335 April 2023 - Gryffe Advertizer

Next Deadline

#336 mAY 2023: Wednesday 12th aPRIL

Upcoming deadlines:

#337 june 2023: 17th may

#338 jULY 2023: 14th jUNE

Contact us: 01505 613 340 info@advertizer.co.uk www.advertizer.co.uk

GryffeAds

GryffeAds

GryffeAdvertizer

1st floor, Neva Place Bridge of Weir, PA11 3PN

Office Hours:

Tues - Thurs 9am - 4pm Friday 9am - 1pm

This Month Happy Easter!

The first signs of Spring are appearing. Flowers are popping up all over the place and the trees are starting to look a little less barren.

A lot of credit has to go to the local community groups who do a fantastic job of keeping our villages looking beautiful.

The shows are all returning this year and it’s looking to be a very exciting Summer. Have a look in our ‘Villages’ and ‘Events’ sections for details and watch this space for more details closer to the dates.

“Coming Right At You”

by Magda Jowers (PCPC)

Our front cover image this month is from Magda Jowers of the Paisley Colour Photography Club, featuring Moss in a fantastic photo suitably titled “Coming Right At You”. Magda also had some lovely words to say about how she got started with photography:

“Life is a strange beast. I ‘owe’ quite a bit to the Advertizer. In 2016 we were visiting my father and an Advertizer popped through the door. You had published some winning images from Paisley Colour Photographic Club and I remember turning to my husband and saying “I wish I could take photographs like that.” His response was “well join a camera club and learn how to do it!” I took his advice, started to learn how to take better pictures and then when we moved back north, joined Paisley Colour Photographic Club - and here you are possibly publishing Moss’s picture on the front page. Talk about coming full circle!"

The Paisley Food and Drink festival will be returning on the 21st and 22nd April (more details available online at www.paisley.is), as is the Kiltwalk in Glasgow on the 30th April (https://thekiltwalk.co.uk/events/glasgow).

The local churches are gearing up for their Easter services. - you can find more details of these are in our “Villages” section.

There are also plenty of exciting events to look forward to this month, listed on pages 12-15, some of which are running for most of April!

Our next deadline date is the 12th April for the May issue., so please send in your news submissions by this date to ensure that they are included.

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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.

• 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. © The Gryffe Advertizer Ltd

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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.

CONTENT

GRYFFE

The Gryffe Advertizer is published by © The Gryffe Advertizer Ltd

OF THE

ADVERTIZER CANNOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT CONSENT FROM PUBLISHER

In this issue...

Ladies Fizz & Fun Afternoon

Sunday 16th April, Lynnhurst Hotel, Park Road, Johnstone PA5 8LS

Raising funds to support St Vincent’s Hospice in providing specialist care and services for families in Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire –your support really does help us to be there when it matters most. There’s no better way to support your local Hospice than an afternoon with friends.

Tickets: £37.50 per person or £350 for a Table of 10, please do not delay booking yours to avoid missing out!

Join us in Glasgow and take on 3, 14 or 23 miles for your chosen charity.

We all know that times are tough just now and that’s why we’ve decided to REDUCE entry fees from £31.69 to only £20 (whopping 37% off).

Mighty Stride - Was £31.69 Now £20

Big Stroll - Was £31.69 Now £20

Wee Wander - £12.80 Adults Now £12.50 Adults / £6.50 Children

It’s never been cheaper to take part in Kiltwalk and fundraise thanks to The Hunter Foundation who underwrite Kiltwalk. Registrations are coming thick and fast so sign up soon to avoid disappointment and make sure you get into your preferred start slot. Walk this way to sign up.

Fundraising changes for 2023

For 2023, the funds you raise will go directly to your chosen charity plus all eligible gift aid (up to 25% extra*). All of this is possible thanks to The Hunter Foundation and Kiltwalk sponsors. To find out more https://thekiltwalk.co.uk/events/glasgow

Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity Easter Egg Run

Sunday 9th April from 11am at Braehead Shopping Centre (near ‘Next Home’)

For more than four decades, thousands of families have enjoyed this incredible event where hundreds of bikers ride through the streets of Glasgow in a mile-long convoy of colour, noise and smiles in support of our young patients.

If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast then we’d love for you to join us for this special event. There is no registration fee, but we ask every biker to make a suggested donation of £10 on arrival to support our young patients at the hospital.

The Easter Egg Run will start at Greendyke Street, round to Saltmarket and onto Clyde Street before progressing along the Broomielaw and over the Squinty Bridge. The bikes will then make their way down Govan Road to the Royal Hospital for Children where the children and their families will be able to witness the impressive convoy! After leaving Hospital Boulevard it will turn onto Hardgate Road, before going down Shieldhall Road and onto Kings Inch Drive, finishing up at Braehead Shopping Centre Car Park next to ‘Krispy Kreme’.

Don’t miss Kilmacolm Dramatic Society’s production of Tony Roper’s well loved comedy-drama “The Steamie”. Set in 1950’s Glasgow, this highly entertaining play joins a group of women gathered on Hogmanay to do their washing.

Directed by John Gilchrist, performances take place at the Kidston Hall, Kilmacolm on Thursday 20th, Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd April Tickets can be obtained online from Ticketsource, from website: www. kilmacolmdramaticsociety.co.uk or by using the QR code link above. For any further information on this or any of our other activities or productions, contact the secretary Mandy Robinson on 07719 309960. New talent, either on stage or behind the scenes, is always welcome.

Paisley Food and Drink Festival set to be a treat for the tastebuds!

One of Scotland’s largest outdoor food and drink festivals is set to return to Paisley this spring.

Paisley Food and Drink Festival will be a two-day taste sensation with more than 30 traders, licensed bars and a packed programme of live music, entertainment, and foodie-fun for all ages.

The extravaganza will take place in Abbey Close and Bridge Street in Paisley town centre on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd April

Vibrant independent street food market, Platform, is returning to this year’s event, bringing along a host of top street food vendors offering delicious dishes from around the globe.

There is sure to be something to entice every palate at the festival, including a range of delicious gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. The event will also showcase an array of top-quality artisan food and drink products to purchase and take home.

Plus, there’s lots of entertainment for the kids on Saturday, with the chance to sign up for free pizza and chocolate making workshops, as well as free face painting and fun games with Community Circus Paisley. The festival’s Live Stage will host great music acts and entertainment, programmed by the Rum Shack on Friday evening and Paisley’s famous The Bungalow music venue on Saturday. The Keg will also have a special Stage & Bar with a brilliant array of bands playing live music across the weekend. To find out more please visit www.paisley.is

Beith Beer Hall is back once again!

Geilsland Estate, Geilsland, Wardrop Street, Beith, KA15 1HD

Join us on Saturday April 29th from 12noon until 9pm for a day of fun, beer, and live music! We’ll have some familiar faces popping by; with the wonderful Fizzbuz attending with their prossecco and spirits bar, and everyone’s favourite Thistly Cross Cider. Along with this we’ll have our usual new host of beers, ales, and IPA’s from local brewers there will be something for everyone to enjoy. We’ll also have our usual amazing line-up of local bands and singers to get you up on the dancefloor (dad dancing is welcome / necessary). This event, as always, is dog and child friendly; with a dedicated kid’s corner available with toys, activities and dress-up games for the little ones to enjoy!

Adults: £12.50; 12 – 17 Years: £8; Under 12’s: Free entry; Table of 6: £60 (Saving you £15 overall!) Our tables of 6 are limited and once they’re gone; they’re gone! Tickets available from www.geilsland.com/ event/beith-beer-hall-2/ or scan our QR code

Sma’ Shot Cottages

The Sma’ Shot Cottages are a major attraction in the Renfrewshire area, providing visitors with an insight into two distinct periods of Paisley’s weaving history!

1st April - 30th September. Wednesdays & Saturdays 12noon4pm and Fridays 1pm - 5pm

On entering from Shuttle Street, visitors immediately step back into the 18th century into the typical weaver’s cottage which was originally built in the 1750s.

The cottage has been matched to written descriptions in histories of the town and has only been altered slightly from original dimensions in the 19th century.

On crossing the yard, you will visit a small row of three cottages, dated 70 years ahead in the 1820s-1840s, where you can immerse yourself in history as you experience life as a weaver in this historical town during the 19th century.

Come along and join us in our tea room, where we serve beverages and homemade goods and share stories of the past.

We are open April - September, every Wednesday & Saturday 12noon - 4pm and Fridays 1pm - 5pm.

Sma Shot Cottages are owned and run by the Old Paisley Society, a registered charity. Admission is free, however, all donations towards the upkeep of the cottages are gratefully accepted.

Advertising Feature

Spring time turns our attention to pressure washing and softwashing ready for the Summer ahead. With over 20 years experience of exterior cleaning systems, we are your local qualified and experienced cleaning company with the state of the art equipment, knowledge and experience to achieve the best results. Whether it is softwashing moss on roofs, algae from render, pressure washing decking, patios, monoblock drives or anything in between, please give us a call for free, friendly information on our services or for a free quotation.

01505 863 863 www.nutechcleaning.co.uk

Local History

Johnstone History Society

Our April meeting is on the 11th April and as usual being held in the Masonic Hall, Collier Street and starts at 7.30pm. This month our speaker is James Winnet and his topic is “The House for an Art Lover“. This should prove to be a very interesting talk as many of us will have visited it or even attended a wedding there. James no doubt will be able to furnish us with lots of information we do not know about. Our March meeting was our AGM and this went very well with Ann Finlay taking on the role of Vice Chairperson due to Margery Parker stepping down, Stuart Clark has been voted on to the committee. Liz Kerr has decided to step down from the committee and we would like to thank both Margery and Liz for the contribution they have made to the Society. After our business meeting we all enjoyed a film about the building of the Forth Road Bridge, this was shown to us by Bob Duncanson a society member .

The Museum will continue to open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10.30am till 4pm. We have a wide selection of books, pamphlets and maps which can now be purchased with ease as we have a card machine in operation. Any of the above can be purchased online at johnstone history.org and payment made via PayPal. The Museum operates thanks to a number of volunteers but at the moment we are struggling due to holidays illness and a variety of reasons. So if you have a few spare hours and would like to help please speak to any of the volunteers who happen to be on duty.

Renfrewshire Local History Forum

Stuart Nisbet, who has contributed more than forty of the local history articles published in the Advertizer over the last twelve years, has recently turned his talents to writing historical fiction. His recently published novel, ‘The Book of Here and There’ is based on Stuart’s extensive research into Renfrewshire slave plantation owners in the early 18th century, particularly William McDowall of Castle Semple. Although the novel is set in the twenty first century, its main theme is African slavery through the life of a slave. Hamish, a young structural engineer from Glasgow (who has a love of old buildings) and Jenny, a young girl from Bristol (who is an expert in reading old documents and has a personal interest in slavery) are thrown together by Murdo, an eccentric old man in Glasgow. Murdo has an obsessive interest in Glasgow’s old buildings and in William McDowall of Castle Semple. By various means and clues he entices Hamish and Jenny into an exciting period of research into William McDowall and Cato, his black African slave.

In addition to exploring slavery from a slave’s perspective, this excellent book has the merits of both a wellstructured detective novel and a well-researched history novel, skilfully interwoven. For anyone interested in 18th century slavery, Glasgow’s heritage, or just looking for a good novel, ‘The Book of Here and There’, which is available on Amazon, is recommended reading. The novel has received a very positive review by Professor Emeritus, Sir Tom Devine.

Barochan Cross

In my childhood Barochan Cross was an imposing sight standing on the flat topped summit of Corslie Hill, east of the road from Houston to Langbank. Visiting the stone was a popular day trip for local families from Houston and the other surrounding villages.

Today, only its large socketed base stone is in situ. In the late 1970s Barochan Cross was removed and taken to Edinburgh for repair and renovation. Once restored it was decided that, to prevent future degeneration, the cross should not be exposed to the elements. Since 1981, Barochan Cross has been on display in Paisley Abbey.

This was not the first time the monument had been moved - Barochan Cross had previously been situated on the road side, just south of Barochan Mill.

The lands of Barochan had been owned by the Flemings of Barochan for centuries. At the end of the 19th century, Malcolm Fleming, the rich and powerful landowner, decided to move the cross to a more prominent position on nearby Corslie Hill. The cross, standing on its new elevated position, would certainly have impressed his gentlemen friends and travellers from Houston to Langbank.

