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 13, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on January 1860
Saltcoats were going to raise a subscription from residenters in the Dockhead Street locality for the purpose of having the streets in the district cleaned. The Road Trustees had altered that by allocating the sum of £5 for a regular scavenger. A date was fixed for a man to start, but he did not appear. Where is he?

At the meeting of the shareholders of the proposed Arran and Ardrossan Steam Navigation Company held at Ardrossan it was decided to get specifications and estimates for a first class steamer suitable to the station.

The annual meeting of Saltcoats and Ardrossan St John's Royal Arch Lodge 320 was held in the New Town Hall, RWM Boyd presiding.

Mr Thomas Paterson, miner, residing at Swinlees Row, Dalry, an admirer of the bird creation, has at present a hen canary hatching four eggs. The inclemency of the weather and the very early season (at least three months in advance of the usual time for bringing forth a young brood), renders the circumstance quite a curiosity.

100 YEARS AGO on January 14, 1910
The carpet bowls competition for the Weir Rose Bowl at Lamlash was won by Mr P McArthur after a very close game with John Hamilton.

The anniversary social meeting of the Stevenston Free Church was held in the church on Friday evening of last week. The Rev Mr Gillespie presided and during the evening Mr Gillespie and the church officer, Mr George Boyd, were presented with gifts.

A number of railwaymen and others met socially on Wednesday evening to present an armchair and a chest of drawers to Mr John G Davis, goods clerk, Ardrossan G&SW Station, on the occasion of his marriage. Mr Carey, foreman, presided and the presentation was made by Inspector Gibson.

Mr JA Mackie, MA, who has been for the past two and a half years on the staff of Eglinton District School, Kilwinning has been appointed assistant as at Lesmahagow Higher Grade School.

50 YEARS AGO on January 15, 1960
One evening this week a Stevenston woman found a stamped addressed envelope lying in the roadway The letter was addressed to a woman in Ardrossan and the finder posted it on to her.

Ardrossan Dockyard had a surprise visitor last year in the person of Mr Harold Wilson, who was at one time chief draughtsman at the yard. We learn that he not only visited the staff but several workers now retired who were there during his time.

Several properties in the South Crescent area of Ardrossan have been redocrated and this has brightened up that part of the town.

With the last remaining obstacle to a full resumption of work at Hunterston nuclear power station removed last Saturday when members of the Boilermakers Society - welders, platers and caulkers-at a meeting in Greenock decided to accept the proposals of the Motherwell Bridge and Engineering Company Ltd 355 men refurbed to work on Monday. Letters from the remaining 130 of the 485 men paid off by the firm in September when they suspended operations on the site because of persistent strikes and industrial misconduct by their employees indicate that most of them are prepared to return. An almost full resumption as of Monday first is expected by the firm.

Two men having a walk in Ardrossan during their meal hour found several articles including footwear and a man's jacket in the inside pocket of the jacket there were over twenty pound notes. The items were taken to Ardrossan Police Station and the owner, who had reported their loss, had them returned to him.

Saltcoats Literary and Debating Society met on Monday night in the council chambers, Green Street where the speaker, ex-Police Sergeant Andrew Robertson, who chose as his subject "The Life And Habits Of The Mole".

25 YEARS AGO on January 11, 1985
Cunningham Cal Crisis this week sparked a flaming row.
Local MP David Lambie lambasted the regional council for its "complacent" handling of the problem, while council bosses hit back at Mr Lambie's "totally unfair" criticism. The Cunningham South MP claimed claimed that local officials were left to deal with a crisis, which closed schools all over Ayrshire.

A man has been charged with wilful fire raising after a blaze on Monday morning which gutted an Ardrossan public house. Damage to the Bute Bar at 24 Glasgow Street is estimated £100.000. All that remains of the upstairs lounge is a charred shell, the roof has been destroyed and the ground floor bar suffered smoke damage. Flames were spotted at about 1.25am by a passerby. One person was evacuated from a nearby building while the fire raged with thankfully no-one hurt.

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 January 20, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on January 1860
Patrick Dove, Esq, editor of the "Commonwealth", delivered a lecture in the Victoria Assembly Rooms, Dalry, the subject of which was The Wild Sport Of Scotland.

A heavy fall of snow was reported from several parts of Ayrshire. Church-goers found it difficult to get to their place of worship on the Sabbath.

Ardrossan Princes Lane Sabbath School held their soiree in the Town Hall. The ball was filled by children, parents and friends.

