Winners of the 2007 Jean Falconer Literary Competition received their awards last week in a ceremony held in the Baptist Church. As in previous years the high standard of writing among Maybole school pupils made the task of the judge Miss Elizabeth McCrindle very difficult. The competition is organised annually by Maybole Community Council in memory of founder member Jean Falconer and the prizes were presented by her mother Mrs Nell Samson. Alex Kelly, vice chairman of the community council welcomed everyone and was master of ceremony for the event. Winners were: 1st Stuart Alston, Cairn Primary 2nd Nina Sweeney, St Cuthbert’s Primary 3rd Paige Campbell, St Cuthbert’s Primary more

Maybole Historical Society hosted an Open Day in Maybole Castle on Sunday with a "Whitework Exhibition'"on show.  The display was a presentation of Ayrshire Lace which was kindly lent to the Society by South Ayrshire Council which consisted of 2 christening gowns, a child's dress and a collar. Whitework is white material with white embroidery which signifies a symbol of purity and elegance. Other exhibits were tablecloths which had a variety of edging either embroidered, crocheted, knitted and of course lace which had been given to the Society for the purpose of the display. more

Following on from the success of similar previous events, there was an ecumenical supper for members of all of the churches in Maybole on Sunday evening. Organised by Maybole Council of Churches, the suppers started last year when over 50 people from the church communities in Maybole came together to share a harvest supper. People went along to with their dishes and shared them with the company. The occasion, was enjoyed by all and now several have been held.

Fairknowe residents were recently entertained by Maybole Concert Party. Pictures below.

Morriston Farm held an Open Farm day last week which attracted over 170 locals and visitors from further a field such as Canadians, Swiss and Australians. The Ayrshire Vintage Tractor association was selling tickets in aid of Combat Stress with the top prize a recently renovated Grey Fergie Tractor. helping out were Carrick Young Farmers, SAC access officer and SAC Auchincruive. Lord Davidkennedy personally conducted guided farm walks. The farm is actively involved with RHET (Royal Highland Education Trust) Ayrshire & Arran Initiative, and regularly take school parties around the farm. more photos

Maybole firefighter John Thomson received his Fire Service 20 years long service and good conduct medal from Assistant Chief Officer Neil Turnbull of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue at Maybole Fire Station last week. Area manager David Morison of North and South Ayrshire conducted the proceedings for the presentation which was also attended by group manager William Wilson, Station Manager, Jim Smith of Ayr Fire Station. As well as all the crew at Maybole Fire Station and some retired Maybole firefighters, John's wife Nicola and family attended the presentation John works with local firm Interpak and previously worked in Ayr as an electrician.

Maybole Historical Society hosted an Open Day in Maybole Castle on Sunday with a "Whitework Exhibition'"on show.  The display was a presentation of Ayrshire Lace which was kindly lent to the Society by South Ayrshire Council which consisted of 2 christening gowns, a child's dress and a collar. Whitework is white material with white embroidery which signifies a symbol of purity and elegance. Other exhibits were tablecloths which had a variety of edging either embroidered, crocheted, knitted and of course lace which had been given to the Society for the purpose of the display.

The centre piece of the majority of cloths was Irish Linen. Many years ago when the borders were completed they were sent to Ireland to be finished with the linen and returned to the owner on completion. There was a christening robe on display which was made circa 1890, the hemline of the robe had been embroidered by an eight year oldgirl as she sat by her grandmother's knee. This robe is now a family heirloom and the lady who owns it used it for her own two sons' christenings.

Maybole has a special connection with the embroidery and the Society organised the display as part of the current heritage project. In James T Gray's book, "Maybole, Carrick's Capital" it says, "In the eighteenth century the women of Maybole were famous for their needlework and their specialty was "flowering", in which some were expert, and their work was much sought after throughout the whole country. Two women were the acknowledged mistresses of this craft and these were Ann Jenkinson and Janet Inglis, both of whom lived in the Kirkwynd. This was the start of the famous Ayrshire embroidery and this unique style of white embroidery on muslin and cotton gave work to a large number of the local womenfolk whose husbands worked the looms which made the cloth to be embroidered." more photos.

There was also a display of local historical maps in the adjoining room. The exhibition will also be open on Saturday June 9 (10am - 4pm); Saturday June 16 (10am - 4pm); and Wednesday June 20 (2 - 4pm).

