Isle of Barra

Researchers want to hear about tick bites to people and pets in the Outer Hebrides

Two public questionnaires have been launched as scientists seek the help of Western Isles residents as part of research into ticks found in Uist and the Lyme-disease causing bacteria they carry.
In a meeting at Balivanich Hall, Benbecula, this week, NHS Western Isles Health Protection and Screening Nurse Specialist Isabell MacInnes gave details about the awareness raising work that she and colleagues have been doing since launching the Western Isles Tick Awareness Programme last year.
The Programme was established to investigate concerns that the incidences of Lyme disease in Uists being far greater than that on neighbouring islands in the Outer Hebrides.

With less than half of Western Isles CalMac staff resident outside the island chain, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has called on the Scottish Government to ensure that jobs created for the islands are secured within the islands.
Valuable data regarding staff levels across the ferry company network was secured recently by the Comhairle and reveals that only 204 CalMac staff reside in the Outer Hebrides.
This is despite an estimate of between 350 and 455 staff being required at Outer Hebrides ports and on the ferries that serve the routes to and within the Outer Hebrides.

The Western Isles will be represented at the Royal Wedding of HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle on Saturday 19 May by Kerry and Kirsty MacPhee from South Uist, it was officially announced today (Wednesday April 18th).

The sisters have established names for themselves at national and international levels with Kerry having participated in the Scottish, British and European Cycling Championships as well as the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and both have been competitors in the Island Games, representing the Western Isles.

Over 70% of Western Isles homes and businesses are now covered by superfast broadband – but there is still a lot of work to be done on broadband availability in the isles, says Outer Hebrides MSP Alasdair Allan.
Dr Allan today (Wednesday, April 18th) welcomed news that in the Western Isles, Government investment has led to more than 135 fibre cabinets being built, delivering superfast broadband access to more than 12,000 premises and covering around 71% of homes and business.
“More than 71% of homes in the Western Isles now have access to superfast broadband,” said Dr Allan, adding: “This figure was zero before this project started.”

Above: 1st Back Brownies who collected an incredible 90 kg rubbish which included old creels and a rusty old bike and lots of bottles and fishing line from Coll beach.

Volunteers across the islands took part in the Big Spring Beach Clean organised by Clean Coast Outer Hebrides, with 48 mini beach clean-ups and 142 people taking part. The group set a target of 1 tonne but estimates that 1.5 tonnes of rubbish was picked up over the eight days.

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This follows successful beach cleans at Sandwick in Lewis, Hushinish in Harris, Balranald in North Uist and Vatersay and Barra - who also held a Great Nurdle Hunt! Future beach cleans will be organised by Clean Coast Outer Hebrides, who would like to encourage people to continue with their own mini beach cleans too.

This is the link to sign up to their mailing list- http://eepurl.com/dhQDkH, and their new email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Facebook page for anyone wanting more information

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Youth Champions, councillors Paul Steele and Norman MacDonald, have welcomed Loganair’s support for the Year of Young People 2018 (YOYP).

Loganair and local authority partners are searching the Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney communities for 30 individuals who represent the ‘Spirit of Young People’.

Orkney, Shetland & Western Isles are to identify 10 young people between 8 – 26 years.

Outer Hebrides Tourism is calling on Scotland’s Transport Minister Humza Yousaf to intervene as the isles’ tourist industry suffers due to CalMac ‘juggling’ of ferry services.
Easy access for tourists to the Outer Hebrides is critical to the islands’ economy, says the group; but that those travelling to and from the Hebridean islands are suffering ‘yet again’ from CalMac’s juggling of ferries services due to ‘operational reasons’.
Outer Hebrides Tourism detail that in the few weeks since the start of the peak tourist season, capacity has been sacrificed at short notice from the ‘Uig triangle’ ferry route, with a vessel too small to even deliver an effective service for pre-booked passengers – and that the ‘Lord of the Isles’ ferry has been removed from the Mallaig-Lochboisdale route until further notice.

Connor on his new trike with classmates during the fundraising cycle event at Sgoil an Rubha.

Photo: Sandie Maciver/SandiePhotos

Inclusion was the watchword when Point and Sandwick Trust gave money to Sgoil an Rubha and Sandwick Learning Centre to help buy specialised cycling equipment for children with additional support needs.

Donating a total of £500, at Sgoil an Rubha, PST were helping pupil Connor Macleod, who received the gift of independent cycling from his classmates.

Western Isles politicians have welcomed today (Tuesday, April 17th) news of investment opportunities which will secure the future of the Arnish fabrication yard.

It follows an announcement that the Scottish Government has brokered an agreement between Canadian company JV Driver, through its subsidiary DF Barnes, and BiFab to support new opportunities at Arnish, as well as BiFab sites at Methil and Burntisland, for the fabrication and construction in the marine renewables and energy sector.

“We are delivering on the commitment I made last year that we would stand by BiFab and work to secure a long term future for the company,” said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Join Bethany at Bayhead Park on Saturday, April 28th, for the first ever Stornoway Peppa Pig's Muddy Puddle Walk for Save the Children

This Spring will see the return of the UK’s muddiest fundraising event for little ones – Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddle Walk for Save the Children.
And on Saturday, April 28th, children in Stornoway will have the opportunity to take part thanks to the idea from Peppa Pig superfan, three year old Bethany Macleod, from Stornoway.
“Bethany wanted to do something to help other children who are in need, those who don’t have enough to eat or somewhere safe and warm to live,” said Bethany’s mum Michelle.

A  television documentary made in 1991 -- which features the Bethesda Hospice in Stornoway -- is now available on Youtube.

It features Rheumatology Professor Verna Wright of Leeds University, and Christina Maclean MBE,  both medics, both Christians, and  both suffering from a terminal illness.

The film was produced and directed by Jim Wiltshire.

Stornoway RNLI 'y-boat' ashore at the Shiants with the all-weather Severn class RNLI lifeboat 'Tom Sanderson' in the background. Photo: Stornoway RNLI

Stornoway RNLI lifeboat ‘Tom Sanderson’ and volunteer crew launched today (Monday, April 16th) to the aid of an injured person on the Shiant Islands.
The RNLI crew launched at 0915 hours to a report of a person on the Shiants who had suffered a head injury.
The local volunteer crew recovered the casualty from the island with the lifeboat’s inflatable ‘Y-boat’, before returning to Stornoway where they landed the casualty into the care of Stornoway Coast Rescue Team and members of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The Stornoway RNLI lifeboat ‘Tom Sanderson’ was back alongside, refuelled and ready for service again by 1400 hours today.

One of the riders was former councillor and the present chairman of the Harris Tweed Authority, Norman L Macdonald, in a Blue Herringbone jacket. The Gensaidhe Buidhe for the best-dressed rider was awarded to Barbara Ziehm with her stylish Harris Tweed helmet.

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Despite a sunshine weekend, weather conditions are causing disruption to CalMac ferry services from Stornoway to Ullapool this week.
Customers travelling on the Ullapool-Stornoway passenger ferry route are advise to ‘Be aware’ as tomorrow’s sailings (Tuesday, April 17th) are liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice due to forecast high winds.
And the Lewis freight ferry (Ullapool to Stornoway) is also affected with tonight’s sailing (Monday, April 16th) at 10.30pm and tomorrow’s 3am freight service both facing disruption or cancellation at short notice due to forecast high winds.
For further information and service updates, please visit www.calmac.co.uk/service-status. 

Shopping baskets in the Tesco store in Stornoway are no longer available for customers.
An update on the shop’s Facebook page today (www.facebook.com/Stornowaytesco/) advises that baskets are no longer available due to theft – with around 15 baskets a week being stolen.
Stornoway Tesco said: “We are very sorry to say that we are unable to provide our customers with shopping baskets due to them being taken from the store.
“We are losing approx 15 baskets a week due to theft. We have more baskets on order, but they take six weeks to arrive.”
The store added: “If anyone has a basket, can you please return them to the store. No questions asked on return!”, and apologised to customers for any inconvenience caused.

Concerns about speeding are regularly raised by communities in the Highlands and Islands - and is also a contributing factor in many serious collisions.
With this in mind, local road policing officers will be supporting a national safety campaign next week which will raise awareness of the dangers of inappropriate speed.
The campaign - which runs this week (April 16th to 22nd) - will also target drivers using their mobile phones and not using their seatbelts.

Pictured: Iain Hepburn, head gamekeeper at Dunmaglass Estate & 
Alex McKinley, a Wildfire Tactical Adviser for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Gamekeepers are embracing the new Muirburn Code – and sharing their expertise with fire crews who battle wildfires across Scotland's countryside.

Sunday 15 April marked the official end of this year's muirburn season (1 October – 15 April) – a controlled burning technique which has been used for centuries on moorland to regenerate Scotland's famous purple heather on our hills whilst protecting against wildfires.

This season, estate owners and gamekeepers have been working to a revised Muirburn Code, launched by the Scottish Government in September 2017, and have been working in partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to ensure that controlled burning is conducted safely and responsibly.

Controlled seasonal burning and cutting is one of the most effective means of reducing the risk of damage from wildfires by providing breaks in continuous moorland cover and reducing the fuel load.

Iain Hepburn, head gamekeeper at Dunmaglass Estate, part of the Loch Ness Rural Communities, and also a part-time firefighter with the SFRS, has been engaging with firefighters to share best practice when it comes to tackling wildfires on moorland.

There were congratulations for Andrew Hughson (above) on winning the Coffee Pot Shield DTL competition at The Harris Gun Club in Aline Forest yesterday (14 April 2018)

Two groups of young people will be doing a sponsored walk tomorrow, Saturday 14 April, to raise funds for a much needed new minibus for the Lewis and Harris Youth Association and Scaladale Centre.

At 9am one group of 17 young walkers will set off from Cameron Terrace and walk to the Scaladale Centre in Harris, the walk is expected to take at least seven hours! Meanwhile a second group of five will set off from Tarbert to also walk to the Scaladale Centre. Both groups will be joined by one of the centres instructors.

Sean Ziehm-Stephen, manager of the Scaladale centre said: "Please take care passing us and please donate."

The routes have been chosen as the most common drive for the now-retired bus that needs replacing, and it also highlights how necessary the bus is to get youth groups and all the equipment to the centre or to more remote areas for the range of activities which the centre runs. 

To donate visit the LHYCA Minibus Fund Virgin Money giving page which gives further details on why the bus is so needed:

Na h-Eileanan an Iar MSP Alasdair Allan is calling for Scottish Gaelic to be added to Duolingo, the world’s most popular online language learning service.

Duolingo’s 200 million worldwide users can choose to learn minority languages Welsh and Irish as well as fictional languages from Star Trek and Game of Thrones for free on the app - however, there are no Scottish languages currently on offer. 

In the first two years after the Irish language launched on Duolingo in 2014, 2.3 million people started learning Irish, averaging 3,000 new learners a day. Irish is reportedly one of the top ten languages on Duolingo.

The Scottish Government’s plans for legislative reform of crofting have now been outlined by Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity.

This follows on from The Consultation on the Future of Crofting Legislation which received responses up until 20 November 2017 and the subsequent analysis of the responses published on 21 March 2018.

Mr Ewing, commenting on the analysis report on 12 April 2018, said: “The results made for interesting reading  and the diversity of responses only highlighted the scale of the challenge ahead.

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winners Ímar will play An Lanntair on Friday 18th May.

After sold-out performances at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow and the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, as well as taking home the Horizon Award at 2018’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Ímar will be playing some of the furthest reaches of the UK to continue the fun this May.

Featuring current and former members of Mànran, RURA, Talisk, Barrule, Cara, Mabon and The Lowground, whose collectively-crammed trophy cabinet includes a BBC Young Folk Award and several All-Britain/All-Ireland titles, Glasgow-based five-piece Ímar have quickly established a name for themselves.

Outer Hebrides Tourism - the islands-wide grouping that brings together those involved in the tourist industry -  are inviting people to attend Briefing Days in Benbecula and Stornoway at the end of the month.

OHT will be holding an AGM in Stornoway and a pre-AGM in Benbecula and they are also hoping to have a leaflet exchange.

An announcement from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that they have “issued an Enforcement Notice on Advertised Delivery Restrictions and Surcharges” has been welcomed.

The measure comes as the ASA have ruled that adverts which “mislead on parcel delivery and surcharge practices” have been banned, forcing companies to be upfront with consumers from the outset as to how much they will need to pay in delivery costs for goods.

Companies who advertise free delivery on items, yet impose punitive charges well into the purchasing process will be slapped down by the ASA after the 31st May 2018, when the new rules come into effect.

Hebridean Housing Partnership are pleased to announce that they have awarded the following contracts as part of their 2018/19 investment programme:

• 51 new kitchens to be installed by O’Mac Construction Ltd
• 71 new gas heating systems to be installed by Alex Murray Construction Ltd
• 56 new bathrooms with showers to be installed by Alex Murray Construction Ltd
• 56 houses to receive new fencing to be installed by Alex Murray Construction Ltd

The successful contractors have now started surveying houses and works on site will soon follow.

