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Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 2:28 pm
by brian f
Hughie wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 9:58 am Archives from the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald of 28 February 2007.

LB28Feb07.jpg
Bruce and bonzo - Hopefully, the phantom will not return. :evil:

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:14 am
by Hughie
From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on the 7 March 2007

100 YEARS AGO Friday March 8, 1907
THE North Ayrshire Auction Mart which has its headquarters at Kilwinning, has been taken over by Mr Dugald McKinnon, auctioneer, West Kilbride

AT the annual social and dance of Ardrossan Winton Rovers Football Club in the Town Hall on Friday songs were sung by Miss McNay, Miss Jackson, Mr JT Woodburn, Mr Hugh Allison, and humorous readings were given by Miss Jeanie Stewart.

THE meeting of West Kilbride Mutual Improvement Association last Wednesday debated the question: "Would a railway or tramway to the pier at Portencross benefit the locality and the negative was carried by a small majority.

AT the annual social of West Kilbride Mutual Improvement Association, the secretary, Miss Edith Young, reported that the membership was 226. Songs were sung by Miss Adams, and violin solos played by Master Jack G Smart

MR CS Parker, of Fairlie House, has presented a reference library of 22 volumes to Fairlie School

AT Ayrshire Quarter Sessions, Mr Alexander R Wilson, Solicitor, Irvine, was appointed joint Procurator Fiscal for Irvine, along with Mr J Norval Murray.

DR ALLAN, Ardrossan, has been appointed for the first year as medical officer to examine candidates for enrolment as junior students at Ardrossan Academy.

ARDROSSAN United Free Presbytery considered the proposal to unite the congregations of Mansfield, and Erskine Churches, Kilwinning, and agreed to take no action in the matter.

5O YEARS AGO Friday March 8, 1957
Plans for the erection of a new church at the comer site of Dalry Road and Stanley Road, Ardrossan, are now in the hands of the Church Extension Committee in Edinburgh, and it is hoped that work will begin in the very near future. This new church is in the area of Park Church Parish, and the present membership will be transported when the building has been completed. An invitation will be given to everyone in the area who may have no Church connection of who may wish to transfer, to come and worship at the new church.

THE unofficial strike of shipwrights at Ardrossan Dockyard Limited has now entered its third week, with no settlement in sight. The men-32 shipwrights, 14 apprentices and two boys - were employed on piecework and the dispute arose over a claim by the men for "a fairer distribution of piecework in the department and an increase in their rate of pay when not on "priced" jobs.
On the second day of the strike, Thursday February 21, they were offered an increase which brought their "Lieu" rate up to 5/- per hour, but the men turned it down on the grounds that corresponding rates in other departments in the yard were higher. On Thursday, Mr John Coleman, managing director of the yard, said that there were no further developments in the strike

ON the pavement side of the bridge dividing New Street and Shore Road, Stevenston, a handrail has been erected to keep children and pedestrians of the road at that dangerous point. MR Alex Duff, who represented the Stevenson Old Age Pensioners at London recently in connection with the request for an increase in pensions, was delighted with the arrangements made for them in London by their association.

POPULAR stationmaster at Largs for the past eight years, Mr George Manson will be retiring in almost a week's time having completed almost 50 years of railway service. He is a native of the Black Isle but will be spending his retirement in Largs, where he has many happy Associations.

25 YEARS AGO Friday March 5, 1982
ICI announced a £1m expansion project at their Ardeer Organics Division this week and although the cash injection will not create new permanent jobs, it will secure the future of 34 people working on the production of a unique chemical, Acorga. In the short term this investment will also bring work to Ayrshire contractors, who will benefit from the spin off of the £1m investment. The chemical has been pioneered at Stevenson and is now in great demand throughout the world's copper mining countries

The Acorga separates copper from other materials and is very useful in mines where the copper content in the ore is very low. The ore is broken down and then dissolved and Acorga added. The chemical acts like a "magnet the copper, enabling it to be extracted efficiently and cheaply compared with the traditional method of using electricity. Other similar chemicals had been used in the past for the mining industry but the unique quality of the Ardeer product is its sensitivity. An ICI spokesman said there was a possibility of further expansion in the markets for this product. perhaps for use in other mines. He also confirmed that ICI had no plans to produce Acorga many other of their plants.

