The Barrometer JULY 2014 AUTUMN 2013 EDITION the NEWSPAPER for the CONSERVATION VILLAGE of BARR, SOUTH AYRSHIRE

The Barrometer JULY 2014 AUTUMN 2013 EDITION THE NEWSPAPER FOR THE CONSERVATION VILLAGE OF BARR, SOUTH AYRSHIRE. POP: 260

INSIDE YOUR ‘SUPERPARK’ BARROMETER

Human sundial p7 ON THE WAY Gala Day pictures p4&5 September opening for £120,000 Didn’t they do well? p6&7 play park facility at the Clachan Pub is on the Map p6

Type to enter text Dinmurchie ballot p2 What’s coming up p7

Jimmy Farquhar

The village has lost one of its most distinguished and respected figures with the death of Dr Jimmy Farquhar of Sunnyside, Glenginnet Road. Jimmy died in the Community Hospital Girvan on Wednesday 11th June after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 87.

A large number of his friends and A new state-of-the-art play park costing £120,000 will open in Barr in the Autumn. neighbours from Barr attended his Dubbed the “Super Park” with no fewer that 18 different elements, it will be the best in funeral service at Masonhill the area and is sure to delight youngsters of all ages. Crematorium to hear his sons, Funding was finalised for the Barr Parish Development Company’s project last month and the John and Grant speak of their equipment is already under construction by the manufacturers ready for a September father’s integrity and humanity. installation at the playground behind the Clachan. Jimmy’s grandsons, Jamie and

The money for the park has come from Carrick Futures which has provided over £84,000 and Tom read the lessons in the from Hadyard Hill Community Benefit Fund who have provided just under £41,000 for the service which was conducted by scheme. In addition, the Forestry Commission carried out vital and costly drainage work free the Rev Dr B Collie. of charge. South Ayrshire Council will maintain the park after its installation.

