page 15 page 19 corra is a winner!

Am Bratach Raasay’s Community Newsletter

December 2016

and January 2017

Raasay Supermoon Ogham What’s on Bake Off & Cuillin Tree Walk? Raasay?

PAGE 3 PAGE 6 PAGE 15 PAGE 19

CORRA IS A WINNER! BY ARTEMIS PANA

What a way to close a very successful year for

Raasay Community Stores! The hard work of

CORRA’s staff and Board was recognised at

the Plunkett Foundation’s Rural Community

Ownership Awards which were held in London

on Monday, 28 November.

Picking up the Award on behalf of CORRA was Tekela Koek, CORRA’s Chair. “It was a real honour to represent Raasay Community Stores at the Plunkett Foundation Awards” she said. “I was truly delighted when it was announced that we were the winner of the Award 2016 for Scotland! We beat off stiff competition in Buth Barraigh (Isle of Barra) and GlenWyvis Distillery (Dingwall).”

Tekela went on to thank CORRA’s members, staff and volunteers. “This is a great achievement and I was very proud to bring home the plaque to be displayed in the shop in recognition of all the work put in by everyone involved over the years. It is testament to our manager Davie and his staff team for going the extra mile to provide an excellent service and to all those who have volunteered their time and expertise since the seed was first planted in 2011.”

James Alcock of the Plunkett Foundation said: “We wanted to shine the light on those community co-operatives who have gone above and beyond for their local community, and all of the entries to this year’s awards were making a big difference to local people.” CORRA definitely fits this description, playing a big role in keeping Raasay alive and acting as an important community hub. As Tekela said, “Winning this Award not only reflects on our shop, but on the island as a whole and I sincerely hope that it will give us islanders a welcome boost to continue to work at keeping our community alive and thriving.”

The Award has made it back from London to Raasay and has taken (temporary) pride of place by the shop tills. If you have an idea where CORRA can best display it, please let any of the staff know!

Tekela with the delegates from Barra © A. Zinovieff

Am Bratach: Raasay’s Community Newsletter 2 December 2016 & January 2017

It's time for Christmas at Raasay Community Stores.

Orders are now being taken for supplies for the Christmas and New Year period.

Please keep an eye on our social media for the latest updates.

Coming to Raasay for a visit? Let us do your shopping for you. Call, email or send us a Facebook

message and we can prepare your order for collection when you arrive, or possibly arrange delivery

to your holiday cottage.

Raasay Community Stores 29/30 Inverarish Terrace, Isle of Raasay IV40 8NS

01478660203 [email protected]

facebook.com/RaasayCommunityStores

Community of Raasay Retail Association

Am Bratach: Raasay’s Community Newsletter 3 December 2016 and January 2017

Raasay Welcomes Winter

As the days get shorter and the weather turns cold, it’s the season to enjoy some good company, a wee dram and…why not? A giant jellyfish following a procession down to Raasay’s Boathouse! Thanks to the efforts of a wonderful team of young and a little less young volunteers, 2016’s Whisky, Fire and Song celebrations were a resounding success. Over 80 people took part in a torch-lit parade and enjoyed the sight of a roaring bonfire at the new Pier. After the flames died down, everyone took shelter from the hail in the Boathouse and enjoyed the music, stovies and bar. As well as R&B Distillers’ While We Wait Whisky, participants were able to sample Plockton Brewery beer which had been specially oak-aged by Raasay Brewing Co. in a While We Wait red wine finishing cask. If you are quick, you may be able to pick up a couple of bottles from Raasay Stores!

The Great Raasay Bake Off

Feast your eyes on these award-winning creations baked by Raasay Primary pupils in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design. In the first photo you can see Leia’s Steading with Georgia’s Battery and Nelly & Hamish’s Inverarish Village in the foreground. The second features the Steading with Thomas’ Raasay House by Night next to it.

2017 is Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology so bakers…start thinking about your creations. A lemon drizzle souterrain? A chocolate Viking grave?