A HURRICANE ravaged the Ayrshire coast this week...causing havoc and leaving chaos in its path. Buildings were damaged on Tuesday night, when winds of up to 100 miles per hour battered the West of Scotland. The former swimming pool in Saltcoats was described by onlooker as being like a bomb site as blocks of concrete were washed from the sea wall through the boating pond and onto the adjoining area.
A general storage shed, owned by Ardrossan Harbour Company, had part of its glass panelled roof blown into the building and at Mason's Furniture Shop in Dockhead Street, Saltcoats, part of the roof was ripped off in the gale. Tuesday night's gales reached Force 11 - hurricane level - and by Wednesday morning. Saltcoats police had already begun to receive complaints from tenants about damaged roofs.
In the Montfode Estate, Ardrossan, two garages were completely blown off their foundations. One garage was completely wrecked by the force of its fall and the other had a badly damaged roof. Wooden fencing in the estate was dragged from the ground as gusts raged through the streets.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 8:47 pm
by Hughie
From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on the 14 March 2007

50 YEARS AGO Friday March 13 1907
ARDROSSAN, Saltcoats and Stevenston Choral Society, under the baton of Mr Burgoyne, rendered Coleridge Taylor's Hiawatha in Saltcoats Town Hall on Tuesday.

A STEVENSTON man. Mr James Reeves, walked from Stevenson to Glasgow in five and a half hours on Saturday afternoon during a severe snowstorm. Reeves is willing to "walk any man during the district for a prize over 15 or 30 miles.

AT the evening service in Trinity Church, Saltcoats on Sunday the following elders were ordained: -Messrs Archibald Wallace, Alex Caldwell and William Kennedy

THE governors of Spier's School, Beith, are going to spend £4500 on structural alterations to the buildings The Trust Estate is of the value of £45,000 and was left by Mrs Margaret Gibson or Spier who died in 1820.

AT the annual meeting of West Kilbride Bowling Club the following office bearers were appointed: President, Dewar Paton: Vice-President, James Robertson: Secretary, PM Jack: Treasurer, D Paton: Committee - JC Spiers, TD Penman, W Craig. R Craig, W Brownlie, JC Jack and A Gray.

BEITH Parish Council have rented the premises occupied by Mr Gemmell, chemist at the Cross, as an office for the clerk. The rent is £14.

A PETITION against the formation of a bathing pond in Saltcoats has been going the rounds this week

50 YEARS AGO March 15 1957
THE wage dispute between shipwrights and management at Ardrossan Dockyard Limited which caused 32 journeymen, 14 apprentices and two boys to go on strike on Thursday, February 21, is still unsettled. The men say they will not return to work until they receive an increased rate when not on piecework to bring them in line with other departments at the yard. They also want a "fairer distribution of piecework."

COMPLAINTS have been received about children playing a dangerous game. Every school day about 4pm, children go on to the railway line between Park Road and Barrie Terrace. Sometimes they try to wait on the line until the train is almost upon them and on other occasions they place obstacles on the line. Parents should check up on this serious complaint.

ARISING out of a letter from the Treasurer, Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers, Glasgow South Branch, calling attention to the rescue from drowning effected at Saltcoats Harbour last year by Mr William Cox, 18 East Croft, Rutherglen of a six-year-old boy. Saltcoats Town Council resolved that the commendation of the council on behalf of the people of Saltcoats be conveyed to Mr Cox and a donation of £5 be paid to him from the free fund.

BAILIE Hyslop, secretary of Stevenson Branch of the British Legion, has notified the old age pensioners that his committee have unanimously decided that the old people can continue to have the use of the Legion Hall on any day rent free

MR DPB Campbell, Montgreenan Kennels, had an outstanding win at the Scottish Kennel Club show in the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, on March 2. His English Springer dog, champion Inverruel Raider (best gundog at Crufts, 1956) was best of breed, winning the open dog class and the Kennel Club challenge certificate for the breed.

