Looking Back - Herald files

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Penny Tray
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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Previously posted relative to the Tricia McCann item. It might be a different outcome today?

GLASGOW HERALD
15 MARCH 1986

WOMAN ASKS FOR RIGHT TO WORK AS DOCKER

A 25-year old woman yesterday demanded the right to work as a docker.

Miss Tricia McCann, of Ardrossan, took her case to an industrial tribunal in Glasgow, claiming that she was entitled to succeed to her father's job as a docker at Ardrossan Harbour. She claimed she had not been given the job because she's a woman.

She told the tribunal considering her case of sex discrimination that by custom and practice the sons of dockers were allowed to put their names forward for jobs on the docks.

She claimed that when the breadwinner of the family died, the person who had to earn the money to keep the family was entitled to inherit the job. Said Miss McCann: "That is what I am fighting for."

Miss McCann told the tribunal she used to build and dismantle booths at a fairground and felt she was perfectly able to cope with the dock work.

However, she said, people in her home town had turned against her. Former colleagues of her father, who died in 1983, had told her there was no way a woman could be employed in the harbour.

She added: "One man said I was too fat and never had the brains."

Miss McCann said that when her father died her younger brother had applied for his job, but he had failed. She told the tribunal: "It was then I decided to apply."

Captain William Gillespie, 48, the port manager and harbourmaster of Ardrossan denied that there was any policy which stated dockers must be men.

He said: "We do not have a discriminatory policy." Since Miss McCann lodged her application in September last year, there had been no vacancies at the port, he added.

Mr Thomas Sloan, a local official of the Transport and General Workers' Union, said the union was allowed to put forward the names of people suitable for employment. As local branch secretary, he said, he would have to put forward Miss McCann's name the next time there were vacancies at the dock.

He said: "All the names submitted by members on behalf of their first sons, and second sons, are considered."

Mr Sloan said the union had the power to put names to management for any positions that were authorised by the National Dock Labour Protection Board.

When there were vacancies the eligible names went into a hat and were then drawn. The first names chosen were put forward to the employers. Mr Sloan said the next time there were vacancies he would ensure Miss McCann's name, or that of her younger brother, would be considered.

It would be up to Miss McCann and her brother to decide which it would be. After that the persons, if chosen, would go forward to management of the port and then on to the dock labour board for medical examination and final selection.

Mr Sloan denied there had been discrimination against Miss McCann on ground of her sex.

The tribunal will give its ruling later.

After the hearing, Miss McCann said: "My father worked at the harbour. His father worked there, and so did my great grandfather. It's only fair that I get a job."


GLASGOW HERALD
20 MARCH 1986

WOMAN LOSES FIGHT FOR DOCK JOB

A woman who failed to get a job as a docker has had her claim of sex discrimination rejected by an industrial tribunal.

Miss Patricia McCann, (25), Clyde Terrace, Ardrossan, Ayrshire, told an industrial tribunal in Glasgow that members of the local dockers committee laughed at her when she told them she believed she was eligible to take over her father's job after he died.......The tribunal's written judgment will be issued later.
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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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on September 8, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on August, 1860
Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston Horticultural, Agricultural and Ornithological Society held their annual show in the New Town Hall, Ardrossan. There were 407 entries and £6 17s 3d was collected at the door.

The sum of £300 has been subscribed to forward the Volunteer Movement in Dalry, and between 130 and 140 men have volunteered their names to be Volunteers.

100 YEARS AGO on September 9, 1910
The staff of Ailsa Shipbuilding Yard in Troon gathered to honour Mr John Macintyre who was for two and a half years the managing director there but has now retired. Mr McIntyre received a splendid presentation from his colleagues.

A new ship for the Australian run has been launched at Ardrossan and will immediately go into service.

50 YEARS AGO on September 9, 1960
Last Saturday evening the 53-year-old cargo steamer Calumet (4000 tons) was towed into Ardrossan Harbour -not an exciting event in itself but one which was greatly anticipated by the twenty-one seamen who had endured a harrowing voyage across the Atlantic.
The ocean tug Masterman of Hull towed the vessel from Montreal and during the 31-day journey the Calumet drifted helplessly in a storm and it was four days before she could be taken on tow again.
When the Calumet, a former grain carrier, discharges her cargo scrap at Ardrossan she will be taken to Troon for breaking up.
The scrap in her holds was all that was left of a sister ship which had also become obsolete and uneconomical on the Great Lakes trade when the St Lawrence Seaway was opened. The Masterman, with 15 men on board, left Montreal with the Calumet on tow on August 3.
There were six men aboard the Calumet and the vessels arrived at Ardrossan seven days late.

