Looking Back - Herald files

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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on January 2, 2003

100 YEARS AGO on January 2, 1903
SUBSCRIPTIONS this season to the Saltcoats Police-aided scheme for clothing poor children total £13 18s. Police Inspector J Findlay is honorary secretary

ARDROSSAN EU Congregational Church have re-elected Mr Vickers, president: Mr Thomas Wilson, secretary; and Mr Campbell, treasurer. Additional managers appointed were Messrs Flinn, Gallacher, Carr and Galbraith and additional deacons Messrs Ramsay, Cameron, Milne and Alexander.

ROB ROY was produced on two evenings last week by the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Musical and Dramatic Society. Mr Jacobs was Rob Roy and the cast included Messrs John Anderson, Thomas Buchanan, Henry Magee, Sam Noble, Charles Magee, Carruthers, John Bain, WG Smith, John Deacon, Thomas G Anderson, William McMurtrie, John H Kerr. Masters Fred Morrison, Archibald McPherson and Alf McPherson, Misses Kate Brady, Jessie Becket. Peggy Ramage, S Dunkeld and S Quinn.

MR PETER MURCHIE (son of the late Captain Murchie) of Whitefarland, Arran, who sailed for many years as captain of Burns's steamer, Buzzard, on the daylight service to Belfast, has passed his examination for the certificate of first mate in the foreign merchant service.

SIR JAMES and Lady Bell of Montgreenan provided a grand Christmas treat for the children on the estate and others in the hall at the mains.

50 YEARS AGO on January 2, 1953
AN UNFORTUNATE accident occurred at Valefield last Saturday when James Brown, right-half of Kilbirnie Ladeside, suffered a fracture of the right leg, Jimmy was a member of the Ladeside Scottish Cup-winning team and has made himself a favourite of the supporters. He is in the Alexandra Infirmary. Paisley, but hopes to be back in training before the end of the season.

ON WEDNESDAY forenoon, an Ardrossan Dockyard employee, an acetylene burner, was taken to Kilmarnock Infirmary with a fractured leg. It seems a canister containing carbide caused an explosion from which the man was injured.

SPRINGVALE Nursery School held their annual Christmas party on the morning of Christmas Eve. It was gratifying to realise that there were very few children absent and that so many parents were able to attend. The nursery school staff and the committee of the Parents Club are to be congratulated on their efforts to make the occasion the success it was.

25 YEARS AGO on January 6, 1978
SKATEBOARDING could turn into a killer craze - because kids are dicing with death on the roads. And now suggestions for providing safe skateboarding centres are to be put to Cunninghame District Council by a leisure chief. Tenants in the Chapelhill Mount. Burns Terrace and Alloway Place area of Ardrossin have complained to the police about youngsters playing on the hills outside their homes. One youngster broke his leg in November when he lost control of his skateboard and skidded into a car. After Christmas more and more youngsters have been playing in the streets with their skateboards.
Last week another young boy came off his board at the foot of Burns Terrace and lay on the road for several minutes before being helped by people in nearby Alloway Place. Mr David Webster, Leisure Director, said he would now be putting forward "one or two suggestions" about the problem to next week's Leisure Committee meeting.

THE OIL rig Zephyr presently laid up in Lamlash Bay came to the rescue of a storm hit fishing boat late last Friday morning. Campbeltown vessel Prospect called Ardrossan Coastguards for assistance after breaking from her moorings in the bay. Troon Lifeboat was summoned but before it reached the scene Zephyr's lifeboat was launched and Prospect was later reported secure alongside the rig. The five adults and one child on board the fishing boat were uninjured.

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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on January 8, 2003

100 YEARS AGO on January 9, 1903
THE New Year was welcomed in at Saltcoats in fine weather and with much enthusiasm.

On New Year's Day grocers and shop keepers closed at 2pm and the public houses at 5pm.

MR PETER KERR, Sunday School Superintendent, St John's UF Church, Ardrossan, was presented with a marble timepiece by the officer bearers, teachers and friends on the occasion of his marriage.

AT DALRY there was a large crowd at the Cross to greet the New Year and the Instrumental Band gave selections.

J NELSON, Kilwinning. was fourth in the final of the Powderhall handicap foot race on
Friday.

50 YEARS AGO on January 9, 1953
CONGRATULATIONS to Flight Lieutenant James G Brodie, stationed with the RAF in England who has recently been awarded the Air Force Cross. He joined the RAF on leaving school in 1941. After passing through, he was on Coastal Command and then was on North Sea and African operations.

