Nuisance Helpline
Anti-Social Behaviour
Noise problems
CHATTERBOX
Support and Advice
Every day 9am – 10pm
Tel: 0800 169 1283
Community newsletter produced by lochwinnoch publicity committee for lochwinnoch cc
What’s On
• August/September
See back page for a wide range of
outdoor activities, news and
events at RSPB and the Castle
Semple and Muirshiel Centres.
• Friday 10th August at 5pm
- deadline for RSPB Photo
Competition.
• Advice Works - every
Tuesday from 10am—12.30 in
Lochwinnoch Library. *
• Saturday 11th August -
Ladies Golf ‘Come and Try’
Day at Lochwinnoch Golf
Club. *
• Monday 13th August -
Friday 17th August -
Circus Summer Club at
Lochwinnoch Parish Church. *
• Tuesday 14th August at
2.30pm - Toddlers Story-
time in the Library. *
• Saturday 18th August -
Councillor Arthur’s Surgery,
McKillop Hall from 11.30am. *
• Saturday 25th August -
LCBG Fund-raising ceilidh
in McKillop Hall. *
• Sunday 26th & Monday
27th August - another op-
portunity to see GBH in the
Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh. *
• Thursday 30th August -
Lochwinnoch Elderly
Forum in the McKillop
Institute at 1pm. *
• Friday 7th September
from 7.30pm - Steadfast
Silver Band and Gleniffer
Singers - the Parish Church.*
* for more details
see inside this issue of
Chatterbox.
www.lochwinnoch info
No 164 August 2007
THE SKY AT
NIGHT OVER
LOCHWINNOCH
There’s more going on out
there than global warming!
As the nights lengthen, there
will be just enough darkness
to see the Perseid meteor
shower. The shower peaks
around 12/13 t h August
[Monday] and is active be-
tween 23rd July and 20th Au-
gust. If you’re up and about
between midnight Sunday
and 2am Monday, look south-
east, just above the Braes, for
the red planet Mars. The me-
teors appear to radiate from
the constellation Perseus
which is well above and to the
left of Mars. The global hourly
rate may be as high as 80.
Perseids can be very bright
and often produce fireballs.
Jupiter [Zeus- King of the
Gods] -is visible in the south,
over Beith after 10pm. It stays
fairly low setting in the west.
With a telescope you may see
Io, Ganymede, Europa and
Callisto, 4 of Jupiter’s 60+
moons. They change position
MATTHEW NEW & SONS
ROOFING - ROUGHCASTING -
Emergency Repairs, Storm Damage
Insurance Work, New Roofs, Flat Roofs
Roughcasting –UPVC Cladding—Guttering
Tel No 01505 843400
FMB Certificate No 26366
ASIST
Anti-Social Investigation
Team
Office 8:45am – 4:45pm
Ask for David McLaren or
Lisa Simpson
Tel: 01505 325 030
Editorial & copy for Chatterbox
Let us have your stories, notices,
information, events and other items
of interest — either hand-deliver
them to the Chatterbox drop-box in
the Library or e-mail to:
chatterbox@lochwinnoch.info
To advertise in Chatterbox
Tel: 07899 746403 or e-mail:
chatterboxaccount@btinternet.com
quickly and you may be lucky
enough to see them pass be-
hind the planet. Not got a
telescope? Try your camcor-
der!
Mars - The orbits of Earth
and Mars are bringing the
planets closer and Mars will
appear to double in size be-
tween now and the end of
2007.
The Sun continues to become
more active and some predic-
tions give 2010 as the next
solar maximum during which,
displays of the Northern
Lights [Aurora Borealis] will
increase.
Website links to the above will
be posted on Lochwinnoch
Village Website Forum -
www.lochwinnoch.info
BUILDING MAINTENANCE

LCBG
The Struthers Project
The Big Vote
It was impossible to pass through
The Cross on Friday and Saturday
the 27th and 28th of July without be-
ing asked “Have you voted yet?” as
LCBG made one final push after a
month of publicity events, leafleting,
newspaper articles, national televi-
sion and door to door canvassing.
The aim of the ballot was to ask a
minimum 50% of the electorate if
they would like Lochwinnoch to buy
the Struthers Lemonade Factory.
LCBG cannot progress with the right
to buy if less than 26% of the elector-
ate votes yes.
The result, as announced on Monday
30th July by Returning Officer
Lesley Scott, is:
• The number of persons eligible
to vote in the ballot is: 2646
• The number of eligible persons
who voted is: 1088
• This represents 41 % of the elec-
torate in the postal code PA12 4.
• The number of proxy votes is: 57
• The number of spoilt ballot pa-
pers is: 0
• The number of ineligible ballot
papers is: 64 (not on full regis-
ter)+11 with no official mark=75
• The number of Yes votes is 991
• The number of No Votes is 96
This delivers a majority
Yes vote of 895 which is
37.45% of the electorate.
Although the vote only represented
41% of the electorate the majority
Yes vote far exceeded that required
by the Scottish Executive. In fact
90% of those who voted, voted in
favour. LCBG have since submitted
these results to the Scottish Execu-
tive who now have 21 days to decide
whether Lochwinnoch can proceed
with the purchase of the factory.
LCBG would like to thank
Douglas Alexander, Davie Ar-
thur, Neil Bibby and Trish God-
man for their support. The
group would like to thank Les-
ley Scott and Craig Chisholm
for organising the ballot and
proxy votes at very short notice.
Thank you also to Alan Morris,
Alex Hewitson and our ballot
assistants and thank you to all
the residents of Lochwinnoch
for telling us your thoughts,
allowing us to talk to you and of
course for the incredible
support you have displayed.
The ballot organiser and returning
officer, Lesley Scott, also wants to
thank all the volunteers who helped
contribute to all the activities leading
up to and during the ballot. What a
huge amount of work!
