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5th November 2013 - St Kilda Jim Percival The President welcomed members to the meeting on Tuesday 5th November and introduced guest speaker Jim Percival who gave a wonderful narrative, through recorded poetry, song and imagery, of what life had been like on St Kilda. Located one hundred mile off the west coast of Scotland there is evidence to suggest that that people have occupied the islands for over two millennia with the discovery of Viking remains and place names of Norse origin.
Life on St Kilda
was extraordinarily tough. A diet primarily of gannet, fulmar, puffin and
sea bird eggs sustained the population, but with isolation the islanders had
little resistance to disease carried by visiting sailors and no access to
immediate medical aid. The child mortality was appallingly high, but
by the mid nineteenth century the population was stable at around 100 persons.
It was not to last. With food shortages and two influenza epidemics
in the early part of the twentieth century the last thirty six people were
evacuated in August 1930. In 1957 the National Trust acquired St Kilda and a programme of works remains ongoing to guard the World Heritage Status that has been granted to these islands. The church has since been rededicated. A lively question and answer session ensued. Bill Allen gave the vote of thanks.
The next meeting is on Tuesday, November 19th, when the
guest speaker will be Gordon McAllan talking about 'The Most Successful Car in
The World'. |