When Mr James Higgins, a native of Saltcoats who has spent most of his life in Edinburgh, was recently travelling in the car with his wife and son to Dundee they were involved in a collision with a bus. Their collie dog Prince, which was with them, jumped out and ran away.
Mrs Higgins was taken to hospital for treatment and when she was informed that her pet dog was missing she was most upset.
Her son travelled each weekend to Dundee to try and trace the dog and after several days it was found in that city sand returned to Mrs Higgins, who was delighted to see her pet again.

Miss Betty Simpson and her friend Lucy, who are on a European tour, stopped at Ardrossan where they resided with with Betty's grand aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Jack Laird, 149 Barrie Terrace. Betty's mother, Betty Donnelly, emigrated to Vancouver in 1910. Betty and Lucy thank all the people who were so kind to them in Ardrossan. On Wednesday they left to continue their journey to
France and then to Rome.

A native of Arran at present working in Ardrossan has a grocer's receipt dated 1893, which was received by an Arran customer of Charles Murchie, Princes Street, Ardrossan. The prices on the receipt are amazingly low.
We can recall when there were 15 persons over 90 years of age in Ardrossan and one who was just over a hundred. These days not as many people seem to live so long.

SNAPSHOT OF THE SIXTIES: Thanks to reade John Dixon for sending in this picture, above, o Nicol's Bar in Ardrossan (latterly the Harbour Inn now in the process of being redeveloped).

25 YEARS AGO on September 6, 1985
The first round of the raging battle between Ardrossan Dockyard and Tricia McCann is over. Union bosses have relented and have told Tricia she can apply for a job at the dock.
Scottish Dockworkers' leader Jimmy Gilligan took up her case at the recent dockers' meeting in Glasgow and recommended that she be allowed to apply for a post at the Harbour.
In recent months Tricia has asked at the harbour for job but had been laughed at because she was a woman. but now it looks as though she may have had the last laugh.
"They can't stop me from working because I am a woman," she said. They said there would never be a woman Prime Minister and we have won. I will take my case to every court in the land to win my case."

An Ardrossan woman got more than she bargained for when she bought a jar of jam from the Co-op. For inside the jar there was a wasp! And the incident has cost the Co-op £200 at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.
Carol Roberts of Clyde terrace bought the jam from the store in central Avenue on January 24.
The incident was investigated by the Environmental Health Department at CDC before a report was sent to the procurator fiscal at Kilmamock. The Co-op admitted the charge under the Food and Drugs (Scotland) Act 1956.

An Ardrossan engineering company has started work on its biggest and most valuable order yet. The McCrindle Group is building the largest shiploader of its type in Britain for Bristol company Strachan and Henshaw. It means 20 new jobs, most at its Dalry Road headquarters and at Ardrossan Harbour where the bulk of the work will be carried out.

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

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on September 16, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on September, 1860
A NEW burial ground has been acquired in Stevenston. The ground was purchased from AWR Cunninghame Esq of Auchenharvie by the Parochial Board for an annual feu rent of about eight pounds sterling and contains about two acres (Scots). An iron bridge has been built over the burn at the main entrance

Saltcoats Archery Club held their eleventh anniversary with a shoot from 12.30 to 3pm and the annual dinner took place at the Saracen Head Inn at 5pm.

An apple, one of the true globe pippin species, grown in the garden of James Fulton, Esq, Mansfield House, Kilwinning, weight 11 ounces, 7 drops.

For one week there was shipped from Ardrossan Harbour 5,600 tons of pig iron and 3,583 tons of coal.

100 YEARS AGO on September 16, 1910
Mr W D Congalton, the new headmaster of Brodick School, began his duties last week. For the past 30 months he has been head of the elementary department Rothesay Academy.

Last Friday the Rev. John W Hornsby, Nottingham, was ordained to the Pastorate of the EU Congregational Church, Kilwinning, in succession to the Rev Mr Drennan.

Kelburn Rovers FC held their annual general meeting in the Village Hall, Fairlie, last Thursday,

Mr Thomas Deans, head clerk and cashier of the Kilbirnie Co-operative Society, has been appointed and promoted to the managership of Catrine Co-operative Society.

50 YEARS AGO on September 16, 1960
Ardrossan Police are, as a result of complaints, going to take action against anyone found taking a short cut from Caledonia Road to the North Crescent, close to Anfield House

Recently we looked in at the beach Pavilion, Saltcoats, where a transformation is taking place. In about five weeks' time the pavilion will be opened as a bowling alley.

One of the worst cases of flooding in the history of Stevenson took place at Canal crescent on Wednesday morning, This housing scheme is at Station Road adjoining the Police Station and the flooding was caused by the overflowing of the Stevenston Burn. When we arrived on the scene shortly after 1am, workmen and officials were on the job, Front lawns looked like a sheet of water and, in the back gardens, flowers and vegetables were under water.
When a railwayman living in canal crescent arrived home shortly after 6am everything seemed normal but by the time he had had a cup of tea things had changed. there was water everywhere. The pumps situated behind the housing scheme were in operation and slowly but surely were mastering the situation.
In one house a young lady couldn't get out to her office job and her young brother couldn't get out to go to school. Their father was going to put his Wellington boots on and carry them, but discovered that the water was too deep.
The Stevenston Burn is separated from the housing scheme by a stone wall but the rush of water was so great that it overflowed through the wall. The water went through the ventilators of the houses and the houses will be damp for some considerable time to come.

