December 27th 2002  -  CAROLS AND COSTUMES IN CARRICK

December 20th 2002

Maybole man Ross Taylor has recently passed out from RAF Halton where his flight received the Pord Trenchard Trophy for best all-round flight.  more

Last week top politicians dropped in to Maybole Community Development Group's office to hear how the project was doing and what its plans are for the future. more

December 13th 2002

December 6th 2002

DAVID Donald shows the style which has made him a Scottish champion at 11 — in Thai kick boxing. The Maybole boy started taking karate lessons as a confidence-builder around four years ago — but switched to kick boxing. Now he’s Scottish champ, and has the dream making the Olympics.

The complete text of the headlines above follows.

December 27th 2002

December 20th 2002

Maybole Men's Forum received high praise last week when the manager of Men’s Health and Wellbeing Network, Scotland visited them. Alastair Low met the members at their weekly session at Carrick Academy and complimented them on how well the group was doing. "It’s amazing what you have achieved in such a short time," he told them, adding "there are very few examples of men getting together as you have done". Peter Mason told him that the group had started with only four members and now had twenty-nine. "We are continually looking at how we can learn from others and take the Forum forward," he said.

Maybole man Ross Taylor has recently passed out from RAF Halton where his flight received the Pord Trenchard Trophy for best all-round flight. Seventeen year old Ross is a former pupil of Carrick Academy and has now been posted to RAF Cosford where he will continue his training as a propulsion technician, mainyaining and repairing the engines of fast jets such as Hawks, Harriers, Tornados and Jaguars.

Last week top politicians dropped in to Maybole Community Development Group's office to hear how the project was doing and what its plans are for the future. They also heard how May-Tag was developing. Local councillors Andy Hill and Alan Murray were joined by George Foulkes MP and Cathy Jamieson MSP when they met MCDG’s manager Peter Walker and May-Tag manager Ellen Hawkes and David Kiltie who is chairman of both groups. MCDG has been mainly funded by lottery money and this is due to end next May. Peter Walker outlined the achievements of the group and how he saw it developing in the future if more funding can be provided.

December 13th 2002

THE St Andrew’s Night celebration organised by Maybole Historical Society at Drumellan House was a sell-out success. Pipe Major Gavin Nicol of Maybole Pipe Band provided the fanfare for guests arriving at the lovely country house, and a splendid buffet was enjoyed. Master of ceremonies for the evening was David Killicoat, and the entertainment began with songs by Maybole Concert Party. Murray Cook proposed the ‘Toast to Scotland’ in his inimitable style, followed by a solo vocal from Alex Davidson and poetry recitations from Fergus Cook. Gavin Nicol brought the evening to a rousing conclusion with a virtuoso display of solo piping. David Killicoat said the celebration had shown a cross-section of Scottish culture, and society chairman Helen McAdam thanked all who made it a success. She particularly acknowledged Peter and Patti Kewney for providing a magnificent venue.

SANTA was the special guest at a Christmas bazaar held in Maybole Town Hall on Saturday. And he was delighted to see so many happy faces. The bazaar has become an eagerly-anticipated event, with a host of stalls and attractions. Susan Whiteman, chairman of organisers Maybole Community Association, said the bazaar had once again proved a great success. The association is also behind the panto Sleeping Beauty in the hall on Saturday (December 14). Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, and tickets (£3) are available from June Dunlop’s shop, any committee member or at the hall.

FORMER Maybole man John Wotherspoon was back on home territory to celebrate his 60th birthday and his retirement. A party was held in Culzean Castle, beautifully decorated with thousands of red roses. And Maybole Pipe Band played on the castle esplanade. Among the guests were 18 family members who had travelled from Canada. John’s brother Robert and sister Margaret emigrated years ago, and Robert is now deceased. But his two sons, together with Margaret and her family, made the trans-Atlantic journey for John’s big bash. John sold ice cream at the castle in his student days, and his dad worked there as a woodcutter — hence the choice of party venue. John is one of 14 children, and was born in Cairnfield Avenue, where parents Robert and Mary lived. He went to Cairn Primary and Carrick Academy before becoming an accountant in London and eventually a very successful businessman.

MAYBOLE’S award-winning website (www.maybole.org) received an amazing 391,535 ‘hits’ during the month of November. And if the month had 31 days, the site would surely have made it over 400,000! The list of countries taking a look reads like an index to an atlas, and site founders Rich Pettit and David Kiltie are thrilled at the growing interest. Web master Rich, who lives in Florida, modestly describes November as ‘overall a very good month’. He tells us: “When I logged on to review the statistics, there were 27 visitors on the site at that moment, and there is the usual list of countries I’ve only vaguely heard of.” Rich adds: “I found that for several days in November we must have been on the home page of a Korean site! “I can’t read Korean symbols, and I don’t think the link is there now, but they must have found something of interest as we received 1,133 referrals.”

