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 June 24, 2009

150 YEARS AGO in June 1859
MR James Strachan treasurer of the Free Church, Kilbirnie, for 12 years was presented with a silver box containing a sum of money for his valuable service to the church.

THE steamer Isle of Arran is easily caught in the morning by getting up at 5.30am. The visitors leave at six and are driven down for a trifling sum to Brodick. The steamer arrives at Ardrossan shortly after eight.

THE Earl of Eglinton, the gallant Peer of tournament fame, who has twice discharged so popularly the office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, has in the Honours List advanced a step in the Peerage and will henceforth sit in the House of Lords as Earl of Winton instead of Baron Ardrossan.

100 YEARS AGO in June 1909
WEST Kilbride Parish Council have appointed Mr William Gray as registrar for the principal division of the parish of West Kilbride at a salary of £12 per annum.

THE first sports organised by Ardrossan Academy (and the first under scholastic auspices in the district) were held in the Glebe Park last Saturday. There were 33 events.

AT the AGM of Ardeer Thistle FC the following office-bearers were elected: - President, Mr Fred Small; vice-president, Mr William Marshall; treasurer, Mr Alex Wilson; secretary, Mr John Bell; committee, Messrs G Hynds, F Stevenson, J Dow, H Leckie junior, J Hamilton, H Lockhart, T Patrick, J McWhinnie, J Fairbairn, P Logan and A Celso.

AT a pianoforte playing examination in Kilmarnock the following local pupils were successful: - Miss Janet Ford, Miss Jeanie Scott, Miss Martha Keddie, all pupils of Miss Stirrat, Saltcoats, and Miss Cathie Herdman, Miss Kate Andrew and Miss Agnes Campbell, pupils of Miss Mackay, Ardrossan.

50 YEARS AGO in June 1959
AFTER considering letters from four tenants of shops in Central Avenue, Ardrossan Town Council have agreed to stick to a previous decision that shop tenants desiring gates or doors to the back porches of the shops will require to provide these themselves.

MEMBERS of Ardrossan Town Council's Housing Committee are to inspect housing scheme gardens on June 22. The council have given authority to the Burgh Factor to arrange for the cutting of grass for tenants considered to be in need of assistance.
On June 29 the Committee are carrying out another inspection-this time they are to visit houses erected by Messrs William Loudon and Son at the Community Centre site.

SALTCOATS Beach Pavilion opens for the season with a carnival dance tonight (Friday), when the first heat of A Saltcoats TV queen contest will be held. The Saltcoats Pierrots Show has its first performance tomorrow (Saturday).

AFTER consideration of circulars from the Board of Trade and the Department of Health on the subject of derelict sites under the Distribution of Industries ATC, 1945, Ardrossan Town Council are to write to the Departments and inquire whether a grant would be available to cover the demolition of condemned dwelling houses and the clearing of sites for the purpose of housing redevelopment

BEHIND a house at 28 South Crescent, Ardrossan, where a goose was sitting in nine eggs, someone broke the eggs and injured the bird.

SIX trips will arrive at Ardrossan South Beach Green, Ardrossan tomorrow (Saturday) and the total number of persons expected is 1770.

ARDROSSAN Town Council are taking part in the national anti-litter campaign this summer and have taken steps to procure a supply of posters and bills

KILBIRNIE Fire Brigade was called out on Monday night to deal with a fire in a caravan at Glengarnock.

A SUDDEN squall on Sunday evening overturned the Arran Monarch belonging to Mr John Thomson, and he and Miss Letitia McLardy were rescued by other boats that were quickly on the scene.

LAST Sunday three buses left the Milton scheme in Kilbirnie bound for Barassie.
This trip is organised annually by Mr D Sneddon, and it was a suntanned party who returned after a happy day.

ON Sunday about 5pm a Glasgow man and his wife and daughter were involved in an accident at the junction of Blair and Cemetery Roads, Kilwinning. Their car fell over on its side and the driver received slight injuries.

25 YEARS AGO on June 27, 1984
WILSON'S Dairy in Lochwinnoch is being closed, with the loss of 25 jobs. The redundancies follow a merger between J & J Wilson Dairies and the Glasgow-based Scottish Farm Dairy Foods.
A merger took place on June 17, but Wilson's dairy at Markethill, Lochwinnoch. is being run down over the coming weeks before total closure. Some equipment is being transferred and the buildings will be sold.
And the managing director of Scottish Farms Dairy Foods, Mr Gordon Shaw, blamed problems over services to Markethill for part of the reason for Wilson's closure.
In particular he cited difficulties with the electricity, water supply and sewerage.
"The Lochwinnoch operation over a period of time has expanded to such a level that it could not get efficient services to Markethill," he said.
According to Mr Shaw the biggest problem arose from handling effluent from the dairy,
"Wilson's was under continuing pressure to do something about the effluent. As a result it became a very expensive operation," added Mr Shaw.
He agreed that Wilson's may have been a victim of its own success.
Far from being a one-man business run by Mr John Wilson it became one of the bigger dairy companies in Scotland, supplying several retail multiples, including Fine Fare stores.

AN MP has slammed the Govemment's "veil of secrecy" over the possibility of nuclear weapons being stored in Beith.
David Lambie (Cunninghame South) has tried several times to discover if the RNAD store outside Beith will house nuclear weapons.
In the latest Government reply Lord Trefgarne at the Ministry of Defence has again refused to disclose the information.
"I cannot depart from the longstanding policy of neither confirming nor denying their presence at particular locations."
Mr Lamble has now passed on the reply to Cunninghame District Council, which had been concerned at the possibility of nuclear weapons being sited within its boundaries. The MP said: I condemn the fact that the Government is maintaining a veil of secrecy over its intentions about RNAD.

TWENTY-eight-year-old Highlanders Les Oliphant was a convincing winner of the first Scottish Junior Highland Games Championship. During on-off rain at Beith on Sunday he won two of the first five events to take the overall title. Oliphant, from Wick, recorded a 45ft 2in shot putt and managed to throw the 56lb weight a height of 13 feet. He was among four competitors, who made the journey from the north of Scotland. Their efforts were worthwhile though, with each taking a prize.

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 August 5, 2009

BMD and Files from the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald of 5 August 2009. From the Herald Files has returned after an absence of four weeks.

100 YEARS AGO on August 6, 1909
In regard to Ayrshire miners' wage claims, there is a growing feeling that strikes should not be possible. In New Zealand it is said strikes or lock-outs are criminal and why Britain should lag behind in such a question is simply an adherence to old-time methods and customs which are obsolete.

