News

Sea Change - a Festival by the Sea

Fiona Howard — 2012-05-30T18:56:19Z

ONE of the Rosneath Peninsula's longest established summer events is taking on a new life next weekend.

Sea Change, a Festival by the Sea, will be offering a chance for the whole community, sailors or non-sailors, young and old, to get in on the Cove Sailing Club Regatta and celebrate their life beside the sea.

The three day event, which has been timed to coincide with the regatta, has been organised by the Arts Sub-group of the Rosneath Peninsula West Community Development Trust, under the leadership of journalist and broadcaster Ruth Wishart who is a member of the board of Creative Scotland.

The Festival begins on Friday evening, June 8, with a reception at Cove Park when Jo Royle, internationally recognised as one of Europe’s leading female ocean yacht skippers will be talking about her experiences building and sailing Plastiki, a vessel made from 12,000 plastic bottles which she skippered across the Pacific.

Places for this event, which begins at 7pm, are restricted to 60 and anyone interested in attending is asked to call 01436 850123 to check availability.

The underlying themes of the weekend will be recycling and, of course, water and professional artist Alison Bell has been working with the children at the local primary schools to build boats from recycled materials.

These boats will all be on display at the Burgh Hall in Cove on Saturday. June 9 between noon and 3pm and Jo will be there to judge the creations which Ruth said were often "a triumph of imagination over practicality" and award prizes.

While the boats are on display "Mermaid Teas and Tucker" will be served in the hall and all the goodies on offer will have a seaside theme.

However, before that the Peninsula youngsters are invited to dress up with a seaside theme, be it pirates, mermaids, sailors or anything else nautical, and parade from Kilcreggan Pier to Cove Sailing Club. The parade will start at 10.15am and at the end the costumes will be judged. The judges will be especially looking for costumes made with recycled materials.

After the boat judging and Mermaid Teas there will be a special free film show in the Burgh with "Floodtide" on offer along with some archive footage from around the area. The free film show will begin at 3pm.

Sunday's events begin with "Float Your Boat" when the youngsters will be invited gather at the Burgh Hall at 10.30am to float their model boats from the previous day's exhibition off the beach.

A Royal Navy rib crew will be off shore to make sure that none of the recycled boats sails off to become a new pollutant and the young people were asked not to paint their boats so that the paint can't pollute either.

Afterwards, at 11.15 there will be another free movie in the Burgh Hall, this time for the kids with a special screening of the favourite "The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep".

The weekend's entertainment will conclude in Kilcreggan with a performance of "Sea Shanties on the Shore" performed by the Peninsula Choir and "Poetry by the Pier" read by local writers.

The Terrace Cafe will be serving fishy treats all day on Sunday and other entertainment will be available at the sailing club on Saturday evening as part of the regatta proper.

Ruth said: "We are really keen that as many people as possible get involved. This is very much a community event and we want it to be enjoyed by as broad a section of the community as possible."

SPT Q&A on Kilcreggan Ferry Service

Margaret Isaacs — 2012-02-20T12:23:36Z

Renewal of Gourock – Kilcreggan ferry contract

Q.   Who is the current operator of the ferry contract and what is the current annual cost to the public purse?
A.   The current operator is Clyde Marine Motoring Ltd and the amount of annual subsidy is £368,517.

Q.   Who is the proposed operator of the new ferry contract and what will be the annual cost to the public purse?
A.   The proposed operator is Clydelink Ltd and the amount of annual subsidy will be £174,950. (NB. The description ‘proposed’ is used throughout to reflect the fact that, at the time of writing, the contract has not yet been formally awarded, it being subject to the normal EU standstill period).

Q.   What was the renewal process for the contract?
A.   An open tendering exercise took place under EU procurement regulations, with invitations to tender open to all interested companies.

Q.   What is the proposed timetable?
A.   Attached, but please note that, as a result of the potential repair work to be carried out by CMAL on the Kilcreggan Steps (see final question) it may be necessary to introduce some slight alterations to times.

