From our files:
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO May 31 1991 No bids for Keil Hotel
BARGAIN of the century, the 35-bedroom Keil Hotel at Southend, was withdrawn from sale at the reserve price of £50,000 at the auction in the White Hart Hotel, Campbeltown, on Monday. Nobody would open the bidding even at £30,000.
The five-storey art deco hotel with outline planning permission for conversion to self-catering flats was closed last autumn and went into receivership. It has been on the market since then at offers over £125,000.
Dick Gannon, the auctioneer, said afterwards: ‘I think it is just the general situation at the moment. Business in Kintyre has gone very quiet. I think there is a lack of enthusiasm generally to have a go at anything. In six months’ time it could fly away at twice the price.’
Mr Gannon, a former property developer, said he had surveyed the hotel. It was structurally sound despite rain- water leaking from the flat roof, which had not been maintained and needed rebuilding as a pitched roof.
FIFTY YEARS AGO June 2 1966 Old folk saved in night blaze
TWENTY-FIVE patients - all old age pensioners - were evacuated in their night clothes when fire broke out in the hospital block of Campbeltown’s Witchburn Home for old people late on Monday night.
The old people, many of whom are crippled, were carried to safety minutes after the alarm was raised by nurses from the home and other local hospitals, helped by a squad of almost 50 volunteers who had arrived with the fire brigade.
A hospital spokesman said on Tuesday: ‘Two factors averted a disaster. One was the incredibly prompt arrival of the fire brigade - it seemed that we had just called them when we turned around and found they were there. They were equally prompt in bringing the fire under control.’
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO May 27 1916 Honours for 8th Argylls
INFORMATION has been received to the effect that two men in the 8th Argylls have received honours for distinguished conduct in the field.
Private Baker, Islay, has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal. He alone held a sap, and killed 11 Germans who opposed him.
Private John Campbell, an Inveraray member of the 1/8th A and S.H., has had the distinguished award of the Military Cross conferred upon him for carrying dispatches under heavy fire.
The officer commanding asked for a volunteer, and Campbell, who was always of a fearless disposition, promptly responded. Shot and shell were flying hard and fast, but he was fortunate in getting safely through.
Before leaving with his company in August 1914, Campbell, who is the son of the late Mr Alex Campbell, mail driver, was in the employment of the Duke of Argyll.