The Tiny Tots’s Playgroup in Maybole was delighted to receive a donation of £200 from Carrick Round Table recently. The money was used to by some much needed play equipment and last Friday Ronnie McCreath, President of Carrick Round Table, dropped in to the playgroup to see how much fun the tots were having. The playgroup is open on Mondays and Fridays from 9.15 – 11.30am and is at its maximum roll of 20. There will be vacancies after the summer holidays and anyone interested in enrolling children should contact Victoria Kennedy, playgroup manager, on 07922123634.

May 2007. The complete text of the headlines above and more articles follow below.

A very special guest visited the three primary schools in Maybole recently. None other than Rabbie Burns himself was spotted in the High Street on his way to the schools. The cries of “How’s it gaun, Rabbie?” and “Mind yur step!” could be heard as the Bard chanced his luck crossing the busy High Street, at one point stopping traffic to have his photo taken at the cross in the road marking the old mercat cross where his mother and father first met at the market Fair in Maybole in 1756.

The school children at Cairn, Gardenrose, and St. Cuthbert’s were more taken with his person than his poetry it would have to be said. “Are you the real Rabbie Burns?”, “Is your skeleton still in your box?” and “ How did you get here?” were just a few of the incredulous questions thrown at the poet who had to juggle with his 250 year old memories to respond. Rabbie also visited the grave of his old pal Baillie William Niven in the  cemetery at the foot of the Kirkwynd before taking leave of Maybole. The good news is that the Bard is scheduled to make another two visits to walk about Maybole – at the Market Fair and the Gala Parade.

The Market Fair takes place on Saturday 9^th June from 12 noon until 4pm, in the Town hall and Castle areas of Maybole and will start off with a short parade to re-enact the meeting of  Burns’ parents, William Burnes and Agnes Broun.

The Burns Festival Committee, which represents the partnership between the Community Councl, the Community Association, Maybole Historical Society and May-Tag, is using funding from Scottish Heritage to bring several events to Maybole. Peter Mason, chair of the Festival Committee, said that he hoped people will recognise and enjoy their rich heritage by participating in this and other events throughout the year.

The Fair is the start of Gala week and there will be stalls where home-made wares will be on sale, skilled crafts on show such as lace making, weaving, basket making, quilting, calligraphy and wood turning. Local children will dance round a maypole, sing and recite Burns and there will be Scottish country dancing displays as well as folksingers and storytellers around. There will also be plenty for the children to do - chances to learn traditional games with cleek and girds, peeries, peevers, kite making or to take part in an 18^th century school or watch the walkabout magician or have their faces painted. Local businesses, schools and groups will be taking part in the fun, dressing in period costumes and

fitting into 18^th century living patterns wherever possible.  Maybole Historical Society members are ensuring some other Burns characters come to life in period dress and are also putting on a display of heritage in the castle.

After the Fair, Gala week continues with a Sunday ecumenical service at Crossraguel Abbey where hymns will be sung to burns tunes, and during the week there will be a Burns quiz and a pet show culminating with the Gala Parade, which  focuses on Burns this year. The Gala King and Queen of Carrick and attendants will be dressed in 18^th century fashion and William and Agnes will again be part of the parade, as will be their more famous first born son, a little muddled about time lines again.

Local groups wishing to get some support for dressing up and other materials can apply to May-Tag at 48/50 High Street and speak to Mrs Ellen Hawkes or Mr Peter Walker, or contact Mrs Susan Whiteman, chair of the Community Association.

More details on the celebration events for 2007.

Recently re-elected Cathy Jamieson MSP, officially launched ACCESS last Friday May 18. Project Manager Christine Kennedy said she was delighted that Cathy could be there along with other guests. ACCESS has opened at 48/50 High Street, Maybole, in the former Resource Centre premises; the Resource Centre closed in April.

The aim of the project is to help individuals from 16 to 60 years of age who are looking for work. Christine added, “Mainstream society evidence shows that employment not only provides financial independence but also meaningful structure for peoples lives. The link between general well being and employment is significantly positive. “Access has identified that employment provides social networks and therefore leads to improved self-esteem and confidence. The challenges most people face today in the job market are the fast pace of change, the need for constant upskilling and training and the need to continuously demonstrate competence and employability.