MISS E Smith has retired from St Palladius School, Dalry, on completion of 40 years' service. Parishioners and staff of the school gathered in Dalry Public Hall last Tuesday evening to pay tribute to Miss Smith and present her with a Spiritual Bouquet and cheque to mark the occasion

25 YEARS AGO Friday March 12, 1982
PARENTS and teachers at a Saltcoats special needs school were this week cock-a-hoop following a famous victory over Strathclyde education bosses. For, after a lengthy battle they have won their fight to save from the axe James McFarlane School. The regional council had planned to close the school sited in the former Decontamination Centre in Campbell Street, Saltcoats, and transfer the pupils to Hazeldene, Kilwinning. Parents and teachers immediately opposed the move and, backed by the School Council, launched a campaign to save the school Now that campaign has borne fruit, David has beaten Goliath and the school stays open. But, while the parents may have won this battle...the war has yet to be won. Because, even they accept that the present makeshift accommodation is totally inadequate - one of the main regional council arguments for closure and they want to see a new home provided for the school. Education basses agree that alternative accommodation should be sought in the Saltcoats area.

ABBA --the pop supergroup from Sweden - were invited to play a gig at the Regal Cinema in Saltcoats last week. The plan was to have them as the star attraction of the Three Towns Festival, but a price of £250,000 has put the group just a little out of reach! To break even, Mr Brian Kemp. owner of the Regal Cinema. would have to sell tickets for the concert at almost £400 a time. "They were a lot more expensive than I had imagined," he said.

ANOTHER Glasgow Street trader shut up shop this week. Mathieson's, the licensed grocer, is the latest victim of massive rents and rates increases to have to close its doors. A notice was placed in the empty shop window on Friday, explaining that high rents and rates had forced the business to fold only weeks before another rates rise is due. Mr Donald Mathieson, who ran the shop told The Herald this week that an accumulation of rents and rates rises had played a major part in the closure, He added: "The public are chased away from Ardrossan; they head for Saltcoats. There is just no passing trade. commented Mr Mathieson.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 9:03 pm
by bonzo
ABBA --the pop supergroup from Sweden - were invited to play a gig at the Regal Cinema in Saltcoats last week. The plan was to have them as the star attraction of the Three Towns Festival, but a price of £250,000 has put the group just a little out of reach! To break even, Mr Brian Kemp. owner of the Regal Cinema. would have to sell tickets for the concert at almost £400 a time. "They were a lot more expensive than I had imagined," he said
I remember this, think they might have decided on Big Country as they were about £395 a ticket cheaper.

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 9:43 pm
by brian f
A STEVENSTON man. Mr James Reeves, walked from Stevenson to Glasgow in five and a half hours on Saturday afternoon during a severe snowstorm. Reeves is willing to "walk any man during the district for a prize over 15 or 30 miles.
Could you have beat this gentleman- bonzo ? Its common knowledge cyclists are as fit as ....

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 12:29 pm
by glenshena
Anyone recognise anyone in this old 1950s photograph of presentation night at ICI?

Image

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 12:53 am
by Hughie
From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on the 21 March 2007

100 YEARS AGO Friday March 22, 1907
THE stationmasters of Saltcoats and Stevenston were summarily dismissed from the service of the G&SW Railway yesterday - a result of an action by a shareholders following on the disaster at Saltcoats Railway Station last August. See topic

THE Ardrossan School Board are of the opinion that the Bill at present before Parliament that local authorities should provide premises and meals for the feeding of school children from the rates, does not concern them.

MR JB Lawson, organist of the New Parish Church, Ardrossan, on Tuesday inaugurated in the Scotch Church in Amsterdam, Holland, a new organ built to his specification. He gave two recitals there.

AT a special meeting, Saltcoats Town Council's resolve to build a bathing pond at the Saltpans was confirmed.

AT the annual social of the Stevenston Parish Church Young Men and Women's Guild in the Conservative Hall on Wednesday addresses were given by Provost Donaldson, Saltcoats, the Rev R Steele and Mr James Morrison Songs were rendered by Miss M Forsyth, Messrs P Reid, W McBride and John Forsyth.

THE recently erected and modernly equipped hosiery factory of Messrs Fleming Reid & Co in Dalry was totally destroyed by fire in the early hours of Monday morning.

