Irvine Life #1

Celebrating Community in Irvine and Kilwinning
FREE
April 2015
Ship Ahoy!
at the Scottish Maritime Museum
PLEASE TAKE
ME HOME
Zak Scott Braveheart Foundation
Brave Zak’s legacy lives on
Lords of the Ring
Boxing stars on the rise
Up the Banner!
Culann march on
CONTENTS
Celebrating Community in Irvine and Kilwinning
4
THE ZAK SCOTT
BRAVEHEART FOUNDATION
by Sandy Clarke
6
DESPATCH BOX
by Councillor Joe Cullinane
8
VINEBURGH BOXING CLUB
by Stuart Hodge
10
COFFEEHOUSE PSYCHOLOGY
by Elaine Fernandez
12
OLD IRVINE
by Glenn Kerr
14
SHIP AHOY!
16
RHYTHM ‘n’ RHAPSODY
by Whistling Jack
18
DYNAMIC FITNESS
by Chris McMahon
20
CRASHED ICE
by Stuart Hodge
22
SENIORS’ FORUM
by Rosemary Byrne
24
CROSSROADS OF AYRSHIRE
by Nairn McDonald
26
KINETIC CHAIN RELEASE THERAPY
28
CREDIT UNION
by Sandy Clarke
29
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY
30
LOCAL FITBA
by Stuart Hodge
32
REFLECTIONS
by Rev. Neil Urquhart
33
PRINCESS PERFECT
34
ON THE BEAT
by Ronnie McGhie
36
THE FUN SECTION
38
WHAT’S ON IN APRIL
April 2015
Here we go...
We’ve never done this before, build a
magazine from scratch. None of us.
Until last month, I believed
publications just magically appeared
after writing a few words down. As it
goes, it’s a wee bit more challenging –
but also incredibly rewarding.
Like boiling an egg for the first time, it’s difficult to know if
we’ve got the first ever issue of Irvine Life just right. But, as
with any success, we knew it wasn’t about getting it just right
on the first go; rather, we began this venture with the intention
of creating a successful publication over the coming months
and – hopefully – years.
With that in mind, I’d like to thank everyone who’s been
involved with Irvine Life to this point. The incredible team at
Chameleon Graphics, the insightful and talented writers, the
people who appear in the features, and everyone else who
has, in some way or another, helped us to get to this stage.
Thank you all.
I hope, dear reader, that you will enjoy Irvine Life and rest
assured that we will be working hard to develop the magazine
and introduce new and exciting ideas as time goes on.
At the heart of Irvine Life is the celebration of all the people
who strive to help our communities in Irvine and Kilwinning
grow in strength and thrive. That will remain the central value
of this magazine, because we believe there is so much about
who we are and what we do that should be celebrated.
It’s been a real pleasure helping to put the first issue of the
magazine together. I hope everyone who reads it will find
something of interest within its pages.
Till next time,
Sandy
Editor: Sandy Clarke
sandy@irvinelife.co.uk
Advertising: Joann McMaster
joann@irvinelife.co.uk
Design: Robert Stuart
robert@irvinelife.co.uk
Photographs supplied by:
Brenda Catterson, David Kerr, Joann McMaster,
Ross McKenzie, Stuart Shannon, George McMaster
Irvine Life is published monthly by:
Chameleon Graphics Design & Print Ltd
Unit 1, Portland Place, Heatherhouse Ind. Est.
Irvine, North Ayrshire KA12 8LW
See website for advertising rates:
www.irvinelife.co.uk
Charity helping young bravehearts
fight the toughest of battles needs
your help to continue their
vital support
Few losses can match the crushing
devasta on of that felt by a parent
upon losing a child. The idea that
anything at all posi ve could come
from such a loss seems as
ridiculous as it sounds.
But for one Kilwinning mum and
dad, the tragic loss of their
popular son has sprouted a legacy
that is helping to make a real
difference to the lives of children.
Brave Zak Sco passed away in
March 2011, just two weeks shy of
his 15th birthday, following
complica ons during major heart
surgery. Zak was born with a
complicated congenital heart
condi on, which meant he was a
regular visitor to Glasgow’s Yorkhill
Hospital. Anyone who knew the
spritely, sports-da young man
couldn’t help but find his zest for
life, his posi vity, generosity and
loving nature anything but
endearing.
following treatment, just as he’d always
received from his devoted parents,
Roslyn and Ian.
The resolute young braveheart o en
took younger children under his wing at
Yorkhill Hospital, knowing the
experiences they were facing and keen
to help them through their journey. It’s
li le wonder he was loved and respected
by everyone who knew him, and
befriended by those who spent even a
few minutes in his company.
Start of a Legacy
When Zak passed away in 2011, his
parents and grandmother Sally were
determined to see Zak’s wish come true,
that every child should receive a gi
following major treatment. And so was
born The Zak Sco Braveheart
Founda on.
To date, the
Founda on – run
primarily by
Roslyn, Sally and
Ian – has raised
Zak frequently put the needs and over £100,000,
wants of others before his own, a which has
trait exemplified by his
enabled the
observa ons that children who
provision of
a ended Yorkhill o en had very
around 400
li le, and it was Zak’s express wish wishes to be
that they could each receive a gi
granted to kids,
as well as help run a holiday caravan
home in Auchenlarie, which allows
Yorkhill families to get away and spend
some quality me together, free of
charge.
Roslyn said: “Me, my mum, and Ian have
known through the years what it’s like to
go through the torture of seeing your
child experience the severi es of
treatment. You do need to get away
together a er it’s over – it can be so
emo onally draining for everyone
involved.
“As well as providing wishes for children,
we wanted to help the families to get
some respite and so we came up with
the idea of the holiday caravan, which is
located in a peaceful, beau ful loca on,
and one that can be reached easily by
5
families who don’t have cars as
well as those who do.”
In the last two years, Roslyn and
Sally have brought together a
small band of trustees to help run
the Founda on. As the reputa on
of the charity has gained in
strength, so too has the
responsibili es of running it.
John Gemmell – the club’s
president – said the commi ee
chose the Zak Sco Braveheart
Founda on because of the
“enormous amount of work they
have done to make a difference to
children’s lives”.
The supporters club is in the final
stages of becoming official,
following a lengthy process that
has seen FC Barcelona directly
Sally said: “As more and more
people offered to hold fundraisers involved in the club’s beginning, as
for us, and as we began organising is the case with all its official
supporters clubs from around the
more events ourselves, it got to
world.
John said: “It has been a
the stage where we realised we
long process, but it’s all going to
had to get a few more bodies on
be worth the effort in the end.
board to help.
We’re delighted to support the Zak
Sco
Braveheart Founda on,
“Over the last few years, it’s been
which
does an incredible job of
a learning process for us to get up
to speed on what it takes to run a making kids’ experience at Yorkhill
Founda on, as well as finding out Hospital that li le bit brighter.
what works and what doesn’t,
“The eventual aim is to perhaps
which is something that can only
come through a period of trial and take a family associated with the
Founda on over to Barcelona to
error.”
visit the Nou Camp and meet the
team if possible. Of course, it’s
Winning Team
early
days, but that’s the vision –
Despite the increase in
we want to do as much as we can
responsibili es and the overall
for
the Founda on and anything
workload, the perseverance,
they
need, we’ll certainly do our
dedica on and commitment is
bit.”
He
added: “FC Barcelona are
paying dividends as addi onal
a
huge
club
as everyone knows,
support arrives in the most
but
it
is
heavily
commi ed to
unexpected ways.
community and helping others,
and
while our club will primarily
Recently, a group of football fans
be
a
supporters club, we want
from Irvine have set up Scotland's
what
we do to reflect the values
first FC Barcelona Supporters Club
and
commitment
that are held by
(the Penya Blaugrana Irvine
Supporters Club) and have chosen the team itself.”
the Founda on as its main charity.
Planning Ahead
Commen ng on the partnership, Roslyn said:
"We’re delighted that John and his commi ee
chose the Founda on as the main charity to be
represented by the supporters club.
“I was told that our website was sent across to
Barcelona and they checked it over, found out
about what we do and have obviously been
happy to get things moving forward.”
Sally added: "Any fundraising that's done
means that it will be officially supported by
Barcelona. It's all really exci ng and it'll be
interes ng to see how it unfolds over the next
few months.”
Building on the recent good fortune, the
Founda on’s focus is on pu ng a sustainable
revenue stream in place in order to help keep
Zak’s legacy going and ensure children with
heart condi ons con nue to be supported at
Yorkhill Hospital. Roslyn said: “We’ve reached
the stage where we need to bring in more
funds on a more regular basis in order to be
able to keep gran ng wishes and maintain the
holiday caravan.
“Needless to say, we s ll appreciate everyone
who helps us and every penny we get, but the
reality is that we need to be bringing in more
money more o en.
“We’re hoping to approach businesses in the
near future who can help us with prize
dona ons for fundraisers, or to par ally or fully
fund our major fundraising events. We also
want to get in touch with anyone who can help
us with different ideas of ways in which we can
bring people together and raise money for kids
at Yorkhill Hospital.”
She added: “The pain of losing a child is
something completely beyond words, and I
want to make sure Zak’s memory is kept alive
through con nuing the same kind of help,
comfort and support to children as he provided
all the while he a ended Yorkhill Hospital.
“The difference a wish makes to a child who
has just received major treatment is amazing –
I hope the Founda on can carry on making a
difference for years to come.”
For more informa on on the Founda on
and the work it does, visit the website at...
6
Despatch
by Joe Cullinane
Kilwinning Councillor Joe
Cullinane believes the best
way to ensure healthy
communi es is through
investment and protec ng
vital services
Inves ng in Schools
In early March, I joined the other Kilwinning
councillors at the Kilwinning Academy Parent
Council mee ng – a group of parents who are
dedica ng their own me to support the school
and its pupils, and doing a fabulous job of doing
so.
One of the issues that really struck home was
the frustra on at the lack of investment in the
school’s infrastructure. Some of the parents on
the Parent Council a ended Kilwinning Academy
themselves and the school building hasn’t
changed much since those days.
While other schools, such as Greenwood
Academy, have benefited from new state of the
art buildings, Kilwinning Academy hasn’t had
enough investment. The school’s main hall
doubles up as its canteen and, un l we provide
be er dining facili es, I am afraid it is going to
be difficult to increase the uptake of school
meals within the school.
The Parent Council also wholeheartedly support
the installa on of an AstroTurf pitch at the
school, something that many schools in North
Ayrshire already benefit from. The lack of
investment in Kilwinning Academy can probably
be summed up by the fact the school s ll
doesn’t have Wi-Fi - something that most of us
take for granted these days.
There is currently a review of the school estate,
but the report has been delayed un l November.
However, no ma er what recommenda ons the
report makes it is clear that there is a desire
from parents, staff, pupils and indeed the town’s
councillors to see some real investment in
Kilwinning Academy over the next few years.
Proud to Support our Credit Union
I’m a huge supporter of credit unions. They are a
great alterna ve to high street banks and offer a
full range of financial services and products. As a
Sco sh Labour and Co-opera ve MSP
candidate, I also support their co-opera ve
values.
