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Jim McColl’s recent article brought back many happy memories of the times he and I spent together as teenage friends before he emigrated to the States. One that comes to mind was when I was employed as an apprentice with a coachbuilding company in Wishaw. Jim had an aunt in Duror in North Scotland, whom he loved to visit occasionally. It so happened a cattle float had just been completed at the coachbuilders and was due to be delivered to Oban. My boss kindly suggested we might take advantage of a lift as far as Oban, and perhaps make our way to Duror from there.

As cash-strapped teenagers this was a great opportunity of some free travel. We hastily collected our cases and, of course, pipe boxes and boarded the cattle float, arriving at Connel Ferry at midnight. Because of the lateness, we decided to check into an hotel, but unfortunately it was fully booked. Jim said it wasn’t far, so we decided to carry on and to walk along the railway line as that was the shortest route. (This proved to be an Irish mile!). Eventually we arrived at Creagan, where we hoped to catch a train. However, not being the most patient of people, we left the railway line and continued walking by road. Bad decision - we got lost! To add to our misery it started to rain heavily, but there was nothing else for it but to carry on, and finally we reached Aunt Mary’s in Duror. What a welcome we got! It was worth everything we had endured, even the fact that I needed a new pair of shoes by this time. Wonderful holiday - the highlight being the privilege of playing our pipes before Lady Stewart of Appin.

A great memory.