Weeks of March 15th, 22nd & 29th 2002

The complete text of the headlines above follows.

March 29th 2002

A STEEL band has been booked for Maybole Jubilee Gala Day to be held on Saturday, June 15. Children's entertainer, the Singing Chef, and the Carrick 800 battle re-enactment group will also be there. The organisers, Maybole Community Association, aim to make it a fun-filled day, and are hoping that as many local groups as possible will be taking part. Forms have gone out, and so far eight groups have said they want stalls at Glebe Park. Two have said they will have lorry floats and another two will be walking in the gala parade. The gala theme, in the Queen's Golden Jubilee Year, is `Fifty Years of the Commonwealth'. In addition, the association has applied for a grant which will allow them to provide funds for local groups aiming to decorate floats or take part in the parade.

GARPIN Angling Club held its prize night in the Carrick Sports Club in Maybole. The major award-winners are pictured proudly displaying the silverware, and the club's roll of honour is: First Salmon - J. McGarry; A. Cairns Shield - J. McGarry; Jim Simpson Trophy - S. Davidson; Club Champion - S. Davidson; Brown Trout Cup - S. Davidson; Heaviest Salmon - S. Wilson; Aggregate Cup - S. Wilson; September Cup - S. Wilson; Junior Trophy - J. Ferguson. (Picture with this report).

SPRING is in the air. And youngsters at Gardenrose Primary School's nursery class have found even MORE energy! But nursery staff are adept at finding ways to channel that vitality into learning experiences. The nursery has a blue room and a green room, and youngsters spend an hour in each. The blue room offers loads of activities with sand, water, paint and toys available for the tots to use. The green room is a bit more sedate, with a `story corner', but it's still fun all the way. Theme at the nursery right now is `Babies and Spring', and youngsters have been singing Spring songs. The nursery has morning and afternoon sessions for pupils aged three and four. And local parents with youngsters aged two or over are advised to get in touch with the school to pave the way for their child's place. (Pictures with this report).

CARRICK Academy's S1/2 choir beat off stiff opposition to win their competiton at the Ayrshire Music Festival. And Carrick's top instrumentalist was again Fiona Galbraith - first in Division A trombone for the third year in a row! Another notable singing success was that of Jemma Wells, who took first place in senior solo singing (aged 16 to 18). Also showing their vocal prowess were Alison and Sarah Gourley, who shared fourth place in solo singing for girls aged 12. Lauren Grant, Amy McCrindle and Kelly Taylor shared fifth place in the same age group. Other instrumental successes included Freya Buchan, who was third in Division C trumpet. Elaine Montgomerie was third in Division E baritone, and Kaeryn McDowall was fourth in Division D cornet.

We can 'Bole 'em over in final. MAYBOLE bid on Saturday to win the British Energy Ayrshire Cup for only the third time in their history. The Carrick side head to Rugby Park, Kilmarnock to face West Kilbride in the final (kick-off 2pm). And they'll be looking to repeat their wins of 99-00 (1-0 against Mossblown) and 38-39 (2-1 against Trabboch United). Premier League leaders 'Bole warmed up with a 4-1 win over Mossblown last Saturday to strengthen their title hopes. A Matt Mullen hat-trick and a goal from Peter McGrowther had them in charge before Martin Thomson got one back. West Kilbride booked their cup final place with a 2-0 win over Newmilns. KNOCKENTIBER bid to keep Ayrshire's flag flying in the Famous Grouse Scottish Cup when they entertain Balmore in a quarter-final replay after drawing 0-0 last Saturday. Alan Kerr went close three times while Danny Kemp rattled the post after a Derek Ferguson shot had been pushed out by the keeper. Balmore's pitch was like a bowling green - it will be interesting to see how they cope with Knockentiber's muddy surface which could give the home men a big boost. The only other Ayrshire survivors were GIRDLE TOLL UNITED but their quest ended with a 2-0 defeat by SS Peter & Paul in the sixth round.

