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Anti-Social Behaviour
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CHATTERBOX www.lochwinnoch.info
Support and Advice
Every day 9am – 10pm
Tel: 0800 169 1283
Community newsletter produced by lochwinnoch publicity committee for lochwinnoch cc
What’s On
See back page for RSPB, Castle
Semple and Muirshiel Centre
activities.
• Advice Works - Tuesdays
10am —12.30, Lochwinnoch
Library. *
• Tai Chi for Beginners -
Friday nights, 6.45– 7.45pm at
The Room, Lochwinnoch Library.
• Yoga Classes - Wednesday
nights, 7.30pm in McKillop Hall.
• Kickjitsu for Kids - Monday
nights at Parish Church
• Friday 2nd November -
Prize Bingo Night at the
Masonic Club *
• Saturday 3rd November -
Councillor Neil Bibby’s Sur-
gery - from 9am McKillop Insti-
tute *
• Sunday 4th November -
Police Public Consultation Event
from 1400-1600 hrs at the McKil-
lop Institute. *
• Tuesday 6th November -
Gerry Stewart’s Book Launch
at Lochwinnoch Library at
7pm *
• Friday 9th November -
Robert Wilson’s Farewell.
Open Evening and Buffet at the
Bowling Club, from 7pm on-
wards. All welcome. *
• Saturday 10th November
Christmas with a Conscience
from 10am-1pm, Lochwinnoch
Parish Church. *
• Saturday 10th November -
Sportsman’s Dinner - Masonic
Club.
• Thursday 15th November -
Historical Society evening meet-
ing at 7.30pm in Parish Church
hall. *
• Sat 17th November,
Councillor Arthur’s Surgery
from 11.30 am at the McKillop
Institute *
No 167 November 2007
• Saturday 17th November,
Calder Church Christmas
Fayre - 10-12 McKillop Hall. *
• Friday 23rd November -
Bingo Night - 7.30pm at the
Masonic Club. (raising funds for
Garpel House)
• Saturday 24th November
Kilbirnie & Glengarnock
Christmas Festival from 2-
6pm (see inside for details).
• Thursday 29th November
Lochwinnoch Elderly Forum
monthly meeting at 1pm at
McKillop Institute *
• Thursday 29th November
Murder Mystery Night at 7pm
at Lochwinnoch Library *
• Thursday 29th Nov, Fri-
day 30th November and
Saturday 1st December -
Calder Drama Group present
The Steamie at the McKillop
Hall. More details inside.
• Friday 30th November -
Body Shop Party Night at the
Masonic Club. *
• Saturday 1st December -
Councillor Neil Bibby’s Sur-
gery at 9am at McKillop Hall.
• Saturday 1st December -
A “Rudolph” Christmas Fayre
from 10am-12noon, Lochwin-
noch Parish Church Halls. *
• Sunday 2nd December -
Festive Farmers’ Market at
Castle Semple Centre from
1100-1430 hours.
* for more details on these events,
see inside this issue of Chatterbox.
MATTHEW NEW & SONS
ROOFING - ROUGHCASTING -
Emergency Repairs, Storm Damage
Insurance Work, New Roofs, Flat Roofs
Roughcasting –UPVC Cladding—Guttering
Tel No 01505 843400
FMB Certificate No 26366
ASIST
Anti-Social Investigation
Team
Office 8:45am – 4:45pm
Ask for David McLaren or
Lisa Simpson
Editorial & copy for Chatterbox
Let us have your stories, notices,
information, events and other items
of interest — either hand-deliver
them to the Chatterbox drop-box in
the Library or e-mail to:
chatterbox@lochwinnoch.info
To advertise in Chatterbox
Tel: 07899 746403 or e-mail:
chatterboxaccount@btinternet.com
Copy Deadline for December
Issue is Friday 30th November
DAWG
DAWDLE
This year’s Dawg Dawdle was once
again supported by First Scotrail giv-
ing free travel to all participants to the
start point at Glengarnock’s welcom-
ing Glendale Arms - who catered for
all our dog and human needs.
It was a beautiful day with not a cloud
in the sky and, considering the unpre-
dictable year we have had so far, we
enjoyed and did not question!! 23
dogs and their families took part walk-
ing 5 miles back to Lochwinnoch
along the Lochwinnoch Loopline/
cyclepath.
Thanks to all who took part again and
we hope to make it happen again next
year. Please pencil us into your diary
for early October next year. We are
sure Hessilhead and St Vincents will
appreciate your contributions too.
Regards Gaynor and Jane.
BUILDING MAINTENANCE

Councillor Arthur’s
Report
My list of carriageways and footways
for the resurfacing programme for
2008/9 to 2009/2010 has now been
lodged for consideration with the
Planning and Transport Department.
On this list are 15 carriageways and 7
pathways from within and around the
village.
There are still a few outstanding re-
quested jobs to be carried out around
the village such as the requested
dropped kerb in Johnstone Drive, the
repainting of the road markings at The
Cross as well as the repainting of the
zebra crossing to name a few. Work
orders have already been raised there-
fore I hope it won’t be long before all
the work is complete.
The trimming back of the beech
hedge, which runs along the pathway
from the RSPB to The Hungry Monk,
is also outstanding but this is the re-
sponsibility of the relevant landowners
and not Renfrewshire Council. At my
request, Renfrewshire Council Roads
Department are currently pursuing this
work to be carried out by the land-
owners and will take enforcement
action if required.
Recently I attended the screening of
the film Black Gold – Wake Up And
Smell The Coffee, which was organ-
ised in conjunction with Oxfam,
Rainbow Turtle (Paisley) and the
Paisley Fair-trade Partnership. This
very powerful film raises awareness
and brings to the fore the issue of
fair trade as well as world trade
rules, labour rights and supply
chains. The film, which is described
in its preview as the most provoca-
tive documentary of the year, has
already changed the way millions of
people drink coffee. Black Gold
tells the story of Tadesse Meskela
and his struggle to keep his 74,000
Ethiopian Coffee Farmers from
western exploitation. Black Gold
exposes the truth behind each cap-
puccino and demands each and
every one of us to wake up and smell
the coffee. I have this film on DVD
and would be happy to let you see it
or, alternatively, you may wish to
wait and attend the proposed screen-
ing of it within the village.
Bishopton is the first ‘Fair Trade
Village’ within Renfrewshire so how
about our village becoming the sec-
ond. Anyone interested? If so then
contact me.
My Surgery is on the third Saturday
of each month at 11:30am in the
McKillop Hall but there is no need
to wait for a Surgery if you require
my help, you can contact me on
843507 and we can agree a time
when we can meet.
Councillor David Arthur
LOCHWINNOCH
ELDERLY FORUM
The trip to the Scottish Houses of
Parliament on 8th November, will
leave the McKillop car park at
9.30am. All those allocated seats on
the lists will be sent details of the
day. Anyone unable to attend,
phone Rita on 842054, as there are
names on the reserve list.
The next meeting will be on 29th
November at 1pm at the McKillop
Institute. Carolyn McIlroy, Locality
Planning Officer, will be present.
All welcome. Tea and coffee served.
Community Council
AGM NEWS
The Community Council AGM took
place on Monday 29 October 2007 at
the McKillop Institute. Among the
guests were Councillor Arthur and
Charlie Woodward, Clyde Muirshiel
Regional Park Manager. The Speaker
for the night was John Smart, Princi-
pal Development Control Officer for
Renfrewshire Council.
Reports were received from the Chair-
person, Secretary, Treasurer and Plan-
ning Convenor. The Chairperson ac-
knowledged the efforts of many local
groups and highlighted some of the
challenges that face the Community
Council, particularly in relation to
changes in the structure of local wards
and the impact this has on planning.
It was also acknowledged that crime
figures have reduced quite considera-
bly over the past year or so and this
indicates good progress for members
of the Community Partnership.
Office bearers were elected to the fol-
lowing positions:
Chairperson - David Fowles,
Treasurer - Yvonne Ross,
Secretary - appointment of new Secre-
tary to be confirmed, (Alec Harley has
stepped down from the role of Secre-
tary but remains on the Community
Council)
Planning Convenor - Graeme Brown.
The Speaker for the night, John
Smart, gave a very interesting talk on
Development and Control aspects of
Planning.
The year 1947 heralded the start of
proper control over development and
planning. Over a period of time, De-
velopment Plans were brought in and,
from these, Structure Plans and Local
Plans were formulated. Mr Smart cov-
ered a number of topics relevant to
local people and to Lochwinnoch
Community Council. Changes are
coming in, following the enactment of
the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006,
which will bring about around 32 dif-
ferences in relation to Development
and Control areas of the planning sys-
tem alone. E-planning will also play
an increasingly important role in how
applications are received and proc-
essed in the future. Further details of
these changes are available on the
Scottish Executive’s website - under
Planning Advice Note 47 and Pan81
(Community Engagement) guides.
