293 February 19 - Gryffe Advertizer

February 2019 No.293

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your LOCAL community magazine | February 2019 No. 293

Red Squirrel by Iain Gardner

Distributed to: • Bishopton • Bridge of Weir • Brookfield • Houston • Howwood• Kilbarchan • Kilmacolm • Langbank• Lochwinnoch • Quarriers

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The Advertizer

This month Keep it tidy

We live in such a beautiful landscape in the Gryffe valley and we have a number of groups and individuals who contribute tirelessly in keeping the place looking at its best. I’ve even seen some brave souls out in their reflective vests on the country verges collecting litter. However, whether it’s just the time of the year when the vegetation is at its sparsest but I do notice a lot of litter on the regular waking routes, rights of way and scenic beauty spots. Dog poop is prevalent and more annoyingly poop that has been conscientiously bagged but the bag then left hanging from a fence, tree branch or gatepost.

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Now I know most dog walkers plan to return on the same route to collect and dispose of their bags responsibly. But there are a few who seem to think there’s a magic fairy who will sort this out for them. This must be a fairy I’ve missed as I grew up - the poop fairy never featured in my bedtime stories! So come on dog owners, if you’re guilty of this then please stop it - take it to the nearest bin and dispose of it there.

Back to litter, my hubby is often seen out and about with his litter picking grabber around our neighbourhood. He maintains that if we keep the place tidy then it’s more likely to stay that way. And, if more people could keep their own perimeter tidy then more may be encouraged to join in. As I’ve mentioned before, we are so very lucky to have teams in each village of people keen to keep their area tidy. We have our garden groups and litter picking groups. If you are keen to get involved, please get in touch with any of them - most have facebook pages. Or better still, just join in next time you see them out and about - they are always keen for more volunteers.

Staying with litter, it may just be a coincidence, but it seems that since the Council tightened up the rules on who can drop rubbish at our municipal recycling centres, fly-tipping seems to be more prominent. If you would like to report fly-tipping please call the Stopline number on 0845 2 30 40 90, or go online to https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/DumbDumpers. To their credit, the Council are always quick to come out and clear up the mess, but surely it would be better to encourage people to take their rubbish to the recycling centre in the first place?

Shop Locally I am as guilty as the next person of going to the supermarket to do a “big shop”.

It saves time and money, doesn’t it? I don’t claim this to be a scientific study, but I am not so sure about either saving time or money. In trying to limit that “big shop” by staying local I maybe do spend a bit more time walking around the shops. However, I’m told that exercise is actually good for you, and I’ve met friends I hadn’t seen for ages, had a good chat and kept updated on what’s going on in the local area. Our local shops sell great fresh produce and “ready meals” which have been quite unique and delicious. And I may have actually spent less because I only buy what I need which cuts down on waste. And if you’re concerned about the welfare and provenance of your food, take the time to visit your local butcher, fishmonger or grocery store. The owners are full of useful information about their produce and most of them also help out with delicious recipes.

BoW Traffic Island The crumbling traffic island as you leave Bridge of Weir towards Kilmacolm appears to have been hit so many times that all that’s left of the reflective uprights is now little black stumps. It has still to be repaired, although we now have a line of traffic cones to alert drivers to the risk. Bridge of Weir Community Council have been repeatedly asking Renfrewshire Council to address this and other areas of concern around the village, and Cllr McLaren reports this month that it is on the list for repair. The feedback I’ve been hearing is just to take it away altogether. Hopefully, this will be sorted out before a serious accident enforces the issue.

Tara (the wee, hairy, orange one) A big thank you to everyone who has expressed their condolences to our family.

Our wee rescue dog, Tara, reached the end of her time with us last month. We are very grateful to Cath and the staff at Kilbarchan Vets for helping make her last days with us much easier for her. We miss her like crazy, but adopting a rescue animal is something I highly recommend for anyone thinking about a pet - although she has left a big gap in our family, the love she gave was huge and we will cherish the time we had with her.

To finish On a lighter note, we have now passed the shortest day back on 21st December 2018 and the evenings should be getting lighter with every week. Plans will be starting soon for our annual events and once again the call is on for volunteers to help out. If you would like to be an important part of your community, then please get in touch with your local group and let them know how keen you are! It’s well worth it!

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February 2019

Contents

local news...............4-15 what’s on ............. 16-21 finance & tech..... 22-25 village news......... 26-35 local history ............... 32 pet news ...............36-37 outdoors............... 38-41

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sport news ........... 42-43 school news..........44-47 business classified ... 48 sales & wants ............ 49 advertizer directory... 50 pick up a copy ........... 50 on the road ................ 51

Contact us

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The Advertizer

Make Your Mark In 2019

Renfrewshire Economic Future

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson is calling on local people to take advantage of the opportunities to make a difference in their communities in the year ahead.

With Renfrewshire’s new Local Partnerships giving local people a louder voice than ever in their community, and a number of brand new funds being launched to invest in community ideas and projects, the new year could transformational for local communities in the year ahead.

A £1.5million investment has been made to establish a Community Empowerment Fund which is open to all community groups who want to take over ownership and running of a building or piece or land in their local area.

The fund is designed to assist local people to develop a Business Plan for the takeover of the asset, support the person or group to have the skills and capacity to manage and develop it, or provide the upfront capital investment in an asset.

A significant £1.87million has been invested in a Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund, with £370,000 allocated for the Village Investment Fund specifically.

Local community groups and volunteers have the opportunity to apply for funding and support to improve underused or neglected green spaces and take forward projects which will strengthen the character, identity and heritage of their local community.

This could include upgrading or developing play areas or equipment, opening up underused open spaces to create leisure or recreation opportunities, or creating heritage trails or walks which highlight local points of interest.

Councillor Nicolson added: “Our green spaces are so important to our local communities. It’s where you play as young child and it’s where you take your sons, daughters and grandchildren when the time comes.

“The same applies to our community centres or football pitches and we know that local people will have ideas on how to improve them. This is the reason these funds are now in place and it’s important that local people take advantage of them.”

Throughout 2018, Renfrewshire communities showed their desire to make the area a brighter, more attractive place to live, work and visit.

More than 3500 volunteers have taken part in community litter picks as part of the successful Team Up to Clean Up campaign, which has also seen a £2.5million investment in behind the scenes work such as road sweeping and drain clearing.

Our new Local Partnerships were also formed following a consultation period in which hundreds of local people helped shape the direction of the former Local Area Committees.

Significant investment in Renfrewshire means that economic regeneration for the region is growing. More than £100million is currently being invested in Paisley town centre cultural venues. And 2019 signals the start of construction of an advanced manufacturing innovation district next to Glasgow Airport which is set to bring thousands of highly skilled jobs to the region.

“Every high street in every town and in every city is facing tough challenges, but we have a bold vision and are already taking significant steps towards securing Renfrewshire’s long-term economic future,” said Councillor Nicolson.

Celebrating the region’s rich traditions – from weaving the paisley pattern to the iconic Paisley Abbey – and establishing Renfrewshire as a key visitor destination are at the centre of the regeneration plans.

New figures show great progress, with visitor numbers more than doubling to 5.3million between 2015 and 2017, while hosting major events attracted record numbers and ploughed £3.5million into the local economy this winter.

Paisley town centre cultural venues are about to undergo a total transformation - including the flagship project turning Paisley Museum into an internationalclass destination anticipated to attract 125,000 visitors each year.

There’s also been the launch of destination brand Paisley Is showcasing all the area has to offer and new funds rolled out to help grow the cultural sector, encouraging the sustainable growth of local arts, music and other creative organisations.

Alongside this are major infrastructure projects funded through the Glasgow City Region City Deal, including the £39.1million Glasgow Airport Investment Area project, with construction starting in spring on new connections underpinning the site which has already been confirmed as home to two multi-million pound national innovation centres.

Building on the success of business incubator InCube, 2019 will see the launch of Start-Up Street – providing low cost workspaces helping companies make the leap into their first commercial premises.

Councillor Nicolson added: “We’ve committed long-term funding for business development and to help people find and sustain employment. Our focus is on inclusive growth, ensuring we target support to the people and places most in need so that we can make the greatest difference and improve the opportunities for future generations of Renfrewshire residents.”

Members will have the opportunity to drive the direction of the meetings and focus on the key issues that matter to local people. The first meetings of the partnerships are set to take place later this month and new members are still welcome to join.

For more information on the support that the council can offer community groups or volunteers, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/communityempowerment

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Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up? Advertising Feature

Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement. Issues with double glazing can often be gradual and may only be noticed during a clear sunny day or during the winter. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing?

Now, you may think you need to replace the whole window including the frames and all the hardware, however Cloudy2Clear have come up with a simple and cost saving solution … Just replace the glass!!

We will send out our highly experienced engineers for a free no obligation quote. Once the quote is completed, we will sit down with you and explain the problem and tell you how we can fix it.

Cloudy2Clear have a wealth of knowledge and are recognised as a Which Trusted Trader, plus our work is backed by an industry leading 25 year guarantee. Cloudy2Clear also replace faulty locks handles and hinges on all windows and doors.

Your friendly local Cloudy2Clear specialist is Peter Brummitt and he services 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.

Human Curling at Braehead!

OLYMPIC curler Eve Muirhead is aiming to sweep to victory in a fun new sport – HUMAN CURLING! Eve had a go at human curling – or go-nutting as it’s sometimes called – on the ice at intu Braehead and reckons the wacky spin-off from real curling could catch on.

The 28-year-old, who has won Olympic, World and European medals in a successful curling career, couldn’t wait to have a go at human curling. She quickly mastered the technique of launching herself upon the ice on an inflatable snow tube heading for the target.

Eve is the Curling Ambassador at the curling rink at intu Braehead and her human curling session helped launch the leisure destination’s Get Active winter campaign.

There’s a whole range of fun activities including snowboarding, ski-ing, sledging, trampolining, aerial assault course in Soar at intu Braehead along with ice skating in The Arena along with curling in the curling rink.

Eve said: “I’ve never tried human curling before, but it was really a lot of fun...“It’s almost as much fun as a real game of curling! Everyone should come along to intu Braehead to get active and try out all the different activities there.”

David Lyon, marketing manager for intu Braehead said: “Eve was trying out the human curling for a bit of fun, but if there are enough people who want to be human curlers, we’ll certainly aim at putting on special sessions for them.”

People who fancy a go at human curling should email braehead.curling@intu. co.uk

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The Advertizer

Renfrewshire Veteran Factory Gets Funding A new social enterprise, Scottish Bravest Manufacturing Company (SBMC), based in Renfrewshire, has recently benefited from £3million of National Lottery funding. Run by the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), the not-forprofit company employ veterans with life-changing injuries, giving them the chance to earn a living while developing new skills in manufacturing activities including printing, signage and product engineering.

Gary, from Strathaven, lost both of his legs below the knee and his left arm above the elbow whilst on patrol in Afghanistan in 2010 with the 1st Battalion Scots Guards. Through SBMC, he has been trained as a water jet cutter and will soon be passing on his skills to other veterans.

He said, “Coming from an army background I am used to being busy and surrounded by other people. I never thought I would get the opportunity to do this kind of work and that all these opportunities might be open to me. Not only am I getting specialised skills but real experience of working in a busy factory, learning about how the business operates.”

Michelle Ferguson, Director of Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company says that the funding will be a massive help to the organisation. She added, “This backing from the National Lottery will be crucial in our ability to offer a real lifeline to veterans living in Scotland, helping us to develop a Learning an Development Department – headed by a trained welfare professional.” She went on to say, “We can now ensure that our veterans are given the bespoke welfare support and training they need to develop their talents, acquire new skills and go on to reach their potential in the world of work.”

The project is one of 18 across Scotland sharing in £3,066,902 from the Big Lottery Fund.

Outlander Training Programme NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS Traineeships beginning March - April 2019 Season 5 Outlander Training Programme is open for applications! We are looking for keen and committed individuals to fulfill the following traineeships:

* Locations * Props * Greens * Hair and Make Up * Set Dec Painter

* Script Supervisor * Assistant Director * SFX * Camera

Deadline for applications:

Locations 10am Monday 11th February All Others 10am Monday 25th February For more information about specific job roles in the screen industries visit the ScreenSkills website at https://www.screenskills.com/education-training/jobprofiles/ or visit https://www.screen.scot/news/2019/01/applications-openfor-outlander-training-programme To Sign up to the Outlander Training Programme emailing list to be notified of any further opportunities, visit https://mailchi.mp/59bc740d378e/outlandertraining-opportunities-698137 Looking for someone local?

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www.advertizer.co.uk The place for news, events & business listings for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

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The Advertizer

Parkinson’s UK announces new walk for World Parkinson’s Day See the Kelpies turn blue as Parkinson’s UK announces new walk for World Parkinson’s Day Parkinson’s UK in Scotland is announcing its first evening walk. It takes place on World Parkinson’s Day, 11th April, at the site of the iconic Kelpies in Falkirk.

The Kelpies will be lit up in blue to mark the day. The walk will begin at 6pm with participants having the choice of 1 or 5 mile routes around the Kelpies and Helix Park. Hot and cold refreshments will be available and there will be family entertainment and music with the walkers being led off by pipers.

Among the walkers will be seven year old Abby McConnell from Glasgow. Abby’s exploits in raising £1,400 for Parkinson’s UK this year came to the attention of the man who inspired her - Sir Billy Connolly.

Sir Billy was so impressed that last month he arranged to meet Abby in Glasgow.

Abby said: “I’ve had a brilliant time raising money for Parkinson’s this year and met so many fantastic people who live with the condition. Meeting my hero was fab – he’s just one of the loads of amazing people with Parkinson’s that I’ve met through the year. I can’t wait to get going again in 2019 and walking around the Kelpies as they turn blue will be really special.”

Emma Hall, Parkinson’s UK Regional Fundraiser – East Scotland, said: “Parkinson’s UK is delighted to be marking World Parkinson’s Day by having our first ever evening walk. We’ve already had loads of interest in the event from people all over Scotland and beyond and we want as many people as possible to join Abby and walk for Parkinson’s at the Kelpies.

To sign up or find out more please visit www.parkinsons.org.uk/walkkelpies19 www.parkinsons.org.uk/walkpollokpark and come along and join us. We’d love to see you there and thank you in person for your support. It promises to be a fun evening for all the family.”

Anyone can support Abby directly at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/karenmcconnell4

Strictly Come Prancing...

Coming Soon!

On Friday 15th March, fourteen couples will go head to head for charity, as St. Vincent’s Hospice presents their annual Strictly Come Prancing event at the five star Ingliston Country Club and Hotel.

Now in its eighth year, the hugely popular event, based on the Strictly Come Dancing television series, sees duos with little or no dancing experience take to the floor in an attempt to impress the judges and live audience, each vying to be crowned the 2019 champions.

Senior Fundraiser for St. Vincent’s Hospice, Louise Strachan, commented on the event, saying: “Strictly Come Prancing is a great, fun filled, evening which is one of the most popular in our fundraising calendar. Since early January, our twinkle toed couples have been giving up time every week to train in preparation for the evening and we are so grateful to them for all their efforts.

“Our couples are in the hands of Curtis Campbell and Rebecca Elliot, our star choreographers who are putting everyone through their paces for the night and we cannot thank them enough for their outstanding contribution.

The evening will be hosted by our very own ‘Brucie’ and ‘Tess’ and will feature performances from our 2018 dance couples, last year’s winners as well as our professional dancers.”

All funds raised from the event go directly towards supporting St. Vincent’s Hospice, a specialist provider of palliative and end of life care for individuals and families affected by life limiting conditions.

For more information, visit: www.SVH.co.uk

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The Advertizer

Ardgowan Hospice’s Annual Ball 2019!

Saturday 9th March 2019, Greenock Town Hall, 7pm til late The Ardgowan Hospice Ball supported by Arnold Clark is now on sale, don’t miss out on a magical evening at one of the most important events in the Hospice calendar!

Returning to host the event will be the host of the Peter and Roughie Football Show, Peter Martin and guests will be entertained into the night by The Brightside. See The Brightside in action at our 2018 Masquerade Ball.

Tables of 10 are £550 and guests will be treated to a Sparkling reception.

Celebrity host Peter Martin, live music from The Brightside and a sumptuous three Course meal. Also Silent auction, Live Auction and more.

A limited number of tables of 12 are also available. To book one of these, call Alex on 01475 558888 or email fundraising@ardhosp.co.uk We look forward to seeing you there for an enjoyable evening to raise vital funds for your local hospice.

The Optician Will See You Now!

by Kerry Taher, New Vision Opticians If you’re feeling a bit under the weather, your doctor is usually the first person you’ll get in touch with for a consultation. However, with the current burden on local GP services, we’re encouraged to seek help from other health care professionals when appropriate.

So when is a good time to consult your optician?

Opticians provide a wide variety of eye-care services. In general, people think they only need to visit an optician if they feel they might need glasses to help with reading or driving - but that’s only one aspect to the range of care offered.

Your optician can also help with the detection and even prevention of a wide variety of eye conditions.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes or if you’re experiencing headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes or are having difficulty watching your favourite TV programmes, you should book a consultation with your optician as soon as possible.

Most opticians will have experienced staff to provide the following services: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Eye health checks Eyesight tests Home visits Eye examinations for safe driving Contact lens fit and supply Visual stress exams to help with certain conditions (e.g. Dyslexia) Optical coherence tomography - a type of X-ray of the eye that can detect serious conditions such as glaucoma Prescription sunglasses Paediatric eyesight tests Wide selection of spectacle frames Repair broken frames and lenses Referral to your local ophthalmologist (eye doctor) if your optician is not able to help you in their practice

Eye tests are currently offered free of charge in Scotland, so don’t delay, book an appointment with your optician today!

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Help us keep you & the local area moving this winter.

Follow us on facebook & twitter @GryffeRoadwatch and if you spot or know of any road works, flooding, ice or blockages let us know!

You can send us a message via facebook or twitter or post a wee comment on Gryffe Roadwatch or The Advertizer’s page.

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The Advertizer

James Watt’s 200th Anniversary Inverclyde Council is building up a head of steam to mark the 200th anniversary of James Watt’s death with a year-long series of events, highlighting the life and work of the Greenock born inventor.

The inaugural event was held on Friday 18th January at Cowan’s Corner, Greenock with the launch of a high-tech, James Watt virtual walk and the screening of two films about the engineer.

The James Watt walk is a joint venture between the World Walking exercise app and Kilmacolm Primary School. World Walking encourages people to stretch their legs by matching how far they have walked with virtual images of routes from around the world, including iconic locations such as the Sahara Desert and the Great Wall of China.

In November 2018 pupils from Kilmacolm Primary were drafted in to help develop the new commemorative route. Pupils started following in James Watt’s footsteps while doing their daily mile – a national initiative which encourages people to walk, run or jog a mile every day.

The walk starts in Greenock and ends in Cornwall taking in key locations in Watt’s life, such as the University of Glasgow and Kinneil House. It’s estimated that nearly 1.7 million steps are needed to complete the 727mile (1,160km) walk.

The Only Female Gas Engineer In Inverclyde “Gas with CLass” Businesswoman Julie McGowan from Kilmacolm decided that she wanted to learn a trade and start up her own business. She took the plunge and has never looked back.

Julie said “I wanted a new challenge. I have been working in administration since leaving school. Some of the positions I have worked in are a CEO personal assistant, legal assistant and property manager, working for companies such as Rangers & Celtic football clubs and Digby Brown Solicitors.”

The pupils also became news reporters for a bespoke video about the project called Watt’s Walking Wonders. The video has been created with the help of students from West College of Scotland. The video was premiered at the official launch on Friday 18th January.

Watt’s Walking Wonders will be followed by a 17 minute film from the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive about James Watt and Greenock.

The 1959 film was directed by Stanley L Russell and produced by Thames & Clyde.

Anyone interested in following in James Watt’s footsteps can find the new route on a special landing page at: https://worldwalking.org/walks/ search?q=james+watt The landing page was created with Great Place Scheme funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Inverclyde Council will be marking the achievements of its famous son throughout 2019 with a number of events including the relaunch of the Watt Institution, comprising the McLean Museum & Art Gallery and Watt Library.

There will also be an associated art exhibition in the Beacon Arts Centre in August 2019.

James Watt is most famous for inventing the double condensing steam engine that was the powerhouse behind the Industrial Revolution. He was born on 19th January 1736 and died on 25th August 1819.

Julie signed up for a fast track engineering course which was very intense, however most rewarding after completing the final ACS exams. She has always loved DIY and carries out all of the restoration work in her home along with her husband David who is a time served Joiner.

“I knew there was a market in Inverclyde for female gas engineers and I absolutely love my job. After qualifying I worked for a Glasgow based company and the response that I got from customers was very positive and encouraged me to start my own business. I am Gas Safe Registered and I carry out domestic gas servicing/repairs, installations and landlords gas safety certificates and my business is starting to flourish. I feel that young girls should be encouraged more in school to learn a trade. Once my business grows I hope to take on a girl as an apprentice.

You can view the current issue as well as previous issues of the magazine online.

Gryffe Valley 10K Run Sunday 19th May at 1pm Route on country lanes between Houston, Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm, starting from Houston Public Park, for all abilities from serious runners to novices/joggers Register: https://entries.runabc.co.uk/listed-races/gryffe-valley-rotary-10k in aid of:

Supported by:

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February 2019

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Aesthetic Cosmetic Treatments

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by Sheila Macintyre, Practice Owner at Kilbarchan Dental Practice Aesthetic cosmetic treatments are very much part of the mainstream now and are popular with a really broad mix of patients across a wide range of ages.

Negative press coverage of bodged treatments and a lack of regulation in the UK has, unsurprisingly, led to some nervousness about the industry. This is why it makes a huge amount of sense for dentists to undertake the treatments which are safe and successful when carried out by qualified medical practitioners.

More and more dental practices now offer facial rejuvenation services in addition to general and family dentistry. Some of the most common are: • Facial Peels (chemicals are used to remove the outer layers of dead skin as an effective treatment for facial blemishes, wrinkles, and uneven skin pigmentation and improvement of tone, texture and colour).

• Dermal Fillers & Lip Plumping (These products literally fill out facial wrinkles, folds and lines. The results are instant with the skin becoming smoother and wrinkles becoming softened. They are also used to define the lips).

• Anti-Wrinkle Injections (they work by relaxing the overactive muscles that cause worry lines, frown lines on the forehead and crow’s feet around the eyes).

You should always have an initial consultation to establish suitability for any aesthetic treatment, get expert advice and understand your options.

At KDP we have an advanced aesthetic practitioner and two other aesthetic qualified dentists so if you would like to find out more about these services please do give us a call on 01505 704969, drop us a line at info@ kilbarchandental.co.uk or visit www. kilbarchandental.co.uk

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The Advertizer

InCube: A Fantastic Opportunity for Local Designers

Site Investigations - Ferguslie & South West Johnstone Site Investigations will inform future development potential for Ferguslie and South West Johnstone. Survey work began in January on sites in Ferguslie and South West Johnstone.

The latest line up of InCube entrepreneurs are seeing their businesses bloom through the innovative business support and employability programme, run by Renfrewshire Council.

For Ferguslie, this is the first stage of a £14million development that will create around 100 new affordable Council homes to transform the Tannahill area, while in Spateston the survey will provide the Council with information to inform future investment for new build Council housing in this community.

The site investigations on the site of the former St Fergus School and Drums Avenue, Ferguslie, as well as at Auchengreoch Road and Spateston Road in Johnstone will began on Monday, 14 January and will include the excavation of trial pits and bore holes.

InCube developed by Invest in Renfrewshire, allows local creative startups to benefit from support to improve their growth.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “We want to build affordable housing that meet the needs of our tenants as well as future housing needs across Renfrewshire.

The results of these surveys will provide vital information on the ground conditions for potential development in these areas.”

InCube’s Class of 2018 are already seeing their businesses benefit from the package of support offered by the programme, including attending a range of workshops and having the chance to sell their products in the dedicated InCube shop.

Designer Geraldine Donnelly, of textiles and homewares brand Obsidian Ore, said her time at InCube has been amazing and a helpful experience for both herself and her business.

Geraldine added: “Without the support of InCube, I wouldn’t have won the chance to design the prizes for the 2018 Scottish Album of the Year Awards – my first big commission as a professional designer.”

Designer Eva Arnaudova who designs childrens’ clothing under the name Atelier Eva Art, said that InCube helped her to develop new ideas and gave her confidence in her own abilities.

Anyone seeking information on the survey work or the Council’s new build housing programme should contact Renfrewshire Council Housing Service via strategyandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk or visit www.renfrewshire.gov. uk/SHIP

PGHS Christmas Dance Our Senior Pupils pictured as they attended their Christmas Dinner Dance.

Once again, they were a credit to the school community and pupils and staff alike had a very enjoyable evening.

She said “InCube covers all the steps for creative businesses and was a great help to me in every possible way.”

The programme is now accepting applications for the 2019 intake and is open to those wishing to start or grow a business in the creative retail, textiles, jewellery, design, fashion, crafts and makers sector.

Designer Sohelia Keyani said that InCube offer warmth and guidance to help fledgling businesses become strong and self-sufficient.

She added: “If you’re a creative needing support and business acumen, then InCube is the place to be!”

