Looking Back - Herald files

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brian f
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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Hughie wrote: Wed Mar 17, 2021 12:23 am From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on March 19, 2008



50 YEARS AGO on March 21, 1958


RECENTLY a Stevenston man coming out of his house observed a weasel trying to get into his neighbour's kitchen, and when he tried to chase the animal off it faced up to him. So the man closed the outside door of the entry and with a shovel in his hand went on the attack, but so fierce was the weasel that it was some time before it was killed.



Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
Was weasels common back then- I have never seen one poor thing. :?
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on March 26, 2008

100 YEARS AGO on March 27, 1908
ON Saturday last the Ardrossan Drydock and Shipbuilding Co., Lid. Successfully launched the single-screw steamer, Tintenbar for Australian owners

AT the annual meeting of Ardrossan bowing club, Mr William McQueen was appointed president and Balle J B. Chrystie, vice-president Mr Gillesplie and Mr T. Glover were appointed secretary and treasurer respectively.

In the billiards competition at Saltcoats Unionist Club the prize winners were. 1, J. Corbett: 2 J. Pollock, 3. J. Alan: 4, W. Craig.

AT the annual social of Sahcoats E.U.C. Church Band of Hope, one of those present was the Hon. John Anderson of Newfoundland, a native of Saltcoats

UNDER the auspices of Ardrossan Co-operative Society's employees, a concert was held in West Kilbride Public Hall on Wednesday, the artistes being Misses Annie B. Kelly, M. Bonar. Bola Murray, Messrs Chas. Boyd, Will Cairns, James Calderwood, Harry Austen and Frank Blythe (accompanist).
A Saltcoats District branch of the North Ayrshire Woman's Association was formed at a meeting held on Tuesday, Mrs Longmuir wins appointed president and secretary, and vice-presidents appointed were Mrs Mcisaac and, Mrs Allan, Mrs Kirkland, Mrs Alex Hamilton, Mrs Ramsay, Mrs Sillars, Mrs Meadows, Mrs Gunson, Miss Morton and Miss Brown,

LAST Saturday the Stevenson Spring Flower Show Society held their 17th annual exhibition in the Public School, special prizes for juveniles being won by Bessie Donaldson, Lizzie McCubbin, Robert Frow, J. Macdonald, Frederick Small, Fanny Thompson and J. Alexander.

50 YEARS AGO on March 28, 1958
BETWEEN Saturday night and Friday night of last week some person or persons entered the grounds of St Peter-in-Chains and pulled down three notice boards. Next they visited the entrance to Ingledene Hotel and destroyed two large ornamental flower pots. The public telephone box at the putting green was also entered and the instrument destroyed. A motor mirror was found in the box. Yes, this all actually happened in Ardrossan.

TWO sudden deaths in Saltcoats this week. On Monday Mrs Elizabeth Peddie (75), 1 McKillop Place, was found dead by the police in her home. Her son, with whom she resides, was on holiday at the time

On Tuesday Robert Coulter (83), 16 Caledonia Road, was found dead in bed by the police, Robert was in the India Frontier battle, the Boer War and the First World War. He lived alone, was a widower, and a native of Ireland

A parcel posted to a business firm was addressed Dockhead Street, Scotland and arrived at its correct destination three days after its dispatch from England - and a Sunday intervened. The shop keepers admiration for post office smartness was dampened by the fact that whoever traced the address had pencilled on the label "Ardrossan"

A letter posted in Ayr about ten months ago to an adiness in Ardrossan only recently arrived.

A Saltcoats man got a surprise recently when a hotel owner handed him papers that proved he had served his time at a certain trade. It is interesting to note that he got his "lines" 30 years after he served as a journeyman. The hotel owner was a tradesman and was with contractors who were doing work in the Ardrossan Shipyard offices when he came across the papers among others to be destroyed, and had them in his possession until recently

THERE were 24 arrivals, including three oil tankers, at Ardrossan Harbour for the week ending Saturday 22. This week one of the largest vessels to enter the Eglinton Dock arrived from Ireland for 700 tons of coal bunkers. She is owned by a Yugoslavian firm, but was built in Britain.

MR John Robertson, Newsagent, Chapelwell Street, Saltcoats, retires from business tomorrow night (Saturday). The new owner takes over on Monday morning. Mr Robertson must have been in business for nearly fifty years. To his intimate friends he was either Jacky or Jakey Robertson, names by which he was best known as a senior footballer. His family have had a long connection with Saltcoats, his father having been mate on the "Clytus when Betsy Miller was Captain.

25 YEARS AGO on April 01, 1983
A political storm is brewing over a decision by the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson Enterprise Trust to transform itself into a company. The Chairman of the district Labour Party has now threatened to press the district council to withdraw its financial support from the organisation.
Mr Matt Smith fears that the new status will free ASSET from the council's political influence. But his charges were strenuously denied by ASSET director, Mr Douglas Martin, this week.
He said the decision to make ASSET a company limited by guarantee would simply clarity is legal status and would not in any way alter the make up of its board.

A major row has developed involving Ayrshire's local radio station, West Sound -ending in the mass resignation of six education experts. Both sides are decidedly tight-lipped about the argument which involves major changes to the programming of the radio station's schools quiz series. Ayrshire's Secondary Education Programme Group severed it's reportedly amicable two year relationship with the station because it was not Informed of the changes.

Chairman of the group - Assistant Rector at Auchenharvie Academy, Robert Reid-directed the Heralds inquiries to West Sound, but did confirm that there was a rift with the Programming Controller, Robin Wylie.

A massive cash fund is being organised by members of Ardrossan and Saltcoats Rotary Club. They want over £20,000 to help the families of war wounded at Erskine Hospital and the club has just announced the start of its programme to raise cash.

