Thursday 28 November 2013

Running to up the end of 2013...

Regular commuters through Bridge of Weir might recognise the front banner picture as one of Gibb Stuart’s (Home Hardware) windows. Every year without fail, Sandy and his team go to great efforts to create a colourful and dynamic display; this year is no exception - a visual extravaganza to brighten up the dark winter evenings.

For those with hectic schedules and unable to make the shops during normal hours, Gibb Stuart is staying open on Thursday evenings in the run up to Christmas. The shop will be open until 8pm on Thursdays 28th November, 5th and 12th December, with special offers in-store on those nights.

In Lochwinnoch, the following shops will also be staying open on Thursday 28th November: Calder Gallery and Framing, Now and Then and Little Now and Then, the Charity shop, Post Office, Quirky Florist, Penman’s Pharmacy and Castle Semple visitor centre - more info on the website http://lochwinnochextra.co.uk/whatson-late-night-opening.html

I was delighted to receive an invitation to visit the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre for their Grand Opening. The highlight of the day was being allowed to hold Orla, the Golden Eagle. I can’t tell you how fantastic it was to be that close to such an amazing creature. Closer than half an arm’s length, to make eye to eye contact was quite nerve-racking, but an unforgettable experience, one which I would encourage anyone to share. 

If you are stuck for that unique Christmas gift, how about the ‘Hawk Walk’ for £35, where you will get to fly one of the hawks for an hour through the trees? Or ‘Meet the Birds Experience’ where, for £100, you can enjoy an action packed, four hour close encounter at the Centre with tuition on some of the basics of falconry, learn the falconers’ knot, encounter an Eagle Owl, meet and handle a selection of hawks, falcons, and owls, fly a hawk, and possibly handle “Orla” the Golden Eagle. Vouchers are available at the Centre, or online at the website www.llbopc.co.uk

Finally, I would like to wish you all a happy and restful (if possible) festive season. I am looking forward to 2014 and hope you will be too!

Tuesday 29 October 2013

welcome to our November issue

It's great to see continuing improvements at the frontage at Neva Place. On this occasion, many thanks to the Brighter Bridge of Weir group for planting the border in front of Bernie's, and thanks too to Bull's Garage for donating the red stone chips, and the efforts of Willie Carruth, Roy Holmes and the Brighter girls who managed to move enough red chips to cover from the edge of Bernie's paving all the way down to the bank. Well done!

Sadly, the availability of these stone chips is due to the, now obvious, closure of Bull's Garage. This was a business at the core of village life and will be sorely missed. For those villagers who live and work within the locality it provided a convenient and essential resource, even if only for filling-up your vehicle. Locals will now have to make a conscious decision to go elsewhere and in doing so may change their local shopping habits. Please remember that a village without local shops can be a very soul-less place, so please do your utmost to continue to support your local retailers and help keep the community alive. 

It's Panto season.... 

"Oh no it's not" you say, "Oh yes it is!" And we are so excited at The Advertizer this year as one of our very own team is taking part - we'll leave it to our eagle-eyed readers out there to go along to the show and find out who! 

On that same theme, we've got a special section in our centre pages, "Spotlight", with details of pantomimes, theatre events and fireworks displays- plenty going on for all tastes.

If you've got any events for our December issue, please get these to us by our deadline of Friday 15th November

Thursday 26 September 2013

Mixed news for October

I was delighted to hear that the group, “Weir Saving our Village”, has offered to help meet the costs of improving the play area in Moss Road Park, Bridge of Weir. The group – formed to save the park from a sell-off for retail development – successfully campaigned for the Council to retain ownership of the park. The funds raised during their campaign became surplus to requirements.

On a sad note, I’m sure that you will share my surprise and disappointment at the imminent closure of Bull’s Garage (see the adjacent page). If local rumours are to be believed the possibility of the business continuing as a going concern is not an option and consequently the buildings may be demolished. If true, what is to become of the site? 

The site of the garage includes the vacant land towards the River Gryffe, currently used for casual parking. This vacant land was referenced on the local plan and designated residential development, however, with the removal of the garage what is to become of this significantly larger plot. Rumours abound; more housing, affordable housing, a supermarket, a railway station, etc? I don’t know, but one thing is for sure, the convenience of the local garage which has been there as long as I can remember will be sadly missed. Not to forget the service which the Crawford family has afforded the community, having built the business over the years.

