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CHATTERBOX
No 273 September 2016
www.lochwinnoch.info
www.facebook.com/lochwinnoch
Community newsletter produced by Lochwinnoch Chatterbox Trust
What’s On & Dates for your Diaries
Village events, clubs, classes, etc are in the centre pages
2017 is the year of the Renfrewshire
Federation of SWI Show and also
the Centenary of the SWI in
Scotland so there are a lot of
"extras" to enjoy this season.
Scottish Country Dance
Club
I don`t like to bring up the subject
but as the dark nights loom, it is time
to think about how we can have some
fun and exercise in the Autumn and
Winter evenings.
I have the answer !
Come and join us in the McKillop
Hall on Tuesdays at 7.30p.m.
Classes resume on Tuesday 27th
September, no previous experience is
necessary as we have an expert tutor
in charge and the group , as a whole
are friendly and helpful.
You know you want to !
If more details are required, please
phone Lorna Black 01505 843048
Lorna Black
Lochwinnoch
Our first meeting is on Wednesday
21st September at 7.30 when Mrs
Netta Howie will entertain us with a
travelogue
"Southampton
to
Singapore". Just to remind you all
too, the Competitions this month
are a
 Jar of Apricot Jam and a
 Fresh Floral Arrangement with a
candle (not exceeding 8" overall)
so "have a go" folks it is all a bit of
fun!
There is a web site
www.theswi.org.uk
for much more information about
the SWI in Scotland, if you are not
too sure just what we are about!
We look forward to your company
on that date. If you wish any further
information,
contact
Elma
Richmond at either 843193 or
[email protected] .
Elma
SWI
Autumn may be the "season of mists
and mellow fruitfulness" but it also
brings September and the start of the
2016/2017 season of Lochwinnoch
Scottish Women's Institute. We have
arranged an exciting syllabus of talks
and demos for the 2016/17.
We welcome existing and new
members on the third Wednesday of
the month in The McKillop Hall at
7.30pm from September till April, so
put these dates in your diary and
come along and join us.
Lochwinnoch Primary
School Parent Council
The Parent Council will be holding
its annual meeting on the 8th
September at 7.15pm in the School.
We would encourage all parents and
carers with children at the school to
come along and find out about the
work of the
Council.
We also welcome new
members who would like to come
along to a couple of meetings each
term, especially any Primary One
parents who will be joining the
school for the first time.
At the meeting we will also be
discussing
the
annual
School
Improvement Plan which sets out the
priorities for the school for the year.
If you want to find out more about
what the parent council does or
would like to talk about any issues
that you want to see raised at the
Parent Council please get in touch by
email [email protected]
Allan Watt, Chair, Parent Council
MATTHEW NEW & SONS
ROOFING — ROUGHCASTING — BUILDING MAINTENANCE
Emergency Repairs, Storm Damage
Insurance Work, New Roofs, Flat Roofs
Roughcasting — UPVC Cladding — Guttering
Tel No 01505 843400
FMB Certificate No 26366
1
Lochwinnoch Choral
Society prepares for
another season
It seems like no-time at all since the
choir had its last practice and broke
up for the summer holidays. With
our esteemed choir master touring
New Zealand in the Spring of this
year, we had a relatively quiet
2015/16.
Our Christmas concert was, once
more, very well supported and both
junior and senior choirs really
enjoyed entertaining and singing
for our loyal and enthusiastic
audience.
Lochwinnoch
Arts
Festival gave us the opportunity to
be part of a great evening in the
Parish church encompassing a wide
variety of music and local voices.
Local Solicitors
Providing Personal Service
Whether you’re buying
or selling a home or are unsure
of your rights on any legal matter
the experienced team at JJ McCosh
will provide an individual
service from experts
with local knowledge.
Partner, and local resident,
Ian Briggs is more than happy to
consult at your home, and there is no
charge for the first meeting.
Feel free to get in touch to speak
to our team and see how we can help.
Telephone:
01294 832112
Being relatively new to the choir,
having
resisted
repeated
invitations for several years, I am
still surprised at how good it feels
to sing in public as part of a group.
Despite
the
frustrations
of
rehearsal, the adrenaline-powered
focus of performing in front of
your friends and neighbours is a
very special experience that keeps
us coming back for more each
year.
There are also social/fund-raising
events which help members to get
to know each other, as well as
raising money to fund our
concerts.
Our 2016/17 schedule will include
our
Christmas
concert,
a
contribution to next year's Arts
Festival and a major concert in the
early summer of 2017.
Watch out for more information in
future editions of Chatterbox.
The new choir committee is
looking at ways to encourage even
more people to take part in our
activities. New singing members
are always welcome but help
behind
the
scenes
with
organisation, administration and
setting up for concerts would also
be very helpful.
If, like me, singing in the shower
or the car is about as far as you
get, there will be support and
encouragement from existing
members and we hope to arrange
small-group tuition to help us all
progress with our singing.
If you would like to find out more
about the choir, what you can do
and what members get out of it,
please contact me.
Eric Whitfield (Chair)
[email protected]
Or
Mobile 07525428416
Eric
Email:
[email protected]
Lochwinnoch Primary
School
Pupils at Lochwinnoch Primary
were happy and enthusiastic as
they started back on 15th August.
We were very proud of how smart
everyone was in their uniform and
encourage this to continue.
Not only is it smart and practical,
it helps enormously in building a
sense of identity and belonging
within the school community.
Our new Primary 1 pupils were
welcomed in to their new class by
their Primary Seven buddies and
had a super morning learning
about their classroom routines
and using the trim trail.
A new lift is now fully operational
within
the
school
and
refurbishment of storage areas is
on-going as is the work to replace
our roof. Pupils have been
learning about staying safe during
assembly and are asked to be
especially careful while the
scaffolding remains in place.
We have lots of exciting things
happening in school this term,
including the election of House
Captains and the usual open
afternoon on the 9th September,
with opportunities for parents and
carers to see children in their
classroom and meet their teachers.
We look forward to working with
parents and the community in the
coming year to continue to provide
exciting and appropriate learning
opportunities for all our pupils.
Lynne Gilchrist
Depute Head Teacher
2
Kiltwalk Cheque Presentation
Caitlin & Donna Armstrong present a cheque for £800
to the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity
(Continuing the care of Yorkhill Children’s Charity),
the hard earned fundraising from their Kilt walk
earlier in the year. Despite blisters and injuries they
both completed the 26 mile walk from Glasgow to
Balloch.
Those at the McKillop for the presentation were given
an interesting talk about the work of the Charity.
Although based in Glasgow, the unit is a centre of
excellence for children’s medical care for Scotland and
the north of England.
As well as buying toys and items of equipment to make
treatment more tolerable, another of their activities is
with the work of the Clown Doctors. These trained
play specialists use storytelling, music, improvisation
and clowning are to engage the children and to help
them come to terms with their illness and hospital stay
using humour and play.
As well as their regular ward visits, children are often
referred to the Clown Doctors for 1:1 sessions. The
medical benefits of play are well recognised and the
Charity’s support of the Clown Doctors in the hospital
is appreciated by children, parents and medical staff..
3
A View of the Bridge
Photos this month of the Main Street bridge works
Lochwinnoch International Aid News
our local fund-raising group
with a global purpose
After a quite summer we're back in fund-raising action.
We're having another yard sale, Saturday 10th Sept.
from 11.00 at 79 High St. Last year we raised £300 on a
rainy day, we hope for sunshine and more money this
time round. If you have any goods to donate then please
let us know, We'll have tea and biscuits on sale too.
Towards the end of October (22nd or 29th) we will be
having another safari supper. Guests move from house
to house for each course meeting different people each
time, then there's a get together at the end for coffee
and drinks. They are increasingly popular so if you
want to reserve a ticket, get in touch.
Floating gardens for flood prone areas; composting
4
toilets that produce fertiliser and
save wasting water; 'tippy taps',
which are plastic containers on
hinges so people can wash using less
water and avoid diseases.
These were the three favourite
technologies in a recent vote by
supporters of Practical Action, an
organisation that spreads good ideas
around the developing world. We
have given them single donations in
the past, now we have added them
to our list of regular monthly
donations.
For a meaningful birthday present,
Practical Action have a brilliant
series of 'practical presents that
change lives' from £6 upwards you
can 'buy' a present that goes to
someone in need whilst you get the
acknowledgement card.
You can choose presents from the
website
www.practicalpresents.org.
We have just given £200 to a charity
providing music tuition for young
people in Gaza; this follows from a
recent visit to Glasgow by the
Palestine Youth Orchestra, and a
recent photo exhibition in Govanhill
by a Palestinian photographer
Hamde Abu Rahma 'life in occupied
Palestine' daily life under a military
occupation. We hope to bring this
exhibition
to
Lochwinnoch
sometime soon.
We are pleased that the Rainbow
Turtle organisation in Paisley has
received
the
‘Outstanding
Achievement Award’ from the
Fairtrade Foundation for an event
held over both the Saturdays of
Fairtrade
Fortnight
when
a
'breakfast table was set up in the
Rainbow Turtle shop window and
people from schools, churches,
community groups, etc. were asked
to take a turn at the table to ‘stand
up for farmers and sit down for
breakfast’.
