Ayrshire’s Time to honour Trump
I spent over 13 happy years as a resident of Maybole when I was working at the former Scottish Agricultural CollegeAuchincruive.
Apart from the friendliness and liveliness of the townsfolk, I was intrigued by the history of the town which used to be the capital of Carrick.
I remember visiting Culzean Castle, and seeing the exhibition relating to General Dwight D Eisenhower, commander in chief of the D- Day allied invasion force, and subsequently President of the United States.
I was fascinated by the press clippings and photographs of General Eisenhower receiving the Freedom of the town of Maybole.
The town now has another notable American neighbour in the form of Donald Trump, President Elect of the United States of America.
Mr Trump is the owner of the Turnberry Hotel and golf course, providing continuity of employment for local people.
Would it not be a welcome gesture to extend the hand of friendship to President Trump , replicating that historic moment over 70 years ago, by offering him the Freedom of Maybole?
It could help to cement his relationship with Scotland, and, by association, the rest of the UK.
Who knows, perhaps this gesture might help to assist future negotiations with the USA in a post Brexit world? provides a stark contrast. The annual figures for start- ups in South Ayrshire has dropped by a massive 22 ½ % between 2011 and 2016, against a 3.1% total drop across Scotland.
I’m in no doubt that South Ayrshire Council needs to do considerably more to support economic regeneration, and in particular to help new small businesses to establish and develop. To be faring so badly compared with many other local authority areas suggests that the current council administration do not have this as a high priority. May’s elections are an opportunity to address this. we did have an excellent band of volunteers known as the League of Friends which for 24 years formed in 1992 the year of the opening of Ayr Hospital, carried out voluntary work which was much appreciated?
The members of the League of Friends were in attendance daily at the hospital to help patients and visitors to the stations or departments they were seeking, deliver newspapers to wards and by extensive fundraising and donations to gift many items for the benefit of patients, visitors and staff.
This group of dedicated volunteers was disbanded in 2016 as a result of some dispute with hospital management regarding supervision and insurance, a dispute, which apparently could not be resolved amicably because of the intransigency of hospital management.
I do hope that management is now more supportive of volunteer assistance than in the recent past, and that he will have some success in his recruitment drive. Coylton Reunion Committee wish to express their appreciation to everyone who attended their function on January 6 in the Claude Hamilton Hall.
Gratitude is also extended to all speakers, entertainers, kitchen helpers and to those who donated raffle prizes.
Money raised from the raffle allows the entrance fee to remain at £ 1 per ticket.
The committee look forward to seeing everyone at next year’s function. In light of your main letter article last week, Ayr Rotary Club, under the guidance of Dr Jimmy Begg, are tireless workers on the Ayrshire Coastal Path.
Particularly after winter storms, maintaining the paths can be challenging.
At Fisherton Gully the Pathminders are currently repairing the steep path by digging out and recycling several of the old byre slats to form a kerb edging right up the top set of steps to the gate.
They are also tidying up and finishing off the stone revetment and level and tidying- up the surfaces of steps already built and weeding out a lot more of the heavy tussock grasses.
Other areas of maintenance are Glenapp to Ballantrae - Ballantrae to Lendalfoot - Pinbain Quarry to Ardwell Farm, Girvan Mains to Turnberry - Drumshang Bay to Mill Burn Bridge - Lookout Field to Dunure Harbour - Dunure Harbour to Drumbain Waterfall, Bracken Bay Path to Craig Tara - Deil’s Dyke to Doonfoot, Newton Shore to Prestwick Pow Burn Bridge - Prestwick Holiday Pk and Pow Burn to Troon Marina.