Looking Back - Herald files

[Hughie]

From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on May 4, 2011

150 YEARS AGO on May, 1861
AT A general meeting for granting publicans' certificates held in Beith Town Hall, the following applications for the district were disposed of - Dalry, 49, all granted. Kilbirnie, 19 applications, all granted. Beith, 38 applications, all granted.

A hen belonging to Mr John Garven, Townhead, Dalgarven, dropped an egg which measured eight and a half inches by seven and a half and weighed four and a half ounces.

The Licensing Court, held in Saltcoats Town Hall, granted the following applications - Stevenston: Inns 4, public houses 10, licensed grocers 8. Saltcoats: Inns 4, public houses 10, licensed grocers 11. Ardrossan: Inns 1, public houses 15, licensed grocers 8.

On Wednesday, May 15 the City of Glasgow Bank at Ardrossan was closed. The business of the district is now concentrated at one office in Saltcoats, under the legacy of Mr James Campbell.

100 YEARS AGO on May 19, 1911
The opening of the new lawn tennis courts in Stevenston took place on Saturday afternoon. Mr Wm. Kerr presided, and introduced Mrs Wyllie of Ardeer House who declared the course open for play.

The annual general meeting of the Ayrshire Bowling Association was held at Kilwinning last Thursday night and the office-bearers were elected for the coming year.

50 YEARS AGO on May 19, 1961
The old YMCA Hall at Ardrossan Harbour, which was purchased by the Harbour Company some years ago, has been altered, redecorated and made into new offices. The building has a new entrance door and all the old stonework has been
rough-cast. The workmen have done a really good job.

With Kenya very much in the news these days, it is good to know that Mr Hugh Stevenson, son of Mr and Mrs H Stevenson, 92 Eglinton Road, Ardrossan, has a thousand acre farm in Kenya and that he and his wife are enjoying life there. His farm is three hundred miles up-country and we learn that he gets on very well with the natives.

A young man from Fife, at present employed in a Civil Service Job in Ardrossan, bought a shilling ticket for the Edinburgh Students' Draw. His ticket won first prize - a new motor car.

25 YEARS AGO on May 16, 1986
A Government guillotine hangs over hundreds of Ayrshire shipyard jobs - as an Ardrossan ship- builder announces a £1M triple order.
McCrindle Shipbuilding won the orders but up to 375 jobs could be axed at the Ferguson Ailsa yard down the coast in Troon. The Ardrossan company's news will come as a lifeline for 20 workers, how- ever boss Bill McCrindle says that if the firm had not secured a major order for a fishing vessel, lay-offs would have resulted. Twenty men were axed by the firm at the completion of a contract to build a giant shiploader in March.

Purcell Meats have slashed their workforce by two-thirds the second time workers at the Saltcoats-based meat factory have been paid off. Speculation is now growing among members of Cunninghame District Council that the Irish-based firm has just months left before it closes down all together claims which are being denied strongly by the company itself.

A jubilant Labour Party is celebrating landslide victories after last Thursday's Regional Council elections. But while Tory morale took a dunt locally, the Party has stressed that it may be down - but not out. Richard Wilkinson, who has retained the Arran, Largs and West Kilbride seat on Strathclyde for the Conservatives, commented: "We have taken a light punch, but we will come out of it smiling."

Bridget McGeechan kept Saltcoats and Ardrossan in Labour hands, replacing Dan McMillan as councillor, while James Jennings and Archie Lambie continue to serve the Garnock Valley and Kilwinning & Stevenston for Labour respectively.
As in Mr Wilkinson's case, all three Labour candidates had substantial majorities over their closest rivals, but the Neil Kinnock-led Labour Party candidates all increased their majorities.

The BBC has been slammed for 'distorting the truth' about Cunninghame North's political climate. Conservatives who took part in the This Week, Next Week programme screened on Sunday accused the Corporation of ignoring evidence and misrepresenting facts.

A Naval bomb disposal squad was called in after a fishing boat trawling two miles off Ardrossan picked a torpedo up in her nets.
The device had to be cut loose at great expense to the boat's owner, and is believed to date from the Second World War.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

[Hughie]

From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on May 18, 2011

100 YEARS AGO on June 2, 1911
THE following are the office-bearers of the newly- constituted Dairy Women's Liberal Association: Hon President, Mrs AM Anderson; president, Mrs J Hunter; vice-presidents, Mrs Gordon, Mrs Boyd, Miss Hamilton; treasurer, Mrs WA Cochrane.

Mr Alexander Cameron, stalker to the Marquis of Graham at Dougarie, Arran, has been appointed out of 80 applicants, to the post of head stalker to Captain Coomb, Ross-shire.

