More photos of Maybole School Christmas Concerts and Plays. Follow this link.

The complete text of the headlines above follows.

January 2005

SHE may have been overlooked in the official New Year Honours. But Maybole’s Pearl Barton is a very special lady. And she is one three recipients of an Ayrshire Post VIP medal. Pearl was this week congratulated on her award by committee colleagues on the Maybole Opportunities in Retirement group. IT was typical of the woman. She’d just received a hamper after being named an Ayrshire Post VIP — and immediately thought of a way it could help others. “That’ll be great for a raffle we’re having for the tsunami appeal,” said Pearl Barton. The Maybole woman was always going to be a contender for our very own New Year Honours. We knew about her commitment to Maybole through her work for pensioners and others. But what clinched the award for Pearl (73) was unsung acts of kindness we started to hear about. Like one during the festive season when she gave a desperate man £10 for petrol. Pearl didn’t even know the man’s name, but she knew his face, and decided to help him, when he couldn’t get cash from ‘the hole in the wall’.

That’s the kind of person Pearl Barton is. She would never see anyone stuck. Maybe that’s why she’s at the helm of so many groups — May bole OAPs, Maybole OiR and the Diamonds keep-fit club. She’s also on the committee of the May bole charity shop, which raises thou sands of pounds for loc al good causes. And in the wider community, Pearl is on the committee of Ayrshire Housing, who provide homes for rent. Sometimes it takes an ‘incomer’ like Pearl to make people appreciate what they’ve got. She hails originally from Rutherglen, but has lived in Maybole for 35 years now. But Pearl’s memories of the area go back much further. Her family had one of the first caravans on the Redgates site at Maidens when it opened nearly half-a-century ago. And she remembers seeing racing car driver Stirling Moss in a race at the former Turnberry aerodrome. Pearl recalls: “We had a touring caravan. But it never moved after we got into Redgates. We just lived for our visits and holidays to Ayrshire, and I just knew I would be happy living in Maybole.” Divorcée Pearl has two daughters in Jersey and a son in Holland, and she loves to visit her six grandchildren. Why doesn’t she retire to one of these more exotic destinations, you might ask. Well, Pearl is happy to let her children get on with their own lives. And she is also very happy to be part of the community in Maybole. >From what we’ve heard, Maybole is delighted to have you, Pearl!

A Holocaust Memorial service in Maybole at the Greenside. The service was organised by Maybole Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland and led by Rev Arrick Wilkinson and Fr Stephen McGrattan. Since 2001, the Government has invited British society to observe 27 January each year as Holocaust Memorial Day. This is the  anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops on 27 January 1945. The idea of a national Holocaust commemoration was proposed with three broad and interrelated aims in mind.

–        to commemorate the Holocaust or Shoah, the murder by the Nazis and their agents of six million    
          Jews and millions of Gypsies, Slavs, Russian POWs, the physically and mentally disabled, 
          homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses and other people belonging to minority groups;

 –       to acknowledge the repeated occurrences of genocide around the world since 1945

–        to renew the commitment of British people to combat racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia, and to
           work for an inclusive, caring and open society.

              more photos and more about the memorial service

NINE-YEAR_OLD Ali Roy of Maybole has been selected to play for Scotland’s under-10s in the World Chess Championships in Belfort, France, later this year. Ali had a great season last year winning junior competitions all over Scotland and England, building a big reputation for one so young. And Carrick Chess Club member Ali currently holds the number one position in a table of the top 50 rising stars. But she has decided not to defend some of the trophies which she currently holds. For Ali has been advised both by the Scottish youth squad and local tutor Mrs Siegrun Macgilchrist to play mainly in adult congresses and allegros, in order to benefit her championship chances in France. St Cuthbert’s Primary School pupil Ali says she doesn’t mind not playing for trophies this year, as in adult competitions you get a chance to win some money instead! Not surprisingly, she is an important member of Carrick Chess Club, where she more than holds her own against adult opponents.