© David Carslaw (both photos)

© Scott Mooney (both photos)

Am Bratach: Raasay’s Community Newsletter 4

December 2016 and January 2017

Architectural tour of Raasay’s new Distillery

BY MARGARET MOODIE

To celebrate Scotland’s year of Innovation, Architecture and Design a guided tour of the Distillery site took place on 5th November. The 25 people who participated were given a very interesting presentation on the Distillery’s architectural plans by Olli Blair of ABIR Architects. Olli described how the plans have been inspired by other buildings on Raasay including the Newton’s house and the Community Hall, both of which are designed to blend with the surrounding landscape. He went on to explain that Borodale House has been stripped back to the original structure and will be reinstated to make the most of the beautiful view. On completion, it will have 5 bedrooms, a members’ dining room and a bar and kitchen. The visitors centre in the adjacent Distillery will include a platform from which the stills may be observed. As the tour moved around the site, Olli pointed out where the stills will sit, where the whisky will be stored and how the area will be landscaped.

A Haunting on Henderson’s Bridge

Every Halloween, Raasay’s children get dressed up and go guising. This year around 10pm a ghostly presence was observed near Henderson’s Bridge, scaring the guisers. There are stories about Henderson’s bridge being haunted. Some say the apparition is a young woman in red velvet. Some say it is a water spirit. No-one has ever mentioned a dark presence in a £1.63 Scream Mask but could this be the real Henderson’s bridge ghost? The Am Bratach Editorial Team would love to hear your stories about strange happenings on Raasay whether these are ghostly hauntings or something else. If you have any to share, please email us at [email protected] or speak to one of the Am Bratach volunteers.

Am Bratach: Raasay’s Community Newsletter advertising rates, per issue: COLOUR /BLACK & WHITE Full page: £30/£15 Half page: £20/£10 Quarter page: £12/£6 Eighth page/Small ad: £6/£3

© Scott Mooney

© The ghost (selfie)


Opening Hours December 2016

Date What’s happening? Date What’s happening?

Thu 1st Bar/Bar Meals 6pm - 10pm - To book meals please call 01478 660 300

Sat 17th Bar Open 8pm - 11pm (closed during the day)

**Mulled Wine**

Fri 2nd CLOSED Sun 18th CLOSED

Sat 3rd Bar Open 8pm - 11pm (closed during the day)

Mon 19th Bar/Bar Meals 6pm - 10pm - To book meals please

call 01478 660 300. Sun 4th CLOSED Tue 20th

Mon 5th Bar and Bar menu may be available in the evenings. To book meals please call 01478

660 300

Please check Facebook for our latest opening updates or give us a call.

www.facebook.com/raasayhouseholidays/

Wed 21st

Bar Open 8pm - 11pm (closed during the day) Tue 6th Thu 22nd

Wed 7th Fri 23rd Christmas Quiz - Festive Family Pub Quiz 8pm. Bar Suppers from 5:30pm ring to book.

Thu 8th Sat 24th Bar Open 8pm - 11pm (closed during the day)

Fri 9th CLOSED Sun 25th CLOSED

Sat 10th Afternoon Tea 2pm-4pm - cakes, coffee, fizz! Plus Bar Open 8pm - 11pm

Mon 26th CLOSED

Sun11th

Bar/Bar Meals 6pm - 10pm

To book meals please call 01478 660 300

Tue 27th Bar Open 8pm - 11pm (closed during the day)

Mon 12th Wed 28th Bar Open for Pre Dance Drinks/Meetup 6pm - 8pm

Tue13th Thu 29th Bar Open 8pm - 11pm (closed during the day)

Wed 14th Fri 30th CLOSED

Thu 15th Sat 31st CLOSED

Fri 16th CLOSED

Raasay House Opening Hours January 2017

3rd to the 31st

We aim to have our bar open Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur & Sat Nights depending on custom. Please check our Facebook for the latest updates www.facebook.com/raasayhouseholidays/. We will also print updated

opening info and pin it up on the community notice board.

