From the archives of the Ayrshire Post

25 YEARS AGO

Prime Minister John Major is to be urged to intervene in a last- ditch bid to save more than 600 jobs at Jetstream in Prestwick.

Ayr’s Tory MP and Ayrshire’s four labour MPs are to quiz Mr Major and key ministers on ways of announcing mass lay- offs.

A total of 630 jobs are to go - one in four workers - after the firm failed to win more orders for the Jetstream 31. The orders have been cancelled amid a worldwide recession in the aerospace industry. MD Allan MacDonald warned employees the recession still has 18 months to run.

50 YEARS AGO

Ayrshire farmers visiting Commonside Farm, Annbank, this week learned how the owner, Mr Ian Mitchell, has set himself a target of 900 gallons of milk from every acre. As it is Mr Mitchell expects to get 834 gallons per acre by the last week in October.

Mr Mitchell’s farm covers some 70 acres with another 30 being rented for summer grazing. On this he was 80 milking cows and 45 young stock. He uses the paddock system, 21 two- acre paddocks each being grazed for 24 hours every three weeks. Silage, 700 tons, is supplemented by barley.

100 YEARS AGO

Mr John Prentice, Raithhill, Coylton, has been officially notified of the death in action in France of his son Pte James Prentice. The deceased joined the RFA towards the end of 1916 and was transferred to the Durham Light Infantry. Prior to enlisting, Pte Prentice was employed by his father on the farm. He was 22 years of age. Pte Prentice’s platoon commander states he was badly wounded in an attack made by his company and died shortly afterwards. His Lieutenant said: “He endeared himself to us all by his unfailing cheerfulness.”