February 2007. The complete text of the headlines above and more articles follow below.

MAYBOLE PIPERS PLAY FOR RABBIE IN CHINA

The British Chamber of Commerce held their annual Burns supper on 27^th January 2007 at the Hotel Equatorial in Shanghai, China. The organisers Jane Prince, Aileen Yuan, Joanne Restrepo and Rebecca Hickman had invited two Maybole pipers, Tom Fulton and Kevin McDermott, to play on the night in front of 350 guests. This would be the fourth trip to Shanghai for Tom as he has played at this event in 2005 and 2006 and managed to find time to return last November for the Chambers’ St Andrews celebrations! It was however the first visit to Shanghai for Kevin.

The lads travelled on the 25^th with Ayrshire Ceilidh band Coila. Flying to Heathrow from Glasgow and then enduring the twelve hour flight direct to Shanghai with Virgin Atlantic, one of the sponsors of the event. On arrival at the Hotel Equatorial, somewhat jet lagged, the lads were met by General Manager William Hall, who, after a coffee showed them to their rooms on the 10^th floor.

That same evening (Friday) it was arranged for Tom and Kevin, along with Coila to visit the local Business and Engineering university where they delivered a talk on the history of the bagpipes as well as playing and teaching a few Scottish dances to the assembled students. Audience participation was intended however this had to be somewhat encouraged by the pipers! The very successful evening ended with an informal question and answer session.

Saturday, the day of the big event. At the Equatorial, William Hall took personal pride in every detail of the evening and made sure everything went well, especially the lantern parade of chefs. The chefs in their Whites, marching in to the ballroom behind the pipers to produce an amazing backdrop of the St. Andrews cross on the floor in the centre of the function hall.

The haggis, expertly prepared by Austrian Executive chef Alfred Pilchler, was piped in by two of Maybole Pipe Bands finest Tom Fulton and Kevin McDermott. The address to the haggis was given, in his own inimitable style, by Scotlands unofficial ambassador to Shanghai Angus Robertson. Gus has lost none of his mither tongue and hails from Dundee. In fact his only fault, if indeed a fault, was pouring a dram for the pipers that could have put a Clydesdale on it’s back! Then having another “fly one” with them after they marched out of the ballroom!

While the pipers recovered, the speeches and toasts got underway, then the ceilidh with Alistair McCulloch and his fiddle, box player Wullie Weir and Scott McKay on the drums. The dance floor was never empty from then until carriages at 0130.

An early night after the Burns supper meant that the boys could enjoy the next day sight seeing around the city. In fact since their return flight was not until Wednesday night they spent the next three days at local markets, eating in nice restaurants, having Chinese massages and sampling the local beer. On the morning of departure the boys were met by William in the Hotel Foyer. Before seeing them off to the airport William presented them with a souvenir of their trip.

The hospitality and treatment we received can only be described as superb, we truly felt like super stars. It was a pleasure to represent Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland and, of course, Robert Burns so far away from home.  Tom Fulton and Kevin McDermott.

Carrick Speakers Club Burns Supper 9th February 2007 This was held in Carrick Sports Club last Friday evening and was a great success. Piper Donald Findlayson piped in the haggis which was carried by Willie Parker and addressed by Tom Cook. The Selkirk Grace was recited by Ian Landsburgh. After the meal the Fiddlers frae Ayr, Willie Samson and John Ross accompanied by Kenny Turner on the accordion. The Immortal Memory was proposed by Denis Reid, who has a lifelong interest in Burns and is secretary of Carrick Burns Club. Archie and Andy then entertained with a couple of tunes before Gordon Hennessey recited The Twa Dogs. Then it was Davie Anderson’s turn with Green Grow the Rashes O, setting the scene for the Toast to the Lassies by Jim Millar. The Fiddlers frae Ayr and Archie and Andy then sang some more songs before the Toast to Maybole byDavid Kiltie who took the opportunity to announce that the Heritage Lottery Fund had awarded over £48,000 for celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the marriage of Burns’ parents in Maybole. Davie Anderson entertained again before Gordon Hennessey recited Tam O’Shanter. Ian Hewitt proposed the vote of thanks to all who had contributed to such a good evening which ended with the company singing The Star o’ Rabbie Burns and Auld Lang Syne.

