The opening of the bridge, through the eyes of a 10 year old.

Me, aged 10, with my brother Raymond, aged 5.

I’ll never forget the feeling of excitement on the morning of Wednesday 22nd July 1953. Today was the day that Bernera was no longer going to be an island, it was finally linked to the mainland by a beautiful white bridge, the first of its kind in the whole of Europe. The bridge was to be opened by the oldest lady in the Island, she was 100 years of age and to me she seemed ancient.

The day before, the Hall and the School Canteen had been readied for all the people coming to see this amazing occasion. As a child and a local, we were told that all visitors had to be served before us, this had always been the way we were brought up, visitors always came first. This still continues in our family today, it’s referred to as FHB ‘Family Hold Back’ which happens at every event in the hall!

The ribbon was cut on the ‘mainland’ side of the bridge and we were on the Bernera side welcoming all the people to our lovely island. The first thing across the bridge was a car which carried Mrs Macdonald who had cut the ribbon, she was escorted by her son who was the Bernera and Uig councillor at that time. The next across were two pipe bands followed by our Bernera Beauty Queens, after that the remaining visitors crossed the bridge.

I clearly remember skipping along behind the pipe band with my friends, Chrissie & Peter Cameron, all the way to the hall. Everyone was fed in the canteen while we spent our time playing with new found friends who’d come with their parents. In the evening there was a dance in the Hall that went on until the small hours and we were so sad we weren’t allowed to go. I will never forget the day as it was the most exciting thing that had happened in my life up until then.

There was an estimated 2000-4000 people that day and the following week the Stornoway Gazette published a story about it, in it they said, ‘On that day, Bernera ceased to be an island and became part of Lewis. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say Lewis ceased to be an island and became part of Bernera.’