What We Do In The Winter

This short episode is being released to coincide with the premiere of Banjo and Ro Beale’s new series Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel. which can be found on BBC iPlayer. The short episode you’re about to hear features a conversation with the wonderful Andrena Duffin, a local historian and tour guide who knows so much about our history. A minute of this conversation was featured in the first episode of Grand Island Hotel, so I thought you may like to hear more of what Andrena had to say. Thank you to Banjo and Ro and their lovely production team Ross Jess and Joe Sharp, for sharing the audio with us. Visit what we do in the winter dot com for episode links and more. You can find all 86 episodes of the podcast to date wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening, and all the best to Banjo and Ro for their brave scheme, long live the Grand Island Hotel! [Image courtesy of Joe Sharp]

This episode is a repost of episode 75 of What We Do in the Winter, an oral history podcast about the people of Mull, Iona, Ulva, Gometra and Little Colonsay. It features a conversation with Banjo and Ro Beale to coincide with the release of Banjo and Ro's Grand Island Hotel on BBC iplayer. Originally released for Christmas 2023 it features some seasonal greetings and a wee bit of context about the podcast. Wishing the boys all the very best with their adventure on Ulva, it's a properly dramatic watch, I've only seen one episode and have no idea how it's all going to pan out. Compulsive viewing! Ro is one of the masterminds behind the distillery at Isle of Mull Cheese, and Banjo is a celebrated interior designer, whose work you may have seen in Interior Design Masters, his own series Designing the Hebrides and whose book Wild Isle Style is available from all good bookshops. We cover so many topics in this episode as Banjo and Ro talk about their lives and adventures. To donate to Banjo and Ro's work in Nepal, please drop a line to: ahoy@banjobeale.co.uk Photo of Banjo & Ro by Lisa McKenna For more information please see the episode links on whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening!

Nollaig chridhiel dhuibh! A very merry Christmas to you! This episode is a conversation with Dr Jennifer Jack of Tobermory. Jennifer comes originally from West Kilbride in Ayrshire. She moved here in the late 1980’s to take up a role within the medical practices in the North End of the island. Our conversation goes into her childhood in Ayrshire, her studies, musical and sporting interests and how she found the island when first she came to live here and what the role of a local GP is and what it means to a community. Episode notes and more can be found at whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening!

This episode is a conversation with Kenny and Colin MacIntyre of Tobermory. Kenny is a well known broadcaster and host of Sportsound on BBC Scotland, and Colin is a world famous musician under the name Mull Historical Society and also an acclaimed novelist, writing the Mull Mysteries series featuring Ivor Punch. Kenny and Colin talk about their father, the political broadcaster Kenny MacIntyre and their grandfather Angus MacIntyre, noted poet and bank manager. They share memories of growing up in Tobermory, tales from their family and reminisce on the smells of their Mum's hair dressing salon, amongst many other things. The episode finishes with Angus MacIntyre's poem Memories of Mull read by Iain Anderson with kind permission of BBC Radio Scotland. Episode links and more can be found on whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening!

This episode is a conversation with Mary McMillan of Tobermory. We discuss Mary’s family life, life at Newdale outside of Tobermory, some of the characters she remembers from her youth, a remarkable tale about something that washed up on the shore, the skull in the Western Isles, Aleister Crowley, school brutality and so, so much more.  Episode links and more can be found at whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening!

A collection of local news clippings that show how VE Day was marked on the Isle of Mull, presented in a 1940's news reel style.

This episode is a conversation with Davie Hewitt of Tobermory. Born in Wales, Davie spent the first part of his life in and around Ammanford and Abergeron, eventually coming to live in Tobermory where he has been resident for many years. We talk about so much in this episode, Davie has so many tales to tell. Some of the things we look at are his childhood, the love and care his Grandmother expressed for him, bombings during the 2nd World War, coffin design and manufacture, his military service, the gang culture of Liverpool, his work in the forestry here on Mull, the difficulties of finding housing and so much more. For links and more please visit whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening! Photo of Davie with thanks to Derwyn Hewitt.