Cathy Jamieson MSP said: "May-Tag's Access project is very important as it will give people individual support, suited to their own needs, to help them get back into work. Whether it is helping people to achieve qualifications or improving other skills, Access will help to provide the specific support they need. Giving those looking for work the training they need and by working with employers, the Access Project will make a real difference. I was delighted to have been invited to the launch of the project and I wish all the staff and clients every success in the future."

Councillors Brian Connolly, Ann Galbraith and Mairi Low attended along with representatives of local organisations. South Ayrshire Council Community Planning Partnership funds the main part of the project and European funding is available until December for the Employment Liaison Officers post.

“Access has also identified that although qualifications can help, experience is often valued more by employers. At Access wewill work with employers and would like to know what skills local employers are looking for, which will allow us to address the needs and gaps. “Access is here to work with the community to try to combat unemployment and the related issues of exclusion and poverty.” For more information on volunteering options, job skills, placements etc everyone is invited to visit Christine or Andy Crawford, Employment Liaison Officer, and meet the newest recruit to the team, the Administration/Support Officer. If you are unable to visit you can call them on 01655 882111.

Maybole – Crosne   25^th Anniversary. A party from Maybole Town Twinning travelled to Crosne to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the signing of twinning and the Carnival over the last weekend in May.

They were also joined by twinners from Schotten, Germany; Beloeil, Belgium; Arco, Italy; Bogen, Germany and Rymarov, Czech Republic. Celebrations began on the Friday evening with the official ceremony of the 25^th anniversary of twinning. The festivities began with a parade from Rue de Maybole to Espace Rene Fallet where the official part of the evening was held. Speeches on the history and future of the twinning link were made by Alain Gerard, Mayor of Crosne, Daniel Robin , President of Town Twinning Crosne, and William Grant – President of Town Twinning Maybole.

Speeches of congratulations were made by the other assembled town twinners, before small gifts were exchanged. The young people of Bellevue College, who had visited Carrick Academy, Maybole in March this year, then gave an excellent rendition of songs of Robert Burns. This part of the evening then finished with the singing of the European anthem “Ode to Joy”. An excellent buffet and cutting of a cake was enjoyed by all. Saturday morning saw every body up early for a visit to Paris for a guided tour of the Museum Carnavalet, famous for its paintings of Paris throughout the ages. The afternoon was free time and then it was time to return to Crosne where the evening was spent with hosts before the torchlight procession through the town that started at 10pm.

On Sunday morning there was a guided visit to the Park Caillebotte in the nearby town of Yerres, and, on return to Crosne, lunch alfresco was enjoyed in the garden of the Deputy Mayor Marylene Laug. The Carnival took place in the afternoon with masses of people taking part; the theme for this year was “The Cinema”. In the evening the group was treated to a giant BBQ before attending an open air concert which climaxed in a magnificent fireworks display at midnight. The return leg of the celebrations will take place in Maybole over the weekend 28 – 30 September 2007. If you would like to be involved and could host up to 2 people please contact William Grant on 01655883312.

The speech of William J Grant, Chairman of Maybole Town Twinning.

It is amazing to think that we are celebrating 25 years since we first signed our twinning agreement with Crosne away back in 1982.

What is town twinning?

Twinning towns is a wonderful way of bonding communities in long-term friendships. It also helps to foster understanding and tolerance by giving people from twin towns the chance to learn about another culture, language, history and way of life. This is especially important for young people who may not have had a chance to leave their home town. For them, the twinning relationship offers an opportunity to broaden horizons as well as nurture important qualities such as openness and acceptance.

It is indeed excellent that in the last 2 years we have managed to arrange school exchanges between Crosne and Maybole and we hope these will continue, building on the friendship that has been created between the schools.

Twinning can fulfill several of the most human needs, companionship, activity, adventure, curiosity. It is a means of understanding other peoples, their culture, lifestyle, food, language. You make new friends, sometimes for life, and are accepted into families.

Twinning began in the late 1940s as a means of reconciling European nations that had been torn apart by war. Historians often cite the twinning of Orléans (France) and Dundee (Scotland) in 1946 as the first modern twinning arrangement. As the benefits of the movement became apparent, twinning became a world-wide phenomenon.

As it was set out to do, town twinning in forging partnerships, and continues to make an important contribution to this dynamic process of bringing European people together. It has helped to change Europe forever, gone are the days of dictatorships, East and west, today in this the 21^st century , we live in a Europe where the concept  “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” flourishes, we live in ‘a peoples Europe’.