Q.   Why was it decided to withdraw the link to Helensburgh?
A.   Before the tendering exercise commenced in 2011, SPT carried out analysis of passenger numbers and journey trends in order to devise a ferry tender specification which not only addressed the socially-necessary transport links required but also ensured the effective use of the significant amount of public money involved (£368,517 per annum at present).

The data clearly demonstrated that the core users of the ferry service are between Gourock and Kilcreggan, with Helensburgh representing only 7% of total passenger traffic, with an average of 2.6 passengers per sailing. The subsidy cost per passenger trip between Gourock and Kilcreggan is approximately £3.00, whilst that of the Helensburgh link is approximately £20.00 per passenger trip. (This was borne out by subsequent discussions with the incumbent operator of the service, Clyde Marine, which readily agreed that uptake of the Helensburgh link was very poor).

A specification was constructed which took account of all these factors, and SPT tendered the core socially-necessary service between Gourock and Kilcreggan but invited operators to consider providing options for a service to Helensburgh and other locations in the Firth of Clyde. SPT offered tenderers additional financial support – over and above any subsidy for the core service - for such initiatives.

Clyde Marine was the only tenderer and offered the Gourock – Kilcreggan element - excluding a Sunday service during the summer period - at a price of £359,363 per annum. Given the reductions in sailings and hours operated, it was felt that this price (only £9154 less than the current cost which includes both the Helensburgh link and a Sunday service) did not represent good value for the public purse and a further tendering exercise was therefore carried out.

As a result of this second tendering exercise, Clydelink Ltd submitted a price of £174,950 per annum to provide the core Monday – Saturday Gourock – Kilcreggan service, a very substantial reduction on the current annual cost and £155,354 per annum less than the further price submitted by Clyde Marine Motoring Ltd of £330,304, the latter based upon offering two return sailings to Helensburgh, on three unspecified days during the Summer period only.

On the basis that SPT’s role is to maintain socially-necessary transport links, it was determined that the Clydelink tender bid met the core requirements of the service and was therefore recommended to the Operations Committee for award. The Committee also directed that the Sunday service should be maintained for the 2012 season, in the hope of encouraging greater uptake of it.

Whilst much has been made of a possible impact upon tourism to Helensburgh – a fact not borne out by the low passenger numbers – SPT is not charged with funding tourism initiatives, nor is it provided with any budget to do so. We are responsible only for maintaining socially-necessary transport links and we have done so in this case by maintaining the Gourock – Kilcreggan link for local residents and for the MoD workers at the Clyde naval bases. Throughout the tendering process, we have actively sought to ensure the long-term future of the ferry service in the context of the difficult economic circumstances currently faced by all public sector bodies.

Q.   What requirements must a ferry operator meet in the operation of an SPT contract?
A.   Any contractor must satisfy all appropriate statutory requirements. This will encompass vessel and crew, certificates/licences and records of inspection and maintenance. All contractors are required to disclose information evidencing legislative compliance when required to do so by SPT.

In addition, Clydelink has – at its own expense - appointed external advisers to assist in the fields of maritime training, vessel survey and compliance, safety and operational management, risk management and technical support.

Q.   What type of vessel will be used to operate the proposed contract and what are its design features?
A.   SPT specified a minimum 60-seat vessel, based upon survey data which indicated a maximum of 48 passengers at any one time. Clydelink has indicated that it will provide a new-build vessel which meets this requirement. It has indicated that the vessel will be suitable for the service and for any forthcoming shore side infrastructure changes, including landing stages, gangways and pontoons. Passenger facilities will include interior seating in a heated passenger cabin and will be of modern public transport quality.

The new vessel will also offer the following:

•   A wider, non-slip gangway permitting pushchairs and bicycles to be pushed on and off, rather than carried overhead when boarding and disembarking.
•   Thermostatically controlled heating to the passenger cabin.
•   Upper deck cycle rack.
•   Fare collection in the passenger cabin, rather than on deck.
•   With a reduced upper deck height, boarding and disembarkation will be carried out with the gangway at a shallower angle, permitting easier access for all.

