Village News

Bridge of Weir Gala Day is back!

After the covid years, we had high hopes for last year which went really well, apart from the torrential rain and gale-force winds! We aren’t conspiracy theorists (yet!) so, undaunted, we are having another go!

Gala Day Programme

11.30am Parade entrants meet at Cargill Hall

12noon Parade leaves Cargill Hall

12.15pm Parade Awards Ceremony

12.30pm St Columba’s School Pipe Band Performance

12.45pm 2nd Port Glasgow

BB Marching Band Performance

WARD 9: JOHNSTONE NORTH, KILBARCHAN, HOWWOOD & LOCHWINNOCH www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/

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

1.30pm

Dance Performance from Dancewest Scotland

3.15pm Drawing of the Restaurant Raffle (tickets on Sale the Park Entrances)

4pm End of Gala Day

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

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

As always we are indebted to our sponsors whose generosity is much appreciated and to the local restaurants and takeaways who have donated vouchers for the raffle in aid of Calums Cabins.

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The committee is made up of willing volunteers from various organisations within the village, as well as some individuals who just want to do their bit. New committee members are always welcome, especially those with great ideas.

Committee meetings are on the last Tuesday of each month at 7pm in Hope Hall. We are grateful to Hope Hall for the free use of their facilities.

Enquiries: info@bowfestival.org.uk / 07779 165888

Bring your creation to Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Crescent at 11.30am on Gala Day and wear it / ride it / carry it in the Gala Day Parade all the way to Houston Park Road. Fantastic Prizes to be won!

Best Dressed House Competition

If you live in Lintwhite Crescent, Main Street or Houston Road, Bridge of Weir the Gala Day Parade will pass by your house. We’d love it if you could “do up” your house and garden for the occasion! (Gibb Stuart Vouchers for the winning houses!)

Best Dressed Shop Window Competition

If you run a business on the Parade Route please join in this village tradition and decorate your window. For the winning window we will make a donation of £100 to the charity of your choice

For information check out our facebook page or call: 07779 165888

The Bridge

Father’s Day - Have you remembered FATHER’S DAY which is celebrated on Sunday 18th June?

Why not purchase a card from our selection to let your Dad know how much he is appreciated?

Shop - TOYS, TOYS, TOYS. Do you know that we stock a variety of inexpensive small toys useful as gifts for birthday or other occasions for the wee ones?

Also colouring and dot to dot books, paints, chalks, playing cards - ‘Snap’ and so on. All this in addition to our stock of greetings cards, gift and bottle bags, wrapping paper and a variety of stationery items. The Bridge shop is wholly manned by volunteers to generate income to subsidise the Post Office. Please use us as often as you can, otherwise we risk losing the Post Office facility in Bridge of Weir.

Art Exhibition – Paintings by local artists are exhibited in The Bridge. They are also for sale – a lovely gift to yourself or friends and family. From 12th June – 7th July we are featuring local artist Margaret Harcus who is raising funds for MND charities.

Pre Loved Books - We have a selection of children’s books in excellent condition at 50p. Of course, we also have a big selection of books for grown ups too- fiction, biographies, special interest - all sorts. Mostly also costing 50p. In March alone, we had over 100 new titles handed in, so there is always something on the shelf you haven’t read.

Post Office - Are you struggling to find a gift for a special occasion? A gift card, which can be exchanged in many outlets, may be the answer. Please ask Donald, Fiona or Tracy for details.

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Cllr Alison Ann 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

Brookfield Village Hall

Karate:

Adults & children welcome (7+ yrs)

T 07850 407442

F Johnstone Tora-Kai Karate

Monday 7.30pm - 8.30pm

Zumba®:

E gems_paisley@hotmail.com

Tuesday 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Ballroom/Latin:

New members welcome. Private lessons available.

T Stewart 07710 464 969

E 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!

E 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:

E 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.

