1 October 2014
Loch Lomond Conservation Champion Honoured
Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, the independent conservation and heritage charity for the National Park area, has teamed up with cruise operators Cruise Loch Lomond to name and launch a passenger boat in honour of Friends President, Dr Hannah Stirling MBE, to mark her 100th birthday and in recognition of her enormous contribution to the protection and promotion of Loch Lomond over many decades.
The launch and inaugural cruise of MV Lomond Hannah took place on Loch Lomond today (Tuesday 30th September) and Friends members and conservation, community and business representatives enjoyed a cruise in the shadow of Ben Lomond which Hannah did so much to protect for the nation as part of her successful efforts to block a massive hydro dam scheme back in the late 1970s and in her subsequent campaigning to secure National Park status for Loch Lomond.
In March 1978, Hannah had a letter published in the national press expressing strong opposition to a proposed hydro dam development which she argued would spoil the beautiful landscapes of Loch Lomond. This was met with massive public support and, seven months after her letter appeared in print, the Friends of Loch Lomond charity was formed.
Eventually the plans for the hydro dam development were scrapped and under Hannah’s stewardship, the Friends became a formidable force as an independent charity. In the years that followed, other successes included the Friends’ efforts to help secure the long-term future of Ben Lomond, with ownership transferring to the National Trust for Scotland. The charity also played an important role in campaigning to secure Scotland’s first National Park in 2002.
Professor Gavin Arneil, the Friends’ Honorary President, said: “The naming of a passenger boat in Hannah’s name is a very fitting way to mark her 100th birthday and also her tireless campaigning and hard work over many year to ensure Loch Lomond remains a special place for people and nature. She is pleased the vessel will enable many thousands of visitors from both home and abroad to enjoy Loch Lomond at its best and she is thrilled her name will be associated with this for many years to come.” Jimmie MacGregor OBE said: “I have known Hannah for many years and she led a quite remarkable campaign to protect the beauty of Loch Lomond under the banner of the Friends which she founded with other like-minded people. The Friends have gone from strength to strength and much of this has been down to Hannah’s drive and sheer hard work. I was delighted to be a part of such a special day for such a special lady who has contributed to much to safeguard the future of her beloved Loch Lomond.”
Stuart Cordner, Director of Cruise Loch Lomond, added: ‘’We were delighted to agree to name our latest passenger boat in honour of Hannah when we were approached by the Friends earlier this year. Hannah has been very supportive of our business since we began operating from Tarbet Pier in the late 1970s. She also had the foresight to establish the Friends away back in 1978 to ensure Loch Lomond was protected and promoted as the jewel in Scotland’s tourism crown.’’
MV Lomond Hannah, which is the most recent addition to the Cruise Loch Lomond’s fleet of seven passenger and charter boats, has been painstakingly restored and re-modelled by Cruise Loch Lomond’s skilled craftsmen and will be used to host groups of up to 48 who want to enjoy the scenic splendours of Loch Lomond.
For further details of cruise options offered by Cruise Loch Lomond visit www.cruiselochlomond.co.uk or telephone 01301702356.
For more information visit: www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk