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
See centre pages for club activities,
village events & classes
See back pages for Visitor Centre,
RSPB and outdoor events/activities.
CONGRATULATIONS
On October the 8th, two well-known
Lochwinnoch residents, Willie and
Margaret Wilson, celebrate their
Diamond Wedding Anniversary.
Willie and Margaret met while working
in Joe’s Furniture Works and raised
two sons, Drew and Tom. The couple,
known affectionately as ‘Jack and Vera’
to their family, have played an active
part in village life. Both are long-
standing members of Lochwinnoch
Bowling Club and it was only this year
that Willie, age 87, stepped down as
cellerman, to give a younger Mary a
job! He has not, however, relinquished
his reserved seat in the lounge.
Willie and Margaret are very much
loved by all their family, many of
whom are resident in the village.
Although this is your special day
To share with one another
It’s special too, for everyone who loves you
That’s why so many loving thoughts
Come with this wish for you
For everything to make this day
Just perfect for you two.
Happy 60th
Wedding Anniversary
From all the family.
Editorial & copy for Chatterbox
Let us have your stories, notices, news,
information, events & items of interest —
either hand-deliver them to the Chatter-
box 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
Copy Deadline for
November Issue Is
Wednesday 29th October ‘08
ASIST
Anti-Social
Investigation Team
No 178 October 2008 Office 8:45am – 4:45pm
www.lochwinnoch.info
Tel: 01505 325 030
GO
Scotlind's Gym
TEAM LOCHWINNOCH!
After 8 great years, Scott and Linda
have decided to move on to new A local team of 6 recently took part in
things and have closed the gym. It the Pedal for Scotland 53 mile cycle
will be missed by many but we wish from Glasgow to Edinburgh to raise
them well as Linda goes into teach- money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
ing and Scott develops property, and
maybe even joins the boys in blue - The team consisted of Scott Isaksen,
no pun intended! Derek Drynan, Scott Milligan, Gordon
Morrison, Gerry Mcdermott and Andy
In the gym's eight years, they built Gibson.
up a very loyal customer base and
unlike many gyms theirs was always
friendly, welcoming, supportive and
encouraging; many a runner, cyclist
and weight lifter was encouraged to
go that extra mile.
Scott and Linda also built up a suc-
cessful home hire business for fit-
ness equipment with customers from
Ayr to Stirling. They sold this in
2006, which allowed Scott a little
more time to develop property
interests.
A memorable event in August 2005 Between them they raised an excellent
was, of course, Scott and Linda’s figure of around £1,700 which will
wedding. Many gym members at- go towards the new TCT unit in the
tended the church and then the re- Royal Hospital for Sick Children at
ception at the golf club. What an ar-
Yorkhill.
ray of beautiful, buffed bodies were
on show that day! The cycle was completed in a time of
just over 5 hours including stops
Cheers and all the best in the (watch out Chris Hoy!). The team
future then to Scott and Linda. would like to thank everyone for their
kind donations, and welcome anyone
Scotlind’s Gym was indeed that sort
who would like to join them next year.
of place – a friendly place where
everybody knew your name. WELL DONE TEAM!
MATTHEW NEW & SONS
ROOFING - ROUGHCASTING - BUILDING MAINTENANCE
Emergency Repairs, Storm Damage
Insurance Work, New Roofs, Flat Roofs
Roughcasting –UPVC Cladding—Guttering
Tel No 01505 843400
FMB Certificate No 26366
 The Lochwinnoch Guide to Stress Free Christmas Shopping LOCHWINNOCH
1. Give the mall a miss and walk into the village. INTERNATIONAL
2. Browse Now & Then’s huge choice of different, affordable and interesting
gifts - earmarking something for each member of the family. AID
3. Go for a coffee, lunch or a drink while you ponder your present options.
4. Return to make your purchases, while also selecting from the wide range
of boxed, individual or Lochwinnoch Christmas cards. Music for International Aid
5. Decide that you can treat yourself while you are there with the money
you have saved on fuel and from competitive pricing.
Lochwinnoch International Aid is
6. Return home in a good mood, put your feet up and feel smug. You got
something special, supported village businesses and saved energy. holding two events in October to
raise funds with the help of local
P.S. Even if you can’t decide, we do gift vouchers ! musicians who are giving their
time and skills to our cause.
All money they raise goes to a
variety of projects around the
world and in the past year these
have included a water supply
Gifts Cards Jewellery Leather Home project in Malawi and cyclone
8 Church Street Lochwinnoch 01505 843311 victims in Bangaladesh.
Open 9-5 Monday-Saturday and 12-4 on Sundays
On
MASONIC CLUB CHATTERBOX Saturday, 4th October
Richard Mulhearn's Jazz Band
EVENTS Chatterbox is a free community news-
paper, produced for the Community will be playing in the Lochbarr
Council of Lochwinnoch through finan- Football Centre lounge from
8.00pm. Richard plays with the
PRIZE BINGO NIGHT cial assistance from local sponsors and
advertisers and distributed every month well-known Republic of Sound
On Friday 17th October by volunteers. The aim of those in- and has established a regular
7.30pm at the Masonic Club volved is to produce an informative and Jazz evening in the Junction cafe
Everyone welcome. entertaining journal for those who live, in Lochwinnoch. Tickets are £6,
work and visit in this area. half price for children.
FASHION SHOW The Editor welcomes all items for
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
On Friday 31st October possible inclusion but will reserve all
at the Masonic Club. rights over them, i.e. the right to shorten,
edit or not publish any item. On
Tickets available at the door. Saturday, 25th October
(look out for posters Special request - when writing to us, The Shed Inspectors, a fairly new
with more details soon) please provide your name and contact bluegrass-hillbilly band are ap-
details in order that we may get in touch
pearing at Lochwinnoch Bowling
with you for clarification on any items
Lochwinnoch for Chatterbox. Your personal details
Club. Based in Lochwinnoch,
they are now appearing all over
will not be published unless you ask us
Art Group News to do so. Scotland - because they make
great music! Tickets also £6 and
The latest exhibition by the Art Group Please note, all views are of individuals £3 for children.
is under way and is well worth a visit. and the Editor accepts no liability for
The exhibition opened with a preview editorial errors or statements and claims
night and is open to the public from made in advertisements. Thank you. Tickets for both events are avail-
Friday 26th September until Saturday able from Lochwinnoch Paper
25th October. Shop, The Brown Bull, Cucina
VILLAGE EVENT Minucci or by phoning Peter
The exhibition is held in the ' Library
Room ' and is open during library PLANNER Kennedy on Tel: 01505 503080.
hours.
Lochwinnoch Post Office has a wall- Further details about Lochwin-
Art Group Meeting mounted calendar, where members
The next meeting of the Art Group is noch International Aid are at
of the public can enter details of
on Monday 13th October at 7.30pm in forthcoming events. www.lochwinnochaid.org.
the McKillop Institute.
Please use this calendar to avoid any Look out for posters
Please note the change of venue. The clashes when planning dates of around the village,
meetings run fortnightly and, what- events and, of course, to help publi-
which give further details.
ever your ability, everyone is welcome cise your events within the village.
to come along.
 Councillor Arthur’s
Report
Congratulations to the following resi-
dents who picked up prizes in this the
80th anniversary of the Council’s
Annual Garden Competition, which is
run by Renfrewshire Council’s Depart-
ment of Housing and Property Ser-
vices. Renfrew Town Council awarded
the first Garden Competition trophy
in 1928 and there are now over 30
trophies given out each year in a
variety of categories.
Mr & Mrs Parr, 24 Harvey Terrace,
picked up the first prize in the cate-
gory of Best Flower Garden in Loch-
winnoch, with Bert Matthews, 60
Crookhill Gardens, securing a treble of
wins by lifting The Alastair Nimmo
Trophy for Best Garden in Lochwin-
noch, the Gryffe Trophy for the Best
Complete Garden in the Landward
Area and first place for the Best
Flower and Vegetable Garden in Loch-
winnoch.
As you may now be aware a CCTV
camera has been installed at The
Cross. This has been achieved through
the Lochwinnoch Partnership. The
primary aim of the installation is to
prevent and detect crime and anti-
social behaviour in and around the
area. It is designed to record images,
which will be viewed remotely by
Strathclyde Police and Renfrewshire
Council. This information can be used
to prosecute any person committing
criminal or antisocial acts.
The camera will monitor the public area
of The Cross and will not be intrusive
to any household, shop or other prem-
ises. The CCTV will help to detect
those who blight our community
through their antisocial behaviour and
is an excellent example of local people,
the Council and the Police all working
together to better our community.
In order to maximise the use of the
CCTV camera, I ask that all criminal
and antisocial behaviour incidents are
made known to both the Police and to
the Council. The system is managed
by Renfrewshire Council’s Antisocial
Investigation Team (ASIST) whose
contact details are at the top of the
front page of Chatterbox.
Other contact numbers, which may be
useful, are Strathclyde Police on Tel:
0141 532 5900 and Crimestoppers on
Tel: 0800 555 111. Useful contact
numbers for other agencies are given
at the end of my report.
Church Street, Lochwinnoch Tel: 01505 842337
EXCLUSIVE 2009 CALENDAR
- - AROUND LOCHWINNOCH - -
FROM PAINTINGS BY ARTHUR G. CARSWELL
7-Day Newspaper Delivery Service, Fresh morning rolls, Milk from
the local dairy, Newspapers, Magazines, Stationery, Confectionery,
Gifts, Agents for Dry Cleaning, Curtain Cleaning, Ironing, Press only,
Alterations and Repairs, Shoe Repairs, Laundry.
Further information on identifying
antisocial behaviour and who can LOCHWINNOCH
help are contained in a special fea-
ture later in this issue of Chatterbox. ELDERLY FORUM
At the last Local Area Committee The Forum is very active and
(LAC) meeting several groups within membership is increasing. Many
Ward 8 were successful in their aspects of life in the village are dis-
grant applications and this included cussed and any issues arising are
Calder Drama Club who received a brought to the attention of the
grant of £450. Application forms are
relevant authorities to try to get
available by contacting Jean Wilson,
Corporate Services, Renfrewshire
them resolved.
Council, Renfrewshire House, Cot-
ton Street, Paisley PA 1 1TR or 0141 The Forum is open to everyone
840 3564 or over 55 and annual membership,
jean.wilson@renfrewshire.gov.uk inclusive of Christmas meal and
any outings, is only £2.
My next Surgery is on Saturday 18th
October but there is no need to wait Our Drop in T Bar, open on Tues-
for a Surgery. If you require my days from 10am to 1pm, providing
help, you can contact me on Tel No:
tea, coffee and biscuits for 50p, is
843507 and we can agree a time
when we can meet.
very successful.
Councillor David Arthur Off to a good start is the Forum
Lunch Club, organised by our
chairman Alastair Nimmo. This is
open on Thursdays from 11.30am
to 1.30pm, when you can enjoy …
Soup with crusty bread 80p
USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS Choice of sandwiches with
tea/coffee for 80p
Strathclyde Police – 0141 532 5900
Johnstone Police – 01505 404000 Tea/coffee and biscuits for 50p.
Johnstone Community Safety
Office – 01505 404023 Where else can you get this?
Trading Standards – 0141 840 3233
Care and Repair – 0141 812 4111 Both T Bar and Lunch Club are
Renfrewshire Council - held in the McKillop and are open
Tel: 0141 842 5000 to everyone, regardless of age.
Anti-social Behaviour Investigation
Team (ASIST) - 01505 325030 An opportunity to enjoy
Victim Support – 0141 887 0328 a chat in good company.
Nuisance Support & Advice
Helpline – 0800 169 1283
Crimestoppers – 0800 555 111
Any questions?
Phone Gordon Nicholl on
Community Safety Office, Tel: 01505 842632.
Johnstone Police Station. 
 LOCAL LIBRARY
BECOMES A TIME-
MACHINE….. FOR A
FEW HOURS!
Doctor Who’s famous Police Box isn’t
the only time-machine as more than
60 Lochenyochians discovered when
they went to the local Community Li-
brary on the 18th of September. At two
o’clock, after they had all taken their
seats in the Museum Room, a button
was pressed and they were taken on a
journey back over half a century in
time.
The time-machine took them back to
renew auld acquaintance with friends
and relatives living in the village in the
early 1950’s. But first the latest streets
and houses in the village were visited
by the time-travellers. Soon after the
end of the second World War new
“pre-fab“ housing had been built in
Glenpark Road and Mansefield Road.
In the early 1950’s more housing was
needed and this was developed on
Braehead, Ewing Road, Semple Ave-
nue, and Calderpark Avenue. The
time-travellers stopped off at each of
these reminding themselves of which
family had lived in which house. They
noticed how much cleaner the streets
were and that every garden was well
tended. In Calderpark Avenue they
met up with Catherine Murray sweep-
ing the pavement outside Number 5,
where she lived with her daughter
Helen’s family. Many of the travellers
then remembered that everyone swept
the pavement outside their houses at
that time and saw how pride and val-
ues had changed over the years. In
total they saw only two cars parked in
these streets and one of these looked
as though it might have been the
doctor’s on his rounds so not a perma-
nent feature of that street!
But it was the people they had really
come on this time-journey to see and
their luck was in. This was 1953 and
one of the frequent trips organised by
District Councillor Jimmy Speirs for
the older residents was about to leave
the village. The specially chartered
train with it’s engine building up a
head of steam was at the platform of
the village station where Stationmas-
ter Mr Wylie and his staff were organ-
ising the departure to Leven in Fife.
After the train journey the time-
travellers joined the day-trippers for a
pre-arranged afternoon tea in Leven
Parish Church hall. Among the old
friends they met again were Mr and
Mrs Mair, Mr and Mrs Smith, Abe
Wales, Gracie MacMillan, Mr and
Mrs Woods, and Mabel Luney. In
total about 100 had made the day-
trip.
Another button was pushed and the
time-travellers moved forward to
1955 and another of these wonderful
days-out arranged by Jimmy Speirs.
This time the destination was Dun-
fermline and more weel-kent faces
were boarding the train for the jour-
ney. Old friends like May Campbell
with her daughters Sheena and
Muriel, a young Janette Kerr ( now
Mrs Blair ) with her grandparents,
Bob Harper and his wife, Agnes
Gillies and her daughter Louise, Mr
and Mrs O’Hagan with their grand-
son Norman and his parents George
and Jean McGinigal, Mr and Mrs
Arthur (grandparents of our present
Councillor), Mrs Gilmour with her
daughter Unity, were among the
many villagers on the trip.   Fenion were seen watching the then
 
