It was with more than a little excitement that I set off down ‘Calum’s road’ today, the weather was good, I was picking up the Dude and we were going to the old ‘Howard Doris’ yard at Kishorn. The Dude had been at my parents for a few days and I was missing him but today we were going to see where the blocks for the new Raasay harbour were being cast. I’d spent the best part of a summer there in 1986 or 87 as the place was being wound up and stuff being auctioned off. My employer at the time had bought 3 large corrugated iron sheds (2 of them the size of aircraft hangers) and I was involved in the dismantling and moving of them. When I was there the place still had a couple of oil rigs berthed there and there was still some fabrication work being done but nothing like when it was in it’s heyday and they built the ‘Ninian Central’ concrete platform there. The site was chosen for it’s very deep water close to the shore and whilst remote by most peoples standards it was still relitively accsessable by road, rail, sea and air. It really was a site to behold under the massive mountains of the Applecross peninsula.
Even before I reached the ferry I’d been treated to a group of hinds just at the side of the road past Brochel ( of which I have a lovely photo that won’t load ) and this buzzard perched on a fence post at Inver.
Caught the 9:00am ferry and met the Dude on the way and we had a pleasant drive up the side of Loch Carron and over the hills to Loch Kishorn, all familiar roads from my fish farm diving days but routes I’ve not traveled in years.
Looking west towards the site, you can just make out the masts of yachts at ‘Kishorn mechanical services’ which is at the eastern end of the old site.
This is the truly massive dry dock which was hewn out of the rock, the concrete wall splits in two and could be pumped dry of ballast and floated out of the way. The white buildings and the red ship are ‘Ferguson transports’ and that’s pretty much at the eastern end of the site, the dry dock is probably about half way down the site.
On the dry dock gate looking north, when I was last here there were buildings, lighting towers, cranes and vehicles everywhere. There was something like an airport control tower somewhere near here, all glass and radio aerials if I recall correctly.
Looking west over ‘Leiths’ site ( the quarry owners ) towards ‘Balfour Beatty’s’ site (the blue cabins) which is pretty much at the western end of the old fabrication yard.
These are the ‘casting beds’ upon which the moulds will sit when the concrete is poured ( i think)
The blue and grey things are the clamps for the shuttering ( I think )
This is a load of shuttering ( I think )
All in all it was a very enjoyable and informative couple of hours. A big thank you to Iain Macphearson of Balfour Beatty for arranging my visit to Dave Meechan for taking the time to explain everything even if I got it wrong it all made perfect sense at the time and if I’ve spelt your name wrong Dave I’m sorry ( I’ll edit it later ) and last but not least a big thanks to ‘Tarzan’ of Leiths for Escorting us I’m sure you had better things to do and thanks for letting the Dude have a look at your ‘wee shovel’
Environmental
What struck me about today was how quickly nature recovers, if you’d been here 20 years ago you wouldn’t have believed how quickly mans puny efforts had been swallowed up. Me I love wildlife and nature and all things natural, that’s why I live where I do. I’m sure there must have been objections to opening a quarry here, but it strikes me that the land needs a little less love and a lot more use. I’ve seen more otters, golden eagles, bats and sea eagles than most people and can assure you they aren’t stupid and won’t fly into a wind turbine or get squashed by a digger and as my mate ‘Tarzan’ said “have you ever seen a quarry with a view like this” 20 years after the last stone has been taken you won’t even know where it’s been and what’s 20 years? ‘a blink in the eye of god’ as some wise sage said!
A couple of great film clips here in the Scottish film archive
http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=2690
http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=5973
Many thanks to Chris Humphrey for turning up these gems
Thanks for these photos mate , I worked , as a 22 year old , in the yard from early 1982 until late 83 . It was like an apprenticeship of life living on the camp . All these mad dudes earning lots of bucks and drinking on the camp bar each night . Hard times work and weather wise but great memories .
Comment by Derek Anderson — August 26, 2008 @ 9:46 pm
I wish I had photos of it when i was there in 85 or 86 Derek, they were just finishing the last job. I think it was an accomadation module for Total, I think they’ve almost finished casting the blocks for the new harbour so I’m gonna try and get back before it closes down again.
