Photos below taken when the new Somerfield opened in Maybole after the company taking over from Morrison who had taken over from Safeway who had taken over from Presto and was originally Templeton's as some of our older readers may remember! The second picture below shows Provost with Margaret Sillars (over 40 years service) Manager Hugh Ward right (44 years service). The fourth picture - by a coincidence the first customer at the new Somerfields was William Cuthbert, last Provost of Maybole! Pictured here with Provost Gordon  McKenzie of South Ayrshire Council.

The complete text of the headlines above follows.

April 2005

Carrick Academy is considering making changes to its “House” structure and depute head teacher Isabel Johnstone has sent out a consultation paper to parents and staff. The school would also like to know what others including former pupils think of the plan. Mrs Johnstone says that national changes to the Guidance structure as a result of the McCrone Agreement, coupled with a falling school roll, have made it necessary for the school to reduce the number of Houses from 4 to 3. The four Houses are currently named Cargill, Cassillis, Crossraguel and Culzean.

Mrs Johnstone added, “Being aware of the public interest in the school, not only within Maybole, but much further afield, we are seeking the views of a very wide range of groups prior to taking any decisions. These include present and former pupils, parents, staff, the wider community and those who access local news via the Maybole web-site.”

The two options being considered are:

Option 1: To drop one of the existing House names

If this is the preferred option, which House should be dropped?

Option 2: To rename the three Houses

If this is the preferred option what are the suggestions for new House names? to drop one of the House name, and if so which one, or to give the three House completely new names. Anyone who would like to make their thoughts known are asked to write to Mrs I Johnstone, Depute Head Teacher, Carrick Academy, 74 Kirkoswald Road, Maybole KA19 8BP or e-mail her at: Isabel.Johnstone@carrickacademy.south-ayrshire.gov.uk

The xl group in Carrick Academy has been working extremely hard on their Enterprise module and have produced a Recipe Book called 'xl Delights' which is full of favourite recipes submitted by school staff, friends and family. The pupils have been helped considerably in the production phase of their project by Christine Kennedy and Cathy Barr at the MAP project on Maybole High Street. The booklet is on sale in MAP, Maybole Resource Centre, Maybole Library, The Community Education Office as well as Carrick Academy. Another group involving young local people is Maybole Youth Action Group who will be holding their AGM on Wed. 18th May at 715 pm in Maybole Town Hall. Everyone interested in helping the group work towards improving facilities and activities for young people is welcome to attend.

Maybole Historical Society is holding its annual general meeting on Monday May 9 at 7.30pm in Maybole Castle. The main office bearers do not need to be re-elected till 2006 although the positions of Arnold Lake as Vice-chair, Jim Hastings as Secretary and Dave Killicoat as Project Co-ordinator need to be confirmed. The Society’s constitution allows a maximum of eight members on the committee not counting office bearers and Alex Davidson, David Kiltie, Eleanor Jamieson, Archie Scobie and Mary Hendry have said they are willing to be re-elected. Other nominations will be very welcome. After the AGM the guest speaker is Tony Collins on “Harry Tate’s Navy” – the story of the local Royal Navy Patrol Service (The Sparrows).  For those who like to plan ahead the programme for next season is:

Monday 5^th September 2005 – Dr. Brian Moffat : Discoveries at Soutra

Monday 3^rd October 2005 – Donald Reid and Ian Shaw : Robert W. Service – Poet of the People

Monday 7^th November 2005 – Margaret Morrell : The History of Turnberry Airfield

Monday 5^th December 2005 – Members Christmas Night with Cheese, Wine & Mince Pies

Monday 6^th February 2006 – Burns Supper

Monday 6^th March 2006 – John Steele : Secrets of Horse Island

Monday 3^rd April – still to be confirmed

Monday 8^th May 2006 – AGM & Archie Scobie : Maybole Emigrants

Prior to Dr. Moffat coming to speak to the Historical Society in September, members have arranged a car outing to the actual site of Soutra Medieval Hospital on July 16. Anyone interested in visiting this fascinating archaeological dig and visitor centre should contact Helen McAdam or Dave Killicoat as soon as possible. A small contribution for petrol and a donation to the Friends of Soutra are the only costs apart from lunch.