This episode is a conversation with Hugh Boa, who farms at Antuim, here in Dervaig in the North of Mull. I’ve wanted to speak to Hugh since What We Do in the Winter started, so I’m delighted to be able to share this episode with you. Our conversation covers all sorts of ground. We talk about people of the island in the past, different farming cultures on different estates, family members, the decline of Gaelic, the horror of Gruinard Island, the Salen Show and so much more. There is some exceptionally fine swearing in this episode, so do be warned. Hugh also doesn’t hold back on his take on the reintroduction of Sea Eagles, which is very interesting to hear. At about 45 minutes in we eat some mince pies, sorry if this causes anyone to feel nauseous, but they were too good to resist – they were my wife’s homemade frangipani ones. If you're listening as this episode goes out, a very happy Christmas to you! Episode links and more can be found on whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening!

This episode is a conversation with Alison and Angus Johnston of Iona. Many listeners will know Alison and Angus from their time running the Columba Hotel on Iona. We talk about their lives before Iona, with memories of life in Dublin and an amazing account of the WW2 victory parade in Edinburgh, then come to talk about life on the island and the characters of the past, the loss of Gaelic on the island, hopes for the future and finally we talk about what it is that so many people feel so drawn to Iona by and what it means to them. Episode links and more on whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening!

This episode is a conversation with Christine Leach of Balevulin, Tiroran. Originally from near Portsmouth, Christine has lived on Mull for many years. Christine runs Pennyghael in the Past Historical Archive. PPHA is a remarkable archive full of the most interesting materials that shines light onto the history of Brolas and its surrounds. I’ve always found Brolas here on Mull to be a very tricky area to define. There are Macleans of Duart, Lochbuie and Brolas, Duart and Lochbuie are easy enough to locate in your mind, but Brolas less so. It is for that reason and many more, that I wanted to talk with Christine. Christine’s book Hebridean Healers, about the medieval Beaton family, who were located at Pennycross is out now and very much worth your while. It’s a great resource to explore Mull’s past. Christine was joined by Andrea Cameron, Elizabeth Carter and Miek Zwambourn in the writing of the book. We also talk about Christine’s journey to coming to live on Mull, what brought her here and how it swiftly began to feel like home. There are many names mentioned from that past that I know many listeners will be delighted to hear again. Christine has given me loads of photos to help illustrate her story, so do have a look at whatwedointhewinter.com for episode links and more info. Thanks for listening!

This episode is a conversation with Allan and Cameron Maclean of Tobermory. Cameron and Allan are brothers, Cameron born in Tobermory and Allan on Tiree. I’ve wanted to speak these gentlemen for quite a time, so to finally get a moment to spend time together was very special. We talk about so much in this episode. Places of the past, people of the past of both Mull and Tiree, fishing practice and fishermen. There's a lot to take in. For episode notes and more please visit whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening!

In this, the 78th episode of WWDitW, Anda Campbell shares some time with us to talk about his life. We talk about his childhood in Bunessan, his family life, members of the Bunessan community of the past, tales of adventure crossing snowdrifts to help out cabinet ministers, the musical visitors to the Arms, sport on the island, his involvement in the Rally and much, much more. For episode links and more please visit whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening!

A conversation with John Pirie about Skerryvore and lighthouses. Dr John Holliday of the Hynish Trust and Alasdair Satchel of What We Do in the Winter talk with John Pirie, retired lighthouse engineer about Skerryvore lighthouse and the culture of working in manned lighthouses. Recorded at An Iodhlann, Tiree, June 2024 I'm putting this out as a side episode of What We Do in the Winter, so there's no introduction or music. Thanks for tuning in, happy listening!

A special live episode about the Mull Rally, a car rally that started on the island in 1969. As Alasdair doesn't know too much about this subject he invited Duncan Brown, who spoke to us for episode 56, to host the episode. This episode was recorded on Zoom. For photos from the history of the rally and other links, please visit the whatwedointhewinter.com for more information. Thanks for listening!

This episode is a conversation with Gail Struthers. Gail hails from the Hillfoots, the villages and towns around the foot of the Ochil Hills, near Stirling. She’s lived on Mull for many years now and has worked principally in catering in hotels and cafes in the North of the Island. She currently works at Bowman Court and our local hospital in Craignure. Our conversation takes us through Gail’s childhood, her working life and travels away from the island, her life here on Mull, including her time running the Glengorm Café, where I first met her, and then into her passion for reading. For links and more please visit whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening!

