THE ARRAN BANNER 20 YEARS AGO

Saturday November 1, 1997

Fond farewell

Teachers come and go so the person who often knows the school best is usually the janny. And when the janny retires after 36 years, it is a day of mixed emotions.

It was in 1961 that Mrs May Corbett approached the head teacher at Brodick Primary, Mr Mowatt, about a cleaning job. He gave her a month’s trial but that month continued until last Friday when she finally left the school.

Cleaner and janitor for most of that time, she gave up the cleaning part 10 years ago to supervise the children in the playground. And that, as well as her other duties, meant that she has probably known all the Brodick children for a very long time. Through six head teachers, countless other teachers and thousands of children, she has seen them come and go. She even has children now who are grandchildren of those she had at the start.

Last Friday, a presentation was held at which all staff and current pupils were present plus several parents, some of whom were pupils.

Flying high

A team of scientists from Leeds University and the Met Office are investigating wind movements on the island. They are based at Machrie for five weeks and are releasing two balloons every day and flying kites at 300 metres high.

The main aim is to investigate air turbulence around hills and the experiments have two purposes. First, they could help weather forecasters better predict the effect which hills and mountains have on the larger weather picture. Secondly, they will help the Forestry Commission, which is also included in the team, to predict where wind damage to forests may occur.

Tourism matters

The Arran Tourism Council is still in existence and hopes to have three of its members on the Ayrshire and Arran Tourist Board Committee next year. At a meeting this week, Ronnie Mann said he was standing down and proposed that Jim Lees, Joe Rae and Andrew Currie of the distillery represent Arran. A counter proposal was made that three other members, Assya Baumgartner, Fred Wood and Geoffrey Botteril be elected. It is understood that members, with a year of some dissatisfaction of the tourist board just finishing, should choose which three will represent them.

01_B42twe04 Mrs Ruby Middleton receives her long service certificate from Mr Kevin Carty while other members of the Arran branch of the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council display the beautiful quilt they raffled for funds.

01_B42twe03 Hosts Ross and Margaret Mackay present a cheque to the Hospital Supporters’ League in the Cameronia Hotel last Thursday night. The sum of £670 has been raised with the help of Cathie Steed running raffles throughout the summer during the weekly pub quiz.

01_B42twe02 Corriecravie fire crew in their newly opened station with mainland officers, assistant firemaster David Kennedy, firemaster John Jameson and assistant firemaster John Martin. Crew: leader Angus Adamson, Alastair Linton, Angela McNeish, Grant McAllister, Charlie McAllister, Matthew McNeish, John Taylor, Robin Cook and Alastair Barr.

01_B42twe01 Last Friday two Scots guardsmen were on the island drumming up support. Warrant officer Ronnie Convery and guardsman Stewart Mackay explained to potential recruits what being a guardsmen entailed.

01_B42twe05 Professor Stephen Mobbs, watched by Ian Jones and Fiona Hewer, set off a weather monitoring balloon at Machrie.