THE ARRAN BANNER 20 YEARS AGO

Saturday May 31 1997

Count delayed

We still don’t know how many people live in Arran, even though it has been almost five months since count day last January 10. An overall figure was expected by the end of May but there have been issues that are delaying the results. Project co-ordinator Jim Lees explained that the data had gone to North Ayrshire Council and that one of the people seconded to help had left.

Furthermore they had identified some possible errors with around 40 homes which needed to be re-checked. The enumeration will be one overall figure of people living on Arran plus a breakdown with interesting and abstract information on the population.

With the difficulties encountered with the last two counts, Jim said the data is being checked with the electoral register and with information from the Post Office. With this now in hand, he is hoping figures will be finalised in 10 days.

Coming of age

It is around eight years since the idea of timeshare was first introduced to Arran. Presented initially as a way of financing the then-new leisure centre, it has progressed cautiously as timeshare elsewhere in the country and abroad has gained itself a less than enviable reputation.

But at the Auchrannie it has kept going, slowly but surely. This month the project is now complete. All of the lodges have been completed, the site is landscaped and there are currently more than 200 owners.

Toby Ellis, co-ownership sales manager, explained that at Auchrannie, it was co-ownership and not timeshare as such. Owners buy the available week for perpetuity.

Once bought, they can stay there every year or exchange them for other weeks or even exchange weeks at other resorts. The newly-completed lodges are also available to rent.

Angling festival

Isle of Arran Sea Angling Association held its 37th Lamlash Sea Angling Festival on May 24 and 25. A total of 37 anglers competed and more than 506lbs 8ozs of fish was caught.

The various categories saw a daily winner, a winner over the two days and a winner for the two man teams. There were also categories for the best specimen fish caught and one for the heaviest fish caught. The weekend, which was supported by Johnston’s Marine Stores and Isle of Arran Distillery, saw mostly pollock being caught, with the biggest fish of the weekend a pollock weighing in at a hefty 8lbs. The lady champion was Suzanne Mackay of Thurso who landed 111lbs 14ozs in total.

Eight girls joined the world of guiding last Wednesday when Brodick Brownies held its enrolment day. The new Brownies are: Karen Clark, Lucy McNicol, Katy McDonald, Ailie McNicol, Eileen Poole, Jessica Robertson, Kirsty and Sarah Weir. With them are...

Winter points champions, left, senior champion Moira MacAlister on Nugget and on the right, junior champion Jenna Thomson on Trooper. B21twe05

Morag Grieve, Marie Park and Janette Head have enjoyed huge success at Island Porcelain, so much so that they have now expanded the shop in Kilmory which specialises in ceramics, candles and gifts. B21twe02

It was yellow hat day for the fire brigade last Saturday when the Lamlash team went to the Whiting Bay Playgroup fete where they found plenty youngsters eager to wear a fireman’s yellow helmet. B21twe03

All this week, Arran Gilbert and Sullivan Society has been performing Iolanthe, produced by Heather Gough, in Brodick. The entire cast is pictured on stage. B21twe01