Anniversary services in connection with the ordination of the Rev R K Goodfellow, BD, to the pas torate of Kilbirnie East UF Church were conducted on Sunday by the Rev James Muir, MA, Melville UF Church, Aberdeen.

50 YEARS AGO on June 2, 1961
Excavation of the site for Prestwick Airport's new £1m terminal building will start in almost a month. This will be the first part of the final stage in the four-year development of the airport, which started in 1959 with the extension of the main runway.
A Ministry of Aviation official stated that the contractor has not yet been named, but work is to start before June 29. A separate contract will be required for the construction of the terminal building, which is planned for completion in 1963.
The airport's new fire station will be completed next month and the new control tower, at the junction of the two runways, will be ready in August. The first phase in the construction of a new apron and runways, will be ready in August.
The second stage of the Prestwick-Ayr bypass road is also likely to be started this month.

When the puffer Boer ran aground near Brodick Pier last Saturday morning, an 11-year-old boy. Kenneth McKinnie, 1 Hillview Place, Brodick, "rescued the crew of the stranded vessel in the rowing boat.
An unsuccessful attempt to pull the puffer off was made by the Arran car ferry, Glen Sannox but the Boer was later re-floated at High Tide with the help of Mr William Kyle of Kilsyth, the skipper of another puffer, the Cretan who travelled from Lamlash to Brodick. The skipper of the Boer, Mr Neil MacDonald, Longhill Crescent, Rothesay, was taken to Lamlash Hospital to have a foot injury treated and was later discharged.

Mr John Besford, head gardener of Brodick Castle, is appearing in Gardening Club on BBC Television tonight (Friday).

For the second year in succession, two members of the Prestwick Unit, Women's Junior Air Corps, Sandra Joyner and Christine Muir, have won the national cookery competition organised by the Scottish Girls' Training Corps in conjunction with the Electricity Board.
The preliminary competitions were held on an area basis throughout Scotland the final took place last Saturday in the College of Domestic Science, Glasgow.

On Monday morning when an articulated motor lorry, loaded with 19 tons of iron girders, was passing over Smithstone Bridge on its way towards Kilwinning, it developed a skid and toppled over on its side, blocking one side of the bridge. The lorry was extensively damaged, but the driver escaped with slight bruises.

Twenty-six Ayrshire schoolchildren were involved in road accidents during the month of April - 16 pedestrians, four pedal cyclists and six passengers. Twenty-three of the accidents were slight and three were serious.

Last Saturday the 11pm train from Glasgow broke down at Dalry, and Ayr and Kilwinning passengers were delayed for about 30 minutes.

Good progress is being made with the filling in of the old pond site in the public park in Kilwinning, and it hoped that the ground will be levelled off at an early date.

A letter has been received by Troon police expressing the appreciation of Lieutenant G Wookey, RN, for their assistance with the disposal of a bomb which was brought recently into Troon Harbour.

Last Saturday an Ardrossan man and his wife parked their car on the shore side at the far end of Largs. While sitting in the car they were surprised to see a seagull drop a golf ball from its bill. As the ball hit the ground it kept bouncing and the gull kept flying around anxious to retrieve it. A man, who was in another car, got out and picked up the golf ball.

25 YEARS AGO on May 30, 1986
A major development at Hunterston which could have created 1,000 jobs has been withdrawn and the finger of blame has been pointed at the Scottish Secretary of State. A statement issued by the company concerned -UIE of Clydebank said that due to the recent developments in the oil industry, caused by the falling oil price, the market place has been radically changed and therefore, it would not be proceeding with its major plans at the moment.
UIE had planned to do some reclaiming work at Hunterston for marine industrial purposes at the south end of the site and had also planned to establish a service area adjacent to the ore jetty (in the north) in order to have facilities to undertake conversion projects on semi-submersible and jack- up rigs. Now it seems the firm will only opt for the latter phase and this is bound to cause major headaches for Cunninghame District Council. Already residents in Fairlie have objected to the north end of the site being used for industrial purposes and they have stated that they will fight it all the way.

The axe may soon be wielded on companies who make contributions to political party funds. Cunninghame District Council have pledged their full support to a Scottish-wide campaign to investigate companies which make contributions to political parties.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have devised a scheme and CDC is to investigate its proposals. To enforce the ban there would have to be at least five per cent of the shareholders in support of the decision. The ban may affect companies where the local authorities act as trustees for the funds.

