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March 2006

Maybole Pipe band has been travelling to the Rosenmontag Festival in Germany now for twelve years and still band members are amazed by the reception they receive.

Band stalwart Bryce McCulloch was there again and he told us: “This year we were fortunate enough to play alongside a Pipe Band from Koblenz. This was a fantastic experience for both bands, we don't know who was the more apprehensive - what standard were they expecting or what standard were they?”

It turned out that the band had a great time and the playing was made all the easier by dividing the two and a half hour parade into sections where the two bands would either play together or take it in turns to play some of their own sets of tunes.

The weather in Germany was extremely cold and Bryce added, “We had to do our best to keep warm whilst dressing in the true Scottish manner - a difficult and perhaps embarrassing situation could have arisen!

Wearing gloves and scarves, we made our way to the different venues to meet one hour before the start of the parades. We walked to most them, one by crossing the River Rhine and even one by public transport, this raised a few eyebrows and a few gasps as the big drum rolled to the front of the bus when we slowed down.”

This year was special for Ian Walker, Adam Hastings and Kenneth Hutchison as it was their first year. Bryce said, “They fitted in very well with the hosts and performed exceptionally well under very difficult and tiring conditions. In fact, everyone did and we all returned richer for the kindness, friendship and the total experiences we had on the trip. We are already looking forward to next year.”

For several years now Maybole Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland has held at least one major event each year. This year members have decided they would like to celebrate three events in one:- The Queen's 80th Birthday; National Veterans Day and the branch’s own 85th anniversary. Plans are being made to hold the event be held on Saturday June 17 at Culzean because of the close connection the branch has with Culzean Castle and funds are being applied for to enable the branch’s first “Trooping of the Colours” to go ahead.

For three years after the World War 1 there were many ex-servicemen's organisations and hundreds of Regimental Associations. Several attempts were made to bring them together as one body so that the Government could distribute to ex-servicemen funds left over from the wartime kitchens and other funds raised largely by Lord Kitchener "to provide help for needy ex-servicemen". The Government needed to speak to a single body or the funds jokingly referred to as "The Canteen Millions" would be dispersed on a basis of whichever organisation was the loudest or most threatening would gain the most benefit.

On 18th June 1921 a Unity Conference was held by Earl Haig in Edinburgh's Usher Hall at which over one hundred ex-service associations met and agreed to come together under the title The British Legion. These associations then had to go back to their members to get their agreement. Immediately after that meeting in Edinburgh Earl Haig visited Culzean to meet the Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, The Marquess of Ailsa.

Contact was made with Hugh Fairlie, Provost of Maybole, who in turn instructed John Best MM, who was the only remaining member of the Soldiers and Sailors Society left in Maybole, to arrange a public meeting in Maybole Coffee House on 28th June 1921. That meeting was chaired by Captain Ramsay MC and a Maybole Branch was formed under the title British Legion and became the first branch to be formed in the United Kingdom.

Two months later in August the title became The British Legion (Scotland) when Earl Haig formed a British Legion in London. In 1971 during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee the Royal title was added to make the name The Royal British Legion Scotland. On 30th June 1996 the first Branch Standard held by Maybole Branch was laid up for safe keeping at Culzean Castle and is retained in the main entrance to the armoury.

David Hunter, branch president said, “Hopefully, the event will go ahead and we will be proud to have the opportunity to Troop our Colours at Culzean where that meeting took place between Field Marshal Lord Haig and The Marquess of Ailsa, giving birth to the United Kingdom’s oldest branch of The Royal British Legion.”

Maybole's first real snow of the winter Sunday morning Mass at Our Lady & St Cuthbert's church was held up by 20 minutes. Mgr Sheridan from Muirkirk was standing in for Fr Stephen McGrattan and got caught in a snow drift making him late for the 10am service.  However, with the aid of police he finally made it and he told parishioners it was the second time he had said Mass in his wellies! The other time was at a scout rally many years ago when it had rained solidly for two weeks. This coming weekend Mgr Sheridan will be celebrating his 50th anniversary of becoming a priest.

Cathy Jamieson visited Carrick Academy's 60 Standard Grade Modern Studies students on Friday the 10th March to describe what her job as an MSP involves. She answered question from the students who found the talk very informative and this will be of great benefit to them when they are studying for the final exam in May. Stephen Raby, Amy Wallace and Diane Conway who are studying crime as part of their Adanced Higher Modern Studies course, also interviewed Cathy on the issue of crime in society. As Cathy is the Minister for Justice the students were using this interview as part of their primary research for their dissertation.

