The StraitonJune - July 2013 40p Arrow

I have included some news from and Crosshill in this Happy Birthday issue as the newsletter is circulated in these areas. Folks there are interested in events up here and we like to keep abreast of the news Sofia and Marcus Wise, 11 on in our neighbourhood. The bus timetable on the back is a useful 12th August reminder that you can enjoy a pleasant walk down to Kirkmichael or Crosshill, enjoy a bite to eat, and get the bus back. Likewise our We would be delighted to have neighbours can do the reverse and visit . Particularly useful your news, announcements is the late bus at 9.47pm if you want to enjoy a meal and drink in and events. Please email or Straiton without taking the car. write: A warm welcome to all our visitors to the area, we hope you have an [email protected] enjoyable trip and come back again soon. 18 Main Street. 770247 Julie Walker As I write this it is a scorching day and preparations are underway 5 Main Street. 770276 for Straiton Show. Here’s to another successful and enjoyable day. Bea Holden Dates for your Diary June July 8th Straiton Show 20th Straiton Village Co-operative 8th Car Boot Sale and Cream 11th PNE Wind, Knockskae Wind AGM, McCandlish Hall 7.30pm Teas, Playpark and Hall, 10am - Farm Exhibition in Hall, 4 - 8pm 25th Community Council 3pm, Playpark 14th Church Sponsored Walk, Meeting, Crosshill, 7.30pm 8th June until 7th July The leaving McCandlish Hall 7pm 28th School Prize Giving 9.30am Maclaurin Open Art Exhibition 14th Sea Trout Competition St Cuthbert’s Church. School 30th Community Council Meeting, (members only) 8pm - midnight closes for Summer Holiday 1pm McCandlish Hall, 7.30pm How to contact your local and national representatives Along with Kirkmichael and Village News Welcome to bubbly Sarah Crosshill, Straiton has three Whalen who has moved to community councillors and their contact details can be found Knockbreck Road. We hope you on the back page. Meetings are enjoy a long and happy time in usually held on the last Tuesday Straiton. of the month alternating between Congratulations to Kirsty Walker the three villages. Contact who has been offered a place at details for other representatives Nottingham Vet School in Sep- are as follows: tember. Lots of pot holes in and around , North Carrick and the village are a menace to driv- Councillors Primary 5 - 7 at Inverclyde ers. Several have been reported Ann Galbraith and some filled in, but more Home Tel: 01655 740447 keep appearing. Please take Primary School News Office Tel: 01292 612687 care when driving. The children in Primary 5-7 accompanied by Miss McBean had an action packed time at Inverclyde last week. The children took Email: ann.galbraith@south- part in archery, golf, handball, basketball, tennis, table tennis, Holly Maxwell was crowned Queen at the Crosshill Gala on Saturday .gov.uk 1st June. Seated along side her is her page, Boyd. badminton, climbing wall, trampolining and gymnastics. Brian Connolly The children cycled around the Isle of Cumbrae where they also Fishing Permits are available from Straiton Mobile Tel: 07970 540591 tried their hand at sailing as well as having a ride in a speed boat! Stores Office Tel: 01292 612274 In the evening the children had a karaoke night and a movie night March - June July - Oct Email: brian.connolly@south- and lastly they visited Nardini’s. Day Tickets £10 £15 ayrshire.gov.uk The children thoroughly enjoyed their visit and came back Weekly Permits £30 £50 exhausted. The highlight for a most children was gymnastics and William Grant playing in the huge pit of foam. Mobile Tel: 07794037597

Dr Donne’s verses are like the peace of God; Office Tel: 01292 612479 Straiton Primary School website they pass all understanding. Email: william.grant@south- We are currently updating the school website. James IV of on John Donne ayrshire.gov.uk The website contains lots of useful information and a Notice Board Sandra Goldie which is updated monthly. Church Home Tel: 01292 570054 Please use our feed back page to submit your views on the website Office Tel: 01292 612293 and school at anytime. www.straiton.sayr.sch.uk Sponsored Walk Email: sandra.goldie@south- The annual Church Sponsored ayrshire.gov.uk Wendy and Robert Anderson Parent