The juvenile members of the Ardrossan Lifeboat Lodge held their annual picnic last Saturday at Parkhouse Farm.

New officers of Anchor Lodge No. 79, Saltcoats have been appointed for the for the ensuing quarter.

50 YEARS AGO on August 7, 1959
The Dux Boy and Senior Sports Champion at Ardrossan Academy this year is John L Moses, son of Mr and Mrs Thomas L Moses, West Doura Avenue, Saltcoats.
The Dux Girl was Elizabeth Nisbet, daughter of Mr and Mrs William Nisbet, Kelvin Street, Largs.

On Saturday, July 25 between the hours of 3 and 5pm, licensed premises in Saltcoats were entered and around £75 was stolen. On the same day in Ardrossan a public house was entered and close on £50 was stolen.

Since 1938 there has been a reduction in the number of steamer sailings from Ardrossan to Belfast. That year there were ten on Glasgow Fair Friday and eight on the Saturday. This year there were only two on each day. Sailing to the Isle Of Man have remained virtually unchanged - six and three on the respective days in 1938 and five and three this year.
On Glasgow Fair Friday 15,000 people passed in and out of Ardrossan Harbour.

On Tuesday, July 28 one of our reporters was walking down Glasgow Street when a private car drew up and the driver called him over. He asked where he could buy a shillelagh. Our man told him to visit a certain place where no doubt he would get a shillelagh and perhaps an Irish jig thrown in

A live snake was recently found in the garden of an Ardrossan house occupied by Constable John Shearer. The snake was two and a half feet long and was killed by a dog.

Here, for record purposes, is an item of local news which occurred during the printing dispute which affected The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald recently. A funeral service was heard for Mr Joseph White, head of the firm of J White and Sons, amusement caterers, who died on June 24 in his caravan at The Braes, Saltcoats, on June 29 at Trinity Church. Mr White was 81 and had leased Saltcoats Braes from the Town Council for many years.

Mrs Isabella Lawson, a former Town Councillor has expressed thanks to Ardrossan Town Council for giving her name to a new street.

A party of 20 youths from the Black Forest area of Germany arrived last Sunday to attend the central camp of the Church of Scotland's Youth Committee.

The Board of Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd announced on June 25 that Sir Alexander Fleck, who will be 70 in November, has announced his Intention of relinquishing his position as chairman of the Board of Directors of the company on February 29, 1960.

The annual sale of work held by St Peter In Chains RC Church, Ardrossan, was held recently and realised the sum of about £450. It was opened by Provost Dorrian.


25 YEARS AGO on August 3, 1984
Two local mothers and their children this week told of their lucky escape from the nightmare train crash which claimed 13 lives.
All were traveling in the back carriage of the Edinburgh to Glasgow train which crashed off the tracks near Polmont on Monday evening.
Had they been nearer the front of the train they could have been seriously injured.
"I thought we were going to die," said Mrs Pat Mcintosh this week, safely back at home in Auchenharvle Road, Saltcoats. The carriage was full of smoke."
Mrs Mcintosh was traveling with her 11-year-old daughter Clare and nine-year-old Karen McGinnes after a day trip to Edinburgh.
Mrs Kathleen Tracy of Chapelhill Mount, Ardrossan and two of her six children, jane (10) and Pauline (7) were in the same carriage. They were at the back of the train only because they were too exhausted after shopping to walk any further.
"I don't think we have ever sat in the back carriage before," said Mrs Tracy. "We realise how lucky we were."

Showing at Harry Kemp's cinemas in Saltcoats this week are (La Scala 1) William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek III - The Search For Spock, (La Scala 2) Supergirl with Helen Slater and Fay Dunaway. (Regal) Jungle Book and Mickey's Christmas Carol.
Forthcoming attractions at the Magnum include Freddie Starr live on stage and Glen Michael's Cartoon cavalcade with all your favourites. The Magnum, Screen is showing Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, a concert starring David Bowie unearthed from 1973 with Woody Allen's Zelig and Risky Business featuring new young star Tom Cruise coming next week.
Meanwhile Cunninghame District Council present the hilarious Cheeky Bee at Barrfields Pavilion Largs and Christian is in cabaret at the Hotel de Croft Largs.

Trouble flared again at the Hunterston Ore Terminal late on Monday night. A hundred and fifty National Union of Mineworkers pickets gathered at the British Steel Corporation terminal gate where coal supplies are ferried to BSC's Ravenscraig steel strip mill.
A Strathclyde Police spokesman told The Herald that pickets besieged the gatehouse where gatemen and just three police were on duty The windscreens of 12 lorries lying just inside the terminal entrance and owned by hauliers ferrying coal to Ravenscraig were smashed.
The NUM also said this week that a lorry driver had recently attacked a striking miner with a hammer.

A flash explosion at ICI's giant Ardeer complex has left a Kilwinning man in hospital with burns to his chest. The 42-year-old was one of three men rushed to hospital after the explosion last Thursday evening.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original Many of these links have local photos attached.
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on August 12, 2009

100 YEARS AGO on August 13, 1909
Col. Sir Frederick Nathan has taken up his duties as manager at Nobel's Ardeer Factory in succession to Mr CO Lundholm.

Ardrossan Parish Council have fixed the total rates for the ensuing year at £2/11d, an increase of 2d.

Memorial stones were laid during the past week of the new U.F. Churches being built at Whiting Bay and Kildonan, Arran. Among documents deposited under the stones were copies of The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald.

It was intimated to West Kilbride Parish Council that hours of business at West Kilbride Post Office in future will be from 8am to 8pm.

Members of Stevenston U.F. Church have presented a handsome Bible to Mr William Ainsworth Jnr on the occasion of his leaving the town for South Africa.

50 YEARS AGO on August 14, 1959
A Troon man writes: "Are there no Do-It-Yourself enthusiasts in Ardrossan; no painters seeking work? Passing through Ardrossan recently I was appalled and saddened to note state of most of the houses and public buildings.
Surely things are not so bad that the people of Ardrossan have lost all pride in their home town. It certainly presents a depressing picture to one who knew Ardrossan when it showed a more attractive appearance, even in times less prosperous than these. What about a coat of paint?"

