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Local Facebook Group’s Fund
Raising Total reaches £2,500
Alice Muir (left), Jim Higgins (centre) presenting cheque for £200 to representative from the Ayrshire Hospice.
Facebook Group, ‘Stewarton When We Were Growing Up – And
Now’, was set up in September 2013, and now has almost 3,000
members. Former and current Stewartonians have joined, many
now living abroad. Long-lost friends and relatives have reconnected.
Volunteers help to run the page, keeping it friendly, and entertaining.
Linda Hunter, who has helped with the page since it began, said
“Members post their old photographs, and tell us their stories and
memories, and these are fascinating. We’ve all learned so much about
Stewarton, and now have a huge archive of photographs, memories
and historical information - a marvellous resource for all to enjoy,
which continues to build. We’re especially pleased that Alastair Barclay
regularly posts items from his collection.”
From the start in 2013, there was also an interest in raising funds for
local good causes, and a planning group formed very quickly to organise
this. To date, the group has managed to raise a total of £2,500 pounds,
and has already made a number of donations locally. In 2014, donations
went to The Open Door, SSAFA (support for service men and their
families) the Woodlands Trust, and the Erskine Hospital Shop. In 2015
beneficiaries were The Centre (Standalane), Christmas Lights Fund,
Ayrshire Hospice, Stewarton Bands Support Group, and Stewarton
Annick FC.
Then last December, a first booklet of poems was published for group
member, Jim Higgins, a local writer and singer songwriter. Jim grew
up in Stewarton, and his booklet is called ‘Auld Claes and Purritch’. In
it, he relates tales from his childhood and youth, with a mix of humour
and reflection. All proceeds go to the Ayrshire Hospice, in gratitude for
how well Jim’s late mother had been cared for. £200 has already been
donated from sales of the first print run (see photograph), and copies are
available in all Ayrshire Hospice Shops.
During April, the SWWWGU group had a Fund-raising Get-together,
with the Social Club kindly giving the venue free of charge, and
Browning the Bakers, Annick Art and Sweet Moments also giving
support. A stunning baby stag-head, fashioned in fabric, was kindly
donated by local man, George Duff of Hummingbird Sculptures.
Jim Higgins with his poetry book
Everyone enjoyed the disco and music quiz, delivered free of charge
by William Ross and Drew Kirkland, and the lively poetry and music
session performed by Jim Higgins and Fraser McDougall. Totalizer of
funds raised so far from the get-together is approaching £500.
The four local good causes for 2016 are the Guides Camp Fund,
Stewarton Historical Society, SANDS (charity for stillbirth and
neonatal death) and Therapet (volunteers with friendly pets visit
disabled, elderly, and others). You can still donate to our funds anytime
(details at end of this artic