Issue 058

“Steam locomotives have always been a great attraction,” says Archie Thom, chairperson of Doon Valley Railway, during our chat about the popular heritage railway.

This year, Ayrshire Does Strictly once again raised money for The Killie Community, Kilmarnock FC’s charity. Although the exact amount has yet to be confirmed, Cathy Jamieson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, is able to explain exactly how the money will benefit the charity.

The Remedy Café, located on the beach front in Ayr, is as much a vibrant community hub as it is a welcome retreat after a bracing walk by the sea. When Patrick and Catherine Doherty opened the café back in 2020 they quickly attracted both locals and visitors with their locally roasted coffee, handmade cakes, freshly prepared food and sweeping views of the sea.

For over six decades, Hansel has been a leading light in social care across Ayrshire, supporting individuals with additional needs to thrive. Their vision is simple: To give people of all abilities the freedom to live the life they choose.

In October 1964, a group of likeminded, compassionate locals recognised the need to provide support to our elderly community in Prestwick.

What an absolute bargain! £39.95 for a return flight from Edinburgh to Paris. Happy days! You can’t beat booking flights online, can you? It’s so easy, and in this case, so cheap.

The festive season is a time for celebration, but it can also feel overwhelming. The pressure of perfect family gatherings, endless to-do lists, and managing different personalities can make it hard to fully relax.

The benefits of rising early have long been revered as the key to maximising performance, developing mental clarity and resilience, boosting health and wellbeing and, quite frankly, getting the most out of life.

What is there to look forward to in the last two months of the year? The first things we think of are the cold, wet, dark and gloomy days. However, pause and let’s think about the wonders at this time of year. As the year draws to a close, I suggest it is a time full of excitement, warmth, and anticipation.

As autumn arrives in a blaze of rustic reds and burnished golds, I’m reminded of the beauty that comes with slowing down. Having nurtured new growth in spring and burst into full bounteous bloom in summer, the natural world is finally exhaling before hunkering down for winter; a much-needed time of rest and recovery before the cycle begins again.

Personally, I could eat a traditional Christmas fruit cake any time, any place, but not everyone feels the same; it seems it’s no longer the hotly anticipated favourite it once was. Where thick slices of dense fruit sponge laced with booze and blanketed with extra layers of sugar were once the epitome of Christmas, lighter options which aren’t quite so sweet are increasingly in demand.

On 16th April 1894, Thomas Aitken Gray, aged 41, married, and a father of seven children, bought a rail ticket for the over-night sleeper from Glasgow to London. He also purchased copies of two popular magazines, Tit-Bits and To-Day. To encourage new readers, commuters benefitted from travel insurance if they carried a copy of the magazine on their person whilst travelling.

Now that autumn is almost behind us and the short dark days of December are around the corner, I wonder how many walks I will manage this winter. Will the weather be wet and wild, or will we have snow and a white Christmas? Not that one or two snowflakes prevents me from heading out for a walk. In fact, I recall a wintery walk I enjoyed in December a few years ago.

Ayr is well provided with parks, but to me these green spaces feel as if they’re inhabited by melancholy ghosts who doom me to match their strolling pace. Beaches, by contrast, don’t allow for such appropriation because the sea is a diva representing the wonder and cruelty of the universe.

Uncle Sandy’s return to his hometown of West Kilbride, after fifty years in Canada, was a surprising success. Though in his late eighties, and now a widower, he looked up old friends with whom he had kept good meaningful contact, and soon had a busy, new social life.

The sport of padel, sometimes referred to as padel tennis, is growing rapidly across the world and already has a huge following in European countries such as Spain where it is the second biggest participation sport after football.

When Fergal Holohan was just five years old, he asked his mum and dad for a pony. This would have been considered by some parents as an unusual, somewhat ambitious request but having grown up around horses, it seemed perfectly natural coming from Fergal.

Although the failure of the Luftwaffe to achieve air supremacy over Britain in 1940 had caused Hitler to abandon his plans for invasion, this country’s survival remained anything but guaranteed.

