TEN YEARS AGO
Thursday October 31, 2013
Mountain leader wins top student award
A Fort William student who scaled the difficulties associated with dyslexia and
developed skills as an experienced mountaineer has been named West Highland
College UHI Student of the Year.
Will Rowland recently completed a BA Honours in adventure tourism management
through the University of the Highlands and Islands.
The 23-year-old, from Cawdor in Nairnshire, was praised for his hard work
and positive attitude as well as personal achievements as a mountaineer.
He was nominated for the award by his lecturer, Matt Groves, who is also programme
leader for the adventure tourism management course.
Mr Groves said: Will was diagnosed with dyslexia in 2011. Despite this, he worked
with real integrity to achieve a 2:1 honours degree.
“He was a significant driving force in his module group, critically challenging theoretical perspectives and setting an excellent example to his peers in engaging in
group discussion and personal study.
“Alongside achievements in study, Will made exceptional personal achievements as a
mountaineer and an up-and-coming mountaineering instructor.
“He completed an extraordinary trip to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, gaining first
ascents of several alpine-sized ice climbs in winter conditions.
“He also progressed through crucial levels of National Governing Body training, including Winter Mountain Leader and Mountaineering Instructor Award courses.
Mr Groves added: “Will also left a legacy for the student community by being at the
forefront of the development of the university mountaineering club and being its first
president.
“He has an ability to turn words and ideas into action and has a natural and unaffected
style of leadership.
“Will’s presence has been an inspiration for others and he has been a positive
influence in the college. His affable personality and quick smile will be missed, but
his influence will remain.”
This week, Mr Rowland said he was “astounded” to receive the accolade.
He said: “I feel I am more pragmatic than academic and ensure I gain an understanding of how things work – even if it takes forever. When people you respect say such nice things about you, it’s awkward to take them seriously.
“I was astounded I was chosen. The award could have gone to many of my fellow peers who work hard and probably deserve it more than me.”
Lydia Rohmer, principal and chief executive of West Highland College UHI, said: “This award is very well deserved as Will has been an exemplary student in terms of overcoming his own barriers to learning and in going on to become a highly confident
student of West Highland College UHI.
“He is an inspiration to other students in terms of his resilience to the challenges he has met and overcome and he has succeeded in making a significant contribution to wider college life through his leadership of the mountain club and his participation in other student activities.”
Now he has finished his studies, Will has been working as a freelance mountain leader
and mountain bike guide, has been gaining experience with different outdoor organisations and is saving up to undertake more climbing trips.
TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
Saturday October 24, 1998
Industry award for Neptune’s Staircase
An ingenious conservation technique used to restore one of Scotland’s most famous tourist attractions – Neptune’s Staircase on the Caledonian Canal – was awarded a
Special Commendation at the British Construction Industry Awards for 1998 in
London yesterday.
The massive flight of eight locks at Banavie, Fort William, is one of the most ambitious restoration projects undertaken by British Waterways, which runs the UK’s 2,000-mile network.
The success of the scheme will revolutionise the restoration of canal locks in the UK and abroad.
Originally built by Thomas Telford in the early 19th century, Neptune’s Staircase had begun to show serious signs of its age and required urgent attention.
Three years ago it looked as if the only way to repair the locks would be to rebuild
them completely.
But a team of British Waterways engineers, working alongside specialist
consultants and Historic Scotland, came up with an innovative restoration scheme
using traditional materials.
“The Caledonian Canal is more than just a Scheduled Ancient Monument, it is a piece
of working heritage that attracts many visitors to the Great Glen each year,” said British Waterways project manager Ian Workman.
“Neptune’s Staircase has lasted almost 200 years with only basic maintenance and we
wanted to retain the integrity and character of the structure so that it would last at least another two centuries.”
Research and extensive trials over two years showed that modern pointing, grouting
and anchoring techniques, used in a unique combination with traditional materials,
would secure and “invisibly mend” the structure of the lock.
Using this technique, British Waterways engineers filled the voids within
the original lock walls, reinstated the clay backing and stabilised the bulges that had
developed.
To restore the locks, thousands of tons of water were emptied from a six-mile stretch
of Canal around Banavie, along with the water in each of the eight “staircase” locks.
“We wanted to find a solution that would stand the test of time and preserve the
original staircase for Scotland,” said David Fletcher, chief executive of British Waterways. “Hopefully, viewing all this from above, that great Scottish engineer Telford will have a smile of satisfaction at a job well done.”
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Saturday October 23, 1948
Intimate Opera
The Arts Council opened this season’s concerts in Fort William by sending the “Intimate Opera” Company and these three delightful singers and a pianist held the
audience enthralled.
It was a great pity that owing to a sudden squall of rain shortly before opening time, and a number of other meetings that clashed, the audience was not as big as the evening deserved but those attending heartily endorsed Miss Hutt’s vote of thanks.
Miss Hutt, the efficient organiser of the concerts in Fort William, paid tribute to
the artistes and spoke of the future programme.
She also thanked her helpers, Miss Weir, those who sold programmes and assisted
with the stage properties and Mr MacKenzie of Messers A Fraser and Co for the loan of the suitable period furniture that graced the stage.
Political debate
An interesting political debate took place in the Town Hall on Friday when Mr M MacCracken, chairman of Lochaber Unionist Association, moved that “The Labour Government has failed”, the negative being taken by Mr Ernest Greenhill, labour member of the Glasgow Town Council, ex-Treasurer of the Corporation and an
official of the WEA. Provost Cameron presided and introduced the speakers.
Flag day
A successful Flag Day brought in the sum of £25 12s 6d to the Scottish Children’s
League of Pity.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Saturday October 27, 1923
Skye mail service
The Skye mail service has been altered from daily service during the summer months
to a tri-weekly service for the winter.
This service is performed by the SS Sheila which in addition to proceeding direct to
Stornoway from Kyle three days a week, carries mail to Lewis, via Portree, on two
other days, thus giving Stornoway almost a daily service and Skye a tri-weekly one.
A much-felt grievance in Portree is the fact that letters arriving there at 6.30pm are
not delivered until the following morning, except to callers at the Post Office counter,
after the country mails have been dispatched.
Some years ago all letters arriving by the mail steamer left the Post Office for house-
to -house delivery an hour after their arrival.
Such an arrangement might still be possible and would certainly be more convenient
for the public and saving of trouble to postal staff.
Featured image: 1998: Three young Lochaber pipers who took part in the Lochaber Piping Society piping recital in Alexandra Hotel, Fort William, last Saturday: from left – Marianine Goode, Lyn Blyth and Kirsty Macintyre. Photograph: Anthony MacMillan. NO_F43_FromOurFiles_23_03