Ayrshire Post Troon - 2022-03-09

£1.70 09.03.2022 facebook.com/liveayrshire @ayrshire_live WE STAND WITh hospice UKRAINE MISSION Of SUppORT: pageS 2&3 pUBlICAN’S ElECTION BID pagE 5 I’ll save Ayr from ‘council cabal’ sponsored by Est. 1880 MANAGEMENT ROCKED BY CRISIS hospice chief EXCLUsIVE stUaRt WILsON The Ayrshire Hospice has been rocked this week with its under-fire chief executive facing the axe. Boss Carla MacEwan, who earns around faces £80,000 per year, is set to be shown the door just 18 months into the role after mounting concerns over her leadership from within the organisation. One senior insider told the Post: “This has been a decision taken to safeguard the future of the Hospice.” ● fULL stORy: page 7 the axe Board takes tough decision after complaints from fed-up staff get your votes in! Bonus 200 tokens inside Under fire Carla Macewan, chief executive of the ayrshire Hospice pagE 16 AYR CUMNOCK KILMARNOCK WWW.123abcuk.co.uk

2 09.03.2022 www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Cont@cts Editor ■■Gary Fanning 01292 294463 Sports Editor ■■Stuart Wilson 01292 294468 sport@ayrshirepost.co.uk News Team ■■Paul Behan 07770541391 paul.behan@reachplc.com ■■Abi Smillie 07769883904 abi.smillie@reachplc.com ■■Ryan Thom 07918290990 ryan.thom@reachplc.com Advertising manager ■■Lyndsey McLarney 07810 654482 lyndsey.mclarney@reachplc.com From tree to print We are proud to bring you full chain of custody status with PEFC certification. Reach Scotland Ltd One Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 8DA This is YOUR paper.. It’s easy to get your news and pictures into print Email us news@ayrshire post.co.uk Telephone 01292 262200 Social media Follow us on Twitter @ayrshire_live If we have published anything that is factually inaccurate, please contact the editor on 01292 262200, at news@ ayrshirepost.co.uk or at Reach Scotland Ltd, One Central Quay, Glasgow , G3 8DA , and, once verified, we will correct it as soon as possible. The Ayrshire Post is published by Media Scotland, a subsidiary company of Reach PLC, which is a member of IPSO , the Independent Press Standards Organisation. We adhere to the Editors’ Code Of Practice as enforced by IPSO, who are contactable for advice at IPSO, Gate House ,1 Farringdon Street, London EC4M 7LG. Website www.ipso.co.uk, telephone: 0300 123 2220 email advice@ipso.co.uk If you have a complaint concerning a potential breach of the Code of Practice, we will deal with your complaint directly or IPSO can refer your complaint to us. Please go to www.reachplc.com/ howtocomplain where you can view our Complaints Policy and Procedure. A ‘How To Complain’ pack is also available by writing to the Legal and Compliance Department, Trinity Mirror PLC, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP. Generous Owners Dominika Tabor and Dorota Wrycza Shop collects donations RyAn ThOM A Polish shop in Ayr has been overwhelmed by the kind support for Ukraine after they received hundreds of donations for refugees. Two Dumplings sent out an SOS for the hundreds of thousands of people who are fleeing war, with many escaping across the border into Poland. The newmarket Street shop received bags full of essentials from kind-hearted residents who dug deep to support the business’ aim to provide a lifeline for Ukrainian women and children left with nothing. Shop co-owners Dorota Wrycza, 38, and Dominika Tabor, 27, both hope the donations will make a difference. Dorota said: “We can’t thank everyone enough, people are very kind here. We did not expect so many donations. They just kept coming from our regular customers and people we’ve never seen before. “We are happy to help because as everyone knows Ukraine is in such a bad situation. It is our neighbour and as Polish people we have felt the pain of invasion during the Second World War. “We want to keep helping in any way we can.” As their home country supports refugees, Two Dumplings is helping neighbouring business Olga’s Alterations owned by Ukrainian mum Olga Stewart (Milchenko). Dorota was moved by hearing of the struggles that Olga’s family are going through as they fear for their lives in cities across Ukraine, cowering from relentless Russian bombardment. Donations were packed up, transferred to a hub at Sandyford warehouse and ultimately contributed to three lorries full of essentials which were sent to Poland. Support Ayr Amnesty Group have a campaign stand in A message of peace RyAn ThOM A peace group who stood with Ukraine have hailed the public’s response. Ayr Amnesty arranged a stand as they sent out a powerful message to “stop all wars” at a stall in the town’s high Street on Saturday, March 5. The group who come from all over Ayrshire stood with the people of Ukraine who are fleeing carnage. A collection was arranged in support of Olga’s Alterations on newmarket Street with the shop’s owner Olga Stewart (Milchenko). In total the group coined in £160 in cash as the group stood with Olga with the funds set to help Ukrainians on the frontline of war. Marion McPherson from Ayr, Andy McCullum and his son hugh McCullum from Saltcoats, were joined by Alec Oattes from Girvan and Arthur West from Kilmarnock to show their support. Marion, who has been with Amnesty for more than 35 years, said: “Olga was very grateful for all the support.” RyAn ThOM An emotional Ayr shop owner has told how her family were fearing for their lives while hiding in an underground bunker in Ukraine. Olga Stewart (Milchenko) has been crying and praying for her parents, sister and brotherin-law and their five-year-old daughter, who narrowly escaped an undetonated bomb last Wednesday. Thankfully the family who were cowering in fear from Russian attacks have now escaped to the border city of Leviv, as Olga hopes she can obtain a visa for them to take refuge in Ayrshire. The owner of Olga’s Alterations in Newmarket Street, originally from the city of Sumy in Ukraine, says her family were too afraid to go outside as an onslaught of explosions shook the ground above their tiny shelter near the capital Kyiv. Anxious Olga, 51, said: “I cry every day, my family have no escape, they are stuck in Ukraine. There is no way out for them. “I have spoken to them every morning, my mum and sister, they can’t move at all. They can’t even go outside, it’s not safe enough. “There is no internet connection, so I have to phone every day. “My sister is so scared, she feared she and her family will be found and killed. “They had bombs going off near them, the ground shook all the time and they were constantly panicking.” Olga’s sister Lyudmila, 46, and brother-in-law, Krill, 42, and their daughter Margo, 5, were trapped in a freezing underground shelter that is close by to their home in Kyiv which they had to flee last week as war broke out. Their son Vlad, 28, is living in an underground car park in the capital city being rocked by the Russian siege. A relieved Olga was finally told the news she had hoped for on Sunday as her sister and her family managed the brutal 400 mile journey to the edge of safety - with Poland their next destination. Olga said: “It is a miracle they got there. “They had to drive through water at one point because the bridge was not safe, they drove across fields to escape the dangerous roads. “They had no choice, it was drive off roads or die on the road. “My sister could not stop crying when I spoke to her, I hope they can now get across the border and come here.” Meanwhile Olga’s mum Maria, 73, had to dive into her bath to take cover amidst intense gunfire and shelling, while her dad Edward, 74, is hiding in a cellar in Sumy close to the Russian border. Olga has revealed the horrific conditions her sister and their young family are stuck in. The petrified parents are trying to keep their child safe in an underground basement that is only 1.5 metres high and is too small for anyone to stand up, with temperatures plummeting to -7 degrees. The tight space is starved of oxygen with one door being opened carefully at different points to let air in. Mum-of-two Olga said: “It is just a terrible situation, they are so scared. “My sister is stuck underground with her five-yearold child. “They used to stay in Kyiv but they had to run away when the war started. “And they were offered shelter Overwhelmed Olga Stewart receives public donations for Ukraine at her Alteration’s shop in Ayr’s Newmarket Street by people who were helping.” Olga has told how she and her son Taras Milchenko tried to get her sister, niece and nephew out of the country as war loomed but were agonisingly two days late. Olga said: “I sent an invitation before the war to come here and be safe but now it’s too late. “Before you could drive to the border of Poland but now it is not safe. “I just hope and pray this ends and they get out safe.” Taras, 33, now lives in Kent but is in daily contact with his mum in Ayr and family stranded in the conflict. Sumy-born Taras, who left Ayr in 2009 to live in Kent, is worried for his dad, Eugine, 57, who is also cowering for his life in an underground bunker. Eugene has mobility issues

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 3 My distraught family were left fleeing for their lives as terror rained down and had it not been for the help of childhood friends of Taras he could have starved. Taras said: “All of our family out there are in immediate danger. “There is a lot of resistance from Ukraine, so the Russians are just shelling both Ukrainian military and civilians. “Every hour or two, there is an air raid warning and people have to rush to the nearest shelter. “My gran has had to stay at home as she has not been able to get into the bunker in time, she is in her 70s and the nearest one is too far away. “Instead she hides in the bath when the alarms go off. “My dad has mobility issues, and he cannot walk or carry a lot of things. “When the war started he was left with very little food. Taras added: “I have cried for a long time hoping that they will be left behind the frontline and it will move on somewhere else but that hasn’t happened. “I am praying they at least get a break and they can come out and enjoy the fresh spring air. “My thoughts and prayers are with them all.” Olga, who has lived in Ayr for 14 years and had her shop for 12, has praised the support of the community after she has received flowers and gifts from kind customers. She added: “I cry at every customer who comes in to offer their support. “They have been great, asking me if I need anything. Some people leave money, flowers and chocolates.” Trapped Olga’s brother-in-law Krill, niece Margo and sister Lyudmila Underground Taras’ dad Eugene in Sumy bunker Despair Olga is desperate to get her mum and dad home from her home city in Ukraine ‘I just want to see my parents again... it’s hell’ Ryan Thom a Troon mum from Ukraine says she is going through hell as her parents are trapped in a city under siege. olga (Drover) Grechukha has watched on in horror as her hometown of mariupol was battered by waves of Russian attacks. her mum and dad, now separated, are living in fear as they cower in their homes away from the carnage unfolding in the streets of the port city which has been completely surrounded by Russian troops. olga has told how she frantically tries to make contact with her parents but airstrikes have shattered all communication lines with no electricity and no power available in the stricken city. The 39-year-old, who is studying to become a nurse, is desperate to see mum olga, 64, a hairdresser, and dad yuri, 63, who worked in the port of ayrshire. But now she prays every day that they will be granted a safe route out. mum-of-two olga told the Post : “I am going through hell. “The day I see my parents again is going to be the happiest day of my life. “It is like going through a bereavement. “I have never had my immediate family die – I hope everyone will be safe. “I hear on the news what area has been shelled. I am looking at maps all the time trying to work things out, I just want to be able to hear their voice. “It is very painful to see my country being destroyed. “I have kind of got used to the fact we are being demoralised. I am watching it on TV all the time. “I hope Ukrainian people are standing strong, I want to make sure they heal from the trauma and bring some joy to their lives.” olga’s contact with her parents has been so limited she has had to rely on friends to report back that they are safe with the city in chaos. olga said: “I have no contact with them- they don’t have electricity so they can’t charge their phone. “my mum has to turn her phone off to save the battery. “They don’t have electricity in the house for heating. “I am not sure if they are able to cook for themselves. “I have contact with one friend – she was able to use her mobile internet. “The situation is dire, there are little places with private housing which were shelled, lots of people came to the city to find shelter. “Lots of old people, kids, children and their mums are homeless and have nowhere to go - some women are pregnant. “a lot of people have died – I can’t imagine what the hospitals will be like.” olga lived in mariupol till she was 18 and moved to Troon in 2010 where she now lives with her husband Kenton Drover, 39, and their two boys aged three and seven. She now hopes she can bring over her mum and dad but her parents are determined not to leave. olga added: “It is really difficult. “I am a bit emotionally more unstable, probably more so than my parents. “my parents grew up during the Soviet Union - they are resilient and want to stay. “I was begging my mum to move and she doesn’t want to, but the town is also blocked and there is no possible way she could leave. “Every time she speaks to me she doesn’t tell me any details, she is trying to protect me. She is a very tough woman.”

4 09.03.2022 www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 7000 new jobs over the next decade, says Growth Deal bosses The Ayrshire Growth Deal is on track to create 7000 new jobs for the region over the next decade, say those at the helm of the project. It comes as the first annual report on the Deal insisted “better times are ahead”. Targeted investment of £250 million is currently being plunged into the region in a bid to drive prosperity and new employment. It is expected that further private investment of at least £300 million will help lead to the avalanche of new jobs in years to come. A number of key early achievements have been highlighted in the report, including the opening of the enterprise and innovation Hub at the HALO Kilmarnock, set for this Spring. A £3 million Community Wealth Building has moved into delivery, along with a £5 million ‘Working for a Healthy Economy’ project. The spaceport project at Prestwick Airport, which has seen a launch deal signed with Astraius, is now entering the licensing process. Elsewhere, a Memorandum of Understanding has been penned by North Ayrshire Council, Peel Ports and Scottish Enterprise. It will drive forward the short, medium and long-term plans for a key part of the Hunterston PARC site. A number of new business cases are also expected to be approved in the coming months. South Ayrshire Council leader Peter Henderson chairs the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee said: “The last year has been an extremely successful one and a lot of things have been put in place that will provide a platform for us to bring projects to fruition over the coming years. Perhaps the biggest positive in our first year since the Deal was confirmed is the number of partnerships with industry and academia that have been established. “Having that level of expertise and skill is a massive asset and will ensure we are in a really strong position over the coming years. “We are delighted to publish our first Annual Report and look forward to providing further updates over the coming months. As it says in the report, we are extremely confident that better times lie ahead for citizens, businesses and our communities across Ayrshire.” Scottish Government Economy Secretary, Kate Forbes, added: “I welcome progress since the Scottish Government invested £103 million in the Ayrshire Growth Deal to develop projects which create sustainable jobs and boost prosperity in communities across the region. “We are pleased to be contributing to the development of aerospace and tourism projects, amongst others, that build on the strengths of Ayrshire’s economy. “The Scottish Government will also provide up to £3 million for a Community Wealth Building project to ensure local people and businesses benefit from public investment. “Projects like these are helping create high value jobs and developing skills needed by current and future industries to underpin inclusive regional economic growth.” UK Government Minister for Scotland, Iain Stewart, said: “The Ayrshire Growth Deal will bring prosperity to communities across the region and 2022 will see more of its exciting projects beginning to deliver. “Ayrshire has many strengths and is packed with potential; the UK Government is investing £103m in the Growth Deal plus a further £27m for levelling-up projects in the region to help unleash this. “The Deal has a number of priorities, these are: Aerospace and Space, Economic Infrastructure, Tourism and Energy, Circular Economy and Environment.” Cheque this Voluntary Action South Ayrshire present a whopping £340,000 to community groups 31 community groups share of £340,000 cash bonanza Stuart Wilson Thirty-one community groups from across South Ayrshire have landed a share of a £340,000 funding pot. The successful applicants for the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund were announced last week at a celebration event in Ayr’s Horizon Hotel. The fund from the Scottish Government aims to help local projects address the impact of distress and mental ill health caused by social isolation and loneliness. South Ayrshire was allocated £340,656 and Voluntary Action South Ayrshire (VASA) were entrusted to distribute the cash locally. Marie Oliver, VASA’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “The projects that all these groups have set out in their funding bids will make a real difference to the lives of so many people in their local communities.” After weeks of deliberation, a decision panel made up of representatives from the voluntary sector, South Ayrshire Council, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, the Health and Social Care Partnership, as well as people with experience of living with mental health issues, selected 31 organisations to receive a grant. The money will fund a wide range of different initiatives in towns and villages throughout South Ayrshire, including bereavement support, craft sessions, complementary therapies, the creation of new community spaces, a remembrance garden, music therapy, accessible yoga, a lunch club, community gardening and a new meeting centre for people with dementia and their families. The successful organisations are: Annbank Parish Church, Ayr Gaiety Partnership, Ayr United Football Academy, Broken Chains, Carrick Rugby Football Club, Clean Up Tarbolton Woods Campaign, Colmonell Community Association, Coylton Community Association, CRAG Community Arts, Dailly Community Activity Centre, Dailly Community Hall Association, Dementia Friendly Prestwick, Girvan and District Men’s Shed, Girvan Community Garden, Glendoune Community Association, Community Wellbeing Hub CIC, Maidens Community Association, MindfullyPresent Ayr CIC, Vics in the Community, HOPE Wellbeing Centre, Kirkmichael Village Renaissance (KVR), L&M Well Being Consultancy CIC, LEAP Sports, Lochside Neighbourhood Group, New Life Trust, North Ayr TheGither!, Scottish Huntingtons Association, S.I.S.G Enterprises Ltd, Symington Community Council, The Iris Arts Ayr CIC and Yogable. Electric Bakery on the market Business owners call it a day ROSS DUNN An iconic Ayrshire bakery with almost 100 years of history has been put on the market. The Electric Bakery is up for sale with offers of over £500,000 being sought for the retail and wholesale business. The fourth generation business was established by the Murray family in 1929 with the current owners looking to retire. The half-a-million-pound price tag gets the buyer the “well known and established” Electric Bakery brand name, which is well established throughout Ayrshire. Two shops in Ayr and a store in Prestwick form part of the sale along with the commercial bakery unit in Prestwick. Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has been tasked with selling the business, which sees its business split 45 per cent retail and 55 per cent wholesale with the latter “increasing year upon year”. Shops trade six days a week with the business employing a mix of 31 full and part-time workers. Shepherd Chartered Surveyors states: “The Electric Bakery is a fourth generation business established by the Murray family in 1929. “The current owners are looking to retire and have therefore decided to place the business on the market. “The sale will include the trading name of The Electric Bakery which is a well known and established brand throughout the three Ayrshire counties. “The business operates from three retail units together with a large wholesale business with the current split being 45 per cent retail and 55 per cent wholesale with the wholesale proportion of the overall business increasing year upon year. “The bakery itself is a modern well equipped facility with all equipment owned outright as are the four delivery vans. “The shops are all in prominent retail locations and they currently trade six days per week.The staff compliment is 31 being a mixture of full and part time. “The business is located within the towns of Ayr and Prestwick having two shops in the former and the bakery and a third retail outlet in the latter although the business custom base stretches to the full extent of the three Ayrshire counties and beyond.”

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 5 Crowbar crooks steal cash and van post man aims to deliver for ayr i can’t stand by any longer and watch as targeted Crown paints in Callander Road, ayr RYAN THOM town is decimated Brazen crooks armed with crowbars stole cash and a van in a daring raid on an Ayr paint shop. Crown Paints on Callander Road in Heathfield’s industrial estate was targeted in a night raid last month. It is understood that the culprits also targeted a dessert shop, which is now closed, in nearby Boundary Road. Both incidents occurred on Friday, February 11, at about 10pm. It is understood more than one suspect was involved with the thieves said to have used the paint van as a getaway vehicle. Gavin Store, manager of Crown Paints, Ayr, told the Post: “It’s in the hands of the police. The van was stolen along with a sum of money from the store. They got into the store using crowbars. “Luckily, the van had nothing in it but they used it for a getaway vehicle.” Gavin was unable to disclose how much cash had been taken from the store but added: “We are okay, we’ve got other vans in the network that we were able to use. “It’s not nice for it to happen, but, thankfully. nobody was hurt.” Detectives investigating the housebreakings say their probe has revealed a number of vehicles were driving along Boundary Road at the time. A police spokesman appealed for witnesses to come forward. He said: “Commercial premises on Callander Road and Boundary Road, Ayr, were broken into and a works van along with a quantity of cash was stolen. “Enquiries are ongoing to identify the perpetrators. “So far, our enquiries indicate a number of vehicles were travelling on Boundary Road at this time and we are appealing to the drivers for their assistance to check any Dash Cam footage they may have that could assist with this enquiry. “Anyone with information should contact 101 quoting incident number SP- 20220212-0910 and request information be passed to detective sergeant Craig Gilmour, South Ayrshire CID.” EXCLUSIVE STUART WILSON He’s spent years fighting them from the outside. Now Bob Shields is ready to take his battle inside South Ayrshire Council’s corridors of power. The Post columnist is to make a stunning bid for election on May 5 in a move that could shake up the power base of County Buildings. Bob, who will stand on an independent ticket in Ayr West, is promising to fight for “every forgotten voice” he says has been left behind by an “out of touch” bOb’S ELECTION MANIfESTO page 17 Columnist vows to fight ‘council cabal’ administration. And the journalist of 50 years’ experience is ready to get back to basics in holding colleagues and officers to account if he’s returned to power. Bob said: “I joined the Ayrshire Post when I was 17 and remember covering the likes of Maybole and Prestwick Town Councils. “Back then, councillors fought for their wards – that’s when council meetings WERE council meetings. “Councillors got up, said their piece and you were never sure how it would go. Everyone fought for their own wee area. “You got impassioned speeches, fist banging and proper local politics. “That’s all gone now and everything these days is just a cabal.” The 66-year-old, whose storied career in journalism took him around the world, insists his desire to make a difference has been brought into focus by what he sees as “broken promises” at local level. He added: “What really disappointed me was when Allan Dorans (former councillor and now MP) invited me to the SNP manifesto launch and I bought into what they said. “It was all about consultation, accountability and no more party politics. “I thought ... this is what I want to hear. And I voted for them on the basis of it. “But where did that all go? We’re more party political now than ever and they’ve done the exact opposite of what they said they would do.” Bob chews the fat on a daily basis with punters in his Twa Dugs pub in the centre of Ayr, looking on to the Station Hotel, among vote catcher Bob has vowed to save the town he loves from decimation other sites for sore eyes. He said: “Say what you want about the building – it has become a political barometer of this council. “Children will start primary school this summer who don’t know what’s underneath that scaffolding. “That should be a source of real shame for this town.” Bob insists that after a steady stream of encouragement from readers and customers, he has decided now is the time to try and make a difference from the inside. He said: “I can’t stand by any longer. Ayr is at the point of no return and another five years of this council will decimate the town. “They already have decimated it. “Take a walk from the £1 church and go by the High Flats they’re about to demolish...to the Station Hotel they don’t know what to do with and head back round to the Arran Mall they’re about to put a £40m leisure centre on that nobody wants. “I jump in taxis every day and all I hear is an onslaught of criticism about the council. “Yet the people in power seem to be of the opinion that it’s all made up by Bob Shields and the Ayrshire Post. “They are kidding themselves on and out in the real world we all know that. “The evidence is before your eyes, never mind the damning reports from the Account Commission.” Bob insisted: “I’m not there to be liked. I might be out-voted but I’ll never be out-shouted. “I’d keep the Citadel and the High Flats and I’d look to save the Station Hotel in some way if the money is there to find a solution and make it work. “The point is we have to start looking at all the avenues in every project around the town. “When people go to vote on May 5, I want them to look not at the party beside the name but who will actually stand up for their neighbourhood, Ayr and South Ayrshire. “If you asked most people on the street to name their local councillor, they probably couldn’t tell you. “I’d like to think I can change that in Ayr West.” Bob added: “I was brought up in a Labour party environment, voted SNP at the last election and would like to think I’m for the working man. “And believe it or not, I’m also for independence. “But as an independent councillor I would be there to represent every forgotten voice – and believe me there have been far too many. “I’m not there to make friends, I’m there to speak for those who will hopefully vote for me.” Kids starting school this year don’t know what’s under scaffolding at Station Hotel ... it’s source of real shame

6 09.03.2022 www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 14 new affordable homes on the way Ground-breaking ceremony Councillor Jacqui Todd and Douglas Reid with ward cllrs John Bell, Elaine Dinwoodie and Drew Filson with Head of Housing Bob McCulloch and John Baggely from CCG A new housing development in Drongan is expected to be completed by the summer. The development, which is being built by East Ayrshire Council’s strategic partner CCG (Scotland) Ltd, will include 14 new homes and be suitable for general and community care needs on Mill O’Shield Road and Hannahston Avenue. It consists of four two-bed homes, one two-bed bungalow for older and ambulant disabled people, one two-bed wheelchair accessible bungalow, seven three-bed homes and one four-bed home. Cumnock and New Cumnock councillor Jacqui Todd, cabinet spokeswoman for housing, performed the official groundbreaking ceremony. Councillor Todd was joined on the site by council leader Douglas Reid and ward councillors John Bell, Elaine Dinwoodie and Drew Filson. Councillor Todd said: “Drongan is an area where we have high demand for affordable housing. “The new homes will help to regenerate the local area while providing a range of homes that are accessible, attractive and energy efficient and meet the varying needs of our communities.” CCG director John Baggley added: “Mill O’ Shield Road is the latest example of how East Ayrshire Council and CCG are transforming communities across the regional area with high-quality, highly energy-efficient affordable homes. “Construction is well underway and on track to welcome residents later this summer.” The project is being developed with funding from the Scottish Government and is part of their target to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032. Here for you, here for charities Since 2005 Free Wills Month has been here to help. If you’re 55 or over, have a simple Will written or updated for free. Think about family and friends. Then, do something special and include charities. Please quote Free Wills Month when you call a solicitor. Second charity object to Lidl plans freewillsmonth.co.uk EASTONS PRIVATE CLIENT SOLICITORS Stuart Easton 0141 5331976 The Pentagon Centre Washington Street Glasgow G3 8AZ or 01505 800413 2 Canal Street Elderslie PA5 9AU MCLENNAN ADAM DAVIS Stephen Agnew 01292 289584 13 Alloway Place Ayr KA7 2AA D & J DUNLOP John Hay 01292 264091 2 Barns Street Ayr KA7 1XD The Free Wills Month charities are paying for a limited number of simple Wills. If your Will is complex, you can pay the solicitor for extra advice. There is no obligation to include a gift to any of the charities. The campaign is intended for those aged 55 and over. Free Wills Month is organised by Capacity Marketing for Charities, who is also acting as the agent for the Free Wills Month charities. For further information, and to view Capacity’s privacy policy, visit www.freewillsmonth.co.uk. AYP090322 Paul Behan A second charity has lodged an objection to Lidl’s proposed plans to build a new supermarket in Troon’s Academy Street. Oxfam’s regional estate surveyor Peter Cole claimed the plans by the German supermarket giant would effectively end his charity’s 17- year association with the town. Oxfam has a unit in Academy Street which will be impacted by the Lidl proposals should planning permission be given. Mr Cole warned that if the plan goes ahead, Oxfam will be “forced out” of town. In a letter of objection, Mr Cole said: “The Oxfam shop forms an intrinsic part of the retail provision in Troon and adds to the eclectic mix which benefits residents and attracts visitors. “An approval of the application would see Oxfam forced out of the shop with no alternative premises of a comparable size and location currently available in Troon. The loss of income would directly affect Oxfam’s programme work and our ability to provide aid and disaster relief to some of the poorest communities in the world.” Last month, the Post reported that Carla MacEwan, the CEO at Ayrshire Hospice, penned a letter of objection. Her organisation has a charity shop within the Academy Street precinct that is also under threat. Lidl have submitted an updated planning application where they seek permission to build two retail units with associated access, parking and landscaping. One significant change to the updated planning application proposes that the Boots Pharmacy in Academy Street moves out of its current base and a new one is built next to Costa Coffee. Costa Coffee remains unaffected. Other concerns from those opposed to the plan include the loss of parking availability, increased traffic and question marks over access to private residential gardens. Resident Judith Leggate said: “There is already too much traffic in the town centre and this would only attract more. I am not convinced the town needs another supermarket.” Ali Davidson added: “Parking is already difficult in this part of Troon. This would significantly reduce available parking forcing visitors to park on nearby streets. If Lidl are able to restrict parking for their customers only, I believe this would cause chaos.” Linda Rae backs the new store and said: “I believe this development is necessary and long overdue because there is only one superstore in Troon.” Gerry McGonigle added: “The jobs it brings to the town will be significant and are very welcome. Parking should not be an issue as all on road parking within Troon is already free.” Lidl are staying tight-lipped over the proposals that are “pending consideration” according to the council’s online planning portal.

