Eine für Bombenentschärfung zuständige Eliteeinheit der Royal Navy hat der Bruichladdich Destillerie auf Islay eine Seemine aus dem 2. Weltkrieg übergeben. Vor einigen Monaten wurde die Einheit nach Islay gerufen, um am Strand in der Nähe der Brennerei eine andere, noch scharfe Mine sicher zur Detonation zu bringen. Daraufhin bat Duncan MacGillivray, der Manager von Bruichladdich und Mitglied im örtlichen Team der Küstenwache, die Soldaten um ihre Unterstützung für einen wohltätigen Zweck:
Nun steht seit dem Islay Festival im letzten Monat eine leuchtend orange Seemine bei Bruichladdich, an der eine Sammelbüchse für die Seenotrettungsgesellschaft „Royal National Lifeboat Institution“ befestigt ist.
Vielleicht ein guter Anlass für eine neue Abfüllung: „WMD III – The Orange Mine“ ? 😉
Mined over Matter
The Royal Navy’s elite Northern Diving Group, responsible for bomb disposal, kindly delivered a mine to Bruichladdich.
Some months ago Lieutenant Commander John Law and his team were called out to Islay to deal with the small matter of a World War II mine found on a beach close to the distillery.
Once the mine had been safely detonated, the team was later invited to Bruichladdich Distillery courtesy of distillery manager Duncan MacGillivray, and also a member of the local Coastguard team in attendance.
“After the CIA, the Yellow Submarine – the Bomb Squad turning up at the distillery was all we needed” recounts Mark, on seeing the convoy pull in to the courtyard.
“When I realised there was no danger of an imminent disaster, I asked John if we could have our very own fundraising mine in the distillery’s courtyard and the Northern Diving Group were only too happy to help us out.”
The giant Mk 17 World War II buoyant mine – provided by the mine team at the Defence Munitions Centre in Crombie – stands more than six feet tall including it’s sinker, weighs one tonne and is topped with some rather noticeable orange paint – making it really stand out from the crowd.
It has a collection box attached to the front to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution – a charity at the heart of the community of Islay, which is home to one of the west coast’s largest and busiest lifeboats.
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Following the run in with the Ministry of Defence over the Yellow Submarine issue, critics claim the mine may not be disarmed after all.