Admiral Sir John who ?

Tara Coia with Sir John's Uniform

Isn’t it amazing  -  the things that are on your doorstep and you don’t know about them !

The H₂O Friendship Club  recently welcomed Tara Coia – the 1745 House Arts & Education Officer - who is based at Dunollie House (www.dunollie.org) -  recently opened as a visitor attraction.   Visiting old houses and castles is pretty familiar stuff to the Argyll folk, but Tara explained that Dunollie is packed full of interesting objects, textiles, letters and papers which tell us all about life in the 18^th century.    None of us – not even the proper Oban locals - knew of Admiral Sir John MacDougall :  a fine handsome local laird, who travelled the world as a sea-captain.   His Sextant has recently been discovered in one of Dunollie’s many cupboards, and his letters home relate the  amazing adventures he had in the far East.    Tara brought Sir John’s impressive uniform with her to the Friendship Club – and there aren’t many museums willing to bring precious items out into the community, so that people who can’t manage to visit Dunollie, can see them ‘up close’. 

Friendship Club Members enjoy Tara's Dunollie presentation

Later in May, Tara is back for a return visit to the Friendship Club to show us the traditional skills of spinning and willow-weaving.