Next stop on this journey through
time was 1958 and the time-
travellers were able to attend a Na-
tional Party of Scotland Christmas
Social in the McKillop Institute. The
festively decorated hall was packed
out with villagers all seated at tables
enjoying the afternoon tea and cakes
At the top table, the much respected
figure of Roland Muirhead, then in
his 88th year, was spotted chatting
with his wife. Other tables were oc-
cupied by Ossie Eddlestone and his
neighbour Mr McKinnon, Mrs
O’Neil, Mrs Ireland in one of her
trade-mark hats, Gavin Smith, Lizzie
McIntosh, Willie Glen whose farm-
house was then in the High Street,
Mr and Mrs Crisp from Bridgend,
Mrs Edgar from the garage on John-
shill, and many, many, more familiar
faces. Nat Smith was on the stage
entertaining the party with songs in
his rich baritone voice.
By now the time-travellers were in
much need of refreshment so the
time machine was switched off, the
library restored to the present day
and a break for tea accompanied by
the wonderful home baking of li-
brary staff and Mima Kilburn.
Memories of the vibrant and cohe-
sive social life of Lochwinnoch in the
1950’s had been revived. The tea-
break had also revived the time-
travellers for they were again ready
to journey back, for a final time that
afternoon, to see more old Lochen-
yochians.
The time-machine was in action again
and landed in the McKillop where the
committee organising a Darby & Joan
Social was meeting. It was winter
1956 and in pre-central heating days
so the open fire in the small ante-
room warmed the group which in-
cluded Liza McLauchlan, Billy Brett,
Jock and May Speirs, Margaret
Shaughnessy, and Tom McManus.
The time-machine was then put into
ultra-rapid mode and it moved its oc-
cupants across the years and village
locations more randomly.
It gave glimpses of early Calder Glen
and Lochwinnoch Amateurs football
teams with players including Arthur
Graham, a young John McManus,
Lawrence Wylie, and his brother Joe.
Mrs Finnie was spotted chatting with
Mr and Mrs Jack Crisp near Harvey
Cottages. A group of friends including
Barry Ritchie, Anna and Tom Smith,
Anna and Charlie Clelland and Willie
Scottish Cross Country Champion
(Lochenyochian Harry Fenion) receiv-
ing his medal. Rab the Bear (alias the
Laird o’ Bogheid) but more properly
remembered as Robert Smith, was
seen outside his cottage at Boghead.
Re-acquaintance was briefly made
with Willie Storrie who had the Men’s
Hairdressers where the Garthland Pub
Lounge stands today.
The time-machine was finally
switched off (or someone didn’t feed
its meter) and the trip back to say
“hello“ to the villagers of the 1950’s
was over. A special thanks was given
to the time-machine operator and or-
ganiser of the trip, our Community
Librarian Margaret Sweenie. She had
made the job of the guides for the
tour, Adrian Tharme and Johnny
Mair, a very easy and enjoyable one.
The time–travellers donated
£110 to St Vincent’s Hospice in
lieu of ticket charges.
And so to the truth !!
The time journey was actually made
possible not by a time-machine but
thanks to one Lochenyochian’s legacy
to the village.
In his photographic record of the vil-
lage and more especially of it’s people,
the late Pat Smith (Senior) has left us
a truly remarkable archive.
Our thanks to his son “ young Pat “ for
making this available to us.

Chameleon Crafts Club
Arts & Crafts for kids age
12 years and up.
The next art workshop for young
people age 12+ is on Saturday 11th
October 2-4pm, once again at the
RSPB (to whom many thanks!).
The theme this month is working
with clay – make your own money-
pot or creature to store your bits and
bobs. The work produced will be
fired and available next session for
uplift.
Please note that this is the last work-
shop before Christmas. However, to
make up for it, there will be 2 work-
shops in January. Next year’s dates
are: January 11th, January 31st,
February 28th and March 21st. Each
workshop is £10 and covers all mate-
rials. If you’d like to join please call
the RSPB (01505 842663) who’ll
pass on a message to Cait, the tutor.
Top Marks ...
were awarded to Lochwinnoch
pupil, Nathan Brackenridge, who
attained 1st in Mathematics and
1st in Craft and Design in the
2007/2008 Johnstone High
School awards.
(Congratulations Nathan, on your
achievements. Sorry for the delay
in publishing your results but we
didn’t have the information last
month. Ed)
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DIGITAL UPGRADES MULTIROOM
ES- TIMATES
Cucina Eat Fresh!! Eat Local !!
Minucci
at the Junction Cucina Minucci
www.cucinaminucci.co.uk at the Junction
There have been several changes at Caffè
the caffè over the last few months,
some more obvious than others.
Deli
Wholefoods
Most of you will have noticed we
Homebaking
have moved the counter back to the
Church Street corner of the room
and created a much bigger reception
area as well as incorporate a small
NEW HOURS
deli counter next to the till – whew! Same Passion for Food
We are especially excited about
Mon to Wed 9am to 5pm
opening later as of Thursday the 18th
of September. The Caffè menu con- Thursdays 9am to 7.30pm
tinues into the evening and there will Fri & Sat 9am to 8.30pm
be more exciting hot dishes up on Sundays & B/H 10am to 4pm
the board. Always freshly prepared
as usual, with some authentic Italian
dishes. With an emphasis on a cas-
To book call:
ual dining experience, you are en- 01505 842225
couraged to pop in for a coffee and
cake or a glass of wine, some cheese www.cucinaminucci.co.uk
& olives selected from our deli!!
Richard Mulhearn continues to en-
tertain with his monthly “Jazz at the LOCHWINNOCH
Junction” sessions on the last Thurs- SURGERY
day of every month. Booking is 31 Main Street, Lochwinnoch
essential and there is always an
option of £15 for Cold Antipasti or Dr Stephen McLaughlin joined the
£25 for a three course meal. Music practice in August and has an inter-
starting from 8pm. est in Dermatology and started a
minor surgery clinic.
In October we also have a special
treat for you all in the form of Neil Flu Vaccine will be available at the
Wilson the Guitarist on the Friday end of September ‘08. If you are
24th – please look out for posters over 65, diabetic, asthmatic or have a
with more details. chronic disease, please contact the
See you soon. surgery and make an appointment
Ivan, Joanna & the Team. with the Practice Nurse.
Tel: 01505 842200
WALL MOUNTS SUPPLIED AND FITTED REPAIRS
AERIAL AND SATELLITE FREE
FULLY INSURED
 LOCHWINNOCH “Where are you going girls,” asks a conductor.
“Lochwinnoch,” we reply. “Third bus along.” So on to the bus, up
WRITERS October 2008 the stairs and sit somewhere in the middle.
A NEET OOT AND A WEE FROG
The fleet leaves on time some going direct to Paisley, some to
Johnstone and the one we’re on that stops at every stop. It only goes
SATURDAY NIGHT Pat Thomson as far as the garage at Milliken Park anyway. Soon there’s a good
going sing song, everything from top of the charts to old favourites