The 10th annual Robin Speirs Memorial Golf competition was held on Easter Sunday at Maybole golf course. There was a very good turn out of twenty-five competitors and the standard of golf was again excellent. Winner was Bobby Green with a net 59 (and best scratch score 67), second was Martin Hoggit with net 60 (scratch 69) and third was David Wallace with net 62 (Scratch 78). Food for the golfers was supplied free by the Maybole Arms, and many raffle prizes were donated by golfers and regulars of the Maybole Arms. The raffle raised £135 for the British Heart Foundation. Photo is of Bobby’s wife Stephanie receiving the winner’s trophy in his absence - he was sent home to baby sit!

The funeral Mass of Pope John Paul II, live from Rome, will be shown in Our Lady and St Cuthbert’s Church, on the morning of Friday 8th at 9 am. with the church open from 8.30 am. On Friday evening at 7 pm a special Mass of thanksgiving for the life of Pope John Paul II will be celebrated. All are very welcome to attend both events.

Father Stephen McGrattan said, “Together with people throughout the world, the parish community of Our Lady and St Cuthbert feel the loss of Pope John Paul II. Although we pray for the Pope at every Mass, over the last few years many additional prayers have been offered asking for health and strength for the ailing Pontiff. Last Sunday, the morning after his death, we celebrated a funeral Mass John Paul II here in Our Lady and St Cuthbert’s.”

During his homily Father McGrattan told the parish, and especially the children and young people, about the love John Paul II had for people at all stages of life. He said, “When John Paul II was growing up his childhood wasn’t easy. His mother died in childbirth, as did the child, when he was nine years old. When he was 14 his brother died and his father died when he was only 21. In spite of and because of this, Karol Wojtyla grew up to be a vigourous man full of faith. Sport played an important part of his life, and he loved football, skiing and kayaking.

He continued, “When Karol Wojtyla was growing up there was a lot of hatred towards the Jews. Yet the Wojtyla family spent a lot of time in the company of other Jews and played and grew up with them, living with them as brothers and sisters.” Father Stephen invited the young people never to show prejudice against people from other cultural or religious groups, and to work hard to put an end to all bigotry between Protestants and Catholics.

After describing the influence of John Paul II towards the fall of Communism, Father Stephen recalled when, together with 1.3 million young people, he saw Pope John Paul in Paris at World Youth Day where the Holy Father gave Mass. He said, “The youth event in Paris showed how very much John Paul II loved and valued young people. He knew young people were the future of the world. He often told young people, ‘Do not be afraid!’ – in fact these words rang through his entire Papacy.

“Pope John Paul II repeatedly urged people young and old, the sick and the dying, families not to be afraid to be saints. And he himself lived out that invitation he made to others by patiently bearing years of sickness and physical limitation. He never tried to hide his own human fragility from the world. Now he has walked forth to inherit the eternal reward prepared for him. May he rest in peace.”

Carrick Chess Club's league matches have all been finished for this season and Carrick is third, 1/2 point behind Ayr. Irvine B will join their A team in the first division after the summer. Stewarton will be relegated from the first to join Carrick. Largs will be relegated to the third division. Results for the last two matches Carrick played:

Ayr won 4 -2 against Carrick.
S. Macgilchrist 1/2 Stephen Hamilton;
Kenny Brooksbank 0 -1 Tom Melrose;
Stuart Lampard 0 - 1 Ian Gardiner;
Alastair Muirhead 0 - 1 Vincenzo Tedesci;
Ali Roy 1 - 0  Alan Wilcocks;
Athol Macgilchrist 0 - 1 Brian Skirving.

