Issue 198 - March 2009 - e-mail edition

- A WINTER COINCIDENCE
- CHURCH GUILD
- CARRADALE BAY ROAD REPAIRS
- COMMUNITY COUNCIL PLANS
- ABC ROAD PROBLEMS
- WIND-FARM TRUST
- NEW SEAT INSTALLED
- MORE COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEWS
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
- GROGPORT RAINFALL - JANUARY
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR - APPEAL FOR GAZA
- GOLF CLUB
- THE CARRADALE ROLL
- AUDIT OF ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL - BY THE AUDIT COMMISSION
- GOLF EXPLOSION OF JUNIOR INTEREST
- ABBEYFIELD CARRADALE
- KINTYRE TRUST SHARES IN £1.4M POWERDOWN CASH
- THE DUNCAN RITCHIE MEMORIAL QUAICH
- THANKS FOR A’ THAT AN’ A’ THAT . . . BURNS SUPPER
- THE VINE TRUST
- THE 2008 QUIZZLE AWARD
- QUIZZLE RESULTS
- QUIZZLE 8 ANSWERS
- TRAINING THE FEET

A WINTER COINCIDENCE
With the Summer travelogue for the February edition well and truly dusted by December 2008, lo and behold, BBC2 came
up with another link between North West Scotland and East Anglia on Thursday 15th February in the programme “A’ Dol
Dhachaigh”.

Kitty Ann McKay, as a young Gaelic-speaking teacher on the island of Eilean nan Ron, just offshore from the Kyle of
Tongue, was evacuated to Skerray on the mainland in 1937, when falling population made living on the island untenable.
Within two years World War II was in full swing and Kitty became a NAAFI assistant and a little later, manager, serving
troops with food and essentials while based away from their home area. Kitty, a member of the Church of Scotland,
became friendly with, and eventually married, a Catholic soldier named MacQueen from South Uist, brother of the well-
known television celebrity Canon MacQueen of Barra.

After the War, her husband found an advert for a married couple to tend the needs of Carmelite nuns in the village of
Rushmere - just on the outskirts of Cardinal Wolsey’s home town of Ipswich. They were appointed and continued to
provide assistance to the nuns, moving with them a few years later to the Norfolk village of Quidenham. The arrangement
saw the arrival of young McQueens and lasted until the death of her husband in the 1980s. She continues to live in the area
with her daughter, but returns annually to the north coast of Scotland to visit relatives.

In 2008, aged 90, Kitty was approached by the ‘Daily Record’ for a follow-up story to the one published in the paper in
1937, and had the opportunity with her daughter to revisit the island by helicopter. The programme contained some
interesting highlights of the war period and provided her with the pleasure of seeing her old home, possibly for the last
time.

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The Editor’s remote connection with the story is that the Rushmere Convent was eventually sold and converted into a
house for the Principal of Ipswich School of Art, and was visited by the Editor while he was a student-teacher at the School
in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Incidentally the island, close to the most northern Torrisdale, is no more than 27 miles as the crow flies from the original
‘Carradale Goat’ (Gary Sutherland)’s new home at Kinlochbervie - but much longer by road.

CHURCH GUILD
The speakers for this Guild session have all been involved with the charitable organisations. On January 13th Matthew
Ramsey gave an update on the work of the Vine Trust and showed a variety of most interesting slides on his time in Peru.
There was also a chance to buy some of Matt and Sheena’s home baking in aid of the charity.

At the meeting on February 3rd Pam Francis, from Campbeltown, came with slides of her work in Nepal and gave an
inspiring talk on how she and other friends started the Nepalese Children’s Trust in one of the poorest areas in the world.
They started in a small way by providing books far a home for children of prisoners in Kathmandu Female Jail. This has
now evolved to support many other projects including a school in a remote mountainous area and a place at Manchester
University for Kanchhu Baba Sherpa to study medicine. Pam and friends regularly visit Nepal living, working and sharing
the deprivation of life amongst its poor. She also brought with her many craft items made by the Nepalese to sell on behalf
of the Trust.

The meeting of the Guild on February 24th at 2.30pm includes a talk by Margaret Richardson on Malawi. The World Day
of Prayer is on March 6th; a service is being held in the ‘wee’ Church at 7pm.

CARRADALE BAY ROAD REPAIRS

This year the repairs to the bay road are being handled through the Community Council, courtesy of Robert Strang and the
Golf Club tractor, the purchase of which was assisted by a grant from the Wind-farm Trust. With Spring approaching,
Robert is likely to be busy with golf course maintenance, but when the opportunity arrives hewill carry out the repairs in his
usual highly competent manner.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL PLANS

With no fewer than three ABC Councillors at a well attended community council meeting on Thursday 5th February, the
Chair-person, Shelagh Cameron called on community councillors and residents to propose ‘hopes and goals’ for 2009 - a
year still fraught with concerns over the Council’s Review of Community Councils. Johnny Durnan suggested a designated
person to keep an eye or road faults and scrub invasions, while Shelagh sought a safe solution for the dangers inherent in
the continuing collapse of the ‘Glenlight’ Torrisdale quay. Other ideas are welcomed and will be considered at the meeting
on March 5th.

ABC ROAD PROBLEMS

The standard of road maintenance was again a point of contention at the February meeting of East Kintyre Community
Council. Despite the Chairperson’s continuing attempts to meet with Roads Department employees and point out the
trouble-spots, nothing has happened. Lighting faults have been reported via e-mail and by telephone to Lochgilphead time
and time again with lights remaining out of action for months. Further attempts will be made to bring the faults to the
attention of the Council.

WIND-FARM TRUST
Alison Younger has informed Stuart Irvine, Treasurer to East Kintyre Wind-farm Trust, that she wishes to review the
arrangements for wind-farms in the light of other community council becoming hosts to wind-farm developments.

As a result she has asked that wind-farm trustees indicate if it would be convenient for them to attend a meeting at an
unspecified venue in Tarbert on either the 11th or 12th of March. She can be contacted at the Burnet Building in
Campbeltown. Tel 01586 559014. The other community councils involved are Inveraray and West Loch Fyne.

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 NEW SEAT INSTALLED
The new seat gifted in memory of Dorothy McGeachy (nee MacDougall) has been installed at the War Memorial garden.
Johnny Durnan has undertaken to secure the seat, with its dedicated panel, to the paving stones on the southern side of the
garden, facing the shop.