Box
In Kilwinning, and North Ayrshire as a whole, we are lucky to have 1st
Alliance Credit Union on our doorsteps. Not only are 1st Alliance a sectorleading credit union in many ways, but they so o en go above and beyond
the call of duty to support their members. That’s why I have been so pleased
to support them since my elec on in 2012.
The latest development in that support has come in the form of a £50,000
investment in 1st Alliance by North Ayrshire Council. The investment was
one of many recommenda ons made by the council’s ‘non-standard lending
report’, a piece of work carried out by a working group of councillors, council
officers and consultants which was established in the a ermath of my
mo on on payday loans and 1st Alliance.
The £50,000 grant will allow 1st Alliance to grow its membership by 849
adults and 110 juniors by increasing its capital to asset ra o, which has
worked as a cap on their membership. I am also pleased that the council will
facilitate work within our secondary schools with 1st Alliance in a bid to
improve financial literacy and teach young people about the value of money
and saving.
The non-standard lending report made a host of other recommenda ons
including establishing a wage advance scheme for council employees, and
social enterprise alterna ves to payday loans and high cost credit stores such
as Brighthouse. All of the recommenda ons from the report would have a
posi ve impact in tackling debt and poverty, and I will con nue to call for
their full implementa on.
Protec ng Vital Services
An issue which has concerned people across North Ayrshire has been the
council’s decision to tender for domes c violence homelessness services.
The contract is currently carried out by North Ayrshire Women’s Aid and
based on the projected value of the new contract, it would represent a 22
per cent reduc on in funding for refuge, counselling and outreach services.
It also doesn’t include £134,000 worth of exis ng North Ayrshire Women’s
Aid contracts for children and addic on services.
One of the biggest issues with the contract was the inclusion of a clause
which would have prevented the winner of the contract from sourcing
external funding. The clause stated that, should external funding be sought,
the council would then reduce its funding contribu on by the subsequent
amount.
This clause ring-fenced the cut in funding. I asked the SNP cabinet member
about the clause at the council mee ng on December 18 and they
responded that it was a “standard clause”.
That “standard clause” has now been removed a er I met with officers. A er
my lobbying I have been assured that the clause won’t be used in any
contracts for services which “support people”. Concerns remain about the
contract but this is just the first step in making it fairer.
On a related note, I am delighted that the next Labour Sco sh Government
has pledged to establish a £2.3 million Women’s Aid fund. This would match
the funding to Women’s Aid services across Scotland, including in North
Ayrshire, and will be funded by using some of the proceeds of our plan to reintroduce a 50p top rate of tax for those earning over £150,000.
The irony is that, if we hadn’t removed the “standard clause”, North Ayrshire
Women’s Aid may not have been able to take advantage of this fund under a
Labour Sco sh Government.
8
Vineburgh
Boxing Club
is a huge success because
everyone works together,
supports each other, and
leaves their egos at the
door, says boxing star
Boxing has long been seen as a good outlet for
adolescents dealing with jous ng hormones and,
since its doors opened in the summer of 2006,
thousands of local youngsters have passed through
the doors of Vineburgh Boxing Club.
The club has produced Sco sh and Bri sh
Champions at various age groups and already has a
considerable number of fighters who have fought
professionally, with Ryan Collins notably having
agreed a deal for a number of professional bouts
with Sal re Promo ons earlier this year.
The man responsible for the success of the
Vineburgh gym is 1986 Commonwealth Games
Bronze medallist, Alec Mullen. The 49-year-old is
not a man who courts publicity and has suffered his
fair share of personal heartache, including the death
of his brother which caused him to turn away from
boxing just before the turn of the millennium.
Mullen said: “In 1999, my young brother Jock died,
and I became disillusioned by boxing and walked
away because I was in a deep depression. I didn't
really understand what it was at the me but,
looking back, I now recognise that's what it was. For
a while, all I was doing was training in gyms but I
had no desire to really get back into boxing. But
then I saw that the police had put an appeal in the
papers to start a boxing club in Irvine because of the
crime rate.
Experienced Hand
“I already had plenty of experience of training boys
at my dad's club in Springside, so I answered the
appeal. When I then spoke to my wife, she said that
it would be good for me to get back into it because I
wasn't really doing anything else. I spoke to the
local policeman Wullie Jamieson and he agreed to
move things forward, so the next step was sourcing
out premises. The local fishing club said we could
use this building we’re now in, but it hadn't been
used for 15 or 20 years and it was derelict. The
ceilings were falling down and everything. The first
big job was doing the work needed to bring the
building up to standard. I needed to strap it all with
wood and then put sheets of plasterboard all over
the walls and ceilings.
“I was in here every night a er my work and all day
at weekends ge ng it ready. My dad gave me a
hand with the ceiling but I did the rest myself, including installing the bags
and building a ring. It took up all of my spare me and I lost about a stone
and a half in weight.”
A er four months of hard gra without a single day off, the Vineburgh
Boxing Club was ready to open its doors. Within a short space of me, the
club was thriving and it wasn't long before it produced its first Sco sh
champion.
That success con nues to this day, and the club now has an established
conveyor belt of Sco sh and Bri sh tle winners. According to Ryan Collins,
perhaps the highest profile Vineburgh protégé, that success is down to the
environment created by his mentor.
Team Spirit
Collins, a former Bri sh Junior Champion, said: “Alec has definitely had a
massive impact on the local community. He takes in 70 or 80 people, a lot of
them kids, every week. And in terms of the size that Irvine is, this club is
probably as successful as it possibly could be in terms of achievement level.
“In the gym when you're training, it's a bit of a mad atmosphere because
everyone is like a big family. Obviously you're in the ring, and quite o en
9
you're punching the living daylights out of each other for six or eight rounds,
trying to do each other in, and then you come out and touch gloves and get
back to doing bag work. Everyone at the club wants everyone else to achieve
and then obviously you want to achieve for yourself.”
“For my recent fight, I sold over 20 ckets to boys from the gym who just
wanted to come along and cheer me on. That shows how everyone is right
behind everyone else. Unlike some gyms, the amateurs and the pros will
spar together and train with each other, so there is no set divide or big egos
in the gym, because everyone wants the same thing.”
Collins, who has a record of eight wins and two defeats as a professional
fighter, even goes as far as to suggest that he wouldn't even be a boxer if it
wasn't for the influence of Mullen. The 21-year-old added: “If it wasn't for
Alec, I don't even know if I'd be a fighter, probably not. I wouldn't be a boxer
because I wouldn't have had the opportunity to come into the gym. I think
that probably goes for the majority of people in the gym.
“He certainly doesn't do it for selfish reasons. I'm sure everyone who has
ever come through the doors here probably owes him a quid or two
somewhere, because he appreciated that young people in this area don't
have a lot. He wasn't going to stop you training just because you didn't have
your money for a couple of weeks. He's not just a coach, he's a social worker
as well. He takes on and listens to your problems, he's a father figure to all of
us. I definitely want to go into boxing coaching when I finish my career, and
that's probably down to seeing the work that Alec has done. I suppose he's a
community leader, and a real inspira on.”
The overriding aspect of Mullen's character is the fact that he does not seek
adula on for the work he's doing and prefers all praise that comes in his
direc on to be deflected on to the young boxers he is guiding. There can be
no doubt though that the success of one of Irvine's most thriving community
hubs can be traced back to the vision of Alec Mullen, his hard work, and
reless dedica on.
NAME: Sco McCormack
BORN: 20-03-1994
WEIGHT DIV: 54kg
STANCE: Orthodox
PROFESSIONAL RECORD: W3 L0
NAME: Daniel Gilmour
BORN: 13-07-1997
WEIGHT DIV: 69kg
STANCE: Orthodox
AMATEUR RECORD: W8-L11
NAME: Ryan Lawson
BORN: 14-04-1996
WEIGHT DIV: 70kg
STANCE: Orthodox
PROFESSIONAL RECORD: W4-L1
How did you get into boxing?
I read a book about Mohammad Ali when I
was younger and I decided to give it a go. I
suppose he really inspired me.
How did you get into boxing?
My dad did boxing when he was younger
and I always used to look at his medals and
wanted to win some of my own.
How long have you been boxing?
Well, I've only been back at the club for a
month or so but I was really into it when I
was younger and had a few professional
fights. My dad got me into it when I was
younger. I was punching his hands one day
and then he said “You're star ng the
boxing”, so he brought me along and I’ve
been into it ever since then.
What is your favourite boxing memory?
I remember my first amateur fight up in
Linwood really well. I was really worried
before it, and it was quite close in the first
round, but a er that I managed to get the
be er of it. It's a real adrenaline rush when
the referee li s your arm.
How much of a role does Vineburgh
Boxing Club play in your life?
It has definitely helped me, and Alec has
really brought me on since I turned
professional. He really encourages you to
be aggressive within the ring, to go forward
and take control of a fight, and that really
suits my style.
Who is your boxing idol?
Everybody likes Ali, and I really like
Pacquiao.
What is your favourite boxing memory?
Winning the Western District
Championship. I won the fight on points,
even though the boy had probably got the
be er of the sparring. I was quite surprised
and very proud.
Does Vineburgh Boxing Club play an
important role in your life?
I used to box at another club but, by
coming here, I've moved on to a whole
new level because of Alec. He really knows
what he's doing, and the standard of the
other boxers helps me to raise my game as
well.
Who is your boxing idol?
I like Pacquiao, he knows how to knock
someone out.
What is your favourite boxing memory?
I remember figh ng down in England when
I was 12, and it's the only defeat I
remember in my career because I was
robbed. I was figh ng a wee chubby guy
and I was hi ng him with le hooks me
a er me but the referee gave the decision
to him. It was quite exci ng to be down
there though and be part of the event.
10
Coffeehouse
Psychology
by Elaine Fernandez
We all have that one person in
our lives that we love to
pieces, but can never quite
get along with or, quite
simply, get.
Whether it’s a friend, mother (in-law), significant
other, or an angel-turned-teenager, the stress
that we go through when dealing with a
‘difficult’ loved one can feel like we’re in a neverending episode of Eastenders. But they can’t be
avoided – not if we want to maintain that
rela onship, anyway.
In any situa on, the only control we really have
is over ourselves, and the first step toward
improving our rela onships is to take that
control back into our own hands.
Paying A en on
We don’t have to react – we can, in fact, be
more proac ve in ensuring we, at least, aren’t
contribu ng to an already difficult situa on.
While there is no easy fix, it may help to start by
paying a en on to two simple, but easily
overlooked, facets of our rela onships – words
and feelings.
Speaking is so automa c to us that we
some mes aren’t aware of how our choice of
words may be interpreted by the person we’re
talking to. When a situa on is tense, our anxiety
mechanisms are already ac vated, meaning that
our tendency to pay a en on to ‘threats’ is
increased.
In an argument, the words we use – whether we
intend them to be or not – can be perceived as
threatening, resul ng in a defensive reac on.