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “InCube continues to nurture local creatives every year and this is helping to establish Renfrewshire as a place where creativity thrives.

“The support in 2018 has been phenomenal and I would encourage everyone to continue to visit the InCube shop in 2019 and continue to support local designers who are showcasing the skill and talent we have here in Renfrewshire.”

Applications for the 2019 InCube intake close on Monday 11th February. For more information and to apply visit www.incube.ren/incube-competition-2019

Orchard Flooring

Advertising Feature

Where beauty meets functionality When choosing a new floor for your home, there are a few things to take into consideration. For a lot of our clients, having a floor that isn’t going to be ruined by mucky feet, paw prints or spills is a top priority. As well as looking great and tying in with the rest of your fittings and furnishings.

Karndean and Amtico flooring are perfect for any room or situation in the home. They are both waterproof, slip resistant and warm underfoot, as well as being a beautiful and luxurious floor to be proud of.

Both are easy to clean and without the porous qualities of wood and some stone. They bring the ageless beauty of natural flooring to your home without the hassle. As opposed to some natural products they are also warmer under foot and comfortable to walk on.

Be it a rustic wood effect in the living room or a sleek and modern stone effect in the kitchen, Orchard Flooring can provide expert advice to find the perfect floor for a room.

With a home sampling service why not give us a call and be on your way to a stunning floor from Orchard Flooring who have built their reputation in the Gryffe area for nearly 20 years.

You can contact Scott on 0141 334 8731or 07563 633 432 Email - sjmproducts@hotmail.com website- www.orchard-flooring.com

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February 2019

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Council Grants Available for Voluntary Groups

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Voluntary groups across Inverclyde can now apply for council grants as the latest round of ‘small grants’ to voluntary organisations is open to applications.

A limited amount of money is now available and community groups can apply for funding to use to support a range of activity across Inverclyde.

Chair of the council’s grants sub-committee, Councillor Graeme Brooks, said: “Across Inverclyde we have groups doing fantastic work right in the heart of our communities.

The grants to voluntary organisations budget is set aside each year by the council to provide one-off support to help give groups a helping hand in doing that good work which benefits our area so much. The pot of money available has a limit, so the role of the members of the grants sub-committee is to make sure it gets the maximum benefit across Inverclyde.”

Download an application form at the ‘grants to voluntary organisations’ page on the council website www.inverclyde.gov.uk Application forms are also available from the council’s communities team, The James Watt Building, 105 Dalrymple Street, Greenock, Inverclyde PA15 1HU, by emailing jackie.fallon@inverclyde.gov.uk or by phoning 01475 715543.

Applications received by noon on Wednesday 6 February 2019 will be considered by the grants sub-committee at its meeting in March.

Bridge of Weir River Angling Club 145 years old - Established 1874 - one of the oldest angling clubs in Scotland.

The Club has a proud history in competitive angling with many members representing Scotland in the international fly fishing team.

In the late 19th Century the River Gryffe was a renowned salmon river, due to the industrial revolution. In the early 1900s the River Gryffe was heavily polluted by the cotton mills and tannery’s resulting in the decline of salmon.

Salmon started returning to the river around 1976, when the factories closed, pollution decreased resulting in improvement in water quality. The river is now in great condition with good runs of salmon.

There are vacancies for local members within the postal area of Bridge of Weir, Kilmacolm, Brookfield, Houston and Crosslee. Local membership Senior £45 per year, entry £15, Local Junior membership £3. This is fantastic value for the quality of fishing.

To download membership forms, go to our website at www.bowracfishing.com

Photos & Videos Wanted At the Advertizer, we are always keen to get updates for our website and we’re sure there will be plenty of great photos and videos out there taken by our readers. Plus our readers enjoy looking through the images to see who they recognise, or even if they are there themselves!

We prefer landscape shots for our cover shots so if you would like to see your work featured on our website or even as a cover shot, please send high res images to info@advertizer.co.uk.

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FEBRUARY FRI 1 FEBRUARY

THU 7 FEBRUARY

SUN 10 FEBRUARY

FRI 15 FEBRUARY

RSPB Local Group

Outlook

Snowdrop Walks

Kilmacolm Old Kirk Burns Supper

McMaster Centre, Donaldson Drive, Renfrew 7.30pm Green Birding and the Adventures of the Biking Birder - An illustrated talk. Gary Prescott (The Biking Birder) will deliver an illustrated talk entitled ‘ Green Birding and the Adventures of the Biking Birder’ All welcome.

SAT 2 FEBRUARY F.P. Big Band Concert

Kilbarchan Parish Church Hall, Steeple Street 7.30pm This is a return visit to Kilbarchan by special request as the last concert was a great success. Tickets are £10, school age £5, including a buffet supper and are available from Bobbins.

SAT 2 - SUN 3 FEBRUARY Binocular & Telescope Open Day

RSPB, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch 10am to 4pm Are you looking to purchase your first pair of binoculars, maybe you are looking to upgrade or simply just wanting to buy as a gift? We have the knowledge on hand to assist you in making the right decision. Our friendly team will be in the visitor centre demonstrating and offering assistance on a wide range of competitively priced binoculars and telescopes, with the added bonus of every purchase helping conservation. We stock a massive range of RSPB binoculars along with some well-known names such as Swarovski, Zeiss, Leica and Nikon! For bookings and further info: Email. lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk Tel. 01505 842663. Free

RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course

Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Lochlip Road, Lochwinnoch 9.30am to 4pm A comprehensive course to enable you to gain your powerboat licence. Practical on the water activities with overnight homework!

For more information look online and book ASAP. £150.

SUN 3 FEBRUARY Snowdrop Walks

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 1pm to 3pm Join the Rangers for a 40 min walk to explore the carpet of snowdrops in the woodland.

Snowdrop Sales, Snowdrop posies and potted are available at the Visitor Centre. “In the Green” Bulbs can be ordered as well and are available from March.

Equine Car Boot Sale

Mid Gavin Equestrian Centre 11am to 2pm Animal Support & Rescue · Howwood We have a large selection of rugs, bridles, bits and everything you can think of, pop along and grab yourself a bargain. Entry by voluntary donation. Great opportunity to buy and sell anything and everything equine, tables are £10 pre-booked, bring your own table and set up is strictly from 10am on the day. Spaces are limited.

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 2pm to 4pm Touring the Black Sea.

THU 7 - SAT 9 FEBRUARY Young Famers 75th Anniversary

Beacon Arts Centre, Custom House Quay, Greenock The West Renfrewshire Young Farmers Club are currently celebrating their 75th anniversary year which started back in 1944.

To mark the occasion they are taking their Annual Variety Concert to new heights with a massive cast of past and present members from 14 years old to 90 years of age! The night will showcase comical storylines, toe tapping tunes and plenty of laughs for all the family! Tickets are £12 and can be ordered from The Beacon Arts Centre Website. www. beaconartscentre.co.uk

SAT 9 FEBRUARY Duchal Nursery Open Morning

Duchal Nursery School - Kilmacolm 10am to 12noon All are welcome to pop in and visit us, especially those looking for pre school places from August 2019 onwards. A great opportunity to see our facilities at Birkmyre Park, meet some of the staff and current parents and find out more about what we can offer children aged 2yrs and 9 months onwards. If you aren’t able to join us on the 9th don’t worry just get in touch and we can arrange a time convenient to you to come and visit and get an insight into Duchal life. Please contact us on 01505 874358. Also visit our website to find out more www.duchal.com and keep up to date with all the latest news on Facebook.

SAT 9 - WED 13 FEBRUARY Explorer Challenge: Love Bugs (& other wildlife)

RSPB, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch 10am to 4pm Any time! (Centre open 7 days; 10am – 4pm) This is self-led allowing you to spend some quality family time together at RSPB Lochwinnoch. This event is not your usual kind. You do it with your own family in your own time!! Simply pop into the visitor centre any time, where the friendly staff will get you started. (Allow approx. 1hr for the challenge.)

Visit different stations along our main trail to go on an adventure! Cost: £4 per child / RSPB members £2.50 [Normal trail fees apply for adults]. For bookings and further info: Email. lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk Tel. 01505 842663.

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Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 1pm to 3pm Join the Rangers for a 40 min walk to explore the carpet of snowdrops in the woodland.

Snowdrop Sales, Snowdrop posies and potted are available at the Visitor Centre. “In the Green” Bulbs can be ordered as well and are available from March.

Wetland Guided Walk

RSPB, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch 12noon to 2pm Explore the wonderful wetlands to be found at Lochwinnoch! Our warden Dan will take you around the reserve and point out the interesting wildlife to be found here. Dan will also tell you about the current and future management of the reserve because conservation involves much more than just leaving things alone! Whether you have a general interest in wildlife, or would like to hone your bird watching skills, then this is the walk for you! At the end, come back to the centre for a warm drink and a biccie!

Stout footwear and clothing suitable for the Scottish outdoors are strongly recommended.

Please book, as places are limited. Cost: Adults: £6; Children: £4.80 (RSPB members: £4.80/£3.80) For bookings and further info: Email. lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk Tel. 01505 842663.

TUE 12 FEBRUARY Training for Public, Become a Dementia Friend

Calder Church, Church Street, Lochwinnoch PA12 4AE 7.30pm The training will be taken by Carolyn Irvine from Alzheimer Scotland – Action on Dementia. The training is for anyone who wants to learn more about dementia. (If you want more information call 07868 752814).

THU 14 FEBRUARY Sòlas Bereavement Group

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 2pm to 4pm Sòlas Bereavement Group.

If you have any news items you would like included in our next issue, email them to us at:

info@advertizer.co.uk before Friday 15th February 2019.

FRI 15 FEBRUARY Whist Drive

Kilmacolm Community Centre, Lochwinnoch Road, Kilmacolm 7.30pm Come along to a WHIST DRIVE organised by the Industrial Section of the Kilmacolm Agricultural Show. Tickets £4 on the door. Proceeds go towards 2019 Kilmacolm Agricultural Show.

@GryffeAds

Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 16-21 WHATS ON_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 16

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 7pm Burns Supper.

SAT 16 FEBRUARY Paisley Abbey Saturday Recitals

Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close, Paisley 12.30pm Peter Wilson (tenor) & George McPhee (piano).

Admission £5 payable at the door. Paisley Abbey (Church of Scotland) – Registered Charity No. SC007633. Tickets: £5.

Conversation Café

West Halls Main Street Houston PA6 7EL (next to Carrick Centre and Village Hall) 10am to 2pm Houston & Killellan Kirk is hosting a Conversation Café, where members of the Kirk and our community can discuss and help formulate priorities for the Kirk and our new Minister in the months and years ahead.

So, whether or not you are a Kirk member, please come along and let your ideas help to shape the Kirk’s role in the community (lunch provided). YOUR VOICE MATTERS…

Kilbarchan Messy Church

Kilbarchan Steeple Hall, Steeple Square, Kilbarchan 4pm to 6pm All Welcome. Children need to be accompanied by an adult.

Lochwinnoch Explorers

RSPB, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch 10am to 12noon Please wear suitable clothing for being outdoors. Ages: 5 to 14 years. Please note children aged 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential.

Cost: £5 (£3 RSPB members) (adults free).

Bookings and further info: Email. lochwinnoch@ rspb.org.uk Tel. 01505 842663.

SUN 17 FEBRUARY Snowdrop Walks

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 1pm to 3pm Join the Rangers for a 40 min walk to explore the carpet of snowdrops in the woodland.

Snowdrop Sales, Snowdrop posies and potted are available at the Visitor Centre. “In the Green” Bulbs can be ordered as well and are available from March.

WED 20 FEBRUARY Houston and Killellan Kirk Annual Bring And Buy Sale West Halls Main Street Houston PA6 7EL (next to Carrick Centre and Village Hall) Please feel free to come along and join us.

Tartan Walk

Castle Semple Sailing Club 11am A Scottish themed singsong around Lochwinnoch. Wear your ‘see you Jimmy’ hat!

For more info tel: 01505 842882.

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February 2019

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WED 20 FEBRUARY Kilmacolm Horticultural Society Lecture

Kilmacolm Community Centre, Lochwinnoch Road, Kilmacolm 7.30pm Louise Bustard, senior curator at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens is coming to describe the findings of her tour of the Gardens along the Amalfi Coast. Amazing photographs, wonderful stores as ever from Louise.

Everyone welcome. Please phone Jill Russell on 01505 872393 for details of membership of the K.H.S. Or go to our website: www. kilmacolmhorticultural.com

THU 21 FEBRUARY

SAT 23 - SUN 24 FEBRUARY

SAT 2 MARCH

Outlook

RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course

MND Coffee Morning

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 2pm to 4pm Gentle Keep Fit.

Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Lochlip Road, Lochwinnoch 9.30am to 4pm A comprehensive course to enable you to gain your powerboat licence. Practical on the water activities with overnight homework! £150.

FRI 22 FEBRUARY The Terrace Lunch Club

SUN 24 FEBRUARY

St Machar’s Church, Kilbarchan Road, Bridge of Weir 12noon On the last Friday of each month, join us in St Machar’s Hall for a chat over lovely soup and sandwiches, followed by coffee/tea and a biscuit. Open to all.

Snowdrop Walks

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 1pm to 3pm Join the Rangers for a 40 min walk to explore the carpet of snowdrops in the woodland.

Snowdrop Sales, Snowdrop posies and potted are available at the Visitor Centre. “In the Green” Bulbs can be ordered as well and are available from March.

Lochwinnoch Tea Dance

Lochwinnoch Golf Club Burnfoot Road, Lochwinnoch PA12 4AN The next FREE Tea Dance with Music Box providing the music. For all details call 07868 752814.

Family Volunteering

RSPB, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch 1pm to 3.30pm Who says that volunteering is only for grownups! Kids bring the grownup in your life to our reserve. Come and do a day’s practical volunteering at our beautiful reserve and help us to give nature a home. For bookings and further info. Email: lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk Tel: 01505 842663. Free.

SAT 23 FEBRUARY Practical Conservation Day

Muirshiel Visitor Centre, Calder Glen Road nr Lochwinnoch PA12 4LB 10.30am to 3pm Some light exercise in the form of conservation work at Muirshiel. Get fit and give back to nature! For more info. tel: 01505 843271.

FRI 1 MARCH

Houston and Killellan Kirk Annual Daffodil Tea

World Day of Prayer

St Columba Church Hall. Kilmacolm 1.30pm The local WDP group of representatives from the local Churches invites you to share worship and fellowship with people around the world participating in the World Day of Prayer. We are delighted that the children from Kilmacolm Primary School will join us with their singing and music. Refreshments after the Service.

Everyone welcome! For further details, please give me a call. Maureen Russell Convenor (telephone 872905).

West Halls Main Street Houston PA6 7EL (next to Carrick Centre and Village Hall) Please come along and enjoy coffee, tea and homebaking and bring your friends. Pay at the door.

ClannGàidhlig 14th Annual Bardic Supper

Westburn Church, Nelson Street, Greenock 7.30pm With well-known and charismatic Kenny Thomson, conductor of the Glasgow “G G” choir talking about “Òrain Ìleach” (Songs of Islay). Tickets includes meal, MUST be booked in advance available from Alasdair 07805 918509 or Anne 01475 728669 or by e-mail to: fios@clanngaidhlig.org Tickets: £15.

NEVER MISS A THING!

Kilmacolm Community Centre, Lochwinnoch Road, Kilmacolm 10am to 12noon Come along to our fantastic cof fee m o r n i n g , h ave a c u p p a a n d c a t c h up with new friends and old! We’re on the 2nd Floor. Tickets available at door. £3.

OKFest ‘19 Kilmacolm’s 3rd annual Festival of Sound Friday 1st March Brian McGlynn and friends Licensed bar Contemporary/easy music night

listening

Saturday 2nd March Pop up gospel workshop Handbell ringing Poetry and Literature readings Choral Festival Sunday 3rd March Messy Music Sunday Organ recitals Riverside Youth band

RSPB Local Group

McMaster Centre, Donaldson Drive, Renfrew 7.30pm Birds, Buddhism and Blue Whales - Andy Shand will deliver an illustrated talk. All welcome.

We keep an archive of all the featured blogs and you can view the current or old issues at advertizer.co.uk

~ Kilmacolm Old Kirk & Kidston Hall Something for all ages and tastes! Events all weekend FREE ENTRY Donations welcome to help cover costs More details at www. kilmacolmoldkirk.org.uk or Kilmacolm Old Kirk

Rainbow Turtle Visit our shop and website to view our extensive range of fairly traded goods with UK wide delivery.

HAMPERS - FOOD - GIFTS - CARDS - TOYS - JEWELLERY ACCESSORIES Help make the world a fairer place - Shop Fair Trade instore: 7 Gauze Street, Paisley open: Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm or online: www.rainbowturtle.org.uk contact us: tel: 0141 887 1881 email: info@rainbowturtle.org.uk

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The Advertizer

arts centre in February The Johnny Cash Roadshow

2nd February @ 7:30 pm ... Tickets: £23 This show is simply the biggest and best celebration of Johnny Cash in the world today. Songs from the San Quentin live album will be performed mixed with all the hits and favourite songs that we all know and love. This show is only coming round once so don’t miss out!

Para Handy: A Radio Play On Stage

3rd February @ 2pm ... Tickets £20 Join the Master Mariner, Dougie, MacPhail and Sunny Jim along with a host of other characters as they take to the airwaves courtesy of three plucky BBC radio actors. Featuring devised radio actor characters, live sound effects and live music.

Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s iconic Diplodocus dinosaur skeleton, will be in Glasgow from 22nd Jan - 6th May 2019!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

7th, 8th, 9th February @ 7pm (2.30pm matinee 9th)

As part of a road trip across the UK, Dippy is venturing out of London for the first time since 1905. He will visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum from 22 January – 6 May 2019. And he’s on a mission …to inspire five million natural history adventures, encouraging families to explore the incredible natural history collections and biodiversity right on your doorstep in Glasgow.

West Renfrewshire Young Farmers Club 7th, 8th, 9th February @ 7.30pm

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly

11th February @ 2.30pm ... Tickets £12 There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly. I don’t know why she swallowed a fly……but The People’s Theatre Company do!

Relive the delights of this most charming of tales complete with a feast of sing along songs, colourful animal characters and heart warming family fun.

It’s the perfect treat for anyone aged 2 to 102!

Admission is FREE to the Dippy on Tour exhibition at Kelvingrove Museum.

Access to Dippy is via the Argyle Street entranceway during normal museum opening hours.

The Platters

13th February @ 2pm ... Tickets £16 The concert promises an afternoon of non-stop hits – with songs like You’ll Never Never Know, It Isn’t Right and Remember When, packed into a performance of magical musical memories.

This extra-special live concert show is a chance to relive your rock’n’roll memories one last time with songs from true musical visionaries and chart-topping legends.

The Nutcracker

15th February @ 7.30pm ... Tickets £16 A cast of up to 100 dancers will be led by Principal Dancers, Natasha Watson, dancing the role of The Sugar Plum Fairy, and Jonathan Barton, as The Prince in Daniel F Job’s criticallyacclaimed production, choreographed by Ballet West.

RIG Arts is an award winning, socially engaged art and film charity based in Greenock. They bring professional artists and the community together in a collaborative and creative way. Much of their work concentrates on The Broomhill area of Greenock which was identified ten years ago as one of the most deprived areas of Scotland.

The Electrifying Mr Johnston & Bite Size

16th February @ 7.30pm ... Tickets from £ 10 to £12 A new play about one of Scotland’s great unsung heroes, Tom Johnston, once described by Churchill as the ‘King of Scotland’.

A recent project, ‘Plastic Fantastic’ – a plastic recycling arts workshop – involves repurposing large plastic items into new, practical, artistic objects – very topical in today’s climate. They are constantly on the lookout for plastic items such as old chocolate boxes, milk cartons etc which their machine can grind down and the workshop can reuse. They are also very involved with community regeneration.

Their projects ‘Up The Broomy’ and ‘Heid of The Hill’ use the medium of music and film and have given voice to the local community. A residency by well-known Scottish singer songwriter James Grant helped produce a fantastic album by local musicians and following his work with schoolchildren some local schools have started introduced ‘song writing’ to the curriculum. For more information on this inspiring charity, their workshops and how you can get involved go to www.rigarts.org/home/

SCDA

February 21st, 22nd, 23rd @ 7pm ... Tickets £13 Come along and be entertained by drama groups from all over Inverclyde. Enjoy different types of plays – drama, comedy and all round entertainment! Each play lasts between 25 and 50 minutes.

It’s All About Variety: Spotlight The Grand Final 24th February 24 @ 9.30am ... Tickets £18

The Unwanted

28th February @ 7.30pm ... Tickets from £10 to £12 A unique comedy, cabaret-style dance show, featuring songs specially written by Mark Franks of The Overtones. With lots of audience dancing and karaoke participation, this is for everyone aged 16+ who has lost at some game and gets through life laughing their way through it.

Looking for someone local?

www.advertizer.co.uk/business-directory

Memories Café Drop-in for a Chat, Tea and Home-made Cake.

We provide a fun, relaxed and helpful café providing advice on support services available locally and suggestions around ways to stay active.

Our aim is to create a dementia friendly environment.

Thursdays 1pm - 3pm Active Communities Hub Quarry Street, Johnstone Educate ~ Support ~ Engage

Get Your Dancing Charity Ceilidh Shoes On Saturday 16th March 2019

Fancy a bit of a dance?

Why not get yourself along to the Scottish Huntington’s Association’s Charity Ceilidh featuring the Gordon Ceilidh Band at Pollokshaws Burgh Hall on Saturday 16th March 2019. Doors open at 7pm. Entry £10 – under 16 go fee!

The OIR Dance Group meet on a Monday at 1.30pm in the Clark Memorial Hall, Largs. Dancing consists of Ballroom, Sequence, Old Time and Scottish.

All new members are made welcome, so dust off your old dance shoes and come along and join us, come alone or bring a partner.

Contact: Bill Alexander 01475 522043 or Archie Adams 01475 649008.

Pay online at www.hdscotland.org or by calling Linda on 0141 848 0308.

Funds raised will help support and improve the quality of life for people impacted by the complex neurological condition Huntington’s Disease (HD).

Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 16-21 WHATS ON_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 18

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Community projects empowered by £33,000 investment

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“It’s shame that’s not used anymore. It’s would be perfect for a....”

If you can finish that sentence for a building or piece of land in your area, then we can help you make it more than just a vision. We’ve committed £1.5 million to establish a Community Empowerment Fund which supports community groups looking to develop their ideas for asset transfer.

Harnessing the ideas of proactive, passionate local people can bring buildings back into community life and start a new set of memories. Here’s a look at the latest two projects which have been awarded £25,000 and £8000 respectively to further progress their ideas towards reality.

Kustom Kruizers This small group of volunteers have big ideas for their project which aims to remove the barriers to cycling by providing low-cost, fully-serviced bikes.

The group have been awarded £25,000 to transform a disused building in Robertson Park in Renfrew, into a thriving base for the community bike building project.

The renovated building would help store donated bikes and give the group a workshop space to repair and refresh the bikes to be sold on at a low price.

The award is subject to the successful completion of the Community Asset Transfer.

Struthers Water Action Group (SWAG) This project has designs to transform a disused water source into a communityowned business for the benefit of the Lochwinnoch village community.

Saving the underground water source from the site of the former Struthers Lemonade factory, would allow a community business to be created by selling the water on.

All the money gained from this would be reinvested into the community to upgrade facilities, put on activities and support organisations and services within Lochwinnoch.

They have been awarded £8000 to undertake a feasibility study and investigate the appropriate land acquisition, planning and consents, the quality of the water source and the sources of finance needed for the next phase

Inspired? Here’s how to get involved We have a dedicated section on our website which contains all you need to know about the fund, what is required for a successful application and how to submit an application. http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/CommunityEmpowermentFund

01505

Workshops for schoolkids and young people would be created, as well as ‘Fix Your Own Bike’ sessions which would give advice and support on how to maintain your bike.

ARE YOU PLANNING OR HAD AN EVE NT? AND SEND IN THE DETAILS E YOU COULD BE ON THES VERY PAGES!

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February 2019

Saturday Recitals 16th February 2019 at 12.30pm Peter Wilson (tenor) & George McPhee (piano ~ 9th March Cheryl Forbes & Gordon Cree Voice and Piano Admission £5 payable at the door Paisley Abbey (Church of Scotland) – Registered Charity No. SC007633

Telephone: 0141 618 7408 Enquiries email: communityplanning@renfrewshire.gov.uk Completed applications should be emailed to: rcgrantapplications@renfrewshire.gov.uk

By Post: Grant Applications, Community Empowerment Fund, Renfrewshire Council, Cotton Street, Paisley PA1 1JD

14th Annual Bardic Supper We are delighted to have as our guest speaker, the well-known and charismatic Kenny Thomson, conductor of the Glasgow “G G” choir for over 35 years.

Kenny will talk about “Òrain Ìleach” (Songs of Islay), which was the subject of his recent book, and no doubt he will sing us a number of examples.

Saturday 23rd February at 7.30pm Westburn Church Hall, Nelson Street, Greenock Tickets: £15 (includes meal), MUST be booked in advance Tickets from Alasdair 0780 591 8509 or Anne 01475 728669 or by e-mail to: fios@clanngaidhlig.org

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The Advertizer

EVERY MONDAY Lochwinnoch Community Walk

The Cross, Lochwinnoch 10.30am This event will not take place on public holidays.