For group enquiries, special occasions and enquiries for extra opening hours please call 0147866030. We will always do our best to be open when you need us to be.


Moon over Cuillin

Raasay looks askance at Cuillin ridge Fearful of moonset, hidden by cloud.

Gulls cry, bold in their flying. Bees have gone to hive.

Sorley’s not gone.

His words hold the answer. His spirit is free.

Shy hero, poet, Giver of joy. His voice fills our minds with sonorous song.

Such peace in the Heartland. The land of MacLeod.

The graves of the warriors lie silent at evening.

Their memory lives for those who can know.

Red sails in the sunset. Beacon beams

For ships passing. Thoughts intermingle as they sail through the Sound

To the place they call home. A.H. Macinnes

WINTER WARMERS!

Is there a special someone on Raasay that you would like to say “Thank You” to? A

favourite relative or good friend? Make a £5 donation to Raasay Development Trust and we will deliver a feed bag-full of logs for their fire to their door, along with a

card saying who has ordered the wood for them. Contact Lloyd (660358) to place orders.

November’s Supermoon

photographed by David Carslaw

Am Bratach: Raasay’s Community Newsletter 7December 2016 & January 2017

The Family of the Late Callum Smith would like to thank all

those who donated in his memory.

A total of £300 will be shared between The Macmillan

Cancer Support and RNLI.

Raasay’s Saltmarsh Plants – Part 2

In the ninth of a series of articles on Raasay’s flora, botanist STEPHEN BUNGARD

takes another look at Saltmarsh Plants. Last month I described some of the specialist plants that enjoy regular soaking with salt water. Here are a few more that you can find at Oskaig. Aster tripolium (Sea Aster) has flowers like Michaelmas Daisy but in a well-grazed saltmarsh like Oskaig, it is tricky to spot a flower. The fleshy leaves are easier to find, though there are only a few well down the shore. The picture shows ungrazed plants from Skye. There is also another plant with purple flowers, Spergularia

media (Greater Sea-spurrey), but this is much smaller in all parts.

Sea Arrowgrass and Sea Aster (c. S Bungard)

When young, Triglochin maritima (Sea Arrowgrass) can be used a bit like chives - though it tastes of coriander. Two similar plants are also to be found in the saltmarsh: Triglochin

palustris (Marsh Arrowgrass) and Plantago maritima (Sea Plantain). Leaves of both of these are said to be edible too. Leaves from both Arrowgrass species can contain a toxic compound, especially during and after drought. Plants growing in Britain are said to be perfectly safe (usually). Also, don’t eat Sea Plantain seeds unless you are looking for a laxative effect.

Blysmus rufus (c. R Barendse, www.freenatureimages.eu)

Blysmus rufus (Saltmarsh Flat-sedge) forms dark green, almost bluish patches in the saltmarsh and has a distinctive dark brown, flat inflorescence. As well as at Oskaig there is a good colony at the mouth of the Arish Burn. Stephen is Vice-county Recorder for the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland for Skye, Raasay and

the Small Isles. His website, including Flora of Raasay, can be found at tinyurl.com/Raasayflora OR bit.ly/Raasay, and his botanical blog can be

found at skyeraasayplants.wordpress.com


An Act of Remembrance – 2016 BY SALLY WALKINSHAW

Armistice Day, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. This year I was proud and privileged to attend the Armistice Day Remembrance at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium and lay a wreath there for the young men of Raasay who fought and died in World War One.

The Act of Remembrance starts with the Poppy Parade where everyone taking part is offered poppy petals to carry to the Menin Gate Memorial. The Parade follows the massed bands and leads the official parade of standards to the Menin Gate for the 11 o’clock Last Post Ceremony. As the Poppy Parade passes through the Menin Gate all the poppy petals carried are collected in baskets. Wreaths are laid at the end of the ceremony followed by the poppy petals being released from the roof of the Menin Gate. This is a very special moment which has become an integral part of the annual ceremony at the Menin Gate. The Armistice Day Remembrance concludes with a magnificent concert in St Martins Cathedral, Ypres.

