Looking Back - Herald files

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Hughie
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on January 28, 2009

100 YEARS AGO on January 29, 1909
THE ladies of the Ardrossan BWTA have opened a soup kitchen at 33 Princes Lane, and between the opening day, Tuesday, and last night 187 poor children were supplied with soup and bread on the premises and 105 families got supplies for consumption at home.

THERE is no appreciable diminution in the spate of Burns oratory, but at the Jolly Beggar's Club at Mauchline, the chairman, in proposing "The Immortal Memory" made no speech whatever. We cannot but think that his is an example worthy of general emulsion.

HOUSES to let in Ardrossan number 40, and in Saltcoats, 60, while those for sale amount to about 20 in both towns.

SALTCOATS Town Council with a view to relieving distress occasioned through want of employment have opened a fund to be used in providing the work for the unemployed in the Burgh.

LAST night St John's UF Church Choir, Ardrossan, gave an excellent concert of anthems, solos being rendered by Misses F Barr, M McTear, Misses McAra and Harvey, Messrs W Harvey, H Allison, W Kean and R Goodwin.

FOR the first time for a number of years the new Ardrossan Parish Church congregation held a social on Wednesday evening, speeches being given by four ministers and solos being sung by Miss M Campbell, Miss W Wilson and Mr W Jamieson.

50 YEARS AGO on January 30, 1959
LAST Sunday marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, and celebrations were held not only in this country but all over the world. Television and radio added their tributes with suitable programmes, and on Sunday morning a special service was broadcast by the BBC from the Kirk of Alloway, which was conducted by the minister of the church, the Rev HC Donaldson.

At a ceremony at the Burns Statue in Ayr. wreaths were laid by the President of Ayr Burns Club, Mr J Douglas Cairns; the Provost of Ayr; Mr GZ loanisyan, first secretary. Russian Embassy by representatives of Ayr Masonic Burns Club and the Ayrshire Association of Burns Clubs and by Mr John Gray, Ayr, on behalf of Melbourne Burns Club, Australia

LACK of the customary amenities did not deter one class of Beith Academy from celebrating the bi-centenary of Robert Burns during school hours on Friday, January 23. Desks were arranged to form a long table and a chalk portrait of the Poet looked down as toasts were drunk in lemonade. The haggis was an emergency suet pudding and provided by the cookery teacher and "Spotted Dick was made by the girls at cookery and used in lieu of mashed potatoes. An assortment of sticky chocolate and cinnamon balls etc completed the repast.

MISS Jean Goodall, who recently retired after 44 years' service in the service of the Post Office, has been presented with the Imperial Service Medal. At the annual staff dance of the local postal staff in Mackay's Rooms last Friday evening, she was the recipient of an occasional table and an electric heater, the presentations were made by Mr H McLean, head postmaster, Ardrossan the ceremony being presided over by Mr John Craig, who was closely associated with Miss Goodall on the counter staff, in expressing her thanks to the staff Miss Goodall indicated that she would be making her home in Ardrossan. Tribute was paid to the high esteem in which she was held and to her diligent and efficient service:

FIRE at the rear of Stevenston Co-operative Society's shop in Boglemart Street on Monday practically destroyed an 80 feet long pen shed. Ardrossan Fire Brigade prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining stores.

WHILE Saltcoats Town Council have made many improvements in the town, there is still a lot of work to be done at the approach to the Harbour.

25 YEARS AGO
ARDROSSAN firemen will be asked to strike in a bid to save the town's fire station. The Fire Brigade Union's Strathclyde branch will recommend strike action throughout the region in response to the planned closure of three on-pump stations, in Ardrossan and Glasgow. Local concern is mounting that fire cover will be less effective in an area which includes Hunterston nuclear power station, Shell oil refinery and Ardrossan Harbour. News of the closure was announced by the regional Firemaster Richard Knowlton, who travelled to Ardrossan last Friday to address the shift on duty at the station. The 30 fulltime firemen employed there and its fire engine will be moved elsewhere, possibly to the Irvine North station in Kilwinning. The retained unit at Ardrossan will also close, one of 10 eamarked for the axe. The 10 part-time firemen employed will be laid off.

The closure sparked a quick response from the Fire Brigade Union's Strathclyde branch, which held a committee meeting in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Branch chairman Ronnie Robertson said later: The committee is confident members of the Fire Brigade Union in Strathclyde will not accept this attack on their working conditions with the consequent risk to life involved. "The committee has decided to carry out a full programme of consultation with FBU members by holding a series of m meetings at which strike action is recommended.

PRODUCTION at IC's Nobels Explosives plant at Ardeer came to an abrupt halt this week as 900 members of the Transport and General Workers Union walked out on strike. On Monday, around 90 workers at the propellants section walked out after an argument involving the transfer of seven workers from the blasting department in the propellants section. It formed part of a management plan to move 22 of the 55 workers in the blasting department to the propellants section,

Despite earlier announcements that such action had been agreed with the unions, the T & GW men hotly deny any agreement. Since Monday, pickets have been stopping vehicles going into the plant and explaining their position to drivers. On Tuesday, after a mass meeting of all TGW members, the strike escalated to massive proportions. The shop stewards committee of Nobel's says the management has broken the turn list agreement - a list of department employees in order of seniority and govering grades of pay, promotions and redundancies.