Gryffe Voices Community Choir

Freeland Church, Bridge of Weir 8pm to 9.45pm Join us to sing pop, rock, folk, show tunes, gospel.

Contact gryffevoices@gmail.com

Strathgryffe Motorcycle Club

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

EVERY TUESDAY Singing for Wellbeing

Bishopton Community Centre 6pm - 7.15pm A fun, no pressure choir singing feel good songs.

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.

2ND WEDNESDAY MONTHLY Inverclyde Carers Outreach

Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm 11am - 2pm Email enquiries@inverclydecarerscentre.org.uk or call: 01475 735180.

2ND THURSDAY MONTHLY

Bridge of Weir Walking Group

Outside the Co-op, BoW, 10.30am 1 hour walks. Call Senga on 0141 842 3000.

Bridge of Weir Choral Society

Small Hall St Columba Church, Kilmacolm 7.30pm - 9.30pm All welcome.

Crafty Play Café

Quarriers Village Café, Faith Avenue, Quarriers Booking slots available 10am-12noon; 12noon -2pm; 2pm - 4pm Relax and have a coffee while your children or grandchildren play! Free entry; £2 for kids craft materials (optional)

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Sòlas Bereavement Support Group Kidston Hall, Kilmacolm. 2pm - 4pm.

3RD FRIDAY MONTHLY Hearing Aid Clinic

The Bridge, Bridge of Weir 1 - 2pm Hearing aid batteries and hearing aid checks.

2ND SATURDAY MONTHLY ‘Brunch & Browse’

St Fillan’s Hall, Kilmacolm 10am - 2pm Soups, baking, tea, coffee, books & lots of stalls

LAST FRIDAY MONTHLY

Knitting Group

Three Sisters Bake, Quarriers 10am - 12noon Knitters of all levels welcome!

Weekly Memory Café

Active Communities Hub, 16 Quarry Street, Johnstone, 10.30am -12.30pm A welcoming place for individuals living with Alzheimer’s, or any type of dementia, their families, friends & carers. Drop by to find out about Community Activities, Community Support, and professional advice.

EVERY THURSDAY

TheTerrace

St Machar’s Ranfurly Church Hall Soups, sandwiches, tea/coffee, biscuits. £4.

LAST SATURDAY MONTHLY Table Top Sale

Linwood Parish Church, Blackwood Ave 11am - 1pm This is a free event. Call 01505 328802 for details.

Weekly Volunteer Group

Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch 12.30pm - 3.30pm Conservation Volunteers - adult group. Newcomers always welcome.

Kilmacolm Walkers

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

EVERY FRIDAY Singing for Wellbeing

Bishopton Community Centre 2pm - 3.15pm A fun, no pressure choir singing feel good songs.

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

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

1ST & 3RD SUN

Kind, compassionate and friendly volunteers needed. Need to be able to set up room and create a welcoming environment. Keen on supporting new mums by caring for babies and toddlers. Full training offered. Commitment - once a month or fortnightly or more. Please contact for further information - Janette janette.a.mckenna@gmail.com Talk It Over Group Room, within Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close, Paisley, PA1 1JG.

The Lines Lines’ as they continue to strive for the big time, and I’ve no doubt they’re going to make it! The boys – Harry Gallacher - front man and guitarist, Marc - lead guitar, Matthew - bass guitar and Michael - drums, have been out doing their thing and promoting their group locally in Glasgow at venues such as Ivory Blacks, and Calums Cavern in Paisley. The Lines had a great turnout at both gigs and were really well received.

The boys have also been busy releasing an album!!! The album ‘Don’t Fret’ is available to listen to on Spotify. And as ever, the group are currently writing new material for their forthcoming gigs. You can next catch The Lines in Lochwinnoch at ‘Our Village Night Live’ (1st March) and “The Cave” (9th March). Well worth seeing this band - they’re going to be big! Good luck boys!

10am - 3pm Tel: 07977 179 861

2ND THU & LAST SAT Paisley Cross

10am - 2pm Tel: 01655 770217

2ND SUN

Houston Litter Crew

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

Kip Marina, Inverkip

2ND & 4TH WEDNESDAY BoW Senior Citizens Club

Cargill Hall 7 - 9.15pm Tea, biscuits & a raffle each meeting along with entertainment. Contact Sheila Patterson for further information on 01505 690521.

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Volunteer crèche workers needed for small peer support group based at Paisley Abbey. We offer a crèche enabling mums to take some time to meet with other mums affected by anxiety, loneliness and post natal depression. Term time only. Tuesdays from 10am - 12.15pm.

Loch Lomond Shores

Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch 10am - 12noon Youth Volunteer Group - age 14 - 18 years. Newcomers always welcome.

Co-op Car Park 10am – 11.45am All volunteers welcome and all equipment supplied.

Volunteers Needed Talk It Over Group Paisley

YOUR TICKET TO LOCAL EVENTS

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The Kelpies Illustration Prize Deadline: 28th February 2019 at 5pm Designers and illustrators based in Scotland are asked to submit five illustrations for a children’s book on the theme of fables for a chance to win a prize package including a publishing deal.

Are you an artist or illustrator based in Scotland?

Do you love children’s books? Then the Kelpies Illustration Prize is for you!

We’re looking for imaginative and talented illustrators based in Scotland with a passion for children’s books. Sound like you? Keep reading!

We’ve put together a brilliant prize package, designed to support your development as a children’s book illustrator, which includes the following: - A £1,000 cash prize - One year of mentoring by an experienced design team - A publishing contract with Floris Books for an illustrated project - A ticket to the Picture Hooks 2019 conference, plus £100 towards expenses You’ll find full details of what’s on offer in our Terms & Conditions (available on our website).

This year, the Kelpies Illustration Prize is all new!

Please make sure you read our Guidelines and Terms & Conditions (available on our website) carefully to get to grips with the new submission criteria.

This year, we’re asking you to submit five illustrations for a children’s book on the theme of fables.

The judges will be looking for imaginative interpretations, dynamic compositions and fully realised characters – both human and animal.

You might find inspiration from existing fables from around the world, or new fables that you’ve created.

For further information, please contact: kelpiesillustrationprize@florisbooks.co.uk, or call 0131 337 2372, or visit https://discoverkelpies. co.uk/kelpies-illustration-prize/

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Insurance Planning

by Carl Melvin, Affluent Financial Planning Ltd We all face risks every day and insurances are designed to compensate us if we suffer loss – but some insurances are more important than others, so which should take priority?

• Protect your income – If you are unable to work due to long term illness or disability then your financial position could be devastated when the income from employment stops. You can ensure a continuing income from an insurance policy until you are well enough to return to work.

• Critical Illness – if you suffer a serious illness such as cancer, heart attack or stroke it can have a significant impact on your finances. You can insure to get a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a critical illness to help pay off your mortgage, make a lifestyle change or provide a sum for the future.

• Life assurance – if your death would adversely impact another person, then life assurance can provide a lump sum or an income to compensate.

Want to start a business but not sure where to turn or how to do it?

Business Gateway Renfrewshire can give you practical help, advice and support for new and growing businesses in Scotland.

You should look to protect yourself and others where you cannot afford to deal with the financial loss involved and you should start with the risk that poses the biggest threat to your financial security. Unfortunately, the things that pose the biggest risk carry high premiums! Your employer may provide some insurance benefits, but this is unlikely to be enough to protect you fully.

Start by pulling together information on the insurances you hold and any employee benefits you have. Contact an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) to request an “insurance audit” to check whether you need to consider additional cover for any gaps in your insurance protection.

This information is not financial advice. If you require advice you should consult a professional adviser. The first meeting is normally free and there is no obligation. Call us for a FREE financial review on 01505 59 50 60 or email info@affluentfp.co.uk. Alternatively, pop into the Affluent office opposite Amaretto restaurant on Main Street, Bridge of Weir. www.affluentfp.co.uk

Contact us on 0141 530 2406 or on Facebook www.facebook.com/ bgrenfrewshire/, or visit the website at www.yourbusinessgateway.co.uk

www.advertizer.co.uk Helping you find local businesses and trades

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@GryffeAds www.advertizer.co.uk 22-25 BUSINESS_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 23

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SPEAKER MEETINGS AT THE RIVER INN

CHRISTMAS DINNER Members and partners enjoyed an early Christmas dinner at the River Inn on Wednesday 16th December.

Vocalist Maria Carmen Nieto Montaya Matheson - the daughter-in-law of Past President Angus Matheson entertained the company with songs from Andalucia.

ANNUAL BURNS SUPPER The Gryffe Valley Rotary Club annual charity Burns Supper was held at the River Inn, Crosslee on Saturday 12th January 2019. After a welcome drink and hearing a powerful rendition of the Address to the Haggis by Past President Ian Jackson, the company gathered enjoyed a superb meal which included a Crispy Filo Beggar’s Purse of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties followed by Braised

The speaker at the dinner meeting on 16th January was Dan Johnston from Kibble School, introduced by member Iain Robertson who himself is a member of the board of the Kibble charity. Dan has a special interest in the mental health of children and indicated that an increasing number of children going into Kibble have mental health problems. He showed the results of research that demonstrates that mental health and other behavioural issues are closely correlated with “Adverse Childhood Experiences”, known as ACE’s. ACEs include Someone with four or more ACE’s is six times more likely to have mental health issues and twenty times more likely to finish up in jail! Kibble are seeking to provide a holistic response, known as “Trauma informed Care” with three elements: • Realise and understand the role of ACE’s • Recognise the symptoms of trauma • Resist re-traumatisation After many questions, ably answered by Dan, President Andrew gave a vote of thanks.

Shoulder of Scotch Beef. The charity raffle was very well supported and literally dozens of prizes handed out. There were three excellent speeches: “The Immortal Memory” by George Moore QC, a “Toast to the Lassies” by Dr Iain Findlay and the “Reply on behalf of the Lassies” by Helen Dunn.

Entertainment was provided in fine style by Peter McAlister (“Tam O’Shanter”) and Alan Macdougal and Amy Lewis (songs). The meeting closed with a vote of thanks in rhyme Burns-style by Angus Matheson who himself had been the convenor of the organising committee. At the Rotary meeting on 16th January, President Andrew Macleman thanked the organisers and congratulated members on raising a record £4400!

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FUTURE EVENTS Valentines Dinner: the club will hold its annual Valentines Dinner on Wednesday 13th February at the River Inn. Members and partners current, past and prospective - are welcome.

Young Writer competition and Primary School Quiz: Plans are in place for these competitions to be held in February and March respectively, with at least four schools participating. The quiz will take place on Tuesday 12th March at the JG Fleming Bowling Club in Houston. Parents and supporters are especially welcome. Tea and coffee will be served.

Gryffe Valley Rotary 10K Run –Sunday 19th May 2019: In 2019, the date of the run has been moved by one month to the middle of May. Please save the date and plan your training. We are delighted that Arnold Clark will support the event this year and we have chosen St Vincent’s Hospice as the beneficiary. Local sports clubs and groups (families and neighbourhoods) are being encouraged to enter teams. Why not resolve to get fit and prove it by taking part? To register go to https://entries. runabc.co.uk/listed-races/gryffe-valley-rotary-10k.

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Community focus key to high street success Responding to the publication of the Government’s High Street Report authored

by Sir John Timpson, Mike Cherry, FSB National Chairman, said:

Extra £250 for some families

Weir Networking Our meetings are now held quarterly, on a Wednesday in Amaretto, Bridge of Weir. Breakfast starting at 9.30am.

There is a cover charge of £5.

Our next meeting will be held in March 2019 - date to be confirmed. Please email colin@magifilms.co.uk or visit their facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/Weir-Networking350783798430333/ We look forward to seeing you all.

Estate Agency

The Scottish Government has announced that low income families will be able to apply for financial support to help with the costs of preparing for school from 3rd June.

The School Age Payment will allow eligible families to receive £250 to help towards the costs associated with starting school, like educational toys and after school activities.

This benefit follows the rollout of the Pregnancy and Baby Payment in December, which aims to help cover some of the costs of having children.

Regulations for the School Age Payment have been laid in Parliament and, once approved, the payment will then open for applications.

Further details can be found on mygov.scot.

“Our local high streets have been in the spotlight more than ever this year, with an increasing number of empty shops, job losses, and high profile chain and department stores going out of business. Small firms are in the midst of this, up against spiralling business rates, high rents and online competition. The challenges of expensive town centre parking and the loss of bank branches and ATMs all add to this.

“These recommendations emphasise a community-focussed approach to tackling the challenges facing the high street. Small businesses are at the heart of our communities, providing jobs, bespoke products and a personal service, which should be conserved. A healthy high street should be diverse – not just featuring retail but also hospitality, services like hairdressers as well as gyms and shared workspaces for the self-employed.

“Parking remains a huge issue for high streets and town centres. High parking charges and a lack of spaces often put off shoppers from visiting their local shops, instead favouring out of town centres with free parking. It’s positive that the report highlights this and calls on local authorities to review their parking provision to make sure it is encouraging footfall and attracting shoppers back to the high street.

“At October’s Budget, we welcomed the new Future High Streets Fund and a new business rate discount, which should give some relief to small firms on the high street.

“We now need to start seeing solid details of how businesses can access these much-needed rate relief funds. Business rates are a huge burden on small firms with the overall bill expected to rise to over £30bn next year, so it’s right that this extra funding has been pledged. But to have an impact, it needs to reach those that need it across the country, applying immediately to bills that cover the period from 1st April next year.”

by Dallas McMillan, Solicitors

It is crucial that you seek legal advice as soon as you decide you sell your home. In addition to instructing a Solicitor, you will also have to instruct an Estate Agent to market your property. To ensure the sale proceeds as smoothly and as efficiently as possible, it is sensible to instruct a Solicitor whose firm also has an Estate Agency practice. There are several key advantages to you in doing so: All Under One Roof Having two separate professionals involved in the transaction can lead to delays in crucial information passing between both. Instructing a Solicitor to deal with both the Estate Agency and legal aspects of the sale means that the transaction can be dealt without unnecessary delays. For example, legal advice is often needed before and during the marketing process. Also, offers will be received directly by your Solicitor with detailed knowledge of your property and advice will be available straight away on the legal position surrounding any closing date situation.

Cost Effectiveness If you instructed an Estate Agent and Solicitor separately, you would pay two separate professional fees. Using a Solicitor who is also an Estate Agent will significantly reduce those costs as discounts will be available.

Expertise in All Areas As well as taking care of the marketing strategy and the necessary legal aspects of the house sale, a Solicitor Estate Agent will also arrange the Home Report and viewings of the property.

There are many other advantages to using a Solicitor Estate Agent to deal with both the estate agency and conveyancing aspects of your property sale. As your home is one of the most expensive items you will sell in your lifetime, it is certainly worth making sure that you instruct the right person to help you through the process.

LITIGATION TEAM OF THE YEAR Law Awards of Scotland 2018

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bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir

I hope you are all well and January wasn’t too hard on you. I have several updates for you this month.

. . . Bishopton, Langbank & Bridge of Weir . . .

EDUCATION: In line with the Scottish Government’s commitment to expanding early learning hours from 600 to 1140 hours by 2020, further plans were approved at the most recent Education Board which bring great news for both Bishopton and Bridge of Weir. The plans include the construction of a new build nursery in Bishopton and while a location has not yet been confirmed for the new centre, the works will include construction of a single storey Early Learning Centre with facilities for external learning, covered play areas, parking and service provisions. Bridge of Weir will also see a refurbishment of the Early learning and childcare centre. More news on the works will follow as plans progress.

In more news for Bishopton, the consultation on the catchment area has been announced for the new primary school in Dargavel, with a start date of 28thJanuary 2019. The consultation is open to all residents who feel they have a valid interest. Details of the consultation can be viewed on the council’s website and a consultation event is expected to take place in Bishopton Primary. I would encourage all residents who have an interest to take part in this and ensure your opinion is heard.

PARKING: Following my latest meetings with council officers in relation to the Bridge of Weir car park, officers have now suggested options, which could help ease the pressure in the car park. These include the introduction of a minimum stay with permits for residents, plans to make the disabled spaces enforceable and remoulding the parent and child spaces into conventional spaces.

These proposals will all require traffic regulation orders, which are a lengthy process, and will all require to be consulted on by various stakeholders so I would emphasise that this is not final but I will continue to update as this progresses.

SCHOOLS: Finally, a quick update for Langbank, the canopy proposed for Langbank Primary School to address the toilet issue, is expected to be built during the summer holidays.

The issues I am addressing here are very extensive so if residents have any questions or require any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir

Bridge of Weir and District Branch, Royal British Legion The Bridge of Weir and District Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland Annual General Meeting will be held in the Pirie Centre Bridge of Weir on Monday the 18th of February at 7pm.

bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir

BoW Lace Group Bridge of Weir Lace Group meets fortnightly on Tuesdays (10am 12noon) during the winter months.

If you’d like to try lacemaking we can provide materials & tuition. For further details phone (01505) 613967. bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir

Singing for Wellbeing

A fun, no-pressure choir singing feelgood songs every Tuesday from 6pm - 7.15pm and Fridays at 2pm - 3.15pm in the Bishopton Community Centre. bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir

The Bridge

Spring is awakening. Get ahead - renew your stocks of stationery and prepare for all the birthdays and celebrations expected in 2019.

POST OFFICE – all types of Insurance, Savings products and Mortgages are available through the Post Office. Please ask Donald, Anne or Stuart for an information leaflet. Our unique identification code is provided on all leaflets. Use of this code allows The Bridge to earn income on all completed transactions.

STATIONERY–we stock a comprehensive range of stationery items. We are delighted customers are using The Bridge as a “one stop shop” bringing items for posting, purchasing the necessary packaging, wrapping on site and posting all in one go.

GREETING CARDS – we are continually replenishing our stock to cover life’s events. For those with milestone birthdays the range of cards covers from ages 1 to 10 and 18 to 100. A small stock of Valentine cards are on sale – send your love in 2019.

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT - the Trustees Report & Accounts for the seventh year of The Bridge were approved by the Trustees on 16th January. Please view a copy in The Bridge.

COMMUNITY CENTRE - please remember The Bridge is a central point in the village where you can meet others, have a tea or coffee and enjoy a chat with our volunteers. It is a bright, warm, welcoming place where hopefully you will feel at home. We look forward to seeing you soon.

The Branch were delighted that £1,300 was raised from last year’s Poppy Scotland Appeal collection in Bridge of Weir. The Branch expresses sincere thanks to the commercial premises who facilitated collection tins and to everyone who donated generously.

Your Ward 11 Councillors ... for Bishopton, Langbank & Bridge of Weir

James MacLaren, Natalie Don, Colin McCulloch | Advice Surgeries: http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/councillors ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Community Council ...

Visitors are welcome at these monthly meetings.

BISHOPTON: Primary School: 1st Thurs at 7.30pm | www.bishoptoncouncil.com BRIDGE OF WEIR: 1st Tuesday of the month, Cargill Hall: 7pm | www.bridgeofweir.org February - June & September - December (October AGM). (No meetings July and August) LANGBANK: Church Hall: 2nd Wed at 7.30pm

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Community Halls to Let ...

Bridge of Weir: Freeland Church. Tel: 612245 community hall Please add your - email to list r ou to details r.co.uk ize rt ve ad info@

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bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir

Bridge of Weir Community Council The first meeting of the Community Council for 2019 will take place on Tuesday 5th February at 7pm in the Cargill Hall.

The meeting will hear an update on proposals being put forward by Renfrewshire Council Officers for Livery Walk. We will ask when the road relining is to commence at Prieston Road junction, and as it’s over two years since the request for an extension to the 30mph speed limit at St Mary’s Church will be seeking information when this will be introduced.

bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir

The claim is frequently heard at the present time that people who voted ‘leave’ in the Brexit referendum did not know what they were voting for. Or indeed that they were lied to, and so in any case were misinformed. That may or may not be the case, but it is true that with many of life’s decisions it is simply impossible to have the full picture. We’re wise to find out as much as we can and then take the plunge.

When it comes to faith, many non-religious people assume that believers just go with what they’ve been told. Perhaps believers are more gullible or misinformed than the rest of the population. If they knew more, about life, or science or whatever, they would know it is all lies and myths. That is of course entirely possible.

However, a lot of non-religious people, also go with what they’ve been told.

They might not actually know very well what they are rejecting, for example the Christian faith. They might not have explored the Bible or Christian beliefs in any depth. They may have not experienced Christian community as it was intended.

So how can you know if there is any truth or meaning in it? Well, you’d need to study it and experience it and try to make up your mind. Ultimately the Christian faith is not merely about ‘belief’, it is about ‘faith’ – what or rather ‘who’ we trust and build our life on. We may never have the full picture before we take the plunge, but there is much to explore. Come and see for yourself.

Rev Hanneke Marshall - Minister of St Machar’s Ranfurly Church bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir

Bridge of Weir Festival The Bridge of Weir Festival AGM is scheduled for Tuesday 12th February in the Cargill Hall at 7.30pm and is open to all interested parties.

We would like to thank all the volunteers and organisations who came out over the fifteen nights in December with the Santa Sleigh.

Their help was much appreciated. We have been reliably informed that this was the 36th year of the Santa Sleigh and 1512 children came out to meet with Santa with £2,678.14 raised for local organisations. We look forward to the Santa Sleigh enjoying its 37th year this coming December.

bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir

Bridge of Weir SWI Our February meeting, on 7th February, will comprise a talk about the Scottish Transplant Service, plus a silent auction to raise funds for this year’s charity. We meet at 7.15pm for 7.30pm in the Pirie at Freeland Church. Please come along with any items you would like to donate for the auction.

Churches in Bishopton, Langbank & Bridge of Weir________________

LANGBANK PARISH CHURCH: Sunday Services 10am with Sunday School, Crèche 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.

FREELAND CHURCH - For details please check website: www.freeland.org.uk ST MARY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Johnston Rd, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3EE. St Mary’s Episcopal Church is a small, lively and mature Christian community. We are united by our belief in Jesus, the One in whom God fully revealed Himself and through whom we have life in all it’s fullness. Come and worship with us. Our main Service is held on Sundays at 10am. A warm welcome awaits you. Contact: Rev. Heller G. 01505 872961 www.heartlandsec.org/BoW ST MACHAR’S RANFURLY CHURCH: Sunday morning service 10.30am.

HOPE HALL: Sun 1.15pm Sunday School, 4.30pm Gospel Service; Mon 6pm Investigators for Kids, 7.30pm Bible Study and Prayer. www.bridgeofweirchurch.co.uk

. . . Bishopton, Langbank & Bridge of Weir . . .

Do you know what you think you know?

On Traffic Calming, we understand Mark Higginbottom Renfrewshire Councils Development Services Manager will lead on this with his team to review our proposals for the entrances to the Village and hopefully hear of any further progress.

The Community Council will decide if we are going to get involved in the project to upgrade the pavement on Clevan’s Road. We will hear the proposals being put forward for the improvement of Houston Road Park.

A request has been received for us to consider re-introducing Neighbourhood Watch Schemes within the Village, this will be discussed. The IT sub-group will report their recommendations on what action should be taken to improve both our Website and Facebook page.

An agenda item will review our sub-committee personnel and remits.

Following a very successful new formatted Christmas Lights Switch-on in December we will put forward further plans for 2019.

The meeting is open to the public so please come along and air your views. bishopton, langbank & bridge of weir

ROADS: As I write this article snow is expected next week. I hope you are prepared for it. The council’s budget was stretched badly last year because of the “Beast from the East”. That being said, I don’t think we have done too badly and a number of roads that you have been complaining about have been repaired well.

Others I will be putting forward for complete resurfacing in the coming financial year.

Pothole repairs are improving. Temporary “throw and go” patching is being reduced to a minimum and full permanent patching is being applied where possible. In addition, road workers should now repair all potholes within the street they are visiting whether these have been reported or not.

Once again, the traffic island on Kilmacolm Road in Bridge of Weir has been hit and the works to replace the traffic bollards have been instructed and given a high priority. The good news is that the council are going to review this gateway feature as the bollards are continually being damaged, so this feature may change. The bad news is that it won’t be until next financial year (starting in April).

BINS: The introduction of the new green recycle bins and timetable for collections is chaotic but with 111 variations of calendar, perhaps it is not surprising. I have received a lot of complaints, mostly about missed collections and a few still looking for their new green bin to be delivered. Hopefully it will soon settle down and I know that staff have been working hard to resolve issues. You can view your next bin collection date by going to www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ checkyourbincollectionday. Residents can also sign up to an email reminder to be advised the day before their collection is due. I can also provide additional coloured stickers which you can use for your wheelie and kitchen bins. And by the way, your Tetra Pak cartons should go in the green bin!

Please note my surgery details: • Langbank Parish Church Hall - 1st Monday of every month (6.30pm) • Bridge of Weir Cargill Hall - 2nd Monday of every month (6.30pm) • Bishopton Community Library - 3rd Monday of every month (6.30pm) I can be contacted by phone on 0300-300-1291 or by email to cllr.james. maclaren@renfrewshire.gov.uk Check out my Facebook page for more information and articles www.facebook.com/councillormaclaren

Help us keep you & the local area moving this winter.

