H.O.S.T

The Carrick Centre, Houston

Coffee Shop: CLOSED due to planned upgrade, re-open date to be advised - 01505 229597

Gryffe Manor Out of School: (Monday - Friday) 01505 615438

Dance West Scotland: enquiries@dancewestscotland.co.uk

MONDAY

Handiwifes 13th @ 7pm

Diaporama 13th @ 7.30pm

DWL 4pm

TUESDAY

Hazel Connelly Art Class 1.15pm

WRADS MH 14th @ 7pm

Yoga 7pm

WEDNESDAY

Community Council 15th @ 7.30pm

DWL

MOO MUSIC 9.45am

Camera Club 7.30pm

Cllr Doig Surgery 15th @ 7pm

THURSDAY

Gryffe Quilting Group 9th @ 1pm 2nd & 16th @ 10am

CraftyFriends 2nd,16th&30th@7.30pm

Folk Club 8pm Merek Wiszniewski - marekw@uwclub.net

DWS 3.30pm

FRIDAY

DWL 3.30pm

Gavin Newlands M.P. 10th @ 12.30pm Cllr Dowling Surgery 17th @ 11.15am Yoga 10.30am

SATURDAY

Houston & Killellan Kirk

Spring is just around the corner now and we can all look forward to longer, lighter days and the promise of sunshine.

Our Luxury Pop-up breakfast at the end of January was very busy, raising almost £1,000 for projects in Mwandi, and our Guild Daffodil Tea, in aid of Church and Guild charities, was also very well attended, raising a wonderful total of more than £850.

It was lovely to see everyone who came along to these events - and we all enjoyed the chance to catch up over a cuppa and delicious treats.

Preparations for Houston Kirk Carnival on 13th May are already well underway and this year’s theme is ‘Celebrating 100 Years of Disney’. Save the date now and watch this space for more details. We are starting a Christian Meditation group for six weeks through Lent, starting on Thursday 26th February, at 11am in Killellan Halls. All are welcome. This year we are also hosting World Day of Prayer at 7pm on 3rd March, with refreshments served afterwards.

Communion is on Sunday 5th March, with two services, one at 11am and a later one at 6.45pm. All are welcome, please come and join us.

Looking ahead, we have a concert on 11th March, featuring St James’ Handbell Ringers - ‘the oldest ringers in town!’ - and Maria Wilson with Starlight Music Theatre. This event, in aid of projects in Mwandi, takes place at Houston & Killellan Kirk and tickets are available after our Sunday services, or on the door.

Dance the night away on 25th March, at our Ceilidh, with music from The Elderberries, and a caller. You’re guaranteed a great night and it’s for a good cause, as the event is raising funds for “Houston Hello”, our drop-in group for people living with dementia and those who support them.

Regular events include the Foodbank Collection and Wee Blether every Tuesday, the Men’s Shed every Wednesday, “Houston Hello” on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month and Sunday Club, for children, at 11am in the Kirk each week. Keep an eye out for other events organised by Frankie, our Families and Community Development worker.

SUNDAY

Baptist Church 11am & 6pm

DWL B/P 5th @ 2pm

Vicky Moon First Aid Class 12th @ 2.30pm

Centre Patrons PLEASE ADVISE date or time changes due to holidays to Centre Management

Booking enquiries:

Bill Haddow 01505 690693

Stewart Scally 01505 674277

John McDougall 07735 473645 thecarrickcentre@gmail.com hostbookings@outlook.com

Houston & Crosslee SWI

At our penultimate meeting on March 8th we welcome Christine Kyle who will demonstrate “Basic Flower Arranging”. The last meeting in April will be our AGM followed by the Macmillan evening.

We are meeting this year in The Carrick Centre, Main Street, Houston on the second Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm. Please come and join us, you will be made very welcome.

If you would like further information please phone 07932 459994.

Residents in Brookfield have brought to my attention the fact that increasingly people are parking at the entrance to Brookfield Park, which is a turning point and highly unsuitable, therefore, for parking of any kind. I have asked the Council officers to erect signage which prohibits this, and makes the situation perfectly clear.

I wish to raise concerns about the vexed issue of school catchment areas which in the Houston area are now under massive pressure, due to increasing housing development, such as the new CALA houses being built. In my fifteen years of representing Linwood, Houston, Crosslee, and Brookfield I have been a staunch defender of the integrity of our village communities and of the greenbelt. However, I do believe in appropriate housing on Brownfield sites. Recently I have had to make clear to new constituents who contact me that there is no certainly that they will be able to get their children into Houston Primary, or Gryffe High, due to catchment area pressure. Before the CALA development was approved I made clear my worries to colleagues on the Planning Board about pressure on schools, roads, and local sewerage, but sadly they were not heeded.

To finish on a positive note, I am delighted that the children’s playpark area at Ardgryffe Park in Houston is now complete. Since 2017 the current administration has prioritised the upgrade of playparks and green spaces which had previously, especially in the villages, been neglected for decades. Long may this trend continue.

Surgeries: Wednesday 8th March in the TESCO Linwood Café at 6.30pm.

Contact info:

07768 130 935 cllr.audrey.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Dementia Friendly Lochwinnoch

A good turnout enjoyed ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ on Friday 10th February thanks to the Calder U.F. Church for hosting the event. Everyone was treated to tea/coffee and biscuit before the film and ice cream and popcorn at the interval. Next event is on Wednesday 8th March 2pm - 4pm ‘Warm Spaces’ afternoon tea and entertainment ‘The Three Churches.’

‘The Lochwinnoch Dementia Friendly group aims to reach people with Dementia, their carers or family. In addition, provide social interaction and support for older members of our community and then open to all if numbers allow. For more info call 07868 752814.

Residents invited to share their views on shaping the future of Castle Semple

Local residents and businesses are being invited to share their views on the tourism potential of Castle Semple Country Park in Lochwinnoch.

A drop-in event was held at Castle Semple Visitor Centre on Thursday 23rd February from 2pm – 7pm to allow local residents to meet with representatives from Renfrewshire Council to discuss their ambitions for the park, its tourism potential and opportunities for the future.

Attendees were asked to consider their hopes for the future of the park and the wider area. The views gathered from the event will be used to help shape the longer-term vision for the park.

Castle Semple Country Park has been identified as a key location for attracting visitors to Renfrewshire and has the potential to create a regional destination offering quality rural experiences for the benefit of the wider area.

Anyone unable to attend in person will have the opportunity to share their views online from Thursday 23rd February until 23rd March by visiting: www.ironsidefarrar.com/castlesemple.html

Howwood Parish Church

March already. How time flies. Gardens are starting to show signs of life. Wee buds on the roses and snowdrops multiplying all over. This months dates:

THE GUILD - Monday 13th March - Talk by Street Pastors

Monday 27th March - Daffodil Tea

Entertainment by Stephen Quigg.

COFFEE MORNING - Wednesday 15th March

The coffee morning is becoming very popular with steadily increasing numbers coming along. The more the merrier, so all come along for the chat and good company.

Church and Sunday School services are held at 10am each Sunday. Come along and join us. All are welcome in this place.