344 February 2024 - Gryffe Advertizer

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Inside this issue ... February 2024 #344 Marion’s 111th birthday

inkerman village

The forgotten airman

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page 8

page 27

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spotlight on gibb stuart

circus group flies high Pocket Garden Competition

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Directory at a Glance 1on1 Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 3D Garden Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 A Gallagher Painter & Decorator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 A&G Driveways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 A&M Sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 ABC Taxis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Access4Lofts Glasgow South. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Affluent Financial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Affordable Luxuries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Alan Beaton Funeral Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Andersons Jewellery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Andrew Hay Painter & Decorator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Apple Tree Gardens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Arco Locksmith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 At@ease Removals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Bathroom Solutions by MPH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Blazing Firewood Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Branch Out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Bridge of Weir Roofing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Bryan Slaven Slater&Plaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 C Hunter Plumber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Call-In Homecare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 CHG Architecture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 CLA Accountancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 CleanDryCarpets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Clearline TV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 CLH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Clippens Roofing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Cloudy2Clear Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Clyde Coast Crematorium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Collins Tyres. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Corum Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 DJY Joinery Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Eckory Locksmiths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Eclipse Deep Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Elliott Locks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Fastclean Scotland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Fencetec Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Frontline Building Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Garden Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Gasfit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 GasMan Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 GFM Painters & Decorators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Glenmoss Landscapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Gordon James Ceramic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Grid Design Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Gryffe Roofing & Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Hames Estates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 I D Plumbing & Heating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 I&J Building & Roofing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 J Andrews Garden Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 James Martin Painter & Decorator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 JBC Joiners & Builders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 John Morgan Painter & Decorator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 John Roach Funeral. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Johnstone Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk KC Roofing & Building. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Kenmore Tree Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Kieran Turner Aerial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Kingsley Wood & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Kodiak Trees & Landscaping Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Lady Grafters Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 LaserLight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 M Addison Joiners&Builders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 M&E Painter & Decorator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 MAS Electrical & Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Matthews Cleaning Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 McGowan Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 McLaughlan Metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 New Vision Opticians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Nix Hairdressing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Nutech Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Paul Jaconelli Pro Tiling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 PetVets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Phoenix Gas Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Platinum Cleaning Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Powerdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Purrfect Pet Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 R Williams Tree Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 RED Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Renfrewshire Handyman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Rightio Subcontractors Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Russell Milne Electrician. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Scottish Opera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SMG Roofing & Building. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Taylor Made Joinery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The Osteopaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Thomas McMaster & Son. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Travel Actually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 W B Smith & Son. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Next Deadline Next Deadline #341 #345 October March ‘24: 2023: Wednesday thth 13 14 September February

Future deadlines: #346 April ‘24: 13th March #347 May ‘24: 17th April

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Office Hours: Tues-Thurs 9am-4pm

In this Issue...

Spotlight on Gibb Stuart’s 04-05 John Fraser, Johnstone educator 06 How do we age well 07 The lost village of Inkerman 08 Farmers markets 10 Coming Events 10-17 Local groups 12-14 Lochwinnoch Arts Festival 17 Village News 18-29 Historic Buildings Grants 21

9am - 1pm

local news for:

The Forgotten Airman 27 Out & About 30-35 The Walk 34 Schools & Sports 36-39 Regular Meets 38 Sales & Wants 40 Pocket Garden Design comp 40 Defibrillators 40 Small Ads / Local Halls 41 Business Directory 42

It’s all great local news in your local Advertizer!

As we start a new year, we’ve decided to make a few changes to our layout. We have some interesting times coming and we’re looking forward to all the wonderful events and news throughout 2024.

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Friday

• Bridge of Weir • Brookfield • Houston • Howwood • Kilbarchan • Kilmacolm • Langbank • Lochwinnoch • Quarrier’s Village

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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Marion Dawson 111th Birthday Happiest of birthday wishes to Marion Dawson who turned 111 years young on Friday 19th January.

Marion, the oldest person in Scotland, celebrated her special day at Morar Living Bridge of Weir care home with her family, friends and staff members.

Marion was presented with her card from King Charles and Camilla by Dr Iain Finlay on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire , Mr Peter McArthie.

This month’s cover image: Bridge at Quarriers Village

by Douglas Forrest PCPC

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Spotlight on... Gibb Stuart’s Home Hardware Walking around Gibb Stuarts Home Hardware on the second last day of trading was a strange experience. With staff milling around, shelves nearly empty and the odd customer rummaging through the last of the stock, the atmosphere was a little sombre... Owner Sandy was in a reflective mood...

Walking around Gibb Stuarts Home Hardware on the second last day of trading was a strange experience. With staff milling around, shelves nearly empty and the odd customer rummaging through the last of the stock, the atmosphere was a little sombre.

I overhear an older gentleman talking to Katherine (Owner Sandy’s daughter) about the closure. He phrases such as ‘an institution’, ‘one of kind’, ‘exceptional service’ – sentiments that have now been echoed multiple times on social media. Quite simply, The Gibb Stuart family, their store and their staff are woven into the fabric of Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm village life.

Later, taking to owner Sandy Gibb Stuart, I start to unravel some of the stories bound up with this family’s business which has existed in these villages for over 142 years. I ask Sandy – who started working at the store aged 11 – how he feels about the last days of trading.

“It’s bittersweet really. I’m sad that I couldn’t hand it over to the next generation. Katherine could have taken it over, but there’s just is no guarantee that it would be as successful as it once was. It feels like the right time to move on.” He says ruefully.

Hugh Gibb Stuart

Despite the closure, the Gibb Stuarts’ legacy in hardware will live on through their part in the creation of the Home Hardware brand. To

discover how we got here, I am led down a path that encompasses the major upheavals of much of the 20th and 21th century.

In the 1880s, Sandy’s great grandfather William Gibb Stuart opened the first Gibb Stuart’s Hardware Shop in Kilmacolm. It operated ironmongery, painting and drysaltery. When Sandy’s grandfather, also named William Gibb Stuart, but known as Wullie, took over the business in the early to mid 20th century he concentrated on painting and decorating and set up shop in Bridge of Weir. Despite struggling with severe war wounds from the First World War, Wullie grew Gibb Stuart’s into a very successful business – based then, where Shimla Cottage is now. Having survived the tail end of Second World War, his son Hugh returned, albeit with thoughts of emigrating to Australia. This was not to be. When Sandy’s Grandfather Wullie became ill through his injuries, Hugh and his brother James took the helm of the business which they then steered very successfully into the hardware sector. The hardware shop - grew through the early 20th century with Hugh and his son Sandy in charge. After a lengthy planning process, the business moved into their most recent premises where Sandy and his family have been working since the early 90s.

In the late 1970s, the wholesale trade in Glasgow drastically declined due, in part, to the rise of chain megastores such as B&Q and Texas Homecare coupled with the 1970 economic crisis. When one of the last remaining wholesalers went bust, Hugh Gibb Stuart, Jim Ferguson – owner of Wright’s Home Hardware – and another half a dozen hardware retailers took the initiative and bought up their cut price stock and began

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“Our main aim was to give great customer service. This was the big one. Great customer service, a great selection of products and a competitive price - and I think we achieved all three. The problem came with the advent of the internet.

When Amazon and others began to dictate the price of everything it was a race to the bottom.”

The pandemic was to throw another curveball when falling sales were temporarily buoyed. They were seen as an essential store. As people threw themselves into home improvements like never before, the store was in high demand. This was a glimmer of hope.

But just as quick as it took off, it disappeared. At the end of the pandemic people went back out into the world, or moved again to online shopping. Around this time, Sandy also lost his father, Hugh. The double whammy was a big blow to the family.

“It was kind of the last straw. The joy had sort of... Disappeared.” He tells me.

Although endings are sad, they are also a chance to look back ... and forwards,

Katherine, Sandy and Christine Gibb Stuart selling it off.

Following a study tour of the US by Hugh and Jim they decided on a radical approach. In the US it was common practise for the retailers to own the wholesalers. The wholesaler was to be set up as a non-profit making operation – making enough money just to cover its costs. The money was to be made in the shops. As Home Hardware was already an established name in the US, Hugh, Jim and Co. Decided to take the name under license from the US. The Scottish ‘Home Hardware’ brand was born. It has gone from strength to strength and now the brand has 50 or so shops stretching from the north of Scotland to the North of England.

I asked Sandy what made his store stand out from chain stores such as B&Q etc.

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“But I really have enjoyed it. I am lucky to be someone who has loved to get out of bed and go to work. Not everyone gets that. One of the advantages of owning your own business is if you have a good idea and you’ve got the money behind it, you can really go for it and that’s a great feeling.”

He credits all of the staff that he’s had the pleasure of working with over the years who added greatly to the reputation the shops have gained.

I asked him what he will enjoy in retirement, he says, “I play the drums in a country band (called Delta Smoak), so I get to do more of that. And you’ve heard of ‘cobblers weans’. Got all the tools but no time? We’ve got a lot of DIY that needs doing that we’ve never had time for! But mainly I want to spend time with my wife Christine. We’ve got a trip to Australia planned to see relatives.”

Sandy is a soft-spoken man, clearly proud of his heritage, but evidently tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit are qualities that have been passed down through generations of Gibb Stuarts. It is fitting that he finally gets to go to Australia – after all, had life turned out differently, he may have been born there!

Despite the closure of Gibb Stuart’s Home Hardware, the Home Hardware brand lives will live on in Bridge of Weir with the opening of Wright’s Home Hardware at the old British Legion. It’s time once again to get out and support your local hardware store. #shoplocal

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New plaque commemorates Johnstone educator, musician and radical

A commemorative plaque has been installed at Johnstone Town Hall in honour of an educator, political activist and lifelong radical who hailed from the town.

John Fraser, who lived from 1794-1879, was famed for his involvement in the Radical Rising of 1820, where he, along with a number of other ‘radicals’, was tried for treason, following a week of strikes and unrest throughout Scotland.

Fraser went on to have a long career as an educator, weaver, poet, musician and political activist and a leading light in the development of the Johnstone Cooperative Movement.

The tribute erected at Johnstone Town Hall was a result of a council motion in 2020 from Independent Councillor Andy Doig.

This is the latest in a series of commemorative plaques that have been installed throughout Renfrewshire by the council in recognition of some of the area’s important and influential figures, including Kilbarchan piper, Habbie Simpson and Lochwinnoch businessman and Scottish nationalist politician, Roland E. Muirhead.

Renfrewshire Provost, Lorraine Cameron, said: “It’s important that we continue to tell the stories of the individuals who helped build and shape our towns and villages throughout Renfrewshire.

“John Fraser was one of the figures who contributed to Renfrewshire’s radical roots that still characterise the place to this day. I hope through this commemorative plaque more people will be able to learn about the important role he played in shaping the town.”

Tannahill Makar, Shaun Moore, has been inspired by Renfrewshire’s radicals in his own poetry and writings.

He said: “I believe it’s right for people to know about figures like John Fraser, as they strove to build a fairer society for us. They are important figures who dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others, which was a kind of heroism. That’s worth not only commemorating, but being thankful for too.

“As an artist, a writer, I believe that creativity and rebellion have always gone hand in hand. This is sometimes because our artists instinctively seek new ways of seeing or doing things, but more often because historically their role has been to advocate change or champion the voiceless and invisible people.

“Learning of the real sacrifices made by people like John Fraser has given me courage to stick my neck out, as a writer. Learning of the Weaver poets before him and of the songwriters, playwrights and visual artists who came after, gives me a sense of duty to carry on the tradition of challenging.”

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Ad v e r t i s i n g

Feature

How Do We Age Well?

Evidence suggests that those of us who “Age Well” have reduced chronic illnesses and recover quickly from illness, with reduced need for care.

Many factors affect successful aging. However, maintaining physical activity is “an important lifestyle factor that can delay the onset of chronic diseases, increase longevity, and improve cognitive and physical functions in older people.” (NLM) Lots of our patients come to see us to maintain their mobility so they can “Age Well” & continue to participate in the activities they love, like yoga and golf.

Some come regularly for an “MOT,” to make sure any problem areas e.g., arthritis in hips don’t become a limiting issue.

We also have patients who don’t exercise and who are scared to start because of pain or worry about causing an injury.

We have developed a supportive programme of 1:1 sessions for you with our team of physios & osteopaths, aimed at supporting patients to maintain, or get back to mobility and exercise. Whether that’s a longer walk, to maintain heart health or gentle strength training to improve your ability to manage anything from stairs at home, to exercise classes or balance, so you feel confident doing a gentle yoga class or aren’t afraid of falls.

We are offering a reduced fee block booking of six sessions with our team from January 2024 to help you meet your mobility goals.

Give us a call to arrange a chat about what we can do to help.

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The Lost Village of Inkerman The village of Inkerman lay one mile east of Linwood, just before the Railway Bridge near Ferguslie Park.

It had views towards the black cart mansions of Walkinshaw. The village was named after the allied victory at the battle of Inkerman during the Crimean War (1853-1856) which was ongoing at the time.

Naming mining villages after battles within the Crimean War seemed to be in vogue at the time. Housing settlements in the Linwood estate were similar named “Balaclava” and “Redan” after battles fought during the Siege of Sevastopol (1854-1855) around a similar time in Crimea.* Primarily a mining village, Inkerman it was founded around 1854

by Merry and Cunninghame – well-known industrialists of the day – who were involved in the excavation of coal and iron. The small hamlet was laid out as five rows (raws) or houses between two and four rooms for each house. These dwellings (originally) had no electricity and were lit by paraffin lamp. You took water from communal wells and toilets were in ‘privvies’ by the back door.

There was a school as early as 1864, a shop and – later – a bowling green.

At first the miners were relatively well-off. Work was plentiful and as the minerals they dug were in short supply. The Abercorn (Soon to become the Walkinshaw) Oil Company was opened in 1871 as an ancillary operation to the mines to extract oil from the shale.

However, all was to change when Britain started to import iron ore from the continent and many mines were shut and miners were plunged into poverty. There was a short revival in the village’s fortunes in the middle of the twentieth century when they found that huge piles of hardened clay – a spoil from the mining days could be made into bricks. Factories were set up at sites between the village and Boghead, Blackstoun and Selvieland Farms.