Follow us on facebook & twitter @GryffeRoadwatch and if you spot or know of any road works, flooding, ice or blockages let us know!

You can send us a message via facebook or twitter or post a wee comment on Gryffe Roadwatch or The Advertizer’s page.

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kilmacolm & quarriers

Positive Thinking The only thing you can control in your life is your thoughts. The only thought you have power over is the present one. Find out how to control your thoughts, and attract exactly what you want into your life. Phone or text 07463 570464. kilmacolm & quarriers

Coffee Morning Saturday 2nd March 2019. Held in New Community Centre (2nd Floor) 10am - 12noon. Tickets £3 available at door.

Grace Church, Kilmacolm, warmly welcomes Rev Nick Mackison Nick has recently been appointed Associate Minister at Dowanvale Free Church of Scotland, with which Grace Church is linked. Nick will be preaching most Sundays at Grace Church, and will be involved locally in providing pastoral care and in running church outreach activities.

Nick is married to Sharon and they have 3 young children. A graduate from ETS (Edinburgh Theological Seminary), Nick also lectures at the monthly ETS Saturday course in theology.

. . . Kilmacolm & Quarriers . . .

rnoons 2019 macolm

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Grace Church Kilmacolm Ladies Fellowship

kilmacolm & quarriers

Amaze Mount Zion A new bible based after school club for primary age children starting 29th January 2019.

Invitation to Grace Church Kilmacolm Ladies Fellowship February meetings, alternate Tuesdays at 2.15pm in the Guide Hut, Woodrow Avenue, Kilmacolm, PA13 4QF. Tuesday 5th February Margaret Moore, Prison Fellowship. Tuesday 19th February - Sheena MacFarlane.

All ladies welcome.

Tuesdays from 3.45pm - 5pm Mount Zion Church, Law View Road, Quarriers Village, PA11 3FD All in a fun and friendly environment Go to www.mountzionquarriers.org/youth to download a registration form Mount Zion Church is a registered Charity: SC030549.

kilmacolm & quarriers

CEMETERY EXPANSION: We are rapidly reaching capacity in our Cemeteries. Only Knocknairshill and Kilmacolm are capable of expansion due to many reasons, mainly of bedrock and groundwater. Positive discussions have been had with Scottish Water with regard to Kilmacolm, to the possibility of a land purchase, and preliminary negotiations have commenced.

This site has also been promoted for residential development in land West of Quarry Drive. These proposals are to be considered as part of the Examination of the Proposed Plan. A Garden of Remembrance will be developed at the site of the former Cemetery House allowing a further 110 lairs for cremated internments.

PLANNING: I chaired the public hearing in Greenock Town Hall with regard to the Quarriers/ Gladman planning application for a residential development at Carsemeadow. The presentations by Quarriers Management, the Civic Trust and the Protect Quarriers Village group were all professional and informative.

Council Planning Officers recommended refusal and when I moved appropriately, the motion was carried unanimously with no amendments. I will now report the outcome of the hearing to a full Council meeting on the 21st February when all 22 Councillors will again vote on the application.

There have been 200 objections to the application by Wimpey at Planetreeyetts, significantly less than the numbers objecting to the Knapps application which was first refused by the Council and then by the Reporter on appeal.

ROADS: There is going to be a major investment in carriageway infrastructure through surface dressing, advanced patching and drainage works on the following roads in my ward. Auchentiber, Dippany, Gateside, Glenmill, Woodhead, Greenhill, Killochries, Mathernock (Auchentiber to Caukldside), South Branchal (public section), Old Largs Roads. This represents a £190k investment but is important to our residents and farmers who live rurally.

Been busy with Scottish water manhole covers in the village. When they do not fit, they can cause a real racket.

SCHOOLS: KPS has shown a significant improvement in attainment levels for Listening and Talking, Reading, Writing and Numeracy. All measurements over 85% and many in the assessed classes of P1, P4 and P7 over 90%. The school improvement plan presented to the Parent Council by the Head Teacher Simone McCredie was comprehensive and ambitious. The school received an Education Award for "Raising Attainment in Literacy" in 2018. I particularly was impressed by the engagement of children in their own learning and the emphasis on Literacy and Numeracy.

My surgeries are 4th February 5.30pm to 6.30pm at St Mary’s Episcopal Port Glasgow, 16th February Cargill 10am - 11am. I can be contacted at: david. wilson@inverclyde.gov.uk | 01475 741969, 712975, 07766 992294

kilmacolm & quarriers

Kilmacolm Community Council Special Meeting 11th December 2018 - PLANNING - Planetreeyetts

kilmacolm & quarriers

Kilmacolm Dramatic Society

A Special Meeting of the Kilmacolm Community Council was convened to consider the planning application submitted on behalf of Taylor Wimpey seeking planning permission in principle for a proposed residential development of circa 100 units on the land at Planetreeyetts, Kilmacolm. The Council were opposed to the proposal on the grounds that:

January was a busy month for Kilmacolm Dramatic Society.

•

We held a very successful New Year social evening at Strathgryffe Tennis Club, where many of our members enjoyed a delicious buffet meal, provided by Karen Rankin and members of the committee.

The proposed development was in contravention of the current Inverclyde Local Development Plan policies in regard to housing developments in the designated Green Belt.

•

The proposal did not support the declared policy that the bulk of the housing allocation for Inverclyde should be directed in the “core areas” where the infrastructure such as schools could be provided efficiently and where sustainability goals could be met, for example, by avoiding the reliance on private motor transportation.

•

There is no perceived shortfall in the Kilmacolm housing supply that justifies a development of the size and type proposed

•

The road infrastructure would not support the additional vehicular traffic that would be generated from the proposed development.

John Gilchrist, who is directing our Spring production of Richard Harris’s very popular play Stepping Out, was delighted with the excellent turn-out for a first reading of the play in Kilmacolm New Community Centre on 14th January. It was good to see many new faces among the familiar ones of KDS members.

The audition to cast the play was held a few days later. With the cast required to dance as well as act, our actors will be very busy rehearsing for the next few months.

Stepping Out will be performed in the Kidston Hall in Kilmacolm on 11th, 12th and 13th April.

Your Ward 1 Councillors ... for Inverclye East (includes Kilmacolm & Quarriers)

David Wilson, Stephen McCabe, Christopher Curley | Advice Surgeries: http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/meetings/councillors/ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Community Council ...

Visitors are welcome at these monthly meetings.

KILMACOLM & QUARRIERS: Last Tuesday at 7.30pm, Kilmacolm Cargill Centre (NB: No meetings: July or Dec) | www.kilmacolmcc.co.uk missed? - email Any details we've vertizer.co.uk ad o@ them to inf

Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 26-35 VILLAGE_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 28

Community Halls to Let ...

Kilmacolm, Cargill Centre. Tel: 873994 Kilmacolm, Brownie/Guide Hut. Tel: 07584 359007 Kilmacolm, Masonic Hall. Tel: 873059

15th February - you don’t want to miss it!!

24/01/2019 12:21:53

February 2019

t: 01505 613340

kilmacolm & quarriers

kilmacolm & quarriers

Every 4th Monday PC Jamieson, the local neighbourhood officer, will hold a surgery in the Community Centre between 10.30am - 11.30am.

Please pop in and see him if you want to share any concerns or need advice.

Come along to a WHIST DRIVE organised by the Industrial Section of the Kilmacolm Agricultural Show. It will take place on the 15th February at the Kilmacolm Community Centre at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4 and can be bought on the door. Proceeds go towards 2019 Kilmacolm Agricultural Show.

Kilmacolm Surgeries

World Day of Prayer

Written by The Christian Women of Slovenia

Whist Drive

kilmacolm & quarriers

Kilmacolm Old Kirk ‘OUTLOOK’ is a social community group, formulated for friendship and fellowship.

It is led by the Community Issues team of Kilmacolm Old Kirk. The group meets In Kidston Hall, 2pm - 4pm. Everyone is most welcome.

Programme for February:

St Fillan’s Shrove Tuesday Coffee Morning this year will be on Tuesday 5th March February 10am - 12noon in St Fillan’s Church Hall, Moss Road Kilmacolm. There will be lovely freshly made pancakes, home baking, raffle and various stalls. Entrance £3.

7th February

Touring the Black Sea – with Kilmacolm photographer Janice Stevenson

21st February

Gentle Keep Fit with Grace – start to address Christmas indulgences?

15th February

BURNS SUPPER 6.45pm for 7pm at Kidston Hall. Tickets £20.

Contact Mary Leishman on 07801 981611

1st – 3rd March OK FEST

An annual weekend community event, in association with the Old Kirk, celebrating music and the spoken word. See the What's On section for details of the various events. Fingers crossed that we don’t get another ‘Beast from the East’ this year to disrupt the programme.

kilmacolm & quarriers

Kilmacolm Residents Association Foodbank

on Friday 1st MARCH at 1.30pm

Everyone welcome! If you want to know more about the event, please give me a call. Maureen Russell Convenor (telephone 872905).

kilmacolm & quarriers

St Fillan's Shrove Tuesday Coffee Morning

Theme: ‘Come – Everything is Ready’ LOCAL SERVICE In St. Columba Church Hall, Bridge of Weir Road, Kilmacolm

The local WDP group of representatives from the local Churches warmly invites you to share worship and fellowship with people around the world who will be participating in the World Day of Prayer. We are delighted that the children from Kilmacolm Primary School will be able to join us with their singing and music. There will be refreshments after the Service.

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Guide Hut to Hire

A great venue with easy access near to the village centre. Refurbished main hall, additional kitchen facilities and outdoor area ... Perfect for children’s parties, weekly classes and one off special occasions.

Anyone wanting to hire the Guide Hut please contact Roz on 07584 359007.

. . . Kilmacolm & Quarriers . . .

kilmacolm & quarriers

e: info@advertizer.co.uk

Kilmacolm Residents Association have been amazed by the success of the Reverse advent Calendar and really wanted to thank the people of Kilmacolm and Quarriers who took the time and effort to take part. We were delighted so many children took part in the drive with two children saving their pocket money to buy a large number of selection boxes. We were very moved by the response. So much so that we decided we will run this again next Christmas and as so many children took part we will have a best decorated box competition next year.

Churches in Kilmacolm & Quarriers ... __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________ KILMACOLM OLD KIRK: Church of Scotland (Charity no. SC009291). www.kilmacolmoldkirk.org.uk. Minister Rev. Dr. Peter McEnhill (01505 873174). All Sundays in February, services at 11am. Coffee served after the service. 3rd February: Night Kirk 6pm. All welcome. Sòlas Bereavement Group is held in Kidston Hall on the 2nd Thursday each month at 2pm. OUTLOOK on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 2pm.

ST COLUMBA CHURCH OF SCOTLAND: (Charity no. SC007992) Morning Worship Sundays at 11am. All welcome. Coffee/tea served in the hall after the service.

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.

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 11am. Rosary Tuesdays 6.30pm. Prayer group meets Thursdays 7.30pm. Further information and contact details www.stcolmsparish.co.uk.

All welcome.

BUDDHIST MEETINGS: Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin. Phone Margaret on 01505 871343.

ST FILLAN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Moss Road, Kilmacolm, PA13 4DL. Services on Sunday at 11.30am. Wednesday: 10.30am Holy Communion. On the last Sunday of the month at 11.30am we welcome families to come and join us for our monthly Family Service. We are united by our belief in Jesus, who sustains and encourages us in all the ups and downs of life. Everyone is welcome to join us! www.heartlandsec.org/KLM/index.html Contacts: Revd. Heller G.P 01505 872961 / Maureen Russell (Pastoral Assistant) 01505 872905.

MOUNT ZION CHURCH: Rev. Andy Lunn BSc, (01475 791282) Mount Zion Church, Law View Road, Quarriers Village, PA11 3FD. Sunday Worship: 10.30am, Bible Study and Prayer Meetings: Wednesday at 7pm and Friday at 10 am. Please come and invite others: all welcome!

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kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

Renfrewshire Foodbank recently wrote to Kilbarchan Church of Scotland thanking it for its donations in the twelve months from December 2017 to December 2018. Friends and members of the church gave 362 kgs of foodstuffs, which were delivered by volunteers on Mondays to the Foodbank warehouse in Paisley. 362 kgs equals 798 lbs, or 57.5 stones, or 7 hundredweights. The letter revealed that the church’s donation was the equivalent of providing 770 meals.

Thanks to all who helped-keep up the good work!

The next FREE Tea Dance with Music Box providing the music, is on Friday 22nd February in Lochwinnoch Golf club call 07868 752814 for information.

. . . Kilbarchan, Howwood, Lochwinnoch & Elderslie . . .

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

362 kilogrammes Lochwinnoch Tea of food! 770 meals. Dance kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

Liz and Morag are now going for 1000 people through the course!

Morag and Liz beside the AED in Lochwinnoch

Would you know what to do in an Emergency?

Everyone welcome in 2019! ♥ Every week in Scotland, 70 people suffer cardiac arrest.

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

Kilbarchan Messy Church Our next M e s s y Church is on Saturday 16th February between 4pm to 6pm in the Church halls. Come along and enjoy the games, crafts and stories finishing by sitting down to eat together. All children accompanied by an adult will be made most welcome.

Training for Public, Become a Dementia Friend The next public training to be a Dementia Friend is on Tuesday 12th February @ 7.30pm in Lochwinnoch Calder Church. The training will be taken by Carolyn Irvine from Alzheimer Scotland – Action on Dementia. The training is for anyone who wants to learn more about dementia. (If you want more information call 07868 752814).

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

We look forward to members and friends.

welcoming

Further info from Elma Richmond 843193 or richmond32@tiscali.co.uk

♥ Only one in 20 people will survive. ♥ Without resuscitation, cardiac arrest is always fatal ♥ But, performing CPR could double that person’s chance of survival Heartstart courses are free of charge and it only takes two hours to learn the skills which may someday save a life: ♥ Recovery position ♥ CPR and using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) ♥ Heart Attack ♥ Choking ♥ Serious bleeding To learn the simple skills that save lives, contact Morag Thow on 07868 752814 to book onto one of our courses in 2019: Tuesday 26th February

7pm - 9pm

Lochwinnoch Masonic Lodge

Tuesday 30th April

1pm - 3pm

Lochwinnoch Masonic Lodge

If you have a group in the Lochwinnoch / Howwood area that would like a Heart Start Course Liz and Morag are pleased to come to your group to deliver the course.

Lochwinnoch SWI Our next meeting is on Wednesday 20th February at 7.30pm in the McKillop Hall. This is going to be a delicious Taste and Try Baking Demonstration

by Janette Cousar - so, ditch the New Year slimming resolution, and come along and enjoy some great baking!

♥ More than 3500 people per year in Scotland are treated by the Ambulance Service following a cardiac arrest.

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

Big Band night in Kilbarchan Parish Church hall, The popular F.P. Band is returning on Saturday 2nd February at 7.30pm. There are very few tickets, price £10, remaining. The ticket includes a buffet supper.

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm in Howwood Village Hall. Please feel free to come along - all welcome.

February – Tuesday 19th: Afternoon Meeting 2pm. Visit to Lime Tree Larder, KIlbirnie. Vote of thanks: Anne McCallum.

Kilbarchan Parish Church

Howwood Community Council

Howwood WI Events

Your Ward 9 Councillors ... for Kilbarchan, Howwood, Lochwinnoch & Elderlsie

Andy Doig, Derek Bibby, Bill Binks, Emma Rodden | Advice Surgeries: http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/councillors ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Community Council ...

Visitors are welcome at these monthly meetings.

Community Halls to Let ...

Howwood: Village Hall: 2nd Tues at 7.30pm. | www.howwood.com/community-council.php Kilbarchan, Guide Centre. Tel: 702758.

Kilbarchan: Steeple Hall: monthly at 7.30pm. | www.kilbarchan.info/community_council.html Kilbarchan, Old Library Centre. Tel: 706070 Lochwinnoch: Bowling Club: 1st Tues at 7.30pm

Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 26-35 VILLAGE_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 30

15th February - you don’t want to miss it!!

24/01/2019 12:22:00

February 2019

t: 01505 613340

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e: info@advertizer.co.uk

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

SCHOOLS: At the first Education and Children’s Service Policy Board meeting of 2019, class sizes in Primary Schools was one of the subjects on the agenda. Renfrewshire Council currently operates a model where the class size maximum in primary 2 is normally 25. With effect from August 2019 this is to be increased to 30. From this date class size maximums will be:25 in primary 1, 30 in primary 2 & 3 and 33 in primary 4 to 7.

Advertisement Feature

Live Well at Home

• The Mission: A world where all women achieve their potential

Our Promise

• The Ethos: Love, Laughter, Friendship and Support

• To Match you with your CAREGiver

GROUPS: ‘KAIROS’ is an exciting women’s initiative in Renfrewshire, providing support and opportunities for all women and has set up base in Johnstone. It is a Drop-in Centre where any woman can pop in for a cuppa and a chat.

The values of the organisation can be summed up as follows :-

Its aim is to be community led and asset based and is about bringing women from the community together to coproduce a woman’s space. Fundamental to its development is the need to develop a shared vision and value base that is inclusive and that recognises that everybody has views to express, skills to bring and a contribution to make. For further details about this initiative you can drop into the Centre at 16 Quarry Street, Johnstone, PA5 8DZ any Thursday from 10am to 12noon.

Contact details:- Tel: 01505 228643, Mob: 07414 081979, email: Katy WilsonScott katy@activecommunities.co.uk VILLAGES: Last year a number of walkabouts were organised between Ward 9 Councillors and Renfrewshire Council Officers, to look at issues of concern within the Ward such as roads, potholes, speeding, functional 30mph road signs, litter and road & path cleaning etc. Also inspection of the Village Hall in Howwood which needs urgent attention. To date there has been little, if any, notable activity to deal with these concerns. I have now sent out reminders about these concerns to the officers involved and hopefully in my next Report will have more positive news to convey to you.

• To see the same CAREGiver everytime • To spend a minimum of one hour each visit

0141 280 8210 Bridge of Weir, Kilbarchan, Houston, Bishopton, Renfrew, Johnstone, Paisley https://www.homeinstead. co.uk/renfrewshirebarrhead Registered with Care Inspectorate

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

UPGRADES: At the end of last year I happened to be speaking to one of my Howwood constituents in Kilnknowe Cottages and he showed me a letter from Renfrewshire Council regarding an upgrade of the Cottages which I have subsequently found out from another constituent was cancelled. I am currently liaising with council officers to ensure this upgrade does take place as it is vital that Howwood get its fair share of Council investment, as it is often sadly overlooked.

Email: cllr.bill.binks@renfrewshire.gov.uk Tel: 0300 300 1423 Week 1 Tuesday KILBARCHAN Steeple Hall 6pm/7pm.

Week 2 Tuesday HOWWOOD Village Hall 6pm/7pm.

Week 3 Wednesday JOHNSTONE Town Hall 6pm/7pm.

Week 4 Wednesday LOCHWINNOCH McKillop Institute 6pm/7pm. kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

Gryffe Scottish Country Dance Club We meet every Thursday at 8pm in the Kilbarchan Guide Centre for a lively and fun evening of dancing. Anyone thinking of having a go, or experienced dancers thinking of getting back into the swing, just come along and join in. All will be most welcome. We have a lovely hall with a super sprung floor - easy on the legs.

Our last term ended with our usual Christmas party night with over 30 dancers attending all enjoying a great night of music, dance and chat. This spring term will end with our usual fundraising dance in April. If you dance locally, put 9th April in your diary.

More information from Les Lambert at leslambert08@gmail.com / 01505 704398.

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

Knitting Bee

Meets fortnightly on a Tuesday from 7pm to 9pm at Knit Knax, 37 High Street Johnstone, also weekly Thursday from 2pm to 4pm.

Contact: Pamela 07743 156738 or email bknitting@hotmail.co.uk. kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

Kilbarchan Parish Church Tots’ Club

Kilbarchan Parish Church Tots’ Club continues on Monday mornings from 9.15am - 11.30am in the hall. All tots from birth-3 years welcome, along with an accompanying adult.

. . . Kilbarchan, Howwood, Lochwinnoch & Elderslie . . .

• The Vision: Women supporting women to be the best they can be

At Home Instead Senior Care, we work with you to provide flexible, personalised home care based on your specific requirements, We’ll help you to stay in your community and live under your own roof, surrounded by your own things continuing to live by your own rules. Our home care services span home help, companionship and personal care; specialising in Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

CHILDCARE: Since my first election in 2012 I have always made it clear that I would fight hard to try and get more investment, jobs, and services into my ward and its communities. Therefore, I am delighted at the new expansion of childcare places agreed at the last Education and Childrens Board which is very good news for parents, children, and families as a whole in my ward. The Board agreed that the new expansion of childcare services meant three categories in terms of making existing and local nursery buildings suitable for the extra expansion between 2019/22. The three building categories are refurbishment, extension, and new build. Lochwinnoch Childcare Class is to get a refurbishment, and St Margaret’s Childcare Class, and Kilbarchan Community Nursery an extension each.

This means an extra 72 childcare places for 3/5yr olds at St Margaret’s in Johnstone, an extra 56 places at Kilbarchan, and an extra 48 places at Lochwinnoch. This will be excellent news as we live in a world now where people often work irregular hours at very short notice so families need all the support they get regarding childcare.

My advice surgery in Kilbarchan is on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in the Steeple Hall at 7.30pm, and my advice surgery in Howwood is on the 4th Wednesday of the month in Howwood Village Hall at 6.30pm, then at Lochwinnoch also on the 4th Wednesday of the month in the McKillop at 7.30pm, excluding July and December. But I am also always available to constituents who can call me on 07534 148224, tweet me on CllrAndy4Ward8, facebook me on Independent Voice/Ward9JohnstoneAndVillages, or e-mail me at cllr.andy.doig@ renfrewshire.gov.uk

Churches in Kilbarchan, Howwood, Lochwinnoch & Elderslie ... __________________________________________________________________________________________________ KILBARCHAN PARISH CHURCH: Services continue at 11am during the month of February. On Sunday 24th, the Sacrament of Holy Communion will be observed at 11am in the church and at 2pm in the hall. The services will be conducted by Rev Stephen Smith. Junior Church and the crèche meet each week in the halls from 10.45am. All welcome to any of these services. Refreshments and fellowship in the hall after each service. Midweek Fellowship is on Wednesday mornings in the small hall, coffee at 10.30am, followed at 11am by a short service of worship. All welcome.

HOWWOOD PARISH CHURCH: Minister Rev May Bell. Sunday Service and Sunday School. 10am each Sunday. Prayer meeting held at 3 Bowfield Way, Howwood, 7.30pm on Tuesdays.

LOCHWINNOCH PARISH CHURCH: Mary Jane Bird. Sunday 11am: Morning Worship and Sunday School. All welcome.

CALDER UNITED FREE CHURCH: (Church Street, 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.

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.

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

Kilbarchan

There are 2 meetings in February with our new syllabus-an evening about Charles Rennie McIntosh and “Would I Lie to You?”, our version of the popular TV show! For further information about becoming a member, either phone 703786 or visit the website: www.nwr.org.uk

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The Semples of Beltrees, 6 Robert Semple, 6th Laird of Beltrees Robert Semple, 6th Laird of Beltrees, born in 1687, was the eldest son of Robert Semple and Mary Pollock. We are indebted to him for preserving a number of the poems and impromptu verses written by his grandfather, Francis Semple.

Robert, too, is thought to have dabbled in verse. Among his manuscripts is a poem, Ramillies. This amusing poem, written in the Scots vernacular, is the story of a young girl who ran off with a sailor, after being forced by her father to marry a much older man. Its authorship is attributed to Robert.

Robert had a long healthy life, living to the age of one hundred and two! In 1722 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Cochrane of Mainshill. Elizabeth, who predeceased him, was said to have been a very elegant lady. The couple lived in Thirdpart in Kilbarchan Parish and had eight children between 1726 and 1737.

In his home village of Kilbarchan Robert Semple was well-remembered and renowned, not only for his longevity, but also for an incident in his childhood. At the age of ten, he was staying with his parents in Pollock Castle, the home of his uncle Sir William Pollock. The hanging and the burning of the Bargarran Witches was scheduled to take place on Gallow Green in Paisley on the 10th of June, 1697, and young Robert was keen to witness the spectacle. To prevent him from going, his parents hid his shoes. However, this didn’t stop him. He managed to leave the house, and walk barefoot to Paisley where he joined the immense crowd who had gathered to watch the spectacle. The memory of this eventful day stayed with him all his life and was a tale often recounted in his old age. In the last decade of 19th century an old weaver in Kilbarchan was proudly heard to say ‘I knew a man who knew a man who saw the last witch burnt in Paisley’. The man was Robert Semple!

As a young man Robert, 6th Laird, went to sea. In his old age he recounted an unusual event in his adventures. On one of his sea voyages he went ashore at Archangel in Russia. Robert was watching sea animals in a pond where, apparently by chance, he witnessed a sea animal snapping at the Czar, Peter the Great, and biting the cock of his hat. Destinations of his other sea voyages are unknown.

