Gatehouse News - Sept/Oct 2015

Gatehouse News

NEWS, INFORMATION & WHAT’S ON IN GATEHOUSE OF FLEET | Sept/Oct 2015

A New Chapter for The Gatehouse Bunker The Gatehouse Bunker (TGB Gatehouse) is delighted to announce the appointment of Sara-leigh Cain to the temporary post of Volunteers Coordinator. This post has been made possible by funding from the Big Lottery’s Investing in Ideas fund. For several years TGB Gatehouse has offered 2 groups for primary aged children, namely The Bunker youth group and The Bunkeroo performing arts group. Both groups also offer a Young Leaders’ Scheme for secondary-age young people wishing to gain skills in youth leadership. This funding is intended to help them explore ways of expanding what they do in order to offer a more inter-generational range of activities for people in our community. Three new projects will provide new opportunities for people either as participants or as volunteers. The Allotment project, running in partnership with the YMCA Drop In, is currently up and running. We are seeking volunteers who may be able to assist us with this. We currently have a range of vegetables that are rapidly growing, along with the weeds!.We will also be starting a Homework Club. This will start at Gatehouse Primary school on 22nd September and be offered initially to pupils in P6/7.

The third group is a Movie Matinee group. This will take place in The Gatehouse Community Church room at the community centre on Friday 25th September at 2pm.

If you would like any further information either about attending or volunteering on any of these new projects, please contact Sara-leigh Cain on 07850773181.

Photo: Jim Logan

Above, this year’s Horticultural Show winners show off their prizes outside the Community Centre.

And below, this year’s Gala Queen and her entourage set off up Ann Street.

Inside this issue Mike Bannister revisits Galas Past.

Photo: Jim Logan

The Drover’s Son As the Cally Temple project reaches its completion, we are delighted to have been sent this photo of William Todd junior, the son of William Todd who looked after the Murray drove cattle on the Cally estate in the 1780s and who lived in the Temple when it was first built.

William Todd junior moved there with his family when he was eight years old and grew up there. He went on to become a schoolmaster and wrote an account of his life in 1854, when he was 80. The photo has come to us via Brett Clark, William Todd junior’s great great great grandson, who lives in Canada and read about the project on the Gatehouse website. A book of poems written by participants in workshops led by poet Liz Niven as a part of the Temple project will be launched at a Wigtown Book Festival event on 2nd October at the Mill on the Fleet.

WWW.GATEHOUSE-OF-FLEET.CO.UK

Peace Garden Thanks All the pupils, staff and parent-helpers would like to say a big Thank You to everyone who gave a donation towards the creation of a new Peace Garden. Donations have included lots of beautiful plants, and money towards purchasing a peace pole.

With special thanks to: The Potting Shed, Cally Gardens, Franca Bruno, Galloway Lodge, Gatehouse Store, Masonic Lodge, Jim Logan, Cara Gillespie. From the Peace Garden Club, and all the pupils and staff at the school who will benefit from the addition of a beautiful, bio-diverse area in which to relax and find peace.

If you happen to have any extra plants, we are still looking for plants for the peace garden, especially any extra perennial edibles you may have (e.g. herbs, fruit), or any native plants which are good for wildlife. Please just drop them down to the school. Many thanks

Gatehouse of Fleet Wildflower Meadow The Council did not cut the meadow in the autumn last year so they cut it in the spring this year. This should not make a great difference to the meadow. Ron and I have been given packets of Scottish wildflower seeds from Kew through an offer on BBC Springwatch and we went out with Pauline to plant them in early June.

We cut out a square of the turf and turned it over then scattered the seeds over the soil. Luckily there was some rain shortly after. Although the meadow did not look very colourful at the time I found 16 species of wildflower growing including yellow rattle (which parasitises and weakens the grass so that wildflowers can come through), two species of buttercup, tormentil, bird’s foot trefoil, speedwell and red campion. The flowers were attracting a small moth, a cardinal beetle and various small flies.