Now in its fifth decade, mini rugby is an important part of Marr Rugby Football Club’s set-up. That being so, we met up with Russell Keene, Marr’s Mini Rugby Convenor, to find out about the version of rugby union that’s designed for children.

Wrestling in the UK might not quite enjoy the same high profile that it did when the likes of Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Kendo Nagasaki, and Mick McManus regularly featured on TV, but make no mistake it’s still alive and grappling.

On Friday 4th October at Ayr Racecourse, businesspeople from across Ayrshire came together to celebrate the best of businesses and organisations from across the region.

Kirsty Grant is the Senior Wedding and Events Coordinator at Lochside House Hotel in New Cumnock. She has lived in Ayrshire for over 35 years and currently lives in Tarbolton with her husband and two children.

As we approach the festive season, most of us will be getting our tinsel, sequins and sparkle on to visit the theatre. Panto is more than a festive treat, it’s a ritual for many families and an introduction to the magic of the stage for lots of our young people.

Cinema and special occasions go hand in hand. Over the years I have found myself fascinated with audience’s film rituals; whether that’s watching The Muppet Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve, Annie Hall on Valentine’s Day or Groundhog Day on… Groundhog Day, I love the connection between celebration and what we watch.

On the eve of the release of his debut single, ‘Streams of Fire’, I met up with Ayrshire-based, promising young singer/songwriter and musician, Ryan Holmes, and his mentor, Scott Nicol.

Is it any wonder there are so many talented artists in Ayrshire? Surrounded by rugged coastline, rolling countryside, historic castles and an abundance of flora and fauna, there is endless inspiration right on the doorstep. Add to that the dramatic skies and sensational sunsets, there really is every reason to pick up a paintbrush and recreate the year-round delights that our county so kindly offers.

When North Carrick Community Benefit Company (NCCBC) invited bids for a series of sculptures to celebrate the 750th anniversary of Robert the Bruce’s birth, Girvan-based CRAG Community Arts SCIO didn’t hesitate to apply.

The very first amateur dramatic group is thought to have been established in the early 1800s. There are now more than 2,500 am-dram groups in the UK, including the New Laigh Kirk Drama Group in Kilmarnock.

Incontinence can be a life-altering condition, often causing embarrassment, frustration, and isolation. Affecting millions of people worldwide, both men and women, it often interferes with daily activities, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Kilmarnock’s first wellness centre is soon to be open in a prime location in the town centre, which will aim to offer a range of medical services that are no longer easily accessible within the NHS.

Wellington School’s Nursery in Ayr welcomes children aged 3-5 years. Run in partnership with South Ayrshire Council, all places at Wellington Nursery are fully funded. Children can attend 8.40am – 3.00pm without charge throughout school terms, with snacks and lunch included.

With their ability to go where other vehicles cannot, their ease of use, and their versatility, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) have proven to be invaluable tools for a wide range of users, particularly those involved in the agricultural sector.

Among all the physical benefits of a spa, there is one significant benefit: it enhances happiness. Massages and spa treatments are known to release serotonin, a hormone associated with happiness, not only during your spa session but also in the following days.

Art of Dentistry in Prestwick is recognised as one of Scotland’s leading private dental practices, combining over 35 years of experience in cosmetic and restorative dentistry.

Having worked in the industry from the age of 14, Jo Goudie knows what it takes to make an award-winning fish supper.

Opened in March 2023, Viva Sun is bringing luxury tanning solutions to the people of Ayr and proving that the once maligned industry is changing thanks to advanced technology and a deeper understanding of safe exposure to UV light.

Ayrshire Grooming Salon is an award-winning, qualified and experienced Dog and Cat Grooming Salon, operating since 2010 and has been located at 43 Princes Street, Ardrossan since 2019.

Nestled in the heart of Prestwick, ‘The Central’ is more than just a pub; it is an iconic venue, an institution that has long been woven into the fabric of the community. Over the years, it has welcomed both locals and visitors with its warm, familiar character.