jan-13 - Lochwinnoch Online

Nuisance HelplineAnti-Social BehaviourNoise problemsSupport and AdviceEvery day 9am – 10pmTel: 0800 169 1283CHATTERBOXNo 229 January 2013www.lochwinnoch.infowww.facebook.com/lochwinnochASISTAnti-SocialInvestigation TeamOffice 8:45am – 4:45pmTel: 0141 847 3445Community newsletter produced by Lochwinnoch Community CouncilWhat’s On & Dates for your DiariesVillage events, clubs, classes, etc are in the centre pagesLochwinnochPlaygroundImprovementGroupFamily Ceilidh -Saturday2nd February 2013The Lochwinnoch PlaygroundImprovement Group is a group ofenthusiastic parents in Lochwinnoch.Formed in September 2012, we arecommitted to raising funds to improvethe local playground facilities for thebenefit of the community.Please join us for an evening ofdancing with our local band,Clamjamfrie in the McKillop Hall onSaturday 2nd February 2013, 7pm till10:30. All ages welcome, bar & raffleon the night. Tickets available fromThe Brown Bull and The Junction.So dust off your dancing shoes andjoin us for some fun and show yoursupport for the PlaygroundImprovement Group!Historical SocietyOur January meeting is on Thursday17th at 7.30pm in the Parish Churchguild room.Our guest speaker for the evening isTom Begg.—"Unravelling the Mysteryof the More Common Pictish Symbols"As usual new members and visitorsare always welcome. Evening visitor is£2 which includes the tea, coffee,cakes and biscuits which is servedfollowing the talk.The Chatterbox Team wish all ourreaders and advertisers a veryHappy and Prosperous New YearLochwinnoch ArtGroupWe meet fortnightly in the SpaceRoom of the McKillop Institute onMonday evenings between 7.30 -9.30pm.On the 14th January our subject willbe a "Winter Scene", and this willsurely be topical!"Buildings" and how to approachrepresenting them in any paint mediawill occupy our attention on the 28thJanuary.May I remind all members that wehave been invited again this year toexhibit our paintings at the CastleSemple Visitor Centre. Our exhibitionis called "Art in the Park" and will runfrom 1st - 19th February, 2013.There is a Preview onJanuary 31stin the Centre from 7.00 - 8.30pm.when Mr Charles Woodward will openthe Exhibition. All readers are mostwelcome to attend.Lochwinnoch ArtsFestival 201313 -24th MarchEarly announcement Art Exhibition in Library Crafts in Castle Semple Lochwinnoch Writers and JaniceGalloway Pauline Vallance, Clare Robertson andBetty McKellar Glasgow Theatre Guild ‘Songs fromFilm and Shows’ Calder Drama club production Krafty Kids Clamjamfrie ceilidh with PaulineVallance Clare Robertson Festival Finale Lochwinnoch ChoralSociety ‘Music from Around the WorldThis year there is an open poetrycompetition for children, this will letpupils who go to other schools have anopportunity to enter.LMEGJust a note to say thanks for yoursupport at the LMEG Christmas lightsturn-on. Hope you enjoyed the nightand had a great Christmas time.The LMEG AGM will be held on Jan22nd at 7.30pm in the LEAP office.All are very welcome. See you there!David McCuskerCraft Class DisplayThe Elderly Forum Craft Class willdisplay the work of its members onTuesday 11 December 10.30am-3.30pm in the McKillop Hall.1

Lochwinnoch getsadded valueAdded value is not something onewould in normal parlance sayabout the Calder Drama GroupPlays, but in the intervals of theirlatest pantomime the thoughtarose. I had been privileged towatch Margaret Dolan and herfriends making those amazingcostumes for months and likeeveryone else had to keep thesecret. Then the play itself greatlyadded to the well-being ofLochwinnoch’s people, takingthem, for a few hours, out ofeveryday life in to a world offantasy. The crowning in moreways than one, as the audience willknow, of a big team effort.Added value is more usuallythought of in terms of metalconverted into something like amotor car, or building aggregatesinto a house and we have atendency in these straightenedtimes to think along those lines;but on quite a different plane isthe playwright who conjures up aplay with feathered birds forcharacters, brings in our real liveBird Sanctuary and even gets ourmuch loved Zul on board. Thatsort of added value conjured out ofthin air is the greatest increase onecould possibly imagine.Just at the right moment too, ifevidence was needed, thatLochwinnoch is on its wayforward: this pantomime gave it.From all quarters one hears newsof people making extra efforts toget things moving.All the clubs are developing,householders are makingimprovements, and the Councilsare being sensibly practical. Byand large there is a feeling thatwe are coping in every sphere.Even the ground underfoot waschanged in November whenbecause of a threatened storm theLoch level was lowered and thepuddles disappeared from theLochside roads.Roll on 2013 and let’s makesomething of it.Alan LovegreenElderly ForumThe St Andrew's Day lunch at thegolf club was a great success.The food and service provided byLiz Callaghan & her team plusbar staff was excellent as was themusic from Karpaul.The committee of the ElderlyForum would like to thank thefollowing who donated prizes tothe raffle held at the event:Cllr Andy DoigCut & CareHeritage ButcherJohn Wilson BakerKeystoreLa Dolce VitaNow & ThenPenmans PharmacyPower DoorsThe Brown BullThe Corner BarThe JunctionThe Post OfficeThe Three Churches Innplus lots of donations fromLocal SolicitorsProviding Personal ServiceWhether you’re buyingor selling a home or are unsureof your rights on any legal matterthe experienced team at JJ McCoshwill provide an individualservice from expertswith local knowledge.Partner, and local resident,Ian Briggs is more than happy toconsult at your home, and there is nocharge for the first meeting.Feel free to get in touch to speakto our team and see how we can help.Telephone:01294 832112Email:info@jjmccosh.co.ukindividual members.Our next forum meeting is onThursday 31st January 2013 at1.30pm.Representatives from The RedCross are coming to tell us of theirwork in the UK and worldwide.The Tbar is back on Tuesday 8thand the lunch club on Thursday10th.TCTCharityAuctionAnother great night at the Brown BullAuction. The unofficial total raised atthe auction was £5,119, with raffleticket money still to be added in.Fantastic!Many thanks to Laura and Fergus andall the staff at the Brown Bull, pluseveryone who donated gifts orservices, and of course everyone whocame along and supported the eventand showed the usual terrificenthusiasm and generosity with theirbids.John Delaney2

David with JWC Principle and ProvostDavid with piperJames Watt College’sStudent of the Year 2012David Aitchison, of Station Rise, a unique andtalented student at James Watt College (JWC) hasbeen named Student of the Year 2012.He was awarded the prize at the College’s NorthAyrshire Campus Graduation Ceremony on Thursday29th November in recognition of his outstandingwork ethic and amazing accomplishments in the faceof adversity.David, 20, who suffers from the extremely rareGoldenhar Syndrome, which renders him deaf andmute, spent the first seven months of his life inhospital after being born with facial malformations,brain damage, and heart problems. Doctors predictedthat he would not survive. However, now he is in histhird year at JWC studying for an NC in ComputerGames Development.David’s class facilitator at James Watt College, LizGibson, nominated him for the award. She said:“Although David suffers from a number of difficultieshe has never let this impact on his abilities. He worksvery hard in all this classes and has amazed histeachers. He is a shining example to his class mates.It is an honour for me to work with David and I lookforward to him achieving his qualification this term.”Peter Aitchison, David’s father, said: “He has alwaysloved video games and animation ever since he was ayoung child and to be accepted to study this at JamesWatt College was brilliant news. During his studiesDavid has found a real passion for working withgraphics. He loves being able to create a world in thegames that he has control over and has passed everyexam.“David is a very modest young man but has told mehe’s delighted and amazed at being named Student ofthe Year 2012. He’s described having to stand up infront of his fellow students to receive the trophy asJames Watt College prize-winnersthe most significant moment of his life. As his parents,we are extremely proud of him and everything he hascome through. David will continue to study at JWCand hopes to be able to achieve his HNC soon, but fornow he’s just basking in the glory.”David’s ambition is to pursue a career in computergames development.We wish him every success.Marc McCay 10 years on from his heart transplant (seearticle on page 16) www.donorfamilynetwork.co.uk3

Well Done Euan!Euan McIntosh, of Newton of Barr, is not only a good, younglight welterweight kick-boxer but a very generous one. Herecently took part in the MTB (Muay Thai Boxing) ChallengeBelt and won by stopping his opponent in the second round.Congratulations!Euan celebrated his success by slipping an envelope throughJohn Delaney’s door. Imagine John’s delighted surprise tofind that Euan had donated his fight prize money of £120 tothe Teenage Cancer Trust.John said “What an incredible gesture from this young man todonate his 'purse'! Please pass on my profound gratitude toEuan. Absolutely brilliant!”Well done Euan, you’re a credit to sportsmen.New Outdoor Classroom inLochwinnoch Primary School – GrandOpeningLochwinnoch Primary Parent Council's initiative todevelop the playground in the school reached animportant milestone at the end of November with theopening of the new outdoor classroom. At the end of lastyear, inspired by the Olympics, the Lochwinnoch ParentCouncil started the Playground and Outdoor LearningProject to develop the playground. A climbing wall,basketball hoop, giant bean bags and chalkboards in theshed have all been installed as part of this and an outdoorclassroom has been on the wishlist for some time.The classroom was paid for through a combination offundraising by the Parent Council and donations fromLOSC and Lochwinnoch SPACE. It was "opened" byGlenys McKee and Rev Archie Ford from LochwinnochSPACE, Jane Knox Chairperson of Lochwinnoch PrimaryParent Council, Paul Cameron, Vice Chair ofLochwinnoch Out of School Club and Miss Park, HeadMistress of Lochwinnoch Primary. A brief ribbon cuttingceremony took place in front of a crowd of schoolchildren.Lochwinnoch SPACE was a project that supported thedevelopment of facilities for young people in the village.The project has now been wound up and the SPACECommittee decided to share any remaining funds betweenvarious youth projects in the village including the outdoorclassroom. The Out of School Club helped the classroomproject with a donation of £2000 to support the ParentCouncil's initiative to improve facilities for the children inthe school.4

