248 May 2015 - Gryffe Advertizer

PLEASE TAKE A FREE COPY OF YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE 

May 2015 No.248 

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1 

Distributed to: 

• Bishopton 

• Bridge of Weir 

• Brookfield 

• Elderslie 

• Houston 

• Howwood 

• Kilbarchan 

• Kilmacolm 

• Langbank 

• Lochwinnoch 

• Quarriers 

FOLLOW US 

GryffeAds 

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme Open Garden ‘Carruth’, Bridge of Weir 

Gryffe 

ADVERTIZER 

your LOCAL community magazine May 2015 No.248

2 the advertizer t: 01505 613340 e: info@advertizer.co.uk 

EXPERT JET-WASHING 

With Spring now here this is the time of year we are busiest cleaning 

driveways, patios etc’ ready for Summer. If you are thinking of having 

your driveway cleaned then it is crucial it’s done correctly to prevent 

problems in future. If there are a lot of weeds these should be treated 

before jet-washing and 

after a high-pressure 

industrial clean that 

removes dirt, moss and 

a little sand it is critical 

to re-sand with kilndried 

sand, a Biocidal 

treatment will then 

resist future growths. 

Give us a call for free 

friendly information 

on this service or 

for a free quotation. 

01505 863 863 www. 

Before 

After 

nutechcleaning.co.uk

www.advertizer.co.uk may 2015 

3 3


This Month 

contact us 

The Gryffe Advertizer 

Neva Place, Bridge of Weir PA11 3PN 

t: 01505 613340 or e: info@advertizer.co.uk 

For more information please call us on 01505 613340 

or check our website at www.advertizer.co.uk 

Next Issue: No.249 June 2015 

Deadline: Fri 15 May 2015 

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. The Gryffe 

Advertizer cannot be held responsible for unsolicited materials. The views and opinions by contributors in this 

magazine may not represent the views of the publishers. The Gryffe Advertizer takes no responsibility for claims 

made by advertisements in this publication. 

pick up a copy 

Bishopton: Post Office, Woodrow’s Store, Keystore, Library, 

Ingliston Country Club 

Bridge of Weir: Gibb Stuart, Bernie’s Cafe, 

Lochnagar, The Bridge, Library (Cargill Centre) 

Erskine: Garden Centre, Library, Sports Centre, 

Swimming pool 

Houston: Co-op, Carrick Centre, Post Office, 

Newsagent 

Howwood: Village Store, St Vincent’s Hospice 

Johnstone: Henderson Kilts, Papa Mac’s, Library 

Kilbarchan: Sheridan’s Store, Campbell’s 

Newsagents, Bobbins, Old Library Centre 

Kilmacolm: Newsagent, Pieri’s, Cross Café, 

Gibb Stuart, Cargill Centre, Library 

Langbank: Finlaystone Visitor Centre 

Lochwinnoch: Keystore, McKillop Centre, Library, 

Castle Semple Centre, Newsagent 

Quarriers: Three Sisters Bake 

A Grand Day Out 

As we approach gala season again, we all look forward to a “grand day out” 

with all the entertainment laid on for kids and grown-ups alike. These events 

are run to a very high standard throughout and everything goes like clockwork 

- weather permitting. All thanks to a small army of volunteers who give of 

their time to gather in the wee dark hours of the winter to plan, organise and 

fundraise. 

Some of these events date back many years and are steeped in history, others 

are more recent additions to the calendar. Perhaps you feel that you would 

like to get involved and be a part of our local annual events. Your involvement 

will be rewarding for yourself and the community, so why not become a part 

of your local community and offer your services. 

This month we’ve got wonderful events on land and on water, with a mix of 

carnivals, plant sales, regattas, open days and tea parties. Take your pick! 

Full details in our What’s on section: 

• 8-10 May & 15-17 May: Annual Plant Sale, Lodge Sir Michael, Kilmacolm 

• 9 May: Kilmacolm & Port Glasgow Agricultural Show, locally referred to as 

The Knapps Show 

• 9 May: Houston & Killelan Kirk Carnival Day 

• 10 May (Sunday): Gourock Highland Games 

• 10 May (Sunday): Asparagus Farm Open Day 

• 15-24 May: Scotland’s Nature Festival at Clyde Muirshiel, Lochwinnoch 

• 15-24 May: Volunteer Arts Week at Clyde Muirshiel, Lochwinnoch 

• 16 May: Annual Plant Sale, RSPB Lochwinnoch 

• 17 May (Sunday): Bluebell Walk & Duck Race at Highwood, Kilmacolm 

• 17 May (Sunday): Open Day at Castle Semple Sailing Club, Lochwinnoch 

• 23 May: Calder UF Church Summer Fayre 

• 23-24 May: Scottish Sailing Championships at Castle Semple 

• 24 May (Sunday): Mad Hatters Tea Party at Finlaystone 

• 30 May: Lamont Farm Project Open Day, Erskine 

• 30 May: Castle Semple Rowing Club Regatta 

• 31 May (Sunday): Robin Hood & the Crusaders at Finlaystone 

There’s more to come in June, so prepare yourself for a fun-filled summer! 

And lastly, as a regular reminder, we want to hear from you if you’ve done 

something wonderful, if you are planning a fund raising event, if you’ve got 

news to share, or even if you’re looking for help with something. Our readers 

are always eager to hear what’s happening and eager to help if they can. And 

the best thing is, there’s no cost from us to do this! 

The Advertizer is the ideal platform to communicate with your community as 

we reach over 13,000 homes and businesses in the Gryffe area. 

Send your news and photos to info@advertizer.co.uk or by post to The 

Advertizer, Neva Place, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3PN. 

Next deadline Friday 15 May! 

contents 

business classified.............64 

property classified...............65 

church listings.................65 

deadlines dates................65 

sales & wants......................66 

advertiser directory................67 

local history .........................27 

business news..................26 

it blog ................................26 

on the road........................28 

Rona 

local news..........................8-13 

pet blog ...............................44 

pets ...............................44-45 

outdoors..........................46-53 

schools news.....................54-59 

sporting blog..........................61 

sports & clubs news.............60-63 

village news.......................30-43 

dental blog .............................19 

what’s on..........................14-22


5 5


CAR BOOT SALE 

Lochwinnoch Parish Church 

Saturday 9th May. 

Set up time 9am 

Open 10am -3pm 

£10 per car 

Call early to book a space on 

01505 842365 

01505 842404.


7 7


Wig Wednesday - 20 May 

Use your head on 20th May and wear a wig for the day to 

help make a big difference to children and young people 

with cancer. Don a wig and donate, it’s simple! 

Don’t ‘mullet’ over, sign up to take part in Wig 

Wednesday today and tell us who you are and who 

you’ll be taking part with - work colleagues, with your 

school or with friends and family. Once you have 

Kilmacolm Dramatic Society 

As we go to press, we are about to hold the dress rehearsal of our 

Spring production ‘Allo ‘Allo, by Jeremy Lloyd & David Croft. We hope 

that all the hard work that has gone into it has been worthwhile & 

that we have raised a tidy sum for Erskine. Nineteen residents & 

staff will have attended the opening night & we hope that they, along 

with all of you, have enjoyed our efforts. A show like this does not get off the 

ground unaided & enormous thanks are due not only to the cast, but also to 

Director Linda, to Joe for his artwork, to Gill for the programmes & tickets, Rosie 

for Props, Helen for costumes, Richard for set building, Russell for maintaining 

some kind of control over proceedings, Rona & Linda (and the rest of the team) at 

The Advertizer for putting up with my persistent late submissions, but publishing 

nevertheless, & the lovely David for all his free publicity. 

Angus Black, President 

signed up, our team will send your free fundraising wig-kit. Don’t forget to 

visit CLIC Sargent’s Wig Shop to find your Wig Wednesday look! For more 

information, please contact CLIC Sargent’s Wig Wednesday team on 08451 

212 492 or email: wigwednesday@clicsargent.org.uk. 

Spring Clean Your Floor 

Fresh spring sun shining through your window is a good reason to make sure 

that your flooring is in its best condition. 

Better weather means more visitors, barbeques and get-togethers, and 

Karndean and Amtico are the perfect choice for busy households. These 

stylish flooring designs look amazing and are also very easily maintained and 

durable. 

Mucky paw and foot prints 

are easily wiped up with a 

mop and you can be rest 

assured that stains are 

not an issue with these 

high quality floors. 

They are the most sought 

after floor coverings on 

the market. There is a 

stunning array of styles 

and variations available 

and the opportunity to 

design your own floor. They also do not have the drawbacks of natural materials 

like wood or ceramics, which can dent, score and crack and fade easily. 

Karndean even adjusts to temperature and will be cool in summer and warm 

in winter. With unique styles such as ships decking effect, or the option to add 

borders and features to create a unique floor, you’re sure to see something you 

love. 

Orchard Flooring have 14 years’ experience in fitting Karndean and Amtico and 

are happy to offer advice on picking the best options for each room. With a 

home sampling 

service why not 

give us a call and 

be on your way to a 

stunning floor from 

Orchard Flooring. 

Call Scott on 

01505 229 584 

or 07563 633 432 

E: sjmproducts@ 

hotmail.com 

W: www.orchardflooring.com


9


Langbank Camera Club 

The print competition for April was ‘Wild Life’ and what a competition it was. 

Last month’s lecture on wild life photography obviously hit the mark as the 

standard of the images submitted was very high indeed. First and second place 

were awarded to Derrick McPherson for his images of a great egret, taken at a 

wetlands reserve in Florida, and a wee robin which was taken at Rouken Glen, 

Glasgow. Third place was awarded to Alastair McKenzie for his image of black 

guillemots at Greenock’s water front. 

The presentation at this month’s meeting was High Dynamic Range (HDR) 

photography which described in detail the techniques and tools required 

to obtain images in HDR. A live demonstration using this method was also 

presented to show the extremes of this method of image processing from a 

natural looking image to a completely surreal image. 

Next month’s main meeting (May 11th) will be our last main meeting for 

2014/15 session. Nibbles, drinks and a friendly chat will be the order of the 

day. Visitors are always welcome, so come along and get to know the members 

on this informal friendly night. If you have a question regarding your camera or 

use of computers in photography we are always here to help. 

The theme for the March meeting of the Projected Digital Image (PDI) evening 

was ‘Seascapes’ which took us to many different coastlines in Scotland and 

around the world. April’s PDI meeting is all about ‘Cityscapes’. We will showcase 

some of the images from our PDI meetings in the July and August editions of 

the Advertizer. 

The main May meeting will be held as usual on the second Monday of the 

month, 11th May at 7.30pm. Check our website, address below, for details of up 

coming events. The print competition topic for 11th May is ‘Macro Photography’ 

- larger than life-size images. 

Finally, it is with great sadness that we say goodbye to John Houston who has 

passed away. He was a valued member of the club and will be greatly missed by 

all. The club’s thoughts are with his family at this sad time. 

All club meetings are held in Langbank Church Halls, Langbank. Visitors are 

always welcome to our club nights. 

Membership of the club is only £10 for the first year. If you wish to find out more 

about Langbank Camera Club please visit our website: 

www.langbankcameraclub.weebly.com or contact Derrick McPherson at 

langbankcc1@gmail.com with your enquiries. 

Derrick McPherson ‘Great Egret’ 

‘Wee Robin’ 

Moderator visits Inverclyde 

Inverclyde was privileged to receive a visitor from the Moderator of the General 

Assembly of the Church of Scotland in March. 

It was an evening of music, 

families, smiling faces 

and the sound of children 

singing songs. It was a 

magical night. Provost 

Robert Moran also came 

along, as well as the Lord 

Lieutenant Mr Guy Clark, 

and MP Iain McKenzie, 

and the Rev Ritchie Gillon, 

Moderator of the Presbytery of Greenock & Paisley. 

Alastair McKenzie ‘Black Guillemots at Greenock’s water front’


11 11 

Gryffe Camera Club 

We are now reaching the final rounds of our internal league competition, 

and there will be fierce jousting for the top positions. As usual there 

has been a great variety of good entries, and this has enabled us to be 

competitive against other clubs. 

By the time you read this we will have been to the final of the GDPU 

inter club league, having come first in our group. In the final, on 27th 

April, we are up against Eastwood, East Kilbride, Clydesdale, Carluke 

and Kilmaurs---wish us luck!! 

In recent competitions we beat Beith by 1 point in a (friendly ) 3-way 

battle with them and Kilmacolm, and in an Audio-Visual competition 

with Ayr Photographic and Paisley Colour, the result was 1st Gryffe 

with 32 points, 2nd Ayr with 29 and 3rd Paisley with 24. 

If you fancy seeing some professional photography there is an 

exhibition of Robert Mapplethorpe’s work on at Clydebank Museum 

and Art Gallery, until 23rd May, with curator led tours. There are also 

various workshops on photography for 

both adults and children. 

The end of our indoor season is 

close, but as usual we will be having 

a programme of Wednesday evening 

outings to venues in and around 

Glasgow. We use these informal groups 

to share ideas on picture taking, and find 

that it is not always the less experienced 

photographers who discover new 

things about their cameras. Keep an 

eye on the Gryffe Camera club website. 

www.gryffecameraclub.co.uk 

Please Donate Blood 

St Mirin’s Cathedral Parish Hall, Incle Street, 

Paisley PA1 1HR 

Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th & Thursday 7th May - 2pm - 

3.45pm & 5.15pm - 7.30pm 

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm PA13 4BP 

Wednesday 6th May - 4pm - 7.30pm 

Johnstone Recreation Hall (Previously known as 

McMaster Sports Centre) Greenhead Avenue, 

Johnstone PA5 0LD 

Tuesday 12th May - 2pm - 3.45pm & 5.15pm - 7.30pm 

The Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Crescent, Bridge Of Weir 

PA11 3LJ 

Monday 18th May 4pm - 7.30pm 

Erskine Community Sports Centre, Kilpatrick Drive, 

Erskine PA8 7AF 

Tuesday 19th May - 2pm - 3.45pm & 5.15pm - 7.30pm 

Donating Bus at Morrison’s Store, 30 Napier 

Street, Johnstone PA5 8SF 

Friday 22nd May - 9.30am - 11.30am & 1pm - 3.30pm 

You can also drop in to give blood at 8 Nelson 

Mandela Place, Glasgow. Call today to make an 

appointment on 0845 90 90 999. 

Go on - the only think you’ll feel is good about 

yourself!


Top image “Inquisitive Fly” by David Scott 

In the Introductory section 

fourth place was awarded to 

Frank Donnelly for his image 

“Woodpecker”. “Bachelor Party” 

by Kathy Giddings came third 

and “Bright Spark” by Kevin 

Moulds was placed in second 

position. The top image in 

the Introductory section was 

awarded to David Scott for his 

image “Inquisitive Fly”. 

Sma Shot Cottage in 

Paisley launches 

its new season 

The Sma Shot Cottage is a wonderful 

cottage to visit and can be found on Shuttle 

Street, Paisley. 

Inside you are transported back to many 

centuries ago with its weaving room, 

old rooms, and courtyard. It also has a 

wonderful tearoom and you can experience 

a world of home cooked lunches and home 

baked cakes. 

Entry is completely free, although donations 

are welcome. It is now open every Wednesday 

and Saturday until October. 

Paisley Colour’s 3rd Bimonthly 

Competition Results 

Paisley Colour Photographic Club were very pleased to welcome back Mike 

Blair from Ayr Camera Club to judge the third of the session’s three bimonthly 

competitions held recently at the McMaster Centre in Renfrew. 

In this competition members could submit up to three digital images each and 

Mike gave very careful consideration to each of over seventy images in the 

two sections: Introductory and Advanced. Mike gave a very thorough critique 

to each image pointing out the strengths of each image in turn and also giving 

helpful suggestions as to how an image could be improved. 

As usual there was a wide range of images submitted and Mike 

emphasised the difficulty he had in having to rank the top images 

in each section. 

For further details about PCPC and updated members galleries 

please view: www.paisleycolour.co.uk 

2nd place “Bright Spark” by Kevin Moulds 

Top image flying “Black Grouse” by Mike Cruise 

3rd place “Bachelor Party” by Kathy Giddings 

4th Place “Woodpecker” 

by Frank Donnelly 

In the Advanced section, as in last year’s 3rd Bimonthly competition, 

the wonderful natural history images by Jim Black and Mike Cruise 

filled the top positions. “Sooty Copper” by Jim Black came fourth 

this year whilst the top three positions in this year’s 3rd Bimonthly 

were all awarded to Mike Cruise. In third place was “Osprey”, in 

second “Kingfisher” but the top image judged by Mike Blair was the 

magnificently captured flying “Black Grouse”. 

2nd place “Kingfisher by Mike Cruise 

3rd place “Osprey” by Mike Cruise 

4th place “Sooty Copper” by Jim Black


13 13


May 

events 

Sat 2 - Sun 3 May 

RSPB Binocular & Telescope 

Open Day 

RSPB, Largs Rd, Lochwinnoch 

10am to 4pm 

Our optics are competitively priced, with the 

added bonus that 100% of the profit goes 

directly to helping conservation. FREE entry. 

Sun 3 May 

RSPB Dawn Chorus 


4.30pm to 6.30pm 

This year we’ll walk through Castle Semple’s 

Parkhill Wood. Led by RSPB Lochwinnoch reserve 

staff. No existing bird knowledge needed. Families 

welcome. Please book as places are limited. 

Cost Adults £5 (members £3), Children £3 

(members £2) 

Interview With The King 

Finlaystone Country Estate - Langbank 

1pm to 3pm 

Meet King Robert the Bruce and see who is 

knighted. Can you prove yourself to be a knight or 

are you a jester? Tel: 01475 540505. 

Big WoW Weekend 

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, Calder 

Glen Road, Lochwinnoch 11am to 4pm 

Find out about the animals we have been filming 

- Weasels, badgers, roes and more. Ringing 

demonstrations throughout the day, weather 

dependant. Tel: 01505 842882 x 20. 

Thu 7 May 

Beachwatch 

Lunderston Bay, Cloch Road, near 

Gourock PA19 1BB From 10am 

Help with the Marine Conservation Society’s beach 

survey work by collecting and recording sea debris, 

contributing to the national report. Tel: 01475 

521458 to book. 

Fri 8 May 

RSPB Local Group Meeting 

McMaster Centre, Donaldson Drive, 

Renfrew 7.30pm 

There will be a programme of talks by group 

members Ewan Douglas and Norman Tait, which 

will be followed by our Annual General Meeting. All 

welcome, admission free. 

Fri 8 - Sun 10 May 

Lodge Sir Michael 989 Annual 

Plant Sale 

Glebe Road, Kilmacolm 

Fri 8th - 5pm-9pm; Sat 9th - 9am-4pm; Sun 10th 

- 10am-4pm; Fri 15th - 5pm-9pm; Sat 16th - 9am- 

4pm; Sun 17th - 10am-4pm Planters and hanging 

baskets made to order. Free advice on plants. 

Quality plants at value for money prices. 

Sat 9 May 

Kilmacolm & Port Glasgow 

Agricultural Society 180th Show 

Knapps Loch - Kilmacolm 

A great day out for all the family. Visit our website 

for schedules and discounted tickets www. 

kilmacolmshow.co.uk After Show dance Saturday 

16th May - see website for details and tickets. 


Francesca Rossi Relaunch 

Octavia Buildings, Kilmacolm PA13 4AE 

10am - 5pm 

Come along to the Francesca Rossi Fashion 

Boutique to celebrate our relaunch and our 15th 

Birthday. Special offers and refreshments. Tel: 

01505 873888 for details. 

Car Boot Sale 

Lochwinnoch Parish Church 

Set up time 9am. Open 10am -3pm. £10 per car 

Call early to book a space on - 01505 842365 or 

01505 842404. 

Houston Kirk Carnival 

Church Hall & Carrick Centre, Houston 

12.30pm 

Wide range of stalls and attractions and home 

baking as well as pancakes and scones at the 

‘Freshly Baked’ stall in the Carrick Centre, not 

forgetting the Carnival tea room where you can 

combine a chat with friends old and new, with 

tea, coffee and home-baking – all for only £1.50. 

Wild Night 


5pm to 8pm 

Join the Rangers for fun and burgers and sing 

into the wee small hours. Kids will enjoy the bat 

walk and scavenger hunt. Tent, warm clothes, 

waterproofs and food required. Adults £7.50, 

children £5. Tel: 01475 540505 to book. 

RSPB Wildlife Explorer Group 


9am to 12noon 

Age 5-14 years (for under 5s, contact michael. 

jarvis@glasgow.ac.uk. Cost £2. Booking 

not necessary. Www.rspb.org.uk/groups/ 

lochwinnochwex Please call 01505 842663 to 

check venue beforehand. 


BoW Annual Spring Clean 

Livery Walk, Bridge of Weir 9.30am 

Brighter Bridge of Weir are planning their annual 

spring clean of the village, so if you happen to have 

an hour or so to spare, you could join the group 

on Livery Walk between 9:30am and 10am. ‘Litterpickers’ 

and refuse bags will be provided, as will 

soft drinks and snacks, and family groups are more 

than welcome. Contact Alice on 01505 613679 or 

visit www.brighterbridgeofweir.org, 


Cunninghame Choir’s Concert 

Church of our Lady of Perpetual Succour 

7.30pm 

Includes work by Buxtehude, Beethoven, Whitacre 

and the world premiere performance of Maciej 

Granat’s Requiem, an exceptional pianist who has 

worked with the choir for a number of years as its 

rehearsal and concert accompanist. Tickets £8/£6 

on the door or by calling 01505 503822 

“Asparagus Hut” Open Day 

Barnhill Farm Cottage, Houston Road, 

Inchinnan PA4 9LS 10am to 4pm 

Come to our Open Day at the “Asparagus Hut” 

Farm Shop. Face Painting, Bouncy Castle, 

Sheep Shearing Demonstrations, Cooking 

Demonstrations, Beauty Treatments, Farm 

Animals, Lincoln - Scotland’s Biggest Horse. Free 

entry. Entry with Facebook / email registration 

only james.mackie@freshdirect.co.uk or facebook. 

com/BarnhillAsparagus


15 15 


Gourock Highland Games 

Gourock Park, George Road, Gourock, 

PA19 1YT 12noon to 6pm 

Pipe band and drum major competitions; highland 

dance competitions; heavyweight events; mini 

highland games; children’s entertainment; food, 

gift and craft stalls. 

Sun 10 - Sat 16 May 

Christian Aid Week 

A red envelope asking for a donation to Christian 

Aid can be marked as ‘gift-aid’ to increase your 

donation by 25% if you are a UK taxpayer. Please 

phone 01505 872393 if you can help further with 

the work of Christian Aid. 

Wed 13 May 

Introduction to Gardening 


1pm to 3pm 

Are you the next Alan Titchmarsh? Discover 

more about our wonderful gardens. Tel: 01475 

540505. 


sòlas – Bereavement Drop-In 

Kidston Hall, High Street, Kilmacolm 

6.30pm to 8.30pm 

First meeting - Drop in any time and thereafter 

meeting on the second Thursday of each month. 


Composer Paul Mealor in Paisley 

Lylesland Church, 123 Rowan St, Paisley 

7.30pm 

This special evening of music will be accompanied 

by The Arkleston Chamber Ensemble and tickets, 

priced at £9, are available from 01505 850 

344/07932 680951, from WeGotTickets.com (+ 

booking fee) or on the door. 

Marvellous Moths 

Barnbrock Campsite Park HQ near 

Lochwinnoch, PA10 2PZ From 9.30pm 

See and find out about some of these attractive 

and curious insects. Tel: 01505 614791 to book. 


Lodge Sir Michael 989 Annual 

Plant Sale 


Fri 8th - 5pm-9pm; Sat 9th - 9am-4pm; Sun 10th 

- 10am-4pm; Fri 15th - 5pm-9pm; Sat 16th - 9am- 

4pm; Sun 17th - 10am-4pm Planters and hanging 

baskets made to order. Free advice on plants. 


Volunteer Arts Week 

Various 

Art takes many forms, keep a look out for a ‘Craft 

Bomb’ at your Regional Park this week. Castle 

Semple Visitor Centre 10am - 5pm Muirshiel and 

Greenock Cut 11am - 4pm 

Scotland’s Nature Festival 

Various 

Muirshiel Centre will be showing hen harrier 

footage and Castle Semple will have WoW project 

highlights in the Sempill Room Castle Semple & 

Muirshiel Visitor Centres 10am - 5pm / 11am 

- 4pm each day. Tel: 01505 842882 x20 for 

further details. 


RSPB Plant Sale 


11am to 4pm 

Come to the local RSPBs Local Group plant sale 

and peruse the different plans we will have for 

sale. Stop in to the reserve for a cuppa and a 

piece of cake. 


Bluebell Walk & Duck Race 

Highwood by Kilmacolm, Lochwinnoch 

Road, Kilmacolm 12noon to 5pm 

For Scottish charity, Orkidstudio. Enjoy a walk 

in the bluebells, and a duck race at 2pm! 

Refreshments available. Dogs welcome on a lead. 

www.orkidstudio.co.uk 

RYA Push the Boat Out 

Castle Semple Sailing Club 

11am to 3pm 

Castle Semple Sailing Club together with CMRP 

will be offering the opportunity to try out water 

sports at Castle Semple Loch. Contact dawn@ 

castlesemplesc.co.uk for further info/book 

a place or just come along on the day. Warm 

clothing with change of shoes advised. Buoyancy 

aid provided. 

Build a Bird Box or Feeder 

The Cut Visitor Centre, Cornalees Bridge, 

Greenock 1pm to 3pm 

Take advantage of the knowledge and skills of 

the Rangers and build your very own to take 

home or leave around the Visitor Centre. £2.50 

per box and £1.50 per feeder made. Tel 01475 

529543 to book. 

Organ Recitals 

Thomas Coats Memorial Church, High St, 

Paisley 3.30pm 

Laurence Caldecote, Associate Organist, Nuneaton 

Parish Church The recital is free and there may be 

a large screen to show the action taking place at 

the organ console.



Caveman Search for Fire 


1pm to 3pm 

Join our Rangers and Beowulf in finding out how 

cavemen first found fire. Tel: 01475 540505. 


Paisley Abbey Recital 

Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close 12.30pm 

Marjorie Bruce (Organ). Tickets £5 at the door. 

Paisley Abbey Church – Registered Charity No. 

SC007633 

Calder Church, Summer Fayre 

McKillop Hall, Main St, Lochwinnoch 

10am to 12noon 

Stalls include Home Baking, Plants & Garden, 

Jewellery, Arts & Crafts, Lucky Dip and lots more. 

Adults £2, Children FREE includes Tea/Coffee. 

All welcome. 

Coffee Morning 

Kilmacolm Community Centre, 

Lochwinnoch Rd, 10am to 12noon 

Hosted by Kilmacolm Horticultural Society. Entry 

at the door of £3. Summer bedding plants from 

the Parklea Nurseries, plus Cakes/sweet things, 

and a popular Tombola. 

Toy Sale 

Brookfield Village Hall, Woodside Road, 

Brookfield 10.30am 

The excellent range of toys from the former 

Brookfield Mothers and Toddlers Group will be 

on sale. Tea, coffee and pancakes will also be 

served. £1 entry fee. 

Mini Beast Hunt 


1pm to 3pm 

Six legs, eight legs, 100s of eyes, a tube to 

sip nectar or mandibles to rip prey. Tel: 01475 

540505. 


Scottish GP14 Championships 

and N12 Scottish Series 

Castle Semple Sailing Club 

Watch some great sailing in a stunning location. 


Seed Balls 

The Cut Visitor Centre, Cornalees Bridge, 

Greenock 1pm to 3pm 

Create & lob your very own green grenades! Bomb 

on site or to take away. £2.50 per child. Tel: 01475 

529543 to book. 

Mad Hatters Tea Party 


1pm to 3pm 

Come as Alice or the Mad Hatter. Join the Rangers 

for tea and search for the rabbit hole. Prizes for the 

best dressed. Tel: 01475 540505. 


Annual Golf Day Fundraiser 

Kilmacolm Golf Club, Porterfield Road, 

Kilmacolm 9am 

The event is open to all - for further information 

please contact Sara Bishop at sara@eastcoastlets. 

co.uk. www.st-columbas.org 



Concert For Beaston Cancer Care 

St Fillans Church, Kilmacolm 7pm 

Trio Vocalise, Daniela Hathaway - Soprano, Marie 

Holmes - Cello and Stephen Adam - Piano. A 

beautiful mixture of classical music from the 

Baroque period to Gershwin and beyond including 

some Tangos. There will be drinks and nibbles at 

the end of the concert. To book tickets, please 

telephone 07949 071653. £8, £6 concs 

 



23_APR13_01+64 COVER.ind.in d 1 21/03/2013 14:29:19 

T: 01505 613340 E: INFO@ADVERTIZER.CO.UK 

 

your LOCAL community magazine April 2013 No.223 

 



your LOCAL community magazine June 2013 No.225 

25_JUNE13_01+64 COVER.ind.in d 1 2/05/2013 16:29:17 

Tel: 01505 613340 

info@advertizer.co.uk 

www.advertizer.co.uk 

your LOCAL community magazine May 2013 No.224 

24_MAY13_01+64 COVER.ind.in d 1 25/04/2013 10:36:19 


Scotland’s Garden Festival 

Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh 

10am to 5pm 

More than 400 exhibitors will be selling tools, 

furniture, and all sorts of home and garden 

accessories, other attractions include a Craft 

Marquee, a Food Theatre and a Food Fayre. 

Advance tickets to Gardening Scotland 2015 cost 

from £13. More information can be found at www. 

gardeningscotland.com 


Beatson Ball 

Thistle Hotel, Glasgow 

To secure your place or for more information 

Visit our website: www.beatsonball.org.uk Call 

us: 0141 327 0000 Email us: lorraine.gray@ 

beatsonball.org.uk 

Lamont Farm Project Open Day 

Barrhill Road, Erskine PA8 6EZ 

12noon to 6pm 

Local Craft Stalls, Pony Rides, Tombola, Face 

Painting, Raffle, Pick a Straw, Treasure Hunt, Home 

Baking, Home Made Soup, Ice Creams and much, 

much more. With fun for all the family, come along 

for a great day out! All funds raised go towards 

feeding the animals in the winter. 

Kilbarchan Singers’ Concert 

Holy Trinity and Saint Barnabas Episcopal 

Church, Moss Street, Paisley 7.30pm 

Tickets priced £8 available from choir members. 

The theme is, ‘Tudor Anthems and Words’, an 

eclectic mixture of music and the spoken word. 

Coffee Morning 

Kilmacolm Tennis Club, Castlehill Rd, 

Kilmacolm, PA13 4EL 10am to 12noon 

In aid of Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club (IASC) 

Training Camp. As well as tennis, coffee and cakes, 

the event will also feature a tombola and book stall. 

Entry is by donation. All welcome! 

Kilbarchan East Church Plant 

Sale and Pancake Morning 

Kilbarchan East Church, Church Street, 

Kilbarchan 10am to 12noon 

This is the perfect time to plant out bedding plants. 

There will be freshly-made pancakes with butter, 

jam and cream along with tea/coffee. Entrance is 

£2:50, children £1. 

Castle Semple Rowing Club 

Regatta 

Castle Semple Sailing Club - All day 

There will be lots of boats and plenty of spectator 

viewing available. Please consider public transport 

as the car park will be very busy. 


Carrick Players’ ‘Passing Places’ 

Carrick Centre, Main St, Houston 7.30pm 

A popular comedy by Stephen Greenhorn. Ticket 

information, contact Bill Walker 01505 612262. 