The group still has many hurdles to
cross and we still want to hear from
you. Post your questions and sugges-
tions to us on info@lcbg.org or join
the forum debate on the village web-
site at www.lochwinnoch.info/forum
Our next meeting is 6th August at
Lochwinnoch Bowling Club from
7.45pm. If you would like to join the
group or would like to find out fur-
ther information and meet the group
please feel free to come along.
*Don’t miss the LCBG fundraising
Ceildh with Clamjamfree. Saturday
August 25th in The McKillop. Tickets
from local shops or phone 843 099.
COMMUNITY
COUNCILLORS
As residents of Lochwinnoch
we are extremely lucky to live
in an area of outstanding
beauty, and to have such won-
derful facilities close by. I refer
of course to the Clyde Muir-
shiel Regional Park with all its
open space and activities, and
the RSPB Reserve.
We are also fortunate to have
a very active Community
Council whose job it is to rep-
resent the views of the resi-
dents on all matters which af-
fect life in the village. One has
only to look at the agenda for
our monthly meetings to real-
ise the variety of subjects
which we regularly cover;
Community Partnership, Polic-
ing, Planning, Roads and
Pathways, SRANI(South Ren-
frewshire Access Network),
LCBG(The Buyout Group),
Windfarm matters and others
that are relevant at the time.
Many of course are reported in
Chatterbox which is produced
for the Community Council.
However following earlier res-
ignations and Davie Arthur's
recent election to Ren-
frewshire Council there are
vacancies for community spir-
ited persons to come and join
us. We meet on the first Tues-
day of each month in the Guild
Hall of the Parish Church.
So if you think that you would
like to give it a go please turn
up and make yourself known
to one of the Council mem-
bers, or if you require more
information you can telephone
me on 01505 844865 or drop
an e-mail to me at
dandsfowles@btinternet.com
David Fowles
Chairperson
Lochwinnoch Community Council
 COMMUNITY
COUNCIL NEWS
Members of the Community
Council met on Tuesday 8th
August. Items discussed were as
follows:
PC Andy McCleman reported
that crime figures for June
amounted to 16, with 7 crimes
detected. Crime figures for July
were lower, with 12 crimes being
reported. Crimes included a
number of thefts, theft of a motor
vehicle, several vandalisms, seri-
ous assault, breach of the peace,
forgery, urinating in public,
breach of alcohol by-laws, and
drugs offences.
PC McCleman also mentioned
that police officers and other
agencies in Renfrewshire have
been working together this sum-
mer to keep local parks and
school areas crime-free.
A number of diversionary pro-
jects have been held at several
venues across Renfrewshire
(including Castle Semple Centre),
aimed at steering young people
away from vandalism, anti-social
behaviour and alcohol misuse.
Members of the Community
Partnership will be meeting with
the new Police Inspector, John
Laing, later this month.
A considerable amount of discus-
sion took place regarding some
current planning applications
and communications with Ren-
frewshire Council. Concerns
were also expressed by CC mem-
bers about the changes in notifi-
cation procedures announced by
Renfrewshire Council, apparently
as a result of recent Ward bound-
ary changes. These, and other
issues, will be raised again with
Renfrewshire Council.
A Planning Meeting will take
place shortly to discuss the pro-
posals for the St Joseph’s site.
Road improvement works to
Roadhead Roundabout are ex-
pected to commence at the end of
September.
Natural Touch
Beauty, Health and Complementary Therapy Salon
Susan and Jenny aim to promote wellbeing and offer a wide range
of Decléor skincare treatments including aromatherapy facials,
massage, reflexology, manicure, pedicure, wax, detox, self tan and
holiday treatment packages. Gift vouchers also available.
a or p o e s or a apo t e t. e : 01505 842118
pe esdays to Sat rdays a d ate o Wed esday a d rsday e e s.
It was reported that Forward
Scotland has awarded a grant of
£59,632 (under the Community
Environmental Renewal Scheme)
towards the costs of Phase 4 of
the SRANI project - the section of
new pathway from Fancy Bridge/
St Brides and round to Kenmuir
Hill.
With regard to the Core Paths
project, a public consultation will
take place on Tuesday 21st Au- The LOSC Holiday Club and
gust, from 9.30am to 12 noon at Holiday Club Voucher Scheme
the McKillop Institute. Members will run until Friday 17th August.
of the public are invited to view
and comment on the Core Paths A book of Holiday Club Vouch-
Report, prior to it going to Ren- ers costs £60 and entitles 1 child
frewshire Council for approval
aged P1 - 2 to 5 full days of
and eventual publication in book-
let form in early 2008. Summer Club activities.
These can be purchased from
Other items on the Agenda, in- Leanne McGarvey at the Space
cluding Buyout Group ballot, Rooms at the McKillop Institute.
Wind Farm planning application
and Traffic Police items are fea- Please note - The Club will be
tured in more detail elsewhere in closed on Monday 20th August
this issue of Chatterbox. for school preparation work.
Date of the next CC meeting is
Tuesday 4th September in the NEW TERM
Guild Room. Members of the
public are welcome to attend. The Club would remind parents
who wish to put their child’s
name down for next term’s
THANK YOU Breakfast Club and After School
Club activities, to do so as soon
Laura, David and Jade Wishart as possible.
would like to thank everyone for
their kind wishes, gifts and cards Contact Leanne McGarvey on
following the birth of little Poppy Mobile: 077578 01042
on July 5th.
Opening Hours are:
Thank you Monday to Friday
Laura Wishart
7.45am to 6pm.

Councillor
Arthur’s
Report
For the last 18 years previous
Councillor, Alastair Nimmo, or-
ganised a football week in July
for our 4 to 14 year olds. I was
absolutely delighted that after
some negotiations with Ren-
frewshire Council’s Sports Devel-
opment Department to provide
the coaches, this unsubsidised
event went ahead again. As al-
ways it proved very popular and
successful with an average turn-
out of 60 youngsters per day over
the 5 days.
Thanks again to Viewfield Rovers
for the use of their facility and of
course to all who participated.
The village has had its fair share
of workers from Environmental
Services over the past month.