Proud grandparents David Lambie MP and his wife Netta are as pleased as punch over the birth of baby Gilian, their sixth grandchild.
Mum Eileen and dad Matt Smith were over the moon with the birth of their second child on May 14. Gillian weighed 8lbs 5ozs at birth. And it means good news for little Mark Smith (2) who will have a baby sister for company. The Lamble family are holding a get-together in the next fortnight when Mr Lambie's other daughter Lorraine flies home from Italy with her two children.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

[Hughie]

From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on May 25, 2011

150 YEARS AGO on June, 1861
FARMER writes to say he has always used English salt for curing his hay, but the salt always turned mouldy. He tried Saltcoats salt with success as it cured the hay by keeping it fresh and the cattle enjoyed it.

The property next to Saltcoats railway station was purchased by Mr James Blair, Ardrossan. At the same the gas and water shares of Saltcoats were purchased at a premium of £5 a share.

Ardrossan Bowlers crossed over to Belfast and took part in the international bowling match there in aid of meals for the poor. Ardrossan, finished two shots up over Belfast. Messrs Marr, Crawford and Drape were the Ardrossan representatives.

West Kilbride Reading Room, after two years in existence, was finally closed for want of public patronage.

50 YEARS AGO on JUNE 9, 1961
The plaque on the wall at Castle Hill, Ardrossan has been ripped off by vandals. Much damage has also been done to the playground in Ailsa Gardens.

Last Saturday night several boys who were jumping over the flower beds at Stevenston were quite annoyed when a man checked them for it.

Tomorrow (Saturday) 2,430 trip- pers will arrive at South Beach Green, Ardrossan.

Joe Long, a native of Ardrossan and a well-known professional comedian, will be appearing at the Rothesay summer show this sea- son. This week he was in his home town on holiday.

Another successful year for the 1138 (Ardrossan) Squadron of the Air Training Corps was reported by the Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant John Barbour, at the Squadron's twentieth anniversary party held in the dining hall of Ardrossan Academy last Friday evening.

A playground in the heart of the Saltcoats housing scheme has become a menace to the safety of children, claimed a number of young housewives this week. Within the past month five children have been hurt there and one of them spent four days in hospital suffering from bruises and concussion.
The playground is situated on an area of ground enclosed by the houses of Links Road, McGillivray Avenue, Ross Road and Pladda Road. On the same piece of ground there are also almost a dozen new garages. Until now, any injuries have been caused by youngsters falling from the swings but parents now say children are being struck by cars, which can only access the garages by way of a short, narrow road from McGillivray Avenue. This road is also used by children going to play on the swings.

25 YEARS AGO on JUNE 6, 1986
Heather Caldwell of Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan has been crowned the new Miss Irvine. The cheeky lass told the judges she had a desire to be marooned on a desert island with the entire Chicago Bears American football team. Heather beat off stiff competition from all over Ayrshire.

A councillor has thrown down the gauntlet to Ardrossan Harbour bosses to do something with their 'disgusting, derelict dump'. And a demand to 'get the finger out' has been levelled at Clyde Port Authority -the harbour operators who are at the centre of a row brewing over the state of the facility. Cllr David Munn of Ardrossan North blasted CPA for what he branded its lack of action in attracting new business, while speaking at a meeting of Cunninghame District Council's Economic Development Committee.

West Kilbride Labour Party has issued an SOS to save the town's railway station. The Save Our Station campaign was launched last week at the branch's monthly meeting and it is hoped the Party can inspire other people to join and save the station building from being demolished and replace with a bus shelter-type structure.

Television rental giants Granada are to close their Kilwinning service factory. Up to 30 jobs will be switched from Kilwinning a new site in South Ayrshire. The firm are also to close their Ayr factory.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

[Hughie]

From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on June 1, 2011

150 YEARS AGO on June, 1861
A FULLY ripe strawberry and of good size was grown in the garden of Mr Mutter, North Crescent, Ardrossan.

A few sticks of wheat fully in ear were grown at the Home Farm of Gavin Fullerton, Esq., Kerelaw, Stevenston.

A hen belonging to Mr John Mark, Kilwinning. layed an egg which measured eight and three quarter inches and weighed more than four ounces.

At the farm of Mr Alexander Watt, Bashaw, Kilbirnie, Mr Wm. Davis, jun., hived a swarm of bees. This was considered the earliest swarm of bees in the district.

Weavers in Ardrossan are finding it very difficult to get work at their trade. Some have gained employment at Ardrossan Harbour and others have taken up fishing.