This is the story of Corrie, a six-month-old pup born in Arran and now belonging to a young married couple in Ardrossan. On Saturday, August 1 the couple went to Arran for a fortnight's holiday and took Corrie with them. But Corrie didn't seem to like his birthplace - for last Saturday he boarded the steamer at Brodick, walked off at Ardrossan and made for his usual haunts in Winton Street. Corrie, who was only weeks old when brought to the mainland, is now being looked after by neighbours until his owner's return.

Since the start of the St Andrew's Ambulance Association's first aid work at Ardrossan North Shore on June 6, 115 people have received attention, mostly for cuts from broken glass and bruises caused by falling off rocks. The unit have also attended two motorcycle mishaps and a car accident.
On the shore there were all kind of bottles and bits of broken glass lying in the sand. There are no receptacles for litter and we hope this is a matter that will be taken up with the County Council. Thousands visit this part of the North Shore daily during the summer but there is no lavatory accommodation or drinking water. Something should also be done about this.

In the back green at 15 Winton Street, Ardrossan there is a swarm of bees which the residents would certainly like removed. Any beekeepers in the town.

Ayr County Council are to hold a special meeting on August 20 to discuss the Prime Minister's reply to their appeal to reconsider the decision of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mr Harold Watkinson, to extend the main runway at Prestwick Airport without the provision of of a tunnel to take the Glasgow-Ayr road under the runway.

Lord Eglinton presided in Edinburgh last Thursday at the quarterly meeting of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and welcomed a number of visitors from India, Pakistan, Persia, Turkey, Transvaal, Australia, Peru, New Zealand and Canada.

25 YEARS AGO on August 10, 1984
It was good news all the way for Ardrossan Harbour this week with the announcement of a half-million-pound improvement project for one of the port's main users and the indication that the all-important passenger rail link to the harbour could still be electrified. The first announcement concerned Northern Ireland Trailers, the Ardrossan-based freight company, who plan to expand their underway at the harbour in a scheme that will cost £500,000. The berth which the firm uses is being modified to make room for larger vessels.

Labels of "arrogance" and "dictatorship" have been slapped on Strathclyde Regional Council. Convener of Cunninghame District Council, Teresa Beattie, made the scathing remarks at a housing committee meeting.

Unemployment figures this month at the two local Jobcentres are: Saltcoats - male, 2936; female, 1136 and Kilbirnie - male, 889; female - 478.

A councillor has called for the district council to back a children's competition promoting peace. - Irvine councillor John Donn put forward his plan after being dissatisfied over replies received about the Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Beith. Cunninghame's planners were told of the responses from MPs David Lambie and John Corrie, who sought information on expansion work at Beith. He also condemned statements from the Ministry of Defence which refused to disclose if nuclear weapons would be stored at Beith. Members of the leisure committee agreed to ask the district librarian to consider staging a competition and report back.

A storm has blown up between Holy Isle's new owners and a ferryman from Lamlash. The Isle Of Arran Tourist Board have stepped in to calm the troubled waters and have called for a meeting between ferryman Peter Sloan and Mr and Mrs James Morris, who recently bought the island in Lamlash Bay. Mr and Mrs Morris plan to charge visitors to the island £2 each with the reduced price of £1 for children - the same as Mr Sloan charges for the ferry trip. This could put me out of business," he said.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on August 19, 2009

100 YEARS AGO on August 20, 1909
A new branch of industry has recently been started in Ardrossan, Messrs McLean, McCallum & Co. having inaugurated a department for the manufacture of silk oilskin apparel.

The "Hazel" completed the passage from Portree to Ardrossan on Saturday in three hours and fifty-three minutes.

A large crown gathered at Saltcoats Town Hall on Wednesday to hear WF Frame and his excellent vaudeville company.

Hampson's Pierrots gave a charity performance on Saltcoats West Shore on Monday for the benefit of the local Sick Nursing Association and £12 was drawn.

Mr James Morrison has been appointed representative for Stevenston School Board on the new County Education Committee.

50 YEARS AGO on August 21, 1959
The pup Corrie which recently travelled alone from Brodick back home to Brodick to Ardrossan, and which was mentioned last week in the Herald, belongs to Mr and Mrs Barclay Padden of Winton Street Ardrossan. The mother of the pup is named Frisky, is owned by Mr E Ribbeck, Brodick and has travelled alone on two occasions from Brodick to Ardrossan. On the first occasion she went on to Belfast and the second time she travelled to the Isle of Man'

The police have received many complaints of fruit being stolen from the gardens of private houses. There have also been reports of the theft of flowering plants. In one garden a rose bush was uprooted and thrown into the front garden. A householders tells us she is only too pleased that passers-by should admire the roses in his front garden, but when the admiration goes to the extent to pulling up by the roots and removing the bushes altogether he rather resents it.

The 300-tonne Goliath crane - the largest in Britain - which straddles the site of the giant new atomic power station under construction at Hunterston, is only a temporary feature at the site and will be dismantled and used at some other site when the Hunterston project is completed.

A large number of welders who on Tuesday refused to work with propane gas on a reactor at Hunterston because they were afraid the gas would explode returned to work on Wednesday after assurances by the safety officer and site officials. Three weeks ago two men were badly injured when gas exploded inside a section where they were working. Two are still in hospital.

A crow with more white feathers than black has been a regular visitor to back gardens in Parkhouse Road, Ardrossan. The bird is always accompanied by several other crows but they are not quite so tame.

The bathing pool at Saltcoats has been well-patronised this summer, with 37,803 visitors patronising it in July and more than 18,000 in the first half of this month.

A total of 27,301 played putting at Saltcoats in July and 12,791 during the first fortnight in August, an increase on last year's figures.

Twenty-one Ayrshire schoolchildren were involved in road accidents during the month of July - eight pedestrians, seven cyclists and six passengers. Fifteen of the accidents were slight and five were serious.

Among the lost property found on Saltcoats shore and handed in and handed in at the putting-green paybox was a handbag containing £59 which was taken to the local Police Station. An elderly woman visitor claimed the handbag and the young holidaymaker who found it was duly rewarded. Found and taken to Saltcoats Police Station - several sums of money, a cigarette lighter, a camera viewfinder, a child's doll and a pram blanket.

25 YEARS AGO on August 17, 1984
Major changes are underway at the massive ICI complex at Ardeer. But the company stressed that there would be no job losses - at least initially. The chemical industry giant announced on Tuesday that its production activities at Ardeer, employing 2350, are to be streamlined. Consultations with the trades unions have already begun. T&GWU shop steward Willie Gillespie said: "It is early days yet. There will be a lot of consultation with the management. Under ICI's plans the whole site will come under the administration of Nobel's. Five production operations would continue as present but engineering and services would be merged. A spokesman for ICI explained that security and firefighting are already shared between the two operations and that this was being extended to cut costs. But he was unable to say how much money these moves would save - OR give any indication of future job losses. "There might well be reducitions - but we expect these to be more than compensated for by expansion in other areas," added the spokesman.

