A North Yorkshire couple who are lifelong fans of Whisky Galore have bought the only post office on the island of Barra, where the film was shot.
Chris, 46, and Diane Dillerstone 53, have been holidaying in the Highlands for years, with Diane first visiting Barra 30 years ago after watching Whisky Galore.
The Ealing comedy, inspired by the Compton MacKenzie novel about a group of Scottish islanders who raided a shipwreck for its consignment of Scotch, was set in Eriskay but filmed on location in Barra in 1948.
When former accountant Chris was made redundant last year the pair decided to start their own business.
A search of post offices for sale revealed that the Castlebay branch was on the market. They travelled to the island in July 2014 to view the post office and begin the process of acquiring the business. Less than six months later, in December 2014, they moved from their home near Selby to live full-time on Barra.
The couple plan to convert the unused shop space in the post office, which is located close to the ferry terminal, to incorporate a tea room – named Macroons after the postmaster in Whisky Galore – and eventually hope to create a self-catering apartment in the building’s loft.
The couple who purchased the business for a six figure sum, received a substantial funding package from Clydesdale Bank to acquire the business as well as investing their life savings.
Chris said: “It is already a lifeline for the local community, who draw their pensions, license their vehicles and pay their bills at the branch, but we want to expand the business to become a visitor attraction.
“We’re really enjoying our life here on Barra. We lived in a rural location in Yorkshire but this is completely different.
“There’s no cricket and no Yorkshire beer, but you can’t have everything.”