Whale off Cumbrae
These photos of a minkie whale just off Millport were taken by Heather McBay.
Beautiful!
Tories Cheer, We Fear…
And Lib Dems cheer as well of course. What are they thinking of…?
The most noticeable fact about the cuts is the unseemly gusto with which George Osborne announced them and the cheers with which Tory/Lib Dem MPs greeted them. It is one thing to believe that you have to make savage cuts: it’s quite another to do so with unbridled enthusiasm and little apparent thought for the practical results of your actions.
When hundreds of local authority social workers or care assistants are sacked and their clients suffer because of these cuts, and when benefits are denied the poorest and most deserving, we will remember those whoops of delight from the Lib/Tory coalition and understand the kind of people to whom we have given control of our society.
It’s not a Tornado…
12 July 2010
I was sitting watching the 1 O’Clock news yesterday when a huge squall of wind started up. It blew ferociously for about 5 minutes and then subsided. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Wind funnell above the competitors
Today the Herald gives an explanation. A Funnel Cloud (a tornado like wind) had blown up over Largs. They paper has a beautiful picture of the wind funnel above Cumbrae with the Laser World Championships in the foreground. (picture from The Herald)
Laser World Champonships
08 June 2010
Largs has the honour of being the venue for the Laser Sailing World Championships this year. Hundreds of competitors from 50 countries are taking part, and the new slipway is getting its baptism of fire!
The Laser Parade with Provost Pat McPhee
There was a colourful parade through the town, followed by an introduction by Margo MacDonald MSP and an oficial opening by Provost Pat McPhee, ending up with a Civic Reception by NAC at Barrfields.
Margo MacDonald MSP and Provost Pat McPhee open the Chamionships
Largs Gardening Club
Largs Gardening Club is advertising visits to gardens in the town…here…
http://sgsgardens.co.uk/garden.aspx?id=d06c40d3-c826-42df-9a06-9da500b78bf0
Well worth a visit…
SNP / Tories: More Waste in Irvine
12 September 2008
The SNP/Tory coalition is at it again, wasting money in Irvine and costing the council millions that could be better spent on delivering better services. We know that they voted to keep open half-empty schools at the cost of £600,000/year.
Now they have combined forces to prevent the opening of a care centre which is designed to help children who have been in council care, and who now need help in integrating into the adult world of work, further education, housing etc. The centre is almost complete, the money has largely been spent and the opening date is a few months off. But the SNP/Tory coalition have run a nimbyist scare campaign against the centre. Now they have whipped their councillors to stop the centre being used, with the result that we will have to find other premises, spend more millions and delay the improved services for the young people we want to help.
A more disgraceful and disappointing state of affairs it is impossible to imagine.
3rd may 2008
A postscript to the press release below:
There had been a Schools Estate Review Group, including Tory and SNP members which, after extensive investigation, recommended the new shape of the schools estate, with new build, closures and mergers. The report was unanimous, there were no dissenting voices, i.e. the Tory and SNP members on the review group agreed, and went along with, with its findings. The SNP rep was Alan Hill!
After extensive consultation the recommendation of the report were adjusted and some schools were removed from the closure list.
Even so, the SNP, under the leadership of Alan Hill, and the Tories voted, en bloc, against the finalised recommendations! These were findings they had agreed to previously, on which there had been extensive consultation, and which had been changed in the light of that very consultation.
It’s really difficult to seee how the council can conduct its business responsibly in the face of such inconsistency and such frankly irresponsible, not to say dishonest, behaviour from the opposition parties.
Below is the draft text of a Press Release Issued 1st may.
SNP and Tories Vote for Spending in Irvine.
On his election last year, Provost Bobby Rae was quoted as saying that he would “….make sure that the Largs and the North Coast would in future get more than their fair share of the investment from the council…”, and that towns like Irvine would be pushed down the pecking order for council investment.
It is therefore astonishing that Provost Rae, at a special meeting of the council on 29th April, should use the privilege of the Provost’s casting vote to support the continued use of half-empty schools in Irvine, at a cost to the Education Budget of £600,000 annually: that could amount to £2.4 million over the life of this council.