A SANYO (C20) Video Recorder is priced at a whopping £369.95 as was a Sanyo (7131) Colour Television while a 16-night cruise on the Canberra in the Eastern Mediterranean cost £743

INTERNATIONAL show jumping star Harvey Smith provided an Evening of Entertainment at Irvine's Magnum Leisure Centre. THE senior pupils of Glencairn Primary School in Stevenston were not going to be left out of the Burns celebrations enjoyed by so many adults last week. They went ahead and organised their own lunch of haggis and neeps and even managed to have a piper there

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From Hughies post above.


(LACK of the customary amenities did not deter one class of Beith Academy from celebrating the bi-centenary of Robert Burns during school hours on Friday, January 23. Desks were arranged to form a long table and a chalk portrait of the Poet looked down as toasts were drunk in lemonade. The haggis was an emergency suet pudding and provided by the cookery teacher and "Spotted Dick was made by the girls at cookery and used in lieu of mashed potatoes. An assortment of sticky chocolate and cinnamon balls etc completed the repast.)

So well done to Beith Academy. :)
I cant remember anything at school about Burns.Did you take part in Burns celebration at your school.
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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I wasn't involved, but there were definitely Burns Night celebrations held at Ardrossan Academy in my time, under the auspices of the Literary and Debating society : see here.

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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Post by Penny Tray »

I have absolutely no recollection of anything being taught about Burns at either Winton or Eglinton Schools in the 1950s and 60s.

However, I still remember fondly the event described in the following post from 2014: -

https://www.threetowners.net/forum/view ... SE#p123676
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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Thanks for the replies Susan and Penny Tray :)
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on February 4, 2009

150 YEARS AGO on February 1859
THE NEW Free Church, Ardrossan, was officially opened on February 6. The Rev Dr Roxburgh, Free St John's, Glasgow, preached in the afternoon and evening and the Rev Mr Stewart presided in the forenoon.

BROWNLOW North, the celebrated revivalist, held meetings in Saltcoats for a week in the Free Church and Established Church. At all his meetings many did not gain admission

100 YEARS AGO on February 5, 1909
AN entertainment was given in Saltcoats Town Hall last Friday under the auspices of the Literary and Debating Society, the artistes being Miss Marjorie Gullan, Miss Millar, Mr JB Scotland, and Mr JM Brown.

MR WT Rushbury's dramatic company presented The Old Home in the Town Hall, Saltcoats, last Saturday evening. Mr Rushbury himself had died at Airdrie the previous week.

DURING this week an enjoyable entertainment has been given every evening in Saltcoats Town Hall by Poole's Myriorama, and the programme includes a bioscope presentation.

DALRY Burns Club which lays claim in having the longest unbroken record of any Burns Club existing celebrated its 84th anniversary last Friday in the Turf Inn, where al their gatherings have been held. The toasts proposed were: Loyal Toast; The Immortal Memory. Jean Armour, Deceased Members, Sir Walter Scott, Dramatic Literature with Shakespeare, The Land of Cakes, Song Writers, Burns Clubs All Over the World, Irish Poets, Young Members, British Novelists and others too numerous to mention.

50 YEARS AGO on February 6,1959
AT the time of writing (Thursday) about 390 men - welders, caulkers, slaters, erectors and labourers - employed by the Motherwell Bridge and Engineering Company Ltd at Hunterston Nuclear Power Station, West Kilbride, are on strike over a dispute about bonus payments. The men are engaged in the reactor and the steam-raising plant and the strike started on Wednesday night of last week
An official of the Motherwell Bridge and Engineering Company Ltd told a Herald reporter that there would no negotiations until the men resume work.

A CORRESPONDENT writes to us about the Burns Birthday Book published by Arthur Guthrie, Ardrossan, in 1877.
He says: "Dedicated to the worldwide admirers of Scotia's National Bard and edited by James Gibson, Liverpool, this little book was intended as a souvenir of the inauguration of the Glasgow Burns Monument, on January 25 1877, and was suggested by the publisher to the editor for the first time early in November, preceding that demonstration.

A STUDENT at Irvine Royal Academy, for which he played centre-half, Tommy Carey, a local youth has been chosen to play centre-forward for Scotland in the Ireland v Scotland youth International at the Oval, Belfast, tomorrow. Tommy, who is the only local lad to be honoured, is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs James Carey, 41 Baird Avenue, Kilwinning.

MISS Elizabeth Strannigan, daughter of Mr and Mrs Andrew Strannigan, of Reliance, has been selected to head the secretarial staff of Senator-Elect Gale McGee in Washington DC. For the past year and a half, Miss Strannigan had been employed by School District No 1 in Powell, as a teacher of business education. Miss Strannigan is the granddaughter of Mrs Strannigan and the late Dr William Strannigan, Kilwinning.

