in the district. An army chaplain who wrote several memoirs of the traditions of the district. Capt. Alexander Maclennan (born 1892), Bhaltos - Officer with the 16th Canadians at Amiens in WW1 who was awarded the Military Cross and Bar. Donald MacDonald (1891–1961), Carisiadar – Born and educated in the district. Medal winner in Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and also a notable London surgeon. He is better known as a noted folklorist and in particular his book "Tales and Traditions of the Lews". Brian Wilson (1948 -), Mangurstadh - Resident in the district. Former cabinet minister in the Blair and Brown UK administration. Joni Buchanan, Mangurstadh - Raised, educated and resident in the district. Author. Donald Morrison (1964-), Mangurstadh – Raised and educated in the district. Writer, Journalist and Broadcaster. Iain George Mackay (1979-), Reef. Local hero and National Treasure. Gaelic According to the 2011 Census, there are 873 Gaelic speakers (56%) in Uig Parish. Geography The civil parish of Uig extends over a considerable area (roughly ) from the Harris border in the south to Dalmore in the north, and from Brenish in the west to Lochganvich in the east. The district known locally in Lewis as Uig is also called "West Uig" and is broadly the area west of Little Loch Roag (the narrow inlet extending south from (West) Loch Roag). West Uig contains 20 settlements; Uig parish contains 36 settlements. West Uig was a district of 2,000 people around the 1841 census, but the Highland Clearances had set in by then and this parish suffered greatly. The villages of Capadale, Pennydonald, Balnicol, Balgreasich and Erista, around where the modern scattered crofting township of Ardroil now stands, were some of the many cleared to make way for sheep farming and country sports. Uig Beach () is surrounded by the villages of Cradhlasta (Crowlista), Tuimisgearraidh (Timsgarry), Eadar Dhà Fhadhail (Ardroil) and Càrnais (Carnish). Bhaltos (Valtos) is the largest village in Uig and is home to about 35 people. Since 1999 the land on the Bhaltos peninsula, comprising also the smaller villages of Cliobh (Cliff), Cnìp (Kneep), Riof (Reef) and Na h-Ùigean (Uigen), has been owned by the community and managed by the Bhaltos Community Trust. Beach Uig Beach () is best known as the site where the Lewis Chessmen () were found. Before 1831, a local crofter discovered a buried hoard of chess pieces, uncovered by a