There has been some misinformed comment on the purchase and ownership of the current vessel, MV Seabus. The Seabus was not funded or purchased by SPT and is entirely owned by Clyde Marine Motoring Ltd.

Q.   What arrangements are in place for vessel unserviceability or delivery delay at the commencement date of the contract?
A.   SPT requires that there should be provision to replace the vessel if it becomes unavailable for service for whatever reason. Clydelink has evidenced satisfactory arrangements in this regard, by having sourced a backup vessel of the required capacity and by having begun negotiations to put in place charter arrangements as a further secondary option.

Q.   What are the proposals in relation to use of the ‘Kilcreggan Steps’ at Gourock?
A.   After the Committee decision to award the contract, SPT was made aware that Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), which manages the pier at Gourock, had indicated that, since it considered the Kilcreggan Steps – where the ferry currently berths – in a ‘tenuous’ condition, it was monitoring use and cautioned that it might be necessary to close them at short notice.

Although it would appear that CMAL notified the incumbent operator, Clyde Marine Motoring Ltd, of this in December 2011, no notification was given to SPT, either by CMAL or Clyde Marine.

This is clearly outwith the control of either SPT or Clydelink, and both have since engaged in discussions with CMAL to identify a solution. During these discussions, CMAL indicated that it was carrying out an engineering report on the condition of the Steps and, dependant upon the results of that investigation, it might be necessary to close them for the approximately 12 months required to carry out the remedial work.

It was suggested that a workable solution might be to put in place temporary arrangements which would see the ferry docking at a point some 200m from the current location, using a pontoon supplied by SPT.
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Q.   What financial standing checks are carried out on a prospective new contractor?
A.   SPT undertakes financial assessments of all contractors prior to the award of contracts. Information used to undertake such assessments include but are not limited to Dun & Bradstreet credit reports and review of the most up to date available set of financial statements. If other information becomes available, e.g. public notices etc, these are also considered.

In the instance of the award of contract for the Gourock – Kilcreggan ferry an updated credit report plus the draft financial statements up to 31 December 2011 were reviewed. Neither highlighted any cause for concern. A public notice relating to a recent HMRC action was also investigated and HMRC advised that the matter had been resolved. This approach is standard practice. For information, a review of other tenderers credit reports was also undertaken.

Q.   Why was the reference to DDA removed from the contract specification?
A.   The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) was replaced by the Equality Act 2010. Neither piece of legislation applies to ferries and the reference was removed for accuracy. However, the tender pack was clear in that we require an accessible vessel although a short term alternative solution may be acceptable.

Whilst our Conditions of Contract require the vessel to be licensed, equipped, insured and maintained as required by statute there is currently no, nor is there any proposed, legislation relating to the type of ferry or the characteristics of the Gourock – Kilcreggan crossing regarding either the current vessel contract or any new vessel contract which specifies ‘accessibility’, DDA compliance or otherwise.

As previously noted, whilst the current vessel has features which promote accessibility, the new operator has confirmed that their vessel will have further enhancements which specifically address these concerns:

•   Wider, non-slip gangway permitting pushchairs and bicycles to be pushed on and off, rather than carried overhead when boarding and disembarking. Easier access for the visually impaired and infirm. Approximately 50% wider than existing gangway.
•   Lower main deck providing more direct access for the less able bodied should pontoons be installed in the future.
•   Thermostatically controlled heating to the passenger cabin, rather than on/off heating.
•   Upper deck bicycle storage.
•   Passenger fares will be collected on the passenger deck, rather than out in the elements on the upper deck.
•   With a reduced upper deck height, boarding and disembarkation will be carried out with the gangway at a shallower angle, permitting easier access for all.

Q.   What can be done to address the disabled access issues of the Seabus?
A   It is recognised that the application of the accessibility requirements to the new ferry is appropriate. However, the existing berthing arrangements at both Gourock and Kilcreggan are currently not compliant. Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) is presently conducting a feasibility study into options to address these issues in the long term. SPT is supporting CMAL in this project and the introduction of pontoon arrangements is being considered and the design of the new vessel is entirely complementary to this solution.

