TOURISM TECHNOLOGY : TAKING YOU PLACES by Kirsty Buchan
VISITOR attractions in Argyll and Bute are set to reap the benefits, as the innovative promotion of one of Scotland’s largest industries is unveiled.
The tourism sector has been given a boost with the launch of a new website, www.asva.co.uk, offering a one-stop information site for Scotland’s top attractions.
And Argyll’s top attractions will benefit from the Association of Scottish Visitors Attractions (ASVA) site, which will enhance the already flourishing tourism industry.
Ian Gardner, ASVA Chairman, said: “Visitor attractions are at the heart of Scottish tourism. ASVA’s role is to promote the viability and quality of attractions on offer, as well as to represent and support this sector in times when many are finding it a challenge to take on board yet another threat to their livelihood.”
He continued: “ASVA also provides networking opportunities for members to explore the experience of fellow attractions, and to learn from each other by sharing knowledge and good practice.
“To join ASVA potential members should contact Carolyn Dickson on 01786 475152 or e-mail her on info@asva.co.uk.”
Local attractions featured on the site include Inveraray Castle and Jail, Rothesay Castle and Mount Stuart House and Garden, Bute, Cruachan Visitor Centre, Dalmally, Oban Rare Breeds Farm Park and Atlantis Leisure, Oban.


RAINBOW LOSES THE BLUES by Melinda Gillen
THE coalition of political parties bound together as Argyll and Bute Council’s Rainbow Alliance has lost some of its cohesion when it was revealed that the Tories have split from the group.
A trio of councillors, including Holy Loch Councillor Bruce Marshall, with colleagues John Stirling and Sheila Wilson have decided to withdraw their support, and Councillor Stirling stated the Alliance had outlived its usefulness.
Commenting on the split Councillor Marshall said: “This has happened because of pressure from the Argyllshire executive, they were unhappy with Tory councillors working in partnership with the LibDems and SNP, so it was a policy decision.
“For some time, conservative members of Argyll and Bute Council have been uneasy working under the mantle of the Alliance in opposition to the Non Aligned Group. Now with new leadership and consequently new ideas and policies emerging for the future of the Conservative Party in the U.K. the time seemed right for the remaining Conservative councillors to resign from the Alliance”.
He added: “This action will establish an independent channel for communicating fairly views and policies and perhaps more importantly maintain the confidence shown by the electorate”.
The Alliance was formed between the established parties and independents following the local elections in 1999, with the aim being to take all views into consideration.
However, after by-election wins the non-aligned group (NAG) took control of the local authority earlier this year. Following this it was felt the Alliance group where effectively excluded from the business of the council.
However despite the fact that Argyll and Bute’s Conservative councillors have disassociated themselves from the Alliance, the group will continue on.
Commenting on the future Liberal Democract, Alison Hay said: “The Alliance is holding together and is still on friendly terms with the Conservatives. There is no acrimony, they have for their own reasons decided to distance themselves”.
When asked how effective the Alliance can be now Ms Hay added: “We will be as effective as any opposition within a council. We put our points forward, and hope people will listen. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t”.


AN INTERVIEW WITH LORD GEORGE ROBERTSON
WITH the recent 360th anniversary of Dunoon Grammar School, it seems apt that this week we feature two former pupils in an interview.
Question-master Adrian Young is now at university studying Law and Philosophy and is still considering his future career options; while the interviewee, Lord George Robertson is at the height of his career as NATO’s Secretary General.
The Grammar School has a knack for producing political figures, as Minister for Energy, Brian Wilson; former Labour Leader, the late John Smith and former Argyll MP, Lord John Mackay of Ardbreknish, were also educated there.
Here, Lord Robertson has a tongue-in-cheek look back at his Dunoon schooldays:
Q – WHICH - if any - is your fondest memory of Dunoon Grammar School?
A – My fondest school memories are of my final year - the sixth. Not only did we move into a brand new school building, but being in the sixth year is anyway special. Not only did we have a specific room set aside for the sixth year (it was an ancient male toilet in the Hillfoot Street School) but I also discovered history as a subject with Archie Blair.
I also discovered serious pretension – refusing on an anti-prizegiving principle to accept the money which went with the prize for debating. The then Rector, A. E. Smith, looked on me with justified contempt.
His revenge was to come exactly 30 years later when I was guest of honour at the school prizegiving.
Q – What was your best school subject, and the worst?
A – My best school subject was English, which I enjoyed and, given my near obsessional interest in book reading, played to my strengths. I only took up history in sixth year and regretted what I’d missed.
I was still dismayed and delighted when I got an A in Higher English.
My worst subject was languages. I failed Higher French when my mother taught it at DGS – something for which she never really forgave me. She often said: “one day you will regret not trying harder.”
