Handwritten letter dated 1978 from Rev Hector Macpherson, The Manse, Parish of Tiree and Coll, to Colin MacPhail (1895-1988), Crossapol, thanking him for taking a forthcoming church service at Heylipol. Mrs Vivienne Johnston is mentioned as the organist.
Photocopies of four newspaper articles (1926) and online information (2019) about the Fleetwood steam fishing trawler ‘ST Gaul’ that was swamped by a massive wave and wrecked on a submerged reef off Balevullin in 1926. The crew (all Grimsby men) took to a lifeboat but it overturned in the swell, and seven lost their lives. Two managed to reach the shore.
‘The Countryman’ magazine (Aug 2019) containing an article ‘Not the Last Straw’ on the traditional making of corn-dollies and harvest knots in Staffordshire, pages 24-31. The tradition was also part of Tiree’s harvest culture – see A’ Chailleach and harvest knots.
Tiree Memories calendar 2019 produced by Alec Walker. Images include the ferry Columba, Archie MacLean with his boat at Scarinish in 1934, sheep shearing on the Reef in 1934, Balemartine School photograph 1947, Baugh & Heanish postcard 1906, postcard of a crofter’s stable with mare and foal in the 1920s, postcard of Rossdhu in Kenovay 1938, Ruaig football team 1928, Johnny MacKay collecting tangles by donkey and cart 1957, Scarinish harbour 1935, Ruaig School 1950s, airport control tower 1960s, tramlines on the Gott Bay pier 1920. All of these images are available independently via An Iodhlann’s website.
Photographs of three items belonging to the descendants of island factor Hugh MacDiarmid (1846-1928), who lived at Island House, Heylipol, during 1876-1928.
an Entada phasaeoloides ‘sea-bean’ found on the beach by the factor’s daughter, Meta MacDiarmid, and made into a pendant for her (possibly by her fiance).
a brass plaque from a wooden box of silver plated cutlery presented by people of Tiree to Meta on her marriage.
a coffee or chocolate pot presented by the Duke of Argyll to Hugh MacDiarmid in 1906, probably on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
a gold brooch given to Meta by her Godmother, Lady Frances Balfour. It was stolen from their home in Malaya and later found by one of the servants in a local market. The pearls are thought to be Scottish.