22 Wards. Based on the local employment, rather than the heart of gritted. It will also take longer to get round Even council minutes of experience but it is part of the remit of means, as in previous years, we have current Ward discretionary allocation of Highland council. That front line service to clearing the housing estates that are not meetings will be shorter in being a Councillor. Politics is the science of safeguarded the education budget against £55,204 for 2015/16, the reduction to person could be you, or your neighbour. school bus routes. Exact details have yet to detail! There will be no spare who gets what, when and why. most of the cuts. It is the Administration’s £48,660 by 2018/19 is unlikely to have From planning your own house to death, we be thrashed out, but there will definitely be cash for anything that is not Notwithstanding a 10% reduction in intention to attempt to protect this budget significant impact on any local group as each will all also be facing extra charges. Planning a reduction in service. clearly budgeted for in a Scotland’s Fiscal Resources budget since in future years where possible but as the Ward’s grant will be £48,660, a reduction of charges and burial charges are all to rise The reduction in the large education budget particular year. 2010 and a 26% real terms cut in Scotland’s Care and Learning Budget takes up £6,544. sharply. will have a great impact on school budgets, Capital budget, the SNP Government has approximately £387.788M of the One contentious issue was the savings to be Grounds maintenance along with street primary and secondary, and the numbers of Cllr Allan Henderson increased the Health Resources budget by £570.388M Revenue Budget, some further made on gritting Highland Council roads cleaning will be drastically reduced, with teachers able to be employed. This will 4.6%. Local Authorities have received from changes will need to take place but these during extreme winter conditions, the SNP Government a larger share of public are yet to emerge as savings. It is important particularly in outlying areas. The £600,000 Bob Mitchell continued: finance from the remaining budget than at that teacher numbers are further protected of a saving has been identified by applying “The best way to report any defects anywhere on the Trunk any time before the SNP came into office, in the main. policy, which means that “extra” road slower safer Road network around Scotland is to call the Transport even though Scotland’s grants from While we agreed 314 post deletions, this in gritting will not be possible on an ad hoc Westminster have been slashed. no way means compulsory redundancies. basis. The pre-gritting element of the saving Scotland Contact Centre on 0800 028 1414. Calls are logged Highland Council budget cuts were agreed at The SNP has a ‘no compulsory redundancy is being re-investigated and a report taken smilier at High and passed to the appropriate Trunk Road Operating

a very conciliatory meeting of policy’ and we intend to continue supporting back to the relevant committee, so this may Company for attention. The caller should be given a Call Ref newBeware Ice of sign at thecanal bridge Administration and Opposition Councillors this. The posts reductions will be sought not take place. These measures will not Number and the opportunity to receive a call back to advise at a Highland Council Meeting held on 18th from natural wastage and, where possible, come into effect until next year. what action has been taken. December 2014. The Administration took not filling vacancies. Highland Council turns Unfortunately, working to a fixed budget School on board some proposals from the over 800 FTE posts every year and we only leaves little room for manoeuvre. KCC have been asking BEAR for action to repair the part time

“An alternative [for the Kilmallie area] would be to email Opposition, which created, in the main a have to identify 314 of these over the next Nevertheless, roads will continue to 20mph signs at the High School which seem not to have Bear Scotland’s own contact address which non-confrontational debate. Councillors on four years. It is intended to accommodate deteriorate and resources in future years been working for over a year now. both sides of the Chamber were well aware these without making anyone compulsorily will require to be directed towards reactive is: [email protected]. Please feel free to publicise these contact points, as it can only help Bear and that cuts had to be made. The redundant. rather than preventative repairs. Bob Mitchell of Transport Scotland replied to us helpfully in Administration also took on board Highland Council recognises the importance Having said that, the Council is Transport Scotland to identify issue on the network more consultation responses from many of traditional music across the Highlands aware that the roads budget has mid February as follows: quickly.” organisations and individuals. I cannot both in educational and cultural terms and been decimated in previous years recall a budget meeting with so little as such decided against increasing charges and any underspends that may “Apparently these two signs are prone to fairly regular So by mid March we should be seeing the signs at the High adversarial opposition to the Administration. for music tuition. occur in the Council’s general failure, to such an extent that some people think they have School back in working order. If by April they’re still not This meeting was Webcast throughout the The increase in interment, lair and fund may well be directed towards this not worked for months. The problem is caused by water working, please let Transport Scotland and BEAR know, using Highlands and will be available on the cremation charges up to the Scottish service to help deal with the issues. ingress to equipment which is perhaps 8-10 years old. A Council’s website for the next 12 months. average rate in 2015/16 will of course have Cllr Bill Clark the contact details that Bob’s given us above. repair has been completed on one sign but the other cannot be repaired. A replacement sign is being obtained but it may KCC have also asked BEAR for action to repair the bad You have 3 budget options: not be repaired as quickly. The cost of depend on volunteer organisations, or who take up to four weeks before it can be installed. The long potholes at the High School pedestrian crossing which are a 1) Maintain public services burials and cremations will go up live in council houses, or who struggle to term aim is to include this site in a replacement programme, danger to pedestrians cyclists and drivers alike. 2) Increase council staff wages substantially. Car park charges will increase. afford a decent burial. That is why I - with hopefully next financial year. I will monitor that programme 3) Freeze council tax. Teaching hours may fall. Local volunteer deep reservations - supported a council tax to ensure this is achieved. Pick any two. The third doesn’t happen. groups will lose funding. I could go on and increase: despite its many faults, it is the That is the decision Highland councillors on: the budget cuts extended to nearly 400 only big lever the council can pull that asks were presented with at the recent budget. items. The bottom line is: expect services to for the deepest pockets to contribute more. Those three choices are the big ‘levers’ the worsen across the board. Was there an Of course, despite the cuts the council will council can pull to balance the budget. alternative? The largest group of still do many good things. New schools and The ruling coalition of SNP, Labour and Lib independent councillors proposed a motion affordable housing will be built for example. beware only 8 till months Community Councilelections Dem councillors opted to increase wages to increase council tax to reduce very and freeze council tax. The result? Four slightly the impact of the cuts. So, no, there The full budget for the whole years of deep cuts to services. wasn’t a radical alternative on the table. But four years isn’t finalised yet. there is no chance of an alternative when There are many millions of cold callers! Residents across the Highlands will feel the Holyrood sets 80% of the council budget and pounds of ‘balancing’ still to do. are we expecting a cold summer...? summer...? a cold expecting we are We’ve recently received a report of more unwelcome cold calling in the Kilmallie area - a man impact in every aspect of council services. coerces the council to freeze the remaining Please let me know which two who is selling driveway resurfacing services who is extremely rude and pushy. Unfortunately we There will be fewer gritters out on the 20% (in effect, just as Westminster does to options you would pick for that haven't got his name. He is accompanied by an unmarked van. It’s best not to agree to having roads. School meals will increase in price. Holyrood). Sadly, those who will feel the task: any work done unless you know the firm involved or have references from a reliable source. If Bus services will suffer. Building pinch the most are those least able to afford [email protected] you are being harassed by someone on your doorstep, close the door and call the police. Get a maintenance may get delayed. Roads will it: those reliant on regular buses, or who Cllr Ben Thompson note of any vehicle reg no if you can. Don’t put up with intimidation on your doorstep. page 8 page 9

This term we have been very busy all picked a god to make a in to do drama with some of the with lots of things such as a Onesie presentation about. It has been classes. Primary 4/5 worked with Day for Diabetes UK. We raised really good to find out about the Dougie on World War 1. £456.00. Other activities included different Gods.

getting your nails painted and getting P5-7 got an outreach visit from the a tattoo. On Thursday 12th February 2015 Scottish Parliament to find out how Steve from DrumFun came to the it works. Primary 6/7 have been researching school with his drums for the Ancient Greece and their Gods. We Nursery-P7 classes. We had lots of The topics we are working on this fun making rhythms and beats. term are: P6/7-Ancient Greece On Thursday 12th February 2015 P5/6-Victorians Barry Hutchison came to talk to P5-7 P4/5-Weather The Highland Council is preparing their Local Development Plan for the West Highlands and Islands, which includes all of about his new book, The Shark P3/4-Scottish food/agriculture the Kilmallie area. The initial stage of plan-making includes a Call for Sites and Ideas: this is the stage the Plan is at now. Headed Bear Thing. It was very P2/3-Pirates interesting. P1/2-Dinosaurs At this stage Highland Council are asking for, amongst other things:

 Suggestions on which land should be developed over the next 10 years, and which land should be protected Dougie Beck from Feis Lochabair and Primary 2/3 had a pirate party and  Suggestions for bigger ideas, or a vision, of how Kilmallie should change over the next 10-20 years. Alan Gray from Eden Court have been they enjoyed it a lot. They have been  Suggestions for changes to the boundaries of Special Landscape Areas. completing their maths about pirates Further details are available at: and they also got a visit from a http://www.highland.gov.uk/info/178/local_and_statutory_development_plans/582/ drama teacher, Steve. west_highland_and_islands_local_development_plan Other classes have been doing There are opportunities for communities to be pro-actively involved. Kilmallie Community Council are currently Chinese New Year, internet safety, considering how we might best be able to co-ordinate our own community involvement with the Review Process. If you Julia Donaldson, Nutcracker, drama want to influence the planning decisions that affect our community, villagescape, landscape and environment, then please get in touch with KCC. workshops, magnetic forces and Robert Burns.