We’ve had a team removing the
weeds from the village streets
and also spraying the relevant
areas to prevent a rapid reoccur-
rence of them as well as the Vac-
tor vehicle that has been busy
sooking out the dirt from the
gully road drains.
I am aware of a couple of outlying
areas that also require attention
and have requested that these are
also attended to.
The highest number of com-
plaints over the month has been
cars with noisy exhausts being
driven at all times of the day and
night, with the drivers now using
the village streets to see if they
can break the sound barrier.
The Road Traffic Police are cur-
rently dealing with this issue on
our behalf but if you have details
of a car that fits into the above
category then pass on their
• registration number,
• make and
• colour of their vehicle
to Sergeant Rogers at the Road
Traffic Division in Greenock on
Tel: 01475 492500.
SALE NOW ON
Adult and Junior
Ex-hire cycles
Mountain bikes for hire,
Tag-a-long bikes for kids,
Bike trailers and childrens’ seats,
bicycle accessories,
Bike repairs – free uplift and
return delivery
Open for bicycle hire every day,
all summer.
Discounts given
on group bookings.
EXPRESS CYCLE RE-
PAIRS
At Castle Semple Centre,
Lochwinnoch
TEL: 07867 790 889 AND ASK
FOR MARTIN RUSSELL
The developer has withdrawn the
Gates Road planning application
and the residents of Gates Road
and the Community Council are
currently challenging Ren-
frewshire Council’s rezoning of
this land from Green Belt to be-
ing covered instead by General
Residential Policy POL H1.
An application has been lodged
for the conversion of existing
buildings at St.Joseph’s to form
30 flats and selective demolition
of outbuildings, upgrading of ac-
cess roads, car parking and asso-
ciated landscaping.
My Surgery is on the third Satur-
day of each month at 11:30am in
the McKillop Hall but there is no
need to wait for a Surgery if you
require my help, you can contact
me on 843507 and we can agree a
time when we can meet.
Councillor David Arthur
THANK YOU
To everyone who donated and
helped on the day of our Car
Boot Sale in the Viewfield
Football Park, Lochwinnoch
on Sunday 1st July.
Just over
£540
was raised on the day.
St Vincent’s Hospice, Johns-
tone and the Erskine Hospitals
will benefit equally from this
amount.
Thank you for your support.
Val Stewart
Lochwinnoch
Historical Society
The Society meetings are held
at 7.30pm on the third Thurs-
day of each month from Sep-
tember to April (with the ex-
ception of December), in the
Guild Room of Lochwinnoch
Parish Church.
The meetings are informal and
talks from the guest speaker
usually last for about an hour.
We then have tea/coffee, bis-
cuits and chat time.
Membership costs £7 and an
evening visit at £2, including
the tea, etc is an inexpensive
but interesting evening out.
If you are interested in coming
along, please contact Gordon
Nicholl on Tel: 01505 842632.
(Details of the syllabus for the
new 2007/2008 meetings will be
available soon and will be
published in Chatterbox - Ed.)
 MEMOIRS
of Betty Mckellar
I have lived in Muirshiel Glen for
fifty years. From the start, I loved it. I
was married to Quintin in 1956 and
came to "Heathfield" as an Edinburgh
girl with no knowledge of country liv-
ing. It was a revelation. The world of
the hill sheep farm of the time seemed
to have lingered on from a former age.
We did have a car, but there was also
old Paddy and a cart for hay-time.
No tractor, no machinery; hay
was cut with the scythe. Sheep
were clipped by hand in the recip-
rocal neighbouring system which
turned out to be the great social gath-
ering of the sheep-farming year. The
house cow lived in a byre through the
side door from the kitchen. You could
smell her as you went about your
chores. I learnt to milk her like the
dairy maids from the story books of
my childhood, sitting on a three-
legged wooden stool with my head
against her flank, and squeezing her
fat teats so that her milk frothed
into a luggie between my knees. I
remember the big shallow milk
binds in the dairy with the layers of
cream on top that I skimmed and
churned into butter in the barrel-
shaped butter churn, ca'in the handle.
The shepherd and the farmer wore
their legs in these days. They walked to
the high hill in unbelievably heavy
herd-laddie boots with turned up toes,
and were caricatured as having the
heather loup. There were free-range
hens and eggs a-plenty for baking,
a pig in the sty and hams hanging
from the kitchen ceiling.
In retrospect, I feel privileged to
have been part of this world which
even then was being taken over by
mechanisation. Always I loved the
wildlife. Just over the dyke, a couple of
hundred yards up the hill, the black-
cock lekked in spring. Above the house
the snipe drummed every year. Sky-
larks sang, curlews cried, lapwing
nested.
On shooting days I remember the
grouse "bag" laid out by the brace
along the back of the yard, and the
fancy cars of the shooters parked
alongside the tup sheds.
One of these cars was a big wooden
Rolls Royce estate car high like a
carriage and a wonder to behold. I
entertained the Hunt at the
"Heathfield" Meets, and walked
hound pups. Quintin hunted with
the L and R. We'd never heard of
political correctness.
But I went back to teaching in
Lochwinnoch School when my
own children, Alison and Quintin,
were of school age, and it was then, I
think, that I really started to earn my
salt in the world of agriculture, be-
cause I integrated life on the farm
with teaching in the classroom. Long
before it became an established
practice, I was encouraging children
to write creatively, count and draw,
and study science, history and geog-
raphy, using their own environment
within the great outdoors to stimu-
late them.
The farm was a root source of
ideas. We had many field-study trips
to "Heathfield" and later,
"Tandlemuir", and of course when
the N.F.U. started their "Shield"
competitions for schools we entered
them enthusiastically and were in
the prizes. We won the shield in
1972-73, and had a great day being
feted at the Highland Show as a con-
sequence.
When the R.S.P.B. opened the
Bird Reserve at Lochwinnoch and
when Muirshiel Regional Park was
established, both in the early 1970s,
I was equally enthusiastic for them.
