CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch Online

CHATTERBOX
No 267 March 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
Lochwinnoch Art
Group
Mistylaw Medical Practice
The Doctors hope that you have had a
healthy start to 2016.
Our fortnightly Group meetings
continue in the Space Room of the
McKillop Institute on Monday
evenings, 7.30 - 9.30pm.

Recently there has been an increase in
patients arriving late or not turning up
for appointments. The Practice would
appreciate if:
 Patients check in at Reception on
arrival.
 If you are late for your appointment
you risk not being seen and may be
asked to book another one. It is not
fair to keep patients who turn up on
time waiting when you have arrived
late to be seen.
 If you can’t make an appointment,
please phone to cancel to allow
someone
else
to
use
that
appointment.
At present we are averaging a hundred
appointments a month where patients
do not turn up. This equates to 17
hours of doctor and nursing time.
Repeat offenders risk being asked to
leave the Practice and register
elsewhere.
Please note the Surgery will be closed
on Friday 25th March and Monday
28th March for Easter and on the
2ndMay and the 30th May. Please
ensure you have enough medication to
cover these periods.
If you plan to go abroad and require
vaccinations please contact the
Practice Nurses sooner rather than
later to make sure there is enough time
to complete your injections.

Monday
29th
February:
"Balance in Composition"
Using the golden triangle method
in subject construction and the
use of colour in uniting a whole
subject.
Monday
14th
March:
"Life
Drawing"
Sketch /draw / paint / clothed
model.
Thanks to all who have encouraged us
by visiting our exhibition, "Art in the
Park", during February.
Lochwinnoch SWI
Our next meeting of the Lochwinnoch
SWI is on Wednesday 16th March in
the McKillop Hall at 7.30pm.
This month we are indulging in a bit of
nostalgia when Isobel Montgomerie
will be giving a talk on "Rural
Memories". This will be interesting to
both new and old members.
We look forward to welcoming
members and guests with tea and cake
as well.
Any further information please
contact, Elma Richmond Tel : 843193
or [email protected]
Elma Richmond
Twelve members showed their work
and many were delighted to have sold
a painting during the two week run.
Bowling Club
Sandra Fowles
RALPH PETERSEN
Motown Tribute/Hits of today
Elderly Forum
The Elderly Forum monthly meeting
is on Thursday 31st March at 1.30pm
In The McKillop Institute
Saturday 30th April
7pm for 7.30pm
For Tickets £6.00 contact
Margaret 843013
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
Thank you for your co-operation.
Medical Staff
Mistylaw Medical Practice
FMB Certificate No 26366
1
Green Grow The Grasses
Oh!
Lawn Care
One hates to be the bearer of bad
tidings, but there’s no point in beating
about the bush. Your lawn is going to
be infested with moss this spring. It’s
inevitable, given the mild and very wet
winter that we’ve had.
Moss in lawns is encouraged by
compaction, poor drainage and warm,
wet weather in the winter. Now, this
may come as a surprise to you, but
most of the soil in Lochwinnoch isn’t
actually that bad and tends to be, at
least in comparison with much of the
rest of west central Scotland, relatively
free draining. On the other hand, we do
have high relative rainfall and after a
winter like this one, your lawn will
have been sitting waterlogged for
months. What happens under these
circumstances is that the grasses start
dying back because their roots are
waterlogged… and the moss moves in.
To combat the moss, start by relieving
the compaction in your soil and aerate
it by lightly forking the top two or three
inches of your lawn. I don’t mean dig it
up, I mean insert your fork at about six
inch intervals to a depth of about two
inches and gently ease it backwards a
little so that the surface of the lawn
rises slightly. This will break up surface
compaction, aid drainage and let a
little air into the soil, thus creating a
growing medium that favours the
grasses and does the opposite for
mosses. It’s slow work, but it does help
to improve your sward… and now is
the time to do it.
effect. Something like Evergreen
Extra does the job, but there are many
different varieties that all do much the
same thing.
Follow the instructions on the packet;
no, I mean it…they all say to apply the
chemicals at least three days after the
last cut and make sure the chemicals
get watered in before the next one,
which should be no less than three
days after application. The reason for
this is that on fresh cut grass, the
weedkiller can kill the grass because it
will affect the newly cut ends of the
grasses and if you cut the lawn too
soon after you’ve applied the
chemicals, you’ll probably hoover
them up and they won’t get the
chance to work at all.
Finally a word about using these little
wheeled spreaders for applying
powdered chemicals to your lawns:
DON’T… that’s the word. If you use
these things, you’ll almost inevitably
find that at the end of every row,
when you turn the spreader, you’ll
leave a little too much at the end of
the row, consequently leaving enough
of the weedkiller to burn a patch
which will start to show up in a few
days and take the grass months to
recover. The weedkiller in all these
cocktails is described as ‘selective’.
The only reason they are selective is
their rate of application; too much
and they kill everything, including the
grass, too little and they don’t work at
all.
A far better plan is to measure the
area of your lawn before you get the
lawn treatment and then only buy
enough to do that area. All you have
to do is pace the lawn out twice at
right angles and multiply the number
of paces each way together to give you
a good enough idea of the square
yardage of your lawn.
After the lawn starts to grow in the
spring, preferably after the first cut,
apply a chemical cocktail of weedkiller,
mosskiller and fertiliser to your lawn.
You will be able to pick one up in any
garden centre, either in liquid or
powder form. I’d recommend a powder
over a liquid, because they are slower
working, but have a longer lasting
2
Once you’ve got your Evergreen or
whatever, divide it into three equal
piles and spread them as evenly as you
can manually over the lawn; i.e.
sprinkle them by hand, using your
mind’s eye to spread one pile as evenly
as you can over the whole lawn as you
walk back and forth in one direction,
the second pile at right angles to the
first and the third diagonally across the
other two. This will almost certainly
give you a more even spread than any
applicator and it’s also quicker and less
frustrating than using a spreader. You
can always tell somebody who’s using a
lawn spreader for the first time by the
cacophony of swear words rising
therefrom in ever growing volume and
intensity and oh yes… make sure you
do it wearing rubber gloves and wellies
and wash yourself afterwards.
In a few days your lawn will start going
funny colours. The grass will go a
deeper green and start shooting up.
The moss will go brown or black as it
dies out. Do not despair. In a couple of
weeks you’ll be able to scarify out the
dead moss and weeds with a wire leaf
rake so that, by midsummer, you’ve got
a lovely green and healthy grass lawn…
that, at least, is the idea, so good luck.
If, instead, you manage to kill your
lawn completely, please don’t blame
me.
Graham Lait
A Busy Morning at the Station Car Park
Castle Semple Sailing Club
This was the station car park on a Wednesday
morning, peak commuter time. The cars that had
been stranded there for days by the waters rising and
flooding the approach road had managed to get out
just before another wave of wind and rain hit and reflooded the road.
With the
club's unofficial
Winter Winchester
Whacky Pursuit Series drawing to a close, the official
winter series started in late February. The winter
sailing has brought plenty of entertainment and some
challenging weather conditions and sometimes not so
challenging but members were desperate to take part
and prepared to endure often freezing damp
conditions just to be out on the water.
The
commitment and camaraderie has been brilliant over
an otherwise dull and damp winter. However for 2
members, Rear Commodore Arthur Logan and his
wife Fiona, sunny Barbados beckons.
I don’t remember the station road flooding like this in
previous years. The road did flood in heavy rain, but
the water levels fell quickly and the road was open
again within the day or a day or two. I have a theory
though and just wondered if anyone can add any
information to strengthen or disprove it?
The station road was resurfaced last year. My theory is
that a drain or culvert that runs under the road was
broken or damaged in the process. This would mean
that the road now acts as a dam, trapping the
floodwater.
At the end of March Arthur and Fiona will be flying
off to the sun to represent the club at the GP14
Worlds in Barbados and we wish them all the very
best of luck However, rumour has it that Fiona is
more concerned about the stories that sharks lurk in
the seas surrounding the sailing area rather than the