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — August 27, 2008 @ 5:25 am
Folks,
I was the Senior Materials controller for the yard for the last 5 years it was run under Howard Doris, any one remember me or my guys please get in touch,
George Dewar
Comment by George Dewar — May 5, 2009 @ 8:29 am
Hei
I visited Kishorn in 1985 and 1986
and worked as material buyer before moving back to Walsend.
Murdo Campbell and Phil Cairns are
two names I remember !
Comment by Derek Pinkney — September 14, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
Hi Derek,
That must have been during the building of the last few modules for Total? just before it closed down.
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — September 14, 2009 @ 10:10 pm
Hei
Thats right, during early 1986
Murdo Campbell, moved to Wallsend
together with personnel from Kishorn, cannot remember the names. Really enjoyed my stay up there. I have photos from inside the site as well as looking down from the Applecross road. I’ll see if I can find them.
Mvh Derek
Comment by Derek Pinkney — September 16, 2009 @ 8:10 pm
Hi Derek,
It would be great to put some old Kishorn pics on here. I could kick myself for not having taken any, other than a couple looking down from the ‘Bealach’ towards an exploration rig laid up there. It was some place hey, Cinema, bakery, bars and thousands of workers in the middle of nowhere!
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — September 16, 2009 @ 9:43 pm
Hey there guys
Just about fell off my seat when I saw my name here! Kishorn and Wallsend days were great-I look back on them very fondly. Alex Stewart, a Kishorn Commando from the drawing office on Maureen, came to see me today and prompted this search. I regularly head for Kishorn for a motorcycle run.
Cheers
Murdo.
Comment by Murdo Campbell — December 9, 2009 @ 10:33 pm
hi
i started at kishorn about a month after she left dry dock i worked for howard doris for about 4yrs.worked on the domes wave breakers and the inner wall (joiner).
when i first went up there i spoke to someone called joy who sorted out my accomodation out on the camp .some guys jumped ship and worked for fergie but i stayed with doris.a few off my gang are no longer with us great memories….paul
Comment by paul cheetham — January 22, 2010 @ 8:40 pm
Hi there Paul,
I really think there is a fabulous documentary waiting to be made about Kishorn, Howard Doris and the Ninian Central platform or at least a web site where people could swap memories and post picture. I had quite a few but they were all pretty rubbish, I wish I’d taken more though I was only ever there picking over the bones as the last module went away
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — January 24, 2010 @ 7:39 am
does any of you out there remember charlie fergies right hand man.i think they used to call him crazy horse,i crossed swords with him a few times,defo not a full bag.
having said that i dont think many of us came back sane….stay lucky paul
Comment by paul cheetham — February 1, 2010 @ 8:54 pm
Hi Paul,
never came across him myself (not knowingly) as I was only ever there picking over the bones. I do wish someone would make a documentry or start a website dedicated to the Howard Doris site at Kishorn it really was an incredible place with some amazing stories attached to it. On my travels around Britain in the late 70s and early 80s I came across many people who’d worked there, all of them had great stories to tell.
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — February 3, 2010 @ 7:49 am
take a look on facebook under my name i have posted nearly 400 kishorn photos
Comment by steve patch — March 10, 2010 @ 1:55 pm
Bloody Amazing Steve,
though you took a little finding on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2672&id=100000800426759 that’s 97 of them I’ll have a look for the others later. There’s a few familiar sights there, the Manitowac crane that nearly dropped a 10 ton concrete block onto my 14′ boat just for a laugh 
and that ‘quickstage’ shed on rails, the one covered in tarpaulin sheets. A guy I worked for bought it, dismantled it and took it back to Scalpay in 4 sections, only one of them didn’t quite make it 
Many, many thanks, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — March 10, 2010 @ 8:45 pm
Charlie Fergus’s right-hand man was Mick Boyle. A legendary pair they were, too.
Comment by Allan S. — April 12, 2010 @ 7:24 pm
new them both, charlie was in a helecopter accident when traveling from inverness to kishorn,the engine failed but the rotor blade kept going due to the downdraft ,no one was injured,me and mick boyle were drinking buddies
Comment by frank jenkins — January 28, 2011 @ 6:40 pm
Mick Boyle yer man
Comment by jim — May 9, 2010 @ 4:06 am
My father Roy Rogers(Scaffolder)passed away last week , he worked on the Ninian Central in Kishorn from early stages to completion.Then went offshore with her.Any one remember him?
