CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch
CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch
CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch
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Nuisance Nuisance Nuisance Helpline Helpline<br />
Helpline<br />
Anti-Social Behaviour<br />
Noise problems<br />
Support and Advice<br />
Every day 9am – 10pm<br />
Tel: 0800 169 1283<br />
<strong>CHATTERBOX</strong><br />
No 181 January 2009<br />
www.lochwinnoch.info<br />
Community newsletter produced by lochwinnoch publicity committee for lochwinnoch cc<br />
What’s On<br />
• Dates for your Diaries -<br />
see the back page.<br />
• Details about regular clubs,<br />
classes and local groups -<br />
see inside back page.<br />
• Notices about other events are<br />
featured throughout this issue<br />
of Chatterbox.<br />
VILLAGE EVENT<br />
CALENDAR<br />
for 2009<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Post Office has a wallmounted<br />
planner, where members of<br />
the public can enter details of forthcoming<br />
events.<br />
Please use this planner to -<br />
• avoid any clashes when choosing<br />
dates to hold events, and<br />
• to help publicise your own<br />
events in and around the village<br />
and local area.<br />
Chatterbox is produced monthly for the<br />
Community Council of <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong><br />
through financial assistance from local sponsors<br />
and advertisers.<br />
The editor welcomes all items for possible<br />
inclusion but will reserve all rights over<br />
them. All views are of individuals. The<br />
editor accepts no liability for errors.<br />
Editorial & copy for Chatterbox<br />
Let us have your stories, notices, news,<br />
information, events & items of interest —<br />
either hand-deliver them to the Chatterbox<br />
drop-box in the Library or e-mail to:<br />
chatterbox@lochwinnoch.info<br />
To advertise in Chatterbox<br />
Tel: 07899 746403 or e-mail:<br />
chatterboxaccount@btinternet.com<br />
Copy Copy Deadline Deadline for<br />
for<br />
February<br />
February February 2009 2009 Issue Issue Issue Is Is<br />
Is<br />
Wed. Wed. 28th 28th January January ‘09.<br />
‘09.<br />
Sky at Night<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong><br />
January 2009<br />
Constellation of the Month<br />
Winter heralds the return of one<br />
of the most spectacular constellations,<br />
Orion. By 8pm, Orion<br />
fills the southern sky above the<br />
Braes and is easily picked out<br />
by his Belt and Sword. Above<br />
these are two of the principal<br />
stars, the red star Betelgeuse -<br />
his right shoulder and a blue<br />
star Bellatrix, his left shoulder.<br />
Below the belt, Orion's knees<br />
are formed by Saiph (right<br />
knee) and the brilliant white<br />
start Rigel, (his left knee).<br />
Around Orion's sword can be<br />
seen one of the largest nebulous<br />
areas visible to the naked<br />
eye. Unless you get out into an<br />
unlit area, you will likely only<br />
see the bright part half way<br />
down the sword. Put the sword<br />
off-centre of vision for best results.<br />
Got a digital camera? Try<br />
a wide angle shot of 15 seconds<br />
or more and you will be amazed<br />
at what you can capture.<br />
MATTHEW NEW & SONS<br />
ROOFING - ROUGHCASTING - BUILDING MAINTENANCE<br />
Emergency Repairs, Storm Damage<br />
Insurance Work, New Roofs, Flat Roofs<br />
Roughcasting –UPVC Cladding—Guttering<br />
Tel No 01505 843400<br />
FMB Certificate No 26366<br />
ASIST ASIST<br />
ASIST<br />
Anti-Social<br />
Investigation Team<br />
Office 8:45am – 4:45pm<br />
Tel: 01505 325 030<br />
Follow the line of the belt to the<br />
right and you will come to a red<br />
star, Aldebaran. This is the eye<br />
of Taurus the Bull and, beyond<br />
that, is a cluster of very blue<br />
stars -Pleiades.<br />
To the left of Orion is Canis Major<br />
the principal star of which is the<br />
Dog Star - Sirius - brightest star<br />
in the night sky.<br />
Leo follows Orion and is visible in<br />
the south-west until dawn.<br />
Saturn is still below Leo. Saturn<br />
takes roughly 29 years to orbit<br />
the Sun and during that time, our<br />
view of the rings changes from<br />
edge-on, as they are at present,<br />
to wide open (in 15 years’<br />
time) and back again. Moderate<br />
magnification will allow you to<br />
watch this process.<br />
MOON: the Moon is Full on the<br />
11th and New on the 26th<br />
January 2009.<br />
On 7th January, as the light<br />
dims, the Moon will be passing<br />
stars of Pleiades. If the sky is<br />
clear it is interesting to watch as<br />
the main group re-appears about<br />
8.30pm.<br />
More information can be found<br />
on the Village website<br />
www.lochwinnoch.info
Councillor Arthur’s<br />
Report<br />
Although I am a member of LMEG<br />
(<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Millennium Events<br />
Group) along with Carol Gemmell,<br />
Graeme Skelton, David McCusker,<br />
Duncan Bremner and Sue Richardson,<br />
it would be remiss of me not<br />
to mention how great the village<br />
Christmas Lights are and how<br />
wonderful it was to see such a large<br />
turnout from our community for<br />
the switch-on back in early December.<br />
My thanks to all the celebrities<br />
that performed the countdowns,<br />
the helpers who put the lights up,<br />
those who made donations, The<br />
Junction for the mulled wine and<br />
to my colleagues in the LMEG<br />
team for their enthusiasm. Well<br />
done all.<br />
Once again the annual New Year’s<br />
Dance was a massive success and a<br />
terrific evening. It’s great to see<br />
such a large group of people enjoying<br />
themselves from start to finish.<br />
Thanks to Julie, Fiona and Laura<br />
for organising it and also for raising<br />
funds for St.Vincent’s Hospice.<br />
Thanks also to Margaret and Laura<br />
our McKillop Hall caretakers who<br />
once again volunteered to open up<br />
the hall and to <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Community<br />
Council for their continuous<br />
support.<br />
This was the 9th year of our Hogmanay<br />
walk and it was the best<br />
weather that we’ve had. This year’s<br />
walk, entitled Walk of Witness,<br />
started at Auld Simon, then to Calder<br />
Church, Parish Church and<br />
finishing at Our Lady of Fatima<br />
Church. A healthy number attended<br />
and after sermon and<br />
prayers there was time for a chat<br />
over a cuppa.<br />
Renfrewshire Council are about to<br />
finalise a six-year investment programme<br />
making sure all 13,000<br />
council houses in Renfrewshire<br />
meet the new Scottish Housing<br />
Quality Standard which comes into<br />
force by 2015. Working with the<br />
Scottish Government, Renfrewshire<br />
Council administration<br />
have found the solution which will<br />
unlock total housing investment<br />
amounting to £140 million over<br />
the next six years.<br />
The Scottish Government has<br />
announced an additional £10<br />
million to the Central Heating<br />
Programme for this year. This<br />
will allow the programme to<br />
reach a greater number of fuel<br />
poor households than it was<br />
originally anticipated between<br />
now and the end of March 2009.<br />
Prioritisation has been extended<br />
to cover the pensioner households.<br />
Further information is<br />
available from:- Scottish Gas,<br />
Freepost, SCO 4421, Edinburgh,<br />
EH6 OBR; or you can telephone<br />
them on their freephone number:<br />
0800 316 1653.<br />
My next Surgery is on Saturday<br />
17th January but there is no need<br />
to wait for a Surgery if you require<br />
my help, you can contact<br />
me on 843507 and we can agree a<br />
time when we can meet.<br />
Councillor David Arthur<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Elderly<br />
Forum<br />
The Forum had no meeting in December,<br />
however enjoyed an excellent lunch<br />