Primary 7 are skiing between 9th and 12th of March 2015.

Yours sincerely

affect us in Kilmallie (TransatlanticTrade Partnership)? Kilmallie in Investment & us affect Ria Watson and Fraser Clark

Primary Seven

of the present Banavie School building opening 50 years ago? years 50 opening building School Banavie present the of

TTIP why we’re lucky to have our coastguard at Corpach

The 91m long MV Fri Sea ran aground at Corpach on 7th March. The vessel is owned by the Kopervik Group and was manoeuvring prior to docking to collect a load of timber. Events like this remind us how important it is to have properly funded coastguard and rescue services.

any reminiscences Sorry no update from me this time but hope to have lots of news for next issue.

not as remote as it sounds... how will will remote as not sounds... it how as canal news John Stafford, Canal Superintendent

The Christmas Throughout the term, the children involved in a lot of cooking Throughout the winter term, we Kilmallie Playgroup hosted our first Fort William fire station and maybe page 10 page 11 term saw the have been involved in role play activities that developed various have been making the most of Soft Start session which saw the Police and Ambulance station, children enjoying using shops as the stimulus and skills including cutting, chopping, outdoor play, getting out in all parents join their children for a fun although we might not be able to dressing up and they have learned what shops we measuring, grating and blending. kinds of weather. The children have morning of play. The children were go there because the bus times have making lovely have locally, how the food gets They made vegetable soup, celery been making snow angels, snow extremely proud to share their changed and not all of the buses go decorations, mingled with singing there and how we pay for the soup, lentil soup, savoury rice with castles and enjoying sliding on hard experiences and show their mums via Caol, so don’t fit in with the and the all-important partying produce we buy: money and credit lots of peppers, spring onions, snow and building snowmen! They and dads around the playgroup, Playgroup session times. What a have also been looking at the and they loved having them join in shame.

where we experimented with cards. The children have very much sugar snap peas (which provided

delicious food and danced to our enjoyed making shopping lists, great fun podding and tasting), intricate shapes of ice and icicles. the fun for the morning. The staff We continue to be very grateful for little hearts’ content! We put on a working with money at money and peppers, which resulted in a We have so much fun every day very much enjoyed chatting to the the support of the wonderful fabulous Nativity play and Santa lotto, and making beautiful fabulous Chinese banquet on Friday playing with sand and water, and parents, and the input that the parents and the local community, came to visit the children, giving pictures using assorted types of 13th February. The banquet we also play with more unusual parents brought to the session was who help to make Kilmallie each of them a special gift. rubbings. comprised of noodles, chicken, materials, like lentils and very valued and appreciated by us. Playgroup such a fun and We welcomed Claire, who came to Burns Day arrived and the sweet and sour sauce, peppers, polystyrene packaging. Playdough is The enrolment for 2015/16 was educational place to be! We are a firm favourite with the children, extremely busy and August 2015 looking forward to the fun and visit the children, bringing musical children learned lots of new songs spring onions and prawn crackers, where they use assorted cutters, looks like starting off with excellent adventures that the remaining instruments and the opportunity and poems written by our very all eaten with chop sticks. The scissors and rollers. The Number numbers. We are looking forward terms will bring. for the children to learn to keep own great Bard. Amazingly, some children all had a great time Table proves very popular, where to welcoming the new intake when the beat to music and to learn the children even commented that the learning to use the chopsticks! The Thanks to a parent for writing this the children play with shapes, the time comes! all-important lesson of taking words sounded funny when little ones also learned about life in piece for the newsletter this time. jigsaws and puzzles and use However, before then, the staff and turns. The children had a great listening to “The Gruffalo” in Scots China, especially how the Chinese measuring tools. Also proving the children at Kilmallie Playgroup Playgroup enquiries can be made on

time! and Ally Bally Bee. What clever exercise outside every day and the 20th March of onmorning the popular is the Quiet Corner which have a great deal to look forward 01397 772 016 or via e-mail Teaching the children to take care children! We had our very own fact that their diet mainly consists is the place where they can go to to, not least of which are the [email protected]. of themselves always plays a very ceilidh, ate haggis and oatcakes of rice and noodles, and chicken enjoy books and stories, songs, various trips that we have planned important role in what we do with and sampled shortbread. Yum! The and fish. They also wrote using Carole rhymes, and they can sing and to take place before the Easter the children and this term was no little ones especially enjoyed Chinese letters and compared dress up. break. How exciting! We are going exception. The children continue to listening to Burns’ songs sung by them to their own letters. Birthdays are especially fun times, to go to the library in Caol, and are learn how to take care of their Eddi Reader, and they designed Valentine’s Day also brought much and the children have very much very excited about going to join our

teeth through practicing tooth “jaggy thistle” pictures using hands artistic endeavour as the children enjoyed celebrating in the winter friends at Nevis Nippers Playgroup

brushing, and they have been and fingers, and they made purple made cards and pictures and term! afterwards. We are also visiting learning about (and eating!) the heather pictures. Very busy little learned all about how to show foods that make them healthy and ones, indeed! kindness and to care for others. help them to grow big and strong. For the celebration of the Chinese Love was definitely in the air! We encourage the children to take New Year, the Year of the Goat, contd next page an interest in their environment the shop role play area morphed to and so they have been learning become a Chinese kitchen and how to look after things that they restaurant. The children were find there: the birds and the

plants.

to all participants in Lochaber Run Together for Cancer Research on 26th April April on26th Research Cancer for Together Run Lochaber in participants to all

supermoonsolar eclipse

watch out for for out watch

good luck good

Junior pupils have been travelling too page 12 March this term with a ski trip in the French Alps. page 13 2015 Pupils leaving the school building at the end of the day on 23 January were led through a Prelim examinations are now over at Friday and Saturday were spent on a variety tunnel of 70 candles held by Sixth Years in a Lochaber High School and, with just a few of activities with each member of the group moving commemoration of the 70th weeks left to the Easter break, the final choosing three each day from an extensive anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. assessments are in sight. While the list which included: a walking tour of the This was part of a project led by Oskar preparation for National, Higher and main sights; a visit to the Natural History Wineberg and Fiona MacEachan who Advanced Higher assessments is our top Museum, the Science Museum or the V&A; travelled to Poland for a day to visit priority through the winter months, there a tour of the Emirates stadium; a guided Auschwitz as part of the Holocaust have been plenty of other activities going tour of BBC Broadcasting House (with a Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz on. Our Gaelic pupils have had two chance to read the news, the weather or project. They also attended seminars in nominations in the final of this year’s FilmG take part in a radio play); a trip to the Edinburgh, where they learned about the competition: ‘An Agallamh’, a film about a Imperial War Museum; a visit to the Tower holocaust and spoke to survivor Eva Clarke, schoolboy who self-harms, has been of London (with a viewing of the Crown 69, who was born in a concentration camp. shortlisted for ‘Best Film’ as well as the lead Jewels); an encounter with the celebrities at Sixth Year pupils Morvern Harper, Rachael actor, Fergus Munro, who has been Madame Tussaud’s; a visit to the Churchill Tozer, Franchesca Smith, Abi Smith and shortlisted for his convincing performance. War Rooms or a tour of Shakespeare’s Becky MacInnes took part in this year’s The competition saw a record number of Globe Theatre. There were four shows on Highland Hospice Young Apprentice. Using a entries this year with 51 films in the youth offer in the evenings: ‘Jersey Boys’, ‘Dirty start-up grant of £250 to purchase

