260 May 2016 - Gryffe Advertizer

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May 2016 No.260 Distributed to: • Bishopton • Bridge of Weir • Brookfield • Elderslie • Houston • Howwood • Kilbarchan • Kilmacolm • Langbank • Lochwinnoch • Quarriers

‘Fly’ The Collie at the Kilmacolm Show Last Year

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EXPERT JET-WASHING With Spring now here this is the time of year we are busiest cleaning driveways, patios etc’ ready for Summer. If you are thinking of having your driveway cleaned then it is crucial it’s done correctly to prevent problems in future. If there are a lot of weeds these should be treated before jet-washing and after a high-pressure industrial clean that removes dirt, moss and a little sand it is critical to re-sand with kiln-dried sand, a Biocidal treatment will then resist future growths. Give us a call for free friendly information on this service or for a free quotation.

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EXPERT GUTTER CLEANING Nutech Cleaning also offer safe, effective gutter cleaning with our carbon fibre pole and vacuum system that cleans gutters from the ground. This revolutionary system coupled with highly trained and experienced staff lead to a gutter cleaning service second to none. Give us a call for free advice or a quotation.

01505 863 863 www.nutechcleaning.co.uk

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Legal Blog by Isabella McKerrow, Affinity Family Law

Choosing The Right Solicitor Law covers a wide variety of areas and over the years has become increasingly specialised. In recognition of this many solicitors and solicitors firms now specialise in specific areas of law. Because you deal with a solicitor for one matter does not mean that you should deal with them for every other matter. It is important that you find a solicitor who has the expertise and experience in the area of law that you want advice on. A solicitor might advertise that they are an expert or a specialist in a particular area of law but how can you be sure that they are what they claim to be? The Law Society of Scotland holds a list of accredited specialist solicitors in around thirty different areas of law. These accredited specialists are vetted by the Law Society of Scotland and must have at least five years’ experience in their particular area of specialism and have dealt with numerous complex cases. The Family Law Association of Scotland also holds a list of accredited specialists in child and Family law.

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Instructing an accredited specialist is not necessarily more expensive. The price a solicitor charges varies from firm to firm. You may find a firm with a solicitor who is an accredited specialist charges less than a firm who does not have a specialist. Don’t be fooled by large firms with expensive plush offices and exorbitant fees. Check they have an accredited specialist. Legal fees are not cheap. Make sure you are spending your money wisely. If you want to be sure of getting expert advice, instruct a Law Society accredited specialist. Also make sure that the specialist will deal with your case personally from start to finish.

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This

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After a couple of washout weekends last year with events cancelled, this summer we are optimistic of some great weather and a summer full of entertainment for kids and grown-ups alike. We have a varied mix with events on land and water, and hopefully something that will appeal to everyone. These events are run to a very high standard throughout and everything goes like clockwork - weather permitting. All thanks to a small army of volunteers who give of their time to gather in the wee dark hours of the winter to plan, organise and fundraise. Some of these events date back many years and are steeped in history, others are more recent additions to the calendar. Perhaps you feel that you would like to get involved and be a part of our local annual events. Your involvement will be rewarding for yourself and the community, so why not become a part of your local community and offer your services. Here is just a small sample of what’s coming, with full details in our What’s on section: 7 May: Neilston Agricultural Show

7-8 May: Sailability Spring Regatta at Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch 8 May: Gourock Highland Games

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14 May: Kilmacolm & Port Glasgow Agricultural Show (Knapps Show) 14 May: Rowing Club Regatta at Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch

The Gryffe Advertizer

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Deadline: Friday 13th May 2016

28 May: Medieval Fair at Paisley Abbey

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. The Gryffe Advertizer cannot be held responsible for unsolicited materials. The views and opinions by contributors in this magazine may not represent the views of the publishers. The Gryffe Advertizer takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisements in this publication.

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21 May: Calder Church Summer Fayre, Lochwinnoch 21 May; Paisley Pipe Band Championships

Next Issue: No.261 June 2016

legal blog.............................3 local news..........................8-13 optical blog ...............................10 dental blog.............................13 what’s on.............................14-23 business news...................25-28 local history...........................24 financial blog.........................25 it blog..................................25 village news....................30-41 pets...............................42-43 pet blog ............................42

14 May: Houston & Killelan Kirk Carnival

28 May: Mad Hatters Tea Party at Finlaystone 4 June: Lilias Day, Kilbarchan

4 June: Houston Agricultural Show 11 June: Bridge of Weir Gala Day

outdoors..........................44-49 schools news.....................50-54 sports & clubs news.............55-58 sporting blog..........................56 on the road...........................59 advertiser directory................63 business classified...........60-61 church listings....................61 deadlines dates...................61 property classified.................61 sales & wants......................62

18 June: Kilbarchan Agricultural Show

18-19 June: P1 Grand Prix of the Seas at Greenock

25 June: CarFest at St Vincent Hospice

We keep our website and Facebook/Twitter pages up to date with events and news, so please ‘like’ us, ‘follow’ us and bookmark our web page to get the latest information. The Advertizer is the ideal platform to communicate with your community as we reach over 13,000 homes and businesses in the Gryffe area. Send your news and photos to info@advertizer.co.uk or by post to The Advertizer, Neva Place, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3PN. Next deadline Friday 13 May!

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Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Which? have now added themselves to the thousands of customers who recognise that, in Cloudy2Clear you are dealing with a business that you can really trust. Cloudy2Clear, who recently celebrated their 10th Birthday, replace misty glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window. Glasgow manager Peter Brummitt believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company policy of delivering a trustworthy and credible service at all times. “Our service is simple - if your double glazing has steamed up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 5 year guarantee.” Peter continues “We also GUARANTEE that an average quotation will take no longer than 20 mins, with little or no disruption to your home. These things seem simple, but not enough companies do it and it’s great that someone like Which? has endorsed our philosophy.” Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Wider Gryffe area. So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Peter a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!

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Record numbers of pipers get set to descend on Paisley A record-breaking number of pipers are set to descend on Paisley with 147 bands heading to the town for the British Pipe Band Championships. The championships – one of the biggest dates in the worldwide piping calendar – are on their way to Renfrewshire for the first time on Saturday 21 May. And event bosses have confirmed this year will see the highest number of entries in the decadesold history of the competition, after the deadline passed last week. That means the St James Playing Fields will be turned into a spectacle of sight and sound, with anywhere between 3,500 and 4,000 pipers and drummers from across the UK and abroad set to compete on the day, across 200 live performances. The 2016 event will be the start of a threeyear run for the championships in Paisley, having taken place in Bathgate for the past three years. A crowd of tens of thousands of spectators is expected, with attractions including a food and drink village featuring international cuisine and Scottish fayre as well as a fullylicensed bar. Other entertainment will include a Highland dancing competition, and other sporting activities and family fun. The British Pipe Band Championships are one of five major championships run each year by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. The running order for the day is now online at www.rspba.org

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The Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Branch of SSAFA - the Armed Forces Charity founded in 1885, reported another successful year at its very well attended AGM held recently at the Old Library, Kilbarchan with the Branch President HM Lord Lieutenant Guy WNH Clark FSI JP in the chair.

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St Vincent’s Hospice wins Volunteer Friendly Award

The Branch, one of twenty-two in Scotland, supports those who serve in our Armed Forces, those who used to serve and the families of both. This is our 132nd Year and was the only multi service at the start of World War One. During the last year to December 31st, 2015 the Branch had sourced and distributed goods and services to 290 veterans and their families in our local community to the value of £167,332 and administered a further £18,261 paid to Annuitants. The qualifying criterion for assistance in time of need is usually to have received one day’s pay in the Armed Forces (including National Service) or in the Merchant Navy if the ship had been contracted to the MoD. SSAFA Forces Help works closely with, and acknowledges the assistance given by, The ABF (The Soldiers Charity), The Royal Navy Benevolent Fund, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, Merchant Navy Welfare Board, PoppyScotland and the many and various Army Regimental Charities as well as other Forces and Civilian Charities and Trusts. SSAFA welcomes enquiries from those who have served, or who are serving, in our Forces and the families of both who are in need and require practical assistance. In addition SSAFA represent most other Military and Merchant Navy Charities. Volunteering with SSAFA is a very satisfying experience and right now the Branch, which has no paid staff, is looking for volunteers to help with Case Working, Administration, IT and Publicity & Fundraising. Full training is given and expenses paid; it is appreciated that time is the most precious commodity that a volunteer can give. Further details for both those that require practical assistance or as a potential volunteer can be found by contacting the Branch Secretary, Joyce Goater, at the Wynd Centre, Paisley 0141 840 4060, ssafa.paisley@renfunds.org or via the website (www.ssafa.org.uk). The closure of the Navy Buildings, Greenock, has meant that the Inverclyde Division has, currently, no office within Inverclyde but it can still be contacted on the same telephone number 01475 731435, ssafa.greenock@renfundsorg or via the website (www.ssafa.org.uk). In addition SSAFA can be contacted via the Inverclyde Council Business Centre either in person or via 01475 717171. The recipients of this year’s Long Service Awards were 15 Years Katrina Anderson (Divisional Treasurer – Inverclyde); 20 Years Liz Hunter (Caseworker – Inverclyde) and 25 Years Jean Holmes (Caseworker – Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire). Katrina and Jean are pictured after receiving their awards from HM Lord Lieutenant Guy WNH Clark FSI JP. We will be at the Kilmacolm & Port Glasgow Agricultural Society Show on Saturday May 14th) and at the Bridge of Weir Gala (Saturday June 11th) and at Rouken Glen for East Renfrewshire’s Armed Forces Day (Saturday June 18th); at all these events our volunteers would be pleased to welcome as many visitors as possible - there is the opportunity to learn more about SSAFA, make a donation and to win cash prizes in our popular Football Competition (this year Euro16).. In addition we will be represented at Renfrewshire and Inverclyde’s Armed Forces Day service in Paisley Abbey, (Saturday June 18th). We are also currently finalising dates to be at other local shows and events in this our 132nd year of operation. If you would like one of our volunteers to speak at one of your meetings please contact us at any of the telephone numbers or email addresses detailed above.

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Local Councillor Iain McMillan presented the award today to delighted Hospice staff and volunteers in a brief ceremony at the Hospice in Howwood. “The real stars,” he said, “are the volunteers themselves. It’s so easy to sit at home and not bother, but it’s terrific that so many people do turn out to help St Vincent’s in so many different ways.” The Volunteer Friendly Award is an important quality standard which recognises charities and community groups who are excellent at involving volunteers, lead best practice in volunteering offer good volunteering opportunities and experiences. It recognises and supports volunteers in making a fantastic, essential and valuable contribution to people both in the hospice and wider community. Elaine Grealey, Volunteer Services Manager at St Vincent’s said “I’m extremely proud of the achievements of the volunteer team to date. This award demonstrates a real commitment from St Vincent’s Hospice to recognise how valuable our volunteer team is. We could not function without them, their dedication and support is unquestionable and I look forward to working alongside our volunteers in the future developing new opportunities” St Vincent’s currently has a team of 241 exceptional volunteers, who work tirelessly across the organisation to support all areas of its work, from our retail teams in the Hospice shops across Renfrewshire to kitchen support, admin and housekeeping within the hospice itself - to name just a few. This award is a credit to them, as without them we could not offer the services we do.” The presentation was also attended by Jacqueline Carroll, Head of Finance at Engage Renfrewshire, who said “It is wonderful to see volunteers being recognised for the work they do. Engage Renfrewshire is proud to support the Hospice in the next stage of developing its volunteers.” If you would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer at St Vincent’s Hospice please get in touch with Elaine Grealey or Christine Haddock on 01505 705635 or email volunteering@svh.co.uk. Photo 1: (Back row l-r) Raymond Laing; William Dougan; Dorothy Connie; Hugh Law; Liz Law; Kate Lennon. (Front l-r) Councillor Iain McMillan; Christine Haddock; Janet Smith; Elaine Grealey; Winnie Laing; Jacqueline Carroll. Photo 2: (l-r) Cllr Iain McMillan; Elaine Grealey, Volunteer Services Manager; Christine Haddock, Volunteer Co-Ordinator; Kate Lennon, Chief Executive of St Vincent’s Hospice

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Johnstone Town Hall Wins Award Johnstone’s £14.5m town hall has won a coveted national award designed to honour Scotland’s best buildings. The town hall was given the top honour of Project of the Year at the 2016 Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Awards, held in Edinburgh last month. In doing so it beat off competition from recognised landmarks such as Falkirk’s Helix and Kelpies, and Glasgow’s Theatre Royal. The striking glass-fronted building changed the face of Johnstone over the past two years and was opened to the public by Renfrewshire Council last March. It was designed around an internal ‘high street’ theme and is home to modern community facilities including a library, theatre/conference space, ceremony suite, coffee shop, meeting spaces and a dance studio. The town hall also offers many council services under one roof, including a customer service centre, offices for housing and social work staff, and AdviceWorks. Police Scotland and Macmillan Cancer Support are also based in the building. The building was designed to reflect Johnstone’s industrial heritage and contains specially-commissioned artwork. The design was informed by consultation with local resident groups. The town hall was designed by Renfrewshire Council and Holmes Miller and built by BAM Construction for clients Hub West Scotland and the council. Johnstone Town Hall is managed by Renfrewshire Leisure Limited and is available for hire for a wide range of events and activities, including weddings, meetings and conferencing, social events and performances. Further information can be found at www.renfrewshireleisure.com or by calling 0300 300 1210.

Ingliston Country Club Patisserie in Palomino’s. All our cakes, pastries are all made fresh in-house. Afternoon Teas from £8.95 per person with a glass of prosecco for just £3. Live entertainment at Palomino’s Restaurant & Cocktail Bar on - Friday’s from 8pm – 11pm / Saturday’s 9pm – til late / Sunday’s 8pm – 11pm. Call 0845 301 1010.

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Optical Blog by Kerry Taher, New Vision Opticians

What is Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)? Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a highly sophisticated technique, similar in principle to an ultrasound or MRI scan, but using light instead of sound or radio waves. This provides valuable information in the early diagnosis of ocular disease. With detailed cross-sectional and 3-D images of the back of the eye, each of the retina’s distinctive layers can be seen and analysed, providing much more information than conventional methods. Retinal photography (standard equipment at all opticians in Scotland) is important and can be likened to a satellite picture of the Ocean, where only the surface can be seen. OCT, however, allows everything beneath the surface to be seen and analysed, giving much more information. Most of our patients are amazed at the detailed reports and images. Invaluable for people with unexplained changes in vision, Glaucoma/family history of Glaucoma, Diabetes and more commonly used for the diagnosis and treatment of Aged Related Macular Degeneration - it has already helped to save the sight of quite a few patients of mine in the past 18 months. The process is quick and painless taking only 1-3 seconds per scan. The results are immediately analysed and then saved to establish a baseline for future comparisons. Pupil-dilating drops are not required and vision is unaffected, so driving afterwards is fine. Although only 20% of optical practices have OCT, this will increase in the future due to it’s many clinical benefits. Some practices may charge for this service as it is not covered by the current NHS fee. For further information, please call the practice on 01505 614 700.

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Yoga for Alzheimer’s Kilmacolm fund raiser Saturday 18 June, 9am-12.30pm, Kilmacolm Community Centre During June 2016, there’ll be Yoga for Alzheimer’s events across the UK. In KILMACOLM, you too can be part of the fightback! No matter if you’re a beginner or an expert, young or old(er), you can help raise money to defeat dementia. Join us on Saturday 18 June in the Kilmacolm Community Centre, 9am12.30pm to take part in a sponsored yogathon - 108 sun salutations - this can be done as a solo challenge, or you could make up a team! Classes will be held throughout the event and all monies raised will go directly to alzheimersresearchuk.org You can try Beginner’s yoga, Children’s yoga, Men’s yoga or Yoga for relaxation. Any yoga teachers who’d like to be involved, please get in touch. Would be grateful for help leading sun salutations or running classes. All funds raised from Yoga for Alzheimer’s events will be used to fund a project looking in to the link between stress and Alzheimer’s: A protein called REST plays a role in controlling the brain’s response to stress. Recent studies suggest that people with Alzheimer’s disease have lower REST levels in the blood and brain than healthy people. By exploring the link between REST and Alzheimer’s, Dr’s Killick, Marchant and Hye at King’s College London aim to understand whether the protein could form the basis of a future blood test to detect early signs of the disease. Such a test could aid the timely and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s – a vital way to ensure people receive the correct support and access future treatments. The team is also looking at REST levels in blood from people taking part in stress reduction classes. This will help them understand whether reducing daily stress could play a role in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Talk It Over! - Postnatal Support Group Need or want to talk? Why not come along to our Postnatal Support Group which is being held every Tuesday from 10.30am - 12noon in Paisley Abbey (access via Cafe opposite Paisley Town Hall). Creche facilities are available and you will be able to access free counselling services if required. Just come along. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association West Renfrewshire Support Group Are In Your Area. We are a small team of volunteers. Would you like to join us to raise funds for Guide Dogs. Please call Anne on 01505 705602.

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Strictly Come Prancing A group of twinkle-toed volunteers have raised almost £35,000 for local Hospice care by taking part in St Vincent’s Hospice Strictly Come Prancing 2016.

Football in Five Images ‘Football in Five Images’ is a new discussion show on Scottish football, featuring Stuart Cosgrove and Graham Spiers, two of Scotland’s most outspoken commentators on the game, well-known for their regular appearances on television, radio and in print. The show is touring Scotland bringing them together to argue and debate the current challenges facing the national game; subjects as diverse as television and its impact on football, the rise of social media, the national team, the role and responsibilities of football in the community, and many more. The show refuses to shirk tackles and offers candid opinions on the characters, challenges and complacency that underpins the beautiful game. Cosgrove is a one half of BBC Scotland’s ‘Off the Ball’ team and a successful television executive. A St Johnstone fan who argues passionately on behalf of Scotland’s smaller clubs, like all football fans he is deeply biased and a raging hypocrite. Spiers is one of Scotland most renowned journalists who has interviewed most of the top (and bottom) managers, influencers and players on the contemporary Scottish football scene. He claims to be objective, but so do all journalists and they all get found out eventually.

The hugely popular event, which this year was sponsored by Affinity IFA and Persimmon Homes, showcased twelve amateur couples, many of whom have never danced before, battling it out for the honour of winning the coveted title of Strictly Champions. The event, which was held at the Normandy Hotel, Renfrew, is based on the popular television series Strictly Come Dancing, where judges and guests vote on the best dancers. There was a surprise in store for the dancers when X-Factor star Anton Stephans made a special appearance as guest judge for the evening. Jivers Bob Martin and Rebecca Elliot triumphed over William Henderson and Audrey McNeil’s American Smooth in the dance-off to become the St Vincent’s Hospice Strictly Come Prancing Champions 2016. The dancers, who began training in January, were determined to put on the best possible show, while raising much needed funds for St Vincent’s. Hospice fundraisers and the dancers were hoping to beat last year’s total of £23,000 and were absolutely thrilled when the grand total of almost £35,000 was announced on the night. Lesley Miller, the Hospice’s Fundraising Manager said, “What a night! The audience were blown away by the talent, atmosphere and enthusiasm on show. We are so grateful to the dancers and to Lisa Marie McLaughlin and Gordon Elliot, who choreographed the show and taught the volunteers to dance. They all rose magnificently to the Strictly challenge – not just learning to dance, but also raising so much sponsorship for St Vincent’s Hospice. We simply cannot thank them all enough.” All the funds raised by Strictly Come Prancing will go directly to St Vincent’s Hospice in Howwood, helping to provide care for people in Renfrewshire who are affected by life-limiting illnesses. The Hospice is already looking forward Strictly Come Prancing 2017 and would welcome applications from potential dancers and sponsors. For further information please email info@svh.co.uk.

Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Games Society Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Games Society (RIGS) is a friendly group of board and card game enthusiasts who meet every fortnight on Thursday evenings in the upstairs café bar of Amaretto in Bridge of Weir. The games we play offer a wide variety of themes and styles and can cover anything from developing your ancient civilisations through conquest and negotiation, managing and racing your own NASCAR team or trying to smuggle contraband past the Sheriff of Nottingham. Above all these are games where you are in control of your moves and your decisions are central to your game. Our meetings in May are on the 5th and 19th at 8pm in the upstairs café bar at Amaretto in Bridge of Weir and if you have any questions or would like more information then please call Keith on 07789 501605 or consult our website at http://rigs.scot. If you intend to come along then please also let us know, using the same phone number, so that we can ensure that there is a good supply of games.

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Dental Blog by Sheila Macintyre, Practice Owner, Kilbarchan Dental Practice

Get a beach-ready smile! The summer holidays are approaching and lots of us will be jetting off for some fun in the sun. It is a time when everyone wants to look their best and your dentist can certainly help you get a beach-ready smile (we’ll need to leave the beach-ready body to a personal trainer!). There has been a lot of press recently about the prevalence of dangerous teeth whitening kits being used by “rogue” beauticians. Most teeth whitening contain chemicals called hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide but some of the illegal gels available online have been found to contain 300 times the legal limit! This can have very serious side-effects including burnt gums, infections, damage to nerves and ultimately, the loss of teeth. Your dentist can offer you the security of knowing you are being looked after by a professional with years of training and the best possible equipment and materials. Each of the systems your dentist can offer you works in a similar manner but with different guarantees attached to the results. Your dentist will discuss the systems available at the practice at an initial consultation. The whitening effects can last for several years although this may vary from person to person. Drinking a lot of tea, coffee, red wine can all cause discoloration and smoking is a major cause if you can cut down or avoid completely. Being sensible and following a simple maintenance program will certainly help. To get a really bright white smile then only a professional dental bleaching treatment will be truly safe and effective. If you are considering teeth whitening and have any queries visit us at Kilbarchan Dental Practice, call 01505 704969 or click www.kilbarchandental.co.uk where you’ll find lots more free tips and advice.

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Mayevents Sat 30 April Open Mic Night

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Sun 1 May Bird Ringing

Muirshiel Visitor Centre, Calder Glen Road near Lochwinnoch 11am to 3pm

Its spring migration time, come and see who is visiting and find out why and how we ring birds. 11am – 3pm, drop in session. MORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882

Magic with Tickles the clown

Bernie’s Cafe Deli, Neva Place, Bridge of Weir

Tickets £5. Backing music will be provided or you can bring your own instrument.

Birds for Beginners

RSPB, Largs Rd, Lochwinnoch 11am to 1.30pm Learn more about common garden birds and pick up tips and advice on wildlife watching techniques. After this, we’ll head out onto the reserve to put these new skills into practise and then top it all off with a hot drink back at the centre. Please book, as places are limited. Cost: Adults: £5; Children: £3 (RSPB members: £3/£2). Email: lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk Tel. 01505 842 663

Family volunteering - volunteer with your children or grandchildren... RSPB, Largs Rd, Lochwinnoch 1pm to 3.30pm

Here’s an opportunity for grown-ups and children to do something practical together in the great outdoors, and to help us Give Nature a Home. It’s a chance to spend some quality time with the children in your life, and it’s free. Please book. Cost: FREE. Email: lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk Tel. 01505 842 663

Otterspotter Walk

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 1pm to 3pm Come and meet Tickles the clown and be amazed at her magical skills and balloon animals - Face Painting also available.

Sun 1 May - Fri 15 July RSPB Lochwinnoch Photography Competition RSPB, Largs Rd, Lochwinnoch

Photographs must be taken on or from the reserve. For more information on how to enter please contact the reserve. There are four categories: Birds; Other Wildlife (including plants and landscapes); People; Junior category (under 15 yrs). Winners announced on Facebook & posted at the reserve Sun 11 Sep. Entry £4.

Fri 6 May Renfrewshire RSPB

McMaster Centre, Donaldson Drive, Renfrew 7.30pm

There will be an illustrated presentation entitled A Birdwatcher with a Camera by Eddie Williams, which will be followed by our Annual General Meeting. All welcome, admission free.

Sat 7 May Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Lochlip Road, Lochwinnoch 5.30am to 7.30am

Join a Countryside Ranger on an early start to look for otters. £5 per person MORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882 Ex 20 & bookings

Sat 30 Apr - Sun 1 May Paisley Citadel - 134th Corps Anniversary - Festival of Music Salvation Army, Mill Street, Paisley

Saturday 6pm and Sunday 10.30am. Price: £3/ person Paisley Citadel Salvation Army celebrate their 134th Corps Anniversary with a festival lead by special guest Commissioner William Cochrane. Tickets can be booked by contacting: Corps Secretary Jim Ballantyne - 01475 528844.

Sun 1 May Habbie Tat

Performing Arts Centre in Steeple Square 12noon

We have some paintings and prints this time, and even some smaller items of furniture, and a local picture framer is clearing out his workshop too, with many really beautiful frames for sale at a fraction of the usual price. Doors open at 12noon and all of the admission money collected (tickets are 50p) go to Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre.

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MS Fundraising Coffee Morning & Fun Day

Freeland Church, Main Street, Bridge of Weir 10am to 12noon

Bake sale, raffle, face painting, bouncy castle, stalls, local honey, nails, balloon animals, chocolate fountain, kids beading, tombola and raffle. Entry £3 adults, £1 children, £7 family of 4. Tel: 07868 744099 for further details.

Camera Trapping Workshop

Muirshiel Visitor Centre, Calder Glen Road near Lochwinnoch 10am to 3pm

Recording wildlife on trail cameras takes skill and knowledge, join us for some top tips, set up a camera and review footage. £25 per person. Tel 01505 842 882

Wild Night Overnight Camp

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 5pm to 8am Join the Rangers for fun and laughter under the stars into the wee small hours. Kids will enjoy the bat walk and Den building. Bring - tent, warm clothes, waterproofs and BBQ food. Adults £7.50 Children £5. Pre booking essential.

Neilston Agricultural Show

Holehouse, Neilston G78 3LE 8am-4pm Adults £6, children/OAPs £2. A wonderful variety of new things to see this year as well as your old favourites. Car park £3.

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may 2016

Sat 7 - Sun 8 May

Fri 13 May

Sailability Spring Regatta

The Arkleston Singers The Sands of Time

15 15

Lylesland Church, 123 Rowan St, Paisley 7.30pm

Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Lochlip Road, Lochwinnoch 10.30am to 4pm

Lots of accessible sailing boats will be training on Saturday and racing on Sunday. MORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882 & bookings

Ken Johnston In Flanders Fields. Eric Bogle And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. Bob Chilcott The Marriage of True Minds.Plus Will Todd and Andrew Lloyd Webber with The Arkleston Chamber Ensemble. Musical Director - Ken Paterson Accompanist - Sheena Patrick. Tickets £10 incl programme Available by phone from 01505 850 344 / 07932 680 951 online from WeGotTickets. com (+ booking fee) OR at the door.

Sun 8 May

Fri 13 - Sun 15 May

Gourock Highland Games

Battery Park, Gourock 12pm to 6pm Now in their 60th year, enjoy pipe band and drum major competitions; highland dance competitions; heavyweight events; mini highland games; children’s entertainment; gift & craft stalls–a great day out for all the family. Free entry.

Dawn Chorus

Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Lochlip Road, Lochwinnoch 4.30am to 6.30am

This year the RSPB staff will walk you through Castle Semple’s Parkhill Wood. No existing bird knowledge is needed and families are welcome. The walk is not overly strenuous, but a reasonable level of fitness is required. Meet @ Castle Semple Visitor Centre. Cost: Adults: £5; Children: £3 (RSPB members: £3/£2).

Wed 11 May Introduction to Gardening

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 1pm to 3pm Are you the next Alan Titchmarsh? Discover more about our wonderful gardens.

Fri 13 May

Lodge Sir Michael 989 Annual Plant Sale Glebe Road, Kilmacolm

See gardening section of this issue for a full breakdown of days and times. Planters and hanging baskets made to order. Free advice on plants. Quality plants at value for money prices.

Sat 14 May MS Fundraising Ladies Night

The River Inn, Houston Rd, Houston 7.30pm to late Butlers in the buff, nails, lashes, mini massages, makeup, Bare-baroque tattoos, candles, DJ, Stella & Dot Jewellery. Fabulous raffle prizes. Tickets £35 includes buffet and raffle entry. Call 07868 744099.

