SCOTLAND'S FIRST MINISTER VISITS MALLAIG
Well, the sun certainly didn't shine for Scotland's First Minister Mr Jack McConnell who made his first ever official visit to Mallaig on Monday 19th April to open Marine Harvest's new £500,000 factory. Along with the rain, SW gale force winds which prevented the local fishing fleet from putting to sea also meant the closing of factory doors as guests crowded into the new Harvesting Station to await the opening ceremony and the unveiling of the official plaque.

Making light if the weather conditions, Mr McConnell admitted concern about recent reports emanating from the United States casting doubt on the quality of Scottish Salmon, but added that the huge financial commitment being made by Marine Harvest showed it had faith in the future of salmon farming in Lochaber. Marine Harvest produces a top quality product - a product we in Scotland should be proud of and one we should support.
The new factory, which employs 18 people, was then declared open by Scotland's First Minister as, surrounded by the factoy employees, he unveiled the official plaque.
Prior to visiting the factory, the First Minister toured the new £6 million wellboat Ronja Commander, and met with local Highland Councillor Charlie King and Mallaig Harbour Authority Chairman Michael Currie. The Ronja Commander sails to fish farms in West Coast waters and the two tanks on board can hold around 30,000 fish in nearly 1 million litres of water. Salmon from the wellboat are then pumped into the new factory and, after harvesting the 30,000 salmon are then transported by road in tankers filled with slush ice, to Marine Harvest's processing plant at Blar Mhor in Fort William.

AFFORDABLE HOMES APPROVAL FOR MORAR
As part of a £2.8 million project, a funding package of £426,000 has been directed by Communities Scotland for four semi-detached homes to be built in Morar. These properties will be for affordable rent from Lochaber Housing Association. Lochaber Housing Association director, Jim Dickson, said: "As far as the Morar development is concerned, the association had been trying unsuccessfully for 15 years to find suitable land for development in the area. The acquisition of this site for the development of four houses therefore represents a significant milestone in the provision of affordable housing in this rural community.'

NEW HARBOUR BREAKWATER
Via the Mallaig Harbour Revision Order 2004, Mallaig Harbour Authority is seeking authorisation from the Scottish Parliament to construct and maintain a new Breakwater from the existing Outer Harbour out to the lighthouse on Sgeir Dhearg. Plans of the 250 metres long structure can be viewed at the Harbour Office along with an Environmental Statement prepared in conjunction with the Order.
'Although this order empowers the Authority to construct and maintain a new breakwater, which should help alleviate excessive motion in the Outer Basin, it doesn't mean we are about to start it,' said Port Manager Mr Robert MacMillan. 'It's just the first stage in a long process and there's no way we can contemplate initiating construction of the Breakwater as we quite simply don't have the finances to do it.
The long, protracted and costly battle with Morrison Construction and Halcrows over the final costing sof the Outer Breakwater have left us with little money at present, so something like this is a long way off. I would however like to publicly thank the Highland Council for their help in preparing the Revision Order.

