OUR VILLAGE HISTORY

The Old Clachan at Carsaig about the End of the 19^th Century

     Those who can remember the early days of the Institute must think with amusement of the change in our financial situation. Up to and through the war, the treasurer’s report showed a balance which was seldom in excess of 10/- and often less. The treasurer kept this money in a black handbag reserved for this purpose. Now we have a banking account and our funds are quite comparatively considerable, so that we can afford to pay for really good speakers and demonstrators, and we have a pleasant outing once a year in the summer. Not that our voluntary or local speakers were to be sneezed at, for we had many a happy session in the old days when we learned some craft or heard an interesting travel talk. During the war we kept going with our monthly meetings, which were indeed often held about full moon time, as most of us had to walk or cycle in a blacked out world. We concentrated mostly on demonstrations to help us make the most of rationed food, and on thrift and ‘Make do and mend’, and we met often in the Hall to knit and sew comforts for the services, and helped to organise the arrival and disposal of evacuees from Glasgow.

After the war was over we branched out into more varied and wider interests, but we still feel that the most valuable speakers are those who teach us something.

The District Nursing Committee has always run a function in aid of funds on the third Friday in July, this being a time when there were many visitors with us, and with the Glasgow holiday we expected and got a good crowd. When the National Health Service made it no longer necessary to gather money for the maintenance of our Nurse, the WRI took over this date, and ever since then we

have held a dance and some kind of function which is usually very well attended and gives us a good sum as a start to the coming season.

Soon after the war, a competition was held for a design for a Trophy to be awarded to the Group with the highest points in the annual rallies. This competition was won by a Tayvallich member, with a fine Celtic design which looked very well when carried out in embroidery on linen. Some of the needlework was done by a few of our members. When the SWRI gave a present of needlework to Her Majesty the Queen Mother on the occasion of her Coronation, this work travelled round the Federations and at least one member from Tayvallich put in a few stitches. It was the same with the gift to our present Queen on her marriage.

We usually have a very good entry for our monthly competitions, and some of us go in for those in the Group and Federation meetings.

We hope that this short history and guide may prove of interest to our many friends and acquaintances who live and visit here and who, like all of us, love and admire the enchanting neighbourhood of   .  .  .  .  .  .  TAYVALLICH