Plant sale / Cream teas

Langbank Parish Church, Main Rd, Langbank 11am to 1pm

The plants are from the nursery at Branching Out, Parklea in Port Glasgow, they will have a selection of summer bedding plants. After you select your plants come into the Church Hall for a delicious cream tea, with scones, pancakes and cream cakes.

Bottle and Baking Stall

Advertizer June Issue Deadline Knapps Loch - Kilmacolm 2pm to 5pm Neva Place, Bridge of Weir If you want something placed in the next issue, either send an email to info@advertizer.co.uk or call the office on 01505 613340. Don’t miss out!

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Kilmacolm friends of Ardgowan Hospice will be holding their annual Bottle and Baking Stall at The Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow Agricultural Society Show. All donations will be greatly appreciated. Baking can be handed in at the Kidston Hall on Friday 13th May between 2-5pm. For donations of bottles please phone Aileen 01505 874121 or Peter 01505 872343.

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Sun 15 May

Sat 21 May

Duck Race

Kilbarchan Parish Church Plant Sale and Pancake Morning

Kilbarchan Parish Church Hall, Steeple Street 10am to 12noon

Sat 14 May 181st Kilmacolm & Port Glasgow Agricultural Show

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 1pm to 3pm Pick your lucky duck and follow it down the stream to see who wins. Prize for first place.

Fri 20 May Knapps Loch - Kilmacolm Sheep, cows, horses (light and heavy), and other livestock. There will be exhibitions and stalls, along with a range of food outlets, trade and refreshment stands, a bar, and a Prize draw with a spectacular first prize. Full information is available on our website www.kilmacolmshow.co.uk

Houston & Kilellan Kirk Carnival Star Wars!

parade starts outside the Kirk at 12noon so many stalls and games to enjoy along with a huge variety of tasty food which will certainly lure you in………so don’t have your lunch before you come.

Castle Semple Rowing Club Regatta

One of the biggest rowing events in the Scottish calendar! There will be lots of boats, not much car parking and plenty of spectator viewing.

Sun 15 May Green Hairstreak Butterfly Walk

Muirshiel Visitor Centre, Calder Glen Road near Lochwinnoch 1pm to 2.30pm

A walk to look for this beautifully delicate and ornate butterfly. MORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882 & bookings

McKillop Hall, Main St, Lochwinnoch 10am to 12noon Holy Trinity & Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church, Moss St, Paisley 7.30pm

Madrigals and Part Songs (No assembly required). With special guests St James Handbell Ringers. Tickets £8.50 and £5 for under 18s. Refreshments after the concert. For tickets: contact Malcolm MacAskill 01505 346749.

Fri 20 - Sun 22 May Lodge Sir Michael 989 Annual Plant Sale See gardening section of this issue for a full breakdown of days and times. Planters and hanging baskets made to order. Free advice on plants. Quality plants at value for money prices.

Sat 21 May Lochwinnoch Explorer Group: Trip to Loch Lomond Reserve! RSPB, Largs Rd, Lochwinnoch 11am to 1pm

This month we’ll be going to the new reserve at gartocharn, on the southern shore of Loch Lomond! Please wear suitable clothing for being outdoors & bring lunch. Ages: 5 to 14 years. All children aged 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. Cost: £5 (£3 RSPB members) (adults go free)

Paisley Pipe Band Championships

St James Playing Fields, Paisley A crowd of tens of thousands of spectators is expected, with attractions including a food and drink village featuring international cuisine and Scottish fayre as well as a fully-licensed bar. Other entertainment will include a Highland dancing competition, and other sporting activities and family fun.

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Calder Church, Summer Fayre

Kilbarchan Singers Annual Summer Concert

Glebe Road, Kilmacolm

Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Lochlip Road, Lochwinnoch All Day

Entrance is £2:50, children £1, which includes freshly-made pancakes with cream and jam. To order plants in advance, please see any member of the church or phone Fulton Dunn on 704502. There will be plants for sale on 21st as well as pre-ordered plants.

Stalls include Home Baking, Plants & Garden, Jewellery, Arts & Crafts, Books, toys, Lucky Dip and lots more. Adults £2, Children FREE includes Tea/Coffee. All welcome.

Plant Sale

Tue 24 May Ian Miller Book Launch Event: Habbie to Jeelie Eater Performing Arts Centre in Steeple Square 7pm

Tickets: £1 for sale via Habbie2Chat Facebook page. BYOB. All proceeds go to Kilbarchan Amateur Athletics Association. The launch of the long awaited autobiography of a weel kent Habbie, Rev Ian Miller. Certain to be an entertaining evening with Kilbarchan’s best known rancanteurs. Lilifest (part of the Lilias Day Celebrations) www.liliasday.co.uk

Wed 25 - Fri 27 May HONK!

RSPB, Largs Rd, Lochwinnoch 12noon to 3pm Come along and peruse some plants to add to your garden! We have a pre-order list of bedding & other plants too. A great selection will be on offer, including lobelia, French marigolds, bizzy Lizzie, and many more.

Mini Beast Hunt

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 1pm to 3pm Six legs, Eight legs, 100’s of Eyes, a tube to sip nectar or mandibles to rip prey. Forget Pokémon, let’s catch some real mini monsters, incorporating a visit to the “Bug Hotel”

Sun 22 May Paisley Philharmonic Choir Spring Concert

Paisley Town Hall, Abbey Close 7pm Programme: Feel the Spirit ( John Rutter) The Armed Man (Karl Jenkins) Soloist: Marion Ramsay (Mezzo Soprano) with professional chamber orchestra Tickets £10 at door

Johnstone Town Hall A production by the Johnstone Phoenix Youth Theatre. For tickets contact jpyt1@hotmail.com

Thu 26 May Brookfield Nights’ ‘Clype’

Old Library Centre, 9 High Barholm, Kilbarchan 7.30pm

Tickets: £12.50 (reservations 01505 706070) BYOB. An evening of exciting and inventive music from two of Scotland’s finest musicians. Simon Gall (Salsa Celtica) and Jonny Hardie (Old Blind Dogs) created Clype a new project fusing sounds and styles from around the globe. Lilifest (part of the Lilias Day Celebrations) www.liliasday.co.uk

Scottish Disability Sport Para Sport Celebration

Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Lochlip Road, Lochwinnoch 10am to 4.30pm

Scotland’s only Centre of Excellence for accessible sailing will be very busy today with limited car parking. Take away service only in the café. MORE INFO: email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or tel 0131 317 1130 advance booking essential.

Den Building

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 1pm to 3pm Join the Rangers and see who is a budding Bear Grylls.

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may 2016

Thu 26 - Mon 30 May

Fri 3 June

Sat 4 June

Wild Challenge: Wheel of natural wonders!

Habbie’s Hoolie - Ceilidh with Clamjamfrie

Barchan Mad Comedy Night

Simply pop into the Visitor centre any time, where the friendly staff will give you a map and get you started. Then, visit different stations along our main trail. When you’ve finished, come back to the centre to complete the challenge and tell us all about it! Cost: £3 (RSPB members £1)

Tickets: £10. BYOB All proceeds go to Kilbarchan Smile to help continue with improvements to the village. Tickets available via Facebook or by emailing hello@kilbarchansmile.co.uk Kilbarchan Smile present an evening of rousing ceilidh music and much dancing with popular local band, Clamjamfrie. Lilifest (part of the Lilias Day Celebrations) www.liliasday.co.uk

Fri 27 May

Sat 4 June

Village Voices & Kilbarchan Parish Junior Choir Concert

Lilias Day Celebrations

RSPB, Largs Rd, Lochwinnoch 10am to 4pm

Kilbarchan Parish Church, Church St, Kilbarchan 7pm

Tickets: £5 / £12 family ticket (2 adults/2 children). (tickets available on the door on the night). An entertaining evening of song and fun featuring a mixture of light classics and show songs. Directed by the wonderfully inspiring Moira Gray both choirs are open to join to anyone interested, no experience necessary 01505 704948. Lilifest (part of the Lilias Day Celebrations) www.liliasday.co.uk

17 17

Performing Arts Centre in Steeple Square 7.30pm

Kilbarchan Park, Park View, Kilbarchan from 12pm Park open from 12. Parade 1pm followed by events in the Park www. liliasday.co.uk. Kilbarchan’s famous Lilias Day includes a historic parade followed through the village by decorated floats, pipe and brass bands. The parade finishes in Kilbarchan Park where a host of stalls, activities and events take place throughout the day to raise thousands of pounds for good causes.

Kilbarchan Performing Arts Centre, 8 Steeple Square, Kilbarchan, Johnstone 7.30pm

£10 BYOB. For more info / bookings email badhatcomedy@outlook. com. This popular comedy night returns on Lilias Day featuring a great line up of comedians in a great venue. With your host for the evening, Graham Barrie.

Wild Night Overnight Camp

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 5pm to 8am Join the Rangers for fun and burgers and sing into the wee small hours. Kids will enjoy the bat walk and Den Build. Tent, warm clothes, waterproofs and food required. Adults £7.50 Children £5. Pre booking essential.

Sat 28 May Kilbarchan Smile’s Gateway Garden Party Launch Event

Cartside Terrace, Kilbarchan 11am-4pm All welcome to come and see the first phase of development, meet the volunteers and find out more about getting involved and enjoying this fantastic new resource. Free entertainment and BBQ throughout the day (while supplies last!). Join Kilbarchan Smile Group on Facebook. Free Event. Lilifest (part of the Lilias Day Celebrations) www.liliasday.co.uk

Medieval Fair

Paisley Abbey, Abbey close, Paisley 11am to 4pm Living history camp, Knighting ceremony, Story telling, Birds of prey, Games, Children’s crafts, Stilt walker, food staffs, Wandering musicians and much more!

Sun 29 May Erskine Motorbike Meet

Erskine Town Centre 1pm to 5pm Only £5 per bike- all funds raised go to Erskine.

Beer & Music Festival

The Glenleven Inn, New Street, Kilbarchan All Day Featuring a host of guest beers and promotions this is the perfect way to sample some great brews and relax over the bank holiday weekend. Family friendly event with bouncy castle (donations to go to charity) and BBQ in the garden area. Free Entry. 4pm - Live music in the Glenny garden 8pm - Karaoke Lilifest (part of the Lilias Day Celebrations) www.liliasday.co.uk

Mad Hatters Tea Party

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 1pm to 3pm Join Tickles the clown and come as Alice or the Mad Hatter. Join the Rangers for tea and the search for the rabbit hole. Prizes for the best dressed boy and girl.

Thu 2 June Kilbarchan Pipe Band Performance

The Glenleven Inn, New Street, Kilbarchan 8pm Outside at the Mary Barbour memorial followed by BBQ or Buffet at FREE. Special Lilifest performance in the countdown to Lilias Day Celebrations. www.liliasday.co.uk

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the

Superheroes Join Gary, Anya and Kevin –the former stars of the Singing Kettle -on a super quest to find their keys and open the Funbox. Crime fighting Funster duo Fluffy and Flossie will be back to help us along the way and Bonzo’s alter ego, the mysterious Dog in Pants, will deliver his own brand of doggy justice! 7 May - £10.50 to £12.50 - 1.30pm & 3.30pm

Beyond the Green Oak Tours Local tour guide Hector McMonigal will introduce the sites & highlights of Greenock town centre in this colourful & slightly surreal walking musical tour. 13 May - 18 Aug - £7 to £10 - various times

Dirty Dusting Gladys, Elsie and Olive are three cleaning ladies who are about to be “put out to pasture” by their overzealous office manager Dave. Feeling they have little chance of gaining employment elsewhere, the ladies have to boost their falling income! Needless to say…… things don’t go entirely according to plan. 13 May - £20 - 7.30pm

REaD A cabaret within a play, REaD features song, dance, performance poetry and a hilarious roller coaster ride through Red history from pre-Raphaelite exotica to social exclusion and popular culture. 13 May - £8 to £10 - 8pm in the Beacon Studio

Grafitti Dance Troupe Cute ballerinas, fierce and energetic Hip Hoppers, unstoppable freestyles and baton throwers are all amongst the incredible acts you can expect to witness on stage. 14 May - 5 Jun - £12 - 6pm

e: info@advertizer.co.uk

Charity Concert in Kilmacolm On Sunday 12th June at 3.30pm, Daniela and Mark Hathaway will perform a concert in St Fillan’s Church, Kilmacolm to raise money for Bloodwise, formerly Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. This concert of light classical music and songs from the shows, will also feature Stephen Adam (piano), Maria Holmes (cello), David Mackie (piano) and an ensemble of Daniela’s young singing pupils. The concert is a celebration of Mark’s return to health after six months of treatment for leukaemia, and a way of saying thank you to all those who supported Mark and his family during this challenging period. Bloodwise has been working to beat blood cancer since 1960, funding worldclass research and offering information and support to patients and their families. In the last few years, treatment for blood cancer has moved forward in leaps and bounds. Patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia, for example, can now take a daily pill and – for the most part – get on with their lives. Mark has chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, the most common leukaemia in the UK. Around 4,000 people are diagnosed each year, that’s 11 per day. However, the future is positive. Bloodwise claim “We can effectively cure chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in this lifetime. It’s within touching distance.” For Mark and his family this is great comfort. The need to raise funds for this research is urgent. The lives of thousands of patients can be immeasurably improved. Please come and join Mark (Baritone), Daniela (Soprano) on Sunday 12th June at St Fillan’s Church for an afternoon of music for a very worthwhile cause. Tickets: £8 Adults, £6 Seniors/Under 18s, Under 5s free. Tea and cake will be served in the church hall afterwards. Tickets can be bought at Tapa coffee shop in Kilmacolm or by phoning 07985 204007 or 07949 071653. Donations also welcome. Photo: Daniela, and her trio: Stephen Adam (piano), Maria Holmes (cello) and Daniela Hathaway (Soprano).

Barry Steele and Friends: The Roy Orbison Story This musical and semi-autobiographical celebration of The Big O’s musical legacy is quite simply unmissable, as Barry Steele takes you on this specially revamped musical journey in time, from the early sun years right through to the late 80’s and the internationally acclaimed concert ‘The black and white night’. 20 May - £19 - 7.30pm

Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave and live in the world above. But first she’ll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she’s the girl whose enchanting voice he’s been seeking. 20 May - 21 May - £10 to £12 - 7.30pm & Sat Matinee 2.30pm

Stuart Cosgrove and Graham Spiers “Football in Five Images” ‘Football in Five Images’ is a new theatre discussion show on the state of Scottish football featuring Stuart Cosgrove and Graham Spiers. Graham and Stuart are two of Scotland’s most outspoken commentators on the state of Scottish football and appear regularly on television, radio and in the print media. 21 May - £11 to £13 - 8.15pm BEACON ARTS CENTRE, CUSTOM HOUSE QUAY, GREENOCK, PA15 1HJ INFO@BEACONARTSCENTRE.CO.UK TELEPHONE: 01475 723723

Scottish Food Market Takes place at Kip Marina, Inverkip on Sunday 8th May 11am-4pm and on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Whether it’s a sweet tooth you want to satisfy, get into a bit of pickle or take home some great Scottish meat and game, join us on the opening day of our monthly market and find high quality Scottish food and drink purveyors and producers.

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may 2016

19 19

The Arkleston Singers: The Sands of Time This year’s annual concert by Paisley chamber choir The Arkleston Singers will take place in Lylesland Parish Church, 123 Rowan St, Paisley PA2 6RZ at 7.30pm. Ken Johnston’s ‘In Flanders Fields’ and Eric Bogle’s famous ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ will be the Singers’ tribute to those who gave their lives in the Battle of the Somme and other First World War battles 100 years ago. Led for the last time by their Musical Director, Ken Paterson, and accompanied by the Arkleston Chamber Ensemble, the group will lift the mood with music by Will Todd and Andrew Lloyd Webber and a memory of the late Peter Maxwell Davies. Tickets, priced £10 including programme, will be available on the door.

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Poggle

WED MAY

Paisley Arts Centre Price: £3 + booking fee

11am & 2pm Suitable for ages 0 - 3

Call 0300 300 1210 for further information

SAT

Super Sci-Fi Saturday! Paisley Museum

7pm - 12am

MAY

This is a free event

Call 0300 300 1210

The second half of the evening will move the focus of activities to Coats Observatory and the opportunity to view the night sky through the powerful telescopes housed within the building.

Vince wants to explore the forest but he’s too scared to go on his own. Until one day he meets Poggle, a friendly creature who takes him on an adventure exploring the forest and the magical musical tree. A funny, sensory, dance theatre piece with live music, clapping rhythms and bubble popping throughout!

Donald Robertson Is Not A Stand Up Comedian

MAY

Paisley Arts Centre Price: £10 (£6 conc) + booking fee

Call 0300 300 1210

What would you do if everyone in the world hated you? Would you run? Would you fight? Or would you try to make them laugh?

Paisley Museum will be taking part in Museums at Night 2016, the nationwide festival of after-hours events in museums, galleries and heritage sites. This year, our theme will be Super-Sci-Fi Saturday where the worlds of Science– Fiction and Science–Fact collide! The early part of the evening will allow audiences to be taken on a journey to the outer limits of their imaginations through art and craft activities, film and storytelling all with a sci-fi theme.

Journey into the woods with Poggle in this wonderful dance theatre show specially made for early years!

SAT

e: info@advertizer.co.uk

Feel free to dress up as your favourite superhero or science fiction character and enter our prize-winning competition!

FROM

Paisley Art Institute 128th Annual Exhibition

MAY TO

Paisley Museum This is a free event.

Call 0300 300 1210

The Paisley Art Institute’s 128th Annual Art Exhibition will contain artworks by the best in contemporary talent from all over Donald Robertson has got no mates and he isn’t funny. But with guidance from his JUNE the world, attracted to Paisley with many prizes available to all exhibiting artists. new mentor Gary, he hopes that this is all about to change. This year’s guest artist is Kurt Jackson. British born and now based in Cornwall, Writer/performer Gary McNair’s acclaimed monologue weaves a classic coming-ofhe is committed to environmental and natural world causes and this is reflected in age story with a pinpoint deconstruction of the darker side of stand-up comedy. most of his work.

SUN

Superheroes

MAY

Paisley Town Hall 1pm & 3.30pm Price: £12 | Family Saver £44 | Groups 10+ £9 | Adult + babe £14 + booking fee

Crash! Bang! Kapow! It’s time to grab those capes and warm up your super powers as Funbox goes on their craziest adventure yet in their brand new show SUPERHEROES!

TUES MAY

If you’re looking to book a family ticket or for a group, please contact the Box Office direct on 0300 300 1210.

John McCusker

MON

Paisley Arts Centre

7.30pm

Price: £14 (£13 conc) + booking fee

MAY tour.

FROM TO MAY

‘Musical’ The Musical Paisley Arts Centre

7.30pm

Price: £12 and £10 (con)

Call: 0141 639 5830

MAY

Call 0300 300 1210

A funny and high-energy dance duet about friendship and sharing.

22 Pages - Scenes from Scottish History Paisley Museum Call 0300 300 1210 for further information.

Thanks to the success of the ‘Superhero genre’, graphic novels MAY and comic illustration have gained immense popularity and respect in recent years. But this medium is not new. The cave paintings of ages past and hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt were the first examples of storytelling through pictures. Inspired by this tradition, this exhibition features 22 scenes from Scottish history, presented in graphic novel style, connecting popular culture to traditional heritage in fun and vibrant ways which will appeal to audiences of all ages. The exhibition will also give visitors the chance to try their hand at creating their own comic book page or character

SAT MAY

The owner of a small broken-down theatre in New York became the owner of a small broken-down theatre in New York through a gambling debt......She now wishes she’d let the debt go.

A German Requiem - Brahms

5.30pm

Price: £3 + booking fee.

This is a free event.

When there’s nothing left in life......there is always the theatre.

“Musical” The Musical is an original musical theatre comedy written and directed by Charlie Marx and produced by Alma Mearns.

SAT

UNTIL FRI

2016 sees John McCusker celebrate 25 years as a professional musician, publishing a book on his compositions, releasing a new solo record and embarking on an extensive UK and European

John has been a member of Mark Knopfler’s band since 2008, playing arenas around the world including a double bill with Bob Dylan at The Hollywood Bowl. His expanding portfolio as a producer includes debut albums by Kris Drever and Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble.

Paisley Arts Centre

Join New Zealander Tamsyn and Adrienne as they dance and test the bonds between them, stretching the fabric of their friendship. Starting with 100 oversized T-shirts on stage and ending with both performers sharing just one. With flailing hair Go Get ‘em Kid is a playful and energetic new dance piece with an eclectic soundtrack that’s a joy from beginning to end.

Join Gary, Anya and Kevin - the former stars of the Singing Kettle - on a super quest to find their keys and open the Funbox. Crime fighting Funster duo Fluffy and Flossie will be back to help us along the way and Bonzo’s alter ego, the mysterious Dog in Pants, will deliver his own brand of doggy justice! With family sing-a-longs like “Oh, ye cannae shove yer grany aff a bus!” along with brand new songs and silliness, SUPERHEROES is supersonic family fun and an exciting entertainment experience not to be missed!

Go Get ‘Em Kid

UNTIL SUN

Tannahill Weavers Paisley Arts Centre 7.30pm Price: £10 (£8 con)+bkg fee. Call 0300 300 1210

One of Scotland’s premier trad bands, the Tannies’ let their acoustic excitement loose on audiences to electrifying effect. Their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs and original ballads and lullabies – bringing to life the rich musical heritage of the Celtic people. These versatile musicians have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performance and outstanding sound that seemingly can’t get any better... yet continue to do just that.

Iranian Ancient Paisley Museum This is a free event.

Call 0300 300 1210 for further information.

An exhibition of seven batik textile works. Each art work JUNE Price: £16 (£8 for Students/Unemployed) incorporates an ancient Iranian symbol, simplified and condensed to reflect the constraints imposed during certain The City of Glasgow Chorus returns to the Abbey once again for a periods in Iran, married with the artist’s own personal experiences and cultural performance of Brahms’ much-loved German Requiem featuring influences. soloists Hazel McBain, Soprano and Paul Keohone, Baritone. Paisley Abbey

7.30pm

For many years, Brahms had been preoccupied with the idea of composing a Requiem but only in 1866, when he was 33, did he commence serious work on it. The work’s title reflects Brahms’ use of the Lutheran Bible rather than the Latin one, compiling the texts himself from both the Old and New Testaments. It has little in common with the conventional Requiem Mass, focussing as it does on the living.

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Passionate about colour and textiles, Paria Goodarzi has a BA in Arts and Design and has exhibited her work in various locations in Tehran. She is currently studying textiles at Glasgow’s Cardonald College. This is the first exhibition collection she has created since arriving in Scotland.

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every Monday

2nd Wednesday monthly

Lochwinnoch Community Walk

Inverclyde Carers Outreach

The Cross, Lochwinnoch 10.30am

Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm 11am-2pm

This event will not take place on public holidays.

Email enquiries@inverclydecarerscentre.org.uk or call: 01475 735180.

every Tuesday

2nd Thursday monthly

Bishopton Belles Line Dancing

Solas Bereavement Support Group

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Hall 6.30 - 8.30pm

The group meets in the Kidston Hall. 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Everyone welcome.

Beginner/Improver class. All welcome. Call David or Mair 07886 034037.

Postnatal Support Group Paisley Abbey 10.30-12noon

Creche facilities available along with access to free counselling services if required.

every Wednesday Knitting Group Three Sisters Bake, Quarriers 10am - 12noon

Knitters of all levels welcome!

Skinny Minnies Cargill Hall, Bridge of Weir 7pm-8pm

For a healthier, slimmer, more energetic you!

every Thursday Weekly Volunteer Group Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch 12.30pm - 3.30pm

Conser vation Volunteers - adult group. Newcomers always welcome.

may 2016

21 21

3rd Friday monthly

Hearing Aid Clinic The Bridge, Bridge of Weir 1-2pm

Personnel are at The Bridge for the issue of hearing aid batteries and hearing aid checks.

2nd Saturday monthly ‘Brunch & Browse’ St Fillan’s Hall, Kilmacolm 10am-2pm

Home made soups, home baking, tea, coffee, books & lots of stalls. Great value! Disabled access. £4.

last Saturday monthly Table Top Sale Linwood Parish Church, Blackwood Ave 11am-1pm

This is a free event. Call 01505 328802 for details.

every Saturday Weekly Volunteer Group Greenock Cut Visitor Centre 10.30am - 2.30pm

Conservation Volunteers, adult group. Newcomers always welcome.

every Sunday Weekly Volunteer Group Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch 10am - 12noon

Youth volunteer Group - age 12 - 18 years. Newcomers always welcome.

1st & 3rd Thurs monthly ‘Outlook’ Kidston Hall, Kilmacolm 2pm-4pm

Social activities group for the community in Kilmacolm. Guest speakers, afternoon tea, local issues of interest. Everyone welcome.

Crafty Hobbies Carrick Centre, Main Street, Houston 7.30pm

No previous craft experience necessary. Call Lorna on 01505 612844 for further details.

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1st SAT Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm 10am-2pm

3rd SAT Erskine Garden Centre 10am - 2pm Tel: 0141 814 4626

2nd THU & last SAT Paisley Cross 10am-2pm Tel: 01655 770217

2nd SUN Kip Marina, Inverkip

1st & 3rd SUN

11am - 4pm www.kipmarina. co.uk

Loch Lomond Shores

regular updates @ GryffeAds

10am-3pm Tel: 07977 179 861

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LEAP receive an award nomination at the Glasgow Climate Festival 2016 To celebrate and showcase the work and achievements of the community-led Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) projects, the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Regional Peer to Peer Climate Network organised a Climate Festival event on 9th April in the Glasgow City Chambers and George Square. LEAP’s Gillian Steel, the Youth Engagement Officer with YEP! Was nominated for the Community Champion Award for her outstanding work with young people as part of the Junior Climate Challenge Fund. Although Gillian didn’t receive the award, she was delighted to be invited along with LEAP Project Manager, Scott Duncan, to Glasgow City Chambers to take part in the award ceremony. Following a formal address by Frank McAveety, Glasgow City Council Leader, who thanked the award nominees, their projects and their communities for their commitment to climate change now and in the future, an outdoor marquee event was held in George Square for the public. Artists performing music and dance from around the world and climate challenge projects celebrated by showcasing their work. LEAP held a pledge afternoon encouraging participants to make a simple individual, greener lifestyle choice, such as washing clothes at a lower temperature, one that could make a difference when repeated on a large scale, and help to improve the environment and drive down carbon emissions. For more event photographs and pledges visit our website on www.myleapproject.org.

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The Lounge is an official LVL trained & accredited salon. LVL Lashes help you achieve a natural, wide eyed, younger look without the need for extensions. LVL (Length, Volume, Lift) is designed to enhance your natural lashes by straightening and tinting them from the root. * Lasts 6-8 weeks, no maintenance * Nothing added, it’s all your own lashes * Relaxing, pain free treatment, takes approx 1 hour * Perfect for holidays, weddings or busy women We are giving our ‘Advertizer’ readers a May offer of £38 normally £50. To book call The Lounge on 01505690090 or text 07872-929798

The Countdown is on... For Finding Your Feet’s Millport Charity Fun’raiser The days are getting longer, and the weather’s getting warmer… sort of, which can only mean one thing - It’s almost time for the Finding Your Feet Millport Charity Fun’raiser!

Gift Vouchers are a great solution to show someone you care. Pop into the Lounge to collect or simply phone 01505 690090 and we will post one to you.

37 Main Street Bridge of Weir Manicures ~ Pedicures ~ Waxing ~ Tinting ~ Massage Facials ~ LVL Lashes ~ Spray Tanning

Following the enormous success of last year, when more than one hundred participants donned their cycling shorts and dusted off their helmets to take on a 10-mile sponsored family cycle around the island of Millport, the Glasgow based charity is looking to double its numbers at this year’s family event and is calling on families and groups to sign up now. Finding Your Feet was set up two years ago by Corinne Hutton, who was left a quadruple amputee after losing her hands and feet to septicaemia in June 2013. The charity offers support to those with amputations or limb deficiencies through emotional and practical help and initiatives in sport and recreation.