The very best way of building trust, understanding and friendship between people in Europe is by meeting together, sharing experiences and learning from each other. Maybole Town Twinning Association is proud of its history in twinning, we are proud that our twinning has always been and hopefully will continue to be a peoples twinning, built on the friendship of individuals but most importantly the family.

Through this twinning of the people we the citizens of Maybole and Crosne, and of course our fellow twinners from Beloeil, Schotten , Arco, Bogen, Ozimek and Rymarov have in our own way helped to break down the barriers of language, race and creed, but in doing this we have not forgotten our own individuality. We are part of a Europe in which we can exchange opinions and enjoy joint activities between our twinning family.

The arranging of twinning events through all these years of course takes a lot of hard work and we thank all those who have giving of their time freely, working for the twinning between Maybole and Crosne, making all the events over the years so successful. At this tine we remember our fellow twinners who sadly are no longer with us.

Today is an important day for us all, and indeed it is excellent that in tonight’s programme we have young people from the college singing songs of Robert Burns. Robert Burns of course is Scotland’s national poet and his words can relate to the concept “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” as in the poem “A Man’s a Man for A’ That” which ends in the words

For a' that, an' a' that,

It's coming yet for a' that,

That man to man, the world o'er,

Shall brithers be for a' that

Let us look forward to the next 25 years.

Maybole man, Alex Kelly, was the guest of Sandra Osborne MP at a recent reception in 10 Downing Street. The reception was hosted by Prime Minister Tony Blair and was for those who have made a substantial contribution to community life. Sandra Osborne told us, “ Alex serves on Maybole Community Council; he has been chair of Carrick Crime Prevention Panel for 25 years; he chairs the Sports Association and is on the Patient Participation Group for Maybole Health Centre. Alex is also active in the local church and does voluntary work in primary and secondary schools in the Carrick area.”

Alex commented, “I was amazed and humbled to receive an invitation to a reception at 10 Downing St from the Prime Minister Tony Blair, through my MP Sandra Osborne. On Sunday 15th April I set off on my journey to London via Prestwick airport.  On arriving in London, I was met by my niece, whom I was going to stay with. After a cup of tea it was into London for a quick tour and to get my bearings for the following day.

On Monday 16th I was meeting Sandra at Portcullis House where MPs have their offices, then we went to the Houses of Parliament. Firstly we had a cup of tea on the members’ terrace before being taken in to the seat of Government. It was amazing to actually be sitting in the gallery listening to MPs debating! Next it was into the House of Lords, the chamber is awesome. Then it was time to go to Downing Street. I must admit I was quite nervous going to meet the Prime Minister. I was very impressed with the interior of Downing Street, it is actually a lot bigger than you imagine it to be.

We were introduced to Mr Blair and I presented the Prime Minister with a pictorial history of Maybole on behalf of Maybole Community Council, and, a mouse mat and pencil case produced by Carrick Crime Prevention Panel. I was very surprised at how at ease I felt talking to Mr Blair after all the apprehensive nerves! I can only once again thank my MP Sandra Osborne for nominating me to attend the reception.”

Maybole One Stop Shop, a new resource for Maybole and District, launched on Tuesday May 22 after several months of hard work and planning.

The project, based in 6-8 School Vennel, Maybole, offers a growing list of services including benefit checks and income maximization advice, advocacy, citizens advice, health information, support for senior citizens, low energy lightbulbs and access to a range of outreach services.

Facilities available include internet access, private rooms available for hire, meeting space, photocopying and a “free phone” service to allow clients to contact support agencies.

The Maybole One Stop Shop will be open six days a week: all day Monday to Friday and on Saturday morning. Gillian Anderson, project manager, together with Cathie Barr and Agnes McGill are the enthusiastic and experienced staff who will look to provide a ‘one-stop’ answer for people looking for support or information. If the One Stop Shop staff can’t provide a solution themselves then they will pass you directly to someone who can. From the beginning, the project will be a growing hub of knowledge and practical help that gives access to many services that are sometimes complicated to access alone. The service is open to everyone.

Gillian said “Cathie, Agnes and I are looking forward to getting our teeth into this new project and building a service which will be recognised throughout Ayrshire, and known as an example of good practice and high standards. There is a vast amount of knowledge and expertise available to us, and we intend to make use of it to deliver a valuable service to people in the North Carrick area.”