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 7 Women reclaim the streets of Ayr Hundreds of women marched through the streets of Ayr yesterday (Tuesday) in a bid to end violence against women and children. The ‘Reclaim the Night’ rally, organised by the South Ayrshire Violence Against Women Partnership, started at Ayr Academy and travelled through the town centre . The march was previously postponed back in December due to bad weather and took place on International Women’s Day. Ayr MSP Siobhian Brown, who attended the memorial to murdered Sarah Everard at the Scottish Parliament last Thursday,said: “When women are being told not to go out alone it’s time to say enough is enough. “Women should be able to walk the street at night without the fear of facing violence. I know women, including myself, who refuse to listen to music at night, who carry their keys in their hands as protection and who wear personal alarms. This must end.” £80,000 hospice chief Carla faces the axe Under fre Carla MacEwan’s leadership of the Hospice has been a source of growing concern from within Board’s concern over leadership EXCLUSIVE STUART WILSON The chief executive of the Ayrshire Hospice is set to be axed, the Post can exclusively reveal. Carla MacEwan is being shown the door just 18 months into the role after mounting concerns over her leadership from within the organisation. The Post has learned how a growing number of staff have taken issues over Ms MacEwan to the Hospice Board, forcing them to act. Now concerned bosses have decided to call time on their CEO, who earns around £80,000-a-year. A senior insider told the Post this week: “This has been a decision taken to safeguard the future of the Hospice. “Patient care has never once been compromised, but the growing issues around the CEO’s performance and style of leadership have become a clear problem that can no longer be ignored.” And the hospice insider added: “No single issue has brought this to a head; rather an accumulation of concerns that have built up over a period of time and made it clear that action now had to be taken.” Another source pointed to “multiple complaints” brought to the table, adding: “At least 10 senior members of staff have left the organisation during Carla’s short time in charge. “This was an issue building over time and the Board have acted in the interests of the Hospice.” Ms MacEwan, who was appointed in October 2020, has recently been spearheading the launch of the £13 million project to rebuild the Hospice base at Racecourse Road in Ayr. Services have been decanted to Cumnock’s East Ayrshire Community Hospital ahead of the ambitious rebuild, which will “futureproof” the organisation. But it will now be an interim team that leads the Hospice, which employs around 150 people, with more than 500 volunteers helping to ensure care across the region. It’s understood members of the Hospice’s Executive Leadership Team are currently filling the breach. The position of CEO had been vacant for more than a year before Ms MacEwan was recruited to replace previous incumbent Mandy Yule. But with construction set to begin on the new-look Hospice in a matter of months, bosses will know they need to move quickly this time to find a new figurehead. When asked about Ms MacEwan facing the axe, John Corrigan, chairman of the Ayrshire Hospice Board, told the Post: “The Ayrshire Hospice does not comment on internal personnel matters. “I’m sure what is more important to the people of Ayrshire and Arran is that patient care continues to be our prime focus.” And he pointed out: “Following the successful decant of our In-patient Unit and services to East Ayrshire Community Hospital in Cumnock, we are continuing to provide exceptional palliative and end of life care that the communities across Ayrshire and Arran deserve.” The Post attempted to contact Ms MacEwan for comment but she didn’t respond as we reached our deadline. GP receptionists are trained to guide you to the best care. Your local general practice has many expert healthcare professionals and services that can help you, from a GP or nurse to mental health support or a community pharmacist. By taking the time to answer a few simple and confidential questions, your receptionist can guide you to the best care that’s right for you. To find out more visit NHSinform.scot/GP

8 09.03.2022 155 A&E patients waited 12 hours A total of 155 patients who attended an Ayrshire and Arran A&E waited more than 12 hours for treatment, new figures show. And another 231 were forced to endure waiting times of more than eight hours to be either admitted, transferred or discharged. The figures come from Public Health Scotland and cover a week-long period ending on Sunday, February 6. Only 71 per cent of those who attended an A&E in the region were dealt with within the four-hour standard- falling way short of the Scottish Government’s 95 per cent target. South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth said the figures were “very concerning.” He added: “Many of the problems facing our NHS, including a lack of frontline staff, were there long before Covid. They have simply been exposed by the pandemic. The Scottish Government’s lack of action in the face of this crisis has been nothing short of a dereliction of duty. This is unacceptable – action is needed now including better resourcing A&E departments to stop lives being lost.” Elena Whitham, SNP MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley said: ““The figure we are currently seeing across Ayrshire is that just over seven in 10 people are being seen within four hours target which is not where we want to be. I welcome the additional £10 million of funding that has been allocated to health boards, this is on top of the £300 million package of funding already announced as part of the Winter Plan to support the NHS.” A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “A&E waits continue to show a marked improvement on the situation from the turn of the year. “Our NHS staff have worked incredibly hard during the pandemic and they have our thanks for the care they continue to provide the people of Scotland.“ www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Couple’s 60 years of wedding biss East Ayrshire Provost, Barry Douglas and ward councillor Drew Filson, visited Dalmellington couple Colin and Margaret Bunyan to congratulate them on 60 years of marriage. The couple was presented with a basket of flowers on behalf of East Ayrshire Council. And Deputy Lieutenant Lady Marguerite Hunter Blair presented the couple with a telegram from the Queen. Pictured above from left to right are Councillor Drew Filson, Provost Barry Douglas, Margaret and Colin Bunyan and Deputy Lieutenant Lady Marguerite Hunter Blair. 11,000 wait on cancer treatment Paul Behan a great deal more to keep talented doctors, nurses and support staff within the NHS.” Brian Whittle MSP, who is a Conservative politician for the South Scotland region, is also challenging the Scottish Government to get its act together, as it emerged that well over half a million people across Scotland are currently on an NHS waiting list. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Patients continue to be seen based on their clinical urgency, for example, those referred with an urgent suspicion of cancer continue to be prioritised for key diagnostic tests. “To specifically support scope based diagnostics we have published an Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal plan backed by £70 million. The plan focuses on key areas such as: Balancing Demand and Capacity; Workforce Training and Development, Infrastructure and Innovation and Redesign. We have also invested £9 million this year to support diagnostic imaging capacity with six mobile MRI scanners and four CT scanners across NHS Scotland. Priorities in 2022/23 include an increase in mobile scanners to provide additional capacity, designing and implementing national workforce planning with a focus on recruitment and retention and further allocations of Advancing Practice training places.” Cancers are at a real risk of going undetected Nearly 11,000 people in Ayrshire and Arran are waiting on cancer diagnostic tests, new figures show. According to Public Health Scotland, 10,934 patients were waiting to be seen as of December 2021. That figure represents a 42 per cent increase in numbers over the last two years. Patietns are waiting on the list of treaments for upper endoscopy, lower endoscopy, CT scans, MRI scans, barium studies and nonobstetric ultrasounds. South Scotland Conservative list MSP Sharon Dowey said: “The backlog of key diagnostic tests that has grown during the pandemic in NHS Ayrshire & Arran has now completely spiralled out of control and that is deeply concerning, as this is creating a dangerous bottleneck in the NHS. “Patients are not being treated anywhere near quickly enough in NHS Ayrshire & Arran and cancers are at real risk of going undetected.” South Scotland Labour list MSP Carol Mochan said the figure were concerning and added: “The number of people waiting for treatment at this point is a national emergency. It won’t get any better until the government address staffing levels and do

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 9 Housing development Cllrs Jacqui Todd and Douglas Reid with local members Cllrs Neil McGhee and Jim Roberts, Head of Housing Bob McCulloch and John Baggley from CCG Assisted living development The official ground-breaking has taken place for East Ayrshire Council’s new assisted living housing development at Quarryknowe in Auchinleck. The project, which is being built by the council’s developer CCG (Scotland) Ltd for the East Ayrshire health and social care partnership, will include eight one-bed flats, a care provider’s base and a private garden for residents. Councillor Jacqui Todd, cabinet spokeswoman for housing, was joined on site by council leader Douglas Reid and local members; councillors Neil McGhee, Jim Roberts and Alyson Simmons. Ms Todd said: “The development for Quarryknowe will enable residents to live independently and safely in the local community, with support from health and social care services, in an environment that promotes social interaction. By engaging with our local communities and working closely with the East Ayrshire federation of tenants and residents, we are changing lives and are future proofing our communities, not just our buildings and ensuring that local needs are met.” CCG director John Baggley added: “Quarryknowe is the latest example of how East Ayrshire Council and CCG are transforming communities across the regional area with high-quality, highly energy-efficient affordable homes. We have worked together now for over five years and we are delighted to bring this -specially-designed development to Auchinleck where construction is well underway and on track to welcome residents this summer.” Sleeping baby row dad jailed for 5 years A father who whacked a man with a golf club after a row over a sleeping baby has been jailed for more than five years. Martin Jackson was angry at the noise Steven Beggs and his friends were making outside his home in Ayr on June 28, 2019. Jackson had a days-old child and told the group: “That’s enough - give it a by.” The men initially violently turned on the 30-year-old before he grabbed the club and hit Beggs who ended up with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. Jackson was locked up for a total of five years and two months at the High Court in Glasgow. He had previously admitted assaulting Beggs to his permanent disfigurement and impairment as well as to the danger of his life in Campbell Court, Ayr. His lawyer said Jackson had initially “acted out of concern” before “reacting in anger.” Judge Scott Pattison told Jackson: “I think you know that this was a significant incident of violence. You are responsible for the consequences of this attack. The blow must have been with significant force but you also faced significant provocation.” Prosecutor William Frain-Bell earlier told how police turned up at Jackson’s home in Ayr after his partner reported he had been assaulted. Jackson stated to officers: “I’ll be honest - I hit the guy because he came at me with a golf club.” He later insisted he was “sorry” and added: “Send my deepest regards. I am shocked and saddened.” Niall McCluskey, defending, said: “He only reacted in violence and anger when he was hit. He should have dealt with the matter differently than he did, which he accepts.” CALL US TODAY ON: 01292 400 047 MOBILE: 07537 149 128 www.garolla.co.uk

10 09.03.2022 PAUL BEHAN Competing for Great Britain at the Winter Olympics in Albertville in 1992 was a dream come true – and for Ayrshire figure skater Suzanne Otterson those memories will last her a lifetime. Suzanne, from Ayr, was just 17-years-old when she took to the ice for her individual performances, in front of an audience of thousands and a global TV audience of tens of millions. Although there was to be no podium position in France for the former Heathfield Primary and Prestwick Academy pupil, a top 22 finish was still a major achievement for the talented teenager. Suzanne, now 47, recalled: “It really does feel like yesterday, especially after watching the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. “It’s amazing how the memories come flooding back. From watching the opening ceremony, to the excitement of getting your kit and I’m so glad I can remember it so vividly.” Suzanne’s long journey to GB selection, then Winter Olympics stardom, began when she first took to the ice at Ayr Ice Rink, aged four. Back in the day the likes It’s amazing how those memories come flooding back of GB stars Robin Cousins and John Curry were GB’s poster boys. Suzanne said: “My mum and dad got me involved in skating at the age of four, then I went onto development squads and when you progressed you started to get funding.” Suzanne’s first big win came in 1986, when she won the British Primary Championships, aged 12. Two years later she finished third in the British Junior Championships. Two years after that, she was crowned champion. That championship win enabled Suzanne to represent GB at the World Junior Championships at Colorado Springs. Then Suzanne progressed to the British Senior events, taking 4th, then 3rd places as her rise continued – and she finally secured her GB place for the 1992 Winter Olympics. Suzanne described the build-up and said: “We didn’t have ice to train on during the week in Ayr so we had to go to the St Enoch Centre, Glasgow, to train. The Scottish Skating Association allowed us to train there. We did that every morning before school! “I was still in 5th year at the time, but thankfully the school allowed me to come in later so I could train. “When I was told I was selected I was absolutely delighted and before I knew it I was travelling down to London. “ I had a great Canadian coach, a dressmaker and a kit and I was all ready to go. “But those five mornings a week and a couple of nights training at the St Enoch Centre were certainly worth it, although it was hard going. “Of course, there are sacrifices to be made, “You have to train early mornings, get to bed early, you’re rushing about doing different things to make yourself ready to compete, but if you put the work in, it all becomes worthwhile. “In Albertville I put everything into my performances and I had such a fun time, it was great, All smiles Suzanne represented GB with distinction and has many happy memories of her career to look back on a mind blowing experience.” Suzanne’s come full circle. She’s back at her former primary school as an assistant, and she’s also teaching what she hopes will one day be the next generation of GB Winter Olympic stars. Suzanne is one of the coaches at Kyle Figure Skating Club and the club is already carving out a great reputation in the figure skating world. In fact, the Ayrshire region hit the headlines recently, when Prestwick’s Lewis Gibson and his ice partner Lilah Fear skated to tenth place at the Beijing Winter Olympics last month. And Suzanne, who also carried the Olympic torch through Alloway in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, was delighted to see the Ayrshire athlete make his mark on the Olympic stage. Mum of two Suzanne said: “It’s great to see what Lewis achieved. I remember Lewis as a wee boy when he skated at the Magnum Centre. “He knew what he wanted and he’s followed every single avenue that was available and he’s managed to do it too. “The thing about skating is that some people maybe think it’s not achievable to realise your ambitions, but it is. It’s about good old fashioned hard work and that’s what I tell our pupils. “Over lockdown, we tried to keep their enthusiasm going, holding Zoom classes and although it’s been difficult, we have come back and not lost too many students, which is great. “I take a class on a Saturday for 3-4 year olds and also children competing in the British Championships.” Figure skating runs in the family. Older sister Gillian, a former British Primary and Junior star, also coaches alongside Suzanne. And Suzanne’s two children Lewis, 10 and Carla 7, also skate. Lewis finished 3rd in the British Basic Novice www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Competing at Winter Olympics feels just like it was yesterday Skater Suzanne on memories that last a lifetime Championships in November, while Gillian’s daughter Isla is also approaching British Basic Novice level. Suzanne said: “We have a lot of talented kids at the club coming up too. and, as a I say to them all, rewards are there if you are prepared to make sacrifices.” Susanne also told how she’s won a new army of fans after her 1992 performances in Albertville were recently aired at her school. She said: “Albertville will stay with me for ever, it was a magical period. I still look back and can’t quite believe I was there. “It’s funny because I work in Heathfield Primary and the kids were watching Newsround recently and on the programme they talked about the Winter Olympics. “The next thing I knew I was up on YouTube, in the class and the teachers were showing the clips to the kids!” If you want to find out more about Kyle Figure Skating Club, or about their Learn to Skate sessions, e-mail Rosemary Otterson at rotterson@hotmail.co.uk or PM them on Facebook, or Instagram.

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 11 New kids on the block Prestwick’s Lewis Gibson is making a name for himself, as is his ice partner Lilah Fear, following their appearance at the Beijing Winter Olympics last month Torch bearer Ayr’s Suzanne was bestowed the honour of carrying the Olympic torch as it passed through Ayrshire in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics Sister act Suzanne and Gillian Otterson (both pictured) are well-known coaches at Kyle Figure Skating Club. They are pictured with some of their very talented students Glory days Suzanne is pictured during her illustrious skating career Just champion One of the many trophies Suzanne won during her figure skating Team player Ayr’s Suzanne Otterson (front row, left) with some of her GB team-mates at the 1992 Winter Olympics Proud mum Suzanne and son Lewis after winning his medal for third place at the British Basic Novice Championships in November

Rural Business Management students as part of their studies learn core business modules in marketing, finance and entrepreneurial skills. The 4th year dissertation project focusses on developing a business plan for diversification of farm land or other land based sector business. Many graduates go on to work in consultancy or for large national and international firms, however a significant proportion also go on to start their own successful businesses. Jill Brown studied Rural Business Management with SRUC, and is the owner and founder of Moray Distillery, producing award-winning Scottish gin. The Covid pandemic has thrown challenges at everyone, yet these challenges have also shown how resilient Scottish businesses are – within 48 hours of being given the go-ahead at the start of the pandemic, Jill’s stills were producing hand sanitiser gel. “Pretty much all of our stock in the first two weeks went to healthcare, community care, care homes – they had just been left high and dry with nothing, no supplies, and they still needed to do their jobs within the community” says Jill. Groups of spirit producers were set up across the country so that people could help each other. “You couldn’t be more thankful for the co-operation in the Scottish industry,” says Jenny McKerr, another graduate from SRUC Ayr and owner-founder of The Wee Farm Distillery in Lanarkshire. “You are isolated at the best of times, so being able to go to that group to bounce questions off and share information about sourcing some of the ingredients was great.” Resilience is a key trait seen across Scotland’s rural community, and the spirit producers are no exception. Jenny continues: “It’s about having the resilience you learn from your courses at SRUC to pivot and look at something else and see how you can get the business going.” Further information about courses at SRUC can be found by visiting our website: www.sruc.ac.uk/business

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 13 Hospice ‘s emotional TV advert A TV advert has been launched by the Ayrshire Hospice to raise millions for a new facility. The ad campaign will run over the next six weeks on STV putting the Ayr charity in the spotlight with the aim to reach a wider audience. It comes as the hospice launches their bid for a new £13 million facility that will ‘future proof’ the charity for patients with life-limiting illnesses. And viewers will have been moved by the touching testimonials given during the powerful TV ad short clip w hich first ran last month. Heather Hardie a physiotherapist at the Ayrshire Hospice opens the advert telling how the hospice is a place full of “joy, life, laughter and hope.” An Ayrshire dad who lost his wife Fiona from cancer also pays an emotional tribute to the hospice. Gareth fights back the tears as he tells how the hospice helped his family get through “what they had to get through in life.” Superstar Ayr fundraiser Lynn McMorrow also appears in the ad telling how she was terrified when given her brain tumour diagnosis and how the hospice were there for her. It comes after the great-gran showed incredible spirit as she took her first steps in three years to raise cash for the Support Gareth who lost his wife to cancer talks on the advert hospice which she says ‘saved her life’. People can sujpport the campaign by visiting www.helpthehospice.org or by simply texting CARING to 70560 to donate £5. Distressed Families still looking for answers to find if they will have to rebury their loved one at Ayr Cemetery Families’ agony as more tests at cemetry If it can influence services in my community, then I’m filling it in. STUART WILSON Council chiefs are to carry out more tests at Ayr Cemetery after water was found leaking into graves. Screens will be erected again today (Wednesday) as specialist teams bid to find “potential solutions” to the ongoing problem. South Ayrshire bosses say a “combination of rainwater and surface water” was found entering chambers. It is understood an initial report is probing ineffective sealant used on each lair. Council officials on Monday confirmed tha water was entering the graves “through the top slats and the joints where the slats rest upon the chamber walls”. A spokesman added: “While we await the final reports, we are looking at some potential solutions to completely seal the chambers and plan to carry out some tests on empty chambers from Wednesday. “This will take approximately one to two weeks. Screening will be in place while we trial the potential solutions, but the cemetery extension will remain open to the public. “We will be able to programme plans to rectify the issue when we have undertaken these tests and are in receipt of all final reports, findings, and recommendations from the specialists. “We fully appreciate that this is a sensitive and distressing issue for families, however, we must be confident that any measures we may implement will solve the problem. “We have remained in regular contact with affected family lair owners and will continue to liaise with them directly throughout. Last month, the Post reported how desperate families face an agonising wait to discover if they will have to rebury loved ones at the cemetery. Water had been found to be leaking into all of the 10 inspected chambers at the Holmston Road burial grounds. Showbiz legend Sydney Devine’s final resting place was amongst the graves reported to have ‘water ingress’. Outpatinet clinics back up and running following a power cut at hospital PAUL BEHAN Health bosses said outpatients clinics would take place at planned yesterday (Tuesday). It followed a major incident being declared on Sunday morning at Crosshouse Hospital, when the power went down and affected services at nearby health units. Power was restored at the site but NHS chiefs confirmed on Sunday night that patient administrative systems remained under “severe strain.” As a result, they took the decision to scrap a number of outpatient clinics for acute services on Monday at Ayr and Crosshouse, East Ayrshire Community Hospital, Ayrshire Central Hospital and MSK appointments at Biggart Hospital. It is not clear how many patients were affected by the cancellations. However, bosses confirmed that all patient administrative systems used by NHS Ayrshire & Arran are now restored - meaning outpatient clinics scheduled from yestereday (Tuesday) can proceed. Dr Crawford McGuffie, NHS Ayrshire & Arran medical director, said: “These systems are now working effectively and that means that we can welcome patients as normal to outpatient appointments at all our sites.” Filling in the census helps us find out what your community really needs. Whether that’s employment, healthcare or other essential services. Census Day is 20 March, but you can fill it in as soon as you receive your letter or call 0800 030 8308 for a paper questionnaire. Scotland’s Census. Getting the right things out, starts with filling it in. Go to census.gov.scot

14 09.03.2022 Sign up for flood warning alerts People living, working, and travelling in areas at risk of flooding in Ayrshire are being urged to sign up for free flood warnings through Floodline. This is a service operated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the aim is to better prepare the public for extreme weather events. In recent weeks storms in the UK such as Dudley, Eunice and Franklin brought with them torrential rain and caused damage, cancellations to public transport and a host of other disruption. Receiving advance notice of flooding allows communities and businesses more time to act and reduce the risk of damage and disruption. This may involve deploying flood protection products, moving vehicles from at risk areas and changing plans. Anyone signed up to Floodline will receive an automated message to a landline or mobile, via text or phone call, when flooding is expected to occur. Multiple phone numbers can be included within one account to ensure the message reaches all who need it and can also be received for more than one area. Around 1350 homes were sent postcards last month with information on two flood warning schemes for the Ayr and Annick Waters. Pascal Lardet, Flood Warning Unit manager, said: “Extreme weather and rising river levels will only become more common because of climate change, so it’s vital that communities are supported to prepare more effectively for the impacts of flooding. “We would encourage all of those who live, work and travel in the Ayr and Annick Flood Warning areas to sign up for our warnings for their safety and convenience.” Find out more and sign up at floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup/ or by calling 0345 988 1188./ www.ayrshirepost.co.uk LOVE IRISH COUNTRY MUSIC? YOU’LL LOVE Magazine Volunteer David Matthews,18, has been a member of the Troon RNLI shop since 2018 Teen’s SOS call to help save lives NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR! Simply visit rsvplive.ie/countrymag or scan here £3.95 PLUS P&P Ryan Thom A selfless schoolboy has sent out a SOS call for more volunteers for a vital charity shop that raises cash to help save lives at sea. Teenager David Matthews is uring people to help out at the RNLI shop in Troon. The 18-year-old is hoping that more volunteers would allow the shop to open extra days. And he is calling for extra support for the Ayr shop that is closed three days a week due to the lack of volunteers. David, who has been a team member at the Troon store since 2018, has pleaded for more volunteers. He said: “We would be able to raise more because we could open longer and more often as well. “Currently the shop is closed three days a week, and half a day on a Saturday because we don’t have enough volunteers.” David says he fits his time in the shop at the weekends after he’s done his school work and paper round through the week. After initially joining as part of his Duke of Edinburgh bronze award, David was inspired to continue to help his local lifeboat. David added: “There are many different skills that can be picked up from volunteering, and can be used later on in life as well.” RNLI shops began as cake stalls run by volunteers to raise money for their local lifeboat station in the 1920s. Today there are around 170 RNLI shops around the coast and inland, all of which are still run by dedicated volunteers. Lynsey Anderson, RNLI community manager, said: “The pandemic unfortunately hit our shops hard as they closed for periods of time in line with Covid-19 restrictions. “We were delighted when we could reopen them safely in accordance with government guidance and are looking forward to welcoming our visitors in 2022. “To do this successfully, we want to grow our team of shop volunteers and are looking for people who enjoy interacting with others, can help us to provide a high level of customer service and ensure our shops continue to be friendly and welcoming places.” To find out more about how you can help generate vital funds, promote the work of the RNLI, and apply, go to Shop Volunteers- Troon on rnli.org. Still time to get your Covid-19 jab at a drop-in clinic near you Drop-in vaccination clinics continue to provide people with doses protecting them against Covid-19. Residents do not need an appointment to attend a local drop-in clinic, with patients encouraged to head along to the location that suits them best. Mobile vaccination units are also in place for unvaccinated people seeking a first dose (eveyone age 12 and over is eligible), people due a second dose and those seeking booster vaccines (12 weeks after a second dose). Preparations are also underway to see the rollout of vaccines for children aged five to 11 years old. Details on the plans for this will be shared soon. A mobile unit will be at Whitletts Activity Centre, Ayr, today (Wednesday) at 9.30am - midday and 12.45pm - 4.30pm. And tomorrow (Thursday) at Catrine Games Hall, 9 to 11am and 1 to 6.30pm. On Friday, drop-ins are available at the Citadel Leisure Centre, Ayr, 9 to 11am and 1 to 6.30pm; and Dalmellington Area Centre, 9.30am to noon and 12.45 to 4.30pm. The mobile unit will return to Ayr’s Citadel Leisure Centre on Saturday from 9 to 11am and and 1 to 5pm .

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 15 Council tax to rise by 2.9 per cent £3m in council reserves to balance budget Kevin Dyson All of South Ayrshire Council’s service charges and council tax payments will increase by 2.9 per cent from April to bridge a £6.7m shortfall. The council opted to make less than £900k in new cuts and savings ahead of May’s local elections. Instead, the 2.9 percent tax increase will bring in an additional £2.21m, with just over £3m in reserves being utilised. This leaves new cuts and savings totalling £892k to add to the £630k previously agreed. This will see £175k saved through the development of its “future operating model” which includes cuts to car mileage payments, supplies and other services. An increase in ‘payroll management’ targets will save a further £500k, while the increase in fees and charges by 2.9 percent will bring in £217k. This applies to council only charges, not those set at a national level or by the council’s partners. Around £550k will be made from ‘over-recovery of rent from homeless temporary accomodation’. The budget set out an estimate of future funding gaps by 2023/24. This ranges from a best case scenario of £6.18m to a worst case gap of £20.3m. Introducing the budget, SNP council leader Peter Henderson, addressed the challenges facing the council. He said: “We know that rising living costs such Good land review South Ayrshire Council has included dozens of common good properties in an en masse review of council-owned estates. Last December, the council agreed to sell the Darlington Church to an arts group for £1 without seeking court approval. It claimed that the property was an “investment asset” which did not face the same sale restrictions as monuments and public assets. Now, the future of more than 60 “investment assets” looks to be less secure as councillors included them as part of a broader review of the council’s estates. Councillors on SAC Leadership Panel considered proposals last Tuesday, having heard a report which paints a picture of a dwindling cash held in common good reserves, mostly in Ayr. Current policy means that repairs and maintenance of common good property is covered by these reserves. During a consultation with local members, there were calls to seek match funding for properties, particularly monuments and listed buildings. as energy and food bills are having a huge impact on hardworking families. As a council, we are also affected by rising costs and tax changes such as the imminent increase in National Insurance contributions.” The budget plans include: •£3.1 million from uncommitted reserves for ‘frontline services’ •£250,000 from our general reserves on a one-off basis to assist in alleviating financial insecurities of those most in need. •£88.175 million in our Health and Social Care Partnership, an increase of 11% on last year. •Further investment of £6.6 million in education. •Invest £1.8 million in a brand-new net-zero depot in Girvan •£460 million for Capital Investment projects from 2022-23 to 2033-34 including: •An extension at the Early Years Centre at the Space Place in Prestwick. •An upgrade to the science department at Kyle Academy. •A gym upgrade for Prestwick Swimming Pool. Riverside Public Realm space. Councillor Henderson said: “The decision to raise council tax is not one that was taken lightly. “I know that the increase may not be welcomed, however, we have reviewed every possible option, and it is a vital step to protect our essential services and allow us to continue to be there for the people who need us most.” Hall could be added to sports complex Kevin Dyson, LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER South Ayrshire Council have claimed that a sports hall could be added to the new Ayr Leisure Centre in the future. The claim was made by project officer Derek Yuille as the council’s Regulatory Panel approved planning permission for the controversial centre by five votes to four. The issue of a future hall was raised by Troon SNP councillor Craig Mackay, who said he would have liked to see such a facility and asked about possible extensions in the future. Mr Yuille replied: “We have tried to be as flexible as we can with design. Should there be a requirement such as games hall then the design has been placed on site to be added to.” Fort Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council chairman, Norman McLean, objected on behalf of the group. He stated that he had written to the Scottish Government regarding the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment and requested a pause in the application until this had been addressed. The community council also raised other objections, including: claiming that the council had ‘blighted’ the Arran Mall site causing businesses to relocate. And they added it provided no evidence of increased footfall in the town centre. The community council argued that the plans also diluted sporting provision compared to the existing Citadel and raised concerns about the discovery of methane gas signifies poor ground conditions. The said the plans provided no details of costing for piling work Mr McLean said: “It is wrong in concept, wrong in location, wrong in provision of facilities and wrong in uncontrolled excessive cost. And for what? To move a fully functioning facility at the Citadel, with some upgrading, half a mile from its site to one with less facilities and unproven validity.” Objections to the centre deemed planning matters including walking distances, parking, traffic safety and disruption were either acceptable or viable with planning conditions. Another objector, Andrew Russell, said: “At the last pre-planning consultation I asked, ‘why have we seen no data presented on town centre pools like Irvine or Dumfries.’ “[I was told] ‘We cannot compare them as they are not like for like, really, no user information or footfall numbers.’ “Where is the evidence?” Maybole Conservative councillor, Iain Campbell, also queried this. He raised the issue of methane gas caused by underground peat deposits and pointed towards a recent planning application where the council did not want houses built on top of peat. However, Girvan Independent Councillor Alec Clark gave full backing to the plan, pointing out that it would “enhance and protect” the Victorian facade, help retailers and encourage people from outwith Ayr to attend, thanks to its proximity to the railway station. Protecting services Peter Henderson Councillor Brian McGinley, deputy council leader, said: “I’m pleased that we have been able to deliver a fair budget that demonstrates our continued commitment to investing in our communities. “Although we have had to make some difficult decisions, we will continue to invest in services that will ensure South Ayrshire is one of the best places to live, work or visit. We have performed our very best to keep increases below inflation and are very mindful of the additional financial burdens being placed on residents.” £45m leisure centre takes step forward Kevin Dyson The controversial £45 million Ayr Leisure Centre plan is one step closer to becoming reality after two decisions went in its favour this week. Councillors gave the centre planning permission last Wednesday, albeit by a single vote at the Regulatory Panel. And a proposal by the Conservative group to scrap the project and retain the Citadel at Thursday’s budget setting meeting was also defeated. The leisure centre plan has been the target for a number of vocal critics who have complained about the loss of a number of existing facilities, such as a sports hall and diving pool. There was significant pushback during Thursday’s debate from SNP, Labour and Independent councillors on the Conservatives’ proposal to scrap the leisure centre plan, allocating £6.6m to town centre works and £1m to the seven wards outwith Ayr town centre. The opposition proposals were presented by councillor Ian Davis. He argued that no evidence had been provided to demonstrate that building a leisure centre would increase footfall. But administration councillors lined up to hit out at the Conservatives’ proposals. They hit out at the figures provided for the refurbishment of the Citadel Leisure Centre. The Conservatives’ proposals would provide £3m-a-year over three years. But councillors pointed to a figure of £22m that had been cited in the business case used to decide on the new town centre facility. Councillor Davis said his party did not agree that the leisure centre would increase footfall in the town centre and regeneration required a “broader approach”.

