Bridge of Weir Hillwalkers

The Bowers had a fine if lazy December. First of all we attended Rab Hood and the Sheriff of Shettleston (Oh, yes we did!) at Oran Mor and hooted and sang our way through an hour of pure pleasure before retreating to the safe warmth of the Curlers in Byres Road for further celebrations. It was a great turn-out and thanks to Graeme for helping to set it up.

The Christmas outing saw another great turnout as we bussed our way to Arrochar for a walk in very cold, but bright winter sunshine along the trail of the Viking longships and back to the Village Inn for a slap-up lunch and one or two wee drinkies. It was a fine ending to a super year which had only a few weather glitches. Well done to all of you! Thanks too to Boyd’s Coaches and to Edith and the staff of the Village Inn for their huge help in arranging the day out. I only arranged the weather!

(Article by Don Smith)

Fifteen of us turned out for our scheduled Monday walk of the 9 mile Semple Trail. We were delighted that Margaret was able to join us after so sadly loosing her husband Don Smith the previous week, enabling us to chat together and reminisce about the good times we have enjoyed over the years. Don was a great organiser and was instrumental in the founding of firstly, The Gryffe Hillwalking Club and latterly the Bridge of Weir Hillwalkers. Typical of Don, even after an emergency admission to hospital, he insisted that Margaret made sure the Monday walk would go ahead as planned. Don regularly submitted the articles and photos of our walks to The Advertizer and encouraged anyone interested in joining us to contact us via our Facebook page. He had a welcoming nature and was often the first point of contact for newcomers. He will be greatly missed and an extremely hard act to follow.

Photos are by group members

Kilmacolm Horticultural Society

Kilmacolm

Horticultural Society are trialling a slight difference to the traditional evening lecture for February.

We will be holding our ‘Garden Talk’ in the Community Centre, Kilmacolm at 2pm3.30pm on Thursday 15th February. Tea, Coffee to be served.

The ‘Any Questions’ panel will share gardening tips and advice - so come along for some garden chat. Plus an informal flower arranging demonstration with a raffle of the exhibits.

Evening lectures return in March together with the Spring Bulb competition which will include a section for the Amaryllis bulb, always a show-stopper. We look forward to welcoming you to the Kilmacolm Horticultural Society winter events.

Gryffe Camera Club

The last few months have been eventful for the Camera Club, with several competitions and Theme nights, plus excellent visiting speakers. Digital Winners were (top to bottom):- “Cool Wave on a Hot Day” by Hugh

The Themes were “Still Life and Abstract” and “Leading Lines”, examples here are “Cornflower Blues” by Kate Cummings, “Kelpie” by Roger Calvert, “Staircase” by Tim Bailey, “Falkirk” by Arthur Hughes.

Speakers were - George Robertson – “Into the Throne of the Mountain Gods”, giving the Club his travels in the Mountains and Glaciers of North Pakistan.

Hamish Williamson - “Glasgow Inside and Outside” offering an insight into some of the buildings in Glasgow.

When meetings continue in 2023, Tony McNamara will give instruction on “Macro Photography”, Charles Hamilton will show “Street Photography” and Clive Watkins explain “Art & Photography”. The Club meets on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm in the Carrick Centre, Main Street, Houston.