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Archiver > SCT-ISLAY > 2003-08 > 1059761200


From: "duncan church" <>
Subject: Re: [SCT-ISLAY] Changing times in modern Islay
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 11:06:40 -0700
References: <000e01c35824$c87b5a20$2702efd1@sue>


Hi Sue,
Ah,fond memories! Growing up on Islay it was the highlight of our week
,reading the Oban Times,it was like our local paper.
Changing times indeed,the Agricultural Show was alway a days outing for the
family,with a dance at night for the grown ups.
During the 2nd world war milk was collected from farms and taken to the
"Creamery"[this eventually became the cheese factory],we used to ride to
school in the truck ,stopping at each farm along the way.I was fortunate to
visit the cheese factory on one of my visits,how sad to hear it's gone.It
was good cheese.
Jan Church
B.C.

Original Message -----
From: "Sue Visser" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 5:02 AM
Subject: [SCT-ISLAY] Changing times in modern Islay


> A story from the Oban Times, 1 Aug 2003:
>
> "It's something our grandfathers would have thought unbelievable, but this
year Islay Show will have no dairy section. The island was once home to 15
commercial herds and now has only one dairy farm."
>
> How very sad. Islay was at one time internationally known for its Islay
cheese which once I had the privilege of tasting.
>
> Carol Ogilvie wrote "An Islay Cheese Cookery Book". Her forward
encapsulates the history: "Islay used to have its own Creamery (or cheese
factory) where the milk from the eleven dairy farms (apart from that bottled
and sold on the island) was converted into a particularly fine cheddar-type
cheese. The Creamery closed in 1996, but a consortium of Islay farmers,
supported by a large number of islanders, and with the aid of grants from
Europe and from the Local Enterprise Company, bought it, re-equipped it to
the most modern standards, and re-opened it in August 1997. The first cheese
was ready to eat in December that year and this cookery book was produced in
time to celebrate that event. Sadly, the business failed within two years
and the Creamery closed for good"
>
>
> Sue Visser
>


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