THE ARRAN BANNER 20 YEARS AGO

Saturday April 4, 1998

Music festival

The 69th Arran Music Festival kicked off last Thursday with the ever-popular Scottish country dancing.

In the run up to the festival much has been made of the bug going round the schools, dramatically reducing the number of entries this year. Adjudicator Mr Aitkenhead declared himself impressed with the turnout and was constructive in his criticism of any faults. His manner and deportment were so proper that it was no surprise to learn that he had been previously been a major in the Indian Army.

This year the festival is actually in its 75th year although, owing to a break during the war, it has not been held every year. Many of the cups and trophies still bear the date of the first winners from 1923.

Broken promises

The Co-op in Brodick, it was said at the community council on Tuesday, is about to start selling newspapers. This, said Stewart Walls who introduced the topic, makes a complete nonsense of the promise that the Co-op gave before it built its large new supermarket. ‘Councillors will remember that there was a verbal promise made by the Co-op that they would not encroach on other businesses.’

The building of the new Co-op was, at the time, a matter of great concern to small shopkeepers. Since then it has gradually expanded the lines it sells with videos and plants being the ones which most noticeably affected shops.

It was also said by shopkeepers at the meeting that they thought the promises were given at the time to allay concerns, but that there was no intention of keeping them. They asked if the move was a calculated deception or merely just the way that big business works. Councillor John Sillars said: ‘Verbal assurances don’t stand for anything and it is naive to think that they’d have to be held to that.’

Water worries

Charles Fforde said at last Tuesday’s community council meeting that he had been approached by West of Scotland Water about building a pumping station opposite the Book and Card Centre. It seems that this was to be a short-term method of improving the sewage situation, prior to a treatment plant being built later towards the coup area.

Mr Fforde also raised the subject of litter and sewage on the beach. He said that North Ayrshire Council was saying it was the responsibility of West of Scotland Water which, in turn, said it was up to North Ayrshire Council. Without reaching a conclusion, the conversation moved to a new water pipeline that would extend from Lochranza to Pirnmill and whether it could extend to Whitefarland.

A lack of funds by the council meant that to serve a further 16 homes, by travelling another seven miles across a hill, would not be allowed.

Having a chat with taxi driver Charles Hendry on Thursday was Donald Dewar and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Jim Wallace. Both politicians were on Arran for the Highlands and Islands Convention.

John Simcock presents the first winner of a new trophy for the music festival to Yvonne Brothers, who won it for her public bible reading.

Winning the John Thomson Memorial Cup for non-school groups at the Arran Music Festival were the Shiskine Guides.

Corrie Primary School, winners of the Association Challenge Shield for mixed primaries at the Arran Music Festival.

Simon Horne has just taken delivery of a vintage 1973 Rolls Royce which he will add to his fleet of wedding vehicles used on the island. His first, a 1950s Packard, has until now, been the vehicle of choice for many Arran weddings.