Barrmill Community Association are holding a childrens fancy dress Halloween Party in the village community centre on Friday 31 October between 6.30 pm and 8.00 pm. Those who turn up in fancy dress will receive free entry whilst others will pay £1. There will be lots of games, Halloween fayre and prizes to be won. All are very welcome.

Billy and Moira Haining, well known for their work on behalf of Ayrshire Cancer Support Group, also have the distinction of reaching a special milestone this year in that their popular shop Billy’s of Beith has now been operating for 50 years.

Beith & District Young Farmers’ Club held their Root and Industrial on Monday 29th September. The judges for the evening had a very hard task but the overall winners were as follows: Industrial section 3rd Margaret Smith 2nd Anne Reid 1st Julie Scott. Root section 3rd Alistair Wylie 2nd Scott Wilson 1st William Smith. Winner of the Reid Gallagher Trophy for the most points was Julie Scott and winner of the Root & Industrial Trophy for the runner up of the opposite sex was William Smith.

The club went on to take entries to the Ayrshire Root and Industrial on Saturday 4th October where they picked up a fair few certificates. The next club event is a "Singled Out" competition and disco in The Burlington Function Rooms, Braefoot, Kilmarnock on Friday 17th October at 8pm. Everyone is welcome! For more information please contact Julie on 01294 832262, Gareth on 01294 832249 or email beithyfc@hotmail.com

1st Beith BBs Junior Section numbers were very low this week due to a school trip to Arran, but the boys who were there spent the evening in drill, badge work and a session on the trampoline, followed by tuck. The Company Section were also involved in badgework, while the Anchor Boys had a story telling session, followed by drawing and football and tuck.

An advance notice for parents, there will be no meetings on Friday 17th October due to school holidays

Gateside WRI met in the Patrick Memorial Hall on 2 October at 7.30 pm and there was a good turnout of members and visitors. The speaker was Maggie Magee, fundraising organizer for the Hansel Foundation. The Foudation was established in 1963 and the speaker gave a very amusing and highly informative talk about the work carried out at Hansel Village, Symington from its conception up to the present.

There was a sales table with knitwear made by Hansel residents as well as other Christmas gifts for sale and £300 was raised from the sale of goods which will benefit Hansel village. The Rosebowl competition for the evening was for a tub of fruit salad. The winner was Mabel Campbell, second was Jacqueline Bell and third was Isobel Managhan. The next meeting will be hled on 6 November when the speaker will be Mary and Pete Corbey who will take as their subject, A Fragrant Christmas.

The Henry Faulds Society public consultation with regard to the proposed siting of a modest memorial to Dr Henry Faulds (1843 - 1930) in the town continues until 31 October. If anyone has views they are cordially invited to contact the secretary of the society in writing or leave correspondence in Beith Library where information about Dr Faulds are available to the public.

It is strongly emphasised that no decision about the eventual siting of the memorial to Dr Faulds has been made and all views will be considered as part of the consultation. If the general feeling is that Janefield Square is not the favoured location, then it will definitely not be sited there. The society would also value suggestions of alternative sites in Beith.

Councillor Jean Highgate advises that Tescos proposals to built a new store in Kilbirnie should have resulted in information leaflets being distributed in both Kilbirnie and Beith, but the Beith leaflets were not delivered.

Tescos would like to apologise for this oversight and have advised that the leaflets will now be delivered to all homes in Beith around 6 October. North Ayrshire Grounds Maintenance have been busy in the town tidying up various areas. This has made a big difference especially opposite the Cross.

The intention is that this area and also the bed at Roebank Road will be planted out with bedding plants next summer. Councillor Highgate is also investigating the possibility of having spring bulbs planted. The two seats at the top of Townhead will be painted before the winter comes in.

Beith & District Young Farmers’ Club are holding a dairy cattle dressing on Sunday 26th October at Stoopshill Farm, Dalry, by kind permission of the Kirkpatrick family, starting at 12 midday. Please let the secretary know if you would like to participate to ensure there will be enough cattle for everyone taking part.

All members are welcome to come along and have a go! The next club meeting will be held on Monday 27th October in the Patrick Memorial Hall, Gateside, at 7.30pm and will take the form of a split meeting.

Group A is being treated to a Virgin Vie evening and group B will be having a games night. For more details contact Julie on 01294 832262, Gareth on 01294 832249 or email beithyfc@hotmail.com.

The Young Enterprise Team at Garnock Academy are currently planning their special project for the year. They are about to begin a project that will see them publishing a book of photographs of Garnock Academy pupils and staff down through the years. They are keen to obtain photographs for inclusion in this book and anyone with photographs of any events at Garnock from the inception of the school until now are cordially invited to send their photographs to the Young Enterprise team via the school office.

