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The truths they don't want you to read....

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Stornoway Grey

When I first saw the colour "Stornoway Grey, I was mildly offended, and posted a somewhat lighthearted comment thereon. Then I thought about it more and more, and I am truly insulted, especially when it leads to deprecating comments on the web.

Anyway, time to do something about it.

I've set up an online petition which can be accessed here, or via the beautiful picture of the machair on the right hand side.

When it has been signed by enough people, I intend to submit it to Land Rover management to demand that they be less insulting in the future.

Update: 14/3/07 - Got enough signatures to contact LandRover, petition now suspended. Thanks very much for all your support.

23 comments:

AIF said...

Never mind the colour; please tell me such an environmental hero is not contemplating the purchase of a "Chelsea Tractor"?!

Angus said...

The story is now here.

AIF said...

I have a feeling you are about to be inundated with "what kind of connotations do you think the wind factory will plant in tourist's minds?" comments once some of your anonymous readers see this Angus!

Anonymous said...

Nobody cares.....

Anonymous said...

Angus

Thought you might like to know that the Land Rover English website mispells as Stornaway; as you point out, its obviously spelt correctly in the Italian website.

Similarly, LEXUS have an inerior termed Black Stornaway Velour available on their lower spec IS200s. Is this any better than grey or just more presbyterian.

Regards

DTS The Anorak

Anonymous said...

A sad attempt to draw some attention to himself in the media, thats all this is - it made me laugh! A man whom is part of the destruction of the future island culture and rugged beauty takes offence to such a thing as this.

Grey Landrovers are one of the most popular colours, we should be glad that they are using us in the name! ... also various greys in the landscape (rocks) and the sky (clouds) make up the beauty of the Hebrides.

All I see this as is a sad attempt to gain attention in the media, to think, I used to hold this guy in high esteem and think he was a man of intellegence and morals, not now ... on the topic of Stornoway Grey, its a good thing most of my fellow island born Lewis men & women are having a good laugh at this wee bit of attention seeking.

You should be more worried about having blood on your hands for destroying the islands culture, heritage and picturesque landscape!

I am sure you wont let this go on here Angus ... but hey, truth hurts some people!

Angus said...

Anon 4:40pm - Alasdair F had you figured yesterday. "Blood on my hands"??? A bit melodramatic, even for MWT.

I'm very disappointed that there appear to be so many in favour of negative connotations about these islands, whilst denigrating attempts to improve (or failing which, raise) our image.

Although our economy is (supposedly) hugely dependent on tourists, we mustn't object to negative stereotypes?

As I said yesterday, they wouldn't dare call it London Drab or Smoky Birmingham, or why should we sit back and take the insult?

Anonymous said...

Is that bird blood on you hands, Angus? Or have you been slaughtering cats again?

Are you personally going to throw the entire bird life on Lewis into the turbine blades? If so, are you selling tickets?

The anti-windfarm campaigners are desperate to prevent any development on these islands, unless it personally benefits them.

I don't want to live on a "native reservation" being looked at by tourists as we go about our quaint way of life. MWT want to do us down and keep us down for their own benefit.

Anonymous said...

Windfarms in the Hebrides, now let's see now --- how many different windfarms will there be? Is the Amec proposal the only one? Are there others in the pipeline? Do we want the continual Whoosh, Whoosh, Whoosh of windmills all over the islands for other people to benefit, those who do not live on the islands,where will it all end? I know why don't we just stop it now before it starts? Radical thinking or what? Oh just a small note, but I have heard that there will be a few protestors here if the Amec thing gets the go ahead, so be prepared for trouble. Not from myself of course, I like my peaceful life, although will it remain so in the future? Cheery... Tws....

Anonymous said...

I live in Berkeley, California. My grandparents and wife’s grandparents were from Scotland; we have a flat in St. Andrews. As Californians, we like to visit the area, because it is overcast and green, and not to hot (among other reasons) I like the name "Stornoway Grey", it makes me want to visit the place….where is it exactly?
;-)
just relax......enjoy the promotion, seems like you are trying to maximise the audience by whining about the Rover color. I don't want to visit a place where people are whiners.

