The day I caught the ferry... 40 years late!
WHEN tourist Marlene Gullon’s dream Hebridean ferry trip to Iona was cancelled in 1977 she was quite rightly aggrieved.
So as compensation the travel company offered her a free ride to be taken any time in the future.
Now, 40 years on, Mrs Gullon, from Newcastle, has finally enjoyed the trip after the ferry operator agreed to honour her ticket.
The 75-year-old yesterday boarded the CalMac vessel as a guest of the company on its £60 Three Isles trip, which takes in Mull, Iona and Staffa.
She had hoped to take the journey with her husband Laurence, who was with her on the original holiday. But she was instead accompanied by friend Colin MacPherson, as Mr Gullon, 77, was not well enough to travel.
She said: ‘When the trip was cancelled 40 years ago I got a letter from the company saying that if we came back to Oban they would honour the original trip.
‘I kept the letter. It has been a laughing point – every time people go on about going on a cruise I’ve mentioned it.
‘So I contacted CalMac last week to see if they would honour the offer. They told me to send the letter I had first-class, which I did, and I got a special delivery back on Saturday, two days before we were coming to Oban, to say they would honour it.’ She added: ‘I have always wanted to see Iona because my maiden name is MacKinnon and MacKinnons are associated with Iona.’ Mrs Gullon recalled being very excited when she booked the original trip, which included a night sleeping aboard the old Columba ferry.
But the visit to Iona was cancelled because the ferry had to divert to South Uist to pick up livestock instead.
Mrs Gullon said: ‘I can’t remember how much we paid for the original trip but just think CalMac have been wonderful to do this after all this time.’
CalMac spokesman Robert Morrison said: ‘We were delighted to be able to honour this 40-year commitment. I’m sure Mrs Gullon will find the wait was worth it.’