These Irvine schools are under utilised, some with an occupancy rate of only 48%, but Provost Rae somehow believes that throwing money at them is a proper use of council cash. This money will not be spent on the education of children. It will not be spent on new teachers, new books, new desks, more pencils or more jotters. It will not be spent on anything remotely educational. The voters’ money will be spent on keeping open half-empty schools that would be better merged and rationalised to provide the proper and properly managed education that the pupils deserve.
Meanwhile I have groups from Skelmorlie and elsewhere approaching me for money to build new all-weather playing fields and school playgrounds, either of which would cost a fraction of the £600,000, and each of which would come from the Education budget that the Provost wants to pour into the bricks and mortar of half-empty schools.
Mr Rae was joined in his folly by Councillors Hill and Marshall. So the next time any school or other group in this area needs access to council monies to fund a much needed project, perhaps they should approach the SNP and Tory councillors and ask them what happened to the millions of pounds that they seem to believe is better spent in keeping empty schools operating, year after year, in Irvine, rather than being invested in facilities for the towns and people of North Ayrshire on general and the North Coast Ward in particular.
New Tenants and Residents Association
10th March 2009
A new Upper Skelmorlie Tenants and Residents Association was formed tonight at the Community Centre. Peter Price is the Chairman of the new committee, Helen Boyle Vice-Chair, Billie Walker Secretary and Sandra McKinnon Treasurer.
The meeting was well-attended and enthusiastic and the new group is up and running with every chance of success.
Good luck to them.
Labour Ahead of SNP in Latest Poll
YouGov latest poll shows that the Scottish Nationalists have made a mistake by ploughing forward in pursuit of independence. The poll shows a clear majority of Scots believe that Alex Salmond has misjudged the mood of Scots by planning a vote on separatism at the height of a recession.
The report in the Sunday Times reports that Alex Salmond’s determination to press ahead with the referendum, and his failure to push through manifesto commitments, have led to a slump in support for his government.
The poll of 1,380 adults last week put the SNP on 35% in the constituency vote, with Labour on 34%, but on the regional vote Labour is on 32% and the SNP 30%.
It would give Labour 49 seats (+3), the SNP 44 (-3), the Tories 18 (+1), Lib Dems 15 (-1) and Greens three (+1).
I Don’t Beelieeeeve it!
On the 9th of April at the North Coast Area Committee, Elisabethe Marshall opposed the grants which Largs Viking Festival had applied for: grants which have been applied for successfully over many years, and which are vital for the success of the festival. Since myself and Alan Hill are directors of the Viking Festival Committee and were therefore (rightly) barred from voting on our own grant applications, the committee could not reach a decision and the grants were refused, at least until some solution is found to the impasse.
You may ask why a local councillor would apparently want the Viking Festival to fail. I have to say it is difficult to see any defensible explanation for Cllr Marshall’s behaviour.
It can’t be political….. at least I can hardly believe that it the policy of North Ayrshire Conservatives for the Largs Viking Festival to be deprived of money and support…… can you?
continued…over the weekend I attempted to find out if Mrs Marshall was following local Conservative Group Policy. I wrote an email to Pat McPhee, the Conservative Group Leader on the Council. She replied that as she wasn’t at the meeting and knew nothing of the relationships of the people on the Committee or the details of the running of the festival, it would be wrong to comment.
However, she did say that there is no Conservative policy on the allocation of such grants.
I replied that I was not clear what point she was making. The relationships of people on the committee should have no bearing: local grants to local festivals should not be political footballs or due to personalities. The question for me is: is Elisabethe Marshall acting with the support of the Conservative Group or not?
If Liz is politicising the grants, (and even if she isn’t), the Tories risk ridicule and harm in Largs and beyond because of her behaviour. Ridicule and harm to the Conservative cause would normally be no skin off my nose, but I like to seek co-operation if possible and I have always believed that local issues are solved more easily if we can keep party politics out of it.
I just thought, as Conservative Group Leader, Pat McPhee might like to talk to Liz and at least try to stop her causing a stink in Largs, and making a fool of herself and of the Tories in the bargain, before the whole thing blows up and becomes an issue in the North Coast Ward, at least. .
As of Monday evening 13th April, I have had no response to my second email….
