In 1861, in Fionnphort on the Isle of Mull, Coll Maclean my Grandfather was born.
Born in to a large family, in hard times, he became a well known figure, his life’s work as Ferryman in the Family Business, operating the Ferry from Fionnphort to Iona. As you can see from the photograph it bore no relation to the later vessels ploughing the route.
He was honoured for his work by the Gold Watch with the inscription “Presented as a token of esteem along with a Wallet of Treasury Notes to Coll Maclean Fionnphort on his retiral from Ferryman on the Sound of Iona after 54 years service with any accident June 1930. (See Photograph)
This was later handed down to my Father & then on to me, which remains in my possession & will be \handed down to my Daughters & on to their Sons.
My own Father, Allan Alexander Maclean, Colls Son, one of a family of five siblings, Bella, Janet, Jean,& Neil, enjoyed a happy family island life.
My Father was also a man of the Sea, leaving home to join David Macbrayne as an able seaman rose to be Captain, serving on many well know MacBraynes vessels.
My own life as Coll Maclean, named after my Grandfather, began in 1939, born in Glasgow, a Twin to Ann Margaret, who died shortly after.
My mother Morag (nee MacColl) gave birth again & was later joined by my sisters Morag & Aline.
The sea remains in my blood, but as a land based operator of Sea Freight Containers through my career from leaving school, working for a variety of companies before setting up my own business in 1986.
In 1957, the Sea once again came in to my life, when I was on holiday with my best friend Peter,(who married my sister Morag) and we were out on a Small Motor Boat from the West Bay Beach Dunoon, when we broke down just of The Gantocks.
We saw another small boat approaching & hailed them over, it was two girls, one of them called Jay Scouller, became my childhood sweetheart & we married in 1966.
In 1969 Fiona Jean was born followed two years later in 1971 by Morvern Aline.
Since then both our Daughters have married, Fiona to Paul Smith, & Morvern to Douglas Miller, giving us the blessings of Four Grandsons Paul & Ryan and Cameron & Jamie. Our Family photographs are shown below.The Black & white one is Cameron Dallas Miller (Morvern & Douglas son) and the colour one is Coll with his two son -in -laws Paul & Douglas
Further below is the youngest Grandson, Jamie Maclean Miller
At recent meetings in Turnberry Ayrshire ,Coll joined forces with Donald Morton promoting Golf Tours and you can link on to their site at www.golfaroundscotland.net to view the tours on offer. If you also click on our Golf page on our own Scottish Partnership web site you will see some of the new Golf Products we branding & promoting. Future plans are to bring inbound golfers from Italy,Dubai,Florida & Eire, and to offer bespoke Corporate Events with a wide choice of Prizes & Golfing memories