Menin Gate by night (c. S. Walkinshaw) Poppy Petals (c. S. Walkinshaw)

Poppy field (c. S. Walkinshaw) For the young men of Raasay (c. S. Walkinshaw)

The Menin Gate is on the site pf one of the original town gates through which so many troops had passed on their way to fight. It is the major memorial to those missing from the battles of the Ypres Salient. It was officially inaugurated in July 1927 and was intended to bear the names of all those with no known grave in the Ypres area, but due to lack of space just under 55,000 are commemorated with the remaining 34,000 being on the Tyne Cot Memorial Wall. Every evening at 8.00pm the traffic is stopped and buglers from the Ypres Fire Brigade play the last post. This has happened every evening since 1928 with the exception of those years in the Second World War when the town was held by the Germans. On the very night the German army retreated from the town in 1944 the tradition was restored and has continued ever since.

If someone questions why Remembrance Day is so important, millions of lives were lost during the World Wars and many in conflict since. For four years between 1914 and 1918 death haunted many families not only throughout Britain but also other countries, be they friend or foe. One mother, Annie Souls, raised six sons and lost the five old enough to serve. They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old!


News from Raasay Primary School On Friday 4th November we had a visit from Mr Alisdair Brown from the Climate Change Fund to get an update on how we were progressing with our new poly-tunnel and composting scheme. Pupils gave a presentation to explain why we wanted to undertake this project, how it would be carried out and what benefits it would bring to the community and the wider environment. The children also provided him with details of their compost collecting so far since the project started, where it all comes from, how the compost scheme operates. Their commitment to reducing carbon emission through this project was evident through the work undertaken and Mr Brown was very impressed with the work carried out so far. Pictured are parents and pupils as Mr Brown cuts the ribbon to officially open our new poly tunnel. We would like to thank everyone who has supported the project. The children have identified that their little carbon footprints can go a long way! Please note that the children will deliver their presentation at the first lunch club of the New Year so that they can share the project with the wider community.

Sports Club

On Wednesday 9th November P3-7 pupils in Raasay Primary were offered the opportunity to attend a new After School Sports Club at the hall. This is being run by High School pupils Alastair McGowan, Ewan Gillies and Robin MacLeod who have recently undertaken Young Leadership training provided by Sarah Ross, Active Schools Coordinator. The club is a joint venture between Active Schools and Raasay Primary School and will be running for 4 weeks. The pupils are thoroughly enjoying the experience and the feedback has been very positive from all the participants. Many thanks to our parent volunteers who will be in attendance each week and to Alastair, Ewan and Robin for applying their leadership training within their own community.

JMA Awards

As you may have read in previous newsletters the pupils have been studying ‘The Seashore’ as part of the John Muir Award. This culminated in the pupils being awarded the Discovery Certificate from the John Muir Trust in recognition of their achievements during a Parent Open Afternoon held in the school. The award recognises the importance of Discovering, Exploring, Conserving and Sharing in Wild Places and the children shared their learning with their parents on the day. Pictured are the pupils after receiving their awards from Ellie MacLennan, Highland Council Ranger.


Poppy Day

This month has been a very busy month on the charity front and we started off with our annual collection on behalf of Poppy Scotland. The pupils gave up of their own time to do a door to door collection which resulted in a fantastic total of £118.42. Thank you to all who generously donated. The pupils also attended the Poppy Day memorial service which was held at the War Memorial.

Children in Need

On Friday 18th November, Raasay Primary and Nursery pupils took part in a ‘Spotacular’ spotty treasure hunt to raise money for Children in Need. All had a fantastic time searching the Emigrants’ Trail for spots and dots! Thank you to the Parent Council for organising and to Raasay Stores for hosting the sweepstake and for providing some hot chocolate and sweets! The total raised was a fantastic £113.00 – apparently the details scrolled across during the BBC Children in Need night – it was quite early on and it was good that the pupils’ efforts got national coverage!

