THE ARRAN BANNER 20 YEARS AGO

Saturday July 19, 1997

Numbers game

Lamlash is now Arran’s most populous village; Corrie is the island’s most elderly village; Shiskine has the youngest average age on the island and almost one quarter of the residents on Arran are 65 or over. The overall population is 4,643.

These figures are not from published documents from the enumeration of January 10th, but details gleaned from the raw data. The most significant finding is that there are no discernable great shifts. An increase of 100 people is modest. The new housing in Brodick and Lamlash has made a difference, but not a huge one, and the share of elderly people has remained roughly the same as at the last enumeration in 1993.

Interestingly, the population of people under 15 has dropped a little but the proportion of working age people has increased. The total number of permanently occupied dwellings on the island is 1,873. There are 606 holiday homes and a further 66 vacant properties for sale. The enumerations started in 1965 when there was genuine concern at Arran’s failing population which was at 3,162 then, having fallen from 4,656 at the national census in 1951.

New ideas

Kilmory Post office changes hands this weekend. Owners for the last four years, Kate and Bernard Duffy are moving to Shiskine. Taking over and feeling buoyant about it are John and Jean Fitzpatrick with, soon to join them, 19-year-old son Ross. From Kilmarnock, John’s mother lives at Lenamhor so they know the area well. They are also well aware of the difficulties of running a business and have the enthusiasm to do it.

They will run the shop and cafe from Thursday to Sunday offering simple but appetising food and are considering opening in the evenings as a youth cafe giving young people a place to go. One curious twist is that over ten years ago John helped a former owner to build the house above the Post Office. Now they will live in the house he helped to build.

No show

Brodick Cinema has had to cancel its forthcoming performances as the projector has broken down. With a full programme of films aimed at the younger age group, they had no projectionist last Thursday and more than 50 cinema-goers eager to see Star Wars. Regular projectionist Jimmy Park was away but eventually they got it going.

With this new fault, and Jimmy still away, they need a technician from the mainland and none is expected before Monday so they have had no choice but to cancel this weekend’s shows.

B28twe02 Dougie Henderson, an ambulance technician for four-and-a-half years, has qualified as an ambulance paramedic. He is pictured with fellow paramedics Jeff Dawson and Neil Gillies.

B28twe05 Winners of the annual Charity Texas Scramble at Shiskine, Big Dave’s Divots, with Robert Waine representing the main sponsors Alliance and Leicester.

B28twe01 Principal speakers at the Brodick Golf centenary gala dinner were Robbie Glenn, captain Willie Innes, Ernest Bernard and Jim McKelvie, pictured with their wives.

B28twe03 Shiskine Hall committee members poised to capture the first duck over the line during last Saturday’s duck derby.

B28twe04 Kildonan Fun Week got under way on Sunday with a nature walk but the first vigorous activity was the junior mountain bike treasure hunt. A good number of youngsters set out with enthusiasm to seek their quarry.