category. You can watch the films online at : Rotten Scoundrels’, ‘Memphis’ and ‘The Lion materials, the girls raised a total of £1317.18 http://filmg.co.uk/en/films/filmg2015/ King’ along with indoor go-karting at the by selling Christmas themed products at winners-shortlists/youth high-speed Team-Sport track in North various craft fayres across Lochaber. They We held our annual Burns Supper on London. Friday night’s meal was at Hard delivered a presentation to three judges in Saturday 31 January. A four-course Rock Café and, on Saturday, the group ate at Inverness earlier this term where they were traditional meal, cooked by David McQuillan a variety of different West End restaurants. awarded third place in the competition, and Kevin Fraser from Highland Council’s There was even some time for shopping in against tough competition from other catering Service, was followed by speeches, an extremely busy Oxford Street on schools in Highland. Thanks to Miss recitations and musical entertainment Saturday afternoon. MacCallum and Miss Doherty for mentoring finishing off with dancing to the Lochaber The fourth and final day of the trip – the budding entrepreneurs throughout the High School Ceilidh Band. This year, for the Sunday 22 – was sunny with clear blue skies; project. first time, all the speeches and recitations – perfect for the whole group to experience a Jim Sutherland, Head Teacher Lochaber High School Burns Supper 2015 except the Immortal Memory – were flight on the London Eye. The stunning views delivered by senior pupils, who excelled in of the capital provided a perfect end to a From top: their roles. Huge thanks to all who hectic but thoroughly enjoyable trip. The Highland Hospice Group; contributed to a great evening and special group boarded the coaches at midday for 70 Auschwitz candles; Corpach in Colour thanks to Douglas Simpson, guest speaker, the long journey home… most of the group London 2015 Group; and overpage: Burns Supper We will be 10 years old in August this year! To mark the who delivered the Immortal Memory; our were asleep before reaching the motorway occasion and also to thank everyone who has supported us of Banavie, Corpach and Kinlocheil will also include sponsors (The Alexandra Hotel and the Ben north! there will be Afternoon Tea for all in Kilmallie Community Camaghael this year. Last year’s Show was a huge success. Nevis Distillery) and Mrs Jacqi Hume who This was the ninth annual Sixth Year trip coordinated the whole event. to London and was arranged for those who Centre on Saturday, June 20th. More details in the next In this year’s Schedule there are 2 recipes for you to try! The Burns Supper is the main fundraiser have met a standard of application, Newsletter. Schedules will be included in the next newsletter. for the annual Sixth Year trip to London, behaviour and uniform; setting a good Our Flower and Produce Show will take place in Kilmallie which took place just after the prelim example for younger pupils. Next year’s trip Community Centre on August 29th. The Show for residents The 2 Margarets examinations; a short break before is already booked – Fifth Years can sign-up focussing again on examination preparation. now. colonies of hibernating snails which can be rehomed well The biggest group so far took part in this away from your own plot! Time too, to start pruning roses year’s trip with 109 pupils and staff, in three Banavie Floral and late flowering clematis. coaches, travelling to the capital for a long- We planted another 200 daffodil bulbs in and around weekend of sightseeing, museum visits, activities and shows. The group was so large Banavie in the autumn and they are now growing well and it had to be split between two hotels, the Improvements we should have a good show again in March and April. Is Meininger and the Columbia. The snow has gone, from ground level at least, the days are there any sight more cheerful than a field of bright yellow The excited young people left Lochaber getting longer and spring is just around the corner. Writing flowers even on a dull day? High at 6.30 am on Thursday 19 February, this in mid-February I have snowdrops, daffodils, crocuses, It is now time to order our plants for the coming summer travelling throughout the day in time to iris and hellebores all in bloom in the garden, along with one and to start growing the begonia tubers which we saved check-in at their hotels and then head out from last year. Check them for vine weevil and then pot up for a meal at Carluccio’s restaurant. After a very enterprising rhododendron which has been in flower since early November, and there are green shoots poking up in compost, water and put in a bright place. They are star long day on the coaches, the two-mile walk May 31st Sunday ... Walk Heather’s performers in this area as they keep flowering for a very long back to the hotels was welcome exercise … everywhere in through the soil. Weeding and tidying up at for most. this time of year is satisfying after only being able to look out season and don’t mind getting wet. at it for the past few months. It also has the added Remember to keep feeding the birds as they need extra advantage of reducing the weed population later in the year. sustenance right through April until the first insects start to It is surprising how many annual, as well as perennial, weeds appear.

can survive a cold and frosty winter. You can also find Sheena McIntyre Highland Council area is is Belgium! as size same almost CouncilHighlandarea page 14 Kilmallie Community Centre page 15 We had an amazing Hogmanay with BBC Alba who hired the Centre will be available to any ambulance crew or member of the public to hold their Hogmanay Celebrations. A huge thank you to Jimmy who is trained on how to use this equipment. We have no doubt Milne our Centre Manager for showing the facilities to the that this additional facility for the community will help save lives in production team and for helping them organise their event. Also our area. thanks to Jimmy Smith and John MacDonald for helping with the The refurbishment of our toilets is well under way at the pre-event arrangements. The funds from this event have helped beginning of February so we apologise in advance for any towards match funding from the Highland Council for the toilet inconvenience during the refurbishment but it will be worth it! Do refurbishments at the Centre. It has also helped put Kilmallie come along and see the new look Kilmallie Community Centre Community Centre on the map with the event being on live TV, comfort facilities!

radio and world wide via the internet! We were sorry to receive the resignations of John MacDonald,

A big thank you to all those who came and supported our Xmas Margaret MacDonald and Jessie Henderson at our AGM in Fayre on Saturday 13/12/14. We raised £627.90 from the tables, November. They have each given so much of their time and efforts raffle, refreshments and the meat & veg table! This is a fantastic in bringing Kilmallie Community Centre back from the verge of result but it could not have happened without the support of all the being pulled down and getting it back into becoming the superb stall holders, public, committee members and Centre Manager but venue that it now is. Our heartfelt gratitude is passed to them and in particular Bobby and Jessie Henderson for organising the event! we wish them all the best for the future and hope that we will still Our congratulations to Maisie Dennison for winning the Clootie see them around at the various events that we hold going forward! Dumpling competition – she kindly donated the dumpling to Customers who have used the Centre over the past few weeks Lochaber Beekeepers Association who raised £20 in funds from are: Lochaber Community Wind Band, George Rodger Band, selling slices to keen dumpling munchers! birthday parties, Community Land, Baby Shower Party, Christmas We are delighted to announce that we had our recent Lights Committee, Baptism & celebration afterwards. Were you at the Kilmallie Community what lighting can do. Imagine if the hall drinks than the young lady serving was application approved by the British Heart Foundation and an award We hosted the switching on of the Corpach Christmas lights Centre for the BBC Alba 2014 ceilidh or was like that all the time as an back again, manoeuvring her way was granted towards the purchase of a Zoll AED plus defibrillator! ceremony with 100 folk in attendance, followed by refreshments in did you watch it on the television? Either entertainment venue. I jokingly asked through the crowd. The prices were also The funding for our contribution for this life-saving hardware was the small hall. We also hosted a Christmas carol service in the main way, what a great treat it was! I was some of the BBC people if they could reasonable for such an event, and the partly provided from the Lochaber Housing Association so our hall which was very well attended with one of the largest numbers very, very lucky and managed to obtain leave it all behind but they said they cool drink was needed as the heat of the thanks go again to them. The defibrillator is going to be put into a for the service and extra chairs were needed! some tickets to attend the event. I had were dismantling it all as soon as lights made it very, very hot in the hall. special cabinet by the Kilmallie Community Centre entrance and Our thanks go to our regular customers for supporting the seen an article on the forthcoming everyone left... they had a long night Well done to that young lady for looking Centre: The Mustardseed Fellowship, Mums & Toddlers, Ballet & ceilidh in the local paper and, as it gave ahead of them. after us! Contemporary Dancing, Zumba Class, Lochaber Beekeepers Association, Kick Boxing, Scottish Country Dancing, Kilmallie an e-mail address to contact for tickets, I Being there was an insight into some On the TV it seemed to go on for Community Council, Olde Tyme Dancing, Music for All. decided to give it a go. I did not hear of the magic of television: things are not ages but on the night it went by in a We look forward to a busy and successful year at Kilmallie back straight away so thought I was out always as they seem, or come out in the flash. It was really a great night, one of

th Community Centre for 2015! of luck and then on the 30 December I same order! the best New Year’s I have had in a long

received an e-mail saying that it was a The artists, including Skipinnish, time. The presenters, artists, people one of Kilmallie’s “women of inspiration” inspiration” of “women Kilmallie’s of one Sarah Kennedy

squeeze but they would be able to fit me Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band, Atomic Piseag, from the BBC and Tradewinds all worked inspiration” of “women oneKilmallie’s of , , in at a standing table if that would be ok. Seudan, The Leo and Anto Acoustic so well together to provide a great night Kilmallie Community Centre I wrote back saying yes please, and as it Project and Ellen MacDonald were and of course the hall committee Station Road, Corpach, Fort William PH33 7JH was my birthday on the night, I was brilliant, absolutely brilliant: no need to beavering away in the background and Scottish Charity SC000604 Kilmallie Community Centre really chuffed to get the opportunity of be coerced into foot stamping, clapping managing to bring the event to Kilmallie Highland White Blossom Tour CHAIRMAN post vacant at present some tickets. or cheering, they really had the room and organising it so well; a very big well Sunday 29 March, 7pm SECRETARY Mrs Norma MacLellan, I received confirmation and details on jumping and the time just flew by. A done! 12 Hillview Drive, Corpach, Fort William 01397 772597 st free admission the 31 , a nail biting wait, and early mystery first footer joined the party for Even getting our coats at the end was no TREASURER Mrs Sarah Kennedy 0776 880 5040 evening Jim and I and Carolyn and Pete the bells; I believe it was Dol Eoinn but problem at all. On leaving around 1:30, I wandered down to the hall on, cannot say for sure. spoke with Jimmy Smith, a committee thankfully, a night without rain, but We did our best to avoid getting member, and he was telling me they Have you got basic building and construction knowledge? there was a good wind blowing! We caught by the cameras but they found us would be upgrading the toilets in the Do you want to help remote areas of Lochaber benefit from advanced found a bit of a queue at the door as out a couple of times. I knew I had been near future; hopefully the hall managed Installation broadband? everyone’s name was being checked and caught on camera as I came home to an to receive some much needed funds Can you work on your own and problem solve on the job?