actual winning of races. I am sure that Arthur will
soon have her focussing on the race once they are
they there. The boat has already been packed up and
put in a container ready for the voyage. Over 100
boats are expected to take part in the event, let's hope
it doesn't make the news for the wrong reasons as the
event held in 2014 did at Strangford Lough when a
number of boats capsized when a sudden squall broke
out. We are sure they will have a great time and wish
them all the very best of luck - and of course wish we
could be there too to support them!
Does anyone know if there is some sort of drainage
running under the road?
Who was responsible for the road resurfacing last
summer?
Barbara
All About March
The name of the month of March dates back the
Roman calendar. March was named for Mars, the
Roman god of war.
March was the first month of the year until the
Gregorian calendar began to be used in 1752. It is only
since then that the year began on January 1st.
50th Anniversary - Sunday 29 May
The Club will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary this
year and will be holding a fun sailing day followed by
a barbecue on Sunday 29 May. If you would like to
come along and join us please email via our website
www/castlesemplesc.co.uk or come along to see us
on Sunday afternoons (and Wednesday evenings
from mid April).
March was called Hlyda or Lide in Old English, which
is a reference to the loud winds so often blowing.
An old proverb says, “March comes in a like a lion, and
goes out like a lamb,” which is reference to winter
ending and spring beginning. Another popular saying
is "March is mad as a hare," which is a reference to the
animals spring fighting display.
Dawn Kyne
www.castlesemplesc.co.uk
3
Cllr Andy Doig
on the shawl I have. I am having great
difficulty reading all but the middle
name.
My mother was Harriette Christine
(Smith) Brotherhood and was born in
Denver, CO. My grandfather, whose
mother is related to the ladies in the
note attached, was Richard Gilchrist
Smith. He was the first medical
director of Denver General Hospital.
Shawl Mystery
My name is Gail Brotherhood and I live
in Los Angeles, California, USA.
In 2003, at the age of 99, my mother
passed away. Among her treasures was
a wedding shawl woven in Paisley,
Scotland. According to her note
(above) it was first worn by her
grandmother's great grandmother.
The message above her note reveals
three women's names, where they
lived, and a 2-digit number I assume is
part of a date. Given that my mother
was born in 1903, I also assume that
the earliest of these dates is 1760. That
fits well with the research I have done
My mother taught in Hawaii from
1928 to 1950, when we moved to the
mainland. She was a teacher into her
70's and retired in La Jolla, CA to live
near my aunt and uncle. She moved to
PA for health reasons to live near me
when she was 82. I was living in
Pittsburgh at the time. I moved her to
San Mateo, CA, when I relocated. She
passed away in Palo Alto, CA, after
breaking her hip.
Mom never travelled to Scotland but
her niece and I have, and we are both
very interested in our ancestral home.
I will be visiting Lochwinnoch this
coming June 24th. I can't wait!!
If you have any suggestions that may
shed more light on these ladies, or
indeed my family connection to
Lochwinnoch, please contact me at:
[email protected].
Gail Brotherhood
There has been much
concern over the RBS
ATM being out of
action and at the request of the
Lochwinnoch Community Council I
contacted RBS regional management
and stressed to them the importance of
the ATM to Lochwinnoch residents.
This has not been a standard fault but
one which required more specialist
skill to repair, but hopefully by the time
Chatterbox has gone to print it will be
back in action. One positive matter I
can report is that RBS have been
encouraged by the use of the RBS
Mobile Unit in Lochwinnoch, and have
extended the time the Unit spends in
the village. I am glad that RBS are
listening to our views.
Planning issues are very much to the
fore currently in relation to both
Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch, and
recently the Planning Board of
Renfrewshire Council rejected an
application for two solar farm
developments outwith Lochwinnoch.
Although I am in favour of the
principle of renewable energy this has
to be appropriate development so I
think the Planning Board did the right
thing rejecting this specific application.
I am in no way opposed to new housing
per se as housing is vital but we need a
blend of both private and social
housing and this is a key priority for
me as an Elected Representative. The
SNP Government has built more social
housing than any other government
since the 1970’s and this is very
welcome. However, I have written to
the Housing Minister calling for more
targeted social housing for village and
rural communities, like Lochwinnoch,
to allow young people to stay in the
communities they grew up in.
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].
Cllr Andy Doig (SNP)
Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, and
Lochwinnoch Ward
4
John Delaney IFA
Community Food
Sharing Project
Meal Makers
Arrives in
Renfrewshire!
Meal Makers, the project that
connects communities through food,
has arrived in Renfrewshire and
they are on the lookout for new
volunteers.
The community food sharing project
was launched as a pilot project in
Dundee in August 2014 and proved
to be an instant hit across the city. It
has since been launched in Glasgow,
Perth and Kinross, Edinburgh and is
now being rolled out across
Renfrewshire.
The idea behind Meal Makers is
really simple and turns the everyday
activity
of
cooking
into
a
volunteering opportunity. They
connect people who love cooking
and want to be active in their
community (‘Cooks’), with older
(55+) neighbours (‘Diners’), who
would appreciate home cooked food
EXPERT, INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVICE ON
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For a free initial consultation, without obligation, contact:
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Calder lodge, Newton of Barr, Lochwinnoch PA12 4AR
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delivered to them every now and been made, and over 1300 meals
have been shared with older people
again.
through the project.
Meal Makers cooks’ prepare one
extra portion of their home cooking Diners really enjoy participating in
when preparing their evening meal the project as they get to meet
for themselves and take it round to friendly neighbours, and get to enjoy
an older neighbour at a time which their lovely home cooking. Cooks, on
the other hand, enjoy the flexibility
suits both parties.
the project allows – they like the fact
The project provides a way for
that they can volunteer in their local
older adults to enjoy freshly
community, at a time in which they
prepared nutritious home cooking
can fit around their busy schedule.
(particularly older adults who
might find it difficult to enjoy The Meal Makers team are really
home cooking otherwise) and helps excited about rolling the project out
bring
communities
together, to Renfrewshire and they are looking
combating the social isolation for volunteers now!
experienced by many members of If you want to do something great
the older population.
with an extra plate, or if you are
How often meals are shared, and
when they are shared is left entirely
up to the Cook and Diner to decide
between themselves. Meals are
most commonly shared on a
weekly basis, but they can occur
fortnightly, monthly or just now
and again.
Since launching the project over
150 Cook and Diner matches have
interested in finding out a bit more
about the project please visit
www.mealmakers.org.uk.
Alternatively you can phone Meal
Makers on 0800 783 7770, or email
them at [email protected].
Stuart
Paisley Philharmonic Choir
An Evening of Concert
Classics
Sunday 13th March
St. Mirin Cathedral
Incle St. Paisley
7.00 pm Tickets £10
Guest Soloist
Jane Monari, Mezzo Soprano
Len Seath
5
Fairtrade Fortnight
2016
The Big Breakfast
As Martin Luther King famously said, ‘before you finish eating breakfast in the
morning, you’ve depended on
more than half the world’. Despite our dependence on
farmers and workers for the foods, drinks and products that we love, about 795 million people are undernourished globally.
The people who grow the food we take for granted
can’t always feed their own families. We can support
farmers and workers to put food on the table for their
families by harnessing the power of a Fairtrade breakfast.
When people are paid a fairer price, they can have
more control over their lives when times are hard,
and worry less about how they will feed their families.
Whether it’s the extra cash in their pockets or being
able to expand their farms to grow more food to eat,
Fairtrade means many farmers and workers are able
to fulfil a basic human need – to put enough food on
the table for the people they care about, all year
round.
Sit down for breakfast, stand up for farmers!
Please come and join the local Fairtrade Group at
their Big Breakfast in the McKillop lounge,