 Protecting our Parks
by E Petition
The e-petition currently on the website
of the Scottish Parliament finished on
Wednesday, 31 October and there are
over a thousand signatures on it, in-
cluding many Community Councils.
We would like to thank the Commu-
nity Councils and all the many hun-
dreds from around the world for their
support.
Written signatures currently collected
are over 1,500 and many of our mem-
bers can be seen around the park col-
lecting written signatures. Tesco has
very generously allowed us to use their
car park to meet up with the general
public and again we are very grateful.
There are also over 3,000 signatures,
currently in the hands of North Ayr-
shire Council, which will be added to
the final total given to the Petitions
Committee. In total the petition has
gathered well over 5,000 signatures.
The petition will be submitted to the
Petitions Committee on 20 November
and it will be interesting to see how it
is received.
We are all hoping that action will be
taken to protect our Parks.
Ladymoor Wind Factory
Action Group
www.saveyourregionalpark.com
LOSC would like to thank Kathy
Kenmuir for all her hard work and
dedication over the last 3 years dur-
ing the start up and running of the
club. Kathy has resigned as Chair
of the club but will be staying on as
a committee member for the fore-
seeable future. Contact Leanne on
07757 801042 for details about LOSC.
"HAVE YOUR SAY"
th
Sunday, November 4 2007
from 2pm – 4pm at
The McKillop Institute,
Lochwinnoch
SECOND YEAR OF
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
MEETINGS FOR
RENFREWSHIRE RESIDENTS
Residents of Renfrewshire are invited
to discuss local policing issues when
they meet senior police officers at a
series of public consultation meetings
being held in October and November.
The consultations will be chaired by
the Divisional Commander, Chief Su-
perintendent Johnny Gwynne or the
Deputy Divisional Commander, Su-
perintendent Russell Irvine, who will
be supported by local senior manage-
ment and community police officers.
Local MPs, MSPs, councillors, com-
munity leaders, representatives from
the local Council and voluntary or-
ganisations will also be invited to at-
tend these meetings.
Superintendent Irvine said; "Listening
to the concerns of local people is very
important to us and it greatly influ-
ences our thinking as to what our pri-
orities should be as we work with our
partner agencies. Last year it was
very clear that the biggest concern was
antisocial behaviour and we responded
by launching a series of successful
hard hitting local initiatives targeting
antisocial behaviour, youth disorder
and violent crime. This year we will
report on the previous 12 months and
present our draft policing plan for next
year. We will then open up the discus-
sion with everyone present being
given an opportunity to express their
views."
It is hoped that young people and par-
ents will be better represented this year.
Superintendent Irvine explained:
"There was a noticeable absence of
young people and parents at the meet-
ings last year and we hope this will be
better this time around. Young people
are most at risk on our streets and
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they often find themselves the focus of our
efforts to maintain law and order. We
would like to address this by working with
the local Council and voluntary organisa-
tions to offer more healthy and interesting
things for young people to do. My hope is
that this will help occupy their spare time
and keep them out of trouble. It might also
help to break down the suspicion and hos-
tility that can sometimes exist between dif-
ferent generations.
What I would particularly like to see at the
meetings are adults willing to become in-
volved in helping to run local youth groups,
such as Scouts, Guides, youth clubs etc.
Volunteers I have spoken to tell me it is
really rewarding when you teach a young
person a new skill but I realise that the
prospect of doing so can be quite daunting.
We therefore plan to have experienced vol-
unteers present to offer advice and answer
questions anyone may have. No one will be
asked to commit there and then but my
hope is that at least some people will mull it
over and then decide to play a part in mak-
ing their local community a better place to
live and grow up in.”
So please, if you care about your
community and the way it is policed,
come along and 'Have Your Say'.
Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Division
Strathclyde Police
LWchwinnoch
Lo
Writers
THE WRITERS MEET
IN THELIBRARY, HIGH STREET ,
ON MONDAYS 9.30-11.30AM.
‘THE DENTIST’ - CLIVE BRIGGS
H e was known through out the east end
of my home town as ‘The Dentist’. His
speciality was extraction of teeth. However
he did a good side line with fingernails and
toe nails. He was not so good on anaesthet-
ics however not having stayed at Dental
School long enough to receive that bit of
the course. He did no work for the N.H.S
but ran a small private practice with only
one patron. His patron Skinner Crab was
well known as an extortionist. He made his
fortune extracting money with
threats, promises and blackmail from
a multitude of the low life of his home town
of Hull. The Dentist and Skinner Crab had
something in common. They both enjoyed
their work.
Skinner liked to be referred to in polite
circles - where he had many friends - as Mr
Crab. He felt it showed respect and respect
was part of his stock in trade.
One Sunday morning at a service in the
parish church of Holy Trinity, in front of a
moderate size congregation of the great and
the good, the Minister had words to say
about the evil in the parish and the various
nefarious people involved. Then he made a
mistake. He mentioned some by name.
The name of Crab echoed round the build-
ing's stone walls and underneath the famous
Gothic arches; just after the second hymn
and before the main prayers. Prayers for the
forgiveness of sinners I might add.
Mr. Crab, seated in his usual pew along
with the rest of his family did not relish his
name being so banded about, as well as the
eyes of the congregation being turned in his
direction. He was much more a creature of
the night and preferred to remain in the
shadows in broad daylight.
On leaving the service he contacted
Gummy Fairchild and Snorter Gentle an d
sugg ested t he y sho uld get roun d
the manse t hat afterno o n and en-
courage 'The Minister' to pay a visit to
'The Dentist'. It was apparent that his
mouth needed urgent attention. All teeth
out and the fitting of a suitable plate was
recommended. In future when The Minister
called upon the Lord he would do so in
more mellow and subdued tones.
T he Minister did not really desire that
this cosmetic dental work should be
carried out, even though there would be
no charge. However the provision of a
blacked out limousine as well as two per-
suasive supporters, encouraged him on his
way. He was soon ensconced in the den-
tists reclining chair and prevented from
harming himself by the numerous
straps provided for the purpose. The
extraction was about to get underway
when the minister in a moment of de-
spair called upon his God to rescue
him from his dilemma.
'Christ have mercy upon me.' he cried:
'Protect me from evil.'
Then in a flashback to the Old Testament and
remembering the courage of the oppressed
members of the chosen race,
‘Smite my enemies.’
T he lights went out completely and came on
again a moment later at a much lower
intensity. Black winged shadows flitted around
the room. The Dentist called out
‘What the Hell.'
He got no further when the room echoed to a
deep sonorous voice saying
‘Precisely.’
The pliers already clutched in the den-
tist's sweaty hand were dropped onto
the dirty floor with a loud clatter. He
bent to pick them up. He was no re-
specter of hygiene routines. He found,
when he tried to rise with the pliers in his
hand, that something was amiss. Defi-
antly and painfully amiss.
2 POEMS by GERRY STEWART
UNTRANSLATABLE
An Italian article on a Mayan volcano,
quick guttural stops, swallowed vowels:
villages lost beneath ash and fire.
Reading over your shoulder,
I pick out cognates from the swirling letters.
You travel light in this language,
confident strides, no backward glances.
*
There is safety in arguing in foreign cities.
We ruffle pigeons with our anonymous
anger.
We march across squares like invading ar-
mies,
shouting while locals drink.
Old women brush by with paper bags,
their red scarves flags before us.
There is no need to explain ourselves
in the aftermath of tears and caresses.
* On the train, dream-tinted postcards
You whisper a phrase in Italian,
say it is “I love you” loosely translated
I search the dictionary for meaning,
needing the security of solid words.
The Paper Shop
16 Church Street, Lochwinnoch
Tel: 842337
For all your Christmas needs
Lochwinnoch 2008 Limited Edition Calendars -
order yours now!
Xmas Paper, Gift tags, Card holders, 2008 Calendars and
a large selection of perfumes for her and gift boxes for him
‘I’ve put my back out,’ he wailed.
G ummy and Snorter meanwhile
were being attacked by the black
shadows. They did not like bloody
big bats and decided to leave the
room without putting their hands up
as they were taught at school. How-
ever the pool at their feet showed they
had already left it too late. The door
would not have opened anyway; easy
escape was not to be their lot.
