Category Archives: Isle of Lewis

Ten passengers taken to hospital as bus slides off ungritted road

Ten passengers were taken to hospital last night (THU) when their bus went off the road in icy conditions near Stornoway. The emergency services were called to the scene, beyond the town waterworks on the road from Newmarket to Barvas, around 9.30pm after the bus operated by Galson Motors slid completely off the carriageway.

There had been 10 passengers as well as the driver on the bus which was on the way to Ness and police said that all were taken to Western Isles Hospital for check-ups. The Scottish Ambulance Service said: “Three have minor injuries and another passenger with back pain was taken as a precaution.”

A female aged 17 was kept in hospital and all the others were later allowed home. There had been concern earlier in the evening from road users about the effect of black ice in the area. It was suggested by some observers that a request for gritting to be carried out was declined.

A police spokesman said: “We would ask all drivers to take care on the roads as the nights get darker. It may not always be possible to see how slippery roads have become.”

The making of Kate Morag

Mike did his time for night of madness and the ex-school governor seeks fresh start

He was a firefighter, a council official and even the chairman of the board of governors of a school.

Yet no employers in the Western Isles want to give Mike Riley a job for long.

Exaggerated rumours about a drunken incident which saw him jailed always lose him jobs so he has decided to put the record straight.

Mike has applied for countless jobs on Lewis. They usually last for just weeks and the most recent was for a few days. When his bosses hear rumours about his past, in which he is claimed to have held his family at gunpoint, Mike is let go.

MikeRiley 7

Mike Riley

Although wildly exaggerated, there is a little truth about an incident of which he is deeply ashamed.

In 2007, during a period in which he was drinking too much, Mike became grief-stricken when his sister who was seriously unwell for years died of a stroke. He sought solace in vodka on Easter weekend at his Stornoway home.

As he drank, he got angrier and asked his wife and children to leave the house.

When police arrived, Mike was upstairs with his air rifle. Although he remembers little, he accepts he pointed it at two officers. It was a siege but no one was held hostage.

As soon as he began to sober up, Mike, who is 48, handed himself over to police. He admitted his guilt.

“I pled guilty to save the taxpayer money. I was guilty and that was it.”

Declining to apply for bail, he was on remand and later sentenced to two years in prison.

Opting to work rather than stagnate, his first job was in the laundry.

“Porterfield Prison in Inverness was an easy life. If you are prepared to work in prison you get privileges. I got the reception pass man job which is for the most trusted prisoners. I could go to the gym and even make phone calls when I wanted to. It was my family that suffered at home.”

Mike also became a prison listener, a role with training by the Samaritans to help other prisoners with thoughts of suicide.

However, rumours reached the prison that he had several guns in the siege. Claims circulated that he was linked to other crimes – including the mysterious shooting of Nairn-based banker Alistair Wilson.

Mike, who was released on licence from Porterfield after serving a year, said: “The truth is I haven’t committed any other crimes except misdemeanours as a teenager.”

While many people he meets seem to forgive and forget his night of madness, Mike comes up against problems when he goes for a job.

With experience in management and construction, he does win jobs. Then whispers start and he loses them.

“I never get to put my side of the story. It’s always the rumours that are believed and there is a news article online that can be googled and it suggests I used a firearm and assaulted my wife. That is misleading.”

In fact, the charges were two counts of assault on the police officers and a breach of the Firearms Act 1968. By pointing the air rifle at the officers, that was assault.

“There was no firearm involved. Not that that makes it any better, but people are misquoting what I did. I’ve got to the stage where I just want to work.
“I’ve done my time and although I’m unemployed, I don’t claim benefits. I’m putting my cards on the table so that people will judge me with my side of the story rather than from the whispers with embellishments.”

Mike’s past work history is not unimpressive. He was a retained firefighter for 12 years in Kent, very much part of that community, and was also a school governor and then the chairman of the governing body at Swan Valley Community School in Swanscombe, Kent.

“There are many things in my past where I’ve given back but that is never something I’ve been given a chance to talk about.”

