Presiding Officer Alex Fegusson with Angus Nicolson and Mary MacInnes
It is not often I am (or indeed almost any politician is) lost for words. But today I was.
I was played a composition by a piper which was specially written for me for my trip to Benbecula – and it was simply beautiful.
Written by a talented young local musician called Simon Bradley and entitled ‘Alex Fergusson’s welcome to Ceolas’ it was played to me during a visit to Kildonan Museum. I felt very humbled when I was presented with the composition which was piped by local music teacher Angus Nicolson. I was even more astonished when he said he had taken just three days to learn it off by heart. Incredible stuff.
The museum offers a fascinating insight into what life used to be like on Uist and I was immensely impressed by the range and quality of the artefacts on display. One of particular note to me, as a former farmer, was a hand plough. I never knew such a tool had ever been made.
While there I met organisers of Ceolas, the Gaelic music and dance summer school taking place nearby. Their passion to protect and promote Gaelic was obvious and it was delightful to hear how the week-long festival brought the community even closer together.
That is something which has really struck me here. There is a real sense of community and everywhere I visited on today’s whistle-stop programme. I heard about how organisations and individuals are working together for the good of the area and its people.
I heard how the 30 volunteers at Uist Befriending were helping reduce social isolation and supporting people with different needs, including providing transport for the elderly and friendship for people with substance misuse problems. I also met volunteers from Sustainable Uist who are determined to encourage locals to do their bit to reduce carbon emissions and maximise sustainability across the islands – even little things like encouraging people to grow their own lettuce or strawberries could make a huge difference I learnt.
While on the island I have been fortunate to sample some of the fantastic seafood caught off the coast here and today I was fascinated by a trip to meet fishermen at
Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson at Kallin Harbour
Kallin Harbour. They do a really tough job in often treacherous conditions. They told me how the price of scallops had not changed in 20 years, despite the significant rise in operating costs and how many of them fear their industry will not be able to keep on going without change.
Shearing a blackface sheep at Lionacleit Crofting School
I had to don a boiler suit and for my next stop, which had me doing something I had not done in about 15 years. Presiding over proceedings in the Chamber seemed easy in comparison to having to shear a sheep in front of a bunch of youngsters who are learning the skill as part of a unique crofting course run by Lionacleit School. The tie, shoes and watch came off before I set about the task in hand – and admit to being relieved to remember the skills I learnt in my early farming days. It was invigorating and I felt like a wee boy again. Thankfully neither the sheep nor I came to any harm. The course sounded fascinating; it teaches the future generation about animal welfare, stone dyke building and the environment in a bid to preserve crofting in the community.
The passion and drive of these islanders is infectious and having ended the day travelling north to Stornoway I can’t wait to learn more about these wonderful Western Isles.