Found and handed in at Ardrossan police station leather wallet, a sum of money, two purses and a tortoise.

25 YEARS AGO on September 20, 1985
A 1.75M development could transform Saltcoats Braes into a major tourist attraction. Preston-based Park Hall leisure PLC has earmarked the site for its first Scottish venture Company architects visited Saltcoats on Wednesday and firm plan will be drawn up soon and submited to Cunningham District Council. Councillors and officials have already visited the company's huge leisure park outside Preston to see for themselves how it operates

Officials of an Ardrossan church have asked for new talks on merger plans which were thrown out by its congregation.
St John's Church office-bearers have asked Ardrossan Presbytery for more negotiations on a merger with Barony Church. The move was sparked by the bill for the restoration of St John's, which was slightly higher than expected. And now St John's minister the Rev Donald MacKay has announced he will retire before March 31.
Session clerk Robert Denver admitted that the minister's retiral puts more pressure on the office-bearers to find a solution to the problem. St John's congregation overwhelmingly rejected draft plans for a merger with Barony Church in April after it emerged St John's is suffering from very poor work.

Winton Rovers are the toast of Ardrossan this week after reaching their second successive final in a matter of months. On Saturday, they defeated Kilbirnie Ladeside 2-0 at home to win a place in the Jackie Scarlett League Cup Final at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, next month.

Scots Secretary George Young has raised the hackles of Cunninghame's ruling Labour councillors for scrapping a jobs project at Hunteraton. News that a hi-tech park will not now be established there has infuriated the Labour district councillors, who are demanding to know why.

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

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on September 22, 2010

100 YEARS AGO September 23, 1910
AT the annual meeting of the Edinburgh Institute of Scotland in Edinburgh last Saturday Mr Harry Gaul BA LDP, Public School, Saltcoats, was among those who received the degree of Fellow Of The Educational Institute Of Scotland.

Mr James Cochran has been appointed organist of the Park United Free Church, Ardrossan, in room of Mr Boyd Godwin, who is going to Blantyre.

Mr John S Barbour, 15 Cochrane Street, Kilbirnie, Mr Robert Houston, Glenlogan, and Mr James Houston, Glenlogan, were among the exhibitors at the ideal home exhibition held in Glasgow yesterday. Mr Barbour received a diploma and Mr R Houston a silver medal.

Mr William H Muir, solicitor, Saltcoats, who is at present in Stirling, is a candidate for the post of clerk and assessor to the Rover Bailie Court, Glasgow.

50 YEARS AGO on September 23, 1960
In the first of a series of programmes on BBC Television to mark the quarter-centenary of the Reformation, the Rev Dr Alexander Smart of St Cuthbert's Church, Saltcoats, was the speaker in meeting point last Sunday evening. Dr Smart's discourse on Psalms and Psalters of the reformation was both interesting and informative. The choir of St Cuthbert's, conducted by conducted by Mr Leslie Thornton, also appeared in the programme and their singing of several psalms was an excellent illustration of Dr Smart's subject.

A lip-reading and Scottish Country Dancing Classes will be heard fortnightly during the winter session by Ayr and District Hard Of hearing Club which opens in Ayr next Tuesday evening.

Boy wanted, wages £3 a week, Apply Boyd Bros, Stevenston.

The last meeting of the athletics season at Dunblane two weeks ago saw the Ardeer women's sprint relay team finish in fourth place. They drew the least-favoured outside lane to finish behind Broxburn, Maryhill and Springbum. The runners were Marion Brown, Jeanette Leslie and Mima McSwann, who finished in second place in the final of the women's 220 yards.

Police Judge Hyslop thanks an old lady in Moorpark Road West for a donation of 30 shillings for Erskine Hospital.

It is surprising how little damage was done to the gar- dens in Canal Crescent, Stevenston following last week's flooding.

A comedy set in Japan, The Geisha Boy, featuring Jerry Lewis, is showing tonight (Friday) and tomorrow at the Kingsway Cinema in Kilwinning.

Visit To A Small Planet, starring Jerry Lewis, is the feature film showing tonight and tomorrow night at the Regal Cinema in Saltcoats.

The 3T Young Unionists, covering the three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston, are holding a coffee morning tomorrow (Saturday).

Thirty-four cases of infectious disease, including 29 of dysentery, were noted locally during the year by sanitary inspectors.

The District Valuer has put a price on Kilwinning Old Gasworks of £100.