Jane Knox said: "LochwinnochPrimary Parent Council would like tosay a huge thank you to LochwinnochOut Of School Club and LochwinnochSPACE. The outdoor classroom looksamazing and it would not have beenpossible without the generousdonations from both groups. Theclassroom is a fantastic resource forboth school and after school groupsand we hope it will be enjoyed by thechildren for years to come."ENGLISH TUITION IN YOUR HOMEALL GRADESEditing and Proof Reading by arrangementCONTACT: M. STEWART PhD, BATel: 01505 502357 or 07920797700Email: mgdstewart@aol.comIt’s Cold Outside but itdoesn’t have to be ColdInside TooWould you like LEAP to carry out aFREE Thermal Image or Draught Testof your home to find cold spots, wheredraughts are entering and warm airescaping? January is a good time tothing about ways to cut your fuel billsand improve the insulation levels athome. If you would like one of ourenergy advisors; Alan Vince or LaurieDuncan to carry out a home energycheck to help you find ways to reducethe energy you use, please get in touch.Car Club MembershipAs outlined in last month’sChatterbox, our £15 special offer forCar Club membership has come to anend. A full membership now costs £60per year for the first member in ahousehold, and £30 for eachadditional member. Anyone whowishes to join or renew by paying thefull amount in a lump sum will, ofcourse, be welcome to do so. We felt,however, that this is quite a lot, andmay put potential members off joiningthe Club. Because of this, rather thanask for payment in a lump sum, newmembers and those renewing theirmembership can choose to pay only£30 up front. This will, of coursecover the cost for additional members,but for those who are due to pay £60,we will then take the remainder bystanding order at £3 per month over10 months.Since it is usage of the car rather thanthe membership fee which will makethe Car Club sustainable we have comeup with a little reward for memberswho use the cars regularly. In everymonth where a member uses the car£3 will be deducted from their bill,effectively cancelling out the £3 paidby standing order. Please contactdiane@myleapproject.org if you wantto find out more.Lochwinnoch TransportSurveyWe now have over 70 completedresponses to the LochwinnochTransport Survey. Thank you toeveryone who has filled this in so faras well as for all the valuablefeedback we‘ve had. This month wewill focus on encouraging morerespondents and prioritising the keyissues coming from the survey todate. LEAP will publish the findingsin March, highlighting the transportissues to be taken forward. If youwould like to get involved contactscott@myleapproject.org or call01505 842 530. Paper copies of thesurvey can be found at the McKillop,Library or from the LEAP office onChurch Street. To fill in the surveyonline go to http://www.myleapproject.org/transport/lochwinnoch-transport-survey/ oremail Scott and we can send you alink. We’re keen to hear from asmany villagers as possible.Come to the Open Day at theNew Office in Bridge of Weir– 19th JanuaryThe new drop in centre is now upand running in Bridge of Weir, we’reon Main Street, next to the ShimlaCottage, please pop in anytime to seeup and if you have friends in thevillage please tell them all about us!We are having a celebratory openingevent in the new centre onSATURDAY 19th JANUARY between10 am and 5pm – come along andsee a thermal image camera inaction, enter the prize draw to winan Eco Hamper and find out moreabout the free and impartial servicesLEAP can provide.Hub Opening TimesWhile extending our services toadjoing villages it’s business as usualin our other locations; we’ll still bepleased to see anyone that would like5our help at the Hub in Lochwinnoch at22 Church Street or at the drop infacility in the Old Library Centre, 9High Barholm in Kilbarchaninfo@myleapproject.org The Hub inLochwinnoch is open:Monday 10am ’til 4pmTuesday 10am ’til 4pmWednesday ClosedThursday 10am ’til 4pmFriday 10am ’til 4pmIf you would like more informationabout anything in this update, pleaseemail info@myleapproject.org, phone842 530 or drop in for a chat!Beith Arts SundayConcertsWe start the New Year with aperformance by a popular baritone whodelighted us on his previous visit.Richard Morrison brings two otherartistes with him this time - a flautistand a harpist. Together they willprovide us with two hours of melody,and since it will be the time for Burns`celebrations there will be a number ofhis songs, along with many others.So it will be a nostalgic afternoon inpart, with new arrangements of oldfavourites, and other familiar piecesplayed on unaccustomed instruments.It sounds like an afternoon to lookforward to!The concert will be held at BeithCommunity Centre, Kings Road, Beithat 2.30 p.m. on Sunday, 27th January2013. Tickets cost £8, concessions £6,students and children £1. All are verywelcome.

Mistylaw Medical PracticeRobert Scarff LtdJOINERS & SHOPFITTERSDomestic & CommercialExtensionsGarage ConversionsGeneral Joinery WorkFlu Vaccination ProgrammeFlu vaccine is now available and wewould encourage all patients in theeligible groups to attend: over 65’s,chronic respiratory disease, heart,kidney, liver or neurological disease,diabetes, immunosuppressed, pregnantwoman and carers. Furtherinformation can be obtained atreception. Any patients’ outwith thecriteria can get a flu vaccinationprivately at participating outlets e.g.Pharmacies or shopping centres.PertussisAll pregnant patients over 28 weeks arecurrently being offered Pertussisvaccine – more information and leafletsare available in the waiting room.Contact DetailsIf you change your contact details,particularly mobile telephone numbers,please let us know. All patient contactdetails are kept confidential.Appointment SystemWe are planning to restructure the waymorning surgeries, telephoneconsultations and house visits areorganised from January 2013 toimprove efficiency. There will be nooverall reduction in the number ofappointments available but they will bearranged differently. We hope you findthe new arrangements beneficial, butwould be grateful for feedback (good orbad).Lab TestsIf you have any blood or urine testsdone in the practice, you should phonefor the results in 4/5 days time. If theTimber/UPVC WindowsLoft ConversionsAll Trades SuppliedFree Estimates & Fully InsuredTel/Fax 01505 842826 Mobile 07711 934627Reg In Scotland 185968 Est. 1998Doctor wants to repeat the test;patients will either be sent anappointment by letter or, due to theincreased postage costs, receive atelephone call.The Doctors would like to wisheveryone a Merry Christmas and aHappy and Healthy New Year.Save YourRegional ParkApplications for largewindfarms in ClydeMuirshiel have beenfewer this year butanother attack isexpected near WestKilbride soon – see Blackshaw Farmin the round up. There is no moreprotection for the park than whenwe started our campaign and thedevelopers have not gone away so itis very important that we do not letdown our guard. We expect to beasking for your support in gatheringobjections again before long. In theinterest of future generations’enjoyment of Clyde Muirshiel, aswell as now, we fight thesedevelopments with everythingpossible.Windfarm applications lodgedor under discussionMillour Hill 2, Dalry, CommunityWindpower Ltd – application for 2 x410 ft / 125m turbines. Applicationlodged with North Ayrshire on4/6/12. SYRP have objectedFinnockbog Farm, Inverkip –TGC Renewables Ltd of Bristol haveapplied to Inverclyde Council for 2 x148 ft / 45m turbines and accesstrack in CMRP. SYRP have objected.Shielhill farm, Inverkip –Application to Inverclyde Councilfor 1 x 113 ft / 34.38m turbine(50KW) and access track. Thiswould be situated close to the GreenockCut and CMRP’s Greenock Cut VisitorCentre. SYRP have objected.Blackshaw farm, West Kilbride -on Blackshaw Hill – CommunityWindpower Ltd are preparing anapplication for their biggest turbinesyet in CMRP. We expect an applicationsoon for 5 x 492ft / 150m turbines eachrated at 4 MW. These would be justsouth of the Dalry/ West Kilbride roadand would be adjacent to and justnorth of, the existing ArdrossanWindfarm.Corlic Hill 2, Greenock - Thought tobe preparing to lodge anotherapplication for 15 turbines.Skelmorlie Windfarm – Proposalfor either 21 or 16 x 3.5 MW turbinesunder discussion but no further news.The Medical Effects and HealthIssues of Wind TurbinesDuring the last few years medicalresearch has been undertaken inAustralia, USA and Canada and morerecently by the UK British MedicalAssociation, on the detrimental effectsof wind turbines on people.Apart from the ‘flicker’ or shadowcaused by the sun shining on theturbine blades, there is noise, some ofwhich is audible and some inaudible.The most serious is the inaudiblesound known as Low Frequency Noise(LFN). This is likened to a ‘heart beat’and is unlikely to be in sync with yourown heart. Not everyone is affected butmany people are and they suffer fromlack of sleep as a result of waking up inthe middle of the night in a state ofpanic and depression can result.It is reckoned that given the rightweather conditions when turbines areturning, these affects can be felt up to adistance of 4.97 miles / 8 Km awayfrom a turbine. It has to do with theinner ear which stimulated byinfrasound and triggers the fight-orflightresponse.LFN emitted by traffic, planes, trains orother machinery and even by the sea,does not have the same effect as theLFN emitted by wind turbines. Readersare recommended to watch 2 newsclips from Australia onwww.todaytonightadelaide.com.au/?page=Story&StoryID=1394 and www.windwatch.org/news/2012/06/06/interviewwith-senator-nick-xenophon/.Moreresearch is required.www.saveyourregionalpark.com6