We did wonderful projects in
school, based on these locations.
Perhaps because of my city back-
ground I always believed passion-
ately in freedom of access for all to
the countryside, and feel proud of
the part I played in the integration
of Park and school and farm in
those first days. There was never a
problem except for Quintin's irrita-
tion at irresponsible dog owners in
lambing time, and once the major
problem of a killer dog thrown out to
the moor when we lost a significant
number of stock ewe lambs. That
one disaster - otherwise mutual
goodwill and friendship with Park
Rangers and public throughout all
the years.
Poetry came late. But it had always
been somewhere in the background.
Robert Louis Stevenson's "Child's
Garden of Verse" was a childhood
delight. Wordsworth and Shelley,
Keats and Chaucer opened up new
worlds for me at school. I studied the
poetry of Robert Burns, James Hogg
and the Border ballads at an early age,
and before my marriage did my stint
of Tam o'Shanters and Twa Corbies
and Border Burns at local concerts in
Selkirk where I lived at the time.
After my marriage I suppose I was
too busy on the farm and at work to be
involved in verse-speaking gigs. I did
use my skills with the children at
school, however, encouraging them to
write creatively and training them to
read and speak their poetry well. They
produced some beautiful poems for
me, and I look back on their successes
with pride.
My own creative spurt came with
retirement. I wrote my first poem
when I was sixty five, and immediately
entered a wonderful and entirely un-
expected phase of my life. It has been
a time of intense pleasures. The very
act of writing is in itself fulfilling and
therapeutic. Reading my poems to an
audience brings an adrenalin rush
as heady as a pop star's on a gig.
Best of all, other people have been in-
spired to creativity by words I have
written - musicians and artists, pho-
tographers and embroidresses. And
that gives huge satisfaction.
Inspiration for me comes from my
beautiful Muirshiel - this area that
now belongs to us all. Its landscape, its
history and legend, its wildlife and the
people who have lived in it and
worked in it over the years, they're all
in my poems.
Recently I stood up in the City
Halls in Glasgow and read "Sangsters"
as introduction to the performance by
the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
of the concerto composed by Sally
Beamish and inspired by my poem.
Heady stuff. Who would have thought
it possible? It's just one of the wonder-
ful, exciting moments that poetry has
given to me in my old age.
I feel very blessed.
Betty Mckellar is a member of Johnstone
Writers and Lochwinnoch Writers
LOCHWINNOCH LOCHWINNOCH STEADFAST
IN OLD PICTURE ELDERLY SILVER BAND
POSTCARDS FORUM CONCERT
Here’s something to look for-
You can spend an inter- Invite you to a meeting ward to as, alas, leaves begin to
esting hour or so look- to be held on fall and the long nights creep in.
ing through the above Thursday 30th August
at 1pm On Friday, 7th September, the
book. It’s fascinating Steadfast Silver Band along with
to see how the village in the McKillop Institute.
the Gleniffer Singers will pre-
has changed through the sent a super concert in
year, fascinating to Tea, coffee and biscuits will be Lochwinnoch Parish Church
see how many building served. from 7:30pm.
have gone and how many
Tickets cost £5:00 adults, £2:50
have remained. children, available from the
Most of the photographs Speaker will be
Fundraising Committee or at
in the book were shot Councillor David Arthur the door.
during the first half
of the last century.
You don’t have to look
very closely to see how
society has changed
from then until now.
In the old photographs
you will be hard
pressed to spot a piece
of litter on the
streets. Of course, in
these days food did not
come packed in boxes or
cartons, then packed in James Bryden also played near-
paper wrapping, then BROWN BULL est to the hole at the 8th Hole,
put into a poly bag. Pete Rooney played nearest to
Most foods were sold GOLF the hole at the 13th, Stevie Burns
loose and were carried TOURNAMENT played Nearest to the Hole in 2 at
home in a string bag. Hole 6 and Nick Barr won a prize
The food they ate must for the longest drive at Hole 11.
have been good. There
The prize for the best Yellow Ball
is not a sign of anyone team score went to Pete Rooney,
with rickets, the dis- Dave Heckle and Fergus Brown.
figuring disease that
ravaged children in the The 2nd annual Brown Bull Golf Prizes were also awarded to
slum areas of the coun- Tournament took place on Ladies - 1st prize was won by
try. There is also an Sunday 8th July at Lochwinnoch Alison Hodgins, 2nd place went
almost total absence of Golf Course on one of the best to Yvonne Ross and 3rd place to
any vehicles. summer days we have had this Pat Mill.
It is interesting to year.
If there had been a prize for best
speculate that if any Groups of 3 players competed, golf outfit, Fergus Brown would
digital photographs under Stableford rules, to win have won this prize hands down
survive more than a prizes. Pete Rooney took first in his lilac checked trousers!
century (something some place and the coveted green
Thanks to Laura and all the
people doubt) I wonder jacket with a score of 40 points. staff at the Brown Bull Pub for
what people in 2207 David Hutton was in second supporting this event and for
will think of today’s place with 31 points and James the sandwiches and soup
society? Bryden was third with 30 points. afterwards.

CIRCUS SUMMER
CLUB
From Monday 13th August
to Friday 17th August
between10am to 2pm
at
Lochwinnoch Parish Church
Come and join in the ‘Circus’
fun at only 50p per child, per
day.
(For children starting Primary
1 in August ‘07 up to and
including Primary 7.)
MORAG’S
KEEP FIT
Keep Fit classes resume on
Monday 20th August at the
McKillop Institute.
Classes are held on Mondays
from 7-8.15pm and on Thurs-
days from 7-8pm.
TODDLER’S
STORYTIME
Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Tuesday 14th August
from 2.30 - 3pm in
Lochwinnoch Library.
Bring along your favourite
teddy or soft toy -
and join the fun.
LOCHWINNOCH
SCOTTISH COUNTRY
DANCE CLUB
Classes will resume on
Tuesday 4th September in the
McKillop Hall at 7.30pm -
9.30pm.