We also found a toad. When Pauline and I returned ten days later, the meadow was looking much more colourful with a greater number of flowering plants including

oxeye daisies, thistles and a foxglove. The spotted orchid was flowering again. There were three small moths and the larger Argent and Sable moth and a number of dark coloured butterflies (Ringlets). Several azure male and female damselflies were flying about. Bumblebees, honey bees, hover flies, one cardinal beetle, one cleg (which bit me!) one froghopper, flies, spiders and grasshoppers were also present.The seeded plots were showing some germinating seedlings too small to identify. Two plots seeded last year had a number of plants and flowering oxeye daises. If the seeds sown this year are as successful there should be many more oxeye daisies and other wildflowers next year. Although the meadow performs poorly in spring it improves considerably in summer and the newly seeded patches should further enhance the appearance of the meadow in future years.On our latest visit, on 23 July, we saw several large brown fungi which have yet to be identified. Most had been attacked by slugs. Words and images by Jim Logan

Photo: Jim Logan

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Monitoring The Quality of Our Rivers The Fleet Valley NSA volunteers have been working with the Galloway Fisheries Trust to improve the water quality of the River Fleet. River flies are one key indicator of water quality. A sudden decline in numbers is a good indicator of water pollution. The Trust has recently teamed up with the Riverfly Partnership to organise river invertebrate monitoring workshops to train local volunteers to monitor their river on a regular basis.The workshops have been funded by Awards for All. On 16 July a monitoring workshop was held in Gatehouse. Volunteers keen to monitor the Fleet and other rivers, gathered at the Community Centre, where they learned to identify the key target species: caddisflies, stoneflies and mayflies. Armed with nets and trays for counting these species, they went to the river where they were shown the sampling techniques. Back at the Community Centre there was further instruction on counting and reporting and participants were able to examine the different species under a microscope. The Galloway Fisheries Trust will now work with the local volunteers to establish places where the rivers can be monitored on a monthly basis. For more information on the workshops and the work of the Galloway Fisheries Trust see their website www.gallowayfisheriestrust.org. By David Steel.

Photo: Jim Logan

Forthcoming Events at The Bakehouse The Bakehouse are delighted to be welcoming some first class poets and writers to the venue during the latter part of this year. First up, and in association with The Wigtown Book Festival is Donald S Murray on Sunday September 27th at The Bakehouse. Hailing from Lewis, he is presenting his work as part of our One Head, Two Tongues season which showcases writers and poets working in ‘two tongues’. In Donald’s case he writes mainly in English but often thinks and finds inspiration in Gaelic.

He discusses the effect that inhabiting two languages has on his work, drawing examples from his poetry, prose and writing for the theatre. Also as part of the Book Festival, Chrys Salt will appear at Wigtown itself on Saturday October 3rd presenting a new collection of her work.

On Saturday October 31st we have Rab Wilson who writes mainly in Scots and is an active supporter and advocate of the Scots language. His work is accessible and hugely entertaining, and on Saturday November 21st splendid bard Aonghas McNeacail, a much loved

Conservatory the

Open 7 days

and much-travelled poet in Scotland’s three languages, joins us. The Bakehouse is also taking part in Book Week Scotland and on Saturday November 28th is delighted to welcome back acclaimed poet and academic Bashabi Fraser who will focus on the themes of motherhood, empowerment, love and loss. Drawing on her Indian and British life experience, Bashabi engages with hard-hitting current issues such as rape culture in India, climate change and war. Bashabi will also run a creative writing workshop on the Sunday. There is more information on the events and performers at www.thebakehouse.info along with timings and ticket prices. Do come along to some of our events, hear some terrific talent, and if you would like to, bring some of your own work to read in our popular secondhalf floor-spots.

44 The High Street Gatehouse of Fleet DG7 2HP

Bookings 01557 814175 07891 803027

Snacks & Sandwiches Available 12noon till 3.45pm

SOUP - SANDWICHES - WRAPS - TOASTIES SCONES - TRAYBAKES Cally Palace Hotel & Golf Course, Tel: 01557 814 341

The Bakehouse : Literary Arts Live www.thebakehouse.info

“Come in Number 431...... Your time could be up..”

