Groups in the west of Scotland are today sharing the first grants worth £2.8 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Spaces programme...The newly built Carrick Centre in Maybole will now be equipt with new furniture, fittings and equipment. An award to The Carrick Centre of £76,662 means they will be able to fit out the community care room, cafe areas and kitchen. Play equipment, audio visual and library equipment will also be bought to enhance the services the Centre can provide to the community. Alan Murray, Community Development Manager, said: “We are all delighted at receiving this grant from the Big Lottery Fund. All of our board members, volunteers and staff see this funding as giving us the opportunity to develop the project more quickly and deliver the required services within this exciting new facility to all sections of the community.“ more

A capacity crowd on Friday night 2nd March ensured that the first Carrick Centre Spring Fair was a huge success. The hall area was filled with a tremendous variety of stalls offering all manner of goods. more

Following a highly successful concert in the Baptist Church last April in aid of Yorkhill Children’s Hospital, “ Hugh and Friends” have recruited their pals in the Maybole Concert Party to provide entertainment at a most unusual coffee morning. Cameron’s Coffee Concert will take place in the Carrick Centre on Saturday March 24 from 10.00-12.00am. Proceeds will again be directed to the Crohn’s Disease department of Yorkhill. An opportunity will be provided to hear Kay Feldman play her wonderful new organ and Murray Patrick has agreed to stir the proceedings with some lively accordion music.

Parishioners of Our Lady & St Cuthbert’s Church in Maybole were surprised at the weekend to learn that Fr Philip Kitchen will be leaving after only two years as parish priest. He told parishioners at the weekend, “I am certain that by now you will have heard of the clergy changes which are to take place towards the end of April. With the impending retirement of Canon McSorley, Bishop Cunningham had to re-deploy the priests who remain to him. The Bishop has asked me to continue as parish priest of St Ann’s, Mossblown while assuming responsibility as parish priest of St Quivox in Prestwick. “ Canon McGee will remain parish priest of Sacred Hearts, Girvan while assuming responsibility for Our Lady and St. Cuthbert’s, too.”  more

Some of my fondest memories of Meryl Davidson began in the spring of 1960. I was visiting Maybole for the first time since my departure in the autumn of 1956.  My brother George gave me explicit instructions before I left New York, to seek out Meryl Colquhoun and tell her that he would be visiting Maybole that summer and he wished to speak with her on a very serious matter. That serious matter culminated with their wedding, which took place in Anderson, Indiana on February 3, 1961.  I returned to New York and shortly thereafter George was inducted into the United States Army. He was transferred to Fort Dix, New Jersey for training and during that time Meryl lived in New York. We worked for the same firm in those days and became great friends and through the years that friendship never waned. The last time I spoke with Meryl was in the beginning of January 2012, just before I left on a trip to Australia, which is also where I was a year ago when George died.  more

I am sad to announce the death of Mr William Dunlop on the 17th March 2012, aged 90. William was born in Maybole in 1921, the only son of William and Janet Dunlop of 9 Drummellan Street Maybole and brother of Jean and Mary. He attended Carrick Academy prior to joining the RAF in the War as an aircraft engineer, serving for some time in South Africa. After the war he married Nancy McDean and settled in Winsford Cheshire for the remainder of his life. He loved golf, was a devoted Scot and always proud of coming from Maybole, his home town. He will be sadly missed by his many friends and neighbours. Keith Wood.

Lodge St John No 11 in Maybole celebrated the 253rd anniversary of the birth Bro. Robert Burns last Saturday evening. Everyone was welcomed by Bro. William R Cuthbert RWM and Director of Ceremonies for the evening was Bro Alistair Hastings . The Address to the Haggis was given by William Cuthbert with the Selkirk Grace said by Alistair Hastings. After the interval the Toast to the Queen was proposed by Bro. William R Cuthbert and the entertained comprised a song by Bro. John Porter; Willie Wastle by Dr Brian Scobie; a song from Bro. David Anderson . The Immortal Memory was proposed by Jack Ramsay, of Millerston Farm near Mauchline. more

Left is Keith Webster, head teacher, congratulating Blair on winning his cap Right is Gordon Brown Blair Jardine Carrick Academy 6th year pupil and school rugby captain recently became the school’s first ever capped Scottish rugby player at U18 level when he represented his country against Wales on Sunday 11th March at Braidholm in Glasgow. Blair helped set up Scotland’s second try in a game that the young Scots eventually lost by 12-19. Blair will now play against England on Sunday 18th March at Hawick and then travel to Ireland on the weekend of the 25th. Head of Rugby Gordon Brown was delighted to see Blair represent his country. He said, “Blair has worked really hard to achieve his dream of playing for Scotland. more

Last week, 11 players from Carrick Academy’s 1st XV squad travelled to East Kilbride to take part in the Duncanrig Secondary 7s competition. After winning all of their pool matches the boys qualified for the final where they played the hosts. They played what simply has to be described as fantastic 7s rugby using the full width of the field and scored 8 tries to win by 52-10. Considering 8 of the boys had been involved in the previous night’s football success this was an even more incredible performance. more

Cairn Primary Football Team 1964/65 Sent in by Alan Rosamond Back row left to right Billy Murchie, Robert Boyle, Tommy Green, Charles Reid, Hugh Thomson, Alan Rosamond, John Speirs Front row left to right Alec McDowall, Kenny reid, Ian Fleming, Drew Hearton, Jimmy Ogg.