For example, the phrases “you always” or “you
never” immediately sound accusatory, and also
inflate the problem beyond that moment. If we
think about how we would react to being on the
receiving end of statements that begin like that,
it’s hard not to become defensive and less
recep ve to what’s being said. They also make
us less likely to want to change, since we’re
‘always’ like that anyway.
Turning Tables
Instead, try addressing the immediate situa on without making a
generalised statement about the person – “I no ced you haven’t
cleaned your room this week” in place of “you never clean your
room, I always have to”. While neither conversa on is going to be
pleasant, you’re giving yourself room to find concrete ways to address
the problem because your teenager hasn’t shut you down with “I
have so!”, in reference to that one me (last year) when they did
indeed clean their room. In a conflict situa on, our own emo ons
tend to be at the forefront of our mind but it’s important to
remember that the other person is experiencing emo on too, and
both are equally legi mate. Just because we disagree with how the
other person is feeling, doesn’t make it any less real to them.
If your partner has accused you of being distant, or irritable, feeling
hurt is a perfectly understandable response – but reac ng out of hurt
almost always doesn’t help the situa on. Instead, respond to their
emo on by acknowledging and trying to understand it – “I’m sorry I
made you sad. Could you tell me what I’ve been doing to make you
feel like this?”
This gives the other person a chance to unload, while giving you
insight into behaviours you may not even have been aware of. (Avoid
saying “I’m sorry if…” – that implies you don’t think you actually did,
making the apology insincere).
Showing You Care
Also, although it both seems and feels counter-intui ve, apologising
for the nega ve emo on they have been feeling can actually help
create more opportunity for meaningful conversa on. This is because
it allows them to see that you take their opinions seriously and care
about how they feel, whether or not you agree with their point of
view. By doing this, you’ve already addressed a key issue in a lot of
conflict – they feel both heard and validated, instead of ignored and
misunderstood.
That said, there are mes when we simply don’t have the energy to
deal with both their emo ons as well as our own. It is okay to call a
me out for yourself, walk away, and give yourself space to get your
own emo ons under control before you even a empt to address the
other person’s. By taking yourself out of the situa on for a while, you
also give yourself the chance to gain some perspec ve before
responding, which may well be vital in ensuring the situa on doesn’t
escalate.
While none of the above will work overnight, with a li le prac ce and
a en on, we have a much be er chance of naviga ng those
poten ally explosive situa ons with both ourselves and our loved one
unscathed. And if we persist at it long enough, perhaps they will start
no cing the changes in how we act and respond in kind.
12
Old
Irvine
by Glenn Kerr
Welcome to the Old Irvine history column. I’m
delighted to be able to contribute every month
to Irvine Life magazine and wish it every success.
Some of you may be familiar with the Old Irvine
page on Facebook, which has been running for
two years now and has over 4000 followers, and
is a testament to the fact that a good number of
Irvinites – young and old alike – have a keen
interest in the history of their town.
As well as the monthly column, the Irvine Life
website will soon have a dedicated history
sec on, with images, videos and stories of Irvine
and surrounding areas down the centuries
(including Dreghorn and Kilwinning, which have
close historical es with the town), and bring
together the work, both past and present, of
writers and researchers who have chronicled
Irvine’s rich and varied past. It will also feature
local organisa ons that have made a valuable
contribu on in recording the area’s history over
the years through its notable figures, buildings
and events.
Irvine’s First People
The earliest traces of human se lement in the
Irvine area date from the Mesolithic period (c.
8000 – 4000 BC). As the ice-sheets began to
retreat following the end of the last glacial
period 10,000 years ago, the first humans to
inhabit the area would have been small groups
of nomadic hunter-gatherers migra ng from the
south, who would have found an abundance of
game and fish along the coast.
Five thousand years ago, most of present-day
Irvine was under water, with the coastline
reaching almost as far inland as Kilwinning and
Eglinton to the north, Knadgerhill to the east and
Shewalton to the south, where the estuary of
the River Irvine entered the sea nearby. This
accounts for the lack of archaeological finds in
Irvine itself from this period – these are confined
to the areas around Ardeer, Eglinton, Shewalton
and Dreghorn. In the 1920s, flint tools were
discovered on Shewalton Moor, as well as a 6000
year old, eight-inch long harpoon, the largest of
its kind ever found in Britain at the me.
Oldest Bri sh Community
In 2004, it was revealed that Dreghorn is
possibly the oldest con nuously-inhabited
village in Britain, older even than the famous
Skara Brae in Orkney, when archaeologists were called in a er
builders discovered the remains of a Neolithic village on land next to
Dreghorn cemetery.
A 5500-year-old se lement of some eight huts was uncovered that
would have been surrounded by a giant fence, with a standing stone
structure in the centre of the village, as well as pits containing
grooved-ware po ery and a kiln considered to be the oldest found
anywhere in Scotland.
Over the following 3000 years, sea levels receded fairly rapidly, and
when the Iron Age Celts se led in the area around 2500 years ago,
most of Irvine was uncovered, with a great loch later known as the
Trindlemoss or Scots Loch, which extended north and east from the
present-day playing fields behind Bank Street.
By the me the Romans arrived in southern Scotland around AD 81,
the area covering Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire was
inhabited by an ancient Bri sh tribe recorded by the geographer
Ptolemy as the Damnonii, who spoke a Cel c language similar to
Welsh. The Romans may have had a presence in Irvine, as they
established a small fort 18 miles away at Loudoun Hill, near Darvel,
but there is no archaeological evidence to support it.
The first communi es in Irvine would have lived in an environment
ideal for permanent habita on, protected by the loch behind the
se lement, with its plen ful supply of fish and fresh water, and with
fer le land and teeming wildlife all around.
Over the following centuries, Irvine would gradually evolve into a
small village overlooking a wide plain towards the sea, and would
extend from the hill where the Old Parish Church stands, through Hill
Street and up West Road – the town’s oldest thoroughfare – with a
cluster of dwellings centred around present-day Kirkgate.
14
Ship Ahoy!
The Sco sh Mari me Museum is set
to take us back to 1979 as part of a
special event celebra ng this year’s
na onal Ship Ahoy! event.
The year was one that stood out for a number of
reasons, but the Sco sh Mari me Museum is asking
everyone to look in their cupboards and lo s for
mementoes of a historic 1979 moment closer to home.
To celebrate this year’s na onal Ship Ahoy! event, which
will take place at the Sco sh Mari me Museum in Irvine
on Saturday, April 11, the museum is keen to hear from
anyone with old photographs, video or memorabilia of
the Waverley’s last visit to Irvine Harbour in 1979.
Images of the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world
visi ng Irvine Harbour during the local Marymass
Fes val in the summer of 1979 will go on show as part of
the Ship Ahoy! exhibi on, which features ship models,
photographs and film from the bygone age of steam
paddle boats.
The event was originally created for shipping enthusiasts
in 2013 and has quickly grown into a family event with
adults and children of all ages enjoying a walk down
Memory Lane with memorabilia, photographs, artefacts,
model steamers and slide shows from the world of ships
and shipping from the Clyde and the Western Isles of
Scotland.
It is hoped that this year’s event, which will be hosted as
an open day at the Sco sh Mari me Museum and free
to enter for all, will a ract over 2,000 visitors. Last year’s
exhibi on took place on the Glenlee at Glasgow’s
Riverside Museum.
David Mann, Director of the Sco sh Mari me Museum,
said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the growth
of Ship Ahoy! and bring something extra to the event by
making it possible for visitors to enjoy this rive ng
exhibi on as well as the na onally important mari me
collec on across the museum for free during the open
day.
“We’re also proud to have a racted another significant
public event to the museum, which has become a unique
high quality venue for Ayrshire following the £1.25
million restora on of the vast Linthouse building and its
spectacular glass roof in 2012. We hope Ship Ahoy! will
deliver a significant economic impact locally with visitors
spending in the local area.”
The Sco sh Mari me Museum in Irvine is housed within
the category A listed former Engine Shop of Alexander
Stephen and Sons, which was built in 1872 and salvaged
and relocated from their derelict Linthouse shipyard in
Govan during 1991. Irvine itself was once the third
largest of the major ports in Scotland.
As well as visi ng the Linthouse, visitors can step into the
past by touring the Shipyard Workers’ Tenement Flat
with its typical ‘room and kitchen’ worker’s tenement
flat, restored to its 1920s appearance, and climb aboard
the MV ‘Kyles’ to see the captain’s cabin, crew quarters
and the engine room. They can also build and test a
model boat or learn how to manoeuvre a remote
controlled boat in the indoor boa ng pond.
For more informa on on the Sco sh
Mari me Museum and its upcoming events
visit www.sco shmari memuseum.org
16
Rhythm ‘n’ Rhapsody
By Whistling Jack
Not many up and coming bands can boast
the longevity and dedica on of one Irvine's
most recognised exports to emerge in
recent years.
With one award under their belt, Culann have the Sco sh
music scene braced with intrigue as they prepare their
second record for its release to the world. Their self- tled
effort won great acclaim among Scot-rock aficionados, wide
radio play, and not least of all a Sco sh Alterna ve Music
Award for ‘Best Rock’ act.
Road Less Travelled
The majority of emerging Ayrshire acts come with the heavy
tag – and some mes burden – of a Biffy Clyro comparison –
something that can appear to be quite a lazy likening at
mes. But Culann have set their own terms, very much at the
vanguard of this very unique rock sound they've harnessed
over the years.
While remaining imposing through a wall of staunch riffs,
unse ling and faint nkering of keys trickle through for that
extra dimension to add s ff strains of diversity to their
dis nc ve brand of music. Not only do this act have a real
core fan base that is evident in their regular swell of shows
around Scotland, but Culann have an immense affinity to
heritage and the land beyond the bounds of Irvine.
From their Cel c artwork to their rugged videos in the throes
of the Sco sh wilderness, there is something very innate
about their image and sound - something a number of bands
tend to overlook.
On the Rise
In late February the band emerged from their favoured
Highland retreat – Ardgour's Watercolour Studios – where
they've been pu ng down tracks for their new record. The
band have said since leaving the studio that they've walked
away with some of their best work to date, their frontman PJ
Kelly tes fying that his song wri ng has improved as the
band's years grow in stature.
The band are not only to be commended for their sheer
determina on and hard gra , but their ripple extends
throughout the Irvine community. With songs based on their
hometown, the five-piece have also u lised local actors in
their music videos; adding to that tremendous home-grown
feel that they pack into their tunes.
PJ says the band will return to the picturesque northern
studios this summer to finish the recording process and, all
going well, record number two should be released before the
year is through. What's more, for a band that have that very
home-grown community feel about them, Culann's charity
work only adds to their likability as a unit.
17
Making A Difference
April Releases
The band's brothers, PJ and Sean had planned to fly out to
Kenya at the start of 2014 to help build schools in Africa's
biggest slum as part of the Kiberia Cel c Founda on. The pair
managed to raise over £3,000 for the founda on that builds
classrooms, lays floors, plasters and paints in the months
before their trip through their wealth of connec ons and
performing a benefit gig.