A sentimental British farce, Let's Get Married, co-starring Anthony Newley, is on show at the George Cinema in Beith

25 YEARS AGO on September 27, 1985
Ardrossan was dealt a bitter jobs blow this week when Shell announced its decision to cease bitumen production and axe 48 jobs.
The international oil giant announced on Tuesday that it would be pulling out of its manufacturing role at Ardrossan in what is yet another manufacturing disaster for the town and the district. Only 15 of the current 63-strong workforce will remain. The site is to become a storage handling point for bitumen refined at Shell Stanlow plant in Cheshire which will be transported to Ardrossan by ship.

A primary school tuck shop was selling matches to pupils. And this week Kyleshill headmistress Jean Miller vowed it would never happen again. The matchboxes had been specially decorated by primary three pupils. " didn't realise the boxes still had matches in them," said Miss Miller.
"We thought it would be all right to let the pupils take the matches home as a present. But some children can't be trusted to do anything and had been sparking the matches." No children were hurt during the episode but some parents were furious.

Strike action again affected West Kilbride Primary this week as teachers staged a two-day stoppage in support of the EIS campaign. The school was shut on Tuesday and Wednesday as members of the Educational Institute of Scotland took part in the fight for an independent pay review. Angry parents have hit out at what some described as a scandalous attack on a community school. EIS officials have defended their hit list, which includes West Kilbride, and said teachers were 100 per cent behind the strike call.

Cunninghame North Constituency Labour Party have chosen a 36-year-old journalist, Brian Wilson, to fight the seat at the next General Election.
The new candidate grew up in Dunoon and was founding editor of the West Highland Free Press, a radical local paper based on Skye. He fought Inverness-shire in 1979. Mr Wilson paid tribute to Tom Dickie, the former District Council convener who was unsuccessful at the election conference, describing him as a thorough gentleman throughout the campaign.

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

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on September 29, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on September, 1860
The Earl and Countess of Eglinton, Count and Madam Persigny and party visited Arran and returned the same evening.

For one week, Ardrossan Harbour shipped 31278 tons of pig iron and 3027 tons of coal. There were 43 arrivals and 33 departures.

100 YEARS AGO on September 30, 1910
On Thursday the Rev John Calder was ordained to Brodick Free Church, and on Tuesday the Rev John Dunlop Brown was ordained to the Pastorate of Whiting Bay Church.

Mr John Hunter, late clubmaster of Ardeer Golf Club, Stevenston, has been appointed clubmaster and head greenkeeper to the Strathpeffer Golf Club.

50 YEARS AGO on September 30, 1960
Last Saturday forenoon a Glasgow man, who was standing at Ardrossan Cross and looking towards the top of Glasgow Street, asked our reporter, who happened to be present, how such a small town had such a fine wide street.
The stranger also asked how long the town had been a Burgh, and when he was told that this had been the case since 1846 he seemed quite interested. He then asked when shipbuilding started in Ardrossan, he was told that that particular anniversary was in 1825 and that in 1853 the largest ship of its type was built in Ardrossan. He seemed quite pleased with this information and left without revealing his identity.

Two-thirds of the work in the construction of Hunterston Nuclear Generating Station has now been completed and last Friday the Press representatives who visited the site were told that that the plant might cost more than the £10,000,000 initially estimated.
Work on the station began in August 1957 when it was initially estimated at £37,000,000.

At the Lyric on Monday is an excellent comedy named The Battle Of The Sexes in which Peter Sellers is an accountant in an old Edinburgh business which is threatened with modernisation by a charming American. Next week in North By North-West, the very good Cary Grant is an innocent citizen who becomes embroiled in counter-espionage.

25 YEARS AGO on October 4, 1985
American tourists would never have believed it... flying haggis.
Hundreds of the rare breed could be seen flying through the air in Edinburgh recently. But the power behind them was not some mystical feathered wing but the brawn of some of Scotland's strongmen.
At Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh the World Haggis-Hurling Championships took place over the weekend and the winner was local man Alan Pettigrew.
Alan, of Dalry Road, Saltcoats, hurled his haggis a startling 159 feet, just four feet off the world record which he currently holds. He made it at the 1981 Ardrossan Highland Games.
So now together with the record Alan has the trophy of the World Haggis Hurling Champion.

Disaster-struck Ayrshire farmers have made a desperate plea to the Government-help us before we go under!
Still reeling from the worst summer in decades, frustrated farmers packed a hotel in Dalry last Thursday to lobby the Tory MP for Cunninghame North John Corrie.
The meeting was organised by the North Ayrshire Branch of the National Farmers Union.
"This shows the real depth of worry," Mr Corrie explained. "It really is disastrous."
He has come up with a five-point plan, which includes stopping English farmers burning straw and sending it to Scotland for cattle feed.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on October 6, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on October, 1860
The wrecked schooter Bamborough Castle was exposed for sale on the Braes, Saltcoats. The total proceeds amounted to £10 13s, exclusive of her anchors and chains.