More… late on 13th April I got an email from Elisabethe Marshall, although I make the presumption that it was written by Tom.
It said, among other things
“Cllr Gallagher fails to make it clear that the Largs Viking Festival (LVF) Grant Applications were continued ( not refused as he states) to the next meeting as were other grants.”
I said, if you read the post, that Liz Marshall opposed the grants at the meeting. She did. The applications were not successful. If they were successful, we would not be having this discussion.
“Further information on the operation of LVF has been requested.The grant was delayed last year for other enquiries”
Just because the grant was delayed last year doesn’t mean it has to be delayed this year.
“To talk of “failure “of LVF”
No-one has talked of “failure” of the Festival. In any public pronouncement I have been clear that the 2008 Festival was a relative success, and that the new Festival Committee would build on that success.
“The reason for the delay is that in the last few months according to Companies House in Edinburgh, 6 Directors of Largs Viking Festival have resigned.”
Liz resigned of her own volition and she knows exactly the circumstances which have seen the improvements in committee membership and attendance.
There are other comments about the LVF committee, but as they are presented without evidence or context, they are IMO unfounded, so I have not reproduced them here.
Moorburn decided at last…?
Moorburn update again
16th April
At a special meeting of the council to discuss the sale of Moorburn the issue was finally rejected by the council. As the matter had been decided by the council less than 6 months ago, it was necessary to suspend standing orders so that the issue could be discussed again, but the necessary two-thirds majority was not reached.
The issue has divided the local councillors, the council itself and the SNP, but it should now be now dead.
Save Our Seafront
Text of Press release sent to Largs & Millport Weekly News.
24th April 2009
Councillor Alex Gallagher Issues a Call to Protect Largs Seafront From Insensitive Development
Local Labour Councillor Alex Gallagher today issued a call for his colleagues to support his plan for more protection for the seafront in Largs.
“Given the recent controversy over Moorburn House it has become clear to me that the seafront area, which is a jewel in the crown of Largs, is vulnerable to attempts at insensitive planning. At present the seafront is protected by agreed planning “guidelines”, but these are not the strongest defence that we can envisage.”
Stating that the creation of a new Development Plan for North Ayrshire provided a unique opportunity to set the planning rules more tightly and in perpetuity, Councillor Gallagher said, “I believe that, during the previous Development Plan Process a suggestion was made that Largs seafront should enjoy Conservation Area Status, but this was rejected by the Reporter at the time. Now that the Development Plan is being rewritten, we have a real opportunity to reverse this decision,”
Calling for the support of all local councillors in this endeavour, Cllr Gallagher said, “We need to be united on this. I believe if all four local councillors can get together to influence the plan and persuade the relevant authorities, we may have a chance of giving our seafront the protection it needs from the type of development which has destroyed so many of our seafront vistas in the last ten years.”
Pointing out that there are previous examples of successful seafront campaigns, and that all of the other councillors had been in support of these campaigns, he stated “If we can all be supportive of this idea, it has a chance to work. If we are divided, we have much less chance of success. The alternative, with blocks of flats and other unsuitable developments on the Largs seafront, is too horrible to contemplate”.
“To this end I have written to the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Protective Services) and the Planning Development Manager to alert them of the need for greater protection for Largs seafront, and to ask them to ensure that it is given proper consideration in the Development Plan Process, and to all North Coast Ward elected members asking for their support for these aims.”
Alex Gallagher
Councillor Ward Eight
Good news in a bleak time
Received the wonderful news that our MP Katy Clark yesterday delivered a baby daughter.
Baby 8.5lbs. Both doing well as far as I know.
Congratulations to Katy and it’s good to see an MP deliver good news in the midst of all the other disasters we read too much about at the moment.
A Mediteranean Cruise?
This smashing photo on the Millport website…
http://www.s1millport.com/news/does-aida-the-painted-cruise-ship-remind-you-of-anything.html
was taken by Conway MacCulloch. With the great weather we’ve been having, you could convince yourself that it was taken in the Med or the Agean. In fact the background shows the botton tip of Bute and the top of Arran.
Viking Festival 2009
Viking Festival
I am finding my duties as chair of the Largs Viking Festival are keeping me very busy! This year’s festival is beginning to take shape, and we have some really big attractions.
