In our fortnightly feature, we join a local for a tea break and find out how they spend their time - and their time off. This issue, we welcome Emily McEwan, Gaelic Officer at Hebrides people, whose passion for the language has brought her across the Atlantic. Please introduce yourself and your job? I'm Emily McEwan and I'm the Gaelic Officer at Ionad-tadhail Luchd Innse Gall, the Hebrides People Visitor Centre. My 2-year position was funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and includes s

A restored ex-military staff car is heading to Harris next month, with a team of Royal Navy and Royal Marine veterans, as part of a project raising awareness of mental health challenges such as PTSD, isolation and suicide. The 1936 Morris 8, known as ‘Philip’ will travel from Barra, through the Uists and on to Harris, Lewis and Skye, where its driver and passengers will meet local people, veterans, community groups and organisations and encourage conversations about wellbeing

A new single from Harris singer-songwriter Isla Scott is earning praise from fans and musicians alike. Might Stay, by the former Sir E Scott pupil, was released by Wee Studio records, whose owner Keith Morrison described it as “absolute perfection.” Isla, now a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, wrote the song while taking an online song-writing course last year. “One evening the prompt was to write ‘a summer coming-of-age song’ which inspired me straight away. M

A new café has opened at the Bays Centre at Lacklee. The Bays Centre Café is offering a daytime menu which includes toasties, soups and sandwiches, hot filled rolls, a Scottish breakfast, baking and more. Operated by Andrew Harvey, the café is open from 10am to 4pm every day except Sundays and Wednesday, when it is closed. These opening hours mean that the Bays Centre committee can continue to host community events, such as the recent Easter Egg Hunt, at other times. The Bays

From The Volunteer Centre (Harris) A team of S3 pupils from Sir E Scott School have secured £3000 for the Western Isles Cancer Care Initiative (WICCI) through The Wood Foundation’s Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI). We, at the Volunteer Centre, have the privilege of facilitating YPI on behalf of The Wood Foundation. Eilidh, Donnie and Daisy gave an emotive presentation which the judges deemed the winner. They described how winning the £3000 would mean WICCI could purcha

An exhibition of new works by Harris artist Joceline Hildrey has been unveiled at Talla na Mara. Artwork by Joceline Hildrey Titled ‘Tri Eileanan’ (three islands) it is inspired by the landscape and bird life of some of Scotland’s most remote locations. The free exhibition will run until the end of the month during the West Harris Trust venue’s opening hours. “The exhibition is based on my observations from trips out to the Flannan Isles, St Kilda and the Shiants,” says Jocel

Photo credit: Effie MacLeod A service took place outside Hebrides People Visitor Centre on April 30, remembering the servicemen who lost their lives when a Shackleton aircraft crashed into Maodal, near Northton in 1990. The service was led by Rev Mark MacLeod and well attended by members of the community, along with representatives of South Harris Community Council, local emergency services and six members of VIII Squadron from RAF Lossiemouth, the squadron to which the servi

A racing pigeon missing for four years has turned up in the grounds of Borve Lodge Estate and is happily settling into its new home in South Harris, where it is becoming some-thing of a local celebrity. Harold in the office (Credit: Borve Lodge) The pigeon, who appeared on the drive earlier this month, has now taken up residence in the Lodge’s conservatory and been given the name ‘Harold’. Its story appeared on the front page of last week’s Stornoway Gazette. Staff first noti

This year’s Scarr-Hall Awards, which recognise local volunteers for their exceptional service to the Harris community, were presented at a celebration tea at Harris Hotel. The winners, Donnie ‘Rodel’ MacDonald, Annie MacDonald (Scalpay) and Tania MacLeod and Jocelyn Corderoy, from Tarbert in Bloom, were praised for their ongoing efforts, from campaigning for essential housing to catering for community events and working to brighten up a village. Mr Ian Scarr-Hall of Amhuinnsu