The award recognises the great work
carried our by Rainbow Turtle's
manager Liz Cotton and her team.
The shop is on Gauze St. Paisley
(opposite the Abbey).
Dave Mellor
Them Cones
Church Street, you may have
noticed, has become the main
thoroughfare for traffic into and
out of the village. This has
provided, as well as lots of dust and
noise for those who live here, huge
entertainment provided by the
traffic cones and our reaction to
them.
One side of the street nearest the
crossroads was coned off. This was
to ensure there was enough space
for traffic to flow in both directions
– a good plan, given the number of
large trucks, tractors, bin lorries,
and monster contractor vehicles
heading up and down, as well as
cars and vans. The plan, however,
didn’t reckon with local culture.
Firstly, there were the ‘it’s only me’
or ‘I’ll just be two minutes’ brigade.
Just stopping to grab a paper/pop
into Spar/go the bank machine – it
won’t hurt. But these were closely
followed by the ‘well, other people
are parking here,’ folks. These
drivers didn’t just stop for a ‘wee
minute’ but went for a coffee or to
the hairdresser, or to meet friends.
And then, there were the cone
movers.
This is where it gets serious. These
are the ‘I don’t see why I can’t park
here if I want to’ mob, and they
shifted the cones up and down the
road to suit their needs. Some days,
the cones are huddled for safety in
wee groups at one end of the road.
Some days, there are a few bravely
holding out near the cross. Mostly,
they are ignored. Some were
established at the bus stop across
the road – actually very helpful –
but this left the area nearer the
church un-coned.
5
Occasionally, a pair of brave Traffic
Wardens visit, and try to restore
some order. Not for long, however.
The cars and vans are parked
virtually as if the cones don’t exist,
most days now at busy times the
queues of traffic trying to negotiate
the
bottleneck
are
highly
entertaining. Huge trucks waiting
for a clear exit, cars backing up and
wriggling through between parked
vehicles, engine noise, exhaust
fumes, the occasional blast from a
horn, thumping sound systems – it’s
as if New York has come to
Lochwinnoch! This is a huge leap in
cultural development; straight from
village to inner city. Cosmopolitan
life has arrived.
But in a village where people
remember a quieter time, where
some still stop their cars on the
cross junction to let out a passenger,
where zig-zag lines are just a pretty
decoration, and when ‘it’s only me,
I’ll just be a minute’ could replace
quite a few licence plates, cones are
a very movable feast and an
opportunity rather than a rule.
Some September Trivia
1.
The
birth
flower
for
September is the morning
glory.
2.
September 1, 1939, World
War II began in Europe
because the German troops
invaded Poland.
3.
September 2, 1666 - The
Great Fire of London began
in a bakery in Pudding Lane
near the Tower. Over the
next three days more than
13,000
houses
were
destroyed, although only six
lives were believed lost.
4.
September
14,
1741
Composer George Frederick
Handel finished Messiah
after working on it nonstop
for 23 days
5.
National Chicken Month
6.
National Rice Month
7.
National Potato Month
Local mental health charity RAMH has
been awarded top marks following a
recent inspection by the Care
Inspectorate.
Housing Support Services run by
RAMH provide personalised care in
people’s own homes, plus they have 24
hour care for residents in supported
accommodation.
The
Care
Inspectorate inspected services in
Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.
Elderly Forum
a meeting. We now have the mobile
van.
The Elderly Forum members are to be
commended for getting things done in
this village.
People are living longer now and I'm
sure it's been noticed that older people
make the effort to vote, also it's been
noticed that older people take notice
and speak out.
At every monthly meeting we are
favoured by the presence of our
splendid Councillors Bibby, Doig and
Gilmour (in alphabetical order so as
not to offend). Each of these
gentlemen talks to those present,
giving them updates on their
requests/issues/complaints raised at
the previous meeting.
Janis
Byrne,
Housing
Support
Manager, said “We were delighted to
be graded as ‘excellent’ in the
inspection – it is the second
consecutive year that we have scored
full marks”.
Be assured that these are many and
varied because older citizens have
realised that, and have a healthy
respect for, "if you don't ask you don't
get". This of course applies to raising
issues and making complaints too. In
addition, as a group in society, they
are observant, discerning and caring.
She added “We have an excellent team
at RAMH who provide the very highest
quality services. It’s great to be
recognised
in
this
way
and
acknowledged for the very professional
support RAMH provides”.
Therefore meetings are lively with
many making sure they have their say,
quite rightly so, plus commenting on
those views of others to reinforce a
point. In the past year we've dealt
with:-
RAMH promotes recovery from mental
ill health, and empowers people to
build independent, fulfilled lives. They
are one of the largest providers of
mental health services with housing
support covering Renfrewshire, East
Renfrewshire, North & South Ayrshire.
More information on their services is
available at www.ramh.org
*****************************
If you're concerned about someone's
mental health and are unsure how to
handle a conversation about it,
remember the most important thing is
to LISTEN. Simply asking "are you
OK?" is enough to reassure a person
that you want to hear how they are
feeling. No one is expecting you to
know
exactly
what
they
are
experiencing, and that's why just
listening can be so powerful.
When you're ready to finish the
conversation, reassure the person by
asking "how can I help you?" It's the
small things in life that can make big
differences. By listening, you will be
helping someone on their road towards
recovery.
If you think RAMH can help someone
you know, ask them to contact 0141
847 8900 or [email protected]
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The drains
Overhanging hedges
Dog fouling
Grass cutting
Our Councillors take these issues on
board and more often than not there is
a satisfactory outcome. Obviously they
can't work miracles but often have
success with the impossible.
The situation with bus services is a
major issue with many factors coming
into play and although a little better,
yet still far from ideal
Over the years council officials from
several departments have been invited
along to discuss these issues. They are
called to account for what is perceived
to be a lack of interest in Lochwinnoch
issues. From this we have had good
results but perhaps not as many as we'd
like. It's mainly all about funding and
staff shortages.
For those in the village who have not
yet joined the forum give it a try. You
are eligible from age 55. This applies to
the ROAR lunch club as well.
The September forum meeting is on the
29th at 1.30pm in the McKillop in the
lesser hall.
The buses or rather lack of...
Street lighting
Road gritting
Flooding
Fallen leaves
Anti social behaviour
Bin collection
Food bin uplifts
Main Street Bridge
Pavements
Dropped kerbs.
My Bus
Take the grass cutting for example.
We learned that the cutting of the
many grass areas in the village was to
be reduced to once a month or less.
There was a stushie about that and
the regular grass cutting was resumed
within days. Important to the many
dog owners.
Also because the closure of the RBS
branch was a major issue for many of
the elderly for one reason or another.
An RBS representative came along to
6
Could you spare 3 hours a
week?
Retail Assistants—Our busy charity
shops in Lochwinnoch and Beith are
looking for additional volunteers.
Without the support of the volunteers
we would lose out on vital funds raised
in our shops for the Hospice.
Volunteering in our charity shop is a
chance to learn about all aspects of
retail. For example, till work, sorting,
cleaning, stock rotation and customer
service. Working in the shops there is a
very friendly and sociable atmosphere.
Other volunteer roles available, please
call Christine or Elaine on 01505 705
635 or visit www.svh.co.uk for more
information.
St Vincents Hospice
complete the questionnaire on
practice website or via the website
www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk. Please
arrange 4-6 weeks in advance.
Wasted Appointments
Surgery News
Public Holiday The practice will be
closed on Monday 26th September 16
and telephones will be diverted to the
Out of Hours service or dial 111.
Repeat Prescriptions
Repeat
and
special
request
prescriptions can be ordered via the
website, post-box, reception or phone.
In order to keep the line free for
patients looking for appointments,
please try to use your re-order slip
from the pharmacy or phone after 10
am. Please allow 48 hrs for repeat
prescription re-orders.
Contact Details
We recently installed a text reminder
system for appointments - if you
change
your
contact
details,
particularly
mobile
telephone
numbers, please let us know. All
patient contact details are kept
confidential.
Minor illness
Self help guidance for the management
of minor illnesses is available on the
practice
website
at
www.mistylawmedicalpractice.co.uk &
also on NHS inform. Patients can seek
help for treatment of any eye problem
from Opticians & many minor ailments
from pharmacists.
Like many other practices, we're
experiencing difficulties obtaining
locum cover for doctors’ holiday
leave which may result in reduced
appointment availability and we
would
appreciate
patients'
understanding and help with this. As
a courtesy to other patients we would
be grateful if you would phone to
cancel your appointment if it is no
longer needed, freeing it up for
someone else. Please also try to
arrive in good time for your
appointment, or ‘phone if you expect
to be late, so that others aren't
delayed.
You may be asked to
rebook.
Flu Vaccination
Programme
Flu vaccine will be available at the
end of September and we would
encourage all patients in the eligible
groups to attend. These are the over
65s, those with chronic respiratory
disease, heart, kidney, liver or
neurological disease, diabetes, the
immunosuppressed,
pregnant
woman and carers.
Further
information can be obtained at
reception.
Any patients out-with the criteria can
get a flu vaccination privately at
participating outlets eg. Pharmacies