Finally, and on a lighter note, I was highly amused to hear that there were, in fact, no nearly new babies for sale at the recent ‘Nearly New Baby Sale’ in Kilmacolm. I’ve no doubt though that some big brothers and sisters might have thought this would be a really good idea.

Wednesday 28 August 2013

September round up

Renfrewshire residents turned out in their numbers to grab a glimpse of some vintage vehicles during the Fire Engine Rally held in Paisley in August. Hundreds of people gathered in Paisley town centre for the popular annual event, which is now in its fifth year.

A mixture of old-style and current fire appliances paraded through the town from Canal Street Fire Station before parking in County Square and Gilmour Street. The event was run by Renfrewshire Council and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Heritage Trust.

Gibb Stuart’s CookLive 2013 event will be held over three days, in-store at the Bridge of Weir shop. Events kick off on Friday 13th until Sunday 15th September, with in-store promotions and demonstrations in abundance. See their advert on page 23 for details.

Rehearsals are already underway for the pantomime season.... Oh no they’re not!.... OH YES THEY ARE! This year we will be treated to ‘Cinderella’ by the Kilmacolm Dramatic Society and the “Flint Street Nativity” by Kilbarchan East Drama group. I’m sure there are plenty of others - if you are involved and would like us to publicise your event please get in touch.

An idea for Christmas (we can’t be thinking of that already!?) is the must buy for 2014 – The Bridge of Weir calendar.   After last year’s success the Trustees of The Bridge have produced a local calendar for 2014 with the invaluable assistance of members of Paisley Colour Photographic Club.

The hanging A4 sized calendar incorporates 12 colourful photographs of scenes/landmarks around Bridge of Weir, along with a diary section to note all your important dates. The calendar will be on sale in The Bridge from Monday 9th September for £5.75.

And finally, to help get us all off the couch, Renfrewshire Leisure are hosting an ‘Open Weekend’ on 14th and 15th September when you can go along to Paisley Lagoon, ON-X Linwood, Renfrew Leisure Centre or Erskine Sports Centre, and find out which sport might be right for you. More details in their ad on page 39.

Thursday 1 August 2013

August news

As I write, PHEW! It’s hot! 

In the June editorial I reflected on the somewhat distressing and variable weather which we were suffering at that time. And, trying to remain upbeat, I recalled the weather pattern from 1976 when there was a very cold Spring, culminating in a snow blizzard on the 2nd June, only to be followed by one of the hottest summers on record, with the temperature sitting above 80’C for four weeks mid June and into July. So similar to this year’s weather!

Apologies for not managing to include photos of Bridge of Weir Gala last month, but to make amends I’ve managed to save a page this month for a montage. Lots of smiley faces enjoying the freedom of the great outdoors and wall to wall sunshine. Again, congratulations to Gordon Lethorn and his support team for another wonderful day.

Over the last few years we’ve been following our local karting star, Tom Thickpenny. This month we don’t have an article from him since he has been invited to the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix, not to compete but to rub shoulders with the superstars, undoubtedly an experience which will help his blossoming racing career. I hope that once he gets to F1 himself as a driver, I might receive a personal invite to watch him (well, no harm in asking!).

A call to action Ladies! We’re looking for pre-loved, gently used, vintage or designer handbags. On the 20th September, in The Cargill Centre (Kilmacolm), an auction in aid of Orkidstudio is being held and more donations of handbags are required to ensure the night is a great success. See page 5 (over there --->) for further details.

We also have the welcome news that following a successful event last year, Gibb Stuart Home Hardware has decided to again host their CookLive! event in September. More news about this on page 14 and in our next issue.

Happy August everyone!

Tuesday 25 June 2013

in our July issue (includes competition winners!)

It feels like we’ve had a good share of rogues and scams already this year, and we’ve just been alerted to another - the Madrid inheritance letter, claiming the reader is set to inherit a small fortune. They seem to have just enough personal information to cause the reader to consider the letter as genuine. As always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and our advice is - BIN IT!, or at least solicit a second opinion before even thinking about responding.

Talking of a response, our old Advertizer phone number “874385” will be stopped from September. Previously, calling 01505 874385 would re-direct through to our Bridge of Weir office, but from September we will be cancelling this line since it is effectively obsolete. Please call us on 01505 613340 from now on.

Thank you very much to Brighter Bridge of Weir who have planted some lovely tubs for our frontage. The volunteers put so much time and effort into these beautiful displays around Bridge of Weir and I’m sure we’re all appreciative of the ‘Brighter’ village they provide.

