July 2009

On Tuesday of last week just as the traffic was starting to build up for the open, part of the ceiling of town hall’s interior staircase collapsed, and plaster fell all over the stairs leading to the council chambers and lesser town hall. Peter Mason, chair of Maybole Community Council, was attending a meeting soon afterwards and immediately posed the question, “Was this caused by the extra volume of traffic passing through Maybole on its way to Turnberry for the Open?” more

Peter Mason, chair of Maybole Community Council, looks at damage in Maybole Town Hall after a part of the ceiling on the stairway to the Council Chambers collapsed.

John Cairney was in Maybole July 25 to open an exhibition of his work at the Cockburn Gallery in the High Street. The renowned actor, writer and artist was there from 12 noon and was soon explaining his paintings and telling stories of his life to local residents. He spent some time explaining his religious paintings to Fr Stephen McGrattan who said he would use some of John’s comments in his weekend homily. John signed some of his books and thoroughly enjoyed meeting local people and discussing the possibility of putting on his one man show and writing short playlets for local schoolchildren for a production in the Town Hall in October. more

The recent sponsored walk in memory of Robert Doherty raised the fantastic sum of £2,150 which will go to the Ayrshire Hospice in Robert’s name as a thank you for all the help and kindness shown to him when he was ill. Robert’s wife Jean said, “On behalf of Anita, Bobbie and myself, I would like to thank everyone who took part in, or donated to, the Robert Doherty Memorial Walk “I would especially like to thank Campbell Hearton and Ian Coulter who organised the whole day and who have been so kind to me. Who knows, maybe we could make it an annual event. Thank you all so much.”

BIG BABIES SPONSORED TODDLE. The older members of baby and toddler group ‘Big Babies’ recently took part in a sponsored toddle. The group hope to use the money to help towards accommodation costs and to buy some new toys for their younger members. ‘Big Babies’ meet every Friday in the Age Concern rooms off School Vennel between 2pm and 4pm and babies and toddlers from birth to pre-school age are very welcome. The cost is £1.50 per week. ‘Jo Jingles’ music and rhyme class is held on the last Friday of each month for which there is an additional charge of £3.50. For any additional information, please call Nicola on 01655 883595.

British boxer Amir Khan, 22 became the WBA Light-Welterweight World Champion after defeating Andreas Kotelnik on July 18. He is also the former Commonwealth lightweight champion, WBO Inter-Continental lightweight champion, and WBA International lightweight champion. Three days after winning the world title, Amir was relaxing at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and that was where he met Maybole’s Ewan Parker who was there on holiday with dad Willie, steward at Carrick Sports Club, big brother Michael and Michael’s girlfriend Lynette Tait. Amir began boxing competitively at the age of 11, and was Britain's sole representative in boxing at the 2004 Athens Olympics, winning a silver medal at the age of 17 in the lightweight boxing category.

Seven members of Maybole Men’s health Forum completed the 10K at Bellahouston recently and intend to donate money to a local good cause in the town. This year they're considering "Chest Heart and Stroke" charity locally but are not yet clear what amount they have raised. Results

Jodie McCoy of Maybole was recently elected to the Scottish Youth Parliament. A pupil of Carrick Academy, Jodie, 16, says she is proud to have been elected and at such a young age and feels that this will open several opportunities for her in the future. Through her work and involvement with young people locally she was asked to stand for the Youth Parliament by the Youth Forum. more

It was an emotional day at the end of term Mass for St Cuthbert’s primary pupils. After a joyful celebration of the Eucharist, prizes were awarded for achievements during the school year. Primary 7 shared memories of the school as they move on to secondary, and one or two tears were even shed. more

St Cuthbert’s P7 leavers were gifted Queen Margaret Academy ties in preparation for their move.

In this year of homecoming, the parish of Our Lady and St Cuthbert, Maybole, extended a homecoming invitation with a difference. “Come home to your faith” was the title of a week of Mission or retreat when, several times a day there were services and preaching in the church. Regular parishioners, those who had not attended church for some time ...were encouraged to come and reflect on Christian faith. more

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On Tuesday of last week just as the traffic was starting to build up for the open, part of the ceiling of town hall’s interior staircase collapsed, and plaster fell all over the stairs leading to the council chambers and lesser town hall. Peter Mason, chair of Maybole Community Council, was attending a meeting soon afterwards and immediately posed the question, “Was this caused by the extra volume of traffic passing through Maybole on its way to Turnberry for the Open?”