T Laura 07474 443505

E energisewithlaura@gmail.com

Monday 6.15pm - 7.15pm

Councillor Surgeries

(Village Hall Library)

Audrey Doig - Thu 8th @ 6.30pm - 7pm

AlisonAnn-Dowling-Fri16th@10.30am-11am

Robert Innes - Tue 20th @ 6pm - 6.30pm

E brookfieldvillage.org

F brookfieldvpa@gmail.com t @BrookfieldVPA

Ward 11 Cllr James Maclaren

Step up to volunteer! Like it or not, many of the things we all take for granted are enhanced by volunteers these days. For instance, volunteers run ‘The Bridge’ in which the post office can be found. Without these volunteers there would be no post office in Bridge of Weir. Brighter Bridge of Weir are a hard-working group of volunteers making the village look so smart with their sweeping and planting. Community Councils, who look out for the best interests of the villages and their inhabitants, are all volunteers. I have said it before, I rely on community councils to be my eyes to contact me to get things done/repaired/upgraded. All these groups need new blood or the strain can become too much for the few who give up their time. Many hands make light work, so please consider giving up some of your time for what may be an enjoyable hour or two.

Local Partnership committees met in May to agree a host of grants to worthy causes. Langbank Swing Park Regeneration group are applying for funding for new planters along Main Road and Christmas lighting. Bonnie Bishopton has a similar application for barrier planters and the Bishopton Week Group are looking for funding to help with Gala Day. I wish them all success with their bids and note that they are relying on volunteers to plant & maintain flowers, or for helping to run the event.

Further to last month’s article, my council motion to bring about some control and policing of noisy vehicles was successful and a report about this will come back to a future board meeting on how this might be stopped. After six months, we are still waiting for at least one street lamp in Bridge of Weir and others in Langbank to be repaired by Scottish Power. My council motion requesting the council to write to Scottish Power to speed up the repair process was accepted unanimously. Scottish Power have admitted failings and I will be meeting with them to discuss this.

Surgeries: 6.30pm - 7pm. 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.

ward 11 cllr Fiona Airlie-Nicolson

As spring really starts to kick in and people become more active in and around their local communities, so does the level of work and incoming mail from all areas filling up a councillors daily diary.

As a snapshot of a range of these issues.

Attending meetings with McGills on their proposal to withdraw and reduce a number of services across Renfrewshire. Meeting with the Police regarding their policing of the ward and also with Scottish Water regarding works on Main Street Bridge of Weir. Attending a variety of regular monthly meetings with community groups like Bridge of Weir and Langbank Community Councils and T.A.R.A - a local housing group who directly raise a wide variety of local issues from blocked drains on Houston Rd, unauthorised tree works, dumped material and flooding etc., it’s a very varied list, but the issues are important to those affected and the wider local community.

Roads - Renfrewshire Council publishes its road and footway programme for the year. This is an annual continuation of our £45 million investment in our roads and footways over a five year programme this year it includes;

• Bridge of Weir - Road Resurfacing, B790 Bridge of Weir Road (Houston Rd R/A to Main St), Craigbet Road, Bridge of Weir, Thornwood Road / Southbrae Avenue

• Footway resurfacing - Torr Road and Peat Road

• Langbank - Middlepenny Place/Road to Denniston Road. Middlepenny Rd (Railway to Main Rd)

The full list of roads are published on the councils website.

Brookfield Community Council

On Monday 8th May, Ellie Johnston of Brookfield planted a commemorative tree to mark the Coronation of King Charles III. In spite of drizzly weather the tree, a Sorbus Cashmiriana, was lovingly put in place. Ellie ‘talked’ to it and reminded it to grow strongly and blossom into a pretty tree. When established, the tree will have pink flowers in spring and bunches of white berries in autumn.

Ellie’s daughter from Canada joined her mum for the planting ceremony and afterwards friends and neighbours gathered in the Village Hall to enjoy tea and home baking.