or shopping centres.
Travel Vaccinations
Advertising in Chatterbox
A. Standard size advert – 5cm x 13cm
(or 13cm x 5cm) layout - £30 per
month.
B. Special (customised) advert –
7.5cm x 13cm (or 13cm x 7.5cm)
layout - £40 per month.
C. Quarter page advert – eg 9.5cm
wide x 13cm high layout - £45 per
month.
D. Half page advert – 19cm x 13cm (or
13cm x 19cm) layout - £90 per
month.
E. Full page advert – 20cm x 28 cm £180 per month.
Sizes may vary slightly. Contact for colour
pricing.
e-mail : [email protected]
for further information.
Can Recycling
There is now a can recycling point in
Heritage Farmers Market Shop.
All monies generated from the cans
will be donated to local charities by
Heritage Farmers Market Shop , so
simply bring in your cans and put
them in the box just inside the shop
door.
Information on travel health can be
obtained from the Practice Nurses or
Donna
Re Mode is NOW OPEN
at 39 High St, Lochwinnoch
ReMode is the Unique Boutique run by young people
who’ll be upcycling and re-designing youth clothing for
their own designer label.
For more information, contact [email protected]
or 01505 842530
7
Charity Encourages
you to celebrate
International
Friendship Day
is, to everyone, but particularly those
who do not get out and about as
much as they’d like. I’ve made so
many lasting friendships through my
work with Contact the Elderly, for
which I’m very grateful.
This
Sunday
is
International
Friendship Day and national charity
Contact the Elderly is urging everyone
to acknowledge the day.
“I
hope
everyone
takes
the
opportunity to do something nice
with
your
loved
ones
on
International Friendship Day. And if
anyone has some free time to offer a
hand of friendship to others, then we
are always looking for more
volunteers so please get in touch.”
Contact the Elderly provides tea, cake
but, most importantly, company to
people aged 75 and over who live alone
through
free
monthly
Sunday
afternoon tea parties. These parties are
operated entirely by volunteers who
act as hosts for the older guests and
their drivers, who take them from their
front door, to the volunteer’s home,
and back again.
Morna O’May, Head of Service for
Scotland at Contact the Elderly, said:
“Friendship is the very backbone of
our charity. It is one of the main
reasons volunteers and guests join our
groups, of which there are now more
than 100 across Scotland.
“You only need to ask a guest what
their afternoon out means to them to
understand how important friendship
ALPENROSE B&B
Kilbirnie
01505 683122
Detached villa & private parking
I double, 1 twin room, 1 single
Private bathroom for guests
Option of room only
Full Scottish breakfast or Continental
food is locally sourced produce
Good walking area & close to cycle
track
5 mins from Lochwinnoch by car
for RSPB, Castle Semple Loch &
Muirshiel Country Park
Across Scotland, Contact the Elderly
supports more than 1,000 older
people through its network of more
than 1,100 volunteers.
Laura Brown, 25, has been a deputy
coordinator for the charity for two
years. She has a special friendship
with one of her guests, 87-year-old
Jim. She said:
Having
recently celebrated its Golden
Jubilee, Contact the Elderly is the only
national charity, which since inception,
has focussed solely on relieving the
acute loneliness and isolation of older
people who live alone, without family,
friends or other support networks
nearby
The Contact the Elderly model is based
on a simple yet very effective model:
free, monthly tea parties for small
groups of older people and volunteers
within their community - which bring
all ages together, develop fulfilling
friendships and support networks, and
give everyone something to look
forward to
Contact
the Elderly currently has over
600 groups throughout England,
Scotland and Wales, providing a
regular, consistent and vital friendship
link every month to over 4,800 older
people aged 75 and above
“I have made many great friends but
a favourite of mine is Jim.
There
“Jim, born and bred in Scotland
moved with his wife to Zimbabwe
where he worked as an industrial
scientist and she as his secretary. He
sadly lost his wife several years ago
and now lives alone. His sight has
deteriorated to the point of blindness
but he has not let this slow him
down. He is full of fascinating stories
that I look forward to hearing each
time we meet and he tells me for him,
life doesn't stop in old age, it’s just
the beginning of a new chapter.
As
“Through our tea parties the label of
‘older person’ is stripped away and
you come to see that beneath it all
there’s just a ‘person’ with life
experience, funny stories and
empathy.
It
deepens
your
understanding of the challenges
some older people face and what you
can do to help.”
To find out how to volunteer with
Contact the Elderly or if you would
like to enquire about becoming a
guest
please
contact
Caroline
McGinlay on 0141 812 1555 or
[email protected].
Contact the Elderly:
For further media information, please
contact Vanessa Warren on 07944
550087 or [email protected].
8
are currently over 7,800
volunteers supporting the groups:
volunteer drivers collect the older
guests
from
their
homes
and
accompany them to tea parties, while
volunteer hosts hold the tea parties in
their homes
part of its continuing Power of
Contact campaign to recruit more
volunteers, Contact the Elderly aims by
2020 to double the number of isolated
older people it supports
Contact the Elderly is the winner of The
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering
Award 2012
www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk
Regional Park
Round Up
Here comes the Bog Stomp!
Going to print we still have spaces for
the Bog Stomp… It’s at Greenock Cut
Visitor Centre on Sunday 4th September
and is a new 10km trail running event!
General entry is £20 but reduced to
£10 if you raise £100 for Erskine, our
charity partner. All participants will get
a goody bag with medal and t-shirt. See
www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk/things-todo/bog-stomp/ for more info, online
entry
is
now
open
through
EntryCentral.com/bogstomp2016.
Scottish Multi-Class Regatta
Clyde Muirshiel’s Castle Semple Visitor
Centre will again play host to the
Regatta and will see lots of special
schools and disability resource centres
out on the water. Come down and
support the competitors and enjoy the
colourful sails lighting up the loch!
Classics at Castle Semple
Returns!
Now in its 6th year Visitor Centre
Assistant Jane will return with her
amazing Classic Car Show. It’s
happening on Sunday 23rd October at
Castle Semple and Jane encourages
anyone who would like to display their
pride and joy to get in touch ASAP as
spaces are limited. It’s free to do so but
you
must
book
by
email
[email protected].
Semple Trail Launch Success
Sunday 7th September saw the
successful launch of the Semple Trail
Heritage Project! The new Kids’
Passport is available with lots of
activities with things to see and do
around the route.
New Pedal the Park Mini XC
Event!
Clyde Muirshiel and Ride 63 have
again teamed up this time to offer an
off road, mountain biking event at
Muirshiel Country Park on Sunday 30th
October. It’s open to everyone aged 8 adult and has age bandings/categories
and FREE bike hire provided by event
partners RT Cycles. Online entry is
priced at just £5, or £10 on the day.
Enter
now
https://
www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/
details/140421/Pedal-The-Park-MiniXC
Duke of Edinburgh Programmes
at Clyde Muirshiel
A wide range of expeditions and skills
are available to suit Duke of Edinburgh
participants of all abilities. Get in touch
with [email protected] if you
know of a group of 14-24 yr olds who
could benefit from a tailored
programme!
Ride 63 Club News
Check
out
our
facebook
(www.facebook.com/Ride63)to
see
when we’re next going out or contact
[email protected]
for
a
membership form.
Mhairi Black MP
If you have a problem or an issue you
would like to raise with me my next
Lochwinnoch Surgery will be held at
10:00am in the McKillop Institute on the
second Saturday of the month.
Alternatively, you can contact me at:
0141 571 4370
[email protected]
CMRP Online
Keep up to speed with events and
activities taking place on the Park’s
Facebook
facebook.com/
ClydeMuirshielRegionalPark,
@Clydemuirshiel Twitter & Instagram
pages.
Regular Events
Mondays (but not public holidays)
Lochwinnoch Community Walks
meet 10.30am at The Cross
Weekly Volunteer Groups
Newcomers always welcome!
 Thursdays
Castle
Semple
Conservation Volunteers, Adult
group, from 12.30 – 15.30 hrs.
 Saturdays
Greenock
Cut
Conservation Volunteers, Adult
group, 10.30 – 14.30 hrs.
 Sundays Castle Semple Young
Volunteers, 12-18 yr olds, 10.00 –
12.00 hrs
Monthly What’s On Events
Sun 4 Sept Bog Stomp
A 10km trail run for charity. Get on
your nobbly running shoes and enjoy
fine views over the Clyde. More info
and bookings online via entry central.
WHERE: Greenock Cut Visitor
Centre
WHEN:
Registration from 9am,
first wave 10am
MORE INFO: tel 01475 521 458 &
bookings
Fri 9 Sept Bat Walk
A walk around Castle Semple and
Lochwinnoch with bat detectors to
listen to the elusive night-time
hunters. Not to be missed!
WHERE: Castle Semple Centre
WHEN:
7.30pm – 9.30 pm
9
COST:
£5 per person
MORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882 ex 20
& bookings
Sat 10 & Sun 11 Sept The
Scottish Multi-Class Regatta
A legacy event of ‘Race 2 the games’
2014. Get involved and sponsor or
support
your
nearest
school,
accessible club or individual with
additional support needs.
WHERE: Castle Semple Visitor
Centre
WHEN:
10am – 3.30pm both days
MORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882 ex 21
Sat 10 Sept Greenock Cemetery
Bat Walk
A very popular annual walk seeking
out the cemetery’s nocturnal wildlife.
WHERE: Greenock Cemetery
WHEN:
7.30pm – 9.30pm
COST:
£5 per person
MORE INFO: tel 01475 521 458 &
bookings
Fri 16 Sept After Dark Walk
A moonlit walk around the woods to
hear hooting owls, echo locating bats
and rustling badgers!
WHERE: Castle Semple
WHEN:
7.30pm – 9.30pm
Cost:
£5 per person
MORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882 ex 20
& bookings
Sat 17 Sept Great British Beach
Clean
Join us for the annual big clean up!
Help record data and protect our
coastline by contributing to the
national survey.
WHERE: Lunderston Bay
WHEN: 11am onwards
MORE INFO: tel 01475 521 458 &
bookings
For more information contact
Development & Marketing Officer,
CMRP tel 01505 842 882
What’s On