Ali had lost to Alan in the Ayrshire Robertson Cup recently. So, this was sweet revenge. Irvine won 4 -2 against Carrick: S. Macgilchrist 1/2 Robert Gourlay; Kenny Brooksbank 1 - 0 Robin Yates; Stuart Lampard 0 - 1 Robert Loughran; Alastair Muirhead 0 - 1 Stephen Clark; Charles Roy 0 - 1 George Harkins; Ali Roy 1/2 Fred Carrick. Kenny Brooksbank won his first game in the second division! Last year he achieved 7/7 in the third! However, he did much better ( 2.5/6) against higher graded opponents in the Ayrshire championship, which was held in Troon this year. Siegrun Macgilchrist got 3.5/6. Four from Carrick played in the grading restricted Robertson tournament, which was won by Alan Wilcocks. Charles and Alastair ended up with 3/6 and Athol and Ali with 3.5. This is a good tournament for people new to competitive chess. Each year it's held in a different chess club, one round per month over 6 month.

The SNP's Nicola Sturgeon visited Dunure on Friday and this is a photo of Nicola and Chic Brodie visiting Mrs Casey of Kennedy Drive, Dunure at her home. Mrs Casey was a friend of Nicola's grandparents and she has watched her career with great interest as she is a lifelong SNP supporter. Nicola took time to visit in spite of a busy schedule and her driver on the day was her father who spent a part of his life in Dunure and was well known in the village and attended Carrick Academy.

(Friday, March 11 2005)  Linda Gail serves up a storm as Crosshill rocks the night away!
THERE was a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on in Crosshill on Saturday night. And these friendly- looking people were responsible! The gal at the piano is none other than Linda Gail Lewis — sister of the legendary Jerry Lee. And she enlisted local rockabilly band The Peas for one of the best nights Crosshill has seen. The show was organised by Girvan man Des Johnston, a personal friend of Linda Gail’s. And The Peas impressed everyone with their playing — including Linda Gail. Now they look like teaming up again when the rock’n’roller returns to Scotland.

She looks sedate enough pictured here at rehearsals, but she’s still a firebrand performer. And dancers were left exhausted after the 57-year-old left the stage. Linda Gail was piped into the function suite at the Crosshill Arms Hotel by Bryce McCulloch of Maybole Pipe Band. A superb PA system was supplied by GAB Audio of Kirkmichael, and Linda  Gail borrowed an electric piano from Girvan man Andy Jones. A raffle on the night raised more than £200 for Crosshill Community Association. PEA SCOOP: Rockabilly band The Peas rehearse with Linda Gail Lewis for the big show.

( February 18th 2005) ROCK legend Jerry Lee Lewis’ kid sister is coming to Ayrshire — for a show in Crosshill village. And eight-times married Linda Gail Lewis, 57, also has the famous Lewis boogie piano style. The show is being organised by Girvan man Des Johnston, a lifelong rock ‘n’ roll enthusiast. Des is one of the few fans to have been invited inside the house at Jerry Lee’s ranch near Memphis. And he has been a guest at two of the legend’s birthday parties. Des said: “I got to know Linda Gail in the 1980s, and we’ve kept in touch over the years.” Linda Gail even spent a week in Girvan last year, staying with Des and  wife Linda. Des added: “Linda Gail was so impressed with the area, that she said she would like to perform here.” That spurred Des into action, and he secured the services of local rockabilly act, The Peas, as backing band. The Peas line-up has former Crosshill man Davie Anderson on lead guitar, Michael Andrews from Maidens on rhythm guitar, Jimmy Murdoch from Maybole on bass, and Gavin Loch from Maybole on drums. The boys are delighted to be involved with someone of Linda Gail’s calibre.  She was just 12 when she first went into the famous Sun recording studio in Memphis with her big brother. And she was on the road with him as a backing singer aged 14. Linda Gail toured with Jerry Lee throughout the 60s and 70s, before quitting the business in the 80s. But she came back as a solo artist in 1987, and found a legion of fans in the UK and Scandinavia.