MORE COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEWS

Sheena MacAlister has announced that she may cease to represent Saddell and Peninver on East Kintyre Community
Council during the next six months as the present community council prepares to await new elections. Lucy West and
Cheryl Geenwood, the present minute secretary have expressed an interest in becoming involved in the interim. Technically
co-opted members should be appointed for a particular purpose, but in this case it was said by the Chair-person to be a ‘
training opportunity’. Andrea Hopkinson remains as the other Councillor for the southern sub-poll district.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Application Ref : 08/02177/DET
Officer : Tim Williams
Telephone : 01546 604084
Ward Details : South Kintyre
Proposal : Site for erection of dwelling house and installation of septic tank.
Location : Plot 4, Ardnacross Farm, Peninver, Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute PA28 6QP
Applicant : Mr David Watson Ardnacross Farm, Peninver, Campbeltown PA28 6QP

Application Ref : 09/00050/DET

Officer : Tim Williams
Telephone : 01546 604084
Ward Details : South Kintyre
Proposal : Erection of dwelling house and installation of septic tank.
Location : Plot 2 Land South Of Saddell Schoolhouse, Saddell, Argyll and Bute
Applicant : Mr Dan Thompson Ardoch Bank, King Street, Doune, FK16 6DN
Agent : Mr Gordon Pyper 114 Easter Bankton, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 9BG
Development Type : 3B Dwellinghouses : Minor (10 or less).
Grid Ref : 178949 632656

GROGPORT RAINFALL - JANUARY

The New Year was heralded in by a very cold dry spell. There was no appreciable rainfall until 16 mm was recorded on the
11th January, that with heavy, or very heavy rain on the 15th , 19th 22nd , 25th and the 31st of the month accounting for
the vast majority of the monthly total of 197mm.These larger recorded amounts were 37, 13, 28, 16 and 23mm
respectively.The figure of 37mm on the 15th January was a particularly high total for a single day. (an inch and a half for
those of us with grey or white hairs on our heads!) Of course at times like this the word “local flooding” comes to the fore
and that too was applicable, together with high winds that brought some trees down and caused some damage too, to the
roofs and outbuildings of some local properties. The monthly total however remained roughly of mean (mid average) for
the month. The range for January statistics is between 171mm and 455mm with the latter high figure appearing as a 2004
high exception. Rainfall more typically in January has varied from around 170 to 270mm.

In the poem “The Months” to which I regularly make reference, “March brings breezes loud and shrill. Stirs the dancing
daffodil”.

In light of the cold windy wintry weather we’ve had so far this winter further windy weather in March is not relished but
more reassuring, the appearance of daffodils and with them the hope at least, of warmer weather coming our way. M.L.

I am able to record the total rainfall during any absences but with the prospect of times of my being away in the future, I
wonder if there is anyone with a rain gauge who would be willing to cover such times of absence and to provide backup
and more detailed statistics ? If so, I’d be grateful if you could contact me on (01583) 431751 or Editor of the Antler on
(01583) 431281
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 LETTER TO THE EDITOR - APPEAL FOR GAZA
Dear Editor,

Imagine if the population of Scotland were ordered to leave their homes, the land of their ancestors, their homes and
businesses at gunpoint and move to Kintyre. Imagine then if no one helped us and then we were pushed further in to
South Kintyre. Our water, sewage, electrics, media, jobs, airspace, food, medicine and movements were controlled by the
occupying forces of foreign nationals given the rest of Scotland.

This was the case of Polish people in the Warsaw Ghetto in the 1940s and this is the case of people living and dying in
Gaza today. The main difference being that our Government was on the side of the resistance in WW2 and have always
been on the side of the oppressor in Palestine, allowing internationally recognised, repeated illegal acts by Israel to go
unchallenged.

Gaza has a population of 1.4 million of whom three-quarters are registered with the United Nations as refugees. It is 25
miles long and 6 miles wide. The majority of the population are children. It is therefore all the more shocking that white
phosphorus weapons and 22 days of constant bombing has been allowed by our Government, against the Geneva
Convention. As one mother put it “The missile (white phosphorous) melted my children”. The conflict has killed between
1,000 and 1,300 people, including over 400 children, with evidence that young children have been shot at close range.

If you are moved by the plight of the people of Gaza then you can show support by boycotting Israeli goods, lobbying your
MP, MEPs, MSPs and, if able to do so, donate to the disaster appeal at www.dec.org.uk.

Yours faithfully, Deirdre Henderson Branch Organiser Solidarity Crocken Cottage Southend Argyll PA28 6RU Tel: 01586
830669 solidaritykintyre@hotmail.co.uk

GOLF CLUB
Subscriptions are coming in well but there are still many outstanding. Please send your payment to the Secretary, Dr RJ
Abernethy, in the first instance to renew your membership.The old clubhouse has now been demolished and work started
on the building of the new one.

LADIES SECTION

During the “Past Captain’s” New Year party at the beginning of January, Marlene Walker presented Lindsay Owen with the
Captain’s Badge and wished her all the very best for the coming year. Marlene was then thanked by all present for her great
commitment and effort during her 2 years as Captain and also for her generous hospitality during that period. With the new
clubhouse under construction at this time would the ladies please refer to their fixture card for details of all competitions,
etc. Notices will be put in the Baker’s shop whenever necessary also.

Dates for the Diary

Friday Mar 27 – Ladies Dinner

Sunday March 29 – Closing date for entries for the “Morton Trophy”
Saturday Apl 4/Thursday Apl 9 – Medal
Saturday Apl 11 – Mixed Greensome
Thursday Apl 16 – Coronation 4-somes at 10.00am

THE CARRADALE ROLL

Oh my luve is like a Carradale Roll
That's newly baked each morn
We wondered if we'd ever see
Now hope is not forlorn.
As fair art thou my bonnie roll
When filled with cheese or jam
You canny beat a Carradale roll

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Fresh baked and filled wi' ham
(bacon doesn't rhyme)
Til a' the seas run dry my dear
Generations come and go
The Buns will bake our own fair bread
We hope forever more
So fare thee we’el these other rolls
You filled a gap a while
So we rejoice and celebrate
For Carradale Rolls we'd walk ten thousand miles,
(well - maybe omit the thousand!) S.G

AUDIT OF ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL - BY THE AUDIT COMMISSION

1. In January 2006, the Commission published the report on the Best Value Audit of Argyll and Bute Council, together
with its findings. The report and findings identified a number of areas for action by the council and the Commission
required a further report by the Controller of Audit on the council’s progress. The Commission accepts this report as
fulfilling that requirement. We recognise that the report gives a broad picture of the council’s performance based on the
work of Audit Scotland and does not attempt a comprehensive review of all service delivery. We acknowledge the co-
operation and assistance given to the audit process by members and officers of the council.

