District News

Rotary Club There was no speaker at last Thursday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw as it was a business meeting. Prior to the meal, president Andrew Murray gave his weekly “beyond the tea towel” talk. This featured Professor Ian Donald who was credited with the development of ultra sound scanners. Each of the convenors reported to the members on the progress of each of their committees. It was also intimated that due to the numbers attending, this year’s Burns supper will be held in the Centenary Suite of Fir Park Club on Friday, February 2. Past president Bill McCallum updated members regarding the forthcoming visit to Edinburgh in January to see the musical “Miss Saigon”. The monthly Numbers Club winners were Hugh Graham, Gordon Megahy and Willie Talbot. This Thursday will see the club’s Christmas dinner which is being held in the Bentley Hotel, Motherwell and there will be the usual and hotly contested Christmas quiz organised by Tom McPherson. Motherwell Photographic Society At their recent members’ evening, the club enjoyed presentations from four of its members, namely, Linda Greenhill, Wilson Murray, Thomas McGinn and Brian Saberton. Linda’s first presentation was entitled “Sioux City”, and showed photographs of a site in Gran Canaria where, in the 1970s, they used to film westerns. Nowadays the site is a tourist attraction and features cowboy demonstrations, etc. Her second presentation was of Morecambe’s “Vintage by the Sea” festival. It featured a mix of classic cars, fashion, food and drinks from the 1920s through to the 1990s. Wilson gave two presentations showing photographs from his holidays in Germany, Austria, and the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands. The photographs shown displayed a wide variety of architecture, landscapes and horticulture. Thomas also gave two presentations. The first showed a variety of surfing action shots, while his second depicted the local Spanish cuisine taken during his recent holiday in San Sebastian. The final presentation was given by the club president Brian Saberton. It featured photographs taken during his cruise around France, Spain and the island of Guernsey. All the presentations were well received by the members and the four presenters were warmly thanked for showing their excellent variety of superb photographs. The meeting this Thursday will be the members’ Christmas social night. This will be a relaxed, fun evening and includes a buffet style meal. The first meeting of the new year on January 11 will see the Royal Photographic Society’s wildlife portfolio being shown to members. The Society meets on Thursday evenings, You would expect members of a church to celebrate Christmas wholeheartedly.

But the members of Dalziel St Andrew’s Parish Church have an extra reason to celebrate this year.

The congregation received a grant of £63,200 from The Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland, to assist with the cost of over £100,000 which they will incur in replacing the feature window located over the entrance to their church building in Motherwell’s Merry Street.

Parish Minister Rev Derek Hughes said:“Replacing this window is the final phase of our ambitious makeover project and will, when complete, give us confidence to go forward in our service to God for many years to come.

“We are again indebted to HLF and HES for their so helpful support without which it would be exceptionally difficult to address the costs of the work.”

The Grade B listed building has been transformed internally in recent years with significant expenditure also incurred in ensuring that the external fabric is sound for years ahead.

At the beginning of 2017 the congregation learned that the feature window had deteriorated to an extent that repair was no longer an option and replacement necessary.

The fine detail of the work involved in replacing the ornate stonework plus the stained and leaded glass window will require expert skills from the successful contractor.

Lucy Casot, head of HLF Scotland, said:“Scotland’s historic and diverse places of worship are so often at the heart of our communities.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, HLF funds urgent structural repairs and also improved facilities and visitor information.

“Replacement of a feature window project is an excellent example of how HLF can help conserve a much loved building so it can continue to serve its local community.”

Plans are now in hand to prepare tenders for the work early in the New Year with a view to starting the replacement in April or May when better weather will hopefully allow the church to continue in use while the contractor is on site. Christmas Eve family service will be led by members of the Ark group in Coltness Memorial Church at 6.30pm. This will be followed by a Watchnight service in Bonkle church at 11.15pm. A joint service of thanksgiving and anticipation will take place on Sunday, December 31, at 11am in Coltness Memorial church. Speak to the minister if you know of anyone who is in need of a pastoral visit. Please check with the church diary before arranging any new functions or events. Charity shop at Manse Road, Newmains is open Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 3.30pm. Food bank thanks everyone for their continued support and is open in the village on Wednesdays at 1pm. Coltness Choir meets in Coltness Memorial church on Thursdays at 8pm. School Christmas services will begin this week with Morningside Primary School today (Wednesday), followed by Newmains primary school on Friday. Both services will begin at 10am in Coltness Memorial church. All are welcome to attend.

Craigneuk

Orange Halls Events this week begin with Craigneuk Branch Club’s Apprentice Boys of Derry meeting tonight (Wednesday, December 20) at 7pm. Craigneuk Imperial Ladies Flute Band practise session will be held in the halls on Thursday at 7.30pm. New members are welcome and tuition is available for beginners. There is bingo on Monday nights, eyes down at 7.30pm, and on Tuesdays, at 7.30pm, Craigneuk True Defenders Flute Band hold practise sessions.

Overtown

Overtown Parish Church will be a busy place leading up to the festive season. Services will begin with Christmas family worship this Sunday at 11am, followed by the Christingle service at 6.30pm. Community carol singing event will start at 11.15pm until 11.30pm, followed by the Watchnight service, starting at 11.30pm. Christmas family worship on Christmas Day is at 10.30am when everyone is welcome to attend a short festive celebration with both children and adults encouraged to bring along a gift to the service. Carol singing The community will gather for carols around the parish tonight (Wednesday, December 20) weather permitting, from 7pm. Hot drinks, mulled wine and Christmas pies will be on offer afterwards at the back of the church. All are welcome to come along and join in. Anyone interested in taking part in this event should give their names to the minister. Boys’ Brigade’s recent Christmas coffee morning was a great success and the officers and boys would like to thank all who helped, contributed or donated as well as all those who attended on the day to support it which was very much appreciated.