Oban memories
Here are memories of Oban and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Oban or a Oban photo.
Dunstaffnage The War Years 1942-45
In 1942 aged 5 due to my father being a shipwright in the Portsmouth Dockyard he was transferred to a satellite dockyard at Dunstaffnage where we stayed as a family until the war finished and we then moved back to Pompey. Workers in the Dockyard came from Chatham, Devonport and Rosyth. The dockyard had AFD 19 which was a floating dock to repair damaged North Atlantic and Artic convoy ships. My sister reminded me of H.M.S Bluebell, repaired, next convoy Artic, sunk, one survivor only. The village was made up of about 240 prefabs (I have photos) to house the families. We lived at 13b Hervey Road and moved to 10a when my younger sister was born in 1944. The "houses" were put together by the Royal Marines which had a camp there. What a life we had, playing in the wood below the Co-op, in the bay in the summer, on the hill on the other side of the Oban-Connel Road which only had ferns then, no fir trees like nowdays.... Read more
Dunstaffnage, War Years
Like Brian Woodward we moved to Dunstaffnage during the war. My father was a plumber at Devonport. I, unfortunately have no memories of the time, only what my parents subsequently told me! I do know we were still in Plymouth in Dec. 1942 as my brother was born there. We had definitely moved by Aug. 1944 as I started school in Dunstaffnage. I also had a burst appendix and ended up in hospital in Oban - the scar from the drain tube still bothers me! My eldest sister, of five, was born in Dunstaffnage. We must have been back in Lee Mill, where we were housed in firefighters' nissen huts outside of Plymouth by 1946, since I attended Lee Mill Infant School before going to Ivybridge Primary. I have been living in Kintyre for 12 years since retiring to the house that was our holiday home for 11 years prior to that. By "holiday home" I mean we spent every English school holiday here, amounting to about 1/4 of the... Read more
Born in Oban
I was born in Oban and still have all my mum's family there, does anyone know of the Sloss family, Davie and Ina and their large family - Davie, Peter, Malcome, Alex, Billy, Robert, Jessie, Ina, Irene and Elizebeth?
Dunbeg School
My grandfather was the head master at Dunbeg School, he lived in the school house. Does anyone have any photos or stories? I would love to hear anything please.
I Was Born in Dunbeg (Dunstaffnage.
First day at the old village school, classmates, Mrs Gardiner, Miss Cowan.
Now live North Carolina, would love to hear from anyone who remembers.
Margaret
Memories of Argyll
Killiechonich
I was born at Killiechonich and lived there until I was 11. Remember walking down through the wood to Johnny and Morag McColl (a brother and sister who lived at the croft - they were from Skye). Then we would walk to Alec Fletchers for our milk - the Fletchers lived at Barnacarry. Also remember Cruachan who ran the post office - we used to go there to post letters. Eddie at the shop, where we used to get our messages. Also attended country dancing classes at Kilmore Hall.
Isobel (my sister), Anne Livingstone and myself used to attend. Remember the Christmas Parties and Fancy Dress Parties at Kilmore Hall. Attended Church and Sunday School at Kilmore church and one Christmas read the lesson there.
Jean Clark I think was our Sunday School Teacher and on one occasion I think I recall Anne Lorne Gillies taking the class. Rev Carmichael was the minister then,
he had a daughter called Nina. I... Read more
Ghost Stories.
As children,we attended Sunday school which was at the base in one of the nissan huts, as we got older it was the church service. After church we would walk to the Castle in pitch darkness, with Tommy and Bet Stewart, telling ghost stories. The castle was a ruin then with walls crumbled, broken doors, which I am sure was vandalism, you could enter into the Castle, not that we did as it was too creepy. It was always an attraction when we were younger. The villagers would gather wood nearby. Folklore had it that the cave on the back beach had a tunnel into the castle, I still don't know if that is true. It was our playground, as we were too young to understand the history. It stands very proud and I know the history now, and am proud to have been born in Dunstaffnage.
Cnocaruan
The photograph shows our house in the foreground, originally built in 1890 and has a self-catering extension added on to make the most of the spectacular Falls of Lora. The photos I am looking for are of Connel Bridge under construction. If you do or know of a web page please email cnocaruan@aol.com
Post Office Radio Station
The Maritime Radio service of the Post Office had medium wave radio stations at Wick (Caithness) and Port Patrick (Dumfries & Galloway). As the Minches were a very busy area for fishermen from Fleetwood and Milford Haven, it was decided to put a medium wave station in between and the initial site chosen was the airfield at North Connel. The first station was situated in a caravan. The staff were drafted from other stations around the UK Coast and a 24 hour watch was kept to enhance the safety of life at sea in the northwestern approaches. The staff were Donald Morrison (a Lewisman), Angus Stark, Andrew Brown, Sam Kennedy, Stan Hardman (the token Englishman), Bill Moffat and Bob Mason came later. As time went by the station was moved into more permanent quarters; a Nissan hut left by the RAF. Later, four houses were built for the staff in Connel. This meant that the staff who lived in these houses had to finish their watch at 10 p.m. -... Read more
Bonawe Ferry Crossing
I lived in Bonawe from 1947-1956. My dad worked in Bonawe Quarries. We left in 1956 to live in Glasgow. I have lived in Yorkshire for over 30 years now but I love to go back to Bonawe. My last visit was 2007, it has changed but I still have my memories. I think the chap who ran the ferry was called "deucher". I am sorry if I have got that wrong. I remember the village store putting a working train set in the shop window at Christmas. I can still see the school, Ardchattan Primary, one classroom and one teacher for all the pupils. We used to cross Loch Etive from Bonawe to Taynuilt by rowing boat for a treat to maybe continue on to Oban for a day out. Happy memories all because of a photograph. Thank-you
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,893 memories of 5,952 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Barking, Essex
- Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire
- Langley Park, County Durham
- Burnopfield, Tyne and Wear
- Greystoke, Cumbria
- Netheravon, Wiltshire
- Bull Bay, Gwynedd
- Ashford, Middlesex
- Llansamlet, West Glamorgan
- Lowestoft, Suffolk
- Kings Sutton, Oxfordshire
- Nazeing, Essex
- New Malden, Surrey
- Ribbleton, Lancashire
- Battersea, Greater London
- Taxal, Derbyshire
- Cwmaman, Mid Glamorgan
- Patshull Park, West Midlands
- Bexleyheath, Kent
- Chiddingfold, Surrey
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