Ardrossan town centre and harbour are taking on a new lease of life. The Scottish Development Agency is funding the massive massive facelift scheme which is designed to brighten up the area and make it more attractive. More than £158,000 has already been spent on the first part of the three-part project which will revitalise Princes Street, part of Glasgow Street, Harbour Street and surrounding areas.

A ship "blacked by dockers is lying moored off Hunterston, laden with coal bound for Ravenscraig. The Ostia is carrying a cargo of 95,000 tonnes of coking coal which British Steel say is critical to the Motherwell plant's future. As The Herald went to press BSC were considering unloading the coal in defiance of a threatened national dock strike.

An elderly Kilwinning couple and their daughter lost nearly all their possessions in a fire which wrecked their house last week. The home in David Gage Street was completely gutted by the blaze, which may have been caused by an electrical fault.

Cunninghame District Council have agreed to spend £7000 on landscaping an area in Saltcoats. Land between McGillivray Avenue and Dykesmains Road will be the subject of tree and shrub-planting and kerbing, the council's planning committee were told.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on August 26, 2009

150 YEARS AGO on August 28, 1859
The Revival Movement in Ayrshire is beginning to be taken seriously in most towns. Saltcoats Parish Church had an overflow meeting, the gathering being addressed in the cemetery.

At a meeting of the Parochial Board, Mr H Paton was appointed Inspector of Nuisances.

The paddle steamer Adela, which was recently launched, will take up the Ardrossan to Belfast trade run. She made her first crossing in five and a half hours, this being the quickest passage ever known from the Clyde

100 YEARS AGO on August 27, 1909
Early last Friday, fire destroyed a two-storey building in Bradshaw Street, Saltcoats - the premises of Mr Hugh Newall, furniture dealer, and a hairdresser's shop. The building was recently acquired by local Freemasons who wish to erect a temple on the site.

A sand-building competition under the auspices of Saltcoats Town Council was held on the West Shore last Saturday. 336 competitors took part.

A fancy dress Cycle Parade was held in Ardrossan last Friday evening. Amateur Athletic Sports, sponsored by the Town Council, were held at Winton Park, Ardrossan on Saturday.

50 YEARS AGO on August 28, 1959
Last Saturday night a man entered the front door of a house in Rutherglen, closed the storm door and lay down on the mat between the inner and outer doors. When the owner of the house and his wife returned home they found the man asleep. The householder was Chief Police Superintendent John Anderson, son of the late Provost John Anderson, Saltcoats. He phoned the police!

On Wednesday afternoon a seal with a large fish in its mouth was observed in the Eglinton Basin. The seal was young and on several occasions tried to swallow the fish but without success. For half an hour the antics of the seal gave the dockers and men aboard a nearby cargo ship a good laugh. Eventually the seal had a brainwave, left the fish floating on the water, dived and, on resurfacing, seemed to swallow most of the unfortunate fish head-first at the first attempt before disappearing to a round of applause.

Demolishers are busy at Barr Place and Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan where tenement buildings have been demolished right up to the Montgomerie Street corner. The workmen have knocked down buildings up to the joiner's workshop belonging to Mr Barbour in Kilmahew Street, and at the bottom end they have turned into Montgomerie Street and demolished two large buildings.

A native of Dalry who is home on holiday from America would like particulars as to when the Dodger left Dalry for London with his one-wheel barrow and how long it took him to make the journey.

The number of workers involved in stoppages of work due to industrial disputes (including those thrown out of work at the establishments where the stoppages occurred) during July was nearly 157,000, says the Ministry Of Labour Gazette'

Three officers and twenty-nine cadets of 1138 (Ardrossan) Squadron Air Training Corps have returned home after spending a week at RAF Station Linton-on-Ouse near York. Altogether there were 157 cadets in the camp from various parts of England and Wales and the boys lived in permanent brick barracks blocks under exactly the same conditions are regular RAF personnel.

25 YEARS AGO on August 24, 1984
Pop star Captain Sensible may be a Londoner born and bred - but he has a special soft spot for Ardrossan. For his aunt and uncle, Agnes and Patrick Burns, live at Bridgepark, and when their favourite nephew was in Ayr last week he tried to call them. Unfortunately for the Burns', who have not seen the Captain for some time, they were out at the time! Captain Sensible, whose real name is Ray Burns, also has family ties in Glasgow, his father's home town. Agnes, like her husband's family, also comes from Glasgow, but she and Patrick moved to Ayrshire more than 20 years ago. And it's of this area that the Captain has many memories. Speaking in Ayr last week at the recording of a special programme for BBC Breakfast Time, he said: "I have been all over the Clyde Coast and my earliest childhood memory was from when I used to go to Saltcoats and there was a big power station which spoiled the view."

A plague of cats is terrorising an Ardrossan man and his son. The pair are living in fear of the 18 semiwild cats which have taken over their back garden in Strathclyde Avenue. The colony of feral cats has grown from one to 18 in an alarmingly short time. The householder said the cats have already sprung on people in the garden and he fears his five-year-old son or another child will be the next victim. "Some poor kid is going to wander into the garden and try and clap them and get tom to ribbons," he said. Cunninghame District Council say they are powerless as while there is legislation to cover stray dogs, they have no involvement with cats. Likewise, the police say they are powerless to move them on. The Scottish Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals say that stray cats are a far bigger problem than dogs. Because they breed three times a year, any difficulty can soon reach epidemic proportions. They encouraged the tenant to try and lure the cats into a shed and then contact them, so that they can collect them, but he says he has no shed and there are none round about. "The only thing would be to lure them into the house, but they would stink the place out," he said. *The downstairs windows in the house have to stay closed at all times as they climb in if you are not careful. I even found a dead kitten in four pieces in my bedroom once - it was horrible."

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on September 9, 2009

150 YEARS AGO in September 1859
Six rinks from Kilwinning met six rinks from Stevenson; the Masonic won by six shots.

A shark, one of the white species caught off Ayr, was exhibited at the butter market, Kilmarnock. It was eleven feet in length and six in girth.

The owners of Ann's Lodge, Ardrossan, had their chairs broken by some person unknown, so they have awarded a reward of £5 to anyone giving information which will lead to the conviction of the offender.