tables were allocated by name so it took e-mail timed not long after midnight from the event. Austin Marian Do you want rewarding work that can be timed to suit your HannahBarnes, a wee while to get in. from a colleague at work saying she had I remember attending dances in the circumstances? Everything was just brilliantly organised seen me on TV at the ceilidh. hall years ago. Now that this has been Engineer Then maybe you can help Locheilnet. though. A cloakroom was set up in the There were a few Kilmallie folk there such a success I hope that the foyer with 2 people manning it and our whose faces I recognised but I don’t committee will consider an annual New Locheilnet provides broadband to remote areas of Lochaber and we coats were taken and tickets given. We think the event was advertised much, Year’s Ceilidh for the Kilmallie cannot keep up with demand for our services. We need help to install antennas and cables to customers’ properties. were also given tickets for a drink at the apart from BBC Alba and the article in community; I am sure there would be Vacancies start of the night and one for the bells. the local paper, it may have been a many people in the community who Fixing small antenna to an outside location, running a cable through Tradewinds were running the bar both in mainly invited audience and, given the would volunteer to help. Ok the hall will to the inside and completing this neatly and quickly is all that is the small meeting room and table timing I was confirmed tickets, I have a not look quite the same ever again but I required. Own transport is essential as well as simple basic tools. service in the hall and the service from gut feeling that we only got in on a last am sure the atmosphere would be. It to tribute paying paying tribute to to tribute paying Specific training if required will be provided. start to finish was excellent. There was minute cancellation. was all just magical! Payment is per installation and there is potential work in all areas of somebody dishing out stovies in the I had rather a lot of gin and tonics on Lochaber. small meeting room but we decided just the night, well it was my birthday, but I Maggie Mackenzie to go straight on in to the main hall. managed to stay sober! Table service Check out the Locheilnet website for more information and give us a On first entering the hall it was truly was excellent and every drink I had was Did anyone manage to tape the call now if you think you can help. www.locheilnet.co.uk amazing: it really was literally stunning. served with ice and lemon and a smile; programme? If so, please can you get Chris Pellow 01397 773128 The set was fantastic. It is just amazing it seemed no sooner had we finished our in touch with KCC, thanks.

page 16 page paying tribute to Tania Ross, one of Kilmallie’s “women of inspiration” in need improvement of respondents of 79% park was thought the aimed at5 Theregreatest is equipment demand for green area openpicnic the 16% spaces and usearea, 30% the 20% the pathways, canal respondents of 34% usechildren’s the play drive,43% walk 34% park travel72% less the to get 2miles to than visit visit who 48% 23% occasionally, weekly were residents82% local Who Responded? wouldyou like join. to improving please so park, our in get touch if support that we have community our in for potentialshow to funderstheof level membershipis and free us really helps this due course). in Remember, youall(We willconfirm contact byto email Banavie too. ParkMembersway along the questionnaires gained and of 71 Friends overWe collated from information 180 May. theto back in Wild Go Canal the on Day Scouts and course, came everyone of who Toddlers, Jelly the Tots, and Beavers Cubs, Schools, Kilmallie Kilmallie Playgroup, Banavie, and Caol Lochyside Primary Kilmallie as area), aswell catchment a readershiptheof (covering whole the months! as you have sought views We from our publiclast 10 consultationover the Thank everyone youto responded who to withwithoutor offer, snow! amazing much how funslope can asmall sledgershaveIt’s certainly been. not equipment is tired, looking thelocal alittle snowmen park. atthe Even ifthe with kidssledging, skiing building and over action weeks,of the snowy last few Well, Banavie Parkhas certainly seen plenty

- 11 yrs friends ofBanaviePark

swing,stones, roundabout, logstepping adventurousgroupswing, slide, basket wish your some of lists amore were; those Caol. coming you from for On of suitable crossings, pedestrian particularly thein perimeter park of terms fencing and also haveYou concernssecurity with the of would like see footballgoals to these. on you highof priority manysome and for be preferred. are The greena spaces open thatpark the natural amore to would ‘look’ commentsthe thereand setting many were equipment suit to with boat acanal/ theme suggested any that innew we tied such you of number asagarden A maze. maintenance ambitious projects issues for whatsoever, the as wellof aswarnings few comments that nochange required was park should improved, be were there also a Although the people most thought that Provide biking facilities Improve the seating, area picnic, BBQ Preservespaces open green Provide a zip wire equipment There awiderneedof for isrange a The existing is park dated Create aclimbingarea facilityplay the in children Provide equipment older cater for to (in order popularity); of Most popular respondents from ideas Create biking facilities a wider needs range of Provide accessible meet to play equipment Provide a covered seatingarea sensory (joint) garden/maze Improve seating/create and picnic areas Preservespaces open green Updateplay equipment (in order preference/importance) of Your Future Priorities

and co. and Smith, Laura Pescod,VickyLouise Dodman Friends ofThe Banavie Park Team Spring! on Roll [email protected] Banavie www.facebook.com/pages/Friends boxes, page: Facebook our on https:// andKCC letter us feedback. Contact via the yourAs to forward views always welook andinvolved! get there’ll donateplenty opportunitybeto of fundraising campaign. space as this Watch need getto community started with our Before weapproachbig the funderswe ….Fundraising when it comesto…. member,digging into and pockets your keeping become touch, signingto a in up In thecan you help meantime, by us show you. when wehavedesigns some to outline whichnewsletter will be this in advertised skills We willloop. meeting hold apublic bike installersasmall track bike for scale designs prices asresearching and aswell approaching initialplay for park companies everyone’s We wishes! are now So there’smeet try and to do to alot Next Steps times! hopscotch, and oh trainsteam infothe on feature,boxes, bat BBQ toilets, tables, nature sunken trampoline, awater trail,

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the reallyhe story,but there have is to as narratorrole and of general of chaperone have agreat time. like you’re helping really to audience the likeand feeling the being feeling of stage on Seussical.now There’selse reallynothing enjoyed minute Oliver, every Annie of and theworld of Showstoppers, and I’ve introduced Iwas now ago wonderful the to me musical to 3years theatre, but about shows mustintroducing take first creditfor you. only for we’re working socksgetting our ready off it thisbrilliant, musical,little reallyis and fun a but wholeheartedly Icanpromiseyou that That might because be it’s show, amodern “Huh? it!” never I’ve Seussical? of heard Seussical always: reaction is the and nearly the LochaberShowstoppers putting are on “The Cat’s official designation in is the “The high excellent and school their

Clare Reynolds Reynolds Clare please me 01397712802. contact on Lochaberinterested gettingFor in with then Music All involved futureor are would more you likeinformation If concerts. them. get musicYou help awonderful eveningof and support support this music alongenjoy is come of and concerts wealth to group then wewouldvery be the grateful, However, easiest to way theyourus could make help with to or adonation fundraising andour area atacost but ifanybodyis course of always feels it fortunateso have to thesebrilliant to talented and come musicians Lochaber Musichelp neededForAll. We are funds raisemuch for willfinalof this concert also an host to series afternoon which tea forward to welook understandingso now theour And of music. thewhich really the pieces himself Duncan to from added enjoyed. with Theof concert inspired wonderful introductions was thewas used venue firstthis time andwe greatly was had it Bridge. place the concert took in This Kilmallie Free which Church, featuring cellist grewDuncanStrachan local who up Roy near monthcoming weheard Maxwellthe up very Quartet and technicalcharm! On expertise allthe lastof the and round day and London from really the wowed audience their musicality, with outstanding quartet Kaleidoscopeagain saxophone who came January we warmedthe from coldsthe winter withfrom music with visualplants the were imagesthey In of playing about. www.lochabershowstoppers.co.uk Brewer Clare See there! you theof caststrut stuffin their Seussical. effects emerging." will be quite miraculouslittle special afew message.Also reliably am there (I informed) moving and quite has an important actual the story of showis surprisingly whirlwind. Adultstoo, and will loveit the bits pokingall out areal them, over humour, colourful sets with little Seuss Great kids, for over lots of learningdone. be to rhyme, of which requires awhole lot almost the isshow or entiresung, spokenin in thehave that with struggled fact the cast keepof us Ithink most the Asshow, fit! for muckinghelping me about. certainly That’s runninghither thither and generally and enormous energy, amount always of sheer pace moves at.Heneeds cat the an heart. ultimately everyone’s best has interests at sometimes thinkto abit annoying, I like he the he’s Seussian although and world, a whole different host of characters from possible.hereup playing Hepops there and as much fun cause much and havoc as Do come and come FergusDo watch and rest the “ “ It reallya musical. isof gem alittle such I have try to and keep up the with

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17 page paying tribute to Isabel Campbell, one of Kilmallie’s “women of inspiration”

On Boxing Day we were officially back on home turf. The day was page 18 made extra special for the players as they were piped out on to the page 19 pitch by two of our Youth Players, our Youth Section also provided ball boys, and P6-7 Player of the Year presented the Match ball to Kilmallie Shinty Club the Captains before the kick-off. It was heart-warming to see such Kilmallie Shinty Club is now a Limited Company and here are the 18th April Aberdeen University Vs Kilmallie a great turn out of supporters for our pitch opening and everyone Forthcoming Home Fixtures new Directors: 25th April Glenorchy Vs Kilmallie was treated to a free cup of homemade soup and a lovely warm roll Kilmallie Vs Skye courtesy of the LRFC Ladies. After the match, Club President, Sat 28 March 3pm Lochaber –v- Aberdeenshire II Honorary Chieftain Hugh MacIntyre 2nd May Kilmallie Vs Kinlochshiel Alistair MacKinnon gave a welcoming speech, thanking everyone Honorary President Ewen Bowman 9th May Kilmallie Vs Aberdeen University for coming and all involved in the ‘behind the scenes work’ for the Sat 04 April 3pm Lochaber –v- RAF Lossiemouth Chairman Alastair MacIntyre 16th May Beauly Vs Kilmallie pitch improvements and then with their complementary glass of Vice Chairman James MacIntyre Lewis Vs Kilmallie bubbly a toast was given to the club and the future… Sat 02 May 12 noon Annual Sevens Tournament Company Secretary Linda Campbell 23rd May Kilmallie Vs Boleskin it’s great to be back. Wed 06 May 9am–3pm Annual Inter-School Tag Rugby Directors: Peter Jackson Maureen Robertson 30th May Kilmallie Vs Strathspey