Before the age of thirty, Robert was back in Renfrewshire where he was appointed as a burgher of Renfrew in 1716. He was regarded as a man of integrity and good judgement and was well respected in the community. He later became Collector of Cess for Renfrewshire and a long-serving Justice of Peace. In 1724, when Kilbarchan Parish Church was rebuilt, Robert was a subscriber and one of the five heritors who organised the rebuilding of the church. In recognition of his work, a door (now long blocked up) on the south side of church was named the Beltrees Door.

In 1758, Robert sold Thirdpart and its farms to William McDowall of Castle Semple. He still retained the title, Semple of Beltrees. Where he lived after the sale of Thirdpart is uncertain. In 1777, at the age of ninety, Robert feued land on what was then part of Milliken Estate in Kilbarchan and built Beltrees Cottage, naming it after his family’s former estate. According to his daughter, Arabella, not long before his death he was still able walk twenty miles a day. Robert Semple died in Beltrees Cottage in 1789 at the ripe old age of one hundred and two! © 2019, Helen Calcluth, Renfrewshire Local History Forum

NEXT MEETING: Thursday 14th February 2019 Renfrewshire Local History Forum holds its next archaeology lecture meeting in Room 116 in the Coats Building, University of the West of Scotland, (entrance in Storie Street, Paisley) at 7.30pm on Thursday, 14th February. Our speaker is Louise Turner, archaeologist and writer. Her lecture, entitled ‘The Blackened Charcoal so Brightly Burns’, details the evolution of an ironworking site at Hunterston, North Ayrshire.

Agriculture – Kilmacolm The parish of Kilmacolm, which is the largest in Renfrewshire, contains some of the finest rural scenery not just in the county but also in Scotland. Its principal geographical features are its two fine sheltered river valleys, the Greenwater and the Gryffe, both protected from the North and East winds. The land surface is highly undulating and in some places it resembles areas of the Highlands. The soil is light and porous which is suited to good grassland and silage production, except on Duchal Moor to the West of the parish, which is mainly peat and heather suitable only for sheep pasturage.

Land Use Much of the land has not been brought into cultivation and because of the extensive grassland in the parish; the main agricultural activity for centuries was cattle. Animals were able to move freely across the countryside to market. In the early part of the 19th Century many improvements in land cultivation through better drainage and crop rotation led to the fencing in of land.

Market Impact on Agricultural Industry Major changes have taken place in the agricultural industry in the parish particularly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Better links with markets and the growing demand for milk gradually encouraged dairy farming initially with the Ayrshire breed and more recently with Friesians. However, the once popular dairy industry has since contracted because of the over production of milk, the fall in market price and the resultant lack of profitability. Although corn, barley, hay, potatoes and turnips were grown on some farms in the parish, throughout the centuries, economic circumstances are such that the local yields of these crops and the cost of production did not compare favourably with, for example, farms in the East coast of Scotland. As a result, very little cultivation now takes place except for barley, which is grown, in a few fertile areas locally.

Impact of Mechanisation From the beginning of the 20th Century mechanical improvements brought a gradual decline in human labour on the farm. Around the 1950’s the internal combustion engine replaced the horse, mainly Clydesdale, and almost led to their extinction. Since then the tractor and highly Clydesdale Horse with Owner Captain James Anderson 2017 effective machinery have revolutionised the industry, particularly in the harvesting of silage.

We are now entering the era of driverless tractors, which are controlled from satellites.

Johnstone History Society NEXT MEETING: Tuesday 12th February 2019 We have just had our first meeting of the year, this was a very interesting talk about the Glasgow Necropolis delivered by Nigel Willis. This meeting was well attended and all were made welcome. Next month our meeting is on the 12th February in the Masonic Hall Collier Street at 7.30pm. Our speaker on this occasion will be Alastair Dinsmor talking about Glasgow City Police. We look forward to welcoming all members and friends. I was with sadness our chairperson had to announce the death of our long serving treasurer Alistair McIntosh who will be greatly missed.

The Museum is open from 10.30am till 4 pm Wednesday Friday and Saturday.

We have many books and maps on sale and these may also be purchased online at johnstonehistory.org and can be paid via PayPal. We still have a few Johnstone Calendars left and these can be bought at the Museum or also online.

Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 26-35 VILLAGE_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 32

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February 2019 kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

Move it or Lose it!

It may be winter outside but in our hearts it’s spring! Easy to follow exercise which can be done seated or with support. Come and join the fun and make new friends. We would love to meet you! Check out the “Regular Meets” in the sports section for more class details.

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kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

Howwood Parish Church Community Coffee Shop Community Coffee Shop First Friday monthly Howwood Parish Church: 10am - 12noon “In the community, for the community” Adults £2 | Children free.

All welcome.

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

kilbarchan - howwood - lochwinnoch - elderslie

As this year's budget looms, concern has already been raised by the decision on January 17th by the current administration on Renfrewshire Council to increase class sizes in all primary two classes from 25 to 30 children. Given the Scottish Government's claim that Education is their flagship policy, this does not augur well for this years settlement and the protection of other services.

BINS: I have seen over recent weeks, a significant increase in the number of complaints in my inbox in regard to missed bin collections. Introducing the recent reduction to grey bin collections, and an additional recycling bin just before the festive season, was always going to see a difficult start, however I have been taken aback by the scale of the problem particularly in certain parts of Kilbarchan. I have had discussions with the council and highlighted areas of concern and the need for a much more reliable service.

PLANNING: The planning application for 110 houses on the site of the old Johnstone hospital was approved by Renfrewshire Council's Communities Housing and Policy Board at its January meeting. This development is in the primary school catchment area which contains Kilbarchan Primary school, and council officers have concluded that there is sufficient capacity to take new pupils at the school.

While this is someway ahead, the whole issue of reviewing school catchment areas and the impact on our existing village schools needs to be carefully considered by the council in determining any future planning applications, and I will be monitoring this over the coming months. The mid January meeting of the Education Policy Board was provided with an update of the council plans to implement the Scottish Government's increased child care and early learning provision intended to be in place by August 2020. This sadly did not include any detail of the nature and timing of building and refurbishment work required at Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch nurseries or indeed anywhere else in Renfrewshire. I have raised this issue previously at board meetings as many working parents will be making plans on what has been promised. This lack of progress means that meeting the August 2020 target is becoming increasingly challenging.

My advice surgeries are on the first Saturday of every month except January and July at 9am in the McKillop Institute Lochwinnoch, 10am in Howwood Village Hall, 11am in the Steeple Hall Kilbarchan, and 12.30pm in Johnstone Town Hall Meantime please contact me at: cllr.derek.bibby@renfrewshire.gov.uk or phone 0300 300 1274 or 07534 156007.

LOCAL HISTORY continued Kilbarchan February 1919 Private John Struthers worked as a builder’s timekeeper before the war. He was born in 1892 when his father was a farm servant, living at Burntshields Cottage, Kilbarchan. By 1911 the family was in Govanhill. John volunteered for the Army Service Corps: he arrived in France on 13th December 1915. He was attached to K Siege Park, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps when he died of pneumonia on 16th February 1919. He is buried at Grave C.30 in Maubege Centre Cemetery. His younger brother Robert had been killed at Gallipoli in 1915.

There are two names for whose association with Kilbarchan has not yet been proved, although they are on the village memorial, Alexander Moir and Colin Campbell. Victor Drago is on the memorial: all that is known about him is that he lived at 15 Easwald Bank and was fined a pound or three days in prison for exceeding the 20 mph speed limit at Brechin. If anyone can help, please phone Colin Campbell 01505 702713.

One other soldier is not on the local memorial, but has a grave at Kilbarchan Cemetery. His name will be revealed in 1920!

Call For Art Exhibitors 2019 Lochwinnoch Arts Festival

. . . Kilbarchan, Howwood, Lochwinnoch & Elderslie . . .

BUDGET: The council budget is due to be set at the end of this month. In recent times year on year cuts have placed significant pressure on council services.

Calling all local painters you are invited to submit to the 2019 Arts Festival in March 2019.

For more information call Gill on 07761 172726.

Lochwinnoch Arts Festival ’19 Wednesday 27th Feb Photography exhibition, Library, Donation to MND FRINGE WEEKEND Friday 8th March Iconic women Christine Bovill, Witches Brew and Outi Smith, McKillop, 7.30pm, £10/8 Saturday 9th Jericho Hill and Bensider, McKillop, 7.30pm, £8/6 Sunday 10th Family music event, Lochbarr, 12-7pm, Free Ukulele workshop, Parish Church, 3-5pm, £5, booking required Life and Times of Pete Seeger with Finlay Alison & Jimmy Ross, Lochbarr, 7.30pm, £8/6 FESTIVAL OPENS Wednesday 13th Art Exhibition opening, Library, 7pm, By invitation Thursday 14th Alan Bisset Moira Monologues, McKillop, 7.30pm, £8/6 Friday 15th Comedy night, McKillop, 7.30pm, £10/8 Calder Church event, Calder Church, 7.30pm, donation Saturday 16th Jeff Zycinsky author, McKillop, 10.30am, £6/4 Craft Fair, McKillop, 1-4pm, free Susie Lamont pupil concert, Parish Church, 4-6pm, donation Karen Matheson and FARA, McKillop Hall, 7.30pm, £14 Sunday 17th Come and Try Jazz Choir with Outi Smith, McKillop, 1-3pm, £5, booking required Accordion workshop, McKillop, 2.304.30pm, £5, booking required Coro Aretiena Aracena Spanish choir, Parish Church, 3-5pm, £6/4 Classical music ‘Love and Romance’, Parish Church, 7.30pm, £8/6

Monday 18th Lochwinnoch Writers with Kirstin Innes and Diarmid MacArthur, Library, 2pm, Donation for MND Sing for St Vincent’s Lochwinnoch Choral Society, Location TBC, 7.30pm, Donations for St Vincent’s hospice Tuesday 19th Witches’ Brew Tea Bar McKillop 11am free Badger Mystical Mutt McKillop 1.30pm Free school only Wednesday 20th WhirlyBirds toddler event McKillop 10.30 - 11.30am £3 or £4 Glasgow Theatre Guild Parish Church 7.30pm £6/4 Thursday 21st Lochwinnoch Drama McKillop 7.30pm £6/4 Billy Gray - Jammin’in The Junction 7.30pm Price TBC Friday 22nd Lochwinnoch Drama McKillop 7.30pm £6/4 Billy Gray – Jammin’ in The Junction 7.30pm Price TBC Saturday 23rd Bernard MacLaverty author McKillop 10.30am £6/4 Krafty Kids McKillop 1-4pm Drop in £3 Craft Fair McKillop 1-4pm free Rock night McKillop 7.30pm £10/8 Sunday 24th Come and Try Pottery McKillop 10-4pm Come and Try and Workshops, £5, booking required ReMode McKillop 10-12noon Fiddle workshop McKillop 10-12noon Pennywhistle workshop McKillop 1-3pm Festival Finale Parish Church 7.30pm £6/4

Contact for ticket info: 07868 752814 Contact for workshops and come and try: 07761 172726

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houston, crosslee & brookfield

Houston & Killellan Kirk Charity Donations 2018 Houston and Killellan Kirk have donated over fifteen and a half thousand pounds (£15,500) on behalf of the congregation over 2018. The money has been raised from retiring collections, Sunday School children’s donations, Mwandi events, the Kirk Postie and Sleep in the Park.

Donations paid over:

The Sunday School Mwandi Milk Project................. £100

Indonesian Tsunami ................ £751

The Kirk Postie

Erskine Hospital ....................... £506

Renfrewshire Home Start .....£1,000

SAAFA ........................................ £506

Sleep in the Park

Retiring collections throughout the year

Sponsorship to Social Bite....£8,000

St Vincent’s Hospice ................ £667

Mwandi events

Riverbrae School ...................... £667

Solar Lamps...........................£2,500

Mwandi Milk Project................. £500

Calculators ................................ £352

. . . Houston, Crosslee & Brookfield . . .

Special retiring collections

Donations from the congregation have also come in the form of food for the food bank, warm clothes for the homeless, shoes, Christmas gifts for children supported by Crossreach, foreign money, stamps and also donations of time.

Revd. Gary Noonan commented “It is wonderful how the church and community come together and support so many causes. Until the donations are added together like this, you don’t appreciate how impressive is the response.”

What’s on at the Cameo Club.

The Cameo Club meet every 2nd Wednesday in the West Halls. Come along and join us for tea coffee and home baking. On Wednesday 6th February we welcome The Elderberries who will entertain us with foot tapping music this will be a great afternoon. On the 20th February it will be our Annual Bring And Buy sale, please feel free to come along and join us.

The Guild January saw members trying out afternoon meetings which everyone enjoyed.

February 12th “Faith in Young People “ Boys Brigade Scotland. Saturday 23rd sees our Annual Daffodil Tea in the West Halls please come along and enjoy coffee, tea and homebaking and bring your friends. Pay at the door. The 26th February is our guest night when A.G.M trio will come along and sing for us.

March 1st is the World Day of Prayer which will be celebrated in Houston and Killellan Kirk.

Foodbank Appeal The Trussell Trust, operating in our area as Renfrewshire Foodbank www.renfrewshire. foodbank.org.uk depends on general public donations for 90% of the food they distribute.

While donations are accepted at many locations on a daily basis, Houston & Killellan Kirk collect weekly, but twice a year focus the appeal on two specific Sundays during the year. The next of these is 10th March. (The second appeal is traditionally made at Harvest Thanksgiving each year.)

A typical Food Parcel contains Breakfast Cereals, Soup, Pasta, Rice, Pasta Sauce, Tinned Beans, Tinned Meat, Tinned Vegetables, Tinned Fruit, Tea or Coffee, Sugar, Biscuits & Snacks. The Foodbank tends to run out of UHT Milk, Juice, Tomatoes, Potatoes & Sugar – while they often have a plentiful supply of Pasta, Beans & Soup.

houston, crosslee & brookfield

EDUCATION: Since my first election in 2007 I have always made it clear that I would fight hard to try and get more investment, jobs, and services into my ward and its communities. Therefore, I am delighted at the new expansion of childcare places agreed at the last Education and Childrens Board which is very good news for parents, children, and families as a whole in my ward.

The Board agreed that the new expansion of childcare services meant three categories in terms of making existing and local nursery buildings suitable for the extra expansion between 2019/22. The three building categories are refurbishment, extension, and new build. East Fulton Childcare Class in Linwood is to get a refurbishment, and Houston Early Learning and Childcare Class is to get a new build facility.

This means an extra 64 childcare places for 3/5yr olds at East Fulton and an extra 60 childcare places at Houston Childcare Class. This is excellent news as we live in a world now where people often work irregular hours at very short notice so families need all the support they get regarding childcare. I am particularly pleased that Houston is one of only four areas in Renfrewshire which are getting a new build early learning and childcare facility.

My advice surgery in Brookfield is on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6.30pm in Brookfield Village Hall, and my advice surgery in Houston is on the 4th Thursday of the month in the Carrick Centre, Houston, at 7.15pm, excluding July and Christmas. But I am also always available to constituents who can call me on 07768 130935, or e-mail me at cllr.audrey.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk houston, crosslee & brookfield

houston, crosslee & brookfield

Houston and Killellan Kirk Carnival 2019 Save the date 11th 2019.

Saturday

French Conversation May

The theme this year is SUPER HEROES, you have plenty of time to use your imagination and think of the hero you would want to be. More information in next months issue. The Carnival is a major event in Houston’s Calendar make it a date.

houston, crosslee & brookfield

Crafty Friends Crafty hobbies is what we do Come and join our crafty crew Come and learn some crafty makes Followed by some tea and cakes (or biscuits) We are a group of ladies who enjoy making things.

No experience necessary. We just have a chat and do a bit of sewing/knitting/cross stitch or anything you like. We meet the first and third Thursday in the month.

Please come and join us. Contact Lorna Cairns - 01505 612844. Shirley White - 01505 610721

Grateful to those, who wish to support this most deserving initiative, if food donations could be brought to the Kirk at the 11am Morning Service on Sunday 10th March.

Looking for someone local?

Our French conversation groups are still going strong. We meet in the Fox and Hounds in Houston on Wednesdays 9.30am till 12noon and alternate Tuesday afternoons 2pm 4pm. If you want to join us just come along.

Details phone/text 07463 570464 or email avril.forbes2015@ outlook.com. We look forward to welcoming you.

houston, crosslee & brookfield

Houston & Crosslee SWI We are looking forward to our meeting on 13th February when we will enjoy a meal in the Houston Inn. Our speaker at our March meeting is Francis Dunlop talking about Inverclyde Waulking Group.

We meet in the Compass Centre, South Street, Houston on the second Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm.

Please come and join us, everyone will be made very welcome. If you wish further information please contact, Arlene MacKay on 07932 459994.

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Your Ward 10 Councillor ... for Houston, Crosslee, Brookfield & Linwood

Audrey Doig, Scott Kerr, Alison Jean Dowling, James Sheridan | Advice Surgeries: http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/councillors ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Community Council ...

Visitors are welcome at these monthly meetings.

BROOKFIELD: Brookfield Village Hall: 2nd Thursday at 7.30pm February, April, June, August, October and December.

HOUSTON: Carrick Centre: 3rd Wednesday at 7.30pm | houstoncommcouncil@yahoo.co.uk

Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 26-35 VILLAGE_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 34

Community Halls to Let ...

Brookfield, Village Hall. Tel: 335562 Houston, Carrick Centre. Tel: 612203 / 331488 Houston, Compass Centre. Tel: Gillian Peters - 07879 407574 or 01505 613759.

Linwood Masonic Hall. Tel: 07825 222944

15th February - you don’t want to miss it!!

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February 2019

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H.O.S.T. The Carrick Centre, Houston

Houston Co-op Christmas Collection Weekend

(Houston Old School Trust)

HOUSTON CO-OP - £1,330 raised plus two car loads of your donated food for the Food Bank!

Thank you to everyone who donated so kindly in the Houston CO-OP to the Renfrewshire Food Banks Christmas Collection Weekend held instore on December 8th and 9th 2018.

Due to a fire in December, the Houston CO-OP is presently closed for refurbishment. Once reopened, hopefully early in February, the Food Bank donation bin will be there alongside a poster showing the food and toiletry items that the Food Bank is short of each month. Many thanks for all of your kindness Houston.

Conversation Café Houston & Killellan Kirk is hosting a Conversation Café, where members of the Kirk and our community can discuss and help formulate priorities for the Kirk and our new Minister in the months and years ahead.

So, whether or not you are a Kirk member, please do come along and let your ideas help to shape the Kirk’s role in the community.

10am – 2pm (with lunch provided)

Coffee Shop: - Mon - Fri 9am - 4.30pm Sat 9am - 4pm MONDAY Yoga (Weekly) @ 1pm Mary Laidlaw 01505 229112 | Diaporama 11th @ 7.30pm | Young Farmers 11th, 28th @ 7pm | Sewing Group (Weekly) @ 10am - 12noon | Houston Show 25th @ 7.30pm TUESDAY Paint Pot Tots (Weekly) @ 10am Dawn Campbell 07789 262350 | Galaxy (Own Room) @ 4pm - 7pm | Yoga (Weekly) @ 7pm M/s Lawson 01505 613690 | Councillor Surgery 1st Tues (5th) @ 6.45pm – 7.30pm - Scott Kerr | Councillors Surgery 19th @ 12noon - Allison Dowling WEDNESDAY Baby Class (Weekly) @ 10am - 12noon - Liesa Callahan | Gryffe Melody Makers @ 7pm | Community Council 20th @ 7.30pm | Gryffe Camera Club (Weekly) @ 7.30pm | Galaxy Dance (Weekly) @ 4pm – 7pm

THURSDAY Gryffe Quilting Group (Weekly) @ 1.15pm - 3.15pm (21st @10am) | Primary Colours (Weekly) @ 3.30pm – 4.30pm | Crafty Friends 7th, 21st @ 7.30pm | Folk Club (Weekly) 8pm iaintdawson@gmail.com 07786 078952 | Move it or Lose it (Weekly) @ 10am - 12noon FRIDAY Yoga (Weekly) @ 10.30am M/s Lawson 01505 613690 | Galaxy Dancing 2nd, 9th,16th, 23rd @ 3.30pm - 7pm | Gavin Newlands M.P. Surgery 2nd Fri (8th) @12.30pm – 1.30pm SATURDAY Galaxy Dancing 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th @ 9.30am - 5pm | Councillors Surgery 1st Sat (2nd) @ 11.30am – 12noon Jim Sheridan SUNDAY Baptist Church (Weekly) @ 11am and 6pm

Please Note A PORTABLE DEFIB UNIT is available at the West Halls (Church) on Main Street

Saturday 16th February 2019 West Halls, Main Street, Houston

Your Voice Matters…

Booking enquiries to: Ian Simpson 01505 612203 Bill Haddow 01505 690693 Stewart Scally 01505 674277 hostbooking@outlook.com or The Coffee Shop houston, crosslee & brookfield

Family Ceilidh - Saturday 16th March A Family Ceilidh will take place in the Village Hall on Saturday 16th March with local band Clamjamfrie.

The start time is 6pm and tickets are priced at £7 for adults, £3 for children (age 5-18) and under 5’s go free. Tickets are available in advance by telephoning Ruth on 07875 565648 or by e-mailing: brookfieldvpa@gmail.com There will be a licensed bar and a raffle.

Don’t worry if you don’t know the difference between a Dashing White Sergeant and a Strip the Willow - all the dances will be explained by the band’s expert dance caller so everyone can participate and have a good time.

houston, crosslee & brookfield

Brookfield Art Club Art Show

. . . Houston, Crosslee & Brookfield . . .

Every penny of the £1,330 raised and every item of food donated goes directly to children and their families facing hardship in Renfrewshire this winter.

Monday to Friday, Gryffe Manor Out of School 01505 615438

On Sunday 24th March the Brookfield Art Club are hosting their annual art show in Brookfield Village Hall from 12noon - 4.30 pm. Admission is £1 and there will be a Tea Room with Home Baking.

So whether you’ve got two left feet or you’re a keen dancer, come along and bring your family and friends for an evening of whirling and birling!

Brookfield Village Council | Village Hall | 45 Woodside Road | Brookfield | PA5 8UB Brookfield Village Council is a registered Scottish charity - Charity No: SC006461 www.facebook.com/brookfieldvillage.org | Twitter: @Brookfieldvpa | www.brookfieldvillage.org

Churches in Houston ... ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ HOUSTON AND KILLELLAN: All Services will be led by Rev Gary Noonan unless otherwise stated. Sunday 3rd February - 9.45am - Early Communion Service, 11am - Morning Worship. Sunday 10th, 17th, 24th February - 11am - Morning Worship. You can find out more about us at www.houstonkillellankirk.org ST FILLAN’S, Main St, Houston: Sun Masses: Vigil (Sat) 5pm, 9.30am & 11am. Weekday Masses: Mon - Sat 9.30am. Rosary: Tue, Thurs & Sat 9.10am.

Exposition: Mon, Wed & Fri 9.05am. Confessions: Sat 10am - 10.30am and after Vigil Mass. Baptism: By arrangement. Parish Priest:- Rev. Paul Brady.

Assistant Priest:- Rev. Chima Kingsley Opara. Pastoral Assistant: Sr. Mary Frances Collett, RNDM (Tel 01505 613514). Address: ‘Abbotsfield’, St. Fillan’s, Main St, Houston, PA6 7EL. T. 01505 612046. E. StFillan@rcdop.org.uk www.stfillan.org.uk 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.

CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Village Hall, Main Street, Houston PA6 7EL. Rev Geoff Austin (Interim Pastor) Family Service at 10.30am, Creche available.

Communion service first Sunday of the month. Tel 01505 610862. www.houston.nazarene.org.uk

German Wire-haired Pointer by Joanna B.Geddes

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Lotus Sanctuary Raising awareness - Awakening hearts Saving lives The Lotus sanctuary idea was born from a vision board following a retreat in 2010 with Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh – the concept was simple – a non-judgemental place where human & non-human animals could heal in harmony and where rescued animals could live out their lives in peace & love.

In 2016 Lotus founder Lynn rescued a bullock (called Prince) and since then countless animals have been rescued from all over the UK and transported to places of safety where they are dearly loved and cared for.

In 2016 www.bohemianhippy.com was set up to raise awareness for animals, and money to open the sanctuary. The site sells a wide range of 100% not-for-profit clothing and merchandise; all which carry messages that guarantee to start important conversations about living a more compassionate life.

Lotus Sanctuary is on the verge of opening their doors and they hope to have an announcement later in the month.

Follow the story on social media • Facebook: @LotusAnimalSanctuary @PrinceMooMoz @BohemianHippyUK • Twitter: @Prince_Moo-Moz - @BohemianHippyUK

Re-homing Pets Can you offer a home to any of our featured pets?

Arian & Casey - 8 month old, indoor female kittens

Arian Casey

These wee ones are still very scared & not very trusting of us humans are best suited to an experienced cat family that have a quiet home and “NO” children or other pets.

You will also need to have the time, love & patience that is needed to continue their progress, help them settle and interact/ play with them till they start to trust you.

Cardyke Farm, Langmuirhead Road, Auchinloch, Glasgow G66 5LD Telephone: 0141 779 3341

Acorn, Bagel & Fig male domestic mice These three are looking to be rehomed together. They are very close and enjoy each other’s company.