‘If you don’t use it, you will lose it’ is a familiar quote when discussing the viability of certain rural bus routes, and our very own 431 service has fallen into that category. Of course I say our very own, as that is what it is, a community asset that would not exist without us the community. The 431 bus service, which serves Gatehouse,Twynholm, Kirkcudbright and all other linked services to other areas, needs us and we need it.

Which is why with genuine sadness for many we said farewell in July to the great friends we had made in George, Murph and Sanny, drivers for the Stagecoach company who brought to a close the running of the 431. Positively, many of us found out through the public transport gossip grapevine that the Houston’s bus company were going to take it over. There is still concern though that Houston’s could go down the same rural route as Stagecoach, where their business is running at a loss with this service and can no longer take it on.

Having a keen interest in public transport throughout the region and the country, I have always questioned the lack of promotion of the benefits of using public transport by the big companies and by our local authorities. This local authority has a website promoting many things public transport, but should that not be more in the public view?

When you type inyo your computer ‘the benefits of public transportation’ countries around the world reiterate the health, environmental and economic benefits.

These are benefits which many local people would be affected by if this service was taken away. There are health benefits, one being the daily exercise of walking to and from the bus stop. The environmental benefits speak for themselves, but introducing the vehicles to electric or biodiesel would certainly increase the carbon footprint.

It may not be you, who are the current users of the 431, looking out at the passing countryside or chatting away inside. But many of our elderly use this service to attend appointments, go shopping, visit friends, attend events, even just to go for the ride and enjoy the company and scenery, making good use of their free bus pass.

There are our young folk, some in 5th/6th year with varying timetables or doing extra classes late in the day, who would be lost without the 431, or would be dependent on that busy parent to transport them in the family car. There are the families without a car, (that’s us folks), families with one car, grandparents taking the grandchildren out and of course those of us commuting to work.

In recent years communities have been put to the test,with local services under the threat of closure, be it the local

library, school or post office. I would really like to think the three communities on the 431 route can utilise this service to its full potential and transport themselves to the swimming pool, cafes, events and walks, to name but a few that take place in these vibrant locations.

Economically this would be a win/win situation, keeping the bus drivers in a job and spending our money locally, sustaining local employment and propping up our local businesses.

I have approached Houston’s about doing a ‘Love Your Bus Day/Week’ which could include all sorts of fun goings-on in the bus, and suggested discount on display of your bus ticket at various locations. If anyone out there would like to help with this please give me a shout and we can get the bus rolling. There is no reason why we cannot vision improving the service to a point. An evening service could be introduced, the Sunday service be reintroduced, day trips to Barcelona (is that asking for too much?).

When I travel I always like to engage with the local populace and using public transport you learn and meet that culture close up. I am really proud of where I live and the friendliness of the Dumfries and Galloway inhabitants, and excited about our own wee 431 greeting and welcoming all visitors. I personally have enjoyed many a laugh and getting to know ‘Twynolm Nan’ who shares her warm smile and many a story of her life in the Stewartry, and the ‘Merse Massive’ who all get on with a warm hello and wonder why I am not on my bike. Basically a community of many generations with a space where they meet up and communicate; this should tell us the 431 space is worth keeping.

In this beautiful part of the Stewartry there are many amenities to use, but without the 431 there is too much to lose. So please get on board and support each other in keeping alive this important artery in this community’s survival. By Danny Alderslowe

Former ly known a Thirty s four salon

HAIRDRESSING SALON

01557 814326 info@hairnv.co.uk - www.hairnv.co.uk

34 High St Gatehouse Of Fleet Castle Douglas DG7 2HP

The Royal British Legion - A Year of Anniversaries This year has been a year of significant Military and National Anniversaries. The 25th of April marked the 100th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli in the Great War. Whilst much of the attention focuses on the part played by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) a great many soldiers from Scotland played their part in the ill-fated campaign. On the 22nd of May services of remembrance were held for those who died in the Quintinshill rail disaster. A train carrying the men of the 7th Battalion of the Royal Scots crashed into a stationary local train at Quintinshill siding close to Gretna. Seconds later the northbound London to Glasgow express slammed into the wreckage.

