Issue 53

In late June the 34ft steel sailing boat Aquila, owned and captained by Robert Kincaid of Oban Sea School and with a crew of five, including your intrepid editor, left Oban and headed up the Sound of Mull.

Two nights later we dropped anchor in the little bay of Hallaig on Raasay island, made famous by the late Sorley MacLean of Raasay, whose poem, “Hallaig” tells the story of the cleared settlement there, and is inscribed on a cairn above the bay:

Despite the fact that bee-endangering pesticides are banned in the EU, the UK government just gave the go-ahead to farmers to sow these toxic-coated seeds anyway. Any day now, toxic bee-hurting seeds could be sown -- wreaking even more havoc on our bees. Instead of listening to us, the Government listened to the intensive farming industry - ignoring the growing evidence of how dangerous these chemicals are to bees and other pollinators. Hundreds of thousands of people have already signed petitions to the UK Government to stop harming our bees, and they're feeling the sting. A massive public outcry could force the government to back down and protect bees.

Neonicotinoids or “neonics”, the world’s most widely used insecticide, were restricted in the EU in 2013 because they were found to be of ‘high acute risk’ to bees. They can still be used on some crops but not those that attract bees when they flower. Serious scientific evidence shows that the nerve agents cause serious harm to bees - whose pollination is vital for many crops, and thus threaten our whole food supply. This plan to sow UK fields with treated bee-harming seeds flies in the face of science and facts.

The Government gagged its own pesticide advisers to try and stop campaigners from piling pressure on the government -- showing that they are terrified of a massive public outcry. Companies like Bayer and their associates have been trying to overturn the neonics ban in the EU for years - using lawsuits and intimidation tactics to try and get their way. Let’s swarm the UK Government with signatures now and make sure they protect bees once and for all.

Please sign the petition now to the UK Government: stop allowing our bees to die -- uphold the pesticide ban!

Please click here to visit the SumofUs web site.

Cicely Gill writes:

On Friday 10th July, I posted a heavy bundle of poems to Simon Armitage for him to pick a winner for the 2015 McLellan Poetry Competition, now in its sixth year. This year we had a record number of entries, most of which arrived in the last week.

Selected by David Underdown who also writes the commentary.

Two committed young people on Arran are working hard this summer to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease and Multiple Sclerosis research. These degenerative conditions affect families in Arran and all over the UK and have touched the lives of Josh Macdonald of Brodick and Wallace Currie of Shiskine who have decided to do something constructive to raise money for the cause.

Chris Attkins describes a typical day in his life behind the wheel of George Lammie’s new taxi.

5am, Glen Rosa. Rounding up athletes for today’s triathlon. This unearthly time offers ultimate tranquillity, apart from the birds busy rehearsing their oratorio. Deserted roads make it easy to deliver ridiculously fit men to Lamlash in record time. One competitor is missing so I am despatched to Kildonan. As you know, much of the island has little or no mobile phone signal, which makes communication extremely hit and miss. I’m several miles south by the time I receive the news that Southend Superman has turned up. About turn and race for Belvedere to prepare fruit platters and cooked breakfasts for our guests.

9:15am. Summoned to collect a party of American visitors from Kildonan. Plenty of time to make the round trip to the ferry, but with cyclists in abundance I’m keen to get going. The competitors are no problem, peddling fast with good road sense. Unfortunately they are outnumbered by a raggle taggle horde of holidaymakers on tandems, tricycles and those little trailer tents on wheels. What sort of parent entrusts their little darlings to such death traps? They terrify the life out of me because every time mum or dad encounters a pothole they meander all over the road. Overtaking on a windy stretch is impossible, so I resign myself to 10 mph for several long stretches of the journey. It’s after 10am when I pull up. Plenty of time. The Americans greet me with anxious expressions. “Are we going to make the ferry?” I do my best to reassure them as they clamber into the taxi. With seats for six in the back and another up front, I frequently carry seven passengers, copious luggage, golf clubs and even bicycles. Today my four outsize Americans somehow manage to fill the entire volume of the vehicle. I sense the suspension gasping at the strain as each one climbs aboard, and remain in second gear throughout the long climb out of the village. Under such full load the dashboard displays fuel consumption of 9 miles per gallon. No sooner have we reached the main road than we find ourselves joining the tail end of a queue of traffic impeded by an elderly couple driving at an erratic 20mph. It delights me to observe visitors appreciating Arran’s wonderful scenery; I just wish they would pull off the road to enjoy it every now and then. The Americans are growing restless, checking the time as we crawl along. “Don’t worry,” I reassure them, “We’ve plenty of time.” Actually we haven’t and I need to step on it. There is bound to be congestion in Lamlash due to the triathlon. With my morning schedule of closely spaced bookings now in jeopardy, and masking my own frustration at the old dears causing such a tailback, eventually I manage to overtake them. Ten minutes to get to Brodick; it should be possible. As expected, in Lamlash traffic slows to a crawl, then stops. What is usually a leisurely one-hour round trip is extending towards two. In my head I rehearse an apology for my Americans missing their connection back home. It’s not my fault, but I want to placate them and have them take away a positive impression of the island. The clock shows 11 as I approach the ferry terminal and my heart sinks - until I turn the corner. The Caley Isles is still some way off. Phew