Council Walk is coming off on Friday, 14th leaving their comments at the The Parent Council have donated £800 to schools funds for the MSP and MP June, with participants leaving the Glenmount wind farm exhibition purchase of two laptops. Hall at 7pm and returning there for Adam Ingram MSP recently. Since then we have had The position for Shared Head between Straiton and Kirkmichael food and light refreshments. Office 1, 4 The Square, the Keirs Hill one and next will be has been advertised. Minutes of last Parent Council Meeting are Cumnock KA18 1BG Knockskae. being uploaded to school website. Mobile Chiropody Nicole Gray Tel: 01290 425874 T 07870 581 171 Podiatry BSc (hons) MChS Email: adam.ingram.msp@ Abseiling HPC Registered FOR SALE E [email protected] scottish.parliament.uk Recently a few very brave parents and Miss McBean took part in Drumkit for sale ideal for Sponsored Abseil down 100 feet at Mauchline Gorge! Sandra Osborne MP beginner - £70, includes Parents taking part were Carl Williams, Robbie Kidd, Shona 139 Main St, KA8 8BX everything but cymbal stands. McMillan, Paul Rowden and Gregorie Marshall. Fax: 01292 885661 If interested contact: The event raised over £800 for school funds and the children are Email: sandra.osborne.mp@ 07769 211764 looking forward to some ACE activities next session. parliament.uk Many thanks to everyone for their efforts. Peter’s Pick Race for Life I can empathise with this poet! Along with almost 14,000 Ah’m Feart other people Lesley McWhirter recently completed the Race for Ah’m feart! Life at Green. It was the Fit wye dis yer heid ging wrang? biggest Race for Life held in the UK and Lesley raised over £650 Ah’ve vrought hard a’ ma life for Cancer Research UK. The conifers between McCan- lent a han’ n needit Glasgow was turned into a sea dlish Hall and church were Bit Ah’m feart of pink at women of all ages took recently removed resulting in a Fit wye dis yer heid ging wrang? part in the 5k run. Some had lovely view of the Church being buggies, some were pregnant, Cyclist set off from the school into Straiton. restored. The picture below was Ma faimly’s guid tae me. there were even dogs (the canine Unfortunately a heavy downpour soaked competitors taken over 60 years ago and Ah coont ma blessins. variety) dressed up in sparkly warming up before the start. shows the garden as it then was. Still Ah’m feart. tutus, much to their disgust no Fit wye DIS yer heid ging wrang? doubt! John Archibald is presented with his prize by event organiser, Mark Skilling e Straiton Struggle Ah’m warm an’ comfortable – Although it was a bit emotional Over 70 cyclists converged on Straiton back on a cold dreich day at times Lesley enjoyed the day Carpets wa ‘tae wa’ The David Bell Memorial Race at the end of April for the Straiton Struggle. This is a 4th category as did Harry and Jack. Nae like Granny (The Ayrshire Alps Classic) will be only race which means it was restricted to riders of the same ability Wi’ her steen eer an’ clootie rugs held on the 18th August. Sadly it irrespective of age or gender. Entrants came from all over Scotland will not pass through Straiton this Bit MY heid’s gyan wrang to compete; Shetland, the Moray Firth and Aberdeen in the north year. The 81 mile route will start to Peebles and Dumfries in the south. an’ Ah’m FEART. in and “known for being a After starting from the school the circuit took them down to Kirk- hardman’s race, the 48th edition Helen M Murray michael, over to Crosshill, turning left at Cloyntie, a climb up to of the Davie Bell will not buck the Girvan Lodge and down to Straiton. This was repeated another 4 trend with over 1000m of ascent. times. The race was over 50 miles in total. The McCandlish Hall or However, gone are the steep ‘the strip’ was used as the registration point, a changing room and pitches of the Nic O Balloch that a reception venue for the prize giving and some welcome refresh- favour the pure climbers so well. ments. John Archibald won the race and the only lady, Julie Erskine Instead the steady gradients of from Granite City RT came a very respectable 32nd. the Byne will suit powerful riders who can handle the relentless We look forward to welcoming cyclists back next year and hope for pressure.” warmer, sunnier weather.

