Ellen Hart, Guider, writes: 2nd Beith Trinity Guides restart on Friday September 5 at 7.00 pm in Trinity Church Hall. Registration matters followed by a Games Night will start off the new term. 2nd Beith Guides have had a very exciting summer this year. First was the Company Camp at Nether Auchendrane. Fortunately, the weather was very good and the girls and leaders had great fun. The Guides think it is the best fun camping and cooking outdoors.

Ellen Hart, as Crawford Sub-camp Leader and some of the guides then took part in the Ayrwaves International Camp at Eglinton Park, Kilwinning. Guides from America, Canada, Singapore, Nigeria, New Zealand, England, Eire, Wales and other parts of Scotland were very welcome visitors. There were Canadian and Welsh girls with the Beith Guides in their Sub-camp and it was great meeting people from different parts of the world. The guides had exciting activities too. Abseiling, climbing, sailing, canoeing, horse riding, skating, orienteering, football, and many, many more. They also had trips to Arran, Culzean,Vikingar and Loudon Castle.

The residents of Beith’s Manuel Avenue and Spiers Way pass on their grateful thanks to North Ayrshire Council for recently renewing the road surface and pavements in these streets. Hats off to North Ayrshire Council.

Bill and Moira Haining, Beith Branch, Ayrshire Cancer Support Group advise that the annual summer draw recently took place in Beith Community Centre.

There was a complete sell out of 2,000 books. The winners and amount raised will be announced in this column next week. Everyone is very welcome to come along and witness the draw and learn about the activities of the group over the past year.

Jean Highgate writes: The YMBB Youth Group has started up again and new members will be made very welcome. The group meet in the upstairs hall of the Sports Wing of the Community Centre. There are three sessions: Mondays, 3.15 - 5.30 for P7s. This incorporates a Homework Club. Thursdays, 3.45 - 5.45 pm for S1 upwards and Sundays, 2.00 - 5.00 for everyone.

Why not come along and take part in a variety of activities such as badminton, football, pool, table tennis, crafts and music. The cost is only 50p per session. From time to time there are trips out and in the past they have included skating and 10 pin bowling. There are also summer sessions. Just turn up on the appropriate day and have fun.

Well known Beith couple have just celebrated 50 years of marriage. Bill Inglis, 75, was born on November 9 1933 in New Cumnock and wife, Ann Malone, 71, was born on the June 29 1937 in Kilwinning. The happy couple met in ICI, Stevenston where Ann was working and Bill was a young police officer.

Kathryn Young, writes: 3:5:6, the Joint Church Youth meet regularly in Trinity Church between 7.30 and 9.30pm on a Sunday evening. If you would like to come along for the 2008/09 session or wish more information please contact Kathryn Young on 01505 503198.

2009 has been designated the Year of Homecoming and coincides with major world-wide celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. It is hoped that during this special year many ex-pats will decide to return to Scotland for a visit.

This column regularly reports on visitors to Beith from abroad, and hopefully readers will kindly advise of those who return to the old town in 2009.

Beith & District Young Farmers' held their Dairy Stockjudging, Mock Auction and Valuation on Tuesday August 26 at Lochwood Farm, Saltcoats by kind permission of the Murdoch family. Thank you to everyone who came along. The results for the evening were as follows:
Stockjudging: Junior Girls: 1st: Jennifer Seaton. Senior Girls: 3rd: Anne Reid, 2nd: Laura Munro, 1st: Maryann Smith. Junior Boys: 3rd: Gilbert Wilson, 2nd: William Seaton, 1st: Greg Matthew. Senior Boys: 3rd: Graeme McCarter, 2nd: William Smith, 1st: Calum Evans
Gents Open: 3rd: Andrew Smith. 2nd: Calum Evans, 1st: William Chalmers.

Ladies Open: 3rd: Neah Evans, 2nd: Anne Reid, 1st: Lauren Brocket. Valuation; Junior Girls: 2nd: Sharon Hutchinson, 1st: Jennifer Seaton. Senior Girls: 3rd: Laura Munro, 2nd: Anne Reid, 1st: Maryann Smith. Junior Boys: 3rd: William Seaton, 2nd: Greg Matthew, 1st: Gilbert Wilson.
Senior Boys: 3rd: Alastair Wylie, 2nd: Alex Wilson, 1st: Calum Evans. Gents Open:
3rd: Hall Thompson, 2nd: Robert Chalmers, 1st: Calum Evans. Ladies Open: 3rd: Anne Reid,
2nd: Allison Reid, 1st: Maryann Smith. Mock Auction: Junior Boys: 3rd: William Seaton, 2nd: Gilbert Wilson, 1st: Greg Matthew. Senior Boys: 3rd eq: William Smith and Robert G Wilson, 2nd: Robert A Wilso, 1st: Alastair Wylie. Dairy Reason-giving: Senior Girls:
1st: Anne Reid. Senior Boys: 1st: Alastair Wylie. Dairy Demonstration: Senior Girls: 1st: Anne Reid, Senior Boys: 1st: Alastair Wylie, Best Handwritten Envelope: 3rd: Julie Miller,
2nd: Holly Drummond, 1st: Anne Reid. Best Handwritten Cheque: 3rd: Alastair Wylie, 2nd: Robert G Wilson, 1st: Robert A Wilson.

