THE ARRAN BANNER 20 YEARS AGO

Saturday July 10, 1999

Out of stock

The Brodick market is under threat. This is not the first time its future has been considered uncertain, but this time it looks more serious than in the past. Auctioneers A&J Wilson have cancelled next week’s sale of livestock due to the lack of entries. The next sale will be in August, the day after the Arran Show.

In the past there were auctions fortnightly in summer and at least monthly in winter. This year there have been very few, perhaps only three.

The reasons are not hard to find and have been around for a long time. It is the cancelling of this sale, however, that brings home how little business is left at Brodick market. Auctioneer Robbie Wilson said that when Wilson’s took over the market from Thomas Donald in 1979 there were over 100 registered farms on the island.

Now there are fewer than 60 and many of these are not actually practising farmers.

Mr Wilson believes that the factors that have contributed to the decline in the use of the market are: fewer farms, the sad state of the industry, low prices gained, continual scares about foodstuffs and no opportunity to diversify – except into providing accommodation for visitors.

Back seat driver

Mhairi Borland of Whiting Bay sat her driving test on Tuesday. And while this was no ordinary day for Mhairi herself, the test was not a normal one either. Not only was it the first time the newly extended practical exam had been tried on Arran, but so new was the test that the examiner, as well as scrutinising Mhairi’s ability behind the wheel, was himself being tested by another examiner in the back seat. The extra pair of eyes did not seem to put Mhairi off though - she passed her test at the first attempt.

Dirty dogs

The unsavory subject of dog fouling, or more precisely, owners who do not pick up after their dogs, is once again being discussed by North Ayrshire Council.

Having just taken delivery of warning notices threatening a £100 penalty for anyone caught allowing their dog to foul in a public place, they take a dim view of owners who do not take responsibility for their pets.

In fact the council already employs a dog warden. However his job seems to be more concerned with taking in strays than with dealing with dog fouling. Moreover, Arran is not included in his remit.

Arran is not completely cut off from the service though and a council media officer says that the local police would be called to step in to deal with any careless owners or stray animals.

01_B28twe02 Winners of tickets for the Standard Life Loch Lomond golf competition were John and Frances Steel, Sandy and Margaret Gauld and Bobby McCrae.

01_B28twe01 Arran High School held its annual awards ceremony with an audience of members of staff, pupils and parents and invited guests. Awards were presented for attendance and achievement, both in the school and on the sports field.

01_B28twe05 A record 165 runners set off on this year’s Shiskine Valley half marathon. Many of them from distant parts of Britain in what is now a popular event in the national running calendar.

01_B28twe04 Brodick Primary School’s office auxiliary Jess Fulton retired last week after 14 years’ service. Presenting her with flowers were class captains Lucy McNicol, Colin Ribbeck, Sam McDowall, Robyn Keen, John Percy, Euan Smith, headmistress Muriel Argo and Naomi Kelly.

01_B28twe03 Rugby players attending the Arran summer coaching school had the opportunity to get their hands on the Five Nations Championship trophy which was won by Scotland in April.