THEY'RE healthy eaters at Crosshill Primary School - so they don't need to feel guilty about scoffing a chocolate Easter Egg! Pupils have been choosing wholesome food at lunchtimes in a healthy eating competition. A balanced meal earned one token, an extra piece of fruit or vegetable one more, and a third was awarded for a clean plate or tuck box. Twenty-two children from a school roll of 59 earned the maximum 30 tokens. This is the highest number of `healthy eaters' the school has achieved since starting the scheme in 1999, when there were only five children with maximum points. The record-breaking winners are: Aaron Coulter P5, Leigh Jardine P7, Rebecca Hamilton P2, Christopher Rae P2, Yardlie McDougall P6, Carol Cairns P6, Emma Hamilton P6, Alison Baird P5, Grant Morrison P5, Mairi Archbold P2, Caitlin Greig P7, Ciara Reid P5, Jordan McCulloch P4, Megan Kelly P5, Ross Knight P6, Sam Wallace P5, Ross Baird P7, Graham Lees P6, Thomas Johnston P3, Kayleigh Thorburn P6, Rachael Lees P4 and Ben Coltart of P5.

Meanwhile, children of all classes, from nursery to P7, were encouraged to decorate an Easter Egg. The artistic designs were then entered in a competition organised by school cook Mrs Margaret Murdoch. Mrs Howat, area catering co-pordinator was given the very difficult challenge of judging the many, varied and wonderful entries for the competition. Winners were: Robert Jones and David Andrew, nursery class; Mathew Howie and Euan Andrew, P1; Mairi Archbold and Flora Fergusson, P2; Thomas Johnston and David Harkness, P3; Oliver Fergusson, Roddy Paterson, Kimberley Gallacher and Sophie Thorburn, P4; Megan Kelly and Sam Wallace, P5; Yardlie McDougall and Nathan White, P6; Aaron White and Leigh Jardine, P7.

March 22nd 2002

MAYBOLE Carers Forum is bidding farewell to Karl and Maggie Haston, who are moving to Largs. The couple were thanked for their sterling work at the forum's AGM, held in Maybole Health Centre. Karl was forum chairman and Maggie secretary, and they have kindly agreed to assist new office-bearers until the time comes for them to move. Newly elected to key posts are: chairman - Mary Sargent, secretary - Judith Waters, treasurer - Margaret Kenny, vice-chairman - Michael Waters. The AGM had an attendance of 17, with apologies from four others who were busy in their caring roles. Maybole Carers Forum has achieved much since it was formed just three years ago. Forum members will be in the Maybole Charity Shop in the High Street for the week beginning Monday, April 15, to raise valuable funds. The group has members with ages ranging from early 20s to late 80s, and is always pleased to welcome new faces.

NORTH Carrick Elderly Forum held a conference entitled `Who Cares' in Maybole Town Hall. And the positive response showed that plenty of people care very much. Forum chairman Janet Steel welcomed everyone, and introduced a range of interesting speakers. Some excellent points were raised, and Jim Murdoch gave the vote of thanks for a thought-provoking day. Speakers were Sandra Goldie, Health in the Community; Peter Walker, Maybole Community Development Group; Rita Miller, Depute Leader, South Ayrshire Council; Janet Steel and Sandra Martin, Looking to the Future.

MAYBOLE job trainers May-Tag are sorry to lose their popular trainer in horticulture, John Wellings. John has proved a great friend and trainer to many skill-seekers over the years, and will be missed. Now May-Tag are looking for a replacement for John, who is moving to Turnberry. May-Tag are also advertising for staff to run a new project to help people back to work. The company needs a project manager and an administration/support worker for the project. High Street premises are being sought as a base for the two-year project, backed by the Scottish Enterprise New Futures Fund. Partners in the project, with May-Tag, are Maybole Community Development Group and Over the Rainbow. The project is aimed at helping people aged from 16 to 34 into training or work, so they can take their place in the community.

YOU might think that books were on the way out in the age of the computer. But that's not the case - thank goodness! And people still like to get to grips with real pages. Maybole's Gardenrose Primary gave a huge vote of confidence to the printed word by ordering 400 new books for the school library. And the books were on the library shelves in time for World Book Day. Pupils got the chance to pick out one of the wonderful storybooks now available. Cash to buy the books was raised at a Crocodile Fun Day in the school, when pupils were sponsored to complete an exciting obstacle course. More photos here

MAYBOLE and District Business Association has set an annual membership fee of £25 per business for the coming year. Each paid-up member will get a line entry in a new eight-page business directory to be delivered to each home in Maybole. The directory, due out in May, will feature all member businesses, and also be listed on a new Maybole business page on the Maybole website. Businesses will also get a window badge. The recently formed association agreed to fund the floral display of tubs and hanging baskets from the membership fees. Money was raised last week in the charity shop, and the association aims to change its constitution to allow it to have a more charitable status. Apart from any other considerations, this will enable the group to apply for funding to assist with a town enhancement scheme. Members also agreed it should be part of their remit to work to promote the town, in partnership with Maybole Community Council, Maybole Community Development Group, Maybole Historical Society and Ayrshire and Arran Tourist Board. A Maybole tourist brochure is planned, as are improved signs and information boards. The association also aims to support Maybole Gala Day and Christmas festivities.

