All Change At The Barn

I mentioned a while ago that we were planning to re-convert the Barn (where we live) from the current two apartments into one house. This is due to happen during the coming winter. So far - the plans have been drawn up professionally, and the necessary planning permission and building warrant has been obtained. Our builder is on target to begin work in November.

The outside of the building won't change too dramatically, but just for the record - here is a picture of how it looks today...

Roskhill Barn, August 2014

Dunvegan Remembers

Commemorating the beginning of World War One, a hundred years ago today - a parade through the village and service at the war memorial was organised by Dunvegan Community Council. The parade was led by the Pipes and Drums of the Isle of Skye Pipe Band, and included service personnel from HM Royal Naval Base, Clyde, the Army, Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the Royal Air Force, Lossiemouth. Also parading were Army Cadets from Portree Attachment, the Royal British Legion, North Skye Branch and members of HM Coastguard.

The Pipes and Drums of the Isle of Skye Pipe Band leads the parade past the Bracadale and Duirinish Parish Church, at which a salute was taken by the Lord Lieutenant for Skye, Mrs J. Bowen, Chair of Dunvegan Community Council, Maressa Munro, and relatives of those men named on the village war memorial.

The parade is followed by a large crowd made up of local people and visitors to Skye. Dunvegan War Memorial stands on a rocky outcrop above the main road through the village. The path to the memorial has been resurfaced earlier this year, and flood lights have been installed. The lights will be switched on for the first time at 11.00pm this evening - 4th August 2014 - 100 years to the day since the start of World War One.

The parade stands to attention at the war memorial, viewed from the Dunvegan Hotel.

In salute, a Typhoon aircraft from 6 Squadron, 1 Group, RAF Lossiemouth roars over the village war memorial then turns abruptly skywards and almost immediately disappears into the clouds.

Following the service at the village war memorial, the parade re-formed to march through the village to the village hall.

Following the parade through the village, the large crowd of onlookers begins to disperse. The crowd was made up of people of all ages, and included visitors to Skye as well as many local residents.

Dunvegan war memorial - The newly installed floodlights were switched on at 11.00pm tonight, marking the precise moment of the beginning of World War One, a hundred years ago.