16 09.03.2022 Charity and fun night Girvan & District Flower Club held a ‘Fun with Friends’ and Local Charity night. Chairwoman Fiona Robertson thanked members and friends for their generosity in donating raffle prizes, as well as purchasing tickets. They then decided which local charity they wished to nominate. Wednesday, March 23, will see Louise Jones from Wallasey present her ‘Making a House a Home’ demonstration. Volunteers wanted to help clean-up a dozen beaches Volunteers are being sought to take part in cleaning up more than a dozen beaches along the Ayrshire coastline. The annual Big Beach Clean is now a joint venture between Rotary and Ayrshire Coastal Path. The rotary clubs of Ayr, Troon, Prestwick and Alloway, together with the help of South and North Ayrshire Councils and numerous community groups, hope to be able to cover more than a dozen beaches in this year’s 14th Annual Beach Clean along the Ayrshire coastline. This is a family-and-friends event, taking place on the morning of Saturday, March 26. A rotary spokesman said: “Please put it in your diary now and help spruce up our beaches for the holiday months ahead. “ It is an opportunity to ensure that the Ayrshire coastline is at its sparkling best for locals and visitors alike. “Anyone can be involved locally in Ayr, Prestwick or Troon, or on the furtherremoved beaches where most debris tends to have accumulated as a result of the winter storms.” More info at https://rotaryclubofayr. org/ and https://ayrshirecoastalpath.org/ www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Opposition People against the £100m incinerator plans at Barr Killoch site near Ochiltree Incinerator plan must be stopped says MSP Sponsored by It is now time for you to vote for your favourite Cute Kid of the Year. Simply collect all of your Voting tokens printed daily in the Ayrshire Post, Kilmarnock Standard or Irvine Herald until Wednesday 16th March, 2022. You will then collate all of your tokens and attach them to a Token Collection Sheet which is available to download online at www.ayrshirelive.co.uk/cutekids All voting tokens must be received by 5pm on Friday, March 25, 2022. We will be revealing the top 40 most voted entrants (regardless of age category) in paper on Wednesday April 6, 2022. These finalists will then be open to another round of voting to determine our winners. The winner will be crowned the Ayrshire’s Cute Kid of the Year 2022 and will receive a cash prize of £500. The child in second will receive £300 and the child in third place will receive £200. Find out more at www.ayrshirelive.co.uk/cutekids PAUL BEHAN An MSP has insisted plans for a £100m incinerator must be stopped. South Scotland Tory List MSP Sharon Dowey has spoken out against the plans at the Barr Killoch site near Ochiltree. The controversial proposals have so far received 1,174 objections, with an additional 500 signed individual objections handed in to East Ayrshire Council. Protestors point to the environmental impact of the scheme as well as the effect it will have on the appearance of the area. Ms Dowey said: “This incinerator needs to be stopped. I’ve met with residents to see how the development will cause issues and I have serious concerns. “The Scottish Conservatives have been very clear that there should be a moratorium on any further incinerators in Scotland. They’re bad for the environment and have no place in a Net Zero Scotland. We should be recycling our rubbish, not burning it.” In November last year, a team of health professionals issued a dire warning that the proposed energy-from-waste incinerator plant would “hasten the deaths of local residents for decades to come.” The damning assessment came from the Ayrshire & Arran respiratory managed clinical network (RMCN), who said plans to build the incinerator near Ochiltree should be rejected.Behind the proposals are Barr Environmental, who want the incinerator at their Killoch site. They previously had planning consent for an energy-from-waste facility at their plant, using gasification technology. Now they want to update that consent through a new planning application to make use of more energy efficient ‘moving grate’ technology. Moving grate technology converts waste into ash, flue gas and heat. Barr Environmental say the new facility will “safely, cleanly and sustainably” manage up to 166,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste each year and generate enough electricity to meet the needs of 40,000 homes. They claim the plans would enable Barr to create 17 new jobs and safeguard 60 which are already part of its existing operations. Gavin Ramsey, spokesperson for Barr Environmental, said: “East Ayrshire has a significant capacity gap in terms of how we’ll manage our non-recyclable waste in coming years, so we welcome all debate on the subject and we’re always happy to address any concerns people may have. “For example, we can provide significant assurances from an environmental perspective because we’ve already conducted careful technical assessments in accordance with Public Health Scotland and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) guidelines. “These assessments conclude that, even using the most conservative of measures, the facility we’re proposing will be operated cleanly, safely and in a completely responsible manner. “We’ll use continuous air quality monitoring to ensure our compliance with SEPA regulations and we’ve even committed to conducting further voluntary monitoring, away from our site, to provide additional reassurances. “As a company that’s heavily invested in recycling, we agree with Ms Dowey that we should be recycling as much of our waste as possible and eventually eliminate the nonrecyclable element of our waste altogether. “Unfortunately, it will be many years before we’re able to reach that point and, in the meantime, there’s a very real issue that needs to be addressed in terms of sustainably managing the waste created by our homes and businesses in a cost effective, environmentally sustainable way. “After 2025, we will not be able to send biodegradable municipal waste to landfill and anything that can’t be recycled will need to be sent to an alternative treatment process that prevents it ending up in landfill. “We are offering a local solution and ensuring that waste doesn’t need to be sent to landfill for disposal. “Instead, our technologically advanced facility will safely and sustainably manage it - and in a way that generates fewer carbon emissions than landfill. “ So, in considering the drive to a Net Zero Scotland, our proposals represent part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 17 Bob Shields A weekly dose of wit and withering comment on issues and faces hitting the news ... ‘Stand for council’ was the headline in last week’s letters page. Beneath it, former councillor Alec Oattes dared me to “put my hat in the ring and stand for public office”. “Go on Bob, are you up for the challenge, to serve the people, or will you just continue to carp from the sidelines?” he continued. Sorry Alec, I don’t do carping . . . I’m more of a carpe diem kind of guy! Which is why I’m going to seize the moment . . . and accept your challenge. I will contest the Ayr West ward of South Ayrshire Council at the local elections on May 5! Alec’s letter was written with his tongue firmly in his cheek . . .but I’m afraid he can’t claim to have forced my hand on this one. This is no knee-jerk reaction or even a “protest” candidacy. I have been considering “my hat in the ring” for several months now. I’m happy to send anyone who asks, a copy of my December 20 2021 e-mail to the Electoral Commission seeking clarification on standing for election in a ward where this newspaper column is widely read and might disadvantage other candidates who don’t have their own page of “carping” every week! Of course, I am disadvantaged as well. Unlike Messrs Henderson, McGinley or Dowey, I can’t canvas door-to-door and exalt my five years of magnificent achievement for the hugely successful, efficient and popular South Ayrshire Council. I mean, what a head start these guys all have! Lindsey Hamilton of the Electoral Commission wrote “There is nothing to prevent you carrying out your normal profession while standing for election. Carrying on your column is unlikely to breach electoral law”. However, in the interests of fairness and equality, the editor of the Ayrshire Post and I simultaneously agreed that impartiality might be best served if this column was suspended during the main electioneering period of April - and election week itself. The cease-fire will begin on March 30. But hey, be assured, as councillor Shields or plain old carping Shields – I’ll be back on this page, all guns blazing, on May 11. Why am I standing? And is this page big enough for the answer? Well, as Mr Oattes was hinting, it would be pretty hypocritical of me to urge citizens to stand as independents . . . and not make the stand myself. In business, I have never asked anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself. Game on Bob Shields will take on the main parties in Ayr West I had no option but to stand for council And if that’s putting your arm in a bin liner and shoving it down a putrid pub toilet to remove a blockage, so be it! Anyway, from blocked lavvies – let’s get back to South Ayrshire Council! I’ve always maintained that elected council members are only custodians – inheriting the work of others . . . then passing their stewardship on to fresher faces and new ideas. The minimum standard should be handing over as good a local authority as the one they received. Even better to have made some improvements along the way. With barely a month to go in their elected five-year term, the incumbent South Ayrshire Council has gone backwards. As someone who cares passionately about Ayr and Ayrshire, the thought of five more years of decline was becoming intolerable. As Edmund Burke almost said: “All that is necessary for a failing council to continue failing is for good men to do nothing”. Last December, as Girvan fought for its Common Good land, a £36,000 offer for Darlington Church was declined in preference to a single £1, Ayr Station Hotel was kicked down the road, the Riverside Flats were being prepared for demolition and a 3500 signature petition to ‘Save the Citadel’ was rejected as an ‘improper protocol’ . . . I came to the decision that “to do nothing” was no longer an option! I’ve used this page to point the finger at SAC for almost a decade. If elected on May 5, I’ll be able to point my finger in the council chamber itself. You’ll get no menacing Trumpist talk in my manifesto – I’m not going to Castle Greyskull to “drain the swamp”! Our elected representatives aren’t bad people – they just make some bad decisions. And too many of them toe the party line instead of speaking out against these decisions. For me – and all the other independents standing – there will be no party whip. I, certainly, will be supporting the people I’ll be sworn to “ne’er forget” - and not any political masters. The policies may come from the Nationalists, the Conservatives, the Labour Party, the Independents - or any strange combination of all four. If it’s a good enough plan – I’ll support it. If not - I won’t. And I don’t care who I upset along the way. I haven’t got a campaign team – well, not yet anyway. I don’t even have an election agent – though I’m told I don’t actually need one. I’m your DIY candidate. But over the next few months, I’ll hope to put my aspirations through every letter box in Ayr West – and speak to as many people as I can. Even though I’m a candidate, my election message is the same as it always has been – get out and vote! Look at the people you are being asked to support – not just their parties – and ask who will best serve you and the community you live in. I’d be honoured to be chosen as one of them. As someone who cares passionately about Ayr, the thought of five more years of decline was intolerable Bombshell Bob throws his hat in the ring Last time I voted SNP: Where did it all gone wrong? It will be almost five years exactly since SNP councillor and leader – Allan Dorans, now our Westminster MP – invited me to the Mercure Hotel in Ayr for his party’s local manifesto launch. Given that my page didn’t shy away from giving any party a hard time – I appreciated the gesture and have been grateful to him ever since. Our relationship has been cordial, even friendly but it’s been a long time since I last poured him a pint of Tennents. Then again – it’s been a long time since I had anything really positive to say about our SNP-controlled South Ayrshire Council. I wonder if the two are related? After I left that 2017 meeting, I was an SNP voter. And I did exactly that a few weeks later. Their manifesto said just about everything I wanted to hear – an open administration, no party politics in decision making, lots of consultation, accountability and pledges to tackle big issues – like housing, parking . . . and the dreaded Ayr Station Hotel. After five years of delivering those promises , the Nats would have been poised to strengthen their grip on SAC – possibly with overall control on May 6. Instead, they under-performed. They’ll be fighting for their lives on May 5 and will probably need another leg-up from Labour and the independents to stay at the helm. Where did it all go wrong? To be honest, I think Allan’s own election fortunes in May 2017 had a bigger impact than many imagined. Had he held onto his council seat, and the council leadership followed, the Nats wouldn’t have tripped over half the banana skins they’ve slithered on since Douglas Campbell and then Peter Henderson took over. I look forward to the release of their 2022 manifesto. This time, I doubt I’ll be in the room with a glass of Chardonnay when it’s unveiled. I never expected to be in council election race If I take my socks and shoes off, I can calculate that I have three more weeks of page filling before the pre-election ‘ceasefire’ begins. Will I use them to blow my own trumpet? Of course . . .er . . sort of . . not . . Yes, my hat is in the ring – and I’ll be mentioning it. But not to the exclusion of all the other hats in the ring. If any South Ayrshire election candidate – from any party - wants to make a point, raise an issue, get something off their chest or into public debate - this space is here. And it works both ways. If any voters have issues they think need airing – or have a question for the candidates – I’ll do my best to help get it in print. I’m on the other end of recordshields@aol.com As this column headed for print – I got my first peak at the local Conservative party manifesto. We don’t talk anymore Allan Dorans MP Hourstons as council offices? A new look Burns State Square? More on that next week. I expect the other parties will issue their’s soon. Yes - the 2022 local election race is truly on. I just never expected to be in it!

18 09.03.2022 www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Child cancer case complaint rejected A complaint made against an Ayrshire and Arran GP practice in relation to a tragic child cancer case has been thrown out by a watchdog. The case centred around a young patient whose parent complained about the treatment they received. The Ayrshire and Arran GP practice has not been identified, nor has the patient, or relatives. Other details of the case have emerged from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO), who rejected claims the practice “failed to provide appropriate care and treatment”. The parent of the tragic child, (known as A) is referred to as ‘C’ in the report, for confidentiality reasons. In an extract from the SPSO report, they said: “C complained that the practice failed to provide appropriate care and treatment to their late child (A). ‘A’ had a lump removed from their eyelid which was subsequently diagnosed to be cancerous. ‘A’ went to see their doctor with severe pain in their left arm, which moved to their right arm and neck. ‘A’ was prescribed painkillers and referred to physiotherapy. ‘A’ returned from a family holiday and, still suffering from severe pain which had worsened, saw another doctor. A’s painkillers were changed and they were referred to physiotherapy. “After a further consultation, A was referred for an x-ray which identified that A’s C6 vertebrae (found in the inferior end of the neck, just above the thorax) had collapsed and that there was a cancerous tumour. ‘A’ died a few months later. Following the child’s death, their parent complained that doctors at the practice ‘failed to respond to A’s symptoms in a reasonable manner,’ given A’s ‘history of cancer.’ The SPSO found that the practice’s consultations with ‘C’ were “reasonable,” and there was “no unreasonable delay” in the decision to refer their child for an x-ray. The watchdog also rejected that there was any wrong doing on how the complaint was handled. Final journey Sharon pictured at Ballantrae Harbour with her dad Gary’s walking sticks and, inset, the pair together with Ailsa Craig in the background Walking tribute to brave dad Ryan Thom NOMINATE YOUR HERO TODAY prideofscotland.org/nominate A proud daughter will pay tribute to her dad who lost his battle with motor neurone disease (MND) by taking his hillwalking sticks on one last journey. Gary Voce died, aged 81, from illness in November after bravely battling the illness since his late 70s. A relay covering the entire Ayrshire coast is being organised in memory of Gary who took the crippling effects of MND in his stride – actively walking up hills, including munros, and his favourite climb, the Knockdolian, near his Ballantrae home. Despite the illness taking away his ability to talk or eat, the great-grandad-of-two and grandad-of-four showed incredible strength and has been hailed as an inspiration as he stayed active until he passed away. Daughter Sharon is appealing for keen walkers to cover the Ayrshire Coastal Path from Skelmorlie to Ballantrae, with the last leg heading up her dad’s much-loved hill for those living with MND. Sharon said: “My dad continued to walk until the day he died. He was an inspiration who never gave up. I wrote a tribute for him before his funeral which was all about his physical and mental strength. “He was a fighter until the very end, it was really the last fortnight of his life that he started to lose any quality of life but he battled on bravely. “It is quite incredible how my dad took on this awful disease that took so much away from him, but thankfully not his ability to keep moving. He was very much a people person – he’d speak to the whole world if he could. He was always active throughout his life and he didn’t let his diagnosis stop him.” Gary was diagnosed with Bulbar Onset MND which affects the upper body impacting on the ability to swallow foods and speech when he was 79. Despite needing daily care, he was supported by his wife of 58 years, Jane, and Sharon and made it up a munro for his birthday, climbing up Geal Charn which is 625m. However, it was his local hill that kept Inspirational Gary Voce him on the move on a daily basis with his last walk coming in August 2021. Sharon added: “He kept walking up the Knockdolian every day, he took his last walk on August 1 last year. Sharon hopes to finish off the coastal relay by taking participants up the Knockdolian where she plans to leave a lasting memorial to her dad with the two hillwalking sticks being reunited at the summit. She added: “It is going to be quite ambitious to do a relay from Skelmorlie to Ballantrae. It will take 14 hours and we want to get as many participants as we can. “We are looking for runners and walkers to cover two miles of the coastal path at each point along the way. “We will finish off in Ballantrae – my dad’s hillwalking sticks will be used at the batons; they will both be taken up the Knockdolian and both will meet there in tribute to him.” An online fundraiser has been set up with the funds going to rugby hero Doddie Weir’s charity, set up by the former Scotland ace who continues to live with MND. Sharon added: “We want to support others going through this awful disease and hopefully it makes my dad proud because he made all of us so proud of him.” Sharon’s’ plans have been backed by a local walking group and Ayrshire Coastal Path organisers. The event will take place on Saturday, May 14. Ballantrae pub The Kings Arms will be putting on food with entertainment provided by Davie Anderson. A public Facebook group has been set up for those interested in getting involved.

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 19 Dad slams time taken for reply to SOS call Celebs back MP Dorans’ campaign Emergency Jay’s calls for help were ignored Animal rights Allan Dorans with actor Peter Egan An MP has joined the campaign to see a ban on ‘barbaric’ trophy hunting imports. Allan Dorans, MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, has shown his support to prohibit goods brought into the UK from British trophy hunters who kill endangered animals, including lions, elephants and rhinos, abroad for fun. The law currently allows British hunters to bring their ‘trophies’ of animals’ heads and body parts back into the country to display in their homes. Mr Dorans has added his voice to the list of campaigners and has received backing from popular public figures including actress and presenter Dame Joanna Lumley and Downton Abbey star Peter Egan, who he met with last week. The MP said: “It was a pleasure to show my support for the campaign to ban trophy hunting imports, and meet with actor Peter Egan, a lifelong supporter of animal rights and welfare.” Joanna Lumley said Mr Dorans is representing “the 9 in 10 voters who want to see an end to this barbaric, cruel industry” and added: “It should have been abolished long ago. Allan Dorans MP has my full support for this campaign.” Peter Egan said he applauded Mr Dorans’ “courageous campaign.” Ryan Thom The dad of a boy who almost drowned in a sand sinkhole at Ayr beach has blasted the council’s emergency response after numerous calls failed. Two-year-old JJ Forbes fell face first into a sinkhole last month after running into what appeared to be a puddle on a family day out with his parents Jay Forbes, 26, and Hayley, 27 and 10-month-old sister. Jay jumped in to rescue his son but then became stuck in the dangerous sinkhole before a passing dog walker helped to save him. The youngster was rushed to Ayr Hospital after inhaling sea water after the terrifying incident. The Ayr family’s calls for help from council crews went unanswered for hours. Dad-of-two Jay, 26, said: “It was really frustrating. It really rings alarm bells. What is the point of having an emergency number if it won’t be answered? “This was a serious incident, my son could have drowned, I said before if he went into it feet first it could have been a different story.” Jay checked back on his call history and revealed he phoned at 1.27pm, 1.28pm, and 1.29pm with his final call he left a voicemail. Nearly two hours later on a separate call at 3.12pm he was again prompted to leave a voicemail before eventually getting a council officer on the phone at 3.40pm. But Jay believes the only reason he managed to finally get through was Alarm bells Jay says there was no answer to his emergency calls because it followed his call to Police Scotland on 101 who he says “flagged the report” to the council. He added: “I just think the whole setup is inadequate and substandard. “I almost had to do my job for them, I had to revisit the site with the fire service to show them where everything was. “You would think with something like that the council would do what they could to warn the public after what had just happened.” Ayr MSP Siobhian Brown says she was disappointed to hear that the council number was not answered. She added: “What happened at the beach is very concerning and I have been in touch with the council regarding this. “During my time as a councillor and now as an MSP I have never had anything like this reported to me. “It may be due to the storms, but it is certainly something everyone should be made aware of and perhaps the local authority can put up appropriate signs to warn people of shifting sand during bad weather like this. I have been in touch directly with the constituent and I will keep him informed of any updates. “I am glad to hear the little boy is recovering well. I would like to thank everyone who came to the aid of this family, including the emergency services. I would remind everyone to exercise caution near open water, particularly during bad weather.” A council spokesman said: “We received a call on Saturday, February 19 regarding an incident at Ayr beach. Our Emergency Response Team contacted the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and our Neighbourhood Services team who responded to the incident.” What’s the point of having an emergency number if it is not answered Opera Highlights Spring 2022 Tour OPERA IN TROON A night of entertainment like no other! Walker Hall 15 March, 7.30pm Tickets: £15 / U26s £5 Book now scottishopera.org.uk Core funded by

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Classified Ayrshire 09.3.2022 21 funeral-notices.co.uk Announce, share and remember forever Find a local Funeral Director in our online directory We have over 2,500 Funeral directory listings nationwide Create a notice from just £36 Visit: funeral-notices.co.uk To place your funeral notice over the phone call: 01482 908084 Create a beautiful notice with our flexible style funeral notice HAYES Jack Peacefully passed away at home on the 9th June 2021. Jack had a wonderful and full life, and will now be laid to rest alongside his daughter Janette. He leaves behind his loving wife Marjorie. He was a proud grandad of Richard, Neil, Michael, Anneka and an even prouder great-grandad of Charley, Lewis, Olivia, Max, James, Toby, Amelia, Oscar and Leo. We will always remember the loving memories he has left us with. Jack will be deeply missed by his family and friends. Due to current restrictions the funeral will be invitation only. Funeral to be held at Chanterlands Crematorium on the 7th July. Any charitable donations will be welcome for Macmillan Cancer Support. Further enquiries to A Shepherd & Son, 48 Beverley Road, Hull East Yorkshire HU3 1YE Tel: 01482 323510 With over 180 new symbols and themes to choose from Create a notice from just £36 Visit: funeral-notices.co.uk ML Williams Funeral Directors When someone you love dies, you can depend on us. We will take care of you and your loved one every step of the way. Our experienced team at our branch on Falkland Park Road are here to support you. 01292 427313 01292 262277 1b Falkland Park Road, Ayr KA8 8LL • 24-hour service • Bereavement advice • Transparent pricing • Home visits Call us 24 hours a day for support, help and advice, www.mlwilliams.co.uk AULD Ronnie Suddenly, at home on 1st March 2022, Ronnie aged 72 years. Ronnie was greatly loved and will be sorely missed by all his family and friends. Funeral will take place at Masonhill Crematorium on 18th March at 11.15am. BRYDEN Sarah (Morag) Peacefully at Creggan Bahn Court on Monday 28th February 2022, Sarah (Morag) aged 92 years, formerly of Glenalla Crescent, Alloway. Beloved wife of the late Stewart Bryden, much loved mother and mother-in-law of Kirsty and Andrew, Don and Frances, Fiona and Kevin and Catriona and Ron and a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St. Columba Parish Church, Ayr on Wednesday 16th March 2022 at 2.00pm to which all family and friends are respectfully invited. Family flowers only please. BURNETT William Ramsay (Bill) On Friday 4th March in Haddington, Bill, much loved husband of Ann, dad to Ronan and Christopher and father-in-law to Jools. Former Deputy Head at Girvan Academy. Donations to Dementia UK at https://www.dementiauk.org/getinvolved/donate/ CONLIN William Peacefully at South Lodge Residential Home, Ayr on 2nd March 2022, Bill aged 95 years. Bill was much loved and will be sorely missed by all his family and friends. Funeral will take place at Masonhill Crematorium on 22nd March at 10.30am. DALE Ellen Peacefully at Ayr Hospital on 6th March 2022, Ellen Dale (nee Crisp) aged 87 years. Much loved wife of the late David and a dear Mum, Gran and Great-Gran to her family. Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service at Masonhill Crematorium on Wednesday 16th March 2022 at 2.00pm. DENHAM Sheena Peacefully after a short illness at Ayr Hospital on the 5th March 2022, Sheena Denham aged 70 years. Much loved wife of Stewart. Sheena will be sadly missed by all those who knew her. Family and Friends are invited to the Funeral Service at Masonhill Crematorium on Tuesday 15th March at 12noon. FAIRBAIRN JOE Peacefully in Buckreddan Nursing Home, Kilwinning, on Sunday 6th March 2022, Joe, aged 90 years. A much loved husband of the late Vilma. A special Dad of Joe and the late Sarena. An adored Pa of all the grandkids. Joe was a good friend to many and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Funeral service will take place on Tuesday 22nd March at Dalmellington Church at 11.00 Thereafter at Dalmellington Cemetery. FITZSIMMONS Margaret Peacefully at Biggart Hospital on 27th February 2022, Greta aged 83 years. Beloved wife of the late Wullie, dearly loved mum to Effie and Bobby, mum in law to George and Elaine and a devoted nana and great grannie. The funeral will take place at Masonhill Crematorium on Friday 18th March at 1.15pm. Family flowers only, in lieu of flowers donations to Downs Syndrome UK in memory of Jimmy McKissock and David McMillan. Special thanks to Macmillan Ward Biggart Hospital for respect, care and attention shown to Greta and all the Family. FLANAGAN Brian Suddenly but peacefully at Ayr Hospital on 28th February 2022 following a short illness. Much loved husband of Urcilla, nee Connor, adored dad of Simon and Chris, special father in-law of Leigh and Jill and a doting grandpa to Daniel, Hannah, Loren, Ava and Connor. Special thanks to his consultant, staff and physiotherapy team in ICU/HDU at Ayr Hospital. Funeral service will take place on Friday 11th March at Castlehill Parish Church, Ayr, 12.30pm, thereafter to Ayr Cemetery at 1.30pm. All family and friends welcome. HAPPEL Robert (Fergie) Passed away peacefully, after a short illness, on Thursday 24th February 2022, Fergie aged 79 years. Much loved husband of Myra, dad of Alan & Ainsley and an adored papa to Joe, Harry and Maya. Funeral will take place at Masonhill Crematorium on 16th March at 11.15am. MCCLINTON Ian It is with great sadness we announce that Ian has passed away at home in Smirnenski, Bulgaria on Friday 25th February aged 79. Ian was the beloved husband of the late Margaret, much loved dad of Fiona and Iain and papa of Gordon, Callum, Ross, Alba and Erin. Private cremation in Sofia, Bulgaria. McGREGOR Archibald Buchanan Peacefully at home, after a long illness bravely borne, on 1st March 2022 Archibald Buchanan McGregor (Archie) aged 76 years. Beloved husband of Maureen, dearly loved dad of Alison and Gillian, father-in-law of Gregor and Stuart and a proud and devoted papa to Euan, Jamie, Hannah and Katie. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St. Leonard's Parish Church, Ayr on Thursday 17th March at 1.30pm, thereafter to Masonhill Crematorium at 2.45pm to which all family and friends are respectfully invited. Family flowers only please. If desired a donation can be made to The Beatson Hospital or Prostate Cancer. SPEIRS CHARLES (CHARLIE) Tragically, in Dalmellington, on Friday 25th February 2022, Charlie, aged 72 years. Adored by his wife Maureen. A cherished Dad of the late Lynne. Charlie was a good friend to many and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Funeral service will take place at Masonhill Crematorium, Ayr on Monday 14th March at 12.00 noon. WALKER Robert Passed away peacefully at Carrick House Nursing Home, Ayr on Thursday 3rd March 2022, Robert aged 80 years. Robert was dearly loved and will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. Funeral will take place at Masonhill Crematorium on Tuesday 15th March at 1.15pm. YUILLE Phyllis Elizabeth Suddenly, but peacefully at Ayr Hospital on 2nd March 2022, Phyllis, aged 75. Beloved sister to Bill, Sheena and Linda and special aunt to her nephews and nieces. Phyllis was a dedicated nurse for 40 years and will be sadly missed. Her funeral service will take place at Masonhill Crematorium, Ayr, on Friday 11th March at 10:30am. To place your funeral notice over the phone, call: 01482 908084