The wooden carriages, which had largely disintegrated, caught fire. 216 men died in the crash and many more were injured. The battalion which recruited almost all of its soldiers from Leith was on its way to Gallipoli.

On the 18th of June services and commemorative events were held to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Scottish soldiers were heavily involved.

Particularly remembered is the charge by the Royal Scots Greys so vividly portrayed in the painting by Lady Elizabeth Butler. It is often said that their action that day turned the tide in favour of the Allies.

Closer in time of course and still within the living memory of veterans of the War was the final defeat of Nazi Germany. The end of the War in Europe is celebrated as VE Day each year on the 8th of May. This year, the 70th anniversary, was especially significant.

In August we marked the end of the war in the Far East with the final capitulation of Japanese forces on

the 15th August 1945. With it came the release of Allied prisoners of war held in appalling conditions by the Japanese. Men of the Royal Scots, The Gordon Highlanders and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders particularly come to mind but there were many Scots serving in other branches of the Armed Services who were prisoners or who took part in the arduous and difficult campaign fought by the 14th Army in Burma.

On 15th of September, Battle of Britain Day, we recall the sacrifice of the men in Fighter Command, who against the odds, defeated the Luftwaffe and in doing so forced Hitler to abandon his plans for the invasion of Britain.

The final commemoration this year will be of the Battle of Loos, which started on the 25th of September 1915.

This was the first time the battalions of the “New Army” had been involved. Piper Daniel Laidlaw of the KOSB was awarded the VC for playing his pipes on the parapet of the Battalion trenches. He came from Swinton in the Borders and survived the War to die at the age of 75 in 1950. A disproportionate number of those who were killed in the Battle were Scots. Three of those who lost their lives were from Gatehouse. Their names are inscribed on the War Memorial.

On Sunday the 10th of November this year we shall remember and commemorate the men and women who gave their lives in all the wars and conflicts up to the present day. The Remembrance Sunday Ecumenical Service will be held as always in the Parish Church and will be followed by the Two Minutes Silence and the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial.

Following the Service the members of the Gatehouse & District Branch will be pleased to welcome all members of the public to the Murray Arms for coffee and light refreshments. In recent years attendance at the Act of Remembrance has grown, so we feel it is appropriate to say thank you for your continued support. At the same time it is worth mentioning that the British Legion does not just exist to remember, but it does a great deal of excellent work in looking after former members of the Armed Services who need help, so we are grateful for your support. Last year the Gatehouse & District Branch raised £4,000 within the local community. The money was donated to Service Charities.

By Mike Ashmore

F L E E T G A L L E RY C R A F T

Wednesday: Curry Night & Quiz Thursday: Music Night Saturday & Sunday: Food all day BOOK A TABLE!

Great selection of Malt whiskeys, Real Ales and Beers

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01557 814228

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Jim Logan’s Gala Scrapbook 2015

the gatehouse deli OPEN Tuesday-Saturday 9.30 - 4pm (Opp. the Clock Tower)

FRESH FISH,FRUIT & VEG Charlie Coid 12 Garden Street Gatehouse of Fleet DG7 2JU

fleetfish@hotmail.com 07966 103912

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Local Wildlife For a second year we have had stoats breeding in our garden rockery. This year there were a family of six that regularly frolicked, somersaulted and scrapped in pairs like kids around our lawn. Stoats are easily identified by the black tip to their tail. Adults are about 14-16 inches long overall. The babies were about 12 inches.

Stoats are meant to be nocturnal , though an infra red camera set up for about five days by a friend did not take any night shots of them.

The baby stoats look very cute, but they are vicious. We have seen a baby attacking a rabbit four times his size.

He was trying to get the rabbit on his back and kill him by biting the jugular vein in his neck. The screams from the rabbit were quite chilling. The process took about 5 minutes. Once he had killed the rabbit, he dragged him to the undergrowth presumably to hide him from other predators.