Inkerman Brick Works c 1930

This revival was short lived. The pits had closed at the turn of the century, and it wasn’t long before the brickworks and oil companies nearby also closed. In the 30’s Merry and Cunningham went into liquidation. The village was put up for sale, but there were no buyers. The school closed in 1938 and the children transferred to nearby schools. The village was demolished and the population moved away to Elderslie and Linwood. The schoolhouse, the Bowling Club, Abercorn Cottage and some scarring on the land is all that remains of Inkerman today.

Maps of this ‘lost’ village can be found here: https://maps.nls.uk/

The Battle of Linwood Bridge

Map shows Inkerman Village in 1912

It seems the miners had their own disputes as on Saturday 12th 1859 the miners from ‘The Redan’ in Linwood and their rivals from Inkeman on the other side of the Black Cart Water met in what was called The Battle of Linwood Bridge (Bridge Street, Linwood). Each side was armed with mining tools, swords and cudgels and a serious stramash was had resulting in the death of one man.

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Farmers Markets Saturday 3rd

Kilmacolm

Kilmacolm Community Centre 10am to 2pm 1st Saturday of the month f /kilmacolmfarmersmarket

Saturday 10th & 24th

Paisley

The Paisley Centre 10am to 2pm f /pages/Paisley-FarmersMarket/207097172654332

Sunday 11th

Renfrew

Robertson Park 10am to 4pm 2nd Sunday of the month f /RenfrewMarket

Saturday 17th

Bishopton & Dargavel Bishopton Train Station Car Park 10am to 2pm 3rd Saturday of the month f /The-Bishopton-DargavelFarmers-Market109902924512969

Saturday 24th

Gourock

Gourock Train Station Car Park 10am to 2pm Last Saturday of the month f /The-Gourock-Farmers-Market112064558070104

Sat 24th & Sun 25th

Barnhill Farm

Houston Road, Inchinnan 10am to 4pm Last Weekend of the month f /BarnhillAsparagus

Sunday 25th

Upcoming Events in February Thursday 1st 2pm - 3pm Paisley & District u3a Meeting Salvation Army, Mill Street, Paisley Former prison governor, Ian Gunn regales Paisley & District u3a with his ‘behind bars’ stories.

Houston Baby & Toddler Group West Halls, Main Street, Houston 9.30am to 11.30am During term-time - New prices are £3 per child and £1 for each additional child.

Scottish Country Dancing West Halls, Main Street, Houston 2pm to 4pm All welcome – no experience necessary.

Bridge of Weir SWI Cargill Hall, Bridge of Weir 7.15pm for 7.30pm Arlene Mackay will tell us about some of her holiday travels.

Guests are always welcome.

Our January meeting comprised a beautifully illustrated journey from Barra to the Butt where Duncan McEwan shared some of his photos from the Hebrides.

Kilmacolm Old Kirk OUTLOOK Team Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 2pm to 3.30pm A visit from CHAS (Children’s Hospice Across Scotland) charity featuring Robin House at Balloch. 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 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.

Friday 2nd from 7.30pm Kilbarchan Agricultural Society Whist Drive Kilbarchan Parish Church Hall, Steeple Street, Kilbarchan Tickets £5 (to include a light supper) Scottish Charitable Organisation SC051311

DATES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close, Paisley Directed by Dr George McPhee Rehearsal: 2.30pm (entry from 2pm) Singers - Adults £20, students/school £5, Audience: £10 (at door).

All funds raised support the music in Paisley Abbey Paisley Abbey (Church of Scotland) – Reg. Charity No. SC007633

Monday 5th 2pm Howwood Parish Church Guild Meetings Howwood Parish Church Hall, Main Street, Howwood Monday 5th February - Talk on “Food from the Bible” Monday 19th February - Speaker from the Guild Projects “Home for Good”

Tuesday 6th 2pm to 4pm Houston & Killellan Kirk Guild West Halls, Main Street, Houston Presentation on Cancer Research UK

Wednesday 7th Inverclyde CC Nominations Closing Date Kilmacolm Village Inverclyde: Kilmacolm and Quarriers Village. Candidates have until 4pm to submit nominations to become a Community Councillor. Visit the Inverclyde Council website www.inverclyde.gov.uk/ccelection

Thursday 8th Houston Hello West Halls, Main Street, Houston 2pm to 4pm Dementia inclusive café for those living with dementia and their carers. 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. All are welcome.

Solas Bereavement Drop In Group

If you run a not-for-profit club, group or organisation and have an event coming up let us know about it and we will include it in our Upcoming Events for FREE!

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Come And Sing Handel’s “Messiah” with Orchestra

Kidston Hall from 2pm The guest speaker is Daniela Hathaway who will talk on singing for wellbeing.

Erskine Waterfront 10am to 4pm Last Sunday of the month f /Erskine-Riverside-Market101613198665127

Sunday 4th from 6.30pm

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Saturday 10th Houston & Killellan Kirk Guild Daffodil Tea West Halls, Main Street, Houston 10.30am to 12noon Come along and enjoy tea/coffee and delicious home-baking. Tickets are £2.50 for adults and £1 for children

The Ginger Cat Presents ...

An Evening with Shari Low The Ginger Cat Children’s Bookshop, 35 Main Street, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3NR 7pm Join us for an evening with renowned author Shari Low. Shari will share insights into her bestselling books and discuss the motivation behind her books, including her books set in Weirbridge which might sound familiar to residents local to the bookshop. Shari lives between Scotland and the United States and has sold millions of books around the world. Meet fellow book lovers and have the opportunity to ask Shari any questions that you might have. Shari’s books will be available to purchase and have signed on the night. Enjoy a glass of complementary prosecco while you enjoy the evening. Tickets are available via the following link: www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/775550952777?aff=oddtdtcreator

Monday 12th Stargazing Evenings Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, Calder Glen Road, Lochwinnoch We’re delighted to once again host stargazing events and will cover Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Pleiades Star Cluster and Jupiter. Book early as places go very quickly. Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ ClydeMuirshielRegionalPark Instagram & Twitter: @Clydemuirshiel

Tuesday 13th 10am to 12noon St Fillan’s Pancake Tuesday St Fillans Church, Kilmacolm Come and enjoy yourself at our Annual Shrove Tuesday Coffee Morning. There will be lovely freshly made pancakes, home baking, big raffle and various stalls. Tickets £4 – or pay at door.

Johnstone History Society Masonic Hall, Collier Street, Johnstone 7.30pm Our speaker is Lizanne Henderson and her subject is “Witch beliefs and Animals in Early Modern Scotland,” An (Un)natural History.

Sounds very interesting and we hope for a good attendance of members, visitors will be made welcome. The Museum opens Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10.30am - 4pm. With a wide range of books and pamphlets for sale and these can also be purchased online at johnstonehistory.org We recently purchased a hanging rack for all our maps with a list attached which makes extracting the map you want very easy. We still have a very few calendars left if you did not get one before new year.

Submit your entry at:/ www.advertizer.co.uk/add-event/ or email us at: info@advertizer.co.uk

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Local Groups Bridge of Weir Senior Citizens’ Association Cargill Hall, 2pm. All welcome.

For further details contact: Mabel McPherson on 01505 615836 or Agnes McKechan on 01505 612032, email agnes_mckechan@ hotmail.com.

SWI Cargill Hall, Monthly on Thursdays, 7.30pm.

We welcome visitors as well and members each meeting.

Wednesday 14th Houston & Crosslee SWI Carrick Centre, Main Street, Houston 7.30pm “Corners Evening” when we will be shown a variety of different crafts. In March we will have a talk about Legal Matters that could affect us all. Please come and join us, you will be made very welcome. We meet on the second Wednesday of the month. If you require further information please phone 01505 325452

Men’s Shed, 10am to 1pm Come along and learn new skills, or improve old ones, and enjoy the camaraderie of our friendly group.

Every Wednesday. For more details please contact: mensshed. houstonkirk@gmail.com Toddler Group

9.30am to 11.30am During term-time - New prices £3 per child and £1 for each additional child, includes a snack.

For more details please contact: houstontoddlers@hotmail.com

The Wee Blether

McKillop Hall, Main St, Lochwinnoch from 7.30pm A Representative from the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance will give us an interesting talk on the work they do in helping and saving lives.

Kilmacolm Community Centre, Lochwinnoch Road from 2pm A welcome to our good friend Sharon Gemmell and her colleagues from Parklea Branching Out in Port Glasgow.

Plans are underway for the building of a multi-purpose community hub with a cafe, and learning centre in the grounds of the nurseries, near to the footpath alongside the River Clyde. We look forward to hearing more from their team and supporting the work of Parklea. Tea and coffee will be served following the talk.

Community Coffee Morning Howwood Parish Church Hall, Main Street, Howwood 10am to 12noon It’s St. Valentines day, so get all excited.

March ‘24 issue Deadline!

Please send your submissions or advertising queries to: k info@advertizer.co.uk by the end of the day to guarantee inclusion!

Thursday 15th 2pm to 3.30pm Kilmacolm Old Kirk OUTLOOK Team Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm Singing for Health and Wellbeing, with special guest Daniela Hathaway.

Friday 16th Dementia Friendly Lochwinnoch Film Afternoon ‘Mary Poppins’ Calder Church, Church St, Lochwinnoch PA12 4AE 1.30pm We would appreciate a small donation to support the group can we suggest £3 at the film show. Transport can be organised from home if required to events. Dementia Friendly group aims to reach people with Dementia, their carers or family. For more information contact 07868 752814.

Kilmacolm & Port Glasgow Agricultural Society Annual Whist Drive Kilmacolm Community Centre, Lochwinnoch Road from 7pm Tickets priced £5 (payable on the night) include a light supper. There will also be a raffle.

Foodbank Donations

Tuesday 20th

10am to 12noon & 7pm to 8pm Donations welcome every Tuesday.

Houston & Killellan Kirk Guild West Halls, Main Street, Houston - 2pm Presentation on the Vine Trust (Guild Project)

Kilmacolm Old Kirk Good Book Group Kilmacolm Old Kirk, High Street, Kilmacolm 7.30pm

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Lochwinnoch SWI

Kilmacolm Horticultural Society Lecture

10.30am to 11.30am Join us for a cuppa and a catch-up every Tuesday. All are welcome.

Kirk Guild, 2pm 1st and 3rd Tuesday monthly.

For more details please contact: w.dunlop@yahoo.com

Wednesday 21st

Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Crescent, Bridge of Weir 2pm With Sharon. All welcome.

West Halls, Main Street, Houston 2pm to 4pm Houston Hello is for people living with dementia, their carers and anyone else who enjoys a cuppa and a chat. 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. All are welcome. Contact Frankie Greenwood for details: 07817 210777 E: familyandcommunity. houstonkirk@gmail.com

Masonic Lodge, Main Street, Lochwinnoch 7pm

Bridge of Weir Senior Citizens’ Association

Houston Houston Hello

Heart Start Course

Saturday 24th 7pm Bardic Supper in Paisley Paisley North Church, Abercorn Street, Paisley PA3 4AB ClannGàidhlig, the local community group for Gaelic speakers and enthusiasts, will be holding a Bardic Supper (think Burns Supper but with a Gaelic poet rather than Burns as the focus). Our guest will be the well known Margaret Nicolson (Mairead na h-Òganaich) who will talk about, and sing, some of the works of Murchadh MacPhàrlain, the Melbost Bàrd, whose best known work is “Cànan na Gàidheal”. Soup and a hot buffet will be served before the presentation. Tickets (£17), for more info e-mail: fios@clanngaidhlig.org or by tel 0141 887 8392 . Tickets must be booked no later than Friday 16th February.

Monday 26th 7pm The Ginger Cat Bookshop presents ... Gary Maclean, Scotland’s National Chef Bernie’s Cafe Deli, Neva Place, Bridge of Weir Get ready to be inspired as Gary Maclean shares his culinary journey, anecdotes, and insights from his latest book. This is a unique opportunity to hear from a Masterchef: The Professional’s Champion, who has conquered the culinary world with his innovative recipes and passion for food. Gary will talk about the inspiration behind some of his favourite traditional dishes featured in the book and provide tips and tricks to elevate your own cooking skills.

Whether you’re a seasoned chef or just starting out in the kitchen, this event promises to be a delightful and educational experience. There will be a licensed bar on the night and Gary’s books will be available to purchase and have signed on the night. Tickets are available from eventbrite link: www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/779725850007?aff=oddtdtcreator *Please note this is a bookshop event & Bernies has been hired as the venue*

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Tuesday 27th Valuation Day Kilmacolm Community Centre, Lochwinnoch Road Valuation day for watches and jewellery.

Wednesday 28th 7.30pm to 9pm Houston & Killellan Kirk Book Club Killellan Halls, 13A Kirk Road, Houston PA6 7HW We meet on the last Wednesday of each month.

All welcome.

Bridge of Weir Senior Citizens’ Association

Kilmacolm Dramatic Society Following on from the success of Kilmacolm Dramatic Society’s Pantomime ‘Treasure Island’, the society has already begun rehearsing for their next production ‘Murdered to Death’.

Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Crescent, Bridge of Weir 2pm With the “Music Box”. All welcome.

Thursday 29th 7pm for 7.30pm

Don’t miss this hilarious spoof by Peter Gordon taking place in an old country manor in true Agatha Christie style.

Kilmacolm Old Kirk Movie Night Kilmacolm Old Kirk, High Street, Kilmacolm Come along and see “It’s Complicated” on the big screen - a romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Free entry. A glass of wine or soft drink on entry. Donations welcome.

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Will this strange gathering of characters be able to solve the murder? Why not come and find out?

Performances on 25th, 26th and 27th April 2024.

Tickets available through our website from the beginning of March.

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Saturday 23rd March

Local Groups SWI, 7.30pm Carrick Centre, Main Street Please come and join us and be part of a nationwide group of women all with the same vision.

You will be made very welcome.