Barochan Cross is carved on all four sides with interlace. A large panel on the front of the cross shows three possibly related themes - a figure on horseback carrying a spear approaching a figure on foot carrying what may be a drinking horn; three figures, one holding an axe and another perhaps holding something above the head of a third much smaller figure; and two opposing animals. There are two smaller panels on the back of the cross. The upper panel shows four stationary figures, wearing long apparel, standing in line, and the lower panel shows four, possibly marching, identical figures blowing trumpets and carrying long spears. The interpretation of these figural scenes appears to be secular rather than religious.

Our next Renfrewshire Local History Forum lecture meeting is entitled “Barochan Cross”. Our speaker is Timothy Edensor, Professor of Social and Cultural Geography at Manchester Metropolitan University. Professor Edensor, who remembers his own childhood visits to Barochan Cross, has recently completed a comprehensive academic research project on the topic. As Barochan Cross is a topic of local interest, we warmly welcome visitors to attend our next Lecture Meeting, to be held on Thursday 13th of April at 7.30pm in the McLean Building, Room D134, University of the West of Scotland.

© 2023, Helen Calcluth, Renfrewshire Local History Forum

Family Visit, 1936

coming events in April

Fri 31 st Mar - Mon 3 rd a pr

‘Heartlands’ Art Show

Beacon Arts Centre, Custom House Quay, Greenock

Retired Kilbarchan GP, Margaret Borthwick launches her Degree Show ‘Heartlands’. The exhibition is based around the scenery and environment around the Castle Semple area. For more about Margaret’s art and the exhibition follow her on Instagram at @ margaretborthwick8

s aturday 1 st a pril

Brookfield Bowling Club

Opening Day

Brookfield Bowling Club (Village Hall), Woodside Road, Brookfield

Come along to our Opening Day with action on the green every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday thereafter. We’re looking for new members, so pop along and you’ll be made most welcome. For more info please call 07388 779215 or e-mail: Brookfield.Bowls@gmail.com

Jenna Reid And Harris Playfair

Freeland Church, Main Street, Bridge of Weir 7pm

Fiddle and Piano from Shetland

‘A Magnificent Performance’ Celtic Connections 2023. 1 Hour Recital with Refreshments. Tickets available on the door or www. jennareidmusic.com/shop

s at 1 st apr - s at 30 th sept

Sma’ Shot Cottages

Sma Shots Lane, Paisley

An insight into two distinct periods of Paisley’s weaving history! Wednesday & Saturday 12noon4pm & Fridays 1pm - 5pm. Come along and join us in our tea room.

s aturday 1 st - s unday 2 nd

Loch Lomond Springfest

Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch

G83 8QL 10am to 5pm

A full line-up of family fun, cooking masterclasses, whisky & gin tasting with Loch Lomond Whiskies, not to mention World Street Food, fresh local produce and market stalls to tempt your tastebuds! Free event. lochlomondshores.com

s aturday 1 st - s unday 30 th

Dinosaur Egg Hunt

RSPB, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch

9.30am to 4pm

Explore the woodland at RSPB Lochwinnoch during the Easter holidays and see if you can find the missing dinosaur eggs on this self-led adventure for all the family! £3.50.

Monday 3 rd - t hursday 6 th

Watersports Wet ‘n’ Wild Egg-stravaganza

Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Lochlip Road, Lochwinnoch

10am to 4pm

Join Clyde Windsurfing and SUP Club for their Watersports Camp this Easter filled with fun and games for everyone - member or not! Find out more about our club at: clydewindsurfing.co.uk £140.

t uesday 4 th

Houston & Killellan Kirk foodbank

West Halls, Main Street, Houston

10am to 12pm & 7pm to 8pm

Donations welcome every Tuesday. Also on the 11th, 18th & 25th.

t hursday 6 th

Paisley Natural History Society Illustrated Talks

The Wynd Centre, 6 School Wynd, Paisley 7.30pm

40 years as a Natural History Curator - Richard Sutcliffe. Richard will talk about how he first got interested in museums and natural history and his time as the Natural History Curator and Research Manager at Glasgow Museums.

OUTLOOK TEAM

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 2pm to 3.30pm

We will be highlighting the work of Christian Aid, The Leprosy Mission and Mary’s Meals, with our guest Charlie Meiklejohn.

s unday 9 th

Charity Easter Egg Run

Braehead Shopping Centre, Kings Inch Road, Renfrew G51 4BN 11am

The annual Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity Easter Egg Run will take place on Easter Sunday. Come along and welcome the parade as they approach the finish line! Call 0141 212 8750.

t hursday 13 th

Bridge Of Weir Horticultural Society Meeting

Freeland Church, Main Street, Bridge of Weir 8pm

Our guest speaker will be Samuel Kennedy, an expert on begonias, author of “Understanding Begonia” and President of the Scottish Begonia Society.

Renfrewshire Local History Forum Lecture Meeting

McLean Building, Room D134, University of the West of Scotland PA1 2BE 7.30pm

Our speaker is Timothy Edensor, Professor of Social and Cultural Geography at Manchester Metropolitan University, who remembers his own childhood visits to Barochan Cross. We warmly welcome visitors to attend.

SOLAS Bereavement Group

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 2pm

You will be supported in processing issues of grief and loss by expert speakers as well as each other. For more information, please call Barbara Marshall on 01505 872417 or email: barbara@oochy.com

Houston Hello

Killellan Halls, 13A Kirk Road, Houston 2pm to 4pm

Also running on the 27th. Dropin group for people living with dementia and carers. Contact Frankie Greenwood 07817 210777 or email: familyandcommunity. houstonkirk@gmail.com

s aturday 15 th

Paisley Highlanders

Monthly Ceilidh

Elderslie Village Hall

7pm to 11pm

Take part in all your favourite dances ... Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant, Strip the Willow, St. Bernard’s Waltz and many more. Call 07710 162087 for further details. £5.

s aturday 15 th - s unday 16 th

Binocular and Telescopes

Weekend

RSPB, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch

10am to 4pm

Come along and meet our friendly staff and volunteers who will be here to give practical and unbiased advice on choosing the equipment for you. Call 01505 842663.

s unday 16 th

St Vincent’s Hospice’s Ladies Fun & Fizz Afternoon

Lynnhurst Hotel, Park Road, Johnstone

Hosted by Edward Reid. Tickets priced at £32.50 per person or £325 for a Table of 10. Buy your tickets online at stvincentshospice. org/st-vincents-events or call 07904 667189 or email lesley. campbell@svh.co.uk

t uesday 18 th

Kilmacolm Civic Trust AGM

Kilmacolm Community Centre, Lochwinnoch Road from 3pm 3pm to 4pm Annual General Meeting followed by an Illustrated Talk by John McKenna, Sculptor of “The Ship Builders of Port Glasgow” from 4.15pm to 5.30pm. Open to all residents of Kilmacolm and Environs. Entry free.

Farmers Markets

this month

saturday 1st Kilmacolm

Kilmacolm Community Centre

10am to 2pm

1st Saturday of the month

/kilmacolmfarmersmarket

sunday 9th

Renfrew

Robertson Park

10am to 4pm

2nd Sunday of the month

/RenfrewMarket

saturday 8th & 29th

Paisley

The Paisley Centre 10am to 2pm

/pages/Paisley-FarmersMarket/207097172654332

saturday 16th

Bishopton & Dargavel

Bishopton Train Station Car Park 10am to 2pm

3rd Saturday of the month

/The-Bishopton-DargavelFarmers-Market109902924512969

saturday 29th

Gourock

Gourock Train Station Car Park

10am to 2pm

Last Saturday of the month

/The-Gourock-FarmersMarket-112064558070104

sat 29th & sun 30th

Barnhill Farm

Houston Road, Inchinnan 10am to 4pm

Last Weekend of the month

/BarnhillAsparagus

sunday 30th

Erskine

Erskine Waterfront 10am to 4pm

Last Sunday of the month

/Erskine-Riverside-Market101613198665127

Kilmacolm r ock Choir i s o n t he Move!

Come along and join the Rock Choir this Spring / Summer in our new venue in Houston!

We are delighted to announce that the Kilmacolm choir rehearsals are taking place in the Houston & Killellan Halls in Houston From Tuesday 25th April until the end of June. The choir is run by local resident Jennifer Scouller from Kilbarchan and her energy and enthusiasm is infectious! If you love to sing, but don’t fancy singing by yourself and don’t read music, then come and try us out with a free taster session visit www.rockchoir.com

Wednesday 19 th

Coffee Morning

Howwood Parish Church

Hall, Main Street, Howwood 10am to 12noon

Come along and bring your friends and neighbours for a good chat.

Kilmacolm Horticultural Society Winter Lecture

Kilmacolm Community Centre, Lochwinnoch Road 7pm

We look forward to welcoming you to the last lecture of the winter season. George Neil, past president of the Scottish National Sweet Pea, Rose and Carnation Society will give his presentation on Roses.

t hursday 20 th

OUTLOOK TEAM

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 2pm to 3.30pm

We will welcome Ann McGown playing her popular piano pieces, with songsheets.

thursday 20th - saturday 22nd

Kilmacolm Dramatic Society’s ‘The Steamie’

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 7.30pm

Written by Tony Roper. Directed by John Gilchrist. If you would like any further info, or would like to be involved with the society in any way, either on stage, back stage or behind the scenes, contact our secretary, Mandy Robinson, on 07719 309960.

Friday 21 st - s aturday 22 nd

Food & Drink Festival

Paisley - various venues

Get ready to tickle your taste buds at one of the biggest outdoor food and drink festivals around in Abbey Close and Bridge Street. It’s a great free day out for all the family.

s aturday 22 nd

Fun Quiz Night

St Machar’s Church Hall, Kilbarchan Road, Bridge of Weir 7pm

A warm welcome to all! Tea and coffee at the interval, juice and nibbles. BYOB if you wish. Tickets from Morven: 07887 771522. £5.

Kilmacolm Plant Sale

The Cross outside the Library, Lochwinnoch Road, Kilmacolm

10am to 12noon

Come along to our annual Spring Plant Sale in aid of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme! Accessible by McGill buses.

s unday 23 rd

RSPB Wildlife Guided Walk

RSPB, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch

10am to 12noon

Explore wonderful wetlands with our warden, pointing out the interesting wildlife to be found. Bookings: 01505 842663/email: lochwinnoch@ rspb.org.uk Facebook @ RSPBLochwinnochNR Twitter @ RSPBLochwinnoch. £5 - £12.50.

t hursday 27 th

Old Kirk Movie Night

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 7pm

Oscar-nominated romantic drama Brooklyn about a young Irish girl who lands in 1950s Brooklyn. Free entry. Drink on arrival. Donations welcome.

Friday 28 th

Open day

Alter Supplies & Contracting Unit A, Park Farm, Beith Road, Lochwinnoch PA12 4BU

10am to 6pm

Celebrating 32 years of Alter. Public & Trade welcome! Demo’s & stalls from suppliers, free burgers/ hot rolls, raffle & goodie bags, hot teas & coffees. Free event!

Please check with venue/organiser. Details may have changed by time of publication.

s aturday 29 th

Family Fun Day

Alter Supplies & Contracting

Unit A, Park Farm, Beith Road, Lochwinnoch PA12 4BU 11am

Pop along for a great family day out with Live Music, Food & Drinks Stalls & Bouncy Castle for the kids.

Beith Beer Hall

Geilsland Country Estate, Wardrop Street, Beith, KA15 2EY 12noon to 9pm

Join us for a day of fun, beer and live music! Dog/child friendly with a dedicated kid’s corner available! Tickets: Adults - £12.50; 12–17 Years - £8; Under 12’s - Free entry. Table of 6 - £60 (Saving £15 overall!) Tickets: www.geilsland. com/event/beith-beer-hall-2/

Annual Plant Sale

Kilmacolm Community Centre, Lochwinnoch Road, Kilmacolm 10am to 12noon

Kilmacolm Horticultural Society. Top quality plants from Parklea Nurseries. Celebration Coffee Morning (Saturday prior to coronation of King Charles). Sparkling Refreshments, royal Raffles, Music. £4.

Scouts Musical Evening

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 7.30pm

The Dynaglides perform a variety of music from The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner & Elvis Presley. The band includes one of our scout leaders Mo. Tickets: £10 adults/£5 under 14s. Available by calling 07789 077749 or from any current scout leader.

s unday 30 th

Kiltwalk In Glasgow

Glasgow - various venues

Join us in Glasgow and take on 3, 14 or 23 miles for your chosen charity. thekiltwalk.co.uk/events/glasgow

Bridge of Weir Festival Gala Day Poster Competition

ward 11

cllr Fiona Airlie-Nicolson

Details

WARD 9:

JOHNSTONE NORTH, KILBARCHAN, HOWWOOD & LOCHWINNOCH

www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/

This year’s theme - ‘Space Race’ Design a poster - win a prize - what will you draw?