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KNOYDART
Back from Edinburgh - and it's like I was never away. Still the usual shenanigans and goings-on. One thing's for sure - if you're looking for a peaceful place to move to - retire, perhaps? - well, this ain't it. Every day there seems to be a new controversy bubbling to the surface. Better than The Archers. Except we no longer have a French chef. Hmm. I wonder who the Lynda Snell equivalent is?
There was a cracking Easter Ceilidh with Tam the banjo and friends, who kept the fun going well into the wee small hours. Easily one of the best attended and enjoyed ceilidhs in the last couple of years. Tam has recently made a reappearance on the peninsula, which may interest Edinburgh CID, who were supposedly looking for him last week after he was reported missing by his flatmates. Last seen in Sandy Bell's on a Friday night, he hadn't even been home for a change of clothes! Shocking.
It looks like Knoydart is going to have the safest fleet of private-hire boats in the West Coast, with every vessel recently undergoing the strict MCA coding ritual. So, no problems if you need to get across here when Brucie isn't running - we'll have a whole fleet of coded, safe vessels. Give the Foundation Office a ring on 462242 for a list of boats and operators (it should be pointed out that the Foundation do not guarantee that every boat on the list is insured or coded for a particular use). MV Western Isles will be running Monday - Friday twice daily starting this week (3rd May).
Willie Smith from the Crofters' Commission arrived to help chair a meeting regarding the crofting situation at Airor. The complexities of the subject were brought home - although some of the many issues concerning the crofts at the far end of the peninsula were clarified. The meeting in the village hall was well-attended and lively, with different parties all managing to put their views across. After, discussion in the pub continued right up to closing time.
The range of goods for sale at the Post Office has just been extended somewhat - so no problems if you forget batteries, film, basic outdoor gear, or whatever. If you can't see what you want, just ask! There are also a large range of midge-repellents in stock, ready for the annual invasion of the wee monsters in a couple of weeks. Should be getting some more postcards in soon - the ones with the theme of "Wrecks on Knoydart" are guaranteed to be best-sellers.
Residents of Rum may be interested to know that certain Knoydartians are considering entering a team in the Small Isles Games this month - although our skills may not extend to fell-running, we can certainly down a mean pint. Hopefully, our non-island status will not exempt us from coming along. Mind you, according to the mad EU rules, the peninsula probably is classified as an island.
Rumours are that the new pier contract is on the verge of being awarded. Knoydart locals await with baited breath the official news of who will be living and working with us over the next couple of years.
Lots of traffic at the wee pier this May Bank holiday weekend - I've just watched five visiting RIBs speed away. It looks like Knoydart is now firmly on the map for a variety of visitor types, which can only be good for the local economy. Is there a limit to the amount of visitors we can cope with? Well, that remains to be seen. The peninsula can certainly cope for large amounts of people for short periods of time, as witnessed at the annual Fun Games - but extended periods of large amounts of tourists would probably try the patience of locals and the visitors themselves. This may help to set a natural level beyond which numbers cannot rise. The limited accommodation here also restricts the overall numbers.
Over to Anne next month - we'll probably do the reports on alternate months, which should ensure a balanced take on life in the peninsula.
Tommy McManmon

ISLE OF MUCK
It's May and I trust that the words 'Cal-Mac' which have featured so frequently in the Muck column in the past months will be absent in the ones to come. The Loch Nevis is now calling at the new slipway most of the time and passengers can embark and disembark on foot four years after it all started! However I am minded to say that a sizable minority in that organisation find customer care difficult. For them may I recommend Lesley Benfield and' Investors in People'.
At the start of the month four islanders including myself, set off for Mallaig and the Advanced Power Boat Certificate course with Mark Woombs from Knoydart. Some of our time was in the classroom but much was at sea in Mark's immaculate Camal RIB. I found travelling at 25 knots in a 16 ft boat scary but the youngsters thought it was great! We visited Armadale and Doune by daylight and Isle Oronsay and Airor (almost) by moonlight. A very interesting two days.
The same week we welcomed Ian and Catherine Murray John to the island together with their four children. They are living in Dun Ban the house vacated by the Graves who departed last autumn. Catherine's father already has a holiday cottage on the island and Isabel, Alexander, Edward and Oliver will ensure that the Muck school continues to have the largest role in the Small Isles.
The start of May was the time for another celebration: Jenny MacEwen's 60th birthday marked by a party at Port Mor House and a family lunch at Sonochan Hotel.
On the farm it has been lambing and not a good one. Apart from the atrocious weather there were a number of early lambs whose father was a tup bearing more than a passing resemblance to Dennis the Menace's dog! So though early, the lambs won't be making big prices. Then there were two partly infertile 'official' tups so few Mule lambs from the Blackfaces and far too many barren Mule ewes On the positive side the 39 cheviot ewes which grazed the organic rape left 29 pairs of twins against only one pair last year About half of them were gimmers (1st lamb).
But the outstanding lambing achievement was by Sandra Mathers. Her 40 ewes produced 70 lambs and she did not loose a single one.
Lawrence MacEwen