Saturday 12th March. 10.30 to 1.00pm
and enjoy home-made Fairtrade chocolate muffins,
pancakes, scones, tea, coffee. FT good will be on sale
too, so you may stock up your cupboards.
You can also find Fairtrade products in The Junction,
Heritage Farmers’ shop and Rainbow Turtle, Paisley.
More Fairtrade information may be found at
http://www.fairtrade.org.
Lesley Scott
March Days From History
3rd
Alexander Bell, inventor of the telephone was born in
1847
15th ‘Ides of March’, Julius Caesar was murdered on this
date in 44BC
23rd In 1891 goal nets were used for the first time in English football
25th Heathrow Airport opened in 1948
29th Coca~Cola was introduced on this date in 1886
31st the Eiffel Tower in Paris was officially opened in 1989
6
Core Strength and Pilates
Robbie Scarff
4th year sport and exercise science
student at Stirling University
In this issue I am going to discuss
core strength, covering; what it is,
why it is important and how you can
improve it.
Core strength refers to a collection of
muscles around the midsection of
your body, and their ability to work
effectively in supporting your bodily
movement, as well as while you are
stationary. The muscle groups
involved include the abdominal
muscles of your tummy, your back
muscles and the muscles around
your hips and bum. Many of the core
muscles are deep within your body,
hence the name, with a primary role
of stabilising and supporting you
while you move around using the
more exterior muscle groups and
limbs. You can think of your core
muscles as a, "corset of strength",
providing support for the rest of
your body. An analogy would be that
of a strong crane. Imagine your body
as a tower crane, your core muscles
are the upright body of the crane
and your arms and hands are the
hook. Your body relies on the
strength of your core to support it
while you move around doing
things in just the same way as a
crane relies on the strength of its
frame while it moves around.
Why should you really care about
these muscles? Well, I cannot
emphasise enough the importance
of having good core strength. A firm
midsection provides the basis for
effective movement of the rest of
the body. A strong core will assist in
good posture. By holding our
tummy muscles tight, we take
pressure off the back, making us
less likely to slouch and more likely
to hold a nice, upright posture. Day
to day tasks from hanging out the
washing and hoovering, to picking
the kids up or going walking, all
require a degree of core strength.
Poor core strength means the back
muscles will take a disproportionate
strain of everyday life, which may
well lead to back pain.
Another important aspect is
whether or not we are actually
using our core muscles. It is
perfectly possible to have strong
core muscles but not use them
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]
effectively, or at all. Here's a simple
exercise to become aware of your
core muscles and how active they
should be. Where you sit or stand
now, adopt an upright posture and
bring your attention to your belly
button. If you totally relax your
tummy muscles, your stomach will
naturally expand/relax and you
may slouch slightly. In contrast, if
you now focus on sitting/standing
tall and squeezing your stomach
muscles. Imagine trying to pull
your belly button in towards your
spine. We are going to use a scale
here to get a sense of how tight and
active your core muscles should be
most of the time. Totally relaxed is
zero and squeezing your stomach
muscles as hard as you possibly can
is 10. Through out the day you
should try to maintain a slight
tension proportional to about 4 on
our scale, not too much, but
enough to provide support for
whatever you happen to be doing.
Should you have to lift anything
heavy, move up to about 8 or 9. A
good way to become more in touch
with your core muscles is to use the
aforementioned scale as a guide.
Then, tense your muscles up and
down the scale, or go straight to
random numbers in any order.
Practice this regularly and it
becomes a work out in itself.
There are a huge variety of
exercises which can improve your
core strength. One form of exercise
in particular, Pilates, is especially
designed for such a purpose. Pilates
uses a multitude of different
exercises and places emphasis on
balance,
breathing
and
coordination to teach you how to
move your body in a smooth,
strong and controlled manor.
Pilates is a low-impact, user
friendly mode of exercise, suitable
for virtually everyone.
Qualified
Pilates
instructor,
Margaret Kytzia, is hoping to start a
mid-week,
weekly
class
in
Lochwinnoch and is currently
looking for notes of interest. Feel
free to call or text her on 07930 324
276.
Robbie Scarff
[email protected]
7
LEAP
The LEAP BIKE SWAP, held
at the Annexe, was a great
success on Saturday 6th February,
despite the cold and rainy Lochwinnoch
weather. Lots of lovely bikes were
donated, with 19 bikes finding new
homes and excited owners. On booking
her new bike out, one girl saw her old
bike being chosen, so had the pleasure
of meeting its new owner and wish
them fun and enjoyment on their new
bicycle!
Look out for future BIKE Swaps by
visiting
the
LEAP
website
at
www.myleapproject.org or check out
our Facebook at www.facebook.com/
myleapproject
more involved. If you didn’t get a
chance to complete our on-line
survey, we’re always keen to find out
your ideas.
Thank you for all your support and a
big thanks to the Chatterbox for
helping LEAP keep you informed.
We’ll publish the results of our survey
online with a summary in Chatterbox.
In the meantime keep in touch
through the LEAP website at
www.myleapproject.org
at
www.facebook.com/myleapproject, or
get in touch with the LEAP team by
phone on 01505 842530 or 01505 612
034.
Help your environment LEAP
welcomes your Pledges
At LEAP are interested in the actions
and changes you are making in your
daily lives to reduce energy and our
carbon footprint.
A BIG THANKS from LEAP to
everyone who took part in our
Feedback Survey!
During February LEAP invited our local
residents, local groups, organisations
and partners to take part in the LEAP
Feedback Survey. We wanted to find
out more about the actions you have
taken as a result of LEAP’s information
and advice services and our work with
young people, schools and community
groups across our villages and in
Renfrewshire. We’ve had a tremendous
response, thank you! We were really
excited to get people’s opinion on the
value of what we do and to find out
about all the changes you have made
and the social, physical, economic and
environmental benefits you have gained
from your own actions and the support
you have accessed from LEAP. Looking
into the future, asked how LEAP can
help individuals and our community in
future and how you would like to get
For some people it’s
about changing 6 of
their bulbs to LED,
cycling to work 2
days a week rather
than driving, switching off their
games consoles instead of leaving
them on stand-by, turning the heat
thermostat down one notch, car
sharing, insulating lofts, joining a car
club, growing vegetables, recycling
clothes and furniture, swapping
bicycles and many more.
To celebrate this leap year, LEAP will
be sharing this information and
showcasing some of the small and
bigger actions individuals, groups and
communities are already involved in
taking.
For
more
details
visit
www.myleapproject.org
or
our
Facebook
page
at
www.facebook.com/myleapproject
8
LEAP were very pleased to host Mhairi
Black MP and Councillor Mags
MacLaren for a visit in February to
meet some of our LEAP team and see
first-hand
how
we
help
our
community.
We spoke at length about the issues
affecting local residents and Mags and
Mhairi were very interested in the help
we provide, in particular the practical
actions, thermal imaging, draught
testing, installing energy saving
measures and help with fuel bills,
LEAP YEP! and LEAP Car Club. We
also toured the most recent solid wall
insulation scheme LEAP has completed
in Bridge of Weir.
To find out more about this scheme
and other help we provide please see:
http://www.myleapproject.org/energyadvice/
Car Club
Car Clubs are playing their part in
helping people to change the way they
travel. Join LEAP Car Club and choose
a more affordable way to travel. Based
in Lochwinnoch, Bridge of Weir and
Kilbarchan, LEAP Car Club has over 50
members and provides convenient
access to pay as you drive vehicles
including plug-in electric vehicles
(EVs). It offers people the opportunity
to reduce their car overheads and use a
car just when they need it.
To find out more about community car
hire or to become a member, contact
LEAP’s Car Club Co-ordinator on
01505
842530
or
email
[email protected]
Dog Microchipping
From April it will be compulsory for
all dogs in Scotland to be
microchipped. It is hoped that this
will improve dog welfare , reduce the
stray dog population and promote
responsible ownership.
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.
Dogs can be microchipped at local
veterinary surgeries for a small fee, or
for free if you go along to the Dogs
Trust rehoming centre in Glasgow, or
to one of the ‘Chip My Dog’ events run
by Dogs Trust