On the subject of the frontage, we’ve been waiting for planning permission from the Council to go ahead with our plans and, after a couple of iterations, we finally got there. However, now into the midst of the outdoor landscaping season, most local companies are busy. Bear with us - we think we are just about there; although I am sure I’ve said that before – but trust me!

Apologies if we’ve missed any news items, but our email was a bit ‘iffy’ through the month. If you send something in, please make sure you get an auto-reply. If in any doubt, please don’t hesitate to call us to make sure.

Finally, many of you will be heading off on holiday soon, but please don’t forget to send us your news and photos - our deadline for August will be Friday 19th July, so plenty of time before then.

COMPETITION WINNERS!

Winners of the Gibb Stuart Weekend Giveaway as follows:

Weber BBQ - Iain Anthony - Houston
Easiyo Yogurt Maker + Years Supply - Maureen Brennan - Houston
Dulux Dog Soft Toy - Irene McLaughlin - Bridge of Weir
Dulux Puppy & Blanket Soft Toy - Emma Gibbs - Bridge of Weir



Winner of the Ferringtons hypno-chill day:

WINNER: Marie Brown, Bridge of Weir

RUNNERS-UP: Helen Qayum, Johnstone; Isobel Evans, Kilmacolm; Jackie Morrison, Houston; Meg Millar, Bridge of Weir; Dorothy Murray, Motherwell


Congratulations to everyone who won and thank you for all the entries!


Tuesday 28 May 2013

welcome to June's issue

Isn’t the weather just maddening right now; warm, summery, cold, wet, windy and even snow; as Crowded House sang in 1992, “Four Seasons in One Day”; clearly intended as a metaphor in the song, but apparently becoming a reality as we struggle to know what to wear when leaving the house in the morning. It’s never been like this before?

If you remember last year, we had a scorching March followed by a freezing April and then storms in May. This year, a warm and dry February followed by a freezing March and, as I am writing on 23rd May, snow blizzards.

As the old saying goes, “Ne’er cast a clout till May be out”, commonly used but what of the meaning? Generally the accepted interpretation would be, don’t discard your warm winter clothing until the month of May is behind us. However, another interpretation exists that makes more sense, by tying the changing seasons with nature; that you should take the same precaution regarding your apparel until the Hawthorn, also known as the May Tree, is in full bloom, thus signalling the beginning of summer. There you go, you learn something every day.

Still on the weather front (no pun intended), I happened to bump into a village worthy this morning and, in discussing the chilly start to the day, he recalled 1976 when they had to stop work on the 2nd June because of a snow blizzard. However, that year then turned out to be one of the hottest summers on record, with the temperature sitting above 80’C for four weeks mid June and into July. Maybe our selective memory recall makes us believe that things right now are a little random, but in fact it may not really be that different at all; expressed more eloquently, “It was one of those perfect Spring days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.” And, staying with quotes, Charles Dickens said, “Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade”; isn’t that just how it feels right now. Therefore, remaining optimistic and knowing that the trouble with weather forecasting is that it’s right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it, let’s just hope; hope for a recurrence of ‘76 and keep the sunscreen and BBQ tongs at the ready.

June is the month for lots of fun at the various gala days and shows in the local area. We’ve got Lilias Day in Kilbarchan, Bridge of Weir’s Gala Day followed by their Gala Week events, Bishopton Gala Day and events, Kilbarchan Agricultural Show, Houston Agricultural Show and Accord Hospice Summer Fayre. Apologies if we’ve missed any - please make sure we get the details next year! Go to our village news pages and our diary to get details of when and where these various events take place.

Lastly, but by no means least, we were also delighted to hear that this month Gibb Stuart celebrates being in their “new” shop in Bridge of Weir for 20 years. However, their history in the area is far longer - in 1880 William Gibb Stuart established himself in the villages of Kilmacolm and Bridge of Weir as an Ironmonger, Painter and Decorator. The business is now managed by the fourth generation with the fifth in hot pursuit; more on this inside our June issue.

