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SWIMMING WITH THE BEASTS


‘This is a break from tradition and the locals know it’


land four-year-old Lexie is the youngest of the spectators, her Snow White dress trailing in the water. Hamish and Jock the Shih Tzus yelp and roll. A rugby ball is passed from father to son. At exactly 1.39, lowest tide, a loud ‘come


by, come by’ rings out from Ian. A centuries- old tradition has begun. The cattle start to edge down the seaweed-clad cliffs towards the choppy slipway. Either side of their route, two small boats bob. ‘It’s quite emotional,’ whispers local Scout leader Kath Bainbridge-Keith. With little fuss or hesitation 16 beasts and


a calf sniff the water, snort and enter the sea. For seven minutes, nostrils aloft, hot breath pouring out, they glide, like a mighty beef raft, towards the beach. Young and old keep pace. Behind them though is not just an old man


doing what he knows best. There, in his shorts, in January, swimming alongside his father’s beasts is Calum Macdonald. The assembled crowd let out a collective gasp of appreciation.


This is a break with tradition and the locals know it. Nothing is said between father and son, just a nod of understanding. The cattle emerge onto the beach. Their


leader stops. She shakes, gathers her thoughts and then, like any obliging celebrity, allows snappers to get their shots. But the real star of the day has two legs.


Quietly, and without fuss, Calum Macdon- ald has seen the girls safely across and ensured history will keep on repeating itself. ‘I feel proud, very proud,’ mutters Ian as he lands his boat. Old, capable hands pull at the creels. Is that a tear in the eye? At Staffin’s MacKenzie village shop a sign


reads: ‘Staffin Slipway Development meeting’ where ideas for the future are to be discussed. I can’t help thinking that the best piece of modernisation has taken place today though. Hopefully the postmistress will have a new local hero to point out in years to come.


WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK 71


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