in the Bowling Club on the 16th. Our<br />
thanks to Mr and Mrs Jamieson and<br />
other club members for their services<br />
and to Isabel Pratt and team for their<br />
well-received catering.<br />
Many thanks also to local businesses<br />
who generously gave donations for<br />
the raffle. We were also very pleased<br />
to be given parliamentary whisky<br />
from both Trish Godman MSP and<br />
Douglas Alexander MP.<br />
Local businesses who donated were The<br />
Corner Bar, Key Store, The Heritage<br />
Market, Pharmacy, The Cafe, The Junction,<br />
Cut & Care, Garthland, The Paper<br />
Shop, Now & Then, Spar, John Wilson<br />
(baker) and The Brown Bull. Some individual<br />
Forum members also donated prizes.<br />
Our membership has increased over the<br />
last few months, some due to their attendance<br />
at our successful T-bar in the<br />
McKillop on Tuesday mornings. This is<br />
run by Reta Parr and her group of volunteers.<br />
From April, the T-bar will also<br />
be opening on Thursday mornings.<br />
Our next meeting is on Thursday<br />
29th January at 1pm in the McKillop<br />
Institute. All over 55 are welcome.<br />
My best wishes for 2009<br />
to all Forum members.<br />
Gordon Nicholl (acting chairman).<br />
Lily<br />
Rose<br />
Bridal Boutique<br />
Designer Bridal gowns by Allure,<br />
Sweetheart Gowns, Linea Raffaelli,<br />
Trudy Lee, Nicola Anne and<br />
Sophia Tolli.<br />
Order Order Order your your your Junior Junior<br />
Junior<br />
Prom. Prom. Dresses Dresses now now !<br />
!<br />
Also stocking bridesmaid and<br />
prom. gowns, jewellery, tiaras, veils,<br />
shoes, hats and fascinators.<br />
Contact Heather on<br />
01505 843459 & 07834 419585<br />
for an appointment<br />
or visit www.lilyrosebridal.co.uk<br />
30 Church Street,<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> PA12 4AD<br />
St. Vincent's Hospice<br />
Recycling<br />
We can raise money by recycling:-<br />
Mobile Phones, Ink Cartridges,<br />
Stamps Foreign Coins, Old/broken<br />
Jewellery. These can be handed in to<br />
our shops in Renfrew, Johnstone, Linwood,<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong>, Paisley, Barrhead<br />
and Bridge Of Weir or at the<br />
Hospice itself.<br />
Unwanted Gifts<br />
Do you have any unwanted gifts that<br />
are in new or very good condition.<br />
Our Fundraising Team run various<br />
raffles, tombolas, etc at a number of<br />
events and donations of unwanted<br />
gifts or bottles can go a long way in<br />
helping to raise vital funds.<br />
For more information on any of the<br />
above, please contact<br />
Lorraine Valentine or Jane Cox<br />
in the Fundraising Team on<br />
Tel: 01505 705635<br />
or by email at:<br />
lorraine.valentine@svh.co.uk or<br />
jane.cox@svh.co.uk
Antiques, Curios and Crafts<br />
A dynamic selection of oils, watercolours and<br />
limited edition prints.<br />
Bespoke crafts by local artisans, vintage and<br />
contemporary jewellery.<br />
Well worth discovering for yourself.<br />
The Barn on the Farm, open 10am till late every day.<br />
Contact Greta Logan on Tel: 01505 683338<br />
Mob: 07786 720586<br />
e-mail: greta@thestirrupcup.co.uk<br />
www.thestirrupcup.co.uk<br />
West Bankside Farm, Geirston Rd,<br />
Kilbirnie, KA25 7LQ<br />
Just opposite the Golf Course on the Largs Rd.<br />
Valentine’s Gala Ceilidh<br />
is on Saturday 14th February<br />
The band, by popular demand, is<br />
' The Last Tram Tae Auchenshuggle'.<br />
Tickets available from the middle of<br />
January from the usual outlets.<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Arts Festival<br />
March 26-29th 2009<br />
Events will include<br />
Godspell musical<br />
Guest writer Janice Galloway<br />
Jazz/Folk and Classical music<br />
Arts and crafts<br />
Children’s events<br />
and more.<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Gala Day<br />
takes place this year<br />
on Saturday 13th June<br />
So mark that date in<br />
your diaries.<br />
It promises to be<br />
another exciting event.<br />
Our theme this year is Country and<br />
Western. If you think you can help us<br />
out in any way at all with this Gala<br />
Day, please contact Christine on<br />
07815 087794.<br />
Recycling<br />
In January 2008, the Scottish<br />
Government outlined ambitious<br />
plans for a Zero Waste Scotland.<br />
The aim of the plan is to maximise<br />
recycling, minimise waste<br />
and ensure products are made to<br />
be reused, repaired or recycled.<br />
Buying an antique of any kind<br />
has been the ultimate in recycling<br />
long before it became<br />
“fashionable.” The products are<br />
certainly reused and very often<br />
repaired.<br />
At the Stirrup Cup we not only<br />
offer an excellent restoration<br />
service but we can transform<br />
furniture based on our recommendations<br />
or on your own requirements.<br />
This can be<br />
achieved by using differing paint<br />
techniques, such as distressing,<br />
ageing and liming.<br />
Other techniques comprise,<br />
stencilling, decoupage, freehand<br />
and mosaic.<br />
LOCHWINNOCH<br />
ART GROUP NEWS<br />
First of all, <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Art Group<br />
wishes everyone a happy and<br />
prosperous New Year.<br />
Our first meeting of 2009 will take<br />
place on -<br />
Monday 19th January<br />
at 7.30pm in the Lesser Hall,<br />
McKillop Institute.<br />
Helen Day will discuss Still Life using<br />
pencil tones. So, if you are interested<br />
then please come along (with<br />
pencil and paper!) for an interesting<br />
and informative evening.<br />
Everyone over the age of 18years<br />
is welcome.<br />
Our second meeting of 2009 is on -<br />
Monday 2nd February,<br />
same time, same place,<br />
and that evening will consist of<br />
Acrylic Techniques by Sandra Fowles.<br />
Anyone who comes to the group<br />
does not need to follow what is on<br />
the syllabus. You can come along<br />
and ' Do your own thing ' if that is<br />
what you prefer.<br />
Look forward to seeing you there.<br />
Christine Brown, Chairperson<br />
We constantly have items in<br />
stock which you can transform<br />
using your own imagination.<br />
This is not just confined to<br />
furniture but can include light<br />
fittings, glasses, frames, jugs,<br />
decanters, wooden boxes, etc.<br />
In addition to breathing new<br />
life into a variety of items, we<br />
do try to be environmentally<br />
friendly at The Stirrup Cup.<br />
We use low energy light bulbs,<br />
have a wood burning stove for<br />
heat and try to keep packaging<br />
to a minimum by reusing<br />
bubble wrap and polystyrene<br />
packing.<br />
Most “antique” furniture is<br />
still worth restoring. There<br />
will still be unwanted furniture<br />
in skip sites and land fills.<br />
An antique can be a unique<br />
item which not only enhances<br />
your home but ensures that<br />
you are doing your bit to “save<br />
the planet”.<br />
Arts and Crafts for<br />
Young Teens, <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong><br />
The Chameleon Club workshops<br />
recommence on Saturday 10th<br />
January. Anyone aged 12+ who<br />
would like to try some arts and crafts<br />
workshops should come along.<br />
The classes are held at the RSPB Centre,<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong>, 2.00-4.00pm and<br />
led by professional artist, Cait Gould.<br />
Each session costs £10, which covers<br />
all materials too. Next session’s dates<br />
are: 10 th January, 31 st January, 28 th<br />
February and 21 st March.<br />
In the past the group have created<br />
stop-frame animation from characters<br />
they made in clay; mosaic frames;<br />
clay piggy banks (but being creative<br />
types, we ended up with a bird, haggis<br />
and a cat as well!). If you have a particular<br />
area of interest Cait will always<br />
try to incorporate it into the workshops.<br />
We hope to see you soon.