AN advertisement states that a hall keeper is wanted for West Kilbride Institute at a weekly wage of 27/6d to cover all duties.

50 YEARS AGO March 22 1957
LAST weekend about 350 workers at Ardrossan Dockyard Limited joined the official strike of shipyard-workers throughout Britain. On the Clyde shipyards alone, 35,000 men are out. Among the Ardrossan strikers are about 100 apprentices, who were not compelled by their unions to join the strike, but decided in favour of joining it. On Monday morning, the joiner apprentices at the yard went to work, but after consultations with a shop steward, joined the strike at midday. The 32 shipwrights and 16 apprentices at the yard, who have been on unofficial strike for the past four weeks, have joined the shipyard workers' official strike. Work at the Ardrossan yard has been at a standstill since Monday, with only the staff and some labourers at their jobs. Meanwhile, the local industrial scene may take on an even duller hue next week, with the threat of a full-scale engineering strike in the country.

25 YEARS AGO March 19 1982
A KILWINNING minister's life is being made hell because of thugs, vandals, gang fights and people who use his garden as a toilet. He also claims that young men and women use his garden for other activities!" The astonishing claims were made by the Rev Ronald Stitt of Mansefield Church, at a meeting of Cunninghame's Licensing Board. He was leading a massive protest against a proposed disco complex adjoining to the Balmoral Lounge bar. Other protestors include doctors from a neighbouring surgery, and the congregations of both Mansefield and Abbeygate Church. They complain that if Flicks Disco is allowed to open the litter, nose, fighting and vandal problems already existing around Almswall Road will dramatically increase.

Mr Stitt brought his own evidence of the problems he lives with to the Licensing Board... he produced before the Board a plastic bag full of glasses and litter which he claims were thrown into his garden by customers of the Balmoral Lounge. And he told of the night when "blood nearly ran in the gutters" as more than 30 young men fought a running battle outside The Manse. And he complained that his children were in danger while playing in the garden from bottles and glasses which are thrown over the wall into our back garden." But the protesting young minister raised eyebrows even further when he said that his back garden was used for sex by young men and women. The Licensing Board voted unanimously to allow the disco plan to go ahead and a provisional entertainment licence was granted.

QUITE a transformation has been made to the town of Dalry this week by the erection of new street lamps. If all the old houses which have been partly demolished were removed the amenities would be greatly improved.

ARDROSSAN Ship In Distress read the headline in a Glasgow newspaper this week. The ship, the 11,810 ton motor tanker, Baron Kilmarnock, was bound for Texas from Oslo when she developed engine trouble 50 miles north west of Terschelling. Holland. The crew radioed that the ship was in distress and a tug. The Holland went to their aid. On Monday, the tug stood by while the crew of the Baron Kilmarnock attempted to repair the engine fault. The ship, owned by H Hogarth and Sons Ltd, who have their headquarters in Glasgow, is registered in Ardrossan as are all the company's vessels.

WHEN the work of altering and decorating Ardrossan Police Station is completed, it will be one of the most modern police stations in the district. People calling there on business will not enter the charge room as before. There are now three separate rooms, the business counter, the typist's room and the sergeant's room.

YOUNG Louis Ferguson, who does a power of work for the disabled in this areas, has been rewarded for his efforts. At a special ceremony in Glasgow City Chambers on Monday. Louis (15), who suffers. from muscular dystrophy, was presented with the Junior Disabled Scot of the Year Award. It was fitting tribute to the teenager who is well known locally for his fundraising efforts - last year he raised more than £1,000 on his own to go towards a Possum typewriter for a young disabled girl in Kilwinning. Louis is very keen on sports and it is through swimming - his favourite pursuit -- that he raises most of the money. He is an accomplished swimmer and last year swam twice for Scotland. He puts in a lot of training at Garnock Pool, where he is a member of Cunninghame Action Club


Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:01 am
by John Donnelly
'MR JB Lawson, organist of the New Parish Church, Ardrossan, on Tuesday inaugurated in the Scotch Church in Amsterdam, Holland, a new organ built to his specification. He gave two recitals there.'
That's interesting. That church is still going strong and it's still called the Scots Church. It is a beautiful wee church in a stunning location in the middle of Amsterdam. It is in the centre of a courtyard, which is almost secret, surrounded by a wonderful garden. If you don't know it's there, you'll never find it. It was built for visiting seamen to the port.
We used to go there every year for the Remembrance Day service on 11/11. I knew pastor John Cowie quite well. He's long since retired and returned to Scotland.

