# 18th August 2004 – A Day to Remember

An extract from the Killin News issue 82 Oct 2004
More accounts of the Glen Ogle landslide can be read here...
[killinnews.co.uk/issues/issue082.pdf](killinnews.co.uk/issues/issue082.pdf)

It is a wet day – nothing unusual in Killin. The villagers get on with their usual everyday lives never dreaming that in a few hours time Killin will be hitting the headlines in newspapers and television stations throughout the British Isles and beyond. Many people leave the village for work or school. The Community Bus leaves for a shopping trip to Glasgow.

During the day the rain becomes torrential and thunder and lightning intensifies.

At 3.00 the Community bus leaves Glasgow and drives through storm and floods in Callander and Kilmahog.

At 5.00 Killin Fire Engine is called to flooding in Lochearnhead and Killin policeman Ian Donaldson finishes work for the day (he thinks!).

On Glen Ogle the heavy rain washes rocks and water on to the road. Traffic to Lochearnhead continues over the rubble and meets a second landslide which blocks the way. Cars turn and go back but the first landslide is now also impassable. People in cars and a coach are trapped as more of the road collapses, taking one vehicle with it. Emergency services are called and helicopters mobilised.

In Lochearnhead the Community Bus is stopped by flood near South Loch Earn Road and eventually retreats to Kings House Hotel for much needed refreshment for the shoppers.

Just after six Ian Donaldson is called to the scene of landslip where he liaises with helicopters and the airlift begins.

The initial airlift is to Lochearnhead which is cut off on all sides so Killin is selected as rescue destination.

At this point a lot of things happen very quickly.

Colin McRae is rung by Ian Donaldson asking for the McLaren Hall to be opened. Relieved that Marion and Katy have got home safely just before the landslide, he opens the Hall and rings Bunty MacGregor to ask if the WRI can organise food and drink for people. Bunty makes two phone calls and ladies from all over Killin begin to arrive at the Hall with supplies.

At Lochearnhead the Edinample Bridge and cars are washed away into Loch Earn. Killin Fire Crew, having rescued a family from a car and pumped out various premises in Lochearnhead, are called to Glen Ogle where they climb over land-slip with rescue equipment.

In Balquhidder the Community Bus has another crisis. One of the passengers is diabetic and isn’t carrying her insulin. An ambulance takes her to Callander for urgent treatment.

Back in Killin Willie Stitt hears of the slip from Michael Halliday and rings Stirling Police HQ to see if the Mountain Rescue Team can help. He, Michael, Dave Syme and Jim Beattie prepare to go to the scene but are asked instead to ferry those rescued from the Helicopter station to McLaren Hall.

Community Council Chairman John MacPherson hears the helicopters and is told the news by Dee Melia at the Post Office. John informs Stirling Council and goes to the Hall, which is laid out as if for a coffee morning. As the rescued people arrive they are given soup from the Killin Hotel and a hot drink, toast and biscuits by numerous helpers. They are not particularly distressed – more excited or in some cases quiet. One group feels the need to get going on a bottle of whisky. Policeman Andy Fleming takes names, addresses and car registration numbers.

Other people in the village have heard the helicopters, think it must be a Mountain Rescue Exercise and take no notice, but one of the helicopters is from Sky News and soon newspaper reporters and television crews begin to arrive in the village, anxious to speak to anyone involved.

Those who turn on their televisions quickly find that Killin is headline news and over the next 24 hours many Killin faces and voices are seen and heard in all the media.

People arrive home via Crieff, Loch Lomond or Ballinluig, tired and fed up but relieved to be back.

A special bus arrives at the Hall to take stranded coach passengers back to Edinburgh. Beds are offered to the remaining car passengers, who gratefully accept.

At 11.15pm Colin closes the Hall. Willie Stitt goes home after making sure the helicopter crew is looked after. At 11.30pm the Fire Engine and the Community Bus get back to Killin via Crieff.
## **Next day**

6am John McPherson is woken by reporter asking whether people have slept well - one example of the many disadvantages of being Community Council Chairman!

10am Jimmy Gauld agrees to drive people back to their cars in the Community Bus. He makes 2 trips with 15 people, 2 dogs, various reporters and TV crews. The bus funds make £25 from the media folk.

Pictures of Glen Ogle and interviews with local people appear in all the newspapers but village life goes back to normal.

There is a general feeling of relief that no-one has been injured and that the community, not surprisingly, has responded well. Glen Ogle is closed for the next few days. ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago