FIFTY YEARS AGO Thursday July 9, 1970

But where’s the horse?

A 30-year association with local coal merchants, D. McNair and Son, ended last week when Mr Neil McFadyen, a familiar sight in Campbeltown with his horse and cart, retired.

Neilly, who left school in 1906, served in the Royal Scots during the First World War, and upon completion of his service, operated a horse-brake to Southend and Glenbarr.

For many years after that, he and his horses were to be seen working on Kintyre roads, either carrying stones or pulling tar machines.

Neilly can recall having discharged the cargoes of such sailing vessels as the Star o’ Doune, the Margaret Wotherspoon, the Stella Spey and the Ben-Mhor. He also unloaded the Norman and the Halcyon and other well-known Clyde ‘puffers’.

His horse, Tam, has been sold to a Glasgow firm for further work within the city boundary.