Minutes of Meeting 13-01-26
Held by Teams
Present: M McDonald (Chair), V Nimmo (Minutes), E McTaggart,
K Pytasz, R Colville, G Lawson, M MacKaveney
Welcome: M McDonald welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Apologies: J Nimmo, T Murphy A Baird
Minutes 04-11-25
MMcD met with Tom Murphy in Campbeltown on 13th November, discussed the need for Council’s legal department to produce Heads of Terms (HoT) agreement. Work cannot commence until a HoT is in place. KP will write to Oliver Lewis HES and will send our original agreement to HES legal department to ask what requires to be amended. MMcD will chase up TM and Council legal department.
I McMurchie has been appointed local supervisor in Campbeltown and will supervise work in local cemeteries.
McMD also inquired about the tree branches against the wall at Killean, still to be removed. Likewise, nothing further on the repair of Kilchenzie graveslabs broken and laid flat. Sub-group agreed that the repair of these is not part of the Medieval Kintyre project and it was the responsibility of KKCPA to push the Council to repair them.
Council Update
No Council officers present.
Treasurer’s Report
Today 13-01-26 the groups available balance stood unchanged at £3,212.11 (Three thousand, two hundred twelve pounds eleven pence).
Chairperson’s report
McMD has applied to West Kintyre Community Fund for £14,500 for the removal of the Kilchenzie medieval graveslabs to Nic Boyes workshop for safe storage and restoration. RC worried that stones would not return. McMD explained that they were in a precarious position at present and would require to be removed for major works.
Update from K Pytasz
KP working on tender documents, draft copies should be available next week. These to be presented to Oliver Lewis for approval before being passed to the HES grant department. No success with the inquiry re the possibility of obtaining funds from HES for the preparation of the tender documents.
KP had identified that 2 fragments of medieval graveslabs were missing at Kilchenzie. One depicting the top of a sword, and the other depicting a galley. This has happened sometime after 2002. Not present when KP carried out survey in 2016. McMD pointed out that between 2014 and 2016 the area was covered in brambles. Nigel Grant was contracted to remove brambles. Three possibilities as to their whereabouts; somewhere in the undergrowth, removed to place of safety but undocumented, or stolen. McMD to contact Nigel Grant. MMacK will check Campbeltown Museum, also suggested contacting Kilmartin Museum, possibility of them being in their store at Cairnbaan, also suggested Heritage Centre, and Inveraray Castle archives.
Update from V Nimmo
GoFundMe – Page not set up yet as waiting for approval from all, for the initial story. VN to circulate amended story and others are asked to advise of their approval or not.
Signage – no further progress, as VN waiting to include the QR code for the GoFundMe page.
LOAF has received £4000 from CCWF along with £1000 from Kintyre Club (Southworth Development) as well as £125 from Stewart Knitwear’s sale of Kilkivan related merchandise. VN will follow up on requests to Tangy/Drumlemble, Springbank, Macfadyens and MOWI.
KP suggested that this funding already received would possibly be sufficient to allow the restoration of one graveslab to go ahead. VN and KP to check. Would be good publicity to show that progress is being made.
EMcT and VN gave a talk on the project to the Old Pals Club which was well received.
JN is continuing with the project at Drumlemble PS which seems to be going down well with pupils and teacher.
AOCB
Agreed to leave giving presentation to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group until May.
A technical group meeting to take place in person on Friday 23rd January 2026 in Campbeltown Library.
Future sub-group meetings 03-03-26 and 07-04-26.
Date of Next Meeting – Tuesday 3rd February 2026 at 10.30am via Teams.