Included in the fun-filled facilities are; a 35 metre zip slide for the older kids, two multi-play Afterwards, Sheila expressed her units with a vast number of different elements, twisters, a flying saucer, double zig zags, gratitude for the tremendous several “springers”, a land rover play mobile, flexi-swings and roundabouts, talking phones ... support she had received from the the list goes on. A layout of the park is currently on display in the Community Store. village both during his illness and Adults haven’t been forgotten, there are benches from which they can watch their kids at play. after his death. The park will be bordered by high fencing and accessed through gates. There’s no doubt that when the word gets around, Barr will be a popular destination for Jimmy’s ashes will be interred in visitors with young kids in tow. Now it will be the adults who’ll be being dragged to Barr! the family plot in Barr Kirkyard at a Community Councillor Alex Tait, who drove the project forward with input from the village’s later date. youngsters thanked all those who had made it possible; Carrick Futures, Hadyard Hill CBF, OBITUARY P2 the Forestry Commission and South Ayrshire Council, particularly David Lowdon. OBITUARY YOUR CHANCE TO Dr. James T (Jimmy) Farquhar VOTE ON FUTURE JANUARY 17, 2012 Although James Thomson Farquhar, known to all as Jimmy, did not OF DINMURCHIE arrive in Barr to settle permanently until 1992, his association with the village started as far back as 1935 when he was a boy of eight. The future of Dinmurchie Farm could be decided in the next few weeks ... It was then that his father, until then a partner in a small family firm of and everyone in the village who is Glasgow grain merchants, was forced out of business when motor entitled to vote will be asked to take transport took over from the horse-drawn variety and the demand part in a referendum to determine the for this company’s products slumped. So, at the age of 39, Jimmy’s way ahead. father decided to go into sheep farming as his new career and it was then that the family moved to the 2000 acre Changue Farm rented to This follows a proposal by the Barr them by the Forestry Commission. Parish Development Company (BPDC) to make an application to The young Jimmy’s first school was Albright and Wilson. They were to stay there for the Cambusdoon in Alloway where he was a weekly next 11 years. Son number two, Grant, arrived in acquire the land and buildings under boarder, traveling back to Changue by car on 1962 in Glasgow. Sheila had been staying with the National Forest Land Scheme. Friday evenings and returning to school on Jimmy’s mother who had moved to The Croft in Old This scheme, which is administered Monday mornings. With the outbreak of war in Dailly earlier that year on the death of his father. by the Forestry Commission gives 1939 and the subsequent rationing, there was no communities the opportunity to buy petrol to take him to and from school and so he During his time in Harrogate, where he was or lease national forest land on the appointed Research Manager, his department became a full boarder. After his father was basis that it provides benefits to the registered several manufacturing processes and called up to the army, his mother rented a small public. house in Ayr to escape the isolation of living at registered a dozen patents in which he was named Changue with no petrol, no mains electricity and as inventor. One process, for destroying dangerous The proposal by the village’s only a limited ration of coal. chemicals, was employed by the U S Pentagon. Development Company, which was set up by the Community Council, In his final year at Cambusdoon, the school It was the emergence of the environmental would provide a visitor centre and a doctor expressed concern about the condition of movement and his previous work on the company’s Jimmy’s heart - he had by then suffered two waste disposal and water pollution processes which multi-purpose space to complement bouts of rheumatic fever - and he was sent back led to his being offered a move to London as its the village hall. The provision of to Changue, where the family had returned after Environmental Manager and in 1972 the family workshop and exhibition spaces for his father’s discharge from the army, for the final moved to Radlett in Hertfordshire from where Jimmy anything from rural skills to corporate five months of his primary schooling. During this travelled to work in central London each day. There conference facilities, continuing time he showed early signs of a stubborn streak he embarked on what he described as “seventeen education to outdoor events, would, years of enormously interesting work” in which he when, bored stiff, but forbidden to ride his they say, boost the demand for local bicycle because of the state of his health, he served on various trade and Government bodies and was a member of the Minister for Industry’s accommodation and amenities. pedaled from Changue to Pinmore and back to There is also the potential for the the anger of his parents over the escapade. Technical Advisory Committee. He spoke on scientific issues relating to the protection of the provision of a small hydro-electricity Holidays and death-defying cycling expeditions environment at more than 50 conferences world scheme generating income and over, Jimmy went to Ayr Academy to begin his wide and presented