Comment by Neal Rogers — April 28, 2010 @ 2:36 pm
Good morning Neal,
Sorry to hear about the loss of your father, try looking on facebook for ‘Steve Patch’, he used to have a page with 400 Howard Doris pictures in it. You never know, you may see your dad in there.
Good luck, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — April 30, 2010 @ 5:48 am
Hi Everybody,
I really am delighted to discover this site. I too worked in kishorn as a steel fixer for about nine months in 1976. when we no facilities on site then as we were just starting construction, but we had plenty of strikes, day light robberies, prostitutes, and Fergie as our boss for pleasure. I would love to see some photos of the those days.
John Rodgers
Comment by John Rodgers — June 3, 2010 @ 11:16 am
Neal, I think Roy was one of the scafs with me on Tog Mor offshore in West Africa 1982 to 1984, long after the Ninian. I may have some photos that I could scan for you.
Regards, Mike Hyams
Comment by Michael Hyams — June 17, 2011 @ 10:36 pm
Neal I worked with your father in Kishorn , His brother your uncle Mel was also there , i remember a story when he was going home on leave and was stopped by the police ,and when they asked him his name they thought he was at it ,Roy Rodgers indeed and gave him a second chance with the name , i am sure he ended up spending the night in custody and we all had some laugh when he came back from leave, (I am also a scaff)
Comment by Ray Anderson — March 24, 2012 @ 4:05 am
Nice story Ray,
I’m so glad that all you ex ‘Kishorn Commandos’ use my site for a chat
It’s an honour to have you all here 
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — March 24, 2012 @ 6:33 am
i worked in kishorn from the time the dry dock was formed until the platform left the deep water costuction site, I worked as an electrician for lloyd morris electrician I new mick doyle and charlie fergie personally,,,,more to come,,,
Comment by frank jenkins — January 28, 2011 @ 6:14 pm
Hi Frank
Im Charlie Fergus daughter, great to read all these stories, I was actually born when my dad was working up there, think there was some story about him falling into a river, remember beingtold about the helicopter crash, he had a bit of a fear of flying after that, but hes grand now. He celebrated his 70th last year
Comment by Kerri — April 5, 2012 @ 3:32 pm
the place where the the precast rings where made was called area 7
Comment by frank jenkins — January 28, 2011 @ 6:29 pm
the crane in the deep water site was called the tog mor
Comment by frank jenkins — January 28, 2011 @ 6:48 pm
Hi Frank,
there’s a huge steel model of the ‘Tog Mor’ at Garve outside the hotel. I believe it was made by apprentices at Kishorn.
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — January 29, 2011 @ 6:13 pm
Hi, I Worked at the Kishorn yard in the 1970s for Grandmet Catering.
I have been searching thr internet but have come up with very little about the Kishorn yard.
Well done for putting this on the net and the great photos.
There were quite a few people from Wick like myself who worked there over the years.
I have some great memories and as you say there a lot of stories to be told.
Kishorn and the part it played in lives of those who worked there, and its place in the history of Oil and rig construction needs to be told.
Comment by Willie Macleod — February 14, 2011 @ 2:19 am
Hi Willie,
Kishorn is indeed a story that needs to be told and not forgotten. There’s material there for a great documentary and some of the statistics attached to the place are truly staggering. The Ninian Central is still working after almost 40 years and the blood, sweat, money and gazillion tons of concrete that went into her is as much a part of Highland history as the clearances.
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — February 14, 2011 @ 6:07 am
There are two good videos at Scottish screen arcives about the building of Ninian Central
Comment by Chris Humphrey — October 13, 2011 @ 9:53 pm
link http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=5973
Comment by Chris Humphrey — October 13, 2011 @ 9:59 pm
Hi Chris and welcome aboard,
many thanks for posting that link which I’ll have to save, watch again and pass on to friends that worked there. Do you have any more links ???
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — October 14, 2011 @ 6:41 am
Hi Paul,here isashort vid entiteled Kishorn commandos, http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=2690
Although I never worked at the site I remember those day fondly,there were some great charicters around then a real buzz around the place . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-ODJGdbBSY quite a few short clips on you tube
All the best Chris
Comment by Chris Humphrey — October 16, 2011 @ 4:01 pm
Great finds Chris,
do you know who the diver is, I feel I know him, or at least I would do without the beard and hair
Great characters indeed, all those stories need telling and saving.
