THE ARRAN BANNER TWENTY YEARS AGO

Saturday 29 June, 1996

Signing off

The school session has ended and with it two teachers have now retired. One is John Dick, who has been principal of music since 1981 and who leaves the school having helped develop the string and woodwind instruction that pupils receive, as well as the advent of an orchestra and a instrumental group. John, who is originally from Ardrossan, will spend more time with his wife and two daughters and four grandchildren.

Also retiring, this time from the English department, is Liz Sinclair, who was brought up in Glasgow and who has spent her entire 27-year teaching career at Arran High School. Liz admits to feeling sad that her teaching days are now behind her but will have some extra time to spend on practising her driving on the golf course.

Missing explorers

The Perth Climbing Club went into the Arran hills last Sunday with 103 people in the party. On returning from the day’s walk they caught the last ferry home where they discovered that there were only 99 of them on board. Four elderly people aged between 65 and 71, who had been walking up Glen Sannox to the Saddle, had taken the wrong route and continued walking until they reached Dougarie at 11pm. The party had been staying at Strath-whillan House and, by the following day, everyone made it safely home.

Store change

Curries of Brodick will change hands next Wednesday and become Alldays. Announced a month ago, the changeover has taken a little longer than expected. Owner Alistair Bilsland has run the shop since 1980, at first with Bob Brass then on his own, and says customers should notice little difference. Mandy Barnett remains as store manager.

B26twe02 The Arran Hospital Supporters’ League started their annual round Arran walk last Saturday at 6am in Whiting Bay where Maurice Deighton set the runners off with a 12-bore shotgun.

B26twe05 Arran High School resurrected a fun sports day last week with a 1940s-themed fun day as part of the school’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Teacher Mr Moran competed with other teachers in the sack race that used to be a regular tradition at the sports...

B26twe01 Shiskine Primary pupils celebrated their last week of term with their end of year concert that was performed in front of their parents and family members.

B26twe06 Teachers Mr Freeman and Mr Parker dress up for the Arran High School 1940s.

B26twe04 Careen Miller and Geoff Brookes took most of the cups in the confined class at the Kildonan and District Dog Trials held at the Home Farm last Friday where 71 competitors and their dogs took part.