Naidheachdan News

Back in Time Annual

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Have you got your copy of our first "Annual" in 30 years yet? Packed with interesting stories, articles, photos and titbits it is the ideal reading material for dark January evenings!

The editor, Iain Murray (mac Niall Alec) has skilfully blended old items from the Comann archives with new articles. There is a particular focus on the emigration events of 100 years ago, with information on those who left Back on ships like the Metagama.

Now available for just £4 from our shop

Read the survey results

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The survey for the proposed heritage centre is now closed. Thanks to all who contributed. View the results! Read more…

Read the survey results

The survey for the proposed heritage centre is now closed. Thanks to all who contributed. View the results!

Call for old video film

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Do you have any old 8mm video "cine" film of Back? Thanks to a kind volunteer we are now able to digitise your film (and make it available on our Youtube channel if we can). Old reel-to-reel audio tape can also be processed. Read more…

Call for old video film

Do you have any old 8mm video "cine" film of Back? Thanks to a kind volunteer we are now able to digitise your film (and make it available on our Youtube channel if we can). Old reel-to-reel audio tape can also be processed.

For full details on how to get your film to us, contact the comann via the usual channels at the bottom of the page.

Meeting agendas

read latest agenda Read the most recent PDF agenda from our monthly meetings (or dip in to the archive).

Goireasan Resources

As we digitise resources — text, images, video and audio — we aim to make as much as possible of them available here.

Gailearaidh Dheilbh Photo gallery

Some pictures from Comann events are in the gallery below.

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The audience at the inaugural lecture (18/01/19)

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The audience at the inaugural lecture (18/01/19)

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At the inaugural lecture (18/01/19)

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At the inaugural lecture (18/01/19)

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At the inaugural lecture (18/01/19)

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At the inaugural lecture (18/01/19)

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Bill Lawson at the launch of his latest book, Vatisker Croft History (11/12/18)

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At the Vatisker Croft History book launch (11/12/18)

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At the Vatisker Croft History book launch (11/12/18)

Mu ar deidhinn About us

Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a’ Bhac (Back Historical Society) SCIO is a voluntary, non-profit organisation set up to preserve and share all aspects of the history, culture and traditions of the Back area, in the Isle of Lewis.

The Comann meets monthly to discuss projects and also organises local lectures and events in Gaelic and English.

We are a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), and our charity number is SC049033. Our constitution may be read here (PDF).

Consider becoming a member -- it is free, and helps support our work.

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Current office-bearers (2022)

the Comann trustees
  • Chair: Anna Tucker*
  • Vice chair: Donald I Macdonald*
  • Treasurer: Catherine Margaret Macinnes*
  • Secretary: Anne Macarthur*

Current committee members (2022)

  • Kathryn Graham*
  • Mary Ann Graham*
  • James MacArthur*
  • Melanie Mackay*
  • Cathy Macinnes*
  • Kenneth A Maciver*
  • Murdo Macleod*
  • Kevin Murray
  • Iain Murray
  • Ian Quigley
  • Anne Ramsay*
  • Coinneach Smith*
  • Anne-Louise Stewart*
  • Kenny Stewart
  • Margaret Stewart*
  • Colin Tucker*

* charity trustee