Ÿ
Young Fathers release their first record
off the back of their Mercury Music Prize
success in 2014. ‘White Men Are Black
Too’ is certainly one of this year's most
an cipated records, set for April 6.
Ÿ
Chillwave's chief exporter, Chazz
Bundwick, will release his fourth album
under the Toro Y Moi moniker on April 6.
‘What For?’ Is quite the surprise release
considering it swi ly followed Chazz's
side venture Les Sins' debut release late
last year.
Ÿ
Another Mercury Music prize nominee
steps back into the limelight on April 6
with their sophomore effort. William
Doyle will reprise his East India Youth
guise for the release of ‘Culture of
Volume’.
Ÿ
Passion Pit have been mulling over a
follow-up to ‘Gossamer’ for three years
now. Their long-awaited return is called
‘Kindred’ and is set for release on April
21.
Ÿ
It's been 12 long years since Blur
unleashed ‘Think Tank’, but they're set to
make a triumphant return this month on
April 27. ‘The Magic Whip’ is the tle
Damon Alburn and Co have chosen for
this record and the expecta ons have
never been higher.
But the mission hit the skids a few months before the pair
were supposed to head out to Africa a er terrorists entered
the Westgate shopping mall in the country's capital Nairobi,
killing 67 people. The a ack took place 15 minutes away
from the Kiberian slum where the brothers were supposed to
be working, and travel was deemed too unsafe. Undeterred,
the brothers s ll went ahead with their plan but instead
went to Malawi to carry out their work and headed across to
paint schools in October 2014, eventually raising over
£10,000 for Mary's Meals.
On a na onal level, the band were also asked to play a
benefit show in the wake of Glasgow's Clutha disaster,
sharing the famous Barrowlands stage with Frightened
Rabbit and Big Country.
Looking Ahead
Harking back to their music, there is something profoundly
cap va ng about Culann, a brand of rock that could, with the
benefit of hindsight, turn out to be the forma ve years of a
new wave of post-rock. At the moment, they're very much
se ng the rules and not playing up to anyone else's
stereotypes, which could ul mately make or break the ou it.
For now they remain one of Irvine's best prospects, which is
quite something when you take into considera on the sheer
strength of represented genres and talent currently bubbling
all over the town.
18
Dynamic
Fitness
by Chris McMahon
It’s a pleasure to be wri ng for the first edi on
of Irvine Life, and I am delighted to introduce
myself to you as the magazine’s regular fitness
columnist.
Over the coming months, I’ll be addressing a lot
of topics, issues and myths rela ng to the
fitness industry, and I hope my insights and
advice can be of benefit to people of all ages.
In my first column, I’d like to talk a bit about
myself, what I do, and my new venture. A er
that, it’ll be all about fitness and the benefits
that regular exercise and a healthy diet can
bring to those who are looking to become more
fit and healthy.
I am the personal trainer and strength and
condi oning coach at Performance Gym, which
opened just recently in Longford Avenue,
Kilwinning. For the last couple of years I have
been a compe ve bodybuilder, winning two
top-three places in the Sco sh circuit. But the
reason I decided to get into fitness is
something many of you will be familiar with.
Tough Challenge
A few years ago I took the usual two-week
Christmas break, partaking in a li le over
indulgence (that’s the bit you’ll all be familiar
with.)
What happened next is fairly predictable: I put
on my work trousers and the waist band had
shrunk by about two inches, so I tried another
pair and yes, you guessed it, I had a wrestling
match with them as well. Riddled with dismay, I
realised I’d been pu ng on a lot of weight.
The trend con nued for a couple of more
years. It was difficult to get out the rut as I
found myself pu ng on more and more
weight.
Maybe it was fate, but one day I got cha ng to
a salesman in the town I was living in at the
me and he sold me my first gym membership.
From there, I hired a personal trainer and, as
the saying goes, the rest is history.
A er a while, my wife Kelly encouraged me to
pursue a career in fitness, and since then I have
successfully trained many athletes, from interna onal dancers and sports
people, to everyday men and women seeking to improve their fitness and
boost their self-esteem.
Moving Forward
Now, I hope to be helping even more people through my role at
Kilwinning’s Performance Gym. Performance Gym isn't your typical fitnessorientated gym. Although there will be some, there won’t be rows and
rows of cardiovascular equipment. Too many mes, I’ve seen people
walking on treadmills day-in day-out, or plodding away on exercise bikes – I
have even seen someone ea ng a chocolate bar on a bike.
This gym is unlike many others, as it has been designed by a man who is
deeply passionate about fitness, not someone in a suit who doesn't
understand the needs of their customers. The man behind the new
venture is Robert Craig, a two- me Sco sh bodybuilding champion and
arguably one of Scotland’s best body transforma on coaches.
It has always been Robert’s ambi on to own his own gym and with a lot of
hard work, late nights and a massive injec on of his own cash, his dream is
coming to frui on. We both believe in a lot of the same training and diet
philosophies, and we believe the outmoded dogma surrounding fitness
and die ng has to be addressed.
In his own words, Robert describes Performance Gym as “a friendly,
informal, hard-work gym; a place you come to if you're prepared to break
a sweat in order to get results”. Like me, Robert believes that if you want
to achieve your goals, it’s much more beneficial to work alongside people
who can show you how to best achieve whatever targets you set yourself.
Strength in Unity
The gym will have a diverse range of members, from compe ve athletes
to the average person looking to improve upon their health and wellbeing. What unites everyone is the desire to achieve their individual goals
through hard work and performance. All of the staff at Performance Gym
are highly experienced trainers whose results speak for themselves. Only
quality service and training will be on offer for people of all abili es,
whether you’re just star ng out or in training for a special event or
compe on.
As I like to tell my clients, we all had to start somewhere, and one of the
beliefs Robert and I share is that the best results comes not only from hard
work and dedica on, but from feeling comfortable in a posi ve and
encouraging environment. That’s exactly what we’ll be offering anyone
who comes through the doors.
Over me, I hope you will find ‘Dynamic Fitness’ to be of benefit to you,
and it’s my aim to inspire as many of you as possible to work towards a
fi er, healthier lifestyle. If there are any specific topics you’d like me to
discuss, please feel free to get in touch. Anyone wishing to contact me can
find me on Facebook or by sending me an email at dfuk@live.com
20
Ice work
paves the way for a
after rocking Red Bu
“Red Bull gives you wings” goes the slogan of the energy drinks giant – and that’s certainly
true for Irvine teenager Haydn Bain.
The 18-year-old currently travels around the world as the youngest member of the Red
Bull Crashed Ice World Championship and finished 86th in this year's standings.
Bain has just returned from this season's final round of compe on in Edmonton, Canada
and admits that compe ng on the tour is quite a departure from when he first strapped
on a pair of skates at the Magnum as a youngster.
He said: “I got my first pair of skates and first tried ice hockey when I was nine, with the
North Ayrshire Penguins under-12's team. I really struggled with the crossovers at first
and I think I did about a month's worth of training sessions before I got going.
“I never really expected to be involved in something like this back
then, and I was only really aware of the sport because of an Xbox
game, but then one night I was looking online and it said there
were try-outs for Crashed Ice in Edinburgh.”
He went on: “I wasn't sure what it was going to be like.
Then you get to Murrayfield and it's all flat ice, with
compe tors jumping over stuff. I think I was pre y scared
to be honest; you were racing against people with no
s cks and no pucks, so it was a good bit different to what
I was used to.
“They gave me a jersey with a number on it for the rest
of the day. I got changed and when they shouted my
number, I competed in the me trial. It was an obstacle
course with logs to jump over. I managed to get the
fastest me in the me trial and then kept ge ng
through the rounds, up to the final, where I
eventually finished third.”
Bain's efforts that day in late 2013 saw him rewarded
with a place on the tour, but neither he nor his
Sco sh Bravehearts teammates Callum Boyd and
Graham McCamley had any idea what to expect.
The former Greenwood Academy pupil said: “When Red
Bull said that I was going to tour around the world, I couldn't
believe it for so many weeks, because we had to wait un l
January un l it actually happened. It was quite crazy and you
don't really know how to prepare for it. Obviously you go to a lot of
skate parks and stuff, but roller-blading is not quite the same as
compe ng on the ice.
“Finland was the first track and it wasn't what we expected. It's a
natural track in Helsinki. We were expec ng it to be nice and
smooth like a hockey rink, but it was really bumpy, like ska ng on
concrete or something. The first thing we did when we arrived
was go for a welcome meal – you do that every me you go – and
everyone was really nice. I think that's the reason everyone enjoys
by Irvine teen
a bright future
ull World Tour
it so much, because everyone is really
suppor ve of everyone else. If people are
watching your races, even the top compe tors
and world champions are willing to give
feedback and that is really helpful. It's a good
atmosphere.”
It's all well and good touring the world as an
athlete, but how do the teenager's friends react
to hearing about Haydn's spor ng exploits?
“When I first went away everyone was always
really keen to ask about how it went and stuff.
But now, I think people are quite used to it and
they're just like 'Yeah, that's what Haydn does'
and they don't really worry about me. When I
come back I just feel like I'm going back into my
normal life again. When I'm away, I'm 'Haydn –
Crashed Ice' and when I come back I'm 'Haydn –
college and hockey'.”
Bain is evidently very level-headed but his
composure is coupled with a steely
determina on to make the most of his poten al.
That par cular aspect of his character comes
across most pointedly when asked whether or
not it's frustra ng not to have more
opportuni es to prac se locally.
HAYDN'S 2015 TOUR RESULTS
Venue
Date
Position
Saint Paul
Helsinki
Belfast
Edmonton
22-24 Jan
5-7 Feb
19-21 Feb
12-14 Mar
79th
48th
60th
95th
21
“I go to America in the summer to play in tournaments and camps, and that
obviously improves me a lot. It's very important, because over there you see
other people my age who have the same ability and maybe even higher. I
need that to push me, and it frustrates me when I come back from America
because over here people treat sport more like a hobby. In America, they're
in the gyms in the mornings and are much more professional in the way they
go about things.
“When I'm away I need to be more mature because obviously you're
travelling to different airports and you can't muck about. I've also got to be
very concentrated and focused when I'm over there. I've got into a regime
with my gym and college work when I'm back and that's with the aim of
improving my level to go faster. It seems to be working because I've been
ge ng quicker mes this year. Last year, it was my first year so I wasn't
expec ng huge results, whereas this year I've managed to move my ranking
up a good 40 or 50 places.”
Even though downhill ice cross is Bain's focus for three months of the year,
he is also a very keen ice hockey player and has already been capped for
Scotland at under-15 and under-17 level. The Pi sburgh Penguins fan
dreams of playing in the NHL one day but is also studying at college, in case
his dreams of spor ng stardom don't fully come to frui on.
Bain said: “When I was at school, in fi h year, I realised that I want to
concentrate on graphics. I've always enjoyed doing all the
drawings and the computer stuff, and I made sure I
did well at the other things because I stuck in.
Once I got the grades I needed, I thought there
was no point in doing sixth year so I applied
for the Computer-Aided Design and
Draugh ng course at Glasgow College and
managed to get in. Now that I've passed
my driving test it's much be er because
it was an hour-and-a-half on the train,
whereas now it's only 50 minutes or so
in the car.