Almost new Pair of all weather tyres 215 50 R17 

Price new £250, will sell pair for £125.

Phone:  07555 462 3

Parkinson’s UK is calling for businesses and organisations across Scotland to make life better for people living with Parkinson’s. Today (Wednesday April 11th) is World Parkinsons Day.

The charity has found that a lack of awareness of the condition and its symptoms can make everyday activities such as shopping and dealing with public services difficult.

Parkinson’s has more than 40 symptoms and many are little known among the wider public. Almost two thirds of people (64%) identify having a tremor as the symptom most commonly associated with Parkinson’s. But tremor is not experienced by everyone - and more than 12,000 people with Parkinson's in Scotland frequently experience other symptoms too.

One particularly distinguished guest at the competition this year's Pipe Major Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition was Rod Macleod, from Calgary. Rod –  who is pictured left with winner Angus MacColl and Kenny Dan Macdonald, one of the directors of Point and Sandwick Trust – has donated ‘memorial medals’ to the competition.

The 25th Pipe Major Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition was held in Stornoway last Friday (April 6) and hailed a great success.

It was particularly successful for piper Angus MacColl, who was crowned the overall winner of the competition, having come first in two out of three sections: Piobaireachd and also March, Strathspey and Reel. Craig Sutherland won the Hornpipe and Jig category.

Pipe Major Iain Murdo Morrison, who organises the competition, said Angus MacColl “really was playing well” – and that it had been “an absolutely brilliant” day. 

The Harris Tweed Cycle ride is back for the third year following the success and popularity of the previous events organised by An Lanntair.

You just need to dress in your finest Harris Tweed and have a bicycle to join in the gentle cycle around the town. Setting off from An Lanntair at 10am on Saturday 14th April, cyclists will stop off at Charlie Barley's, By Rosie and Harris Tweed Hebrides for light refreshments and Hebridean delicacies before returning to An Lanntair. There is also a stop on Lews Castle green for photos of everyone in their tweeds.

The coveted Gensaidhe Buidhe (Yellow Jumper) Gensaidhe Geal (White Jumper) will be awarded at the end of the ride to the Best Dressed Rider and Best Dressed Young Rider along with scones and jam for all.

With local families and visiting tourists enjoying the Easter holidays and a forecast of fine weather ahead, Clean Coast Outer Hebrides are asking everybody to pitch in to help remove a ton or more of plastic from our beautiful beaches.

Teaming up with Surfers Against Sewage during their official Big Spring Beach Clean running April 7 to 15, the local campaign is encouraging all islanders and visitors to head out to the coast for a personal #MiniBeachClean.

On Saturday 7 April in Castlebay, a Beairteas Bharraigh community clean up filled a whole skip and they are hosting a Great Technicolour Nurdle Hunt (www.nurdlehunt.org.uk) on Saturday 14 April, while North Harris Trust are asking locals to help out with a beach clean at Outend Scalpay, also on 14 April.

Would-be nurses get a chance to learn what nursing education is all about on Thursday (12 April 2018).

The Department of Nursing of the University of the Highlands and Islands – which has campuses in Stornoway and Inverness – is holding an event at the Western Isles Hospital, on Macaulay Road, Stornoway, from 3pm.

Stornoway’s ‘The Lido’ restaurant– opposite the Town Hall in Cromwell Street – is in the running for a national award after a public poll.

The Molson Coors 7^th annual Scottish Entertainment & Hospitality Awards received more nominations and votes than ever before with more than 5,000 venues taking part.

There are a whole range of categories and ‘The Lido’ – which was set up last year – is placed in the one for Newcomers.

The tourist industry in the Western Isles has a chance to win government funding for projects to assist local visitor services – but it has less than three weeks to think them up! (as of Saturday April 7, 2018).

The types of projects which can be supported include:

• Parking and scenic lay-bys
• Camping facilities
• Waste disposal points (especially for camper vans)
• Toilet provision
• Essential improvement works to paths (where they alleviate visitor pressures)
• Recycling points

The support comes from the Scottish Government’s £6million Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF), formally launched on Friday 30 March.

The Harris Tweed Authority has won £25,000 in damages after a court battle with a chain of shops over the Harris Tweed trademark.

The statutory body established to safeguard the standard and reputation of Harris Tweed went to court after a retail chain infringed its registered marks.
 
The Authority launched the legal action following concerns that a number of retail outlets were using the Harris Tweed ® name and famous Orb device on the outside of their premises without permission, creating a false impression that the Harris Tweed Authority was in some way associated with the outlets.

More than half the target of £50,000 to help build the first mosque-centre in Stornoway has been raised on justgiving.com in just over two days.

Permission for the conversion of a derelict Stornoway house to a mosque and community centre for the Western Isles Muslim community was granted by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar  on Thursday, September 31st, 2017,  at a meeting of the local authority’s planning application committee.

The plans involves a long-disused house in James Street, adjacent to the former Church House premises of ND Macleod Ltd, which are soon to be the base for welovestornoway.com and EVENTS newspaper.

In a statement today (Thursday April 5) from An Lanntair regarding the outcome of its Sunday opening trial, the arts centre says it intends to begin opening on Sundays as soon as operationally possible.

An Lanntair recently ran three trial events to pilot Sunday opening of the arts centre, once a month from January to March.  

Each event included one cinema screening, access to the arts exhibitions and informal arts activities for children and families.  The aim of these trial events was to explore whether audiences would like to see the arts centre open on Sundays, to further An Lanntair's audience research into this question.

The Crofting Commission look forward to working with Scottish Government and other stakeholders to take forward crofting legislation reform. 

The practical approach outlined by the Cabinet Secretary will enable the necessary improvements of phase one to be made in this Parliamentary Session, with more complex issues being held over to a second phase, it says

In particular the Commission welcome the opportunity to work with the Scottish Government in developing a New Entrants Scheme for crofting and to discuss a future promotional role for the Commission itself.

Local people are being called by an HMRC scam caller - imitating a similar campaign being run the USA alleging to be related to the IRS. 

Stornoway-based accountants Mann Judd Gordon report today (Thursday April 5th):

"We had a client calling yesterday as a result of a phone call they had received supposedly from HMRC.

 Stornoway Harbour showing a visualisation of the proposed deep water berth

The public will have a chance to help shape plans for major developments at Stornoway Harbour that will bring significant benefits to the town.

An exhibition on Tuesday 24 April, between 10am-6pm at Stornoway Town Hall will set out the proposals and the methods being used by the Stornoway Port Authority to assess the environmental impact of the projects.

At a second exhibition, on Monday 4 June between 10am-6pm at the Town Hall, the Authority will explain how the proposals have evolved since the first consultation event and provide information about the environmental impact assessments.

HebCelt director Caroline Maclennan (back, left ) and Kerry Macphee (Lewis Wind Power, back, right ) with some young feis musicians

The Hebridean Celtic Festival will mark the Year of Young People 2018 by bringing together 20 musicians aged between 12 and 16 from Barra, North and South Uist and Lewis and Harris to perform a suite of traditional music and Gaelic songs.

The piece will feature a new, specially-commissioned Gaelic song by singer songwriter Eilidh Mackenzie, from Lewis, which will get its public debut on the main festival stage. 

Students from the Outer Hebrides and Shetland are about to embark on an exciting inter-island creative industries placement, giving them a great new opportunity to learn and develop their creative practice in a different and inspirational environment.

Devised to encourage collaboration between the creative talent of the Northern and Western Isles, An Lanntair’s Between Islands initiative has produced a number of innovative ventures to date. These have included two musical projects – with a third due to premiere at the Hebridean Celtic Festival this July – and the publication of a book of short stories.

Earlier this year An Lanntair Arts Centre, creators of the Between Islands project, put out a call for film or textile students from across the Western and Northern Isles to apply for this pioneering inter-island exchange scheme. 

Norman A MacIver has been elected to chair the Stornoway Trust.

On Tuesday 3^rd April 2018 Trustees of the Stornoway Trust attended the statutory post Election meeting of Trustees, convened to formally declare and accept the five recently elected Trustees and to appoint a Chairperson for the next three years.

West coast ferry operator CalMac has teamed up with 14 conservation bodies in a bid to better protect the environment it sails in.The company’s new Marine Awareness Programme outlines specific actions it will take to help passengers get the most from the environment they are travelling through and to better understand the wildlife in its area of operations.

Speaking at the launch of the Programme, CalMac’s managing director, Robbie Drummond said:‘Knowledge is a major part of protecting the environment for future generations.

"By finding out what wild resources we have, we are in better position to take steps to help conserve them. Our commitment to the monitoring, education and information sharing activity outlined i n this Programme will help ensure we continue to build knowledge about the seas we sail.’

‘The marine environment we work in is among the most diverse in the world, supporting over 6,500 complex and 40,000 single cell species of plants and animals. Our seas are among the richest in Europe for marine mammals. Scotland holds about 70% of Europe's population of grey seals and 35% of common seals along with numerous species of whales, dolphins and porpoises and seabirds.’  

Actions outlined include using CalMac vessels to undertake marine biodiversity monitoring, passenger engagement and education to raise marine environment awareness with both visitors and locals and to facilitate better information sharing between conservation agencies.

CalMac’s 14 partners are Scottish Natural Heritage, Marine Scotland, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, British Divers Marine Life Rescu e, British Trust for Ornithology, Capturing Our Coast, Field Studies Council Millport,Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, MARINElife, ORCA, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network, Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

‘CalMac understands how important the environment we work in day to day is to our communities. The natural environment and the wildlife within it are central to attracting visitors and helping to grow the economies within the areas we serve.

‘We want to help stimulate this economic growth wherever we can by delivering reliable services that people want to use. However, it crucial that we balance this with protecting the very environment that is the driver of this growth. Our new Marine Awareness Programme is a first step in this direction,’ added Robbie.

There is more information and regular updates on the Marine Awareness Programme website.

A tree of thumbprints representing past, present or future midwives in Scotland - known as the Tree of Life - recently visited the Western Isles Hospital, where local midwives added their own prints to the tree.

Heather Gilchrist a second year MSc Student Midwife, launched the UWS (University of the West of Scotland’s) Tree of Life Campaign during her recent remote and rural placement in Dunoon.

Maternity staff from Western Isles Hospital recently hosted an afternoon tea for members of a local knitting group, who donate knitted garments to the Maternity Department for a number of years.

The knitting club, based in Trust Housing on Matheson Road in Stornoway, knit hats, gloves, boots and cardigans for the department; all much appreciated by local mums and babies, especially premature babies who need to be kept extra cosy because of their inability to regulate their own temperatures.

A major meeting took place this week about prospects for the UK Space programme having its launch base in the Western Isles.

Isles MP Angus Brendan MacNeil, together with representatives from Hebrides range operator QinetiQ and the Leader and officials from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, yesterday (Tuesday April 3rd)  welcomed Scotland’s Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse MSP to Uist to discuss the possibility of having a spaceport located in the Hebrides.

Angus MacNeil MP said:“Uist is the lead site in the UK for a vertical take-off facility to be located…not least because of the local expertise which could launch and successfully guide monitor and control such a rocket. 

Emergency services were racing out of Stornoway towards Point on two occasions yesterday (Monday)   Pictured above is the major deployment of fire and rescue vehicles sent to Lower Bayble after wind caught a moorland fire and turned it into a blaze which, at one point, it was feared would spread over the hills to Swordale.   The firefighters brought the blaze under control in the early evening.

Ferry operator CalMac is making further changes to its West Coast services in order to absorb on-going capacity issues resulting from the MV Clansman still in dry dock.

CalMac will be redeploying these vessels to the following routes:

• MV Hebrides will return to Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy tonight and will commence service tomorrow (Tuesday)
• MV Lord of the Isles will be redeployed to Oban to carry out Oban-Coll/Tiree and Colonsay services
• MV Hebridean Isles will be redeployed to Lochboisdale to carry out daily Lochboisdale-Oban service

Meanwhile the Clansman is awaiting the return of her propulsion unit sent to Denmark for repairs.

Pupils from The Nicolson Institute headed off from Stornoway Airport this afternoon (Monday April 2nd) for another in the series of US exchanges which began in the 1990s

Confusion, delays and cancellations have enveloped the Bank Holiday ferry services from Tarbert and Lochmaddy which are temporarily being undertaken by the Hebridean Isles ferry, dating from 1985

Isles MP, Angus Brendan MacNeil has contacted Caledonian MacBrayne because of what he termed “the acute situation with the ferry service from Uig to Lochmaddy.”

Mr MacNeil has raised a number of suggestions with CalMac which he believes could help get the MV Hebrides back on the route. 

The Gambia Partnership fundraising shop has moved! It has vacated the temporary premises on North Beach and moved to Church Street opposite Artizan Coffee shop and next to the Colour Centre.  It is opening for the first time today (April 2, 2018)  The formal address is 7-9 Church Street.   It is to be open 11 am to 4pm Monday to Saturday. All funds are spent directly in the Gambia to assist with their schooling project there.