Anonymous said...

oh man, even the petition Angus sets up costs money, says something about his character.

Angus said...

Stornoway is now being talked about everywhere, mostly in polite terms, so I've achieved my objective of increased publicity for the islands.

Even our MP was talking about it today at the Port Authority - I was in the other room and heard everything he said.

Anonymous said...

Bad mouthing you again, was he Angus?

Anonymous said...

Quote form Angus: "As I said yesterday, they wouldn't dare call it London Drab or Smoky Birmingham,........"

Well actually they have!
These are all genuine Land Rover colours:-
Bonatti Grey
Monsoon Grey
Arken Grey
Cambrian Grey
Pennine Grey
Pembroke Grey
Hatton Grey (poor old David)
Lizard Grey
Merlin Grey
and best of all..........Westminster Grey!!!

Yes you've got people talking about it but you may end up with Land Rover withdrawing the Stornoway name and any link to the Western Isles because of your antics.
Seeing as they also used beaches in Harris and the Scalpay Bridge in some of their adverts last year, one of which is still on their (website ), it seems to me that Land Rover are only trying to promote the islands.

I feel proud that a British motoring icon such as Land Rover has chosen to grace it's latest models with the Stornoway name. I am also embarrassed to think that one of our own councillors is giving the world the impression that the people of these islands wish to be disassociated with any such honour!

Anyway, if all these turbines do go up then surly Stornoway Grey will be quite fitting don't you think?

Anonymous said...

Dear all,

Dont you realise that Angus tongue is firmly in his cheek. God, you're all so serious! Lighten up all of you.

Anonymous said...

Anon the pedant: so you can read a Landrover brochure. Wow, we're impressed.

So tell me, where is Bonatti? Have you ever visited Arken? Planning a visit to Merlin next year?

Idiot.

I now rename you Anon the Boring Pedant. Change your name by deed poll and see how it affects people's impression of you.

Good work, Angus, winding up the dull, anal, types.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1207 AM:
I'm sorry if you feel that facts and research have no bearing on this subject.
If you have anything to counter what I've posted then please feel free to put it forward but just throwing insults at me does nothing to change the view I hold and only serves to show the wider world what type of people support Angus's views.

As you seem to like my research so much, here some about your own comments:
You won't find most of the colours I've listed in any Land Rover brochure these days, unless you have a collection going back to the early 1980's.
They were gleaned from a list of paint codes used by auto body professionals to match the correct paint to your vehicle if it requires spraying.
Bonatti was a 'who' not a 'where', he was an Italian astronomer and astrologer in 1200's so I won't be visiting him.
I would love to visit the Arken but having never been to Copenhagen then I'll put it on my "to do" list.
My holidays in 2008, unfortunately, don't include a trip to Southern Oregon I'm afraid, as that's where you'll find the town of Merlin.

Anonymous said...

Above anon: Isn't Google a wonderful invention. I know exactly who Bonatti was, which was my point. Why are Landrover no longer insulting the other towns, but feel free to do so with Stornoway?

I think you'll find that "Merlin Grey" was called after the bird, and that Arken was a person not a place. Thank you for making my point. As you say, research helps.

Angus said...

Angus is a bit demob happy!

Anonymous said...

I thought this was a joke, I really did. I mean seriously, if you haven't got anything more important to campaign on....
We pick up our new Discovery next week, by the way. It's Stornoway Grey.

PS: as you only allow comments you "approve" I presume this will remain between us, rather than seeing the light of day.

Angus said...

Can I let you in on a secret? Yes it was totally and utterly tongue in cheek during a quiet week for news. The funniest bit was the number of people who took it deadly seriously. :-)

Anonymous said...

Having lived in Lewis for two years I think it is a most appropriate choice of colour name. In the time I was there Stornoway had less sunshine in June, July and August than the south coast had in November, December and January.

Anonymous said...

Well take yourself back to the south coast and stay there!