CHARLIE MCKINNON 1938 - 2005





The island finds itself in a state of shock and sadness at the sudden death of Charlie McKinnon as he helped dock the ferry on Wednesday last.

Charlie was his usual hale and hearty self as the Calmac staff prepared for the arrival of the ferry, and was to be seen, with Christmas Box in hand, distributing chocolates to those awaiting the ferry's arrival - a touch of kindness and generosity which Charlie had managed to make into something of a Colonsay Christmas tradition. Minutes earlier he had gone to the Pantry for coffee for the Calmac staff, the last time May was to see him alive.

As the MV Isle of Mull pulled alongside, Charlie was to be found in his usual position, exchanging ropes with the ferry crew, and soon she was securely docked. As he and Sid prepared to launch the gangway however, Charlie collapsed and died instantly, the efforts of Dr Currie, George Leppard and Jim McLaughlin to revive him proving to be of no avail.

As the tragic news spread from the pier to the pier-shed, stunned grief was the reaction and many of those gathered could not hide their tears. The island sense of shared community then took over and the toils of the day of a great many islanders were instantly dropped as they involved themselves in comforting May, attending to a myriad of other practicalities and in preparing Charlie's body to be dressed, placed in a coffin and laid within the sanctity of the Church. There Charlie has remained since, dim lights burning constantly allowing mourners to pay Charlie their last respects.

As the ferry docked today (Friday), the ship's horn was blown to commence, and to bring to a close, a minute's silence in Charlie's memory. The funeral service will take place on Wednesday 4th January, after the arrival of the ferry, which will be tied up, allowing many of Charlie's CalMac colleagues to attend.

Charlie has, through his many roles including those of crofter, fireman, pierworker, refuse collector and busdriver, been an integral part of daily island life for some 40 years. His passing will be acutely felt.

As a token of respect, the island's traditional New Year's Day Ceilidh has been cancelled as has this Issue of the Corncrake, (this piece, a poem and Readers' recent correspondence excepted). Our next Issue will be on January 17th.












POETRY CORNER

The events of the last few days bring to mind, on a number of levels, a specific poem, an excerpt of John Donne's Meditation 17, making 'Poetry Corner' the only regular part of The Corncrake to seem appropriate at this time :

No man is an island, entire of itself;

Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less,

As well as if a promontory were,

As well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were:

Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind,

And therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls;

It tolls for thee.
.












TOPICAL LETTERS

For the convenience of our Readers, letters addressed to The Corncrake appear in two sections. Anything to do with current events appears here, and any letters concerned with historical research etc. appear under "Genealogical Letters" at the start of the REGULARS section of The Corncrake.



Dear Editor,

Merry Christmas from the P.E.I. Darrachs to you and your fellow Colbhasachs.

Angus Beck.



Dear Editor,

Just to say thanks for what a great read twice a month. I look forward to each new issue of the Corncrake and read it avidly. Not just informative, but full of humour too!

I have visited the Highlands and Islands many times over the last 17 or so years, and remained fascinated by, particularly, island life living as I do in the urban sprawl of S.E.Essex. The Corncrake, along with West Word (which covers the Small Isles), provides a great way of keeping in touch with what goes on.

My wife and I visited Colonsay about two and half years ago on a day trip from Islay, rented bikes and struggled round the island during our six hour stay, our fitness not what it should be! It's a good job you don't have the topography of Rhum otherwise we'd never have got out of Scalasaig.....

The welcome everywhere was friendly. The bookshop kept us amused as well as dry when a 10min squall blew over, and we were fed and watered in the Pantry. I even got one of Pedie's Cds from the shop, and enjoyed listening to the tales of island life and Telegraph Poles!

Once again, many thanks for a great read. Hope to visit the island again sometime.

Have a great Christmas on the Island and a Happy New Year.

Adrian Cherrill
Deepest, darkest Essex



Dear Editor,

My wife, mother and I were over in early August and I have been meaning to get in touch with you ever since.

Sadly our life on the mainland is horribly busy compared to the wonderfully relaxed time we had as your temporary neighbours in the Byrnes' Maghnus chalet and the pressures of work, children etc. have got in my way.

Anyway I am pleased now to attach five photos for your consideration. They are quite large files so if you do need them smaller please let me know.

All the very best and thanks for all your editorial hard work.

Regards,

Alastair Morton.

(Alastair's splendid shot looking down the Hotel Brae at ferry time will appear in 'My Colonsay Photograph' in our next Issue, as will his photograph of a 'mystery' object which will feature in our 'Now Where Could That Be?' column. - Ed.).



Dear Editor,

With reference to the review given by Alan Davis of my exhibition - "Elements of Scottish Landscape", I have to give a warm thank you to him, for describing it in such 'glowing' terms.

As he described, there were new pieces from other places and islands such as, Coll, Tiree, Lewis, Harris and Islay, although the focus was very much on Colonsay. I must add that from the many visitors I was fortunate to meet at the exhibition, everyone was very keen to make a journey to the island.

Whilst away from Colonsay myself, the work continues, as I hope to exhibit in Oban during 2006, and hopefully when I next visit, to produce further images for publication. There are some new photographs included in the current edition of, Caledonian MacBraynes', 'Explorer' magazine.

Seasons greetings and best wishes to friends, look forward to seeing you again.

Brian Hindmarch.



Dear Editor,

I was just looking back over old emails and noticed this--I did respond and got back a message from you that just said "Scott...".

I have looked in at the Corncrake since but not seen anything of my attempted clarification--what exactly happened?