BadlandsIt stretched on forever. Boiled sandburned the soles of her feet and rosebetween her toes like the rising tide.Even in the dimming light of thefalling sun, the desert still tried toburn her alive. Everything ached.Normally she tanned so beautifully inthe sunlight but here she was burnedred. It stung like a swarm of beesmight, pinpoints stabbed gently intothe surface of the skin. The thinshirt, sleeves sodden with sweat,proved to be no defence against thesun.Little kept her moving now. Afterwalking so long with the pack on herback, it felt like her legs simplymoved against her own will.Pendulums attached to a clock, slow andmonotonous. The black nightdescended. Already her eyes wereflickering. Flicks of her black, hairswayed across her eyesight randomly.Sleepiness grasped her. She fell to herknees first. Then her backpack pushedher over, with all the weight of thetent inside it. She was asleep beforeshe had hit the sand, sending geysersof sand flying in clouds around her.Something called to her. Somethinginaudible and far into the distance,over the crest of the next sand dune.Picking herself up from her place onthe ground, she walked towards thesand dune on stronger legs,memories poured back into her mindfreely. When she reached the edge ofthe sand dune, she could hear thecall as a whisper.“Alice.”Her name over and over.“Alice.”Quiet against the night sky.“Alice.”A soft voice but deep and gruff atthe same time. Calming.“Alice.”It was only the call bringing draggingher farther up the sand dunecrawling, leaving hand prints andfoot prints behind.“Alice.”Standing at the top, she began to feelsleepy again. Becoming weaker. Thecall becoming louder and more frantic.“ALICE.”The cry haunted her. Frightening her.She began to shake uncontrollablyand erratically, not knowing wherethe shaking would take her. Then shefell. Falling into the sand again,awoke from this dream with, kickingand screaming against the sand .Something shook her violently, tryingto grasp her attention. Sand filled hernostrils and dried her mouth.“Calm down,” the soft, deep, gruffvoice said surprisingly calming.“It was…” Alice replied.A hand rested on her shoulder,“You’ve spent too long in my care.”If she were honest with herself, hiswould be the only care that shewould wish to be in. Casting heremerald eyes across his kneelingform, Alice looked into the face ofJoseph Thorpe. His mouth was adark curve against his dark skincomplexion. Three raking, open linesspeared down the front of his face,ugly healed scars. The top of hishead had been burned at birth andnow no hairs grew upon his baldhead. Rising, his ripped cloak flutteredslightly in the desert wind. Everythinghe wore was a dirtied shade of white.“Would you like to rest?” Thorpeasked her.Alice shook her head weakly andlooked up a Thorpe, “I’ve restedenough.” After the moments that shehad spent face down on the sand,she felt somewhat rejuvenated. Thefires that had burned around herankles were subdued and hermuscles appeared stronger. Stayinghere longer seemed inappropriate.Thorpe helped Alice to her feet. Toesburied in the sands cooled by thenight, welcomed after the days thatthey had walked in the blisteringheat. Rising above the dunes thatthey would have to climb, the mooncast its silvering light across theblackened sky turning their formsinto ghostly silhouettes. Stars dancedbeside the moon, gazing down at thetwo travellers on their journey acrossthe Badlands.Nothing grew here. They had to be self-sufficient to survive. Decades ago theplants stopped growing, those thatwere already living simply withered.Few animals thrived here but thosethat did were the hardest of all.Scorpions and snakes, feeding on thebirds that would stop for refuge onlyto have their lives swiftly ended. Noteven Humans were safe. It stilldisturbed her, the memory of seeingthe broken Human skeleton lyingdead and buried uncaringly in thesand. Lifeless eye-sockets staring ather with nothing but darkness.Through the sands, buildings buriedin a time forgotten peaked through.Weaving through these decrepit cities,they strode. Days appeared to blurtogether until the memories were one.It would not have mattered, everymemory was the same: Thorpeleading her through the desert with7CHATTERBOXChatterbox is produced anddistributed on behalf ofLochwinnoch Community Council,with support and financialassistance from local sponsors andadvertisers.Lochwinnoch CommunityCouncil welcomes all items forpossible inclusion for publication inprint, web or audio format or anyway as thought appropriate by theeditorial teamAll views are of individuals. TheEditor accepts no liability for errorsor statements and claims made insubmissions.no discernible destination in sight.Sometimes she even wondered whythey were making this pilgrimagethrough this place. Then sheremembered everything. She wantedto cry but the tears would only stingher burnt skin so she refrained,wiping her eyes with her palms.Her dry throat begged for water.Reaching for casket, she brought itto her dry parched lips and felt thelast droplets of water slip down herthroat. A dry tongue crept from hermouth seeking any droplet of watercaught on her rough skin.“Thorpe, I need water…” Alice did notcare for such courtesies as “please”.Sighing Thorpe pointed into thedistance. “We have three days left towalk until we can make it out of thebadlands. Three days without water.Do you think you can make it?”“I don’t know,” Alice cried out.“Thorpe… is… are we going to die here?”Thorpe looked into the distance,anxious to keep moving. “We might.”“That’s not comforting.”“What were you expecting? Everythingis going to be just fine and dandy?”A salty tear congealed on the precipiceof Alice’s eyelid. Her tongue reachedout to catch it, desperate for sustenance.“Get up,” Thorpe said, “Three days.That’s all.”Alice felt more comfortable travellingwith Thorpe yet there was nothingbetween them. Alice was unsure ifThorpe even cared for her. Thorpe wasonly a torch to her, nothing more. Aninanimate object. She carried the torchthrough the desert.Robbie WilliamsonRobbie won the Lochwinnoch Writers‘Young Writer’ prize 2012

Lochwinnoch CommunityLibraryLibrary re-opensFriday 4th January 10amOpening Hours:Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat10am- 1pm & 2pm–5pmWednesday2pm—5pm and 6pm–8pmCLOSED THURSDAYNEW! collection of Languagecourses on CD @ LochwinnochLibraryFrench …….Italian……German……… Spanish …..&PortugueseWe are happy for you to stock upwith your reading material to coverthe holiday period. Items borrowedafter 27th Nov. will have a returndate of Monday 7th January.Remember you can renew andreserve items online at -www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/librariesIf you don’t already have apassword to access this, the librarystaff will be happy to set one up foryou – ask the next time you are inthe library.All of our online informationresources will be available as usualon the website.Services available: Free Broadband Internet Free document Shreddingfacility Photocopier & printer (15p perblack & white copy) Fax (Charge depending on UKor Overseas destination)New TitlesDavid Baldacci: TheForgottenArmy Special Agent John Pulleris the best there is. A combatveteran, Puller is the man theU.S. Army relies on to investigatethe toughest crimes facing thenation. Now he has a new casebutthis time, the crime ispersonal: His aunt has beenfound dead in Paradise, Florida.A picture-perfect town onFlorida's Gulf Coast, Paradisethrives on the wealthy touristsand retirees drawn to itsgorgeous weather and beaches.The local police have ruled hisaunt's death an unfortunate,tragic accident. But just beforeshe died, she mailed a letter toPuller's father, telling him thatbeneath its beautiful veneer,Paradise is not all it seems to be...Michael Connelly: The BlackBoxIn a case that spans 20 years,Harry Bosch links the bullet froma recent crime to a file from 1992,the killing of a young femalephotographer during the L.A.riots. Harry originallyinvestigated the murder, but itwas then handed off to the RiotCrimes Task Force and neversolved.Now Bosch's ballistics matchindicates that her death was notrandom violence, but somethingmore personal, and connected toa deeper intrigue. Like aninvestigator combing through thewreckage after a plane crash,Bosch searches for the "blackbox," the one piece of evidencethat will pull the case together.8John Grisham: RacketeerGiven the importance of what theydo, and the controversies thatoften surround them, and theviolent people they sometimesconfront, it is remarkable that inthe history of this country onlyfour active federal judges havebeen murdered.Judge Raymond Fogletree justbecame number five.His body was found in thebasement of a lakeside cabin hehad built himself and frequentlyused on weekends. When he didnot show up for a trial on Mondaymorning, his law clerks panicked,called the FBI, and in due coursethe agents found the crime scene.There was no forced entry, nostruggle, just two dead bodies--Judge Fogletree and his youngsecretary.I did not know Judge Fogletree,but I know who killed him, andwhy.I am a lawyer, and I am in prison.It's a long story…Ian Rankin : Standing inanother man’s graveIt's twenty-five years since JohnRebus appeared on the scene, andfive years since he retired. But2012 sees his return in STANDINGIN ANOTHER MAN'S GRAVE.Not only is Rebus as stubborn andanarchic as ever, but he findshimself in trouble with Rankin'slatest creation, Malcolm Fox ofEdinburgh's internal affairs unit.Added to which, Rebus may beabout to derail the career of his excolleagueSiobhan Clarke, whilehimself being permanently

