The Princess Royal Opens the St. Edward's Centre
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| The Princess Royal meets Patrick
and Wendy MacKinnon with Caroline (aged 3) |
The Princess Royal clearly enjoyed the day on Canna although we
learned that it had not been her first visit. A keen sailor, she
told us that she had been to Canna a number of years earlier and
had visited the then derelict St Edward's Church, which livestock
had been using as a shelter! Writing to the Chairman of The Hebridean
Trust, Mike Stanfield, she commented that the restoration and new
purpose of the building "seems like a miracle."
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| The restored interior of the St. Edward's Centre
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Indeed the renovation and conversion of St Edward's Church required
real determination on the part of the architects ARP Lorimer and
Associates of Ayr and contractors McKerlich and Son Ltd of Kyle.
They overcame many problems including occasional horizontal rain,
force 10 winds and difficult site access.
Those who turned out for the event on Canna, the 5th June showed
similar determination as their tiny open ferry, the Allasdale Lass,
stemmed the waves and strong westerly wind on the way from Mallaig.
Rescued from their ordeal in Loch Scresort by the brand new state-of-the-art
ferry, Loch Nevis, the sturdy guests were soon enjoying a complementary
packed lunch and bracing themselves for a refreshing walk around
Canna harbour to the St Edward's Centre.
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| Jill Gosney and her inter-island catering crew |
Jill Gosney and her team of caterers from Glenborrodale provided
further refreshments in the Marquee. Although they had arrived on
a small fishing boat in the very early hours of the morning there
was not a bleary eye among them and we couldn't fault their attention
to detail. The Marquee was speedily erected the previous day by
North of Scotland Marquees of Nairn and provided welcome shelter
from indifferent weather.
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The Royal Helicopter prepares
to land on Sanday |
After a special private visit to Canna House to meet Margaret
Fay Shaw, the Princess Royal's helicopter made the short hop
across Canna Harbour and after being greeted by local dignitaries
the Opening Ceremony took place. The Princess then had a chance
to tour the building and meet the island children.
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| Hugh Cheape presented exhibits from the
John Lorne Campbell Archive |
As well as an opportunity to show off the excellent accommodation
now available at St Edwards, the opening was a showcase for
future projects on Canna and the scholarly work of the late
John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Fay Shaw who have dedicated
their lives to the study of the Hebrides and Gaelic culture
and language.
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| Freshly caught Canna Lobsters - a local
delicacy |
The day was a wonderful opportunity for us to thank those who
have given us support during our most challenging project to
date. Concluding his introductory speech, Trust chairman, Mike
Stanfield alluded to future cooperation with The National Trust
for Scotland and thanked the people of Canna:
"The Hebridean Trust has been invited by the National
Trust to carry out further work on Canna - an annex to St Edward's
with extra beds, a recreation room and a warden's permanent
accommodation plus a state-of-the-art library with viewing and
sound room adjacent to Canna House, to house the unique collection
of Hebridean material donated to the NTS by John and Margaret
Campbell.
Finally I'd like to thank the residents of Canna who have given
us all so much help and particularly to Patrick Mackinnon for
his ideas and advice which has been much appreciated. It now
gives me great pleasure to ask her Royal Highness to open St
Edward's Centre."
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| See
an album of images commemorating this special day - visit our Isle
of Canna page |
Sandaig Museum of Island Life
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Museum volunteers are having a busy season at the Sandaig Museum
despite a late opening due to foot and mouth. New heating means
the damp, which had been affecting the 19th century clothing exhibits,
has been eliminated.
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Thatching maintenance is required at least
every two years at the museum
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Derek Wolstencroft has completed thatching the cottage and byre.
The introduction of afternoon teas at the neighbouring Glassary
restaurant will be welcomed by thirsty museum goers.
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Inside the Sandaig Museum |
For a detailed brochure describing the construction and
use of traditional Hebridean thatched cottages send your address
to The Hebridean Trust. The museum survives
through the hard work of our volunteers on Tiree and on donations
for which we are always very grateful.
For further details on the Sandaig Museum see our 'Places
to Visit' page.
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Upper Square gets the Go-Ahead
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June 18: Following a fundraising campaign that stretched over five
years, the Hebridean Trust was finally able to order the
go ahead on the £848,000 project to renovate and convert the Lighthouse
Keeper's Cottages at Hynish. The buildings, which are listed Grade
A, were considered important enough to warrant an archaeological
survey which has created a permanent record of their original condition.
 Although
the buildings will be used to provide low cost housing to island
families, these will be unlike any ordinary council houses. Tenants
will have to sign a special lease preventing them from damaging
any of the historical features with DIY works and redecoration will
be strictly controlled in order to preserve the original colour
scheme.