NICOL'S BAR staff and customers raised £10 which they donated equally between the Ardrossan Pensioners' Club and the Ardrossan Old People's Welfare Committee. Baillie John Armstrong was nominated to hand over the donations.

HANDED into Saltcoats Police as having been found were a string of pearls and a silver bangle.

ON New Year's Day a man was attacked with a broken tumbler in Ardrossan. He required 30 stiches inserted into his face.

ON Hogmanay every year many local people listen to the engines' whistles and the ships at the harbour sounding their sirens. But on Hogmanay last week we heard engines whistling four minutes before midnight, then there was silence before the 12th hour.

When the wireless gave us the midnight hour, there were no whistles; then some minutes later the engines and ships tries to uphold the tradition but it was far short of the old days welcome.

A FOREIGN seaman who happened to spend the night in Ardrossan Police Station and who could speak no English, said the next morning to the officer in charge that he had had a good bed and thought the cell very comfortable. He stated that abroad, one did not get the same comfort.

AT THE Burgh Court in Stevenston on Monday a local man forfeited £I bail on a charge of being drunk and incapable.

THE MEMBERS of the Saltcoats Branch of the Co-op's Women's Guild held their Christmas Social in the Masonic Hall, Bradshaw Street. There were present over a hundred members and delegates and the president Mrs Mulgrew gave them a cordial welcome and wished them all the best in the years ahead.

THE DAWN of 1953 was not heralded with great rejoicings - public at any rate - by the citizens of Beith. The weather was dry and cold and first-footing throughout the town was very quiet. The bells of the High Church pealed out the old year and rang in the new year.

25 YEARS AGO on January 13, 1978
TENANTS in Ardrossan's Montgomerie Street have been plagued by white dust being blown into their homes from a ship in the nearby harbour. One tenant, who declined to be named, said that the sand had made his house a "terrible mess". His wife had to spend hours tidying up.

Mr Thomas Howie, Cunninghame's Environmental Health Director, confirmed that the tenants of Montgomerie Street had approached his local officer, They visited the harbour to try to solve the problems caused by unloading industrial white sand, which had arrived from Norway.

THE PUBLICATION on Wednesday of a Commons Select Committee's antidote to the British Steel Corporation's cancerous decline - the phasing out of old plants, cutbacks in new projects and voluntary redundancies - could sound the death knell for Hunterston and Glengarnock. At Hunterston, union chiefs and MPs fear that plans for an electric arc furnace could be axed. This could lead to the two direct reduction plants under construction on the peninsula being put into cold storage. There is little cheer for the 1000 steelworkers whose hopes rest with plans for the furnace.

TESCO, the supermarket giants, may be moving into Saltcoats. But their store won't be in the town centre - they are more interested in building on the High Road, next to the Esso garage. Some time ago McNight Motors Ltd built a car showroom, workshops and offices at High Road but they never moved into the building. A serious structural crack has appeared in corner of the badly-vandalised showroom but Tesco say they will demolish the affected area and carry out an investigation into the cause and rebuild

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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on January 16, 2003

100 YEARS AGO on January 16, 1903
AT SALTCOATS Town Council's meeting complaints were made of the prevalence of gambling in the town. Mr Ross said he didn't believe there was a town of the same population wherein gambling took place more than in Saltcoats. It was agreed to suggest to the County Council that two officers be appointed to cope with betting in the county.

MR JOHN MILLER at Saltcoats Literary Society meeting gave an essay on Characters of Dickens.

MR WILLIAM FULLARTON, for some time booking clerk at the G&S W Railway Station, Ardrossan, has been presented with a gold lever watch and silver cigarette case.

MR THOMAS TAYLOR, formerly of the A&S Herald staff, has been appointed to the Molteno News, a weekly paper published in South Africa.

SO SEVERE has been the frost in the Dalry area that the postman in the Largs Road district was unable to continue his journey after reaching Camphill Farm.

