THE ARRAN BANNER 20 YEARS AGO

Saturday January 17, 1998

New lifeboat

As well as a new lifeboat station Arran has a new lifeboat. It arrived last week complete with new launching tractor and over the next two weeks the 17 RNLI crew members were to undergo intensive training on her.

However, as it turned out, the training inspector decided that after the first weekend that the Arran crew had mastered the boat and she was commissioned last Sunday. The boat itself is not Arran’s permanent boat, it will be here for two years before another of the same type, an Atlantic 21, is delivered.

Last year the lifeboat was called out nine times, this being a low figure as it has had as many as 25 calls in previous years. Already in 1998 they have had two callouts, one on New Year’s Day to a yacht in Lochranza and the second was last Sunday to the fish farm with the new boat.

The lifeboat station which has been un- der construction for some time is now fully functional, however it will not officially be opened until the summer.

New projects

If two new projects go ahead in Brodick as proposed the village will see considerable change over the next year. Plans for both the Charters Towers project and the Invercloy project are now on display in the library.

Opinion is much less hostile to ideas put forward for Charters Towers and as well as some caution in people’s minds, there is also a realisation that there are two semi-derelict sites, which, as long as they remain as they are, present two eyesores within the village.

The latest incarnation of Charters Towers shows one pair of semi-detached houses (of which there will be five pairs) and the largest of the four detached houses which is to stand on the corner of West Mayish Road.

The Invercloy proposal which is almost across the road has been described as hotel style rooms based on a travel inn type of development. It remains to be seen if the two proposals have a smoother passage through planning in March than their predecessors.

Cinema commitment

The cinema in Brodick is now closed until Easter. Hopefully, but by no means certainly, it will open up again then. This appears to be part of a wider cost cutting exercise and it is considered by North Ayrshire Council that January to April is the part of the year when it can best be closed.

When the cinema opened there were people who were not happy about it because, while it was an extra facility, it would undercut Lochranza films and use public money to do so. There were also reservations about whether it could attract the audience to justify the operation. People now having become accustomed to it, believe that the council having made the commitment to start it, should continue with it.

01_B02twe03 Changing the Brodick Poultry and Pigeon Club Show, affectionately known as the Chookie Show, to a Saturday has been considered a good move after attracting almost 280 entries and an even larger number of spectators.

01_B02twe04 Reserve Overhead Champion at the Chookie Show, first-time exhibitor Karen Curzons won the best hen and best overall bird in large and fowl and bantam section with her Pekin Bantam. Karen also took the second and third prizes in the same class.

01_B02twe01 The Arran RNLI crew standing proudly in front of their new station and vessel.

01_B02twe02 Teacher Dave McKay and his pupils receive a cheque for £2,000 from Iain Russell of Arran Aromatics who sponsored an understanding industry course for 6th year pupils at Arran High School.

01_B02twe05 Great Chieftan o’ the Puddin’ Race ... David Hughes addresses the haggis at what was probably the first supper of the Burns season held at Cameronia Hotel in Whiting Bay on Saturday night while owner Ross MacKay looks on.