11:15am. I’m parked up at the rank waiting for Marella to disembark from the ferry. She has booked me to take her to a wedding in Lamlash. It’s easy to spot her among the multitude making their way ashore. Recognising the black taxi, she greets me with a big smile and a groan. “What a journey! I set off at 5am and I’m still late.” I know the feeling. Putting her suitcase in beside her, I offer calm. “Don’t worry, everything is running late today. I’m sure they won’t start without you.” Nevertheless I get moving, climbing out of Brodick right on the speed limit. As we pass Allandale I put my foot to the floor and choose for all doddery drivers to be taking a coffee break. The day is warm and I open the windows to catch the breeze as we accelerate towards the wedding. I am suddenly aware of an explosion of black chiffon behind me and assume the draught has caught the contents of Marella’s suitcase. “Oh, sorry!” I shout, over the rush of wind through the cab. “Don’t mind me,” responds my fare maiden, “I just need to get changed for the wedding.” And she proceeds to disrobe and climb into her costume. At least I think that’s what happened. Of course I had to keep my eyes on the road.

I offered my services to George because I love driving, I love exploring Arran and I was doing very little of either. Driving George’s taxi affords the ideal opportunity to do both. And how! On a busy day I get to visit Lochranza four times, Kildonan twice and Blackwaterfoot at least once. However, the best part is discovering delightful properties tucked away in secluded spots you never knew about. Have you ever been to Woodside Cottage?

I first explored Arran over forty years ago, riding round the island on a small motorbike, and although we’ve lived here for nearly twenty years, I’m still acquiring my ‘Arran knowledge’. With so few street names physically marked, when people book the taxi, locating their property frequently becomes a piece of detective work. Even if I could pronounce the names of half the houses on Arran, finding them is another matter entirely. I now have even more respect for our postpeople!

11:38am. On my way back to Brodick I am flagged down by a couple of holidaymakers. The concept of hailing a cab is still foreign to most Arran residents, so it’s easy to spot visitors. As I draw up they are engaged in animated conversation, which is not interrupted by climbing aboard. “Ferry terminal,” is instructed mid-flow and so we set off. It’s immediately obvious these are not happy campers. “When we get home I want a divorce,” says he. “Aye, that’ll be right,” she responds. There’s a screen separating the front of the cab from the passengers and the only way I can hear them is via an amplifier. I switch it off, not wishing to be party to such acrimonious dialogue. The life coach in me instinctively wants to go into action, but realistically this is neither the time nor the place. Several times I have been carrying a large party, with one gentleman sitting beside me in the front, and to a man they all think it’s a wonderful idea to be able to switch off their wife in the back

12:18pm. First run of the day to Lochranza. We trot along behind a horse until there is space to overtake. It’s hard to imagine this was the fastest mode of transport only a few years ago. I am thankful that at the end of the day I don’t need to feed and stable my steed. The taxi is something of a camel, only requiring a drink every few days, but what a long drink! The bill to fill is just shy of three figures.

The Boguillie is littered with sheep. For some reason the greenest grass always seems to be on the other side of the road, so the journey involves delicate negotiation between these woolly inhabitants that have a habit of running in front of you at the last moment. Blink and it’s mint sauce for these frisky lambs. Talk about gambling with your life!

