Rita Campbell
In the busy west Highland port of Oban there is a popular tradition that is as synonymous with Hogmanay as having a dram or first footing.
Every year, when the bells toll midnight, the vessels which are lying in Oban Bay sound their horns to signal the start of the New Year.
Famous for being the “Gateway to the Isles” Oban is home to a large CalMac ferry terminal which is the last port of call for those travelling to the likes of Barra, Tiree, Colonsay and Mull.
Exiled Obanites all over the world take joy in phoning family at home as the telephones are held out of windows or up in the air to allow them to hear the familiar sound of New Year at home.
There was much disappointment at New Year 2016 when the bay was silent, and now after much public pressure, CalMac have promised to encourage their masters to keep the tradition alive.
Roddy McCuish, Argyll and Bute Council’s lead councillor for Oban Lorn and the isles, said: “For some reason this year the boat horns didn’t go off.
“I have had a fair bit of representation about it. I firmly believe, as do most of my constituents, that it is a tradition that should continue.
“We are making representations to CalMac and the Northern Lighthouse Board asking them if they could reinstate this long held tradition in our sea-faring town.
“My mother, brother and sister who live in Germany still like to hear the boat horns and every year I phone them and put the phone out the window for them. I’m sure I’m not the only one with this tradition.”
A spokesman for CalMac said: “We are aware of the tradition of ships blowing their horns to mark the New Year, which for many people is as much part of Hogmanay as black bun and first-footing.
“Our ships’ masters are ultimately responsible for doing this but we will be encouraging them to keep this custom which is observed in ports and harbours all over the world.
“We know how popular this custom is as we were approached a few years ago by someone who had heard the ships’ horns in Oban at Hogmanay and proposed writing a piece of music to be played from the ships, while conducting them from a kayak in the bay.
“Unfortunately the technical specification of our horns means it is not possible to get a recognisable tune from them but we admired her creative thinking.”