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Bannockburn News
Established 2004
Issue 28: October / November 2009
Hedges Loan
Bannockburn
Proudly sponsored by:
KILGANNON MOTORS
NEED AN MOT? Car needs serviced?
Local character
Derek Robertson
Page 2
01786 813476
Councillors demand long-term
plan for Ladywell Park
By Greg Christison
B
Wallace and Murray
Page 3
Dear
Daphne...
Page 4
Page 5
News Reporter
Stevie completes
Edinburgh
marathon
Page 6
Bannockburn
High renovations
on course
Page 7
Prize Competition
Sponsored by:
SPEED
PROPERTY
Page 8
annockburn
councillors
have called for a long-term
plan to be put in place to restore a deteriorating Ladywell
Park to its former glory.
SNP representative Alasdair
MacPherson and Labour’s
Margaret Brisley spoke out after a recent survey highlighted
significant faults in and around
the park.
The examination of the area,
which was carried out on
Thursday 6th August by Stirling Council, was requested
by MacPherson after he had
received several complaints
from local residents regarding
the state of the park.
The concerns of the Bannockburn residents were supported
by the report which underlined
problems with access, vandalism and general maintenance.
In particular, the report compiled by Land Services Team
Leader Craig Gardner, recommended that the pathway
leading from Top Park to Bottom Park needs to be renewed
due to erosion, and that the
encroaching trees should also
be cut back or removed.
It also proposed that steps
across the spring should be
repaired immediately due to
poor condition; badly damaged
benches should be replaced;
and the park’s hedges should
be cut. Gardner also pointed
Elderly fans of Bannockburn Amateurs are unable to
watch their team play due to poor access to the park
out that a cleaning regime
should be established to prevent graffiti and broken glass
building up.
As the Bannockburn News
goes to print, we understand
that Stirling Council has already taken steps to improve
several of the areas highlighted in the survey. Broken glass
has already been removed
from around the benches and
the wooden shelter, and these
areas are now being regularly
checked.
In addition, they have vowed
to begin cutting the hedges in
October and to prioritise the
pruning of shrubs on the embankment during the winter
period.
Members of the Streetscape
team, responsible for managing and maintaining the Council’s soft landscapes, have
already inspected the pathways badly in need of repair.
A decision will be made in due
course over whether funding
can be found to reinstate the
worst affected areas.
MacPherson explained that
although he is pleased with
the work to date, he feels that
a firm plan must be put into effect if the park is to be restored
to a good standard.
He said, “The current position
is that the Council has already
started to do some repairs to
the damaged bridge and improvement work to the footpaths.
“In the next few months I
know that my fellow elected
members would like to see a
long term master plan developed for the Ladywell Park, in
consultation with Bannockburn
and Hillpark residents. I would
like to see the park restored
to its former glory, providing a
community facility to be proud
of once again.
“While I am happy that the interim works have been carried
out, it is vital that we start the
Turn to page 3
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Bannockburn News
Contact Us
Bannockburn News welcomes your comments, ideas and
contributions.
Please feel free to contact the
team using the details below.
Editor Greg Christison
Email: bburn-news@
talktalk.net
Phone: 07903 197863
Letter: The Editor, Bannockburn News, c/o 68
Benview, Bannockburn,
FK7 0HY
Treasurer Gordon Jack
gordonj@
harleyfinancial.co.uk
Advertising
Marianne Cairns
Email: marianne.
[email protected]
Auntie Jean’s Cafe
/ Outside Catering
Hillpark, Bannockburn
01786 818282
Also providing
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flower & helium
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bouncy castles
Snack vans
ice cream vans
sumo suits
Opening times
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Sunday
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THE Local CHARACTER
Derek Robertson
D
erek was born in Stirling Royal, has lived in
Bannockburn nearly all his life and doesn’t see
any reason to change that.
Early life was punctuated by life saving surgery,
made possible by a series of fortunate events: his
parents moving from Aberdeen city to the wee
village of Bannockburn; a young brilliant surgeon
operating from Stirling infirmary; and a just-in-time
diagnosis of kidney problems.
Bannockburn Primary was almost new when he
went there. He remembers having ‘careless’ on
every report card and being belted numerous times,
usually for acting the fool. Some main memories
of the Primary included when Kenny Shaw went
to Spain on holiday. That was so radical that the
class did a project on Spain. And Derek was called
to “The Headie” in P6 – not for a row this time but to show what expensive (£5 in 1972) football
boots looked like (Adidas Beckenbauer with three
luminous strips). The Headie’s verdict “They are
not football boots; they are like slippers!”