CARRICK Chess Club had another good win over Greenwood Attackers, this time 2«-1«. Results (Carrick names first): Steell McFadzean 0, Ross Darroch 1; Vincenzo Tedeschi 1, Adam Pieroni 0; John Bryden «, Alan MacDonald «; Athol Macgilchrist 1, David Dawson 0. Carrick's monthly blitz was won jointly by Helen Douglas (senior) and Ali Roy (junior). The successes give Helen and Ali doubles with the Queen (senior) and Rook (junior) trophies, respectively.

TURNBERRY Hotel aims to employ more people from the local community, and has teamed up with Maybole job trainers May-Tag. The hotel has a wide range of opportunities in banqueting, housekeeping, silver service, waiting on table, portering, customer service, administration, greenkeeping and retail. Management say the main qualities they are looking for are commitment to gain skills, good time-keeping and attendance, and a real desire to work full-time. A new programme with May-Tag offers three days at the hotel on `taster' work experience, followed by two at May-Tag giving other aspects of training. By the end of the training, there will be excellent job prospects for people who show ability and commitment. A Turnberry Hotel spokesman said: "We try to support our staff's career aspirations, and many have moved up the ladder, and round the world." Anyone who is unemployed and interested in this new project should call Christine at May-Tag on (01655) 883765.

LOOKING BACK: 25 years ago - A group of dedicated Ayrshire anglers aims to make the River Girvan one of the finest salmon rivers in the county. They are members of the six clubs who fish the river from Straiton to the sea, and guiding them is Adam Milroy of Maybole, first secretary and treasurer of the River Girvan Improvement Association. Mr Milroy is delighted that James Hunter Blair of Blairquhan has given the association permission to have a hatchery on his estate. 50 years ago - Maybole's oldest citizen dies at his home in Whitehall at the age of 94. James Robertson was a mason to trade who spent some time in the USA before returning to become estate mason for Cassillis and Culzean, from which post he retired just seven years ago, after 60 years' service.

March 15th 2002

A VILLAGE hotel which has lain closed for two years is set to re-open this summer. And an Ayrshire pub group says it will spend £150,000 upgrading Kirkton Jean's in Kirkoswald. All Keg Investments, which owns five pubs in Ayrshire, hopes to gain planning permission next month. But one of the planning conditions is that archaeological research is done prior to a start being made on upgrading work. And a team from Glasgow University is probing inside the hotel this week. Anne Mainds, who will run the hotel with her sister Aileen McIntosh, says she hopes to gain a licence in June. And that would pave the way for the hotel to re-open as a commercial operation. It is the new owners' intention to feature restaurant, lounge bar and bedroom facilities. The hotel's previous licensee was Mrs Heidi Cowley, whose hopes for Kirkton Jean's were not fulfilled. The premises last year looked like being transformed into a private home, but an English buyer's plan failed to materialised. Its re-emergence as a hotel would be a boost for Kirkoswald, which has lost its school and filling station.

A VOTE of confidence was given to the existing office-bearers at the first AGM held by the newly-formed Maybole and District Business Association. John Dunabie was re-elected chairman, Alistair Kidd vice-chairman, Fiona Reid secretary and June Dunlop treasurer. Billy Torbett and John Campbell were re-elected as executive committee members and Alan Martin was appointed to the new post of publicity officer. John Dunabie, in his annual report, said he was heartened to find a great number of people in the town willing to help to change things for the better. He thanked his committee for their efforts, and also Peter Walker of Maybole Community Development Group for his help. Fiona Reid reported on a range of initiatives in which Maybole and District Business Association is participating.