The best designs will be used in Bridge of Weir Gala Day’s 2023 advertising and will win a fantastic prize!

Size - A4

To be handed into Bridge of Weir Primary School before the deadline date of 30th April. Don’t forget to write your name, age and contact number on the reverse of your art!

Bridge of Weir Choral Society

Spring Concert Sunday 14th May

Bridge of Weir Choral Society is working hard rehearsing for our Spring Concert on May 14th.

We will be performing the wonderful Mozart Requiem at The Old Kirk, Kilmacolm.

Tickets will be available soon from any choir member, or on the door on the night. Watch out for details in the May issue of The Advertizer.

The Choral Society’s first meeting was in September 1948 in the school in Bridge of Weir, so we are going to be 75 later this year!

The committee is currently considering ways of marking this milestone, so watch this space!

Fun Quiz Night

Saturday 22nd April at 7pm in St Machar’s Ranfurly Church Hall

A Warm welcome to all - Families / teams / individuals / everyone!

Tea and coffee at the interval, juice and nibbles, BYOB if you wish. Tickets £5 available from Morven: 07887 771522.

I am delighted to see that Renfrewshire council has again provided more funding for key areas such as playpark improvements and our roads network. The playpark renewal programme has been welcomed in our local communities with so many groups springing into action to organise and engage in designing what they want to see in play areas. We also committed £90,000 to providing new community litter bins. These will assist in our well regarded and successful team Up to Clean Up campaign, another programme enthusiastically taken up by a wide range of people in our local communities, but more importantly by local children. I thank them for all their effort in our villages, unfortunately we still have a minority in our community who still think it’s acceptable to throw waste on the ground or out of car windows. We will get there through education and developing a sense of local pride in where we all live.

Once again road issues feature highly on the radar when it comes to road works - although necessary, they can cause disruption, particularly in our small villages. Renfrewshire Council has again raised the fees for contractors who dig up a section of road and disappear for days sometimes weeks. The higher fees are on those that overstay their agreed occupation of the road and footway thereby putting pressure on completing the work quicker.

Planning is a regular feature in my mailbox. I scrutinise each application and consider if there are any queries, particularly if it is development in our greenbelt. Inappropriate development can have a long-lasting impact particularly on our environment. I would urge constituents who may be interested in what’s happening in their neighbourhood to regularly check the council’s planning portal. It’s better to know and get involved at the early stages, than realise it’s too late to have an opinion once the decision has been made. I really enjoy the spring when everything comes to life and people start moving around getting on with life.

Contact info: 0300 300 1253

cllr.fiona.airlie-nicolson@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Bridge of Weir SWI

Our final meeting this session will take place on Thursday 6th April at 7.30pm in the Cargill Hall. We will be holding our Annual Mini Show and look forward to a good variety of interesting and creative entries. Our speaker for the evening will be Barbara Walker who will give advice on healthy eating.

Cllr Chris Gilmour: cllr.chris.gilmour@renfrewshire.gov.uk

0300 300 1289 | 07484 064521

Cllr Gillian Graham: cllr.gillian.graham@renfrewshire.gov.uk 0300 300 1268

Cllr Andy Doig: cllr.andy.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk 07534 148 224

Cllr Emma Rodden: cllr.emma.rodden@renfrewshire.gov.uk 0300 300 1431

WARD 10: HOUSTON, CROSSLEE & LINWOOD www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/

Cllr Audrey Doig: cllr.audrey.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk 07768 130 935

Cllr Alison Jean Dowling: cllr.alison.dowling@renfrewshire.gov.uk 0300 300 1419

Cllr Robert Innes: cllr.robert.innes@renfrewshire.gov.uk 0300 300 1253

Cllr David mcGonigle: cllr.david.mcgonigle@renfrewshire.gov.uk 0300 300 1287

WARD 11: BISHOPTON, LANGBANK & BRIDGE OF WEIR www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/

Cllr James MacLaren: cllr.james.maclaren@renfrewshire.gov.uk 0300 300 1291

Cllr fiona airlie-nicolson: cllr.fiona.airlie-nicolson@renfrewshire.gov.uk 0300 300 1253

Cllr Colin McCulloch: cllr.colin.mcculloch@renfrewshire.gov.uk 0300 300 1427

WARD 1: INVERCLYDE EAST www.inverclyde.gov.uk/

Cllr Christopher Curley: christopher.curley@inverclyde.gov.uk 07768 460073 | 01475 712370

Cllr Stephen McCabe: Stephen.McCabe@inverclyde.gov.uk

01475 712 020 (office hours)

Cllr David Wilson: david.wilson@inverclyde.gov.uk 01475 741969 / 712727 | 07766 992 294

Karate:

Adults & children welcome (7+ yrs)

07850 407442

Johnstone Tora-Kai Karate

Monday 7.30pm - 8.30pm

Zumba®:

A total workout, combining elements of fitness.

gems_paisley@hotmail.com

Tuesday 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Ballroom/Latin:

New members welcome. Private lessons available.

Stewart 07710 464 969 ballroombasics@live.co.uk

Thurs 7pm - 8pm (Beginners)

Thurs 8pm - 9pm (Intermediate)

Sat 11am - 12.30pm (Mixed Ability)

Sun 11am-12.30pm (MixedAbility)

Yogabellies:

Suitable for all levels of experience! yogabellieslyndsey@outlook.com

Sun 6pm - 7.15pm (for Pregnancy)

Sun 7.30pm - 8.30pm (Hatha Flow for all)

Mon 10am - 11am (for Mum & Baby)

The Ballet & dance Company:

For more info or to book a trial email: suzanne@balletanddanceacademy.co.uk

Friday 3.15pm - 4pm (pre school) 4pm - 5pm (P1 -P3) 5pm - 6.30pm (P4 - S2)

DDP Yoga:

Fullbodyworkouttoimproveflexibility, strength, balance & cardio fitness. Laura 07474 443505 energisewithlaura@gmail.com

Monday 6.15pm - 7.15pm

Councillor Surgeries

(Village Hall Library)

Audrey Doig - 13th @ 6.30pm - 7pm

Robert Innes - 18th @ 6pm - 6.30pm

Alison Ann-Dowling - 21st @ 10.30 - 11am

BROOKFIELD ART CLUB ANNUAL SHOW & SALE

Sunday 30th April

12 noon - 4.30pm

Admission £1.00

Afternoon Tea £3.00

All welcome

Bridge of Weir Senior Citizens’ Association

Meet in the Cargill Hall at 7.15pm on 12th April with the Bearsden Fiddlers and 26th April with “Toast” (Alistair and Dennis).

Jenna Reid And Harris Playfair

Fiddle And Piano From Shetland

‘A Magnificent Performance’ Celtic Connections 2023

Live In Bridge of Weir on Saturday 1st April

At last, the gasworks are finished on Main Street, Bridge of Weir. It is not an easy time for the businesses in BOW so I do hope that you will support them as much as you can. The next disruption is likely to be the resurfacing of Torr Road which is due to take place from the 3rd April with a window of 3 weeks to get the work done. Gibb Stuart will still be open for business so you may wish to request a delivery from them.

The council is in the process of compiling, indeed finalising, next year’s Capital Works Programme and I am hoping that most of the suggestions I have made for my Ward will be taken on board. Certainly, part of the A761 between BOW and Brookfield should be on this. I will report on this in the future.

At a recent ILE Board meeting, we had a report on the allotments in Renfrewshire. Unfortunately, there are none in my Ward. It occurred to me that there may be some “growing” demand for this and if you would like to see an allotment in your area then do get in touch.

Last month I talked about the YouDecide projects. In Langbank, discussions are ongoing about the play equipment in Station Park and which path is due to be refurbished. The Station Park has seen some recent work in preparation for the biodiversity programme which I hope will bring some colour, but concerned about the amount of brambles left behind which could suffocate young plants. There is due to be some consultation about what exactly is required for “a wheeled sports area in Moss Road Park, BOW” so watch out for this.

The council raised the council tax by 6% at our recent budget meeting. More than previous years and about average for Scottish councils. In addition to this rise there will be a charge of £40 for removing your garden waste. The details are still to be confirmed, but you will be able to opt out of this and still get your food waste uplifted without charge. I do hope that it will not lead to more fly-tipping, but I fear this will be the consequence.

Surgeries: Langbank Church - 1st Monday of the month; Cargill Hall, Bridge of Weir – 2nd Monday of the month; Bishopton Community Centre – 3rd Monday of the month. 6.30pm to 7pm

Freeland Church, Main St, BoW at 7pm

1 Hour Recital With Refreshments

Tickets available on the door or www.jennareidmusic. com/shop

The Bridge

63 Main Street Bridge of Weir

(Mon to Sat 10am - 1pm and Mon 2pm - 5pm)

Volunteering at The Bridge – a rewarding way to support your local community and to help ensure that we retain a PO in Bridge of Weir. We have a loyal group of volunteers who staff the Bridge, but we are always looking for more to join. Full training is given, so if you can spare a few hours each month, please drop in and leave your contact details. Café – our café is open for reasonably priced hot drinks, soft drinks and biscuits.

Photocopier – The Bridge has a photocopier for the public to use. A very reasonable 10p per copy is charged.

Hearing Aid Advice – Good news! The hearing aid “clinic” at The Bridge is re-starting on the last Friday of the month from 11am – 12.45pm for minor servicing of hearing aids. You can also collect new batteries at any time on production of the yellow booklet.

MP/MSP – Gavin Newlands MP and Natalie Don MSP hold their surgeries at The Bridge. Mr Newland’s surgery is 10am - 11am on the last Friday of the month. Ms Don’s surgery is 11.30am - 12.15pm on the first Friday of the month.

Post Office – A big welcome to Tracy who has joined the staff of the post office, to replace Alison who left recently. Donald, Fiona and Tracy will be happy to assist with your banking needs and all other postal services.

The Shop - throughout the year we are continually reviewing our stock of cards and introducing new designs to ensure our extensive selection of greetings cards is maintained. We stock cards for all the main events in the year. Come to The Bridge for a selection of Easter cards.

The Bridge is the ‘go-to’ place to buy your essential stationery items, postcards of your local area and pocket money toys.

We also stock a good selection of pre-loved books and DVDs at £1 or less.

H.O.S.T The Carrick Centre, Houston ward 10

Coffee Shop: CLOSED due to renovations - 01505 229597

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

Dance West Scotland: enquiries@dancewestscotland.co.uk

cllr audrey doig

The last full council meeting in early March was Budget Day for Renfrewshire Council. The Administration Budget contained realistic proposals to tackle sustained hardship in all our communities and promised a better deal for my village constituents in Houston, Crosslee, and Brookfield, as well as major investment in supporting schoolchildren, young people, and foster carers.

Ward 10 has a very high level of commuter and agricultural traffic so I was pleased to support a further £6.7 million in roads repairs. A further £450,000 was invested in the Village Gateway Road Safety Programme for Kilbarchan, Howwood, and Houston. This was in the 2022/23 Budget and has been conducting extensive research with local communities and community councils in these three villages. It will soon be at the delivery stage to come up with proposals to stop speeding, so requires further investment now.

Back at the 2018/19 Budget the current Administration created the Village Investment Fund. In 2023/24 the Budget agreed to increase its funding to the Fund by £200,000, which I supported and I was also very pleased to vote for a further £450,000 to go into the Play Parks and Green Spaces Funds, which has been of such benefit to Houston, Crosslee, and Brookfield.

Last but not least, at the last full council I was pleased to second a motion from my colleague, Cllr Robert Innes, congratulating the Linwood War Memorial Association for achieving charitable status, and in support of Linwood getting its own war memorial.

Surgery: Wednesday 12th April in TESCO Linwood Café at 6.30pm.

Contact info: 07768 130 935

cllr.audrey.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk

cllr David McGonigle

I have been working with local nurseries regarding future funding. I am concerned regarding funding uplift plans announced in October last year and will continue to work with Renfrewshire Early Learning and Childcare ‘Partner’ providers to ensure that nurseries have the resources they need.

Glasgow Chamber Orchestra Houston Concert

Presents ‘Music for a Summer’s Evening’. An evening of relaxing chamber music performed by members and friends of the Glasgow Chamber Orchestra (amateur orchestra) on Sunday 4th June at 7.30pm in Houston & Killellan Kirk, 13a Kirk Road, Houston. Tickets £5 (at the door) supporting the work of Mwandi Baby Milk Project.