Everything has been thought of to make any participation in the event as straight forward and easy as possible - the charity has even teamed up with Mapes & Sons cycle shop which is located closest to where the event will be held in the grounds of Garrison House in Millport. Mapes is offering a 10% discount to groups looking to hire bikes to take part in the fun’raiser, which can be organized on the day or in advance. Corinne Hutton commented: “Last year our Millport Family Cycle event was a huge success and the response was so positive that we simply had to repeat it this year. We’re a really active charity and most of our fundraising events centre around active, physical activities - it’s great to be able to get the whole family involved in something that not only raises money to support amputees but is a whole lot of fun too.” For those who are up for the family cycle challenge, there’ll be a special medal and some Finding Your Feet goodies at the finish line - a fitting reminder of the achievement and great way to remember the day! Those keen to secure their place on the starting line ahead of the 10-mile cycle are urged to register their interest now by contacting info@findingyourfeet.net.

This year budding Finding Your Feet fundraisers will be boarding the ferry to Millport with bikes and even a fire engine in tow on Sunday 5 June, where the main sponsored cycle event and all the family fun will take place between 12pm and 3pm. Throw into the mix a load of kids’ entertainment, tons of inflatables and activities, a craft village, live bands and food and drink and you’ve got what promises to be a fantastic, fun filled family day out. All funds raised from entry registration and sponsorship will go to Finding Your Feet, which will enable the charity to continue to support amputees and those with limb deficiencies. The charity already runs a successful programme of activities for amputees in Scotland, including funding sessions in climbing, cycling, swimming and skiing. The charity recently hit the headlines after launching Scotland’s first amputee football team.

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LOCAL

history

Renfrewshire Local History Forum

Memorial - Bridge of Weir and the First World War

Day Conference Celebrating the 700th Anniversary of Robert II, the first Stewart King

100 years ago this month – May 1916

The Stewart 700 Conference, organised jointly by Paisley Abbey and the Renfrewshire Local History Forum, will be held in Paisley Abbey on Saturday 10 October, 2016. The conference will celebrate the 700th anniversary of the birth of King Robert II, the first Stewart king, the son of Marjorie Bruce (only child of Robert the Bruce and his first wife, Isabella of Mar) and Walter Fitzalan, the 6th High Steward of Scotland. It is said that Robert was born in Paisley Abbey where his mother had been taken, fatally injured, after a riding accident. The Abbey had been founded by Walter Fitzalan, the first High Steward in 1163. The position became hereditary with Walter’s descendants taking the title as their surname: Stewart. Robert himself became the 7th High Steward on the death of his uncle, David II, the second and last of the Bruce kings. With Professor Michael Brown of the University of St Andrews as chairman of the conference, an eminent group of speakers will cover a variety of subjects relating to the Stewarts. The opening speaker of the morning session will be Professor Richard Oram from the University of Stirling, who will examine the rise of Stewart power in Scotland from 1150 to 1371, when Robert II became the first Stewart king. He will be followed by Dr Stephen Boardman of the University of Edinburgh speaking on the Stewart kings and the royal patrimony. John Malden, Slains Pursuivant of Arms, will then explain the impact of Stewart heraldry. Dr Warwick Edwards of the University of Glasgow will be the final speaker of the morning session with the subject of the Stewarts and music. Dr Sally Rush from the University of Glasgow will open the afternoon session speaking on the Scottish royal palaces and the Stewart golden age. Margaret Lumsdaine from the Marie Stewart Society will follow with the topic of the dynastic inheritance of Mary, Queen of Scots, from her Stewart Queen ancestors. The conference will end with Dr Alan MacDonald of the University of Dundee exploring the Union of the Crowns and the impact of absentee monarchy on Scotland. The Stewart 700 conference with its expert speakers and their wide-ranging topics will bring alive many aspects of that remarkable family which was the Stewart dynasty.Application forms for the conference are available from www.paisleyabbey.org.uk or www.rlhf.info. © 2016 Gina Fisher, Renfrewshire Local History Forum

Johnstone History Society Our Meeting on the 10th of May at 7.30pm as usual will be our last for this season .our speaker that night will be our secretary Valerie Reilly talking about “The Original Olympics “Valerie was the Curator of Textiles at Paisley Museum for several years .Our meeting this month was well attended and we had a very interesting talk from Drew Mc Kenzie about the life and death of “Birdie “Henry Bowers from Greenock . The Museum will continue to open right through the summer on Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays from 10.30 till 4pm .We still have a wide selection of books and publications on sale in the Museum ,these can also be ordered on line at johnstonehistory.org and can be paid for by Pay Pal.

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John Lang McInnes, 10th Scottish Rifles By February 1916, Bridge of Weir had lost fifteen of its sons. In May, Private John Lang McInnes was to be the sixteenth. He was born in Duchal Mid Lodge, Kilmacolm, third of a family of six raised by Archie McInnes, a ploughman from Iona, and Isabella Lang of Pennytersal Farm. By 1901 the family had moved to Burnbrae Cottage, Bridge of Weir. John trained as a butcher and was working in Dingwall when he volunteered in June 1915 for the Scottish Rifles. He was 35. His younger brother Archie volunteered for the Motor Machine Gun Service. By May 1916 John was in the front line with the 15th (Scottish) Division, which was holding a salient in the Hohenzollern section known as “The Kink”. This had the worst reputation of any part of the British front. The enemy overlooked it from both north and south and could accurately direct artillery and trench-mortars. Underground, teams of tunnellers dug silently towards the opposing side, trying to avoid being detected so they could be first to explode their mines. The Divisional History says, in its phlegmatically understated way, that this part of the line always received more than its share of enemy “frightfulness.” The climax was reached on May 11, when the enemy attacked and captured nearly the whole of “The Kink”, straightening out the salient. The 10th Scottish Rifles and 13th Royal Scots were holding the centre of the divisional front, against which the attack was directed. Throughout the morning and afternoon the trenches in “The Kink” were subjected to severe artillery and trench-mortar fire, the front line being almost obliterated in many places. A few mines had been blown by the enemy the night before and machinegunners prevented attempts by the Scots to re-build the barbed wire. There were very few obstacles to stop an enemy attack. About 4pm shelling reached a furious intensity and accuracy. The War Diaries say: “Some of the shells used emitted a dense black smoke which practically made it impossible to tell what the position of matters was and Very lights did not much illumine the picture tho’ used freely. Telephone communication was cut. Trenches were levelled with the ground. The result was chaos & darkness.” (The Very light was a flare gun.) At 6pm the enemy launched an attack on a narrow front, his flanks protected by machine-gun fire from Hohenzollern Redoubt and the craters near the Quarries, and succeeded in penetrating “The Kink” on a front of about 600 yards and to a maximum depth of 400 yards. The casualties sustained by the 15th Division were 11 officers killed, 14 wounded, and 2 missing; 97 other ranks were killed, 297 wounded, and 72 missing. Those posted missing were either buried during the bombardment, or suffered a direct hit from a shell. 61 men attached to the 170th Tunnelling Company were also missing. If they were underground when the bombardment began, they died there. One of the10th Scottish Rifles who died in the “chaos and darkness”, either that day or the next, was our John Lang McInnes. Read more about John’s life and untimely death at http://www. bridgeofweirmemorial.co.uk

Gordon Masterton

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Financial Blog by Carl Melvin, Affluent Financial Planning Ltd

Get financially organised using a Wrap account Getting dressed in the morning is made easier by having clothes organised. A chest of drawers to hold underwear in one drawer, socks in another and tops in a third is how many of us stay organised. It makes sense to have somewhere where things can be found easily – simple, organised, reliable. However, many people are not “financially” organised. Over the years we accumulate financial products with different providers – pensions from old jobs, investment savings plans, ISA accounts and share certificates. Keeping track of all these things can be a challenge and when you receive valuations at different times from the many providers of your financial arrangements, some valuations can be difficult to understand. You have no idea how well your investment is performing, how much you have paid in plan fees and whether your investment remains suitable and offers good value. A financial “chest of drawers” could help you organise your finances, provide clarity on how well your asset is performing, offer transparency on costs and flexibility to take advantage of investment opportunities. Wrap accounts are online investment accounts that allow you to hold your assets in different wrappers (drawers) such as ISA, Pension and General Investment Accounts. Wrap accounts offer a number of advantages; • Control – you have more control over your assets because you can easily see the value, performance & cost of each asset on demand via online access 24/7. Every penny in or out of your wrap account is visible and accounted for. • Choice – you have extremely wide choice of investment assets, so although you administer your investments in a single wrap account, you don’t have all your eggs in one basket in terms of risk. • Value – Wrap providers offer lower costs to investors by operating efficiently (internet based not paper based) and use economies of scale to deliver lower costs for investors.

with Colin Fyfe of Colcom The recent Apple v American Justice Department lawsuit, regarding the encrypted iPhone of a gunman that killed 14 people last year, concluded with the D.o.J. withdrawing from its battle with the tech giant. It seems that they managed to hack into the phone with some external help so they dropped that particular crusade into the unfolding and developing arena of debate in privacy in technology. The developers at Whatsapp, the massive mobile messaging platform now owned by Facebook have been fighting their own battle in recent years, that being how to securely encrypt every single message of its 800 million users worldwide. Last month they rolled out the update that would do just that, using end to end encryption technology. This encryption technology, like any other method of security seems only to be as secure as the most determined hacker or perhaps the most motivated regime or government. I personally think data security and anonymity is a good thing, and that Apple, Whatsapp and a host of other tech firms, giants and start-up alike, stand up for and invest money in consumer rights in this regard is also a good thing. I am happy to watch global corporations slug it out with Government over the morality and legalities of the privacy of my personal data, whether sent by email or stored on my phone - where I keep my secret date and walnut loaf recipe.

Perhaps it’s time to think out getting your own financial chest of drawers? This information is not financial advice. If you require advice you should consult a professional adviser. Achieving financial independence does not happen by accident – it is planned. Consider taking professional advice. The first meeting is normally free and there is no obligation. Call for a FREE financial review on 0871 702 9490 or info@affluentfp.co.uk. Alternatively, pop into the Affluent office opposite Amaretto restaurant on Main Street, Bridge of Weir. Www.affluentfp.co.uk

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LEAP Calder and Gryffe Community Project and LEAP Youth Engagement Programme (YEP!)! Are two of the 116 great projects across Scotland, to be funded by the Climate Challenge Fund this year. LEAP would like to extend A huge THANK YOU to our communities in Lochwinnoch, Bridge of Weir, Brookfield, Crosslee, Houston, and Kilbarchan, who have been integral in helping to shape our work at a community level and through whose actions we have been able to make a real difference in reducing the amount of energy we use in our homes and in our daily lives. With this year’s funding in place, LEAP will focus on areas of support highlighted by our neighbouring communities in our on-going consultation and continue to be a local trusted and impartial source of advice and learning delivering services and taking practical action to help residents improve carbon efficiency at home and in their wider community. Our LEAP Yep! (Youth Engagement Programme) project for young people will open a new community space this year to run a programme of reuse and maintenance sessions, pop-up events and social gatherings. To find out more about the next phase of events, activities, actions and ways to get involved, visit LEAP’s website (www.myleapproject. org), follow us on Facebook & Twitter, or pop into our community hubs in Lochwinnoch, Bridge of Weir, Kilbarchan.

Carl Melvin receives Prestigious Award Carl Melvin, Financial Planner & Managing Director of Affluent Financial Planning Ltd in Bridge of Weir has been awarded the prestigious Chartered Wealth Manager title by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), a leading professional body for financial professionals in the UK and worldwide.

Gryffe Camera Club The Camera Club has has some very interesting meetings over the last month. Jason Thompson presented his marathon trek to Base Camp in aid of Charity. Outstanding for photography and pure achievement, with interesting commentary. Our Final League Competition provided some super photographs. The Winners being Pat Allan, Malcolm Martin, John Clark and George Kennedy. The Digital Winners were oldfinch by George Kennedy and Waxwing by Malcolm Martin.

The Chartered Wealth Manager title demonstrates that holders operate at the highest standards in wealth management and are committed to professionalism and upholding high standards of integrity and ethical behaviour. Carl joins an elite group of financial planning professionals who hold this prestigious title. Carl is also a Chartered Fellow of CISI (one of only 3,434 Chartered Fellows from the CISI membership of 46,481 worldwide)

The Annual Triptych competition presented 3 photographs on a common theme. A wide range of subjects was seen. The winner of the Beginner’s Panel was Malcolm Martin with Towering Reflections and the winner of the Advanced Panel was Pat Allan with Iceland Silhouettes. We are looking forward to seeing photographs by the renowned photographer Fortuna Gatto, followed by our Annual Exhibition. We will be having a series of evening meetings over the summer period, which will be available to see on the Club website from May.

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Gryffe Valley Rotary’s fight against Polo It was 30 years ago that Rotary made its commitment to the eradication of polio from the planet, though its involvement had started earlier in 1979 when 6 million children were immunised in the Philippines. Since then most of the world has been declared polio free, with only a few cases reported this year in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The numbers are staggering – Rotary has contributed over $1.3 billion plus countless millions of volunteer manhours, some 2 billion children have been vaccinated, the number of global cases has reduced from 350,000 annually to only 10 so far this year, and some 13 million children have been saved from the virus that paralyses and can kill. However the battle isn’t over – until the final areas can be declared polio free, the rest of the world remains at risk of the virus returning. A final push is underway to achieve the end game by 2019 – indeed the world’s largest roll out of a new vaccine is currently underway which targets the polio strains that persist in the remaining pockets. Further funding is still required to take advantage of the opportunity that is there to be grasped. To that end Gryffe Valley Rotary held a n o t h e r fundraising curry night at the Shimla C o t t a g e restaurant in Bridge of Weir. Some 75 members and guests enjoyed a wide range of delicious I n d i a n pakoras and curries, and with the help of a wee raffle, over £1000 was raised towards Rotary’s polio efforts. Many thanks are due to Tabby and his Shimla Cottage team for being such splendid hosts and for donating a nice raffle prize, to the Malcolm Group who donated an exceptionally good bottle of malt whisky for the raffle, to all those who came along and supported the event, and of course to Sai Kumar and his team for their hard work in organising everything. Although much of what Gryffe Valley Rotary does is in support of our local community, it is also proud to play a small part in this major global enterprise. The world is tantalisingly close to the final eradication of this deadly virus. Hopefully with support from thousands of Rotary clubs like Gryffe Valley in every country and every continent, the target can be met.

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Diaporama “Baker and Crookston Return” was the title of our April meeting. Bill (C) started the evening with a varied selection of sequences. His first was ‘Major Tom’ - a tribute to David Bowie (Space Oddity). It was a complex sequence where he had ‘cut out’ objects e.g. A space ship, a space helmet, from a photo, added texture, changed some colours and then ‘floated’ them across a background image to make up the story. It was not a new sequence but was just as inspiring as when it was first shown. We visited ‘Thomas Coates Memorial Church’ in Paisley with a look at it’s history and general images of the beautiful church. ‘Summerlee’ was a result of a group visit several years ago and showed the development of the industrial museum. ‘Clyde Ferries’ looked not only at the boats themselves but also at the beautiful scenery they sail through. ‘Sand’ was photographed on Arran and looked at the beautiful textures and shapes made by the sea/waves on the sandy beach - a simple concept but very effective. We went to Lanzarote “Surfin’” with the usual surf boards but also did some Paragliding. After the tea break Kenneth (B) showed us his pre-views (in pro-show gold) of the sequences he is working on. He has got a new small camera with a large zoom lens that he has been using to make ‘Views of London’ with a trip round some of the highlights but particularly the London Eye - very spectacular with the zoom lens! He took us on his regular walk around ‘Erskine’ using the local footpaths and visiting Lamont Farm. We ended up ‘Kite Surfing’ but this time in Fuerteventura. Our next meeting is the AGM (usually short!) followed by a competition (open theme) on Monday 9th May in the Carrick Centre, Houston at 7.30pm. Visitors always welcome!

Design your dream floor At Orchard Flooring we believe that the floor is the base of your home life. Karndean flooring is inspired by nature and looks and feels spectacular. This luxury flooring comes in wood and stone effect but unlike natural wood or ceramics it doesn’t crack, chip or fade so easily. Whether your old floor is water damaged, fitted badly or simply needing a breath of fresh air, Karndean is the ideal choice for your busy homes and businesses. With a huge collection of styles, colours and textures available, from the classic Van Gogh range, to something a little more unique like Ships Decking effect, you are bound to find the perfect fit for your home. Orchard Flooring has over 15 years experience in fitting Karndean and Amtico and we pride ourselves on excellent customer service and clear communications. We want to walk out that door knowing that, not only do you have a floor that looks and feels spectacular, but that will continue to do so for many years to come. With a home sampling service why not give us a call and be on your way to a stunning floor from Orchard Flooring. You can contact Scott on 01505 22 9584 or 07563 633 432 E: sjmproducts@hotmail.com website - www.orchard-flooring.com

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Langbank Camera Club This months print competition topic was “Scottish Architecture”. First place was awarded to James Goodall for his image of Anchor Mill, Paisley. The mill is the last of it’s kind still standing, having lain empty for many years before being reinvented as business units and apartments. Second place was awarded to Derrick McPherson for his image of Benmore House in the grounds of Benmore Botanic Gardens, north west of Dunoon. Third place was awarded to John Davies for his image of “Govan Town Hall”, Glasgow which was built between 1890-1901. Like so many older buildings it also has a new identity and is currently the Glasgow Film City.

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Paisley Colour’s 3rd Bimonthly Competition Results Paisley Colour Photographic Club were very pleased to welcome very accomplished photographer Clive Watkins from Troon to judge the third of the session’s three bimonthly competitions held recently at the McMaster Centre in Renfrew.

Our featured lecture was HDR p h o t o g r a p h y, presented by Gary Ramanathan. The presentation provided an insight into the techniques, dos and don’ts, which help to achieve the most from this photographic technique. It is one of those processes where the final output is very subjective. The trick is to strike the right balance for the target audience. The Projected Digital Image (PDI) evening held at the end of last month was well supported and showcased images which had to include a stain glass window. As usual we had a variety of styles and images. Projecting them on the large screen gave us the advantage of seeing the beauty and details not normally seen in a print. It also allowed members to discuss one another’s impression of the images, how it was taken and how much post processing had been done to the image etc. The May print meeting will be held as usual on the second Monday of the month, 9th May at 7:30pm. At this meeting we will be featuring a lecture on “A beginners guide to Layers” - demystifying this digital photo editing process. The print competition topic for May is “Travel Photography” - let your photo tell a story. The club will be going into the summer break after the May PDI meeting, Monday 30th May at 7:30pm. Keep reading the Advertizer though, as we will be updating you with information regarding our 2016/17 session, commencing September, plus displaying some of the images from our PDI evenings. Club meetings are held in Langbank Church Halls, Langbank. Visitors are always welcome at any of our evenings. Club membership is only £10 for the first year. If you wish to find out more about Langbank Camera Club please visit our website: www. langbankcameraclub.weebly.com or contact Derrick McPherson at langbankcc1@gmail.com with your enquiries.

In this competition members could submit up to three digital images each and Clive gave very careful consideration to each of the sixty images in the sections: Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced. Mike’s judging was really a tutorial in photography. His knowledge in so many areas of photography is considerable and he shared so much of this with the club that evening as he meticulously judged each image. He gave encouragement discussing the strengths of each image in turn and also gave helpful suggestions as to how an image could be improved for example by converting an image to monochrome instead of colour may make an image stronger or by ensuring that in an image there is a main point of interest for viewer’s eye to rest on. As usual there was a wide range of images submitted and Clive emphasised the difficulty he had in finalising the ranking of the top images in each section. In the Introductory section third place was awarded to Ken McArthur for his image “A Run in the Long Grass”. “Pig Poser” by Kathy Giddings was placed in second position. The top image in the Introductory section was by Ken McArthur for his image “The Makers Mark”. The award for the Best Intermediate Image was made to Linda Rodger for her colourful, minimalist image “Freshly Painted”. In the Advanced section Clive awarded third place to Guy Phillips for his dramatic motorcycle image “Closer than you Might Wish”. Clive admitted that he had great difficulty choosing a winner between the top two images. Robert Fulton’s beautiful winter landscape “Olstind at Sunrise” was placed second whilst Clive chose Mike Cruise’s stunning natural history capture “Osprey with Catch” as the top image and winner of the 3rd bimonthly competition.

For further details about PCPC and updated members galleries please view: www.paisleycolour.co.uk

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bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir .....................................................

What’s happening in The Bridge in May?

Apart from the usual activities, - Bridge Classes, Film Nights, Hard of Hearing Clinic, Citizens Advice Bureau and MSP/MP surgeries there is always the opportunity to sit and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in pleasant surroundings. Customer Survey - the Trustees wish to thank all who completed our Customer Survey in February. The responses were most encouraging. Two main points were highlighted:1) Opening Hours - the vast majority of customers (91.7%) were content with the present hours. Most people are used to our opening times and although some would prefer different hours there was consensus that, in line with cost implications, the current opening hours should remain. 2) Events - several people suggested holding new events/craft groups within The Bridge. Arranging and holding events cannot be organised solely by the existing Trustees without help from other parties. If you have the appropriate skills and would like to encourage others in your craft please contact us.

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Bishopton Parish Church – recognising the Architect David Hamilton As a final part of the celebrations of the Bicentenary of the building of the present church building in 1813/5, Bishopton Parish Church has commissioned a Recognition Plaque for the architect, David Hamilton. The blue Plaque has now been fixed to a buttress close to the front door. The installation of the Plaque not only relates to the Bicentenary but will add to the wider historical and cultural scene in Renfrewshire supporting Paisley’s bid for recognition as a City of Culture. In 1975 the building was listed by the then Renfrew County Council as a building of special architectural or historic interest. David Hamilton was one of the most prominent and prolific architects in 19th century Scotland. Born in Glasgow, he set up his own architectural business about 1790 and his business flourished, boosted by the rapid expansion of the city.

Art Exhibitions Adding to the atmosphere are the ongoing exhibitions. From the 3rd May to 3rd June we are pleased to have artists from the Bishopton Art Group exhibiting. Please pop in to view the paintings and support Renfrewshire artists. Post Office and Shop For all your Post Office services, purchases of stationery, greeting cards, pocket money toys and hand crafted items please support your Community Centre where our volunteers and Post Office staff work hard to meet your needs. Over the last two months we have expanded our stock of stationery items and greeting cards. We thank you for your custom and continuing support. (Opening Hours: Mon – 9am to 5pm (PO closed 12 noon to 12.30pm); Tues & Fri – 1pm to 5pm; Wed & Thu – 10am to 2pm; Sat – 9am to 1pm)

Most of his designs were for domestic and commercial premises and he made a major contribution to the architecture of the city and its surroundings. His work included Hutchesons’ Hospital in Ingram Street, the Royal Exchange building (now the Gallery of Modern Art) and the Nelson Monument in Glasgow Green. The Hunterian Art Gallery in Glasgow University holds a collection of over 400 of his drawings. Commenting on the installation, Jack Watson who was the chairman of the Church group that organised a very successful Bicentenary year of events, said that “We have been delighted with the response to the celebrations that we have had from the Church congregation and the wider Bishopton community. This Plaque will be a permanent reminder of the year and encourage us to look to the future in faith”. The addition of the Plaque to the building adds to the significance of its design as one of the earliest examples in Britain of the Neo-Gothic style first favoured in the late 18th century but which did not become popular until the early Victorian period, over two decades after the church building was completed The Church also published a very successful Bicentenary book that charts its history and that of the surrounding area from the 1200s to the present day. Copies of the book A Renfrewshire Parish are available from the Church or from Abbey Books in Well Street in Paisley. PHOTOS: a) Locum minister the Reverend Bill McKaig on right of Plaque and John Wylie, member of the Bicentenary group on left facing the picture b) Picture showing the location of the Plaque near the front door of the church building c) Bishopton Parish Church building d) The Plaque

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BoW Allotments and Gardens Society Last year we undertook a consultation with neighbours of Moss Road Park to find out how they would respond to a plan to create a community growing area in a corner of the park. The response was generally positive, especially when it was appreciated that a community garden would comprise of raised beds and would not be allotments. The idea of community growing is to include local people of all ages in growing food. It offers a chance to learn from each other and working together can be a great way to make new friends. We will discuss our ideas further at our AGM on May 24th at 7.30pm at the Bridge, so if you are interested please come along. We continue to work on the community garden behind the Bridge Post Office and Community Centre. We will put a diary in the Bridge so you can read about what we have planted over the growing season this year. A variety of herbs are already growing well and visitors are welcome to cut some for their cooking. Over the spring we will be planting vegetables. Do come to see how attractive a vegetable plot can look.

Pirie Information Centre The Information Centre is now able to provide application forms for Free Bus Travel for Older People (60 and over). We also continue to hold Passport forms and we have a very wide selection of tourist information leaflets if you are having visitors over the summer and are looking for ideas as to where to take them. Please pop in for a browse - we are open Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings from 10am to 12noon and you can find us in Freeland Church, Main Street, Bridge of Weir.

Weir Networking Friday 27 May 2016 - Amaretto, Bridge of Weir The May Weir Networking Group will welcome Colin Halliday to talk about the in’s and out’s of Business Insurance which to us all is a very important issue. Colin Halliday is an independent general Insurance Broker who looks after the Business Insurance needs of a range of trades and professions and works with Businesses of all sizes. He can also help arrange Home and Travel Insurance. He is based in Glasgow and offers a traditional insurance broking service to all. Weir Networking is a Business Networking Group for local Business's to get together and make contact. Contact 0777 55 94 132 or email mo-hypnotherapy-world@live.co.uk Come along on Friday morning, at 9.30am, to find out more and see what we can do to help you and your business. We meet for breakfast and a chat in Amaretto Ristorante, 60 Main Street, Bridge of Weir. All businesses welcome - just £5 per person!

Bridge of Weir Tenants and Residents Association The latest meeting of Bridge of Weir TARA was also the AGM, and was very well attended. Our thanks go to local Councillors Maria Brown and James MacLaren, Police Sergeant Moir, Housing Officer Barry Scott, and Hugh Strain and members of the Renfrewshire Wardens Service for their attendance. The Police report showed that most of the crimes around the village over the past month concerned breaches of the peace or vandalism. The house up for sale on the main street next to the Freeland Church car park is proving to be a magnet for crime and has been broken into on a number of occasions. If you see any suspicious behaviour around this property, or around the village in general please inform the police by phoning them on 101. The Wardens service issued a number of tickets around the village for littering over the past month and hopefully people will take the hint and keep the village tidy. You are reminded once again that the fine for dog fouling as of the 1st April is £80, rising to £100 if not paid within 28 days. The Council’s dog fouling notices around the village will be updated by the Wardens when the new ones become available. As always please clean up after your dog “Bag It and Bin It”. Gladman Developments based in Livingston have stated their intention to submit a planning application for a major housing development, to the north of the Kilmacolm Road leaving Bridge of Weir. Bridge of Weir Tenants and Residents Association will be closely watching how this progresses, given the area earmarked is greenbelt, and also the possible impact on the village’s services and infrastructure. Houston Road Park was recently visited by tree surgeons and the trees parallel to the Houston Road have been trimmed. One of the trees which had been reported to the Council by TARA on safety grounds last year, was safely chopped down and removed. The proposed drainage works within the park are now underway and hopefully the park will be able to be used more fully in the not to distant future. The next meeting of Bridge of Weir Tenants and Residents Association will be on Tuesday 17th May in the Pirie Centre at Freeland Church at 7.30pm. All are welcome.

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bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir .....................................................