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — October 16, 2011 @ 9:22 pm
Worked there jan. 1977 to july 1977 for Charlie fergus, rem. mick boyle “horse”. Also rem. Charlies other right handman on the rig,was from rossnoulagh in co, donegal cant rem, his name. Great memories also one sad one that of the young mayo lad who fell to his death on the rig in 1977.
Comment by Sean Mc Intyre — March 4, 2011 @ 2:55 pm
Louie Parker was Charlie and Mick,s foreman also John Magllin ,few other names Alan Fishwick,John Hall,Eddy Daley,Mad Dog,Hughie Owen,Boyle is a sound man,after Kishorn we all went to Scott Lithgow in Greenock working for Fergie ,Trafalger house had just taken over British Shipbuilders and we worked on the Ocean Alliance rig will post more names when i’ve had more time to think.Cheers Tony Getty (scaff)
Comment by Tony Getty — September 5, 2011 @ 1:20 pm
Kishorn January 76 – I remember listing on my radio – was a dark wet Sunday night about 6pm and the call was to the Fergus and Haynes timekeeper to see what boys had clocked out before the end of the shift at 8pm – heaven help them once Charlie saw them! Remember the Stacks – Patsy and Eddie.
Comment by Ali Campbell — November 11, 2011 @ 8:42 pm
Worked with Cunningham brothers & mick? Hurley(danny the rat’s brother) remember Horse Boyle, Eamon Ferguson, willie Ford & Pat Stack who very kindly gave me a great auld coat as I went up there in winter without one(as u did in those days) jeez, hope he does’nt want it back. Crazy money was’nt it? P Bannon.
Comment by peter bannon — April 19, 2012 @ 1:46 am
Morning Peter and welcome aboard,
gave me a great auld coat as I went up there in winter without one(as u did in those days) jeez, hope he does’nt want it back.
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — April 19, 2012 @ 5:17 am
There are two good videos on Scottish screen archives,both about the building of Ninian Central,I used to work at the Srath Hotel at the time Charlie brought it and at the Strathcarron Station. Used to live at North Strome.
Comment by Chris Humphrey — October 13, 2011 @ 4:18 pm
Hi Paul,not to sure who he is,though as you say he does look familiar though, will try and find out for you ,my brother in law was a diver at that time.I see you have a croft on Raasay there are some great old movies on Scottish screen archives about crofting and the Islands.Will let you know if I find anything out.
All the best Chris
Comment by Chris Humphrey — October 19, 2011 @ 2:18 pm
Cheers for that Chris, look forward to any more info or links, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — October 20, 2011 @ 5:35 am
Hi Chris, I noticed you mentioned the Scottish Screen Archive films about the construction of the Ninian Central Platform. I managed to obtain a copy of these short films commissioned by Howard Doris. If anyone is interested in obtaining a copy then let me know and I’ll pass on the details. It consists of two films of 20 and 8 minutes long and includes footage of when Prince Charles flooded the dry-dock for the first time. I had the copies specially made to order on DVD in May this year and is a direct duplicate of the surviving version of the original films.
Does anyone remember my father, Jim McGee from Crieff? He worked as a draughtsman for Howard Doris in the drawing office next to the dry-dock from 1980 to 1982 during the Maureen Alpha Platform. I was just a young boy of about 6 years old. At the time my family moved up to the Kishorn area then moved into one of the Finn Logg houses at Lochcarron and I went to Lochcarron Primary. I still have great memories of the yard and surrounding area.
Cheers, Robin
Comment by Robin McGee — October 21, 2011 @ 2:21 pm
Hi Robin,did you watch the Kishorn commandos one and the you tube clips?Like you I have some great memories of Lochcarron and the surrounding are. I used to live at North Strome at the old crorft near Jimmy Cushnies the local plumber.Kishorn was great for the area created a lot of opportunity for the area.Sunday afternoons in the Rockvilla were always brilliant great fun.
