Audio cassette recording of Neil MacLeod of Kilmoluaig talking to Maggie Campbell in November 1998.
Neil MacLeod of Kilmoluaig talks to Maggie Campbell in November 1998 about his schooldays, his work with the Post Office delivering mail in Cornaig at first by bike and then by pony, the general running of the Post Office, the difficulties during blackout in World War II, posting boxes of eggs and potatoes from Tiree, the introduction of the red mail vans in 1956, other postmen, the different ferries and the change in the pace of life.
Audio cassette recording of Lachie MacArthur of Mannal talking to Maggie Campbell in January 2001.
Lachie MacArthur of Mannal talks to Maggie Campbell in January 2001 about his work for 32 years as a lorry contractor and one year as a postman, the great benefit of the rubbish skips to the island, his late father’s accidental death by drowning in 1954, the cargo boats `Loch Ard` and `Loch Carron` and the coal puffer `Moonlight`, and fishing out of Balemartine the ‘The Bank’ for cod and flounders. Lachlann ’ic Artair a Manal a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul anns an Fhaoilteach 2001 mun obair aige na fear-cùmhnantachaidh airson dha dheug air fhichead bliadhna agus aon bhliadhna na phòsta, am feum mòr a tha na sgudail a’ deànamh air an eilean, athair nach maireann a bha ann an tubaist-bàthaidh ann an 1954, bàtaichean-luchdaich An Loch Ard agus An Loch Carron agus am bàta-guail Moonlight, agus am banca iasgaich airson trosg agus leòbagan.
John MacDonald of Heanish with visiting children at Gott Bay pier
Photograph of John MacDonald of Heanish with visiting children at Gott Bay pier around 1930.
Courtesy of Dr John MacDonald
John MacDonald of Heanish is seen here on the left with visiting children on Gott Bay pier around 1930. John, known as ‘Nonian’, was the caretaker for Scarinish lighthouse and also worked as a docker at the pier. On the right is Hector MacKinnon (Eachann Dhonnchaidh) of Scarinish. The horse belonged to Alan MacFadyen of Gott.
In those days, a railway ran down the centre of the pier and a bogey, pulled by the horse, carried cargo between the ferry or puffer and the pier shed and office where all loads were marked in the ledger and pier dues collected. The bogey was attached to the horse’s collar by chains which can be seen in the photograph.
Nonian was good piper and fiddle player and would sing at ceilidhs and dances. His favourite song was ‘The Yellow Rose of Texas’.
Black and white photograph of John MacDonald on Gott Bay pier in the 1920s or 30s.
John MacDonald of Heanish is seen here on the left with visiting children on Gott Bay pier around 1930. John, known as ‘Nonian’, was the caretaker for Scarinish lighthouse and also worked as a docker at the pier. On the right is Hector MacKinnon (Eachann Dhonnchaidh) of Scarinish. The horse belonged to Alan MacFadyen of Gott. In those days, a railway ran down the centre of the pier and a bogey, pulled by the horse, carried cargo between the ferry or puffer and the pier shed and office where all loads were marked in the ledger and pier dues collected. The bogey was attached to the horse’s collar by chains which can be seen in the photograph.
Photograph of Scarinish in 1951 showing the ruins of the Co-op store.
Courtesy of Mrs Cathie Omand
This photograph taken in Scarinish in 1951 shows Neil MacDonald, Cathy MacNeill and Hugh MacKinnon with Cathy’s daughter Teena sitting in front of the ruins of the Co-op which burnt down in 1948. ‘Taigh na Beairt’ is in background on the right. On the left is Neil MacDonald’s haulage lorry.
The fire began in the back paraffin store and destroyed the shop. There was a concert in Crossapol that evening and people returning home stopped to help salvage a few possessions. The couple who lived above the Post Office in the east end of the building were fortunately visiting in Balephetrish and no-one was hurt.
After the fire, the business moved down to the Church Hall at the pier, and then to a garage behind the Coop itself, while the present day premises were built by John MacFarlane of Balemartine. The shop became self-service around 1972.
Black and white photograph of Neil MacDonald, Hugh MacKinnon, Cathy and Teena MacNeill in 1951.
Scarinish in 1951 with the ruins of the Co-op which burnt down in 1948. ‘Taigh na Beairt’ is in background at the right. On the left is Neil MacDonald’s haulage lorry. L-R: Neil MacDonald (Catherine Mary’s husband); Cathy MacNeill of Scarinish; Hugh MacKinnon, brother of Effie Middleton and Donald Hough, and married to Duncanina MacMaster; Teena MacNeill, Cathy’s daughter.
Black and white photograph of Mary and Norman Omand with a friend in the 1950s.
Outside `Ormer` in Kirkapol in the 1950s with the Co-op van in the background. L-R: a friend of the Omands; Norman Omand, Murray`s brother; Mary Omand, Norman and Murray`s mother.
Black and white photograph of Clydesdale horse dressed for showing in the 1950s.
Clydesdale horse belonging to Alec MacNeill of Main Road Farm, Balephuil, dressed for a Tiree Show at Crossapol in the 1950s. Donald MacPhail is at the wheel of the cart and Archie Kennedy at the extreme left.
Black and white photograph of a horse-drawn sledge at Corrairigh around 1950.
A horse-drawn sledge used to move hay ricks at Corrairigh in Cornaigbeg around 1950. L-R: Flora Clark née Campbell (Hector J C’s sister); Hector Campbell and his nephew Colin (John Neil Brown’s brother).
Photograph of Dr Dan MacKinnon of Ruaig in Balemartine during World War I.
Courtesy of Mr Donald MacKinnon
Dr Dan MacKinnon (Dòmhnaill Eòghainn na Sraide) is pictured on his motorbike in Balemartine during World War I. Born at Tor a’ Bhaile in Ruaig in 1890, he was educated locally and in 1913 qualified as a doctor in Glasgow.
After working briefly at the Grampian Sanatorium in Kingussie, he returned to Tiree in 1914 as the island’s doctor. He once had a spill from his motorbike in Heanish. Although unhurt and able to continue on his rounds, the racing engine and spinning wheels caused some consternation to those who came to his aid.
He enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1917 and went off to the war, returning to Tiree in June 1919 but resigning the following year to take up the post of Parochial Medical Officer in Aberfoyle. He died unmarried in 1938 and is buried in Kirkapol cemetery.
Black and white photograph of Dr Dan MacKinnon of Ruaig in the 1910s.
Dr Dan MacKinnon of Ruaig on his motorbike in Balemartine in the 1910s. Houses (L-R): Lachlan MacNeill (former Post Office); Flora Lamont, John Paterson (thatched houses); MacArthurs’ houses. Dr Dan was born at Tor a’ Bhaile in Ruaig in 1890, came back to Tiree in 1914 as its doctor and enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1917.
Two foot plates from Lady Victoria Campbell`s buckboard. The buckboard was a simple, open horse-drawn carriage. The foot plates hung at the sides of the carriage, to assist passengers stepping aboard.