A new hospital service could start in the Ardrossan area soon Ayrshire and Arran Health Board is already negotiating for suitable halls for the new project - a Mobile Day Hospital. The idea is still very much in its early stages

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

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50 YEARS AGO on March 28, 1958

A letter posted in Ayr about ten months ago to an adiness in Ardrossan only recently arrived.


Times have not changed :lol:
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on April 2, 2008

100 YEARS AGO on April 3, 1908
ONLY one marriage has been celebrated in the parish of New Ardrossan in the three months since the year began.

THE soup kitchen in connection with West Kilbride Public School closed on Friday after 12 weeks' operation. There was a daily attendance of 140.

MISS D Mordue, Ardrossan, and Mr James Chesney, West Kilbride, took prominent parts in the production of The Importance of Being Earnest by the accomplished amateurs, The Players in Glasgow.

AT the annual business meeting of the Ardrossan Shakespeare Reading Club held on Monday, office-bearers appointed were: - Pres, Dr Robert Allan; secretary, Mr H Smith; committee, the Rev Me Adams, Mrs Mackay and Miss AE Cook.

LAST Friday evening the choir of Stevenston UF Church gave a successful rendering in the church of the cantata, The Good Shepherd. Mr James Morrison presided and the soloists were: Misses A McCulloch, A Hamilton, L Frew, I Kerr, J Hamilton, Messrs R Graham and W McCulloch; elocutionist, Miss K Boyd.

AT the annual social of Ardrossan Section of the G&SW Brigade, held on Friday in the Town Hall, certificates were awarded to John Affleck, Adam Ross, William Thomson, Andrew Mcke, James Ferguson, James Allardyce, Hugh Tait, A McKinnon, James Cumming, James Kirkwood, Hugh Templeton, George Bond, William Farquharson, William Gay. Robert Hood, James Hughes and James Paton.

ARDROSSAN Amateur Dramatic Company presented Uncle Tom's Cabin on Tuesday in the Assembly Hall, the players being: Hugh Skillen. John Cance, P Mullen, John H Kerr, Daniel H Kerr, Daniel Neil, John McKirdy, HC McLachlan, Peggy Barr, Nessie McKinnon, Emma Higgins, Nellie Inglis, J McKellar, J Feagle, D McLachlan and Ben Tait.

50 YEARS AGO on April 4, 1958
GARNOCK Lodge, Kilbirnie, an eight-apartment house, was with the exception of the kitchenette, totally destroyed by fire early on Saturday morning. The fire, which seems to have started in the loft, was discovered by the occupier, Mrs King, who on awakening, smelled smoke. Although Beith, Kilbirnie and Ardrossan Fire Brigades were quickly on the scene, the house could not be saved.

AT a Highland dancing competition held on Saturday in Coatbridge, the following local children were successful: Moira Dunlop. 1st Sword Dance, 1st Shean Trubhais; Avril Ritchie, 1st, Reel of Tulloch; 2nd, Sword Dance; Isobel Thomson, 2nd Sword Dance, 2nd, Shean Trubhais; Catherine Poland, 1st, Sword Dance: Wilma Kane, 2nd, Highland Fling: Ann Watt, 4th. Highland Fling. Omitted from the results of the competition held in Greenock which appeared in last week's issue - Moira Dunlop, 3rd Sword Dance. They are all pupils of Miss Rose Galloway. MHDSA, Kersland School of Dancing, Kilbirnie.

THE Parents' Committee for the 1st Kilbirnie Boys Brigade are indebted to Miss Rose Galloway and her pupils from the Kersland School of Dancing for the clever display put on by them in aid of the BB funds. There was a good turnout in the Walker Hall on Wednesday last week. One good point of this show was its slickness; there was no time lost between items.

ON Friday evening of last week West Kilbride Public Hall housed a very large and appreciative audience of parents and friends of the children to hear a concert in aid of the School Fund. Some colourful Highland dances were grace. fully and vigorously given by local schoolgirls Janet Blair, Janet Moore, Elizabeth Armstrong and Marion Paton, and Stephen Patterson, winner of the recitation prize in the School Burns competition gave renditions of Macpherson's Farewell and Lord Ullin's daughter.

25 YEARS AGO on April 8, 1983
CUNNINGHAME is competing against Germany to win an 80 job European base for an American company. MP John Corrie is courting the US firm to set up base in this area. Last week he met a senior executive of the firm during the American's eight-day visit to Britain. And following the visit, other executives from the company are due in Scotland next Tuesday Mr Corrie says the response from the company is "quite encouraging." But he refused to name the firm or even state which industry it operates for fear of frightening it off. "The last thing I want them to do is go to Germany," explains the MP.Either Scotland on West Germany would become the company's European base. Initially between 70 and 80 jobs would be created, but further expansion would increase this figure.The company are keen to start operating - from an existing factory - in July, although Mr Corrie believes it is more likely to be October

THOUSANDS of pounds in charity funds have been squandered in an ill-fated scheme to build a centre for the disabled. Fifteen people working on a short term employment scheme removed a pre-fabricated building from Dundonald Camp to a site at the Dirrans in Kilwinning to build a "dream home" for the physically handicapped and able-bodied club. But after excavating and draining the site, the charity sponsors ran out of money. The site had to be filled in again and the scheme scrapped. It is estimated that the PHAB charity who backed the project, lost up to £3000. Money was also provided by the Manpower Services Commission and Irvine Development Corporation. Costs began to leap when workers on the scheme knocked over an electricity cable which caused black-outs in Troon and Barassie. The bill from the South of Scotland Electricity Board was sent to the PHAB club.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on April 9, 2008

100 YEARS AGO on April 10, 1908
LAST Monday evening a visit was paid to Saltcoats by Scott's Royal Cinematograph and it was witnessed by a large audience in the town hall where a special installation of the electric light was made to exhibit the pictures.

