We’ve had a wee message from our favourite irrepressible rogue Gerry Donnelly:

“I am planning to write a book on the history of Glencaple. I first visited the village 35 years ago and it would be fair to say I fell in love immediately with the village and surrounding area. For a long time the idea of a book has gnawed away at the back of my mind, as has a very strong sense that unless aspects, incidents and ways of life are not captured and set down soon, they will be lost to us forever.

Of course, there are so many stories to be told: of fishing, shipbuilding (and other employment), emigration, education, local customs, the natural world, farming, community life and so on.

I am keenly aware that there are probably some people better placed to do this than me, people who have lived here much longer and whose lives and families go much further back than mine, a relative newcomer (June 1998).

Also, I am aware that there are many people who live in the area who have a sincere investment and interest in just these things, people who know more about or have a passion for a particular aspect of the area’s history. At the outset, I am equally conscious of the fact that at times I may rely on their support and cooperation in bringing this enterprise to life. If I knock on your door, phone you, message you, arrive with a voice recorder (agreed in advance), please be kind to me.

I won’t be setting myself any kind of remit and will go where the research takes me, whether it moves beyond Glencaple to the surrounding villages and so on. Neither will I be pretending there is a fixed timeline. Whatever the case, I can simply offer that I am thrilled about the prospect, can’t wait to get started and, in the final analysis, hope that I am up to the task.”

Gerry Donnelly

Tel: 01387 770505
Mobile: 07749038152
Email: gerryd446@gmail.com