S aturday night again. Sally, Margaret and Susan will be

here in about half an hour, so I better get ready. We’re off
to catch the ten past eight bus to Largs. It’s the Moorings to-
night. When we get off the bus we’ll go and get our dance
tickets and a pass out ... Then we’ll go to Nardini’s for a coffee
and a toasted sandwich. The autumn is here so we’ll get it for
sixpence less than last week. Always the same after the
Glasgow September weekend, prices come down.
After our coffee we’ll stroll back along the prom to the
dance hall. By the time we get there, change our shoes, check
our hair and make-up, and put our coats in the cloakroom, it
should be time to go into the hall. If we’re too early the place is
half empty, too late and it’s full, no chance of a seat. Since it’s
a mild night the balcony doors are wide open. With the soft
music and the rush of the waves on the shingle we could
almost be in Italy again.
We usually have a good night down here. It’s Charlie
Harkins and his Kit Kat band as usual, so we’ll get a fair mix
of fast and slow dances with a few oldies thrown in. Sure
enough he’s starting with a slow foxtrot and we’re soon on the
floor. This is followed by a quickstep, then some jive, a
Canadian barn dance, then maybe a waltz. Soon everything
starts to blur and take on a dreamlike quality. The softly lit
ballroom, the multi coloured spinning lights from the glass ball
on the ceiling, the music, in fact the whole ambience of the
place.
but a must is The Northern Lights, with the whole bus singing their
heads off and the conductor yelling for silence. A waste of breath.
Happy carefree days.
The nursing home sitting room is almost in darkness when the
nurse comes in with a cup of tea. She switches on the lights and is
concerned to see tears coursing down the old lady’s cheeks. “What’s
wrong,” she asks kindly. “Nothing,” replies Myra, “They’re happy
tears, I was just reliving memories of times past.”
GURNEY THE FROG Davie Dougan
Ah’m jist a wee frog, an’ ah live neath a log
Ah’ll eat midges, an’ any wee fly
Ah jist shoot oot mah tongue
An’ although ah’m jist young
Ah kin catch any bug that goes by.
Ah’m dark green like a leaf
Though ah hivnae goat teeth
Ah jist sook aff the bits that taste nice
Then mah tongue goes tae work
Be it daylight or dark
Diz it gie ye the creeps, when ah burp?

“How are you getting home to-night,” asks one of our partners,
Ah’ll eat worms, -- well ah’ll try
“Would you like a lift?”
Should a fat wan slide by
“No thank you, I’m going home in a big red Daimler, so I
“Girls! Geeze a wee kiss please, ah sigh?
don’t need a lift.”
Cos ah’m really a prince, a wull try tae convince”
“It wouldn’t be any bother, I’m passing there anyway.”
“Oh! Are you, where do you come from?” (Girls’ Voices)
“I’m from Greenock, didn’t I say.”
“No you didn’t and how come if you stay in Greenock you’ll “Och! Yer jist a wee frog. But ye try”!
be passing through Lochwinnoch? Do you even know where
that is? I don’t need a lift so you can take the straight road
home.” THE WRITERS NEXT MEETING
MONDAY 6TH OCTOBER
That’s the girls shouting it’s time to go.
A quick change of shoes and we’re out and off up the main LIBRARY 9.30-11.30AM
street to the bus station. There’s a chippie en route and up goes PROFESSIONAL TUTOR!
the cry - anyone want a fish supper! TEA AND BISCUITS!

LCBG MEDITATION AND CREATIVITY CLASSES

Meditation and Creativity Classes on Thursday evenings from 6.30-8.30pm on
The Struthers Project 9th and 23rd October. Come along, nurture your heart, explore your own truth
and be supported by a small group. All are welcome.

Lochwinnoch Community Saturday Workshops from 9.30am-1.30pm.

Buyout Group AGM
A date for this is still to be set but will
probably be in mid-November.
Watch out for notices.
Sat. 4th October - the web of life; Sat. 8th November - creating sacred space.
Cost £20 or £18 concession (includes lunch).
Call Libby for details on Tel: 01505 842604.
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ROOFLINE AND FULL LOCHWINNOCH HOUSEHOLDS.
WINDOW REPAIR SERVICE
Contact - PETER McGARVEY
HINGES, LOCKS AND MISTED Tel: 01505 614654
AND BROKEN GLASS REPLACED.