Bishopton Art Group to exhibit in Bridge of Weir Between Tuesday 3rd May and Friday 3rd June 2016 at The Bridge, Community Centre, 63 Main Street, Bridge of Weir, members of Bishopton Art Group will be exhibiting a selection of their paintings. The paintings will also be available for sale. Access to the exhibition is free and is during The Bridge’s opening hours. This exhibition follows on from the Group’s successful exhibition last year at Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens and Ingliston Country Club. Members of Bishopton Art Group are all amateur artists and use a variety of mediums and styles. The exhibition at The Bridge is open during the following hours: Monday 9am - 5pm; Thursday 10am-2pm; (Sunday closed)

Tuesday 1pm–5pm; Friday 1pm–5pm;

Wednesday 10.am-2pm; Saturday 9am–1pm

Linda Mitchell, organiser of Bishopton Art Group’s exhibition at The Bridge said, “Bishopton Art Group is pleased to announce that once again we will be exhibiting at The Bridge in Bridge of Weir. It gives those that have not had the opportunity to travel to Bishopton or to our other events, the chance to see a nice selection of paintings by local artists. If they wish, they can also purchase a painting. On behalf of Bishopton Art Group, I would like to thank everyone who supports our exhibitions, it is very encouraging to the artists.”

Bridge of Weir SWI At our recent AGM and Mini Show there were several prize winners. Brenda Lyndsay won the Points trophy, with Joyce Bennie and Mabel McPherson as runners up. The Duncan Cup was won by Pat Allan with a knitted baby’s pram cover. Jean Thom’s Weetabix loaf won her the Muirhead Cup and Rhona McLean was winner of the Woodrow Cup with a flower arrangement in a teapot.

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Some of the handicrafts from the show, plus many highly desirable prizes will be available at our Auction and Tea Party on 7th May to raise funds to bring fresh water to rural communities in the Third World.

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Bridge of Weir Community Council The Community Council welcomed LEAP Deputy Project Manager Jen O ‘Brien to the April meeting. Jen explained the current and future project works comprising of energy advice, LEAP car club, LEAP YEP! (youth engagement programme) and the external wall insulation, 7 homes were completed in 2014, 14 homes 2015-2016 and are applying for funding for further works. She also informed us why LEAP do what they do to be involved in the community, to protect the environment, assist with climate change measures and reduce fuel poverty. LEAP gives advice to residents on reducing their energy bills, prevent heat and energy loss, to include cavity loft, internal and external insulation and on reducing home energy use. They also carry out thermal imaging draught testing and draught proofing identifying and solving problems. Issues raised with the Police Officers attending the meeting included complaints regarding parking on the double yellow lines on Main Street, a complaint regarding inappropriate parking in Lintwhite Crescent outside the Cargill Hall mainly on Tuesday mornings and littering throughout the village. Another issue was the number of parking tickets thrown on to the Johnstone Road. Councillor MacLaren’s report to the meeting. Clevans Road pavement has been extensively damaged by the heavy rainfall over the festive period. While the footway is not adopted by Renfrewshire Council, the Roads Department are concerned that pedestrians would have no alternative than to walk on the carriageway. To avoid having to close a lane to accommodate this, they have undertaken some works to provide a safe walking surface. They have not constructed a new footway at this location but road material has been rolled and compacted and the golf course has used whin stone/whin dust to further improve the area. Prior to the meeting we understood that the whin dust is already being washed away into the drains. Councillor MacLaren will bring this to the attention of the department. Houston Road Park, flooding is still an issue. The Councillor will check to see if there are any more drains to be installed, and if the work is still expected to be completed by mid-April. Though, looking at the park, the work does not look anywhere near finished. Bollards are to be installed on Livery Walk to keep offending vehicles off. Future village enhancement projects were discussed at length two grant applications have been submitted to the Local Area Committee, one to further the Christmas Lighting display and another to provide funding for a feasibility study for a heritage project and walkway improvements at the Ladeside from Bridge of Weir to Houston. The Community Council will be having discussions with officials from The Paisley City of Culture 2021 team to establish if this project can be incorporated within the bid. A member of the Community Council will be investigating the proposal for exercise equipment to be located within the village. Two members of the Community Council attended Community Councillors training on the topic of funding they reported on a worthwhile night and should put us in good stead for future project funding applications.

Plant sale/Cream teas Langbank Church of Scotland, from 11am to 1pm Saturday 14 May A plant sale is being held in the Church Car Park, and Cream Teas served in the Church Hall. The plants are from the nursery at Branching Out, Parklea in Port Glasgow, they will have a selection of summer bedding plants. Pre order forms are available for you to choose your favourite bedding plants. Please collect a form from the Church Hall any Monday while the Drop in Cafe is open between 2 and 4pm, or at Church on Sunday. After you select your plants come into the Church Hall for a delicious cream tea, with scones, pancakes and cream cakes.

Several roads across Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank have been programmed for significant repair and resurfacing in this financial year. This includes: A8 Greenock Road, Kingston Road, Renshaw Road, Churchill Drive (done), Stuart Road in Bishopton, Watt Road, Clevans Road, Lawmarnock Road, Hillview Road/Church Road, Peat Road/Gorse Crescent, Torr Road and St Andrews Drive in Bridge of Weir and Station Road and Elmbank Road in Langbank. It is very disappointing to hear the Clydesdale Bank will be closing its branch in Bridge of Weir on 18th July. Whilst I recognise that many people are changing the ways they manage their money, many still like the friendly face to face service provided in their local branch. Other local businesses will suffer as customers travel to Johnstone or Paisley to access banking services. The development of Dargavel continues apace. There are agreed access and egress routes for construction traffic to minimise disruption and housebuilders have been asked to remind contractors to use these routes. Changes to the welfare system began in April. The main changes affecting residents mean a freeze on the Local Housing Allowance for four years – meaning if private rents rise, the benefit wont. In addition the Universal Credit work allowance will reduce for some people and be removed completely for others but if you claim Universal Credit you will be able to claim back more of your childcare costs. There are also changes to the state pension that is based on your National Insurance Record and will affect you if you are a woman born on or after 6 April 1951 or a man born on or after 6 April 1953. If you are concerned or want further information on the changes please visit: www.renfrewshire.gov. uk/benefitchanges E-mail: cllr.michael.holmes@renfrewshire.gov.uk Surgeries: 4th Monday: Langbank PS (from 6pm) and Bishopton Library (from 6.45pm) and Cargill Hall, Bridge of Weir 4th Wednesday (from 6.30pm). Tel: 0300 300 1295

RagBag Recycle Bin - Langbank There is now a permanent RagBag Recycle bin sited in the school car park of Langbank Primary School for any of your unwanted textiles (no duvets or pillows). Any money raised from this will go to Langbank Playgroup. If anyone has any items and is unable to get to the recycle bin please call Jacqueline on 01475 540728. Thank you in advance. Changes to the amenity sites are still exercising your minds, with the problems of getting rid of your garden waste high on the agenda. You can request additional brown bins or else the Underwood Road Paisley depot would have to be the place to take excess garden waste. Far be it for me to suggest bagging it and placing it in the grey bins. As always, I have passed on your concerns. Virgin Media are compiling a priority list of communities which they will take their optical fibre broadband to. By the end of April they will have a list of 10 which will be given priority and a further 30 that people can still register for until the end of September and the build order for these will then be decided. Meanwhile BT is continuing to work on their network. If your address is on an Exchange Only (EO) line, there appears to be various challenges connecting to a cabinet. There is a possibility that it will be rearranged into an existing cabinet. However, there is currently no information relating to timescales if this is an option. Some of you may not be aware that plastic film e.g. carrier bags are now recyclable and can be put into your blue recycle bin. Previous contracts that the council had did not permit this. Ideally, plastic liners should be placed in the blue bin separately, in other words not used for storing other recyclates. Bubble wrap is not included in the “mix”. Surgeries: Bishopton Community Library - 1st Monday of every month (6.30pm), Cargill Hall - 2nd Monday of every month (6.30pm), Langbank Parish Church Hall - 3rd Monday of every month (6.30pm). Contact: 0300-300-1291 or email cllr.james.maclaren@renfrewshire.gov.uk . Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/councillormaclaren “Working with you and improving our local area”. Please feel free to contact me with any of your concerns, and I am happy to meet with you at a mutually convenient time.

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houston, crosslee & brookfield

..................................................... My surgeries are held on the second Tuesday of the month in the Brookfield Village Hall from 6pm to 6.30pm then in the Houston Village Hall from 7pm to 7.45pm

I can be contacted by phone on 01505 610018 or by e-mail at cllr. allan.noon@renfrewshire.gov.uk or through Renfrewshire Council on 0300 300 1265.

Houston & Crosslee SWI

After our very successful AGM and Mini Show. The last meeting of the year will be on the 11th May when we will hold our Macmillan Tea and Chat night. All our meetings are held in The Compass Centre, South Street, Houston at 7.30pm. Come along and join us, you will be made very welcome. For further information please contact, Arlene McKay on 0141 884 6210.

Roll Up, Roll Up for Show Time in Houston Houston Show – Saturday 4th June Come along and join us in the Playing Fields right in the heart of Houston Village for our annual show. Gates are open from 10.30am for a fun filled family day out. See our cattle, sheep and heavy horses being judged – who will be best in the show? Watch the light horse competition with hunter, cross country and show jumping classes taking place all day. Visit the secretary’s tent before 12.30pm and enter your prize pooch into the dog show. See talented local school children perform in our Houston’s Got Talent competition and see all the fantastic entries in our craft and baking section. Schedules for the Craft and Baking Section are available from the Post Office and the Paper Shop, North Street, Houston. They are also available from Isabelle Stuart 01505 613479 or issistuart@fsmail.net The craft and baking classes are open to all of Renfrewshire. Schedules for all sections of the show can be obtained by contacting Show Secretary Mo Lyle 07734 150445, houstonshow@hotmail.co.uk or by visiting Facebook Page www.facebook.com/houstonshow

Houston and Killellan Kirk Carnival LET THE FORCE BE WITH YOU on SATURDAY 14 MAY Saturday 14th May is just round the corner and Houston will be transformed into a scene from STAR WARS, now is the time to get organised with your galactic outfits. Join in on the parade and become part of the big event. I guarantee there will be a few surprises. There is something for everyone and here is just a flavour of what’s on offer:

Brookfield Village Brookfield participated in the Sport Relief Mile event, held on Saturday 19th March. We were lucky with the weather, had participants of all ages dressed in a range of costumes and raised £157. Our thanks to everyone who participated and organised. The same weekend, Brookfield Art Club held their Art Show, which was opened by Jimmie MacGregor, well known entertainer and broadcaster and the event was heralded a great success.

Heart Start Training - starting June 2016 The defibrillator is now installed at the Village Hall and Heart Start training sessions are ongoing, with the next session set for Thursday 2nd June. Spaces are available between 7pm and 9pm. Please check out our Facebook page: Brookfield Village, for more details.

Quiz Night - Saturday 14 May 2016 Brookfield are holding a Quiz Night on Saturday 14th May to which all are welcome. Please email Brookfieldvpa@gmail.com if you are interested in attending. We also have our Summer Social on Sunday 5th June. Gala Day will once again be held on August 20th and volunteers are requested for all events. Please email Brookfieldvpa@gmail.com if you have time and are willing to help. It really would be appreciated. @brookfieldvpa Contact details 07971 448889

for

Brookfield Village

H.O.S.T. The Carrick Centre, Houston (Houston Old School Trust) What’s on May 2016

Burlex Fitness (Weekly) 9:15 – 10am 07944 815 298

MONDAY

Gryffe Quilting Group (Weekly) 1:15 3:15 19th 10am -3pm

Yoga (Weekly) 1pm Mary Laidlaw 01505 229112

Beat-the-goalie, coconut shy, tennis, slide-a-pint, live music, ice cream, hotdog/ burger stalls, sweet stall…. For the more adventurous.

Rockstar Tumbling Class (Weekly) 4:15pm Roz Hart 07734 714131

Tea room with delicious baking plus an additional home baking stall, plant stall, bottle stall, books, jewellery, white elephant stall…. For the young at heart.

Diaporama 9th 7:30pm

There are so many stalls and games to enjoy along with a huge variety of tasty food which will certainly lure you in………so don’t have your lunch before you come. Before we pack up at the end of the day, the prizes winners for the various competitions from the programme will be announced. The prizes in the lucky draw competition are particularly good this year, so if you haven’t filled in your programme entry or you want to increase your chances of winning, then additional entries can be purchased from a dedicated stall – Good luck! The proceeds from this year’s Carnival will go towards the Houston and Killellan Kirk extension fun.

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THURSDAY

Monday to Friday, Woodlands Out of School 01505 615438

Bouncy castle, giant slide, face painting, roundabout, hook-a-boat, cuddly toy stall…. For the young.

It all kicks off at 12 noon outside the Kirk with the judging of the STAR WARS LET THE FORCE BE WITH YOU. Around 12.15pm the Houston Boys and Girls Brigade Pipe Band will lead the party followed by the Queen-in-Waiting Megan Finn, and her Attendants Emily Fallon and Rachel Hill, who will be transported in style. They, along with the rest of the parade, will head off to the front of the West Hall in Main Street where the art competition and fancy dress winners will be announced. Then we have the big moment when the Carnival Queen is crowned and the 2015 Kirk Carnival commences.

www.brookfieldvillage.org

hall lettings: brookfieldvpa@gmail.com or Carol Biggin

TUESDAY Musical Theatre (Weekly) 3:30pm 5:45pm Yoga (weekly) 7pm M/s Lawson 01505 613690

WEDNESDAY Paint Pot Tots (Weekly) 10am Dawn Campbell 07789 262 350 Galaxy Dance (Weekly) 4pm Lauren 07974 285102 Councillors Surgeries 18th 6:30pm Gryffe Melody Makers 11th & 25th 7pm Camera Club (weekly except 25th) 7:30pm Houston Community Council 18th 7:30pm

Crafty Friends 5th & 19th 7:30pm Folk Club (weekly) 8pm Paddybullen@ live.co.uk

FRIDAY Yoga (Weekly) 10:30am M/s Lawson 01505 613690 Galaxy Dancing (Weekly except 13th) 4pm Lauren MP Surgery (13th) 12:30 – 1:30pm

SATURDAY Galaxy Dancing (Weekly except 14th) 9:30am Lauren Kirk Carnival 14th

SUNDAY Baptist Church (weekly) 11am and 6pm Booking enquiries to Ian Simpson, 01505 612203 Sandy Young 01505 331488 Bill Haddow 01505 690693 hostbooking@outlook.com or The Coffee Shop

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Signed Star Wars prints to raffle Houston and Killellan Kirk have been extremely fortunate to be given signed prints of Star Wars from the comic book artist Gary Erskine.The prints can be seen on the kirk's Facebook page and can be viewed at the Carnival before being raffled. Gary Erskine started drawing work for fanzines while at art college and aspired to be a comic book artist. Erskine has also contributed character designs and storyboards for television, commercials and games development working with various companies over the last eighteen years. He has also worked on licensed properties such as the DreamWorks characters (including Shrek and Madagascar) and for Sony and occasionally freelances with the award winning Glasgow studio Axis Animation.

Houston Community Council Police Report: Inspector Glass reported 6 incidents and 4 crimes in the past month. She confirmed that Elderslie Estates are currently reviewing the use of SmartWater. Also confirmed that vandalism to bus shelters is a Renfrewshire wide issue and it is difficult to catch offenders without CCTV coverage. Residents’ are concerned about boy racers in Crosslee Road. Inspector Glass will request RC Roads Department for clearly visible speed limit signs and asked residents to contact the police if problem recurs, and where possible to note registration numbers. Mr Jake Fulton offered to set up a litter clean-up group. It was agreed that details of the new group would be added to the HCC website. We should request necessary materials from RC Community Resources, agree collection dates and contact Gryffe High who currently operate clean ups in the village. Litter on the main roads in the village will be tackled later. Cllr Stuart Clark offered to support provision of the necessary traffic control measures. Councillors’ Report: Cllr Clark reported a budget reduction of 3.6%. The Social Work budget will increase. More shared school campus opportunities will be considered. Unlikely to affect Houston. A new sports village will be created in Ferguslie Park in partnership with St Mirren FC and the West of Scotland University. Efforts are being made to attract more national and international events to Saint James playing fields. Funds being released to provide free Wifi in town centres and to a lesser extent rural areas/villages in Renfrewshire. Funding may be available to upgrade Ardgryffe Park and HCC should liaise with Houston Playpark Improvement Group and the local Houston football team. Agreed to review in greater detail at April’s meeting. A new bus shelter will be provided. The flooding issues in Brierie Hill should be resolved soon. The Council will repair the fence at the main roundabout. Chairman’s Report: Correspondence - Printed Potholes Register and distributed. Reported out of action street lights and list of blocked drains. Met with Elizabeth Dalgetty and Helen Parker to discuss traffic issues. David Dunlop will join this sub-committee. Requested procedure from Renfrewshire Council’s Roads Department to have footpaths in Craigends adopted and to pass on residents’ concerns about overhanging trees on path behind shops in Crosslee. Leeburn Avenue residents will have to agree if they want Superfast Broadband and then approach their individual service providers saying that the whole street wants it. 372 fly-tipping incidents in Renfrewshire over 12 months ending 31 January 2016. Kate Cuthbert at RC that will come to our May or June meeting to discuss connecting Houston to the National Cycle Network. We will monitor traffic arising from the Merchiston development. Request from Gryffe High PTA for a stall at the Houston Agricultural Show, fee £40. We await their confirmation. The Fox and Hounds and Houston Inn are keen to facilitate flower displays. Treasurer’s Report: Account balance £3,146 including £805 administration grant. AOCB: Houston Agricultural Show agreed to take a stand with a raffle. Mark suggested creating an Asset register. Next meeting: 18th May, Carrick Centre, Main Street, Houston. 7.30pm.

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kilmacolm & quarriers ..................................................... In March we were contacted by Scottish Gas Networks informing us of proposed gas mains replacement work in the following streets within the village: Duchal Road, Porterfield Road, Bridge of Weir Road, Houston Road, Barclaven Road, Gilburn Road and Glencairn Road. We were told that the project involved the replacement of approximately 2.7km of old cast iron gas mains with new polyethylene pipe, and the replacement of approximately 120 gas services supplying domestic customers. The project is estimated to last around 6 months and will undoubtedly cause disruption within the village. It is our intention to meet with with the Operations Planning Manager from Scottish Gas Networks to discuss the proposed works and emphasise the importance of keeping the disruption to an absolute minimum. There could be further disruption ahead for the village as Virgin Media are currently seeking expressions of interests from residents in having their streets cabled. Further information can be found at www.virginmedia.com/cablemystreet. B786 Stepends Road will be closed from 07:00 on Tuesday 3rd May until 17:00 on Friday 6th May to allow for resurfacing works. During this period a diversion will be in place between Milton Road, Bridge of Weir Road, Craigends Road, Craigbet Road and Stepends Road. Council tax collection in Inverclyde has hit its highest ever level with in-year collection reaching 95.1% in the year just ended, 2015/16. The final collection rate will be higher as it takes account of payments made after 1 April 2016. Council Tax can be paid by direct debit, online through the Council website, by barcoded bill or payment card at paypoint sites in Post Offices or at the Council’s Customer Service Centre and by phone to the automated payment line on 0845 309 6062 (24 hours) or 01475 712590 (office hours). Councillor McColgan My surgeries this month are on Tuesday 17 May, 6pm – 7pm in Boglestone Centre and Monday 30 May, 6pm – 7pm in Boglestone Community Centre, Port Glasgow. You can reach me on 01475 712727 (during office hours) and 07881 280016 (anytime) or by emailing me at james.mccolgan@inverclyde.gov.uk. Alternatively you can write to me at Inverclyde Council, Municipal Buildings, Greenock PA15 1LY. You can keep up to date with my work as a Councillor by visiting my website: http:// jamesmccolgan.com. You can also follow me on Twitter @jamesmccolgan. Councillor McCabe My surgeries this month are on Tuesday 10 May, 6pm - 7pm in St Francis Primary School, Port Glasgow and on Tuesday 31 May, 6.30pm to 7.30pm in Kilmacolm Community Centre.You can also contact me directly to discuss any matters that are of concern to you by telephone on 01475 712020 (during office hours) and 871368 (home) or by email to Stephen.McCabe@ inverclyde.gov.uk. Alternatively you can write to me at 10 Victoria Gardens, Kilmacolm PA13 4HL. You can keep up to date with my work as a Councillor by visiting my blog: http://councillorstephenmccabe.blogspot.com/ and follow me on Twitter @ CllrSMcCabe.

Bottles & Baking please! Kilmacolm friends of Ardgowan Hospice will be holding their annual Bottle and Baking Stall at The Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow Agricultural Society Show on Saturday 14th May. All donations will be greatly appreciated.Baking can be handed in at the Kidston Hall on Friday 13th May between 2-5pm. For donations of bottles please phone Aileen 01505 874121 or Peter 01505 872343.

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The OUTLOOK group is open to all residents of Kilmacolm, meeting together for friendship and fellowship on the first and third Thursdays monthly at 2pm in Kidston Hall. We enjoy a variety of speakers on topics of interest, discuss community issues, perhaps enjoy a film, or music, or a quiz.

Thursday 5 May - Kidston Hall, Kilmacolm, 2pm This month we meet on Thursday 5th May, we will welcome guests from charities which we have supported during the past year - Mercy Ships, Ardgowan Hospice, Orkidstudio, Marys Meals and Christian Aid - to hear an update of their continuing work in the world. Plus the wonderful music of David on the piano, and of course Afternoon Tea prepared by the talented OUTLOOK team.

Thursday 19 May - Kidston Hall, Kilmacolm, 2pm On Thursday 19th May our very special guest is Maria Wallace Beston. An outstanding professional artist who has retired to the West of Scotland. Her topic is Amateur Art Appreciation.To be followed of course by Afternoon Tea together. Everyone is most welcome, please come along.

Kilmacolm Book Launch A book with thirty oil paintings of Kilmacolm and surrounding landscapes by local artist, Jim Wood, is launched this month. It is available for sale in both Threads and the Post Office, price £9.50. All sale proceeds will go to the Kilmacolm Heritage Centre Co Ltd.

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Many readers have queried with myself, and the Editor, the absence of my April piece, mea culpa! The illustrated talk at the recent Civic Trust AGM was by Dr Andy Scott, the renowned sculptor, who gave quite superb and fascinating lecture on the work, skill, engineering and creativity that went into the sculpting of “The Kelpies”. Dr Scott has an international reputation and we were very fortunate that he joined us and gave such an inspirational talk. The closure of the Clydesdale Bank in Bridge of Weir is a further blow to banking services in the area. The mobile bank is ok, but often has queues, and I have had a complaint from traders that monies deposited on a Monday does not make their accounts until Tuesday. The matter of parking spaces in the village, which are in short supply, was raised at the Civic Trust AGM. I have had a further complaint that Inverclyde traffic wardens have been in the village every day this week (2nd in April ) and on several occasions twice a day. This to me is completely unnecessary, as 3 years ago when the Police Wardens were operational, they came once a week! Kilmacolm is not the same as Greenock and like most villages manages itself very well. In my recent electioneering in Renfrewshire’s villages and towns I see little evidence of traffic wardens. We now have a parking disc system and a failure to display results in a £60 ticket. Although there is no time limit in the Cargill Centre car park, the wardens can issue tickets for parking out-with the designated spaces, even if the car is in a appropriate bay but the wheels are just slightly over the white lines. After a nine year campaign monies are being made available to upgrade the drainage of the rugby pitches at Birkmyre Park. I am afraid that I work in a council that is soccer orientated and the spend on the rugby pitches is miniscule to that spent on soccer pitches, both grass and 3G. St Columba School, who contributed generously to the costs, won their Black Conference league and Birkmyre Rugby Club and the some 300 minis and midis have also had a successful season. Let us hope that in future there are much less cancelled fixtures and all go from strength to strength playing a game which is now an Olympic Sport. The Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow Agricultural Show is on the 14th May at Knapps, courtesy of Lord MacLay, Mrs Smith and Robert Baxter. There are many animals on show, but I draw your attention to the Highland Cattle and the Clydesdales. The Industrial Tent is run by the ladies section. There are plenty of schedules around the village and in particular the assistance of Blackwood the Butcher is appreciated. There are many prizes and cups to be won, so get cooking and producing crafts.

Do you suffer from a Lung Disorder? I am a sufferer, and I was amazed to find out that there are over 50 people in Kilmacolm and surrounding districts who also suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD, a lung disease. Outwith Kilmacolm, most areas have Support Groups, and since I would very much like to be in such a group I decided to post this notice in The Advertizer to find out if there are sufficient numbers of us here in Kilmacolm willing to get together and start up a COPD Support Group. If you are interested please contact me, Bob McDonald on 01505 872978.

Hall to Hire Kilmacolm The Guide Hut on Woodrow Ave is a great venue with easy access near to the village centre. Newly refurbished main hall, with additional kitchen facilities and outdoor area. Perfect for children’s parties, weekly classes and one off special occasions. For further contact Carol on 01505 874428.

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The Old Kirk had its well attended early morning service at the Knapps on Easter Sunday led by the Rev Peter McEnhill. The Cross of daffodils is prepared later in the Old Kirk and brought out to the field as a reminder to all the message of Easter. One disappointing note was the dog poo around the loch. The majority of dog walkers use the bins provided, but with the show coming up there is dog poo in the area where children will play and tents erected. I have had the disturbing report of a constituent’s child partially blinded by contact with dog dirt. The fine for not picking it up dog litter is now £80 and I’m sure it’s a minority of owners who yet do not appreciate the issue, let’s hope decency and common sense eventually prevails. The SPT My Bus service is a lifeline for those who use it. The bright orange vehicles are quite distinctive. Often there is only one or two people travelling, but the average journey cost per person is £6.30 and given the need it satisfies, this is not an exceptional expenditure. The 47th Annual Plant Sale at the Lodge in Glebe Road starts on Friday 13th May, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th, and the following weekend Friday 20th, Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd. See elsewhere in the gardening section for more details. My surgeries are 18-May St Francis School 6-7pm and 28-May Cargill 10-11am. I can be contacted on david.wilson@inverlyde.gov.uk and 01475 741969 and 712727 and 07766 992294.

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kilmacolm & quarriers ..................................................... Kilmacolm based Travel Firm makes Instant Impact

may 2016

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Over the last year a number of Inverclyde businesses, among them ones in Kilmacolm and Quarrier’s Village, have won several national awards. So it was great to see company “Travel Actually” in Kilmacolm win an Outstanding Achievement prize at the Courier Preferred Agent Awards. Well done. I recently spoke to well known Kilmacolm resident Jim Wood to congratulate him in forming a board to take the idea for a Kilmacolm Heritage Trust forward. This is something Jim has been very keen to take forward for a long time. In the past he was involved in helping to get the Kilmacolm Community Centre refurbished, Jim was involved from the start up until 2008. He has long been a believer that there is a great amount of history in the village and that it can be celebrated through a heritage facility. This could attract many visitors including cruise passengers and local school children. The Kilmacolm Heritage Trust has attracted a number of good people on to its board. I wish the Trust every success in starting a heritage centre. As Advertizer readers will know I have, in the past, raised the dangers of drivers inappropriately parking on pavements, especially near schools. Recently I heard about a complaint regarding vehicles parking over dipped pavements in the centre of Kilmacolm - this is not right and it is selfish. Cars blocking dipped pavements prevents wheelchair/scooter users and guardians with prams getting across the roads safely. Thankfully SNP MSP Sandra White is taking a Bill through the Scottish Parliament that, if passed, will make it against the law to park on pavements or over dipped pavements. Sunday 8th May is the date for this year’s Gourock Highland Games. This year is the 60th local highland games and will be held in the Battery Park where it is more level, easier to get around for many people, better able to accommodate larger numbers as well as offer easier parking.

Kilmacolm-based travel agency 'Travel Actually' is celebrating a whirlwind opening year after receiving an Outstanding Achievement Award at the annual Carrier Preferred Agent Awards in Manchester. The travel agent, which is a managed service travel partner of Barrhead Travel, Scotland’s largest independent travel group, received its award following a ceremony held in Manchester which was attended by a host of the UK’s best luxury travel companies. Award organisers recognised Travel Actually for its high-quality holiday portfolio and its first-class levels of customer service. Its Outstanding Achievement Award was given as a reward for Travel Actually’s instant impact and success within the local travel market. Arlene Donald, who has more than 40 years of travel experience, launched Travel Actually in April 2015, with the support of Barrhead Travel’s Brilliant Travel division. Arlene decided to take over and rebrand the former Travel A La Carte business in the village after speaking to Barrhead Travel chairman Bill Munro and realising there was a demand from local, and now global, customers.

