The Hebridean Princess cruise liner called at Isle Martin for the first time on April 20th and anchored midway between the island and Ardmair. Thirty passengers were ferried to the pontoon in tenders and were accompanied by the Captain and the Purser. They were met by Board member Murdo (Simon) Mackenzie who was formerly the Harbourmaster at Ullapool, and our warden Cat Logie. Joan and Sheila had compiled and printed an information leaflet together with a map of the island and these were distributed by Murdo who reported that all said they had enjoyed their visit exploring the island and enthusing about the peace and tranquillity of the place.

The Hebridean Princess is scheduled to call into Isle Martin as part of their programme of cruises around the Western Isles on 9 June, 23 June, 3 July and 9 November.

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Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Articles of Association that the Annual General Meeting of the Isle Martin Trust will take place on Thursday 22 May 2008 at 7.30pm in the Committee Room of Ullapool Village Hall, Market Street, Ullapool, to transact the following business:

1. Apologies
2. To submit the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of 17 May 2007 for approval
3. Chairman’s Report
4. Attendance Report
5. Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2007

1. Treasurer’s Report
2. Re-appointment of Accountant

1. Election of Board Members

There are currently two vacant positions on the Board while three existing board members are up for re-election and no existing board member has indicated their intention to step down.

Nomination papers are available on request from the Registered Office at 26 Argyle Street, Ullapool. Proposers and Seconders must be current members of the Isle Martin Trust.

Complete and signed nomination papers must be returned by 15 May 2008. Nominations will not be accepted after this date. An election, if necessary, will take place at the AGM.

By Authority of the Board

Copies of the Chairman’s Report and the audited accounts will be available at the AGM or, if you are unable to attend but would like to receive these, please contact Sheila Didcock 01854 612937 or e-mail islemartin@lochbroom.freeserve.co.uk

Tea and coffee will be served after the AGM with an opportunity for informal chats with board members.

SUMMER QUEEN: Negotiations have been on going for some between board members and the owners of the Summer Queen and it has now been agreed that trips to Isle Martin on Sundays will be offered as an option during the summer season. In addition the Summer Queen may land passengers on the island on days when the weather is not good enough for her to go out to Tanera.

This is another fundraising idea from the Board and we hope that as many people as possible will come forward to help with this. We are enclosing an information sheet and application form with this newsletter and we look forward to support from members and hope that this will, particularly, appeal to people with past association with the island. The trees on offer are: Birch, Alder, Rowan, Oak, Willow and Aspen and all the trees used in this project are native species grown from local seed sources.

The site has been chosen by board member Alex Scott of SNH as the best with regard to depth of soil, shelter etc. and the trees will have guards attached to deter nibbling rabbits, although no rabbits have been seen on the island for quite some time now. Board member Gregor Macdonald has done a great job constructing posts on which to secure the plaques and we are very grateful to him for this and also to Alex for sourcing the trees and planting them.

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By the time you read this our ferry the Catriona Rose should be back in the water after being stored ashore for the winter. She has had her annual service so we hope that the few problems we had with her last year have been sorted out. Due to the high cost of fuel we have decided that the ferry will only be available on Saturdays weather permitting and times will be printed in the Ullapool News.

The charges remain the same as in previous years: £6.00 per adult and £3.00 per child return fare. The length of time visitors are able to spend on the island is obviously dependent on the tides on that day.

A group of students from St. Philips Residential Care School were the first to stay on the island in 2008. Their leader, Marty Henderson, had visited Isle Martin when he came with the Lochbroom Diving Group for the annual BBQ in June last year and he thought this would be an ideal place to come with a young group. They stayed for four nights, 20 - 24 April in the Mill House and made the most of their time helping with beach cleaning and other jobs on the island. Board member Joan Michael had found a company in Edinburgh who were able to make mattresses to fit the quite narrow bunk beds which had been donated previously so we were able to get these organised in time for their visit.

Joan and Sheila have agreed to do more History Walks and Talks this year and the dates are as follows:

These, of course, have to be planned around the tides - although we don’t have a problem as far as the pontoon is concerned, we are still tide dependent at the Ardmair jetty.

Times will be published in the Ullapool News or call Joan direct on her mobile 07754 835 935 for more information. Everyone who came last year really enjoyed it and all said that they did not realise that Isle Martin had such a fascinating history.

Also THE MILL HOUSE is now available for small groups. The very large lounge upstairs has an open fire, the bedroom has bunk beds (with mattresses..!) for 8 and there is a well equipped kitchen downstairs. The cost is also £35 per night and the ferry can be arranged.

It is now a year since the pontoon was installed on Isle Martin and all went well throughout the "summer" which really was one of the worst for many years. However, it was noticed earlier this year that the structure was listing to the side so John Porteous our contact from Wallace Stone was called in to investigate. He came with surveyors from Varis Engineering who constructed the pontoon and they are taking remedial action.

Yacht - Overnight £10.00

Yacht - Daytime: £ 5.00

Small Craft- Day or Overnight £ 1.00

Please pay the warden or put in the box provided

Ullapool High School are planning to visit the island with a group of 12 students on May 23

… the Lochbroom Diving Group are returning for their annual BBQ for the weekend of 21/22 June.

… The North West Highland Writers Group are also coming for a weekend, June 14/15,

… and regular visitor, Ron Shaw, has again booked the Croft House for a week in July,

so we are hoping for a good summer - like everyone else…!!

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LOOPALLU

We are again litter picking at the Loopallu Festival in Ullapool over the weekend of Friday 19, Saturday 20 and September 21 September, and possibly two or three days later when the campsite area is clear. This is a major fund raiser for us but we do need more help so if you would be prepared to come along and litter pick for a few hours over the two days, please telephone Joan Michael 01854 612036 and she will put you on the rota.

Membership renewal will soon be upon us – 1st May is the annual renewal date. Isle Martin, and the Isle Martin Trust, depends upon widespread continuing support. As always, there is plenty of scope for new members.

It is only by demonstrating that there is strong popular interest in Isle Martin, and our objectives for conservation and development, that we will attract the political backing and funding to implement these projects. There are many opportunities through Highland Council, the Scottish Executive and European initiatives but we must show that we have local support. The only effective way is to point to a weighty membership list.

The membership year runs from 1^st May to 30^th April, so we sincerely hope all current members will renew. The rates are the same - just £5.00 for Annual membership and £50 for Life membership; Juniors (Under 16s) are £1.50 and for a Family it is just £12.00.

Any membership queries can be addressed to Paddy Stowell, Treasurer, 4 St. Valery Place, Ullapool IV26 2TD or call her on 01854 612041.

You can now donate all or part of your tax repayment to the Isle Martin Trust by entering charity code number CAD40NG on your Self Assessment tax return at question 19A.3. You should also complete 19A.1 (pr 19A.2) and tick 19A.4.

The Isle Martin Board, which meets in Ullapool on the first Wednesday of every month, now comprises:

Chairman Kenny MacLeod

Vice Chairman Fraser Mackenzie

Treasurer Paddy Stowell

Interim Secretary Sheila Didcock

Derick Boa,

Gregor MacDonald,

Murdo Mackenzie,

Joan Michael

Alex Scott,

Jean Urquhart (Highland Councillor)

The Board meets on the first Wednesday of every month in the registered office of MacLeods w.s., 26 Argyle Street, Ullapool.