Houston and Killellan Agricultural Society Show

Save the Date - Join us on Saturday 3rd June for another year of celebrating Houston’s Agricultural heritage and modern farming. Featuring and supported by local businesses.

Tractor Run - Friday 26th Mayour 3rd Tractor Run. Come out and wave your wellies to see a spectacular variety of local tractors. Take Part - Come and see the wonderful creative craft and baking entries in the Big Tent, as well as watching our brilliant talent and dog shows. So much to take part in.

Livestock Show - Come and meet our local livestock and farming community. Pick your favourites from ponies, light horses, Clydesdales, cattle, sheep and more.

SUNDAY Baptist Church 11am & 6pm

DWL B/P 16th & 23rd @ 2pm

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

The pay increase for eligible three and four year olds is simply not enough for struggling nurseries as they grapple with rising bills, during the cost-of-living crisis.

This situation needs addressing, especially when private and voluntary providers account for close to half the amount of nursery provision in Renfrewshire. There is a real risk that providers will potentially need to adjust their current operations, which is deeply concerning for all.

Speeding in and around Houston continues to be reported as an area of concern along with the proposed changed to local bus services.

I am also seeing an increased numbers of calls regarding fly-tipping.

Contact info: 0300 300 1287 Cllr David McGonigle

cllr.david.mcgonigle@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Volunteer - The show is run by volunteers and we always need more helpers planning and on show day. Could it be you? Get in touch: Houstonshow@hotmail.co.uk; Mo - Secretary - 07734 150445; KerryAssistant - 07879 437793.

HOUSTON & CROSSLEE SWI

After a very interesting year of speakers and activities our final meeting of the year will be on Wednesday April 12th at 7.30pm when we have our AGM and Macmillan Charity Evening. We meet in the Carrick Centre, Main Street, Houston. We hope all our members and friends have an enjoyable summer and look forward to seeing you in September.

Houston & Killellan Kirk

The run-up to Holy Week is a special time in our Church calendar; it is a time for reflection and remembrance and it is also a time to come together as a community, to celebrate our faith and Jesus Christ’s resurrection. This year we start with our Palm Sunday service on 2nd April and then, Monday to Friday that week, we have services nightly at 7.30pm. On Easter Sunday, 9th April, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with an outdoor service and Holy Communion in the Kirk grounds at 8am, followed by a service of celebration in the Kirk at 11am. Whether you are a long-time member of our congregation or just visiting, please join us at any of these services. This year it was our turn to host the World Day of Prayer and we really enjoyed welcoming our friends from St Fillan’s and catching up over tea and coffee afterwards. Holy Communion on 5th March was very well attended and our Lent activities, including an Ecumenical Meditation group, on Thursday mornings, have been busy too.

Our ever-popular Foodbank collection turned three last month, so a big thank you to the team of dedicated volunteers who make it happen and to everyone who generously donates items, which are picked up by Renfrewshire Foodbank. Together we have collected more than 36 tons of provisions and helped to feed more than 27,000 people.

A concert featuring St James’ Handbell Ringers and Maria Wilson with Starlight Music Theatre was a great success, raising £505 for projects in Mwandi. Thank you to everyone who came along. 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 other events organised by Frankie, our Families and Community Development worker and Sunday Club, for children, at 11am in the Kirk each week.

Meanwhile the Carnival Committee are hard at work, planning a host of fun activities and stalls for Houston Kirk Carnival on 13th May - including rides and slides, fantastic raffle prizes, chocolate and bottle tombolas, face painting, home-baking and a plant stall.

Our theme this year is Celebrating

100 Years of Disney Make sure you Save the Date! Congratulations to Gryffe High School pupil Fraser Donald, who won our competition to create a logo for the Carnival (pictured above), and to runner-up Isla Thomson, of Houston Primary School (pictured left) - Well done to both of you!

The old library centre

opening Times:

Monday – Friday: 10am to 12noon & 2pm to 4pm

Monday

Spanish Conversation 2pm - 3.45pm (Ran by U3A)

Tuesday

Craft Group 2pm - 4pm (every 2nd Tuesday)

Board Games 2pm - 4pm

(1st Tuesday of the month - ran by U3A)

Book Group 7.15pm - 8.30pm (once a month - next meeting 18th April)

Wednesday

Yoga with Elizabeth 10am - 11.30am & 7.30pm - 9pm (waiting list for both classes)

Thursday

Move it or Lose it 2pm -3pm (exercise for over 60’s)

Family History 7pm (once a month)

Friday

Bridge 2pm - 4pm (Finishing at the end of March Members old and new will be made most welcome)

Our last event for the Winter Connections programme will be on Wednesday 12th April when popular trio DAFT will be playing a selection of sing-a-long songs. Tea/ coffee and biscuits will be served at the interval. Everything free.

We are looking for volunteers for various roles, please get in touch to find out about the roles we have available eg the garden, helping set up/clear away for events and others

Please phone or email for further information.

The Old Library Centre

9 High Barholm, Kilbarchan, PA10 2EF

Kipco is a Scottish charity, SC031251, and is run by volunteers

01505 706070

kipcokil@hotmail.com www.kipco.org

Howwood Village Fete

Saturday 17th June, 1pm - 4pm, Howwood Primary School

Plans are well underway for this years Howwood Village Fete. Put the date in your diary and keep your fingers crossed for good weather! We really hope that the village and our neighbours will come together for a fun afternoon and to support the local groups and organisations who work hard to put on this event.

If you would like a stall we still have space available at a cost of £20. If you have been busy crafting or have a business/ organization you’d like to promote, please contact us.

You can keep up to date with everything and contact us via “The new & improved Howgood is Howwood” Facebook page.

Can’t wait to see you all on the day!

Dementia Friendly Lochwinnoch

The next event is Friday 21st April Coach trip to Cardwell Bay Garden Centre for Afternoon Tea (leaving 1.30pm)

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 information contact 07868 752814.

We had a full house of almost 50 in March for an afternoon tea in The Three Churches. A massive thank you to LCDT and Susan’s team for providing a great spread! Also to Crawford for the entertainment.

The last full council meeting in early March was Budget Day for Renfrewshire Council. As in previous years I had been in negotiation with the Council Leader for some months to try and secure the best deal for my constituents. In the final analysis I supported the Administration Budget over the Opposition Amendment, as the former promised a better deal for my village constituents in Kilbarchan, Howwood, and Lochwinnoch, as well as major investment in supporting schoolchildren, young people, and foster carers.

Ward 9 has a very high level of commuter and agricultural traffic so I was pleased to support a further £6.7 million in roads repairs. A further £450,000 was invested in the Village Gateway Road Safety Programme for Kilbarchan, Howwood, and Houston. This was inserted in the 2022/23 Budget by myself and has been conducting extensive research with local communities and community councils in these three villages. It will soon be at the delivery stage to come up with proposals to stop speeding so requires further investment now. Further to that I lobbied the Council Leader for a second tranche of this programme, so phase 2 of the Village Gateway Road Safety programme will now cover Lochwinnoch, Bishopton, and Elderslie. I know this will be very welcomed in the High St/Main St and Johnshill areas of Lochwinnoch.

Back in late 2017 I spoke to the Council Leader about more investment in our village communities and Village Investment Fund was born. In 2023/24 the Budget agreed to increase its funding by £200,000, which I supported and I was also very pleased to vote for a further £450,000 to go into the Play Parks and Green Spaces Funds, which has been of such benefit to Kilbarchan, Howwood, and Lochwinnoch.

Surgeries:: Second Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm, Lilybank Bowling Club, Johnstone, and 7.30pm the Old Library, Kilbarchan. Fourth Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm, Howwood Bowling Club, and then at 7.30pm in Lochwinnoch Bowling Club.

Contact info:

07534 148 224 CllrAndy4Ward8

cllr.andy.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk

IndependentVoice/Ward9JohnstoneAndVillages

Kilbarchan Parish Church

Services continue at 11am every Sunday conducted by Rev. Stephen Smith and Junior Church meets from 10.45am in the small hall. There is a service at 7pm on Maundy Thursday 6th April, led by the choir and on Good Friday 7th, worship is also at 7pm.

On Easter Sunday there is an early short service at 8.30am at the Weavers Cottage, followed by rolls and sausage in the hall, prior to worship at 11am. All welcome. The Easter Eggstravaganza is on Saturday 1st April from 10am - 12noon in the halls.

The first Heartstart course will be on Tuesday 18th April in the Masonic Lodge, Main Street, Lochwinnoch at 7pm.

To book a place call Morag on 07868 752814. We will cover resuscitation and using a AED.

On Sunday 23rd at 3pm, there is a special service of Remembrance for all in the village who died during the years of Covid and whose families were unable to have a funeral with more than a few people. We hope to see as many as possible coming along to celebrate the lives of their loved ones.

Kilbarchan Parish Church Tots ‘Club resumes on Monday 17th from 9.15am - 11.30am in the hall.

Mid-morning Fellowship continues on Wednesdays from 10.30am in the small hall.

Lilias Day Parade is Back!

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that we’ll be running our full Lilias Day event in Kilbarchan on Saturday 3rd June. This means we’ll be bringing back our parade with our award-winning pipe bands, decorated floats and historic parade.

We’ll also be running a full event in the park with a whole range of family entertainment from bike shows, science workshops, mini golf, zorbing, magicians and, after a resounding success last year, the Clamjamfrie ceilidh tent. Our Lilias Day favourites will return; the epic tug of war, the music tent showcasing up and coming bands, the food village, charity stalls and of course our favourite Lilias Day characters. Get involved: Email us at info@liliasday.co.uk

Book a stall: Taking a stall at Lilias Day is a great way to raise funds for your local organisation or good cause. We also have a craft stalls for budding crafters. Pitches cost £45 (£30 for craft stalls).

Decorate a float: We have a limited number of floats (lorries) - which Malcolm’s kindly allow us to use for the parade each year. These are a fantastic way to showcase community spirit and promote your organisation. Floats can be booked by local organisations or Kilbarchan street residents and are great fun to plan and decorate. Make a scarecrow or decorate your house: As always, we’d love you to show off your creative talents and brighten up the village. Let us know if you intend to decorate your house or make a scarecrow so that we can include it in the map.

Save the date and make sure to come along! Tell your friends and family and support YOUR Lilias day. Keep up to date by following us on Facebook or visit www.liliasday.co.uk

A full programme for the day will be published mid-May.

Kilbarchan Parish Church eco-news

The Kilbarchan Church eco group continue to research and advise the Church and local community, on issues we can all address in our daily life. Energy saving is a high priority in these tough economic times, and our need to reduce our impact on Climate Change. We have organised our next eco-forum for Wednesday 17th of May 7.30pm in the hall. With two external speakers: Paul O’Brien from ENVA waste management, who will speak about his company and the journey our rubbish takes after the wheelie bin. His theme will be “The Secret Life of Waste” and Tom Knockolds of LOCO HOME, who will speak on the work of his company and the various ways they can help communities develop energy saving projects, with advice on decarbonising and insulating buildings and homes. Given the age of local properties, we are confident that his talk will be very useful. Both speakers are to take questions on their subject and I hope we can all benefit from this exchange of information. Please come along and share your own ideas with us. There will be an opportunity over a cup of tea or coffee to ask questions and to make suggestions as to how best we can all work together to make Kilbarchan an even better place to stay. You may even take the chance to get involved and do your bit!

Come along and bring a friend, as you can be sure of a warm welcome and an interesting evening.

Kilbarchan NWR

The group has a planning meeting in April to arrange the springsummer programme of meetings, outings and coffee afternoons. The Book Group will discuss The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. For further info please phone 01505 703786 or visit: www.nwr.org.uk

You may have noticed I haven’t posted a column for a couple of months. A few days before Christmas my beloved dad passed away and only 8 weeks later, we lost my lovely mum-in-law. My experiences got me thinking about how hard the loss of a loved one is - not only the grief, but the many practical issues we have to deal with, including the funeral and our loved one’s estate. It isn’t for the faint hearted and costs are significant. I’m worried in the current cost of living crisis how people can afford this and cope. Renfrewshire Council Registrars were excellent, registering dad’s death with dignity and care. ‘Tell Us Once’ is a national online service to assist bereaved families ensuring that local services are advised of a death in one online form. Visit the website: www.mygov.scot/tell-us-once for details. Elsewhere, my experience notifying organisations varied. Some were wonderful, some involved endless hanging on the phone ‘in a queue’, others were poor (e.g. the advisor who showed no compassion and held a conversation whilst munching their way through a bag of crisps). Whether its pensions, insurance services, banks, or utility providers I think it’s time ALL companies have a dedicated telephone bereavement line, which avoids long periods of hanging on, is helpful and treats us all with compassion.