MAYBOLE-based Pontoon Golf Club start a new season with a March Medal competition at Girvan on Saturday. Trophies have been presented for last season's competitions by Linda Westcott, wife of club captain William Westcott. Roll of honour for 2001: March medal - D. Shaw, r-up - K. Crawford. Bogey competition - J. Barrie, r-up - R. Green. April medal - W. Westcott, r-up - K. Crawford. Stableford competition - J. Ewart, r-up - A. Gemmell and S. Thorburn. Spring outing - 1, R. Green; 2, W. Westcott; 3, R. McDowall; nearest pin, W. Westcott, R. Green; longest drive, R. Green. May Medal - J. Steele, r-up - A. Gemmell. Vice-captain's prize - J. Ewart. June Medal - W. Westcott, r-up - C. Milligan. Captain's prize - C. Milligan, r-up - Stevie Watson. Summer outing - 1, J. Ewart; 2, W. Westcott; 3, A. Gemmell; nearest pin, R. Dobbie, J. Ewart, D. Shaw; longest drive, R. Green, R. McDowall; wooden spoon, R. McDowall. July medal - R. McDowall, r-up - A. Gemmell. Millennium Trophy - W. Westcott, r-up - S. Thorburn. August medal - W. Murchie, r-up - J. Barrie. Five-Club competition - A. Gemmell, r-up - R. Green. September medal - J. Barrie, r-up - J. Sargent. Winter outing - 1, W. Murchie; 2, J. Steele; 3, C. Milligan; nearest pin, W. Murchie (2), W. Westcott, J. Steele; longest drive, R. Green. Octo-ber medal - T. Anderson, r-up - R. Dobbie. Judy Shaw Memorial Trophy - J. Sargent. Ladies prize - I. Gemmell. Last Chance - K. Crawford, r-up - A. Gemmell. Christmas Trophy - S. Thorburn, r-up - J. Barrie. November medal - T. Andeson, r-up - D. Shaw. Seniors trophy - S. Thorburn. Birdie competition - R. Green, r-up - A. Gemmell. Aggregate trophy - J. Barrie, r-up - W. Westcott, A. Gemmell, T. Anderson. Doubles championship - W. Westcott and J. Barrie, r-up - R. Green and J. Steele. Club champion - W. Murchie, r-up - C. Milligan. Stroke-play handicap - A. Gemmell, r-up - W. Murchie. Stroke-play scratch - C. Milligan, r-up - R. Green.

ANNE Walker from Maybole gave an excellent cookery demonstration at Pinwherry SWRI on Monday night. Mrs Walker, and her assistant Kate, generously donated all their wonderful work to the Rural's raffle. Rural president Margaret Walker welcomed her namesake, and Beth Blain gave the vote of thanks. The evening's competition was also on a cookery theme - for an unfilled egg sponge. Winner was Grace Dunlop, with Jean Wyllie runner-up. Pinwherry SWRI's next meeting is the AGM on April 8, and it features a film show by John Dunn, a Maybole member of Girvan Camera Club.

TEAMS are coming from far and wide for a quiz in Maybole Old Church hall tomorrow (Friday) evening. It promises to be a night of fun, and members of the public can go along (tickets £2) and join in the fun (7.30pm start).

DRUMELLAN mansion was a stylish setting for Maybole Historical Society's March meeting. And it was an apt venue for James Hunter Blair's talk on `Ayrshire Mansions'. There was an excellent turnout, and the guest spiced his talk with family anecdotes of Blairquhan. Mr Hunter Blair highlighted the financial difficulties of maintaining a large house nowadays. And he showed slides of some of the attractions of Blairquhan, open this year from July 13 to August 11. Maybole Historical Society chairman Helen McAdam thanked Mr Hunter Blair for an informative and humorous talk. She also thanked Peter and Patti Kewney for their generous hospitality and kindness in allowing their home to be used for the meeting. Mrs McAdam, on the society's behalf, presented Mrs Kewney with a silver quaich, as a token of their appreciation.

LOOKING BACK: 50 years ago - A suggestion that two police houses are built within Maybole's new housing schemes meets opposition at Maybole Town Council. Councillor John Dunlop points out that the town is already hampered by a lack of space, and he says new police houses should be built on a site in Ladyland Road, owned by the police. The council agrees that Councillor Dunlop's points should be made to Ayr County Council, with an offer of `every co- operation' for building at Ladyland Road.