In the club’s most recent matches, they beat Irvine B 3½-2 ½, but lost out to Ayr by the same score. Irvine match (Carrick names first): Siegrun Macgilchrist halved with Robin Yates; Kenny Brooksbank 0, Robert Loughan 1; Steell MacFadzean 0, Steven Clark 1; Stuart Lampard 1, George Harkins 0; Alastair Muirhead 1, F Carrick 0; Athol Macgilchrist won by default. Stuart was especially pleased as he’d been beaten by the same opponent in the clubs’ first encounter earlier in the season. Ayr match: Siegrun Macgilchrist halved with Graham R Wilson; Steell McFadzean 0, S Hamilton 1; Kenny Brooksbank 0, Jim Sands 1; Alastair Muirhead 0, A Everingham 1; Charlie Roy 1, T V Melrose 0; Ali Roy 1, Ian Gardiner 0.

That was a particularly good win for Ali, as Ian is an experienced player, graded 700 points higher. But underlining her massive potential, Ali recently played a ‘simultaneous’ at Carrick against six opponents, beating them all. In this club competition, Ali went from board to board making her moves against opponents who had the advantage of much greater time to ponder their own moves.  Siegrun Macgilchrist’s half against Ayr’s Graham R Wilson was also a fine result, as Graham is a noted chess theoretician.

Carrick Chess Club won their recent match against Irvine B 3 1/2 - 2 ½. Results with Carrick names first are: Siegrun Macgilchrist 1/2 Robin Yates; Kenny Brooksbank 0-1 Robert Loughan; Steell MacFadzean 0-1 Steven Clark; Stuart Lampard 1-0 George Harkins; Alastair Muirhead 1 -0 F. Carrick; Athol Macgilchrist 1 -0 default. Stuart was especially pleased as he'd been beaten by the same opponent in the clubs’ first encounter. However, they lost to Ayr 3 1/2 - 2 1/2, with boards 5 & 6 winning as usual! Results were: Siegrun 1/2 Graham R Wilson; Steell 0-1 S. Hamilton; Kenny 0-1 Jim Sands; Alastair 0-1 A. Everingham; Charlie Roy 1-0 T V Melrose; Ali Roy 1-0 Ian Gardiner. This was a particular good result for Ali, 9,  as Ian is an experienced player and 700 points higher graded than she is. Siegrun also enjoyed her draw against such a theoretician as Graham.

Carrick Chess Club at the last meeting of the year 2004  front: Zak Roy; Georgia Wallace; Stuart Tweedie & Andrew Wallace;  seated from left: Alastair Muirhead; Dr. Kenny Brooksbank; Stuart Lampard  &  Athol Macgilchrist  back: Ali Roy; Daniel Wallace; Kenneth Tweedie; Alice & Vincent Lampard Andrew Tweedie & Siegrun Macgilchrist Championships in 2004 Siegrun won the Club Championship for the 6th time Charlie Roy & Kenny Brooksbank were 2nd equal  Junior champion is Alastair Muirhead. Junior B was shared by Kenneth Tweedie & Rachel Whiteman.  Ali Roy won many trophies by playing in Scottish & English events. Alastair Muirhead; Dr. Kenny Brooksbank; Stuart Lampard, Athol Macgilchrist & Steell McFadzean won the third division trophy. Kenny Brooksbank was best league player. The junior xmas blitz was won jointly by Ali Roy & Daniel Wallace, the senior by Siegrun Macgilchrist.

TWO Ayrshire castles feature in an American telly make-over show. And more than £53,000 was spent in the local economy during the production company’s week-long stay. Kilhenzie (pronounced Kil-heenie) Castle near Maybole and Law Castle at West Kilbride were specially chosen. And it was a feather in the cap for Ayrshire Film Focus, who beat off stiff competition from other parts of Scotland. It was one of 16 different productions to attracted to Ayrshire last year by AFF. And another one, the drama series Sea of Souls — using Culzean Castle locations — has begun a Saturday night run on BBC1. But back to Trading Spaces: Trading Castles — a one hour special on America’s TLC Channel — part of the Discovery Net work. Two couples allowed American designers they had never heard of to change a room in their respective castles. Both John and Alis on Briggs of Kilhenzie and David and Kate Hutton of Law were understandably nervous. The Huttons had to help renovate a lounge at Kilhenzie, while the Briggs went to Law to help with bedroom make-over. Both couples had to buckle down to their tasks for two long days — from 8am till 2 in the morning. The work was fast and furious, with the surprise unveiling taking place on the third day, in a format similar to UK show Changing Rooms. And Maybole Pipe Band was enlisted to play at a grand finale, held at Law Castle. Some of the American production company admitted to be overcome by the emotion of it all. But they left behind a happy hotel manager and delighted local shopkeepers, pleased with the unexpected business. The show also gave work to local film and TV students who normally have to travel far and wide for this kind of experience. And it proved the big break for a new business involved in film and media-related work