The school show Disco Inferno was a great success. It took place over three nights from the 19th to the 21st of June at the town Hall. A lot of hard work was put into the show not only by cast members but also by staff and pupils helping behind the scenes. A big thanks to you all! The show was enjoyed by all so we took the opportunity to speak to some of the pupils who saw the show to get their views. One pupil claimed, “It was the best show I have ever seen. I was dancing and singing along all night!” Hopefully the excellent shows will continue in years to come thanks to our music department and talented pupils. more photos

For a term P7 have been looking at Decision Making. They looked at who makes decisions at home, at school, in Maybole and Scotland. When it came to Maybole the class decided that South Ayrshire Council make many decisions about services they will provide so the class got together to produce a questionnaire to find out if people in Maybole felt that good decisions were being made on their behalf by SAC. The class took a video camera and went down to the High Street to film and interview residents. Once the results had been worked out the class invited all the local councillors to answer questions based on the results. The children also spent a day visiting the Scottish Parliament where they saw decisions being made on a national level.

Carrick Academy 1st XV played their annual Challenge Shield match on Saturday against a Former Pupil XV. In what was a well disciplined game of rugby the 1st XV defeated their bigger opponents by 10 - 5. Colin Sturgeon scored all of the schools points with a try, conversion and penalty goal. Michael Eaglesham replied for the FPs. All the boys enjoyed the after match hospitality and a big thank you to all parents who contributed to the large Buffet that was well received by all.

Winners of the 2007 Jean Falconer Literary Competition received their awards last week in a ceremony held in the Baptist Church. As in previous years the high standard of writing among Maybole school pupils made the task of the judge Miss Elizabeth McCrindle very difficult. The competition is organised annually by Maybole Community Council in memory of founder member Jean Falconer and the prizes were presented by her mother Mrs Nell Samson. Alex Kelly, vice chairman of the community council welcomed everyone and was master of ceremony for the event.

Winners were:

1^st           Stuart Alston, Cairn Primary

2^nd          Nina Sweeney, St Cuthbert’s Primary

3^rd           Paige Campbell, St Cuthbert’s Primary

Highly Commended

Kirsti Murray                Cairn Primary

Adella McCulloch         Cairn Primary

Kimberley McCoy        Cairn Primary

Sophie MacPherson     Cairn Primary

William Fleming            Gardenrose Primary

Lindsay Dorans            Gardenrose Primary

Emma Milligan              Gardenrose Primary

Rhiain Collins               St Cuthbert’s Primary

Roisin McCallum          St Cuthbert’s Primary

Paul Strang                   St Cuthbert’s Primary

Unable to be present, Peter Mason, chairman of the community council, had written in the programme, “Maybole Community Council would like to congratulate all of this year’s prize winners and to thank everyone who entered the Jean Falconer Literary Competition 2007. The competition has been held annually for many years now and our judges have consistently praised the high standard of writing – even if this has made their decision very difficult! We are grateful for the continued support of all our schools especially as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ parents’ marriage this year.

The contribution from Cairn, St Cuthbert’s and Gardenrose Primary Schools are also very much appreciated. Our thanks to all the teachers who assist with this. Maybole Community Council would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this year’s competition and assure them the part they have played in it is very much appreciated. Special thanks to our judge Miss Elizabeth McCrindle for her time and expertise.”

 Photo above shows Maybole’s Frank McEwan at a recent ceremony where he received a war veteran’s badge. Frank was in the 7th Cameronians, Scottish Rifles, and served from January 1942 until November 1946. He spent a part of his time in various locations in Scotland and saw active service in Holland (1944) and Germany (1945). He was wounded at a place called Aachenn in Germany on 22 April 1945 and hospitalised in Germany but was able to return to active service to Rahden, Germany. The following is from the Ayrshire Post:

TRIBUTES have been paid to Ayrshire war heroes with a badge presentation ceremony. The event was held by MP Sandra Osborne at the Territorial Army centre in Ayr. Presentations were made by John Duncan, MP Des Browne and justice minister Cathy Jamieson. Mrs Osborne said: “This was the first veterans’ badge presentation ceremony to take place in my constituency, and it was great to be able to pay tribute to those who have served our country. “I intend to hold further ceremonies, and would encourage any veteran wishing to apply for a badge to call my office on 01292 262906 and I will be pleased to provide a form. “The eligibility date has recently been extended to cover service up to and including December 31, 1984, so many more veterans will now be eligible.” Men and women who served in the armed forces before, and/or during World War II, are entitled to a veterans badge.

