October 25th 2002

October 18th 2002

October 11th 2002

October 4th 2002

The complete text of the headlines above follows.

LITTLE bit of rain never hurt anyone! That was the philosophy pupils of Carrick Academy had to cling to as they set off in a fun run. But it turned out to be a LOT of rain for many of the 270-plus pupils who took part in the fundraiser on Friday! However, it was laughter all the way, and so far more than £500 has been raised in sponsorship cash. The fun run was the big highlight of the school’s non-uniform day, and proceeds will be used to spruce up the dining hall. Prizes for the raffle were donated by Odeon Cinema, LA Bowl, Springwater Fishery, Turnberry Golf Club and Carrick Academy staff. And the staff and pupils who organised the day passed on their grateful thanks.

CARRICK, Cumnock and Doon Valley has shed its tag as an unemployment black spot, says MP George Foulkes MP. September figures reveal his constituency — with five per cent jobless — on a LOWER rate than Ayr, with 5.4 per cent. Mr Foulkes says most credit should go to employers like Caledonian Clear, Barony Universal, and the Original Shoe Company, who have all been expanding. He also pays tribute to East Ayrshire Council for a ‘tremendous effort’ to attract new jobs, such as the Child Support Agency offices and the Glaisnock Centre development. But he warns: “We shouldn’t be complacent as there are people on training schemes who still have to be found jobs. “And we need to attract even more employment to attract back people who have had to leave the area to find work.”

However, Mr Foulkes says the figures show the success of the Government’s economic policy and the New Deal. The MP’s constituency now has a jobless rate less than 1 per cent above the Scottish average. And it has lower unemployment than Ayr (5.4 per cent), Kilmarnock and Loudoun (5.5 per cent), Cunninghame South (7.6 per cent) and Cunninghame North (5.8 per cent). Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley for decades had high dole queues, due to the decline in mining around Cumnock, fishing jobs on the coast, and agricultural jobs in a constituency that stretches from Muirkirk to Ballantrae.

IT’S been another season of keenly-contested competitions at Maybole Memorial Park Bowling Club. Silverware was handed out at an enjoyable prize night in the clubhouse, and the 2002 winners are: Men’s champ — A. McFadzean, r-up — B. Brown; ladies champ — J. Kincaid, r-up — F. Henderson; junior champ — A. Kelly, r-up — T. Child. A. Kidd Trophy — P. Skilling, r-up — P. McArthur; Julie Trophy — W. McCulloch, r-up — M. Hodge; Novice Trophy — I. Hearton, r-up — J. Ramage; Ladywell Trophy — N. McIntyre, r-up — I. Hearton; Nan McDonald Trophy — J. Kincaid, r-up — M. Storr. Men’s pairs — K. Brown & B. Jamieson, r-up — J. Campbell & N. McIntyre; ladies’ pairs — D. Rae & F. Henderson, r-up — M. Storr & H. Clark; two-bowl pairs — F. Henderson & B. Jamieson, r-up — J. Kincaid & B. Brown. Mixed pairs — W. McCulloch & S. Carlyle, r-up — M. Storr & P. Skilling; men’s triples — N. McIntyre, P. McArthur & S. Carlyle, r-up — S. Waugh, I. Hearton & J. Ramage; ladies’ triples — H. Hunter, J. Paterson & J. Kincaid, r-up — M. Storr, M. Hazle, H. Clark. Men’s SBA fours — N. McIntyre, P. McArthur, A. McFadzean & S. Carlyle, r-up — D. Harvey, B. Brown, C. Kincaid & R. Hutchison; ladies’ SBA fours — M. Storr, M. Hazle, W. McCulloch, H. Clark; r-up —H. Hunter, J. Paterson, R. McCulloch & J. Kincaid. Peggy Kelly Handicap — A. Kelly, r-up — F. Potter; men’s league — R. Hutchison; ladies’ league — F. Henderson; J. Kenny singles — D. Storr, r-up — C. Kincaid; Kildoon mixed pairs — P. McArthur & J. Kincaid, r-up — D. Storr & M. Hutton. Wellpark Trophy — I. Hearton, r-up —J. Hutton; Crawford Salver — P. Skilling & M. Storr, r-up — A. McFadzean & M. Hearton; J. Jamieson Trophy — H. Clark, r-up — R. Hutchison; Tom Henderson Trophy — J. & C. Kincaid, r-up — R. Hutchison & A. McIntyre. Clark Steven Trophy — R. McCulloch, r-up — B. Brown; McKissock Rosebowl — J. & C. Kincaid, r-up — W. McCulloch & K. Brown; President’s Cup — M. Hodge, r-up — F. Henderson; Provost’s Shield — J. & C. Kincaid, r-up — B. Brown & K. Brown.

