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January 25th 2002

SCOTT Crawford is set to be the first Carrick Academy pupil in 40 years to land a place at Oxford University.
The bright pupil has the choice of six universities who would love to have him. But ancient and prestigious Oxford is the 17-year-old's preferred choice. Scott said: "I had an interview at St Peter's College, Oxford, and they certainly gave me a good grilling!" But St Peter's later offered Scott a place, subject to his achieving the required passes in Advanced Highers he'll be sitting. Scott already has five Highers - all `A' passes - but stayed on at Carrick for the advanced exams. St Peter's have stipulated he must get at least two `A' passes and one `B' from the four he will sit. Scott is Carrick Academy's school captain, and has brought credit to his school and town with outstanding performances in debating competitions. He was national champion in the Rotary `Youth Speaks' competition as a Third Year pupil in 1999. And he followed this up with by taking the South Ayrshire district title in 2000. Scott aims to do a three-year degree in biology at Oxford, then follow it up with another three years, to gain a doctorate. He said: "Ideally, I would like an academic career, as this would give me the opportunity to do research work, as well as teaching and lecturing. "St Peter's is one of the newer Oxford colleges, dating from 1929, and it seems to have a modern, pro­gressive outlook." Scott is the only son of Tom and Arlene Crawford of Queen's Terrace. Tom works locally for Interpak and Arlene is a playleader at the Tiny Tots playgroup.

MORE plans for Maybole Music Festival should emerge from a meeting at Maybole Castle on Tuesday (January 29, 7.30pm). And an invitation to attend goes out to individuals or organisations wishing to take part in the event on May 31 and June 1. An application for grant funding has gone to Awards for All, asking for consideration as a Queen's Golden jubilee event.

MAYBOLE Town Hall is the venue for a special rural conference on Saturday. Volunteer groups from across South Ayrshire have been invited, and there will be a variety of workshops. Cathy Jamieson MSP, Minister for Education and Young People, will speak at the official opening at 10am, but delegates will be able to book in from 9.15. The event is organised by Maybole Community Development Group (MCDG). Workshops, hosted by local and national organisations, will focus on community support, development, constitutions, setting up a group, and community training skills. There will also be advice and guidance from many different funding organisations, including Lottery Community Fund, SportScotland, New Futures Land Fund, and Awards for All. South Ayrshire Council's Rural Affairs committee and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire are backing the MCDG venture. And if your group has not received an invitation, contact MCDG now at 48/50 High Street, Maybole, telephone (01655) 884022, or e-mail mcdg@btconnect.com. MCDG community development officer Peter Walker said: "Many groups miss out on development and funding help. "Most could use funding advice, as well as expert advice and support on future development. "This event could be of great benefit to them."

A NEW session of community education classes in Maybole will include some in the town's new-look Carnegie Building. A `Look After Yourself' course will be held on Wednesday afternoons, starting on February 6. And a `Parenting for 0-6 Years' course will be run on Thursday afternoons, from February 14. Both of these classes will benefit from a free creche service at the Carnegie. Meanwhile, computing classes get under way again at Carrick Academy, in the first week of February. There will be two classes for `Absolute Beginners' on Tuesday evenings, with the next stage - `Basic Computing' - on Wednesday evenings. These classes should prove a boon to anyone struggling to get to grips with that new computer they got for Christmas. For those who want to learn more about the Internet, a new introductory course will be offered on Thursday evenings. For more information on any course, contact the Com­munity Education Office, Carnegie Building, 1 High Street, Maybole, on 01655 882105, between 9am and 4pm Mon­days and Wednesdays, and 9am and 12 noon on Fridays.

