Archive for May, 2010

Sponsored Lock-In for Pipe Band at Inveraray Jail

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

With a view to raising  funds for the band, 15 brave people from Inveraray & District’s Grade 1 band agreed to spend the night in the reputedly very haunted Inveraray Jail. T.V.s “Most Haunted” programme had visited the Jail previously and the experts had encountered a great deal of ghostly goings-on!

No trouble so far!

However the young pipers and drummers, led by Pipe Sergeant Dougie Campbell were hoping not to meet any of the ghostly inmates of the Jail. But to get them in the mood, they decided to watch, “Paranormal Activity” prior to entering!

At 11p.m. they went into the Jail and were shown round by Head Warder, Rob Irons who told them stories of ghostly happenings in the Jail and showed them to the cells where they would spend the night. The girls decided to bed down for the night in one cell with a view to “safety in numbers”.

The boys were more curious and went round the whole building hoping to meet some of the “old prisoners”. Some of them spent a while in the Court House and are convinced that they did indeed experience some strange happenings.

After a sleepless night the team emerged from the Jail at 8a.m., cold and tired but unscathed. They all made it through the night and so earned over £1,000 in sponsor money for band funds.

The band thanked Inveraray Jail for their “hospitality” and head warder, Rob Irons for looking after the band throughout the night.

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Inveraray Jail’s Got Talent!

Friday, May 21st, 2010

The Jail has begun its search for budding actors as the Inveraray Jail School Competition gets underway.

Matron and Prisoner

The prison matron and one of the jail’s prisoners will escape for five days across the next two weeks to embark on an exciting school roadshow.  The two jail guides, who will also be judging the competition, are searching for six lucky pupils who will win the chance to play the part of a child prisoner for one afternoon this summer at the Jail.

Participating pupils have been rehearsing monologues for the past few weeks which they will perform in front of the Inveraray Jail judges.  Pupils have the choice to audition as 11 year old Duncan McColl, who is facing the judges for stealing an apple from a market stall, or as a 10 year old girl and prisoner describing her experiences of being refined to a dark, damp and cold prison cell.

11 schools across Argyll are taking part including Ardrishaig Primary, Kilcreggan Primary (Dunbartonshire), Drumlemble and Castlehill Primary (Campbeltown), Strachur Primary, Dunoon Primary, Furnace & Minard Primary (by Inveraray), Ashfield (Achnamara), Lochnell Primary (Connel) and Kilchrenan Primary (Taynuilt).  Over 130 pupils are expected to audition.

Kilcreggan Primary School

Before the auditions, the prison matron and her prisoner will perform a sketch for the school pupils, giving an insight into a typical day in the life of a 19th century prisoner.

As well as a fun acting role in the summer, the six winners will also win Inveraray Jail goodies for their class.  Winners will be announced Monday 7th June.

Gavin Dick, Prison Governor for Inveraray Jail said: “We are excited to be working with local schools.  It will be a really fun way for pupils to learn more about their local history.  Children as young as seven served sentences at Inveraray Jail in the 19th century for being naughty, so pupils will need to be on best behaviour!”

A Day in Jail!

He added:  “We would like to wish all the pupils who are auditioning the very best of luck and we look forward to welcoming our winners to the jail this summer.”

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Inveraray Jail Break Race: First Place Females Dominate 6.5km Race Records

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Raring to go?!

On Sunday 9th May 2010, keen runners fled from prison as the Inveraray Jail Break race returned to Argyll for a second year.  First place male category winners failed to beat last year’s records whilst all three first place female category winners beat the records.

The warder rings the escape bell!

Thirty-four runners from near and far set off from Inveraray Jail at 11am to the clang of the warder’s escape bell.  The race continued up some 250 metres high to Dun na Cuaiche, the watch tower above Inveraray.  The runners thinned out as the steep climb took hold and by the time the summit was reached the result was decided as Philip Price reached the top ahead of all others.

The going gets tough!

Runners completed the circular route down at the finishing line in the grounds of Inveraray Castle.

The event was part of this year’s Inveraray Bluebell Festival, an exciting month long programme of cultural events taking place in the Inveraray area by Loch Fyne.

Winning categories included first male and first female junior, senior and veteran.  The overall fastest time recorded was an impressive 29 minutes and six seconds from first male senior Philip Price.  The fastest female time was 32 minutes 34 seconds, from first female senior winner, Emma O’Shea.

2010 – this year’s first place winners:

  • First male junior – David McAlister – 31:22
  • First male senior – Philip Price – 29:06
  • First male veteran – Alan Smith – 29:55
  • First female junior – Freya Corner – 40:07 – (RECORD)
  • First female senior – Emma O’Shea – 32.34 – (RECORD)
  • First female veteran – Dinah Bosomworth – 37:20 (RECORD)

All the Winners

2009 – last year’s first place winners:

  • First male junior – Paul Cameron – 28:54
  • First male senior – Nick Emsley – 28:46
  • First male veteran – Paul Thompson – 29:14
  • First female junior – Naomi Sturrock – 44:14
  • First female senior – Naomi Dixon – 41:02
  • First female veteran – Fiona Corner – 38:59

Participants each received a free Inveraray Jail T-shirt and there were trophies, medals and prizes for category winners.  The race catered for a range of running enthusiasts.

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