50 YEARS AGO on January 16, 1953
A DOUBLE wedding, in which a twin son was one of the bridegrooms and his twin sister one of the brides, took place at Ardeer Church, Stevenston, on December 27, 1952. Mr Andrew Montgomery, twin son of the late John and Mrs A Montgomery, 59 McGregor Avenue, Stevenston, was married to Miss Catherine Beck, only daughter of Mr and Mrs James Beck, 43 Donaldson Avenue, Stevenston. The groom was attended by his nephew, Mr James Howie and the bride by her cousin, Miss Agnes Beck. The other bridegroom was Mr Francis Kilpatrick, youngest son of Mr and Mrs J Kilpatrick, 38 Hayocks Road, Stevenston, and the bride Miss Janet Montgomery, twin daughter of the late John and Mrs A Montgomery, 59 McGregor Avenue, Stevenston. Mr Marshall Brown, nephew of the bride, was groomsman and the bridesmaid was Miss E Potts, niece of the groom. The Rey Samuel White officiated at the ceremony.

THERE has been an epidemic of stone throwing at several housing schemes in Ardrossan, which has resulted in many windows being broken. The police are investigating so parents should issue a warning to their children. CONSTABLE John Shearer, who was stationed at West Kilbride, has been transferred to Ardrossan, in place of Constable Neil who was transferred from Ardrossan to Skelmorlie.

ON THURSDAY of last week, between 9am and 9.30am someone went up to the stair window at 23 Winton Street, Ardrossan, and took away the new curtains complete with rod. This is the third occasion on which such a thing has happened in the same street.

LAST Wednesday, about 7pm, a private motor car was in collision with a motor van on the icy surface of Irvine Road. Both vehicles were damaged but no one was injured.

25 YEARS AGO on January 20, 1978
YOUNG fireraisers may have started the spectacular blaze which gutted Galbraith's Ardrossan supermarket on Monday night. Three boys were spotted running away from the Glasgow Street store and Saltcoats Police are treating the case as fire-raising. The blaze started in an unoccupied flat above Galbraith's and quickly spread. Saltcoats Police received an emergency call at 9.19pm and alerted the fire-fighting troops at HMS Gannet in Prestwick. The Army's other fire-fighting squad, based at Kilbirnie, was tackling a blaze in Kilmarnock at the time.

But by the time two units from Ardrossan and one from Irvine North arrived, the fire was raging. Police turned back the troops from HMS Gannet to avoid a possible clash with firemen. Some people were heard complaining about the firemen's reluctance to attend the fire but station officer at Ardrossan, Mr John Lees explained: "We turned out immediately. It was a fairly big blaze close to the fire station and we were ready to roll.
"At the time it was thought that someone was possibly trapped in the supermarket and the boys had no hesitation turning out. Remember that, during the dispute, firemen attended fires where there was risk of life. The criticism in the town is unwarranted. Galbraith's supermarket has been dogged by break-ins in recent months and the fire - which caused several thousands of pounds damage - may be the final nail in the coffin. It remains to be seen if it will re-open. Groceries valued at £100,000 were destroyed and the supermarket itself, which has been extensively modernised since June of last year, was gutted.

DISCO fans in the Kilwinning area will soon be able to dance until lam every Sunday night in the Claremont Hotel. After hearing that the Claremont's management had taken every step to minimise noise, Cunninghame District Licensing Board agreed to extend their Sunday licence for the discos which are at present licensed only until 11pm

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on January 23, 2003

100 YEARS AGO on January 23, 1903
TEACHERS and scholars of Eglinton School, Ardrossan, presented Miss Agnes Stirrat, ex-pupil teacher with a gold brooch on her leaving Ardrossan for Leith.

THE NEW organ in West Kilbride Parish Church was used on Sunday for the first time in the public worship of the sanctuary.

WILLIE FERNIE, Troon Golf Club professional has been invited by the Earl of Dudley, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to pay a visit to the Vice Regal Lodge, Dublin, for the purpose of golf from April 8.

MRS CREE, widow of James Cree of Saltcoats, died on Wednesday at the age of 101, at Wallsend-on-Tyne. She was born in Kyleshill, Saltcoats, and was a daughter of Mr Robert McKillop whose smiddy was on part of the site now occupied by the Mission Coast Home. Her husband, James Cree, was a boot and shoemaker, who had a shop in Bradshaw Street and afterwards in Dockhead Street. She went from Hayocks Farm, Stevenston, last year to stay with her son, Mr Peter Cree at Wallsend-on-Tyne.

