ARDROSSAN & SALTCOATS HERALD
BEITH LOCAL NOTES
DONALD L REID
(Tel. 01505-503801 e-mail: donaldleesreid@hotmail.com)
SUNDAY 10 AUGUST 2003
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SPONSORED TRIO
Gemma Lawrie, 13, of Kilbirnie is snapped with her mother (centre) and Jen Walker of RSPB Lochwinnoch after completing a sponsored walk. See Beith local notes. (SP)
002
MASTER GRADUATE
Alastair McKie, 23, of Greehills has graduated with a Masters Degree in Engineering with Aeronautics. See Beith local notes. (SP)
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CANADIAN VISITOR
Canadian visitor to Gateside, Anne McLean-Foreman better known to locals as Anne Duncan, always feels that she has really come home when she visits her family and friends in Gateside and Beith. See Beith local notes.
(Photo: Donald L Reid)
BEITH VISITOR (PHOTO)
Canadian visitor, Anne McLean-Foreman nee Duncan, better known to folk in Beith and district simply as Anne Duncan, is a sister of well known Gatesider, Billy Duncan, with whom she visiting to offer caring support during his ongoing illness. Anne left Spiers School in 1955 and among those in her class were well known Beithites, Myra and Jim Smith, Gordon Brown, George Denholm, Cathie Bray, Tom Burniston and Ian McBlane and Anne Boyd (Kilbirnie). Anne has very fond memories of her days at Spiers School under the headmastership of Robert R Fairley. Like many other Old Spierians, she finds it very sad that the school building was demolished. She recalls happy days playing hockey and netball in the grounds and working with some great teachers of the old school. When she left Spiers, age 17, she went into nursing and trained at Glasgow Royal. She remained in this occupation until her recent retirement. After completing her training in Scotland she worked for a year in Vancouver and spent a further year in Bermuda before returning home. However, in 1963 she decided that Canada offered better opportunities and it was whilst sailing there on the Empress of Canada that she met her husband to be on that ship. Over the years Anne has lived in a variety of places in Canada including Peterborough, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver and is now living in Vernon, British Columbia. Her recent move to Vernon was perhaps not the best one she has made as they are is now subject to extensive forest fires. Anne has a grown-up son and daughter, John and Fiona, both of whom live in London. Until her retiral 3 years ago, she was director of a Women’s Hospital in Vancouver. Anne always feels that she is genuinely coming home when she arrives in Gateside and enjoys nothing better than meeting her friends of yesteryear and reminiscing. She is due to return to Canada towards the end of August. Interestingly, her late sister Peggy (1923 – 1975) served in the WRAF and was noted for her outstanding equestrian skills. She had the distinction of being the only women ever to ride in the Royal Tournament at Earls Court. This event took place in 1951 when she rode Rowsham. This was such an unusual event that it was given national press coverage at that time. Billy Duncan (78), whom Anne is visiting in a supportive role during his illness, is a well known engineer and is highly regarded in Beith and District. Until quite recent times he could be found working in the popular Gateside village garage alongside his son, Keith. Billy served with distinction in the Royal Signals during 1943 – 1947 in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. In his younger days he was a keen footballer and played with the famous Vale of Dusk team in the same era as well known Beithite, Alex Sanderson. Billy’s father, Jack Duncan, served in the First World War and won the Military Medal and later formed the Gateside haulage company, W & J Duncan. Everyone will join in extending kindest wishes to Billy Duncan during his illness.
LADIES BOWLING
On 6 August the ladies of Beith Bowling Club competed for prizes in the prestigious White Cup competition. This event is played in memory of Mr and Mrs White, both former stalward members at Beith Bowling Club. The competition was played in glorious weather conditions and there was a good field of competitors in a keenly fought competition. The winners were the rink comprising Ella Marr, Rose Rae and Alena Thomson. The prizes were presented by Mrs Isobel Fairns, the daughter of Mr and Mrs White and wife of club president Charlie Fairns. All in all another great day for the enthusiastic ladies section at Beith Bowling Club.
RUGBY
Last Wednesday (13 August) the under 15 team at Garnock Rugby club left the Garnock Valley for a one week tour of Sweden where they will play several competitive and hopefully friendly games with their Swedish counterparts. We will report next week on the outcome of the tour.
