Issue 051

MONO Events Since launching in 2020, MONO Events has taken the events industry by storm. Founder, Nadia, launched her business to pursue her passion for design and to make all of her customers’ decor dreams come true.“After years of creating displays for friends and family, I finally decided to take the plunge and MONO Events…

Old-fashioned customer service with a fresh outlook David Milloy If you’re looking for an independent retailer of high-quality furniture with a great track record and an emphasis on customer service, then you should make Hunter Furnishing your first point of call.Founded in the 1980s and originally based at McCall’s Avenue, the business was acquired by…

A different kind of punting on the river… David Milloy Believe it or not, Irvine didn’t have its own rugby union club until 1962. That it came about at all was down to some pupils at Irvine Royal Academy (including Alistair McHarg, who would go on to play rugby union for Scotland) deciding that not…

Gill Sherry Sometimes it’s good to step out of your comfort zone. It doesn’t have to be a major life-changing adjustment, although, speaking from experience, a career change (at any age) can be liberating.Trying something new can reap untold benefits. From making new friends to discovering a hidden talent or improving your mental or physical…

Ayrshire’s Premier Fitness Coach Gill Sherry It might be a wee bit too soon to be making New Year’s resolutions… or is it?When it comes to our mental and physical health, it’s never too early to make a positive change. One man who wholeheartedly believes this, is Scott Brown.Born and raised in Irvine, Scott joined…

An old club with new ideas David Milloy You could say that Meadow Park, the home of Irvine Meadow XI FC (usually just known as ‘Meadow’ or ‘Medda’) is hidden in plain sight, being tucked away in a sea of houses. But once you find it, chances are that you’ll want to go back again…

Aiming for the top Michael Hamilton The 151st Open Championship was very special for Troon’s Michael Stewart. Not only was it his first Open Championship but he also finished the tournament as the top Scot, with ultimate bragging rights over his fellow countrymen.I caught up with him while he was preparing for Challenge De Espana….

Keeping on trucking… David Milloy For nearly the last forty years, the roads of Ayrshire have hosted a colourful cavalcade of classic and vintage commercial vehicles every July.Initiated in 1986 by Bill Reid, the Ayrshire Vintage Commercial Road Run initially started from outside the gates of the then Volvo factory in Irvine. Participants in the…

Helping the emergency services to help others David Milloy We all know that the emergency services are just a three-digit phone call away but did you know that they sometimes have to call on members of the general public to assist them?It’s long been the case that the emergency services have approached owners of four-wheel…

Sheila A. Grant. August, when the first glimpse of lilac heather darkens to carpets of purple, is a perfect time to visit the Highlands of Scotland. But don’t forget your midge net.Leaving the bustling town of Aviemore and the impressive Cairngorms, snow still clinging to the depths of the corries, our first destination is Huntly….

Your local veterinary practice Vets4Pets first opened its doors in Ayrshire twelve years ago when it welcomed patients to its Allison Street practice in Ayr. Six years later, it reinforced its commitment to the county by opening a second practice at the Riverway Retail Park in Irvine.Now, pets and their owners are also welcome at…

What to do during this magical season Shirley Husband What does autumn in Ayrshire bring to mind for you? Is it woodland walks with your family through crunchy, colourful leaves? Brisk walks on the beach in cosy clothes? Or do you like to spend time with the kids crafting, cooking, or reading?One thing most children…

Linda Brown Days are getting shorter. Darker afternoons beckon. Nights are fair drawing in. Autumn has officially arrived.But, as the seasons change, there’s still plenty to see, admire and photograph while out walking.Camera at the ready, I’m striding along the path which runs alongside the River Irvine between Newmilns and Galston in East Ayrshire. It’s…

Get ready for Dowhill’s Pumpkin Fest Gill Sherry This year’s Pumpkin Festival at Dowhill Farm, Turnberry, takes place from 14th to 22nd October where you can not only choose your perfect pumpkin but also test your orienteering skills in the maize maze, dig your own vegetables and try your hand at a whole new form…

Businesses across Ayrshire’s manufacturing sector will soon have access to state-of-the-art facilities and digital expertise, as the Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DPMC) at the i3 campus nears completion.From automation and robots to artificial intelligence (AI), virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), digital data management, 5G networks and cybersecurity, the centre will allow companies of all sizes…

Alison Craig If, like me, you were around in the 1970s, you may remember those programmes that were on the BBC waayyy late, when you should have been in bed. These were the programmes produced by the Open University. In my memory, they were always presented by a man in a blue tie and were…

New light through old windows David Milloy Those who say that all the best things come in small packages might perhaps have been thinking of Lamlash House in Newmilns, a bespoke events venue that is modest only in terms of its dimensions. Moreover, it’s a striking embodiment of its owners’ belief that new uses can…

Q&A with the award-winning goldsmith Gill Sherry Originally from Glasgow, Sheila Kerr now lives in Prestwick and considers Ayrshire her home. Her business was recently named ‘Independent Jewellery Store of the Year’ at the Scottish Independent Retail Awards. I met with Sheila at her studio in Harbour Street, Irvine, where her beautiful, bespoke jewellery is…