Toilet Twinning

Mrs Sandra Smith recently came in to school to talk to the pupils about a charity which is helping to provided poor communities around the world with proper sanitation and toilets. Raasay Primary School was keen to be involved and the pupils took home ‘Spend a Penny’ boxes which their family and friends were encouraged to donate to when they went to the loo! Along with a lot of other community members who contributed very generously, the total raised was £240.00 which is enough to build a school toilet block in a poor community. This means that the Primary School has helped to ‘Flush Away Poverty’ and we will receive a photograph and certificate of our ‘twin toilet’!

Leadership Training

As part of the Active Schools Initiative, pupils in P4-7 have been taking part in Young Leadership training with Sarah Ross, Active Schools Coordinator. This is aimed at giving young people the skills required to take on the role of a leader during sports or dance events and forms part of the ‘Developing the Young Workforce’ pathways which supports career development and confidence in a Health and Wellbeing context.

School Christmas Play

The school Christmas show will take place this year on Friday 9th December at 7pm in the Community Hall. The story this year will be based on the Russian folk tale ‘Babushka’ but, as usual, it will have our own unique Raasay flavour! Please come along and enjoy an evening of entertainment provided by our own Raasay youngsters. Entry is free and will include a free raffle/prize draw and refreshments will be served after the show.

Another very successful Craft Fair took place at Raasay House on Saturday 26th November. It never ceases to amaze that such a wee island can put on such a wonderful display of Crafts – such talent for such a small community! As well as the joy of browsing and buying, it was a great opportunity to sample some of Raasay House’s tea and delicious cake with people who you normally don’t get to see much of (including Santa!). The next craft fair will be in the Spring and we’re looking forward to it immensely!

© Lillian MacLeod © David Carslaw

Seasonal Greetings to our friends and family while helping others!

As in previous years, from December 1st there will be a Greetings Board in the Community Shop where you can post your seasonal

message and donate to a worthwhile cause.

This year’s chosen charity is MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT.

Please give what you can!

Want your own copy of Am Bratach: Raasay’s Community Newsletter?

If you would like to receive Am Bratach electronically as a PDF each month, for free, please contact Lloyd Gudgeon ([email protected]). We currently have around 250 subscribers.

However if you think there’s nothing like the feel of real paper off the printer, then copies are now available to buy in the shop for 75p. How will you read yours?


December 2016 & January 2017



Shop Whisky for Christmas at

www.rbdistillers.com & Raasay Community Stores.



Icy Raasay Roads Two cars went off road this November and several more had lucky escapes in the icy conditions. Raasay residents have contacted Highland Council to ask why the gritter was not deployed earlier. As yet, there have been no answer from the Council but we will continue to make enquiries.

© David Carslaw © Paul Camilli

FIRE WOOD FOR SALE

Cut, split logs ready for burning, delivered to your house. £50 for a load (£70 for

hardwood). Contact Lloyd at RDT 660358.

All profits go to charity

A different take on Raasay Roads…

…and a light at the end of the tunnel

© Della Cheshire

After many months of trying to trap the mink, one is finally caught thanks to John William (Bradan) Gillies. Chickens and ducks across Raasay celebrate!



Raasay Roads & Amphibian Toads By Wuddus Thymes

If you traverse the famous Raasay Roads, And meet with amphibian toads, Shivering in wide pot-hole’d erodes, Remind Highland C…. We’re Poorly Manifesto’ed!