MASTERS DEGREE (PHOTO)
Alastair McKie, 23, of Greenhills has recently graduated from Strathclyde University with a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics. Alastair is the elder son of Angus and Jean McKie and has a brother, Ross. He was a pupil at Beith Primary and Garnock Academy. In his spare time Alastair enjoys cycling and music.
SCHOOLS BACK
Doesn’t time fly when you are really enjoying yourself! However, happy summer days are now all but over for youngsters of school age at least. All schools in the Garnock Valley resume normal activities at 9.00 am on Monday18 August. So, for everyone of school age its bath time and early to bed on Sunday 17 August and up bright and early for the resumption of those ever-so-happy school days. Great to be young, isn’t it! But just think, the poor teachers actually started work on 15 August. And a special word to all all those young folk who have just received the good or not so good news about important standard grade, higher and SYS exams. For those who have received happy news, congratulations. To those who have received not-so-good news, just remember the old adage. Try, try and try again. Or simply be determined to succeed without that all important piece of paper.
SPONSORED WALK (PHOTO)
Gemma Lawrie, aged 13, undertook a sponsered walk on 28th July to raise funds for Lochwinnoch RSPB Nature Reserve. She covered a total of 8 miles, walking from her home in Kilbirnie to Lochwinnoch and raised a grand total of £80. 'I decided to do the sponsered walk to raise money to get new binoculars for the school groups that visit the reserve. It was a lovely day and I really enjoyed the walk although I was glad of the rest in the visitor centre at the reserve at the finish,' said Gemma. 'We are very grateful for Gemma raising this money for us. We get over 100 school groups a year so I'm sure all those children who use the new binoculars will feel the same!' said Jen Walker, Visitor and Publicity Officer at the reserve.
ANGLING
Members of Beith St Inans Club are reminded that the next competition, The
Thermal Transfer Cup, will be fished tomorrow (Saturday 16th August), starting
at 10.00 am. The race for the club championship is very close indeed, so a good
turnout of anglers is requested.
BOX MOVED
Locals will have noticed that the large traffic monitoring box which was recently positioned on the west side of Dalry Road about 50 metres south of Balfour Avenue was moved last week to the opposite side of the road. The box was creating problems on this narrow pavement and difficulty was experienced by some locals in trying to manoeuvre prams around the pavement furniture. The new location is far more sensible and will not present problems for pedestrians. Just goes to show that people power can indeed make things happen and the authorities do actually listen and act decisively. Whether and when a speed camera will eventually be located on Dalry Road depends on the outcome of the traffic monitoring which is now taking place.
LONGBAR GALA
Last Saturday Longbar held its annual Gala in sunshine conditions. With the sun came lots of locals from the Garnock Valley and needless to say the event was a great success.
CANCER SUPPORT
Billy Haining, organiser of the Beith Branch, Ayrshire Cancer Support Group advises that following the funeral of well known Beithite, Annie Sands, the sum of £330 was donated to the Beith Branch. Secondly, the annual Margaret Wylie Charity Cup was played by the senior members of Beith Golf Course last week and £210 raised from that event was donated to the Beith Branch. Billy passes on his grateful thanks for these donations.
WANTED
Care Partners is a voluntary organisation which provides some time-out to children and adults with learning and/or physical disabilities. To become a Care Partner you don’t need experience or qualifications. Caring, understanding, patience and commitment are more important. Training and support will be provided to help develop your skills. An opportunity will be offered to achieve a nationally recognised certificate (SVQ) in Social Care. For more information contact Care Partners, Suite 3 The Windmill Centre, Hamilton Street, Saltcoats KA21 5DS Tel 01294-607111.
CAN YOU HELP
Can you help with three queuries? A reader has enquired about a plaque which at one time was displayed in the Townshouse until about 1956. This commemorated a Beith man, Fulton of Bottoms Farm, who was of note because he was apparently the first person to sail a Steam ship down the Hudson River. If anyone can help with further information about this plaque or the background to Fulton, contact the Beith correspondent who will let everyone know through this column. Secondly, were you aware that all the cherry trees in Beith seem to be dying. This problem was first identified last year. So, can anyone with green fingers enlighten us on the mystery of Beith’s dying Cheery Trees? Finally, a very kind local lady handed in a large number of items to Beith Christian Action Thrift Shop in Main Street. Unfortuntely, she also handed in a video tape of I Claudius which she had borrowed. Needless to say she is keen to retrieve this tape. If you bought this tape among items from Beith Thrift Shop, this lady would be very relieved if it were to be returned. If you can help, contact the Thrift Shop.