FitSteps—Lochbarr Centre, 7-8om,
starts 7th March.
Regular clubs, classes and groups

Football
Training—St Mirrin
football training, Lochbarr Centre,
4:00-5pm age, 3-6, 5-6pm age 612yrs

Boys’ Brigade—meets on Tuesday
evenings in the Parish Church Hall.
- Anchor Boys P1 to P3 (6pm—7pm)
- Juniors P4 to P6 (7pm- 8.15pm)
- Company P7 to S6 (7.45—9.30pm)
Tel Mark Brown 842209 or email
[email protected]
Girls Brigade—1st Lochwinnoch
Company, Wed evenings from 6pm9.15pm at the Parish Church Hall for
various age groups.


Hatha Yoga Classes with LauraJane Lawson. Wednesday- McKillop
Inst 7pm-8.30pm.
All levels
welcome. Tel: 07999 862 162 or
Email: [email protected]
Calder Drama Club—Thursdays,
from 8pm-10pm McKillop Institute.


Calder UF Church—Food for
Thought. Last Monday of the month
7.30pm in church hall
Healing
and
Creativity
Workshops
&
Classes—For
details or to book a place, please Tel
Becky: 0141 8816700 or Libby on:
01505 842604

Community
Walks—Mondays
(but not public holidays) - meet
10.30am at The Cross, Lochwinnoch

Conservation
Volunteers—
Clyde Muirshiel
- Adult Group—Thursdays 12:303:30pm Castle Semple Centre
- Young Volunteers, 12-18yr old,
Sundays 10-12am, Castle Semple
Centre



Bokwa Fitness — Masonic Hall,
Thursdays, 7—8pm. Places limited.
Contact Rachel on 07795 100231 or
503362
Drop-in T Bar—Lochwinnoch
Elderly Forum. McKillop Institute,
10-12 noon.
Personal Service & Quality
Guaranteed
New Memorials
Additional Inscriptions
Cleaning & Renovations
SALE ITEMS ALWAYS IN STOCK
42 MAIN STREET
KILBIRNIE
Please Call 01505 685455
www.quinnmemorials.co.uk
Mon & Fri 10am-5pm
Tue-Thur 10am-2pm
Sat By Appointment

Lochwinnoch Art Group—Meet
fortnightly on Monday evenings,
7.30pm, McKillop Institute.

Lochwinnoch Choral Society—
Rehearsals on Monday evenings,
Parish Church/ Hall. Juniors 7:158pm, and Seniors 8pm-9.15pm.

Lochwinnoch
Community
Walks—Mondays
(ex.
Public
Holidays), meet at 10.30am at The
McKillop Institute.

Lochwinnoch
Toddlers—Mon
and Wed 9.45 - 11.30am during term
time in McKillop, new members
welcome, free entry for babies under
6 months, tea, coffee available and
free healthy snacks for children.