In the recent gale great numbers of razorbills, puffins, guillemots and gulls were washed ashore at Arran, the beach from Clauchland Point to Brodick Being literally strewn with them. The cause of their death was not known

Miss Lacey of Eglinton Road in Ardrossan invites applicants for piano lessons. She will call at your home.

100 YEARS AGO on September 19, 1909
A play entitled Barbara grows up by local playwright GJ Hamlen, Ardeer, is being presented this week in the Royalty Theatre, Glasgow.

During the week a remarkable selection of artificial flowers organised by the Watercress and Flowergirls' Christian Mission has been held in the Assembly Hall, Ardrossan.

Ardrossan School Board have appointed Mr James Porter, Glasgow, as Classics and English Master in the school at a salary of £130.

Last Thursday afternoon the Boat House at Bartonholm Road-end, Kilwinning was wrecked by fire. It is believed to have been caused by a spark from a passing road engine

50 YEARS AGO on September 11, 1959
We have received an interesting letter from Mr Albert E Cathcart of Hemston, Fakenham, Norfolk, who, with his wife and son, recently spent a fortnight in Ardrossan
He writes: "We have just returned home after a delightful fortnight's holiday with my daughter, Mrs Gladys Nelson, of 61 Clyde Terrace. We had wonderful weather all the time.
"We do congratulate the town council of the splendid layouts of their estates and the tenants on the pride they obviously take in their gardens, which are so neat and clean-looking. Everybody was so kind and neighbourly to us. I am 75 years of age and I much appreciated the courtesy and kindnesses of the bus conductresses. We went to Arran and along the Clyde Valley and I must say the scenery was delightful and far surpassed anything I have seen - and I have travelled most of the world. "We were made every welcome everywhere we went, especially by my daughter's friends Johnny and Ivy McClymont of Millglen Road. Altogether it was a really wonderful holiday - thank you Ardrossan."

A man from Gloucester who hitchhiked to Kilmarnock, where he arrived at six o'clock last Sunday morning, got a lift to Saltcoats where he joined the motor boat for Arran. Also on this boat was an English farmer and his wife and all enjoyed the sail.

When an Ardrossan man residing in Fullerton Square went to take in the milk last Sunday morning he discovered that the tops were off three of the pint bottles. A few yards away was a blackbird with a very guilty look.

Four generations of the Hogarths have been owners of Whitlees Farm. The first was John Hogarth well over a hundred years ago but for the past century it has been a William Hogarth who has owned Whitlees. Our information is that when John Hogarth came to Whitlees Farm he built the bridge which is part of the main road over the burn that runs from Whitlees Reservoir to Parkhouse Reservoir

25 YEARS AGO on September 7, 1984
Councillors and industrialists are to join forces in a final bid to save Hunterston's oil platform construction yard from the grave. They plan to launch a survey to find the best use for the yards, which had been abandoned by Ayrshire Marine Constructors.
But first Cunninghame District Council will plead with Scots Secretary George Younger to reverse his decision to give up his lease on the yard.

Mr Younger said earlier this year he would give up the £500,000 a year lease if there was no chance of another oil-related development taking over the yard. This week he announced he would be asking Ayrshire Marine Constructors, who sub-leased the yard from the Scottish Office, to tidy up the site. The yard, with its dock intact, will then revert to the original owners, the Hunterston Development Company Ltd and Clyde Port Authority

Sotheby's of London visited Seamill Hydro last week to hold an antiques roadshow. The show was organised by the RNLI and proceeds went to their funds.

Conservatives have questioned the motives and credibility of Cunninghame District Councillors who continue to criticise police involvements during the recent intensive and violent picketing at Hunterston Ore Terminal. Political chairman and former councillor Phil Gallie stated at a meeting in West Kilbride that the council would do better to concentrate on the catastrophic effect that the loss of Ravenscraig would have on Central Scotland and Cunninghame.

"If Cunninghame District Council Labour councillors spent more time pursuing the best interests of their constituents who depend on the ore terminal for their living and less on the political ideologies which provide the sole reason for the miners' strike they would be doing the job for which they were elected," said Mr Gallie
Saltcoats representatives said Labour were blinkered in their views and that the pickets had resorted to vicious ness and violence.

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

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Hughie wrote: Sun Jun 19, 2022 2:32 am From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on September 9, 2009






50 YEARS AGO on September 11, 1959
We have received an interesting letter from Mr Albert E Cathcart of Hemston, Fakenham, Norfolk, who, with his wife and son, recently spent a fortnight in Ardrossan
He writes: "We have just returned home after a delightful fortnight's holiday with my daughter, Mrs Gladys Nelson, of 61 Clyde Terrace. We had wonderful weather all the time.
"We do congratulate the town council of the splendid layouts of their estates and the tenants on the pride they obviously take in their gardens, which are so neat and clean-looking. Everybody was so kind and neighbourly to us. I am 75 years of age and I much appreciated the courtesy and kindnesses of the bus conductresses. We went to Arran and along the Clyde Valley and I must say the scenery was delightful and far surpassed anything I have seen - and I have travelled most of the world. "We were made every welcome everywhere we went, especially by my daughter's friends Johnny and Ivy McClymont of Millglen Road. Altogether it was a really wonderful holiday - thank you Ardrossan."





Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
You don't have to come from Ardrossan to appreciate the gentlman's letter.

Wonderful!
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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, 2009

150 YEARS AGO in September, 1859
A company of fifty gentlemen from the district met in the Eglinton Hotel, Ardrossan to celebrate the birthday of the Rt Hon The Earl of Eglinton.

A Report by the Royal Commissioners states that 43,072 men and 12,526 boats were engaged in the fisheries around the islands of Scotland and the Isle of Man.
The religious revival meetings started at Kilwinning a month ago are still being held nightly.

The direct steamer service between Ardrossan and Londonderry has been started by the steamer Ranger.

A potato grown at Stewarton weighed 1lb 5oz.

100 YEARS AGO on September 17, 1909
On Tuesday afternoon a shooting match took place between the members of the 4th Batt RSF (Saltcoats Coy) and Saltcoats townsmen at Irvine Range. It resulted in an easy win for the territorials.

The last in a series of galas was held last Saturday at Saltcoats Bathing Pond.

Mr John Blair, baker, Dalry, was successful in securing the gold medal for a pan loaf at the recent bakery exhibition in London.

Saltcoats Burgh Band won won first prize in the second section of the Ayrshire Amateur Brass Band Association Championship last Saturday.