derailed by mob boss and oldadversary Big Ger Cafferty. But allRebus wants to do is discover thetruth about a series of seeminglyunconnected disappearancesstretching back to the millennium.The problem being, no one elsewants to go there - and thatincludes Rebus's fellow officers.Not that any of that is going to stopRebus. Not even when his own lifeand the careers of those aroundhim are on the line.Look out for … Peter May : The Chessmen Mandasue Heller : Broke Linwood Barclay : Never saw itcoming.Lochwinnoch Library BookbugRhymetimeEvery Tuesday at 9.30amCome along and join in thefunSuitable for children agedbirth – 4 yearsBookbug's Library Challenge is afree programme that encourageschildren aged birth to four todiscover and enjoy their locallibrary.On their first visit to theparticipating library children areissued with the Bookbug'sLibrary Challenge collector card.Every time they visit the librarythe collector card will bestamped, and your child canexchange four stamps for one ofour beautifully illustrated LibraryChallenge certificates.Your child's name will be writtenon the certificate to encouragethem to feel proud that they havebecome members of their locallibrary.There are five different limitededition certificates to collect. Sostart collecting now – it's nevertoo early or too late to join yourlocal library... and it’s FREE!Free and online to librarymembers. Everything you need topass your driving theory test.Try Theory Test Pro free fromyour home PC or at your locallibrary and pass the DrivingTheory Test on your firstattempt.Theory Test Pro allows you tostudy at your own pace. Itcontains the entire official testquestion bank, hazard perceptionvideo clips and an online versionof the Highway Code. Over thelast 12 months the site has beenupdated with new features suchas driving instructor testquestions. A great way to makesure you pass first time.If you are logging on from home,or in the library, you will needyour library card.www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/librariesAdvertising in ChatterboxA. Standard size advert – 5cm x 13cm(or 13cm x 5cm) layout - £30 permonth.B. Special (customised) advert –7.5cm x 13cm (or 13cm x 7.5cm)layout - £40 per month.C. Quarter page advert – 10cm x 14cm(or 14cm x 10cm)layout - £45 permonth.D. Half page advert – 20cm x 14cm(or 14cm x 20cm) layout - £90 permonth.E. Full page advert – 20cm x 28 cm -£180 per month.Please e-mailchat-advert@lochwinnoch.infofor further information.From the menu select Computers& LearningUsing our link for the Theory TestPro website, type in the barcodenumber, with no spaces, to getstarted.If you are not a library memberyou can join at any Renfrewshirelibrary and get the full range oflibrary services.ITS COLD OUT THERE !Would you like a FREE Thermal Image orDraught Test of your home to find cold spots,where draughts are entering and warm airescaping ?Contact the team at leap@myleapproject.org or phone 842 530 to find out9

What’s OnRegular clubs, classes and groups Advice Works—At the Library byappointment only. Contact 382328 Bokwa Fitness — Masonic Hall,Thursdays, 7—8pm. Places limited.Contact Rachel on 07795 100231 or503362 Boys Brigade—Anchor Boys andJunior Sections meet on Tuesdaynights, Parish Church Hall. Calder Drama Club—Thursdays,from 8pm-10pm McKillop Institute. Calder UF Church—Food forThought. Last Monday of the month7.30pm in church hall Children's Drama Workshops—Thursdays in McKillop Hall 5-8yrs4.30-5.30pm, 9-12yrs 5.30-6.30pmTel: 07814 699127 Email:rocketyouththeatre@gmail.com Drop-in T Bar—LochwinnochElderly Forum. McKillop Institute,10-12 noon . First Friday of Month—SempleTones host an open mike session atLochwinnoch Golf Club, GirlsBrigade—1st LochwinnochQJ Quinn & sonMemorialsPersonal Service & QualityGuaranteedNew MemorialsAdditional InscriptionsCleaning & RenovationsSALE ITEMS ALWAYS IN STOCK42 MAIN STREETKILBIRNIEPlease Call 01505 68 5455www.quinnmemorials.co.ukMon & Fri 10am-5pmTue-Thur 10am-2pmSat By AppointmentCompany, Wednesday eveningsfrom 6pm-9.15pm at the ParishChurch Hall for various agegroups. Healing and CreativityWorkshops & Classes—Fordetails or to book a place, pleaseTel Becky: 0141 8816700 or Libbyon: 01505 842604. Jogging Buddies—Tuesdayevenings. Meet at LochbarrFootball Club at 6.30pm. Fordetails, Tel: 0141 887 1357 or07947 763704. Keep Fit—Improving WithAge classes—every Tues from 10-11am at the McKillop. Tel 842136for info.. Kiddies Ceilidh Club—Tradtional dancing for you andyour little ones. Thursday 9.30amMcKillop Institiute Knit @ The 19th at the GolfClub—Monday 10am-12 noon (orlonger), all levels and learnerswelcome. Krafty Kids—will be runningagain on Sat 1st September open toall Primary School Children1.30pm until 3pm in the smallParish Church room. For bookingstelephone Katharine Billany on01505 844944 or 07947 075622The 1st of 7 sessions. Liathach Dog Training—(prebookingnecessary). Anne Moss,Tel: 01505 842367, e-mail:dogtraining@f2s.com Linda Margaret School ofDancing—Tuesdays from 4pm-8.45pm, McKillop Institute. Fordetails, Tel: 0141 581 9104. Lochwinnoch Art Group—Meetfortnightly on Monday evenings,7.30pm, McKillop Institute. Lochwinnoch Choral Society—Rehearsals on Monday evenings,Parish Church/ Hall. Juniors 7:15-8pm, and Seniors 8pm-9.15pm. Lochwinnoch CommunityWalks—Mondays (ex. PublicHolidays), meet at 10.30am at TheMcKillop Institute. Lochwinnoch GymnasticsClub—For primary school-agechildren every Monday, 5-7pm atthe McKillop. Phone Coby on:07729 051 615. Lochwinnoch Playgroup—Forunder 5’s, every Monday, Tuesdayand Wednesday from 9.30-1011.30am at the McKillop . Lochwinnoch Pre-SchoolGymnastics—(for children from 18months to 5yrs). Fridays, from10.15am - 1.45pm at the McKillop.Further details from Coby on Tel:07729 051615. Lochwinnoch Toddlers—Mondays and Wednesdays from 9.30- 11.30am, McKillop. Lochwinnoch Writers Group—Monday from 2-4:15pm in theLibrary. Contact 873581 Morag’s Keep Fit—Mondays andThursdays from 7pm, in theMcKillop Institute. Positive Thinking Group Meetevery 4 th Wednesday in the BridgendCommunity Centre Kilbirnie. Ournext meeting is Wednesday12thDecember 2012, 7-9pm Cost £3.50For further info telephone Andrea on07890 181 769 ROAR Lunch Club—everyThursday from 11.45am PROMPT atthe McKillop Institute. PleaseNote - ONLY ONE SITTING. Scottish Country Dance Club—Every Tuesday, from 7.30-9.30pm,McKillop Inst. Sequence Dance Class—EveryWed 7.30-9.30 at Bowling Club Slinky Strollers—Thursdaymornings Scottish Slimmers—Thursdays,7/7.30pm, McKillop Inst. TaeKwon-Do—Fitness and Selfdefenceclasses for youths andadults. Tuesdays from 5-6pm,McKillop and Thursdays from 7pm-8pm at Lochwinnoch PrimarySchool. For details Tel: 01259210716. Youth Drama Classes at theMcKillop, Every Wednesday Juniors(5-8 years old) 4.30-5.30 p.m.Seniors (9-14 years old) 5.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m. Contact David: 07812 437559 or at david.ororke@historicaladventures.co.uk Zumba—Mon 6.30-7.30 LochbarrCentre, Wed 7-8pm McKillop InstSat 10-11am Lochbarr Centre Zumbatonic for kids—Fridays4-7 yrs 4 - 5 . 3 0 p m8-14yrs 5 . 3 0 - 7 p m , L o c h b a r rCentreSome activities may cease duringholidays, please check

