Black and white photograph of Archie MacArthur at the airport in the 1960s.
Tiree Airport Superintendent Archie MacArthur of Barrapol on the steps on the plane in the 1960s.
2003.166.2
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Object Type: photograph
2003.166.3
Black & white photograph of Archie MacArthur, Barrapol (1923-1993) in around 1970. Archie ‘BEA’ was Tiree Airport Superintendent during 1961-1988.
Courtesy of Mrs Ishbel MacArthur
A former policeman with the Stirling and Clackmananshire Police Force, Archie MacArthur of Barrapol started work at Tiree airport in 1960 on the retirement of Colin MacPhail. Universally known as Archie BEA, he was a larger than life figure.
He welcomed everybody when the plane arrived, a different greeting to each person, and would remember the names of visitors. One day when he was sporting a new BEA tie he was asked what the letters stood for. ‘It’s Big Èairdsidh’s Airways,’ he replied, referring to the Gaelic spelling of his name.
Archie retired in 1988, a well-known figure to all those who passed through Tiree’s airport. When he died in 1993, his funeral was one of the largest in living memory.
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Colour photograph of planes on the tarmac at the airport in the 1970s.
Small planes on the tarmac at the airport on a sale day in the 1970s.
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Black and white of Tiree airport before 1988.
The exterior of Tiree airport before the new terminus was built in 1988.
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Black and white of Tiree airport before 1988.
The interior of Tiree airport before the new terminus was built in 1988.
1999.49.1
Black and white photograph of Fionghala in the doorway of her thatched house in Balemartine.
Mòr Fionghala in the doorway of her thatched house in Balemartine.
1999.49.2
Black and white photograph of Fionghala`s daughter at the family house in Balemartine.
Mòr Fionghala’s house in Balemartine. William Gray, Mòr’s nephew and the grandson of Donald MacFarlane, Taigh na Mara, Balemartine, put on the third tarred roof ‘in memory of his people’.
2003.164.3
Colour photograph of Annie MacPhee and Alec MacLean in New Zealand in 2002.
Annie MacPhee and Alec MacLean of Cornaigbeg in Maraekakaho, New Zealand in 2002.
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Colour photograph of Alec MacLean and Flora Danielson in New Zealand in 2002.
Alec MacLean of Cornaigbeg and Flora Danielson in Taradale, New Zealand in 2002.
2003.164.5
The staff at Taigh a’ Rudha in the 1980s
Photograph of the staff at Taigh a’ Rudha in the mid-1980s.
Courtesy of Ms Babs MacIntyre
Taigh a’ Rudha, the Eventide Home in Scarinish, was opened in November 1968. It consists of the former manse for the United Free Church at Kirkapol and purpose-built accommodation for twelve residents.
This photograph shows the staff of Taigh a’ Ruadh in the kitchen in the mid-1980s. They are, from left to right, Cathy MacNeill, Elspeth Gilles, cook Rosie MacIntyre, Rena Goldie, Ishbel MacArthur, Officer in Charge Barbara MacDonald, Vickie MacLean and Flora MacArthur.
Today the kitchen provides Meals on Wheels to elderly people in the community and also lunches three days a week for the Day Centre in Crossapol.
Colour photograph of the staff at Taigh a Ruadh in the mid-1980s.
The staff at Taigh a` Ruadh in the mid-1980s. L-R: Cathy MacNeill, Scarinish; Elspeth Gilles, Scarinish; Rosie MacIntyre, Scarinish; Rena Goldie, Balinoe; Ishbel MacArthur, Barrapol; Barbara MacDonald, in charge of Taigh a` Ruadh; Vicky MacLean, Kenovay; Flora MacArthur, Moss.