As I said in that reply (maybe you never got it), I was under the impression I was visiting Angus MacPhee but maybe I was wrong; was it perhaps Archie MacPhee? He signed my copy of "The Crofter and The Laird" but just as A. MacPhee...I can't remember the woman's name, definitely different from his, but I thought she was introduced as his wife. See what happens when you let foreigners in for a visit--they just muck everything up.

Sorry once again and Best Wishes for the Holidays to everyone on the island who might accept them from me. If I visit again should I wear a bulletproof vest?

Sincerely,

Scott Bartell.



Dear Editor,

Hi everyone on Colonsay,

An enormous best wishes for a really HAPPY CHRISTMAS and VERY BEST WISHES FOR A BRILLIANT ,HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR TO ALL COLONSAY RESIDENTS.

See you in May!!!! Possibly with a powerpoint presentation featuring Colonsay!!! Will explain further soon. Hope the winter isn't too wild, and stormy!!!

Will try and send some pics. for the Corncrake...

Love from Louise in Ambleside Cumbria.



Dear Editor,

I have sent the following off to Mr Davis in response to your piece about the Arandora Star.

Hello Mr Davis, I read the Corncrake. I was also in Edinburgh recently and reading the Scotsman newspaper, I noticed the obituary for Victor Crolla, died 25 Nov 2005, who ran Valvona and Crolla, the Italian Delicatessen in Elm Row, Edinburgh. Its a great place and an Edinburgh institution.

The obit included a piece about his father or uncle who was a casualty of the Arandora Star. I searched the Scotsman website www.scotsman.com - there are a few search returns for Arandora and for Victor Crolla (I seem to remember that particular obit mis-spelled Arandora). There are other interesting search returns from the site too.

Perhaps www.scotsman.com will be of help in your compilation of your Arandora site and provide some updates of the progress of some of the families.

Stevie Watson.



Dear Editor,

Hello, I enjoy reading your on line newspaper of Colonsay. As my ancestors came from there it is especially interesting to me.

However I am very tired of your "Bush Bashing". He is our president and as such should be respected.

Doesn't look like I will be visiting any time soon.

Patricia McAfee Smith
Kentucky
USA

Editor's reply :

Hi Pat,

Sorry to hear that you have taken offence; I can assure you that any 'Bush Bashing' was not pre-meditated. Nor have I been one to accord people respect according to their office; rather, I believe that respect is something that people earn by their actions.

Hope that you have a good Christmas.
The Editor.




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REGULARS



GENEALOGICAL LETTERS

Dear Editor,

I would like to share this tid bit with you and possibly your readers. I attended the Highland Games in January 2005 held in Orlando Florida, USA. What a wonderful experience! While there I visited a booth that would give you a print-out of the history of your family name. There is a seal attached that lets you know it is authenticated by historical research service.

Here are a few of the highlights from the paper about the McDuffie clan. And I quote, the name McDuffie is an age old Dalriandian-Scottish nickname for a dark featured, peaceful person. The Gaelic name of the clan is Mac Dubhshithe, which translates as black one of peace.

Historical researchers, using some of the oldest manuscripts including Clan genealogies the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Ragman Rolls, the Inquisitio, parish cartularies, baptismal records and tax records found the name McDuffie on the island of Colonsay where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

The surname of McDuffie is believed to be of Dalriadan origin, a tribe that invaded Scotland, along with other Scoti tribes from Northern Ireland. The genealogy of present day clans and individual descendants of the Dalriadans, can be sometimes traced back to King Colla da Crioch who is said to have been banished from Ireland in 327 A.D. along with 350 clan chiefs. King Fergus Mor MacEre, the first king of Dalrida, defeated the Picts in 498 A.D. Scotland was to some extent united by Kenneth MacAlpin, a Dalriadan who also became the king of the Picts in about 839 A. D.

The clan MacFie asserted their royal origin being directly descended from King Kenneth MacAlpin and were seated at Dunn Add in Dalriada beside the beautiful Loch Criman. The earliest on record however, was Thomas McDuffie who rendered homage as Chief of his Clan in 1296 to King Edward 1 of England on his brief conquest of Scotland. The MacFie of Colonsay was one of the principle Chief who signed the famous "Statutes of Iona", but the territories of Colonsay and Islay passed from the Clan and they were located in Lochabar on the mainland and became followers of the Cameron's, and supported that clan in the Battle of Culloden.

Another branch of the MacFies settled on North Uist.', and later migrated south to Galloway where the name became MacHaffie, MacDuffie, and MacGuffie. A great number emigrated from Scotland to Ireland during the 17th and 18th Centuries. In Ireland they settled in county Donegal. And from there many risked the journey to the New World, unquote.

This is the branch I descended from according to what I have been able to find out thus far from bits and pieces gleaned here and there. My brother did some research and he told me our ancestors came on a ship to America with a man named Oglethorpe. They were given land grants in the Carolinas. Eventually from my Dad's stories, three McDuffie brothers migrated south to Florida. Two settled in the Florida Panhandle . One on the east side of the Choctawhatchee River and one on the west. The third brother traveled farther south.

This historical paper told me volumes on the history of my clan name but unfortunately very little about the genealogy. I will continue searching. I find it to be fascinating!

Sincerely,

Annette McDuffie Haven
Brightfeather65@aol.com






EDITORIAL POLICY

Corncrake is published to keep all our friends in touch with life on the island. Contributions are invited and welcomed.
Fortnightly editions will carry details of coming events, special offers etc. Please send letters and proposals for specific articles to the Editor
Brief genealogical and related queries are also welcome from Colbhasachs overseas, as are obituaries and family traditions relating to Colonsay emigrants.
This publication will hopefully develop to reflect the interests of the readership so please feel free to make your contribution. The magazine section needs articles on flora, fauna, geology, fishing, crofting etc.