The sum already subscribed for the New Independent Chapel is nearly £200. The site chosen is that near to Mr Willock's property behind Princes Street, Ardrossan and almost facing the railway station

100 YEARS AGO on January 21, 1910
A concert was given in Lamlash Parish Hall on Wednesday under the auspices of the Lamlash Temperance Society. The programme, which was much appreciated by the audience, was sustained by a plethora of local talent and Mr JS Currie presided.

The annual general meeting of the subscribers to the Ardrossan Branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was held in the offices of the hon. Secretary.

The annual social and business meeting of the Erskine United Free Church, Saltcoats, was held on Monday evening in the church hall when the Rev W McNeil Biggam presided. In the course of the evening songs were rendered by Misses M Jeffrey and Agnes B Stirrat, with Mrs Hepbum and Mr JR Parker as the accompanists.

50 YEARS AGO on January 22, 1960
We learned this week of the death of Mr John Carmichael, an old Saltcoats worthy. John, who was 77 years of age, was an invalid and during the summer time he used to have a weighing machine and height measure on the promenade near the Braes. He stayed in Windmill Street and was well-known by townspeople and visitors alike. Children used to spend many hours talking to him as he sat in his wheelchair on the prom. He had a keen brain and was quite a well-read man. Provost Lambie, Saltcoats, was among those who attended his funeral on Tuesday.

Found and handed in at Saltcoats Police Station - a new bed end, a sum of money and a double string of pearls. Found and handed in at Ardrossan - a sum of money, a gent's gold wristwatch and a gents gold signet ring. Another two wristwatches which were handed in have been claimed.

At about 4pm on Tuesday a four-year-old girl was knocked down by a motor car travelling northwards in Busbie Drive, Ardrossan. The child was uninjured.

There were 28 arrivals, including three oil tankers, at Ardrossan Harbour for the week ending January 16.

A nine-year-old boy of Woodlands Place in Ardrossan who was knocked down by a motor van in the town's Eglinton Road last Thursday was removed by ambulance to Kilmarnock Infirmary.

Four Landing Craft built by Fairlie Yacht Slip Ltd arrived at Ardrossan harbour on Wednesday afternoon under their own power, drew alongside the Isle of Man berth and were hoisted out of the water by crane.

25 YEARS AGO on January 18, 1985
A Stevenston company stands accused accused of pumping a dangerous chemical into town's water supply. Now Strathclyde Regional Council plans to take the firm to court. But the company's identity and the chemical which contaminated the water to 5000 homes are both being kept a closely-guarded secret. Waterdirector Mr William Devenay said the matter was sub judice as legal action is pending.

Complaints about the water's foul taste and smell flooded into the water department in November. A report subjected to the regional water committee revealed that a private company had sparked the problem by tampering with its plumbing system. Water contaminated by a chemical used by the company was then pumped back into the mains water supply.

By-pass proposals for West Kilbride could include a new route for heavy lorries right through the heart of the village. While confirming that a by-pass through the village was one of the proposals under consideration, regional councillor Richard Wilkinson urged locals not to be alarmed as the scheme may never see the light of day. He said: The region is looking at three possible plans for a road and one of them does encroach into the village, But the scheme lies in a pool of hundreds of other schemes and I have no information that it will ever raise its head."

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 January 27, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on January 1860
The Sub-Collector of HM Customs, Ardrossan sold a number of boots and two grating supposedly part of the cargo and wreck of the steamer Eagle which went down
off Lamlash.

A meeting of the subscribers for the proposed New Bowling Green for Saltcoats was held in the Saracen's Head Inn. The meeting was numerously attended.

A number of admirers of our county poet, Robert Burns, met in Mr William Logan's, Ardrossan, to celebrate the 101st Anniversary of his birth.

A number of friends of Mr R Cumming, Greenside Cottage, met in the Saracen's Head to entertain him previous to his leaving for the West Indies.

At the Saltcoats Literary Society meeting, Mr Stirling read an essay on Ornamental Art.

Patrick Dove Esq, editor of the Commonwealth, delivered a lecture in the Victoria Assembly Rooms, Dalry, the subject of which was The Wild Sport of Scotland.

A heavy fall of snow was reported from several parts of Ayrshire. Churchgoers found it difficult to get to their places of worship on the Sabbath.

Ardrossan Princes Lane Sabbath School held their soiree in the town hall. The hall was filled with children, parents and friends.

The sum already subscribed for the New Independent Chapel is nearly £200. The site chosen is that near to Mr Willock's property behind Princes Street, Ardrossan and almost facing the railway station.