UPVC DOORS FITTED FROM £430

From the Parish Church VOICES IN PAISLEY

5th Annual Festival
Friday 24th October to
Because the greatest love of all is happening to me. Saturday 8th November 2008
I found the greatest love of all inside of me.
The greatest love of all is easy to achieve. Features concerts by high-profile profes-
Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all. sional groups of international repute.
Call 01505 850344 for more information.
written by: White, Mark/Fry, Martin Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Whitney Houston’s anthem was re-
leased at a time of my life when I
wasn’t very good at loving myself. It is
true that unless we can love ourselves
and accept ourselves warts and all,
that we will not be very good at loving
other people. However, we need to
guard against self love becoming the
only love in our lives – loving our-
selves too much is as bad and as de-
structive as not loving ourselves
enough.
One of the great joys of recuperation
over the past few months has been the
gift of time. The sheer luxury of read-
ing a novel in the middle of the morn-
ing has been a joy I have savoured. I
have read many books over the weeks
ranging from the sublime to those
books which should never have been
published. I haven’t necessarily en-
joyed all the books, yet if a novel has
made me think, then reading it has
been a worthwhile experience. One
novel I am still not sure about is Ben
Elton’s “Blind Faith”. Set in the
future, some 50 years after global
warming has caused much of the
world to be flooded, the novel intro-
duces us to a parody of 1984. Like
that novel, citizens are no longer able
to have that which we take for granted
– a private life. Cameras are all seeing
and life is lived as though one were a
member of a perpetual reality TV
show, with neighbours able to view
our lives in all the gory detail. The
difference is that in “Blind Faith”
society revolves around a new religion
which is a twisted version of Christi-
anity. It is compulsory to worship the
trinity of the Lord, the Love and
Diana. People are reminded con-
stantly that they are made in the
image of God and as such they must remember that it is easy to twist truth.
not only love their bodies, they must We are all guilty of twisting parts of
worship them and so must everyone our faith to suit our own ends. Yes we
else. must love ourselves, but let us remem-
ber that we are to love our neighbours
To that end, people dress in minimal too. We are called to love our neigh-
ways, leaving little to the imagina- bours as ourselves – self love should
tion. Citizens are also encouraged to not overshadow love of others and
indulge themselves in whatever way love of others should not lead us to
they wish leading to destructive life- denying our own needs.
styles as ‘people of size’ eat them-
selves to death. The hero of the The answer, as with so much of life, is
novel, Trafford Sewell, begins to in finding the right balance.
notice the contradictions within the
faith and as he starts to use his Going back to that time when I was
mind, he realises that everything the finding it hard to love myself, I dis-
people are told to believe is built on covered that the greatest love wasn’t
shifting sand. inside of me. I discovered that it sur-
rounds us all. When I realised that the
I haven’t yet finished this book and Lord of Creation loved me, then I was
the jury is still out on whether I able to love myself. Surely the love of
would recommend it to others, yet it God surrounding and upholding us is
has certainly made me think. The truly the greatest love of all.
idea of loving ourselves to destruc-
tion is quite frankly grotesque, yet Yours,
the Bible does encourage us to love
ourselves. What the temple leaders
in “Blind Faith” have done is take
one little part of the Bible and
twisted it for their own ends.
Rev. Christine Murdoch
Before we condemn them, let us
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LOCHWINNOCH
COMMUNITY
COUNCIL
Annual General Meeting
This year’s AGM takes place on
Monday 3rd November in the McKil-
lop Institute’s Lesser Hall. Members
of the public are most welcome to at-
tend and also to hear 2 presentations:
one from Oxfam and its fight against
global inequality and the other from a
representative of our local Fairtrade
Group, which aims to guide Lochwin-
noch into becoming a Fairtrade Vil-
lage in the very near future. Refresh-
ments will, as usual, be available in
the form of wine, beer, juices and nib-
bles …fairly traded, as far as possible.
Treasurer
It is vitally important to the continua-
tion of the community council that a
volunteer from the local area come
forward to take up the role of Treas-
urer. This is a role that is not too on-
erous, but needs close attention to de-
tail and a feel for numbers. Anyone
interested should come along to the
regular Community Council meeting
on the 7th October or email the Secre-
tary at cc@lochwinnoch.info
If you have matters to bring up to the
Community Council, please either
attend a meeting, send a letter to the
Secretary at 79 High St or email us at
cc@lochwinnoch.info
It’s your village …. make it
your community council.
CC activities and
achievements 2007-8
Lochwinnoch Community Council’s
AGM is coming up, so perhaps it’s
pertinent to ask “what does the Com-
munity Council do?” I asked a cou-
ple of the stalwarts what has been
going on over the past year or so.
CC Chairperson, David Fowles, has
for some time now represented
Lochwinnoch CC on the SRANI
(South Renfrewshire Area Network
Initiative) committee. Working with
the SRANI group, the CC was suc-
cessful in securing a grant from For-
ward Scotland under the Community
Environmental Renewal Scheme
towards the completion of the path-
way from St. Brydes to Fancy Bridge.
The pathway is now open and it is
possible to reach Howwood from the
cycle path without having to brave a
long section of the Bridesmill Road.
The CC was also involved in the
opening of the section of cycle path
from Lade Bridge to the entrance of
Castle Semple Visitor Centre and
continues to be closely involved with
the forthcoming Conservation
Report commissioned by SRANI.
The CC has been pleased to be able
to offer sponsorship to aspiring
young - and not so young - residents
in their exploits. Tall Ships, Roma-
nia, Nepal and the Scottish Polo
Championships have featured in this
and the CC also contributed to the
village Christmas lights appeal.
David also reports that following the
Scottish Executive's decision to de-
centralise the administration of the
Unitary Authorities, the CC now has
a representative on the Local Area
Committee, which will give first
hand knowledge of all that is going
on in our area.
Finally, David pointed out that vari-
ous speakers have addressed CC
meetings (which are open to the pub-
lic) during the year. These included
Police Inspector John Laing on new
policing arrangements, Anne
McNaughton on CC support and, re-
cently, Mary Ogilvie on the Renfrew-
shire Neighbour Mediation Service.
Chris Gould, CC Deputy Chairperson,
cites one of his areas of activity to be
the ongoing correspondence about the
dry-stane dykes at the Engine Tees,
which might at last result in some-
thing (cheap) getting done. This is an
on-going saga where the CC has been
patiently writing to the absentee land-
lord who is responsible for the dry-
stane wall along the A760 on the ap-
proach to the village. The owner’s fac-
tor has been very reluctant to take any
action, but it looks as though there’s a
glimmer of hope that the wall will be
tidied to some extent.
Chris has also been actively writing to
any and all of those with responsibility
for the station to consider disabled/
pram access to the down line. Like
much of the CC’s work, it may be quite
a while before this bears fruit, but it’s
work that needs to be done on behalf
of our local community.
Another area where the CC is active is
in the Community Partnership Group
which comprises of the Police, ASIST,
our local Councillor and a representa-
tive from the Community Council.
This group has very actively and ably
represented the people of Lochwin-
noch to ensure that we are not forgot-
ten, despite being small and the last
outpost of Renfrewshire. This group
has been involved in the CCTV instal-
lation at the Cross, with financial as-
sistance from the CC. It is expected
that its presence will reduce anti-
social behaviour in a renowned hot
spot.
To round up this snapshot of some of
the work of the Community Council, I
can report that the Community Coun-
cil has a standing objection to wind
farms being erected in Clyde Muirshiel
Regional Park and always formally
objects on behalf of the village when
an application is notified. This stance
was determined by the outcome of the
very large public meeting held by the
CC when the first wind farm proposal
was made, back in 2006. In June,
representatives from the CC attended
and spoke at a public enquiry into the
Kelburn wind farm application.
Lesley Scott
Secretary
Lochwinnoch Community Council
September 2008
Renfrewshire Neighbour
Mediation Service
Tel: 0800 169 1283
The Anti-Social Behaviour helpline
(number above) is open 9am-10pm.
They can be contacted regarding
neighbour noise (e.g. loud TVs, youth
disorder, street football, noisy parties,
fly tipping). The staff will either ad-
vise or refer the caller to, for example,
the police or noise enforcement offi-
cers who can issue warning notices, or
the graffiti squad. They can also put
you on to Renfrewshire Neighbour
Mediation Service.
The main part of the Neighbour Me-
diation Service’s work is early inter-
vention in disputes. They aim to open
channels of communication when per-
haps things are so bad, neighbours
aren’t talking civilly. The staff focus
on the future, not going over old
ground. The service is free, confiden-
tial and involvement is voluntary.
Referrals come to them via housing
officers, helpline self-referral, police,
landlords. Anyone in Renfrewshire
can refer. RNMS then meet both par-
ties on neutral ground and don’t take
sides but hear the issues from both
points of view.
Mediators are impartial. They facili-
tate and guide the meetings, keep the
meetings safe and allow speakers their
time. Suitable cases are -
• the ones that are fairly new dis-
putes as these respond best to inter-
vention,
• where no great fear of violence or
intimidation is present. If there is,
then the matter would be referred to
the Anti-Social Behaviour Team,
• where they are able to negotiate
(i.e. where alcohol or mental health
problems are not an issue) as both par-
ties have to sustain their agreement
where there is no legal action pending
Renfrewshire Neighbour Mediation
Service has an 80% success rate…
most people want to resolve the bad
feeling.
The above is taken from notes made at the
Lochwinnoch Community Council meeting
of 2nd September 2008. The speaker was
an RNMS representative.
Report that pothole
How many times have you been out
in your car or bike and hit a pothole
or narrowly missed a severe pothole
that could result in damage to your
car, bike or yourself? You think to
yourself, “why has someone not re-
ported that pothole, it’s been there
for weeks”.
Potholes and road defects are more
than just a nuisance to car owners,
they are a danger to cyclists!
I am writing in because I had a seri-
ous accident after hitting a pothole
whilst out cycling that left me hospi-
talised with a head wound, concus-
sion, amnesia and bad cuts and
grazes. I hate to think how bad I
would have been if I had not been
wearing a helmet.
What can you do?
Councils can’t be everywhere, and if
they don’t know about a pothole,
they can’t fill it in. So if you want to
get it repaired, you have to report it.
A very easy way to do this is via the
web site www.fillthathole.org.uk
which contacts the right council for
you, to get the roads repaired
quickly and easily, so you can spend
your time driving/cycling and not
dodging obstacles. The web site
also allows you to see other hazards
that have been reported and a list of
what percentage of holes that have
been fixed in your district. Inverclyde
at present has only fixed 13% of re-
ported holes and Renfrewshire is on
27%.
If everyone who reads this article
could report at least one pothole
then the councils would be forced to
act on the large number of com-
plaints, making the roads a lot safer.
It is a very easy web site to use, sim-
ply click on Report a Hazard on the
web site, fill in the questions on the
hazard, click on the map where the
hazard is, which will show up as a
flag on the map, then your name and
address. You can also add photo-
graphs to the site. It only takes a
minute to do this and Fillthathole will
do the rest.
Please pass on this web address to
everyone you know in the UK to
make the roads a safer place.
If we don’t report it, the councils will
be less likely to fix it!
Vee Bee Sugarart
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LOCHWINNOCH
SWRI
Rural meetings got off to a great
start with an excellent slide presen-
tation by John Kinloch. John trans-
formed a neglected one acre garden
into a masterpiece of garden design,
which he opens to the public to raise
funds for cancer charities. The
“before” and “after” slides were
amazing and he had a wealth of
useful tips to pass on.
The competition winners were:
A Floral Arrangement in an Egg Cup
1 A Cochrane
2 P Matthews
3 L Anderson
A Jar of Lemon Curd
1 D Donn
2 P Matthews
3 A Cochrane
The next meeting is on 15th October,
at 7.30pm in the McKillop Institute
when the topic will be Wildlife
Crime and the speaker will be Ser-
geant J Simpson.
Come and join us!
 What’s On
(Clubs, classes and
local groups)
• Lochwinnoch Community
Walks - Mondays (ex. Public
Holidays), 10.30 am at The Cross.
• Lochwinnoch Toddlers
Group - For under 5’s, every
Monday and Wednesday from
9.30-11.30 at the McKillop.
(Resumes Wed. 1st October.)
• Kickjitsu for Kids - Monday
nights, from 5pm-6.45pm in the
Parish Church Hall.
• Lochwinnoch Gymnastics
Club - For primary school-age
children, every Monday from 5pm
-7pm at the Annexe. Phone Coby
for details on: 0772 9051615.
• Morag’s Keep Fit - Mondays
and Thursdays from 7pm, in the
McKillop Institute.
• Lochwinnoch Choral Society.
Rehearsals held on Monday eve-
nings, Parish Church/Church
Hall. Juniors from 7-7.30pm, In-
termediates 7.30-8.30pm and
Seniors from 8pm.
• Advice Works - Tuesdays 10am
-12.30 at the Library. *
• Drop-in T Bar - Lochwinnoch