50 YEARS AGO on June 16, 1961
A man who is keen on ships and who has a good memory of Old Ardrossan said he was surprised that there were now no retired sea captains living in the town. We informed him, however, that there were two retired sea captains still in the town - Mr Charles Taylor, Eglinton Road, Ardrossan, who was captain of a ship which traded on the China coast for many years and Mr Wm. McCreadie, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, one of five brothers who held a captain's ticket. William, who has been retired for many years, was very much in the limelight while he was the captain of a ship which ran the blockade during the Spanish Civil War.

Last Friday morning we received a parcel from Australia containing six samples of wool. It was sent by Mr H McLaughlin, Mamamal, Ballata, but there was no letter with the parcel on which was written: "Six samples of wool for school studies."

There were 61 arrivals, including four oil tankers, at Ardrossan Harbour for the week ended Saturday, June 10. Passenger traffic to Arran and the Isle Of Man is increasing every week.

Mr Archd. Hunter, who lived for many years in Ardrossan to England where he is a journalist, has joined the staff of the London "Times". He often represents that newspaper in the House Of Lords.

Mr Charles Hunter, Postmaster at Dalmuir, has been awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. Mr Hunter, a native of Saltcoats was the dux medallist at the local Public School and a member of a well-known family who resided in Manse Street.

25 YEARS AGO on JUNE 13 1986
Ardrossan shipbuilding tycoon Bill McCrindle has made a sensational offer to take over the stricken Ailsa Shipyard at Troon. He made his offer to British Shipbuilders who own Ailsa - only days after the shock news of the planned closure there reverberated around Ayrshire. But his plans have received a mixed reception from workers and management alike. It's understood Mr McCrindle's offer is one of four private deals on the table, and British Shipbuilders have made it clear to Mr McCrindle that they want a competitive tender.

The unions and the workforce have only one answer we don't want to go private," said Peter McShannoon, secretary of the Save Ailsa Campaign. "We know nothing about this takeover bid at all."
Mr McCrindle told us: "We contacted the management at British Shipbuilders the day after the closure was announced and I met with them on June 2. Our proposals were not accepted. They want a competitive tender. But I am not interested in a Dutch auction." The proposed deal by the local company involves what is described as a significant package.

Hundreds of youngsters were left bitterly disappointed when a major children's TV star failed to show for a kiddies' event on Saturday. Children waited patiently for more than an hour for the arrival of Mr Cartoon Glen Michael at West Kilbride's public hall on Saturday afternoon. And what was planned as a perfect end to a week of Gala activities turned sour and children were left tearful. Angry parents demanded refunds and a disco was hurriedly organised to keep the children, aged four and upwards, entertained.

The mix-up occurred after an unprecedented breakdown in communications at Scottish Television, but rumours that Glen Michael Cavalcade had been double-booked by the company, who handle all Glen Michael's outside bookings, were hotly denied by STV. And now the star has promised to do a special show with kiddy faves Paladin and Rusty The Dog in July free of charge by way of an apology to the youngsters.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

[Hughie]

From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on June 15, 2011

100 YEARS AGO on JULY, 1910
THE ordination and induction of the Rev James McIntosh Dawson, MA, late assistant, St Brycedale United Free Church, Kirkcaldy, to the pastorate of Erskine UF Church, Kilwinning took place on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Dawson succeeds the late Rev George Stirling. The weather for the ordination was most pleasant, and those present well be hoping that this is a good omen for a worthy and invaluable term at the the helm for the new minister.

Mr William Blair, headmaster of Kilwinning Higher Grade School, retires on August 16 and to mark the occasion the staff and pupils of the school and members of the Board last Monday presented him with a silver tea and coffee service.
His many friends in this neighbourhood and in ship- ping circles will be pleased to learn that Mr Ewing, manager of the Ardrossan Drydock and Shipping Company Ltd, has been appointed manager of both the Troon and Ayr yards of the Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd.

50 YEARS AGO on July 1, 1960
The official opening of the new administration of the west side of North Crescent Road, Ardrossan on Monday morning by Sir Fitzroy Maclean Bt, CBE, MP for Bute and North Ayrshire, marked the completion of a major portion of a scheme of modernisation and extension at the Ardrossan plant of Shell Refining Co, Ltd.

Undertaken in phases over recent years in order to avoid disrupting production, the improvements and extensions have been designed to increase output, besides effecting speedier and more efficient handling to deal with the constantly expanding demand for the products of the only oil refinery on the west coast of Scotland. Sir Fitzroy, a non-smoker, was presented with a silver cigarette case to mark the occasion.

By introducing a five-day week of 45 hours for employees in the building industry instead of the present five and a half-day week of 44 hours, Ayr County Council hope to effect considerable savings bin transport costs and travelling time without loss of production.