GARNOCK SHARKS
Garnock Sharks Swimming Club is based at Garnock Pool, Kilbirnie. There are on the lookout for young people who are keen on swimming. Enrolment for the new session will be on Tuesday, 19 August from 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm at Garnock Pool. The club nights resume for the new session on Tuesday 26 August at 6.00 pm when members old and new will be warmly welcomed.
HENRY FAULDS
This week the Dr Henry Faulds Society gratefully acknowledge a donation from West Kilbride Burns Club No 664. In addition, they have received the largest single donation from an individual of £500. This arrived last Saturday from Dr Alex Paton of Warborough, Oxfordshire. Originally a Glaswegian, Dr Paton did extensive research on Dr Henry Faulds for the Oxford Biographical dictionary and has kept up to date with developments of the Beith society through the official site on: www.henryfaulds.org. Dr Paton, having researched and examined all the available evidence, is in a good position to determine that Henry Faulds is indeed someone who has been sadly overlooked in the history of fingerprints. At the end of the 19th century, an advance was made which prompted Karl Pearson to write in his magisterial biography of Francis Galton that it “was soon seen to be so efficient (fingerprints) that it had to be adopted, but its very efficiency raised jealousy and controversy as to whom the merit of its introduction must be attributed.” One of the individuals concerned was an obscure missionary doctor from Japan, Henry Faulds (1843 – 1930) who was born and raised in Beith, who felt that the influence of eminent rivals had deprived him of adequate recognition. History has been no kinder, and in most accounts of fingerprints Faulds’ name appears, if at all, as a footnote. A close look at the evidence definitely suggests that he deserved better. The source of what became a long-running and bitter controversy was a comment that fingerprints, when left at the scene of a crime, might lead to the detection of criminals or to the elimination of suspects, of which he (Faulds) provided two examples. There was subsequently great controversy about who should be given credit for the genesis of fingerprinting. Importantly, in 1916 Sir William Herschel (1833 – 1917) graciously made the following comments: “He (Faulds) has come to the conclusion, by original and patient experiment, that fingerprints were sufficiently personal in pattern to supply a long-wanted method of scientific identification, which should enable us to fix his crime upon any offender who left finger-marks behind him, and equally well to disprove the suspected identity of an innocent man. For all of which I gave him, and I still do so, the credit due for a conception so different from mine.” There is no doubt that the people of Beith now, albeit belatedly, have a most wonderful opportunity to honour one of her sadly neglected and truly great men of science, Dr Henry Faulds. The effort to honour him by way of a permanent and fitting memorial is an objective worthy of everyone who appreciates local history and a sense of natural justice. Perhaps the following quotation by Dr Paton could well serve as a suitable unbiased epitaph: “Faulds and Herschel share the honour of using or suggesting the employment of fingermarks: Faulds in crime detection generally: Herschel mainly in the detection of habitual offenders.” The 1 June, 2004 will be the 161st anniversary of the birth of Dr Henry Faulds here in Beith, North Ayrshire and this is an anniversary of which everyone should take great pride. What could be more fitting than securing funding to honour this giant original man of science with a fitting memorial in the town of his birth. For further information about the Dr Henry Faulds Society contact the secretary, Donald L Reid on 01505-503801 or email: donaldleesreid@hotmail.com
GARNOCK DISABILITY GROUP
Last week 18 members of Garnock Valley Disability Group travelled by ‘bus to Kirkintilloch where they enjoyed a two hour barge cruise on the Forth and Clyde Canal courtesy of the Seagull Trust. The Seagull Trust have two barrages on the canal at Kirkintilloch, dedicated solely to enabling people with disabilities to enjoy the experience of trips on the canal. Both barges are fully equipped to cater for people with disabilities and the crew and staff are absolutely first class. On route home the group stopped at the Bobbin Mill, Linwood, where they enjoyed a lovely meal before heading onwards for drop-off points in Beith, Kilbirnie and Dalry. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed a great away-day and there is no doubt that this trip will again appear on the clubs programme of activities for 2004. A special word of thanks must go to forum secretary, Jean Gilbert, for making all arrangements for this great excursion. The next meeting of the Disability Forum will be held in Bridgend Community Centre, Kilbirnie at 1.30 pm on Wednesday 27 August when it is hoped there will be a speaker on fire prevention. A warm welcome is extended to everyone.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD
Any young person who is currently fourteen years of age or will be that age by 31 December 2003 is eligible to apply for registration with Beith High linked with Trinity Church Senior Youth Group to undertake activities leading to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at bronze and silver level. The numbers participating at bronze level will be limited to 20 young people, and those who may wish to join are invited to contact Donald L Reid (503801) or Janet Osborne (503505) in the first instance. There will be a registration fee of £25 which includes the appropriate award book and £1 is also payable at each meeting which are held in the High Church Hall on a Sunday evening. Those young people who have recently completed bronze and silver activities are reminded that they should have their log books completed and returned to the Award Group Leader as soon as possible. Those who have completed bronze and intend to continue with the silver level of the award are reminded that they need to register for silver as a new book needs to be issued. Activities cannot count until the new book is issued. Unfortunately, the group will no longer offer all activities leading to the gold level of the award because of difficulties in supervising gold level expeditions in wild country over five days. However, those young people who have just completed the silver level of the award may wish to register for gold and consider undertaking the expedition section in a variety of open golds offered via the Award Journal. It is emphasised that although registrations will be accepted at gold level, Beith Open Award Group will definitely not be able to offer facilities to undertake the gold level expedition. The Beith Group are currently developing an award web site which can be visited on: http://awardgroup.beith.org where they can register and keep up to date with developments. If any young person has an interest in helping to maintain and update the web site, then this would be greatly appreciated and indeed could be used as part of the skill section of the award challenge. Contact the award group leader. The North Ayrshire Award Association are holding D of E in the Park at Eglinton Park, Kilwinning on 13 – 14 September. Various activities will take place over the two days including orienteering, team building, Heart Start, Incident Hike, mountain biking, inflatable activities including Sumo Wrestling, bouncy boxing, gladiator challenge and didi football. There will be a barbeque on the Saturday night and night activities. This event will provide the opportunity for different groups to get together and for the young people to have a fun weekend. The cost of the event is £5. Anyone interested in attending this event is asked to contact Donald Reid not later than 20 August. As many Beith Gold Award Holders are invited to volunteer to attend to supervise the younger members for this event to go ahead. So, if you have benefited from others during the award challenge you may wish to consider helping those currently progressing through the award.
MAIN STREET
The local community officers, Constables Brown and Dougall swung into action in Beith’s notorious Main Street last Saturday. As usual the street was littered with cars making it difficult for pedestrians to go about their business. Several miscreant motorists were issued with £30 parking tickets. There really is sufficient off-street parking available in the car park behind the library and between Main Street and New Street for those motorists who care to park there. Seems a better idea than throwing away £30, methinks.
MARYMASS
This Saturday as part of Marymass celebrations there will be a lantern parade and firework display in Irvine. This Sunday at 2.00 pm jazz lovers can enjoy the music of the New Orleans Joymakers at the Harbour Arts Club. No doubt many Beithites will take a jaunt down to the coast to enjoy these events.
MASONIC
Tomrrow (Saturday) popular musician, Willie ‘Duke Box’ Matthews will be entertaining at Beith Masonic Club from 8 pm till late. There will be the usual bingo and raffles.
YOUNG FARMERS
Beith & District Young Farmers Club are holding their open clay pigeon shoot at the North Ayrshire Shooting Ground on Sunday 24th August at 11.00am and everyone is welcome! Concert practices have started and are being held on Sunday evenings in the Patrick Memorial Hall, Gateside at 7pm. Please come along if you are interested in taking part and you will receive a very warm and friendly welcome. The club is always keen to attract new members, so if you are aged between 14 and 26 why not come along and try out some of the activities that are arranged throughout the year. It’s a very worthwhile experience, and remember you don’t need any farming background to participate. For further information or transport to any of the events please call Julie on 01294 832262 or Gareth on 01294 832249.