Eglinton
Country
Park,
Irvine, Mar 30 @ 10:00 am –
2:00 pm

Cranberry Moss Community
Centre, Kilwinning, Glasgow
Mar 21 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

‘Lather with Love’ dog
grooming parlour, Kilbirnie
Apr 6 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Partner, and local resident,
Ian Briggs is more than happy to
consult at your home, and there is no
charge for the first meeting.
Microchip FAQ provided by
Dogs Trust
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Sadly owners forget to notify the
microchip database of their new
contact details if they move address or
change telephone numbers. Please
remember that you must keep your
dog’s microchip information up-todate; if you do not, then the
microchip is useless.
It’s really quite simple to update the
details for your dog’s microchip, you
can do it online, by telephone or by
post – depending on which database
your chip is registered to. Charges for
updating your chip details also vary
across the microchip databases.
You will need to know which
microchipping database your pet
is registered to in the UK. Then you
can contact the database directly to
make your changes. Details will be on
the card that is given to you when the
animal has been microchipped.
If you don’t have the card, just ask the
vet to scan the chip and then use one
of the many ‘chip lookup’ websites to
identify the database the number is
registered with.
If your dog does not have a microchip,
or if the microchip is not registered or
is not up to date, then you could be
served notice to microchip/update or
be liable for a fine of £500.
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a small electronic chip,
around the size of a grain of rice,
which is implanted under the dog’s
skin and contains a unique number
that can be read by a scanner.
The dog owner’s contact details
relating to each number are logged on
a central database, so should the dog
ever go missing or be stolen it can be
scanned by the authorities and
returned to his owner swiftly and
safely. It is vital that the owner takes
responsibility for updating their
details with the database should their
circumstances change.
Why is Dogs Trust offering free
microchipping?
Microchipping will be soon be
compulsory in England and Wales,
which we have long campaigned for.
The charity wants to help as many
people as possible comply with the
new laws by helping to provide the
procedure free of charge with the help
of vet practices.
How do I go about getting my
dog microchipped for free?
Simply use our postcode search
feature to find details of local events,
Rehoming Centres and participating
vets.
How and where is the microchip
implanted?
Using a specially designed implanting
device, the microchip is injected
through a sterile needle under the
9
Feel free to get in touch to speak
to our team and see how we can help.
Telephone:
01294 832112
Email:
[email protected]
dog’s skin between the shoulder
blades.
Will it hurt my dog?
No, it does not hurt the dog. No
anaesthetic is required and the
procedure should cause no more
discomfort
than
a
standard
vaccination.
How are the owners traced?
If a stray dog is found to have a
microchip, the local authority, vet
practice
or
animal
welfare
organisation will contact the national
24 hour database to find the owner’s
details. The owner can then be
contacted and reunited with their
dog.
Does microchipping replace the
existing collar and tag law?
No, your dog will still need to wear a
collar and tag that states the name
and address of the owner when in a
public place.
Do I have to pay to update my
details?
Yes, you will have to pay a fee every
time you amend your contact details
to the database. Most databases offer
a premium service which often works
out cheaper over the course of your
dogs life. Check with your provider
for more details.
What’s On

Drop-in T Bar—Lochwinnoch
Elderly Forum. McKillop Institute,
10-12 noon.

Lochwinnoch Art Group—Meet
fortnightly on Monday evenings,
7.30pm, McKillop Institute.

First Friday of Month—Semple
Tones host an open mike session at
Lochwinnoch Golf Club


FitSteps—Lochbarr Centre, 7-8om,
starts 7th March.
Lochwinnoch Choral Society—
Rehearsals on Monday evenings,
Parish Church/ Hall. Juniors 7:158pm, and Seniors 8pm-9.15pm.


Football
Training—St Mirrin
football training, Lochbarr Centre,
4:00-5pm age, 3-6, 5:00-6pm age 612yrs
Lochwinnoch
Community
Walks—Mondays
(ex.
Public
Holidays), meet at 10.30am at The
McKillop Institute.