MOSS brings together the work of three groups which are already known locally.  Ellen Hawkes, Jean Clarke and Fr Stephen McGrattan, representing Maytag; Patrice Graham, John Barr and Diane Shearer, representing Over the Rainbow; and Robert Malone, Stella McEwan and Nessie Connolly, representing Maybole and District Senior Citizens’ Forum; make up the steering committee which guides the project. Each group is delighted to have refurbished and comfortable premises to deliver the services they offer. They are looking forward to sharing resources and working together to provide a better level of service in their own area of expertise. The project is funded by the Fair Share Trust, Scottish Community Foundation.

Councillor Brian Connolly officially launched the One Stop Shop and Fr Stephen McGrattan, Chairperson of the MOSS Steering Committee, said, “I am confident that this new and well resourced One Stop Shop will be very useful for local people to access a wide range of services that can help them and help their community. I look forward to seeing the difference a stop at Maybole’s One Stop Shop makes to the town and district.” One Stop Shop

Sunday May 27 was a big day for eight young parishioners of Our Lady & St Cuthbert's Church in Maybole. Jodie Brownlee, Brittany Campbell, Ciera Campbell, Faye Green, Emily Kiltie, Dominik Matyka, Ronan McDowall, and Zak Roy all received the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion. Bishop John Cunnimgham presided at the Mass, assisted by parish priest Fr Stephen McGrattan. Teachers are Mr Jamie Moan and Mrs Liz Miller.

Ayrshire volunteers win Breast Cancer Campaign’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’! ( Heather and Duncan are shown above with Nicola Inge, Community Coordinator for Breast Cancer Campaign at a reception in the House of Lords on 8th June 2005. )

Maybole residents, Heather and Duncan Muir, have won Breast Cancer Campaign’s very first ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award. The Charity’s inaugural awards evening was held last night at the House of Lords and was hosted by Baroness Fookes.

The couple impressed the nomination committee with their tireless efforts to support Campaign through activities such as attending cheque collections, arranging coffee mornings and encouraging other members of the community to support the Charity. The couple have raised over £13,000, but by setting up the Maybole and District Fundraising Group they have also managed to get companies and individuals involved in various sporting activities raising even more money for vital research into breast cancer.

Heather Muir said “Duncan and I are thrilled that our contribution to breast cancer research has been recognised in such a public way. The cause is something we both whole-heartedly support and we are always looking at ways to encourage other people to get involved. Baroness Fookes of Plymouth DBE DL presented the award, which was rather nice. It was quite an evening, if somewhat emotional, meeting young people who have the disease and are fighting so hard to overcome it. One lovely lass was only 27 when she was diagnosed - now 29, she has secondary cancer in her spine. Despite that, she is off to walk the Great Wall of China !! And they give us an award?"

Pamela Goldberg, Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Campaign, said “Our awards event recognises the achievements and efforts of all our supporters, both volunteers and those people who go to great effort to raise money for us. They are the lifeblood of our organisation. The winners have made an exceptional contribution to help us in our mission to continue researching the cure for breast cancer.”

Breast Cancer Campaign is the only charity that specialises in funding independent research into breast cancer throughout the UK. The charity’s aim is to find the cure for breast cancer by funding research which looks at improving diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, better understanding how it develops and ultimately either curing the disease or preventing it. Currently, it supports 83 research projects, worth over £10.2 million in 50 centres of excellence across the UK. photo and story

The exhibition was officially opened by (left) Helen Smailes, Senior Curator of British Art, and (right) Anne Buddle, Head of Exhibitions and Collections Management, both of the National Galleries of Scotland. Pictured with Sir Patrick Hunter Blair Flowere with Lady Marguarite Hunter Blair The exhibition is entitled: THE ELUSIVE ELIZA HUNTER BLAIR A new exhibition was officially opened last Tuesday May 8, 2007, at Blairquhan Castle which doubled for Balmoral in the hit film "The Queen". The exhibition features the drawings of Eliza Hunter Blair, an ancestor of the Hunter Blair family that lives at Blairquhan today. The exquisite pencil sketches were drawn by Eliza when she travelled in India and Europe in the 1820s and 1830s, and have never before been made available for public viewing.

