The following article was taken from the Corncrake, issue 125, with the kind permission of the Editor.

"On the 16th August 1958 I married the Rev James Duffy in Tewkesbury Abbey, and, as Colonsay is the homeland of the Duffy’s, naturally that is where we went for our honeymoon, staying at the Hotel, which was run by Mr and Mrs Jones. Unfortunately, Jim, my husband, suddenly became ill, and Dr MacDonald felt he should go to hospital immediately. In those days there was no Air Ambulance to Colonsay, so Dr MacDonald arranged for a helicopter to fly to Colonsay, pick Jim up and take him to Islay, where the Air Ambulance would be waiting for him.First however, a helipad had to be constructed, I think on what is now the Golf Course and Mrs Jones, who was also the school mistress at that time, lined up all the school children to see the historic event - a helicopter on Colonsay!Jim and I were duly wheeled out to await the big event. In due course a helicopter appeared in the sky and landed safely on the helipad. It took only a few moments to load us up and then take off again; I waved to the crowd below, school children, Mrs Jones and an assortment of locals and tourists. It was such an unusual event that it made the national newspapers with photographs of the Air Ambulance landing in Glasgow from where we were transferred to the Southern General Hospital.Jim was put on the danger list, but the story does not end there, it had a very sad conclusion. The Glasgow reporters had contacted Jim's father in Birmingham, who, of course knew nothing of the drama and the shock of the news gave him a heart attack, from which he sadly died. Jim, it transpired, had a hiatus hernia, but the hospital allowed him to travel to Birmingham in a wheelchair to attend his father's funeral. Jim was ill for a further three months and thereafter lived in good health till his death, age 75, in 1992He completed 42 years of ministry as an Anglican priest and is buried in Ballachulish, Argyll, where he had been rector of St John's church. He loved Scotland but never forgot the inauspicious start to his married life.I have been back in Colonsay many times over the years with my husband and later my two daughters on many happy occasions. Soon my grandchildren age 11 and 9 will be enjoying exploring the island where granddad made a little bit of history."

(PS. I know of another couple that honeymooned on Colonsay, so perhaps we will have an article about that at a later date. Ed)

(These photographs were sent by our good friend and fellow Clan Macfie Society member, Des Duffy, to mark this special occasion. I feel I should remind other members that it was at Des instigation that this dedication was initiated. Thank you Des. Ed)

Diary dates
President's report
Editorial
Secretary's report
Udevalla
false alarm
making a video
Gossip
Capital Games
Burns' Night 2008
2009 Setting
Corncrake article
Rev. J Duffy

for website problems contact web@clanmacfie.co.uk last updated 16/03/2008 copyright © Clan Macfie Society. The galleys in the banner and watermark were drawn by Des Duffy(all rights reserved)