Village News

Gryffe Camera Club

Gryffe Camera Club are holding an exhibition of photography at The Bridge, 63 Main Street, Bridge of Weir, from Monday 21st August to Friday 1st September

The Club have been sponsored by the National Lottery Community Fund to bring the love of photography to a wider audience in the community. The aim is to interest others in photography and welcome new members to the club.

The club meets at the Carrick Centre, Houston on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm between September and May and runs a varied programme of events. Please see the website at gryffecameraclub.co.uk for details.

Bridge of Weir Senior Citizens’ Assoc.

Afternoon Coach Trip to Doune Antique Centre and Callander on Wednesday 23rd August leaving at 1pm. There are a few seats available. If anyone is interested please phone Agnes at 01505 612032.

Ward 11 Cllr James Maclaren

T 0300 300 1291

E cllr.james.maclaren@renfrewshire.gov.uk F facebook.com/councillormaclaren

At the recent full council meeting we heard from Mr Bowles who had led the independent enquiry into the Dargavel primary school’s fiasco. In light of this new information, I put forward an amendment which read “Given the new information included in this external review, council agrees to review the pupil number projection for Park Mains secondary school and will reconsider the recent decision to add an extension to the school. Council officers will present the figures to relevant councillors and explain their workings in support of the recent decision to extend the school rather than build a new secondary school in Dargavel.” The provost initially accepted the amendment before being advised by her legal team that she should not accept it as it may let BAE away with not making any contribution to secondary school education. This is nonsense as the Section 75 does not say to which school the contribution should be used.

I have been urging Renfrewshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership to allow patients in Bridge of Weir to continue receiving treatments at the Strathgryffe Medical Practice without having to travel to Treatment Rooms in Linwood. Currently the proposal is for treatments, including B12 injections, to no longer be carried out at the practice.

My motion at the full council meeting, which called on the council to impress on Transport Scotland the urgency of their report into the accidents at the A8 Langbank roundabout, was agreed unanimously. Their initial findings should be available by October and I will continue to push for improvements and the need to see something done here to make the roundabout safer for residents joining and leaving the A8. The double yellow lines for Main Road near the roundabout are expected to be complete by the end of August.

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday 7pm - 8pm (Beginners)

Thursday 8pm - 9pm (Intermediate)

Saturday 11am - 12.30pm (Mixed Ability)

Sunday 11am - 12.30pm (Mixed Ability)

Yogabellies: Suitable for all levels of experience!

E yogabellieslyndsey@outlook.com

Sunday 6pm - 7.15pm (for Pregnancy)

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

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

The Ballet & dance Company:

E suzanne@balletanddanceacademy.co.uk

Friday 4.15pm - 5.30pm (P3 - P5) 5pm - 6.30pm (P6 - S2)

Saturday 9am - 9.45am (pre school) 9.50am - 10.50am (P1 - P2)

DDP Yoga: Full body workout to improve flexibility, strength, balance & cardio fitness.

T Laura 07474 443505

E energisewithlaura@gmail.com

Monday 6.15pm - 7.15pm

Councillor Surgeries: (Library)

Audrey Doig - Thursday 10th 7pm - 7.30pm

Robert Innes - Tuesday 15th 6pm - 6.30pm

E brookfieldvillage.org

F brookfieldvpa@gmail.com t @BrookfieldVPA

Brookfield Gala Day

Saturday 12th August

Brookfield’s annual Gala Day is almost here once again and fingers are well and truly crossed that weather conditions will be favourable!

The event is scheduled to take place in the park and will feature a variety of stalls and activities for all the family, including Tombola, Face Painting, Cake & Candy, Pig Racing, Crazy Crufts Dog Show, Prize Raffle, Coconut Shy, Beer Tent/Bar - and plenty more! Participants for the children’s Fancy Dress parade should assemble at Malcolm’s Yard at the bottom of Albert Road by 1.45pm. Visitors can also try their hand at bowls under the guidance of Brookfield Bowling Club. Afternoon Tea, with delicious home baking, will be available in the Village Hall from 2.30pm.

As usual, our Gala Day is very much ‘for the village by the village’ and donations for stalls will be most welcomeresidents should look out for an information flyer which will contain full details. Date for your diary - Monday 7th, members of the Bowling Club and Village Council will be knocking on doors around the village to collect donations for the Bottle Stall. Contributions of home baking for the Tearoom and Cake & Candy stall can be handed in to the Village Hall on the morning of the 12th. Thank you in advance for your continued support!

The Ballet and Dance Academy

DAY OF DANCE

Tuesday 8th August 10am - 3pm With guest choreographer Lisa Kennedy. Suitable for P4 upwards. No need to currently be a pupil of the Ballet & Dance Academy to take part. For more information and/ or to book a place E suzanne@ balletanddanceacademy.co.uk

Films at The Bridge

There will be two films each month at The Bridge from September to December with one showing in the afternoon and the other in the evening. There is no admission charge although donations are always welcome.