Sounding the century MICHAEL RUSSELL January 17 2005 ... Even in a Yet in the pantheon of serious collectors John Porteous is a mere amateur. His 2000 recordings are dwarfed by Jim Stevens's collection. Looking out over the Ayrshire hills Jim's front room in Maybole is a shrine dedicated to the meticulous care of music from the past. On the shelves sit not only all 247 of the published recordings made by the great Caruso, but contributions from literally thousands of other artists, as well as rare items from the rarest labels, such as Zenophone and the Gramophone and Typewriter Company. His state-of-the-art playing machine is a specially built massive electronic construction, tempered by a range of delicate sound heads, changed between each type of recording. He can explain, again meticulously, how the sound needs to be re-equalised because of the vagaries of technology over the ages, about the RIAA curve and boosted bass, and about how the term "78" is so misleading, because many early records revolved at different speeds which could be as low as 75 or as high as 81. Yet all around are not just man-made bits of intriguing black stuff in annotated buff covers. With delicate care he places on the turntable a Vitaphone recording of Martinelli singing Vesti la giubba from Pagliacci and the room comes alive with a voice of enormous range and power. Both John and Jim admit that the number of true enthusiasts for old recordings in Scotland is small. ... Men such as John Porteous, Jim Stevens and Bill Breslin are the unacknowledged guardians of the greats. Yet they may not be unacknowledged for long for they are beginning to be able to share their treasures in way that allows much wider appreciation. Bill Breslin's ground-breaking CDs are one means of such sharing. The internet will soon become another as collectors start to load up their riches for others to hear. I doubt if I will ever devote my front room to the whole thing, but I am now listening to the past with a new ear. I would recommend that discovery to anyone. ...Both John and Jim admit that the number of true enthusiasts for old recordings in Scotland is small. There is no Scottish society for their hobby – most are members instead of the rather grand London Phonographic Society.
[ For the full article see - Sounding the century The Herald - Glasgow,Scotland,UK ]

Over twenty people representing 40 local voluntary organisations, business and schools attended a meeting in the Town Hall last Thursday morning to discuss working together to raise funds in a joint Maybole Tsunami Appeal. Other groups who could not attend have sent messages of support saying they too will be willing to help. It seems that already over £8,000 has been donated by the public, churches and local organisations through various public appeals in banks, shops pubs and groups from the people of Maybole. Local community groups and business are now in the process of organising funding events to support the Maybole area. Maybole Charity shop has been open from Monday 24th for donations of clothing, china & households goods, which will be sold to raise cash for the appeal. The local youth group have offered to bag pack at Morrisons, the pipe band and others are looking at a concert. There will be quiz nights, dances, auctions, sponsored events etc with a target date in June. The Community Council has agreed to set up a small committee of representatives of local groups, schools, and businesses to co-ordinate the events. This group will also be looking at what the money raised could be used for, to assist a community or villages in the affected area. Offers of help or organisation of events can be directed through the Maybole Resource Centre, 48/50 High Street, Tel: 01655 884022. A further public meeting in planned proposed for Friday March 4 at 10.30 in the Town Hall.

Last week a member of the Tackety Bit club and his faithful friend Sam were in the Galloway hills where they went over Buchan hill along Rig of Loch Enoch to the loch and up Redstone Rig onto The Merrick , then back to Bruces Stone. It was very windy with a lot of rain but not discouraged the following day they took the same route to Loch Enoch then went round by Craignaw onto Snibe Hill, down to Loch Narroch and over Craiglee back to Bruce’s Stone. The weather was the same as the day before Some members of the Tackety Bit Club went to Loch Lomond last weekend and climbed Ben Lomond which was the first Munro for one member. It was very windy on the way to the summit but stayed dry, the mist lifted now and then giving some views. On the decent over Ptarmigan the rain started and was on for the rest of the day. Other members went to the Mamores and when climbing Am Bodach, the wind was so strong they turned back and sought the comfort of the Mamore Lodge.

