Catherine McAllister was the nurse on Tiree from 1930-36. From Bruichladdich on Islay, she was the first nurse to use a motor bike and sidecar on her rounds. Before her the nurses walked or bicycled to see their patients.
Poultices were much used in those days. An islander, who was a young child with pneumonia in the 1930s, remembers the nurse coming in every day, making up oatmeal porridge on the stove and plastering it on his chest under a bandage.
She left Tiree to work as a nurse in Dalmally but returned to marry Alex MacLean from Balevullin, Argyll Estate’s Ground Officer. Sadly, she was drowned in Glasgow in July 1950 and is buried in Soroby cemetery. Her husband died a few months later in the dentist’s chair in Oban.
Black and white photograph of nurse Catherine MacAllister in the 1930s.
Catherine MacAllister from Bruichcladdich, Islay, nurse on Tiree from 1930-36. She was the first to use a motorbike and sidecar on her rounds.
Local news and events including the visit of the Waverley paddle steamer, the retirement of Morag MacLean from Taigh a` Rudha, letter from Councillor Iain Gillies, update from the Tiree Development Partnership, the Milton Fishermen`s Fund and news from the RSPB, the school and the WRI.
Minute book of the Coll Education Sub-committee from 1952 to 1962.
Minute book of the Coll Education Sub-committee from 1952 to 1962, including some correspondence 1958-61about Arinagour School and a telegram from Buckingham Palace dated 9th February 1952 acknowledging a telgram of sympathy sent by the Convener of Coll District Council.
Folder titled `Argyll County Council` containing correspondence with Tiree and Coll District Council 1928 – 1969.
Folder titled `Argyll County Council` containing correspondence with Tiree and Coll District Council 1928 – 1969 about piers, graveyards, schools, housing water supply and sewerage, war memorials, the airstrip on Coll, roads, ferry and air services.
Folder titled `War Graves` containing Tiree and Coll District Council papers dated from 1928 to 1950.
Folder titled `War Graves` containing Tiree and Coll District Council papers dated from 1928 to 1950, including a draft death certificate for the Chief Purser of the SS Volendam.
Folder titled `Tiree Ward Minutes` containing District Council papers dated from 1952 to 1964.
Folder titled `Tiree Ward Minutes` containing minutes of Tiree Ward meetings and Coll Ward meetings from 1952 to 1964 and some correspondence with Argyll County Council.
Local news and events including the progress with the tank farm development, news from the councillor Ian Gillies, Tiree soldiers in Iraq, report from Janet MacIntosh on the NHS strategy for Argyll, the return of the Coll whale`s jawbones and the Scottish Executive`s proposal for reform of local government elections.