The Boys’ Brigade was a constant from 8 to early
twenties and full of highs, lows and life education.
Greetin’ because his friends got in at age seven
while Bunty and Reggie Day made him wait
until he was eight. And bubbling when Jim and
Peter McIntyre put him in goals from his favoured
left wing position. That turned out to be a good
decision as he won several winners’ medals as a
goalie. Highs included the many role models to
look up to and the adventure-filled holidays (two
weeks in Belgium for £40.00!).
His heart was set on being a police officer but he
failed the eye test . . . twice. The second time was
after living under a blue light for two weeks. He
guesses now the Police medic was winding him
up with that idea. He went to “The Amicable” after
going to the careers office to become a Military
Police Officer (?) The Amicable saw Derek in lots
of varied jobs with a career high of achieving the
final three shortlist for the national HR Professional
of the Year. After some 22 years he left to start
his own Human Resources and training business.
While getting started, he did several other jobs
including delivering the free papers – with the
by Stevie Hughes
Former Bannockburn News Editor Derek
Robertson runs his own training business
family’s help of course: the oldest paper-boy in
Bannockburn.
Now his business takes him over the place with
about three months of the year outside the country.
He meets around 2500 different people a year from
Nizhny Novgorod to Inverness. He has worked in
a Baltic bothy at the edge of an airbase to swanky
hotels in Monte Carlo and with Rocket Scientists
and Head Teachers. It’s true that when you find
something that you love doing you will never work
again.
Bannockburn, however, remains the centre of
the things, where with the family, Jane and Elaine
they know lots of great Bannockburn people. It’s
with the community in mind that he has been
part of the Boys’ Brigade in the past, a director of
several local charities, member of the Community
Trust and continues with the beloved Bannockburn
Amateurs as well as being active with Murrayfield
Church. Although they are quite different, they
all have a large community aspect to them and
that’s important. Bannockburn News too was a
key involvement for several years and he says it
is great to see it as a firm part of the Bannockburn
scene.
As for the future, he still wants to play a musical
instrument, speak a foreign language and be a
decent golfer. So far these fall into Bannockburn
Amateurs’ previous captain Gregor Bryans’
challenge of “ambition and ability”. He has the
ambition and needs to work on the ability.
McQ’s has got talent
Edited by Hannah Scott
M
cQ’s talent night held recently would have
made better viewing than the original, despite
a few last minute withdrawals including ‘The Singing Dug: Tavish’.
All contestants performed well. Albert ‘The Tarman’, recently named in the top 20 of Britain’s most
eligible bachelors, stole first prize with his version
of Billy Idol’s “Hot in the City”.
Judges Wullie Gibb and Charlie Ballantyne would
have knocked Simon Cowell’s trousers off with their
comments; they were very honest shall we say!
On Bud Beaton’s performance of “Love on the
Rocks”, they said: “Well Bud that must be the longest song from the shortest man!”
Ian Thomson was second to none as compere for
the evening. Between introducing acts we had renditions such as “Never Fall in Love” by Tom Jones.
McQ’s talent night was a huge success
despite several acts cancelling
It was noted that the knickers thrown at him would
never have fitted!
All staff would like to thank everyone who took
part.
The next talent night is scheduled for January;
look out for tickets going on sale as there will be
high demand.
Bannockburn News
Page 3
King Robert
Hotel
Wallace and Murray
W
illiam Wallace was a
younger son of Ayrshire
landowner Alan Wallace, and
was born at Ellerslie near Kilmarnock. Wallace was unknown
until 1296 when he may have
been the “thief” accused at
Perth of robbery. He was later
described as “a bloody man and
a chief of brigands”.
Andrew Murray was heir to
Avoch in the Black Isle, Boharm
in Banff and the estate of Petty
in Inverness; he was well connected to the rich and powerful
nobles of the North.
Soon after Edward I‘s conquest of Scotland and the removal of the Stone of Destiny
and the Black Rood along with
great chests of treasure, the resistance began. Murray started
from Avoch sweeping South
East defeating various garrisons, while his allies the McDougalls attacked in the West,
and Sir William Douglas fought
in the South West.