Maybole Training Centre at 48 /50 High Street Maybole are offering computer course through the Government’s ILA ( Individual Learning Account) project. The courses are Basic Skills (including e-mails and internet access) and ECDL ( European Computer Driving Licence) with all the courses fully accredited with certificates. To discuss the funding for these course call in and meet with Grace Barrie who will assist in the first instance. These courses are free, on obtaining a ILA account and are available during the day time and certain evenings.

At the beginning of December Allan McLean from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire was on one of his many visits to Maybole and saw an article in our paper about Pat Bender from Mansfield, Ohio who was visiting the capital of Carrick tracing her family roots. Allan was immediately interested because he was a member of Mansfield District Council for thirty years. He was also their representative on the sister cities group from that council, the sister city being Mansfield Ohio! He got Pat’s email address from our local correspondent and emailed her to say he was travelling to the US on 10th December and she arranged to meet him and his host.

When they met it turned out that Pa’s husband Ken is a local councillor. Allan told us, “All Pat could talk about was how friendly the people of Maybole were and of all the help she got in her endeavours to trace her ancestors, the Kennedys who were from the area many years previously. I invited Pat and Ken to a restaurant where I was having a little party for members of Mansfield Ohio sister cities committee. When Pat and her husband turned up, I was amazed that they knew all the friends I have made over my fifteen years on the sister cities committee and seven visits to Mansfield Ohio - so the world is really a small place after all.”

Allan originally comes from Cumnock but married a Maybole girl called Rodgers and moved to Mansfield when the Barony colliery closed, becoming a councillor and magistrate for thirty years and retiring at seventy. He added, “Pat Bender has asked me to pass on her thanks for all the help she received from the Maybole resource centre, where she said she had much help and made many friends. She says she will return again to visit old friends and make new ones.”

The next set of Community Education Classes  are due to start shortly and anyone interested in finding out more should contact Carol George, Community Education Office, Carnegie Building, 1 High Street, MAYBOLE or call 01655 882105. The courses are informal and friendly and offer the chance to learn locally as they are held in the Carnegie building in Maybole. Courses are free of charge and childcare can be arranged if necessary. They include:

COMPUTING FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS – NEW CLASS 

·         Thursday Mornings – 9.30 – 11.30am 

·         Wednesday Evenings – 6.30 – 8.30pm 

SILVER SURFERS 

·         Thursday Afternoons – 12.30 – 2.00pm

·         Thursday Afternoon – 2.15 – 3.45pm

DROP IN SESSION – Wednesday – 1.00 – 3.00pm 

Not a class but a chance to drop in and brush up your skills, get expert help to sort out problems, or to learn something new! (No need to book for this session) 

Family Learning Courses

Coffee, childcare and a chance to relax whilst learning more about –

·         Parenting Skills

·         Stress Management

·         Assertiveness Building

·         Cooking for Health

Maybole Historical Society has been approached by local teachers who want to use the facilities and resources in Maybole Castle to bring to life some of the lessons for their classes. The Society has already had very successful visits from one of the classes at Crosshill Primary and a group from Carrick Academy and have another lined up for the beginning of February for a class from Cairn Primary. Now, in conjunction with Maybole Resource Centre and Culzean & Cassillis Estates the Historical Society is very keen to see more use made of the Castle by school groups, adult learning groups and other local community groups. Dave Killicoat, projects co-ordinator, says, “Our resources are not restricted to history alone as there is scope for art, geography (local maps covering the last three centuries), mathematics (censuses and statistics) and many other subjects.”

In order to let as many relevant people as possible see what the castle and its resources are actually like, the Society is holding some special preview openings for specific groups. They will be having one of these previews from 3.30 until 6.30 pm on Thursday 10th February for staff from the local secondary and primary schools, libraries and local resource centres. A member of staff from each of Ayrshire Archives and South Ayrshire Council Museums and Galleries will also be on hand to answer any questions. In a letter to local head teachers Dave says, “This is an open invitation and we will be delighted to see as many of your staff as wish to come. Light refreshments will be available as we are aware that this could be at the end of a tiring day!”