Lochwinnoch Writers Group—
Monday from 2-4:15pm in the
Library. Contact 873581

Keep Fit—Improving With Age
classes—every Tues from 10-11am
at the McKillop. Tel 842 136

Morag’s Keep Fit—Mondays and
Thursdays from 7pm, in the
McKillop Institute

Knitting Group—Mondays 10am12 noon (or longer) at The Loch
House, all levels welcome


Krafty Kids—open to all Primary
School children 1.30—3pm in small
Parish Church room. For bookings
telephone Katharine Billany on
01505 844 944 or 07947 075 622
Positive Thinking Group Meet
every 4th Wed in the Bridgend
Community Centre, Kilbirnie. Cost
£3.50 For further info telephone
Andrea on 07890 181 769

Pulse Dance Academy Lochbarr
Centre
Thu: Juniors 6-7pm, Seniors 7-8pm
Sat: Nippers 2-5yrs 10:45-11:30am

Pulse Stretch Class—Lochbarr
Centre, Sat 12-1pm

ROAR
Lunch
Club—every
Thursday from 11.45am PROMPT at
the McKillop Institute.
Please
Note - ONLY ONE SITTING.

Scottish Country Dance Club—
Every Tuesday, from 7.30-9.30pm,
McKillop Inst.

Sequence Dance Class—Every
Wed 7.30-9.30 at Bowling Club

TaeKwon-Do—Fitness and Selfdefence classes for youths and
adults.
Tuesdays from 5-6pm,
McKillop and Thursdays from 7pm8pm at Lochwinnoch Primary
School. Tel: 01259 210716.

Tai Chi— McKillop Hall, Tues 11-:15
-12:15, Tel 842374, Resumes 16th
Aug

The Gathering – An Open Mike
session for musicians, singers and
performers on the First Friday of the
Month, 8.00 pm, at Lochwinnoch
Golf Club.

Ukelele Band—Come and play,
any level, Corner Bar, every
Wednesday 7:15pm

Writing Group— every Monday in
the Library 2pm—4:15pm

Zumba—Lochbarr Centre,
Wed 7-8pm—Zumba with Cheryl

Liathach Dog Training—(prebooking necessary). Anne Moss, Tel:
01505
842367,
e-mail:
[email protected]

Linda Margaret School of
Dancing—Tuesdays from 4pm8.45pm, McKillop Institute.
For
details, Tel: 0141 581 9104.

Lochbarr Centre
 Monday - Pilates with Margaret
6pm-7pm call 07930 324276
 Monday - Fit-Steps with Jennifer
7.15pm -8.15pm
 Tuesday- FBX with Steven 7pm 7.30pm & 7.30pm-8pm
 Wednesday - Zumba with Cheryl 7pm-8pm
 Thursday - Pilates with Margaret
10.30am-11.30am call 07930 324
276 to book.
 Thursday St Mirren Football
Training 4pm -5pm (age 3-6) 5pm
-6pm (age 6-12)
 Thursday Pulse Dance Academy 6pm-7pm Juniors (primary 1-4)
7pm-8pm Seniors 1 (primary 5-7)
8pm-9pm Senior 2 (1st year
onwards)
 Saturday Bootcamp with Steven
9.30am-10.30am
 Saturday Pulse Dance Academy
10.30am -11.15am Minis (age 2-4)
11.15am -12pm Tap & Stretch
Juniors (P5) 12pm -1pm Tap
 Stretch Seniors (P 6 onwards)
10
Upcoming Events
Church Hall
 Saturday 24th Sept—Paisley
Heritage Walk - The Buildings
of Paisley.
 Fri 2nd Sept—RSPB Local
Group,
7:30pm
McMaster
Centre,
Donaldson
Drive,
Renfrew PA4 8L.X
 Tues
27th Sept—Scottish
Country
Dance
Club
resumes,
McKillop
Hall,
7:30=9:30pm
 Sat 3rd Sept—Paisley doors