50 YEARS AGO on January 23, 1953
ON SUNDAY last, following the morning service, the congregation of Landsborough Church took another major step in their long and honoured history when a large attendance of members made a unanimous decision to proceed with the building of new church halls as a memorial to the late The Rev WB Hutton, MA and Mr HM Amott.
This confirmed recommendations of the special sub-committee recently appointed to investigate the practical possibilities of such a step and provided a natural result of the tremendous growth and activity under the leadership of the Rev Alex Stevenson whose induction took place little more than a year ago. After outlining the various steps leading up to the project, Mr Stevenson gave details of a suitable site and the probable total cost. He also explained the committee's view that the major portion of the funds required would be received: (a) by "Family Giving" in the form of a collecting box in each home, to be uplifted monthly, by the Deacon in each district; and (b) by arranging one evening when the minister would receive special donations in the vestry. Thereafter all the organisations will co-ordinate their many efforts to the same end.

ARDROSSAN'S main railway station has been undergoing repairs lately. Many parts which were wood are now cement, and the painters are giving the place a new look.

LAST SATURDAY at the Dalry football match a Muirkirk man sent off a pigeon with the half-time result: Dalry O Muirkirk 3. When a Dalry man later that night went to feed his birds he discovered a stranger among them with that message attached to its leg. He took the paper (containing the half-time result off the pigeon's leg and put another on with the final result, 3-3. No doubt, the owner of the bird will be wondering how his figures were changed.

THE WELL-KNOWN Ardrossan bowler, Mr WD Jones has been chosen by the Scottish Indoor Bowling Association to play in the international matches against England and Wales at Boston, Lincolnshire on March 6 and 7.

25 YEARS AGO on January 27, 1978
ARDROSSAN'S historic burgh chambers in Montgomerie Street are standing under the shadow of the bulldozers. The axe is poised to fall on the building because of subsidence. Test bores are to be taken by Cunninghame District Council before a final decision on its future is taken. To put the property back on its feet - literally - will cost about £43,000. It seems likely that in the circumstances the council will plump for demolition but because of historical and architectural interest the Secretary of State's consent will be needed. This could take up to three months to be finalised.

One suggested use of the building is a dockers' club. The old Ardrossan Dockers Club was demolished as part of the town centre re-development scheme - and the dockers have been "homeless" ever since.
This idea has been torpedoed because the cost of repairs is too high.

MORE than 500 rail travellers in Cunninghame have signed a petition expressing their disgust at the Glasgow-Largs service - and the petition has been going for less than two weeks. It was organised by Mr Bill McBlane, Middleton Drive, Largs. He said this week that the petition was being distributed morning and night to regular travellers on the route and the response indicated that most were "fed up with the poor standards.

The main complaints set out in the petition, which has been sent to British Rail's Scottish General Manager, Leslie Sowane, are persistent breakdowns, late running, poor heating, dirty carriages and failure to inform passengers of cancellations or delays. Mr McBlane is hoping to hold public meetings to discuss the issue

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on January 30, 2003

100 YEARS AGO on January 30, 1903
MRS LOCKHART, who was shop attendant to Dr Milroy, Kilwinning, has passed the examination under the Pharmacy Act and is now an APS.

INCANDESCENT burners are to be tried on some of the street lamps in Kilwinning.

THE RT Hon Graham Murray, MP is presenting a cup for competition among the Arran football clubs. There are only three properly organised teams: - Corrie, Brodick and Lamlash.

AT A mock parliamentary election by Dalry Literary Association, Mr George Geddes (Liberal) was returned by an overwhelming majority over Mr Thomas Gray (Conservative).

50 YEARS AGO on January 30, 1953
ON SATURDAY afternoon last an A1 bus travelling along Stevenston Road, Kilwinning towards Stevenston collided with a horse-drawn cart, owned by Mr John McVay, dairyman, Woodwynd. The horse broke loose and bolted but was captured later and was found to be slightly injured. The cart was extensively damaged and the bus slightly. Part of a low garden wall was knocked down.

MANY local people who were looking in on the first televised programme from Scotland, A Matter of Opinion, on Monday night would recognise one of the questioners, Mr David Stevenson, late of Kilwinning, and also well-known in Stevenston, Saltcoats and Ardrossan, where at one time he was a member of the burgh band. In the Govan district, where the show was being televised, he is well-known as a journalist and sports writer.

MR WILLIAM Peters, for six years one of the janitors at Kilwinning Junior Secondary School, was presented with a wristlet watch by the staff of the Senior Primary and Secondary Departments on the occasion of his departure for Australia. In making the presentation, Mr Thomas Reid expressed the good wishes of his colleagues and paid tribute to Mr Peters' efficiency in his work and to his helpful and obliging disposition in all his dealings with the staff.

