What We Do In The Winter

In this episode I talk with Jim Corbett of Lochbuie.


The Lochbuie estate has been in Jim’s family since 1922, and Jim and his wife are just about to celebrate their 40th year living here on Mull.


 We talk about Jim’s family background, how the family came to live in Lochbuie, the Maclaines of Lochbuie and Kenneth Maclaine in particular. 
We also mention Moy Castle, I Know Where I’m Going, Eye of the Needle and much, much more.


We also talk about George Sassoon, who is a man I really wish I’d met.


I should point out that when the location of the Ark of the Covenant is mentioned, Jim phoned me up afterward to say that meant the Holy Grail rather than the Ark - it’s in Ethiopia, everyone knows that…


The whole What We Do in the Winter project has been sponsored in kind by the Island Bakery, and everyone who takes part in it gets a complimentary box of Lemon Melts.

The website, whatwedointhewinter.com, has links to the topics covered in our chat.

In this episode I talk with Anna Mockford from near Kintra in the Ross of Mull.

Anna is a professional photographer and was born in the South East of England. She grew up in the 70’s and 80’s before going off travelling with her partner Nick, who is also a photographer. 


We recorded this episode at Anna and Nick’s home near Kintra. You’ll hear the birds singing loudly in the background throughout. I’m a bit low in the mix of this episode, which is probably quite a good thing.

We talk about growing up in the SE of England, the miner’s strike, travel, lots of travel, photography, family life and the experience of being a parent of a child who boards away in Oban for the majority of the week.

Links to topics covered can be found on our website at whatwedointhewinter.com

Thank you for listening!

In this episode I talk with Davie Kirkpatrick of Iona.

Davie has lived in Iona for the vast majority of his life. 
Our conversation covers lots of ground. We talk about growing up on the island, going away for school, various characters and community members of the past and present. 
We talk briefly about the politics of passenger ferries, the start of commercial crabbing.

We also talk about a remarkable family called the MacCormicks, who achieved remarkable things.


The whole What We Do in the Winter project has been sponsored in kind by the Island Bakery, and everyone who takes part in it gets a complimentary packet of Lemon Melts – the tastiest biscuits I know.


Our webpage, whatwedointhewinter.com has all the links and info you’ll need from this episode, and we can be found on twitter, facebook and Instagram.

Thanks for listening!

In this episode I talk with Hugh MacPhail.

Hugh talks about his life on the island of Ulva, the construction of the big house, farming, fishing, other people who lived on the island at the time. At one point he has a fantastic series of reminiscences about the puffers, the small coastal ships that brought supplies such as coal from the mainland to the islands.

Thanks for listening!

Episode links can be found on https://whatwedointhewinter.com/2019/04/19/25-hugh-macphail/

In this episode I talk with Neil Munro.

Neil is our first participant to hail from Ulva.

We recorded this episode in the study of Ulva house.

Ulva, which is now, I’m delighted to say, a community owned island.

The ground floor of Ulva house has a beautiful wooden floor, which you’ll hear throughout the course of the episode, as my dogs clatter around on it quite a bit. For which I apologise. Both of my dogs make an appearance at different points in the episode, so keep your ears peeled for their snoring and clickity-clackity noises.

Neil talks about his childhood on Ulva, his studies, travels and working life. We talk about his current work with Isle of Mull Cheese and former employment at the Tobermory Distillery towards the end of the episode.

This episode features Mark Summers’ interpretation of the WWDITW theme tune in the middle and then end, which I'm over the moon with. Recorded at his home in Orkney, it’s great to make island conections across the seas! Thank you Mark!

Thank you again to www.islandbakery.co.uk for the lemon melts that each participant receives when they take part.

Thank you for listening!

Episode links:

Ulva https://www.ulva.scot/

Gartocharn www.gartocharn.org

Glengorm http://www.glengormcastle.co.uk/

Napier University https://www.napier.ac.uk/

Queen Scallops https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_scallop

Scottish Salmon Company https://www.scottishsalmon.com/

Mallaig https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/mallaig-p236601

Knoydart https://www.visitknoydart.co.uk/

The old forge pub http://www.theoldforge.co.uk/

MacGochans Tobermory https://macgochans-tobermory.co.uk/

The University of Dallas https://udallas.edu/

Calgary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary,_Mull

Community buyout of Ulva http://nwmullwoodland.co.uk/ulva/

Isle of Mull Cheese www.isleofmullcheese.co.uk/

Tobermory Distillery tobermorydistillery.com/

Bringing Our Island Community Back to Life - Ulva https://vimeo.com/322192808

More episodes can be found at whatwedointhewinter.com

In this episode I talk with Andrena Duffin. Andrena has lived all over the world, but has never been more than 6 months without being back on Mull. 
When she was younger her family owned Erray farm, outside of Tobermory, which she talks about around 15 minutes into our chat. 
Her parents then moved over to Ulva Ferry, from where her father ran boat trips to Staffa.

