Hamish Gow and his wife Anne were the first people to kayak to St Kilda in 1965, a truly incredible venture. Hamish also kayaked across Scotland and further afar and whilst doing so recorded some amazing film and images of his adventures. Some of this film has been converted into digital format but many of the films and slides require to be digitised and archived. Hamish sadly died in 2016 but he was latterly involved in helping with a BBC Alba programme called the 'Kayak Girls' as well as providing his films to be used for the "Kayaks in Kodachrome" films.

It is hoped with your donation that an open access archive is created online where the films and images can be stored and downloaded in high resolution for wider use. People using the site will be directed to offer donations to the RNLI if they choose. The images and films are a rich record of a golden era of kayaking and freedom experienced in the 50s and 60s in Scotland. Hamish would have loved that they were available to anyone to enjoy and appreciate.

The money required will ensure the rest of the films are digitised in pro resolution and that all his kodachrome slides are digitised.There will then be a website created and mainatained that will be available across the world ensuring a national and personal legacy is created.

We have aso received many more images from this era and they will also be able to be added to the site for anyone to share and download and ensure these moments continue to inspire.

The following clips are from a recent live show of some of Hamish Gows slides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve6k0cp-gC0&feature=youtu.be

Any additional money raised or left over will be donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Thanks in advance from Hamish's family and Mike .