It is possible that there are people in the world who when feeding at home throw what they don't want under the table. In similar fashion, a party were observed in a car park near Saltcoats Beach recently who got rid of spare scraps of food by chucking them under their stationary car. The procedure ensured that when they moved off after an enjoyable day at the seaside, their eyes would not be saddened by the sight of the litter they had them- selves caused and thrown about.

Plan 9 From Outer Space, starring Bela Lugosi, plays at La Scala cinema in Saltcoats this week. This is a chilling tale of alien invasion.

25 YEARS AGO on June 27, 1986
Plans for a play area in a new Ardrossan housing estate have been withdrawn because of a 'petty' disagreement about the names chosen for the streets.

Sir James Gould, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives and a director of the building company McTaggart And Mickel, appeared on Scottish Television on Tuesday to criticise Cunninghame District Council choice of names for the Montfode Estate. The council chose to call the five streets after Nelson Mandela, Keir Hardie, Aneurin Bevan, Dan McMillan and James Millar and an angry response was received from some would-be house-buyers. Sir James claimed on TV that some of the houses were not selling so well because of the council's attitude in naming the streets.

However, Councillor David Munn hit out: "The reason they are not selling well is because they are over-priced!"
Cllr Munn has faced a battle for some time to try and force Wimpey, the developers of Craigspark, to build a playground. And there are fears he could have a similar battle with McTaggart & Mickel.

Emergency Government orders have called a halt to the slaughter of thousands of lambs - as Arran farmers became the latest victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Scots Secretary Malcolm Rifkind rocked the Arran sheep-farming community on Tuesday afternoon with the announcement that radioactivity levels had soared above the Government-determined safety level. A three-week ban on their slaughter would be strictly enforced from that moment, he said.
High rainfall is responsible for the increase, says Cunninghame North MP John Corrie, whose constituency includes the island. Radioactive dust particles released into the atmosphere by the Chernobyl explosion were driven by the wind and contained in clouds which came over parts of England and Wales before travelling north.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

[brian f]

50 YEARS AGO on July 1, 1960
The official opening of the new administration of the west side of North Crescent Road, Ardrossan on Monday morning by Sir Fitzroy Maclean Bt, CBE, MP for Bute and North Ayrshire, marked the completion of a major portion of a scheme of modernisation and extension at the Ardrossan plant of Shell Refining Co, Ltd.


Undertaken in phases over recent years in order to avoid disrupting production, the improvements and extensions have been designed to increase output, besides effecting speedier and more efficient handling to deal with the constantly expanding demand for the products of the only oil refinery on the west coast of Scotland. Sir Fitzroy, a non-smoker, was presented with a silver cigarette case to mark the occasion.

(Can somebody explain why Sir Fitzroy received a silver cigarette case)

[Penny Tray]

It certainly wasn't for Lady MacLean whose preference was cigars .

[meekan]

Sir Fitzroy was the person Alister McLean base his James Bond character on. Maybe the cigarette case was one of “Q’s” self defence devices??

[Hughie]

From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on June 22, 2011

100 YEARS AGO on JULY 7, 1911
Lieut. John M Allan has been promoted to captain and will now be in command of Ardrossan Battery, Territorials. He first came in touch with the local Artillery through his connection with the Army cadet corps.

Mr Murdoch McLeod, one of the continuation class teachers in Ardrossan Academy, has been successful in obtaining a first class certificate (advanced stage) in bookkeeping and an advanced certificate in accounting and banking from the Royal Society of Arts, London.

On Monday evening the roller rink and picturedrome, Saltcoats, was reopened as a music hall and picture palace.
At the annual meeting of Irvine and District Water Board held in the Central Chamber, Kilwinning on Wednesday evening. Provost Borland was unanimously re- elected chairman for the coming year.

The ordination and induction of Mr W Campbell Steven, BD, as colleague and successor to the Rev Wm Gilchrist, Park United Free Church, Ardrossan, took place on Thursday,

50 YEARS AGO on JULY 7, 1961
A balloon sent into the air at the Ardrossan Academy fete on June 24 landed on the island of Romo, off the west coast of Denmark the following day. The distance trav- elled was approximately 580 miles. The result of the balloon race will be announced on July 31.

A load of steel components being taken on an articulated lorry to Hunterston Nuclear Generating Station last Sunday shifted as the vehicle was being driven along Ardrossan Road, Ardrossan, broke the securing ropes and struck a lamp standard, which toppled over and crashed through a garden wall.

Ardrossan Academy Former Pupils' Club are having an outing to Edinburgh Tattoo on Saturday, September 9.

