Continuing Rusty McD’s feature - a 5-minute interview with someone in our community - and their chosen furry, feathered or scaly friends!
5 minutes with...
Eoin Campbell and his terriers Here and Come-on Interview by Rusty McD.
Callander Rambling Club Sponsored by Caledonian Country Wear The Club consists of a group of enthusiasts who meet regularly throughout the year to participate in a programme of strolls, rambles, hill walks and a Long Distance Path. Details are published on http://www. incallander.co.uk/r a m b l e r s . h t m in the Ben Ledi View and on posters around Callander. New Members and guests are always welcome. MARCH • Wed 2nd 9:30am Stroll - Samson’s Putting Stone (4.5 miles) Anne Petrie 01786 850626 • Sat 19th 8:30am Ramble - Brig O’Turk & Trossachs Viewpoint (7 miles) Keith Niven 01877 376200 • Sat 26th 8:30am Hill - Innerdouny Hill (497m) Rob Smallman 01786 825877
Q: How long have you lived in Strathyre/ what made you come “here” (excuse the pun)? E: I was in Stank as a forestry keeper in 1971, moved to Auchtubh, Balquhidder in 1972 where I lodged with Peggy Perks at the Old Post Office (house no longer there). The lodgings were £5.00 per week. I joined the forestry commission timber squad in 1972, Sheila and I got married in 1973 and moved into Keip Road, Strathyre in May 1973. There were over 20 Forestry houses in Strathyre and every house had a forestry commission employee in it. When we moved in the rent was £1.87 a week - you got the rent taken off you weekly. When we were young, there were about 20 kids running around in our area - no kids now - just us old fuddie duddies!! Q: can you tell me some more about life in Strathyre? E: When I was in the Forestry, all the old boys I worked with had been in the war. On wet days we used to have a hap as a portable shelter that we used to retreat to when it rained. Then the old war stories used to start! To make sure everybody told the truth there was Hans who was German and a prisoner of war who never went home. When the blood
and guts stories came out, Hans always had his version of events! Old Jimmy Dewar lived next door at number 10. He was on the tanks in the war and got shot just after D-day. Every so often when he had a bath a bit of shrapnel came out which he duly put in his matchbox for us forestry workers to inspect the next day. Q: What do you like best about Strathyre and what is maybe not so good? E: Down where we stay we know everybody and it is nice and peaceful. I hate the litter that a minority of campers/ daytrippers/ fishermen etc leave behind. Q: Here and Come-on are unusual names for dogs - tell me more! E: When our Jack Russell Stumpy suddenly died, life was just not the same without a dog. My friend Doug Lambie bred Here (then named Tilly) and gave her to his mother in Taynuilt but they were having trouble with her stealing flowers from the graveyard... They reckoned what the dog really wanted to do was work and so Here got a transfer to Strathyre. When I was shouting Tilly, she just ignored me but the minute I shouted “Here” she came to me. I just thought AHA! from now on your name is Here and she has always come to that. Then she had her pups of
which we kept one. And if you already have a dog called “Here” you just got to call the other “Come-on” - what else would you do?! Both dogs are working terriers as well as house dogs. Come-on loves watching TV - but charges in temper at the tele when the Dog Whisperer comes on. Both dogs are great characters and we thoroughly enjoy having them around. Q: This interview has been most entertaining and very interesting. Now! Who would you like next to be interviewed for “5 minutes with...”? E: Colin McGregor (born and bred in Lochearnhead) and his dog Rusty. 13