As its summer timetables came into force, CalMac Ferries warned of breakdowns and delays ahead as its ageing ferry fleet faces ever-growing problems finding parts to make essential repairs.

The average age of the ferries serving its routes is just under 22 years old and CalMac’s fleet will again be stretched to its full capacity over the summer months, the firm says.

Any issues with a vessel on one part of the network will have knock-on effects for other routes, as boats need to be diverted or deployed elsewhere to keep the network running.

Fuine/Cooking – Starting Wednesday 3 May, 8.30 – 9.00pm for eight weeks

 
BBC ALBA’s popular home cooking series returns for a fifth series as presenter and keen cook Mairi MacRitchie travels the Highlands and Islands, from the Hebrides to the Black Isle, meeting the nation’s most skilled home bakers.

Throughout the eight-part series of ‘Fuine/Cooking’, the bakers share with Mairi their most treasured recipes. From sponges and breads to pies and puddings, there is something on the menu for everyone .  

The cooks offer advice and tips on how to perfect each recipe as they guide Mairi through a selection of tasty offerings.

Fuine/Cooking – Starting Wednesday 3 May, 8.30 – 9.00pm for eight weeks

 
BBC ALBA’s popular home cooking series returns for a fifth series as presenter and keen cook Mairi MacRitchie travels the Highlands and Islands, from the Hebrides to the Black Isle, meeting the nation’s most skilled home bakers.

Throughout the eight-part series of ‘Fuine/Cooking’, the bakers share with Mairi their most treasured recipes. From sponges and breads to pies and puddings, there is something on the menu for everyone .  

The cooks offer advice and tips on how to perfect each recipe as they guide Mairi through a selection of tasty offerings.

Today An Lanntair is holding its Fèill Ceáird is Còcairachd: Craft and Cookery Festival – a FREE festival throughout An Lanntair’s building offering a fabulous tour of food and craft from the diverse island communities of the Outer Hebrides.

Brue Common Grazings

Formal intimation under the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 

Notice is hereby given that Urras Sgire Oighreachd Bharabhais Community Company has applied to the Scottish Land Court for an Order authorising resumption of 0.03 hectares of the common grazings of the township of Brue.  The purpose of the resumption is to sell the said area to Mr Iain MacRitchie, 7 Merlin Crescent, Inverness, IV2 3TE, to regularise the position whereby the said area is being used as garden and amenity ground for the dwellinghouse 19B Brue.

On 22nd March 2017 the Court appointed this intimation by newspaper advertisement and ordered the Applicant to send to the Clerk to the Grazings Committee copies of the Application, associated productions and the Court’s Practice Note No. 4 (which emphasises the need for crofters to protect their own rights).  The Court ordered any shareholder or other person having a legal interest who opposes the Application or who wishes to claim compensation or a share in value of the land to be resumed, to lodge Answers, including details of any such claim, with the Principal Clerk, George House, 126 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4HH within fifteen days from the end of the period covered by this edition of Events.  Copies of the Application, productions and Practice Note have been sent to Mr Kenneth A. Matheson, Seabhal, 19 Brue, Isle of Lewis, HS2 0QW and these documents may be inspected either there, at the Court’s offices in Edinburgh, or at the offices of the Agents.  Copies of the Practice Note may also be obtained from the Principal Clerk (Tel:  0131 271 4360). It should be noted that any further Orders of the Court, including the Final Order, will be intimated to those persons who have lodged answers to this advertisement and to the Clerk to the Common Grazings Committee.  Copies of any further Orders may be obtained from the Principal Clerk upon request.

Messrs Anderson MacArthur Solicitors

Old Bank of Scotland Buildings

Stornoway

Isle of Lewis

HS1 2BG

(Agents for Urras Sgire Oighreachd Bharabhais Community Company) 

of which intimation is hereby made.

Scotland’s population continued to increase between 2015 and 2016 – but the increase is uneven and the population of the Western Isles is falling faster than anywhere else in the country.
This is because of natural population decline – an excess of deaths over births – combined with a fall in the number of people moving into the Islands.  This reverses the positive trend seen between 2001 and 2011.
The population of Na h-Eileanan Siar was down 0.63 per cent between 2015 and 2016 according to statistics published this week by the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

We have a whole host of job vacancies looking to be filled on welovestornoway.com, with five new posts added this week! Click on the job titles below for more information.

Hebrides Travel are seeking a confident Modern Apprentice with good admin and numeracy skills to join their team from June, for 3 or 4 days per week.

Calmax Construction Limited in Newmarket, Stornoway, are recruiting a Machine Operator.

The County Hotel in Stornoway requires an experienced Shift Manager for their busy bar and restaurant.  The candidate should be flexible, with a positive attitude and excellent communication skills.

Crossroads Lewis are looking for Care Attendants to join their dedicated team.  The posts offer good rates of pay with flexible hours, and training and mileage costs will be covered.  Applicants must have a full driving license and their own vehicle.

Travellers now have more help at hand to plan their Outer Hebridean holidays thanks to the publication of the first ever guide book to focus on these islands alone.

Bradt's new guide to the 'Outer Hebrides: The Western Isles of Scotland, from Lewis to Barra' by experienced writer and journalist Mark Rowe is the only full-size guide to focus solely on the islands of Lewis and Harris; St Kilda; North Uist; Benbecula; South Uist; Eriskay; Barra, and Vatersay.

Rowe, and environmental and outdoor journalist, first visited the Outer Hebrides in 1990 when using up the last few days of an Inter-Rail ticket.

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has recorded an introduction as part of a new digital recreation of St Kilda.

St Kilda has been painstakingly recreated on the best-selling videogame Minecraft as part of Scotland-wide World Heritage Day celebrations. This will give gamers the opportunity to explore the archipelago with ever having to step foot there. It will also form part of the learning resources available in both English and Gaelic to Scotland’s schools.

Lews Castle, by Natural Retreats

Lews Castle is proving the place to be today (Friday, April 28th) as island residents and visitors enjoy the opportunity to look around the new luxury accommodation on offer by operators Natural Retreats.

And today there is also a chance to win a free stay for four in Lews Castle by taking part in the Open Day raffle, in support of the RNLI and Bethesda Nursing Home and Hospice.

Opening its doors at 10am this morning, the Castle staff have been kept busy throughout the day with a huge number of visitors, from old to young, excitedly exploring the new look Castle with a selection of the 23 bedrooms planned ready for viewing.

Rooms will remain open to the public until 9pm tonight; and from 4pm there will be displays of Highland Dancing and entertainment from local school choirs, as well as free welcomes drinks and canapes to deliver A Taste of Stornoway until 8pm. And the Lews Castle whisky bar will be open until 1am tonight for visitors and guests.

People in Lewis and Harris with an interest in mental health and in dementia are invited to come along to a World Café event.

You can meet with the team who are redesigning mental health services across the Western Isles and talk with them about what the redesigned services will mean for you.

Angus MacNeil MP with John Murdo Macdonald, Volunteer, St Andrew’s First Aid

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP, Angus Brendan MacNeil, after working to assist, has welcomed the introduction of St Andrew’s First Aid Volunteers in the islands to provide Event First Aid.

Last year the British Red Cross took the decision to withdraw from providing Event First Aid in the Western Isles.  Now with the help of St Andrew’s First Aid, volunteers are now able to continue to provide this service.

The winning Sgoil a'Bhac team with Stornoway Rotary President Gavin Woods and Rotarian Kenneth MacDonald

Sgoil a’Bhac were the victors of Stornoway Rotary Club’s Primary School Quiz, held at the Nicolson Institute last night (Thursday, April 27th).

The quizzing pupil of Back now have the chance to go through to the Rotary Area Heat held in Balintore on Saturday, May 6th, and if successful, onto the Highland Final in Aberdeen in June.

In second place last night were Sgoil nan Loch, followed by Laxdale Primary School in third.

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has introduced the likes of cullen skink pie, smoked salmon bagels and vegetarian haggis nachos to its menu. 

Served in the Mariners cafés on board its major ships, the food has become a firm favourite with customers – regular travellers and excited tourists alike – as offering great taste, value for money and supporting Scottish produce. 

Brave, Martin's Memorial ladies ministry, meets once a month in the church and they would love to see you there. "Its a comfortable and safe place to learn and grow in our walk with our heavenly Father." 

Thursday 27th April, 7.30 - 10pm

A very warm welcome awaits you!

An appeal – carried on welovestornoway.com – for craftspeople and makers to contact the Stornoway Airport shop about putting their products on sale there has produced great results, says Donald Martin who runs the shop.

Within a few days, several local producers had their products on sale at the airport for the first – and had made their first sales. “There’s some very nice stuff come through,” said Mr Martin.

But he is still looking for more potential craftspeople to join the throng on the main display shelves.

There are no plans to close the Stornoway airport control tower, it was stated today. 

Reports had suggested that HIAL were considering centralisation of Air Traffic Control by relocating the operation to a 'virtual tower' on the mainland.

Clann an Latha an De invite you to a light lunch this coming Satuday, as support is needed to raise funds for repairs and improvement works to the war memorial at Bragar church. Plans will be on public display and your comments will be welcomed.  

Alzheimer Scotland Lewis and Harris are holding a coffee morning on Saturday the 29th April from 10am - 12pm at St Columba's Church Hall, Stornoway, to raise money for Solas Day Centre.  Come along and enjoy tea, coffee, delicious home baking, stalls and prize draws.  Entry: donations at the door. 

The late Rev Dr Iain D. Campbell, who passed away in January

Elements of the moral conduct of the late Rev Dr Iain D. Campbell were 'seriously inconsistent with that expected of a Christian minister'.

This was the finding of the Western Isles Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland, who convened in Stornoway yesterday.

Reunion of Lews Castle, Nicolson and Sir E Scott Pupils of 1957

A small group of former Lews Castle, Nicolson Institute and Sir E Scott pupils are hoping to arrange a 60th Lewis & Harris class reunion in the Stornoway Golf Club on Friday 22nd September.  If you are one of the 1957/60s class, they would love you to make a commitment to attend so they can take it to the next level. This will be the first ever reunion for 1957 babies, and the invitation is extended to some 1958 babies.  If you are in contact with any former classmates, please let them know.

If you have any old school photos from back in the day that you'd like to share, you can send them to the committee to help make the reunion a memorable occasion. And if you are at a loose end and feel you can contribute to the organising then please let them know.

To see the website, get in touch or register your interest, click here.  

Photograph by kind permission of Comunn Eachdraidh Nis.

Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP) is now an accredited Living Wage Employer.

HHP join Intermedia Services (Stornoway) Ltd, Lewis Builders, OnTime Computing, and Living Wage MSP Alasdair Allan in their commitment to pay the living wage of £8.45 per hour.

The living wage is significantly higher than the government minimum wage of £6.70, and the new minimum wage premium for over 25s of £7.50 per hour.

Full-time employees earning the real Living Wage earn up to £2000 per year more than those on the government minimum.

The real Living Wage is an hourly rate, calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in the UK. Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis.

WIIGA chair Norrie Tomsh, left, accepts the £1,000 donation from Angus McCormack, chair of Point and Sandwick Trust

Community wind farm charity Point and Sandwick Trust have made it easier for a group of athletes to represent the Western Isles on the world stage this summer with a donation of £1,000.

The donation was made to the Western Isles Island Games Assocation (WIIGA), who are sending a squad to compete in the NatWest Island Games in Sweden in June. 

Norrie ‘Tomsh’ MacDonald, chair of the local games association, was delighted to receive the donation recently from Point and Sandwick Trust chairman Angus McCormack. 

The St Andrew’s First Aid charity is stepping into the gap left on Lewis and Harris by the withdrawal last May of the British Red Cross from providing First Aid cover in the Islands.
The organisation was formed in 1882 as St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association by doctors and businessmen in Glasgow who were concerned with the number of people being injured in the industrial city.

The Cafe facility at Lewis Sports Centre will be closed for good unless it is taken over by independent operators.

The Ionad Spors Leodhais Cafe was in its end being run by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, but closed on March 31st due to financial constraints.

“The Cafe as it was was unable to break even,” said a council spokesperson, adding: “A decision was taken by the Comhairle that the cafe will not be operated by the Trading Operation again.”

Award winner, Mary Gillies, with her husband, John Angus, and children, Jonathan (19), Joanna (17) and David (2)

The first Gaelic Writing for Children Award has been presented to a Western Isles resident, Mary Gillies.

The competition received entries from across Scotland, as well as an entry from Canada.

Mary’s submission - a Gaelic story for 5 to 8-year-olds - beat off the competition to win the award.

Along with a £500 prize, Mary also receives the opportunity to have her manuscript considered by Acair Books, with a view to getting it published.

Frances and Michelle

NHS Western Isles has announced Frances Robertson, Senior Charge Nurse at Western Isles Hospital’s Surgical Ward, and Michelle Cameron, Staff Nurse at Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh, as its latest successful graduates for Cohort 7 Dementia Champions.

