Ross of Mull Historical Centre celebrates 21 years
Located at the old water mill in Bunessan, Mull, the 21st anniversary of the Ross of Mull Historical Centre was celebrated at the annual general meeting on Saturday October 27.
Rosie Burgess, whose father Jimmy McKeand founded the centre, was invited to cut the anniversary cake and speak about the vision and motivation of her dad.
Rosie said: ‘My father had empathy for all those families who had had to move away from their homeland, whether by choice or enforcement. He established contact with people locally, on the mainland and worldwide with a shared interest in the history of the Ross of Mull.
‘Between 1993 and 1995, he visited Australia and New Zealand, contacting and visiting many with Mull connections.
‘He also travelled to Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and Prince Edward Islands, following the trail of emigrants from the Ross. His photographic records of those trips are in the archives here at the centre.’
The Ross of Mull Historical Centre, run by volunteers, was formally convened in 1997, by Jimmy and other local folk, in particular his Bunessan School contemporary, Attie MacKechnie.
Jimmy died in 2001, but the momentum was enough to motivate others to carry on to establish a lasting venue which continues to welcome those from all over the world back to their roots.
The AGM also launched a new website, designed by Clearbox Designs, Oban, to reach a global audience of anyone wishing to trace their roots in the Ross of Mull. Go to https://romhc.org.uk.