Wednesday 1 May 2013

This month..... May


The closing paragraph in my editorial last month seems to have resulted in a mix of confusion and rapturous laughter; for those left in confusion, I have to apologise.
A competition was proposed, “How long can you sustain a chip on the shoulder?” It would be fair to say that in the following weeks our mailbox did not overfloweth with application form requests. Obviously our readers are far too astute to be drawn into such a nonsensical suggestion and realized it was simply the aspirations of a beleaguered April Fool.
However, there’s no need for make-believe at this time of the year since this is the season of Fun Days and Galas, therefore we’re not short of local events and activities; mostly held on a Saturday, unless otherwise stated...
11th May: Kilmacolm & Port Glasgow Agricultural Show, locally referred to as The Knapps Show (see page 32/59).
11th May: Houston Kirk Carnival Day (page 41)
18th May: Woodlands Nursery (Houston) Fun Day (page 41/47).
18th May: Elderslie Kirk Fete (page 38).
1st June: Kilbarchan Lilias Day (page 37 & more info next month ).
1st June: Houston & Killellan Agricultural Show (page 40). 
8th June: Bridge of Weir Gala Day & Parade, followed by Gala Week (see next month for details).
8th June: Lochwinnoch Gala Day (page 36).
15th June: Kilmacolm Old Kirk Fete (page 32).
15th June: Bishopton Gala Day, preceded by Gala Week.
15th June: Kilbarchan Agricultural Show.
Apologies if we’ve missed any. If there are no specific details in this issue, we’ll feature more information of the events held in June in our next edition of The Gryffe Advertizer.
I take this opportunity, on behalf of the whole community, to thank the many dozens of volunteers who freely give up their time throughout the year planning and organising these events. And, if you’re someone who’d like to get involved, then I’m sure you’d be welcomed with open arms ... go on!
And lastly, as a regular reminder, we want to hear from you if you’ve done something wonderful, if you are planning a fund raising event, if you’ve got news to share, or even if you’re looking for help with something. Our readers are always eager to hear what’s happening and eager to help if they can. And the best thing is, there’s no cost from us to do this!
The Advertizer is the ideal platform to communicate with your community as we reach over 14,000 homes and businesses in the Gryffe area.
Send your news and photos to info@advertizer.co.uk or by post to The Advertizer, Neva Place, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3PN. 
Next deadline Friday 17th May!
This month............ April


It can sometimes be quite shocking as to what comes through your front door first thing in the morning!
I recently received mail which can only be described as ‘bonkers’ - the junk  in circulation is truly astounding. We seem to be bombarded relentlessly, not just with mail, but also spam email, misleading adverts, dodgy doorstep callers and telephone scams. Every year the British public loses billions of pounds to scammers. 
So beware! The old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is”, still rings true. Strathclyde Police would like to alert you to the Little Book of BIG Scams, reproduced by kind permission of the Metropolitan Police Service. They were inspired by The Little Black Book of Scams, originally created by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as inspiration. The Police hope this booklet will increase your awareness of the vast array of scams that are being used and teach you some easy steps you can take to protect yourself. It should be seen as a general guide to many of the scams currently operating in the UK. Download the booklet at http://www.sbcc.org.uk/news-events/latest/the-little-book-of-big-scams.aspx 
And on the theme of Police, did you know that there is a new number to contact the Police on for non-emergency situations? 
The non-emergency number 101 has been launched by Strathclyde Police across Scotland and replaces the range of existing police force non-emergency numbers, which will gradually be phased out. 
The introduction of the 101 non-emergency number gives the people of Scotland a new way to contact the Police, seek advice, speak to a local officer or to report a crime that doesn’t need an emergency response, for example, car theft, damage to property, a minor traffic collision, suspected drug use or dealing, or information about crime in their area. It’s available 24/7 and chargeable at a flat rate of 15p per call. 
In the case of an emergency, please continue to dial 999. That’s when a crime is in progress, when someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when a life is in danger, or when violence is being used or threatened.
And finally, on a lighter note and taking a lead from the original ‘bonkers’ theme, I have just been made aware of an unusual contest, “How long can you sustain a chip on the shoulder?” The Guinness Book of Records presently makes no reference to such a challenge, so this could be your chance to get yourself a record, of some sort, if you haven’t done so already. However, in the interest of fairness, honesty and integrity, some criteria have to be fulfilled. The chip has to be obtained legally, it cannot be taken from someone else’s stash without their prior consent, and posing as someone else in order to obtain a chip is strictly forbidden. A date is still to be set, but stay alert for the announcement of the Public Event at which the contenders will have an opportunity to trial their unique prowess. Well, I did say... ‘bonkers’!

