Month: April 2018

The House at #Kilbirnie Cross

This house stood at the cross, known as “the breast” presumably because it stood at the “breast of the brae”. The wall gives a clue to its exact location. The black monument at the front is maybe the same marker which now stands by Bridgend Community Centre, marking distances between towns.

1980s #radiojingles from #westsound radio #northayrshire

I visited west sound in 1986 and had a tour of their studio. The photos I took are very interesting. I wrote to them recently but they didnt want the photos so I passed them to Andy Walmsley who runs an online radio history site. You can see them on his site (search for west sound) here along with my collection of Autographed photos of West Sound Presenters

Here is a jingle montage I found on Soundcloud, the best ones are about half way through. They had a theme called “Mystical Waters” which was recorded by a group of kids singing the theme in North Ayrhsire, the opening jingle is the music only version done by session musicians and the other one on this demo is  with the kids. They used it to close the station at 8pm every night. It was recorded at a recording studio in Ayr with kids from the local town of Stevenson. It was supposed to be used in the “Dolphin Club” but was finally used as a station ident. (Thanks to Letitia McLaughlan the jingle author of “Mystical Waters” for this info).

That first kids show “the Dolphin Club” on Saturday mornings was with Dippy the Dolphin, John MacAuley and Fiona MacDonald. (was it Fiona?)

The Reading Room #glengarnock #kilbirnie #northayrshire

Reading Room

North Ayrshire´s first library over at the Steel Works operated by Willie Rabey. It also held Brethren Assembly meetings before the Hebron Hall was opened in 1921. I recognise one person in this picture, Malcolm McMillan.

#kilbirnie Colonel Hugh McDonald Watson #ww1 #northayrshire

I don’t know much about him except that he lived in Muirend Street, Kilbirnie.This picture was published in the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald during the first World War, with an article about his excellent service record. If you know anything else, let me know.