Viking Festival 29th August – 6th September 2009
The Festival has already secured two top line attractions.
On 29th August, Tommy Smith, renowned Scottish Jazz saxophonist ( website here ), is appearing with the trio, Arild Andersen Tommy Smith Paolo Vinnaccia. Arild is Norwegian, fitting nicely with the Viking concept and Paolo is Italian, which also fits well with Largs’ large Italian influence. The show is on Saturday 29th August at 8pm. Tickets are £17 and £15 and can be purchased from Vikingar! 01475 689777 and The Magnum 01294 313010.
The other main attraction on the opening day is an air display by the new Eurpfighter/Typhoon. This plane is the RAF’s latest and most advanced airplane. The display is doubly exciting in that the pilot is a local man from Skelmorlie, and an ex-pupil of Largs Academy.
The Festival will have other events including the ever popular Viking Village, Coninental Market, Craft Fair, Burning of the Longship and the Battle Re-enectment at the Pencil and othe music events.
The Oil Fund… Truth and Myth
The SNP has again brought up the issue of an Oil Fund, i.e. if the oil was solely Scotland’s to claim, and if we had decided to have an investment fund of all the oil revenues, how rich we would all be!!!
Very good. Except, given the level of public spending in Scotland over the last 30 years, in an independent Scotland, if we did not cut public investment, there would be nothing left over to invest in the Oil Fund. In 18 of the last 27 years, UK investment in Scotland exceeded the tax and potential oil income.
Even on the most generous assessment, there have only been nine years in the last 27 when Scotland`s finances were in surplus – and none since 1988.
North Sea oil production has been steadily decreasing for the last five years. The reality is that oil is a commodity finite in supply and volatile in price.
So an oil fund sounds like a good idea. But only if there is enough left over to actually invest…..and in most years..there isn’t.
A Referendum or Jobs: What do we want?
11th September 2009
I had this published in the Herald today;
“The most interesting thing about the two letters you publish today (10th September) on the matter of a referendum on independence is just that: there are only two of them, neither wildly in favour. Compare this to the issues like the release of Al Megrahi or even the introduction of badgers into the wild, where you publish numerous letters and there is a passionate debate, over days and weeks, in your letters column.
There is no clamour for a referendum. When questioned directly by pollsters a percentage of people might say that they are “in favour” of independence, but it is nowhere near their top priority. People want more jobs and better health care and education for their children. They want better roads and better policing and better housing.
To have a referendum campaign now, with all the attendant division and argument, when the focus of all politicians should be on coming together to fight the recession, is a distraction, a waste of resource and a misdirection of political energy. It shows that the SNP has got its priorities all wrong and out of kilter with the real needs and desires of the Scottish people. The SNP is playing political games while the economy struggles and Scots are losing their jobs. Scots are just not all that interested in a referendum on independence. They have other priorities, and it is these priorities that the SNP administration should be addressing instead of wasting their energy, and ours, on a futile party political exercise.”
Really. Who wants a referendum on independnce at this point? There truly is no clamour for it.
I don’t get calls from constituents asking for one. I do get calls about housing, and schools and dog dirt and street lighting and many other things. But never referendums.
A Long Time in a Funny Old World
It was ex-Prime Minister Harold Wilson who observed that “a week is a long time in politics”, and the last week provides a supreme example of that. First we had Gordon Brown travelling to New York to be a central figure in the UN and G20 gatherings and pick up his award as World Statesman Of The Year for his role in guiding the world community in avoiding the worst excesses of a global downturn and providing a platform for an early recovery from the recession, and to be a leading light in proposing a new economic strategy for the world community, only to have it reported as “Obama Snubs Gordon” in the British media. As the PM returns from New York he finds his party languishing in the polls and his own personal ratings in the doldrums.
Meanwhile, the Tories under David Cameron advocate policies the direct opposite of those used by the PM to solve the country’s and the world’s problems. If the Tories had been in power and followed their stated policies, the recession would have been much worse and the effects much longer lasting than they have been. Even so, the Tories stay ahead in the public regard.