100 YEARS AGO on January 28, 1910
The 84th anniversary celebrations and dinner of the Irvine Burns Club was held last Tuesday evening in the King's Arms Hotel under the chairman ship of the president Mrs William Michael.

Mr James C Duncan, Grangemouth has been appointed Burgh Surveyor for the Burgh of Ardrossan in room of the late Mr CJ Shaw. he was chosen from among 106 applicants.

The member of West Kilbride Mutual Improvement Association held a Burns Night held a Burns Night on Wednesday evening.

On Friday evening a presentation took place in the Liberal Rooms, Saltcoats when Mr John Yuille, late secretary, was the recipient of a dressing case on the occasion of his promotion to Greenock.


50 YEARS AGO on January 29, 1960
Two mallard ducks were seen on Saltcoats Shore this week. They attracted considerable attention.

The Reverend Jean Thomson, minister of Ardrossan EU Congregational Church, will be the speaker at the meeting of Trinity Church Woman's Guild next Monday evening. It is not know what Miss Thomson will address the meeting on but it is sure to be an interesting experience for all concerned.

Last Thursday, Ardrossan Co-operative Society's Grocery Department was broken into. A fairly large quantity of cigarettes and a sum of money was stolen. Hugh Kelly, crane driver aboard the Ardrossan Harbour barge, had the misfortune to fracture a leg. He was moved to Kilmarnock Infirmary and after medical attention was allowed home.

A satire on industrial disputes in post-war England, I'm All Right, Jack, the latest Boulting Brothers production, begins a week's run at the Countess Cinema on Monday. Terry-Thomas, Richard Attenborough, Dennis Price and Ian Carmichael all feature in a film which takes the mickey" out of employers and trade unions, financiers and shop stewards (an excellent performance by Peter Sellers as one of them), business executives, advisers and the Ministry Of Labour.

If present plans of Maurice D Curwen Ltd and Brent Chemical Products Ltds for their Montgomerie Street factory mature, we can expect this year a 25 per cent increase in their labour force at Ardrossan, with a further subsequent increase of 20 per cent, managing director Mr Fred Dyson told the annual staff dinner in the Hotel Kilmeny, Ardrossan last Friday night.

25 YEARS AGO on January 25, 1985
A youth team's dream of playing in an international tournament in France during the summer may be shattered by one of Scotland's best-known and loved football fans. The Ardeer Rec football team booked comedian Andy Cameron as the star attraction for a fundraising concert in March to help raise around £600 to help send the boys to France.
But now the profit margin from the concert - which is the difference between the team travelling to France or not - is in jeopardy because a similar comedy show is planned for the area for four weeks before the Ardeer performance. The Rec say Andy Cameron's concert at the Eglinton Hotel, Ardrossan on February 17 could put ticket sales at risk, meaning the show will not raise enough money to fund the French trip.

The Ardeer show is costing a four-figure sum to put on, the Rec say. Mr Cameron's agent says that with a month's gap between shows there should be no problem, however. And Scots singer Calum Kennedy, owner of the Ardrossan hotel, added: "I think Andy Cameron is a big enough star to appear in this area at least once a fortnight."

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

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on February 10, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on February 1860
Friends of Mr James McClure, teacher at the Duke of Hamilton's Endowed School in Brodick, met in the Douglas Hotel, Springbank where he was presented with a gold watch and chain.

Saltcoats market traders held their annual dinner in the Saracen Head Inn. One hundred gentlemen were present and RK Barbour Esq occupied the Chair.

The estimates were opened for the new steamer to trade between Ardrossa and Arran. The successful offer was from Messrs Blackwood, Gordon and Co, from Paisley, who are now contracted to have a vessel in place by the middle of May for the sum of £4600.

A beautifully-illustrated copy of Burns' work was presented to Mr James Gemmel, teacher, of Stevenston by Robert and James McKillop, who are former pupils and who reside at Polkemmet, Whitburn.

Some premises in this district have been visited by intruders and the police are on the alert.

100 YEARS AGO on February 11, 1910
The first of a series of matches for Captain J Morton's championship prize was played on Saturday under the auspices of Machnie Bay Golf Club.

A meeting of members and lapsed members of the Pentecostal league was held in the Holiness Hal. Bute Place, Ardrossan.

This week the villagers of West Kilbride had the opportunity of seeing and hearing Mr AM Anderson, KC, MP for North Ayrshire. Mr Anderson arrived with the train at 10.14am and was conveyed in an open carriage to Inverclyde Boarding House to meet with the local Liberal Committee. In his progress towards Seamill he was greeted enthusiastically by a large section of the general public.