MR JAMES Morrison, baker, Stevenston, has won a diploma for oatcakes at the Scottish Bakers' Exhibition in Glasgow.

MR CHARLES Duguid, MA, Saltcoats, has gained the Macarthur Bursary and the Menteith Bursary at Glasgow University,

ON Friday evening Mr John Arnott's singing class gave a rendering of a musical service entitled "Our Father's Care" in the Christian Institute, Saltcoats, the soloists being Mrs Arnott. Misses N Cuthbert, McCallum, McAllister, Braddon, Kerr, Reid, Carey and Messrs Hamilton, Kean, Harris and Richardson.

50 YEARS AGO on April 11, 1958
AFTER having been adrift in a cabin cruiser in the Firth of Clyde for seven hours last Thursday night three Ardrossan men were rescued by the Fishery cruiser Noma. The men are John Robertson (40), 2 Castle Road, gas worker: Robert Watt (30), 28 Kirkhall Drive, dock worker: Thomas Hughes (26), 18 Kirkhall Drive, gas worker They set out in the Betty, an 18ft cabin cruiser, at 11am on a fishing expedition to Fairlie, nine miles away. Mr Robertson, the owner of the vessel, after being brought ashore from the Norna at Fairlie Pier said"We had reached Portencross when our engine broke down. We managed to get the engine restarted but it stopped again after 10 minutes. "We anchored hoping that someone ashore might see us and send help. The Betty was only a few hundred yards off the old disused pier. "After a time we improvised a boathook as a mast and a sheet, which covers the engine box where the boat is not in use as a sall. But the wind started to drive us towards the Wee Cumbrae. There were frequent falls of snow and sleet." Their plight had been noticed by a fisherman at Portencross who got in touch with Saltcoats police. Troon Lifeboat also went in search of the cabin cruiser

A GRASS fire at Clyde Terrace, Ardrossan, at lunchtime on Wednesday, was speedily extinguished by the local Fire Brigade.

MR HUGH Robertson's motor boat, Spindrift, started her season last Sunday carrying newspapers to Arran. Mr Robertson states it was very cold crossing. He added that there was a large number of visitors on the island.

RECENT retirements from Ardeer Factory include those of Mr Thomas Dunn, an Engineering Department chargehand, and Mr Andrew Nicol, an electric foreman, both of whom had 42 years' service. In the office of Mr HS Sayles, works engineer, Mr Dunn last week received the ICI Scroll of Service. Mr Sayles, who made the presentation, thanked him for the many years he had given the company. Mr Dunn served his apprenticeship in Kilwinning, and came to Ardeer in 1914. During the First World War he served in France with the Royal Engineers, and after a spell in Ardrossan shipyard, returned to Ardeer at the beginning of 1921. He worked almost continuously in Blasting Powders, with the exception of five months at Nobel Division's Rosin Factory.

THE house-to-house collection in Saltcoats on behalf of the United Nations Association's National Appeal for European Refugees realised £250. The local committee express their thanks to all who helped achieve this very satisfactory result.

25 YEARS AGO on April 15, 1983
IN the most important development in its 28-year history Saltcoats travel agent AT Mays this week announced its merger with Nairn Travel. The two companies will combine to form the AT Mays Group PLC and will become the third-largest retail travel agents in Britain. It will be run by the AT Mays board of directors, with the addition of Nairn's managing director, Mr Hugh Campbell, who will become deputy managing director. Chairman and managing director of the new company will be Mr JH Moffat, who founded AT Mays in 1955.

He said this week that the merger marking the emergence of a "major force in British retail travel." Nairn Travel was formerly controlled by Low and Bonar of Dundee, had 58 branches on the east coast of Scotland, north England, the Midlands and London, employed over 300 people. The new company will have 136 branches and almost 1000 people on the payroll. Its head office will be AT Mays in Saltcoats, which is being extended. But the merger is unlikely to mean the creation of more jobs, although some employees may be transferred from Nairn's Kirkcaldy headquarters to Saltcoats. Mr Jamie Moffat, a director of the company said: "It's unlikely that we would at present be taking on more staff. "We will be increasing our investment in technology to enable us to help our customers even more than we do at present." He added that the merger was one of the most important developments in the history of AT Mays, virtually doubling its size overnight.

WITH 440 dancing medals to his credit you might say 12-year-old Bruce McLellan is pretty light on his feet Bruce, of 56 Shore Road, Stevenston, a pupil at Auchenharvie Academy, started dancing when he was just five years old and since then has taken several competitions by storm. On Sunday he was presented with two gold medals and a certificate after winning a Highland dancing competition pre-championship round staged at Bellahouston, Glasgow. During the last 12 months, his dancing has improved to an even higher standard. In that time, he has been attending the Ann King School of Dance in Dalry in his free time.

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

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The men are John Robertson (40), 2 Castle Road, gas worker: Robert Watt (30), 28 Kirkhall Drive, dock worker: Thomas Hughes (26), 18 Kirkhall Drive, gas worker They set out in the Betty, an 18ft cabin cruiser, at 11am on a fishing expedition to Fairlie, nine miles away.
I'm pretty sure this story made the front page headlines in the Daily Record on the day. I remember Jock Robertson when he lived in Whitlees Crescent - his house faced down what was then the Gasworks lane (now McDowall Place).
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on April 16, 2008

100 YEARS AGO on April 17, 1908
OPERATIONS have commenced at the mineral well at Saltcoats with a view to ascertain the possibility of its being developed into a spa.

DURING the week two stone coffins and an urn were excavated at Mount Pleasant, Townhead Street, Stevenson, while tenants were digging their gardens. The contents of the coffins upon being exposed to the air completely mouldered away..

