Bronze spring of a Roman brooch (late 1st to 2nd century AD) from a collection of around 200 bronze objects found by amateur archaeologist George Holleyman at Balevullin in 1941-43, when he served at RAF Tiree during WWII. Identified by Dr Fraser Hunter, National Museum of Scotland, in 2019.
WWII sea mine discovered under gravel on the Sandaig shore in August 2016. Visible are the locations of the detonation horns and the hole where a time-sensitive self-destruct mechanism was installed. Hundreds of pebbles and shells are fused onto its surface. Tens of thousands of similar mines were laid around the Hebrides and the North Sea during the first and second world wars.
Colour photograph of a handwritten notice in one of the refrigerator units in the Coop in 1995. It reads “Sorry. No milk, chilled or frozen food today. Driver slept in.”
Colour photograph of Nan MacLean outside her butcher’s shop in Scarinish in 1995, with the butcher’s van and a German visitor.
Black & white photograph of Graeme MacKinnon (1921-2000), grandson of Archibald MacKinnon, Vaul, who emigrated to Australia in 1876. Graeme became an Antarctic explorer and geographer responsible for mapping Antarctica. McKinnon Island and McKinnon Glacier in the Antarctic are named after him.
Black & white photograph of Archibald McKinnon, Vaul (1844-1902) and his wife Elizabeth (Betsy) Cowling in around 1880. Archibald emigrated to Sydney, Australia, as a ship’s carpenter aboard the ‘City of Grafton’ paddle steamer in 1876. He and Elizabeth married the following year.
Original programme for ‘Bon Voyage’ (1945), a performance by The Tireans – a drama group formed by members of RAF Tiree during WWII. Judging by the stains and cigarette burns, the programme was well handled by members of the audience, including the donor’s father, airman Joseph ‘Ray’ Stephens.
Colour photograph of Scarinish Harbour in 2003, with several small motor boats, sailing boats and fishing boats.
Colour photograph of sailing dingy E4103 in Scarinish Harbour during a regatta in the early 1970s, with Tiree Pipe Band playing on the pier in the background.
Colour photograph of (L-R) Duncan MacPhee, Scarinish, and John MacDonald, in Scarinish before/after a fishing trip in around 1980. The photograph was framed as a Christmas Card from Joan and Norman Burden.