Tournament Andrew Brown Cath MacKay Youth Rugby Donald Robertson Ian Robertson Some other What's Ons: Our Youth Rugby takes place every Saturday during school term, for Lachie Innes Donald Lamont Jnr Donald Lamont Snr Mark MacPherson Saturday 7th March Lochaber Strathspey and Reel Society

boys and girls P3-S2. New players of all abilities are welcome. Our coaches are SRU qualified and the club has a Positive Coaching Annual Fiddlers Rally Accreditation. Parents are welcome to stay and have a cup of tea Our new 1st team manager is Mark MacPherson, Dugald MacPhee Caol Community Centre at 7.30pm or coffee in our Clubhouse and get to know the other mums and is the reserve team manager, Nicola MacIsaac is the Under dads. We are hosting a Mini Rugby Festival on Sunday 19th April 17's manager and Lachie Innes is the under 14's manager. Training Monday 16th March Whist in Caol Community Centre at 7.30pm 2015. We have friendly fixtures arranged for our S1-2’s and U17’s is going well, with the whole club training at the Astro Turf fundraiser for LRET - fortnightly whist throughout the season. on Monday night at 7pm and the seniors at the Astro Turf on a Wednesday night at 6.30pm. Friday 20th March Whist in Caol Community Centre at 7.30pm fundraiser for MOD 2017 Lucky Mascot The new shinty season started on the 7th March: here are the Our P6-7 player of the year, Fergus Beradelli is going to be a Mascot forthcoming fixtures (subject to change):- Monday 13th April to Friday 17th April for the international game against Ireland at Murrayfield on Children's holiday Club at An Clachan. soon... Kilmallie in st Saturday 21 March 2015… our Youth Section is also going to 21st March GMA Vs Kilmallie 4-8 year olds watch the game so Fergus will have lots of Lochaber support from Caberfeidh Vs Kilmallie 10am to 2pm - £12 per child per day. the crowd. Watch out for him in the line out before the kick-off. 28th March Kilmallie Vs Caberfeidh To book 01397 708642 Inverness Vs Kilmallie Dinner Dance 4th April Kilmallie Vs Inverness - 3pm Friday 17th April Whist in Caol Community Centre at 7.30pm Our Annual Dinner Dance & Awards Ceremony is Kilmallie Vs Lewis - 1pm Fundraiser for MOD 2017 being held on Saturday 21st March 2015 in the 11th April Kilmallie Vs Kilmory Moorings Hotel. Tickets (£25 each) are now on Ballachulish Vs Kilmallie Linda Campbell sale and available from Pauline, phone or text her on 07979 338286. We are looking forward to another great night and dancing off the delicious dinner with the help of Eriskay Lilt. Non- a forgotten hero from a forgotten war ?

members are welcome; tables of 8 can be With the200th anniversary of Waterloo This ends with the statement "Reader, reserved. being commemorated nationally and call not his fate untimely, who thus the rugby pitch back in use in back pitch rugby the internationally, this is a good time to honoured and lamented, closed a life of You can keep up to date with the news reflect on a local hero who's contribution fame by a death of glory". from Banavie via any of the options to the campaign is marked by the below. imposing obelisk erected in his memory. With the 200th anniversary that this

Colonel John Cameron of Fassifern, after monument remembers now imminent, Pauline Donaldson 20 years of military service, lost his life at the Local History Society has been

the battle of Quatre Bras on the 16th of successful in securing the funding www.lochaberrfc.co.uk Pictures, from top: June 1815, two days before the victory of required to have conservation work Fergus Beradelli, pipers and teams on Boxing Day

Waterloo that brought peace to Europe. carried out on the obelisk, and cleaning someLiberty trees The Duke of Wellington, as Commander in and highlighting of text on the Chief, recognised his achievements and information plaque. The generous award lamented his loss and he was from the Centennial War Memorials Trust

Great see to commended in dispatches after the and other donors, recognises that this is a battle. monument of national importance. It is hoped that this work will ensure that the His remains were brought home the monument is secure for years to come. following year and he was buried in the This work will commence in April, and the family crypt at old Kilmallie Church, anniversary on 16th June will be Corpach. It was reported that over three remembered by an occasion of some thousand people attended at this funeral, kind. We are unlikely to have as many as

making it the largest ever such occasion in three thousand at this distance from the hoping we might see see might we hoping the area. But after two hundred years, event! but all would be welcome. who remembers this man today? The best reference comes from a memoir I’ll be giving a short presentation at the published in 1858 by the local Minister April 2nd meeting of the Local History Rev Archibald Clerk, but this is no longer Society, on aspects of this subject. Ben in print and copies are difficult to obtain. Nevis Hotel , 8pm, open to all. Sir Walter Scott was an admirer, composed verse about him, and was Roddy Mainland commissioned to produce the tribute that is on the marble plaque on the obelisk. The garlic is growing well, we had enough chillis last year page 23 page 20 Lochaber Beekeepers Association green fingers to feed an army, also had success with lemongrass so OK for page 21 lots of Thai cooking! The wild birds have eaten us out of house and home this What will our honeybees Garden in spring winter. Apparently whole peanuts are dangerous for baby at the Training Apiary be Spring is on its way!!! Exciting times ahead, snowdrops are birds so make sure the nuts are in feeders. We have dogs nearly past, daffodils almost out and all manner of bulbs who would be quite partial to a baby bird or two so we are doing in the Spring? popping up. Birds are also thinking about nesting so check quite careful to check for small feathery things hopping

trees etc before trimming them. about before we let the girls out. Hopefully by the time you read this newsletter it will be the Pruning can begin now on apple, plum, pear trees, also Happy gardening beginning of spring! In spring there is an abundance of fruit bushes and roses. Also a good idea to mulch round the flowers, rich in pollen and nectar, and the bee colony base and give a feed. I cut the clematis down with varying

Morag Mackell expands rapidly. The number of young bees increases degrees of success as I lose labels, so not entirely sure what quickly because of the abundance of food. Worker bees variety I am dealing with. As a rule of thumb, the ones that have special parts of their body for transporting food. flower early are left alone until after they have flowered and Nectar is carried in a part of their stomach. Pollen is carried tidied up then. The large-flowered summer varieties get cut on their hind legs. half way and the rest get cut to about 4”, then feed them with sulphate of potash and cross your fingers. This The hive entrance is a bustle of activity of workers arriving ‘method’ seems to work fine.

with pollen and nectar. The picture on the right shows a Now the seeds have arrived it is time to plant sweet peas. worker in close-up, with large dollops of pollen sticking to I have found, after years of trial and error that about 4-5 the hind legs. Only the left leg is visible, but both hind legs seeds in a 4” pot works best as they don’t need to be re- carry pollen. potted and just be planted out near the end of May. All the plants that have over-wintered in the greenhouse or As the weather becomes warmer and the flow of nectar conservatory get re-potted into fresh compost and tidied up. into the hive increases, the beekeeper will want to Also time to remember where you put the begonia and encourage the bees to store some of this nectar as honey Next talk dahlia tubers. We always lose a number of begonias to vine which can be harvested for sale. How is this done? Saturday 28 March 2015 at 2pm - Tony Riome from Ayr weevils so pick them over carefully before potting up. The beekeeper must secure a crop of honey by providing Beekeepers Association is coming to talk to us on There are still Brussels sprouts and cabbage growing: these

Saturday 28th March 8:30pm 8:30pm March Saturday28th the bees with space in which to put it. Look at the hives in "Beekeeping Mistakes" and "Gardening for Pollinators" at can be hung up in a garage or shed and will keep quite well the picture above centre. They are of different heights, the Kilmallie Community Centre, Station Road, Corpach, Fort for a decent length of time. right one has had additional boxes of frames for combs, William, PH33 7JH. The cost will be £3 to non-members to When planting seeds etc in your nice clean tidy called a super, added on top of the main one. As more help towards the cost of the event. We hope you can join greenhouse, make sure you use the correct compost. We use frames of comb are needed for honey, so they are added by us! seed compost and then transfer to potting on when the the beekeeper. plants are big enough. Beginners Course We are very pleased to announce that we are carrying out a It is important not to allow the queen into these upper boxes of comb to lay eggs, as this would result in larvae Beekeeping Beginners course funded by Highlife Highland being mixed up in the honey. This is done by inserting a at West Highland College UHI on 17,18,24,25 March 2015 special screen, called a queen excluder (picture below), from 6.30-9pm. This course will cover all aspects of between the bottom box, containing the queen and bee beekeeping! If you wish to book a place then please larvae, and the upper boxes, which will contain the honey. contact Janice on 01397 874270 or The holes are large enough to allow worker bees to crawl [email protected].

through, carrying their loads of nectar, into the upper We have enjoyed some excellent workshops Following our season of interesting and Nov 27 till collected getting now bins brown boxes. They are too small to allow the queen through, so If you would like us to bring the bees along and give a talk this year already including collage at The Hub diverse workshops we will host the she remains confined to the bottom box. to your group or if you would like more information about with Dorothy Kelly, drawing and painting at ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION at Ben Nevis what we do then please do call me Glencoe with tutor Alan Anderson from Distillery from Saturday 23rd May till Argyll, and Mixed Media at An Clachan with Wednesday 3rd June. ALL WELCOME ! Sarah Kennedy tutor Bella Green from Lockerbie. Anyone interested in joining or finding 07768 805040 or e-mail [email protected] Our final class of this season Life Drawing out more about activities please see our with Alan McGowan from Leith School of website artlochaber.co.uk or ring me on Art takes place 14/15 March. 01397 772806 or Dorothy on 01855 821 296.