Back to local business and I’ve been busy with many constituent’s issues. It comes as no surprise that locally one of the hottest topics is public transport and the proposed reduction to the local bus service. At the election I campaigned for improved local transport. The bus service in our villages is an essential lifeline for many residents. Renfrewshire Councillors met online with McGills buses last Month and I can assure you, along with my Labour Colleagues, I will be fighting for retaining services, capping fares and to bring our buses back under public control.

Contact info: 0300 300 1268

cllr.gillian.graham@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Lochwinnoch Community Council

Howwood Parish Church

Into April now, March has come and gone with its snow and ice and some beautiful days.

The Guild has finished for the summer and a big thank you to the committee who organise each weeks meetings - an extremely great year and great guests with such a varied choice of subjects. Also thanks to the ladies who ‘do’ the coffee morning each month which is going from strength to strength. Our next coffee morning is on 19th April at the usual time. Come along and bring your neighbours and friends for a good old fashioned chat. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available. Easter is a time of celebration in the Church and the Easter services are as detailed below:

Joint services with St Pauls, Johnstone and ourselves again.

Thursday 6th Service at St Pauls Johnstone 7pm. Meet up for tea, coffee after the service.

Friday 7th Service at Howwood 7pm. Meet up for tea, coffee also after the service.

Sunday 9th Open Air short service with Breakfast 9am at Howwood Church.

Easter Service in the church at usual time of 10am, please come along and join us.

Defibrillator Sites

B ISHOPTON

• The Cornerstone, Greenock Rd

• Bishopton Community Centre

B ROOKFIELD

• Brookfield Village Hall

B RIDGE OF W EIR

• Co-Op

• Old Ranfurly Golf Club

• Ranfurly Castle Golf Club

• Gate Hs, BoW Leather Works

E LDERSLIE

• Elderslie Golf Club

H OUSTON

• Outside Church Hall, Main St

• Co-Op

• Strathgryffe Tennis (reception)

• Old telephone box, Houston Rd, Crosslee

• Back of Houston Primary on outside of playground fence

HOWWOOD

• Howwood Hall, Station Rd

• Christ the King Church, Bowfield Rd

• The Boarding House (open hrs)

• Howwood Primary School fence

J OHNSTONE

• Keystore, Spateston

• Keystore, Corseford

• Johnstone Town Hall

• Scottish Fire & Rescue

K ILMACOLM

• Kilmacolm Golf Club

• St Columba’s Senior School

• Gym, Birkmyre Park

• Library (rear of New Surgery)

After three years of difficulties holding meetings and members leaving the CC, which reduced membership to near the minimum required, new officials and co-opted members were formally processed at a meeting in Lochwinnoch Bowling Club on 7th March.

Officials elected were: Chairman - Shona Finnie; Secretary & Vice Chairman - Patrick Ramsey; Treasurer - Liz Walker; Minute Secretary - Lindsey Duncan. Two new members were co-opted: Lindsey Duncan and Judith Hutchison. Two Directors of Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust were invited to become Associate Members.

Planning decision on the Euro Garages development at the Roadhead roundabout had been put back because the developer introduced changes to the plan. The Stewart Milne Homes application at Burnfoot Road had been delayed by significant amendments and increase in the number of houses. It is now unlikely for a decision until May at the earliest. An additional 170 objections have been forwarded to Renfrewshire Council and will be considered with the previous 1,280 objections.

CC members attended consultations by a new National organization, ScotTo, encouraging local projects that benefit rural communities, and a Renfrewshire Council event about development at Castle Semple and Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

Councillor Doig reported that Lochwinnoch had been added to a traffic control investigation by Renfrewshire Council into speeding and parking problems. Councillor Rodden reported that Lochwinnoch would benefit from the £200,000 replenishment of the Community Empowerment Fund.

An application by Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust for an Asset Transfer for the site at Lochhead Avenue behind the Parish church was discussed. Currently the main user is a Food/Larder Group distributing surplus food from supermarkets that would otherwise go to waste. The Community Council has a statutory responsibility to represent the views of the village and would conduct a consultation to do so.

K ILBARCHAN

• Scout Hall

• Kilbarchan Bowling Club

L ANGBANK

• Langbank Village Hall

• Doctors surgery, Station Rd (carpark wall)

L INWOOD

• Onyx Leisure Centre

• Spar, Clippens Rd

• Asda

L OCHWINNOCH

• Outside GP Practice, Main St PAISLEY

• Russell Institute

Q UARRIERS

• William Quarriers House (entrance to Faith Ave)

• Country View

ward 1 cllr

Stephen Mccabe

This is my first column since the Council budget was set on 2nd March. The decisions we took to cut services and raise Council Tax by 5.3% were not taken lightly. No Councillor came into local politics to cut services and put up Council Tax. We will face more hard choices in the years ahead, however. We will of course continue to lobby the Scottish Government and our local MSPs for better funding settlements, but in the absence of these the only way to prevent further major cuts to jobs and services will be to put Council Tax up by double digits each year.

Several local projects are included in the Council’s Roads capital programme for 2023/24 approved on 9th March. Sections of Belmont Road are due to be resurfaced with Balmore Court a reserve project. The footway out to the Kilmacolm war memorial will be reconstructed with Nursery Grove and Myreton Avenue on the reserve list. If the reserve projects are not done this financial year, they should be done next year.

The Council has approved the sale of land at Market Place to Scottish Gas Networks for a new gas governor. Following representations from Colourful Kilmacolm and the Civic Trust the governor will be located below ground to minimise the impact on the garden area currently maintained by Colourful Kilmacolm.

At a recent Community Council meeting concerns were raised that the new picnic benches in Birkmyre Park were too high and not accessible to wheelchair users. Council Officers have agreed to lower the benches and install two new accessible ones.

Following a request from the Lord Lieutenant the new trees recently planted in Birkmyre Park have been dedicated as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy in memory of our late Queen Elizabeth II.

Surgery: Kilmacolm Community Centre on Tuesday 18th April from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

Kilmacolm new Community Centre

Kilmacolm Old Kirk

HOLY WEEK SERVICES: Holy Week Services will be held at 1pm on Monday 3rd to Wednesday 5th in the Murray Chapel at the Old Kirk and in the main Church itself at 7.30pm on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th (Good Friday). The Thursday service includes a celebration of the Sacrament of Communion. All are welcome. The Easter Sunday family service takes place on Sunday 8th at 11am.

SOLAS: The Solas bereavement drop-in group will be meeting in the Lounge of the Kidston Hall, Kilmacolm, on Thursday 13th April at 2pm. As always, this meeting is open to all with no preregistration required. Solas supports those from Kilmacolm and surrounding areas who have lost a loved one. It doesn’t matter if it was recently or a long time ago, Solas creates a safe place to talk, to listen and to heal. You will be supported in processing issues of grief and loss by expert speakers as well as each other. For more information, please call Barbara Marshall on 01505 872417 or email: barbara@oochy.com

OUTLOOK Team:

Thursday 6th April - We will be highlighting the work of Christian Aid, The Leprosy Mission and Mary’s Meals, with our guest Charlie Meiklejohn.

Thursday 20th April - We will welcome Ann McGown playing her popular piano pieces, with songsheets.

Thursday 4th May - A Pre-Coronation Special with a royal quiz, flower arranging and a raffle of special gifts.

Free Dementia Singing Sessions

May 16th to 13th June from 1pm - 2.30pm

(with a free lunch included) at St Fillans Church Hall, Moss Road, Kilmalcolm -

Gail Ashley Children’s Dance Class 9.30am – 3.30pm

Surgeries in april

7th,9.30 – 10.30am,Natalie Don MSP

15th, 10 – 11am, Cllr David Wilson

18th, 6.30pm – 7.30pm

Cllr Stephen McCabe

19th, 6.30pm – 7.30pm, Cllr Christopher Curley

Monday – Friday: 9am to 10pm Saturday: 9am to 3pm Sunday: Closed

OUTLOOK is a social community group led by the Community Issues team of Kilmacolm Old Kirk, extending fellowship and friendship and a warm welcome to everyone. The group meets In Kidston Hall on 1st and 3rd Thursdays monthly from 2pm to 3.30pm. A delicious afternoon tea is provided by the volunteer team. Meetings traditionally enjoy a guest speaker, or videos, quiz, tombola, easy keep fit.

MOnTHLY MOVIE nIGHT: Thursday 27th April at 7pm for 7.30pm. This month’s movie is the Oscar-nominated romantic drama Brooklyn about a young Irish girl who lands in 1950s Brooklyn. Free entry with a drink on arrival. Donations are welcome.

Sunday Worship takes place in Kilmacolm Old Kirk every Sunday at 11am. Refreshments are served after the service for all to enjoy some companionship. All our services are streamed online through our Facebook Page @kilmacolmold and can be watched live or at any point afterwards for those who cannot attend. You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram via @KilmacolmOld or visit our website at kilmacolmoldkirk.org.uk

Spaces are limited to 25. Family and friends really encouraged to come along too!

The sessions will be delivered by Daniela Hathaway and pianist David Mackie and Eleanor Tasker.

We will start with a lovely lunch to get to know each other, then we will do some fun body warm ups. We will sing well known songs, learn some new ones, go for a dance and build a bank of favourite songs.

Call Daniela 07949 071653 for details.

Kilmacolm Civic Trust

Kilmacolm Civic Trust are holding their AGM on Tuesday 18th April at the Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm.

Monday – Friday: 10am to 4pm Saturday: 10am to 3pm

Sunday: Closed www.cargillcentre.com

We are having a very special guest speaker –Sculptor John McKenna (creator of the iconic “Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow” sculptures. 3pm - 4pm - AGM; 4pm - 4.15pmRefreshments; 4.15pm - 5.30pm - Illustrated Talk

This is a free event open to all residents of Kilmacolm and Environs

ward 1 cllr david wilson

By the time of publication, Clyde Presbytery of the Church of Scotland will have determined the Parish boundaries for Bridge of Weir, Houston, Kilmacolm and Langbank. I am happy to attend either place of worship, St Columba’s or The Old Kirk, but the village really needs a permanent Minister, which can only happen by a union. Ministerial cover at both churches in the interim has been excellent. I upset friends at St Columba’s by failing to mention previously that in terms of non members their premises are used by twice as many folk as The Old Kirk. Happy to redress this inaccuracy.

Hedges on Lochwinnoch Road, near the War Memorial and Port Glasgow Road have been cut back. The pavement at the former is due to be resurfaced next financial year. Leaves again cleared at Finlaystone Place. The lane off Whitelea Road is to be a new private road called “Whitelea Lane”. Use of the “circle“ in Hillside Avenue has been clarified. Scottish Gas wanted a gas governor at the garden in Market Place. This was opposed by both the Old Kirk and the excellent Colourful Kilmacolm. Hopefully it can be deposited underground. Resurfacing of the Lochwinnoch Road footbridge and replacement of damaged stonework on the road/rail bridge are on the reserve list of structures work.

A relief car park for the village is badly needed and overdue. Hopefully monies will be spent soon on the design of a car park. The Council cannot fail to provide parking facilities and constantly be sending traffic wardens to fine those who unavoidably park on yellow lines. My favoured location is behind the Old Police Station but hopefully something will come to committee soon. 25 trees have been planted at Birkmyre Park and the wildflower bed surrounding the Lion statue should be planted by publication. Colonel Peter McCarthy asked if the trees could be part of Her Majesty’s Green Canopy. The Council quickly agreed and this will be a fitting village tribute to Her Majesty’s decades of service to the country.

I attended the Scottish Schools Pipe band Championship in Kilmarnock. Some 72 bands from throughout Scotland competed in 8 divisions. Renfrewshire Schools, St Columba’s and Inverclyde Schools all competed, the latter for the first time entered in the quartet division. St Columba’s continued their success from last year with a creditable 3rd in tough company including Dollar, George Watson’s and Heriot’s. Surgery: 15th April at the Cargill.