Congratulations again this year to local community groups who have successfully received funding from the Council s local partnership boards. These boards are made up of local councillors and members of a wide range of community groups, who decide on grant applications and on a wide range of policy matters and issues for their local communities. These awards alongside the celebrating Renfrewshire fund which is organised by our youth and our Village Investment Fund. This was topped up once again in this year’s budget by £200k to continue to support specific village improvements. All details of these funds are also on the council’s website: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/villagesinvestmentfund

T 0300 300 1253 E cllr.fiona.airlie-nicolson@renfrewshire.gov.uk

lANGBANK village hall

Summer Beauty Event

3rd June 12.30pm – 10.30pm

Summer Pop up Fayre featuring local female entrepreneurs 24th June – time tbc

Weekly Classes

Monday

Move It or Lose It 9.30am

Tuesday

Pilates with Petra 9.30am Dru Yoga with Claire and Jo 9.30am

Wednesday

Circuits with Alyssa 6pm

Thursday

Seasonal Flow Yoga 10am with Mo (starts June 1st)

Pilates with Petra 6.15pm

Friday

Langbank Playgroup 9.30am

Dynamic Yoga with Petra 5.30pm

Sunday

Dog Obedience Classes 10am ALL WELCOME

For more information on any of these events or activities or to hire the hall contact Judy on facebook @ Langbank Village Hall

Langbank Coffee Morning For Alzheimer’s Scotland

A massive thank you to everyone who came along to the coffee morning in Langbank Village Hall, we raised an amazing £1,275 on the day and with the Just Giving page we have raised over £2,000 and counting …… your generosity and support has blown us away.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success and to the army of bakers who donated the most delicious cakes, we couldn’t have done it without you.

Alzheimer’s Scotland support people with dementia and their families to make sure nobody faces dementia alone.

Julie Gilmour is running the Glasgow 10k on Sunday 18th June for Alzheimer’s Scotland, if you would like to show your support, please visit the JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/julie-gilmour-1679396702715?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_ medium=one_page&utm_content=page/julie-gilmour-1679396702715&utm_campaign=pfpwhatsapp&utm_term=e12262d650e147d5aab567a940dd2129

Houston Agricultural Show

Saturday 3rd June houstonshow@hotmail.co.uk mo-secretary - 07734 150445 kerry - assistantsecretary - 07879437793

Come and join us for another year of celebrating Houston’s Agricultural heritage and modern farming. Featuring and supported by local businesses.

Take Part in Houston’s Got Talent 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 - The Field & Main Ring Come and meet our local livestock and farming community. Pick your favourites from our ponies, light horses, Clydesdales, cattle, sheep and more.

Volunteer - We Need You!

The show is run by volunteers and we always need more helpers planning and on show day. Could it be you? Get in touch.

Renfrewshire Labour’s Better Buses campaign has taken on a new urgency with more cuts to McGills bus services, so I have called for a series of public meetings across Renfrewshire as part of the fight back for better bus services. You’ll have a chance to have your say and keynote speakers will address the problems that need to be fixed to restore a decent public bus service. We’re calling for changes like fare caps and a return to buses under local control.

The first meeting will be held Tuesday 6th June, 7pm in Tweedie Hall, Linwood. At the meeting you can register your interest to join a Renfrewshire buses steering group. If you can’t make the meeting you can sign the petition to save our buses at www.BetterBusesRenfrewshire.co.uk. Many local services have been reduced in frequency, with fewer evening or weekend services and not many villages have train stations to provide an alternative form of transport.

A well-connected, affordable public transport system is a vital service for our communities in village locations. Inadequate bus services shut people out of employment, education, social activities and healthcare. The inevitable increase in car use also has consequences for our environment.

H.O.S.T

The Carrick Centre, Houston

Coffee Shop: CLOSED due to renovations - 01505 229597

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

Dance West Scotland: enquiries@dancewestscotland.co.uk

MONDAY

Houston & Killellan Kirk

We have made a cracking start on our Community Garden, as part of the Big Help Out, thanks to an enthusiastic team of volunteers. Despite the rain we managed to clear a large area of ground and the site looks much better already. We even had a couple of special visitors (‘King Charles III and Queen Camilla’) who popped in before we went inside to for delicious cream teas.