Sir Patrick Hunter Blair, who is the great, great, great, great nephew of Eliza and 9th Baronet, commented, "We owe a huge debt of gratitude to John Jackson our Head Archivist who has curated this exhibition for the family. We are delighted that these pictures are now hung in our gallery so that they can be viewed and enjoyed by many more people." The total of 34 works which were on show represent less than a third of a collection held in the family archive amounting to over 120 pictures drawn or painted by Eliza.

The family hopes to put on show at a later date more examples of the drawings she made during her extensive travels in Europe and India. Sir Walter Scott wrote in his diary on February 24 1829; "I went to breakfast with Mr Drummond Hay, where again we met Colonel and Mrs Hunter Blair. We looked over some beautiful drawings Mrs Blair had made in different parts of India - Mrs Blair is full of enthusiasm. She told me that when she worked with her pencil she was glad to have someone to read to her as a sort of sedative otherwise her excitement made her tremble, and burst out a-crying. I can understand this well." Eliza was born Anne Elizabeth Norris and married Thomas Hunter Blair in Bombay in July 1820. General Tom died in 1858 with Eliza surviving him by nine years.

They lie side by side in Greyfriars Churchyard in Edinburgh. The exhibition was officially opened by Helen Smailes, Senior Curator of British Art, and Anne Buddle, Head of Exhibitions and Collections Management, both of the National Galleries of Scotland. Regarded as one of the finest Regency castles in Scotland, Blairquhan Castle was built for Sir David Hunter Blair, 3rd Baronet in 1821 - 1824 on the site of a previous castle dating back to 1346. It was designed by the famous Scottish architect William Burn. The castle and grounds are open to the public on Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter to September, 1.00 to 5.00pm. Admission to Castle - Adult £6.00, Child £3.00, Concession £5.00. Visitors are welcome at other times by prior arrangement.

Maybole’s Carrick Amateur Football Club held their second Player of the Year Presentation recently. Club President Richard Stevenson welcomed everyone to the event and promptly introduced club manager, George Logan. “Tonight is all about the players” George said, “I will keep my speech like my team talks, short, and to the point.”

George went on to mention the club had still an outside chance of promotion this season, but this was dependent on other clubs dropping points over their respective remaining fixtures. Carrick has the best record in the league, unfortunately through an oversight; the club were deducted six points and with that the opportunity of clinching the Ayrshire 2^nd division title. The clubs record in the league this season:

Played 22

Won     17

Drew    2

Lost     3

Goals for 61

Goals against 27

George went on to mention the club’s excellent season, losing only one competitive fixture since the middle of November ’06. He thanked the players for the dedication and hard work throughout the season and particularly since November to accomplish such a run. “Utilising the current squad and adding a few new faces,” George added, “George McCulloch and I feel we have the players and support to get promotion next season and have premiere football back in Maybole the next.”

He thanked the committee for their hard work, without their commitment amateur clubs could not survive he added. “Now comes the moment all the players were waiting for” George said, and he called upon his wife Effie and Assistant Manager George McCulloch’s wife Marion to present the awards. Manager’s Player of the Year, none other than Club Captain David Brown. Clubman of the Year and picking up the Thomas Shaw Memorial Trophy, Brian Milligan. Player of the Year and the prestigious Players’ Player of the Year,were  both awarded to Andrew Conkie. Unfortunately Andrew couldn’t be there to pick up his awards, but an able substitute was found, and Margaret, Andrew’s mother,  accepted the awards on his behalf.

WEST OF SCOTLAND BLIND GOLF CLASSIC – TURNBERRY. The Classic visited Turnberry for the fourth time. Blind and visually impaired golfers from all over Scotland played the very testing Kintyre course in what could be called freakish weather conditions. Wind and hail lashed the course for a time, causing many to cower below battered brollies. The competitors had to use all their golfing skill to play in these conditions and e guides also had to call upon every ounce of ability to guide and select clubs. The winner was local Maybole man Bennett Ward and his guide Peter Conway.  They scored 32 points in the Stableford style competition.