Inverarish! ‘Tis worst in the parish, Flood ruptures by mill: Quite garish! The Dyno-Rod man; we did so embarrass, Puncture and hiss! Slid to abyss… Round by the crags of Uamh Mhor, Its floods and floods galore, (‘Twas a camber before!) The rain comes up through the floor, even times, …In the car door, Mor’s socks, sore wet! What a bore… Them that’s party green, (You must have seen), Want for pristine lawns, muckle clean, Without doggies to spoil the soft serene, Runs ‘em behind their limousine… Down by the old pier, you can over-steer, Slurry-slip fear, hand-brake veer, Buttresses old, century near, breaking clear, (A fluked anchor is near!) And Loo’s locked this past year…. There are stones on a road that won’t impart, Eyre, once ago, by horse and cart, Peter’s lorry; strong men and stout of heart, Smooth the travel: Infill, the art… Don’t go cross the Henderson’s bridge, When heading up the Glen ridge, Even if the burns low and no midge, Less mileage is, by Cottages…. (Plus free till midnight, wattages). Then to Fearns, where eternity ends, Negotiate cliff hanging bends, By chance, Sea Horses and Kelpies, as friends, Son! To manhood, your road ascends…. Park by Borodale, where whisky’s rare, And While you Wait, you can compare,

Gabion expressions in wickerwork layer, Nose there: Grit’s spare! For road repair…? Proud steading clock, now lacks ‘ticky-tock’, Timber trucks cause deepest shock, When axle chock cuts bed-rock n’ tyres lock! Side walk for brolly talk? Go Broch… Oscaig cattle-grids: Tyre crease! Quick release! The violent caprice to our nouveau riche, On losing their chromium tailpiece, So dislodging their antimacassar..(And hairpiece!) On a ferry-less day, with sea harr, and spray, Some say: Oh God! Is this doomsday? Yet! Twenty two miles of road, and Calum’s brae, And Brochel castle, with nocht to pay….. By Holoman, Ewe meet; they, in retreat, Windowless church, ministers peek, A Parakeet to greet, bringing home peat, Rams repeat, every fifty one sheep… Try the Raasay Tip, one without a skip, Sealed! The sign, a quip (£!) “Go Ship”, Flora’s plaid once did hide a King’s trip! Fladda’s mangle might cause a nip… By Braes, bides kin, aka Storab’s coff’in: Where said, Council spreads tar: Thin! Thin! So avenue gets McAdam, more max than min, The skim: Norse mixed with Whin…. Applecross, without a veil: The Holy Grail, Dun Caan, you scale, or Miner’s trail, Not for the old and frail, (unless pure Gael), Porsche would impale, Merc soon fail…. Arnish! For the ‘North Pole’ navigator, Of super-sump-crack-crater, (With Alligator?) Sadly, no Mandarin translator, (Rickshaw I beg safer,) Taxi, waiter: ‘Roe-Deer’ spectator… And tell: You went to Glame, how back so soon, Beneath the Mist, was it Brigadoon? You saw the antediluvian moon? Alas! The day, 100 years, too soon…


RDT Project Updates

Forestry The repairs to two paths have been completed. The path from the orchard to the Old Hostel has been hugely improved with some realignment along the slope, a new surface for the first section, and some drainage work. Please try not to use this path with bikes for a couple of weeks to allow the new surface to bed down without any ruts. The path from the Loch to the Manse has also been repaired at the Loch end.

Hydro Scheme We have made a formal request to SSE for an additional connection to the grid to allow us to sell electricity directly to local commercial customers. We wait for their response.

Housing We have met with the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust to agree the best way forward. Basically, we are trying to get two jobs done: 1 assess the need for additional affordable housing on Raasay and 2, assess the best locations for such housing, if needed (this could include refurbishing existing but un-used housing, if appropriate). HSCHT will now seek Government support to carry out those assessments. Wood Fuel Remember, if there is someone on Raasay that you would like to say “Thanks” to, you can order a gift pack bag of logs for them during the month of December. Make a £5 donation to RDT and we will deliver the logs along with a card to the person. Get in touch with Lloyd for more details. Sorley MacLean & the Home Loch Thank you for your ideas – keep them coming. One really nice idea is to re-plant around the Loch to form a Gaelic Alphabet tree walk. As you probably know, each letter of the Gaelic alphabet is represented by a different tree. The proposal is to have a path around the loch with a specimen tree every 30 metres or so, one for each letter. Each tree would be accompanied by an information board, maybe a bench, maybe some of Sorley’s poetry. Over the next few months we will explore this further. If anyone wants to help, please contact RDT.