22 09.3.2022 Classified Ayrshire HILL Craig In loving memory of our dear son Craig who died 11th March 2019. Sadly missed by Mum, Dad and Brothers Kevin and Stephen. Sleep Peacefully Son. xxx MACLEAN JANE LEES Petty Officer - The Women's Royal Naval Service - 29 March 1933 - 9 March 2014 The regular meeting of Lodge St James newton upon Ayr 125 will be held in the masonic temple 26 Fullerton st Ayr on Monday 14th March 2022 at 7pm business minutes accounts correspondence MM Degree by RWM and Office Bearers. Visitors Welcome covid procedures in place W Mcculloch sect Lodge Burns St. Mary 505, Hurlford A talk on Erskine Hospital Will be held on Tuesday 15 March 2022 At 7.15p.m. Visitors welcome Stuart Milne PM Secretary. Lodge St Peter 331 A regular meeting of the lodge will be held in Barr Castle on Wednesday 16th March at 7.30pm. Minutes, Correspondence, FC Degree by Lodge Eaglesham 1265 Visitors Welcome Holders of the Travelling Mallet T Smith PM Secretary LODGE DARVEL 971 LODGE IRVINE ST ANDREW No. 149 The next regular meeting of the Lodge will be held in the Masonic Temple, Bank Street, Irvine on Thursday 17th March 2022 at 7.15pm. Business Minutes Correspondence A.O.C.B. FC Degree to be conferred by Lodge 149. Visitors Welcome Derek Wilson Secretary Lodge St MaurS KiLMaurS No 1398 The Regular Meeting of the Lodge will be held in the Temple at 22 Main Street, Kilmaurs on Wednesday 9th March 2022 at 7.30pm. Business: Minutes, Correspondence, Reports, A.O.C.B. F.C. Degree. Lodge St Maurs Members & H.M.’s only. Dan Bamford PM Secretary Lodge St Thomas (Kil) Dalmellington No 433 The next Regular Meeting of the Lodge will be held on Wednesday 16 March 2022 At 7pm Business Minutes Correspondence AOCB MM Degree on One Candidate Visitors Most Welcome Robert McKinstry PM Secretary www.Lodge433.com REGULAR MEETING THURS 10th MARCH 2022 @ 7.30PM BUSINESS, MINUTES, CORRES, AOCB. M M DEGREE, BY LODGE ST PETER GALSTON 331 BALLOT R PIRRIE PM SECY

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 23 Alpha Course Alloway Parish Church are running an eleven-week Alpha Course starting in the church halls on March 15. The Alpha Course outlines the core principles of the Christian faith that all denominations agree on. It provides an opportunity for everyone of long standing faith, new faith, or no faith- to engage in discussions about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The course will run for 11 weeks - 10 Tuesday evenings (7pm-8.45pm) and one Saturday (April 23 from 9.30am-4.30pm). Orchestra’s Centenary The Ayrshire Symphony Orchestra will hold its Centenary concert in Ayr Town Hall on Sunday, March 20, at 7.30pm. This special programme will include the introduction to Grieg’s Holberg Suite, Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone and Rachmaninov’s magnificent second symphony. Tickets are available from members of the orchestra or by contacting secretary Louise Barrett on lbarrett27@ btinternet.com. Fearless camper’s 40 nights out for charity Challenge Colin Russell completed his mammoth 40 night camp out for Ayrshire Cancer Support Abi Smillie An extreme camper who endured four storms, wind, rain and snow has completed his mammoth 40 night camp out for charity. Colin Russell, from Ayr, braved sub-zero temperatures to mark the 40th anniversary of Ayrshire Cancer Support and raise funds to help the charity continue their good work. The fearless wild camper has so far raised £2385 for the charity who he said he is forever grateful for after helping his mum with free transport to hospital appointments. Colin will now be completing an additional 41st night as he takes part in the charity’s ‘Camp Out for Cancer - Extreme at Ayr Racecourse’ event on Saturday, March 19, which was rescheduled last month due to storm Dudley. Colin, a health and safety officer with South Ayrshire Council, said: “ I am well known for camping in extreme conditions, and I wanted to give myself that extra challenge by completing 40 nights, plus an extra 41st night just for fun. “I endured high winds, sleet, snow, rain and four storms but every single day I reminded myself as to why I was doing this and my commitment to Ayrshire Cancer Support kept me motivated. “I appreciate the importance of helping Ayrshire Cancer Support raise vital funds to support those affected by cancer. “I’d like to thank Ayrshire Cancer Support for giving me the opportunity to complete this challenge and raise some funds for this fantastic cause as well as thank everyone who kindly donated to my JustGiving Page.” Megan Porter, ACS community and events co-ordinator, said: “We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Colin for camping for 40 nights for Ayrshire Cancer Support’s 40th Anniversary Year. “He has camped all over Scotland in extreme winter conditions and showed determination and commitment throughout and we are extremely grateful for all funds raised. A huge thank you Colin for all your support.” You can watch any of Colin’s 40 nights on his YouTube Channel ‘Colin Russell Scottish Wild Camper’. You might be apart, but they’re always in your heart - send a loving message to your mum or lady in your life this Mother’s Day FREE You could even add a beautiful photo for ONLY £2 To place your free message visit www.ayrshirelive.co.uk/mothersday All Mother’s Day messages will appear in your on Wednesday 23rd March *Booking deadline for messages is Monday 21st March at 10.00am, £2 charge for upgrade to photo is self-serve online ONLY.

24 09.03.2022 MEMBER Of SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT FOR AYR Siobhian Brown I am grilling council on water leaking into chambers Like you, I have been shocked and upset by reports of water getting into burial lairs at Ayr Cemetery. I have been listening to constituents who have been affected by this and are waiting for the results of the investigation. Families are currently going through the unimaginable and we all must be sympathetic to this before commenting on social media. I am keeping in touch with South Ayrshire Council and pushing for all questions to be answered and for this situation to be resolved as quickly as possible. If you need my help, then please contact my office. The Scottish Government is having to spend an estimated £12.2 million to protect the people of South Ayrshire from the Conservative Party’s vindictive and immoral policies. If it wasn’t for this, then we would have an extra £109 to spend for everyone in South Ayrshire to help with the spiralling cost of living crisis. Westminster already constrains Scotland’s financial powers, we should Demanding answers Siobhian Brown MSP not have to also spend this amount to fight against a party that prioritises tax cuts for banks, while cutting funding to help ordinary people. Unfortunately, with Boris Johnson as Prime Minister and a weak Labour opposition, things will only get worse. That is why we will have the opportunity to choose a different path with a post-pandemic independence referendum. We all know someone whose life has been touched by cancer. I recently spoke in the Scottish Parliament debate to mark World Cancer Day and recognise these individuals and families and hear more about the steps we are taking together to work towards a cancer-free world. I would like to thank the team at Ayrshire Cancer Support who invited me to their new centre in Ayr and gave me a valuable insight to the challenges they currently face post pandemic . Ayrshire Cancer Support is a fantastic charity that provides practical help and emotional support for those affected by cancer. I urge you to look more into the vital work they do and consider donating if you can at https://www.ayrshirecs.org/ The upcoming local elections are right around the corner. It is important to have your say on issues that are important to us all. Make sure you are registered to vote by Monday, April 18. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Independent get my vote Oh dear,we are approaching another round of council elections,and once again individuals trying to climb up the political ladder, will be subjecting us again to their overused expressions,such as ‘’subject to rigorous consultation’’, ’’sustainable costs’’, etc, etc. Yet on adjoining columns in last week’s Post, one aspiring politician writes “We have to and will balance the budget of funds,’’ and two columns adjacent,a fellow councillor makes the ‘‘case for the £45m leisure centre.’’ Whilst they probably represent different political parties,I have been told their political masters are in the current coalition. Such is life in South Ayrshire Council. God help us. So I intend to vote for an independent,who will represent me and not the political dogma of a particular party,provided he or she promises not to join a coalition - and I believe him or her. Iain Tulloch, Seagate, Prestwick Hospital chiefs blasted The recent IT problem at Crosshouse on March 6 that led to the cancellation of most of the outpatient appointments today, (March 7), is something that can always occur occasionally. However, the response by Ayrshire and Arran in advising affected patients was very poor. Had I not called Ayr Hospital on Sunday evening to ask where the Heathfield suite was located then I would have been none the wiser and would have turned up at the hospital, no doubt with hundreds of other patients, only to be sent home. I was also lucky to have a family member who works at the hospital who forwarded a web link this morning which he had received on the situation. Not only was I fortunate enough to find out about the cancellation I only live 10 minutes from the hospital. Imagine if you had travelled miles and made arrangements for child care or similar. The hospital will be full of disgruntled patients today (Monday) and the admin staff on the clinic receptions and at the appointment centre will have to bear the brunt of the undoubted frustration and pick up the pieces afterwards. My appointment was at 9.15am. And by 10 .30am, I still had to be formally advised, if ever. No text, call or email. Poor show by hospital management. Paul Banks, Ayr Open flats to Ukrainians What can we in Ayr do to assist these desperate people who find themselves in dire straits through absolutely no fault of their own? The British Government must open the doors to those shattered people and in so doing can receive help from us in Ayr. We have over 200 vacant houses in the high flats in Ayr that could be instantly brought into use in www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Ayrshire this emergency thus giving refuge and hope to the terribly afflicted Ukrainians in their hour of need. We need local leadership that can immediately respond to such a catastrophe. Norman McLean, Ayr Thank you for support Thank you Ayrshire Post for supporting the local effort of donations for Ukraine Refugees. Our campaign stand on Saturday was a success, thanks to the generous public, in raising money to give to Olga’s Alterations to add to her fundraising amount. Marion McPherson Secretary, Ayr Group Amnesty International Open our spaces Words of life in Ukraine are difficult to come by, especially if you aren’t there. As Citizens in a town that wants to be a city, please, please let’s open the gates and offer over 200 spots in the high towers, dividers and makeshift in Hourston’s, the Citadel, Mainholm Academy to name a few spots, it’s the very least we can do. Brian J Heddle, Ayr Taskforce for refugees Given the challenge that is the refugee crisis reared by the rambling mind of what appears to be an unwell Russian president as opposed to the Russian people it is incumbent that we give all assistance we can to the refugees fleeing their homeland of Ukraine. I suggest we set up a local task force headed up by organisations who can address the social,medical and local integration problems that the refugees, that we would welcome, face as a group and individually . The first social issue is housing and I have written to the leader of the council suggesting that any plans to demolish the High Flats at Riverside be cancelled and that a plan is devised by the refugee task force to bring these into play as a centre for the refugees immediately. All shoulders to the wheel. Religious leaders,doctors, council social team and the good citizens of our town to subscribe to the task force. Chic Brodie, Ayr Post Office concerns Further to Post letters page 2/3/2022 on the subject of complaining (carping), by A Oattes. I would ask: does he think people have the right to (carp) when they raise an issue with their elected representatives and the response is underwhelming if you get one at all? A case in point is last year. I raised an issue about a Post Office in August, contacted my councillors before it closed to see what they could do to stop it closing. Of my four councillors, three replied,one to say he had not been in contact with the owners of the local SPAR ,CJ Lang, and that was his sum contribution to the issue. Another replied saying he would contact the company CJ Lang to hold a meeting on the issue followed by an update to say there was no progress, and there his contact with me ended. One councillor never even acknowledged my letter. All four councillors did give a public quote to say they would be disappointed if the Whitletts Post Office at the SPAR closed. And the final councillor started off so well but it has been months since I have had an update from him. In the meantime, the post office have been in discussions with a new retailer to have the post office in their shop but the last time I enquired the staff could only tell me the application process was still ongoing ,so you call not getting a good standard of service from councillors, then I am guilty. What is their excuse? Meanwhile, it may be of interest to your weekly readers according to Turn2us, a poverty charity, it estimates that 2.7 million households in the UK failing to claim £2.6 billion pounds in council tax discounts, that according to the charity equates to £900 per household . So if your readers want to check their council tax to see what they can or may be able to claim ,Citizen Advice Scotland has an online Council Tax Reduction online tool they can use,it will take a few minutes but it could be time well spent. Now recently OFCOM reported that of the 4.2 million households on Universal Credit, only 55,000 used broadband providers social tarriffs to stay connected, like BT Home essentials who offer two types of packages which could, depending on what they use broadband for, save them a fair bit as well. You may have to do a bit of research with this however. Ian Stewart, Ayr

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 25 View CROSSWORD QUICK CROSSWORD Across Down QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS DOWN 1. Parody ACROSS (8) 1. Parody (8) 5. Bird (4) 5. Bird (4) 9. Observe 9. Observe (4) (4) 10. Astral 10. Astral (8) (8) 11. Emulate 11. Emulate (5) (5) 12. Of 12. motion Of motion (7) (7) 13. Commercial (13) 13. Commercial (13) 18. Explosive (8) 18. Explosive 19. Wise (8) (4) 19. Wise 20. (4) Learned (7) 20. Learned 21. Undergarments (7) (5) 21. Undergarments 22. Pip (4) (5) 23. Similarity (8) 22. Pip (4) 23. Similarity (8) 2. DOWN Answered (7) 2. Answered (7) 3. Impair (7) 3. Impair (7) 4. 4. Underestimate (5,6,2) (5,6,2) 6. 6. Respire (7) 7. 7. Importune (7) 8. Sitting (6) 8. Sitting (6) 13. Speech (7) 13. Speech (7) 14. Escapade (7) 14. 15. Escapade Stay (6) (7) 15. 16. Stay Errand (6)(7) 16. 17. Errand Disregard (7) (7) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 9 11 10 12 17. Disregard (7) 13 14 15 16 17 11 12 8 8 the post’s picture of the week Cargo ship at Ayr Port T Davies Brock took this picture of this ship, called “Celtic” with its cargo of turbine blades for a nearby wind-farm. The ship is owned by the shipping line Ocean 7 and she sails under the flag of the Netherlands and her IMO number is 9917672. Her gross tonnage is 3636 and she was built last year so this must be one of her first voyages to the UK. The photograph shows the Port Control office at Ayr with the ship and her cargo extending on each side. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 9 10 11 11 12 12 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 18 19 20 21 20 21 22 23 CRYPTIC Last CROSSWORD week’s solution 22 23 ACROSS DOWN 1. CRYPTIC Clash, too, perhaps CROSSWORD when being 2. Have oil-change on excursion in taught (2,6) North Africa (7) 5. ACROSS How well the class is doing? (4) DOWN 3. Feline could be something of a 9. 1. Money-making Clash, too, herb perhaps (4) when being 2. Have oil-change on excursion in 10. Instrument taught (2,6) suitable for tape? (8) catch? (7) North Africa (7) 11. 5. Doctor How has well to the carry class on rivalry is doing? 4. (4) In another state because film (5) 3. Feline could be something of a 8 Last week’s solution Talk of the town from our social media The £1m Nethermills Hydro Scheme, on the banks of the River Ayr, was officially unveiled to the public last week. Stephen Connell So it cost £1million to build. It should generate £25k a year Annual operating costs and lifespan of it? The £1million would have been better used to fund fuel poverty. Paul Marshall Stephen Connell The 25k is from selling excess power, it doesn’t say how much the college will be saving. Mark Mcknight Nothing can get done in this town without greetin faced naysayers moaning about it, it seems. The scheme will continue to generate free, low carbon electricity for decades after its paid for its capital cost, and power a college, whilst funding fuel poverty schemes locally. Dry yer eyes. Electric bakery in Ayr is up for sale after the owners have decided to retire Caroline Duncan Suzann Mckenzie what if they change the recipe for the birthday cake. Diane Flynn Margaret Flynn April Hendry lemon meringue pies! We need to stock up! Martin Scott I guess getting rolls etc from Asda at 6am won’t be happening anymore. I see the van regularly there and the driver coming out with huge trolley of stuff. Oxfam has become the second charity following Ayrshire Hospice to object to Lidl’s plan for a supermarket in Troon’s Academy Street. Kirst XNicholson How can attracting people into the town be a bad thing for the local shops economies? Bizarre logic to say it will make the town unattractive Christine Dunlop Troon needs another supermarket to provide competition for Morrisons shop and petrol. Maybe get them to lower prices. Linda Gould There is not enough car parking for a supermarket. Michael McColm People need to remember to what was in the building when it was first built many years ago, a supermarket back then it was Presto before closing and converted into the shops that are there now. This is YOUR paper.. Send your letters to news@ayrshirepost. co.uk For legal reasons, the sender must include his or her name and address. A daytime telephone number would be helpful. Should the author wish to remain anonymous, words to that effect should be added. We shall not publish letters from a writer who wishes to remain anonymous where critical comments are directed at an individual. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Ayrshire Post. High tides Day Mor Hgt Aft Hgt 10/03 0436 2.65 1702 2.50 11/03 0519 2.51 1753 2.30 12/03 0614 2.39 1905 2.17 13/03 0732 2.34 2130 2.24 14/03 0920 2.46 2225 2.44 15/03 1018 2.64 2306 2.59 16/03 1059 2.78 2343 2.68 New moon .. March 31 Thought for the week.. Compiled by Irene Howat In days of famine hundreds of years ago a couple left Bethlehem with their two boys and went to live in another country. The boys eventually married local girls. Then the father and both sons died. Their widows faced a bleak future. ‘Go back home,’ the mother told her daughters-in-law. ‘You might marry again and have children.’ One left. The other, Ruth, said she’d never leave her mother-in-law, and the two widows headed for Bethlehem. The famine was over and it was harvest time. Ruth worked in the fields and provided for them both. Before long the farmer fell in love with her and the two were married. Then a little boy was born to them. You can read this story for yourself. It’s the lovely short book of Ruth in the Bible’s Old Testament. For your interest, the Lord Jesus Christ was a direct descendent of the baby, whose name was Obed. God works in mysterious ways. (see the Bible book of Ruth in the Bible)

26 09.03.2022 www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Memory Lane share your memories with our readers From the archives of the Ayrshire Post 25 Years ago A search and rescue helicopter from HMS Gannet, in Prestwick, was called into action at the weekend to rescue two hill walkers who found themselves in trouble. The pair lost their bearings on the 2,883ft Ben Ledi, near Callender and were forced to stumble through darkness for more than four hours. Thankfully, the crew from HMS Gannet quickly identified the position of the hill walkers before they were airlifted to safety. 50 Years ago Personnel and aircraft from the 819 Squadron, based in Prestwick, have been chosen to take part in some special military exercises in the north east of Scotland later on in the year. Six naval Sea King helicopters and a number of personnel will take part in a series of exercises, which are believed to be anti submarine exercises. The exercise will take place off the coast of Orkney, probably in September, and involves a number of other armed forces . 100 Years ago A tragedy unfolded at Mossbog Farm, Tarbolton, when a fire caused the death of a 68 year-old farm servant. It is surmised that a spark to a petrol tank ignited the tank and the fire caused severe damage to a byre and a metal outhouse. A 68 year-old man, who was sleeping in the loft, was burnt to death and his charred remains were later discovered by Kilmarnock Fire Brigade. Damage to the property is estimated to be £1,500. 88 years ago 38 YEARS AGO Ayr Tram days This historic picture from 1930 shows a throwback to travel in a bygone era. The days of tram transport in Ayrshire are, of course, long gone. But in the 30s, scenes like this in George Street were common. Thanks to Dave Moore for sharing this fantastic picture. Business brains meet The Ayrshire Junior Chamber of Commerce looked the part when this picture was taken in 1984. The junior chamber was a great chance for enterprising young business people to get together and share their acumen and expertise, as well as their experiences.

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 27 Ayrshire Chamber Connect Chit chat Deep in discussion at the monthly networking event Planning ahead Businesses use the Connect event to stay in touch with others across the region Plenty of food for thought Business leaders from across Ayrshire have converged for their latest networking summit. The Connect event, run by the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, was held at the Ayrshire Food Hub, based just outside Hurlford. The monthly gathering is an ideal chance for a meeting of the minds in a relaxed atmosphere as businesses large and small start to emerge into a post-pandemic world. There was plenty to discuss at the latest event, with firms plotting a busy Spring and Summer season ahead. Photographer Stevie McKendrick was there to capture the best of the day as the delegates came together for a very worthwhile session. Team game The Food Hub was a great base for the networking event Good to talk The sessions are an ideal chance for a catch up Cheers A cuppa to mark the occasion as these delegates get down to business All smiles These ladies enjoy a chat over their favourite brew

FOOTBALL MAGAZINE EDITION EXTRATIME 56-PAGE SPECIAL CELEBRATING TEAMS, PLAYERS AND HISTORY Seniors ON SALE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 Untitled-1 1 22/02/2022 14:50 56-page special celebrating Ayrshire teams, players and history. “Gold Bullen” why Ayr United have hit jackpot having new boss Lee lead them to safety. Seniors: EVERY WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE CLUB - we’ve got it covered. “Dugout disciple” Derek McInnes on learning from the best to succeed at Kilmarnock. OR pick up a copy in your local newsagents (Ayrshire only) SCAN THIS QR CODE TO GET A COPY DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR Visit www.regionalnewspaper.co.uk celebrate your local this february nominations close 09.03.22 Y R A H S I R E P U B O F T H E Y E A R 2 0 2 2 WHO’S YOUR PUB OF THE YEAR? SCAN ME TO NOMINATE YOUR AYRSHIRE PUB OF THE YEAR 2022 OR VISIT AYRSHIRELIVE.COM/POTY

09.03.2022 29 TEASER Eight pages of puzzles, quizzes and sudoku QUICK CROSSWORD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 General Knowledge Quiz 8 10 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1 Which two-word term for an abandoned settlement was the title of a 1981 hit single by ska band The Specials? A Waste Land B Ghost Town C Tumbleweed Town 7 Which Scottish comedy duo, popular in the 1980s, had the catchphrase “Fan-Dabi-Dozi!”? A The Krankies B The Krabbies C The Frankies 18 19 20 25 27 21 22 23 24 ACROSS 3. Sluice (9) 8. Zero (4) 9. Start (9) 10. German songs (6) 11. Washed (5) 14. Roof edges (5) 15. Volcanic flow (4) 16. Support (5) 18. Head cook (4) 20. Pierce (5) 21. Windlass (5) 24. Colonnade (6) 25. Gad about (9) 26. Cord (4) 27. Element (9) 26 DOWN 1. Affect (9) 2. Question (9) 4. Ogle (4) 5. Window (5) 6. Sociable (6) 7. Cistern (4) 9. Animal (5) 11. Divan (5) 12. Guide (9) 13. Trite (9) 17. Jet (5) 19. Incentive (6) 22. Witches’ group (5) 23. Nimbus (4) 24. Soon (4) 2 What name is given to the group of creatures that includes crabs, shrimps, krill and woodlice? A Crustaceans B Vertebrates C Tetrapods 3 What name is given to the ancient Egyptian system of writing using pictorial symbols? A Runes B Cuneiform C Hieroglyphics 4 Which British reggae band had a 1993 hit with a cover of the Elvis Presley song Can’t Help Falling in Love? A UB40 B Aswad C Madness Michelle Dotrice See Question 10. 5 A 1974 Mel Brooks Western satire was called Blazing… what? A Trails B Saddles C Rows 6 What name is given to a midmorning meal combining breakfast and lunch? A Elevenses B Brunch C Lunchfast 8 The Mojave Desert is predominantly in which US state? A California B Florida C Iowa 9 Which large African mammal’s name comes from the ancient Greek for river horse? A Rhinoceros B Elephant C Hippopotamus 10 Played by Michele Dotrice, what is the first name of Frank’s wife in Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em? A Belinda B Betty C Barbara GOGEN Insert letters to form the listed words, moving between adjacent cells horizontally, vertically or diagonally in any direction. Insert all the remaining letters of the alphabet (except Z) in the grid so all the listed words are spelt out in this way. B P L Y X M A G E C U D N V T Q I J O R K S H W F AMPLE BANJO DAB FROND JINGLE MANGY SQUID VECTOR VEX WHISK WOVEN A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y 8 EXTRA PAGES OF PUZZLES IN YOUR PAPER EVERY WEEK 1 2 3 Y H X M J B Y X F R L D C V E T A K S I N G O W U R F P B Q BUNK CANT DEISM FOXED GURN JOINT MOWN POISE QUIETLY STING VAIN VANISHED A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y D J P L O N U T G Q I H E V A M S K C W BODY BOXES BOY CAVE HACKS JOG MIND PLUNGE PUT QUIVER SERF WAIT A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y CROSSWORDS, SUDOKU, WORD SEARCHES AND MUCH MORE - FREE INSIDE YOUR NEWSPAPER

