bonawe ferry crossing: A memory of Taynuilt

Bonawe Ferry Crossing

A Memory of Taynuilt.

I lived in Bonawe from 1947-1956. My dad worked in Bonawe Quarries. We left in 1956 to live in Glasgow. I have lived in Yorkshire for over 30 years now but I love to go back to Bonawe. My last visit was 2007, it has changed but I still have my memories. I think the chap who ran the ferry was called "deucher". I am sorry if I have got that wrong. I remember the village store putting a working train set in the shop window at Christmas. I can still see the school, Ardchattan Primary, one classroom and one teacher for all the pupils. We used to cross Loch Etive from Bonawe to Taynuilt by rowing boat for a treat to maybe continue on to Oban for a day out. Happy memories all because of a photograph. Thank-you

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Added 23 February 2008

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My Grandad was the ferry man in Bonawe, his name was MacLean. My dad lived in the ferry house with his parents and siblings. My dad was called Neil MacLean, he was born 1941. I’ll need to get more details from him but I’m sure he went to the same school as you! I was on deucher’s boat when I was very young, 1980’s, I’m sure it was a trip around Loch Etive.

By fionaphilp on Mon Jul 29th 2019, at 8:25 am

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My dad was a lorry driver with Gardiner 's in Glasgow but had many trips to Bonawe with lorry &ship spares from the 50's until around 1966. I joined my dad on a few trips during the school holidays and remember Mr. Galloway (the quarry manager) ,giving me a florin(two shillings) the first time that I visited the quarry. Unless I am mistaken the ferryman was Donal Kennedy. I believe that on one occasion the turntable on the ferry broke free sending a lorry into the loch;the driver "Granville" Valentine ? survived and became an ambulance driver in Glasgow.

By bill.coulter on Thu Oct 24th 2019, at 9:46 pm

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Lived at the Top Houses. Left in 1955

By Janet Watson on Tue Feb 4th 2025, at 5:01 pm

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