The cleansing from sin that the Minis-
ter had called for in the morning and
again from the dentist chair had oc-
curred. The Minister was found later in
the day, now released from the chair,
accompanied by a badly handicapped
person bent nearly double and two
badly bitten men gabbling uncontrolla-
bly about bats and vampires. Nobody
believed them least of all the police.
The Minister retired shortly afterwards
since he wondered if he was really best
suited to lead a flock in a spiritual life.
Some even say the Bishop asked him to
leave because he seemed obsessed
by the Devil and really believed in his
powers.
NORTH WALES, JANUARY 1992
They say the cathedral made the city.
The sea rushes to meet me,
drowning me in its language,
despite my verbal thrashings.
I can’t face the castle,
under its eyes I am only a tourist.
A guidebook’s sure voice cannot save me
from winter’s gray smothering the city.
I struggle against it,
following bubbling umbrellas
up unnamed streets.
Walk for miles.
Mountains’ cold fingers push
through dying bracken and ferns.
The road leads to warmth,
a pub and hesitating smiles.
Here winter subsides
to the glow of secrets
passed among regulars like pints.
increase the distance between myself
and the stamp’s destination.
The absence of each foreign address
fills the empty stations as I pass.
 A737
LOCHWINNOCH
SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS AT
ROADHEAD
ROUNDABOUT
A £1.3m safety improvements project
on the A737 near Lochwinnoch is
scheduled to begin on 5 November.
The project, designed and managed
by Amey who operate the A737 on
behalf of Transport Scotland, will see
Roadhead Roundabout completely
rebuilt. Better facilities will also be
installed for the benefit of pedestrians
and cyclists. The work is scheduled to
last for 13 weeks (including the Christ-
mas break).
The current roundabout is unusual as
southbound traffic has priority over
other road users. There is a give way
on the roundabout itself. The round-
about will be completely replaced and
approaching lanes will be altered to
give drivers better visibility of the ap-
proaching traffic.
During this project dedicated bus bays
will be added – currently buses need
to stop on the trunk road itself which
can cause congestion at peak time.
Extra footways will be installed for pe-
destrians, and cyclists will be able to
take advantage of new cycle paths
linking all the roads approaching the
roundabout but generally remote from
the carriageway. Additionally sustain-
able drainage systems are being in-
corporated into the design. This en-
ables rain water to filter into the
ground water which is beneficial to the
environment.
The majority of the project will take
place in the surrounding fields there-
fore disruption to road users will be
considerably reduced.
During the final stages of the project
some traffic management will be nec-
essary to tie in the approaches to the
new roundabout.
Drivers are urged to leave extra time
for their journeys in the final stages of
the project.
Bruce Donaldson, Amey’s unit man-
ager for south west Scotland said:
“This project will see some highly
visible safety benefits implemented
at this busy section of the A737
trunk road.
The dedicated bus and cycle lanes
and new footpaths will significantly
improve the usability of this part of
the A737. Additionally it will relocate
this very busy road slightly further
away from the doorsteps of nearby
residents.
“Most of the work will take place in
surrounding fields which is good
news for road users, although the
final stages of this 12 week project
will involve some traffic manage-
ment.
During this period we appeal to driv-
ers to remain patient and show toler-
ance to the team working on-site.”
Transport Scotland’s Project Man-
ager, Paul Reid, said:
“This scheme is a significant invest-
ment in Renfrewshire’s road net-
work. The existing roundabout
needs to be improved to ensure bet-
ter connections and improved safety
on this key route that links North
Ayrshire with Renfrewshire and
Glasgow. The advanced works will
get the site ready before major
works get underway in June and we
will keep road users informed as the
programme moves forward.”
The A737 is a main artery linking
North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire
with Glasgow.
This road was one of the first turn-
pike roads built in north Ayrshire, in
the late 18th/ early 19th century al-
though it has been upgraded several
times since its
construction.
CALDER DRAMA
GROUP
We said we wouldn’t do it again
but Dolly, Margrit, Doreen, Mrs
Culfeathers and Andy are back!
Calder Drama Group present the
very popular Steamie, a hilarious
comedy by Tony Roper, with any
profit made being donated to
Teenage Cancer Trust; a charity
very close to the heart of Loch-
winnoch.
The venue (as usual) is the
McKillop Institute, with perform-
ances on Thursday 29th, Friday
30th November and Saturday 1st
December. Doors open at 7pm
with the performance starting at
7.30pm. Tickets are £6 for
adults/£3 for children & OAPs
and will be on sale from the fol-
lowing local retailers from the
start of November:
Cut & Care Hairdressers
John Wilson Bakers (Main Street
next to Spar shop)
The Brown Bull, and
The McKillop Hall.
Calder Drama Group welcomes
new members (whether inter-
ested in working on the stage or
off) so, if you are interested, then
please speak to any member of
the Drama Club or contact
Norma Naismith on 842939 or
Christine Kearney on 842398.
We meet on Thursday nights
from 8pm - 10pm at the McKillop
Institute and a new production
will be getting underway after
The Steamie, so why not come
along and have some fun!
 Mr S Acheampong & Mr S Elgarib
D E N T A L S U R G E RY
16 Wilson Street, Beith, Ayrshire KA15 2BG
FULL RANGE OF NHS AND PRIVATE TREATMENTS
For appointments, telephone: 01505 502632
Monday 9am to 6pm
Tuesday and Thursday
Wednesday 9am to 1pm
(Closed for lunch between 1pm and 2.15pm)
News from
Councillor Neil Bibby
I am delighted that at the last full
Council meeting a motion was
passed creating the framework for a
petitions committee in Renfrewshire.
I supported the motion because real
engagement is essential between
local people and the Council. I be-
lieve that if used properly the new
commitee can create an opportunity
for Lochwinnoch residents and
groups to put pressure on the Coun-
cil to take action on issues of local
concern and to highlight areas
where the Council have failed to re-
spond to the views of Lochwinnoch
residents. If you or someone you
know require any help and advice on
submitting a petition then please
don't hesitate to contact me.
In terms of engagement, I am also
pleased to see that Mr John Smart,
Development Control Officer at Ren-
frewshire Council will be addressing
the Lochwinnoch Community Coun-
cil AGM. Although Mr Smart has
stated he will be unable to comment
on some of the current planning ap-
plications I believe it will be helpful
for Lochwinnoch residents to discuss
with Mr Smart some of the general
issues surrounding planning devel-
opments in Renfrewshire.
I have recieved a number of com-
plaints regarding the overgrown
grass and condition of the footpath
at Newton of Barr and have con-
tacted the Council and Amey about
this.
My regular Lochwinnoch Advice Sur-
gery takes place on the 1st Saturday
of the month at 9am in the McKillop
Hall. I can of course be contacted at
any other time on 01505 704 874 or
by emailing
cllr.neil.bibby@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
9am to 5.30pm
Friday 9am to 4pm
LOCAL BUSINESS
SUPPORT FOR
LOCHWINNOCH
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
As you may have read in last
month’s Chatterbox, LMEG are
planning Christmas Lights in the
village once again. We started last
year with the trees at The Cross and
this year we plan to light up the trees
at Harvey Square, Auld Simon, Our
Lady of Fatima and at The Cross.
Help from local businesses, organi-
sations and groups (or even indi-
viduals) would be gratefully re-
ceived. Any donation – large or
small – would be much appreciated.
Contributions will be used towards
the costs of the lights and the instal-
lation of electrical supply, so we can
reproduce the display in the village
each Christmas.
If you’d like to make a donation
Margaret Sweenie at the Library has
kindly agreed to collect cheques,
which can be made payable to Loch-
winnoch Millennium Events Group.
You will also find donation boxes in
some of the local shops around the
village.
For further information, contact
Carol Gemmell on 843 858. Many
thanks to the individuals who have
kindly contributed to date - THANK
YOU !
Lochwinnoch Millenium
Events Group
Sky at Night
Lochwinnoch
November/
December 2007
This month’s constellation is
Orion – The Hunter.
Orion is for many, ‘the’ winter con-
stellation. Son of Poseidon, able to
walk on water, Orion had a chequered
life and came to a sticky end. Above
the Braes by 9.30pm, Orion covers a
huge area of the sky and here you will
find the Orion Nebula. Principal stars
are, top left – Betelgeuse, top right -
Bellatrix, bottom right Rigel and bot-
tom left Saiph. From Orion’s belt
hangs his sword [which some see as a
big arrow] and here you can see the
Orion nebula M42. Put the centre stars
of the sword in your peripheral vision
and a glowing white area should be
seen. You will be amazed how large it
is. Binoculars enhance the experience!
