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Scalpay
Welcome has Blair smitten and bitten
IT
WAS their day in history and the Scalpachs made the
most of it. Hardly a home could have need left occupied
as men, women and children celebrated what one local
called the most momentous day of their lives. It seemed
the entire 400-strong population of Scalpay, and many
more beyond, turned out to watch the official opening
of the bridge linking the island to Harris. Adding to
the sense of occasion was the fact that the tartan ribbon
was being cut by Tony Blair, the first serving British
Prime Minister to make an official visit to the Western
Isles.
Mr
Blair, accompanied by his wife, Cherie, Donald Dewer,
the Scottish Secretary, and Calam MacDonald, the Scottish
transport minister, was clearly affected by the reception.
He was also clearly affected by the turn out of the
Hebridean midges whoa added their own welcome as he
emerged from his helicopter. "I want to say how delighted
we are with the warmth of our welcome and that so many
people came to greet us," he said. "There are a few
other little things which have been greeting us too,
but I guess that is all part of the Hebridean welcome."
The
£7 million bridge, which opened in December is the biggest
civil engineering project ever undertaken in the islands
and, said Mr Blair, symbolised the government's commitment
to outlying areas. He said that for communities to survive
and develop in the islands they needed people who were
able to live and work there and the importance of a
modern infrastructure could not be over stated.
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