WORK will start soon on a project to ensure a more reliable electricity supply for Minnoch Crescent homes in Maybole. A Scottish Power spokesman admitted: “Our customers in the street have experienced problems, and we’re putting in a new cable. “We will also be renewing connections to homes which have had problems.” Work will take an estimated four to six weeks, and is part of an ongoing programme to provide modern underground cabling in Ayrshire towns and villages. The spokesman added: “We’re also working in Maidens just now, and when it’s done, we’ll be able to get rid of unsightly overhead wires.”

October 18th 2002

PUTTING THE FUN INTO FUNDRAISING. Fundraisers at St Cuthbert's Primary in Maybole always put the emphasis on FUN! And a sale of work was their latest happy event. Pupils joined parents, teachers and friends to organise an event which netted an excellent £772 for the school. And you can see why people turned out for a "hardy annual" social occasion that had so much to offer. There was a super range of stalls, as well as entertaining games and tasty treats. And the school thanked everyone who supported the magnificent effort.

CARRICK GIRLS MADE BANNER BACK IN 1954. A FLAG made by Carrick Academy pupils in 1954 is winning praise from today’s pupils. And it was held up as an example of town spirit by Maybole Community Council chairman David Kiltie, who gave a talk to the school’s xl club. Everyone who has seen the flag is delighted it is no longer folded out of sight. And there are moves to have it permanently on display in the school, in a glass frame. The flag is a bigger version of the school badge, designed 50 years ago by then art master Bill Lockhart.  Mr Lockhart had to come up with a design acceptable to the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, and he based the badge on Maybole Burgh coat of arms, which are themselves based on those of Carrick. The red chevron represents the old Earldom of Carrick — of which Maybole is the ancient capital. And the three blue lions are for Robert the Bruce, who was Earl of Carrick before becoming King. Carrick Academy itself is represented by the book and pens on the chevron. The flag was made by a 3A sewing class of 1954, and the girls who made it have sewn their names into the seam. The names of the seamstresses are: Sheena Walker, Jean McFarlane, Elizabeth McCrindle, Nancy Duncan, Anne Fraser, Betty Heath, Anne Watson, Jessie Campbell, Margaret McCulloch and Helen Kelly.

MAYBOLE Boys’ Brigade is working on an exciting international project, and hopes to use the town’s celebrated website to support it. The boys aim to contact schools in the USA, in a bid to start regular correspondence. And tpo help with their ambitious project, they visited the Maybole Community Development Group office to use computers there. MCDG offers free internet access, and the boys spent a couple of hours researching American states and possible schools to contact. Maybole BB captain William Boyce told the Post: “The idea is to give the boys something difficult and more challenging to do. “And it is a project that can go on for years if, as I hope, we receive favourable replies from the schools we contact.” Mr Boyce added: “We hope to contact a school in each state in the order they joined the Union, starting with Delaware and working through to Hawaii. “And we hope to make new and lasting friendships.”