December Geminids – pray for
clear skies on the 13/14th
The Geminid meteor shower begins
on 7th December but the maximum is
on the evening of 13/14th until
04:30am. Gemini is visible over the
Braes by 7.30pm.The maximum lasts
nearly 24 hours so, clear skies permit-
ting, observers around the World may
see the show. Up to 120 meteors per
hour! There will be no Moon. Best to
keep well away from bright lights and
wrap up warmly with a hot flask and
some comfort food, Toblerone does it
for me:-)
The meteors are associated with an
asteroid [or possibly comet] bearing
the name 3200 Phaethon.
“Mars is getting bigger in the
window”.
By Christmas Eve, Mars will be half
as big again as it is now. Currently in
Gemini, it should outshine all but
Venus which rises about 6am. Also on
the 24th, the Moon will also be in
Gemini.
Saturn, in Leo, rises about midnight.
More information on the above, along
with other items, can be found on
Lochwinnoch Village website:
www.lochwinnoch.info
 TWO REFLECTIONS Cucina Minucci at The Junction
ON ARMISTICE DAY Licensed Caffè
2007…. www.cucinaminucci.co.uk

!!! Live Music Nights !!!

The publication date of this month’s
For more info & a chance to win an Italian Christmas Hamper, register
Chatterbox precedes, by a few days, your contact details on our website by the 30th of November !!
the annual Armistice Day Service at
the War Memorial in Harvey Square.
This service has been held every • Full Scottish Breakfasts • New Range of Healthy snacks
year since the Memorial was un- • Jo’s Home Baking including Nuts, Seeds, & Fruits
veiled by Lady Grieg in 1921. She • Eat in or Take Away • Fresh Farm Eggs
was the wife of the then Liberal MP • Homemade Soups • Cheeses and Cold Meats
for Renfrewshire, Sir James Grieg • All Food made to order • Continental Breads
Ivan
C.B.,K.C.
and Joanna Minucci and the Team
The costs of the Memorial itself We are open Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm & Sunday 10am to 4pm
were in large part raised by local 2 – 4 High Street, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4DA Tel: (01505) 842 225
fund-raising activity supplemented
by monies from the War Memorial Sadly the last of these men died a issue of ownership of one of the
Fund. few weeks after Armistice Day strips of land integral to the memo-
2006. With his passing a page if not rial site.
Armistice Day is properly a time for
a chapter of local social history has
remembrance of those who gave
been turned. Whoever is asked to lay In strictly legal terms it is no doubt a
their lives in the Great War 1914-18,
the wreath on the memorial plaque mine-field of ambiguities and the
the Second World War 1939-45, and
to the regiment in the Parish Church lack of documentary precision will
wars subsequent to these including
this November will be doing so in a be crucial in any outcome. But per-
the on-going one in Iraq. It is time
year when perhaps we should give haps those who make claim to the
too for reflection; and this year resi-
an extra thought for the 1st Regiment land might use this Remembrance
dents of Lochwinnoch might focus
Maritime Royal Artillery. Day to reflect on and reconsider
that reflection on two issues.
their position. The land claim is an
The second issue worthy of reflec- action which will disturb a great
The Armistice Day Service this year
tion at this year’s Day of Remem- many residents, whether of long-
will be the first not to be attended by
brance is a more disturbing one. standing or of more recent arrival.
a resident who served in the 1st Regi-
There is evidently a dispute as to the
ment Maritime Royal Artillery dur-
ownership of a piece of land within So, indeed, a good time for
ing the Second World War. This
the area which generations of reflection……….
regiment had two batteries and the
Lochenyochians have considered as
HQ of one was located here in Loch-
the full memorial site. For it was not
winnoch from 1941-45. It was sited
only the Memorial and it’s immedi-
next to the Lochhead Furniture &
Cabinet Work, affectionately and
ate enclosure which villagers defined Thank you
as being the place of remembrance.
more frequently referred to as the
It has always been accepted that the
Klondyke. The officer in charge was
planned site for which Colonel John I would like to thank every-
Colonel Dunkeld who reported di-
rectly to the man in overall com-
Harvey of Castle Semple was largely one for their good wishes,
responsible included the two grassed
mand of the Maritime organisation,
areas on either side of the central cards and gifts received
Major George Ewart whose office
island. These two strips with their during my recent illness,
was in Cockspur Street in London.
row of trees give symmetry to the which has helped tremen-
entire memorial site as they were
Before the end of 1945 the barracks
planned to do. But none of this is dously towards my recovery.
were closed. Captain Geoffrey
documented or at least no documents
Tharme R.A. was one of many serv-
ing members of the Regiment who
have been unearthed, as far as I I am looking forward to
know, to prove the view widely held
married local lassies and stayed on
by villagers for generations. Cer- getting back into the swing
in the village. Others who did so and
tainly since the days when the LMS of things soon!
made contributions in a variety of
railway owned property in Harvey
ways to post-war village life in-
cluded Eugene Flanagan, Arthur
Square and a local family purchased Grateful thanks to everyone.
Cusworth, George Jepson, Bobby
one of these properties from the Sally Kennedy
Railway there has never been an
Bryce, Bill Love, and John Scales.
 From the
Parish
Church
“Remember, remember the fifth of No-
vember–
gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
should ever be forgot …”
so reads the words of the nursery
rhyme which commemorates bonfire
night. November is the month in the
Church when our thoughts turn to re-
membrance. At the beginning of the
month are the feasts of All Saints Day
(1st) and All Souls Day (2nd). Different
traditions will commemorate these
days in different ways. In the Parish
Church, on Sunday 4th, we will re-
member all the people we have loved
and lost in the past year. We will give
thanks to God for their lives and for
the privilege of having known and
loved them. We will also thank God
for the people, mostly babies, who
have become part of the Church fam-
ily through the sacrament of Baptism.
As so begins a month of remem-
brance.
On the 11th November at our joint
Act of Remembrance at the War Me-
morial, we will wear our poppies with
pride, observe a minute’s silence and
lay wreaths in honour of men and
women from our village who made the
ultimate sacrifice. A wreath will also
be laid at the memorial, in the Parish
Church, to the Maritime Regiment.
Sadly today it is not just those who
died in the First World War who are
remembered. This year we will re-
member those brave men and women
who continue to put their lives at risk
for the protection of others. At present
our armed forces are deployed in such
diverse places as Afghanistan, Africa,
Ascension Island, Bosnia, Brunei,
Canada, the Caribbean, Cyprus, Diego
Garcia, Falkland Islands, the Far East,
Germany, Gibraltar, India, Nevada
and of course Iraq. Some of those de-
ployments may be quite pleasant, oth-
ers as we know only too well are
down right dangerous. Whatever we
may think of the rights and wrongs of
war, this is the time of year to show
our support to so many people who
are still willing to make the ultimate
sacrifice for others; men and women
prepared to lay down their lives for
you and me. That is a humbling
thought. Each year at Remembrance
Sunday I find myself wondering
why on earth anyone would lay
down their lives for a complete
stranger. Yet that is what we are ask-
ing those serving in the Army, Air
Force and Navy to be prepared to do
each and every day of their lives. In
accepting that role there is some-
thing Christ-like about their lives;
something sacrificial and sacramen-
tal in the way they live.
George MacLeod, founder of the
Iona Community, was famous for
saying, ‘If you believe in co-
incidence, I wish you a dull life.’ In
other words, George could see the
hand of God behind all those little
twists of fate in our lives. I strongly
believe it is no co-incidence that in
the Church, at the end of the month
in which we commemorate and
thank all who are prepared to lay
down their lives for others, we cele-
brate the feast of Christ the King.
We remember the ultimate sacrifice
Christ made on the cross, his trium-
phal resurrection and his ascension
to sit at the right hand of God in
glory.
It is hard to be triumphant in the
face of death. When we see the im-
ages coming from Iraq we wonder if
triumph without triumphalism is
possible; when faced with the loss of
those we have loved it is hard to be
triumphant. And yet … after the
tears, after the sorrow has begun to
ease, we can remember and through
remembrance comes healing;
through healing comes new life and
so each time we suffer loss, we ulti-
mately encounter our own small res-
urrection. The truth of the Christian
faith is that no one dies in vain; the
hope is that we will all enter into
eternal life.
This month everyone is invited
to come to the War Memorial at
10.45 on Sunday 11th November.
There we will meet to remember
with thanksgiving those who lived
and died in the service of our coun-
try; and to ask for God’s help and
blessing, that we may be worthy of
their sacrifice each day of our life.
In our own way, each day, we
remember those whose lives we
have shared and we ask that we too
may be worthy of their love. Perhaps
the best way to be worthy of such
love and such sacrifice is to pray and
live the words of a relatively modern
hymn, written for Remembrance
Sunday. Written by members of
Carnwadric Church in Glasgow,
who were struggling with a way to
make sense of the sacrifice of others,
it ends with the words;
God give us peace and more than this,
show us the path where justice is;
and let us never be remiss
working for peace that lasts.