Fund-raising event for Straiton Fun Day and the winner is... Well done to Bill Steven who won Car Boot Sale & Cream Teas the Brown Trout Competition recently. The competition was Pupils, former pupils, staff and parents from Fortrose Academy on re-run after nothing was caught the Black Isle stop in Straiton for a well-earned rest. first time round. Bill faced stiff competition from Tom Callan, Mull of Galloway to John O’Groats Bobby Shanks, Roy Morrison and Graham White sn. The After a gruelling cycle from Newton Stewart cyclists from the Black winning fish was caught in the Isle had a welcome rest before pressing on to Ayr for the night. They Turnwheel pool on a medium Sunday 7th July 10am - 3pm were undertaking the second part of their challenge to cycle the olive dry fly, was 14” in length length of Scotland. The previous day the group had set off from the Straiton Playpark and McCandlish Halll and weighed 15oz. Black Isle at 6am, driven down to the Mull of Galloway and cycled to Book early to avoid disappointment Minnigaff where they stayed the night. Next morning they set off for Contact Sara 01655 770606 or Jen 01655 770254 Ayr, via Straiton. After a night in Ayr they were off to Rowardennan, or email [email protected] or follow us on Facebook then Pitlochry and back to Black Isle. Whew! Kirkmichael Estate Souper Lunch & Sweet Rewards The owners of Kirkmichael Great food, great fun and a great amount raised. That, in a nutshell, sums He announced the photographic competition which explained the plastic up the Soup’n’Sweet Lunch held in the Hall last month. Even before the windmills artfully arranged on the tables. Prizes will be awarded for the House and Estate, Peter and official opening time people began to arrive and after that it was a steady best ‘grow-your-own-wind-farm’ so get your windmills, plant them (the Rosie MacNab, are hoping to stream. Extra tables were quickly put up in the hall, then in the reading more creative the better) take a photo, print it out and pop it in the post make some changes to the room and then on the stage. And still they came. People squeezed up box at The Buck (or email to [email protected]). grounds with a view to improving allowing extra chairs along the tables. Everyone enjoyed the delicious them. The raffle took a longer than usual due to the amount of prizes. Stunning, soups and even more delicious sweets. A few unlucky people who vibrant prints kindly donated by James Fullarton were for sale along with Some years ago a tree couldn’t attend but were expecting a slab of chocolate cake brought preservation order was put cards by Harry Gamper; both went well and the amount raised was home were disappointed as all the puddings were eaten (the proof of finally well over £1,000. Junior Badminton on all the trees on the estate – the pudding etc). including spruce trees which A huge thank you to all those you made this lunch possible; the 8-16 years 6.30 - 8pm After lunch Bill Steven, Chair of Save Straiton for Scotland, gave were planted as a crop. These organisers, the helpers, the soup and sweet makers and of course everyone an update on the wind farm situation; explaining just how close Adult Badminton spruce trees are now mature and everyone who came along and enjoyed themselves. some of the turbines would be to individual homes. Less than 770m in over 16s 8 - 10pm the MacNab’s would like to have a couple of cases. Bea Holden the tree preservation order lifted Mondays in the in order that they can be felled. McCandlish Hall Ideally they would like to replant with hardwood native species Contact Jen Williams and to have these planted less on 770254 densely. The pond would also be dredged to remove weeds and From the moment I picked up silt. The silt would be spread on your book until I laid it down, the land near to the pond. I was convulsed with laughter. A temporary lay-by across the Some day I intend reading it. road from the new school would be created for timber extraction. Groucho Marx It is estimated that, if given the go-ahead, work would take about 4 months. During this time the paths on the estate would A packed hall Fabulous be closed to walkers for safety reasons but access would be Fraser restored when finished. Hire Fabulous Fraser to entertain A survey of trees which exist on your guests with magic the estate has been done and includes a 700 year old sweet A well-stocked cheese board for those without a sweet tooth chestnut tree.

