FORTY YEARS AGO Friday January 20, 1984
Chaos in the snow
She had lost a bit of weight and was suffering from de-hydration, but Lochgilphead vets say she will be OK.
The family is relieved and Delilah’s return has certainly made it a happy new year for them.
Hurricane winds and severe snow storms brought Arctic conditions to Mid Argyll in the past week.
Blocked roads, school closures, ferry services disrupted and cuts in electricity supplies was the story throughout the area.
Monday morning brought one of the heaviest snowfalls in recent years, leaving dozens of motorists stranded with cars, vans and lorries abandoned on the Rest and Be Thankful and on the Lochgilphead to Oban road.
Many motorists trying to travel north from Lochgilphead failed to get any further than Kilmartin, until a snowplough working between Lochgilphead and Arduaine came to the rescue.
A convoy of cars, vans and lorries followed the plough but even travelling behind the plough became difficult because of the constant heavy snow. One lorry went off the road into a ditch at Sallachry but fortunately there was enough space to allow the plough and following vehicles through.
Most of the convoy reached Kilmelford but once again they were stranded as the Melfort Pass was blocked by cars and lorries.
Conditions on the pass were the worst expeHis rienced for many years. Motorists and lorry drivers joined forces with shovels and began digging cars out and pushing them up the hill in an attempt to open the road.
Meanwhile snowploughs were working nonstop to keep the road open. The story was the same throughout Mid Argyll with many minor roads blocked by drifting snow or just possible with the greatest care.
A party heading for Islay were unable to reach Kennacraig having driven as far as the Rest and Be Thankful only to find it blocked.
One section of the community who perhaps welcomed the bad weather were schoolchildren who were sent home.
Schools in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islay were affected, with Lochgilphead High School and Tarbert Academy closed on Monday afternoon.
A young mother travelling by ambulance from Mull to the Vale of Leven had to complete her journey by helicopter from Inveraray as the Rest and Be Thankful was closed.
A number of social functions planned in Mid Argyll over the weekend also fell victim to the weather.
A parent-teachers evening scheduled to take place in Lochgilphead High School on Monday evening had to be cancelled and Comunn Gaidhealach Loch Fin had to postpone its Old New Year’s Ceilidh on Saturday evening as the artistes due to travel from Oban were unable to make the journey.
A couple celebrating their golden wedding in the Argyll Hotel, Lochgilphead, were unfortunately without the company of two of their daughters, one from Leeds and one from Inverness. Both were prevented from reaching Mid Argyll by the severe weather conditions.