Carnwadric Parish Church (Glasgow)
Worship Group © Carnwadric Parish
Church and WGRG Iona Community
No matter whose life you will be
remembering this month may we all
know the peace of God which is be-
yond all human understanding and
may that peace guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yours
Reverend Christine Murdoch
LOCHWINNOCH
SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITY
GARDEN
After success harvesting a variety
of vegetables including runner
beans, peas, carrots and brassi-
cas, the garden has now reached
the stage of beginning prepara-
tions for next year.
The ground on the left side of the
church frontage has been culti-
vated and planted giving a much
more attractive approach to both
church and community garden.
Many thanks to those who helped
make this happen. Contact
Gordon Nicholl on Tel: 842632
for more information on the
Community Garden project.
 AIRCRAFT
DOWN!
Continuing our 3-part series on the
aviation wrecks on the Muirshiel
Hills.
Part 2
Lying only a mile from the Vi-
king wreck, on the nearby Box Law,
are the remains of a De Havilland
Devon. Both of the Devon wings, ly-
ing upside down and held together by
the wing spar, remain on site, as do
the tailplane and tail. Both of the un-
dercarriage legs stick up while the
serial of the aircraft is still visible in
black paint upon the natural silver of
the wings. These parts make the wreck
instantly recognisable as an aircraft
wreck, and well worth the effort to
visit.
The Devon crash occurred in
June 1958, ten years after the Viking
crash. The pilot and navigator on
board the twin-engined RAF transport
plane were attempting to land at the
old Renfrew airfield. Neither man was
familiar with the airfield at Renfrew,
or the landing procedures, when they
attempted to land there in poor
weather. One of the main reasons be-
hind the accident was confusion over
landing procedures. The navigator
thought that the heights in the proce-
dure referred to those above land. Yet
the heights actually referred to the
height above sea level. As a result,
they flew lower than they should have
over the unfamiliar Muirshiel hills,
and impacted upon Box Law.
The aircraft was reasonably in-
tact upon the crash, bouncing for 100
yards or so before coming to a halt.
Both RAF men received facial injuries
and bruises from the accident but were
able to walk to safety. They arrived at
the nearby Howcraig farmhouse cov-
ered in blood. The blood from their
facial injuries certainly made an im-
pact upon the farmer’s two sons who
ran away and hid under a table!
Only 2.5 miles to the north-
west of Lochwinnoch lie the engine
hub and undercarriage legs of an
Anson training aircraft. Four crew
were on board the twin-engined air-
craft when it impacted upon Lairdside
Hill in September 1938.
Now & Then
Christmas presents to buy? Why drive for miles, queue for parking and
fight the crowds when you can find something a bit different for
everyone right on your doorstep?
We’ve also got an unusual range of Christmas decorations to ensure your
home and table will look fabulously festive, seasonal scents to make it
smell delicious as well as cards, including a range of Lochwinnoch greet-
ings, and wrap galore.
You might even want to treat yourself to the finishing touch to your
party outfit from our large selection of jewellery, bags and scarves.
8 Church Street, 843311
Open seven days 9- 5 Monday to Saturday, 12-4 Sundays.
The instructor and pupil navigators Centre. However, the method of re-
were engaged on an Air Observers covering this engine was somewhat
Course from Prestwick. They had to unusual. As legend has it, a group of
contend with heavy mist, low cloud pupils from a nearby school used the
and persistent heavy rain during the roof of a Mini to drag the engine
exercise. Having descended down from the hill!
through the clouds, they crashed into
James Towill & Dougie Martindale
Lairdside Hill and bounced 50 yards
to a halt. Please visit our website at http://
Although the four occupants groups.yahoo.com/group/VikingCrash1948/
survived the impact, they all sus- Acknowledgements: The authors would
like to thank Robert McKay
tained various injuries. The pilot left
the scene to get help for his
wounded crewmates, two of whom Lochwinnoch
were unconscious. Upon the verge of Historical Society
collapse, the pilot reached Muir-
fauldhouse at the north-west of Our meeting on 18th October with
Lochwinnoch. Later a second crew- Joy Blair giving a talk on lighthouses
man, in a similar condition, also and keepers was very well received.
reached Muirfauldhouse. When the Joy is a popular speaker and the sub-
search party with stretchers reached ject too attracted a number of visitors.
the Anson wreck, it was necessary to
tear open parts of the wreck in order We look forward to our next meeting
to attend to the two unconscious on 15th November when the speaker
men. is Nigel Willis, chairman of The
Another Anson crashed within Friends of Glasgow Necropolis and
Muirshiel ten months later. There member of our group. Nigel will give
were also four on board, practising a powerpoint presentation entitled
formation flying. In rapidly deterio- Glasgow Necropolis: the burial place
rating weather, this Anson crashed of those that turned Glasgow into
on Dunrod Hill, to the west of Loch The Second City of the British Em-
Thom. Three crewmen survived, but pire. Much interest has been shown
tragically one man was killed in the in this topic and we expect a good
crash. The wreck was originally number of visitors at the meeting.
found by members of SWAIG Our meetings are always on the 3rd
(Scotland West Aviation Investiga- Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in
tion Group), a group which investi- the Guild Room of the Parish
gated and found many aircraft Church. Non members pay £2 for
wrecks in the 70s. One of the An- the evening to include tea, coffee and
son’s engines still remains on site, biscuits. Annual membership is £8.
while the other is on display at the For further information contact
car park at the Cornalees Visitor Gordon Nicholl on 842632.
 RNLI
Theatre Trip
The Committee of the Lochwin-
CHRISTMAS STOCK NOW IN ! noch RNLI Guild are organising
their annual trip to the James
Visit your local hardware store for a wide range of goods, carpet
Gilmour Theatre in Glasgow to
cleaning machine for hire, etc, etc. All major credit cards accepted. see the Christmas Review by the
Come along and join in the fun at Kilbirnie Christmas especially talented youngsters of
Afternoon on Saturday 24th November from 2pm-6pm. the National Musical Theatre
Some special offers - discounts on selected Christmas items. Course. The date is 13th Decem-
ber and the bus will leave from
86 Main Street, Kilbirnie, KA25 7AA Tel/Fax: 01505 682125 the McKillop Institute at 6pm.
OPEN - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9am-1pm and 2.15-5.15pm
Wednesday 9am -12.30pm and Saturday 9am-1pm. The contact for tickets, priced
£16, is Tel: 842274. Tickets go
quickly so make sure you get
PRIZE BINGO yours!
Witchcraft
NIGHTS
Friday 2nd November Christmas with a
Friday 7th December In the west we have witches,
7.30pm at the Masonic Club
Just once a year Conscience
Ridiculously dressed up,
*** You spot them no fear Saturday 10th November
SPORTSMAN’S Hooked noses, hairy warts, 10 am - 1pm
Black cloaks, pointy hats
DINNER With friends you laugh
Lochwinnoch
Saturday 10th November Parish Church
Piteously behind their backs.
6.30pm for 7pm at the Masonic You smile and give sweets
This year, Christmas with a Con-
Club When they call at your house
science will be held in Kilmacolm
Speakers- Kennie Clark, SPL Denying their power to and Lochwinnoch. ALL monies
Referee and Make believe you’re a mouse made at the event go, with no
Eric Davidson, Comedian The worst they can do profit to the stallholder, to the
If you choose to ignore organisation represented.
Tickets £22 per head (including Is throw eggs at your window
meal). Contact Billy Davey on Or flour at your door A huge array of beautiful cards
Tel: 01505 843359 and crafts are available.
***
In Africa I saw witchcraft • African and Peruvian goods
BODY SHOP PARTY As a serious belief. help impoverished villages
NIGHT Insidious, all year round • Philippine jewellery is un-
There is no relief usual and interesting
Friday 30th November at Practised by anyone • Fair Trade and Save the Chil-
the Masonic Club On you or your kin dren stalls are well stocked
(look out for posters Even your best friend • Olive Tree goods from "The
with more details) On any old whim Holy Land" are stunning
Though acknowledged, (ceramics from Jerusalem,
Its taboo is made clear olive wood from Bethlehem
VILLAGE EVENT It stops you achieving with embroidery from sur-
PLANNER For those you hold dear rounding villages and glass
You don’t want to invoke from Hebron)
Lochwinnoch Post Office has a Bad feelings or thought
wall-mounted calendar, where From those less successful Come and Browse and Christmas
members of the public can enter Who end up with naught shop, AND benefit others di-
details of forthcoming events. If misfortune befalls rectly. Entrance with tea/coffee
Please use this calendar to avoid
Home, livestock or fields and shortbread is £1.
any clashes when planning dates
The full power of witchcraft, If anyone would like to dis-
of events and, of course, to help
To all is revealed. play/sell items for a similar cause
publicise your events within the please contact Carol Whyte on
Moira Bromley-Wiggins Tel: 01505 843289.
village.