Elderly Forum. Every Tuesday
from 10am-1pm, McKillop Insti-
tute. All welcome. For details,
call Reta on: 01505 842054.
• TaeKwon-Do Fitness and Self-
defence classes for beginners, chil-
dren and adults. Tuesdays from 5
-6pm, McKillop Institute. For
details Tel: 01259 210716.
• Linda Margaret School of
Dancing - Tuesdays from 4pm-
8.45pm, McKillop Institute. For
details, Tel: 0141 581 9104.
Lochwinnoch residents -
Can I help? If so, please don’t
hesitate to get in touch.
Douglas Alexander, Lochwinnoch’s MP
Write to: 2014 Mile End Mill, 12 Seedhill Road, Paisley, PA1 1JS
Tel: 0141 561 0333. E-mail: dalexandermp@talk21.com
or come to one of my advice surgeries.
• Scottish Country Dance
Club - On Tuesdays, from 7.30-
9.30pm, the McKillop Institute.
• Boys Brigade -
Anchor Boys and Junior Sec-
tions meet on Tuesday nights
and
Company Section meet on
Friday evenings at the Parish
Church Hall. (See notice board
outside the church for more details.)
• Girls Brigade -
1st Lochwinnoch Company
Wednesday evenings from 6pm-
9.15pm at the Parish Church
Hall for various age groups.
• Yoga Classes - Day-time
classes on Tuesdays (starting on
7th October), evening classes on
Wednesdays, at the McKillop
Institute. *
• Happy Harminis - Fun for pre
-school children. Thursdays
from 10am in the McKillop Insti-
tute. Contact Frankie Plater for
details: 01505 612248.
• Slinky Strollers - on Thurs-
days (see back page for details).
• Lunch Club - Lochwinnoch
Elderly Forum. Every Thursday,
11.30 am-1.30pm, McKillop.*
• Calder Drama Club—
Thursdays, from 8pm-10pm
McKillop Institute.
• Scottish Slimmers - Thurs-
days from 7/7.30pm, McKillop
Institute. Register for free.
• Lochwinnoch Pre-School
Gymnastics for children from
18 months to 5 years. Every Fri-
day, from 10.15am - 1.45pm at
the Annexe. Details from Coby
on: 0772 9051615.
• Tai Chi for Beginners -
Friday nights, 6.45-7.45pm, The
Room, Lochwinnoch Library.
Godspell
In this issue of Chatterbox, you will
read of the celebrations planned for
the bi-centenary of the Parish
Church building in Church Street.
The celebrations will continue well
into next year and a major event will
be a production of the Rock Musical,
‘Godspell’ on the 26th and 27th
March, in the McKillop Institute.
Godspell (an old fashioned spelling
of the word gospel) was written by
Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael
Tebelak and premiered in New York
in May 1971.
The play follows the stories told by
Jesus (most famously played by
David Essex) and contains well
known songs, such as Prepare ye
The Way of the Lord and Day By
Day. While written for 10 charac-
ters, the beauty of Godspell is there
is a place for anyone who wishes to
take part. Castings will take place
later in the autumn for our own pro-
duction of the musical and a role
will be found for all who come
along.
In the meantime, we need to put to-
gether our backstage crew, therefore
a meeting will be held in the Parish
Church on Wednesday 22nd October
2008, for anyone interested in taking
part in any way.
While Godspell is a minimalist pro-
duction and as such is very simple to
produce, we need help with stage
management, scenery, choreogra-
phy, costume, make-up, props,
prompting, catering, publicity and a
myriad other tasks. If you have ever
wished to be part of a production
crew, but don’t know where to start,
then Godspell is the answer. Simple
choreography; outlandish costumes
made up of clothes we all have hid-
den away; outrageous make-up,
which is simple to design and apply;
straightforward props all go towards
creating a production that stimulates
senses.
If you can help in any way, please
come along to the Parish Church, on
Wednesday 22nd October at
7.30pm. Many thanks.
 Dates for your diaries
• Saturday 4th October -
Concert -“Music over 200 years” with Paisley Abbey Choir at
7.30pm in the Parish Church. *
• Saturday 4th October—
Jazz with Richard Mulhearn at Lochbarr Football Centre Lounge
from 8pm. *
• Sunday 5th October -
Lochwinnoch Parish Church Bi-centenary Service in the
Parish Church at 11am. *
• Sunday 5th October - Charity Dawg Dawdle - starts at 2pm
from the Glendale Arms, Glengarnock to Lochwinnoch.
(Details on posters around the village.)
• Sunday 5th October -
Parish Church Bi-centenary Exhibition opens in the Parish
Church for visitors at specified times during October and will
move to the Library Room for the month of November. *
• Saturday 4th, Thursday 9th and Thursday 23rd October
- Meditation/Creativity Classes and Workshops. *
• Saturdays - 4th and 25th October - Krafty Kids group
morning and afternoon sessions at Youth Space, McKillop.
• Tuesday 7th October - Lochwinnoch Community Council
monthly meeting at 7.30pm, Guild Room, Parish Church. *
• Monday 13th October - Lochwinnoch Art Group evening at
7.30pm, McKillop Institute. *
• Wednesday 15th October—Lochwinnoch SWRI meeting at
7.30pm, McKillop Institute. *
• Thursday 16th October - Lochwinnoch Historical Society
evening, 7.30pm in the Guild Room of the Parish Church. *
• Friday 17th October - Prize Bingo Night, at 7.30pm in the
Masonic Hall. *
• Saturday 18th October - Councillor Arthur’s Surgery from
11.30am at the McKillop Institute. *
• Saturday 18th October - Fete at Lochwinnoch Bowling Club
from 11am-4pm. Bric-a-Brac, Tombola, Tea Room, etc.
• Friday 26th September to Saturday 25th October -
Art Exhibition during opening hours in the Library Room. *
• Saturday 25th October - Bluegrass Night with
The Shed Inspectors at Lochwinnoch Bowling Club. *
• Sunday 26th October - Champagne Tea and Fashion Show
for Teenage Cancer Trust at Mar Hall Hotel. *
• Sunday 26th October 2008
British Summer Time ends. Put your clocks back 1 hour at
midnight on Saturday 25th October.
• Friday 31 October - Fashion Show at the Masonic Hall. *
• Saturday 1st November - Christmas with a Conscience
stalls at the Parish Church Hall.
• Monday 3rd November - Lochwinnoch Community
Council AGM at 7.30pm in the Lesser Hall, McKillop Institute. *
• Saturday 8th November - Ceilidh at Lochwinnoch Bowling Club,
7.30pm for 8pm, Tickets £5 available from Margaret Tel: 843013.
• Sunday 9th November - Gala Concert in aid of Teenage Cancer
Trust at the Royal Concert Hall. *
* See inside this issue of Chatterbox for further details.
Antiques, Curios and Crafts
A dynamic selection of oils, watercolours and
limited edition prints.
Bespoke crafts by local artisans, vintage and
contemporary jewellery.
Well worth discovering for yourself.
The Barn on the Farm, open 10am till late every day
Contact Greta Logan on Tel: 01505 683338
Mob: 07786 720586
e-mail: greta@thestirrupcup.co.uk
www.thestirrupcup.co.uk
West Bankside Farm, Geirston
Road, Kilbirnie, KA25 7LQ
Just opposite the Golf Course
on the Largs Road.
Lochwinnoch Parish
Church
Bi-Centenary Celebrations
Saturday 4th October
Concert at 7.30pm in the Parish Church.
Music over 200 years with Paisley Ab-
bey Choir and organist John Langdon.
Tickets - £5 for adults, £3 for children,
available now from church members or
pay at the door.
Sunday 5th October
Bi-Centenary Service 11am in the Parish
Church. Dedication of the two quilted
and embroidered banners by the Modera-
tor, The Right Rev. Dr. David Lunan.
Bi-centenary Exhibition
Opens in the Church on 5th October and
will be open for visitors on Saturday and
Sunday afternoons from 2pm-4pm dur-
ing October - i.e. 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th,
25th and 26th October.
The exhibition will then move to the
Library Room and will be open during
normal library hours from 3rd to 29th
November.
Sunday 23rd November
Organ Recital at 1pm in the Parish
Church.
All are welcome.
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CORRECTION
Former Muirshiel miner, Sam Coch-
rane wrote to us this month, regarding
a couple of items in the Muirshiel
Mines article in July Chatterbox.
“This states I was a supervisor, I was only
an ordinary miner, therefore, had no juris-
diction to order miners to abandon the
mine. The article about my hair standing
on end had nothing to do with a build up
of electricity. Myself and another miner
were sent to work in a particular part of
the mine. On entering, the hair on the
back of my neck began rising and I sensed
danger. We immediately left and I re-
ported it to the foreman. We were given a
different job. Soon after my co-worker
was called by the foreman and he and
another miner were put in the dangerous
spot. About three minutes later the roof
came down, one killed and the other had a
broken back.
The accident was taken to the High Court
in Edinburgh and was found in favour of
the miners.” Sam Cochrane
Chatterbox replies. We are sensitive to
Mr Cochrane’s concerns and are happy to
feature his letter, in full, in Chatterbox.
We would remind readers that items fea-
tured in Chatterbox are the views of indi-
viduals. Chatterbox can accept no liabil-
ity for errors, statements and claims.
STAMP OUT ANTISOCIAL
BEHAVIOUR IN RENFREWSHIRE
WHAT IS
ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR?
Antisocial Behaviour describes a
wide variety of actions that can
cause alarm or distress to others.
Here are some examples:
• Abusive or threatening
behaviour
• Being drunk or rowdy in public
• Committing racial or sectarian
harassment
• Creating unnecessary noise,
particularly at night
• Vandalism
• Dropping litter or dumping
rubbish
• Graffiti
Some of these things may not seem
serious in themselves, but if they are
repeated over a period of time, they
can make people’s lives a misery.
WHO CAN HELP?
That depends on the problem. Seri-
ous crimes should be reported to the
police. But Renfrewshire Council
better deals with many incidents of
antisocial behaviour. The Council
will be able to advise you whether to
call the police.
The Council provides a wide range
of services that specifically tackle
antisocial behaviour.
These include:
• Neighbourhood wardens who
can deter antisocial behaviour and
identify problems at an early stage
• The Antisocial Investigations
Team (ASIST) which tackles prob-
lems on behalf of residents and con-
nects them with appropriate services,
such as the police
• A mediation service to help
resolve disputes between neighbours
• Environmental services, which
deal with problems such as noise
nuisance, litter and illegal dumping.
ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
HELPLINE
The Council has set up an Antisocial
Behaviour Helpline. It provides a sin-
gle, convenient point of contact for all
of the Council’s antisocial behaviour
services.
All calls to the ASB Helpline on
0800 169 1283
will be treated in complete confidence.
Our trained staff will provide practical
advice, reassurance and assistance, to
help you sort out any difficulties you
have with neighbours or other people
in your area.
You can call the ASB helpline from
9am to 10pm, seven days a week. If
you need to report incidents that hap-
pen outside these times, you should
call Strathclyde Police on
0141 532 5900.
DON’T ACCEPT
THE UNACCEPTABLE
The Council and Strathclyde Police
take antisocial behaviour very seri-
ously and are determined to stamp it
out. People in Renfrewshire do not
have to accept behaviour which in-
timidates them or affects their quality
of life.
If you feel that your life is being af-
fected by the unacceptable behaviour
of others, then call the ASB Helpline
now on 0800 169 1283.
TOGETHER WE CAN
STAMP IT OUT
(This article has been reproduced with
the kind permission of
Renfrewshire Council’s
Media Relations Department. Ed.)
 WHAT A STAR !
Well done to Mrs Gurjit Lally, who
ran in the Great Scottish Run (half
marathon) in September to raise funds
for Teenage Cancer Trust. To date,
Mrs Lally has raised
£1,074.43
for TCT and she would like to thank
all her customers at the Keystore for
their very generous sponsorship and
support.
Champagne Tea
And Fashion Show
On
Sunday 26th October 2008
at
Mar Hall Hotel, Earl of Mar Estate,
Bishopton.
Champagne Reception at 3pm
Followed by Afternoon Tea and
Fashion Show, starting at 4pm.
A sparkling, elegant event with
champagne, speciality teas, delectable
pastries, stunning fashion, accessories,
auction and goody bags.
Grand Draw of exquisite Sapphire and
Diamond 18ct gold Ring
All to help Teenage Cancer Trust.
Tickets are £25, available from Karen
Kelly Designs Ltd, by calling 01505
705767 with credit card or online at
www.KarenKellyDesigns.com
Teenage Cancer Trust
Registered Charity No: 1062559
Teenage Cancer As you know, Karl Jenkins is making another
appearance at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Trust on Armistice Sunday (9th November) with his
award winning piece - 'The Armed Man' .
Des and John would like to We are really struggling for sponsors this year,
thank everyone, once again, for due to the ‘credit crunch’ and are dependent on
their donations and support in people coming along and buying tickets. I urge
enabling us to raise the grand you to get a group of friends together and book
sum of £6,938 to date, from our tickets quickly for a spectacular night out for a
West Highland Way walk for most worthwhile cause.
TCT. There are still a few out- Tickets are on sale now from either the Royal
standing Lochwinnoch pledges, Concert Hall’s website -
so please get in touch (see next http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/whatson/
column for John’s details) or event/72453 or from the Box Office on Tel:
visit the website, which will 0141 353 8000. Profits will go directly to build-
remain open for a further 2 ing a second TCT Unit at Yorkhill.
weeks - Wondering about transport to the concert? John
www.justgiving.com/johndelaneytct Delaney will be organising a coach from Loch-
By the time the charity collects the winnoch. To book a seat on the coach, contact
Gift Aid tax relief from HMRC, John asap on Tel: 01505 844801 or by e-mail
the total should reach £8,000. at: johndelaney@thinkpositive.co.uk
Karl Jenkins
The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace
Charity Gala in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust
dedicated to the memory of Andrew Delaney
Scottish Philharmonic Orchestra
(leader Justine Watts)
National Youth Choir of Scotland
(Chorusmaster Christopher Bell)
Conducted by Karl Jenkins
Elizabeth McCormack Mezzo Soprano
Programme includes
Rodrigo ‘Concierto de Aranjues’
Ian Watt Guitar
Peter Cynfryn Jones Conductor
November 9th 2008 7.30pm
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Tickets £27, £22, £17.50
Box Office 0141 353 8000