THE DISTRICT Council and the Roads Committee of the County Council have agreed to make representation to British Railways to have the disused railway bridge at Blacklands, Kilwinning removed.

THE TWO American lasses who attended the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Rotary Burns Supper last week got a big thrill when their names were coupled with the toast of Bonnie Jean. "Gee," said one of them, this will go down in history."

A NEW attraction can be found at Ardeer Recreation grounds. A miniature railway is being erected at that part of the grounds which is situated between the main road and the cricket pitch. The ground has been cleared of shrubs and a start has been made to the railway.

25 YEARS AGO on February 3,1978
MORE than 1000 rail travellers have now signed a petition expressing disgust at the conditions of on the Glasgow-Largs service. As reported last week, petition organiser Mr Bill McBlane, North Middleton Drive, Largs, had collected 500 names in less than two weeks. Following this news, another 500-plus signatures flooded into his home over the weekend. Now politicians Mr David Lambie, MP for Central Ayrshire, and Mr Dan McMillan, Ardrossan and Saltcoats Regional Councillor, have joined the campaign. Mr Lambie is to address a public meeting in Kilbirnie's Walker Hall on February 20 if he had no urgent business in the House of Commons and Mr McMillan feels so strongly about the situation that he has pledged to make it one of his election platforms for May's polls.

The passengers' main complaints about the service are - persistent breakdowns, late running, poor heating, dirty carriages and failure to inform passengers of cancellations or delays.

DESPITE objections that it was egotism, Cunninghame District Council's chief will in future be known as “Provost," not chairman. At Tuesday's council meeting it was agreed by 13 votes to nine to accept the recommendation of the Finance and General Purposes Committee to apply for a Coat of Arms for the district - and to ask the Scottish Secretary of State's approval to call the council chairman "Provost". Councillor Jack Carson (Irvine), seconded by Mrs Teresa Beattie (Stevenston) moved that the title council chairman be retained. Mr Carson felt the return of the pomp and pageantry associated with the Provost title was a "retrograde step" for local authorities. Mrs Beattie said that the people of Cunninghame were doing fine without the "fol-de-rol" associated with the Provost's office.
Councillor Alex Rubie (Irvine) said that the council were not discussing pomp and pageantry but merely wanted to try and get a Coat-of-Arms and the title of Provost. After the vote Provost Matt Brown - who had not taken part in the earlier discussion - said that Cunninghame had come of age" as a result of the decision.

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on January 30, 2003

100 YEARS AGO on February 6, 1903
MR John Inglis, builder, Ardrossan is catering for local needs by erecting cottages in Anderson Terrace and a tenement in Park Road.

THE first cargo of iron ore ever sent from Norway to a Clyde port was landed at Ardrossan this week. It was discharged from the Olaf Kyroe.

TWO hundred people attended the annual Yeomanry dance in the Public Hall, Dalry, which was tastefully decorated by Mr Andrew McNeilly. The dance concluded at the late hour of 3am.

MR James Durie Bannatyne, Caledonia Road, Saltcoats, has passed his first examination in general knowledge with a view to being indentured as an apprentice to Mr Thomas Kirkhope, solicitor, Ardrossan.

MR JM Robertson, a Brodick man, has been selected to contest Tynescide as a Liberal at the next election.

MR Daniel Hamilton of Arran and Glasgow. who has retired from business, was entertained by his city friends to dinner in the Windsor Hotel, Glasgow and presented with an illuminated address.

50 YEARS AGO on February 6, 1953
ON Monday we called on Mrs Jardine, Hill Place, Ardrossan, who had had an alarming experience at the height of the storm on Saturday morning.
At around 3am while she was in the bed in the front room with a four-year-old grandchild, she was awakened by a large stone falling from the roof through the ceiling on to the pillow between the heads of the child and herself. The child was only slightly injured, but Mrs Jardine was cut on the head and Dr Duff had to insert two stitches in the wound. She was also badly bruised and discoloured about the face.

On Monday morning, Mrs Jardine was still in bed with her head covered in a bandages. She was high in her praise of Dr Duff for being so quickly on the scene. Our reporter was taken to the front bedroom and saw the fallen stone, which was still on the bed. We estimate it weighed about half a hundredweight. The bed was covered with plaster and dust and the room was in a bad mess. It was certainly a narrow escape from death for Mrs Jardine and her granddaughter.