Erskine Motorbike Meet 

Erskine Town Centre 1pm to 5pm 

100’s of motorbikes & trikes, Glasgow Science 

Centre street buskers, Glasgow Vikings, live music, 

birds of prey, BBQ, craft stalls, and much more on 

the day. £5 per motorbike. Everyone is welcome. 

Robin Hood and The Crusaders 


1pm to 3pm 

Join Beowulf and the Rangers as we relive the 

Robin Hood legend. Tel: 01475 540505. 

Sat 6 June 

Wild Night 


5pm to 8pm 

Kids will enjoy the bat walk and scavenger 

hunt. Tent, warm clothes, waterproofs and food 

required. Adults £7.50, children £5. Tel: 01475 

540505 to book.


17 17


THEATRE 

events in May 

Paisley Events 

Normal Madness 

Based on a true story, this solo show is a frank, 

funny and deeply touching tale of Kirsty McKenzie 

and her schizophrenic mother. 

Sat 2nd May - 7.30pm - Paisley Arts Centre - £10 

(£6 conc). 14+ only 

Whiteout 

In Whiteout acclaimed choreographer Natasha 

Gilmore, (Tiger, Tiger Tale) explores bi-racial 

relationships with honesty and humour. 

Thur 7th May - 7.30pm - Paisley Arts Centre - £10 

(£6 conc). 14+ only 

Loretta Reid 

Featuring a new line up of very talented Scottish 

musicians who will perform songs from Swing, Jazz, 

Blues and Pop. 

Sat 9th May - 7.30pm - Paisley Arts Centre - £12 

(£10 conc) 

Pirates and Princesses 

A brand new show from Anya, Kevin and Gary 

(formerly of the Singing Kettle). 

Sun 10th May - 1pm - Paisley Town Hall - £12 | 

Family saver £44 

Des Clarke 

A version of his 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Show ‘The 

Trouble with Being Des’. 

Sat 16th May - 7.30pm - Paisley Arts Centre - £14 

(£12 conc) 

Museums At Night 

With activities centred round the theme of ‘light’ 

and its use in science, art and entertainment. 

Sat 16th May - 7pm to 12am - Paisley Museum - 

Cost: FREE 

Frame By Frame 

Do you have a film and want to get it screened? 

Bring your film along on DVD and it will be shown – 

max length 10 minutes without prior arrangement. 

Tues 19th May - 7pm - 9.30pm - Paisley Arts 

Centre - £2. 18+ only 

Breabach 

Calum MacCrimmon (pipes/whistles/bouzouki), 

Ewan Robertson (guitar/vocals), James Mackenzie 

(pipes/flute/whistles), Megan Henderson (fiddle/ 

vocals/stepdance) and James Lindsay (double 

bass). 

Sat 23rd May - 7.30pm - Paisley Arts Centre - £14 (£12 conc) 

Street Velodrome 

Pre-register to race and be coached by professionals 

including Scotland’s Olympic and Commonwealth 

medallist Craig McLean before taking to the track 

to compete for a place in the televised grand final. 

Sat 30th May - 9am - 5pm - County Square, Paisley 

For booking or further information, please call: 0300 300 1210 or 

book online at https://boxoffice.renfrewshire.gov.uk 

Beacon Arts Centre 

Varmints 

Choreographed by B-boy and Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate 

Wilkie Branson, in collaboration with children’s theatre director 

Sally Cookson. 

Friday 1st May - 1.15pm - £5 

Trio Gitan - Orient Express: A Musical Journey 

Visiting some of the most romantic European capitals before 

returning to the final destination of Paris. 

Friday 1st May - 7.30pm - £8 - £10 

Des Clarke -The Trouble with being Des 

Des is an award winning stand up comedian who first appeared 

at the Edinburgh Fringe as a teenager. 

Saturday 2nd May - 7.30pm - £12 - £14 

The Firelight Show - Murray the Magician 

Murray performs Russian Roulette and sinks into Houdini’s 

most dangerous escape, the Milk Can. 

Friday 8th May - 7.30pm - £10. 

Pirates & Princesses 

Dress up and join in the fun. Who knows you may even get the 

chance to help us on stage. 

Saturday 9th May - 1.00pm & 3.30pm - £12.50 

From The Calton to Catalonia 

Following the lives of families in Glasgow and Spain in 1937, 

and experiences of the Spanish Civil War. 

Sunday 10th May - 7.30pm - £8 to £10 

Fairy Tale in Greenock 

This short devised play tells the story of one child’s dream of a 

less humdrum life and their encounter with a slightly ditzy fairy. 

Friday 15th & Saturday 16th May - £3 

Yer Granny 

A comedy about a diabolical 100-year-old granny who’s literally 

eating her family out of house and home. 

Tuesday 19th - Thursday 21st May - £10 

52 Shades of Maggie (Dirty Dancing in the pub) 

Maggie and her idiot sidekick, Big Sally-Ann, are planning a 

birthday party in the pub. 

Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd May - £20 - 16+ only 

The Witches of Eastwick 

This is a musical not to be missed. Parental guidance is 

recommended. 

Wednesday 27th - Saturday 30th May - £13 - £18 

Gary Little - The Thing is 

Despite his imposing physical presence, a 6’2” skinhead Gary 

has an incredibly personable, relatable style. 

Friday 29th May - £8 - £10 

On Our Way to Lisbon 

Two actors, Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden, play everything. 

www.isosceles.biz - just click on ‘plays’. 

Monday 30th May - £8 - £10 

BEACON ARTS CENTRE, CUSTOM HOUSE QUAY, GREENOCK, PA15 1HJ 

INFO@BEACONARTSCENTRE.CO.UK 

TELEPHONE: 01475 723723


Dental Blog 

by Sheila Macintyre, Practice Owner, Kilbarchan 

Dental Practice 

Smoking & Dental Health 

We all know that smoking can cause lung cancer and other health issues but 

did you know that it can also damage your mouth, teeth and gums. 

The effects of smoking can range from annoyances such as unsightly stained 

teeth and bad breath to gum disease and mouth cancer. 

The nicotine and tar in tobacco can cause teeth to yellow very quickly and 

heavy smokers often end up with brown teeth. Smoking results in a lack of 

oxygen in the bloodstream which means that gums can take longer to heal, 

smokers may produce more bacterial plaque and this combination can lead 

to gum disease which is likely to get worse more quickly. 

Of course quitting smoking is the best option but if you are struggling to do 

this regular visits to your dentist are crucial to pick up any conditions before 

they get any worse. As well as your teeth and gums your dentist will check 

your cheeks, tongue and throat and may recommend additional visits to a 

dental hygienist and more frequent check-ups. 

A good oral health regime will help to minimise some of the effects as will 

using some of the specialist products such as toothpaste and mouthwash – 

do ask your dentist for advice and information as some smokers toothpastes 

can be very abrasive. Fortunately in most cases staining to the teeth is the 

most common problem and there is a simple way of dealing with this. Here 

at Kilbarchan Dental Practice we offer an air polishing treatment that can 

help reduce discolouration at a very low cost. We don’t recommend teeth 

whitening treatments for smokers but for those who do manage to kick the 

habit there are a range of professional teeth whitening options to help restore 

the natural colour of teeth. 

If you would like further advice call Kilbarchan Dental Practice on 01505 

704969 or click www.kilbarchandental.co.uk where you’ll find lots more free 

tips and advice. 

19 19 

Paisley Thread Mill Museum 

The Paisley Thread Mill Museum has re-opened for the summer. We 

are open every Wednesday and Saturday from 12noon to 4pm from 

April to September and are housed in the basement of the Abbey Mill 

Business Centre, also known as the Mile End Mill, 12 Seedhill Road, 

Paisley. PA1 1JS. Admission is free but as we are self-supporting all 

donations are very welcome. 

The Museum aims to preserve the social and industrial heritage 

of Paisley’s Thread Mills for the education and enjoyment of all by collecting and displaying 

material relating to the Mills. For further details, including group visits, please visit us at www. 

paisleythreadmill.co.uk. We look forward to welcoming all our visitors, old and new. 

The Museum of Light 

Saturday 16 May 

7pm til midnight 

The spotlight is firmly on 

us in this International 

Year of Light! You’ll be 

beaming in more ways 

than one when you 

step into our nocturnal 

celebration of space and 

light. There’ll be a wide 

range of activities running throughout the evening – you’ll be able to ‘paint with light’ in our 

photography workshop, have a go at creating your own animations and see some dazzling 

scientific demonstrations performed before your very eyes! We’ve got a storyteller to create 

pictures with his words and, proving our event attracts the biggest stars, the evening will 

culminate in a viewing of the planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn through our telescopes in Coats 

Observatory. 

Paisley Museum, founded in 1874, houses a wide variety of collections, from natural history 

specimens, works of art and the world-famous Paisley shawls. Coats Observatory, dating from 

1883, is Scotland’s oldest public observatory and offers visitors a rare opportunity to view the 

wonders of the night sky through the powerful telescopes housed within the building. 

Paisley Museum & Coats Observatory, High Street, Paisley PA1 2BA. Contact - 0141 618 5087 

www.renfrewshire.gov.uk. Entry Free. 

Carrick Players 

Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 May 

Carrick Centre Houston, 7.30pm 

The Carrick Players are performing 

“Passing Places” a comedy by Stephen 

Greenhorn. Tickets are available - £7 

from the Carrick Centre Coffee Shop or 

Bill Walker on 01505 612262. Contains 

strong language- over 16’s only please. 

Art Exhibition - 1-5 June 

Every year, usually in 

June, we hold our very 

popular week-long 

Art Exhibition in Beith 

Community Centre. 

Our next exhibition will 

be held from 1 June 

until 5 June inclusive. 

Opening times will be 

posted here in the June 

issue of The Advertizer. In these exhibitions we show work by 

local artists from our extended community including paintings, 

photographs, embroideries and other craft items. 

Many of our artists exhibit with us year after year, and we 

welcome entries from new artists. Anyone interested in applying 

should get in touch with Irene Cairns on 01505 684 608 or 

email her at irenecairns88@yahoo.co.uk 

This is a favourite event, and we hope that those who have 

previously enjoyed it will tell all their friends, or better still, bring 

some of them along. 

http://www.beitharts.org/art-exhibition/4567390145


The Great Big Museum Bus Tour 

Just when you think you haven’t been to a museum for a while, three (well, 

five!) come along at once! This fantastic hop-on, hop-off bus tour is the ideal 

way to enjoy some of the best museums in the city - just relax and leave it all 

to your own personal chauffeur! Each museum will be showcasing a different 

traditional craft with inspiring practical demonstrations and lots of opportunities 

to try them out for yourself. At Scotland Street, all the family can have a go 

at the flash, bang, wallop world 

of photography. And once you’ve 

exposed yourself to this fascinating 

art, why not find out what other 

exciting events are happening at 

the Burrell Collection, Kelvingrove 

Art Gallery and Museum, Riverside 

Museum and Gallery of Modern Art. 

Don’t just have fun at one, strive to 

do all five! 

Website: www.festivalofmuseums. 

com 

West Renfrewshire Guide Dogs 

For The Blind Supporters Group 

Do YOU want to volunteer to help GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND? New local 

supporters group. First event this year will be at Kilbarchan’s Lilias Day. Please 

volunteer to help out. Please contact Anne 01505 705602. 

Beatson Cancer 

Care Concert 

Friday 29 May 

7pm St Fillans Church, Kilmacolm 

Featuring Trio Vocalise, Daniela Hathaway 

- Soprano, Marie Holmes - Cello and 

Stephen Adam - Piano. 

A beautiful mixture of classical music 

from the 

Baroque 

period to 

Gershwin 

a n d 

beyond 

including 

some Tangos. There will also be a special 

visitor. 

Tickets £8, £6 concessions. There will 

be drinks and nibbles at the end of 

the concert. To book tickets, please 

telephone 07949 071653 and help raise 

funds for Beatson Cancer Care. 

sòlas – 

Bereavement 

Drop-In 

“sòlas” the Gaelic word for comfort and consolation, and the name 

of a new bereavement drop-in group for Kilmacolm and the wider 

area. Arising out of a perceived need by a group of people from 

Kilmacolm Old Kirk it is open to people of all faiths and none. 

Those who have lost loved ones recently or some time ago will know 

that one of the most difficult hurdles to overcome is to get out and 

about again, to face the world as an individual, and this is a gentle 

way of taking that process forward. 

Sòlas is here to help you to take those first steps, providing; • a 

welcome and support over tea and coffee; • a listening ear from 

people who understand; • an opportunity to view audio-visual 

material in a group setting which may be helpful, and; • if you wish 

to, take part in a relaxation session. 

Sòlas is a facility offering support rather than counselling, but 

is overseen by people qualified in this area. It is open to anyone 

who has been bereaved and would like to meet others with similar 

experiences in a safe and friendly place. 

The group’s first meeting is in the Kidston Hall, High Street, 

Kilmacolm on 

Thursday 14 May 

Cunninghame Choir’s Annual 

May Concert 

Church of our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Mitchell 

Street, Beith. Sunday 10 May at 7.30pm 

Tickets £8/£6 on the door or by calling 01505 503822. 

Entitled In Memoriam, the choir’s concert is based on music written in memory 

of others and includes work by Buxtehude, Beethoven, Whitacre and the world 

premiere performance of Maciej Granat’s Requiem, an exceptional pianist who 

has worked with the choir for a number of years as its rehearsal and concert 

accompanist. Maciej is an established performer, teacher and composer 

who graduated recently, with Distinction, from a Masters in Performance at 

RSAMD. 

Requiem has been written for 

Cunninghame Choir in memory of Maciej’s 

aunt and childhood piano teacher, Bozena 

Lanowska, who was highly influential 

in his general and musical upbringing. 

Since her passing, Maciej was motivated 

to compose a piece in her memory, yet 

felt disheartened knowing that it might 

never be performed. Inspiration struck 

following the Choir’s rousing performance 

last year of Karl Jenkins’ Armed Man; 

Mass for Peace: he would write Requiem 

for Cunninghame Choir, craft the piece 

to its strengths, to mutual benefit. Set 

to original Latin mass texts plus poems 

by Polish romantic poet, Cyprian Kamil 

Norwid, the music style spans from 

modernistic chaos, through evocative 

emotional expressionism. A concert, most 

definitely, not to be missed! 

between 6.30pm 

and 8.30pm (drop 

in any time) and 

thereafter meeting 

on the second 

Thursday of each 

month. 

Organ Recitals 

Beatson Cancer 

Charity Ball 

Don’t miss out on the 2015 Beatson Cancer 

Charity Ball – reserve your place with a deposit 

of just £10 per person. 

This year’s event takes place Saturday 30 May 

at the Glasgow Thistle Hotel, and is set to be a 

great night: 

• Sparkling drinks reception 

• Beautiful 4-course meal 

• Entertainment including Red Hot Chilli Pipers 

and Soul Train live band 

• DJ with dancing through ‘til 1.30am 

The Beatson Cancer Charity Ball is organised 

without the assistance of an events management 

company, ensuring EVERY penny raised is used 

to provide extras for patient comfort/care which 

would not otherwise be available via the NHS. 

Why not dress up and dine out for a fantastic 

cause? 

Tickets are £70 per person, or a Table for 12 is 

just £770 – the Host goes free! 

Book online: www.beatsonball.org.uk or contact 

me now to arrange a deposit payment: Lorraine. 

Gray@beatsonball.org.uk 

Organ Recitals at Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist 

Church, High Street Paisley. 

Sunday 17 May - 3.30pm 

Laurence Caldecote, Associate Organist, 

Nuneaton Parish Church. 

The recitals are free and there may be a large 

screen to show the action taking place at the 

organ console.

REGULAR 

events 

every Monday 

Lochwinnoch Community Walk 

The Cross, Lochwinnoch 10.30am 

This event will not take place on a public holiday 

every Wednesday 

Knitting Group 

Three Sisters Bake, Quarriers 10am - 12noon 

Knitters of all levels welcome! 

Line Dancing 

Bishopton Primary School 7pm - 8.30pm 

All abilities welcome. Call Mellissa on 07970 

396212. 

every Thursday 

Weekly Volunteer Group 

Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch 12.30pm - 3.30pm 

Conservation Volunteers - adult group. Newcomers 

always welcome. 

every Saturday 


Greenock Cut Visitor Centre 10.30am - 2.30pm 

Conservation Volunteers, adult group. Newcomers 

always welcome. 

every Sunday 


Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch 10am - 12noon 

Youth volunteer Group - age 12 - 18 years. 

Newcomers always welcome. 

1st & 3rd Thurs monthly 

‘Outlook’ 

Kidston Hall, Kilmacolm 2pm-4pm 

Social activities group for the community in 

Kilmacolm. Guest speakers, afternoon tea, local 

issues of interest. Everyone welcome. 

2nd Wednesday monthly 

Inverclyde Carers Outreach 

Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm 11am-2pm 

Email enquiries@inverclydecarerscentre.org.uk or 

call: 01475 735180. 

3rd Friday monthly 

Hearing Aid Clinic 

The Bridge, Bridge of Weir 1-2pm 

Personnel are at The Bridge for the issue of hearing 

aid batteries and hearing aid checks. 


2nd Saturday monthly 

‘Brunch & Browse’ 

St Fillan’s Hall, Kilmacolm 10am-2pm 

Home made soups, home baking, tea, coffee, 

books & lots of stalls. Great value! Disabled 

access. £4. 

last Saturday monthly 

Table Top Sale 

Linwood Parish Church, Blackwood Ave 11am- 

1pm 

This is a free event. Call 01505 328802 for 

details. 

1st Sunday monthly 

Bridge of Weir Messy Church 

Bridge of Weir 4pm - 6pm 

Please just turn up but if you have any questions, 

contact Catherine Daly on 07980 649377. We look 

forward to feeding everyone that turns up!! 

FARMERS 

markets 

1st Saturday 

Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm 

10am-2pm (“The Square”) 

1st & 3rd Sunday 

Loch Lomond Shores 

10am-3pm Tel: 07977 179 861 

2nd Thur & last Sat 

Paisley Cross 

10am-2pm Tel: 01655 770217 

3rd Saturday 

Erskine Garden Centre 

10am - 2pm Tel: 0141 814 4626 

follow The Advertizer on 

twitter and facebook for 

regular updates 

t: @GryffeAds 

f: www.facebook.com/GryffeAds 

Erskine Motorbike Meet 

Sunday 31 May 1pm - 5pm - Erskine Grounds, 

Bishopton - £5 per motorbike 

100’s of bikes are expected to take part in the Erskine Motorbike Meet 2015 an 

amazing fun day that the kids will love! 

In its 9th year, Erskine Motorbike Meet is a fundraiser for the veterans’ charity. 

There is something for all the family - 100’s of motorbikes & trikes, Glasgow 

Science Centre street buskers, Glasgow Vikings, live music, birds of prey, BBQ, 

craft stalls, and much more on the day. 

Everyone is 

welcome. The day 

starts at 1pm with 

the arrival of the 

motorbike parade, 

led into the main 

area by the Argyll 

& Sutherland 

Highlander 

Association Pipe 

Band. 

Royal composer to visit Paisley 

Friday 15 May 7.30pm - Lylesland Church, Rowan St, Paisley 

Composer Paul Mealor, who shot to fame when Prince William and Kate Middleton 

chose one of his works for their wedding in Westminster Abbey, will be in Paisley 

in May to introduce another of his compositions. Well-known Paisley choir, The 

Arkleston Singers, will perform Mealor’s very moving ‘Crucifixus’ in Lylesland 

Church, Rowan St, 

Paisley on Friday 

15 May at 7.30pm 

and the composer 

will be present 

to introduce the 

piece and explain 

its inspiration and 

meaning. 

Apart from his 

busy schedule 

as a composer, 

including writing ‘Wherever You Are’ and ‘In My Dreams’ for Gareth Malone and 

the Military Wives choir, Paul Mealor has been seen on television as a judge on 

BBC’s ‘The Choir’ series. 

Under their Musical Director, Ken Paterson, The Arkleston Singers will also give 

the European première of Canadian composer Mark Sirret’s ‘Beltane: A Branch 

of May’, a fun collection of Celtic folksongs for the spring season. The première 

of a brand new work by a young student composer from the University of 

Aberdeen, Peter Relph, will add to an 

eclectic programme that will include 

lighter music from John Rutter and 

Neil Diamond! 

This special evening of music will 

be accompanied by The Arkleston 

Chamber Ensemble and tickets, 

priced at £9, are available from 

01505 850 344/07932 680951, 

from WeGotTickets.com (+booking 

fee) or on the door. 

Summer Concert 

Saturday 30 May at 7.30pm Holy 

Trinity & St Barnabas Episcopal 

Church, Moss St, Paisley 

Kilbarchan Singers’ present ‘Tudor 

Anthems and Words’, an eclectic 

mixture of music and the spoken 

word. 

Tickets priced £8 available from choir 

members. 

21 21


Diaporama 

At Diaporama this month we travelled round the world 

and beyond with Val, Kenny and Bill. Val took us to 

France with an unusual show all about ‘French Doors’. 

They looked neglected with peeling paint, plants 

growing up them etc. but the colours and textures 

were superb. We then went ‘Sur la plage’ - images of 

French beach - Val Crookston 

a hot sunny beach dissolving one into another. Kenny 

whisked us off to China to look at the ‘Old Market’ in 

Shanghai with its unusual fruits, vegetables, clothing 

etc. and then we were off again. We went to Beijing 

where we took the cable car up to walk on the Great 

Wall - what superb views! We returned to Shanghai to 

see the beautiful Jing’an Temple with its golden statues 

and mythical animals. Bill took us to Iceland to see the 

Aurora Borealis (northern lights). The images changed 

one into another so subtlety it looked as if the aurora 

was moving in time to the music. We then left earth with 

a sequence called ‘Mankind’s Space Station’. Bill had 

made up the images on the computer and then made 

the ‘space ships’ move around the ‘planets’ - wow it 

was so different!! We came back to earth for our last 

sequence - ‘A Closer Look at Ships’. This had originally 

been made before digital when we used slides but he had scanned them into 

the computer and made a new show adding a few of the new techniques now 

available. 

Our next meeting is on Monday 11 May at 7.30pm in the Carrick Centre, 

Houston. It will be our AGM (usually quick) followed by the Annual Competition. 

Visitors are always welcome. 

Paisley Abbey 

Recitals 

Saturday 23 May, 12.30pm 

Marjorie Bruce (Organ) 

Tickets £5 at the door 

Paisley Abbey Church – Registered Charity No. SC007633 

Challenging Speakers 

space ships - Bill Crookston 

The intellectual reach of members has been stretched in recent weeks with 

a series of speakers on challenging topics. Luckily they all recognised the 

limitations of their audience and tailored their deliveries appropriately! 

Professor Curtis Gemmell is not only a distinguished 

academic in the field of microbiology, he is also 

actively involved in advising companies seeking 

to develop super drugs to combat the relentless 

evolution of super bugs. He explained that it took 

around 8 years from the discovery of a new drug 

until its launch, and he overviewed the development 

process with invitro tests, lab tests on animals and 

clinical tests on humans. A sobering insight into a 

battle that mankind just has to win! 

Then Susan Maug spoke about advancements in 

colorectal surgery, from “big cuts” to “wee cuts”! 

She described the progression from major surgery, with weeks of recovery time, 

to keyhole surgery and even remotely controlled robotic procedures with only 

1 or 2 days of recovery time She also confirmed how lifestyle choices (diet, 

exercise etc) could significantly reduce the risk of developing a cancer in the 

first place. 

And then there was Robin Haig talking about the prospects for Nuclear Fusion 

(not to be confused with 

the much nastier Nuclear 

Fission which we currently 

utilise). The arrival of this 

technology as a source 

of cheap and safe energy 

had been expected by 

now (see the film “Back to 

the Future”) but the huge 

development costs had 

held it up. However Robin 

reported that current projects in France and the USA held out really good 

prospects of a viable prototype reactor by 2020. A truly exciting prospect for the 

worlds future energy requirements.


23 23

24 the advertizer t: 01505 613340 e: info@advertizer.co.uk


25 25


RAMH @ Linwood 

From Wednesday 29th April a new mental 

health education and information drop-in 

will visit Linwood library. 

Information and workshops will be 

available from 10 - 11.30am every 

Wednesday in the new library, thanks to 

local mental health charity RAMH. Reuben 

Millward from RAMH said “The purpose 

of the hub is to provide information, 

education and support, for everyone, on 

a variety of issues around mental health and well-being. You don’t need an 

appointment, just drop in and we can help you.” 

RAMH enables people to recover from mental ill health and to build 

independent, fulfilled lives. In 2015 the organisation celebrates 25 years of 

service provision in the local area. 

For more information email enquiries@ramh.org or call 0141 847 8900. 

iT blog 

with Colin Fyfe of Colcom 

Wireless data technology today comes in many forms covering many data 

rates and bandwidths. Everyday wireless technologies include Bluetooth, 

NFC and ‘Wi-Fi’. These are domestic wireless transmissions that have a 

comparatively short signal reach, the NFC technology field covers up to 

10 cm, Bluetooth gets wobbly around 10 meters, and what we tend to call 

wireless or Wi-Fi these days, will cover anything up to 100 meters or more 

depending on the surroundings. These technologies are each made to 

suit the purpose at hand, for example, NFC or Near Field Communication 

devices are low data, low reach. This is perfect for ‘pairing’ communication 

devices such as wireless headphones or for a transaction, like a business 

card swap or indeed, a point of sale money transfer. 

Bluetooth has been around for a while now and has been quietly improving 

along the way, the latest version 4.2 offers increased data rate to suit today’s 

requirement for evermore high definition sound. Many Bluetooth devices 

these days have NFC built in to them. 

Wi-Fi too has recently undergone further improvement, with the advent of 

the AC protocol. This development further improves on the (IEEE 802.11) 

N, G, B and the as good as extinct A signal. The latest BT Hub offers this 

technology albeit to a limited degree; AC, like its predecessor N comes in 

Looking for a local venue? 

Kilmacolm Guide Hut has recently been re-furbished 

and is a fantastic facility in the village with easy 

access and parking for community events, parties or 

regular classes. If you are interested in hiring the Hut 

please contact Jackie on 01505 873488. 

many flavours, different wireless frequency channels, data rates and signal 

processing all combine to create the wireless access point’s performance. 

The wireless frequencies these technologies use are non-licensed, meaning 

that there is no cost to transmit on them; Unlike the licensed mobile wireless 

bands that you may hear sometimes going up for auction by the state. 4G, 

3G etc will cost you money to use, in the shape of a subscription to a mobile 

network. These charges come to mind as I write this month’s article, coming 

to you from my mobile, here on a silicon rich Tenerife beach.. Adios.

LOCAL 

history 


27 27 

The History Spot 

The Second Draining of Castle Semple Loch 

When wealthy sugar 

planter William McDowall 

purchased Castle Semple 

Estate in the 1720s, the 

drainage of Castle Semple 

Loch became his main 

pastime. He employed 

experts to assist in his 

plans and also to lay out 

his estate, water features 

and fi sh ponds. Improver 

William Boucher came 

from Edinburgh and land surveyor John Watt mapped the loch and took 

levels along its centre and down the Black Cart. 

In May 1727, McDowall opened the sluice of the Semple’s old dam just 

at the mouth of the loch. His men began digging out the Semple’s central 

drain, which he called the ‘boat canal’. McDowall ordered the building 

of a small shallow-draught boat ‘light and 

neatly contrived, to hold about six people, 

to go either with oars or sails’, to impress 

his visitors. He dug a branch canal from the 

main drainage canal up to the wall of the old 

Castle of Semple, which fronted the loch. The 

bed of the Black Cart was blasted and dug 

out as far down as Thirdpart Hall. During the 

drainage works, several dug-out canoes were 

unearthed from the loch bed, dating from the 

prehistoric period. 

Overall, the drainage works had limited 

effect. Maps and estate plans over the years 

provide a snapshot of the varying water level. 

Although the loch was dry in summer, the 

inflow, especially from the Calder Water at 

Lochwinnoch after heavy rain, could flood the 

loch and destroy the crops before they could 

be harvested. The outlet at the Black Cart end 

was simply too fl at to drain the water away fast 

enough. 

Johnstone 

History Society 

JHS next meeting is on Tuesday 12th 

May at 7.30pm. This month we are 

departing from our usual formatting 

and having a fun Beetle Drive and 

Raffle. Visitors and new members 

would as always be made welcome 

- this will be a most enjoyable night. 

As everyone would see from the 

press release we now have our own 

website up and running and can 

be accessed at: johnstonehistory. 

org and was a project of Johnstone 

History Society. 

The Museum in Morrison’s at the 

Collier Street end and is open 10am 

till 4.30pm Wednesday, Friday and 

Saturday. We have a range of books 

and publications for sale. Group visits 

can be arranged on request. 

The falling water level in Castle Semple 

loch caused various diffi culties for the local 

folk. McDowall also ‘threw down’ the bridges 

spanning the loch narrows at either end. The 

loch was now too shallow to cross by boat. It was also too muddy to wade 

across easily, and the central canal was a deeper hazard. The locals were 

now faced with a long walk round via Elliston Bridge. Rather than face a 

detour around the loch, some locals were brave enough to risk wading 

across the loch and canal, especially near the mouth of the Calder Water 

at Lochwinnoch. 

©2015, Stuart Nisbet, Renfrewshire Local History Forum 

(Next time: Drownings in Castle Semple Loch and holding mill owners to 

ransom) 

Johnstone History 

Enters The 21st Century 

Johnstone History has at last entered the 21st Century with 

the launch of a Johnstone History Museum web site. The 

Rees Clark 

Museum, based at the Morrison store in Johnstone was presented with 

an opportunity that it couldn’t pass up and all thanks to the generosity of a 

visitor from the USA. Iain Murray, a member of Johnstone History Society, 

takes up the story. 

A few months ago we had visitors to the Museum from the USA who had 

ancestors who had lived at 2 Houston Square and who had left Johnstone 

for a new life in America in 1882. Rees Clark and his cousin Tom Stout were 

interested in finding out more about Johnstone and to see if they could fi nd 

where their great grandparents had lived. The visitors had already been for 

a visit around the town and had found 2 Houston Square which is where the 

Stand Bar is now located. They said they had been made most welcome in 

the Stand Bar so well done them. 

At the Museum we were able to provide the two with a history of the area 

and provide them with a picture book which showed the town as it would 

have looked in 1882. We were fortunate that one of the pictures 

of Houston Square showed the building that occupied the site 

prior to the present more modern building and would almost 

certainly have been the home occupied by their ancestors. 

Our visitors were delighted with what they had found and were 

just about to leave the Museum when Rees asked, “do you guys 

have a web site”. When we said no, Rees said “then I am going 

to give you one”. It turned out that Rees owns a web publishing 

business in the States and he was offering to help us set up a 

site and all free of charge. So, for the last few months, Rees has 

been in regular contact with us, and last week our Johnstone 

History Museum web site was launched on the world. Google 

us at “Johnstone History Museum” or at http://johnstonehistory. 

org/ via your browser. 

We are delighted with what we have achieved in such a short 

space of time. Our site contains a summary of the History of 

the Town of Johnstone and its founder, the 4th Laird, George 

Houstoun. We have included Galleries where we list the various 

Spinning Mills and Engineering Companies that once occupied 

the town. We also show pictures of some of the amazing 

products that they produced. Over time we anticipate building 

a digital version of the museum that can serve as a focus for 

community-based and online research and growth. 