There’s so much detail in Andrena’s conversation, it’s quite remarkable. I don’t really want to spoil it for you, but if you’re interested in ghost stories, and a certain Scottish monster, then this is the episode for you…


The whole What We Do in the Winter project has also been sponsored in kind by the Island Bakery.

In the coming months I’m going to pull together an episode on the filming of When 8 Bells Toll, which was made on and around Mull. 
I’m looking to chat to anyone who was involved with the filming or anyone who has a particular affection for it. 
And, a bit of a long stretch, I know, I’m trying to see if I can get a few minutes to interview Anthony Hopkins about his work on the film. 



As these podcasts take quite a lot of time to make, I’m looking to fund raise through donations.

So if you feel like it, and are able to, please feel free to donate the cost of a cup of coffee through the website. 
You’ll see a ‘donate’ tab there, where you can donate if you so wished. 
I’ve also got a Patreon page for donations which you can find under my name, Alasdair Satchel, if you want to contribute to that you’re very welcome. 


Also, to help me grow the podcast, if you want to leave a rating or a review on which ever platform you use to listen I’d be most grateful. Thank you to those of you that have, I really, really appreciate it! 


We can be reached on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on email at [email protected]

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Cookie, Anne Flavell, who brought so much to life in Tobermory. 

Thank you for listening, I look forward to speaking to you again soon!

There are so many links for this episode that they can't all fit in this text! Please head over to whatwedointhewinter.com for links to the topics covered.

In this episode I talk with Gordon Buchanan of Tobermory. 

Born in Alexandria outside of Dumbarton, Gordon moved to Mull with his Mum, brothers and sister in the late 70’s.

In our conversation we cover lots of anecdotes about growing up in Tob, building dens, raiding gardens for fruit, local characters of his youth, the challenges of going to school in Oban, his love of horses, and towards the end of the episode, how he came to work with Nick Gordon, wildlife cameraman.

We leave off our conversation there, just as his career begins.


Gordon lives in Glasgow these days, and I was made very welcome at his beautiful home, where we recorded this episode.

I’m delighted to say that this episode has been sponsored by Turus Mara.

Turus Mara have been running Seabird and Wildlife Cruise tours to The Treshnish Isles and Staffa for almost half a century. Sail from Ulva Ferry and visit the awe inspiring Fingal's Cave and commune with the puffins and their many thousand relatives. For further info visit www.turusmara.com or find us on social media...


The whole What We Do in the Winter project has also been sponsored in kind by the Island Bakery, and everyone who takes part in it gets a complimentary packet of Lemon Melts. www.islandbakery.co.uk

Alexandria https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria,_West_Dunbartonshire

Nick Gordon Obit https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/may/03/guardianobituaries


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tarantulas-Marmosets-Other-Stories-Amazon/dp/1900512157/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1550793026&sr=8-7&keywords=Nick+Gordon

Turus Mara www.turusmara.com

Island Bakery www.islandbakery.co.uk

Gordon Buchanan http://www.josarsby.com/gordon-buchanan

As ever links to the topics covered can be found on the website at whatwedointhewinter.com

Thank you for listening!

In this episode I talk with James Westland of Tobermory. 

Born in a castle near Stirling, James, or Seamus as we know him, grew up around Alloa before going to Uni in St Andrews and then headed off shore and came back to land where he studied Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, in Skye. It was at Sabhal Mor that he met Moira, who later became his wife. Eventually they chose to settle on Mull where they live to this day with their family in Tobermory.

Our conversation moves between Seamus’ love of geology and the land, and how that journey started for him in the Ochil Hills, how landscape gives off certain feelings, Gaelic music and culture, his working life here on Mull and the geological make up of our islands and why they are so interesting. At the very end we also talk about Seamus’ father in law, the late, much missed Duncan MacGilp.

We also have a wee natter in Gaelic at one point in the conversation for a couple of minutes.

As ever links to the topics covered can be found, as ever, on the website at whatwedointhewinter.com

Episode Links:

Airthrie Castle https://historic-hospitals.com/2015/04/27/airthrey-castle-maternity-hospital/

Alva https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alva,_Clackmannanshire

Ochil Hills https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochil_Hills

Alloa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alloa

Ben Cleuch https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/grahams/ben-cleuch.php?s=1

The Silver Glen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Glen

Bonanzas and Jacobites by Stephen Moreton https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bonanzas-Jacobites-Story-Silver-Glen/dp/1905267088/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550074623&sr=8-1&keywords=bonanza+jacobites

Alva Glen - The Dwarf’s Tomb https://megalithix.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/dwarfs-tomb/

Clootie Well at Munlochy https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/munlochy/clootiewell/index.html

St Andrews Uni https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/

Runrig www.runrig.co.uk

Silly Wizard http://sillywizard.co.uk/

Teach yourself Gaelic https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Gaelic-Beginner-Intermediate-Course-ebook/dp/B006MXEZ0A/ref=sr_1_2_twi_kin_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550138698&sr=8-2&keywords=teach+yourself+gaelic