Primary 7/6 at Cairn Primary hosted an amazing Burns Supper on February 22. Louise Allan of Maybole Pipe Band piped pupils and guests from the main building to the assembly hall and after everyone was seated she also piped in the haggis. Louise Martin as chairperson wittily and succinctly linked the various pieces, as well as introducing the speakers. Ross Keenan addressed the Haggis brilliantly, in good Scottish voice! Jake Foxall wrote and proposed a wonderful Immortal Memory - Cairn pupils and staff should know a lot more about Robert Burns now! Poems recited supebly wereWillie Wastle, Tam O Shanter and The Ballad of Janitor MacKay were superbly done. The Toast to the Lassies by Calum White was hilarious and had everyone laughing as he joked about pupils and staff. Kim McCoy answered back very well on behalf of the girls with her witty comments! The P7/6 choir performed Ae Fond Kiss beautifully with the able assistance of Mrs Kay Feldmann, dressed as Poosie Nancy Kenneth Tweedie gave a short speech of thanks from Primary 6, who all enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The afternoon went really quickly, and all the guests - P7 pupils from St Cuthbert's Primary and their teacher, Councillor Brian Connolly, Rev Whitemazn and David Kiltie - thought it was a fantastic Burns Supper!! As it was Mr Whiteman's birthday, he was presented with a birthday cake, but he blew the candles out so strongly that they nearly blew away - the icing sugar on the cake certainly did!

Scottish Poetry Superstars! Cairn Primary held their annual Scottish Poetry recitation competition on the afternoon of February 8, in honour of Robert Burns recent birthday. The whole school from primary 1 to Primary 6/7 took part, and all the children who performed were absolutely fabulous!

P1 performed The Wee Rid Motor, and could have 'brought a tear to a glass eye'! P2 performed Skatin' brilliantly, and P3/4 were super at The Dog Show. P4/5 performed a hilarious version of Ye cannae Shove Yer Granny Aff A bus and P5/6 were brilliant at The Wee Malkies. Primary 6s performed The Ballad of Janitor Mackay with real gusto and, as is tradition, P7s superbly performed a Burns poem - Willie Wastle.

“We are all thrilled to have such talented children in our midst,” said Mrs McDougall, Cairn's Head Teacher, “and I would like to say a BIG Thank You to all the parents who diligently helped their child to learn their words, and to those who managed to make it to the performance - It really helps raise the children's morale and self esteem. Well Done to All!”

Winners were:

Primary 1 - Sarah McElroy, Ruth Dowie, Scott Anderson

Primary 2 - Kayley Campbell, Emily Purdie, Wallace Connell

Primary 3/4 - Zak Page, Kieran Robb, Libby Purdie

Primary 4/5 - Darryl Jess, Nathen Bell, Erin Coyne

Primary 5/6 - Lauren Gracie, Kenneth Tweedie, Chloe Cuthbert

Primary 6/7 - Heather Dowie, Shannon Andrew, Adella McCulloch

Young Scots work for a better deal from their local business community.  From Carrick Academy Kirsty Wilson, Siobhan Wilson, Lynsey Scott, Laura  Hendry South Ayrshire young people from Maybole, Dundonald, Prestwick, Tarbolton  and Coylton met up at a Pan Ayrshire event recently along with East and  North for training on the Young Scot Card discount programme. The training was held at Ardeer, Stevenson and was hosted by a Young Scot  representative. The project helps young people gain skills in  consultation  and gathering information about where young people would like to have  discounts and where they spend their money. They improve their communication skills, confidence and interact with new  people and make new friends. It helps them learn how to speak and  negotiate  with local businesses to try and secure more discounts for Young Scot  card  holders. Each business receives free promotional material and a discount  pack with an agreement form. The next stage is breaking into smaller groups and, armed with their  Young  Scot information packs, they will meet up with local businesses to try to  secure further discounts locally for other young people to benefit from.  If local businesses would like to join or find out more about the Discount  scheme which is free to join please call Ann Shaw at South Ayrshire  Dialogue  Youth Young Scot office on 01292 473694 

The Carrick Centre In the Heart of Maybole. The Maybole New Church Project committee has named the new community facilities at the Greenside the Carrick Centre.   This new centre, which is estimated to cost about £2,000,000, will accommodate a youth facility, a coffee shop, conference and community facilities, as well as the new Maybole Parish Church.   A new Community Advisory Management Committee is to be formed with representatives from local voluntary groups and the congregation.   This new advisory committee will form a community company limited by guarantee to make funding applications to funders for the community facilities.   The new site has been cleared ready for construction work to begin, and this innovative project is a clear partnership between the Church and the community   To date the Maybole New Church Project committee has succeeded in raising over £1,000,000 for the church and community facilities from the sale of properties, trust funders, and donations.   A further £100,800 has been raised towards £500,000 needed for a youth wing.   A public meeting will be held on Monday, March 26, when the new Community Advisory Committee will be elected..