  A GREAT Golden Wedding party was held for old soldier Matt Dunnachie and his wife May. And the bash for around 60 guests was staged in Maybole’s Fairknowe nursing home, where Matt is now resident. May said: “Fairknowe couldn’t have done more. We had a great night.” The golden couple even took the opportunity to renew their marriage vows, in a ceremony conducted by Rev Dave Whiteman. Matt, 83, was a soldier for 18 years, serving in both the Second World War and the Korean War. He was a prisoner of war in Korea for two years and nine months, suffering extreme conditions. But Matt returned home a hero in 1954, and married May two years later in Maybole’s old King’s Arms Hotel. May, 80, was at that time manageress of Maybole’s Electricity Board showroom. But the couple had known each other since schooldays. Back in civvy street, Matt worked as a welder, and May went on to organise pre-school education, starting with Ayr County Council, then with Kyle and Carrick District, and finally South Ayrshire. Matt’s failing health led to nine heart attacks and three strokes. But the amazing veteran is still aware of everything going on around him. He remains May’s hero — and a man Maybole, and indeed the whole country, can hold in the highest esteem. The couple have one son and three grandchildren.

Rural Community Conference 2006. Maybole Resource Centre is hosting a Rural Community Conference for community groups in the North Carrick area. The event will take place on Saturday, 29th April, 2006 in Maybole Town Hall from 10 am – 3 pm. The day will consist of workshops in the morning covering Constitutions, Child Protection, Support for Groups, Sourcing Funders and Volunteering. The afternoon will be a chance for groups to speak directly to representatives from funders including Big Lottery, Fair Share Trust and Awards for All. Any group which has a specific project in mind is invited to take the details along to the conference and discuss it. The event is free of charge for two representatives of each group, with a buffet lunch provided. If your group has not received an invitation and would like to attend, or have any questions about the event, please contact Eleanor or Elizabeth at Maybole Resource Centre on 01655 884022, or by email – resource@may-tag.com 

Maybole Resource Centre is organising conference on Saturday May 6 for voluntary community groups. The event will be run in Maybole Town Hall from 10am to 4pm with a buffet lunch. The conference will be in two parts. The morning workshops will be devoted to ‘Community Support’ with workshops on updating constitutions, child protection issues, insurance/public liability, volunteers and group support. The afternoon workshops will be on ‘Funding’ with workshops by Lottery Awards for All, South Ayrshire Council, Fair Share, Lottery Young People and Funder Finder. Peter Walker added, “We would like to invite two representatives from each group to this event. To enable us cater and accommodate everybody we are asking groups to contact the Resource Centre with the name of their delegates as soon as possible.” The contact number is 01655 884022 or e-mail: resource@may-tag.com 

Community Education Links for Cairn Parents Cairn Primary School P2 parents have recently been treated to computer ‘lessons’ by their children in a link with Community Education. Parents came into school for one hour a week, from 9-10 am. on Fridays, for a four week block, working with their children, and being ‘taught’ to use the programs the children work with regularly. Tea and coffee was available afterwards in the Parents Room. The children loved showing their parents their super skills, and the parents, as Mrs Sandra Mackie said, “…were amazed at how much the children knew!” “They are all very independent, and it was great seeing them in their own environment!”, she added. Most of the parents found it all really helpful, and Community Education hope that many will take up further courses in both Computing, and in the wide range of other courses available from them. Mrs Fiona McDougall, Head Teacher, was delighted with the scheme, saying, “The project was a huge success, and was so popular in fact, that there is already a waiting list for the next one, which we are hoping to organise in the near future! We hope that it will continue to encourage parents to come into school more, and take an even wider interest in all the interesting activities going on each term.”

At the last Community Association meeting, members discussed putting on a "Music tent" at this years Gala, if there is enough interest. Alan Reid, the association’s vice chair, is now inviting any local bands who aspire to be the next chart toppers to contact him with a view to playing a set. His contact numbers are 01655 883134 or 07971 114442.

Over 120 Maybole senior citizens had a great day out last Saturday when the local OAP committee laid on their annual dinner and concert. They enjoyed a lovely meal prepared by Mrs McCulloch from Drongan and then were well entertained by Weir Marshall and friends. Andy Rennie and Craig Young attended to hand over a cheque for £200 from Carrick Round Table. Sandra Osborne MP had donated a bottle of House of Commons whisky and this was won by Gillian Durrant who donated it back to the committee to be raffled when the group has the charity shop week beginning March 11. The main raffle has to be one of the biggest for any group as there were over 100 prizes donated, including two from Cathy Jamieson MSP. Alex Kelly and Pearl Barton thanked the Round Table for their kind donation, the caterers, hall caretakers, Weir Marshall and his fellow artistes, everyone who had donated prizes for the raffle, and the committee who had put in so much hard work throughout the year.

A former Maybole woman is trying to raise funds for charity and wonders if any local people can help. Hayley Cosgrove – Maybole folk will remember her as Hayley Rodgers - has been living in East Kilbride for the last 14 years. She recently emailed David Kiltie to say that she was wondering if she could ask the people of Maybole through www.maybole.org if they have any recipes for no-cook tray bakes. Hayley added, “I am hopefully going to compile a recipe book for sale in aid of malignant melanoma. This is a cause very close to my heart as I lost my beloved wee sister Hazel last June to the disease. I remember when I was at Cairn Primary years ago that they sold a wee leaflet of tray bakes which was great.” She can be contacted at stevie_cosgrove@blueyonder.co.uk 

After seven rounds the first division of the Ayrshire chess league splits up into two groups.

Group a: Greenwood Gambits (30), Ardrossan (29.5), Kilmarnock (29) & Irvine A (28.5) are fighting for the trophy.