“I'm only 18 so I've obviously got
another two or three years of
development as an athlete. In hockey, I
obviously want to go as far as I can. I
s ll need to grow and get used to
playing against bigger players and stuff. I
believe it is possible for the NHL to maybe
happen one day, but that's a few years down
the line.”
“Most of the players who join the
league have a family history of
playing the sport, with their
dads and grandads playing –
whereas my dad can't really
play. He did teach me to
skate though, so I will
always be thankful for
that.”
It may well be that Haydn
and his father Graham
have plenty more to
celebrate over the coming
years. This is certainly one
athlete that the team here at
Irvine Life will be tracking very
closely.
22
Seniors’
Forum
by Rosemary Byrne
Irvine Seniors’ Forum is affiliated to the
Sco sh Pensioners’ Forum which was
established in 1992.
That is why it is so important to keep community centres open to provide
local access with a range of ac vi es for older people, including lunch
clubs.
Irvine Seniors’ is a campaigning organisa on
providing a voice for pensioners in the
community and campaigning for improved
services, understanding of age-related issues,
and awareness of legisla on likely to affect
older people.
Health Ma ers
In Scotland, older people who require it can access free personal care.
This can help to keep them in their own homes as long as possible and is
a greatly valued service, providing essen al support to our most
vulnerable.
An ageing popula on brings many challenges
to both governments and local authori es and
this is par cularly so in this current climate of
austerity. However, it is important to
challenge many of the nega ve a tudes
towards older people that abound in the
media.
For example, while many older people are
carers or child-minders within their own
family situa on, o en allowing other family
members to work full- me and saving the
state hundreds of thousands of pounds, much
of this goes unrecognised.
The integra on of health and social care will have an impact on these
services, par cularly when local authority budgets are being cut and
health services are stretched to the limit, with older people ‘bedblocking’ being blamed for delays in providing beds and maintaining
targets.
This is a major issue that requires to be addressed, but in order for any
solu ons to be in the best interests of our senior ci zens, it is important
that the integra on of these services is carried out in the right
atmosphere and not as a cost-cu ng exercise.
Also, it should not be forgo en that
pensioners have paid into the system through
hard work and have therefore earned their
pensions; they are not hand-outs.
Burning Issues
What are the main issues facing this ageing
demographic, and what is required to ensure
good health and wellbeing of our older
ci zens?
A basic state pension above the official
poverty level, in line with the average worker’s
wage, is essen al alongside housing that is
suitable to the needs of the individual. This
should include good sheltered or supported
accommoda on, with a reinstatement of
warden services. Good public transport with
frequent services to hospitals, town centres
and so on during evenings as well as day me
provides a lifeline to older people, as one of
the major issues affec ng older people is
isola on and loneliness.
Appropriate housing alongside professionally trained carers who are paid
a decent wage and are not forced into zero-hour contracts could help
integra on of health and social care. But what is also needed is access to
community nursing services and more involvement of GPs.
Older people in our communi es have much to offer, as can be seen by
the many who volunteer in so many different ways, but there are many
others who are stuck at home who require support.
It would be too easy to assume that all pensioners are doing well, but the
sad fact of the ma er is that, for many, loneliness and isola on is the
reality. Irvine Seniors’ Forum and others like it are there to ensure that all
these voices are heard and that we deliver these messages to all
poli cians.
24
Crossroads of
Ayrshire
by Nairn McDonald
There’s a fine quota on from the
inspiring Dr Mar n Luther King that I
feel best sums up Kilwinning people,
who make up a town filled with Good
Samaritans.
He said: “The first ques on which the priest and
the Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man,
what will happen to me?' But...the Good
Samaritan reversed the ques on: 'If I do not stop
to help this man, what will happen to him?”
Kilwinning has been through its fair share of
good and bad mes in its recent past, like many
other towns in Scotland. However, there has
been a common factor present during all these
mes and that was the town’s community spirit.
If the town had a mo o it should be ‘Kilwinning:
We Support Each Other’. Our town has
experienced some amazing highs in the past few
years and it’s me we gave ourselves a pat on
the back.
Support
When I had the joy of chairing the
Kilwinning Fireworks Group in its
inaugural year, we saw thousands
of people come to
McGavin Park to witness an event that hadn’t been held since before I was
born. We witnessed people from all walks of life and all ages coming to the
event, with many taking a walk down Memory Lane and comparing our
event to those of previous years, while the younger audience was enthralled
by the spectacular display. We shouldn’t underplay the significance in the
number of a endees – not every town could pull of such an event and let’s
be clear: the main reason for its success wasn’t because of the hard work of
the commi ee (though it certainly played a part). The success was
undoubtedly down to the huge support we received from the good people
of Kilwinning. To host a big event is one thing, but to resurrect an old
favourite is quite another. Without the support of the community, it would
have never happened.
A Right Royal Success
Last summer, we had the Queen’s Baton Relay pass through the town and I
was lucky enough to carry the baton just a er it entered the town. I have to
say the crowds that came out to support the baton bearers on the day were
second to none. Nowhere else had such huge crowds been witnessed in
such a rela vely small town (one es mate at the me suggests over 65 per
cent of the town was out in force). We not only enjoyed coverage in the local
press, but received na onal coverage too, which was amazing. Having said
that, my nana’s sign about my “Bu erfingers” could have been le out to
save my embarrassment. What the coverage did was shine a light on a town
that supported its own, and to see people cheering for bearers whether they
knew them or not was truly heart-warming and inspiring.
Proud Tradi ons
I served as Vice-Chair of Promo ng Kilwinning for nearly three years and the
experience really opened my eyes. In Kilwinning we aren’t exactly famed for
our stellar weather but, come rain or shine, the Segdoune Carnival and
Christmas Light switch-on are always well a ended and supported by both
the public and the local businesses. Not only were those watching the event
fantas c in their support, but those who put themselves forward to perform
were always astonishingly good and did Kilwinning proud. Even through the
gruelling months of planning that goes into these two events, the hopes and
aspira ons of the people of Kilwinning kept the showcases growing.
S cking Together
We must not ignore that Kilwinning has had its fair share of tragedy and loss
but, where other communi es might have closed off and shut down,
Kilwinning did the opposite. When tragedy struck, all of Kilwinning walked
side-by-side with those directly affected, offering help and support wherever
it was needed. It should make everyone proud to come from our humble,
li le town when we see how the principles and ideals of community are held
up through the ac ons of all our fellow Kilwinning punters.
Kilwinning isn’t just a town; nor is it just a community. Kilwinning is a family
and sure, we have our fights and fallings out, but we are always ready to
help one of our own whenever they need us. Never would we shy away from
our du es to help our friends, family and neighbours because that’s not
found in our principles, nor is it in the nature that defines who we are.
26
Kine c Chain
Release Therapy
If you are suffering from pain and think nothing
can help, Joyce is on hand to offer an innova ve
therapy that can help the pain disappear.
Almost 20 million people throughout the UK
are affected by chronic pain, which sees over
five million GP appointments made every year
as a result. Of those suffering from chronic
pain, one in four people will go on to lose their
jobs and one in five will go on to suffer from
depression due to pain, which is the second
most common reason given by people who
claim Incapacity Benefit. Each year, this costs
the economy £3.8 billion.
Anyone who lives with back pain, hip pain,
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, knee problems, pelvic
problems, sore joints, or any other recurring
problem will know just how draining it can be,
both mentally and physically, to feel like
nothing can be done. O en, the problems fail
to be addressed. While symptoms are managed
by medica on and physiotherapy, the root
causes of pain and discomfort remain and so
sufferers experience an endless cycle of
recurring condi ons coupled with brief spells of
respite. As a result, many people simply “live
with the pain” and get on with life as best they
can. But one Irvine businesswoman has been
able to change that bleak reality for many of
her clients.
“As the years went by, I con nued to cope
with the demands of the job (some will
know exactly how stressful running a
department in a supermarket is), looking
a er sick elderly parents, raising three
children, and suffering close family
bereavements. Despite everything, I was
shocked when my GP told me I was
suffering from major stress. I fought it for a
few years more before I finally gave in – I
was in so much pain, I had to quit my job.
“On medica on for the pain of what I now
suspect was Fibromyalgia, along with an depressants, I sat at home trying to not
Restoring the Balance
stress about finances. I eventually made the
Joyce Bleakley is the owner of ‘Balance
decision to look for a housekeeping job as
Restored’, a mobile therapy service that has
this would mean I didn’t have to work
provided las ng relief for many of her clients,
within a stressful environment. Through the
some of whom have lived with physical pain for
job I met Hugh, and li le did I know that it
decades before discovering Kine c Chain
was the beginning of the best journey of my
Release therapy. Kine c Chain Release (KCR) is
life.”
a gentle, non-invasive system of mobilisa ons
and stretches that are designed to realign the
New Lease of Life
body and return it to its natural state of
A er agreeing to treatment by Hugh, Joyce
balance.
enjoyed her first full night’s sleep in over 25
years, which stress – along with recurring
Designed by renowned Sco sh
Restless Leg Syndrome – had made
physiotherapist, Hugh Gilbert, KCR has
completely impossible up to that point. “It
delivered a high degree of relief to thousands
is almost four years now since my first
of people, with some experiencing instant
treatment and since then, with the
remedy of long-las ng condi ons. Joyce – who
excep on of a serious shoulder injury
was introduced to KCR by Hugh – is herself an
requiring a GP le er for an MRI scan, I have
accredited prac oner and, through her own
never visited the surgery. I came off all
previous struggles with pain, understands
medica on a few weeks a er my first
exactly the intensity of suffering her clients
treatment. I can honestly say I have never
have endured prior to treatment.
felt be er in my life.”
“I worked as a baker and confec oner for thirty
years. During that me my body took a
pounding due to the nature of the job,”
explains Joyce. “I o en suffered from Scia ca,
neck and shoulder pain, and I had surgery on
my wrists for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Knowing first-hand the difference KCR can
make, Joyce was driven to take a full course
in becoming a prac oner, which she now
enjoys doing full- me. The mobile service
provided by Joyce means her clients can be
treated in the comfort of their own home.
The client remains fully clothed (except for
shoes and socks) and the therapy is
delivered through Joyce’s expert hands and
empathic understanding. She explains:
“Following the treatment, clients can feel a
li le light-headed, but that’s a normal
reac on to the body being restored to
balance. Before any treatment, I provide a
consulta on for the client and explain how
KCR works, what it can do for them, and
how exactly the treatment is to be
delivered.” On her website, Joyce has a
number of tes monials from clients who
have been amazed at the benefits of KCR.
The treatment is suitable for anyone of any
age – even sportspeople have taken
advantage of the edge provided by the
natural KCR therapy that helps to increase
energy levels, as well as reduce recovery
me from injuries.