Open Day - Paisley Thread Mill
Museum - A talk on Paisley's
Thread Heritage at 12pm and
2pm .
Class Reunion
Lochwinnoch Primary school class
reunion for pupils who started
primary 1 in 1977 and left primary 7
in 1984
 Sunday
4th Sept—Paisley
doors Open Day - Heritage
Walk - Paisley's Textile Heritage.
 Mon 5th Sept, Art Group
Regular Councillor
Surgeries
Cllr Andy Doig—4th Wednesday of
the month, McKillop Institute, 7:30pm
[email protected]
Cllr Chris Gilmour—1st Saturday of
the month, McKillop Institute, 9am
[email protected]
Cllr Derek Bibby—1st Saturday of
the month, McKillop Institute, 9am
[email protected]
Saturday, 12 August 2017
AGM & Discussion, 7:30pm,
Mckillop Institute
at 19:00–0:00
Details to follow
 Thur 8th Sept—Lochwinnoch
Primary
School
Parents
Council, 7.15pm in the School
 Fri 9 Sept—Bat Walk, Castle
Semple Centre, 7:30pm, Booking
required
 Sat 10-18th Sept—RSPB Book
Sale
 Thur 15th Sept—Historical
Society, 7.30pm Parish Church
‘The Urban Historian’ Steven
Clancy
Lochwinnoch Parish
Church
RBS Mobile Bank
AUTUMN CREAM TEA
McKillop Institute
Wednesday 21st September
Wed 11:15—11:55
2pm - 4pm
Monday & Friday
Parish Church Hall
11:50—12:35
Cost £2.50
 Sat
17th
Sept—Wildlife
Photography
Workshop
Beginner 1pm - 4:30pm
Thank You
Owners of elderly black lab Rhana
would like to thank whoever
brought her back to our neighbour,
who in turn returned Rhana to her
equally elderly owner.
 Sunday
18th Sept—Urban
Historian
Walk,
around
Castle Semple at 2pm
 Mon 19th Sept—Art Group,
Drawing. Introduction to Water
Colour.
7:30pm,
Mckillop
Institute
CHATTERBOX
 Wed
21st
Sept—Autumn
Cream Tea, 2pm - 4pm, Parish
Chatterbox is produced and distributed
by Lochwinnoch Chatterbox Trust with
support and financial assistance from
local sponsors and advertisers.
Mr
Joinery: All including Kitchens, Bathrooms, Flooring, Tiling, Garages, Sheds etc. Pain ng/Decora ng/Paperhanging. Fencing: Wooden & Metal. Ornamental Metalwork & Welding Monoblock/Slabbing & Gardening. FREE Es mates/Best Prices Lochwinnoch Chatterbox Trust (LCT)
welcomes all entries for possible
inclusion for publication in print, web or
audio format or any way as thought
appropriate by the editorial team
All views are of individuals. The Editor
accepts no liability for errors or
statements and claims made in
submissions.
LCT is a not-for-profit group run by
volunteers with all profits going to local
groups and clubs.
Tel: 07917 654 857 11
LEAP
LEAP Cycle for Summer during
August – Miles of cycling across
the Villages
LEAP’s Cycle for summer in August
has proven a big success with families
and
local
residents
from
Lochwinnoch, Bridge of Weir and
Houston participating and in the first
2 weeks they have reported cycling a
total of over 630 miles.
Cycling to work as an alternative to
car journeys, cycling for health and
wellbeing, family cycling activities,
cycling to fundraise and cycling for
the love of the bike and the outdoors
are what has made cycling so popular
for these contributors. Added to this
is the network of Cycle routes and
paths which connect with some of our
villages to the countryside, to main
rail transport networks and access to
a range of cycling activity.
All
our
participants
articles,
photographs and social media posts
can be found on LEAP website
together with cycling topics shared on
LEAP’s Facebook and twitter.
A big LEAP thanks to everyone who
has cycled for summer and
contributed their photos and
articles over August – well done and
great fun!
ReMode and Love Music Pop
Up Record Fayre in October
ReMode is teaming up with Love
Music to hold a Pop-up Vinyl Fayre
on Saturday 22nd October between
11.30 and 4pm at ReMode, 39 High
Street Lochwinnoch. Have a look in
your attic or basement for the long
ago dismissed but not forgotten
LPs, look through your current vinyl
collection and pencil in this event
date. Exchange your vinyls at the
usual Love Music Rate (cash) and/
or tokens to spend on ReMode’s
unique clothing range for young
people.
Book your tickets as soon as possible
because there’s bound to be a rush
for them and therefore we have a £3
booking fee for the event. for tickets,
contact LEAP via our website at
www.myleapproject.org/contact or
pop into ReMode at High Street,
Lochwinnoch or our LEAP offices at
Church Street or Advance place,
Bridge of Weir.
Fashion Show and Swish Event
– 8th October 7 till 9pm
Back by popular demand, and this
year run by LEAP’s Remode - a
unique Fashion Show and Swish
Event at Kilbarchan Guide Hall.
12
Circular Economy Workshops
and Talkshops and Events
coming our way
During September and October,
LEAP is running a series of
workshops
and
Talkshops
on
Recycling, Upcycling, Repair and Redesign. We really want to raise
awareness of the new economy, aptly
named ‘the Circular Economy’ – yes
that’s right, it’s one that doesn’t end
in landfill, avoids pollution, saves
money and encourages us all to
investigate what we buy, how we use
our purchases and what new options
exist to support a more ethical and
environmental way of living and
consuming.
If you or your community group,
charity,
school,
uniformed
organisation are interested in getting
involved, want to host a session,
event, workshop or Talkshop, would
like to become a contributor or
speaker, or you want to find out
more and attend one of these
sessions,
email
[email protected].
You can also keep a look out for
more details on the LEAP website
news pages or to get the latest
information directly to your inbox,
by signing up for the LEAP enewsletter at
www.myleapproject.org/contact.
John Delaney IFA
EXPERT, INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVICE ON
RETIREMENT PLANNING, PENSIONS AND INVESTMENTS
For a free initial consultation, without obligation, contact:
01505 844 801 [email protected]
07715 579 312
www.johndelaney-ifa.co.uk
Calder lodge, Newton of Barr, Lochwinnoch PA12 4AR
Positive Solutions (Financial Services) Ltd. is authorised and
regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered as a Limited
Company In England And Wales No. 3276760.
All that’s left for you to do is to
process in a solution of Vitamin C
and Instant coffee, jamming it
together and uploading your
finished masterpiece to YouTube
and Facebook.
Sounds exciting and new – get to
grips with film and create a new
sense of the world!
YEP! Film Mash-up Workshop
starts 30th August
If you’re between 16 and 25 years of
age, why not sign up to learn some
new film making skills with LEAP’s
YEP! There are a few places left and
you can book a place on the weekly
course
by
contacting
[email protected] / tel:
01505 842 530. But Hurry!
Learn to use Green Screen with video
to set action in any time or space
imaginable, mix animation and live
action.
Use a Bolex wind up black and white
film camera - the precursor to the
camera on your phone - just 20 times
heavier and instead of storing the
picture on a memory card, create
amazing looking footage with trick
effects, double exposures and mattes.
From Moscow to Houston
Cancer
Support
Scotland
Charity Cycle is Electrifying!
Local Kilbarchan resident, Kenny
Young took to his cycle, a LEAP
Electric Bike, on Sunday 21st August
for the Cancer Support Scotland
2016 charity event from Moscow to
Houston.
The charity cycle took Kenny and
many other riders through Ayrshire,
South and West Glasgow and into
Renfrewshire, where they finished
the 35 mile long route at the
Houston Inn.
In preparation for the charity event,
Kenny clocked up 156 cycle miles in
the last 8 weeks on his favoured
Synergie Electric bike and the same
on his own cycle. ‘This challenge has
13
required enormous stamina and
months of preparation, but it’s
been worthwhile to fundraise for
Cancer Support Scotland. A big
Thanks to LEAP and the other
organisations, family and friends
for
all
their
support
and
sponsorship!’
New Intern joins the LEAP
Team
A big welcome to Ellis Anderson,
who has joined the LEAP team as
the
new
Marketing
and
Communications Intern.
Her appointment has been funded
by Renfrewshire Council through
its ‘Invest in Renfrewshire and
Social Enterprise Development
Fund’ and in her new role she will
focus on supporting LEAP Energy
business switch services to help
local businesses save money on
their energy bills.
Paisley is still staffed whereas
Johnstone, Linwood, Erskine, and
Renfrew are not.
THE STIRRUP CUP
ANTIQUES AND VINTAGE SHOP
Antique and Vintage items are an eco
friendly way to furnish your home.
The fun and excitement of finding a
treasure to keep perhaps for a
lifetime. It is always intriguing to
wonder who has previously owned it
and how much it was loved and
admired.
le
a
S
n
w
o
D
g
n
i
s
FindusatWestBanksideFarm,justoff
o
l
the
C Largs Road on the outskirts of
Kilbirnie opposite the Kilbirnie Place
Golf Course. Disabled access and
parking at the door. Open 7 days
10.00a.m–5.00p.m.
Telephone Greta on 01505 683338 or
07786720586.
[email protected].
Websitewww.thestirrupcup.co.uk
PostcodeforSatNavKA257LQ
There appears to be evidence of an
increase in fly-tipping and without
staff there is no one to check if this
will happen at the unstaffed sites, not
to mention whether people are
putting the correct waste in the
correct skip. At the last Lochwinnoch
Community Council this was a matter
of much concern, and I totally agree. I
voted against this short sighted
decision and believe it should be
reversed. It is not that the Council do
not have the money to staff the waste
centres, they simply choose to spend
it on vanity projects.
I very much want to make myself
available to local residents in
Lochwinnoch and please note my
Lochwinnoch advice surgery is on the
4th Wednesday of the month, at
7:30pm, in the McKillop Institute,
excluding July. However, I am
available at any time to constituents
who can call me on 07534 148224,
tweet me on CllrAndy4Ward8, or email me at
[email protected].
Yours Sincerely,
Cllr Andy Doig (SNP),
Cllr Andy Doig
There is a prospective
application by Leith
Planning Investments
for a new housing
development
on
the
northern
boundary of the Beech Burn, Johnshill,
Lochwinnoch, and they have a public
meeting to present their plans at the
McKillop Institute, from
2pm to 7pm
Wednesday 7th September
Please take the time to go along and
make your views known, either for, or
against.
As a member of the Planning Board
council protocol prevents me from
stating a public position for, or against,
any given application prior to when it
comes to the Board, so in the interim
period I am very keen to also hear what
the mind of the village is on the matter.
Many
constituents
have
been
contacting me very worried about the
recent decision of Renfrewshire
Council to cut the staff at all council
waste centres out-with Paisley, that is,
Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, and
Lochwinnoch Ward,
Renfrewshire Council
RSPB
From Facebook
this month
Lochwinnoch Playgroup
Lochwinnoch Playgroup needs
YOU!
If you're between 2 1/2 and 5 years old
that is! Playgroup needs some new
children looking to have fun Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday mornings
9.30 - 11.30 at the McKillop in the care
of our 2 experienced play leaders.
Crafts, sand and water tables, an ever
changing selection of toys and more
Lochwinnoch Toddlers
The toddler group started the new
session in August. They meet in the
McKillop Institute in Lochwinnoch
every Monday and Wednesday (term
time)
Drop in anytime from 9.45am to
11.30am.
Cost is £2.00
(£2.50 if not
months - free.
charge (except
on)
per Registered family
Registered). Under 6
First time visitors - no
when there is an event
Tea & coffee available and snacks
provided for children.
Lots of toys, chat and a fun music time
to end the morning!
Local Group
The next meeting of the Renfrewshire
Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds Local Group will be held on
Friday 2 September 2016 at 7.30 pm.
There will be a members night and