He also worked as a Private Finance Initiative liaison officer for Kent County Council.

“I’ve also worked in retail and in the licenced trade, our family business. I would like someone to give me the chance and judge me on my merits rather than on my past.”

Now living with his family in Breasclete, Mike says he has not touched alcohol since the incident that saw him jailed.

Legally, he does not have to declare his conviction to employers, as the jail term was less than 30 months and more than four years ago. But he wants to put his own story out there to set the record straight.

The former school governor insists he will take any job that will pay him a living wage – even sweeping the streets.

“I want to feel some self-worth rather than being kept. I just want to get up and have a reason to go and do a day’s work – an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.”

It is hard for his family because he cannot provide the things he wants to, he says. With Christmas round the corner, he is sad he still cannot afford to buy family presents.

“They’re all grown up and the youngest is 16, so they understand. I am proud of them all and I just want to pay them back.”

Overseas relative trying to trace Macivers of the bus company on Lewis

I am attempting to research my MacIver family history and unfortunately I do not have a lot of information. My grandfather, John Maciver, was born in Stornoway and had two brothers, Donald and Angus. There were also sisters, one named Jessie, Alexandra (but she went by Sandra) and Nessie.

His brother Donald married a woman named Kathy. My grandfather’s father owned a bus company we believe in Stornoway. We do not know either of his parents’ names.

I have found a relative in Scotland, Isabel, whose husband George recently passed away. She said my grandfather had a sister named Mary Anne and that she had died young of cancer but had a daughter named Mae. I still have not found out my grandfather’s parents’ names or anything about them.

Rhonda
Canada
(All information to [email protected] and will be passed to Rhonda)

Who is to blame as knock-on from inter-island axe begins to bite? “Blaming the public simply will not do.”

Angus MacNeil MP has written to Business Secretary Vince Cable asking to cut Royal Mail costs by also carrying the daily papers to Lewis Harris and Uist and Benbecula. Newspapers in the islands are now being delivered by ferry because of increased freight charges by the carrier Loganair.

The MP said: “It is of course disappointing that daily newspapers will not be arriving in most of the islands until lunchtime, these changes affect islands from Eriskay to Lewis, with Barra unaffected due to a different distribution route.”

He has written to Cable to see if there is a possibility of combining the mail flight with the papers which could cut the cost of both services.

“Further, many people like to get their papers in the morning and for some people, especially pensioners, getting the papers can be almost a morning ritual. This social benefit combined with the obvious advantage to the shops to have papers on the shelves before they become history, further illustrates good sound reasons for at least exploring the possibility of the Royal Mail charter plane also carrying newspapers.
“It seems eminently sensible that a plane coming over with the Royal Mail, daily, should take over the newspapers. This could be a win-win situation; it would be a way of reducing costs for the Royal Mail, something Government is constantly worried about, and ensuring that newspapers are delivered to the islands at a reasonable time.”

Meanwhile, Barra member Donald Manford has pointed the finger at the council leadership. He said: “The calamitous implications of council axing Uist and Barra flights, continues to escalate. Directly and indirectly over 20 flights in total are lost, including connections between Stornoway, Inverness and Edinburgh. How much more will be lost while the council howls “it’s not our fault”?
“Council leader Angus Campbell informed the Cabinet Secretary that, while he was sad at having to withdraw the service, that is what his public consultation told him. Blaming the public simply will not do. It is now undeniable that public money has been provided to the council for air services and that the council transferred the money elsewhere.

“I commend MSP Alasdair Allan for seeking an urgent meeting with the newspaper industry’s distributors, to try and resolve this problem. Credit also to Angus MacNeil MP for contacting Secretary of State, Vince Cable MP, to urge him to look at the Royal Mail system to improve communication and make cost savings.
“I further urge the council to reconsider its decision to axe the services. Failing that, it could apply to transfer to government the transport powers it has abdicated, in order that alternative forms of delivering the transport can be investigated.”