Once again, we have been very
fortunate to receive a grant from
Renfrewshire Community Grant
Scheme and we will be delighted
to welcome new and any past
members to join us in having
laughter, making friends, as well
as mental and physical exercise.
Classes will cost around £2 per
evening, a most inexpensive
night out participating in Scottish
Country Dance.
Ladies Golf "Come
And Try" Day
Lochwinnoch Golf Club Ladies
Section is hosting a free "Come And
Try" Day on Saturday 11th August
2007.
If you are thinking about taking up
golf, or maybe played years ago and
want to try again, or would simply
like to have a go, you are invited to
come to Lochwinnoch Golf Club
from 3pm for some golf and refresh-
ments with members of the Ladies
Section.
Everyone, from complete beginner
to potential professional, is welcome.
Call Lochwinnoch Golf Club on
01505 842153 for more details or
just come along on the day. Golf
shoes are not essential and clubs can
be borrowed if required.
Come And Try - it's great fun!
Jan Macnab, Ladies Captain,
Lochwinnoch Golf Club
LOCHWINNOCH
SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITY
GARDEN
The garden is a place where mem-
bers of the community can come to
grow their own vegetables and flow-
ers, making use of the facilities such
as the polytunnel, compost, pots,
tools, etc. Or just to sit and relax.
Help and advice is available for the
less experienced. Increased security
and surveillance has ensured that
previous problems with vandalism in
the garden have been overcome.
It is hoped that tea-room facilities
will be available at some point in the
future.
We are, of course, always looking for
volunteers to help clear more ground
of weeds to create more planting
areas (plots) for those interested.
There is now a fully automatic over-
head irrigation system in the poly-
tunnel. Thanks to Muirshiel Park for
donating the parts for this. This in-
stallation is to help with the propa-
gation of specific species of Juniper
trees, which are now becoming
scarce. Anyone interested in the cul-
tivation of plants, which benefit from
being under cover, or in the raising
of seeds or cuttings can be confident
that their plants will not dry out.
We now have an offer of help from
Garry Pearson of Yardfoot Estate.
This is in the form of labour and ma-
chinery to clear the heavy growth at
the rear of the garden. This should
take place after the preparations for
the opening of his nursery on the
estate have been completed.
Muirshiel Park have offered to pol-
lard two trees to allow more light
into the rear of the garden and poly-
tunnel areas.
Many thanks to both for this assis-
tance, which is very much appreci-
ated.
Anyone wishing more information
should call me - Gordon Nicholl - on
Tel: 01505 842632.
OPENING HOURS
Weekdays - 11am to 3pm
Saturday - 10am to 2pm, and
Sunday - 1pm to 3pm.
 WHAT I LIKE
ABOUT ….
Some more interesting obser-
vations from P7 Lochwinno0ch
Primary School children.
“Castle Semple Rowing Club – every
Wednesday and Sunday I go to the
Rowing Club. It’s based at the loch
where there is a large club house
where we keep all the boats.
The Rowing Club has lots of different
boats, e.g. skulls, quads, doubles and
two rescue boats in case someone
capsizes.
Members of the club take part in
various rowing regattas each year,
and some travel all the way to Inver-
ness to compete.
Inside the club house, apart from the
boats, we have rowing machines in
case it is too wet or windy to row
outside, plus a small kitchen where
you can get a good cuppa if it’s cold!
Every so often the club has capsize
drills. This is when a boat is placed
in a swimming pool, you capsize and
go through safety procedures.”
Katie Dominy
“My fav place in the village is the
loch. It’s my fav place because
you can do windsurfing, biking and
rowing.
A rowing club takes place down the
loch. Once I went down the loch.
It’s fun but hard.
The loch also has a shop which you
can have your lunch. There are
also swans that you can feed. The
swans are so tame they even come
over to you, and my mum is really
scared of them. When it is a hot
and sunny day it is also very beau-
tiful.”
Chantelle
“My favourite thing in the whole of
Lochwinnoch is the loch. Whether
it’s blowing a gale to a mini heat-
wave it’s great. I love going for
walks with my best friends and feed-
ing the ducks. I sometimes go by
myself and clear my head.
But one of the best parts are the ac-
tivities. On a nice day you can
watch people on the loch or go on
yourself. I love renting boats with a
bunch of friends. Then getting
stranded and a lifeboat having to get
us back.”
Elish Camplisson
New this month
Willowtree figures,
a fresh delivery of leather handbags at sale prices,
dichroic jewellery by Murray Designs, handmade in Scotland
Open 7 days
Monday to Saturday 9am—5pm, Sunday 12 noon—4pm.
8 Church Street, Lochwinnoch
Renfrewshire
Council Senior
Citizen Voucher
Scheme.
Renfrewshire Council is continu-
ing it’s Senior Citizen Voucher
Scheme for 2007. This scheme
applies to people who live in the
Renfrewshire Council area who
will be 70 or over on or before 31
December 2007. The spouse or
partner of someone who qualifies
is also automatically eligible,
even if they are not yet 70 them-
selves.
The scheme offers senior citizens
who participate in it a choice of
one of the following:
• A sail on the Pride of the
Clyde (including tea and biscuits,
using the council gift voucher in
exchange for a ten journey sailing
pass);
• A sail on the Waverley
(including high tea on board, us-
ing the council gift voucher);
• A council run coach outing
(to Ayr or Dunoon, including a
light lunch and high tea);
• A credit to account (council
tax or housing rent, value £22);
• A gift voucher (value £22).
For further information or help
and advice, contact Renfrewshire
Customer Contact Centre on 0141
842 5850 (between 8am and
8pm, Monday to Friday), or visit
our Council HQ office in Paisley.
Tel: 01505 843311
Life Boats
Members of the RNLI have written
to thank villagers who contributed
to their fund raising activities.
‘Very many thanks to the generous
residents of Lochwinnoch and the
surrounding areas for raising the
splendid total of
£1058.38
for the RNLI in the recent house-
to-house collections.