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Some may think that this is conservation taken too far but the
project could only take place because it addressed both conservation
and social welfare issues, both key elements of the Hebridean
Trust's mission statement. The Hebridean Trust has already
received a number of applications for the cottages, which will be
allocated along Argyll and Bute Council guidelines, with local people
given priority.
| One of the first site photographs from our
architects ARP Lorimer |
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Roses Project at
Hynish
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This year, Alan Stevenson House welcomes The Roses Project
for their first season of adventure training on Tiree. Started
in 1990, they have taken many disadvantaged young people from
inner city areas on multi-activity courses.
Roses aim to help young people learn about themselves and their
capabilities. Working with social workers and community leaders
(often with groups from ethnic minority backgrounds) Roses seek
to integrate their training into the user groups' ongoing programmes.
Founder, Steven Thomas says "Our ultimate goal is to nurture
qualities and skills which are important throughout life".
With two successful weeks under their belts, and ten more weeks
booked, Roses say they are extremely pleased with the level of
service and facilities available at the Hynish
Centre.
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For more information
on Tiree and the Hynish Centre
please send us your address for a copy of our full colour
Tiree Brochure.
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Experience the Magic of the Hebrides
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Appeal for Help
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At the Hynish Centre your group, whatever
the size, will enjoy a range of facilities hard to equal in the
islands. This unique setting offers dramatic coastal scenery, and
gentle walks, where your imagination will come alive, inspired by
vivid horizons of land, sea and sky.
Accommodation is arranged in two houses offering catered or self-catering
accommodation for up to 32  guests
in bunk or twin-bedded rooms. Facilities for disabled users and
optional services including a modern multifunction hall allow you
to adapt the centre to your group's interests and needs.
Book online at www.hynishcentre.co.uk,
e-mail us at info@hebrideantrust.org
or telephone 01879 220726 for further details.
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Over the past 15 years, the Hebridean Trust has worked to
redevelop the small village of Hynish on the Isle of Tiree. It has
created, among other amenities, Alan Stevenson
House, an outdoor activities centre, and Morton
Boyd House, a smaller accommodation block with a room equipped
for disabled guests.
These facilities, which together make up the Hynish Centre,
are used by a wide variety of local and visiting groups and we are
now seeking to make them more accessible and user-friendly for disabled
and elderly visitors. This will be achieved by:
- Building a small car park adjacent to Morton Boyd House
with two dedicated disabled spaces.
- Installing a disabled toilet on the ground floor of Alan
Stevenson House
- Creating a paved entrance to Alan Stevenson House suitable
for wheelchairs.
The Project will cost £22,684 and the Hebridean Trust
has raised £17,238, which will be granted if we can bridge
the shortfall of £5,746.An appeal was launched on 11th July
and we would be grateful for any donations, however small, towards
this project.
See below for full details of how to Join the Friends
of the Hebridean Trust and the benefits of membership.
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Web Site News
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HebWeb - New Features
www.hebrideantrust.org
Our Hebridean Trust web site enjoyed a large number of "hits"
during the period after the Royal visit to Canna.
We would also like to announce the following new features:
Treshnish Management Plan available online
For anyone interested in the conservation
of the Treshnish Isles this detailed document contains a wealth
of information. We look forward to receiving your comments.
Detailed Map links to Canna, Tiree and Treshnish Isles
A new link to Multimap.com allows visitors
to the Hebridean Trust web site the chance to view detailed
Ordinance Survey quality maps of the islands where our projects
are taking place.
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Photos of The Princess Royal's visit to Canna
This was a special day for all of us and we hope you enjoy all
the pictures, now available on the web site,
which tell their own story.
www.isleoftiree.net
Gordon Scott's popular Isle of
Tiree news and information web site now features a full
page dedicated to the Hynish Centre. Updates on the
site are e-mailed to subscribers every week which makes
www.isleoftiree.net
a great way to keep in touch with events on the island.
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Treshnish seabirds are subjects
of an annual survey. The 2001 Auk Ringing Survey took place
in June |
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This newsletter includes
photographs courtesy of Michael Stanfield and ARP Lorimer
and Associates
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Join the Friends of the Hebridean Trust
We need your support! We invite you to join the Friends of The
Hebridean Trust where you will be helping us to conserve the unique
Hebridean way of life and environment. Your membership
or donation can help develop new projects, to ensure future
generations will continue to enjoy a rich and varied experience
of life in the Hebrides.
See our pages on membership
and learn more about the other ways you can
help the Hebridean Trust.
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The Hebridean Trust
North Parade Chambers
75a Banbury Road
Oxford
OX2 6PE
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Email: info@hebrideantrust.org
Tel/Fax: 01865 311468
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