VISIT TO<br />
NAXAL ORPHANAGE<br />
In Kathmandu<br />
On 9th October last year, I flew out to<br />
Kathmandu (via Bahrain) to work as a<br />
volunteer for a month at Naxal Orphanage<br />
in Kathmandu city. Daily temperatures<br />
were still very high in October, rice was<br />
being harvested and preparations were<br />
being made for the spectacular Festival of<br />
Light, known as Tihar, one of many festivals<br />
held in Nepal throughout the year.<br />
The Naxal Orphanage is one of 3 run by<br />
the OCCED (Organisation for Community,<br />
Child and Environmental Development),<br />
which was established in 1999 to<br />
care for and campaign for Nepal’s most<br />
vulnerable children. The OCCED works<br />
to provide shelter, education and training<br />
whilst trying to find the children new<br />
homes.<br />
I was one of a group of 5 volunteers; 3<br />
schoolteachers, one paediatrician and myself<br />
- a former social worker with a special<br />
interest in child care. Every day, we were<br />
bused from our hotel in Kathmandu to the<br />
orphanage, which was just over a kilometre<br />
from the city centre. Central Kathmandu<br />
is a lively, intense city with narrow<br />
lanes, motorbikes, rickshaws, traffic jams,<br />
pollution, ageless temples, fabulous architecture<br />
and sacred cows roaming the<br />
streets. The streets are filled with the<br />
sounds of bicycle bells, religious music,<br />
construction works, car horns and the<br />
smells of incense and spices from the bazaars<br />
and sewage and car exhaust fumes<br />
from day-to-day living. Power cuts,<br />
strikes, and protests are part of daily life,<br />
as are the many rich and spectacular festivals<br />
of the Kathmandu Valley and traditional<br />
buildings and palaces in the old city<br />
of Kathmandu.<br />
Children in the orphanage are grouped by<br />
age. Our team of 5 volunteers helped with<br />
the 1yr – 3yr old groups in the afternoons<br />
and the 3-6 year old groups of children in<br />
the mornings. At 7 years of age, the children<br />
go to a nearby school, where English,<br />
Maths, Science and Reading are on the<br />
curriculum, though educational books are<br />
rare in classrooms.<br />
YOGA CLASSES<br />
Classes for Beginners recommence on Tuesday 13th<br />
January 2009, McKillop Institute from 1pm till 2pm.<br />
Classes for Intermediate/Advanced students YOGA &<br />
MEDITATION are held on Wednesdays from 7.30pm till<br />
9pm at the McKillop Institute.<br />
Contact: Mary for more info on 07971-277870 or<br />
01505-842877<br />
The orphanage is located in 2 rented<br />
buildings, which are fairly basic structures<br />
with walls and roofing made out of<br />
beautifully crafted split bamboo, beaten<br />
earth floors and no windows or artificial<br />
light. No laptops or iPods here! The<br />
accommodation may be basic but it is<br />
spotlessly clean; solar panels heat hot<br />
water, bath nights are on Thursdays and<br />
the children are looked after by nursemaids,<br />
known as didis. Girls can become<br />
didis at age 17; some do the cooking<br />
whilst others do housework, laundry<br />
and general child-minding to name but a<br />
few of their duties at the orphanage.<br />
With our social, educational and paediatric<br />
backgrounds, our team of 5 volunteers<br />
was also able to assist and support<br />
local staff by spending time with the<br />
children. For me, as a mother and<br />
grandmother myself, this was a very<br />
rewarding experience. Although I don’t<br />
speak Nepali (or any of the numerous,<br />
regional languages of the outlying areas),<br />
it was still possible to communicate<br />
with the children on other levels<br />
and to witness the great joy and excitement<br />
they experienced in the daily reading<br />
sessions we shared and, just as importantly,<br />
the song and dance routines<br />
including jiving, salsa, doing the Hokey<br />
Cokey and Ring a Ring o’ Roses!<br />
The children are often confined to the<br />
buildings due to the intense heat and the<br />
cramped city-centre location of the orphanage,<br />
where outdoor space is at a<br />
premium. The photograph shows some<br />
of the children, from a range of ethnic<br />
and cultural backgrounds, playing together<br />
on a small outdoor balcony area,<br />
which is only partly shielded from the<br />
scorching rays of the sun.<br />
As volunteers, we were able to spend<br />
some of the money we raised on treats for<br />
the children, one of which was a day out<br />
at a local zoo. This proved to be a great<br />
hit with the children who spent hours gazing<br />
at the tigers, elephants, leopards and<br />
all manner of other exotic creatures. It<br />
was exciting for us too! The didis came<br />
along too and provided a fabulous lunch,<br />
which we all enjoyed under the canopy of<br />
huge trees nearby.<br />
There are many more happy memories<br />
that I would like to share with you but<br />
space is limited. However, if you would<br />
like to find out more about the Naxal<br />
Orphanage and about Nepal and its people,<br />
I will be giving a slide show and talk<br />
at some local events. The first of these<br />
presentations will take place on Thursday<br />
29 th January at 2pm at Paisley Abbey (as<br />
part of Women’s Friendly Hour) and the<br />
second event will take place on 19 th February<br />
at 7pm at Barr Mill (as part of the<br />
SWRI evening).<br />
Finally, on behalf of the children and staff<br />
of Naxal Orphanage, I would like to say a<br />
very big thank you to family, friends,<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Community Council and St<br />
Vincent’s Hospice for your donations of<br />
money, school books, reading books,<br />
early reading books, crayons and other<br />
educational materials, all of which have<br />
brought such joy to the children we met.<br />
If you would like to donate or help<br />
with the Naxal Orphanage project in<br />
any way, please get in touch with me<br />
on Tel: 01505 843805.<br />
Diana Adam<br />
YOGA WORKSHOPS<br />
January 17th Saturday "JOY"<br />
February 21 Saturday "FREEDOM"<br />
March 14 Saturday "AWAKENING"<br />
April 26 Sunday "KINDNESS"<br />
May 17 Sunday "TRUTH"<br />
June 21 Sunday "ENTHUSIASM"<br />
All workshops are held in Kilbarchan Guide Hall<br />
and cost £15.00 Contact Rebecca on 0141-881-6700.
Provost’s<br />
Community<br />
Awards<br />
Nominations are being sought for<br />
the 11th anniversary of the Provost’s<br />
Community Awards in Renfrewshire.<br />
They aim to reward those members<br />
of the community who tirelessly<br />
work to make life better for others.<br />
Provost Celia Lawson said,<br />
“As Renfrewshire's Provost, it's my<br />
privilege to meet many people in our<br />
community who show such dedication<br />
to others and achieve so much.<br />
The Provost's Community Awards<br />
are your chance to tell us that you<br />
admire these people too, and you'd<br />
like them to be rewarded for who<br />
they are and what they do. If you<br />
know someone who helps others,<br />
who makes a difference in their community<br />
or who battles to overcome<br />
physical or emotional barriers in<br />
their life, nominating them for one<br />
of these awards is a great way of<br />
showing what you think of them.”<br />
Two new categories have been added<br />
to the 2009 Community Awards:<br />
the Spirit of Fairtrade Award, introduced<br />
to support Renfrewshire<br />
Council’s commitment to raising the<br />
profile of Fairtrade in the area, and<br />
the Arts and Culture Award for any<br />
person or group who has (or have)<br />
shown commitment and passion for<br />
music, photography, painting or any<br />
other such creative outlet.<br />
The new categories join returning<br />
categories:<br />
Child of Achievement, Carer, Community<br />
Volunteer/Group, Special<br />
Needs and Adult Achiever.<br />
The awards ceremony takes place in<br />
March 2009. Each individual winner<br />
gets a trophy, a holiday for two in<br />
London (including flights and 4-star<br />
hotel accommodation), £200 spending<br />
money and a £500 donation to a<br />
charity of their choice. If a group<br />
wins an award, they receive £800<br />
that can either be donated to a local<br />
charity or spent on their own specific<br />
needs, such as buying equipment.<br />
For further information<br />
please contact: Drew Gibson or<br />
Mairi Brown,Telephone:<br />
0141 840 3363 or<br />
0141 840 3706.<br />
L L o o c c h h w w i i n n n n o o c c h h r r e e ss s i i d d e e n n tt t t s s -<br />
Can Can I I help? help? help? If If so, so, please please don’t don’t<br />
don’t<br />
h h e e s s i i t t a a t t e e t t o o g g e e t t i i n n n tt t o o u u c c h h .<br />
.<br />
Douglas Alexander, <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong>’s MP<br />
Write to: 2014 Mile End Mill, 12 Seedhill Road, Paisley, PA1 1JS<br />
Tel: 0141 561 0333. E-mail: dalexandermp@talk21.com<br />
or come to one of my advice surgeries.<br />
Hear<br />
Here<br />
Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Hard Hard Hard of<br />
of<br />
Hearing Hearing Support Support Group<br />
Group<br />
Renfrewshire Hard of Hearing<br />
Support Group is a new group<br />
formed to raise awareness, campaign<br />
for positive change and to<br />