I do. I now have to speak it as NATO’s other official language.
Q – What sort of articles/reports did you write for the school magazine?
A – Since my life was dominated, from about 15 onwards, by politics, I expect it will have been on the political front I reported.
I think I also wrote a report on a trip on the school ship Devonia where a DGS party (including a lot of Americans whose fathers served in the nuclear submarines at Holy Loch) went to Norway, Finland, Denmark and Leningrad in the then Soviet Union.
When I went to Russia in the 1990s I actually met people who remembered the trauma on their city of 850 school students descending on them.
Q – Which extra-curricular activities and/or sports were you involved in?
A – Debating was my real interest, along with the school magazine. My sporting activities began, and ended, with a brief one morning dabble with school rugby and shinty.
Q – Do you still maintain contact with any of your fellow DGS pupils?
A – Yes, one of my closest friends is Alex Kelly, who lived around the corner in Ardenslate.
He is now Rector of Auchmuttie High School, Glenrothes. Brian Wilson, of course, followed me from DGS to Dundee University to Parliament to Government. I don’t expect him to join me in NATO, but the House of Lords ...? There are quite a lot of others I keep up with as well.
Q – Did you know John Smith when he was a DGS pupil, or did you ever talk to him about DGS when you met in Parliament?
A – John Smith was away from Dunoon when I got to secondary school but his reputation still lived on. He and I often talked of DGS in Parliament and, of course, we came together to the 350th Anniversary Dinner, not long before his tragic death.
Q – Did you join the DGS debating society with a view to going on to politics?
A – I joined because I thought, rightly, it would be fun. Mr Murray, the English teacher was a good organiser and the society was very lively.
I was (however difficult this is to believe) very shy and lacking in confidence, but I found that debating built both confidence and communication skills.
This in turn led me into politics. That self-confidence and the ability to speak in public are probably the best assets I ever acquired in my education.
Q – At what stage of your life did you choose a career in politics?
A – At university I had no doubt that I wanted to be involved in politics as a career, but not as a Member of Parliament. It was late on, in my late twenties, when I started thinking about going into parliamentary politics.
It was the arrival of the US base in the Holy Loch which got me engaged in the excitement which politics can often mean. It may seem strange that I protested against the first Polaris submarine to come to Scotland and, the day after the 350th Anniversary Dinner, I followed out on Western Ferries, the last one to leave the Loch. Two years ago I gave the order to clear out the rubbish at the bottom of the Holy Loch.
Q – What advice might you give to today’s DGS pupils who might have an interest in taking up a political career?
A – There is no occupation without its own politics – just ask your teachers! Getting engaged in political parties is part of the democratic process and should be encouraged for everyone. It is a world of discovery.
Like me, you may not stay in the one you first join as a result of what you learn. I joined the SNP at 16 and left it at 17 – helpfully keeping both my “welcome” and “regret you’re going” letters. Take up a political career. Go for it!
Q – Do you ever visit Dunoon?
A – Yes. I regularly come back to Dunoon to visit my father who lives at the Bullwood.
Q – Which was your preferred source of lunch: school canteen or the local chippy?
A – I hated school lunches, I have to admit. Less for the food than for the fact that most regulars had their own seats/pals and anyone coming casually for lunch was not welcomed.
On the few occasions when I did not go home, I preferred the chips, the Queen’s Hall café.
Q – Who was your favourite 60s singer or band during your school years?
A – Lonnie Donegan of “My old man’s a dustman” fame.
Q – Did you have a girlfriend at DGS?
A – Yes. I have nothing more to add.
Q – Were you ever bullied at school, and would you consider revenge now that you have your own army?
A – Yes, but I always believed in the maxim: “don’t get mad, get even.” And I did. And I do not have my own army – I have 19 of them.
Adrian YoungMANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK


THANKS FOR THE ‘COMPLEMENT’ by Kirsty Buchan
HAVE you ever wanted to be paid to be pampered? Now don’t lie, we have all wished for this at some point!
And my wish was granted this week when I was approached by members of The Well- the group representing complementary healing and practitioners in Cowal-and asked to go along and try out their different therapies!
Did I gloat to my colleagues? Oh yes! Did I delight in the prospect? Oh yes! And did I enjoy myself? Yes, yes, yes!
My first therapy was Indian Head Massage, performed by practitioner Anne Armstrong.
Over the next few weeks I shall be attending the other practitioners that make up The Well and sharing my experiences with you. But, for now, I will tell you all about my afternoon spent experiencing Indian Head Massage.
The therapy has been practised in India for more than a thousand years and it was originally used by men and women as a technique to keep long, thick hair healthy and in beautiful condition. It can be found in barbershops and even on the streets of India.