Lorna Finlayson

it’s spring! it’s

lightsearth for out hour... this is probably the last issue before the referendum before issue last is this the probably silverfish, and where we hoped to find out more about their habits page 22 by deploying a mooring with an echosounder which will ping all page 23 through the Antarctic winter, searching for silverfish. wild passage to Our passage across the Ross Sea, southwest to Terra Nova was a murky one. Having been at sea without sight of land for weeks, we were excited by the prospect of seeing the continent. But grey fog and snow surrounded us from dawn, and there seemed little about Terra Nova Bay hope of a dramatic arrival at the bay. And arrival itself was not even a certainty. Bands of sea ice between us and the bay had been Terra Nova Bay, on the western shores of the Ross Sea in heavy in recent days, and we weren’t sure we would be able to get kilmallie Antarctica, lies at 74 South and 164 East. Flanked by steep, icy cliffs through. and 3000m mountains, the snowy massiveness of the environment The afternoon drew on, and we pushed on through the pancake is everything you would picture if asked to conjure a vision of the ice, sea ice that forms when the surface freezes and the sea Tracking in the Snow Antarctic continent. becomes a continuous mass of round ice plates. And then the What were we doing there? Russell Leaper and I are currently The cold weather this last winter was great snowy mists seemed to thin, and shapes emerged on the horizon. at sea on the RV Tangaroa, a research ship working on a joint New Land? The shapes seemed too big; maybe just cloud? No, definitely for following footprints in the snow, with Zealand/Australian voyage studying Antarctic ecosystems. Our role overnight sprinkings providing the perfect land – the huge jaggedy-toothed bulk of Cape Washington on the in the project is to research the region’s Antarctic blue whales, and medium for fresh tracks. The most obvious north entrance to the Bay, guarded by powerful icebergs, with the try to assess whether their numbers are increasing after the terrible around us are those of the pine martens, snowy mountains of Ross Island to the south in the distance. effects of mid 20th Century whaling. which wander all around the house and Slowly, from the mountains upwards, a thin slice of pale blue However, we’re lucky enough to be working with marine garden. The martens have surprisingly large sky began to push upwards, the sun muscling its way through the scientists from many other fields of study too, so we can look at feet, which leave large prints. A good cloud and illuminating the glaciers. By dinner time, it was sharp, still how whales fit into the Antarctic food web as a whole, and who is imprint may show the five claws on each blue sky all round, with even some warmth in the Antarctic sun, eating whom – from tiny plant plankton, to animal plankton, to bright on the snowy plateaus, slowly fading to pink as the sun set at foot signs, but the usual impression is of an small fish, all the way up to seabirds, seals, penguins and whales. elongated paw. The trails often meander, around midnight. One of the fish that the fisheries scientists onboard are showing where the martens deviate to By then the mooring was successfully deployed, and will be interested in is Antarctic silverfish. They are very important prey for investigate some smell or rustle, and rarely recovered in about a year, hopefully full of data on the winter a variety of species, but we would like to know more about their follow a straight line. Marten trails can also movements of the silverfish, another piece of the Antarctic food spawning and migration. be easily seen along the canal towpath and web jigsaw falling into place. And so to Terra Nova Bay in the Ross Sea, a hotspot for through the Erracht forestry. We even found Susannah Calderan a trail that had ventured out onto the snow- covered ice on the canal itself, although the animal simply wandered out into the middle

and went back again – who knows why? 16th to 30th May 30th to 16th What has surprised us rather more are the number of fox tracks around. The paw print has a diamond shape, with four claws, as opposed to the rounder dog print, and often along the Glen Loy road on the riverside the claw marks of the middle two toes can verge, until we eventually saw the culprits – be seen. Foxes tend to walk in straight lines two hinds that has crossed over the river and also make good use of the canal and were lurking on the far bank. Red deer towpath. Judging from the variety of print tracks are large with rounded cleats. Often Susie? and Russell than south further gone sizes there are several foxes around. Indeed, in deep snow they also leave a secondary we followed a set right along the canal and imprint of heir dew claws behind the main down into the boggy fields by the Lochy. As cleat pattern. Roe deer prints are much these were fresh prints we hoped to see the neater and smaller, and often quite deep. fox, and were rewarded by the sight of a The cleats are pointed and the prints are large, furry, dog-fox, hunting in the rush therefore sharp and delicate in appearance, tussocks for mice and voles. It was oblivious as opposed to the larger, parallel cleats with to our presence and patiently watched and blunt ends of sheep. waited before pouncing into the snow. Once Small mammals have also been the fox finally got wind of us and ran off we surprisingly active in the snow. We have Thanks to Angela Mercer for photos, top to went to see what it had been up to and found several sets of mouse or vole prints bottom: otter print, underground vole trail. fox clearly saw that its prints were much larger crossing from one side of a forest track to print, pine marten print. than the ones we had been following another, often disappearing into holes in the earlier. snow. These must make an easy target from be those of herons. Underneath the bird We were also delighted to find a set of predators against the white snow, but we feeders smaller versions of this pattern are wild lochaber festival festival lochaber wild otter prints by the gate at Loy Bridge. The only found signs where one had met an repeated as a variety of chaffinches, robins, otter had clearly come up the track from the untimely demise. Perhaps more strikingly dunnocks and blackbirds mosey around canal tunnel, made a brief foray into the we found the trails where rodents had been looking for food’ These tracks are most likely adjacent field and then turned back towards tunnelling just underneath the surface of to show two footprints side by side, as the the river. In fresh snow otter prints are quite the snow. These looked just like miniature birds hop as opposed to walk. Larger birds large and splayed, and a good one will show white mole runs. Where the snow meets the hopping through deep snow may also leave all five claws, with a hint of the webbing grass is a layer of warmer air that allows an imprint of their tail behind them. Judging between them. Badger tracks, also to be small animals to move about and feed, from this type of trail, crows commonly land

seen along the canal, are also easily insulated from the cold above. No doubt as on one side of a forest track then hop across has anyone in Kilmallie Kilmallie in anyone has recognised as they have 5 long parallel claws voles move around this zone they push up to the other before flying off again. Quite with a generally narrow pad print behind little mounds of snow above them. what they are up to is anyone’s guess, but them. Birds also leave clear tracks in the snow, trying to make sense of tracks in the snow The deer have also been out in force and and these too can be fun to investigate. can provide hours of cheap entertainment fresh prints should also alert the tracker to Webbed feet could belong to ducks or gulls, while the white stuff lasts.

the presence of the animals themselves. We while larger tracks with typically three toes Jon Mercer were following two sets of red deer prints pointing forward and one back are likely to Glenloy Wildlife page 24 congratulations Mac! page 25 beagan eachdraidh The little We’re delighted to announce that Mac wins FOCAL’s £20 prize for the best picture of a dog enjoying the worst of the weather beside, on, or in the canal West Highland between Corpach and Moy, whilst NOT wearing a “fetching tweed coat” (see Bhanbhaidh agus full story in June 2014 issue of the newsletter). FOCAL have donated a further train £20 to local Scottish Canal funds. Many thanks to all the dogs who entered. (Friends of Caledonian Canal Lochaber)

Top: (winner) Four year old Mac tells us he walks the bailtean “Let the train take the strain.” This well known canal twice a day 365 days of the year. We loved his slogan gave me the idea for a poem – one which intense concentration on the water, oblivious of the cold and wet. It’s also a beautiful portrait in colour, children might enjoy. I enjoy trains myself and much croitearachd eile prefer them to buses for a long journey. texture and light. Thainig teaglach mathair m’athair gu Bhanbhaidh bho Cheann middle row: Loch Airceig aig toiseach an naoidheamh linn deug. I’m a little West Highland train, left - Smokey at the very start of the canal at the

Corpach basin last autumn. We loved the quality of Down to Glasgow and back again, light in this photo, and the way the winter sun is Bha riaghaltas Breatainn air Oighreachd Loch Iall a' gabhail Leaving Mallaig at break of day reflected off Smokey’s beautiful coat. tharis às dèidh bliadhna Thearlaich. Rinn Coimisean nan Lochs and mountains along my way, middle: springer spaniel Lucy, at Corpach. She just Oighreachd Arfuntaichte tuathanasan mòra le Banbhaidh, A’ Whether it’s snow or frost or rain. makes us smile every time we look at this picture! Chorpaich, Taobh Lòchaidh agus Moigh Siorralaich. Tha dùil agam right: Ted looks so cosy in his own woolly coat and Clickity clack, I’ll be back again. the canal looks beautifully atmospheric. gum bhiodh na h-àiteachan sin nan tac, air an leigeil a mach air bottom row: mhàl do luchd-dàimh Loch Iall ro àm Chùil Lodair. Bhiodh mòran I’ve lots of stops along my way. left - it’s great the way the snow and ice accentuate daoine bochd air lotaichean fhaighinn agus feannagan a togail People out for a shopping day, the structure of the Shengain aqueduct. Labbie agus àitich fo ùghdarrais an fhir-taca. Fhuair Henry Butter, Climbers and walkers along the route Abbie looks so cosy and content in the snow. ceannard a’ Choimisean, A’ Chorpaich air mhàl agus fhuair fear Happy to hear my loud too-oot, right - a bitterly cold portrayal of Banavie basin. Tearlach Stiubhart, fear lagha, Banbhaidh, ach, as dèidh greis, Maybe Niko is coveting Kshama’s pink down jacket? Tourists enjoying the scenic view – See the photos in colour at www.kilmallie.org.uk thug Butter, fear sanntach, coirbte, Banbhaidh thairis cuideachd Majestic mountains and roe deer too.