AMONG the 128 people who lost their lives in Saturday's shipping disaster were a young nephew of Mrs Mellon of Hunter Avenue, Ardrossan, Second Officer William McInnes of Lamlash and Major JM Sinclair, Deputy Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, who was returning home to Belfast. Mr Sinclair was recently guest of honour at a dinner held at the Westfield Hotel, Saltcoats, by the North Ayrshire Ulster Association.

Feelings of profound regret were expressed when it became known on Saturday afternoon that the passenger vessel Princess Victoria, which sailed daily between Stranraer and Larne, had sunk while on a voyage to Northern Ireland.

In a still more calamitous disaster in the south-east of England, the storms claimed 242 lives when a large tract of low-lying country was flooded by the high seas.

Locally, very high waters were running all day, and at the Ardrossan and Saltcoats promenades the waves swept over the permanent walls to a considerable extent.

Owing to the heavy seas the Glen Sannox was prevented from making her trip from Fairlie to Brodick, but the never failing little mail steamer, the Arran, braved the elements and not only landed the mails safely but returned to Ardrossan in the afternoon. The regular steamer from Belfast bypassed both Ayr and Ardrossan and carried on to Greenock.

25 YEARS AGO on February 10,1978
ONLY 14 people attended a public meeting in Auchenharvie Academy on Monday to discuss complaints about the Largs-Glasgow train service. Although a petition which has been circulated has more than 1200 signatures, organiser William McBlane admitted that he was disappointed at the poor turnout.
Mr McBlane said the object of the meeting was to let the public hear different points of view on the rail service, both from regular travellers and from the organisations who run it. Guest speakers represented a number of organisations.

LABOUR MP David Lambie this week replied to his arch-rival Teddy Taylor MP's claim that he was a clown with the remark: "I am not Superman". The Central Ayrshire MP missed an important vote on council house rents last Thursday, when the £39 a year limit on rent rises was scrapped. The matter came to a head when he called on a colleague, Housing Minister Hugh Brown, to resign.

Later, Tory MP Teddy Taylor described Mr Lambie as a clown for not knowing what was going on in Parliament. Mr Lambie said he had been at a crucial 1 meeting of union leaders and steelworkers unions in Motherwell. He said: "I cannot be in more than one place at a time. I try to divide my time fairly between Westminster and my constituency.

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on February 13, 2008

100 YEARS AGO on February 14, 1908
SALTCOATS patrons of the drama have been well served during the past week. On Friday evening Mr. Rushbury's sensational drama,"Queen of the Night," was presented in the Town Hall where on Monday night Miss Harriet Greet presented Barrett's great play. "The Sign of the Cross."

AT the tea meeting in the Pentecostal League Hall last Saturday, the speaker was a Mr. McCulloch, a converted Socialist, and the Rev. Mr. Sharpe sang the hymn which was the means of bringing conviction to Mr. McCulloch.

WEST Kilbride Amateur Dramatic Association presented three little plays in the Town Hall last Friday evening, those taking part being Misses Nettie Lindsay, A. A. McDougall, Matt. Rodgers, A. Barclay, M. B. Sow, Ethel Brown and Messrs H. Millar, T. M. Hyslop, James Chesney, P. M. Jack, Tom Oliphant and W. Bruce.

AT the annual social of the Ardrossan Section of the Caledonian Railway Ambulance Brigade last Friday, certificates were presented to Messrs J. Leitch, W. Gibson, J. Wyllie, J. Allison, W. Curlett, T. Tingy, D. Duthie, G. Clark, A. Campbell, D. Yuille, R. Lambie, A. Murchie, E. Leaf, K. Park, J. Brown, W. K Harvey, A. Watt and W. Yuille.

50 YEARS AGO on February 14, 1958
DESPITE the extreme conditions the Royal Mail delivery services in the Ardrossan and Saltcoats rural areas were maintained with the exception of those one or two isolated spots. Local train and bus services were also maintained over the week-end but in some instances buses were running late. Clyde Coast buses from Saltcoats to Largs and vice-versa had to enter and leave West Kilbride by way of Corsehill to maintain the service

ON Monday morning a thaw set in and, with rain showers, the snow turned to slush. Burgh workmen cleared street gullies and run channels to avoid flooding.

MR. James Sproat, 109 High Road, Saltcoats, has been appointed School Attendance Officer for the No9 Area, to fill the vacancy created by the recent death of Mr John McCammont. A native of West Kilbride, Mr. Sproat has for the last eight years carried out the duties of janitor at Saltcoats Junior Secondary School.