A number of Ardrossan gentlemen raised a sum of money which was presented to Saltcoats fishermen who had rescued the crew of a boat from the Horse Island during a gale. Mr Joseph Russell, shipbuilder, made the presentation and Mr Alex Mathieson accepted the money on behalf of his fellow fishermen.

Mr Peter McConchie, Hurford Academy, has been appointed a teacher at West Kilbride.

100 YEARS AGO on October 7, 1910
The third annual meeting of Ardrossan Women Unionists' Association was held in the Unionist Club on Monday afternoon when office-bearers were elected.

Ardrossan Castle Curling Club also elected their office-bearers at their manual general meeting this week.

The opening meeting of Saltcoats Literary and Debating Society was held on Monday evening in the Royal Temperance Hotel when a musical programme was contributed.

50 YEARS AGO on October 7, 1960
Last Friday a party of old soldiers of the South African war visited Saltcoats wearing their war medals. We learn they were on holiday at Largs.

On Monday afternoon our reporter watched & frog trying to cross the busy shore road at Stevenston. The frog was by no means a champion jumper but once it reached the opposite side of the road it quickly disappeared Perhaps it was a better jumper than we thought.

The body of an unidentified elderly man wearing a raincoat and two suits has been washed up on the beach between Saltcoats and Stevenston. Aged 65-70, the man wore a fawn gabardine raincoat, a navy blue single breasted suit and a light brown suit with fawn and red stripes

Although the fight for the Presidency of the United States has been overshadowed by the gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the campaign is now well under way and speculation is growing as to who will succeed President Eisenhower at the White House Mr Nixon or Mr Kennedy? May the better man win.

25 YEARS AGO on October 11, 1985
War veteran John Hughes of Saltcoats has been given an incredible reminder off the day he really died. For the 65-year-old former Guardsman has unknowingly carried a machine gun bullet next to his lungs for the last 42 years!
John of Rose Place, Saltcoats served in Italy during the last war. As he lay in a ditch a bullet went through his arm. Amazingly, he never felt a second pass through his right side and lodge dangerously close to his lungs.
The shock news came to light when John had to have an eye operation at Heathfield Hospital in Ayr after an optician noticed something wrong with his eye.
"I just didn't feel anything to do with the second bullet," he explained.

The Regal Cinema in Saltcoats has been sold to a mystery buyer. The sale will be finalised when the new owner is given planning permission for a shopping development. This week Mr Guy Penny, director with Harry Kemp Holdings, the cinema's owner, refused to comment on the sale. But the Herald understands that negotiations were completed last week, pending approval of planning permission.
Mr Penny would not comment on the identity of the buyer not on the price fetched by the cinema. Rumours have spread for months that a major supermarket chain was poised to move into Saltcoats town centre. The cinema closed in August but reopened for one night only on Friday, September 27 for a charity showing of Gone With The Wind-the last film ever screened at the Regal The event raised more than £400, which was this week handed over to Ardrossan and Saltcoats Rotary for distribution to local charities.
Among the audience at the special screening was Mrs Terry MacKenzie, Mr Penny's mother, who had also been present at the Regal's opening more than 50 years ago. Her father, Mr Harry Kemp, owned the cinema.

The Care Bears Movie is showing at local cinemas as a special treat for youngsters during the school holidays. Showing at La Scala 1 in Saltcoats is Desperately Seeking Susan, starring Rosanna Arquette and the pop singer Madonna. Upcoming attractions at the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr include Val Doonican in Concert and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, while the cinema at the Magnum is showing Ghostbusters and Lady And The Tramp.

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on October 13, 2010


150 YEARS AGO on October, 1860
Provost Barr, Ardrossan, has disposed of his Kilmahew property.

The Marine Residence in Ardrossan was purchased by William Mutter Esq, of Meiklelaught, for £750.

Beith held their "Dumfries Friday"- a market for the sale of horses. Some of the animals changed hands for £30 to £50.

Kilwinning shopkeepers have warned that a large number of counterfeit coins are circulating in the town.

100 YEARS AGO on October 14, 1910
The Rev J Johnston, BA, was last night inducted to the pastorate of West Parish Church, Dalry. The Rev Mr Spottiswood, Saltcoats, preached and gave the charges, and thereafter the new minister was welcomed as a member of the Presbytery of Irvine.

On the occasion of his leaving for British Columbia, Mr JL Gordon was presented by his fellow employees at Glengarnock Works with a Gladstone bag and shaving set.

The following office-bearers of Lamlash Reading and Recreation Club were appointed at the annual meeting on Tuesday evening: - President, Mr R Allan; vice-president, Mr D Crawford; secretary and treasurer, Mr James Gordon.