JANICE McKellar from Maybole has handed over three cheques worth a total of £689 to aid Multiple Sclerosis charities. The superfit mum was sponsored for her run in the Glasgow Half-Marathon last month, and as a result has given £203 to the charity’s Ayrshire branch, and £136 to the national branch in Edinburgh. Janice also organised a Friends Reunited bash in Maybole Town Hall, attended by ex-pupils and staff of Carrick Academy from the 1960s and 70s. This event raised a further £350, which Janice has passed on to the Ayrshire branch. She said: “I’m particularly grateful to local businesses who donated raffle prizes and Carrick Round Table for running the barbecue and the bar.”

MAYBOLE Community Association is starting to focus on its annual Christmas Bazaar, to be held on the first Saturday in December (7th). A limited number of stalls is available, and groups affiliated to the association will get priority. After that, stalls will be reserved on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. The booking fee is £3 for affiliated groups and £8 for non-affiliated, with a closing date of Friday, November 22. Any group wishing to have the tea stall (same prices apply) should make the booking by Friday, November 15. Applications to take part in the event should go to Deb Creedy, 66 Culzean Road, Maybole KA19 8AH, tel: 01655 889560.

TINY Tots Playgroup is holding a fashion show in the bowling clubhouse at Maybole Memorial Park next Tuesday (October 22, 7.30pm). Outfits on show are by Taylor Fashions, and tickets are £1.50. Shoes, hats, scarves and Christmas gifts will also feature, and 10 per cent of sales go to playgroup funds. Tickets can be bought in advance from playgroup parents, or you can pay at the door on the night of the show.

LOOKING BACK —100 YEARS AGO: Five candidates contest four vacancies on Maybole Burgh Council. Retiring members James Lambie and Hugh Fairlie stand again, and there are three new candidates. Polling is slow during the day, but there is a late rush: Result is: 1, James Miller, draper, 400; 2, James P. Boyd, master plumber, 356; 3, James Lambie, clothier, 337; 4, George Mulvein, commission agent, 263; 5 (unsuccessful), Hugh Fairlie, baker, 237.

A KARAOKE competition will be a highlight of a charity fundraising night at Maybole Town Hall. Maybole South Tenants and Residents Association plans the contest, plus a disco, on Saturday, October 26. Doors open at 5.30pm, and the event is on from 6 till 10pm. Admission is just £1, and a raffle will also feature. Profits from the evening will be donated to the locally-based charity the Barbara McGill Trust.

THE latest round of Lottery grants for local groups under the Awards for All scheme were announced on Tuesday. Malin Housing Association in Turnberry will receive a £5,000 share from the Health, Education and Environmental Awards. This will create a library, specially equipped for the visually impaired, for residents of the nursing and residential care home, as well as the local community, to utilise. Maybole Men’s Forum will get £4,433, enabling the group to hold workshops and seminars on health issues. The forum offers free men’s health advice and support, addressing male health issues and encouraging healthy living.

LINDSEY Sprott is tuning into energy efficiency with a solar-powered radio she won in a prize draw. The Maybole girl’s name was pulled out of the hat in a draw among second year pupils at Queen Margaret Academy. The pupils took part in energy efficiency lessons, and also filled in a simple questionnaire about energy use in their home. As well as the chance to win the radio, each pupil received advice from the South Ayrshire Energy Agency on reducing bills. Liz Marquis, director of SAEA, said: “These pupils are the home owners of the future. The lessons are a great way of introducing the importance of energy efficiency and the effect it has in reducing fuel bills and saving the environment.”

MAYBOLE Council of Churches is holding a St Andrew’s Night in the town hall on Saturday, November 30. South Ayrshire Council is sponsoring an event featuring the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra, Aileen Robertson Highland Dancers, and folk duo Sandy and Fiona

October 11th 2002

MAYBOLE SPIRIT BOOSTS ELLIE
LIFE is now a bit easier for little Ellie Robinson, thanks to the generosity of local people and groups, especially Carrick Round Table. Jim Hewitt, Frazer Davidson, Caroline McIntosh and Kevin McSorley ran in the Glasgow Marathon on September 8 to help the two-and-a-half- year-old girl who wakes up every morning to face the pain of having her legs stretched straight. Thanks to donations from friends and work colleagues, an amazing £1001 has been raised, and the runners would like to thank those who supported them, especially employees at Maybole firm SAS International. The Round Table had also pledged to meet the cost of the equipment Ellie needs, and a trust fund for the future has now been set up. Donations for £100 each from the Instep Outlaws line dancers, and Mr Hamilton from Mossblown, have been added to the fund.