2. The Commission accepts the conclusion of the report that progress has not been sufficient in a number of key areas and
that there remains much to be done to develop a culture of continuous improvement, and endorses the areas highlighted in
the report as requiring particular attention. The council must increase the pace of change towards a position where it is fully
implementing Best Value, underpinned by appropriate and functioning systems and processes.

3. We acknowledge the recent improvements in leadership and strategic direction and the council’s innovative approach to
its Audit Committee, with the appointment of external, non-executive members as chair and vice chair. We also
acknowledge the work of the newly appointed chief executive. However, we are concerned that a fully functioning
performance management system is not yet in place and that key performance information has not yet been identified to
enable monitoring and reporting of corporate and service plan objectives. We note, too, the limited progress that has been
made in developing the role of area committees.

4. We encourage the council to act on the areas highlighted in the report and to increase the momentum towards the
achievement of best value. We would ask the Controller of Audit to continue to monitor the situation and to consider
whether it would be appropriate to revisit the council at an early stage in the Best Value 2 programme.

Source: Audit Scotland 2008

GOLF EXPLOSION OF JUNIOR INTEREST

BUT MORE CLUBS NEEDED TO NURTURE JUNIOR TALENT
The Argyll & Bute Council web-site : Tuesday, 20 January 2009 10:09

This term, 64 of the 89 primary schools in Argyll and Bute will have golf on the curriculum through the national junior golf
programme, Club-golf – giving as many as 750 primary five children the opportunity to play the game. Club-golf is a
partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers'
Association, the Golf Foundation and Sport-Scotland which emerged from Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder
Cup.

Introducing a new generation of children to golf is only the first stage. Last summer 134 children progressed from the
schools’ introductory game to Club-golf Stage 1 programmes at local golf clubs. With that number set to increase this
summer a crucial task is recruiting nearby clubs and helping their members become fully qualified to offer a structured
programme. So far 12 Argyll & Bute golf clubs, with a growing bank of some 50 qualified volunteer coaches, are offering
Club-golf coaching and seeing the benefit. But more are needed to keep the new generation of golfers involved and
developing.

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Taynuilt GC in Oban delivered Club-golf last summer, beginning to transform its junior sections in the process. “We want
to give youngsters the opportunity to play because it’s a game you can play throughout your life,” said the Club’s Junior
Convenor and Club-golf Co-ordinator Murray Sim. “The club-golf initiative to give all youngsters the opportunity to try the
game is very important as far as we are concerned because these are going to be our future members. We had a very good
uptake of 12 children last year. I don’t think these children would have played golf if it wasn’t for the Club-golf coaching.”

The view is shared amongst the region’s other clubs hosting club-golf coaching.

Helensburgh GC’s Club-golf Co-ordinator and Junior Convener, Stewart Coutts said, “Club-golf is really the future of golf
and it’s helped us in the way that our kids enjoy the coaching and our 11 volunteer coaches enjoy coaching them. Golf can
be quite difficult to learn to start with but Club-golf teaches children the basics and once they learn them they’ll enjoy the
game far more and are more likely to stick at it. One or two of our kids are already progressing to good golfers.”

Tarbert GC’s Club-golf Co-ordinator, John McNab said, “The Club-golf Level 1 coaching course was enjoyable, thorough
and very worthwhile and it’s given us the tools to be able to coach children. Club-golf’s main asset is that it gives a
structured programme of coaching. It’s given us a focus of what we need to do each week and a focus of how to teach
children. On Monday 19th January Tarbert Golf Club will be hosting a Club-golf information event, starting at 7pm.

Then from March 14-16 Club-golf will be running a training course for would be volunteer coaches at Lochgilphead. The
course’s closing date is 30th January.

If you are a golf club interested in finding out more about clubgolf, a volunteer who is interested in getting involved as a
helper or a golf coach, or a parent looking for a local clubgolf programme for your child, please contact Colin Bell on:
Email : cbell@clubgolfscotland.co.uk Tel : 07882 364340

CARRADALE GOLF CLUB’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE SCHEME

1. WE HAVE 6 COACHES, 3 MALE AND 3 FEMALE, EQUIPMENT IS PROVIDED, AND THERE IS NO

COST TO THE CHILDREN

2. COACHING IS AVAILABLE TO PRIMARY 4 TO 7 PUPILS, WITH 3 BOYS AND 3 GIRLS ATTENDING

IN OCTOBER

3. THE CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP OF THE GOLF CLUB

4. THE PROGRAM IS ROLLED OUT BY ACTIVE SCHOOLS, IN CONJUNCTION THE SCOTTISH

GOLF UNION

5. WE HOPE TO CONTINUE COACHING IN THE SPRING

6. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN

OUR RECEIVING FUNDING FROM SPORTS SCOTLAND FOR THE NEW CLUBHOUSE, AND
THANKS ARE DUE TO THOSE MEMBERS WHO GAVE UP THEIR TIME BOTH TO QUALIFY AS
COACHES, AND TO DELIVER THE COACHING.

7. A WELCOME KNOCK ON FROM THE COACHING HAS BEEN THAT BOTH PARENTS OF ONE OF
THE CHILDREN HAVE BECOME MEMBERS OF THE GOLF CLUB.

BOB OWEN.

Abbeyfield Carradale
In the last issue of the Antler, I was wrongly reported, in the section dealing with Community Council matters, with regard
to the current stage we are at. The message was meant to try to encourage more people to use the services of Abbeyfield.
The report in the Antler caused grave concern on the part of the present residents as they interpreted that the House would
close in 12 months time. Also the article might have discouraged any persons considering a place there to think again. The
message should have read "use it or lose it". The current financial position is that with 3 vacancies the House runs at a loss.

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Those losses cannot be sustained for too long but there is sufficient reserve for some considerable time to come. The
position would of course worsen if the present number were to fall.

I hope this reassures the present residents that their position is safe and that more people will consider Abbeyfield as an
alternative to living alone. Abbeyfield provides care and companionship in the local community. J. Stuart Irvine.

KINTYRE TRUST SHARES IN £1.4M POWERDOWN CASH

The Scottish Government announcement last Thursday on the results of the third round of the Climate Challenge Fund
was good news for South Kintyre.

South Kintyre Development Trust (SKDT) is part of a successful bid - Community Powerdown - which will recruit
community project officers and provide resources to 27 mainly remote and rural communities, including Kintyre, to help
develop proposals to reduce their CO2 emissions in rural and isolated communities in Scotland.

The funding allocated for this is over £1.4 million, and SKDT's share will allow them to employ a project officer to develop
four proposals which have been put forward so far: a pilot community tidal power generation scheme; making Kintyre a
centre of renewable energy excellence; reduction of food mileage; making local recycling more sustainable in the current
economic climate.

