February 2005
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Maybole Gala is definitely going ahead this year and the date is Saturday June 18. Organisers, Maybole Community Association, had been having difficulty in getting people to help out with its annual events including the gala. Various events have had to be modified and there was a real danger that the Gala would have to be cancelled. At a meeting of local groups held in the Town Hall on January 31, however, enough people volunteered to let the Association start to plan the town’s biggest event. more 

Winners of Gardenrose Primary School's Scottish Verse competition were announced last Friday and trophies and certificates were presented. P1 Ross McClung, P2 Rhyana McKie,  P3 Shannon Bone,  P4 Megan Conn,  P5 Blair Cooper, P6 Heather Kerr, P7 Ryan Lowther

As part of their studies into Maybole's historical past in the middle ages, Primary 5 from Cairn Primary School paid a visit to Maybole Castle last Thursday morning. After a brief explanation from Dave Killicoat of Maybole Historical Society of the background to the castle and the people who lived in the area in the middle ages and before, the class bombarded Dave with some very well prepared questions. more

Cairn Primary Celebrates with Burns Supper

Last week two cheques were presented to Dr Paul Eynaud from Ayr Hospital's Haemotolgy Department.  One cheque for £500 was for Yorkhill Children's Hospital's Shiehallion Unit.  The other for £233 was for the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Care Unit Yorkhill. The money was raised by bag packing on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay by staff at Maybole's Safeway store with the help of four local girls more

Don Raby. 1932-2005 Maybole paid its final respects at Masonhill Crematorium last Friday to Don Raby, a well-known member of the community who had died suddenly the previous Saturday. Don, a pioneer of Maybole’s town’s town twinning connections, was born and educated in Wakefield, Yorkshire. During his early years his interests were playing football for his local team, art and music. He did his National Service in the R.A.F. and married his childhood sweetheart, Eunice, in 1953. In the 1950s he qualified as a printer. more

Carrick Sports Club holds its annual Burns Supper this Friday February 11 at 7.30pm. Cameron Bell is chairman and the Immortal Memory will be proposed by Andy Plain with Willie Davidson proposing the Toast to the Lassies. more

Scottish Power is planning to develop a windfarm at Dersalloch to the south east of Straiton and will be submitting an application to the Scottish Executive later this year. They will be holding a public exhibition in Maybole Town Hall. more

The complete text of the headlines above follows.

February 2005

Maybole Gala is definitely going ahead this year and the date is Saturday June 18. Organisers, Maybole Community Association, had been having difficulty in getting people to help out with its annual events including the gala. Various events have had to be modified and there was a real danger that the Gala would have to be cancelled. At a meeting of local groups held in the Town Hall on January 31, however, enough people volunteered to let the Association start to plan the town’s biggest event. An interim committee was formed to plan the Gala in the summer and a further review with election of office bearers. Will take place at the annual general meeting in September. Volunteers included Susan Whiteman, June Dunlop, Ron Wilson, Irene Wilson, Pearl Barton, Gillian Durrant, Mark McEwan, Dave Killicoat, Alistair Buchanan, Bill McCubbin, Lynne Wilcox and Alan Reid. Interim office bearers appointed were Susan Whiteman, Chair Person; Gillian Durrant, Treasurer and Dave Killicoat, Secretary.

Susan said she was very encouraged by the response and outlined outlined some of the details from previous Galas. The week leading up to Gala Day normally starts with a service at Crossraguel Abbey, organised by the Council of Churches. This is followed by a Quiz Night in Carrick Sports Club on the Monday and a Pet Show on the Wednesday. There was normally some funding for the Gala Day from South Ayrshire Council who also provide the carriage for the Gala Queen and Maybole Pipe Band leads the parade. There have been twenty stalls available in previous years but the normal uptake was up to fifteen. The children’s entertainer Uncle Billy was a great success and it was agreed to try and book again him for this year’s gala. There was general discussion on possible events followed with several ideas being put forward – all limited by cost. The actual cost of the stalls was discussed and the feeling was that it might be possible to charge more for these. Various bands have appeared in the past but they require payment. Carrick 800 was suggested for the main field providing some external funding was available. Maybole Castle will be open to the public on Gala Day.