Last week, the four runners visited Ellie’s home in Maybole. Ellie has cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, as well as being blind. She has never crawled nor walked, and is fed through a tube in her nose. She sleeps on her back, and wakes up with her legs almost knotted, which puts pressure on her hip joints, and parents Rob and Julieanne have to stretch her legs straight. The money raised was to purchase a sleep suit made of perspex, which keeps her limbs straight in various sleeping positions. It cost about £1,000, and Ellie spent her first night in it last Tuesday. David Kerr, chairman, Jim Shields, treasurer, and Craig Young, secretary of the Round Table visited Ellie the following night and learned that she had been very comfortable in it. Rob and Julieanne are very grateful for the help they have received, and Julieanne, who has a nursing background, has now given up work to spend more time with her daughter who needs 24-hour care. She added that Ellie was only six months away from her hips being irreparably damaged. An operation planned for this week to place the feeding tube into her stomach, instead of being fed through her nose, has been postponed till the end of the month.

Ellie was born in Irvine Central, her mum is an Ayrshire lass, and they moved to Maybole a year ago after a time in Dunure. Rob says a number of people tried to put him off coming to the Capital of Carrick but he has a message for them. “On opting to buy a house in Maybole, many people asked why? One year on and I feel a real need to inform the locals of my feelings of living in this wee town. “OK, it’s no Milan or St Tropez. But it does have a real sense of community spirit, and I want to tell the people who knocked it that I’m proud to live here. “I would like to thank the local press for highlighting Ellie’s story, and the genuine folk who have responded, not only financially, but with words of comfort and support to my wife, myself and our wee girl.” Rob added that the family have had tremendous help from staff at the Seafield Wing of Ayr Hospital. Above: left to right, Frazer Davidson, Jim Hewitt, Caroline McIntosh with young Ellie Robinson, and Kevin McSorley Below: Craig Young, David Kerr with Ellie, and Jim Shields of Carrick Round Table

CARRICK PUPILS’ XL-ENT TEAMWORK
MEMBERS of Carrick Academy’s S3 xl club are enjoying a range of community and enterprise projects. They had a team-building day at the Dolphin House at Culzean Country Park, when they undertook a number of challenges. These included working on a hexagonal bridge, skis and building ‘blow carts’ to see if they could get them to work. The tasks were all seen as exercises to help club members develop as a unit, and achieve results for the benefit of all. The S3 xl club — just starting a two-year course — have also visited Maybole Castle, at the hub of the community as a base for job trainers May-Tag Ltd. They have also had fact-finding discussions with Maybole Community Council chairman David Kiltie and local community policeman PC Thornton. South Ayrshire Council’s Community Education department has joined forces with Carrick Academy to spearhead the xl programme for S3 and S4 pupils. [In the pictures to be add here] (Above) Best foot forward: it has to be or else - the ‘ski’ provides a valuable lesson in teamwork (right) It’s not like this on Changing Rooms: Making the right choices taught the pupils another lesson (left) Members of the xl club (from the left) Lisa Roy, Campbell Conn, Zoe Jess, Siobhan Jess, Aaron McCulloch and Kirsty McDowall, with John Moore of MayTag Ltd, after a tour of Maybole Castle  Sandi has ‘em laughing

