Luss Village Hall Arts and Crafts Fair, December 3, 2011

Spotted an excuse for a day out in readiness for Christmas:

Luss Village Hall Arts & Crafts Fair 3rd December 2011

Arts & Crafts Fair being held at Luss Village Hall on Saturday 3rd of December 2011. Starting at 10am until 2pm, ideal place to pick up those last minute and unique Christmas Presents.

Will be raising funds for Luss Village Hall and Luss Primary School.

If you wish to have a stall at the event, there are contact details at the link below:

via Luss Village Hall Arts & Crafts Fair 3rd December 2011 in Luss, Argyll and Bute | Community Chest | Gumtree.com.

Any excuse for a picture of Luss will do, and this scene from June 2005 may have mist covering the hilltops, but the village is still colourful – and more importantly, looks as if the rain has stopped for a moment. But, give it a few minutes…

Luss © Mick Garratt

Crathes Castle hosts Enchanted Castle sound and light event

We mentioned the original event at Pitlochry a few weeks ago – The Enchanted Forest – a 2011 sound and light extravaganza at Pitlochry

Now it seems the same event is spawning ‘extra bits’ (and if you are thinking of attending, then CHECK in advance, since some shows are already sold out! )…

Crathes Castle, Garden and Estate, on Royal Deeside, will play host to a stunning display of light and sound installations as part of the Enchanted Castle event.

Director of GM events Gerry Muldoon said: “We’re expecting over 7500 people and we have people coming from all over the UK people – from London, Manchester and Birmingham. There’s been interest from all over UK and we’re delighted.

…Mr Muldoon said he now hoped the spectacular would become an annual event at the Deeside venue.

“We’re already planning a date for next year,” he said.

“We’re not aware of any other event in UK with a light show at a 16th century castle and gardens and estate. There’s nowhere quite like this.”

A host of entertainers including jugglers and magicians will also be wandering the grounds.

The event will run from November 23-27.

via Magical castle event poised to open to public | Aberdeen and North | STV News.

Contact details and further information can be found here:

The Enchanted Castle – Crathes Castle – Introduction

Bute Vintage Club charity run, Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Isle of Bute is set to host the Bute Vintage Club charity rally and road run on Saturday, June 9, 2011.

The event has attracted such a large number of entrants that the start has had to be moved from its usual gathering point of Rothesay’s Guildford Square to the larger space offered by the promenade area behind the old Winter Gardens, now the Discovery Centre.

Assembly is due to begin at 10 am, and entertainer Johnny Beattie – long associated with the island – is due to flag the run off at 11:30 am.

Although no longer host to its own motoring event, Mount Stuart is set to be visited by the cars between 12:30 pm and 1:45 pm, after which they will depart for their final destination near the Isle of Bute Sailing Club on Ardbeg Road, arriving from 2:30 pm onward.

Benefiting from funds raised during the event will be the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Bute’s district nurses, and Macmillan Cancer Support.

See also: Vintage road run next weekend – Community – The Buteman

Inverness to host Sunbeam Talbot Alpine car event

About 100 Sunbeam Talbot Alpines from the UK, continental Europe, and North America are expected to meet in Inverness over the weekend of July 1 to July 4, 2011, Friday to Monday.

Owners and their cars will visit sites around Inverness, including Culloden Battlefield and Bogbain Farm.

It is now more than 50 years since the marque was last manufactured.

The Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Register (STAR) are involved in organising this event, described as the first such rally to be held in Inverness.

STAR was established in 1969 to encourage the use, restoration and preservation of the Talbot, Sunbeam Talbot, and Sunbeam cars manufactured by the Rootes Group between 1936 and 1957.

BBC News – Sunbeam Talbot Alpine cars to gather in Inverness

STAR – the Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Register

Rothesay Pavilion redevelopment proves popular

Rothesay Pavilion

It seems that the most adventurous plan for the redevelopment of Rothesay’s Art Deco pavilion have also proven to be the most popular with the locals.

The exhibition of various options we mentioned recently took place to a good response, and the most adventurous (and expensive) of three possibilities has been reported to be the most popular of the offerings.

This plan would see the main hall being reduced in size, with the side wings utilised for meeting rooms or gallery space, and the construction of a first-floor gallery, said to be a feature that would restore the hall to its present seating capacity, despite the initial size reduction.

This plan also see the top floor of the pavilion being reopened for public use, with the possibility of a partial conversion to hotel accommodation – those responsible for the project claim their research has revealed a lack of top-end bedrooms on the island (I’m not so sure about that one – we’ll see).

Whatever the ultimate outcome, it’s good to see such interest being generated and followed up, together with the financial commitment Argyll and Bute Council has pledged to ensure the project goes forward. Building such as the pavilion can only come under increasing threat in the future, as they become older and in need of maintenance.