Forthcoming attractions are: The Kingdom of Heaven, The Last of the Mohicans, A Dangerous Method, Murder My Sweet, The Red Baron and two old favourites, the original King Kong and Treasure Island. A full printed programme is available from: The Bridge, 63 Main Street, Bridge of Weir.

Houston & Killellan Kirk

Even though July is usually a quieter time for our Church, with lots of people away on their summer holidays, this one seems to have been busy.

We welcomed our American Minister, Revd. Jonathan Warren and his family at the start of the month for his pulpit swap with our Minister, Revd. Gary Noonan. Everyone enjoyed meeting them and hearing about the First Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, Illinois, where Jonathan is based.

He and his wife Siobhan and their daughters, Hannah and Lydia, were delighted to visit 110 year old Marion Dawson, who is the oldest person in Scotland. They spent time exploring Houston and the local area and went to Edinburgh, to the theatre at Pitlochry, in Perthshire, as well as the Museum of Transport and the Burrell Collection, in Glasgow. The Warrens were also treated to an impromptu afternoon tea by the Guild. We hope they have had a wonderful visit and wish them safe travels as they head home to the USA.

Meanwhile Gary has been preaching at Jonathan’s Church, getting to know the congregation there, sharing stories and learning together.

Unfortunately, our annual Outdoor Service at Old Kilallan Kirk had to be moved indoors to Houston & Killellan Kirk because of the wet weather – but it was still lovely to see everyone.

The Wee Blether returns on Tuesday 1st August after a break for the summer. Why not pop along for a cuppa and a catch-up, from 10.30am to 11.30am?

Our Sunday Club, for children aged from 3 to 18, is back from 20th August.

It meets every Sunday during term time, from 10.50am to 12noon in Killellan Halls, at the back of the church, and are always happy to welcome new children.

Activities include things like den building, arts and crafts, playing games and using STEM challenges to explore some of the Bible’s core messages.

Other regular events include our Foodbank Collection every Tuesday, the Men’s Shed on Wednesdays and Houston Hello on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month.

Houston Hello

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

DAnCe

BookinG

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.

Over the next few weeks, we will be hosting The Elderberries on 10th August and Singing for Wellbeing with Daniella on 24th August

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.

Got any news?

News submissions included in our magazine are FREE! k info@advertizer.co.uk

Kilbarchan Guide Centre

Monday Art with Iain 1.30pm - 3.30pm

TUESDAY

Fitness with Carol 9.30am - 10.30am

THURSDAY

Yoga with Jacqueline 10am - 11am

FRIDAY

Art with Iain 10am - 12noon & 1pm - 3pm enquirieS: E kilbarchanguidecentre@gmail.com

Kilbarchan Guide Centre, High Barholm, Kilbarchan, PA10 2EF Registered Scottish Charity: SC033237

W www.girlguidingkilbarchan.weebly.com

Art Off The Square

KILBARCHAN LEISURE CLASSES @ Kilbarchan Guide Centre

ART: Learn to draw and paint in a friendly, relaxed, informal setting with tutor guidance. There are only a few spaces available in these well-established classes. Mondays 1.30pm - 3.30pm & Fridays 10am - 12noon.

NEW for autumn 2023: We are pleased to offer a series of 8-week courses each exploring a specific subject. The first of these is “Elements of Landscape Painting” which will feature demonstrations and exercises that will provide you with a range of techniques to improve and develop your landscape painting. Students will bring together the different aspects of the course to create their own finished artwork. Spaces in the Friday afternoon class are limited to 8 students. Class tutor Iain Richardson is a traditionally trained artist who studied Fine Art (Drawing & Painting) at D.J.C.A. Based at White Cart Studio in Paisley, Iain delivers a varied programme of art classes and workshops across Renfrewshire and Glasgow.

For further information please contact: iainrichardson52@gmail.com

FITNESS: On Tuesday mornings Carol leads a low impact fitness class from 9.30am till 10.30am. This Hustle Zero class is enjoyed with popular, as well as contemporary Scottish, music and has 0% of the jump impact but 100% of the fun. It’s great for core strength and balance.

YOGA: On Thursday morning our HATHA YOGA class meets under the expert guidance of Jacqueline from 10am till 11am. Hatha yoga is practiced at a slower pace, with focus on breathing, controlled movements, and stretching. This class is suitable for beginners as well as for those who have previously attended yoga groups.

Dementia Friendly Lochwinnoch Group

Friday 15th September - Tea

Dance (Music box) Golf Club, 2pm

Transport can be organised to event from your home if required. The 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.

A massive thank you to Lochwinnoch SPAR for giving £200 worth of SPAR tokens to the Dementia Friendly Lochwinnoch Group and £300 to the Lochwinnoch Arts Festival. It is very much appreciated.

Howwood Parish Church

The very popular Art Exhibition and Sale is on Thursday 24th & Friday 25th August from 2pm - 9pm and Saturday 27th from 10am - 4pm in Kilbarchan Parish Church Halls, off Steeple Square. £3 entrance includes refreshments with home-baking. Come along and enjoy the beautiful artwork.

ALL CLASSES START WEEK BEGINNING 21st AUGUST and are held in KILBARCHAN GUIDE CENTRE.

