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May 2005

EURO SUCCESS: Greg Rorison shows Rotarians Jim Craw ford (left) and Bob Bell his very own European Cup. A CARRICK Academy senior proved a great ambassador for Maybole on a visit to the European Parliament. Rotarians in Girvan sponsored Greg Rorison to be part of the 2005 Euroscola scheme. And Greg returned with a European Cup he helped win in a team quiz! Greg was one of 30 Scots who joined young people from 16 other European countries in Strasbourg. It was a shared opportunity to become more aware of the practicalities of Euro politics. The scholars were thrown into the deep end on the first day, conducting a street questionnaire in French. Questions focused on people’s knowledge of the European Union, and their awareness of Scotland. Next day featured a guided tour of the city and its splendid cathedral, followed by a visit to the parliament, and group discussions.

There was a 6.30am rise on the third day, followed by strict security checks for a return to the parliament. Young people were welcomed by officials and translators for an illustration of parliamentary decision-making. Nine sample questions were asked, and had to be answered by the press of a button, indicating yes, no or don’t know. Group discussions followed, and Greg teamed up with young people from Germany, Finland and Sweden, on the topic of sport. Each group presented a written report, and the four voted best then competed in a quiz. Greg’s team won, and he was delighted to bring the trophy to the Rotary meeting in the Royal Hotel. Greg thanked the Rotarians for their sponsorship, and answered follow-up questions to his talk on the trip. Rotarian Rev Bob Bell thanked Greg for an excellent report, which also featured photos of his sightseeing tours. The Rotary Club is grateful to South Ayrshire Council, ISP Alginates and Smith and Valentine for their donations towards costs.

Last Sunday was a day of great celebration for the parish of Our Lady and St Cuthbert’s, Maybole At a special 12 noon Mass, children from primary four at St Cuthbert’s Primary School were confirmed and receive the Eucharist for the first time. Fr Stephen McGrattan asked parishioners to pray for Chloe Brownlee, Kyle Campbell, Aidan Keegan, Ross Malone, Roisin McCallum, Phoebe McDowall, Justin McQuillan, Liam Menzies, Kieran Porte, Paul Strang, Louis Simpson and Nina Sweeney as they take this important step

THE fourth William Hill Memorial golf competition at Maybole raised even more money than ever before. This year's tourney brought in £350 and a cheque for this amount will be sent on to Crosshouse Hospital's Renal Unit (Ward 2F), which serves the whole of Ayrshire. The 2005 William Hill Memorial Cup was won by Brian Jamieson for the second year in a row with Gary Steel runner up. Willie's partner Ann McClure thanked everyone who played in the tourney, all who donated, and Sandy and Alice Abbot of The Carrick in Maybole for all their help. The late Willie Hill was a popular Maybole man who was a well known and respected caddie at Turnberry.

Pic above shows Jim Grant left presenting a cheque for £690 to Duncan Muir of Maybole’s Breast Cancer Campaign. Also in the photo are Jim’s daughter-in-law Debbie with his grandchildren Owen and Liam. Others are Dorothy Ward, Elizabeth McCrindle, Heather Muir, Laura McSorley, Jacky Loch and Kirsty Loch age 10. Laura McSorley ran in the recent Glasgow 10K run and so far has raised about £150 in sponsorship with more to come in. Jim’s donation was from a collection taken at the West Church at his wife Mary’s funeral service. A further cheque for £20 will also be handed over. The cheque was handed over at a coffee morning in St Oswald’s church hall which raised £513.73 for Campaign funds. The committee is also organising a mile of 2p coins with collecting cans at various pubs and shops in the town. So far they have reached 344 yards 2 feet 1 inch! They would like to thank Jim for his marvellous contribution and everyone else who is supporting them.

Maybole Gala: At a recent Committee meeting of Maybole Community Association, committee members were disappointed to have seen in the press that South Ayrshire Council had reversed their decision to provide funding for the Holy Fair in Ayr and yet they had received a decision that support for the Maybole Gala had been cut to an absolute minimum with no actual financial contribution at all. Dave Killicoat. Association secretary, told us, “We were also disappointed that the moveable feast called the Holy Fair is now on exactly the same day as the Maybole Gala that has been held on the third Saturday in June for many years now.”

Over two months ago Maybole Community Association became aware that there might be less funding available for community events however, encouraged by South Ayrshire Council’s support of the Kirkmichael Guitar Festival, they decided that the Maybole Gala should go ahead, that some support would be available from the Council and that they might have to curtail some activities and therefore look at alternatives in order to allow the Gala to go ahead.

