In this episode I talk with Bill O’Neill of Ceann Cuin, near Penmore outside of Dervaig. Born in Stirling within spitting distance of the castle, Bill grew up in the Raploch.
He was a soldier in Cypress and Libya, and on returning to the UK lived and worked in Sheffield, Stirling and then Sheffield again, before settling on Mull in 1989.
Bill and his wife Jackie live in the house he built with his own hands over the course of 8 years, without the aid of power tools.
We talk about his childhood in the Raploch, his years in service, working at Cruachan, and various driving jobs before we come on to his life on Mull towards the last third of the podcast.
It is at this point that I should make a declaration of interest, as Bill is my father in law and Grumpa to my son, Coll.
I had a few issues with my equipment during the recording, so I’m quite low in the mix. Which is probably quite a good thing. Also there’s a pitch invasion by Fingal, one of our cats, so there’s quite a lot of purring at one point, as he rubs himself against the microphone.
Raploch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raploch
Riverside School baths https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/iconic-swimming-pool-flattened-housing-3999137
Kelvingrove https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum
Bob Swift https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11910987.robert-swift-yorkshireman-who-adopted-scotland-and-the-national-instrument/
Stirling Castle https://www.stirlingcastle.scot/
Ochil Hills https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochil_Hills
Dumyat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumyat
The auld brig www.localhistories.org/stirling.html
The Hunchback of Notre Damme https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunchback_of_Notre_Dame_(1939_film)
ALSO IMAGE
Billy Bremner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bremner
St Ninians, Stirling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Ninians
Cyprus - British army presence https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/cyprus-1954-2017
King Idris of Libya https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idris_of_Libya
QL Bedford https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_QL
Gallaher Ltd, Sheffield http://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s16727&pos=2&action=zoom
Fingal makes an appearance
Cruachan Dam https://www.visitcruachan.co.uk/
JG Graves https://www.visitcruachan.co.uk/
Viscount https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Viscount
Further images and links can be found on whatwedointhewinter.com
Thank you for listening!