ISLE OF RUM
April has been fairly quiet really with most of the time spent on preparations for the summer. The campsite has had work carried out on it to dry the ground out some more and improve the basic facilities. Rhys has been busy (between holidays) clearing the omnipresent woodpile in the farmyard by producing a mountain of firewood. The highland cows have produced 6 calves so far including three black ones, all doing well.
Next month the annual deer count will take place, though this year a helicopter will be used, while up there they will also attempt to count the feral goat population. This is all preparatory work before discussions take place to further the habitat restoration proposals. A group has been set up under the instruction of the Forestry Commission to discuss the best way forward. The group will consist of representatives from SNH, Forestry Commission, The Deer Commission, Highland Council, Rum Community Association and the Kilmory Deer Project. Given the controversial nature of the proposals, the purpose of the group is to find an outcome satisfactory to all interested parties. If this is not achieved then the proposals can go no further.
Just to update you all on the Small Island Games. They're taking place on Saturday 15th May (not Sunday as I said last month), starting about 2.30 pm (Rum time). The Sheerwater will be leaving Arisaig at 11 am but leaving Rum at 3.30 pm, those wishing to stay later can leave on Lochnevis at 5 pm or stay over for the ceilidh and meal and leave on Sunday afternoon, again on the Sheerwater, after an inter-island football match and barbeque.
On Saturday 17th April there was an extensive housefire on Rum at Ferry Cottage. Fortunately no one was hurt and Sharon Forsyth, whose home it was, would like to express her thanks to Mallaig Fire Brigade, Lifeboat crew and all on Rum for their help and support.
Fliss Hough

ISLE OF EIGG
A very mixed month weather wise which probably goes some way to explaining the stop-start nature of bird migration, dixit our SWT warden John Chester, who has now resumed his weekly guided walks. Common migrants arrived from late March onwards: Wheatears first followed by Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Cuckoos and Swallows towards end of April. Less predictable sightings included 59 Pink-footed Geese, 29 Brent Geese, Bar Tailed Godwits, Whimbrels, Sand Martins and Yellowhammers. Interesting non-bird sightings have included the first Common Dolphins of the year, some big gathering of Palmate Newts in the pools and an unprecedented number of Peacock butterflies for this time of year. Meanwhile spring flowers are beginning to show well at long last with the first Bluebells appearing, a wonderful show of Primroses in sheltered corners and Anemones in the woods where Ramsons are covering the ground with a shaggy verdant and deliciously edible coat.
Whilst everyone rushes to plant and sow between cold and wet spells, the island farmers are getting on well with the lambing which started on St Donnan's day, 17 April, despite some losses during bad weather. That's one lambing season George Carr won't have to worry about, as he is currently enjoying his travels to America before flying to Australia and New Zealand with his cousin David Kirk! The first of our trust volunteers has arrived and made a great job of tidying up Garden Cottage, our volunteer accommodation, before helping to put a roof on the craft-bothy at Shore Cottage, well done Jimmy! Hulain house and Galmisdale house are both advancing well, with a start being made at Sandavore, work on those houses uncovering little treasures like the rare Cartwheel penny John Booth found at Galmisdale, dating back to 1798.
Sunshine on Easter Sunday was very welcome after a night of excellent dancing curtesy of our guest band and their very lively tunes: the Six Ft Gingers of Goat Island Ceilidh band were in fine form indeed, and we are now looking forward to more dancing with Dannsa at the end of May followed by the usual night of merriment and partying on our anniversary day. But first, we shall enjoy the uplifting sound of harp and voices in Caim's Celtic prayers concert at St Donnan's church on the 4th May.
Meanwhile we welcome to the island our newest crofters: Eddie Scott (Eddie Spoons) and Lucy Conway (Promoters Arts Network and Ideasfactory) who have recently moved to Eigg from Ardross, whilst congratulations go to Aidan MacEoin for securing a housing association house in Cleadale. No doubt that he will write a poem about it!
Camille Dressler.