Over the last nine months Frances and Michelle have committed time and effort to completing the course, which expands the NHS Western Isles team of Dementia Champions to 11 situated across the islands.

In conjunction with NHS Western Isles, Tommy Whitelaw from the ALLIANCE Dementia Carers Voices will be hosting a series of events in the Outer Hebrides aimed at raising dementia awareness for people with dementia and their carers.

Tommy, who lives in Glasgow, was a full-time carer for his late mother Joan who had been diagnosed with vascular dementia. Through supporting his mother, he became a well-known national campaigner raising awareness of the issues surrounding dementia.

He said: “My motivation as a carer came from the love I had for my mum and I would do it all again in a heartbeat, but my experience has shown me just how tough it is to live with dementia and how many struggles it can bring.

The Epic Award winning Barra Bunting will be on display for the festival

A free food festival offers a fabulous tour of food and craft from diverse island communities throughout the Outer Hebrides this weekend.

An Lanntair arts centre launches its Fèill Ceáird is Còcairachd: Craft and Cookery Festival on Saturday, April 29th, taking place from 12pm to 4pm.

During the festival visitors will be able to sample world cuisines from the Minch to Mumbai in a fun filled day of cooking demonstrations, food tasters and Hebridean craft stalls, highlighting the quality of handmade crafts to be found on a journey through the islands.

Isles MP Angus MacNeil  has been contacted by more than 40 constituents who say they have been denied access to Scottish Gas’ cheapest advertised tariff, in the ongoing row between Scottish Gas and its island customer base.

Last month, following a complaint by his constituent - Derek McPherson of Fernlea Guesthouse, Stornoway - Mr MacNeil revealed that he had evidence that island LPG customers were being denied access to advertised tariffs enjoyed by mainland customers.

Scottish Gas has now admitted that Mr McPherson’s failure to access such tariffs may not, as it originally claimed, be an isolated case. In a letter to Mr MacNeil, Scottish Gas has conceded that its call-handlers may have given the wrong advice to island customers regarding these advertised tariffs.

Scotland’s blue badge scheme has been extended to allow people who may have difficulties and pose a risk to themselves or others in traffic to get a badge, provided they meet eligibility criteria.

People who think they might be eligible are being invited to contact their local authority.

The blue badge scheme provides an essential service for disabled people, allowing parking access that can often make the difference as to whether disabled people live their lives as fully as they can.

All are invited to join for a Spring Afternoon Tea and help raise funds for the local lifesavers of Stornoway RNLI this weekend.

The Stornoway Lifeboat Ladies Guild invite all to the Spring Afternoon Tea this Saturday (April 29th), from 2pm-4pm in Lewis Retirement Centre on Bayhead, Stornoway.

Enjoy a catch up with friends and family over a cup of tea or coffee and some delicious home-baking.

There will also be a stall packed full of RNLI goodies, large and small – and all funds raised go directly to the town RNLI station and lifeboat.

Fancy walking to Stornoway…from wherever on the island you live?  If you do, you could help raise money and awareness with Alzheimer Scotland as part of Dementia Awareness week in June.

And it doesn’t end there…once you reach town, you would take part in a 5K Memory march around the town and its nearby suburbs on Saturday June 3.  This is a change from the usual Castle Grounds venue.

The Memory March is purely a local event to encourage fund raising and awareness-raising with people doing promotional publicity such as wearing t-shirts.

A whole range of jobs are available in Stornoway and the surrounding areas – all in the vacancies section of welovestornoway.com!
For instance, the Group Practice Health Centre, Stornoway, is recruiting to the following full time posts:  Practice Manager; Medical Receptionist; and Healthcare Assistant.
http://www.welovestornoway.com/index.php/jobs-westside/6512-job-vacancies-the-group-practice

Tighean Innse Gall (TIG) – which is the local Energy and Development Agency for the Western Isles – is seeking a part-time receptionist (22.5 hours p/w)
Mon-Fri - 12:30 pm - 5.00 pm

Around 80 students and staff from the University of the Highlands and Islands Applied Music degree – which is based in Benbecula – are this week (from April 24) coming to Stornoway for their final residency of the academic year. 

Students will be participating in workshops throughout the week led by staff, tradition bearers and experts in music and the creative industries. 

A highlight of the week will be their showcase concert at An Lanntair on Wednesday 26 April at 7.30pm (Admission: £8/£6 Concession & Member/£5 Child )

Outdoors at last!  The Stornoway Bowling marked the start of the new summer season with an initial event at their club premises on Bayhead last night (Friday April 21st).  The club spent the winter months with the indoor version of the sport inside Ionad Spòrs Lèodhas - and now with around 50 active members they are looking forward to a new season - and would be happy to welcome new members.

The first ever Gaelic travelogue is to be officially launched at an event in Ness next Thursday.

Author Maureen Macleod, who is a producer of the BBC Alba’s current affairs programme Eòrpa, will read extracts of her new book 'A Toirt Mo Chasan Leam', roughly translated as 'Taking My Feet With Me'.

The Ordination & Induction of Stephen McCollum, as Minister of Stornoway Reformed Presbyterian Church will take place, God willing, on Friday 28 April at 7 p.m. at Stornoway Town Hall. The reception afterwards will be held upstairs in the Garry Suite at the Caladh Inn. The service will be conducted by Rev Kenneth Stewart (Gardner Street, Glasgow).

All are warmly welcomed.

A hustings meeting will take place tonight in Uig Community Centre.

The meeting will hear from all four Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath nan Loch candidates - Ranald Fraser, Norman A. Macdonald, Donald Cudig Macleod, and Angus Morrison. 

Proceedings start at 7.30pm.

Lews Castle College UHI is facing a decrease in funding of around 4.8 per cent for 2017-18, due to a drop in student numbers.

In a report just published, Audit Scotland has highlighted the College's under-recruitment of further education students against targets during 2015/16.

The report clearly states that the College is not in immediate financial difficulty and the accounts have been given a clean bill of health.

Notice is hereby given that Urras Sgire Oighreachd Bharabhais Community Company has applied to the Scottish Land Court for an Order authorising resumption of 0.03 hectares of the common grazings of the township of Brue.  The purpose of the resumption is to sell the said area to Mr Iain MacRitchie, 7 Merlin Crescent, Inverness, IV2 3TE, to regularise the position whereby the said area is being used as garden and amenity ground for the dwellinghouse 19B Brue.

On 22nd March 2017 the Court appointed this intimation by newspaper advertisement and ordered the Applicant to send to the Clerk to the Grazings Committee copies of the Application, associated productions and the Court’s Practice Note No. 4 (which emphasises the need for crofters to protect their own rights).  The Court ordered any shareholder or other person having a legal interest who opposes the Application or who wishes to claim compensation or a share in value of the land to be resumed, to lodge Answers, including details of any such claim, with the Principal Clerk, George House, 126 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4HH within fifteen days from the end of the period covered by this edition of Events.  Copies of the Application, productions and Practice Note have been sent to Mr Kenneth A. Matheson, Seabhal, 19 Brue, Isle of Lewis, HS2 0QW and these documents may be inspected either there, at the Court’s offices in Edinburgh, or at the offices of the Agents.  Copies of the Practice Note may also be obtained from the Principal Clerk (Tel:  0131 271 4360). It should be noted that any further Orders of the Court, including the Final Order, will be intimated to those persons who have lodged answers to this advertisement and to the Clerk to the Common Grazings Committee.  Copies of any further Orders may be obtained from the Principal Clerk upon request.

Messrs Anderson MacArthur Solicitors
Old Bank of Scotland Buildings
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS1 2BG
(Agents for Urras Sgire Oighreachd
Bharabhais Community Company)
of which intimation is hereby made.

Political parties in the Western Isles are working round the clock to source candidates for the General Election on Thursday June 8.

And, it would appear, some are having more success than others.

The deadline for nominations is Thursday May 11 – one week after the local government elections on Thursday May 4.

So what’s the latest from the parties expected to field candidates here in the Western Isles?

Simon Wetherell, Co-op Director of Facilities Management; Divisional Managing Director John McNeill; Chrisetta Mitchell, The Leanne Fund; Macaulay Road Store Manager, Steven Cooper and Cromwell Street Store Manager Steven Macphail

The Leanne Fund wishes to extend a huge THANK YOU to Co-op customers in Stornoway who have helped raise more than £12,000 for the charity.

As the foremost Cystic Fibrosis (CF) charity in Scotland, The Leanne Fund works with individuals affected by CF and their families across the Highlands, Islands and Grampian to provide vital social, practical, emotional and financial assistance.

The Co-op’s Local Community Fund has allowed Co-op members to support the charity while doing the weekly shop with 1% of spend on Co-op branded products going to the charity, along with money raised from carrier bag sales.

Chrisetta Mitchell, Development Manager for The Leanne Fund said: “We are so grateful to the Co-op and its Members who have raised such a phenomenal amount of money which will make such a difference to the lives of young people with CF.”

Befriending Lewis is looking for volunteers to spend some time with people who find themselves alone - whether through ill-health, disability or social disadvantage - and have a series of free training dates coming up over the next few months, the first being this Saturday.

To book your place, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or call 01851 70 2632. Lunch will be provided. 

For more information about Befriending Lewis, visit www.befriendinglewis.org.uk  

Island ferry operator Caledonian MacBraynes is looking for Lewis residents to have their say on Scottish ferry services.

CalMac is looking for islanders over the age of 18 to participate in a short discussion group about ferry services available in the Western Isles, as well as Scotland as a whole.

An independent research company will host the ferry talk with the group discussion due to take place on Monday, May 22nd in Stornoway.

Those wishing to participate are asked to register their interest by submitting details online here.

A memorial service to the men of the Ross Mountain Battery, who fought and died on the Gallipoli peninsula, will be held on Tuesday, April 25th.

One of the most bitterly found campaigns of World War I, the battle at Gallipoli saw the Allies take on the Ottoman Empire in the Dardanelles.

The Ross Mountain Battery unit, which fought alongside a number of other units, consisted mainly of Lewis soldiers. One of the first units to land, and one of the last to leave, many of the island men in the Ross Mountain Battery unit left their Outer Hebrides homes in August 1914, and did not return until April 1919.

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus Brendan MacNeil has written to Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to ask for an urgent update on the future support for island renewables. 

The UK government’s consultation on whether Remote Island Wind projects should be subsidised ended on 31st January.  Following yesterday’s announcement that a General Election will be held on 8th June, concerns have been raised as to what this will mean for island renewables.

As part of MG ALBA’s strategy to provide training and support for Gaelic writers, the Gaelic Media Service (MG ALBA) is offering talented Gaelic writers the opportunity to apply for its coveted scholarship to study television fiction writing at Glasgow Caledonian University.

The MA Television Fiction Writing course is the only dedicated one year postgraduate programme of its type in the UK, providing aspiring screenwriters with the tools to embark upon or strengthen their career in television fiction writing, and MG ALBA are supporting a placement on the course for one Gaelic speaker.  

An option to undertake the course on a part-time basis over two years is also available.

Isles FM presenter Kathleen Maciver accepts a cheque for £2,000 from Simon Pearson, from Lewis Electronics

Isles FM is back on air, and volunteer presenters are delighted to get back to work after a tense wait for funding was finally ended last week.

A £2,000 donation from Lewis Electronic Trade Services Ltd tipped the scale on the funding, with generous donors responding through Justgiving to hit a target of £8,000.

Museum nan Eilean is preparing an exhibition marking the passing of one hundred years since the tragic sinking of the Iolaire on January 1, 1919.

The exhibition will run from late 2018 until early 2019 in the new museum at Lews Castle and is part of a larger series of events by a number of organisations recognising the centenary of the disaster and its impact on the people of the Outer Hebrides.

Commenting on today’s announcement by the Prime Minister that she intends to seek a General Election on June 8th, Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil said: “It is a great privilege to serve the people of Na h-Eileanan an Iar in Parliament and I would hope to be re-elected if a snap General Election takes place on June 8th.

“This is a panicked announcement by Theresa May, she knows she isn’t going to get a deal on trade with Europe which means for our crofters, any exports of lambs to Europe will incur a 20% tariff and any fish and shellfish will see a 12% tariff.

“She is doing this so she doesn’t have to face the public after Brexit negotiations when she has nothing, so she is cutting and running now.

Highlands and Islands Tory MSPs should 'stop acting as mere mouthpieces for the UK Government', and show the courage to oppose the Tory Government’s 'shocking and inhumane rape clause'.  

This was stated today by Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan. 

The hugely controversial 'rape clause' limits tax credits to only two children per family – unless the mother can prove that a third child was conceived as a result of rape.

Ballot papers for postal voters in the Western Isles have started arriving on doormats, ready for the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election on Thursday 4 May.

Malcolm Burr, Returning Officer for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, is reminding postal voters: “For this election you must vote using numbers. You will need to number the candidates in order of preference using 1, 2, 3 and so on – you can make as many or as few choices as you wish.