25 YEARS AGO on February 10, 1984
ARDROSSAN twins Sharon and Annette Sinclair, certainly believe in togetherness. And this week they capped a long list of amazing coincidences by passing their driving tests within four hours of each other. The achievement was cause for a double celebration at the 19-year-old twins' home at 32 Clyde Тетасе. It was all the more incredible because they had the same number of driving lessons from the same instructor, and always on the same day! And for Robert Hastings, proprietor of the Winton School of Motoring, the experience of teaching the twins was an eye-opener.

"I found that when one made a mistake - for example stalling at traffic lights the other did the same during her lesson," he said.
"It didn't happen all the time but it was astonishing just how often it did."
But the twins put the similarities down to the coincidence."
Sharon said: "We had the same sort of gripes about certain things in our driving. It was a sub-conscious thing - both of us felt the same about it."
But the number of "coincidences in the twins' lives is amazing.
They both have the same number of O Levels - eight- and they both have four Highers with the same grades.
And they both work in local government-Sharon with Strathclyde Regional Council, Annette with Cunninghame District Council.
"I wouldn't go as far as saying it is telepathy, but we do have similar likes and dislikes," said Sharon.
"At school we always get about the same results in each subject."
But it was by no means certain that one twin would pass her driving test just because the other had.
When Sharon took her test at 8am on Tuesday she was under strict instruction not to return home with the result.
Annette explained: 1 didn't want to know Sharon's result when I sat my test at 11.30am. It would have put too much pressure on me."

ICI Nobel Explosives plant is back in production after a strike involving 900 members of the Transport and General Workers Union was called off.

Last week around 90 workers in the propellants section walked out after an argument involving the transfer of seven workers from the blasting department to propellants. The union claim there was no agreement for such a move. The strike quickly escalated and then last Thursday evening - according to the company - work started again with a shift going on at 11pm. The company's disputes procedure only allows for negotiations to be entered into if the men return to work first. Negotiations started on Friday and continued again on Monday when final agreement was reached.

AUCHENHARVIE Golf Club will struggle on - despite money troubles. AT the club's AGM on Monday members agreed It should continue trading.
But it is still trying to persuade Cunninghame District Council to grant a 20-year lease on its clubhouse. Only then will it receive a much-needed £3000 loan from brewers Drybroughs.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on February 11, 2009

100 YEARS AGO on February 12, 1909
THE following gentlemen have been appointed as Justices of the Peace for Ayrshire - Mr James Morrison, Fullarton Place, Stevenston; Mr George Morrison, Montfode, Ardrossan; Mr John Stewart, Royal Bank, Ardrossan; and Mr William Guthrie, Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, Ardrossan.

ON Sunday last jubilee services commemorative of the opening of the church (on February 8 1859) were held in St John's UF Church, Ardrossan, and at a congregational social on Monday addresses were given by 12 speakers and votes of thanks were proposed by seven gentlemen.

STEVENSTON Literary Society debate the question: "Is Roosevelt or the Kaiser the more worthy of emulation?" In discussion generally members seemed to prefer the American President.

AT the annual social and dance of Ardrossan Corps of the Caledonian Railway Ambulance Brigade in the Assembly Hall last Friday evening, certificates and medallions were presented to Robert McLellan, Kenneth Sutherland, Alex Muir, James Adams, Robert Longmuir, Alex McMaster, William Savage, Alex Thom, John Dow, Hugh Boyle, John Hood, J Wyllie, W Gibson, J Curlett, WK Harvey, James Allison, J Leitch, Gilbert Clark, Andrew Frame and Kelso Park

MR DARIO Agostini's effort to raise money in Ardrossan and neighbouring towns to aid his suffering compatriots in Italy has resulted in the collection of £6 4s 6d.

50 YEARS AGO on February 13, 1959
STAFF and customers, we imagine, will be extremely well pleased with the extension and alterations which have been carried out at Woolworth's store in Dockhead Street, Saltcoats, and which have practically created a new shop which will be an asset to the people of this area. During the alterations, in which several local firms were employed, business was maintained as usual and the job was completed in good time despite the fact that section by section the shop had to be barricaded off during the reconstruction work. An attractive feature of the premises is that the new counters are lower than waist level.

TWO men have retired from Ardeer Factory within the past few weeks after more than 40 years service with ICI Ltd and its predecessors. Latest to do so was Mr John Brogan, whose 43 years at Ardeer ended two weeks ago at an informal ceremony in Wages Department.

Mr JF Scott, Commercial Superintendent, who presented Mr Brogan with his scroll of service, commented that perhaps his 43 years seemed less looking back than it did looking forward. It was nevertheless a fine achievement.

Mr Brogan, he recalled, left the employment of the old G&S W railway to enter the factory which he did in 1915 as a processman in Propulsive Department. Two years later he joined the RSF and served in France and Belgium. Returning to Ardeer he entered Commercial Department as a clerk in the in Trades section shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War and became a leader of the section when it was enlarged several years later.