Varied contributions and tributes from all over the world certainly keep the Maybole site fresh and interesting. There was a request from Dublin to reprint a picture of Ailsa Craig in an archaeological publication, for an article titled ‘The role of islands in the archaeology of the Irish Sea’. Former Crosshill man Edwin Murdoch, who has lived in Canada for 35 years, enjoyed viewing postcards of the village. He noticed they were gifted by Alan McEwan and wondered if it was his long-lost pal — although it turned out not to be!

New Zealander David Kilgour was thrilled to read a tribute to the late Dick Goudie — famous for making shepherd’s boots with turned-up toes, for tramping uphill. And Dick’s work has inspired David to try and make a pair of similarly-styled boots. Says David: “I am 47 now, and as a young man in my 20s I toured Scotland on a sheep-farming trip. If only I’d known of Maybole as the boot-making capital.” Edinburgh-based Ian Stewart reveals to Maybole website viewers that he has bought the former church hall in Abbot Street, and wonders if anyone has old photos of the building. He wishes to restore it, converting the interior to a home, and possibly removing crumbling roughcast on the outside to reveal the stonework. Ian says: “This is why we are looking for actual photos — to have the building restored as accurately as possible.”

CARRICK ACADEMY: three girls from second year attended the Youth Speaks Competition at Wellington School on Wednesday, December 4. Even though they were the youngest team there, Kelly Taylor, Tessa Thomson, Amy McCrindle delivered an excellent talk on Domestic Abuse. The fourth member of the team, reserve Kirsty Wilson, was unable to be present but she had been of great assistance in preparing the speakers by acting as time keeper. The team, along with Belmont Academy, now goes through to the regional final in January.

CARRICK Chess Club produced a stunning result on a visit to Greenwood Bishops for a third division fixture. For the visitors took all four matches at Dreghorn against a team reckoned to be stronger. Said Carrick’s Siegrun Macgilchrist: “The longest game was on board one, where it was still drawn at move 40. It was white’s 41st move blunder which decided the game.” The club’s Christmas blitz takes place in Maybole Town Hall on Wednesday, December 18, when everyone takes a present and everyone wins a prize.

TINY Tots Playgroup in Maybole thanks everyone who supported their indoor car boot sale, which raised more than £200 for funds. Minishant Primary also did well at the Town Hall event, and any unsold items were passed on to the charity shop.

A CAROL service is held in Maybole Old Church on Tuesday, December 17, at 7pm. Carrick Academy Band will provide the accompaniment at the event, organised by Maybole Council of Churches. Mince pies and teas will be served afterwards, and all are welcome.

December 6th 2002

HUNDREDS turned out to see Maybole’s Christmas lights switched on — and the ceremony was a real community effort. But some felt the occasion was spoiled by a continuing flow of High Street traffic — in both directions. Carol McCahill told the Post: “My four-year-old watched with excitement and wonder — I looked on with disgust and anger.” She pointed out: “As soon as Santa’s sleigh reached the Town Hall, the lorries started thundering past. “They were just inches from the crowd assembled on both sides of the street. “People on the opposite side of the road from Councillor Hill and Cathy Jamieson MSP didn’t hear a word of their speeches.” Mrs McCahill maintained: “If ever there was a clear demonstration of the need for a Maybole bypass — this was it!” Shop owner Alison Wild said: “I felt so sorry for the children. They deserved better than a parade which had three politicians on Santa’s sleigh. “And the disco couldn’t go ahead because of the firefighters’ strike. It’s a shame — because Maybole High Street could be a brilliant place if pedestrians could walk about freely, with shops staying open for events like this. “We need a bypass before that can happen on a regular basis. But it would have been nice to see it for even just an hour.” Maybole Community Council chairman David Kiltie pointed out: “We wanted the road closed too. But we were told it wasn’t going to happen — because of the chaos that would result on other streets, with the tricky corners and bends traffic would have to negotiate. “We just had to make the best of it, and accept that safety barriers would have to go up — or the event wouldn’t take place.”

