Our wedding collection is growing slowly but surely, and new in today are 1960s wedding telegrams and some lovely photos. Most will be on display in the tearoom within a week or two but meanwhile… Mrs and Mrs Kenny Maclennan, 15 Kneep (Coinneach a’ Loin and Agnes Smith, Lochcroistean – above) were married 22 Nov 1962 at Baile na Cille church, with the reception at the Crown Hotel in Stornoway. Agnes and Kenny’s wedding was also the occasion for which am Bard Bochd wrote Banais [ » read more ]

From the Stornoway Gazette supplement, 18 December 1959. Wedding bells have been ringing in Mangersta for the past year. Cupid started at one end of the village leaving a spate of marriages in his trail. The most recent of these was solemnised in the East Church, Inverness, on the 10th November when Mary Morrison, eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs John Morrison, 13 Mangersta, became the bride of Alexander Smith, only son of the late Mr and Mrs William Smith, 9 Kneep. The [ » read more ]

Rev Norman Morrison, with his wife, sister (behind him) and children.  Rev Morrison was minister at Baile na Cille from 1931 to 1950. He wasn’t the first of that name in Uig; the third known minister in Uig was also Norman Morrison, 1742 to 1777, who was a grandson of John Morrison, tacksman at Bragar – known in the archives as Indweller.  He studied at Aberdeen and St Andrews and from his ordination in 1742, spent his whole working life in Uig.  His church was [ » read more ]

These new-to-us pictures come from the albums of the late Roberta Maclennan, whose brother Duncan was the doctor in Uig during WW2 – though the pictures date from 1926, and were taken in Glen Valtos, before the quarrying started there.  Many thanks to John J Maclennan for providing them, and others.

These studio portraits are all from the early years of the 20th century – except the first, which is a tintype (I think) and seems to be earlier. They are unidentified, but came from the collection of Joan Maciver, Cliff. If you know who they might be, please comment.

Thanks to the comments below from Dolly and Murdina, we now know that this is a joint expedition by Lochcroistean and Mangersta School to see the Bernera Bridge on 25 June 1952, before it was officially opened in 1953.  Of course, it can be seen across Loch Roag from Carishader so the children (at Lochcroistean at least) would have been well aware of its progress. More pictures of the construction period and opening of the bridge can be seen on Hebridean Connections.  See the comments for [ » read more ]

A very unseasonable picture:  a party from Reef, out at Strome for peats in fine weather.  Angus Mackay (an Gagan), James Morrison (Seumas Mhurchaidh Seumais), Christina Mackay, Peggy Macritchie (Peggy an Irish) and Murdo Macdonald (Morgan).

John Nicholson 3 Crowlista, Peter Angus Maclean 8 Timsgarry; and a Macdonald from 5 Crowlista.  Can anyone identify the ladies, or where this is taken?

Shonnie Goravig, John Maclean, 3 Ungeshader, who we talked about here.

These photos all came from the collection of Joan Maciver, 35 Cliff. If you recognise any faces, please let us know!

Some pictures from Murdanie Macdonald of Island Cruising, who has for many years run week-long trips from Uig to St Kilda, the Flannan Isles and other islands off our coast, aboard MV Cuma. Thanks Murdanie.

Lochcroistean School, c1928. Teachers Annie Macaulay 35 Cliff and Donald Macarthur, Carloway. Back Row:1. Angus Hugh Smith, 2 Carishader 2. Angus John Macdonald, 6 Carishader 3. Donald Macritchie, 4 Enaclete 4. Donald John Mackay, 6 Geshader 5. Malcolm John Smith, 2 Ungeshader 6. Donald Smith, 2 Ungeshader 7. Donald Gillies, 9 Carishader 8. John M Macdonald, 6 Enaclete 9. Norman Macdonald, 12 Carishader 2nd Row: 10. Peter Macleod, 9 Enaclete 11. Murdina Maclean, 3 Geshader & Hushinish 12. Peggy Macleod, 10 Geshader 13. Johan Matheson, [ » read more ]

The house at 35 Cliff is currently being renovated – here are three pictures from the collection of the late Joan Maciver of the house at the time of previous improvements.  In the middle photo the new kitchen is being added.

Dòmhnall Donn (Donald Maciver, b 1862) and his wife Hannah Maclean (b 1874) in Kneep.  Dòmhnall was a noted bard and on his deathbed passed his gift to his great-niece Peigi Eiric Maciver (now Smith).

Chrissie Matheson 39 Cliff and Jessie Macdonald 24 Valtos.