50 YEARS AGO on October 14, 1960
With a score of 7 up on bogey, Mr Frank AW McKinnie, an employee of Shell Refining Company Ltd, Ardrossan, whose handicap is 18, last month won the men's competition of the "Shell" World-Wide Golf Tournament.
His winning score was achieved over West Kilbride course - the same course on which he started playing golf at the age of 11. When Mr McKinnie married, some 35 years ago, he gave up the sport but resumed again in 1941, this time joining Largs Golf Club, of which he is still a member.
In 1956, as one of the Ardrossan team playing in the E Le Q Herbert golf competition at Shell Haven, Mr McKinnie returned the lowest score for the competition's two round which helped considerably in bringing that trophy to Ardrossan for the first time.
An extremely active outdoor bowler Mr McKinnie, who is a keen gardener, was in 1928 the green singles champion at West Kilbride and has also won several trophies with the same club.

Speeding on the Saltcoats-Dalry Road was condemned by Mr William Beck at Monday's meeting of Area No.9 District Council.
"It's not the motorists," he said. "It's those lads with the crash helmets and the fast motor cycles. Some of them pass our (Knockrivoch) farm road-end going at 70 to 80mph and almost leave the ground.
"It's a danger. There's a bad corner at the top where they lie over and swing out."
His remarks were prompted by a letter from Mr Ivie McCaig, County Clerk, who asked the District Council whether they wished to recommend the conversion from 30mph to 40mph of an existing speed limit on any length of road within their area or the imposition of a 40mph limit on any appropriate length of road which was at present unrestricted.
At the opening meeting of the North Ayrshire Museum Association held in the Lecture Room, Kirkgate, Saltcoats on Tuesday of last week, the chairman paid tribute to the memory of ex-Provost WD Kerr, through whose initiative and efforts the North Ayrshire Museum was established. As a token of respect the audience was upstanding in silent tribute.

25 YEARS AGO on October 18, 1985
Residents in Stevenston and Pennyburn were ordered to stay indoors on Tuesday night when dangerous nitric acid fumes escaped from the nearby ICI Nobel plant.
A mixture of sulphur dioxide and nitrous fumes blew off a cover in one of the storage tanks at the plant and fumes blew towards the housing estate.
Police with loud hailers moved into the area and warned householders to close all doors and windows and remain indoors until the fumes had dissipated.
The accident happened about 10.20pm on Tuesday night when excess pressure in a tank caused the explosion and fumes leaked for 10 minutes.
The wind whipped up the fumes and within minutes it had reached Pennyburn housing estate in Kilwinning. Some householders complained about obnoxious smells and nipping eyes, while others said they did not hear or smell anything.

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on October 21, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on October, 1860
Mr Peter B Barclay, former Kirk Treasurer and Inspector of the Poor for the Parish of Stevenston, died at the residence of his son in the West Indies. For years he was an enthusiastic member of the Kirk Session of Stevenston and an enthusiastic brother of the "mystic".

The fisherman of Portencross have finished their fishing for the season and have drawn their boats up on to the beach.

Dalry Free Masons held a torch procession through the town wearing decorations and the insignia of the Order.

The bakers of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston, owing to the rising price of flour, have all agreed to raise the price of the 21b loaf to 4d.

The Largs Company's steamer has made its last run of the season.

100 YEARS AGO on October 21, 1910
At a meeting on Monday evening of the congregation of Ardrossan New Parish Church, Mr William Gibson, Builder, Mr John McNaught, Joiner and Mr James Galloway, Foreman Joiner were unanimously appointed trustees in favour of the three who had resigned.

The annual social and presentation of prizes of Glengarnock and Kilbimie Homing Society was held last night in Mrs Duffield's Hall.

The first annual meeting of the West Kilbride Women's Unionist Association was held in the Public Hall last Saturday afternoon when Lady Arthur occupied the chair and there was a good attendance including a number of gentlemen.

At the statutory meeting of Ardrossan and Saltcoats Golf Course, held in the office of the company at Vernon Street, Saltcoats, it was reported that Mr John Sayers, of North Berwick, had been laying off the course and marking the positions of the greens and the tees.

50 YEARS AGO on October 21, 1960
Last Friday our reporter overheard two workmen discussing the contents of their pay packets. One was paid £6 short-£22 instead of £28.

Found and handed in at Saltcoats police station - a child's tricycle, two postal orders, some treasury notes rolled together, an envelope containing some premium bonds and a budgie.

A recent article in a Scottish national newspaper dealing with the Clydebank Blitz tells a graphic story of two doctors and a nurse who risked their lives in entering a bombed building to perform an emergency operation on a man trapped under tons of debris. One of the doctors was the late Dr Daniel Millar, whose nephews, Hugh and Samuel, live in Saltcoats.

When the King and Queen of Nepal arrive in Scotland on a four-day visit tomorrow they will, after attending a civic lunch in Glasgow, spend the night as guests of Sir Fitroy Maclean, MP for Bute & North Ayrshire.