 Food and Drink
Lochwinnoch was as good a place as
any to live during the 16th century if you
were poor. You could get work in the
countryside and the countryside pro-
vided an abundance of food. Food in
these days was not a leisure item, it was
a necessity, essential to keep body and
mind alive. Most people, however,
lived on a limited diet, mainly porridge,
porridge and more porridge. Relief
from this limited diet came in the shape
of dairy products: milk, cheese and
whatever could be caught in the field
and river.
The cheese in these days, known,
incidentally, by the Romans as lac
concretum would nave little or no ap-
peal to the modern palate. One of its
characteristics was a high cow hair con-
tent. Cheese makers didn’t strain the
milk before they made the cheese. One
writer careful not to offend described
Scottish cheese as ‘not very delicate’.
The cheese would probably have been
like a crude version of modern day
cottage cheese.
Butter was made without salt as salt
was difficult to obtain. Butter rapidly
went rancid and was rarely used for hu-
man consumption, it was, however,
mixed with tar and spread on cattle to
make a kind of Barbour jacket to keep
cows dry in winter!
Of course, the rich didn’t get fat and
rosy on porridge and cheese, their tables
groaned with beef, lamb and poultry
and fine claret. Not all those in the rich
man’s house were so nobly fed.
Around the time the Collegiate Church
was built a table hierarchy existed. At
mealtimes the man of the house would
eat his fill and what was left was passed
to the lady of the house and eventually
down to the children. No doubt the ser-
vants got to lick the plate.
One of the big dietary components
was drink. The rich drank wine, the
poor drank ale; ale was drunk through-
out the day, from breakfast onwards.
Most ale was poorly made, it was weak
and was barely given time to mature.
Lacking hops – a later addition brought
from the Continent – ale was sweet and
would be, to our tastes, quite uninviting.
Children were introduced to drink from
a young age; they were given a weak
concoction to drink called small-beer.
Drunkenness in Lochwinnoch, as
everywhere else in the country
would have been a feature of every- Murder Mystery
day life. Scattered around the vil-
lage were enough alehouses to have Night at
lubricated the mouldiest of throats.
At the dawn of the ninetieth century
Lochwinnoch
old folks looked back to a time when
on Commonwealth Monday – one of
Library
the few holidays – drunkards
crowded the inns and danced to the Thursday, 29th
sound of the fiddle. ‘It was said that November at 7pm
parties with their Bibles in their
pockets, might have been seen danc- Enjoy a fun night
ing in the inn – the Bibles had been and solve the mys-
used but a few hours before in the tery of the “ Body”
house and worship of God, now in the library
bounding and rebounding against the
persons of their owners as they ca- Tickets £2 incl.
pered and reeled in the mazes of the refreshments
dance’. (An Ecclesiastical Sketch All Welcome
of Lochwinnoch Parish by a Native Tickets Available
(Matthew Gemmell) 1878 p 30) from Lochwinnoch
In 1795 the minister of the Parish Library
Church, the Rev. James Steven, 01505 842305
reeled against the number of ale-
houses in and around the village. If you’re a fan of murder mys-
He wrote: ‘in this parish there are tery, then make sure you get a
14 alehouses which should be con- ticket for the Lochwinnoch Li-
siderably diminished’. brary Murder Mystery evening.
The good Reverend Steven would
have reeled even faster if he had Renfrewshire Libraries invite you
known that, by 1836, the number of to come along and play detective,
pubs in the village had risen to 24! talk to the suspects and guess
who the killer is. There’s a mur-
der victim, vital clues hidden in
the library shelves – and 5 sus-
Calder UF Church,
pects who are waiting to speak to
Lochwinnoch you!
Christmas Fayre
The evening will be lots of fun.
Saturday 17th November You don’t have to be a library
10am till 12 noon
member, refreshments are pro-
in the McKillop Hall.
Stalls include: - Home baking, Arts vided and there will be a prize
and Crafts, Christmas Cards, Paper for the winner.
and Gifts, Childrens’ Games and lots
more. Come along and enjoy all the So come along and play detective
fun of the Fayre. for the night!
 TEENAGE
CANCER TRUST
NEWS

I would like to acknowledge

recent donations from Loch-
winnoch Golf Club - raised by
both the Ladies Open and Sen-
iors Open committees at their
respective tournaments.

I would also like to thank three

local youngsters: Jena Affleck,
Charles Affleck and Catherine
Patrick who together raised a
fantastic £400 in sponsorship
Join us for our Guy Fawkes dinner on Saturday 3rd November. from a recent 5k road race.
A spectacular fireworks display will follow.
Call our Events Team on 01505 683503 to reserve your table. Next year, a group of senior
pupils from Johnstone High
Book now School are going to Amani in
Make your reservations for Christmas and Hogmanay. Tanzania; the visit is being or-
Spaces are still available on some dates for our Christmas Party nights. ganised by Jenny Bhatia.

Lochwinnoch pupil, Robert

LOCHWINNOCH Whitehill, is among this group
SURGERY and he is trying to raise funds
for his own contribution to-
Flu Vaccine available. wards the cost of the trip.
If you are over 65, diabetic, asthmatic Robert would experience the
or have a chronic disease, please con- chance of a lifetime by going to
tact the surgery and make an appoint-
Watch your children discover Tanzania, where he would do
ment with the Practice Nurse.
the world of music. voluntary work with disabled
Repeat Prescriptions. children at the Amani centre
Please use the re-order slip to request Contact Frankie Plater on
and work on other projects.
repeat prescriptions. They can be 01505 610310 or
handed in at Reception, posted by
mail or hand-delivery through the let-
07812 606388 or e-mail Robert has organised a fund-
terbox which is available outwith of- happyharminis@tiscali.co.uk raising Disco night at Loch-
fice hours. This will help keep the winnoch Bowling Club on
phone line free for appointments.
Saturday 17 November,
LOCHWINNOCH SURGERY OPENING HOURS from 7pm until late.
(Tel: 01505 842200) Tickets are £5, including the
The Surgery is open between 8.30 am (phones at 8 am) and 6 pm weekdays ex- disco and a light supper.
cept Thursday when it closes at 12 noon. From 12 noon – 6 pm emergency cover
is provided from the branch surgery in Beith. Calls are diverted automatically. There will also be a raffle. Do-
nations for the raffle would be
Minor illnesses and injuries can be managed by the Practice Nurses and the Doctors welcome – whether in the
are available for telephone advice each morning from 11 am – 11.45 am. form of cash or prizes.
Practice leaflets are available from Reception.
Travel Immunisation Advice is available from the Practice Nurse or the Travel Clinic
at Glasgow Airport 0141-848-4800
You can contact Eileen or
Out of hours cover is now the responsibility of Argyll & Clyde Health Board. Robert on 843226 and Robert
IF YOU REQUIRE THE URGENT ASSISTANCE OF A DOCTOR OUTWITH THE on Mobile 07922 872775.
ABOVE HOURS PLEASE TELEPHONE NHS 24 ON 08454 24 24 24
Advice is also available on the NHS 24 website at www.nhs24.com John Delaney
 Gerry Stewart ’s
“Post-Holiday Blues”
Book Launch
At
Lochwinnoch Library
Tuesday 6 November 2007
7pm
All Welcome
Post-Holiday Blues is a traveller’s
notebook. Snapshots and souve-
nirs make up Gerry Stewart’s first
collection, as she sketches a
poet’s journeys through Greece,
Norway, Mexico and other destina-
tions. Each of these poems is an
emotional landmark, anchoring
places in memory with the intensity
of ‘three weeks to discover every
inch of a body, four months to
learn a city’s backstreets’.
Her precise and poignant lan-
guage distils and captures loca-
tions and experiences lost to time,
giving them voices that draw the
reader into the moment. There is a
self-conscious quality to her po-
ems that echoes with an expatri-
ate’s hesitance about her right to
describe and participate in the cul-
ture of another country, while at
the same time her poems revel in
the surrounding beauty and thrill of
the unfamiliar.