We have incorporated a contact heading within the site so that 

visitors can send us questions, pictures or articles which they 

may wish to submit. So, if you have old photographs of Johnstone we would 

be delighted to receive them to add to our growing library. If you don’t have 

digital images and wish to bring photographs in to the Museum that would 

be just fine. We can scan your photographs and give you your originals 

back so you won’t lose them. 

Our web site contains a Calendar and Blog which provides lists of 

forthcoming events of the History Society and events at the Museum. 

And so Johnstone History has entered the 21st Century and all this has 

been made possible by the generosity of Rees Clark, a visitor from the USA 

who is proud of his connection with the Town of Johnstone. We can’t thank 

him enough. Our web site host, Clark Internet Publishing, can be found at 

http://clarkinternet.com. 

The Museum at Morrison’s is open on Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays from 10.30am 

till 4pm each week. We are also able to host small School or local interest groups at other 

times by arrangement.


Summer’s heat, dust, and stopand-go 

traffic, will take their toll 

on your vehicle. Add the effects 

of last winter, and you could 

be poised for a breakdown. 

You can lessen the odds of 

mechanical failure through 

periodic maintenance...Your 

vehicle should last longer 

and command a higher resale 

price, too! 

Some of the following tips are 

easy to do; others require a 

skilled mechanic. 

Air Conditioning - A 

marginally operating 

system will fail in hot weather. 

Have the system examined by a qualified mechanic. Newer models have 

cabin air filters that clean the air entering the heating and air conditioning 

system. Check your owner’s manual for location and replacement interval. 

Cooling System - The greatest cause of summer breakdowns is 

overheating. The cooling system should be completely flushed and 

refilled about every 24 months. The level, condition, and concentration of 

the coolant should be checked periodically. (A 50/50 mix of antifreeze and 

water is usually recommended.) DIYers, never remove the radiator cap 

until the engine has thoroughly cooled! The tightness and condition of drive 

belts, clamps, and hoses should be checked by a pro. 

Oil - Change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual more 

often (every 3,000 miles) if you make frequent short jaunts, extended 

trips with lots of luggage, or tow a trailer. 

Engine Performance - Replace other filters (air, fuel, PCV, etc.) as 

recommended more often in dusty conditions. Get engine driveability 

problems (hard starts, rough idling, stalling, diminished power, etc.) 

corrected at a good garage. 

Windscreen Wipers - A dirty windscreen causes eye fatigue and 

can pose a safety hazard. Replace worn blades and get plenty of 

windscreen washer fluid. 

Lights - Inspect all lights and bulbs; replace burned out bulbs; 

periodically clean dirt and insects from all lenses. 

Tyres - Have your tyres rotated about every 5,000 miles. Check tyre 

pressures once a month; check them while they’re cold before driving 

for any distance. Don’t forget to check your spare as well and be sure the 

jack is in good condition. Examine tyres for tread life, uneven wearing, and 

cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. An alignment is warranted 

if there’s uneven tread wear or if your vehicle pulls to one side. 

Brakes - Brakes should be inspected as recommended in your manual, 

or sooner if you notice pulsations, grabbing, noises, or longer stopping 

distance. Minor brake problems should be corrected promptly. 

Battery - Batteries can fail any time of year. The only accurate way 

to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment. Routine 

care: Scrape away corrosion from posts and cable connections; clean all 

surfaces; re-tighten all connections. If battery caps are removable, check the 

fluid level monthly. Avoid contact with corrosive deposits and battery acid. 

Wear eye protection and 

rubber gloves. 

Emergencies - 

Carry some basic 

tools — ask a mechanic 

for suggestions. Also 

include a first aid kit, a 

warning triangle and a 

torch.


29 29


Bridge of Weir Community Council 

Major Development proposal 

A proposal of application notice has been submitted to Renfrewshire Council 

Planning department to develop the Whitelint Gate site on the edge of the 

village. 

A map showing the extent of the site, which comprises the old refuse tip and 

stretches eastwards in the direction of Crosslee Road, is shown here. The 

site lies on land designated as green belt on Renfrewshire Council’s Local 

Development Plan. 

The proposal is for a mixed use development 

comprising 25.000 sq ft. net sales area with 

4 petrol pumps and circa 200 houses. The 

application dated 2 April 2015 has been lodged 

on behalf of Barratt Homes/David Wilson 

West of Scotland and Paterson Partners by 

MacGarvie & Co, Planning Consultancy. Having 

submitted the proposal the applicants must 

now hold a public exhibition/consultation within 

two months from the date of the application. 

This must be done prior to a formal detailed 

planning application being submitted. The 

Community Council will alert residents to the 

date and venue of the exhibition, via Facebook, 

the website and posters when known. www. 

bridgeofweir.org 

Other Business 

The Police reported to the April meeting that 

the Rural Crime Unit will include policing rural 

locations, villages and a watch over farms. 

It may eventually include control of firearms 

licensing. 

A small number of crimes were reported within Bridge of Weir, included, 2 

statutory Breach of the Peace, 2 Acts of Vandalism, and theft of wood from a 

farm. 

The Secretary received a letter from the Head of Planning in response to an 

item raised at the previous meeting that building regulations at a development 

in the conservation area on Horsewood Road had been breached, he states 

clearly that the development was within conservation guidelines. 

On the buses: McGill’s rejected our request to extend the Child £1 School Holiday 

ticket to Zone 4 for use on the X7 over the Easter school holiday period. This will 

be reviewed as part of a more comprehensive review of ticketing options and 

services within Gryffe Valley. They said it hadn’t been possible to do this in time 

for the Easter holidays. 

The new Scheme for Community Council sees an increase of £100 to our 

administration grant, we will now receive £749. 

The elections for the next Community Council 4 year period will be held in 

September. 

bishopton, langbank 

& bridge of weir 

..................................................... 

Concerns have been raised over a large hole appearing at the old railway bridge 

on Main Street, it was reported that both Sustrans and Renfrewshire Council 

are aware of this. 

The street lighting in Broom Place should soon be working properly, and the 

lights at Livery Walk are on a 24 hour burn this will be looked into. 

Renfrewshire Council are to identify the utility company who 

is responsible for the loose slab on Livery Walk with a view to 

having it repaired. 

The Boundary Commissioner is currently working on proposals for 

new Council Ward boundaries, it looks as though Bridge of Weir 

will leave Langbank and Bishopton and join with Lochwinnoch, 

Howwood and Kilbarchan. The Community Council will await the 

full consultation document before making comment. 

Our Facebook page is fully operational, view us at Bridge of Weir 

Community Council. 

Next Meeting 

Meetings are held in the Cargill Hall, Bridge of Weir at 7pm. The 

next meeting will be on Tuesday 5 May. 

P & G Transport Forum 

The Paisley & Gryffe Transport Forum has raised concerns on the 

proposed Whitelint development and its potential impact on the 

preservation of the former railway track, since the present plan 

shows a roundabout built directly on top of it. 

P&G Transport Forum are campaigning for a return of the railway, not just to 

Bridge of Weir, but also to Kilmacolm. This argument is growing in strength with 

the demise of the express bus service to Linwood, Braehead and Glasgow. 

More details to follow next month. 

The Bridge in May 

Apart from the usual activities, - Bridge Classes, Film Showings, Hobby Morning, 

Hard of Hearing Clinic, Citizens Advice Bureau and MSP/MP surgeries there 

is always the opportunity to sit and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in pleasant 

surroundings. 

Adding to the atmosphere are the Art Exhibitions which are regularly hosted. Until 

16 May we are pleased to have artists from the Bishopton Art Group exhibiting. 

From 18 May, Gwyneth Bell, will be showcasing a photographic display. Please 

pop in to view these exhibitions and support Renfrewshire artists. 

Post Office and Shop For all your Post Office services, purchases of stationery, 

greeting cards, pocket money toys and hand crafted items please support your 

Community Centre where our volunteers and Post Office staff work hard to meet 

your needs. Our stock of greeting cards has again increased over the last few 

months with most occasions catered for. 

Allotments and Garden Society (AGS) The garden at the back of the Bridge is 

maintained by the AGS who will be planting out (subject to weather) in May. If 

you want ideas for your vegetables, fruit and herbs the Allotments and Gardens 

Society is a good place to start. 

We thank you for your custom and continuing support. 

(Opening Hours: Mon – 9am to 5pm (PO closed 12 noon to 12.30pm); Tues & 

Fri – 1pm to 5pm; Wed & Thu – 10am to 2pm; Sat – 9am to 1pm)



10-16 May 

31 31 

Bridge of Weir residents have been fantastic 

supporters of Christian Aid Week over the years. 

This year’s house-to-house collection takes place during the week of 10 to 16 

May – thanks to an army of over 60 volunteer collectors. 

Christian Aid’s mission is to tackle poverty by: 

• Responding to emergencies 

• Funding long term development 

• Challenging the unjust systems that make people poor and keep people 

poor 

Christian Aid operates in 45 countries throughout the world. Most of its work is 

done with local partner organisations which not only have first hand knowledge 

of the practical needs of the poor in their area, but are also able to ensure the 

sustainability of initiatives to lift communities out of poverty. 

Christian Aid helps people of all faiths or none. It is a signatory to the Code of 

Conduct for Red Cross and NGO’s in Disaster Relief which sets international 

ethical standards for aid work and, among other things, promises that aid will 

not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint. 

Please support Christian Aid Week again this year. In particular, please complete 

the gift aid form on the flap of the envelope which the volunteer collector will 

drop through your door and pick up again later in the week. This allows Christian 

Aid to receive an extra 25p from the Government for every £1 donated. It may 

not seem much for one envelope, but multiplied across the whole village it 

could mean up to £1,000 extra for Christian Aid! 

Bishopton Art Group 

to exhibit in Bridge of Weir 

Until Friday 15 May at The Bridge, Community Centre, 63 Main Street, Bridge 

of Weir, members of Bishopton Art Group will be exhibiting a selection of their 

paintings. The paintings will also be available for sale. Access to the exhibition 

is free and is during The Bridge’s opening hours. 

This exhibition follows on from the Group’s successful exhibition last year at 

Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens. Members of Bishopton Art Group are all amateur 

artists and use a variety of mediums and styles. 

The exhibition at The Bridge is open during the following hours: Monday 9am 

- 5pm; Tuesday 1pm - 5pm; Wednesday 10am - 2pm; Thursday 10am - 2pm; 

Friday 1pm - 5pm; & Saturday 9am - 1pm hours. (Sunday closed) 

Linda Mitchell, organiser of Bishopton Art Group’s exhibition at The Bridge said, 

“Bishopton Art Group is pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at The 

Bridge in Bridge of Weir. It gives those that have not had the opportunity to 

travel to Bishopton or to our other events, the chance to see a nice selection of 

paintings by local artists. If they wish, they can also purchase a painting.” 

Bishopton Day - 20 June 

Bishopton Day will be held on 20 June with the parade led by a pipe 

band leaving from Bishopton Primary at 12noon. 

Attractions on the day include a wood carver, magician, vintage fire engines, 

model railway, pony rides, charity stalls and entertainment in the main arena. 

Entry is only £2 per adult and kids go free, more information on the website or 

Facebook. 

Special Information Day at the 

Pirie Information Centre 

On Monday June 1 the Pirie Information Centre, based at Freeland Church, will 

be hosting an information event from 10am to 12. 

Representatives from the Renfrewshire Carers’ Centre, Alzheimer Scotland, 

Advice Works and ROAR ( Reaching Older Adults in Renfrewshire) will be there 

in addition to the Pirie volunteers. They will be there to offer information and 

advice on many matters of interest to families and individuals who want to know 

about help and local services for older people and those of all ages coping with 

disability. 

The Advice Works advisor can give information on eligibility for various benefits 

and how to apply for them. 

The other groups have information on local support and respite services, and 

social opportunities for people affected by age or health issues. They can also 

explain about the roles of health and social work services. 

The Pirie Centre is open every Monday, Tuesday and Friday morning, and on 

1st June will have available information on bus times, our village information 

booklet, details of theatre and musical events and places to visit, as usual. 

On this special day we will also be serving complimentary tea, coffee and 

biscuits to those visiting the service. 

Please come along and find out more. You will be given a warm and friendly 

welcome.


bishopton, langbank 

& bridge of weir 

..................................................... 

BoW TARA 

Langbank is getting 

a makeover. Several 

residents are working 

at improving the 

environment and grant 

funding is being talked 

about. I met with some 

of the residents on 

Main Road recently to 

discuss what we could 

do to enhance the 

village. I was pleased 

with the suggestions that came forward. 

Bishopton parking issues are getting some 

attention. Councillors and officials will be 

meeting on site shortly to seek a solution. 

Residents will be consulted. Along with 

some local residents and a group from the 

Volunteer Centre, I recently helped with 

litter picking in Rossland Woods and up 

by the traffic lights. Many bags of rubbish 

were taken away. 

Speeding of traffic on Kilbarchan Road 

and Lintwhite Crescent in Bridge of Weir 

has always been an issue. I leafleted these 

roads a while ago re traffic calming. At the 

time there were no objections to chicanes, 

however the council has been dragging 

their heels and looking for excuses to 

avoid carrying out any work. 

Deafhillock Roundabout near Brookfield 

forms part of a ‘Safe Route to School’ (St. 

Benedicts) and this was a major factor in 

the extension of the 30 mph speed limit 

reduction. The limit was also extended on 

the other side of Brookfield due to issues 

with vehicles emerging from Branscroft in 

Kilbarchan onto the sweeping bend of the 

A761. In the March issue I suggested a 

petition was needed to partially revert the 

decision. I am now looking for someone to 

head-up the petition. 

Surgeries: Bishopton Community Library 

- 1st Monday of every month (6.30pm), 

Cargill Hall - 2nd Monday of every month 

(6.30pm), Langbank Parish Church Hall - 

3rd Monday of every month (6.30pm). 

Contact: 0300-300-1291 or email cllr. 

james.maclaren@renfrewshire.gov.uk . 

Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ 

councillormaclaren 

“Working with you and improving our local 

area”. Please feel free to contact me with 

any of your concerns, and I am happy to 

meet with you at a mutually convenient 

time. 

The latest meeting of Bridge of Weir Tenants and Residents Association was a lively affair and was attended by 

councillors Maria Brown and James MacLaren, the Police, members of Renfrewshire Wardens Service the, Housing 

Officer Alan Boyack and Tenant Consultation Officer Alasdair Miller. 

The Police report showed that there were eleven crimes committed in the village in the past month, three of which 

were detected. By far the most troubling crimes were those involving housebreaking. Unfortunately housebreakings 

are rife across Renfrewshire with anything from cars to power tools being stolen. A special police unit has been set 

up to hopefully track down the perpetrators. In the meantime the Police would like people to look at the security 

measures within there own homes, secure doors and windows, don’t leave car keys in plain sight, etc. People are 

also asked to stay vigilant and to phone the Police on 999 if they see anyone suspicious lurking about. 

To combat the illegal use of motorbikes and quad-bikes on the cycle track, the police have now instigated patrols by 

officers on off-road motorbikes along the cycle track from Paisley to Kilmacolm. The Wardens have also been busy 

over the past month with one fixed penalty of £40 being issued for dog fouling, three £80 fixed penalties for littering 

and a £200 fixed penalty for fly tipping. The bins at Livery Walk car park are continuing to be a problem as items are 

still left around them, this is not the place to dump mattresses, etc.! The council are currently looking at whether 

these particularly bins need to be sited elsewhere. 

The Council are currently looking at putting up resident only parking signs at St. Mungo’s Court and Gryffe Grove 

after a spate of long term parking by none residents in these areas. 

The next meeting of Bridge of Weir T.A.R.A. Is on Tuesday 19 May at 7.30pm in the Pirie Centre at Freeland Church. 

Bridge of Weir SWRI 

Our last meeting of this session was on the 2 April and was 

our AGM and mini show. Our speaker that evening was Ingrid 

Naismith who spoke about the charity “Help for Heroes” and 

the work they do with those returning from war. 

The winners of the Mini Show are: Duncan Cup - Doorstop 

- Mabel McPherson; Muirhead Cup - Carrot Cake - Mabel 

McPherson; Woodrow Cup - Corsage - Mabel McPherson; 

Points Cup: 1st - Linda Taylor; 2nd equal - Mabel McPherson 

& Joyce Bennie. 

Wacky-Wheels 

This year’s Gala Day Parade is all about using your 

imagination to get from the Cargill Hall up to Houston Road 

Park on wheels! 

If it’s your bike, scooter, go-kart, wheelbarrow, or something 

even more imaginative, get it ready for the Wackiest Race 

you’ve ever seen – the more eccentric the better. The most 

imaginative, creative, funniest, most colourful entry will win 

a splendiferous prize! 

Have a go! Make sure you’re at the Cargill Hall for 11:30am 

on Saturday 13 June to be judged! We’ll see you there! 

New Heights in 

Fundraising 

Good news! The recent coffee morning held in Freeland 

Church Hall, raised £83 towards Tammy Futers’ Inca trail to 

Machu Picchu trek for Macmillan Cancer Care. 

Tammy told The Advertizer, “I would like to 

thank everyone who came along, and thank 

you also to the staff and customers at the 

Co-op in Houston where £266 was raised 

through a collection there. In the past couple 

years I have raised money for Alzheimer’s 

Society, but now its time to raise money for 

another deserving cause, mainly because my 

family are deeply affected by it.” 

If you would like to help towards Tammy’s 

Inca Trail trek for Macmillan, you can visit 

her link below. She needs to raise £4000 by 

May/June and still got £1200 to go! www. 

justgiving.com/Tammy-Futers3


33 33 

Take a BoW Ladies 

Bernie’s Cafe Deli, Neva Place, Bridge of Weir 

On the evening of Thursday 2 April, the ladies of Take a BoW drama group – 

Donna, Helen, Lesley, Louise, Mags, Sara, Kirsty and Karen - took their inaugural 

bow at Bernie’s Café Deli and served up a tasty treat, for an enthusiastic and 

supportive audience. 

Formed just 

ten weeks 

previously 

under the 

guidance 

of Karen 

Herbison 

{H-arts}, 

a drama 

facilitator/ 

writer, the 

ladies debut 

revue was 

made up of 

poems and 

sketches 

written by the group themselves. Introducing their audience to such characters 

as ‘The Three Lindas’, everyone will know at least one of these ladies! ’Not 

Listening’ amongst other things, gave us an insight into the dangers of 

Australian wildlife. ‘Austerity’ saw the group each don the mask of one of our 

‘Favourite’ Westminster politicians from Maggie Thatcher to David Cameron, for 

each lady’s own individual definition of austerity. 

The show stopper, which also made up the ladies’ encore, was a hilarious 

parody of the song ‘Killing Me Softly’ written by Karen and sung by all. Overall 

the ladies of Take a BoW put on an entertaining show and wetted the appetite 

for more in the future. 

events at Bernie’s Cafe/Deli 

Events To Look Out For at Bernie’s 

Cocktail Master Class - move over Tom Cruise! We will have our very own 

entertaining expert. Be entertained and educated in the art of cocktail 

creation and then drink irresistible cocktails! 

Bastile@Bernie’s Celebrations - our guest French chef, Pierre, will be 

cooking up a storm with very special, authentic crepes. 

Musicals Open Mic Night - With expert accompaniment. This could be your 

chance to shine. In aid of the Beatson Cancer Unit. 

Watch this space for further information or call into the cafe to speak with 

Karen. 

SWI Water for All 

Ladies from Bridge of Weir SWI (formerly SWRI) are fundraising for 

“Water For All”, an ACWW project. 

The SWI/SWRI have always supported Associated Country Women 

of the World to fund small projects to help woman worldwide. 

For 2015-2016, SWI are giving 

support to a major project 

to provide communities with 

water. Teapots will appear 

locally with our own fundraising 

logo. 

Please pop some pennies 

in the pot. This could mean 

water coming out of a spout 

elsewhere in the world. 

Think how lucky we are to have 

clean fresh water on tap. 

Teapots will come in all 

shapes and sizes. 

Each SWI member will be filling an individual one but we 

would do so much more with your help. 

Thank you Valerie of Sign Art Linwood for donating the 

teapot stickers and Sandy of Gibb Stuart for the loan of the 

“big orange” teapot shown. 

COME AND JOIN US 

SWI Bridge of Weir meets in the British Legion from October 

to April. More later on our fundraising campaign and details 

of our syllabus and activities for 2015/2016.


Brighter Bridge of Weir 

maybe you can help? 

Here we are again, May, and time to do the spring 

cleaning. Brighter Bridge of Weir are planning their 

annual spring clean of the village, so if you happen to have an hour or so 

to spare on Saturday 9, Sunday 10 May, or perhaps both those dates, you 

could join the group on Livery Walk between 9:30am and 10am. ‘Litterpickers’ 

and refuse bags will be provided, as will soft drinks and snacks, 

and family groups are more than welcome. 

Alice Johnstone, Chairperson of the group, told the Advertizer, “Like last 

year, we’re aiming to have a general clean-up at various locations in the 

village. It’s not hard work but it does make such a difference, leaving the 

village looking clean and bright for the early summer months.” 

Treasurer Margaret Greenlees added: “It’s not difficult to do, but there’s 

only a few of us to do it and it takes time. If we get the help, it can be done 

and dusted in just a couple of hours each day.” 

If you can spare an hour or so, on the Saturday or Sunday, it would make a 

big difference. As the group’s Secretary, Dougie McNicol, says, “The moral 

support we get from people and businesses in the village is fantastic. But 

not everyone is able to make the time throughout the year to physically 

help us. This is an opportunity for residents to spend just a couple of hours 

helping our handful of diehards make Bridge of Weir brighter. It could save 

our regular volunteers a whole week of work.” 

So what can you do? Those who are able can contact Alice on 01505 

613679, or Dougie on 07810 722806. Or visit their website - 

www.brighterbridgeofweir.org, for more information and other contact 

details. You can even leave 

a comment or message on 

the group’s Facebook page. 

Or you could simply show up 

between 9:30am and 10am 

on the day, either Saturday 9 May, Sunday 10 May or both. Whichever you 

choose, you can be sure of a warm welcome. “Just don’t wear your best 

weekend outfit,” advises Alice. 

Farewell & Welcome!! 

Patricia and all her staff at Tulip 

would like to say a massive 

thank you to Erin & welcome 

Gemma to the salon. 

Farewell to Erin who has sadly 

left us for a new adventure in 

sunny Spain. We would like to 

wish her all the very best for the 

future and thank her for being 

part of our team over the last 

few years, good luck Erin and 

please keep in touch. 

Welcome to Gemma Erroch, a 

local girl and highly experienced 

stylist in all aspects of 

hairdressing, who looks forward 

to meeting Erin's existing 

clientele as well as her own 

loyal clients. 

Tulip x 

Bishopton Post 

Office 

Move to New Premises & Branch Modernisation 

I have been advised by the Post Office that they we will now be proceeding 

with the original proposal to move the above branch to Woodrow’s, where it 

will operate as one of their new local style Post Office branches. 

During a consultation period, the Post Office received a very small number 

of comments from customers. The main feedback centred on concerns that 

the proposed shop was busy, that there may not be enough space for a Post 

Office and the range of Post Office transactions that would be available 

following the move. The Post Office have advised me that this feedback 

helped them to understand customers’ concerns and to make sure that all 

such information was taken into account before finalising their plans. 

The move of the branch is part of the modernisation and investment plans 

for the Post Office network to provide a network that is sustainable and 

will better meet customer needs for the future. As part of the programme 

Postmasters were asked their preferences and the existing Postmaster 

at Bishopton branch expressed a desire to convert to the new local style 

format and move to their other premises, which will help safeguard the 

viability of their business, including the Post Office service. A number of 

factors are taken into account when considering new premises, including 

the location, access to and size of the premises. 

It’s clear that the Post Office plays an important part in the lives of customers 

and it is important that services are as accessible as possible. I am pleased 

to confirm there is level access at the entrance to Woodrow’s providing easy 

access for a wheelchair. Inside, the new branch will be designed in line with 

Post Office specifications, making sure there is sufficient space and privacy 

for the new style local Post Office to operate alongside the retail offer. Aisles 

and queuing area will be kept free from obstructions and adequate room 

will be provided for customers and a wheelchair to move around the store 

with ease. 

Derek MacKay


Beaton Bros at GVRC 

35 35 

The Bridge of Weir based funeral directors Beaton Bros are corporate members 

of Gryffe Valley. Their representative Ian Beaton brought along his Mum Joyce 

to talk to members about the funeral industry. Joyce described how, rather than 

settle into retirement after 40 years in hospitality education, she got involved in 

setting up the family business, which she described as being a fairly stressful 

occupation. It’s difficult to plan, but they have to be ready to respond to calls on 

a 24/7 basis. On the day, things have to run smoothly first time (no rehearsals!) 

and Joyce described some of the pitfalls which can await the unwary eg traffic 

holdups. 

In yesteryear, most funerals followed the Victorian tradition – sombre and 

religious with a wake at home. Nowadays, there is much 

more variety, with horse drawn carriages, jazz bands, 

cardboard coffins being just a few of the options selected. 

A successful funeral business requires the trust of the 

local community. Beaton Bros tries to repay this by giving 

something back to the community, with membership 

of Gryffe Valley Rotary as one means of doing so. Joyce 

delivered a most interesting insight into a business that 

most of us prefer not to think about! 

Gryffe Voices 

A new community choir, for all adults who enjoy 

singing, meeting on Monday evenings from 8pm 

to 9.45pm at Freeland Church, Main Street, 

Bridge of Weir. Come and join us if you like 

singing and want to have fun, whether or not you 

read music. Contact gryffevoices@gmail.com. 

Bridge Of Weir 

Festival Week 

Events 

SATURDAY 13 JUNE: 

BRIDGE OF WEIR GALA DAY 

Houston Road Park, from Noon 

SUNDAY 14 JUNE: 

GALA PRAISE 

St. Machars Ranfurly Church at 7.30pm 

MONDAY 15 JUNE: 

MESSY CHURCH 

Freeland Church from 5 – 7pm 

TUESDAY 16 JUNE: 

FOOTBALL FIESTA 

Houston Road Park. k.o. 6.45pm 

WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE: 

HOPE HALL FAMILY FUN NIGHT 

The Cargill Hall from 6.30 – 8pm [or Houston 

Road Park if weather good] 

THURSDAY 18 JUNE: 

SENIOR CITIZENS ‘WHIST’ & ‘BEETLE 

DRIVE’ 

Freeland Church from 2 – 4.30pm. Entry £2 

– Tickets available from the Committee or at 

the door. 

FESTIVAL ‘PRIZE & MONEY’ BINGO 

The Royal British Legion {Scotland}. Eyes 

down 7.30pm. Entry £2 – pay at the door. 

Light Buffet. 

FRIDAY 19 JUNE: 

DISCO [7 – 12 Year Olds]. 

Entry £1. Cargill Hall 7 – 9pm. Tuck Shop. 

SATURDAY 20 JUNE: 

FESTIVAL CEILIDH 

The Cargill Hall 7.30pm until late. Light 

Buffet – Late Bar. Entry by ticket only £10. 

Phone 01505 615992 or Mobile 0781 6354 

854. Minimum age 13. Under-18s must be 

accompanied by an adult.


houston, crosslee 

& brookfield 

..................................................... 

Houston & Killellan Agricultural 

Society Annual Show - 6 June 

The schedules for the craft and baking section of Houston and Killellan Show 

now available from committee members, The Paper Shop, North Street, The 

Post Office, and Strawberryfields Nursery, Back o’Hill or by contacting Isabelle 

Stuart 01505 613479 or e-mail issistuart@fsmail.net. Houston Show will be 

held on Saturday 6th June. For the first time the craft and baking section has 

been opened up to all of Renfrewshire. 

Brookfield Gala Day - 

NEW DATE - 22 August 

Owing to four consecutive years of torrential rain on our May Gala Day, a new 

date of Saturday 22 August has been set. Watch out for a heatwave in May 

and the wettest August since records began, but either way, we will not be 

disheartened and an exciting array of events is being lined up, so do watch 

this space. 

Table Tennis 

At the Houston Village Hall on Monday nights from 7.30-9.30pm. All welcome. 

Donation £2. Contact person: Mark Canning on 07968 052538. 

Houston & Crosslee SWI 

On the 13 May in the Compass Centre, South Street, Houston 

at 7.30pm we are having a “Tea & Chat” in aid of Macmillan 

Cancer Care. 

LEAP 

Energy Advice in Houston, Crosslee and Brookfield 

Free impartial energy advice now rolls out into Houston, Crosslee & Brookfield. 

LEAP also continues to work in Kilbarchan, Bridge of Weir and Lochwinnoch 

helping to make local families homes more comfortable. 

The Carrick Centre will HOST LEAP on a Wednesday so you can drop in and 

meet one of the qualified and experienced energy team to see how we can help 

you save money and energy and often add value to your home. See The Carrick 

Centre timetable for more details. Please follow and promote us on Facebook 

Facebook.com/myleapproject 

Youth Education Programme (YEP!) 

LEAP’s Yep! Is a programme of hands-on workshops, pop-up events and social 

gatherings for young people from 11 to 18 years of age. Those whose 11th 

birthday falls between now and April 2016 can also take part. 

Projects starting from May will include; Project Float - a boat building project 

(yes a real one - not a model!), Recycle or Dye - a clothing re-design and making 

project, Cafe Forage - a space to hang out and learn to grow you own, Loops and 

Cycles - a Bike building project and Tell-It-How-It-Is - workshops in animation 

and filmmaking. 

Also during the summer this year we will be running Summerspace - a locally 

based programme of free projects and workshops which will combine a little of 

all of the above. Venues and times to be confirmed. All our workshops will be 

run by experienced facilitators with a wealth of skills to pass on to the young 

participants and they are all FREE! To find out more or to secure a place please 

get in touch very soon as numbers will be limited. gillian@myleapproject.org or 

call 01505 842 530 

New Toyota Yaris Available for Community Hire in Kilbarchan! 

From you’re not for profit & pay-as-you-go community car hire. We cover fuel, 

maintenance, insurance, cleaning and breakdown costs and car hire is charged 

by the hour and by the mile. Cars are available 24 hours a day. 

Annual membership is currently discounted to £15 (a saving of £45) in 

Kilbarchan for a limited period and we have just placed our brand new Toyota 

Yaris Hybrid which is based in the Ewing Street car park and is available for you 

to hire. 

To find out more, or to join the Car Club, contact our Car Club Coordinator 

Mike Callaghan at E: mike@myleapproject.org T: 01505 842530 

Carrick Players 

The Carrick Players are performing “Passing Places” a comedy by 

Stephen Greenhorn, on Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 May at 7:30pm in 

the Carrick Centre Houston Tickets are available - £7 from the Carrick 

Centre Coffee Shop or Bill Walker on 01505 612262. Contains strong 

language- over 16’s only please. 

Proposed Housing Developments 

We now have three approved new housing developments within Houston and 

a fourth development, at land next to Strathgryffe, awaiting decision. Regular 

readers will know about some of my concerns around this scale of development 

within the village. I have submitted a formal objection to the development at 

the land East of Fleming Road and will await the outcome with interest. I am 

not against new housing in the area but I believe strongly that our greenbelt 

must be protected and our infrastructure must be able to cope. We have also 

received a pre-application notice for a large development west of Sandholes 

Road in Brookfield, at the field sitting between Brookfield and Houston and the 

concerns I have already highlighted are of relevance to this application too. 

Houston Football 

I was pleased to join my colleague Jim Sheridan to present a funding boost which he secured for 

local youth football club Houston United. It is clear that this new club is already making a positive 

impact for local children and I would like to thank all volunteers who work within Houston in a 

variety of groups for the benefit of our community. 