The film maker, Jean-Marie Barrère, has a personal interest because his grandfather, Robert Barrère, was a member of a resistance group in his local village of Gabarret to the south of Bordeaux. Robert received parachutists of the SOE (Special Operations Executive) who were trained in Britain and gave them 'safe-houses' for their clandestine work in France. Winston Churchill had set up the SOE in 1940 with the objective 'to set Europe ablaze'. Volunteer agents trained in Britain and were infiltrated into enemy territory to instruct, arm and co-ordinate resistance groups. Their objective was to harass the enemy and cause as much disruption as possible. This was especially important in the preparation for D-Day and it also raised the morale of the people of occupied countries.
The Arisaig area played an important part in the para-military training of about 3000 secret agents. The vicinity was ideal as there was only one road to seal off, there was railway access and it was remote and a long way from Germany. The locals had to have passes for movement into or out of the protected area. The agents spent 4 - 5 weeks at one of several houses that were requisitioned by the War Office including Arisaig House, Meoble Lodge, Traigh House, Rhubana Lodge, Inverie House, Garramor, Camusdarach and Glasnacardoch. The agents then went to Ringway (Manchester) for parachute training before being split between either wireless training at Thame Park in Oxfordshire or learning to be an organiser or courier at Beaulieu House in Hampshire. Finally, the agents were parachuted into enemy territory on moonlit nights from Tempsford airfield in Bedfordshire or landed by Lysander from Tangmere in Sussex.
Filming of the documentary took place at several locations in the area. Mrs Joan McDougall of Caol, who grew up at Meoble, Bob Poole of Bracara and Freddie Salmon of Mallaig were interviewed. Ann Martin was interviewed in front of the SOE display at the Land, Sea and Islands Centre, of which she is the curator. The group were very grateful for all the help and co-operation they received during their stay.
The group went to Arisaig House with the kind permission of the owner. The House was the headquarters for a number of Special Training Schools in Arisaig and Knoydart. The woods and beaches were used for target practice for small arms, such as pistols, rifles and STEN guns. The trainees had to learn survival techniques and be physically fit, so long walks over the hills and military exercises or 'schemes' were on the syllabus. Nearby railway lines and bridges were used to practice laying dummy explosives and the use of time-pencils and detonators for sabotage work in occupied Europe.
M. Barrère was particularly excited to be given permission to visit Meoble Lodge. Mr Jimmy Dalgety kindly transported the group from Morar using the estate boat. This House was the Training School for SOE's French Section headed by Col. Maurice Buckmaster. Amongst the many volunteers trained here was the leader of Robert Barrère's area called George Starr DSO (Codename: Hilaire). Starr proved to be a most resourceful and effective organiser of the WHEELWRIGHT circuit in SW France. His wireless operator was Yvonne Cormeau (Annette) who held the record of 400 successful and accurate transmissions from France to London. The film crew was accompanied by Bob Poole who was trained at Meoble himself in 1943. He was able to give expert knowledge about the buildings and the type of training performed on the estate.
A recording was made of a telephone conversation between David Harrison and Mrs Rosemary Law (née Bowman) of East Linton about a war-time diary kept by her father, who was the owner of Camusdarach House.
In the evening local musicians put on an impromptu performance in the bar of the Arisaig Hotel, for the crew to film; our thanks to them for some great music..
After leaving Arisaig, the team flew from Glasgow to London to visit the National Archives at Kew. Here they were joined by a former SOE wireless-operator, M. Marcel Jaurant-Singer (Flavian) from Paris, who had come specially to see his recently released Personal File. He was able to read comments made about him whilst training at Meoble in October 1943. Fortunately, the assessments were mainly favourable!

Quite by chance, whilst driving through Glenfinnan, the film crew recorded a re-enactment of the landing of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 that was organised by the Scottish National Trust. The locals did not betray Charles Stuart and again 200 years later they kept the secret of SOE. The people of Arisaig, Morar and Knoydart should rightly feel proud of their contribution in the defeat of Nazism.
David Harrison
David Harrison's book 'Special Operations Executive: Para-Military Training in Scotland during World War 2' is on now sale exclusively at the Land, Sea & Islands Centre, price £10 (plus £2 p&p if ordered).