The 7th May this year is the 75th anniversary since the blitz in Inverclyde. My SNP colleague Cllr Chris McEleny recently put forward a proposal at a council committee meeting that called for an event to commemorate the bombing of various parts of our district. As Chris said there will still be local people in their 70’s, 80’s and older who will still remember the horrors of those nights. My late father told me about one of his young friends being killed in Woodhall in Port Glasgow in 1941. My next surgeries in May will be advertised in the local newspaper, on the Inverclyde Council website and my surgery posters. Anyone wanting to contact me in between surgeries can do so by phoning me through my office on 01475 712727 or my mobile number 07747 765 839 or by emailing me at jim.macleod@ inverclyde.gov.uk or writing to me at Inverclyde Council, Municipal Buildings, Greenock, PA15 1LY.

Arlene – who has lectured on travel and tourism – has an extensive knowledge of the travel industry. This expertise has brought in customers from all over the UK – and as far afield as Australia and Spain. The majority of bookings come through cruise and luxury but she has the platform to provide all types of holiday packages for her customers. Arlene insists that the support of Barrhead Travel and its Brilliant Travel division is invaluable, allowing her access to the travel group’s systems and offers, with the flexibility to run her own store independently. Brilliant Travel offers support to independent travel agents providing them with enhanced buying power, customised product offers, use of state-of-the-art systems and access to the widest range of holiday options in the market. The fast-growing arm of Barrhead Travel also provides its members with a backoffice function and support from a diverse network of travel specialists. Linda Pyle, Barrhead Travel’s managed service travel partner and homeworking director, said: “Arlene’s award is very much deserved and we are pleased that her store is going from strength-to-strength. Thanks to Arlene’s expertise, commitment and determination, we are all really excited to see Travel Actually move forward.”

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Kilmacolm and Quarriers Christian Aid

The Kilmacolm and Quarriers Christian Aid committee are organising the annual Christian Aid Week house to house collection which will take place countrywide during the week of 15th - 21st May. Eighty volunteer collectors will cover the villages of Kilmacolm and Quarriers to ask for a donation in the traditional red envelopes. Taxpayers can enhance the donation by 25% by government agreement. Please help us to make this year a generous year for the work of Christian Aid in the poorest countries in the world, endeavouring at grass roots level to bring an end to poverty, disease, corruption, with training programmes for health, education, farming methods, begging for changes to international trade injustice, the list is endless, which is why we hope for your understanding and your donation. If you can help with the house to house collection during the Week, giving two or three hours of your time, please contact Jill Russell on 01505 872393. We need eighty collectors to complete a good job, we only have sixty volunteers. We need you - please!!

SUMMER DUPLICATE BRIDGE If you would like to play Bridge during the summer months why not come along to the Kilmacolm Community Centre on Monday evenings? Starting on 2nd May at 7pm for a 7.15pm start. Come with a partner or come alone and hope to find one there. Further information Tel: 01505 872345.

Duchal Nursery School We are delighted to announce that from August 2016 Duchal Nursery School will be adding to the core morning sessions with the introduction of optional extended days offering daily care from 8.15am until 3.30pm. This will give parents increased flexibility on hours and will be an exciting addition for the children, complementing their core morning nursery session. Duchal Nursery, in it’s 50th year of providing nursery education, remains a dedicated pre-school specialist for children aged between 2 years 9 months and 5 years, giving them the best start in life. With highly experienced and qualified staff, unique park location and purpose built facilities Duchal Nursery offers a stimulating environment for children to flourish in their pre school learning and development. We are delighted to offer the extended Duchal hours and know that the children will thrive on the additional experiences on offer. If you would like more information about this or would like to arrange a visit please email info@duchal.com. For further details on Duchal Nursery please visit our website www.duchal.com and our Facebook page.

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e: info@advertizer.co.uk

Kilmacolm Spring cleanup thank you A huge thank you to the six faithful and marvellous volunteers - Jeanette, Martin, Jim, Fiona, Marion, and Morven - who came along to the Kilmacolm Community Cleanup in April. Thanks also to Mike-on-his-bike - although he couldn’t be there on the day, he assured me that he’d tidy up “his patch” soon before and/or after his holiday. This marks the third, fourth, or even fifth year of contribution for most of these people, who donate precious Saturday time for what seems to, distressingly, make a difference for only a few short hours. Thanks to Louise, too, who stopped to see if I needed help, thinking that my car had broken down, when she saw me doing battle with an old tyre in the middle of the Lochwinnoch Road! Special thanks to Brian Hennan at Inverclyde Council, who cheerfully delivers and picks up the equipment from my house, and to the Community Council for underwriting the cost of packed lunches. We collected more than 20 large bags of rubbish, as well as the usual assortment of various car parts, roadwork leftovers, and broken reflector posts. We managed to stay dry again this year, from above, although a lot of the area we tidied was wet and mucky from the heavy rain the day previous. Finally: How long does it take to biodegrade? • Paper bag - up to one month • Orange peel - up to two year • Banana skin - up to two years • Plastic bag - up to 10–20 years • Cigarette butts - up to 12 years • Plastic bottle - up to 450 years! • Glass bottles and chewing gum - are not biodegradable (Source: Keep Britain Tidy)

howwood & elderslie ..................................................... I was out this morning helping the Howwood Community Council with their annual village clean up. There was a good turn out of locals doing their bit for the village. It still amazes me that so many people get rid of their rubbish by dropping it at their feet or throwing it out of their cars. Some people sadly lack any thoughts for others or the local environment. I am glad to hear the village fete is going ahead this year and from what I hear it should be a great day. I know local people have missed this day for the last couple of years so its great to see so many local people working hard to make this years event a success. On 21st April Johnstone High School held an event to celebrate the school being in its current building for 50 years. As I write this the event has not yet happened but I’m sure it will be great night and as a local councillor and ex pupil I would like to wish the school all the best in the future. By the time you read this Howwood will have a new MSP. I would like to pay tribute to Hugh Henry who represented the village for many years and was a great servant to the people of Howwood. I wish him well in his retirement and I wish the new MSP well. Until next time a reminder that my monthly Howwood surgery is in the Village hall on the fourth Thursday of every month.

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may 2016

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kilbarchan & lochwinnoch ..................................................... Habbie to Jeely Eaters Tuesday 24 May - Kilbarchan Performing Arts Centre, 7pm The launch of the long awaited autobiography of a weel kent Habbie, Rev Ian Miller, will be on Tuesday 24th May at Kilbarchan Performing Arts Centre (formerly Memorial Hall), Steeple Square at 7pm. The book titled “Habbie to Jeely Eaters” relates his life-story, so far, and we find out about his unique personality and humour.

LILIAS DAY - SATURDAY 4 JUNE Lilias Day itself will include a medieval battle reenactment in the arena events as well as a tug of war tournament. Other features include a circus skills workshop, a medieval camp and Jamie McArthur’s music tent. Radio Clyde DJ, George Bowie, will once again make a guest appearance to compere some of the events and activities in the park.

The price of the book is £10 (will be more expensive on Amazon) and after costs, each book will make £3 profit. Ian has decided that half the profits will go to the Beatson Cancer Hospital Glasgow and the other half will go to Bonhill Church (where Ian has been minister to the ‘Jeely Eaters’ for 38 years). Ian will not be making 1penny from the sale of the book. To assist the publisher and Ian with the number of books to be printed, it would be useful if you could advise if you wish to pre-order a book(s). These can be signed and dedicated, if requested. If interested in pre-ordering a book at £10 which can be delivered in Kilbarchan area at no extra costs (or collected from Aileen in Kilbarchan), please email aileendelecechalmers@gmail.com or telephone 07941214589 No payment is required till you receive the book. Depending on response other events may be announced. For other ways of reserving or purchasing a book with or without a signature or dedication go to www.paulmurdoch.co.uk/neetah-books where you can pay £12.99 (includes P&P for UK), £17.50 (includes P&P for USA) by card, PayPal or even send a cheque.

In the parade this year, characters such as Mary Barbour, William Brodie and the Statue of Liberty will be making their debut appearance along with bands, vintage vehicles and a full complement of floats. The grand finale this year will again be the big prize raffle, when one lucky winner will leave the park £1000 richer. If you haven’t bought your ticket yet you can buy them at local shops throughout the village and on the day at the Lilias Day Committee stall in the park. The new park layout will also create more of a festival feel with a ‘food village’ ‘kids’ zone’ and ‘active area’. MISS LILIAS AND THE SCHOOL QUEEN ANNOUNCED The two leading ladies of Kilbarchan’s Lilias Day have been announced for the event taking place on Saturday 4th June. Victoria Thompson (17) is set to be Miss Lilias for a second year (due to last years’ unfortunate cancellation) and the school queen is Emily Duff.

Kilbarchan’s famous Lilias Day celebrations (featuring Lilifest) are all set for Saturday 4 June! Taking place in the conservation village of Kilbarchan, the Lilias Day celebrations date back to the 1700s when the village was a centre of the weaving trade in Renfrewshire. Today it is firmly established as a key event in the Renfrewshire events calendar. A historic parade still leads the celebrations and is followed through the village by decorated floats, pipe and brass bands and involvement from the community and organisations in and around the area. The parade finishes in Kilbarchan Park where a host of stalls, activities and events take place to raise thousands of pounds for good causes. Local residents and businesses will dress the outside of their premises and a prize is given for best the decorated house and business as well as for best decorated float. The parade leaves the bottom of the village at 1pm and along the way the statue of Kilbarchan’s famous piper, “Habbie Simpson” on the steeple in the village square is brought to life and joins the parade. LILIFEST ADDS NEW DIMENSION TO LILIAS CELEBRATIONS This year, a varied programme of events taking place in the numerous venues in the village, will be presented under the banner of “Lilifest”. The first ever Lilifest will extend the Lilias Day celebrations over a longer period to provide a range of events so there really is something for everyone. It is hoped that this will provide the launch pad for the development of the festival in future years. The Lilifest programme includes: The Book Launch of ‘Habbie to Jeely Eater’ - by Rev Ian Miller; a performance by Clype featuring two of Scotland’s finest musicians; music and beer festivals at The Glenleven Inn and The Trust Inn; an evening of song featuring local choirs; a comedy night and “Habbie’s Hoolie” ceilidh on the Friday before Lilias Day itself. See events listings for full details.

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The Lilias Day committee choose Miss Lilias each year based on her contribution to the community or good causes. Victoria Thompson is a helper for the 1st A Kilbarchan Brownies and is working towards her Silver Duke of Edinburgh award. She also volunteers at Castle Semple Loch where she helps manage the environment by removing unwanted vegetation, litter and planting as she is passionate about the environment. Her charity work has included cutting nine inches off her hair which was donated to the Little Princess Trust as well as taking part in a 5k fun run to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. As part of her duties Victoria will read a proclamation to officially open Lilias Day and, later in the year, will have the honour of switching on the Christmas lights in Kilbarchan. Victoria is delighted to have been chosen to take on the role of Miss Lilias for this year’s event. Every year the most senior pupils in Kilbarchan Primary School elect a School Queen and attendants to represent the school at Lilias Day. The group takes a leading role in the parade and Miss Lilias crowns the School Queen as the parade arrives in the park. The School Queen’s attendants are Amy McGreish and Abby McLaughlin. The Crown Bearer is Jack McKellar and the Footman is David Naismith. You can keep up to date on all the latest news on the brand new Lilias Day website at www. liliasday.co.uk @LiliasDay

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kilbarchan & lochwinnoch

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4,800 hours at the Weaver’s Cottage, Kilbarchan Photographed are Joan MacKinnon (left) and Beryl Baillie, who were recently recognised by the National Trust for Scotland for volunteering for thirty years at the Weaver’s Cottage. A rough calculation suggests that, at four hours a week each, for approximately twenty weeks a year, they have together volunteered for a total of four thousand eight hundred hours. They are well informed and enthusiastic about the history of the cottage and of weaving in Kilbarchan, and their accumulated knowledge enhances the visitor experience. Come along and meet the staff and volunteers! The Weaver’s Cottage is open from 1 - 5 pm daily, except on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Annual Summer Concert Madrigals and Part Songs 7:30pm - Friday 20th May Holy Trinity and St Barnabas Church, Paisley With special guests St James Handbell Ringers. Tickets £8.50 and £5 for under 18s - Refreshments after the concert. For tickets contact Malcolm MacAskill 01505 346749.

Kilbarchan During the month of May, there are 2 meetings-the first a Murder/Mystery evening, followed by “The Seven Wonders of Your World”. For further information on how to join the group, please see the website: www.nwr.org.uk

The Councillors Code of Conduct prohibits local Councillors from taking a position, either for or against, any given planning application as this would prevent us from both voting and speaking in the actual debate on the application itself, whether it goes to the Planning and Property Board alone, or in cases of significant applications, to all forty Renfrewshire Councillors at a full meeting of Renfrewshire Council. However, given that there are a number of significant planning applications, both live and prospective, around the Kilbarchan and Brookfield area at the moment, does mean that Councillors have a duty and responsibility to encourage all residents to make themselves aware of these applications so they can decide on the merits or de-merits of any application from a position of knowledge. If Kilbarchan residents wish to know what the wider community view is on any particular application they can e mail Kilbarchan Community Council, on kilbarchancommunitycouncil@yahoo.co.uk for information. I am extremely concerned that the Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority are considering a potential project with Newton Rigg College to develop an upland project for grouse shooting on a commercial basis. Certainly a century ago Clyde Muirshiel was the largest grouse moor in Europe, but I had thought we had moved on from the days of Downton Abbey, and I am frankly shocked that such a beautiful area should be taken away from the people of Renfrewshire, never mind Lochwinnoch, and used for blood sports by a small elite. Clyde Muirshiel rather than be a place of peace and tranquillity will be primarily commercial rather than educational. I will fight this short sighted idea tooth and nail.

Kilbarchan Parish Church

My advice surgery in Kilbarchan is on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in the Steeple Hall at 7:45pm, and my advice surgery in Lochwinnoch is on the 4th Wednesday of the month in the McKillop at 7:30pm, excluding July. But I am also always available to constituents who can call me on 07534 148224, tweet me on CllrAndy4Ward8 or e-mail me at cllr.andy.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Services, conducted by Rev Stephen Smith, continue at 11am each Sunday morning, when the crèche and Sunday School also meet in the halls from 10.45am. On Sunday 8th May, there will be a Soup Lunch for the congregation in the hall after the service.

Kilbarchan Parish Church Plant Sale and Pancake Morning

The midweek Fellowship is on Wednesday mornings in the small hall, with coffee at 10.30am, followed by a short service at 11am. All welcome at these services.

This popular event is on Saturday 21st May from 10am-12noon in the church halls.

Kilbarchan Parish Church Tots’ Club The club will be on holiday on Monday 2nd May ,but will resume from 9.1511.30am on Monday 9th until 20th June when the Summer Party will take place.

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Entrance is £2:50, children £1, which includes freshly-made pancakes with cream and jam. To order plants in advance, please see any member of the church or phone Fulton Dunn on 704502. There will be plants for sale on 21st as well as pre-ordered plants.

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may 2016

Lochwinnoch Arts Festival '16

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Ronnie Browne signing books

(Dedicated to Mabel Adam) Every year we say this has been the best yet but it was! Not only did we have many great events the festival ran for a much longer time from the 5th March till the 9th of April. Attendances were up on last year too.

C o n c e r n s regarding the poor condition of Kibblestone Road - Improvements of our roads and pavements is a priority for me as a councillor. I have therefore asked that repair of Kibblestone road be included in this years repair and resurfacing programme. Whilst this work will be a major financial undertaking I will continue to press for the necessary improvement to commence in the near future. On the same subject, I can report that resurfacing of the pavements in Meadside Avenue, and Wheatlands Drive in Kilbarchan has much improved the situation at these locations. Lochwinnoch primary school is to be re-roofed after the contract for the work was approved at the most recent meeting of Renfrewshire Councils Procurement Committee. Parents had previously expressed concern about the state of the existing roof, so I welcome this move. At the March meeting of Kilbarchan Community Council, a presentation was given on Paisley's bid to become City of Culture 2021. This presentation included information on how community groups and organisations not only in Paisley, but across Renfrewshire can benefit from the cultural and events and heritage fund, which has been set up as part of the bid programme. I am keen that the heritage of both Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch is showcased. The widespread interest shown in Kilbarchan towards recognising the legacy of Mary Barbour, the Kilbarchan Art Show ,and the Lochwinnoch Arts Festival, are indicative of a desire from our villages to promote the their cultural and heritage traditions. I would urge local organisations and groups to look at the opportunities and potential benefits this can offer. To this end, end a special event is planned in Paisley town hall on Monday 9 May between 5.30pm and 8.30pm. To book a place go to http:/ paisley2021evening.eventbrite.co.uk

First off was the hilarious play Rapid Departure being hosted in Lochwinnoch for the Paisley Arts Centre. Followed by family poetry, craft fairs, beautiful paintings and photography. Many workshops Krafty Kids and pottery being popular. The highlights were Scottish Legend ‘Ronnie Browne fae the Corries’, folk legend Dougie MacLean, writers Ron Ferguson and Ruth Wishart, Hazel McBain and Eirlys Myfanwy Davis fantastic opera singers with the Melville Wind Quintet who were joined for the first time at the festival by Flute Phonics. The local Calder Drama perform the hilarious play Ladies Day. A spectacular Scottish evening was in the Parish church in the evening featuring the Jimmy Blair Accordion Orchestra, The Govan Gaelic Choir, Alastair McCulloch and Siobhan Miller. Some of the top Scottish musicians in our midst and again a standing ovation from the Lochwinnoch audience! Another first for the village the Small Fezzes and friends hosted a charity concert in the McKillop with a full hall, all proceeds to the Lochwinnoch International Aid. For the third year the Capitol Big Band return to wow the dancers with great swing big band music. The local Factory Street Quartet. Celtic music workshops too with Alastair McCulloch, Ian Muir, Nigel Gatherer and Chris Waite Good Friday the Calder Church (volunteers and members from the other churches) performed an Easter Passion around the village. In the evening the moving story was again set to music and poetry in the Calder Church. In the Masonic lodge in the evening local multitalented artist Dominic Snyder and dancer Nina Enemark performed Wired a dance and visual production followed by discussion with the audience. The second visit from the Rose Room a swing jazz band again a full house.

Rapid Departure

The final concert in the evening was very well attended. The children’s poetry results were announced and the children read a passage of their excellent work on the theme of ‘Holidays’. The Lochwinnoch Choral Society Junior and Senior choir were joined by Freshwater and Wireless two young talented band made up of local musicians.

Eirlys Myfanwy davies and Hazel McBain Mora

Next year’s festival will be from 15th March till 26th March 2017. Ron Ferguson and Ruth Wishart

Dougie MacLean & Katee Kross

Gryffe Scottish Country Dance Club - Kilbarchan Gryffe SCD Club held their annual charity dance in Kilbarchan on 13 April, raising £400.00 for the RNLI. Wonderful music was provided by Marian Anderson’s Band and a great evenings dancing was enjoyed by a full house. The club greatly appreciates the support of the Kilbarchan Guide Group who provide their facilities throughout the year for our classes and our dance. The club has stopped meeting now for the summer break and will start up in September. We would look forward to welcoming any new dancers at that time.

My surgeries are on the first Saturday of every month, except January and July, at 9 00am in the McKillop Institute and 10 00am in the Steeple Hall. Meantime please contact me at cllr.derek.bibby@renfrewshire.gov. uk or phone 0300 300 1274 or 07534156007.

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Missing Kitten ‘Scout’ Missing since Tuesday morning 1.3.16 in the Johnstone area. 11 month black kitten with distinctive white marking on chest and other areas of the body (underside). Chipped and neutered. Not wearing collar. Extremely friendly and lovely natured. Family and sister (Beau) are missing him greatly. £100 reward!!!!

Wildlife Crime Strathclyde Police has a team of Wildlife Crime Officers.

LOST PETS If your pet has gone missing and you would like to place a notice in The Advertizer, please call 01505 613340 or email info@advertizer. co.uk. We can also put updates on our website & Facebook.

To report a suspected wildlife crime or speak to an Officer, please call: Your local Police Office or Strathclyde Police HQ, 173 Pitt Street, G2 4JS or call 101 or 999.

There is no charge for this service!

Pet Blog A Snail Tale

by PetVets

Until recently lungworm was confined to specific areas in the south of the UK, however over the last few years it has been identified in a number of other locations across the UK. While still a relatively uncommon disease it is gradually spreading and becoming more common.

Infection of dogs with the lungworm parasite (Angiostrongylus Vasorum) can cause a wide range of clinical problems and can be fatal. The adult worms live in the dog’s heart and large blood vessels leading to the lungs. The larval stages of the parasite live in slugs and snails and dogs are infected by eating these or from ingestion of slime from their trails. The peak times for infection are spring and autumn as numbers of slugs and snails are highest at these times of year.

Diagnosis of the condition is based on clinical signs, chest xrays and either a blood test or a faecal sample to confirm the presence of the parasite.

Signs of lungworm infection are varied and can be vague, making diagnosis difficult. The most common signs are coughing and tiring more easily on exercise, but signs of infection can include:

As it is potentially such a serious, sometimes fatal, disease use of preventative treatment in at risk dogs is recommended. Your vet can advise you on the risk for your dog and the best products available for prevention.

• Weight loss

• Reduced appetite

• Lethargy and depression

• Seizures

• Bleeding problems such as nose bleeds, bleeding into the eye, excessive bleeding from cuts and anaemia

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Once diagnosed lungworm can be treated with drugs to kill the parasite and most dogs make a full recovery.

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may 2016

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Re-homing Pets Can you offer a home to any of our featured pets? Tila - an 11 year old female short hair domestic cat Tila is a pretty petite wee lady who is full of fun and energy. She loves playing with her toys and running and rolling around. She is looking for a home where she can get outside in the sun and would be better in a quieter home with grown up children, but not other pets.

Scacchi - 6 yr old female short hair domestic Scacchi is a fantastic cat who wants to come and have a nap on your lap - she is very affectionate. She will need a garden and a home with no other animals or children. She does succumb to a dreamie or 2 and likes her catnip mouse to play with. Cardyke Farm, Langmuirhead Road, Auchinloch, Glasgow G66 5LD - Telephone 0141 779 3341

Eric & Ernie - 3 month old male crossbreed rabbits - Ref 304853

home, preferably together.

Ernie and Eric came into our care through no fault of their own and are now looking for a forever

These lovely boys are still only young and would be perfect for first time rabbit owners. They are very energetic and love to get into lots of trouble together. To contact the centre about any animals, please call 03000 999 999 or visit www.scottishspca.org/rehoming

Dodger - a 2-5 year old male English Springer Spaniel Dodger is a fun chap who is full of energy! He is a typical spaniel who is always on the go and loves his exercise! Dodger can live with children who are 10 years old or over and needs his own secure garden to practice his training in. Dodger would be best suited to live with another dog to help him settle and build confidence. He is super excitable and strong so needs someone who is physically able to manage him and give him the exercise he needs and loves.

Roxy - a 5-7 year old female Labrador Roxy is a lovely friendly girl who is a bit worried in new situations. She loves a squeaky toy and she likes a treat for learning something new. Roxy can live with children who are 12 years old or over and needs a secure garden to practice her training in. Roxy may struggle to live with any new dogs so may prefer to be the only dog in the home.

Rescue Centres Dogs Trust Glasgow: 0141-773-5130 - www.dogstrust.org.uk Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue: 01505-502415 - www.hessilhead.org.uk Johnstone Cat Rescue: 01505 337321 Cat Protection: 0141-779-3341 -www.cats.org.uk/glasgowac/adopt-a-cat Scottish SPCA: 0141-882-1688 - www.scottishspca.org These centres are always on the lookout for donations and fundraising. If you can help, please get in touch with any of the centres above.

She needs a home who are around all day to help with her basic training as she came to us as a stray so we don’t have much information on her. Someone who has owned a dog like her before would also benefit her. Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, 315 Hamilton Road, Uddingston, Glasgow, G71 7SL. Open: 12noon - 4pm (inc weekends); 12noon- 7.30pm on Tuesdays; closed: Wednesdays

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Off The Wall

blished with ardens Young

B786 road. r Road rn right 0 yards e right. macolm och on

Well spring is finally here, and that can only mean one thing. The beginning of the drystone walling season for the West of Scotland Drystone Walling Association. As usual we started off with a public course at our training site at Kilbarchan on the weekend of April 1st/2nd. Now that the old walls have been stripped and rebuilt we are constructing a new wall on fresh ground so the initial stripping out part of the work was not needed. This combined with good weather on Saturday meant that good progress was made up to half height where the large through-bands were installed. Drizzly rain on Sunday morning made the site a bit muddy and the stones slippery to handle but again good progress was made by the enthusiastic trainees and by lunchtime the wall was at full height. After lunch techniques

for lifting big stones were demonstrated and the large copestones were fitted. After clearing the site and the obligatory group photograph, the trainees were taken round the estate and shown some of the more advanced features that had been constructed over the last few years including wall ends and corners.

5 June

Our next training course will be held on the weekend of June 25th/26th at our second site at Kilsyth, followed by a return to Kilbarchan in September.

Cancer e net es

The wallers can be seen in action at Kilmacolm Show on May 14th and at Gardening Scotland, Ingleston Showground, Edinburgh from Friday June3rd to Sunday June 5th. If you’re passing by, call in to our stand and say hello.

isabled ailable,

Further details of this years program from our website West of Scotland Dry Stone Walling Association

Bridge

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Top Tips For Scottish Gardeners Create the purr-fect cat-friendly garden Scottish cat lovers will be able to pick up tips for creating the perfect outdoor space for their pet when Cats Protection visits the Gardening Scotland event. With 23 per cent of Scottish households owning at least one cat – an estimated feline population of 900,000 – Cats Protection will be heading to the event at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, from 3-5 June. Green-fingered cat lovers will be able to pick up a wealth of planting ideas and tips at Cats Protection’s stand, as well as finding out more about keeping puss safe in the sun and what hazards may lurk outdoors. Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, with 48 volunteerrun branches in Scotland running alongside its Glasgow Adoption Centre. Events Manager Emma Osborne said the charity was looking forward to welcoming visitors to its new vintage-inspired summerhouse stand, complete with cat care leaflets, cat-related goods for sale, and touch screen facilities to find cats available for homing across Scotland. Cats Protection’s tips for creating a cat-friendly garden and keeping cats safe outdoors are: • Ensure your cat is fully vaccinated before venturing outdoors to protect against diseases and parasites. Neutering is also vital to prevent unwanted kittens being born and to reduce roaming. • Cats Protection recommends microchipping as a safe, effective way of identifying your cat should he become lost when outdoors. • Cats with white fur – including those with white ears or noses – can be susceptible to sunburn during the summer months and sun exposure can be a trigger for a type of cancer. The best way to protect your cat is to try to keep him indoors during the hottest part of the day and provide shade from plants and trees. • Be aware of poisonous substances in your shed and garage which cats may be able to access. Antifreeze, disinfectants, insect and pest killers can all be lethal to cats and should be kept well away from your cat. • Avoid plants which can be dangerous to cats. Lilies in particular can be lethal if a cat ingests pollen from its fur after brushing against them. A full list of plants that are dangerous to cats can be found on the International Cat Care’s website www.icatcare.org. • Choose cat-friendly plants such as catnip (Nepeta cataria), mint, cat thyme (Teucrium marum) and lavender. • A patch of longer grass can provide a soft bed and cats may also nibble on it to help cough up hairballs. • Logs provide excellent outdoor scratching posts. • If you have a pond, cats may be tempted to drink from it. To reduce the risk of them falling in, place some wire mesh securely over the pond, or make sure that there is a low edge so it is easy for a cat to get out. Ensure that any water butts also have a lid on them.