Stornoway firm ‘Wee Studio’ is to open a brand new recording studio in Benbecula.

The new studio is called ‘Wee Studio’s Bunker’ and is to be housed within the East Trust's nuclear bunker. 

The studio will be directly connected to Wee Studio in Stornoway via internet connection.

St Peter's Episcopal Church on Francis Street was broken into over the Easter weekend.

A small padlock was removed from the donation box inside the porch entrance, and money was taken.

On Saturday 29th April An Lanntair will launch its Fèill Ceáird is Còcairachd: Craft and Cookery Festival – a FREE festival throughout An Lanntair’s building offering a fabulous tour of food and craft from the diverse island communities of the Outer Hebrides.

The festival day will start with a celebration of one of the islands’ most iconic crafts industries, Tweed, with the second annual Harris Tweed Cycle ride, leaving An Lanntair at 10am. This will be a ‘spiffing’ cycle around the town and a chance to win the prestigious prize of a hand knitted Yellow Geansaidh for the best dressed rider.  This year An Lanntair also has a Geansaidh Geal for the best young rider!  Limited tickets are available here.

Throughout the festival day on the 29th April, there will be a variety of food to sample from cultures across the island communities, including Nagaland, Syria, India and of course the Hebrides.  And if you get in quick, there are still a few tickets left to a Foraging Banquet on the evening of Friday 28th April in An Lanntair’s Café Bar – celebrating everything that the Hebridean landscape has to offer on a plate! Tickets here   

An Lanntair hosts Single Shoe Production of Crazy Glue: a remarkable piece of physical theatre, in which both the dizzying highs and desolate lows of love are laid bare to comic and heart-breaking effect. 

The glue, of course, is love. And what’s so crazy about it? Absolutely everything, it seems: from the spark that starts its first bright flame, to the final fizzle of its embers.

The wonderfully skilled Bradley Wayne Smith and Filipa Thomas portray with humour, pathos, and some impressive vocal sound effects the experiences of a couple driven crazy by the first flush of love, and even crazier by its disintegration.

Taking a quick..ish scoot around the Western Isles will take on a whole new meaning after a new exploit by grandmother Dinah Bosomworth.

For the 52 years old plans to do just that, travel the Western Isles – not to mention Isles of Skye and Mull as well - on a two-wheeled scooter!

Starting on Thursday (April 20) the grandmother-of-four, together with a bright orange kick-scooter nicknamed Nerys will depart from Oban before making her way from Vatersay to the Butt of Lewis on The Hebridean Way.

As part of their 10-year celebrations, UOG are running a series of monthly evening talks in partnership with University of the Highlands and Islands. 

The next talk for April will be by Catriona Murray on the topic "UHI Talk: The Gaelic Community and the Other World: Folklore and Customs". In this talk Catriona will be exploring the connections between the Gaelic community and the supernatural world, through the religion, folklore and customs of the area. 

It will take place at UOG Business Centre, South Galson, on Tuesday 25th April, 7:30pm. 

All welcome.Free admission, no booking necessary. Tea & coffee provided.

Mossend Residents Association

AGM.

Wednesday 19^th April,

7pm

Sandwick Community Room.

All welcome.

There are jobs on offer from businesses and enterprises in many fields in Stornoway at the moment – all advertised on http://www.welovestornoway.com/index.php/jobs

For instance, there’s a need for a Quality Controller at the Scottish Salmon Company in Marybank. 

Hebridean hen and stag parties are being taken to another level, thanks to the launch this week of a new dancing venture – ‘Hitched and Highlands’.

Run by professional dancer Alexandra Jones and Anna Macaulay, Hitched and Highlands offer bespoke dancing packages for clients – so for instance, if a hen party wanted to recreate scenes from ‘Grease’, Alexandra and Anna will provide a tailor-made routine.

Work has finally begun to extensively restore the Lewis War Memorial.

The £230,000 project had been due to start this time last year, but was put on hold after the company who were awarded the tender went bankrupt.

Another company has now been contracted to undertake the works.

A memorial service will take place in Stornoway this afternoon for one of the victims of the 'Louisa' fishing boat tragedy. 

Paul Alliston, who was 42 and was also known as Paul Macmillan, was lost when the shellfish vessel sank off Mingulay on Saturday April 9, 2016. 

The bitter spat over renewable energy developments in the Western Isles took a new turn last night (Thursday April 13) as Executive Director of Point and Sandwick Power, Calum Macdonald, hit back at comments from council leader Angus Campbell of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
“Mr Campbell makes the strange claim that Point and Sandwick Power was not invited to the meeting with the Secretary of State, Greg Clark, on Monday. 
“He is misinformed.  In fact, we were in receipt of an official invitation from the Secretary of State’s office and did not need an invite from the Council. 
“Perhaps Mr Campbell can explain why the Council did not want any representatives of the local community energy sector at the meeting, despite the local branch of Community Energy Scotland making repeated requests to the Council to be included. 

Ballot papers for postal voters in the Western Isles will be arriving on doormats over the next few days, ready for the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election on Thursday 4 May.

Malcolm Burr, Returning Officer for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar advises postal voters: “When you receive your postal voting pack, make sure you read and follow the instructions carefully before completing your ballot paper. Don’t forget to include your date of birth and signature on the postal voting statement.  Follow the instructions in the pack to make sure your vote counts.

At loggerheads - Comhairle Leader Angus Campbell and Calum Macdonald, of Point and Sandwick Power

A bitter row has today broken out between Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and community energy company Point and Sandwick Power. 

Earlier this week, Executive Director of Point and Sandwick Power, Calum Macdonald, said that the Comhairle urgently needed to revise its energy strategy to allow for a dramatically-increased community stake in local renewable developments. 

But Comhairle Leader Angus Campbell today hit out: “It is a shame that Mr Macdonald and Point and Sandwick Power seem intent on working against the best interests of the wider community and the local economy.”

Ken MacBrayne

A Tory candidate for election to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has been suspended by his party after posting on social media that Nicola Sturgeon was a ‘silly cow’ who should be kidnapped, adding: “Why can’t someone stick a cattle prod up her nether region?”

Retired seaman Ken MacBrayne (72), is one of eight candidates battling it out for three seats in the Beinn na Foghla agus Uibhist a’ Tuath ward. 

A massive increase in passenger numbers over the Easter holidays has led to operator Citylink laying on more buses between Ullapool and Inverness. 

Citylink were contacted by Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, who also liaised with CalMac over the issue.

The Executive Director of Point and Sandwick Power, Calum MacDonald, has called for greatly increased community involvement in the proposed Lewis Windpower projects following the visit by the UK Secretary of State for Business and Energy, Greg Clark MP to Stornoway on Monday 10th April.

Mr MacDonald, the former MP for the Western Isles, attended the Scottish Islands Renewable Delivery Forum meeting at the Caberfeidh Hotel at the personal invitation of the Secretary of State, and said afterwards: “Right from the start of the meeting, Greg Clark made clear that his primary interest was the degree of community involvement, ownership and benefit in the three island projects and that maximising the community role was the best hope, indeed the only hope, of getting any of the inter-connector projects funded.

The Annual General Meeting of the Fideach Angling Club will be held in the Sandwick School Community Room at 7.30pm on Friday 14th April 2017.

Left to right: - Catherine Ann Macleod (Women’s Football Team Manager), Ann-Louise Stewart (Women’s Football), Iain GG Campbell (General Team Manager), Alan Brown (SSC), Hamish Budge (Athletics Coach), Eric Macleod (Men’s Football Team Manager), Norrie MacDonald (WIIGA Chair), Sian Macdonald (Athletics), Isla Budge (Swimming), Matthew Hanlon (Swimming)

The Western Isles Island Games Association (WIIGA) sponsored by The Scottish Salmon Company have finalised selection for the NatWest Island Games in Sweden this summer.

The week-long International event is this year being hosted by Gotland, one of the 24 member islands, between 24th June and 30th June. WIIGA will take a squad of 90 covering 8 sports to the Games, which includes athletes, coaches, management and medical team. The squad will be accompanied by a small number of family members and supporters.

This Friday (April 14) the new Museum nan Eilean has another Family Fun Day.

This is to welcome the new Fossil Hunters Exhibition at Museum nan Eilean Lews Castle.

The Fossil Hunters Family Fun Day runs from 1pm till 4pm.   Come along for fossil-related fun and crafts, say the staff, adding that it is £2 per child, no booking required. All ages welcome.

The SNP has launched a manifesto for the Western Isles which lays out key commitments for an SNP-led Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

Nine candidates are standing for the SNP in next month’s elections and the party hopes to create an administration which will lead the Comhairle with a clear strategy.

Donald Manford, SNP Group leader and candidate for Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eiriosgaigh agus Uibhist a Deas, said: "To be in the driving seat of our own destiny and to shape our own future is a natural desire. It is what the SNP believes is right for Scotland.   It is what your local SNP Group believes is right for the Hebrides.

Stornoway South SNP candidate Rae Mackenzie says he will fight for a feasibility study to consider reopening Sandwickhill School if he is re-elected to Comhairle nan Eilean on 4th May.

Mr Mackenzie said:  "Sandwick School should never have closed because it was obvious that Stornoway was going to expand in that direction. Well over 100 houses, many with young families, are on schedule to be built in the Mackenzie Park area near the former school. 

“This means there will be over 300 houses in Parkend, Holm and the Mackenzie Park Estate without taking into account East Street, North Street, and Lower Sandwick.  Potentially pupils may also come from Steinish, Plasterfield and Melbost/Branahuie.”

The University of the Highlands and Islands is inviting applications for 26 fully funded PhD studentships.

The studentships, which are being funded by the European Social Fund and Scottish Funding Council, offer opportunities in a range of research areas.

Topics include the use of digital technologies in healthcare, the history of distilling and whisky production, eco-tourism, salmon farming in Scotland and the impact of the nuclear industry on British communities.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Lord Dunlop

Building economic activity and providing high quality employment opportunities are two key factors to the Western Isles' future, says Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Lord Dunlop.

The Conservative politician spoke today (Monday, April 10th) as he visited Lewis with Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark MP, who co-chaired the fifth meeting of the Scottish Islands Renewables Delivery Forum in Stornoway.

Discussions included focus on the UK Government's recent consultation for wind projects on the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland. The development of proposed major projects would trigger initial investment of £2.5billion.

1st January 1919 will make 100 years since the Iolaire disaster

The anniversary of the Iolaire disaster on 1st January 2019 will be the final formal event in the official, national four-year programme commemorating the Centenary of The Great War.  

An Lanntair arts centre, with financial assistance from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, commissioned three of the most senior and respected visual artists in Scotland to prepare a range of designs for a bronze sea or land sculpture located on or near the site where the vessel was wrecked – creating a significant memorial that will give the tragedy the national profile and place in history it merits, and create a legacy for the community and those visiting the islands.

And all are invited are invited to join at the arts centre next Monday (Easter Monday, April 17th), 7.30pm, for the opportunity to hear from each artist about the philosophy and intention behind their proposed designs, to comment on them, and ask questions of the designers.

The UK Government must stop stalling and back island renewables now, according to Isles' MP Angus MacNeil.

Mr MacNeil took part in a meeting with Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in Stornoway this morning (Monday) and urged him to make the right decision on future support for island renewables.

Mr MacNeil said the final decision to be made by Mr Clark on this matter will have repercussions for the island economy for many years to come.

Simon Nicol, Fairport Convention, presented the award to Josie Duncan and Pablo Lafuente

Stornoway songstress Josie Duncan has scooped the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk 2017 award along with musical partner Pablo Lafuente.

The Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017 were announced in a ceremony last week (April 5th) held at the Royal Albert Hall.

Now in their 18th year, the Awards are a key highlight of the folk music calendar and serve to raise the profile of folk music.

And helping raise her own profile within folk music, Josie – who is currently studying a BA in Scottish Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – was delighted with the award, saying on her Facebook page: “Delighted to be chosen from such an amazing set of acts.”

Josie and Pablo were presented their award by guitarist, singer, record-producer, and founding member of British folk group Fairport Convention.

Julia Donaldson's books are very popular with young and old alike

Island publishers Acair are delighted to announce their latest release – a Gaelic version of author Julia Donaldson's hugely popular title 'Stick Man'.

From the same author as classics 'The Gruffalo' and 'The Gruffalo's Child', Stick Man has been translated into Gaelic and can now be pre-ordered from the Acair website.

Following the ups and downs of a Stick Man – Bioran – as he battles to make his way home to his family, the latest Donaldson book is completed again by the iconic illustrations of Axel Scheffler.

You can pre-order a copy of 'Bioran', to be released on Friday, April 28th, at www.acairbooks.com 

Launching the 'Walk 500 Miles' step-counting challenge (l-r) Karen Pateranna, NHSWI Health Improvement Practitioner; Tony Wade, CnES Lews Sports Centre Manager; and Norma MacLeod, NHSWI Healthy Working Lives Coordinator

Imagine being able to say YOU walked 500 miles this summer! Well, here is an opportunity to do just that.