Q.   Concerns over seaworthiness/stability of new vessel in adverse weather conditions?
A.   The Seabus currently is and the new vessel will be certified to Merchant Shipping Notice 1699 (M) Class V meaning that both vessels, current and new, are designed to operate in exactly the same sea conditions.

Q.   Has the new contract been awarded?
A.   The award of the contract has already been made, and has been done so in strict accordance with EU Procurement regulations. The contract award was agreed by SPT’s Operations Committee on 20 January 2012. Thereafter the 15 day EU standstill period was observed and the award finally made, in line with the wishes of the Committee, on 10 February 2012.

Landmarks of the first 18 months

Margaret Isaacs — 2011-11-28T17:19:54Z

The Trust’s first AGM was held at the Burgh Hall on 11th November. It has been a remarkable first eighteen months. Among the landmarks were the compilation and delivery of the Community Action Plan, the Kilcreggan Architectural Competition, the appointment of Martin Aldridge and Catherine Slavin as our carbon and energy reduction team, and the feasibility study and on-going pre-development work on our community windfarm. By the time this issue goes to press, we will also have held our Renewable Energy Exhibition in the Burgh Hall.

All these activities have been funded by grants, and we owe Arlene Cullum thanks for the huge effort she put into the many applications. Particular thanks are also due to Louise Young, who drew up our Constitution and negotiated our registration with Companies House and the Charities Regulator.

Three of our inaugural board, Brenda Collins, Laura Galbraith, and Andy Logue stood down this year. We are very grateful for their support and engagement on behalf of our community. The directors for 2012 are Ann Bray, Malcolm Brown, Annie Burden, Arlene Cullum, Alan Devenny, Neil Isaacs, Murdo MacDonald, Catriona McMurtrie, Paul Munro, Tony Page, Loz Slavin, Grant Watkinson, and Louise Young. Each of us would welcome any comments and suggestions on the future operation of the Trust.

An end to Clynder power outages?

Dominic Colella — 2011-11-04T15:15:40Z

ScottishPower Energy Networks Invests £1.2million to Upgrade Electricity Network on the Roseneath peninsula

ScottishPower engineers will this month start a £1.2 million project to modernise the electricity network in the Clynder area. The work is designed to improve the reliability of power supplies by undergrounding strategic sections of cable, and refurbishing the remaining overhead network from Garelochhead. This work is part of ScottishPower’s large network investment programme that will improve the reliability of electricity supplies on the peninsula and reduce the inconvenience that can be caused by faults.

The full project will take until the end of 2012 to complete and will consist of three phases.

The first phase of the project will see the undergrounding of the overhead network in Clynder and take approximately six months to complete, with the second and third phases programmed to commence during the summer of 2012.

David Climie, Glasgow & Clyde North Zone Manager at ScottishPower, said: “We have been working very closely with Argyll and Bute Council to plan our work in advance and to minimise disruption.

“We would like to thank the residents of Clynder in advance for their patience while we carry out this work. Although there will be some disruption, this project will ensure a robust and reliable electricity network for many years to come.”

Beat the rogues

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-19T15:28:44Z

HELENSBURGH and Lomond's MSP Jackie Baillie is urging people to help combat rogue doorstep traders offering home improvements and maintenance work, in order to support the local economy and protect consumer rights.

Figures released by the Office of Fair Trading show that home improvements continue to top the list of complaints about doorstep rogue traders.

Last year, Consumer Direct received more than 13,000 complaints about uninvited traders and almost half of these complaints, 5,718, related to home maintenance work. Jackie supported a motion by James Kelly MSP which highlights the fact that rogue traders have frequently been reported to offer services at what appear to be attractive rates and use persuasive sales techniques to pressure people into making hasty decisions.

The motion also commends the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in Scotland, in conjunction with Trading Standards, for running the campaign Nail the Rogues in order to raise awareness of the dangers of rogue and dishonest traders and for providing information on how to find reputable traders. Jackie said: “I am pleased to support the Nail the Rogues campaign.