Tuesday 26 February 2013

March 2013 issue


At the start of February, I felt I was somewhat lacking in the old ‘oomph’ factor. Cold, dark mornings and a general lethargy was draining me. Then, through my good friend Mo, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and attended a couple of meetings where I had to step up to the plate and talk about myself and my experiences. Thank you in particular to the ladies of the Houston NWR who made me feel very welcome and at ease.

February continued to surprise and enlighten me. I heard news that I had not expected and it fair put a spring back in my step. A visit to the hairdresser fair set me off laughing - thank you Susan at AM Hair & Beauty. You know, I read a saying a long time ago, while going through my treatment, and it rings very true today. “Look to the sun and the shadows fall behind you”. I shall continue to look to the sun and will view whatever comes my way over the coming months with a positive smile.

Our usual round of events is kicking back into shape. We have a Wedding Fair in the Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm on Saturday 2nd March from 12noon until 3pm. Bridge of Weir’s Gala Queen selection interviews will take place on Saturday 2nd March at 6.30pm in the Cargill Hall, Bridge of Weir. Kidston Kids hold their annual Nearly New Sale on 23rd March - lots of great bargains to be had here. Linwood Sports Centre is having a Pre-Open Weekend on 23rd & 24th March to show off the wonderful new facilities at Brediland Road, Linwood. See our centre pages for all the details. Lochwinnoch Arts Festival will run from 13th to 24th March with a variety of events held through the week and an art exhibition in the Library running throughout.

In our “Planning” section we have news of a meeting to be held in Kilmacolm regarding the propsed plans for a windfarm on Corlic Hill. This is something which will affect villagers and it would be beneficial to visit and find out what the plans are. Everyone should take an interest in this process since it will affect all of us, please take the time to consider the proposals and make your voice heard, whether for or against.

Since Maxwell Place in Bridge of Weir was resurfaced last year it has become a popular parking spot. This lane runs down the side of Neva Place and is now over-congested with parked cars, making deliveries difficult for the businesses which use the lane as access. Drivers are urged to park considerately, otherwise preventative measures will have to come into force. It is actually illegal to park on a pavement and one car has already been damaged by a delivery lorry.

Finally, a wee reminder to please make sure you receive an ‘auto-reply’ when sending in an email. If you don’t get one, please call to check.

All this and more in our March magazine..... enjoy!

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Welcome to February 2013

We seem to have missed the worst of the snow, but if you’d like to take your mind off the weather for a while, once again Maureen Horton of Travel a la Carte is participating in a Wedding Fair at which she’ll spoil you with her portfolio of exotic destinations. The event is to be held in the Cargill Centre, Kilmacolm on Saturday 2nd March from 12noon until 3pm. Last year’s event was very successful and the organisers hope for a similar, or even better, turnout this year. There will be plenty of offers available on the day.

If you sent in news and did not receive an auto-reply, chances are we may have missed your email. Just prior to our deadline, we had no email for the best part of a day and we can’t be sure that some didn’t go amiss. The joys of technology! So, a wee reminder - please make sure you’ve had your reply and if not, please call to check.

We now have lovely new signage in our offices, so there’s no need to guess which windows belong to The Advertizer; the first floor above Bernie’s Cafe in the heart of Bridge of Weir. Many thanks BD Print in Quarriers for a prompt and professional service. The other offices on the first floor are now occupied by Carol Cowan Photography and Pulse Electrical.

And yes, the scaffolding has gone at long last. The roof repairs are now finished, but vehicle access to the frontage remains closed since Renfrewshire Council has deemed it unsafe. A new surface to the frontage of Bernie’s Cafe is in progress - weather permitting; this will be for pedestrian use only. Obviously it’s not desirable to lose parking spaces, but safety has to come first.

Whilst on parking, since Maxwell Place was resurfaced last year it has become a popular parking spot. It tends now to be over congested and this makes deliveries difficult for the businesses which use the lane as access. Drivers are urged to park considerately, otherwise preventative measures will have to come into force. It is actually illegal to park on a pavement and one car has already been damaged by a delivery lorry.

For this month we have added a new section on "Planning" which carries information on the formation of the Local Development Plan for both Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. Everyone should take an interest in this process since it will affect all of us, please take the time to consider the proposals and make your voice heard, whether for or against.

A bit early too be thinking of summer, but never too soon to start planning. Bridge of Weir’s Gala Queen selection interviews will take place on Saturday 2nd March at 6.30pm in the Cargill Hall, Bridge of Weir. Application forms are currently being handed out to the local schools.

All this and more in our February magazine..... enjoy!