Another group of people who may benefit
from the treatment would be exservicemen and women suffering from
PTSD, many of whom also live with
Fibromyalgia, another stress-related
condi on. Joyce believes that she can help
reverse the trauma c effects of these
condi ons and help ex-servicemen and
women return to living a normal life. In a
personal message to anyone who is
suffering, Joyce says: “Please don’t suffer
needlessly. If you have been told nothing
more can be done for you, check out the
Kine c Chain Release website to read client
tes monials. KCR really can help you, and I
hope to be helping many of you get rid of
your pain in the near future.”
To find out more from Joyce, contact her via
her website www.balancerestored.co.uk or
call her on 07557 523 963.
28
they are, everyone is treated in the same
way and provided the same level of
service and support.
“We make it our aim to know all of our
customers on personal terms, which
means they're always comfortable
speaking to people they know and that
forms a key part of the service we
provide,” explained Amanda. “If a
customer comes to us with a problem, we
work with them to find a solu on. We
don't just wave problems away and tell
people we're not paying their rent or
their insurance – we try to help people
through any financial hardship, not add
to their problem.”
Big changes to benefits are
on the way, but the 1st
Alliance (Ayrshire) Credit
Union team have their
members well covered.
Hundreds of thousands of people living in
Scotland are signed up to a credit union –
considered by many as an ethical
alterna ve to mainstream banking. In
Ayrshire, over 7,000 adult members and a
growing number of student members are
looked a er by the team at 1st Alliance
Credit Union.
Based in Kilwinning’s Main Street, the
team – led by manager Carol McHarg –
pride themselves on offering a “personal
service that’s dedicated to serving the
interests of our customers, whatever
their circumstance”. The credit union
offers a range of services from current
accounts, savings, loans, and insurance,
and they also have dedicated savings
clubs for summer and Christmas holidays.
Account and loan officer, Amanda
McLaughlan, describes the credit union in
a nutshell as a service where “people
help people”, revealing that staff
members can learn as much from
members as members do from the staff.
Support Through Partnership
A big drive for the credit union at the
moment is working with housing
associa ons and organisa ons to support
tenants in dealing with upcoming
changes to benefit payments. The
Universal Credit system – being phased in
across Scotland from February this year –
will see six working-age benefits merged
into one, with a significant change
coming in the form of tenants directly
receiving their rent money from the
DWP.
The UK Government insists the changes
will help people become more
responsible for their finances, while at
the same me helping to slash the cost of
benefit fraud by billions of pounds. The
Universal Credit system sees the biggest
overhaul of the benefits system since the
1940s and while that may mean a
number of teething problems for the
DWP, the 1st Alliance Credit Union are
well prepared.
Amanda said: “We've developed a
partnership to ensure that tenants' rent is
paid and they don't end up spending it.
This means the benefits come in to us
and we'll take off the rent element, which
means the tenant can rest assured that
it's dealt with and they don't have to
worry about it. A lot of tenants will be
fine handling the addi onal money on
their own, but many won't – and some
won't even have bank accounts – and so
those who want to sign up as a member
with us will know that they're ge ng a
personal service that's dedicated to
serving their interests in making sure they
receive advice and support that allows
them to best handle their finances.”
Equality in Service
Credit union members in Ayrshire have a
wide range of circumstances, from those
on benefits looking for help and support
with budge ng, to salaried people who
take advantage of the compe ve savings
and loans services offered.
The equaliser concerning all of the credit
union’s members is, regardless of who
Upon opening a current account, all new
members have to save from the first
month, se ng up a nominated amount
to be put away by Standing Order every
month. On more than one occasion,
Amanda has seen the policy come to the
rescue of many a grateful customer: “We
have one lady who had been saving £2
every fortnight and got to the point
where she'd forgo en about saving her
money. A er a while, she encountered a
problem with her benefits payment and
became anxious because her direct debits
were s ll coming off. On the morning
she'd realised, she phoned in and was in
a terrible state. I explained to her that
she had all this money already saved that
she could use, and it was such a relief for
her that she said she would've cuddled
me had she been in the office.
“It’s moments like that which really drives
home the importance of what we do
here, which is to look a er our
customers. To be part of the team and do
this job is something I enjoy every day
and it’s the best thing to know that you
can help people whenever they need that
extra bit of support.”
For more informa on on the 1st Alliance
(Ayrshire) Credit Union and services
offered, visit the website at
www.allianceayrshire.co.uk or call
01294 557123.
29
Provost’s Civic Pride Awards Ceremony
shines a light on unsung community heroes – and raises over £18,000 for two incredible chari es.
More than 50,000 votes were cast by North Ayrshire residents ahead
of the 2015 Provost’s Civic Pride Awards ceremony, hoping to ensure
their preferred unsung hero ended up in the limelight.
The glamourous Oscar-themed event took place at the Seamill Hydro
on Friday, March 20 and came complete with the red carpet
treatment in a show of apprecia on of the value of the work being
done by the 15 finalists. The Provost’s Civic Pride Awards ceremony
also provides the opportunity to raise funds for Cash for Kids and the
Ayrshire Hospice – two chari es close to the heart of North Ayrshire
Provost Joan Sturgeon. The fundraising dinner helped to raise over
£18,000 for the worthwhile causes.
The annual event – which is now in its fi h year – aims to celebrate
the outstanding talent and generous spirit which exists throughout
North Ayrshire. Commen ng on the successful night, Provost
Sturgeon said: “The Provost’s Civic Pride Awards 2015 have been a
huge success and this year’s Oscars-theme allowed us to provide a
perfect backdrop to celebrate the achievements of all of our finalists.
“We are very lucky to have such a wealth of talent and dedicated
individuals and groups who are commi ed to enhancing the lives of
others in North Ayrshire. All of our finalists should be very proud of
what they have achieved."
history and heritage as well as encouraging the performing arts,
crea ve wri ng, and poetry. Derek Murdoch, President of Irvine
Burns Club, said: "We did quite a bit of work in 2014 above and
beyond what we always do. We helped organise the Forever 19
exhibi on for WW1 arranging to get Victoria Crosses down to Irvine,
and helped out with the memorials for the two Victoria Cross winners
from the area. We also carried out our Harbourside and school
projects we do every year. So it's great to be recognised. He added:
“To be chosen by the Provost – among all the recipients tonight – is
amazing and we're so thrilled. "When you see what all the other
people have put into their work, it's really special that the Provost has
picked us out. It's very humbling.”
The Community Group Award sponsored by Irvine Housing
Associa on:
Largs First Responder Unit.
The Largs First Responder Unit is a group of volunteers who give up
their me to help to protect the lives of others. Team Members are
trained in the use of Automated External Defibrillators and the
treatment of a wide range of poten ally life threatening condi ons.
Group member James Bertram said: "This is superb – it's
overwhelming. But we are all winners. This award comes from the
public and it shows they appreciate the work we do and that is very
rewarding for us. We've been going for 11 years and try and answer
as many emergency calls as we can, so it's nice to be recognised.”
The deserving winners of the Provost’s
Civic Pride Awards 2015 were…
The North Ayrshire Ci zen of the Year Award
sponsored by Marley Contract Services:
Joe Broussard
Mr Broussard has been involved with various groups
in Kilwinning for a considerable number of years and
is chairman of Keep Kilwinning Tidy and the
Promo ng Kilwinning group, which is responsible for
two events in the town each year. He also helped
Kilwinning to obtain ‘Fairtrade Town’ status.
Joe said: “I'm very pleased as I didn't think I'd win it.
It was an honour to just get nominated so this is
extra-special.
"It will be my daughter who's most pleased – she will
feel very proud. 2014 was a busy year and I managed
to make North Ayrshire a Fair Trade zone, which was
a big achievement. It's nice to get the recogni on.”
North Ayrshire Young Ci zen of the Year Award
sponsored by Cunninghame Housing Associa on:
Peer Mentors from Ayrshire Communi es Educa on and Sport.
Peer mentors Kori-Lee, Becky and Sco were nominated in
recogni on of their con nued commitment to suppor ng young
people from the community. The trio regularly give up their evenings,
weekends and school holidays to deliver interven on and
diversionary ac vi es to give kids posi ve life choices. Sco said: “I’m
speechless – we are a bit surprised. I can't believe we are standing
here with this award. Ge ng nominated was such an achievement in
itself. Everybody was saying that if you don't win it will s ll be an
achievement but deep down we wanted to win.
“The other two in our category are winners too and they should be
really proud. This is our first me at a big ceremony like this and to
win is extra special. It has been an amazing experience.”
North Ayrshire Arts & Culture Award sponsored by ANCHO and the
Provost’s Award:
Irvine Burns Club and Irvine Lasses Burns Club.
Irvine Burns Club does more than simply promote an interest in the
works of Robert Burns. With the support of the Irvine Lasses Burns
Club, its numerous projects embrace and promote an interest in local
North Ayrshire Sports Award sponsored by KA Leisure:
Danielle Joyce.
Danielle is an inspira on to other young deaf people and is training to
be an ambassador for UK Deaf Sport. Despite her hearing
deteriora ng to becoming profoundly deaf in one ear and severely
deaf in the other Danielle has not let it hold her back. In 2014 she set
the swimming world alight with eight deaf world records and nine
European deaf records. In November she won the Young Deaf Sports
Personality of the Year Award. Danielle said: “I'm gobsmacked. I really
didn't expect to win this award. The other two nominated are
amazing, so I'm so thankful for the support I've had.”
Provost Sturgeon added: “I would like to thank everyone who has
contributed to the success of this year’s event. This would not have
been possible without the backing of the many local businesses
which supported the awards and the residents who voted in their
thousands to select each of our category winners. “I am also
delighted that chari es Cash For Kids and the Ayrshire Hospice will
benefit from the thousands of pounds raised at the charity dinner.”
30
LOCAL FI TBA
Stevie Rankin on the return of Paul Maxwell and the impact he can have as
the Medda chase the Stagecoach West Of Scotland Super League Premier
Division tle:
“Paul's been out all season with a medial knee ligament injury, and if I can get him back playing
in the next week or two that could be very big for us.
“He scored 16 goals last season, and is a very good target for us up front. But it's not just that,
he also brings his own personality into the team and is a leader on the park.
XI
FC
“He lets you know he's got goals in him and doesn't give defenders a minute's peace, he's one
of the top strikers in junior fitba. I brought him with me from Ashfield so I know his quali es
well and he had a great season for Irvine Meadow last year. We've certainly missed what he can
bring to the team in a number of games.
“We've got four games le and I think we need to win just about all of them to have any chance
of winning the tle. In those games we have Auchinleck Talbot and Hurlford, the only other two
teams who can win the league. That's the bo om line.
“I'm depending on someone bea ng both teams, the two games we've lost at home have killed
us. We need to depend on someone bea ng them, as well as us, because both of those teams
have plenty of games le .
“Auchinleck are the team to beat, and are s ll in the Sco sh Cup, so hopefully that can play into
our hands. Hopefully they will take their eye off the ball a wee bit, but we just have to focus on
our job and hope that both they and Hurlford drop some points in the run-in.”
Iain McMillan on the Vics' ba le against the drop in the Stagecoach West Of
Scotland Super League First Division:
“The season so far has probably panned out exactly as we an cipated it would. This league is a
crazy league in some ways because so many teams are involved in promo on and relega on
issues right up un l the last game.