A public meeting was held in West Kilbride Institute on Friday evening under the chairmanship of Mr James Cunningham to initiate a movement for the betterment of the village. A large committee was set up.

50 YEARS AGO on September 18, 1959
On Tuesday afternoon we heard of a case of vandalism at Stevenson shore and made our way there to have a look at the damage. From the old kiosk to the burn at the sandhills there was a disturbing sight. The summer seats made of wood and cement had been torn from their foundations and overturned. Most of them were damaged and two main stobs supporting a railing round the putting green had been pulled out. Wire litter baskets had also been wrenched from their supports and flattened. For several weeks windows at the old kiosk have been smashed and on one occasion ten were broken. When new panes of glass were inserted the wrongdoers scraped the putty out and took the glass away. The police give the shore area as much attention as possible but they should get more co-operation from the public. There are houses now on the shore front and those living there who hear the smashing of glass should notify the police.

Sgt A Archibald of the Ayrshire Constabulary recently gave an address to the Glasgow Rotary Club about his experience with tinkers. The sergeant is the son of Richard Archibald, Dockhead Street, Saltcoats.

On Tuesday evening about 5.30pm, road traffic between Kilwinning and Dalry was held up by a swan for a time. The bird was in no hurry and. having had no kerb drill, it never thought of looking to the right or left before crossing the road.

Between Friday night and Saturday morning of last week wooden pegs for marking the foundation of the new school at Stanley Farm, Ardrossan were pulled out and burned. The Burgh Clerk of Works has notified the police about the incident. Silly actions like this cause a lot of extra work.

Jack McKinnon, who left his native town of Ardrossan 46 years ago to reside in Aberfoyle where he has a hairdresser's business, is at present here on holiday. His late father, Mr Sam McKinnon, was employed on the railway and was a noted bowler.

There have been complaints about people dumping old fireplaces in the lane between Hill Place and Winton Street. Ardrossan and the police have given instructions that the practice must cease.

A retired man who visits Ardrossan South Shore daily informs us that there were a large number of dead seagulls there last week. The cause is not known but it was unpleasant to look at and the dead birds raised a high stink.

25 YEARS AGO on September 14, 1984
A Sheriff was this week accused of being biased about miners he was due to try.
The amazing complaint was levelled by a lawyer who alleged that during a night out, Sheriff David Smith of Kilmarnock had aired his views on the miners' strike and had "made up his mind" about pickets who were to appear before him on breach of the peace charges. In the event the men were fined. Sheriff Smith said he was "absolutely flabbergasted" that the solicitor, JRB Penny of Ayr who is, like the Sheriff, a member of the Ayr Curling Club Committee, had raised a matter discussed between the pair of them late at night at a club gathering. He said he would not disregard his judicial oath "to all manner of people according to the laws and usages of this realm without fear or favour, affection or ill-will”.

The Saltcoats industrial estate no-one wants has lost its only tenant. Phoenix Knitwear last week pulled out and moved to Irvine after expansion plans were frustrated. This week the company's managing director slammed the isolated Sharphill Industrial Estate as a "white elephant". Now a rescue plan is to be launched to make it more attractive to employers. Phoenix quit one of the five factory units at Sharphill after trying in vain to get workers to accept jobs there. ASSET, the local enterprise trust, have admitted there are s3erious problems with the site but slant to meet with the Scottish Development Agency soon to discuss ways of breathing new life into it.

Cunninghame North MP John Corrie has emphatically denied that his three-month-old air freight company is on the verge of collapse. Mr Corrie clammed newspaper reports that Corrie Hill (Scotland) was on the rocks. "We still have money in the bank and all our staff are working as normal," said the MP. “Besides, we are owed about half a million pounds from America."

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 23, 2009

150 YEARS AGO in September, 1859
Kilwinning held their anniversary of the Earl of Eglinton's Birthday. Flags were hosted on the steeple and the bells were made to give out their merriest peals during the greater part of the afternoon. In the evening 80 gentlemen dined in Mr Morrison's Hall.

Ardrossan Literary Society commenced the new session this week, with thirty present.

100 YEARS AGO on September 24, 1909
On Friday evening last the rooms of the new Stevenston Liberal Club were formally opened by Mr AM Anderson, the Liberal candidate for North Ayrshire. The new premises were formerly the Parochial School or Glebeland,

The Saltcoats Company of the RSF held their annual shooting competition last Saturday.

Stevenston Literary and Debating Society have appointed their office-bearers for the 1909/10 session.

The Stevenston Rechabite Tent, No 688, has appointed office-bearers for the coming session.

50 YEARS AGO on September 25, 1959
50 YEARS AGO - September 25, 1959
When housebreaking or vandalism occurs the usual cry of the public is "Where were the police when that happened?" We have heard this sort of stuff so often that we decided to make some enquiries.

In the Three Towns there is an aggregate population of approximately 35,600. The Merchants' Association have a membership of 2675 but there will be at least another 200 shopkeepers who are not members. There will also be about thirty licensed premises, not including hotels and clubs. Then there are pubic buildings, heavy road traffic and race meetings and, on occasion, visits from VIPs. In the trio of towns there are 29 constables, five sergeants and one inspector and between them they have to provide a twenty-four hours' service. Each day an average of two constables in each town have a day off. From the time shops and public buildings are closed at night until they open again the following morning the police will have tested the doors etc of the premises at least three or four times. Now you know where the police are - they are doing a very important job and doing it well.

Last Friday a man lost his pay packet in Ardrossan. It has not yet been recovered.

Dr John Ovenston, the son of Elizabeth Tarbert, an Ardrossan lady who is a cousin of provost James Dorian and who has been in Australia for more than 30 years, is leading a group of scientist to Canada, the USA and the United Kingdom this month and in October. Dr Ovenston intends visiting Ardrossan if possible. Provost Dorian recently had a visit from two Australian girls, one of whom is a close friend of Dr John's only sister, Beth.
Both girls are employed at Testing Station at Woomera. During their trip to Scotland they visited Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen and Glasgow. Strange to relate they thought that the people of Edinburgh and Inverness were very cold but the people of Glasgow and Aberdeen very friendly and warm-hearted,

Last Sunday the ship Duke Of Lancaster, which was on a nine-day cruise with more than 100 passengers on board, arrived at Brodick, Arran about 11am. The ships two motor boats and Mr Hugh Robertson's larger one took the passengers to and from the island. Mr Newlands opened Brodick Castle for the benefit of the visitors and on Sunday Mr Robertson was asked to take a stretcher back from the ship to Brodick Pler, where an ambulance was waiting to take a patient to the Cottage Hospital at Lamlash. Mr Robertson makes his last run of the season from Saltcoats to Arran on Sunday first with the newspapers. He has been engaged in this job every season for 25 years.