Between Saturday night and Sunday morning an unsuccessful attempt was made to blow open a sale in the premises of a prominent retailers' in Saltcoats. Office windows were shattered but the sale door jammed and the culprits fled.

50 YEARS AGO on February 12, 1960
Last week a part of the main road above the burn at Stevenston Cross subsided. Workmen were soon on the scene and the road was made safe again.

Ardrossan Harbour Company, we learn, are one of the few companies who installed over a year ago VHF Radio Telephony. The equipment is installed at the harbourmaster's office where a 24-hour watch is kept. All foreign and coastal vessels will soon be equipped with this service. The ship and port of call can keep in touch with each other regarding berth or change of port.

At 3.55pm on Monday a pedal cyclist was involved in a collision with a bus in Sorbie Road, Ardross The rear wheel of the cycle was buckled but no was injured.

The carcass of an animal was washed ashore at Stevenston. Some people say it is that of a deer(?) but the police say they have yet to examine it.

In spite of the fog on Wednesday afternoon (?) motor vehicle Prior left Ardrossan for Larne.

There were 31 arrivals, including three oil tankers at Ardrossan Harbour this week. One of the largest tankers ever berthed at Ardrossan was brought safely in.

Mr John Robertson, a native of Ardrossan, is now retired and living in Vancouver. He is on a Pacific cruise and travelling alone, but is hoping to meet friends among the other passengers.

The Ardrossan to Belfast summer sailings by the vessel The Irish Coast will run from May 28 until September 30.

25 YEARS AGO on February 8, 1985
Provocative comments by Ardrossan Academy rector sparked a one-day strike on Tuesday. Most of the school's 98 teachers did not report for work and pupils in the first second third and fourth years were told to stay home. The school's EIS representative John McPherson said: "There was a series of incidents involving members of staff who were following union guidelines and who were asked questions about exam results in a manner which was considered provocative. SSTA representative David Clunie said: "We fully support the EIS action." Mr Partridge was unavailable for comment.

Train passengers from Saltcoats will be left standing in the pouring rain after British Rail agreed to declare the station buildings out of bounds to the public but said they wont build new shelters. Councilors say they will press for a better deal for Saltcoats travellers and have agreed to call an urgent meeting with rail chiefs. The design of stations is vital in presenting a good image to the traveling public as well as catering to their interests as customers," CDC planning director Alan Reid said. British Rail's plans include making it an unmanned station with tickets available on trains, reducing the length of the platform and removing the kiosk, and using the existing buildings at the station for other purposes. According to Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive, ticket sales at the station don't justify new shelters.

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

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on February 17, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on February 1860
The ploughing match for a premium given by Lord Charles Hamilton in connection with Arran Farmers' Society was held in Brodick Castle grounds. The winner was Charlie Hamilton, servant to Mr John Miller, Machrie.

Ardrossan Castle Curling Club met the Ardrossan Alma Curling Club, sixteen aside on the Castle curling pond. At the conclusion of twenty-one heads the Castle were the winners by twenty-eight points.

100 YEARS AGO on February 18, 1910
The Annual and Business Meeting of the Park United Free Church was held on Monday evening in the Church Hall. After the business an enjoyable Musical Programme was sustained.

Dalry Liberals celebrated the return of Mr A M Anderson KC MP for North Ayrshire at a social gathering in the Public Hall on Friday evening last. The Rev John Hunter presided and was accompanied on the platform by Mr Anderson.

The office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year at the Annual Meeting of Lamlash Bowling Club last Saturday.

The annual meeting for the subscribers to the Institute of West Kilbride.

50 YEARS AGO on February 19, 1960
A few weeks ago Mr George Fullerton, a partner in the firm of Fullerton Brothers, Ironmongers, Dockhead Street, Saltcoats, made a startling discovery when he opened an old metal box which had lain on an office shelf in his shop. Inside the box were a number of old manuscripts, and on examining them Mr Fullerton found that they dated back over 200 years to the reign of George II. Mr Fullerton, who is in partnership with his sister Miss Lila Fullerton, is the third generation of the Fullerton family business on Saltcoats - a business which was started more than 100 years ago.

So rapidly have Anglo-Continental Container Services Ltd developed in recent years that they were faced with a mechanical problem. They use four ships, some with a capacity of 38 containers. High-speed fixed-handling equipment at Ardrossan and Larne loads and unloads the vessels to meet time schedules brought about by tidal and other maritime considerations - meaning congestion had to be avoided.

A solution was found in the specially design Coles "Emperor crane fitted with special unique lifting gear and powered by the latest in technologically-advanced mechanics.