Contact info: 07766 992 294 or 01475 741 969 / 722 975 david.wilson@inverclyde.gov.uk

Mount Zion Church, Quarriers Village, Easter Services

Holy Communion, Maundy Thursday 6th April - 7pm

Meditation around the Cross, Good Friday 7th April - 2.30 pm

Easter Sunday Celebration followed by a fellowship meal, 10.30 am

Come and find out more about the heart of the Christian faith.

ward 1 cllr Chris Curley

At the start of March it was great privilege, along with the Provost and other elected members, to welcome the Kilmacolm Scout Group to mark (belatedly) their 100th anniversary with a reception in the Greenock Town Hall. I hope the cubs and scouts had a great time and I enjoyed showing them around the building, even ending up in the dock in the former courtroom at one point!

The Inverclyde Council budget was set on the 2nd of March and resulted in a 5.3% increase in Council Tax. I was pleased to see that the agreed budget did not close the much-valued Inverclyde Leisure facilities, especially the Port Pool. Going forward the pressures on the council budget remain, as we already look to next year.

The Environment and Regeneration Committee met on the 9th of March and approved the Road Asset Management Plan (RAMP) for 2023/24. This includes a number of projects in Kilmacolm, including road resurfacing projects at Belmont Road, Balmore Court and footpath reconstruction at Lochwinnoch Road (to the war memorial), Nursery Grove and Myreton Avenue. The design of a new car park in Kilmacolm is also programmed to begin in 2023/24. Unfortunately, the improvements to the footbridge at Lochwinnoch Road over the former railway is now a reserve scheme which means that they are not likely to be undertaken in 2023/24.

Surgeries: Kilmacolm New Community Centre 6.30pm to 7.30pm - Wednesday 19th of April. Boglestone Community Centre, Port Glasgow from 6pm to 7pmWednesday 26th of April.

Contact info: 07768 460073 / 01475 712370

christopher.curley@inverclyde.gov.uk

@Ward1chriscurleySnP

Gryffe Camera Club

Gryffe CC have been keeping busy over the last few months. Charles Hamilton gave a show of his “Street Photography” of people and characters in Glasgow.

League Competition 4 had some interesting entries for the theme of “Patterns in nature/Flowers and Fungi”

In the digital section first place went to “Bendy Toadstools” by Helen Ostrycharz

Clive Watkins provided us with a view of “Art in photography”

place going to Matt Johnston with “Winter Pattern” and First place going to Kate Cummings with “Seed Heads in Brown Bottle.” Hugh McMillan also had further success in a photographic competition run by “Mill Magazine” where he got a second place for his photo of Jonah Ayunga in a sport photograph. Well done Hugh.

League competition 5 provided some excellent entries with Third place in Digital going to Hugh McMillan with “Missed Tackle”, Second

Kilmacolm Churches Easter Family Celebration

Kilmacolm Piazza, 11am on Easter Saturday 8th April. Refreshments available after the service. The celebration will be preceded by a walk of witness; we will meet in Birkmyre Park at 10.20am. We really hope that you can join us to celebrate Easter in the heart of the village, with members of all Kilmacolm’s churches.

Kilmacolm Scouts Fundraisers

Kilmacolm Scouts postponed musical evening with 50s/60s band The Dynaglides from December will now be on Saturday 29th April in the Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm at 7.30pm. The Dynaglides perform a variety of music from this era including songs from The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Elvis Presley and the band includes one of our scout leaders Mo. Tickets for the evening are £10 for adults and £5 for under 14s and available by calling 07789 077749 or from any current scout leader. Tickets are starting to fly out for this event so get in quick and join us for a fun evening of music and dancing, bar, buffet and raffle aswell.

Christopher is on the march for Quarriers

A resident of the Quarriers Renfrewshire Supportive Living Initiative, Christopher Graham, from Johnstone, will be pulling on his walking boots and doing a sponsored walk to help raise funds for a day out for all those supported by the service.

Christopher, aged 38, will be walking from Walkinshaw Street in Johnstone to Barshaw Park and back (approx 9 miles) on Friday 28th April, with his team leader Caron.

The money he raises will be used toward organising a day out for everyone the service supports to Blair Drummond Safari Park and a garden party.

Christopher said: “I want to raise money so that everyone can get together for a day out. We are friends, but we don’t get to see each other very often and it will cheer everyone up. I think the walk is a good way to keep fit and raise money at the same time. I’m hoping to have a stop at Barshaw park for a coffee and a cake before walking back.”

Quarriers Renfrewshire Supported Living Initiative helps adults with learning, physical disabilities or who have acquired a brain injury to live in their own homes within the community and supports them with all aspects of their daily living.

If you would like to support Christopher in his fund-raising effort you can donate to his JustGiving page - www.justgiving.com/Christopher-Graham25

Christopher Graham and his team leader Caron are gearing up for his sponsored walk from Johnstone to Paisley’s Barshaw Park and back.

schools & Sports

Houston Primary

Chocolicious ... Delicious!

On Thursday 2nd March Houston Primary School opened its doors to the community to raise funds for Fairtrade. Pupils prepared Fairtrade chocolate stirrers prior to the event with support from staff and parents. On the day, they were added to milk to make delicious Fairtrade hot chocolate. A wonderful selection of Fairtrade home baking was provided by volunteers from the Houston and Killellan Church. The event was an amazing success and raised much needed funds for the Fairtrade charity. Thank you to everyone who came along to support this event. In school we also had our very own Fairtrade shop for our pupils and staff to purchase Fairtrade items. https://fairtradehouston.blogspot.com/2023/03/chocolicious-morning. html?m=1

Rotary Quiz

Houston Primary pupils took part in the annual Rotary Quiz, at Houston Bowling Club on the 7th of March. They were competing against Bridge of Weir Primary, Lochwinnoch Primary and St. Columba’s Primary. We were absolutely delighted to gain second place. Well done to our Primary 7 team. Thank you to all of the families who came along to support us and also to the Rotary Club for their wonderful hospitality, gifts and prizes.

Cross Country Race

Our Primary 6 and 7 pupils had an amazing morning at the Renfrewshire Cross Country event at the King George V playing fields in Renfrew. They received trophies and medals in every category. Well done to our fantastic athletes!

Langbank Primary

P1/2 trip to Science Centre

Primary 1/2 had a very enjoyable visit to the Science Centre as an introduction to their Tiny Forests project. Each week they will have input from staff at the science centre to help them discover the wonderful nature all around them.

Author Visit

As part of the Paisley Book Festival, Langbank Primary had a visit from the author Barbara Henderson to tell us all about her new book ‘Rivet Boy’. The children loved hearing all about the process of writing a novel and were absolutely delighted to receive a copy of the book courtesy of OneRen

Please visit our blog to see more photographs: http://houston-primary.blogspot.com/?m=1

World Book Day

Langbank loves reading and World Book Day was another fantastic opportunity to share our love for books! We had a whole school assembly where classes shared their favourite books and children guessed staff’s favourite books using clues. In the afternoon, we had lots of fun with our annual World Book Day quiz. We participated in houses and the winning house was Formakin.

STEM Careers

P3-5 recently enjoyed a visit from Alasdair Davis, Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The children learned more about the Titanic and modern cruise ships. They also learned about Alasdair’s journey from school to working in the shipping industry.

Duchal Nursery

We have a new Bug Hotel at Duchal and are so excited to see what insects might come and stay! As the summer term creeps upon us we are exploring the world of mini beasts – a perfect excuse to get outside and investigate our garden and the park to discover what we can find. This will link well as we continue learning about plants and spring animals as spring brings new life to our surroundings. Our older children are busily acquiring new skills as they prepare for the transfer to primary school. With the luxury of 3 separate rooms within the nursery, the pre-school children benefit from quiet time to concentrate on learning fine motor skills, number recognition through subitizing and jolly phonics. As an independent nursery our children move on to a variety of schools in Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Glasgow. If you are interested in a place for your child, the best way to discover more about us is to come for a visit and see for yourself. Please get in touch to arrange a visit – either email info@duchal.com or call 01505 874358.

Remember: To keep up to date with all the latest news follow us on our social media channels

Bridge of Weir Primary

What a fabulous few weeks it has been for Bridge of Weir Primary School. Clyde in the Classroom

P5, P5/4 and P6/5 have loved working in partnership with the Glasgow Science Centre on their ‘Clyde in the Classroom’ project. Together they have looked after their classroom fish, hatching them from eggs and ensuring the trout alevins were kept cool and safe. When the big day arrived, the alevins were released into the River Gryffe to begin their lives in the wild. A lot of learning has taken place to get them this far.

Primary Cross Country Competition

Our runners did us proud at the OneRen Sport Cross Country competition. The P7 girls’ team came in first place, P7 boys’ team in second place, P6 boys’ team in second place and our very own Catherine was first in the individual girls’ category. Huge well done to our athletes.

Rotary Quiz

The Gryffe Valley Rotary Club competition was also a success story as our P7 team showed off their general knowledge. The team won comfortably, remaining in the lead throughout all 10 rounds as they answered questions on a variety of subjects including colours, Europe, sequences, and the news. It has been several years since BOWPS has won so it is great to have the shield back in our possession! Well done, Imogen, Ciaran, Cameron and Joseph.

Rotary Young Writer Competition

We were also delighted to participate again in the Rotary Club’s annual writing competition. Writing on the subject of Peace, the standard of entries was very high. It was great to hear we have two winners in two categories: Lana in Intermediate and Imogen in Junior Well done, girls –your writing is outstanding and makes us proud.

Author Visit

Big thanks to

The Ginger Cat Bookshop for organising another author visit. P5-7 loved listening to Victoria Williamson talk about her new book Hag Storm based on the life of a young Robert Burns and his well-known poem, Tam o’ Shanter. Definitely worth a read!

Time Capsule

And finally…we have had fun (and a few laughs) trying to find a time capsule which was buried in the grounds of the school around 25 years ago. Two former pupils (Colin and Dianne) and two former teachers (Mrs Bryce and Mrs Miller) visited the school to help us find the capsule. Relying on their memories, an entry in a log book and a borrowed metal detector we tried to find it, but have ended up with a scene resembling one from Louis Sachar’s ‘Holes’ and no time capsule!

Since our school motto is ‘Never Give Up!’ this search is not over, so watch this space…

The Ginger Cat Children’s Bookshop Book Reviews

The Dinosaur that Pooped Easter

ISBN 9780241488812

by Dougie Poynter

and Tom Fletcher

Illustrated by Garry Parsons Penguin Random House

A fun-filled lift the flap Easter adventure from the bestselling Dinosaur that Pooped series. Danny and Dinosaur are on an Easter-egg hunt in Fairytale Land where they meet lots of fairytale characters including Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretal. They climb up beanstalks and hunt in cottages and caves for the delicious eggs but soon find themselves in dragon-shaped trouble!! Can dino’s rumbling tummy help them escape?

A perfect Easter adventure for ages 2+

WigGlesbotTom Primary: Break-Time Bunnies

ISBN 9781788001236 by Pamela Butchart

Illustrated by Becka Moor | Nosy Crow

Anything can and does happen at Wigglesbottom

Primary! Follow class 2R in three fun short stories that are a perfect step up from picture books and are great for children who are starting to read independently. Are all the bunnies in the playground up to no good? Will the school’s special guest make them famous? And does the music teacher have a bewitched violin? Find out the answers to all of these questions when you read the brilliant BreakTime Bunnies! Ages 5+

Important AnnouncemEnt!

Dog Man 11: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea

ISBN 9781338801910 By Dav Pilkey | Scholastic US Release date 28/03/23

Dog Man is back in a brand new heroic adventure and guess who is also back to cause mayhem.. Piggy! What new villains are on the horizon and where are they all coming from? Find out in Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea. All Dog Man books contain comic strip colour illustrations throughout and are enjoyed by both reluctant and confident readers age 7+.

I, Spy: A Bletchley Park Mystery

by Rhian Tracey | Illustrated by David Dean Templar Publishing

This gripping adventure set in 1939 is inspired by the author’s great aunt who was a code breaker at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Twelve year old Robyn lives in Bletchley Park where her father works as a driver. When the war begins, everything changes, Robyn is made to sign the Official Secrets Act and is forbidden to tell anyone about what goes on at Bletchley. She is assigned to help work with the carrier pigeons who take messages to the Allies, but Robyn is worried that there is something sinister going on at Bletchley Park and with the help of her friends Mary and Ned, she sets out to solve the mystery before it’s too late! An exciting mystery adventure based on true historical events, perfect for 9+ readers.

The bookshop will be moving to share premises with Tryptych Studios (35 Main Street, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3NR) at the end of April. I’m really excited to see what the future holds for The Ginger Cat and I hope that you’ll still continue to support the shop in it’s new home.

