Issue 059

Hi, I’m Derek and I’m a professional photographer from Ayrshire. My passion for photography and arts grew from a young age. I have been in business since 2019 and have photographed around 40 amazing weddings to date, but my photography continues to grow.

Belleisle South Lodge is an early 19th century, Category C listed sandstone building located at the main entrance into Belleisle Estate; home of Belleisle and Seafield golf courses in Ayr.

Scottish tennis personality Judy Murray OBE, will be joining the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce for an evening of networking and celebration.

Locally, Chambers of Commerce are private not-for-profit companies owned and operated by their members to improve and support the business environment and community through networking, advocacy and offering a range of business services.

I’m standing in a local supermarket. My trolley is brimful of food and drink. I’m tired and desperate to get home, have a coffee and read the papers.

There’s something wonderful about getting back into a routine after the excesses of Christmas. Lovely as it is to indulge in the festivities of the season with carefree abandon, we know when it’s time to call it a day; our bodies tell us loud and clear.

Ask a travel agent for a holiday incorporating both beach and wildlife and they’ll probably recommend a long-haul trip to South Africa.

Every three minutes, someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with a head injury. That equates to over 400 admissions every day.

A ski slope in Newmilns? It’s a question many people in the southwest of Scotland might ask themselves when they discover the existence of Newmilns Snow & Sports Complex, but for the people of the Irvine Valley, it’s been a permanent fixture for many years.

I’d met Gillian Park twice prior to interviewing her at her home in Craigie. Both times, I was blown away by her paintings and enamoured with her bubbly personality.

We’re all familiar with the ukulele, the guitar-like stringed instrument usually associated with folk music.

I first met Ross McKenzie in the summer of 2023 when he was a resident volunteer and sessional worker at River Garden Auchincruive, an IFDAS (Independence from Drugs and Alcohol Scotland) charity.

During a recent conversation with someone I was meeting for the first time, we got talking about drinking trends and I mentioned that I was teetotal. Leaning across the table he placed a hand on my arm, lowered his voice and asked, ‘How long have you been sober?’ And therein lies the problem.

When I was in my mid-teens, a friend’s mum, at the age of 45, took up skateboarding and started wearing T-shirts with slogans like ‘When in doubt, shred it out,’ emblazoned across her back. Around the same time, a neighbour, renowned for being a ‘bad tempered so-and -so,’ retired unexpectantly and promptly put fliers through every door in the street to advertise his first gig as a stand-up comic.

Tucked away upstairs in the Carnegie Library in Ayr you’ll find a local history department brimming with records, resources and memorabilia dating as far back as the 17th century.

At the tender age of eight, Alisdair Pollock from Mauchline is already the proud holder of a British motorsport championship title, he having won the 2024 ACU Oset Bikes Solo Youth class D Small Wheel Trials Championship at the first attempt.

It’s often said that lucky is the person who makes a living from doing something they love. On that basis, it’s fair to say that Dave Cantwell is a very lucky man indeed.

When Marion Husband entered her first ever writing competition in 2020, the last thing she expected was to win. But not only did she win the Scottish Association of Writers Under 7s Short Story category, it led to the publication of her debut children’s book, Granny Came To Visit.

South Ayrshire libraries are more than collections of books; they are vibrant community hubs that play a crucial role in the lives of South Ayrshire residents.

Beautiful Inside & Out SCIO was born out of the devastating loss by suicide of my beautiful, altruistic, compassionate, hilarious, intelligent and adored 13-year-old daughter, Jenna Moriarty.

I finished chatting to Shrek beneath the glitterball.
These weren’t words I expected to write when asked to prepare a piece for this issue. Strangely, the story started in 1904.

The start of a brand-new year feels like the perfect time for a fresh start. The New Year often prompts us to reassess our lives, and for many, this means thinking about our careers and whether we are truly fulfilled. While many resolutions focus on fitness or breaking bad habits, is it time to make one that could transform your life?

Ayr Photographic Society (APS) is one of the oldest camera clubs in Scotland. It was founded in 1905 and has been an active participant in all the championship events run by their governing body, the Scottish Photographic Federation (SPF), founded in 1903.

Today’s world seems dominated by automation and algorithms, where the value of human connection often gets overlooked. Yet, at the heart of every successful business interaction lies a simple truth: people buy from people.

Watt Nicoll’s journey with CentreStage, an Ayrshire-based community and arts charity, is a testament to the power of connection and the transformative potential of the arts. Located in Kilmarnock, CentreStage brings together people of all ages, backgrounds, circumstances, and abilities to create a strong sense of inclusion and belonging. Supporting over 700 people each week through its fully funded Get Happy programme.

Troon, our picturesque coastal town in Scotland, is famed for its kitesurfing community, attracting enthusiasts from around the globe. Among these passionate riders is Bill Weishaar, an American who made Troon his home three years ago.

While Burns famously enjoyed a dram, he surely would not have been averse to a glass (or a pint!) of wine either. If you have a Burns Supper planed for 25th January and you are more of a wine lover than a whisky lover, consider saving the malt until the end of the meal and pairing your haggis with a delicious glass or two of wine.

Boating is great fun. It enables you to travel to and visit places that can otherwise be difficult to reach; it offers different views and perspectives of familiar places.

The start of the year is the perfect time to pause, dream, and set goals. Whether it’s starting your own business, pursuing a passion project, or creating more balance, meaningful goals can turn your dreams into reality.

Pop into any local café these days and it’s not unusual to see a canine customer accompanying the more traditional human ones. You probably wouldn’t expect to share your coffee break with a cat or two, though.

Wbg, located at 104 Main Street Prestwick, is a specialist accountancy firm with an enviable legacy.

Ortus Garden Design and Maintenance is a business which prides itself on adding lifestyle value through the services offered. Husband and wife team Andrew and Pauline McQuade established the business in 2014, bringing their extensive combined expertise in horticulture and design together to offer a premium service for those looking to transform their gardens into living spaces which complement their lifestyles.

Sitting pretty as a picture overlooking the banks of the River Doon in Alloway, The Secret Garden is a family-friendly, fully licensed café bistro which offers everything from a lazy brunch with some award-winning coffee to an indulgent afternoon tea with a glass of fizz.

It’s hard to imagine anything more difficult than supporting someone in their final days and yet for those who volunteer with the charity NODA (No-one Dies Alone Ayrshire), it’s an act of service which they see as a privilege.

Cecchini is a well-known name in Ayrshire. It’s a name which inspires trust when it comes to business and for Sandrina Cecchini, owner of Cecchini Property, cultivating that trust and reputation is vital.

SLS Medical Aesthetics, located in the beautiful Hartfield House in Ayr, is an award-winning business which specialises in cosmetic procedures which include Dermal Filler, Botulinum Toxin and Fat Dissolving.

In the heart of Ayrshire, Mobility Matters, a family-run business owned by Robert Frew, is redefining what it means to support mobility and independence.

When people think of the Senior School, academic achievement and examinations come to mind. We share that focus at Wellington, taking great pride in the academic progress of our pupils, but we believe that education is about more than just exams.