In this, the first of two introductory episodes, local historian Margaret Hubbard talks us through what lead to the Americans setting up a base in the Holy Loch on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll in 1961. This first episode takes us through WWII from 1939 to 45. Speaker – Margaret Hubbard, Introduction – Kate Simpson, Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com
In this, the second introductory episode of the American Years Revisited podcast, local historian Margaret Hubbard takes us from the end of the second world war to the Americans arriving in the Holy Loch on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, from 1945 to 61. Speaker – Margaret Hubbard, Introduction – Kate Simpson, Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com
In this, the third episode of the American Years revisited podcast, two retired American sailors, well known Dunoon residents, Charlie Witherow and Gerry Pursley, talk about themselves and their memories of arriving at in Scotland. Speakers – Charlie Witherow and Gerry Pursley. Introduction – Kate Simpson. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
This episode features a chat with three local women. Linda Pursley and Andrene Meshersmith who both grew up in Dunoon itself, and Margaret Hubbard who grew up down the road in Inellan. Together they recall the early days of the American presence in the Holy Loch. Linda and her husband Gerry talk about how they met for the first time. Gerry and Charlie Witherow also talk about their accents and how they’ve kept a hold of them for so many years. This episode is the second half of conversation, the first half of which, between Charlie and Gerry can be heard in episode 3. Speakers – Linda Pursley, Andrene Meshersmith, Margaret Hubbard, Charlie Witherow and Gerry Pursley. Introduction – Kate Simpson. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
Welcome to the 5th episode of the American Years Revisited Podcast. In this episode Gerry Pursley shares a first-hand account of active service on the Proteus at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. With no warning the Proteus left the Holy Loch and headed for the North Atlantic. The ship wasn’t quite sea ready as they left in such a hurry, this lead to all sorts of situations that you’ll hear Gerry describing in rich detail. You’ll hear the odd ringing noise in the background of this episode, for which we apologise, but it doesn’t take anything away from the story. Speakers – Linda Pursley, Andrene Meshersmith, Margaret Hubbard, Charlie Witherow and Gerry Pursley. Introduction – Kate Simpson. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
This episode features an interview with Don Gable, ex-diver with the American Navy. Don was a diver on the Holy Loch. Don tells us about his life in Hawaii then travelling to Italy and finally settling in Scotland at the Holy Loch. His accounts of life above and below the waves paints a very clear picture of operations at the base and why so many servicemen came to choose Dunoon at home. Speakers – Don Gabel, Linda Pursley, Andrene Meshersmith, Margaret Hubbard, Charlie Witherow, Ann Campbell and Gerry Pursley. Introduction – Kate Simpson. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
In this episode we speak to Isobel Lindsay, renowned peace activist and Scottish Nationalist. Isobel went on her first anti-nuclear march when she was 14 and has long been active in the CND, being part of the Committee of 100 and the Direct Action Committee. Isobel talks about why she became involved in the CND, the organisation of protest in the 60s to the American nuclear presence in the Holy Loch in Cowal on the West Coast of Scotland, and gives some brilliant anecdotes about being arrested for protesting. Speaker – Isobel Lindsay . Introduction – Kate Simpson. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
In this episode John Kelly talks to Audrey McDougall about the officers’ wives club during the American Years in Dunoon. Speakers – John Kelly and Isobel Lindsay . Introduction – Kate Simpson. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
In this episode the group talked with Jan Moodie Raffino of Colonsay and Dunoon, and her husband Fred Raffino. Jan and Fred were one of the first Scots American couples to marry after the arrival of the Proteus. Fred talks about his life in America, his experiences in Cuba and what life was like for a young American sailor in Dunoon. Jan shares her experiences of life here in Scotland and further away in the states. Introduction – Kate Simpson. Interviewees – Jan Moodie Raffino and Fred Raffino. Interviewers – American Years Revisited Board. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
In this episode Kate Simpson talked with author and sailor Euan Ross from Kilmun. Euan talks about growing up on the Holy Loch and what it was like to live in the shadow of the ship. Introduction and interviewer – Kate Simpson. Interviewee – Euan Ross. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
In this episode we talk to Bob Reid born in Dunoon in 1946, left in 1965 to go to university and came back 3 years ago for retirement. Bob talks about the Americans arriving in Cowal and what it was like when he was going to school with the Americans, the protests against the nuclear presence and what the exchange of cultures was like. Introduction – Kate Simpson. Interviewees – Bob Reid. Interviewers – American Years Revisited Board. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
In this episode we talk to Board member Phil Ambagtsheer. Phil was born and raised in Los Angeles and joined the US submarine fleet after college in the earli 80s. In 1984 Phil transferred to the Henry Clay SSBN 625 Gold Crew nuclear missle submarine which operated out of the Holy Loch. Phil talks about his life as a submariner. He goes into the psychology of being alone with a crew deep below the waves. He talks about life ashore and the strains that the job places on those you love. He shines a very clear light on life aboard a submarine in the dark depths of the ocean. Introduction – Kate Simpson. Interviewee – Phil Ambagtsheer. Interviewers – American Years Revisited Board. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
In this episode Margaret Hubbard talks to local ex-school teachers, Jo Rhodes and John Kelly, about the American children who attended Dunoon grammar during the American Years Introduction – Kate Simpson. Interviewees – John Kelly & Joe Rhodes. Interviewer – American Years Revisited Board member Margaret Hubbard. Videography, Music and Editing – Alasdair Satchel http://www.alsatch.com With support from SURF (https://www.surf.scot/) and with thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
american years revisited 