In Scotland an SNP administration under the leadership of Alex Salmond has failed to deliver on any of its main manifesto priorities, the latest being an abject retreat on the promise to deliver class sizes of 18 in primaries one – three. The SNP’s lack of vision for Scotland is such that the two major projects designed to promote economic growth and raise Scotland’s profile around the world, the Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport links, are both abandoned and discarded without even consulting the cities concerned. But the SNP also rides high in the opinion polls.
So the politician who is admired and respected across the globe, and whose policies and diplomacy have been instrumental in staving off an economic catastrophe for his nation and the world, faces rejection from the public for his efforts, while other politicians, such as David Cameron whose policies are wrong-headed and destructive or, in the case of the Alex Salmond, not even delivered, are regarded by the public as a safer bet. As another ex-PM once memorably commented in a time of strife: “it’s a funny old world”.
SNP Relegates Largs Academy
11th October 2009
Why no New Largs Academy?
SNP Education Minister has just announced a school-building programme which ignores the needs of the North Coast Ward. Our MSP, Kenny Gibson stood on an election manifesto which promised to match “brick-for-brick” the previous Labour-led administration’s school building programme. But he clearly does not apply this promise to his own constituents. Between 2003 and 2007, the previous Labour-led Scottish Executive directly funded and built three new Primary and three new Secondary schools in North Ayrshire. The next logical phase was to build new Secondary Schools at Garnock, Ardrossan and Largs. Not now. The SNP has decreed that North Ayrshire is to get only one new Secondary school, and that is to be the replacement for Garnock Academy. Not only is the SNP not matching the previous programme “brick-for-brick”, or anything like it, the SNP is expecting the Council to pick up one-third of the bill for the single school it is kindly allowing us to build.
While no-one can grudge the people of the Garnock Valley the prospect of a new Secondary School for their children, it is a pity Mr Gibson and the SNP could not find the energy and the will to fulfil his promise and build a new Secondary school in Largs at the same time. Largs Academy is a good school, but the building is approaching the end of its useful life, and the need to replace it will soon become urgent: an urgency which neither Mr Gibson nor the SNP appears to share.
I challenge Kenny Gibson to go back to Holyrood and fight for his constituents. He should get us the money that he and his party promised to build our new schools, and he should at least make the effort to keep the pledge he made at the 2007 election. Almost three years into the SNP administration and the one accusation they cannot avoid is a complete lack of ambition for education in Scotland and, in Kenny Gibson’s case, a complete lack of ambition for the parents and pupils of Largs and the North Coast.
Dave’s plastered….
The Conservatives have started their election campaign early with a poster showing David Cameron and saying how much he cares about the NHS.
Unfortunately for them, it has attracted more comment for the perfect sheen and tone of the Dave’s skin. Pimples? Dave? No way! Moles? Blemishes?
He has literally no pores! Not one! No chin follicles! Nothing! Our Dave, he’s flawless he is.
The man with no skin blemishes, and no policies either….
And isn’t air-brushing the perfect metaphor for the Conservatives strategy.
We’re nice Tories, not those naughty Tories of recent experience. We love the NHS and everything nice.
That Maggie Thatcher, she was a one, but nothing to do with us….we’re smooth, dead smooth…
Just like Dave….
Largs Walk Given National Press
This appeared in the Scotsman on Sunday 17th Jan 2010.
http://living.scotsman.com/outdoors/Walk-of-the-week-Castle.5991414.jp
I can recommend the walk described, from Douglas Park up to the trig point, having taken it myself numerous times, and the views are stunning.
Largs Traffic Management Scheme … Delay
Panic over…
26th Jan 2010
It seems that Roads and Transport Scotland have reached an accommodation….. I have yet to see th details, but NAC roads engineers appear to be content that the plan can go ahead without major change.
24th Jan 2010
I have learnt in the last week that AMEY has requested changes to the Largs Traffic Management Scheme, to such an extent that, if the changes are consented to by NAC, the whole plan will have to go back to public consultation.
It seems incredible that changes of such magnitude should be required at such a late stage in the process – it had been planned to begin the actual work about now.
But AMEY seem to see health and safety and other problems with the plan, they see difficulties which no-one else has commented upon throughout the whole design and review process.