Lochwinnoch
Toddlers—
Mondays and Wednesdays from 9.30
- 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

Morag’s Keep Fit—Mondays and
Thursdays from 7pm, in the
McKillop Institute

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 11-12
noon, Tel 842374

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
Regular clubs, classes and groups

Bokwa Fitness — Masonic Hall,
Thursdays, 7—8pm. Places limited.
Contact Rachel on 07795 100231 or
503362

Bootcamp– Lochbarr Centre Mon
10-10:45am, Sat 9:30-10:15am, Call
Steven 07939 808 629 for
availability

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]

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

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

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]


Keep Fit—Improving With Age
classes—every Tues from 10-11am
at the McKillop. Tel 842 136

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

Personal Service & Quality
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
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
 Mon 10-1045am—Bootcamp
 Mon 7-8pm—FitSteps
 Tue 7-7:30pm & 7.30-8pm Fat
Burn Extreme with Steven
 Wed 7-8pm Zumba with Cheryl
 Thur—Pulse Dance Academy
6pm-7pm (Juniors 5-8 yrs)
7pm -8pm (seniors 9+ yrs
 Thur—St Mirrin Football
Training
- 4-5pm age 3-6
- 5-6pmage 6-12yrs
 Sat 9.30-10.30am Bootcamp with
Steven
 Sat 10:45-11:30am Pulse Dance
Academy (nippers 2-4 yrs)
 Sat 12-1pm Pulse Dance Academy
Stretch class
Guaranteed
New Memorials
Healing
and
Creativity
Workshops
&
Classes—For
details or to book a place, please Tel
Becky: 0141 8816700 or Libby on:
01505 842604
10
Some activities may cease during
holidays, please check
Upcoming Events