At their annual dance earlier this year, Maybole fire fighters raised funds which they donated to six good causes last week.  Representatives from the various beneficiaries were presented with the cheques at Maybole Fire Station.  £1,000 Yorkhill Renal Unit £200 Maybole Tiny Tots Playgroup £200 Our Lady & St Cuthbert's senior citizens' Christmas lunch  £100 Maybole OAP group £100 Carrick Academy Rugby Club £100 Strathclyde Fire Rescue Family Support Trust. The kind hearted fire fighters would like to thank everyone who attended the dance and supported them, with special thanks to Callum McKelvie,  owner of the Maybole Arms, who has supported the dance for the last two years and provided his bar services with all profits going to the total money raised.

The charity dance earlier this year to mark what would have Rocky Watson's 50th birthday was a great success.  Bands who played on the night were The Peas, Electric Warriors, Fusion and special guests were The Killer Whales, Rocky's nephews who have formed a band and wrote a song in memory of him.  From the Rockin' for Rocky night, £322.10 went to TKS Karate School in Maybole and £1800 went to Ayrshire Cancer Support. Included in the total was money from Moira Fotheringham's 60th party. Thanks to all the bands for the hard work and time that went into the night.

The Matt Dunnachie Award 2007

The first winner of the Matt Dunnachie Award is Tom Cook. Tom was the first convener of Carrick Sports Club or Carrick Speakers Social Club as it was in 1975 when it first opened its doors to members. The club had been donated a beautiful new trophy earlier this year and asked to present the award to someone who has contributed to the community in some way.

It had been given to the club by the family in memory of Matt Dunnachie who was a founder member and did a lot of work in the building of the premises in the early days. He was a member till his death last year. Matt’s family in Canada have also presented the club with a seat for the bowling green in his memory. Club secretary Bill McCubbin told members at the annual dance on Saturday that a sub committee of club members was formed to decide on whom the first recipient of this award should be and the final decision was unanimous.

He continued, “This club has been here for 32 years but without the foresight of Tom Cook 35 years ago this place would not exist to the advantage of this town. It was his idea and it was entirely through his efforts that the idea became a reality. He was the convener for almost 25 years and led the club by dedication and hard work during all that time. “One of his other contributions to Maybole has been his association with the pipe band going back some 50 years. It is no exaggeration to say that without him and a few others we would not have the pipe band we are so proud of today with all its young talent. It gives me great pleasure to present on behalf of the whole town this beautiful award to Tom Cook with our grateful thanks.”

Earlier in the evening Mr McCubbin had welcomed members to the 32^nd annual dance saying that this had been another successful year for Carrick Sports Club as it continues to play its part in the local community. He continued, “After 32 years it would be difficult to imagine Maybole without this place being here. We thank the steward Wwillie Parker and the rest of the staff for serving us so well during the year.” The prizes were presented by Colin and Janetta Thomson described by Mr McCubbin as “loyal supporters of this club for many years”.

Winners were:

Darts: Billy Galloway                r/up Willie Parker

Pool Michael Thompson           r/up Billy Galloway

Dominoes: Mark McEwan        r/up Billy Galloway

Table tennis: Harry McEwan     r/up Willie Parker

Snooker: Chris Campbell          r/up Tony Large

Bowls: Alex Davidson   r/up Willie White

LAUNCH OF TRAVEL CONNECTIONS IN MAYBOLE FAIR SHARE AREA

The Travel Connections Project in the Maybole Fair Share area was launched on Friday 22^nd June in the Learning Suite within Maybole Library by George Harkins, Human Resource Manager with Stepping Stones for Families.

George welcomed everyone to the launch and advised that the Organisation welcomed the funding from Big Lottery Fair Share which has enabled them to build on the successful Travel Connections Project they have provided in South Carrick for over 5 years. George thanked Big Lottery Fair Share and the Scottish Community Foundation for funding the project, all the Stepping Stones for Families staff in making Travel Connections such a success, the Village Champions and everyone who supports the project. Following the opening speech from George, he identified that Edie Scobie, Project Manager and Sharon McGregor, Administrator would provide some information on the project followed by a closing speech from Cathy Jamieson, Local MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley. 

Edie Scobie, Project Manager with Stepping Stones for Families, she has operational responsibility for the Travel Connections Project and the Girvan Family Connections Project. In her speech she showed her appreciation of everyone’s attendance to help celebrate the fact that the Voluntary Sector has received more funding!!   Edie outlined her pleasure at the Scottish Community Fund strapline and mission statement: “Giving Back to Scotland!!  Dedicated to strengthening communities by awarding grants that make a genuine difference to the lives of local people. She continued, “Isn’t that just music to your ears? They provide the money and we do what we do best  -  help to make a big difference by supporting children and families to access new opportunities and maximise their potential.