Upcoming Events Sat 22 Dec LochwinnochChoral Society ChristmasConcert 7.30 pm in the ParishChurch. Mon 31 Dec—HogmanayParty at the Three ChurchesInn with Gamble, Gamble andDrever starts 10pm till 3am ticketson sale now £7.00 Mon 7 Jan—LochwinnochCommunity Walk, Mondaywalks restart, meet at McKillopCentre 10.30 am for some exerciseand a chat. Thurs 10 Jan—SlinkyStrollers The first parent andpushchair walk of 2013. Get toknow your local area and othernew parents or grandparents.Meet Castle Semple Centre 10.30am, allow 1-1.5 hrs. Fri 11 Jan—KILTEDStargazing Evening! RECORDBREAKING ATTEMPT for themost people in KILTS at astargazing event!!! With staff fromCoats Observatory, Paisley.Muirshiel Visitor Centre, 7-9pmTel: 01505 842 803 for info &bookings Sun 13 Jan—Burn Rhoddiesto Burn Calories! Allequipment provided. Bring lunchif you are planning to attend thefull session. Parkhill WoodEntrance (just off cycle track).11am -3pm Tel 01505 842 882 Ex20 for info & booking Sat 19 and Sun 20 Jan—GetReady for the Big GardenBirdwatch - Birds for Beginners.Join the team at RSPBLochwinnoch for a workshopsession ideal for beginners tobirdwatching, to help you learnmore about common garden birdsand pick up tips and advice onhow to join in with the Big GardenBirdwatch! Cost: £5 or £2 forRSPB members. Drop in session,no need to book. Tues 22nd Jan—LMEG holdsits AGM 7.30pm in the LEAPoffice, Church Street. All welcome. Wed 23 Jan—Tartan Walk Acircular 5.0Km/3.1m walk,suitable for all levels. Look outyour tartan gear for a wanderround the village. Meet at CastleSemple Visitor Centre, 11a. Sat 26 and Sun 27 Jan—RSPBBinocular and telescopedemonstration 10am - 4pmFREE expert advice available allweekend. Sun 27 Jan—Beith ArtsSunday Concert with theBurns Ensemble, 2.30 p.m.Tickets cost £8, concessions £6,students and children £1. All arevery welcome. Thurs 31 Jan—Art in thePark Preview, Castle SempleVisitor Centre, 7-8.30pm Fri 1- Tues 19 Feb—Art inthe Park Exhibition at CastleSemple Visitor Centre Sat 2 Feb—Family Ceilidhwith Clamjamfrie in theMcKillop Hall, 7pm till 10:30pm.All ages welcome. Bar & Raffleon the night. Tickets availablefrom The Brown Bull & TheJunction. Wed 6 Feb—LochwinnochInternational Aid AGM in theLibrary meeting room at 7pm.Come along and find out whatwe do.Calder DramaOn the evenings ofthe 29th & 30thNovember theMcKillop Hall resounded to thesounds of cheering, booing,laughter, and applause. Yes, it wasPanto time again.Once more Author and Playwright,Franzeska Ewart created a superbimaginative tale, weaving hermagical pen around the Birds, theR.S.P.B. Nature Reserve and theVillage of Lochwinnoch itself.Playing both nights to packedhouses, the Calder Drama Playersexcelled themselves on stage and theinteraction between the Cast andAudience, young and old alike, wastruly heart warming.The Bird Costumes were beautifullydesigned and created and indeedwould not have been out of place ona West End Stage Production. Aspecial mention must also be madeto Pauline Vallance for composingthe music which blended sowonderfully with the story and toZul Bhatia, who took time out fromhis duties as Manager of theR.S.P.B. Nature Reserve to appearin a cameo role at the end of theplay. A truly wonderful feel good11start to the Christmas Season.The Calder Drama Society, would liketo wish everyone, A Very MerryChristmas and A Happy New Year,with a special thanks to everyone whohelped make the Pantomime such asuccess. We couldn't have done itwithout you.Lochwinnoch in TimesPast 2Last month we heard from thoselovely ladies Ann Orr and May Allenabout Lochwinnoch in their youth.Here is a little more from the ladies.The Second World War did notimpact as greatly on Lochwinnoch ason Glasgow or Clydebank. Of courseyoung men joined the forces and twoLochwinnoch lasses joined the LandArmy. Ann’s (older) sister was one ofthe two and found herself working inCumnock, Ayrshire and billeted atCulzean Castle, no less –though not,unfortunately, in the Castle itself.There were soldiers billeted in thevillage. The army had taken over theKlondyke furniture factory, behindthe Parish Church, converting it intobarracks. The barracks had its ownband, making it very popular withyoung people.The government propaganda of thetime encouraged a certain paranoia.People were constantly warned tolook out for spies and be careful notto let sensitive information slip. Youmay have heard the famous catchphrases “Loose lips sink ships” and“Be like Dad, keep mum”.This affected people in Lochwinnochtoo and if a stranger was seen aboutthe person was assumed to be a spyuntil there was evidence to thecontrary. This was not as unlikely asit may seem s one of the furniturefactories in Lochwinnoch made(wooden) aeroplane wings.The notorious bombing of Clydebankwas heard (and felt) in Lochwinnochand brought the horror of war close.The end of the war brought a time ofcelebration and for young people amuch appreciated free VE (Victory inEurope) Dance. Dancing was all therage and youngsters would travelmiles to dance.Dear God, my prayer for 2013 is a fatbank account and a thin body. Pleasedon’t mix these up as you did last year !

S A S B E Y N S E Y E D E R T S NA H E A R U K U I R T E E S A N OO A S C U I G O B I G B I L L S IL N O K N S E I S K S N I C E E TO G R T A P A R T Y C L O T H E SO O F O Y O P G N A S A O I D P EL V O W T C R E E R F D L V A L GN E S O C O S S M R S E L B A A IA R N R T C T H E R O N K O S T DE S I K A E O O V T R L C A C E NS L T R A T O R A E K F L A C N IC O V K T M F T P D O E S S E I YP E P O C B T B Y E S A K A G G GS I D U O L S R C P U O S T O H HE D C S N O R E I R B I E V B T RY O N Y S Y I A W E E D R A M S EM E N R F P F D W O O L Y H A T SCMRP 2012 Round UpJanuary2012 started well for Clyde Muirshielas the Park was a finalist in theRenfrewshire Quality Awards. Oursubmission was themed around thehen harrier project in the Greenercategory.Lochwinnoch Art Group exhibitedtheir annual show at Castle Semplewith a dazzling array of artworks,some inspired by Clyde Muirshiel’sown beautiful landscapes. All chargesfor services were frozen.FebruaryClydeside Orienteers visit MuirshielSun 12th Feb. Park Manager seenrunning around competing insomewhat more casual attire thanwhat he is used to!MarchRSPB Nature of Scotland Awards, wewere invited along as delivery partnersfor the Forestry Commission ScotlandProgramme ‘Branching Out’, whichwon the Innovation Award on thenight!Weaving Musical Threads on March3rd, where artists all overRenfrewshire exhibited in localvenues. Castle Semple hosted a varietyof musicians, poets and storytelling inan afternoon.Castle Semple was declared aSailability Centre of Excellence on theofficial Launch Day of the Centre onthe 17th March. This was a hugeachievement as it was the first everaward of this accolade in Scotland.Follow on visits included MSP’s andthe President of the UK Rotary Clubcame along too.Clamjamfrie release debut album andperform tracks from Clammin’ atCastle Semple to a full house. Theband also generously donateddonations on the door to theTeenage Cancer Trust.The British Trust for Ornithologyheld a sold out course at MuirshielCentre on the theme of citizenscience. The course showedparticipants how to do a breedingbird survey, a bird count walk andhow to enter the results into theBirdtrack system.The Outdoor Activities Teaminvested in some new canoes andkayaks, this added to their highstandard of delivery of BCU & SCAapproved courses. They were to get alot of use over the coming months!AprilCompletion of 5th Branching OutProgramme at Castle Semple. Thegroup were from the RecoveryAcross Mental Health charity basedin Renfrewshire and EastRenfrewshire. You can still see thewillow boat they made at theentrance to the car park!We welcomed some enthusiasticseasonal employees, new Rangers,Instructors and Visitor CentreAssistants.MaySenior Ranger John Webster retiredfrom the Regional Park after 34years’ service. A small gathering atCastle Semple celebrated his hugecontribution to the Park.Waterloo Road filmed characterTariq overcoming a troubling time atCastle Semple. This involved a lot ofequipment and catering vehicles onsite and at the Lochwinnoch annexfor three days!The Semple Trail Heritage Projectwas successful in achieving HLFfunding to improve access to the12ChatSearch—New Yearaweedram backtowork bigbillsblackbun cakefatigue coldsfirstfoot hangovers hotsouphottoddy icypavements indigestionlatenights partyclothes pieceofcoalredeyes sales sausagerollsscarves shortbread skintsteakpie tinsofroses woolyhatsnatural and built heritage of CastleSemple Country Park and beyond.We said goodbye to Davie Arthur,Park Chairman for the last 5 years.A nationally rare beetle Carabusnitens was discovered at MuirshielCountry Park.JuneWe welcomed a newly elected ParkAuthority and new Chairman Cllr.Gilmour. One week into the job andCllr Gilmour had the enjoyable task ofaccepting the newly achieved GoldAward from the Green BusinessTourist Scheme for Castle Semple.Ranger Hayley visited Slovakia as partof the Park’s Europarc membership.Her experience was that it wasexciting to visit a different country andsee how similar services to our ownare provided.Olympic fever reached south westScotland and the Olympic Torchpassed through the Regional Park onFriday 8th June.New webcams went LIVE at GreenockCut and we also got new outdoorcameras on Castle Semple Tower, inpartnership with LochwinnochCommunity Council.JulySummer Education Programmes atGreenock Cut & Muirshiel in fullswing, the highlight at Muirshiel wasthe Environmental Art Event whichsaw the creation of some verycolourful characters! Greenock Cuthighlights included the Drakes ofHazard (August 3rd) and theLunderston Olympics!Also this month, Park staff raised£1100 for Teenage Cancer Trustcompeting in the Tough MudderChallenge 2012.