Comment by Chris Humphrey — October 21, 2011 @ 4:35 pm
Hi Chris, Yes, I do have the Kishorn Commandos one too and I recently came across the youtube clips, thanks. I watch them once in a while, as it’s amazing to see what was once constructed there. It’s like watching footage of the clydeside shipyards. What’s happened to our wonderful country!! Yeah life was good there, I even remember going to the yard to watch Dallas at the Cinema, I was only 7 years old!! Heard about all the mad drinking etc and crazy driving, even my dad came off the road one night after hitting black ice. The local publican in Lochcarron must have been rolling in money at the time but the area must have really suffered financially after the yard closed. Three thousand men together with alcohol in the middle of nowhere earning a fortune, what could possibly go wrong!!! Yet, the Ninian Central was so well built it’s still drilling oil over 30 years later in one of the world’s harshest seas. I’m keen to go back sometime. Really nice to see the photos on here and the comments. Good times!!
Comment by Robin McGee — October 21, 2011 @ 7:58 pm
Hi Robin,
It was stamped ‘Howard Doris technical library’ and I had it for years before passing it on to a naval architect friend.
don’t remember Jim McGee but I do remember the office next to the dry dock. I lifted a book from there after the sale, it was called ‘Design and construction of dry docks’ by BK Mazurkiewicz, a truly riveting read
These stories, tales and characters must not be forgotten, my wife and twelve year old son watched the videos in awe, sure they’ve been to the site and heard me rabbiting on about it but, people find difficulty in actually comprehending how large an undertaking it actually was.
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — October 23, 2011 @ 8:19 pm
Hi Robin, how can I get a copy of the films?
Comment by Jeff Gower — November 17, 2011 @ 4:20 pm
Hi Paul,
I also watch those films in awe and with pride that’s why I decided to buy them. I remember as a wee boy visiting my dad’s office and being overwhelmed by the size of the dry-dock – you don’t forget things like that! These yards should still be thriving today rather than being memories. Instead all the work has gone abroad just like with the shipyards and steel mills etc. It’s not that the world has stopped needing steel, ships or rigs it’s just that the UK government for decades hasn’t invested in these heavy industries to make them competitive against foreign rivals whose governments do invest. Sorry for my wee rant – it’s just such a shame!!
Also, I remember in 1982 being given a light blue Kishorn t-shirt with a picture of either the Maureen Alpha or Ninian Central platform on the front. I think I threw it out in the late eighties because I had outgrown it, which I now regret!!
Comment by Robin McGee — October 24, 2011 @ 3:35 pm
Aye Robin, lost opportunities and another nail in the coffin of British heavy engineering
I was only there for a couple of weeks picking over the remains of a once proud yard like a vulture but I was fortunate enough to see the last job leave. I think it was an accommodation module for Total, it was moved to the quayside on a gigantic ‘low loader’ type thing with about 64 computer controlled wheels that kept it perfectly level. Wish I’d taken more photographs.
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — October 25, 2011 @ 3:59 am
I was an engineer on the “v” slides on the main base – can even remember which slides I was engineer on – my direct boss was John Bridges once met never forgotten, complete with his divers knive! above him it was Colin Slade ex Wimpey, the Howard Doris head man Don ? and the Chevron boss Gene Harrison who I meet when he visited the “v” slipforms
I was on the platform just after we moved it out of the dry dock when it nearly sank – still got my timesheet (29 hours non stop) – force 12 gale, we lost one of the concrete batching plants – watched it sink! and the generator barge then sailed off on its own back up the loch chased by the tugs
The National Gallery video of the constuction is great – spotted one person I remember – Jim Hollisworth from Goole steelfixer chargehand with Fergus and Haynes on a “v” slide
Comment by Ali Campbell — November 10, 2011 @ 10:22 pm
Hi Ali, and welcome aboard, great memories, I remember hearing of the batching plant loss, it was not alone
There’s a film, book and documentary needing to be made. There’s a whole generation of children living around here that know little or nothing of this. The huge concrete ‘landfasts’ will be visible for generations on shore down Loch Kishorn but who will remember what they were for in a hundred years time ?
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — November 11, 2011 @ 9:31 pm
I worked on the Central for a couple of years inthe early ’90′s. thanks for building her so strong!
Comment by Jeff Gower — November 17, 2011 @ 4:17 pm
Hi Jeff,
hope you get the films sorted, that Ninian Central must be a tough old bird, a mate on Raasay works on her and she’s still ‘going strong’.