evidence to Committees of sustainable local employment. secondary education and it was here where he both Houses of Parliament. He received a became interested in scientific subjects, Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry and A spokesman for the Development particularly Chemistry under the inspiring was awarded a Charter (CChem). Company said, “The potential tutelage of the highly regarded teacher, Robert acquisition of Dinmurchie provides a McKell. It was not only in science and With the death of his mother in 1981, the family was golden opportunity for the village. mathematics that he began to develop but also, deprived of a Scottish centre where they could visit The Community Right to Buy scheme each year and it was then that they purchased thanks to Dr J Douglas Cairns, who took over as would enable Barr to reconstruct the Rector in his final year, a love of literature, Sunnyside, a cottage at that time in a dilapidated condition. After a great deal of renovation this derelict farm as an exciting centre for particularly the works of Robert Burns. After a wide range of events and activities. leaving Ayr Academy with four good Highers in became their second home. Ten years later upon Jimmy’s retirement they moved permanently to Barr Which would bring money into the 1945 he entered a four year degree course in village by generating income for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the where he continued consultancy work and writing village businesses.” Royal College of Science and Technology, later articles for scientific journals while also building a large extension to the house. Jimmy was also to become the University of Strathclyde, Under the rules of the scheme, a Chairman of Ayr Probus Club in its Centenary year. attaining an Honours degree. Despite receiving ballot of villagers must be held to several good job offers on completion of his Jimmy and Sheila were firm supporters of the of ascertain whether or not they are in studies, he was persuaded by one of his village way of life and strong advocates of the favour of an application to purchase lecturers to consider taking on a three year junior importance of maintaining the fabric which binds it being made. Ballot papers issued by lectureship which would allow him to carry out together. He was vociferous and forthright in stating the independent “Democracy Counts” research preparatory to his presenting a thesis his view on any particular subject, whether on the organisation will be dropping through for a Doctorate which was to follow in 1955. In need to keep the shop and pub open for business 1953, Jimmy departed academia and began or the battle to get a mobile phone mast for the letter boxes very soon with a 5th research work in a newly built laboratory at John village. The design of the toilet extension to the August deadline for their return. The and James White’s manufacturing plant at village hall was described by him in local press rules of the scheme say that, in order Shawfield Works, Rutherglen. headlines as “a carbuncle”. But he also had a soft to demonstrate community support, at least half of those eligible to vote Around then, he and a good friend from his side never more obvious than in the luxury University days decided that it was about time accommodation, complete with central heating, must do so with more than 50% of they started to look for girlfriends - or more which he built in his garden for Felix, the ubiquitous those voting in favour. Only then will accurately, wives, Jimmy seemed to be heading village cat. the application go ahead. for the altar with one young lady in particular. Above all, Jimmy was a family man and he took Votes will be counted on August 6th However, at her insistence, she first introduced great pride in all his sons’ and grandsons’ various and if enough people say “Yes”, the him to one of her golfing friends, a Banchory- career successes saying, with a twinkle in his eye, first step will be to produce a born lawyer called Sheila Grant. At only their “Well, they come from good stock, you know.” second meeting, Sheila, who lived and worked business plan and feasibility study. in Perth, confided in him that she wanted a Diagnosed with cancer two years ago, not many This would be externally funded and change from the firm’s Perth office. So, on only were made aware of his illness. Jimmy had decided would not cost Barr a penny, nor their second meeting, Jimmy told her that she that he wanted “no fuss”. would it commit the development could get the change she was after ... If she company to any future course of married him! The rest is history. Jimmy and action. Sheila married on March 7th, 1959 in Aberdeen Dr James Thomson Farquhar, FRSC, CChem, and made their home in Burnside. Their first son, If you require any further information research & environmental scientist: born Glasgow before making up your mind on how John arrived in 1960 and the following year the 2nd March 1927; married 1959 Sheila Grant, two you will vote, contact Merlin Currie family moved to Harrogate in Yorkshire where sons; died. Girvan 11th June 2014 Jimmy took up a post in a new laboratory with (861239) Around the village SUNDIAL UNVEILED Rural decides to As the summer sunshine split the heavens on Sunday it was remain with the ideal weather for the village its latest attraction ... a human sun dial. Ayrshire Federation