Weekly

DWL R2 4pm

TUESDAY

DWL 4pm

Hazel Connelly Art Class 1.15pm 6th & 13th

Cricketfield Owners Ass. R5 19th @ 7pm

Yoga - Laura Jane Lawson 7pm

WEDNESDAY

Community Council R4 21st @ 7.30pm

DWL 11am

DWL 3.30pm - 7pm

Moo Music 9.45am 12.30pm

Cllr Audrey Doig Surgery 19th@ 7pm

THURSDAY

Gryffe Quilting Group 1pm - 3pm 8th & 22nd 10am / 3pm 1st & 15th)

Folk Club 8pm

Move it or Lose it 10.30am – 11.30am

DWL 3.30pm

FRIDAY

Mr & Mrs McGhee MH 9am

DWL 3.30pm - 7pm

Houston Show MH 2nd @ 7.30pm

Yoga - Laura Jane Lawson 10.30am

Natalie Don MSP 2nd @ 12.30pm

Gavin Newlands MP 9th @ 12.30pm

Cllr Alison Ann Dowling 16th @ 11.15am

SATURDAY

DWL 9.30am - 5pm

Cllr Robert Innes 17th @ 11am

SUNDAY

Baptist Church 11am & 6pm

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

Booking enquiries:

T Bill Haddow 01505 690693

T Stewart Scally 01505 674277

T John McDougall 07735 473645

E thecarrickcentre@gmail.com

E hostbookings@outlook.com

Congratulations to P3 pupil Michaela Hughes, who decided to support Renfrewshire Foodbank as part of her Zero Waste Badge for Brownies. She raised £117 and used the money to buy 114 items. Well done, Michaela, and thank you to everyone who supported her. We have recently linked up with Langbank Church, who will drop off their foodbank collections to us every month, boosting the items that we send on to Renfrewshire Foodbank. Wonderful to be working together!

Jack McKechnie, Ian Gray and Jim McLaughlin successfully completed the ‘Mighty Stride’ as part of Glasgow’s Kiltwalk, raising money for two of our Kirk charities, MND Scotland and Parkinson’s UK. Well done!

Houston Hello

Houston Hello, our dementia inclusive drop in café, continues to be great fun and a popular place to be on the 2nd and 4th Thursday afternoon of each month. On 11th May we celebrated the King’s Coronation with some wonderful coronation cupcakes made by Bumblebee Bakes, Bridge of Weir that looked and tasted amazing – and we had great fun with our new parachute, as well as singing and dancing to our favourite music.

Following the success of our Ceilidh in March to raise funds for the group, we have been able to buy a new sound system, which was badly needed. We have also booked some fabulous entertainment and activities for the coming months.

We are delighted that musician Daniella will be joining us for some Singing for Wellbeing on the 4th Thursday of each month, and Kilmacolm Rock Choir will join us on the 8th June.

Please join us for a great afternoon, all are welcome. If you need any further information, please contact Frankie Greenwood on 07817 210777 or email familyandcommunity.houstonkirk@gmail.com.

The Carrick is looking for a person interested in a part time Management position starting in June. Basically 1 week on 2 weeks off, with flexibility to cover small projects, contact us on any of the provided numbers or emails.

As the first shoots of summer periodically appear, my mind is turning to the vast range of community events which take place in my ward. I very much enjoyed attending the annual Houston Kirk Carnival as I always do and I am looking forward to the annual Houston Agricultural Show, which showcases the very best of what Scottish agriculture both produces and brings to our tables. I am biased of course, but both my ward and the adjacent ward, which my husband represents, have a fantastic range of local gala days and events of that kind and we both love attending them all together.

Over the last month I particularly enjoyed attending the annual Brookfield Art Show in the Village Hall. I enjoyed meeting village residents and listening to their concerns and am so glad to see that the Art Show is one of many events up and running again after Covid.

As the weather improves and we all like to get out more, I appeal to everyone to do all they can to battle the constant problem of littering. This problem can get worse at certain times, and summer tends to be one of these periods. I know that the vast majority of people are decent and conscientious individuals and that we are only dealing with a small irresponsible minority, but I feel I have to reinforce the point that we all have a duty in this regard.

Surgeries: Thursday 8th June @ 7pmBrookfield Village Hall, Wednesday 14th June @ 6.30pm - Linwood TESCO Café and on Wednesday 21st June @ 7pm - Carrick Hall, Houston.

T 07768 130 935

E cllr.audrey.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Tuesday 20th June at 7pm

Masonic Lodge Lochwinnoch (Main Street)

The second Heartstart course in 2023

To book a place call Morag on 07868 752814

We will cover resuscitation and using a AED and more!