Wallace in May 1297 killed
William Heselrig, the Sheriff of
Lanark. He then attacked Scone
and Dundee, followed by forays
into the North of England.
The young Murray and Wallace combined at Stirling on 11th
September 1297 to face John
de Warenne, the Earl of Surrey
and his superior forces. Surrey
asked for their surrender but
Wallace said, “ Tell your com-
mander that we are not here to
make peace, but to do battle to
defend ourselves and liberate
our kingdom. Let them come
on, and we shall prove this in
their very beards”. And they did.
5,000 English soldiers died and
their Treasurer, the hated Hugh
de Cressingham was flayed, his
skin sent all over Scotland as
victory tokens.
Murray was wounded during
the battle and died within a few
months, but not before letters
were sent to the Baltic and Germany declaring Scotland independent and open to trade.
Wallace was now heading for
his demise. Some of the nobility
did not like a man from his background leading armies and dictating policy. Therefore he may
not have been fully supported.
Despite this, Wallace assembled an army at Falkirk on 22nd
July 1298. Across the Roman
road at Westquarter, Wallace is
said to have addressed his men
with the words “ I hae brocht ye
tae the ring, now see gif ye can
dance”. The music for this dance
was provided by Edward I by the
clashing of swords, the beating
of hammers and axes, the whistling of arrows and the thunder
of hooves. The Scots army was
defeated and many prominent
men killed.
Of the Scots killed, Sir John de
Graeme was one of the most fa-
William Wallace
mous; his tomb is in the Churchyard at St.Modans in the centre
of Falkirk.
Wallace resigned the Guardianship and went to France and
Rome. On his return he was
eventually captured by Sir John
Menteith at Robroyston. On 3rd
August 1305, he was transported to Westminster Hall in
London, tried for treason, found
guilty and dragged by horses to
Smithfield were he was hanged,
then cut down whilst still alive
and drawn; he was then beheaded and quartered, his head
set on London bridge, the quarters sent and displayed at Newcastle, Berwick, Perth and Stirling as a warning to the Scots.
However, a futile warning, a
new leader was emerging, Robert Bruce, who carried on the
resistance to eventually meet
Edward’s son at Bannockburn.
Long-term plan for Ladywell Park
Continued from page 1
master-planning process as
early as possible,” he added.
Brisley emphasised her disappointment at the park’s
current state: “It has seems
to have totally got overgrown
again, it just doesn’t look maintained.
“It is a great asset and a lovely park when it is maintained.
They have to listen now to the
community.”
The decline of the park has
meant that elderly supporters of Bannockburn Amateurs
Football Club, who play at the
Bottom Park, have been unable to watch their side over
the past few seasons.
Secretary of the club, Arthur
Millar explained: “Access is a
major problem. The steps are
eroded in parts which makes
getting up and down to the
pitch from the pavilion very difficult. Access could definitely
be improved.
“Some benches have been
put on the hill at the Firs Crescent side. However, access is
still poor. It is hard for them to
see the games.”
Brisley offered some support to Millar: “The park badly
needs upgraded. I totally agree
that these fans should be able
to access the park.
She added: “I think a proper
plan is needed with community
consultation. We have to get
round the table and see what
can be done.”
Local resident George Wilkie,
86, who has lived in Bannockburn his whole life agreed that
getting to and from the park is
now a struggle, but reminisced
over how it used to be a busy
and pleasant place to be.
He said: “Everyone used to
play football down there; there
was a set of swings and a
roundabout too.
“There was even a park
keeper called Paddy Moore,
who was there all the time. He
would look after the place and
make sure no one was having
a carry on.”
Have you got a story for the
Bannockburn News?
Call us on:
07903 197863
or Email:
[email protected]
Saturday 17th October 2009
Tribute Night
The sensational
MOTOWN MAGIC SHOW
Plus disco with our resident dj
7.00pm – 1.00am
Includes a three course set meal
£20.00 per person
(One person in every party of 15
booked will go free)
(Book early to avoid disappointment)
Sunday 1st November 2009
FIREWORKS NIGHT
Come along and enjoy a 2
Course Carvery
There are 3 sittings, 4.30pm,
5.00pm and 5.30pm
Dress the kids up; there are
prizes for the best fancy dress
Fireworks start at 6.30pm
£10.00 Adults and £5.00 Kids
(Book early to avoid disappointment)
Festive Fayre Lunches
£14.95
Festive Fayre Dinners
£19.95
Available from
Friday 27th November until
Thursday 24th December
Call now to book your table
Christmas Brochures
out Now!