Neilston Agricultural Show Saturday 7 May from 8am - 4pm at Holehouse, Neilston, G78 3LE Adults - £6 Children and OAPs - £2 Car Park - £3 As usual there is a wonderful variety of new things to see this year as well as your old favourites. Many different breeds of cattle will be on show, ranging from the dairy section which are Ayrshire, Holstein Freisians and Jerseys to the beef cattle, Highlanders and Aberdeen Angus, which are native to Scotland. The continental beef breeds, Simmental, Charolais and Limousins. The sheep classes offer many different breeds also, all different shapes, colours and sizes. The horse world is also well attended with lots of classes to satisfy every different breed. Take some time to look at all the different stalls, there could be a bargain there for you! There is an educational dome which has a large range of interesting stands inside, as well as some lovely animals, and as if that’s still not enough, why don’t you visit the homecraft tent to see the local ladies’ talents with baking, flower arranging and many other crafts. You can even bring along your family dog to our dog show which is expertly run by my wife and family.

Annual Plant Sale Lodge Sir Michael 989 Glebe Road, Kilmacolm Fri 13th May - 5pm - 9pm Sat 14th May - 9am - 4pm Sun 15th May - 10am - 4pm Fri 20th May - 5pm - 9pm Sat 21st May - 9am - 4pm Sun 22nd May - 10am - 4pm

Planters and hanging baskets made to order. Free advice on plants. Large variety of quality plants at value for money prices.

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Some gardeners may prefer to keep cats away from their gardens and Cats Protection recommends a number of humane deterrents. Shouting or clapping your hands, squirting water from a low-powered water pistol or spreading chicken manure, citrus peel, or lion dung pellets will all put cats off entering a garden. Visitors to Cats Protection’s stand at Gardening Scotland will also be able to find out more about the work of the charity and how to become a volunteer. To find out more about the work of Cats Protection or Gardening Scotland, please visit www.cats.org. uk or www.gardeningscotland.com

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Tip of the month

Welcome to Finlaystone Country Estate May newsletter. We have had a fantastic April with record numbers visiting the estate and participating in our events. Our Pirate day was a huge success as was Easter Sunday. As we look forward into the summer we will be hosting many events through May and June so keep an eye on the web site www.finlaystone.co.uk for further updates. Gardening Report As the weather continues to improve we should see the beautiful azaleas burst into bloom towards the end of the month. In the winter border many of the shrubs and sub-shrubs should still be providing a colourful display. In the kitchen garden, all the potatoes have now been planted, broad beans are in, peas have been sown (hopefully the Rabbits will not have too

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Do not plant your annual bedding plants before the end of May, even though it may be sunny, as late frosts can easily kill them. Happy gardening.

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many), and our onion sets have been planted. If you have some spare time and would like to become a volunteer, please approach David in the garden or contact reception, this can be on a regular or a casual basis. Volunteering keeps you fit, and adds to your skills list, in the pleasant surroundings of our mature gardens.

Ranger News Our Rangers are looking forward to our school visits in May and June, They are eagerly awaiting the chance to show off their skills and impart their knowledge to young eager minds, and also deliver out expanded list of events throughout the year. Check out www.finlaystone.co.uk and the events list for further details. If you are looking for that getaway in wonderful surroundings or have visitors coming, why not try renting one of our Holiday Barns check out www.finlaystonecottages.co.uk for more details. Thank you to all our members and visitors on behalf of Finlaystone Ranger Service Fraser Lang Head Ranger

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With our wildlife cameras being returned to the wild last month, we now have some fantastic clips of badgers around the reserve’s boundaries. These wonderful creatures are a rarity in some parts of the UK, and although there are still more than 250,000 thought to be roaming the countryside, they can be considered endangered in certain areas for a number of reasons. These include road accidents killing an estimated 45,000 every year, the reduction of suitable habitats due to new developments, and persecution.

Junior (under 15’s). We are looking forward to seeing all the fantastic photos, as last year’s competition had some amazing entries. If you are interested in entering, please contact the reserve for an entry pack, complete with new updated rules for this year.

The arrival of May sees entries open for the annual reserve Photography Competition. The deadline for entries is 5pm on Fri 15 July. There are four categories this year – Birds; Other nature (including plants & landscapes); People;

For any more information or to book on any of our events this month, please email the reserve at lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk or call us on 01505 842 663.

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On Saturday 21st May we will be hosting a plant sale with the Rowan Tree Garden Centre. We will have a great selection of bedding plants available, including begonias, marigolds and pansies – why not pop in to the reserve to see what’s on offer. We also have a pre-order list – get in touch with the reserve for more information.

Colourful Kilmacolm May has arrived and with it the hope, if not the promise, of some warmer weather. We hope you have enjoyed the bright colours of our spring bulbs in various parts of the village. Already we are turning our minds to our nursery visit to choose plants for summer planting, and then organising planting and maintenance over the summer months. A fair number of plants have been added to the embankment at the Pullman recently, promising a fuller summer display. As always we are thinking of other areas to develop and we hope to have something new to show in the not too distant future. Keep your eyes peeled! Members are reminded that our AGM will be held on 9th May. Colourful Kilmacolm is open to everyone. If you have not yet joined, the very modest £5 annual subscription will support our efforts. You can opt just to be a supporter, or to be an ‘active gardener’ and help in practical ways. Membership forms can be downloaded from our website www.colourfulkilmacolm.org.uk or you can phone Peter (01505 872448) or Diane (01505 872611).

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Beware of Casting Cloots! The weather is a perennial topic of conversation in this part of the world, and if you’re involved in the planting of anything from petunias to potatoes, it‘s a big consideration. In this column we’ve written about its vagaries through last autumn and winter, and how late in spring plants like crocuses and daffodils were flowering. Those of us of a certain age may reflect on childhood spring and summer days when, invariably, the sun shone bright in a cloudless blue sky from dawn to dusk. These are selective memories of course; the old wives’ saying “ne’er cast a cloot till May is oot” didn’t make much sense to this writer then (nor much more sense now, to be honest) but what it boils down to is, “don’t rely on the weather just yet“. And so it is that Brighter Bridge of Weir’s volunteers carry on regardless. As well as the routine improvements that they’re always working on, many readers will have seen them at the new project on Main Street opposite Livery Walk. Last summer if you were standing at the bus stop at Livery Walk, the view across the road was far from inspiring. It’ll be a whole lot different this summer. During the years that this area was neglected, an unofficial footpath appeared, leading from the cycle track directly into the path of traffic on the Main Street roadway (there is no public footway on that part of the Street). Also, there is quite a steep slope, which is sometimes very slippery, down to the edge of the road. There are trip hazards at that point and no handrail. The path is dangerous to use. There is nothing that Brighter Bridge of Weir can do to prevent people from using it, but we would strongly discourage anyone from doing so.

Top 4 jobs for MAY 1 2 3 4

Keep weeds under control Protect fruit blossom from late frosts Tie in climbing and rambling roses Sow hardy annuals and herb seeds

Changing the subject, you’ll have your chance to help us brighten Bridge of Weir on our annual Clean Up Weekend. It’s on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May, and if you’re able to set aside an hour or so on either - or both - of these days, we’d love to see you. Don’t forget you can follow us on Facebook and at www.brighterbridgeofweir.org for more information about us and our plans.

Welcome to Scotland’s largest Regional Park Pedal the Park 2016 is here!

New Look What’s On Out NOW!

As we go to print we have over 172 riders booked to take part in Pedal the Park 2016 on Sunday 24th April! With £5 of the £15 entry fee going towards our charity partner CLIC Sargent participants will have raised a minimum of £860 for children and their families battling cancer.

Pick up your new spring/summer What’s On guide in Centres or find on our downloads page online. Ride 63 Club News

The new leaflet for the Semple Trail showing all the new features is out now! Pick up a copy in our Visitor Centres or download from our website.

The next ride (after Pedal the Park of course) is a Tour of Bute on Sunday 29th May – Meet at Wemyss Bay Ferry at 8.15am. Email the Secretary at ridesixtythree@gmail.com to become a member, we can send you a form – it’s FREE. Plus find us on Strava & Love to Ride.

Castle Semple Conservation Volunteers Win Tesco Award

CMRP Online

The group’s Muirshiel Pond Project was shortlisted for an award of either 8, 10 or 12k depending on how many tokens received in Tesco’s Bags of Help campaign. They won the middle 10k amount! The money will be used to create a new pond with increased biodiversity, new education and easier access opportunities. Thank you to everyone who voted!

Keep up to speed with events and activities taking place on the Park’s Facebook facebook.com/ClydeMuirshielRegionalPark, @Clydemuirshiel Twitter & Instagram pages.

NEW Semple Trail Leaflet out now!

See our Pictures on Instagram!

Regular Events

Clyde Muirshiel is now on the image sharing app Instagram. See beautiful images on your feed by following us - search Clyde Muirshiel and find us by our logo. Tag your Instagram photos with our handle @clydemuirshiel or #clydemuirshiel too so we can see them!

Mondays (but not public holidays) Lochwinnoch Community Walks meet 10.30am at The Cross, Lochwinnoch.

Duke of Edinburgh Programmes at Clyde Muirshiel

Weekly Volunteer Groups Newcomers always welcome!

Over the Easter weekend we completed a practice expedition with Glasgow Academy on bikes – a great way to cover more (sometimes more challenging) ground! The Park has expanded our range of expeditions and skills to suit Duke of Edinburgh participants of all abilities. Get in touch with dofe@clydemuirshiel.co.uk if you know of a group of 14-24 yr olds who could benefit from a tailored programme!

-

Thursdays Castle Semple Conservation Volunteers, Adult group, from 12.30pm – 3.30pm.

Saturdays Greenock Cut Conservation Volunteers, Adult group, 10.30am – 2.30pm. Sundays Castle Semple Young Volunteers, 12-18 yr olds, 10am – 12noon

Keep up to speed with events and activities taking place on the Park’s Facebook facebook.com/ClydeMuirshielRegionalPark or Twitter @Clydemuirshiel pages.

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Windows on Wildlife Update The Windows on Wildlife Project aims to bring people closer to wildlife, gaining a unique insight to the furry & feathered inhabitants of Castle Semple Country Park. Countryside Ranger Hayley Douglas gives us an update.

Wildlife News I was hoping to update you with badger cubs news but so far none have emerged from the sett. It is still a bit early as they don’t usually come above ground before they are 12 weeks old. Tufty, the female, is showing all the signs of carrying cubs so hopefully good news next month. The cameras have now been in the field for 3 and half years and we are still capturing new species and unusual behaviour. I’ve finally managed to get a shot of a stoat, albeit only a very quick glimpse and I filmed some footage where a badger gets a fright and runs down the sett only for a rabbit to appear on the screen! The first week of May sees us celebrating Hedgehog Awareness Week. Hedgehogs have never been filmed on the cameras but there are plenty about in the local villages. Hedgehog numbers are in freefall and there are a number of things that you can do to help: keep a small area of your garden wild; if you have a fence cut a CD-sized hole in the bottom to allow hedgehogs to move between gardens when foraging; lastly do not use slug pellets as these can kill the hedgehogs, the hogs themselves are one of the best ways of keeping slugs in check naturally. Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue is often looking for release sites for hogs. If you think your garden is suitable call them on 01505 502 415 to see if you can help. I have one that was released in my garden and lives under the shed.

Events Spring migration is in full flow and it is time to deploy the mist nets. Drop in to Muirshiel Visitor Centre on Sun 1st of May between 11am and 4pm to see what birds get caught when visiting the feeders. You can learn how we monitor health and plumage as well as ringing them. Ringing demonstrations will be held all day so come and watch over a coffee. Do you fancy learning how to film wildlife with camera traps? Come along to our first Camera Trapping Workshop on the 7th of May which runs between 10am and 3pm at Muirshiel. Learn how to use the cameras, what can go right and what often goes wrong, positioning, adaptations for different species and more. Spaces are limited so booking is essential, call 01505 842 882 and there is a cost of £25.

More Info… Details can be found on the Park’s website page www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk or by emailing wow@clydemuirshiel.co.uk. Footage can be viewed on the Park’s Youtube channel or on the WoW Facebook page. Talks to groups can be arranged. For further information please contact Hayley Douglas, Countryside Ranger CMRP tel 01505 842 882.

New For 2016 - Highwood, Kilmacolm Woodland walk around 50 acres of beautiful native bluebells in a delightful setting bordering the Green Water river with tumbling waterfalls. Stout waterproof footwear is essential as paths can be muddy. Dogs welcome on a lead. Fantastic opportunities for lovers of wild flowers and photography. Disabled Access. Homemade teas available. Dogs Allowed. Plant stall. Delicious home baked tea and plant sale. Fun duck race on the river for families at 3.30pm with rubber ducks available for purchase on the day. Directions - Take B786 Lochwinnoch Road out of Kilmacolm and continue for approximately two miles then follow SG signs. From Lochwinnoch take B786 Kilmacolm road for approximately six miles, then follow SG signs. Gardens Open on Sunday 22 May 2pm - 5pm. Donations welcome Beneficiaries - Orkidstudio receives 40%, the net remaining to SG Beneficiaries.

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Kilbarchan Smile Grows Community Spirit Kilbarchan Smile volunteers have been busy with the first round of planting at “The Gateway Garden” in Kilbarchan. An initial supply of plants and shrubs have been bought and are now taking root in the various raised beds and barrels. Community-minded villagers have been donating and planting more plants and cuttings to bring the site of the old petrol station back into use. It is hoped that the garden will encourage more local people to get involved, develop an interest in gardening and grow their own plants. Plans are also underway for a kids planting area and sensory garden. Chair, Damon Scott said: “We’d really like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved. We’ve still got plenty of materials for making more growing spaces and there is a lot of room. It is a great opportunity for people who don’t have gardens or don’t have space in their gardens, to get into gardening. It is a really healthy outdoor pastime and we’re actively encouraging the growing of vegetables and herbs.” An open day has been lined up Saturday 28th May (11am-4pm) to launch the completion of the first stage of the new garden. All are welcome to come and have a look, meet the volunteers and find out more about getting involved. Free entertainment and BBQ throughout the day (while supplies last!). Kilbarchan Smile Big Spring Clean Don’t forget the “Kilbarchan Smile Big Spring Clean” will take place on Saturday 7th May supporting the Scouts efforts (10am-12noon) and on Sunday 8th May (2pm-4pm). Volunteers (Smilers) are being asked to meet at the Ewing Street car parking area opposite Bog Park for briefing and equipment. Kilbarchan Smile is now a sub-committee of the Kilbarchan Community Council as it helps to meet some of the key objectives of this group. For more information and to get involved contact Gail Scoular on 07985749220, email gailscoular@gmail.com or join the group Kilbarchan Smile on Facebook.

Kilmacolm Horticultural Society Kilmacolm Horticultural Society are holding their Annual Coffee Morning, to raise funds for the Flower Show in September. Everyone is welcome to come along to the New Community Centre, Kilmacolm on Saturday 21st May commencing at 10am. A range of summer planting, tomato and vegetable plants will be on sale, courtesy of Parklea Nurseries in Port Glasgow. Plus an excellent homebaking stall, and a tombola stall with gifts donated by members. Two Outings - the afternoon Spring Outing on Wednesday 25th May to the NTS Geilston Gardens followed by a visit to Ardardan Nurseries and Farm shop, with tea in their lovely Tearooms. The coach leaves at 1pm returning approx 5pm. Cost is £15. The Summer Outing on Wednesday 6th July to the former home of Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford at Melrose, leaves at 9am. Returning approx 5.30pm. With lunch at Ochiltree’s restaurant. Inclusive cost for coach, House entry, and lunch, is £35. There are still a few seats left on both Outings, everyone is welcome to join our Outings, please contact Jill Russell on 01505 872393 if you are interested in either tour.

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Galaxy Dance & Cheer

St Fillan’s Primary

35 dancers aged between 3 and 17, along with 11 adult helpers, attended Dance Camp at Disneyland Paris from 11th – 15th March. We all enjoyed our weekend with 1 day at the Festival and another 2 days enjoying the parks. We won 12 trophies at the festival including 3 x firsts, which we were absolutely delighted with.

We had great fun during their sponsored obstacle event. Everyone particularly enjoyed developing their skills in archery as well as running and climbing over the course. A fantastic amount of money has been raised and many thanks go to our parents for their continued support.

Our House Easter Bonnet contest had fantastic entries. There were chocolate prizes for all children.

We would like to thank our sponsors who supplied tshirts and a jacket each which made sure everyone was in uniform the whole weekend and fully recognisable - G Martin Plasterers, Gregory Pex Optician, Parducci Ice Cream, Stewart Landscape Gardener, and the River Inn & Fox & Hounds.

Kilmacolm Playgroup & Toddlers We are looking forward to a very busy summer term with lots of special events and visitors, such as gymnastics with the team from Inverclyde Leisure and a road safety discussion with the Council Safer Communities team, plus our annual trip, so lots going on to keep the children stimulated and learning! We are running two Open Days on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 June from 9.45 - 11am, so please pop in with your child if you are interested in a place for the year August 2016 - June 2017. Children are welcome from 2 years 4 months. Take the chance to enjoy a typical Playgroup session, meet staff and ask any questions - and it’s never too early to get your name down on our waiting list. With a wide variety of new and traditional resources, there is something for everyone to enjoy and new discoveries to make. If you can’t make the Open Days, please pop in on another date; we run on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings during term-time and our Hall telephone number is 01505 872260. Please also see our fantastic new website at www.kilmacolmplaygroupandtoddlers.jimdo.com or email Fiona at kilmacolmplaygroupandtoddlers@gmail.com for more information. And finally, a date for your diaries: we would like to invite you to A Night at the Races, Saturday 4th June, more details coming soon.

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Our whole school are looking forward to our trip to Glasgow Science Centre when we return from the spring break.

Ship Ahoy at Kilbarchan Primary School Children at Kilbarchan Primary School were treated to a very special gift from Arlene McAleer from Finco. As part of their community work, children were treated to a new pirate ship and tractor as well as some new benches for the bigger children.

Iva Bernacchi (P1) said “I love the tractor tunnel, we have great fun”. Head Teacher at Kilbarchan Primary School Liz sommerville said, “We are delighted with our gifts, children at Kilbarchan Primary School are very lucky to have such a wonderful place to play.”

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Langbank Playgroup Do you have a child aged between 2.5yrs to 5yrs old? Are you looking for a fun, friendly and welcoming place to go on a Friday morning? Then why not come along and join us! We’ve been busy at Langbank Playgroup enjoying Easter crafts and visiting the local Primary School. We will also be getting a visit from the fire brigade and are currently planning an end of term trip. Children are offered the opportunity to develop their skills such as independence, problem solving, role play, numeracy and literacy skills. They also have the chance to develop their confidence and social skills by making new friendships. The children are offered a wide variety of activities as well as new and exciting experiences to explore.

every

Monday

Lochwinnoch Baby & Toddlers McKillop Hall. 9.30am-11.30am

£2/family fee incl tea & children’s snacks.

Kilmacolm Playgroup

St Columba Church Hall, Kilmacolm, 9.30am-11.40am

Howwood Baby & Toddler Group

Howwood Parish Church. 10am-12noon.

Kilbarchan East Tots Club

East Church Hall. 9.15am-11.30am

every Tuesday

Bridge of Weir Toddlers

Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Cres, BoW

Pop along and see us from 9.30-11.30am

Baby Social

Three Sisters Bake, Quarriers Vill. 11am Meet mums, drink coffee, eat cake.

Kilmacolm Playgroup

St Columba Church Hall, Kilmacolm, 9.30am-11.40am

Howwood Playgroup

Howwood Church Hall 9.45am-11.35am

every

Wednesday

Kilmacolm Toddlers

St Columba Church Hall, Kilmacolm, 10am - 11.30am For children from birth to 3 years.

Lochwinnoch Baby & Toddlers McKillop Hall. 9.30am-11.30am

£2/family fee incl tea and children’s snacks.

Howwood Playgroup

Howwood Church Hall 9.45am-11.35am

every Thursday

Houston Toddlers

Church Hall, Main Street, Houston

Pop along and see us from 9.30-11.30am

Kilmacolm Playgroup

St Columba Church Hall, Kilmacolm, 9.15am-11.40am

Howwood Playgroup

Howwood Church Hall 9.45am-11.35am

every

Friday

Langbank Playgroup

Langbank Village Hall 9.45-11.45am For 2.5 - 5yr olds. Contact Jen Burrows 07947 983025.

Langbank Under 3’s

Church Hall, Langbank 10am-11.45am For children from birth to 3 years

1st & 3rd Friday

Renfrewshire Inverclyde Twins Club McKillop Hall, Lochwinnoch 1011.30am £3. Bring a mug along for a cuppa.

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Playgroup is held on a Friday morning in Langbank Village Hall and we currently have spaces for children aged 2.5yrs to 5yrs. If you would like to join us on a Friday morning or for more information please contact Jen Burrows on 07947 983025.

Duchal Nursery School After the success last year, we are delighted that Greenock Morton Community Trust are doing football taster sessions for the children again this term.The Trust aims to encourage children to choose exercise as a healthy way of life and the children are loving their time on the pitch learning new skills! Our topic this term is “Into the Woods” which is giving us some great outdoor experiences that will be followed by a trip to Pollock Park.

Scouting in Renfrewshire on a high…. The number of young people and adults enjoying the fun and adventure of Scouting in Renfrewshire has recorded it highest ever figure. Almost 1000 people are now taking part in weekly activities across the District. Our programme is wide and varied but fun is at the heart of everything we

do. If you would like to join us, full details can be obtained from Ian Hunter (District Commissioner) via email at – dc@renfrewshirescouts.org.uk We are especially keen to hear from adults that are willing to assist with the sections. Please also take a look at our website – www.renfrewshirescouts. org.uk The fun is not just limited to indoor weekly meetings. The Cubs (aged 8 – 10.5) visited the Showcase Cinema in Linwood for a special screening of the new Jungle book film while the Beavers (aged 6-8) recently had a day out exploring the Glasgow Science Centre.

We are all getting very creative with egg boxes and stone painting for the entries for this year’s Kilmacolm Show and looking forward to a sunny Sports Day!

Houston Baby and toddler group

As you can see we have an action packed time at Duchal, learning through play in a friendly secure environment, and we are delighted to announce that from August we will be increasing this by offering extended hours from 8.15am until 3.30pm daily. (See article in main news pages). In the meantime we are enjoying slightly longer days with 2 lunch clubs a week and a full day on Wednesdays which the children are loving!

Children from 0-4 years old are very welcome with their parents/grandparent/carer. You’ll receive a warm reception and the children can have fun playing with our many toys while the adults chat over a cuppa! We meet every Thursday between 9.30 - 11.30am (term time only - closed 26 May) in the West hall, Main Street, Houston, PA6 7EL (next door to the Carrick Centre) – pop along when you can.

More information is available on our website www.duchal. com and our Facebook page. If you would like to arrange to visit the nursery to see for yourself what we can offer please email info@duchal.com

We had great fun making Easter Crowns with our friends for our recent fundraising coffee morning.

We look forward to meeting you. Lesley, Sharon & Fiona.

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Houston Scouts

Gryffe High School

1st Houston and Crosslee Scout Group will be holding their annual Bacon Butty and Car Wash fundraiser at the Compass Centre on Sunday 15th May from 12pm till 2pm. Come along enjoy your brunch in the scout hall while your car is made spotless by the Scouts and Explorers outside! Meet the committee, leaders and the girls and boys of your local troop and maybe even find out about volunteering with the us and our increasingly popular and ever expanding group.

Gryffe High Spring Concert includes a Pop-Up Fashion Show A packed theatre enjoyed a Spring Concert with a difference - apart from a very high standard of music from the choir, Young Musician Winners, Jazz Band, String Band, Phyllis King (band) and Concert Band, guests were treated to a fabulous Pop-Up Fashion Show as they enjoyed their coffee at interval - well done to all of the performers.

Kenneth MacDonald Visit Fundraising is vital to our troop but we don’t just do it for ourselves recently 6 Explorers decided to take on the Scout associations Million hands challenge, where they would raise awareness and funds for a local cause. They chose Vinnies Fight Back Fund and so far they have raised £200 with small events such as a pancake night at Explorers. A target of £300 has been set. The Explorers also raised £150 hosting a quiz and buffet night for Sports Relief.

In the younger groups news the the District Beaver Visit to science centre was enjoyed by 154 Beavers attended from the Renfrewshire District. It included a visit to the Planetarium showing “Space Explorers” a night sky trip to the moon. All the Beavers received the Space activity badge. Well done!

The Media Team had an exciting visit from BBC Science Correspondent Kenneth MacDonald. The special guest came in preparation for the BBC School News Report Day. Kenneth spoke to the team about how to ask the right questions when interviewing. The reporter also spoke a little about his experiences over the 18 years that he has spent with the BBC. The team also took the opportunity to ask Kenneth about what life is like as a journalist and Kenneth had plenty of interesting stories to share with us.

This year, the Media Team visited Paisley Museum to research the exhibits and talk to some staff, before returning to write some articles under a tight deadline! This gave the team a taste of what being a real journalist is really like. The Media Team would like to thank Kenneth MacDonald and the staff of Paisley Museum for taking the time to support them and make their BBC News School Report Day a success. You can read the full reports online at http://www.gryffehigh.com/media-team.html on the school website.

By Charlotte S3

The Scouts continue to have a very varied programme with indoor archery (with suction arrows!) proving a great game on cold winter nights and the recent training night thanks to Heartstart Gryffe for First Aid. The Cubs gained their Digital Citizen Badge by learning about Internet safety with their leaders and parent volunteers!

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St Columba’s School Cross Country Event Children from Junior 4 to Junior 6 took part in the Interhouse Cross Country event; well done to everyone who took part for their enthusiastic efforts which resulted in a win for Kilallan.

Applying to St Columba’s Parents can request an appointment to visit the School and apply for a place throughout the year. The main points of entry to the School are Junior 1 and Transitus (Junior 7), however arrangements can be made for a pupil to enter the School at other stages if places become available, and meanstested bursaries are available. For more information on how to apply please visit www.st-columbas.org/page/Admissions.aspx . You can read more news at www.st-columbas.org

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The Lion King Junior School’s production of ‘The Lion King JR’ was based on the Broadway production directed by Julie Taymor and the 1994 Disney film, and more than 600 people enjoyed the singing and dancing talents of our young performers.

The show featured classic songs from the 1994 film such as “Hakuna Matata,” “Circle of Life” and the award winning “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” as well as additional songs penned for the Broadway production. Featuring 120 pupils from Junior 5, Junior 6 and our own Transitus Lion King Choir, this production has caused a ripple of excitement and enthusiasm throughout the School.

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Abbey Nursery At Abbey Nursery our Little Ladybirds have been making the most of the better weather and enjoying spending lots of time outdoors. The children particularly enjoy going for nature walks in the local area where they get very excited looking at the flowers, river, birds, dogs, crunchy leaves and many more things. We also walk through the village to visit the local park where we have lots of fun developing our physical skills on the play equipment. Meanwhile our Grasshoppers have been a bit further afield when they went to see a production of “The Worm” at Paisley Arts Centre. After this great performance they took the opportunity to have a picnic lunch and visit the museum and library and are keen to visit again.

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Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club Ladies Day The Ramphorlie Quaich Stableford - Thur 7th July Maximum Individual Handicap 34. Entry Fees £16 per couple or single entries of £8 per person accepted. Final Entry Date – Friday 1 July. TEE TIMES: 10am to 3pm. Entry Form and fee to be returned to: Managing Secretary The Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club Ranfurly Place Bridge of Weir PA11 3DE Tel: - (01505) 613214. Snacks and meals available all day. No competitor may win more than one major prize. Application forms can be downloaded from www.oldranfurly.com

Gleddoch Golf Club Ladies Gleddoch Ladies have started the new season, and have been lucky with the weather so far. The greenkeepers have done a lot of good work, and the course is improving all the time.

Whilst a while ago now our Easter Bonnet Parade was a fantastic event and we would like to take this opportunity to say a very big THANK YOU to all the children who took part in all the Easter celebrations and congratulate them on their imagination and creativity.

