250 July 2015 - Gryffe Advertizer

36 the advertizer t: 01505 613340 e: info@advertizer.co.uk
Kilmacolm French Day -
resounding success...despite
the rain!
Both of us had the pleasure of attending
the French Day in Kilmacolm on Saturday
6 June - a very apt date - organised by
the Twinning Society. Apart from the
Waiters’ Race having to be cancelled due
to the poor weather, it was a great way
to welcome the young people and their
teachers from Mérignies. With a good
turnout of residents and the presence
of a number of groups and organisations
the event showed the strong sense of
community within the village. It was a
pleasure to speak to the young people and teachers from Mérignies who were
very complementary about the warm welcome and hospitality given by locals
around the village.
In the last few weeks the Council has been carrying out major improvements
to the A761 Kilmacolm to Bridge of Weir Road at a cost of over £300,000.
The first phase of the project involved extensive drainage improvements on the
north side of the A761 to reduce the damage being caused to the carriageway
each year due to heavy rainfall. The second phase was complete carriageway
reconstruction from the B788 Milton Road at the Knapps to the boundary with
Renfrewshire.
Well done to Kilmacolm’s Guides and Brownies on the work they and their
helpers have carried out to transform the land adjacent to the Guide Hut into
recreational space suitable for camping, BBQ’s and many other activities. The
Council supported the initiative by granting permission to use the land and
by undertaking an initial clear up to allow the project to get underway. These
sorts of projects wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t for the sheer commitment and
determination of many people in the community and they must be commended
for their great work.
Similarly school shows don’t happen without a lot of effort from a lot of people.
We had the pleasure of attending the shows at Kilmacolm Primary and both
local high schools during June and were delighted by the quality of the talent
on display. Again well done to the pupils and all of those who helped them put
on such great shows.
We hope you have a fantastic summer!
Councillor McColgan
I have no surgeries in July due to the Council recess. They will start back in August but in the
meantime please don’t hesitate to contact me using the contact details below.
You can reach me on 01475 712727 (during office hours) and 07881280016 (anytime) or by
emailing me at james.mccolgan@inverclyde.gov.uk. Alternatively you can write to me at Inverclyde
Council, Municipal Buildings, Greenock PA15 1LY.
You can keep up to date with my work as a Councillor by visiting my website: http://jamesmccolgan.
com. You can also follow me on Twitter @jamesmccolgan.
Councillor McCabe
I have no surgeries in July due to the Council recess. They will start back in August but in the
meantime please don’t hesitate to contact me using the contact details below.
You can also contact me directly to discuss any matters that are of concern to you by telephone
on 01475 712020 (during office hours) and 871368 (home) or by email to Stephen.McCabe@
inverclyde.gov.uk. Alternatively you can write to me at 10 Victoria Gardens, Kilmacolm PA13 4HL.
You can keep up to date with my work as a Councillor by visiting my blog: http://
councillorstephenmccabe.blogspot.com/ and follow me on Twitter @CllrSMcCabe
The Kilmacolm French Day was a resounding success despite the driving
rain and wind that caused the cancellation of other fetes and galas across
the region. Over 300 spectators gathered in the Cargill Centre to watch St
Columbas Pipe Band kick off the festivities with a rousing set that had our
French visitors on their feet! Provost Moran offered a warm speech of welcome
(including some lines in French!) to the S4 pupils from Mérignies accompanied
by our local councillors.
Speeches of welcome were followed
by a wonderful performance in French
by the children’s choir, “Angel Voices”.
Teachers accompanying the French
group were visibly moved by a repertoire
that included age-old French children’s
songs. Meanwhile the village was
abuzz with children taking part in the
French quiz in which objects relating to
France were hidden in the beautifullydecorated
shop windows. The cafés
and restaurants were also French for a day with French onion soup, crepes,
snails and croques monsieurs all on the menus.
A big thank-you goes to Glasgow Airport Flightpath Trust who granted major
financial support for the day. The Trust recognised that the French Day and
our vision for the twinning process promotes initiatives in key areas such as,
enhancing youth employment prospects through linguistic development and
work experience exchanges between our French and Scottish communities.
The Kilmacolm- Mérignies Twinning Society has created the “Glasgow Airport
Flightpath Trophy” to commemorate the support offered by the Trust
QE2 to
Greenock?
Reports online say that the QE2,
which was built on the Clyde and
fitted out in Greenock, is languishing
in a dock in Dubai and could be up
for sale.
Inverclyde Council’s Leader,
Councillor Stephen McCabe is calling
for national support to explore
bringing the QE2 home to the Clyde
and Greenock.
Inverclyde Council Leader, Councillor
Stephen McCabe, said: “The QE2
is an important piece of maritime
history for the Clyde and Greenock.
She was known as the most famous
and grandest liner in the world. To
see this once magnificent flagship of
the Cunard line languishing in a dock
in Dubai is simply heart-breaking.
“Given the reception just a few short
weeks ago to the Queen Mary 2 on
the 175th anniversary of Cunard on
the Clyde, it is clear that the QE2
Bonjour from
java minute
The staff at Java Minute in Kilmacolm
embracing the occasion of the recent
French day and having fun. Lorna
Mcgarrity and Olivia Mosin in the
picture.
could be a major draw for visitors to Inverclyde and Scotland. That could be a
major boost to the growing reputation we have for cruise ships and for tourism.
It could also boost the promotion of the Clyde and Inverclyde’s proud maritime
history to a national and, potentially, international audience.
“Bringing the QE2 home is a herculean task, but it is one that requires national
support in Scotland and perhaps across the UK, if it has any chance of
happening. Officers will make contact with the Dubai Government to find out
the exact position, to find out if the reports on her condition are accurate and
if she is actually for sale.
“I will be writing to the First Minister, The Minister for Business, Energy and
Tourism at the Scottish Government, and our MP and MSPs serving the
Inverclyde area to call on them to use their influence through parliamentary
motions in both parliaments to secure support and sources of national funding
to bring the QE2 home.”