The fact that HMS Gannet had provided a helicopter for events in Troon and Girvan was mentioned but this could be expensive - and Maybole does not have a lifeboat!. It was suggested that more should be done to keep people in the Glebe Park until later in the afternoon. There was also a suggestion that the Air Cadets might take part in the parade and give a drill demonstration in the afternoon, and that a football match between Maybole Juniors and Ayr United could be organised for earlier in the year with the profit going to the Community Association to defray the expenses of the Gala. It was also noted that there used to be a 5 a-side football tournament in the weeks before the Gala and a Kildoon Hill Race. Both these events would require some expertise to organise.

As part of their studies into Maybole's historical past in the middle ages, Primary 5 from Cairn Primary School paid a visit to Maybole Castle last Thursday morning. After a brief explanation from Dave Killicoat of Maybole Historical Society of the background to the castle and the people who lived in the area in the middle ages and before, the class bombarded Dave with some very well prepared questions. After this the class were divided into two groups and given a full tour of the Castle by Helen McAdam, also from the Historical Society, and Eleanor Jamieson and Elizabeth Blair from Maybole Resource Centre. Dave told us, "We are quite sure that, given the chance, the children would have stayed much longer but they left with the recommendation from their teacher, Mrs Fyffe, that if they enjoyed their visit they should make sure to come back and bring their parents with them."

Last week two cheques were presented to Dr Paul Eynaud from Ayr Hospital's Haemotolgy Department.  One cheque for £500 was for Yorkhill Children's Hospital's Shiehallion Unit.  The other for £233 was for the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Care Unit Yorkhill. The money was raised by bag packing on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay by staff at Maybole's Safeway store with the help of four local girls. - Claire Houston, Justene Farrel, Eilidh Douglas and Nicole Currie. Dr Eynaud thanked the girls and staff saying, "Thanks once again for your absolutely wonderful efforts, and thank you to the local shoppers who have donated the money." pic shows left to right Nicole, Eilidh, Dr Eynaud, Justen and Claire.

Don Raby. 1932-2005 Maybole paid its final respects at Masonhill Crematorium last Friday to Don Raby, a well-known member of the community who had died suddenly the previous Saturday. Don, a pioneer of Maybole’s town’s town twinning connections, was born and educated in Wakefield, Yorkshire. During his early years his interests were playing football for his local team, art and music. He did his National Service in the R.A.F. and married his childhood sweetheart, Eunice, in 1953. In the 1950s he qualified as a printer.

In 1966 his artistic talents came to the fore when he joined the printing firm of Clyde Gravure in Yorkshire. The firm re-located to Maybole in 1968 bringing with it much needed employment to the town. Don. along with Eunice and their son Stephen, also moved to Maybole at that time in order to assist in setting up the new factory. They quickly adopted Maybole as their home and became involved in the local community.

He continued to work for Clyde Gravure, later known as Wace Clyde, until his retirement in 1997. In 1976 he joined Carrick Speakers Club, now known as Carrick Sports Club, and was a founder member of their golf club. He subsequently became a committee member for many years and was the current club Treasurer. Alex Meek, the Club Convener, paid tribute to Don saying, “He was a loyal and hardworking member of this organisation not only as a committee member and treasurer but in the many other tasks he undertook on our behalf. He will be sorely missed”.

Don was also a member of Maybole Community Council for several years and was one of the original four people from Maybole who made the first twinning exploratory visit to the French town of Crosne in 1981. The following year Maybole and Crosne signed official papers forging a link which has lasted for over twenty years and in fact other twinning links have also been formed in Belgium and German. Don is survived by his wife Eunice, his son Stephen, daughter- in -law Julie and grandchildren Stephen and Bree.

Carrick Sports Club holds its annual Burns Supper this Friday February 11 at 7.30pm. Cameron Bell is chairman and the Immortal Memory will be proposed by Andy Plain with Willie Davidson proposing the Toast to the Lassies. Ian Hewitt will address the haggis and Gordon Hennessy will be reciting some poems. Other entertainment will be provided by Archie and Hugh, the Fiddlers and Alex Davidson. The club’s St Valentine’s Dance is this Saturday February 12 and will feature local band “Tequila”.

Scottish Power is planning to develop a windfarm at Dersalloch to the south east of Straiton and will be submitting an application to the Scottish Executive later this year. They will be holding a public exhibition in Maybole Town Hall on Wednesday February 23 from 2.30 – 6.45pm to provide an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.