Two of the 12 barrels around the village have been planted Georgie and Kay Watson Doris and Doreen Maclean up, Bruce Henderson has kindly agreed to do three Repertoire includes: Card tricks, more. If anyone would like to Children’s tricks, Comedy tricks, exercise their green fingers Stage tricks, Balloon modelling, and creativity and plant one Large Prop tricks, Fire tricks and or two up please contact me “Wow, how did he do that?” on 770247. Fraser is a member of the I can drop off plants and Magic Circle compost. www.fabulousfraser.co.uk Bea Holden or on 01655 770370 or email [email protected] Nessie and Duncan Watson Kitty Colquhoun Row, row, row your boat... Straiton Primary visit Carrick Coastal Rowing Club meets most Thursday evenings and during the day on Sundays, tides permitting, at harbour. Balbeg Hydro After getting the skiff into the water four rowers plus cox board and set out for a trip out of the harbour mouth to the open sea. Some- times sprints are practiced, sometimes 180º turns. Quick turns are essential to get right when competing as there are markers placed in the water to negotiate around. Next month, July 8-13, the club are entering the World Championships in Ullapool so practising manoeu- vres is important. Apart from concentrating to get things right, it’s also great fun! Nothing beats moving across the water, sunlight glinting, the mountains of Arran across the firth, dramatic nearby and the rocks of Maidens harbour almost within touching distance. Later this month (June) another skiff will be launched in Girvan at the Girvan Harbour Gala. have two skiffs; Marr Voyager and Ailsa Lass and are hosting their first regatta on Saturday 8th June. There will be races for men, women and mixed crews of various ages and Sounds like a trip to a Spa Hotel but this was the school outing to the open classes. Carrick Coastal Rowing Club are taking their skiff, the Hydro Scheme at Balbeg Country Holidays. Children, teaching staff Carrick Maid, up for the day to race. Good luck to all the racers. and parents met at Balbeg where Andrew Sinclair gave an informa- tive tour. Unfortunately it involved a walk through the woods past an Henry Anderson (Straiton) and adventure playground but the children didn’t seem to mind. Darren (from Maybole) What’s in a name? In Huntingtower the novel by John Buchan which is set in Carrick, the author describes the local inn. Well-known for play- ing fast and loose with names it would be fascinating to know whether Buchan refers to the Straiton Black Bull or if he has re-named the Kirkmichael Arms in the following description: Alec Kelly cox (Maybole), Ffion Baird (Straiton), Cara Mundell, The dam has a filter to prevent “Now the Black Bull at Kirk- Helen McNair (both Kirkmichael) and Laura Paton (Straiton) Next stop was further up at the burn where a small dam has been leaves and twigs entering the michael is one of the very good created. Andy explained that although there were signs of otters and pipe. The tour continued down inns le in the world. It is an they had been seen playing in the dam they just passed through the the other side of the burn, follow- hospitable, for it has been for The Black Bull Hotel area and were not living at this location. ing the pipe, which was partially generations a haunt of anglers, who above all other men under- Dinner served buried, arriving at the timber from 6 to 9pm shed where the actual turbine is stand comfort. ere are always located. The drop between dam bright res there, and hot water, Open weekends and turbine is 100 feet. and old so leather armchairs, for lunch and dinner Due to the expense of switch- and an aroma of good food Beer Garden ing technology the turbine is not and good tobacco, and giant Lovely room available able to produce electricity during trout in glass