Volunteering in the Regional Parkstepped up a gear with two of ourseasonal staff assigned to SeasonalProjects on the topic and a newprogramme was developed forThursdays by the lochside.AugustAs part of our commitment to makingthe joys of the Regional Parkaccessible to all, in August 2012 weannounced a partnership withInverclyde Council on Disability(ICOD) & the Robertson Trust for aMobility Scooter Scheme. Thisfantastic service allows people to hiremobility scooters for FREE along partof the Greenock Cut walk. Phone01475 521 458 for full details!In August we started doing mothevenings and purchased a specialisedmercury lamp for attracting the highlydecorative nocturnal insects.SeptemberMike Holcombe joined the team asSenior Ranger in the Regional Park,bringing with him varied knowledge ofworking with different RangerServices all over the UK. After someinduction time he was given charge ofthe Greenock Cut Centre.RC Lasers National Championshipstook place over the Septemberweekend. Model Yacht-ers from allover country came to Castle Semplefor their Nationals. Prize giving was onthe Sunday afternoon after a verycompetitive day and a half!Senior Instructor Willie McLeod isnamed Coaching Director by theScottish Canoeing Association (SCA)and Paddler magazine did an articleon him.OctoberThe Windows on Wildlife Projectstarted at Clyde Muirshiel’s CastleSemple Centre. The project usesmotion detecting cameras to capturefootage of some of the Loch’s quietercustomers, otters, badgers, stoats anddeer.Estate Team Supervisor Andy Clintonretired after 21 years of looking afterthe Regional Park’s benches, roads,paths and bridges. These were justsome of a vast array of tasks done bythe Estate Team as their work is oftendone behind the scenes!The first Stargazing Evening atMuirshiel Country Park was afantastically clear night and gave 50people some brilliant views of thenight’s sky at Renfrewshire’s dark skylocation. Thanks to STV’s Sean Battyand Sian Lloyd for their predictions!Aglae Vincon arrived from France tostart a three month internship in theRegional Park.Scottish Coastal Rowing AnnualFreshwater Sprint took place atCastle Semple; some huge boatsarrived by the lochshore andprovided some entertaining viewingfor the public.Also in October there was a verysuccessful classic car event on abeautiful autumnal day! Thanks tothe Pre 67 Ford Owners Club andVisitor Centre Assistant Jane fororganising.NovemberDouglas Nicholson is announcedYear of Creative Scotland -Photographic Competition Winner.His entry ‘Waterside Cottage’ and aselection of others begin a tour of thePark’s Visitor Centres.Shopping Evening at Castle Semplewas an incredible success and we arevery thankful to those who camealong to sample the free mince piesand mulled wine on offer!The Castle Semple LochManagement Plan is approved. Thisensures the future of continued andbalanced use of the Loch as a Site ofSpecial Scientific Interest (SSSI)habitat for wildlife and a place withmultiple recreation opportunities.Work starts in Parkhill Wood tocreate a new circular all abilitiesroute through the Johnshill Field.DecemberCompletion of 7th & 8th BranchingOut Programmes a week beforeChristmas.Finalising Plans for 2013 Year ofNatural Scotland Events Activitiesand stuff at Scotland’s LargestRegional Park!EventsMon 7 Jan—LochwinnochCommunity Walk—These weekly13walks start again, come along today orany Monday for wee bit of exerciseand a good chat.MEET:McKillop Centre, LochwinnochWHEN Every Monday apart frompublic holidays at 10.30 hrs (untilearly Dec)MORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882 Ex22Thurs 10 Jan—Slinky StrollersThe first parent and pushchair walk of2013. Get to know your local area andother new parents or grandparents.MEET: Castle SempleWHEN: 10.30 hrs every week. Allow1 - 1.5 hrsMORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882 Ex22Fri 11 Jan—KILTED StargazingEvening! An evening with our friendsfrom the Coats Observatory in Paisley.Tonight will be a RECORDBREAKING ATTEMPT for the mostpeople in KILTS at a stargazingevent!!!WHERE: Muirshiel Visitor CentreWHEN: 19.00 – 21.00 hrsMORE INFO: 01505 842 803 &bookingsSun 13 Jan—Burn Rhoddies toBurn Calories! Burn off thosefestive pounds and help us cut backsome rhododendron. All equipmentprovided. Bring lunch if you areplanning to attend the full session.MEET: Parkhill Wood Entrance (justoff cycle track)WHEN: 11.00 - 15.00 hrs ordrop in anytime.MORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882 Ex20 & bookingsWed 23 Jan—Tartan Walk for alllevels. Look out your tartan gear andleap into some of those Scottish tunesas we wander around the village. Walkis suitable for all.MEET: Castle Semple Visitor CentreWHEN: 11.00 hrsMORE INFO: tel 01505 842 882 Ex20

THE STIRRUP CUPANTIQUES ANDVINTAGE SHOPWhether your passion is Downton orThe Paradise, Upstairs or Downstairsyou can add some vintage glamour toyour home, your table or evenyourself.Great for Gifts or treat yourselfwww.thestirrupcup.co.ukAntiques, Curios and CraftsA dynamic selection of oils, watercolours and Limited Edition printsBespoke crafts by local artisans, vintage and contemporary jewelleryWell worth discovering for yourselfThe Barn on the farm, open 10am till late every dayContact Greta Logan on Tel: 01505 683338Email: greta@thestirrupcup.com www.thestirrupcup.co.ukWest Bankside Farm, Geirston Rd, Kilbirnie, KA25 7LQCARE AND CONNECTlinking local people togetherto make life betterCare and Connect is a new concept inhome-care being developed inRenfrewshire which could help olderand disabled people stay happilyindependent in their own homes for aslong as possible.Many of us will one day find that dayto-daytasks like housework andshopping have become difficult orimpossible. For those with little or nofamily living close, there may bevolunteer services or care agencies tohelp out. Volunteers may not alwaysbe available and care agencies may notprovide the flexibility needed.Contacting a stranger advertising theirprivate home-help service in a shopwindow may seem risky. “If only Icould find someone local who I couldrely on but who was flexible andwilling to work extra hoursoccasionally when I need them”.The thing is that there probably issomeone living close by who wouldlove to help. It may be someonerecently retired, been made redundantor has spare time while the childrenare in school who wants to do a littlepart-time support work. They may alsobe happy to provide some voluntarybefriending support alongside theirpaid tasks.If only they could find each other....The answer is Care and Connect.Care and Connect aims to link upcommunity minded individuals(helpers) who want to do acombination of paid and voluntarywork, with local older and disabledpeople (hirers) in need of regular butflexible non-personal care support. Allhelpers will be fully vetted includingpolice checks and interviews, and allhirers will receive a home visit to findout what they need and want.Having matched a hirer to a suitablehelper, the helper would then workdirectly for the hirer on a selfemployedbasis and also provide asmall amount of befriending on avoluntary basis. So if extra tasks orhours were needed it would be easyto arrange.In return for registration andmembership fees, Care and Connectwill support the initial introduction,provide insurance and ongoingmonitoring and cover in event ofillness or holidays. Regular socialevents will offer opportunities forpeer-support, making new friendsand staying active in later life.Care and Connect is currently only aconcept, an idea for a new service.But with support from LochwinnochMillennium Events Group, a granthas been successfully secured fromThe Big Lottery to assess demand forthis innovative homecare model. Ifthe research shows enough interest,then Care and Connect could beestablished this summer as a newcharity for Renfrewshire andsurrounding areas.So if you think this service couldmake a difference to your life or thatof someone you know then we wouldlike to hear from you. It will onlyhappen if you tell us you want it. Weparticularly want to hear from you ifyou live in Lochwinnoch, Kilbarchanor Bridge of Weir as this is where theproject would begin.· Do you need, or will you soonneed low-level support at home?· Do you support a family memberand would Care and Connect helpyou do this?· Do you know of people who mightbenefit from this service?· Would you be interested inregistering as a helper?14Your views are essential to turningCare and Connect into a reality. Soplease give me a call on the numberbelow for an informal chat. If youwould like to join the steering group tohelp shape this exciting new charitythen we would also be delighted tohear from you.Cllr Andy DoigLochwinnoch has to beone of the most vibrantv i l l a g e s i nRenfrewshire; provedyet again when my wife and I attendedthe very successful Christmas LightsSwitch On. Congratulations to allthose who contributed to theorganisation of such a superb event.Someone also mentioned howoutstanding the various LochwinnochArts Festival events were last year. Iwas pleased, therefore, to be able tosupport their recent application forfunding at the last meeting ofLochwinnoch Community Council.Since my election I have hadnumerous complaints concerningdrainage issues. Therefore I felt itpertinent to ask at the last meeting ofthe Environment and InfrastructureBoard for a report on the state ofdrainage in Lochwinnoch. My feelingis that the village is suffering fromhistorical issues with drains not beingproperly maintained over decades andI am determined to get to the genesisof these difficulties.Following approaches to me byconstituents in the Linthills area Ihave requested that they receive a gritbin as the provision of council grittersin that area has not been good, and Ibelieve there are similar issues withCrookhill Drive and CrookhillGardens. I will always fight to ensurethat all council tax payers inLochwinnoch receive as high a qualityof service as possible but I amconcerned at the stated position of the