In a city, I imagine a taxi seldom drives for long without a fare, but here on Arran, a trip to Lochranza tends to be a one-way deal, yet the metered price remains the same as anywhere on the mainland. People are surprised to discover that for some journeys the taxi can cost less than the bus! My afternoon is spent ferrying people back and forth across the island, with a break for a nap and to refuel myself ahead of a busy evening.

The Voice has often carried reports on goings-on in Westminster from Katy Clark, our previous MP. We have asked Patricia Gibson, our new MP from the SNP, to continue this tradition. Patricia is a teacher  of English and has been an active SNP member for 17 years. During that time she served as a councillor and for five years was SNP spokesperson in Scotland’s largest education authority. This is her first report.

I am delighted to have been asked to contribute a short piece to Voice for Arran this month. After almost three months as the new MP for Ayrshire & Arran, there is much to share and I will do my best to offer a brief insight into what has been happening during that time.

The first weeks following the election were a complete melée. Scrabbling for office space, completing security screening, setting up communications, being sworn in and giving my maiden speech were all crammed in to a few short weeks.

I am pleased to say that, with my constituency office in Ardrossan now open and email and phone lines installed, I am starting to make headway with the great amount of enquiries which have been sent to me by constituents.

Earlier this month, we also saw the first exclusively Tory Budget for 18 years. The true impact it will have on families in North Ayrshire & Arran and across Scotland is becoming disturbingly clear. For many households, particularly those with children, the benefits of the minimum wage increase and income tax changes are eroded by the cuts to tax credits changes.

There will be a freeze on working age benefits for four years, public sector workers will see a rise of just 1% over that period - regardless of inflation - cuts to Employment Support Allowance will mean new claimants lose out on £30 a week and people claiming tax credits will be limited to claiming for two children from April 2017.

George Osborne’s so-called ‘national living wage’ of £7.20 is nothing of the sort, especially when you consider the Living Wage – as used by the Scottish Government – is £7.85! Although an improvement on the minimum wage, it will not offset cuts to tax credits of up to £3,000 per family and will not apply to those aged under 25.

In recent weeks SNP members have taken the UK government to task on a series of issues important to people in Scotland.

The SNP is pressing the Treasury to look again at exempting Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service from a continuing VAT anomaly. Police Scotland is the only police authority in the UK unable to recover VAT and is liable to an annual cost of around £23 million. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is similarly disadvantaged, and is liable for an annual cost of around £10 million.

Unlocking these resources would improve the effectiveness of our Police and Fire service at a time when Scotland’s budget is under increasing attack and I am hopeful that we can make progress on this in the weeks ahead.

With the Westminster now in recess, I look forward to spending my time in the constituency, meeting residents and local community groups. I am certainly looking forward to my next visit to Arran.

The next film at Corrie and Sannox Village Hall on Sunday August 9th at 8pm will be Ilo Ilo.

Set in Singapore during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Ilo Ilo chronicles the day-to-day drama of the Lim family - troublesome grade-schooler Jiale and his overstressed parents, Heck and Leng. Comfortably middleclass and with another baby on the way, they hire Teresa, a Filipino immigrant, as a live-in maid and nanny. An outsider in both the family and Singapore itself, Teresa initially struggles to manage Jiale's antics and find her footing in her new community. The two eventually form a unique bond, but just as Teresa becomes an unspoken part of the family, unforeseen circumstances in an uncertain economy will challenge the new normal yet again.

According to film site Rotten Tomatoes, Ilo Ilo is quietly compassionate and rich in detail, and a strikingly mature debut from writer-director Anthony Chen.

All are welcome – do come along.

Last month’s film, Ida, could not be shown as, at the last moment, it became apparent that the DVD was a Blu-Ray version and incompatible with the projector in the hall. We watched the wonderful 1935 version of The 39 Steps instead, but it was a salutary lesson to check formats carefully before buying DVDs. Ida will be shown again, in the correct format, later in the season.

The Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture has scored a notable victory with two decisions by the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC).  In both cases, the SIC has ordered Scottish Ministers to disclose damning seal-killing data in relation to salmon farms by 21 August 2015 (the SIC is required, by law, to give the Ministers at least six weeks to disclose the information).

Who do you think should be writing the terms of the huge trade deal between the EU and the US that’s currently being negotiated? Politicians? European citizens? Or corporate lobbyists, paid hundreds of thousands of Euros a year to push a big business agenda in Brussels?