We meet on the second Wednesday of the month. If you require further information, please phone 01505 325452.

Book Club, 7.30pm Killellan Halls, 13A Kirk Road. All welcome. For more details please contact: smck.kilallan13@hotmail. co.uk.

Kilbarchan National Women’s Register For further info call 703786 and visit the website: www.nwr.org.uk

‘Cuppa at the Kirk’ Kilbarchan Parish Church Hall, Every Tuesday, 2pm - 3.30pm Open to everyone to come along for a friendly chat and a cuppa.

A warm welcome is extended to all.

Lochwinnoch Arts Festival

Spring Ball 2024

upcoming events 2024 Mini-Festival 15 – 17 March 2024 th

th

All events at McKillop

15th March Christine Bovill From Piaf to Pop £12

16 March th

Craft Fair - Free Michael Hopcroft Photography - Free Diarmid MacArthur Book Launch - £5 Bobby Motherwell Musician & Poet Supported by RSPB Lochwinnoch - £5 “Cua” Top Irish Band From County Laois, Ireland - £12

17th March Ali Affleck - £12

19th April D’Eldorados Pure 1950s rock ‘n’ roll/rockabilly - £12

10th May James Grant - £14 / £16 Plus music in pubs over the weekend!

Tickets available online at: www. lochwinnochartsfestival.couk or in local outlets

Voco Grand Central Hotel This year we celebrate, 35 years of care since your Little Hospice with the Big Heart opened its doors back in 1988!

We want to celebrate and express how grateful we are for the care and generosity of our amazing supporters. It is because of you, that we can continue to offer our meaningful, specialist end-of-life care to our patients and families when they need it the most.

With your support over the years we have been able to ensure that our patients and families are at the heart of everything that we do. We have provided compassionate, wrap-around palliative care services for people of all ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations, which helps improve quality of life and enhances mental health and wellbeing.

Leave your troubles behind and follow your heart’s desire, to the St Vincent’s Hospice Spring Ball.

On arrival enjoy a glass of fizz and delicious canapés while you peruse a selection of stalls of independent local retailers and our very own gift shop.

You will then be welcomed in to The Grand Ballroom to enjoy fine, flavoursome food and drinks. While our amazing host, Alex Fleming will ensure you are entertained throughout the evening, we will be holding an incredible auction and raffle to help raise vital funds for the hospice while offering some superb prizes.

Finally, we will have you dancing the night away with the ever so popular Ceilidh Band & DJ set by no other than the incredible chart topping Whisky Kiss.

Get your glad rags on and join us for an amazing evening all while raising vital funds for our Little Hospice with the Big Heart!

Monthly Ceilidhs - Paisley Highlanders Association Saturday 10th February, 7.30pm (Doors 7.15pm) Take part in all your favourite dances ... Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant, Strip the Willow, St. Bernard’s Waltz and many more! Admission £6.

Elderslie Village Hall, Stoddart Square, Elderslie PA5 9AS. Tel: 07710 162087

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Circus group flies high with Scotland’s first specialist trapeze rig Community Circus Paisley has become home to Scotland’s only full-scale flying trapeze equipment, giving budding performers, hobbyists and the local community access to unique experiences and training.

The new kit comes as a result of funding from responsible finance provider Social Investment Scotland (SIS), which has provided a loan of £85,000 to cover the cost of the new apparatus.

The full-scale flying trapeze is one of only two in the UK and will open up an additional revenue stream for the Community Interest Company as performers travel far and wide to make use of the equipment. As well as being a training centre for professionals, the circus group works closely with the local Ferguslie community, offering a range of youth activities, outreach programmes and classes attended by over 100 children and adults each week.

The circus school was established in 2021 to provide access to training space, specialist equipment and powerful tools for self-empowerment and expression, led by world-class experts in circus arts.

One of its founders previously trained with Cirque du Soleil.

As well as the flying trapeze kit, the former church building is also equipped with ariels, silks, ropes, hoops and wall-running for the full circus experience. The circus also hosts a variety of other programmes, such as working with care home residents and classes in Gaelic. To try and encourage residents to consider taking up a new hobby, the circus conducted a study with Glasgow University on the benefits of risk-taking, with respondents seeing positive benefits from doing a variety of exercises at the circus.

Shirley Alexander, director of finance at the school, commented: “We started the circus with the goal to give back to the area and make a difference, as well as put the circus community of Scotland on the map. We see a lot of heart here in Paisley, so we are looking to play up to what’s strong, not what’s wrong.

“We care about our people, our visitors and our performers, and we want them to have the best facilities for them to excel in their hobbies and careers, which is exactly what the new flying trapeze rig will do. Our location in the former parish church is perfect, as the high ceilings meant we were ready to go when it came to adding the new apparatus. We want to continue nurturing our talent, but also give back to the people of Paisley with our various outreach programmes.”

Chris Jamieson, head of investment at SIS, added: “The circus is at the epicentre of creativity in the area and has fast become a popular community hub. The new trapeze installation will open up opportunities for training budding performers and adrenaline-seekers, as well as providing additional income for the organisation, which is crucial for supporting its local impact and various outreach programmes.”

Scottish Opera - Opera Highlights Beacon Arts Centre, Custom House Quay, Greenock PA15 1HJ Sunday 11th February, 7.30pm Johnstone Town Hall, 25 Church Street, Johnstone PA5 8EG Thursday 14th March, 7.30pm A troupe of talented singers, including Scottish Opera’s 2023/24 Emerging Artists, traverse Scotland to bring an original piano-accompanied production to venues across the country.

This vibrant, one-of-a-kind show is created specifically for Scottish Opera each season.

Flinging four singers and a pianist into the oh-so-familiar setting of a wedding reception, they explore the highs and lows of love in opera. Programme includes music from the likes of Mozart, Verdi, Donizetti, and Tchaikovsky, as well as a world premiere by Toby Hession.

Running time: 1h 45m including interval. Tickets £18, £6 for Under 26, free for essential companions. Book now: scottishopera.org.uk

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Kilmacolm Kidston Hall, High Street

Solas, 2pm 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, 2pm to 3.30pm 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 1st and 3rd Thursdays monthly from 2 to 3.30pm. A delicious afternoon tea is provided by the volunteer team. Meetings traditionally enjoy a guest speaker, videos, quiz, tombola, easy keep fit.

Good Book Club, 7.30pm Everyone welcome.

Nifty Knitters, 2pm Group meets every Wednesday in the Lounge.

Foodbank Donations Kilmacolm Old Kirk Twice weekly. Donations can be made at Sunday services, or through any of the leaders who run church activities in the Kidston Hall.

Lochwinnoch Save a Life Scotland Masonic Lodge, Main Street

St Vincent’s Hospice gets National Lottery boost St Vincent’s Hospice in Howwood has been successful in securing a major award from The National Lottery Community Fund.

The grant, worth over £92,000, will help fund the expansion of the Hospice’s Community Nursing team, supporting the Hospice to recruit a new Lead Community Nurse Specialist and an Initial Contact Nurse. The expansion of the team will help ensure that people from Renfrewshire and the neighbouring communities of North Ayrshire with life-limiting illnesses can continue to receive vital care in their own homes.

Gillian Green, CEO at St Vincent’s Hospice, said: “Everyone connected to the Hospice is extremely grateful for this very generous support from The National Lottery Community Fund.

“We know the importance of making every moment matter for people living with a life-limiting illness and the key role our nursing team play in making this happen. This donation will help ensure more people across Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire can be cared for in the place that’s most important to them – their own home.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to National Lottery Community Fund for their donation, and to National Lottery players for helping make this happen.”

The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still said: “National Lottery funding can make amazing things happen in local communities across the country. This project delivered by St Vincent’s Hospice is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved not only during the Festive season, but all year round, when people come together for a common cause or to help others.

Covering resuscitation and using a AED. To book a place call Morag on 07868 752814.

“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work which is making a real difference to so many.”

SWI McKillop Hall, 7.30pm New members and visitors most welcome.

Like many charities, St Vincent’s Hospice relies on support from the public and from charitable trusts and foundations to continue offering care and support to those affected by life-limiting illnesses.

Dementia Friendly 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. For more information contact 07868 752814.

Further details of the work done by the Hospice and ways to support the charity are available at www. stvincentshospice.org.

Transport can be organised from home if required to events.

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V illage News

Next Deadline... #345 March 2024: 14th February ‘24

Thinking about trying something new in 2024?

The Bridge www.thebridgebridgeofweir.com 63 Main Street Bridge of Weir (Hours: Mon to Sat 10am - 1pm and Mon 2pm - 5pm)

Why not give volunteering a try!

Your support – thanks to all our lovely customers for using our post office and shop over the Christmas season. We hope you will continue to use the post office and shop in 2024.

It’s a great way to make a difference in your local community, gain new experiences and meet new people.

Valentines Day – in stock is a selection of Valentines cards for that special person in your life.

There are so many ways you can support St Vincent’s Hospice through volunteering.

Mothers Day – in stock is a selection of cards for Mothers Day on Sunday March 10th.

• Pre-loved Retail Volunteer

Easter – with Christmas a fading memory, we will soon have Easter cards and some cute knitted chicks and bunnies available for purchase. Easter Sunday is 31st March this year.

• Gift Shop Volunteer • Online Retail Volunteer • Day Services Volunteer • Clinical Admin Volunteers • Bucket Collectors • Event Volunteers No matter how much time you have to spare, every moment of volunteering matters and contributes to allowing us to provide hospice care to our patients and families.

Many volunteering opportunities are flexible and can be tailored to fit different schedules. Whether it’s a few hours a week or a single day of service, volunteers can find opportunities that work around their availability. Even an hour a week can make a big difference to the services we can offer.

Or to find out more about each of our roles and apply on our website www. stvincentshospice. org/volunteeropportunties

One4All Gift cards – the post office counter stocks these very popular gift cards which are valid at a wide range of retailers. Perfect for any of the occasions mentioned above.

Café – our café is open for reasonably priced drinks and biscuits. Switch your heating off for a while and stay warm in The Bridge instead!

Post Office - with our banks either closed or opening on a part-time basis please remember you can make cash withdrawals and pay cheques into your bank account through our post office counter. Donald, Fiona and Tracy will be happy to assist with your banking needs and all other postal services.

Films – a variety of films continue to be shown throughout the winter/spring – check the programme on the website, or pick up a programme from The Bridge.

Hearing Aid Batteries - on production of your yellow Hearing Instrument and Battery Record Book and the signing of the battery receipt sheet, the volunteer on duty will issue you with one battery card for each hearing aid.

On the last Friday of the month there will be a clinic at The Bridge from 11am – 12.45pm for minor servicing of hearing aids.

Finally a big thank you to our dedicated team of volunteers who keep The Bridge running smoothly every week of the year.

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Councillor Details 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

14th February ‘24

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brookfield village hall

Karate: Adults & children welcome (7+ yrs) q 07850 407442 f Johnstone Tora-Kai Karate Monday

7.30pm - 8.30pm

Zumba®: k gems_paisley@hotmail.com

Tuesday

6.30pm - 7.30pm

Ballroom/Latin: New members welcome. Private lessons available.

q Stewart 07710 464 969 k 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! k 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 Academy: k suzanne@balletanddanceacademy.co.uk

Friday Saturday

4.15pm - 5.30pm (P3 - P5) 5pm - 6.30pm (P6 - S2) 9am - 9.45am (pre school) 9.50am - 10.50am (P1 - P2)

DDP Yoga: Full body workout to improve flexibility, strength, balance & cardio fitness. q Laura 07474 443505 k energisewithlaura@gmail.com Monday 6.15pm - 7.15pm Councillor Surgeries: (Library) Audrey Doig - Thursday 8th 7pm - 7.30pm Alison Ann-Dowling - Friday 16th 10.30 - 11.30am Robert Innes - Tuesday 20th 6pm - 6.30pm k brookfieldvillage.org

f brookfieldvpa@gmail.com t @BrookfieldVPA

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Ward 11 ...

Cllr James Maclaren For many years now, parking in BoW has been an issue at certain times of the day. There just doesn’t seem to be enough spaces in the village. I am pleased to say that a Parking Order is being drawn up to restrict parking in the Livery Walk car park to a maximum of 3 hours from Monday to Friday. This is to deter commuters from parking there but make it easier to park for some shopping. I have suggested that the restriction should be extended to include Saturday mornings as that can be a very busy shopping time. Permits will be issued to local residents.

I have received numerous complaints about missing street lamps. By the time you read this, a contractor should have been appointed and started the work of replacing most of the cut down lampposts, giving priority to the darker streets where more than one post is missing.

At last, BoW is free of roadworks, touch wood. No more flooding from the sewer crossing the Main Street, or so we are promised. Unfortunately, there will still be flooding in the villages from a combination of heavy storms, blocked gullies, etc and lack of money and will power to fix the problems. I will keep pushing for better drainage and flood prevention.

By the time you receive this magazine, the BoW Men’s Shed will have held their second public meeting and hopefully have a committee and a constitution agreed.

Having seen how well the Houston Men’s Shed works, I am hopeful for many benefits to the community in the future.

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. No need to book.

q 0300 300 1291 f /councillormaclaren

On a cold and damp night in mid December, a number of intrepid members of Gryffe Valley Rotary set out with Santa’s Sleigh to collect funds for Renfrewshire Young Carers. Over £275 was raised, thanks to the generosity of residents in the Weirs Wynd estate in Brookfield.

The picture shows Santa Claus, just as he was about to head back to the North Pole.

Pamela Jean Wilson Wellwishers attending Pamela’s funeral on 18th January contributed a total of £850 for donation to Macmillan Cancer Support.

The family thanks every one for their generosity and sympathy expressed.

k cllr.james.maclaren@renfrewshire.gov.uk

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Santa’s Sleigh in Brookfield

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Houston & Killellan Kirk The festive season is almost a distant memory now and spring is just around the corner – hopefully with the promise of warmer weather!

Our annual appeal for Gifts for Prisoners’ Children was very well supported and we were delighted to hand over around 100 bags of presents to CrossReach, the social care arm of the Church of Scotland.

