CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch

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Councillor Arthur’s Report The recent annual Provost’s Community Awards proved very successful for Lochwinnoch. This year’s Spirit of Fairtrade Award went to Ivan and Jo Minucci who run the Junction Bistro at the cross. Ivan and Jo not only played a major role in Lochwinnoch achieving the status of a Fairtrade Village but also in making sure that the Fairtrade status is maintained by the village. Lochwinnoch resident Betty Blackwood won the Carers Award for the years of help and caring that she provided to members of her family and particularly to her daughter May, who was diagnosed with MS 20 years ago and who passed away in October last year. Sadly Betty’s husband Jim also passed away recently. It was an honour for me, not only to attend the awards but to be part of a fabulous day with Ivan, Jo and Betty. Congratulations to Lochwinnoch resident Vicky Lee who won the Social Enterprise Innovator award at the national John Logie Baird Awards. This win follows on from Vicky’s success in early 2010 when she was crowned Scotland’s next top entrepreneur by scooping first prize in the Bright Business Idea competition. My congratulations also go to Lochwinnoch born, Ian Guy who also reached the final stage of the John Logie Baird Awards. If anyone would like to volunteer for the role to keep Auld Simon ticking and the bell chiming then please contact me. Due to the Easter holidays, my next Surgery is on Saturday 21st May at 11:30am in the McKillop Institute but there is no need to wait for a Surgery if you require my help, you can contact me on 843507 or email me at cllr.david.arthur@renfrewshire.gov.uk and we can agree a time when we can meet. A Letter to America 1887 During the period when I worked as a countryside ranger at Castle Semple country park we received many visitors from the United States claiming they were descended from the Sempill family who occupied the lochside fortification bearing their name between 1500 and 1727. Americans exploring their family links with the Sempills has a long tradition. A letter loaned to me by Dr Christopher Lee, curator of the former Lochwinnoch Community Museum, recalls the visit to Lochwinnoch in July, 1887, of a Miss Ellen C Semple. It described her travels to family members at home in the USA. Miss Semple, who was lodging at Cockburn Hotel in Bath Street, Glasgow, told how she journeyed by rail with friends to Lochwinnoch to visit the seat of her Sempill ancestors. On arrival, she and her party were given directions, by the station-master, to Castle Semple mansion which was owned at that time by the Shand- Harvey family. They walked down to the village with their luggage and hired a 'machine' (probably a horse-drawn carriage - DP) at the Eagle Inn to take them to the 18th century house. This replaced the original Castle Semple stronghold which was demolished by the Macdowall family in 1727 and first occupied in 1735. "We drove along the shores of Castle Semple Loch for quarter-of-a-mile before we came to the gateway of Castle Semple (Now the West Gates - DP). The gateway and lodge were very old and in Gothic architectural style. Over the gate was a tall stone arch flanked on either side by two small stone buildings used by the gatekeeper." remembered Miss Semple. "When we said we were Semples, the porter opened the gate with alacrity. The road up to the house wound along the bank of the lake for two miles. Old trees formed an arch over our heads while ferns and wild flowers grew down to the water's edge. I never saw a more beautiful road. It had the loch on one side and a hill grazed by cattle and sheep on the other. "The castle was more modern than we expected. In the centre was a square building with wings on either side forming a semi-circle. We went up the stone stairs and rang a bell and the door was opened by a nice-looking maid. She said the family (Shand- Harveys - DP) were in London but we could meet the house-keeper. "The house-keeper told us Mrs Harvey would have been delighted to see us if she had been at home. She informed us that Mr Harvey, the uncle of the present owner, bought the house around 1813 (from the Macdowalls - DP) . "The first Mr Harvey died a bachelor and left his estate to his nephew, Mr JW Shand, who added the Harvey name to that of Shand. This Mr Shand is a young man with a wife and two little children. His father, Sir Charles Shand-Harvey, is still alive and resident in London. But because he is only a knight his son won't inherit the 12 title." Miss Semple and her friends were shown through Castle Semple House which she described as 'an interesting place with exquisite furniture and rare old pieces of bric-a-brac." She added: "Mrs Harvey's boudoir was perfect and there was a billiards room in one of the front wings while Harvey family portraits hang on the walls." The visitors then drove up the hill in their carriage to the ruined early-16th century Collegiate Church. There they saw Sempill and Harvey family tombs as well as an altar and other church architectural remains. They described the church visit as the most interesting part of their pilgrimage to Castle Semple. Miss Semple concluded her letter to America by informing her family that she and her company would be travelling to Oban the next day before going on to Edinburgh where she would research her family tree at the city's university library. When I spoke to our American heritagehunters at Castle Semple country park during my time there, they were fascinated when I revealed they were following in the footsteps of one of their compatriots (Miss Semple) who trod those very same trails a century earlier in the quest for their Sempill family links. Derek Parker Derek Parker worked as a countryside ranger at Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park from 1985 to 1999. Lochwinnoch Art Group Would all members please note that there is only one meeting this month on Monday April 18th owing to the Easter Public Holiday. As usual this will take place in the Bar Lounge of the McKillop Institute from 7.30 - 9.30pm. Please be prepared to enjoy life drawing with a live, clothed model. St Vincent’s Hospice Charity Shop Since the revival of interest in knitting we are asked regularly if we have wool for sale. A big thank you to those who have already donated however we will always sell as much as we can get.