Houston Kirk Extension 

As Chair of the Houston, Linwood, Erskine and the Villages Local Area Committee I am pleased 

that the committee have allocated over four thousand pounds of support in this last financial 

year for the on-going fundraising efforts towards the Houston Kirk extension. Whilst this is a small 

donation in comparison the overall cost of the project, I believe it is important to show support for 

the fantastic fundraising efforts which have been underway in our community. Many local groups 

will benefit from this improved space. 

Surgeries: Tuesday 19 May in Tweedie Hall, Linwood at 7pm and the Carrick Centre in Houston on 

Wednesday 20 May at 6.30pm. 

Online: www.facebook.com/CouncillorStuartClark


Houston Kirk Carnival - 9 May 

37 37 

Preparations are well under way now for May 9. The Kirk Carnival is probably 

Houston’s busiest day of the year. Staffing and stocking the stalls takes a major 

effort of planning, and we are nearing readiness, but roles can still be found 

for any new volunteers. Just contact one of the Conveners – their names and 

contacts numbers can be found on the website at www.houstonkirk.org . 

On the day, the main festivities will commence at 12.30pm at the Church Halls, 

Main Street Houston, when our Carnival Queen will be crowned., accompanied 

by her attendants. The Fancy Dress Parade (take the challenge of this year’s 

theme – Grand Designs – and be creative with your Fancy Dress Design!) begins 

at 12.15pm at the Church, Kirk Road. 

Houston people have come to expect our normal wide range of stalls and 

attractions. The Plant Stall is still looking for donations of plants and cuttings, 

and the White Elephant Stall team will collect donations if necessary (please no 

large items of furniture or electrical goods!). 

Programmes will soon be ready for sale. Take the chance to enter the prize draw 

for the chance to win some of the excellent prizes! 

Get your pancakes and scones at the ‘Freshly Baked’ stall in the Carrick Centre, 

not forgetting the Carnival tea room where you can combine a chat with friends 

old and new, with tea, coffee and home-baking – all for only £1.50. Last year 

500 tickets were sold. Please help us try to beat that excellent number! 

We’re looking for books, DVDs, Soft Toys in good condition, Tombola prizes, 

bottle stall donations, toiletries, jewellery, Scottish Stall items and home baking. 

If you can help with these, please contact Committee members whose details 

are to be found, as before, on the website above. 

All proceeds from the 2015 Kirk Carnival will go towards the new Church 

Extension, so all support will be very much appreciated in this special year, as 

the work nears its end. Fundraising, of course, continues! 

H.O.S.T. - The Carrick Centre, 

Houston 

What’s on MAY 2015 

Monday to Friday, Woodlands Out of School 01505 615438 

MONDAY 

Yoga (weekly), 1pm Mary Laidlaw 01505 842877; Rockstar Tumbling Class 

(weekly) 4:15pm, Roz Hart 07734 714131; Carrick Players Drama Group 

(weekly), 7:30pm, Bill Walker 01505 612262; Diaporama 11th 7:30pm 

TUESDAY 

Paint Pot Tots (weekly) 10am, Dawn Campbell 07789 262350; Yoga (weekly) 

7pm, M/s Lawson 01505 613690; Musical Theatre (weekly) 4pm 

WEDNESDAY 

Leap Energy (weekly), 10am – 3pm; French 

Class (weekly) 3:15pm F. McDevitt 0141 886 

6282; Galaxy Dance (weekly) 4pm Lauren 07974 

285102; Councillors Surgeries 20th 6:30pm; 

Gryffe Melody Makers 6th & 20th 7pm; Camera 

Club (weekly) 7:30pm; Houston Community 

Council 20th 7:30pm 

THURSDAY 

Quilting Group 14th & 21st & 28th, 1;15pm & 

3:15pm; French Class (weekly) 4pm, F McDevitt; 

Crafty Friends 7th & 21st 7:30pm; Folk Club 

(weekly) 8pm Paddybullen@live.co.uk 

FRIDAY 

Galaxy Dancing (weekly) 4pm, Lauren 

SATURDAY 

Galaxy Dancing (weekly), 9:30am, Lauren; Unite 

Dance (weekly) 2pm Gary Fay 07814 582989; 

Carrick Players (Passing Places) 30th 7:30pm 

SUNDAY 

Baptist Church (weekly) 11am and 6pm; Carrick 

Players (Passing Places) 31st 7:30pm 

Booking enquiries to Ian Simpson, 01505 

612203 Sandy Young 01505 331488 

hostbooking@outlook.com or The Coffee Shop 

Affinity Divorce and Family Law Experts is a new boutique family 

law practice in Bridge of Weir established by Isabella McKerrow. 

Isabella has 23 years’ experience in the field of family law. She is uniquely 

placed, and is able to offer a top of the range legal service as a family law 

solicitor, having the experience of being an Advocate (Barrister) for the last 

eleven years specialising in family law at the Scottish Bar. 

As an Advocate Isabella was instructed by solicitors in complex high value 

divorce claims and family and child law issues in the courts throughout 

Scotland. She has taught family law and delivered seminars to specialist family 

solicitors. Isabella returned to practice as a solicitor in 2015 to set up Affinity 

Divorce and Family Law Experts and bring to Renfrewshire a niche family 

law practice. 

Isabella 

operates a 

chamber 

practice with 

consulting 

facilities to meet 

with clients 

in Bridge of 

Weir village 

and Glasgow 

city centre. 

Consultations 

are also 

available by 

Skype. 

While the firm focuses on Divorce and Family law issues, other legal services 

are available in the field of Adults with Incapacity, Power of Attorneys, 

Guardianship and Personal Injury. Visit our website for further details.


kilmacolm 

& quarriers 

..................................................... 


Christian Aid Week will happen nationwide on 10 

to 16 May. In Kilmacolm and Quarriers there are 

seventy five collectors who have volunteered to 

take part in the house-to-house collection. A red envelope asking for a donation 

to Christian Aid can be marked as ‘gift-aid’ to increase your donation by 25% if 

you are a UK taxpayer. Major fundraising through Christian Aid Week enables 

the charity to work in forty countries with local partner organisations at ground 

level. Money is never given to countries’ governments. Christian Aid’s motto 

since its development by the major church denominations in Britain and Ireland 

has been to ‘bring an end to poverty around the world’. An inspiring dream, let’s 

help to progress towards an inspired reality. Thank you so very much. Please 

phone 01505 872393 if you can help further with the work of Christian Aid. 

Outlook 

The Kilmacolm afternoon social group for friendship 

and fellowship, organised by Kilmacolm Old Kirk, meets 

in Kidston Hall on Thursday 7 May from 2-4pm. Robert 

Jaconelli is our invited guest, he is an advanced driving 

instructor and will talk to us about Driving Awareness, giving stories, tips and 

advice on driving in town, country or motorways. To be followed by afternoon 

tea, community issues and social activities. On Thursday 21 May the group will 

enjoy an afternoon outing to Dobbies Milngavie, and Loch Lomond. Everyone 

is welcome at OUTLOOK, please come and join us. Phone 01505 872393 for 

further information. 

Ooh La La! 

Nous sommes Français! 

On Saturday 6 June Kilmacolm village WILL BECOME FRENCH 

FOR THE DAY to celebrate our twinning and friendship with 

Mérignies in France. We are delighted to be welcoming young 

people from the secondary school in Seclin (near Mérignies) 

who will be hosted by the families of twenty-eight S4 pupils 

from St Columba’s Kilmacolm. They themselves received a very warm welcome 

in Mérignies earlier this year. 

Kilmacolm extends the hand of friendship to these youngsters and will host a 

series of events including a formal reception, music, a French language treasure 

hunt for children and…Kilmacolm’s first French Waiters Race! 

The village shops and Farmer’s market are enthusiastic participants in this 

French event. Our shop windows and 

market stalls will be decorated to 

celebrate our French connection and 

each display will have its own special 

touch of France! 

So, come along and see how the village 

looks when it becomes French for a 

day… 

We welcome you from 10.30am. 

At a meeting in Quarriers Village there was a proposal by 

the River and Fisheries Trust in conjunction with SEPA to 

assist the passage of migratory Atlantic Salmon at the weir 

on the Gotter Water. There is an excellent upstream habitat 

for spawning and this is an exciting environmental and 

educational venture. Many salmon are now returning to the 

Clyde and hopefully many more locally in future to the Gryffe 

River and its tributaries. 

By publication, I will have attended Kilmacolm Dramatic 

Society’s production of the comedy “Allo Allo”, I am sure it will 

be up to the usual standard of this fine group of thespians. I 

did receive a call from a reporter at the Daily Record eliciting 

my views on a flyer for the show which displayed the Nazi insignia made of 

sausages (part of the theme of the show) amongst other features. He had 

received a complaint from a member of the public. I very quickly put him right by 

reminding him that “Allo Allo” is a comedy written about the German Occupation 

of France in the 1940s and that I had no personal problem with the flyer and 

did not find it, in the context, offensive, and in my view it was a 'non-story'. The 

poster also indicates a health warning “CONTAINS ADULT HUMOUR” - should 

be great fun. 

I attended the AGM of the Kilmacolm Civic Trust and found it in excellent shape. 

Gerry Boyle gave a comprehensive presentation of the Le Twinning of the village 

and the French town of Mérignies. There will be a visit on 6th June to Kilmacolm 

by our friends and it is the intention by the Twinning Committee to have quite a 

Gala day in the village. The Civic Trust Archivist John Hamilton, is always looking 

for interesting historical material. 

Kilmacolm Bowling Club has had its season’s opener and I was interested to 

hear that members will be visiting Kilmacolm Primary School and Port Glasgow 

High School to try and encourage more youngsters to take up the game. I am 

not a bowler but have always found their company most congenial and their 

hospitality generous. 

Residents from Finlaystone Road and Leperstone Road and Avenue attended 

a public meeting regarding the proposal for self build houses in Kilmacolm. 

Many concerns were quite rightly expressed and I personally await further 

information. I do feel that the notice given to residents of the tree removal was 

far too short. Lessons to be learned here. 

My wife and I officiated at the 109th Inspection, Display and Presentation of 

the 2nd Port Glasgow Boys Brigade Company. As an ex BB boy this was a great 

honour and the boys and their officers put on a superb show for a full Port 

Glasgow Town Hall. Their fine band won the Glasgow Battalion competition and 

is now in the Scottish final. 

I understand that Cloak, Blacksholm, East Green and parts of Knockbuckle 

Roads are to receive major attention. 

The condition of all I know are of Coffee Morning 

concern to local residents. 

The 45th Annual Plant Sale is 

happening at the Lodge in Glebe Road 

on the 8,9,10 and 15,16,17 of May. 

Plants for sale and hanging baskets 

and planters filled. 

Surgeries: 23 May Cargill Centre, 

Kilmacolm, 10-11am and 27 May 

St Francis School 6-7pm. Contact: 

01475 741969 and 712727 and 

07766 992294. 

Lodge Sir Michael 989 

Annual Plant Sale 


Fri 8 - 5pm-9pm 

Fri 15 - 5pm-9pm 

Sat 9 - 9am-4pm 

Sat 16 - 9am-4pm 

Sun 10 - 10am-4pm Sun 17 - 10am-4pm 

Planters and hanging baskets made to order. Free advice 

on plants. Quality plants at value for money prices. 

At Kilmacolm Tennis Club, Saturday, 

30 May 10am - 12pm in aid of 

Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club 

(IASC) Training Camp. 

Fancy trying your hand at tennis or 

perhaps delicious home baking, 

fresh coffee and a good book is more 

your thing? Local swimming club, 

IASC is hosting a coffee morning at 

Kilmacolm Tennis Club to help raise 

funds towards an upcoming training 

camp. As well as tennis, coffee and 

cakes, the event will also feature a 

tombola and book stall. Entry is by 

donation. All welcome!


Musical Youth at St Colm’s 

39 39 

On Friday 27 March a packed church was treated to an evening of musical 

entertainment by 20 children and young people of the parish. The evening was 

planned, organised, and led throughout by our enthusiastic young parishioners. 

A thoroughly enjoyable evening, which finished with a rousing Scottish sing-along, 

raised £320 for new signage at St Colm’s Church in Smithy Brae. 

We have been very busy over the last 

few weeks – as you might expect – in 

the general election campaign. This is 

the most extraordinary election in our 

lifetimes and in an Inverclyde context is 

likely to the closest ever. Our job as a 

Councillor however does not stop even 

when there is a general election on. 

In the recent Council budget an initial 

sum of £300,000 was allocated for 

environmental improvements within 

Inverclyde’s town and village centres. 

A feasibility study will be carried out looking at potential projects before 

recommendations are made to the Environment & Regeneration Committee. 

We will of course be lobbying to ensure that some of this money is spent in 

Kilmacolm to enhance the amenity of the village centre. 

The draft Inverclyde Local Development Plan issued in May 2013 included a 

proposal for a new conservation area at The Cross in Kilmacolm. The Council 

received representations during the consultation period and this required to 

be taken to Examination by reporters appointed by Scottish Ministers. The 

Examination concluded that the proposal for a conservation area at The 

Cross should be included in the adopted plan however the Council committed 

to a full public consultation on the finalised conservation boundary once the 

Local Development Plan was adopted. One representation was received from 

Kilmacolm Civic Trust supporting the conservation area boundary and as a result 

of there being no objections, the Environment and Regeneration Committee is 

being asked to approve the designation of a conservation area at The Cross at 

its meeting on 30 April. 

Work is continuing on the design of the upgrade to Kilmacolm Primary 

School with a detailed planning application having recently been submitted. 

The estimated cost of the upgrade is now £4.270m with the project still on 

schedule for an October 2015 site start and completion by October 2016. As 

part of the proposals the nursery class will be completely refurbished and a 

small extension added to provide a new entrance and cloakroom. The school’s 

existing blaze pitch will also be converted to a multi-use games area (MUGA) at 

a cost of £365,000. 

Last month a car was stolen in Kilmacolm after an intruder managed to 

gain access to a house and take the keys. Please be vigilant and report any 

suspicious activity to the Police on 101. Please also ensure that garden sheds 

and lock ups are properly secured as there have been a number of incidents 

involving the theft of outdoor equipment recently. 

Councillor McColgan 

Surgeries: Tuesday 12 May, 6pm – 7pm in Clune Park Resource Centre and 

Tuesday 26 May, 6pm – 7pm in Kilmacolm Community Centre. 

Contact: 01475 712727 (office hours) and 07881280016 (anytime) or email 

james.mccolgan@inverclyde.gov.uk. Alternatively you can write to me at 

Inverclyde Council, Municipal Buildings, Greenock PA15 1LY. 

Online: http://jamesmccolgan.com. Twitter: @jamesmccolgan. 

Councillor McCabe 

Surgeries: Tuesday 12 May, 5pm - 6pm in Boglestone Community Centre and 

Tuesday 26 May, 6pm – 7pm in Kilmacolm Community Centre. 

Contact: 01475 712020 (office hours) and 01505 871368 (home) or email 

Stephen.McCabe@inverclyde.gov.uk. Alternatively you can write to me at 10 

Victoria Gardens, Kilmacolm PA13 4HL. 

Online: http://councillorstephenmccabe.blogspot.com/ Twitter: @Kilmacolm1 

KNCC Board Members Required 

Kilmacolm Community Centre, Lochwinnoch Road, Kilmacolm. 

A number of the Board members of Kilmacolm New Community Centre have 

decided to give notice of their desire to retire, which opens up the opportunity 

for other willing members of the community to participate. 

With the development completed and the facility fully operational, the 

contribution asked of the Board members is far less onerous now than it was 

in the past. The Board meets four to six times a year, on a mid-week evening, 

typically lasting no more than two hours. The meetings focus mainly on strategic 

matters and monitoring of the finances. Daily operational issues and staffing are 

contracted out to Inverclyde Leisure and this too is reviewed at the meetings. 

If you feel you would like to volunteer your time, skills and experience then 

contact The Chairman, c/o KNCC, The Cargill Centre, Lochwinnoch Rd, 

Kilmacolm, PA13 4LE. 

Summer Duplicate Bridge 

If you would like to play Bridge during the summer months why 

not come along to the Kilmacolm Community Centre on Monday 

evenings? Starting on 18 May at 7pm for a 7.15pm start. Come with a partner 

or come alone and hope to find one there. Further information Tel: 01505 

872345. 

Bottle & Baking donations 

Kilmacolm Friends of Ardgowan Hospice will be holding their usual Bottle and 

Baking Stall at the Kilmacolm Show on Saturday 9 May. All donations are greatly 

appreciated. Baking can be handed in at Kidston Hall on Friday 8 May between 

2pm - 5pm. Donations of bottles to any committee member, or please phone 

01505 874913 or 873126. 

Watch Found - Kilmacolm 

A rather nice watch with a large face was found at the bottom of Barclaven road 

in Kilmacolm on 20 April. Please contact The Advertizer if you think it might be 

yours! Call 01505 613340 or email info@advertizer.co.uk.


kilbarchan 

& lochwinnoch 

..................................................... 

Calder Church Summer 

Summer Fayre Concert 

Saturday 23 May, 10am - 12noon 

In The McKillop Hall, Lochwinnoch 

Stalls include Home Baking, Plants 

& Garden, Jewellery, Arts & Crafts, 

Lucky Dip and lots more. 

Adults £2, Children FREE 

includes Tea/Coffee. 

All welcome. 

Saturday 30 May at 7.30pm 

Kilbarchan Singers’ Summer Concert 

will be held in Holy Trinity and Saint 

Barnabas Episcopal Church, Moss 

Street, Paisley. Tickets priced £8 

available from choir members. The 

theme is, ‘Tudor Anthems and Words’, 

an eclectic mixture of music and the 

spoken word. 

howwood 

& elderslie 

....................................... 

I attended April's Howwood Community Council meeting at 

which a few local issues were discussed. The main topic of 

conversation was the problem of dog fouling in the village. 

I know that the village has a high ownership of dogs and 

that the vast majority of owners act responsibly however there are a number 

of owners who let their dogs mess up the village on a regular basis. This is 

happening not only on pavements, but in the park in the middle of the village. I 

would urge dog owners to do their bit to keep the village clear of this mess and 

for those who witness dog fouling I would urge them to contact the council. 

Also at the meeting the problem of fly tipping in and around the village was 

discussed. I have since spoke to the council about how this can be addressed. 

Of particular concern was the number of business's who were tipping their 

rubbish in the countryside. 

I hope the Midton Bowling Club enjoy their centenary celebrations on the 16th 

May. Bowling Clubs are often the centre of local communities and Midton is no 

different. I wish them well. 

As you will have no doubt noticed lots of work has been done to improve 

Broadband speeds in Howwood. It is expected that it will be up and running by 

the end of June. So at long last Howwood will be able to enjoy the benefits of 

a good Broadband service. I will close now by wishing you all the best for the 

forthcoming summer lets hope its a good one. 

At my April meeting with Police Scotland Johnstone I again 

raised the issue of speeding traffic in Kilbarchan. There is 

a particular problem in Barn Green and Shuttle Street with 

drivers travelling through the village ignoring the electronic 

visual speeding signs. I have requested additional patrols in 

the village to attend to this issue. 

On the subject of traffic in Kilbarchan, I have approached 

Renfrewshire Council to provide more visible parking signs 

at the Ewing Street car park to encourage visitors to the 

village to use it, and these will shortly be in place. 

The issue of driving also featured in an event which I recently 

attended with Police Scotland and with senior pupils at Johnstone high school. 

This followed a similar initiative hosted by St Mirren football club and attended 

by primary school pupils from Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch. Both events were 

under the umbrella of keeping children safe, and raising their awareness of 

issues such as drugs and alcohol misuse, internet safety, stranger danger, and 

bullying. 

Congratulations to Morven Bain from Lochwinnoch primary school who was 

one of the prize-winners in the accompanying competition. This was a valuable 

learning experience and there is no issue more important than the safety of our 

children. I will continue to ensure that Renfrewshire Council and its partners 

continue this important work. 

After a packed public meeting to look at ways of honouring Kilbarchan born 

social reformer Mary Barbour, a number of proposals are being taken forward 

including a commemorative cairn and bench, and provision of a Mary Barbour 

prize for school pupils. 

My next surgeries will be on Saturday 2 May at 9am in the McKillop Institute 

and at 10am in the Steeple Hall. 

Meantime please contact me at anytime at cllr.derek.bibby@renfrewshire.gov. 

uk or telephone 07534 156007. 

Kilbarchan Great War dead 

May 1915 

Private Robert Gardner Houston lived in 9 

Gateside Place. His parents were Archibald and 

Margaret Houston. 

He worked in Anchor Mills, Paisley as a dyeworker, 

and probably took the tram or the train 

from Kilbarchan to his work. In his spare time he 

was a football goalkeeper. He played for Partick 

Thistle, Abercorn, Paisley (1877-1921) (blue and 

white stripes) and Johnstone Football Club (1878-1927) 

(black and gold vertical stripes) 

He volunteered for the Army and served in the 1st Battalion of the Seaforth 

Highlanders. He would wore a Mackenzie tartan kilt covered by a khaki apron. 

He was sent to France on the 19th March 1915 and was killed in the trenches 

by a bullet to the head less than two months later, on 9th May 1915. He was 27 

years old when he died. 

The manager of Partick Thistle was sent a letter by Robert Houston’s sergeant. 

‘It is with much sorrow that I inform you of the death of your late friend, and my 

comrade, Private Robert Houston, who was killed in action. I know that ‘Bobby’ 

kept many a good goal for Partick Thistle in Scotland’s national game, and I 

am pleased and proud that he played a far greater game for the welfare of the 

British Empire. 

His time, poor chap, with us was short, but I am delighted to say that he was 

already liked by one and all, and I am convinced that had he been spared a 

bright future awaited him. 

I also wish to thank the directors of Partick Thistle FC for the football sent out. 

Unfortunately it arrived too late for poor ‘Bobby’. I am, however, handing it over 

to the company with which he was associated. I am sure that many a good 

game will take place behind the firing line-that is, when we are not playing with 

the Germans.’ 

Robert Gardner has no grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial 

in France. 

Kilbarchan National Women’s Register 

The NWR group meets fortnightly on Wednesdays and has a varied programme 

of speakers and discussion topics. If you’d like to find out more about NWR and 

the Kilbarchan group, please contact the website: www.nwr.org. 

During the month of May, the group will try to recreate by photos the paintings 

“Gainsborough’s Ladies”, concentrating on hats!. We shall also discuss the 

collection of short stories entitled Dear Lives by Alice Munro.


Lilias Day confirm Miss Lilias and 

School Queen 

41 41 

The two leading ladies of Kilbarchan’s Lilias Day have been announced. 

Victoria Thompson (16) is this year’s Miss Lilias and the school queen is Millie Spence (11). 

The Lilias Day committee choose Miss Lilias each year based on her contribution to the 

community or good causes. Victoria Thompson is a helper for the 1st A Kilbarchan Brownies 

and is working towards her Silver Duke of Edinburgh award. She also volunteers at Castle 

Semple Loch where she helps manage the environment by removing unwanted vegetation, 

litter and planting as she is passionate about the environment. Her charity work has included 

cutting nine inches off her hair which was donated to the Little Princess Trust as well as 

taking part in a 5k fun run to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. As part of her 

duties Victoria will read a proclamation to officially open Lilias Day and, later in the year, will 

have the honour of switching on the Christmas lights in Kilbarchan. Victoria is delighted to 

have been chosen to take on the role of Miss Lilias for this year’s event. 

The School Queen, Millie Spence, and the other members of her group were 

elected by the most senior pupils in Kilbarchan Primary School, a long standing 

tradition of the school. On Lilias Day, the group will take a leading role in the 

parade and Miss Lilias will crown the school queen. Millie, and her attendants, 

Lydia, Poppy, Robert and Tom are all in their final year of primary school and being 

chosen to represent the school in Lilias Day is always an honour. Find Kilbarchan 

Lilias Day on facebook or Follow on twitter: @LiliasDay 

Photography and Photo Credit:- Miss Lilias - Victoria Thompson; Lilias attendants 

- Mhairi Gray and Lea Lowit; Lilias escorts - Alistair Edgar, Will McGreavy; School 

Queen - Millie Spence; Attendants - Lydia McReavy, Poppy Armstrong; Crown Bearer 

- Robert McGregor; Footman - Tom Pittaway. 

Photographs by Peter Sandground 

Lilias Day Festival Countdown 

Kilbarchan’s famous Lilias Day is all set for Saturday 6 June. 

The parade will once again start at 1pm to allow for an extended opportunity for Lilias 

Dayers to enjoy the festivities in Kilbarchan Park that will last until 4.30pm when the day 

will culminate with a spectacular skydiving display by Scotland’s leading skydiving clubs, 

Skydive Strathallan. 

A high value raffle has been introduced this year giving entrants a fantastic opportunity 

to win £1000! Tickets are available from committee members, through local businesses 

and will also be sold on the day itself to help raise funds to run Lilias Day. In another new 

addition medieval re-enactment group Britannia XIV will set up camp for the day to show off 

their combat skills and crafts. 

This year’s parade has also attracted more new groups from throughout the area and always 

the parade will be led by the historical groups in full period costume paying homage to the 

conservation village’s rich history and heritage. 

Graeme Stockton, joint Chair of Kilbarchan Lilias Day is once again delighted with the way groups and individuals have got behind this year’s event: “The committee 

has been taken aback by the continued support and enthusiasm for one of the region’s most important annual events. Lilias Day is an integral part of Kilbarchan’s 

long heritage and is a highlight of the Renfrewshire events calendar. It provides an important opportunity for local charities and organizations to raise tens of 

thousands of pounds as well as involving the local community and bolstering a sense of pride in or historic village and traditions.” He adds: “We would urge as 

many people to buy raffle tickets as possible. Not only is there an amazing prize but any money we raise will be reinvested to help us stage the event in future years 

and continue to support good causes”. As well as the stalls the day once again features Radio Clyde’s George Bowie as a guest compere, a music tent featuring 

local music talent, circus entertainers and workshops, a food village, dog show and a host of other events, competitions and activities! 

There is still plenty of time to get involved in Lilias Day by taking part in the best decorated house whilst businesses can enter into the best decorated business 

competition. To see the latest news and developments as they happen or to get involved like “Kilbarchan Lilias Day” on Facebook or Follow @LiliasDay on 

Twitter. 

Weavers Cottage 

The first full month of the season has brought visitors from the UK and also 

from the USA and the 

Netherlands. A group 

of Mauchline Ware 

enthusiasts spent an 

informative morning 

with Christine MacLeod 

at the cottage in mid- 

April. In their photo 

the member on the 

left is holding a small 

Mauchline Ware paper 

rack from the cottage’s 

upstairs room. There is 

a shop in the cottage 

which sells a range of 

National Trust for Scotland products: entry to the shop is free.


kilbarchan 

& lochwinnoch 

..................................................... 

One of the most enjoyable aspects of serving as a local 

Councillor is seeing your communities get the recognition 

they deserve, and as we are in the season of Easter it is 

perhaps appropriate that the good news for Kilbarchan 

and Lochwinnoch has come this month in three. Firstly, the 

Flightpath Fund, based at Glasgow Airport, has awarded 

£2,000 to Kilbarchan Pipe Band which they are delighted 

about and intend to put to good use, Kilbarchan Primary has 

won a leading eco-award from local charity LEAP, and local 

Publican Laura Hunt and her team at the popular Brown 

Bull in Lochwinnoch have been shortlisted for a national 

hospitality award. Well done to all concerned for helping to 

make our villages the fantastic places they are, and being recognised for their 

hard work, endeavour, and ambition. 

Fundamental challenges for both Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch relate to issues 

which both villages have with drainage and flooding. In the case of Kilbarchan 

there is very legitimate concern, especially but not exclusively, in the Station 

Road area, about the failure of the Combined Sewerage Overflow to work 

effectively, and in the case of Lochwinnoch about the inability of the drainage 

system in the Main Street/High Street area to deal with flash flooding incidents. 

Since the end of last year I have organised a series of tri-partite meetings 

between Renfrewshire Council officers, community representatives, myself, 

and Scottish Water, to get co-ordinated action to resolve these matters once 

and for all, so watch this space. 

My advice surgery in Kilbarchan is on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in 

the Steeple Hall at 7.45pm, and my advice surgery in Lochwinnoch is on the 

4th Wednesday of the month in the McKillop at 7.30pm. But I am also always 

available to constituents who can call me on 07534 148224, tweet me on 

CllrAndy4Ward8 or e-mail me at cllr.andy.doig@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

Kilbarchan East Church Plant 

Sale and Pancake Morning 

This will take place in the East Church halls, Steeple Square, on Saturday 30 

May from 10-12noon. Although there will be plants for sale, they can be ordered 

in advance by contacting 704502 or any church member will hand on a form. 

This is the perfect time to plant out bedding plants. There will be freshly-made 

pancakes with butter, jam and cream along with tea/coffee. Entrance is £2:50, 

children £1. 

Kilbarchan 

Churches 

The joint Sunday services for 

the churches in Kilbarchan 

during May will be at 11am as 

follows:- 

• 3 May: West Church 

• 10 May: Sacrament of Holy 

Communion, West Church 

11am and 2pm. 

• 17 May: East Church 

• 24 May: West Church 

• 31 May: East Church 

All services will be conducted 

by Rev Stephen Smith. 

Please join us at any of these 

services. You will be made 

most welcome. 

Look out for our stalls on 

Lilias Day. Come and try 

your hand at Tombola, enjoy 

strawberries and cream or a 

refreshing cuppa. Then finish 

the day with a hot dog. 

Organic Fruit & Veg in Lochwinnoch 

The Eat Lochwinnoch Organic Fruit and Veg Delivery Club has re-launched with 

a new, more local supplier! Our new supplier is Locavore which is a Glasgow 

based social enterprise dedicated to local food and making our food system 

more sustainable. They source produce for their boxes as locally as possible 

and some is even grown in their market garden in Neilston. More information 

about Locavore can be found on their website – www. Glasgowlocavore.org 

Deliveries are on a Friday 

afternoon and can be picked 

up from the Heritage Farmer’s 

Market Shop in Lochwinnoch. 

At the moment deliveries are 

fortnightly, but it is hoped to 

offer weekly deliveries in the 

future, if there is sufficient 

demand. 

For further information, or to 

sign up, please contact susie@ 

myleapproject.org or drop into the LEAP office. 

Kilbarchan Beekeepers 

Euphorbia, berberis, cotoneaster, flowering and edible cherry trees and horse 

chestnut trees are all plants that sustain the growing colonies of honey bees at 

this time of year. To do your part in supporting wildlife, leave areas of you garden 

to allow the growth of wildflowers, maybe an area of lawn, so clover, daisies and 

dandelions can grow and feed honeybees and other pollinating insects. 

During May the Beekeepers 

are beginning to monitor the 

hives for signs from the bees 

that may be looking to swarm. 

Usually when anyone hears 

the word swarm, they conjure 

up pictures of bees attacking 

people or animals, unhelpfully 

and inaccurately portrayed by 

films and fiction. When a bee 

colony swarms, it is actually 

just the process of the bee 

colony expanding, and dividing 

the colony, with a part of it leaving to find a new home. During this process 

honeybees are actually so preoccupied that they are gentle and cause no harm 

to third parties (as long as they in turn cause no harm to the colony). Beekeepers 

can actually control the hive to try and prevent swarming, in turn protecting their 

stock, this can be done by many methods, which include preparing a spare hive 

ready to artificially split the colony and moving part of it to the new hive, which 

makes the bees believe they have swarmed and the urge to swarm dissipates. 

To be able to control swarming, beekeepers need to visit their hives every 7 

days. 