F ig

Fig, Acorn and Bagel are all very friendly. They are not very used to being handled however they are slowly but surely making progress. They would need an owner that would be willing to continue on with daily handling to ensure they become fully socialised.

Bagel Acorn They are nocturnal creatures so enjoy being snuggled up in bed during the day and coming out at night to forage for food and run in their wheel.

To contact the centre about any animals, please call 03000 999 999 or visit www.scottishspca.org/rehoming

• Instagram:

Potter - 8+ male Lab Cross

@Prince_Moo_Moz - @BohemianHippy2016 @LotusHeartSanctuary

Potter may be an older gent but don’t let his age put you off, he is full of beans and loves to play! He doesn’t like to be left alone for long so we are looking for a home where someone is around for most of the day.

www.lotusanimalsanctuary.com www.GoFundMe/LotusSanctauryScotland

MISSING PETS

Help Find Kara Kara is an 8 year old tortie and has been missing since October 2017 from the Crosslee area of Houston but her owners will never give up hope of finding her.

She is extremely friendly and is chipped.

She has a collar on with a tag saying she chipped and her phone number.

If you see her please contact Karen (07469 931537) or Duncan (07496 019945).

Potter

Potter appears to have some basic training but has the potential to learn more. He could live with people over the age of 16 years that can help with his training.

He is a very active little dog so would be best suited to someone fit and able to keep him busy and take him plenty of walks. Having a secure garden with a 5ft fence is a must to allow him some freedom to run around as he is required to be on lead in public places.

Potter lacks some self control at times so would benefit from a living in a calm environment. Our training and behaviour team will be happy to share how best to manage this in the home. If you are looking for a hiking buddy he could be the dog for you!

Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, 315 Hamilton Road, Uddingston, Glasgow, G71 7SL. Open: 12noon - 4pm (inc weekends); 12noon- 7.30pm on Tuesdays; closed: Wednesdays

NOTE: By time of publishing some of these pets may have been rehomed but there are plenty others looking for their ‘forever’ home.

October issue - Friday 14th September Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 15th February -- you you don’t want to miss it!!

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Obesity in Pets Unfortunately obesity is an increasing problem we see in pets which has significant health implications.

It occurs when the energy intake is greater than the energy expenditure.

Factors contributing to weight gain, include overfeeding, feeding an inappropriate diet eg. Feeding human foods or excessive treats, and insufficient exercise. Neutering can also be a factor in weight gain as animals that have been neutered require around 30% less calories.

Some health problems have a higher incidence in obese animals including; • Respiratory problems: Tracheal collapse, laryngeal paralysis, chronic bronchitis and feline asthma.

• Orthopaedic problems: Arthritis, cruciate disease and certain fracture types.

• Dermatology: Inability to groom, skin fold dermatitis, and general poor coat quality.

• Metabolic disease: Diabetes mellitus • Urinary problems: Feline lower urinary tract disease (recurrent cystitis in cats) and incontinence in female dogs.

Obesity can also significantly increase the risks involved with general anaesthetics and surgical procedures.

For an animal to lose weight it is necessary to increase the energy expenditure and decrease the energy intake.

Increasing the energy expenditure This is achieved by increasing exercise.

In dogs: • Increasing number and/or length of walks • Hydrotherapy if arthritis/weight/other issues restrict walks • Fetch and retrieving games • Off lead exercise

Equine Car Boot Sale Animal Support & Rescue - Mid Gavin Equestrian (not Mid Gavin Farm), Howwood Sunday 3rd February from 11am We are holding a horsey car boot sale from 11am till 2pm in our indoor arena. We have a large selection of rugs, bridles, bits and everything you can think of, pop along and grab yourself a bargain. Entry by voluntary donation.

Great opportunity to buy and sell anything and everything equine, tables are £10 pre-booked, bring your own table and set up is strictly from 10am on the day. Spaces are limited.

https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/animalsupportandrescue

In cats:

Update Your Microchip Details

• Increasing play time • Using activity balls and feed toys • Feeding at a height (cat has to jump/climb to reach food)

If you have changed any of your contact details such as your phone number or you have moved house, don’t forget to update your pets microchip details.

• Hiding food Decreasing energy intake This is achieved by reducing the number of calories the animal is consuming.

This means sticking to a recommended diet.

There are a number of veterinary recommended prescription foods available aimed at weight loss in cats and dogs which have a lower calorie content than most commercial pet foods. This means that feeding the recommended amount of one of these diets provides less calories without restricting other essential nutrients within the diet.

If you think your pet is overweight contact Petvets for a free weight check and advice.

Do you run a local animal charity? Want to get the word out about fundraising or appeals? Contact us at info@advertizer.co.uk or call 01505 613340. This service is free for non-profit organizations.

Local Animal Charities

Scottish SPCA Give a Dog a Bone 0141 882 1688 | www.scottishspca.org www.giveadogabone.net Dogs Trust Glasgow Any Dog’il Do 0141 773 5130 | www.dogstrust.org.uk www.anydogildorescue.org Cats Protection Harvey’s Army Scotland 0141 779 3341 | www.cats.org.uk harveysarmy.com Johnstone Cat Rescue Animal Support & Rescue 01505 337321 www.animalsupportandrescue.co.uk| facebook.com/ASARCharity Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue 01505 502415 | www.hessilhead.org.uk Lamont Farm www.lamontfarm.org.uk The Underheugh Ark Rescue www.underheugharkrescue.co.uk These centres and many more are always on the lookout for donations and fundraising. If you can help, please get in touch with them.

It could be what helps reunite you with them if they are lost or stolen.

Indentibase Petidentity UK Petlog Pet Protect Pettrac Smarttrac

0190 448 7600 0800 975 1960 0129 633 6579 0800 077 8558 0800 652 9977 0844 542 0999

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.

There is no charge for this service!

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The Advertizer

Gryffe Hillwalking Club RSPB Lochwinnoch Despite the dull winter weather, there is plenty of exciting wildlife to be explored here at RSPB Lochwinnoch!

The Barr Loch has continued to provide fantastic displays of wintering waterfowl – with the ongoing presence of large numbers of coot, wigeon and goldeneye to be seen; as well as several shoveler, great crested grebe, tufted duck, and many others.

Help Stop Wildlife Crime If you witness a suspected wildlife crime in action call 999 immediately and ask for the police.

For all other enquires call your local Police on 101. Alternatively, contact your local Police Force directly.

If you wish to anonymously report a wildlife crime online please contact Crimestoppers.

Gryffe Hillwalking Club was formed in 1985. We are based in Houston (west of Glasgow), but our members live dispersed throughout Renfrewshire and beyond.

We have a very mixed membership, from those who like to walk with a group and have a social day, to experienced mountaineers including seven of us who have completed all the Munros in Scotland. Some, due to family and other commitments, venture out only a few times each year, while others get out on the hills every other week.

The Club is affiliated to Mountaineering Scotland, which gives members access to discounts at various shops (10-20%), huts, insurance and other benefits.

Want to find out more?

See our website: gryffehillwalkingclub.com or email the club secretary (Paul Prior) at: paulrprior@gmail.com or call/text him on 07747 847181 for more information.

On the woodland trails you will hear many birds starting to sing their spring songs, sung to stake out breeding territories and attract mates. There is much competition for territories, and the Robin’s (Erithacus rubecula) spring song can often be heard from December onwards in milder years. If you listen carefully on the woodland trail, you may also hear Great tit (Parus major) singing - their call can be easily remembered as it sounds like they are calling “teacher, teacher”!

If you want to find out more about the reserve and the work that goes on here, then why not come along on our Wetland Guided Walk on Sunday 10th February?

The walk will be led by our warden Dan, who will take you around the reserve and point out the interesting wildlife to be found here. Dan will also tell you about the current and future management of the reserve because conservation involves much more than just leaving things alone!

For further information about any of our volunteering roles, or any of our events, please contact any member of staff in the Visitor Centre, email us, or call us.

For more information about the reserve or any of our events, please call 01505 842 663 or email lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk.

BoW Hillwalkers Gary Prescott

Andy Shand

(The Biking Birder)

Birds, Buddhism and Blue Whales - an illustrated talk

Green Birding and the Adventures of The Biking Birder – an illustrated talk.

Friday 1st March @ 7.30pm McMaster Centre Donaldson Drive Renfrew PA4 8LX All Welcome

Friday 1st February @ 7.30pm.

The Bridge of Weir Hillwalkers have a full programme of walks over the next few months including visits to Ben Ledi, the Sma’ Glen The Brack and hopefully a return trip to the Chain walk in Fife.

McMaster Centre Donaldson Drive Renfrew PA4 8LX

There are weekend trips to Braemar and Ardnamurchan proposed and the International section is off to Saas Fee in Switzerland.

All Welcome

Check out our Facebook page or donwwsmith@ gmail.com if you want to find out more.

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15th February - you don’t want to miss it!!

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February 2019

t: 01505 613340

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Interested in Photography?

Finlaystone in February

Our local camera clubs continually supply us with stunning shots which we use throughout the magazine, sometimes as banners or even front pages. If you’ve been inspired, why not join them and maybe see some of your photographs in print!

Come and visit Finlaystone Country Estate, enjoy our woodland walks, play areas and gardens. Join our Rangers for fun events at weekends.

Here’s a few stunning shots from PCPC

February in the Garden This month we are concentrating on the kitchen garden. We are busy rotovating the beds and spreading a thick mulch of compost over the surface. Those beds in which we will be growing root vegetables this season will have a mulch of compost, the other beds will have a mulch of mixed compost and well-rotted manure.

PCPC: Snow at Corgarff by Douglas Forrest

Although we are still in the grip of winter, signs of spring are already visible in the form of spring bulbs emerging through the grass. Speaking of bulbs, February is the month for snowdrops and as usual snowdrop posies will be for sale from the visitor centre and as the snowdrop season comes to a end we will also be selling bulbs in the green. These can be ordered in advance from the visitor centre.

While there are not many plants that flower at this time of year there are always exceptions and many of our rhododendron and hellebores are currently flowering.

Here at Finlaystone we are always happy to welcome volunteers into the garden where the gardener will always be able to find work for those interested in getting their hands dirty.

Kilmacolm Camera Club

PCPC: The End of the Road by Jim Black

In true KCC tradition, members enjoyed their Club Christmas Party. In between nibbles and wine, we tackled an entertaining Quiz, expertly organised by Gordon McGibbon.

Although there were no politically loaded topics, we were happy to give all the organisers an overwhelming vote of confidence!

We also had a terrific show from Mark McColl. This comprised a selection of around 150 wonderful images taken in Scotland. We were treated to panoramas, star trails, snowy vistas and autumn colours reflected in mirror-like lochs. A very high quality show which we appreciated greatly.

Come along and see what we have planned for the rest of our season. You’ll be very welcome.

Paisley Colour Photographic Club : Thursday

evenings The McMaster Centre, Renfrew. www.paisleycolour. co.uk Langbank Camera Club : Second and fourth Mondays of the month.

For more information please contact Derrick McPherson at langbankcc1@gmail.com.

Gryffe Camera Club : Wednesday nights The Carrick Centre, Houston between 7.30pm & 10pm.

Kilmacolm Camera Club : Tuesday evening 7.30pm

(October to March) The Kilmacolm New Community Centre, Room 1.01.

For more information contact: Billy Blair, Tel: 873383; Janice Stevenson, Tel 873595. Website: clikpic.com/ kilcamclub/ Diaporama Meeting : Second Monday in the month 7.30pm in the Carrick Centre, Houston. For further information contact Hugh Kerr at 01505 612687 or hughkerr14@gmail.com

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The Advertizer

Welcome to Clyde Mursheil Regional Park Stay Active in 2019: Clyde Muirshiel Rangers have another ‘Walk with a Ranger event’ on Sunday 24th February, this time around the Kelly Cut and Leapmoor Forest. Places are FREE but must be booked online in advance. More walking/‘get your steps’ inspiration on our website downloads page -we have new route cards and all the usual trail maps to help you explore!

Give Back on Practical Conservation Days: Muirshiel Country Park’s sikta spruce brashings need cutting piling and burning. It’s like gardening on a slightly bigger scale that will help you get fit! That’s on Saturday 23rd February, 10.30am until 3pm.

Stargazing Evenings: 2019 dates at Castle Semple are Monday 18th February and 11th March. Book your place online today for just £5 (children 10-16 yrs are £2.50) and look forward to an evening of stars, planets and other astronomical features.

Pedal the Park 2019: Taking place on Sunday 5th May, online entry is now open for the 5th edition of this popular 100km sportive. £20 entry with £7.50 CLIC Sargent donation included via the British Cycling website.

Plan Your Most Adventurous Year Yet: 2019 course dates are now online! Book via our website for sailing and paddle sport courses for adults including 2 hour evening tasters, 1/2 day long tuition and recognised power boating qualifications. Also online our school holiday (hugely popular!) Junior Multi Activity Weeks in Easter, Summer and October. There are also child-specific paddlesport and sailing 2-day courses available.

Tartan Walk this February: Enjoy a 5km stroll around Lochwinnoch and partake in a wee sing-song! Wear your tartan and then enjoy a cuppa and raffle back at the Centre -10.30am. Registration on Wed 20th Feb. Clyde Muirshiel Conservation Volunteers: Greenock Cut Volunteers are every Saturday 10.30 -2.30pm; Duke of Edinburgh Volunteers are every Sunday morning 10am-12pm; Castle Semple Volunteers can be either at Castle Semple or Muirshiel. Look online for full programmes.

Make a Difference: In a group looking to help make a difference? Or have a few colleagues looking for a team building challenge? Muirshiel Country Park needs you! Please email rangers.castlesemple@ clydemuirshiel.co.uk for details on the woodland management opportunities available.

Dates for the Diary: The second Clyde Muirshiel Walking Festival will take place on Saturday 25th until Monday 27th May, the 10km Bog Stomp on Sunday 1st Sept and Classic Car Show on Sunday 20th Oct. Ride 63 Community Cycle Club: Look on our facebook group for details of weekend runs. Contact the club by emailing the secretary ridesixtythree@ gmail.com for a membership form.

Tag-n-Track Project Update It’s time for the monthly roundup from the Tag-n-Track Project Officer Hayley Douglas. TnT is funded by Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

Project News The team is back in the office after a month off and we are pleased to let you know that as the 1st of January was drawing to a close Gary decided it was New Year, ‘new location time’. He has been down near Stoke since August and on Boxing Day he headed down to the River Severn near WWT Slimbridge. He stayed there until 5.31pm on the 1st. By 8.29pm he was in Devon and in the early hours of the 2nd he was flying over Torquay. By early evening he was off the coast of Brittany in France.

Now this is where he has surprised us. Last year he headed through France and Spain to reach Portugal.

This year he has taken a different route entirely. He flew over the sea after passing France for 3 days before he reached the Portuguese coast near Figueira da Foz. He took quite a wide route and it will be interesting to see what the wind conditions were at the time. Just when we thought we knew Gary - he has surprised us again!

Now that he is in Portugal we hope he is spotted just like some of our other gulls, including one of Gary’s chicks. 10S:C was the 2nd of Gary’s chicks to have been sighted there (At Praia de Mira in Portugal on the 8th of November). Its sibling, 19R:C, has been spotted four times so far.

Happy Gullmore, whose tag is currently offline, was identified on one of our gulls’ favourite haunts – the Costa de Caprica beach in Portugal on the 13th of November. Finally we have news of 0L5:C – one of our Pladda birds. Unfortunately his tag broke after deployment so it’s really great news for us to hear that he has been seen recently in Porto de Pesca de Portimão.

Event news We are planning on a ringing demo at Muirshiel in February. At the moment we can’t confirm a date so please keep an eye on the website and Facebook for further details.

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

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15th February - you don’t want to miss it!!

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February 2019

t: 01505 613340

Lochwinnoch Community Garden Events and Work Parties

Kilmacolm Horticultural Society The Winter Lecture for the Kilmacolm Horticultural Society in January was given

by Michael Philip who is the County Recorder for the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, responsible for Lanarkshire. The BSBI searches, identifies, maps and records all plants growing in the wild, they monitor what grows where and how this is changing over time. A fascinating lecture, encouraging us all to look out for flora wherever we are walking - your next hobby could be to support the work of the Botanical Society - see their website: www.bsbi.org.uk.

Our February lecture on Wednesday 20th February at 7.30pm in the New Community Centre Kilmacolm will undoubtedly be extremely popular, Louise Bustard, senior curator at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens is coming to describe the findings of her tour of the Gardens along the Amalfi Coast. Amazing photographs, wonderful stores as ever from Louise. Everyone welcome. Please phone Jill Russell on 01505 872393 for details of membership of the K.H.S. Or go to our website: www.kilmacolmhorticultural.com

Bridge of Weir Horticultural Society Members discussed the future of the Society at the annual AGM in December. Donald Hepburn gave an informative and useful presentation about the Society over its 132 year history up to the present day and members voted for the Society to continue. The Committee was tasked to undertake a radical review of the Society’s activities to reflect current times and lifestyles, although it was noted many issues are universal to all organisations. However, Bridge of Weir is hampered by a lack of accessible venues and car parking facilities and these continue to be a nightmare for all of us trying to support local shops and local activities and organise local events. Once business was concluded, members enjoyed seasonal refreshments and chatted about the way forward.

Ewen Brown was our guest speaker in January and a report will appear in future. On 14th February we look forward to welcoming Douglas Boatman for a “Heather Blether”. Heathers are hard-working, low-maintenance and much under-estimated plants, particularly in winter. As always, if the subject interests you – come along. We meet at The Bridge at 8pm and you don’t have to be a member to join us.

Meanwhile, check winter flowering plants, such as heathers and hellebores and, if covered by damp leaves, lift these off the buds or flowers and tuck under nearby plants, e.g., camellias and rhododendrons to provide a mulch and future nourishment.

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Work parties all 2pm in Garden 27th January

Tidy up in garden

24th February

Tidy up in garden

31st March

Start to plant barrels (March planting plugs Willie will let us know dates & times)

28th April

Planting village and baskets

26th May

Planting for gala

8th June

Gala day

Garden raised beds and containers David Fowles and Willie Thompson continue to develop the raised beds and containers Golf Club and Primary School Liz Parsons is meeting with golf club re a wild flower planting in the rough by primary school in return the pupils get a golf lesson

Brighter Bridge of Weir Well, this is the plan anyway...

Brighter Bridge of Weir’s festive break never lasts very long, and the first task of the year was early last month with the removal of the festive lighting displays in the Woodland Garden and elsewhere along Main Street, as well as taking down the Christmas tree and lights from outside The Bridge.

The next thing was their annual planning meeting to discuss the planting for the coming season. The Group’s main aim is to provide colour throughout the village and, as far as possible, throughout the year, too. They review what plants did well last year, and what didn’t live up to expectations; what might do better and where… And the Group is at the mercy of the flowers themselves, because quite often some of them don’t do what it said on the label! Then there’s the weather, of course. There’s always the weather.

Anyway, the plan is for a bigger and brighter summer display than ever this year, particularly in the planters and barrier baskets along Main Street, Houston Road and the two main junctions. The plans centre around the plants we get delivered in May, but until then, look out for a decent display of winter flowers throughout the village. Some are already looking quite promising, and they are bred to withstand the frosts, so with luck they will cheer us all up as we look forward to spring.

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The Advertizer

Howwood Curling Club Come & Try Event “Get Inspired” - Come & Try curling on 6th March You’ve seen it being played at on the TV. You can now Come & Try It yourself.

Howwood Curling Club are always looking for new members to join our friendly curling club which meets at Greenacres, near Howwood. It is a great way to keep fit and socialise with people in a friendly atmosphere. Current club members come from Renfrewshire, Glasgow and North Ayrshire. We are now looking for new players to play for the 2019/20 season.

We have organised a Come & Try session on Wednesday 6th March at 8.30pm at Greenacres curling club. Anyone who is interested is welcome to come along and try out curling. No experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome, whatever your age or ability. We will provide a qualified coach to give you the tuition you need to try out curling. You will also meet with our club members and get to play. If you continue to be interested following the Come & Try, we will invite you to our closing bonspiel for the 2018/19 season on the 27th March.

All the equipment you need will be provided. The cost on the night for ice is £6pp.

Please contact Lachie Carmichael if you wish to attend by email: lachiedcarmichael@hotmail.com or phone 01294 823643

Kilmacolm Golf Club

DANCE

SPORTS

Adult Jazz Class

Bridge of Weir Ladies Badminton

Tel: 01505 690757 for further information.

Mondays - Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Cres, 7.30pm

Mondays - Bridge of Weir, 11.30am / 1.45pm

Tuesdays - Strathgryffe Tennis Club, 8pm

Mondays - Bridge of Weir, 10am

Adult & Pre School Ballet Class

Tel: 01505 690757 for further information.

Bishopton Belles Line Dancing

Tuesdays - Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Hall 6.30pm - 8.30pm

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

Fitsteps with Jen

Monday - Kilmacolm Guide Hut, Woodrow Ave 6.30pm - 7.30pm Strictly inspired dance/fitness class that allows you to learn the basics of ballroom and latin style in a fun environment. All welcome. Call Jennifer 07709 340675 or f: @ fitstepswithjennifer.

Boogie Effect with Jen

Saturday - Kilmacolm Guide Hut, Woodrow Ave 9.10am - 10.00am A unique dance based fitness class, bringing together the heart-pumping fun of boogie with the strength and conditioning effects of dance techniqes to create long, lean, strong and healthy bodies that aren’t just the privilege of the pros! All welcome. Call Jennifer 07709 340675 or f: @fitstepswithjennifer

ATHLETICS Kilbarchan Athletic Club - On-X, Linwood Mondays & Thursdays, 7pm

The club hosted a very successful Hogmanay party for 80 members and guests. A delicious supper was enjoyed by all followed by some dancing and then a fabulous firework display to bring in the New Year. A huge thanks to all the catering staff who were on duty that evening and to Jane Mcdonald for organising the fireworks.

All abilities welcome. Tel: 07941 686990.

Ladies

www.linwoodkarate.co.uk

The annual Ladies bridge afternoon, in aid of Erskine Hospital, is on Tuesday 5th February at 1.30 pm. To book a table for the bridge afternoon and delicious tea please contact our Lady Captain Rosemary Hammond on 01505 872345.

MARTIAL ARTS The Shotokan Karate Club

Woodlands Primary, Linwood Mondays & Thursdays - 7pm - 8pm/8pm - 9pm

Taekwon-Do - Johnstone Sports Complex PA5 0LD Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6pm

Call 07951 365166 for details.

Falun Dafa practice

Thursdays - Port Glasgow Library 5pm - 7pm

Interested in cycling locally with other like-minded women?

Are you interested in being part of a local cycling group? Would you like to have company to cycle with other like-minded women locally and on the cycle paths? Would you like to learn more about cycle maintenance or how to look after and maintain your bike so it’s in good working order? If you are keen to get involved or find out more about the local cycling group, contact Lesley at the LEAP Team by email to lesley@ myleapproject.org or phone our office in Bridge of Weir on 01505 612034.

With five gentle exercises, Falun Dafa is an ancient self-cultivation practice based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.

FOOTBALL 5-a-side Football

Mondays - Powerleague Paisley, 6pm

Tel: Jim on 01505 874215; or jimbretherton@ aol.com

Football Training - Johnstone High School Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6pm - 9pm Call Ali on 07775 578795 for details.

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Gryffe Badminton

Greenock Hockey Club

Wednesdays - Inverclyde Academy, Greenock, 6.30pm - 8pm

Contact Liz Baldwin, mobile 07944 607005.

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

KEEP FIT Zumba Light

Mondays - St Fillan’s Church, Kilmacolm, 10am Suitable for all fitness levels. Tel: 07505 126416 for more information.

Zumba

Tuesdays - Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm, 7.45pm

Entry level class suitable for all fitness levels. Come dance yourself fit at Zumba, no experience necessary! Contact Diane 07943 862775.

Move it or Lose it! FABS Fitness more than just a Fitness Class for the over 60’s. Come and join the fun! First class is free.

To check availability please contact Fiona on 07811 766672.

Tuesdays - Cargill Hall, BoW, 10.30am Tuesdays - West Burn Church, Greenock 2pm Thursdays - Old Library, Kilbarchan, 2.30pm Thursdays - Carrick Centre, Houston, 10.30am (from 17th January)

Pilates classes

Mondays - St Machars Church Hall, Bridge of Weir 9.30am & 10.40am. Kilmacolm Community Centre 6.30pm Tel: Yvonne 07786 224367 or yvonne@ clydephysiotherapy.co.uk

Mondays - Kilellan Halls Houston 6.15pm 7.15pm & 7.30pm - 8.30pm For more information or to book a place call Katie on 07972 474965.

Wednesdays - Kilmacolm Community Centre - 7.30pm - 8.30pm.

For more information or to book a class call Jennifer Sloan 07731 303709 or email jennifermcghee@hotmail.co.uk

Hatha Yoga Classes

Mondays - Tweedie Halls, Linwood, 10am to 11am Wednesdays - St.Columba Church Hall, Bridge of Weir Road entrance 6.30pm to 8pm.

Suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners. Anyone interested in joining us please contact me at: janicestewart02@gmail. com.

Advertise your regular classes here for £20 for 4 months - contact our office for full details on 01505 613340 or pop us an email to: info@advertizer.co.uk

15th February - you don’t want to miss it!!