Early one morning a young Ardrossan woman woke her husband and told him she thought she heard someone in the front room. A minute later the man himself heard what he thought was tinkling the piano. He got up, opened the door of the front room, and switched on the light. Sitting on the piano keyboard was a pigeon. The bird had come down the chimney. The man caught the bird, which was very tame, and set it free.

On Monday forenoon an injured swan was seen at Canal Street, Saltcoats. A policeman arrived and, lifting the bird, carried it to the station.

Found and handed at Ardrossan Police Station - a grease gun, a Bible and a quantity of money.

25 YEARS AGO on February 22, 1985
A thriving hi-tech firm is set to bring 100 new jobs to Stevenston after being bought by London-based engineering giants the Laird Group plc. In just a year, Fullarton Fabrication has expanded its workforce from 120 to 250 employees, and with the backing of its internationally-known new owners, plans are afoot to repeat that success within the next few years. The surprise news was announced on Friday when representatives of the Laird Group visited Fullarton's factory at Stevenston Industrial Estate.

Ardrossan Fire Station's retained unit seems likely to be given a last-minute stay of execution. Plans to close the part time section of the station could be placed in limbo because of new Government fire regulations. The proposal to shut down the Ardrossan retained unit - and others throughout Strathclyde - will probably be shelved until Strathclyde Police and Fire Committee look at the new regulations.
Regional councillor Dan McMillan said: “It would be a bit silly to proceed with removing the retained units when these new regulations say that we will need even more cover."

An alternative route for the Hunterston lorries - involving short link by-passes for Dalry and West Kilbride - could stop the disruption to local communities. In their draft local plan for North Cunninghame, the District Council have called for the lorries to link with the M8 at Linwood after travelling along the B781 and A737 at Dalry. The new plan would avoid constructing a highly controversial by-pass at West Kilbride which would carve up part of the village. The plan states: "Road access to Hunterston is currently poor and is out of line with the massive investment which has taken place in other infrastructure like gas, water and rail access. The heavy traffic which occurs from time to time causes unacceptable disruption to communities along the route."

time section of the station could be placed in limbo because of new Government fire regulations. The proposal to shut down the Ardrossan retained unit - and others throughout Strathclyde - will probably be shelved until Strathclyde Police and Fire Committee look at the new regulations. Regional councillor Dan McMillan said: “It would be a bit silly to proceed with removing the retained units when these new regulations say that we will need even more cover."

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

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"Early one morning a young Ardrossan woman woke her husband and told him she thought she heard someone in the front room. A minute later the man himself heard what he thought was tinkling the piano. He got up, opened the door of the front room, and switched on the light. Sitting on the piano keyboard was a pigeon. The bird had come down the chimney. The man caught the bird, which was very tame, and set it free"

An Ardrossan piano playing pigeon.. heard it all 😂
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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I wonder if it was playing the “birdie song” :P
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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on February 23, 2010

100 YEARS AGO on February 25, 1910
The office-bearers of the newly-formed Liberal Club in West Kilbride were elected this week. They number seven, plus a committee of 18.

The Saltcoats Unionist Club also appointed their office bearers from 1960-61 this week. (ASH typo - see original image below)

At the annual meeting of Fairlie UF Church a presentation consisting of a roll-top desk and chair was made to Mr CH McNair for having given faithful service as organist of the church for 19 years. The Rev WW Gauld made the presentation.

Last Monday evening a meeting was held in the Institute lesser hall, Irvine for the purpose of forming a ladies' golf club in connection with the intention of forming a ladies' golf club linked to Irvine Municipal Golf Course.

50 YEARS AGO on February 26, 1960
From Buckingham Palace last Friday came the news the whole world had been waiting to read: "The Queen was safely delivered of a son at 3.30pm today. Her Majesty and the infant Prince are both doing well.

The new Prince becomes second in the line of succession to the throne, following Prince Charles and preceding Princess Anne. He is the first baby to be born to a reigning sovereign in Britain for more than 100 years. Among the messages which poured in from all around the globe were telegrams from the Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and the Provosts of Ardrossan, Stevenston and Kilwinning. In response, HM the Queen replied: "I and my husband thank you and the people of Ayr most sincerely for your kind congratulations on the birth of our son."

The 257-ton Greenock tug 'Brigadier' was still firmly stuck yesterday on a shelf of jagged rocks on the south tip of Horse Island about half a mile from Ardrossan Harbour. She went aground at 5.45 last Sunday morning and this week the owners and salvage company representatives were still considering the best way to refloat her.