To the right is 

a picture of a 

swarm, which is 

a group of bees 

that has followed 

the Queen (using 

her pheromones) 

to a potential 

new site to 

colonise. Anyone 

concerned about 

a swarm of bees should first check that they are Honeybees and 

not wasps by looking at the differences via the Scottish Beekeeper 

Website http://www.scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/swarms.html if you 

are convinced that you do have a swarm of honeybees, and they are in 

an accessible area, contact the number below for advice, and where 

possible a beekeeper with try to attend to remove them or advise. 

Interested? 

If you are interested in beekeeping for yourself or the whole family, 

anyone is welcome. Contact Ian Craig, the Kilbarchan and District 

Beekeepers Association Secretary on 01505 322684 or via e-mail 

beekeeper30@btinternet.com if you would like to know more! You 

could maybe join us over the spring and summer months at one of 

the Apiary Visits to see Beehives and Bee behaviour. The Club has 

spare suits for most sizes and can be arranged if notified in advance. 

Next visit Sunday 10th May with Ian Craig.

Fab Festival 2015!! 


43 43 

This year’s festival was the best ever! Over 1,400 

people attended the different events which started 

with the family poetry writing workshop lead by 

Franzesca Ewart at the RSPB on the 7 March eight 

families took part and their beautiful work was 

judged and performed on the 25th. 

A well-attended event was the ‘Strictly Lochwinnoch’ 

ballroom dance at the bowling club to get us ready 

for the Capitol big band the following Friday. 

The opening of the Art Exhibition in the library was 

a resounding success and John Delaney gave a 

fun and informative opening speech explaining the 

role of the Teenage Cancer Trust which was the 

charity of the art exhibition this year. The quality of 

the paintings was exceptional this year! 

We were entertained on the 19th by the Glasgow 

Theatre guild singing and dancing their way through 

many songs from the shows. 

Susie Lamont’s pupils put on a wonderful exhibition 

of their musical skills in the Parish church on the 

20th while down at the McKillop the Capitol Big 

Band had everyone up on their feet strutting their 

stuff! 

Saturday 21 saw the first of the craft fairs in the 

McKillop so much beautiful crafts on show. In the 

evening we had a sell out for the wonderful musical performances of local Willie 

Gamble, Katee Kross from Bishopbriggs and the unique Karine Polwart. Over 

the weekend the pubs and the Junction cafe had live music for all to enjoy. 

On Sunday the 22 we had the opening of a fantastic photography exhibition at 

Castle Semple by the one and only Vanessa Collllingridge photography another 

first for the festival! In the evening at the Parish church we had ‘A night at the 

opera’ the Melville Quintet played a superb classical collection from Opera. The 

audience were enraptured by opera singers from the RCS Hazel McBain, Eirlys 

Myfanwy Davies and accompanist Paulius Rudokas. 

Monday 23 we had the Lochwinnoch writers 

read from their original work. Then Rowena 

Murray interviewed the well-known author 

Bernard MacLaverty a captivating evening. 

Tuesday 24 morning saw Witches Brew 

(Clare and Pauline) entertain the drop in 

tea bar at the McKillop great singing by 

all! 

The Tuesday evening was a sell out for the 

popular Rock choir local musicians Jade 

Wishart and Cara Dickson (others?) 

On to Wednesday 25 at the RSPB with the 

family poems Witches Brew, Betty McKellar 

and Fran Schoppler what a varied and 

beautiful evening of poetry and music! 

Thursday 26 and Friday 27 saw the Calder Drama perform the Lemonade 

Factory Murders in the McKillop. A fantastic plot by Franzeska Ewart and very 

well-acted by the group again well attended! 

Saturday 28 was a busy one in the morning was Catherine MacPhail the recent 

winner of Scottish children’s writer of 2015 interviewed by Rowena Murray 

a spellbinding speaker straight on to the second craft fir with again more 

beautiful crafts on display. While down at the Parish church there were many 

‘Krafty Kids’ developing their artistic skills. The evening saw a full house for 

‘The Rose Room’ jazz band with lots of dancing too! While down at the Calder 

church the musical production of ‘The Woman at the Well’ with many local 

folk taking part was a great hit. Over the 

weekend again more music in the pubs 

and the junction café. 

The final day Sunday 29 we had four Celtic workshops on the go fiddle Alastair 

McCulloch, mixes instruments with Nigel Gatherer, Accordion with Nickey 

McMichan and percussion with Andrew MacPherson what fun was had and a 

lovely wee concert at the end!. 

The grand finale saw a wonderful closing concert with Lochwinnoch Choral 

Society performing the ‘Choirs choice’ also the junior choir, the Factory Street 

Quartet and the Small Fezzes a wonderful collective demonstration of our local 

talent. 

Over the festival many charities have benefitted the RSPCA £280.20, Finding 

Your Feet £402, Teenage Cancer Trust £690, St Vincent’s Hospice £84.31, 

Johnston high Pupils Borneo appeal £320 and Water project Ethiopia well over 

£60. 

The festival could not happen without the support of our sponsors: 

Renfrewshire Council, Creative Renfrewshire, Anchorage, Education, Calder 

Gallery & Framing, 

Cucina Minucci at the 

Junction, Now and 

Then, Robert Gilmour 

hairdresser, John Wilson 

bakers, Power Doors, 

Penman Chemist, La 

Dolce Vita Cafe, Kuka 

Studios Web design and 

marketing, The Corner 

Bar, Natural Touch 

Beauty Salon, Cut and 

Care Hair Salon, Positive 

Solutions Independent 

Financial Adviser, 

Heritage Farmers 

Market. 

So many people 

have helped to make 

this a ‘Fab Festival’ 

thanks from all the 

committee and thank 

you committee!. Thanks 

to our ‘box offices’ Now 

and then, Calder Gallery 

& Framing and Cucina 

Minucci at the Junction. 

Lastly thanks to all the 

photographers who 

came and took photos 

of the events. 

Morag


Pet Blog 

by PetVets 

Garden Dangers 

Lamont Farm 

Project 

Open Day 

Barrhill Road, Erskine 

30th May - 12 - 6pm 

Attractions will include: Local Craft 

Stalls, Pony Rides, Tombola, Face Painting, Raffle, Pick a Straw, Treasure 

Hunt, Home Baking, Home Made Soup, Ice Creams and much, much more. 

With fun for all the family, come along for a great day out! 

Spring is finally here, with lambs in the fields and daffodils in the garden 

and we’re all enjoying a chance to spend some more time outdoors. 

However, it is important to remember that our gardens can contain some 

potential hazards for our four legged friends. 

Dogs 

Some plants and bulbs are toxic to dogs. Dogs can be attracted to bulbs 

planted in compost, and some dogs enjoy digging bulbs up for fun. Water 

from vases or pots can also contain toxins. Consumption of daffodils, 

amaryllis, hyacinths and snowdrops can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea, 

low blood pressure, liver damage and even seizures within fifteen minutes 

to 24 hours of ingestion. 

Cocoa bean mulch, like chocolate, contains theobromine and caffeine 

which can cause heart problems and seizures. 

Grape hyacinths, tulips, spring crocuses and primroses only cause a mild 

tummy upset if eaten. 

Cats 

Plants to watch out for are the lily family - easter, tiger, rubrum, stargazer, 

Japanese show and daylily. Chewing the leaves of the flowers or grooming 

the pollen from their coats leads to ingestion of the toxin. Water from 

vases or pots containing lilies can also be a source. Lily toxins can cause 

severe kidney damage and can lead to kidney failure. Signs can include 

not eating, vomiting, becoming 

confused or having seizures. 

Others 

Ivy can cause vomiting, diarrhoea 

and excessive salivation in dogs 

and cats that eat it, and contact 

with the vine can result in sore 

eyes and itching. Rabbits that eat 

ivy may also become twitchy or 

even seizure. 

Mouldy compost or mulch can 

contain aflatoxins which cause 

violent tremors and liver damage 

if ingested. 

Enjoy your garden this spring and 

summer but remember to keep a 

close eye on what your pets are 

up to! 

If you suspect your pet has eaten a potentially toxic plant or 

garden product contact us at Petvets for advice.


45 45 

45 

Re-homing Pets 

Can you offer a home to any of our featured pets? 

Falon - 1 year old male 

Domestic cat. 

Beautiful tabby boy 

seeks kind new owner 

who will take care of 

and pamper a poor 

wee boy who is now at the centre for the 

second time. Needs are a home with a 

garden, could possibly get on ok with 

other pets and children and a nice comfy fire to lie in front when I need 

a wee cat nap. 

Starbuck - approx 7 years old male domestic 

cat 

I am a handsome big chap with lots of fur that 

will need lots of brushing. I have lots of love 

to give and enjoy attention. I am looking for a 

home where I can get outdoors to run around 

and wouldn’t mind a home with children. I am 

not sure if I like other pets. 

Cardyke Farm, Langmuirhead Road, Auchinloch, 

Glasgow G66 5LD - Telephone 0141 779 3341 

Tia - a 1-2 year 

old female 

Rhodesian 

Ridgeback - Reference: 284841 

Tia loves to go on long walks and is doing 

well with her new training and learning to 

walk well on her lead as well as getting 

used to other dogs. Tia can be quite weary 

around strangers so is in need of someone 

with large breed experience who can build her confidence. Tia would 

suit a home without young children. 

Daphne is a 1-2 year old female Crossbreed - 

Reference: 288376 

Daphne is a nice girl who arrived in our care 

as a stray and is now desperate to find a new 

home. Daphne can be unsure at first, however 

she comes around very quickly. She would suit 

an adult only home. Daphne is looking for a 

new experienced owner who can give her the 

time she needs to boost her confidence and 

the routine and consistency she needs in her life. 

To contact the centre about any animals, please call 03000 999 999 or 

visit www.scottishspca.org/rehoming 

Sandy - A 8+ year old male 

Labrador Cross. 

Sandy is a fab boy who loves 

to play games. His favourite 

is chasing a ball! Sandy is a worried boy 

in new situations so needs a calm, quiet 

home to settle into, preferably with another 

dog. He needs a secure garden of his own 

to practice training and can live with children 

who are 16 years old or over. Someone who is willing to continue his 

training and give him the space and time he needs to settle in would 

benefit him. 

Victor - a 2-5 year old male Lurcher 

Victor is a handsome chap who loves 

to play games especially with squeaky 

toys. Victor can live with children who 

are 8 years old or over and needs his 

own secure garden to play in. Someone 

who has owned dogs like him before 

would benefit him and help him with his 

basic training. 

Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, 315 Hamilton Road, Uddingston, Glasgow, 

G71 7SL. Open: 12noon - 4pm (including weekends); 12noon- 7.30pm on 

Tuesdays; closed: Wednesdays 

Missing Pets 

Reward For Missing Cat 

Please Help Me 

Find My Way 

Home To My 

Family 

Alphaba (Alpha) is a 2 year old, short 

haired female cat who is small for her age. 

She is microchipped and has the tiniest 

amount of white hair on her neck. 

She went missing from her home in Hillside 

Avenue, Kilmacolm. 

A reward of £100 for her return will be 

given. Please check under sheds and 

around your gardens and if you find her, 

please call 07881 757679. 

Gender: Female 

Age:Young adult 

Breed:Jack Russell Terrier. 

Missing from: Mar Hall Woods, Erskine 

More Info: Black and Tan coat. Missing since 

20th March. 

If spotted or you have any information relating to 

the whereabouts of this dog, please call 07894 

860 481 or 0141 5715470


KHS Annual Coffee Morning 

Saturday 23 May, 10am - 12noon 

The Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm 

Hosted by Kilmacolm Horticultural Society. 

Entry at the door of £3. Come and 

enjoy a friendly morning with delicious 

homebaking at the tables, plus a variety of 

Stalls of interest. Summer bedding plants 

from the Parklea Nurseries, plus Cakes/ 

sweet things, and a popular Tombola will be 

first class attractions. 

SPRING OUTING - Thursday 21 May 

The Spring outing to Dobbies Milngavie and Loch Lomond is on Thursday 

21st May, leaving from the main bus stop at the Cross, Kilmacolm at 1pm. 

Our summer outing to Dumfries House in Ayrshire is planned for Wednesday 

17th June, a full day of activities, leaving the Cross at 9am. For further 

details of all Horticultural Society events please phone Jill Russell on 01505 

872393. 

RSPB Lochwinnoch at Easter 

Everyone had a lovely day in the sunshine - even the birds were singing! 

The children had a 

great time getting 

involved in all the 

events which had been 

organised for them - 

Easter Egg Hunts and 

face painting to name 

a couple. 

Families flocked to 

take advantage of the 

glorious weather, as 

did the birds, coming 

out to feed from their 

feeders. 

EXPERT GUTTER CLEANING 

Nutech Cleaning are proud to announce their latest service of gutter 

cleaning with a vacuum cleaner! This new system is a more effective 

and safer alternative to working from a ladder and removes the 

dangers associated with ladder work. This system is ideal for gutters 

over conservatories that would normally be inaccessible and is 

suitable for flats up to three storeys high. 

The consequences of leaving gutters blocked can be dire with the 

possibility of extensive water damage leading to repair bills running 

into thousands of pounds. Give us a call now for a free quote. 01505 

863 863.


47 47 

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! 

Spring is well underway here at the RSPB Lochwinnoch 

Nature Reserve, and this has been evident with the arrival 

of a number of our summer migrants here at the reserve 

– including the arrival of swallows and sandmartins! We 

have even seen the arrival of an osprey; spotted flying 

over the Barr Loch and Aird Meadow Loch – definitely a sight to keep an 

eye out for! Other exciting recent highlights have 

included otter sightings, with a female and two 

cubs spotted playing out in the Aird Meadow 

Loch, and we have also recently spotted a 

pair of garganey in the pond in front of the 

visitor centre, as well as the continued 

presence of the drake smew into spring 

time! With all of this exciting wildlife on 

the reserve – who knows what we will 

see next! 

ANNUAL PHOTO COMPETITION 

For those of you that love to get out 

and about on the reserve and snap 

fantastic wildlife photographs, we are now 

accepting entries for our annual photography 

competition! There are five categories: 

Landscape; Wildlife; Birds; People; Junior (Under 

15’s) – and all photos must 

be taken on the RSPB 

Lochwinnoch Nature 

Reserve. The entrance 

fee is £4, and the closing 

date for submissions is 

Friday 17 July. Winners 

will be announced on 

the reserve on Sunday 6 

September, with a prize 

for the winning entries!


The Garden in May 

This is the month for nurturing 

everything you’ve planted, 

as flowers and seedlings 

begin to grow strong. It’s not 

too late to sow seeds, either 

– with the danger of frost 

behind us, you can put them 

straight into the ground. This 

is also a good moment to 

plant perennials missing 

from your garden. Before 

you get going, make sure you 

know the ultimate height 

and - just as important 

- the spread of any new 

things you’re planting, 

so you give everything 

room to flourish. Do a bit 

of weeding – little and 

often is best – to keep the 

garden under control. 

Colourful Kilmacolm 

Lengthening days, more warmth, spring bulbs, 

green shoots – the new season is well under way. 

So far we have had snowdrop and crocus flowers 

at the two lay-bys (with more added for next year), 

lots of daffodils at Birkmyre Park, around the Time 

Capsule and at the Piazza, followed by tulips. 

Bulbs and plants may rest over winter, but the committee is always 

looking ahead to new projects. Once again we successfully applied for 

Lottery funding to purchase a planter for the little garden area at Market 

Place. It was delivered in April and is already enhancing what was a rather 

dull corner. We also received a grant from the Keep Scotland Beautiful 

Community Grants Scheme, which was funded by 

Tesco from the sale of plastic shopping bags. Most 

of us now try to shop with reusable bags, but if you 

are still forking out 5p a time, at least you know 

your money is going to a worthwhile cause. With 

this money we have bought two non-perishable 

half-barrels to be placed either side of the bench at the Time Capsule. 

Our latest project is to tackle the sloping ground 

outside the Pullman Diner. Once debris has 

been removed we will plant it up, reusing some 

of our own plants and perhaps buying some new ones, but it is a chance 

to give a home to surplus garden plants. So, if you are dividing plants this 

spring and have some to spare, give us 

a call and we will be glad to take them 

off your hands. It is a surprisingly large 

area, so a lot of plants will be needed. 

To support our work you can join 

Colourful Kilmacolm, 

with the option of 

becoming one of our 

volunteer gardeners. 

Membership 

forms can be 

downloaded from 

our website www. 

colourfulkilmacolm.org.uk or you can 

phone Peter (01505 872448) or Diane 

(01505 872611). Our website also has 

lots of photographs of what we have 

been up to so far. 

Summer bedding plants. Half-hardy 

annuals demand more initial attention 

than the hardy annuals, and must not 

be planted out until all risk of frost has 

passed. But once happily established 

their impact is immediate and their 

flowering long and brilliant. 

The endlessly gorgeous cosmos 

family [illustrated]. These half-hardy 

annuals flower for months on long, 

airy stems and have beautiful feathery 

foliage. They are perfect for borders, 

for containers and also make a good 

cut flower. The flowers attract a 

variety of bees, butterflies and hover 

flies. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to prolong flowering.


49 49 

As I’m writing this the daffodils are in full bloom and even bluebells & 

rhododendrons have started to flower, let’s hope this is a good omen for 

the summer! We have received another fabulous grant from The Scottish 

National Heritage which will allow us to further develop our Ranger services 

and provide addition facilities within the estate. We would like to thank them 

again for their continued support . 

Garden - The month of April was a very busy time in the garden; days 

lengthening, temperatures rising, and the gardens bursting into life. We 

have vast displays of Daffodils throughout the estate with many different types and shades to brighten 

up the spring garden; these will continue to flower well into May. New plantings of Tulips should be 

starting to bud in the courtyard area, camellias are still in bloom and many of our flowering cherry trees 

have lovely shades of pink and white flowers at the moment. 

In the kitchen garden, we have planted our early potatoes; we are growing the variety ‘Swift’, which is 

very early to crop. At Finlaystone we try to keep the use of pesticides to an absolute minimum, and we try 

to implement companion planting if possible; last year we planted summer savoury plants between our 

broad beans, these prevented the black fly from feeding on the fresh shoots of the broad bean plants. 

This year we are trying to increase our snowdrop stock, 

especially in sparse areas of the snowdrop trail, we are getting 

through this task well, but any of you who might enjoy a few 

hours helping to re-plant these bulbs, in a lovely woodland 

setting, will be made most welcome, and the results of your 

labour will be enjoyed by many for years to come. 

Many thanks go to all our volunteers who play a huge part in 

keeping the gardens tidy. If you would like to join our team of 

volunteers either on a regular or a casual basis, then please 

phone reception for more information or apply online. 

We have plants for sale on a regular basis; if you see any 

plant growing in the gardens and would like one, check at reception to see if we have any available, if 

not we may be able to propagate it for you. 

If you have any comments about the gardens, or need advice on a gardening subject then please 

contact Norah at reception, your feedback is appreciated. 

Memberships - As the membership year finished at the end of March, we are now taking renewals 

& welcoming new members. Although the economic climate is not improving we have maintained the 

Family price from 2014. 

Fraser Lang, Head Ranger on behalf of all at Finlaystone 

Carruth, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3SG 

Sunday 31 May - 2pm - 5pm 

Over 20 acres of long established rhododendrons, woodland 

with good bluebells and lawn gardens in lovely landscaped 

setting. 

Directions - Access from B786 Kilmacolm/Lochwinnoch road. 

From Bridge of Weir take Torr Road until you get to the B786. 

Turn right and after approximately 100 yards, garden entrance 

is on the right. 

Entry £4 donation. Marie Curie Cancer Care receives 40%, the 

net remaining to SG Beneficiaries 

Ardlinnhe, 20 Lochend Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1DX 

Sunday 31 May - 11am - 5pm 

Ardlinnhe is an Arts and Crafts house, originally laid out in farmland at the turn of the 20th century for Sandeman, 

the port wine family. The garden was restored in 2009 by 

the landscape architect Luis Buitrago, MLArch. Designed to 

compliment the Arts and Crafts house, the garden surrounds 

the house on four sides and has a natural stream feeding into 

the loch, a Scottish native species woodland area, as well as 

interesting trees and borders planted with species popular in 

the early 20th century. Also in the garden is an original Second World War Anderson shelter which 

visitors may explore. 

Directions - From A809 Drymen Road, turn into Station Road. Turn first left into Pendicle Road. 

Lochend Road is second on left at top of hill. On street parking available. Walking distance from 

Bearsden Railway Station. 

Entry £5 donation includes tea and biscuits. Scottish Association for Mental Health receives 20%, 

LGBT Youth Scotland receives 20%, the net remaining to SG Beneficiaries


“Discovery” To Be Launched - 16 May 2015 

Many thanks to all those who submitted potential names for the new £31,000 Wheelyboat at Castle Semple Loch, which 

will enable those confined to a wheelchair to get out onto the water. 

The name selection panel had to consider around 75 suggestions before deciding that “DISCOVERY” was the most 

appropriate. This was a joint suggestion from 2 ladies at Quarriers, namely Sandra Bao: Learning and Talent Development 

Advisor and Carol Russell: Head of Adult Services, and hopefully they will be able to attend the special launching 

ceremony at Castle Semple Loch at 1pm on Saturday 16th May. 

Double Olympic gold-medal winner Shirley Ann Robertson will be naming and handing over the boat to Muirsheil Country 

Park. 

Pedal the Park 

Pedal the Park took place on Sun 26 Apr. As this 

edition went to print before the event itself we 

hope to have info and photographs to share 

next month. In the meantime thank you to 

everyone who came down and joined us for the 

day, either by taking part in a ride or just visiting 

the event village to see everything going on! 

Easter at Clyde Muirshiel 

We had a wonderful Easter weekend and holiday at the Park with a full set 

of entertainments and some fantastic weather. A lochshore field quiz was 

set up at Castle Semple and enjoyed by many families. Greenock Cut’s 

Eggstravaganza was popular too with children taking part in a mass egg roll 

and parents enjoying coffee and hot cross buns! 

Wanted! Woollen Crafts! 

Are you good with a knitting needle or crochet hook? The Ranger Service 

are looking to put together a ‘craft bomb’ at Castle Semple and need some 

donations! Please hand in anything you can spare to Castle Semple by 

Thursday 14 May. Thank you! 

Spring has Sprung 

Enjoy bluebells and other spring flowers coming out by the end of this 

month as you visit and explore the Regional Park’s trails and tracks. We 

have several events coming up to help you celebrate Scotland’s diverse 

range of wildlife for Scotland’s Nature Festival. See ‘What’s On’ for details. 

Also book now for summer outdoor activity courses! 

Scottish Multi-Class Regatta 

Entry forms are out for the Race 2 the Games legacy event the Scottish 

Multi-Class Regatta on 20 & 21 June 2015. Keep an eye out as our 

local special schools will be down training in our adaptive boats, Hansa 

303s, getting in some practice! Would you like to support or sponsor 

your local special school? Book a corporate table at the Regatta dinner 

taking place on Sat 20 June, up to 12 people for just £450. Email info@ 

scottishmulticlassregatta.org.uk for Regatta info, admin@clydemuirshiel. 

co.uk for bookings enquiries. 

Duke of Edinburgh Programmes 

Clyde Muirshiel is an approved activity provider to deliver Duke of Edinburgh 

programmes. We’re currently working on new opportunities for 14 – 25 year 

olds, no matter what their ability, to do their Duke of Edinburgh at Clyde 

Muirshiel. There are new offerings contributing mainly to the skill, physical 

and expedition sections of the award. Look on our website for details. 

Ride 63 Club News & Ride Out Info! 

A Community Cycle Group ‘Ride 63’ is up and running, next ride out on 

28 May. More info on when they’re going out on their Facebook. Email the 

Secretary at ridesixtythree@gmail.com to become a member or email the 

Park at routes@clydemuirshiel.co.uk for more information. 

CMRP Online 

Keep up to speed with events and activities taking place on the Park’s 

Facebook facebook.com/ClydeMuirshielRegionalPark or Twitter @ 

Clydemuirshiel pages. 

Regular Events 

• Mondays (put not public holidays) - Lochwinnoch Community Walks 

meet 10.30am at The Cross, Lochwinnoch. 

• Weekly Volunteer Groups - Newcomers always welcome! 

• Thursdays Castle Semple Conservation Volunteers, Adult group, 

from 12.30pm-3.30pm. 

• Saturdays Greenock Cut Conservation Volunteers, Adult group, 

10.30am-2.30pm. 

• Sundays Castle Semple Young Volunteers, 12-18 yr olds, 10am- 

12noon. 

Castle Semple 

Sailing Club - 

winter round-up 

Winter Series - The winter series was held over 4 Sundays from mid 

February and each Sunday turned into the survival of the fittest (or maddest!). 

Although we didn’t get snow, every Sunday was extremely windy and wet! 

Week 2 - Despite a very wet and unpleasant ‘stay in the hoose’ type morning 

the sun decided to come out for 1pm allowing for a prompt start. 4 boats 

were up for a race (Xenon, Mighty Vision and 2 lasers). 

Week 3 - The forecast looked reasonable with good winds ...... How wrong I 

was....With the Mighty Vision and the Vortex safely returned from a morning 

sail for a spot of light refreshment prior to the racing, the rest of us - being 

Vago Jon Hasler and Ross W, Laser Ross McGlennon, Laser 2000 with 

Oliver and Alice, a GP no less, first sighting of a GP this year I believe well 

certainly for the winter series and Xenon Steve C and me (Dawn Kyne) set 

out for a quick pre race sail. 

Week 4 - Finally an uneventful race day with no weather dramas - 7 boats 

set out on the water and 7 boats completed the 2 races with the cruising 

section joining the second race 

Winner of the winter series 

First Angus Winchester (and Steve Cochran) Vortex and Xenon; Second 

Brian Young and Alan Falcomer RS “Mighty” Vision; Third Ross McGlennon 

- laser 

Asymmetric Cup - Sunday 5 April - Despite the forecast of very little wind, 

enough wind arrived in time along 

with a lovely blue sky! Although, 

due to the lack of wind at 11am, we 

didn’t get a very prompt start but by 

shortly after 11.30am seven boats 

were launched and ready to go - 

Vortex, RS500, RS Vision, Xenon, 

Vago, Laser 2000 and 405. 

And the winners were......First 

Tom Kelly - Vago; Second Angus 

Winchester - Vortex; Third Steve 

Cochrane and Ross McGlennon 

- Xenon; Fourth Mike and Jamie 

MacMillan - RS 500 (with Jamie also being the youngest participant) 

Social events - In between the sailing we also had a very successful 10 pin 

bowling evening and another curling (courtesy of Greenacres), badminton 

continued throughout the winter. 

Open day and RYA Push The Boat Out - The Club is holding an open day 

on Sunday 17th May - come along and join us. Warm clothing advised with 

change of footwear. Buoyancy aids provided. 

www.castlesemplesc.co.uk


51 51


Bridge Of Weir Horticultural Society 

Windows on Wildlife Update 

The Windows on Wildlife Project aims to bring people closer to wildlife, 

gaining a unique insight to the furry & feathered inhabitants of Castle 

Semple Country Park. Project Officer Hayley Douglas gives us an update. 

Wildlife News 

As I write this month’s news the sun is splitting the sky at Castle Semple 

and all the birds are in song. The chiffchaffs arrived back on the cycle track 

behind the office earlier in the week, the starlings have taken up residence 

in the swift boxes under the tower and I saw my first wheatear this morning 

on the way up to Muirshiel. It’s not just the birds that have decided that 

spring is here. You will notice lots of new plants appearing with the sunshine 

such as dog’s mercury in the woods and lesser celandine on the paths. 

The mammals too have been busy with the two 7 month old otter cubs 

swimming around with mum in the early mornings. On an exciting note, I 

brought the cameras in yesterday from the badger sett and I discovered that 

we have had two new additions to the sett. The two new cubs were filmed 

stumbling about in front of the camera. They are awfully small, maybe only 

10 weeks old, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Tufty is as good a 

mum to them as she was to Rough and Tumble last year. If you would like to 

see the cubs’ first tentative steps out of the sett see - https://www.youtube. 

com/watch?v=idNdtpyfDT8 

More Info… 

Details can be found on the Park’s website www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk or by 

emailing wow@clydemuirshiel.co.uk. Footage can be viewed on the Park’s 

Youtube channel or on the WoW Facebook page. Illustrated talks to groups 

can be arranged. For more information, please contact Hayley Douglas, 

Windows on Wildlife Project Officer – CMRP tel 01505 842 882 Ex 25. 

The April meeting took the format of a Gardeners’ Question Time. Members 

asked the panel, drawn from experts in the Society, how they might resolve 

current gardening problems. 

For a floriferous Magnolia stellata, now too big for its site, the suggestion 

was to move the shrub in November, but prepare for relocation now by 

digging a trench around the root system. This will also encourage the plant 

to produce more fibrous roots. Geums, after 5 years and with no flowers, 

should also be moved, but on a trial and error basis, particularly as the red 

variety was flowering happily in the same location as the recalcitrant orange 

version! Geums do well in moist, but well-drained soil conditions. 

Plants unhappy with soil conditions may be grown in pots, but unlike 

annuals and vegetables, which thrive in containers, perennials and shrubs 

will not like this for long. They will become too warm in summer; too cold 

in winter, pot bound and deprived of nourishment - unless fussed over and 

constantly watered, fed and top dressed with fresh compost. However, for 

plants in pots a liquid feed is the best way to keep these happy and, before 

planting, tease out the roots to ensure they can spread throughout their 

territory. Newer additions to the Peony family are well suited to pots, unlike 

earlier varieties which dislike disturbance, so they can now be enjoyed in 

many more locations. 

Japanese Anemones were rampaging happily through one garden; 

vigilance was the watch word here, along with a fork and a keen eye for the 

plant’s tuberous rootstock system which will spread unless curtailed. The 

thorny issue of pruning was raised and how to keep a 50 year old Holly tree 

under control. The ethos of pruning is to encourage new growth, so despite 

removing superfluous branches, if the root volume remains the same, the 

tree’s inherent desire to survive will result in a burst of new growth so, again, 

watchfulness is key. 

Bulb Show 

Provost Robert Moran and local 

councillors James McColgan and 

Stephen McCabe came along 

to this wonderful event and MP 

Candidate for Inverclyde Ronnie 

Cowan also joined in the fun and 

joined the public celebrating this 

wonderful colourful bulb show. 

Many prizes were given and 

many dancers danced the day 

away, in many colours to various 

different music. 

An indoor plant, liberated from a local plant sale, had rewarded its owner 

by producing numerous pendulous, orange flowers - but what was it? The 

panel conferred and decided it was a little-known Kalanchoe and not at all 

like Flaming Katy, a member of this family and a supermarket favourite. 

Questions ranged from nurturing and encouraging to subduing and, in some 

instances, obliterating the subject altogether, e.g., moss from pathways. 

The answer to the latter is to spray with a proprietary moss killer as, in 

the end, all remedies will have to be reapplied in the eternal battle to have 

gardens tailored to the desires of the gardener and not nature. In Bridge of 

Weir gardeners need patience, vigilance and optimism, but then the sun will 

shine, flowers will bloom and our efforts are rewarded! 

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 14 May at The British Legion at 

8pm. Our speaker will be David Menzies whose talk is entitled “A Plantsman 

in Costa Rica”. This country has demonstrated unparalleled environmental 

sensitivity by setting aside one quarter of its land as protected areas and 

national parks. Visitors and ecotourists 

are rewarded with botanical 

and animal marvels found nowhere 

else on Earth so this promises to be 

an interesting evening. 