“We spoke at the start of the season about how most teams actually lose more games than they
win in this league. You need to be really mentally tough to bounce back from defeats but you
cannot let one or two bad results breed into something that it shouldn't breed into.
“It's taken a li le while to get used to that for both the players and the fans because last season
we were used to winning every week, but when you make the step up anyone can beat anyone
and it's been a very steep learning curve.
“But I think the players have shown that they're able to deal with that now and they don't let
one or two defeats get them too down. They keep their heads up and ready to go out and win
the next game.
“Looking forward we have a good idea of what is required and all we can ask is that the fans,
who have been brilliant for us, con nue to give us as much backing as they can.”
Chris Strain on his ambi ons to take the league-leading Buffs back to the
upper echelons of the junior game and the importance of retaining the best
local talent:
“I played in a semi-final at Rugby Park in 2003 in front of 7,500 people and Kilwinning had 4,500
of those. If you look at the parallels of where the two clubs have gone since then, Auchinleck
have won mul ple Sco sh Cups and con nue to be the juggernaut in junior football.
“In my eyes, there's nothing to stop Kilwinning compe ng with that. When you look at the size
of the fanbase that we have, and the infrastructure of the town itself, the pla orm is clearly
there.
“It's just about shou ng about how good we actually are and that all goes hand-in-hand with
what we do on the park. It's no use having 10 boys from Kilwinning if they can't kick their own
backside, but something we're very keen on is promo ng the young kids and trying to get them
back into senior football as well.
“A good example of that is Jamie Anderson who has never played pro-youth football but has
come in from Dirrans and had a fantas c season for us. There is a chance that he might get a
chance at senior football along the line, and that's a good example of what we're trying to do
here.
“Our idea is that if you're from Kilwinning and good enough to play for Kilmarnock or Ayr United
then great but the next step should be for us to harness that young talent and bring it in.
“What we want to do is make sure that the real cream of the talent stays in Kilwinning and plays
for Kilwinning Rangers, because the town deserves a team to be proud of.”
32
Reflections
by Rev. Neil Urquhart
If you can solve your problem, then
what is the need of worrying? If you
can’t solve it, then what is the use of
worrying?
(star ng each day by submi ng our head to slumber and soul into God’s
care), and Silence (quiet me listening to God’s Word and praying) are three
God-given aids to weeding out worry, carving out the necessary me and
space to ‘Cast all our cares on God’ (1 Peter 5:7); ‘Consider’ how much God
cares for us; and ‘Count’ our many blessings.
As March marches on, beauty breaks out all
around. Snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils
signal Spring sprung and the scent of summer.
Alas, unwelcome weeds accompany the beauty.
In me, dandelions will run amok and threaten
to take over our gardens. Weeds might be ‘a
plant in the wrong place’, but they are in the
wrong place. Like weeds, worries are plants in
the wrong place.
Presently, I have many concerns pressing in on me. Jesus is absolutely right, I
cannot add an inch to my height, hour to my day or change to any situa on
by worrying. As the hymn puts it, “Oh what peace we o en forfeit, Oh what
needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in
prayer.” Worry is a plant in the wrong place and God has a big bin wide open,
ready to receive our ‘worry weeds’. My worries are most certainly be er in
God’s hands than my mind’s garden. What about yours?
Some of us are more prone to worry than
others, but succumbing to anxiety’s seeds,
watered and fed by our imagina on, is unhelpful
and unnecessary. Max Lucado writes: “Worrying
is not a disease but it causes diseases. It has
been connected to high blood pressure, heart
trouble, blindness, migraine headaches, thyroid
malfunc ons and a host of stomach disorders.”
Enough to put you off worrying?
Celebra ng Community
A chilly experiment compared how long people could keep feet in freezing
water and found that people could s ck it twice as long if they had someone
alongside to support and encourage them. I hope no toes were lost to frost
but it surely confirms that we can get through life’s challenges be er with
personal support. As Ecclesiastes 4:12 puts it: “By yourself you’re
unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a
third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.” (NIV)
Detaching from Worry
The Bible is consistent in its command not to
worry. Easier said than done, I know, but worry
is irreverent, irrelevant and irresponsible.
Worrying mistrusts God and denies God is in
charge. Worrying is to be conned into thinking
that it can change things for the be er when it
can’t. Worrying misspends our energies, me
and talents. Here’s some of Jesus’ advice:
“If God gives such a en on to the appearance
of wildflowers – most of which are never even
seen – don’t you think he’ll a end to you, take
pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying
to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so
preoccupied with ge ng, so you can respond to
God’s giving.
“People who don’t know God and the way he
works fuss over these things, but you know both
God and how he works. Steep your life in Godreality, God-ini a ve, God-provisions. Don’t
worry about missing out. You’ll find all your
everyday human concerns will be met.”
Ma hew offers us similar advice: “Give your
en re a en on to what God is doing right now,
and don’t get worked up about what may or may
not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal
with whatever hard things come up when the
me comes.” (Ma hew 6:30-34 / MSG)
Bin Worry Weeds
The 23rd Psalm shows it’s all about le ng God
take the lead in daily life and living, “…he leads
me beside s ll waters…” Do you let God take the
lead? Disciplines of: Sabbath (stopping work to
worship and rest in God’s ‘in-chargeness’), Sleep
Father Willie Boyd and I recently ended up ‘Blue in Greenock Prison’ jailed
for bad dad dancing. It’s the prequel to the Shoes Brothers Trilogy of short
films designed to make people laugh, melt division, cross borders, delight in
diversity and celebrate community. How good to have this new free
magazine designed to encourage exactly that. Both Willie (Father Jake) and I
(Rev Nelwood) are delighted to promote ‘Irvine Life’.
You can view The Shoeshank Redemp on on
the ‘Fullonart’ Youtube Channel. Willie and I
were deeply moved by the involvement of
the Greenock prison community, which wrote
the script, performed in scenes and brought a
barrier-breaking, community-celebra ng,
message of hope out to our divided world.
A married couple (one Roman Catholic and
the other Protestant) in Roermond, Holland
are forever separated by cemetery walls, but
their 40 year marriage is sharply celebrated in
this hand shake across the cemetery divide.
There is so much more good we can do
together than apart. Dance on!
33
Nothing could be more perfect than to
invite a cap va ng, enchan ng
princess to the party and
watch as kids’ eyes
sparkle with delight
and joy
It’s not o en you’ll find a
glamorous princess running
her own business – but
Evelyn Cowan has put her
potent mix of beauty and
brains to good use by se ng up
her Princess Perfect party
enterprise. With a chance
opportunity and a desire to recreate for
others the magic she found herself as a
child during a visit to Disney World, Evelyn’s
venture has hit the ground running, having
been called on to organise 15 par es within
just a few weeks of Princess Perfect’s official
launch in February. Princess Perfect par es are the ideal
choice for parents who want to give their children an
enchan ng, magical and unforge able experience of having
their favourite characters share in their special day.
Such is Evelyn’s dedica on and drive to ensuring the perfect
party, Princess Perfect offer a range of packages including
Princess Appearances, Princess Pamper Par es, Princess Limo
Par es, Sing-a-long Recording Studio sessions, and Princess
Makeover photo shoot sessions. It’s no wonder Princess
Perfect par es are so popular – not only does Evelyn (a selfconfessed perfec onist) pull out all the stops to ensure
everything is just right, but she has more energy than most
kids, which means she can keep them going during all the
party games, party dances, sing-a-longs and all the other
ac vi es featured in the specially-tailored packages.
Dream Come True
“It’s my dream job – I’ve always wanted to run my own
business,” explains Evelyn, “and I am always looking to add to
my repertoire. At the moment, I’m working to hone my singing
voice by taking lessons, as I really want to be the perfect
Princess for the children when I turn up to their par es.”
Princess Perfect started a er a chance opportunity came
Evelyn’s way as she was having her hair done one day at
Kilwinning’s Bellissima salon, which specialises in pamper
par es.
Unfortunately, the salon’s Princess fell ill prior to a party, and
Evelyn was asked to fill in at the last minute – a chance she
jumped at and finally offered her the push needed to kick-start
her own business. She explains: “In the last year, I had it in the
back of my head to do something along the lines of Princess
Perfect, but it wasn’t un l I was asked to fill in and become the
pamper party’s Princess that I knew it was definitely the right
me for me to take the leap. I enjoyed every minute of it and I
was able to throw myself right into the role, having had
previous experience as a children’s entertainer on camp sites.
It was a no-brainer to start up a business, and I was
overwhelmed by the amount of messages that came through
when I created my Facebook page. Thankfully, my website
launched in early March and so that’s helped to take the
pressure off in terms of organising everything that had
previously been going through the Facebook page.”
The Perfect Choice
It’s no secret that girls love to dress up and, as Evelyn’s
website puts it, “put on makeup and do ‘girly’ things”, so what
be er way to celebrate a birthday than with a pampering
session and loads of girly fun? This par cular package includes
li le princesses having their hair, nails, and makeup done; a
special buffet and pink (non-alcoholic) bubbly laid on; a
Princess visit with special card and gi ; games and fun with
the Princess(es); a birthday cake presenta on, a sing-a-long
session (Frozen themed par es); and a photo opportunity for
guests and family.
Prices for Princess Pamper Par es are £12 per child, plus £35
addi onal charge for the Princess (£55 for two princesses).
With regal packages fit to suit any Princess, Princess Perfect
par es are the ideal choice to provide your child with
memories that are sure to be cherished forever. Evelyn is
helped out at her par es by her good friends Jayden, who has
a wealth of experience working with children, and Nicola, who
makes for a second perfect Princess at par es.
Par es are usually booked four-to-six weeks in advance in
order to allow for impeccable planning, and although there is
no set limit to the number of children who can a end each
party, so far the average a endance has been 30; however,
Evelyn and her team can cater for more if required. Looking
ahead, Evelyn has the vision of expanding her enterprise
throughout Scotland; a vision that may be realised sooner
than expected given the popularity of the business so far. She
also hopes to involve her two sons in the business, with her
eight-year-old set to come on board as a small snowman and
her ten-year-old helping with music equipment.
“My boys are really suppor ve and come along to the par es
with me,” says Evelyn. “They love what I’m doing and we’ve
talked about them becoming more and more involved as they
get older. They’re quite excited about the prospect of dressing
up as different characters and helping people to enjoy
themselves. I’m so happy to have Princess Perfect and I’ll be
con nuing to work hard at what I do. There are so many
avenues and possibili es that can be explored – and I just love
living life as a Princess.”
For more informa on on Princess Perfect packages, visit
www.princessperfect.co.uk or search for the Facebook page
for latest news, offers and updates.
34
On the
Beat
by Ronnie McGhie
Nothing beats being part of a team that
helps to strengthen the bonds of the
communi es it works hard to serve.