NHS Western Isles’ Health Promotion Department and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's Sport and Health Division invite islanders to register for the 'Walk 500 Miles' step count challenge for individuals or teams of three from the Butt to Barra, aged 18 years and over.

Individuals or teams of three can choose a step challenge that suits them – the 'Bronze 500' is for those who wish to aim to complete 7,500 steps per day; the 'Silver 500' for those aiming for 10,000 steps a day, and the 'Gold 500' for those who complete 12,500 steps per day.

Mr. Malcolm Burr, Chief Executive of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, has been appointed to the Scottish Government’s Standing Council on Europe.

This is an advisory panel comprising a group of experts set up to advise the Scottish government in the aftermath of the Brexit vote with the aim of protecting Scotland’s interests – legal, financial and diplomatic.

Mr Burr has been appointed particularly because of his expertise in local government and rural communities.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

With only one week to go until the deadline to register to vote in the council elections, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is urging residents to make sure they are registered in time.

On Thursday 4 May voters in the Western Isles will go to the polls for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Local Government elections.  The deadline to register to vote is Monday 17 April.

Anyone not registered to vote at their current address can register online here. 

With passenger numbers at Stornoway Airport growing and a whole range of new air services available, craftspeople in Lewis and Harris are being encouraged to contact the airport shop to discuss ways they could sell products through the shop.

Donald Martin, who runs the shop and café services in the departures lounge and in the main terminal itself, said: “We are looking to work with local crafts people, in particular those involved in Harris Tweed.  All small craft items will be considered for display and sale.”

He said the arrangements with suppliers could be on a sale or return or a commission basis.   He added: “That is how we would envisage operating , however, depending on the type of business , there are other possibilities."

Donald wants as wide a range as possible to be available to tempt travellers to browse the displays.   He asks craft producers “Please visit the airport café with samples where we will have the opportunity to discuss aspects further.”

Sundays newspapers are available from a handful of outlets in Stornoway this afternoon (Sunday April 9).

As part of the return to airborne delivery for morning newspapers - which started last Monday - Sunday editions were available from around 1.15/1.30pm at the Stornoway Airport shop (see photograph below); Engebret Ltd on Sandwick Road; and the Blackhouse Bakery in Plasterfield.

Each of these outlets normally closes for the day at or shortly after 4pm on a Sunday so there is only a a relatively short time for news addicts to avail themselves of this unusual opportunity.

There will be fundraising quiz on Friday 14 April at 7.30 in Lodge Fortrose, Kenneth Street to support the Mountain View School for the Deaf in Malawi.

The school provides education for 150 pupils, about half of whom are orphans. Due to failing crops there is a risk that parents will not be able to afford the tuition fees so the various Lodges in Ross and Cromarty are undertaking fundraising with the aim of paying the annual fees for all pupils for two years.

The Lodges have previously supplied teaching materials and equipment, teacher salaries and, following an outbreak of cholera in 2014 a solar powered water pump.

Sandwick Community Council

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Monday, 10th April

at 7.30pm

at the

Sandwick Community Room

The Rotary Club of Stornoway are inviting all to join for the annual Gala Charity Night, raising funds for six local worthy causes.

 Taking place at the Cabarfeidh Hotel, Stornoway, on Saturday, May 13th, the event offers an excellent evening of 'Music Through the Decades', with the Stornoway Big Band and Faram providing live entertainment.

 A delicious Finger Buffet will tempt appetites, and there will also be the chance to win something spectacular in the Rotary Club's 'Wheel of Fortune' and raffle.

 "Last year we had great fun at the Gala Charity Night, and we're hoping for the same this time again," said Rotary Club President Gavin Woods.

 "We're sure that everyone who joins us will have an excellent evening enjoying the entertainment, and we're delighted to be raising money for six very worthy local charities through the Gala night."

Carhire Hebrides – one of the fastest growing enterprises on the Western Isles – has established a new base in the Stornoway Ferry Terminal, making its cars, vans and personnel far more accessible to customers both at home and away. 

The new base deals with walk-in customers as well as telephone and on-line bookings similar to their established base at Stornoway Airport. 

Co-owner John Cunningham said the venture – which has taken over the space formerly occupied by the Ferry Terminal café – was a logical extension of the standards of customer service they had always aimed for.

NATURAL Retreats are holding a community open day on the 28th April to allow people the opportunity to have a tour of the finished upper floor rooms at Lews Castle.

 The organisers say: "This is a great opportunity to allow people the chance to see the new accommodation and take in some of the spectacular views from the upper floors."

The tours will be running throughout the day and they also be putting on some family-friendly activities in the Storehouse, as well as live music.

 And they add, there is: "no need to pre- book, just turn up on the day."

This Saturday, 8th of April, Museum nan Eilean has another of their very busy #FamilyFunDays at Lews Castle, from 1pm - 4pm.

£2 per child, no booking required. All ages welcome.

An Lanntair invites all to a presentation on a proposal for the new commemorative sculpture with Will Maclean RSA, Marian Leven RSA, Arthur Watson RSA at 7.30pm Monday 17th April 2017

The anniversary of the Iolaire disaster on 1st January 2019 will be the final formal event in the official, national four-year programme commemorating the Centenary of The Great War.  A time for deep reflection, it is also the appropriate time to create a significant memorial that will give the tragedy the national profile and place in history it merits and create a legacy for the community and those visiting the island.

An Lanntair, with financial assistance from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, commissioned three of the most senior and respected visual artists in Scotland to prepare a range of designs for a bronze sea or land sculpture, which is to be located on or near the site where the vessel was wrecked.

An Lanntair is delighted to invite children aged 3+ to Jabuti Puppet Theatre’s Moonbeam on a Cats Ear: Theatre, puppetry and workshops for children, a rare piece of theatre in Gaelic, designed for anyone who loves adventure, excitement, and the rich possibilities of imaginary worlds. 

Where does fantasy end, and reality begin? It’s impossible to tell in this exquisite piece of puppet theatre from Jabuti, as we watch a cat and mouse leave the safety of their bedroom to explore the big night sky and steal the low-hanging moon. Perhaps, we think, we simply dreamed it, along with the sleepy crew of the sailing moon boat who saw it all unfurl in the comfort of their silk pyjamas.

This magical interpretation of Marie-Louise Gay’s English/French children’s book Voyage au Clair de Lune has been adapted to include lyrical Gaelic translation by poet Aonghas MacNeacail.

The Western Isles Island Games Association aim to take around 100 islanders to Gotland, Sweden, for the 2017 competition in June

As the Western Isles Island Games Association (WIIGA) get set to reveal its final squad next week, the Scottish Salmon Company have confirmed they will continue as main team sponsor.

The week long international event, the NatWest Island Games are this year hosted by Gotland, one of the 24 member islands, in Sweden this summer, June 24th – June 30th.

Craig Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of The Scottish Salmon Company, said: “We are proud to be sponsoring WIIGA for the third consecutive year and supporting the Western Isles team as they prepare for this summer’s event.

Shawbost-based Harris Tweed Hebrides has featured this week in a glittering showcase of British and Italian fashion, held in Florence under royal patronage.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall toured the event which was organised by the British Embassy in Rome and the Campaign for Wool.  Prince Charles is patron of the campaign and all the garments featured were, like Harris Tweed, made from pure wool.

An elite selection of leading British and Italian brands were invited to exhibit at the event which was held in the Sala Bianca of the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. The spectacular room is described as 'the birthplace of Italian fashion', catwalk shows held there in the 1950s having set the tone for classic Italian brands to flourish.

The Clo Mor Harris Tweed Cycle Ride 2016 tweed-clad turn-out

The knitting needles are already in action in Kyles Scalpaigh creating this year's 'Geansaidh Buidhe' for the winner of An Lanntair's second 'Clo Mor – Harris Tweed Cycle Ride'.

Saturday, April 29th, will see islanders don their finest tweeds for a 'spiffing cycle' around Stornoway town and the chance of win the prestigious prizes of a hand knitted Geansaidh Buidhe (Yellow Jersey) and title of 'Best Dressed Rider'.

And this year there is also a 'Geansaidh Geal' (White Jersey) for the Best Young Rider.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar candidates have thrown their hats in the ring and will be busy canvassing until council election day on Thursday, May 4th.

In order to have your say on the 4th of May, and vote for the candidates you wish to represent you and your ward in the Comhairle, there are some simple steps to make sure you're ready to vote.

Make sure you are registered to vote – if you are not registered, you cannot vote. For further advice, contact the Electoral Registration Officer, 42 Point Street, Stornoway, 01851 706262, or log on to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. Registration forms must be completed and returned by Monday, April 17th to allow voting in the May 4th election.

Voting by post – voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting and your postal vote can be sent to your home address or any other address you give. To register for a postal vote, contact the Electoral Registration Officer.  And applications for postal votes must be returned to the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Tuesday, April 18th. 

Voting by proxy – if you are unable to attend a polling station you can appoint a proxy who will be someone you trust to vote on your behalf. Again, to register for a prosy vote, contact the Electoral Registration Officer. And the deadline for applying for a proxy vote is Tuesday, April 25th.

Thursday morning - April 6th at 9.30am - marks the start of the closing down sale for three major departments at Murdo Maclean's store in Cromwell Street, Stornoway.

After a one year hiatus, Morven Gallery in Barvas, Lewis, returns for the islands' 2017 summer season, opening its doors again on Saturday April 15th.

Morven owners, Janis and Rob Scott, are delighted to see the gallery space return to life with the opening exhibition featuring the works of a huge variety of artists, including Simon Rivett, Ruth Odell, Gareth Watson, Pam Carter, Vega, Margaret Stevenson, Jonathan Smith, Kenneth Burns, Gill Thompson, David Humphreys, Kirsty Lymburn, Effie Galletly, Marianthi Lainas, and David Wilson.

“There were a number of things happening last year that meant we couldn't always commit to being here, so we weren't able to open,” said Janis.

Lews Castle is a final competitor in the title for Great British Buildings Restoration of the Year competition, organised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and featured on Channel 4 television.

With stiff competition from projects across the UK, Lews Castle was named joint winner of the Victorian category, along side Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland.

The RICS judges were 'blown away' by the impressive restoration of the Gothic revival style Castle, saying: “It was such a difficult building that had been out of use for decades so finding a new use was going to be a major achievement.

The Western Isles Association for Mental Health (WIAMH) have received £2,500 from community wind farm charity Point and Sandwick Trust.
The charity can spend the money as they see fit.  In the case of WIAMH, it will help them run activities at their Catch-23 drop-in service and retain their three support workers.
Del Gunn, WIAMH manager, said: “The timing is fantastic, at the end of the financial year, and the ‘no catch’ is great.  It gives us a level of flexibility.  If we have got a new idea then we can run with it straight away instead of having to chase the money to do so. 
“It’s an absolute godsend because we can plan now.  It enables us to retain staff who are in recovery themselves from mental health issues.”
Western Isles Association for Mental Health is the largest service user group of its kind in the Outer Hebrides and recently celebrated its 20 year anniversary.

Citylink have added extra buses to the Ullapool Inverness bus service from today.

Peter Knight of Citylink said “We have put the following additional seats onto the system today (all additional 49-seaters) -

04 April - 09:50         961         Ullapool – Inverness
04 April - 15:00         961         Inverness – Ullapool
05 April - 09:50         961         Ullapool – Inverness
06 April - 15:00         961         Inverness – Ullapool
07 April - 15:00         961         Inverness – Ullapool
10 April - 15:00         961         Inverness - Ullapool

Na h-Eileanan an Iar MSP Alasdair Allan has called on BT to improve their services to the local island communities, after a catalogue of complaints made to his constituency office in Stornoway in the past few months.

In a letter to BT’s head of service in Scotland, Brendan Dick, Dr Allan has called for improvements across the islands, and for BT to address the issues that islanders have been facing, ranging from persistent installation delays to intermittent network service.

It was back to the future for morning newspaper deliveries in Lewis and Harris today as they arrived at 8am by air for the first time in four years.

For the next fortnight, newspapers are expected to arrive first thing via Loganair ending the newspaper drought which has affected trade and customer patterns in Stornoway and other communities.

An artist's impression of life in a fresh water lake around 360 million years ago.   Credit: Mark Witton

Islanders can find out how life on earth began this month with as an exciting touring exhibition – 'Fossil Hunters' – set to be displayed at both Museum nan Eilean Lews Castle and Museum nan Eilean Uibhist agus Barraigh premises.

Brought to the Hebrides in partnership with National Museums Scotland, 'Fossil Hunters' provides a glimpse of life around 360 million years ago when Scotland lay shout of the equator, and reveals the 'missing link' between amphibians and reptiles.

Funds are now in place and there have been three "Lucky to be here" Defibrillators ordered for the Lower Shader to Brue area.

A training night has been booked in the Barvas Hall on Wed 5th April at 7.30pm. Training will be given by the Lucky 2B Here Team and will cover basic life support and the use of a defibrillator.