A nostalgic JD.

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 8:17 pm
by Hughie
There was mention on the Kilwinning FB site that Louse died this morning.
Hughie wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2020 12:53 am
YOUNG Louis Ferguson, who does a power of work for the disabled in this areas, has been rewarded for his efforts. At a special ceremony in Glasgow City Chambers on Monday. Louis (15), who suffers. from muscular dystrophy, was presented with the Junior Disabled Scot of the Year Award. It was fitting tribute to the teenager who is well known locally for his fundraising efforts - last year he raised more than £1,000 on his own to go towards a Possum typewriter for a young disabled girl in Kilwinning. Louis is very keen on sports and it is through swimming - his favourite pursuit -- that he raises most of the money. He is an accomplished swimmer and last year swam twice for Scotland. He puts in a lot of training at Garnock Pool, where he is a member of Cunninghame Action Club

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:09 am
by Hughie
From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on the 28 March 2007

100 YEARS AGO Friday March 29, 1907
THE G&SW Railway Company's new turbine steamer. Atalanta, takes up the Ardrossan-Arran run tomorrow,

AT the annual meeting of Ardrossan Hearse Society, Mr William Guthrie was re-elected chairman, Mr Hugh Gemmill and Mr James Fullerton, secretary and treasurer, and Mr Alan Gilfillan was added to the committee

THE annual dance under the auspices jointly of the Ardrossan Academy Cadet Corps and Literary Society was held in the Drill Hall, Ardrossan, on Friday, Music was provided by Legg's Band and solos by Misses Forrest and Miller. and Messrs Dunbar and Duncan, a stop dance by Messrs Dunkeld and Hamilton and musical selections by the Academy Literary Society Review.

THE operetta. The Review of the Colours was given by the children of Park United Free Church, Ardrossan, in the Church Hall on Wednesday, the performers being Misses Kate Dunlop. Annie Mackay. Jessie McBean, Chrissie Campbell, Mary Bradley. Barbara Brown, Peggy Barr and Messrs Samuel Gracie and Harry Barr

AT the annual business meeting of West Kilbride Mutual Improvements Association it was agreed that money received from the West Kilbride Dramatic Club after a recent performance be used to erect a bridge on the shore below the mill at Seamill.

THE soloists at the annual entertainment of Ist Stevenston Company Boys' Brigade and Girl Guides were Mrs McGillivray, Mr McLellan and Miss Emma Higgins (elecutionist), Mr James Morrison was chairman.

50 YEARS AGO March 29 1957
ON Wednesday morning, a baby boy was born in an ambulance which was on its way from Ardrossan to Irvine. The mother, Mrs Jane Shennan of Barr Street, Ardrossan, and the baby were latter reported to be doing well. When the ambulance driver realised that he would be unable to take Mrs Shennan to Ayrshire Central Hospital before the birth, be stopped at Buckreddan Maternity Hospital, Kilwinning. But the baby was born a few minutes before the ambulance arrived there, the midwife being Mrs Shennan's husband.

JIM Crawford, a local member of Beith Juniors FC was the guest of Stoke City Football Club for a period of 10 days. Jim took part in several trial games and pleased the club's directorate. Terms were offered but in the meantime Jim has returned home.

A GIANT chocolate egg, which will raise funds for West Kilbride Pipe Band. is attracting attention in the window of Mrs McLean's confectionery shop in Main Street.

ARDROSSAN Burgh workers are engaged making a road from the main carriageway at Castlecraigs into the south tennis court, which will be used as a parking place for cars.

ON Wednesday a German ship arrived at the port of Ardrossan with a large cargo of scrap iron. She is the Klas Oldendorff of New York.