It will be a difficult task because the vessel is badly holed and rests on a long finger of rocks which stretches out from the island - rocks which become submerged at high tide but still hold the tug fast. The rescue of the crew of eight from the Brigadier was carried out by the pilot boat at Ardrossan, which put out in a choppy sea from the harbour as soon as it was learned that the tug was in trouble.

Last week Ardrossan Co-operative Society's hardware shop in Glasgow was broken into and a number of electric razors stolen.

For some time the carcase of an animal has been lying on the Stevenston shore. Some thought the carcase was that of a deer but we now learn that it is that of a sheep.

Ardrossan scored 77 per cent in the Scottish Daily Express Gay Town Show held at Castlecraigs last Wednesday night.

25 YEARS AGO on March 1, 1985
A question mark now hangs over council plans to build an ice rink at Stevenston. Estimates for the project have soared and the Government have refused a plea for extra cash. This week Councillor John Riddell of Fairlie called on Cunninghame District Council to think again. He said the estimated cost of building the rink near Auchenharvie Swimming Pool had doubled from £l million to two. Estimated staffing costs had risen from £54,000 to £98,000 while running costs had also shot up by more than double to £212,000 - yet the planned profit from the venture had dropped from £77,000 to just £8,000. "The scheme that is now being talked about is not the same one that was approved in March 1984, said council lor Riddell.

The council had hoped to win additional cash for the project, which they feel is essential to the area. But the Scottish Office say that in view of the competing claims of other authorities on the limited funds available and of existing facilities at the Magnum just down the road, they could not provide substantial additional consent. Council finance committee chairman Mike McGuire said the decision whether to press ahead with the rink would be taken by a CDC working party.

The Montgreenan Hotel in Kilwinning is been put on the market again for the second time in six months. Owner Brian Galt confirmed this week that the hotel was up for sale, but he declined to comment on the reasons for the sale or to say if anyone had so far expressed an interest in buying the hotel. Montgreenan, the former stately home of Lord Weir, was sold to John Nordbo in August 1981. Mr Nordbo and his associates spent £250,000 refurbishing the the A listed hotel and converting it into a top-class 13-bedroom establishment. Mr Nordbo was transferred from his job at Prestwick Airport to London last year and sold the hotel for an undisclosed fee.

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on March 19, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on March 1860
After the annual sport of papingo at Kilwinning, forty couples met in the Masonic Hall to take part in the ball.

James Caldwell, chimney sweep, Saltcoats is offering for sale soot by the boll or ton.

Mr John McCallum is the new tenant of Craigspark Farm. His friends offered one day's ploughing and by the end of the day all the ground was turned over.

At the meeting of the committee of Ardrossan Public School, Mr FR Lumsden of the South- Western Academy was unanimously chosen as headmaster.

The Mansion House of Hayocks with garden and offices is to let unfurnished for one or more years. The house commands a fine view of the Arran hills and the Ayrshire Coast. It is little more than a mile from Kilwinning and Stevenston railway stations.

50 YEARS AGO on March 18, 1960
Last weekend and during this weekend a large number of people have flocked to a house in Hayocks Road in Stevenston to see what the popular Press has described as a "vision". Under certain lighting conditions a shadowy outline of a figure is reflected from the frosted-glass panel in a door of the house occupied by Mr and Mrs Wm Guiney.

But explanations which followed the first wave of excitement about the "vision" indicated that the phenomenon is nothing new and that the glass is known by the name 'angel glass' because of a tendency to produce a figure by reflected light. Nevertheless crowds still went up to see the vision for themselves. Some people were still convinced it was of some holy significance - despite the feasible explanations- and the police had to control the crowd at times.

A young Ardrossan married woman went shopping in the town, putting her messages into her cycle bag. She went into a shop to make a final purchase and when she came out, most of her messages had been stolen from her cycle bag. And this happened in the busiest part of Glasgow Street.

A Saltcoats burgh workman cleaning premises at the Harbour observed what he took to be a ladies' stole lying there. When he moved to touch it it ran off. He ran out to Matthew Reid who was tending his boat nearby. Matthew followed the animal and caught it by its tail, then put a foot upon its neck so he could tie a heavy piece of twine around it. The badger, as it by now clearly was, responded by making a snap at Matthew's foot, where its teeth made a deep impression on his boots. The police were sent for and they put the badger into a box and took it to Green Street. The animal was later picked up by the RSPCA who adjudged that it had sustained a broken leg. probably by being caught in a trap, which goes some way to explaining its bad mood. It was later put down because infection had set in.

