jan-13 - Lochwinnoch Online

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 !