Bennett is a member of the West S.B.G.S. and has courtesy of the course at Turnberry, Runner up was Jim Eadie (West S.B.G.S.) with 30 points, 3rd place went to Ken Freeman (Greater Glasgow S.B.G.S.) with 29 points. Bennett said “having courtesy of the course presented to me some years ago has helped my game tremendously.” He added, “My thanks to Turnberry Westin Resort, and guide Peter, without them I wouldn’t be the golfer I am today. This win has been a long time coming, the last competition I won was also here, some five years ago, but the standard of players within the society has really improved”. The West S.B.G.S. wishes to thank the Turnberry Westin Resort for hosting the event, Irvine Seagate Rotary for their generous support and all who donated raffle prizes, raising ££150, – especially Finnies Sports, Ayr.

The UK Chess Challenge is the biggest tournament for children in the UK. It starts as a seven round competition in schools and clubs everywhere and the winners go forward to the second stage. Peter Edwards and Liam Menzies qualified in Carrick Chess Club. Peter went on to compete in the 2nd stage, which was held in Newton Mearns for the West of Scotland players. He qualified with 4/6 to join the winners in Manchester for the 3rd stage. In the meantime in Carrick's own competitions, Ali Roy won the Queen, the senior blitz trophy for April, and the Rook, the junior blitz trophy for May! The club meets from 6.30 - 10.00 on Wednesdays in the town hall in Maybole. The juniors are now playing for the Bishop until the end of May, then have some fun events in June. The seniors are finishing the club competition and some blitz events. These are games where everyone gets 5 minutes on the clock for the whole game.

Last October Maybole’s Shannan Brown won two British champion titles for disco dancing. Now she has won two 2007 European Champion titles! Shunny, as she is known, won the European under 14 solo section and the under 14 slow section at Brean Sands. Not only that, she has been nominated for this year’s Le Classique de Danse Awards in the under 12 section. For those who don’t know, this is a bit like the Oscars in the dancing world and only three dancers can be nominated each year.

Last year, as well as winning the under 12 British title in the Solo Section and the Pairs title with partner Chloe Parnell from Kilmarnock, Shannan won the City of Aberdeen Championship and the British and Irish Freestyle Masters title. Her big sister Kayleigh, a Scottish freestyle champion at intermediate level, has just been accepted at Anniesland College where she will be studying for a qualification in dance and learning to be a choreographer.

PS SHANNAN’S MUM JANE MARIE CAN BE CONTACTED ON 01655 882588 OR MOBILE: 07917272520

Do you remember the “Summer of Love” - the summer of 1967.

Scott McKenzie's number 1 hit "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" summed it up but there was more to music than just that one song.

The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released on June 1, 1967, and went to number 1 in the UK on 10^th June. The same day “A Whiter Shade of Pale” went to number 1 in singles

To mark the occasion Carrick Sports Club is holding a nostalgic 60s night on Saturday 9^th June and if any member still has his or her 60s gear they are invited to get dressed up and go along.

Other number 1s of the year were:

The Monkees I'm A Believer

Petula Clark This Is My Song

Engelbert Humperdinck Release Me

Frank & Nancy Sinatra Something Stupid

Sandie Shaw Puppet On A String

The Tremeloes Silence Is Golden

The Beatles All You Need Is Love

Engelbert Humperdinck The Last Waltz

The Bee Gees Massachusetts

The Foundations Baby Now That I've Found You

Long John Baldry Let The Heartaches Begin

The Beatles Hello Goodbye:

Maybole branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland want to honour two Carrick holders of the Victoria Cross on Sunday 24^th June, 2007. The two Victoria Cross holders have connections with the town and nearby villages. The Legion members will hold a parade from Crosne Street to the Greenside for a drumhead service and unveiling of a special plaque to commemorate the two soldiers. Any group which takes part in the Remembrance Day or Armistice Day services is invited to take part and asked to gather by 1.45pm at the latest.

William James Montgomery Cuninghame VC was presented with his medal on 26th June 1857 in Hyde Park, London, when Her Majesty Queen Victoria held the very first investiture of the award. Legion members feel that it would be appropriate to mark the 150^th anniversary of this with a special drumhead service at the town’s Greenside. William James Montgomery Cuninghame was born on 20^th May 1834 in the parish of Maybole, the son of Sir Thomas Montgomery Cunninghhame and Charlotte Niven D Hutcheson.

Just prior to his 20^th birthday he enlisted on 11th March 1853 as Lieutenant in the 1^st Battalion The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own).  On 20^th November 1854, while serving with his regiment during the Crimean War, he was ordered to attack several Russian rifle pits on rising ground which were really caves dug into the side of the hill.

