Seams like a good plan
Mission to find the old kings of Ayrshire coalfield Have your say on council budget
A mining historian is delving into the past to produce a publication charting mining memorials.
Top of his hit list for information are the James Brown memorial in Annbank and the tribute to the mine in Dailly.
In East Ayrshire Jim Henry is really looking for as much as he can get on a range of memories to the mining industry.
And if he’s missed any, he’s asking Ayrshire Post readers to let him know of any forgotten coal memorials.
Jim volunteers at the National Mining Museum at Newtongrange and his new booklet will be put in the Memorial Room.
He has visited all the memorials in the Ayrshire coal belt, including 16 in the East.
Jim said: “I am compiling details of memorials to miners, mines and mining related items.
“More information is required on the memorial in Dailly and the memorial to James Brown MP in Annbank.
“I would like to know who designed and made the memorial, who built the memorial on site and who unveiled the memorial.
“It would also be great to find out the exact date of the unveiling and who sculpted it.”
The 16 memorials he has found in East Ayrshire are Auchinleck ( clock, garden and walkway), Auchinleck A76 roundabout, Barony Colliery, Benwhat village, Cairntable village ( south of Drongan), Cumnock ( Glaisnock Shopping Centre), Dalmellington Standing Stones, Dalmellington ( Bellsbank), Galston, Muirkirk Cemetery ( Kaimes Disaster), Keir Hardie Memorials ( two in Cumnock), Knockshinnock ( near New Cumnock) Communities will get the chance to have their say on East Ayrshire Council’s revenue budget.
The council will launch a series of community briefings and an online consultation exercise this week as they develop the budget and funding strategy for 2017/ 18.
A potential funding shortfall of £ 9 million is anticipated, a figure that could change depending on the Scottish Government’s Local Government settlement, due to be announced next month.
A council spokesman said: “Set against a turbulent economic backdrop and an and Muirkirk ( Heritage Park and Main Street), Smallburn, New Cumnock and Skares.
Jim added: “Anything I can find out about them would be welcome.
“In particular I would like to know who initiated the Auchinleck memorials, Benwhat and Cairntable village
memorials, the Kaimes and Knockshinnock Disaster memorials, and the memorials at Dalmellinton, at Smallburn, at New Cumnock, at Skares and the two in Muirkirk.
“I am also seeking to find who funded almost all the memorials in East Ayrshire and who designed, made and built them.
“Finally I would like to know when and by who the following memorials were unveiled – Benwhat and Cairntable villages, Kaimes and Knockshinnock disasters, the two in Muirkirk, and those at Dalmellington, at New Cumnock, at Smallburn and at Skares.
“I would also like to know of any other mining related memorials in South Ayrshire and East Ayrshire.
“I am part i c u l a r l y interested in memorials to the miners’ strike 1984 / 85, memorials to miners killed in WWI which could be war memorials or Rolls of Honour, and, memorials to individuals who were linked to the mining industry.”
Contact Jim on 0131 663 7519 or jamesjhenry@ yahoo. co. uk uncertain fiscal climate, with possible changes to the way in which Scottish public services could be funded in the future, this year’s Revenue Budget is likely to be especially challenging.”
The budget briefings will be held across the county involving communities, local organisations and special interest groups through a series of scheduled events.
As well as community briefings the proposals are available on the council’s website until Wednesday, November 16. Dates and more information can be found at east- ayrshire. gov. uk.