FRIDAY, SATURDAY &
SUNDAY –
WEEKEND SPECIAL MENU
Served from 12 Noon until
9.00pm
Every Saturday evening you
can enjoy live entertainment
(Terms and conditions apply
to all of the above)
Glasgow Road
FK7 0LJ
01786 811666
[email protected]
Page 4
Bannockburn News
Winner of Giggle of the Year 2009
A family business here
in Bannockburn since
1887
Isa, John, Joe and David and
all of our friendly staff, who
have been with us for many
years, are here to make sure
that your visit to McQ’s is
special every time!!
Quality food served on time
and with a smile - every day!
A wide choice of starters, more
than 20 main courses all
freshly prepared on the
premises plus sweets to make
your mouth water!! And a
separate kids’ menu is always
on offer no matter when you
choose to visit McQ’s.
Lunch served
12 -2.30pm daily
Plus
all day Sunday
12.30 to 7.30pm
Evening meals
Friday & Saturday
5pm - 8:30pm
(last orders)
Fun Quiz on first Friday of
every month in the lounge.
9.30pm start
Saturday Cabaret with
the best shows the UK
has to offer
EVERY
SATURDAY!
Free Karaoke
every Thursday and
Live DJ every Saturday
in the Lounge
Now booking for
Christmas lunch and
party nights!
Call (01786)
812256/812056
Tartan Arms
Main Street
Bannockburn
FK7 8LX
Q
I bought my husband
a season ticket for
his favourite football
team but now I really regret
it.
He spends all weekend at
the games and often goes to
midweek games also. When
he isn’t there he is down the
pub with his pals drinking.
I know I have brought on
the problem myself, but I
feel like a widow. What can
I do?
A
Er, duh! What exactly
were you expecting you
fool? You’re like one of
those idiots you see on the telly
saying they want to sue McDonalds because Big Macs have
made them fat!
But I suppose anyone can make
a mistake; so why don’t you try
and compromise and ask him to
only go to a few of the games?
Worst that could happen is that
he says no and leaves you, but
at least you’ll know where you
stand!
A
Some would say they’re
just young and trying
to have fun, that you
should live and let live, whereas
others think that children should
be seen and not heard.
You really should try playing
the spotty adolescents at their
own game and start blasting
some Sidney Devine out your
living room window every time
they come near! A few bars of
Tiny Bubbles and they’ll be running for cover every time!
Have you
got a
few hours
to spare?
Black
Joe
BRDA volunteers
required
J
oe was the local tramp
who, if my memory serves
me right, lived and slept in the
park.
Black Joe was the nickname
given to him by the town’s children because he had black
hair and a very black beard,
and perhaps too, because of
his general dirty appearance.
He would often be seen picking up a discarded cigarette
butt and asking a passer-by for
a light.
I understood his real name
was Willie McEwan, and the
older townsfolk would say
“Aye Willie” as they passed,
to which he always responded
“Aye so-and-so”.
He often stood by the side
entrance to the park, smoking
one of the aforementioned cigarette butts. To an outsider he
probably looked frightful, but
we were not afraid of him, as
he never bothered us except to
say ‘hello’.
He had two unmarried sisters
who lived nearby but did not,
or would not, live with them. It
was as though he was rebel-
Q
Daphne, I am furious! I am fed up
of the kids on our
street running about causing havoc with bikes and
balls. They make noise
late into the evening, which
prevents me from being
able to sleep and last week
one cycled over my summer tulips. How can I stop
these little troublemakers?
B
Joe used to live and sleep
in the park
ling against society and decided to remove himself from
it. I often wondered if he had
been in a war and his current
way of life was a consequence
of his experiences in that war.
It was common throughout the
1950’s, to come across someone whose experience of war
had left them unable to cope
with post-war life. I suspect a
Black Joe could be found in
many towns at that time.
I do not know how ‘our’ Joe
fared in his later years, but I
remember him fondly and pray
he found peace.
Would you like to volunteer as a
reporter for the Bannockburn News?
Call: 07903 197863
Email: [email protected]
annockburn Riding for
the Disabled (BRDA)
requires daytime volunteers who can give an
hour or more to assist them
in providing riding sessions
for people with a range of
disabilities. No equestrian
background or knowledge of
disabilities is required; just
come along and bring a preparedness to enjoy yourself
and learn new skills.