The rents of all burgh houses in Ardrossan are to go up in one or more cases by more than 200 per cent. Increases very between 2/11d and 9/7d per week, including rates. But a rent rebate scheme on similar to that which applies to Ardrossan's 254 SSHA tenants is being considered.
Not long after reaching their decision, Ardrossan Town Council, sitting as the Finance Committee, also resolved to recommend that, on the basis of provincial estimates and reports, and subject to any adjustment which may be made between now and the meeting at which the assessments are to be imposed, it would appear that for the current year to May 15, 1962, the consolidated rate will be 18/4d per £ plus water rate of 1/10d, a total of 20/2d and reductions of 5/8d and 8d respectively. The council outvoted attempts from within their number to carry a motion that the rates recommendations were too drastic.

A 15-year-old French school- boy on holiday in Saltcoats was involved in the dramatic rescue of two men who clung for two hours to an upturned boat in the Firth Of Clyde last Sunday afternoon. Jean-Louis Couredvault, who is on an exchange visit to this country, is staying with the Wilson family of Sharphill Road, Saltcoats. Jean-Louis, Jim and Ian Wilson and friend Duncan Aitken of Kerr Avenue, Saltcoats, rescued two men from a capsized dinghy in Fairlie Bay while they were out sailing, gave them tea and took them ashore.

25 YEARS AGO on JULY 4, 1986
An island economy is doomed to disaster if a vital meeting of ferry workers today (Friday) decides to strike. Already on the brink of bankruptcy, Arran hoteliers are bracing themselves on the outcome of a mass meeting of ferry crews and pier staffs. Angry at the refusal of management at Caledonian MacBrayne to offer more than a £5 per week pay rise, vital services were disrupted last week as a work to rule was called by the men's union - the National Union of Railwaymen.

Chemists from all over the Three Towns reported record sales in after-sun lotion and some even had a demand for calamine lotion to soothe the frazzled skin of people unaccustomed to the 80 degrees- plus temperatures this week. Tourists poured in all week, mainly from Glasgow but also from the north of England and the east coast of Scotland as the beaches in Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston resembled picture postcards of many years ago. Ice cream sellers, hoteliers and general showers report themselves delighted at the effect the good weather is having on sales. And the sight of people actually queueing up to buy ice cream is one to gladden the hearts of tourist officers and shopowners alike.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

[Hughie]

From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on June 29, 2011

50 YEARS AGO on July 14, 1961
A reappraisal of educational needs was called for at Monday night's meeting of the Town Council, with Provost R. Lambie declaring that far too few Saltcoats children will have the opportunity to gain the new Fourth Year Certificate. He said that an attempt should be made to have an O-Level course instituted at the new Saltcoats JS School at Laighdykes. The present position is that Saltcoats children were to be sent to Stevenston High School and Ardrossan Academy to sit the examinations but it is now claimed there is no room for them.

Ayrshire Education Committee have decided that steps should be taken to acquire for the proposed new St Michael's College a 16,223-acre site to the south of Winton Avenue, Kilwinning and to the west of the railway line. Meeting on Tuesday, the committee were told that the site had been tested and found suitable. An approach has been made to the owners of the grounds whose agents have stated that they are willing to sell, provided a suitable price can be agreed.

Householders in Parkend Road, Saltcoats have written to the Town Council complaining about the condition of a grass plot opposite their homes. The Burgh Surveyor is now to compile a report on what can be done to effect and improvement and ease their predicament.

There are currently eight sets of twins attend- ing Springvale Nursery School in Saltcoats. They are William and Joseph Frew, Janice and Susan Shaw, Laurence and Lilian Montgomery, Denis and Margaret Ramsay, Jimmy and George Laidlaw, Sean and June Graham, Ellen and Janie Fairley and Brenda and Kay Nicol.

A new type of plaster finish, developed by ICI at Ardeer Factory, Stevenston, is being used in a new scheme of municipal houses at Border Farm, Saltcoats.

An application by Mrs Maria Tortolano and Mr David Coia for a proposed amusement arcade at Winton Street, Saltcoats has been approved by Saltcoats town council. Permission for the provision of amusements with prizes has been withheld until such time as the applicants have obtained planning permission.

A 21-year-old Ardrossan housewife, Mrs Rose Newall of Chapel Lane, was runner-up to Miss Irene Mclean, Glasgow, in the Saltcoats Seaside Queen "Beauty On Parade" show in the Regal Cinema, this week. The show was run by a Glasgow evening newspaper.