30 09.03.2022 TEASER Your weekly puzzle challenge Kakuro Fill in the white squares with the numbers 1 to 9. Each horizontal block of squares must add up to the number in the shaded square to its left, and each vertical block must add up to the number in the shaded square above it. No number may be used more than once in any one block. 1 2 17 7 10 28 11 7 23 32 21 20 7 9 10 15 14 9 5 6 12 21 14 12 21 11 35 15 10 4 19 10 7 12 3 4 9 13 11 9 5 8 14 6 10 8 9 27 14 13 10 12 24 13 6 18 12 10 8 17 13 12 27 6 14 17 12 12 14 15 20 23 11 20 9 16 12 12 6 7 22 14 23 6 11 8 9 26 12 7 10 11 17 11 WORD LADDER Using the clues provided, fill in each step of the ladder with a new word, changing one letter at a time. 1 2 Shallow part of river Affectionate Parry Nurse Canvas shelter TILT WORD TEXT Tone 3 4 16 7 3 30 11 10 14 29 19 18 11 6 8 10 12 9 8 8 17 9 11 15 17 14 19 32 14 13 21 21 5 20 7 12 10 9 7 9 21 12 13 19 31 11 10 10 10 6 12 8 12 6 13 19 16 5 10 19 17 21 22 28 16 22 21 16 8 11 15 3 3 BANK Herb plant Perfect Psyche Wrap Musical group MIST 11 9 8 9 10 11 10 8 14 12 9 5 4 15 10 21 8 10 Belonging to me Unit of distance TWO SPEED CROSSWORD This two-speed crossword has two sets of clues, but just one grid. If you can’t solve the Cryptic clues, try the Quick. Cryptic Across 1. Still, it might result in interference (6) 4. Lost, as a dog may be (6) 9. Single-minded concentration before starting the job (13) 10. Speed too much, and go over the limit (7) 11. She’s back in the scene, right on cue (5) 12. Rings the wrong shop about nothing (5) 14. We’re clean out of them! (5) 18. Most airlines provide this flight (5) 19. Performer makes a start that is different (7) 21. Takes the plunge without consulting the directors? (4,9) 22. About eleven, the ship moves off (6) 23. He shares what’s left (2-4) Down 1. It may be used to weaken the spirit (6) 2. A fair exchange in view? (2,3,3,2,3) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 8 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 3. Suffer part of the main current (5) 5. One stays with it (7) 6. To take up the post is to increase the risk (5,3,5) 7. Northern statesman? (6) 8. The poet is very ardent! (5) 13. Act for each class (7) 15. Habits of a wise man in America (6) 16. Possibly means to provide titles (5) 17. One who minds is easily hurt (6) 20. Let the sailor in as well, though it’s forbidden (5) Quick Across 1. Stationary (6) 4. Lost (6) 9. An engrossing matter (13) 10. Defeat conclusively (7) 11. Peace goddess (5) 12. Rings (5) 14. Tubs (5) 18. Step (5) 19. Entertainer (7) 21. Is extremely enthusiastic (4,9) 22. Cooks (6) 23. Joint inheritor (2-4) Down 1. Soda dispenser (6) 2. Vengeful justice (2,3,3,2,3) 3. Bring upon oneself (5) 5. Resilience (7) 6. Increase investment (5,3,5) 7. American (6) 8. Chars (5) 13. Act (7) 15. Customs (6) 16. Titles (5) 17. Sensitive (6) 20. Forbidden (5) Scribble pad - Masculine Labyrinth ALPHAMUDDLE SPLIT DECISION Cross out one of the two letters in each divided square to reveal a completed crossword grid. M Y B I A H S V E T J I C T T R HAZE Rearrange the letters in the grid on the left to make five words that read both across and down. Five letters have been placed to start you off. P R O N C O S A E R B O C A T O P E N E T R D E R C N R E T L L H E L E I A N M K A S S Z T S Y T U S R X G E H

09.03.2022 31 TEASER Your weekly puzzle challenge PATHFINDER Beginning with the top highlighted letter, follow a continuous path of words associated with the given subject. The trail goes through each letter once, twisting up, down and sideways, but never diagonally. London attractions B T I T S E N D E R U C A C E R I S S C I C O M N B K L A P I L H A F M E T E E W I H A M B R B E L U S A B R O N G O T R A S C T A E T R I T R A N G YHMH I AUEGDHCL I N E L L A G S M T I O T G L E W R Y H I N A T A N N I A L L Y A M C L S M U R D A A R T E R D U R L W O O A N L P O R T N A H C E A R R L I H N L O R E M E A C R O T H I S E D G E C U T L A Y K A V R T O U M A N S U D P W E L O E Y R E B C I S A S R O Y A B S M U S A R B Sudoku Challenge Easy 6 8 4 3 3 1 8 5 1 9 4 1 6 9 8 3 6 4 8 3 4 4 1 6 8 9 9 5 3 9 1 7 1 3 5 8 9 4 9 4 2 7 2 5 3 1 5 1 3 4 2 6 3 6 5 5 9 4 3 7 8 1 6 2 6 3 5 8 MIRROR IMAGE Medium Which of the shapes below is an exact mirror image of the shape on the right? A C CLOCKWORD The solutions from 1 to 12 are all six-letter words ending with the letter N in the centre. Moving clockwise from 1, the letters in the outer circle will spell out the name of a TV presenter. 10 9 1. Quick 2. Asian 3. Cropped up 4. Idea 5. Guard 11 8 6. Congenital B D 12 7 N 1 6 7. Ointment 8. Hear 9. Incarcerate 10. Perception 11. Movement 12. Morose 2 5 3 4 6 1 8 1 5 8 6 8 9 5 Hard 8 9 4 5 3 6 8 7 4 8 2 3 1 4 6 2 6 4 7 3 1 9 2 8 6 5 4 5 6 3 7 9 7 3 4 8 9 2 7 5 9 1 8 5 7 8 9 3 1 7 8 9 3 6 4 9 3 2 5 4 1 5 8 4 6 9 9 6 1 2 2 3 4 5 1 5 4 8 9 6 3 2 9 8 7 7 3 6 9 5 7 2 7 3 2 3 9 3 8 7 5 7 5 3 1 2

32 09.03.2022 TEASER TEASER Your weekly puzzle challenge P A N T H E R 3 LETTERS ADO EGG FOX PLY SAP SET SPY STY THE WAY 4 LETTERS AMEN APES ARMY AWLS AXED AXLE BANS DONE FEET MADE PAID PEAL PEAS PEEL SCAM SLAT SLED SUDS SWAY WERE 5 LETTERS POSES SAGGY TASTY VOLES 7 LETTERS EATABLE PANTHER When you’ve completed the puzzle, rearrange the shaded squares to spell out some pond plants. We’ve given you one word to start you off. WORD WISE The words may sound familiar, but do you know they mean? A Painting technique B To totter, stumble C Stopper, plug STOPPLE FILL IN General Knowledge Crossword General Knowledge Crossword A Sorrow audibly B Hay wagon C Fine oak panelling WAIN ACROSS 1. Another name for a Williams pear (8,4) 7. Dome-shaped den constructed by beavers (5) 8. Port in Tanzania on the Indian Ocean (5) 9. The standard monetary unit of Japan (3) 10. Old Testament wife of Uriah and mother of Solomon by David (9) 11. ‘The ---’, 2001 film thriller starring Nicole Kidman (6) 12. ‘The ---’, 1885 operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan (6) 15. Dome-shaped membrane that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities (9) 17. Mr. Amin, Ugandan head of state 1971- 79 (3) 18. Red, fire-fighting specialist whose story was the basis for the 1968 film Hellfighters (5) 19. Cricket ground in London, headquarters of the M.C.C. (5) 21. 1958 film musical starring Rossano Brazzi and Mitzi Gaynor (5,7) DOWN 1. Chicago-born clarinettist nicknamed ‘the King of Swing’ (5,7) 2. Town in central Israel with an airport (3) 3. Number represented by the letters XX in Roman numerals (6) 4. Light silvery element whose symbol is K (9) 5. 1982 film musical starring Aileen Quinn (5) 6. In history, the period sometimes called the Old Stone Age (12) 7. Jack, prime minister of the Republic of Ireland 1977-79 (5) 10. Sarah, French actress born Henrietted-Rosine Bernard in 1844 (9) 13. First sign of the zodiac (5) 14. G.N., Australian Test cricketer who scored 268 against Pakistan at Melbourne in 1983- 4 (6) 16. Mission in San Antonio, Texas, site of an 1836 siege and massacre (5) 20. Bird of enormous size and power in Arabian legend (3) PANTHER Solutions Sudoku General Knowledge Quiz 1 Ghost Town 2 Crustaceans 3 Hieroglyphics 4 UB40 5 Saddles 6 Brunch 7 The Krankies 8 California 9 Hippopotamus 10 Betty. Quick Crossword Across: 3 Floodgate; 8 None; 9 Beginning; 10 Lieder; 11 Clean; 14 Eaves; 15 Lava; 16 Truss; 18 Chef; 20 Prick; 21 Winch; 24 Arcade; 25 Gallivant; 26 Rope; 27 Component. Down: 1 Influence; 2 Interview; 4 Leer; 5 Oriel; 6 Genial; 7 Tank; 9 Beast; 11 Couch; 12 Navigator; 13 Hackneyed; 17 Spurt; 19 Fillip; 22 Coven; 23 Halo; 24 Anon. Gogen General Knowledge Crossword Across: 1 Bartlett pear; 7 Lodge; 8 Tanga; 9 Yen; 10 Bathsheba; 11 Others; 12 Mikado; 15 Diaphragm; 17 Idi; 18 Adair; 19 Lord’s; 21 South Pacific. Down: 1 Benny Goodman; 2 Lod; 3 Twenty; 4 Potassium; 5 Annie; 6 Palaeolithic; 7 Lynch; 10 Bernhardt; 13 Aries; 14 Yallop; 16 Alamo; 20 Roc. Word Wise C. Stopper, plug B. Hay wagon S W A A N S Y V B C X F X X U O A P E L E D S L S M A D E A S E E P N A T T A T A S Y S T Y D H W A Y H O E B O P O S S P E A W L S L A A A R M E E L Y G E G E P E I E E G R A G D O N E E T E Y F Fill In Pond plants: WEEDS Kakuro 8 3 1 6 8 3 1 6 8 3 1 6 8 3 1 6 8 3 1 6 8 3 1 6 8 3 1 6 8 3 1 6 8 3 1 6 8 9 4 6 9 5 8 9 4 6 9 5 8 9 4 6 9 5 8 9 4 6 9 5 8 9 4 6 9 5 8 9 4 6 9 5 8 9 4 6 9 5 8 9 4 6 9 5 8 9 4 6 9 5 8 9 4 6 9 5 8 9 4 6 9 5 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 3 7 6 9 8 6 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 5 3 2 2 4 3 1 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3 7 1 3 6 1 3 7 1 3 6 1 3 7 1 3 6 1 3 7 1 3 6 1 3 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 1 5 9 3 2 6 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 9 3 1 5 4 9 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 4 1 5 8 4 7 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 3 2 6 9 1 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 4 7 9 8 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 7 1 8 2 6 9 2 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 3 1 8 4 1 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 9 1 7 6 8 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 5 3 1 9 2 4 1 3 Clockword 1 Sudden, 2 Indian, 3 Arisen, 4 Notion, 5 Warden, 6 Inborn, 7 Lotion, 8 Listen, 9 Intern, 10 Acumen, 11 Motion, 12 Sullen. SIAN WILLIAMS 4 7 2 6 3 8 1 9 5 2 9 7 5 8 4 3 1 6 8 6 9 1 4 2 5 3 7 1 4 6 7 2 3 9 5 8 8 2 5 9 3 1 6 7 4 5 3 8 4 1 6 7 9 2 2 1 4 8 9 7 5 3 6 3 7 2 6 1 9 8 4 5 6 9 3 7 5 1 4 2 8 7 1 8 2 4 9 6 3 5 5 9 1 6 3 4 2 7 8 4 8 5 7 9 1 3 6 2 5 3 1 9 7 2 4 8 6 1 2 3 8 6 5 9 4 7 8 6 4 2 5 9 7 1 3 1 9 5 6 8 3 7 4 2 2 5 7 3 4 8 6 9 1 3 4 2 9 1 6 8 5 7 Easy Medium 7 2 6 9 5 4 3 8 1 1 5 7 3 4 9 8 6 2 4 6 1 8 2 5 9 7 3 4 3 7 5 8 9 1 2 6 8 7 3 2 9 4 6 5 1 5 9 6 1 4 8 2 3 7 6 7 8 3 9 5 2 1 4 4 8 5 7 6 2 1 9 3 9 5 4 2 1 7 3 6 8 4 5 7 8 6 1 3 2 9 1 7 4 9 5 3 2 8 6 6 8 1 2 3 5 9 7 4 1 8 2 5 3 6 4 9 7 3 2 7 6 4 1 9 5 8 5 6 8 9 1 4 7 3 2 3 4 9 6 2 5 8 7 1 7 9 5 4 1 8 6 2 3 1 5 3 8 7 6 2 4 9 Hard 9 7 8 6 2 5 1 3 4 2 8 5 9 3 6 4 1 7 5 6 4 7 1 9 3 2 8 1 6 9 4 8 7 2 5 3 8 5 2 7 1 9 3 6 4 4 9 6 3 5 8 7 1 2 2 5 6 7 9 4 3 8 1 4 9 1 3 2 7 8 5 6 6 7 5 8 4 2 1 9 3 8 3 6 4 5 2 9 7 1 5 1 9 7 2 3 6 8 4 2 4 3 1 8 6 7 5 9 6 7 4 1 8 3 5 9 2 3 9 2 6 5 8 4 1 7 8 1 9 7 3 4 2 6 5 5 6 1 2 4 8 7 3 9 4 3 7 9 8 5 1 2 6 9 2 5 3 6 1 8 4 7 Two Speed Crossword Across: 1 Static; 4 Astray; 9 Preoccupation; 10 Overrun; 11 Irene; 12 Hoops; 14 Baths; 18 Stair; 19 Artiste; 21 Goes overboard; 22 Steams; 23 Co-heir. Down: 1 Siphon; 2 An eye for an eye; 3 Incur; 5 Stamina; 6 Raise the stake; 7 Yankee; 8 Burns; 13 Perform; 15 Usages; 16 Names; 17 Tender; 20 Taboo. Word Ladder 1 Word, Ford, Fond, Fend, Tend, Tent, Text. 2 Tilt, Tint, Mint, Mind, Bind, Band, Bank. 3 Mist, Mint, Mine, Mile, Male, Maze, Haze. Mirror Image: D Split Decision B I L L S A L U S T A I R I M G C R A Z E Pathfinder British Library, HMS Belfast, Science Museum, Saatchi Gallery, Madame Tussaud’s, Royal Observatory, Kew Palace, Churchill War Rooms, Natural History Museum, Barbican Centre, Golden Hind, National Portrait Gallery, Wellington Arch, Tower Bridge, Tate Modern, Buckingham Palace Alphamuddle S C R A C R O N R O B O A N O D P E T E P E T E R B X L Y P Q R J O I U T N V D M C G E A F K H W S 1 Y V D C L M R W U O X G I N S H K T A E Q J P B F 2 B L J P D F M V A E X H Q I G Y T N U O W R K C S 3

09.03.2022 33 TEASER Your weekly puzzle challenge Samurai Sudoku The rules for Samurai Sudoku vary only slightly from the standard sudoku rules. The 9x9 sudoku at the centre of the X shares four of its 3x3 boxes with those of the outer sudoku. None of the 9x9 sudokus can be solved individually, you must crossreference between the intersecting grids. 2 6 7 4 2 3 2 7 8 4 6 9 1 3 4 2 1 2 7 6 2 5 7 1 8 3 1 9 6 3 6 7 1 4 7 2 4 2 5 7 5 1 3 2 9 3 8 7 4 2 4 9 2 1 5 BATTLESHIPS 9 3 7 6 1 3 8 4 5 6 7 5 6 2 7 5 9 8 3 9 5 5 7 8 1 3 2 7 1 9 2 3 3 4 9 5 6 2 4 2 5 9 1 2 9 9 8 4 5 8 7 6 2 7 6 9 6 5 5 9 1 6 9 7 3 4 7 3 5 7 6 9 7 4 6 8 4 5 NUMBERFIT Fit the listed numbers into the grid. 1 2 digits: 33 95 3 digits: 132 216 221 436 526 535 612 633 634 939 5 digits: 23536 35652 6 digits: 231345 324335 533425 545136 7 digits: 5955635 5966526 6922365 6966235 9 digits: 244561945 265591445 644941625 2 2 digits: 49 73 89 99 3 digits: 101 129 174 319 439 520 641 915 4 digits: 1294 1947 3982 4093 4903 4961 5890 9080 5 digits: 47399 81093 6 digits: 121048 744948 900219 919299 8 digits: 14951938 91493917 3 A B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 0 Find where the fleet of ships shown are hidden in the 10 by 10 grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off. C D E F G 5 0 5 1 4 THE FLEET 1 x Battleship 2 x Cruiser 3 x Destroyer 4 x Submarine H I J 1 1 3 2 2 2 3 4 0 2 1 2 1 2 digits: 17 27 35 75 3 digits: 147 171 214 242 252 412 417 717 4 digits: 1221 1553 3434 5227 5334 5544 7227 9227 5 digits: 90917 91907 6 digits: 115433 531353 743471 774154 8 digits: 74755479 75744579

34 09.03.2022 TEASER Your weekly puzzle challenge REMEMBER WHEN The following events all occurred in living memory. Can you guess the year? CIRCLEGRAMS Replace the question mark with a letter so that the letters within the circle can be rearranged to form words with a common theme. What are the three words, and the letter represented by the question mark? A B Terry Waite was kidnapped in Beirut Charles Haughey became Prime Minister of Ireland for the third time Ernest Saunders resigned as Guinness chief The Duchess of Windsor’s jewels were sold for £31,380,197 Elvis Presley was All Shook Up in the charts Harold Macmillan became Britain’s new Prime Minister John Osborne’s The Entertainer opened at the Royal Court Oliver Hardy died O L U W U F T N C ? O M O R E V A F E E M T A A N L P ? A I B C I R S I G C Actress Barbara Windsor was born French composer Maurice Ravel died John Steinbeck’s play Of Mice And Men opened in New York 999 became Scotland Yard’s emergency number QUICK QUIZ 1. Which Geordie actor and singer had a UK No. 1 single in the 1990s with the song Ain’t No Doubt? 2. How many ‘deadly sins’ are there in Christian theology? 3. Who was the last British governor of Hong Kong? 4. Which railway connects European Russia with Vladivostok on the Pacific? 5. At which weight did Henry Cooper box? 6. In which Californian city was there a major earthquake in January 1994? 7. In which sport is the Ryder Cup contested? 8. What is removed in the process of dehydration? 9. Oil from which fish’s liver is taken for vitamins A and D? 10. Whose column stands in the centre of Trafalgar Square? BRAINTEASERS Can you bend your brain around this set of mathematical, lexical and logistical teasers? 1 Four colleagues accidentally shared the wrong contact details with each other after a meeting. ‘I didn’t call you Cal, did you call me?’ asked Cate. ‘I called the person who called you’, replied Cal. ‘Cam didn’t call me, Cam called my caller’, said Carl. ‘I only SUMMIT UP called Cate if it was Carl who called me’, added Cam. Who did each colleague call? 2 Which two words meaning ‘vomit’ and ‘fibs’ combine into one meaning ‘tipplers’? If the number in each triangle is the sum of the two below, what is the top number? 1 2 116 3 Find the hairstyles in these anagrams: a) Caked Lords, b) Toy Plain, c) Ecstatic Rummy. 4 Blodwyn collects water, run off from her garage roof that measures 2.4m by 4.9m, in a cuboid tank to water her plants. The tank is 60cm by 1.5m and is 1m high. If all of the water that falls onto the roof is collected, how many millimetres will have to fall to fill the storage tank completely? CODEWORD This puzzle has no clues. Instead, every number printed in the grid represents a letter, with the same number always representing the same letter. For example, if 8 turns out to be a V, you can write in V wherever a square contains 8. Using your knowledge of words, complete the puzzle. 1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 C A 2 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 A 6 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 N 15 8 15 6 3 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 8 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 O 6 8 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 3 L

09.03.2022 35 TEASER Your weekly puzzle challenge FUTOSHIKI Insert the numbers one to five in each row and each column, making sure that no number is repeated. The only symbols to guide you are the “greater than” (>) and “less than” (<) signs. 1 1 5 2 3 3 2 3 2 KILLER SUDOKU ARROWWORD Fill in squares in the grid so each row, column and each 3x3 square contains all digits from 1 to 9. Each set of cells joined by dotted lines must add up to the number in the top-left corner. Numbers can’t be repeated within each set of cells. 13 4 14 30 3 14 11 10 9 19 8 Famous battle Door frame Fewer Deep hole Clammy Above Japanese currency Help (1,1,1) Insect Bumbling Arrowwords are like crosswords, but the clues are printed inside squares on the grid. Write your answers in the blank squares in the direction indicated by the arrows. Sleep 18 10 17 13 8 12 21 Irish currency 11 8 7 22 8 Flower Former boy band (1,1,1) Took a chair Greek letter Consumer 3 27 8 15 10 9 13 14 Dandy Diagram 16 The Simpsons bus driver WORD WHEEL You have 10 mins to find as many words as possible using the letters in the wheel. Each must use the hub letter and at least 3 others. Letters may be used only once. You cannot use plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. There is at least one 9-letter word to be found. P R E S E V E R E How you rate: 10 words, average; 15 words, good; 20 words, very good; 25 or more, excellent. WORD SPIRAL Starting from 1, fill in the grid clockwise with four-letter words. The last letter of each word becomes the first letter of the next to reveal a drinking glass. 1 8 11 4 7 9 14 13 2 16 6 10 15 12 3 5 1. Snow runners 2. Leg part 3. Close to 4. Boat of logs 5. Word or expression 6. Cooked animal flesh 7. Horse’s gait 8. Amphibian 9. Slimming plan 10. Roof slab 11. Epochs 12. Hit at flies 13. Therefore 14. Counterfoil 15. Group of countries 16. Rigid toothed device

36 09.03.2022 TEASER Your weekly puzzle challenge WORDSEARCH Here is a list of potato varieties. Can you find them in the grid? The answers can be found running backwards or forwards, horizontal, vertical or diagonal. ACCORD ANYA BALMORAL BOUNTY CARA CHARLOTTE ESTIMA EXCALIBUR HARMONY LULU MARIS PIPER MIMI ORLA OSPREY ROCKET ROOSTER SAXON WILJA W W V C H A R L O T T E J D L T Y G K Y N R O O S T E R H W R K I N V U K I F D B U X P T G C A O S P R E Y D P E A L E E S T I M A P C B T J X R M K L S R F V T U S A X C C A D C A Z B K U O N W S J T A C I O R V K O Z Q R H E R L L M H R O V Q Y U O I L G E G I E D C M F M N P N A G A E M B W R N L L X O O X T B W C H U Z O A A R C M N A S Y Q D T R X C A B K K R M B C K W G G A X C X Y W Z A F R E P I P S I R A M D U T H C X B L U L U S H L H Solutions NINERS Each number from 1 to 9 represents a different letter. Solve the clues and insert the letters in the appropriate squares to discover a word which uses all nine letters. 1 752435 gives a flower 2 1368 gives a tree 9887 gives a plant SPORTWORD A test of knowledge for the sporting enthusiast 5 7 9 12 17 19 1 2 3 4 13 14 16 8 11 18 10 15 6 18223654 gives a jewel 24859 gives a second jewel 169678 gives a crystalline compound 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ACROSS 1. Harold ........, 1924 Olympic 100m champion (8) 7. ..... Fraser, England Test cricketer who took 8-53 against West Indies at Port of Spain in 1998 (5) 8. David ....., former Spain and Barcelona striker who scored five goals in the 2010 World Cup Finals (5) 9. Alan ......, former Crystal Palace manager (6) 10. Formerly Serie A side for whom David Platt signed from Aston Villa in 1991 (4) 12. Arthur ...., 1958 Commonwealth shot put champion (4) 14. Ove ......, 1963 Speedway World Champion (6) 17. Country that hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games (5) 18. Jiri ....., 2001 and 2003 Swiss Open men’s singles champion (5) 19. Terry ........, Spurs manager 1987-91 (8) DOWN 1. Daniel ....., Former Denmark international and Liverpool defender (5) 2. List of members of a sports team (6) 3. Brighton & .... Albion, Football Premier League side (4) 4. European football nation whose home ground is the Ta’ Qali National Stadium (5) 5. Robin ... ......, former Netherlands and Fenerbahce striker (3,6) 6. Lukasz ........., former Poland and current West Ham goalkeeper (9) 11. Passage that allows entrance to, and exit from, the field of play in a football stadium (6) 13. Golf iron with a low, angled face that gives a greater loft than other clubs, enabling spin on the ball (5) 15. Joe ....., inaugural winner of the world snooker championship in 1927 (5) 16. Former Brazil, Milan and Real Madrid midfielder (4) Samurai Sudoku 4 1 3 2 5 6 8 7 9 5 9 6 7 8 4 1 2 3 2 7 8 1 9 3 5 6 4 6 4 9 8 1 2 7 3 5 8 5 7 6 3 9 4 1 2 1 3 2 4 7 5 6 9 8 9 2 4 5 6 7 3 6 1 9 4 8 7 8 5 3 2 1 9 5 8 3 2 6 2 1 4 7 1 8 6 3 8 1 4 5 7 6 9 2 2 5 7 1 9 6 4 3 8 9 4 6 8 2 3 7 5 1 8 3 5 7 6 9 2 1 4 7 6 4 3 1 2 5 8 9 3 7 4 9 5 4 6 9 7 8 3 5 1 2 5 1 7 2 6 4 8 9 3 8 3 2 5 1 9 4 7 6 7 9 5 8 3 2 1 6 4 1 4 3 6 9 5 7 2 8 2 8 6 1 4 7 3 5 9 Numberfit 1 6 9 2 2 3 6 5 5 3 3 4 2 5 9 6 4 4 9 4 1 6 2 5 9 5 5 5 3 5 6 1 2 6 2 1 6 Futoshiki 6 3 3 1 3 3 2 6 5 5 9 1 4 4 5 3 3 2 4 3 3 5 5 9 6 6 5 2 6 2 1 4 9 5 1 9 3 8 7 3 9 8 2 1 3 1 9 9 1 5 0 2 9 0 0 2 1 9 1 3 5 1 2 4 2 5 2 3 1 4 3 5 1 3 4 2 4 1 3 5 2 1 3 2 4 5 4 9 6 1 4 0 9 3 4 3 1 2 5 3 5 2 4 1 7 4 4 9 4 8 4 3 1 2 9 1 7 4 9 9 0 8 0 9 9 1 4 9 3 9 1 7 3 7 4 7 5 5 4 7 9 2 1 5 5 3 0 7 1 7 4 1 2 9 2 7 4 3 4 7 1 9 2 2 7 5 2 2 7 1 3 2 5 4 3 4 1 2 5 1 1 5 4 3 3 2 9 2 1 4 1 7 1 0 5 3 3 4 7 7 5 7 4 4 5 7 9 Quick Quiz 1 Jimmy Nail; 2 Seven; 3 Chris Patten; 4 The Trans-Siberian Railway; 5 Heavyweight; 6 Los Angeles; 7 Golf; 8 Water; 9 Cod; 10 Lord Nelson. Remember When A. 1987; B. 1957; C. 1937. Circlegrams 1 The letter represented by the question mark is B. Bowlcut, bouffant, combover, all hairstyles 2 The letter represented by the question mark is N. Telemann, Paganini, Scriabin, all composers. Brainteasers 1 Cal called Carl, Cate called Cam, Cam called Cal, Carl called Cate. 2 Barf-lies. 3 a) Dreadlocks, b) Ponytail, c) Asymmetric cut. 4 76.5mm. 9 1 6 8 4 3 5 7 2 3 5 2 6 9 7 4 1 8 4 8 7 5 1 2 6 9 3 8 3 9 4 6 1 2 5 7 5 2 1 7 3 8 9 4 6 6 7 4 2 5 9 8 3 1 1 6 3 9 8 5 7 2 4 2 4 5 1 7 6 3 8 9 7 9 8 3 2 4 1 6 5 Battleships 1 2 9 5 8 4 3 6 7 9 3 8 1 4 6 3 5 2 8 7 9 6 7 5 9 2 3 4 8 7 1 6 5 2 4 1 8 7 5 6 9 1 3 2 4 5 3 9 2 4 8 7 1 6 2 6 1 9 7 3 4 5 8 4 8 7 1 6 5 2 9 3 3 5 8 7 2 6 9 4 1 7 1 4 5 3 9 6 8 2 6 9 2 8 1 4 5 3 7 Killer Sudoku 4 5 9 3 8 7 1 2 6 7 3 6 5 1 2 9 8 4 2 8 1 9 4 6 3 5 7 3 1 2 8 5 4 6 7 9 9 6 8 1 7 3 2 4 5 5 4 7 6 2 9 8 1 3 6 7 4 2 3 8 5 9 1 8 9 5 4 6 1 7 3 2 1 2 3 7 9 5 4 6 8 Wordsearch W W V C H A R L O T T E J D L T Y G K Y N R O O S T E R H W R K I N V U K I F D B U X P T G C A O S P R E Y D P E A L E E S T I M A P C B T J X R M K L S R F V T U S A X C C A D C A Z B K U O N W S J T A C I O R V K O Z Q R H E R L L M H R O V Q Y U O I L G E G I E D C M F M N P N A G A E M B W R N L L X O O X T B W C H U Z O A A R C M N A S Y Q D T R X C A B K K R M B C K W G G A X C X Y W Z A F R E P I P S I R A M D U T H C X B L U L U S H L H Codeword 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 M S G H T O D N X R A K L 2 3 2 4 5 1 3 5 2 4 3 1 Arrowword W A D A J A M B A N T T Y E N O L E S S K I P R O S E N J L S U S E R O G R A P H F O P O T T O 1 4 5 3 2 2 1 4 5 3 4 2 5 1 3 2 5 4 3 1 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 U Z C J V Y W I P B F Q E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Y Z A Q X W L F O B D J I 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 S C U H T M N V G R K P E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Q D B J O M W I T Y G Z F Summit Up 116 79 Wordwheel PERSEVERE Word Spiral 1 Skis; 2 Shin; 3 Near; 4 Raft; 5 Term; 6 Meat; 7 Trot; 8 Toad; 9 Diet; 10 Tile; 11 Eras; 12 Swat; 13 Thus; 14 Stub; 15 Bloc; 16 Comb. TUMBLER Sportword Across: 1 Abrahams; 7 Angus; 8 Villa; 9 Pardew; 10 Bari; 12 Rowe; 14 Fundin; 17 India; 18 Novak; 19 Venables. Down: 1 Agger; 2 Roster; 3 Hove; 4 Malta; 5 Van Persie; 6 Fabianski; 11 Tunnel; 13 Wedge; 15 Davis; 16 Kaka. Niners 1 PHILANDER: DAHLIA, PINE, REED 2 SPHERICAL: SAPPHIRE, PEARL, SILICA 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 V U A E H K X N P C L S R