agus talamh ionaltraidh ri taobh Loch Airceig. aqueduct Torcastle to I greet the folk at each small station A rèir aithisge a sgrìobh Uileam Moiresdan airson a’ Sounding my horn in jubilation, Choimisean ann an 1775 thog Butter taigh mòr, spaideil anns a’ Climbing now on Rannoch moor Chorpaich agus chuairtaich e na achaidhean le ballaichean I reach the top of the hill – Corrour. chloiche, a' cur às dhan t-seann dòigh obrach nam feannagan no Over the moors I go and then run-rig. Anns an dòigh seo thàinig an ar-a-mach àiteachais Cill By Loch Lomond go down again. Mhalaidh. Queen Street soon, the end of the line, Fhuair Loch Iall, ogha Loch Iall aig àm bliadhna Thearlaich, an I’ll rest a while but be right on time oighreachd air ais ann an 1784. Bha fiachan mòra aice agus bha For I’m a little West Highland train aice ri càin de £3433 9s 1d a phàigheadh dhan riaghaltas. Bha an and back to Mallaig I’ll go again. oighreachd fo smachd urrasair o chionn gun robh Loch Iall na bhalach òg, dìreach ochd bliadhna a dh'aois. Thòisich iad màil a Ruth Miller chur an àirde agus daoine bochda fhuadach gus tuathanasan mòra chaora a' cruathachadh.

Cha robh Banbhaidh, A' Chorpaich agus Moigh Siorralaich dìreach from any Gaelic poets and short story writers, all ages! ages! all storywriters, short and poets Gaelic any from cho luachmhòr mar tuathanasan as dèidh togail a' chanàl agus chuir Loch Iall roimhe na àiteachan sin a thoirt dhan daoine a chaidh am fuadach bho cheann Loch Airceig. Feumaidh mi aideachadh nach eil mi cinnteach cuin a thachair sin. Chreid

m'athair gun d'ràinig a shinnsearan bho Ghleann Deas Àirigh, aig happy 200th birthday ceann Loch Airceig, c1840; fhuair iad croit ann an Banbhaidh agus obair air an ath-thogail mòr a bha a' dol air adhart air a' chanàl aig an àm sin. Thuirt e gun do dh'fhalbh mòran dhuibh do Bhictoria ann an Astràilia nuair a thàinig an obair gu crìoch ann an 1848 air sàillibh gainnead fearainn. Tha beagan trioblaid agam leis a' chunntas a tha seo ged-tà. A rèir An t-Urramach Somhairle The little West Highland train crossing Rannoch Moor Mac a' Mhaoilein, chaidh munntir Ghleann Deas Àirigh am photo Alan Mitchell fuadaich ann an 1804 agus chaidh a chlàradh anns na clàraidhean Sgìre Cill Mhalaidh gun tuirt Loch Iall ann an 1810 gun robh e

airson nan tuathanasan ri taobh a' chanàil a thoirt do croitearan. Tha fios againne, cuideachd, gun do thug Iain Camshron soon to be published (Coirechoille) taobh Loch Airceig thairis, uile gu lèir, bho Alasdair Dòmhnallach, Gleann Comhann, agus Iain Caimbeul, Gleann The Iubhar, ann an 1834 agus am fearann fo chaoraich mar tha. Tha aon rud cinnteach ged-tà. Bha Banbhaidh làn dhaoine, anns na seann làithean, air an robh ainmean mar Camshron, Mac a' Cinderella Murders by Corpach author David Cargill Mhaoilein agus Mac-a-phì a bha cumanta aig cheann Loch Airceig ro àm nan fuadaichean. we'd love we'd contributions FOCAL were sad to hear of the extensive Provisional date for David’s book launch is - (A translation of this will be provided later) Thursday 18th June at Kilmallie Community Centre lengthcanal of time has theto Ron Cameron Final details to be confirmed STOP PRESSdamagethe to canal March.Cullochy due toAll Weir thecredit inextreme the to Scottishmiddle weather district beCanals of closed. 7/8 of for mobilisingmaking repairs plans really to minimise quickly the &

page 26 On a map of 1850 is shown a Poorhouse at Camaghael - not shown page 27 history snippets - by 1900. Not so long ago this area was well known for its potatoes and milk production. picture quiz no 5 In our December 2014 issue, our picture quiz was this photo of Banavie taken in 1896 which had been sent in by Andy Banavie has the rather unique and famous Neptune’s Staircase. In Banavie Goodwin from Sweden. We asked if this house was still standing and whether anyone could figure out exactly where the the Glasgow Herald of 1822 it is quoted "the Staircase was a picture was taken. It only took a few days to solve, with thanks to Ron Cameron, Joanne MacGillivray and Neil McBride. memorable construction costing £50,000 and was the greatest Remembering Hugh Muir again in this, the first of his mass of masonry in the world"! The strip of ground to build the collections of snippets about the history of Banavie and canal from Loch Lochy to Corpach was sold by Lochiel for £2,000. surrounding areas which he sent us before he died. With

thanks as ever to Hugh’s family for permission to publish it.

Work on the canal started in 1803 but it was not until 1822 that the

first through voyage was made. The Staircase was constructed in Where is Banavie ? Roughly from the main road Corpach sign the shorter period of 1807-1811. The two bow-windowed large and about 300 yards from the shore on the south side, then along canal houses were built during this time. They were built for the the west side of the Blar and up towards Muirshearlich. Prior to lock-keepers but were used initially by construction masons etc. construction of the canal this was a fairly scattered and thinly Labourers were paid 1803 1/6 - 1/8d per day populated area although up to 100 crofts were said to be in the 1814 2/4 - 2/6d per day area. Over the last 60 or so years there has been considerable It appears that Banavie quarry was not a major supplier of stone expansion in housing. compared with other named sources. The quarry was not known to be used again until it was reopened in the late 1940s by Wilsons The name Banavie: with Tom Gardner as Manager. Banavy (1461) Banivy (1492) Banaventa While the names are known of at least 13 steamboats which plied Banbhaidh the canal, the last was the Gondolier. The Gondolier stopped attic? the in Banbha (Irish) regular sailings in 1939 having started in 1886. Queen Victoria What does Banavie mean ? There are numerous interpretations: sailed on her. In 1860 the cost of a ticket, Banavie to Inverness, young suckling pig was 6d. In 1927 the steamer to Inverness left Banavie 11.20am and fair face of a slope arrived 7pm. For comparison the Fort William to Inverness bus high place took 4½hours. foot of gap The original Canal road crossing was at the third lock up (next to Where is Camaghael ? It is now known as the area on the north the Moorings). The first road from here to the River Lochy was section of the Blar all on the West of the River Lochy. constructed starting in 1804. That was to the Lochy Ferry, with the What does Camaghael mean ? Suggested as Bay of the Fields. first Lochy Bridge being built in 1849. Hugh Muir The earliest claimed ‘event’ in the Banavie area was by a Glenfinnan priest. In 1948 his research showed that the Romans had reached Banavie and c389 St Patrick was born there!

for their contributions to the Kilmallie timeline timeline Kilmallie tothe contributions their for

About 1740 Lochiel had a large ditch dug across the Blar from Banavie to the river Lochy in an attempt to dry up the area.

Hundreds of years ago, before there was a Fort, Banavie was known The house in Andy Goodwin's fascinating photo was situated improvement to the canal that happened at that time. as a trading post - one item mentioned was antlers. on or near the driveway down to "Corrieglen" at the crest of Notwithstanding my father’s reputation as an expert on local In the early 1770s it was reported that there were few trees in the hill on the B8004 before it begins the descent to Seangan history, I am inclined to question this account as I think the Corpach and Banavie. Bridge. Its location can be established on a map as it lines up, Glen Dessary clearances happened in 1804. in the photo, with Inverlochy Castle and the snow patch Badabrie means Lochaber Man`s Thicket, or Wood of Lochaber. below the first platform of the NE Buttress on the Ben. My father also said that initially most of the crofters Lochiel lived here for a short time between living at Torcastle and Initially I wasn't sure about this as the present tree cover constructed turf walled houses which were abandoned when moving to Achnacarry in 1665. It was also the home of Butter, makes it difficult to see all the landscape features that most of the population emigrated to Australia when the estate factor, before he moved to Corpach House - believed to have appear in the photo. However Joanne MacGillvray, Dontra, canal work dried up in 1848. Turf houses were common in been in the now Canal / Kilmallie Road area. A hillock to the west The structure of Neptune’s Staircase exposed to view during repairs. Photo: and Neil McBride are both convinced of the location and I the Central Highlands, Badenoch and Speyside, but less so in of Badabrie is Tom a Chrochaidh = hill of hanging. Alex Gillespie, courtesy of Scottish Canals am sure they are right. The photo also shows a bend in the the west and in the islands. It is therefore possible that the river and Lochan nam Beisean (the wee loch of the beasts, wee house in the picture dated from before the division of possibly otters) on the other side of the river. This also helps Banavie into crofts and was the home of a worker, sub- to locate the house. In the 1950s there was an abandoned tenant or cottar on the original Banavie farm. Donald ten house on this site that had been the home of Jessie Glen. MacCulloch speculated that Mount Alexander, a short Jessie Glen's was a square cornered, modern structure and distance from that house in pre-canal days, was the original may have been built on the site of the house in the photo, farm house, occupied by the tenant in chief. although I half remember some older ruins beside it. years I am really pleased to have had a chance to see that photo. people and place Kilmallie of photos old any The house in the photo is interesting. It has rounded corners Thanks to Andy Goodwin. and no chimney, said to be a features of homes built before ago 1800. My father believed that Banavie had been a farm Ronald Cameron before the construction of the canal and was broken up for