Aileen xx

8, Stewart Place, Kilmacolm, PA13 4AF T: 01505 871283

Cedars School - ‘Reading Schools’

Cedars School has been awarded a Reading Schools accreditation from The Scottish Book Trust. This award recognises the school’s efforts to promote reading for pleasure. The English Department has promoted this initiative and have set up cosy reading corners in various classrooms. Students, staff and members of our wider community share reviews of books for our Cedars Readers display board.

Our secondary department has a well stocked library and many of the books have been chosen by the students on book buying trips. Students participate in monthly reading challenges which include not just reading books, but also creative writing inspired by a favourite book character and reviewing books for their classmates. Periodically, we invite our primary pupils up to our Reading Room to listen to a story being read by one of our Reading Leaders.

Primary classes also have their own reading spaces and the upper primary particularly enjoyed designing and organising their own personal library. The infants love choosing books for their reading ladder and they award a star rating to each daily book, before voting for their favourite one at the end of the week.

On World Book Day, the primary children enjoyed a Starbooks event where they got to read their books at a pop up cafe in our GP room.

We have developed close links with The Ginger Cat Bookshop in Kilmacolm. Aileen always makes us feel very welcome when we visit to choose new books for the library. Aileen brought a pop-up bookshop to one of our community evenings, and arranged a very enjoyable visit from local author, Ross McKenzie. Recently we wanted to share our love of books with the wider community so we donated books from the shop to Aileen’s customers on World Book Day.

People can keep up to date with what we are up to, by following @cedarsreaders on Instagram.

Music in the Air at St Columba’s

Scottish Young Musician

Regular Meet Classes

Reebok Step Class

Freeland Church, Main Street, Bridge of Weir (Opposite Amaretto)

Tuesday: 7pm

Miss the Original Reebok Step Class? Then come along for fun, fabulous music, full body workout, feel fantastic!

Limited spaces available. Mo 07505 126416

Jennifer Sloan

On March 6th, the Music Department at Senior School was host to the St Columba’s heat of the Scottish Young Musicians Solo Performer of the Year - a nationwide competition to discover the brightest musical talent in Scotland.

Harry B (SIV), Sasha C, Sophie R, Emily B and Callum H (all SV) competed to win a place in the next round. The overall standard was incredibly high; however, our adjudicator, Dr Gordon Munro, Director of Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland announced clarinettist Emily B the winner. Well done to everyone who took part!

Gilbert Innes Prize for Woodwind

Emily B (SV) is to be further congratulated on winning the prestigious Gilbert Innes Prize for Woodwind at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, on Friday 24th February. She was playing saxophone - her second instrument - making this achievement all the more impressive.

Inverclyde Music Festival

Physiotherapy Led Pilates

Kilmacolm Community Centre

Wednesdays: 6.15pm - 7.15pm

7.30pm - 8.30pm

Thursdays: 9.30am - 10.30am

Jennifer 07731 303709

jennifer-mcghee@hotmail.co.uk

Clyde Physiotherapy Pilates classes

St Machars Church Hall, Bridge of Weir

Monday: 9.30am / 10.40am / 7pm

Booking essential. Zoom option also available.

Yvonne 07786 224 367 yvonne@clydephysiotherapy.co.uk

Zumba

Freelands Church, Main Street, Bridge of Weir (Opposite Amaretto) Monday: 10am

Come along, have fun to fantastic music and feel FAB. All fitness levels welcome.

Mo 07505 126 416

Move it or Lose it!

Gourock, Bridge of Weir, Greenock, Kilmacolm, Houston, Kilbarchan & Langbank

Classes are aimed at the over 60s. We focus on Flexibility, Aerobic Health, Balance and Strength (FABS) exercises.

info@advertizer.co.uk

First class free for new members

www.moveitorloseito.co.uk

Move-it -or-lose-it-with-fiona

Fiona 07811 766672

Kilbarchan Community Nursery SCIO

The nursery was delighted to receive funding through the Food for Thought Education Fund towards planting an orchard. The fruit trees and bushes arrived and the children, staff and parents worked very hard to get them all planted. We look forward to watching them grow and producing fruit.

We were also delighted to see the return of the Inverclyde Music Festival, with many of our pupils from across Junior and Senior School participating.

There were a number of successes across the different categories, with several pupils being invited to participate in the Gala Concert at Greenock Town Hall. Pipers Ross A (SIII) and Euan L (SV), pianists Harry B (SIV) and Carrie M (J6), and saxophonist Emily B (SV) were all presented with their awards on the night, as was Hana D (J5) who won the award for solo verse.

Interested in finding out about the musical opportunities available at St Columba’s? Get in touch with our Admissions Registrar to learn more. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up-to-date with all of the goings on at St Columba’s.

admissions@st-columbas.org | st-columbas.org

The children have enjoyed exploring the woods as part of our forest kindergarten programme and a late fall of snow provided lots of opportunityforfun!

We still have availability for term time nursery places, including extended day, as well as breakfast and after school sessions for children attending Kilbarchan Primary. For more information contact the nursery on 01505 704839.

Speakers

Past meetings in March:

1st - Sharon Gemmel about ‘Parklea Branching Out’ in Port Glasgow and its proposed new development. 8th - ‘Blazing Paddles - Life in a Kayak’ a well illustrated talk by member Hugh Kerr who has been kayaking around Scotland for many years. 15th - Hamid Khatib spoke on the history of Mesopotamia the Cradle of Civilisation. 22nd - Business Meeting for members. 29thJamie Scott from Thrive, Bridge of Weir on Health and Wellbeing.

Upcoming meetings in April:

5th - Caroline Irvine on Dementia. 12th - Sai Kumar on Growing up in India. 19th - Ian Colvin on the flight of Rudolph Hess. April’s meetings end with a Business Meeting on 26th April.

Rotary Young Photographer Competition

Fourteen entries were submitted on this year’s theme ‘The Beauty of Architecture’. They were assessed by a team of three judges. The winning entry will go forward to the next stage of the competition, the District 1230 Final (West of Scotland); from there, the winner goes on to the National Final involving all the RGB &I Districts. Entries are on the Club website.

District 1230 Youth Speaks Final- Senior Category

Congratulations to the St Columba’s team on winning the District 1230 Final and a place in the National Final to be held in Rugby on the 23rd April.

Lucia G, Emma V and Orla O’R gave a very confident performance to finish ahead of strong opposition from Kyle Academy. Well done and good luck!

Junior Parkruns

Junior Parkrun is a weekly, free 2km timed run held at 9.30am on Sunday mornings at Battery Park, Greenock and Barshaw Park Glasgow Road, Paisley PA1 - Theses are both free events and take place in pleasant parkland surroundings and we encourage people of every ability to take part; from those taking their first steps in running to Olympians; from juniors to those with more experience; we welcome you all. Please register before your first run. The aim is to have fun. Please come along and join in.

Rotary Young Chef - the Scottish Final

Earning her place at the recent District Final, Lucy D of Gryffe High School qualified for the Scottish Final, held in Perth College, UHI. The top three young chefs from each of the three Scottish Rotary Districts competed for the place in the National Final in Alcester at the end of April.

Lucy was a very creditable runner-up. Her three course menu, cooked in two hours, incorporated refinements suggested by the District judges and clearly appealed to the judges in Perth - well done Lucy!

Gryffe Valley Way

Additional signage in Linwood, Houston and Bridge of Weir has been erected and printing of a booklet and illustrated information boards is underway. Our next activity is to improve part of the paths at Crosslee Wood and the Mill Lade between Bridge of Weir and Crosslee. Individuals or organisations willing to help would be welcomed.

10K Run

We encourage people of all abilities to enter. Finishing times range between 35mins and 2hrs. Why not sign up with a group of friends to train and take part together and seek sponsorship for your team in aid of CHAS or your favourite charity. We are grateful to Bridge of Weir Leather and WH Malcolm for providing sponsorship. There will be a Fun Run (2K) for kids at 12.30pm in Houston Park. See full details below or email gryffevalleyrotary@gmail.com if interested.

Gryffe Valley Rotary 10K Run Sunday 21st 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. Sandwiches, home baking, tea/coffee/water in the halls. Pre-Register for the event online at: https://entries.runabc.co.uk/e/rotary-club-of-gryffe-valley-10k-908

• Medal, Official Time, & Goodie bag for all runners. NEW Free 2K run in the park for kids at 12.30pm

• Trophies/prizes for best males (1,2,3), best females (1,2,3), best under 18s (1,2,3), best >60, highest sponsored individual, highest sponsored team (eg school, pub, club, company or family), & fastest team (shortest total time of the first 4 in a team)

• On-day registration, change, & badges at West Church Halls, Houston, PA6 7EL from 11.30am

• Entry fees £16 online or £18 on the day (£7 for runners aged 16/17 & younger accompanied children)

• Teams & individuals are urged to seek sponsorship for CHAS or give a donation when registering

Linwood lady raising funds for service that supports her

Katie’s Linwood walk will fund a great day out

In a bid to help fund a day out for her friends who are supported by Quarriers Renfrewshire Supported Living Initiative, Katie Keenan is doing a sponsored walk around Linwood on April 7th.

Katie, who is from Linwood, will be walking with her team leader, Margaret Mary McNulty and her dog Skye, beginning on Brediland Road at 12noon, and her route around Linwood is estimated at around three miles.

Katie said: “If you see me, come say hello! The money I raise will be used to get all those supported by the service together for a day out. When I heard that everyone wanted a day out, I wanted to help. We all like to spend time together, and it’s been difficult for the past while to do that. The money raised will make it a great day.”

Katie is raising money for Quarriers Renfrewshire Supported Living Initiative which helps adults with learning and physical disabilities to live in their own home within the community and supports them with all aspects of their daily living.

Katie is hoping to raise £100, and you can help her reach that goal by donating to her Just Giving page.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Katie-Keenan1?utm_ source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=KatieKeenan1&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=ca1c96e824fd4c5693 c40da0d202262f

Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club

If you fancy getting out on your bike and riding with like minded people of all ages and abilities, then your first stop should be the Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club! With Sunday morning runs designed for all abilities, you’re sure to find a group that suits you!

Prospective members are welcome to join a few of the Sunday morning bunch rides to discover if it suits them or not, at no cost. If you do decide to take the plunge and join ‘Scotland’s friendliest club’, then you will find a wealth of membership offers available to you, including discounted British Cycling membership and numerous discounts and offers from our club sponsors.

Feel free to visit our website at www.johnstonewheelers.co.uk or to email our club secretary, Jann, at secretary@ johnstonewheelers.co.uk for more information on joining.

First Lady President for Brookfield Bowling Club

At the Annual General Meeting on 17th February, Brookfield Bowling Club elected its first lady President in its 122 year history. Mrs Mary Taylor was elected by the large turnout of members for the AGM.

Prior to the AGM formalities, the Prize winners for 2022 were presented with their awards. The Lady’s champion was Mrs Helen Dobson and the Gents Champion was Mr John Campbell. Both are pictured below.

New members are extremely welcome. Please phone 07388 779215 or e-mail Brookfield.Bowls@ gmail.com

The Club’s Opening Day is Saturday 1st April and from then on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday there will be activity on the green so please pop down and make yourself known.

Birkmyre Kids Rugby

Are you keen to try Rugby? Our SRU qualified coaches provide highly skilled and age appropriate training in a safe, fun and family-friendly environment.

Training and home games take place on Sundays at Birkmyre Park, Kilmacolm, or the purpose-built Parklea Hub.

Birkmyre Rugby Club has a proud history of representation at all levels from Club to National, including Louise McMillan who started as a Mini and now plays for Saracens and Scotland!

Mini Section (Primary 1 to 7)

Midi Section (S1 to U15’s)

Contact us via: Email: BirkmyreKidsRugby@gmail.com

Facebook: @Birkmyre Rugby

Instagram: @birkmyrerugby

Birkmyre Women Free Rugby Fit Classes

Wednesday’s 7pm - 8pm from 19th April, meet at Birkmyre Park. No experience necessary!

Gleddoch Golf Club

Gleddoch Ladies Golf section hosted a very successful Jean Armour evening in memory of Mrs June Lockhart who was a member of the ladies golf section at Gleddoch & Douglas Park Golf Club. The event took place at Gleddoch House Hotel & the evening was chaired by Mrs Heather Matthews. Baroness Annabel Goldie & Mrs Isabel Lind provided us with their very entertaining speeches. Music & song was provided by the Bearsden Fiddlers & Moira Kerr. The night was thoroughly enjoyed by all & Shirley Back paid a very fitting tribute to June, who was known to so many in the golfing world & was herself a very talented Burn’s speaker. The evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all & raised in excess of £1,000 for June’s chosen charity The Liver Trust.