THE Overton Junior Choir presented the operetta, Princess Chrysanthemum in the Church Hall on the evenings of Thursday and Friday last week. A full house each evening greeted the production of this familiar and ever-popular work, and a performance of high standard, both in singing and acting, was enthusiastically received. The principals acquitted themselves well. Anne Jack as the Princess gave a graceful and appealing performance. Her sisters, Prince So-tru and Prince So-Sli were portrayed effectively by Brian Jack and Janet Kerr, Wendy Macnab, as Top Not, the Court Chamberlain ably kept the action of the play moving. and Colin Jack as the Emperor, What-For-Whi extracted all the humour from the part with his rather doubtful ideas of clemency.

25 YEARS AGO Friday March 26, 1982
NORTH Ayrshire received a tremendous boost this week when George Younger, Secretary of State for Scotland, announced the setting up of an enterprise allowance pilot scheme. The scheme, which will be established by the Manpower Services Commission, will help unemployed people, who have some capital, to set up a business of their own. Central Ayrshire MP David Lambie, who has been pushing for weeks for a scheme of this sort to come out of the area said: "The position at the moment is that, when an unemployed person announces he is going to set up a business of his own, he is no longer entitled to unemployment benefit.

"This means that he is immediately having to delve into the capital he has saved and that capital can go very quickly in the difficult early months." The new scheme, though, which comes into effect from April 2, will give someone who starts up a business, £40 a week for the first year, provided he or she has £1,000 capital to invest in the business. "This will give the person's family some security for the year, whereas before there was no regular income," said Mr Lambie.

MP for Bute and North Ayrshire, John Corrie, who along with Mr Lambie, met with George Younger in London last week said: "I am delighted that this scheme has come to Cunninghame. There is no area which deserved it more, bearing in mind the problems we have with unemployment.

THE mighty Strathclyde Regional Council are claiming that a private bus operator in Kilwinning is threatening the £63m plan to electrify Ayrshire's railway link to Glasgow. They say they envisage bus companies creaming off a big slice of the commuter traffic... and they view the problem so seriously that they have stated the whole project will have to be looked at very closely again before it is finally given the go ahead. But Mr John Bennett, who has just started his new express bus service to Glasgow from Ardrossan via Saltcoats, Stevenston, Kilwinning and Irvine says he finds the region's fears amazing. "The absolute maximum number I can take on my bus service on one day is 200 people each way and I am sure no other operators are considering opening up a service like the one I run from North Ayrshire.

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 12:12 am
by Hughie
From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on the 4 April 2007

100 YEARS AGO April 5 1907
A BY-LAW adopted by Ardrossan Town Council banning the riding of ponies on the beach has now come into operation

ON Saturday evening last a robbery took place in the mail train from Glasgow to Ardrossan for the Belfast steamer. When the train arrived at Ardrossan it was found that a number of postal hampers had been forced open and the contents removed.

THE Executive Committee under the Churches Act (Scotland) issued on Wednesday a list of decisions whereby to the Free Church has been awarded Saltcoats South Beach Church. The United Free Church retain Saltcoats Landsborough and Stevenston Church.

STEVENSTON Cooperative Society have resolved to convert two dwelling houses in Warner Place into shops and commence a fleshing department.

THE Canadian emigration boom has reached Kilbirnie, no less than four young men having left Glengamock on Saturday for Canada

50 YEARS AGO • April 5 1957
THE shipyard and engineering strikes - they involved 50,000 Scottish shipyard workers and 20,000 engineers among the 1,700,000 strikers all over Britain - were called off on Tuesday, and the men were to return to work yesterday pending the outcome of Courts of Inquiry set up by Mr Iain Macleod, Minister of Labour.

At Ardrossan Dockyard yesterday morning the managing director, Mr John C Coleman told a Herald reporter that some 250 men in the big shipyard who were involved in the big shipyard strike were back at their jobs, but the 32 shipwrights and 16 apprentice shipwrights who stopped work in February last were still out. Mr Coleman added that, if the shipwrights strike continued, workers in other trades would eventually become redundant. The shipwrights were employed on piecework and the dispute, we understand, arose over a claim for a "Fairer distribution of piecework in their rate of pay when not on "priced jobs.