At their June meeting community councillors had been told by Sgt Sandy Douglas that the forecast was for between 8,000 and 8,500 extra vehicles per day heading to Turnberry and about 60% would be travelling through Maybole and the remainder taking the High Road via Enoch Lodge. This extra traffic would return the way they came. Therefore about 5,000 more vehicles would hit the town each day.

The people of Maybole have long campaigned for a bypass and in fact were told that one would probably be built in time for this Open. That message was in a letter from Michael Ancram MP to George Foulkes local MP in the mid 80s. Mr Mason then arranged to have the community council banner committee banner calling for a bypass strung across Maybole Castle to draw attention to the campaign. He also commented that several people had raised concerns about how the operation to keep traffic moving had been implemented. “These will be documented and brought up at our next meeting on Tuesday, August 4.”

Jodie McCoy of Maybole was recently elected to the Scottish Youth Parliament. A pupil of Carrick Academy, Jodie, 16, says she is proud to have been elected and at such a young age and feels that this will open several opportunities for her in the future. Through her work and involvement with young people locally she was asked to stand for the Youth Parliament by the Youth Forum.

Jodie said, “I was recognised as a leader within the Youth Forum and was accepted as a candidate. Elections were held in schools and on the Youth Forum’s Celebration Day. I feel extremely thankful for all those young people that voted me to be their representative.”

The Scottish Youth Parliament started in 1999 in Edinburgh and was set up to listen to young people and understand what issues are important to them and then campaign to try to make Scotland a better place for young people. This is done though Members (MSYPs) who are elected young people aged between 14 and 25 representing different areas and voluntary organisations from across the whole of Scotland. Every year there are at least four national meetings where they discuss issues which affect young people and try to propose new and sometimes radical solutions to these problems.

Jodie is a former pupil of Cairn Primary School ? and was Arran Vice-Captain which she says was one of her first insights to becoming a leader. In fifth year at Carrick she took a total of four Highers - Maths, English, Biology and Chemistry – and Intermediate Two in German. As if that wasn’t enough, Jodie will be continuing her studies with Advanced Higher Maths, Advanced Higher Biology, Intermediate Two Hospitality and a course in Forensic Science at Ayr College on Friday afternoons!

Jodie is also talented in the kitchen having won a few competitions in the past few years. In 2007 she and friend Isla McCubbin were chosen to cook a main course and a sweet in the Young Master Chef competition held at Ayr College which they won. She entered the Future Chef Competition and won the Ayrshire heats, going on to Glasgow as a regional finalist.

Jodie also contributed to brainstorming new ideas for the proposed Carrick Centre adding, “I was happy to contribute ideas for the youth side of it, and I was in a group who visited places such as the Space Place in Prestwick and the new Z1 youth bar in Girvan. This would be a great facility for Maybole, where people can relax and be themselves, as well as a place where the older citizens would feel safe.”

(2008) Chair of Maybole Community Council, right, congratulating Jodie and others on the five mosaics which young people in the town created. South Ayrshire Council had set aside funds for civic pride projects and Maybole Community Council had applied for money for the mosaics. Pupils at Carrick Academy, members of Maybole Youth Club and Dailly Road Youth Club were then encouraged to become involved. Local artist Kirsty Gallacher, second right, assisted the young people in developing and making these local historical mosaics. Over 30 local young people took part in the project and present on the night were Andrew Pollock, Carly Wilson as well as Jodie.

(2007) Carrick Academy's young culinary talent Jodie McCoy won the Ayrshire Heat of Future Chef at Ayr College on Monday 10th December, 2007. Jodie, a fourth year pupil, produced a mouth watering two course menu to secure her a place in the National Final. Mrs Baird, teacher of Home Economics, said at the time, "The competition is judged on the planning and execution of a variety of cooking skills and we are delighted that Jodie showed the ambition and confidence to produce a winning entry. The department is especially pleased as this replicated our success last year."

Seven members of Maybole Men’s Health Forum completed the 10K at Bellahouston recently and intend to donate money to a local good cause in the town. This year they're considering "Chest Heart and Stroke" charity locally but are not yet clear what amount they have raised.

