On Jura recently, they’ve been hearing voices of friends who have passed on. The oral history project that is currently running on the island has gained access to cassette tapes made in the early 1990s, featuring some of the icons of previous generations. Gordon Wright, keen local historian once of the Jura Hotel, and Dr Joan Johnson, herself a well-loved character, had the foresight to make personal recordings of the older members of the community in conversation about their lives and experiences. With the technology available to the ‘Jura Lives’ project, thanks to funding from Argyll & the Islands’ 2007-13 LEADER, the Heritage Lottery and the Jura Development Trust, the tapes have been digitised. They will be made public when the full archive is launched next Autumn.
“It’s great to have this material alongside the new recordings, giving more historical depth.” says Jane Carswell, project officer for Jura Lives. “There’s something about people’s voices that really hits you in the heart.” Many thanks to Carol Wright, Felicity Johnson and the next of kin of the contributors who have allowed these precious recordings to be heard again.
This story was published with kind permission of the Ileach Newspaper
Hi, I have a problem which I hope some of your historians can solve: my grandfather was born on Jura. His father was Joseph Brown, stated in the 1841 census as a roads contractor living alone with my great uncle Malcolm. Now the only Tarmacadam road was the Telford one built a little time before. In those days all residents of Jufa and Scarba had to do forced labour on the roads and tracks for the proprietors. So what would have remained for my Great-grandfather to do? His former quarry is still there as a landmark, noted in the Youngson book. Perhaps Mr Wright or Mr Mercer could show some light on this.
By the way I hae just had my DNA done and my Y haplogroup is J2, subclade J-L70 in case you have a group who are into that sort of thing.
Willie
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