CASTLE OWNER WINS BATTLE OVER PLANNING KNOCKBACK
HISTORIAN James Brown has won a tough battle to keep the right to restore 16th century Baltersan, the ruined tower house one mile south of Maybole. But, after his eight-month fight to renew planning consent, he warns that other businesses reliant on the A77 may face a serious new obstacle if they want to develop. What he had believed would be a routine planning application turned into a struggle with the Scottish Executive that has dragged on for most of this year. Said Mr Brown, who lives close to Baltersan at Dalchomie Farm: “For some months it looked as if the application might fail because Scottish Executive road officials claimed it would threaten safety on the A77, and recommended refusal. “I was perplexed as the proposals involved even LESS impact on traffic than the original planning application five years ago — which the roads people were happy to rubber-stamp.” He went on: “South Ayrshire Council has never yet gone against a recommendation from the Scottish Executive, so it was very worrying. “This single objection could have led to the ultimate collapse of this important A-listed building. “Even worse, a precedent would have been imposed from Edinburgh that would effectively blight the local economy all along the trunk route. “For most of its length, the A77 is a local road, so neighbouring farms and other businesses wishing to develop or diversify risk getting blocked in the same way.”

Mr Brown and his architect spent weeks researching traffic statistics and planning precedents. They sent a detailed paper to counter the civil servants’ claim that turning the building into a six-bedroom time-share residence would have a ‘detrimental effect on road safety’. He said: “The reply from Edinburgh was dismissive. I was told it would involve ‘disproportionate effort’ to respond to the facts we presented, and I could always appeal against the decision — even though the council had yet to make one.” He warned: “If Holyrood could have killed off my modest enterprise so easily, the same could happen to other Ayrshire businesses and farms that are dependent on the A77. “This issue must be tackled at the highest level if the area’s economic development is not to be dragged down.” Mr Brown added: “I have no doubt that it is thanks to the diplomatic intervention of the council’s planning officials that my case has been saved. “They handled a difficult situation with great skill and without fuss. I am very grateful to them.” Many letters of support for Mr Brown’s application arrived at the council from all over the world. He said: “I was greatly heartened by the efforts people made to back the project, many of whom I have never met. “And I am especially proud that the chief executive of Historic Scotland, Graeme Munro, put his weight behind the restoration plans. “He personally wrote to stress to the council that Baltersan was an important building that needed to be saved.”

Historic St Andrews
MAYBOLE Historical Society has an atmospheric venue lined up for its St Andrew’s celebration — albeit a couple of days late, on Monday, December 2. Chairman Dave Killicoat comments: “Thanks to Patti and Peter Kewney, we are able to hold our celebration in the wonderful surroundings of Drumellan House.” The evening begins around 7pm, with a welcome drink, prior to a light buffet meal of traditional Scottish fare, and entertainment will be provided by a variety of musicians and speakers; tickets will be available by the end of the month.

A GROUP of five Carrick Academy pupils took part in a concert recording for a new BBC Radio Scotland series. The five were part of the South Ayrshire Schools Jazz Band who played in a concert for Let’s Do The Show Right Here at Troon Concert Hall. Jackie Bird, better known as a TV newsreader, presented the show, which is being broadcast later this month. Also on the bill at Troon were comedy actress Dorothy Paul, singer Craig McMurdo and the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra. The show was to aid Seascape, a charity which provides rent deposits to give homeless people in South Ayrshire a fresh start. The Carrick pupils playing with the jazz band were Douglas Galbraith, Calum McFadyen, Fiona Galbraith, Alison Russell and Morven Gourlay.

Carrick Academy holds a Fun Run in school grounds tomorrow (Friday), and everyone can participate, whether serious runners or not. Pupils can run in fancy dress, and they have been seeking sponsorship from families and friends. Cash raised will be used to refurbish the dining hall area.

Meanwhile, a total of 274 pupils took part in the recent inter-house cross-country run in school grounds. Yellow House accumulated the highest points total of 398.  Carrick pupils performed well in the Ayrshire Schools Orienteering Championship. Results from the S1-3 course: Fergus Gourlay, 2nd; Sam Fleming, 3rd; Kieran Wilson, 4th; Sam Barker, 5th; Robin Cairns, 8th; Gillian Baird, 11th; and Fraser Taylor, 12th. S4-6 course: Ross Anderson, 2nd; Katie Barker, 3rd; Gregor Thomson, 5th; Colin McClure, 6th; Peter McTaggart, 7th; Paul Challis, 8th; Blair Campbell, 9th; Greg Rorison, 10th; Fiona Galbraith, 11th; Sarah MacInnes, 12th; Morven Gourlay, 13th; Heather Gilmour, 14th; Jennifer Hutchison, 15th.