BEITH WEB SITES
There are currently several interesting and varied web
sites highlighting all aspects of Beith of yesterday and today which those who
surf the web will find very valuable. These can be found on
www.beith.org and
www.beith.org.uk. There are other interesting sites relating to Beith on
www.arabicaonline.co.uk, at
www.henryfaulds.com and
monkton-farleigh@freeserve.co.uk. The Beith Open Award Group site is
currently under development and can be found at:
http://awardgroup@beith.beith.org. There is no doubt that Beith is set to
benefit from broadband after hitting its customer registration target for the
high-speed internet service .BT Scotland engineers will shortly begin work to
connect the Beith exchange to the broadband backbone network. A ready for
service date will be announced soon. More than 160 Scottish exchanges have been
allocated triggers, ranging from 150 to 500 customers. The trigger is based on
the cost of enabling each exchange - typically around £200,000. BT Scotland
general manager Brendan Dick said: "This is great news for the people of Beith
who have used our registration scheme to prove that sufficient demand for
broadband exists in the area. "BT originally set a registration threshold of 400
customers at Beith based on the investment required to upgrade the exchange. In
January that was slashed to 350 and last month it was cut again, to 300, as BT
celebrated reaching the milestone of a million wholesale broadband customers.
"Beith has now reached its target which is a tremendous achievement for the
community and I'd like to thank all the local campaigners for their efforts. In
reaching its target it joins Kilbirnie and West Kilbride, which will be ready to
offer broadband service on October 29 and September 24 respectively. With access
to ADSL broadband, local businesses can gain a vital competitive edge in sales,
marketing and customer service operations, and make significant savings in their
operating costs. Residential customers served by the exchange will be able to
enjoy life in the fast lane with internet that's 10 times faster than an
ordinary connection. Benefits are always-on, near instant e-mail and fast
downloading
of games, music, films and sporting clips. Broadband users also have the huge
bonus of being able to make and receive phone calls while they're surfing or
e-mailing. People wanting to sign up for ADSL broadband services should register
with an internet service provider of their choice. A full list of ADSL service
providers is available at
www.bt.com/broadband with links to their web sites. For further information
please contact Mitch Reid or Anna Steven at the BT Scotland press office on our
24-hour number 08457 262624.
EGLINTON PARK
On Sunday 17 August, Kyle Vintage Car Club, are holding a car rally at Eglinton Country Park between 12 noon and 4.00 pm and the range and variety of vintage cars on display make this a must for car enthusiasts.
HAPPY CHAPPERS
Jings, crivens, help ma boab! Despite all the sunshine, the winter must nearly be upon us. The season of chap, chap, chapping can already be heard down Kings Road way, so begin looking out the winter woollies, folks. Believe it or not, the famous Beith Happy Chappers are already back in action at Beith Community Centre. The group meet each Tuesday and Thursday from 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm and they enjoy whist and dominoes as well as a happy blether over a coffee. The group are really keen to attract new members, especially those who are keen on whist. So, if you want to take part in some nail-biting competitions why no drop in and see the happy chappers on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 1.30 pm. Although the majority of members are women, they would dearly love to have lots of happy chapping chappies joining them to chat and chap. How’s about it chaps!
HEART START
Heart Start Ayrshire and Arran are on the lookout for volunteers. Can you help? No previous training or experience is necessary as full training will be given. Heart Start Ayrshire and Arran will train you in all aspects of first aid, particularly in relation to how you would treat a patient who suffers a heart attack. Those who have the necessary ability could be trained as trainers of others and this is a special way of giving service to the local community. The programme has so far trained 21,000 people in Ayrshire and Arran. If you are interested and want to know more contact Mike Rennie, co-ordinator, Heart Start Room 624, Ayrshire Central Hospital, Irvine KA12 8SS tel. 01294-323478.
DISCO
Beith Boys Town under 14 team are holding a celebration disco in Beith Masonic Club on Saturday 30 August from 8.00 pm till late. The disco is a fund raiser for the club. The club are hoping to be able to take part in an international tournament scheduled for Blackpool during the Easter holidays and funds raised will help them achieve this objective. More importantly, it is also a farewell party for Ross McClune (14) who has been a dedicated and influential member of Beith Boys FC for the past five years. Ross is leaving for Australia on 7 September with his parents, Neil and Jacqi, and the social evening is an opportunity to say farewell to the McClune family prior to them emigrating to a new life in Australia. Friends of the McClune family are cordially invited to attend this special farewell event. Tickets for the social evening are £3 and available from team manager, Hugh Murray on 01505-504889.