provide support and activities<br />
for those of us with a hearing<br />
loss. It has been great to see our<br />
numbers gradually increasing.<br />
Hearing loss brings problems of<br />
understanding in a noisy world.<br />
It is an invisible difficulty and<br />
other people don’t realise the<br />
need to communicate clearly.<br />
Sometimes it is easier for us to<br />
withdraw and become isolated<br />
but we aim to encourage others<br />
to overcome these difficulties.<br />
At our meetings every effort is<br />
made to make sure we all understand<br />
by having a loop system<br />
and a text writer available.<br />
There will be no meeting in<br />
January. The next meeting<br />
will be on Thursday February<br />
5th, 5th, 2009 2009, 2009 at 1.30pm in the<br />
Mile End Centre, 30 Seedhill<br />
Rd, Paisley. The subject will be<br />
a talk on Deaf Awareness, a<br />
topic which will be interesting<br />
to family also. Hope to see you<br />
there.<br />
Tel: 0141 847 4950<br />
(for further details)<br />
A Burns<br />
Supper<br />
will be held on<br />
Friday 23 rd January<br />
(7pm for 7.15pm)<br />
in the McKillop Institute,<br />
hosted by<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Choral Society<br />
This promises to be a good night of<br />
entertainment with local speakers,<br />
singers and other local musicians.<br />
Tickets are £15 and are available<br />
from any choir member.<br />
J Quinn & son<br />
Memorials<br />
Personal Service<br />
& Quality<br />
Guaranteed<br />
New Memorials<br />
Additional Inscriptions<br />
Cleaning & Renovations<br />
Mon 10am –5pm, Tue –Fri 10am –2pm<br />
Evening & Weekends by Arrangement<br />
4a Dalry Road, KILBIRNIE<br />
Please Call 01505 68 54 55
From the Parish<br />
Church<br />
Look forward in faith,<br />
all time is in God’s hand.<br />
Walk humbly with him<br />
and trust his future plan.<br />
God has wisely led<br />
his people by his power.<br />
Look forward in hope,<br />
he gives us each a new hour.<br />
A. Scobie © 1988 The Panel On Worship,<br />
Church Of Scotland<br />
In years gone by, on Hogmanay,<br />
our family used to gather around<br />
the dinner table. As we ate, we<br />
would discuss the past year, remembering<br />
the good times; raising<br />
a glass to friends and family to<br />
whom we had said our final farewells;<br />
we would also mention,<br />
briefly, the times we wanted to<br />
forget.<br />
This past year I have learned that I<br />
have the wonderful gift to forget<br />
hard times. That doesn’t mean I<br />
remember the past through rose<br />
tinted glasses hankering for a glorious<br />
age which never existed;<br />
however, it does mean that I am<br />
lucky enough not to live in the<br />
past. Yet there are lessons to learn<br />
from the past and we ignore the<br />
past at our peril. The difference is<br />
whether we let the past inform our<br />
present, or define it.<br />
The Roman god Janus gives his<br />
name to the month of January. In<br />
Roman mythology, Janus was the<br />
god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings<br />
and endings. Janus is<br />
usually depicted as having two<br />
faces, giving him the ability to look<br />
forward and backwards simultaneously.<br />
He looks to the future, but<br />
is forever also condemned to contemplate<br />
the past. He cannot contemplate<br />
the present; he cannot let<br />
go of the pain of the past – perhaps<br />
Janus, uniquely, does not have the<br />
power to forgive as he cannot let<br />
go.<br />
The Christian faith is based on<br />
forgiveness. When God forgives,<br />
God forgets. God refuses to live in<br />
the past.<br />
Being human we cannot let go of<br />
the past so easily. Yet faith is not<br />
a magic wand that means when<br />
we hand our hurt and pain to<br />
God the hurt and pain cease.<br />
Nevertheless, when we do hand<br />
our burdens to God, our load is<br />
lightened.<br />
While it is vital to learn the lessons<br />
of the past, we no longer live<br />
there. If we fail to forgive, in the<br />
end it is ourselves whom we hurt<br />
the most when we hold on to bitterness<br />
that should be laid to<br />
rest. We only need to look to the<br />
Middle East where the government<br />
of Israel and the supporters<br />
of Hamas seem unable to let go of<br />
the past. Both sides are letting<br />
the feuds and bitterness of the<br />
past define the present. If people<br />
on both sides could learn to let go<br />
and forgive then who knows how<br />
peaceful the future could be.<br />
If the past is a foreign country, so<br />
too is the future, yet we do not<br />
step into it alone. We step into<br />
the future together and with God<br />
by our sides. Therefore, we can<br />
look forward in faith, knowing<br />
that we take the best of the past<br />
with us and leave the worst behind.<br />
Whatever you face in 2009, may<br />
God bless you with health and<br />
happiness,<br />
Yours,<br />
Rev. Christine Murdoch<br />
Godspell<br />
As you will have read in Chatterbox<br />
before, as part of the bi-centenary<br />
celebrations of the Parish Church<br />
building in Church Street, we will<br />
be producing the Rock Musical<br />
‘Godspell’ on the<br />
26 th and 27 th March<br />
in the McKillop Institute.<br />
Godspell was written by Stephen<br />
Schwartz and John-Michael<br />
Tebelak and premiered in New<br />
York in May 1971. The play contains<br />
well known songs, such as<br />
Prepare ye The Way of the Lord<br />
and Day By Day. While written<br />
for 10 characters, the beauty of<br />
Godspell is there is a place for anyone<br />
who wishes to take part.<br />
Rehearsals begin on<br />
Tuesday 13 th January in the Parish<br />
Church at 8pm.<br />
If you cannot come to the first rehearsal<br />
but would like to take part<br />
in any way, then please contact me<br />
on 843484 or by e-mail:<br />
rev.christine@btinternet.com<br />
This musical is a lot of fun and no<br />
matter who you are, no matter how<br />
much singing or acting experience<br />
you have, we will find a part for<br />
you.<br />
We look forward to seeing you on<br />
the 13 th January at 8pm.<br />
Many thanks.<br />
Christine Murdoch
Fairtrade and Fair Prices for all Farmers<br />
Celebrating our Fairtrade Village<br />
Members of <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> International<br />
Aid and its Fairtrade campaign<br />
group recently celebrated the village’s<br />
success in achieving ‘Fairtrade’ status<br />
with those who helped us reach this<br />
goal including representatives of Renfrewshire<br />
Council, the Community<br />
Council, the churches, LMEG and the<br />
Primary School. Thanks to the generosity<br />
of local people at Susan Lamont’s<br />
annual pupil concert, framed copies of<br />
the certificate ‘presented to the people<br />
of <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong>’ by the Fairtrade<br />
Foundation (see picture) will be displayed<br />
in those shops, caterers and<br />
organisations around the village that<br />
sell or provide Fairtrade products.<br />
We hope this will also<br />
remind everyone to<br />
support local farmers<br />
and retailers during<br />
these difficult economic<br />
times. The campaign<br />
group feels there is no<br />
conflict between supporting<br />
Fairtrade and,<br />
where possible, buying<br />
from local farmers and<br />
producers – at a Farmers’<br />
Market for example<br />
- to ensure they are<br />
paid a fair price too.<br />
What Fairtrade<br />
stands for in<br />
Scotland and in the<br />
developing world<br />
‘Fairtrade’ refers to products produced<br />
and sold with the now familiar Fairtrade<br />
logo on the packaging. ‘Fair<br />
Trade’ refers to the wider Fair Trade<br />
movement and national Fair Trade<br />
Nation campaigns. The National<br />
Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) and<br />
the Scottish Fair Trade Forum (SFTF)<br />
recently promoted their desire for a<br />
fair deal for food producers, regardless<br />
of where they farm, whether in Scotland<br />
or in the developing world. Their<br />
common goal is to ensure producers<br />
are paid a fair price for their goods,<br />
allowing them to operate sustainably.<br />
NFUS focuses on working towards this<br />
goal in Scotland while the SFTF works<br />
to achieve this in the developing<br />
world, through Scotland’s campaign to<br />
become one of the world’s first Fair<br />
Trade Nations.<br />
According to Jim McLaren, NFU Scotland<br />
President, “At first, Fairtrade<br />
and Scottish farming might seem<br />
unlikely bedfellows since Fairtrade is<br />
generally associated with the developing<br />
world. In reality however,<br />
NFUS and the SFTF share key common<br />
values. We both work to ensure<br />
food is produced in a manner that<br />
promotes and enhances the sustainability<br />
of agriculture and the wellbeing<br />
of families who rely on it. We<br />
both want a ‘Fair Deal’ for producers,<br />
whether for farmers in Scotland<br />
or in places like Malawi.”<br />
John McAllion, chair of the Scottish<br />
Fair Trade Forum, said: “Scotland<br />
currently has a campaign to become<br />
one of the world’s first Fair Trade<br />
Nations, (and) our greater aim is to<br />
embed a commitment to fairness at<br />