Villagers and pupils from the primary school have been working for over Upper Stinchar SWRI has voted to remain a year now to bring their innovative project to fruition as our contribution to the Carrick Communities Heritage Trail. affiliated to the Ayrshire Federation. At an Extraordinary General Meeting held in June, members voted 12 Situated across the road from the village hall the sun dial is set into the ground with a flat embedded mosaic central panel incorporating the to 2 to retain the affiliation. infamous Laird of This followed a lively Annual General Meeting held in May in the Village Hall Changue’s where discussion centred round he level of the SWRI affiliation fee, which footsteps where is paid annually to the Ayrshire Federation. The whole of the annual people can stand subscription amount received by Upper Stinchar SWRI goes to Ayrshire and cast a shadow Federation in fees. Some members suggested that, because of these to tell the time. costs, the Rural in Barr should cease affiliation to the SWRI. The Residents of all Extraordinary General Meeting in June decided overwhelmingly to stay ages have been with Ayrshire. involved in the project; measuring At the AGM proper, President, Wilma Gracie gave a round-up of the year’s up for the activities. Eighteen people joined the Rural this session. The Treasurer, Jo mathematical Campbell reported a healthy balance of £648.03 and members agreed to accuracy of true make a charitable donation of £30.00 each to Women’s Aid and to The north & the markers’ Beatson Hospital. positions, donating One member pointed out that, in recent years, the committee voting procedure had not properly followed the Constitution, resulting in a unwanted crockery for the mosaic and, narrower choice of potential committee members. It was agreed that together with the school children, designing procedures would be amended to follow Constitution in future. and creating the roundels which mark the At the Prize-giving Ceremony, Yvonne Jack was awarded the Elizabeth hours as the sun changes its position in the Scott Rosebowl for most points in the competitions, with Vera Dunlop in sky. All the roundels portray an aspect of the life and times of the village. second place and joint thirds for Olive Ball, Janice Common and Rhona Project leader, local artist Merlin Currie Anderson. praised everyone who had contributed and The winner of the Jean Milner Quaich as overall winner of the Fun participated in the project and said that it Competition was Yvonne Jack. A clean sweep for Yvonne! had been "a real community effort". The sun Agnes Gracie was presented with a Loyal Service Certificate and a floral dial was unveiled by Mrs Sheila Farquhar arrangement in recognition of her many years at Crosshill and Upper who congratulated everyone on a very fine Stinchar Rurals. effort and expressed the hope that many visitors would come to the village to see it. Above: Merlin and Sheila with some of the ‘artists’ Left: Dave’s got it “sussed” Now pub is on the Real Ale map The King’s Arms is now the only pub in the area to offer regular real ale to its customers, according to the latest edition of the CAMRA magazine. Jordan and Kassie’s experiment with craft beers has proved a big success with