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 37 Property check out this week’s five-star property Beautiful bungalow No.3 Bellevale Av is a gorgeous property with modern decor. Inset, the lovely gardens Fancy The designer kitchen oozes sophistication Cosy The home could be turned into a five-bed if needed Home’s interior is most superior Four-bed ‘in true walk-in condition’ Catching rays The summer house is a great spot to enjoy the sun abi smillie This sophisticated four-bed house belongs in a home interior magazine. Number 3 Bellevale Avenue, Ayr, is an exquisite detached bungalow which is on the market for offers over £435,000. Its 2000 square footage means it is spacious and adaptable to suit the potential buyer’s needs, as the existing four bedroom layout could be reconfigured to five bedrooms if required. And with plenty of natural light, the most desirable garden spaces complete with summer house and double garage, and a spacious drive, it’s hard to find any faults. Handling the sale, Corum Ayr say: “As our photographs show this is one property that can be described as in true walk-in condition.” On the ground floor lies; a broad reception hall, formal lounge with feature fireplace, family/ sitting room, separate dining room just off the designer kitchen with island unit, separate laundry room with WC, shower room and two double bedrooms. Upstairs lie two further spacious double bedrooms; one with a sitting area, study area, modern shower room and useful built-in linen storage. The study area could easily be reconfigured to form an en-suite to bedroom 3. The beautiful gardens are a mix of soft and hard landscaped areas, featuring mature hedging, raised planters, flowers and patio areas. A spacious driveway, charming summer house, a brick store and wash house/ utility room (which is plumbed and has a separate WC), and an attached double garage complete the external of the property. No.3 Bellevale Avenue is also in a prime location being on the outskirts of Ayr town centre and a 10 minute walk from playing field, the Old Racecourse. Nearby woodland walks, the beach, Belleisle Golf Course and Belmont Academy are also all within walking distance. Offers over £435,000. Contact Corum, Ayr on 01292 872322. Devine decor The home’s interior is à la mode and maximises the space and light

Now only £895 for a fully fitted electric garage door. WAS £1,354 INCLUDING VAT. Gotta get a Garolla. WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH EVERY DOOR: • FREE EXPERT MEASURING & FITTING • TWO REMOTE CONTROLS • ACOUSTIC & THERMAL INSULATION • FREE DISPOSAL OF YOUR OLD DOOR • AVAILABLE IN 21 COLOURS Here at Garolla, we lead the market in manufacturing and installing garage doors. With decades of experience delivering the highest quality products, our British-made, bespoke doors are installed by local fitters across the UK. Our electric roller garage doors are solidly built to fit your busy day to day needs. Remote electric activation, excellent thermal efficiency and taking up only 8 inches inside your garage, we’ve worked hard to ensure you receive the ideal garage door. Our quotes are all-inclusive, meaning there are no added fees for the survey or installation. You will also receive 2 remote controls, alongside our comprehensive guarantee. We will also remove and dispose of your old garage door completely free of charge. With Garolla, you get a complete end-to-end solution. CALL US TODAY FREE ON: 0800 135 7089 MOBILE: 07537 149 128 www.garolla.co.uk *Offer valid for openings up to 2.6m wide & including 2 remote controls, 55mm white slats, internal manual override.

Classified Ayrshire 09.3.2022 39 Binatone digital plug in phone & answer machine & display screen. £10 07376114680 GOLF JACKETS (3) WIND & WATER RESISTANT 1 new 2 vgc All XL will split £35ono 07920004734 Working Sam- Sung LCD TV WiTh hanDSeT 27 inch HDMI scart sockets etc. £20 07376114680 Vintage teak bedroom chest of drawers 6 drawers Very good cond. £65 07376114680 Dfs armchairs Beige 2 chairs good condition. Buyer collects £50.00 07713620333 2 Bed Flat For sale Raise Street Saltcoats KA8 5JA 01294605975 Detention Custody Officers Make your career Mitie Join us to become part of a team, delivering critical public services for vulnerable people on behalf of the government. Delivering the exceptional, every day. Moser rex 1230 dog clippers Size 2 attachment Working. Collect Kilmarnock. £35 07376114680 CRAFTMATIC ELECTRIC DOUBLE BED Adjustable. Good condition. £300ono 01294274477 Save time... book online: www.bookanad.com bookanad Document: GEN_4x1_ART_GraphicA.pdf;Page: 1;Format:(30.26 x 40.00 mm);Plate: Composite;Date: Oct 02, 2014 15:31:21 KILMARNOCK BUSINESS UNITS TO LET WEST LANGLANDS STREET 1500 sq.ft FORGE ST, 600, 2100sq.ft CROOKEDHOLM 500, 1280, 1972-1221 SQ.FT TEL: KILMARNOCK 522408 Open the door to thousands of homebuyers in your area Contact our property team now Fast. Easy. Convenient. Placing your advert online and in your local paper really couldn’t be simpler. Visit bookanad.com now. DESKTOP | MOBILE | TABLET Document: GEN_4x1_PRO_GraphicA.pdf;Page: 1;Format:(30.26 x 40.00 mm);Plate: Composite;Date: Dec 05, 2013 11:37:19 Document: BookAnAd_FastEasy_7x2.pdf;Page: 1;Format:(63.80 x 70.00 mm);Plate: Composite;Date: Oct 09, 2014 10:45:54 £21,639 per annum plus benefits. 40 hours per week. Contact: cc.recruitment@mitie.com Visit: careers.mitie.com/jobs | Search: Dungravel Dungavel House IRC, Strathaven South Lanarkshire ML10 6RF

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42 09.3.2022 Classified Ayrshire Kevin Braidwood Head of Roads - Ayrshire Roads Alliance Opera House, 8 John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock KA1 1DD Email: enquiries@ayrshireroadsalliance.org For more information visit: www.tellmescotland.gov.uk EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL (C129 at Chapeltoun Bridge, Kilmaurs) (Temporary Road Closure) Order 2022 On 08/03/22 the Council, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, and of all other enabling powers, made the above-named Order, that continues the restrictions imposed by East Ayrshire Council (C129 at Chapeltoun Bridge, Kilmaurs) (Temporary Road Closure) Order 2021 which expires at 24:00 hrs on 29/04/22. The Orders make it unlawful for any person to drive or cause or permit to be driven any vehicle on C129, Kilmaurs, from the boundary with North Ayrshire northwards to a point 50 metres north of Chapeltoun Bridge (except vehicles engaged on Chapeltoun Bridge repair works), by reason of works to be executed on or near the road. The Order shall come into force at 24:00 hrs on 29/04/22 until 24:00 hrs on 31/05/22, or until the works are completed whichever is earlier and the Order will be implemented only when appropriate signs are displayed. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the closure period. Alternative Route: via C6 to Stewarton, B778 Standalane, B769 and C129 and vice versa. EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL (U41 Hemphill Road and U42 Rushaw, Moscow) (Temporary Road Closures) Order 2022 On 08/03/22 the Council, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, and of all other enabling powers, made the above-named Order, which will make it unlawful for any person to drive or cause or permit to be driven any vehicle on U41 Hemphill Rd, from a point 45m northeast of its junction with U42 Rushaw south-westwards for 1042m, and on U42 Rushaw, from its junction with U41 Hemphill Rd north-westwards for 410m (except vehicles engaged on the BT Network upgrade works), by reason of works to be executed on or near the road. The Order shall come into force at 08:00 hrs on 11/04/22 until 18:00 hrs on 22/04/22, or until the works are completed whichever is earlier and the Order will be implemented only when appropriate signs are displayed. Emergency access and local vehicular access for residents/owners/occupiers within the closure will be permitted to and from their properties but not through the works site. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the closure period. Alternative Route: via U42, A719 and U41 and vice versa. EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL (High Street, New Street and Townhead, Dalmellington) (Temporary Road Closures and Suspension of One Way Traffic) (No. 2) Order 2022 On 08/03/22 the Council, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, and of all other enabling powers, made the above-named Order, that continues the restrictions imposed by East Ayrshire Council (High Street, New Street and Townhead, Dalmellington) (Temporary Road Closures and Suspension of One Way Traffic) Order 2022 which expires at 17:00 hrs on 11/03/22. The Orders make it unlawful for any person to drive or cause or permit to be driven any vehicle, on High St (from its junction with Main St to its junction with the path to Church Hill), New St and Townhead (from its junction with High St to the boundary between the Library and No. 9 Townhead), Dalmellington, except for vehicles engaged on the Scottish Water mains renewal works that are being executed on or near the roads. To facilitate access to and egress from Townhead the One Way Traffic restriction imposed by the provisions in The County of Ayr (Traffic Regulation) Order 1934 will be suspended for the duration of this Order or until the works are completed. Access for emergency vehicles will be permitted but not through the works site. Vehicular access for residents/owners/occupiers within the closures will be permitted to and from their properties but not through the works site. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the closure period. The Order shall come into force at 17:00 hrs on 11/03/22 until 17:00 hrs on 18/03/22, or until the works are completed whichever is earlier and the Order will be implemented only when appropriate signs are displayed. Alternative Route for High St traffic: via B7013, A713, B741 Main St and vice versa. Alternative Route for Townhead traffic: via Castle Rd, Newbiggin Terr, A713, B741 Main St OR via Castle Rd, Newbiggin Terr, A713 and B7013. Access and egress from New St will be via the western end of High St junction with Main St. EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL variation of charges for designated on-street parking places in Kilmarnock East Ayrshire Council in exercise of the powers conferred on it under Section 46A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, hereby gives notice under the terms of the Local Authorities’ Variation of Charges at Offstreet and Designated Parking Places (Notice Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1997, that charges will be increased for business permits valid in some of the designated on-street parking places governed by The East Ayrshire Council (Various Roads within East Ayrshire) (Waiting and Loading Restrictions and Designated Parking Places) (Consolidation) Order 2021. The revised charges will take effect from Friday 01 April 2022. The revised parking charges which will apply in the following designated on-street parking places within Kilmarnock are as follows; ON-STREET PARKING ZONES A, B & C Bank Place, Bank Street, College Wynd, John Dickie Street (east leg), John Finnie Street, Nelson Street (east leg), St Marnock Place, St Marnock Street and Strand Street, Douglas Street, Dundonald Road, Dunlop Street, Grange Place, Grange Street, Hill Street, John Dickie Street (west leg), Nelson Street (west leg), Portland Road and West Langlands Street. Douglas Street, High Glencairn Street, Kirktonholm Street, St Andrews Street (north leg) and Titchfield Street. Charges Existing Revised 15 minutes 30p No change 30 minutes 60p No change 45 minutes 90p No change 1 hour £1.20 No change 1 hour 15 minutes 1 hour 30 minutes 1 hour 45 minutes £1.50 No change £1.80 No change £2.10 No change 2 hours (max) £2.40 No change RESIDENTS PARKING PERMITS Duration Existing Charge Revised Charge Monthly NIL No Change Quarterly NIL No Change Annually NIL No Change BUSINESS PARKING PERMITS (Zones A, B, C) Duration Existing Charge Revised Charge Monthly £40.00 £44.00 Quarterly £115.00 £126.50 Annually £440.00 £440.00 The revised charges will take effect from Friday 01 April 2022. EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL (C20 Cunninghamhead Bridge, Kilmaurs) (Temporary Road Closure) Order 2022 On 08/03/22 the Council, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, and of all other enabling powers, made the above-named Order, which will make it unlawful for any person to drive or cause or permit to be driven any vehicle on C20 at Cunninghamhead Bridge, Kilmaurs, from a point 50m west of Cunninghamhead Bridge eastwards and southwards for 100 metres (except vehicles engaged on the parapet repair works on the Bridge), by reason of works to be executed on or near the road. The Order shall come into force at 07:00 hrs on 14/03/22 until 17:00 hrs on 01/04/22, or until the works are completed whichever is earlier and the Order will be implemented only when appropriate signs are displayed. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the closure period. Alternative Route: via C20 Altonhead Terrace at Cunninghamhead, B769 towards Irvine, take A736 at the Stanecastle roundabout northwards to Torranyard, at Torranyard turn right onto route C6 and C20, vice versa. EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL (Glebe Road, Galston) (Temporary Road Closure) Order 2022 On 08/03/22 the Council, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, and of all other enabling powers, made the above-named Order, which will make it unlawful for any person to drive or cause or permit to be driven any vehicle on Glebe Rd, Galston, from its junction with Brewlands St to its junction with John Knox St (except vehicles engaged on the Scottish Power connection works), by reason of works to be executed on or near the road. The Order shall come into force at 00:01 hrs on 11/04/22 until 24:00 hrs on 20/04/22, or until the works are completed whichever is earlier and the Order will be implemented only when appropriate signs are displayed. Emergency access and local vehicular access for residents/owners/occupiers within the closure will be permitted to and from their properties but not through the works site. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the closure period. Alternative Route: via Brewland St, Bridge St, Wallace St and Barr St and vice versa. SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL (B734 Pingerrach, nr. Barr) (Temporary Road Closure) Order 2022 On 03/03/22 the Council, in exercise of the powers conferred on it under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, and of all other enabling powers, made the above-named Order, by reason of works to be undertaken on or near the road for replacement of a crash barrier. The Order will make it unlawful for any person to drive, cause or permit to be driven any vehicle on the B734 Barr – Old Dailly, from a point approximately 1750 metres north of the Stinchar Bridge, in the vicinity of the Fell of Pingerrach, northwards for a distance of approximately 295 metres. (Alton Albany Estate to Hadyard Wind Farm) The Order is in force from 08:00 hours on Monday 14th March until anticipated completion by 18:00 hours on Friday 25th March 2022. The days and times of the works may be dependent upon the weather conditions but the Order will be implemented only when the appropriate signs are displayed. Emergency Services vehicles will not be affected and access for residents and pedestrians out-with the working zone will be maintained. An alternative route suitable for all through traffic will be signed via the B7035 Old Dailly, Coalpots Road, Girvan to the Shallochpark roundabout, A714 Pinmore and B734 in both directions. Zenobe Kilmarnock South Limited ELECTRICITY ACT 1989 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997 THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (MISCELLANEOUS TEMPORARY MODIFICATIONS) (CORONAVIRUS) (SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2020 THE ELECTRICITY (APPLICATIONS FOR CONSENT) REGULATIONS 1990 (AS AMENDED) Notice is hereby given that Zenobe Kilmarnock South Limited, (Company Registration Number: 12246503) having their registered office at 13 Charles II Street, 4th Floor, London, SW1Y 4QU, has applied to the Scottish Ministers for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act to construct and operate a battery energy storage system with associated access and infrastructure at land off Treeswoodhead Road, south of Kilmarnock (Central Grid Reference NS 44518 34221). The installed capacity of the proposed development would be up to 300 MW. The proposed development is not subject to Environmental Impact Assessment. Zenobe Kilmarnock South Limited has also applied for a direction under Section 57(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 that planning permission for the development be deemed to be granted. Due to the health and safety concerns of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, under the Town and Country Planning (Miscellaneous Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, hard copies will not be available for inspection at a public place or address. However, documentation will be electronically available. Please contact TNEI Services Ltd (email: info@tneigroup.com) to receive a weblink to a copy of the application, including a plan showing the land to which it relates and the supporting statement discussing the Company’s proposals in more detail and presenting an analysis of the environmental implications. The same application documentation can also be viewed at www.energyconsents.scot. Copies of the application documentation may be obtained from Zenobe Kilmarnock South Limited (telephone: +44 (0)20 3912 7853 or email: contact@zenobe.com) at the charge of £150 for hard copies, £20 on CD and £20 on USB. Hard copies of the non-technical summary are available free of charge. Any representations to the application may be submitted via the Energy Consents Unit website at www.energyconsents.scot/ Register.aspx; by email to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit mailbox at representations@gov.scot; or by post to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation. Written or emailed representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals), full return email and postal address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement. All representations should be received not later than 8th April 2022, although Ministers may consider representations received after this date. Any subsequent additional information which is submitted by the developer will be subject to further public notice in this manner, and representations to such information will be accepted as per this notice. As a result of a statutory objection from the relevant planning authority, or where Scottish Ministers decide to exercise their discretion to do so, Scottish Ministers can also cause a Public Local Inquiry (PLI) to be held. Following examination of the environmental information, Scottish Ministers will determine the application for consent in one of two ways: • Consent the proposal, with or without conditions attached; or • Reject the proposal General Data Protection Regulations The Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit processes consent applications and consultation representations under The Electricity Act 1989. During the process, to support transparency in decision making, the Scottish Government publishes online at www.energyconsents.scot. A privacy notice and a fair processing notice are published on the help page at www.energyconsents.scot. These explain how the Energy Consents Unit processes your personal information. If you have any concerns about how your personal data is handled, please email us at: econsents_admin@gov.scot or write to Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU. Build your business. There are thousands of potential customers looking for a Tradesperson like you. Build your business the easy way. Visit bookanad.com now! ANYTIME BOOK BOOK YOUR AD YOUR AD ANYTIME 24/7 A partnership between East Ayrshire Council and South Ayrshire Council ONLINE | MOBILE |TABLET

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44 09.03.2022 www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Sport powered by CRICKET Ayr and Prestwick Cricket Clubs have been handed road trips on the opening day of the WDCU Premier Division. The fixtures for the Premier League season have been issued and league new boys Ayr head to Dumfries on Saturday, April 30, while Prestwick will head to Uddingston. Prestwick’s first league match at home will be against West of Scotland, on Saturday, May 7, while Ayr entertain Paisley side Ferguslie the same afternoon. The first Ayrshire Derby league clash of the season between Ayr and Prestwick will take place at Cambusdoon on Saturday, June 18 – with the return fixture at the Henry Thow Oval on Saturday, August 20. Prestwick CC fixtures as follows: Saturday, April 30- Uddingston (a), Saturday, May 7- West of Scotland (h), Saturday, May 14- Kelburne (a), Saturday, May 21- Langside (h), Saturday, May 28- Clydesdale (a), Saturday, June 4- Dumfries (h), Saturday, June 11- Stirling County (h), Saturday, June 18- Ayr (a), Saturday, June 25- Ferguslie (h), Saturday, July 2- Uddingston (h), Saturday, July 9- West of Scotland (a), Saturday, July 16- Langside (A), Saturday, July 23- Kelburne (h), Saturday, July 30- Clydesdale (h), Saturday, August 6- Dumfries (a), Saturday, August 13- Stirling County (a), Saturday, August 20- Ayr (h), Saturday, August 27- Ferguslie (a). Ayr CC fixtures as follows: Saturday, April 30- Dumfries (a), Saturday, May 7- Ferguslie (h), Saturday, May 14- Uddingston (a), Saturday, May 21- West of Scotland (h), Saturday, May 28- Kelburne (h), Saturday, June 4- Langside (a), Saturday, June 11- Clydesdale (a), Saturday, June 18- Prestwick (h), Saturday, June 25- Stirling County (a), Saturday, July 2- Dumfries (h), Saturday, July 9- Ferguslie (a), Saturday, July 16- West of Scotland (a), Saturday, July 23-Uddingston (h), Saturday, July 30- Kelburne (a), Saturday, August 6-Langside (h), Saturday, August 13- Clydesdale (h), Saturday, August 20- Prestwick (a), Saturday, August 27- Stirling County (h). BOCCIA Ayrshire Sportsability hosted a very successful Boccia event at Ayr Academyand nearly 20 people with learning, physical and sensory disabilities attended. Boccia is a precision sport, like bowls and petanque, for athletes with severe physical disabilities. It’s been a Paralympic sport since the 1984 games in Los Angeles and Ayrshire has two Paralympians, Scott and Jamie McCowan, both from Dundonald, who competed for Great Britain last year in Beijing. The event at Ayr Academy was funded by The Trefoil Trust and this is the first boccia festival Ayrshire Sportsability has been able to hold for three years due to the pandemic. The event gave people the opportunity to try boccia and then later in the day play some competitive games. A spokesperson for Ayrshire Sportsability said: “Thank you to coaches and volunteers from Inspire South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire Active Schools and UWS. Ayrshire Sportsability already hold some boccia sessions in Ayrshire together with local partners Inspire South Ayrshire and Vibrant Communities East Ayrshire.” The next event was an Activity weekend at Dolphin House, Maybole, taken by the Welcome return Pictured are the boccia players at Ayr Academy who enjoyed their day. Pic Alister Firth Thriving Communities team from South Ayrshire Council. A spokesperson said: “We had 10 young people with physical, learning and sensory disabilities attending along with some parents and Emma, a volunteer from North Ayrshire Council. “We all took part in various activities like orienteering, Archery, Tug of War, rockpooling and making volcanoes. “This event was thanks to funding received from Scottish Disability Sport through Better Breaks.” Ayrshire Sportsability Chair, Dr Nicci Potts, said: “After nearly two years of not being able to hold events it was fantastic to be able to provide these opportunities and we look forward to seeing more smiles on faces throughout the year.” Target practice This youngster gets to grips with Archery at Dolphin House, Maybole. Pic Alister Firth Ayrshire Sportsability run events for people with disabilities to take part in physical activity and sport. To find out more about their activities Precision play Some of the players who took part in the boccia event follow them on social media FB Ayrshire Sportsability or Twitter @sports_ability or email them on admin@ ayrshiresportsability.org.uk GOLF RETURNS prestwick st nicholas gc February Monthly Medal: (First Class)- 1 S Holdsworth (12), 66, 2 P Steven (12), 67, 3 D Anderson (11), 67, 4 S Paisley (9), 69, 5 N Lambert (9), 70, 6 K McAlpine (10), 71, 7 J Duff (5), 71, 8 A Shaw (10), 72. Second Class- 1 W Meikle (18), 67, 2 B Lawrie (13), 68, 3 N Hunter (14), 69, 4 S Nicholl (15), 69, 5 B Dunne (16), 72, 6 W Robertson (18), 72, 7 R Byrne (19), 73, 8 A MaCartney (16), 74. DROnGAN GC K Bohan Winter Texas Scramble (strokeplay). Dalmilling (white). Division 1- 1 A Carroll/S Wightman/J Smith nett 57, 2 J Young/D Stark/T Goudie 59, 3 D Carroll/Q Watt/R Rennie 59, 4 R Miller/J Kelly/K Murray 60, 5 D Watt/G Bell/P Pierotti 61, 6 A McCutcheon/J Frame/J Carson 61, 7 B McGarrity/J Philip/R Makowski 61, 8 S Linwood/P Brown/D Hunter 62, 9 C Pettigrew/I McKinlay/J Smith 62, 10 R Colquhoun/R Gillon/A Aitken 63, 11 P Caufield/D Hannah/A Courtney 64, 12 M McAlpine/J Brown/D Fleming 64, 13 C Pettigrew/G McCulloch/C Caufield 65. March Medal (Dalmilling White). Division 1- 1 D Stark (13), 68, 2 J Young (9), 68, 3 K Linwood (12), 69, 4 D Watt (7), 69, 5 D Carroll (6), 71, 6 R Gillon (13), 71, 7 R Miller (10), 71, 8 R Colquhoun (11), 72, 9 A Carroll (4), 74, 10 J Kelly (11), 76, 11 W Russell (10), 76, 12 J Philip (12), 78, 13 P Brown (10), 83, 14 C Pettigrew (9), 84. AYR BELLEISLE GC February Medal overall results: Division 1, John Munn, Division 2, Stuart McClymont, Division 3, Paul McLeish. Division 1- J Munn (5), 69 (BIH 34.5), J McBean (5), 69 (BIH 35.5), T Gallacher (5), 71, S McLaughlin (4), 73, S McCreadie (sen) (2), 75, S Comley (6), 75. Division 2- S McClymont (8), 69, R Johnston (8), 71, R Mitchell (10), 77, D McNeil (11), 77, D Sinclair (8), 80. Division 3- E Ness (17), 72, I Young (15), 74, D Kemp (16), 74, A Park (14), 74, H Anderson (15), 75. Division 1- K Gimson (3), 71, A Easton (4), 78. Division 2- No scores for this division submitted. Division 3- P McLeish (13), 71, E Armstrong (14), 75. INDOOR BOWLS AYR IBC Ayr Gents completed their league season with a 29-shot home win against Allander. The results were as follows: (Ayr skips first)- S Wyllie 31, S MacMillan 8; P Shields 27, C Dow 13; D Shields 23, D Maclean 12; C Smith 8, S Dow 27. Ayr finished in second place with 12 points and +57 shots to Glasgow on 14 points and +244 shots. There was pre-match drama ahead of the final qualifiers for the SYIBA Top Six tie at Ardrossan on Friday night. Andrew sustained a buckle fracture of the wrist just hours before the tie, and Lewis was switched from the Triples team to once again renew his partnership with fellow Nominated Pairs winner, Luke. They showed they were equally adept at the indoor version, recording an impressive 13-4 victory over Ardrossan. This was not enough, however, to book the joint Ayr/Auchinleck team’s passage to the finals day at Arbroath as both the Singles and Triples teams lost. It went right to the wire, though, with the Triples fighting back from 9-5 down to square the match at 9-9 going to the last. Auchinleck’s skip Skye’s final bowl just failed to find its mark and she and fellow Auchinleck players Sam and Cara lost 11-9. AYR UNITED LOTTERY Week 35 winners: £1000 Jackpot- C2114 Mrs M Palmer, Muirkirk. £50 winners: I1234 A Henry, Livingston, F0312 E Pearce, Mossblown, C2115 L McNamee, Ayr, B1142 J McCrindle, Grivan. £10 winners- I5045 S Wilson, Ayr, A1522 N Provan, Ayr, B3021 C Hunter, Girvan, F1634 J Guthrie Twa Dugs, Ayr, C3524 C Grimason, Drongan, B4834 W Maley, Ayr, A0322 D Connel, Dunure, K3331 E Cattell, Troon, B4624 F Hume, Cumbernauld, A0532 E Bliss, Ayr, J0123 J Shields, Dunbar, P0133 M Brown, Ayr, I3231 J Campbell, Ochiltree, G4121 R Woodward, Maybole, C0232 L Finnigan, Leicester. AMATEUR FOOTBALL AYRSHIRE AMATEUR FA Fixtures for Saturday, March 12 (2pm kick-offs): BUDGET BLINDS PREMIER LEAGUE: Dailly v Glenburn MW, Dirrans Ath v New Farm Loch, Tarbolton v Cumnock. DIVISION 1: Galston Utd v Crosshouse Waverley, Irvine v Beith, Whitletts Victoria v Catrine. DIVISION 2A: Crosshill Thistle v Irvine Thistle, Kilbirnie Utd v Kilwinning Rangers, Mauchline Utd v Irvine Victoria. DIVISION 2B: Bellfield v Troon Dundonald, Bonnyton Thistle v Glenafton, Kilmarnock Utd v Darvel Vics. EDF ENERGY AYRSHIRE CHALLENGE CUP QTR FINAL: West Kilbride v Shortlees. JAMES SCOTT TROPHY QTR FINAL: Ardeer West Recreation v Dalry. THISTLE BAR HURLFORD TROPHY QTR FINAL: Stewarton Utd v Annbank Utd CFC.