Anyone who is interested in attending the training should get in touch by calling 01851 840450 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

For those that cannot attend this night there will be other training nights in the future. 

An artist's impression of life in a fresh water lake around 360 million years ago.   Credit: Mark Witton

Islanders can find out how life on earth began this month with as an exciting touring exhibition – 'Fossil Hunters' – set to be displayed at both Museum nan Eilean Lews Castle and Museum nan Eilean Uibhist agus Barraigh premises.

Brought to the Hebrides in partnership with National Museums Scotland, 'Fossil Hunters' provides a glimpse of life around 360 million years ago when Scotland lay south of the equator, and reveals the 'missing link' between amphibians and reptiles.

Gaelic books are being represented this week for the first time at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy, the main global trade fair for children's books. Pictured below are Rosemary Ward (right) of Gaelic Books Council, Margaret Anne MacLeod (middle), Acair Books (Stornoway) and Agnes Rennie (left), Acair Books, with signs displayed in Gaelic and English! Cranachan Publishing (Lewis) and Little Door Books (Oban) will also be appearing at the Fair from Tuesday 4th April.  XpoNorth (Writing and Publishing), HIE's trade development network in the creative industries, is very proud to have partnered Publishing Scotland and Jenny Brown Associates in making this happen. 

The Easter Fayre Craft Market will be held at Carloway Community Centre between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 15th April, where there will be a range of stalls including local Arts and Crafts for sale. Meanwhile a Soup and Pudding Lunch is being held at Carloway School Annex from 12 noon until 2pm.

Combine the two for a day out of shopping and lunch on the Westside.

A fisherman was airlifted from his fishing vessel after suffering a hand injury off the coast of Stornoway.

The UK Coastguard received a satellite call from the vessel, situated 89 nautical miles from Stornoway, just after 2.30pm yesterday (Sunday, April 2nd) requesting medical assistance.

Stornoway Coastguard Operations Centre undertook a link call with the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where the doctor advised that the casualty should be airlifted as soon as possible.

The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Stornoway was sent to the vessel and airlifted the casualty to Glasgow Airport, where he was met by waiting ambulance and transferred to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Eorpa presenter Darren Laing is joined by both remainers and leavers during the special Brexit debate this week

Exploring the unknown world of Brexit, BBC Alba's current affairs programme Eòrpa delivers a special Brexit debate this week.

The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union. The UK Government wants a new trade agreement with the EU without having to comply with rules such as free movement of people.

With Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty being triggered by Prime Minister Theresa May, and two years of negotiations with EU institutions ahead, many are asking where Brexit will leave them.

Gaelic TV is catching up with the latest in the Brexit with a special programme on Wednesday night (April 5).
With Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty being triggered by Prime Minister Theresa May and two years of negotiations with EU institutions ahead, many are asking where Brexit will leave them, say the programme notes.

At an undisclosed location on the Isle of Barra there is a small pinery that has been growing pineapple plants for more than two years.

Today, the first two pineapples to be produced on Barra ever will be auctioned off in Buth Bharraigh, the Castlebay community shop,  at 12 noon. 


This is a massive achievement for the crofter who has diversified into pineapples, says the local producers group, Beairteas Bharraigh which translates as the Wealth of Barra.

As yet the undisclosed crofter is not sure how many he will be able to produce in a year but is hoping that it will add significantly to his crofting income. 



Carpet World said goodbye to one of its founding directors yesterday (Friday) as Willie Morrison took retirement after 30 years with the company.

“I'll be sad to leave the place, but life goes on,” said Willie. “And I wish the company all the best for the future. I've seen it go from strength to strength, it employs 15 of a staff now, and the future is bright for the shop with the next generation of salesmen ready to take care of our loyal customers.”

Amidst protests from various parts of the crofting world, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is to invite the Crofting Commission to a meeting of Crofting Joint Consultative Committee "to discuss the wider implications raised by the current discussions within the sector".

Comhairle Leader Angus Campbell said “We are aware of the current issues between the Crofting Commission and Grazings Committees and whilst not wishing to be drawn into the specifics of those discussions, there are wider implications for the whole of the crofting industry that these matters raise.  Principally around the roles and responsibilities of Grazings Committees and their enforcement. With that in mind, we are inviting representatives of the Commission to a meeting of the JCC so that these matters can be discussed in full.”

It is hoped that the JCC meeting will take place during the second week of May.

She's making her musical return to Lewis – and bringing her debut EP 'Peat Bog' with her.

Now living in Glasgow, songstress Miss Irenie Rose has been busy since moving to the mainland, and is delighted to bring the fruits of her hard work to Stornoway with a gig in the Woodlands Centre on Saturday, May 14th.  She is also scheduled to perform at this year's Hebridean Celtic Festival in July.

“I'm really looking forward to playing a gig at home, I've missed it so much!” she said. “It'll be lovely to see everyone.”

The Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Mr Norman A Macdonald, has paid tribute to Murdo Macdonald, former Councillor for the Coll ward.

Mr Macdonald served two terms on the Comhairle from 1978 to 1986. He was on several Committees including Education, Housing, Social Work and Environmental Services. He served as Vice-chair of Development Services and was also on the Licensing Board and the Fisheries JCC.

The Convener said: “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Mr Macdonald at this sad time.  As is our custom the Comhairle flag is flying at half mast as a mark of respect for a former Councillor”

STORNOWAY PORT AUTHORITY

STAKEHOLDER PUBLIC MEETING   

Thursday 2nd June 2016 at 7.30 pm, Auditorium, An Lanntair, Kenneth Street, Stornoway

Stornoway Port Authority invites all stakeholders and interested parties to attend our 2016 Stakeholder Public  Meeting.

This year will see the first ever Carnival Midsummer Charity Ball, which will take place on Friday June 10th. The tickets were a sell-out, with people desperate to put on their fanciest clothes and enjoy a night of fine dining, entertainment and cocktails. 

But the night is not just about eating and drinking, and the Carnival Committee would like to encourage everyone to nominate someone for Carnival King and Queen!

Come and join in today for the annual Point 5k and help raise funds for The Leanne Fund.

Setting off from Point Free Church in Bayble at 12pm, the popular family event is open to runners and walkers alike and organisers are hoping this year will see the biggest entry ever!

You can still register online to save time on the day or print off your registration form and take it along with you. Copies of registration forms will also be available at the start.

MG ALBA, the Gaelic media service, is to participate for the first time in an innovative apprenticeship scheme designed to nurture the next generation of broadcast media talent.
The partnership, run by Glasgow Kelvin College and BBC Scotland, is about to enter its sixth programme, with 11 students participating in the 2016/17 course.
For the first time, one student – with the support of MG ALBA - will have the opportunity to work across Gaelic platforms such as BBC ALBA and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. 
In doing so, the candidate will have the chance to gain experience in many of the departments providing content to the channel, including children’s, news-gathering, factual and sport.

Scottish Fuels Regional Manager Donald Mackay and Stornoway Depot Manager Angus Maclennan were delighted to deliver a defibrillator machine to Rev Calum I Macleod and Church Officer Donald Stewart of Back Free Church on Thursday, April 28th.
The vital life-saving machine was donated by Scottish Fuels, who work with the Oliver King Foundation to provide defibrillators and training in a bid to raise awareness of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).

The Crofting Counties face "an astonishing assault on crofting by the crofting regulator itself, which recently launched a campaign against grazings committees resulting in the sacking at least two of them," says Patrick Krause, chief executive of the Scottish Crofting Federation.

Both incidents have taken place on Lewis but the implications are far reaching, he says.

In the Upper Coll case, "the commission made an unprecedented demand for five years of audited accounts, though there had been no indication of financial shenanigans. Whatever is actually behind their decision, it is a staggeringly clumsy exercise in public relations.

Alzheimer Scotland Lewis and Harris AGM

Tuesday 31st May 2016 at 7pm-9pm

Grianan Centre, Recreation Room, West View Grove, Stornoway. 

New members are currently needed and will be warmly welcomed. Please come along to support us with our work. We need you!!

(Tea/Coffee on Arrival at 7pm)

For more information please contact:

Lewis and Harris Dementia Resource Centre, 18 Bells Road, Stornoway.     01851 70 2123

Staff at CalMac's customer operations centre are on a crash learning course to reach out to more Gaelic speakers through social media.
Six volunteers from the customer team in Gourock are going through a Gaelic beginners course to enable them to start posting service update tweets bilingually.
The team, who are doing the course in their spare time, have reached the level of doing National 4 exams which, they are hoping to sit officially next year.
More than 90% of Scots Gaelic speakers live in the areas CalMac serves.

SNP candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, met on Friday with members of Upper Coll Common Grazings Committee to hear about their concerns over the recent decision of the Crofting Commission to remove the committee from office. 

Alasdair Allan has also met with members of the former Mangersta Grazings Committee regarding their removal from office by the Commission late last year.

Another Lewis crofting village has called for an inquiry into the Crofting Commission after rulings which, it says,  threaten the  "entire system of crofting agriculture".

The Mangersta grazings committee has been dismissed by the Crofting Commission -  for allegedly failing to make payments to a tenant who has claimed a personal share of grants secured by the village over a 15 year period.

In recent days there have been a series of protests about the dismissal of Upper Coll Grazings Committee - coming from the Scottish Crofting Federation and from local politicians.

Màiri Matheson with the Best Radio Sports 2016 award.

BBC Radio nan Gàidheal has been celebrating a double success after winning two awards at the Celtic Media Festival 2016 which was held in Dungarvan near Waterford and which came to a close last weekend.

Fiona Harvey, Cancer Research; Catherine Macleod; Joan Stewart; Kay Mackay; and Trudy Stammer, Cancer Research UK

Volunteers from the Cancer Research UK Isle of Lewis Committee visited the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research last weekend to see the world-class research that the money raised on the Isle of Lewis is funding.
With the support of the local community, the Isle of Lewis Committee raised over £75,000 for Cancer Research UK in 2015. Kay Mackay, Joan Stewart and Catherine Macleod all attended Cancer Research UK’s supporter day where they had the chance to meet some of the scientists behind the breakthroughs. They heard about groundbreaking work on new leukaemia treatments being carried out in Edinburgh and the recent advances in pancreatic cancer research in Glasgow.

Cherry Campbell has delighted viewers in her role as Katie Morag.

Already multi-award winning, including a few BAFTAS, the Cbeebies TV series Katie Morag has scooped another – this time from across the Atlantic – as it was announced yesterday (Tuesday, April 26th) as a recipient of a 2016 Peabody 30 Award.

The American-based Peabody Awards were established in the 1940s as a radio equivalent to the Pulitzer Prize, and have since grown steadily to recognise excellence in a wide range of electronic media.

Only around 25 awards are presented each year from over 1,000 global entries, and to win a Peabody, a programme must receive the unanimous approval of all sixteen Peabody Board members.

Young fundraisers pictured with Karen MacDonald, community fundraiser for Alzheimer Scotland Lewis and Harris

A group of young pupils from The Nicolson Institute are busy raising funds for Alzheimer Scotland Lewis and Harris.  The group which includes Ishbel Macaulay, Jessica Macaulay, Rachael Smith, Katie Morrison, Andrew Macinnes, Angus Macphail and Jonny Henderson are planning to walk the West Highland Way, 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William, during 5th-12th August this year and collect sponsors to raise money and awareness.

The group have already raised over £1300 with a recent bagpack and through their JustGiving page.  The group are raising money towards supporting community activities such as the Monthly Peer Support Walking Group who they spent time with last month. 

Katie said: “We are really looking forward to doing the walk and to raise money and awareness for such a great charity.  It is going to be a challenge for us but will be so worth it when we will be able to see the money helping people in our communities. 

“In March, we joined in with the Dementia walk and met some of the people that our money will be helping.  It was amazing to meet people that we will be helping and knowing that our help means so much to them.  Many thanks to everyone who has helped and supported us so far!"

Service Manager Marion MacInnes said: “We have been so impressed with this group of young people and their fundraising activities.  They are organised, mature and committed to their goals.  They are real credit to their parents and their school”.

To support the group's fundraising activities please follow the link.

Another cold night is in store, with temperatures on many roads across the Highlands and Islands falling below freezing, according to the Met Office.

Wintry showers will continue to feed in from the north, bringing an ice risk to any untreated surfaces across northern Scotland, especially over higher ground.

Higher routes in particular may also see some snow accumulating, with perhaps as much as 5-10 cm on the northern Grampians above 200m elevation but localised 1-3 cm even at low levels away from north-facing coasts.

SNP candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has described the next Parliament as an opportunity for “legislation to pass real power to island communities”.

Commenting on the SNP’s manifesto commitment to an Islands Bill, Alasdair Allan said: “The Scottish Government has worked closely with the Comhairle and other island councils to ensure that, if re-elected, an SNP government can now legislate on this issue.

Politicians and crofting law experts have commented on the crofting conflict centred on Upper Coll.