A native of Saltcoats, the Rev David McBride, son of Mrs R McBride and the late Mr Samuel McBride, 62 Canal Street, was ordained and inducted to the charge of Maud Church, Aberdeenshire, on Thursday, September 29.

Ardrossan Town Council on Monday night heard the result of an inspection made by Mr Hugh Seaton, Burgh Surveyor, of holiday accommodation in Ardrossan which a visitor from Blantyre claimed to have found in a deplorable and filthy condition.
The house was one of five apartments on a first floor. It had a lavatory on the stair landing, comprising water closet and a wash-hand basin, the latter broken and unuseable.
All bedroom items were old-fashioned and in need of repair, cleaning and polishing. The floors were covered in linoleum, and the walls and ceilings were in need of renovation and there were no bed clothes on the mattresses.
The house was obviously only used for summer letting as it had a musty and damp smell. However it was ruled that the property was not in any state as would warrant any action in terms of the Public Health Act.

25 YEARS AGO on October 21, 1985
Irish Dancing keeps three young girls on their toes. And their fancy footwork dazzled the judges at the All- Scotland Irish Dancing Championships at Edinburgh
last weekend.
Sarah Frances Smith (5) of Whitlees Court in Androssan, Anne-Teresa Cartwright of Carment Drive in Stevenston and Adele Lapsley (14) of Barrie Terrace, Androssan were delighted with their triumphs.

Ardrossan drum major Alex Bingham could have been forgiven for thinking he was in the wrong place on Tuesday- for he found himself with one of the world's top pop groups. But Alex hasn't changed his taste in music; he was simply carrying out a publicity stunt with the Thomson Twins.
Alex, the drum major of the Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band, was seen by hundreds of onlookers as the three stars of the music scene grouped with members of the band for a photocall.

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

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on October 28, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on October, 1860
Ardrossan Bowling Green closed for the season on Saturday.
After playing a few ends the members adjourned to the hotel where Captain M Crawford presided and prizes were awarded as follows; The Huggin Prize (a silver um) Mr Marr; The Hainshaw Prize (a pair of bowls) - Mr Marr.

The Scottish Board of Fishery have stationed at Ardrossan for a short time Mr McIvor, Greenock, for the suppression of trawling which is on the increase.

Hallowe'en was observed in the district.
In Ardrossan there were no outdoor activities but in Saltcoats things were more lively and several turnip lanterns were strung across Raise Street from house windows.

100 YEARS AGO on October 28, 1910
Robert Conn MA who has been appointed headmaster of West Kilbride public school in succession to the late Mr WG Lyon belongs to Kilwinning, and most of his scholastic experience has been gained there.

An orchestra has been instituted in Lamlash and Mr AW Osbourne and Mr A Wilkie are leading it and practices are being held once a a week.

At the annual general meeting of Ardeer Golf Club held on Saturday afternoon, Col Pearson was re-elected Captain, Mr Thomas Harvey treasurer and John Stewart Secretary.

The annual general meeting of Ardrossan Unionist Club was held in the club rooms on Monday evening.

50 YEARS AGO on October 28, 1960
Mr Peter Methven, proprietor of the Central Bar, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, has sold his premises and gone into retirement.
When Peter was 15 years of age he joined the Royal Navy, serving first on sailing ships. As a boy Peter recalls having to go down on his knees to scrub decks, Later he joined Edinburgh Fire Brigade where he gained quick promotion, retiring after 32 years' service with the rank of firemaster. Some time ago he appeared in the BBC TV programme This Is Your Life.
Peter took over the Central Bar 16 years ago and during this time he has made many improvements in the premises. He is a very fit man and keen on physical exercise.

Last Sunday night when a number of Saltcoats boys were sorting out material which they had gathered for a Guy Fawkes bonfire, they came across a carton containing old papers and three boxes of cutlery which they took to the police station, where the owner can collect them.

The other night the burglar alarm went off in business premises in Stevenston-but it was a false alarm.

An Alsatian pup, which was found wandering in Stevenston, is now in the care of the police.

Ardrossan police have received complaints about damage being done to houses which are presently under construction.

There were 30 arrivals, including three oil tankers, at Ardrossan Harbour last week.
The manse in South Crescent, Ardrossan which has been the home of Barony Church ministers for many years, has been sold.

The other night some boys put a squib in the letter box of a house in Winton Street, Ardrossan occupied by a widow who lives alone.

Work on the new building at their junction of Dockhead Street and Quay Street is almost completed.

