Had Argyll and Bute Council has its way, today would have been the last day at Minard school – Continue reading
Tag Archives: Somerset Charrington
Loch Lomond: Luss Christmas Fair
Looks like the whole of Argyll is going to be en fete on Saturday 3rd December – Continue reading
LAST 24 HOURS: VOTE ONLINE OR PHONE 0870 601 0215 – and more reasons to vote for Treshnish Farm
Below are many more reasons to Vote for Mull’s Treshnish farm in the RSPB Nature of Farming Award 2011 – voting closes on 31st August. Continue reading
Request to Argyll: VOTE for Mull farm in RSPB’s Nature of Farming Awards 2011
It would be a great feather (pun intended) in the cap Continue reading
Argyll’s Local Heroes at the opening of the 4th Scottish Parliament
Here are Argyll’s Local Heroes, ready to hit the road in The Ridings for yesterday’s opening Continue reading
Opening of 4th Scottish Parliament: white roses and local heroes
SNP parliamentarians will tomorrow continue their tradition
The circle unbroken: Ulva pupils open the last message from Luss
And this really was the last moment of Local Hero, Somerset Charrington’s inspiring Cycle for Schools Continue reading
Now it’s formal: Somerset Charrington is Argyll’s Local Hero
Argyll and Bute’s MSP MIchael Russell has selected his local hero Continue reading
Cycle for Schools: 20th May, at Toward School
2oth May 2011: Toward School had promised to pick Somerset up at Rothesay and bring him and his bike across to Toward in the Cowal peninsula by water. They delivered on the promise.
the Actual Reality Outdoor Education Centre based at Castle Toward offerd to help and sent a fast RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with two doughty crewmen and Carolyne Young, a parent from Toward School, to pick up Somerset from Rothesay pontoons.
The weather was ‘brisk’ but dry. The return journey was a little slower to prevent losing our intrepid cyclist overboard, arriving at Toward Sailing School at around 5.00 pm.
A large turnout from Toward Primary school consisting of pupils and their bikes plus parents, grannies, friends and big sisters cheered and hummed the A-Team theme, waving banners as the RIB pulled into Toward Jetty.
After reassembling his bike, Somerset set off with a large contingent of pupils for the short ride to Toward Primary School.
A very impressive convoy of bikers with parents following behind in cars made their way along the road to the school.
The parents felt it was a shame the council couldn’t see this display of a community and their school as one – particularly since Education Spokesperson Councillor Ellen Morton, had spent only half an hour at the schoool before consigning it to ‘her’ closure list.
At Toward School, Somerset admired the spectacular view the pupils enjoy all year round – of the Cumbrae islands and Bute – from their classroom windows.
Photos complete with banners and the exchange of posters, cards and photo album for the pupils of Luss School were take to record the ceremonial event.
Eventually Somerset headed towards Dunoon for a well deserved rest and a meal, courtesy of Chair of the Parent Council, Alan Stewart.
Tomorrow he heads off to the ferries for the final and probably very wet and windy leg of his journey to Luss school, on the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
Toward Primary School is anxious to thank the Lads from Actual Reality at Castle Toward - and of course Somerset Charrington who carries their message to Luss tomorrow.
Cycle for Schools: 20th May, North Bute school
Friday 20th May: Today, for Somerset Charrington, was carnival time at North Bute and Toward 
schools, with big communal receptions and cycling children to meet him at both places.
As the pace hots up in the run in to tomorrow’s finish of Somerset’s epic Cycle for Schools, a party atmosphere took control.
First, Somerset was met at Rhubodach Ferry on Bute by Murray Doyle of North Bute Parents Council.
Murray kept him company wheel to wheel, on the way to Port Bannatyne and North Bute school.
They arrived at 1.30pm to a fantastic reception from the 54 pupils – some of the children had even got on their bikes and gone to meet him on route, so that they could cycle back to school with him.
Waiting along side the eager children were Michael Russell MSP, Bute Councillors Robert Mcintyre and Isobel Strong, Cowal Councilor, Ron Simon (showing solidarity), North Bute Parents and members of the local community who all turned out to welcome the lone cyclist and message carrier.
The North Bute children were sending on to Toward School, across the water in south Cowal, a poster the P4/5 class had made – showing all the things they love about their school – and a card signed by all 54 pupils. Somerset took all of this to Toward School in another adventurous journey later on. (Keep reading for the details).
Michelle Miller of North Bute School says: ‘Tea, Coffee and Sandwiches had been laid on for our special guest and he chatted happily with his followers until it was time to sprint down to the jetty for his boat across the water to Toward.
‘We would like to thank Somerset for his efforts and dedication and hope he enjoys his well deserved rest after Saturday. He is a Star.’
(And so say all of us.)