Cheers, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — November 19, 2011 @ 8:44 pm
Hi Jeff,
I apologise for the delay responding I didn’t notice your reply. Both films can be ordered from the Scottish Screen Archive (part of the National Library of Scotland) and cost a total of £28.60 incl.post & VAT (as of May 2011). To order them I filled out the enquiry form on their website and they responded by letter with an application form. However an alternative method they offer is to contact them by phone, mail or email to make an order, which would be easier and quicker. I would phone them first. The application form simply asks for your name, address and title of films you want to order. Once they’ve received your application they post the films within about four weeks, along with an invoice for the amount due. You only have to pay after you receive the DVD and invoice. The copies are taken directly from the original films and transferred to a single DVD.
Just request from the Scottish Screen Archive an ‘Application for Reproduction of Moving Images’ and state the films are for ‘private use’.
Below are the titles of the films including reference numbers, which you’ll need to provide:
The Kishorn Commandos (Film Ref: 2690)
The Ninian Central Platform (Film Ref: 5973)
Make sure you ask for DVD format.
Their contact details are:
Website: http://www.nls.uk/ssa
Email: ssaenquiries@nls.uk
Tel: 0845 366 4600
Fax: 0845 366 4601
Write to:
Scottish Screen Archive
National Library of Scotland
39-41 Montrose Avenue
Hillignton Park
Glasgow
G52 4LA
I highly recommend ordering them, as they’re truly awe-inspiring and worth the price. If you have any questions just leave a message and I’ll get back to you.
Regards, Robin
Comment by Robin McGee — November 26, 2011 @ 8:31 pm
Thanks for that Robin, I’ll forward the link to Jeff incase he misses it
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — November 28, 2011 @ 3:01 pm
Dare I return to Kishorn? I lived up there 1949 – 1955. My parents worked for the Greggs who owned Courthill. Has the whole area changed beyond recognition or is it gradually returning to its natural beauty? As a child I played on the beach for hours on end and never saw anyone else. If a car should pass the house (a very rare occurrence) we would stand and stare as it passed by. I have read all the comments about the engineering with much interest. Who would have thought such a sleepy village could become so busy with heavy machinery, etc. I will look at the ‘photos to see if I recognise parts of it.
Comment by Betty — February 12, 2012 @ 11:43 am
Morning Betty and welcome, of course you should return, it’s returned back to a nice sleepy village with a good shop and excellent seafood restaurant
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — February 13, 2012 @ 5:53 am
I would love to return to Lochcarron / Kishorn area, despite already living in a beautiful part of Scotland. It’s like a tranquil paradise there (midges excluded).
)
Comment by Robin McGee — February 13, 2012 @ 1:28 pm
Aye it would be heaven indeed without the dreaded midge
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — February 14, 2012 @ 6:34 am
Hi My name is Eddie Watson I was a steel fixer on the Ninian Platform early in 1975/ 76, I worked on the base, dock gates,on the slides and I was there when it was towed
out to the wet dock. I worked with Geordie Mick, Alec Parrajack, Danny McGrath, Donny McGrath,who has since sadly died, John Osbourne, Jimmy and John Holsborough
John McGlen who was the foreman, Paddy, Jimmy and Frank Cunningham, I have worked with a few of these men since down in London.
I would like to know what has happened to the others.
Comment by Edward Wason — February 27, 2012 @ 5:18 pm
Morning Eddie and welcome, I don’t think the youth of today, even some of the locals realize what a mammoth undertaking happened in these parts. It’s a story that needs telling whilst there are people still alive that worked there.
Good luck, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — February 29, 2012 @ 6:44 am
Do you know any of the men I have named? They all worked on the steel components side of the rig, fixers and the like.
Comment by Edward Wason — March 2, 2012 @ 7:17 pm
Morning Edward,
sorry I don’t know any of them, it’s a long time ago and I’ve a memory like a hen. I was only ever there for the dismantling of the site in its death throws, such a tragedy
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — March 3, 2012 @ 12:21 am
Eddie
I worked as an Engineer on the base – first month supervising the “cranking” of out of position rebar verts on walls 6 and 7 ready to set up the first slipforms. Once we did that I was an engineer on 5 of the “v” slides, which to speed up production linked the v slides with the adjoining walls. After floating out and was onboard when it was nearly loss in the storm then worked on the wall 5 slipform until I had enough – 18 months.
