THE ARRAN BANNER 20 YEARS AGO

Saturday September 6, 1997

Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in Paris last Sunday, visited Arran once in her life. That was on Wednesday 29th September 1989.

She came to open the new Arran Provisions factory in Lamlash. Her visit was brief, landing in a helicopter at the factory, being shown around it by Iain Russell, having lunch and then departing. It was also a very informal visit with all the primary schoolchildren being there and with Diana speaking to many of them.

Today, the day of the funeral, many island businesses are closed either all day or for the morning. Churches are being kept open for those who wish to visit them. A Book of Condolence is also available at the council offices in Lamlash for 10 days for anybody wishing to make an entry.

The ferries will be sailing and CalMac will observe two minutes’ silence at 11am and, apart from that, the ferries will run normally.

In the rough

In three years’ time Machrie Bay Golf Club will be 100 years old. But two years after that it may cease to exist. This is because negotiations over a lease beyond the year 2002, between the club and the landowner, have broken down. The club was told by Dougarie Estate owner Mr Stephen Gibbs that the lease will not be renewed.

Club captain Peter Emsley and his committee met with Mr Gibbs three times and had finally made their best offer which Mr Gibbs had thought was derisory. Mr Emsley also spoke of the considerable work which the club had done, most notably the improvements in drainage which means the first fairway is no longer a lake all winter. Mr Gibbs was not available for comment before going to press.

Dispensing dilemma

Following the reviews by the Ayrshire and Arran Health Board into the requirements of Drs Kerr and Guthrie to dispense for their patients it has been decided that they should continue to do so for patients who live outside Brodick, Lamlash and Whiting Bay.

The review was set up as a result of chemist Stewart Walls asking the board to look at the position. During the enquiries health council member Lavinia Gibbs held a meeting in Corrie with villagers. During that consultation certain other difficulties emerged and the board has agreed to look further at these.

01_B34twe01 Two 15-year-olds, Allison McKelvie and Elizabeth Starren, were in the right place at the right time when they heard a distress whistle from Craig Tierney of Cheshire who encountered difficulty while on the Witch’s Step. Allison, who is the great-grand...

01_B34twe02 Dutch cable laying vessel, The Galatea, arrived at Banliken Shore to lay replacement cables running from Carradale. The cables they replaced were 34 years old and are linked to the cables running to Brodick which now supplies the entire island with...

01_B34twe04 Councillor John Sillars and Vice-Mayor of Karmoy Astor Damm open a bottle of wine to celebrate the launch of a longboat called the Spirit of Karmoy. The vice-mayor and associates from Norway were visiting the Largs Viking Festival and visited Arran to...

01_B34twe03 Marching through Brodick the Dalkeith and Monkton Colliery Band joined Arran Brass at their concert last Saturday to a delightfully full hall.

01_B34twe05 Ross Duncan of Brodick swept the board at the AGA Junior Handicap Competition at Corrie when he won the overall and under 13 handicap prizes and had the best scratch score of the day.