The Plant Sale will take place on 

Saturday, 25th May, outside The 

British Legion from 9.30am and as 

always, you are invited to join us 

for both events.


53 53 

The 180th running of Kilmacolm & Port Glasgow 

Agricultural Show will take place in the familiar & 

spectacular setting of the Knapps Loch outside 

Kilmacolm on Saturday 9th May, by kind permission of 

Lord Maclay, Mrs Smith and Robert Baxter. 

There will be hundreds of entries across dozens of 

classes of sheep, cows, horses (light & heavy), & other 

livestock, including small pets in the Childrens Pet 

Show. The Industrial tent will showcase the domestic 

arts &, of course, there will be a Dog Show. We also 

welcome back the Dry Stane Dykers who will be giving 

a demonstration throughout the day, along with St 

Columba School Pipe Band & the May Hughes Dancers. 

There will be exhibitions and fair stalls dotted about, 

along with a range of food outlets, Trade & refreshment 

stands, a bar, & a Prize draw with a spectacular first 

prize. 

Old hands will notice the appearance of a new hard 

track at the main gate to facilitate passage of floats 

from the main road to the livestock pens in the event 

of bad weather. Of course, we will not need it because 

the sun will be splitting the sky - & we look forward to 

seeing you all there for a wonderful day out!! 

The photos are credited to Arthur Boyle, Callum Campbell, Bill Crookston, Elizabeth Foster, Paul Tipping and Dawn Scott 

Off The Wall 

March saw the re-emergence of the West of Scotland Drystone Wallers after their winter 

hibernation. 

First up was the first public training course at Kilbarchan Braes on the weekend of the 

28th/29th of March. 

After a few days of relatively good weather Saturday reverted to type with strong winds 

and heavy rain in the morning. Needless to say, the site soon turned into a mud bath. 

Undaunted the trainees set work with enthusiasm to strip down the old wall and dig out the 

foundation stones. In the afternoon the weather took a turn for the better & quick progress 

was made to reach the half way point where the throughbands were placed. 

The following day the weather improved with the lighter wind helping to dry out the site. 

Those working higher up the hill fared better than those at the bottom and ended the day 

slightly cleaner. With the better 

weather progress was rapid and the wall was soon up to copestone height. 

After a quick lunch the afternoon was spent putting the copes in place and tidying the site. As the 

obligatory group photograph was being taken, the sun finally appeared! 

Despite the terrible 

Saturday weather 

all involved 

had a great 

weekend and 

14 new walling 

“graduates” 

went home tired, 

muddy and 

happy. 

The next open training course will be June 20th/21st when hopefully the 

weather will be better. 

For further information about our courses go to our website http://www. 

wsdswa.org.uk/training


Howwood Primary 

School 

We were all delighted that our P7 quiz team won the 

Primary School Quiz run by the Johnstone Club on 

Wednesday 25th March hosted by Thorn Primary. 

The team members had to answer questions on 

different categories including, Scotland, History, 

General Knowledge, The Human Body and the 

Natural World. This is a particular triumph when 

they were competing against much bigger schools 

and lead from the start. We would like to thank 

Thorn Primary for their kind hospitality and to the 

Johnstone Club for organising the event. 

On Wednesday 1st April, P1 children had a great opportunity to share 

their learning about ‘Fairyland’ and showcase their work with their 

families. The event was opened by our very own school choir singing 

‘Once Upon a Time’. The children then performed two dances relating 

to the ‘Three Little Pigs’ story and then enjoyed various activities in their 

transformed ‘Fairyland’ classroom. ‘ I wish I could go back to school’, 

‘I wish I was only 5 in primary one’ and ‘I wish I had been in a primary 

school like Howwood’ were just a few of 

the fantastic comments from the adults 

on the day. We ended with the children 

singing a selection of songs from favourite 

stories. 

We finished off the term with our annual Howwood’s got 

Talent Show. We had twelve senior acts and five junior 

acts who all demonstrated a huge variety of amazing 

talent. The winner of the junior competition was a young 

groovy dancer and the senior competition was won by 

a rocking drummer who made a real bang! We had our 

own Ant and Dec who hosted and entertained throughout 

the show. This year the judging panel were winning 

pupils from previous years. Well done to everyone who 

entered! 

Lochwinnoch Playgroup 

The Lochwinnoch Village Playgroup is a great way for pre-school children to 

explore their worlds through play, build their confidence, develop social skills and 

independence and most importantly, have lots and lots of fun. 

Playgroup is the ideal stepping-stone between Mother & Toddlers and Nursery. 

With an ever-changing selection of toys and activities, the two qualified and 

experienced play leaders ensure that every child is involved and engaged. Each 

session offers variety and fun including; digging for pirate treasure in the sand, 

fishing with ducks, getting creative 

with paint and crafts, role playing, 

dressing up, examining creepy 

crawlies, and sing-alongs. 

As the weather turns warmer the 

children are looking forward to 

playing in the garden space and turning their hands to some Easter 

themed activities – they are very proud of the wee Easter nests they 

have made! 

On Tuesday 19th May the children will enjoy a Summer Sports Dayan 

open morning of games and activities from 10am-11.30am. All local 

families are invited to come along and join in the fun at our Playgroup 

garden beside the McKillop Institute. We will have races, crafts, face 

painting and lots more so bring the kids along and see for yourself. 

Call Jackie Dock (07887 240635) for further information. Lochwinnoch 

Playgroup, Mckillop Institute, Main Street, Lochwinnoch, PA12 4AJ 

REGULAR 

groups 

every Monday 

Lochwinnoch Baby & Toddlers 

McKillop Hall. 9.30am-11.30am £2/ 

family fee includes tea & children’s snacks. 

St Columba Playgroup 

St Columba Church Hall, Kilmacolm, 

9.30am-11.40am 

Howwood Baby & Toddler Group 

Howwood Parish Church. 10am-12noon. 

Kilbarchan East Tots Club 

East Church Hall. 9.15am-11.30am 

every Tuesday 

Bridge of Weir Toddlers 

Cargill Hall, Lintwhite Cres, BoW 

Pop along and see us from 9.30-11.30am 

Baby Social 

Three Sisters Bake, Quarriers Vill. 11am 

Meet mums, drink coffee & eat cake. 



9.30am-11.40am 

Howwood Playgroup 

Howwood Church Hall 9.45am-11.35am 


St Columba Toddlers 


10am - 11.30am 

For children from birth to 3 years. 

Lochwinnoch Baby & Toddlers 

McKillop Hall. 9.30am-11.30am 

£2/family fee includes tea and children’s 

snacks. 



every Thursday 

Houston Toddlers 

Church Hall, Main Street, Houston 

Pop along and see us from 9.30-11.30am 



9.15am-11.40am 



every Friday 

Langbank Under 3’s 

Church Hall, Langbank 10am-11.45am 

For children from birth to 3 years 

1st & 3rd Friday 

Renfrewshire Inverclyde Twins 

Club 

McKillop Hall, Lochwinnoch 10- 

11.30am 

£3. Bring a mug along for a cuppa.


Primary Schools Quiz 

55 55 

The Johnstone Club, members of which are all former Rotarians, has once 

again held a primary schools quiz. This took place on 25th March in Thorn 

Primary School whose team were the winners of last year’s contest. We 

had a record number of entries with teams from Auchenlodment, Fordbank, 

Howwood, Kilbarchan, Lochwinnoch, St Anthony’s, St David’s and Thorn. 

In a close contest 

the winning team 

this year was 

Howwood. 

Club member Bill 

Miller took on the 

role of quizmaster 

and other 

members acted 

as markers. As 

in previous years 

the event was 

organized by Jim 

Sharp in his usual 

The winning team from Howwood Primary School 

(plus their reserve, on the left) 

efficient manner. A large contingent of parents came along to support the 

teams and all those present were treated to an entertaining and enjoyable 

evening. 

We would like to thank the teams and teachers from all the participating 

schools for their enthusiasm and eagerness to take part in this popular 

event. In particular, we would like to express our thanks to Ms Hazel 

McMillan, Headteacher of Thorn Primary for hosting the quiz and providing 

such a splendid buffet. 

Kilbarchan Community Nursery 

Nomad Music Summer 

Holiday Club 

Running throughout the school summer holidays in Kilbarchan East 

Church Hall. Learn guitar, piano or have a go on the drums, have a 

jam in a band, play awesome indoor and outdoor games, meet new 

friends and have a fantastic time. 

Beginners and non-beginners 

welcome. Sessions for those 

in P1 to P5 and for those in 

P6 to S4. Saturday sessions 

also running throughout the 

year. For full details visit www. 

nomadmusicschool.co.uk. 

In the spring, as part of our topic of ‘woodland animals’ the children 

in the nursery were very excited to have a visit from ‘Owl magic’ 

who brought lots of different owls to show them. The children all 

had the chance to hold an owl wearing a special glove. Later in 

the month, the children took part in a sponsored walk to the park 

in Kilbarchan. With help from parent volunteers, we walked from 

nursery down to the park and still had time to play on the swings 

before returning to nursery. 

The money raised from this 

event was used to fund our 

trip to the RSNO Teddy Bears 

picnic concert in Glasgow. 

As preparation for the visit, 

the children learned about 

different musical instruments 

and enjoyed the visit to the Henry Wood Hall where they all 

brought their own teddy to take part in the Teddy Bears Picnic 

concert. 

Bridge of Weir Primary School 

It wasn’t that long ago when jam-and-coconut sponge and custard constituted a highlight in any primary 

scholar’s week. Not now. “We met a tarantula called Tallulah!” chirruped Holly and Amy, “and a Giant 

African Snail called Gary”. And indeed they did, when P2 pupils’ work on minibeasts came dramatically 

to life thanks to a visit from ZooLab. Tinker the snake was “kind of smooth, but his underneath bit was 

quite hard”. “The tickliest was the giant millipede!” Holly giggled. “We didn’t get to hold the tarantula, 

because if it flicks its little hairs onto you, you’ll be itchy for a week!” 

Also challenging parents’ “yuck” factor was one of the activities P3/2 children were keen their guests 

try out during their recent open morning. Their exploration of the lives of nocturnal animals, through 

“The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark” has led to an astonishing breadth of owlish tasks, but picking 

through the regurgitated pellets of our strigine friends was one of the grittiest. Think compacted, soggy 

tumble dryer lint peppered with * ahem * small rodent bones… 

P7 pupils, however, found themselves in a far more formal atmosphere, when their WWII home front 

studies culminated in a visit to a 1940s stepped classroom at Scotland St. School. “An actress played 

the part of Miss James to show us what life would have been like at school then,” explained Jack. “She 

was really strict. When Gregor dropped a pencil he got shouted at … for real!” 

Jack joined other Walk to School reps Josh and Megan to explain why they’re encouraging their 

classmates to take part in Walk to School Week, 18-22 May, by encouraging them to walk, cycle or 

scooter. Josh and Jack summed up the ecological reasoning, “If there’s less driving, there will be less inconsiderate parking, and less burning of fossil 

fuels.” All three acknowledged that earlier alarm calls might be necessary for some, but Jack countered that there is “less stress in a walk”. They all believe 

in the benefit of fresh air and exercise. As Megan enthused “If you walk, you’ll feel more alive and you’re ready for school when you get there.”


Houston Primary School 

Spring Fun at Midgavin 

Primary 7 Dance 

Following last year’s success, the P7s from Houston Primary School will 

again be starting their Leavers Dance on Tuesday 23rd June at the River 

Inn. They will gather here with their families, receive a complimentary 

refreshment, kindly supplied by Jason Andrews and his staff, and have the 

opportunity for photos before being piped to Houston Primary School at 

approximately 6.30pm. 

Last year the well wishers who lined the route as the children paraded from 

the River Inn to the Primary School really added to the sense of occasion. It 

would be great to see the same support for this year’s P7. 

Abbey Nursery 

Where is the time going – no sooner have we celebrated Easter than 

we are getting into discussion about summer trips, primary schools and 

graduation!!. We did however thoroughly enjoy our Easter activities and 

well done to all the children and parents for their wonder hats this year and 

also to the staff for their great 

efforts. In understanding the 

context of Easter, some of the 

children went to St Fillans chapel 

for a service and we are grateful 

to Fr Denny for the welcome 

they received. 

Spring is here and the children have enjoyed going outdoors to plant our 

new fruit and vegetable crop in the poly tunnel and raised beds. We hope 

to grow potatoes, onions, peas, green beans, strawberries, tomatoes, 

peppers and courgettes over the 

spring and summer months. We 

will use the fresh produce in our 

lunches and snacks at nursery and 

hopefully over the summer we will 

have nice fruit and veg to make 

our very own jams and chutneys. 

The children also enjoy feeding our 

hens and collecting their eggs on a 

daily basis to sell as their very own 

enterprise. 

EASTER FUN 

All children in the nursery took part in many 

fun Easter activities like making Easter 

bonnets and cards. They also enjoyed a visit 

from the Easter Bunny and the Butterfly room 

took part in their very own egg hunt, following 

clues from the Easter Bunny to find eggs 

hidden all around the garden. 

Over the past few weeks our Forest 

School sessions have been really 

exciting for the preschool children and 

the hours spent exploring the woodland 

just fly by with so much opportunity for 

independent learning. It is great to see 

what aspects capture the imagination of 

the children with some choosing to dig 

and collect whilst others build dens and 

look for ‘friendly’ insects. May and June 

will have a big focus on the transition to 

primary school with lots of induction visits 

and discussions with new teachers as well as ensuring the children are 

ready and looking forward to this next step. Parents Night will take place 

on Wednesday 6th May and our Graduation is on Thursday 11th June and 

will be held at Houston Primary School this year due to the large number of 

children involved. 

This month our Ante Preschool 

groups will be discussing 

healthy eating, including growing 

vegetables and herbs and doing 

lots of cooking as well as creating 

new and tasty recipes. They will 

also be buying ingredients locally 

and understanding the value of 

money. 

Over the past few weeks 

Michelle, our cook, has been 

sharing our menu with parents 

and giving them ‘tasters’ of some 

of the wonderful dishes the 

children have a nursery each week. This has gone down really well and 

we are delighted to get feedback from parents to extend the range of menu 

ideas for the future. 

Little Ladybirds have given their garden area a new look with lots of planting 

and outdoor activities as well as the chalkboard and sand play. Children 

have also been involved in lots of baking opportunities 

The Busy Bunnies have been looking at the changes occurring in our 

garden and the new Spring flowers that have been appearing and they 

have created a wonderful wall display of the daffodils. 

Over the past few months we have also been encouraging their interest in 

reusing and recycling and are looking to make puppets from old socks and 

would be grateful if there are any lonely socks or buttons lurking in a drawer, 

then we are the people to put them to good use. 

PEOPLE WHO HELP US 

The Butterfly room have 

been learning about people 

who help us and have had 

lots of visitors come in to see them from the local community. They have 

met the local Policemen, Firemen, doctors, mountain rescue, paramedic 

and a Royal Navy observer. The children have been very interested in this 

topic and excited to meet their visitors at the nursery. After the visits, it’s 

been a fantastic talking point with the children as we discuss who got to sit 

in the Police car and try on the Police hat, the children also got go on the fire 

engine and ambulance. We have some 

fantastic photographs that the children 

have loved showing to their mums and 

dads. 

UNDER 3’S 

The younger children in the nursery 

have been enjoying lots of fun activities 

and outdoor play. The Ladybird room 

had a puddle party where they enjoyed 

jumping up and down and splashing in 

a puddle. 

St Columba School 

Former Pupils & School Matches 2015 

The rescheduled FP and School Rugby and Hockey matches took place on 

Thursday 2nd April. The weather was kind to us and the players enjoyed 

support from both current and former pupils as well as from parents and 

staff. Well done and thank you to all of those who made the effort to come 

along - it was lovely to see you all. 

FP v School Hockey - 0-0 draw. Player of the Match - Laurie Kirkland. 

School Rugby Match – won by Patrick Skirving’s team. Player of the 

Match – Owen Bannatyne. FP Rugby Match - won by Ker Malcolm’s 

team. Player of the Match – Sean Yacoubian


57 57 

St Columba School 

Pipe Band Trip to Armagh 

The St Columba’s School Pipe Band and a large number of family supporters 

had a very busy and successful weekend tour in Armagh City in Northern Ireland 

during which the Band played a leading part in the city’s St Patrick’s Festival. 

Musical highlights included involvement in a one-day Busking Festival – an event 

which saw Pipe Corporal Finlay Frame (SIV) taking the 4th prize of £100 in a 

competition which involved forty-five acts; a concert performance in the auditorium 

of the Marketplace Theatre 

and Arts Centre as part 

of the St Patrick’s Big 

Night Out; and an outdoor 

performance in the grounds 

of the Palace Demesne as 

a support act to the Arco 

Quartet, one of Ireland’s 

leading, professional string 

quartets. 

Beyond this, pupils enjoyed 

a guided tour of the eerie 

Armagh Gaol and were the guests of the Lord Mayor of Armagh, Cathy Rafferty, 

at a civic reception hosted in the stunning, recently restored Armagh Palace. 

Early Years Learning 

St Columba’s is delighted about the positive response to our new 

Early Years offering for children aged 3 and 4 years, which will begin 

in August 2015. If you would like to find out more or to arrange a taster 

visit please call us on 01505 872768. www.st-columbas.org. 

Debating Champions 

Congratulations to Katie McLean 

(SVI) and Jessica Curry (SIV) who 

took home the prestigious ESU 

International Schools’ Mace trophy. 

The ESU Schools’ Mace is the oldest 

and largest debating competition in 

the United Kingdom, and more than 

600 schools enter each year. The 

Scottish final took place at Glasgow 

University on Wednesday 25th March 

where Katie and Jessica successfully 

debated ‘This house believes 

that religions and religious figures 

are legitimate targets for political 

cartoonists to satirise.’ 

On 11th April our debaters competed 

in the final in Ireland where they went on to successfully propose 

the motion ‘This house believes that stay at home parents or carers 

should be paid a working wage’, defeating England in the final. We 

are very proud of Katie’s and Jessica’s achievement, this is a great 

accomplishment indeed. 

Exciting Times 

Major upgrading of the existing science faculty has been well 

underway since Easter to create six modern laboratories and to make 

improvements to the fabric of the building. At our Junior School site the 

outdoor setting will soon be even better - to allow us to make the most 

of the leafy campus both for play and learning, improvements to the 

Junior School playground are now well under way. To view the plans 

please follow the link on earlyyears.st-columbas.org.


Duchal Nursery School 

Langbank Playgroup 

Watch out for the new young footballer and tennis stars at Duchal Nursery!!! 

Through the Greenock Morton Community Trust in partnership with the Early Years Quality 

Improvement Management Team we had a fantastic football taster session for all the children at 

nursery. This partnership aims to encourage children to choose exercise as a healthy way of life. 

It was so successful we have a weekly session planned for the rest of the summer term. 

As well as football we have been learning 

to play tennis thanks to Strathgryffe Tennis 

& Squash Club’s own coach, Derek Brown, 

coming along to our weekly PE lesson and 

introducing the kids to racquet sports and 

hopefully inspiring the next Scottish tennis 

champion! 

In addition to all this physical activity we were 

very honoured to have our own appointment 

at Dorema Surgery thanks to Dr Luty and 

Sister O’Rourke. Having checked in with 

the practice manager, the children had an 

extremely hands-on and informative time 

being both the doctor and patient, using 

various medical equipment to check they 

were all fit and healthy. Then finally paying a visit to the local chemist to collect “their prescription”!!! 

Many thanks to all at Dorema Surgery and Boots the Chemist, 

As you can see we have an action packed time at Duchal, learning through play in a friendly secure 

environment. If you would like to find out more about what we do at Duchal please come and visit 

us one morning - contact Head Teacher Jean McCarthy on 874358 to arrange a convenient time 

or keep up to date with all the latest news on our website duchal.com 

Here we are in our best “huffy” pose as instructed 

by Lisa of Graffiti Dance Troupe who ran a recent 

session for Langbank Playgroup. Her session was 

very fast paced and full of cool moves and well done 

to all the children who took part with great enthusiasm 

and could certainly strike a pose or two. We have a 

busy summer term coming up with visiting our friends 

at Langbank Primary and Sports Day plus hopefully 

getting outside to the swingpark. 

OPEN DAY: Don’t forget our Open Day on Friday 8th 

May from 10am - 11.30am and our Chair, Jacqueline, 

is always available for any enquiries on 01475 540728 

for children to attend from August. Langbank Playgroup 

is situated in the Village Centre on Middlepenny Road 

and operates on a Friday morning in term-time. 

Pamper Night 

at GHS 

Friday 13th March 

turned out to be a 

lucky day indeed 

for over 100 ladies 

who attended Gryffe 

High PTA’s pamper 

event. 

The dining hall was transformed into a 

sea of pink tablecovers and balloons 

whilst the music from Mamma Mia 

resounded as ladies of all ages 

chatted, shopped and indulged in 

a variety of beauty treatments. Lots 

of lovely Mothers Day gifts were 

available including Benefit makeup, 

handbags, jewellery, scarves as 

well as delicious cupcakes. The PTA 

had a range of stalls selling foldup 

shoppers, Mothers Day gift bags, a 

chocolate fountain and of course a 

fantastic raffle. 

Thanks to the outside vendors who 

donated prizes for the raffle as 

well as several local businesses 

including ‘Laura’s Nail & Beauty 

Lounge’ & ‘Tranquil’, both in Bridge 

of Weir, ‘Divah’ in Houston, ‘Arlene 

Mitchell Hair & Beauty’ in Kilmacolm 

and ‘Twisted Willow’ in Kilbarchan. 

Many thanks also to the ladies & 

younger ladies who supported the 

event and helped raise the fantastic 

sum of just over £900 which will 

go directly towards enhancing the 

education of the pupils . 

Thanks also to the PTA members 

who set up, manned the tables 

and cleared away at the end of the 

evening. Looking forward to next 

year! 

Gryffe High BBC News 

School Report Day 

Gryffe Media Team take part in BBC News School Report 

Day and report on the Solar Eclipse. 

The Carrick Centre provided the ideal place for the young 

members of the Media Team to interview locals about the 

Eclipse (which was happening the next day). The Gryffe 

Quilters were 

also meeting 

at the Carrick 

Centre and the 

members were 

most obliging when asked if they would mind being interviewed for BBC 

News School Report Day. It was a great experience for the budding 

journalists and allowed the pupils to recognise weaknesses (and 

strengths) in their questions and techniques. 

The Media Team had been following the hard work of the Science Club in 

their preparations for Eclipse day. John Pressly from Coats Observatory 

had made a special visit to the school (complete with his amazing solar 

telescope) and shown the pupils how to make special safe solar viewing 

filters. On Eclipse day, we were very lucky in Houston to catch a very 

good view of the eclipse and the solar filters made it very easy to see the 

changing shape of the visible sun. 

Our grateful thanks to the Carrick Centre, the Gryffe Quilters and John 

Pressly for all of their support in making this venture such a great 

experience for the pupils. 

GHS Spring Concert 

The recent Gryffe High School Spring Concert provided a 

musical feast for parents, friends and family in the school 

theatre. 

Pupils performed a wonderful range of music. The 

Orchestra, Jazz Band, String Group, Concert Band and 

Choir produced lovely tones of a mix of classical and 

popular music. 

The Young Musician winners took the opportunity to excel 

once again in their instrument. There was an S6 duet of 

vocals and guitar and the night was aptly finished with 

‘Time to Say Goodbye’. The many hours and hours of 

practice throughout the year of the 80+ pupils who took 

part was all worthwhile.


Port Glasgow High School 

‘YES’ Success for DRAM PRODUCTS of Port Glasgow High School! 

A huge ‘well done’ 

to our S6 team for 

sweeping 3 awards at the 

Renfrewshire Area Board 

of the Young Enterprise 

Scotland finals at the 

Normandy Hotel, Renfrew 

on the 18th March 2015. 

The 12 young people 

formed their company 

in September and 

promoted their products 

to the school and surrounding community. They sourced wood from a 

local cooperage in the form of old whisky barrels. They sold half barrels 

as garden planters and curved staves (the vertical planks making up the 

barrels) were drilled to create “candle bridges” – arched wood with spaces 

for 5 tea-light candles. During this time they learned the value of team work, 

quality control to maintain customer satisfaction and the huge challenge of 

working to deadlines. 

At the Normandy Hotel the team had to produce a Display Board (and 

talk about it), submit a detailed Business Report and Financial Statement 

within a strict deadline and deliver a Power Point Presentation involving 

a maximum of four, within 4 minutes. As you would expect – they were 

absolute stars***. 

They lifted a trophy for the Most Innovative Company 2015; Best Inverclyde 

Company 2015 and were Runner’s Up in the category Best Business 

Report 2015 which also involved Matthew McKechnie (Company Managing 

Director) and Alistair Robertson (Finance Director) being grilled by a team 

of judges for seven very long minutes! 

Dram Products: Matthew McKechnie, Christopher Coumparoules, Ally Gaw, 

Matthew Burns, Rebecca McDiarmid, Alistair Roberston, Cameron Crighton, 

James Finlay, Christopher Palmer, Hadyn Potter, Amy Gilmour & Amber 

Russell. Special mention goes to Stuart Cummings who has supported the 

team as an unsung Transport Manager and Stock Deliverer/Collector and 

Mrs Lorna Anderson their Link Teacher! 

Adventure Day Out 

For Festive Fundraisers 

High School of Glasgow pupils enjoyed a great day out at Paradise Island 

Adventure Golf thanks to their fantastic fundraising efforts for Quarriers. 

Throughout December, Quarriers Festival of Choirs sees schools, churches 

and community groups singing carols and festive favourites at Princes 

Square shopping centre in Glasgow to raise funds Quarriers. 

This year, Paradise Island Adventure Golf, based at Soar Intu Braehead, 

made Quarriers its charity of the year, and kindly offered complimentary 

tickets to the school choir who raised the most money. High School of 

Glasgow’s singers 

put on a fantastic 

performance and 

raised £985 in an 

hour. 

The group enjoyed 

their prize at 

Paradise Island 

on Monday 30 

March, and were 

welcomed by 

mascot Maggie 

McCaw. 

Mrs Waugh, 

Headteacher at High School of Glasgow, said “The High School of Glasgow 

have been a part of Quarriers Festival of Choirs for the last 10 years and 

always enjoy supporting the charity through the event. This year was extra 

special as the choir and helpers were treated to a trip to Paradise Island 

Adventure Golf, Glasgow. We have a great day out and all the pupils loved 

meeting Maggie McCaw.” 

For more information about Festival of Choirs and becoming a corporate 

supporter of Quarriers, contact community@quarriers.org.uk or call 01505 

616054. 

Champion of Champions 

Semi Final Names 

Paisley Golf Club is once again 

hosting the Renfrewshire Golf Union 

Boy’s Champion of Champions. 

The course is in great condition so 

early in the season and the boys 

are finding the greens fast and 

true. Eight players had fought their 

way to the quarter finals and, in 

perfect conditions, they all played 

impressive golf as they tried to reach 

the last four. 

First on the tee and, as it transpired, 

last off the course were Greenock’s 

Paul Dorrian, just back from the 

States, and Steven Leighton 

from Kilmacolm. Steven shocked 

everyone by getting to four up, but 

Paul fought back to be only one 

down after eleven where a par was 

good enough. The match was all 

square on the sixteenth tee and Paul birdied that hole to go one up. On 

the eighteenth green he had a 

three foot putt for the match but 

missed it and extra holes were 

required. Both the players parred 

the first and second extra holes 

and Steven chipped and putted for 

a par at the long third. Paul then 

slotted a long putt for a birdie and 

a place in the semis. 

Next up were Lochwinnoch’s 

champion, Fraser Lawrie and 

Lewis Breslin who represented 

Fereneze. Fraser was never ahead 

in this match as Lewis played 

immaculate golf and finished the 

game at the fourteenth, five and 

Lewis Breslin 

four. 

Erskine’s Andrew McColl then had 

the challenge of Jack Crawford from Mearns Castle and it was the youngster 

who was ahead at the turn. Andrew 

pulled it back to all square by the 

thirteenth but a careless chip at the 

fourteenth green meant that a par 

from Jack was enough to regain his 

lead which he consolidated and won 

two and one. 

In the fourth match, Callum Elliot 

from Whitecraigs was up against Old 

Ranfurly’s Jamie Stewart who had 

Elliot Callum 

Paul Dorrian 

Jack Crawford 

recently represented Scotland in an 

international match at Archerfield where 

he won all six of his games – a daunting 

prospect for Callum. However, he had his 

Sunday best game with him and, by the 

turn, he was two up. Jamie reduced that to 

one by the thirteenth but a great approach 

from Callum at fourteen gave him a well 

earned birdie. This was enough to see off 

one of the favourites at the sixteenth. 

The semi finals – Dorrian v Breslin and 

Crawford v Elliot will be played at Paisley 

Golf Club on Friday at 5pm. 

59 59


1st Lochwinnoch BB Open Race 

We had a very windy day for the Open Race this year which didn’t put off our 

intrepid runners who all did extremely well running round a hilly course into a 

headwind! 

The winners of this year’s trophies and 

medals are: 

Senior Approx 8.9k 

1st male - David Marshall - 31m 12s. 

1st local male - Benjamin McKinley 

- 35m 44s. 1st male vet 40+ - Marc 

Blane - 37m 29 s. 1st male vet 50+ 

- Nigel Walker - 42m 51s. 1st female 

- Lorna McLaren - 42m 24s. 1st local 

female - Sarah Kilday - 46m 24s. 1st 

female vet 35+ - Shonah Thom - 48m 

23s. 1st female vet 45+ - Suzi Moorby 

- 52m 36s. 

Juniors Under 16 Approx 6k 

1st boy - Ryan Brown - 23m 34s. 2nd 

boy - Alexander Curran - 23m 56s. 

Juniors Under 12 Approx 3k 

1st boy - Andrew Winter - 8m 52s. 2nd boy - Alec Bassand - 10m 57s. 1st girl - 

Annie Kane - 11m 12s. 2nd girl - Emily Brown - 14m 15s 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the stewards who ably contributed 

to the smooth running of the race and the all the runners who did themselves 

proud. Well done to everyone! 

Zumba Kilbarchan 

On 30th March Zumba Kilbarchan, who meet every Monday night in Kilbarchan 

West Church Hall, held a Charity class for the Scottish Association for Mental 

Health (SAMH) raising £1,072 which was matched by Diageo. 

The event was part of Scottish Ambulance Service employee Neil McDonald’s 

year of challenges following the loss of a friend and it received tremendous 

support through ticket, raffle and home baking sales. A special thanks to all 

who attended or donated including Pamela Nixon Scentsy Consultant and LK 

Beauty Room for our lucky ticket and Grand raffle prizes. Look out for future 

Zumba Kilbarchan classes supporting local groups! 

Gourock Highland Games 

On Sunday 10th May, from 12noon until 6pm, Gourock Park starts off the 

Highland Games season with a bang as hundreds of drummers, pipers, heavies 

and highland dancers from across 

the country come together to 

compete in the Gourock Highland 

Games. 

An important date in the Scottish 

calendar, it’s the first games 

after the winter and a chance 

to celebrate sports, music and 

dancing outdoors against the 

scenic backdrop of the firth of 

Clyde and Argyll hills beyond. 

At this year’s Gourock Highland 

Games, now in their 59th year, 

there’ll be pipe band and drum major competitions; highland dance competitions; 

heavyweight events; mini highland games; children’s entertainment; food, gift 

and craft stalls – a great day out for all the family. 