Spent a lot of time working with the Fergie Haynes fixers – regular was Jim Holsbourgh from Goole – home rule for Goole he said! – he is the only one I spotted on the video, also the Stacks – Eddie and Patsy and of course Mick Boyle. Always felt sorry for the fixers bent over in the rain 12 hours every day. Do you remember when they emptied the Celtic football supporters club to get “bodies” on site – the poor souls had no idea where they were going – think they “hot” bedded with other. Many had never seen a pair of steel fixers nips!
Ali Campbell
Comment by Ali Campbell — March 3, 2012 @ 11:49 am
Nice story Ali, it’s the kind of thing that needs telling and writing down, thanks for sharing, Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — March 4, 2012 @ 7:36 am
Great to read all these stories, my dad is Charlie (Cathal) Fergus, and see his name mentioned quite a bit,, would love to hear a few more stories, Going to show him this website tomorrow.
Comment by Kerri Fergus — March 30, 2012 @ 8:14 pm
Kerri
Your dad used to be very good friends with my mother& late father in law Kennock & Lulu Matheson from Shieldaig.
Comment by Raymond Anderson — March 31, 2012 @ 3:20 am
Welcome to another ‘Kishorn Commando’ Kenny, it’s becoming quite busy here
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — April 1, 2012 @ 6:07 am
Hi Raymond
My mum and dad both remember Kennock & Lulu and speak very highly of them. Also Jan & John Mc Donald. Hes not 100% sure but he thinks they came to visit in Donegal. He is going to give me a detailed story of his time in Kishorn so will post it when done. Kerri
Comment by Kerri — April 3, 2012 @ 4:48 pm
Hi Kerri, my dad new Mick Boyle from the Humber bridge also. Did your dad gave any photos of the project and does he know where Mick Boyle is . Great stories
Comment by Patrick langan — April 3, 2012 @ 9:34 pm
Hi Patrick, Mick lives in Northampton area, dont think he has anyphotos though which is a pity.
Comment by Kerri — April 5, 2012 @ 3:19 pm
Hi there,my father worked there as a scaffolder his name was Hotplate from highvalleyfield.Sadly passed away two years ago.Jim Thompson son.cheers.
Comment by James Thompson — April 9, 2012 @ 11:51 pm
Hi Jim and welcome, sorry to here about your father ‘hotplate’ with a name like that I bet he had some stories to tell
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — April 10, 2012 @ 5:12 am
I work with Ferguson Transport, and we are one of the companies (along with Leiths) who have entered into a joint venture, Kishorn Port Ltd, with the objective of getting the port and dry dock back up and running again. I would love to see any old photos or hear any stories anybody might have about Kishorn as I’m very interested in the history of the site. Please feel free to email me: kirsty@kishornportltd.com . Thanks
Comment by Kirsty — April 24, 2012 @ 10:53 am
Morning Kirsty and welcome, Steve Patch would be the man to speak to, he was working on Raasay until recently but he does read the blog occasionally so may get in touch. That really is a serious piece of Scottish history and folklore you’re sitting on, look after it
Paul
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — April 26, 2012 @ 5:22 am
Hi all..i remember leaving kinlough wit a mate called john Feely in the depths of winter an heading for Kishorn where we heard that their was gold in them their hills..as the train chugged along into the wilds of scotland i thought it was alkatraz we were heading for..no sign of life anywhere,..cuttin a long story short..we reached the enterance to the site..only to b refused.while we stood all day tryin to get in an rummeged tru the bin where the security wud throw their left over dinners hopin to find an unwanted spud…in the evenin we headed back down the road an saw a half a caravan where we slept for the night ..ahh pure luxury as our jaded bodies relaxed an shivered in the wilds winds of Kishorn…oh how i dreamed that nite of being a kishorn commando!!!!!
peter mcgeever!!
Comment by peter mcgeever — May 3, 2012 @ 6:55 pm
Good morning Peter and welcome,
thanks for sharing that, it had me in stitches
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — May 6, 2012 @ 9:12 am
Hi all the commandos , I’m Mick Boyle’s son and Mick and lena are fit and healthy living in Peterborough, dad starting MPB Structures ltd in 1987 and built the company up to £58 million in 2008 and were still going strong building concrete frames, rail projects, throughout the Uk. Great to hear all the stories I’ve shown Dad them and he says hi to all those who remember him. I lived in lochcarron for 12 years so i had alot of great memories. Check out Dad’s company http://www.mpb.co.uk all the best cheers Sean Boyle
Comment by Sean Boyle — May 24, 2012 @ 10:20 pm