SumOfUs and Corporate Europe Observatory have found that some of the biggest increases in lobbying spending came from the finance sector and big pharma. Not the most trustworthy people when it comes to protecting European citizens.

Research found that many corporate lobbyists didn’t even bother signing the EU’s transparency register -- leaving the public completely in the dark about their influence on the trade deal.

Even though politicians might try to ignore corporate lobbyists, their constant presence -- not to mention fancy dinners -- can be hard to resist.

The best way to stop politicians listening to lobbyists is to deliver a louder, stronger, people-powered message opposing TTIP.

But we also need to make sure we chip away at the power of the lobbyists lurking behind closed doors in Brussels, paid big money to convince politicians to ignore their voters in favour of big business’ demands. Shining a light on what they’re up to destroys their power.

South to make five No-Trumps. West leads the ♣2.

Is there anyone amongst the middle-aged and older folk of Arran who doesn’t have a fund of stories to tell about their lives? Some have lived here all their lives and remember other times and older ways; others have finally arrived after years of longing, with childhood visits and family holidays; some come for a couple of days and never leave. It is a feature of island life that we are interested in how people have come to make Arran their home from such diverse backgrounds, and others can tell incomers how it was in the old days when the puffers still ran and the piers still stood. There are as many different stories to tell as there are different lives spent, in often unexpected ways.

A new small group is being set up to explore these stories through writing brief pieces and sharing them. Based on an idea developed by Penny Henderson of the University of the Third Age in Cambridge, we hope to gather for two hours each week in Kildonan over 8 weeks in the Autumn and 8 weeks in the spring. Each person will bring a brief piece of writing about some aspect of their life story to share with others at each meeting. We will be listening much more to the stories themselves than to the ways they are written.

If you think you might be interested in forming part of such a group and would like to know more please contact Sue Weaver or Alan Bellamy on 820615 or via email at suemweaver@yahoo.co.uk or alanmbellamy@yahoo.co.uk.

The Woodland Trust has commented on the results of a recent survey of native Scottish woodlands by the Forestry Commission Scotland. The survey found that of 14,000 sq. km. of woods in Scotland under a quarter are native, and of those more than half are in poor condition. Since the 1970s fully 14% of Scotland’s ancient woods, those with the greatest ecological value, have disappeared completely.

The Trust says “Some of the survey’s findings are shocking. Our native woods are under siege from overgrazing, smothered by invasive rhododendron, and hit by climate change and tree disease. The figures suggest that without immediate action, more than half might not survive to the end of the century.”

The Trust is calling for native woodland to be doubled by 2050, with the planting of more than 5000ha of trees a year, and the curbing of red deer numbers, which have increased dramatically since 1960. To find out more on this click on the picture below.

Tim Pomeroy writes about Arran Open Studios for the Voice

This does just what it says in the title. Over a long weekend in August (Friday 14th until Monday 17th inclusive) artists and craftspeople all over the island will open their studios and workshops for the public to visit and, potentially, buy artwork.

A brochure has been produced in which all the artists display photographic examples of their work, give details of their practice and supply information on opening times, access etc. Central to the brochure is a map on which all the studios are located and which includes personal directions from the artists on how to find their own particular studio.

This brochure is the main vehicle for advertising Arran Open Studios and it will be placed in major visitor outlets, galleries, art centres across the west of Scotland and the central belt. As well as everywhere imaginable on the island…look out for it!

What began as 25 participating artists has now blossomed to 34. Participants include sculptors, painters, printmakers, weavers, potters, jewellery makers, wood turners and furniture makers. This is an exciting addition to Arran’s calendar of arts events attracting art-loving visitors to the island and providing a new attraction for existing visitors.

An Art Bus will be running Friday Saturday and Sunday. What is an Art Bus you say? This is a minibus that will drive to three different parts of the island on three different days. The bus, which will aim to visit around ten studios per day, will stop and wait at studios to allow visitors to peruse, chat and perhaps purchase an art work. The bus will then drive on to the next studio. This allows visitors not only to see the studios but to get a hands free view of the magnificent scenery; Arran Open Studios organisers have guaranteed sunshine for the weekend!

The Arran Open Studios website www.arranopenstudios.com is a comprehensive guide to the people and works you can expect to encounter, and the Facebook page is an informal and sometimes humorous and informative peek into the lives and activities of the makers within and without their studio walls. This year’s event again boasts a small taster exhibition at the Visit Arran Office. This will run from 3rd to 17th August; pop in and see whose work you’d most like to see first. This is the third year of this event and it continues to grow in numbers and ambition. Support your local artists. Come and see them, as David Attenborough might say, in their natural habitat.