A LAY-out plan for the area at Links Road-Ross Road, Saltcoats, providing for 41 houses, four shops, sites for garages and a children's playground, has been approved by the Town Council, who have agreed to ask the County Planning Officer for his approval.

YOUNG boys at the top of Winton Street, Ardrossan, are using catapults and their target is often windows of dwelling houses during the hours a darkness.

MR BOB McCallum, Saltcoats, gained a first prize for the second year in succession at London with his cinnamon canary. Last year Mr McCallum won over 30 first prizes with his canaries.

CONSTABLE John Mcllwraith, Ardrossan, is being transferred to Cumnock, and Constable Joseph Lindsay, Ardeer Factory, comes to Ardrossan. Police Cadet John Kirk, Saltcoats, has joined the Nottingham City Police.

THE 390 men - welders, caulkers, platers, erectors and labourers - who have been on strike at Hunterston Nuclear Power Station, West Kilbride. for over a week have now resumed work. The men are employed by the Motherwell Bridge and Engineering Company Ltd and the dispute arose over bonus payments.

25 YEARS AGO on February 17, 1984
MONTHS of speculation ended this week when British Petroleum was given permission to drill for oil and gas off Arran. And the campaign to win Ardrossan a place at the heart of any future oil "boom" will now move into first gear. The town's harbour is being strongly pushed as the ideal base for the drilling operations.

Energy Minister Peter Walker announced on Tuesday that a production licence had been granted to BP covering about 240 square kilometres south of Arran. It will allow the oil company to drill exploratory wells to establish it oil or gas is present in commercial quantities. But it won't permit full-scale development - that would require another licence. A spokesman for British Petroleum said this week that it would be two years before any drilling took place.

Seismic tests will be held this summer. following up similar tests already carried out in the area for BP, Britoil and other companies. A BP spokesman said the results of the first test had been encouraging enough to prompt it to apply for a production licence, so far the only company to do so. Only if this summer's tests prove conclusive and initial drilling will hopes of an oil boom" be justified.

A BP spokesman said that one in six exploratory wells in the North Sea discovered oil and only one in 20 found it in commercial quantities. "What we do want to do is excite more interest than it is worth at that stage," said the spokesman.

TIME was money for Ardrossan's Masonic Lodge. It cost the Masons over £2000 to replace a clock damaged by gale force winds. Now they have appealed to Cunninghame District Council for help to pay the bill. The clock, which was over 100 years old, was blown from a turret on the roof of the Masonic Hall at 1 Harbour Street, Ardrossan last year. Rather than simply repair it, the Masons decided to install a brand new electric clock in its place.

Lodge Secretary Douglas Rae explained: "The electric clock is more reliable, and in the long run will work out cheaper than repairing the old one. Someone had to go up to wind up the clock once a week and it was no joke." The old clock was insured, but it will cost more to replace it than the club will receive from the insurance company. So an application for cash help was submitted to CDC's finance committee last week. Councillors were not exactly sure what proportion of the bill they were being asked to pay, so the matter was continued for further information."

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on February 18, 2009

150 YEARS AGO in 1859
CAPTAIN Hunter of Hunterston gave a lecture at West Kilbride on Russia. The Captain criticised this Empire very much from a military point of view.

DR BRYCE delivered a lecture on the Geology of Arran under the auspices of the Glasgow Geological Society. The Islanders enjoyed every minute of his lecture.

ARDROSSAN Harbour, according to the writer, has never had so many large and small ships in the port before at the same time. When a few go out, others come in to take their place.

LARGS Ploughing match took place on the lands of Knock, possessed by Mr Robert Robertson. Twenty took part and the match resulted as follows: - 1 Robert Lamb, Chapelton; 2. David Crawford, Tourgill; 3, Allan Halliday (Outerwards): 4, John Brown (Thirdpart); 5, Hector McEwen (Middleton).

100 YEARS AGO on February 19, 1909 100 YEARS AGO
THE second half of a Scottish concert given in the New Ardrossan Parish Church Hall by the choir on Wednesday consisted of the play Cramond Brig and the actors were: - Mr JT Woodburn, Mr William Jamieson, Miss Annie Higgins, Miss Jean Macmillan, Mr NH Newton, Mr Stewart Goodwin, Mr John Logan, Mr J Kirkwood, Mr A Wilson, and Master Hugh Beck.

IN the course of a lecture to Saltcoats Literary and Debating Society on Monday, Mr John M Orr said that when the Cannon Hill was being altered to make room for the railway, many human bones were found. A number of them were split, suggesting that they had been in the hands of cannibals and had been split to extract the marrow.

A LARGE party in wedding garments met in Kilwinning Institute last Thursday night to celebrate a marriage, but although the clergyman was present and all in readiness the couple to be marred did not turn up.

AT the annual social meeting of Ardrossan Parish Church a pleasant musical programme was submitted by Misses Currie, Nan Sawyer, Mrs Fulton, Master B Wilkie and others taking part were Mrs Rees, Mrs WD Kerr, Misses McRoberts, Wilson, Morris, Fullerton, Miller, and Messrs W Muir, G McRoberts, A Armour, J Fulton, Taylor, Kerr, Armour, T Wilson and R Scott.