She cut the album You Win Again with Van Morrison in 2000, selling around 250,000 copies. And her life story is told in a frank and entertaining book autobiography, The Devil, Me And Jerry Lee. Linda Gail is rated a great solo live performer, doing the incomparable Lewis boogie in the Lewis way. In a radio interview in Nashville, she said: “I’ve heard so many definitions on what rockabilly really is. “Here’s what I say. I was born country and raised on rock ‘n’ roll. I have a country voice, no matter what I do, so when I’m singing rock ‘n’ roll, that’s probably rockabilly.”

Des Johnston is promoting Linda Gail’s gig at the Crosshill Arms Hotel on Saturday, March 5. Tickets (£9) are available from: Dee Jay Promotions, 01465 712342; Crosshill Arms; Crosshill Post Office; The Sweetie Shop, Girvan; and Salon 51, Girvan.  Linda Gail’s only other gig in the area is at Stranraer Rugby Club on Friday, March 4. Tickets (£10, includes finger buffet) from Dee Jay Promotions.

Did you spot the locust invasion?
THE man behind Maybole’s website, www.maybole.org, was astonished to find news on his computer that locusts had invaded Maybole! On closer reading, Rich Pettit realised the story was about another Maybole — in Australia. Rich, who lives in Clearwater, Florida, was trawling the web to see if there were any new references to the capital of Carrick. He told us: “I couldn’t figure out how locusts could be in Maybole in the middle of winter — then I realised it happened in Australia.” The Australian Maybole is more of a locality than a town, and is on the border of Inverell Shire and Severn Shire, in the New England area of New South Wales. According to Dorothy Ever, who has B & B accommodation in the area, Maybole is 16 to 18 kilometres north west of Ben Lomond on the Great Dividing Range. Her Silent Grove farmstay B & B is 7 kilometres from Ben Lomond on the Maybole road. Nearby Glen Innes is known as Celtic Country, and is the site of the Australian Standing Stones, which are unique in the Southern Hemisphere and officially recognised as the national monument to Australia’s Celtic pioneers. Maybole’s website www. maybole.org had 854,047 hits in February, and time spent on the site by people from all over the world totalled an incredible 3,261 hours!

Living history - and lots of it! KEEPING history alive can be a compelling pursuit, Dr Christine Lodge of Ayrshire Archives illustrated in a talk to Maybole Historical Society. She focused on work to help Cassillis and Culzean Estates preserve records which until recently were held in Maybole Castle. Records must be fully identified, indexed and catalogued before being made available to the public, Dr Lodge explained. And because there is such an amazing collection of maps and documents, it will take time for it all to be processed by already busy Ayrshire Archives staff.

Dr Lodge said a reasonable catalogue might be available by the end of the year — but revised her opinion when told that even more Maybole records will be coming her way! Society president Murray Cook thanked Dr Lodge for an excellent presentation, and urged colleagues to be patient while waiting for access to the Maybole records. Mr Cook praised the enlightened attitude of factor Chris Savage and the estate trustees in ensuring preservation of the castle archives. Society members again voiced concerns about the effect of heavy traffic on the castle. And everyone was encouraged to support the campaign for a Maybole bypass.

The next society meeting will include a very short AGM, before the floor is handed over to local speaker Tony Collins. Tony will give a glimpse into the life of his own family and those who served in the Sparrows, the Royal Naval Patrol Service, during the Second World War. The service — mostly a fleet of former fishing trawlers — was nicknamed Harry Tate’s Navy after a music hall performer, whose act famously always went wrong. l Maybole Historical Society was delighted to find its facilities featured in exalted circles in the latest edition of Scottish Local History. Two advertisements, run side by side on Page 42, ask: Why not visit Maybole Castle this year . . . . or the National Archives of Scotland?