Sunday ferries
I came across this article (or a version thereof) in "The Scots Magazine"* and having found the original on-line - about 2/3 of the way down the page - I thought it worth posting, for comments and observations:
On 7.20 a.m. on Monday, the 1st. April 1901, the first ever Mallaig to Glasgow train left Mallaig Station, carrying on board passengers from the steamers Clydesdale from Lewis and Lovedale from Skye.
The Clydesdale had sailed overnight from Stornoway with the first through ticket holders booked from Lewis to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and they would reach their destination within twelve hours.
Any visitor to the Transport Museum in Glasgow can find a ticket booth in between two railway engines which has a timetable for connections between London and Stornoway (amongst other places) from the 1930's showing the ferry leaving on Sunday morning to connect with the overnight sleeper to London; presumably so that the Lords and Ladies could finish their hunting, fishing and shooting and be back in the Courts, House of Lords or at work in London on Monday morning.
When I mentioned this in the Council Chamber in a discussion about Sunday travel, no-one would admit this ever happened, but nor could they deny the evidence of my own eyes. That was fun.
* The Scots Magazine is found (only) in hospital waiting areas, doctors surgeries, the homes of elderly aunts and ex-pat emigrants from the 1950's. It advertises support stockings, Kenneth McKellar's Greatest Hits and the dolls with big skirts that sit over toilet rolls. Inevitably it is published by DC Thompson.
On 7.20 a.m. on Monday, the 1st. April 1901, the first ever Mallaig to Glasgow train left Mallaig Station, carrying on board passengers from the steamers Clydesdale from Lewis and Lovedale from Skye.
The Clydesdale had sailed overnight from Stornoway with the first through ticket holders booked from Lewis to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and they would reach their destination within twelve hours.
Which begs the question of when Sunday sailings from Lewis STOPPED.
Any visitor to the Transport Museum in Glasgow can find a ticket booth in between two railway engines which has a timetable for connections between London and Stornoway (amongst other places) from the 1930's showing the ferry leaving on Sunday morning to connect with the overnight sleeper to London; presumably so that the Lords and Ladies could finish their hunting, fishing and shooting and be back in the Courts, House of Lords or at work in London on Monday morning.
When I mentioned this in the Council Chamber in a discussion about Sunday travel, no-one would admit this ever happened, but nor could they deny the evidence of my own eyes. That was fun.
* The Scots Magazine is found (only) in hospital waiting areas, doctors surgeries, the homes of elderly aunts and ex-pat emigrants from the 1950's. It advertises support stockings, Kenneth McKellar's Greatest Hits and the dolls with big skirts that sit over toilet rolls. Inevitably it is published by DC Thompson.
13 comments:
My mother, who is 75, always maintains that there was none of the intolerant bigotry that emanates from organised religion nowadays when she was growing up.
Just as an afterthought does anybody think that religon, like nationalism, is an accident of birth.
Would the fire and brimstone preachers on the Island have found christianity if they had been born in Iran or would they be part of an intolerant islamic sect?
Angus
the boat sailed on Monday morning@ 0015, having been carefully loaded on Saturday night before midnight. Every other night it sailed at 2345, except Saturday of course. There were no Sunday sailings. As an accountant you will know all about tax avoidance as opposed to tax evasion, this was a similar sort of arrangement which seemed acceptable to the "righteous" and did not inconvenience the rest of us as the 30 minutes was mysteriously recovered on passage.I am confused as to how the righteous managed to actually catch the boat without contravention of their "rule book" and in particular edict number four, but they did and everyone seemed happy
Anon 9:48, thank you for that information. There is always someone with more factual information that one could credit. I know I am right about the sailing in the 1930's, so when did Sunday ferries start and when did they finish?
Nearly keeled over backwards when I read the West Highland Free Press coming out in support of you, Angus. Changed times!
Upspace - I realise that the GLBT mustand for Gey/Lesbian/Black but what does the T stand for - surely not theocracy?!
anon 10:01 - bad news for you Angus!
I strongly suspect the WHFP are not so much supporting me, as using me....
I definitely remember as a kid getting a ferry that sailed in the wee small hours - It was from the pier that the muirneag sits at though I remember. I'm 35 so it's within the last 20/25 years that it was still going.
I have no doubt that, while the large majority of church-going locals are moderate, friendly and open-minded about such matters, as per normal the small minority of extremists will:
- claim they speak for everyone
- claim they have great support
- do everything possible to stop this, as it would make life easier for people (bad) and provide more opportunities for people to enjoy themselves (even worse)
- spew out the usual negative spin, full of hate and scorn for anyone who dares not to choose to follow their miserable, abstinate, pleasure-free lifestyle
For it is a lifestyle, and an extreme one, that they are trying to force onto the entire population.
It was never like this for previous generation on Lewis. Let's be honest; if the fundamentalists got their way, then this is the kind of thing they'd insist every Lewis playground has:
(Especially if they can't padlock the gates shut on *their* Sabbath.)
The fundamentalists have made the Western Isles a laughing stock nationally with their miserable, backwards and out-of-place rhetoric. It dissuades youngsters from staying here, and people from moving here - as evidenced by yet another family leaving Lewis next week to move to a less "suffocating and restrictive" (the words of the mother) location on the mainland.
Their intimidating tactics for getting letters and petitions signed - which amount to "sign, or everyone in your community will know that you haven't" - have no place in a modern, civilised, democracy. Which is just the kind of thing they'll never want, as it reduces their power.
The sooner these extremists are driven off the islands, thus returning us to a more decent, accepting, society where residents can worship who or what they want without extreme prejudice or retribution, the better.
All very well to air frustration/anger at sabbatarians (not to be confused with true Christians IMHO) but if you want to change things why not email the people who will decide on Sunday ferries - Calmac and their political masters in the Scottish Government. Don't forget to provide your name and postal address.
hugh.maclennan@calmac.co.uk
alex.salmond.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
john.swinney.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
stewart.stevenson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
alasdair.allan.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Be assured that LDOS and others will be sending them a very different message.
anon 10:01 PM
WHFP didn’t “come out in support” of Angus. It came out in support of justice. In Germany, circa 1933 – the political masters at that time had a way of dealing with those who didn’t support the Fuhrer. Dr Allan dealt with “dissent” in the ranks in a very “masterful” way, aided and abetted by his wee pal at the Grey Shite publication - Mr Donnie Gazette. Got to dash – I feel a dilemma coming on, Sorry, it’s only Maroot on the phone…..
anon 7:46, Godwin's Law
Anon 3.46 As one of these island youngsters you talk of, I dispute the notion that the Sunday question and the attitude of church-goers is what will prevent me from returning after university; Rather it will the attitudes of many towards economic progress that will be important.
The opportunity the Wind Farm project presents us with is a last chance saloon for these islands. Not the project itself per se but the attitude of islanders towards it.
If petty, point scoring nationalists and inward thinking people carry the day as regards the wind farm project, it will be the final nail in the coffin for many youngsters with hopes of returning to the islands.
This is not because we will not have wind farms but because of the message it sends for the future. That islanders do not want economic progress and that coming home with the hope of attractive long term employment would be a fruitless endeavour.
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