Scottish Labour’s candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Rhoda Grant, has backed calls for a full inquiry into the workings of the Crofting Commission and the reinstatement of the local Grazings Committee.

In a letter to the Commission’s Chief Executive, Catriona MacLean, Mrs Grant states that the Commission’s actions in Upper Coll run counter to local democracy and adds: "It is my understanding that this committee has carried out the wishes and instructions of the Commission and complied with all requirements, so in my view they should not have been removed from post".

Regional airport operator HIAL has handled more passengers than ever but the number of passengers through Stornoway Airport plummeted, according to latest figures for the last financial year.

The airport group, which operates 11 airports, handled 1,437,625 passengers in 2015/16, up by more than 6000 on the previous year.

Inverness Airport, the busiest in the group, added more than 13,000 passengers during the year.  Smaller island airports such as Tiree and Barra – this year celebrating its 80th anniversary - enjoyed strong growth, with passenger numbers up 12% and 10.7% respectively.  Dundee, where Flybe is about to launch a new Amsterdam service, also performed well.

Scotland’s fishing industry is ‘at the mercy of a lottery of London priorities’, said Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil this week, as a proposal to support skippers to crew their boats was rejected by the UK Fisheries Minister.

Mr MacNeil and other MPs met with James Brokenshire MP at the end of last year to press the case for Scottish fishing vessels facing crew shortages to be allowed to recruit workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

The plan would allow employers in the Scottish and Northern Irish fishing industries to access, on a quota-limited basis, temporary labour from outside the EEA.

This year Scottish Rural Action is launching possibly the biggest ever conversation held in Scotland about the issues that matter most to rural communities.

The Scottish Rural Parliament’s Manifesto will be a statement of collective ambitions and the actions that are needed to ensure these ambitions are realised for rural communities. Events are taking place all over Scotland and you can get involved by attending an event, holding your own event or just by responding online.

Confirmed events in Harris and Lewis are taking place as follows:

Monday 2nd May 2016 from 6-8.30pm at Tarbert Community Hall, Pier Road.

Tuesday 26th May 2016 from 6-8.30pm at Bayhead Bridge Centre, Stornoway.

All events will start with an update from Scottish Rural Action on their activities since the 2014 event, a whistle-stop tour of how rural policy has changed and the chance to have a really good natter about the issues that you want to talk about.

For more information and to book please contact Vanessa Halhead This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Isle of Harris Mountain Festival: 3rd-10th September 

Lewis Carnival: 6th August

Lochs Agricultural Show: 23rd July

Hebridean Celtic Festival: 13th-16th July

Hebridean Maritime Festival: 12th-16th July

Harris Tweed Festival: 2nd July - 13th November

Ness Gala Day: 25th June

Point Show: 16th July

Uig Gala Day: 2nd July

This is a list if the dates we've confirmed so far! If you're organising a show, let us know the date and we'll add it to our list! Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A big exhibition of artworks based around the rocks of the Shiant Isles is on display in Edinburgh.

They are by Jill McManners who has been spending her summers on Harris for the past 30 years.  

Jill is pictured right on the giant scree slopes on Garbh Eilean.

The exhibition is on until Saturday May 7.

Jill used to work in a Fine Art bronze foundry and has always been fascinated by geology and rocks.  She has created large-scale watercolours painted on a heavy rough Italian paper though several layers of colour washes, scraping and gum.  The paintings have architectural titles, or are quotes from poems or rock songs.

Entitled Basalt, the exhibition is on at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.in 6 Dundas Street, Edinburgh (EH3 6HZ)

Jill made her first of visit to the Hebrides in 1979 and the Shiant Isles in 2003. Jill’s family took a short boat trip from their holiday home in the Sound of Harris. Having long been inspired by the origins of the world, the corrugations and convolutions of the intimidating cliff faces struck Jill profoundly, she says.

These basalt rocks were formed by volcanic action 60 million years ago; basaltic sills and dykes were created from lava flow which can now be seen above the sea level forming the amazing dolerites cliffs and intimidating coast line.

Hanging alongside these panoramic watercolours are Flowers of Basalt; a series of Giclée prints.  They make up kaleidoscopes of spinning flower faces.  Mother-of-three Jill is a gardener herself and flower shapes and colours merge with the rock faces and their textures.

SNP candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, spoke yesterday about the importance of the Air Discount Scheme (ADS) to the Western Isles, and the need to ensure a lid is kept on air fares in future.

Alasdair Allan commented: “As everyone knows, going by plane in the Western Isles is not a cheap business.  The Scottish Government has recognised this, by raising the Air Discount Scheme for island residents from 40% to 50% of fares recently. Without this scheme, it is difficult to imagine these services being widely used.

A second Gaelic poetry competition for ‘The Macdonald of Sleat’ Poetry Prize will be held this year. 

The annual competition was inaugurated by Sir Ian Macdonald in memory of his daughter, Deborah, who passed away two years ago. The competition will be run once again by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture.

The theme of the competition each year relates to trees and this year an invitation is extended to anyone who writes poetry or has an interest in doing so to compose a poem about a sapling. The poems submitted will be considered by a literary panel and a prize of £500 will be awarded for the poem chosen by the panel.  Poems should be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. PA to the Principal, by 3 June.

Please see the Funeral Notices for updates relating to the services tonight for Donald Maciver and Murdo Macleod

Excellent condition, hardly used only 2900 miles

Well maintained and cared for.

MOT till 22.5.16

Excellent learning bike. £520

Stornoway

07803595687

Ranald Fraser, Scottish Conservatives; Alasdair Allan, SNP, chairman Kenny Maciver; Kenneth MacLeod, Scottish Liberal Democrats; Rhoda Grant, Scottish Labour; and  John Cormack, Christian Party

Bring an end to this centralising government, demanded Kenneth MacLeod, the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate in the May elections for the Scottish Parliament, in a fierce attack which livened up the hustings held in The Nicolson Institute hall last night (Friday April 22)
With an old-style political ferocity which marked him out from the school-debating style of the other candidates, Mr Macleod denounced the way the Government in Edinburgh had sucked the life out of local government with its control of Council Tax rises, and told the voters gathered in the hall that this was the time for them to rebel.

Former procurator fiscal and sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie yesterday launched his latest book ‘Gael Force on Gallipoli’ at an event in the Lews Castle College UHI Lecture Theatre.
At 2pm on a sunny Friday afternoon, the lecture theatre was packed with local people – crofters, administrators, politicians, members of Stornoway Historical Society and many more – for the launch of a massive book costing £30 in hardback or £25 in softback of which only around 200 have been printed.
You can order your downloadable book as a pdf for £15 directly from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and pay through Paypal.

Community groups planning renewable energy projects across the Western Isles are being encouraged to come forward and join a consortium process that would see a lower grid connection fee and a more co-operative approach to grid reinforcement.

This consortium approach, which has been established by Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) and which is open to communities and commercial projects, helps to share the cost of any network reinforcement required as part of the connection process.

The Nicolson Institute Interact Club members, along with The Rotary Club of Stornoway's President Claire Macleod and Vice-President Gavin Woods present Peigi Macleod, MND Scotland, with their donation.

The Rotary Club of Stornoway and The Nicolson Institute Interact Club enjoyed the gift of giving yesterday when members were delighted to present nearly £5,000 of donations to four very worthy charities.

A total sum of £4,806 was donated to charities CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young); MND Scotland; Stornoway RNLI, and The Gambia Partnership, collected through a series of fundraising events organised by the two clubs.

Murdo MacLeod and Iain Campbell, representing CRY, were pleased to accept a cheque for £703.

Dr You – Health and Fitness DVDs

The Dr You collection of health books, information and resources has now been extended to include a fantastic collection of health and fitness DVDs, thanks to special support from the NHS Western Isles. The DVDs cover a range of different gentle exercise routines, such as yoga, Tai Chi, ballet, Pilates and stretching, as well as some high-energy routines for the more energetic among us. The collection offers a great opportunity for people to try out different types of exercise at home before perhaps making the decision to join a regular class.

The collection also includes a number of routines especially devised for the over 50s. The over 50s series offers something for everyone; from active walking, balance and co-ordination to morning stretching.  At only 30 minutes in length, the routines are clearly demonstrated and easy to make a part of your daily routine.

The Dr You project aims to support people to take control of their health and well-being.  It is a partnership between the Comhairle’s library service, NHS Western Isles and local health organisations, provides books, information and other resources on health issues and concerns, which are all available through the branch and mobile libraries across the isles.

The collections of self-help resources cover a range of mental health issues, such as depression, stress, eating disorders and low self-esteem and aim to provide support and guidance to give sufferers support to manage their conditions. The collections also contain books on physical health ailments such as cancer, dementia, multiple sclerosis and stroke and are aimed at providing information and strategies for coping for both sufferers and families. There are books for children and young people as well, providing support for them and their families in dealing with the challenges of living with autism and other developmental difficulties.

Anyone wanting to borrow one of the Dr You books or DVDs can do so by visiting their local library or arranging a visit from the mobile library service.  It is free to become a member of the library and to borrow books or information DVDs, simply bring along some proof of address when you visit.  If an item isn’t immediately available, it can easily be reserved.  Those wanting to find out more about Dr You and see a full list of the books and DVDs available can visit www.cne-siar.gov.uk/library for more information.

Get into Shape with Nancy Marmorat

Nancy Marmorat’s experience coaching people of all age groups has inspired her to devise a specially-adapted keep-fit programme for people aged over 50. This DVD contains a complete gymnastics session for keeping in good shape. There are several advantages to following this method - to strengthen the density of your bones, to increase your muscle tone, to protect your heart, to practise keeping your balance and coordination, to keep your body supple and to simply make you feel good. 

An Introduction to Tai Chi: Chi Kung with Lucy Lloyd Barker 

Tai Chi Chi Kung is a combination of movements and meditation techniques whose fundamental roots can be tracked back to China and it is still widely practised on a regular basis there. Lucy Lloyd Barker explains its history and guides you through a complete Tai Chi Chi Kung routine. Tai Chi Chi Kung can be practised anywhere, with little or no special equipment or assistance making it a versatile and effective way to focus your mind, relax your body and enrich your spirit.    

SNP candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has called the SNP's manifesto a positive vision for Scotland and the Western Isles, and has highlighted a range of policies with particular relevance in the islands.

He commented: "The SNP manifesto is full of new ideas that can have a big positive impact in the Western Isles. From the £5 million fund to support island and regional food products, to the commitment to bring a million acres of Scotland under community ownership, this is a manifesto with rural Scotland at its heart.

Kezia Dugdale chats to an island Labour voter

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale admitted today that much work was still needed in transforming public opinion of the party. 

On a tour of Lewis, she told www.welovestornoway.com: “The result here at the last election was better than other parts of the country, even though we still lost pretty spectacularly. 

“We went from having 41 MPs to one last year, so it was a bad, bad result for the Labour Party.

“But I have never shied away from saying that, and we are learning from it.

A sure marker of summer approaching, Stornoway Bowling Club's Open Season begins this weekend as the Green officially opens for 2016 on Friday, April 22nd.

And it is hoped to see some new faces as all are welcome to play or join as Club Members and test their bowling skills in club competitions.

“It's called the friendly game and I find it a very relaxing,” said Stornoway Bowling Club President Bob Walker.

Parents in Lewis are taking their children to Harris for swimming lessons, as Stornoway is struggling to keep up with the demand for free lessons as part of the ‘Slainte Mhath’ scheme. 

The second of a series of meetings took recently with Scottish Swimming – the national governing body for the sport - with the aim of streamlining access to lessons across the islands. 

Such is the popularity of the swimming lessons, there is currently a waiting list at Ionad Spors Leodhas.

Sottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale visited businesses in Lewis this morning as part of the campaign leading up to the Scottish Parliament elections next month.

Accompanied by local candidate Rhoda Grant, she spent much of the morning at the Harris Tweed Hebrides plant in Shawbost and went on to visit Lewis Crofters in Stornoway.

Captain Neil Murray with the political signed whiskies

Generous islanders can raise a dram to Bethesda Care Home and Hospice this year as four bottles of top-notch political whiskies – complete with politician signatures – are up for auction.

Captain Neil Murray has secured the signed amber nectars and is keen to raise as much as possible when they are auctioned on Friday, May 20th, as part of the annual Bethesda celebrity Dinner Action with charity supporter and former football star Dennis Law.

“If I can do this one small bit to highlight the fantastic work of Bethesda, then I will,” said Captain Murray.

A wind of change at the award-winning Hebridean Celtic Festival will see one of the event’s main arena stages branded by sponsors for the first time in its 21-year history.

Lewis Wind Power, developer of the Stornoway Wind Farm, will have its name and logo adorning the Islands Stage, where artists including Julie Fowlis and John McCusker will perform.

John Buswell, Stornoway Wind Farm Project Director, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this year’s HebCelt and to be the first ever sponsor of the Islands Stage. We can’t wait for the festival to begin, and being a headline sponsor makes it even more exciting.