THE Carl Rosa Opera Company have been paying their first visit to Ayr Theatre this week, and the theatre proved too small for the crowds who, at double prices, blocked the doors and crowded every available inch of room.

50 YEARS AGO on February 20, 1959
MR Robert Jack, Special Assistant in Ardrossan Academy, who has been appointed headmaster of Fairlie Primary School, was educated at Ardrossan Academy and at Glasgow University where he graduated MA, BSc. A native of West Kilbride, where he resides, Mr Jack has held teaching appointments in Dalry and Kilmarnock. He is interested in youth work and was a former officer of the Ardrossan Squadron of the ATC. He is an elder of Overton Church, West Kilbride.

THE fire which destroyed a garage and car at the Ardchoille Hotel in Stevenston might have been more serious. The car was burnt out along with other articles in the garage. The cause of the fire is unknown.

WORKMEN'S sheds are being erected in what is known as McAlpine's Field at Station Road, Stevenston, in preparation for the erection of a new housing scheme. The site is very central for shopping and bus stops.

KILBIRNIE Fire Brigade had an assistance call to Beith on Saturday afternoon, when Thomson's Garage suffered considerable damage.

MISS Matty Nicholls (11), 26 Broomfield Street, Kilwinning, was in charge of her mother's exhibit Cheval, a cocker spaniel which won first prize at the Canine Club show held in the Orange Hall last Saturday.

25 YEARS AGO on February 24, 1984
BOB Kirkwood of Saltcoats was dealt a bitter blow this week when he discovered the dream job he had been offered in Saudi Arabia was a fraud. Like hundreds of other Scots, Mr Kirkwood, a pipe fitter of 13 Primrose Place, replied to an advertisement in a national newspaper a few weeks ago and was delighted, after filling in application forms, to discover that he had been accepted for the £7.20 an hour post. But the dream turned into a nightmare this week when the elaborate deception was uncovered, revealing the men who placed the advertisement around Britain were embezzling eager job hunters out of thousands of pounds. Mr Kirkwood was one of the lucky few who came out of the experience no worse off financially... but there are hundreds of unemployed people who pald £250 towards their travelling expenses who are unlikely ever to see that money again

"I would never have expected the offer to turn out to be a fraud," Mr Kirkwood commented, it was all so professionally done." The truth is:
CP Ltd, the name under which the advertisements were placed, does not exist.
* There was not a single genuine job available.
*A1 Charter, the firm to whom the travelling costs were sent does not exist either.
The entire operation was a cleverly carried out confidence trick.
But it has done little to boost the confidence of people who are still without a job and the people who have lost a lot of money through it.

IN the last 26 years, Saltcoats man John Conway has turned 425,000 coins that nobody wanted into just over £2,120. John, who lives at 12 kilmory Road, did it by collecting old "ship" half pennies from 1958 until 1968, when they went out of circulation In that time £250 was raised for the Church of Scotland.

The remainder of the cash has been donated since 1974, shortly after the new half pennies were introduced, by children of the North Parish Church Sunday School and latterly, the congregation. The children have been involved in the collecting for many years because John was superintendent of the Sunday School until a few years ago. The latest purchase from the half penny fund can be heard ringing every Sunday - it is a new set of church bells.

John and his family have been members of the church for the 40 years they have lived in Saltcoats and he is still involved with raising money for it. The organ will cost about £4000 to repair and to help meet the cost, he has established another fund. Although it was only set up last year, it has already collected £529.

The coins are collected in a unique box - it is a model of the church that was made by John 22 years ago. Children and adults have been dropping halfpennies through the slot for so long that its builder can recall the weddings of some of the youngsters.That will end, however, when the smallest coins are again withdrawn this year.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on February 25, 2009

150 YEARS AGO in 1859
THE shareholders of the Isle of Arran steamer held their annual meeting in Brodick Inn when the total dividend was declared.

THE treasurer of the fund towards forming an industrial band in Saltcoats acknowledges subscriptions from Lord James Stuart, MP, £1 and WB Huggins. Esq. Pavilion, Ardrossan, £1.

THE Rev Mr Stobbs' Sabbath School Class waited upon him and presented him with a very handsome writing desk and writing material as a token of esteem and appreciation of his labour on their behalf. The writing desk was made by Mr Deans, cabinet maker.

IN Kilmarnock much discussion took place regarding "Who gets the poor money." It was then stated that of 15 applications, 11 were from Ireland.

TRADE in Kilmarnock has improved especially for handloom weavers who can now earn 20s per week. The shoemakers too are busy, but chiefly on work for export.

100 YEARS AGO on February 26, 1909
THE first venture of the Ardrossan Musical Society -a comic opera. The Mandarin was produced in the Assembly Hall, the characters being capably sustained by Mr W Jamieson, Miss Florrie Barr, Miss M McLean, Miss M Wilson, Miss J Turner, Messrs Harry Magee, W Kean W Harvey, D Harvey, J Campbell, and the accompaniments were played by Mr F Blythe and Mr Boyd Goodwin.