Anyone who is interested in assist-
ing with these collections or who
would like to come to the informal
fund-raising lunches held through-
out winter, please phone 01505
842136 for more information.
GBH
At this year’s Edinburgh Festival
you can get another chance to see
GBH, the acclaimed work written
by two Lochwinnoch resident art-
ists, Adrian Wiszniewski and
Gordon Rigby.
The show was a great success when
it was performed in the Pie and a
Pint season in Oran Mor in Glas-
gow.
Also on the Edinburgh bill is an
entertainment written by actor
David Anderson (remember him
from ‘City Lights’ a few years
back?) with music by Anderson
arranged by Gordon Rigby and
graphics by Adrian Wiszniewski.
The show runs for two nights
Sunday 26, Monday 27 August,
in the Queens Hall, Edinburgh
and is not to be missed.
 NOW IS THE TIME
for all good men and
women ….
Wind Hydrogen Limited have lodged a
planning application with North Ayr-
shire Council for 24 turbines for the
Wings Law Windfarm on a site approxi-
mately 5km north of Kilbirnie. Seven-
teen turbines are planned for the western
side of the River Garnock and seven on
the eastern side.
At a recent meeting in Paisley, a spokes-
person for WHL advised that once a
smaller development was established,
the company would make a judgement
about a further expansion. Now is the
time for all good men and women to act.
If Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park is to
be saved as a Park, we must now take
the time to make our feelings known to
North Ayrshire Council.
The arguments are straight forward and
as follows:
• A landscape of great value was set
aside by the Secretary of State for
Scotland as Clyde Muirshiel
Regional Park.
• The area was established as a Park
which, according to numerous
dictionary definitions, is a place
retained for its natural beauty for
the benefit of people.
• The tourist industry around the Park
is a significant contributor to the
rural economies and any industriali-
sation of the Park will impact on the
economic growth and inward in-
•
vestment of these rural areas.
Given that the River Garnock is an
important salmon river, building
turbines on both sides of the River
Garnock will undoubtedly put the
salmon at considerable risk.
Please take the time to write an objec-
tion to:
Mr Ian Mackay
Assistant Chief Executive
(Protective Services)
North Ayrshire Council
Cunninghame House
IRVINE
North Ayrshire KA12 8EE
Thank you for your continuing support
to save our Regional Park.
Ladymoor Wind Factory Action Group
For more details about the campaign to
“Save Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park”,
visit our website at:
www.saveyourregionalpark.com
On
ABC Therapies
C. S.III S.C.
Lochwinnoch
Sunday 29th July, the competitors
for the Commodores Trophy at Cas-
tle Semple Sailing Club were greeted Therapeutic Massage
in the morning with beautiful sun- Indian Head Massage
shine but not much in the way of
wind. It looked like the only thing
that was going to take place was sun-
bathing and the BBQ. The wind
started to build slowly from the
Special gifts
North West and the first race got
Treatment Vouchers &
under way.
Holistic Goody Bags
Seven boats crossed the start line made to order
with Angus Winchester and Leo
Compton both getting off to a good
start. The wind direction was very
changeable and this led to very diffi-
cult sailing. Leo won the first race in
his Laser radial by a very convincing Counselling
margin. The competition was halted (Individuals & Couples)
briefly for a BBQ lunch. Counselling Supervision
The wind had been steadily increas-
ing over lunch and the second race
got underway. The wind conditions
certainly suited the Challenger of
Alan Cook who came first with Paul
O’Neill/Yvonne Ross in a GP14 mak- Aileen Ferguson
ing a strong challenge in the ever MSc, FCIPD, MBACP, DTM.
increasing wind. The conditions be-
came too much for Jim & Jan Tytler
who retired in Their GP14 for the
rest of the competition. Race 2 also
saw the demise of Tom Kelly & his
son in another GP14 which, after a
capsize, resembled a submarine with ADVICE WORKS
its periscope up more than a sailing
dinghy! at
The field dwindled to five boats for Lochwinnoch
the start of the third race. Paul &
Yvonne were again making good Library
progress until a huge wind shift cap-
sized the boat. All they could do was
watch the other boats pass one by Tuesdays 10am –12.30pm
one as they tried to right the boat
and eventually crossed the line to
finish in last place. Alan Cook took Providing advice about enti-
tlements to benefits. Advisors
first place again.
on hand to help fill in claim
There was all to play for in the final
race as five boats took to the water.
forms, check and advise on
Leo beat Angus in the final race by welfare benefits and money
just 15seconds and they were closely problems.
followed by Steve Davison and Advisors can provide expert
Duncan Elder in a GP14. advice on a wide range of
The Trophy was won by debit related topics, such as
Leo Compton ( Laser Radial), credit card, mortgage arrears,
2nd Alan Cook (Challenger) and
3rd. Angus Winchester (Laser
council tax, etc
Vortex). A special award was pre- The service is FREE,
sented to Tom Kelly for his enter- confidential and open to all
taining antics! residents of Renfrewshire.
 Harriers are go !
The four Clyde Muirshiel Hen
Harrier chicks have donned their
L-plates and taken to the skies.
Hundreds of visitors to Clyde Muir-
shiel Regional Park, near Lochwin-
noch, have been following the day-
to-day antics of the local harrier
family, watching CCTV images of
mum and dad working flat-out to
bring in record numbers of prey
items. Their patience was finally re-
warded when the chicks successfully
left the nest, taking to the air one by
one.
The hen harrier still remains one of
our most threatened birds and the
project, part of the RSPB's Aren't
Birds Brilliant! Initiative, gives visi-
tors a unique opportunity to experi-
ence their day-to-day lives first
hand. As well as on camera, guided
walks enable people to see the birds
out on the moorland.
Kirsty Norrie, the Project’s Hen Har-
rier Information Officer, said: "This
is a fantastic boost to the hen har-
rier population in Scotland. Hope-
fully these youngsters will continue
to thrive, learn to hunt, and one day
return to the Park to raise their own
chicks.”