AT a meeting on Tuesday, Ardrossan United Free Presbytery considered the case of the manager of the Trust Public house, Stevenson, whom the Kirk Session of Stevenson U.F. Church had refused to accept as a member owing to his position as manager of a public house: and agreed that there was no legal hindrance to the man becoming a member of the church.

ARDROSSAN Town Council at Monday's meeting agreed to change the name of Barr Lane to Barr Place as tenants in the properties there found difficulty in letting their houses in the summer, visitors being unwilling to take accommodation in a 'lane.

AT the half-yearly meeting of Saltcoats Licensing Court seven-day hotel licenses were granted in respect of the Saracen's Head and Crown Hotels, Saltcoats.

THE congregation of Ardeer U.F. Church met in a social capacity on Wednesday to celebrate their semi-jubilee and the young people of the church made a presentation to the congregation of a handsome communion table.

50 YEARS AGO on April 18, 1958
A native of Ardrossan, George Ramsay (25), assistant steward on board the "S.S Birmingham City," was found drowned in Bristol Harbour on Sunday 13th.

ON Tuesday forenoon William Hall, 23 Galt Avenue, Irvine, while working as a slater on the roof of the Co-operative building in Dockhead Street, Saltcoats, fell to the ground. After medical attention he was removed to Kilmarnock Infirmary.

ABOUT 6:35pm on Thursday of last week a motor lorry loaded with barrels and cases of beer, was proceeding from Eglinton Road into Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, when twenty-four cases fell onto the street, opposite McLean's Garage. About forty bottles were broken and the street was littered with cases and broken glass while beer flowed over the road surface.

LAST week about 600 square yards of grass land and a growing hedge, at the rear of Kirkhall farm, were damaged by fire. The Fire Brigade extinguished the fire, which is thought to have been caused by children.

THE death of the Rev. Arnold Boyd at Rosyth at the age of 88 is reported. A Dalry reader sends a cutting which states that the late Mr Boyd was minister at Dalry Free Church from 1897 to 1902 and this was his first charge. He had travelled abroad widely and was regarded by all who knew him as a real Christian gentleman.

ON Wednesday of next week Ardrossan Dockyard will launch from their yard the single screw motor explosive carrier vessel 'Lady Roslin.' Mrs James Taylor will perform the launching ceremony at 12:30pm.

THE Glasgow trains last Monday morning were full up and those who returned home with the 8:35pm were surprised that it was packed and that extra carriages had to be put on.

THERE were 22 arrivals, including five oil tankers, at Ardrossan Harbour for the week ending Saturday 12.

MRS Dunlop, Saltcoats, has been travelling in Australia and New Zealand for 14 months trying to trace her married daughter who emigrated to Australia in 1938. When Mrs Dunlop had almost given up hope of seeing her daughter, Peggy, news arrived that they were to be united this week. Mrs Dunlop was previously married to Mr Harry Munro, who was employed at Ardeer Factory and died in 1950. In 1953 Mrs Munro married Mr Frank Dunlop who came back to Saltcoats after 32 years in Australia. When Mr Dunlop and Mrs Munro decided to marry Provost Reid was best man.

25 YEARS AGO on April 22, 1983
BIGGER, better and brighter than ever! That's the claim being made for the second up-and coming Three Towns Festival. Over 70 - and depending on the events organised by the schools - up to 100 events will be on during the festival week from May 21-28 providing a mix of local and imported talent including the chart listed band, Big Country Anne Lorne Gillies will be guesting in a Fiddlers Rally in Saltcoats Regal Cinema; the talented folk singer, Johnny Silvo, will be in residence all week; Alex Dalgleish and his jazzmen will be in various schools as well as playing in the Jazz Band Ball in Ardrossan Civic Centre, children's story-teller Barbara McDermitt will be in each of the Three Towns Libraries as well as a lot of the schools entertaining in her own inimitable fashion; the highly acclaimed Purves puppets will be playing to well over a thousand school children on the Wednesday, and the quests at this years Brass Band Concert will be the Kilmarnock Concert Brass.

ANGRY councillors claimed this week that they were being kept in the dark over plans to 'privatise' the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson Enterprise Trust. They claim that at a meeting last week they were denied access to the full facts about the planed change in the trust's status. And they were concerned at the role played during the meeting by district council chief executive, Mr James Miller.

DISASTER was narrowly averted on Monday morning when a large container lorry plunged 30 feet down an embankment and into a children's play park in Stevenston. At 8:15am the Foden articulated truck was travelling along Glencairn street, just before Millhill Road, when the driver braked sharply, to avoid hitting a pedestrian. The lorry skidded out of control, mounted the pavement and tore down a fence before plummeting into the play area. Luckily, being early in the day, there were no children at play or the accident could have been far more serious

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on April 23, 2008

100 YEARS AGO on April 24, 1908
THE third annual exhibition of the Cunninghame Arts and Crafts Club has been held in Ardrossan Academy during the week and in the competitive classes awards were made to Mrs John Gray Mrs Bread, Mr MacKay, Mrs W. D. Kerr, Miss Breakenridge, Miss Marjory Davidson.

IN the annual police ambulance competition (Ayrshire Constabulary) the winners were the Ardrossan team-P.C.s John Leslie, West Kilbride; Wm. J. Dobie, Ardrossan; James Millar, Fairie, and Sergt. John Mcllwrick, Ardrossan.

ANOTHER two stone coffins have been unearthed at mount Pleasant, Townhead Street, Stevenston. It appears as if at one time the place was used as a cemetery, and the coffins are said to belong to the Bronze period.

AT Saltcoats Carriage Licensing Court held on Monday, the Magistrates made an order that all stagecarriages, including motor cars, proceeding by way of Windmill Street must, because of the narrow street, proceed at walking pace.