Recently a baby stoat managed to pull a dead rabbit up and on to our front gate. Once he had dropped it over the gate, he dragged it along our drive and into the undergrowth to hide it. Vanessa stood some six feet from his path and he appeared to be oblivious of her presence. We have seen remnants of rabbit in our shed, so we must have left the door ajar at some time.

Sadly it appears that the stoats have taken baby swallows out of one nest on our veranda. In spite of that, the swallows used another nest which was not quite so accessible, and have now raised four new babies. The adult swallows are incredibly brave and swoop at the stoats to drive them away from our veranda and their nest.

Vanessa and John Martin, Sandgreen

Gatehouse Squirrel Group Following two open meetings in April, the Squirrel Group has been busy monitoring the reds and watching out for greys. A ÂŁ200 grant awarded by Red Alert SW Scotland has been used to equip the group with feeding hoppers and bait for surveys, and more traps for catching greys. All the main areas of old woodland around Fleet Bay and up the valley were surveyed for squirrel activity using over 20 hoppers. Each one had a sticky tape on the underside of the lid to collect hair from any visiting squirrels as they accessed the food within. The hoppers were baited with an irresistible mix of peanuts, sunflower seeds and whole maize, the latter supposedly favoured by greys. During May and June a team of ten volunteers took weekly walks in these wonderful places, carpeted with bluebells and alive with birdsong, whilst collecting and replacing the sticky tapes. Forestry Commission Scotland provided a USB microscope so that hairs from both squirrel species could be identified on the tapes.

New records for reds were obtained for Skyreburn and Rusko, as well as more areas within Killiegowan and Cally Woods, but the hoppers detected no greys.

Meanwhile sporadic reports of greys came in from local people and visitors at Ardwall, Killiegowan, Carstramont and Cardoness: some were road casualties but several others were quickly removed. A new outbreak of the lethal squirrelpox disease in reds near Lockerbie reminds us of the danger of allowing greys to take up residence in our area – they carry the virus but suffer no ill-effects themselves, so acting as reservoir for infection.

The hopper survey will be repeated in SeptemberOctober, to keep tabs on our reds, and also in an effort to detect new greys as they move around after weaning their summer litters. If you would like to help with this work, or other group activities such as publicity and education, please contact Peter Garson (petergarson235@gmail. com, 01557 814584).

Photo: Jack Wren

There are signs that Gatehouse still relishes its link with Germany It’s now twenty years since Gatehouse school first forged an exchange link with a school in Germany. Responding at the time to an appeal from the Education Department in Dumfries for a ‘German speaking’ Primary school to accept an invitation for a ‘link-up’ with a school in Gifhorn, with which Dumfries was, and still is, twinned, our school here took up the challenge.

From that moment a link was forged with families in both countries – and which, in many cases, still survives today.

In 1995, the children at Gatehouse school were actively learning German, and used the language in many day-to-day cross-curricular activities. The link with ‘real German people’ was a great bonus in that it gave learning the language proper purpose. The children engaged with people who actually spoke German.

The first exchange took place in 1996, and pupils from the schools here and in Gifhorn travelled to each other’s schools in alternate years – a link broken only in 2001 when we were at the mercy of foot and mouth disease, and international travel was being generally discouraged.

Children and teachers in both countries extolled the virtues of our link. So much so that, in 2005, Gatehouse and Gifhorn families asked the obvious question: ‘Why just the children?’ – and that year, the invitation was extended (by our children on their visit to Germany) to the families to come over to Gatehouse. From this, a group of families from Neubokel, a village of similar size to Gatehouse within Gifhorn, came and enjoyed the warm hospitality of families here in Gatehouse. Sadly, despite the invitation at the time from the German side, the return visit did not take place.

There are now plans, however, to revive the exchange – and a small and active group is planning to bring this back to life and make that long-overdue return visit. If your family would like to be involved with this initiative, and enjoy the long-lasting benefits it brings, please get in touch with Howard McLean or Ken Smyth.

