News from the districts

Dec 12 2012 by Lynda Nicol, East Kilbride News

\Strathaven

Lynda Nicol, 01698 205167

Probus Club  Strathaven and District Probus Club president Alistair Douglas opened proceedings by presenting new member John Horn with his name badge and introducing speaker Brian McKirdy of the Prison Service to deliver a talk on ‘Scottish Prisons – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’. Brian gave credit to Aberdeen man William Bremner for setting the template for the treatment of imprisoned offenders in the early days of the Scottish Prison Service. A consideration followed of the four elements of such treatment: retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation and opportunity to reflect on and address the issues which caused the offending behaviour. He noted the relatively recent cessation of transportation (1886), hanging (1960) borstals (1993) and slopping out (2002) and noted that Lord Elgin’s review of the prison system (1900) highlighted the same problems as exist today: overcrowding, young offenders and diet.

 Brian traced more recent developments from the time of the 1934 tobacco riots to the proposals contained in ‘Custody & Care’, ‘Opportunity and Responsibility’ and the McLeish Report and concluded that, as a result, there exists in Scottish prisons today a much more ordered environment than existed 18 years ago.   The new prisons being built at Grampian and Inverclyde should make a huge difference.

 Brian ended his talk with a few thought-provoking facts, such as 75 per cent of prisoners on remand do not receive custodial sentences; it costs £35,000 to keep someone in prison for a year; 94 per cent of Barlinnie’s prisoners have been in before; and that the new chief executive of the service would like the Prison Service to be involved in the post-release care of offenders.

 The vote of thanks was delivered by past-president Alan Findlay, who thanked Brian for stepping in for Dan Gunn and for delivering an interesting and thought-provoking talk.

Scout Post  Tomorrow (Thursday) is the last day for posting cards for the Scout Post to give the Scouts time to deliver for Christmas. Stamps cost 20p each.

Christmas concerts  Strathaven Academy’s Christmas concert takes place in Rankin Church tomorrow (Thursday) at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 each and are available from the school office. Some of the proceeds will go to Cash for Kids.

 Strathaven Choral Society’s concert will be held on Sunday, December 16, in Rankin Church. Tickets cost £5 for adults (£3 for the first child in a family and £1 for other children) and are available at the door.

\Chapelton

Cathy Snow, 01357 300484

Parish Church  There will be a service of favourite Christmas carols on Sunday, December 16, from 2-3pm. The congregation look forward to welcoming all local people and visitors to both the carol service and to the hall afterwards for tea and mince pies. The collection at this service will be donated to Yorkhill Hospital and Save the Children Fund.

Pub quiz The Wright Stuff continued their domination of the Chapelton Inn quiz on Thursday with a two-point victory over the team usually known as Infamous 4 but who, for one night only, were the Cast of Thousands. In third slot were a new addition to the quiz scene, Puffer Nutters, and a jolly good effort they made of chasing the regulars. With practice it looks like they could be contenders for the spoils. There was no sign of the Bar Lizards but a search party has been organised.

Music night  For the festive season a rota has been agreed for the Wednesday acoustic music night at the Chapelton Inn so someone does a different version of “the greatest Christmas song ever” each week. Expect ‘Fairytale of New York’ to be featured from now until January. Also being showcased last week were Christy Moore, Alan Taylor, Paul Simon’s ‘Song for the Asking’, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles’ last number they wrote as a group ‘Free as a Bird’, Brad Paisley, Foo Fighters, James Taylor’s ‘Frozen Man’, Gillian Welch, Dylan, Del Amitri, REM, Trashcan Sinatras and, last but by no means least, a version of another Christmas classic ‘Santa Baby’ – more variety than a Royal Command Performance. Next week will bring even more.

\Carmunnock

Stewart Roy, 0141 644 4073

Christmas tree  There was a great crowd at the Christmas tree switch-on on Friday, with a wonderful performance from the junior choir. A dry, crispy evening and the traditional carol singing added to the Christmas atmosphere which is so unique to Carmunnock. After the singing everyone retired to the Castlemilk Hall for mince pies and mulled wine, with cakes and juice for the children. Altogether a lovely village event and well done to the preservation society and community council for organising the evening. Sadly at the time of writing the lights on the tree are out but the Christmas tree elfectrician has been informed so all should be well soon.

Community council  The community council held their last meeting of the year on Monday, December 3, when a number of issues were addressed.

 The mountain bike trail on the Cathkin Braes is nearing completion and it is hoped a bike maintenance centre may be situated at Saint Martins in Castlemilk.

 The changes to the city plan 3 were also discussed, which included the release of land behind Cameron Crescent for house building. It was agreed the community council would object to any planning application on this land.

 The last item for discussion was the proposal to erect turbines on Muir Farm. At this stage the chairman vacated the chair due to his conflict of interest as chairman of the Windpark Trust. After a lively discussion the vice-chairman asked for a vote on the proposal that the community council should oppose any planning applications to erect turbines. The motion was carried by five votes to two in favour of opposing the project. Two members abstained.

Wind turbine Most people will have noticed that work has started on Glasgow City Council’s wind turbine adjacent to the car park on Cathkin Braes. They hope to have this operational by March 31. Meanwhile you are likely to see an increase in trucks trundling through the village.

\Eaglesham

Anne Wilde, 01355 303810

Poppy Appeal    Poppy Scotland have expressed their thanks to their Eaglesham and District supporters and volunteers who helped with this year’s appeal. It raised £4915.46.

Church Builders  The children and leaders of the Church Builders would like to thank all those who supported their Christmas stall on Sunday. The money raised – a fantastic sum of £201 – will be donated to Kiva.

Walking group  Today (Wednesday) the walking group plan to head through Linn Park to Court Knowe. This is predominantly level and on paved park paths. They leave from Eaglesham Parish Church hall at 10am. Please note the second December walk will be on December 19.

Church Guild  At their meeting tonight (Wednesday) Eaglesham Parish Church Guild’s guest speaker will be talking about the Lodging House Mission, which is one of the charities the guild are supporting this year.

Youth Cafe  Eaglesham Parish Youth Cafe are carol singing around the village on Sunday, December 23, from 6.30 to 8.30pm. They will meet in the Carswell Hall at 6.30pm and afterwards will enjoy hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies in the manse. Everyone is most welcome to join them. For more information please contact James Edgar 07710 977309 or jamesedgarepc@gmail.com

Parish church  The congregation’s Advent meal is on Tuesday, December 18, in the Carswell Hall. The format will be similar to the last five years’ highly successful evenings, with a fellowship meal followed by an informal discussion. This year the Reverend Lynn McChlery will be guiding members through the topic of the virgin birth. This is a great chance for anyone who has never been to an Advent meal before to have a good evening’s fellowship while learning something about a subject many find difficult. Please come between 7 and 7.15pm.

 There will be a Christmas bookstall at the Advent meal and also in the Carswell Hall on Sunday, December 16, after the Christmas family service.

 The following Sunday, December 23, the service of nine lessons and carols will be led by the church choir.