We don’t want to see them go the same way as many of the Clyde cost’s picture palace, razed to make way for flats, such as was the case with the Regal a few years ago, and the Winter Gardens, which may be coming under threat again, after enjoying a successful decade after its rescue around the turn of the millennium.

Read more:

Pavilion plans grab Bute public’s attention – Buteman Today

Open day to show proposals for Rothesay Pavilion project

Rothesay Pavilion

Rothesay Pavilion is one of our favourite buildings, so we keep an eye out for any news regarding the building’s forthcoming regeneration.

The Prince’s Regeneration Trust – leading the development of plans for the building’s future – is hosting a drop-in event at the Pavilion this Sunday, November 7, 2010, along with architects Elder & Cannon, the Bute Community Land Company, and other partners in the team working towards the renewal of the structure.

Members of the public are invited to come along, and have their say on the proposed option for the classic Art Deco building, and Sunday will be the first time the various option will be placed on display.

Argyll and Bute Council – Rothesay Pavilion Project

The event runs from 11 am until 4 pm on the day, with refreshments and home baking being provided.

Read more:

Rothesay Pavilion plans to go on public display – Buteman Today

Comments and feedback from any readers that are able to attend this event would be most appreciated.

Big Man Walking on Bute

I had been looking forward to this event, anticipating a full gallery to be posted by Zak just after it happened, and I wasn’t disappointed – if you forget the tiny hiccup suffered by Pbase (where the images are hosted) where it seems an electricity supply interruption put the system down for almost three days.

Such is life though, and although normal service took a little more the the proverbial “five minutes” to restore, the incident should serve as a reminder to make sure you are making some sort of backup, and not just thinking about doing it “tomorrow”.

Big Man Walking

Big Man Walking is a series of events which will see a giant 8 metre high man walking through the towns and villages of Scotland, creating a spectacular street event which features one of the biggest puppets ever built in Scotland, with some 12 puppeteers to help him on his way.

The Big Man’s Journey in 2009

Isle of Bute: September 26 and 27
Kirkcaldy: October 3
Buckie: October 17
Invergordon: October 20
Inverclyde: November 6 and 7

The BBC recently reported on the forthcoming event, as the star of the show was completed and made his way into the sun:

There’s another pre-event video here, where The Guardian features the UK’s biggest ever puppet, as he goes for his first stroll by the Firth of Forth, described by Symon Macintyre. the event’s artistic director.

Big Man makes an impressive sight as he walks through the streets waving to the crowds, watching the spectators, and can even blink his big eyes. Although his eyes are motorised and under the puppeteers’ control, the view from the Big Man comes from cameras mounted behind the star on his forehead, and his view on the world will be shown on is web site.

Here he is taking an evening walk along Argyle Street, Bute, with Rothesay Bay in the background:

The event was also reported in the local newspaper, The Buteman: see Bute takes the Big Man to its heart

Some photos of the event from September 26 and 27:

Walking in Argyle Street © Zak

Meeting fans at Rothesay Pavilion © Zak

Shaking hands at Rothesay Pavilion © Zak

On Sunday morning, the Big Man was back on the road, this time on the road to Port Bannatyne and the short walk to the Greenwood Crossing, where he officially opened the new Tramway Path to Ettrick Bay, provided by the Discover Bute Landscape Partnership Scheme.

Relaxing near Ettrick Bay © Zak

Leaving Bute on the big ferry © Zak

The Story Behind the Big Man

Many thousands of years ago when Scotland was a rough country of boulders, vast forests and wild beasts , people lived in fear of everything, even the shadows.

Then one day the warmth of the sun was blotted out and they looked up to see two huge birds fighting in the sky. Like giant eagles they tumbled, wheeled and spun in the air until one of the creatures broke away and tumbled towards them. As it grew closer to the ground they saw it was not a bird but a giant man with great wings strapped to his back. When he hit the ground the earth trembled, his wings smashed to pieces, and the populace fled and hid in terror.

Then, driven by curiosity, they ventured out to look at this Big Man. They saw he needed their help and they looked after him, gave him water and food.

In return for their hospitality he helped clear the land of the giant boulders, throwing them into the sea to create islands. He carved out inlets with his bare hands so they could shelter their fishing boats and he chased the nightmare beasts from the forests.

Gradually he recovered his strength and walked the land recovering the scattered pieces of his shattered wings to rebuild them.
Finally he was ready, he tied his pinions to his back and with a great beat of air flew into the sky and was gone.

At first people were sad and missed him, but when they looked around and saw their fields cleared of boulders, the forests safe to hunt in and sheltered havens for their fishing boats. They realised that this was now a land in which they could live and thrive.

The wisest of them even suggested that the Big Man would return to see the country he had helped create. They promised that when he came back he would be welcomed with great celebrations. They wanted the communities to gather together to show him what had been achieved in his absence. These storytellers became The Guild of Watchers, who now await his return.