quiz which will include an illustrated
talk entitled
Great Auk - The Ghost of the
Garefowl
by Norman Tait
The meeting will be held in the
McMaster Centre, Donaldson Drive,
Renfrew PA4 8L.X
All welcome.
14
Muirend Farm?
Muirend Farm, Barcraigs Reservoir does anyone remember this? I'm
researching
my
grandmother's
ancestors, she grew up there - Jeannie
Harvey b.1888 to John and Mary
Harvey. V grateful for any info! Andy
Alpine van?
So who remembers the Alpine van that
used to come to the village weekly?...1
litre of pop could be bought for less
than the price of a bottle of Struthers
and it was a bigger bottle… it tasted
like crap but for the poor members of
the village it was a godsend...
and Paisley as well. Before setting up
this business, he worked at what was
then the Garthland – so he obviously
liked Lochwinnoch enough in those
days to stay a while!
The baker’s shop is a village
institution and the, predominantly
local customers are loyal, regular (you
can set your watch by many), and feel
at home enough to use the place for all
kinds of things.
Local Business Focus
John Wilson Bakers
Location:
Lochwinnoch
3,
Main
Street,
What we offer:
We sell freshly baked goods, including
breads, rolls, scones, pancakes,
pastries and cakes. We also sell freshly
prepared filled rolls, sandwiches, hotfilled rolls, pies and pasties.
People leave parcels, grannies, babies
(just till I pop in to the Spar/
McKillop/Mum’s), and dogs and cats
(just till the vet opens), as well as
collecting their morning rolls, scones,
empire biscuits . . . . . and all the lovely
things that smell so enticing as you
walk along Main Street.
Delicious pies.
7.30am – 1.00pm Monday to Friday
8.00am – 12.00pm Saturday
Information about
Lochwinnoch Railway
Station
Information
about
Lochwinnoch
Railway Station (former location)
wanted.
According to census and ancestry
information, my great grandfather
lived in Lochwinnoch around 1899 to
1902 (minimum time period).
His occupation at that time was as a
railway porter. I am assuming he
would have worked at Lochwinnoch
railway station (former location).
Does anyone know whether there are
any photographs of this railway
station (and of the station staff)
around the time mentioned above?
A short history
The bakery was established in 1978,
and has been serving the local
community for the 38 years. Until
2000, the bread and baked items were
all made by John himself in the bakery
in Beith, and he opened shops in Beith
North Ayrshire
Sherbert is looking for a new home as
her owner sadly died. She was a much
loved pet and we'd like to find a
loving retirement home for her again.
She has been used to outdoor access
and is a friendly cat who could live
with an older family, single person or
couple.Gender: female
Rolls, hot-filled rolls and pastries.
Opening times:
Sherbert 175/2016
W
Contact info: 01505 842592
Our specialities:
We take customer orders for speciality
meats from Auchengree Farm in Dalry.
These are delivered to the shop on
Tuesdays and Fridays.
Looking For A Home This
Month
If anyone has information about
anyone who worked at the station, or
photos from that time period which
Chatterbox can forward in response to
this question please contact via phone
842632 or email
[email protected]
15
 Age: 13
 Colour: Ginger
 Indoor cat: No
Rural Homes
Needed
MOUSER HOMES NEEDED for feral
kittens of various ages.
They need to be provided with a
warm, dry shelter and daily meals,
and in return they will earn their keep
by hunting to keep the mice down.
Ideal locations would be rural e.g. a
stables, small holding or farm.
Please get in touch if you can help,
and please share to anyone that might
be able to help. All have been health
checked, neutered, de-flead and
wormed.
Contact Cats Protection on
0345 371 4218
RSPB's annual book sale. Perhaps
even find that special book in the
auction....
Events at RSPB
Lochwinnoch Nature
Reserve
For further information and booking,
please contact the reserve:
Email: [email protected]
Tel. 01505 842 663
RSPB Lochwinnoch, Largs Road,
Lochwinnoch, PA12 4JF
September 2016
Doors Open Day
10am - 4pm
Sat 3 & 4 Sep
Come along and get a taste of what
the reserve has to offer. There will be
Free entry, Free Pond Dipping, Free
Bug hunting and Free Treasure hunt!
confirmed
Binocular & Telescope Open
Day
10am-4pm
Sat 10 & Sun 11 Sep
Come and peruse a range of
telescopes and binoculars, with
knowledgeable staff on hand to help
you find the right one for you! Our
optics are competitively priced, with
the added bonus that you are helping
conservation.
Cost: FREE
Book Sale & Auction
Whole week Sat 10 –Sun 18 Sep
Find a great Natural History book at
Sunday 11 September
10am – 4pm
Wildlife Photography
Workshop – Intermediate
Level
Learn how to take great outdoor and
wildlife photographs with your own
camera, then see your results on
screen. The workshop will be led by
wildlife photographer David Palmar
(www.photoscot.co.uk), who has
over 30 years of experience and is a
volunteer photographer with the
RSPB at their Loch Lomond & Inner
Forth reserves. This will be an
excellent opportunity to build on
your
existing
photography
skills. Advice, encouragement and
ideas will be freely given!
Cost: £40 – 20% discount for RSPB
members
Lochwinnoch Explorer
Group: Flying Insects
10am – 12noon
Sat 17 Sep
Calling all children! Come along and
learn about nature, but most
importantly, get dirty and have fun
doing it! This month we’ll be
looking at flying insects. Do we
mean bees, butterflies, hoverflies,
moths... ? Come along to find out!
Ages: 5 to 14 years. Please note that
all children aged 8 and under must
be accompanied by an adult.
Booking essential. Cost: £5 (£3
RSPB members, adults go free)
Saturday 17 September
1pm - 4:30pm
Wildlife Photography Workshop
– Beginner Level
Learn how to take great outdoor and
wildlife photographs with your own
camera, then see your results on
screen. The workshop will be led by
wildlife photographer David Palmar
(www.photoscot.co.uk), who has over
30 years of experience and is a
volunteer photographer with the
RSPB at their Loch Lomond & Inner
Forth reserves.
This will be an
excellent opportunity for beginners to
learn
the
basics.
Advice,
encouragement and ideas will be
freely given!
Cost: £25 – 20% discount for RSPB
members
Family volunteering - volunteer
with your children or grandchildren...
1pm – 3:30pm
Sat 24 Sept
Who says volunteering is only for
grown-ups? Definitely not us. Here’s
an opportunity for grown-ups and
children to do something practical
together in the great outdoors, and to
help us Give Nature a Home. It’s a
chance to spend some quality time
with the children in your life, and it’s
free.
Please book.
Cost: FREE
RSPB News
The weather hasn’t been particularly
kind to us over the past couple of
months - as I type this, the rain is
lashing down outside the office
window. I can’t be the only person
hoping we’ll enjoy some late summer
sunshine in September!
The changing seasons definitely keep
things interesting at the reserve most migrant bird species, including
warblers, ospreys and swifts, have
already started heading south to their
wintering grounds in Africa, and it
won’t be long before winter migrants
such as goldeneye, whooper swans
and greylag geese start to arrive in
Lochwinnoch to spend the winter
months at the reserve.
If, like me, the rainy weather makes
you want to curl up with a cuppa & an
interesting book, why not come along
to the reserve from the 10th – 18th
16
entries this year, so I’m sure the winners will be well
worth a look!
If you feel inspired by the competition winners and would
like to develop your own photography skills, our
Photography Workshops may be perfect for you.
The workshops will be lead by David Palmar, a wildlife
photographer with over 30 years experience, who is the
volunteer photographer for the Loch Lomond & Inner
Forth RSPB reserves, and runs his own website
(photoscot.co.uk).
On Sunday 11th, David will run a full day intermediate
photography workshop which will be perfect for those
looking to improve their existing skills, and
on Saturday 17th there will be an afternoon workshop
aimed at beginners.
Both workshops will include a mixture of indoor
presentation and outdoor practical skills development,
and David will provide plenty of advice and
encouragement! Spaces will be limited, so book early to
avoid disappointment.
For more information about the reserve or any of our
events, please call 01505 842 663 or email
[email protected]
September to browse our Book Sale. We will have a
vast array of books available to purchase, with some great
bargains to be had!
While you’re here, you can also see the winning pictures in
this year’s Photography Competition, which will be
unveiled on Sunday 11th and displayed in the visitor centre
throughout the month. There have been some fantastic
17
Windows on Wildlife Update
The Windows on Wildlife Project aims to bring people
closer to wildlife, gaining a unique insight to the furry &
feathered inhabitants of Castle Semple Country Park.
Countryside Ranger Hayley gives us an update.
Wildlife News
July and August have been fantastic months for breeding
barn owls in the local area. Out of four sites visited, three
had young chicks. One with a clutch of four, one with three
and one with two. One of the adult females was also present
and she was subsequently ringed. It’s surprising for me as
that particular box has now had three different females
using it over the last three years. I do wonder what is
happening out with the breeding season which causes this.
When visiting the clutch of three the youngest chick wasn’t
coping too well and he was subsequently taken up to
18
Lochwinnoch Art
Group
and almost 1000 hours of footage
which I’ve collected over the last four
years and hope to write up.
Event News
Ever fancied wandering around the
woods in the dark but been too afraid
to do so? Join me on the evening of
Friday 16th September to see if we can
spot badgers, owls, wood mice, bats
and more on the After Dark Walk.
Meet at Castle Semple at 7.30pm,
booking is essential with a cost of £5
per person. Good walking shoes and a
torch are recommended.
More Info…
Details can be found on the Park’s
website www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk or
by emailing
[email protected].
Footage can be viewed on the Park’s
YouTube channel or on the WoW
Facebook page. Talks to groups can be
arranged.
Hessilhead for treatment. After two
weeks he was returned successfully
back to his box and is holding his own
with his siblings. He was a grumpy wee
thing and continuously hissed all the
way down the road until he went back
in the box.
If you have barn owls nesting in any
outbuildings please remember that
they are Schedule 1 birds, protected
under the Wildlife and Countryside Act
and a special licence is required to
disturb them for activities such as
ringing and photography. More info
can
be
found
at
http://
www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlandsnature/protected-species/which-andhow/birds/
It has recently been noted that the
Windows on Wildlife trail cameras are
one of the longest continuously
running trail camera projects in
Scotland (4 years in October). They
continue to film the daily lives of the
badgers, foxes and more in the woods.
The badger triplets are doing well and
it’s soon going to be hard to tell at a
glance which are the adults and which
are the cubs however the cameras have
allowed me to distinguish between
individuals from their facial stripes and
tails.
Some of the badgers, such as Rough
and Salt, have been followed on camera
their whole lives. I have pages of notes
For more informtion please
contact: Hayley Douglas,
Countryside Ranger – CMRP tel
01505 842 882
Our meetings are held fortnightly on a
Monday evening between 7.30 9.30pm in the McKillop Institute
(Public Holidays etc. permitting).


