Statue to Hamish MacInnes should replace house plan
Over the many years I worked for Oban Express Parcel Delivery Service, my delivery area included Kinlochleven, Glencoe, Glen Etive, White Corries, Black Corries and surrounding areas.
During that time I delivered to Hamish MacInnes, Glencoe mountain rescue team, packages etc to his home address. While doing this, on several occasions I had the opportunity to speak to Hamish, and he pointed out to me several of the climbs that he and the MRT accompanied by the Royal Air Force rescue and police had undertaken on rescue missions and training exercises.
Today I look at proposals for a cottage/house to replace the former holiday home of Jimmy Saville. I am shocked by these proposals and would appeal to those who are past and present members of Glencoe MRT to petition Highland Council to erect a statue of Hamish MacInnes on this spot overlooking the area that they searched for and saved so many.
George Berry, Mull.
‘Last chance saloon’ over new Skye powerlines
I have previously highlighted via the Oban Times the sub standard changing facilities for shinty players at Mossfield Stadium, which included the external toilet facilities available for spectators, in particular ladies.
This resulted in some recent upgrading of the changing facilities for players but nothing has been done to improve and maintain the outside toilet facilities to the extent that after Oban Camanachd’s home game against Kingussie I was approached by a group of senior ladies from Kingussie to say how disgusted they were with the available toilet facilities.
Their leader was happy to have her name revealed should I wish and went on to say that she had raised this matter directly with Argyll and Bute Council previously but with no response.
For my part, having had a life-long association with the game of shinty, I find it appalling that our game and the wonderful arena that is Mossfield Stadium should be spoken about in such terms, which also reflects badly on our town.
It may be just gossip but I have heard that there are powerful voices in the shinty world who would like to make the Bught Park in Inverness the “Home of Shinty”, which would see all major shinty events played there, in particular the Camanachd Cup final, on the basis that it has the best facilities.
I would argue, of course, that if there is to be a “ Home of Shinty” – doing away with the current rotation for the Camanachd Cup involving four venues one of which is Oban’s Mossfield Stadium – it should be Mossfield Stadium which is a natural amphitheatre for our sport with its wonderful playing surface enclosed as it is in a natural viewing set up for spectators which includes a hill side within the park with at the top the famous flag pole. Ask BBC Scotland what is their favourite venue for broadcasting shinty!
So I am appealing through the Oban Times for Argyll and Bute Council to stop playing about the edges and get Mossfield Stadium “fit for purpose”, especially the outside toilets and keep them this way on an ongoing basis.
Quite apart from providing adequate external toilet facilities for spectators, for which they are entitled, to have Mossfield Stadium “fit for purpose” is the only way we can compete for National Stadium Status in the event that this should ever become a matter for serious discussion.
Shinty, in my view, is part of Oban’s heritage and culture and for this reason alone we should do all we can to maintain a profile for this sport in our community.
Iain MacIntyre, Chieftain, Oban Camanachd Club.
Raising funds for cancer care
We lost my Dad to cancer in 2015, just 18 months after we’d lost my Mum to the same illness.
Dad was cared for by the excellent Sue Ryder Nurses in his last days and we wanted to give something back to say thank you for helping us through one of the most difficult times in our lives. That’s how the charity’s December Daily Dash was born.
The Sue Ryder December Daily Dash asks fundraisers to run, jog or walk every day of the month to raise vital funds for the charity. We wanted the challenge to be all about choice and accessibility – so you can do the Dash wherever, however and at any pace that you’d like.
Initially, it was just us joined by 11 friends – now there is a community of over 2,000 people that take part in the challenge to raise money for Sue Ryder’s palliative and bereavement support! It doesn’t matter how you take it on, with friends, with family or on your own. Do it for yourself, do it to support a loved one, or do it in memory of a loved one.
Not only will running, jogging or walking everyday help to raise money for Sue Ryder, which supports people through the most difficult times of their lives, whether that’s a terminal illness or the loss of a loved one, but it’s a fun way to take time out for you. We have created a wonderful community that motivate each other to keep going through the grey, rainy days.
You can sign up to the December Daily Dash by visiting DecemberDailyDash.com.
On behalf of us and Sue Ryder, thank you.
Jackie and Mark Smith, Founders of the December Daily Dash and Sue Ryder fundraisers