"There are only around 600 pairs of
hen harriers found in the UK, and
2% of these breed in the Clyde Muir-
shiel Regional Park, so it is brilliant
to have four chicks fledged already."
"As this is the last year of a five year
project we would like to take this
opportunity to thank everyone in-
volved. In particular, the local
landowners, farmers and game-
keepers, the Scottish Ornithologist
Club, Scottish Natural Heritage,
Viking Optics and our fantastic
team of volunteers".
The NHS Minor Ailment Service
This service is available from all community pharmacies in Scotland.
People, including children, who don’t pay prescription charges, who are registered
with a GP surgery in Scotland and who don’t live in a nursing or residential care
home can register for this service at a community pharmacy of their choice.
W A THOMSON
• Monoblock
Driveways
• Patios and Walls
• All types of
Landscaping
Tel: 01505 842498
• Ground
Maintenance
• FREE Estimates Mob: 07778 680933
There's still plenty of opportunity to
see live images of these charismatic
birds as the youngsters will continue Harrier
to return to the nest to be fed for the
next few weeks.
It was a fly-past
Nature notes about Harriers - a display.
The air ace of the moor
Hen harriers live on remote moorland
and open country, where they hunt for appeared
small wild birds, field voles and mam- on cue,
mals. They are rare and difficult to see. no camouflage
he flew
Eggs are incubated by the female for
about a month, and the chicks learn to majestically,
fly (fledge) after another 35-40 days. a pride of white against
Eggs are laid, and hatch, about two days the rock and sky
apart. As such, chicks generally fledge at a swoop of light
about two day intervals.
Hen harriers take off almost vertically,
towards the heathland grey
which is where the name 'harrier jet' the harrier flight.
originated.
The hen harrier year starts in early
spring when the male takes to the sky to "Gobackgobackgoback"-
'dance'. Males perform spectacular ae-
rial manoeuvres, often rising hundreds frights of sound
of feet above the ground before tumbling resonate,
earthward. panics echo in staccato
The male has beautiful blue-grey plum- from the scuttering grouse.
age with distinctive black wing tips. The
female is larger with dark brown, mot-
tled plumage. Both have a distinctive
white rump patch. But he will stay.
The patchwork of moorland vegetation at In this wide Muirshiel world
Clyde Muirshiel includes grassy patches he is the Lord
and bogs amongst the heather, where
hen harriers can hunt. Deeper heather of all that he surveys.
provides shelter for nesting. Manage-
ment of these moors for grouse shooting
and farming means the vegetation is
And in her hidden place
burnt and grazed. With care, this can be
done in a way that also supports hen
his mate
harriers. settles
on the future,
all yellow-glitter watchfulness
aware
of eyes
lasering
the air.

Further information on the NHS Minor Ailment Service is available from Betty Mckellar
• your local community pharmacy,
• your GP or a member of NHS staff involved in your care
• the NHS Helpline on 0800 22 44 88 and (Reproduced in Chatterbox by kind
permission of Betty McKellar - Ed.)
• your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Walk to the Station
If you are lucky enough not to
own a car and you have to
walk to the station then you
are – in summer, at least – in
for a treat. The colourful wild-
flowers lining the path look
like a modern art gallery. It’s
as if Jackson Pollock staggered
along throwing paint all over
the place.
If you arm yourself with your
Gem Guide to British Wild-
flowers you can have a great
time trying to identify all the
flowers you see. It’ll take you
ages to name them all as their
are lots of them.
I’m no flower buff but I have
spotted Indian Balsam (alas,
too much of this invasive mon-
ste - more later), red and white
clover, poppies, buttercups,
daisies and if I’m not mistaken
Dove’s Foot Cranesbill. There
is also some Goose Grass – or
Sticky Willie as it is better
known. Did you know, that
Sticky Willie is used in herbal
shampoo and in the treatment
of urinary infections?
Identifying all the plants
might be an interesting diver-
sion for the kids on the last
remaining days of the holi-
days. When I was at school I
never found anything to do
during the holidays until the
last couple of days, then it was
too late.
Our Mistake
Last month’s Chatterbox referred
to a trip some village girls made
to Romania. Unfortunately, the
piece said the girls were Girl
Guides when, in fact, they belong
to the Girls’ Brigade.
My apologies - Ed.
The Bad Seed
A couple of years ago someone
addressed the Community Coun-
cil about the dangers of Himala-
yan balsam (known also as In-
dian Balsam).
This purple plant is highly inva-
sive and a real threat to native
wild flowers.
This year the spread of this trif-
fid-like plant has been unrelent-
ing. Clusters grow in abundance
in the wetlands down the path to
the station. The bases of some of
the trees in the football pitch are
surrounded by the plant and have
been colonised; the plant is on
the march along the cycle path
and around the Semple Loch.
Each plant produces an abun-
dance of featherweight seeds that
blow for miles in the gentlest of
breezes. Thus it’s ability to
spread everywhere.
Apparently the only safe way to
get rid of this purple pasture
eater is to pull it up be the roots.
However, the fear in the village is
that it’s by now got too much of a
hold and it would take an army of
people to clear the village of this
rampant monster.
HOW TO FIND THE
VISITOR CENTRES
RSPB
The reserve is open at all times and the
visitor centre is open daily from 10am to
5pm (except Xmas and New Year holi-
days). Easily accessible by train, bus
and car, the RSPB centre is located 18
miles SW of Glasgow, beside A760 Largs
Road (off A737 Irvine Road—easily ac-
cessible from J 28A of the M8). Car
parking facilities available. Tel: 01505
842663
MUIRSHIEL PARK
VISITOR CENTRE
The Centre is 4 miles NW of Lochwin-
noch at the top of Calder Glen Road.