25 YEARS AGO on March 15, 1985
The miners' strike may be over, but the "road or rail controversy over ore and coal shipments to Hunterston has only just begun. Residents next to the roads used by the ore lorries have tolerated the noise, danger and disturbance on the understanding that once the strike ended, BSC would get "back on the rails". But no firm assurances have so far been given and it looks like a large proportion of ore traffic will continue to make its way through Cunninghame on the road to Ravenscraig.
Councilors at a meeting this week reiterated that something must be done but Cllr Tom Dickie of Kilbirnie added: "We in Cunninghame, despite the closure of 6the Glengarnock works, are still a steel area. We still have Hunterston and loinks with Ravenscraig and I wouldn't like to see anything done by this council to prevent the growth of steel in Scotland."

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

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on March 24, 2010

150 YEARS AGO on March 1860
The Penny Savings Bank was opened in West Kilbride on March 25.

In one week 3,235 tons of pig iron were shipped from Ardrossan. The number of arrivals for one was 29 and sailings totalled 47.

Hugh Boag, boatbuilder, launched from his yard at Fairlie a smack named Lady Campbell. Keels of another two smacks and four large skiffs were laid within a week.

100 YEARS AGO on 25, March 1910
The office-bearers were elected at the annual general meeting of Kilwinning Bowling Club in the Masonic Hall on Thursday night.

On Thursday night the annual hyacinth show connected with Fairlie U.F. Church Band Of Hope was held in the church.

Saltcoats Bowling Club also elected their office-bear- ers at a meeting held in the Station Hotel last Thursday evening.

The closing business and social meeting of Saltcoats Literary And Debating Society took place on Monday evening in the Royal temperance Hotel, Saltcoats under the presidency of Mr Wm Orr.

50 YEARS AGO on March 25, 1960
Miss Elizabeth Kirk, who was known locally as "Auntie" Kirk, died at her home on Monday and the funeral took place on Wednesday. She was in her ninetieth year. We had the pleasure of interviewing her on many occasions. During one such visit we were shown a marble headstone covered with a white sheet which she kept under her bed. Miss Kirk had bought the headstone many years earlier and had it engraved, with only the date of her death to be added.
Auntie Kirk was a real thrifty, independent woman who for most of her days worked as a cook. She had not forgotten her funeral arrangements, as we hear a nephew was given all the money and told to take care of the expenses on her death.

This week someone went into a front garden in Ardrossan and took away all the flowers in bloom.

Miss Helen Calvert, 83 Clyde Terrace, Ardrossan, was chosen as Miss Ardrossan Co-operative 1960 on Tuesday night of last week when the Co-operative Employees' Social Club held their annual dinner-dance in Castlecraigs. The beauty competition - open to all girl employees of the Society - was only one of several features which again made the function most enjoyable.

25 YEARS AGO on March 29, 1985
Cunninghame District Council is skating ahead with plans for an ice rink in Stevenston. Proposals to have a £2 million rink at Auchenharvie were given the green light when councillors met on Tuesday. All going smoothly, work should begin on the site in October. A Covenant Scheme is being used to pay for the costly scheme as the district council will be paying the full cost in instalments over 13 years. A finance department spokesman said that spreading the cost in this way will allow the people in the area to benefit from the rink just now and won't cost the council any more in the long run, taking inflation into account. The total Cunninghame could expect to pay by 1999 is £3,693,304 including interest. Some on the Tory group insisted the available council funds won't cover new vehicles, a new library for Beith, the Braes project in Saltcoats and the ice rink.

Pupils at St Peter's Primary School, Ardrossan were treated to a full display of Arran rescue services on Wednesday. The display, including a visit from a helicopter based at HMS Gannet in Prestwick, lasted for most of the day.
The idea for a rescue project came after the school visited the Ranger Centre at Brodick Country Park and learned of the ranger service's involvement with rescue operations.

More council tenants will have their homes modernised this year. For the local authority is concentrating most of its cash on modernisation, rather than building new houses.

The cameras will keep rolling in the La Scala cinema... at least until the end of the summer.
Guy Penny, a director with the Kemp Group which also owns the Regal Cinema on Hamilton Street, announced this week that negotiations to sell the La Scala had collapsed. "We are reviewing the situation and booking the cinema up until the end of September," he said.
The long-term future of the La Scala remains uncertain, however.

Negotiations to sell the La Scala began last year and were expected to be finalised any day when the shock news came through that a buyer had not been found. Proposals drafted for the expected new owners by a firm of Glasgow architects included a shopping complex.