all levels of Scottish society. Buy<br />
local meat, potatoes and dairy<br />
products to support your local economy<br />
and buy quality Fairtrade coffee,<br />
tea and other products that can’t<br />
be grown locally to help Fairtrade<br />
producers in the developing world<br />
get a fair deal. In tough economic<br />
times like this, buying local and Fairtrade<br />
goods is a sure way to get quality<br />
products while knowing that you<br />
are also supporting sustainable community<br />
and environmental development<br />
that impacts all of us positively<br />
in the long-run.”<br />
The Fairtrade symbol guarantees<br />
that people in developing countries<br />
get a fair price for goods like cotton<br />
and coffee that cannot be grown or<br />
produced locally. In addition some<br />
of their earnings go towards improving<br />
social provision such as health<br />
care and education which is often<br />
non-existent.<br />
Jennipher Wattaka, a Ugandan<br />
woman belonging to the Nasufwa<br />
Co-op committee and its Fairtrade<br />
premium committee said,<br />
“As a woman, being involved with<br />
Fairtrade is very helpful. We understand<br />
the coffee business now and<br />
Fairtrade has taught us how to improve<br />
the quality of our coffee. It also<br />
helps women sell their coffee, we have<br />
a good market now. Fairtrade is also<br />
giving women freedom of speech.<br />
When we are paid we buy what we<br />
want and don’t have to ask our husbands<br />
and we know how to budget for<br />
our household needs. We have tasted<br />
Cafédirect which has our own coffee in<br />
it. It was very delicious!’<br />
What can we do<br />
locally?<br />
The <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> cam-<br />
paign group hopes to<br />
gather support in 2009<br />
by persuading more<br />
local people to start<br />
choosing Fairtrade prod-<br />
ucts and buying from<br />
local producers or shops<br />
where they can. This<br />
will guarantee support<br />
for poorer communities<br />
as well as local farmers<br />
and producers: research<br />
shows that 80% of every<br />
£1 spent in local shops<br />
re-circulates in the<br />
community.<br />
The bigger aim is to promote Scotland's<br />
contribution to Fair Trade with<br />
developing countries, working with<br />
other bodies, including Renfrewshire<br />
Council and the Scottish Fair Trade<br />
Forum to help Scotland achieve Fair<br />
Trade Nation status.<br />
During Fairtrade Fortnight<br />
from 23 February-8 March 09,<br />
we hope to be able to hear from a<br />
banana producer who can tell us the<br />
difference that selling their produce<br />
through the Fairtrade scheme has<br />
made to his community. Other events<br />
will include fund raising coffee mornings<br />
at the Junction and a Fairtrade<br />
coffee tasting event. We also plan to<br />
produce another shopping bag or a<br />
T-shirt to celebrate our Fairtrade<br />
village status. If you are interested in<br />
helping in a practical way with any of<br />
these activities, please contact<br />
Bob Turner at Tel: 843068.
DRUID DAYS IN<br />
LOCHWINNOCH<br />
by Derek Parker<br />
WHILE working as a ranger at Muirshiel<br />
Country Park and its Barnbrock<br />
Farm HQ in the hills above <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong>,<br />
my journey home by bicycle<br />
took me past Clochoderick Stone in a<br />
meadow just off the back road between<br />
the village and nearby Howwood.<br />
At certain times of the year, when it<br />
was dark at night, I sometimes saw<br />
flickering flames around the massive<br />
rock, which measures several feet in<br />
height and circumference, and whose<br />
Gaelic name means 'Stone of the Druid.'<br />
Shadowy figures circling the rock,<br />
known geologically as a glacial erratic<br />
because it was swept down to its present<br />
site from Argyll at the end of the<br />
last Ice Age 10,000 years ago, informed<br />
me that men and women who<br />
still follow the old Druid religion of<br />
the <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> area were celebrating<br />
ancient pre-Christian festivals like<br />
Samhainn (the start of the Celtic winter)<br />
on November 1; the winter solstice<br />
on December 21 or 22; and Imbolc<br />
(the start of Spring) on February 1.<br />
These celebrations at Clochoderick<br />
took the form of torchlight processions,<br />
music on drums and tambourines,<br />
and prayers to the Druidic sun<br />
god, Bel, urging him to return to his<br />
summer haunts and bring back life<br />
and light to a benighted Renfrewshire<br />
countryside darkened by winter desolation<br />
and barrenness.<br />
The people taking part in these nocturnal<br />
ceremonies were the heirs of a<br />
pre-Christian hierarchy dating back<br />
hundreds of years to a time when the<br />
Druid priests were the spiritual and<br />
political leaders of Iron Age Celts, who<br />
lived in fortified encampments and<br />
homesteads in the <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> area<br />
at places like Walls Hill, Dunconnel<br />
Hill, Smeath Hill, Castle Hill and<br />
Knockmade Hill - all important archaeo-<br />
logical sites within Clyde Muirshiel<br />
Regional Park and dating from approx.<br />
500BC to 300AD.<br />
The Druids, who were also the philosophers,<br />
poets and historians of their<br />
communities, wore distinctive white<br />
robes and hoods, sometimes embroidered<br />
with colours of the natural<br />
world like blue and green, to denote<br />
their rank in the hierarchical order.<br />
The Celts, who looked to them for<br />
guidance and spiritual nourishment,<br />
were garbed in long woollen trousers,<br />
tunics and cloaks fastened with<br />
brooches. Celtic women dressed in<br />
shawls and long, ankle-length woollen<br />
gowns, drawn in at the waist with<br />
leather belts. Men and women wore<br />
leather shoes or boots made from<br />
animal hides.<br />
The Druids, who were well-versed in<br />
nature lore, led the religious rituals<br />
of the people in wooded groves known<br />
as nemetons, which were regarded<br />
as sacred to the gods and goddesses<br />
of woods, rivers, rocks and hills. The<br />
word, 'Druid,' derives from Greek,<br />
'drus' and 'idein,' meaning 'one who<br />
has knowledge of the oak trees'<br />
Like their modern counterparts, prehistoric<br />
Druids took part in torchlight<br />
processions in holy places at<br />
dead of night when fiery flames from<br />
their blazing beacons symbolised the<br />
light of life shining in winter darkness<br />
and strengthening the fading<br />
sun which was at its weakest during<br />
the night or winter time.<br />
They also chanted paeans of praise<br />
to the sun, which they learned during<br />
their long apprenticeships lasting<br />
for 20 years and obliging them to<br />
commit Druid knowledge to memory<br />
so it would not be misappropriated<br />
by the uninitiated.<br />
Among <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> sites, where<br />
the Druids are believed to have held<br />
their rituals, is Beltrees whose name<br />
is said to derive from the trees of Bel,<br />
the Druidic sun god.<br />
Another location is thought to be the<br />
hillock in Parkhill Wood, known<br />
locally as Downie's Mount or Downie's<br />
Castle, and which is distinguishable by<br />
its yew tree circle.<br />
One of the most interesting aspects of<br />
Druid ritual was their veneration of<br />
the mistletoe plant. The milky juice of<br />
the berry symbolised fertility and lifesustaining<br />
milk while the whiteness represented<br />
bright light shining in winter<br />
darkness. Mistletoe, especially when<br />
it grew on oak trees, was cut down on<br />
the sixth day of the new moon by Druids<br />
using golden sickles and gathered<br />
in priestly robes to prevent it from<br />
landing on profane ground.<br />
Although the Druids were brutally<br />
suppressed by the Roman legions, who<br />
occupied much of Britain from around<br />
43AD to 410 AD, their secret knowledge<br />
lingered on underground before<br />
resurfacing during the Victorian era.<br />
During my time as a countryside<br />
ranger, I was invited to attend a number<br />
of Druid ceremonies, including a<br />
wedding at Muirshiel Park and a Beltane<br />
celebration at Courtshaw Hill<br />
overlooking Castle Semple Loch.<br />
Watching the re-enactment of ceremonies,<br />
which took part at these very sites<br />
nearly 2000 years ago, was an enlightening<br />
experience with their ritual<br />
kindling of sacred fires, the marking<br />
with wooden sticks of the temenos, or<br />
sacred enclosure, music, singing and<br />
the distribution of the fruits of the<br />
earth like apples and oranges, and<br />
prayers for people in need.<br />
In these hallowed sites once used<br />
by our Druidic predecessors, the ageless<br />
wisdom of the Old Religion flowed<br />
down through the ages, putting us in<br />
touch with our roots in the land, magnifying<br />
our souls and linking us to the<br />
eternal cycle of birth, life, death and<br />
resurrection, which unites our souls<br />
with the seasons of the universe.<br />
Derek Parker worked as a<br />
countryside ranger at Clyde<br />
Muirshiel Regional Park<br />
between 1985 and 1999.
