Trustees

Office Bearers

Fiona L’Estrange, West View, Aird.  Chair

Ken Sullivan, The Billet, Aird. Vice Chair

Trish Bell, Secretary

Laura Cameron-Lewis  – Aras Nam Fir Chlis, Aird

Directors

Robert Newbury, Old Fire Station, Aird.
Elaine Hayes, The Guardhouse, Aird.
Norman Regler, Tigh Cluaran, Aird.
Mark Robson,  5 Aird, Aird.
Jill Smith, Monte Rosa, Aird

John Smith, Development Officer/ Project Worker

Trustees

Gallan Head Community Trust was established in September 2014 by the small and very remote community of Aird Uig on the Isle of Lewis.

We hope as a New Board to carry on with all previous aspirations and to carry on and consolidate the work already achieved – onwards and upwards. We would also like to thank Gillian Davis for all her valuable and great work as Development Officer and wish her all the very best in her new challenge. We welcome John Smith and Megan Whatley as replacement Officers and look forward to working closely with them to ensure we capitalise on their great skills.

We as a board, feel privileged to be given this opportunity and would like everyone in our small community and further afield to feel that the Board are here as representatives to manage and realise your ideas and suggestions. We feel it is important that all members of our community feel included  in our progress and hope that many of you will get involved. We hope that we can carry on creating and realising small projects that will beneficial to many.

Our Board meetings are open to all, but as importantly we will be holding monthly workshops again open to everyone to focus and work on our projects and ensure that some of our ideas turn into fruition. We hope that if anyone has ideas on how to ensure that success and sustainability can be achieved that you will come along and help turn your ideas into practice and that we can carry on climbing the mountain to the summit.

If anyone would like to contact the Community Trust do discuss anything you can do so through our website, facebook, or e-mail we welcome all your ideas and feedback.

Our last thank you is to you – the Community for your very valuable and appreciated support we could not have achieved so much without that support and we look forward and hope to continue receiving that approval and patronage. Many thanks

Gallan Head Community Trust Board

Our Aims

  1. To create jobs
  2. To attract new families to settle in Aird and or Uig
  3. To create interest, enjoyment and education and learning opportunities for thousands of people every year
  4. To generate revenue for the community which enables Gallan Head Community Trust to pursue its Purposes
  5. To protect, preserve and conserve our natural environment, our heritage and our way of life.
  6. To make a substantial contribution to the sustainable economic well-being of Uig

PAST Office Bearers

Development Officer/ Project Worker
Gillian Davies
Gallan Beag,
Aird

I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to work with the Gallan Head Community Trust.  I moved to the Isle of Lewis in 1998 after graduating from the business school at the Universtiy of Strathclyde.  I now live in Aird’s neighbouring villlage of Crowlista with my husband and our two children who attend the local primary school.   I am impressed by what the Trust has achieved so far and excited about the potential of what can be done at Gallan Head – ,the positive impact that can be made on my community and its future.  I bring to the job a strong track record in planning and fundraising for community projects, and experience in tourism marketing and establishing and administrating a successful business.

Treasurer
Fiona L’Estrange
West View,
Aird

Fiona has two teenage children and a very busy life doing several jobs in islands tradition, as well as being a keen artist.  Fiona is currently capitalising on her qualifications and experience in catering management to establish and run the successful cafe, “The Edge” for the Trust in our community hub, Gallan Beag.  Fiona has an MBA and business management experience.

PAST Trustees

Gallan Head Community Trust was established in September 2014 by the small and very remote community of Aird Uig on the Isle of Lewis.

Jill Smith
Monte Rosa, Aird

Jill is an artist and writer. Was a performance artist when known as Jill Bruce. Has long experience in all aspects of running small self- employed businesses, organising and running exhibitions, dealing with customers and selling. Also had 7 years as market and social research interviewer, training and supervising. Experience as a volunteer firefighter, secretary of craft’s organisation; currently on committee of Commun Eachdraidh Uig as well as GHCT and volunteers in Uig Museum. Home educated my fourth child up to the age of thirteen.

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    Your Message

     

     

    Anna Graham
    The Billet, Aird

     

    I have lived in Aird for over 5 years now and have nurtured a strong bond with the land and local community. I would like to see this land being used in a sustainable way that benefits people and surrounding environment.

    Things I actively enjoy in life are Herbalism, Veterinary Herbalism, Permaculture, Animal Husbandry, growing food, home brewing, natural crafts and night time walks! I am an advocate on environmental protection, sustainability, reuse/creative recycling and healing the bonds between land, people’s and wildlife.

    I would like to offer my skills and experience of successfully growing local produce, by combining contemporary and innovative ways with traditional working techniques. This is a challenge in such a raw and powerful environment. Now with acquisition of the land, the local community has the opportunity to do this.

    Donald Matheson

    Donald Matheson

    

    
			
    
			
    
				
				
				
				
				
    
				
				
				
				
				
    Norman Regler
    
				
    Taigh Cluaran, Aird
    

    Educated to Technician/ Engineer level, I worked in Heavy Engineering, specializing in solid/fluid separation equipment until the age of 50. Since then, after spending eight years at Art Schools, have devoted my time to the Arts. I have worked and lived in many areas of the UK and overseas.
    
			
    
				
				
				
				
				
    Ken Sullivan
    
				
    

    The Billet, Aird
    

    

    

    I am on the board because I feel that land should be owned and used by the people that live there, and that it is best cared for by those that have a relationship with it.
    

    In these challenging times, there is a lot we can learn from nature and one of the best ways is through interaction and listening. This is something I would like to see shared with the wider public. Using technology in different ways with low impact development on the stunning location of the Gallan Head, a place truly elemental.
    

    I am a trained Environmental Scientist. My passions and hobbies include community, Herbalism, Permaculture, wildlife, poetry, Env. activism and food fermentation. I would like to use my knowledge and skills to bring an ecological mindset to our community. Addressing issues of waste, renewable energy, food production and ecological awareness.
    

    
			
    
			
    
				
				
				
				
				
    
				
				
				
				
				
    Alison Tyler - Secretary
    
				
    Alison is a co-opted Board member, living in a neighbouring village a few miles from Aird where she has raised her family of three children.  Alison is an ecologist by profession, and brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the Trust.
    
			
    
				
				
				
				
				
    Steve Mason
    
				
    Number 4, Aird
    

    Steve has lived in Aird for many years, he is a crofter with many other hats !, he drives the community bus, is clerk of Aird Uig grazings committee, chair of Uig Development Trust and is a director of Uig Community Co-op.
    

     
    
			
    
			
    
				
				
				
				
			
    
				
    
				
				
				
				
				
    
				
				
				
				
				
    Our Vision
    

    Trustees
    Trustees
    

    Gallan Head is preserved and shared as a place of great natural and historical interest in a wild, remote and unspoiled but accessible environment.
    

    That the Cetus Observatory is renowned by astronomers, naturalists, artists, historians and educationalists as a place of learning, inspiration, and respite. The restoration of the land and the sustainable development of the observatory are acclaimed as exemplars of community ownership and community enterprise.
    
			
    
				
				
				
				
				
    Our Aims
    

      

    1. To create jobs
      2. 

    2. To attract new families to settle in Aird and or Uig
      3. 

    3. To create interest, enjoyment and education and learning opportunities for thousands of people every year
      4. 

    4. To generate revenue for the community which enables Gallan Head Community Trust to pursue its Purposes
      5. 

    5. To protect, preserve and conserve our natural environment, our heritage and our way of life.
      6. 

    6. To make a substantial contribution to the sustainable economic well-being of Uig
      7.