Some of the information provided by Donald L Reid for this internet Beith News column may also be included in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald.
As we start afresh in 2003 this is a time to extend to all readers your correspondent's best wishes for a very happy and prosperous new year.
We are living in very uncertain times and all the indications are that the likelihood of war with Iraq looms even closer.
On the home front ifs also a good time for all of us to review our own personal security measures in a common-sense and practical way to reduce the likelihood of becoming the victim of a crime.
Sad to report, but criminals are still targeting residents in Beith, so everyone should be on the alert. Older and more vulnerable residents have been the focus of attention by bogus workmen have been operating in the town of late. Somerville Court was the most recent target for men pretending to be from the Water Board and conning their way into the houses of older residents.
So, the message to young and older alike is dear. Do not let any workmen into your house without being absolutely sure that they are genuine. Simply keep them outside and phone for a friend or neighbour to call round and genuine workmen will be very happy with this arrangement.
Most recently, housebreakings during the night when residents are asleep have recently been reported in Barrmill Road and Glebelands Way. This is indeed an opportune time for everyone to review their home and personal security, but in doing so it is also important to remember that statistically the chances of becoming a crime victim are quite small.
The last of Beith Arts Guild's concerts for 2002 was held in the High Church Hall on the afternoon of Sunday. December 29 when an excellent concert was staged to a very appreciative Beith audience.
The performance was given by the Salon Serenaders with Alison Barton, mezzo-soprano, lan MacGregor, bass baritone, Christine Nelson, violin, Marie Holmes, cello and Robert Simans, piano.
The production, entitled Victorian Extravaganza, proved to be a very enjoyable and light-hearted programme of Gilbert and Sullivan, Viennese Operetta and other favourites to suit all tastes. AH in all, a very pleasant way to bring the year to an end.
A copy of the proposed plans for the new roundabout at the Gateside crossroads are now available.
A major water main will have to be diverted and it is hoped that Scottish Water will do this in February/March 2003. Construction of the roundabout will hopefully commence in April with the work lasting around 10 weeks when there will be •inevitable delays on Beith by-pass.
Jean Highgate, secretary of Beith and District Community Council, advises that she is attending a meeting on January 14 with North Ayrshire Council, St Vincent Crescent Preservation Trust and a representative from Hurst Landscape Architects. ,
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss amendments to plans for the landscaping at the Cross to ensure that where possible the comments made by the public are taken into account.
The ongoing major renovation work at Beith Cross project is on schedule and should be completed by September 2002.
The Meningitis Research Foundation are looking for folk who may be thinking about adopting a new year resolution to lose a few pounds. They will be holding a Slimathon where "your loss is our gain," as their poster so appropriately puts it. Meningitis is a disease which can strike at any time and affect anyone.
After Christmas and New Year most folk are keen to lose those extra pounds. Why not consider helping the Meningitis Research Foundation In the process? For an information pack on how you can shed a pound or two and benefit this research foundation call 0870-3210204.
Gamock Valley Community Transport Group (GVCTG) provide an invaluable service to the Gamock Valley community of a 17-seat minibus which can be hired by affiliated groups and organisations. A large number of groups now realise that the facility Is both very convenient and cost-effective. Such has been the demand on the mini-bus that the Transport Group are currently awaiting a decision about their application to the National Lotteries Board to purchase a second.
The GVCTG are also keen to recruit more volunteer drivers as some organisations, particularly those providing services for older and disabled people, do not always have their own volunteer drivers and additional drivers who are able to occasionally give a few hours of their time would find this a valuable form of community service.
Volunteer drivers will be put through a test and indeed can be given prior lessons to allow them to develop their driving skills in the minibus. Volunteers must be at least 25 years of age and have a clean driving license. For further information about the GVCTG , contact group chairman Jimmy Muir or Secretary Moira on 01505-684544. A message can be left on the answer phone and all calls will be returned.
Barrmill Jolly Beggars Bums Club will be celebrating their 60th anniversary in. the 2003/2004 session, beginning after their AQM on April 15,2003. A range of interesting activities are planned for their birthday year and already the dub have produced a set of six commemorative coasters which highlight the club's special birthday and includes a different Bums poem on each coaster.
The set of six coasters costs £10 and are available from secretary, Donald L Reid, on 01505-503801 or any committee member.
Beith Health Centre in Reform Street are keen to remind focal patients that 'flu jabs are available by making an appointment. Large numbers of Beith folk have already had the •flu jab and will benefit from this in the coming months.
Groups of people who are particularly vulnerable to flu are the over 65s, those who suffer from asthma, diabetes or heart complaints and doctors are keen to ensure that those folk in these particular groups are quickly immunised against flu. If you are unsure about whether you should be asking for a-flu Jab please contact Beith Health Centre on 01505-502683 who will be happy to help.
Beith and District Young Farmers' Club are holding their 57lh Annual Variety Concert in the Magnum Theatre, Irvine from Thursday until tomorrow (Saturday) at 7.30pm. Ticket prices are: Thursday - £4 (concession £3). Friday - £4.50 and Saturday-£5. No unpaid tickets will be left at the door. Tickets are available from Gareth Scott, Meikle Ittington Farm Cottage, Ardrossan, KA22 7NX. Tel: 01294-832249. There will also be a dance to follow the Saturday night performance hi the Grand Hal, Kilmamock. Everyone is welcome but the tickets are going fast already, so get your orders in soon!
Club members have been invited to The Ayrshire Bad on Saturday, March 22 at the Seamill Hydro, 6.30pm for 7pm. Dress will be black tie and tickets win cost £25. For more information contact Lewis.
