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.
Local news including crackdown by local policeman on bad driving, a meeting of the Community and Regional Councils, a Gaelic poem by Alec MacLean of Cornaigbeg, an account of how the Continuing Care Unit was secured, Balevullin – part 7 by Sandy MacKinnon, and news from the Guides and playgroups.
Local news including the lack of public transport on Tiree, Kilmoluaig – part 4 by Sandy MacKinnon, the library at the school and a message from the local policeman about using seat belts.
Colour photograph of protesters at the anti-Iraq war bonfire at Crossapol in March 2003.
Protesters at the anti-Iraq war bonfire at Crossapol in March 2003. In the foreground, P.C .Danny Lapsley of Scarinish and Practice Nurse Cairin MacLeod.
Photocopied newspaper article `Boy`s Amazing Story to Oban Policemen`.
Story of a 16 year old boy who had absonded from an approved school and conned Oban police into paying his passage to Tiree which was then a restriced area.
