Do you know where the former Ballachulish ferry, Glen Loy is?
If so Edinburgh-based writer and director Graham Kitchener would love your help.
Graham, creative director of the Film Academy Edinburgh, and an award-winning corporate drama-narrative film maker, is working on a documentary film on the last three ferries of Ballachulish and has been trying to track down the final one, the Glen Loy.
So far Graham has uncovered the fate of two of the three ferries that last served the route, but the third is proving more illusive.
He said: “The Glenchaulish is still working up at Glenelg doing the Skye crossing and I found the wreck of the Glen Duror on the shore of Mull near Ulva, but the last record of the Glen Loy is when she was bought, stripped down to a barge, by a Helensburgh man, William Sutherland.
“She was an active turntable ferry at Ballachulish up until mid ’75 and Mr Sutherland bought her from a chap in Camusnagaul, who had salvaged it after it had been brought ashore during a January storm outside Fort William in early ’76.”
He continued: “On 1st June 1979 William Sutherland put the Glen Loy op for sale. At this point she is just a flat deck barge-like vessel, having had her turntable car deck and stern wheelhouse removed.
“From what I can deduce he used it as part of a marine contract on the west coast which was now finished, hence he was selling it. He took on a contract in Saudi in 1980 and the trail goes dead there.”
“The members of his family I have been able to trace and speak to are not able to give me any more information about the what happened to the Glen Loy or to whom he sold it.
“I need to find out where did William keep her, and who bought it. Failing that, if no one bought it then what happened to it and I would be grateful for any information that will help in the hunt.”
It is hoped that the finished documentary will be premiered in Ballachulish later this year so time is running out.
If anyone can help with any information they are asked to telephone Graham on 07710 530 733.
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