THE Chief Constable of Ayrshire has issued a warning that, in order to test the Air Raid Sirens in the County, a steady note will be sounded for a short time on Saturday, April 6 (tomorrow).

AT the Burgh Court, Kilwinning on Monday, Police Judge Fleming on the bench, two local men were charged under the Road Traffic Act - cycling together on a pedal cycle. They were found guilty and fined £1 each. A local woman on charges of assault and breach of the peace was admonished on each charge.

MONDAY being the annual Factory Holiday, many workers in Kilwinning took advantage of the excursion to Edinburgh. Others were content to do "hard labour in their gardens.

MR George Burns, a native of Stevenston, is the secretary of the first Annual Ayrshire Reunion, Gary, Indiana. This is a new organisation which has become very popular.

UNAWARE that the local salvage workmen were on holiday on Monday was the reason housewives were dismayed to find their garbage had not been taken away. Ironically enough, it was "All Fools Day"

MRS McCormack presided on Wednesday of last week at a concert given by the Kersland School of Dancing, taught by Miss Rose Galloway, HDSA. The large audience in the Walker Memorial Hall were entertained by a long and varied programme of songs and dances. Mr McCormack also proposed a comprehensive vote of thanks to all those who had made the evening enjoyable, and at the same time helped the funds of the Old People's Welfare Committee.

MISS Edith Macarthur of Ardrossan is playing the leading role in the comedy The Burning Glass which is being staged at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow this week.

25 YEARS AGO April 2 1982
A DESPERATE bid is being made to save 70 jobs at the Beithcraft furniture plant. Beithcraft, the biggest employer in Beith, looks set to close if a buyer cannot be found in the next few days. The jobs would counteract the efforts of the Garnock Valley Task Force and knock unemployment up to nearly 35 per cent. But Bob Adams, managing director of the parent company, AH Mackintosh, said: "I am still hopeful that we can find a buyer. We have had some interest expressed but it is difficult to know how it will tum out. Time is against us.

"It would be a great tragedy if Beithcraft was to close as the furniture company have been in the town for more than 100 years. It is a good factory producing wonderful furniture. But unfortunately the furniture industry has been one of the hardest hit businesses. And we can see no sign of an upturn." A deadline for their search for a buyer had been set for Wednesday night and it marked the end of the financial year but efforts to find one are continuing through the Scottish Development Agency. The workers at Beithcraft were told about the pending closure on Monday. There would appear to be little hope of any of the workers being re-employed in the town which used to have about six furniture companies. But now Beithcraft, which was taken over by the parent company seven years ago is the only major furniture company in the town.

LOCHWINNOCH is to get its own museum and extension to its library at a cost of more than £112,000. The ambitious project has been approved by Renfrew District Council and when completed it will add a whole new dimension to the leisure and recreation facilities in the town. The news was welcomed this week by Mrs Elizabeth Whyte, librarian in charge at the existing Lochwinnoch Library in High Street. "This should encourage a lot more people to use the library," she said. The library was formerly a school and an empty building adjoining was as the janitor's house. The project takes in a plan to convert the house into a museum.

BRITISH Steel Corporation chairman, Mr lan McGregor has warned the Joint Shop Stewards Committee at Glengarnock that the financial situation at the works is "serious".


Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original

Re: Looking Back - Herald files

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2020 8:22 pm
by Hughie
From the Archives of the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald published on the 11 April 2007

100 YEARS AGO Friday April 12 1907
AT the half-yearly Licensing Count for the Burgh of Saltcoats, a grocer's licence was granted to Mr Robert Couper Wilkie for premises at 46 Dockhead Street, for which the applicant has taken over from Mr George Brown

THE loss to the local rating authorities from unoccupied house was set forth by the Clerk to the Parish Council on Tuesday. Fifty three empty houses in Ardrossan represent a drop in the assessable amount of £782 and 23 in Saltcoats part of the Parish, of which £339 10/-

THE congregation of Mansefield UF Church, Kilwinning meeting on Tuesday, agreed to give a unanimous call to the Rev Mr Husband, of Paisley

AT Kilbirnie, rails are now being laid from the Caley Railway to Birsenowe pit. When it and the Glengarnock pits are in operation mining will be busy in this locality again

THERE were 179 applications for the post of hall keeper at West Kilbride Institute.