This episode is a conversation with Eilidh Young. Originally from Penmore in North West Mull, Eilidh lives in Lochdon, where she was the head of Lochdonhead Primary for many years. Our conversation brings the North of Mull to life during the second world war, so much so that we’ll hear what the infamous Lord Haw Haw, Nazi Propogandist on ‘Germany Calling’ had to say to the people of Tobermory one evening. Eilidh has tales of herself and her father, her training in Edinburgh at Moray House, her work as a teacher in St Neots, Murihouse and of course here on Mull. Eilidh and I spoke in December in the midst of a great big storm, which you’ll hear in the background to our chat. Image of Eilidh Young courtesy of Meriel Young, with thanks! Thanks for listening! Episode notes and more can be found on whatwedointhewinter.com

This episode is a talk between Seamas Carey of The Reason Why podcast and me, Alasdair Satchel, of What We Do in the Winter which explores the nature of our podcasting work. Seamas’ podcast The Reason Why was released in the spring of 2022. It consists of 10 themed episodes and two live episodes which round the project off. It explores the social issues, hidden history and culture wars of contemporary Cornwall. What We Do in the Winter is an oral history podcast about the lives of the people of the Isles of Mull, Iona, Ulva, Gometra, Erraid and Little Colonsay. The conversation you’re about to hear took place in An Tobar, Tobermory on the 4th of October 2023 in front of a live audience. It came about thanks to Rhona Dougall and Nina Pope where were at the time of recording the curators of the visual arts programme at An Tobar Mull Theatre. Sound at the event was by Louise Gregory and Tim Olden. Episode links and more can be found on whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening!

A very happy Christmas to you! This episode is a conversation with Banjo and Ro Beale. Banjo and Ro originally hail from Australia but have settled just outside of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. Ro is one of the masterminds behind the distillery at Isle of Mull Cheese, and Banjo is a celebrated interior designer, whose work you may have seen in Interior Design Masters, his own series Designing the Hebrides and whose book Wild Isle Style is available from all good bookshops. We cover so many topics in this episode as Banjo and Ro talk about their lives and adventures. To donate to Banjo and Ro's work in Nepal, please drop a line to: ahoy@banjobeale.co.uk Photo of Banjo & Ro by Lisa McKenna For more information please see the episode links on whatwedointhewinter.com Thanks for listening! All the best to you for 2024!

This episode is a conversation with Donald Macgillivray of Pennygown. We talk about his childhood, go way back into his family history, talk about drove roads and the last cattle drove off Iona to Falkirk, the changes he’s seen in agricultural practice over his career, his work with Highland cattle, abandoned villages and places long forgotten, his dear friend – the late and much missed Hugh MacPhail and so, so much more. Episode links and more can be found on our website at whatwedointhewinter.com It's this sort of knowledge that passes so swiftly if it’s not passed on and I am deeply indebted to Donald for his time and sincerity in sharing these stories with me. Thanks for listening!

This episode is a chat with Cressida Cowell, author of the How To Train Your Dragon books, the Wizards of Once series and Which Way to Anywhere. Cressida grew up in London where her Dad, Michael Hare, had significant roles in several well known organisations. In the 1970’s Michael bought the island of Little Colonsay, which lies between Ulva and Staffa, which was to become the family’s summer home. The island, it’s history, topography and setting had a profound affect on young Cressida’s imagination and her summers would be spent in a reverie of story making, listening to the tales her Dad would tell her of the people of these islands’ past. These experiences lead to Cressida becoming an author, and not just any author. Her works have been translated into 38 languages and sold tens of millions of copies around the world. There are film and tv adaptations of her work. In our time together we talked about her childhood memories of Little Colonsay and the people who helped her family to build their home there. We talk about her father and his love of nature. We explore the impact that the island had on her imagination, and how that lead to her career. Cressida goes on to talk about her maternal Grandfather, Alan Hare, and his experiences in the 2nd World War in Albania and how that generation of people influenced her writing. We then talk about the importance of the natural world and the nature of climate change. I owe a big thank you to my dear friend Colin Morrison for putting me in contact with Cressida. Colin and his family run Turus Mara, which, departing from Ulva Ferry, to my mind, is the best way to see Staffa, Fingal’s Cave and to meet the puffins on Lunga for some puffin therapy. See the links in the episode notes for more details. Most importantly of all though at the end of this episode Cressida kindly took the time to answer three questions from Lachlan, one of her young readers who lives in Dervaig, who sent me some questions to ask. Thanks for listening! Episode links and more on whatwedointhewinter.com