Volunteering at BRDA is incredibly rewarding and gives
opportunities to obtain formal,
national qualifications.
So come along and be part
of a growing, pro-active and
exciting organisation which
provides life-changing experiences for lots of people.
Please contact BRDA by telephone on 01786 813338 or
e-mail [email protected] if you would
like to volunteer.
An enhanced disclosure is
a necessary part of volunteering at BRDA.
Bannockburn News
A
t present the top three
Policing Priorities in
Bannockburn are:
1. Youths causing annoyance and damage to property in Stein Square.
2. Parking in and around the
school at the start and end of
the school day
3. Cars parking on double
yellow lines at Main Street.
New Officer
In September, the Bannockburn Community Policing Team gained another
Community Officer for Bannockburn, PC 243 Alison
Ferry.
Alison has 14 years’ Police
service and has previously
worked in Stirling, Bannockburn and the Eastern Villages.
As such Alison has a good
working knowledge of Bannockburn and the current
issues affecting the community.
I am delighted to be working alongside Alison and
welcome her to the team.
Bonfire Night
As Bonfire night fast approaches I would like to
take this opportunity to advise parents and children in
Bannockburn to attend an
organised event rather then
attend a fire which has been
Page 5
illegally started in play parks
or other areas.
There have already been
fires lit in Catherine Street,
Bannockburn a month before Bonfire night and the
persons responsible have
been stealing bins and other
items to set on fire. This is
wholly unacceptable and
anyone found lighting a fire
will be charged with wilful
fire-raising.
Also in the run up to Bonfire night there will be a joint
police and council operation
in relation to education and
enforcement of bonfires and
fireworks. All shops who sell
fireworks are being visited
and staff given advice with
regards to the sale of fireworks and the responsibilities of the seller, the buyer
and persons setting off fireworks.
Home security
As the darker nights begin
to close in on us this is often
the time when thieves are
out and about even more,
as they see the darkness as
cover in order to carry out
their criminal activities.
So let’s work together to
make your home safer from
being broken into and deter
the opportunistic thief.
Firstly consider how you
are going to make your home
look “lived in” when you are
out. Year after year people
think it won’t be their home
that is targeted by an op-
portunistic thief, but unfortunately year after year homes
are still broken into, albeit
this type of crime is relatively
low in Bannockburn.
Stand outside your home
and have a look at your
home and think to yourself,
“If I was to be locked out and
needed to gain entry to my
home, how would I do it?”
This is the type of question thieves ask themselves
when they are looking at
property to break into. If it
looks too difficult and there
are signs to suggest that
there is someone at home,
then the chances are the
thief will move onto somewhere else and leave your
home well alone.
For example, by simply
leaving a light on when you
go out or by fitting a timer
switch for your lights, this
could make all the difference. In addition make sure
all your doors and windows
are secure when leaving
your property unattended;
and when the time comes for
buying Christmas presents
keep these out of sight by
storing them in a cupboard
or similar.
If you are looking for security advice on your property,
please do not hesitate to
contact myself or my colleague PC 243 Alison Ferry
and we will be happy to
come and speak with you in
relation to home security.
Murrayfield Church celebration
A
s part of Murrayfield United Free
Church’s celebration of 50 years in
their current building, they are holding a
“Homecoming Service” on Sunday 15th
November at 11.15am and extending an
invitation to anyone who was baptised
in the church during that time to “come
home”.
If you are one of the hundreds baptised
there over the years, the congregation will
be delighted to see you on the 15th November.
They promise not to pour water on you
this time - but you will get a cuppa afterwards!
The Church is celebrating 50 years
in their current building
Local artist
plans exhibition
after recent
success
Syd alongside his latest painting
By Stevie Hughes
“T
he holy grail is to spend less time making the picture than it takes people to
look at it” is a quote from Banksy that
certainly applies to Syd Simpson’s latest masterpiece – The Burn of Life. Syd has come a
long way in a few months.
Syd only started drawing and painting in
February this year through his participation in
Creative Workshop at the Delta 2 Gallery in
Larbert. He attends one day per week under
the tutelage of artist Craig McKenchnie.