One of the ways Stepping Stones for Families do this is through transport and thanks to Fair Share funding the organisation is delighted to be able to expand our successful Girvan RCTI funded project into Maybole Fairshare area. Local Fair Share priorities are Connecting People and Places, Engaging Young People, and Building Capacity within the voluntary sector. Edie went on to explain the criteria of the new project which are Travel to work, Health and Welfare, Education and Training, and Social Inclusion Activities The cost will be £3.60 per adult per journey and £1.80 per young person per journey.

A main conditions which applies is that there is no public transport available within half an hour and the project will take travellers to public transport if available or to their destination. The service is 24/7 where transport is available. Community Ownership is achieved by Village Champions a public resource or shop or person who works or lives in the town/village who will market the project, sell tickets etc. to ensure easier access to the project; and Volunteer Drivers – people who use their own car will receive payment per mile, and be supported by the project to deliver a very worthwhile service to the community.

“What are the benefits?,” Edie asked, “I would be here all day if I was to tell you them all!! Suffice it to say that over the past number of years we have had great feedback from service users with regard to how removing transport barriers led to a better quality of life by way of qualifications; employment; social and financial inclusion; confidence; self-esteem; friendships; career choices etc etc etc. “It’s early days yet but we just know that it will be successful and will offer lifelines to people in isolated rural communities. We have already made a cracking start. After all, we have Sharon McGregor as an Administrator funded by Fair Share .William Grant is desperately seeking Volunteer Drivers and Village Champions, Tracey Watson supports the operational and developmental side of it. And, of course – there’s me  -  we make a great, enthusiastic, highly motivated team – ably supported by our Registered Office. So far, we have five registered users. We have arranged 84 journeys, 83 for employment and one for volunteering. Given that our annual target is for 22 service users and 1600 journeys we are not doing too badly in the early stages of its development. As George said, thanks to everyone for making it happen!!”

Sharon McGregor, Administrator then outlined the operational procedures for the Project. Edie thanked Sharon and then handed over to Cathy Jamieson, MSP for the closing speech. Cathy spoke very enthusiastically of the Travel Connections Project and of the work of Stepping Stones for Families in terms of the difference their approach can make in the lives of children and families.

Speaking at the launch of the Travel Connections Project in Maybole, Cathy Jamieson MSP said, " I am delighted to be at the launch of the extended service being provided to Maybole and the surrounding area. Residents in Girvan have already seen the benefits of the project which has helped people access employment, education and leisure facilities and it's good news that more people will now be able to take up opportunities. Stepping Stones for Families have a superb track record in supporting families and communities and Travel Connections is an innovative project designed to help people where they need it most in rural communities. I have supported the Project from the start and helped them access funding when they needed it - I'm delighted that Fairshare is playing a part in expanding the Project. The staff and volunteers are already making contact with local people and I wish them every success."

Wednesday 6th June – D-Day right enough! It was the day of the big decision at Holyrood on the proposed closure of the Accident and Emergency facility at Ayr Hospital. A bus was organised by Archie Monkhouse of the Association of Community Councils in South Ayrshire, who had been fighting the plans for almost two years, to travel through to Edinburgh to hear what was hinted would be good news. As we sat in the public gallery waiting for Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, it was amazing to hear Mark Greene, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, close his Time for reflection with these prophetic words: “…it would be good news for a lot of people,” He, of course, was talking in a different context but we were about to hear good news!

In what was her very first statement to Parliament since her appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing the Deputy First Minister said, “It is therefore fitting that my first statement should be on an issue that has galvanised patients, public opinion and elected representatives of all parties in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.” She continued, “The Government's view is that the decisions to close the A and E departments at Monklands hospital and Ayr hospital were wrong. Those decisions will now be reversed.” We had been saying the decision was wrong from the very start but how good it was to hear someone in authority agree with us. There was great applause as the place erupted and the Presiding Officer had to call for order saying, “Members and those in the gallery must not applaud or interject in any other way, please, although I know that doing so is tempting.” So even he understood how we all felt.