More Awards for Cream o’ Galloway Cheese Cream o’ Galloway have been quietly beavering away making cheese on a low scale. When they first started they were told by other cheesemakers that it would take at least 3 years to learn how to make cheese – now they know it will be a life’s work. They are delighted to have won several awards this year.

In May their Carrick won a Silver Award at the British Cheese Award in Bath.

To top that, at the end of July, at the International Cheese Awards in Nantwich, they won the Best UK Organic Cheese. And Sarah Haworth, their cheesemaker, won the silver award in the Novice Cheesemaker category. Wilma Finlay said: “We are greatly encouraged by these awards. To win the UK organic cheese category is just fantastic. And we are particularly pleased for Sarah. The Novice Cheesemaker award is for anyone who has been making cheese for less than 5 years, and Sarah has only been doing it for two and a half. So great things ahead!” Cream o’ Galloway make around 3 tonnes of cheese a year, most of which sell through their own visitor centre. Next year, they plan to add a cheese making room to their dairy, so that they have the capacity to make up to 20 tonnes per year. “This extension is required so that we can make enough cheese to meet demand and to sell the cheese further afield,” explained Wilma. “Rainton Farm made cheese from the mid 1800s until 1971, and back then we were making up to 15 tonnes per year – so we have a bit of catching up to do!”

Join us for The Food Tour, daily at 2.30pm.

Get the full foodie experience from field to fork (and spoon!).

Includes farm tour, ice cream and cheese tasting, milking parlour and meeting the cows.

Contact Wendy for information & to reserve spaces 01557 815 222 www.creamogalloway.co.uk

Fun Outdoors Thanks to the support of parents and the Gatehouse Development Initiative, children had a second opportunity this summer to spend a full week in the Woods in Gatehouse of Fleet with experienced leaders. What a great time we had too, cooking on an open fire, building shelters, performing to parents, foraging, learning about plants, tracking and loads more – check out the pictures!

We are excited at the prospect of delivering more after school sessions of high quality, practical hands-on woodland based experiences on Wednesdays at 3pm, from 23rd September. Many thanks to the Forestry Commission Scotland for their support. If you are interested in attending, please contact: Karen Slattery on 07530 911578.

Tonic Solway’s Oktoberfest The ‘a cappella’ vocal octet Tonic Solway will be giving their Autumn Concert in Gatehouse of Fleet Parish Church on Saturday 10 October, at 7.30pm. Entry to the concert will be free, and refreshments will be provided. However, donations will be sought from the audience to raise funds for the charity Christian Aid, which the Gatehouse Churches have supported regularly through Christian Aid Week and other events.

Tonic Solway was formed in April 2011 initially as a group of friends invited by local musician Susan Smyth to gather around her kitchen table to sing, drink tea and eat cake together. Whilst the consumption of tea and cake has continued unabated, the singing quickly became more serious, with an ever expanding repertoire and a growing ambition to perform in public. The group has already held a number of full length concerts in support of charitable causes. They have also taken part in other musical events in the area, including several choral Evensongs at St Mary’s in Gatehouse and at Greyfriars in Kirkcudbright.

They are establishing a reputation for sensitive and skilful interpretation of a wide range of unaccompanied choral music, with well-balanced voices and a broad dynamic range.

The octet consists of Alice Howdle and Vanessa Martin (Sopranos), Susan Smyth and Pauline Roe (Altos), John Stanford and David Potter (Tenors), and David Howdle and Andy McKean (Basses). Although the group is based in Gatehouse, some of the members travel from more distant parts of D&G. Five of the members are string players with the Solway Sinfonia.

The programme for the concert on 10 October will be an eclectic mix of short pieces, encompassing sacred and secular, madrigal and folk, classical and jazz, traditional and modern idioms, including a spiritual arranged by Geoff Keating, Conductor of the Solway Sinfonia.

There will also be a couple of readings by John Martin, and there will be some light-hearted musical surprises at the end, chosen to let the audience depart chuckling.

Mike Bannister’s

Gatehouse Memories In this bumper issue of Gatehouse Memories Mike chooses some choice moments from Galas past.