By offering what appears to be a cheap deal, rogue traders put jobs in legitimate small and medium sized companies in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven and Helensburgh and Lomond at risk. "Local consumers, especially the elderly and vulnerable, must be protected as far as possible and encouraged to be on their guard against rogue traders knocking at their door.”

Grahame Barn, Director of FMB Scotland, said: “If a tradesman comes to your door and tries to sell you a home improvement, FMB Scotland advises you close the door and do not engage in conversation.

"If you need a builder ask friends and family for a recommendation or use a trade association such as the FMB, and always use a contract. You can get more information on finding and working with builders on our website www.fmb.org.uk/fab.

"You can also order a free leaflet and door sticker to help you avoid rogues from the Nail the Rogues website http://www.nailtherogues.org.uk/”

Youth Cafe opens for business

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-10T13:04:19Z

IT has taken nearly two years of dealing with red tape and gathering support, but the long-awaited Cove and Kilcreggan youth cafe is finally about to open — with a little help from Brad Pitt.
The cafe is the brainchild of Kilcreggan woman Susie Will who returned home, after living and working in France, to find there was little or no provision for young people in the village.
She identified suitable premises in the former tennis club pavilion and began the process, with the support of the village community council, of negotiating with Argyll and Bute Council for the lease of the decrepit old building.
But now all that is in the past and the youth cafe will open its doors on September 11 at 2pm with a barbecue and refreshments, much of which will have come courtesy of the Brad Pitt film set in Glasgow.
Susie has been working on set and part of the schedule included the “trashing” of a supermarket by the zombies in the movie.
After filming, much of the non-perishables were donated to Susie for the cafe opening.
A team of helpers is being built up and all will be “disclosed” to allow the cafe to open at least two evenings, and possibly part of the weekend, each week.
The cafe will be open to any youngsters between the ages of 12 and 18 and it is planned that a management committee will be set up from among the members to suggest the programme and to help with the fund raising.
A number of local people have already committed £1 per week to support the cafe and grants have been received from the Helensburgh Lions Club, the community council, Dunbritton Housing Association and, most recently, The Sovereign Order of St John.
Susie and fellow committee members Gerry Deery and Samantha Lindley are pictured with the cheque from the Order of St John and the other committee members include Alison Barclay, Christine Borland, Michelle Smith and Sarah-Jane Williams with help from many others.
Because the cafe has taken so long to come to fruition, some of the village youngsters have already got together with Susie’s help for an afternoon out at Centre 81 in Garelochhead and Susie is hoping that such outings could become a regular feature for cafe members.
Susie said: “There really is a need for somewhere for young people to meet on the Peninsula.
“When I was a teenager in Kilcreggan there was youth fellowship, the youth club and the village’s Italian Cafe with its jukebox. Now there is nothing.”
Susie’s father, Dr Alan Will, was a prominent member of the community and his love of helping has rubbed off on Susie, who first made her mark as a community councillor in 1982.
She then started the village school’s PTA with Norman Brammer and Marian Hanley before moving away from the Peninsula for a while.
In 1996 she returned and started the Cove and Kilcreggan Film Society which is still running and chaired by Val Walker.
In 2003 she saw a gap in community life and started an after-school art club at Cove Park which allowed local youngsters to meet and learn from the world class artists spending time at the artists’ retreat.
She also served as a member of the Kilcreggan Primary School board before moving away again to spend some time living and working in France.
“When I came back, “ she said, “I saw a huge need for youth facilities and began the process of setting up the youth cafe.
“It has taken a long time and been a huge amount of work to get to this stage but now we are about to open and it will have been worth it.”