Fr Jim Hayes has accepted an invitation to return to Our Lady and St. Cuthbert's Church in Maybole on 14th February. A spokesman for the parish said, "This will give us an opportunity to say thank you for his work and commitment to the parish during his six years  here as his move to Saltcoats happened too quickly for us to arrange a night for him. We will have a brief service in the church followed by a  reception in the parish hall."  Parishioners are arranging a collection so that a cheque can be presented to Fr Jim on that evening. As he was well liked beyond the parish as well, anyone who would like to make a donation to the collection should contact his successor Fr Stephen McGrattan or any church member.  Other local churches will be invited to attend the evening as Fr Jim was  also chair of Maybole Council of Churches for a time.

SICK vandals have sprayed red paint over a statue of the Virgin Mary in Maybole. And they left the Holy figure with a Jesus-type beard and hair, in the disgusting attack. The vandals also smashed a window and spray-painted a wall and two doors in the weekend blitz on Our Lady and St Cuthbert’s Church. Father Stephen McGrattan, who has only recently moved to Maybole said: “Until recent years, no-one would have considered vandalising church property. “And to be the victim of vandalism is frustrating and demoralising.” Fr McGrattan added: “As a newcomer to Maybole, I have very quickly recognised the goodness of many people and the closeness of the community.

“This kind of behaviour damages this small yet thriving town. I would like to thank parishioners who have helped to clean the defaced property. “Thanks also to the police for their interest and support, and I would ask people to contact them if they can help the inquiry.” Inspector Stewart Gaudin said the paint canister used in the vandalism was later found. And he said it was possible to identify where it was bought. Inspector Gaudin added: “I’m confident the people of Maybole will provide the information we need to solve an incident that damages the fabric of the community.” The inspector said nearby residential properties were also spray-painted in the attack. Carrick Crime Prevention Panel chairman Alex Kelly said: “Vandalism is a very disheartening crime in a community, and this is a particularly despicable example. “But I know Maybole is a strong, united community that won’t tolerate this kind of thing.” Jan 27 2005

“Survive Christmas” was the name of a well attended drop in project held for pupils of Carrick Academy just before the school broke up for the holidays. There was plenty of advice and freebies available as well as some novel ways of getting the message across. Pupils could try on beer goggles which created the effect of how alcohol can affect the senses and wearing the glasses pupils tried to drive a model car, open a door by inserting a key in a lock, using a bank card, building blocks and walk in a straight line. By using a breathalyser they could test the efficiency of their lungs and there were non alcoholic drinks available. Using these there was a “spike your drink” demonstration which saw cocktail sticks dropped in drinks to show the dangers faced if glasses are not watched all the time. Before long pupils were asking fellow pupils to watch their drinks while they took part in something else. We’re told that even a senior member of staff had their drink spiked! The event was organised by Sina Currie, Karen Walker and Carole George and also taking part were police, community safety and community education staff. more photos

A public meeting will be held in Maybole Town Hall next Monday, January 31 at 7.30pm to discuss the future of the local Community Association. All local organisations have been written to inviting them to attend the meeting and individual members of the community who have an interest will also be welcome. Susan Whiteman, chair of the Community association which could not get a quorum at its AGM a few months ago, said in the letter, “We have serious concerns for the future of events in Maybole as the Community Association cannot function with the few members it has.” She continued, “We feel it would be a shame to see events like the gala and the bazaar stop. We want to have this meeting to discuss the future so please send a representative along on the night.” Maybole Community Association, Maybole Community Council, Maybole Resource Centre.

Maybole Memorial Park Bowling has had a fantastic winter indoor season in their clubhouse. Their new juniors are turning out to be great bowlers and if they are as good outdoors as they are indoors then senior members are certain to get a run for their money. The club needs this young blood to keep it going and thanks to their coaches the future looks bright. Any girls aged between 10 and 14 years old who would consider joining the club is invited to call at the clubhouse at Memorial Park any Monday between 3 and 4 pm accompanied by an adult.