The Trust was formed late last year, following a community consultation exercise carried out by the Campbeltown Area
Development Group in the spring of 2008.

As well as environmental issues, SKDT's remit includes the relief of poverty and sustainable economic development, and it
will be consulting with other groups/organisations already working in these fields to ensure that there is no duplication and
a full benefit to the community. Trevor Oxborrow, Chair of South Kintyre Development Trust, said yesterday “We are
delighted to have been successful in our very first application as a trust and can now start having an impact in the
community. We are very hopeful that SKDT can work in partnership with others to achieve common environmental and
Economic Development goals. Indeed, dialogue to that end has begun.”

THE DUNCAN RITCHIE MEMORIAL QUAICH

This is the very handsome new Carradale Camera Club Quaich presented by Christine Ritchie as memorial to her recently
deceased father, Duncan, who was an enthusiastic and proficient photographer and valuable contributor to activities of the
camera club. The plinth was made by local craftsman Eric Norman.

It has been decided that this new cup will be awarded annually to the winner of the Print of the Year, which competition
will be held in the Village Hall Library on 20thApril with an external adjudicator. As with all our meetings this one also is
open to visitors interested in the club.

The club has two other trophies, also presented annually, one of them, the Wallis Hunter Cup will be awarded for the Best
Black and White photograph and the other awarded to the Best Beginner.

Details of this and other meetings can be found on the web site www.carradalecamera.org.uk and it is hoped that anyone
interested in club membership might be tempted to sample our activities at one of our meetings. All welcome !

The club continues to thrive – possibly because of the expansion of digital photography, which has opened the hobby to
many who might otherwise have been daunted by the greater technicalities of traditional photography – although the club
still caters to those die-hards who cling to traditional methods, whilst helping newcomers through computer complexities.

THANKS FOR A’ THAT AN’ A’ THAT . . . BURNS SUPPER

I would like to thank the Carradale Village Hall Committee for the wonderful Burns Supper they organised on January
17th. The hall was beautifully decorated, the meal table and bar service superb, the speakers and artistes were first class; I’m
sure that Rabbie himself, would have enjoyed the evening as much as the diners did. We were also given complimentary

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mementos of the evening – namely a 250th anniversary programme, a Burns Thistle corsage, a leather bookmark and some
‘melt in the mouth’ tablet. All of the members of the Hall Committee deserve the highest praise for a fantastic evening.
Yours sincerely, Margaret Campbell

and MORE THANKS

Allister and I had the privilege of being at the recent 250th anniversary Burns Supper in Carradale Village Hall, and we feel
that the wider community in Kintyre should be aware of the quality of this event.

I do not say that because I was a performer, but rather because of the meticulous preparations made by the Village Hall
Committee. These ensured that all who attended would go away with some memento of the occasion, and not just with the
memory of a happy evening.

The hall was beautifully decorated, and each person present got a special commemorative programme, an excellent
bookmark, an anniversary buttonhole, and some tablet. Not only that, about a week after the event, I had a very gracious
letter of thanks together with copies of some of the photographs taken at the event.

The only thing that was beyond the control of the committee was the weather, and because in all truth “the wind blew as
twad blown its last,” some of us had a difficult journey to Carradale, and because of commitments the next day, some of us
felt that we had to leave early to make sure that we got home again. Of course, in many ways the weather actually added to
the atmosphere and made the picture of Tam O’Shanter’s ride all the more dramatic.

I have already thanked the committee for the excellence of the evening they prepared for those of us who were present, but
I feel that the wider community should be made aware of the excellence of this committee. Long may they serve the
community !

With kind regards, Yours sincerely, Agnes R Stewart

THE VINE TRUST

Matthew Ramsay would like to thank members of Carradale Camera Club for the loan of a projector, screen and laptop
computer and for their technical assistance in setting up his presentation on the Vine Trust to Saddell and Carradale Guild.

THE 2008 QUIZZLE AWARD

Very sincere thanks to the Winner of the Christmas/New Year Quizzle Award for donating his winnings of £52 to Antler
funds. His action, one of many in the past year, helped keep the Antler afloat on the tempestuous seas of Recession Sound.

QUIZZLE RESULTS
Thank you and well done to all those who supported Carradale Village Hall and who took part in Quizzle 8. There was a
good response with many locals, their relatives and their friends taking part so it amassed a national, even an international
audience.

Fourteen entries were returned for marking and it was a close competition, the winner doing so by a margin of just a single
point. Once again, it took some time to research permissible alternatives on the internet. Answers were very inventive but
some had to be rejected, never the less, full marks for ingenuity! Although the winning entry was some answers short, every
question in the Quizzle was in fact answered correctly by someone.

Congratulations to Ian Currie the overall winner with 4 answers short of a full compliment. There were three equal
runners-up Donald and Mary Macalister Hall, Janette Weadon and Douglas Shanks they were all just one point behind.
Takings were £260 so the winning cash prize (20%) was £52 with £208 being raised for the Hall. A big “Thank You” to all
those who helped raise such a great total.

Tony and I continue to be amazed by the on-going interest in what is now an annual Carradale institution. By popular
demand we will try to bring out Quizzle 9 in November, and “Good News” it will be easier as there will inevitably have to
be repeats… quizzles remain, by their very nature, finite.

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Happy Quizzling & quizzing in 2009. ML