Lochwinnoch
Historical Society
We started our 2008-09
session with speaker, Colin
Campbell, who talked about his
book “Can’t shoot a man with a
cold”.
The main purpose of Colin’s
talk was to give wider recogni-
tion to the poetry of Lt. E. Alan
Mackintosh MC, attached to
No. 4 company of the 4th Sea-
forth Highlanders, and who
died on 4th December 1917
during the battle of Cambrai, at
the age of 24.
The story of this young soldier’s
life and especially the reading of
a number of his poems was at
times emotional, telling of the
dedication of Alan Macintosh to
his duty as a soldier and the
sacrifice of millions of others,
who “for your tomorrow, we
gave up our today”.
Colin’s book was available at the
meeting and should anyone be
interested in buying a copy,
please phone me for his details.
Our next meeting is on Thurs-
day 16th October at 7.30pm in
the Guild Room of the Parish
Church. Our speaker that eve-
ning will be Joy Blair, whose
talk is entitled - “The Crums of
Thornliebank”.
Annual Membership is still £8
and an evening visit is £2,
which includes tea and biscuits.
For further information, please
contact Gordon Nicholl on Tel:
01505 842632.
Lochwinnoch
Fairtrade Group
We’re well on the way to putting in
our application to have Lochwinnoch
awarded ‘Fairtrade Village’ status.
To get this award we have to show
that folk in and around the village
have a good awareness of the Fair-
trade principles to make sure that
people get a fair wage for their la-
bours in producing foods like tea,
coffee, fruits and so on.
We have to show that a reasonable
number of households within the
village buy Fairtrade products.
IF you haven’t signed up as a Fair-
trade Supporter, then there are
forms for you to sign on the display
board at the Junction. We need as
many supporters as possible in the
next few months to help with our
application.
We have to show that a reasonable
number of retail outlets stock Fair-
trade products. We have already
persuaded a number of local busi-
nesses to use Fairtrade products.
Everyone could use Fairtrade
tea/coffee/biscuits at work.
We hope we’ve got enough going in
this village to get us through the ap-
plication process. BUT we want
more local people to start choosing
Fairtrade products. The more this
happens ,the more support goes to
poor parts of the world. A propor-
tion of Fairtrade income goes to-
wards improving social provision in
poor areas such as health and educa-
tion support. IF you need more in-
formation, then there’s material on
the notice board in the Junction.
Lochwinnoch
Library
Why buy
when you can borrow?
New books have now arrived at Loch-
winnoch Library. Here’s a sample of
some of the new titles added to library
stock.
Scattered Leaves by Virginia Andrews
When Will There Be Good News by
Kate Atkinson
Land of Summer by Charlotte Bingham
Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver
Final Breath by John Francome
Remember Me? By Sophie Kinsella
Gypsy by Lesley Pearse
Sail by James Patterson
Renew and Reserve
at
www.renfrewshwire.gov.uk/libraries
Library members can view, renew and
reserve their library loans online. All
you need to get started is your library
membership number and a password.
If you don’t have a password just ask
at any library.
“Your Village”
Want to find out more?
Why not browse through our
collection of local photographs
and step into a very different
world that was … Lochwinnoch.
ADVICE WORKS
Tuesdays 10am –12.30pm
Advisors are on hand to help fill
in claim forms, check and advise on
welfare benefits/money problems.
Advisors can provide expert advice
on a wide range of debt related
topics, such as credit card, mort-
gage arrears, council tax, etc. The
service is FREE, confidential and
open to all Renfrewshire residents.
LIBRARY OPENING HOURS :
Monday, Wednesday and Friday:
2pm–5pm & 6pm–8pm
Tuesday and Saturday:
10am–1pm & 2pm–5pm
Closed Thursday.
Tel: 01505 842305
“Yoga is for weirdos,
women and wimps…”
Yoga silences the body.
Meditation silences the mind.
Far from being a wimp, you gain
more self-respect. People do yoga
because it makes them feel good.
However stiff you are, you will get
more supple.
Yoga was in India as long as 5,000
years ago. The word yoga means
experiencing oneness. With prac-
tice, we awaken to the fact that
body and mind are one.
Then you can experience being
connected with everything in Crea-
tion. This feels very refreshing.
I often hear “I’m stressed out and
can’t get my head together.” How
can any of us get our heads to-
gether when our bodies are full of
physical tension – or when we
sleep badly because our heads keep
racing and the body gets more and
more wound up.
Many people go to a gym to de-
stress. Sometimes this does not
help enough. Weights and gym are
great for getting fitter but they
don’t always relax or heal the body.
Yoga can heal and relax you at a
deeper level.
5 Church Street, Lochwinnoch
Tel: 01505 842047
Setanta Live Football - 50” Plasma screen
Beer Garden Open - Families welcome.
Lounge available for private functions.
Meals Served
Monday & Wednesday 12noon - 3pm, Thursday 12 noon -
7pm
What’s on
Every Wednesday 7.30pm - TEXAS HOLDEM POKER LEAGUE -
FREE to play!
Every Tuesday - FREE POOL/DARTS
Saturday 4th October
Paisley Gazette POPSTAR KARAOKE NIGHT
(entry forms from the bar)
Saturday 11th October
CURRYOKE
£5 per ticket - price includes Starter, Main Course and Karaoke.
(tickets available from the Garthland Arms)
Saturday 18th October
LIVE BAND - GAMBLE, GAMBLE and DREVER
Friday 31st October
HALLOWE’EN PARTY DISCO
FREE cocktail to all fancy dress party goers - Prize for best cos-
Breathing practice helps calm 3 hour Workshops:
the nervous system, helps purify Kilbarchan Guide Hall
cells in the body and helps to From 1.30pm-4.30pm
ease depression.
Saturday 25th October - theme is
Meditation is not easy…..but it is
“Release”
simple! Sitting in silence brings
automatic effects. Sunday 23rd November – theme
is “Humour”
A class consists of warm ups,
Sunday 21st December – theme is
posture work, breathing practice,
“Contentment”
deep relaxation and a short medi-
tation. Wear loose clothing, Saturday 17th January – theme is
bring mats, blanket and cushion. “Joy”
Classes Mary Laidlaw
British Wheel of Yoga
Mondays 7pm–8.30pm Our
T: 07971-277870
Lady’s Hall, Crummock Road,
E: maryhlaidlaw@aol.com
Beith
Tuesdays 1.30pm –2.40pm ***
McKillop Institute, Lochwinnoch Mary moved to Lochwinnoch in
(starting on Tuesday 7th October) March ‘08 and is delighted to en-
Wednesdays 7.30pm – 9pm joy such beautiful walks from her
McKillop Institute, Lochwinnoch doorstep. She has spent the last
22 years in Houston & Bridge of
Thursdays 1pm – 2.30pm
Weir but you would not know it
Bridgend Community Hall,
from her accent!
Kilbirnie (near Tesco).

