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1st June 2007

Summer Walkers

The summer in the Straths walkers arrived in Durness last Thursday. On a glorious sunny afternoon the pony and trap made its way rough the village being greeted by residents at their doorsteps with memories of the travelling families and their experiences. It was apparent that the summer walkers as they were affectionately known had played a significant role in the lives of the community in years past. With camp set up at Keoldale overlooking the Kyle of Durness visitors started to arrive. The school children were introduced to the horse and heard stories form Essie Stewart before being given a demonstration of the craft that the travelling families were renowned for tin smittyhing. There was a tour of the camp and explanations of how the travellers lived on the road and made their temporary but sturdy accommodation. In the evening a line up of musician’s, story tellers and singers entertained a local crowd introduced by MC Graham Bruce. Carol Ann Mackay and Shona Munro, two very talented pipers, opened the show followed by Donnie and Katy on the accordions. Angus Nicol gave a poetry reading and some thoughts on the summer walkers, Donnie was joined by Marty and John for a few tunes, and Alek John Williamson translated an old Gaelic story to the appreciative audience. Shona Munro and Carol Anne gave separate performances and Andrew Mackenzie sang a selection of songs delighting his core of followers. Andrew has taken time of work to travel with the group and has been giving performances at all the evening events. His rendition of local songs, some of his own composition, has always been greeted with full praise. After a projection of the ongoing video, being compiled by Gavin Lockhart, Blue Ridge took to the stage and gave a selection of their popular tunes into the night. The evening was quite ethereal, a beautiful evening on the Kyle with music floating around while people gathered and talked bringing back emotional memories and making new ones.


Cape Wrath Challenge

The recent report of the successful Durness event Cape Wrath Challenges was slightly in error when Bruce Talloh was given the credit as the first Olympic athlete to take part. For the last 2 years Craig Carscadden from Stoke in Gifford has participated. In his gentle and reserved manner Craig was not one to boast his achievements but fellow runners have pointed these out. Craig says “It is not modesty that prevents me from telling people about my past, but embarrassment at how slow I have become in the intervening years since I cut back on my mileage.”

Craig was born with cerebral palsy and took part in the 1996 Paralympics as a class 37. In his own words he was a Jack of all trades competing in the 5000m, 1500m and 800m, finishing 6th, 6th and 4th respectively. His personal bests for these events were 17m55sec, 4mim42sec and 2min17sec.
“I came late to track racing and disability athletics. I was 32 when I did my first competition on the track, having spent the previous 15 years doing 10k, 1/2 marathons, marathons and cross country. These are still my favoured surfaces hence my affinity with the Cape Wrath Challenge. It is also where I had most success. I won silver in World Cross Country Championships in 1997 and 1998 guiding England to team gold on both occasions (my mother has just about forgiven me).”
He retired from competitive athletics in 1998 to concentrate on coaching and athletics development roles. He went on to be the Great Britain middle distance coach at both the Sydney and Athens Paralympics. Craig also co-ordinates the athletics developments programme for an organisation called Cerebral Palsy Sport and fulfils a similar role internationally for CPISRA, Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association.
“The Challenge is only racing I now do, and I intend to be an annual visitor for the foreseeable future and who is credited with being the first Olympian will make no difference to my plans. Bruce is a legend in British athletics both as an athlete and a coach and if I achieve half as much as he has I will be well satisfied.” - Bruce Tulloh added "We had to write to thank you for a really memorable time. It wasn't just the place, remarkable though it is, or the running, so much as the whole spirit of enthusiasm and fellowship which seemed to run through everything"

School

Durness primary School has had a busy time of late. Last Thursday they visited the camp of the summer walkers at Keoldale where they listened to stories from Essie Stewart and were shown the craft of tin smithing. This followed a recent visit to Orkney for primary 7 to “Chances for life” where they had a talk on anti drugs, explored Kirkwall and investigated the cathedral. This was a long day out leaving Durness at 6am and not returning home until after 9pm. Six children were involved in the Sutherland Schools Golf competition in Golspie. Last Monday primaries 5 6 and 7 were in Scourie” building bridges” an event held through the Institute of Civil Engineers while the induction day for next years primary one intake included Jordan Lee Corbett, Ryan Mackay, Nathan Corbett and Dylan Morrison who spent the morning at school. Bob Pegg the storyteller has been visiting the school and a quiz team reached the second round of the Rotary Club Quiz held at the Talloch Castle Hotel in Dingwall. Primary seven attended the “safe Highlander” event in Lairg last week. On Monday the 18 all the four local primary schools and High School will be visiting Durness where a mini Highland Games is being hosted. The event starts at 9.30 with the traditional parade to the games field where along with mini Highland events there will be plenty of fun activities. Many of these events are part of the 2007 Highland Year of Culture.

Community Council

New Highland Councillor Robbie Rowantree attended the recent Durness Community Council. Cllr Rowan tree was interested to hear the ongoing activates of the council and made note of the issues he believed he could help with. The main concern expressed is the current situation without an area manager and this could be a hinder to the process of Community councils having contact and reaching the correct Highland Council officials for their concerns. Street signs for the Caa and street light for Sango and retaining walls along the road at Sangomore were among the ongoing concerns. Chairperson Mary Mackay gave a report on the recent MOD Liaison group meeting. The new phone card was discussed and some changes were made. There will be a draft for public view in the local shops and people are invited to ensure that they have the correct entries prior to the final being printed. This should be completed before the next Community council meeting in July. An official opening of the new bridge and fresh work to the access to Smoo cave has been provisionally set for the 30 June. This has to be confirmed with the Highland Council. A summary update on the Development Groups projects was given. The renewable energy scheme is moving forward and a newsletter is to be issued this week. A formal Scoping Opinion is being undertaken and the general environmental over view is available in hard copy at strategic points in the community, Service point, post office and shops a downloadable version is available online at the Durness web site. The interpretation and trail design of Ceannabeinne is in preparation for the actual work to start. Individuals responsible for the separate elements are proceeding with actions. Ongoing meetings are taking place with the youths to further develop a new application for funding for a youth mentor.
The Draft village plan has been returned for perusals and some of the identified house sights have been deemed unsuitable by the planners. The community council are irritated that local input is not being fully recognised. Councillor Rowantree has indicated that there is a wider problem and he has proposed that several of the agencies involved, crofting and planning should meet at discuss certain aspects of the new planning proposal in advance of the village plans being recognised by the highland Council as the planning authority document for the areas. The community council gave full support to this and will anxiously wait the outcome of these meetings.
Disquiet has been expressed regarding the community notice board outside the Spar shop. The notice board has become filled with notices not relevant to its purpose. Residents are to be reminded that the notice board is for community and voluntary events and individuals’ personal ads. Business should not be advertising in this forum. The notice board was intended for temporary information regarding to upcoming events and community activities. The Durness business leaflet will be reprinted later in the year and business will be welcome to submit adverts for insertion. The approved minutes of the community council are displayed and are available locally for inspection.