AT the annual cattle show held by the Kilwinning and Stevenston Farmers Society at Oxenward, Kilwinning, the cup for most points was won by David Reld, Benthead.

WHAT was thought to be the first cricket match in Kilbimie for 35 years was played last Saturday between Drysdale's XI. (clerks at Colvilles) and Riddet's XI. (outside staff).

THE yacht. "The Shamrock (owner Sir Thos. Lipton. Bart) was launched from Messrs Fife & Son's Fairlie yard last Saturday morning.

50 YEARS AGO on April 25, 1958
AN Ardrossan man who has been in business for many years and keeps working horses, has for the past two or three years been doing his work with a motor lorry. His horses, three in number, are, when the weather permits, out grazing. Several people have offered to buy the horses but the owner refuses to sell them. He told me: The horses were good workers and paid me well. Now they will get all the comfort I can give them, and they will remain with me until they die of old age."

THERE were 23 arrivals, including four oil tankers, at Ardrossan Harbour for the week ending ? and trailer delivery service between Scotland and Northern Ireland, have concluded arrangements to use Ardrossan as a terminal instead of Troon. The company, which now handles nearly 3,000 tons of cargo a week between Troon and Larne, commenced its Scottish activities just over 18 months ago

25 YEARS AGO on April 29, 1983
A policeman was dragged backwards for seventy yards by a runaway driver in Saltcoats Eventually Constable Leslie Mason managed to get clear of the reversing car and miraculously escaped serious injury. But Sheriff Thomas Croan, who described the policeman's ordeal as horrific told the driver, David Moore: You could have killed him." And the Sheriff slammed the accused for his ridiculous" reason for running the law...he had no insurance or test certificate. Moore (22), a plumber/heating engineer of 88 Misk Knowes, Stevenston, admitted the offences and a charge of reckless driving. He was fined a total of £235 and banned from driving for a year.

AN administrative blunder may have lost Cunninghame District Council hundreds of thousands of pounds. District councillors now want to Investigate exactly why CDC missed out on a cash fund to deal with the authority's 900 houses affected by dampness and condensation.
At Tuesday's full council meeting members were faced with a report from the housing committee minutes telling them that additional capital allocations from the Scottish Development Department for the purpose had been doled out to districts with "more serious problems". But what outraged councillors was that neighbouring district, Kyle and Carrick, had received £400,000 - and they said its condensation problems are far less than Cunninghame's.

STEVENSTON'S Unemployed Club has been given a raw deal by the Scottish Development Agency, who called in Glasgow artists to paint a mural at the town's Cross. The club, which meets in Ardeer Community Centre have had plenty of practice at this type of painting. As their work is of a very high standard they feel they should have been given the mural job. But a spokesman for the SDA stated: "in this case the mural had to be painted in sections elsewhere and then brought to the site." They claim the technical difficulties involved excluded the Stevenston group from winning the contract.
That is rubbish" commented Gavin McInnes, leader of the Club told the "Herald "Painting in sections inside is even easier than the walls the boys have tackled outside.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on April 28, 2008

100 YEARS AGO on May 1, 1908
THE agency for the Isle of Man steamers that ply between Ardrossan and Douglas in the summer months, has been given to a new firm, Messrs Rennie & Watson, Glasgow, after the death of the late Henry Lamont.

IN Ardrossan during the past year 388 crimes and offences were committed, and in Saltcoats the number was 454. In both cases this was an Increase of 100 over the previous year.

AT the annual meeting of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston Choral Society it was intimated that membership stood at 125. Mr R Clouston Young was appointed president: Mr a McGillivray, vice-president: Mr James Lawrie, secretary, and Mr D McC Miller, treasurer.

IN a report to Saltcoats Town Council the Medical Officer reported that there had been in the past 10 years 128 deaths from consumption in the town, the majority occurring in Springside Street, Quay Street, Raise Street and Canal Street.

SALTCOATS Bowling Club opened for the season on Saturday and skips were: - William Wylie, Dugald McC Miller, Alex Wilson, John Yuille, John Breckenridge, John Morris, John Hamilton, Robert Duncan, Edward Doran, G Armour, A Mcintyre and Hugh Thomson.

THE ordination and induction of the Rev John Gillies as first minister of the newly-erected parish of Whiting Bay took place last Thursday.

50 YEARS AGO on May 1, 1958
MANY local people would have had only a passing Interest in the news this week about two British oil tankers being attacked during a bombing raid on the Indonesian port of Balik Papan. But one Ardrossan lady. Mrs Mary Bright, of 57 Oak Road, had an anxious time before leaming that her husband, the master of one of the ships, was safe, along with the rest of his crew.

Captain Bright's ship, the Eagle Oil tanker, San Flavio (12,278 tons) is feared to be a total loss. It was set ablaze by the bombing and Captain Bright and his crew had to abandon ship. They were picked up by the other tanker which was able to head for Singapore. On Monday forenoon Mrs Bright was notified by Messrs RL Alpine, shipping agents, Ardrossan, that her husband was safe, and later in the day she received a wire from her husband assuring her that he was all right, and hopes to be home soon.

Captain Bright, a native of Cleethorpe, is 47 years of age and during the last war, he had a narrow escape when his ship was torpedoed. This was his first voyage as master of the San Flaviano. The other ship involved in the incident was the 8139-ton Daronia, owned by the Shell Petroleum Company. Message from the Daronia did not identify the attacking planes, but Balik Papan, a Government oil port in the East Borneo, was the target of rebel aircraft two weeks earlier.

