FORCES Cadets’ events to mark 100 years of RAF

Legal row:

Air cadets in Orkney are marking the Royal Air Force centenary through hosting a number of fundraising events in Kirkwall.

Staff and cadets of 1769 (Orkney) Detached Flight Air Training Corps will celebrate the monumental anniversary of the RAF in April 1.

Next Saturday, cadets will be in the town’s Tesco store, conducting a fundraiser, including a bag pack and the opportunity to meet the charity mascot Ben Elephant.

On April 6, guests will enjoy a formal dinner and dance hosted by the air cadets, leading into a historical talk on the following day from author Gregor Lamb. The final event in the trio, a service at St Magnus Cathedral on April 8, looks to be a fitting end to a weekend of tributes.

The events will be attended by the Lord Lieutenant, Bill Spence, and Air Officer Commanding Scotland Air Vice-Marshal Ross Paterson.

Organiser Hugh Moonie said: “The events are truly exciting. Although the events are open to all, we hope to have as many RAF veterans attending as possible in order to remember and honour all those who have served over the past 100 years.

“We are fundraising for the RAF Benevolent Fund as the support they provide to serving personnel and veterans of the RAF is as outstanding as it is varied. It can be vital for those who require support especially following potentially lifechanging events.

“We felt it was timely to highlight the fund at the centenary of the RAF. It is also quite poignant following the tragic accident at RAF Valley.” A crofter’s compensation claim of up to £20,000 over damage to fences, which saw two rival bulls engaged in a terrifying fight for territory, was described in court yesterday as being the result of “neighbours at war”.

Crofter Kathleen Allen, 71, along with her husband Bernard, of Kirkibost, Great Bernera, Lewis, have raised a civil action at Stornoway Sheriff Court against David and Janine Hargreaves, the former tenants of the neighbouring croft.

The Allens allege that Ozzie, a Belted Galloway bull owned by Mr and Mrs Hargreaves, was responsible for causing damage to fencing and compromising the high-health status of their own pedigree Highland herd.

Earlier in proceedings, the court heard that a Highland bull on hire to the Allens, named Calum Ruadh, ended up clashing with Ozzie, leaving the Belted Galloway bleeding from being “gouged” by the horns of his larger rival.

The Allens’ compensation is divided into five different aspects – damStornoway age to fences and remedial work; loss of income from the high-health status of the Highland herd being compromised; loss of income from pedigree sales; legal costs; and losses from the “distress and inconvenience” caused.

However, during the closing arguments at Sheriff Court yesterday, advocate Stewart Buchanan, acting for the Hargreaves, said this was not about any loss of income from a crofting business but about “neighbours at war”.

He said that the claims for compensation were “ill founded” as the Scottish Land Court had already deemed that the boundary fence between the neighbours was the responsibility of the Allens.

Furthermore, he argued, there was no detailed evidence over loss of income presented and, he stated, the Allens had themselves failed to comply with the regulations of the Premier Cattle Health Scheme, meaning that any “invading” cattle could not be held responsible for that status being compromised.

Advocate Neil MacDougall, for the pursuers, argued that there was a precedent in law that stated it was the keeper’s responsibility to ensure all reasonable measures were undertaken to prevent a bull from causing damage. The Hargreaves had not done so, he said.

Sheriff David Sutherland is expected to take several weeks to come to a conclusion.

“Hope to have RAF veterans attending”