Kilmacolm’s PGA Professional 

Iain Nicholson at Houston 

Primary 

Race For Life 

PGA Professional Iain Nicholson 

recently ran a 4 week block of 

golf tuition for the P4s at Houston 

Primary School. 

Show cancer that hell hath no fury 

like a woman in pink by taking part 

in one of our 5k events around 

the country. 5k is an achievable 

distance for all abilities, so unite in the fight against 

cancer with us this year by signing up now. You also have the choice to do 10k 

or a ‘Pretty Muddy’ course too. Simply go to the website at www.raceforlife. 

cancerresearchuk.org and register now. 

SUN 10 May - 9.30am - Glasgow Green 5k. SUN 17 May - 9.30am - Irvine 10k. 

SUN 17 May - 11.30am - Irvine 5k. SUN 20 June - Various Times - Glasgow 

Bellahouston Park - Pretty Muddy Obstacle Course 

There are almost 300 Race for Life events across the UK, so you’re sure to find 

one that suits. You can walk, jog or run - it’s up to you. 

Brookfield Tennis Club 

starts 2015 season 

New members are very welcome. For further information please contact Peter 

Fraser on 01505 335728.

REGULAR 

meets 

every Mo n d a y 

Ki l b a rc h a n Athletic Cl u b 

On-X, Li n w o o d, 7p m 

All abilities welcome. Tel: 07941 686990. 

5-a-s i d e Fo o t b a l l 

Po w e r l e ag u e Pa i s l e y 6p m 

Tel: Jim Bretherton 01505 874215; or 

jimbretherton@aol.com 

Br i d g e o f Weir La d i e s Ba d m i n to n 

Ca r g i l l Ha l l, Lintwhite Cr e s, 7.30p m 

Ca l l a n e t i c s 

Bro o k f i e l d Village Ha l l, 7.15p m 

Strathgryffe Mo t o rc yc l e Cl u b 

Th e Tr u s t In n, Ki l b a rc h a n 9p m-10.30p m 

Visit www.strathgryffe.org for details. 

Th e Sh o t o k a n Ka r at e Cl u b 

Wo o d l a n d s Pr i m a r y Sc h o o l, Li n wo o d, 7p m - 8p m 

& 8p m - 9p m. 

www.linwoodkarate.co.uk 

every Tuesday 

Br i d g e o f Weir Wa l k i n g Gr o u p 

Ou t s i d e t h e Co-o p, BoW 10.30a m 

1 hour walks. Call Senga on 0141 842 3000. 

Gryffe Ba d m i n to n 

Strathgryffe Te n n i s Cl u b, 8p m 

Fo o t b a l l Tr a i n i n g 

Jo h n s t o n e Hi g h Sc h o o l 6p m-9p m 

Call Ali on 07775 578795 for details 


Greenock Ho c k e y Cl u b 

In v e r c ly d e Ac a d e m y Sc h o o l, Greenock, 6.30p m- 

8p m 

Contact Liz Baldwin, mobile 07944 607005 


Br o o k f i e l d Village Ha l l, 5.15p m, 6.15p m & 

7.30p m 

every Th u r s d a y 

Ki l b a rc h a n Athletic Cl u b 

On-X, Li n w o o d, 7p m 

All abilities welcome. Tel: 07941 686990. 

Kilmacolm Wa l k e r s 

Bi r k m y r e Pa r k Pavilion, Kilmacolm 10a m 

Tel: David Goddard 01505 874192 or email 

kilmacolmwalkers@talktalk.net 


Bro o k f i e l d Village Ha l l, 9.15a m & 10.30a m 

Th e Sh o t o k a n Ka r at e Cl u b 

Wo o d l a n d s Pr i m a r y Sc h o o l, Li n wo o d, 7p m - 8p m 

& 8p m - 9p m. 

www.linwoodkarate.co.uk 

Fo o t b a l l Tr a i n i n g 

Jo h n s t o n e Hi g h Sc h o o l 6p m-9p m 

Call Ali on 07775 578795 for details 

every Fr i d a y 


Bro o k f i e l d Village Ha l l, 9.15a m & 10.30a m 

every Sa t u r d a y 

Ad u lt Ta p Lessons 

The Ca r g i l l Ce n t r e, Ki l m ac o l m. Sa t u r d a y 

l u n c h t i m e. 

Call Gail Ashley on 01475 531336 for details 

every Su n d a y 

Bi r k m y r e Ru g b y Cl u b, Kilmacolm 

Yo u t h Ru g b y Se c t i o n 11a m-1p m 

www.pitchero.com/clubs/birkmyre - New players 

and coaches welcome 


Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club 

Houston football club score a 

£500 cash boost 

Houston United, a newly formed youth team which trains at the On-X Sports Hub 

in Linwood has been handed a cash boost after local MP Jim Sheridan secured 

a grant of £500 from the UK Parliamentary Football Club (UKPFC). 

Jim Sheridan MP who is also Treasurer of the UKPFC said, “The members of the 

Club recognise the need to encourage growth of our game at grassroots level 

and helping local youth clubs where we can. The Club has been making awards 

to youth clubs around Britain and I am pleased that I was able to help secure 

funding for a Club here in Renfrewshire.” 

Jim Sheridan MP was joined 

by local Councillor Stuart 

Clark when he presented 

the cheque for £500 to Club 

organiser Pat McFadyen 

and his son Josh who plays 

for the Club. 

Mr McFadyen said, “The 

Club are very grateful to Jim 

Sheridan and the UK Parliamentary Football Club for this donation. It will be 

of great help to us as work to offer first class football experience and build the 

football skills of young people in Houston and the surrounding areas.” 

Councillor Stuart Clark said, “I applaud the initiative of the UK Parliamentary 

Football Club in making these awards and stimulating grassroots football. As 

one of the local Councillors for Houston, Crosslee and Linwood I am always 

delighted when local groups and Clubs get a boost. I’ll be doing what I can to 

help support Houston United and I’m grateful to Jim Sheridan for securing this 

donation for the club.” 

Ladies’ Open 

Stableford 

Competition 

Sporting Blogby Lesley Handley 

The Dark Side of Stress 

When it comes to changes in body composition, stress 

can be one of the most important, yet neglected, 

contributing factors. Stress is a very common issue 

these days and it can have a negative impact on the 

body in many ways, including being one of the factors 

that can hinder fat loss in many people. 

When you get stressed your body’s mechanisms and 

functions essentially start to slow down and stop 

functioning correctly. Your digestive system gets affected 

preventing nutrients from getting to cells, the nervous 

system slows leaving you more susceptible to illness 

with fat refusing to shift whilst muscle refuses to grow. 

The simple fact is that the human body was not 

designed to deal with massive amounts of stress, which 

is becoming more and more common in everyday life. In 

today’s fast paced world, a situation has been created 

that sees people being faced with constant ‘stressors’ 

that put you in to a continual “fight or flight” mode. 

This causes numerous hormone imbalances that alter 

your metabolism and lead to detrimental changes in 

Some of the 

ladies of 

Old Course 

Ranfurly Golf 

Club enjoying 

an evening of 

cheese and 

wine. Great 

fun was had 

by all. 

‘Calling All Lady Golfers’ 

to Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club on 

Thursday 2nd July. 

• Fabulous Fairways 

• Gorgeous Greens 

• Louise’s Luscious Lunches 

• Positively Perfect Playing 

Partners 

What more could you want? 

Entry fees £16 per couple (cheques 

made payable to OCRGC). Final entry 

date - Friday 26th June 

Contact: Managing Secretary, The Old 

Course Ranfurly Golf Club, Ranfurly 

Place, Bridge of Weir. PA11 3DE. Tel: 

01505 613214 

Brookfield 

Bowling Club 

The 2015 Bowling season is back 

in full swing and runs through to 

September and new members are 

always welcome. Contact Jim Fletcher 

on 01505 321031. 

health over time. It can lead to blood pressure remaining 

elevated, continued elevations of cortisol that increases 

inflammation, imbalances in immune function, disrupted 

metabolism, elevated blood sugar and cardiovascular 

stress. 

In order to avoid the above issues and allow the body to 

function optimally it is important to try and keep stress 

levels low. Everyone will have their own way of relieving 

stress and certain things that will relax them. I am finding 

more and more people come to the gym to help relieve 

stress and get a break and time for themselves. Some love 

to lift weights, others run on a treadmill. A few of my clients 

love when they have a few rounds of boxing with gloves and 

pads. Whatever way it is that you want to relive stress, you 

will find it helps in more ways than you think in benefiting 

your health and sometimes essentially your waistline. 

Lesley 

For more information on Personal Training, exercise or nutrition 

contact me on 0773 627 4925 or e-mail Lesley@fitsmartfitness. 

co.uk or visit my new website at www.fitsmartfitness.co.uk for 

more personal training options. 

61 61


Time to Gather Your Team for 

the Annual Golf Day Fundraiser 

We are delighted to invite you to join us again for the Annual Golf Fundraiser 

at Kilmacolm Golf Club, a fun event to raise funds to provide financial support 

for children who would not otherwise be able to access a St 

Columba’s education and to provide hardship support for 

school families. 

The competition will be held on Thursday 28 May in a Texas 

scramble format, shot gun 9am start. The entry fee is £360 

per team of four players which includes tea/coffee and a 

bacon roll on arrival, a meal after the competition and, of course, prizes! The 

event is open to all - if you would like any further information please contact 

Sara Bishop at sara@eastcoastlets.co.uk. We look forward to your support and 

hope that you can join us for what will be a memorable and fun event at the 

same time as raising funds for this worthwhile cause. You can read more news 

at www.st-columbas.org 

Getting Into The Swing Of Things 

Kilmacolm Golf Club, Porterfield road, Kilmacolm 

Last year Rory McIlroy called for golf to widen its appeal. One club who has 

risen to that challenge is Kilmacolm Golf Club. Their free coaching programme, 

Introduction to Golf, has proved extremely popular with all ages. 

The club’s PGA professional, Iain 

Nicholson, has been running free 

sessions at local schools and in the 

community where women, men and 

children of all ages have been taking 

part. 

He said: “Golf needs to adapt to the 

time pressures of modern family life. 

Some parents, as individuals, aren’t 

always able to commit the time a 

game of golf traditionally requires – instead they are looking to spend quality 

family time with their kids. Although, if time is an issue, where playing a full 18 

holes of golf is not an option, the layout of Kilmacolm golf course lends itself to 

many natural shorter games.” 

He continued: “These sessions have been really popular 

as mums and dads have been having great fun learning 

a new sport together.” 

One family who 

has been doing 

just that is 

father and son, 

James Simpson 

and 9 year old 

Euan. James 

said: “We’ve 

had great fun 

together at the 

Monday night sessions and Euan has 

been taking part in the free coaching sessions at school too so he has been 

really keen to show me what he has been learning.” 

Jim Hood, Club Captain said: “If people are looking for a new challenge, want 

to get healthy and active, keen to meet more friends or spend quality time with 

their family, then golf offers it all.” 

Another group the sessions have 

been popular with are women. 

Eleanor, Alison, Rosie, Margie, 

Heather and Helen have all been 

getting into the swing of things, 

learning how to drive, chip and putt. 

Rosie Murray from Bridge of Weir 

said; “It’s been fantastic. I used to watch golf on TV but never had the nerve to 

try it. Iain is great at taking you through the different shots. I just can’t wait to 

get out there now!” 

The initiative has proved to be such a success that more are planned for 

future. If you fancy taking part then you can register your interest by emailing 

iainnicholson@tiscali.co.uk or if you want to get started now, the club is offering 

an Introduction to Golf membership for adult beginners or returners and also 

offers junior membership too. Full details can be found on the website www. 

kilmacolmgolfclub.co.uk, or by calling Ian Johnston, Managing Secretary on 

01505 872139. 

Junior Coaching at 

Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club 

Around 30 youngsters, aged from 4 to 14, turned out during the Easter holidays 

for four coaching sessions with our level 1 coaches, Suzanne Smith, Danny Dyer, 

Fiona MacPhee and 

Marion Downie. 

The sun shone for 

the duration, and 

a great time was 

had by all. We had 

tiny tots putting 

and chipping 

while some of our 

improving juniors 

worked on their 

long game. It was 

great to see such 

enthusiastic participation. Watch out for details of the summer camp which will 

run at the start of the school holidays. 

Ranfurly Castle Golf Club 

It has been a busy start to the golfing season for the Ladies of Ranfurly Castle. 

It started with the Annual Bridge evening on 18 March where 21 tables enjoyed 

an evening of Bridge. A splendid supper was provided by the Ladies Committee 

and the raffle raised £200 for the Samaritans Charity. 

Winners of the Slam prize were Isabel MacCallum and Judy Spalding. 1st prize 

for the evening went to Anne Jenkins, 2nd prize Vivien Howe and 3rd prize Tom 

Anderson. The Winter Greensome for the Carvic Rose Bowl was played on 23rd 

March where the winning pair were Joy McLeod(26) and Chris Minto(35) with 

38 points. Runners Up were 

Jan Macnab(15) and Sheila 

Biggart(14) with 37 points. 

Easter Monday saw 18 

ladies turn up to play in a fun 

competition. 

Hunting for hidden bunnies 

was part of the fun, but it 

was the greens, at times, 

that were playing hide and 

seek! At lunch the ladies were 

sporting their Easter Bonnet 

Creations and the winner of the Best Creation was Helen Crichton. 

The winning golf team consisted of Anne Judge, Helen Dunn and Vicky Rennie 

with the Runners Up consisting of Sheila Biggart, Pamela MacKenzie and Alison 

Robertson. 

The first medal of the season was played on Wednesday 8 April in glorious, 

sunny, calm conditions:- Scratch Winner - Denise Cowan - 84; Silver winner 

- Mary Craig(12) 74; Silver Runner up - Pamela MacKenzie(16) 75; Bronze 

Winner - Chris Minto(35) 73; Bronze Runner up - Eleanor Cannon(24) 75 

On Saturday 11 April, 40 Ranfurly Castle Gents Members enjoyed a ‘US Masters’ 

Evening with comedian Joe Camay. The evening was arranged by Captain 

Alan Gordon and he ensured it was a big success. A Buffet of American style 

food was enjoyed while soaking up the T.V. coverage of Golf from the Masters 

Tournament at Augusta and a golf related quiz took place with novelty prizes 

awarded to the winners. 

The club has recently 

purchased a selection of new 

equipment which will assist 

the work of Head Green 

Keeper James Parker and his 

team in keeping the course 

in top class condition with 

greens, thought by many, to 

be the best in Renfrewshire. 

Modifications to the course 

have been taking place over the winter months to ensure it is an enjoyable 

experience for all abilities, whilst adding to the challenge for the more 

accomplished players. 

Flexible membership packages for all categories remain available, without any 

joining fee, so please contact the Club Secretary Ronnie Carswell on 01505 

612609 or, Professional Tom Eckford on 01505 614795 if you are interested. 

Email secranfur@btconnect.com if you have any questions or wish to arrange to 

visit the club. Web site - http://www.ranfurlycastlegolfclub.com


Strathgryffe Inter-Schools 

Tennis Tournament 

The annual Inter-School Tennis Tournament was won by Houston Primary for the 

third year in a row. The competition which is a joint venture by both Strathgryffe 

Tennis & Squash Club and Active Schools Renfrewshire was held on Thursday 

19 March on the indoor courts at Strathgryffe. 

A team of coaches from Strathgryffe 

had previously delivered a four week 

block of coaching sessions free of 

charge to all P6 pupils at Bridge 

of Weir, Houston and St Fillan’s 

Primary Schools. A team of 8 boys 

and 8 girls were then selected to 

represent their school and participate 

in a round robin doubles league with 

points being awarded at the end of 

each round to each winning couple. 

Susan Weanie, Tennis Development 

Manager commented ‘We have a 

great relationship with the local 

schools. The coaching team visits 

them regularly to deliver taster 

sessions, which has resulted in 

many of the pupils now attending 

our coaching programme.’ 

Details for the new summer tennis 

programme is now available and 

has classes for both children and adults. For more information please visit our 

website www.strathgryffe.net or contact Head Tennis Coach, Derek Brown on 

01505 615301 or email derekbrown@strathgryffe.net 

Dan Maskell Tennis Funding 

Strathgryffe Tennis & Squash Club hosted a Tennis Festival for 5 (ASN) Additional 

Support Needs schools in Renfrewshire : Clippens, Kersland, Mary Russell, St 

Pauls and St Anthonys’. This event came at the end of an eight week programme 

of tennis activity delivered 

in the schools by coach 

Brian Knox. 69 pupils 

accompanied by their 

staff all took part in varied 

types of activity at 8 work 

stations where they were 

enthusiastically assisted 

by 30 students from West 

College Scotland and coaches Brian Knox and James Reid from Strathgryffe 

Tennis Club. The programme was supported by The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust 

and Tennis Scotland in partnership with Active Schools Renfrewshire and 

Strathgryffe Tennis Club and a very big thank you goes out to all of them. 

Lanzarote Beckons Swimmers 

Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club (IASC) is a non-profit making, competitive 

swimming club. IASC has 130 members, age 7-18, some with disability, from all 

over Inverclyde. The club is managed by volunteer parents, supported by paid 

and volunteer coaches. It achieved quality standard SwiMark in 2012 and is 

affiliated to governing body Scottish Swimming. 

IASC is planning an overseas training camp in October 2015 to allow selected, 

motivated athletes to intensify their training in a world class sports environment. 

20 top swimmers aged 11-15 will participate (including 2 deaf swimmers who 

have competed at national level). Training in a 50m outdoor pool for technique 

and endurance along with extensive land based training will boost swimmers’ 

capability for the competition season, with the goal of qualifying for district, 

national and international events. The camp represents an ambitious financial 

commitment by club families and extensive fundraising is underway to reduce 

the costs of flights, accommodation, board, insurance, clothing and equipment. 

Activities so far include Race Nights, Bag Packing, Raffles, Rag Bags, Coffee 

Morning, football cards, tombolas, Lucozade “Get Kit” label collection and 

pursuing grant support. Any further financial, sponsorship or in-kind support, 

such as equipment, for the trip would be very much appreciated. Please contact 

Dawn Bliss (secretary@inverclydeasc.co.uk or 07867-750756) if you can help 

these young athletes achieve their swimming goals. 

Celebrating 125th Birthday 

Kilmacolm Tennis Club 

To commemorate this very special event and the honour of being one of 

Scotland’s oldest tennis clubs, the club is offering a reduced membership 

fee for the first year to the first 25 adults and the first 25 juniors to join the 

club. Adults will pay just £125 (compared to £162) and juniors will get a 25% 

discount on our already very competitive rates which start at just £25 for age 6 

and under (discounted rate). 

If you are tempted to take up this special offer but haven’t played before or it has 

been a while since you picked up a racquet, the club is offering taster sessions 

on Mondays and Saturday afternoons at 12.30pm. Racquets are available. 

The Club’s official opening day is on Saturday 2 May at 2pm so please come 

along and enjoy some refreshments, get to know us and try your hand at a 

game of tennis. If you miss 

us on the 2nd, you can come 

along to a taster session or 

to our weekly social tennis on 

Wednesday nights at 7pm or 

Saturday afternoons at 2pm. 

Everyone is welcome no matter 

what standard you play. 

For anyone young or old who 

has played before and keen to improve their play, our coach Melissa Stewart 

offers a range of coaching for all levels as well as school holiday camps for our 

younger players. We have 3 gents and 3 ladies teams competing in the West of 

Scotland Summer League and are always looking for new team members. 

We run lots of events throughout the year from super leagues in the autumn 

and winter to fun tournaments in the summer, our family barbecue and winter 

end of season Ceilidh. Watch out for details of our 125th birthday party and 

charity tennis marathon with Judy Murray on Saturday 25 July. 

Meantime, if you would like more information on our SPECIAL OFFER or have 

any questions please email our Club Secretary Sian - sian@nicolkilmacolm. 

freeserve.co.uk or visit our Facebook page for lots of pictures and more 

detailed information. Please come and join us and help Kilmacolm Tennis Club 

celebrate its 125th birthday with a swing! 

63 63


Trades and Services 

ADVERTISING 

business ad rates: 

TRADES & SERVICES 

Black & White ads only 

Lineage: up to 20 words £12.00* 

Boxed ad: £6.60* per column cm 

PROPERTY & HOLIDAY HOMES 

CARS FOR SALE 

Lineage: up to 20 words £12.00* 

Boxed ad: £6.60* per column cm 

Photo: add £6.00* (colour) 

*all prices subject to VAT 

Business 

SITUATIONS VACANT 

Experienced receptionist / 

manageress wanted for 

busy Hair & Beauty Salon. 

Part time basis, Wed - Sat, 

09.00 - 16.00. 

Please contact Tulip Hair 

Design on 01505 615960 

for further information. 

MUSIC TUITION 

MISCELLANEOUS 

TUITION 

Dr. Fraser Scott BA(Hons) 

BSc(Hons) MSci(Hons) PhD 

CBiol MSB MRSC MInstP 

MIMA. Maths, Chemistry, 

Physics and Biology Tuition. 

Email: fraser.j.scott@strath. 

ac.uk 

HEALTHCARE/BEAUTY 

Kilmacolm/Quarriers area registered 

childminders. P/time or 

F/time vacancies for u-5’s and 

after school. T: 873839. 

CHILDCARE 

Houston registered childminders. 

For an informal chat to 

find your best childcare, call 

Elizabeth Waddell T: 614925 

CONTENT OF THE GRYFFE ADVERTIZER CANNOT 

BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT 

FROM THE PUBLISHER 

The Gryffe Advertizer is a magazine published by The Gryffe Advertizer Ltd 

Advertising throughout The Gryffe Advertizer: 

Definitions: “Standards” means the British Code of Advertising Practice 

and the provisions of any law applicable to advertising including, but not 

limited to, the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, the Consumer Credit Act 

1974, the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988, the 

Financial Services Act 1986, the Business Advertisement (Disclosure) 

Order 1977 and all amendments and replacements. 

It is hereby agreed that: 

• The placing by the Advertising Client of an Advertisement is deemed to 

be acceptance of these Conditions of Acceptance of Advertising. 

• All Advertisements in this Publication must not contravene the 

Standards. 

• Insertion of Advertisements and/or Editorial is strictly at the discretion 

of the Publisher. 

• The Publisher shall not be liable for any loss or damage incurred by the 

Advertising Client as a result of any failure, negligence or omission by 

any party in the course of the distribution or circulation of the Publication 

in which the Advertisement is scheduled to appear. 

• In the event of any error, misprint or omission by the Publisher in 

the printing of an Advertisement, the Publisher will either re-insert 

the advertisement, adjust the cost or provide a refund. This does 

not apply if the Advertisement has been approved by the Advertising 

Client prior to publication. The total liability of the Publisher for such 

an occurrence shall not exceed the amount of a full refund for that 

particular Advertisement. 

• The Advertising Client agrees to indemnify the Publisher in respect 

of all costs, damages or other charges falling upon the Publisher as 

the result of legal actions or threatened legal actions arising from the 

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included in the Advertisement. 

Editorial throughout The Gryffe Advertizer: 

The opinions of the Contributors to this Publication are not necessarily 

the official views of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to edit 

or refuse any material submitted for publication.


DEADLINES 

If you want something placed in the 

next issue either send an email to: 

info@advertizer.co.uk 

or call the office: 

01505 613340 (24hr ans) 

Fri 15th May 

JUNE‘15 ISSUE: 

• Deadline: 15th May 

• Delivery: 29th May 

JULY ‘15 ISSUE: 

• Deadline: 12th June 

• Delivery: 26th June 

PROPERTY 

PROPERTY FOR SALE 

HOLIDAY 

HOMES 

65 65 

LOCAL INFORMATION 

community council 

Visitors are welcome at these monthly meetings. 

BISHOPTON: Primary School: 1st Thurs at 7.30pm www. 

bishoptoncouncil.com 

BRIDGE OF WEIR: Cargill Hall: 1st Tues at 7pm. Next 

meetings: 03 Feb, 03 Mar, 07 Apr, 05 May, 02 Jun 

www.bridgeofweir.org 

BROOKFIELD: Brookfield Village Hall: 7.30pm in 

February, April, June, August, October and December 

on 2nd Thursday of the month. 

HOUSTON: Carrick Centre: 3rd Wed at 7.30pm www. 

houstoncommcouncil@yahoo.co.uk 

HOWWOOD: Village Hall: 2nd Tues at 7.30pm. www. 

howwood.com/community-council.php 

KILBARCHAN: Steeple Hall: monthly at 7.30pm. www. 

kilbarchan.info/community_council.html 

KILMACOLM & QUARRIERS: Last Tues at 7.30pm, 

Kilmacolm Cargill Centre (NB: No meetings: July or 

Dec) www.kilmacolmcc.co.uk 

LANGBANK: Church Hall: 2nd Wed at 7.30pm 

LOCHWINNOCH: Parish Church: 1st Tues at 7.30pm 

community halls to let 

Bridge of Weir, Freeland Church. Tel: 612245 

Brookfield, Village Hall. Tel: 320497 

Houston, Carrick Centre. Tel: 612203 / 331488 

Houston, Compass Centre. Tel: 615441 / 612617 

Kilbarchan, Guide Centre. Tel: 702758. 

Kilbarchan, Old Library Centre. Tel: 706070 

Kilmacolm, Cargill Centre. Tel: 873994 

Kilmacolm, Brownie/Guide Hut. Tel: 873488 

Kilmacolm, Masonic Hall. Tel: 873059 

Linwood Masonic Hall. Tel: 07825 222944 

Please add your community hall details to our list - 

email to info@advertizer.co.uk 

local councillors 

RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk 

Ward 7 - Johnstone South, Elderslie & Howwood: Cllrs 

John Caldwell, John Hood, Stephen McGee and 

Iain McMillan 

Ward 8 - Johnstone (North), Kilbarchan & Lochwinnoch: 

Councillors Derek Bibby, Andy Doig and Christopher 

Gilmour 

Ward 9 - Houston, Crosslee, Brookfield & Linwood: 

Councillors Stuart Clark, Audrey Doig, Anne Hall 

and Allan Noon 

Ward 10 - Bishopton, Bridge of Weir & Langbank: 

Councillors Maria Brown, Mike Holmes and James 

Maclaren 

INVERCLYDE COUNCIL: www.inverclyde.gov.uk 

Ward 1 - Inverclyde East (P.Glasgow, Kilmacolm and 

Quarriers Village): Cllrs David Wilson, Jim MacLeod, 

Stephen McCabe and James McColgan 

The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977 

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS 

The Law requires that Advertisers selling goods in 

the course of a business MUST include the word 

Trader, Dealer, Agent, Breeder or appropriate 

wording in the Advertisement to distinguish from 

private advertisers. 

churches 

BRIDGE OF WEIR 

Freeland Church: Rev KN Gray 

BA BD. Morning Service 

10.30am. Crèche, Sunday 

School, Lynx and Cornerstone. 

Eveing Service 7pm 

www.freeland.org.uk 

St Mary’s Church Scottish 

Episcopal Church: Delighting 

to praise God; Showing 

Christ’s love; Growing in faith. 

Services Sundays at 10am. 

we have a regular cycle of 

prayer for those who live and 

work in Bridge of Weir. The 

dates of prayers for local 

roads are as follows: 3 May, 

St Andrew’s Road. 10 May, 

St George’s Terrace. 17 May, 

St Machar’s Road. 24 May, St 

Mungo Court. 31 May, Station 

Road. For further information, 

to ask for special prayers, or 

in pastoral emergency, please 

call the Rector on 01475 

705378 

St Machar’s Ranfurly 

Church: Rev Suzanne 

Dunleavy BD DipEd. Sunday 

services 10.30am. Hearing 

aid loop system. www. 

stmacharsranfurlychurch.org. 

uk All welcome. 

Hope Hall: Sun 1pm Sunday 

School, 4.30pm Gospel 

Service; Mon 6.30pm 

Investigators for Kids, 8pm 

Bible Study and Prayer. 

From the Baha’i writings: “Be 

a preserver of the sanctity 

of thy pledge.” For details of 

meetings call 615641. 

ELDERSLIE 

Elderslie Kirk: Sunday service 

every week at 11am. Minister - 

Rev Robin Allison. All welcome. 

Weekly meetings:- Monday 

Club every week from 12noon 

- 2.30pm. Light lunch and a 

varied activity programme. 

Midweek Fellowship will meet 

every Wed from 10.30am for 

Tea/Coffee followed by a short 

Service of Worship at 11am. 

HOUSTON 

Houston Baptist Church 

at Carrick Centre: 11am 

Family services with SS for 

children age 5-12; 6pm Eve 

Service; Mid-week Home Bible 

Study; For more information 

contact; Rev D Snelson 01505 

612722. 

Houston and Killellan Kirk: 3rd 

May 9.45am Early Service: 

The Sacrament of Holy 

Communion. 11am Morning 

Worship. 10th May 11am 

Morning Worship. www. 

houston.nazarene.org.uk 

St Fillan’s, Main St, Houston: 

Sun Masses: Vigil (Sat) 5pm, 

9.30am & 11am. Weekday 

Mass: Tues-Sat 9.30am except 

Thurs, 7pm. Reconciliation: 

Sat 10-10.30am and after 

Vigil Mass; Thurs 7.30-8pm. 

Exposition: As announced. 

Baptisms: 1st & 3rd Sunday 

of the month by arrangement. 

Parish Priest: Rev Daniel J 

McLoughlin, Dip.Th.,MA 

Pastoral Assistant: Sr Mary 

Frances Collett, RNDM (Tel 

01505 613514). “Abbotsfield”, 

St Fillan’s, Main St, Houston, 

PA6 7EL. T: 01505 612046, 

F: 01505 610556. E: parish@ 

stfillan.org.uk. www.stfillan. 

org.uk 

HOWWOOD 

Howwood Parish Church: 

Sunday Service will start at 

10am and there will be a 

prayer meeting at 3 Bowfield 

Way on Fridays at 7.30pm. 

KILBARCHAN 

Services at 11am and in the 

East and West Churches as 

intimated in the Kilbarchan 

Column. All services conducted 

by the Rev Stephen Smith. 

Creche, Junior church and 

FEWsion/Bible Class meet at 

10.45am. Midweek Fellowship 

in the West Church Session 

House on Wed’s at 10.30am. 

follow The Advertizer on 

twitter and facebook 

for regular updates 

t: @GryffeAds 

f: www.facebook. 

com/GryffeAds 

KILMACOLM 

St Colm’s Catholic Church, 

Smithy Brae Kilmacolm. 

The Very Rev Canon 

William McDade. Family 

mass Sundays 10am with 

children’s liturgy followed by 

tea and coffee. Weekly rosary 

Tuesdays 6.30pm, prayer 

group Thursdays 7.30pm. 

Eucharistic service Thursdays 

10am. Mass on Holy Days 

7.30pm. All welcome. 

Information about parish 

events/contact details at www. 

stcolmsparish.co.uk 

Kilmacolm Old Kirk: Church 

of Scotland (Charity 

no. SC009291).www. 

kilmacolmoldkirk.org.uk. 

Minister Rev Dr Peter McEnhill 

(01505 873174). Morning 

Worship - Sundays 11am, all 

welcome Sunday School & 

Crèche available. 

St Columba Church of Scotland: 

(charity no SC007992) Minister 

Rev Douglas Cranston. Morning 

Worship Sundays at 11am. 

Wednesday break 10.30am. 

Thursday Bible Study 7.30pm 

– 8.30pm. Thursday Prayer 

Meeting 8.40pm – 9.15pm. 