25 YEARS AGO on July 11, 1986
Cunninghame North MP John Corrie says he envisages that Ardrossan Harbour will one day become the Aberdeen of the west. Speaking in the House of Commons this week the Conservative MP said Ardrossan had all the facilities required for the development of an oil industry in the West Coast. But he was told that due to the current slump in oil prices, the chance of major oil exploration off the west coast were, for the moment, slim.

The lamb slaughter ban continues on Arran although parts of Dumfries and Galloway have been given the all-clear. This week Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food men were on the island taking samples from 10 different flocks - part of the large-scale monitoring operation being carried out in the wake of the Chemobyl disaster.
It is a fortnight since the Government put a 21-day ban on the slaughter of lambs in three parts of Scotland and some parts of England and Wales.

Heavy rainfall has caused radioactive dust particles to fall to the ground in the affected areas and contaminated the lambs as they grazed. A total of forty are now being monitored.

Captain Bill Gillespie has been appointed managing director of Ardrossan Harbour Company as their struggle to find new business goes on.

More than 2000 jobs could be created by a Stevenston firm within the next seven years.
Ayrshire Marketing Services, which came to Stevenston just five months ago, has announced that it has won the right to market one of the world's leading car radio-cassette players.

The Commonwealth Games Queen's Message relay, taking the Queen's words round the country to Edinburgh, is being organised in the Ayrshire area by Dalry Primary School headmaster Jim Young. Jim, of Dreghorn, is a former member of Ayr Seaforth Athletics Club and is married with two children.

ASSET, the Three Towns' enterprise trust, are still pursuing an Irish firm's inquiry about Ardrossan Harbour. The company are believed to be in the fertiliser business and are looking about the possibility of establishing a base here.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

[Hughie]

From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on July 6, 2011

150 YEARS AGO on July, 1861
SIX potatoes grown at West Kilbride weighted 2b 13 ounces. One weighed nine and a quarter
ounces.

Ayrshire had a heavy fall of rain followed by hailstones, which was unusual for the time of year.

Lord and Lady Rendlesham, who visited Ardrossan Harbour, were welcomed by Mr Craig, Stationmaster, the provost, magistrates and councillors. Later, his Lordship joined his yacht. Lady Rendlesham is the daughter of the Earl Of Eglinton.

Kilwinning bowlers had Ardeer bowlers in a friendly game which resulted in the visitors winning by 191 shots to 165.

100 YEARS AGO on July 21, 1911
The office-bearers were elected at the first meeting of Ardrossan and Saltcoats Golf Club, held on Friday evening.

A number of Kilwinning students have gained passes in music examinations.

50 YEARS AGO on July 21, 1961
In memory of the 80,000 people who died 16 years ago at Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a result of man's first experiment in nuclear devastation, Ayrshire Council for Nuclear Disarmament are staging a silent procession through Ardrossan on August 5 and 6.

Mr James McDonald of Saltcoats, who is over three score years and ten, has been holidaying in England. He is a keen cricketer and goes south every year, mainly to see good cricket.

During the last three weeks there were 192 arrivals, including sixteen oil tankers, at Ardrossan Harbour.

When two Stevenston men arrived at Blackpool on July 8 they began looking for accommodation and made inquiries at a seafront hotel which had a good Scottish name. The manager asked them where they came from and how long they would be staying and then showed them into a small hut in the garden. Both the men were disappointed that they were expected to live there for the week, but soon another man arrived and they recognised him as Jonathan Routh from the ITV Candid Camera programme.

The Bank of Scotland at the junction of Princes Street and Bute Place, Ardrossan is at present being reconstructed. The bank now being reconstructed was the former City Of Glasgow Bank which was built around 1872.


25 YEARS AGO on July 18, 1986
Cunninghame District Council's pacifist policy could be the key to 100 job losses in Saltcoats. Allivane International, a London-based firm who make parts for Howitzer gun shells, spoke to council officials about the possibility of acquiring a site at Sharphill Industrial Estate for a £1 million development. The plan was scuppered after the company decided on a 10-acre unit in Cumbernauld instead.

A ship's crewman was rushed to Crosshouse Hospital after falling into Ardrossan Harbour in the early hours of Friday morning. The 25-year- old, from Orkney, fell in around 2am. he was discharged from hospital on Tuesday.

A major fight is on to safeguard the future of Craigie College, with plans afoot to close the only teacher-training college in Ayrshire. The Scottish Tertiary Education Commission's report aims to reduce the number of teaching colleges from seven to four. Craigie, in Ayr, is one of the prime candidates to be axed.

MP John Corrie and his wife and 18-year- old daughter were guests of HM The Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. Mr Corrie and his family met the Queen and daughter Tanya spoke to Her Majesty for some time. Among the subjects under discussion was Arran, which is in Tanya's dad's constituency, and where The Queen spent part of her engagement to the Duke Of Edinburgh.