Alert for car belonging to egg thieves known to be operating in the Western Isles

Investigators tracking known egg thieves say two illegal egg collectors are now at large in the islands. It has emerged they took the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway yesterday (Friday) on what is thought to be an expedition to steal eagle’s eggs. eagle-chick

An RSPB officer explained: “I’ve received information from RSPB investigations that two known egg collectors are likely to have travelled by ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway and are likely to stay on Lewis until the 2nd of April.”

The thieves are driving a silver Vauxhall Corsa with the registration number KX62 ZDA.

“If you see this vehicle please report it to the police. At this time of year they must be targeting eagles. Those sites with a recent history of egg robberies or are known to egg collectors are mainly in the Lochs and Pairc areas but there is a possibility they could travel anywhere in the Western Isles over the weekend.”

Man who fell down Garrabost cliff calls out rescuers on his mobile

A walker who had just fallen down a coastal cliff in the dark managed to call out the rescue services on his mobile phone to come to his aid last night (SUN). The man, aged 44, had tumbled nearly 20ft onto the shore at Garrabost on the Isle of Lewis. He had hurt his leg and also had facial injuries.

He got through to Stornoway Coastguard at about 7.30pm and the rescue helicopter and a coast rescue team were called out and sent to the scene, about a quarter of a mile from the Upper Garrabost road end.

Another coastguard team from Ness headed to Western Isles Hospital to help the rescue helicopter land on the helipad in the dark using their lights. There was no word on the man’s condition.

Islanders will get first refusal in the sale of Great Bernera

The island off the west of Lewis formerly owned and greatly loved by the French-born aristocrat on whom author Ian Fleming modelled his character James Bond has been offered to the people who live on it.

Little Bernera 2

Almost overhead Little Bernera (pic Chris Murray)

In his will, Count Robin Mirrlees left Great Bernera, which the playboy and Queen’s Herald bought without visiting it after seeing it advertised in 1962, to his grandson, Cyran le Lanne, who lives in Germany.

Now solicitors for his family have written to the islanders to say he does not wish to keep the island and they will get first refusal – as long as they make up their minds within a couple of months.

News of the offer has been widely welcomed on Great Bernera where plans were already being drawn up for a possible costly legal battle if Cyran and his father Patrick de la Lanne, the mayor of the town of Delmenhorst in Lower Saxony, had decided not to offer them the island.

It was thought likely they could have resorted to using the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 to try and force a hostile buyout of the 7,000-acre island but that will now be unnecessary.

Before his death in June last year, Count Robin told how he helped Ian Fleming research adventures for 007 to thrill readers with in the 1963 novel On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

He revealed that in the book, Bond’s cover as the genealogist Sir Hilary Bray was directly based on himself as at that time he was the heraldic researcher, appointed by the Queen, at the College of Arms.

Sir Hilary Bray, who was played in the film by George Lazenby, had the title of Sable Basilisk Pursuivant – which was merely a play on Mirrlees’s own official title of Rouge Dragon Pursuivant.

Bernera Centre

Great Bernera is a vibrant island with many activities based in its well-used community centre

A solicitor for the Count’s son Patrick , who is the executor of the estate, and grandson wrote to the Great Bernera Community Development Group saying that because Count Robin’s immediate family and principal beneficiary lived in Germany, the distance made the prospect of maintaining and developing Bernera Estate “very challenging”.

He went on: “Consequently, it has been decided that Great Bernera should be sold and, given Robin’s great affection for the island and its people, the Executor wishes to offer the community the opportunity to purchase the island. The family is acutely aware of what Great Bernera meant to Robin and would be happy to meet with islanders to address any concerns they may have in relation to the sale of the island.

“If the community does not wish to pursue purchase of Great Bernera, the island will be placed on the open market. We should stress that the island will not be offered for sale elsewhere until the community has indicated its view on purchase.”

He left an estate worth about £1.3 million in his will. In it, the Count, who was a descendant of King Louis Philippe I of France and a godson of the 11th Duke of Argyll, had left the uninhabited 340-acre neighbouring island of Little Bernera to the National Trust for Scotland.