The next club meeting will be held on Monday in the Patrick Memorial Hall. Gateside at 7.30pm and will take the form of a whist night with the side competition being a poem about the treasurer, Gareth Scott.
For information or transport to any of these events please contact any committee member, telephone Anne on 01294 832424, Lewis on 01294 832262 or email Gillian at BeithYFC@hotmail.com
North Ayrshire Band, under the baton of musical director Hugh Brennan, in the coming months will be busy rehearsing a challenging piece of music entitled Northern Landscapes by Scottish composer Peter Graham, the set test piece for the third section of the Scottish Amateur Band Association championships at Falkirk on Sunday, March 9.
The band are keen to encourage former members to return, with vacancies in most sections. There is a special need for double bass (tuba) players. There are several vacancies in the percussion section and alt that is required is the ability to be fluent in reading music.
The band meets on Tuesday evenings from 7.30pm-9.30pm in the social area at Gamock Academy. The band resume after the festive holidays on Tuesday, January 7 at 7.30 pm. For further information contact chairman Donald L Reid on 01505-503801 or secretary Stephen Brennan on 01505-683766.
BEITH Colts are now forming a youth football team for young people aged 10-12 years for season 2003/2004.
Training will commence in January 2003 and anyone wishing further information should contact 01505-506028 or 01505-506813 after 6pm.
The residents of Dickson Court complex recently held their annual festive dinner which was attended by 35 residents and the invited guests were the Rev Andrew Black and Mrs. Isabel Black, the Rev Fiona Ross and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Reid.
Entertainment was provided by the ever-popular David Scott duo. The MC for the evening was Mrs. Nessie Partridge and everyone enjoyed a hilarious evening of home-spun entertainment at Its very best, with at least one of the performers being over 90 years of age.
A 10-week community-based computer course aimed at developing the practical skills and knowledge required to access the internet will begin In January in the computer suite at 47a Main Street (above Riverhills).
Anyone wishing to register or find out more about this particular course or the full range of future planned courses should contact Alan on 01505-504489
Beith Library have an interesting festive quiz still running which is sure to appeal to those who enjoy a mentally-stimulating challenge. Quiz sheets, which are free, can be uplifted from the library and should be returned by January 31 when the prize winner will be announced.
There was a good response from younger readers in the name the snowman competition. The young readers were asked to think up a suitable name for the Beith library snowman and the winner was Samantha Denholm of Aitken Drive who came up with the name Jingle. The runners up were Nicole Jackson of Hawthorn Crescent whose imaginative name was Dudley the Snowman and Caitlyn Chalmers of Glenriddet Avenue, Kilbirnie who suggested the name Tinsel.
The really good news is that all 28 children who entered will receive a Christmas prize from the thoughtful Beith librarians, so everyone is indeed a winner.
Important information for bookworms. The Beith Librarians wish all their customers the compliments of the season and they look forward to meeting them again in 2003.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) are looking for your help. They are organising the biggest garden birdwatch in the world. They want you to help them to build up a picture of how well our common birds are doing and you never know what you might see? All they want you to do is to spend one hour during the weekend of January 25-26 (or for schools the week before or after this weekend) watching the birds in your garden, local park or school.
The RSPB ask that you tell them the largest number of each species you see at any one time. The likely birds to be found in Beith gardens include house sparrow, starling, robin, song thrush, collared dove, blue tit, coal tit, great tit, blackbird and chaffinch. There may be gardens which have a far wider range of visitors. You only need to record the birds actually in your garden, park or school grounds -not ones flying over.
An information leaflet explaining what is required is available from Beith Library and from the RSPB Centre, Lochwinnoch. You can find out more about it by logging on to the RSPB site at; www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch. You can also use this site to enter your results, which will speed up the process. This looks like being a really enjoyable fun event for all the family which will encourage everyone to more aware of the range and variety of birds in our gardens and you will also be part of what could be the largest birdwatch event ever.
An innovative joint project is currently being developed between North Ayrshire Council Community Education, James Watt College and Radio City.
Locals will be aware that the former cinema and bingo premises at Kilbirnie Cross is currently undergoing a major renovation which is great news for the entire Garnock Valley. The project aims to attract adults from 16 years upward who might be interested in radio media skills. ' broadcasting and programme production. ,
This is a fascinating opportunity and it is likely that the , course will be certificated. The initial meetings to further to develop this course will begin in January and It is hoped that a local radio station will be in operation from the new Radio City by August 2003. Anyone Interested in this \ exciting new project should contact (an Young at I Community Education on 01294-833173.
Beith Bowling Club are holding their annual Burns Supper in the club on Saturday at 6pm for 6.30. The guest artistes are mainly from the ranks of Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club. A list of names of those attending is displayed on the notice board.
The annual indoor game is being held at Ardrossan Indoor Bowling Club on Sunday, February 9. A list of names for this game Is displayed on the notice board.
Lodge St. John's Beith No 157 meet on Thursday, January 9 at 7.30pm. The Lodge office-bearers will carry out a first degree and a good attendance is requested.
MATES is a pseudonym for motivating and training educational support. This is a project run by North Ayrshire Council Community Education Service, for young people aged 16-25 years in the Garnock Valley.
The project aims to help participants compile CVs and covering letters, find the college place of their choice, how to perform well at an interview, search for jobs effectively and develop independent living skills. MA+ES is held In Walker Hall, Kilbirnie, Monday-Thursday from 11am-3pm for 16-25-year-olds and from 7pm-9,30pm for age 14+.
MATES will also be providing a drop in service at Dairy Public Hall and Beith Community Centre every Friday between 12 noon and 3.00 pm. For further information about this innovative personal development course for young adults tel. 01505-683652.