The capture of the rifle pits was essential to the advance of the British troops and  during the night and for some time the following morning the Russians made repeated attempts to recapture the rifle pits. The British party under the leadership of Lieutenant (Brevet Captain) Cuninghame and Lieutenant (Brevet Major) Bourchier held out against superior numbers until they were relieved by another party from their own regiment.

For their actions during the initial attack and the subsequent defence of the rifle pits against superior forces, Lieutenant Bourchier and Cuninghame were awarded the Victoria Cross. Lieutenant Cuninghame V C eventually attained the rank of Colonel and in 1874 he retired from the army. He continued to reside with his family at Glenmoor House which he later renamed Kirkbride House. He served as MP for Ayr from 1874 to 1880  and died on 11^th November 1897. He was buried in the family plot in Kirkmichael Churchyard on 17^th November 1897.

Samuel McGaw was awarded his Victoria Cross for action at the Battle of Amoaful. On 18^th April 1874 he was presented with his award by Her Majesty Queen Victoria at Osborne Castle, Isle of Wight. He was born in 1837 in Kirkmichael, near Maybole, the eldest son of William McGaw and his wife Sarah Thomson. Aged 20, on 15^th August 1857 Samuel enlisted in the 42^nd Royal Highlanders. On 12^th September 1861 the name "Black Watch" was added to the Regiment's title.

The King of Ashanti (Ghana) sent his troops in 1873 to attack the friendly tribes of the British Protectorate of the Gold Coast where very few British troops were stationed. Urgent reinforcements were required and amongst these were the 42^nd Highlanders. The Black Watch sailed from Portsmouth on 3^rd December 1873, arriving in the Gold Coast ten days before Christmas.

Soon after the New Year they set off for Coomassie (Kumasi), the capital of Ashanti, 150 miles inland. During their advance the main action of the campaign was at the Ashanti town of Amoaful where Lance Sergeant McGaw although severely wounded early in the initial attack led his section through the dense thorny bush and engaged the enemy several times during the day. For his conduct throughout the battle Samuel McGaw was later awarded the Victoria Cross, one of four awarded during the Ashanti Campaign.

Samuel was again posted overseas to Malta on 14^th November 1874. From Malta the Regiment moved to Cyprus where they disembarked at Larnaca on 22^nd July 1878, and set off for Camp Chiflik Pasha that same day. Whilst on the march to the camp Sergeant McGaw died of heat stroke. He was buried close to where he had died and a wooden marker was set up to mark the spot.

Some three years later, Commissioner of Kyrenia, Colonel Scott Stevenson formerly of the Black Watch, learned that the Greek farmer who owned the land on which Sergeant McGaw was buried, had removed the wooden grave marker and had ploughed the land over the grave. Colonel Stevenson traced the site of the grave, exhumed the remains and placed them in a coffin which was taken to Kyrenia where, covered with a Union Flag and carried by six Turkish Zaptiehs, it was reburied in the English Cemetery. After the funeral Mrs Scott Stevenson decorated the grave with wreaths of passion flowers and jasmine. The grave was then marked with an ancient sarcophagus and is alongside the graves of other members of the Regiment who died in the campaign.

Maybole Community Council AGM Monday 14^th May 2007

Peter Mason has been elected as the new chairman of Maybole Community Council taking over from David Kiltie.

The election was held at the AGM which was chaired by Margaret Burns representing South Ayrshire Council as this was the first of a three year term of office for the recently elected community councillors.

Other office bearers are Alex Kelly, vice chair; Anne walker, secretary; and Gillian Durrant, treasurer.

Ms Burns reported that 12 community councillors had been nominated for 15 vacancies so there had been no need for an election. With three eats not filled former community councillor and South Ayrshire councillor Alan Murray and former community councillor Wendy McClure were co-opted to fill two of the positions. Anyone else interested in being considered to fill the last remaining vacancy is asked to contact the secretary.

In his annual report retiring chairman David Kiltie commented on what had been a very busy year.

He said, “Other groups we were represented on included Maybole Resource Centre’s Advisory Committee, Maybole Town Twinning Association, Carrick Crime Prevention Panel, Carrick Community Transport Group, the local Sports Association, Maybole Community Association, Maybole Sick Nursing Association, Maybole Carnegie 21^st Century Hall Committee, the Association of South Ayrshire Community Councils, Carrick Community Council Forum, and the new Carrick Centre management committee.