New books for January<br />
Being Elizabeth by Barbara Taylor Bradford<br />
Killer Year: Stories to die for by Lee Child<br />
A secret alchemy by Emma Darwin<br />
Daughters of Liverpool by Annie Groves<br />
Just after sunset by Stephen King<br />
Brute force by Andy McNab<br />
Salvation in death by J D Robb<br />
Coming soon<br />
Secret life of Evie Hamilton by Catherine Alliott<br />
The bodies left behind by Jeffrey Deaver<br />
The Associate by John Grisham<br />
Live fire by Stephen Leather<br />
Wednesday’s at 4 by Debbie Macomber<br />
You can request these books by calling into the library or<br />
reserve books on-line (see Renew and Reserve below).<br />
Renew and Reserve<br />
at<br />
www.renfrewshwire.gov.uk/libraries<br />
Library members can view, renew and reserve their library<br />
loans online. All you need to get started is your library membership<br />
number and a password. If you don’t have a password<br />
just ask at any library.<br />
“Your “Your “Your Village”<br />
Village”<br />
Want to find out more? Why not browse through our<br />
collection of local photographs and step into a very<br />
different world that was … <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong>.<br />
ADVICE WORKS<br />
Tuesdays 10am –12.30pm<br />
Advisors are on hand to help fill in claim forms, check and advise<br />
on welfare benefits/money problems.<br />
Advisors can provide expert advice on a wide range of debt<br />
related topics, such as credit card, mortgage arrears, council tax,<br />
etc. The service is FREE, confidential and open to all Renfrewshire<br />
residents.<br />
The AGM<br />
of<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> International Aid<br />
will be held in<br />
The Guild Room<br />
of the Parish Church<br />
on<br />
MONDAY 26th, JANUARY<br />
starting at 8pm.<br />
The agenda includes reports on<br />
LIA's work in the past year and the<br />
election of a new committee.<br />
Fairtrade refreshments will be served<br />
afterwards. All supporters are welcome.<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Library<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong><br />
Scottish Country Dance Club<br />
Are you fit, active and<br />
looking for a new interest?<br />
Our Scottish Country Dancing Club resumes<br />
on 6th January 2009 in the<br />
McKillop Institute at 7.30pm. Learn<br />
how to enjoy our traditional country<br />
dancing with Reels, Jigs, Strathspeys<br />
and the various steps associated with<br />
them. It's all good exercise for the<br />
mind as well as the legs and a most enjoyable<br />
and inexpensive evening.<br />
New Members will be most<br />
welcome - come and have a try.<br />
Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Libraries Libraries Present Present<br />
Present<br />
Baby Baby & & Toddler<br />
Toddler<br />
Rhyme e time e<br />
AT<br />
AT<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Library<br />
Library<br />
Every Every Tuesday Tuesday<br />
Tuesday<br />
2.30pm<br />
2.30pm<br />
Starting Starting Starting 27 27 th January January<br />
LIBRARY OPENING HOURS :<br />
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 2pm–5pm & 6pm–8pm<br />
Tuesday and Saturday: 10am–1pm & 2pm–5pm<br />
Closed Thursday.<br />
Tel: 01505 842305<br />
BURNS BURNS SUPPER<br />
SUPPER<br />
On Friday 13th February<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> and Howwood SNP are<br />
holding their Annual Burns Supper in<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Golf Club, to celebrate<br />
the 250th anniversary of the life and<br />
works of the bard.<br />
Guest speaker is John Swinney MSP<br />
and the programme for the evening<br />
also includes Cllr.Derek Mackay,<br />
Leader of Renfrewshire Council,<br />
with Cruachan providing the music.<br />
This is a mixed evening and all are<br />
welcome to attend.<br />
Tickets are £18.50 and are available<br />
by phoning Davie on 843507.
SAVE YOUR<br />
REGIONAL PARK<br />
PETITION<br />
When I journeyed through to the<br />
Scottish Parliament for the Petition<br />
Committee meeting on 18 November,<br />
I was a bit down in the dumps<br />
because I was sure that the Petition<br />
was going to be closed and cast<br />
aside. As time has gone on, my responses<br />
to the Government’s comments<br />
have been more and more<br />
critical and I was sure that my last<br />
response would not go down very<br />
well at all. Bearing in mind that the<br />
Petition was launched in August<br />
2007, it has been going for a very<br />
long time and I was concerned that<br />
today would be the day when it<br />
would be finalised.<br />
By 2 pm I was once again seated in<br />
the Parliament building with my fingers<br />
crossed and pretending to be<br />
optimistic. In order to explain the<br />
outcome, I think the easiest solution<br />
is to summarise the Petition Committee’s<br />
latest letter to the Government<br />
as below.<br />
“ The Public Petitions Committee considered<br />
the above current petition at<br />
its meeting on 18 November 2008 and<br />
agreed to write to the Scottish Government<br />
seeking a response to the specific<br />
points raised during the meeting.<br />
PURPOSE<br />
The purpose of this letter is to seek a<br />
written response to each of the<br />
following—<br />
1. the points made in the written<br />
submission from petitioner received<br />
since the Committee last<br />
considered the petition i.e.—<br />
• Will the Scottish Government<br />
demonstrate in what way planning<br />
policies and the planning process fully<br />
reflect the wider social, environment,<br />
cultural, tourism and community<br />
benefits that regional and national<br />
parks offer and how are these interests<br />
properly and robustly protected and<br />
recognized?<br />
• If it is for developers to consider<br />
whether planning policies which apply<br />
to national and regional parks are sufficient<br />
to ‘discourage’ them from submitting<br />
such planning applications, what<br />
evidence is there that this is the case?<br />
• What has been the volume of<br />
planning applications made, broken<br />
down by those rejected and approved,<br />
made in each regional and national<br />
park in each year since 2003?<br />
• Whether the principle of creating<br />
a regional or national park, including<br />
the statutory aims of the national<br />
parks, is to -<br />
◊ conserve and enhance the natural<br />
and cultural heritage of the area;<br />
◊ promote sustainable use of the<br />
natural resources of the area;<br />
◊ promote understanding and enjoyment<br />
(including enjoyment in the<br />
form of recreation) of the special<br />
qualities of the area by the public;<br />
and<br />
◊ promote sustainable economic<br />
and social development of the area's<br />
communities - and should this not<br />
be afforded a higher status in terms<br />
of protection and that, as such, applications<br />
for wind farms and other<br />
forms of industrialisation should be<br />
discouraged more robustly to ensure<br />
that the reason for designating the<br />
parks in the first place is not lost?<br />
2. the specific issues raised<br />
during the discussion on the<br />
petition<br />
GUIDANCE ON RESPONSE<br />
The following information may be<br />
helpful in preparing your response—<br />
◦ please limit your written response<br />
to no more than 3 sides of A4<br />
◦ the Committee would find it convenient<br />
if you were to identify in bullet<br />
form the relevant action the Scottish<br />
Government has taken, or will<br />
be taking, that will specifically deal<br />
with, resolve etc the issues raised (to<br />
provide in this format makes it easier<br />
for the Committee to easily identify<br />
the action points relevant to the<br />
petition and will assist in its understanding<br />
of the issue)<br />
◦ the Committee is interested in specifics<br />
e.g. what is the action, how is it<br />
relevant to the petition, why is it being<br />
taken, when<br />
◦ the Official Report of the Committee’s<br />