 Fri 25 – Mon 28 Mar—Easter
Weekend—Enjoy great access to
beautiful countryside this Easter.
Climb Windy Hill, walk the
Greenock Cut, cycle to Lunderston
Bay or paddle on or walk at Castle
Semple Loch.
WHERE: All Regional Park Sites
WHEN: Daily
MORE INFO: tel 842 882 Ex20
Monday 1st Feb—Art Group
"Caricature and Abstract" An
exploration of black line and colour,
7:30pm McKillop Space room
Fri 4th Mar—RSPB Local Group,
7:30pm,
Whitesands
Quarry
Restoration Project - a wetland
habitat development by Mark
Mitchell, McMaster centre, Renfrew.
 Sun 24th Apr—Pedal the
 Sat 5 , Sun 6th Mar—Swan
Park, Castle Semple Centre
Chat, There’s more to our swans
than eating bread and chips by the
lochshore… drop in anytime to find
out
more!
WHERE: Castle Semple Visitor
WHEN: 14.00
15.00
hrs
MORE INFO: tel 842 882 Ex20
 Sunday
29th May—Sailing
Club 50th BBQ, afternoon
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].
uk
Cllr Derek Bibby—1st Saturday of
the month, McKillop Institute, 9am
[email protected]
 Sat
30th
Apr—Motown
Tribute,
7pm, £6 contact
Margaret 843013
 Fri
11
Mar—Stargazing
Evening
The best dark sky site in the west of
Scotland! Join us and Coats
Observatory staff for galactic
exploration.
WHERE: Muirshiel Visitor Centre
WHEN: 19.00
21.00
hrs
MORE INFO: tel 842 882 Ex20
Historical Society
There is no Historical Society
meeting In March.
We decided not to book a speaker
for that evening.
 Sat 12th Mar—Fairtrade Big
Breakfast,
McKillop
That date is right in the middle of
the Arts Festival and our members
don't want to miss events on
Thursday 17th, Calder Drama or
Live Music and dinner at The
Junction
10:30am-1pm,
 Sat 12 Mar—National Disabled
Access Day Join us for a day
showcasing our accessible outdoor
and countryside activities.
WHERE: Castle Semple Centre
WHEN: 11.00
–
14.30
hrs
MORE INFO: tel 842 882 Ex20
McKillop Institute
Monday & Friday
11:50—12:35
The Historical Society usually
meets on 3rd Thursday of the
month in the Parish Church Hall.
New members and visitors always
welcome.
Year's
membership
£8 and visitors £2 for the evening.
 Mon 14th March—Art Group,
Life Drawing, 7:30-9:30pm
Anne Nicholl
 Sat 19th Mar—Lochwinnoch
CHATTERBOX
Open Race, 2pm, Lochwinnoch
Cross.
RBS Mobile Bank
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
limited
and
due
to
the
popularity of this event, please
pay at time of booking.
Cost:
Adults: £6; Children: £3
(RSPB members: £3/£2)
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
March Events
Annual
Lochwinnoch
Arts
Festival:
Children’s
Poetry
Competition
11am – 12noon
Sat
5
March
(at
RSPB
Lochwinnoch)
Families welcome!
Prizes: £30, £20, £10. All entrants
will also win a family ticket to the
Grand Finale on Sunday 27 March, in
the Parish Church, where the poems
will be performed. Cost: FREE
Poems should be illustrated by the
children and their families, and will
be displayed at the RSPB.
NB: Adults are very welcome at the
workshop,
but
attendance
is
obligatory for children wishing to
enter the competition.
Hessilhead Wildlife Hospital at
RSPB Lochwinnoch
12noon – 3pm
Sat 12 March
Come and learn about the wonderful
work done by the local Hessilhead
Wildlife Hospital. Meet some of their
patients and hear about the different
things the staff deal with at the
hospital. Cost: FREE
Astronomy Evening
7:30 – 9:00pm
Fri 18 March
Come and hear about the stars and
galaxies up in the night sky! If the
weather is kind to us, we’ll go outside
and see some of these wonders for
ourselves. The speakers will be from
the Astronomical Society of Glasgow.
Please book, as places are
Wildlife
Explorer
Group:
Barking Mad!
10am – 12noon
Sat 19 March
Calling all children! Come along and
learn about nature, but most
importantly, get dirty and have fun
doing it! We’ll be learning all about
all things bark. Do we mean trees,
animals, or both? Come along and
find out! Please wear suitable
clothing for being outdoors.
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)
Story-Telling
with
TV
presenter: Rory!!
11am – 3pm
Sun 20 March
Come along to sample everything
the reserve has to offer, as well as
listen to animal themed stories read
by TV presenter (& RSPB employee),
Rory Crawford! When you’re not
listening to stories, try out some
pond dipping (if it’s not covered in
ice!), go for a walk, watch some
wildlife or do the treasure hunt.
Cost: FREE!
Evening Talk: "Feathered Fiends?
Are there dinosaurs in your garden?"
by Simon Cuthbert
7:30-9pm
Wed 23 March
Dinosaurs have long fascinated us
with their huge size and fearsome
appearance. Their fossils were
originally thought of as "Terrible
Lizards", but recent amazing
discoveries have revealed that they
had much in common with birds. Is
that a dinosaur on your bird
feeder.....?
Please book as places are
limited. Cost:
Adults: £5;
Children: £3 (RSPB members: £3/
£2)
Easter Eggstravaganza
12noon-3pm
Mon 28 March
Fancy some egg-cellent Easter fun?
Come and join us for some egg-tastic
12
Easter activities at Lochwinnoch
Nature Reserve. We have plenty of
wildlife-themed Easter activities for
children of all ages, including egg
decorating, a treasure hunt, face
painting and the ever popular Egg
Drop Challenge!
No booking
necessary.
Cost: £6 (RSPB
Adults go FREE!
members
£3).
RSPB Reserve News
The snowdrops are out and spring is
on the way! This is welcome news
after a succession of winter storms
which brought flooding and high
winds – Storm Gertrude even
brought a tree down on the reserve!
But the stormy weather may be to
thank for an unusual visitor to
Lochwinnoch – a ‘redhead’ smew has
been seen in recent weeks on the Aird
Meadow
and
Castle
Semple
Lochs. The females and juveniles
resemble each other with red heads
and grey bodies, while the males cut a
dashing figure in black and white
plumage.
These diving ducks have serrated bills
to help them catch fish underwater
and are
winter migrants from
Scandinavia and Russia. Quite a
scarce visitor to Scotland, they are
normally seen in the south of
England in the winter, but windy
weather can blow birds off course, so
it could be that the recent storms had
a role to play in bringing this bird to
Lochwinnoch.
Another interesting sighting was a
record count of 196 goldeneye on
Castle Semple Loch. This is the time
to keep a close watch on the male
goldeneyes
to
witness
their
impressive – and slightly wacky –
courtship display. A male will extend
his head flat against the water and
then flip it quickly backwards, so his
neck lies flat against his back, with
his head facing skywards. He’ll then
make a high-pitched call and kick his
feet backwards, making a splash in
the water – all in the hope that a
female will fall for his charms!
Coming up this month is our
storytelling event with TV star (and
RSPB
employee)
Rory
Crawford! Come along with your
little ones from 11am-3pm on
Sunday 20th March and enjoy some
animal-themed stories and explore
the reserve by trying out ponddipping, wildlife watching and a
treasure hunt. Plus it’s free!
Later in March join us for our Easter
Eggstravaganza! On Easter Monday,
28th March from 12pm-3pm, we’ll
be offering a range of wildlifethemed activities for children of all
ages – including egg decorating, a
treasure hunt, face painting and the
ever-popular Egg Drop Challenge.
Now that spring is on the way, our
trails will soon be bursting with new
life and colour, so come along and
blow the cobwebs away with a walk
on the reserve – and see what
interesting sights you can spot!
If you’re interested in finding out
more about the reserve or would like
to come along to any of our events,
please
get
in
touch
at
[email protected] or call us
on 01505 842 663.
RAMH
Local mental health charity RAMH is
teaming up with the University of the
West of Scotland to produce an
exclusive Dinner & Quiz raising
crucial funds for mental health
services.
McLellan said “we’re delighted to
have headline sponsorship from the
University of the West of Scotland.
Their support really enhances our
efforts and the collaboration
emphasises the importance of
mental
health
within
our
communities. It’s a brilliant night
and we encourage everyone to get
involved”.
RAMH helps 5,000 people across
Renfrewshire
and
East
Renfrewshire with all mental health
diagnosis from depression to
bipolar disorder.
Book now by contact 0141 847 8900
or [email protected]
5 Top Tips If You Are
Worried About A Friend’s
Mental Health
1. Listen
Listening is the most powerful thing
you can do for your friend. Give
them your time and continue to do
so throughout the recovery journey.
2. Be non-judgemental
Your friend may worry what people
will think of them. Listen without
judgement. It’s OK to say “I don’t
have experience of what you’re
going through but I will stand right
by you”.
3. Ask how you can help
Work together to find out what
could make life a little easier for
your friend. Try different things and
go back to check what’s most
beneficial and what small changes
make a big difference.
4. Seek support
Along with finding ways to self-help,
seek professional support both for
The Dinner and Quiz, on Friday 13th
May at the Normandy Hotel,
provides a fantastic opportunity for
either corporate hospitality or a great
night out with friends and family.
Tickets cost just £35 per person and
guests will enjoy a fizz reception,
three course meal and eight rounds
of celebrity hosted quiz. The quiz
finishes at midnight and dancing
continues until 1am.
The event aims to raise £15,000.
RAMH Chief Executive Stephen
13
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 13cm
wide x 12cm high layout - £45 per
month.
D. Half page advert – 20cm x 14cm
(or 14cm x 20cm) layout - £90 per
month.
E. Full page advert – 20cm x 28 cm £180 per month.
e-mail : [email protected]
for further information.
your friend and for you. RAMH
services do not require a GP’s
referral; contact 0141 8478900 or
[email protected]
for
more
information.
5. Stick by them
It’s often challenging to support
someone with mental ill health but
even small things, such as occasional
text messages, will mean a lot to your
friend.
Karen Milne
telephone: 0141 847 8900
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.
FindusatWestBanksideFarm,justoff
the 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.
Easter Multi-Activity Courses
Sign up your little adventurers for
some kayaking, canoeing, sailing,
archery and more! Full day sessions
from Mon 4th – Fri 8th Apr and Mon
11th – Fri 15th Apr. £160 for 8-15 yr
olds.
Last Stargazing of the Season
on March 11th
Join us at Muirshiel Country Park
from 19.00 – 21.00 hrs for some
cosmic exploration at Renfrewshire’s
darkest sky. Last chance until next
season!
[email protected].
Volunteer Marshals Wanted!
Websitewww.thestirrupcup.co.uk
Interested in cycling but not enough
time to train for Pedal the Park? Be a
volunteer marshal for the day! Even
if you only have a couple of hours on
Sun
24th
Apr
email
[email protected]
with
your availability.
PostcodeforSatNavKA257LQ
Regional Park
The Park has expanded our range of
expeditions and skills 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!
CMRP Online
Keep up to speed with events and
activities taking place on the Park’s
Facebook page
facebook.com/
ClydeMuirshielRegionalPark or