**Answers have also been posted on the internet at www.grogport.com

and are also below

QUIZZLE 8 ANSWERS

1. The 3M The 3 Musketeers.

2. J TF2 & 2FT Just tea for 2 & 2 for tea.
3. 2 P in a B 2 pheasants in a brace.
4. 1FtheR 1 for the road.
5. 5YD a 5-year Diary.
6. 52 C in a D 52 cards in a deck.
7. 4 & 20 BB in a P 4 & 20 blackbirds baked in a pie.
8. 14 L in a S 14 lines in a sonnet.
9. O has the AN of 8 oxygen has the atomic number of 8
10. 1 FO the CN 1 flew over the cuckoo’s nest
11. The 24-HC the 24-hour clock.
12. G & the 3B Goldilocks and the 3 bears.
13. 11 PP (12DOC) 11 pipers piping (12 Days of Christmas).
14. TSDofAMA13 ¾ The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾.
15. 39 B in the OT (KJV of the B) 39 books in the Old Testament. King James version of the bible
16. S has 4 NL Switzerland has 4 National languages.
17. 1000 is the SR of a M 1000 is the square root of a million.
18. 6 C in a CSSP 6 cubs in a Cub Scout Sixer pack.
19. 44 CM .44 Colt Magnum.
20. 7 W in a 3000 MS 7 water-jumps in a 3000 metre steeplechase.
21. 4ED (in the CC) 4 Ember Days (in the Christian Calendar).
22. 5 L in a L 5 lines in a limerick.
23. TA1-EYITTNOK There’s a 1-eyed yellow idol to the north of Kathmandu.
24. G2-S Goody 2- shoes.
25. T1BEM There’s 1 born every minute.
26. 1MMIAMP 1 Man’s meat is another man’s poison.
27. 2CPTG 2 can play that game.
28. 3C on the FT 3 colours on the French tricolour.
29. OFa1000TTSMGRP O for a 1000 tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s Praise
30. OC9 On cloud 9.
31. YOM5F, S the B of SM You owe me 5 farthings, say the bells of St Martin’s.
32. a BC has 6D a Braille cell has 6 dots.
33. 4R in a RT 4 runners in a relay team.
34. B had 20 C Bach had 20 children.
35. 99RB (N) 99 Red Balloons. ( Nena).
36. 22 B on the T at the S of a SF. 22 balls on the table at the start of a snooker frame.
37. A, G with 100E Argus, giant with 100 eyes.
38. 168D on a SS of D 168 dots on a standard set of Dominoes.
39. 6779M –the D of the O/C BR 6,779 metres- the distance of the Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race.
40. 144T in a game of M 144 tiles in a game of Mahjong.
41. M has 2M (P&D) Mars has 2 moons ( Phobos & Diemos).
42. aTO2C- CD A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens.
43. 16 F on the ARC 16 fences on the Aintree Race Course.
44. 7A in the USC 7 articles in the United States Constitution.
45. 9 STWBMN at W 9 singles titles won by Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon.
46. The 4S (V) The 4 Seasons. (Vivaldi)
47. 8 TFL(B) 88 two fat ladies. (bingo).
48. R9 - a BS on the WA Revolution 9 - a Beatles song on the White album.
49. 18 L in the SGA 18 letters in the Scottish Gaelic Alphabet.
50. in F the CFWN9 in football the centre forward wears number nine.
51. HCAE 75/76Y Halley’s Comet appears every 75/76 years.
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52. 6 V & 9E on a TP 6 vertices & 9 edges on a triangular prism.
53. 3L on the MF 3 legs on the Manx Flag.
54. A - 6S & 2T Australia - 6 States & 2 Territories.
55. a KS5 in S a K scores 5 in Scrabble.
56. 225S in the DTCC(P) 225 squares in the Daily Telegraph cryptic crossword (puzzle).
57. 1917 the F of 111S in P 1917 the Formation of 111 Squadron in Palestine.
58. 85 WtoTaT (F&M) 85 Ways to tie a tie (Fink & Mao).
59. 9-5 the WD 9 - 5 the Working Day.
60. The S7 (EB) The Secret Seven (Enid Blyton).

FRUIT FOR THOUGHT

61. No point in a vague version guava (a v a g u e – E)

62. Porcelain ware, a “must” as brought back from Japan Satsuma (hidden backwards)
63. Sounds like a standard measure for emerald. greengage (green+ gauge)
64. Found where first of rockets in space comes to earth briefly grape (gap+r =E)
65. This made Mr Noah E Paget spin and lose a little height pomegranate (anagram- h)

NAMES

66. Sounds as though old German currency is given to us. Marcus (mark+us)
67. One missing from a strange meeting. Alison (liaison -i)
68. Put down between two points. Elaine E lain E
69. Clear mix up goes to the east. Dulcie Lucid + E
70. Alongside a house he’s a bird. Martin (house martin)

WHAT’S THE CONNECTION ?

71. Larry Grayson, Leonardo de Vinci, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe & William the Conqueror. - were illegitimate.
72. Roger Bannister, St Luke, W.G. Grace, David Owen & Gatling (machine gun inventor) - were doctors.
73. the animals lion, crab, goat & scorpion - signs of The Zodiac.
74. Robert Maxwell, Martina Navratilova, Tom Stoppard & Ivan Lendl. - Czech born.
75. the stones garnet, topaz, aquamarine & turquoise - Birthstones

PUZZLERS that produce UK Place Names

76. A well known rifle for this city ? Winchester

77. Dark pond that’s famously lit ? Blackpool (illuminations)
78. Is this meat past its sell by date ? Oldham
79. Is the town painted in a shade of green ? Lincoln
80. No restriction here ? Oban
81. Spoil an entrance ? Margate
82. A parent in good health ? Motherwell
83. Shows the way ? Leeds
84. The town that could go to your head ? Derby
85. Shipshape fashion ? Bristol

TRAINING THE FEET

CUTHBERT BEDE (THE REV EDWARD BRADLEY) MARCHES ON 150 YEARS AGO

It is this general absence in the Highlands of shoes and stockings on the part of women and children (for you never see a
barefooted man), that is so striking to the English eye, which does not readily become accustomed to the novelty. Except in
the severest weather, I was assured that the children, and their elder sisters and mothers, greatly prefer the freedom of bare
feet to the restraint of shoes and stockings. A very little child may be sometimes seen to whimper if it steps upon a sharp
pebble, over which its mother, and its elder brothers and sisters will walk without flinching. ["Their infants are no sooner
brought into the world than they are pretty roughly handled, wrapt up in a Highland blanket, and nursed in a very homely

10
and masculine manner, not bound and painted tip in their trinkets like so many dolls, but are often carried in and about the
house as naked as when they were born, and nourished with good and substantial cheer, not with dates and sugar plums;
and, once they can use their legs they don't spare them, but will run up hills and down dales, many of them without any
clothing, and that in the middle of winter." — Dr. J. CAMPBELL'S Description of the Highlands of Scotland (1752), p. 17.]

The fences in the neighbourhood of Glencreggan were, for the most part, similar to those throughout the Western
Highlands, and were composed of large stones roughly piled together, and cemented with mud, the upper surface not being
brought to a level, but following the inequalities of the stones. I often noticed the little barelegged children amusing
themselves by walking along the rugged tops of these stone fences, their toes clasping the stones as though with a
prehensile power. They ran along the wall like monkeys, and, as Dibdin says: — "Daintily handled their feet," with the craft
of a rope-dancer. Children brought up in this way literally kick at the restraint of shoe-leather; and, as I was informed, can
scarcely be prevailed upon to wear shoes even in the depth of winter. The feet of such are necessarily far more supple than
the feet of those who have bowed to the customs of civilisation by wearing corn-producing boots.