“The main reason that the Community Association decided that the local Gala must go ahead,” said Mr Killicoat, “was that it was a major event in the town which many local charities relied on to provide funding for some of their activities – precisely the reported reason for the reversal of the decision by the Council on funding for the Ayr Holy Fair.”

He added, “Fortunately the committee have been committed to the Gala for some time and sufficient funding is now available to produce as good a Gala Week as has been seen for some time. We have already managed to organise new events including the participation of a helicopter from HMS Gannet along with the local Coastguard, several other smaller events, and we are further encouraged by the fact that, unless some political business requires their presence elsewhere, we will have our local MSP, MP (if re-elected!), the Provost of South Ayrshire Council and our local councillors supporting US with their presence on the Gala Day on the 18th June.”

Posters are already appearing throughout the town advertising all the events which include – in addition to the helicopter, Coastguard and other local emergency services – the ecumenical service at Crossraguel, a five a side football tournament, the usual pet show, the quiz, a best kept garden competition, a best dressed shop window competition, lots of prizes for participants in fancy dress and in the parade (including a best dressed parasol/umbrella competition) and a balloon race.

The recent week in the Maybole Charity shop was very successful and has provided sufficient funds to ensure that the Gala will go ahead. The committee would like to thank Pearl Barton and all the volunteers and they hope that this spirit of community will ensure one of the best galas for several years.

This year Maybole Gala Week will run from Sunday June 12 to Saturday June 18.

The full programme is

Sunday June 12 at 3pm

Ecumenical Service at Crossraguel Abbey. Buses will run from the Greenside from 2.15pm.

Monday June 13 at 7.30pm

Quiz Night – contact Dave Killicoat on 07776 445033 if you would like to enter.

Thursday June 16 at 6.30pm

Pet Show at Ladywell Stadium – just turn up with your pet.

All week

Best kept garden competition. Entry applications to June’s Flowers in the High Street.

Best dressed  shop window.

Five-a-side football with final on Friday June 17. Entries to Mark McEwan, 36 Dunlop Terrace, Maybole or through Maybole Juniors.

Saturday June 18

Gala parade with Maybole Pipe Band, Dalmellington Brass Band, prizes for best groups, best parasol/umbrella. Crowning of King and Queen of Carrick at Glebe Park, fancy dress competitions, stalls, pony rides, balloon race, all the local emergency services, and a special visit from the HMS Gannet search and rescue helicopter.

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the End of WWII: There has been a lot of discussion recently about what Maybole can do to celebrate the end of the Second World War sixty years ago. Within the last two weeks several local bodies, all with their own ideas, have come together with the idea of putting on a series of linked events over a short period between 21st August and 18th September. Early proposals are that the events should start off with a Drum Head Service organised by the local branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland.

This would be followed over the next two weekends with exhibitions showing the “Home Front” in Maybole and the contribution of local people to the war effort in many different ways, possibly an ENSA style concert, a special “Dig for Victory” vegetable competition and recipe book, publication of a book of photographs and memories of WWII in Carrick and a street party. It is hoped that the culmination of the celebrations will take place at Culzean Castle on the Sunday of the September holiday weekend with a large event organised by Michael Shafer and his team from the National Trust for Scotland.

Maybole Golf Club's new season was opened by Mrs Vera Lothian, Ladies Captain, who hit the first ball of 2005.  This was followed by a 9 hole competition won by Derek Smith with a score of 28.  The committee was pleased with the turn out and hopes that this season will be as successful as last year. The first 18 hole competition was the April medal won by R Scott and again the turn out was good with membership growing. The President's Cup was the first major trophy and the first night had  to be cancelled due to heavy rain. It was finally played over 18 holes  and won by S McCahill with a scratch 68 (net 64). Runners up were B Boyd and G McCulloch with 65s. The Spring meeting was won by K Doyle with 65 and J McCulloch was runner up with 67. This was another good turn out of members and a very enjoyable night. All matchplay competitions have been drawn and competition sheets are on display in the clubhouse as is the current fixture list. Anyone interested in becoming a member would be more than welcome to go along to the next competition. Membership fees are set at £22 for this season.

Article from the Carrick Gazette. Thursday, May 12th, 2005
Huge commitment in their quest for success TWO Carrick kids are reaching for the stars as they aim to dance their way to success. The talented young sisters from Maybole have already won over 800 dancing trophies and don’t plan to stop there. Ten year-old Shannan Brown is a primary six pupil at Cairn and has been dancing since the tender age of two. Big sister Kayleigh (13), in S2 at Carrick Academy, started when she was five. The girls are dedicated to dancing, and the fact that it takes up six nights a week of their time, shows it’s obvious they don’t just class it as a hobby. This is a way of life not just for the talented duo, but also for their parents and younger sister, who make a huge commitment in financing the girls in their quest for dance success. Rest of article and photo.