cases, [ ] and the for private functions a power cut. three-volume edition of Waver- A warm welcome awaits After the tour the children ate ley Novels with many volumes you from Kenny and Jane their pieces outside one of the missing, and indeed all those 01655 770240 chalets before walking back things which an inn should through the woods to school. have.” Flower Tubs Toilet Upgrade 26.2 miles! The Three Village Gardening Club successfully obtained a grant Our toilets have had some “And point two miles” says Flora to purchase half barrels for all villages (12 each) plus compost renovations done recently. The when I said what an achieve- and bedding plants for the past few years. They also undertook a roof has been replaced with a ment running/walking 26 miles signage project involving and artist working with the local primary new rubber one with a 25 year was. schools and the flower signs can be spotted around the three guarantee. The roughcasting A well kent face in Straiton villages. has been replaced where it had Flora Mullen struck lucky when The funds are nearly finished suffered frost damage; some she entered the ballot for the so, rather than try to find money heaters have been installed marathon and was given twice a year for bedding plants, to protect against frost and a a place. She started her training I have purchased perennial lighting system fitted which has immediately by going on long plants. Most of the barrels have sensors. As it is summertime walks. When the big day came a conifer already so I have tried the lights have been switched Flora was carried along with to choose some plants which off but in the dark evenings they Cockburn the crowd and ran for the first would complement this, plus should come on for ten minutes Gallery few miles. She always intended flower at different times of the when someone enters. to walk sections though and year and be hardy to withstand The exterior still needs to be Fine Art & Restoration crossed the finishing line 7 hours our winters. These include painted and will be done soon. 47 minutes later. Under the 8 winter and summer heathers, It is a much-needed facility in The Cockburn Gallery staff hours which meant she got her Tiarella ‘spring symphony’, a the village and welcomed by the cordially invite you to visit the medal. Average mile was 19.3 bright yellow Coreopsis ‘early many walkers, cyclists, drivers gallery to view our minutes. Husband, Jim, went sunrise’, Lithodora ‘heavenly (log lorries, delivery vehicles Summer Exhibition. down to cheer her on along with blue’, Heuchera ‘firefly’, a few and busses) we have visiting The gallery has a wide range son, Neil, daughter-in-law Zoe lupins and some variegated the village. A big thank you to of paintings and prints keenly and granddaughter Kori. Sur- trailing ivy. In the autumn miniature daffodil bulbs will be planted Henry Anderson who secured priced with discounts on certain prising her at the 23 mile marker (the big ones tend to take over the barrel). Bea Holden funding and oversaw the works. works. We have recently was Eleanor Thomson from acquired new and exciting stock Straiton plus friends who had by renowned artists such as been tracking her progress. KNOCKSKAE WIND FARM Peter Howson, Frank Mcfadden, PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS Grahame McKean. Exclusive Flora found the whole experience brilliant; the organisation of the glassware is also available marathon was spot-on, hotel was handy, the staff helpful and friendly. PNE WIND UK Ltd is developing a proposal for a wind farm All along the route people cheered, bands played and refreshments on land near Straiton in . making excellent gifts. Gallery staff are keen to were served. As part of the development process we are holding a number welcome you to After finishing at