The Home Loch before felling © Iain Hill

Want to find out about the Water Horse of Loch Na Mna or how to build a literal ‘Boat-Shed’? Check out a new website dedicated to Raasay stories

and history:

http://www.isleofraasay.com/


Raasay Community Association Festive Dance Many thanks to those who did offer to help, however unfortunately we don't have enough volunteers to go ahead with the dance that had been planned for Wednesday 28th December so it has been cancelled. The next dance will take place on Good Friday (14th April) and we will again be looking for volunteers to help. Hairdresser Murdina will be at the hall on Thursdays 1st and 15th December. After these dates, the next time she will visit Raasay will be on Thursday, 12th January 2017. Skye Spa Therapies Mary-Anne is back on Raasay on Saturday 10th December. She is fully booked on this date but please let Katherine Gillies know if you would like to be advised of future dates by email. Lunch Club This year’s festive Lunch Club for our regular lunch club guests is at Raasay House on Wednesday 14th December, 12:30 for 1 o’clock. Please book if you are not a regular by contacting Ann Oliphant or Tekela Koek.

RAASAY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (Comann Muinntir Ratharsair)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUTURE OF

RAASAY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND THE HALL

- YOUR ACTION IS REQUIRED.

The last AGM of Raasay Community Association, held on Wednesday 2nd November, was attended by only 9 of the 80+ members. This was only just enough to make the meeting quorate as 10% of the membership must be present in order that an AGM can go ahead.

As well as covering the usual business of the AGM and the necessary and expensive repairs currently required, the board advised those present that both the general running of the hall and the running of fundraising events had become very difficult due to the low number of people standing as Directors and volunteering. RCA have advised the community of these issues on many occasions both at previous AGM's and more recently via the newsletter however this has been to no avail.

The board's numbers have declined over recent years and with the retirement of a Director at this AGM and no additional Members willing to stand for election the Board is now down to 5 Directors. The maximum number is 9 which makes the management of the hall far easier. One of the remaining Directors will be away from the island for a period of 6 months from December, and another for the first few months of the new year. With a minimum of 3 Directors


being required to make any meeting quorate it only takes one of the remaining 3 Directors to be unavailable due to work or personal commitments during this period and meetings cannot go ahead.

The hall continues to prove itself to be a vital asset to this community but the Board cannot continue to manage the hall whilst their numbers are so low and unless more Directors join the Board the existing Directors will resign.

Therefore in order to keep the hall open the Members must decide on the course of action to be taken. There are two options:

1. More members, ideally 4, must stand as Directors and at least one new Director must be willing to act as Chair. The board can co-opt Directors at any time so this can happen immediately. If someone who is not a Member is willing to stand then they can become a Member in order

to do so (assuming they are over 18, support the aims of RCA and are a permanent resident).

2. The Members must advise the board that they wish to enter talks with other appropriately constituted local organisations to see if they would be willing to take on the assets of RCA and their management. However there is no guarantee that other groups are willing or able to take this responsibility on.

The board have are requesting responses by Friday 2nd December so that they can take the appropriate action at the December board meeting.

The Board of Raasay Community Association Raasay Community Hall Isle of Raasay IV40 8PA [email protected]

Am Bratach: Raasay’s Community Newsletter BY THE EDITOR As Lloyd mentioned in the November issue, Am Bratach’s publication depends on a small team of volunteers. We are taking turns editing the issues but it is a huge job. Furthermore a lot of us will be away over the festive period so this is a combined December/January Edition. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed producing it! We are always keen to get others involved in production, so if you are interested, please come along to our next meeting on Thursday January 26th at 10am in the hall. We are looking for stories, articles, photographs, sketches – anything to entertain and inform our readers. The deadline for the February newsletter is Friday January 26th. We are thinking of having a Ghost/Folk Tale theme so anything related to that would be most welcome! Please send any newsletter correspondence, including feedback, to our new correspondence address: Am Bratach, c/o RDT, Raasay Community Hall, Isle of Raasay IV40 8PA. Tel 01478 660358, our new email address [email protected] or tweet @AmBratach.

