Of the year
Müller Milk & Ingredients dairy in Nerston.
They say you should never work with kids or animals – but the staff at Calderglen Zoo did exactly that when they laid on fun events during the Easter school holidays.
A former marathon runner struck down with Parkinson’s was given a new lease of life following brain surgery. ExDuncanrig Secondary teacher David Gray now has electrodes in his brain which help control symptoms of the debilitating disease.
After lying in a dilapidated state for over 15 years, East Kilbride Thistle’s car park at The Showpark was finally resurfaced.
May
A half-starved and cruelly neglected Shar Pei puppy was on the road to recovery thanks to an animal welfare charity based in East Kilbride. Shar Pei Rescue & Support Scotland described it as one of the worst cases of animal neglect they’d ever seen.
Linda Fabiani swept to victory at the Holyrood Elections. The East Kilbride SNP MSP held her seat with a majority of almost 11,000. Stewartfield Tory councillor Graham Simpson was elected as a Central Region list MSP.
An East Kilbride mum became a hero gran when she delivered her own granddaughter. Tracy McCulloch sprang into action when 19-year-old daughter Samantha went into labour a day early.
East Kilbride will have its own football stadium after South Lanarkshire Council approved plans for a 4000-capacity facility at Langlands. A total of 1178 readers signed a petition in support following a five-week campaign by the News.
June
Staff and shoppers at Debenhams in East Kilbride were left in shock following the sudden death of popular store manager Paul Doherty.
East Kilbride schoolgirl Anna Paton was basking in her new-found fame after being plucked from the Hampden Park crowd to join Bruce Springsteen on stage. The Halfmerke Primary pupil was handed the mic by ‘The Boss’ in front of thousands of fans.
Hundreds gathered to remember the life of a former parish priest of St Bride’s Church in East Kilbride. It was standing-room only at the funeral of Canon Michael Ryan.
Local politicians gave their reaction to the Brexit vote. Linda Fabiani MSP said Scotland was being taken out of the EU against its will. Graham Simpson MSP described the outcome as “surprising and momentous”.