These gifts make a real difference to the children and families they work with and are a lovely way to show we are thinking of others.

A huge thank you to everyone who brought their Christmas cards to our Kirk Postie again this year – and to our wonderful team of volunteers who delivered them. Together we raised more than £970 for St Vincent’s Hospice. Well done everyone!

P6 pupils from Houston Primary School were invited to come along and ‘Unwrap’ Christmas through a series of fun activities and crafts, supported by volunteers from our church community. It was great to welcome them and have some intergenerational fun!

We were also delighted that our eggs-ellent alternative Christmas gifts to support the Mwandi Chicken Project raised more than £570.

Our Christmas services, including the Nativity Service, Watchnight Service and Christmas Morning Worship, were all very busy and it was lovely to see everyone.

On January 14th we said farewell to our minister, Revd Gary Noonan and his family

as they are moving to the USA where Gary will be Lead Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood, Missouri.

We are so grateful to Gary, Ruth and the boys for the huge contribution they have made to our church and community and wish them well.

The Revd Barbara Ann Sweetin has been appointed as our Interim Moderator and locum and will carry out the usual preaching and pastoral duties in the meantime.

Houston Hello We had a fabulous time at our Christmas party, with lots of singing, dancing and fun with DJ Jubbly - A wonderful high note to end the year on and celebrate the happy times we have shared together.

In 2023 our group was lucky enough to welcome so many new faces that we had to move to a bigger space in the Church Halls just to be able to accommodate everybody! It is lovely to see so many familiar faces when we meet and great to see everyone relax and enjoy themselves.

There are lots of fabulous activities planned for the next few months – we have Screen Memories on Thursday 8th February and Singing for Wellbeing with Daniela on Thursday 22nd February. All are welcome!

We meet from 2pm - 4pm at the Church Halls on Main Street in Houston (next door to the Carrick Centre). Please contact Frankie on 07817 210777 for more information or email familyandcommunity.houstonkirk@gmail.com

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Historic Buildings in Villages Grants Now Open Is your property built before 1945? Well recently launched grants for the Renfrewshire area may be of interest. The Historic Buildings in Villages Grants are open to help owners of properties built before 1945 to repair and maintain their buildings to the appropriate conservation and heritage standard. of Weir, Houston, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch.

The grants include: • Maintenance Planning Grant - supporting owners to commission a conservation-accredited advisor to survey their property and prepare a costed maintenance plan, covering 80% of eligible costs up to £1,500 • Small Repairs Grant - covering up to 60% of eligible costs for repairs between £3,000 and £8,000 • Standard Repairs Grant - funding up to 50% of eligible costs for repairs over £8,000 up to a maximum award of £25,000.

The new scheme is open to residents across 11 villages: Bishopton, Bridge of Weir, Brookfield, Crosslee, Elderslie, Houston, Howwood, Inchinnan, Kilbarchan, Langbank and Lochwinnoch Priority is being given to properties in village centres and applications from owners within the four designated conservation areas of Bridge

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The scheme will also focus on listed buildings, those at risk and consider whether the property is occupied or has a long-term sustainable function.

Applications to the Maintenance Planning grant are open until 29th January 2024 while the Small and Standard Repair grants close on 25th March 2024.

Full eligibility information and the application process is now on our website: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/historic-buildings-grants We will be promoting the grants through posters in village shops and at community halls and would welcome your support in raising awareness with your audiences.

If you require any further information, regenerationandplace@renfrewshire.gov.uk

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please

contact

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H.O.S.T.

The Carrick Centre, Houston

Ward 10 ...

Centre : q 01505 229597 Coffee Shop: (Monday - Sunday 10am - 4pm) q 07794 923 068 Gryffe Manor Out of School: (Monday - Friday) q 01505 615438

Cllr David McGonigle

MONDAY

Weekly

Art Mindfulness Handiwives Diaporama

7pm knicolson36@yahoo.co 7.30pm (19th) 7.30pm (12th)

Huge opposition to proposed plans to close/merge Milldale or Mirren with over 2500 people already having signed the petition.

TUESDAY Yoga (Laura Jane) Cricketfield Owners AGM WRDS

7pm 7.15pm (13th) 7.30pm (13th)

WEDNESDAY Community Council Camera Club Moo Music Cllr Audrey Doig SWI

7.30pm (21st) 7.30 pm 9.45am 7pm (21st) 7.30pm (14th)

THURSDAY Gryffe Quilting Group 10am – 3pm (8th, 22nd) Folk Club 8pm Move It Or Lose It 10.30am – 12noon (tbc) Crafty Friends 7.30pm (1st , 15th, 29th)

FRIDAY Gavin Newlands M.P. Surgery 12.30pm (9th) Natalie Don MSP Surgery 12.30pm (2nd) Cllr Allison Dowling 11.15am (16th) Yoga (Laura Jane) 10.30am Mr & Mrs McGhee 9am

SATURDAY DWS Cllr Robert Innes Hayes Images

9.30am 11am (17th) 10am (10th)

SUNDAY Baptist Church

11am & 6pm

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

Booking enquiries:

I have been focusing on the following.

I have been working with parents and service users to try to get Renfrewshire council to take notice of the “overwhelming majority” of voices from local people who are adamantly opposed to the plan to merge/close local centres that provides vial support for people with learning disabilities and autism. I was working with local residents to arrange a public meeting to get vital answers; however, the council have subsequently declined that invitation!!

In the meantime, please use the QRF code below to sign the petition.

Street Lighting An increasing number of calls regarding street lighting issues, working with various providers to find solutions.

Potholes: Receiving an increasing number of calls regarding potholes and damages to cars.

Speeding: Working with residents and Police Scotland on concerns regarding speeding, in particular, in and around schools.

q Stewart Scally on 07473 696869, Gordon or Gary on 01505 674277 k thecarrickcentre@gmail.com

Cllr Audrey Doig The long-awaited upgrades to Helicopter Park in Houston are now finished and it is terrific to see the new equipment in place. It has been long established that outdoor activity, even gentle walking, is good for both children and adults alike and my hope is that grandparents, parents and children will all get the benefit of this new upgrade for the Park. The current administration has delivered this as part of its You Decide programme where local communities, like Houston, Brookfield, and Crosslee, get to grade and prioritise what local people want to see in their areas.

Over recent years the Scottish Government has delivered a programme called Scotland Loves Local. This means that targeted groups in each local authority area receive a gift card, usually worth £100, which can only be spent in local independent shops and businesses. This has the twin benefit of helping hard pressed families during the current cost of living crisis and also helping smaller businesses get back on their feet again. The last meeting of the Council’s Economy and Regeneration Board re-committed Renfrewshire Council to continue supporting the scheme and businesses in Houston and Crosslee will benefit from this.

February will see the annual Renfrewshire Council budget agreed for 2024/25. The Scottish Government has been clear that local government will get significantly less than we have been used to in recent years and even that, since the advent of austerity economics from Westminster beginning in 2010, was less then Councils received in the nineties and noughties in more secure times.

Most Councillors, regardless of party affiliation, entered local government to improve their local communities not to make cuts, but I fear that the new budget will bring hard messages for my constituents.

q 0300 300 1287 f Cllr David McGonigle k cllr.david.mcgonigle@renfrewshire.gov.uk

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Ward 10 ...

q 07768 130935 k cllr.audrey.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk

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Rotary Talks: Meetings every Wednesday evening in Houston. The upcoming talks for February will be: 7th - “The sinking of the Trawler Gaul” a talk by naval architect Alan Gilfillan, 14th - Business Meeting, 21st - “Mingulay the Inner St Kilda” a talk by Hugh Kerr 28th - “Would a Heat Pump Work for You?” a talk by Hamid Khatib.

For more information contact gryffevalleyrotary@gmail.com or visit: www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1803

Young Chef and Youth Speaks competitions In the weeks before Christmas Gryffe High and St Columba’s hosted our Young Chef and Youth Speaks competitions respectively. The Youth Speaks winners qualified for the District Finals held in Glasgow on 27th January, so congratulations and good luck to all of them ….. Youth Speaks Seniors Lucia G, Emma V and Orla O; Intermediates Finlay L, Oliver J and Lily F. In the Young Chef competition, cooking a two course meal, Halla A was the winner and Catherine M the runnerup - both qualify for the District 1320 Final (Scotland South) to be held in Kilmarnock on 22nd February.

A few hundred pupils in S1 to S3 in St Benedict’s and Gryffe finished the term cooking items of Christmas fare … truffles, cupcakes, biscuits and Yule Logs, with some mouthwatering results! Prizes were awarded for the best produce in each practical class.

Currently, pupils in several local schools are writing pieces on the theme “Rebuilding”, hoping to be chosen for entry in our Young Writer Competition. This is a national competition in which the winning entries move on in stages to a National Final.

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Rotary Burns Night Our annual formal Burns Supper took place on 20th January in the Lynnhurst Hotel Johnstone with the Principal speaker Drew Mackenzie Provost of Inverclyde. Around 170 members and guests enjoyed the evening at which some £4,000 was raised for local and Rotary charities.

www.advertizer.co.uk 25/01/2024 13:57:28

The old library centre kilbarchan

opening Times: Monday–Friday: 10am-12pm &2pmto4pm

Monday Spanish Conversation 2pm - 3.45pm(U3A)

Tuesday Craft Group 2pm - 4pm (every 2nd Tuesday) Board Games 2pm - 4pm (U3A first Tuesday of the month) Book Group (once a month) 7.15pm - 8.30pm

Wednesday Yoga with Cheryl Yoga with Jo

10am -11.30am 7.30pm - 9pm

Thursday Move it or Lose it

2pm -3pm (exercise for over 60’s) Family History Thursday 7pm (once a month)

Friday: Social Bridge 2pm - 4pm

(all levels welcome)

We are again taking part in the Winter Connections programme this year.

The upcoming dates are: Wednesday 14th & 28th February, Wednesday 13th March Wednesday 27th March.

Kilbarchan Leisure Classes Art Masterclass

Kilbarchan Guide Centre LEISURE CLASSES

Monday

Art with Iain

1.30pm - 3.30pm

TUESDAY

Portraiture will be the final topic of the 23 - 24 Masterclass series led by Iain. Starting on Friday 1st March from 1pm - 3pm in Kilbarchan Guide Centre.

Fitness with Carol

9.30am - 10.30am

THURSDAY

Yoga with Jacqueline

10am - 11am

FRIDAY

The course will run for eight weeks with a two week break at Easter.

You will learn the basics of portrait drawing and painting with easy to follow, step by step instruction in this relaxed and informal class.

Numbers are strictly limited to allow ample opportunity for individual tuition.

Beginners are welcome and basic materials will be provided.

Students will work from photographic source material.

Our popular Fitness, Yoga and other Art classes shown in our block feature, continue to meet every week in the Guide Centre.

As well as improving your fitness or art skills, these classes offer a great opportunity to meet new people in warm, comfortable surroundings.

For all enquiries or to book a place at any of these classes which are held in Kilbarchan Guide Centre, please contact: kilbarchanguidecentre@gmail.com

Howwood Parish Church

These events are open to all at no charge, although the room has limited capacity. All will take place from 2pm till 4pm.

Belated Good New Year to everybody for 2024 - “Lang may yer lum reek.”

Look out for posters in our window for variations to this timing. It is likely that there will be four film shows and two musical afternoons.

Wednesday 14th Community Coffee Morning in the Church Hall, 10am till 12noon. (St. Valentines day, so get all excited.)

Our Christmas Service was well attended with a good number of villagers joining us in our singing.

February Events

February Guild Meetings in the Church Hall at 2pm

Art with Iain 10am - 12noon Art Masterclass with Iain 1pm to 3pm Girlguiding Kilbarchan

Monday Rainbows

6pm to 7pm

Tuesday Rainbows Guides

6pm to 7pm 7.15pm to 9pm

Wednesday Brownies

Thursday Brownies

6.30pm to 7.45pm 6.30pm to 7.45pm

Enquiries: k kilbarchanguidecentre@gmail.com

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

awww.girlguidingkilbarchan.weebly.com

Heart start courses Lochwinnoch and Howwood Tuesday 20th February - 7pm Masonic Lodge Lochwinnoch (Main Street)

Please phone or email for further info.

Monday 5th

Talk on “Food from the Bible”

q 01505 706070

Monday 19th Good”

Speaker from the Guild Projects “Home for

To book a place call Morag on 07868 752814

Church service every Sunday at 10am where all are very welcome. Please come and join us.

We will cover resuscitation and using a AED and more!

k kipcokil@hotmail.com

W www.kipco.org The Old Library Centre 9 High Barholm, Kilbarchan, PA10 2EF

Kipco is a Scottish charity, SC031251, run by volunteers

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Ward 9 ...

Cllr Gillian Graham December was a blur of Christmas events, fairs and concerts! I am always in awe of our community organisations, they give freely of their time to support these local events which bring our communities together. Whether its community councils, local businesses, pipe bands or volunteer groups, I know I am not alone in wanting to say to them a big thank you.

At the Council’s Leadership Board in December, I raised my concerns about the number of our children and young people on the Children & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting list. In Renfrewshire REN10 is doing some very good work and I understand that this work aims to assist at a local level taking some of the pressure off national services such as CAMHS. However, across Scotland 1 in 4 children with anxiety, ADHD, autism and other neurodiverse symptoms are waiting for over 4 ½ months just to be seen by CAMHS. Shockingly, I know from my work with parents and Cllr post bag these children can then have to wait for up to 3 years for a diagnosis and treatment! This is often distressing for the child/young person and puts pressure on parents, families, teachers and education support staff. Currently in Scotland there are well over 5,000 children and young people still waiting for CAMHS treatment - this can’t continue. I’ve raised my concerns before at the Council’s Education & Children’s Services Board. I believe our children and young people are facing a mental health crisis and we desperately need the Scottish Government to re-evaluate its mental health policy for children and young people.