The matter is of course being taken up with Transport Scotland and AMEY, but it is most frustrating that a scheme which has been more than a decade in the making, and which has the support of the majority of the Largs public, should be hit with such an unforseen bombshell just as it was approaching implementation.
2010/11 Budget Successfully Passed
The NAC Budget for 2010/11 was accepted today at a special meeting of the Council.
Given that the revenue and capital budgets are in the first year of serious constraints, the Budget meeting today was a relatively uncontentious affair.
The meeting was at the end of a fairly detailed process, during which all councillors and political groups were given many opportunities to review and refine their views, and to have these views taken into account in the final budget presentation.
Of course, not everyone got all that they desired, even so it was very agreeable to get an almost 100% level of consensus at the formal budget meeting.
Next year promises to be more painful in terms of finances. Will it be as successful in terms of political cooperation.
Budget Outcomes
An increase in the number of teachers is usually a good thing, and some SNP councillors are celebrating the fact that the council allocated £300,000 towards 13 additional teachers. But...
... this money is being spent in an attempt to meet the SNP Administration's promise to reduce class sizes to 18 in some P1-3 classes. Let's face it, there is no evidence that reducing class sizes to 18 has any measurable educational benefit.
The £300,000, which is quite a lot in context, could and should have been spent on other services.
Primary School Transport and After School Care are already having to suffer. If this money is used for class size 18, it will have the effect of robbing these ther services of funds. And for no real reason: reducing class sizes in this way has no proven benefit for schools or pupils.
It's just an obsession of the SNP at Holyrood. They have failed in so many of their promises that they feel they have to at least try to deliver on this, regardless of the cost and regardless of the benefits.
The SNP have been trying to shift blame for not achieving their manifesto commitments onto local councils. The fact of the matter is that if the SNP wanted to achieve 100% of all P1-3 classes at 18 or below they could have changed the legislation, which currently sets the maximum size at 30, and directly funded local councils for the extra costs of the provision.
While most people think that lower classes is a good thing to do, when money is being diverted from local government it is a cost too far. The SNP have dropped their unaffordable election promises one by one, they need to be honest for once and come clean in admitting that they can't pay for referendums and other "badge kissing" exploits without taking the money from important public services.
An All-Elected House of Lords
13th March 2010
Braveheart is reporting that Labour is about to introduce a bill to have the House of Lords elected 100%.
Seems like a good idea to me….
Scottish Parliament Votes Against Coal Fired Station
The Scottish Parliament has voted against the proposed new coal-fired power station at Hunterstone.
The station, which will include carbon capture and storage technology has been sent to Holyrood for planning consent, but a majority of MSPs voted against the proposal today.
The planning application now goes to SNP ministers for approval.
Latest News…..
Anyone trying to access the “latest news” page will see that it is out of date..
I have had a problem getting the page to take updates….I will have to find another solution to putting latest news on the blog..
To top it all, I have lost a lot of data put into the system since January!!??
Working on it…watch this space….
Tory PPC Suspended From Party
Phillip Lardner has been suspended as Tory PPC because of homophobic remarks
This report on politicshome gives few details..
http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/8472/tory_ppc_suspended_for_homophobic_remarks.html
will keep an eye and update when more known…
Community Halls
The council has agreed to have a review of the provision of cummunity halls and related services. The review will be delivered in November, and it is feared that some hall closures will be recommended.
North Ayrshire Community Associations (NAFCA), has arranged a series of meetings to gather opinions on what could or should be done in the event that of proposals to close any of the halls. Ideas such as forming local committees to manage the halls have already been put forward.
On Tuesday 11th I attended a meeting which had been called by NAFCA in Fairlie Village Hall. There were also attendees from Skelmorlie. The meeting was unanimous that any cuts should be opposed. The problem for the meeting, and for me, is that the report has not been published, and no cuts have yet been suggested, so we don’t yet know what the position of the Fairlie or Skelmorlie Halls (or indeed the DA Hall or Largs CA Hall) might be, and if they will be proposed for closure.
The feeling of the meeting is that there should be a campaign to “save” the village hall, but at the moment, as there is no concrete proposal to close the hall, there is no real focus for any protest.
New Slipway Opened
Wednesday 12th.
The new slipway at Largs Marina was officially opened yesterday. A great new facility for the town and a tremendous addition to sports and tourism attractions for the whole of Scotland.