THE KING’S ARMS locals and visitors and it has now HOTEL, Wilma presents Agnes with her Certificate 1 STINCHAR ROAD become a BARR Yvonne with her trophies GIRVAN permanent KA26 9TW feature on the Wilma thanked her outgoing committee and hostesses for their hard work 01465 861 230 pumps. No fewer over the whole year and welcomed Agnes Gracie on to the new than 6 real ales www.kingsarmsbarr.co.uk committee. Wilma’s Quiz entertained teams of members, with plenty of [email protected] will be available chocolate prizes all round. Committee members provided a delicious during the coming supper to round off another enjoyable year at upper Stinchar SWRI. BEERFEST Beerfest Weekend on 1st WEEKEND The next Rural meeting will be on the third Thursday of October 2014. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, to 3rd August 1stconsectetur to 3rd adipiscing August elit. Anyone interested in finding out more about the SWRI in Barr should Etiam vitae quam ut est fringilla when live music venenatis vitae ac turpis. will also be on the contact Wilma Gracie, The Clachan, Barr or ask at the Village Store. PhasellusLIVE augue MUSIC est, imperdiet ut viverra nec, scelerisque menu on the Saturdayauctor lectus. 2ndAliquam August Saturday night. adipiscing leo massa, ac ultricies WE’RE PROUD TO BE ligula.JUNKMAN’S Sed nibh risus, aliquam ac It’s hoped that the URGENT REPAIRS FOR bibendumCHOIR vitae, tincidunt quis. event will attract PUTTING BARR VILLAGE 8.00 pm real ale drinkers MILTON HILL ROAD ON THE REAL ALE MAP from a wide area NESTLING IN THE STINCHAR VALLEY ABOVE GIRVAN, The Barrometer WE MIGHT BE THOUGHT TO BE A WEE BIT “OFF THE Six ales on tap since the King’s South Ayrshire Council is to carry out urgent 16 Glenginnet Rd BEATEN TRACK” BUT OUR PUB HAS BEEN AROUND FOR Arms has taken a repairs on the Milton Hill road between Milton Barr, MORE THAN 200 YEARS AND WE KNOW A THING OR TWO Musicians welcome ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME! SO WHEN WE DECIDED full page advert and Delamford. After representations by local KA26 9TU THAT WE’D ALWAYS HAVE A REAL ALE ON TAP IT SEEMED throughout the weekend Tel: 01465 861250 LIKE A GOOD EXCUSE FOR A CELEBRATION “HOOLIE”. Campground available (left) in the councillors, the road was inspected and it was WHY NOT JOIN US ON THE FIRST WEEKEND IN AUGUST AND ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE OF OUR HISTORIC (10 minute walk) widely-read determined that repairs were “urgently” COACHING INN. WE’LL HAVE LIVE MUSIC, GREAT FOOD AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, SIX REAL ALES FOR YOU TO CAMRA magazine required. SAC have also investigated a ENJOY. CONTACT US IF YOU NEED MORE DETAILS, OR JUST TURN UP ... YOU’LL BE MADE VERY WELCOME. to publicise it. resident’s claim that the installation of street lighting columns had damaged drainage at the Glebe. An inspection report is awaited. GALA DAY A BIG HIT DESPITE THE RAIN BARR battled bravely against worsening weather to pull off a successful Gala Day with all of the planned events taking place ... except one. For the only event which had to be cancelled as the heavy rains came down was (wait for it) the DUCK RACE! Gala organisers had breathed a sigh of relief when they awoke to find the forecasts for torrential rain, David and Ewan lead the parade through the village before declaring the Gala Day ‘Open’ thunder and lightning and flash flooding hadn’t yet materialised. So the first event of the day, the Fell Race, went ahead as planned with a good field of runners in the junior and senior races. So far, so good, and by the time of the Gala Day parade, this year sporting a Commonwealth Games theme, the skies had cleared again for the procession through the village. This year there was a change in the proceedings. For there was no crowning of the Queen for the first time that anyone can remember. The Queen is traditionally chosen from the Primary 6 class at the local school and this year the class was comprised only of boys. Up stepped David Campbell and Ewan MacKenzie to do the “kingly” honours. Resplendent in kilts and Commonwealth Games official T-Shirts, they led the march through the village in grand style before declaring the Gala Day “open.” The Primary School, SWRI, Stinchar Valley Quilters and the Vintage Car Club took part in the parade. It was amid darkening skies that the day then got into full swing with the stalls on the banks of the Gregg Burn doing a roaring trade, hamburgers stalls and the tea room catered for the hungry as did the village shop and the King’s Arms Hotel who put on a Hog Roast. The bouncy castle was again a favourite amongst the younger participants. The fire brigade added even more water to the proceedings as youngsters queued up to direct the hose towards the other bank of the Gregg Burn where some dare-devils tried to evade a drenching. Alas it was a drenching which everyone who stayed on for the Pet Show, were in for as the previously light rain began to fall in earnest. Rev Ian McLachlan braved the weather to act as the judge and there was a fine turn out of four-legged contestants of all shapes and sizes from which he had to select the winners. But, as the crowds began to dwindle under the now constant downpour, the Primary School’s annual Duck Race down the Gregg Burn became the only “casualty” of the afternoon when organisers sensibly decided that conditions on the river banks and in the ever-swelling Burn were too dangerous to allow it to go ahead. The day ended with a Gala Dance and Children’s entertainment in the Village Hall after which Community Council Chair, Dave Trotter expressed himself delighted with the way the day had turned out. He said, “It didn’t look good for us on the Friday night and the weather forecasts were horrendous. But we battled on and got the breaks in the weather that we needed to bring the Gala Day off successfully on the day. We owe a great big ‘Thank You’ to all who took part and to the committee who organised the event.” Off to a great start with the Fell Race

