CAMPBELTOWN Grammar School staff have an extra job to do this summer; they are on the look out to find good, old-fashioned ‘digs’ for pupils from the Isle of Gigha.
For many years, children from the island came over on a Monday morning and stayed over until Friday, living with families in the town.
William Crossan, Rector of CGS said: ‘Recently, however, they’ve been able to travel home every night, thanks to an early ferry service.
‘But now a number of families would like to go back to the old system.
‘They are worried about the loss of education that can occur when bad weather stops the ferry operating and about the children missing the opportunity to take part in the school’s extra-curricular activities.’
The need to get the last ferry home means that students miss out on a variety of events including football, band practice and the school choir.
The Gigha ferry is not just prey to bad weather during the crossing; the berth at Tayinloan has repeatedly silted up with sand and weed driven in by winter storms.
When this happens the ferry has to switch to Kennacraig as its mainland berth and that means a longer journey with a reduced capacity on the ferry and fewer sailings.
Argyll and Bute Council is currently looking at the options for keeping the berth open during the winter.
The problem facing the grammar school is that there are no longer any ‘digs’ available, so the school is making an appeal for new people to come forward and provide the service.
A full disclosure check would be required, but there is a lodging allowance paid by the education authority. If any reader would be interested in helping, please contact the school on 01586 552907.