Please feel free to phone Ruth on 01770 820374 or Jan on 01770 700249 if you would like more information on Arran Open Studios.

Just a few days ago in early July, the many people who volunteer for Arran Eco Savvy Community heard the long-awaited news that SCIO (Scottish Charity Incorporated Organisation) status had been awarded, under charity number SCO45785. Eco Savvy Community is now formally registered for the purposed of advancing education and environmental protection and improvement.

Many of you will know of the Arran Eco Savvy Community as the site of a community shop in Whiting Bay which supports the people of Arran in reducing waste, by upcycling and passing on items which they no longer want. Now that SCIO status has been achieved the trustees and volunteers who jointly make decisions will be looking forward to widening the scope of Eco savvy’s activities considerably, all with the aim of supporting Arran’s move towards the ideal of zero waste.

Plans are already under discussion for developing a Community Garden and contributing to the reduction of Arran’s green waste through composting in its many different forms.

Meanwhile we are running creative upcycling workshops throughout the summer in preparation for our autumn fundraiser. It is a lovely way to spend an afternoon and everyone is most welcome. The afternoons are spent sharing upcycling skills and learning new ones. We meet in the lesser hall Whiting Bay from 2-4pm on regular Wednesdays. The dates for August and September are –

• Wednesday 19th August
• Wednesday 2nd September
• Wednesday 16th September

Our autumn fundraiser is on Friday 23rd October and more details will be available nearer the time. There’s much more information on the Eco Savvy website.

David Underdown writes:

For Arran 2015 is turning out to be a bumper year for visiting poets. As well as Simon Armitage (see separate article) the last weekend in August will see an impressive line up of visiting poets and song writers for an evening of music and poetry at the Brodick Bar.

In 1999, a group of Arran people, decided to build a replica boat to celebrate Arran's Viking heritage and to extend their own sailing and rowing skills. They constructed a 40ft longship with wooden gunwales, thwarts, mast, oars and a fibreglass hull, made from a mould borrowed from a Viking group in Ireland. The renowned local wood-carver, Marvin Elliott, carved the impressive figure-heads and designed the iconic canvas sail - Black Eagle was born!

Check out the Ancient Black Ops programmes 'The Viking Berserkers' and 'The Varangian Guard' on YouTube to see some wonderfully atmospheric shots of Black Eagle – and some wild, local Vikings, filmed off Sannox, just last year.

The Arran Viking Longship Society has operated over the past 13 years out of the Old Port in Corrie, but will now be based in Lamlash Bay. If you are interested in joining in the unbelievable experience of sailing, and rowing, in a Viking longship; of learning the techniques of making facsimile Viking weapons, shields, chainmail and costumes; as well as re-enactment battles – then contact Stuart Gough at 'Carlo', Corrie Shore, tel.302670 or email gough.carlo@btinternet.com – or come along to the Arran Show on Wednesday, 5th August, and see Black Eagle and meet the Arran Vikings in person.

Correspondence (by email) to the Voice is welcome. The Editor retains the right to decide on publication and editing of letters, and the views expressed will not necessarily be those of the Voice.

John Inglis, Red House, High Corrie, Arran, KA27 8JB, writes:

The Euro crisis and plan ‘B’

I agree about the need for Syritza to have developed a plan B but that was difficult in the face of Greek public opinion in favour of staying in the Eurozone while opposing further cuts. The party should have prepared the Greek public for an alternative, a return to the Drachma and an exit from the EU, undoubtedly with harsh consequences but possibly less harsh than staying in under the imposed terms of corporate thuggery enacted by the EU. If these terms are finally approved there will be further thought provoking developments about the nature of the EU as we witness the devastation of Greece as its people starve and £50billion of its public assets are sold at knock down prices to carpet baggers. Quite apart from expressing outrage, which I hope the Scottish Government will do as well as initiating help, the issue requires a re-think on our own adoration of the EU as we move toward independence. In other words Scotland also needs a plan B which we need to be working on now. That should involve a truly internationalist outlook seeking mutual help alliances with other countries whose people want to secure their democracy and protect themselves against big global corporations and banks whom the EU represents.