Visiting runners took the winner’s medals in the Senior race and two of the Junior categories. Girvan’s Craig All creatures Murphy took the senior cup in a time over Auchensoul Fell of great and small 20min 48 sec - over four and a half minutes ahead of the next one home, Barr’s Chris at the Pet Show Gunson. Bethia Trotter was first in the 11-15 yrs category, Honor Stewart Fairbairn from Girvan followed up her success in the Lowland Games race by taking the 7-11 category while Fergus Christie won the Under 7’s race.

Rev Ian MacLachlan had a tough job judging the Pet Show with a variety of pets on show. The overall winner was Lesleyann Morgan with “Buster” her Lhasa Apso Celebrating our youngThe Peoplepeople -Page didn’t they do well? It’s the time of year when things are really happening for some of our young people. Whether it’s leaving school to go out into the big wide world of work or further education, stepping up to accept a hard-earned University degree or just moving up from primary to secondary school, all are all important steps into the future for our youngsters. In this Barrometer, we recognise their success and send them our best wishes for the future.

David gets Kelsey graduates Physical straight to Grants

KELSEY MCKECHNIE h a s graduated from the University of the West of Scotland, Paisley DAVID BROWN of Balligmorrie Campus, with a BSc Honours in has graduated from Edinburgh Applied Bioscience. She has University with a BEd with already beaten off stiff competition Honours in Physical Education. to gain employment with William David will spend the next year Grant & Sons on their Graduate as a PE teacher in Greenock Development Programme which she’ll begin in September. Caitlin’s off Claire gets the to Stranraer Credit at SRUC

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR BARR’S LADY IN RED HANNAH GRATER looks quite the picture as she poses for the Barrometer just before setting off for her “Prom” marking the end of her senior school studies at Girvan Academy. Now awaiting exam results, Hannah is hoping to go on to University to study Primary Teaching after the Summer break. CLAIRE MILROY of Cairnwhin has passed her National A very Civil Robert passes Certificate in Agriculture from Scotland’s Rural College, CAITLIN HARVEY is heading for affair for Alan with Merit Barony Campus. She was Stranraer College after the awarded the Credit Award and holidays where she will study also won the prize for the Best for a qualification in Early 'Stockperson' 2013/14 which Education and Child Care. she is holding in the picture.

ROBERT CURRIE from Pinclanty ALAN GRAY of Craigmalloch has Farm, Barr has Graduated from graduated from Edinburgh’s Edinburgh with Bachelor of Napier University as a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with Merit Engineering with a 2:1 Honours Degree in Civil Engineering. Gravestone returned to the Kirkyard In the end, it didn’t quite need the Good Luck heroics of Harrison Ford in Barr’s very own version of “The Return of the Stone” but, at last, our historic Covenanter’s gravestone has been to them all re-erected in the Kirkyard more than a year after it went missing. In a simple but moving ceremony, the headstone marking the 17th Century Katherine heads grave of the murdered Covenanter martyr Edward McKeen was to the Upper 6th rededicated. It marked the end of an ‘unholy’ and bitter row surrounding the removal of the stone by a restoration group and a year-long fight by villagers to get it back. A stroll through the Kirkyard by a vigilant local resident almost a year ago led to the discovery that the stone End of the mystery. Council officials join villagers to celebrate the return of was missing. That sparked some the stone and its rededication by Rev MacLachlan in a special ceremony in relentless detective work by the the Kirkyard village’s Community Council and South Ayrshire Council and within a month, the stone had been traced to MacMillan coffee morning a stonemason’s yard in Patna. It had been removed and taken there by the Scottish Covenanter Memorials Friday 26th September Association charity without the knowledge or permission of the Vera Dunlop and friends will once again host community and its discovery a Coffee Morning in aid of the MacMillan provoked a furious local response. Step forward Barr’s very own “Indiana Nurses. It will take place in the Village Hall on KATHERINE SHERRY will go into Jones” in the form of Merlin Currie, her final year of study when she Friday 26th September from 10.15 until who has led the fight to recover the returns to Carrick Academy after historic artifact, She said, “We were midday. To cut costs, no personal invitations the holidays. She joined her fellow will be going out this year meaning more 6th Form students when they appalled at what I described at the celebrated with their ‘Prom’ before time as the ‘sacrilegious plundering of money can go straight to the charity. So put the school broke up. our heritage’ and we were determined to have our stone returned”. the date in your diary and turn up to support That view was strongly backed by a very worthy cause. ... and going up South Ayrshire Council whose Bereavement Services Officer, Lizzie to the big school Linton threw the Council’s weight behind the village’s determination to have their stone back. With the stone recovered from the mason’s yard, South Ayrshire Council THE KING’S ARMS appointed Edinburgh restorator, Graciela Ainsworth to restore it to its HOTEL, BARR original condition and the fruit of her DYLAN ROSS and SKYE TROTTER labours was revealed to a small but have said goodbye to Barr Primary appreciative gathering in the and are heading for Girvan Academy graveyard who heard Rev Ian BEERFEST when the holidays are over. Good MacLachlan sum up the short history luck to them both. We’re sure they’ll of Edward McKeen and rededicate his do us proud. stone. WEEKEND