For all other enquiries and to book a place contact the Guide Centre: kilbarchanguidecentre@gmail.com

Kilbarchan Parish Church

Services continue on Sundays at 11am, conducted by Rev Stephen Smith. Come along and join us after the service for refreshments and chat.

Kilbarchan Parish Church Tots’ Club - The club had their annual summer party on Monday 26th June, when a good time was enjoyed by almost 30 tots along with their adults. After the holidays, the club starts on Monday 4th September from 9.15am - 11.30am

Kilbarchan National Women’s Register - In July the group enjoyed an interesting visit with a guided tour to Holmwood House in Cathcart, known as Alexander “Greek” Thomson’s finest building and a book group discussion on “Mongol” by Uugaana Ramsay, a fascinating story of her upbringing in Mongolia and eventual move to Glasgow. We also enjoyed coffee afternoons and a “pink” themed picnic.

As part of the Big Walk, one group walked 5 miles from Dalreoch to Balloch along the Leven Way and another did a tour of the Necropolis in Glasgow.

In August the group will discuss “The Dictionary of Lost Words”. Our Planning meeting for the autumn/winter session takes place in mid-August.

For further info about our group and NWR, phone 703786 and visit the website: www.nwr.org.uk

This month sees the end of an era. Our minister, Dr Alistair Shaw is retiring at the end of August. It has been an interesting few years and we wish Alistair all the best in his retirement. He is welcome to visit us any time.

Our service starts at 10am every Sunday and a welcome to all who would like to come and join us. All are welcome in this place.

Heart start courses in 2023

The next Lochwinnoch and Howwood Heart Start courses for 2023 are:

• Tuesday 19th September

• Tuesday 24th October

• Tuesday 21st November

Masonic Lodge Lochwinnoch (Main Street) 7pm

To book a place call Morag on 07868 752814.

We will cover resuscitation and using a AED and more!

Ward 9 Cllr Andy Doig

Over the summer I have made a substantial submission to Boundaries Scotland, of some 1,400 words, opposing their plans to partition Johnstone and the villages for Scottish Parliamentary elections and have put counter proposals which would keep Johnstone and the villages together. I have further called for a Boundaries Scotland Hearing. This is a quasi-judicial inquiry chaired by a Sheriff which can amend or even overturn what Boundaries Scotland wish to do.

I object to the Boundaries Scotland provisional proposals in the strongest terms. They breach many of the core principles of Boundaries Scotland, as publicly set out, namely they take little account of local authority areas, would break established community and administrative ties and create new constituencies with no cohesion in transport terms. This will lead to and increase voter apathy.

What concerns me most is that the three villages in my ward, Lochwinnoch, Kilbarchan and Howwood, would find themselves in a new Renfrewshire South which stretches to the South Lanarkshire border at Eaglesham. The demographics of that new seat, taking in places such as Clarkston and Thornliebank, would inevitably mean that the concerns of our area would be lost behind the claims of communities which are essentially Greater Glasgow.

I have come up with counter proposals for new Renfrewshire Holyrood constituencies, a new Renfrewshire South East on existing Renfrewshire South boundaries, a new Renfrewshire North and West containing Paisley Northwest ward and a new Paisley and Cardonald seat which takes in the Cardonald ward from Glasgow City Council. I have formally written to Boundaries Scotland demanding a Hearing to put my case forward.

Surgeries: 2nd Wednesday of month: 6.30pm, Lilybank Bowling Club, Johnstone & 7.30pm, the Old Library, Kilbarchan. 4th Wednesday of month: 6.30pm, Howwood Bowling Club & 7.30pm, Lochwinnoch Bowling Club.

T

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

F IndependentVoice/Ward9JohnstoneAndVillages

Bridge of Weir Choral Society - 75 th Season!

Bridge of Weir Choral Society was founded in 1948, so this year we are celebrating our 75th anniversary.

On 30th September 1948 there was an inaugural concert by the Greenock Male Voice Choir in the Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Crescent, Bridge of Weir and shortly thereafter, on 12th October, those interested in joining the new society met in one of the classrooms of the old school (now private residences). A week later, everyone was given a voice test! There were 46 members - 25 sopranos, 9 altos, 5 tenors and 7 basses. A history of the choir was produced for our 50th anniversary by choir member Neil Arthur, to whom we are indebted for this information.

Bridge of Weir Choral Society will resume rehearsals for the autumn season on Wednesday September 6th at 7pm in the Kidston Hall, Kilmacolm and the good news is we no longer require a voice test.

Preparations will start for the Christmas Concert - our usual mix of popular carols and less well-known seasonal songs - which this year is scheduled for Sunday 17th December.

We are actively seeking new members, so if you fancy having a go, please come along. There is no audition process (unlike in 1948!), music is supplied and you can come along for a couple of weeks before joining. You don’t need to be able to read music as, during rehearsals, our conductor Christopher Barr very patiently takes us through lots of note bashing until we’ve got it. In addition there are free online rehearsal materials for practice at home between rehearsals. For further information, please contact: mary.Leishman@4-consulting.com