Finally, some of my local surgeries are changing location from February 2024. Cllr Gilmour and I have surgeries: 1st Saturday of the month: 9am at the McKillop Institute Lochwinnoch, 10am Howwood Village Hall, 11am the Old Library Kilbarchan The last Friday of the month: 4pm - 5pm at Morrisons Johnstone.

q 0300 300 1268 k cllr.gillian.graham@renfrewshire.gov.uk

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Ward 9 ...

Kilbarchan donation of 317kgs!!

Cllr Andy Doig Renfrewshire Council rarely, if ever, debates matters relating to foreign affairs as these are outwith our remit. However, two years ago we did in relation to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and, at the last full council of 2023 it was the mind of the Council to take a view on the current situation in Gaza. By 37 votes to 5 Councillors voted to support an immediate ceasefire. I was in the majority camp and there was a strong consensus that the militarists on either side need to be isolated in order to allow dialogue to take place, a position I strongly endorse.

Advent calendars are often full of chocolate, eaten at the rate of one a day until Christmas. The opposite is taking part in a Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar, setting food aside daily, until it is collected and delivered in time for Christmas. The Foodbank staff and volunteers at the Porterfield Road headquarters were overwhelmed by the generosity of Kilbarchan Parish Church. It’s drivers arrived in fully loaded cars with 317.25 kilograms of food and cash donations totalling £345. It took a full half hour to weigh the food!

On much more local, but still crucially important matters, I was pleased to attend the Boundaries Scotland public hearing in Johnstone on 14th December last year to oppose their plans to partition Johnstone, Kilbarchan, Howwood, and Lochwinnoch from the rest of Renfrewshire into a massive new Scottish parliamentary seat, which stretches all the way to Eaglesham in East Renfrewshire. I was the first speaker at the hearing and submitted nearly 2,000 words of a counter proposal which would see the existing boundaries for Paisley, Renfrewshire South, and Renfrewshire North West largely retained as they are.

Due to constituent demand I am revising my schedule of ward surgeries for the first time in many years.

Surgeries - 6.30pm: First Tuesday of the month - Lochwinnoch Bowling Club, second Tuesday of the month - Howwood Bowling Club, second Thursday of the month - Lilybank Bowling Club, Johnstone, last Tuesday of the month - the Old Library, Kilbarchan.

The organisers thank everyone who contributed and the drivers who transported the food to Renfrew.

q 07534 148 224 t CllrAndy4Ward8 k cllr.andy.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk f IndependentVoice/Ward9JohnstoneAndVillages

Kilmacolm and Quarriers Civic Trust The three main principles in the constitution of the Kilmacolm and Quarriers Civic Trust are: • To stimulate public interest, and care for, the beauty, history and character of the village of Kilmacolm and its surroundings.

• To encourage the preservation, development and improvements of general public amenity or historic interest.

• To encourage high standards of architecture and town planning in and around Kilmacolm.

The Trust is a charity and relies on membership fees and legacies to finance planning appeals etc. Please consider supporting us by joining the Trust through its website (see below). It is only £10 per year. We need you.

In accordance with the above aims the Trust has commented on at least 65 Inverclyde planning applications in 2023. The majority we did not object to, some we suggested should keep to specific building materials and occasionally we would object if the application did not agree with our stated principles.

As regards the historical interest side, the Trust archive continues to collect items relating

to times past in Kilmacolm or Quarriers.

We have some 11,500 digital images on our search facility for all to see. Go to ‘Kilmacolmcivictrust.org, then to the section ‘about Kilmacolm’ and then to ‘search our archives’. There are many interesting pictures of old buildings and other documents.

For example, the Greenock Advertizer of June 1856 states “On the braeface, near Gateside, stands a lonely and lowly building, the schoolhouse of the district. It was built some sixty years ago (approx’ 1796) and its accommodation consists of the school room, about twelve foot square and a ‘but and a ben’ for the teacher. The whole appearance of the house, both in and out, is of the most primitive description – earthen floors and turf roof, with an old millstone placed in the centre of the school floor serving as a hearth and grate”.

school in Kilmacolm under management of the Kilmacolm school board (est 1873) and the Side school became a public school under this board in 1874.

A new Side school was built a few yards down the hill in 1863 (illustration). The stones from the old school were hauled down the hill to aid in its construction. The school finally closed in 1951.

The Kilmacolm Civic Trust has a few remaining 132 face books published in 1996 (price £2.99) specifically relating to the Side school, but also containing information on Kilmacolm schools and village life. Please contact the archivist for a copy on archivist@ kilmacolmcivictrust.org.

The refers to the ‘Side school;, a school funded by the local residents, on the Old Greenock road at Gateside.

There was also a parish

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The Forgotten Airman It may be something Howwood villagers are not aware of, but in a field on Hartfield Farm, there is a memorial stone to the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) airman Herman C. ‘Jack’ Carey.

He was born on 23rd January 1914 and was a Second Lieutenant Pilot in the 311th Ferry Command, 27th Air Transport Group during World War II. At 11.10am on 29th December 1943, he took off from Renfrew Airport in a P-47D Thunderbolt for delivery to Burtonwood Air Base (in Cheshire). It is believed that, due to weather conditions (heavy mist and low clouds) or possibly plane failure, at around 11.30am he crashed through trees into a field, killing the pilot, who was the sole occupant. He was buried in Lynnhurst Cemetery, Knoxville, TN (his hometown) and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was 29.

In November 2003, Bill Kerr an ex-RAF fireman was flying remote control airplanes in the area, noticed a break in a line of trees on either side of the access road to above field. We have Bill to thank for investigating what happened, which led to the erection of a memorial stone to 2nd Lt. Carey and the tragic accident of sixty years earlier. Sadly, the memorial stone has been badly vandalised and is in a sorry state. Farmer David Jamieson and his son Alan have reassembled the broken pieces (see image above).

Since last September, Millar Leon and colleagues from the Howwood Community Council have been taking steps to try and get the memorial replaced and, hopefully, trace Jack’s relatives who may wish to be informed. Sadly, all efforts so far have proved frustrating. We will of course keep you posted on progress.

If you feel you can help us with the above, please contact: howwoodcommunitycouncil@gmail.com

Abbeyfield Campbell Snowdon House At Campbell Snowdon we are busy with our many and varied activities, making the most of every day. In the cold weather all of our bird feeders are very popular and some of our residents are experts in identifying feathered friends.

By the time the Advertizer is printed we will have enjoyed our annual celebration of Robert Burns with traditional haggis, neeps and tatties and some poetry and songs.

Our special partnership with St Columba School continues and our residents simply love to spend time and play games with Junior School pupils. The children seem to have a great time too.

Community Connections Relationships with community groups are so important to our residents and we are always keen to make new friends.

We recently had a fantastic first visit from a local Ukelele Group who had lots of feet tapping!

We enjoy our monthly services with Grace Church, Kilmacolm with the chance to sing some favourite hymns and chat over tea afterwards.

Volunteering Now that the Covid restrictions of recent years are behind us, we would love to hear from anyone who has a bit of spare time and would be interested in finding out more about occasional volunteering with us. Maybe you have craft or artistic or musical skills, could share conversation classes in another language, help with our garden, or can simply spend time drinking coffee and having a blether? New recruits are always welcome.

Please phone Campbell Snowdon House and ask for Morag.

For the times when you really need a TRAVEL AGENT call Travel Actually, the Travel Experts.

We specialise in all Luxury Holidays, including Cruises; Multi Generational Trips; Exotic Destinations and we can offer a Bespoke service tailored to your specific requirements.

Make your Bucket List Dream come true. Call us now on: 01505 703007

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Kilmacolm new Community Centre Centre Opening Times Monday – Friday: 9am - 10pm Saturday: 9am - 3pm Sunday: Closed Enquiries / Room Hire 01505 873994 www.cargillcentre.com

Monday Yoga with Janis Yoga with Liz

10am – 11am 10am - 11am

Yoga with Jane

11.30am - 12.30pm

Pilates with Emma

6.30pm – 7.30pm

Bridge

7pm - 10.30pm

TUESDAY Just B Mindful

10am – 11am

Glowbambino

10am – 1.30pm commencing 13/2/24

Qi Gong

12noon – 1pm

Gamata Youth Drama Class 5.45pm - 8.15pm Art Club

6pm – 8.30pm

Wednesday Embroidery Move It or Lose It

10am – 12 noon 10.30am – 11.30am

Pensioner’s Lunch 12.30pm – 2pm (book via Café) Friendly Bridge

1.30pm – 3.30pm

Pilates with Jennifer 6.15pm – 7.15pm & 7.30pm – 8.30pm Just B Mindful

7.30pm – 8.30pm

Thursday Pilates with Jennifer

9.30am – 10.30am

Yoga with Janis

10am – 11am

Acting for Fun 5pm – 8.30pm Bridge

7pm – 10.30pm

FRIDAY Yoga with Eilidh

10am – 11am

Music Land

10am – 11am

Art Class

10am - 12noon

Pilates with Jane

11am – 12 noon

saturday Gail Ashley Dance School 9.30am - 3.30pm

Ward 1 ...

Cllr David Wilson There was serious flooding in the Craigbet area of Quarriers Village just before Christmas. This is very concerning as we spent a great deal of money in the proximity of the bridge (with great inconvenience to villagers) and it is disappointing that the problem may have moved further upstream of the Gottar Water - I have asked for a report. On a positive note Salmon have been observed assessing the ladder in the autumn and progressing upstream to spawn. Two year old smolts have been observed in the tributaries.

December was really busy with school Nativities, seasonal plays and Carol Services. The latter performed by St Columbas Senior and Junior Schools were a treat. The Union of the Presbyterian Churches in the Village is still progressing at a snails pace. The joint services at Christmas and New Year were a real success.

Police Scotland are proposing to close many Police Stations including the one in Greenock. This has a substantial custody suite and it is unlikely that any alternative facility will have this large facility. As Chair of the relevant committee I have organised briefings and an emergency meeting to attempt to clarify Policing in Inverclyde as we move forward. Regardless of budget cuts, we must have a viable Police Station in Inverclyde.

The disposal of land at the housing development West of Quarry to the developer of the proposed housing is progressing slowly. If this entrance at Wateryetts is unsuccessful then I think they will look at Springwood / Quarry Drive. There is an application for a community transfer of land at Wateryetts.

There was an excellent Community Council meeting at which both applications were explained.

The Community Council is currently looking for new members.

The Cargill Centre has eventually returned to pre-covid usage with new groups every week.

I attended a meeting to discuss the 250th celebrations of Port Glasgow in 2025. (The Port is 50% of Ward!) This coincides with the 850th of Glasgow. Before 1775 the town was called Newport.

Surgery: February 10th at 10am - 11am in the Cargill.

q 07766 992294 or 01475 741969 / 722975 Special events in February Saturday 19th Cllr David Wilson Surgery - 10am – 11am

k david.wilson@inverclyde.gov.uk

Kilmacolm Old Kirk

Wednesday 21st Horticultural Society Winter Talk 2pm – 3.45pm

Sunday Worship: Services held each Sunday at 11am to which all are welcome. A Sunday School is available for children. Refreshments are served after the service for all to enjoy some companionship.

Tuesday 27th Bonhams Auctioneers – 10am - 3pm

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 Instagram and X via @KilmacolmOld or visit our website at: kilmacolmoldkirk. org.uk

Community Council Meeting 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Cafe Opening Times Monday – Friday: 10am - 4pm Saturday: 10am - 3pm Sunday: Closed Reservations / Takeaway 01505 874663

Foodbank: Kilmacolm Old Kirk supports the work of the Church Angels in Port Glasgow who run a twice weekly Foodbank scheme.

Donations can be made at each Sunday service, or through any of the leaders who run church activities in the Kidston Hall.

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‘Children’s Bedding Appeal’ Barnardo’s children’s charity have recently published a report showing that 1 million children in the UK have either slept on the floor or have shared a bed with a family member in the last twelve months due to broken bed frames or mouldy linen that families cannot afford to replace – leavingchildrentired,anxiousand unable to concentrate at school.

Vino 13 are now accepting donations for their ‘Children’s Bedding Appeal’ which will help tackle Children’s Bed Poverty in Inverclyde. All donations will help children living in poverty in Inverclyde get a warm and cosy night’s sleep - ready for school the next morning.

The appeal will run throughout 2024 and for the years to come.

They are accepting donations of brand-new children’s bedding to fit a single bedframe from the list below: Children’s Duvet Sets, Fitted Sheets, Pillowcases, Duvets – 13.5 Tog to 15 Tog, Pillows, Mattress & Pillow Protectors VINo13 Kilmacolm Wine Bar is located at 13 Lochwinnoch Road, Kilmacolm and is open everyday apart from a Monday.

More info:JennyMeadows10@outlook.com

Toy Bank Collection Thank you to everyone in Kilmacolm who donated presents and monetary gifts for the Inverclyde Christmas Toy Bank Collection in VINo13 Kilmacolm Wine Bar. You donated a truly humbling 419 presents for the 1,000 children referred to the Christmas Toy Bank this year by Inverclyde Social Work Department, Barnardo’s and Health Visitors.

Thank you for helping to ensure that ALL children in Inverclyde had a Christmas filled with smiles, care and love.

14th February ‘24

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Cllr Stephen McCabe The Council’s funding settlement from the Scottish Government for 2024/25 is worse than we expected so we are facing very difficult decisions when we set our budget at the end of this month.

While the Scottish Government is offering us £1.8m if we freeze the Council Tax, they have cut our general grant by £2m, so overall we aren’t receiving any compensation for freezing Council Tax and the loss of additional Council Tax revenue will require to be met from a combination of reserves and cuts to jobs and services.

The Scottish Government also hasn’t provided any money to cover the impact of inflation on Councils’ costs or for a pay rise for staff. Again, these costs will need to be met from reserves and cuts.

Among the cuts being considered by Councillors are ceasing our community warden service and CCTV provision; reduced maintenance of parks and open spaces; a reduced cleaning service in our schools; fewer school music instructors; and a 25% reduction in library opening hours.