ON Tuesday evening the local Artillery Company under the command of Captain Murchie paraded in the Drill Hall, Ardrossan, to present efficiency medals for over 12 years service to Sergeant Major Wylie, Corporal Ramsay Gunner Muir and Sergeant Crawford.

THE G&SWR ambulance competition was held last Saturday, fourth place being taken by the Ardrossan team - Messrs R Crawford, Joseph Carey, John Hannah, Robert Hunter David Hamilton, Sam Dowie, William Orr, T Symington and Misses Finlay and Barr

AT the annual social of Stevenston Co-operative Society employees, songs and recitations were rendered by Messrs Alex Duff, John Scott, Thomas Duff, Robert Speirs, (Robert Hunter, David Hamilton, Sam Dowie, William Orr, T Symington and Misses Finlay and Barr.) Names within brackets likely printing error. See original.

AFTER an interval of more than 20 years the Beith ploughing match took place on Mossneuk Farm, and prizewinners were: - W Crawford, Blaelochhead; J Bruce Willowyard; J Liggat, Bankside, Kilbirnie; J Craig, Burdiehouse; Kirkwood, Broadstonhall: R Reid, Knowes: E Dinning, Park, and M Jack, Broadstone.

THE following have been appointed subscribers' representatives on the management committee of West Kilbride Public Hall: - Messrs Dugald Campbell, William Gray, George McNee, Hugh Paton, Archibald Gray, Alex Gemmill, and John Balderston. The hall has a balance on the year's working of £50.

50 YEARS AGO on February 27, 1959
SAFE-breakers got away with £1000 in cash and some liquor when they raided the bar of Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club in the early hours of Saturday morning, but their getaway was probably by a narrow margin. The robbery was discovered shortly after 4.30am by policemen on their rounds when they found that the iron bars had been tom from their position on the window sill.

The clubmaster, Mr A Adam was roused and it was discovered that the safe (approximately 3cwt in weight) was missing. It was subsequently found-blown open by explosives - at a point about 100 yards southwards from the clubhouse in the rough along the right of the first fairway

LAST November was the last month since 1944 in which not a single person was killed on the roads In Ayrshire. And this result followed the introduction of radar speed checks by the police. It is the most accurate way of measuring speed that I have yet seen." said Chief Inspector Quentin Wilson, officer in charge of Ayrshire Constabulary's Traffic Department.

LAST weekend a torpedo was washed ashore between Stevenston and Irvine. When it was examined it was found to be one of the practice type so there was no cause for alarm. It was recovered by the Navy.

IT is a surprising thing that although there are not so many people patronising cinemas nowadays, more people are making their own films. I learn that this hobby is not as expensive as it used to be.

A NUMBER of shift workers at Ardeer Factory had to walk home when they finished work at three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon because of an unofficial stoppage by drivers and conductresses employed by the Western SMT Company's depot at Ardrossan. The stoppage lasted for only an hour, however, and was mainly confined to the employees on the Ardeer factory run, some of whom returned to the depot in a bus, leaving their own buses at the factory. They resumed work about an hour later and collected their buses, but by then all the factory workers had gone home.

25 YEARS AGO on March 2, 1984
THE six-man crew of an ICI-owned tug escaped death after an explosion ripped through their vessel in the Clyde six miles off Ardrossan on Monday. The Gamock was carrying waste and sub-standard explosives from the Ardeer explosives plant operated by iCl and had started disposal at an agreed dumping ground when a container exploded at about 11.30am.

The ship's propeller and the stem of the vessel were badly damaged. The crew were rescued by the Troon lifeboat which followed the tug back to Troon. This week the crew were tight-lipped about the incident. The extent of the damage was being surveyed at Troon. A spokesman for ICI said that an inquiry had been launched by the company into the cause of the explosion, and that a report will be sent to HM Explosives Inspectorate - a section of the government's health and Safety at Work personnel. All the crew came from the Troon area, ICI has a practice of dumping all unwanted explosive items in a recognised "grave" in order to make them safe.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the above 1959

(It is a surprising thing that although there are not so many people patronising cinemas nowadays, more people are making their own films. I learn that this hobby is not as expensive as it used to be)

Film stars in the making?
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on March 4, 2009

150 YEARS AGO March 1859
JOSEPH McCulloch, Burgh Officer, Irvine, has resigned and has been appointed Burgh Officer at Ardrossan.

FAIRLIE, with a reputation for boat building is in the flourishing position of having executive orders that will assure work for the men for some time.

MR Daniel McMillan, postmaster, Kilwinning, had a 13-months old pig and when killed it weighed 30 stone 11 lbs.