Young butcher up for award

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-10T13:03:23Z

A 19 year-old trainee butcher who works in Kilcreggan has been nominated for the “Young Butcher of the Year” Competition.
Craig Rennie, who lives in East Princes Street and is a former pupil of Hermitage Academy, works as an apprentice for Kilcreggan butcher Kevin Walker.
Craig, who is a member of the local Air Cadets Unit, originally started to train as a chef but found that it wasn’t for him and when he heard at Kevin was looking for an apprentice he seized the opportunity.
Now he takes great pleasure in helping his boss develop the range of offerings in the small village butcher shop and has become a firm favourite with the customers with whom he is often on first name terms.
Speaking about being nominated for the award, which puts him in the top 100 young butchers in Scotland, he said: “I am dead chuffed.
“I really enjoy my job. I am always learning something new and Kevin is a really good teacher.
“I have just started my SVQ level 3 which I hope will help me develop my supervisor skills. This should allow Kevin to feel that when he goes on holiday that he is leaving his business in a “safe pair of hands”.
“I would also like to take some time to travel around other areas and shops to identify new products, which we could, sell and develop giving our customers a greater choice of products.”
He says that he hopes that he will become a really good butcher and one day have a shop of his own.
Kevin said: “I am very proud of him. He is doing very well and it is good to see someone young and enthusiastic coming into a trade.”
Craig’s Scottish Meat Training assessor Gordon King put him forward for the award and in his report said that had taken only nine months to complete his SVQ level 2, Butchery retail skills, Modern Apprentice and continued: “Craig demonstrated his skills in manufacturing, customer service, primal cutting, boning, seam cutting and trimming. Craig also provided evidence of working safely and hygienically, essential skills in the food industry.
“His employer, Kevin Walker, who has supported him throughout his course, taught him his skills to a high level.
“Although the shop is small and does not have a large display area, Craig is keen on developing new products with his employer. He was also never shy to ask his assessors opinion on the latest product he had thought of.”
Kevin added: “Since he joined me in the shop he has made fantastic progress. He has paid intense attention to all the skills I have passed on, taking to it like a “duck to water”, sometimes developing his own technique but still working to a high standard.
“Our shop is in a small community on a small peninsula on the north bank of the Firth of Clyde. Craig’s development is of great interest to many of our customers. They often ask him how he is “getting on”, with Craig happy to tell them what he has been working on.”

Fire hydrant debate

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-10T13:01:30Z

THE issue of fire hydrants in Rosneath was raised again at the recent meeting of the community council.
Members heard that the fire service does not feel that it is necessary to have a new hydrant installed just outside the village but the council is inclined to disagree.
The matter first arose in the wake of a barn fire at Clachan Farm, because of the distance fire engines had to go to get water and concern was expressed because there is planning permission already granted for 200 additional homes in that area.
However, fire officers felt that there was not a need for a new hydrant at this time.
Some community councillors felt that that was a wrong decision especially as Scottish Water is already working in the area and the hydrant could be added in the course of that work.
Argyll and Bute Councillor Danny Kelly assured the members the issue could be looked at again at the detailed planning stage of the new housing development.

School fair success

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-10T13:00:04Z

ROSNEATH Primary School Fair provided a fun family event on Saturday which attracted a good attendance.
The organisers, the Rosneath Parent Council, would like to thank everyone who gave of their time and all who donated home baking and raffle prizes as well as the businesses who donated raffle prizes and the people who hired the table tops.
Their spokesman added: “Also thanks go to the Royal Marines, Bomb Disposal Unit, Fire Service, and Lomond Flyball whose demonstrations were very well received.
“Most importantly we thank all the parents, grandparents and friends who supported the school event, without these people it would not have been the success it was.
“The sum of £900 was raised for the school funds.”

Fire raising on Peninsula

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-10T12:58:08Z

A SERIES of fires have been started around the Rosneath area and the police are to be asked to provide some extra patrols through the village.
The fire brigade had to be called to a huge unattended fire on the beach, a fire was started in the old quarry just outside the village and a fire raiser set fire to the hide at the community nature reserve on the Peaton Hill.
The Rosneath and Clynder Community Council was told that one of their members had called the fire brigade to the fire on the beach which was very close to trees and unattended.
“I heard the kids saying that they had got some petrol and then there was a loud whump and when I looked out there was a huge unattended fire right under the trees.
“I could hear the youngsters calling for someone to bring a wheelie bin down which would have been very dangerous.”
The meeting was also told that a fire had been started at the old quarry and it was agreed to ask for additional police patrols in the area.