MAYBOLE Cubs organised a `bring and buy' sale for the TV appeal held by Blue Peter. Cubs Ryan Ward and Alex Fleming spearheaded the effort, held in the Scout Hall in December. The event raised £122.73p, and the Cubs sent a video of the sale, as well as a cheque, to Blue Peter. Cubs and Beavers were delighted to see themselves on the famous TV programme during the festive season. The video was made by a parent of one of the Beavers, and it was great to see the good work recognised on national TV. Outings enjoyed by the youngsters over the festive season included trips to see the Harry Potter film and for a party at Pirate Pete's in Ayr Pavilion. Maybole's 7th Ayrshire Scout group caters for boys from six to 16, and details are available by calling Maybole (01655) 882683. Beavers (six to eight-year-olds) meet on Mondays from 6 to 7pm; followed by Cubs (eight to 10«-year-olds) from 7 to 8.30pm. Scouts (11 and upwards) meet on Thursdays from 7 to 9pm.

GRANTS totalling almost £20,000 have been approved for Carrick projects by South Ayrshire Council's Rural Affairs committee. … A grant was also approved for the May­bole Community Development Group to run a funding workshop for local groups. The grant, of £1,000, is subject to invita­tions going out to the whole Maybole rural area, to make groups aware of funding opportunities. Alloway and District Heritage Society was awarded a grant of £790 towards the creation and publishing of a cemetery record for Ballantrae and Colmonell. This will provide a resource for genealo­gists, and help encourage tourist activity related to family history.

SOUTH Ayrshire Council leader Andy Hill faced a barrage of questions - from pupils in a Maybole school. Councillor Hill went to St Cuthbert's Primary to give a talk on `Democracy and Decision-Making'. And he dealt with a range of questions from P6 and 7 pupils keen to find out about local government. Head teacher Mrs Val Bannerman invited Councillor Hill to talk to the class about the special subject they are studying. And the council leader was happy to tell the class about the decision-making process in local government. He illustrated his talk with a range of documents, including mock ballot papers and a ballot box. Councillor Hill said: "The pupils showed considerable interest, and were most forthright in their questioning." Mrs Bannerman commented: "We are inviting a range of people to give talks on the general theme of democracy. "Pupils are undertaking a special study to give them an understanding of decision-making in society."

January 18th 2002

MEMBERS of Maybole Community Council are trying to find out how many people fell on untreated roads or pavements during the recent cold spell.
South Ayrshire Council has a duty, by law, to `take such steps as they consider reasonable to prevent snow and ice endangering the safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles over public roads.' At last week's meeting, community councillors reported that they knew of several people who had slipped and fallen, and at least one suffered serious injury as a result. It was also claimed that more people had been reported falling than ever before. The Council had sent a consultation letter to the community council, outlining the places that required to be gritted. A new Code of Practice also recommends that `key stakeholders and users" should be consulted'. In Maybole, the A77 is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive - not South Ayrshire Council - and AMEY is responsible for winter maintenance, which includes treatment of the carriageways, footways and cycleways. AMEY gritters will only treat the trunk road and South Ayrshire will only treat the council roads. Before replying in detail to the letter, Maybole community councillors are keen to hear from local residents what their experiences have been so far. There were claims that many pavements, if not all, were left untouched, while others claimed some roads had been treated and some had not. A schedule for local roads has been drawn up by South Ayrshire Council, but some streets are not on it yet. One community councillor claimed that one street in his ward had been treated several times in one day! Some community councillors even wondered if the street sweepers who were out could not have spread grit on the pavements. Because the information being put forward seemed to be incomplete, members decided to raise the matter with the Council's Rural Affairs Committee in the first instance, at the same time as trying to get more facts for themselves. Anyone who would like to pass on details of falls or lack of gritting is invited to contact any community councillor, or the secretary Mrs Anne Walker, 15 Mochrum Ave., Maybole or telephone 882796.

LOOKING BACK:
50 years ago - The Lord Lyon King of Arms has granted arms to Carrick Academy, complete with school motto Superbe Gerimus - `We bear it proudly'. The arms show Bruce's red chevron - indicating Carrick - on a silver background. Also three azure lions, representing Maybole, and a gold book and quills, illustrating the school.