Can Seo https://www.amazon.co.uk/Can-Seo-Donald-John-Macleod/dp/0563162902/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1550078020&sr=1-1&keywords=can+seo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBVb1zbe32k&list=PL04B67DB0ABD8AAD2

Calum Kennedy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calum_Kennedy

Na h-Òganich https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Na_h-%C3%92ganaich

Dòtaman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%B2taman

HIE www.hie.co.uk

Isle of Mull Computers http://www.mull.co.uk/

Angus Miller Geowalks http://www.geowalks.co.uk/

Geology map of Mull https://pennyghael.org/geology.html

Mars rocks similar to Mull https://www.hutton.ac.uk/news/mars-and-mull-share-similar-soil-hutton-analysis-finds

The Mid Atlantic Ridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Atlantic_Ridge

Columnar basalt - Ulva and Staffa http://www.mullgeology.net/columnarbasalt.html http://www.mullgeology.net/ulva.html

The geology of Mull & Iona http://mullgeology.net/

http://www.largeimages.bgs.ac.uk/iip/mapsportal.html?id=1004374

Geology of Gribun http://mullgeology.net/gribun.html

Duncan MacGilp https://whatwedointhewinter.com/2018/08/17/coming-soon-duncan-mcgilp/

When the Song Dies by Jamie Chambers https://vimeo.com/150802508

Thanks for listening!

In this episode I talk with Bill O’Neill of Ceann Cuin, near Penmore outside of Dervaig. Born in Stirling within spitting distance of the castle, Bill grew up in the Raploch.

He was a soldier in Cypress and Libya, and on returning to the UK lived and worked in Sheffield, Stirling and then Sheffield again, before settling on Mull in 1989.

Bill and his wife Jackie live in the house he built with his own hands over the course of 8 years, without the aid of power tools.

We talk about his childhood in the Raploch, his years in service, working at Cruachan, and various driving jobs before we come on to his life on Mull towards the last third of the podcast.

It is at this point that I should make a declaration of interest, as Bill is my father in law and Grumpa to my son, Coll.

I had a few issues with my equipment during the recording, so I’m quite low in the mix. Which is probably quite a good thing. Also there’s a pitch invasion by Fingal, one of our cats, so there’s quite a lot of purring at one point, as he rubs himself against the microphone.

Raploch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raploch

Riverside School baths https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/iconic-swimming-pool-flattened-housing-3999137

Kelvingrove https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum

Bob Swift https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11910987.robert-swift-yorkshireman-who-adopted-scotland-and-the-national-instrument/

Stirling Castle https://www.stirlingcastle.scot/

Ochil Hills https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochil_Hills

Dumyat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumyat

The auld brig www.localhistories.org/stirling.html

The Hunchback of Notre Damme https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunchback_of_Notre_Dame_(1939_film)

ALSO IMAGE

Billy Bremner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bremner

St Ninians, Stirling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Ninians

Cyprus - British army presence https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/cyprus-1954-2017

King Idris of Libya https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idris_of_Libya

QL Bedford https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_QL

Gallaher Ltd, Sheffield http://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s16727&pos=2&action=zoom

Fingal makes an appearance

Cruachan Dam https://www.visitcruachan.co.uk/

JG Graves https://www.visitcruachan.co.uk/

Viscount https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Viscount

Further images and links can be found on whatwedointhewinter.com

Thank you for listening!

In this episode I talk with John MacDonald.

John grew up in Tobermory at Springbank.

A haulier for the last 40 years and more, as you’ll hear John has a passion for the West Coast of Scotland, and Mull in particular. His interests stretch far and wide, and he knows so much about the people and history of our islands.

Our conversation ranges from his grandparents, parents and siblings, to details of his working life, the Tobermory of his youth, his family and travels both local and more exotic.

John, also known as Spank - from Springbank, came over to join me here at home and we recorded our conversation in my office.

Episode Links:

Lambhill Ironworks

https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSE00405

Dorlin - Loch Buidhe & Loch Tiagasg

http://heritageardnamurchan.co.uk/clachans-clans/

Sherrif Robertson’s Mull Diaries

http://jamesirvinerobertson.co.uk/html/archive.html

Duncan MacNeil of Colonsay

https://www.revolvy.com/page/Duncan-McNeill%2C-1st-Baron-Colonsay

REME

https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-electrical-and-mechanical-engineers-reme/

Scammell

http://www.scammellregister.co.uk/index.php/history

Tobermory Distillery

tobermorydistillery.com/

Commer Lorry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commer

Loch Sunnart

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Sunart

Phi Phi Islands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_Phi_Islands

Rob Barlow & the Elizabeth G

https://www.hebridescruises.co.uk/

Island on the Edge of the World

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004V31LJG/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_rp4uCbAQS43TQ

The Life and Death of St Kilda

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005IH0M7G/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_jq4uCbW27FDNE

Eoin a cheann bhig

https://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/story91.htm

Port Rainich

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Isle+of+Mull/@56.5217329,-6.2082165,393m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x488bc310f55d3693:0x1ccc6844774d042f!8m2!3d56.4391984!4d-6.000887