BEITH LOCAL NOTES

DONALD L REID

(Tel. 01505-503801 e-mail: donaldleesreid@hotmail.com)

SUNDAY 13 JULY 2003

WINNERS ALL: The members of the famous Beith Kestrel Badminton Club gather for a photograph at Beith Primary School last week after their presentation of prizes. (Photo: Donald L Reid)

WHEELERS WORLD: Brian Smith, the cycling policeman of Beith, is about to set off from Beith last Friday to begin his epic end to end run from John o’ Groats to Lands end all in aid of cancer charities. See Beith local notes.

(SP)

BEITH LOCAL NOTES

BREAK-INS

Be on the your guard folks! Last week a number of houses were broken into in Beith and in some cases the houses were reported to have been well and truly ransacked. The nefarious individuals broke into homes in Lomond Crescent, Aitken Drive, Morrishill Drive, Barrmill Road, Glebe Road and Lancaster Avenue. Some homes were entered during daytime whilst others were broken into late in the evening. It is clear that when folk are on holiday, as was the situation in several of the recent crimes, that neighbours have to be especially vigilant and report anything suspicious to the police. There can be few crimes more debilitating to the individual than having their homes broken into. If you are going on holiday make sure that you review your own home security and have neighbours keep a close eye on your property. Remember there are thieves about, so watch out! The recently circulated Beith Safety Gazette contains some sound advice about how to take steps to protect your home, so there can hardly have been a more appropriate time to read it.

BEITH TOWN CENTRE INITIATIVE

Beith Town Centre Initiative committee (BTCI) held its regular meeting last week in Beith Community Centre. Sandra Brown of Brightsparks, the energetic secretary, regretfully intimated her resignation from her position as secretary. The good news is that Sandra remains on the committee and the members were fulsome in their praise of her efforts on behalf of the group over the last year. Her experience will be invaluable in organising this years Christmas Lights and Laughter Parade on Friday 5 December. The position of secretary has been taken up by a lady who has the magical ability to travels the world without even leaving the Main Street premises of B & A Travel, the globetrotting Liz Cullen. Liz will be assisted in her duties by Christine Burns of Cross Pharmacy. BTCI are holding an auction on Friday 22 August in Beith Community Centre. It will start at 6pm with the kids having the first 30 minutes, which can be good fun, especially when you see them bidding bidding for items and the petrified parents saying no!! BTCI are asking anyone wishing to donate items for the auction, to please contact Liz Cullen, B & A Travel or Christine Burns, Cross Pharmacy. Programmes will be on sale at £1.50 soon and we ask that you come along on the night or there will be a bidding sheet on the programme. The BTCI AGM will be held on Monday 25 August at 6pm in the Beith Community Centre, all welcome.The Christmas Lights & Laughter Parade and late night shopping will take place on Friday 5 December. Anyone wishing to put a stall up, any choirs or bands who want to participate, please contact Liz or Christine.

YOUG PEOPLE’S DISCO

Calling all the happy dancing youngsters in Beith aged between 5 – 12 years. A disco is being held in the Strand from 7 – 9 pm on Friday 18 July with entry costing £2. This is organised by the enthusiastic staff of Beith Co-op and all monies raise with benefit children through the work of CHAS who are endeavouring to build a new hospice for children at Loch Lomond. Interestingly, the staff and customers of Beith Co-op raised £3,030 last year for CHAS. Well done everyone!