A Very Happy Festive Season to all our Readers! Many thanks and see

you in 2017!


Local Services • RDT Surgery every Wednesday 10.00am-12.00pm or by appointment. Contact Lloyd on 01478 660358 or email

[email protected]

• NHS Nurse – 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday on 660204. Emergency calls to 999; minor injuries or illness to 111 (NHS 24).

• GP Surgery – Wednesday mornings by appointment through Portree Medical Practice on 01478 612013. • Vet Surgery – Rhona Campbell, Veterinary Surgeon on 01478 611269. • Recycle Rag Bag Raasay Primary School – Please ensure that all items are securely bagged before placing in the bin. • Pensioner’s Bus Service – Contact Barbara on 07342 298 597 for details. Next trip TBC. Posters will be put in the shop. • Refuse collection – alternate Wednesdays. Green Bins: December 14th and 28th, January 11th and 25th; Blue bins

December 7th and 21st, January 4th and 18th. • Mobile Library every third Wednesday – 9.55am Inverarish Terrace Phone Box, 10.30am Inverarish Terrace, 10.45am

Raasay Primary School (teachers and pupils only), 11.35am Raasay House, 12.00 Raasay Ferry terminal - next due: December 14th, January 4th and 25th.

• Yoga – No Yoga planned over December. Please contact Tekela on 660 253 or 07810 480972 to find out about

January dates. • The Alexander Technique – Call Winnie Ireland on 660227. • Coal will be delivered fortnightly to Raasay. Coal lorry also delivering/selling garden coverage. • Split fuel logs - £50 a trailer (£70 hardwood). RDT is now running the fuelwood supply, taking over from RHCC.

Anyone wanting to order fire wood should call the office (660 358 - leave a message if Lloyd is not there) or send an email ([email protected]).

• Isle of Skye Fish van deliveries weekly on Friday afternoons.

Church Services

• Free Presbyterian Church – Sundays 12 noon & 6.00pm.

• Free Church of Scotland – If repairs to the church are still ongoing, services will be held in the School. Please see church noticeboard for updates.

• St Michael and All Angels’ Scottish Episcopal Church – o Tuesday 13th December 11am, Eucharist, Raasay Community Hall o Saturday 24th December 8pm Christmas Vigil Eucharist, Ceòl-na-Mara o Island Carols and Readings for Christmas: Friday 16th December, 2pm Raasay

Community Hall. All welcome! o Christmas Day Family Worship 11am Raasay Primary School

• Catholic Celebration of the Word and Communion at 37 Inverarish Terrace, Sundays 11.00am.

Useful Contact Numbers • Business Gateway/Highland Opportunity/ Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust:

Alistair Danter, Tigh na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9EP. • Tel 01478 611501, Mob 07921 758451 Email [email protected] • MP: Ian Blackford MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

Tel 0207 219 5292 Email [email protected] • MSP: Kate Forbes MSP, Thorfin House, Bridgend Business Park, Dingwall, IV15 9SL. Tel

01349 864701, www.twitter.com/@kateforbesmsp


What’s on Raasay – December 2016

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 2 3 4 Hairdresser Celebration @ Raasay Stores 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Blue bins Skye Spa Therapies

Primary School Play!

Afternoon Tea @ Raasay

House 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Green bins Library Van Hairdresser Island Carols & Lunch Club Readings for Christmas 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Blue bins Xmas Quiz @ Raasay House

26 27 28 29 30 31 Green bins • For January Events, we will endeavour to produce and circulate a Calendar just after the New Year.

page 15 page 19 corra is a winner!

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