Kilmacolm Golf Club

We are delighted to have been named as one of Scotland’s “Most Underrated Golf Courses” according to the National Club Golfer Magazine and we have moved up the rankings to number 70 (just 2 behind Gleneagles PGA) in their list of Scotland’s top 100 courses. We have also been placed in “Golf World’s Top 100 Courses, Scotland for the first time.

This is testament to all the hard work by our green keeping team and our fabulous location. Together with our fantastic driving range and indoor 2 bay studio, Kilmacolm really does have a lot to offer. To find out about membership or our open competitions visit our website: www. kilmacolmgolfclub.com

As spring makes an appearance, we are looking forward to our season opener and the beginning of a great golfing calendar with competitive golf, as well as fun, social golf, there’s something for everyone!

Our Pro team are offering both group and private coaching to get you ready for the season ahead, with Junior coaching being held in the Easter Holidays. Get in touch with the Pro Shop to book your place. With the longer days and brighter weather we look forward to seeing you out on the course or enjoying the clubhouse and Neil’s catering very soon.

The Old Course Ranfurly golf club

During the last month, we have seen some fantastic social events being held at The Old Course Ranfurly golf club. On Friday 24th February we had an excellent turnout for our monthly quiz night which this month was hosted by our quizmaster Donald Hepburn. Congratulations to the winning team (all 11 of them!) and for selecting MND Scotland to be the recipient of the £225 raised on the night. On 25th Feb we held our sell-out ABBA Tribute night where members and guests enjoyed an evening boogying away on the packed dancefloor to some ABBA classics. Whoever thought golf clubs are boring should come along to one of our social events! Our First Ladies Social Event of the season took place with 34 playing members competing for the Trophy at a Quiz with Cheese and Wine, hosted by Lady Captain, Linda Anderson, and catered in-house. Congratulations to winning

This year we would welcome all lady golfers to our Ladies Open on Thursday 6th July. Played as a Stableford Greensomes with spaces available from 10am to 2.30pm bookable via Golf Empire. Cost £20 per couple.

Houston Hornets

Houston Hornets Community Club is one of basketball paisley’s four Superleague Centres. Boys and girls, P1-S2 of any ability are warmly welcomed and will enjoy coaching from our highly qualified and passionate coaches.

If you have any questions please contact Head Coach Fiona Harris on 07972 032633.

team Margot Maxwell, Fiona Daly, Anne Russell, Shirley Bell, Yvonne MacPhee and Valerie Mackinnon.

out & about

Colourful Kilmacolm

We hope that the sight of snowdrops and crocuses flowering on the laybys at both ends of the village cheered you up after a long winter, which, if not the wettest, was at times very cold –although at the time of writing, yet more cold weather is forecast. Crocuses will be followed by daffodils and hyacinths in our planters and before we know it summer will be here. Nothing like being optimistic. Our committee were out in March picking up litter (why are some people so thoughtless?) from our garden at Carriages and doing a little tidying up. One onerous task was removing some of the dogwoods which were gradually swamping other more desirable plants. When we started out with that sloping garden we gratefully put in whatever we were given, but we are now at a stage where we can be more selective, so certain ‘thugs’ are being gradually removed to make way for choicer specimens. We carry out a regular weed and tidy on the last Saturday morning of the month and it would be wonderful to have a few more helpers. Watch out for a Facebook post.

Members will soon be notified about our AGM and, believe it or not, we will be celebrating 10 years since our inception!

If you would like to be involved, either actively or by donating, visit www.colourfulkilmacolm.org.uk or phone Peter (01505 872448) or Liz (07963 973031) for more information.

Kilmacolm Horticultural Society

Bridge of Weir Hillwalkers

Despite the unpredictable weather we managed a selection of Sunday and Monday walks. Sunday 29th January saw us venturing onto Earls Seat (Campsies) in ferocious, near gale, conditions when none of the ladies were foolish enough to join us. Into February and we started with the Glen Ogle Trail, Lochearnhead on the 6th, followed by Black Law and Glengarnock Castle on the 12th and the 8 mile Loch Ard Forrest loop on the 27th. March 7th and we headed east, somewhat perversely, to climb West Lomond Hill via the dramatic ‘Bunnet Stane’ and were treated to a fantastic days walking with tremendous panoramic views over Loch Leven and beyond to the snow capped Cairngorms and as far as the Bass Rock. It was a bitterly cold wind that swept over the tops, but the views and coffee and cake at Loch Leven’s Larder ensured that it a memorable day.

We can be contacted for further information via our Facebook page.

Watersports Wet n’ Wild Egg-stravaganza

Clyde Windsurfing and SUP Club at Castle Semple Loch are hosting a `Wet N`Wild Egg-Stravaganza Easter Camp` for junior and youths, members and non members! From the 3rd to the 6th April 10am to 4pm, book up for fun and games on the water including windsurfing, stand up paddle boarding and Easter themed excitement. All equipment including wetsuits and buoyancy aids are included in the cost. Go to our website www.clydewindsurfing.co.uk and click the green button to `book SUP and windsurfing` to find the link for the camp!

Kilmacolm

Horticultural Society look forward to welcoming you to the last lecture of the winter season, on Wednesday 19th April in Kilmacolm Community Centre at 7pm when George Neil, past president of the Scottish National sweet pea, rose and carnation society will give his presentation on Roses.

The winter lectures combined with two afternoon garden talks have been well supported by members and visitors, but now we look forward to our summer syllabus which includes the annual plants sale, the summer outing - this year to Dumfries House and Gardens - and finally the highlight of our year which is the annual Flower Show on Saturday 2nd September.

The annual Plant Sale, with top quality plants from Parklea Nurseries, is to be held on Saturday 29th April at 10am - 12noon in the Centre, with together with Celebration Coffee Morningthe Saturday prior to the coronation of King Charles.

Sparkling Refreshments, royal Raffles, Music - entry at door £4.

Clyde have been running Performance SUP Race Training for over a year for adults and now its time to open it up to junior paddlers! We are so excited about this opportunity to offer a training program that will get youths to national racing standards, all you need is to bring commitment to training and a desire to work hard. Session will be 6pm on either a Monday or Wednesday at Castle Semple. Email admin@ clydewindsurfing.co.uk if you`d like to express an interest or for more information. Finally, keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for the start of our evening sessions after Easter at Castle Semple Loch for kids and adults. Cant wait to see you on the water! Team CW & SUP

RSPB News

It is Springtime and the wintry weather, rain and windy days are behind us as we look forward to warmer weather. At our reserve Spring has truly sprung. The trees are green daffodils are starting to appear and the woodland trails are full of birdsong. All our birds are finding a mate and building a nest., but other creatures are waking up from their long winter hibernation - insects are starting to emerge. As you walk the trails look out for frog or toad spawn along the edges of the path in puddles, or small ponds. Our winter visitors whooper swan, wigeon, goosander, goldeneye and teal - have now left our reserve to fly home to breed.

Soon we will be welcoming our summer visitors - swallow, swift, house and sand martins to our reserve. These small birds are fascinating to watch as they swoop and dive through the air and across the top of the loch to catch insects.

We also have events on for our visitors on Sunday 23rd April a Wildlife Guided walk, which is a bookable event. There is also a binocular and telescope weekend (see below) on the 15th and 16th April where our knowledgeable staff and volunteers can advise you on any future gifts for yourself or a loved one. Not forgetting our younger visitors, our famous Dinosaur Egg Hunt is a self-led event (details below).

At the reserve shop we continue to sell all your bird feeding requirements, fancy goods, binoculars and telescopes. For further info please contact us: – 01505 842663 or email us on lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk we are also on Facebook @RSPBLochwinnochNR and twitter @RSPBLochwinnoch

Dinosaur Egg Hunt

Explore the woodland at RSPB Lochwinnoch during the Easter holidays and see if you can find the missing dinosaur eggs on this self-led adventure for all the family!

1st to 30th April - 9.30am - 4pm - £3.50

A pack of wandering dinosaurs recently visited our Lochwinnoch nature reserve, but fear not, our brave wardens have rounded them all up and moved them on. We think some may have laid eggs when here though and we need your help to find them!!

We have marked the areas where dinosaurs were seen. Use your special dinosaur egg hunter guide, available to purchase from our visitor centre, to see if you can spot any eggs. If you do spot any, be careful not to get too close in case they hatch, you don’t want a baby dinosaur following you home! Just mark the number from the nearest sign next to the dinosaur you think laid the egg.

BinocularS and Telescopes WeekendS

If you’re thinking about buying new binoculars, telescopes, tripods or accessories then come along and meet our friendly staff and volunteers who will be here to give practical and unbiased advice on choosing the equipment for you.

Saturday 15th April, Sunday 16th April; Saturday 30th September, Sunday 1st October; Saturday 2nd December, Sunday 3rd December - 10am - 4pm. This is a free event. Call 01505 842663 for details.

Bridge Of Weir Horticultural Society

The Gardening Club kicked off this year on one of the coldest evenings of the winter....and when we headed out later, the snow was falling! Inside it was warm and welcoming - it was good to see friends again, chat to visitors and new members.

We all had a cheery and informative evening discussing our ‘Sow, Grow and Show’ plans for this year. We are growing sunflowers, broad beans and potatoes, but there was a great selection of different flowers and vegetable seeds for everyone to choose alternatives. A selection of 3 types of seed potatoes was on offer along with potato bags, so everyone has the chance to grow a bumper crop for the Festival and for consumption. Several gardening gurus were on hand to give tips. At our Garden Festival in August we hope for a colourful display of sunflowers, including the tallest, biggest or prettiest sunflowers. We will also have categories for potatoes: the biggest potato, the heaviest crop and doubtless the smallest and wonkiest examples. This always interests children!

Our young gardening buddies at the ELCC - the local nursery attached to Bridge of Weir Primary School - will also be given sunflower seeds and potato kits to bring on in their nursery garden and hopefully they will be showing their results too! It may be April, but as March was the coldest in 13 years, the soil remains cold. April is expected to be cooler than average, but as we move towards mid-month, temperatures will hopefully rise closer to the average. This month we meet on Thursday 13th April at 8pm in Freeland Church Hall. Our guest speaker will be Samuel Kennedy, an expert on begonias, author of “Understanding Begonia” and President of the Scottish Begonia Society. It’s going to be an interesting and informative evening!

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

Castle Semple Conservation Volunteers tackle

Rhododendrons: Thanks to our hard working Thursday volunteers highland path in Parkhill Woods is looking much clearer! Several great piles and areas have been cut and burnt, such a great improvement to the path’s habitat and future biodiversity. They have also helped with putting out trail cameras to investigate local wildlife. Like to join them?

Schools Update: The Park’s Renfrewshire Ranger team at Castle Semple have been working with many high schools helping them achieve their John Muir Awards. St Benedicts have been cutting and burning sitka spruce at Muirshiel. Johnstone High have been enhancing their school grounds and Renfrew High have been learning bushcraft skills, winter tree identification and mapskills. Well done all!

Youth Volunteers: Do you know a young person doing their Duke of Edinburgh Award? The Ranger Service runs a weekly volunteer group on Sunday mornings, 10am-12 noon to help achieve the hours required for Bronze, Silver or Gold completing a wide variety of conservation work. This month they’ve been working on meadows and rhododendron!

Meadow Creation Across Renfrewshire: The Park’s Countryside Office have been working closely with Renfrewshire Council to enhance and create wildflower meadows across the district. Sites include: Knockhill Park Renfrew, Barscube Road Barrhead, Woodside in Paisley, Auchenlodment Johnstone and Cunningham Gardens Kilbarchan. Hedgerows, nectar rich mixes with various annuals and perennials have gone in and will add colour as well as attract many butterflies, bees and other insects.

Lochwinnoch Community Walk: Lochwinnoch Community Walk Looking for some gentle exercise and good company? Lochwinnoch Community Walk meets every Monday (except public holidays) at the McKillop at 10:30am and are lead by the Park’s Ranger Service. Walks are 1-1.5 hours long at a social pace. Email: cmrp.rangers@renfrewshire.gov.uk Facebook: facebook.com/ClydeMuirshielRegionalPark Instagram & Twitter: @Clydemuirshiel

Kilmacolm Plant Sale

Outside Kilmacolm Library, Kilmacolm PA13 4LE Saturday 22nd April, 10am - 12noon

Nominated charity: Pancreatic Cancer Scotland 60% Admission by donation. Accessible by McGill’s buses.

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