We actually got a row off the security guards but it was worth it. It just shows how much this meant to people. As far as we are concerned the whole consultation exercise was totally flawed. Nicola Sturgeon added that the government’s view was that NHS Ayrshire and Arran's review of services “failed to address sufficiently the very real concerns of a significant proportion of the local population about the centralisation of accident and emergency services.” Just what we had been saying, especially after the so-called consultation by the Health Board. Ms Sturgeon added, “The overwhelming feeling was that the boards' processes and their subsequent recommendations, which ministers endorsed, paid scant regard to their clearly expressed views.” Exactly! “We must never forget that the NHS is a public service, she continued, “a service that is used and paid for by the public. It is the duty of health boards and of responsible

Government to take full account of particular local views and circumstances. It is my view and the Government's view that, given the circumstances that are involved in these cases—the geography and demographics, the high levels of deprivation and ill health, and the concerns about access and public transport—A and E services at Ayr and Monklands should be maintained.” She had instructed NHS Ayrshire and Arran to look again at their original plans and to produce revised proposals that will enable A and E services to continue at all three sites in Lanarkshire and at both sites in Ayrshire and pointed out that in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, the public were not even consulted on an option that would have retained all A and E departments. “It is no wonder, then, that public confidence in the process was absent from the outset,” she said. It was then the turn of the previous health Minister Andy Kerr who said, “This is a con and a sell-out of gigantic proportions” and added later that the decision will “put patients' lives at risk”. A con? The con surely was in the consultation by the Health Board but when some of us met Mr Kerr last year he really did not accept our appeal not to close Ayr A&E nor agree to an independent review of the plans. Put patients' lives at risk? That’s what we said about the closure. Alex Neil MSP said that “the people of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire will be dancing in the streets with joy tonight”. Maybe not quite but the 55,000 people who had signed a petition against the closure of the accident and emergency unit at Ayr hospital will be very pleased.

I was absolutely delighted that at last someone has listened to the wishes of the community, which were very forcibly put during the campaign last year. I would hope the Government will also now look at how the members of the Health Board took these decisions, how members are appointed and how they can be made more accountable. Afterwards Alec Clark, chairman of Girvan community council, said the announcement would give relief to people across a large swathe of Ayrshire. He added: "It is wonderful news for the communities of Girvan and those to the south of Girvan. "People now know they will be able to access accident and emergency services without having to travel the extra miles that could make the difference between life and death. "If this is the new politics then we are very happy with it - everyone in Girvan would like to thank Nicola Sturgeon for what she has done today." But let’s leave the final word to Nicola Sturgeon, “I believe that the decision to downgrade Ayr hospital was fundamentally wrong.” Hip hip!

Consultation on NHS hospital services is to be likened to a three legged stool. In no particular order one leg is clinical desirability, the second is affordability and the third is public acceptability. Well that is what we were told by Professor Bill Stevely CBE interim chairman at the Arran and Ayrshire NHS Board meeting in Irvine where the board redesigned that ancient artefact, the three legged stool, with only two legs.

As we now all know, gravity prevailed and the out of touch health board landed on their backsides on Wednesday June 6th when the Scottish Secretary for Health announced in the Scottish Parliament that their decision to close Ayr Hospital’s A&E was to be reversed. It was with great satisfaction that a party of Community Councillors from South Ayrshire’s Association of Community Councils had the privilege of witnessing the announcement first hand in Holyrood.

Our journey on that Wednesday and our visit to our parliament was a very pleasant experience in itself, with the weather being kind and everything running smoothly, but, to have this result after so many months of campaigning was truly uplifting. From our special meeting with the NHS Board in Girvan back in September 7th 2005 through many other public meetings, a petition with 55,000 signatures and a march attended by 5,000 through Ayr on February 25th 2006 then to the disappointment of last October’s board meeting in Irvine when it became apparent that the plans presented in 2005 had not been amended in the light of public representation one iota.

There are several plus points we can take from this affair. That combined coherent persistent and planned action taken by community councils when a policy decision affects the public across ward boundaries and across political parties can be effective.

That the appointment of individuals to Public bodies such as health boards is in urgent need of review in the light of recent decisions taken on our behalf. For instance, the lay members of health boards are all invited to join by the health secretary. We spend millions in this country in educating the population yet when it comes to decision making affecting the public we reserve much of that for experts or appointees who may have narrow interests or be the beneficiaries of patronage and show little respect for the general high intelligence of the citizens of this country. To illustrate this let me recount the meeting we attended in Ayr Town Hall when a consultant surgeon, representing our health board, obviously felt that we, the people, were just not getting the board’s wonderful plans for us. It was the first instance I have witnessed at a public meeting, and I have attended many, where the platform heckled the audience!

It has been illuminating to see how the system works and its failings. It was entertaining to see the looks on the faces of the victors and the vanquished in Holyrood as it dawned on many of them for the first time, that power had indeed changed hands and the announcement marking the culmination of our campaign to saving Ayr Hospital A&E was that historic moment of realisation. Lets hope that the concept of local communities have a far greater say in the decisions affecting them is here to stay.

Comments by Henry McCubbin. Chair of the South Ayrshire Association of Community Councils