Saturday 10 August, 1996

Decision awaited

Last Wednesday the final episode of the drama of the Charters Towers planning application started in Brodick Hall. In deciding whether the development should go ahead, a public inquiry was held in the hall which was set up to resemble a court.

At the head sat Scottish Office reporter Timothy Brian and to his left sat Celia Urquhart, her lawyer and three others. On the right was the North Ayrshire Council lawyer along with another gentleman. During the day and the following day, evidence and opinion was heard and given and, on Thursday, after the council’s last witness was heard, the two sides summed up their arguments.

Mr Brian’s report will follow in a few months and his decision will not only decide on whether the development will go ahead or not but also whether Ms Urquhart might have a justifiable complaint against NAC for compensation for the additional costs to get her application pro- cessed. The council, on the other hand, has also made the point that it may make a claim for the time and effort that it has had to go through on behalf of Ms Urquhart.

Half Century

James Brown of Corriecravie House has been exhibiting livestock at the Arran Show every year for 50 years. Cattle numbers at the show are in decline partly due to the hard work and time needed to prepare animals for the show ring.

James has not only made the time but he has also done the hard work which along with his skill has paid off when, on Wednesday, he walked off with half a dozen cups for his champion Ayrshire cows. Making his work slightly easier this year was his niece, Isabel Clutton, who visited with her family from Staffordshire and who is related to artist William Dyce, who is well known for his paintings of Arran scenes.

Nursery anniversary

To celebrate 10 years in business at the Brodick nursery gardens, Howard Wood and his wife Lesley promoted one of Arran’s favourite outdoor activities – a barbecue in the garden.

Inviting outdoor cooking expert Billy Walker, the barbecue was held on Thursday at the Pier Brae site where the demonstration attracted a constant stream of people who went and watched and sampled some of the food of offer. Howard had previously worked with his father in their Whiting Bay nursery before buying the Brodick nursery.

B32twe01 Billy Dickie instructs an eager youngster on the rules of the AYC Brodick Cup race which this year coincided with the annual beach barbecue and watersports day.

B32twe06 Shiskine Community Tray winners at the SWRI show were: Edna Picken (federation), Lillian Todd (convener) and Jerry Arthur of Shiskine.

On Wednesday 2,800 people attended the 160th Arran Farmers’ Society show which was, for the first time, spread over three fields to accommodate all of the entrants and the crowd.B32twe02

Jim McDowall entered the record books at Lamlash Golf Club when he won the Lamlash Open last weekend to become the first person to win the open twice, having won in the centenary year in 1989.B32twe04

B32twe03 Lady Shaw Stewart this week officially opened the secure vault door of the Beckford and Hamilton silver collection which, after two years not on show, is housed in the old wine cellar in Brodick Castle.

Father Shonnie MacAuley, right, is pictured with his successor, Father Noel Colford who takes over this weekend. Father Colford joined the priesthood at 17 and studied at the Scots College in Rome.B32twe05