Syd was encouraged by friends to develop
his skills and one of his first commissions was
from his friend Billy Woods to paint a picture
of a sunset on the Isle of Skye from a photograph. Billy loved the painting and much
prefers it to the original. His work has already
appeared in an exhibition called Cross Currents at the Delta 2 Gallery and he was pleasantly surprised that people bought 12 of his
18 canvases on display.
The Burn of Life is the centre of conversation
for all who have viewed it. Everyone who has
seen it can see certain similarities, but also
spot new things that no-one has mentioned
previously. I am even less of an art critic than
I am an ace reporter, but would have to say
that the Burn of Life is simply an adventure
and throughout the interview, I couldn’t help
myself returning to look at this painting to see
if there was anything I had missed and each
time I found new adventures.
Plans for the future include a new exhibition at Delta 2 called Wee Seeds which will
run from the 21st – 29th November, 12 – 5
pm daily – admission free. Syd is also hopeful that next year he will create an exhibition
containing his paintings, poems and music. If
his music and poems are half as good as his
paintings, that will be an exhibition worth seeing. Syd would like to thank friends for their
support and Craig at Delta 2 for encouragement and inspiration.
Page 6
Bannockburn News
In Brief
Changes at News
Bannockburn News is delighted to announce we have
a new Head of Advertising,
Marianne Cairns.
Marianne, a student at Stirling University, will be more
than happy to deal with any
advertising enquiries. She
can be contacted on:
marianne.cairns@hotmail.
com.
The News would also like
to thank Margaret Robertson,
who has decided to leave the
team.
Margaret, who has worked
hard in compiling the quiz for
each issue, ensured that the
£25 prize-money was never
given away too easily!
The Co-op horse
Following on from the Coop article in the last issue,
Frances Cochrane has informed the Bannockburn
News that the horse which
pulled the horse and cart was
called Victor.
Bannockburn
Beavers
The S1 team now trains
Tuesday evenings 6:30pm 8:00 pm & Sunday mornings
10:30 - 12:00.
The Bluebell Wood
Have you got a story for the
Bannockburn News?
Call us on:
07903 197863
or Email:
[email protected]
In response to last edition’s
story on the Bluebell Wood,
Gavin Millar got in touch with
the Bannockburn News to confirm he has owned the land
since 1958.
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Our reporter
completes
Edinburgh
marathon
By Stevie Hughes
A
fter a varied training regime
which included healthy eating, a reduced Guinness intake
and completing around 50%
of my training programme, I
eventually managed to finish
the Edinburgh marathon.
The furthest I ran in training
was 13 miles on two occasions
along with a dozen seven mile
runs, so not ideal preparation.
The heat on the day reached
24 / 25 degrees at some parts.
Around the 17 miles mark the
muscles above both my knees
started shaking and after 30
seconds or so stopped as did
my ability to bend my legs. I
walked around six of the last
nine miles. My time wasn’t
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or Email:
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great because of this and I
came in at 5 hrs 42 mins.
What have I learned? Training
is good, Guinness is bad. Also
I should have stopped playing
football, rugby and tennis 3 or
4 months earlier. Next up is the
Aviemore half marathon on the
18th of October with my mate
Mikey (Doig).
The Grand Boys (www.thegrandboys.co.uk) raised £120
and F.R.O.M. Scotland (www.
fromscotland.org.uk)
raised
£1,085 from people sponsoring
me, so thank you very much to
all who donated to the above
causes. Cheers, Stevie.
SPEED PROPERTY
17 MAIN STREET
ST. NINIANS
STIRLING
FK7 9AW
Tel: 01786 447 799
FAX: 01786 448 737
MOBILE: 0771 333 5536
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www.speed-property.co.uk
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47 Main Street (next to Tartan Arms)
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Stevie completed run
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Bannockburn
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Bannockburn News
Page 7
Bannockburn
High building
work on
track for
October 2010
completion
By Ross Hamilton
A
s Bannockburn High School prepares
to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its
move to the current Broombridge campus,
substantial renovations to complement the
recently completed extension are proceeding well.
Bannockburn News contacted the school
recently to speak to project co-ordinator
and Depute Headteacher Mr John Wyllie
about what the improvements will mean for
students, and how disruption will be minimised during the renovations.
Mr Wyllie told us that every teaching area
and the lecture theatre will be completely
refurbished while brand new kitchens for
the social area canteen will be installed.
