DISTRICT NEWS

TAYNUILT

Organisers have cancelled Taynuilt Flower Show for the first time in 81 years after an appeal for new volunteers failed.

The flower show committee’s four current members – all of whom are over 60 - asked for to stage this year’s event but no-one came along to a meeting arranged to bolster support.

Dugald McDougall, the flower show’s secretary and treasurer, has helped run the event for 30 years. He said: ‘Over the past few years, the number of people attending has dropped.

‘The four of us on the committee are no longer terribly fit and the demands of putting on the show were becoming too much, so we held a meeting to see if anyone was interested in volunteering or joining the committee.’

Mr McDougall said the dwindling local backing is representative of a wider disinterest across the country towards small community events.

He added: ‘With social media and smart phones, people don’t seem to communicate face to face any more. They are no longer interested in growing flowers, which is a shame.’

The committee will hold another meeting in November to discuss the flower show’s future.

❚ Experience a traditional family friendly ceilidh with Gaelic and Scottish song, music and dance at Taynuilt Village Hall on Thursday August 16 from 7.30pm.

❚ Taynuilt’s last senior citizens bus trip of the season leaves for Inveraray on Tuesday August

21. The free trips start at 9.30am from Taynuilt Hotel. Bookings need to be made in advance at the post office.

❚ Finishing touches are being put to the village post office’s new look. The counter was being moved this week and a new carpet is being laid. New windows and doors have been fitted as part of the refurbishment.

ISLAY AND JURA

Argyll and Bute Council is to take over management of the Islay to Jura ferry service from current operator ASP Ship Management.

A council spokesperson said: 'The Islay to Jura ferry service is owned and operated by Argyll and Bute Council but, for several years, the route has been managed by ASP Ship Management on our behalf.

‘However, year-on-year cuts to our funding mean that, like all councils, we must make changes to how we work. The council therefore made the decision at its budget meeting in February that the management of council ferry services should be taken on by our own in-house Marine Services Team.

‘This approach enables the council to make savings, while continuing to deliver vital services to our island communities.

‘We would like to thank ASP Ship Management and its staff for the sterling service it has provided over the years to ensure the safe and efficient operation of council ferry services.’

In the autumn, Jura Community Council plans to survey island residents on their opinion of the ferry service.

There is no indication yet as to whether the change of management will affect prices or travel times.

❚ Motorists on Jura face delays this month as roadworks get under way.

Roads in and around Craighouse will partially close for nine days, starting yesterday (Wednesday August 8), for re-treading. A second phase of repairs will start on September 10 when the A846 carriageway to Ardfin will be resurfaced in a 10-day operation.

With no alternative routes around the island, delays are anticipated, especially between noon and mid-afternoon.

The Craighouse operation will stretch from one mile north of Craighouse Pier Road to approximately two miles south, through the village towards Ardfin.

The extent of the works will be marked out this week with warning signs informing drivers and passing places created in Ardfin to help ease congestion.

It is anticipated the A846 will stay partially open during the work in September.

The scheduled works – costing £160,000 and £200,000 respectively – are the only planned cases of road repairs on Jura until at least April 2019.

AVICH AND KILCHRENAN

Avich and Kilchrenan Horticultural Show is this Sunday, August 12, at Dalavich Social Club. Set up for entries is from 1pm to 2pm ready for judging. Councillor Elaine Robertson will officially open the show and display at 3pm. There will be a collection box for donations and an auction of exhibited produce at the end of the event.

DALAVICH

Strawberries are ripe for picking at Dalavich's community garden in return for a donation towards village funds.

OBAN

Pain Association Scotland will hold its monthly meeting in Oban on Monday August 27.

People living in chronic pain are invited to the event in The Oban Bay Hotel on Monday August 27 from 1pm to 3pm.

The meetings aim to help people with all forms of chronic pain. They are professionally led and no doctor referral is necessary. Sessions run from 1pm to 3pm every month, with a focus on ‘building skills that help attendees regain control and cope more effectively’.

❚ The flower show being held in Oban’s Church of Scotland on Saturday August 18 is likely to the last one, organisers say. The event description reads: ‘Due to declining interest and committee members, this will, in all probability, be the last show.’

The event, which is open to everyone, will feature flowers, vegetables, photography as well as having a children’s section.

COWAL

Cowal Highland Gathering (CHG) has revealed its international panel of judges that will head to Dunoon to adjudicate on the world’s best Highland dancers.

This year’s panel, which will oversee a record-breaking 768 dancers performing at this year’s gathering, welcomes judges from the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa and Australia.

The 12-strong team will oversee the most important events in the global Highland dancing calendar – the Scottish National Highland Dancing Championships on the Thursday, the Scottish Championship and the qualifiers for the World Highland Dancing Championship on Friday and the final of the World Highland Dancing Championship on Saturday.

The judges are: Gemma Bailie, Scotland; Linda Rankin, Scotland; Doreen Wallace, Scotland; Arlene Penny, Scotland; Victor Wesley, Scotland; Jennifer Strachan, Canada; Heather Booysen, South Africa; Ann Donlan, USA; Anne Johnson, USA; Natalie Quick, Canada; Jill Young, Canada; and Judith Niven, Australia.

SEIL

Seil’s summer craft fair will take place in the island hall in Ellenabeich on Sunday, August 12. The free event starts at 11am and runs until 4pm.

BENDERLOCH

Contemporary folk singer and songwriter Iain Thomson and Marc Duff will play the Victory Hall, Benderloch, tomorrow (Friday August 10). Doors and bar open at 7.30pm, gig starts at 8pm. Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the night. Call 01631 720247 to book.

Mark is mainly known for co-founding the Celtic band Capercaillie and was nominated

for Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2008 Scottish Trad Music Awards.

APPIN

Appin’s Kinlochlaich Gardens are open to the public as part of a fundraising scheme to raise money for the village hall. Admission is £3, children free. Plants are also for sale. The garden gates close on Monday October 15.