25 YEARS AGO on September 21, 1984
Ardrossan's dockers returned to work on Tuesday - but the cost of their strike has still to be counted. Ardrossan Harbour Company managing director George Barclay said he could not yet estimate the effect of the industrial action on the port. "It is very difficult - although it will certainly be a considerable amount. We will be trying to persuade our customers to come back and use the port as they did in the past. People sometimes find other outlets, so that may take a bit of persuasion."

The strike has also left a question mark over expansion plans by Ardrossan Harbour's biggest customer, Northern Ireland Trailers. They had expected to bring a new ship on to the Ardrossan Belfast run this year, doubling capacity, but management say such a move will now depend on their own customers' reaction to the strike

A West Kilbride man who risked his own life to save those of two others has been rewarded with a medal from the Royal Humane Society. Sandy Sayers (25) of Gateside Street was presented with a bronze medal and certificate at Seamill Hydro by Ayrshire's Lord Lieutenant, Colonel Bryce M Knox. Sandy towed a 10-year-old boy and an elderly man ashore - in separate dinghies - after plunging into the water to rescue them when they were being swept away by the tide at Seamill shore. "A few hundred yards offshore the Largs Lifeboat arrived - I couldn't have made it to the shore on my own, Sandy said. His wife Sandra - who had given birth to the couple's third child just two weeks ago, was dragged waist-deep into the sea as she struggled to keep hold of their dogs, who wanted to get in on the rescue themselves.

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

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Always - Find this so interesting.

Many thanks
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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

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From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on September 30, 2009

150 YEARS AGO in October, 1859
A MEETING was held in Ardeer Ironworks Schoolroom to form a Mutual Improvements Society and the office-bearers were appointed - Mr James Baird, president: Mr John Durroch, vice president: Mr Scott, treasurer, and Mr James Ormistone, secretary.

ALL the schools in West Kilbride have opened after the vacation. The village has now fewer than three certificated teachers, while some parishes larger have not yet one.

LAMLASH Fair. The attendance was good and plenty of stock was shown. There were, however, very few sales.

100 YEARS AGO on October 1, 1909
SALTCOATS had no lack of music last Saturday night when the Burgh Band, assisted by Kilbirnie and Glengarock United Brass Band attracted large crowds to Melbourne Park, attracted large crowds to Melbourne Park, and Kilwinning Flute Band drew a large audience to their concert at the G&S Railway Station.

ON Tuesday a cake and apron sale was held under the auspices of Ardrossan branch of the British Women's Temperance Association in the Town Hall, and the stallholders were: - Mrs Bannatyne. Mrs Dodds, Misses McGrath, Irvine and Hall, Mrs Irvine, Mrs Bradley Miss Brodie, Mrs Dunlop Misses Douglas, Hudson, Cunningham, Templeton McDowall, Steele and Poe, Mrs Hunter, Misses McKelvie and Glen, Mrs G Murray, Mrs Fawcett Misses Stirling, Baillie and Fawcett.

STEVENSTON School Board have appointed the following teachers: Stevenston School - Miss Jack Kilwinning, and Miss Ramage, Langholm, Kyleshill School - Miss Lindsay, West Kilbride, and Miss McKee, Glasgow.

AT a well-attended meeting held in Dalry Masonic last Friday it was resolved to form a Literary Society in the town, the following office-bear ers being appointed: Hon President Mr Andrew Altenpres, Mr DJ Altken; vice-presidents, Messrs A McQuacker and John Reid, secretary, Mr John McLeod, and treasurer ID Glass.

THE Kilbirnie St Bridget's Young Men's Society Amateur Dramatic Company gave the Irish drama, Rollicking Barney in St Bridger's Hall last Friday and Saturday. The players were: - James Arcarae, Bernard McOuade, Bridget Ross, James Mckinlay. Ross Gollogly, Nellie Cambridge, John Greenan, James Holden, Arthur Marron, Edward Daly and Robert Smith.

50 YEARS AGO on October 2, 1959
TOMORROW morning Provost James Dorrian will formally open the extension in Mill Glen Filter Station, Ardrossan. He will be accompanied by members and officials of the Town Council and invited guests and, after the ceremony, they will have lunch in the Eglinton Arms Hotel. The extension, which includes a new filter house, a filter attendant's house, and a high level water storage tank, has altogether cost in the region of £70,000 and the scheme has been completed in about 18 months.

The filter house has five filter shells(?) with room for a further three and the high-level storage tank can hold 85.000 gallons of water. The scheme was needed because of the growth on the higher ground of the town's housing developments and to augment the present filtering capacity of the station. Busbie Reservoir will feed the new plant, which is capable of filtering 60.000 gallons of water per day and which has more than doubled the capacity of the Mill Glen Filter Station Water from the new filters is led to the main storage tank at the station and to the new high-level tank which will supply the upper part of the housing development.

LAST Saturday marked another milestone in the life and history of Park Parish Church, Ardrossan when the congregation and friends worshipped for the first time in the new church building which has been erected by the National Church Extension Committee in the new housing area at the junction of Dalry Road and Stanley Road.

The occasion was the opening and dedication of the church by the Rev TM Murchison, MA, convener of the Church of Scotland Home Board, which took place in the presence of a representative congregation, which filled the church to overflowing.
Members of the Presbytery of Ardrossan were led by the Moderator, the Rev William Burnside MA, and members and officials of Ardrossan Town Council were headed by the senior magistrate Bailie Alcroft

I HAVE received a cutting from an Australian newspaper which read: "Wee George Laidlaw the Scotsman from Ireland, helped us to catch a possum the other day and said it was a scotch hedgehog He rang up the 200 to sell it for a bottle of Bond 7. You can't beat these Scotsmen. George lived in Ardrossan most of his life and is a native of Rutherglen.

HOUSEHOLDERS in Ailsa Gardens, Ardrossan, are complaining about the noise caused by youths and girls at the swings between 9.30pm and 11pm

MR Bill Robertson, of 15 Mayfield Avenue, Saltcoats, and an ex-forerman at Ardeer Factory, is now touring in America and Canada. In the States he met Irwin Clifford, an ex-Saltcoats Vics player, now in Buffalo.


