I was brought up in Millport from 1945, just after the end of the war to 1951, when my parents returned from abroad and moved us to Busby. Thereafter I spent nearly every summer there until the death of my grandfather in 1958.

I remember four significant events that occurred, I think before 1951, but I cannot remember the exact years. They were: 1. When the Cumbrae Hotel was sold and became the San Tosh Oberoi Hotel. 2. When the San Tosh Oberoi Hotel was gutted by a serious fire, the local fire appliance attending. 3. When the large basking shark was killed by one of the paddle steamers and hauled into Newton Bay to lie bloated, rotting, and flocked by seagulls with the smell of bad fish pervading the whole town.

4. When a shipping-mine was washed up on Newton beach, just opposite the College Street end of the Garrison and everyone gathered round to watch the action. If it had blown up!!

I’m trying to write a personal history of my time in Millport, but cannot get a timeline on these dramatic occurrences. I would be grateful if anyone else witnessed or experienced these events can put a date (or even a year) on them.

Gordon McAuslane

Skelmorlie.