Heartfelt Thanks Words cannot express how we feel about the sudden passing away of Jim Blackwood, our much loved husband and father, on 3rd March 2011, after a short illness. The blow is all the harder only four months after May (our daughter and sister) died. Words however may express our sincerest thanks to the many friends and relatives who have been so kind and supportive. Your thoughts, your cards, your flowers and kind gestures mean so much, and are a great help at this difficult time. We especially thank Archie Ford of Calder United Free Church for conducting the funeral service in Archie’s own special way, a way which Jim himself admired. We thank our very special neighbours whose unbounded support gives us strength. And we thank the fine staff at St Vincent’s Hospice, for we now know why nurses are sometimes called “angels”. Your kindnesses make it clear that Jim was a popular man in Lochwinnoch and beyond. He will never be forgotten. Betty Blackwood & Jim Blackwood (Jnr). Big Jim Jim patted his coat pocket. Inside. Secure. Secret. Mallard flew over to Semple’s steely water. Buds of hawthorn, tight in the chill, Led the way. As Jim reached within, he Counted Krugerrands and sovereigns. Where should they be buried? Over by the hawthorn, Or beneath the graceful gean? Daffodils will nod each spring. Jim Blackwood (Jnr) 16/3/11 Save Your Regional Park Campaign Glenlora Turbine, Lochwinnoch - An application for 1 x 85m turbine (800KW) lodged with Renfrewshire Council by Tom Coakley, Glenlora House. At a meeting of the Renfrewshire Planning Board on 22nd March 2011, the members wisely accepted the full and well-argued recommendation of their Department of Planning & Transport that this application should be refused on the following grounds:- 1. Safeguarding from an aerodrome safeguarding perspective and concluded that it is potentially a hazard due to its effects on Glasgow Airport Primary Radar. The proposal is considered to be contrary to the terms of Policy Airport 4 of the Renfrewshire Local Plan. 2. The application proposal is considered to be unacceptable because the applicant has been unable to demonstrate Ministry of Defence clearance. 3. That due to its unacceptable visual impact the proposal will be contrary to Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan policies 7 and 8 and Renfrewshire Local Plan policies Ren 1 and ENV 10. In addition to objections from the SYRP campaign and supporters, objections had been received from CMRP Authority, Scottish Campaign for National Parks, five Community Councils (including Lochwinnoch CC), British Airports Authority and Scottish Natural Heritage. We thank everyone who objected to this inappropriate industrial development proposal. Library Action Group Update Sometimes being a pain the neck works. The tenacity of Action Group members in pursuing Renfrewshire Council for information is bringing results. With the help of Cllr David Clews (Con) we found out how much Lochwinnoch contributes to Renfrewshire Council's coffers. Lochwinnoch has 2% of total domestic properties in Renfrewshire and contributes £2.2 million in Council Tax each year. £2.2 million is 2.9% of the total Council Tax revenue. So we more than pay our way. You might ask what then we receive for this money. We now also have updated figures for the library. Gifts Cards Jewellery Leather Home 8 Church Street Lochwinnoch 01505 843311 Open 9-5 Monday-Saturday and 12-4 on Sundays 13 The Asset Management Report (AMR) given to Councillors in November stated that it would cost £80,000 to move the library and save £15,400 per year so there would be savings within 5 years. Now we find that it will cost £85,000 to move the library, £8,250 to upgrade the school for Lochwinnoch Out of School Club (LOSC) and £10,000 plus (all the legal costs not yet in) to secure title to the library building. That is at least £103,250. Through Freedom of Information requests we have discovered that the potential saving is not £15,400 as Councillors were informed in the AMR but only £10,200 per year! Thus it will take over 10 years to break even. Does that make sense to you? Maintaining the status quo would immediately save £85,000! At the moment it seems as though the SNP/LibDem-ruled Renfrewshire Council want to play musical chairs with the Library and LOSC while wasting tens of thousands of pounds. Why on earth is the village being put through all this trouble to save £10,200 per year in 10 years time? Remember this when it comes to casting your vote in May. The Action Group is preparing a leaflet that we plan to deliver to households within the next couple of weeks. Action Group meetings continue (thanks to Laura and Fergus) upstairs in the Brown Bull on Wednesdays at 7.30 pm, all welcome, or you can email the group at laag@lochwinnoch.info Thanks Mr Arthur The Toddler Group would like to thank Councillor Arthur for his help in negotiating with Renfrewshire Council. The group were faced with potentially having to disband after Renfrewshire Council imposed a huge and, for them, unaffordable increase in the let for their sessions in the McKillop Hall. Thanks to Councillor Arthur's assistance they will be able to continue although their costs will still increase. Lazy Sunday afternoons Sleep late. Have a walk. Breathe fresh air. Go for lunch. Have a browse around that little shop in Church Street that you never get the chance to explore during the working week. You might just be surprised by what’s on your doorstep. Now doesn’t that sound better than driving to a shopping mall? We’re here every Sunday from now til’ Christmas. Come visit.
Page 1 and 2: Nuisance Helpline Anti-Social Behav
Page 3 and 4: Golden Wedding Celebration The Gold
Page 5 and 6: LCBG and the Library Members of Loc
Page 8 and 9: Lochwinnoch Community Library Libra
Page 10 and 11: What’s On Regular clubs, classes
Page 14 and 15: THE STIRRUP CUP Forthcoming Events
Page 16: Lochwinnoch Group Needs Volunteers
Page 19 and 20: From the Parish Church Are you sear

CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch

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