Inside the Beehive

These two 'industrial units' were built at the same time as the Community Centre. For most of their earlier life they had little use - the rent was rumoured to be too high to encourage pudding entrepreneurs. The best thing that ever happened to them was when the right-hand unit was taken over by Lochaber College.

Some months ago the other one was taken by what is now West Highland College, which is part of the University of the Highlands & Islands. It has been completely refurbished, equipped with a large number of computers and other learning aids, and is now a lecture/meeting room with space for twenty-five people.

It has a microwave and a constant source of hot water for drinks. It's clean, bright, warm and friendly.

The older room, which houses a large number of computers, has a booth in which distance learning, by video conference, can take place. The Diary is now following a module of a UHI Archaeology course, and attends for a weekly lecture which is transmitted from Orkney.

The reason for a tiny academic institution's sudden and explosive expansion in such a remote community is the dynamism of the Centre Manager, Pat Glenday. The courses offered are very well supported simply because she has the ability to listen to the community and respond to its needs. For more information, contact Pat on pat.glenday@whc.uhi.ac.uk or check out West Ardnamurchan News.

Never was a building more appropriately name an 'industrial unit'. This is the industry of bees. We are extremely lucky.