"It has been observed," says Mawman, "that were it the fashion to go naked, the face would be hardly noticed: certain it is
that the bare feet very much attracted our attention. The conspicuously-active spring of the ball of the foot, and the
powerful grasp of the toes, increased our knowledge by exhibiting the beauty and utility of that member. All the High-
landers walk with firmness and agility. We saw not a single instance even of a female turning in her toes, or stepping with a
stiff bent knee. We remarked that, north of Glasgow, we had not beheld one individual, man, woman, or child, crooked;
and that, though their feet were freely applied to rugged roads and gravelly shores, they did not appear to have received any
injury. Their general ability proved that they could "Foot it featly here and there". [Excursion to the Highlands of Scotland
(1804), p. 151. T 4] In which opinion my own observation leads me to cordially agree.

Who can tell to what uses the feet and toes might be put, if the necessity arose for the full development of their powers.
There is a way of educating the foot as well as the hand or the eye; and it is astonishing what an educated foot can be made
to do. We know that, in the time of Alexander, the Indians were taught to draw their bows with their feet as well as with
their hands; and Sir James Emerson Tennent tells us that that this is done up to the present time by the Rock Veddahs of
Ceylon. And nearly all savage tribes can turn their toes not only to good but also to bad account; like the aborigines of
Australia, who, while they are cunningly diverting your attention with their hands, are busily engaged in committing
robberies with their toes, with which they can pick up articles as an elephant would with his trunk. So also the Hindoo
makes his toes work at the loom, and weaves with them with almost as much dexterity as with his fingers. The Chinese
carpenter will hold the bit of wood he is planing by his foot like a parrot, and will work a grindstone with his feet. * [* See
Albert Smith's "To China and Back," pp. 8, 19.]

The Banaka tribe, who are the most famous canoe-men on the west African coast, will impel their light canoes (weighing
only from eight to ten pounds) with great velocity over the waves, and at the same time will use their one foot to bale out
the water; and " when they would rest their arms, one leg is thrown out on either side of the canoe, and it is propelled with
the feet almost as fast as with a paddle". [Rev. J. L. Wilson's "Western Africa."]

In the case too of Miss Biffin, the miniature-painter, who died but eleven years since, and who was patronised by our
present Queen and her three predecessors on the throne, we know how her toes took the place of fingers, and guided the
pencil with equal delicacy and skill. There was also Monsieur Ducornet, who died only four years ago, who, although he
was born without hands, was brought up as an artist, and who annually exhibited at the Louvre pictures painted by his feet.
[A large painting (11 feet by 9 feet) by this artist, representing a "Vision of the Virgin and Child appearing to St.
Philomene," is in the choir of the church of St. Bicquier. See Musgrave's " Bye-Boads and Battle-Fields," p. 87.]

Then there was Thomas Roberts, the armless huntsman to Sir G-eorge Barlow, whose feet were made to perform the
duties of his hands. And there was William Kingstone, who with his toes wrote out his accounts, shaved and dressed
himself, saddled and bridled his horse, threw sledge-hammers, and fought a stout battle in which he came off victorious.
And there was Kleyser, the German, who with his toes shaved, dressed, wrote, threaded needles, fired pistols, and fenced
with a rapier. And there was also Matthew Buckinger, who was also born without arms, and could do these things and
many more; and like his fellow-countryman, Kleyser, gained his livelihood by the dexterity of his toes.

The linen-washers in Barr River have already shown us one use of the naked feet that is very popular in Scotland. Pennant
mentions another, that is now probably out of date. As a substitute for the fulling-mill, about a dozen women, divided into
two equal numbers, and all in full song, would sit down on each side of a long board, ribbed lengthways, with the cloth
placed upon it. When they were tired of working it backwards and forwards with their hands, "every female," says Pennant,
"uses her feet for the same purpose, and six or seven pair of naked feet are in the most violent agitation, working one
11
against the other; as by this time they grow very earnest in their labours, the fury of the song rises; at length it arrives at
such a pitch, that without breach of charity you would imagine a troop of female demoniacs to have assembled."
[Hebrides, p. 286. It is also mentioned in the "Letters from the North of Scotland" (cf. Letter XX), and by Macculloch (vol
ii. p. 314), who came suddenly on "the bare-legged nymphs in the very orgasm and fury of inspiration, kicking and singing,
and hallooing as if they had been possessed by twelve devils." Mr. Campbell says, " There are songs composed in a
particular rhythm for washing clothes by dancing on them, songs which are nearly all chorus, and which are composed as
they are sung. The composer gives out a single line, applicable to anything then present, and the chorus fills up the time by
singing and clapping hands, till the second line is prepared. I have known such lines fired at a sportsman by a bevy of girls
who were waulk-ing blankets in a byre, and who made the gun and the dog the theme of several stanzas."—CAMPBELL'S
West Highland Tales, vol I p. xliv.]

This was called the Luaghadb, or "Walking (wauking) of Cloth." Pennant gives an illustration of the remarkable scene;
though, in his sketch (which is here copied) the ladies are very orderly and quaker-like.

Captain Burt, the author of those old and curious "Letters," to which I referred in the last chapter, thus describes the
washing of a room, "which," he very suggestively adds, "the English lodgers require to be sometimes done." It was done
with the feet. "First, they spread a wet cloth upon part of the floor; then, with their coats tucked up, they stand upon the
cloth and shuffle it backward and forward with their feet; then they go to another part and do the same, till they have gone
all over the room." He ordered a mop to be made, and showed them how to use it; but he could not persuade them to use
it instead of their feet. * [* Bare legs were to be met with in town as well as in country, a century ago, Dr. Somerville, in his
"Life and Times," says:—"Before the year 1760 none of the poor, or only a small proportion of them, wore stockings.
Even in the houses of gentlemen of high rank, the maid-servants seldom used them in the earlier part of the day, while
employed in servile work. The celebrated Charles Townshend used to give a ludicrous description of his being received by a
'female porter' without stockings or shoes, when he paid his respects to Lord President Craigie, in the Lawnmarket,
Edinburgh, in 1758 or 1759; and also of the practice, at that time general in the country, of the women treading their dirty
linen, instead of washing it with their hands" (p. 326).]

"I have seen women by the river-side," he says, " washing parsnips, turnips, and herbs, in tubs with their feet. An English
lieutenant-colonel told me, that about a mile from the the town, he saw, at some little distance, a wench turning and
twisting herself about as she stood in a little tub; and, as he could perceive, being on horseback, that there was no water in
it, he rode up close to her, and found that she was grinding off the beards and hulls of barley with her naked feet, which
barley, she said, was to make broth withal; and, since that, upon inquiry, I have been told it is a common thing. They hardly
ever wear shoes but on a Sunday; and then, being unused to them, when they go to church, they walk very awkwardly; or,
as we say, like a cat shod with walnut-shells." The state of "their legs covered up to the calf with dried dirt," is then touched
upon with a far different pencil to that used by Mr. Frith in his dainty-limbed gleaner. But, although this charge may be true
in too many cases, yet they might retort, that the cleanliness of their feet was better cared for when they paddled barefoot
through burns and puddles, than when encased in heat-producing shoes.