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Road to the Isles agricultural show
Once again the date of the Road to the Isles Agricultural Show is fast approaching - this year it will be Saturday 12 June and it will be held as usual at Camusdarach, by kind permission of Andrew and Angela Simpson. The committee is hoping that there will be the usual strong support by exhibitors in all sections of the Show. The cattle and sheep classes are always well supported and we are hoping for even more Highland Cattle this year when they will have their own separate classes.
The Industrial section has the usual wide spread of classes in Floral Decoration, Handicrafts and Knitting - how about making a nice cushion cover or a set of doll's clothes? - and Baking and Produce - fancy trying your hand at making bread using yeast or some delicious empire biscuits? Schedules for all the classes are available at local Post Offices, Spar shops, the Harbour Shop and Hydro Shop in Mallaig and are also available from the secretary on 01687 450655. Remember you have to be in it to win it so give it a try!
Events in and around the Ring this year will include a Sheep Dog Demonstration, a Falconry Show, Woodcarving and, for the more active among us, a Tug o' War, and a Shinty match for the young ones. The local Emergency services are also hoping to put on a bit of a show! There will also be several Plant Nurseries in attendance so come ready to stock up your garden and for any special plant requests please phone Angela on 450221.
If any local charities/ organisations/groups would like to have a stand at the Show then please contact Angela again on 450221. The Show is an ideal way of reaching out to the local community to get your views or interests across so do contact us. There are lots of jobs to be done in the week before the Show to get everything ready, so if you have some time or energy to spare please come along and give a hand. It's all good fun and many hands make light work! All this should add up to a good time for all so do come along on the day and enjoy all the thrills and spills of a good day out in a beautiful location.
Lastly, please remember the Show Dance in the Astley Hall in the evening when Eriskay Lilt will be providing the music.

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Coastal Ranger Report
I can never quite understand how the end of the month manages to sneak up on me so quickly! but at least this month dear sweet Ed. (she complains when I don't use terms of endearment!0 has not had to send me a conscience shock.
I suppose I could go on at length about the weather we have had, but if you readers are as "scunnered" (English translation of "fed up" just doesn't carry the same weight of feeling, does it?) as I am then probably the least said the better. Nevertheless, whether we like it or not, spring has sprung in a big way with all the trees showing off their amazing selection of fresh greens, and the wild flowers delicately bowing their fragile heads against the thudding raindrops. Of course, what has shown the most readiness to grow is the damn grass in my garden, which stubbornly refuses to dry enough to get in a first cut. As it has now reached epic proportions, I reckon that it has to be either the commercial strimmer or maybe even the good old scythe! On the other hand, perhaps my good lady wife might fancy trying alternative methods, I can only live in hope!!
But to the serious business of work! I know you all think that I move into "jolly" format at this time of year as the walks begin to take over my time, but don't you kid yourselves! Sure, I enjoy the walks (or at least most of them) but I have to make sure that I don't suffer from "repetitive syndrome", otherwise how could I expect my "customers" to enjoy themselves if my face was tripping me. See work already! "Jolly Outlook"! Nae bother! Just smile the rain away and keep the sodden (literally I mean) walkers happily oblivious of the dampness threading it's way down their spines! But there you are, still they keep coming, and hopefully will continue to do so. Numbers are well down this year so far, hardly surprising!, and already I have had three "no shows" on the regular programme, this being most unusual, but I don't expect this state of affairs to continue when (if?) the weather goes into it's "glorious May" mode.
Speaking of glorious May, this is where I leave you for a week to make my annual pilgrimage to the "Scottish Six Days Trial" yup, holidays already! I promise I won't be lazy as I will be there in my official capacity as an observer rising around 5am. and doubtless not seeing much of the pillow before the early hours! O.K. so it's my own fault, but I enjoy the craic!
I've just returned from a one day course at the S.N.H. headquarters in Battleby, just outside Perth, where we looked at "Sharing Good Practise". It was, on the whole, very interesting and informative, but boy, did it show up the holes in this writer's education!! Maybe it's just my advancing years! But give some of the younger ones a computer and only making it speak is old hat! The worst thing about it is that we are all expected to use these damn electronic machines to pass on what knowledge we have on the environment to the children, and, do it in such a way that we are up to speed with the kids!! Ah, woe is me!!
As well as the regular walks programme, unsurprisingly down in numbers this April! I joined an interesting walk on the route of the "new" road from Arisaig to Glen Mama last Saturday. The idea was to see if there were any sites or artefacts that might be spoiled/destroyed once the clearing starts next year. Although nothing much was found, the road takes some interesting curves, and I think some of you will be quite surprised just what has been sitting just out of your sight for many years. I was not, however, very enamoured of the route through the middle of the field at Borrodale, and just hope that the landscaping will be very sympathetically done! Having said that at least a huge number of the "Rhododendron Ponticum" (the pretty but kill everything else version) will be obliterated behind the cottages at Quality, so there is some saving grace.
Anyway I'm off now (notice how the weather has got some feeling for me!) to enjoy watching some of the not so "trick" riders falling off! I'll leave Ann with the May walks should I have gone over my limit for the column and created a space that needs filling!
Look after yourselves.
Angus Macintyre