However, after islanders indicated their disapproval as many of them hoped to to keep livestock there, the NTS announced it did not wish to take up the offer because of the “logistics”. Separate arrangements will now be made for the disposal of Little Bernera.

It is now likely that the 230 islanders will also take up the offer of a meeting and will invite the late Count’s family to Great Bernera to discuss the way forward.

Tom Macdonald, the chairman of the Great Bernera Community Development Group, said: “We are very pleased about the offer. We have a fair idea that a buyout is what most people here want but we will have a community consultation to confirm that.
“We had a meeting of our steering group when we got the letter this week. At our next meeting we will put down a timetable because we will need to let them know our decision by the beginning of April.”

He said it was too early to discuss what their plans were for developments on Great Bernera to raise funds and develop its potential but it is known that several are already under consideration.

Retired captain claims MV Hebrides has no proper lifeboats but inflatables that could not even be deployed in a Minch storm.

A row has broken out over the decision of a ferry captain to sail to the Western Isles with a storm brewing.

Another mariner has launched a broadside at the operator Caledonian MacBrayne saying the ferry was not fitted with lifeboats but an inflatable escape chute and inflatable liferafts that would be useless in a Force 11 gale.

CalMac is meanwhile insisting that all its captains are up to the job.

Capt Morris Macleod

Capt Morris Macleod

Midway into the voyage, from Ullapool to Stornoway on Tuesday evening, the captain of the MV Hebrides, was told that Stornoway harbour was shutting because of the unsafe conditions and that he could not berth there.

The ferry had to turn round and return to Ullapool where the passengers had to sleep on its seats or pay for onshore accommodation. It finally left for Stornoway at 5.35pm tonight (Wed).

Now the master of the ferry has come under fire from another master mariner for deciding to sail at all with a severe weather forecast.

Captain Morris Macleod, a recently-retired oil installation platform manager and master mariner for decades, who lives near Stornoway, said: “The ferry captain sailed despite a Force 10 to 11 forecast. That is a blatant breach of CalMac’s own health and safety.
“On Tuesday evening they encountered 65 knots while still in Loch Broom before reaching open water. The captain made a horrendous mistake.”

A typical passenger chute

A typical passenger chute like the one on the MV Hebrides – could it have been deployed in Tuesday’s ferocious gales in the Minch?

He said the Master had showed a serious lack of professional judgement in sailing from Ullapool with that weather forecast, adding: “The safety of his crew and passengers is of paramount importance and commercial considerations should never supersede this.”

The claims have split seafarers. Several experienced mariners criticised the former captain for speaking out while others thought he was “absolutely right” to raise his concerns.

Ferry company CalMac has so far refused to be drawn into a discussion over the concerns and criticisms raised by Capt Macleod. A spokesman said: “We have no comment to make other than that we stand by the professional judgement of our highly-experienced and highly-qualified Masters.

Last night, Capt Macleod said he was disappointed at the company’s response. He said: “The fact is that the MV Hebrides has no proper lifeboats like the regular ferry – just a Mass Evacuation System which, in fact, is just inflatable liferafts which the passengers access via an inflatable chute like you see on large aircraft.
“You simply could not even deploy it in storm force 11 conditions.”

He likened the decision to sail on Tuesday evening to that of the ill-fated Stranraer-to-Larne ferry Princess Victoria which sank after taking water by its stern on January 31, 1953.

He said: “It’s the same thing. She sailed when she should not have. Exactly 60 years later, CalMac is making the same mistakes at Ullapool. No lessons have been learned.”

Point man dies after cliff fall

A man from Point has died in hospital after apparently losing his footing and

Coat rescue team at work in ravine off Swordale.   Pic: RNLI Stornoway

Coast rescue team at work in ravine off Swordale on Monday . Pic: RNLI Stornoway

plunging about 70ft into a shoreline ravine near his home village while looking for a missing ram.

Donald Macdonald, 48, from Swordale, was found seriously hurt in a ravine on the shoreline by the coastguard rescue helicopter.

He was being treated for suspected head and spinal injuries at Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway but died later. He leaves his mother and two brothers.