TWENTY men and one woman who between them have given over 800 years' service to the Scottish Gas Industry received long service awards on Friday last from Mr Sidney Smith, CBE, chairman of the Scottish Gas Board, at a ceremony in Glasgow. The employees, each of whom had completed 40 years of service, included Mr Robert Sturrock, who recently retired from the post of District Manager of the Scottish Gas Board at Ardrossan and Mr William W Mann, meter reader/collector, 22 high Road, Stevenston, who began his service in the gas industry in 1917 at Stevenston Gas Works.

25 YEARS AGO on May 4, 1983
COUNCILLORS have been told to cut off cash aid to ASSET if plans to make it a limited company go-ahead. The anti-privatisation message was hammered home loud and clear at Cunninghame District Council Labour Party's conference at Saltcoats last Saturday. Simmering anger over the latest plans for the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston Enterprise Trust erupted into stormy scenes at the conference.
The debate climaxed with overwhelming support for an emergency motion calling on the council to withdraw "financial and other support from ASSET if it becomes a company limited by guarantee It further called on the council to take legal action to recover the money they have already given to ASSET and to use the cash to create jobs through means under councillors control. And it gives a clear mandate to district council representatives on the ASSET board to oppose any attempt to change the trust's constitution. Only Councillor Clements and finance convener Drew Duncan voted against the emergency resolution. The decision put strong pressure on the council representatives on ASSET to block the privatisation plans.

THREE First Year schoolgirls surprised everyone by completing the full 15-mile Canter course. When they crossed the finishing line the organisers presumed they had taken part in the junior 6-mile race. But Lesley Ritchie (13), of Campbell Avenue, Saltcoats, Barbara Newell (12) of Talisman Walk, Saltcoats and Charlene Blakely (13), of Grange Road, Stevenston, had ran the full distance. They said afterwards that they had found the going hard and sometimes painful but had pressed on.

LOCAL soldiers have been finding out about life in a humid, steamy jungle. They are Guardsman David Low (21) from Ardrossan, and Guardsman Lomond Stewart (23) from Saltcoats. Both are serving with the 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards, at Stanley Fort, Hong Kong, and two companies of the Battalion have just carried out six weeks of training courses in Southern Malaysia. Both are keen sportsmen and ex-pupils of Ardrossan Academy. David has been in the Army for two years, while Lomond has been in for a similar period.

CENTRAL Ayrshire MP David Lambie is taking action on noise complaints in Dalry. Several complaints have been received about the noise from New Street, Dalry caused by heavy lorries using the road.

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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on May 07, 2008

100 YEARS AGO on May 8, 1908
ARDROSSAN and Kilwinning are the only two burghs in Ayrshire which have adopted the resolution recommended by the Motor Union, advocating the application of the money raised from the taxation of motors to the upkeep of the road.

THE boring operations at the mineral well in the Holm Plantation, Saltcoats, have now been successful and a good supply of water has been obtained.

A DISASTROUS fire last Friday evening gutted the cabinet factory of Messrs Arnott and Crawford, Park Road, Saltcoats. Damage is estimated at £3000 and the employees, numbering sixty-four, have been thrown out of work

THE new Roman Catholic chapel in West Kilbride was opened for worship on Sunday last when the Rev Father Ryan, late of St Mary's, Saltcoats, presided.

AT a function in Irvine on Tuesday prizes were presented to the winning teams in the Ayrshire Constabulary ambulance competition as follows:1. Dairy Division team - Sergeant Mollwrick, Ardrossan Constables Dobbie, Ardrossan; Leslie, West Kilbride and Miller, Fairlie; 2, Irvine team-Sgt Duffus, Constables Lobban, Griffin and McGowan.

THE referee at the Ardeer Thistle and Irvine Victoria football match at Kilwinning on Saturday was mobbed by some of the spectators at the close and to make the disgraceful affair even worse several of the players were also attacked.

MR Robert W Shearer. Ardrossan, has gained first prize at Glasgow Technical College in the class for Gas Manufacturers, Section II.

IN connection with the lockout at Troon shipyard, the men who struck work last week received their discharge on Saturday. This is the first time such action has been taken connection with a trade dispute at Troon yard.

50 YEARS AGO on May 9, 1958
THE rebel siege of Fort Assirir, Aden Protectorate, where a British Political Officer Mr Fitzroy Somerset and the garrison were under fire for four days and nights before being relieved by a force of 1000 British troops attracted widespread attention last week and there was particular interest in Troon when it was learned that the final attack was led by Major Boucher Myers, who has his home in Ottoline Drive. Major Boucher Myers, who is a son-in-law of Mr and Mrs J Williamson, 8 Willockston Road, Troon, came to Troon in 1940 as a member of No.4 Commando and during his training period he made many friends in the town.
During the second part of the Normandy campaign he was second-in-command of No.4 Commando and later in Germany he commanded the Unit for some time. He took part in the Dieppe raid, where he was mentioned in dispatches, and for his part in the assault on Flushing in 1944 he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre (No 4 Commando at that time included a attachment of Free French).

A SOCIAL evening in an Ardrossan hotel last Friday, marked the retirement from Ardeer Factory of foreman joiner Mr James Wilson and chargehand joiner Mr Tom Dunn. Mr Wilson retires at the end of this month after more than 46 years' service. Mr Dunn left the factory at the end of April after working 42 years.

ONE hundred and fifty passengers, including visitors from America and one from Sweden, were on board the Norwegian motorship Meteor when she arrived at Ardrossan last Friday at the end of a seven-day cruise to Scottish islands. The cruise, which started from Leith, was arranged by the National Trust for Scotland and was led by the Earl of Wemyss and March, LLD, JP, chairman of Council and Executive Committee who was supported by such well-known experts on the islands of Scotland as Mr Seton Gordon, CBE, FZS, and Mr Kenneth Williamson, MBOU. During the cruise Mr Gordon and Mr Williamson gave illustrated talks and the latter also conducted tours round Fair Isle and St Kilda.