Results were:

Time MHFS Place MHF Group Place

Tom Cuthill 00:54:28 1630 1st

Michael McDermott 01:00:31 2145 2nd

Derek Robb 01:02:45 2253 3rd

Brian Robertson 01:06:43 2393 4th

Charles McDermott 01:06:44 2394 5th

Stewart McDowall 01:06:44 2395 6th

Peter Lynn 01:07:39 2412 7th

It was an emotional day at the end of term Mass for St Cuthbert’s primary pupils. After a joyful celebration of the Eucharist, prizes were awarded for achievements during the school year. Primary 7 shared memories of the school as they move on to secondary, and one or two tears were even shed. They entertained the congregation after Mass with music and dance. Mrs Miller, head teacher for the last three years, has been appointed as head teacher of St John’s Primary, Stevenston. Fr Stephen thanked he for her most worthy contribution to St Cuthbert’s school and the wider community, mentioning the fact that Mrs Miller placed special importance on helping the boys and girls experience that they are children of God. She received presentations from the parish, parents and staff. After summer, Mrs Janie McCrindle (presently depute head teacher at Sacred Heart Primary, Girvan) will be acting head teacher until a new permanent appointment is made. The head teacher’s job will be advertised in September.

Prizewinnersat St Cuthbert’s prizegiving service:

Rachel Campbell – St. Cuthbert’s Primary Successful Learner Award

David Welsh – St. Cuthbert’s Primary Confident Individual Award

Amy Malone – Parent Association Cup

James Gillespie Shield – Amy Malone

In this year of homecoming, the parish of Our Lady and St Cuthbert, Maybole, extended a homecoming invitation with a difference. “Come home to your faith” was the title of a week of Mission or retreat when, several times a day there were services and preaching in the church. Regular parishioners, those who had not attended church for some time and anyone else who was interested were encouraged to come and reflect on Christian faith.

The Mission week was led by two Redemptorist priests, Fr Kieran Brady, CSsR and Fr Michael Kelleher, CSsR.

Beginning in the sunshine of Sunday, 14^th June, the Mass on the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ concluded with a procession from the main door of the church, around the grounds to the garden. The consecrated host (which Catholics believe to be the body of Jesus) was carried and honoured, hymns were sung, those who made their First Communion in May were given pride of place, with the entire congregation following on. After the procession a blessing was given.

Then the special weekday Mission programme began, running from Monday to Friday.

Especially for workers and school pupils, the early 7.00 am Mass gave an opportunity to begin the day in prayer. Up to 40 attended this each day, with school age altar servers present for every Mass! The later 10.00 am Mass served another group of parishioners.

And the main service for the days of Mission took place in the evening at 7.00 pm. The parish community was encouraged to see the church full each evening, with parishioners from St Ann’s, Mossblown and some other parishes in attendance too.

Each evening service focussed on a particular faith theme. On Monday a service of healing moved and brought comfort to many.

Tuesday brought home the theme of prayer when several parishioners shared their own experiences of prayer and witness to their faith.

Family was Wednesday’s theme and parishioners were encouraged to bring along photos of family members who couldn’t be there or who had died. The pupils of St Cuthbert’s Primary, Maybole and others from Queen Margaret Academy, Ayr, were active in a mime about being a disciple; they also sang and read.

The theme of the Eucharist was powerfully developed on Thursday, recreating in the church the upper room where Jesus had the last supper with his disciples. 12 young parishioners gathered round the altar with Fr Michael playing the role of Jesus. Through mime and music the story of the institution of the Eucharist was told before moving seamlessly into the prayers of Mass and receiving communion. Many felt transported back almost 2,00 years!

Friday brought the Mission to a close with the theme of Discipleship. Again parishioners shared their faith experiences and led reflections. A striking life size figure of Christ on the cross was carried into church and the congregation were invited to walk forward and touch or venerate it as a sign of rededication to their Christian faith.

After words of thanks from the missionary priests and Fr Stephen McGrattan, a buffet with refreshments was served in the hall and helped conclude the Mission joyfully.

Fr Stephen McGrattan, parish priest, said, “Day after day people turned out in great number to the early Mass, the later Mass and the evening Mission service. This enthusiasm meant the message of the Mission was heard. The experience will help strengthen our parish community and we all look forward to sharing the fruits of coming home to our faith.”