Bankside Stables is a family run livery yard,
approved by the British Horse Society,
with 24/7 supervision.
Full-time, Part-time and Assisted Livery at DIY
rates offered.
For further details, please contact John Logan
Tel: 01505 685371 Mob: 07990 501240
E-mail: john@thestirrupcup.co.uk
www.banksidestables.vpweb.co.uk
West Bankside Farm, Geirston Road, Kilbirnie,
KA25 7LQ
Just opposite the Golf Course on the Largs Road.
Sky at Night Lochwinnoch
October 2008
This Month’s constellation is actually three.
The Summer Triangle can be seen high in the west
above the Village and is formed by Cygnus, the Swan;
Lyra, the harp which contains the 5th brightest star
Vega; and Aquila, the Eagle. Cygnus is the largest and
does appear as a swan in flight with the head lower-
most and the wings outstretched. Lyra is to the right
and Aquila below.
From the Village you can also make out the Milky Way,
which aligns with the body and neck making it easy to
find.
Autumn heralds the return of Orion which rises over
the Braes by midnight. The Orionid meteor reaches its
peak about 1.30am on 21st October. The shower radi-
ates from the top left of Orion. You may see meteors
for a few days either side of the peak but the moonlight
may interfere.
The Moon is Full on 14th October and New on 28th
October. Jupiter is still visible in the evening over
Beith setting over Glenlora.
This and much more will be found
on the Village website www.lochwinnoch.info
Coats Observatory Viewing Nights These start again
on Tuesday 28th October 2008. Public viewing nights
are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30pm-9pm.
Night viewings are weather dependent and cannot take
place in rain, high wind or on cloudy nights. Phone
the Observatory, in advance, on 0141 889 2013 to
check that viewings are taking place.
Tell us your thoughts
on Parkhill Wood
Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park is looking to draw up a plan for
the management of Parkhill Wood to guide work over the com-
ing years. The objective is to improve the wood for wildlife
and for visitors.
We shall be considering aspects such as:
• Enhancing the biodiversity, including control of
non-native species
• Access within the wood
• Recreational opportunities
• Restoration of historical features
We are keen to involve the Lochwinnoch community in this
project and would very much like to hear people’s ideas and
opinions on the current state of the woods and their aspirations
for the future. Our consultations will take several forms so
there are many ways to contribute to the discussion.
Accordingly, a guided walk with Rangers will be held on
Saturday 11th October. Meet at Castle Semple Centre at
13.45pm. More information is given below and another walk
will take place in February 2009.
Additionally, we are hosting an indoor consultation session on
Thursday 6th November at 7.30pm at Castle Semple Visitor
Centre. Tea and coffee will be served. All are invited.
Remember the Fifty Passages?
Autumnal walk to Courtshaw Hill and Parkhill Woods
Saturday 11th October 2008
This Ranger-led walk, leaving Castle Semple centre at 13.45 to
Parkhill Wood, is one with a difference. It will be the first of
several seasonal trips to the area over the next year. The term
‘the fifty passages’ was used by children of Lochwinnoch to
describe the remnants of the maze on Courtshaw Hill.
The walk will be a gentle Saturday afternoon stroll, giving
walkers the chance to familiarise themselves with the area and
its history and taking about 2 hours.
The Park management are seeking some community input into
future plans for the wood, which might involve looking at how
the park might maintain aspects of the designed landscape, and
this walk is the start of this process, allowing a two-way com-
munication. We are looking to maintain and improve the bio-
diversity of the woodland and its potential for further leisure
use - both active and passive, so the greater the number who
join the walks the more ideas may be generated.
Whatever your interest, the walk promises to be a lovely after-
noon out.
 THE GHOSTLY
HORSEMAN
by Derek Parker
It was a wet winter night as bus driver
Helen Leitch drove her coach along
the narrow country road between
Lochwinnoch and Howwood.
Howling wind moaned eerily through
the leafless trees with their skeletal
branches. Torrential rain cascading
furiously on to the road was resplen-
dently reflected in the bright glare of
the bus headlamps. All around, the
pitch-black countryside was veiled
with night's sable shroud.
It was a landscape with which I could
easily identify. As a countryisde
ranger at Muirshiel Country Park and
the Barnbrock campsite high in the
hills above Lochwinnoch I cycled that
way every morning and night on my
way to work at all times of the day
and night.
The 'back road,' as it is known locally,
was especially spectral between the
North Gates entrance to Castle Sem-
ple small-holdings and Markethill Dairy
about half-a-mile farther up the steep
hill.
So, when Helen called in at the Muir-
shiel visitor centre and told me her
story, I could understand the terrify-
ing emotions engendered by her dra-
matic experience that dark night.
She told me how glad she was that
there were a few people on the bus.
Its lights glistened reassuringly like
beacons in the darkness. As the coach
approached the bend in the road at
the North Gates, Helen reduced her
speed.
Suddenly, she was aware of a sharp
drop in the temperature. As the chiil
intensified, she looked to see if the
cabin window was open. But it was
closed. Peering through the gloomy
night and driving rain, she noticed a
shadowy figure lurking menacingly
beneath an overhanging tree.
It was a man on horseback. But there
was something scary about the eerie
apparition. The man wore a long black
coat, dark trousers, knee-length boots
and a dark, broad-brimmed hat. He
was like someone from another epoch
in history.
The grey horse's flowing mane bris-
tled menacingly. The sinister steed
and its ghostly rider emerged from
the darkness like diabolic demons
from the infernal regions. As the
bus approached the phantom fig-
ures, Helen looked apprehensively at
the fearsome visitants and was
about to toot her horn to warn them
of her approach. Then she recoiled
in horror.
BECAUSE, AS THE APPARITION
TURNED ROUND AND LOOKED TO-
WARDS HER, HELEN SAW THE
HIDEOUS HORSEMAN DID NOT
HAVE A FACE. THERE WAS JUST A
BLACK, GAPING HOLE BENEATH HIS
HAT AND COAT COLLAR.
"Did you see that?" she yelled in fear
at her passengers as the bus drove
past the gruesome spectre. But they
shook their heads. No one, except
her, had noticed the phantom on
horseback.
Not long afterwards, Helen gave up
bus-driving. She could not banish
the dreadful vision of the faceless
phantom from her mind. The last I
heard of her several years ago, she
was working in a supermarket.
In the cold light of day, it is easy to
mock ghostly presences in lonely
locations and dismiss them as fig-
ments of the imagination. Yet, as
one immersed in the history, folklore
and legend of the area, I was aware
that other people had claimed to see
similar apparitions in the countryside
around Lochwinnoch.
I was also aware that several people
had died violently in the area hun-
dreds of years ago. Among them
was the First Lord Sempill, who built
the historic Collegiate Church on the
shores of Castle Semple Loch in the
early 16th century. He was killed at
the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
The Sempills were also involved in a
fierce family feud with the Cuning-
hames of Craigends, near Houston,
around that time. They were impli-
cated in the murder of William Cun-
ninghame, the Laird of Craigends,
who was waylaid in the grounds
of HIS estate in 1533 and brutally
murdered by the Sempills and their
accomplices.
Also, on a hillside overlooking Castle
Semple Loch, is the site of a battle at
Muirdykes Mount involving the Scot-
tish Covenanters and the dragoons of
King James VII and II on June
18, 1688. Several men were killed
during the conflict.
During my time as a ranger at the
country park, a sword and some bul-
lets dating from that era were discov-
ered when a field was being drained
near Castle Semple Loch. The finds
were dated to the 17th century Cove-
nanting period.
Archaeologists and historians believed
they could have belonged to a soldier
fleeing from the Battle of Muidykes
and who drowned in the marshes.
Some scholars even think that the
skeleton of the soldier and his horse
could still be lying buried in the murky
depths of the loch to this very day.
Lord Sempill, William Cuninghame and
the Battle of Muirdykes fugitive all
have one thing in common. They suf-
fered violent deaths.
So, could the faceless horseman wan-
dering the Lochwinnoch countryside
be the restless spirit of one of these
three victims of Man's inhumanity to
Man - his face crushed beyond recog-
nition by a weapon, or weapons, during
a fierce feud many centuries ago?
Returned from the grave, galloping
through the gates of death and riding
eternally across Renfrewshire's broad
acres as he once did in days gone by?
 RSPB
LOCHWINNOCH
NEWS
Photography Competition
SPECIAL OFFER ON MEAT EVERY WEEK WINNERS !
NEW DISCOUNTED MEAT PACKS - AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS SIZES
SEASONAL GAME - PARTRIDGE, PHEASANT, WILD RABBIT The votes are in, they have been
AND VENISON AVAILABLE SOON counted and verified and the winning
entries from each category are as
Don’t forget to visit our stall at the Lochwinnoch Christmas Farmers’ Market follows:
at Castle Semple Loch on Sunday 7th December 2008.
BIRDS
39 High Street, Lochwinnoch PA12 4AB Tel: 01505 844941 1st place - Heron in Flight by Robert
SHOP OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Beattie
2nd place - Goldfinch by Marie Crum
3rd place - Thirsty Duck by Raymond
ROLLERSTROLL Watson