Charlene Coid receives the Cup for best float from folk singing star Jimmy McGregor. This outstanding entry potrayed James Herriot’s ‘ All Creatures Great and Small ‘ Batchies Bouncers Batchies Bouncers, our ladies footie stars pause for a photocall.

Gatehouse Registrar Dolly McMurray accompanies our Gala guest personalities in the Parade, Border Television presenter Eric Wallace and actress Gwynneth Guthrie who stars in TV drama ‘Take the High Road‘.

First Prize winner Pat Jacques with her family shock the crowd with the headless Mary Queen of Scots .

Honolulu Princess crew win the Raft Race shield. Boys will be Hula Hula girls !

Alas poor ‘Veggie‘ we knew him well. His last journey was by raft on the Fleet. Piper Billy Cowie plays the lament. Mourners attending: Andrew ‘Smug‘ Smith, Matt Neil, Donald Cowie and Mungo Henderson.

‘ALLO - ALLO’ First prize for The Murray Arms who produced a spirited show following the lead of Colonel Robin Rafael.

Queen Caroline (Cochrane) with The Holiday Princess and Flower Girls Gayle Macnamara and Heidi Wadsworth.

Cally Rose Queen Julia (McIntyre) with page John Macnamara and Flower Girls Laura Poland and Claire McCarlie with that special Ann Street rose for a backdrop.

Queen Tara (Wadsworth) is crowned by Mrs Kathleen McCulloch of Ardwall.

Queen Dawn (Thomson) is popular with visiting bikers.

Queen Yvonne (McLeod) with her attendants Wendy McSkimming and Nicola Kelly.

Ex Provost Willie Mackay escorts Queen Shirley (McClymont) and Flower Girls Alison Patterson and Susanne Knox.

Queen Gayle (Macnamara) with pages Mark McLean and Watty McCulloch and Flower Girls Lauren Wilson and Jane Scott .

Bogey Race Mac and David put on a skilled show of bogey driving.

Roon’ the Watter A close run thing for Alistair McCarlie as he hits the finishing line!

‘A Big Carry Out from the Anwoth‘ Jean Campbell by palanquin in Oriental style. The Anwoth is always good for a hot curry!

Photo: Jim Logan travelled

Business in Focus

Each issue we feature an in-depth interview with a local business to highlight individual contributions by the business sector to the local economy. This issue our choice is Galloway Lodge.

Galloway Lodge moved in to Fleetvale in May 2011. This was a great opportunity to create a real shop front for the preserves manufacturing business. The idea was to use the products in the menu and then sell them in the shop.

The preserves market place is very competitive and the hope was to use this as a real front for the business. Having originally worked in hospitality and having studied at The Scottish Hotel School it was a return to her original career for Fiona Hesketh.

The first to join the hard-working leadership team was Helen Thompson who came on board full time in the autumn of 2011. Helen has a huge amount of experience in front-of-house. She leads a very hard-working team and we are thrilled to have many super youngsters working for us under Helen’s tutelage. It is great to see them blossom and become really excellent members of staff. Helen is ably backed up by her deputies Fiona Graham and Tracey Lee. In 2013 Ruaridh and his family returned to live in Gatehouse of Fleet and joined the business. At the same time, Stuart Graham joined as Chef. He has a great deal of experience working in many different Kitchen environments and has been a really great addition. With Mandy, Lizzy and Meritxell the kitchen team too has expanded.

The business has branched out from usual coffee shop duties to opening for Burger Evenings which have proved very popular. At 6pm on Fridays Galloway Lodge becomes Galloway Burger and until 9pm serves burgers made in the kitchens from beef raised in Galloway, along with sides and specials and Galloway Lodge Preserves – of course!

Another diversification to the business has been the outreach coffee shop at Clatteringshaws in the Galloway Forest Park. Open from March to early November, there you can enjoy Alan’s famous scones whilst looking out over the loch, or join them for a Dark Sky Event. (photos Mike Bannister)

Gatehouse News Contact: 01557 814458 news@gatehouse-of-fleet.co.uk

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