25 YEARS AGO on May 13, 1983
ELECTION fever has bitten at last. After months of speculation - during which the "Iron Lady" gave away no clues - Mrs Thatcher has set the General Election for June 9. As the party campaigns race to prepare for the big day, the bookmakers are already offering odds on the parties.
In Cunninghame North, the present member - Tory MP John Corrie, faces a mammoth struggle as a direct result of the boundary changes. His old North Ayrshire and Bute constituency was what might be described as a "comfortable" Tory seat. Now the communities of the Garnock Valley have been assigned to the new seat, a fact that Mr Corrie may well find hard to battle within the weeks ahead. The Labour strongholds in the Valley - where unemployment is rife and traditional skills are no longer required - show no change of political colour. It is not only a two man of course - at least at this stage.
Candidates come from the SDP/Liberal Alliance and the Scottish National Party in the form of Ralph Leishman and Colin Cameron respectively. But the big guns are likely to be Mr Corrie and his Labour opponent, John Carson.

THE whole future of ASSET - the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston Enterprise Trust now hangs in the balance and with it more than £1 million in projects aimed at creating much needed jobs in the Three Towns. The crisis follows the decision by Cunninghame District Labour Party that the district council should pull the plug on cash aid to the job finding organisation because of plans to make it a private company. Now a D-Day meeting of all five sponsoring trustees has been arranged later this month at which one decision will have to be taken: Where do we go from here?"

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on May 14, 2008

100 YEARS AGO on May 15, 1908
THE congregation of South Beach UF Church, Saltcoats, held a social on Friday evening to welcome home their minister, the Rev Charles Lamont, and his wife, after their marriage.

THE vacancies in Kilwinning Town Council caused by the resignation of Provost Hamilton were filled as follows: - Provost, Baillie William Greig: Junior Baillie, Councillor Auld; and new Councillor, Mr James Stewart.

AT the annual show of the Ardrossan and West Kilbride Farmers Society held on Saturday in a field at Seamill, principal prizewinners were:-W Kean, Chapelton, three firsts, four seconds; J Motion, Haplands, three firsts, three seconds, and A Craig, Ryesholm, Dalry.

DALRY bowlers Robert Montgomery, James Graham Andrew Holburn and Sam Campbell defeated Glengarock bowlers (Alex Harris, John McBlane, Robert Hunter and John Busble) by 44 shots in a rink game on Saturday. MR ANDREW Armour and Mr Harry Fletcher, both Irvine lads, are members of the Queens Park FC team now touring Denmark.

50 YEARS AGO on May 16, 1958
MR JAMES Dorrian, who was appointed Provost of Ardrossan at the statutory meeting of the Town Council last Friday evening, first entered the Council in 1937, but resigned in 1940 because of business commitments. He re-entered the Council in 1948 and has been a member since then. During his Council career, he has served on various committees, and has been Convener of the Housing Committee and Wages Committee. Six years ago he was appointed honorary treasurer - a position he held until the recent municipal election.
A keen churchworker, Mr Dorrian is president of the St Peter's Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society, and also in that connection he is treasurer of the Central Council of Galloway and a member of the Superior Council of Glasgow. He is also a member of the Langbank Home Committee. His main sporting interest is football, and older members of the community will remember that he was secretary of the one-time juvenile team, Ardrossan Benburb, which was in existence for two years during the First World
War.

MR HAMILTON G Kerr. Saltcoats' new Junior Bailie, has had considerable experience of Court work Elected to the Council in 1946, he became the town's first Honorary Treasurer of the Central Council a year later under the Local Government Act 1947. He was a magistrate from 1951 until 1956, when he became a Police Judge. A member of the Irvine and District Water Board since 1946, he is now convener of the Board's Finance Committee. He is employed as an Assistant for Rating, Town and Country Planning and Parliamentary Work in the Department of the Estate and Rating Surveyor, British Transport Commission in Scotland.

MISS BETA Miller, who has been a teacher in St Cuthbert's Church Sunday School, Saltcoats, for 40 years, has retired, and to mark the occasion she has been presented with a travelling clock from the Sunday School pupils and a Bible from the Kirk Session. Miss Miller, who resides at 71 Caledonia Road, is Infant Mistress at Ardrossan Academy.

CAPTAIN Knut Maurer, master of the Norwegian cruise ship Ms Meteor, which recently sailed from Ardrossan on a gardens cruise became the first freeman of St Kilda during the National Trust for Scotland's islands cruise.

The Earl of Wemyss, chairman of the Trust, announced at a meeting of the executive committee in Edinburgh on Thursday of last week that he had bestowed the freedom of the island on Captain Maurer as a tribute to the spirit of adventure and enterprise with which he and his crew had tackled the cruise.

25 YEARS AGO on May 20, 1983
RADIOACTIVE explosives-kept for the last 21 months in isolation at ICI's Ardeer plant-were dumped 500 miles out at sea on Monday. Seventy-one cases of detonator explosives left Irvine on the Glasgow freighter, St Oran. For nearly two years, the containers with 20lbs of explosives each, were lined with concrete and kept in a section of the Ardeer plant following a blast in the explosives section. That was in September of 1981. Two people were injured, but according to ICI's Scottish Affairs Manager Neil Menzies, they only suffered cuts. The explosives became contaminated after the blast shattered a radioactive sensing device. Before anything could be done, the Department of Trade had to be informed and lengthy discussions continued on a suitable method of disposal.

A Government licence was recently granted for the purpose and it has been decided that the containers should be dumped in 2,000 metres of water beyond the continental shelf Mr Menzies pointed out that the level of radioactivity involved was what you would expect from a luminous watch dial. The operation caused some concern in Irvine, though. There, extra payments were demanded by wharf staff and carpenters building a magazíne in the ship's hold. The vessel sailed on Saturday.

