Beachd Ailein
Congratulations to BBC Alba for its excellent hour-long programme on the construction of the Fort William to Mallaig railway line following the discovery in Cornwall of a folder of black and white images taken during the construction of this huge engineering project 120 years ago.
Presenter Ingrid Henderson had researched the human side as well as the physical engineering aspect and the result was an absorbing and fascinating story. It deserves to be on the main channels.
How many of us knew 3,500 navvies lived on site and worked on this spectacular project with an on-site doctor, nurses and a hospital at Polnish? It's unimaginable today. How many men died?
The accompanying music was hauntingly appropriatee, particularly the slow tune dedicated to Nurse Hawkings.
Well done BBC Alba. There must Lochaber-based stories to be told.
Ken Johnston, Fort William. be more
At the start of another new year, people everywhere are gripped by fear, panic and anxiety – no wonder.
With the lethal coronavirus pandemic continuing to spread in the nation, triggering endless cycles of lockdown measures – in the process causing heartache and misery – the only anticipation for 2021 is an unsettling fear of the unknown and a dark tomorrow. But let us pause for a moment
In December 1939 our nation was at war with Nazi Germany, having entered the conflict to defend the freedom of Europe and ultimately that of the world. The future course of the war was unknown. The outcome was uncertain and victory was by no means assured.
The war, which had started three months earlier, would last for almost six years. The cost in terms of lives lost and injuries sustained would be immense.
Within months, children were being evacuated from communities in London, shortages were beginning to develop in shops and it looked like the war might take longer to win than was first imagined. Not knowing what would happen, the masses were paralyzed by the dreaded fear of the unknown. ailean@obantimes.co.uk
Bliadhna ùr mhath dhuibh uile, agus deagh dhùrachd airson slàinte, sonas, soirbheachas troimhpe!
Air chuimhne biodh an tìm a thriall,
Cha mhair am big’, is cha till a’ bhliadhn’, Ach mairidh coibhneas agus bàidh,
Is tillidh smuain air mar a bha! Thàinig mi tarsainn air an rann seo bho chionn ghoirid agus shaoil mi gum bheil e freagarrach is sinn air starsaich bliadhn’ ùire! Bithear tric a’ fàgail air Gàidheil gum bheil sinn dualach a bhith a’ coimhead cus air ais air eachdraidh, agus gum bheil sin gu ìre gar cumail air ais san t-saoghal ùr a tha daonnan ag atharrachadh mar timcheall. Ach mar a tha seanfhacal ag ràdh, cha bhi tuigse agad air cò thu mur aithne dhut cò às a thàinig thu, agus mur eil fios agad cò às a thàinig thu cha bhi tuigse agad air càite bu mhath leat a dhol! Dhan mhòr-chuid againn cuiridh mi geall gun robh eòlas air “coibhneas agus bàidh” làidir nar cuimhne air mar a bha an saoghal a b’ aithne dhuinn, agus nach bu mhath gum b’ urrainn dhuinne a-nise leithid sin de shaoghal a thoirt air adhart mar dhìleab dha na ginealaichean a tha gar leantainn. Deagh amas beatha agus bliadhn’ ùire!
’S e amas a tha an seo a chuireas caochladh dhleastanasan leantainneach oirnn ma tha coibhneas agus bàidh gu bhith nan stiùir beatha dhuinn, ach ’s fhiach cuimhneachadh air a’ liuthad neach a th’ againn mar timcheall a tha cho airidh air meas agus moladh, ged nach biodh gach agus
During this period, King George VI was the reigning monarch. On Christmas Day he addressed the nation, speaking memorable words of comfort and peace to calm all within the realm.
He reminded them of the only true King, King Jesus, the One who can provide true peace and real rest in such troubled times. He continued: ‘A new year is at hand. We cannot tell which it will bring. If it brings peace how thankful we shall all be. If it brings continued struggle, we shall remain undaunted.
In the meantime, I feel we may all find a message of encouragement in the lines which, in my closing words, I would like to say to you.
‘I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the ann ach luchd-obrach seirbheis na slàinte a’ strì ris a’ choròna-bhìoras! Chan iadsan a-mhàin a tha a’ cosnadh taing dhùrachdach airson an cuid saothrach làitheil aig an àm dhùbhlanach seo, tha mìltean eile ann cuideachd a tha a’ coileanadh sheirbheisean deatamach agus as còir dhuinn a mholadh le meas. Le aithne dhaibh uile bu chòir gun tigeadh coibhneas agus bàidh gu bhith na mhodh-iùil nàdarra.
Dè na h-amasan eile air am bithear a’ cuimseachadh? ’S neònach mur a bi cuid de na “seann laoich” air na liostaichean, is daoine dol a dh’fheuchainn ri beagan cuideim a chall, nas lugha ithe is òl, agus barrachd eacarsaich a ghabhail. ’S e fìor dheagh rùn a tha sin, ged a tha e gu math doirbh cumail ris mar a tha iomadh bliadhna air dearbhadh dhomh fhìn, ach cha tuirt sin nach còir feuchainn a-rithist agus theagamh gun soirbhich leam car mar a rinn Dick Whittington! Saoilidh mi gur e prìomh dhòchas mòr-shluagh na dùthcha gum faigh a h-uile duine cothrom air banachdach agus dìon bho Covid 19 cho luath ‘s a ghabhas, agus gun tèid an galair mallaichte a cheannsachadh gu tur!
Eating and drinking less, and exercising more, will again be features of many new year resolution lists, and I wish us well with that! The principal national hope must certainly be for everyone to have access to Covid 19 vaccination very soon and that the virus will be halted.
Allan Campbell, ailean@obantimes.co.uk
darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way. May that Almighty hand guide and uphold us all.’
In a time of difficulty, danger and distress, the encouraging message from the King was: ‘Put your hand into the hand of God!’ Going into an unknown future, this is the best thing that any of us can do. When we put our trust, by faith, in Him, we need not go into 2021 with dreaded fear, but with joyous cheer. His unchanging promise assures us of that: ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’ (Isaiah 41:10) We wish everyone, near and far, a very happy and blessed new year.
Donald J Morrison, Inverness.