As I sat down in the comfortable chair in the therapy room, I was immediately relaxed by the aroma of incense burning. Anne then explained a little about Indian Head Massage to me and from there she switched on the most relaxing music and I made myself comfortable.
The therapy began with a little oil being rubbed into my shoulders and across the top of my back and then Anne worked her magic!
She began by massaging my shoulders and back and occasionally my head. I think it was about half an hour that this lasted for, before Anne then began work on my head.
The whole experience lasted approximately an hour, but it felt like no time at all, as I was so relaxed- so much so that my legs started jumping!
I was told to imagine that I was in a special place and so I did- and it’s none of your business where that place is!
The body can store a great deal of stress and anxiety that is brought on by everyday life and Indian Head Massage can bring relief from this through a series of relaxing massage movements to the upper back, upper arms, shoulders, neck, head and face.
The stimulation of the scalp nourishes the hair follicles, leading to healthier hair and less scalp tension, as the supply of nutrients needed for healthy hair growth is improved. It also often results in feelings of being re-energised and centred, allowing for a greater ability to focus more clearly.
As the massage progressed I felt myself slipping further and further into a state of total relaxation; even my hands had gone to sleep! The feeling of someone working your body with soothing massage movements is amazing and so difficult to try and put into words – but I am trying my best!
It sounds corny, but it’s as if you can actually feel the tension and stress leaving your body. Aching muscles suddenly don’t hurt anymore and all worries slip to the back of your mind, as you sit there and unwind from life’s stresses.
Indian Head Massage can also relieve some headaches, muscular tension, aches and pains and various other stress related problems- think of the damage that stress can do to your physical and mental well-being.
When Anne told me that my massage was over I was disappointed – I wanted it to last forever, I felt wonderful!
The therapy was followed-up with an in-depth initial consultation and a glass of water.
Interested? Then why not try this, or any of the other treatments, by dropping into The Well. Open sessions are being held every Saturday until Christmas at the Red Cross Centre, John Street, Dunoon, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. (Payment by small donation).


MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK by Melinda Gillen
DESPITE funding cuts and the effort needed to finance and organise activities Dunoon Youth Centre is a credit to those who run and use the facility.
On average 20 to 30 kids every night, except Saturdays, enjoy the centre and are determined to do their bit to keep it going and improve their bolthole.
From a sponsored activity night when 14 youngsters stayed awake for 10 hours throughout the night raising around £250, converting a former junk room into a lounge area, to redecorating with aliens, dolphins and an anti-drugs message, the young members of the centre are clearly active in its set-up.
Supported by Argyll and Bute Council through the lease of the building and a grant of £11,000 per year the club is currently celebrating its 12th year as a base for local youngsters.
Project worker, Freda Mehrer, who has been there from the beginning, says the kids have been great and quite often young people who have used the centre come back to help as youth workers.
The centre accommodates a variety of different ages. Monday night is allocated for the 11 to 12 year olds and kids in primary 6 and 7 can also enjoy the facility on Friday nights from 6.30pm to 8pm.
Freda explained the timetable: “The younger kids said to us can we have nights which are just for us and we went back to the older group to ask if this was ok and consult them on the best time”.
Every other Saturday is disco night for the 14 to 18 year olds and is a great opportunity for the resident DJs to practise their skills. They are also able to hone their style with gigs at other youth groups and schools around the area.
Fundraising plays an important part in helping to finance activities such as skiing and skating trips and with strong links to the Cowal International Youth Exchange Project many of the young people have travelled to Ireland, Germany and Malta, experiencing different cultures.
Suggestions from the youngsters have also led to a football exchange trip to Germany, when a group of boys from all over the area took part in a five-day trip learning different training methods and also coaching German school kids.
It is believed these exchanges bring benefits by building confidence. The youth centre’s theme is to help build members confidence by the ideas they generate and then following it through. This is seen with things such as the sponsored activity night.
Freda said: “Our traditional fund-raising is something like bag packing at Safeway, but this idea was something different that they came up with themselves. We then sat down to discuss the rules for the night, such as the doors being closed from 10pm and not opened until the morning, we also discussed informing the police that something would be happening at the centre”.
Although the Kirk Street building is important as a fun hang-out, through their involvement youngsters also have the opportunity to establish links with other groups, such as Argyll and Bute Youth Forum, Cowal Youth Forum, and the Scottish Youth Parliament, giving them a wider voice in decisions affecting their lives.
Closer to home the next decision which needs members involvement is the possibility of establishing a sound-proofed music room within the centre.
If the improvement goes ahead it will establish an area for them to play musical instruments, bands to rehearse, DJs to practise their mixing skills or for the youngsters to chill out and listen to CDs, without disturbing other activities within the building.
Freda explained: “At one time we had a band practising every night we were open, and there are some kids, who play instruments such as the drums, so it would be good, but the idea is still in the pipeline”.