Captain David Barclay, airport manager Colin MacPhail and Captain Eric Starling

Photograph of Captain David Barclay, airport manager Colin MacPhail and Captain Eric Starling at Tiree airport terminus in 1961.

Courtesy of Mr Ailig MacArthur

In this photograph taken in 1961, Captain David Barclay looks on while BEA’s senior pilot Captain Eric Starling makes a presentation to Colin MacPhail on his retirement from the post of Tiree airport manager. Between them both captains flew thousands of air ambulance missions.

In the history of the Scottish Air Ambulance only one plane has ever been lost. In September 1957 a Heron aircraft crashed in foul weather on approaching Islay airport killing the pilot Captain Paddy Calderwood, Radio Officer Hugh McGinlay and Sister Jean Kennedy from Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital, who was a native of Coll.

A second air ambulance was manned by Captain Starling, Captain Kenneth MacLean and Sister Isobel Thompson. The storm was so violent it was three hours before the relief plane could take off. To compound the night’s tragedy, the patient, seriously ill in a diabetic coma, died minutes before landing at Renfrew.

Black and white photograph of Colin MacPhail of Crossapol in 1961.

Colin MacPhail of Crossapol (centre) outside Tiree airport on his retirement in 1961, with Captain David Barclay on the left and on the right Captain Eric Starling. (Original in Filing Cabinet 8 drawer 2)

Colin MacPhail and Captain David Barclay

Photograph of Colin MacPhail of Crossapol and Captain David Barclay at Renfrew Airport in 1965.

Courtesy of Mr Ailig MacArthur

Manager of Tiree airport from 1936 to 1960, Colin MacPhail is pictured here with Captain David Barclay at Renfrew Airport in 1965. Colin was also a lay preacher and special constable. As one of his contemporaries said of him, “He had bracelets in one pocket and the Bible in the other.”

His duties included keeping the landing strip clear of cattle at plane times and to raise the windsock. David Barclay was always looking for an opportunity to play practical jokes on Colin and would often fly in as low as possible, hiding his presence until the last moment.

One day Colin slept in and was late for the flight. A tall man, he had a huge bicycle with a 30 inch frame. He was pedalling furiously towards the Reef when David Barclay flew up behind him. Colin took out his handkerchief and held it up as a windsock!

Black and white photograph of Colin MacPhail, Crossapol and Captain David Barclay in 1965.

Renfrew Airport in 1965. L-R: Colin MacPhail of Crossapol and Captain David Barclay taken during Captain Barclay`s retirement ceremony. (Original in Filing Cabinet 8 drawer 2)