Chic’s real love for Ayrshire

I read with some disbelief the letter in last week’s Ayrshire Post about Chic Brodie, the former MSP.

I’ve never had any direct dealings with him personally, but from what I have seen in the Ayrshire Post, this is a man who has put his heart and soul into our community over the years.

He obviously cares about Ayrshire and only wants the best for it - no one can disagree with that.

Look at the business he has helped manage to attract - gold mining in the hills above Straiton - how many people can claim to have helped firms with that?

In an age when politicians are so bland, lacking in personality, and it’s hard to pin a name on them, Chic stands out from the crowd.

He may no longer be representing the interests of the South of Scotland as an SNP MSP in the Scottish Parliament, but I only hope Chic will find some way to keep himself involved in the community, whether through his business contacts or perhaps by standing for South Ayrshire Council in the local election next year.

The local political scene is a lot less interesting - and innovative - without him. Her knowledge, support and constant strive to improve the profession is invaluable and we cannot be without her.

The vital training we keep up to date with is a necessity and without it will put local children at serious risk. Paediatric first aid, child protection, GIRFEC ( Getting it Right for Every Child), fire safety to name a few and none of them will be covered without funding from the council.

According to the Scottish Government, ‘ Childminders will be central to the delivery of the Scottish Government’s massive expansion of childcare in both nurseries and childminders.’

How on earth are we to deliver without local financial support?

In the past, from a distance we have all read and grieved for Baby P, Victoria Climbie and Daniel Pelka. High profile child protection cases that will never be forgotten… but do we ever learn?

South Ayrshire Council, before you ‘ Get it Wrong for Every Child’ and the innocent bairn we are grieving for isn’t in the past and from a distance, please revoke your decision and continue to protect our children.

I’m certain that if any other council employee was caught being racist, then they’d be sacked on the spot.

Why should deputy provost Mary Kilpatrick treated any different?

Time for Mary Kilpatrick to do the honorable thing for constituents, and resign or be sacked. I would like to make a point about the new clubhouse at Belleisle Golf Course.

I have been a golfer for many a year and the new clubhouse is fantastic, more like a private club.

But I have to stress that local members of golf clubs cannot get a locker, while visitors have a state of the art locker room and toilets like something from a five- star hotel.

Since it has been open, it took over two weeks before you could buy an alcoholic drink, although soft drinks and food were on sale.

Golfers playing at lunchtime on Saturday came in about 4.30pm for food and drink to be told that it was closing so could not get anything.

Wednesday night past, no one was there to book in and again, the café was closed.

It states on front door that children under age of 17 must be out by 8.30pm - chance would be a fine thing.

Why, after spending £ 1.5 million, can South Ayrshire Council not keep it open at weekends until late and as Wednesday medals are played most weeks, make an effort to staff it?

Do they not want to make money from our golfers along with passing trade of dog walkers and families out at the play park?

Simple economics - employ more staff on a shift pattern to cover the public’s needs.

Wasn’t that when they added 10 per cent onto our season ticket this year - yes, £ 38 - shocking. It is with great regret, and sadness that I learnt of the - way too premature – death of Gordon Strachan recently.

Although I now live in Fife with my family, whom Gordon taught, and also remember him fondly, I thought of him regularly, and some of the times we had. I lived in Prestwick opposite his wife Anne and they used to call me ( rather fondly) Jim the fish, after my habit of passing on fish after the angling.

Gordon was without a doubt a man’s man, and didn’t suffer fools gladly, so he fitted right in with the rugby crew, who were as tough as he was.

I never did get to meet his family, but that was my loss, and after my move to Fife for work I simply lost touch, but didn’t forget him, and always kept the hope alive that we’d get back in touch.

I suppose that is the way of the world, but would like to send my very best wishes, and condolences to Anne and her family, and let her know that all here from Ayr remember her husband with great affection. Anyone out there who went to Holmston school around 1954/ 55?

Six of us have already had a few reunions and we would like to hear from anyone else who was in our class - Lynn French , Yvonne Hay, Isobel Brunton, Moira Finlayson, Irene Stenhouse, Elizabeth Whitford and Pauline Tyrie.

If so can they emai me at purgavie @ aol. com.

Most of us live on the east coast of Scotland now.