Gerry Stewart grew up in the
United States and left Iowa when
she was seventeen to travel in
Norway and Greece before settling
in Scotland. She is a freelance
creative writing tutor and the editor
of Grimalkin Press, which pro-
duces books and pamphlets for
the groups she works with. She
received a Scottish Arts Council
Award in 2005 to assist in the writ-
ing of her first novel, Talking Italian
in my Sleep. Her poetry has been
widely published in magazines and
anthologies in the UK and abroad.
Gerry is currently the Lochwin-
noch Writers Group tutor. The
group meets every Monday morn-
ing at Lochwinnoch Library 9.30 –
11.30.
Further details can be found at :
www.lochwinnochwriters.org.uk
AULD SIMON
AND
AULD DAN
One of the most attractive and
historical parts of Lochwinnoch
lies at the foot of Johnshill
(originally St John’s Hill). The
crow-stepped gable affectionately
known as “ Auld Simon “ was
built in 1729 to help protect a
wooden church which had been
on this site since the Reforma-
tion. That structure was described
by Andro Crawfurd in his “ Cairn
of Lochenyoch Matters “ as being
“ a very shabby building like a
barn in the true spirit of Presbyte-
rianism “!
There is no evidence to support
the contention that this was the
site of the old Chapel of Loch-
winnoch, references for which go
back to the middle of the 12th
Century. Most local historians
have concluded that this Chapel,
managed under the auspices of
the monks of Paisley Abbey, was
located at Chapelton. The origin
of this name tells us that a small
farm village or hamlet lay along-
side the Chapel. The site was in
the area of Markethill/Mitchelton.
What we do know is that around
the time of the Reformation a
church was built on the site at
lower Johnshill and all that re-
mains of this is the gable and
bell-tower known as Auld Simon.
The Church was dedicated to St
John and this dedication was con-
tinued when a new Parish Church
was opened in 1808 at this present
site in Church Street (originally
known as Chapel Street).
Auld Simon is an important part of
the pedigree of Lochwinnoch and it
is good to see that the joint efforts
of Councillor Arthur and Dan Mor-
rison have resulted in much needed
maintenance work being carried out.
Over the years a number of local
men have voluntarily taken on the
role of clock-keeper for Auld
Simon, the latest being Dan Morri-
son. Climbing up into the bell
tower on a regular basis to re-wind
and sometimes re-set the clock,
Dan ensures we maintain this link
with the past and the unique
chimes of Auld Simon are still
heard just as they were so very
long ago.
Our thanks to “ Auld Dan “, an-
other real Lochenyochian star !!
Adrian Tharme
A ‘RUDOLPH’
CHRISTMAS FAYRE
Saturday 1st December ‘07
10am—12 noon at
Lochwinnoch Parish
Church Halls
Variety of stalls -
soft goods, home baking,
hot pancakes, clooty dumplings,
nearly new, crafts, sweets and
grocery goods.
Also, don’t miss the Tombola
and Bran Tub!
Tea and Coffee. All welcome.
Tickets available at the door-
Adults £1.50, children £1
 NEWS FROM
JOHNSTONE HIGH
SCHOOL
Earlier this year Lochwinnoch
pupil, Nathan Brackenridge,
achieved a Gold Award in the UK
Mathematics Trust UK Junior
Mathematics Challenge.
(Congratulations Nathan and we’re
sorry we missed you off the list last
month - Ed)
This month, our focus is on outdoor
achievements.
Andrew Holmes won the Scottish
Boys Under 15 Single Sculls competi-
tion at the Scottish Schools Rowing
Championships. Andrew has been
awarded a sports scholarship and
has since left school.
At the Scottish Rowing Champion-
ships in June, winners included
Emma McDonald J12 girls single
and J12 Quadruple Sculls; Emma
Brander (Cox) girls J12 quad sculls,
Calum Dalrymple 2nd Open J12
double sculls and Emma Anderson,
Claire Hiddlestone and Louise Hid-
dleston (cox) 2nd Girls Junior 14
quad sculls. Claire Hiddleston was
among the finalists in the Women’s
Novice Coxed 4.
At the British Championships in
Nottingham in the summer, Andrew
Holmes won a Gold Medal in the
Open J15 double sculls and a Bronze
in the Open J15 single sculls. At the
same championship venue, Hannah
Dalrymple won a Bronze Medal in
the J14 Girls Double scull event.
Local pupil, Fraser Campbell, has
excelled in Boxing, Shooting and
Equestriansim, winning Silver in the
Scottish U16 and Gold in the British
U16 championships and has also
collected awards in shooting and
equestrianism.
Last, but by no means least, are the
remarkable achievements of Loch-
winnoch girl Amy Kenmuir. For the
second year in a row, Amy won the
Scottish Under-15 Wind-surfing
Championship and, at 14 years of
age, Amy is the top Scottish woman
- first lady - in this event.
Amy has also been successful at
National level, when she achieved a
Bronze Medal in the Girls GB Youth
and Masters Windsurfing Cham-
pionship in Weymouth this summer.
CHRISTMAS
AUCTION
Saturday 15 December
at
The Brown Bull
Once again I wear my begging cap
as the time of year falls upon us
where I hold my annual Christ-
mas Auction in the Brown Bull. This
year’s Auction is to raise funds for
Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT).
Last year we managed to raise
£7,000 and hope to do well again
this year for a well deserved cause.
As most of you know this event only
works with the help from customers,
businesses and villagers donating
prizes for the raffle and items for
auction. If you have any spare gifts,
unwanted presents or items that you
think you could donate to help raise
money then please hand them into
the pub. For items for auction then
please get in touch with Laura on
842082 or John Delaney. Some
items have already started to come in
or have been ‘pledged’.
So far, there is a brand new moun-
tain bike for auction, supplied by our
brewers, who have also donated a
"Fat Boy Harley Davidson" remote
control bike. We also have a few of
the old favourites like a sack o’ tat-
ties, freshly caught trout and a cud-
dly toy!
It's definitely a fun night to be part
of and money can be raised in many
spontaneous ways throughout the
evening! I will make a list of items
for the next edition of Chatterbox to
keep you informed of the items that
come in over the next few weeks.
Please feel free to make a donation
through the website direct
www.teenagecancertrust.org/
and click on ‘Donate’ or you can
give your donation to a member of
staff behind the bar in the Brown
Bull, which will form part of our
running total for the year 2007/08.
Laura
KILBIRNIE
& GLENGARNOCK
CHRISTMAS
FESTIVAL
Kilbirnie Town Centre Manage-
ment Initiative is holding a
Christmas Festival on the
afternoon of
Saturday 24th November
from 2pm - 6pm.
The fun starts at the park in the
area behind the Library, with a
balloon race for the primary
schools. Santa’s Grotto will be in
the Library and open between 2pm
and 5pm. Weather permitting,
there will be Fairground Rides for
children under 8 years old and
Traditional Games and Circus
Skills for the over 8’s. There will
also be school bands and choirs
playing and singing Christmas car-
ols.
The grown ups haven’t been for-
gotten. We have approximately 70
craft stalls in the halls of the Brid-
gend Community Centre, Radio
City and Walker Hall. The stalls
have ideal items for Christmas pre-
sents, suitable for all ages and
without having to fight your way
into town. So come and join in a
great afternoon. Each of the halls
has an on-site cafeteria selling tea,
coffee, biscuits and cakes, etc.
Raffle tickets at £5 per book of 5
tickets or £1 per ticket, may be
purchased by contacting Joan
Perry on 01505 682379 or e-mail
joan.perry@talktalk.net
The raffle will be drawn through-
out the afternoon: the first prize
being £500 !
At approximately 5.15pm, Santa’s
parade will start from the Library,
up to the roundabout, where the
final raffle prizes will be drawn and
Santa and his helpers will switch
on the Christmas lights.
The Committee look forward to
seeing everyone on the 24th No-
vember and wish everyone a happy
and fun-filled afternoon.
Joan Perry
Events Organiser

ST. VINCENT’S
HOSPICE
We have a few events coming up
over the festive period which we
thought you might like to know
about.
Ladies Halloween Night
Johnstone Friends of St. Vincent's
Hospice are organising a Ladies Hal-
loween Night on Friday 2nd Novem-
ber, 7.30pm ~ midnight in St. Marga-
ret's Church Hall, Graham Street,
Johnstone. Tickets are £3 available
from the Johnstone shop or the Barn
Tea Room in the Hospice grounds.
Sale of New & Nearly New Donated
Goods
St. Vincent's Hospice are holding a
Sale of New & Nearly New Donated
Goods on Saturday 10th November,
10am ~ 2pm in the Education Room
(above the Barn Tea Room in the Hos-
pice grounds). The sale will include
Top High Street Brands, Shoes, Col-
lector Plates, Christmas Cards and
Novelties and limited stock of brand
new worktops and doors.