The Council’s previous planning assumption for 2024/25 had been a Council Tax rise of 7%.

A quarter of households in Inverclyde are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction so they wouldn’t face any increase. For the remaining households, a 7% rise would result in weekly increases of £1.28 (band A), £1.50 (band B), £1.71 (band C), £1.93 (band D), £2.53 (band E), £3.13 (band F), £3.77 (band G) and £4.72 (band H).

Community Council nominations closing date Nominations are currently being accepted for people to represent their community council ahead of potential elections. Candidates are being encouraged to put themselves forward to become a community councillor and help make a positive difference to where they live.

Inverclyde has 11 community councils: Gourock; Greenock Central; Greenock East; Greenock Southwest; Greenock West and Cardwell Bay; Holefarm and Cowdenknowes; Inverkip and Wemyss Bay; Kilmacolm and Quarriers Village; Larkfield, Braeside and Branchton; Port Glasgow East; and Port Glasgow West.

A minimum of five community councillors are needed for each to be able to legally form and up to a maximum of between eight and 11, depending on the area and size of the population.

If there are more candidates than there are seats available in any of the areas, an election will be held.

Community councils are the third tier of government, bridging the gap between communities, council and national governments.

They play an important role in towns and villages across Scotland.

Councillor Paul Cassidy, Inverclyde Council’s community councils champion, said: “Only a fraction of our community councils are currently active and they do terrific work in their respective areas.

“But imagine how much more great work could be done if we had more representatives to help form more or all of them across Inverclyde.

“I know first-hand the positive impact community councils can have in delivering change and improvements for local areas and there has never been a better time for people to get involved and make a real difference to their community.”

Candidates have until Wednesday 7th February 2024 at 4pm to submit their nomination to become a Community Councillor. To submit a nomination and to find out more about Community Councils, visit the Inverclyde Council website www. inverclyde.gov.uk/ccelection

In the great scheme of things, I don’t believe that increases of this order are unreasonable. Someone pointed out to me that even the highest increase is equivalent to the price of a good cup of coffee. If you think differently let me know.

Surgery: Tuesday 13th February from 6pm - 7pm in Boglestone Community Centre.

q 01475 712 020 (office hours) k Stephen.

McCabe@Inverclyde.gov.uk

o 10 Victoria Gardens, Kilmacolm, PA13 4HL

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Out and About

Next Deadline... #345 March 2024: 14th February ‘24

Clyde Muirshiel

Wanted ...

Castle Semple Conservation Volunteers Update: Every week the Ranger Service work with our volunteer group and share skills and help them complete various conservation tasks to enhance the Park for wildlife and visitors. The new programme is now available online until March 2024. Would you like to join them on a Thursday? Email the Rangers on cmrp.rangers@renfrewshire.gov.uk to be added to the mailing list.

Someone who forgot to make a New Year resolution, but is now thinking of making a belated one.

Youth Volunteers Do you know a someone doing their Duke of Edinburgh? The Ranger Service runs a weekly volunteer group on Sunday mornings, 10am-12 noon at Castle Semple and Muirshiel.

This month they’ve been working on birch twig collection, habitat piling and rhododendron removal. Email the Rangers on cmrp. rangers@renfrewshire.gov.uk to get involved.

OR .... Someone who thinks that all the bulbs and flowers around the village in spring and summer appear by magic.

St Benedicts Gain Skills and Knowledge in Parkhill Wood Pupils doing their John Muir Award visited Parkhill Woods just before Christmas and did some rhododendron clearance. This was following on from lots of work they had done with the Rangers at their school last term. The Ranger Service taught them safe use of the tools required, everyone did a great job and we’re delighted to help them achieve the award.

Please get in touch if you can help, even just occasionally. You can contact Peter (01505 872448) or Liz (07963 973031) for more information.

Lochwinnoch Community Walk Looking for some gentle exercise and good company? Meet on Mondays (except public holidays) at new location Castle Semple at 10:30am and are led by the Park’s Ranger Service. Walks are 1-1.5 hours long at a social pace. See you there!

Get Social: Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ ClydeMuirshielRegionalPark , Instagram & Twitter: @Clydemuirshiel

OR .... Someone who has recently retired and is looking for something to fill a few hours.

OR .... Someone who is new to the Kilmacolm area and would like to meet new people.

OR .... Someone who has admired the planters and is wondering how to help.

.... or all of these. Colourful Kilmacolm needs you!

Welcome Back!

After a brief period of relative inactivity, it’s now time for Brighter Bridge of Weir’s group of volunteers to prepare for spring.

It’s not as if they haven’t been doing anything though, summer’s plants have been selected and the order has already been placed for delivery in May – grass doesn’t get time to grow under their feet!

Depending on the weather meantime, the first of spring’s shoots ought to be appearing soon. The group has planted literally thousands of crocus, tulip and daffodil bulbs all over the place, and there are snowdrops somewhere out there too. So, next on their list is keeping an eye on things as the ground begins to warm up. They’ll be checking the health of the plants as they appear and generally tidying things up to keep the weeds at bay, allowing the new growth to develop to its full potential.

Sounds easy enough, but with almost 100 street and barrier planters, and roughly 800 square metres (950 square yards) of garden areas and beds throughout the village, it should keep the volunteers occupied for a while.

Picture: ‘Spring is coming’ by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash.

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Bridge of Weir Hillwalkers To round off our year we walked part of the Ayrshire Coastal Path southwards from Irvine on a fantastic winter’s day and were treated to a dramatic sunset over Alisa Craig. Our start to festivities was by our traditional visit to the Oran Mór adult Panto followed by revelries in the Curlers pub, naturally! The following week we headed to Luss with the option of a short climb of Beinn Dubh or a stroll round the village prior to our Christmas Lunch in the Loch Lomond Hotel.

Our first organised walk of the year was from Stoneymollen (Balloch) by way of the Three Lochs Way, also part of the John Muir Trail, towards Helensburgh.

The path was fairly icy in places and with the mist descending we decided to lunch at the high point before retreating to the warmth of a coffee shop in Balloch.

Our group can be contacted via our Facebook page: Bridge of Weir Hillwalkers

For Peats’ Sake!

An area larger than 780 football pitches in the moors above Greenock has been given funding as part of a 3-year project by Peatland ACTION – a national, collaborative project dedicated to restoring degraded peatland across Scotland.

The Duchal Moor project will restore an area of 788 hectares of drained peatland in a bid to cut carbon emissions. Inverclyde Council has been awarded £768,705 from NatureScot’s Peatland ACTION partnership to carry out the work, which began in January 2024.

The project has been supported by the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network’s Clyde Peatlands initiative, which aims to increase the rate and scale of peatland restoration across the whole City Region.

Inverclyde Council is one of the first local authorities in Scotland to carry out peatland restoration on a scale of this size.

Convener of Environment & Regeneration, Cllr Michael McCormick, said: “Much of the upland countryside area of Inverclyde is peatland and restoring it can work wonders for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The peatland in Inverclyde had drainage ditches cut into it around 60 years ago to create moorland hunting estates. Now, it is more widely understood that a restored peatland can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, slow down water flow, prevent flooding and provide habitats for a range of wildlife, which improves biodiversity.”

Peatland ACTION is a NatureScot partnership involving Scottish Water, Forestry and Land Scotland, and the national parks. As well as providing funding, the partnership supports applications throughout the process, manages contracts and helps to design restoration projects.

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BoW Horticultural Society February’s weather usually keeps gardeners indoors, perusing garden catalogues and making plans. Include in these plants for Winter and Summer. Right now, gardens need not be bleak and some shrubs are in flower!

Kilmacolm Horticultural Society Plans for 2024 are well underway, with guest speakers to our lectures, the annual Plant Sale and Coffee Morning, a Summer outing and the Flower Show in late summer.

The February lecture will be held at the earlier time of 2pm in the afternoon of Wednesday 21st February in the Kilmacolm Community Centre. A welcome to our good friend Sharon Gemmell and her colleagues from Parklea Branching Out in Port Glasgow. Plans are underway for the building of a multi-purpose community hub with a cafe and learning centre in the grounds of the nurseries, near to the footpath alongside the River Clyde. We look forward to hearing more from their team and supporting the work of Parklea. Tea and coffee will be served following the talk.

P.S. keep a note of the last of our winter lectures, for 20th March at 7pm when Douglas Boatman, Managing Director of Scotplants in Beith will be our guest speaker. Plus - the Spring Bulb competition and award of the Jimmy Whittet trophy to the best entry.

Everyone is most welcome. Membership of the society (£5) can be paid at any of our events. Thank you.

Further details of all activities can be found on our website - www. kilmacolmhorticultural.com

Sarcoccoca - sounds daunting – but also known as Sweet Box. This is a modest, evergreen shrub with white, perfumed flowers.

Its leathery leaves make it ideal for small hedging. Hammamelis, better known as Witch Hazel, is a good feature shrub. Before the leaves appear, it produces richly scented, thin, spidery petals in yellow, orange or red along bare branches. Daphne is another winter wonder. It too produces flowers before the leaves and is richly scented with four-petalled pink flowers, sometimes cream depending on your plant. Later the stems are bejewelled with red berries - loved and quickly devoured by blackbirds. Viburnum Bodnantense is another beauty which flowers first with clusters of honey-scented, pink flowers breaking out along the stems.

The leaves later change to autumnal hues. Mahonia is a winter toughie, best planted at the back of the border to avoid its spiky, leathery leaves! This has pale yellow, delicately perfumed flowers.

Often overlooked is Winter-flowering Lonicera, better known as Honeysuckle. Both L. Fragrantissima or L. Purpusii produce creamy-white, gently perfumed flowers on bare branches. These plants need acidic soil and will grow happily here, especially in a sheltered spot. Ideally, plant the Honeysuckle by the back door, the Daphne close by and line your path with Sweet Box! Bulbs will be popping up (and disappearing again if they don’t like the conditions), so check and gently remove wet leaves, but place these nearby to protect overwintering creatures. Be mindful of your safety around the garden, clear leaves off pathways, collect fallen twigs or dried stems and put aside, also to save hibernating pupae or larvae. For additional winter interest, remember to top up bird feeders and provide fresh water.

Lochwinnoch Community Garden Are delighted to have been awards two certificates by Keep Scotland Beautiful Outstanding with distinction and Recognition for Health and Wellbeing for 2023.

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q 01505 842663 k lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk

f @RSPBLochwinnochNR t @RSPBLochwinnoch

Image by Rob Conn We are calling all nature lovers! It’s time to get out and about and enjoy nature, and there is no better place than your local nature reserve.

As you walk the trail, look into the hide and across the loch for Whooper Swans, Teal, Wigeons, Goldeneyes and Tufted Ducks.

These are some of the winter migrants, spending a few months here before leaving in the spring for warmer climes.

Have you ever wondered how we keep track of all the different types of birds we see in the UK? One of the ways is the Big Garden Birdwatch, which ran last month. We ask the general public to participate by counting the different types of birds and how many of each kind they see in their garden or green space nearby where they live for one hour over the course of a weekend and then send these results to us.

This valuable information allows us to see how the birds are doing, whether some are struggling and reducing in numbers or, doing really well and remaining stable, or even increasing in numbers. But without everyone giving us a hand, it would be impossible to carry out this essential research.

So, if you have participated in the Big Garden Birdwatch this year, thank you.

We have a few events scheduled for March at the reserve.

These include: • Wild Birthday Bash – A self-led event for families that runs through this month.

• Open Day – Saturday 2nd, with additional stalls and activities and free parking for all.

• Astronomy Evening – Friday 15th, delivered by the Astronomical Society of Glasgow (please book online).

Please check our social media for further details regarding any of the events.

Our visitor centre and shop are open daily, where you can buy refreshments, bird food, gifts and binoculars.

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What’s on in February Thurs 1st - Thurs 29th

Kids’ Self-led Activity Wondrous Woodlands 9.30am to 4pm Discover some of the wildlife, complete the challenges and learn all about our woodlands as you go. Pop into the visitor centre to collect your goodie bag and take part in this fun challenge for kids of all ages! £3.50 per activity pack.

Sunday 18th

Guided Wildlife Walk 10.15am to 12.15pm Our warden will take you around the reserve and point out the interesting wildlife to be found in our wetlands. General interest in wildlife, or would like to hone your wildlife watching skills? This is the walk for you!

20% off voucher for RSPB Lochwinnoch shop. £5.75 - £13.25 - online booking essential

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Walk: The Glen Striddle Horseshoe

by Rona Simpson //////sheds.edges.belt

There is something wonderful, after a dark winter spell, about getting outside and walking up a big hill where the views take the breath away and the cold air gives those lungs a good work out! The Glen Striddle Horseshoe delivers on both fronts.

The best way to do this walk is in an anti-clockwise direction. Start from the Visitor Centre Car Park and walk. Most of the ascent is on an easily navigable grassy path. The path on the way back can be muddy and, because of this, difficult to navigate so taking a compass is advised.

From the visitor centre head to the primary school and take the track around the back which leads to a footbridge over the thunderingly busy A82. There is a house on the far side. Go through the kissing gate on its left then turn right and head upwards through the field. Aim for a gate below the woods. It’s an enjoyable walk through the trees with lovely views of the Loch Lomond below you. Keep to the left path and follow it up to the bracken-covered ridge. Follow the ridge. As Ben Lomond comes into the view the path levels off before steadily picking up again.

The views here are incredible!

Marking the top of the ridge is a cairn and a small distance ahead you can see the very top of Loch Lomond. Also in view is the distinctive Cobbler and the Arrochar Alps. At this point you may return the same way, for a shorter, less boggy walk. If continuing, bear left as the fence falls away and continue upwards over peaty ground. Head for the cairn which marks the summit.

To descend keep following the path towards another cairn and minor dip to reach Mid Hill. Follow the southeast ridge down. Steep slopes start dropping to Glen Striddle on your left. Loch Lomond comes back into view and will remain in view all the way down the hill until you reach the fence. Cross at the stile and pass through a gate in the drystone wall.