Open from 11oo-1600 hrs/1700hrs at
weekends for Hen Harrier CCTV view-
ing, walks/trails, wildlife plus refresh-
ments, snacks and gifts. Pre-book a
place on the FREE bus from RSPB Cen-
tre to Muirshiel on designated Saturdays
in July. Car parking also available at
Muirshiel. Tel: 01505 842803
CASTLE SEMPLE CENTRE
Located on the loch shore in Lochlip
Road, Lochwinnoch. Open from 1000-
1700 hours every day. Wide range of
water sports, cycle hire, footpaths,
snacks and refreshments available in the
Centre. Car parking at the Centre. Tel:
01505 842882.
CORNALEES VISITOR CENTRE
The Visitor Centre is located at Loch
Thom, Nr Inverkip. Fabulous views,
wide open spaces, moorland walks, in-
cluding The Greenock Cut Walk. Open
from 1030-1600 hours week-
days/weekends. Car parking is available
at the Centre. Tel: 01475 521458 for
further information.
Chatterbox is produced for the Community Council
of Lochwinnoch through financial assistance by
Lochwinnoch Community Council, Renfrewshire
Council and advertisements. The editor welcomes all
items for possible inclusion but will reserve all rights
over them. All views are of individuals. The editor
accepts no liability for errors

VILLAGE EVENT
PLANNER
Lochwinnoch Post Office has a
wall-mounted calendar, where
members of the public can enter NEW OPENING HOURS FROM MONDAY 6TH AUGUST
details of forthcoming events.
Monday and Tuesday 9am—6pm
It is hoped that people will use Wednesday 9am - 1pm
this planner to avoid any clashes Thursday and Friday 9am—6pm
when planning dates of events Saturday 9am - 3.30pm
and, of course, to help publicise Closed on Sundays
their events within the village. 39 High Street, Lochwinnoch PA12 4AB Tel: 01505 844941
 News & Events at
RSPB, Muirshiel,
Cornalees & Castle
Semple Centres
(see previous page for Visitor Centre
location information/contact details)
Saturday 11th August - Pond
Life at Muirshiel Centre (adults
only) from 1400 hrs.
Saturday 11th August -
Bird Ringing Demonstration at
RSPB Centre - 7am-10am.
For more information Tel: 01505
842663.
11th and 12th August -
RSPB Optics Weekend - at RSPB
Centre from 10am—4pm.
Demonstrations and an opportu-
nity to select optics, with expert
advice on hand.
Sunday 12th August - Pond
Dipping at Cornalees Centre from
1300 hrs.
Tuesday 14th August - Nature
Notes Waterlaugh/Pond Dipping
- from 1300 hrs at Muirshiel.
Wednesday 15th August -
Natural Powers. Investigate
alternative powers - from 1300
hrs at Muirshiel Centre.
Sat 18th & Sun 19th August -
2 Day Map and Compass Course:
Theory and Practice at Cornalees
Centre. Advance booking essen-
tial. Tel: 01505 842882 Ext20.
Friday 24th August - Spot The
Water Bats A riverside walk,
meeting at Howwood Railway
Station. Booking essential. Tel:
01505 842882.
Saturday 25th August - Paths
to Health Walking Finale. A level
walk, starting at midday, from
Paisley to Castle Semple. Contact
Senga McLeod for more informa-
tion on 0141 840 3861.
18th-26th August - RSPB
Photo Competition. Entries can
be viewed and the public can
choose their favourite picture,
from 10am-5pm at RSPB Centre.
Saturday 25th August to
Monday 3rd September -
Green Wood Working Week.
Regional Park staff demonstrate
green wood working skills at
different Park sites. Tel: 01505
842803 for more details.
RSPB Lochwinnoch
News
On the 27th and 28th of July, we
held our first joint Bat and Moth
night, in association with the
Clyde Bat Group and Butterfly
Conservation.
During the evening we were lucky
enough to see/hear both the
Pipistrelle and Daubenton’s bats
on the reserve, thanks to the
skills of Pat and Len from the
Clyde Bat Group. We also re-
corded a total of 23 moth species
in the wetland trap and 20 in the
woodland trap, including the
stunning Gold Spangle moth,
Brimstone moth, Poplar Hawk
moth and a Vapourer moth cater-
pillar in the Aird Meadow hide,
with the help of Neil from Butter-
fly Conservation.
Those of you who missed out but
would still like to find out more
about the moths that we find on
the reserve, you can join us for
our ‘Moth Mornings’ which are
being held between 9am and
12noon on Saturday 11th August
and Sat 25th August.
For All Your Garage Door Needs
Garage Doors . Remote Control Openers
Installation . Repairs . Spares
FREE ESTIMATES
FREE SURVEYS
FREE INSURANCE REPORTS
The Cross, Lochwinnoch PA12 4DB
(10 mins from Glasgow Airport on A737)
National Moth Night is also being
held on the 11th August this year,
this is Britain’s celebration of
moths and moth recording and
during this night, participants are
encouraged to record moths in
their chosen location, the results
of which will be pooled to give a
great picture of what is happen-
ing around the country. More de-
tails of this can be found at
http://www.nationalmothnight.info/
The next event taking place at the
reserve is our Bird Ringing Dem-
onstration on Saturday 11th Au-
gust, 7am – 10am. During this
event, you’ll be given an opportu-
nity to find out the how’s, why’s
and what’s as concerns bird ring-
ing. Led by a BTO (British Trust
for Ornithology) trained team of
ringers, this is an excellent op-
portunity to find out more about
bird ringing and to see birds up
close and personal.
We have also recently launched
our ‘Pond-dipping for Families’
at the reserve, so why not come
along and take part. The activity
is FREE for a limited time only,
we provide all of the equipment,
and all you have to do is turn up
and have fun. Please ask at the
visitor centre for more informa-
tion. This will take place through-
out the school holidays and at
weekends.
Why not try out new Bird Bingo or
kit out the kids with our Explorer
Packs, which provide all they need to
discover more about wildlife in
Lochwinnoch. 
0141 950 1423 GLASGOW
01505 842176 AYRSHIRE
01786 820130 STIRLING