END TO END

The pedalling polis of Beith, Brian Smith, is making good progress on his challenging, charitable cycle ride from John o’ Groats to Lands End. Brian, who lives in Beith’s Crummock Gardens, set off from John o’ Groats on 5 July as he began his epic cycle ride all the way down the length of Britain to Lands End. Last Thursday evening Brian arrived in Beith have already covered 400 miles and on Friday he attended his daughter Heather’s graduation ceremony. Heather graduated B.Tech (Hons) in Agriculture at the West of Scotland Agricultural College, Auchencruive, so needless to say her father simply had to be there. On Saturday, 12 July, the leg-weary polis hit the road again and headed for an overnight stop in New Galloway and thereafter continues pedalling via Dumfries, Brampton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Warrington, Telford, Monmouth, Bridgewater, Great Torrington and Truro and finally reaching Land’s End on 23 July. He aims to raise funds for Beith Cancer Support Group and for CHAS who are endeavouring to establish a children’s hospice at Balloch on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond. Sponsor forms are now available in a number of shops in the town and in the library and donations are flooding in. Apart from a particularly sore right kneee Brian has really enjoyed his sojourn so far. He has met many other cyclist along the way including two other younger lads doing the end to end in the opposite direction and many foreign cyclists enjoying the sights and scenes of Scotland. Everyone will join in wishing Brian carefree cycling, good weather and a safe journey to Lands End.

FORTHCOMING BOOK

A new limited edition book entitled, Beith Bygones – A Pictorial Journey Down Memory Lane, by Donald L Reid will be published towards the end of August. The book is dedicated to the memory of Sheila Pearson (1950 – 2002), a very popular Beithite. The rough proofs of the book have now been returned to the typesetter for updating and the book is on schedule for delivery towards the middle of August. 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. Anyone wishing to reserve a copy of the book, which is limited to 1,000 copies and price £7-50, 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. Those who reserve a copy with the author or in the library and who reside in the Garnock Valley will have an advance copy of the book delivered to them at a reduced price before it goes on general sale. All funds raised from royalties, which honours the memory of one of Beith’s best known citizens, Sheila Pearson, will benefit the Henry Faulds Society with a donation to Beith and Gateside Primary Schools.

BOWLING

Beith BC were narrowly defeated by Dalry BC in the Garnock Valley Bowling Association top ten competition which took place at Beith last Monday. However, the bowling Beithites faired better in the Ayrshire Bowling Association Top Ten on last Wednesday when they beat Towerlands BC to go forward to the next round of the competition. The poor weather last Friday afternoon was quickly forgotten by the Beith young bowlers who had a very enjoyable afternoon bowling on the indoor carpet. Bowling for the very first time was Hannah Main, who was flung in at the deep end as part of B Team with Greig King and Jordan Pettigrew and she didn't let the side down against the A Team of Steven Warnock, Jamie O'Hare and Craig Monk who won the prizes by 6 points. The youngsters are really enjoying their bowling and the club coaches are doing a first class job encouraging the new generation of brilliant Beith bowlers. And finally, the mixed wappenshaw was played on the Beith green on Friday evening and the winning triple was won by the rink skipped by Lennie Whiteman with Willie McDougall (lead) and Harry Young (second).

OLD FOLKS TREAT

Last Thursday the second group comprising two bus loads of ever-so-jolly older folk from Beith enjoyed a sunshine trip to Stirling. Despite the morning being overcast, but the time the recycled teenagers reached Stirling the sun came bursting through and remained with them for the rest of the day. This time many of the excursionists decided on a tour of Stirling which proved to be great fun. The tour bus took them to the famous castle and to the battlefield at Bannockburn and to the Wallace monument. Everyone thought it was brilliant value for money and well worthwhile. After enjoying high tea they returned to Beith in the early evening totally exhausted but having had a great day out A special world of thanks is due to the hardworking members of Beith Old Folks Welfare Committee for organising these trips which saw almost 200 of Beith’s recycled teenagers enjoying some great fun. The committee are on the lookout for new members. The work is not especially demanding and it is very rewarding. Anyone interested in joining the Beith Old Peoples Welfare Committee is invited to contact chairperson, Anna Dickie on 01505-503385 who will be happy to talk them through the range and variety of trips and treats which they organised for older people in the community.