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

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on March 31, 2010

150 YEARS AGO - April 1860
The following appeared in a Paris newspaper in 1820: "James, Lord Stewart, received at his Lodge at Kilwinning, in Scotland, in 1286, the Earls of Gloucester and Ulster- the one English and the other Irish. This carries Mother Lodge Kilwinning back to the days of Wallace and Bruce."

Dalry experienced hail and snow at the beginning of the week.

The number of arrivals at Ardrossan Harbour for one week was 39 and the sailings 34. For the same period 3036 tons of pig iron were shipped at the port. Barr and Shearer, shipbuilders, were very busy and their prospects are good for some time.

Although West Kilbride suffered severe storms and strain, the town is free from disease.

100 YEARS AGO on April 1, 1910
The annual meeting of Ardrossan Bowling Club was held in the Eglinton Hotel, Ardrossan on Friday evening when the office-bearers were appointed.

Mr Robert Brown, of Kilwinning Rangers, has been chosen for the Junior English International and, in his accustomed position, will play in the Scottish Eleven at Birmingham tomorrow. This is Mr Brown's fourth international in two seasons and probably constitutes a record.

The annual meeting of the West Kilbride Mutual Improvement Programme was held on Wednesday evening when the office-bearers were elected.


50 YEARS AGO - April 1, 1960
50 YEARS AGO - APRIL 1, 1960
Last Saturday night a service bus went into a ditch on the High Road and lay over at an angle. There were a few passengers on the bus. On Monday night a man was injured by a bus in Manse Street, Saltcoats and taken to Kilmarnock Infirmary.

Mr WB Bryson, hon. secy, and treasurer, reported to the Saltcoats District Committee of the North Ayr Branch of the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children at their annual general meeting on Tuesday night that 71 complaints involving 88 parents or guardians and involving 223 children had been investigated last year. Supervision visits totalled 701.

Of the 71 cases, 62 were classified as being due to neglect, two to ill-treatment, one to abandonment, one to immoral surroundings and five to "other wrongs". Sixty-two parents or guardians were warned and two were reported for prosecution and put out on probation. A family of six were among nine children "committed to fit persons".

A film of Mr Kruschev's visit to America was shown in the old Council Chambers, Saltcoats recently at a meet- ing held under the auspices of the Saltcoats and District Branch of the Scottish-USSR Friendship Society. A film of Moscow was also shown.

So the Post Office is to go all commercial? We look for- ward to the January sales of left-over stamps and postal orders.

25 YEARS AGO on April 5, 1985
25 YEARS AGO-APRIL 5, 1985
Almost 40,000 homes were affected by an electricity blackout on Friday night. A combination of the weather and the report of a tower falling down caused 30,000 consumers from Stevenston to Largs to be without electricity for more than three hours. A further 17,800 people in Kilwinning and Irvine suffered a nine-minute black-out. A spokesman for the South of Scotland Electricity Board said that freezing conductors on the Hunterston to Saltcoats and Hunterston to Kilwinning sections of power supply to stretch. An easterly wind caused the icebound conductors to clash and this operated a safety measure to cut off the power.

The Kilwinning and Irvine problem was cleared up quickly, but a report was received from a member of the public saying that one of the Electricity Board's towers had collapsed on the Saltcoats line. Although the towers were all intact, the entire line had to be checked manually to ensure there was no damage and the bad weather slowed the progress of the linemen, resulting in five separate power cuts from Largs to Stevenston, the longest being for three hours.

A Stevenston house was burgled recently by a robber using a most conventional way of gaining entry - a front door key! Householders in Greenhead Avenue were shocked to discover that their home had been raided- and a substantial sum of money stolen - without leaving any broken windows. Instead, the clever thieves had made their entry using a normal door key. It is now suspected that several locks in the area are worn and could be opened by the same key, but Cunninghame District Council say it is not their responsibility to renew the locks. One resident said a housing inspector had picked two homes in the Hayocks area at random and, using the same key, was able to access both of them. Stevenston North councillor Teresa Beattie said she could not accept housing officials' claims that they couldn't afford to replace all the locks, and said that if they were found to be faulty, she would be pushing for CDC to foot the bill for new ones.

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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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Hughie wrote: Sat Dec 10, 2022 9:15 pm From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on March 31, 2010

150 YEARS AGO - April 1860
The following appeared in a Paris newspaper in 1820: "James, Lord Stewart, received at his Lodge at Kilwinning, in Scotland, in 1286, the Earls of Gloucester and Ulster- the one English and the other Irish. This carries Mother Lodge Kilwinning back to the days of Wallace and Bruce."
Here's the cutting referred to: click to enlarge
April 14, 1860.jpg
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