September 5th: A.G.M. & Discussion
September
19th:
Drawing.
Introduction to Water Colour.
New members are welcome to join our
friendly, self help group. You may have
enjoyed Art in the past! The annual
membership fee is £25.
Each new member receives a sketch
pad. We have 15 meetings, 3 of which
are
demonstrations
by
invited
professional artists, and in October and
January we hold an Art Exhibition.
There is a Syllabus but some members
just come along and, "do their own
thing".
Halfway through each evening there is
a choice of tea or coffee for 20p with a
chance to chat and see what the others
are doing.
Lochwinnoch Historical
Society
First meeting for this session is on
Thursday 15th September
7.30pm
In the Parish Church
Our guest speaker is The Urban
Historian Steven Clancy
"Bargarran, witches and thread
1696 to the 1730s"
Mystery and intrigue has long
surrounded the slaying of the socalled ‘Paisley witches’ back in the
17th century.
Seven people were strangled, their
bodies burned and then their charred
remains were buried at Maxwellton
Cross at a site marked by a horseshoe
and a circle of cobblestones.
We welcome new members and
visitors to the meeting.
Membership is £8 for the year.
Evening visitors pay £2.
Includes tea/coffee cake and biscuits.
19
Lochwinnoch Community
Library
Opening Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Friday &
Saturday
10am – 1pm,
2pm – 5pm
Wednesday 2pm-5pm, 6pm-8pm
CLOSED THURSDAY
Tel: 0300 300 1188
BookBug Sessions
Every Tuesday 10-10:30am
Songs, rhymes, rhythm and
movement! Free, friendly and fun for
children aged up to four and their
parents. No need to book, just drop in!
Bridge of Weir Choral
Society
About The Urban
Historian
In Reply
New members are welcome to join the
Bridge of Weir Choral Society.
Our rehearsals recommence in the
small hall of St. Columba Church,
Kilmacolm on Tuesday 6th September
at 7.30pm.
The coming repertoire includes
Christmas Carols, excerpts from
Messiah and Mozart's Mass in C
Minor.
For
more
information
please
telephone the Choir President, Ernie
Smyth on 01505 702997 or email
In reply to Robert's question in last
month's Chatterbox, the butchers shop
next to the co-op was Hendry's.
The owner, Alan Hendry and his wife
Kate, lived at "Ingleside" on Johnshill
and later in the upper flat in the "Old
Court House" on Church Street.
Sadly Kate was killed in a head on car
crash in Glencoe, sometime around
1980. Alan retired some
30 years ago, and sold the shop to the
other butcher in Lochwinnoch at that
time.
David Fowles
[email protected]
The Urban Historian will be leading a
walk around Lochwinnoch and Castle
Semple on
Stephen is a member of the
Renfrewshire Local History Forum;
The Paisley Thread Mill Museum,
Management Committee and a
Trustee
of
the
Stewartry
Archaeological Trust. In addition to
this the Urban Historian is also
advising the Renfrewshire Tapestry
Group on historical aspects of the old
County of Renfrew.
Sunday 18th September at 2pm
www.theurbanhistorian.co.uk
The walk will start at Calder United
Free Church and finish at Castle
Semple after visiting the Collegiate
Church.
Editorial and Copy for the
October Chatterbox
Contact The Elderly
Tea-Parties
The Urban Historian Walk
Are you over 75, live alone, find going
out a little difficult, but enjoy
conversation and a lovely afternoon
tea? If so, Contact the Elderly
Lochwinnoch Group have one or two
places available right now.
You will receive a warm welcome, be
collected from your home by a
Volunteer Driver, taken to a lovely
Volunteer hosts’ home for afternoon
tea, one Sunday afternoon per month.
The tea- party is from 2pm to 4pm
plus travelling time, as we have a
number of hosts out with the village.
You will then be driven back to your
home, all with no cost to yourself.
If you want to find out more, please
contact :-
The Urban Historian, has been
delivering short courses and Heritage
walks in Paisley for several years. Our
tutor, and walk leader, Stephen
graduated from the University of
Glasgow with a degree in History, and
went on to complete a Masters in
Multimedia from the then University
of Paisley. Stephen has worked as an
archaeologist on many archaeological
digs in Paisley, Renfrewshire and
beyond, and has taught local history
and archaeology at the University of
the West of Scotland and at the
University of Dundee.
The cost of the heritage walk is £3 per
person.
Details of this walk and other local
heritage walks can be found at
www.theurbanhistorian.co.uk.
Stephen J Clancy MA (Hons), MSc,
AHEA
Let us have your stories, notices, news,
information, events and items of interest
– either hand-deliver them to the
Chatterbox drop-box in the Library or
preferably e-mail them to us at:
[email protected]
Electronic submission with full colour
pictures are preferred.
Tel: 01505 842632
The Urban Historian
Ann Arnold—Group Coordinator
[email protected]
COPY DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER IS
MONDAY 112H SEPTEMBER
Tel No 01505 842736
ESTABLISHED 1989
25 YEARS IN BUSINESS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS GO ON AND ON…
OUR PRODUCTS ARE INSTALLED
IN OVER ONE HUNDRED
LOCHWINNOCH HOUSEHOLDS
UPVC WINDOWS AND DOORS
MAINTENANCE FREE UPVC
ROOFLINE AND FULL
WINDOW REPAIR SERVICE
Contact—PETER McGARVEY
Tel: 01505 614654
HINGES, LOCKS AND MISTED
AND BROKEN GLASS REPLACED
UPVC DOORS FITTED FROM £460 20