Latest on the Sgarabhaigh Silver Sixpence

GREAT NEWS - we are now formally part of the National Museum of Scotland. The museum curator for coins has kindly archived both versions of the sixpence and its story so that future generations will know the origins of our beautiful little sixpence. This enhanced status has added considerable ‘gravitas’ to our coin and we are getting considerable interest from the coin collecting fraternity as they look to embellish their collections with a coin that has one of the most interesting and colourful stories of recent times. So get your order in for your Sgarabhaigh Silver Sixpence early as we only mint occasionally and the year is flashing past avoid the risk of delay or even disappointment for the unique Xmas gift. 

Summer 2008 Update

The middle of the year already, where does the time go? Following last years autumn trip to film the seals we are now well into producing a short film to show you more of the island and its inhabitants. The weather last autumn was very kind to us and we got some great footage. Our first milestone of putting a short film on this site should be reached by the end of July so keep your eyes open.

Once the short film is done I hope to produce a broadcastable film showing the island more fully set around a walk around the coast. This exercise will be quite an undertaking but I anticipate having it available by the turn of the year. Again watch this space.

We are a little behind the number of Associate Owners that we need to commit to a Gathering and we will need a lead time of probably two years if we are to have a Gathering to remember so get on and join us so that we can start to plan. Also those of you who have not yet visited the island then start to plan your own trip and plan a trip of a lifetime, take the family and collect your first round of stories to add to your package.

I hope to get up to the island towards the end of the summer as I would like to see more of our seals and their pups. Last years trip was fantastic as you’ll see when we produce the DVD for general sale. If any of you have a story or two please let me have them and I’ll add them to the site for us all to enjoy.

Testamonials

Some of our first 'Friends' have sent their reaction to the 'Holding'. Click here for details.

The Project in a Sentence 

One of our latest Associate Owners requested that a message to be included in her Sgarabhaigh Package that I thought captured the essence of the project in a sentence so I thought I would share it with you all :

  "When the world seems an ugly place you know that there is a place of beauty and peace to get away from it all."  

This sentiment is intended to be her message to her family descendants down the generations particularly her neice who she is intending to pass the 'Holding' onto as her successor as Associate Owner of Sgarabhaigh. I think that 'Friends of Sgarabhaigh' can only be strengthened by new 'Friends' that really do recognise and value our beautiful little island in the islands.

Sgarabhaigh reaches ‘The House of Lords’

Mr Devin Scobie Managing Director of Caledonia PR Consulting based in Edinburgh has friends in high places and took the witnessing of his ‘Contract’ to the ultimate level when he got Lord Watson of Invergowrie to countersign it with the Honourable Lord giving his witness signatory address as ‘The House of Lords’. They have both given their wholehearted support to the project and its aims, having followed our progress for nearly a year. Mr Scobie has also offered us help to develop the publicity side of the project which is particularly helpful given his professional background. Clearly the endorsement of the project from such eminent people can only serve to consolidate ‘Friends of Sgarabhaigh’ as a significant sustainability initiative in the Western Isles of Scotland.

Feedback

Feedback from new ‘Friends’ continues to be very encouraging with compliments flowing about the boxes, the film and the project in general. The ‘Packages' that support the ‘Holding' in the island have become valued family heirlooms and our ‘Friends' are adding their own history to the packages to make them very personal and intimate treasure troves of family history for future generations. A family island does much to enhance family folklore and tales from each generation will continue to add to the compendium as the years pass. So if you are reading this, and have not joined us yet, just have a look at the other sections of the site and check out more about the project. It is not an exclusively Scottish project, in fact the more diverse our ‘Friends’ are the better, as we want enrich the lives of all kindred spirits who love wild places, wildlife, beautiful scenery. It is a unique opportunity for anyone who would like to have an eternal link to a very special place steeped in history, myth and legend.

Our Silver Sixpence

The Sgarabhaigh Silver Sixpence can now to be found in many gift outlets across the world from small family run establishments to multi national shops. The coin is becoming ‘the’unique and unusual gift to give anyone for any occasion but it is making a particular impact on weddings and christenings. The coins are all traditional hand punched with four hallmarks adding yet another traditional hand process to the project and making the coins even more charming with the detail of these four little pieces of artwork, just 1mm square, complementing the whole coin story. Look on the site at the ‘Sixpence’ section if you want to know more.

Sgarabhaigh gets the ‘Thumbs up’

As part of a validation process for a collector’s website called ‘Gathergate’ a glowing third party endorsement of the project was produced. The referee was a person with a direct knowledge of Dave Hill, the main project sponsor and he also had experience of the whole process of ‘Package’ production.
Click here for the full text of the reference.

Articles

The following press articles have been published. Click on the title to read the article.

•  'The Journal' - July 2004

•  'The Tamworth Herald' - 15 th July 2004

•  'The Hebridean' - 29 th April 2005

•  'The Scottish Islands Network Newsletter - May 2005

•  'The Shropshire Star' - 8 th August 2005

•  'The Advertiser' - 12th August 2005

•  'The Tamworth Times' - 1 st September 2005

•  'Stornoway Gazette - 15th March 2007

•  'Sunday Express - 18th March 2007

•  'The Journal' - September 2007

Comments

Please feel free to phone, write or email me with any comments you may wish to

make about the project - if you want to email just click here.