Mr Kiltie added: “We’re grateful to community-spirited people who helped on the night. “Maybole Pipe Band led the parade, and Carrick Round Table provided a sleigh for Santa. “Jim Bryan of GAB audio engineers helped with the sound system, and John Dunabie provided transport for the barriers. “The community council, community association, business association and development group also gave assistance.” Maybole Christmas lights coordinator Alex Kelly said: “The bottom line is that A77 managers Amey Highways wouldn’t let us close the street. “There was nothing we could do about that, or the council’s decision to close the Town Hall due to the firefighters’ strike.”

DAVID Donald shows the style which has made him a Scottish champion at 11 — in Thai kick boxing.

The Maybole boy started taking karate lessons as a confidence-builder around four years ago — but switched to kick boxing. Now he’s Scottish champ, and has the dream making the Olympics.

NEW childcare facilities are available in the Maybole area, with the opening of SureStart offices in the town. The offices, in the grounds of Carrick Academy, house three complementary, but separate facilities. These are: a childcare room, a training/meeting room, and office accommodation. The childcare room is equipped to the highest standards for projects mainly aimed at tots up to the age of three. The meeting/training space is also fully equipped, and the office can be used by any SureStart partner in the Maybole area. South Ayrshire Council Leader Councillor Andy Hill, officially opened the new facility, and said it had been cleverly designed to be multi-functional. He added: “It is important to provide children with the highest possible quality of childcare, and to give them the best start in life. “The childcare room offers a stimulating environment in which very young children, through play, will have opportunities for physical and personal development, social interaction, and to improve their communication and language skills.”

A GIRVAN woman is spearheading a move to develop the derelict Co-op site in Maybole. And Alison Wild is in the process of upgrading at least FIVE other town centre properties. She told the Post this week: “The old Co-op in Whitehall is merely the frontage of a massive site which has the potential to make a courtyard-style development of perhaps 30 homes. “But I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of supermarket development either. “There has been a great deal of interest from that quarter too.” Miss Wild has a company called Akita, and has opened a furniture store under that name in Maybole’s School Vennel. She revealed that Akita has also acquired properties at 52, 52A, 54 and 35 High Street. She expects these to be ready for new businesses in January or February. And it is the intention to lease out the flats above the shops. Miss Wild maintained: “I believe Maybole has a big future. “New houses are being built and new businesses are opening, and I’m happy to be a part of it.” Miss Wild, who has a seven-year-old daughter called Nikita, is a double graduate of Paisley University. She stood as a Conservative candidate in her home ward of Girvan Glendoune four years ago, putting up an excellent show against Provost Liz Foulkes in a solid Labour ward. She said: “I would consider standing again in one of the Maybole wards — but probably as an Independent.“ Alison Wild . . . investing in Maybole

SOUTH Ayrshire Conservatives this week gave a qualified welcome to news that the preferred bidder for the northern M77 Public-Private Partnership (PPP) upgrade has now been appointed. But they have warned that other vital local road improvements — in particular safety work on the southern A77, improvements to the A70 and a long-promised bypass for Maybole — must now be progressed by the Scottish Executive as a priority to plug other obvious gaps in South Ayrshire’s strategic roads network.

Conservative deputy group leader Councillor Robin Reid said: “While it is clearly welcome news that the preferred bidder for the Fenwick to Malletsheugh A77 upgrade has finally been appointed, and it seems that the improvements will be completed by March 2005, the fact is that this work should have been done years ago. “When Labour came to power in 1997 they scrapped the existing plans to upgrade the northern A77. “It has taken the Scottish Executive a full four years to progress matters to this stage, and I’m sure it’s no more than a coincidence that the timing of this work will now see it begin just before next year’s elections.” Councillor Reid urged the Scottish Executive not to believe their work had been done by commissioning improvements to the northern A77. He stressed: “The Executive must not be allowed to think their commitment to Ayrshire is fulfilled. “There is a long list of local strategic road improvements that are desperately needed on both safety and economic development grounds, and it’s time for Ministers to focus on tackling them also.

“The case for a comprehensive upgrade of the southern A77 between Ayr and Stranraer is irrefutable and the number of accidents each year on that stretch of the road easily makes it the prime candidate for future and urgent investment. “The A70 between Ayr and Cumnock is another notorious route which last year was identified by the AA as being among the top 10 worst roads in Scotland. “And, of course, there is the long-promised Maybole bypass which despite having been in power for six years now, Labour have done absolutely nothing about moving forward and to which they have refused to commit any funding. “All of these should be priority projects for the Scottish Executive and progress will need to be achieved on all of them before South Ayrshire people will feel they are getting a fair deal on road investment”.