AN ARDROSSAN woman suffering from exposure and infection from polluted water was rescued from the sea on Tuesday evening. Mrs Geraldine McKinnon (30) of 14 St Ninian's Drive, was saved at 7.30pm after spending five to 10 minutes in the bitterly cold water opposite Bath Place. She is believed to have fallen from the rocks Mrs McKinnon was taken to North Ayrshire District General Hospital, where, on Wednesday. her condition was described as "satisfactory".

STEVENSTON youngster John Paul Dorrian swam to victory in the first gala for asthma sufferers in Edinburgh on Monday. The four and a half-year-old was the only swimmer in the under-fives category to compete without the aid of arm bands. John Paul was watched at the gala in the Commonwealth Pool by his parents Mary and William Dorrian and Cunninghame's swimming development officer Margaret Craig. After seeing him win the under-fives race they then saw him give a great performance against much older children in the under-eights race

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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on June 4, 2008
(No Looking Back files were published for May 21st & 28th 2008)

100 YEARS AGO on June 5, 1908
MR Wilmot, the proprietor of the shows at Saltcoats Fair held a charity night for the benefit of the poor of the town and raised £8 2s 11d. He also gave a guinea to the local Nursing Association

LORD Montgomerie, son of the Earl of Eglinton and Lady Beatrice Dalrymple were married in London on Friday, and that evening a bonfire was lit at Knockrivoch Farm, Saltcoats, by the farmer, Mr Picken, in honour of the marriage. The huge bonfire was visible at Dundonald.

ON Saturday last the bathing pond at Saltcoats was officially opened for the season, and the plans for the proposed new pavilion and clubhouse have now been drawn up.

AT the annual meeting of the Stevenston Friendly Funeral Society, office bearers elected were: - President, Mr Joseph Frew; Secretary, Mr Alex Dick; Treasurer, Mr W. Duff Collector, Mr John Scott. There are 500 members.

AT a meeting in Victoria Temperance Institute, Stevenston, on Wednesday, it was unanimously agreed to form a brass band in Stevenston. Mr Thos. Oswald presided.

OUT of over 100 applicants, Mr George Forsyth, Greenock, has been appointed managing secretary of Dalry Co-operative Society, Ltd.

50 YEARS AGO on June 6, 1958
LAST Saturday afternoon a six-foot long Basking Shark entered Saltcoats Harbour. It was swimming around close to the wall, and did not appear to be a bit afraid of the onlookers, It remained for over an hour till boys clambered on to the rocks and threw stones at it.

IN Brodick Bay last Sunday a large School of porpoise was observed. One eye-witness, who has been around Arran for many years, states it was the largest school he had ever seen near the island.

DAMAGE has been done at the model railway at the back of Saltcoats Beach Pavilion, but the extent of the damage is not known. This model railway does not belong to the Burgh, but to a private owner.

TOMORROW (Saturday) twelve Sunday School trips will arrive at South Beach Green, Ardrossan. The number of people expected is put to 2,060.

MALICIOUS damage. Between Friday night and Saturday morning a weighing machine on the South Shore promenade was damaged. On Tuesday night, or Wednesday morning, a second machine was damaged.

ON Thursday of last week, a special train from Newcastle arrived at Ardrossan with approximately 500 passengers. They boarded the railway passenger steamer 'Duchess of Montrose' and went ashore at Whiting Bay. After sight-seeing, they returned to Ardrossan and boarded the train for home. This special party from England is the first of many that will arrive during the summer. Yesterday (Thursday) another special train arrived from Newcastle and the party joined the boat at Ardrossan for Arran.

THE smash-and-grab raid that took place at Ardrossan at the end of last week had a quick sequel. Four men were arrested in the Glasgow district, and the stolen property was recovered.

A distinguished visitor to the Kilwinning Saltcoats district during the summer months will be the 85-year-old world-famous poet and author, Robert W. Service, who was born in Preston, and who spent his early childhood in Kilwinning. He now lives in semi-retirement in Monte Carlo. In a letter to the secretary of the North Ayrshire Museum he recalls his happy childhood in Kilwinning and his families close association with Saltcoats.

A Saltcoats ratepayer complains that the Council have erected a new stout wire fence at Laighdykes Playing Fields to prevent people from trespassing over the playing fields, but young and old are abusing the new fence and are still trespassing.

A very popular section in the North Ayrshire Museum, Saltcoats, last summer was that dealing with wild flowers. From this weekend this section will be restored under the direction of Mr Richard Prasher, Dalry. Comprising more than sixty specimens the collection will be enhanced by a forestry exhibit supplied by the Forestry Commission.

25 YEARS AGO on June 10, 1983
CASH tills will be ringing in a new £1/2m shopping complex in Saltcoats before the end of the month. The indoor shopping mall, incorporating 24 separate units, is due to open within the next few weeks. It is the brainchild of local businessman, Gio Benedetti, who bought the site in Hamilton Street almost three years ago. He had originally hoped the transform the three houses on the land into three large shops with offices above. But he changed his plans to make use of the substantial area of ground behind the houses. The finished development will include two larger shops, 22 smaller ones, and a number of offices. An enclosed complex has been erected behind the original buildings to house the smaller shops, which have an average size of 200 square feet.

STEVENSTON Councillor, Sam Gooding. is fighting to have a scrapyard at Ardeer removed. The scrapyard was originally given planning permission by Cunninghame District Council but now the access area has become an illegal dump. Despite regular efforts to keep the area tidy, scrap vehicles are still continuing to be dumped. Last week two caught fire - only yards away from the petrol station at the roundabout. But what concerns councillor Gooding even more is the effect the obvious eyesore is having on incoming industrialists. 'We are trying to sell industrial units here, and I want this place closed down.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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