Twitter @Clydemuirshiel pages.
Regular Events
Round Up
Pedal the Park 2016
Sun 24 Apr
We are proud to announce that this
year Pedal the Park’s official charity
partner is CLIC Sargent with £5 from
every entry going to children’s cancer
charity. There’s 2 sportive options
Classic 75km and a Challenging
100km to choose from - just £15 entry
fee. Also returning will be para cycle
ride. Sign up through British Cycling
online and join the 100 riders already
booked on!
Duke of Edinburgh
Programmes at Clyde
Muirshiel
Ride 63 Club News
We now have a list of main rides for
2016 the season, from Applecross to
Arran and everything inbetween!.
Email
the
Secretary
at
[email protected]
to
become a member, we can send you
a form – it’s FREE.
Mondays (but not public holidays) Lochwinnoch Community Walks
meet 10.30 hrs at The Cross,
Lochwinnoch.
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.
New CMRP Branching Out
Leaders Trained
Sundays Castle Semple Young
Volunteers, 12-18 yr olds, 10.00 –
12.00 hrs
The Regional Park’s Ranger Service
have delivered 17 hugely successful
woodland activity programmes for
mental health referrals since 2010. In
February we delivered our second
course for Leaders of the programme,
training up 12 new leaders! Is mental
health your profession? Contact us
about programmes for your clients.
FOR
MORE
INFORMATION
PLEASE
CONTACT:
FIONA
CARSWELL
Development
&
Marketing Officer, CMRP tel 01505
842 882 Ex 23
14
1st Lochwinnoch Company, The Boys’ Brigade
under UK Athletics Rules, a scottishathletics Permit Event
th
Saturday 19 March 2016, 14:00
Starting at Lochwinnoch Cross
(Registration at Lochwinnoch Parish Church from 11.00 – 1.30)
Distance
6km/4 miles approx for Juniors
9km/6 miles approx. for Seniors
Medals to first 3 men, women, boys and girls
and to first male (40+ & 50+) and female (35+ & 45+) veterans.
Charity Runners may run the over 13s route.
Entry Forms are available from
Christine Donaldson
The Bungalow
John Gregor Place
Lochwinnoch PA12 4HD
[email protected]
The Gallery
High Street
Lochwinnoch
The Junction,
High Street
Lochwinnoch
Mannies Newsagent
Church Street
Lochwinnoch
Entries will be accepted on the day of the race
Join LEAP Car Club – Membership from £5 per month
Rent cars from £3.36 per hour & 21p per mile (Fuel included)
Lochwinnoch, Kilbarchan and Bridge of Weir
For more information, contact [email protected] or 01505 842530
15
off the males in what is known as
the ‘Mad March hare’s dance’.
Hares and rabbits are two species
that are often overlooked in wildlife
coverage. The group dynamics,
especially with rabbits, shows that
they aren’t always the harmonious
creatures that we tend to believe.
The foxes and the badgers should
now have cubs. I have never
managed to film at a fox earth as
the foxes in the area are alot more
nervous of humans than in the
towns and cities. If they detect a
human presence they will often
move the cubs to another earth and
I avoid any known earths to stop
this from happening. We did have
foxes breeding in the badger’s
satellite sett back in 2013 but the
male badger paid a visit and the
foxes weren’t seen again. The
badgers don’t mind me visiting the
sett to see how they are getting on
and hopefully we will see signs that
Tufty has successfully had cubs on
the cameras soon.
Clyde Muirshiel Wildlife
Update
The Clyde Muirshiel 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 Douglas gives us an update
Wildlife News
Well the snowdrops and daffodils
have bloomed and the herons have
built their nests at the top of the
Johnshill. Is it safe to say that
spring has come? The roe deer still
have their winter coats and I was
reminded recently of how effective
they are at blending into their
surroundings as one walked off the
Muirshiel track into the piles off
dead
bracken
and
rosebay
willowherb.
Events
The next Swan Chats, where you
can pop along and find out more
about the swans and wildfowl at
Castle Semple Loch, takes place on
Sat the 5th and Sun the 6th of
March between 14.00 and 15.00
hrs. Keep an eye on the website and
Brown hares are a common sight in
and around Parkhill Woods and now
is the time we see the females boxing
NEW OPENING HOURS notice boards in the Park as
returning later in the year will be
Otter Spotter and After Dark walks
and some new wildlife themed
activities including camera trapping
workshops.
More Info…
Details can be found on the Park’s
website
page
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.
FOR
MORE
INFORMATION
PLEASE CONTACT:
HAYLEY DOUGLAS Countryside
Ranger – CMRP tel 01505 842 882
Ex 25.
Where’s Elvis?
Can you find Elvis in the March
Chatterbox?
There are 3 ‘Elvis’
images hidden in this months edition
of Chatterbox.
Thanks to whoever donated the
pencil drawing of ‘Elvis’, the ring
necked parakeet.
CLOSED SUN MON—SAT 9:30am—3:30pm Bespoke floral arrangements COME IN & HAVE A LOOK free local delivery, na onal & interna onal delivery Elvis escaped from his owners home
earlier in 2015. Since then he has
been making himself at home in the
village, befriending budgies and
raiding bird feeders.
Recent Sightings:
order line 9.30 ‐ 3.30 MON‐SAT 0800 689 0081 WEDDING FLOWERS & FUNERAL FLOWER SPECIALISTS 5 high street, lochwinnoch, phone: 0800 689 0088, 01505 842 288 web: thequirkyflorist.co.uk, mail: [email protected]
16
“Elvis visits our bird table regularly
in Beechburn Crescent, holds his
own against other visiting birds
regardless of size. He brightens up
our day in this rather dismal
weather!”
Let us knowif Elvis visits your
garden.
[email protected]
Lochwinnoch Art Exhibition
A fine, local art show has been open to the public in the
Castle Semple Visitors Centre during February, with
good examples of landscape and figurative work. To be
expected in a rural area like this, landscape
predominates, and it is good to see straightforward,
drawing and painting based on the local countryside,
bringing fresh views of familiar locations. This kind of
honest work is too easily overlooked as unadventurous,
but it is the backbone of artistic development, and we
should celebrate it as evidence of the struggle to learn
how to look, and to record the world around us. More
examples of drawing would demonstrate this further.
There were some fine examples of more developed work
in painting and in print, which serve to demonstrate
how worthwhile the efforts are, and where these can
produce some elegant and sophisticated images.
Enjoy a Wee Bit of Happy ‘Chatter’
It is good to see this work shown in a locally important
building – and places to show art work are not easy to
find – but the space is not ideal. Some effort to display
the work sympathetically is evident, but it might be
worth considering spreading the exhibition more widely,
with work in twos and threes (or nines and tens) in a
number of venues. Local shops, cafes, businesses and
organisations might welcome the chance to be included
in the Arts Festival, by displaying a few examples of this
work, and it could be there throughout. These artists
should be encouraged to show that the visual arts can
contribute to the festival!
A. M. McMullan
‘Life’s Victory’
Cheeky white snowdrops, head raising, peeping,
Super velvet hued crocus subtle sheen,
Primrose yellow, sun reflecting, mud curtained,
Trilling birds, nesting crows, new life around!
Old Critic
Spring hearts warming, eyes lighting, bulbs peeping,
we join glorious singing millions round our globe.
‘Jesus is risen, Resurrection morn, love’s song!
Summer glories on the way, sea’s gentle shimmer,
Rose’s coloured glory floating, shining all around,
Perfume’s subtle allure filling our souls,
In such beauty basking, a jig in our step!
As rainbow red forgets to arch after rain,
Our lives seem depicted on Nature’s canvas,
Golden grain expanses stretching to great out yonder,
Deep reds, oranges, ochres, scene decorating,
Ripened fruits taste buds enhancing, Search
Creator’s spiralled brush creating wondrous scene,
The evergreen fir tree majestically standing,
A guard on mountain against all storms,
We join in Universal chorus, ‘God’s’ love.
For all mankind!
‘Hallelujah!’
17
18
Instructors @ Lochbarr Introductions
Jennifer Lindsey – PULSE DANCE ACADEMY
You do NOT need any dance experience to enjoy a FitSteps class. All
you need is a willingness to try, a bundle of enthusiasm, and comfy
trainers! Your first class is completely free so why not come along
and give it a go? Classes start on the 7th March, any questions,
search for 'FitSteps with Jennifer' on Facebook and drop me a line.
Cheryl Stevenson Zumba Instructor
Hi my name is Jennifer Lindsay, creator of Pulse Dance Academy,
I am a fully qualified and professionally trained dance teacher.
Pulse Dance Academy offers young people training in various
dance styles such as jazz, ballet, contemporary and street dance.
Available to suit ages 2 and over. Our classes are fun and
affordable and we are based at Lochbarr Leisure Centre,
Lochwinnoch. Lochbarr offers a great deal of support to the
dance school with friendly and reliable staff members. As a dance
teacher, I feel like part of the team at Lochbarr and love working
with them. Lochbarr continually goes above and beyond to ensure
the customer always comes first and provides a fantastic service
and location for a variety purposes. This includes refreshment
facilities for parents during class time. Lochbarr is a brilliant,
family orientated business which continually strives to provide
the best of services to all. Great place to be.
OLA!! I have a confession…”My name is Cheryl and
I’m a Zumba-holic” I love everything about Zumba!
From student to instructor, it is my passion. Zumba is
for everyone, all fitness levels, shapes and sizes. No
experience needed. Just move your body, follow my
lead and smile. Every class feels like a party and the party is at
Lochbarr every Wednesday, 7-8pm, where we have been shimmying
for nearly 3 years.
Lochbarr is conveniently located for residents of the village and
surrounding areas, there is plenty of parking, a smooth hardwood
floor and the staff are very friendly and always happy to help. Come
join us and you'll see what I mean. We look forward to meeting you.
Steven Croall Fitness – Fatburn Extreme & Bootcamp
Hi my name is Steven Croall, I am a fully
qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer.
I teach a variety of group exercise classes.
Currently I have 2 classes running at Lochbarr
Leisure Centre,. Here is a quick insight into
what they are;
Fatburn Extreme is a new concept in instructor led fitness
training and weight loss exercising. The first of its kind, it is a
fixed 20 minute, maximal intensity workout with no dictated rest
periods. This means participants will work to their limit and rest
only for recovery, making it specific to the individual regardless of
age, gender, or current fitness capabilities.
Boot Camp/Circuit is a 45min full body workout with varied
timings from short sharp bursts to longer steady times,
depending on that days workout, it’s a mixture of strength and
resistance training with cardio using body weight and various
types of equipment to give the whole body a workout, using
functional movements and isolation moves.
Benefits from both these classes include;






