LOAF-KKCPA Sub-group
Minutes of Meeting 04-08-25
Held by Teams
Present: V Nimmo (Chair/Minutes), K Pytasz, G Lawson, R Colville, J Nimmo, A Baird
Welcome: V Nimmo welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Apologies: Elizabeth McTaggart, Marion Maacdonald, Tom Murphy, Nick Lowden, Muriel MacKaveney
Minutes of Meetings 01-07-25: Agreed as correct
Council Update
Due to clean-up following storm, TM and NL not available. TM requested that meeting dates for next 6 months be made available to him. It was pointed out that our regular meeting date and time was changed to the first Tuesday in every month to suit TM and NL. VN will send email.
AB is familiarising herself with our project and will be meeting with Amenities team in near future, to pick up where D Rennie left off.
AB to make introduction to Mairi MacLennan, Gaelic Development Officer, who may help raise visibility of our project in the Gaelic sphere.
Treasurer’s Report:
At close of business on Thursday 31/07/2025 the groups available balance stood at £231.26 (two hundred and thirty-one pounds twenty-six pence).
The separate savings account for KKCPA is still pending. All forms have been submitted, and we are awaiting an update from Virgin Business on progress. Hopefully not much longer.
West Kintyre Community Fund granted us £2500 to cover the shortfall in the cost of providing the above report by Nic Boyes on the medieval graveslabs at Killean.
VN to transfer money received from CCWF for the design of the shelter for the graveslabs at Kilkivan & Kilchenzie.
Chairperson’s report
KKCPA will hold its AGM this Friday 8th August at 3pm in Tayinloan Hall, everyone is welcome. We currently have 40 members who pay an annual fee of £5 and in return they receive regular updates and information regarding the progress of the project.
Foundation Scotland have repaired the fault in their system, enabling me to complete our reporting requirements for the £7,000 grant we received from FERN Cour Windfarm Trust.
Nic Boyes has completed his assessment of the medieval grave stones at Killean. He identified 16 grave markers within the Largie Vault, and an additional 2, lying prone next to the South Wall of the old cemetery. Similar to the stones at Kilkivan, they will require lifting and transporting to the workshop for cleaning, consolidation and repair before being returned to the site once it is ready for displaying them. The total cost of the works is £174,485 (ex VAT). £48,000 of that is just for the lifting and transportation of the stones to and from the workshop. The majority of the costs are in the cleaning and repairs. KKCPA applied to the West Kintyre Community Fund for the shortfall in the cost of providing the above report. We have been granted £2,500.
KKCPA approached the local undertakers to request approximate costings for the repair of 12 of the fallen stones at Kilchenzie. They have a stone mason contact who will be able to assess them and give us an idea of probable costs. I reiterate that the Medieval Kintyre Project will not be able to fund any of these repairs, as they do not pertain to the 12th Century building or the Medieval grave markers under the shelter. This is purely a costings exercise to assist our conversations with the Council regarding the eventual re-instatement of these stones. On a recent visit to Killean – it was noted that there is similar damage to some stones there, but not as many as at Kilchenzie.
I am meeting with Muriel MacKaveney from CHARTS later this week in regards to a parallel project they are doing regarding the exhibition of the Gaelic bible from Killean which dates to 1843.
We are hopeful that Dr Peter Burman, our new patron, will be able to visit all three sites sometime later this month. Krystyna is liaising with him on suitable dates. If we could prevail upon him to include an information evening/session; I feel that would generate further interest in the project, and also give us another opportunity for further publicity?
Update from K Pytasz
KP working on shelter design at Kilchenzie. Report from Nic Boyes required on Kilchenzie slabs.
HES application already submitted, just requires updating with increased costs.
HLT application, a longer process.
Video on removal of the stones at Kilkivan has been sent to HES and HLT for approval so that their logos can be used.
KP will circulate Nick Boyes reports on Killean & Kilchenzie.
VN indicated that Option 2 of KP’s designs was preferable but thought that protection was required on the North side. KP had considered locating stones on West wall, but it would be easier to seal the roof to the top of the south wall. KP to send email to respondent.
KP to send JN photos of Kilkivan slabs.
Update from V Nimmo
Application for £1000 was made to MACC to part cover costs of visit by Dr Peter Burman. Await decision.
Video of removal of graveslabs at Kilkivan was completed and forwarded to KP for approval from HES and HLT.
VN and JN visited Glen Scotia Distillery and spoke with Ian McAllister re sponsoring the restoration of one or more of Kilkivan slabs. Await decision.
Still await a price from Argyll signs for erection of information boards at the 3 churches.
VN and JN spoke with Simon Rochford re mug merchandise, requires simple design. In progress.
Anne Stewart Knitwear merchandise added further £20 to LOAF a/c for Medieval Kintyre in July.
AOCB
JN has added a piece to the medieval Kintyre website blog on Anne Stewart knitwear.
JN working with Cameron McLellan to update information on website to include other sites Kilchousland, KIlcolmchille, Kilchousland, Kilmichael.
KP to send pdf of McGibbon & Ross information on 19th century Scottish churches.
GL we require copy of the BBC Alba report.
Date of Next Meeting – Tuesday 2nd September 10.30am via Teams.