"In respect to dress, shoes, stockings and bonnets are not much worn, and the fashions for this month are white muslin
caps, dark cotton gowns, made short and scanty in the skirt, and neither leather nor prunella for shoes; but I always
maintain, that for hardworking people, the custom is both wholesome and cleanly, of having their bare feet washed daily, or
perhaps hourly, in every stream they pass. A woman respectably clothed in shoes and stockings, was heard saying once to a
friend, "I must hurry home and wash, for I've negleckit my feet for three weeks." So says Miss Sinclair. But, so far as my
own observation goes, I must say, that the Highland lassie, however picturesque an object, would be made a much more
wholesome and inviting character by a little more attention to tidiness and cleanliness. Sir Walter Scott has pierced the
mark, in the following description: — "Three or four village girls, returning from the village well or brook with pitchers and
pails upon their heads, formed pleasing objects, and, with their thin short gowns and single petticoats, bare arms, legs, and
feet, uncovered heads and braided hair, somewhat resembled Italian forms of landscape. Nor could a lover of the
picturesque have challenged either the elegance of their costume, or the symmetry of their shape; although, to say the truth,
a mere Englishman, in search of the cornfortdbley a word peculiar to his native tongue, might have wished the clothes less
scanty, the feet and legs somewhat protected from the weather, the head and complexion shrouded from the sun, or,
perhaps, might even have thought the whole person and dress considerably improved by a plentiful application of spring
water, with a quantum infficit of soap". [The author of the "Old Church Architecture of Scotland" (1861), describes the
landing of himself and Mends at St Kilda, and going through their morning's purification "in the hollow of a small stream
up a little way from the shore, to the infinite amusement of the people, who, probably haying never seen their water turned
to such account before, or men rubbing and scrubbing themselves so unmercifully, must needs have believed that they
were witnessing some pagan rite, or act of pious mortification" (p. 213).]

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This is the more to be lamented when found among a people, of whose peasantry, as Sir Walter elsewhere says, "from
among the young women, an artist might have chosen more than one model whose features and form resembled those of
Minerva".

And while the naked foot may be accepted as a national characteristic, we may remember that it was through a naked foot
that Scotland was saved. If that bare-footed Dane, who, in the darkness of the night, trod upon the rough prickles of the
thistle (thenceforth to become the national emblem), and, yelling with the suddenness of the pain, aroused the garrison and
put them on their defence; if he had worn boots, or even one of those pairs of rough-skinned Scottish "brogues" that were
constructed with slits at the heel, so that the water might run out of them, then, who can tell the sequence of events that
may have followed? As it is, there - to remind us of the great events accruing from the misplaced confidence of a naked
foot, — there is the thistle for Scotland's badge, with its prickly Dane-and-enemy-defying motto Nemo me impune lacessit,
which, being interpreted into good broad Scotch, means (according to the song)

"Wha danr meddle". So much for the legs of the lassies at Glencreggan, and elsewhere in the Highlands. But they are
deserving of notice; for (as Macculloch has remarked) they are full of symmetry, and are not like the legs of the Welsh girls,
which look as though they had been turned in a lathe, although "Stockings and shoon, To them are no boon".

HARVESTING

It was harvest time when we were in Cantire; and the following beautiful bit of description by Hugh Miller, of a Highland
landscape further north, will strengthen the foregoing word-painting of Mr. Kingsley's, and will also well describe many of
the days and scenes that we encountered at Glencreggan: - "The keen morning improved into a brilliant day, with an
atmosphere transparent as if there had been no atmosphere at all, through which the distant objects looked out as sharp of
outline, and in as well-defined light and shadow as if they had occupied the background, not of a Scotch, but of an Italian
landscape. A few speck-like sails far away on the intensely blue sea, which opened upon us in a stretch of many leagues,
gleamed to the sun with a radiance bright as that of the sparks of a furnace blown to white heat. The land uneven of
surface, and open, and abutting in bold promontories, still bore the sunny hue of harvest, and seemed as if stippled over
with shocks from the ridgy hill summits, to where ranges of giddy cliffs flung their shadows across the beach".

I esteemed myself fortunate to visit Glencreggan at such a season. When we had left England the harvest was well-nigh
over, but here it was barely begun. It is always a picturesque time; but harvest in the Highlands exceeds an English harvest
in the elements of the picturesque, - chiefly from the scenery, but partly from the abundant presence of women in the
national dress. A loose cotton jacket is commonly worn by them, and, for this, pink was the all-prevailing colour: beneath
appeared a short petticoat, similar in colour (and perhaps in texture) to that dark blue stuff of which bathing dresses are
made. In many cases the girls wore nothing upon their heads but their own luxuriant hair: where they adopted any covering,
it was a loose white cotton bonnet or a wide-awake. They used the sickle as dexterously as did the men; even as
Wordsworth describes the "Solitary Highland lass Heaping and singing by herself;" (which is somewhat tautological, seeing
that she could not be solitary without being by herself). But the Highland lassies that I saw reaping and singing, and
"Breaking the silence of the seas Among the farthest Hebrides," were never solitary, but were altogether gregarious in their
habits. The women, as usual, wore their large white caps, or " mutches;” and, together with the girls, had coverings for their
feet and ankles,—which is almost the only occasion on which they wear anything on their legs, Sundays excepted. The rule
seems to be, go barefoot everywhere but into a kirk; but when you work in a stubbly barley-field, protect your legs.

And a very wipe rule it is. It is, however, the custom with those artists who paint from indoor models instead of outdoor
realities, to invariably represent "the gleaner" (with an especial preference for the Highland specimen) as an impossible
specimen of agricultural humanity, with delicately-chiselled nude feet, or else with clean tight-fitting white stockings and
dancing-pumps. I am conscious of a long acquaintance with many bucolical myths and pastoral goddesses, created by artists
for the delectation of society, who have fascinated the beholder by a display of their pedal pieces, or by the harmonious
tones produced by white stockings or rosy flesh.