thanks Christine to Martin & this snip is taken from crofts which were rented to Camerons, MacMillans and PS The house in the photo was at, or near, OS grid ref Kilmallie Community News Issue 21, MacPhees who had been removed from Glen Dessary, at the NN126787 February 2005 head of Loch Arkaig. He said this happened about 1840 and that the people found employment in the repairs and

page 28

did you pass anything on for Highland Council’s Pass It On Week?

letters Support Worker allocated tothe area Worker Support with the to get wishing touch in Lochaber theirchildren. and place safe a them for finding assistance in support or group legal advocacy, advice), benefits, (housing, help that can agencies other with liaising rights, women’s on information include servicesprovided The of wide range background. cultural sensitive to the women’s accessible and a lot more offered make to the services the project Romanian) and hopes (Polish languageskills with workers additional 3support the employmentof Through of abuse. domestic perceptions cultural different skills and language English to tolimited agenciesspeaking due in little theseconfidence include need, they help the getting facecommunities in European Eastern women from it.result of a as homelessness combat tohelp support emotional withand practical abuse domestic womenaffected by European Skye. & Lochaber Ross Sutherland, & Caithness across Europe Eastern women from services forproject a to providing Fund the BigLottery from received funding haveAid recently Women’s Lochaber Ross you think about newsletter,the and feedback. Please let know us what write write usto with your news views There are specific barriers that barriers specific are There eastern projectThe to aims provide Eastern European Women across Women European Eastern We love toreceive letters and - shire, Caithness & Sutherland and and Sutherland & Caithness shire, questions and answers

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page 29 unsung heroes... all thanks to Kilmallie’s tireless star litterpickers

though, they have all been wonderful friends & companions at page 30 home and I wouldn’t be without them. page 31 focus on folk My musical interests have continued as a hobby throughout my lifetime, and I have played in many orchestras over the years. Thanks this time Currently I play in the Showstoppers Band for their stage musicals to Lorna Ungoed-Thomas from Banavie in Fort William, with Highland Chamber Orchestra who have for telling us about her life and interests. concerts throughout the Highlands, and with a Heriot-Watt University group called Inchcolm New Music Ensemble which has a I was born in Edinburgh into a very musical family. My mother, weeks’ course in Knoydart or Ardtornish every summer followed by grandfather, two uncles & two aunts were all professional classical concerts in Edinburgh.

musicians, so as children my brothers & I were surrounded by Gardening is my other main hobby and this has just grown up music. At the age of around six I started to learn the violin, being over the years by chance rather than design due to having a rather picture taught by one of my aunts, Edna Arthur, who was well known in large garden! I enjoy exhibiting at the local Flower & Produce both classical & traditional circles at that time. I also learned Shows and have been fortunate enough to win many rosettes & clarinet as a second instrument – my brothers played trumpet & trophies over the last few years.

quiz French horn but Mum wouldn’t let me take up the trombone! My work as a vet has brought me into contact with lots of However the violin remained my first love and I might have chosen wonderful characters, both animal and human, over the years, and music as my career had I not also developed my love of & interest has been a career of great challenges and rewards. in animals. This was an out of character thing for our family as we no 6 had only ever had a rabbit & some fish as pets & we had no other Lorna Ungoed-Thomas animal connections. Perhaps it was a rebellion against the Where in Kilmallie engineers in the family as Dad & both my brothers went down that is this? path. I always wanted to be Zoo Vet, but alas that was not to be. and how long So I studied Veterinary Medicine & Surgery at Edinburgh has it been there? University, finally graduating as a Veterinary Surgeon in 1984. After a few years working & living south of the border, and meantime Answer to Picture Quiz No 5:

meeting & marrying Colin whose parents moved to Lochaber when at www.kilmallie.org at the Pulp Mill started up in the early 60s, we returned to Fort see page 27 William in 1988 and here we have remained. My first dog was a Welsh Springer Spaniel that Mum & I got

from a fellow vet student in the 80s. Ruaridh stayed at home when I left, lived till he was 15, and nearly broke my mother’s heart when Answers to these puzzles are on the website www.kilmallie.org.uk Across he died. I still have a real soft spot for the breed. Our first Labrador (follow the link on the RHS of the homepage) arrived not long after we moved to Fort William & she was locally and will also be published in the next issue of the newsletter for people 1 Can be in it in this van(7) bred near Invergarry. Bracken introduced me to the world of dog without access to the internet 4 This girl’s a confused game going north (5) shows & obedience training and I have enjoyed participating in 7 Sorcery (5) these activities ever since. The highlights with our dogs over the 9 Mixed trainer does it again (7) “some straight, some cryptic, some easy, some not so easy” years have been: winning in obedience competition; competing at 10 Can be lunar or solar (7) and be featured in our next Focus on Business onBusiness Focus next our in featured be and Crufts several times & winning a First Prize there last year (Daisy 1 2 3 4 5 6 11 Wine (5) gaining two Best in Show awards; breeding 4 litters over the years 12 Pill contained in stab letters (6)

& looking forward to our next one soon; and of course Winnie’s 14 Taster mix for those special things (6) appearance in the TV series Monarch of the Glen which was a great 18 Big church (5) experience to join in the filming over 3 summers. Most of all 7 8 9 20 Eight sided figure (7) 22 Sounds like a nutty military man (7) 23 Innards (5) This time we have an update from Don at Corpach 24 Nurses about dents (5) Boatbuilding Co. Why not join with them and others focus on 10 11 25 Alters (7) and become a sponsor of Kilmallie Community News:

you could be included in our next Focus on Business! Down

business 12 13 14 15 16 1 Storm (7) I believe it’s been three years since the boatyard featured in Broads. It was his love of the mountains and the sea which 2 A fish or Gabriel (5) the newsletter. It seems like yesterday, where do the years took him to Lochaber. Quite a contrast to flat expanses of 17 3 Part of the nectar getting a goal (6) go? There have been no significant changes at the yard in Norfolk! 4 Measuring device (5) that time. We have had a few changes to the staff, both in 18 19 20 21 5 Breakfast cereal (7) the workshop and in the office, and we unfortunately lost Andy is a keen walker, mountain biker and sailor. He spent 6 Martial arts expert (5) one or two of our long term employees to local much of his spare time racing dinghies on the Norfolk 8 Small bit of wood (5) competition. However, we have been extremely fortunate Broads, and undertook a number of yacht deliveries with an 13 Maybe the gardens hung here (7) and been able to recruit skilled workers who have relocated experienced delivery skipper. To further his boatbuilding 22 23 15 A trio around proportion (5) to Fort William in pursuit of fresh challenges and a better experience Andy spent a year at the International 16 These are not married (7) quality of life. Boatbuilding Training Centre at Oulton Broad where he 17 Hat or cricketer (6) learned a wide range of new skills and techniques. 18 They have races here (5) Andy Pegram joined us almost a year ago in March 2014. Andy has proven to be a great asset to Corpach 24 25 19 Colloquial Americans (5) Andy and his wife Sonia came up to Lochaber and were Boatbuilding Company bringing with him not only practical 21 Presents (5) married at Cia-aig Falls. They fell in love with Lochaber and boatbuilding skills but hands-on experience of being afloat all newsletters previous our browse looked for employment opportunities in the hope of in a variety of craft. He and Sonia have chosen to live in Thank you to Tony Whitelocke for another great crossword. relocating from Norfolk. Andy settled in Norfolk in 2004 Lochaber because of the natural environment and the having spent more than a year travelling around the world, quality of life that it brings which is surely testament to our Answers to last issue’s puzzle: Across: 1 COMMENT, 4 BABEL, 7 NIGHT, 9 RACQUET, 10 RANGERS, 11 NOUNS, 12 LADDER, 14 BATTER, 18 SCRAM, 20 FOOTMAN, why not become one of our sponsors sponsors our of one become not why and found work in a boatyard servicing a fleet of electric belief that Lochaber is the Outdoor Capital of The UK! 22 EPISODE, 23 TOTAL, 24 LOGIE, 25 SHALLOT hire boats which were available for hire on the Norfolk Down: 1 CONTROL, 2 MEGAN, 3 THRUSH, 4 BACON, 5 BOUQUET, 6 LOTUS, 8 THEME, 13 DARLING, 15 ABOUT, 16 RINGLET, Don Hind 17 OFFERS, 18 STEAL, 19 MOOSE, 21 MOTEL