Pupils going for Bronze and Silver in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award have been out and about in the Lowther Hills. The bronze group covered 30km from Muirkirk to Wanlockhead, while the silver group trekked 50km from Afton Water to Muirkirk, via Sanquhar and Wanlockhead. Both groups enjoyed good weather, with the silver group experiencing particularly warm conditions for two of their three days. Candidates are now busy completing other aspects of the award, and are aiming to receive badges in November. Thanks go to Mr Forsyth and Mrs Bryden for their help and encouragement, and especially to Charlie the dog for his enthusiasm.

New bronze candidates will be enrolled soon, and pupils can check out what’s on offer at the school.  A group from the school’s xl club visited Ayr Police Station to find out how policing is organised in the area. Enterprising group members are also selling potatoes to staff to raise cash for activities.  Carrick Academy Under-14s had an excellent 5-2 win over Irvine Royal Academy in the 1st round of the Scottish Cup. Scorers were Liam Harper (2), Robert Kirk, David Nisbet and James Gibson. The team will have to look out their passports for the next round — away to Arran Academy!  S2 pupils are learning about healthy eating, in a project undertaken with the help of supermarket chain Safeway. Pupils are trying to stick to a healthy regime of eating five pieces of fruit or vegetable each day. Jackie Bird

CONSTABLE Sandi Wallace was guest speaker at the opening night of Maybole Trefoil Guild. She gave an informative and interesting talk on the best ways to avoid being a crime victim. PC Wallace, who has 29 years experience in various police departments, spiced her crime prevention talk with humour. She was welcomed by guild president Marjorie Orr, and thanked by Lillias McFarlane.

October 4th 2002

PILGRIMS TRACE THE FOOTSTEPS OF A SAINT. Maybole parishioners' weekend pilgrimage to Holy Iona St Columba is a saint who, even after fourteen hundred years, has a fascination for many people, especially Scots. Born in Ireland, in Donegal in the year 521, was of royal blood, and might have become High King of Ireland had he not chosen to be a priest.  Last weekend parishioners from Our Lady and St Cuthbert’s Church, Maybole, along with some members of other local churches, set off to follow in his footsteps on the island of Iona, one of Scotland’s most sacred sites.  Iona is a small island off the west coast of Scotland, where in 563 AD Columba founded a Celtic monastery that in the middle ages became the site of a Benedictine abbey and over the centuries has attracted many thousands of people on their own pilgrim journeys. On Friday 20th September the Maybole pilgrims met at St Cuthbert’s just after 8am for Mass and prayer for what Fr Jim Hayes, who was leading the group, described as "a safe and grace filled pilgrimage". They set off by bus at 9am and stopped for a short break at Luss, where "Take the High Road" is filmed. After lunch in Oban, they took a 45 minute ferry journey to Craignure, on the island of Mull. As it was a day of brilliant sunshine many of the group sat at the back of the boat and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The following day they left their hotel at 9am for the 75 minute journey across Mull by single track road to the ferry point and the 5 minute crossings to Iona. Of all the sacred places in Scotland, Iona is regarded as an enduring symbol of Christianity since St Columba arrived with twelve others to found the monastery which was to become one of the most important in Europe. The visitors leisurely walked around the famous gravestones of monks, kings and John Smith, the leader of the Labour Party who died in 1994. Many also visited St Oran’s Chapel, the oldest of Iona’s surviving ecclesiastical buildings. It was used as a chapel and the burial place of the Macdonald family, the Lords of the Isles.