The renovations are being carried out in
two distinct phases. The first, which commenced in June and should last until next
Bannockburn Beavers
take to the field
Bannockburn High School
renovations mark 30th anniversary
of move to the Broomridge campus
spring, sees work being carried out on the
wing of the school nearest the Bannockburn
Road. Classes from that wing have temporarily moved outside to the “educational
city” of purpose-built portacabins in the
school grounds, where they are proceeding
without disruption.
In the spring, these classes will be held for
the first time in the newly completed wing,
while renovations will commence in the other wing of the school.
The aim of the school management team
and contractor, Hadden Construction, is
that the refurbishments will be completed
by October of next year and leave the building ready to face the elements for at least
another 30 years.
The Beavers S1 team made their
debut recently
H
istory was made recently when
Bannockburn Beavers S1 team
took the field for the first time.
They had games against strong Linlithgow & Strathendrick sides and although both games ended in defeat all
players acquitted themselves well and
the future looks bright for the club.
The club is still looking for players of
all ages and skill levels. If you would like
further details contact Colin Alexander
via email at colin_alexander@talktalk.
net ,call 07957458265 or log onto the
club website at www.bannockburnrfc.
co.uk.
Page 8
Bannockburn News
Bannockburn News win at awards
By Calum Brodie
B
annockburn
News
emerged successful from
the Community Newspaper
Awards 2009, which was held
at Callander Kirk Hall on Saturday 19th September.
Although the top prize of
Community Newspaper of The
Year was awarded to The Villagers, the representatives of
our magazine did not leave
empty handed.
The Giggle of the Year award
was presented to the News for
the humorous advice offered
by our popular agony aunt,
‘Dear Daphne’ in issue 26.
All at the Bannockburn News
were also delighted to see local fundraisers, The Grandboys acknowledged for their
ongoing hard-work within the
community. They shared the
Outstanding Local Group
award after their efforts were
highlighted in issue 25 of the
magazine.
Bannockburn News editor,
Greg Christison said, “The
Dear Daphne section is extremely popular with our readers, I am delighted that her
entertaining column has been
rewarded.
“We are also pleased to
see The Grandboys given an
award for their continuous
Prize Competition
Sponsored by: SPEED
Bannockburn News won
two awards
hard-work. It was a great evening and it was very interesting
to see how the other community newspapers operate.”
Name:
PROPERTY
Address:
Well done to Mrs E. Sprowl for winning last issue’s Prize Competition.
The topic for this issue’s quiz is: Boys’ and Girls’ first names.
For your chance to win £25, simply fill in the competition form below and
send your answers to: Prize Competition, Bannockburn News, c/o 68
Benview, Bannockburn, Stirling, FK7 0HY. The winning entry will be
drawn at random by a member of the Bannockburn News committee.
Closing date for entries: Friday 27th November. Good luck.
1. Famous ‘Square’
in T.V. Soap (6)
12. In the Bible,
King David’s third wife.(7)
2. White variety is
said to be lucky(7)
13. This Robin ‘went down
with Alice’ (11)
3. This was the
‘lion heart’ king (7)
14. King who is said
to have watched cakes burn (6)
4. Means ‘defender of men’ (8)
15. Sometimes called
Speedwell (8)
5. Capital of the Isle of Man (7)
16. Well known Edinburgh
cathedral (5)
6. First ‘pirate’ radio (8)
7. Gaelic name for James (6)
17. Sounds like a type
of crane (5)
8. Then leak (anag) (8)
18. Sounds like he is
very serious (6)
9. 31st President of
United States (7)
10. Tennis player who
won 9 Wimbledon titles (7)
19. Flower Show held in
England in May (7)
11. First word in name
of Island in Firth of Clyde (5)
20. Name means
‘dark skinned warrior’ (6)
Last issue’s solutions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Tel:
Top Gear
Prime Suspect
Torchwood
Emmerdale
Star Trek
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Chewin’ the fat
Loose Women
Heartbeat
The Simpsons
River City
This Morning
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Family Fortunes
Mastermind
Question Time
Big Brother
Dad’s Army
Jonathan Creek
18. Inspector Morse
19. The Weakest Link
20. Neighbours
Editorial Policy Statement:
Bannockburn News is a free community newspaper, produced by volunteers for the people of Bannockburn. The views in it do not necessarily
reflect the views of the Editorial Group. The Editorial Group reserves the right to edit, shorten or not publish any article or letter. We will attribute
contributions to the author and any vested interest will be declared where applicable. The newspaper is funded by our local businesses.