Group b: Troon A (23.5), GD Rooks (20), Prestwick A (17) & Irvine B (14.5) are trying to avoid relegation.

Division 2: Carrick (31.5), Stewarton (20), Ayr (20), Prestwick B (10.5)

Div 3: Largs (17.5), GD Bishops (14.5), Troon B (10), GD Knights (9.5) - Largs & Troon B have a game in hand.

Stewarton visited Carrick for their last game on 15th March and Carrick won 3.5 - 2.5. Results were: Siegrun Macgilchrist 1/2 John Montgomery; Eric MacKinnon 1/2 Alan Steel; Kenny Brooksbank 1-0 Douglas Browning; Steell MacFadzean 1/2 Paul Britten; Ali Roy 1-0 Cameron McLure 1-0; Alastair Muirhead 0-1 Calum Scobie.

Carrick’s junior club is on from 6.15 - 7.15pm followed by the seniors until 10pm. on Wednesdays in the town hall, Maybole.

The senior championship is well on its way. The juniors are starting theirs on 29th March.

Eight local primary schools took part in a swimming gala hosted by Maybole Amateur Swimming Club on Sunday.  The event, held at Maybole Swimming Pool was sponsored by Jim Cooper of Electro Installations. Schools involved were Cairn CN, Crosshill CL, Fisherton FN, Gardenrose GE, Kirkmichael KL, Maidens MS, St Cuthbert's SC, and Straiton SN. Trophies and rosettes were presented by club coaches Marjory Donnachie and Elaine Campbell. Gardenrose won the MASC Trophy, with Maidens taking the village shield. Gardenrose also won the boys and girls relay races, and final scores were:

Gardenrose 55pts, St Cuthbert’s 51, Maidens 24, Crosshill 22, Straiton 19, Cairn 15, Kirkmichael 10, Fisherton 4. Relays Boys 1 Gardenrose 2 St Cuthbert’s 3 Crosshill 4 Cairn Girls 1 Gardenrose 2 Maidens 3 St Cuthbert’s 4 Cairn. Click on the images below to view the full results.

Maybole’s next action over the lack of progress of a bypass will be held on Easter Saturday, April 15 at 10am. The aim is “To reclaim our High Street” according to a meeting of local groups. Newspapers, radio and TV will be contacted to draw attention to the protest.

This was decided after members of Maybole Bypass Committee met with representatives of about twenty local organisations in the Welltrees Inn last week..

Peter Mason, who chairs the committee, told the groups about the background to the recent action and explained that the committee consisted of members of the community council and the local business association.

“There is documented evidence that this issue was raised in 1956,” he said, “and was raised again in 1996 when we started a petition which was sent to the Scottish Office.”

He went on, “We have written to the Roads Minister on several occasions putting forward our case for a bypass and several other ideas to try to improve the safety of the residents of Maybole, and also to try to preserve the historical buildings along the A77.

“Last year there was a consultant hired by the Scottish Office to look at the traffic problems in Maybole; this was supposed to be completed in autumn of last year. After several phone calls, it became apparent that this would take a lot longer than we were first told, and even after the report was published - even if it came out in favour of a bypass - the final decision would still rest with the roads minister.”

Mr Mason added that the committee made the decision to take action in order to try to put some sort of pressure on the Roads Minister to look at the bypass in a favourable light, and also to raise public awareness as to the latest situation.

He recounted the recent relaunch of the bypass action in January which his committee felt was successful.

It was also felt that with hindsight there was more that could have been done eg people with banners, a pre printed notice explaining to the car drivers what the protest was about, distribution of the Roads Minister’s phone number to call if they support a by-pass.

He added that there are letters pre printed in Maybole Resource Centre for the general public to sign.

“The object of this meeting,” he continued, is to ask the groups in the town for some advice and guidance on the way forward; to ensure that we were moving in the right direction; and how to get across to the general public what we are doing and to ask for their support. We are now asking for you as representatives of your groups to take the message back to your group.”

Mr Mason outlined some thoughts his committee had come up with, including: hold more protests at the pedestrian crossing; ask people with cars to meet at Carrick Academy and the Glebe Park and to drive slowly up and down the A77; hold a parade along the A77 in the same idea as the gala day; put up posters along the A77 in Maybole saying that a bypass is needed; hold a public meeting in the town hall.

Ideas from the groups included contacting haulage and ferry companies to enlist their support; take part in the gala parade with posters on cars; sign protest letters at the gala; go to Stranraer and enlist support; an e-petition to the Scottish Parliament; invite the Minister to visit the town.

Some people attending mentioned various difficulties and dangers on the High Street. These included dishes being shaken off shelves due to vibration from the traffic; danger to those pushing prams which one granny described as a nightmare.

Everyone was in agreement that omething needed to be done and more action was required.

Mr Mason commented,”We require funds to do what we would like to do. The community council and the business association have been very helpful but there is only so much that these two organisations can do. How can we raise funds?”

Suggestions included taking the charity shop, a dance in the town hall, collection buckets in local shops, running a raffle, and asking for donations.