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 45 Sport powered by wosfl with mike wilson Ryan Stevenson will take an emotional home bow as manager against the club where he spent THREE stints as a player. Stevo and former Ayr United teammate Mark Roberts will lead Glenafton against Troon at Loch Park on Saturday. And they are looking to build on a hot start which saw them beat Hurlford 2-0, a win that drew a warm message from Ayr boss Lee Bullen which bowled over the first time manager. Stevo, 37, previously claimed joining Troon had given him his love back for football after a spell out of the game. And he hailed the role played by Seasiders boss Jimmy Kirkwood. He said: “Playing there gave me back my love for the game, one million per cent. “I was sick of football by the end of my senior days at Raith. My head was all over the place and I didn’t know what I wanted. “So when the chance came to go back to Troon, I felt I owed it to Jimmy. He is a top guy and Troon is a very well-run club.” Speaking after Saturday’s debut win at Hurlford, courtesy of a Leon Murphy double, Stevo said: “We will spend this week working with the boys and we’ve already put stuff across to them. “It’s my job and Mark’s job to improve them as players and to try and improve the club. “I knew Hurlford was going to be a hard game but credit to the boys, they did everything we asked of them and got a great result.” On his kind words from Bullen, Stevo said: “Unbelievable from the Ayr United gaffer taking the time to message me. “The messages I’ve had have been so overwhelming. But this is utter class as an Ayr United fan.” Troon won five of their last six league games before crashing from the South Challenge Cup with a 5-1 defeat at Sauchie. Sam Jamieson gave them a fifth minute flyer but, after the hosts replied, Jack Sherrie was shown a straight red and Danny Smith converted the resultant penalty. Troon’s 10 men then found the going tough as Sauchie made their numerical advantage count. AUCHINLECK entertain Caledonian Braves tonight (Wednesday) in the South Challenge Cup. Then on Saturday it’s off to Shotts in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Junior Cup as they chase an incredible 14th trophy. Talbot must be sick of the sight of Irvine Meadow after beating them for the FIFTH time this season. Gareth Armstrong nodded them into an early lead but Calum Gow’s bullet header ensured the Challenge Cup tie was level at the break. Aiden Wilson restored the lead before Jamie Glasgow sealed it in stoppage time. CUMNOCK entertain Benburb on a high after beating Kilwinning 3-0 under the Buffs Park lights on Friday. Boss Brian McGinty claimed: “I thought we were worthy winners and could have won by a few more.” Findlay Frye and Alan Murdoch put them in charge before skipper Kyle McAusland was sent off with half an hour remaining. Despite that, ‘Nock were still too strong and sub Smart Osadolor curled home a clincher. CRAIGMARK head to Maybole in Conference A, looking to strengthen their promotion claims. ‘Mark leapfrogged Maryhill into fifth after they came from behind to beat the city side 3-1 with goals from Jordan Ryan, Off to a flyer New Glenafton boss Ryan Stevenson started with a win Ali Boyle and Stevie Tan. The Dalmellington men trail third top WHITLETTS by seven points but have four games in hand. Injury ravaged Vics have managed only one goal in their last three games after being held 0-0 away to Forth. With only three games remaining, new boss Gordon Pope needs to get his strikers back firing to make sure of a promotion place. MAYBOLE boss Carlo Walker says Saturday’s visit of Craigmark is must-win if they are to keep their promotion flame burning. ‘Bole, missing banned keeper Ally Semple and cup-tied stopper Ryan McChesney, managed only a Rab Patterson goal as they lost 4-1 to Darvel in the South Challenge Cup. GIRVAN, who have only three league games left, entertain MUIRKIRK after coming from behind to beat Bellshill 2-1. The home side led through Kris Jarvie’s penalty but strikes from Jordan Lynch and Mark Curragh turned the tables before the break. LUGAR will chase only their fifth league win when they entertain Bellshill. RUGBY MARR RFC Marr Rugby’s first fixtures of Spring saw some of the best team performances of the season to date. The 1st XV completed their league fixtures with an emphatic 59-17 win against Jed Forest, scoring nine tries along the way, including four from Man-of-the- Match Jamie Shedden. Marr’s starting line up included Grant Baird, making his first start in three years and it also saw Angus and Ben Johnston make their first start in the same team since 2019. Playing in ideal conditions it was Baird who started the play that set up Marr’s first try. With only eight minutes played he released Jamie Shedden who found space to break through the defence and into Jed territory. As the cover defence closed him down he passed to Gregor Paxton (sponsored by Hugh Smith) and in turn he offloaded to Colin Sturgeon who was able to run in and score in the corner. Sturgeon converted his own try to give Marr the perfect start. Ten minutes later Marr added a second and once again; Baird was central to the break made by Blair Jardine who burst through Jed’s defence to score under the posts. As Marr started to settle into a good rhythm Jed gave a sharp reminder of the threat they posed. An attacking move broke down midfield as a pass was dropped. Jed’s Gregor Young reacted fastest and Scorer Marr RFC’s Blair Jardine races in to score pounced on the loose ball, scooped it up and raced home from 50 metres. As the home support were still savouring their score Marr’s response was immediate and merciless. Three further tries were added before the half time whistle gave Jed some respite, with Marr leading 33-7. In the second half Marr continued to play fast and loose and on 45 minutes got try number six. Calum Inglis put in a sweet chip over Jed’s defence and supporting runner Robert Brown was able to catch the ball and pop a scoring pass to Dougie Steel. Jed refused to lie down and earned two further tries but that was the end of their scoring while Marr added three more to leave the travelling support purring with delight. It was the best all round performance Marr have delivered so far this season. Marr Rugby 1st XV scorers and Dough Pizza man of the match- Tries: Colin Sturgeon; Angus Johnston; Jamie Shedden (4); Blair Jardine; Dougie Steele and Sinjin Broad. Conversions: Colin Sturgeon (7). Man of the match: Jamie Shedden (sponsored by DM Homeshield). The Premiership now moves to the top four play-off stage, with Currie, Hawick, Edinburgh Accies and Marr vying for the title. The 1st XV’s attention is now on the play-off semi-final against Hawick March 26 at Fullarton. On the same date Currie take on Edinburgh Accies and the play-off final is set for April 2. At the same time as the 1s were winning at Riverside Park, the 3rd XV were doing a demolition job on Cumnock’s 2nd XV. Power, pace and fitness produced 10 tries and won the day, making it 11 wins from 11 matches. The 3s are enjoying their best season yet and have a great chance to close out the league title in their next fixture. Marr Rugby 3rd XV scorers and man of the match- Tries: Ali Craig; Aston Kerr (3); David Craig (2); Thomas Watkins (2); Craig Starkey and Euan McGerty Conversions: Thomas Watkins (5) and David Craig. Man of the match: Thomas Watkins Marr Rugby’s next fixtures for Saturday, March 12; 3s – AWAY v Cambuslang (Kickoff time to be confirmed). AYR RFC LATEST WITH CALLUM KERR Ayr fell short at Myreside in a 52-point stunner. It was a result that could have gone either way and with just two minutes left, Ayr could have squeaked a victory. However, Watsonians showed their mettle to stretch the lead and secure a 31-21 final score. Watsonians came out all guns blazing from the first whistle. An early penalty, followed by a converted score shortly after, put them 10 points clear. Ayr bagged a try of their own through Ben Paterson, before Ritchie Simpson’s conversion made it a three-point game. Watsonians mustered their next score from relative obscurity. All winger Jamie Stove needed was a metre head start on his defender to show off his wheels and sprint clear out wide. The touchline conversion concluded the scoring before the interval. In the second half Ayr made it a 17-14 game when Moe Zimmerman galloped valiantly and managed to unleash a speculative offload when brought down. The ball didn’t find the intended target of Danny McCluskey, but the centre managed to hack on and win the foot race for the ball over the line. Richie Simpson added the extras. From then on it became a shoot-out. Watsonians would score to make it a 10-point game, then Ayr would retaliate in similar fashion to make it three. Watsonians made it 24-14 first, with Fraser Cousin taking full advantage of Ayr sleeping on a quick tap. True to script, Scott Clelland wrestled his way over to return the favour. Unfortunately for Ayr the definitive score would be Watsonians’ next before they ran down the clock to win by 10 points. BASKETBALL AYR STORM Ayr Storm’s Senior Women got their first win of the season at the third attempt with a victory against SPRA in Glasgow. A scrappy first half, saw Ayr edge into the interval 25-21 ahead. The game came alive in the third quarter with Ayr racing into a 16 point lead, with U16 National Academy players Louise Fisher and Brooke Beveridge leading the scoring. However, SPRA closed the gap to five before two Beveridge free throws saw Ayr take a seven point advantage into the final quarter. Strong defence and a further 11 points from Beveridge saw Storm run out 59-45 winners. Top Scorers: Beveridge B 23, Fisher L 20. Storm’s U14 girls travelled to Armadale to face West Lothian Wolves. The hosts, though, always held Storm at an arm’s length and took the win 59-43. Top scorers: Fisher R 15, Hunter E 13, Henderson L 7. horse racing by iain ferguson Trainer Nick Alexander and jockey Sean Quinlan are on a revenge mission at Ayr Racecourse this weekend when the six year-old gelding Ned Tanner lines up in the afternoon’s feature race. Back in the middle of February the horse was all the rage to win the three mile hurdle that day. But on the instructions of Alexander he was held up at the back and despite finishing best of all could only grab third place behind Stolen Money and Jessiemac. Saturday’s Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle for the Craigie Cup is run over the shorter distance of two miles three and a half furlongs and I’d expect Sean Quinlan to make more of his horse this time. The field includes last year’s winner Grand Morning from the Lucinda Russell yard but he has been out of form recently and I think James Ewart’s Benack is the danger having impressed when finishing a never nearer fourth behind Charm Offensive at the track last month. But on ground that will be better than he experienced in February I take Ned Tanner to prevail. The opening race the Virgin Bet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle for the Ayrshire Yeomanry Cup over two miles five and a half furlongs looks a hot contest in which the aforementioned Charm Offensive, another Nick Alexander trained runner, returns to the scene of her February triumph and will be strongly fancied by connections. The one I’ll be on in this race though is Ian Duncan’s tough mare Jessiemac second in the race Ned Tanner occupied third last time out on ground that didn’t suit. Ian will be hoping young Thomas Willmott can take the mount and if he does I think the Macdonald family who own this lovely horse will win the Yeomanry Cup which they held a few years ago when Lochnell triumphed. One of the most successful horses around the Ayr track in recent years is Ardera Cross who has won here six times from 15 starts and goes for course win number seven in the two and a half mile handicap Chase having won his two previous races in January and February. It’s an understatement to say the Willie Young Junior trained eleven year-old is one of the bargain buys of all time having cost only £1,000 when bought from Dan Skelton. He has won off a 13lb higher mark than this in the past and will be hard to beat. Looking ahead to the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival on April 1 and 2 and Nicky Richards has stated his novice hurdler Nells Son will be a likely runner in the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle having won a decent prize at Kelso last Saturday. Sandy Thomson’s Hill Sixteen will be one of the favourites for the Scottish National itself after chasing Nuts Well home in the Premier Chase at Kelso at the weekend while the Borders trainer will also run last year’s runner up Dingo Dollar in the big race. Entries for the £150,000 four mile chase will be revealed on Tuesday and I can report all club badges for the big day are now sold out but Grandstand tickets are still available.

46 09.03.2022 www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Double pact Tomi is delighted to team up with Ashford It’s wham bam thank you Sam from pal Tomi Rover the moon... but boss keeps his Ayr force grounded Stuart WilSon Top gun Tomi Adeloye reckons he and Sam Ashford can put the fear into Championship defences for Ayr United. The pair were immense as they started a game together for the first time in Saturday’s 4-0 rout at Raith. And Adeloye – who notched his 12th goal of the season to send Ayr on their way – believes the duo can prove a handful for any opposition. He told the Post: “It’s been a tricky couple of weeks for me because the team has been doing well. “But it’s not about me – it’s about the team. And when the team is playing that well I just have to bide my time. “In football you have to earn your right to play and I fully understand that. “Sam has come in and is a real asset to the club. “So it was good to finally get some sort of partnership going with him and I thought it was tremendous. “Within a couple of minutes we combined for my goal and I thought we were always a threat the longer the game Lee Bullen reckons new signing Alex Kenyon’s big game experience can see Ayr over the line this season. The 29-year-old central midfielder has penned a short-term deal until the end of the campaign after leaving Scunthorpe. And Bully believes he’s getting a hardened pro in the door for the final furlong. He said: “Alex is a winner and a born leader and you can never have enough of those. “He’s just the type of character we need and will prove invaluable between now and the end of the season. “He played almost 270 games of League football for Morecamble and is an experienced guy who’s went. With his movement and the way he creates space, it allows me to exploit that and I think we could strike up a good partnership. “It was good fun playing with him and this was a big win for the boys.” Adeloye tops Ayr’s scoring charts but admits his own numbers could be even better. He said: “I can’t beat around the bush - I should be on 24 goals this season with the chances I’ve missed, not 12. “But as I keep saying, this is my first full season playing regularly so I’m just happy to keep playing and scoring and hopefully I can keep contributing. “We’ve the big game this Friday now and I hope I’ve done enough to be involved from the start. “But if not it’s a team game and if the gaffer feels I have a different role to play then I’m happy to do that. “This is a massive result for us, to score four goals away from home and keep a clean sheet is brilliant and I feel we were value for it. “Morale is very high in the group just now and we just have to keep pushing on.” Big game hunter Alex boosts Ayr Seasoned pro Kenyon played at Wembley and in play-offs. He comes here knowing this is a good opportunity for him. “We saw last week when Murdy and Ben Dempsey dropped out that we still need options and I’m delighted the board has given me the support to make that happen.” Tomi gun Adeloye gets Ayr off to a flyer PICS: Davie Sargent Lee Bullen hailed his free flowing Ayr troops as they dished out a thrashing on the road at Raith. United racked up their third away win on the trot as they put sorry Rovers to the sword in Kirkcaldy. A James Maxwell double and strikes from Tomi Adeloye and Sam Ashford capped a wonderful display from Bullen’s men. But the head coach insisted his men won’t be letting the result – or performance – go to their heads in the build up to this week’s Ayrshire derby. He said: “We were at it from the start and deserved every bit of that result. “We’ll enjoy this but won’t be getting ahead of ourselves. “You can’t allow yourself to think you’re better than you are – so our feet are firmly planted as we look ahead. “You see with the results that the league remains so tight and there are Free-flowing United boost boss but Bully won’t get carried away raitH roVErS ............................... 0 aYr unitED .................................... 4 STUART WILSON AT STARK’S PARK still eight huge games to go. “But this is the perfect platform to go into next week and a big game on Friday night.” Bullen went with two up top as Ashford and Adeloye were unleashed as a double act to great effect. But United also shone defensively, notching their first clean sheet since January 8. The boss said: “I was delighted for Aidan (McAdams) to get that today as his performances of late have really deserved it. “Personally I thought Jordan Houston was the best player on the pitch – he was absolutely magnificent. “And the one boy I’m really, really pleased for today is big Markus Fjortoft. “He’s dropped down the order of late but his professionalism and attitude in training has been second to none. “Every single day he has been the one who’s had an opportunity to come and knock on my door. “He came on at half time today and put in a tremendous performance and that’s because he trains like an absolute Trojan and I’m thrilled for him.” Adeloye and the returning Andy Murdoch were Ayr’s two changes from the side which lost to Queen of the South last week – but there was never a danger of a repeat here. They set the tone early on with the opener in just the third minute when Ashford did well to hit the byline and his cutback was slammed into the roof of the net by Adeloye. Ayr took real control of the midfield and were swarming forward at every opportunity in a fantastic first half performance. Adeloye went close to doubling the lead with a header which flashed just wide from Houston’s cross. But they did get the second goal their pressure deserved when Maxwell latched on to an Ashford ball to slot past Jamie MacDonald. It was 3-0 before half time when

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 47 Three and easy Maxwell puts Ayr firmly in charge good work from McKenzie teed up Maxwell again to steal in at the near post for a deft finish. Fjortoft replaced Sean McGinty at the break after the skipper had felt his hamstring tighten, but by that time it was well and truly game over. And United were able to see it out in the second half with a professional performance, which had extra gloss added with Ashford adding a fourth. He collected a through ball from Houston inside the box and slotted past MacDonald to complete a brilliant afternoon for Ayr. raitH: MacDonald, tumilty, Benedictus, Berra, Dick (Mackie 39), Williamson (arnott 63), Matthews, Stanton, Connolly (Gullan 46), Poplatnik (Varian 63), ross. aYr unitED: Mcadams, Houston, Muirhead, McGinty (Fjortoft 46), reading; McKenzie (o’Connor 83), Murdoch (Smith 78), Mcinroy, Maxwell (Gondoh 83), adeloye (Moffat 78), ashford. ref: Don robertson. Crowd: 1,513 Max attack James slots home Ayr’s second goal (above) Sam’s the man Ashford (left) gets his well deserved goal James: Tips from gaffer has me living life to the Max Stuart WilSon James Maxwell has told how Lee Bullen is helping to transform him into a major goal threat for Ayr United. The midfielder bagged a brace in Kirkcaldy – taking his total to six for the season. And, off the back of his big goal at Kilmarnock recently, Maxwell says his focus on being a threat in the opposition box is paying dividends. He said: “I’m concentrating on getting in the right areas more and thankfully it’s paying off. “I need to keep getting in these positions and the manager has been keen for me to make more of an impact. “It’s not always about having nice play in midfield – it’s about being a bigger threat up the pitch. “He’s encouraged me to get more shots off and crosses into the box and it’s working well for me just now.” Maxwell has been a key player in the Bullen revolution and insists morale in the United camp is at an all time high after the rout at Raith. He added: “We came off it last week against Queens and our performance dipped. “But it was good to get back on track with this win and everyone is confident just now. “It’s a big game on Friday and we feel like we’re building momentum now and heading in the right direction. “But as soon as you take your eye off the ball in this league you get punished. “The priority is still to stay in the league and we know that. “I’ve enjoyed it all season, you want to give the fans something back because we haven’t been doing that, especially at home, so hopefully we can do that on Friday night.”

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 09, 2022 the back page Make Mine a double Lee: Fans can roar us to second derby win From tree to print We are proud to bring you full chain of custody status with PEFC certification. Being a reader of our papers does not in any way contribute to deforestation. StuARt wiLSON Lee Bullen wants Ayr fans to turn out in numbers as his side bids to complete a derby double. United will aim to beat Kilmarnock for the second time in a month when the bitter rivals clash under the Friday night lights. And Bullen says his troops – who are flying after three wins in four – can be roared on to victory by a bumper home gate. He told the Post: “The fans have been brilliant since the day I arrived and I mean every word of it when I say they make a real difference. “Up at Killie the other week, they were tremendous from start to finish and the scenes at the end showed what it meant to our boys. “We want to start creating that kind of atmosphere at Somerset as well. This has to be a difficult place for teams to come.” Ayr have won three on the bounce away from Somerset but have struggled for the same rhythm on home soil. Bully confessed: “I think it’s more a mental thing than quality, as we proved at Raith on Saturday. “The confidence is there among the squad and we can’t wait for Friday night now. “We know that Killie will come here hurting after the result last month. “They’ll use it as motivation and we need to be aware of that. “But at the same time, we’re playing well and know we can cause anyone problems.” Bullen added: “This will be a passionate night and there are no better games to be involved in as a player, manager or supporter. “The last derby is away and gone as far as we’re concerned and that counts for nothing come this Friday. “We need to be at it from the first whistle and that’s why the fans can play such a big role, as I’m sure they will.” United will add new signing Alex Kenyon to the squad after the midfielder signed on Monday. Ben Dempsey will be given every chance to overcome his thigh strain in order to return. Sean McGinty (hamstring) and Jack Baird (back) will also be assessed after taking knocks. Blaine Rowe tweaked his hamstring in a reserve outing at Hamilton last week and is another who will be monitored. ayr United v kilmarnock Championship, Friday 11th March Somerset Park, kick-off 7.45pm Face off Lee Bullen , top, takes on Derek McInnes’ Killie Printed by Reach Printing Services Ltd, Cardonald Park, G51 4EA and published by the Ayrshire Post, Nile Court, 154 High St, Ayr, KA7 1PX. Registered at the Post Office as a newspaper WindoWs, doors, Conservatories and sunrooms Get a Free Quote today! Unit 37, Boundary Road, Heathfield Industrial Park, Ayr, Ayrshire,KA8 9DJ tel:01292 737540 mob:07562 418237 Reach PLC aims to manage its business to minimise environmental impacts, is committed to reducing the waste we produce and maximising the recycling and reuse of waste. Reach Printing Services Ltd is committed to source newsprint from sustainably managed forests, is independently audited and continues to meet the certification requirements of standards: ■ ISO 14001:2015 EMS (BMT-1420) ■ ISO 9001: 2015 QMS (BMT-6396 )■ ISO 45001: 2018 OHSMS (BMT-318) ■ PEFC ST 2002:2013 Chain of Custody (BMT-PEFC-0949) ■ FSC-STD-40 (V3.0) EN and FSC-STD-50-001 (V2.0) EN for FSC® Chain of Custody (TT-COC-003396)

the a list 09.03.2022 1 INSIDE TODAY Foo Frighter: Dave Grohl’s horror flick In the bag: Hot styles for spring/summer Pellow talk Former wet wet wet frontman on how he is relishing return to touring after lockdown The Batman is back better than ever PLUS: YOUR No1 games guide

2 09.03.2022 The Interview Nobody was going for best actor in a dramatic role... www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Having made music videos... this was just a much more exaggerated version of that, an extended version of that Dave Grohl, left, on filming new movie Studio 666 Movies starring bands are always a winning formula. A Hard Day’s Night gave The Beatles a chance to let their personalities shine on the big screen at the height of their mid-1960s fame. Spice World let Nineties cinemagoers join Baby, Scary, Sporty, Posh and Ginger on a caper-filled double-decker tour of London. Now, Foo Fighters are inviting fans into the house in Encino, Los Angeles, where they recorded their 10th studio album. But be warned – the house is cursed and the band soon starts to pick up on a “creepy death vibe”. A nasty case of writer’s block for frontman Dave Grohl turns into a twisted gore-fest when he becomes possessed by a demon. Directed by BJ McDonnell – who has previously worked on the likes of Hatchet III, A Nightmare On Elm Street and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It – it’s an old-school comedy-horror with grisly details galore. “The house in the movie is the house where we recorded our last record,” says Dave, 53 – referencing Medicine At Midnight, which was recorded in 2019 and released in early 2021, pushed back due to the pandemic. “We figured, well we just happen to have this house, why not finish the album, have a few weeks off, bring in some cameras and make a really fun low-budget slasher film? “And then it just sort of snowballed into a full-length feature film. “It wasn’t something we planned on doing, it just kind of evolved into an actual movie, which still surprises us. “It’s hard to believe we’re sitting here talking about it.” They could just have roped in some camera crew and made a doc- Foo frighters: Dave (centre right) and bandmate Taylor Hawkins in Studio 666 Rock’s ‘nice guy’ Dave Grohl unleashes his dark side in the Foo Fighters’ horror film Studio 666 – but he’s not expecting an Oscar any time soon. Abi Jacksonand Mike Bediganfind out more Dave Grohl, bottom left, and director BJ McDonnell, bottom right, with cast and crew from Studio 666 at the premiere of the film in LA umentary about recording the album. But no. “We’ve made a lot of documentaries, whether it was the Sound City movie [2013], or the Foo Fighters documentary Back And Forth [2011], or the Sonic Highways series [2014], or the What Drives Us documentary series, we’ve done a bunch of those. And they’re great, they’re really rewarding, in a completely different way,” says Dave. At the end of the day, the “outlandish” idea of Studio 666 was just way more appealing. “And having made music videos, like we do, over the past 26 years, this was just a much more exaggerated version of that, an extended version of that. “Usually when you make a rock video, it’s two days on set, and there’s this silly premise that it’s four minutes long. “This was a month-and-a-half and a much more involved process. A little more ridiculous, I guess.” They had a lot of fun with it – and that was the point. “I mean nobody was going for best lead actor in a dramatic role,” Dave laughs. Plus, as someone often described as one of the nicest men in rock and roll, the Ohio-born musician and father of three, who was also the drummer for Nirvana, got to indulge his inner villain. Did that feel good? “Yes. It was great. I remember the first time I got to play the villain was in a Tenacious D video for a song called Tribute, and that was fun [Dave was made-up – in both senses – to be turned into a horned devil]. “I mean anything with Tenacious D is fun. The process of putting on the make-up and stuff for that video was maybe like a couple of hours, getting painted red, that was pretty fun [it’s worth a look on YouTube]. “Then I played the Devil in their movie, The Pick Of Destiny, that was about six hours in make-up, it was really, really involved and a tedious, long process that I would never wish upon anyone and would never do again. “So, for this film it was relatively simple,” he adds. “I just had to put in fangs, put some contacts in and mess up my face a little bit. But it’s great... “Here in the USA, Halloween is a huge holiday, and I f****** love Halloween, I’m always sad when it’s over. I love becoming someone or something else for a good four or five hours for a night. “With this film, I got to do that for a good f****** month-and-a-half, and it was fun, really fun.” Making a movie involves a lot of waiting around on set though. Then again, being in a mega-successful rock band is always a bit like that, as Foos guitarist Nate Mendel observes. “A lot of the movie was shot at night, so you start when you would normally go to sleep, and then it goes on ‘til about six in the morning,” says Nate, 53. “And you’re up trying to scream and act terrified and just act, which is not easy when it’s like three in the morning. So those nights were pretty wild. Kind of fun, but they got a little long. “It was like being on tour really: we’re in a room, waiting for something to happen – which happened a lot on tour – and then you get the five-minute warning, and then you’ve got to act for five minutes. “And then wait around a little Nate Mendel on stage with Foo Fighters last year longer.” To demonstrate his bandmate’s point, Dave’s face stretches into a timely yawn. “It’s making me tired just talking about it,” he quips, before adding in true rock star style: “You know, we’ve been jet-lagged for about 26 years. So sleep is kind of a waste of time as far as I’m concerned.” Could more feature films be on the cards for Foo Fighters? “I think the best part of being in this band, is being the band. And making albums, writing songs and playing live shows. “It’s been a while since we’ve really been on tour. Last year we did a bunch of shows, and it was so good to get back to live music. “So I’m really looking forward to that, just hitting the road and playing shows,” Dave shares. “But to be honest, I don’t know when we would find the time to do this again. “I mean at that point, it’s going to be like grumpy old men, with chainsaws.” ■■Studio 666 is in cinemas now