The first result will be the hosting of two World Championship events in June.
Fabulous for the town and for the area, and all done with the invaluable help of North Ayrshire Council.
Largs’ Big Weekend…
It’s a big weekend for Largs football. Today I will be at Rugby Park to see if Largs Thistle can emulate the team of 12 years ago and win the Scottish Junior Cup against the odds.
On Friday evening I was at Hampden Park, watching Largs Academy Under 18s win the Scottish Schools FA Senior Sheild, the oldest age-related footbal competition in the world.
The teams line up before the game at Hampden
Euan Lindsay and Ryan McMunn scored the goals in a 2-1 win over St Aiden’s of Wishaw, but there were no failures in the team.
It was an excellent game of football. Largs Academy, playing in red, were the better team, dominating then first half, with Euan Lindsay scoring in 20 minutes. St. Aiden’s came int o the game after half-time, but Ryan McMunn scored after 70 minutes. St. Aiden’s injury time score was no more than a consolation for the Wishaw team.
The Trophy - The 107 Year-Old Scottish Schools FA Senior Shield.
Now it’s up to the Thistle!
UPDATE
Unfortunately the Thistle lost 1 – 0 to Linlithgow Rose. The players gave a good account of themselves, but succumbed to a wonder goal midway through the second half.
The fans arrive for the big game
Kick off
The Massive Big Gala
05th June
On Saturday I attended the Massive Big Gala which was conducted again this year at St Mary’s schools and sports ground.
The weather was fabulous, the shows were great, the turnout was terrific and everyone had a great time.
Depute Provost Ian Clarkson formally opened the gala. Heartfelt thanks are due to the gala committee and especially Louise Mccarron who put in a tremendous effort to make sue the whole thing was a success.
Largs Academy Footballers Done Good….
18th June 2010
To Cunninghame House for a well deserved Civic Reception for the Largs Academy under 18s team that won the Scottish Football Association Shield.
The Shield is the oldest schools or age-related football competition in the world, and winning it was a great achievement for the players, the team and the school.
Depute Provost Ian Clarkson gave a welcoming speech and I was privileged to present each of the members of the team with an Achievement Award, after which we had a buffet lunch and along and enjoyable chat with all those involved.
25th June 2010
I attended the school prize-giving at Skelmorlie Primary School.
It is a great wee schools and it was refreshing to be reminded of the enthusiasm and innocence of kids, as the threw themselves into the proceedings with great gusto.
A credit to the school and to the parents.
Largs Thistle Civic Reception
26th June 2010
Largs Thistle annual awards do was held at the Seamill Hydro. At my request, it was also treated as a NAC Civic Reception, with Depute Provost Ian Clarkson attending and giving out the Awards.
It was a beautiful night and a beautiful setting. I attended for the first part of the ceremonies, having other family commitments on the evening.
From the Guardian archive 30 Jan 1957
The Guardian on this date in 1957 reported on the start of a public inquiry in Largs into proposals for a nuclear power station: the station that would become Hunterson A.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2012/jan/30/nuclear-power-station-1957?newsfeed=true
It seems inconguous to modern eyes that there were only 33 objectors, and a petition with 200 signatures speaking against the plant.
The main objections were the loss of agricultural land, the loss of amenity and the risks nuclear radiationa (apparently scientific opinion was that thee would be no danger of radiation).
No Nuclear Dumping at Hunterston
I have created a petition to oppose the possibility of alll Intermediate Level Nuclear Waste (ILW) created in Scotland being stored at Hunterston.
Please look here and, if you agree, Sign:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no-nuclear-dumping-at-hunterston/signatures
No Nuclear Dumping at Hunterston
I have created a petition to oppose the possibility of all of the Intermediate Level Nuclear Waste (ILW) in Scotland being stored at Hunterston, contrary to previous assurances.
Please look, and if you agree, sign here;
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no-nuclear-dumping-at-hunterston/signatures/page/2
Largs Labour Party on TV….
On Wednesday we had a visit from an STV team to record some opinions for their “Politics Now” programme, which went out last night.
Here is a link to the section of the show that features Largs…
Nice pictures of Largs and some of our local members…