25 YEARS AGO on September 29, 1984
SALTCOATS-based AT Mays is poised to strengthen its position as the third largest travel group in Britain. Negotiations are not yet finalised by AT Mays is set to take over a Newcastle-based company with 44 branches. If as expected the deal is completed in a month's time, AT Mays will take up third place in the league of British travel agents, with 185 branches.

But Mays' retail director Jamie Moffat stressed that the company head office will be remaining in Saltcoats. He also said that the acquisition of the Hunting Lambert chain would result in extra jobs at the headquarters in Nineyards Street. Mr Moffat refused to disclose how much the English company, a wholly owned subsidiary of financiers HR Samuel, would cost. But he did say that the combined new retail travel group would have a turnover in excess of £140 million a year. The proposed takeover will fill some of the gaps that exist in the AT Mays chain south of the border. It means a further expansion involving over 300 staff.

THE top deck of an AA Bus was destroyed causing £5,000 of damage on Monday
The bus was travelling along North Crescent Road, Ardrossan at Bpm when it burst into flames. Driver James Crombie of Irvine, noticed smoke coming from upstairs and when he investigated discovered a blaze in the back seats already underway. The fire brigade was called to extinguish the blaze which they believe was caused by a carelessly discarded cigarette.

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 7, 2009

150 YEARS AGO in October, 1859
After reading about the bad condition of the churchyard burial ground, Saltcoats, Thomas Workman, Esq. a native of Saltcoats and now of Canada West, has sent a subscription of £l that the last resting place of his father and mother may be kept in unison with Christian feeling".

A match of bowls was played on the green of Eglinton Castle between Ardrossan and Eglinton clubs, when the latter were the winners. The Earl of Eglinton was one of the players.

Within the Glasgow Faculty Hall, the estate of Pitcon and Lintseedridge in the Parish of Dalry, Ayrshire, extending to about 216 acres, with the mansion house of Pitcon, together with the metals and minerals of the property, was sold for the upset price of £17,500.

An arrangement is all but settled between the Lord of The Manor, AR Cunningham Esg, and a firm for a lease of a part of The Braes, Saltcoats and the under flat of the boat-house for the purposes of boat-building.

100 YEARS AGO in October, 1909
On Saturday last at the Boy Scouts' Review, Scotstoun, Master Baden-Powell Martin, born on Mafeking Day, had the honour of being presented to his distinguished namesake, Lieut-General RSS Baden-Powell, CB.

Miss Jenny McNaught, Saltcoats has been awarded the School Teacher's Full Certificate (Drawing) by the Glasgow School Of Art.

Lamlash Bay presented an animated sight on Wednesday. Besides the warships and torpedo craft, there were several little steamers and schooners taking shelter and about eighty boats of the herring fleet were lying at anchor.

The Ordinary General Meeting of the Kilwinning Gas Company Ltd was held in the Temperance Hall on Tuesday night, when Judge Smith, chairman, presided over a good attendance. The directors submitted their accounts for the past year which showed a gross profit of £394 0s 5d.

Beith Templars are going great guns just now. More than 50-of them paid a visit to the Mount Moriah Lodge, Kilbirnie on Wednesday night and were hospitably entertained. Bro Walker, CT, presided and there was a good concert programme.

50 YEARS AGO on October 9, 1959
The Church Of The Nazarene, Ardrossan, intimates that the opening services in the new church in Glasgow Street, formerly Park Church of Scotland, will take place on Saturday.

At the cinemas: As an insurance agent innocently involved with the James Gang - he sells a policy to an outlaw - Bob Hope graces Alias Jesse James, which begins a week's run at the Countess in Saltcoats. The Hangman, a decidedly non-traditional Western with cynical hero Robert Taylor and the villain audiences love Jack Lord is at the Regal for the first part of the week, being succeeded by Ferry To Hong Kong, starring drifter Kurt Jurgens on captain Orson Welles' ship. At the La Scala and The Grange on Monday two horror films share the bill - in The Spider a young couple are trapped in a cave with a voracious 50-ton example of the species while in The Brain Eaters, parasites unknown to man make a bid to take over the world. There are more thrills at La Scala on Thursday when, in Horrors Of The Black Museum, a crime reporter is found to have been the motivating force behind a series of diabolical murders.

Mr Francis Wyatt, 30 McDowall Avenue, Ardrossan is a keen gardener but does not grow tomatoes. Some time ago his wife told him there was a strange plant in his garden and they allowed it to grow. On Wednesday afternoon Mr Wyatt showed us the plant. It is a tomato plant bearing 30 tomatoes, two of which are almost ripe. Although growing out in the open, it is a very healthy plant.

A man and his wife from a North Ayrshire Town who went to England on holiday this year decided to take their cat with them. All went well until they were on the homeward journey. When they stopped the car at Chester the cat jumped nout and disappeared. The couple spent the whole day hunting the animal but without success. About six weeks later they found the cat sitting on their doorstep. We have been trying to get particulars about the cat but the public concerned do not want any publicity.

25 YEARS AGO on October 12, 1984
Three Saltcoats policemen were “arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and deported from Vancouver on Saturday. But the whole event was treated as a huge joke - as the Mounties knew the men were on the run to raise money for charity.
Community Policemen Jim McDonald and Bob Paterson with Custodian David Macdonald were "paroled" from Glasgow's Barlinnie Prison at 9am on Saturday and given 15 hours to get as far away as possible.

Around 30 teams of three were taking part in the event for the Strathclyde Federation of Boys' Clubs - but once the time was up, there was no doubting who had won, raising the tremendous total of £1000 for the youngsters and for the Yorkhill Bone Marrow Appeal. Thanks to Alander Travel of Saltcoats, who were in on the scheme, the cops were picked up at the Bar-L, raced to Prestwick airport by car and put on a Wardair flight to the Pacific Coast of Canada. Both Alander and Wardair did the job for free as the men were not allowed to spend any money on their amazing jaunt.

"We spend most of our time in Canada posing for photographs," PC Macdonald said. "Amazingly, the first person I met when we got off the plane was an ex-pat from Fairlie!"

Packed houses in local cinemas this week, where audiences at the Regal in Saltcoats have been enjoying Harrison Ford of Star Wars fame in Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom, with BMX Bandits showing across the La Scala 1 and Comfort And Joy retained for a week up the stairs.
Over in Irvine, the WMR Film Centre is showing a mixed bag including Rear Window, Romancing The Stone, King Kong Escapes and Yentl.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original
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