THE screw steamer. Mail which sails from Ardrossan to Dundalk with several cargo, grounded while crossing the Dundalk Bar. A high tide and heavy seas lashed her till the ship became a total wreck

THE valuable tenement of houses forming the south comer of King Street. Kilmarnock occupied by Mr Wilson, stationer, and others, was purchased by Mr James Mckie of the Kilmarnock Post for £2551.

100 YEARS AGO on March 5, 1909
FOR the first time in the history of Ardrossan Harbour a cargo of tea was discharged at the port this week.

THE Junior choir of St John's Church, Ardrossan performed a kinderspiel, The Hours in the church hall last night. Those taking part were: - Mr J Ferguson, Miss Jessie Irvine, Miss May McLean, Miss Jessie Strachan, Miss Susan Travers and Miss Cathie Taylor.

THE annual social of the Saltcoats Tent of Rechabites was held last Friday, the entertainment programme being given by Miss Nellie Smith, Mr D Darroch (songs): Mr C Anderson (readings): Mr J Darroch (clarionet), Miss Lizzie O'Rourke (dances) and Mr DB McNab (comedian).

AT the monthly meeting of Stevenson Parish Council Mr James Morrison referred to the great deal of distress in the town, there were many people in starvation, and he agreed to invite others in the town to assist in forming a soup kitchen.

50 YEARS AGO on March 6, 1959
MR Peter Boyle, son of the Hon JD Boyle, and nephew of the Earl of Glasgow, has been to command Hull University Air Squadron. Mr Boyle, who had a distinguished record in the Air Force in war time is well known in Fairlie.

MR Andrew Mitchell who, some years ago was booking clerk at Fairie station, has been appointed stationmaster at Kilwinning.

LAST Friday evening Dalry Public Hall presented a scene of brightness, colour and activity when the pupils of Mrs N McInnes provided a programme of tap dances, Highland dances, and ballet dances to an audience which, despite being rather small in numbers, were most appreciative. In all 30 young dancers participated and every one of them did their numerous dances very cleverly. Proceeds were in aid of Old Folks' Treat Funds, and on behalf of the committee Mr NG Clark proposed thanks to Mrs McInnes and the young dancers. He also intimated that this year the committee were to try a new venture in the way of raising funds. Within the next four or five weeks it was intended to call at every house in the town with an envelope appeal.

DAN Thomson, craneman at Ardrossan Harbour with the Burns Laird Line has for years been feeding a one-legged seagull. Dan was born in harbour property beside his late father's boat building yard. A Thomson built boat was always a guarantee of a good job. It may be strange but it is nevertheless true, that the late Mr Thomson's chief assistant was his wife, who knew all the tricks of the carpentry trade.

A GOLDFISH almost four inches long, was found in Saltcoats boating pond by a local youth who took it to Mr Moffat's pet shop in Chapelwell Street. The fish is in good condition, but how it got into the pond is a mystery.

THIS week another building was demolished in New Street, Stevenston, within a few hours of the men and machine, starting the job. This is the third building to be demolished in a short time.

THE five-times postponed Ayrshire Cup tie was played off on Saturday, when Lugar Boswell Thistle defeated Beith Juniors, at Lugar, by 4 goals to 1. The local team was hard hit by injuries. Only 58 spectators were present at the game, and the total gate amounted to $2.17s.

25 YEARS AGO on March 9, 1984
AN Ardrossan shop was damaged and hundreds of pounds worth of stock was lost when water flooded into from an upstairs flat on Wednesday.
Alister Mackenzie, of Mackenzie's newsagent's on Princes Street was called to his shop shortly after midnight to find water an inch deep on the floor, saturating confectionery, books and toys and ruining tiles on the ceiling. Mr Mackenzie, staff and friends spent most of the night mopping up the mess and salvaging what they could from the flood in preparation for normal opening time on Wednesday morning. The overflow in the flat upstairs must have jammed. Mr Mackenzie explained. It was 4.30am before we got it cleared up.

THE ever-growing popularity of BMX bikes was evident in Saltcoats on Sunday when 147 youngsters turned out to compete in the first-ever BMX races in the west of Scotland. The first prize for the open race was enough to bring hordes of hopeful young cyclists along as it was a tack invader bicycle worth £213. After competing in races dictated by age groups the qualifiers then cycled like crazy over the BMX track of Saltcoats High Road to win the lovely BMX bike donated by the event sponsors, Ardrossan Bike Centre. Fifteen-year-old Raymond MacDougall of Castlepark in Irvine, won the race and Craig Maclver (8) of Ardrossan, took second place, winning himself a BMX suit. David Kelly (12), also of Ardrossan, was awarded a racing helmet for coming in third.