Carrick Community Transport Group It has been a busy year for the Carrick Community Transport Group. Many users will have noticed a difference in the buses since Jim McDermott was appointed as the part time Transport Co-ordinator last February. Jim has since undergone Driver Assessor Training through the MIDAS scheme and will shortly be rolling out a programme of training to registered drivers of groups affiliated to CCTG. The group has also been successful in obtaining grant funding from the Rural Community Transport Initative and the Fairshare Trust resulting in two new buses being delivered in November last year. The group will be holding its AGM on 28th February at 7pm in the Carnegie Building, Maybole. Representatives of all user groups are welcome to go along and have their say as to how the group is run.

POWER TO THE PUPILS. Pupils and teachers at Carrick Academy can celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of the signing of Maybole’s twinning agreement with Crosne, France by inviting students and teachers to Scotland, thanks to funding provided by ScottishPower.

ScottishPower stepped in to provide 50% of the funds required to allow the exchange of 27 students and five teachers to take place this year.

Jonathan Rusk, Depute Head Teacher at Carrick Academy said “Without ScottishPower’s support we would have had difficulty in raising the funds in time.  We are extremely grateful to ScottishPower for providing the money to allow this very worthwhile exchange to take place.”

Martin Mathers, Community Relations Manager at ScottishPower said, “We are delighted to again provide backing to valuable community events in South Ayrshire, such as the Carrick Academy French Exchange and to support all the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes to make this exchange possible”.

Providing funding for the twinning celebration is part of a commitment of ongoing community support provided by ScottishPower in South Ayrshire.  This includes core sponsorship of the Girvan Cycle Race 2007, taking place over the Easter weekend and a commitment to supply every primary school in South Ayrshire with the locally manufactured education tool the ‘s-cube’ starting with the primary schools that act as a feeder to Carrick Academy.  ScottishPower has also provided a new kitchen for use by the community at Straiton Village Hall.

After five rounds, Greenwood Gambits are leading the 1st division of the Ayrshire Chess League; Largs are leading the 2nd division and Prestwick the 3rd division. The results for the first division: Gambits 27; Kilmarnock 25; Irvine 22.5; Prestwick A & Ardrossan 19; Troon 15; Carrick 7; Greenwood Rooks 5.5 There are two more rounds, then the top four teams play for the trophy; and the bottom four battle against relegation. Carrick Chess Club play from 7 – 10pm every Wednesday in Maybole Town Hall. Join them at 6.30pmwhen members will be studying the endgame for 30minutes.

Peter Mason and David Kiltie, of Maybole Community Council, met with representatives of Amey last week to discuss the pedestrian crossing lights on the town’s High Street. Mr Mason pointed out some of the problems local people are having with the length of time that it takes the lights to change. The Amey staff then altered the timings There are sensors on the light standards and these are what control the light changes. It seems that the range of the sensors cannot be changed but residents should be informed that this is key to the lights changing. If anyone crossing stands outwith the range then the lights will not change. The suggestion is that people stand on the raised paving stones at the lights. Mr Mason pointed out that people are hesitant to stand to close to the A77. He also pointed out the lack of signage for the crossing and asked if it would be possible to have “slow” signs on the road. He added that the 30mph lights at the Ayr side of the town are still not working, although this is a different department the matter will be passed on. The Amey staff handed over some leaflets on the operation of the lights,which they had in their van. However, they then discovered what local have to put up with as on making their way back to get the leaflets a lady stopped them to ask if it was their van. A passing lorry had just taken the wing mirror off it! “I would like to thank the Amey representatives, for their assistance,” said Mr Mason,”especially Ian Runciman, who was extremely helpful.”