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End of an era for the Little Loch Broom community.

Badcaul Primary school closed last Friday (14.1.22) with the remaining three pupils now to attend Ullapool Primary.  The building has been mothballed.

The present Badcaul school was built in 1901 after the original school building became a Free Church manse. It had been at the heart of the community nurturing and shaping young lives for over 100 years.

Former pupils from near and far have been fondly remembering their time there. There has been real appreciation of the professional and supportive staff who have worked at the school throughout the years.

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CONGRATULATIONS to A&I BUTCHERS 

A&I Quality Butchers of Culloden, who deliver weekly to the Ullapool area (free delivery!), and who sell some of their products in the Deli-Ca-Sea fish shop on West Shore Street, Ullapool, has been named as national champion butcher for its square sausage at the recent Scottish Craft Butchers Awards.

Butcher Ali Paul, who has been in the trade for 45 years, lifted the honours for the Lorne sausage with his team at its Keppoch Road unit.  He likened his success to an athlete winning gold at the Olympics. “I don’t think people realise what a significant thing this is for a butcher,” he said. “Sliced sausage is one of the pillars of the butcher’s trade and to be judged the best in Scotland is absolutely thrilling – it’s a huge achievement.”

Mr Paul dedicated the championship to his 16-strong team who he said had “pulled out all the stops” during the Covid pandemic.  “We went from delivering 30 orders a week before the crisis to 300 orders a week throughout,” he said. “We refused no one and the staff were fantastic – they just dug in and got on with it.

“To be crowned Scottish champions for our square sausage is something they can all take pride in, knowing it’s just reward for a job well done.”

To contact A&I call: 01463 798303 or order online at: www.aiqualitybutchers.com

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Dear Eds,

Thank you so much for the large print edition of The Ullapool News, and Congratulations on the great result of all your work in allowing the partially and shortsighted people of Ullapool and beyond to actually read all the local news.

Thanks also to Lynne Shaw for the idea.

John Wilding

We are delighted with the initial response to the easier-to-read version of the Ullapool News which has been part funded by Ullapool Community Trust.

The project is in its early stages and we are open to suggestions as to how we can improve things.  One reader thinks having staples at the side may make the large pages easier to turn, so we may give it a try this week!

If any other readers think they might benefit from this project, please contact the Ullapool News by phoning 01854 613334 (leave a message if no reply) or email editorial@theullapoolnews.co.uk or write to the Ullapool News Office, Market Street, Ullapool, IV26 2XE.

Ullapool News Team

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ULLAPOOL BOOK FESTIVAL

The 18^th Ullapool Book Festival will be held 6 – 8 May. There will be the usual mix of fiction, non-fiction and poetry with some music thrown in.  (We are delighted to have the 6-piece band Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers made up of 6 well-known crime writers.)

Guest writers are from Scotland, Canada and Estonia.

The programme will be announced early February and the tickets will go on sale mid-March.