At the melee

I was back at Tarbert Castle today for their "Medieval Melee".

A "melee" is, according to a tweet I had this morning from fellow MSP & blipper Rosenna Cunnigham, "disorganised close combat" in which no quarter is given but today's event was of a more peaceable disposition. I was welcomed to the castle by a suitably dressed up Robert McPhail,who is pictured and who, as char of the Tarbert Castle Trust and a Director of the Tarbert Conservation Initiative has masterminded the restoration of the ruin and the grounds which are owned by the Tarbert & Skipness Community Trust .

He took me to meet King Robert the Bruce himself and his entourage, all played by local primary school children and they introduced me to the castle and what happened there.

The restoration of the castle , the maintenance of the grounds (by a community owned flock of Hebridean sheep) and the ongoing inquiry into the history of the area are all great examples of community activism in Argyll & Bute and much to be commended.

It as raining and murky when I came across Loch Fyne but the sun came out just as we got to the top of the castle hill and Cathleen & I then had a wonderful couple of hours talking to the many people who had turned out to hear music , see demonstrations of traditional crafts, learn about the on going archeology and generally have a good time.

Then we had a surprise meeting with friends as we were leaving the site and a voyage back across the water in bright sunshine.