Go-ahead young Beithite, Nichola Munro, is holding a fundraising Cream Tea in Beith Community Centre on Saturday September 13 from 10 am until noon. This event is in aid of breast cancer. Tickets are £1. There will also be a number of stalls to interest visitors. In addition, there will be the opportunity for locals to try various Alternative Therapies.

Anyone wishing to assist Nicola in this fundraising effort can contact her on 07792159636. Hopefully locals will come along and give this charitable fundraising young lady the support she and the charity richly deserve.

John Simpson, Past President, Beith Bowling Club, writes: The Ayrshire Bowling Association (ABA) District Finals recently took place at Beith green. Past President John Simpson handed the green and club facilities over to ABA District secretary, Sam Kennedy, for the day’s competition played in fine weather.

At the end of play Sam Kennedy thanked Beith for the use of their excellent facilities, especially the ladies of the club for the excellent purvey. He then handed the green back to Beith President Tom Sibbald. The results were as follows.

Beith Junior BC under 13's have received a full set of new strips sponsored by Colin Jackson of Duskview Services, Barrmill and 20 new match balls from Eddie Easdon of the Saracen Hotel. Both greatly appreciated by the coaches, boys and parents.

Grateful thanks to Colin and Eddie.

Doubtless an apocryphal story about how to get the attention of the police when they are too busy to attend. A Beith man, Tom, was going to bed when his wife told him that he’d left the garage light on, which she could see from the bedroom window.

Tom went to switch it off and saw two men in the garage stealing things. He phoned the police, who asked ‘Is someone in your house?’ and he said ‘no.’ The officer on the line said that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be along when available. Tom said, ‘Okay,’ hung up and counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

Terry Williams writes: Beith Scouts have vacancies in all sections for the new session. Like many other voluntary groups, they are also keen to recruit new leaders. For Further information on any aspect of Scouting in Beith contact: Terry Williams on 01505 502429 or James Cumming 504919. Places available in all sections.

Jean Wylie (Ladies Match Secretary) writes: The Hunter Bowl sponsored by Past President Netta Hunter was played on Sunday August 10, when 21 Ladies participated. After an enjoyable afternoon of bowling the results were, winners Pat Longridge (skip) 2nd Margaret Irvine, lead Lilly Clark. Runners up Irene Monk (skip) 2nd Alena Thomson, lead Betty Brown. President Pat Longridge invited Netta Hunter to present the Hunter Bowl to the winners and in turn, she was thanked for her kindness in sponsoring the event.

Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club resume for their new session on Monday September 8 at 7.30 pm in Beith Masonic Club lounge. The speaker is a weel kent Burnsian, Angus Middleton of West Kilbride Burns Club, who takes as his subject: The Happiness of Headaches of the Robert Burns World Federation.

Angus was president of the World Burns Federation in 2006/07 and in his talk will review his experiences of his presidential year when he spoke at a record breaking number of functions both in the UK and abroad. All cronies and new members will be very warmly welcomed.

Kirsty Dace writes: The new session is now underway. We meet every Thursday in the High Church Hall, with Anchor Boys for boys in P1-P3 running from 5.30pm until 6.30pm and Juniors for boys in P4-P7 from 6.45pm until 8.15pm. Come along and join in the fun

Robert Jamieson, President, writes: Last Saturday Beith St Inan Angling Club enjoyed the first competition after the summer break, the Thermal Transfer Cup. Seven anglers turned out on what promised to be an ideal fishing night, bright but overcast, with a nice breeze to ripple the water, and much better than the forecast.

However, at the weigh in only three fish had been caught, Graeme Lynch taking the trophy with a nice fish of 3lb 8oz, Robert Jamieson in second place with one fish for 2lb 4oz, and Stuart McNaughton in third with one for 2lb 2oz.

Graeme now leads the club championship by 16 points, but with two competitions still to go, anything could happen. Members are reminded that the next competition is the Capua Cup. Members are also reminded that this competition is dry fly only.

A Well known Beith couple marked 40 years of happy marriage last Saturday with a family celebration and a visit to Beith Fair! William (Billy) Monahan and Isobel Simpson married at Beith High church on Saturday August 31 1968 by the Reverend James Kerr.

Best man was Billy's brother Tom. Bridesmaids were Mary Tindall and Jean Crowe. Flower girls were Diane and Audrey Chalmers. The Reception was held at the Parkstone Hotel, Prestwick.

Grace Church, Eglinton Street, Beith hold an open-doors soup and sandwich lunch every Friday from 12 noon - 2 pm in a friendly and welcoming environment and children, too, are very welcome.

Why not drop in for a cuppa and blether.

Jean Highgate writes: Beith Town Centre Initiative are holding another of their very popular dances in Beith Community Centre on Friday September 26 at 8.00 pm.

Tickets will be on sale shortly but meanwhile, please make a note in your diary.