FIFTY YEARS AGO Thursday August 26, 1971

Irish refugees may come to Campbeltown

Young refugees from riot-torn Belfast may find their way into homes of Campbeltown families which belong to the Orange Order.

At the request of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the lodge in Campbeltown met on Sunday evening to discuss the possibility of receiving refugees from the city.

There was an excellent response to the idea and it was decided to call a special meeting of the district lodge, which includes Tarbert, to go into the matter fully.

Said District Lodge secretary Mr Ian McMillan: ‘The response on Sunday was very good and we decided to take children if required. The special meeting will decide on how many children it would be possible to accommodate.’

District Master Mr Malcolm Brody said there were four lodges in the district. They would get together and iron out details.

He went on: ‘Campbeltown is very close to Northern Ireland and the children could come across by the regular ferry.

‘We will send our recommendation to the

In 1996: The Courier balloon race has been a great success. Mrs Isobel McDonald, convener, and Mrs Jane Leys, treasurer, received a cheque for £150, on behalf of the Kintyre branch of the Cancer Research Campaign. The cheque was presented by Mrs Anne Martin, advertising manager at the Campbeltown Courier, who organised the race. The balloons, released from Anderston Park during the Kintyre Agricultural Society Annual Livestock Show, are being returned daily from near and far. The closing date for returns is September 30.

Grand Lodge for it to decide finally.’ Mr Brody added: ‘Lodge 29 is very much in favour of the idea.’