The first competition was won by Shirley Back, with Margaret Adams runner-up. The five clubs competition on 10th April was won by Sheena Wallace. The previous weekend, Gleddoch Ladies lost their first round match in the Mail on Sunday competition to the ladies of Ranfurly Castle. This was a disappointing result after last year’s good run, but it was a very friendly match, and even the weather was fine! The captain this year is Jackie Gray, who is enthusiastically planning lots of competitions and fun events for the coming season. Not to be staff also parade and celebrated playrooms!

left out the entered the winners were across all

LEAP’s Youth Engagement Programme (YEP!) gets geared up for ReMode This year YEP! and our local young people are really chuffed! We will have a lovely shop space in Lochwinnoch High Street to set up ReMode - the Unique Boutique. The focus will be on taking in quality teen clothing, some of which will be spruced up and put out onto the rails for purchase using a tokens system, and other garments will be redesigned for our own designer brand. To help run the shop, we will be looking for adult and older teen volunteers, so please get in touch especially if you have sewing/design skills or are a young person who is aiming to train in Fashion Design. YEP! will also continue to run a full range of weekly workshops in Recycle or Dye as well as Swike bike maintenance workshops, a bike building course and Skills for Young Filmmakers workshops. And ‘Yes’, in response to the demand highlighted in LEAP’s community survey, we will also be running monthly drop-in Meddle and Make workshops for adults, which means, those of us who fall out with our Yep! age range of 11 to 25 years bracket, can also get involved! At these drop-in sessions you can learn the skills to mend and adjust your clothing and we will also feature visiting specialists. We aim to launch ReMode around late May/early June when all details on weekly workshops and drop-in sessions will also be available! Visit www.myleapproject.org or contact gillian@myleapproject. org if you are interested in getting involved.

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Gleddoch Ladies are a friendly bunch and welcome visitors and prospective new members. Director of Golf, Kevin McAleer, is also very welcoming. He can be contacted on 01475 540704.

The Ladies of Ranfurly Castle held an Easter Fun Competition on Easter Monday. Lucky with the weather, the teams of 3 had fun looking for the hidden bunnies while trying to play good golf. Finding all the Bunnies added a few extra points to the Stableford score so it was an important challenge, but only one team succeeded! The winning team consisted of Pamela MacKenzie, Helen Crichton and Chris Minto while the winner of the best Easter Bonnet was Jean Murray - the real eggs on her hat lasted until after the judging! The Mail on Sunday Team have progressed to the next round with wins over Elderslie at home and Gleddoch away. We wish them luck in their next match. The weather has been playing havoc with the fixture list already but we are pleased to say that the April Medal was played at the second attempt. Very wet underfoot but at least completed without any rain. The ladies are hoping that Spring will actually arrive before too long.

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Brookfield Curling Club Why not fill up evenings with a new sport or revive old skills? Interested in taking up Curling? All standards welcome. For information, telephone 01505 614080.

Football Training Tuesday & Thursday nights at Johnstone High School astro between 6pm and 9pm - football training for players of all age groups & abilities. For further details please call Ali McMaster on 07775 578795, e: Glentyanthistlefc@gmail.com or visit our website: www.glentyanthistle.co.uk

Kilmacolm Bowling Club Come and Try Days Kilmacolm Bowling Club will take part in the Bowls Scotland come and try days on Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May, between 2pm and 4pm. All we ask is you bring a pair of flat soled shoes. Bowling is open to all ages, gents, ladies and juniors. For further information please contact the Secretary on 01505 874239 or e-mail kilmacolmbowlingclub@gmail.com

The first Team Scotland at the Kaydi, along with her dance group at G12 Studios in Glasgow, run by Lyn Miller, have qualified in various genres of dance to form part of Team Scotland at this year’s Dance World Cup to be held in Jersey.

Adult Tap Lessons

This is the first time a Scottish team has qualified in the history of the Dance World Cup, a fantastic achievement as some 18,000 applicants from 38 countries across the world audition for places at the prestigious dance event. Kaydi, a former pupil of St Fillan’s Primary School in Houston started dancing when she was 3 years old in Tap and Ballet progressing to Highland Dancing when she was 5. She has taken up Acro Dance and Hip Hop only since October 2015. Kaydi qualified as a soloist in National / Folklore Dance genre using her talents in Highland Dance. She attends the Myra Miller School of Dance for Highland. She will also perform team routines in Tap, Hip Hop and Lyrical with her friends from G12 studios. Her family and friends are so proud of her and wish her and the whole of Team Scotland, every success in the finals to be held in June 2016.

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Learn a new skill and have fun exercising. Suitable for beginners upwards. Saturday lunchtime: The Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm. PA13 4LE. For more information please contact, Gail Ashley (MBATD) on 01475 531336. www.gailashleyschoolofdance. co.uk Email: contact@ gailashleyschoolofdance.co.uk

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On your marks to enter Paisley 10k & Fun Run Athletes and fun runners are being urged to get off their marks to enter this year’s Paisley 10k Race. The popular event - sponsored by Paisley First and the Decathlon sports and outdoors retailer - takes place on Sunday 21 August 2016. And the starting gun has been fired for people to register for the 10k race and shorter 3k Fun Run.

every

Monday

Last year, more than 1700 people raced around the streets of Paisley in the 10k and were quickly followed by 700 fun runners, many taking part to raise tens of thousands of pounds for their favourite charities and good causes.

Kilbarchan Athletic Club

Macmillan Cancer Support is the Paisley 10k Race official charity partner for the second year.

All abilities welcome. Tel: 07941 686990.

Great Britain marathon runners and local Kilbarchan Amateur Athletics Club athletes, Derek Hawkins and Gemma Rankin are planning to compete in the race again this year if their training schedules allow. Both are previous winners of the Paisley 10k and they were in the town yesterday to help promote the race.

On-X, Linwood, 7pm

5-a-side Football

Powerleague Paisley 6pm Tel: Jim on 01505 874215; or jimbretherton@aol.com

Gemma said: “The Paisley 10k is good if you are a serious athlete because there is some real competition in the race.

Bridge of Weir Ladies Badminton

“But it’s also great for getting people more active as they train for the 10k or the Fun Run.

Callanetics

“You don’t have to be Usain Bolt to enjoy yourself running, so I hope lots of people sign up for the race and have a great day out.”

Strathgryffe Motorcycle Club

The race and fun run, on a flat course, is being organised by Renfrewshire Leisure in conjunction with Renfrewshire Council. Renfrewshire Leisure chief executive, Joyce McKellar said: “Anyone who has been to a Paisley 10k and Fun Run will know it’s a fantastic event to be part of. The town centre is full of people running, jogging or even just walking the course and there’s a great camaraderie with everyone taking part. “The amount of money raised for charities and good causes is phenomenal with being people sponsored to take part and complete the course. “We’ve got all ages taking part - from primary school kids to pensioners – and there’s a real carnival atmosphere in the town on race day with lots of street stalls and entertainment. “If you can put one foot in front of the other, why not consider putting in a wee bit extra training over the next few months and enter the Paisley 10k or Fun Run?” Joyce added: “There’s more than £1700 of prize money and trophies up for grabs in the Paisley 10k and for the fun runners there are prizes for the first boys and girls from primary and secondary schools over the finishing line.

Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Cres, 7.30pm Brookfield Village Hall, 7.15pm

The Trust Inn, Kilbarchan 9pm-10.30pm Visit www.strathgryffe.org for details.

The Shotokan Karate Club

Woodlands Primary School, Linwood, 7pm - 8pm & 8pm - 9pm. www.linwoodkarate.co.uk

every Tuesday

Bridge of Weir Walking Group Outside the Co-op, BoW 10.30am

1 hour walks. Call Senga on 0141 842 3000.

Gryffe Badminton

Strathgryffe Tennis Club, 8pm

Football Training

Johnstone High School 6pm-9pm Call Ali on 07775 578795 for details

every

Wednesday

Greenock Hockey Club

Inverclyde Academy, Greenock, 6.30pm8pm Contact Liz Baldwin, mobile 07944 607005

“But the real prize for the fun runners is how much you will enjoy yourselves and the benefits to your health and fitness.”

Callanetics

You can register for the race by logging on to renfrewshireleisure. com or by telephoning 0141 842 3000 or picking up an entry form from any Renfrewshire Leisure venue.

Kilbarchan Athletic Club

Brookfield Village Hall, 5.15, 6.15 & 7.30pm

every Thursday On-X, Linwood, 7pm

All abilities welcome. Tel: 07941 686990.

Kilmacolm Walkers

Birkmyre Park Pavilion, Kilmacolm 10am David 01505 874192 kilmacolmwalkers@talktalk.net

Sporting Blog

Fight Muscle Loss: Lift Weights

When you think of a typical older person, there is something that communicates frailty and weakness. They probably walk slowly, move carefully and let others do things for them. Often the cause is muscle loss, otherwise known as sarcopenia. And if you are 25 or older, it is happening already. Sarcopenia refers to the process of losing skeletal muscle mass and strength; it describes a progressive weakening caused by a “change in body compensation in favor of fat and at the expense of muscle.” Everyone, beginning around age 25, starts to lose muscle mass, though the actual symptoms of this loss do not usually begin showing up until around the age of 40 or so. The process begins really picking up speed after the age of 65. In fact, around the age of 40, most women can lose almost a half-pound of muscle every year and replace it with fat.

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Callanetics

Brookfield Village Hall, 9.15am & 10.30am

by Lesley Handley

The result of this gradual loss of muscle is an insidious weakening of the body, loss of balance, loss of confidence upon walking, and a reduced ability to recover from near falls. As we lose strength, we become more inactive. This makes sense, because if we have less muscle, it takes much more effort to move, and we fatigue more easily. But also, with loss of strength comes loss of balance and stability. The fear of falling keeps many people sedentary. And a sedentary lifestyle opens the door for chronic illness. You can delay sarcopenia and even reverse it; by lifting weights. You cannot grow new muscle cells, but you can develop the ones that you have left. As you begin lifting weights, you will notice a transformation in your body. You will have more energy, you will perform everyday tasks with noticeably more ease and you will have greater balance and more confidence.

Lesley For more information on nutrition or Personal Training contact me on 0773 627 4925 or email Lesley@fitsmartfitness.co.uk

The Shotokan Karate Club Woodlands Primary. Linwood 7pm - 8pm & 8pm - 9pm www.linwoodkarate.co.uk

Football Training

Johnstone High School 6pm-9pm Call Ali on 07775 578795 for details

every

Friday

Callanetics

Brookfield Village Hall, 9.15am & 10.30am

18 Movement (Tai Chi) Chi Kung St Fillans Church Hall, Moss Rd, Kilmacolm 10.15am-11.15am

Gentle, relaxing exercise class. 0141 954 2456.

every

Saturday

Adult Tap Lessons

Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm. lunchtime. Call Gail Ashley on 01475 531336 for details

every

Sunday

Birkmyre Rugby Club, Kilmacolm Youth Rugby Section 11am-1pm www.pitchero.com/clubs/birkmyre

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Johnstone cyclists are kitted out for Paisley 2021 A successful Renfrewshire cycling club are set to fly the flag for Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021 across the whole country. The Johnstone Wheelers cycling club – and their youth section, the Johnstone Jets – will be proudly wearing the Paisley 2021 logo on their new kit. The club – whose members compete at major competitions across Scotland and the UK – offered up the space as a way of showing their support for the bid. The Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club has been at the hub of cycling in Renfrewshire for almost a century and is this year celebrating its 90th anniversary, while the Johnstone Jets is one of the largest youth cycle clubs in Scotland. Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021 is due to be lodged with the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport in early 2017. The bid aims to use Paisley’s unique collection of heritage and cultural assets to change the area’s future. Renfrewshire’s Provost Anne Hall was on hand to meet some of the club members at a Paisley landmark – the Hamills on the Rivert Cart – to see the new kit. She said: “Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021 is about the whole community coming together to tell the world what we are doing and what we as a town can offer. We are delighted the Johnstone Wheelers and the Johnstone Jets have come forward and offered to help spread the word. Kenny Steele, of the Johnstone Wheelers, added: “We are delighted to announce our support for Paisley’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2021. With the club carrying such a positive profile, not only in Renfrewshire but across Scotland and the UK, this is an ideal opportunity to reciprocate the support we have received from the council and the people of Renfrewshire over the years. The Johnstone Jets caters for youngsters aged between five and 17 and has an active club calendar with coached activities at Linwood every Saturday morning and road-race training on Thursday evenings. If you are interested in joining the Johnstone Wheelers please email membership@johnstone-wheelers.co.uk and for the Johnstone Jets please email martin@johnstone-jets.org.uk For more information on Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021, see paisley2021.co.uk

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Table Tennis Houston Village Hall on Monday nights from 7.30pm 9.30pm. All welcome. Donation £2. Contact Mark on 07968 052538.

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Castle Semple Sailing Club Asymmetric Cup - 3 April 2016 The Club introduced this event last year in response to requests from our growing number of members with asymmetrics. When I looked back to this event last year it had apparently been a lovely sunny day with enough wind. This year it was one of those mornings when you really consider whether to get out of bed or not. In fact a nameless GP sailor told me earlier on in the week that he was going to the pub rather than sail - so be it he must have had advance notice of the weather. So initially there was no wind and racing was postponed, several people volunteered for rescue boat duties - surprise surprise. Eventually a few boats went for a “drift” before returning to the clubhouse for an early lunch. By 12.30 it was agreed that the wind had got up sufficiently to warrant a race although by this time, last year’s winner Tom Kelly had given up any hope of wind and volunteered to do rescue boat. So 7 boats, including a N12 set off for the first race. Due to the late start we were anticipating only 4 races but the Race Officers somehow managed to squeeze in a 5th short race. Although the Vortex was first through the line for most races he wasn’t far enough ahead of the RS 500 and RS Vision. Race 3 saw multiple turns being done at buoy 2 after several too close encounters. Several wind shifts caused problems during more than one race once the courses had been set

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Easter Success for Strathgryffe Mini Players The Easter holidays have been very successful for two of Strathgryffe’s talented tennis youngsters Liam O’Brien and Carla Ward, who have won competitions both North and South of the border. Nine-year-old Liam won three Grade 3 events in seven days. He started out in Manchester on the 2nd April taking the North of England 10 & u Boys title, followed by the West of Scotland 10 & u Boys title on the 5th April. The West trophy, engraved as far back as 1994 was also won by Jamie Murray as a boy! Finally, Liam added the Edinburgh Waverley Open Boys 10 & u title on the 8th April for the third year in a row, having previously won both the 8 & u and 9 & u titles.

Many thanks to Tom, Iain and Crawford for safety boat cover and Elaine for all her work in the kitchen. Also especially to Pam and Douglas for acting as race officers.

Eight-year-old Carla also started off the week well. On 2nd April she reached the semifinal of the National Grade 2 event in Bolton narrowly losing two close sets 7-5 7-5. On the 3rd April, Carla won the West of Scotland Grade 3 event at Newlands - then went on to win the Grade 3 event at Waverley on Wed 6th April.

There was some discussion before the final results were declared: 1st : Brian Young and Alan Falconer (RS Vision) Joint 2nd: Mike & Jamie McMillian (RS500) with Angus Winchester (Vortex) 4th: Jon Hasler 4th (with Tom Kelly as crew, after his numerous capsizes in the first 2 races, for the final 3 races).

Fabulous achievements by both players who are in the performance programme at Strathgryffe. For more information on tennis or squash activities at Strathgryffe please email: info@strathgryffe.net or visit www.strathgryffe.net The club will be holding an Open Day on Sunday 15th May between 10am and 4pm. All ages welcome for some free tennis, squash or fitness coaching.

6 Tips for managing Sun Glare while Driving with ChipsAway.co.uk Low morning and evening sun combined with wet roads is a hazardous combination that can lead to accidents. Because of this, the ChipsAway team have compiled a list of the most effective, easy to use tips to manage sun glare while driving. 1. Slow down: the most important thing to do when sun glare is an issue is to slow down and leave a large gap between you and the car in front, especially while driving through pedestrianised areas or school zones. With visibility down and reaction times up, it’s important to give yourself the extra time to react and avoid a potential accident. 2. The humble sun visor: Every driver’s go-to on a sunny day, but consider tilting your sun visor forward as high as you can while still blocking the sun. This helps keep your visibility to a maximum, particularly for traffic signals or other road signs. If you feel your visor never really does the job, it’s worth remembering that there are many types of easy to install aftermarket visors available. These can help block more sun while impeding your visibility less, often with the use of see through, anti-glare materials and adjustability. 3.Don’t forget your sunglasses: Using sunglasses is a surprisingly effective way of countering glare in even the sunniest of conditions. Polarised lenses are a bonus, as they filter out even more glare, and have been popular for years among boaters and fishermen who need to reduce glare from water reflections.

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4. Dip your headlights: Though it might not be the first thing that springs to mind when faced with extreme sunlight, driving with dipped headlights in high-glare conditions can help increase your visibility to other drivers. Those lucky enough to have a newer car may already have this covered with always-on Daytime Running Lights (DRL), which do the same job. Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Many newer cars are built with DRL as a standard safety feature, often taking the form of a curved strip of LEDs under the main headlights. 5.Spring clean your windscreen: Cleaning your windscreen inside and out can make a huge difference to glare levels, with dirt and grime amplifying the sun’s rays across your field of view. It may also be a good time to check your windscreen for chips and cracks, which can have a similar effect. Make sure your windscreen wipers are in good condition. 6. Follow the marked lanes: If conditions are particularly challenging and you’re stuck without your sunglasses, use road markings to ensure that you are at least in the right lane – especially on the motorway. You’ll still need to make sure you’re leaving ample space between you in the car in front, but they can help as a useful guide in a pinch. If you are really struggling to see – always pull over safely until you feel you can continue driving in a safe way. - See more at: https://www.chipsaway.co.uk/our-world/blog/2015/8/12/6tips-for-managing-sun-glare-while-driving/#sthash.WanjvwC9.dpuf

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CarFest Saturday 25 June at 11:30am St Vincent’s Hospice, Midton Road, Howwood PA9 1AF St Vincent’s Hospice’s annual festival of wheels is in its third year. CarFest is sponsored and run by MaxSafe Solutions. This year it will be held Saturday 25th June. Last year we helped to raise over £3000 on the day. It is a great day out for the kids, big and small. Plenty of things for the kids, mums and dads to do and great opportunity to get up close and personal to over £1m of petrol driven metal.

Erskine Classic Car Show Saturday 2 July at 11am - 4pm Ingliston Country Club Bishopton, Ingliston Estate, Bishopton PA7 5PA www.erskine.org.uk It’s back! Erskine are delighted to announce that the annual Erskine Classic Car Show will be returning on Saturday 2nd July. Join us for a fantastic family fun day with over 300 vintage vehicles, children’s funfair, horse riding, food, stalls and plenty of entertainment. With thanks Tartan Tarmac! Entry £4; Children 12 and under go free! To register your car, club or stall please contact kirsten.graham@Erskine. org.uk or call 0141-814-4625 for your booking form.

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SEE A POTHOLE REPORT IT!

Call 01475 717171

Call 0300 3000 300

Report online at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/form s/ShowForm.asp?fm_fid=375

Online fault report at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/roa dfault

You can also write to: Inverclyde Council Municipal Buildings Clyde Square GREENOCK PA15 1LY

You can also write to: Community Resources Renfrewshire House Cotton Street Paisley PA1 1BR

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Kilmacolm/Quarriers area registered childminders. P/time or F/time vacancies for u-5’s and after school. T: 873839.

Houston registered childminders. For an informal chat to find your best childcare, call Elizabeth Waddell T: 614925

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DEADLINES

If you want something placed in the next issue either send an email to:

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PROPERTY HOLIDAY HOMES

Definitions: “Standards” means the British Code of Advertising Practice and the provisions of any law applicable to advertising including, but not limited to, the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988, the Financial Services Act 1986, the Business Advertisement (Disclosure) Order 1977 and all amendments and replacements. It is hereby agreed that:

13 May 29 May 10 June 24 June

• The placing by the Advertising Client of an Advertisement is deemed to be acceptance of these Conditions of Acceptance of Advertising. • All Advertisements in this Publication must not contravene the Standards.

ADVERTISE HERE FOR ONLY

• Insertion of Advertisements and/or Editorial is strictly at the discretion of the Publisher.

£18.00 PER

• The Publisher shall not be liable for any loss or damage incurred by the Advertising Client as a result of any failure, negligence or omission by any party in the course of the distribution or circulation of the Publication in which the Advertisement is scheduled to appear.

MONTH (INCL. VAT)

• In the event of any error, misprint or omission by the Publisher in the printing of an Advertisement, the Publisher will either re-insert the advertisement, adjust the cost or provide a refund. This does not apply if the Advertisement has been approved by the Advertising Client prior to publication. The total liability of the Publisher for such an occurrence shall not exceed the amount of a full refund for that particular Advertisement.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS

The Law requires that Advertisers selling goods in the course of a business MUST include the word Trader, Dealer, Agent, Breeder or appropriate wording in the Advertisement to distinguish from private advertisers.

• The Advertising Client agrees to indemnify the Publisher in respect of all costs, damages or other charges falling upon the Publisher as the result of legal actions or threatened legal actions arising from the publication of the Advertisement, or any one or more of the series of Advertisements, published in accordance with the copy instructions supplied to the Publisher. • Readers are reminded that when purchasing items or services advertised in the Publication that the Publisher cannot be held in any way responsible for the quality or correctness of the items or services included in the Advertisement.

Missed something or fancy taking a look back over the last 8 years?

Editorial throughout The Gryffe Advertizer:

The opinions of the Contributors to this Publication are not necessarily the official views of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to edit or refuse any material submitted for publication.

visit www.advertizer.co.uk or

http://free.yudu.com/library/18833/Gryffe-Advertizer-issues

follow The Advertizer on twitter and facebook for regular updates t: @GryffeAds f: www.facebook.com/GryffeAds

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churches

Freeland Church: Rev KN Gray BA BD. Morning Service 10.30am. Crèche, Sunday School, Lynx and Cornerstone. Eveing Service 7pm www.freeland.org.uk St Mary’s Church Scottish Episcopal Church: Delighting to praise God; Showing Christ’s love; Growing in faith. Services Sundays at 10am. we have a regular cycle of prayer for those who live and work in Bridge of Weir. For further information, to ask for special prayers, or in pastoral emergency, please call the Rector on 01475 705378 St Machar’s Ranfurly Church: Sunday services 10.30am, Junior Church & Youth Church, hearing aid loop system. For more information on activities and events find us online – stmacharsranfurlychurch. org.uk or Facebook. Come along – all welcome. Hope Hall: Sun 1pm Sunday School, 4.30pm Gospel Service; Mon 6.30pm Investigators for Kids, 8pm Bible Study and Prayer.

ELDERSLIE

Elderslie Kirk: Sunday service every week at 11am. Minister - Rev Robin Allison. All welcome. Weekly meetings:Monday Club every week from 12noon - 2.30pm. Light lunch and a varied activity programme. Midweek Fellowship will meet every Wed from 10.30am for Tea/Coffee followed by a short Service of Worship at 11am.

HOUSTON

Houston and Killellan Kirk: Church of Scotland, Scottish Charity no SC 012822. www. houstonkirk.org. Minister Rev. D o n a l d C a m p b e l l B.D. 1st May 09:45 Early Service: The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 11:00 Morning Worship. 8th May 11:00 Morning Worship: The Sacrament of Baptism. 15th May 11:00 Morning worship. 22nd May 11:00 Morning Worship. 29th May 09:45 Early Service. 11:00 Morning Worship: The Sacrament of Baptism. Note: Our Communion wine is non-alcoholic apart from the Common Cup (used at early morning services and by request at other times.

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CONTENT OF THE GRYFFE ADVERTIZER CANNOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT FROM THE PUBLISHER

Advertising throughout The Gryffe Advertizer:

The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977

BRIDGE OF WEIR

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The Gryffe Advertizer is a magazine published by The Gryffe Advertizer Ltd

Fri 13 May June‘16 ISSUE: • Deadline: • Delivery: July‘16 ISSUE: • Deadline: • Delivery:

may 2016

Houston Baptist Church at Carrick Centre: 11am Family services with SS for children age 5-12; 6pm Eve Service; Mid-week Home Bible Study; For more information contact; Rev D Snelson 01505 612722. St Fillan’s, Main St, Houston: Sun Masses: Vigil (Sat) 5pm, 9.30am & 11am. Weekday Mass: Tues-Sat 9 . 3 0 a m exc e p t T h u r s , 7pm. Reconciliation: Sat 10-10.30am and after Vigil Mass; Thurs 7.30-8pm. Exposition: As announced. All are welcome. Baptisms: 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month by arrangement. Parish Priest: Rev Daniel J McLoughlin, Dip. Th.,MA Pastoral Assistant: Sr Mary Frances Collett, RNDM (Tel 01505 613514). “Abbotsfield”, St Fillan’s, Main St, Houston, PA6 7EL. T: 01505 612046, F: 01505 610556. E: parish@stfillan. org.uk. www.stfillan.org.uk Church of the Nazarene: Village Hall, Main St, Houston PA6 7EL. Rev Benito S Coetzee. Family services at 10.30am with full toddler, children & youth activities running concurrently with the service. Youth meets at 6.30pm8pm on Sundays. Word and Table Quiet Service held from 9am-9.30am every 3rd Sunday. www.houston. nazarene.org.uk

HOWWOOD

Howwood Parish Church: Sunday Service will start at 10am and there will be a prayer meeting at 3 Bowfield Way on Fridays at 7.30pm.

KILBARCHAN

Kilbarchan Parish Church Minister: - Rev Stephen Smith. During the month of April, services continue on Sunday mornings at 11am, conducted by Rev. Stephen Smith. The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be observed on Sunday 24th April at 11am and 6.30pm. All are welcome to any or all of these services. Sunday School and the crèche meet from 10.45am in the hall. All details about the church, wo r s h i p a n d t h e m a ny organisations can be seen by visiting the website: www. kilbarchan-kirk.btck.co.uk

KILMACOLM

Kilmacolm Old Kirk: Church of Scotland (Charity n o . S C 0 0 9 2 91 ) . w w w. kilmacolmoldkirk.org. uk. Minister Rev Dr Peter McEnhill (01505 873174). Morning Worship - Sundays 11am, all welcome Sunday School & Crèche available. St Columba Church of Scotland: (charity no SC007992) Morning Worship Sundays at 11am.

St Colm’s Catholic Church, Smithy Brae Kilmacolm. Rev Vincent Byrne. Family mass Sundays 10am with children’s liturgy, followed by tea and coffee. Eucharistic service Thursdays 10.30am. Rosary Tuesdays 6.30pm. Prayer group meets Thursdays 7.30pm. Further information and contact details www.stcolmsparish. co.uk. All welcome. Grace Church Kilmacolm: in association with Downavale Free Church of Scotland (Charity No: SCO38274) Sunday Service at 10.30am in Kilmacolm Guide Hut, Woodrow Avenue, PA13 4QF - all welcome. Buddhist meetings: Buddhism o f N i c h i ren D a i s h o n i n . Phone Margaret on 01505 871343. St Fillan’s Episcopal Church (in Anglican Communion): Everyone welcome at our Church in Moss Road. The Rector is the Revd David Gifford and the Associate P r i e s t t h e Rev d H e l l e r Gonzalez (resident in Kilmacolm Rectory). Regular Sunday Service 11.30am with monthly Evensong on last Sundays at 6pm. Family Service 11.30am on the last Sunday of the month. Contact Maureen Russell (Pastoral Assistant) 01505 872905.

LANGBANK

Langbank Parish Church: Rev Dr Ken Forrest. Sunday Services 10am with Sunday School, Creche and young people’s group, the Welcomers. Tea/ coffee after the service. Church service starts at 10am. Come along and meet in the Hall from 9.50am. Charity No SC015085.

LOCHWINNOCH

Parish Church: Rev May Bell. 11.30am Morning Service Sunday School and Crèche. Calder United Free Church: (Church St Lochwinnoch) Sunday: 11am Morning worship with Sunday School and Crèche. 6.30pm Evening Fellowship group, 7.30pm ABC’s Teen group. Wed 6.30pm-7.30pm. Spiritualist Church,Lochlip Rd: All services commence 7.30pm.

QUARRIERS

Mount Zion Church: Law View Road, Quarriers Village. Rev Andy Lunn BSc, Please join with us.