BEITH BOWLING CLUB
On 7th August Beith Bowling Club coaches Eric Monk, Harry McMaster and John Simpson had a very intensive coaching session with youngsters Stewart Marshall, Jordan Pettigrew, Liam Shephard, Greig King, Emma Johnstone, Anthony Taggart, and Hannah Main that finished off with a friendly competition for the usual prizes for the winners. The youngsters are making great progess and seem to be thoroughly enjoying their bowls and this augers well for the future. Last Friday afternoon Stewarton BC visited Beith and won the Senior Mixed Fours competition. The our only consolation was that the rink skipped by Doris Ann Taylor, 3rd Sally Brennan, 2nd Margaret Fraser, and lead Mitch Rae was the highest up rink to win the sweep. LaST Friday night the popular mixed wappinschaw was won by Pairs Skipped by Cyril Owen and lead Sadie McMeechan.
FLORA ART
Kilbirnie Floral Art Club resumed activities on Tuesday 2 September in the Walker Hall, Kilbirnie. The club has members from throughout the Garnock Valley. A full programme of speakers has been lined up and old and new members will be made most welcome. Details of meetings will be highlighted in the Beith column.
BEITH TOWN CENTRE INITIATIVE
Beith Town Centre Initiative (BTCI) are holding a fund raising auction on Friday 22 August in Beith Community Centre beginning at 6 pm. They are keen to receive donations of items which can be professionally and light-heartedly auctioned. Anyone wishing to help should contact Christine at Cross Pharmacy or Liz at B & A Travel, Main Street where items will be gratefully received. Interestingly, there will also be a kids auction at the start of the event at 6.00 pm and the range of variety of items on offer is sure to attract many charitable young folk. Doubtless the young citizens will bring along parents, with their dosh of course, to ensure that the canny kids can bid for some of the goodies on offer. An auction catalogue will shortly be available and will highlight the range and variety of items on auction. So, make sure you are there sharp at 6.00 pm on Friday, 22 August.
RANGERS SUPPORTERS
The local Rangers Saracen Supporters Club are back in action and were delighted that their team skelped Killie by four goals to nil last Saturday putting them on top spot in the Premier League. There will be buses to most games this season including the Aberdeen game tomorrow (Saturday) and anyone wishing to use this service should intimate same to John on 01505-500264, Andy on 01505-503928 or Jim Reid on 01505-504548.
DANCE SCHOOL
The Hilda Cameron Dance School resumes activities in Gateside Hall on Wednesday 20 August when a full range of classes in all dance forms will be held.
FORTHCOMING BOOK
A new limited edition book entitled, Beith Bygones – A Pictorial Journey Down Memory Lane, by Donald L Reid will be published on 20 August. The book is currently at print and may be delivered before this date. The book is dedicated to the memory of Sheila Pearson (1950 – 2002), a very popular Beithite. The book contains a great mixture of old a new photographs of people, places and events pertaining to Beith and District including 140 photographs many of which are published for the first time and is sure to be of interest to anyone with connections to Beith and district. Anyone wishing to reserve a copy of the limited edition book is asked to contact Donald L Reid on 503801 or add their name, address and telephone to a list in Beith library or E: donaldleesreid@hotmail.com.
ART
Calling all art lovers. Put down your crayons and paint brushes and head down the coast. There is a display of paintings by well known artist, Keith Salmon, on display in the Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine until 27 August. Perchance Beithites will find this worthy of a jaunt down to Irvine.
GARDENING
Tension is mounting in Barrmill as the village gardeners are biting their fingers and worrying about the outcomes of annual Best Kept Garden Competition. The presentation to winners will take place in the community centre on 14 August at 7.30 pm and all are welcome to this event. The results will appear in the column in due course.