25 YEARS AGO on November 1, 1985
The future of Ardrossan Harbour rests on a knife-edge. Important new business - to replace Shell must be found if the port is to remain viable. That's the view of Strathclyde West Euro MP Hugh McMahon, speaking to the Herald this week after a meeting with Clyde Port Authority and Ardrossan's Port Manager, Bill Gillespie
Mr McMahon insisted: "I would say it is all on a knife- edge. However Clyde Port Authority is doing its best." Following the meeting Mr McMahon will press the case for the retention of a dock siding used by Shell for vessels delivering raw materials.
The MEP had asked for it after the announcement that Shell would cease bitumen production from Ardrossan and merely operate a storage depot from its plant.
The Ardrossan-based McCrindle Group has announced a major lucrative venture thanks to a giant German electrical machinery group.
The tooling division of the McCrindle Engineering Group has been appointed the Scottish distributor for a range of equipment by the well-known Bosch Company aimed at automated assembly systems.

A West Kilbride man has marked off in his diary one day in December as being a very important day to remember - for that is when he will be travelling to Buckingham Palace in London to receive an MBE from Her Majesty the Queen.

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

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The new building at the junction of Dockhead Street and Quay Street mentioned was the Corner Duncan's store, pictured here :
Corner Duncan's 1974.jpg
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on November 3, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on November, 1860
Boyd and Stewart, The Braes, Saltcoats launched a smack 28 feet long, built to the order of Mr Neil Henry, Catacol, Arran for the coasting trade.

Dairy Orange Lodge held their annual ball in the White Hart Inn.

A new industry has started in Saltcoats under the tutelage of Mrs Dickie - twenty young women are making Stewarton bonnets.

A branch of the Greenpock Provident Bank is about to open in Largs under the management of Mr Alexander Blair Esq., writer.
Sanguine hopes are entertained for its success. 4 per cent on all deposits under £20.

100 YEARS AGO on November 4, 1910
At the monthly meeting of Ardrossan United Free Presbytery held in St John's Church Hall, Ardrossan on Tuesday afternoon.
The Rev WK Smiley, West Kilbride, was appointed interim Moderator for the ensuing term.

On Thursday evening of last week, Mr William Galbraith, former gas manager at Ardrossan, received from his fellow townsmen a token of their appreciation of his services. Ex-Bailie Flinn presented Mr Galbraith with a purse of sovereigns,

The enteric fever epidemic in Saltcoats has increased seriously since last week, a number of cases having been reported each day up till Wednesday night, when the total was 93.

50 YEARS AGO on November 4, 1960
During the period from May to September the number of passengers who left Fairlie for Arran was 44,173 and the number who returned from Arran to Fairlie was 50,077 and the number of vehicles was 3744.
The above figures are amazing considering the limited pier space at Failie and the small staff employed there.

The tug that went aground at Horse Island off Ardrossan Harbour some moths ago and became a total wreck is being broken up bit by bit a a Greenock man who is only able to do the job when the weather permits.

20,301 vessels entered Ardrossan during the War years with a total tonnage of 5,146,484 and with cargoes totalling almost as much again. The Harbour was a naval base with thousands of people coming in and out daily.
In the early days of the War the late Duke of Kent inspected the port and during 1944 Lord Louis Mountbatten landed at Ardrossan
A U-Boat was sunk in sight of the dock entrance and still lies there in deep water.

The Old Abbey at Kilwinning is being repaired. Some years ago in Kilwinning there was a tree, six feet high, growing at the top of the Abbey. A photograph appeared in this newspaper but the authorities later had it cut down

A 19-year-old Ardrossan youth has been remanded in custody at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Tuesday on a charge of slashing a 16-year-old girl on the check in Hamilton Street, Saltcoats on Sunday night.

25 YEARS AGO on November 8, 1985
Continental sunseekers crowded travel agents' offices in the Three Towns on Monday in search of the biggest bargain packages ever seen.
AT Mays and Alander Travel were both offering holidays at £25 per person for those keen to escape the awful British weather.
Only 1000 such foreign holidays were available UK- wide 300 of them in Scotland - on Monday, with the recipients not knowing where they will be going until nearer the time.
According to Skytours, one of the firms offering the sunshine breaks, Italy, Greece or Malta were among the likely destinations.

Police and fire forces report a quiet Bonfire Night on Tuesday.
The fire brigade were kept busy up until 10pm but there were no injuries and no fires were reported out of control. Police said it was one of the quietest Guy Fawkes' Nights for a while.

Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald readers would be amazed this week to see their favourite weekly newspaper shown on BBC Television's new political/current affairs programme Left Right And Centre.
On Friday night the programme featured the bitter personal row conducted through the letters pages of the Herald between MP David Lambie and depute chief of Strathclyde Regional Council, Charles Gray.
The presenter of the programme, which is broadcast throughout Scotland, described The Herald as a venerable journal.

Confusion surrounds a war memorial in Stevenston, And on Sunday there could be a few red faces as the memorial in New Street is the centre for Remembrance Services in Stevenston.
To most people the Great War ended at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918. But the monument erected to remember the men of Stevenston who gave their lives states that the war ended in 1919.

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

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Had never heard before that a U boat was sunk at the entrance to Ardrossan harbour.
Anyone know of further particulars?

Robert
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