Former Scotland football star Gordon McQueen is hanging up his boots and planning for the future possibly in the management game. Gordon came back to his native Kilbirnie last week in a break from his post as player- coach with Hong Kong-based Seiko Watches.

The Save Ailsa Shipyard Campaign spearheaded by Cunninghame South MP David Lambie was given a boost this week. Kyle and Carrick District Council have commissioned a firm of consultants who concluded that closing Ailsa would cost UK taxpayers £5 million a year.

Testing of lambs contaminated by the Chernobyl disaster due to radioactive rainfall in Arran continues. The island still has three times the Government-recommended radiation safety level, consultants say. Farmers have commented that the ban couldn't have come at a worse time, with the lambing season just past. The Arran Show, with Princess Anne as special guest, will definitely go ahead.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

[Hughie]

From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on July 13, 2011

150 YEARS AGO on July 28, 1961
SALTCOATS Rifle Volunteer Corps held a bazaar in the Free Church Academy and raised upwards of £235.
Shipments of pig iron from Ardrossan for one week including coast- wise and foreign, amounted to 4775 tons.

Mr Millar taught dancing at Hourat Farm, Dalry, and the closing ball was attended by all the leading farmers.

A number of the Brethren of the Kilwinning Lodge Thistle Of Free Gardeners met their esteemed former Grand Master, Bro. John McDonald, in Mrs White's Hall and presented him with a massive silver snuff box and a pair of gold-mounted spectacles.

Lord and Lady Rendlesham have prolonged their visit to Ardrossan and seem to be enjoying their stay.

100 YEARS AGO on July 28, 1911
A number of men have won prizes at the Ardrossan Territorials Camp at Buddon in Angus. They are Sgts. Donoughty, Barclay, Henderson and Paton and drivers Pennel and McGlade.

Several of the aviators in the £10,000 Daily Mail Flying Race passed over Ayrshire on Wednesday, thus giving a first sight of flying machines for many people in the county.

An inquiry opened at Edinburgh on Wednesday into objections to proposals to make a railway from West Kilbride to Seamill and Portencross

50 YEARS AGO on July 23, 1961
When old age pensioners get together they often discuss the old days and people who live to a ripe old age. We have been asked by a pensioner who was the oldest person to have lived in Ardrossan. She was Granny McGrattan, who died at the age of 108 and who lived at "Wee Dublin" (Paisley Street).

During a recent visit to the North Ayrshire Museum in Manse Street a reporter of ours was looking at two models of Baron Line ships when a approached and said both vessels should be housed in Glasgow and not Saltcoats. Our man asked the visitor how he arrived at that conclusion and he replied that the Baron Line was a Glasgow firm. When we told him that both models were of ships that had been built in Ayrshire, that Ardrossan is the registered port of all Baron Line ships and that the founder of the firm resided in Ardrossan, the visitor slipped quietly away.

The Paisley Fair holiday rush starts tonight (Friday) when there will be sailings for the Isle Of Man in the afternoon and late at night.

Ardrossan Police have received complaints about boys damaging fruit trees in North Crescent, and also a complaint about boys having set fire to waste paper at the rear of a shop in Central Avenue and damaging a door.


25 YEARS AGO on July 15, 1986
Shopkeepers in Saltcoats Shopping Arcade are wringing their hands in despair-for they fear they soon won't be ringing their tills. Since the owners of the arcade, Mr Iqbal Singh and Mr CS Sidhu, took over, the tenants claim they have faced one headache after another. The tenants have two main complaints - the fact that the arcade now resembles a scene from flop TFV soap opera Albion Market and their denial of access to their shops after 6pm. Some tenants also fear that no planning permission has been sought from Cunninghame District Council and are concerned that clothing is being hung from strip-lighting down the middle of the arcade. But Mr Singh, who bought the arcade for £350,000 from Gio Benedetti, said: "My lawyer has told me I can do what I like." And he says some traders are abusing their current rights by being on the site until 2am.

Telex Computer Products, Kilwinning, has just announced a massive £6 million order to supply computer monitors to British Telecom. It is the largest-ever single monitor order in Europe and will secure jobs at the Kilwinning assembly plant for at least two years.

Ardrossan Harbour is holding its breath as yet another national organisation is threatening to pull out. Only a few months after the shock closure of shell with the loss of more than 50 jobs, the Customs & Excise office at Dock Road is on the brink of closing down. A national review is currently underway but insiders say it seems virtually certain to recommend the closure of the Ardrossan office.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original