meeting will be available on the Parliament’s<br />
website from 26 Nov. 2008.<br />
TIMETABLE<br />
The Committee will give further consideration<br />
to this petition and the<br />
written responses received at its<br />
meeting on 10 February 2009. Accordingly,<br />
the deadline for your response<br />
is 5 January 2009. “<br />
Needless to say I left the meeting<br />
very happy (actually dancing down<br />
the Royal Mile) that the petition<br />
was alive and well. Who knows<br />
what 2009 may bring regarding the<br />
Petition? Let us hope it is a vintage<br />
year!! Very sincere thanks to<br />
all who have supported this petition.<br />
Good health and happiness<br />
for 2009.<br />
Sybil Simpson<br />
EVENING HOSPITAL<br />
VISITOR TRANSPORT<br />
SERVICE:<br />
Notice from Renfrewshire Council<br />
In October 2006, a ground breaking hospital<br />
visitor transport scheme was launched<br />
for the residents of Glasgow City. Since<br />
then, the scheme has been extended to<br />
residents of East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire,<br />
Rutherglen and Cambuslang.<br />
On 6th October 2008, the service began in<br />
Renfrewshire, providing free transport for<br />
our residents to visit patients in the Royal<br />
Alexandra Hospital and other acute hospitals<br />
in the NHS Greater Glasgow and<br />
Clyde Area.<br />
Who can use it?<br />
The hospital evening visitor transport service<br />
is available for anyone living in Renfrewshire,<br />
but priority will be given to<br />
those who wish to travel to their nearest<br />
hospital, to older people (those over 60),<br />
people living with a disability and those in<br />
receipt of benefits.<br />
How to use it<br />
To use the service, phone a booking hotline:<br />
0845 128 4027 (open every afternoon)<br />
and transport can be booked up to<br />
one week in advance. You will have to<br />
register and provide some information to<br />
ensure that those who really need the service<br />
are given priority. All information<br />
will be treated in the strictest of confidence<br />
and in compliance with the Data<br />
Protection Act. You will need to give your<br />
address, which hospital you want to visit<br />
and what time visiting begins and ends.<br />
Pick up time will be confirmed by telephone<br />
and you will be taken from your<br />
front door to a drop off point in the hospital.<br />
You will be given a time for the return<br />
journey back home after visiting.<br />
Who provides the service?<br />
The service is delivered through a partnership<br />
between Renfrewshire Community<br />
Health Partnership, NHS Greater Glasgow<br />
and Clyde, Renfrewshire Council, WRVS<br />
and Community Transport Glasgow.<br />
Community Transport Glasgow will host<br />
the booking hotline and schedule pick ups<br />
and drop offs. They will contact WRVS in<br />
Renfrewshire with the schedule for that<br />
evening by 5pm. WRVS will provide a<br />
driver and Renfrewshire Council will<br />
make a vehicle available.<br />
During the pilot period (6/10/08 –<br />
31/03/09), usage of the service will be<br />
monitored, and a steering group will<br />
meet in February 2009 to agree a way<br />
forward from April 2009.
What’s On<br />
(Regular clubs, classes<br />
and local groups)<br />
• <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Community<br />
Walks - Mondays (ex. Public<br />
Holidays), 10.30 am at The Cross.<br />
• <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Toddlers<br />
Group - For under 5’s, every<br />
Monday and Wednesday from<br />
9.30-11.30 at the McKillop.<br />
(Resumes Wed. 1st October.)<br />
• Kickjitsu for Kids - Monday<br />
nights, from 5pm-6.45pm in the<br />
Parish Church Hall.<br />
• <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Gymnastics<br />
Club - For primary school-age<br />
children every Monday from 5pm-<br />
7pm at the Annexe. Phone Coby<br />
for details on: 0772 9051615.<br />
• Morag’s Keep Fit - Mondays<br />
and Thursdays from 7pm, in the<br />
McKillop Institute.<br />
• <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Choral Society.<br />
Rehearsals on Monday evenings,<br />
Parish Church/ Hall. Juniors 7-<br />
7.30pm, Intermediates 7.30-<br />
8.30pm and Seniors from 8pm.<br />
• <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Art Group<br />
Meet fortnightly on Monday evenings,<br />
7.30pm, McKillop Inst. *<br />
• Advice Works - Tuesdays 10am<br />
-12.30 at the Library. *<br />
• Drop-in T Bar - <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong><br />
Elderly Forum. Every Tuesday<br />
from 10am-1pm, McKillop Institute.<br />
All welcome. For details,<br />
call Reta on: 01505 842054.<br />
• TaeKwon-Do Fitness and Selfdefence<br />
classes for all. Tuesdays<br />
from 5-6pm, McKillop Institute.<br />
For details Tel: 01259 210716.<br />
• Linda Margaret School of<br />
Dancing - Tuesdays from 4pm-<br />
8.45pm, McKillop Institute. For<br />
details, Tel: 0141 581 9104.<br />
• Scottish Country Dance<br />
Club - On Tuesdays, from 7.30-<br />
9.30pm, the McKillop Institute.<br />
• Boys Brigade - Anchor Boys<br />
and Junior Sections meet on<br />
Tuesday nights and Company<br />
Section on Friday evenings, Parish<br />
Church Hall. (See Church Notice<br />
Board for more details.)<br />
• Girls Brigade -<br />
1st <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Company<br />
Wednesday evenings from 6pm-<br />
9.15pm at the Parish Church<br />
Hall for various age groups.<br />
• Yoga Classes - Tuesday Daytime<br />
Classes for Beginners from<br />
1pm-2pm), and<br />
Wednesday Evening Classes for<br />
Intermediate/Advanced students<br />
- YOGA and MEDITATION - from<br />
7.30-9pm; McKillop Inst. Tel<br />
Mary for details on: 07971<br />
277870 or 01505 842877.<br />
• Yoga Workshops - see separate<br />
notice in this issue of Chatterbox<br />
about monthly Yoga Workshops.<br />
• Happy Harminis - Fun for pre<br />
-school children. Thursdays<br />
from 10am in the McKillop Institute.<br />
Contact Frankie Plater for<br />
details: 01505 612248.<br />
• Slinky Strollers - on Thursdays<br />
(see back page for details).<br />
• <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Elderly Forum<br />
Lunch Club. Every Thursday,<br />
11.30 am-1.30pm, McKillop.*<br />
• Calder Drama Club—<br />
Thursdays, from 8pm-10pm<br />
McKillop Institute.<br />
• Scottish Slimmers - Thursdays<br />
from 7/7.30pm, McKillop Inst.<br />
• <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Pre-School<br />
Gymnastics (children 18 mths to<br />
5 yrs). Fridays, from 10.15am -<br />
1.45pm at the Annexe. Details<br />
from Coby on: 0772 9051615.<br />
• Tai Chi for Beginners -<br />
Friday nights, 6.45-7.45pm, The<br />
Room, <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Library.<br />
• Roller Stroll. Skating will recommence<br />
in 2009. Details will<br />
be published in Chatterbox soon.<br />
• Muirshiel Stargazing Nights<br />
in 2009. More details in next<br />
month’s Chatterbox.<br />
RSPB<br />
LOCHWINNOCH<br />
Twilight Talks 2009<br />
Tuesday 13th January<br />
Late Night Shopping at the<br />
January Sales and a movie<br />
Shop open 5pm-7.30pm<br />
Film show from 7.30pm-9pm<br />
featuring Mud Glorious Mud and short<br />
ID lesson by RSPB reserve team on<br />
10 of our most commonly seen waders.<br />
Monday 9th February<br />
Madagascar Journey<br />
from 7.30-9pm<br />
Talk by volunteer, Ian Taylor, on the<br />
incredible flora and fauna of Madagascar.<br />
Monday 9th March<br />
The Return of the Beaver<br />
From 7.30-9pm<br />
Talk by Simon Jones of the Scottish<br />
Wildlife Trust about the ecology and<br />
history of the European beaver and the<br />
Scottish Beaver Trial in the Knapdale<br />
Forest of Argyll.<br />
BOOK IN ADVANCE FOR ALL<br />
EVENTS Tel: 01505 842663<br />
Subscribe to the RSPB<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Blog!<br />
For weekly updates about what is<br />
happening at the reserve, visit:<br />
http://blogs.rspb.org.uk/<br />
lochwinnoch/default.aspx<br />
and subscribe using the RSS link.