Thanks are due to all community councillors who put in extra work as part of all these groups.”

He went on to recall an eventful year for the Bypass Committee which organised several successful demonstrations; attracted a lot of support from the local MP and several MSPs; and lobbied the Transport Minister, Tavish Scott.

In June, a delegation had travelled to Holyrood to meet Cathy Jamieson MSP and to lobby the Transport Minister who presented them with a copy of the STAG 1 report.

Tavish Scott, told community councillors, “This has been an important study and I am pleased progress has been made to address the transport issues local residents and businesses face.”

Carrick Academy’s S4 XL Club pupils had also visited the Scottish Parliament to press the case for a Maybole bypass. The community council hosted a special event for them to recognise their achievement in producing a DVD highlighting the need for a bypass for the town.

In addition there had been several problems with lights in Maybole and concerns about the speed of traffic through the town.

The proposed closure if Accident & Emergency facilities at Ayr Hospital were another concern for community councillors and a delegation met with Health Minister Andy Kerr at Holyrood.

Mr Kiltie felt that the recent change in government at Holyrood should be the impetus to lobby for the closure proposals to be reversed.

He continued his report pointing out, “2007 is the 250^th anniversary of the marriage of Robert Burns’ parents in Maybole and plans for a year long festival have been awarded a grant of £46,800 by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“We feel that the chance meeting of William Burnes and Agnes Broun at the foot of Maybole High Street in 1756 was the real beginning of the immortal story of Robert Burns.”

A grant of £24,800 has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Young Roots fund to allow local young people to research the history of Carrick Academy’s badge, which has associations with the UK royal family and the former royal family of France, and other details of Maybole rich history.

Already pupils from Carrick Academy, Queen Margaret Academy and Maybole Youth Club have signed up to take part in the project which will be assisted by local historians. The young people will be involved in researching and designing period costumes, dramatising the town’s history and recoding this on a DVD.

As in previous years the community council had worked closely with the Maybole Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland in the Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday and Holocaust Day services. Next month they will be involved in commemorating two local VCs at a special drumhead service at the Greenside on Sunday 24^th June at 1.45pm.

Windfarms, at Knoweside and Dersalloch, had become an issue locally and Maybole Community Council had been very involved in discussions with developers.

In September, Maybole had marked the 150th anniversary of the railway line coming to Maybole. In a small start to improving the station environment, the “MAYBOLE” sign opposite the platform was once again revealed and flower tubs were installed.

A longer term project is being planned which will allow local school children to design and create a mosaic on the embankment on the far side of the station. Permission for this work on the embankment, however, has been refused. South Ayrshire Council has agreed part funding for this project.

Cathy Jamieson MSP had visited Maybole Castle to hear about new proposals for the 450 year old building and was accompanied by Patricia Ferguson MSP who was the Scottish Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. Proposed plans for the possibility of the Castle being taken over by a group of local organisations and potential activities were outlined as well as the amount of finance required if the project had any chance of succeeding.

“One very sad event,” said Mr Kiltie, “was the murder of Amjid Ismail of Kirkland Stores.

“The whole town was hit hard by this and a number of us attended his funeral in Glasgow. We were also represented at a memorial service for Amjid on Saturday December 9 in the Baptist Church and afterwards in the town hall. Our sympathies go to the family for the unfortunate and untimely death of their son and brother.

In addition, we have contributed to a fund organised by pupils of Carrick Academy to establish a summer seat in Amjid’s memory.”

Looking to the future Mr Kiltie added, “This year is the 25^th anniversary of the official twinning between Maybole and Crosne. We wish the Town Twinning Association well in its plans to celebrate this significant occasion. We are especially pleased to see the senior schools from both towns re-establishing links.”

He concluded by offering the thanks of Maybole Community Council to everyone who helped in any way over the past 12 months.

In particular he mentioned Cathy Jamieson MSP, Sandra Osborne MP, Councillors Alan Murray and Brian Connolly, staff of South Ayrshire Council, especially all Town Hall Staff for their help at meetings and public events, local police, especially Sgt Gilmour for all his assistance, Maybole Community Association, Maybole Historical Society, and Maybole branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland.

He also paid tribute to Maybole’s web master Rich Pettit of Clearwater, Florida, USA, and thanked everyone who had contributed photographs, articles and memories to the web site.