Come along, grab a bargain and sup-
port your local hospice. Why not have
breakfast and/or lunch in our Barn
Tea Room. We are hoping that the
success of this sale will enable us to
hold one on the second Saturday of
every month.
CAN YOU HELP!!!
Should any retailers or individuals
have any stock/goods that they would
like to donate, we would be delighted
to receive your support.
Christmas Fayre
This year's Christmas Fayre will take
place on Tuesday 20th November,
10.30am ~ 2.30pm in the Hospice
Daycentre. Stalls will include home
baking, raffles, bottle stall, fancy
goods and much more. All donations
welcome.
Johnstone Lights
The switch on of the lights in Johns-
tone will take place on Saturday 24th
November. The St. Vincent's Hospice
marquee will once again be present
with various stalls including Christ-
mas cards and novelties, tea & coffee,
Santa's Grotto and much more.
Light Up A Life
On Sunday 2nd December, this
year's Christmas tree will be illumi-
nated during a short service, after
which mulled wine and homemade
mince pies will be served. The lights
on the tree will continue to shine
throughout the Christmas period.
Leaflets enabling you to sponsor
lights on the tree will be available
from all Hospice shops, at the Hos-
pice itself or by telephone request.
An acknowledgement card will be
sent out on receipt of your donation.
We invite you to join us for the light-
ing ceremony in the Hospice
grounds on Sunday 2nd December.
Arrival from 6.30pm with the service
starting at 7.00pm. For your con-
venience, parking will be available in
the playground of Castlehead High
School (formerly St. Cuthbert's
High). Transport will once again be
provided by our friends at Arriva
from the school to the Hospice, re-
turning after the service.
Christmas Cards
St. Vincent's Hospice also has a se-
lection of Christmas cards for sale.
These are available in all the hospice
shops, the Barn Tea Room, Hospice
reception or call and request a pam-
phlet.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
ON ANY OF THE ABOVE ITEMS,
PLEASE CONTACT LORRAINE IN
THE FUNDRAISING OFFICE ON
01505 705635 OR
BY EMAIL AT
lorraine.valentine@svh.co.uk
FESTIVE
FARMERS MARKET
Sunday 2nd December ’07
11am - 2.30 pm
at
Castle Semple Centre,
Lochwinnoch
Indoor and outdoor stalls will have real
seasonal products, ideal for the Christmas
period, including wonderful cuts of gam-
mon, beef and lamb, smoked salmon and
fish pates; Christmas puddings from Petrie
Fine Foods; a variety of drinks from milk
and fruit smoothies to Bouvrage Rasp-
berry or Blueberry drinks or a variety of
presentation Whiskey Liquors. Seasonal
vegetables will certainly include brussell
sprouts, broccoli, carrots, parsnips and
potatoes; tasty sweets and chocolates -
tablet, fudge, marzipans, chocolate gin-
gers, coffee creams and truffles are likely
to be available along with speciality
cheeses from Dunlop and Arran.
As is becoming the norm at least two
thirds of the products on sale have been
produced within 11 miles of Lochwin-
noch, keeping the all important ‘food
miles’ impressively low. There will be
Black Faced Lamb and Free-Range eggs
from the north end of the Regional Park,
confectionery will travel 2½ miles and the
meat and wild game including duck,
pheasant and rabbit only 3 miles. The
honey comes from Ian Craig with his bees
located on the shores of Castle Semple
Loch hence zero food miles for this prod-
uct! The fresh seafoods have travelled
from Fencebay Farm, Fairlie. Look out
for our food network map, which shows
the local provenance of all of our produce
and artisan producers!
There will also be a Hog Roast on the go,
you will smell the mouth-watering aroma
before you see it and for desert the spec-
tacular chocolate fountain! Equally if you
just fancy a coffee in scenic surroundings,
or a walk in the fresh air all will be avail-
able. The Visitor Centre will be open all
day from 10.00 until 16.00 hours – the gift
shop has a new range of products ideal for
Christmas gifts or stocking fillers. Christ-
mas trees will be on sale – they can be
ordered in advance or on the day and col-
lected later.
There will be also be the opportunity to
enter our FREE prize draw. The lucky
winner will carry away a hamper full of
tasty healthy treats gathered from each
market stall!
 News & Events at
RSPB, Muirshiel,
Cornalees & Castle
Semple Centres
Friday 2nd November - Fright
Night . Tours every half hour from
1800-2100 hours through the
woods. Be prepared for a spooky
time and meet the RSPB Reserve’s
creepy characters. Book and pay
in advance Tel: 01505 842663.
Sunday 4th November - an
illustrated Hen Harrier Talk and
2007 CCTV Hen Harrier footage at
1345hrs at Muirshiel Centre.
Sunday 4th November—Craft
Fair with a selection of the best of
local craft producers at Castle
Semple Centre from 1100-1530
hrs.
Sunday 11th November - Aren’t
Birds Brilliant: Winter Wildfowl at
Castle Semple Centre from 1300-
1600hrs. RSPB Staff will be on
hand with telescopes and binocu-
lars as winter wildfowl begin to
arrive.
Sunday 11th November - Hen
Harrier illustrated Talk and 2007
CCTV footage of Hen Harriers.
Cornalees Centre at 1345 hrs.
Wednesday 14th November -
Talk Time: Hawkwatch USA at
RSPB Centre from 1930-2100 hrs.
Book in advance for this talk by
Dave Grant on his involvement
with a US bird of prey scheme.
Tel: 01505 842663.
Saturday 17th November -
Winter Optics weekend with Vi-
king Optical at RSPB Visitor Cen-
tre from 1000-1600 hrs. A great
opportunity to get expert advice on
new binoculars or a telescope.
Sunday 18th November - Bat
Talk by Muirshiel Rangers and
Clyde Bat Group at Muirshiel Cen-
tre at 1345 hrs.
Sunday 18th November -
Shadow Puppets at Cornalees Cen-
tre from 1300-1500 hrs.
Chatterbox is produced for the Community Council of
Lochwinnoch through financial assistance by Lochwin-
noch Community Council, Renfrewshire Council and
advertisements. The editor welcomes all items for
possible inclusion but will reserve all rights over them.
All views are of individuals. The editor accepts no
liability for errors
VISITOR CENTRE WINTER OPENING HOURS
Cornalees Centre - 1030-1500 hrs weekends only until March.
Tel: 01475 521458
Muirshiel Centre - 1100-1500 hrs weekends only until March.
Tel: 01505 842803
Castle Semple Centre Open daily from 1000-1600 hrs from October
to March. Tel: 01505 842882
RSPB Reserve - Reserve is open at all times; Visitor Centre is open
daily from 1000-1700 hrs (except Xmas and New Year holidays).
Tel: 01505 842663.
Tuesday 20th November -
An introduction to watching
Rhododendrons –
wildlife in winter at RSPB Visitor love them or
Centre from 1000-1200 hrs. In- loath them
cludes a guided walk around the
reserve. Tel: 842663 to book in Many Scottish gardens benefit from
advance. Rhododendron varieties that provide
Sunday 25th November - evergreen vegetation and large
Conservation Volunteers - from sprays of colourful flowers. How-
1300-1500 hrs at Muirshiel Cen- ever, in sites managed for nature
tre. (See opposite for more infor- conservation these invasive plants
mation on conservation days.) are harmful to our native flora. At
Sunday 25th November - Muirshiel we have steadily been
working to eradicate the dense, dark
Exotics in Parkhill: It’s National
stands of “Rhodi” and replant the
Tree Week so come for a wood- area with native trees.
land walk and find out about the
history of some of the unusual You can help us by coming along to
trees in Parkhill Wood. Meet at one of Muirshiel’s Conservation Vol-
Castle Semple Centre at 1330 hrs. unteer Days on the last Sunday of
Saturday 1st December - every winter month from 1pm to 3pm
Festive Trees for Sale. From (25 November; 30 December; 27
1000-1600 hrs at Castle Semple January, 24 February, 30 March).
Centre. Treat it as an outdoor gym session
or your contribution to Scotland’s
Sunday 2nd December -
biodiversity. Either way, bring en-
Lochwinnoch Festive Farmers’ thusiasm, warm and waterproof
Market at Castle Semple Centre clothing and a pair of wellies and
from 1130-1430 hrs (or until sold we’ll provide instruction, tools and
out). See inside for more details. good company.
Sunday 9th December -
Christmas decorations, the natu- For further information, contact the
ral way. From 1330 hrs at Castle Regional Park Rangers based at
Semple Centre. Muirshiel tel 01505 842 803.
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