My father, when he was headmaster at Cairn, was very proud of the football team. And when Ian Fleming went on to play for Kilmarnock he was chuffed to bits. Ian scored a barrowload of goals for Killie before transferring to Aberdeen and as I remember became player/manager of Brechin City. more

The Pontoon Golf Club recently held their presentation night to celebrate the successes of 2011. The list of winners are: Club Championship – Winner, Kevin McSorley; Runner-up - Colin McIlwraith; March Medal - Stephen Ferrol; Bogey Competion - Kevin McSorley; April Medal - Peter Conway; Spring Outing - Craig Hutchison; Vice Captains Prize - Kevan McCrorie; May Medal - Kevin McSorley; Stableford - Bob Green; Hannah Trophy - Bob Green; Captains Prize - Colin McIlwraith; Jackie McIlvanney Trophy - Peter Conway; June Medal - Rod McDowall; Campbell Milligan Trophy - Wullie Westcott; July Medal - Kevin McSorley; more

Maybole Baby Group –Sport Relief As the nation celebrates the UK’s biggest year of sport, there’s no better way to take part than with Sport Relief 2012. On Sunday 25th March, people up and down the UK will be taking to the streets to do the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile. Maybole Baby Group supported South Ayrshire Council's Community Learning and Development Service organised their own Sport Relief Mile on Wednesday 21st March. The group of mums, babies and toddlers walked or jogged round a one mile route at the Glebe, Maybole. Eva Crate (7months) and Billy Fotheringham (almost 2years old) pulled on their Sport Relief T-shirts as they were pushed round by their mums in their buggies. The money they raised by getting sponsored will support people living unimaginably tough lives, both on our doorstep in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries. The group has raised over £100 for this worthy cause.

Local primary schools in North Carrick held there annual swimming gala last Saturday afternoon Winning School Gardenrose Winning Village School Crosshill Girls Relay Cairn Boys Relay Gardenrose.

Kind-hearted residents of Crosne Street sheltered housing unit handed over a cheque for £170 to Clic Sargent last week. Billy Herd is a volunteer at the charity and visited the residents to show them the work of CLIC Sargent. He was delighted to pick up the cheque which had been collected from loose change the residents were delighted to donate throughout the year. Photo shows Billy accepting the cheque from Roy Lewis. Roy is also pictured in front of a wal carrying decorations for the weekend’s St Patrick’s celebrations.

What an amazing day at the Glebe recently! Cairn Primary pupils, parents and friends of the school raised a fabulous £1,323 for Sports Relief . All the children and many parents took part in the ‘run a mile’ challenge around the Glebe in Maybole. Even the Nursery class took part by having a mini run around the school to raise funds. Many thanks to parents and friends of the school who supported the event so generously – they really did “Go The Extra Mile!”

THE GREEN BOX – A LIFE SAVER! A group of Ayr Rotarians visited Cairn Primary School last week taking part in the school’s Friday Assembly. They brought with them a very special green box. Pupils were fascinated as on opening the trunk sized box, the visitors proceeded to take out numerous items which included a massive ten man tent, pots and pans, blankets, a toolkit and first aid kit, they even brought out children’s colouring pencils and paper and many other items. Pupils learned that the box is designed as a disaster relief aid and contains everything to sustain life. Through an excellent film and talk pupils learned that this special green box was an invention of a fellow Rotarian some years ago and it was called a “Shelter Box” and it is used to aid people when disaster strikes their home country. more

Book characters come alive Pupils and staff of St Cuthbert’s Primary entered into the spirit of World Book Day last week by dressing up as their favourite characters. They enjoyed a variety of themed activities to help celebrate their enjoyment of reading.

Boys and girls at St Cuthbert’s Primary School have been getting into the Easter spirit by decorating their very own eggs. The egg factor, a nurse helping out an egg patient and many more weird and wonderful ideas were on display. The winning prize was a chocolate Easter egg - the winning eggs were Abi Macleod P1-2, Cole Struthers P3-4 and Finlay Wright P5-7. Well done to all who took part! This month, P5-7 at St Cuthbert’s have been enjoying a new approach to homework and what fun they are all having. One of their many creative and motivational tasks were to create a spring garden from odds and ends in their house. The creativity on show was just superb with so many gardens with ponds, rockeries, paths, swings, plants, lawns and so much more. Here they all are showing off their gardens.

Congratulations to these P 4-7 pupils at St Cuthbert’s Primary who are celebrating their fantastic achievement of winning, with “distinction”, the centenary year Ayrshire Music Festival small schools competition in Ayr Town hall at their first attempt. They sang two songs—Harvest Hymn and When it’s a Sunny Day. “A most enjoyable performance” was the comment of adjudicator Marilyne Haines. Well done!

Lots of Puff Required from Cairns P5/6s A group of Primary 5/6 pupils have been finding out about the instruments of the orchestra. They were very fortunate to have a visit from one of their parents, Mrs Purdie, who took along her collection of woodwind instruments. The pupils had the chance to “have a go” on the flute and the clarinet. Active learning is such fun!