Ardentinny’s maritime icon awaits new owner (updated 22 Oct, 21)

Photographed, sketched, painted and filmed many thousands of times through the years by visitors to our village, she’s one of Ardentinny’s most famous landmarks.

The fishing boat Girl Sharon was, until recently, a working vessel, trawling for langoustine in Loch Long and beyond. Built in 1970 by Smith & Hutton Boatbuilders, Anstruther and with her distinctive BA-61 (Ballantrae) registration, she was cared for by her owner Graham (Noddy) Wilson who sadly passed away earlier this year.

Graham was a familiar character on the slipway beach, devoting much of his spare time to maintaining the 50-year-old boat and skilfully beaching her each spring for her annual paint job and maintenance. As can be seen from her many images online, Girl Sharon was originally bright red, but latterly was painted “saltire blue” as Graham described her new colour.

Sadly, this little piece of Ardentinny’s recent history is now up for sale. Our hope is that, under her new ownership, Girl Sharon will remain on Loch Long as a historic reminder of Ardentinny’s links with its past fishing community and a nostalgic memory of our well-kent character and friend, Graham Wilson.

Update: Girl Sharon has now been sold and we understand that she will remain at Ardentinny for the foreseeable future.

August 5, 2021February 28, 2026

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki

In the shadow of the Royal Navy’s nuclear weapons’ depot (RNAD), Coulport, we remember those who lost their lives (214,000) in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

There will be several commemoration events throughout the country, the nearest of which are:

Friday 6 August in Glasgow at 12 noon at the Peace Tree at Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery; Saturday 7 August at 12.30 at Custom House Quay at the back of the Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock, to cast flowers on the Clyde,

Monday 9th August at 5 p.m. at the Peace Garden in Paisley’s Barshaw Park.

There will also be an evening of poetry and reflection online at 7.30. p.m. Monday, 9 August https://www.eventbrite.com/e/remembering-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-tickets-164116241095

November 23, 2020February 28, 2026

HM Naval Base Clyde Off-Site Emergency Plan

The published version of the HM Naval Base Clyde Off-Site Emergency Plan can be found on Argyll and Bute Council’s website https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/clyde_off-site_emergency_plan_-_may_2020_-_published_version.pdf. with specific reference to the Coulport installation on pages 20-23.

October 11, 2020February 28, 2026

Couple rescued from Loch Long inflatable dinghy

On Saturday evening MOD Police from Coulport rescued a couple from their inflatable dinghy in Loch Long. It would appear that they had been on a fishing expedition in their small Explorer 5 inflatable. The couple did not appear to be wearing lifejackets.

According to contributor Jonathan Hart on the Ardentinny Facebook Forum, the two were given a lecture by MOD police about wearing lifejackets and wind conditions.

Considering how quickly weather can change on the loch it was a dangerously uncomfortable lesson.

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Sue Garton, Flute Lessons, Flute Teacher Champaign-Urbana

Flute Choirs

Beginners Ages 7-9

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Sue Garton, Flute Teacher

I’m Sue Garton, a flute teacher who loves teaching flute lessons and sharing the joys of making music, right here in Champaign-Urbana, in person and/or online. FluteKeys welcomes flutists and aspiring flute players from ages 7 through adult.

Whether you want to elevate your flute skills to the next level or you’ve never played flute before, I invite you to join me on your flute lessons journey.

Private flute lessons and ensembles at FluteKeys Studio are just the beginning of a series of motivating and enriching musical experiences. I’d love to meet you and discover your flute interests.

Welcome to FluteKeys Studio, where private flute lessons are just the beginning of a series of motivating and enriching musical experiences.

FluteKeys Studio is located at 1202 Devonshire Drive in Champaign, just a few minutes from the University of Illinois, Urbana and Savoy. Private flute lessons are offered to individuals by flute teacher Sue Garton. Students range from second grade through adult. A free trial flute lesson is encouraged, and parents are always welcome. Click here to read more about FluteKeys policies.

National Flute Conventions

As an active member of the National Flute Association (www.nfaonline.org) I attend their national conventions each August. Over the years I have met and heard several great flute musicians that I have mentioned during private and group sessions.

FluteKeys Resources

There are so many resources available, it is hard to keep track of them all. Here are a few categories that you may find helpful. If you know of a good resource that should be listed, please get in touch.

Useful articles on flute practicing, playing, and maintenance
Flute Playing and Learning, including
- Tools and Techniques
- Fingering Chart & Flute Mechanics
- Well-Known Flute Players & Instructors
Summer Music Camps
Tips on buying a flute, related articles, some well-known flute sellers

Upcoming Releases

Resident composer & arranger Roland Garton occasionnaly provides pre-publication samples of upcoming new releases.

Flight of the Wood Sprites. a spirited journey for flute quartet (four C flutes with two doubling on piccolo) and lightweight, affordable percussion (minimum two semi-skilled performers).”

Click here to play MP3 file, or right-click and select “Save Link As” to download

What do area band directors want?

What do band directors in the Champaign vicinity like to see in their flute students? Click here to find out what many area directors find most important in their flute students.

Category: Loch Long