Everybody’s doing it! Whether it’s the Pari-Roller Friday night 25 km skate WILDLIFE
around the streets of Paris or the London Sunday Stroll and the London Friday 1st place - Grey Squirrel by William
Night Skate, people are taking to skating in their thousands across European Blair
cities. 2nd place - Common Blue Damselfly
by John Alexander
Nearer to home, over the summer months, skaters have been taking part in a 3rd place - Looking for Lunch Too by
relaxed, informal skate along the cyclepaths of Lochwinnoch on Wednesday Shirley Adamson
evenings. This event is aimed at new skaters who have taken lessons or have
previously skated and can manage the basics of stopping to cope with the en- PEOPLE
try and exit hill next to Castle Semple Centre. 1st place - Toddler and Tiddler by
Catherine Frew
The stroll is a slow pace and allows time for everyone to catch up. Lessons 2nd place - I Spy by Raymond Watson
are recommended for first-time beginners, the event is free, skaters take part at 3rd place - Enjoying Art by Zul Bhatia
their own risk and juniors must wear safety pads and a helmet.
LANDSCAPE
From October, the Lochwinnoch Rollerstroll will switch to Sunday 1st place - After the Rain by Robert
mornings, starting at the Castle Semple Centre car park at 11am, Beattie
weather permitting. 2nd place - Barr Loch from Path by
If you would like to take part in the Lochwinnoch Rollerstroll Daniel Ferguson
or if you would like more information about lessons, 3rd place - Pond View by Douglas
contact Instructor Don Morton (ICP certified) on 07733 276 902. McKnight

UNDER 15’s
1st place - Grasshopper in Grass
2nd place - Swan Drying Wings
3rd place - Blue Tit and Friend

Congratulations to the winners and

many thanks to all of this year’s par-
ticipants.

A full list of each participant’s placing

in the competition is available on re-
quest to the RSPB Centre.

Prizes were awarded for first and sec-

ond place, with certificates for 3rd
placed entries.
 RSPB
LOCHWINNOCH
EVENTS
Here are further details on some of
our October events.
Young Volunteers
Taster Day
Saturday 4th October 11am-4pm
Do you have kids between the ages of
12 and 18? Do they want to become
more involved with conservation and
the work of the RSPB? Live local to
Lochwinnoch?
Then why not come along to the
RSPB Lochwinnoch’s Young Volun-
teers Taster Day to find out more.
Please book in advance at the RSPB
Centre or phone us on: 01505 842663.
Wildlife question time
Tuesday 7th October
7.30pm - 9pm
Join us for a discussion about wildlife,
chaired by a variety of local natural
history experts. Please book in ad-
vance, submit your questions before-
hand and come along to find out the
answers.
Build a Bug a Home !
Friday 17th October
Three sessions available:-
10am—11am,
11.30 - 12.30pm and
1pm - 2pm
Please book in advance.
All children must be accompanied by
an adult. Waterproofs and wellies
recommended.
Feed the Birds Day!
Sunday 26th October
11am to 4pm
at the RSPB Centre
Join in with lots of activities to help
feed the birds. Pick up tips and infor-
mation on looking after the birds over
the winter.
FREE EVENT
RSPB
LOCHWINNOCH
EVENTS
Fright Night
Friday 31st October
6pm to 9pm
(walks every 30 minutes)
Join us for a spooky walk through
the woodland, meeting lots of creepy
characters.
Please book in advance. £2 for
RSPB members and 50p for Wildlife
Explorer members. £4 for adults/£2
for children for non-members.
Twilight Talks 2008
Don’t miss our evening events with
a twist during the remainder of
2008.
Shopping and a movie
Tuesday 11th November 5pm-9pm
(film show time 7.30-9pm)
Browse for Christmas presents and
join us for our film show, starring
“The Flying Dustbin - a portrait of
the fulmar”.
Serengeti National Park
Tuesday 16th December 7.30-9pm
Reserve Manager, Zul Bhatia, gives
us his yearly talk about the wildlife
of the Serengeti.
Please book in advance for all
evening events. £2 for RSPB mem-
bers, £4 for non-RSPB members.
Tel: 01505 842663
NEW !
Subscribe to the
Lochwinnoch Blog!
For weekly updates about what
is happening at the reserve, visit:
http://blogs.rspb.org.uk/
lochwinnoch/default.aspx
and subscribe using the RSS link.
CHATTERBOX
SPECIAL DELIVERY
One of our readers has written in
to us with a great suggestion to make
Chatterbox more accessible to those
village residents who are not able,
personally, to collect a copy of
Chatterbox from the various outlets
around the village and visitor centres.
We know that some of our readers are
unable to negotiate the steep hills in
the village and/or perhaps live alone
and would like to keep up-to-date with
village life and local news and depend
on friends, family or neighbours to
deliver Chatterbox to their homes.
If you fall into this category and you
would like to have a copy of future
issues of Chatterbox delivered to your
door by our volunteers, please com-
plete the coupon below, cut it out
(after you have finished reading Chat-
terbox, of course!) and either hand it
in or have a friend or neighbour hand-
deliver it to the Chatterbox Drop Box
in Lochwinnoch Library for our col-
lection.
Chatterbox is a free publication and
we are not in a position to post copies
out to readers. For those living further
afield, Chatterbox is also available in
electronic form on the Lochwinnoch
village website, at -
www.lochwinnoch.info/chatterbox
NAME
……………………………….
(Block Capitals please)
FULL ADDRESS (for deliveries)
……………………………….
……………………………….
……………………………….
POSTCODE ………………..
Contact number (in case of queries) -
Tel: ……………………………....
 News & Events at
RSPB, Muirshiel,
Cornalees & Castle
Semple Centres
• Slinky Strollers - Thursday
morning walks, starting at 10.30am
from Castle Semple Centre.
• Roller Stroll. Starting at 11am
on Sunday mornings, weather per-
mitting. A relaxed, informal skate
along the cyclepath. See inside for
details.
• Saturday 4th October - Young
Volunteers Taster Day. From
11am to 4pm at the RSPB Centre.
See inside for how to book.
• Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th
October. Adult Dinghy Sailing
Seamanship Course - teaching the
skills to sail in difficult conditions.
To book in advance, Tel: 01505
842882, Ext 20.
• Sunday 5th October - Seeds
and their Needs. Help harvest
wild seeds around the Nature Trail
at Cornalees Centre, 1pm-3pm.
• Tuesday 7th October -
Wildlife Question Time from 7.30
-9pm at the RSPB Reserve.
• Saturday 11th October -
Chameleon Club workshop mak-
ing clay pots at RSPB Centre. Fur-
ther details inside Chatterbox or
contact, Tel: 01505 842663.
• Saturday 11th October -
Remember the fifty passages?
Two hour, Ranger-led, autumn
walk in Parkhill Wood, visiting the
old maze at Courtshaw Hill.
The walk starts at 1.45pm from
Castle Semple Centre - see inside
for more details.
• Saturday 11th to Sunday 19th
October - Lochwinnoch Wild-
square Week. Adopt your own
patch throughout the week.
More details from the RSPB Cen-
tre or visit -
www.rspb.org.uk/wildsquare
Chatterbox is produced monthly for
the Community Council of Lochwin-
noch through financial assistance
from local sponsors and advertisers.
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.
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• Saturday 11th to Monday • Friday 31st October - Fright
20th October - October Fest. Night. Meet creepy characters in
Autumn Air on bikes, in boats or the RSPB Reserve’s spooky woods.
on foot. Come and enjoy the To book and pay in advance, see
autumn colours, hire a bike or a inside for details.
boat at Castle Semple Centre.
Running daily from 11am-3pm, • Sunday 2nd November -
or until poor weather stops play! Craft Fair organised by the Re-
gional Park. This event brings
• Sunday 12th October— together local craft producers and
Feeding Fun. Join RSPB staff runs from 11am to 3.30pm at Cas-
for activities to help birds during tle Semple Centre.
winter and get bird feeding ad-
vice. At Castle Semple Centre • Thursday 6th November -
from 12 noon to 3pm. Tell us your thoughts on Parkhill
Wood. Come along to our consul-
• Friday 17th October - tation at 7.30pm at Castle Semple
Build a Bug a Home, courses at Visitor Centre.
the RSPB Centre. To book in
advance, Tel: 01505 842663. • Sunday 9th November
Hen harrier talk - Muirshiel Wild-
• Sunday 26th October - life. An afternoon presentation
Feed the Birds Day from 11am - about the hen harrier and the spe-
4pm at the RSPB Centre. Join in cial landscape protection in place
with lots of different activities to to safeguard the moors where it
help feed the birds during winter hunts and breeds. Includes CCTV
and see demonstrations of bird footage of this year’s hen harrier
care equipment. family. From 2pm at Muirshiel
• Wednesday 29th October - Centre. Tel: 01505 842803.
Conservation Volunteer Session
at Muirshiel Centre from 1pm. INTERESTED IN FUNGI ?
Enjoy some healthy outdoor There’s a small display about fungi
work, keep fit and help nature. in Castle Semple Visitor Centre.
Gloves and equipment provided.
VISITOR CENTRES
OPENING HOURS AND CONTACT DETAILS
Castle Semple Centre Open daily, 1000-1700 hrs.
Winter Opening hours from 4th November - Open daily 1000-1600 hrs.
Tel: 01505 842882
Cornalees Centre - Open daily, 1100-1600 hrs from April to October.
Open at Weekends only - 10.30am-3pm from Nov ‘08 to March ‘09.
(Toilets open daily.) Tel: 01475 521458
Muirshiel Centre - Open daily, 1100-1600 hrs from April to October.
Open at Weekends only - 11am-3pm from Nov ‘08 to March ‘09.
(Park and toilets open daily.) Tel: 01505 842803
RSPB Reserve - Reserve is open at all times; the Visitor Centre is open
daily from 1000-1700 hrs. Tel: 01505 842663.