MARATHON
Nikla Jacobson of Beith, a nursery mum, has offered to raise sponsorship via the Glasgow half marathon, fondly known as the Great Scottish Run, to be held on 7 September. Nikla is to be seen pounding the streets as she builds up her fitness and stamina for the big day. Anyone wishing to sponsor Nikla can do so by using sponsor sheets either in Cross Pharmacy or Arabica Café or by phone committee member Audrey on 506320, Joyce on 503459. All funds raised will be donated to Beith Playpark Action Group
SAFETY FORUM
Garnock Valley Safety Forum have just published their summer newsletter. They are keen to recruit new members and the newsletter contains a list of future meeting dates. The first meeting is in Bridgend Community Centre on 11 September at 7.30 pm. If anyone is interested and needs help with transport, contact Brenda on 01475-568650. The group intend to run a first aid course in September in Dalry and they have place six resource packs in each library in the Garnock Valley. They also intend to run three mini-conferences in partnership with the Trading Standards Department of North Ayrshire Council to tackle issues such as protecting the consumer; dangerous and defective toys and issues around solvent abuse. In October they hope to publish another newsletter and run a further series of mini conferences tackling issued such as drug abuse. They also hope to issue pupils with safety armbands as part of their ‘seen to be safe’ programme for dark winter mornings and evenings. To progress the work of the Forum they do need more volunteers and are keen to recruit young people to hear their views and experiences. For further information contact Brenda Allan, development worker on 01475-568650.
BEITH TRINITY CHURCH PLAYGROUP
Beith Trinity Church Playgroup are now taking registrations now for session 2003-2004. The Playgroup is staffed and managed by qualified and highly experienced personnel and works in partnership with North Ayrshire Council and offers funded places for 3 – 5 year olds. Places are also available for children from 2 years on a pay-as-you-go basis. Recent fund raising and lottery awards means that the group will benefit from over £3,000 worth of new equipment which will greatly enhance the presentation of learning experiences within the play setting. For more information why no drop into Trinity Church Hall on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday between 9.15 am and 12 noon and have a chat with play leaders Lesley, Sharon and Jane or call the chairperson, Lyn Brown on 01505-506135.
CO-OP FUND RAISER
The enterprising staff of Beith Co-op raised £67 from the recent childrens disco and this amount will be added to their fund for CHAS. Donna McNeil thanks all the staff who assisted for their kind assistance and continuing enthusiasm.
THE INFORMER
The Informer is a community newspaper aimed at the voluntary section and general public in North Ayrshire. The newspaper is looking for articles for their next edition to be in the hands of the editorial team by 14 August. Contact the editor, CVSna, 1a Winton Buildings, Ardrossan KA22 8HT. Tel 01294-473139 or e-mail: cvsna@btconnect.com.
FLOWER FESTIVAL
Diary date! Kilbirnie Auld Kirk are holding a Festival of Flowers in the church from 11 – 13 September from 11.00 am until 8.00 pm. Donation programmes at £3. This event marks the silver jubilee celebrations of the Kirk.
BEITH BOWLING CLUB
Popular group Incognito will be playing at Beith Bowling Club on Saturday 23 August from 8.00 pm till late. Patrons will also get the opportunity to win big money as Phil ‘Just call me Bruce ’ Shanagey, comperes the hilarious Play your Cards Right interlude.
ABSEIL
Have you ever fancied leaping from a high roof? Well, now you have a chance to make your dream come true. A sponsored abseil will take place at Crosshouse Hospital on Sunday 14 September when the enterprising volunteer fund raisers will have the opportunity of abseiling 100 feet from the roof of the hospital. Entry fee is £10 and participants are expected to raise at least £100 in sponsorship. All funds raised will help to beat leukaemia and other similar related disorders. For further information and forms telephone 01294-601233.
BARRMILL JOLLY BEGGARS
Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club are presently working on a book to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the club, formed in Barrmill in 1944. Last week President Norman M Henderson received a letter from no less a person that Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, congratulating the club on their forthcoming diamond jubilee celebrations. Anyone who has particular memories about the club over the years or photographs is cordially invited to contact the secretary, Donald L Reid on 503801. A number of cronies have already submitted interesting short pieces reflecting personal recollections of happy memories of the club and its members of yesterday and today. Anyone who wishes to submit information is asked to do so as soon as possible as it is intended that the booklet will be published in time for the annual St Andrew’s Dinner on Friday 28 November 2003 in Beith Bowling Club. The club are very grateful to North Ayrshire Council Local Grants committee for a grant, which will help in producing this publication.
RETIRED BOWLERS
The recent retired members day was held at Beith Bowling Club and there was a great turnout of 48 bowlers who enjoyed the excellent weather conditions. Six rinks took part and the prize for the first touching bowl was awarded Bert Wilson. The winners of the competition were George ‘Pipe’ Wilson (lead), John Marshall (second), Alana Thomson (3rd) and Elaine Roddie (skip). The vote of thanks was given by Anne McCorquodale, president of the Ladies Section.