Improves functional speed, power and strength
Boosts metabolism & optimises fat loss (for up to 8 hrs)
It’s short, safe, simple and effective
Results in a short period of time
Improved bone & muscle strength & cardiovascular system
Gives you the feel good factor
I have been running these classes at Lochbarr since August and
the support I have received from both the Milligan family and the
local community is second to none. Together we have built up a
really strong team of people of all ages and fitness levels that
really go the extra mile to support each other. We always manage
to have fun and lots of laughs and both my classes have been
experiencing fantastic results. We are happy to welcome new
faces and invite you along to join team Lochbarr.
Jennifer Fitsteps Instructor
Hello! I am Jennifer and I have been a qualified
FitSteps instructor for 18 months now. I thought it
was time to bring Strictly fever to Lochbarr Leisure
Centre, and add a little sparkle to your Monday
evening!
Lochbarr Leisure Centre
Tom & Barbara Milligan are local people who have lived and worked
in Lochwinnoch for over 40 years, with their son Scott and daughter
Evelyn, who joined the family business just over 20 years ago.
Tom & Barbara Milligan bought the Lochbarr premises in 1988 and
turned the then car showroom/garage, and petrol station into an
Indoor Bowling facility. Previous to that Tom & Barbara had a
hardware & electrical business in Lochwinnoch, Tom was the
electrical contractor in Lochwinnoch and gave apprenticeships to
many local men.
Scott & Evelyn took over the business in 2006 from their parents,
and converted the indoor bowling facility into an indoor football
pitch. There was a major refurbishment in 2012 to incorporate the
bar, function room & snooker room. It was at this point that Tom &
Barbara retired, however they are still here every day working hard
alongside Scott, Evelyn and Cheryl to ensure the success of
Lochbarr (and to keep an eye that the younger ones are doing things
right!).
The family refer to Lochbarr as the “centre” as do most of the
families close friends, as for us it really is the centre of our family,
all of our children have spent many happy hours mucking in whilst
we prepare for functions or clean out showers and one of the
youngest members of the Lochbarr team - Emma Milligan age 6 has
been helping her daddy to cut and line the football parks since she
could walk! It really is an all hands on deck affair here at Lochbarr
– it’s not just a business it’s a way of life to the family.
This year will see a lot of exciting changes and upgrades at
Lochbarr. We are delighted by the success of our fitness classes
which offer a variety of activities for every age and fitness level. Our
snooker team are playing well in the West of Scotland League and
our in-house snooker leagues are well supported. Scott is patiently
awaiting a break in the wet weather so we can fully renew our
outside 5 aside astro pitch, offering our footballers a top quality
flood lit playing surface available all year.
We are a very friendly and welcoming team at Lochbarr and
whether you’re having a party or just popped in for a quiet pint we’ll
do our very best to ensure you have a great experience at Lochbarr
Leisure Centre
19
Obituary
Robert Smith, aged 93, passed away
suddenly on 24/1/16 at Northampton
General Hospital. Robert was a very
well known, much loved man, who
lived in Lochwinnoch and Beith for
many years and was the past President
and life-time member of the
Lochwinnoch Bowling Club.
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He met and married my mum, Vina, in
1987 and they lived in Crookhill
Gardens until they moved to Kettering,
Northants in 1996 to be close to our
family. To the end he was always full of
life with a smile, joke or story for
everyone.
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Robert was very well known around
the village and I just wanted to let the
Chatterbox readers know. We still get
the Chatterbox sent down to us here in
Kettering. He is survived by Vina and
will forever be held very close to all our
hearts. He will be very dearly missed.
further afield, to donate handmade
blankets that we will hand on to the
Scottish Refugee Council – an
independent Scottish charity which
helps refugee families to meet the
challenges of settling in Scotland.
Linsey Kelly
Blanket Appeal
In March 2016, at The Quilting Show
in Glasgow, Weaving Musical Threads
(WMT) is exhibiting ‘Comfort for
Kindness’ - 40 quilts from the
Canadian Red Cross Quilt Research
Group collection, quilts made and then
sent all the way from Canada for
displaced people in the UK, during
WWII.
Alongside, it is our hope that the
compassion and kindness shown by
the women of Canada and their
Canadian Red Cross Quilts will be
echoed in this Scottish Blanket Appeal
– and not just by women this time, by
everyone.
We are asking crafters, groups, and
individuals throughout Scotland and
0141 950 1423
01505 842 176
01786 820 130
GLASGOW
AYRSHIRE
STIRLING
Roadhead, Lochwinnoch PA12 4JG
(10 mins from Glasgow Airport on A737)
raises awareness of the plight of so
many people.
We hope that you can help us.
Contact details:
Weaving Musical Threads (WMT)
As with the WWII Quilts, we will also
attach a label to each blanket, but with
a swatch of tartan, to express the
message of love, to celebrate our
heritage and culture and to raise
awareness for the Incorporation of
Weavers of Glasgow and the Scottish
Tartan Authority.
We are very grateful that the swatches
of tartan are being supplied to WMT
by Houston’s of Paisley.
The blankets can be: quilted, fleece,
woven, knitted, crocheted, sewn...
Sizes can vary from infant shawls to
children’s blankets and single bed
covers, please.
We plan to gather so many blankets
that we also have enough to be able to
gift some to Mary’s Meals – a second
Scottish charity - that provides food
and education for children in the
world’s poorest communities, and
Tel: 0141 882 4520 / 07990 981682
Email:
[email protected]
www.weavingmusicalthreads.com
Editorial and Copy for the
March Chatterbox
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
[email protected]
COPY DEADLINE FOR APRIL IS
SATURDAY 12TH MARCH
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
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Contact—PETER McGARVEY
Tel: 01505 614654
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UPVC DOORS FITTED FROM £460 20