5O YEARS AGO April 12 1957
BUTE and North Ayrshire Unionist Association at a special general meeting in Largs on Saturday last unanimously approved a resolution by their Executive Council, adopting Mr Fitzroy Maclean, MP for Lancaster, as prospective candidate for the constituency at the next General Election in succession to Sir Charles MacAndrew, who is retiring. Mr Maclean, who attended the meeting, was accompanied by his wife and others present included Sir Charles and Lady MacAndrew.

THE unofficial strike of 32 shipwrights and 16 apprentice shipwrights which began in Ardrossan Dockyard in February last still continues, and on Tuesday of this week it resulted in another batch of workers being paid off-six joiners, five riveter, two caulkers and one craneman. The number of men made redundant as a result of the strike now totals 47. At Ardrossan Dockyard on Wednesday morning the managing director, Mr John Coleman, told a Herald reporter that the strike was discussed at a meeting held in the Ministry of Labour offices in Glasgow on Tuesday, Among those present were officials of the Clyde Shipbuilders Association, a representative of the shipwright union, and three of the strikers. Mr Coleman was also present. An offer made by the management was turned down by the striker at a meeting called by the Strike Committee in Ardrossan yesterday morning

MISS JM Bank Postal and 'Telegraph Officer, who retired recently from Stevenson Post Office, was presented on a day in the presence of her colleagues with the Imperial Service Medal. Making the presentation, Mr McLean, the Head Postmaster, explained that these awards which are approved by Her Majesty the Queen, are not given as a right for long service alone but as awards for long service alone but as awards for long and meritorious service. He congratulated Miss Banks on the high honour worthily cared in her 44 years' service in the Post Office.

THE BURGH Surveyor has been authorised to arrange the removal of the old wall on the street frontage of the ground as the corner of the Grange Road and High Road, Stevenson, acquired from Mr Charles W Smyth

SIX new streets in Saltcoats are to bear the names Mossgiel, Jean Armour, Ellisland, Lochlea, Carrick and Doon (with appropriate designations)

SALTCOATS Burgh Surveyor has reported that the storm overflow at Winton Street is now in working order, but a tide valve has yet to be installed.

25 YEARS AGO April 9 1982
THE fear of war has been instilled into the lives of dozens North Ayrshire families as the British fleet sails to the Falkland Islands. All Royal Navy seamen on leave were instructed to get back to their ships this week and many merchant seamen had their leave cancelled. The reality of war was relayed to Saltcoats police station in the form of a telex from the War Office instructing them to contact all navy personnel and pass on the emergency message to return to base.

Mr George Howell (22) arrived at his Kilwinning home for 17 days leave last Friday. He had been home only a few hours when he was told to get aboard his ship HMS Hermes. George, of Pollock Crescent, Kilwinning, missed the christening of his newly.bom niece at the weekend. Also aboard the HMS Hermes is Alec McGovern, of David's Crescent. Kilwinning. Alee (21) was due to home on leave this week that has since been cancelled
Central Ayrshire MP David Lambie recently visited the Falkland Islands as part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary legislation. He said: "The naval task force will win a sea battle with the Argentinean Navy. but we will not win the war. The 1.800 British citizens on the island prevent an attack by our forces."

Bute and North Ayrshire MP, John Corrie said: "The Government has mishandled the situation, but now Mrs Thatcher has put her job on the line by stating that she will bring the Falklands back under British Sovereignty. We can win the sea battle and then put a blockade around the island if diplomacy does not win us the island back

THE embargo on imports from the Argentine will hit Wilson's Food Factory in Kilwinning who buy 500 Tons of beef from the South American country every year. A cargo of 170 tons of beef arrived in this country from Argentina earlier this week and is being held in bond before collection by Wilson's. A spokesman for the company said that consignment could be the last that will be allowed to be used. Another cargo is at present in transit between Argentina and the port of Newhaven but it is likely to be turned back, Wilson's say they will arrange for alternative beef supplies from Australia and New Zealand

Thanks to Tom McGrattan for the original