FROM OUR FILES
TEN YEARS AGO Friday September 19, 2008 Jubilant juniors win at ‘Brass in the Park’
The end of the summer holidays traditionally means the beginning of a new football season in Britain but it also marks the return of brass bands to the competition season. Campbeltown Junior Brass Band was no exception as it travelled to Newtongrange to take part in Brass in the Park. There was a fantastic roar from a section of the marquee as the announcement was made that the band had gained a gold award and won its competition.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Friday September 24, 1993 No place to play
Parents in Stewarton have made a desperate plea to Argyll and Bute District Council – ‘Give our kids a play area before one of them is killed on the roads’. Children were dicing with death every time they played on one of the few open spaces in the village – now the council has said that they cannot even play in these areas. In a council letter sent out to all residents, it was stated that complaints had been made regarding noise, the risk of damage to cars and the danger of accidents. One villager, Malcolm McEachran, said: ‘I appreciate the concerns of some of the residents, but you can’t lock children up 24 hours a day. If the council could provide somewhere for the kids – of all ages – they wouldn’t get complaints. ‘It’s all about priorities. What’s more important – a car or a kid? You can replace a car. It seems we are snookered.’ Another concerned parent, Ian McAulay, said: ‘There’s nothing for these kids to do, and even when they do get a chance to play, someone is complaining. ‘I fear it’s going to take a child being killed before anyone will take notice. All we are asking for is a bit of fenced-off ground.’
FIFTY YEARS AGO Thursday September 19, 1968 Drumlemble to get new school
A primary school for 150 pupils is to be built at Drumlemble at a cost of £90,000. This was decided on Tuesday by Argyll Education Committee despite an appeal by Provost D McKinven that the project should be reconsidered. He told a meeting of the committee in Oban that the money would be better spent developing primary school facilities in Campbeltown. Provost McKinven said he had every sympathy with the people of Drumlemble who had protested about the delay in replacing their existing school. ‘We are here to look after the education of all Argyll and not just one village,’ he said. ‘There is a need for a new primary school in Campbeltown. We should seriously consider whether we are to spend £90,000 on a new school only four miles away.’ Buses carrying pupils from RAF Machrihanish would have to pass through Campbeltown dropping secondary pupils and then go on to Drumlemble. Referring to a letter of protest issued by a Drumlemble Parents’ Association, the provost said that if the villagers had agreed on a site, they could have had a new school a long time ago. He said things had come to a head with the appointment of the new headmaster.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Saturday September 21, 1918 Unveiling of Celtic cross at Whitehouse
The artistic monument of silver-grey granite gifted by Mr Peter Jeffrey Mackie of Glenreasdell, to commemorate the men from the district who fell in the war, was unveiled at Whitehouse on Sunday last by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, K.C.M.G. The ceremony was opened with prayer by Rev. Archd. Anderson, of Clachan, and the 100th Psalm was sung. Mr Mackie, in handing over the monument, said: ‘We are fortunate today to have in our midst Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who has been Premier of New Zealand, and is now High Commissioner for that colony. ‘It is indeed on an appropriate occasion that he should chance to be here at this time, in order that he may unveil this cross in remembrance of those boys who have given their lives for their country.’