Article from the Carrick Gazette. Thursday, May 19th, 2005. Carrick People
‘It was a brilliant life, and I'd do it all again if I had the chance,’ says Suez veteran When a Maybole man picked up his copy of the Carrick Gazette a couple of weeks ago and started to read, he was delighted to see that Bobby Sweeney from Girvan had recently received a military medal more than 50 years after serving in the Army. Memories came flooding back to 71-yearold John Urie of his time in the forces, and serving in the same conflict as Bobby, the Suez Canal Zone Emergency in Egypt. In fact, last August, exactly 50 years after being de-mobbed, John was also delighted to receive his medal with Canal Zone Clasp. "Unlike Bobby, I didn't even consider applying for the medal when I arrived home from Egypt all those years ago, and it wasn't until I saw the campaign in the paper at the beginning of last year that the thought entered my head," he said. John was an 18-year-old youth working at High Pinmore Farm with two other lads when he was called up to do his National Service. Rest of article and photos.

Last week pupils at Cairn Primary School in Maybole took part in a special ceremony to remember a former head teacher, the late Mr Todd. Matt Todd was head of the school from August 28 1972 to 31st March 1997 and the Parents Association and school board donated a memorial bench in his memory. Current head teacher Fiona McDougall welcomed pupils, former staff and invited guests to the presentation. Special guests were Mr Todd’s widow, Sheena, and daughter Beth. Mora McCulloch, who retired as a teacher from the school last year, paid tribute to the many fine qualities that Mr Todd had brought to Cairn saying that he was a very special head teacher who always had a special relationship with his pupils. The school choir sang “Tomorrow” and the whole company joined in “The Jeely Piece Song” which had been specially requested by the pupils. Nicole McCrorie, P1, and Kyle Eaglesham, P7, presented Mrs Todd with a bouquet of flowers

Carrick Sports Club Invitations to a social evening on Friday June 17 are going out to founder and early members of Carrick Sports Club. The is is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Club and there will be a buffet and entertainment on the night with a special appearance by Maybole Pipe Band. Due to the fact that some of the club’s records going back 30 years are a bit sketchy, the Committee would like to hear from anyone who was involved in the early years and would be interested in attending this function. If you are interested please contact the Secretary, Bill McCubbin on 01655 882578. On Saturday June 18 there will be a buffet and cabaret for current members which will be by ticket only as numbers are limited. Tickets were available (free of charge) as from last Saturday and there are still a few left so current members are urged to contact the Steward, Willie Parker, as soon as possible. The entertainment will be provided by Lorraine Summers with her vocal comedy and the musical duo Colours. The pipe band will also be putting in an appearance during the evening.

THE NEW laird of an Ayrshire estate this week dismissed rumours that he is about to sell off his castle. Patrick Hunter Blair inherited Blairquhan Castle and estate from his cousin James, who died on Christmas morning. The new laird lives in County Down, Northern Ireland, but is well aware of rumours that are circulating. He said this week: “All kinds of stories have been doing the rounds in the pubs of Maybole, Crosshill and Straiton. “But I can tell you Blairquhan is not going on the market.” Mr Hunter Blair says he plans to live at Blairquhan with his wife Marguerite and five young children. He said: “We’ll be coming over this summer and there will be children running about the place again.”

Mr Hunter Blair was bequeathed the castle and 2,000-acre estate by his older cousin. Bachelor Jamie Hunter Blair, who died aged 78, was a popular and extrovert figure. And there were fears of radical changes at Blairquhan following his death. But the new laird says it’s business as usual, and he plans a memorial service for his cousin on Monday, August 15. A tree will also be planted to honour Jamie, who was highly knowledgeable about forestry and garden design.

Blairquhan Estate has been in the Hunter Blair family for more than 200 years. The present castle, which has featured in film and TV productions, was built between 1821-24. It boasts 14 bedrooms, as well as public rooms including a family museum and a conference room. Estate house Milton Lodge has 11 bedrooms and six bathrooms, and there are seven holiday cottages at Blairquhan. The estate also features fishing on a five-mile stretch of the River Girvan, shooting, walks, a tree trail and a walled garden. Blairquhan is open to the public from Saturday, July 9, to Sunday, August 7 (except Mondays) from 1.30 to 4.15pm.