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February 2019

t: 01505 613340

Knapps Angling Club Much loved by dog walkers, ramblers and photographers, the iconic Knapps Loch is very much a part of the scenic appeal of the village of Kilmacolm.

Adorning the eastern approach to the village, the loch looks so natural in its setting that it would be easy to assume that it had been a part of the environs since the settlement of Kilmacolm itself. In fact, however, the loch has existed for less than 110 years and owes its existence to the vision and foresight of a small group of keen anglers resident in the village in the early 20th Century.

The founders of The Knapps Angling Club undertook the massive task of constructing a dam and the necessary infrastructure to support the formation of the loch which was completed in 1910, with fishing commencing in May 1911. Angling was restricted to fly-fishing only, and stocking limited to brown trout, traditions which are continued to the present day, with club members enjoying the scenic and tranquil surroundings for the exercise of their sport, mostly from the “comfort” of one of the three well-maintained boats kept on the water during the March to October brown trout season.

The Knapps Angling Club provides its members with an experience very different from the “stockie-bashing” offering of many present-day fisheries and anglers new to the water are often amazed by the feeling of seclusion out on the loch, which belies its proximity to the village and the main Bridge of Weir to Kilmacolm road. For lovers of the outdoors, there can be few experiences better than a tranquil summer evening spent drifting down the loch in eager anticipation (not always fulfilled) of tempting one of the beautifully-conditioned brown trout with which the loch is well stocked.

A few opportunities now exist for interested anglers to make application for membership, and enquiries should initially be made to the Honorary Secretary, John Horne by email at john@horne.co.uk www.knappsangling.co.uk

How to Stick to your New Year’s Fitness Resolutions Often after a few weeks into the New Year many of us question how we can keep to our new resolutions. The novelty quickly wears off and in no time at all the new plans you put in place are quickly shelved!

So, to help you stay committed to your goals here are some tips: 1. Set a realistic and specific goal. Don’t set unattainable goals that you will never reach. If your aim is weight loss, don’t ban yourself from certain foods or the things you ultimately love. Reduce your intake down and have it maybe once or twice a week instead of everyday! Moderation is key.

Make sure your goal is specific – don’t just say you want to exercise more; set yourself specific challenges like walking 10 miles a week or going to the gym twice a week. Having a concrete goal gives you something to realistically set your sights on.

2. Don’t expect immediate results. One of the most common reasons people give up is because they don’t see any change. They want results overnight and when this doesn’t happen, they think ‘what’s the point!’. Change isn’t a quick process. Prepare to play the long game and stick with it. Do this and you will see the results!

e: info@advertizer.co.uk

Thinking of taking up golf? Or returning to the game?

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Our PGA professional at Kilmacolm Golf Club, Iain Nicholson, will be running 8 free golf lessons in St Columba’s church hall each Monday from 4th February 7pm - 8pm. Sessions are open to adults and children from the age of 10 (accompanied by an adult). These lessons are a great way to meet new people whilst gaining a solid grasp of golf and having fun!

This is available to everyone! You don’t need to be a member of the golf club. Contact the Pro Shop 01505 872695 for more information or to book a place.

Paisley Pirates continue their push for a playoff spot over February and into early March when, in addition to away matches still to be played, they host Solway Stingrays on Saturday 16 February (face off 6.30pm) and then Kilmarnock Thunder on Sunday 3rd March (face off 5pm) The playoffs are open to the top four finishers in the Scottish National League, who will then be seeded to play another final eliminator against the teams finishing in 5th to 8th place after the completion of their regular season games to determine if they will qualify for the weekend tournament in Dundee in early April.

Success for Strathgryffe’s Juniors Strathgryffe’s Tennis Club’s Liam O’Brien recently won the boys 12 & under Scottish Junior Indoor Championships held at Scotstoun Leisure Centre.

The competition, a draw of 16 of the leading players in Scotland, included fellow Strathgryffe players Archie Nicol, Joe Dyer and Jed McMillan. Archie, Joe and Jed performed admirably however came across some tough opposition and were all knocked out by the second round.

Liam, the number 1 seed in the competition, won through his first 3 rounds with relative ease to reach the final where he came up against Charlie Robertson. The first set of the final was a tight affair which Liam edged 6-4. In the second set, Liam had a somewhat easier time, overcoming his opponent 6-1 and with it the Scottish Indoor title.

Strathgryffe offers a comprehensive programme for tennis, squash and fitness for all ages and abilities. If you would like more information about the club, visit our website www.strathgryffe.net, email info@strathgryffe.net or phone 01505 615100.

3. Allow off days. Even though you will be trying your utmost to achieve your target, the road to success isn’t a straight one. You will have bad days and occasional slips due to busy lives and sudden, spontaneous happenings.

That’s life, just aim to get back on track as soon as you can.

4. Share your goals. Share your aims and targets with friends, family and colleagues. The more motivation you have the longer you are likely to stick to your challenge as everyone knows about it. The more people that know the more focused you will stay so you don’t have to admit to giving up.

5. Track your progress. It is easy to forget what your starting point was. Take photos, take measurements or makes notes of timings or weight lifted. It will surprise you how far you have progressed without realising it. This progress is motivation in itself!

Lesley Handley, FitSmart Fitness Ltd

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The Advertizer

St. Fillan’s Primary School

Kilbarchan Community Nursery

New Year, New Year’s Resolutions:

Fourth Green Flag Award

We are all feeling relaxed and refreshed following a wonderful Christmas holiday with our family and friends. We loved spending some well deserved time with our loved ones and it was nice to make special memories with them. We look forward to a New Year and all the positives that we hope 2019 will bring to our school and community.

We were delighted to receive our fourth green flag recently from Eco-Schools Scotland. This is a fantastic achievement for the nursery.

We pride ourselves on our eco-schools programme.

Feedback was very complimentary and this achievement is down to the hard work and dedication of the staff team.

We created New Year’s resolutions at Assembly and we realise that making New Year resolutions is easy but keeping them may be more challenging! #ValuesRock!: The core value that we are promoting this month is ‘Success’ and to be able to achieve a degree of success in our everyday lives is important for everyone. We watched an inspirational video clip at Assembly about a little bear cub who tried many times to successfully climb a steep, snowy mountainside to reach it’s Mother. Although it took the baby bear quite a few tries, he achieved success in the end when he finally made it to the top. It was wonderful to see and we all cheered when he made it! Through watching this video, we realised that many other attributes underpin the value of success including: determination, inner strength, confidence, perseverance, hope, faith and a ’Can do’ attitude. In St. Fillan’s, we are always being encouraged to develop a ‘Growth Mindset.’

Committee Success!: O u r Committees have met for the first time this year to continue carrying out the work which we have planned in our Committee A c t i o n Plans.

The facilitator of our Eco Committee, Mrs Smith was delighted to announce that we have been successful in securing our third Eco flag! This is a huge achievement which involves a great deal of hard work and commitment and we are all delighted!

Our new Eco flag is making it’s way to us in the post and the Eco Committee are busy making plans for the school community to celebrate our success.

Application for funded Early Learning and Childcare 2019/20 All children are currently entitled to up to 15 hours and 50 minutes of funded early learning and childcare from the age of 3. Some may also be entitled from age 2 (please contact your local nursery for information).

Applications for early learning and childcare should be submitted the nursery as soon as your child reaches their 2nd birthday. Applications for session 2019/20 must be submitted no later than 28th February 2019.

Please let your friends and family know.

Gryffe High School Young Musician of the Year 2019 The ‘Young Musician of the Year Competition’, adjudicated by Mr. David Murray, was a most enjoyable evening held in the school theatre. Many congratulations to all of our Finalists, who brought a very high standard of music to the theatre. Special congratulations to winners Sasha Kaloheris (Intermediate Category) and Laura Workman (Senior Category). Sasha delighted the audience with her fabulous rendition of ‘With You’ and Laura played a highly accomplished version of ‘Spanischer’ on the flute. Although there had to be winners, ALL of the finalists were amazing. Mr. Murray gave each finalist very detailed and constructive feedback and spoke of his difficulty in selecting winners from an overall high standard.

The Junior category of the competition will be held at a later date.

We were also delighted that pupils and staff from Houston Primary were able to join us and experience our Young Musician Competition. They may be our stars of the future!

S4 Modern Studies visit Scottish Parliament S4 Modern Studies enjoyed a trip to the Scottish Parliament for First Minister’s Questions on Thursday 10th January. Questions included a variety of topics such as the investigation into Alex Salmond, Universal Credit and ASN provision in schools. Pupils also got to meet some of their MSPs for a question and answer session. Pupils are pictured here with Ross Greer MSP and Maurice Corry MSP. This was the first time for British Sign Language interpreting at First Minister’s Questions.

Pupils (and teachers) were enthused by the experience and found their visit to be really interesting.

Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 44-47 SCHOOLS_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 44

15th February - you don’t want to miss it!!

24/01/2019 13:38:17

February 2019

t: 01505 613340

e: info@advertizer.co.uk

Houston Primary School EVERY

MONDAY

45

Fire Damaged Poly Tunnel

Lochwinnoch Baby & Toddlers McKillop Hall, 9.45am - 11.30am

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

Kilmacolm Playgroup

St Columba Church Hall, Kilmacolm, 9.30am - 11.30am

Duchal Nursery

Howwood Baby & Toddler Group

Howwood Parish Church, 10am - 12noon

Kilbarchan Parish Church Tots’ Club Kilbarchan Parish Church Hall, 9.15am - 11.30am

EVERY TUESDAY

Kilbarchan Tots

Kilbarchan Scout Hall, 10am-12noon £2 contribution. Tea, coffee & biscuits.

Bridge of Weir Toddlers

Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Cres, BoW

Pop along and see us from 9.30am - 11.30am

Kilmacolm Playgroup

St Columba Church Hall, Kilmacolm, 9.30am - 11.30am

Howwood Playgroup

Howwood Church Hall, 9.45am - 11.35am

EVERY

WEDNESDAY

Kilmacolm Toddlers

Before Following the recent fire damage to our school poly tunnel we have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity expressed and shown by our local community through raising funds and offering support to replace the damaged tunnel.

Despite everyone being bitterly disappointed by the needless act, all at Houston Primary are inspired by the goodwill, strength of feeling and values held dear by our members of the community. Thank you to all those who contributed, your support is very much appreciated.

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

Lochwinnoch Baby & Toddlers McKillop Hall, 9.45am - 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 9.30am - 11.30am

Kilmacolm Playgroup

St Columba Church Hall, Kilmacolm, 9.30am - 11.30am

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

Baby and Toddler Group

Elderslie Kirk, Main Rd, Elderslie, 9.30am - 11.30am

£2 includes children’s snack and tea/coffee.

Lots of different toys to play with. All welcome.

After Soup Making The Gardening Club learned how to make leek and potato soup using their very own fresh produce.

With the help of Mrs Morrison and her team, the pupils prepared the vegetables and added them to the pot. There was enough for a tub each to take home and enjoy.

Delicious!

Battery Recycling The Big Battery Hunt is on! We’ve almost filled our second battery bin already so keep bringing in your used batteries (AA, AAA C and D) so we can make sure they are disposed of safely.

Clear Out Your Closet

1ST & 3RD FRIDAY

We’re looking for donations of clothes in wearable condition, pairs of shoes, handbags and belts for our next Rag Bag collection. All funds raised go towards supporting Eco projects.

Renfrewshire Inverclyde Twins Club

Walkers Crisp Packet Recycling

Community Bookbug Sessions

Livingstone Hall at St Columba’s Junior School, Knockbuckle Road, Kilmacolm.

From 9.30 - 10am

McKillop Hall, Lochwinnoch, 1pm -2.30pm £3. Bring a mug along for a cuppa.

Open Morning at Duchal Nursery set in Birkmyre Park Kilmacolm - Saturday 9th February 10am – 12noon all welcome.

Are you looking to find the right pre school nursery for your child? Starting nursery is a big step for any child and an even bigger one for parents. It’s really important that you make the right decision.

Duchal Nursery is an independent nursery that has provided specialist pre school education for over 50 years in Kilmacolm, giving parents confidence that their child is getting the best start in life. As an independent nursery our children move on to various local schools in Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and Glasgow.

Come and see for yourself at our Open Morning on 9th February, or get in touch to arrange a visit to see Duchal at your convenience. With our extended hours (8.15am – 3.30pm daily) offering greater flexibility of care and our purpose built facilities, Duchal Nursery is a fantastic place to begin your child’s pre-school education. Please take a look at our website for more information – www.duchal.com and find us on Facebook.

We have had a busy few weeks since the start of term: our older children are honing their fine motor skills and preparing for the big step of moving to primary school. We have been trying out Taekwondo and keeping active in our PE sessions, as well as making the most of any dry weather out in our garden and the park. Our “Hot and Cold” topic has taken us on many journeys around the globe discovering different countries and their climates.

Houston Toddler Group We welcomed everyone back to toddlers on Thursday 10th January. It has been lovely to see all our friends and hear about the lovely Christmas they have all had.

Just before Christmas we decided to make a change to help the environment so instead of using disposable paper cups for our tea/coffee we are encouraging adults to bring there own cup/travel mug with them to toddlers to help save on waste. Thanks to everyone helping with this change.

We have some valentines crafts coming up this month. We can’t wait to see all the children make something for someone special.

We welcome all children age between 0-4 years old, together with their parents, grandparents or carers to join in with the games, crafts and play on offer every Thursday. The children can enjoy playing, making friends and of course snack time while the adults can catch up with a cuppa.

We meet between 9.30am - 11.30am so come along when you are ready to the West Hall, Main street Houston PA67EL (next to Carrick centre) We look forward to meeting you.

A national Walkers crisp packet recycling scheme has been launched after a public campaign against plastic waste. Houston Primary is supporting this initiative, so please send all empty Walkers crisp packets into the school. The collected packets will be sent back to TerraCycle, who will shred them into plastic pellets to be used in everyday items, like outdoor furniture and trays.

@GryffeAds www.advertizer.co.uk 44-47 SCHOOLS_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 45

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The Advertizer

Bridge of Weir Primary School Port Glasgow High School NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS for 2019

Christmas Dinner Dance

Throughout January we have been making our whole school New Year Resolutions.

Our Senior School Christmas Dinner Dance was once again a highlight of the school year and a very enjoyable way to bring 2018 to an end. Our senior pupils were once again a credit to the school community and pupils and staff alike had a very enjoyable evening.

We understand the value of reading, writing and fitness, and we know that in order to get better at something it’s important to practise and persevere so we are determined to read more, write more, and move more.

To help us read more we have all been involved in choosing new furniture and books for our class libraries. We can’t wait for these to arrive. Every month P4-7 take part in inter-class reading challenges linked to the Renaissance Reading programme. Competition is tough and classes compete to win special reading awards. Pictured are our Reading Millionaires who have already read one million words (or two or three million!) and we hope to see many more pupils join this elite group!

We are using writing journals every day to write pieces of our choice. This can be a story, poem, letter, recipe, blog, set of instructions, or anything we enjoy. Our aim is to get better and better at writing as we practise every day. We are following the Ten Steps to Become a Better Writer: write, write more, write even more, write even more than that, write when you don’t want to, write when you do, write when you have something to say, write when you don’t, write every day and keep writing! Pupils are also contributing to the Bridge of Weir Primary Writing Book and P4-7 will be taking part in the Rotary Club writing competition.

It’s not just about reading and writing. We continue to be interested in our health, well-being, and overall fitness. Pupils have been taking part in a sponsored Sports for Schools event and assembly saw Skye triumph in a competition of spotty dogs, leg drivers, press ups, and star jumps. We are looking forward to a visit from Olympic athlete, Chris Bennett, and hope this will be an inspiration to us to move more, while putting into practice everything we know about Growth Mindset.

We have set these whole school resolutions and are determined to do what we can to continually make gains and improve what we do. 2019 is going to be a good year!

Kilmacolm Playgroup Its been an exciting start back to the new year at Playgroup. We looked at winter as our theme on the first week, making giant snowmen and icicles in craft.

We enjoyed a week of People who help us and we had our very own hospital set up, lots of fabulous role play looking after all the poorly dolls. We have had lots of visitors too. Port Glasgow Fire service came and the children had fun looking in the fire engine and using the fire hoses. A nurse visited too and the children practiced with bandages and learned all about what nurses do. A visit from a dentist completed the week with lots of tips on looking after our teeth. A fun week was had by all.

Playgroup is open to all children from 2 years 4months and operates on a Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9.30am - 11.30am. Spaces available.

Please email Kirsty on: playgroupmembership@gmail.com for more details.

Our baby & toddler group on a Wednesday 10am - 11.30am is open for all new parents /carers to drop in for a cuppa and a chat while your child enjoys a play.

For more information on any of our groups https:// kilmacolmplaygroupand toddlers.jimdo.com or check out our Facebook page for latest information.

Merit Awards

At the end of a very positive first week back, PGHS started 2019 with our termly Merit Awards Assemblies. These provide an important opportunity to recognise pupils for on-going excellence in class work. Assemblies were held for both our Junior and Senior Schools and included an address from our Head Teacher, Mr Clark. We also enjoyed an excellent musical performance from Stephen Nawrath and an impressive dance performance from S1 pupil Louis Williamson.

Prelim Examinations Our S4-6 pupils are currently preparing for their Prelim exams which commence on 28th January. These are an important opportunity to ensure pupils are fully prepared for their final exams. Our teachers and pupils are working hard to build on last year’s record breaking exam results. We have recently held very productive workshops on study skills and some of our senior pupils recently spent some of their free time producing packs of Study Cards for their peers.

Keep up to date!

To keep up to date with the latest news from PGHS – ‘Like’ us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PortGlasgowHigh | Follow us on Twitter: @PortGlasgowHS

Abbey Nursery Welcome February and a month when things have now returned to normal and we are continuing to enjoy reasonably good weather. We are particularly pleased that the children have been able to get outdoors such a lot in the playground, out to forest schools, taking part in nature walks and using every opportunity to ask questions about the world about them.

We are so fortunate with the opportunities within Houston for exploration and are always keen to be part of such a lovely community.

The early years Grasshoppers playroom is very busy at the moment with 44 children getting ready for school later this year. Our focus for them over the next few months will therefore be to challenge every child to develop their skills and knowledge across a range of learning experiences and become more independent of thought and actions.

The staff and children have been busy redeveloping play areas within the room to offer a wider range of day to day experiences and we are delighted with our new baking area. The children are also excited about their freshly wallpapered ‘imagination zone’ which starts the day as an empty space and allows the children to use this as they wish. The favourite just now is a hairdresser but tomorrow it could be a woodwork area! Our Author of the month is David McKee of Elmer the Elephant fame so expect multicoloured pictures home over the next few weeks.

The Busy Bunnies have lots of exciting things going on in their room; often involving sand, water, leaves and tubs of personal ‘creations’. Their playroom is also getting a makeover with new display boards to showcase all the children’s fun and activities.

Meanwhile the Little Ladybirds have welcomed eight new children into the playroom are spending a lot of time making sure they settle in well and develop a strong attachment to their own key worker so that they feel secure and loved when coming to play with us.

Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 44-47 SCHOOLS_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 46

15th February - you don’t want to miss it!!

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February 2019

t: 01505 613340

47

e: info@advertizer.co.uk

St Columba’s School Festive Fundraising

Campbell Snowdon residents ‘get active’ with Early Years

Although now a distant memory since the start of the New Year and new School term, our Christmas Fayre raised £1250 for Kilmacolm Toddler Group and other local charities and our Christmas Carol Concert collection raised £650 for Crisis. Thank you to members of the School community and local community for your continued support, helping to make events like these such a success.

The Early Years children have thoroughly enjoyed their recent visits from some of the residents of Campbell Snowdon House in Quarriers Village.

The residents have been participating in ‘Active Bodies’ with the children, which involves relay races, singing, balancing games and, of course, the all-important cool down after a very lively activity.

Emily Successfully auditions for the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain Emily Barron in Senior I recently successfully auditioned for the prestigious National Children’s Orchestra (NCO) of Great Britain.

Emily is the first pupil from St Columba’s School to gain a place in the prestigious National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.

Having played the clarinet since the age of seven, Emily also plays the saxophone and piano. In addition to her NCO success, Emily has also been offered places in both the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland (NYOS) and the National Youth Choir of Scotland Girls’ Music Success 3 (Isla, Sasha, Emily and Callum) Training Choir.

St Columba’s School is well represented in the NYOS Senior Orchestra, which brings together the best young musicians in Scotland, with Senior VI pupils Rory MacLean and Hannah Findlater invited to take part this year. Rory and Hannah have both also successfully auditioned for West of Scotland Schools’ Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band. Senior V pupil, Isla Macpherson (clarinet), Senior I pupils Sasha Charter, Emily Barron (both clarinet) and Callum Hendry (bassoon) will represent the School this year also.

Social Bite Fundraising Recognition

Active Bodies with Campbell Snowdon

You may remember in November Junior 4 - Junior 6 children participated in the ‘Wee Sleep Out’ in the Junior School hall and raised in excess of £2,500, helping Social Bite on its journey to end homelessness in Scotland. Mrs Duncan, Head of Junior School, recently learned that we were to receive recognition for being one of the top 11 fundraisers for the charity and as a result three representatives from the School have been invited to Social Bite’s Thank You Dinner with Key Note Speaker, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai. Junior 5 class teacher, Mrs Smillie, along with two pupils will attend what we are sure will be an inspiring and unforgettable evening.

FP Weekend - Save the Date: 29th - 30th March 2019 A weekend not to be missed - save the date! Marking 40 years since boys joined St Columba’s School, we are celebrating this momentous occasion with hockey matches taking place on Friday 29th March at our astroturf and rugby matches taking place on Saturday 30th March at Greenock Wanderers’ Rugby Club, with awards being held afterwards at the Tontine Hotel, Greenock. Times have still to be confirmed, please keep your eyes peeled on our website and Facebook page.

@GryffeAds www.advertizer.co.uk 44-47 SCHOOLS_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 47

24/01/2019 13:38:29

48

The Advertizer TUITION

BUSINESS

TRADES AND SERVICES SITUATIONS VACANT

HEALTHCARE/BEAUTY

PROPERTY TO LET

MISCELLANEOUS

CHILDCARE Houston registered childminders.

For an informal chat to find your best childcare, call Elizabeth Waddell T: 01505 614925 Kilmacolm/Quarriers area registered childminders.

P/time or F/time vacancies for u-5’s and after school. T: 01505 873839.

ADVERTISING RATES TRADES/SERVICES/PROPERTY/CARS BOXED AD £7.75* per column cm PHOTO £7.75* (car sales only) * Prices subject to VAT The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977 - 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.

ADVERTISING RATES PRIVATE SALES ONLY UP TO £500 FREE £501 to £1000 £5.00 OVER £1000 Call for details MAXIMUM 40 words Email your items to info@advertizer.co.uk or fill in our online form at www.advertizer.co.uk

Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 48-51 CLASSIFIED_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 48

15th February - you don’t want to miss it!!

24/01/2019 14:25:37

February 2019

ITEMS FOR SALE BABY EQUIPMENT Hand Knitted Baby Shawl.

This shawl has taken me 12 Month to Hand Knit. This is the Original design from the Shetland Isles. It is Knitted in 2 Ply 100% wool white soft and cosy for baby.

This shawl can be put through a wedding ring as its so fine. £135. Tel: 01505 872813.

G r a c o Tr a v e l C o t , g o o d condition. £20. Tel: 01505 610408.

Mamas and Papas high chair as new. £20. Baby bath new. £5. Tel: 01505 872761 .

Girls BMW push along car.

Immaculate condition, only been used indoors, white with pink seat, classic BMW style, was £80 new and hardly used. £40. Tel: 07851 272591.

Avent Microwave Steriliser.

Ideal for fast and efficient cleaning. Great condition. £8. Tel: 07851 272591.

CLOTHES & SHOES Irish Red Setter American Boots, size 9, well worn new soles. £80 Tel: 07791 688240.

New Black Suede knee high boots from NEXT medium wedge heel. Size 6. £15. Tel: 07851 272591.

STAR by Julien MacDonald black and white print chiffon dress, size 12. Never been worn, tag still attached, price £45. Selling for £20.

Photos available. Tel: 07890 564528.

New Beige and brown ribbon edging peep toe heels. Size 6. £10. Tel: 07851 272591.

Bag, brown tote (Ollie & Nic) new as still has label and cellophane on handles - £20 ono. Buyer collects, contact Josie on 07443 903300.

Bag, black (Ollie & Nic) new as still has label and cellophane on handles - £25 ono. Buyer collects, contact Josie on 07443 903300.

HOUSEHOLD & GARDEN Beautiful Marks & Spencer mahogany coffee table.

Excellent condition as good as new. Cost £750 sell for £100. Tel: 01505 872213.

Wardrobe, pine VGC £40 ono.

Buyer collects, contact Josie on 07443 903300.

t: 01505 613340

Bed, single pine frame with mattress. Two pine drawers fit underneath, one has missing castor but still functional.

VGC £90 ono. Buyer collects, contact Josie on 07443 903300.

John Lewis extending curtain Rod. 61inches 163cm x 2. that fits into each other to give you, your required length.

Rings and brackets available. £17. Tel: 01505 872813 .