A TALK on her recent visits to Russia and America was given by Mrs. Annie Reid (wife of ex-Provost Reid) to Saltcoats Vegetarian Society on Tuesday evening. One point of difference emphasised by Mrs. Reid in comparing the two countries was that in Russia the young people read a great deal more than young Americans. She also formed the opinion that the Russians feared another war more than anything else.

UNESCO has re-printed in English and French an article from "Museum" on "Regional and Local Museums in Scotland," in which reference is made to the opening of the North Ayrshire Museum at Saltcoats.

THERE are now 1191 TV aerials in Saltcoats housing schemes.

LAST Thursday evening saw about 50 members attend the Westfield Hotel, Saltcoats, for the "Redex" film show, when a good programme was submitted.

25 YEARS AGO on February 18,1983
COUNCIL tenants in Cunninghame will have to stump up another 82p a week in rent from April 1. Labour controlled Cunninghame District Council approved the rise at a special meeting on Tuesday. It also increased the district rate by 1p, from 38p to 39p. At Tuesday's meeting the council laid the blame for the substantial rent rise firmly at the Governments feet. "George Younger and Maggie Thatcher are the real culprits in these decisions," said finance convenor Drew Duncan.

NINE workers have been made redundant at the Kilwinning factory of power transmission engineers, J.H. Fenner. The redundancies, from both staff and shop floor employees, are blamed on reduced demand.

PUPILS in several schools in Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston could be badly hit by the latest round of education cuts. The Three Towns were designated a deprived area entitled to extra cash help under two government special aid schemes. But Scottish Secretary, George Younger, last week announced that funds had dried up.

SCOTS Health Minister, John Mackay, visited Arran last week and inspected facilities for the elderly at the Montrose House old people's home. MP for North Ayrshire and Bute, John Comie, and regional councillor for the Island, Richard Wilkinson, accompanied Mr. Mackay on the tour of the island.

THE controversial "Clarion" of Cunninghame District Council will have £7000 spent on it for 1983/84. The draft estimates make provision of £5,500 on the production and distribution of the council's newspaper. What the council call "more effective" distribution arrangements have been recommended by the editorial committee.

RAGING sea conditions held Arran ferry passengers captive on their ship last Thursday. The "Caledonia" arrived in Brodick at 10.45am. Hours later the crew were still battling to get vehicles off safely

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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on February 20, 2008

100 YEARS AGO on February 21, 1908
MR FRANK Lyall, superintendent of the chemical laboratories at Nobel's Ardeer, died last Friday as a result of being accidentally shot during the testing of cartridges at the shooting range in the works.

DURWARD Lely's theatrical company visited Ardrossan last night as staged The Bonnie Brier Bush in the Assembly Hall

It is reported that the Sign of the Cross drama company who lately visited Saltcoats Town Hall are of opinion that the street boys of the town are the worst behaved they have met in their travels, but the Town Hal was the cleanest building they had performed in on their tour.

THE children of Ardeer United Free Church, Stevenston, gave successful performances of Princess Tiny Tot and Living Pictures in the Conservative Hall on Monday and Tuesday, those taking part being Gertrude Brown, Douglas Parker, Anne Begbie, Annie Smith, Jeanie Drummond, Martha Wilson, Nancy Brown and Gladys Maule.

AT Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday a Saltcoats man was fined 15 quineas for having driven a motor car at a speed exceeding 20 miles per hour between Stanley Burn and Arran Place, Ardrossan.

MR William Picken, Inspector in Saltcoats for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, has been appointed the first probation officer for the burgh of Saltcoats.

50 YEARS AGO on February 21, 1958
A LETTER of protest from the Ayrshire Bus Owners (A1 Bus Services Ltd) with regard to the closing of the level crossing at Ardrossan Town Station for approximately eight hours on a Sunday in December of last year was read at Monday night's meeting of Ardrossan Town Council. Provost Hogarth said he knew that the level crossing had been closed in this arbitrary manner and without warning and that people had waited for buses which did not arrive.
To do such a thing was most unfair to the public. It was not, however, the Council's level crossing or their street. It was a matter between Ayr County Council and the railway authority. The Provost added that it would appear that the police had also not been consulted on the matter. There had been a slip-up and it should not be allowed to happen again. The Council, on the motion of Provost Hogarth, agreed to write to the bus company deploring such a happening and intimating that their protest would be forwarded to the County Council

THE Roads and Parks Committee of Ardrossan Town Council have considered complaints regarding the parking of motor vehicles on grass verges in the housing scheme areas and have agreed to instruct the Town Clerk to ask the police to take steps to have the practice discontinued.