A walk from the chapel along the cobbled Street of the Dead took them to St Martin’s Cross, the only one left intact of four high crosses which once stood in the area. This was followed by a guided tour of the Abbey.  Unfortunately, a planned 2pm service for peace and justice in the Abbey led by the Iona Community had to be cancelled as there was a wedding taking place. Instead, the group held their own service in the Michael Chapel. This was followed by Mass in the Catholic House of Prayer known as "Cnoc a' Chalmain".  The Iona Community was founded in 1938 by the Rev George MacLeod, a parish minister in Glasgow, and is an ecumenical Christian community committed to seeking new ways of living the Gospel in today's world. Initially this was expressed through the rebuilding of the monastic quarters of the abbey and then in mission and ministry throughout Scotland and beyond. The Community today is still committed to working for social and political change, the renewal of the church with an ecumenical emphasis, and more inclusive approaches to worship. The following morning it was time to start packing for the 11am ferry back to Oban and Mass in St Columba’s Cathedral. Then it was back on the bus for the trip home, this time via Inverary, and a final service of Thanksgiving in St Cuthbert’s Church to end the pilgrimage. Everyone agreed it had been a great weekend not only for the spiritual pilgrimage but also for the companionship and friendliness experienced.

DISABLED drivers can’t gain access to parking spaces which are rightfully theirs at Maybole Health Centre. For the spaces are being taken up by drivers whose vehicles don’t carry a disabled badge, it is claimed. Maybole Stroke Club members are having problems finding spaces on Thursday mornings when they arrive at the centre between 10.45 and 11am. Club members say the health centre isn’t busy at this time, but parking spaces are being taken by drivers who have business elsewhere. The problem has been highlighted at Maybole Community Council, through a letter from Sheila Cameron, co-ordinator for South Ayrshire Volunteer Stroke Service. Mrs Cameron writes: “As our members are disabled — wheelchairs, walking sticks etc — carers cannot find a parking space while they are escorting them to the group. “Often indeed, the disabled spaces are taken up with non-ticket holders. One of our members, who suffers from a stroke, transports three other members, and often has to drop them off while he goes back out of the centre to find a place elsewhere.” Mrs Cameron adds: “This can be a very stressful situation for us.”

A TALK in Maybole Baptist Church tonight (Thursday) will have local families counting their blessings. And it may also lead to some help for the thousands of street children in Russia and its former republics. Guest speaker is Anna Littler, manager of charity ARRC (Aid to Russia and the Republics), and all are welcome to hear her (7.30pm start). Anna has recently returned from the Ukraine, where she found a stark contrast between rich and poor — people living in hovels near international business offices; street children begging on McDonald’s doorstep. But at least she found some hope at a Christian-led drop-in centre for street children, and at another state-run shelter. ARRC was initially set up to support Christians in the USSR who were persecuted for their faith. But since the fall of Communism, they have become increasingly involved in humanitarian aid work. ARCC is working with several project partners in Russia to provide food, shelter and clothing for street children. To find out more, see website www.arrc.org.uk   or go along to tonight’s meeting at the church.

YOUNGSTERS from the Culzean Young Naturalists’ Club lifted the inter club trophy last month at Clyde Muirsheil Regional Park. Accompanied by country park rangers Vicky Hilton and Douglas Gardiner the team of Ashleigh Evans, Lyall Hughes, Duncan Leckie, Jade Douglas, Alan Cherry, Julie Dunabie, Elidh Douglas, Catherine Cherry, Grant Ward, Ryan Ward and Craig Miller were one of ten teams taking part from throughout Scotland. The teams took part in a variety of challenges including a quiz, unnatural trail, Willow sculpture, animal obstacle courses and tree challenge. The event was sponsored by Asda and Struthers of Lochwinnoch. The winter season of the Young Naturalists’ Club at Culzean gets underway this Saturday (Oct 5) at 10am with the rangers and youngsters set to go ‘Flyin’ High’. Membership of the Young Naturalists is for youngsters between 6-12 years. The older group, ECOS, is for the 13-16 age range and they meet at 1pm.