Quesada memorial cairn damaged A ‘shocking’ lack of respect
THE BUILDER who helped erect the memorial to the Quesada tragedy was distraught to find it had been damaged just days after its official unveiling.
Willie Ross put in more than a month’s work free of charge to build the cairn after learning the story, which had him and his wife in tears.
Devastated
He was devastated to hear that some people were using the memorial, which commemorates eight men who were lost at sea, as a climbing frame and slide, just 100 yards away from an actual children’s play park.
As a result, a piece of slate had to be reset.
He said: ‘I heard from residents near the cairn that they have seen people using it as a climbing frame, with adults even lifting their children onto the top.
‘One man in his 70s asked a man to remove his three children from the memorial and was threatened with physical violence, which is just shocking.
‘It is only a minority, I am sure, but these are headstones at the end of the day. You would not go into a graveyard and climb on tombstones.’
Willie, 45, used to work for McFadyens but now owns and runs the Grammar Lodge in Campbeltown. He had never heard of the Quesada tragedy, but when approached by Willie MacCallum to work on the project he jumped at the chance after he read the story.
Heroes
He said: ‘I read the story originally and my wife and I were in tears reading it. The rescuers really were heroes. Willie asked me to help and I thought there cannot be many better causes.
‘All the survivors put a stone into the cairn which they found quite emotional. They were very keen to help and would be very disappointed to know it’s being used as a climbing frame.
‘A lot of local businesses donated materials and people fundraised for this cairn.
‘Whenever I am down to see it there are always people stopping to read the story. This means a lot to Campbeltown, so please do not abuse it.’
Willie MacCallum, the driving force behind its creation, said: ‘I am really sad to learn that this has happened so soon after the unveiling less than two weeks ago.
‘The cairn was very generously supported by the people of Campbeltown as a lasting legacy.
‘It took a lot of hard work and planning to achieve what is there today, and it should be treated with respect as it is a memorial.’