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]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:17:07 dr1fter http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1227347323/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1227347323/#num1 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:48:43 The Fox http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1226527234/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1226527234/#num1
Andy]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:34 Andy http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1223696608/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1223696608/#num1
The Fox's capture of this item - which is actually across the loch at West Otter Ferry - clearly shows a "small furry creature" possibly an otter, and possibly splashing in water.

The otter was an occupant of the British Isles (and is currently a re-introduction target), and of the part known as Scotland, until the 1950s, so it's not an impossibility, especially as we know the ferry was there a couple of hundred years before that, but it doesn't necessarily follow that putting 2 and 2 together means that's how the ferry got its name, and they could just be a coincidence - they must have splashed around other ferries, assuming they didn't shun man, and cleared out as soon as the jetty and ferry appeared, never to be seen in the area again.



But...

Although I can lay hands on neither the written word I first learned of the place from, or an online reference so far, I'm sure the place has absolutely nothing to do with otters.

The name Otter Ferry came about because the original name, in Gaelic, sounded like this, so like all such names became Englishfied.

Anybody have proper references about this to pin it down?]]> Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:43:28 Apollo http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1223630206/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1223630206/#num1 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:16:46 The Fox http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1223238219/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1223238219/#num1 http://www.shipAIS.com which showed her at the south end of Cumbrae, and yes it was on regular updates.  To my surprise she was actually several miles to the north of this point.

I still  haven't found my slides of her launch - the hunt continues.]]> Sun, 5 Oct 2008 21:23:39 The Fox http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1223231802/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1223231802/#num1
One for the Watching Brief file!]]> Sun, 5 Oct 2008 19:36:42 The Fox http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1222763794/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1222763794/#num1
It would be nice to hope that someone managed to photorecord the interiors before they were flattened but somehow I doubt it.  WWII artifacts have little value to most people and these were quite rare.]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:36:34 The Fox http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1222560445/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1222560445/#num1
My question relates not to the museum and its contents, but to its original founder.

I've had a few hunts around the web in the past, but have never been able to come up with any stories that confirm my recollections, or refer to the beginnings of the museum or any events which may have taken place at the time.

As I recall, the museum was started by an individual who passed himself off as someone of importance in some way - whether this was through family and title, or by something like qualifications and military career or similar, I can't recall, but those descriptions should be enough to give you an idea of what I have in mind.

Using these credentials, he was able to raise funds and obtain enough money and support to finance the restoration of the bunker, sourcing the lost equipment, and then the setting up of the museum itself so that it could be opened to the public.

I don't recall any accusations of fraud, that is to say that the money obtained for the project was pocketed instead of used to finance the venture, but it was obtained by misrepresentation, and the chap was not who he claimed to be and did not have any of the background he claimed, and had used to secure the money.

The conclusion to this chapter, I think, was his eventual disappearance (whether with or without any remaining finds I have no idea, so make no hint either way) although I'm sure he was interviewed both on television and by the papers - denying any wrongdoing.

This was followed by announcements that the museum was in danger of being lost, with no owner.

What happened thereafter I don't know. As I recall it dropped out of the news and I assumed it had gone, and was lost as a result of the tale I've tried to recall above, but after a few years, it resurfaced - and on this occasion, I endeavoured to get over there fast, and see it before it disappeared again - which I'm glad to say it hasn't.

So, I'm on the scrounge for anyone that has any memories of the place, at a time I would guess dates back to the early 1990s or thereafter, and relate in any way to the scraps that have stuck in my mind, as related above, and currently lack any corroboration.]]> Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:07:25 Apollo http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1219388497/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1219388497/#num1
1)   Is HMS NEPTUNE an alternative name for HMNB Clyde? I don't think so; in the 1970s it was used only of the Naval establishment providing "hotel services" (acommodation, stores, personnel facilities) for the Clyde Submarine Base. Other facilities on the site (RN Polaris School, etc) on the site were not part of HMS Neptune, but of the Clyde Submarine Base.

2)   Slightly different, but as it's mentioned in this article will deal with it here. Was there a submarine depot ship based at Campbeltown in the war years? Submarines based there were for training purposes, although operational boats did come in at times, certainly from Rothesay.

Passerby  ]]> Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:01:37 Passerby