FROM OUR FILES
TEN YEARS AGO Friday November 2, 2012 Major plans to expand at Portavadie
A state of the art multi-million pound sport and leisure centre to cater for the needs of people in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Cowal is to be built at Portavadie Marina.
Designs for the marina expansion include outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a spa, gym, fitness studio and café. The leisure centre, due to be completed at the end of 2014, will also provide a major boost to employment across Loch Fyne.
Currently employing 75 people in full and part-time positions, the leisure centre will see the workforce rise to 120.
Owners of Portavadie Marina, the Bulloch family, gave the green light for the investment this week, saying the development would bring more tourists and employment to the area, whilst providing a valuable resource for the community.
General manager of Portavadie Marina Iain Jurgenson said: ‘Nothing is set in stone, but we are actively thinking of having a Kintyre membership that will connect to the summer ferry.’
The business’s quest to cater for people from West Loch Fyne comes as more people travel to the Tighnabruaich-based marina for shopping, dining and an overnight stay.
Mr Jurgenson said CalMac has noticed increased footfall on the Tarbert to Portavadie ferry. He added: ‘We see ourselves going from strength to strength, not only providing a nice place for people to go but providing youngsters with a clear career path.
‘When you look at career progression, youngsters are leaving Argyll in droves. We employ housekeepers, retail workers, groomsmen, people in the marina, chefs, beauticians – it is right across the board.’
Marie Curie coffee morning
Home-baking tea and coffee was enjoyed by everyone at a coffee morning on Saturday in Tarbert to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer research.
Organised by the Middle Argyll fundraising group of the charity, the coffee morning in the Templar’s Hall raised £400. Frances Fleming, who helped organise the event, said she was delighted so many people turned out for the group’s first fundraiser in Tarbert.
TWENTY YEARS AGO Friday November 1, 2002 Heart machine for Skipness
Skipness residents have raised enough money to buy a defibrillator for the village. Through several fundraising events and grants from the charity British Heart Foundation, £2,500 was raised and the vital heart-starting equipment was winging its way to the village when Dr Lorna MacMillan contacted The Advertiser last week.
There will now be a Red Cross first-aid class in the village hall over three Wednesday nights, starting on November 20. There will also be a junior club for 10 to 16-year-olds to learn about first-aid, safety and fitness.
Stolen Furnace signs
Police in Inveraray have renewed their appeal for two missing millennium plaques.
They were stolen from the entrance and exit to Furnace sometime between September 24 and October 16.
The plaques, erected by the Furnace Millennium Group in August 2001, are described as aluminium and are in the shape of a thistle depicting the village coat of arms. They were mounted on the stone plinth and attached to a black shield.
Constable David Wilkinson of Inveraray police office said the plaques have little scrap value but cost the Furnace Millennium Group a considerable amount of money at the time.
He said: ‘We believe they have been taken as souvenirs and would ask anyone with information about the theft, or who has knowledge of their whereabouts, to contact Inveraray police office.’
FORTY YEARS AGO Friday November 5, 1982 EU move welcomed
The announcement last week of a Common Market Common Fisheries Policy – although it has still to be officially approved – should end the national mood of uncertainty within the fishing industry; a mood which has caused problems for local fishermen and for the Campbeltown Ship Yard.
With the industry’s present state largely blamed on a lack of such a Common Fisheries Policy within the European Economic Community, the announcement that such a policy had been agreed and awaited only the approval of the Danish government, should result in increased confidence in the future of fishing, which should help to solve at least some of the industry’s problems.
The new proposals will mean local fisherman working traditional fishing grounds, in the Firth of Clyde, most of the North Channel and between Kintyre and Islay and Jura, will be safeguarded from foreign vessels.
Had the policy not been decided before January 1 next year, the local fleet faced competition from foreign vessels right up to the beaches and it was the safeguard which persuaded the representatives of local fishermen’s organisations to approve the proposals.
SIXTY YEARS AGO Tuesday November 6, 1962 Inveraray man’s fine record
Saint Enoch hotel, Glasgow, was the venue last Wednesday for a lunch for Mr Edward Munro, when the firm of Charles Rattray and Company, with which he has served for 60 years, recognised this record service with the company.
Mr Munro, a son of the late Morton Munro, contractor, Inveraray, started his apprenticeship with the firm in 1902 and in celebrating his diamond jubilee with the firm was presented with a wallet of notes and a voucher for a holiday in Bournemouth by Mr Colvin of Irvine, the oldest customer of the firm.
Mr William Gray, senior director, said if it had not been for his untiring efforts and faithful service the firm would not be where it was today.
Mr Gray said this was a unique occasion as it was the first time they had celebrated the diamond jubilee of an employee with the firm.