Comunn Eachdraidh Scalpaigh - Scalpay Historical Society
It is with sadness that we mark the passing of Jean Mills, late of Òran na Mara Scalpay.
Jean, who was born in Bacup, Lancashire, came to Scalpay in 1972 to take up a teaching position at Scalpay School. She had been teaching in Roxburghshire and had family connections to the Borders through the Elliot family. Jean taught in Scalpay until 1978 when she left to take up a position at Casterton, a girls’ boarding school in England.
While she was in Scalpay she grew to love the island and its people. She had a particular interest in the natural environment and had a great knowledge of our local wildlife and wildflowers. She was also a keen photographer and kindly donated her slides from the 1970s to Comunn Eachdraidh Scalpaigh.
Jean made frequent visits back to the island and maintained friendships with folk she met here. When she retired from teaching in the mid-1990s she returned to the island and bought her house at Cuddy Point. Always the eco-warrior, Jean made what seemed like tortuous journeys by public transport between her houses in Bacup and Scalpay.
In her retirement, Jean played an active role in the Scalpay community. She was a member of the Scalpay Community Council and the Scalpay Community Association, and her particular interests were in improving the bus timetable and restoring the play park. She was thrilled to learn that the play park was renovated and re-opened, thanks to the efforts of Gordon Ness and his Play Park team.
Jean spent a lot of time and effort promoting the beauty and attractions of Scalpay to visitors. She had an open door at Òran na Mara and a stack of useful information about the Western Isles that she gave freely to visitors. Together with Caroline Magne, she organised walks to the lighthouse, held slide shows and the occasional cèilidh. And most importantly for Comunn Eachdraidh Scalpaigh, she chaired a meeting on October 16, 2016, to re-establish our Society.
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