CSH PROPERTY SERVICES Saturday 30th August 1st to 3rd August ★WALLPAPER STRIPPING ★LABOUR HIRE Traboyack LIVE MUSIC ★SKIP FILLING Saturday 2nd August ★LITTER PICKING Barn ★TAKING DOWN OR DISMANTLING JUNKMAN’S CHOIR ★GARDEN AND YARD TIDY-UPS Dance 8.00 pm CLEANING SERVICES In Aid of SANDS ★ REGULAR OR ONE-OFF Music by “Destination Anywhere” Six ales on tap Musicians welcome throughout the ★MOVE IN/OUT weekend Campground available (10 minute walk) ★AFTER BUILDERS 7.00 pm till 12.30 am ★GARAGES AND LOFTS Tickets £12.50 (includes food) Tel: 01465 861 230 ★END OF TENANCY from Community Shop www.kingsarmsbarr.co.uk Enquire :Tel: 01465 861 165 Mob. 07903 119 948 (£15.00 at the door) [email protected] Email: [email protected] Over 18s only The Back Page CUP SUCCESS FOR BARR’S BOWLERS

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GOING UP ...

Let’s face it, we all have ups and downs in our lives but Chris Gunson seems to be taking it to extremes these days. One day he’s “on the up” when he’s haring over Auchensoul in the Gala Day Fell Jackie Logan reports: deserved win. Next Years British Legion Race. The next he’s on the Cup will be held at Barrhill. downwards slide when he’s The British Legion Cup was held at Barr launching himself off the precipice Bowling Club on Sunday 15th June Further competitions at Barr will be the with teams from Barr, Barrhill, Open "Pairs" Competition on 26th July, at Mauchline Gorge along with Colmonell & Ballantrae taking part in sponsored by the Kings Arms, Barr and other supporters to raise money for the competition. the Open "Triples" Competition on 30th Primary School funds. What an August. The Barr Bowling Club On what was a glorious sunny day, Barr Championship will be held on 28th action man! provided an idyllic backdrop for a September followed by the Traditional tremendous day of bowls culminating in end of season meal and presentation at a resounding win for the three home the Kings Arms, Barr. ... GOING DOWN rinks from Barr who picked up the trophy for the first time in four years.

Barr Team 1, skipped by Alan Ringrose beat Colmonell by 8 shots; Barr Team 2, skipped by Johnny McKechnie beat Barrhill by 18 shots and Barr Team 3, skipped by Alan Wood beat Ballantrae by 4 shots. Well done the bowlers and congratulations to the winning teams.

A big thank you as well to our green keeper Alan Ringrose for an immaculately prepared, fast green and thanks to his team for a very well organised competition and day.

Barr President, Alan Wood presents the Royal A great day of bowling was brought to British Legion Cup to Alan Ringrose at the end a close with a fabulous afternoon tea of the day’s play (or was it the other way provided by Jenny Craig, Maggie round?) Bunnett, John Craig, Jo Muir, Isobel Ringrose, Alison Milroy, Ruth Shreeve, If you fancy a great Sunday afternoon Neta Wilson, Dixie and Jackie Logan. A out in Barr make a note of the big thanks also to Doreen Sherry and competition dates and come along and Elizabeth McKechnie who ran the bar support our bowlers, or if you would providing well earned refreshment to like to try bowls new members of all revive everyone after Barr's well ages are always welcome.