Laura Rennie “I have a business to run.”“I need to be able to rely on someone.”“I put a lot of effort into this work, my friends are also making a lot of effort. If we’re going to continue to be ‘on-and-off’, maybe let’s talk about charting a different path.”I can hear some of our previous…

Hannah MacMillan Did you feel that?Another shift?No, not another work shift. Not a morning, evening or night shift. Not split, rotating or graveyard. Well, with the way the retirement age is going, most people will have to skip the graveyard part of life to even get to their shift.No. A shift in perspective.I’m sure I…

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Launch New Training Programme and Affiliated Training Partners for 2023/24 Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce is excited to launch our exclusive programme of Training and Development sessions throughout 2023/24.Ayrshire Chamber is a completely independent and not for profit organisation with over 800 members. We have one straightforward objective, to encourage, promote and…

Ayrshire College Launches Innovative Future Skills Hub To Empower Students For The Future Ayrshire College is proud to announce the opening of their new state-of-the-art training facility in North Ayrshire.The Willie Mackie Future Skills Hub will revolutionise the training opportunities for people of North Ayrshire, and the wider Ayrshire region, by equipping students with the…

Promoting The County’s Arts Community Ayrshire is truly the destination for a festival of art each September, with sculptuAre, printing, painting and many different crafts all being exhibited at home studios and other venues across Ayrshire by the artists and makers of Open Studios Ayrshire.With the successful completion of Open Studios Ayrshire’s annual open weekend…

Introducing the people of Ayrshire to the joys of music Claire Gillespie In 2002, Peter O’Neil had an industrial accident when he was working as a general manager in a bakery. Out of a job and with a family to feed, he turned to his love of music and started teaching guitar from home. The…

Robert Neil In Irvine, if you were to ask those of a certain age who they remembered from their local music scene, one name would stand out from the rest – Legendary Irvine Music and Entertainment Promoter, Willie Freckleton. Also known as ‘Mr Entertainment’, he was responsible for putting on some epic music events.Not really…

In the company of friends Claire Gillespie “All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.” So said the 19th century American poet, philosopher, and lecturer Ralph Waldo Emerson. In Emerson’s case, he honed his public speaking skills during his years as a preacher, but that’s not an option available to many of us here…

Trick or Treat? Did you all enjoy summer? If your answer is yes, then I’m guessing you don’t live in Scotland.Now, I know we all like to moan about the lack of good weather in this country, but this year was grim. We saw more rain in the summer than we had all winter. All…

Kelly Craig Since the pandemic, it has been encouraging to see the rise in the number of Scottish plays treading the boards across the country, and with the burgeoning film industry in Scotland showcasing some exciting new productions, creativity has never been more important. Our home-grown talent is going from strength to strength and our…

A Spotlight On Independent Cinema Ross Hunter It fills me with pride to say this – the Scottish film industry is in a period of growth. Large scale productions with global appeal are now finding Scotland an attractive place to come and tell their stories. Our talent is playing a part in the international film…

Blowing its own trumpet! Gill Sherry Irvine & Dreghorn Brass celebrated its 40th birthday in 2016. Since then, the band has had plenty to shout about, not least the purchase of its very own premises, namely, the Dunlop Memorial Hall in Dreghorn.“It’s a great venue,” Secretary, James McGoldrick, tells me. “It gives us a bit…

Willie Wallace & Bill Caldwell “Born 1933 and still going strong!”, to borrow a well-known Kilmarnock phrase!The choir began as an evening class, under the auspices of the local education committee. Members had to pay 7/6d (37p) to the local authority to enroll in the class, and a further 7/6d to the choir for their…

Striving to make Irvine a better place for young people Gill Sherry Irvine’s Youth Legacy Centre opened its doors at Unit 2, Bridgegate in December 2022. Since then it has helped hundreds of young people with a variety of issues ranging from simple boredom to more serious mental health concerns.Youth Development Worker, Morgan Blackie, tells…

Award-winning Ayrshire business, The Little Art School, celebrates 10 years. Joanne Robinson Ten years ago, a small children’s art class was held in an Ayrshire dining room. Fast forward a decade and The Little Art School, headed by Joanne Robinson and Melissa Haddow, has taught thousands of people, aged 5 to 105, how to draw…

Kilmarnock FC are proud to welcome Ayrshire Cancer Support as the newest members of the club’s growing family of charity partners.Ayrshire Cancer Support aims to improve the quality of life for those living with cancer by ensuring that support is readily available throughout the county. The charity has operated across the region for more than…

Community Superhero Gill Sherry Kilwinning’s Heather Speirs was one of the well-deserved winners at the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s ‘Celebration of Care’ event held in June at the Volunteer Rooms in Irvine. She was named Community Superhero for her work in supporting the community of North Ayrshire.I caught up with Heather recently…