BOWLING CLUB

On Saturday 19 July the popular duo, Lee and Me, make a welcome return on stage at Beith Bowling Club from 8.00 pm till late. The evenings entertainment also includes the ever popular card game, Play Your Cards Right, with Phil Shanaghey taking charge of events which could result in some lucky individual winning around £50. There will be the usual friendly welcome from Phil who will no doubt say to everyone, “Nice to see you, to see you nice,” as he perfects his Bruce Forsyth routine.

PLAYPARK GROUP

Beith Playpark Action Group are holding a pianathon/coffee morning on Thursday 23 July in Beith Community Centre from 10.00 am – 2.00 pm. You can enjoy a coffee and chat whilst listening to some of Beith’s finest young musicians. Pianists can also be sponsored, so be ready to dig deep to help the hardworking Playpark Action Group deliver state-of-the-art play park in Beith.

LIBRARY

Beith library staff are delighted with the number of young people who are taking part in the summer reading maze. This involves youngsters aged up to 12 years reading a variety of books during the summer holidays. Those who read six books will be given a prize by the library. So, kids, head down Main Street way where the librarians are only too willing to help you select some exciting books for summer reading.

TOKENS

Calling all choco-holics with a dream-come-true challenge. Stand by your beds with chocolate bar at the ready and listen carefully. Beith Primary School are collecting Cadbury’s tokens which will hopefully enable the school to get some much needed sports equipment. Please collect tokens and hand them in to the school or to Beith Co-op who have kindly agreed to assist the school. Right folks, everyone get munching and don’t worry about those calories as you can arrange to go on a keeep fit programme after a relaxing summer munching chocolate bars. Think of the great sporting equipment that will benefit the ever-so-fit weans of Beith Primary. On your marks, get ready, go for the chocolate! Mind now, no cheating. Only one chocolate bar at a time, folks!

BROADBAND

Locals are reminded that Allan Wilson MSP has recently written to BT Scotland with regards to the installation of broadband in the telephone exchanges in Beith, Dalry and Kilbirnie. He is keen to encourage them to install the broadband facility in all areas of the Garnock Valley as soon as possible. Broadband brings very real benefits for the business and commercial sector as well as for the home PC user. Locals who are linked to the web can help achieve broadband by recording their interest on: www.bt.com/btbroadband/register. It is emphasised that individuals are not tied to taking broadband when they register, but once sufficient people have registered BT Scotland will install broadband facilities in the local exchange. Everyone who registers will help ensure that broadband is made available, so if you are on-line help make broadband available in the Garnock Valley.

CRAIRVOYANT NIGHT

Garnock Boys Club are endeavouring to raise funds and are holding a Clairvoyant night in Beith Community Centre at 7.30 pm tonight (Friday 11 July). The guests are the well known duo of Margaret Dreyer and Sally Buxton, local clairvoyants who will be on hand to demonstrate a variety of mind boggling feats which even Mystic Meg would find intriguing. Entry fee is £4 at the door.

MASONIC CLUB

Tomorrow (Saturday) the popular group, Remedy, make a welcome return visit to Beith Masonic Club and there will be the usual bingo and raffles. There is a cover charge of £2.

GARDENING

The Barrmill gardeners are working hard making sure that their gardens are in pristine condition in the knowledge that the judging of the best kept garden which will take place between 2^nd week in July and the second week in August. The presentation to winners will take place in the community centre on 14 August at 7.30 pm.

SPEED CAMERA

Word has it that Beith will shortly have its first and very own speed camera to be located on Dalry Road about 50 metres south of Balfour Avenue. As locals will be only too well aware, Dalry road has a reputation for speeding cars with the problem especially acute in the summer months. Work commenced last week to fit the electricity box and apparently the camera will shortly be snapping speeding drivers. Road accident research has consistently revealed that speeding motorists do contribute greatly to road accidents involving fatalities and serious injury, so the more cameras located in areas where speeding is all to common, the better. No right thinking individual can argue about effective measures to reduce speeding and cameras do just that. The location of this particular camera has, however, not totally endeared itself to local householders who fear that the camera has been inappropriately sited and they are unhappy that they were not consulted about its location. Just goes to show that you can never please all the people all the time. Wherever you happen to be driving it is important that you drive within recognised speed limits. Every fatal and serious accident is a tragedy and we all do well to remember that we are never more dangerous – and never more in danger – than when we are behind the wheel of a car.