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the advertizer

ITEMS FOR SALE BABY EQUIPMENT Mamas & Papas solid pine junior bed (suit <4yrs) inc mattress & solid pine matching changing station. Old style, few marks. Good cond. £40 or will sell separately. Tel: 07786 984796 High pram, removable “boat”. Good cond. £30. Tel: 01505 613256 Moses basket and white rocking stand, plus cream covers. Smoke free, pet free home. Exc cond. £18. Tel: 01505 672175 Britax Car Seat black forward facing, 15-36 kg, good cond. £15. Tel: 01505 874870 CLOTHES & SHOES Size 10/12 ivory silk stunning wedding gown, beaded pearl bodice, 5 feet train. Size 5 satin ivory 3 inch heel peep toe wedding shoes. Both for £195. Tel: 07786 984796 Tap shoes pink junior size 10. £10. VGC. Tel 01505 874870 Ballet shoes pink junior size 9. £5. VGC. Tel 01505 874870 Tristan ladies cardigan size 16, plum dark, long sleeves £9. Tel: 07517 065917 Regatta ladies turquoise rainproof raincoat, size16, with a hood, zip through, like new. £10. Tel: 07517 065917 Penny plain ladies wool coat, dark blue mix, herringbone material, buttons, size 16. £25. Perfect cond. Tel: 07517 065917 HOUSEHOLD & GARDEN Himolla red leather settee 3 seater. Cost over £2,000 (receipt on request) £200. Tel: 01505 703214 Solid Pine Stompa Cabin Bed Frame for sale. Old Style but good cond. Pull out desk top & shelving incl. Dismantled, must collect. £30. Tel: 07786 984796 Wrought Iron fire basket for gas coal effect fire plus coals. £30. Tel: 01505 872359 As good as new Dark Solid Wood Extendable Dining Table with 6 Leather Chairs (Chairs £400 each new). £400 complete. Tel: 07769 219510 Wooden framed mirrors, large, used. Both for £8. Tel: 07517 065917 As good as new light wood corner unit with light and glass door. £50. Tel: 07769 219510 Lovely oak table for two people. Approx 80cm wide x 70cm deep X 70cm high. Good cond. £40. Tel: 01505 672175

Retro vintage, beithcraft mcintosh sideboard, immac cond, solid wood, 2 cupboards & 3 drawers, £75. Tel: 07954 364125 Large Traditional 3 piece suite, 3 seater sofa & 2 chairs, neutral colours, good cond, £100. Tel: 07954 364125 Two seater & chair, traditional high back very supportive with wooden arms, heathery colours, good cond. £100. Tel: 07954 364125 2 lounge armchairs cream and pink with matching footstool. Exc cond. £70ono. Tel. 01505 842711 Bedroom furniture dark wood good cond: high chest of drawers £50, high and narrow chest £50, bedside cabinets x2 £50, double wardrobe £50. Tel: 01505 613845. Dining room chairs. Six IKEA chairs with covers. Reasonable cond. All six for £120 ono.Tel: 07876 563768 Single divan bed with mattress, white, 2 drawers, VGC. £30. Tel: 07876 563768 Atco Clipper 16 Petrol Mower. Very lightly used since bought new in 2013. Original cost £799. Will accept £300 (no less!). Tel: 01505 322001 (Brookfield) Large wooden circular patio table, with Lazy Susan centre piece, with 8 chairs. Exc cond. Cost £800 new, sell for £450. Tel: 07795 098746 Propogation tent. Ideal for a keen gardener. 3m x 2m x 2m (L,W,H). As new. £90. Tel: 07876 563768 ELECTRICAL & GAS Panasonic CD radio/cassette player/remote control. Silver. Exc cond. £15. Tel 01505 672175 Dualit Mini Oven 89000, Stainless Steel. Defrost, bake, grill and convection cooking. VGC. Instruction booklet incl. £30. Tel: 07821 793451 Old 37” Samsung LCD TV, for quick sale, £10. Model LE37R8. No Guarantees. Tel: 01505 352958 Philips hostess trolley. Seldom used. Good cond. Dark mahogany. £30. Tel: 07912 857545 Corby Trouser Press, Exc cond, £20. Tel: 07954 364125 Cast Iron Gas fired coal stovebrand new never used Baxi W i n d e r m e r e . Te l : 0 7 7 9 1 688240

t: 01505 613340

SPORTS Small Bodytech Fitness exercise bike. £15. Tel: 01505 347719 Gents Trek Bicycle7200FX. Suitable 5’5 to 6’. Great entry level commuter or leisure bike. £50. Tel: 01505 690468 Ridgeback voyage Touring bicycle. SizeM. Drop or straight handlebars available. Great entry level tour or commuter bike. £150. Tel: 01505 690468 3 sets of bowels and bags. £45 per set. Tel: 01505 337675 Silver ladies Peugeot bike with basket. Good clean cond, £60. Tel: 07717 377935 Kids bike, suitable for 6-8yrs, yellow in colour. Good clean cond, £40. Tel: 07717 377935 Apollo ‘ivory’ girls bike. Suit age 6-9. Dark-red frame/white mudguards & chain guard, 6-speed, exc cond. £35. Tel: 01505 613932 Townsend ‘Destiny’ ladies bike. Attractive orange/red colour. 10-speed. Good cond.Mudguards & rear pannier. £15. Tel: 01505 613932. Mountain bike, Apollo FS26, mens/boy 17” frame, red/silver, 21 gears. VGC. £50. Tel: 01505 874861 Reebok basketball hoop/stand. Full sized, free standing, adjustable. £35. Tel: 01505 874861 Girls Jodhpur Riding Boots (Black) Size 13 & Size 2. Good cond. £10 a pair. Tel: 07979 526652/01505 873488. Girls Graf Ice Skates size 3. Girls SFR Ice Skates size 2. Girls Galaxy Ice Skates size 1 - All good cond. £10 a pair. Tel: 01505 873488/07979 526652. 40 Golf Balls, VGC. Various makes, Titleist, Top Flight, £10. Tel: 07954 364125 Toddler Bicycle helmets (44-48 cm) pink x 2, suits appr. 1-5 yrs old, VGC. £5 each. Tel: 01505 874870 Kids bike (20”) ideal age 5-8. Exc cond, good as new. Cost £100 sell for £20. Tel 01505 690658 Folding Classic vintage uni sex bicycle “Pony” 20” wheels 3 speed hub gears. Tel: 07791 688240. Bicycle suit teenager 17” frame good cond. £40. Tel: 07791 688240. Bicycle Ladies 21” attractive good cond. £50. Tel: 07791 688240. 1960’s Vintage collectors Raleigh Superb 23” frame green enclosed chain case. £180. Tel: 07791 688240.

TOYS/GAMES/DVD Commodore Amiga 600 console and games. Working & in great cond. Inc original box, user manuals, instructions, mouse & joystick. All leads incl. Sensible offers considered. Tel: 07901 680425 Pintoy Fire station/men/fire truck/ furniture. Wooden set in very good cond. New £110 will sell for £60ono. Tel: 07799 434563 Wooden pirate ship & 3 pirates. VGC. £15. Tel: 07799 434563 OTHER ITEMS Thermostat. Electronic programmable room stat. New £80 sell for £30 ono. Tel: 0787 656 3768 Hot water copper cylinder with foam insulation, heating coil and immersion heater. £25 ono Tel: 07876 563768 Vintage binoculars & leather black case. Telstar coated lenses. £22. Tel:07517 065917 Vintage silver plated spoons, set of 12, NEW foreign, £23. Tel: 07517 065917 Many DVD’s,CD’s. £3 each Tel: 07517 065917 Farmhouse cookery recipes from countryside. £8. Tel: 07517 065917 Amber necklace, £40, new design. Tel: 07517 065917 Silver jewellery: necklace, ring with zircon £23. Tel: 07517 065917 Vintage crystal blue necklace, £16. Tel: 07517 065917 Costume jewellery in bulk, £25. Tel: 07517 065917 Wickes gift card worth £100. Only £85. Tel: 07517 065917 JCB Sitemaster Grinder. 110 volt. 115mm. Brand New in carry case. £20ono. Tel: 07814 096173 Sempre Radio Controlled Wall Clock. Brand new, boxed. £5. Tel: 07814 096173 Wine Rack - holds 28 bottles. VGC. £10. Tel: 01505 341206 Readers Digest Condensed Books - 20 in total. VGC. Tel: 01505 341206 Royal Albert ‘Old Country Roses’ China Ornaments. Various selection. £5 each. Tel: 01505 326230 Children of the week plates. Danbury, mint with certificate. Only £5 each. Tel: 01505 326230 Microsoft wireless keyboard, mouse and USB desktop receiver in black/silver. Exc cond. £15. Tel 01505 672175 4 BMW 15” alloy wheels with winter tyres. Good tread, 195 x 65, £100. Tel: 07954 364125 BMW winter tyres suitable for BMW E87, 116i sport 5dr, BMW E81 3dr, E90 E series, E91 3 series. Selling due to new car (6ml tread). £200. Tel: 01505 613845

ADVERTISING sales & wants ad rates:

UP TO £200 ....... FREE £201 to £500 ..... £5.00 £501 to £1000 ... £10.00 OVER £1000 ..... Call for details.

Use our Sales & Wants form and post to The Gryffe Advertizer, Neva Place, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3PN. or email your items to info@advertizer.co.uk The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS

The Law requires that Advertisers selling goods in the course of a business MUST include the word Trader, Dealer, Agent, Breeder or appropriate wording in the Advertisement to distinguish from private advertisers.

60-63 CLASSIFIED_260_MAY16.ind.indd 62

e: info@advertizer.co.uk iPad 2 16GB black in perfect cond. Original packing and charger. £170. Tel 01505 874870 Cannon MG 2950 colour printer/ scanner as new. £35. Email: archibaldbrown1@aol.com IPhone 5 in leather wallet good protected cond. Charger & new high spec battery extras include desk top holder charger £135. Tel: 07791 688240 Smartphone Nokia with charger £45. takes EE T mobile Virgin. Tel: 07791 688240 1970s Bush Radiogram spare stylus. VGC. £50. Tel: 01505 612826. Buyer collects.

WANTED ITEMS

Old records Wanted 45`s & LP`s CASH Paid. Tel: 07710 777571. Cash paid for Music CDs ( a few or a lot ). Tel: 0141 882 5594 or 07765 115347. Cash paid for Copy of book Castles and mansions of Renfrewshire and Buteshire by AH Millar. Tel 01505 331094. Black dining room table. Tel: 01505 506385.

Portable Mobility Scooter wanted for storage in car boot. Tel: 07780 743718. Local lily grower requires the use of a greenhouse/polytunnel in Kilmacolm area in return for light gardening duties. Tel: Vince 01505 872082.

FREE

CYCLE

Mahogany extending table & 6 chairs 2 of which are carvers with chestnut coloured upholstery. Table is 91X167cm when not extended & 91x213cm when extended. Good cond. Collection only. Tel: 01505 671393 Mahogany display cabinet with glass fronted cupboards and drinks cabinet above and cupboards/drawers below. The unit has integrated lights. VGC. Dimensions are width 201cm, height 189cm & depth 38cm. Collection only. Tel: 01505 671393 Single Car Window Sun Shade. Still in box with suction pads. Tel: 07842 715261 Bissel Carpet Sweeper. Blast from the past. Tel: 07842 715261

LOCAL INFORMATION community council Visitors are welcome at these monthly meetings. BISHOPTON: Primary School: 1st Thurs at 7.30pm www.bishoptoncouncil.com BRIDGE OF WEIR: Cargill Hall: 1st Tues at 7pm. www.bridgeofweir.org BROOKFIELD: Brookfield Village Hall: 7.30pm in February, April, June, August, October and December on 2nd Thursday of the month. HOUSTON: Carrick Centre: 3rd Wed at 7.30pm www.houstoncommcouncil@yahoo.co.uk HOWWOOD: Village Hall: 2nd Tues at 7.30pm. www.howwood.com/community-council.php KILBARCHAN: Steeple Hall: monthly at 7.30pm. www.kilbarchan.info/community_council.html KILMACOLM & QUARRIERS: Last Tues at 7.30pm, Kilmacolm Cargill Centre (NB: No meetings: July or Dec) www.kilmacolmcc.co.uk LANGBANK: Church Hall: 2nd Wed at 7.30pm LOCHWINNOCH: Bowling Club: 1st Tues at 7.30pm

community halls to let Bridge of Weir, Freeland Church. Tel: 612245 Brookfield, Village Hall. Tel: 335562. Houston, Carrick Centre. Tel: 612203 / 331488 Houston, Compass Centre. Tel: 615441 / 612617 Kilbarchan, Guide Centre. Tel: 702758. Kilbarchan, Old Library Centre. Tel: 706070 Kilmacolm, Cargill Centre. Tel: 873994 Kilmacolm, Brownie/Guide Hut. Tel: 874428 Kilmacolm, Masonic Hall. Tel: 873059 Linwood Masonic Hall. Tel: 07825 222944

Please add your community hall details to our list email to info@advertizer.co.uk

local

councillors

RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk

Ward 7 - Johnstone South, Elderslie & Howwood: Cllrs John Caldwell, John Hood, Stephen McGee and Iain McMillan Ward 8 - Johnstone (North), Kilbarchan & Lochwinnoch: Councillors Derek Bibby, Andy Doig and Christopher Gilmour Ward 9 - Houston, Crosslee, Brookfield & Linwood: Councillors Stuart Clark, Audrey Doig, Anne Hall and Allan Noon Ward 10 - Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langbank: Councillors Maria Brown, Mike Holmes and James Maclaren INVERCLYDE COUNCIL: www.inverclyde.gov.uk Ward 1 - Inverclyde East (P.Glasgow, Kilmacolm and Quarriers Village): Cllrs David Wilson, Jim MacLeod, Stephen McCabe and James McColgan

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www.advertizer.co.uk

may 2016

63 63

ADVERTIZERS - A TO Z

BY CATEGORY Accountants & Financial

Coffee Shops

Affluent Financial Planning . . 25 Cheetham & Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 CLA Accountancy Services Ltd . . 16 Fergusons CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Fiona Christie Accounting Serv . . 14 Stewart Independent Financial . . Bk

Bernie’s Cafe Deli . . . . . . . . . 31

Architectural Services

Driveways

Architectural Drawings . . . . . 3 Casa Homes & Gardens Architect . . 7 Grid Design Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Art, Gifts & Flowers Crafts of Calder Gallery . . . 14

Automotive Services AK Vehicle Rental . . . . . . . . . 1 Chips Away . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Collins Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Gryffe Garage Motor Engineers . . 59

Bathrooms Affordable Luxuries . . . . . . . 7 Bathroom Solutions by MPH . . 11 G Woods Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . 6 Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . 17

Bedrooms Burndale Workshop . . . . . . . . . 5

Blacksmith & Metalwork McLaughlan Metal Fabrication . . 37

Building Services A O’Hare - Building Services . . 5 B Hughes Builders - Houston . . 37 BOW Stone Works . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Bridge of Weir Roofing . . . . . 6 DJD Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 I & J Building & Roofing Serv . . 2 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 4 JBC Joiners and Builders . . . 6 Kilellan Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 16 M Addison Joiners & Builders . . 3 MBS Roofing & Building Contrac . . 7 Old Woodwork Tools . . . . . . . . . 14 Rukeri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 SMG Roofing & Building Contrac . . 2 SW Scott - Joiners & Builders . . 16 Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 37 Thomas McMaster & Son Ltd . . 51

Business Services Laptop and PC Repairs . . . . . . 26

Care Services & Homes Confident Care Ltd . . . . . . . . . 37

Catering Gadds Gourmet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Cleaning & PowerWash CleanDryCarpets . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Come Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 DS Cleaning (Windows) . . . . . . 14 Gryffe Roofing Services . . . . 15 MattVac Carpet & Upholstery Cl . . Bk Nutech Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Old Mill Chimneys . . . . . . . . . 35 Platinum Cleaning Services . . 5

Computer, IT & Web ColCom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Computer Repairs . . . . . . . . . . 1 Einfach-it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Laptop and PC Repairs . . . . . . 26 A&G Driveways . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk

Driving Instructors Alistair Stewart - Driving Ins . . 14

Education St Columba’s School . . . . . . . . 53

Electricians GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 JDPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Lamont Electricians . . . . . . . . 3 MAS Electrical & Security . . 2

Entertainment Fair Pley Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Equestrian Ingliston Equestrian Centre . . 9

Fencing Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 McLaughlan Metal Fabrication . . 37

Firewood & Logs LJX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Framing Crafts of Calder Gallery . . . 14

Funeral Services Beaton Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . 13,22 John Roach Funeral Directors . . 38

Garage Doors & Gates Powerdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk

Garden Service & Design 3D Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . 44 A Peebles Landscape Contractor . . 45 Apple Tree Garden Design . . . 47 Care & Repair Gardening Servci . . 44 Casa Homes & Gardens Architect . . 7 Craig Kennedy Gardening . . . . 47 DJD Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 DMG Garden Services . . . . . . . . 44 Garden Services . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Glenmoss Landscapes . . . . . . . . 47 I & J Building & Roofing Serv . . 2 J S Montgomery Ltd . . . . . . . . . 44 M&M Garden Services . . . . . . . . 46 MJ Lawnmowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 R Williams Tree Surgeon & Grou . . 45 SP Groundcare . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 46 West of Scotland Landscape . . 48

Gas & Heating Services A&J Plumbing Heating & Gas . . 16 C Hunter Plumbing Heating Gas . . 38 GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 I D Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 7 Mackie Plumbing & Heating . . 15 Phoenix Gas Services . . . . . . . 1

Glazier

Pet Services & Training

1on1 Double Glazing . . . . . . . . 3 Cloudy2Clear Windows Glasgow . . 5 JayBee Double Glazing Repairs . . 15 TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Happy Rambles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Husse Pet Food . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 PetVets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Smart Dog Grooming . . . . . . . . . 42 Walkies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Hairdressers & Barbers Arlene Mitchell Hair & Beauty . . 36 Ashes Hair & Beauty . . . . . . . . 41 Nix Hairdressing . . . . . . . . . . 38 Vanda’s Mobile Hairdressing . . 25

Health & Beauty Ingliston Equestrian Centre . . 9

Health, Beauty & Fitness Arlene Mitchell Hair & Beauty . . 36 Ashes Hair & Beauty . . . . . . . . 41 Beginners Yoga - Sara Marijuan . . 57 Bluewater Dental . . . . . . . . . . 31 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy . . 36 Ferringtons Hypnotherapy . . . 2 Healing Rooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Kilbarchan Chiropodists . . . . 40 Kilbarchan Dental Practice . . 13 LaserLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Lauras Nail & Beauty Lounge . . 23 New Vision Opticians . . . . . . . 10 NLP Positive Changes . . . . . . . 12 Sole Solutions Podiatry . . . . 38

Home Hardware First Domestics . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Gibb Stuart Ironmongers . . . . 32,46

Home Improvements Alvic Sliding Wardrobes Ltd . . 21 Casa Homes & Gardens Architect . . 7 Ideal Flooring Service . . . . . 2 Orchard Flooring . . . . . . . . . . 27 Rent A Bloke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Home Interiors Baytree Interiors . . . . . . . . . 5 Burndale Workshop . . . . . . . . . 5 Old Mill Chimneys . . . . . . . . . 35 The Furniture Barn . . . . . . . . . 4

Home Security Brookfield Alarms Ltd . . . . . . 2

Joiners CLH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 DJY Joinery Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 7 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 4 JBC Joiners and Builders . . . 6 JDPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 M Addison Joiners & Builders . . 3 McGowan Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SMG Roofing & Building Contrac . . 2 SW Scott - Joiners & Builders . . 16 Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 37 TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Woodburn & Beattie Joiners . . 15

Kilt & Dress Hire Henderson’s Kilts . . . . . . . . . 30

Kitchens Affordable Luxuries . . . . . . . 7 Burndale Workshop . . . . . . . . . 5 G Woods Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . 6 Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . 17 JBC Joiners and Builders . . . 6 Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 37

Leisure & Recreation Kilmacolm Show . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Locksmiths Arco Locksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Elliott Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Houston Locksmiths . . . . . . . . . 3

Painters & Decorators A Gallagher Painter&Decorator . . 15 David Kennedy Decorator . . . . 3 Ian Livingston Decorating . . 16 James Martin - Painter & Decor . . 3 John H Barney . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 John Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 M&E Painters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 McDonald Decorators . . . . . . . . 41 Ranfurly Decor . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Smyth Ramage Painter Decor . . 11

Plasterers Bryan Slaven Slater & Plaster . . 40 Charlie Orr Plasterer . . . . . . 36 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 4 Kilellan Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 16

Plumbers A&J Plumbing Heating & Gas . . 16 C Hunter Plumbing Heating Gas . . 38 G Woods Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . 6 GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 I D Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 7 JDPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Mackie Plumbing & Heating . . 15 Shower Expert . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Property, Sales & Let Corum Property . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Hames Estates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Kingsley Wood & Co Solicitors . . 1 Lind Letting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Removals @ease Removals & Transport . . 2 The Right Move . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Restaurant & Bars Bernie’s Cafe Deli . . . . . . . . . 31 Ingliston Equestrian Centre . . 9

Retail Gibb Stuart Ironmongers . . . . 32,46 The Furniture Barn . . . . . . . . . 4

Roofing Bridge of Weir Roofing . . . . . 6 Bryan Slaven Slater & Plaster . . 40 Gryffe Roofing Services . . . . 15 I & J Building & Roofing Serv . . 2 Kilellan Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 16 MBS Roofing & Building Contrac . . 7 SMG Roofing & Building Contrac . . 2 SW Scott - Joiners & Builders . . 16 Thomas McMaster & Son Ltd . . 51

Solicitors Affinity Family Law Experts . . 3 Kingsley Wood & Co Solicitors . . 1

Special Occasions ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk

Stoves Iron House Stoves Limited . . 10

Taxis & Minicoach hire ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk Johnstone TOA Taxi Co . . . . . . 7

Tiling Gordon James Ceramic Tiler . . 14 Kerr McAuley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Scott Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Travel Agents Travel Actually . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Tree Surgeon Branch Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Glenmoss Landscapes . . . . . . . . 47 LJX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 46

TV & Satellite Derek McBride Aerials . . . . . . 35 Kieran Turner Aerial&Satellite . . 3

Upholstery Services P Thomson Upholstery . . . . . . . 36

Window Cleaners DS Cleaning (Windows) . . . . . . 14 Gryffe Roofing Services . . . . 15 Matthews Cleaning Services . . 14

Window, Consv & Repair 1on1 Double Glazing . . . . . . . . 3 Art Window & Doors . . . . . . . . . Bk JayBee Double Glazing Repairs . . 15 TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

@ease Removals & Transport . . 2 1on1 Double Glazing . . . . . . . . 3 3D Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . 44 A Gallagher Painter&Decorator . . 15 A O’Hare - Building Services . . 5 A Peebles Landscape Contractor . . 45 A&G Driveways . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk A&J Plumbing Heating & Gas . . 16 ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk Affinity Family Law Experts . . 3 Affluent Financial Planning . . 25 Affordable Luxuries . . . . . . . 7 AK Vehicle Rental . . . . . . . . . 1 Alistair Stewart - Driving Ins . . 14 Alvic Sliding Wardrobes Ltd . . 21 Apple Tree Garden Design . . . 47 Architectural Drawings . . . . . 3 Arco Locksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Arlene Mitchell Hair & Beauty . . 36 Art Window & Doors . . . . . . . . . Bk Ashes Hair & Beauty . . . . . . . . 41 B Hughes Builders - Houston . . 37 Bathroom Solutions by MPH . . 11 Baytree Interiors . . . . . . . . . 5 Beaton Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . 13,22 Beginners Yoga - Sara Marijuan . . 57 Bernie’s Cafe Deli . . . . . . . . . 31 Bluewater Dental . . . . . . . . . . 31 Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 BOW Stone Works . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Branch Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Bridge of Weir Roofing . . . . . 6 Brookfield Alarms Ltd . . . . . . 2 Bryan Slaven Slater & Plaster . . 40 Burndale Workshop . . . . . . . . . 5 C Hunter Plumbing Heating Gas . . 38 Care & Repair Gardening Servci . . 44 Casa Homes & Gardens Architect . . 7 Charlie Orr Plasterer . . . . . . 36 Cheetham & Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Chips Away . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 CLA Accountancy Services Ltd . . 16 CleanDryCarpets . . . . . . . . . . . 39 CLH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Cloudy2Clear Windows Glasgow . . 5 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy . . 36 ColCom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Collins Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Come Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Computer Repairs . . . . . . . . . . 1 Confident Care Ltd . . . . . . . . . 37 Corum Property . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Crafts of Calder Gallery . . . 14 Craig Kennedy Gardening . . . . 47 David Kennedy Decorator . . . . 3 Derek McBride Aerials . . . . . . 35 DJD Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 DJY Joinery Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 7 DMG Garden Services . . . . . . . . 44 DS Cleaning (Windows) . . . . . . 14 Einfach-it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Elliott Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fair Pley Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Fergusons CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Ferringtons Hypnotherapy . . . 2 Fiona Christie Accounting Serv . . 14 First Domestics . . . . . . . . . . . 14 G Woods Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . 6 Gadds Gourmet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Garden Services . . . . . . . . . . . 47 GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Gibb Stuart Ironmongers . . . . 32,46 Glenmoss Landscapes . . . . . . . . 47 Gordon James Ceramic Tiler . . 14 Grid Design Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Gryffe Garage Motor Engineers . . 59 Gryffe Roofing Services . . . . 15 Hames Estates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Happy Rambles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Healing Rooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Henderson’s Kilts . . . . . . . . . 30

Houston Locksmiths . . . . . . . . . 3 Husse Pet Food . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 I & J Building & Roofing Serv . . 2 I D Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 7 Ian Livingston Decorating . . 16 Ideal Flooring Service . . . . . 2 Ingliston Equestrian Centre . . 9 Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . 17 Iron House Stoves Limited . . 10 J S Montgomery Ltd . . . . . . . . . 44 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 4 James Martin - Painter & Decor . . 3 JayBee Double Glazing Repairs . . 15 JBC Joiners and Builders . . . 6 JDPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 John H Barney . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 John Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 John Roach Funeral Directors . . 38 Johnstone TOA Taxi Co . . . . . . 7 Kerr McAuley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Kieran Turner Aerial&Satellite . . 3 Kilbarchan Chiropodists . . . . 40 Kilbarchan Dental Practice . . 13 Kilellan Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 16 Kilmacolm Show . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Kingsley Wood & Co Solicitors . . 1 Lamont Electricians . . . . . . . . 3 Laptop and PC Repairs . . . . . . 26 LaserLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Lauras Nail & Beauty Lounge . . 23 Lind Letting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 LJX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 M Addison Joiners & Builders . . 3 M&E Painters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 M&M Garden Services . . . . . . . . 46 Mackie Plumbing & Heating . . 15 MAS Electrical & Security . . 2 Matthews Cleaning Services . . 14 MattVac Carpet & Upholstery Cl . . Bk MBS Roofing & Building Contrac . . 7 McDonald Decorators . . . . . . . . 41 McGowan Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . 14 McLaughlan Metal Fabrication . . 37 MJ Lawnmowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 New Vision Opticians . . . . . . . 10 Nix Hairdressing . . . . . . . . . . 38 NLP Positive Changes . . . . . . . 12 Nutech Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Old Mill Chimneys . . . . . . . . . 35 Old Woodwork Tools . . . . . . . . . 14 Orchard Flooring . . . . . . . . . . 27 P Thomson Upholstery . . . . . . . 36 PetVets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Phoenix Gas Services . . . . . . . 1 Platinum Cleaning Services . . 5 Powerdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk R Williams Tree Surgeon & Grou . . 45 Ranfurly Decor . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Rent A Bloke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Rukeri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Scott Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Shower Expert . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Smart Dog Grooming . . . . . . . . . 42 SMG Roofing & Building Contrac . . 2 Smyth Ramage Painter Decor . . 11 Sole Solutions Podiatry . . . . 38 SP Groundcare . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 St Columba’s School . . . . . . . . 53 Stewart Independent Financial . . Bk SW Scott - Joiners & Builders . . 16 Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 37 TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Furniture Barn . . . . . . . . . 4 The Right Move . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Thomas McMaster & Son Ltd . . 51 Travel Actually . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Vanda’s Mobile Hairdressing . . 25 W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Walkies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 West of Scotland Landscape . . 48 Woodburn & Beattie Joiners . . 15

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