Stepping Stones for Families, in partnership with South Ayrshire Council, delivered a 6 week pre registration training programme for individuals interested in setting up their own business in childminding.  The sessions covered were, So You Want To Become A Childminder!, Making A  Living, Policies & Procedures, The Environment, The Whole Child and Fun! Fun! Fun! and was delivered in Maybole.  A course is also being delivered in Harthall in Ayr and will finish in January 2005. (Watch this space)  Pictured with their certificates are Marcia Thomson (Maybole), Ann Roy (Maybole) and Margaret Baird (Girvan)..  A special thanks to South Ayrshire Council, Business Gateway, Job Centre Plus and Fit Ayrshire Babies for their support and participation. If you would like more information on childcare please contact The Childcare Development Project on 01655 884201

Cairney’s composition on show at the Cockburn.  This striking painting by actor John Cairney is the centrepiece of the Cockburn Gallery’s Christmas exhibition. www.cockburngallery.co.uk Its appearance in the Maybole venue marks the first time John, who is known the world over for his portrayal of Robert Burns, has had his work shown in  Scotland.  The painting is John’s impression of an infant child emerging from the womb, shielding his eyes from the light as he emerges into the world. Gallery owners Gordon Cockburn and Elinor Venters said: “We are personal friends of John and brought the work from his home in New Zealand especially for this exhibition which is in our High Street gallery until Tuesday, December 14.” The gallery features a mixed selection of artists’ work and is open daily,  except Wednesdays, from 10am until 5pm and on Sunday from noon to 5pm.  Although John is well known as an actor, he is not so widely known as an artist and writer but it was back in 1975 that he first wrote the script which became the Mackintosh Man a 90-minute dramatised lecture reading  which was later shown on STV.  John’s work portraying Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson has taken him around the world several times. He has also appeared in the TV series This Man Craig, Dr Finlay’s Casebook, The Avengers and Jackanory!   His films include Jason and the Argonauts, Cleopatra, Victim and A Night to Remember. John also has a PhD on Robert Louis Stevenson which he received from Victoria University, Wellington, in 1994.  JOHN CAIRNEY: actor AND artist GALLERY STAR: Gordon Cockburn holds John Cairney’s painting.

The birth of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns is celebrated all over the world and this year one of the most glamorous locations in London will mark the occasion with the assistance of a Maybole man. Top London hotel Just St James is set to host a stylish twist on the traditional supper on Burns Night 25th January resident Scots, General Manager Hugh Mackie and Restaurant Manager Sandy Macfarlane will be hosting the event, dressed in traditional Scottish attire, and bringing the tastes, sounds and atmosphere of Scotland to London.

Born in Maybole where Burns’ parents met married, Hugh is steeped in Burns tradition. His dad Stewart and mum Anne still live at the top of The Loaning. Hugh formerly worked at Turnberry Hotel and he has also worked at other top hotels such as the Vilandry, Caprice, and Oxo Tower. He tells us, “The piper I’ve booked is also playing at Claridges Hotel on the same night so he should be very good.” He has promised to send us a photo of him dressed in his kilt for the occasion. In their publicity for the night Just St James say, “Burns Night is customarily commemorated with a special supper that has been part of Scottish culture for about 200 years as a means of remembering Scotland's best-loved poet, Rabbie Burns. The ritual and feast was started by close friends of Burns a few years after his death in 1796 as a tribute to his memory, and has been continued ever since.

The menu for the evening features a mixture of traditional dishes and those inspired by Scottish ingredients such as 'Haggis, Neeps and Tatties', 'Arbroath Toasties', 'Steak Balmoral with Rumbledethumps' and 'Chicken in the Heather with Clapshot potaotoes'. For those with a sweet tooth 'Apple Butterscotch Pie with Pouring Cream' or 'Cranachan with Raspberries and Shortbread' will be served for desert. In addition to a delicious meal the evening’s proceedings will include music from a tartan clad Scottish bag-piper who will play a number of sets throughout the night, including one to pipe in and address the haggis. To finish the evening off in true Scottish style, there will be a complimentary whisky tasting table provided by Johnnie Walker. The perfect way to treat a home sick Scot or get a real taste of the Highlands!”