ON Wednesday of last week the Springvale Nursery School Parents Club met and enjoyed a night of country and old time dancing During the course of the evening Mrs Edgar, with three friends, gave a Skiffle Group entertainment, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the company.

TO mark the retiral of Mrs E Macpherson from the local Post Office where she has been a counter-hand over a period of years, the staff have presented her with a handsome clock. The presentation was made by the senior postman, Mr Hugh McDonald, who spoke of the happy and obliging manner in which Mrs Macpherson had cared out her duties and of the many friendships she had formed with the general public.

IN connection with the centenary of Park Church, Ardrossan, which was celebrated last November, the minister, the Rev Donald Currie, was the recipient of a presentation from the congregation at their annual business meeting held in the church hall on Wednesday evening.

25 YEARS AGO on February 25, 1983
A PENSIONER was grasped moments from an Icy death after tumbling Into Ardrossan Harbour Police Constables Brian Cant and William Harkness arrived on the scene and plunged into the freezing water to save 72-year-old James Robertson of Ardrossan's Barrie Terrace. For several anxious minutes the Constables kept the old man afloat as one of the harbour vessels made its way out to the thee men. Mr Harkness was rushed to North Ayrshire General Hospital in a 'serious condition, suffering from exposure The ordeal happened last Thursday evening. and on Monday, Mr Robertson was discharged from hospital. He is thought to be recovering with relatives in Ayr. A police spokesman said it was thought Mr Robertson lost his balance and fell in The officers who swam to Mr Robertson's aid
were uninjured

HOTELIERS and residents in Arran will face severe problems unless a way can be found to supply the island with Calor Gas. Caledonian MacBrayne say they can no longer carry a load of about 200 gas cylinders which can be found to supply the island with Calor Gas Caledonian MacBrayne say they can no longer carry a load of gas cylinders which were taken on their ferry to Arran every week.

Department of Trade regulations forbid ferries with enclosed decks to transport gas. Calor Gas has been taken from Ardrossan to Arran by ferry for 25 years but Caledonian MacBrayne say they had no knowledge of it until last week. When it was brought to their attention they had no option but to stop it. Now homes and hotels on Arran, many of which rely heavily on Calor Gas for cooking and heating, cannot get new supplies Caledonian MacBrayne have already asked for a dispensation which would allow them to resume carrying cylinders. As we went to press they were still awaiting reply. But even if a dispensation were granted, the islanders' problems would not be over. For it would carry with it a reduction in the number of passengers and vehicles the shipping company could carry at the same time as gas. And because of lost revenue on the journey, that would bump up Calor Gas prices on the island

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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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25 YEARS AGO on February 25, 1983
A PENSIONER was grasped moments from an Icy death after tumbling Into Ardrossan Harbour Police Constables Brian Cant and William Harkness arrived on the scene and plunged into the freezing water to save 72-year-old James Robertson of Ardrossan's Barrie Terrace. For several anxious minutes the Constables kept the old man afloat as one of the harbour vessels made its way out to the thee men. Mr Harkness was rushed to North Ayrshire General Hospital in a 'serious condition, suffering from exposure The ordeal happened last Thursday evening. and on Monday, Mr Robertson was discharged from hospital. He is thought to be recovering with relatives in Ayr. A police spokesman said it was thought Mr Robertson lost his balance and fell in The officers who swam to Mr Robertson's aid
were uninjured.


Uninjured ??

I wonder if Police Constable William Harkness was the popular policeman myself and other local hooligans knew growing up in Pennyburn early seventies
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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Brian,

The Constable Harkness mentioned did indeed work in Kilwinning for most of his police service.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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Penny Tray wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:40 am Brian,

The Constable Harkness mentioned did indeed work in Kilwinning for most of his police service.
Thanks, Penny Tray- He always had time for the local youths .. I can remember he would give us a little tap on the knee with his truncheon just to let us know what it was all about :wink: Came across as what i know now as a Gentleman.
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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brian f wrote: Thu Feb 18, 2021 2:21 pm He always had time for the local youths .. I can remember he would give us a little tap on the knee with his truncheon just to let us know what it was all about :wink:
brian f,
No' being pedantic here but a tap on the knee with a police truncheon to anyone, let alone a youth or minor, could easily cause pain and injury so should rightfully be classed as an assault.
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