A NEW Enterprise Workshop to be opened soon in Stevenston will provide three towns' inventors with a place to try out their ideas. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the workshop comes under the wing of the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson Enterprise Trust. ASSET Director, Douglas Martyn, pointed out there has been a significant demand for this type of facility in the area and he is confident the workshop will be well used. Three people will be employed to supervise and train the investors in the sale and train the inventors in the safe use of equipment available at the work shop and a further six people will be called in when expert advice on the technical engineering side of new innovations is needed. Workshops already in use in Hamilton, Greenock and Paisley have proved so successful that Strathclyde Regional Council's workshops are being extended to Stevenston and Alexandaria. SRC has already been given £93.000 by the Development Fund in recognition of the assistance these workshops are giving to areas of high unemployment

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on March 18, 2009

150 YEARS AGO in 1859
The people of West Kilbride ought to be careful of the credence which they give to the self styled "Commissioner for Scotland Appointed by the Board of Supervision" who we now learn has begun operations in the parish. The very designation which he has taken to himself out so satisfy everyone that no statement or investigation of his can be worth anything.

Mr Raeside, cabinetmaker. Saltcoats purchased in Dockhead Street that property next to miss Crawford's to extend his business.

Ardrossan ratepayers are complaining about the bad state of the domestic water. It is evident that the company who own the water works are not making a move to improve the quality of the water.

The examination of Brodick Church took place in the presence of a large number of parents.

The UP Church, Ardrossan was forcibly entered twice within a short time. On one occasion the thief stole £1 from a missionary box and on the other occasion several articles were stolen. The church is situated on the outskirts of town.

100 YEARS AGO on March 19, 1909
At the Children's Spring Flower Show in Stevenston last Saturday, championship medals were won by James Fulton and Lizzy Johnston and special prizes were won by Agnes Becket. Gavin Johnston and Niven Johnston

The Ardrossan Amateur Dramatic Company presented the drama Jeanie Deans in the Assembly hall on Tuesday and Wednesday, the cast being JH Kerr, H Skillen, Peter Mullen, Lizzie Gilroy, Nellie, Inglis, Sally Leckie, John McKellar, Hugh McLachlan, John Cance, John Neagle, Peggy Barr, Peter Convery, William Wyllie, J McDonald, Peter Kean, James Currie, Dugald McLachlan, Annie McEwan and May Convery.

A social gathering was held in the Saltcoats EU Congregational Church on Monday to honour The Rev David Grenhill on his semi-jubilee in the church and also on his retiral. He was presented with a timepiece, a cheque and a purse of sovereigns.

50 YEARS AGO on March 20, 1959
Recently a wristwatch was found at the shore, Saltcoats. The wristband of leather was wet through and the watch had stopped. It was taken to Saltcoats Police Station where the wristband was dried. The watch was wound up and was proved to keep excellent time. But how it got to the shore is unknown and it has not yet been claimed.

On Tuesday morning an Ardrossan woman was out for a walk with her two-year-old daughter. Coming off the Castle Hill at the Winton Park end, she looked on the grass at the bottom of the dyke and saw two bright eyes staring at her. She at once assumed that a weasel was about, so made her stay short.

Last Saturday, during the Ardeer Thistle - Saltcoats Victoria cup tie at Stevenston, while everyone's attention was focused on the field of play, someone entered the Saltcoats dressing room and took sums of money in all amounting to about £10. The police have interviewed a boy and later recovered some money

The motor boat which takes the Sunday newspapers to Arran from the end of March to a date in September is expected to be launched on Sunday first 22nd. The boat is booked to do a special run in a week's time to take a businessman to Arran.

Tuesday of last week was a red-letter day for Miss MF Adams, daughter of the late Rev J Adams, Saltcoats. Miss Adams is head mistress of Croydon High School for Girls, and that day - in her own words: she saw her dreams come true when Sir Alexander Fleck, chairman of ICI Limited, performed the opening of a new £30,000 science block at the school. A new school library, costing around £6000, was opened by Lady Cash, Chairman of the Governors, who named it the Margaret Adams Library and said it would always be associated with a great head mistress, to whose vision and energy the school owed so much.

25 YEARS AGO on March 23, 1984
Angry parents of pupils at a Saltcoats primary school have mounted a campaign to have a full investigation into the suspension of an estimated 40 pupils last Thursday. Kyleshill Primary headmistress Jean Miller refused to speak to the Herald this week about the mass suspension, but one mum with three children at the school has circulated a petition condemning the school's action in suspending the children with out informing their parents.
The woman, whose nine-year-old son suffers from epilepsy and bronchial asthma, was furious to discover he had been sent home without her knowledge
"I was horrified to think what could have happened to him," she said.
Problems arose after a group of Kyleshill children were seen leaving school at the end of the day on Wednesday and heading for Argyle Primary, where they were planning a fight.

A bar and disco in a Saltcoats hotel were extensively damaged by fire on Wednesday in the worst of three blazes to hit the town in less than a week. The fire gutted Joe Bananas Bar and Tokoi Joe's disco at the Sands Hotel in Canal Street and caused smoke damage to other parts of the building. Owner John Lynch, his wife Janette and their baby were in the building at the time along with staff and one resident, but no-one was hurt.

Cunningham South MP David Lambie has branded the Scottish Development Agency "public vandals". He was shocked to see the long-established flowering shrubs along the High Road in Saltcoats, Stevenston and Ardrossan had been tom up for what he claims is no obvious reason. The SDA have planted trees instead, but many have already been destroyed by vandals.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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