Carol tops gala concert

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-10T12:56:48Z

FORMER Garelochhead hotelier and international Jazz singer Carol Kidd will top the bill at a gala concert to be staged in Glasgow in October by Artists and Musicians for Mary’s Meals.
The concert will take place in the City Chambers in George Square at 7pm on Friday October 28, following an Arts and Crafts Fair there from 10.30am until 5pm.
It is part of the fund-raising group’s 2011 Festival of the Arts, which will begin with the opening of a Fine Art Exhibition of the work of Scotland’s top painters in the café of House for an Artlover in Bellahouston Park at 7pm on Thursday, October 27.
The exhibition will be opened by Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, the founder of Mary’s Meals, and the Rev Laurence Whitley, minister of Glasgow Cathedral, a patron of Artists for Mary’s Meals.
The gala concert on Friday night will star Scotland’s best-loved jazz singer, Carol Kidd, and will be hosted by the veteran folk singer and radio presenter Jimmie Macgregor.
It will also feature blind folk singer and guitarist Elena Piras from Pitlochry in Perthshire and vocalist and clarsach player Carissa Bovill from Mollinsburn in Lanarkshire. The South Side Fiddlers, a dozen children from King’s Park in Glasgow, who play folk music will also take part as will the Morgan Lee Band, a Celtic music septet from the West End of Glasgow.
The Richard Burton Trio, also from the West End of Glasgow, will entertain on saxophone, guitar and drums and Jon Ritchie’s Swing Sensation Big Band will play jazz. Jazz guitarist Nigel Clark, an accomplished solo guitarist, will accompany Carol Kidd, who is now based in Majorca.
Tickets for all events are obtainable from the Arches, 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G2 8DL. Telephone 0141.565.1000 or contact www.thearches.co.uk
Find out more about Artists and Musicians for Mary’s Meals on www.artists formarymeals.com

Flower show was blooming success

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-10T12:46:07Z

COVE Burgh Hall opened its doors for the popular annual village flower show.
Hundreds of garden enthusiasts flocked to the hall with produce for the competitions or just to see what other gardeners have been doing.
The floral arrangements were spectacular, and although the weather had taken its toll this year, entries for the floral categories were greatly appreciated by everyone.
Home baking attracted its usual large entry with fierce competition and the children’s categories were well competed by youngsters of all age groups.
The show is organised by the ladies of the local RNLI Guild and it is traditional that all the entries are sold after the prize-giving to raise funds for the life saving charity.
When all the sums were done at the end of the day, the branch had raised more than £1,400 for the lifeboat charity.
Chairman Jean Gaughan said: “We were very pleased with the turn out and delighted with the amount raised.”
Special guest for the day was Tamsin Ferrier from the RNLI head office and she took the opportunity to talk to the audience and explaining something of the work of the charity before the prize-giving.
This year there were more trophies than in recent years and competition was fierce.
The Silvers Marine Trophy for the overall points winner of the day went to Jeanette Caldwell who had also won three of the six trophies in the floral section.
She won the Beechgrove Garden Cup for a variety of cut flowers, the Cafe at Kilcreggan Salver for a small flower arrangement and the Janet Hamilton Rosebowl for a flower arrangement in a basket.
Jeannie Easton won the Peninsula Magazine trophy for an arrangement of foliage and berries, Marion Burns took the Lovedale Trophy for a flower arrangement on the theme of “A Royal Event” and Jane Davies won the much coveted Kay Turner Cup for a single rose.
The Billy Cowan Memorial Trophy for vegetables classes 14 to 28 was won by M Hardie, the Dorothy Geddes Trophy for four fresh herbs went to Liz Taylor and the Dorothy and Alan Will Trophy for an arrangement of six vegetables was won by Alan Payne.
Gwyn Simon was this year’s winner of the Friendship Cup for jams and jellies and the Ardardan Cup for home baking went to Catherine Tucket.
The RNLI Trophy for children aged between 10 and 14 years went to Ryan Barbour, the RNLI Trophy for children aged five to nine years was won by Jessica Noble and four-year-old Carly O’Donnell won the RNLI Trophy for children aged between two and four years.
The ladies of the village branch of the SWRI took control of the tearoom as is their custom and did a roaring trade throughout the afternoon.
The committee would like to thank them for their continued support which is greatly appreciated.
The next event on the local RNLI fund raising agenda will be the annual, Christmas Card sale which is held in the Cove Sailing Club.