Holy Week Services will be 

held each evening from Mon 

30 Mar to Fri 3 Apr at 7.30pm, 

in the large hall, Bridge of 

Weir Road. Speakers are : Rev 

Douglas Cranston, Rev Alistair 

Horne, Rev Gerry Middleton, 

Rev Jonathon De Groot. Come 

and join us as we remember 

and rejoice in the death and 

resurrection of the Lord Jesus 

Christ 

Gospel Services: Scout Hall, 

Kilmacolm - Sundays 4.30pm, 

Thurs 7.30pm. 

St Fillan’s Episcopal (Anglican) 

Church: All welcome to our 

church in Moss Road. 

Buddhist meetings: Buddhism 

of Nichiren Daishonin. Phone 

Margaret on 01505 871343 

LANGBANK 

Langbank Parish Church: Rev 

Andrew McLean. Sunday 

Services 10am with Sunday 

School, Creche and young 

people’s group, the Welcomers. 

Tea/coffee after the service. 

Church service starts at 10am. 

Come along and meet in the 

Hall from 9.50am. Charity No 

SC015085. 

LOCHWINNOCH 

Parish Church: Rev May Bell. 

11.30am Morning Service with 

Sunday School and Crèche. 

Calder United Free Church: 

(Church St Lochwinnoch) 

Sunday: 11am Morning 

worship with Sunday School 

and Crèche. 6.30pm Evening 

Fellowship group, 7.30pm 

ABC’s Teen group. Wed 

6.30pm-7.30pm. 

Spiritualist Church,Lochlip 

Rd: All services commence 

7.30pm. 

QUARRIERS 

Mount Zion Church: Law View 

Road, Quarriers Village. Rev 

Andy Lunn BSc, 10.30am with 

Junior Church and Bible Class. 

Wednesdays prayer and bible 

study at 7pm. Fridays prayer 

and bible study at 10am. Why 

not come and discover the 

heart of Christianity with us? 

If any organisation, such as a 

Church Guild or Rotary, were 

interested in having a speaker 

from ‘Mercy Ships’, Helen 

Dunbar, a registered speaker 

from ‘MS’ would be happy to 

come along and tell all about 

their work. Please call Helen 

on 01505 690495 if you are 

interested or need any further 

information.


Items For Sale 

Baby Equipment 

Travel cot with extra folding 

mattress as new £20 ono. Tel: 

07936 386806. 

Chicco folding high chair blue/ 

multi exc cond £20. Hardly 

used (Grandparents) can 

arrange meeting. Tel: 07936 

386806. 

Safety gate (Metal) extendable 

73-80cms,good cond with 

all fittings. £12 Tel: 01505 

612779. 

Mammas & Pappas High/low 

chair, in good cond, only 

requires new seat cushion. 

£25. Tel: 01505 612779. 

Britax Booster Seat, good cond, 

£3, Tel: 07954 364125. 

Britax Kids front facing car seats 

(2 off), universal 9kg-25kg, 

5pt harness up to booster 

seat, sell individually or together, 

£15 each, Tel: 07876 

585391. 

Mamas and Papas Omni Nursery 

Furniture White. 2 cot 

beds (converts to lower toddler 

bed) incl. mattress cover, 

cot pillows, cot duvets, bed 

guards (pink) and changer/ 

dresser (unit top changer, 3 

drawers and large cupboard), 

Sell for £175 the set ono. Will 

sell separately. Good cond. 

Tel: 01505 874870. 

Clippasafe Walking Harness 

and Reins Pink (2 pairs), all 

as new, £2 each. Tel: 01505 

874870. 

Stair gate Lindam white, fits 

opening from 75 cm - 100 cm, 

wall mounted VGC. £20. Tel: 

01505 874870. 

Britax Baby Safe Car Seat 

black, height adjustable, suitable 

fr birth until appr. 2 yrs 

old, 5 point safety harness 

works with 3-point seat belt, 

Britax Babysafe Belted Base 

or Britax Babysafe Isofix 

Base. Exc cond. £20.Tel: 

01505 874870. 

Trikes - unisex colours, good 

condi, £15 (two different 

ones). Tel: 01505 874870. 

Britax Car Seats black forward 

facing x 2, one with 5 point 

harness, 15-36 kg, good 

cond. £20 each. Tel: 01505 

874870. 

Mamas & Papas Fresco Cot/ 

Bed with mattress, two bamboo 

fitted sheets and Instruction 

manual. Exc cond. £50. 

Tel: 07932 641733. 

Mamas & Papas 03 Sport Swivel 

Wheel Jogger Pushchair 

with rain cover, under basket 

and Lascal Maxi Buggy Board 

already fitted! VGC. £50. Tel: 

07932 641733. 

Graco Umbrella Buggy, ideal for 

travelling. Good cond. £15. 

Tel: 07932 641733. 

clothes & shoes 

Hollister Shirt. Mens. Size small. 

Blue and white checked. 

Hardly worn. £15. Tel: 01505 

610293. 

Hollister Sweatshirt. Dark grey. 

Mens size small. Hardly worn. 

£18. Tel: 01505 610293. 

Household & Garden 

HSL 3 Seater Settee (Arizona 

Sand). 3 months old. Was 

£1,100 new, 1st offer of £350. 

Collect from Kilbarchan. Tel: 

07702 498722. 

Large piece of Axminster Carpet, 

Brand New from Frasers. 

Natural colour 6’x12’. 

80/20. £75 ono. Tel: 01505 

506385. 

Oak console table in immaculate 

condition, including 2 

small drawers with silver handles. 

Size 77cmx28cmx75cm. 

Cost £250 accept £40. Tel 

01505 690658. 

Storage unit, pine, staircase 

style, Ikea, with plastic storage 

boxes, ideal for kids toys, 

£10, Tel: 07876 585391. 

Cast aluminium, maintenance 

free garden chairs in black 

finish. Brand new. Set of four 

£45 and set of six £60. Can 

deliver locally. Tel: 01505 

610024. 

Double divan bed and mattress 

with luxury cream headboard 

and drawers. Exc cond, virtually 

unused. £150. Tel: 07920 

724503. 

Single divan bed and mattress 

with headboard and drawers. 

Exc cond, virtually unused. 

£90. Tel: 07920 724503. 

Two bronze ceiling chandelier 

light fittings. 3 lights and 4 

‘candle’ style lights. £50. Tel: 

01505 614128. 

Dining suite, 8 chairs and sideboard. 

Cherrywood. Immaculate 

condition. £450 ono. 

Tel: 01505 690807. 

FREE: Green leather chesterfield 

style sofa. Tel: 01505 

872442. 

FREE: 4x pine kitchen chairs, 

rounded backs. Tel: 01505 

872442. 

6x IKEA dining chairs, birch 

legs, upholstered padded seat 

and back. Have been covered 

since new so VGC. £20 each 

or £100 for all six. Tel: 01505 

872442. 

Water tank, heating coil fitted. 

£30. Tel: 0787 656 3768 

Bar stools - set of four - cream 

leather with backs, swivel, 

4 st/steel legs & footrest. 

£60ono. Tel: 01505 872442. 

GO Outdoors 3 Pole Mini Windbreak. 

Brand new, never used. 

£10. Tel: 01505 872442. 

Flymo multi trimmer, flymo vac, 

barrow, fork and spade. £60. 

Tel: 01505 614503. 

23 Paving Slabs 60cm square. 

Good cond. Offers for pick up. 

Tel: 01505 872827. 

Flymo glider 330. Hardly used. 

£60. Tel: 01505 872537. 

Large garden parasol, canvas 

and wood. £35. Tel: 01505 

703238. 

Nest of tables. set of three with 

glass inset. 0787 656 3768. 

Electrical & Gas 

Bosch Fridge/Freezer, frost 

free, 3-drawer freezer, VGC, 

teenagers force sale. £100 

Tel: 0787 656 3768 

19” LG Colour TV. Boxed. 

Exc Cond. With Stand, wall 

bracket & remote. £50. Tel: 

07852 947624. 

Netbook: Acer Aspire One D270 

LU.SGA0D.018 10.1 inch 

- BLUE (Intel Atom N2600 

1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, 320GB 

HDD, LAN, WLAN, Webcam, 

WiFi, Windows 7 Starter) £80 

ono Tel: 01505 872442. 

‘Fridgemaster’ Freezer. 3 drawer. 

Under Counter. H 33” x W 

20” x D 20”. £35. Tel: 07969 

569643. 

Small under work top fridge. 

£10. Tel: 01505 703238. 

Pets 

Renault Metal Dog Screen for 

2002 onwards Laguna Estate. 

Renault product. Good cond. 

Cost £80 Sell for £20. Tel: 

01505 329049. 

Two lovely house bunnies looking 

for a new home. White 

and grey, 11 months old. 

Both female. Indoor cage 

and accessories provided as 

well as outdoor run. Make 

great family pets. Tel: 07921 

709205. 

FREE: Hamster cage. Plastic 

base, wire sides and top, 

wheel, house and two platforms, 

water dispenser and 

food bowl. £15. Tel: 01505 

872442. 

Fluval Roma 90 tropical fish 

tank. 24” long, 18” deep, 14” 

wide complete with Maple 

wood cabinet. Fully stocked 

and planted. All accessories 

included. £60. Tel: 01505 

672474. 

Sports 

Horse riding ankle boots. 

Brown. Size 5. £5. Tel: 01505 

610293. 

Fly Rod & Reel Line. Sharpes. 

10’0” 6/7. 4 piece travel rod 

& tube. £60. Tel: 07517 

447946. 

Fly Rod & reel Line. Shimmano 

Compre. 9’9” 7/8. two piece. 

£30. Tel: 07517 447946. 

Raleigh bike black/ orange 

wheels VGC suit 5/6yrs. £35. 

Well looked after. Tel: 07936 

386806. 

Junior golf clubs including trolley. 

Exc cond. £55. Tel: 07775 

695095. 

3 wheeled bike (red) with 

safety straps and steering 

handle, great cond. suit 

2/3yrs. £30ono. Tel: 07936 

386806. 

“Cupcake bicycle” with 10” 

wheels and removable stabilisers, 

in almost new condition. 

Suitable for 2-4 year old. 

£30. Tel: 01505 612779. 

Golf Trolley, good cond. £10. 

Tel: 07954 364125. 

Golf Bag, slim, lightweight, as 

new cond. £10. Tel: 07954 

364125. 

Golf Balls & Tees, 150 golf balls 

& bundle of tees. £15. Tel: 

07954 364125. 

Dunlop Peter Thomson golf 

clubs, 8 irons, 2 woods. £15. 

Tel: 07954 364125. 

Vintage Gents Raleigh Superb 

rod brakes hub gears enclosed 

chain green 23” frame 

rear carrier like new £250 

bensloch@hotmail.com Tel: 

07791 688240. 

LadiesATB Bicycle 17” frame 

VGC. High quality “Falcon” 

£60. bensloch@hotmail.com 

Tel: 07791 688240. 

Vintage Gents RUDGE bicycle 

rod brakes dynohub hub 

gears enclosed chaincase. 

£100. bensloch@hotmail.com 

Tel: 07791 688240. 

Vintage Dutch Gents Bike 24” 

frame hub brakes. £100. 


07791 688240. 

Confidence Fitness Vibrating 

Plate. As new. Unwanted 

Gift. £75. Tel: 07802 810194 

or 01505 612986. 

Butterfly Table Tennis Table. 

Reasonable Cond. £150. 

Includes net and bats. Tel: 

01505 614128. 

Emsmorn Ladies Bowling Skirt. 

Size 14/30”. Grey. 4 Pleats. 

Exc Cond. £10. Tel: 07914 

310916. 

Dawn Ladies Bowling Skirt. 

Size 14/30”. Grey. 4 Pleats. 

Exc. Cond. £10. Tel: 07914 

310916. 

Emsmorn Ladies White Bowling 

Jacket/ sweatshirt. Zip front. 

Size Large. Exc. Cond. £8. 

Tel.: 07914 310916. 

Black Riding Hat. Size 7 (57). 

Gatehouse Airflow Derby 

RH31/06. £40. Tel: 07785 

232675. 

Table tennis table with net. Butterfly 

rollway/foldable full size 

suitable for indoor/outdoor 

use.First class cond; (selling 

due to house move) £120 

ono. Tel: 01505 612006. 

Accoustic Guitar suitable for 

age 8-14 yrs hardly used. 

exc cond. £30. Tel: 01505 

612006. 

Stagg Electric guitar (black/ 

white) and Marshalls amp 

hardly used and in immaculate 

cond. Suit age 8-15 

years. £80 ono. Tel: 01505 

612006. 

York Fitness full size treadmill 

with incline and various programme 

options. VGC. hardly 

used; easy to dismantle cost 

£400 will sell for £100 ono Tel: 

01505 612006. 

Full size pool table in good 

order, but needs some new 

string pockets. Also cues, 

triangles and balls all in 

good condition. Selling due 

to house move. £75 for lot 

or will sell separately. Tel: 

01505 612006 

ADVERTISING 

sales & wants ad rates: 

UP TO £200 ....... FREE 

£201 to £500 ..... £5.00 

£501 to £1000 ... £10.00 

OVER £1000 ..... Call for details. 

Use our Sales & Wants form below and 

post to The Gryffe Advertizer, Neva Place, 

Bridge of Weir, PA11 3PN. 

or email your items to info@advertizer.co.uk 



The Law requires that Advertisers selling goods in the course 

of a business MUST include the word Trader, Dealer, Agent, 

Breeder or appropriate wording in the Advertisement to 

distinguish from private advertisers. 

Ladies Bike: Raleigh Voyager. 

with front suspension forks 

and suspension seat-post. 

£50 Tel: 01505 872442 

Mountain Bike: Muddy Fox Voltage. 

Suit 12-16yo. £50 Tel: 

01505 872442 

Toys/Games/DVD 

FREE to collect small easel 

blackboard with lines one side 

and white/magnetic board the 

other. Has small clock and alphabet. 

Comes with magnetic 

letters and numbers. Good 

condition. Age 3yrs+. Tel: 

01505 350283. 

Kids scooter, exc cond, ideal for 

kids age 6-9. £5. Tel: 01505 

690658. 

Full Nintendo Wii Bundle, 

boxed. Exc Cond. Inc Wii, 

remote, Nunchuck, Wii Fit 

Board & 4 Just Dance games 

& 1 Zumba Belt Game. £60. 

Tel: 07852 947624. 

Brand New Samsung Galaxy S5 

Mini, still in box. £200. Tel: 

07788 135221. 

Bouncy Castle, 7ft x 6ft approx 

(constant air flow) suitable 

for young children. £50. Tel 

07557 410441. 

5ft x 5ft Wooden outdoor play 

house with veranda. Requires 

dismantling and a new 

Perspex window. Otherwise in 

vgc. £70 Tel: 07557 410441. 

Metal Seesaw. £10. Tel: 07557 

410441. 

Nintendo Dsi games: Barbie 

Groom & Glam Pups, Fashion 

Dogs, Drawn to Life, My Pet 

Dolphin 2, Art Academy, My 

Sims, Princess on Ice. All age 

3+. £5 each or £25 for bundle. 

Tel: 01505 872442. 

FREE: Wii Fit board. Used, 

but still boxed and in good 

working order. Tel: 01505 

872442. 

8ft trampoline with enclosure 

for sale. One year old great 

condition. £60. Tel: 01505 

359715. 

Other Items 

Kampa Standard 12V to Mains 

Adaptor. Brand new, still 

boxed, never used. £10 Tel: 

01505 872442. 

Homedics vibrating seat unused 

still in box £35 ono. Tel: 

07936 386806. 

Three bike carrier. As new. £20. 

Tel: 07517 447946. 

Acetylene Welder, complete 

with tubes - hardly been used. 

£50ono. Tel: 01505 690763. 

4 joiners cramps, like new, 2 x 

6ft, 1 x 5ft and 1 x 4ft. £50 

the lot or offers. Tel: 01505 

690763. 

Hatchbag Bootliner for 2002 

onwards Renault Laguna 

Estate. Custom fitted and in 

good cond. Cost £85. Sell for 

£20 Tel: 01505 329049. 

Paint Roller with Telescopic 

Handle (Ideal for high ceiling) 

with new 12” roller and folding 

pasting table. £10 for both 

or will sell separately. Tel: 

01505 874949. 

Household Heating: Brand 

New Baxi Windermere gas 

fired cast iron stove. £100. 


07791 688240 

Mobile Phone: Blackberry 9900 

Smartphone unlocked perfect 

working order. £55. bensloch@hotmail.com 

Tel: 07791 

688240. 

Caravan awnings. Awning to 

fit 12’-14’ caravan. £80. Tel: 

01505 873140. 

Porch awning £50. Tel: 01505 

873140. 

Dulux Soft Peach Vinyl Matt 

Emulsion. Two 5 litre tins, 

still sealed. £20 each. Will 

sell separately. Tel: 07766 

934025. 

Electric Scooter. Model Vegas 

S841. Perfect working 

order and includes the 

battery charger. Cost new 

£800. £350. ono. Tel: 01505 

610293. 

Wanted Items 

Old records Wanted 45`s & 

LP`s CASH Paid. Tel: 07710 

777571. 

Cash paid for Music CDs ( a few 

or a lot ). Tel: 0141 882 5594 

or 07765 115347. 

Yamaha DT 175 MX & DT 125 

MX. Yamaha RD 250, 350 & 

500 - running or not. Cash 

waiting. Free collection. Tel: 

07951 227767. 

Cash paid for Copy of book 

Castles and mansions of Renfrewshire 

and Buteshire by AH 

Millar. Tel 01505 331094. 

Piano wanted in good condition. 

Tel 01505 874870. 

Double bed in good condition. 

Can uplift. Tel: 07587 

158910. 

Double Headboard. Must be in 

good condition. Please Text: 

07803 628866. 

Black Dining Table. Tel: 01505 

506385. 

A retired man, starting a new 

hobby, is asking if anyone has 

any watch repair equipment 

they do not want or need. Tel: 

07756 981917. 

Hedge cutter & Power washer. 

Tel: 01505 610293. 

Manual Typewriter. Tel: 01505 

506385 

Nest of tables. GPlan Teak. 

Contact Mrs MacLaren on 

01505 690610.

67 67 


Advertizers - A to Z 

by category 



The Law requires that Advertisers selling goods in the course of a business MUST 

include the word Trader, Dealer, Agent, Breeder or appropriate wording in the 

Advertisement to distinguish from private advertisers. 

contact us 

The Gryffe Advertizer 

Neva Place, Bridge of Weir PA11 3PN 

t: 01505 613340 or e: info@advertizer.co.uk 

For more information please call us on 01505 613340 

or check our website at www.advertizer.co.uk 

Next Issue: (#249) June 2015 

Deadline: Fri 15th May 2015 

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. The Gryffe 

Advertizer cannot be held responsible for unsolicited materials. The views and opinions by contributors in this 

magazine may not represent the views of the publishers. The Gryffe Advertizer takes no responsibility for claims 

made by advertisements in this publication. 

@ease Removals & Transport . . 3 

1on1 Double Glazing . . . . . . . . 3 

3D Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . 46 

A Gallagher Painter&Decorator . . 15 

A O’Hare - Building Services . . 5 

A Peebles Landscape Contractor . . 52 

A&G Driveways . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk 

A&J Plumbing Heating & Gas . . 15 

ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk 

Affinity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

Affluent Financial Planning . . 26 

Affordable Luxuries . . . . . . . 7 

AK Vehicle Rental . . . . . . . . . 1 

Alistair Stewart - Driving Ins . . 16 

Alpha Laundry Services . . . . . 7 

Amaretto Ristorante & Pizzeria . . 17 

Apple Tree Garden Design . . . 47 

Architectural Drawings . . . . . 26 

Arco Locksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

Arlene Mitchell Hair & Beauty . . 39 

Art Windows and Doors . . . . . . 13 

Ashes Hair & Beauty . . . . . . . . 38 

Asparagus Hut . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Astra Landscaping Ltd . . . . . . 49 

Barking Mad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 

Bathroom Solutions by MPH . . 11 

Baytree Interiors . . . . . . . . . 5 

Beaton Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

Beginners Yoga - Sara Marijuan . . 61 

Bell Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

Bernie’s Cafe Deli . . . . . . . . . 33 

Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 

BOW Stone Works . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Branch Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Bridge of Weir Roofing . . . . . 6 

Brookfield Alarms Ltd . . . . . . 10 

Bryan Slaven Slater & Plaster . . 22 

Burndale Workshop . . . . . . . . . 5 

C Hunter Plumbing Heating Gas . . 7 

Care & Repair Gardening Servci . . 46 

Casa Homes & Gardens Architect . . 7 

Cawley Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Charlie Orr Plasterer . . . . . . 6 

Cheetham & Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

Chips Away . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

CL SITS Tulip Hair Design . . 34 

Classique Window Blinds . . . . 43 

CleanDryCarpets . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

CLH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Clyde Coast Décor . . . . . . . . . 5 

ColCom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

Collins and Paterson Auctionee . . 30 

Collins Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

Come Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Computer Repairs . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Confident Care Ltd . . . . . . . . . 7 

Conservatory Conversions . . . Bk 

Corum Property .. . . . . . . 23,24,25 

Crafts of Calder Gallery . . . 15 

Craig Kennedy Gardening . . . . 52 

CRC Care Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Crosslee Driver Training . . . 5 

Delta Electrical Services . . 41 

Derek McBride Aerials . . . . . . 4 

DJD Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

DJY Joinery Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

DMG Garden Services . . . . . . . . 46 

DS Cleaning (Windows) . . . . . . 14 

Elliott Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Everest Windows . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

F & B Building Scotland Ltd . . 12 

Fergusons CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Ferringtons Hypnotherapy . . . 32 

Fiona Christie Accounting Serv . . 26 

First Domestics . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Francesca Rossi Fashion Boutiq . . 11 

G J Tiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

G Woods Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . 6 

Gadds Gourmet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

Garden Services . . . . . . . . . . . 52 

GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

Gibb Stuart Ironmongers . . . . 35,51 

Glenmoss Landscapes . . . . . . . . 49 

Gordon James Ceramic Tiler . . 15 

Grid Design Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

Accom/Hotel & B&B 

Cawley Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Accountants & Financial 

Affluent Financial Planning . . 26 

Cheetham & Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

Fergusons CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Fiona Christie Accounting Serv . . 26 

Stewart Independent Financial . . Bk 

Architectural Services 

Architectural Drawings . . . . . 26 


Grid Design Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

Art, Gifts & Flowers 


Auctioneers & Valuers 

Collins and Paterson Auctionee . . 30 

Automotive Services 

AK Vehicle Rental . . . . . . . . . 1 

Chips Away . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

Collins Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

Gryffe Garage Motor Engineers . . 28 

Bathrooms 


Bathroom Solutions by MPH . . 11 


Bedrooms 


Blacksmith & Metalwork 

Iron House Stoves Limited . . 2 

McLaughlan Metal Fabrication . . 5 

Building Services 

A O’Hare - Building Services . . 5 

BOW Stone Works . . . . . . . . . . . 48 


DJD Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

F & B Building Scotland Ltd . . 12 

I & J Building & Roofing Serv . . 2 

James Kerr Joiner . . . . . . . . . 7 

Kilellan Roofing . . . . . . . . . . 16 

M Addison Joiners & Builders . . 3 

MBS Roofing & Building Contrac . . 4 

RPH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Rukeri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

SMG Roofing & Building Contrac . . 2 

SW Scott - Joiners & Builders . . 16 

Taylor Made Joinery . . . . . . . . 6 

Thomas McMaster & Son Ltd . . 55 

Business Services 

Laptop and PC Repairs . . . . . . 27 

Care Services & Homes 

Confident Care Ltd . . . . . . . . . 7 

CRC Care Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Catering 

Gadds Gourmet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

Karen Rankin Catering . . . . . . 15 

Cleaning & PowerWash 

CleanDryCarpets . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Come Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 


Gryffe Roofing Services . . . . 15 

Inverclyde Pressure Cleaning . . 53 

MattVac Carpet & Upholstery Cl . . Bk 

Nutech Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 2,46 

Old Mill Chimneys . . . . . . . . . 8 

Platinum Cleaning Services . . 5 

Coffee Shops 


Computer, IT & Web 

ColCom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

Computer Repairs . . . . . . . . . . 1 


Driveways 

A&G Driveways . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk 

Driving Instructors 

Alistair Stewart - Driving Ins . . 16 

Crosslee Driver Training . . . 5 

Education 

St Columba’s School . . . . . . . . 57 

Gryffe Garage Motor Engineers . . 28 


Happy Rambles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 

Houston Locksmiths . . . . . . . . . 3 


I D Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 8 

Ian Livingston Decorating . . 14 

Ideal Flooring Service . . . . . 3 

Inverclyde Pressure Cleaning . . 53 

Iron House Stoves Limited . . 2 


James Martin - Painter & Decor . . 3 

JayBee Double Glazing Repairs . . 14 

JBM Plumbing & Heating . . . . . 7 

JDPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

John H Barney . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

John Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

John Roach Funeral Directors . . 10 

Johnstone TOA Taxi Co . . . . . . 7 

JRS Hairdressing . . . . . . . . . 33 

K9 CHAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

Karen Rankin Catering . . . . . . 15 

Kerr McAuley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Kieran Turner Aerial&Satellite . . 3 

Kilbarchan Chiropodists . . . . 40 

Kilbarchan Dental Practice . . 19 


Kilmacolm Show . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,53 

Kingsley Wood & Co Solicitors . . 1 

Lamont Electricians . . . . . . . . 3 


LaserLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

Lind Letting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

LJX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Lochwinnoch Golf Club . . . . . . 63 


M&E Painters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Mackie Plumbing & Heating . . 14 

MAS Electrical & Security . . 2 

Matthews Cleaning Services . . 16 

MattVac Carpet & Upholstery Cl . . Bk 


McDonald Decorators . . . . . . . . 37 

McGowan Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . 14 


MJ Lawnmowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

Nix Hairdressing . . . . . . . . . . 38 

NLP Positive Changes . . . . . . . 10 

Nutech Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 2,46 


Orchard Flooring . . . . . . . . . . 8 

P Thomson Upholstery . . . . . . . 6 

Passports To Go . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

PetVets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

Phoenix Gas Services . . . . . . . 1 

Platinum Cleaning Services . . 5 

Powerdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BK 

Purple Tree Care . . . . . . . . . . 48 

R Williams Tree Surgeon & Grou . . 48 

Ranfurly Decor . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

RPH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Rukeri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

Saltire Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

Scott Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

Shower Expert . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

Smart Dog Grooming . . . . . . . . . 44 


Smyth Ramage Painter Decor . . 40 

Sole Solutions Podiatry . . . . 39 

St Columba’s School . . . . . . . . 57 

Stewart Independent Financial . . Bk 

Suzanne’s Grooming Pad . . . . . 45 



TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

The Furniture Barn . . . . . . . . . 3 

The Osteopaths . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 

The Right Move . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 


Travel Actually . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Walkies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

West of Scotland Landscape . . 46 

Woodburn & Beattie Joiners . . 14 

Electricians 

Bell Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

Delta Electrical Services . . 41 

GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

JDPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Lamont Electricians . . . . . . . . 3 

MAS Electrical & Security . . 2 

Fencing 

Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 


Firewood & Logs 

LJX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Framing 


Funeral Services 

Beaton Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

John Roach Funeral Directors . . 10 

Garage Doors & Gates 

Powerdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BK 

Garden Service & Design 

3D Garden Design . . . . . . . . . . 46 

A Peebles Landscape Contractor . . 52 

Apple Tree Garden Design . . . 47 

Astra Landscaping Ltd . . . . . . 49 

Care & Repair Gardening Servci . . 46 


Craig Kennedy Gardening . . . . 52 

DJD Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

DMG Garden Services . . . . . . . . 46 

Garden Services . . . . . . . . . . . 52 



MJ Lawnmowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

R Williams Tree Surgeon & Grou . . 48 

W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

West of Scotland Landscape . . 46 

Gas & Heating Services 



GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 




Phoenix Gas Services . . . . . . . 1 

Glazier 



TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Hairdressers & Barbers 




JRS Hairdressing . . . . . . . . . 33 

Nix Hairdressing . . . . . . . . . . 38 

Health, Beauty & Fitness 



Beginners Yoga - Sara Marijuan . . 61 


Ferringtons Hypnotherapy . . . 32 

Kilbarchan Chiropodists . . . . 40 

Kilbarchan Dental Practice . . 19 

LaserLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

NLP Positive Changes . . . . . . . 10 

Sole Solutions Podiatry . . . . 39 

The Osteopaths . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 

Home Hardware 

First Domestics . . . . . . . . . . . 5 


Home Improvements 



Ideal Flooring Service . . . . . 3 

Orchard Flooring . . . . . . . . . . 8 

Home Interiors 

Baytree Interiors . . . . . . . . . 5 


Classique Window Blinds . . . . 43 



Home Security 

Bell Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

Brookfield Alarms Ltd . . . . . . 10 

Joiners 

CLH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

DJY Joinery Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . 10 


JDPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 


McGowan Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

RPH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Saltire Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . 15 




TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Woodburn & Beattie Joiners . . 14 

Kitchens 





Laundry & Ironing 

Alpha Laundry Services . . . . . 7 

Leisure & Recreation 

Kilmacolm Show . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,53 


Locksmiths 

Arco Locksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

Elliott Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Houston Locksmiths . . . . . . . . . 3 

Painters & Decorators 

A Gallagher Painter&Decorator . . 15 

Clyde Coast Décor . . . . . . . . . 5 

Ian Livingston Decorating . . 14 

James Martin - Painter & Decor . . 3 

John H Barney . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

John Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

M&E Painters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

McDonald Decorators . . . . . . . . 37 

Ranfurly Decor . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Smyth Ramage Painter Decor . . 40 

Pet Services & Training 

Barking Mad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 

Happy Rambles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 

K9 CHAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

PetVets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

Smart Dog Grooming . . . . . . . . . 44 

Suzanne’s Grooming Pad . . . . . 45 

Walkies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

Photographers 

Passports To Go . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

Plasterers 


Charlie Orr Plasterer . . . . . . 6 



Plumbers 




GasMan Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 



JDPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 


Shower Expert . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

Property, Sales & Let 

Corum Property . . . . . . . . 23,24,25 


Lind Letting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Removals 

@ease Removals & Transport . . 3 

The Right Move . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Restaurant & Bars 

Amaretto Ristorante & Pizzeria . . 17 


Cawley Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Retail 

Asparagus Hut . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Francesca Rossi Fashion Boutiq . . 11 



Roofing 







RPH Joinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 




Solicitors 

Affinity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 


Special Occasions 

ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk 

Sports Clubs & Events 


Taxis & Minicoach hire 

ABC Taxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bk 

Johnstone TOA Taxi Co . . . . . . 7 

Tiling 

G J Tiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

Gordon James Ceramic Tiler . . 15 

Kerr McAuley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Scott Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

Travel Agents 

Travel Actually . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Tree Surgeon 

Branch Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 


LJX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Purple Tree Care . . . . . . . . . . 48 

W B Smith & Son . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

TV & Satellite 

Derek McBride Aerials . . . . . . 4 

Kieran Turner Aerial&Satellite . . 3 

Upholstery Services 

P Thomson Upholstery . . . . . . . 6 

Window Cleaners 



Matthews Cleaning Services . . 16 

Window, Consv & Repair 


Art Windows and Doors . . . . . . 13 


Everest Windows . . . . . . . . . . . 15 


TD Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

68 

t: 01505 613340 e: info@advertizer.co.uk 

THE GRYFFE ADVERTIZER - your LOCAL monthly magazine 

keep up to date at www.advertizer.co.uk or 

Next Issue: No.249 June 2015 Deadline: Fri 15 May 2015

248 May 2015 - Gryffe Advertizer

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