Labour administration inRenfrewshire Council, in their WinterService Plan for this year, that “Innormal circumstances grit bins willonly be provided in urban areas”. Thisis not good enough and hard workingfamilies in Lochwinnoch deserve thesame consideration as those in urbanareas.Lochwinnoch Playpark ImprovementGroup are still very active in theirfundraising efforts and I wouldencourage all villagers to support thisvery worthwhile campaign to benefitlocal children and improve playparkprovision.Finally, a word of caution; aconstituent, who phoned ScottishWater repeatedly about discolouredwater from her taps, was told thatthese complaints were not formalcomplaints, and were not registered.So please ensure that you put allcomplaints to public utilities inwriting, either in an e-mail or by letter.I very much want to make myselfavailable to local residents inLochwinnoch and my Lochwinnochadvice surgery is on the fourthWednesday of the month, at 8:00pmin the McKillop Institute. Please comeand see me if you have any issues youwish to raise, or alternately call me on07534 148224, or e-mail me atcllr.andy.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk.Yours Sincerely,Cllr Andy Doig (SNP),Tea, Chat andLaughterWith the long dark winterevenings drawing in, Contact theElderly, the only national charitysolely dedicated to tackling lonelinessand isolation among older people, isinviting local residents ofLochwinnoch to join them for a cuppa,slice of cake and lots of chatter eachmonth.Supported by a volunteer network, thecharity organises free monthly Sundayafternoon tea parties for small groupsof older people, aged 75 and above,who live alone and would appreciatesome company on a Sunday afternoon.Each older person is collected fromtheir home by a volunteer driver andtaken to a volunteer host’s home forthe afternoon. The group is warmlywelcomed by a different host eachmonth, but the drivers remain thesame which means that over themonths and years, acquaintances turninto friends and loneliness is replacedby companionship.Contact the Elderly’s West ofScotland Development Officer,Margaret Oliver, said: “Activities forpeople aged 75 and above arenormally limited to weekdays, soSunday can be a particularly longand difficult day. We also know thata lot of people, whatever their age,can relate to feeling a bit flat over thewinter months. Our tea parties areperfect for brightening up thegloomy months and are a greatopportunity to make new friendswithin the community, to get out ofthe house and to generally have agood time!”The group in Lochwinnoch hascapacity for a number of new gueststo join and the charity is keen toraise awareness of these openingsamong the local community.Lochwinnoch residents, aged75 and above, who live aloneand are interested in joiningContact the Elderly as a guest,or those who would like to referan older person to the localgroup, should please contactMargaret Oliver, on 01389605915 ormargaret.oliver@contact-theelderly.org.ukCan You Solvethe Mystery?Here is a mystery areader of Chatterbox maybe able to solve.My father, AngusMacintyre, competed in theHighland Games in the 1930sagainst another record-breakingathlete who styled himself ‘D.L.Douglas, Lochwinnoch.’ He was anexceptional exponent of the hop,step and leap, and was also a highand long jumper. But searches by themost helpful staff through the localrecords in Lochwinnoch Libraryhave failed to find any informationabout him. I have searched15newspaper archives and othersources, and have consulted leadinghistorians of Highland Games, butthey only know Douglas’s name andreputation, and no details about him.Intriguingly, a C.M. Douglas, astudent at Glasgow University, heldthe Scottish Universities’ long jumprecord in 1926, but does not appear inGlasgow’s General Council Register ofGraduates. Could this have been abrother or relative of D.L. Douglas?There is a possible solution to themystery. Some amateur athletes (whowere prohibited from accepting cashprizes) competed under assumednames in Highland Games in order tomake money, so ‘D.L. Douglas,Lochwinnoch’ might not have beenthe competitor’s name or place ofresidence. Certainly D.L. Douglasmust have taken home (wherever thatwas) a considerable amount of cashwinnings and trophies during the1930s, because he competed in manyHighland Games, including at theCowal Gathering (until it wentamateur) and on the Isle of Man. Thissuggests that in the summer season ofGames he had considerable leisuretime and means of travel, and mighthave been a student for part of the1930s.Can anyone help to resolve thisintriguing mystery of an athlete whohad the potential to be an Olympiccompetitor?With thanks,Dr Lorn MacintyreTel: 01334 476428e-mail: lorn.macintyre@btinternet.comThanksGillian at The Quirky Florist (behindthe Heritage Butcher) would like tothank the residents of Lochwinnochfor their kind support and goodwishes for my new business.I look forward to a long and happyrelationship in the future.

RSPB LochwinnochReserveWildlife viewing all year roundNature trails and hidesVisitor centre open 10am – 5pmdailySuperb RSPB shopWildlife feeding stations and treetoptower viewpointEventsSat 19 and Sun 20 Jan 1pm - 4pmSessions begin on the hourGet Ready for the Big GardenBirdwatch - Birds for Beginnersand relaunch of New LookLochwinnoch Shop!Ever wanted to take part in the BigGarden Birdwatch but don't know ablue tit from a blackbird? Join theteam at RSPB Lochwinnoch for aworkshop session ideal for beginnersto birdwatching, to help you learnmore about common garden birds andpick up tips and advice on how to joinin with the Big Garden Birdwatch!Cost: £5 or £2 for RSPB members.Drop in session, no need to book.The Big Garden Birdwatch itselftakes place on26 and 27 JanuarySat 26 and Sun 27 Jan 10am -4pm Binocular and telescopedemonstrationAn opportunity to choose from a widerange of competitively pricedbinoculars and telescopes, including RSPBbrand, with the added bonus that 100% ofthe profits go directly to helpingconservation. FREE expertadvice available all weekend.MisheardWe’ve probably all done it sometime.You hear a song, it sticks in your head,you sing it to yourself but you didn’tquite catch all the lyrics, so you fill inthe gaps as best you can. To others, theresult can be very amusing.Probably the most famous example isJimi Hedrick’s’ song ‘Purple Haze’ inwhich the line “’scuse me, while I kissthe sky” was so often misinterpretedas “’scuse me, while I kiss this guy”that an amused Jimi started to includeit in his own concerts and laughinglypretended to kiss one of the bandmembers. He even included it on oneof his albums.Here are a few more lyrics sung (andoverheard) not as originallyintended:The Pointer Sisters’ ‘Jump for YourLove’ has “Jump if you want to tastemy kisses in the night” which became“Jump if you won’t take my ketchupin the night”Some songs seem to be particularlyvulnerable to this phenomenon.Dolly Parton and Kris Kristoffersonsang “Islands in the Stream”. Thesame line has been variously: Ireland's industry Eyelids in the street I intend to scream I'm in dentistry Items in the street; trashis what we are I love industry. Let's godrive a car. Timex Industries that iswhat we arePink Floyd’s Another brick in thewall is another sufferer. The line “Nodark sarcasm in the classroom”gets this treatment: The ducks are hazards inthe classroom More orgasms in theclassroom (teachers?) No dogs are spazzin' in theclassroom No Dukes of Hazard in theclassroom Teacher leave them DukesaloneThen there are the artistes who sufferparticularly badly. Take Abba asexample: “See that girl, watchthat scene, diggin’ the dancingqueen” became: See that girl; watch herscream, kicking thedancing queen Dancing Queen, eat a beanoff the tambourineOr “Take a chance on me”became: Chicken dance on meOr “I was sick and tired ofeverything, when I called youlast night from Glasgow”became: I was tired of being thin,when I called you lastnight from TescoAnd “Chiquitita, tell me what'swrong“ becomes :16 Take your teeth out, tell mewhat’s wrong Kick her teeth out, tell mewhat's wrong Chicken Tikka, tell mewhat’s wrongA mum heard her young child in theback of the car innocently singingMamma Mia as “Diarrhoea, here Igo again...”Listen carefully when someone issinging their party piece – it may notbe exactly as the lyricist intended butfunnier.Heartfelt 10thAnniversaryNext year will be the 10th anniversaryof Lochwinnoch’s Marc McCay havinga heart transplant!At 15 Marc was a keen footballer, topstriker for Linwood Rangers, neverbeen ill in his life.One day he felt too ill to attendfootball training and his worriedmother took him to the surgery. Thedoctor examined Marc, diagnosed thata virus had attacked his heart (viralcardiomyopathy) and immediatelyordered an ambulance.Marc’s frantic parents, Linda andNorrie, were told Marc would diewithout a heart transplant and he wasso weak that he might not even survivethe journey to Newcastle for thetransplant. Marc was unconscious andonly woke two weeks later after thetransplant.Linda, Marc’s mother said “We havelived in the village for 23 years; Marcattended Lochwinnoch nursery andschool here. We have had immensesupport from all our family/extendedfamily and neighbours in the village.“I am organising a fundraising eventto mark the 10th anniversary and Iwill need a lot of support. We hope tohost a football tournament/charitynight at Lochbarr Centre.The money I want to raise will go toDonor Family Network. This is run bythe mum and dad of my son’s donor.We’ve just made contact with themafter a posting on Facebook.”You can see from the photos that Marcis healthy today thanks to histransplant and the generosity of hisdonor’s parents.The Donor Family Network aims tosupport donor families and promoteorgan and tissue donation.www.donorfamilynetwork.co.uk

Walk to the StationHave a look at Lochwinnoch Station, they said,it’s been done up ... so I did.On a day of goldall buttercup and waving rushI took the path by our local Loch to the Bird Reserveand crossed.What a path to walkjust to get to a stationwith willow and broom and the plain sheuch bushlike mist to breatheand daisies and tiny forget-me-not eyesto wink up at our feetand tansy yellow brightand silver to left and rightin a sparkle of light.At the Station I sat on a blue-painted seatsaw barrels of flowers from a gardenorderly, neat,planted like in the thirties, blue and red.Overheada blackbird sangand beyond him a choirof birds from the Sanctuary over the roadthen fainter and fainterviolining infrom further Renfrewshire.A train trundled by on its way to the cityin a rumble of sounda quick stopthree women stepped outand then it was off.Quiet came backand birdsongrippling along the railway track.Open your earsand open your eyes -this is Lochwinnochnot Adelstrop.Somebody did it up.Betty McKellar“For all of you who did it up.”17