Then you will meet the minor road that runs parallel to Glen Luss. Turn left onto this road. Head along the road for 3km unto you reach a footpath sign at the back of the house behind the A82. Return over the busy road to the carpark.

Start/Finish: Luss Visitor Centre Car Park Points of interest: Church and lovely views Distance: 11.5km Difficulty rating: Moderate with boggy sections on descent refreshments: Coach House Coffee Shop, Sassenach Coffee and Cake Van, The Village Rest.

Local History

St Kessog – an Irish missionary – arrived at Loch Lomond around 1500 years ago bringing Christianity to the area. Luss was originally named the slightly sinister – Clachan Dhu – The DARK Village due to the shadows cast by the surrounding hills. The story goes that St Kessog was martyred and sweet herbs were used to embalm his body. After burial his grave became covered with a carpet of sweet

herbs – from here the new name for Luss was born. Lus is Gaelic for herb.

Although the present church dates from the late 19th century, the graveyard is much older with stones dating as far back as the 7th century. There is also a Viking hogback grave – dating it is thought from the Viking raid on Loch Lomond in 1263, after which some Viking may have settled on the banks of the Loch.

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Advertising Feature

(L-R) Cllr David Wilson - Convener of Environment and Regeneration, Cllr Michael McCormick and Cllr Stephen McCabe enjoy the new benches

Birkmyre Park benches improved after council investment

PATIOS - DRIVEWAYS - GUTTERS - SOFTWASHING - JET WASHING

Clean and clear blocked gutters and help protect your property from water damage by removing moss, leaves, twigs, silt etc. Our lightweight telescopic carbon poles, with specially designed cleaning brushes, also allow us to gently remove the algae, dirt and grime from fascia, soffits, conservatories and other hard to reach areas. Please give us a call for free, friendly information on our services or for a free, no obligation quotation.

The revamped park benches come after £86,000 was spent on improvements to the park following input from the public via an outdoor spaces consultation.

Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s Convener of Environment and Regeneration, said: “Birkmyre Park is looking fantastic thanks to the council’s investment and these improved benches are a very welcome addition.

“There was a positive response to last year’s public consultation and it’s great to see those aspirations brought to life.

The cost to restore all eight benches within the shelter was £3,500 and was carried out by a local contractor. The work began in midOctober and has now been completed.

The outdoor spaces consultation found out the community’s priorities. As a result, the children’s play area at Birkmyre Park was extended and reopened in May this year, wildflower displays have been introduced, there was additional tree planting and extra seating and picnic tables were installed.

The popular park is also a site of the Queen’s Green Canopy, an initiative set up to celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in ‘22.

Around 25 trees were planted by the council to improve the park and were then adopted in March this year as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, with support from the Lord Lieutenant, Colonel Peter McCarthy.

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01505 863 863

www.nutechcleaning.co.uk

Paisley Textiles Brought Back to Life As part of the £45 million refurbishment of Paisley Museum, textile conservation students at the University of Glasgow, have conserved items of clothing dating from the 1830s through to the early 20th century. They include a children’s dress and bonnet, as well as a crinoline ‘cage’ skirt and even a knitted woollen water polo uniform.

The project offers a unique opportunity for students to work on objects which will go on display, rather than back into museum stores. The textiles, in many cases, were dirty, laden with decades of industrial dirt and soot and required delicate, painstaking work to transform them.

Programme convenor and textile conservator, Karen Thompson, said: “Conservation is about stabilising and requires a lot of decision making. We’re not the Repair Shop; we’re not trying to make something pristine, it’s all about the context – sometimes you don’t want to remove a stain or a mark, as that’s part of the story. By preserving these objects, it gives the opportunity for people in the future to learn from them.”

These items will soon be on public display at the refurbished Paisley Museum, where everyone can see the students’ outstanding work.

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Schoo ls &&Sports Schools Sports Nursery and childcare registration is now open in Renfrewshire Parents and carers with a child turning three on or before 28th February 2025 are being encouraged to apply for a nursery or childcare place. Applications can be made online or by downloading the form available on the Council’s website.

All three and four-year-olds are entitled to up to 1,140 hours of free early learning and childcare at any council nursery or funded private nurseries and childminders approved by Renfrewshire Council.

Parents and carers have the option of term-time placements or spreading the hours across the whole year.

Applications should be submitted by 31st January, with parents and carers getting confirmation of their places in May. Places will start from August 2024.

Anyone with a child who will turn 2 soon and is eligible for a free early learning and childcare place should also apply for nursery or childminding. The eligibility criteria is available on the Council’s website.

After places are confirmed, parents and carers can also talk to their nursery or childminder about buying additional hours—also known as wraparound. These additional hours will be dependent on capacity.

Education and Children’s Services Convener, Councillor Emma Rodden, said: “Children learn so much by socialising with their peers while at nursery or childcare. Early learning and childcare supports children to develop socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively and helps them have the best start in life.

“Staff help children lead their own learning based on what interests them, which develops their confidence and self-esteem. I have visited many of the nurseries and early learning and childcare centres and classes here in Renfrewshire recently and have witnessed first-hand how valuable these positive experiences can be for our children, helping them grow as confident individuals.”

Visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/apply-nursery to apply and for more information.

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#341 October 2023: 14th 13th February September #345 March 2024: ‘24

Duchal Nursery The recent cold weather has been perfect for our topic chosen by the children this term - the Antarctic – we can certainly relate to how the penguins are feeling! The children have been fascinated with all things chilly and have thoroughly enjoyed our icy walks and discovering thick ice in our garden. Learning all about the massive orcas and seals and how they survive the freezing weather is capturing the inquisitive minds amongst us.

Joining in the keep active in January theme, there has been so much fun and excitement with our new indoor soft play equipment keeping everyone on the go whether we are inside out!

Duchal offers free funded places for 3-5yr olds and is open from 8am – 6pm during term time. Applications for free funded places for August 2024 are now open, if you are looking for a nursery place please download the application pack on our website www.duchal. com and return the form by the end of February.

Kilmacolm Playgroup We are enjoying being back at Kilmacolm playgroup after the Christmas holidays and are already embracing the new year with new activities new crafts and some new friends. Leaving your child with us we will engage them in age appropriate activities.

Children gently learn to play independent of parent and are soon involved in social play with other children their age.

Kilmacolm Playgroup operates during school term time on Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9.30am -11.30am from St Columba Church Hall for children aged 2 years & 4 months to 5 years old. We provide a wide range of activities to promote physical, creative, imaginative and social development while inspiring confidence and building friendships.

We also have our toddler group on a Wednesday morning 10am - 11.30am, this is a drop-in session that you can attend with your children from birth onwards.

Staff and children at Hugh Smiley Early Learning and Childcare Centre

If you would like to reserve a space for playgroup please contact us at: playgroupmembership@gmail.com

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St Columba’s School Grease is the Word In December, Johnstone Town Hall came alive with the infectious rhythm of rock ‘n’ roll as Senior School took to the stage in their much-anticipated production of Grease the Musical – the first time that Senior School has staged a musical production of this scale in many years.

Cedars School Brought Christmas to Life!

Anyone who wasn’t feeling Christmaasy before the 15th December, certainly got into the Christmas spirit after Cedars School performed their play - ‘The Hopes and Fears of All the Years.’

Ellie, one of our S3 students, opened the play with a wonderful solo of ‘O, Little Town of Bethlehem’, and was joined on the candlelit stage by the senior school’s Lighthouse Choir and the Junior Choir for the last two verses.

Through a series of narrations, soliloquies and songs - old and new - the story of the very first Christmas unfolded for the audience.

Junior students took on the roles of Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, the shepherds and the angels - with every Junior child having the opportunity to take part, whether by acting or singing.

This production was a massive team effort – from our talented cast of singers, actors and dancers who brought the characters to life, to the huge team of people working behind the scenes on costumes, scenery, music and so much more. It was a lot of hard work, but together we achieved something amazing.

A Midwife Crisis The boys and girls in Junior School were also treading the boards in December to perform their nativity, called A Midwife Crisis.

In this humorous twist on a traditional nativity, a king has been born in Bethlehem and the midwife needs to find him – but where could he be? The children’s performances filled their audiences with joy, enthusiasm, and lots of festive cheer!

Charities Pupils at St Columba’s are actively encouraged to take part in charitable endeavours which will benefit the local community. In Junior School, the pupil-led Charities Committee organised a Christmas Gift Appeal in aid of Children in Poverty Inverclyde. We were thrilled to be able to donate 101 gifts for children and young people in Inverclyde living below the poverty line to ensure that they had a present to open on Christmas morning.

Students in the Senior School auditioned for the parts of Elizabeth, the three wisemen and as narrators. Some of the seniors even helped to write the scripts for the shepherds and the wisemen and the audience was entertained by the humour of the shepherds and moved by the wonder conveyed through Elizabeth’s and the wisemen’s soliloquies.

Even the teachers got involved! Mr Creighton, the Maths teacher, sang a beautiful song as Simeon, the man who Jesus was presented to in the temple.

All the students joined together on stage for the finale of ‘O, Come All You Faithful’ and the audience was invited to join them for ‘Joy to the World’. The music, the singing, the whole school community on display - all served to illustrate that Cedars really is the school where every child belongs - and can realise their fullest potential.

It was a joyous event that movingly conveyed the Christmas story and warmed the hearts of all who were there.

In Senior School, representatives from our Amnesty and Equalities Group visited the Refuweegee offices to deliver the donations they had collected from pupils and staff.? They collected toiletries for the starter kits the charity provides for new asylum seekers and refugees arriving in Glasgow?

Hear what our Admissions Registrar has to say about St Columba’s in a video series we call St Columba’s in 60 Seconds! Watch it on Instagram or YouTube! admissions@st-columbas.org st-columbas.org

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Ranfurly Castle Golf Club

Old Course Ranfurly GC

2024 at the Castle started on Saturday 6th January when the new Captain was welcomed. It was an early start for the members who were in the Clubhouse at 8.30am to witness outgoing captain, Alaistair Howe, welcome the new Captain, Earle Donaghy. Earle thanked Alistair for his work during the 2023 season and stated he was honoured to be following in his footsteps as Captain for 2024.

Being such a sociable club, the festive period is always very hectic at Old Course Ranfurly. There were a number of events held over the month of December all of which were extremely well supported.

This included our annual Christmas lunches where our new caterer Laura and her team served over 400 covers.

The first Competition of the new year followed, with the Shotgun Trophy starting at various tees all over the course. The weather was beautiful, sunny with little wind, but a crisp frost. The format was a 4 ball better ball stableford with partnerships consisting of men, ladies and mixed, ensuring a fun event. All teams enjoyed the warming lunch afterwards provided by Leanna and her team. The runaway winners, with a score of 54 stableford points, were Vicky Rennie and Joy McLeod, seen being presented with the Trophy by Earle.

One of our most anticipated events of the year, our Christmas Quiz night was held and our 3 resident quizmasters, Donald, Craig and Alan all got into the festive spirit and did a couple of rounds each.

Congratulations to our winning team!

Regular Meet Classes Step aerobic Class

Freeland Church, Main Street, Bridge of Weir (Opposite Amaretto) Tuesday: 7pm STEP is making a huge comeback in popularity. A great workout for all fitness levels, high or low intensity. Why not come along and have fun whilst working out? q Mo 07505 126416

Jennifer Sloan Physiotherapy Led Pilates Kilmacolm Community Centre Wednesdays: 6.15pm - 7.15pm 7.30pm - 8.30pm Thursdays: 9.30am - 10.30am q Jennifer 07731 303709 k jennifer-mcghee@hotmail.co.uk

Zumba

Freelands Church, Main Street, Bridge of Weir (Opposite Amaretto) Monday: 10am Love to dance? Why not come along and dance to fantastic music and feel FAB. All fitness levels welcome. From the young to the young at heart. q Mo 07505 126 416

Move it or Lose it!

Gourock, Bridge of Weir, Greenock, Kilmacolm, Houston, Kilbarchan & Langbank (new class) Classes aimed at ladies & gents over 60. We focus on Flexibility, Aerobic Health, Balance and Strength (FABS) exercises. Sessions include music to spark memories! First class free for new members a www.moveitorloseit.co.uk f Move-it -or-lose-it-with-fiona q Fiona 07811 766672

The calendar for the months ahead is full of special social events which can be found on the Club website.

Information can also be obtained from the Club Manager Mark Smart.

We are hoping for good golfing weather going forward, with members getting onto the course and enjoying the fresh air, exercise and beautiful views.

Sk fitness

Pickleball is Coming to Strathgryffe!

What is Pickleball? Fast becoming one of the most popular racket sports in the world, pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Players can play as both singles and doubles, using paddles to hit a plastic ball between them.

Non members welcome. For further information, email Tennis Manager: graham@strathgryffe.net.

Ranfurly Castle Golf Club, Old Pro Shop, Golf Course Road, Bridge of Weir GROUP PT: Mon: 9am & 6pm, Tues: 7pm, Fri: 9am SPIN & WEIGHTS: Mon: 5pm, Wed: 9am, Thur: 6.30am & 7pm, Fri: 6.50am, Sat: 9am SPIN: Tues: 7am, Wed: 5pm, Thur: 9am, Fri: 6am SPIN & BOXING: Wed: 6pm, Thur: 6pm, Sat: 9am AEROBICS:Wed: 7pm q Suzanne 07525 536070

SANA YOGA

Kilbarchan Scout Hall Traditional Yoga and Yin Yoga, Sound Baths Tuesday & Sunday, Book online a www.yogasana.one k zoe@yogasana.one q Zoe 07850 397666

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Howwood Curling Club Come & Try on 19th March Howwood Curling Club are always looking for new members to join our friendly curling club which meets at Greenacres, near Howwood. It is a great way to keep fit and socialise with people in a friendly atmosphere. Current club members come from Renfrewshire, Glasgow and North Ayrshire. We are now looking for new players to play for the 2024/25 season.

We have organised a Come & Try session on Wednesday 19th March at 7.45pm at Greenacres curling club. Anyone who is interested is welcome to come along and try out curling. No experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome, whatever your age or ability.