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 3 Music It’s time to look forward, come together and enjoy ourselves Marti Pellow’s Lockdown Sessions went viral during the pandemic. Marion McMullendiscovers how it all began after he helped a family laid low by Covid-19 Many musicians went to ground when lockdown closed venues and recording studios, but Marti Pellow went online to spread a little happiness. “We started this thing called Lockdown Sessions,” he says. “A family approached me online and asked me to sing a wee song for them. They had a relative in a coma because of the coronavirus so I was happy to help.” The family played the music to their loved one in the hope it would help. Happily it worked with the patient making a full recovery. “I was so touched by that experience,” Marti says. “I was just glad to help. The only way for me to reach out was online, but then the response became phenomenal.” The former Wet Wet Wet frontman was soon being asked to sing for other people – a young boy, Oliver, who was unwell, or to raise money for PPE for his hometown of Clydebank. The Scots singer also showed support for NHS staff on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic by posting a video on his Facebook page of him belting out a special rendition of his group’s iconic hit Love is All Around in tribute to all those who have been risking their lives in the battle against the deadly virus. He says he was happy to help during the pandemic and the response proved extraordinary. The sessions went viral and became an online phenomenon attracting millions. It led to Marti delving into his own back catalogue as well as covering songs by artists he admired such as James Taylor and Annie Lennox. “I covered songs by those two and both got in touch. James sent me a lovely message and Annie wrote a beautiful email. They both loved what I’d done with their songs.” Now Marti, 57 later this month, is looking forward to performing live on stage again as his successful Greatest Hits Tour resumes next month. “We all deserve a good night out,” he says. The seasoned performer sold several million records with Wet Wet Wet – hits included Wishing I Was Lucky, Goodnight Girl and, of course, the bestselling single Love Is All Around. The song spent 15 weeks at the top of the UK charts after featuring in the 1994 film Four Weddings and a Funeral. Marti has gone on to forge a successful solo career and has also made his mark in musical theatre in London’s West End and on Broadway. He’s been a crooked lawyer, a mysterious stranger and a horny little devil in shows like Chicago, Blood Brothers and The Witches Of Eastwick and toured the country as Che Guevara in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s international smash Evita. Marti performing with Wet Wet Wet A family asked me to sing a wee song for a relative in a coma because of coronavirus so I was happy to help. Marti is now looking forward to offering a night of hits on the tour. “It’s about entertaining the people. The only thing I want them to bring to the show is their smile,” he says. “I’ll take care of the rest. This tour is going to be a great celebration of the music. It’s all about gathering together for a great evening. “There’ll be songs to make people dance and laugh. I want to connect, connect, connect. I’m fortunate that I have plenty of songs in my back catalogue that can do that. I want it to be a night of great music that people are familiar with.” Marti says there’s a sense of anticipation about these shows already. “I see it with the comments from people on social media. After sharing his music online during the pandemic Marti Pellow can’t wait to get back in front of a live audience “It’s time to look forward. We’re heading into something like normality and it will be great for us to come together and enjoy ourselves. “As a singer, I want to get busy and entertain. I love doing that. We all take certain things for granted in our industry but it was first to close and last to re-open. It’s brilliant that I can go and do this again. “And for the fans, there’s never been a better time to see their favourite artists. Everyone is raring to go.” Marti says people have told him they have fallen in love, got married and had children to his music. “These hits are songs that evoke happy memories for so many people and I get so stoked that people feel that way about my music. “People walked down the aisle to Love Is All Around or they played Angel Eyes when their child was born. Some people escape through these songs. They climb inside and go back to a special time and a place in their lives. “That’s what this Greatest Hits tour is about. That’s exactly what they’re going to get. There’s real power in this music and I am so grateful to the fans for coming with me on this journey.” He also hopes the tour dates will be an opportunity to escape from the hardships of recent times. “The dressing room door will open, the lights will go on and the action will start. At that point, all of us – band and audience alike – will forget everything and just have a great time.” ■■Go to martipellowofficial.co.uk for tour dates and ticket details SOUND JUDGEMENT The latest album releases reviewed OOCHYA! Stereophonics HHHHI When it comes to Stereophonics, you’re guaranteed one thing – when they head out on tour, they never disappoint. Now, with the band adding to their collection of hits with songs from their latest release Oochya!, they’re sure to cement their place as one of Britain’s finest when it comes to performing live. Opening track Hanging On Your Hinges takes a while to grow on you, but what follows is a collection of instant hits, some of which are up there with the best they’ve produced. When You See It has a stirring chorus and a melody that grabs you from the start. It’s probably our favourite track on an album that crosses many genres and delivers on every point. BETTER WITH YOU Kawala HHHII Fresh on the scene, Kawala brings an enticing mix of classic indie, afrobeat and dreamy pop. Tracks such as Ticket to Ride and Good Like This provide a relaxing soundtrack to soothe the soul. But the calming tone is broken with alternative outings such as the energetic Jesse C’mon and the catchy Hypnotized, which is as psychedelic as its title suggests. Searching, another single, has received significant radio play in recent weeks and is one of the album’s strongest moments. With tour dates in the diary, they demonstrate talent and are already the owners of a unique sound, as exemplified in this solid first effort. THINGS ARE GREAT Band of Horses HHHII The sixth album by US indie rockers Band of Horses is reminiscent of their most melancholy moments. As always, there are strong hints of punk both in the music and lyrics, specifically in the song Hard Times, which is catchy in the most surprising way. Crutch, the first single, is also particularly likeable. The album, no doubt a sarcastic title, does feel like an album about teenage angst. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.

4 09.03.2022 www.ayrshirepost.co.uk The Film Review Gotham’s finest the batman (15) HHHHH BY ANDY LEA Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball luci and desi (PG) HHHII The three Oscar nominations for Aaron Sorkin’s drama Being The Ricardos have reignited interest in 1950s showbiz power couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Comic actor-turned-director Amy Poehler charts their relationship in her first documentary, using archive footage, interviews and selfrecorded reminiscences which Ball bequeathed to her family in a pile of cassettes. As in Being The Ricardos, Poehler reveals how the pair met on set of RKO musical Too Many Girls and married six months later. But, as Ball continued working in Hollywood, gigs dried up for singer Arnaz. After serving three years in the army, he hit the road with his band, and the couple spent nearly eight of the first nine years of their marriage apart. “You can’t have a baby over the phone,” says Ball. Their seminal TV sitcom I Love Lucy was conceived as a way to save their marriage. Poehler serves up plenty of reminders of Ball’s talents but the talking head interviews, where friends and family pay tribute to her genius, become repetitive. In Sorkin’s version of events, Arnaz’s womanising played a huge part in their divorce. In Poehler’s glowing account of their romance, it is barely mentioned. This incurious documentary won’t be up for any awards. ■■On Amazon Prime Video now Ten years after Christian Bale hung up his cowl and cape, the Dark Knight rises again for a new solo movie, and thankfully, it was worth the wait. The dynamic duo of director Matt Reeves and actor Robert Pattinson have delivered a gritty, achingly stylish detective movie. That’s right, a detective movie. We’ve had a camp Batman (Adam West), an intense Batman (Bale) and, least appealingly, a morose, middle-aged Batman (Ben Affleck). Pattinson serves his young vigilante hard boiled in a wildly ambitious, nearly three-hour gumshoe movie. “Two years of nights have turned me into a nocturnal animal,” growls Bruce Wayne in a Philip Marlowe-style voiceover as he surveys a rain-lashed, crimeridden and virtually black-andwhite Gotham City. While he’s earned the uneasy trust of Commissioner Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), he hasn’t developed the hi-tech gadgets enjoyed by previous incarnations. His main weapon is his almost-suicidal urge to pick himself up after a beating. There are no superpowers here. The closest we get is Wayne’s Sherlocklike brain, Paul Dano as The Riddler An unrecognisable Colin Farrell as Oz/ The Penguin which Gordon harnesses to track down a serial killer. This is Paul Dano’s Riddler, not a flamboyant loon in a green onesie, but a creep in a gimp mask inspired by the Zodiac Killer. Wayne’s investigations lead him deep into Gotham’s underworld. An unrecognisable Colin Farrell raises much-needed smiles as a motor-mouthed mobster nicknamed The Penguin, while Zoë Kravitz provides a touch of glamour as slinky femme fatale Selina Kyle. As she leads a double life as a cat burglar with a pointyeared balaclava, you don’t need to be a detective to decipher her place in comic-book history. This is the longest and darkest Dark Knight movie ever made. Thanks to great Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle casting, stylish direction and dastardly plotting, the time flies by faster than the Batmobile. ■■In cinemas now Selina and Batman get close Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, left, and Batman, above WATCH AT HOME FOUR To SEE Running out of things to watch? Try streaming one of these Clifford, Emily and Casey Clifford The Big Red Dog (PG) HHHII When Emily (Darby Camp) and her uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) visit an animal shelter run by Mr Bridwell (John Cleese), the girl is smitten with a red golden retriever pup. “How big is he gonna get?” she asks. “That depends... on how much you love him,” responds Mr Bridwell. Overnight, the pooch – christened Clifford – grows to monstrous proportions in this supersized family comedy. ■■Download/stream from tomorrow and on DVD/Blu-ray from March 14 Samuel L Jackson as Ptolemy Grey The last days of ptolemy Grey Eight episodes Based on the novel of the same name by Walter Mosley, this new limited series follows Ptolemy Grey (Samuel L Jackson), a lonely nonagenarian with dementia. The arrival of orphaned teen carer Robyn (Dominique Fishback) coincides with a new treatment that temporarily restores some clarity for the old man and revives a decades-old mystery. The pair become embroiled in an investigation into the death of Grey’s nephew in the past. ■■On Apple TV+ from Friday

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 5 Ali and Ava bond over music Also Showing HHHHI ali & ava (15) In the film business they call it “counter-programming”. When a rival studio takes over the multiplexes with a massive blockbuster, there’s no point trying to compete. The best you can do is to cater to a different type of movie fan. Romantic, upbeat and infectiously optimistic, this low-budget Brit flick is about as far away from The Batman as you could imagine. Ava (Claire Rushbrook) is a devoted mother and grandmother who lives on a rough estate in Bradford. Since her violent ex-husband died a year ago, she has devoted her time to her family. After saying goodbye to her son Callum (Shaun Thomas) and his young baby, Ava rushes off to the local primary school where she works as a teaching assistant. In a nicer part of town, Ali (Adeel Akhtar) is in a field, dancing on the roof of his car while house music pumps through his headphones. This, it turns out, is his release from a mess he’s got himself into at home. He has separated from his wife Runa (Ellora Torchia) but, rather than confess this to his close-knit British-Pakistani family who live in the same street, Runa has agreed to stay in their house and keep up appearances. One day, Ali, a former nightclub DJ who now manages rented properties for his family, offers to pick up the daughter of one of his tenants from school. There, he runs into Ava who is caught in a rainstorm, so he persuades her to accept a lift home. While driving through Bradford, they chat about their backgrounds and their love of music. Something clicks. While it looks like a kitchen-sink drama, it sounds like a musical. There are great scenes where the couple listen to the same songs on separate headphones and get lost in the rhythm. Writer-director Clio Barnard doesn’t offer a twisty plot or present huge obstacles but her optimism is infectious. Ali and Ava both deserve second chances and we hope everything works out for these unlikely lovebirds. ■■In cinemas now Age concerns for the Capa family HHHII Old (15) Museum curator Prisca Capa (Vicky Krieps) and her actuary husband Guy (Gael Garcia Bernal) take their children to a tropical island sanctuary, which she found online. The kids are excited when resort manager Nils (Gustaf Hammarsten) arranges a special excursion to a hidden private beach. Another family, headed by cardiothoracic surgeon Charles (Rufus Sewell), joins the Capas on the short minibus ride. The travellers are blissfully unaware that every second they spend in sun-kissed paradise takes them closer to oblivion. Based on graphic novel Sandcastle, Old is a phantasmagorical, timeaccelerating nightmare from writerdirector M Night Shyamalan that has a neat dramatic conceit. ■■On Sky Cinema Premiere Forbidden: Katherine Waterston as Abigail and Vanessa Kirby as Tallie The world to come (15) HHHII Jeffrey Wright also stars as Lt. James Gordon The climbers hit the peaks the sanctity of space (12A) HHHII There are some eye-popping panoramas in this gorgeous mountaineering documentary that charts an attempt to traverse a series of tooth-shaped peaks in Alaska. Renan Ozturk, Freddie Wilkinson and Zack Smith are three professional climbers attempting to pull off the feat for the first time. An account of the attempt is cut with the story of Brad Washburn, the pioneer of aerial photography who ignited their passion. Human drama is lacking but the cinematography demands to be seen on the biggest screen. ■■In cinemas now Katherine Waterston stars in this romantic drama as Abigail, a 19th-century farmer’s wife living on the East Coast of America. A hard life is made more difficult by Abigail’s grief over the death of her daughter and her strained relationship with her husband Dyer (Casey Affleck). She becomes increasingly drawn to her neighbour, Tallie (Vanessa Kirby), who has her own unhappy marriage to Finney (Christopher Abbott). The World to Come might seem a little too similar to other period tales of forbidden love, but the strong performances and beautiful cinematography keep it fresh. ■■On Sky Cinema Premiere Ryan Reynolds as Big Adam and Walker Scobell as Young Adam The adam project Preview Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffalo lead an enticing cast (which includes Jennifer Garner, Walker Scobell, Catherine Keener and Zoe Saldana) in this bigbudget sci-fi fantasy adventure. Adam Reed (Reynolds) travels back in time to enlist the help of his younger self (12-year-old Scobell in his movie debut). The stakes? Adam needs to help his late father (Ruffalo). Director Shawn Levy’s film is a tender and moving family melodrama, whose sci-fi elements are secondary to the human story at its heart. ■■On Netflix from Friday Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser OutlandeR Eight episodes This is the eagerly anticipated sixth series for the historical drama based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon. It has already been renewed for a seventh. Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) continue their fight to protect their loved ones, their home and themselves from those who would do them harm. It seems the odds are stacked against them as they fight to build a life in the New World, and knowledge of the future must weigh heavily on Claire as revolution looms large. ■■On StarzPlay from today

6 09.03.2022 www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Style Guide Could you carry off any of these? ABOVE: Dune London Dreyya in Black, £99 Beauty buzz The latest products & glamour gossip From moon shapes to disco designs, Prudence Wade picks out the coolest accessories of the new season Bags are often seen as the ultimate expression of your personality through fashion, so choose yours wisely. Looking for a bag to help express how you’re feeling this year? Try one of these new trends... Puff it up This is the kind of bag you’d be happy to have on a flight or long car journey, because it basically doubles up as a pillow. On the runway, Bottega Veneta pioneered the now-cult style of puffy, pillowy handbags and clutches – in all colours of the rainbow. Maximise the puffiness of your accessories by going all-in on quilting and ruching, and choose buttery leather and green colours if you really want the Bottega look. CRUSH ABOVE: Ego Mavrik faux leather bag £17.99 Disco bags Disco accessories very much do what they say on the tin: they’re fun, sparkly and over the top. Go bold with gold, silver and bronze, and indulge in glitter, sequins and shine. This is all about joyous frivolity over practicality, so you’ll often see styles in smaller shapes, be it structured clutches or micro-bags. Left: Dune London Binita in silver, £65 RIGHT: Radley London gold mill bay metallic small flapover crossbody bag, £159, Next Keep it crafty Call it a hangover from the explosion of the crafts movement way back in the first lockdown. Think crafty materials, visible stitching, fringing, eclectic colours – anything that gives off a distinctly DIY vibe. Take inspiration from the catwalks – JW Andersen, Chloe, Loewe, Stella McCartney and more. OF THE WEEK Freemans straw summer bag, £26.99 RIGHT: Hush Withernsea jute bag in beige, £55 Zara mini quilted leather bag, £49.99 With their metallic heart design, how could you not fall in love with these mules? They are £149 at Kurt Geiger Take it to the moon If this shape looks familiar, that’s because it’s yet another trend Generation Z has plucked out from the Noughties. Moonshaped handbags – the kind of small totes with curved edges, so they look like halfmoons – will help bring a bit of romanticism to your look. Mini handbags that sit underneath your armpit have been back in style for a while now, and this is yet another update to the look. RIGHT: Shoulder bag with metallic detail in green, £27.99, available from Zara RIGHT: River Island green croc embossed shoulder bag, £32 LEFT: Primark black satin scrunchie handle clutch bag, £6 Cutting edge hardware If you want to pack a bit more of a punch with your accessories, it’s all about adding rock and roll detailing – namely, chunky chains to really catch the eye. Keep the main part of the bag minimalist, and in any style you want – then layer on heavy chains in gold or silver. You can even customise something you already have by adding strings of thick necklaces. ■■Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, above, has just added a host of new products to her Florence By Mills skincare brand. There’s an Up In The Clouds Facial Moisturiser, £19, Soak It In Toner, £18 and Zero Chill Makeup Setting Spray, £18, all with blue light protection to safeguard your face when you are binge watching her hit show. It gets an Eleven out of 10 from us. ■■According to research, 58% of us have had a flare-up from a skin product, but 90% have no idea which ingredient set it off. However, there’s now evidence of a link between skincare and food allergies, which makes sense really. If something upsets you on the inside, why wouldn’t it aggravate the outside, too? This thinking has led to the creation of Oodee, the first “allergen neutral” skincare, which is free from 14 major food allergens and common irritants such as fragrance, sulphates and silicones. It also puts in goodies such as a superfood power shot. It’s launching with a three-step regime of cleanser, £24, serum, £65 and moisturiser, £55. ■■We don’t know about you, but our skin could do with a bit of resurrecting after winter. Pai’s new Resurrection Girl is an ultra-hydrating mask in the form of a beautiful blue gel. Just smooth over your face for 10 minutes for a quick recharge. Made from extracts of the resurrection plant which grows in dry, rocky terrain and revives itself from complete dehydration, it does the same for your skin. It also contains blue tansy oil which has antioxidant and antiimflammatory properties which along with hyaluronic acid will soothe and calm skin. Priced £44 from feelunique.com

www.ayrshirepost.co.uk 09.03.2022 7 Food Cut back on costs without scrimping on great flavour As food bills rise, try these budget-friendly and tasty dishes for as little as 49p per head Many of us are tightening our belts as the cost of living crisis starts to pinch. Food bills are on the rise, as well as energy costs. Here Tesco executive chef Jamie Robinson shares his top tips and recipes for healthy, low-cost meals. He suggests filling up on vegetables: “Veg is not only good for your health, but also your bank balance. If it’s in season, it’s generally very affordable, so make the most of larger bulk packs. “A handy hack to save you time is Jamie Robinson SAUSAGE & BEAN STEW Cost per person: 49p ingredients: Woodside Farms 8 Pork Sausages (cost 80p/ recipe cost 80p/ per person 20p); 2 brown onions finely sliced (20p/40p/10p); 1 clove garlic, chopped (25p/2p/1p); Grower’s Harvest Chopped Tomatoes 400g (28p/28p/7p); Dijon mustard 2tsp (50p/1p/1p); 175ml chicken stock from 100g cubes (50p/5p/1p); Stockwell & Co Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce 420g (22p/22p/6p); 100g Redmere Farms Fresh Greens, sliced and thick stems discarded (52p/10p/3p) Method 1. Heat some oil in a lidded saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onions, and fry for 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic and fry for 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Raise the heat to medium-high, add the sausages and cook for 5 minutes until browned all over. 2. Return the onion and garlic to the pan with the tomatoes and 2 teaspoons of mustard. Make up 175ml of vegetable to pre-prepare the vegetables and cook them in advance, then freeze in sandwich bags. Not only will this save you money, but it will also make those midweek family meals quicker and easier.” Make the most of what’s in the back of the cupboard, too, advises Jamie: “Adding a tin of pulses or grains to any slow-cooked curry, stew or hotpot, will not only add nutrition and save money, but it will also help cut the time spent Here are some fabulous recipes to try at home. stock and add to the pan. Season with pepper and cook over a medium heat for 10 minutes, adding the beans after 5 minutes. 3. Stir through the greens, cover and cook for 4-5 minutes more until the sausages are cooked through and the spring greens are tender. Serve with a little mash, if you like. ■■All ingredients from Tesco and prices correct at time of going to print TOFU & VEGETABLE STEW Cost per person: 97p ingredients: Yutaka Tofu 450g shredded or cubed (cost £1.70p/recipe cost £2.21p/ per person 55p); I brown onion, sliced (10p/10p/3p); 1 clove loose garlic chopped (25p/2p/1p); 2 carrots, cut into batons (4p/8p/2p); ½ white cabbage, shredded (59p/30p/7p); loose courgettes 2 whole, sliced (40p/80p/20p); Grower’s Harvest Chopped Tomatoes 400g (28p/28p/7p); Schwartz bay leaves 3g, 1 (99p/7p/2p) CAPRESE AUBERGINE Cost per person: 83p ingredients: 2 aubergines cut into 5mm slices (cost 69p/ recipe cost £1.38p/ per person 35p); half a thinly sliced red onion (21p/11p/3p); 240g Mozzarella drained and thinly sliced (70p/70p/18p); Nightingale Farms cherry tomatoes 250G, halved (48p/48p/12p); white batch rolls 6 pack (49p/16p/4p); Tesco Classic Green Pesto or Free From Green Pesto, 2tbs (90p/18p/5p); cut basil 15g leaves picked and roughly chopped (43p/23p/6p) Method 1. Preheat the oven to gas 7, 220°C, fan 200°C. Brush the aubergine slices on both sides with 3 tablespoons of oil. Heat a frying or griddle pan over a medium-high heat, then fry the aubergine slices in batches for 3-4 minutes each side until lightly golden. Transfer to a plate, season and set aside while you cook the remaining slices. 2. In a large roasting tin, arrange the fried aubergine All ingredients & recipes from Tesco Method 1. Heat some oil in a large pan over a moderate heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft. 2. Add the tofu to the pan and cook for another four minutes. Add all the vegetables, one bay leaf and water and stir. 3. Season and simmer for 45 minutes. Remove the bay leaf, season again if necessary, then serve. slices, sliced red onion and mozzarella in layers, nestling in the tomato halves between them. Season with pepper, then roast for 15-20 minutes until the aubergine is very soft throughout and the mozzarella has melted. 3. Toss the torn rolls with 1 tablespoon of oil and season. Mix the pesto with 1 tablespoon of water to loosen, then pour over the veg in the tray and top with the bread. Bake for 5-10 mins until the croutons are crunchy and golden, then scatter with the basil to serve. On the grapevine By SAM WYLIE HARRIS With #BreakTheBias the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day (March 8), we’re raising a glass to women at the top of the wine game. Faldeos Nevados Malbec 2020, Mendoza, Argentina £9.50, The Wine Society There’s lots to love about this entry level malbec from worldclass winemaker Susana Balbo – she’s a three-times president of Wines of Argentina and cited as the queen of malbec. Made specifically for The Wine Society, it’s gloriously rich and ripe and immediately engaging with a perfumed bouquet of violets and black cherries. Velvety smooth with a luxurious, long finish. La Chiamata 2020, Trebbiano D’Abruzzo, Italy £10.99, Laithwaites A tip-top trebbiano, winemaker Ludovica Crugnale packs a lot of fruity freshness into this medalwinning white which won silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021, as well as the International Wine and Spirit Competition 2021. Utterly delicious with a sunny citrus, pear and stone fruit character, as well as a beautiful fresh acidity backing the pristine fruit. M&S Notte Rossa Primitivo Di Manduria 2020, Italy £11, Marks & Spencer, in-store In a word: Delicious. Caterina Bellanova’s brilliant primitivo proves how rich and generous these reds can be, and just as impressive as some of the flagship wines coming out of Cantine San Marzano (the producer behind the label). It spends six months in French and American oak and the dark cherry, plum, chocolate and lick of vanilla meld seamlessly together. Silky smooth, sun-kissed and plush. Leyda Reserva Pinot Noir 2020, Valle De Leyda, Chile £12, Tesco The ideal weeknight wine from an A-list producer, wine critic James Suckling awarded 91 points to Viviana Navarrete, chief winemaker at Chile’s Vina Leyda, for this expressive pinot noir. Known for her coolclimate, fragrant pinot noir, the elegant palate opens to strawberry and cherry flavours with herbal and soft mineral notes on the lingering finish.

8 09.03.2022 www.ayrshirepost.co.uk Game On Graphically, Elden Ring is breathtaking A wild ride and long grass with an abundance bly like Dark Souls. Especially some CHERYL of wildlife. There is so much freedom in the game that it’s sometimes go off and explore encounter, a few of which look like It’s hard to not just of the fantastical creatures you MULLIN hard to stop yourself from going off the landscape they have been lifted straight from End Of Level Boss Elden Ring (PEGI 18) PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX X/S, PC HHHHI on a tangent and exploring, the aims of the game forgotten as you wander around scattered ruins, and explore tunnels and caves. It’s not all sweetness and light however, as you come up against the Souls series. And just like his previous games this is no walk in the park, in fact, it’s tough as old boots at places. Ten hours in and I had run a gamut of emotions, from excitement, joy and As gaming pedigrees go, it doesn’t other armour-clad fighters and skeletal creatures which roam the land. skimming the clouds above – golden as I was killed over and over. awe, to frustration, anger and grief get much bigger than this. Directed by the legendary And while I did find myself getting trees adding a shock of colour on the One of the things that added to my Hidetaka Miyazaki – the man who sucked into the charms of this new horizon. You can almost smell the frustration was the drip feeding of created the Demon Souls series – world, I also found it a great way to dark, boggy swamps as you quickly information to expand on the plot. with world building from Game of start levelling up my character – make your way through them, and Based on a mythology shaped by Thrones author George R.R Martin, something I was eternally grateful feel the heat from the campfire as George R.R Martin I’d expected a expectations that Elden Ring would for when I ventured into the other you stop to bed down for the night deep and satisfying backstory, yet be something quite special were six areas which make up The Lands under the stars. the few characters I encountered already high. And just a few short Between. With Miyazaki at the helm it that were willing to impart information gave me scarce details that left hours into the game, those expectations had been met. taking. Richly textured environ- drawing comparisons to his previ- me hungry for more. Graphically, this game is breath- would be hard not to find yourself This is a game steeped in fantasy ments spill from the screen, castles ous releases, and at times there are Combat however is very satisfying, starting off fairly tame but and legend, the plot heavily influenced sit high atop mountains, their spires parts in this game that feel undenia- by the likes of Lord of the Rings, European mythology and Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series. Elden Ring takes place in ‘The Lands Between’, with the story picking becoming brutal and unforgiving as the game progresses. It’s impossible to do justice to Elden Ring in just a few hundred words. up in the times after the self- The game’s breadth of scale titled ring has been destroyed and its shards – known as the Great Runes – scattered. The realm is now ruled by the demigod offspring of Queen Marika the Eternal, each possessing a shard of the Elden Ring that has caused them to become corrupted. You play as a ‘Tarnished’, an exile who must help to restore the Elden Ring, with the ultimate goal of taking means it will be months before I’ve had a chance to explore it all – and even then I’m sure there will be secrets I’ll have to turn to the internet to uncover. And while, even with 30 odd hours under my belt it feels like I’ve just scraped the surface of what this game has to offer, I’m left in no doubt that this is one of the most incredible titles I’ve ever had the your place as the Elden Lord. Some of the creatures pleasure of spending time with. The journey through this huge look like they’ve been lifted ■■Bargain buy: £44.95 (special open world game begins in Limgrave, straight out of the Souls series launch edition with bonus features a lush world of verdant trees for PS5) from amazon.co.uk ALL GEEK TO ME THE latest gaming, comics and film news Batman: The Imposter This week is all about the Dark Knight as the latest Batman movie finally hits the big screen. But it’s a very different Batman we find in The Imposter, from the pen of Mother/Android director, Mattson Tomlin. In the year since he became Batman, Bruce Wayne already feels like he’s making a difference in Gotham. But while the Dark Knight has drawn the wrath of the city’s supervillains, he’s also attracted the attention of a second ‘Batman’ – an imposter who has no qualms about murdering criminals, live and on tape. With art by Andrea Sorrentino, Batman: The Imposter is out now in hardback, priced £25. Ghost Rider #1 This year marks the 50th anniversary of Johnny Blaze and his alter ego, Ghost Rider. This extended issue sees Johnny living the good life in a small town where he has a wife, two kids and a job. But at night he has awful dreams of monsters, and now horrific visions are starting to plague his waking moments too. As his world begins to feel more like a prison, the Spirit of Vengeance gets closer and closer to breaking out. Written by Ben Percy with art by Cory Smith, Ghost Rider #1 is out now, priced £3.60. Look out for some stunning variant covers, like the one pictured. Horizon Forbidden West TOP 10 Games 1. Horizon Forbidden West 2. Pokemon Legends: Arceus 3. Dying Light 2 Stay Human 4. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 5. FIFA 22 6. Animal Crossing: New Horizons 7. Call Of Duty: Vanguard 8. Minecraft 9. Mario Party Superstars 10. Just Dance 2022 Ukie Games Chart (C) Compiled by GFK