King size Sleigh bed in oak. Iron metal work at headboard and at the end. Photos can be supplied. Measures: Height at Head board 113cm, Height at end 95cm, Width160cm. £395. Tel: 01505 872813.

Cream brocade lined curtains; Width; 2-106 inches x drop; 2-82inches. £40. Tel: 01505 614503.

Recliner armchair. Manual, grey white mixture, G Plan, excellent condition, sell £89.

Tel: 07986 812483.

6 x 9 Indian Rug. Good condition. £20. Tel: 07788 915602.

Worktops. New, real wood, mid brown, 20 feet already cut into sizes. Cost £192, sell £79.

Tel: 07986 812483.

Recliner armchair. Swivel and recline style. Beige/ neutral.

Excellent condition, rarely used. Delivery possible. £69.

Tel: 07986 812483.

2 Marks & Spencer 2 seater armchairs.

Excellent condition, as good as new.

Cost £1000 each would sell for £100 each, collection required. Tel: 01505 872213.

John Lewis butterfly drop leaf folding dining table and four chairs. Natural. £30 ono. Tel: 07748 587489.

Next 2 x 2 Seater Dark Brown Sofas. Good condition. £200.

Tel: 07925 827832. Buyer must uplift.

Small white dressing table.

Glass top, 2 drawers, shaped legs. Perfect condition. 72 (W) x 40(D) x 76(H). £40.

Tel: 01505 321691.

Carpet cleaner professional quality. £100 . Tel: 07791 688240.

Dining table glass on metal Base with 4 chairs. £50 . Tel: 07791 688240 .

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e: info@advertizer.co.uk

ELECTRICAL & GAS Tesco 700W White Microwave.

Good condition. £20. Tel: 01505 873252.

Stove solid cast Iron with glass doors. GAS fired never used . £120. Tel: 07791 688240 .

Nokia satellite box with a remote control - for European channels. £15. Tel: 07517 065917.

SPORTS Specialized Propero 3 cycling helmet. Size: large 59-63cm.

Christmas gift but too large.

Never used other than to try for size. Helmets are not returnable. Retails around £50-£80; will accept £35. Tel: 0141 812 6910.

Trampoline. Exercise or leisure.

Adult/ children. New, never used. 9 inches high, 3 feet broad. Argos. £19. Delivery possible. Tel: 07986 812483.

Te n s o n W o m e n ’ s B l a c k Salopettes. Size 12 (Euro 40), Leg 30”. £20. Labels still attached. Tel: 07854 861066.

D e g r e 7 Wo m e n ’s B l a c k Salopettes. Size 12 (Euro 40), leg 30”. Labels still attached. £25. Tel: 07854 861066.

Tenson Gents Black Salopettes.

Waist 32”, leg 32”. Labels still attached. £20. Tel: 07854 861066.

Degre 7 Gents Black Salopettes.

Waist 32”, leg 32”. Labels still attached. £25. Tel: 07854 861066.

TECHNICAL & GAMES Tablet 10” in box good working condition. £50. Tel: 07791 688240.

Hyper x cloud stinger core console headset with directional drives and mute switch. Suitable for PS4, Xbox one and Nintendo switch. 3.5mm jack. Unused and as new. £25. Tel: 07985 412461.

OTHER ITEMS Brand new steel car wheel 6JX15H2 and new Jinyu tyre 185/60 R15. Stored as spare wheel only. £80. Tel: 07736 067169.

TOYS CNOC 16 Isla Bike in metallic lime green. Great lightweight bike for a girl or boy. Aluminium frame. Approx age 4+ VGC and in perfect working order. £170. Tel: 07772 173910.

Smoby football table. £25 ono.

Tel: 07748 587489.

Half-size snooker table, balls and cues. Slight damage. £20 ono. Tel: 07748 587489.

OTHER ITEMS Prism Sport Mercury electric mobility 4 wheel scooter, VG condition, excellent working order, cost new £1000, £275 for quick sale. Tel: 07873 483282.

Samsung WB210 Camera 21mm Super Wide angle compact zoom camera with 14.0 megapixels, 12 x optical zoom, 3.5” super bright smart touch screen, smart filter and HD movie. Excellent condition. £45. Tel: 01505 690426.

Sewing Machine - Brother VX1100 el ectric sewi ng machine. Very good condition. £45. Tel: 01505 690426.

Alloy wheel and tyre. Both new, never used. Kept as spare wheel. Suit Jaguar and others. 245/45ZR18 100W XL. Cost £420, sell £180 if both sold together. Tel: 07986 812483.

Clima 740 Class 3 Domestic Aluminium Ladder and Stay.

4m closed. 7.3m extended.

Very good condition. £90. Tel: 01505 321350.

New Home Sewing Machine.

Good condition. £20. Tel: 07788 915602.

Wally dugs, pair of black and white spaniels - £25. Buyer collects, contact Josie on 07443 903300.

Silver jewellery for scrap 22g. £10. Tel: 07517 065917.

Old Russian rouble coins and banknotes. £3 - £10. Tel: 07517 065917.

Vintage amber necklace cognac colour 86g. £65. Tel: 07517 065917.

Citroen cactus C4 handbook 2018 NEW. £10. Tel: 07517 065917.

Fuji digital camera £10 ono.

Buyer collects, contact Josie on 07443 903300.

WANTED ITEMS

Local lily grower requires the use of a greenhouse/polytunnel in Kilmacolm area in return for light gardening duties. Tel: Vince 01505 872082.

Westclox Big Ben alarm clock.

Call: 07756 981917.

Cash paid for Music CDs ( a few or a lot ). Tel: 0141 882 5594 or 07765 115347.

Old records Wanted 45`s & LP`s CASH Paid. Tel: 07710 777571.

FREE

CYCLE

10m garden hose, nearly new.

If interested, please phone 01475 540666.

Set of bathroom scales which measure nearly everything (BMI etc), nearly new. If interested, please phone 01475 540666.

Public Defibrillator Sites in the Gryffe Area Bridge of Weir & Quarriers  Co-Op Bridge of Weir  Old Ranfurly Golf Club  Ranfurly Castle Golf Club  William Quarriers House @ entrance to Faith Avenue  Country View, Quarriers  The Gate House, Bridge of Weir Leather Works Houston & Brookfield  Carrick Centre Houston  Co-Op Houston  Strathgryffe Squash & Fitness Club (Reception)  Brookfield Village Hall Main Entrance Kilmacolm  Kilmacolm Golf Club  St Columba’s Senior School  Gym, Birkmyre Park, Kilmacolm  Kilmacolm Library (at rear of New Surgery) Kilbarchan, Johnstone & Linwood  Scout Hall, Kilbarchan  Kilbarchan Bowling Club  Onyx Leisure Centre, Linwood  Spar, Clippens Road, Linwood  Keystore, Spateston  Keystore, Corseford Bishopton  The Cornerstone, Greenock Road  Bishopton Community Centre

CONTENT OF THE GRYFFE ADVERTIZER CANNOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT FROM THE PUBLISHER The Gryffe Advertizer is a magazine published by The Gryffe Advertizer Ltd

Advertising throughout The Gryffe Advertizer:

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: • 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.

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

@GryffeAds www.advertizer.co.uk 48-51 CLASSIFIED_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 49

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The Advertizer

BY CATEGORY

Accountants & Financial

Fencing

Home Security

Roofing

Affluent Financial Planning . . . 22 CLA Accountancy Services Ltd . . 25 F Christie Accounting . . . . . . 25 Fergusons CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 GHG Smyth & Co Limited . . . . . 25 Stewart Independent Financial . . 1

Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 McLaughlan Metal Fabrication . . 7

Brookfield Alarms Ltd . . . . . . 35

Firewood & Logs

A O’Hare - Building Services . . 5 CLH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 DJY Joinery Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 33 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 18 JBC Joiners and Builders . . . 15 JDPS All Trades . . . . . . . . . . . 1 M Addison Joiners & Builders . . 3 McGowan Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . 20 SMG Roofing & Building Contrac . . 2 SW Scott - Joiners & Builders . . 20 Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 24 TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Bridge of Weir Roofing . . . . . 21 Bryan Slaven Slater & Plaster . . 5 Gryffe Roofing & Cleaning . . 6 KC Building & Roofing . . . . . . 4 Kilellan Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 19 MBS Roofing & Building Contrac . . 10 SMG Roofing & Building Contrac . . 2 SW Scott - Joiners & Builders . . 20 Thomas McMaster & Son Ltd . . 45

Architectural Services CHG Architecture Ltd . . . . . . . 7 Grid Design Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Automotive Services ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk AK Vehicle Rental . . . . . . . . . 1 Collins Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Bathrooms Affordable Luxuries . . . . . . . 7 G Woods Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . 6 Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . 21

Bedrooms Burndale Workshop . . . . . . . . . 15

Blacksmith & Metalwork McLaughlan Metal Fabrication . . 7

Building Services A O’Hare - Building Services . . 5 BOW Stone Works . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Bridge of Weir Roofing . . . . . 21 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 18 JBC Joiners and Builders . . . 15 KC Building & Roofing . . . . . . 4 Kilellan Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 19 M Addison Joiners & Builders . . 3 MBS Roofing & Building Contrac . . 10 Old Mill Chimneys . . . . . . . . . 15 SMG Roofing & Building Contrac . . 2 SW Scott - Joiners & Builders . . 20 Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 24 Thomas McMaster & Son Ltd . . 45

Care Services & Homes Home Instead Senior Care . . . 31

Cleaning & PowerWash CleanDryCarpets . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Come Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 DS Cleaning (Windows) . . . . . . 19 Eclipse Deep Clean . . . . . . . . . 3 Fastclean Scotland . . . . . . . . . 17 Gryffe Roofing & Cleaning . . 6 KC Building & Roofing . . . . . . 4 Nutech Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Platinum Cleaning Services . . 6

Computer, Web & Graphic Design ColCom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Driving Instructors AL Stewart - Driving School . . 17 Paul Ferguson - Confidence . . 7

Education Renfrewshire Speakers Club . . 26 St Columba’s School . . . . . . . . 47

Electricians Delta Electrical Services . . 12 GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 JDPS All Trades . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Lamont Electricians . . . . . . . . 3 MAS Electrical & Security . . 2 Russell Milne Electrician . . 11

LJX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Miller BioFuels Ltd . . . . . . . . 6 Old Mill Chimneys . . . . . . . . . 15 W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Funeral Services Beaton Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . CB John Roach Funeral Directors . . 8

Garden Service & Design 3D Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . 40 A Peebles Landscape Contractor . . 41 Apple Tree Gardens . . . . . . . . . 40 CHG Architecture Ltd . . . . . . . 7 Craig Kennedy Gardening . . . . 40 Garden Services . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Glenmoss Landscapes . . . . . . . . 41 MJ Lawnmowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 R Williams Tree Services . . . 40 W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 40 West of Scotland Landscape . . 41

Gas & Heating Services Bell Plumbing & Heating . . . . 45 C Hunter Plumbing Heating Gas . . 30 GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 I D Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 17 Jack Murphy Plumbing & Heating . . 10 Mackie Plumbing & Heating . . 19 Phoenix Gas Services . . . . . . . 1

Glazier 1on1 Double Glazing . . . . . . . . 3 Cloudy2Clear Windows . . . . . . . 5 TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Joiners

Kitchens Affordable Luxuries . . . . . . . 7 Burndale Workshop . . . . . . . . . 15 G Woods Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . 6 Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . 21 JBC Joiners and Builders . . . 15 Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 24

Leisure & Recreation Strathgryffe Tennis & Squash . . 43

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

Painters & Decorators A Gallagher Painter&Decorator . . 20 Colin Docherty Painter Decorat . . 11 David Kennedy Decorator . . . . 3 James Martin - Painter & Decor . . 3 John Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 M&E Painters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Ranfurly Decor . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Hairdressers & Barbers

Pest Control

Arlene Mitchell Hair & Beauty . . 29 Nix Hairdressing . . . . . . . . . . 29

RED Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . 30

Health, Beauty & Fitness

Pet Services & Training PetVets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Smart Dog Grooming . . . . . . . . . 37 Suzanne’s Grooming Pad . . . . . 37 Waggys Dog Grooming . . . . . . . . Bk

Arlene Mitchell Hair & Beauty . . 29 Bluewater Dental . . . . . . . . . . 5 Brite Dental Bridge of Weir . . 9 Celtic Shamanic Practitioner . . 17 Decorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Ferringtons Hypnotherapy . . . 4 Kilbarchan Dental Practice . . 13,Bk LaserLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 New Vision Opticians . . . . . . . 10 NLP Positive Changes . . . . . . . 45

Home Hardware Gibb Stuart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Home Improvements 3D Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . 40 A O’Hare - Building Services . . 5 Alvic Sliding Wardrobes Ltd . . 12 Apple Tree Gardens . . . . . . . . . 40 CHG Architecture Ltd . . . . . . . 7 Conservatory Conv & Windows . . Bk Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . 21 Kieran Turner Aerial&Satellite . . 3 Nutech Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Orchard Flooring . . . . . . . . . . 14 Scotland’s Bath Company . . . . 20

Home Interiors Burndale Workshop . . . . . . . . . 15 Old Mill Chimneys . . . . . . . . . 15 Orchard Flooring . . . . . . . . . . 14

Plasterers Bryan Slaven Slater & Plaster . . 5 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 18 Kilellan Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 19

Plumbers Bell Plumbing & Heating . . . . 45 C Hunter Plumbing Heating Gas . . 30 G Woods Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . 6 GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 I D Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 17 Jack Murphy Plumbing & Heating . . 10 JDPS All Trades . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Mackie Plumbing & Heating . . 19 The Shower Expert . . . . . . . . . 27

Solicitors Affinity Family Law Experts . . 3 Dallas McMillan Solicitors . . 25 Kingsley Wood & Co Solicitors . . 1

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

Stoves Old Mill Chimneys . . . . . . . . . 15

Taxis & Minicoach hire ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk Johnstone TOA Taxi Co . . . . . . 51

Tiling Gordon James Ceramic Tiler . . 20 Scott Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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

Tree Surgeon Branch Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Glenmoss Landscapes . . . . . . . . 41 Kenmore Tree Care . . . . . . . . . 40 LJX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 R Williams Tree Services . . . 40 W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 40

TV & Satellite Clearline Aerial & Satellite . . 15 Derek McBride Aerials . . . . . . 21 Kieran Turner Aerial&Satellite . . 3

Upholstery Services Eclipse Deep Clean . . . . . . . . . 3 Fastclean Scotland . . . . . . . . . 17 JM Upholstery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Window Cleaners DS Cleaning (Windows) . . . . . . 19 Fastclean Scotland . . . . . . . . . 17 Gryffe Roofing & Cleaning . . 6 Matthews Cleaning Services . . 17

Window, Consv & Repair 1on1 Double Glazing . . . . . . . . 3 TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Window Scene Scotland . . . . . . Bk

Property, Sales & Let Corum Property . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Dallas McMillan Solicitors . . 25 Hames Estates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Kingsley Wood & Co Solicitors . . 1 Lind Letting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk

Removals @ease Removals & Transport . . 18 The Right Move . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Retail Gibb Stuart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Contact us

I D Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 17 Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . 21 Jack Murphy Plumbing & Heating . . 10 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 18 James Martin - Painter & Decor . . 3 JBC Joiners and Builders . . . 15 JDPS All Trades . . . . . . . . . . . 1 JM Upholstery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 John Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 John Roach Funeral Directors . . 8 Johnstone TOA Taxi Co . . . . . . 51 KC Building & Roofing . . . . . . 4 Kenmore Tree Care . . . . . . . . . 40 Kieran Turner Aerial&Satellite . . 3 Kilbarchan Dental Practice . . 13,Bk Kilellan Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 19 Kingsley Wood & Co Solicitors . . 1 Lamont Electricians . . . . . . . . 3 LaserLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Lind Letting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk LJX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 M Addison Joiners & Builders . . 3 M&E Painters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Mackie Plumbing & Heating . . 19 MAS Electrical & Security . . 2 Matthews Cleaning Services . . 17 MBS Roofing & Building Contrac . . 10 McGowan Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . 20 McLaughlan Metal Fabrication . . 7 Miller BioFuels Ltd . . . . . . . . 6 MJ Lawnmowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 New Vision Opticians . . . . . . . 10 Nix Hairdressing . . . . . . . . . . 29 NLP Positive Changes . . . . . . . 45 Nutech Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Old Mill Chimneys . . . . . . . . . 15 Orchard Flooring . . . . . . . . . . 14 Paul Ferguson - Confidence . . 7 PetVets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Phoenix Gas Services . . . . . . . 1 Platinum Cleaning Services . . 6 R Williams Tree Services . . . 40 Ranfurly Decor . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 RED Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . 30 Renfrewshire Speakers Club . . 26 Russell Milne Electrician . . 11 Scotland’s Bath Company . . . . 20 Scott Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Smart Dog Grooming . . . . . . . . . 37 SMG Roofing & Building Contrac . . 2 St Columba’s School . . . . . . . . 47 Stewart Independent Financial . . 1 Strathgryffe Tennis & Squash . . 43 Suzanne’s Grooming Pad . . . . . 37 SW Scott - Joiners & Builders . . 20 Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 24 TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Right Move . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Shower Expert . . . . . . . . . 27 Thomas McMaster & Son Ltd . . 45 Travel Actually . . . . . . . . . . . 3 W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Waggys Dog Grooming . . . . . . . . Bk West of Scotland Landscape . . 41 Window Scene Scotland . . . . . . Bk

www.advertizer.co.uk

1st Floor, Neva Place, Bridge of Weir PA11 3PN t: 01505 613340

m: 07731 923970

e: info@advertizer.co.uk

www.advertizer.co.uk

@GryffeAds Open Tuesday to Thursday 9am-4pm; Friday 9am-12:30pm 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.

Pick up a Copy Bishopton: Woodrow’s Store, Library, May’s Coffee Shop Bridge of Weir: Gibb Stuart, Bernie’s Cafe, Lochnagar, The Bridge, Library (Cargill Hall) Erskine: Garden Centre, Library, Sports Centre, Swimming pool

Deadline date for our March 2019 issue - Friday 48-51 CLASSIFIED_293 FEBRUARY 19.indd 50

A TO Z @ease Removals & Transport . . 18 1on1 Double Glazing . . . . . . . . 3 3D Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . 40 A Gallagher Painter&Decorator . . 20 A O’Hare - Building Services . . 5 A Peebles Landscape Contractor . . 41 ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk Affinity Family Law Experts . . 3 Affluent Financial Planning . . 22 Affordable Luxuries . . . . . . . 7 AK Vehicle Rental . . . . . . . . . 1 AL Stewart - Driving School . . 17 Alvic Sliding Wardrobes Ltd . . 12 Apple Tree Gardens . . . . . . . . . 40 Arco Locksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Arlene Mitchell Hair & Beauty . . 29 Beaton Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . CB Bell Plumbing & Heating . . . . 45 Bluewater Dental . . . . . . . . . . 5 Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 BOW Stone Works . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Branch Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Bridge of Weir Roofing . . . . . 21 Brite Dental Bridge of Weir . . 9 Brookfield Alarms Ltd . . . . . . 35 Bryan Slaven Slater & Plaster . . 5 Burndale Workshop . . . . . . . . . 15 C Hunter Plumbing Heating Gas . . 30 Celtic Shamanic Practitioner . . 17 CHG Architecture Ltd . . . . . . . 7 CLA Accountancy Services Ltd . . 25 CleanDryCarpets . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Clearline Aerial & Satellite . . 15 CLH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Cloudy2Clear Windows . . . . . . . 5 ColCom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Colin Docherty Painter Decorat . . 11 Collins Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Come Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Conservatory Conv & Windows . . Bk Corum Property . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Craig Kennedy Gardening . . . . 40 Dallas McMillan Solicitors . . 25 David Kennedy Decorator . . . . 3 Decorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Delta Electrical Services . . 12 Derek McBride Aerials . . . . . . 21 DJY Joinery Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 33 DS Cleaning (Windows) . . . . . . 19 Eclipse Deep Clean . . . . . . . . . 3 Elliott Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 F Christie Accounting . . . . . . 25 Fastclean Scotland . . . . . . . . . 17 Fergusons CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Ferringtons Hypnotherapy . . . 4 G Woods Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . 6 Garden Services . . . . . . . . . . . 39 GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 GHG Smyth & Co Limited . . . . . 25 Gibb Stuart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Glenmoss Landscapes . . . . . . . . 41 Gordon James Ceramic Tiler . . 20 Grid Design Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Gryffe Roofing & Cleaning . . 6 Hames Estates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Home Instead Senior Care . . . 31

Houston: Co-op, Carrick Centre, Post Office, Newsagent Howwood: Village Store, St Vincent’s Hospice Johnstone: Henderson Kilts, Papa Mac’s, Library Kilbarchan: Post Office, Campbell’s, Newsagents, Bobbins,

Langbank: Finlaystone Visitor Centre Kilmacolm: Newsagent, Cross Café, Gibb Stuart, Library, Community Centre Lochwinnoch: Keystore, Library, Dolce Vita, Castle Semple Centre

15th February - you don’t want to miss it!!

24/01/2019 14:25:41

February 2019

t: 01505 613340

5511

e: info@advertizer.co.uk

Be a nosy parker: tips from IAM RoadSmart With the dark mornings and evenings still hanging around, it means our cars are still at risk of being a victim of theft. IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman, suggests a few top tips.

See how you can protect your vehicle on a day to day basis, whether you’re out and about or in the comfort of your home.

• As we exit the supermarket with a trolley full of shopping, we’re eager to unlock the car as soon as possible to avoid the hassle of finding our keys when we get to the car. But unlocking your car before you reach it gives thieves a longer period of time to access valuables and make a run for it, especially if your boot opens automatically. Be sure to only unlock your car when you get to it to prevent any risk of theft • Don’t leave your keys lying around. This can apply to any situation, whether you’re out for dinner and leave your keys on the table or if you’re at a friend’s house, as you may not know everyone around you.

Making your keys visible can mean a greater risk of them being taken.

Be security conscious about code grabbing from your keyless entry, are you being watched?

• Hide any valuables. Before you leave your car, make sure you secure any valuables and keep them out of sight. Putting them in your glove compartment or in the boot of your car will avoid them being seen • Don’t fall into the habit of hanging up your keys next to doors or windows.

Thieves use a ‘fishing’ method where they insert a hook through a letter box or window and search for keys. This can even be done when you’re at home and you may not even notice until you look for your keys and find that you’ve “lost” them. Make sure you put your keys somewhere safe and secure, and far away from windows and doors • Choose your parking neighbours wisely. In a busy car park, we normally go for the first space we can find. But have you thought about your neighbours beside you? For example, parking next to a flatbed truck filled with rubbish may not be as good a choice as parking next to a pristine, well-kept vehicle. The potential of damage is greater if the vehicle you park beside is already full of dents and scrapes • Is your parking space secluded? If you will be returning to the car late or alone make sure you stay alert and park it in an area which is well lit Richard said: “We often just pop in somewhere and then get distracted, so it’s crucial you never leave your car running whilst going back indoors to pick something up. It will only take an opportunist a few seconds to drive away.

“Try to park your pride and joy away from shopping trolleys and flying doors, although we all know the empty part of a car park will fill up as soon as you leave your pristine motor in a space. And remember to always consider your safety, as a car park looks different in the night than it does during the day.”

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com To find out the name of your own local IAM RoadSmart group please visit: https://wwwiamroadsmart.com/local-groups

SEE A POTHOLE? REPORT IT! Call 01475 717171 or Report online at https://myaccount.inverclyde.gov.uk/site/inve rclydewss/home/Pothole

Call 0300 3000 300 or Online fault report at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/roadorlightfault

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

How to report potholes

It’s the duty of your local council to fix potholes on neighbourhood roads.

Here’s some advice from the AA on how to go about reporting one: 1. Make a note of the specific location of the pothole, i.e. not just the name of the road, but how far up it is based on a house number, or a nearby landmark.

2. Find contact details for your local council. You can go straight to their website, or pop the relevant postcode into the government’s ‘Report a Pothole’ page.

3. Add the details. Some councils have interactive maps, where you can drop a pin to locate the pothole. Others have a contact form asking for more details.

There are also independent websites that create user-generated maps of potholes. So, if you’re feeling generous, you might want to give your fellow drivers a heads-up. They may not always be up-to-date though, so you shouldn’t rely on them in place of official channels.

If you’ve already experienced damage to your car, you can claim from your council for pothole damage.

You’ll need to collect evidence to apply for compensation. The defect in the road also needs to be a certain size to count as a pothole. This varies from council to council, but a depth of more than 40mm (about the size of two pound coins) and a width similar to a dinner plate, is usually the minimum.

It also depends on how busy or critical the road is - a pothole on a quiet road might need to be quite noticeable, before it gets repaired. If you feel the council have neglected their duty to keep roads safe, you have the right to make a pothole claim. https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/advice/how-to-report-a-pothole Looking for someone local?

www.advertizer.co.uk/business-directory

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INSIGHT distributed to: • Bishopton • Bridge of Weir • Brookfield • Houston • Kilbarchan • Kilmacolm • Quarriers Advertizer distributed to: • Bishopton • Bridge of Weir • Brookfield • Houston • Howwood• Kilbarchan • Kilmacolm • Langbank• Lochwinnoch • Quarriers

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