RANGER SUPPORTERS

Hardly have the school weans gone on holiday than we learn that the football season is nearly upon us already. Jings, doesn’t time fly when you are on holiday! The Beith Rangers Supporters Club are already gearing up for the new season full of hope and expectation after the famous three-in-a-row of last season which they hope their heroes will repeat this year. The new season kicks-off on 9 August, but even before that a series of friendly games means that the latter part of July will see joyous locals once again unable to attend the domestic bliss of Saturday morning shopping sessions because of match-day preparations including compulsory choir practice when the tonsils will echo to songs old and new. The local Rangers Supporters Club intimate that subscriptions are now due for the new season and those intending using the ‘bus regularly should intimate same to John on 01505-503801. Those wishing to attend the pre-season friendlies should contact Andy on 01505-503928 or Jim Reid on 01505-504548. Let’s all sing together - here we go, here we go, here we go.

PLAYGROUP

Beith Community Centre Playgroup meet every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.30 am – 11.45 am in Beith Community Centre. Registrations are now being taken for the new session which begins in August 2003. Children aged 2 ½ – 5 years will be made most welcome. Contact Ellan on 506403 for further information.

MARATHON

Nilkla Jacobson of Beith, a nursery mum at Kids R Us, has offered to raise sponsorship via the Glasgow half marathon to be held on 7 September. 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.

SCHOOL REUNION

Everyone loves to journey down memory lane to those happy halcyon days of yesteryear. And if you attended Garnock Academy beginning in August 1982 you, too, could be about to enjoy sharing those happy school days with former school friends. Cariona Robb (nee McInnes) and Melanie Packman (nee Pearson) are organising a school reunion to be held in the Dalry Inn on 19 September. Why not go along and find out what your old school friends and some of your teachers are doing now? For further information contact Catriona on 01505-504798 or Melanie on 01505-506872. There has already been a great demand for tickets for this event, so if you want to journey down memory lane with your school pals, contact Catriona or Melanie soon and pickup your ticket price £8.

HAPPY CHAPPERS

Despite the sun, the Beith’s world-famous happy chappers are still going at it hammer and tong and they battle for supremacy in the top-notch domino competition held every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon in Beith Community Centre. Last week the lady chappers fought some nail-biting games and on Tuesday the winner was Margaret Gardiner who drew with Margaret Carey and T Reid was second and Ina McCauslane third. On Thursday the competition was just as close with Margaret Carey taking the honours with Ina McCauslane second and a three way tie for third place between J Welsh, E Jamieson and Margaret Carey.

SWIMMERS WANTED

Cunningham Action Club runs swimming sessions for young folk with disabilities each Saturday morning at Garnock Pool, Kilbirnie, from 12 noon until 2.00 pm. They are on the lookout for anyone 16 years and over who is a competent swimmer. This is a great way of giving service to the community. For further information drop in at the pool or phone 01505-683304 for further information.

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.

DISABILITY FORUM

Garnock Valley Disibility Forum members are are reminded that the meeting on 30 July takes the form of a barge trip to Kirkintilloch. The weekend holiday to Blackpool will be held from 10 – 13 October. Anyone requiring further information contact forum secretary, Jean Gilbert on 01505-502521.

JUDO

M-A-S Judo Club meet in the old Harriers Hut, Gateside Crossroads, Beith, each Tuesday from 6.30 pm – 9.00 pm. The premises have recently been fully refurbished and brought up to a good standard. The club currently has fifteen members and new members will be made very welcome. Simply attend at the club or contact the club coach, Steven Smith on 07944-658023 for further information.