THE ARRAN BANNER 20 YEARS AGO

Saturday July 12, 1997

The Governess

The Governess, said to be a moving story set on the Isle of Skye in the 1830s, is just about to be filmed on Arran.

The film crew has been making preparations for the last week and over the next 10 days there will be filming at Glen Sannox, Torrylinn, Pirates Cove and, principally, Brodick Castle.

Castle administrator Veronica Woodman, says it will be business as usual at the castle for visitors with a couple of exceptions. The grass has been allowed to grow and become ‘shaggy’ because there were no lawnmowers in 1830 and the woodwork has not been painted, leaving only the historically correct grey undercoat.

It is not known why Arran was chosen as the filming location rather than Skye, but the location manager, who selects the locations chosen for filming, is well known in Dougarie and spends a great deal of time on Arran. Winds of change People living between Blackwaterfoot and Catacol may soon have a new view to look at. For shortly when they look west they will see the Kintyre peninsula and, atop that, a forest of windmills. Scottish Power has won two contracts to erect 50 structures. Each will be 40 metres high with propeller blades of 20 metres above the hill top.

This is not something which would appear for planning permission on Arran, nor would Arran be informed through neighbour notification. The Kintyre Civic Trust, however, believes that Arran people will be as much affected, at least visually, as Carradale people. Altogether the windmills, which are likely to be thin and silver coloured, will be in three sites, one opposite Machrie, one opposite Whitefarland and one opposite Thunderguy.

Centenary dance

Brodick Golf Club tonight holds its centenary dance, an affair at which more than 300 guests will be present.

To house it, the largest marquee ever seen on Arran has been erected in the Ormidale Park, and a mainland catering firm will bring 38 staff, including chefs from the Glasgow Hilton, to prepare the meal.

The marquee stands next to the pavilion which will be opened by the Queen next month and last minute efforts are being made to complete the pavilion so its facilities might be used by guests.

B27twe04 Geoff Brookes of Southbank Farm Park in Kildonan has a new attraction this year. Geoff and son Tony will be exhibiting two Clydesdale horses working the land, a sight that has not been seen on Arran for many years since mechanised implements and tractors took over the job.

B27twe01 Laura Selkirk of Brodick did two parachute jumps recently. Her first was on behalf of the Aberlour Childcare Trust and the second, because she found it so exhilarating and exciting, was straight after the first.

B27twe05 Old and old together but still working and very popular today. Visiting Brodick was the David MacBrayne bus with the even older Waverley behind it.

B27twe02 Kerr Robertson, Bob Dick of Dick Bros, David Symons, Euroforest manager, harvesters Robert and Richard with Stuart Yates of Arran Plant who has a four year contract to transport logs from the forest to the barge in Brodick.

B27twe03 Mrs Marion Munn of Lamlash, chairwoman of the Apache group, has received an invitation to lunch with the Queen at Brodick Castle next month. A host of leaders of local organisations will be joining her during the Queen’s visit.