Conference: Scotland’s Glass, October 2010

Old glassblowing pic from Scotland's Glass

An International Conference to celebrate 400 years of glassmaking in Scotland is being held at Edinburgh College of Art between October 1 and 4, 2010.

The conference is part of a year-long celebration of glass making in Scotland, the following speakers have already been confirmed for this event.

The following details are reproduced from the event’s own web site details, which should be consulted for any subsequent changes which may take place:

Speaker	Subject
Brian Blench Formerly Head of Decorative Arts, Glasgow Museums	Helen Munro Turner and her Students
Stephen Pollock-Hill Chairman of The British Glass Education Trust, and curator of the Museum of 20th Century British Domestic Glass	The Scottish Glass Industry in the latter part of the 20th century – a revival?
Graham Cooley	Loch, Heather & Peat: Domnhall O’Broin & Caithness Glass
Andy Nowson (Author)	Caithness Glass Paperweights – 1969-2009 – A 40 year Adventure Pushing the Boundaries…
Geoffrey Seddon	Jacobite Rebellion and Scottish Glass
Siobhan Healy (Glass Artist)	Natural form in Design
Patty Niemann (Glass Artist)	Her work and forms of glass body adornment

Also speaking will be Jill Turnbull, an expert on the early history of Scottish glass, and eminent experts Nigel Benson and Simon Cottle (Bonhams).

This is intended to be a multi-stream conference for around 200 delegates covering all aspects of Glass: History, Collecting, Making, Art, Technology, Archaeology, Architecture, Industry. Combined with demonstrations and workshops.

You can visit ScotlandsGlass.co.uk for further information on glass and glassmaking.

A brochure is being printed to show every place in Scotland where one can see glass: not just museums, but buildings, makers and, it is hoped, archaeological sites. Every building included will be encouraged to open its doors to the public during 2010. All of the glass businesses based in Scotland are including in the brochure, but the organisers are appealing for information about any glass business not included, and also about any other glassmakers with a Scottish connection that are working elsewhere in the world.

“Who Am I? Day” held in Oban

Oban War and Peace Museum (Courtesy of the museum)

On Thursday, March 26, 2008, the Oban War an Peace Museum held a Who Am I? Day in the town’s Regent Hotel.

The Regent Hotel is just along the Corran Esplanade, a short way from the Oban War and Peace Museum itself, which is located within the old Oban Times Building near the pier head.

Over the years, many photographs have been donated to the museum, but many lack any supporting information, and the identities of many of the people seen in them are unknown. During the day, many of the photographs were on show to the public, and covered the years from 1983 into the 1970s, with subjects ranging from the Armed Services of World War II through to old School photographs.

The doors were open from 11:00 am in the morning, and the event ran until 4:00 pm in the afternoon, with volunteers on hand hand to help with any queries. All were made welcome, with free admission to the event.

Successful result

At the end of the day, the even was deemed a success, with some 52 previously unknown names associated with subjects in the photographs, and whole new collection of stories and anecdotes to go along with them as well.

Museum Opening hours

• March, April, October, November – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily including Sundays
• May, June, July, August, September – 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Saturday, Sundays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• July, August, September – 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm subject to volunteer availabilit

Admission to the museum is free.

Museum Contact details

Oban War and Peace Museum
Old Oban Times Building
Corran Esplanade
Oban
Argyll PA34 5PX

Telephone: 01631 570007

email: info@obanmuseum.org.uk

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Last chance to visit Honecker nuclear bunker

Minox miniature camera - once the Cold War spy's favourite

Scheduled to be sealed with concrete after being opened for tours over the the next three months, you have only that time to visit the former East Germany and visit the bunker where Erich Honecker, who ruled the German Democratic Republic (GDR) for almost twenty years, would have been housed together with his staff and fellow communists.

The bunker, with sprung rooms to cushion its 400 residents from the effects of nuclear explosions above, reaches 230 feet (70 m) underground and hosts some 170 room on three storeys, and contains a fountain in addition to the necessary air conditioning. It lies in a forest near Wandlitz, 16 miles (25 km) northeast of Berlin, where the whole East German government was accommodated in a special colony. The bunker was surrounded by a village occupied almost entirely by members of the feared East German spy agency, the Stasi.

Described by one of those who worked on its construction as “not that top secret”, the interior which might once have been home to the Republic’s elite is now described as being covered in green slime and smelling of mould.

The BBC News report has a short video of the bunker’s interior.

The story reminded of my small collection of cameras, which includes an example of an early Minox, as favoured by spies, not only during the Cold War, but even more so during World War II, with many ingenious methods devised for transporting the cameras and their film, and the use of the microdot to move the final product, and the information it contained, to its final destination.

The mind boggles at what could have been (and is of course – espionage is not dead, especially industrial/commercial) done using modern equipment and miniaturisation, which has been freed of the constrains of requiring large mechanical components like motors and gearboxes, and the low power batteries then available.