Buckingham Palace poor Flora had another half hour of public consultation exhibitions to allow us to engage with visit and browse at your leisure. walk back to her hotel! the local community and provide the opportunity for people You may find that unique gift Although she didn’t enter through a charity Flora raised over £1,200 to meet PNE WIND UK Ltd staff, ask questions and find out for that someone special in your for Diabetes – another great achievement. more about the proposal. life or possibly select a treat for yourself. Open Thur-Sat 10-5pm Geoff Campbell Interior and exterior work Exhibitions will be held at the following locations: Sunday 12-4pm carried out to the highest 41 High Street, Maybole Painter&Decorator standard • Tuesday 11 June 2013 • 16:00 – 20:00 McCandlish Hall, Straiton, KA19 7NF Ayrshire KA19 7AB Knockdon, near Straiton • Wednesday 12 June 2013 • 16:00 – 20:00 Maybole Town Hall, Maybole, KA19 7BZ 01655 884067 01655 770262 e: [email protected] (evenings only) w: www.cockburngallery.net For further information or to make a comment please email: [email protected] or telephone 0131 243 9162. Curtains, Cushions & Crafts Curtain, Blind and Pelmet Making Service Comments made to PNE WIND UK Ltd are not representations to the planning authority. Free measure and estimate For further information visit www.pnewind.co.uk Samantha Jane McWhirter 14 Road, Straiton KA19 7NG 01655 770315 or 07884 076 313 [email protected] Church Post Box Collection Times The Buck Coffee • Cakes • Crafts Church of Scotland service Mon - Fri 4pm Open Wed - Sun 11am-5pm every Sunday at 12 noon Sat 11am Closed Mon, Tue except bank Straiton Stores Bank holidays. Mon - Fri 7am - 6pm The Royal Bank of Scotland Coal Sat, Sun 8am - 4pm Mondays 1.30 - 2pm Fergusson 01292 591 543 MacPherson 01290 551 660 Dry cleaning is collected/ Fishmonger delivered on Mon and Thurs Thurs 12.30 - 1.30pm Logs Blairquhan Estate 770239 Post Office Butcher Bobby McFadyen Mon & Thurs 3.15 - 4.15pm Tue 10am 1 Dalmellington Road Mobile Library Sat 10.30 - 11.15am 07986 445 317 Every 4th Thursday 11.30am Accommodation Balbeg Country Holidays Self Catering 01655 770665 Holly Tree Cottage Self Catering 01655 770247 www.balbeg.co.uk www.straiton.org.uk Blairquhan Estate Self Catering 01655 770239 Hazel Lodge B&B 01655 770660 www.blairquhan.co.uk Old Garden Cottage B&B 01655 770370 Craigview Cottage Self Catering www.oldgardencottage.com [email protected] Toll Cottage Self Catering 0141 341 0558 Genoch Cottage Self Catering 0141 258 4474 www.genochcottage.com [email protected] Community Councillors Henry Anderson, Craigard 770242 [email protected] Mary Arthur, 24 Main Street 770318 [email protected] Bea Holden, 18 Main Street 770247 [email protected]

Kirkmichael Shop Mon - Wed 7.45am - 6pm (closed 1 - 3pm) Thur, Fri 7.45am - 6pm Weekends 8am - 4pm Kirkmichael Cafe Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4pm

Service 361 is provided by Stagecoach ( Partnership for Transport) Traveline Scotland 0871 200 22 33 open 24 hours 7 days a week Bus Timetable Mon to Sat. In Ayr the bus stops outside Skills Development on Carrick St and Burns Statue Square Straiton 7.00 9.17 11.17 13.17 15.17 17.47 19.17 21.47 Crosshill 7.15 9.25 11.25 13.25 15.25 17.55 19.25 21.55 Kirkmichael 7.26 9.32 11.32 13.32 15.32 10.02 19.32 22.02 Maybole 7.33 9.40 11.40 13.40 15.40 18.10 19.40 22.10 Ayr Hosp 7.48 10.05 12.05 14.05 16.05 18.35 20.05 22.35 Ayr 8.03 10.20 12.20 14.20 16.20 18.50 20.20 22.50

Ayr 6.02 8.12 10.12 12.12 14.12 16.42 18.12 20.42 Ayr Hosp 6.18 8.29 10.26 12.26 14.26 16.56 18.26 20.56 Maybole 6.36 8.51 10.51 12.51 14.51 17.21 18.51 21.21 Kirkmichael 6.43 8.59 10.59 12.59 14.59 17.29 18.59 21.29 Crosshill 6.50 9.07 11.07 13.07 15.07 17.37 19.07 21.45 Straiton 6.57 9.15 11.15 13.15 15.15 17.45 19.15 21.45