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The fishermen and the German submarine
Mallaig Police are investigating the case of the submarine in the night-time- 87 years later! They have received this letter from a retired German policeman, and wonder if any West Word readers can help them with their enquiries.

German submarine activities between the Hebrides Island in Spring 1917.
Dear Sir!
From police officer to police officer I may ask you for help in an investigation concerning a 'private' war incident in February 1917 between the Hebrides Islands.
In the night of 12.2.1917 the submerged German submarine U78 got entangled in fishing nets laid by Scottish fishermen. The boat could not be steered clear and had to surface. The German sailors had to cut off the thick mesh of 1 inch nets around tower and screws. The Scottish fisher tried to get rid of the nets at their ships too and be freed from the heavy catch consisting in a load of a 39 men submarine (with mines, torpedoes and shells) in the pitch dark night. Both crews shouted to each other, but no hostile words were exchanged, as my father told us later. Everybody was happy when the vessels separated.
My father, 23 then, could not understand what the sailors called. He was a sergeant (Oberbootsmannsmaat) and responsible for the Diesel engines of the submarine. He was very impressed by the event and he told us twenty years later about it. Father brought back a piece of net, which is in my and my brothers' possession now and is kept in honour.
I am trying now to get in touch with the families of these fishers (or their grandchildren) to learn how the story of the caught Uboat is hand down to them. If they knew the story of 1917 they will remember it now, I am sure.
The submarine came from Eilean Castle (between Eilean castle and lighting buoy) and around Ardnamurchan into the Rum sund (laid 6 mines near Sklersort). After that with south-west course out of Rum sund. On this way they got caught. Involved were 4 sailing fisherboats and 2 steamers. The submarine was netted about 3.50 am and hit the ground (27 metres deep). The ship became free on about 10.30 am, after the net entanglement the submerged submarine drifted by tide to the north point of Hawes bank and there the ship set aground. The 'fishing' occurred south(west?) of the Rum island.
24 hours later they sank a fishing steamer (named Rannsley) by detonator. The Captain and the First engineer were taken aboard (prisoners of war). The German vessel took course to Inishtrahull Fireship.
The log book of the submarine (which I found last year in German war files) doesn't mention the 'sailors' meeting' during the net incident. Maybe the highly decorated German captain was ashamed of the friendly solution between 'enemies' later on. The fishermen must have been from a (little?) harbour nearby. Maybe the almost-collision was reported (1917 or later) in newspapers. Such things didn't happen every day. Someone should remember, I guess, maybe a (at that time) 16 year old 'Moses', now a captain retired of 88 years? Or the story is known by hearsay? If I knew the fishers' grandchildren (or so) I would like to write to them and ask them.
I wrote a letter to the newspaper Shetland Time in Lerwick because I was said this newspaper is distributed on the Hebrides. I asked for support, but I did get no answer. Now I ask you for some helpful informations. I am 78 now.
Any information to Mallaig Police or West Word please!