Ionad Achadh Na Craige

I have blipped Rockfield in Oban before, which is scarcely surprising given that when I was  the local MSP I worked closely with the amazing and determined  team which has  , despite being faced with a huge range of difficulties ,  brought this old school, originally opened in 1877,  back from near ruin and have made it a vibrant cultural and educational hub at the centre - in every sense - of Oban.

This  thank you day for funders was well attended , and Gordon MacNab, the Chair  of the Trust,  delivered an inspiring bi-lingual introduction before welcoming  Tom Arthur, the Scottish Government Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth who gave a strong message of support and congratulation.   He is also a blipper - though perhaps was is more accurate as I noticed he hasn't done so since last August . 


A small group of pupils from Oban High started things off with traditional music and after the speeches  everyone got a tour of the work done, and some  still being done, before meeting for a superb lunch prepared by many of the volunteers who are  underpinning and  continually extending the work and range of what is already a huge asset to the town. 


One of the details that Gordon gave stuck in my mind - the original building cost £3890.   The cost of refurbishment 145 years later has taken - so far - just under £3 million.