Holidays of bygone days

Sir,

Colin Bowes’ series of articles of past holidays on Arran, which ran over three weeks in the Banner last month, brought back some wonderful memories.

Like Colin, my mother rented a house in Hamilton Terrace for a month in July every year. It was some of the happiest times in my childhood. I can still remember packing the big trunk and sending it on. A taxi took us to Ardrossan.

It was a really lovely harbour then with wonderful steam trains.

Those summers were always warm. I thought Arran was the most beautiful place I had ever seen and to this day I still feel the same, even though I have travelled all over the world.

I wonder if Colin remembers the children’s special service mission on the beach. We had some great times there. They built a pulpit of sand and sang choruses, all very innocent times. They also held games in Lamlash field and had sausage sizzles. I can remember climbing Dunfion and taking the boat over to Holy Isle. It was so beautiful.

The place to hang out was Lamlash Cafe, a great place. The juke box was the big attraction and I remember playing Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

Last year I was in Hawaii and I met Martha in a club where she was singing. I told her I first heard her songs in a little cafe on a Scottish island called Arran.

She thought that was great. I have so many great memories of Arran and hope to return when this awful crisis is over.

Yours, Irene Morrison, Woking.