Irvine Beat FM was formed by like-minded radio
enthusiasts back in 2008 as RVC Radio, with the
aims of promo ng heath and wellbeing to the
communi es of Redburn, Vineburgh and
Castlepark (RVC… get it?). Our first broadcast
was in 2009 from Redburn Community Centre. It
was to coincide with the town’s Marymass
Fes val. And so, for the month of August 2009,
Irvine had its own local radio sta on.
The Irvine Beat FM team created a training department, staffed by a fullme training manager, and a part- me produc on trainer. We have
successfully provided training to people from the local area, thus building
confidence and developing teamwork. Last year, we gained accredita on as
a Big Music Hub from Youth Scotland, which has allowed us to train more
young people, including our own volunteers in peer mentoring. Our radio
sta on also had the pleasure of being ac vely involved in promo ng sport in
North Ayrshire prior to and during the Commonwealth Games. On top of
that, we have provided roadshows for community events including
Marymass and The Queen’s Baton Relay. Our big stage complete with our
industry standard sound system is a sight to behold.
Renamed Irvine Beat FM in me for the
inaugural broadcast, we did two further 28-day
broadcasts in August 2010 and 2011 from the
Vineburgh Community Centre. A er our 2011
broadcast, we realised that we were ge ng
pre y good at this radio business. We moved to
Portland Place in December 2011 and we
applied to Ofcom for a full- me five year licence.
From there, we ran another 28-day broadcast
from our new state-of-the-art studios. It went
excep onally well, and we were supported by
local businesses taking out adver sing.
Irvine Beat FM also provides a pla orm for local chari es and community
groups to talk on air about their work, projects and events. They can also
adver se their local events on our daily ‘What’s On’ slots. So that’s the
business side of the sta on covered. Now on to the good stuff.
Promo ng Talent
Apart from our paid staff, everyone else at Irvine Beat FM is a volunteer.
From our street team, produc on assistants, admin assistants, technical
team, right to the presenters you hear on your radio, all are volunteers. They
are all part of Team Irvine Beat FM. The most precious thing anyone can give
an organisa on is their me. I’m sure I speak for all our presenters when I
say that presen ng shows for Irvine Beat FM is a joy.
Irvine Beat FM then became a registered charity
via SCIO, which allowed us to apply for grants to
help us set up our new studios. In January, we
were awarded a full- me licence from Ofcom
and on Monday 12th August 2013, 107.2 Irvine
Beat FM launched from the town’s Harbour Arts
Centre. A lot of people past and present put in a
lot of me and work to get us to this stage. Ok,
so my intended ‘brief history’ wasn’t so brief!
Full Steam Ahead
Since our launch we have been broadcas ng
24/7. We have increased and maintained our
pool of volunteers, and obtained funding to
create two full- me and two part- me jobs. We
have offered cost effec ve radio adver sing to
local companies, which in turn has helped them
increase their turnover as well as helping us with
our core costs.
We feel we have the right mix of programmes to keep our listeners happy.
From our day me presenters who play a wide range of music, to the night
me presenters who present specialist shows for the more discerning
listener, there’s something for everyone. We have shows dedicated to
Country/Americana, Blues, Rock, Oldies, Albums, 80s music – and we have a
talk show totally dedicated to all things community. We even have a show
that promotes local bands and ar sts. To date, over 60 local bands and
ar sts have appeared on Irvine Beat FM. Many have performed live and
some have showcased their albums and singles on the show. Irvine Beat FM
is proud to give local talent an FM pla orm to show off their music.
For anyone who’s interested in radio, there are many volunteering
opportuni es at Irvine Beat FM. You can join our produc on team, for which
we will give you full training. Do you think you have a voice for radio? If so,
get in touch. Our sta on manager is always on the lookout for local DJ
talent. Again, any training that’s required will be given. If you are interested
in a career in radio and plan to go to college for that, you would be wise to
call us at Irvine Beat FM to enquire about any volunteering opportuni es
and learn about the radio industry at a grass roots level.
Irvine Beat FM broadcasts on 107.2 FM and online at
www.irvinebea m.com
36
The Tiny Irvine Life Quiz
Part 1
Which of the following does
not appear in the first Issue
of Irvine Life?
1) Nigel Benn 2) A Chameleon
3) A Real Madrid flag 4) A Dalek
Send your answer by email and
you could win an Irvine Life mug.
compe
Word Search
C
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KNEE-JERK NIGEL
This
information
leaflet on
vegan diet
looks
interesting.
L
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ons@irvinelife.co.uk
ACCORDION
HURDY-GURDY
BAGPIPE
LAOUTA
BALALAIKA
MANDOLA
BANJO
MARACAS
BASS
MELODICA
BODHRAN
MIZMAR
CABASAS
OBOE
CELLO
OUD
CHIMES
PENNYWHISTLE
CITTERN
PICCOLO
CLARINET
SAZ
CONGA
SITAR
CORNET
TARKA
COW BELL
TRIANGLE
DIDGERIDOO
TROMBONE
DRUM
UKULELE
EUPHONIUM
VEENA
FLUTE
VIBRAPHONE
FRENCH HORN
VIOLIN
GUITAR
XUN
HARP
by Sandy Clarke & Robert Stuart
I've been
meaning to
Adopt a healthier
lifestyle, trim
the waist
a little...
WHAT?
NO BACON?!
ARE THEY
MAD?!
37
Dharma Dave by Sandy Clarke & Robert Stuart
Can you figure out what the
top number in the pyramid is?
?
4
but never treat
a triviality as if it
were a disaster.’
As the saying goes,
'Treat all disasters
as if they
were trivialities...
It's important
to let go, detach, and
not get caught up in
dualistic thinking.
1
2
7
12
7
8
3
WHAT D'YOU MEAN
“CONNECTION NOT
AVAILABLE ?!?!?!”
3
8
4
12
6
9
10
3
5
11
13
14
15
16
17
Sudoku
18
19
20
21
4
6
8
3
2
7 1
7
4
22
23
24
25
8
5 9
2
7
4 5
9
3
9
1
The Tiny Irvine Life Quiz Part 2
Where in Irvine might you find the
picture that forms the
background of this page?
Send your answer by email and you
could win an Irvine Life mug.
compe
ons@irvinelife.co.uk
CROSSWORD CLUES
Across
1. Floorshow (7)
4. Spooky (5)
7. Detec on device (5)
9. Ver cal (7)
10. Inac vity (7)
11. Measuring implement (5)
12. Dictator (6)
14. Ecclesias c (6)
18. Copious (5)
20. Drawn (7)
22. Pouch worn with a kilt (7)
23. Diadem (5)
24. Admi ance (5)
25. Spiny anteater (7)
Down
1. Transported (7)
2. Emblem (5)
3. Tropical bird (6)
4. Mistake (5)
5. Dependable follower (7)
6. Go in (5)
8. Magnitude rela on (5)
13. Reinforcement (7)
15. Reasoned judgement (5)
16. Musical passage (7)
17. Opportunity (6)
18. Part of a church (5)
19. Ahead of me (5)
21. Obviate (5)
Three winners will be selected at random for each quiz ques on correctly answered, with results and answers published in next month's issue.
38
What’s on in April?
The PLAYZ, Kilwinning
Easter Programme (Week 1)
Wednesday, April 8
11am-1pm
Under the Canvas Pain ng
The theme will be ‘Show me your
Monet’
Thursday, April 9
10am-2pm
Animal Man & the Mini Zoo
A fantas c children’s animal handling
experience, allowing them to get up
close with mammals, birds, lizards,
snakes and loads of different creepy
crawlies.
Friday, April 10
11am-1pm
The Sensa onal Singing Fish Supper
All ac vi es cost £1 per person. For
more informa on on the Easter
Programme call 01294 539717
Saturday, April 11
Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
7.30pm
Tommy Truesdale and the
Sundowners
One of Scotland’s renowned and
legendary bands – fronted by Irvine
Beat FM DJ Tommy Truesdale – make
a return to the HAC with a wide range
of Rock ‘n’ Roll, 60s, 70s pop and
country music.
The accomplished singer and his band
cover an array of golden oldies in
their repertoire including songs by
Elvis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and
many more.
Come down and join Tommy
Truesdale for an evening of nostalgia
that’s not to be missed.
Tickets: £8/£6 concession
Tel: 01294 274059
Kilwinning Heritage Centre
2pm-4pm
Spring Cra s (ages 4-12 years)
Come along and make some easy and
crea ve cra s to celebrate the arrival
of Spring, Book your ckets from the
Heritage Centre now.
Tickets: £2
Tel: 01294 464174
Sunday, April 12
Mon, April 20
Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
7.30pm
Club Americana – Dubl Handl
You won’t encounter a be er delivery
of the American old- me string band
style than comes from this upbeat
trio who first took New York by storm
and have never looked back.
Dubl Handl are the resident band at
the famous Jalopy Theatre in
Brooklyn – The Coen Brothers’
favourite haunt. They are fronted by
the percussive, mul -instrumentalist
genius of Brian Geltner, who is joined
by Hilary Hawke and Jonathan
LaDeau.
Tickets: £12 / £10 concession
Tel: 01294 274059
Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
10am - 10.45am
Bookbug
The Bookbug has landed at the
HAC...why not come along to our free
sessions for an all singing booktas c
workshop for 3 months plus.
Free, please book in advance
Mon, April 13 – Wed, April 15
Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
10am-4pm
Night in the Museum
(ages 12-16 years)
When a school trip goes horribly
wrong and you’re le behind inside
an old, dusty museum…what’s the
worst that could happen?
You’ll find out when you come along
to this full-filled interac ve show*,
where you’ll have the chance to
control the madness as the havoc
unfolds.
Price: £15
Tel: 01294 274059
*Par cipants are asked to bring a
packed lunch, plenty of water and
snacks.
Thurs, April 16 – Fri, April 17
Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
10am-6pm
Double Day Show in a Day
(ages 12-16 years)
Our Double Day drama event will test
your ac ng skills, singing talents and
comical capabili es as you rehearse
and perform a show over two days.
Par cipants are asked to bring a
packed lunch, plenty of water and
snacks, and wear all black.
Price: £10
Tel: 01294 274059
Saturday, April 25
Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
7.30pm
Genesish
Genesish recreates the sights and
sounds of Genesis, covering the Peter
Gabriel classics and Phil Collins era.
The five talented musicians that make
up this popular tribute band have
developed their cra over many
years, with the sole inten on of
crea ng a showcase spectacular not
to be missed.
Tickets: £15/£12 concession
Tel: 01294 274059
Sunday, April 26
New Orleans Joymakers
Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
2:00 pm
Enjoy a swinging a ernoon of
tradi onal jazz.
Call 01294 274059 for Tickets
Tickets: £8.00 / Concessions: £6.00
Vineburgh Community Centre, Irvine
Every second Wednesday
8pm
The Irvine Folk Club
One of Scotland’s oldest folk clubs
meets fortnightly on Wednesday
nights In Vineburgh Community
Centre. The venue is wonderful for
music with great acous cs and a
friendly audience. There is no bar
but you can bring your own drinks.
So drinks, teas, coffees and snacks
are available during the break.
Price on the door:
£6 (members) / £8 (non-members)
Tel: Club Secretary Joyce Hodge on
01294 551047