LIA supported children in Arusha, TanzaniaLochwinnoch PlaygroupLochwinnoch Playgroup has been a well established andmuch loved community provision for the little people ofthe village and surrounding area for over 20 years.Playgroup is an ideal stepping stone post mums andtots and pre nursery. Children can enrol from 2.5 upuntil school age.“Playgroup has been great for Emma, herconfidence has really grown, being with otherchildren her own age, interacting with the playleadershas helped her to become moreindependent and to prepare her (and me) forthe next stage - big girl nursery!" (mum of childwho recently joined Lochwinnoch Playgroup)Sessions are led by 2 qualified and experienced playleaders who actively involve the children in a widevariety of stimulating and fun activities from crafts todressing up and role play. All the children had a greattime at our annual Christmas Party. Santa was verygenerous as always. In January the children will beimmersed in activities to celebrate the Chinese NewYear and our national poet Robert Burns.Over the Christmas period we also organised a verysuccessful fundraising raffle with a fun filled activityday for 4 at Castle Semple as the top prize. We wereoverwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses:Clyde Muirshiel/Castle Semple Centre, LochwinnochGolf Club, Little Now & Then, Cucina Minucci at theJunction, Lochbarr Leisure Centre, Natural Touch, TheHeritage Farmers Market Shop, The Quirky Florist, TheBrown Bull, The Three Churches and all the parents,Natalie and Jackie for the hamper donations. We wouldlike to say a huge Thank You to them all.Look out for details of our fundraising Quiz/ Race Nightto be held at Lochbarr Leisure Centre, Lochwinnoch,late February/ early March 2013. It’s sure to be a greatnight. Proceeds from all our fundraising activities go tothe Lochwinnoch Playgroup helping to secure ourfuture in the village.Mon, Tue & Wed 9.30-11.30am at the McKillop Centrein Lochwinnoch. New children are always welcome.Please contact Daniela ondaniela.sime@strath.ac.uk or 07765 695 270 forfurther details.Lochwinnoch International AidNew Year NewsIt’s that time of year again; reacting to the poor weather,thinking about friends and family and what the New Yearwill bring. The members of Lochwinnoch InternationalAid have a message for everyone; please think of the manyparts of our world where people are in real trouble withweather/climate, aggression, wars, and deep poverty. Is ittime for remembering the needs of others? We think so.We spent a total of £3180 in 2012 helping a number ofoverseas organisations; amongst them £200 to Mary'sMeals, £400 to Medecins sans Frontieres for work inSudan, £600 for clean water projects in Zimbabwe and£300 for social projects in Madagascar. A lot of ourmoney has gone to projects in Africa; recent statisticsshow that Africa has 24% of the world's health problemsbut only 3% of the world's health workers. In the past wehave helped in other countries and where we can, helpprojects with connections to people in LochwinnochThis year, we're setting out to raise more money withceilidhs, safari suppers and other activities. We'll behaving another 'safari supper' on the 23rd Feb. this timewith an Indian theme. More details will be advertisednearer the time. Also, we'd like more people to join usthrough our standing order scheme where a monthlycontribution of five pounds or so goes towards helping themany projects we support. Get in touch and we'll deliver aleaflet about this.Mary’s Meals porridge in big cups18

Some of us attended the 10th yearcelebrations of Mary's Meals inGlasgow (along with about 1000other people!) In those ten yearsthey have grown so much that now750,000 children are given breakfastat school every day . This ensuresthat the children get at least onegood meal daily, as well as aneducation. They work in 16 countriesand food is purchased locally therebyhelping the local economies. A verygood video film Child 31, describingthe work of Mary's Meals, has beenproduced and we will be showing itin Lochwinnoch soon.We will be having our AGM on the6th Feb. in the Library meeting roomat 7.00 pm and if anyone wants tofind out our work and all the projectswe have supported then please comealong.Any more information needed? Justget in touch LIA c/o 29 High St.Lochwinnoch 843 099Muirshiel Mine MemoriesThe barytes mine high at the head ofthe wild Calder glen in the remotehills above Lochwinnoch will foreverbe a personal place of pilgrimage forme.I first got to know the longabandonedquarry when I worked asa countryside ranger at MuirshielCountry Park two miles down thelonely moorland track accessing themine. The awesome gorge, with itsdesolate, lunar-like landscape,exerted a powerful pull when I firstsaw it nearly 30 years ago. It stilldoes and always will.Its melancholic magnetism draws meback, especially on anniversaries ofthe deaths of some of the courageousminers who toiled 600 feet below theground, along with colleaguesworking on the surface wheredilapidated engine sheds, mineralwashing ponds, rusty rail tracks,dust-covered wagon wheels andgrinding machinery can still be seen.Barytes is a pink-coloured stonewhose powder was used for bariummeal X-rays and in the paint,cosmetic, photographic and oildrillingindustries. It was extractedfrom the ground at Muirshiel foraround two centuries and was one ofthe most prolific mines of its type inScotland.Work finished forever in September,1969, when the lights were finallyswitched off and the last lorriesloaded with miners and their barytescargoes trundled five miles backdown the track and Calder GlenRoad to Lochwinnoch Cross whichwas the workers' pick-off and dropoffpoints for many decades.During my visits to the old mine Iwas always aware of thesupernatural shadows of miners,diggers, pickmen, millers, labourersand truck-drivers employed at themine while it was in production.Grey clouds of swirling mistfrequently shrouded the precipitousabyss with its rocky scree, mossmantledboulders, derelict sheds,mouldering stone bothies and weedcoveredrinsing pools.It was easy to visualise minersarriving at the quarry at break ofdawn and disembarking from lorriesto start their daily routine. Iremembered how their helmetlamps shone eerily in the darknessand how mineral-laden trucksclattered along electricity-lit tracksdeep below the ground.Access to the mines was by lifts andladders which dropped hundreds offeet from one galleried-level to thenext. Sometimes I imagined I heardthe phantom ring of picks, shovels,spades and hammers batteringagainst subterranean rocks toextricate the barytes. Sad memoriesof men who died in that remoterealm frequently came to mind. Iremembered people like John Dale,who was killed in an engine roomexplosion, and Eric McQuade whodied from injuries sustainedfollowing an accident with a deadlydetonator.I had the privilege of meetingmembers of John's and Eric'sfamilies who told me their loved19ones' stories.Other casualties included aLochwinnoch villager who survivedthe Arnhem parachute landingsduring the Second World War butlost his life in an accident at themine. Another tragic victim wasfatally entangled in lift-windingequipment.Two more were crushed to deathwhen their lorry overturned on thesnow-covered track betweenMuirshiel and the mines thenplunging into the Calder glen. Theheroism of Doctor Waterson andPolice Constable John Campbelltrying to save them is still recalled byolder Lochwinnoch residents.I never forgot that all these braveminers were someone's father, son,brother, uncle, cousin or nephew.In reverential silence and solitude, Ipaid tribute to them amidst therocks and clefts which were theirworkplaces and, all too frequently,where they perished.I am proud to have been a very smallpart of their gallant story and to haveinformed park visitors of theirsacrifices and hardships. FromMuirshiel quarry on Lochwinnoch'slonely moors, where their spirits stilllinger, the barytes miners' voicesecho down through the ages. Theyalways will.WARNING: Muirshiel Mine is nowunstable and dangerous. It mustonly be viewed from a very safedistance.Derek ParkerDerek Parker worked as acountryside ranger at ClydeMuirshiel Regional Park from 1985till 1999

Lochwinnoch Out of SchoolClub PricesUnfortunately there was a mistake inthe prices given in last month'sChatterbox regarding spare spaces andprices for child care places at LOSC.The Breakfast Club runs from 07.35amto 09.00am and is £3.75 a session (not£3.35 as stated previously). The AfterSchool Club runs from 3.00pm to6.00pm. It's £7.00 per day to 5.00pmand £10.50 to 6.00pm (not £10 as wasstated last month). Sorry about anyconfusion that arose as a result of this.Paul Cameron, the Vice Chair of theLOSC committee would like tohighlight that was no fault on the partof Chatterbox rather it was a mistakeby a committee member (i.e. himself)who was in a bit too much of a rush.There are still some spaces availablefor new children in the New Year. Ifyou are interested you should contactNan Keenan 07757 801 042 or emailLouise the club's administrator on:louiselosc@hotmail.co.uk .To find out more about LOSC see ourwebsite:www.lochwinnochoutofschoolclub.co.ukThe Windows on Wildlife(WoW) project is up andrunning at Castle SempleWe have nine trail cameras out at themoment. Three cameras have beenfilming the otters on Castle SempleLoch. We have filmed a family ofotters (female and 3 cubs), a male andfemale pair-bonding and the malecatching eels. A total of 6 otters in allhave been caught on camera.In December the footage started to beshown in the visitor centre with thehelp of volunteer and student Katewho has been studying the otters forher dissertation. She has filmed somelovely behaviour and has also foundout that the otters are mainly eatingeels and perch.Sadly our big male, Bob, was run overby a car on the 17th of November.Hopefully another male will move intothe area and we hope to pick up hisarrival on camera.Elsewhere we have been filmingbadgers and roe deer as well ascatching a few surprises on camerasuch as a weasel and a woodcock. Thebadgers have been busy getting theirsett ready for winter with lots ofdigging and bedding changes beingfilmed on camera. The cameras aremonitored by our French intern Aglaèand she has been kept very busy.Windows on Wildlife now has its ownFacebook page which can be found atwww.facebook.com/WindowsonwildlifeatClydeMuirshielMany of the clips have been uploadedto this page if you would like to checkthem out.If you are interested in finding outhow you can get involved in the WoWproject or would like me to come andgive a talk to your group or classplease email me onwow@clydemuirshiel.co.uk or phoneme on 01505 842882 ex 25.Haley DouglasESTABLISHED 1989A happy New Year! Grant that IMay bring no tear to any eyeWhen this New Year in time shall endLet it be said I've played the friend,Have lived and loved and laboredhere,And made of it a happy year.Editorial and Copy forChatterbox~Edgar GuestLet us have your stories, notices, news,information, events and items of interest– either hand-deliver them to theChatterbox drop-box in the Library orpreferably e-mail them to us at:chatterbox@lochwinnoch.infoElectronic submission with full colourpictures are preferred.To advertise in ChatterboxTel: 01505 842632chatterbox@lochwinnoch.infoCOPY DEADLINE FOR FEBRUARY ISWEDNESDAY 16TH JANUARY22 YEARS IN BUSINESS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS GO ON AND ON…UPVC WINDOWS AND DOORSMAINTENANCE FREE UPVCROOFLINE AND FULLWINDOW REPAIR SERVICEHINGES, LOCKS AND MISTEDAND BROKEN GLASS REPLACEDOUR PRODUCTS ARE INSTALLEDIN OVER ONE HUNDREDLOCHWINNOCH HOUSEHOLDSContact—PETER McGARVEYTel: 01505 614654UPVC DOORS FITTED FROM £43020