HIGHLAND REAPERS

I have a pleasing memory of a lovely picture by Mr. Frith, a Highland "Gleaner" (who has since figured in the print-shops),
dressed like these Glencreggan girls, in short petticoat and loose pink jacket, with a complexion like the famous "Mulberry
smothered in cream," suggesting that she must have fed upon strawberries and milk all her life, or that some one must have
held a gig umbrella over her while she was at work, and thus have preserved the pearly delicacy of her cheek and bust. Her
rose-leaf arms (the blush rose, and not the cabbage) elegantly balanced upon her head a sheaf of gleanings, while from
beneath her short dark petticoat appeared a pair of delicate little legs and feet tramping through "the histie stibble " —
13
stubble, be it remembered, that will cut like a knife — without so much as a scratch or a scar to disfigure the excessive
cleanliness and pearly hue of her exquisitely-turned foot and "About the loveliest little ankle in the world."

This fair creation of Mr. Frith's brain I duly admired; my admiration being tempered with astonishment, because in real life
I had always found that when any lovely young Lavinias went to glean the corn in rich Palsemon's field, they very wisely put
on their oldest and strongest shoes {Nota bene, boots preferred), and wrapped their feet and legs in any protective material
on which they could lay their hands, which armour of defence was technically termed " clouts," and bade defiance to the
sharpest stubble; and that no Lavinia was insane enough to subject herself to the unheard-of penance of promenading with
bare feet and legs in a field whose sword-like stubble would speedily lame her with countless bleeding wounds. I was not,
therefore, surprised to see the Glencreggan gleaners, whose normal state was that of naked legs, sensibly attired for their
occupation, and greatly adding to the picturesqueness of the landscape; though this enforced wearing of shoes and
stockings is "a sair burden" to them. Even when they walk to kirk on the Sabbath-day, they frequently carry their shoes and
stockings, and do not put them on until within a short distance of the building; a circumstance which made a Turkish
tourist in the Highlands remark that, in his country, religion enjoined them to put off their slippers when entering a sacred
building, whereas in Scotland religion made them put on their shoes.

AN ECCLESIASTIC PILGRIMAGE
After a series of items in the Antler from the Reverend Edward Bradley’s book’ Glencreggan: a Highland Home in
Cantire’, I thought it was about time I followed up Donald Kelly’s excellent introduction to this itinerant cleric in the
January 2008 issue, by visiting the tombs of his part pseudonym St Cuthbert and 'The Venerable' Bede, both of which are
in Durham Cathedral.

Although Bradley’s observations in Kintyre are coloured as much by myth and legend as they are of the social life of the
peninsula, for the most part he manages to evade the preferences of his generation to avoid treating his study as one of a
native tribe, and for that his travels have been an interesting exercise in encouraging an understanding of local customs for
those who know little of the area or who have come lately to its delights.

As is often the case when travelling long distances, names appear and disappear from road signs in a matter of seconds.
Even the ‘Angel of the North’ with his metal wings would have some difficulty keeping up with our progress and much the
same could be said of Durham’s exalted towers, peeking above the roadside embankments a few miles further south on the
A1. However, with another 280 miles to go before reaching relatives in East Anglia, that was the extent of our contact.

Deciding in the summer of 2008 that another trip of 560 miles in one day was not strictly necessary, a stop was made at a
caravan site within a mile or so of the magnificent cathedral set high on a cliff over looking the river Wear. After a peaceful
night and a short park & ride journey into the hilly city, the climb to the cathedral proved to be all that one could wish for -
the powerful presence of the Norman nave, the elevated shrine to St Cuthbert behind the main altar and the tomb of the
Venerable Bede in the western sub chapel. Undoubtedly Edward Bradley knew Durham well as he studied for his B.A. at
University College, Durham and his choice of pseudonym could not have been more appropriate, given the stature of the
cathedral and of its fathers of the early church.

Thinking that this was to be our only connection with the history of the Church, apart from tending family graves, we
indulged in the newer religion of attending the .local ‘malls’, an activity that seems to have no bearing on thoughts for
others and only the briefest of respect for those engaged at all levels of the process, but I was wrong.

No sooner had we entered the now increasingly unfamiliar local town than we spotted St Lawrence’s ,yet another of the
churches, abandoned to the Church;’s Trust for a number of years, was now the scene of a internet cafe, serviced by young
adults with physical and learning difficulties.

The chancel windows still contained their stained glass, but had lost the charm of those Easter services when clean and
pressed surplices awaited the choir at early communion, Matins and Evensong - the long Lenten period making the black
cassocks seem more of a shroud than the appropriate Sunday wear. The united benefice had already lost its partner St
Stephens some years before, becoming the town’s tourist bureau. Other churches, faced with dwindling congregations due
as much to communities fleeing to the modern suburbs, than a lessening of piety. St Nicholas’s has become a ‘performance’
cente, St Mary Quay - an arts centre and St Peter’s - once the site for Cardinal Wolsey’s new College, now a music centre
with its Tounai font no doubt in use for rather less sacred purposes.

14
The connection to Cardinal Wolsey came from his birth in the town as the son of a butcher. Rising to be Chancellor of
England, his fall from grace under Henry the Eighth diverted the money from the already built gateway to the
establishment of what became Christ College, Oxford, coincidentally Wolsey was made Prince-Bishop of Durham in 1523.

Strangely, an opportunity arrived unexpectedly late in the week when a family member with difficulty in finding something
for his visitors to do suggested that we visit Hampton court for a meal and a walk round the gardens. This was Cardinal
Wolsey’s country estate home before he lost Henry’s patronage and was passed to Henry himself.

The final link in the ecclesiastical chain came with the announcement in the summer of 2008 with that St Lawrence’s set of
five pre-reformation bells were to be lowered in the town and rehung. In the 1950s, as a member of the team who rang the
first three and a half hour peal on the bells since the bells were purchased in the late 1400s, this came as a real delight and
we thought this would end our church-crawl, but we were very much mistaken. The following day, a Sunday, we visited St
Anne’s Church Kew for the final concert of the summer, a performance of the Aspidistra Drawing Room Orchestra,
complete with costumes matching those of the Waldorf Hotel’s Palm Court Orchestra.

Finally a visit to the newly heightened Cathedral Church in the ruins of St Edmundsbury Abbey provided yet another
reminder of days gone past. The abbey grounds originally contained at least six separate churches and a number of chapels
and the west face’s tower a height in excess of three hundred feet, which would have put even Bradley’s Durham Cathedral
to shame had not the townspeople rioted, and spent three days occupying and trashing the Abbey in 1327 aided by Henry’s
destructive henchmen 1539.

I think if we are tempted away for Carradale in 2009, the A1 and A14 will be replaced by minor A roads and single track B
roads well away from anything even slightly religious unless you count nature’s cathedrals. G. P.

15