Community Council election

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-10T12:45:05Z

NONE of the Community Councils in Helensburgh and Lomond received enough nominations to trigger a contest in the recent round of nominations.
Polling is required only if there are more candidates that vacant seats on the community council and the only community council in Argyll and Bute which attracted enough interest to require a contest was Kilmun.
Rhu and Shandon Community Council has a massive 11 vacancies having only attracted one new member, Morven Boyle, Coach House, Station Road, Rhu.
Cardross has two new members, Wendy Clarke, 58 Kirkton Road, and Rikki Young, 59 Hillside Road, and still has two vacant seats.
Cove and Kilcreggan also has two new members and two vacant seats remaining. The new members are Derek Fowlis, Elim, Argyll Road, Kilcreggan and Alastair Lamont, Baroncliffe Cottage, South Ailey Road, Cove.
Helensburgh had three nominees for its three vacant seats. The new members are David Allan, 145 West Princes Street, Neil Drummond, 193 West King Street and Alistair MacBeth, 40 West Montrose Street.
Rosneath and Clynder has five vacancies but received no nominations and Arrochar and Tarbet also failed to attract any nominees for its one empty seat.
Garelochhead, and Luss and Arden community councils declined the opportunity for a by-election to fill vacancies.

Scott pipes in the Waverley

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-10T12:43:00Z

A 13 year-old piper has ensured that holidaymakers on board the Waverley never forget their stop at Kilcreggan.
Scott Cathro is a member of the Helensburgh and District Pipe Band and had occasionally represented the band playing on Helensburgh pier to welcome the Waverley.
The young piper enjoyed the task and it occurred to him at the start of the summer that he could have the fun of piping in the Waverley every week when she visited Kilcreggan.
And so, throughout the sailing season Scott has been seen on Kilcreggan Pier, as the world famous paddle steamer berthed, entertaining the passengers with his talent.
His mum Laura said: “He just decided to do it himself and he has really enjoyed it as well as making a bit of pocket money from tips!”
And the youngster has become such a popular sight that local people have chosen to join the visitors in the pier to hear him play and he has even been asked to play at a wedding and at a 60th birthday celebration.
Scott, whose grandfather is Argyll and Bute Councillor Danny Kelly, learned to play the chanter aged seven and graduated to the pipes when he was 11. He played briefly with the Peninsula Pipe Band before joining the Helensburgh and District band.
As well as the training and practise session with the pipe band, Scott gets lessons at Hermitage Academy from Donald McPhee who is a member of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band who recently won the Grade 1 World Championships.
If you would like to have Scott play for a special occasion give him a ring on 01436 842217.
Scott is pictured playing on the pier and with his Mum, dad Dougie and twin brothers Ross and Stuart.

Fun, fun, fun

Fiona Howard — 2011-09-10T12:39:44Z

CHILDREN from all over the Rosneath Peninsula enjoyed a holiday fun club organised jointly by the churches in Rosneath and Cove and Kilcreggan.
The children, all primary school age, were taking part in the first church event of its kind in the area.
They and the volunteer helpers from the local churches and community met at the Princess Louise Hall and adjoining Howie Pavilion in Rosneath for a programme of various activities, including games, drama, songs and crafts.
The club theme was ‘Mission:Rescue’ and was based on the biblical account of Moses leading his people out of Egypt to freedom.
The children heard a part of this story each day and this formed a background to the other activities.
On the Friday afternoon, all including invited parents and friends enjoyed a barbecue in glorious sunny weather.
The week was rounded off on the Sunday by a special family service of thanksgiving held at St Modan’s Church in Rosneath.
This was an opportunity to celebrate and give thanks for a successful week.
Club volunteers and some of the children took part in the service.