What’s On<br />
• Tuesday 6th January -<br />
Scottish Country Dancing Club<br />
starts again - 7.30pm, McKillop<br />
Institute. Details inside. *<br />
• Saturday 10th January -<br />
Chameleon Club workshop 2-4pm<br />
at RSPB Centre. Details inside. *<br />
and Big Garden Birdwatch - 30th<br />
birthday party! - 11am-4pm at<br />
RSPB Centre. Get information<br />
about this year’s survey (on Saturday<br />
24th/Sunday 25th January).<br />
• Saturday 10th January - January<br />
Sales ! Gift shop sales at all<br />
Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park<br />
shops - see opening hours.<br />
• Sunday 11th January - Beach<br />
Clean Day at Lunderston Bay from<br />
1-3pm. For info, Tel: 01475 521 458.<br />
• Monday 12th January -<br />
Local Community Walks recommence<br />
from The Cross, <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong>.<br />
Every Monday (except public<br />
holidays) at 10.30 hours.<br />
• Tuesday 13th January - Late<br />
night shopping and a movie at the<br />
RSPB Centre. Details inside. *<br />
• Tuesday 13th January - Yoga<br />
Classes recommence—see inside<br />
for full details of all classes. *<br />
• Thursday 15th January -<br />
Slinky Strollers - Thursday morning<br />
walks start again, meet at<br />
10.30am at Castle Semple Centre.<br />
• Thursday 15th January -<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Historical Society<br />
evening, speaker Jim Grant on<br />
“The Maritime Museum” at 7.30pm<br />
in the Guild Room, Parish Church.<br />
• Saturday 17th January - Yoga<br />
Workshop, Kilbarchan. More details<br />
inside. *<br />
• Saturday 17th January -<br />
Councillor Arthur’s Surgery from<br />
11.30am at the McKillop Inst. *<br />
• Sunday 18th January - See The<br />
Hot Seats and The Shed Inspectors,<br />
7.3opm at the McKillop Inst.<br />
Tel: 01505 706346 for tickets.<br />
• Monday 19th January -<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Art Group fortnightly<br />
meeting - 7.30pm, McKillop Inst. *<br />
For All Your Garage Door Needs<br />
Garage Doors . Remote Control Openers<br />
Installation . Repairs . Spares<br />
FREE ESTIMATES 0141 950 1423 GLASGOW<br />
FREE SURVEYS 01505 842176 AYRSHIRE<br />
FREE INSURANCE REPORTS 01786 820130 STIRLING<br />
The Cross, <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> PA12 4DB<br />
(10 mins from Glasgow Airport on A737)<br />
• Wednesday 21st January -<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> SWRI next meeting<br />
is a Scottish Night - 7.30pm<br />
McKillop Inst. Visitors welcome.<br />
• Thursday 22nd January—<br />
Coffee morning from 11am-1pm<br />
at RSPB Centre. Cost £2 p.person<br />
• Friday 23rd January - Burns<br />
Supper - hosted by <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong><br />
Choral Society, 7 for 7.15pm -<br />
McKillop Inst. Details inside. *<br />
• Fri 23rd January - Tues 10th<br />
February - Art in the Park exhibition<br />
at Castle Semple Centre<br />
from 10am to 4pm daily.<br />
• Saturday 24th and Sunday<br />
25th January - Optics Weekend<br />
10am-4pm at RSPB Centre.<br />
• Sunday 25th January -<br />
Remember the fifty passages?<br />
Meet at 1.45pm, at Castle Semple<br />
Visitor Centre for a walk to Parkhill.<br />
• Monday 26th January - AGM<br />
of <strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> International<br />
Aid at 8pm in the Guild Room of<br />
the Parish Church. *<br />
• Tuesday 27th January and<br />
every Tuesday - Baby and<br />
Toddler Rhymetime, 2.3opm at<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Library. *<br />
• Wednesday 28th January -<br />
Conservation Volunteer Session<br />
Start the new year with exercise<br />
and fresh air at Muirshiel Centre.<br />
• Thursday 29th January -<br />
<strong>Lochwinnoch</strong> Elderly Forum<br />
meeting 1pm McKillop Inst. *<br />
VISITOR CENTRES<br />
WINTER OPENING HOURS<br />
Castle Semple Centre Open daily,<br />
10am-4pm. Tel: 01505 842882.<br />
Cornalees Centre - Open at Weekends<br />
only, 10.30am-3pm from Nov ‘08<br />
to March ‘09. (Toilets open daily.)<br />
Tel: 01475 521458<br />
Muirshiel Centre - Open at Weekends<br />
only, 11am-3pm from Nov ‘08 to<br />
March ‘09. (Park and toilets open<br />
daily.) Tel: 01505 842803<br />
RSPB Reserve - Reserve is open at<br />
all times; Visitor Centre open daily,<br />
10am-5pm. Tel: 01505 842663.<br />
ESTABLISHED ESTABLISHED ESTABLISHED 1989<br />
1989<br />
19 19 YEARS YEARS IN IN BUSINESS BUSINESS AND AND THE THE RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS GO GO ON ON AND AND ON ON …<br />
…<br />
UPVC UPVC WINDOWS WINDOWS AND AND DOORS<br />
DOORS<br />
MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE FREE FREE UPVC<br />
UPVC<br />
ROOFLINE ROOFLINE AND AND FULL<br />
FULL<br />
WINDOW WINDOW REPAIR REPAIR SERVICE<br />
SERVICE<br />
HINGES, HINGES, LOCKS LOCKS AND AND AND MISTED<br />
MISTED<br />
AND AND BROKEN BROKEN BROKEN GLASS GLASS REPLACED.<br />
REPLACED.<br />
UPVC DOORS FITTED FROM £430<br />
• Saturday 31st January -<br />
Chameleon Club workshop 2-4pm<br />
at RSPB Centre. Details inside. *<br />
• Saturday 7th February - Teenage<br />
Volunteers Group join us at<br />
the RSPB Centre from 11am-4pm<br />
and take part in bird surveying,<br />
outdoor work and much more.<br />
• Saturday 14th February -<br />
Dance the night away at the<br />
Valentines Gala Ceilidh at the<br />
McKillop Institute. Tickets available<br />
soon from usual outlets. *<br />
• Saturday 14th February -<br />
Valentine’s Day Special Wildlife<br />
Wander to see if love is in the air<br />
in the bird world. From 10am-12<br />
noon. Wear stout footwear.<br />
* See inside Chatterbox for further<br />
information on these events.<br />
OUR OUR PRODUCTS PRODUCTS ARE ARE ARE INSTALLED<br />
INSTALLED<br />
IN IN OVER OVER ONE ONE HUNDRED<br />
HUNDRED<br />
HUNDRED<br />
LOCHWINNOCH LOCHWINNOCH LOCHWINNOCH HOUSEHOLDS.<br />
HOUSEHOLDS.<br />
Contact Contact - PETER PETER McGARVEY<br />
McGARVEY<br />
Tel: Tel: Tel: 01505 01505 614654<br />
614654