We will provide experienced coaches to give you the tuition you need. You will also meet with our club members and get to play. If you continue to be interested, following the Come & Try, we will invite you to our closing bonspiel for the 2023/24 season on the 27th March. We will provide further coaching then. You will also get a chance to meet and curl with more of our club members. All the equipment you need will be provided. The cost on the night for ice is £13.

If you wish to attend please contact Colin Bird: colinrbird@outlook.com | 01505 842790 | 07958 351273

Kilmacolm Golf Club We are delighted to welcome our new PGA Professional, Stuart Reekie, to Kilmacolm Golf Club.

Stuart grew up alongside the local 9 hole course in Fife and it wasn’t long before he was hooked on golf and dreamt of being a professional golfer. After a successful Amateur career representing Scotland Stuart turned Pro, winning on the Tartan Tour, he also played on the International Europro and Australasian tours, while he was down under he trained with leading experts in sports psychology, nutrition and swing-mechanics. He then started to focus on being a Club Professional, coaching and passing on his passion for the game to others.

Rotary 10K 19th May ’24 Make this your New Year resolution!

The route covers country lanes between Houston, Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm, starting from Houston Public Park, for abilities from serious runners to novices/joggers.

NEW for 2024 ... “Chips on Bibs!” timing.

Proceeds to local groups which support people (and their carers) who live with mental health issues and dementia. Pre-register at https://entries.runabc.co.uk/e/rotary-club-ofgryffe-valley-10k-980 or click the QR code.

He has gained valuable experience working at clubs such as Royal Troon, Blairgowrie, East Renfrewshire and more recently Linlithgow.

Together with his assistant Pros, Ethan and Sean, Stuart has great plans for group coaching and individual lessons, to develop and improve the golfers of KGC (and non members) using our fantastic practice facilities, whether out on the range or in our indoor double bay studio – watch this space.

For those of you looking for new clubs, Stuart is an experienced club fitter, concentrating on Callaway, Ping, Taylor Made and Wilson clubs and there will be a number of demo days in the coming months. He is increasing his stock of both gents and ladies shoes and clothing in our shop and has an extensive website with a wide range of goods – www.stuartreekiegolf.co.uk

Are you looking to get your kids active after the festive break?

Then why not get them involved in rugby locally.

So if you are looking to improve your game before the spring, thinking of taking up golf after a break, or just want a few tips and some new golf gear, get in touch email: golf@kilmacolmgolfclub. com or pop in to the Pro Shop and Stuart, with his team, will be happy to help.

Birkmyre Rugby Club offers a fun and friendly environment to learn a new sport, get some exercise and meet new friends. Sessions are normally at Birkmyre Park, Kilmacolm but currently running at Parklea near Port Glasgow during the winter months. Sessions open to boys & girls.

If you are interested please email: birkmyrekidsrugby@gmail.com

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February 2024 | e: info@advertizer.co.uk

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Sales & Wants

01505 613340 Submit your items: q k info@advertizer.co.uk a www.advertizer.co.uk/submit-sales-wants

Items For Sale Technical & Games • Two complete Scalextric sets in

excellent condition. Original packaging with 5 cars. Instructions included. £80. Tel: 07860 633407.

• PS5 console game + game voucher

inside, brand new in packaging collection or can deliver if not too far from Lochwinnoch. £480. Tel: 07394 199218.

SALES ITEMS - no charge WANTED ITEMS - £6.00 +VAT

Other Items • Unused black leather brief case

from House of Fraser, would suit professional person. Cost £80, asking £40 ono. If interested please phone: 07881 411642.

• Collard & Collard Baby Grand

Piano- just short of 5ft. Matt ebony.

Replacement/new keyboard etc.

Offers invited. Tel:01505 506385.

• Silver Grey velvet Chaise Long. New

condition. Tel: 01505 506385.

• Downsizing - quality home furnishings

Late News

Bishopton • The Cornerstone, Greenock Rd • Bishopton Community Centre

Brookfield • Natural amber jewellery - necklaces,

bracelets and rings set in silver price range £15 - £30. Tel: 07394 199218.

• Loose amber beads for jewellery

making. £10 - £25. Tel: 07394 199218.

Wanted Items • Aluminium & Glass Greenhouse, 6ft x

8ft. Tel: 07758 211933.

• Cash paid for hickory and other old

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available. Tel: 01505 506385.

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• Brookfield Village Hall

Bridge of Weir • Co-Op • Old Ranfurly Golf Club • Ranfurly Castle Golf Club • Gate Hs, BoW Leather Works

Elderslie • Elderslie Golf Club

Houston • Outside Church Hall, Main St • Co-Op • Strathgryffe Tennis (reception) • Old telephone box, Houston Rd, Crosslee • Back of Houston Primary outer-side of playground fence

HOWWOOD

Pocket Garden Design Competition launches

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has launched the annual Pocket Garden Design Competition in partnership with Garden for Life Forum.

• Howwood Hall, Station Rd • Christ the King Church, Bowfield Rd • The Boarding House (open hrs) • Howwood Primary School fence

Johnstone

Following the great success of the 2023 competition and fantastic online showcase this year the charity is inviting nursery and school pupils, aged three to 18, to design a miniature pocket-sized garden which includes food for people, is good for wildlife and reuses something.

• Keystore, Spateston • Keystore, Corseford • Johnstone Town Hall • Scottish Fire & Rescue

The 2024 competition has a new theme ‘nature’s engineers’, to inspire pupils’ designs. It shines a light on the incredible homes that animals build, their role in creating whole ecosystems and how modern ‘green’ technology is being inspired by natural engineering. From bee hives to bird nests, or air conditioning inspired by termite mounds there’s lots to discover and wonder at.

• Kilmacolm Golf Club • St Columba’s Senior School • Gym, Birkmyre Park • Library (rear of New Surgery)

Kilmacolm

The designers of the best entries will be invited to build and grow their garden at school before filming or photographing it to be displayed as part of an online interactive garden in June where people will be able to vote for their favourite.

Last year, the charity received almost 200 entries to the competition from 28 local authority areas with the work of 42 finalists being displayed in a digital showcase.

Kilbarchan • Scout Hall • Kilbarchan Bowling Club • Kilbarchan Primary School (main door)

Langbank

Eve Keepax, Education and Learning Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said, “We’re pleased to announce our ninth Pocket Garden Design Competition with it’s new theme. Nature’s engineers are amazing and we’re excited to see how this theme inspires pupils’ imaginations.

• Langbank Village Hall • Doctors surgery, Station Rd (carpark wall)

“Schools tell us that their pupils love taking part in this competition and it’s a great way to bring learning for sustainability alive. It’s also a great way for pupils to learn about how they can be part of making Scotland a nature positive place whether they’re interested in bees, beavers, birds or buildings. Educators that are considering taking part are invited to come along to a ‘Meet the Mentors’ twilight session on 17 January to find out more. You can register for the session at https://www. keepscotlandbeautiful.org/climate-action-schools/professional-learning-training/

• Onyx Leisure Centre • Spar, Clippens Rd • Asda

Linwood

Lochwinnoch

Pocket Garden Design Competition aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Four, Learning for Sustainability and is run as part of our Climate Action Schools framework. It gives pupils and educators a creative focus for learning for sustainability, STEM skills, and the Curriculum for Excellence while learning more about the climate and nature emergencies.

• Outside GP Practice, Main St

Designs must be submitted no later than Friday 23 February 2024 to pocketgarden@keepscotlandbeautiful.org.

• William Quarriers House (entrance to Faith Ave) • Country View • The Health Hub

Further information and inspiration from past years can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/pocketgarden

Next Deadline | #345 March 2024 | 40-43 CLASSIFIED 344 FEBRUARY 2024 A4.indd 40

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Paisley • Russell Institute

Quarriers

Page 40 25/01/2024 15:13:03

Pick up a copy: BRIDGE OF WEIR • Gibb Stuart • Bernie’s • Anderson’s Bakery • Co-op

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14th February 2024

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#346 April 2024

• Newsagent • Co-op • Community Centre • Curly Coffee

13th March 2024

Johnstone • Johnstone Library

KILBARCHAN • Bobbins • Old Library Centre

LOCHWINNOCH • Castle Semple • Key Store • La Dolce Vita

Local Halls: BRIDGE OF WEIR Freeland Church 01505 612610

www.freelandchurch.org.uk

BROOKFIELD Village Hall 01505 335562

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KILBARCHAN Guide Centre

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Local councils: a www.renfrewshire.gov.uk a www.inverclyde.gov.uk

Page 41

#347 May 2024 17th April 2024 Advertising Definitions: “Standards” means the British Code of Advertising Practice and the provisions of any law applicable to advertising including, but not limited to, the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988, the Financial Services Act 1986, the Business Advertisement (Disclosure) Order 1977 and all amendments and replacements.

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Ads Directory by Category Accountants & Financial CLA Accountancy . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Affluent Financial . . . . . . . . . 22 Johnstone Credit Union . . . . . Bk

Electricians MAS Electrical & Security . . 33 GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Russell Milne Electrician . . 25

Entertainment

Architectural Services

Scottish Opera . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Grid Design Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 13 CHG Architecture . . . . . . . . . . 17

Fencing

Automotive Services

McLaughlan Metal . . . . . . . . . . 25 Fencetec Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Collins Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Fire & Security

Bathrooms

Clearline TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Affordable Luxuries . . . . . . . 5 Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . 43 Bathroom Solutions by MPH . . 3

Firewood & Logs

Blacksmith & Metalwork

Funeral Services

McLaughlan Metal . . . . . . . . . . 25

Building Services James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 16 A&M Sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 13 M Addison Joiners&Builders . . 2 Bridge of Weir Roofing . . . . . 7 Clippens Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 17 SMG Roofing & Building . . . . . 8 Thomas McMaster & Son . . . . . . 2 KC Roofing & Building . . . . . . 13 JBC Joiners & Builders . . . . . 25 Frontline Building Maintenance . . 6 I&J Building & Roofing . . . . . 16

Care Services & Homes Call-In Homecare . . . . . . . . . . 37

Cleaning & PowerWash CleanDryCarpets . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Nutech Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Platinum Cleaning Services . . 25 Fastclean Scotland . . . . . . . . . 14 Gryffe Roofing & Cleaning . . 35 Eclipse Deep Clean . . . . . . . . . 13 KC Roofing & Building . . . . . . 13

Driveways A&G Driveways . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Blazing Firewood Supplies . . 22 Clyde Coast Crematorium . . . . 11 John Roach Funeral . . . . . . . . . 17 Alan Beaton Funeral Services . . 3

Garage Doors & Gates Powerdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Garden Service & Design I&J Building & Roofing . . . . . 16 J Andrews Garden Maintenance . . 31 Apple Tree Gardens . . . . . . . . . 30 Garden Services . . . . . . . . . . . 31 3D Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . 30 R Williams Tree Services . . . 31 Glenmoss Landscapes . . . . . . . . 32 Kodiak Trees & Landscaping Ltd . . 35 Lady Grafters Garden . . . . . . . 31 Frontline Building Maintenance . . 6 W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Fencetec Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 CHG Architecture . . . . . . . . . . 17

Gas & Heating Services Gasfit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Phoenix Gas Services . . . . . . . 4 Rightio Subcontractors Ltd . . 21 GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 C Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 I D Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 25

Glazier 1on1 Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Cloudy2Clear Windows . . . . . . . 7

Hairdressers & Barbers Nix Hairdressing . . . . . . . . . . 4

Health, Beauty & Fitness

Next Deadline... #345 March 2024: 14th February ‘24 John Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 A Gallagher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Andrew Hay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Pest Control RED Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . 8

The Osteopaths . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 LaserLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 New Vision Opticians . . . . . . . 23

Pet Services & Training

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Plasterers

CHG Architecture . . . . . . . . . . 17 Fencetec Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Apple Tree Gardens . . . . . . . . . 30 Access4Lofts Glasgow South . . 5 3D Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . 30 A&M Sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Renfrewshire Handyman . . . . . . 17 CLH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Kieran Turner Aerial . . . . . . . 4 Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . 43 Nutech Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Frontline Building Maintenance . . 6

Bryan Slaven Slater&Plaster . . 19 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 16

Joiners McGowan Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . 13 DJY Joinery Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 17 SMG Roofing & Building . . . . . 8 M Addison Joiners&Builders . . 2 CLH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 JBC Joiners & Builders . . . . . 25 Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 13 James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 16

Kitchens Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 13 Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms . . 43 Affordable Luxuries . . . . . . . 5 JBC Joiners & Builders . . . . . 25 M Addison Joiners&Builders . . 2 CLH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

PetVets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Purrfect Pet Care . . . . . . . . . 17

Plumbers GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 I D Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 25 C Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Gasfit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Rightio Subcontractors Ltd . . 21

Property, Sales & Let Corum Property . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Kingsley Wood & Co . . . . . . . . . 3 Hames Estates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Removals At@ease Removals . . . . . . . . . . 17

Retail Andersons Jewellery . . . . . . . . 20

Roofing A&M Sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Clippens Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 17 Gryffe Roofing & Cleaning . . 35 Bryan Slaven Slater&Plaster . . 19 SMG Roofing & Building . . . . . 8 I&J Building & Roofing . . . . . 16 KC Roofing & Building . . . . . . 13 Thomas McMaster & Son . . . . . . 2 Bridge of Weir Roofing . . . . . 7 Kingsley Wood & Co . . . . . . . . . 3

Arco Locksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Eckory Locksmiths . . . . . . . . . 19 Elliott Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Special Occasions

James Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 M&E Painters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 GFM Painters & Decorators . . 25

ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Taxis ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

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Travel Agents Travel Actually . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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Upholstery Services Fastclean Scotland . . . . . . . . . 14 Eclipse Deep Clean . . . . . . . . . 13 Fastclean Scotland . . . . . . . . . 14 Gryffe Roofing & Cleaning . . 35 Matthews Cleaning Services . . 14

Window, Consv & Repair 1on1 Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Cloudy2Clear Windows . . . . . . . 7

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