It would be helpful if details of those in the photograph and the event and approximate date could be recorded on the back of the photograph together with the name and address of the sender.

Calling all Beith and distrct senior citizens! Beith Old People’s Welfare Committeee are hosting a Christmas cabaret supper evening just for you. You are cordially invited to come along and have the time of your life at what is billed as The Millenium Show in Beith Community Centre on Friday, 28 November from 6.00 pm until 10.00 pm. This looks likely to be a lively evening of entertainment and fun.

Anyone wishing to bring along their own bottle for refreshement is welcome to do so. Buses to and from the community centre will be available at the usual pickup points. Tickets priced £1 will be on sale on Thursday 6 November, Tuesday 11 November and Thursday 13 November from 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm.

Older citizens are asked to ensure that they pick up their tickets during the above times as no tickets will be sold after 13 November.

Trinity Mens Fellowship met last Monday evening when Community Constables Sandy Brown and Jim Dougall gave an interesting talk on home security. The group are keen to welcome new members who will be made most welcome. The Mens Fellowship meet in Trinity church hall on Monday evenings from October until the end of March and alternate a variety of speakers with games nights, where carpet bowls and darts are played.

The subscription for the year is £2.00, which must be the bargain of the year.

Billy Haining of the Beith branch, Ayrshire Cancer Support Group, advises that he has received a cheque for £95 from Geilsland School which was the proceeds from the retiring offering at their summer church service. He was also delighted to receive a cheque for £100 from the recent well publicised Garnock Academy School reunion held in the Dalry Inn.

In addition at £20 anonymous donation was handed in the Billy’s of Beith and a further anonymous donation was handed in to Billy’s home.

Beith Historical Society got off to a flying start last week when they enrolled 25 members, of which 5 were new members. In addition they had 4 visitors, plus 3 guests accompanying the speaker, Pauline Megson of Historical Scotland. Pauline was very knowledgeable about Beith and advised there there are apparently some 80 listed buildings in the town area.

She showed slides of the architectural features, on buildings which we recognised by an attentive audience. It was said that there is a strong possibly in the next few days many locals will be seen standing in Eglinton Sttreet and Wilson Street staring at the buildings! A vote of thanks was proposed by the president, Allan Richardson.

1st Beith BBs continue their Friday night meetings in the BB Hall. Last Friday the BBs continued with a program of physical activities. Numbers, although lower than usual, are remaining steady and there is always room for more members.

They boys who come along each week are enthusiastic and we would encourage any boys in the appropriate age group to give it a try.

The Garnock Valley Ex-Presidents Bowling Association played their final game of the season at Largs Halkshill Bowling Club on Sunday 28th September, as guestS of the newly formed Largs & District Ex-Presidents. A most enjoyable day was had by all and an excellent tea provided by the Largs Association.The game was played in a friendly manner and in good weather conditions.

After 15 ends Largs were the overall winners by 84 shots to 78. The sweep winners were, for Largs, the rink skipped by B. McMath and for Garnock Valley, J.Cheseny, A. Hobbs, P.McGrattan and J. Gibson. Beith Bowling Club closed its Green on another successful bowling season in bright autumn sunshine on Saturday 4th October when there was a good attendance by members and visitors.

Beith St Inan’s Angling Club have brought great honour to themselves and the town. Everyone will join in heartily congratulating the St Inan’s angling team of Robert Aitken, Tom Brown and Jim Andrew who last Friday won the SANA Scottish Club Championship fished on Lake Of Menteith.

It is hoped to have more details on their victory at a later date. Fishing in Kirkleegreen reservoir has been good again this week, with a number of fish recorded, and several more returned. Work is still proceeding on the outside of the hut, and when the weather takes a turn for the worse there is still work to be done inside.

Myra Sturt (57), better known to locals as Myra Crowe, daughter of John and Cissie Crowe, Glebe Court, Beith, is currently visiting the town. Myra has lived in Canada for the past 30 years and is based in Edmonton, Alberta. Her own family, a son and daughter, and their children live near Calgary.

Myra is enjoying catching up with many old friends during her current visit to Beith.

Beith Scouts showed off their talents last Friday and Saturday when they put on a tremendously enjoyable Gang Show which filled Beith High Church Hall on both nights. The audience were delighted at the range and variety of talent on show involving the youngest and oldest member of the Scout Troop.

Everyone at 102nd Ayrshire Beith Scouts are to be heartily congratulated on their outstanding 2003 Gang Show. Roll on the next!

Beith Judo Club have had some encouraging results from their young competitors in recent events. Allan Harrison, 11, won the Scottish Junior Championships for the over 46 kg age band 2. Allan has been training with the club for over over three years. In past competitions he has been pipped at the post, but this year his hard work and dedication really paid off when he lifted the gold medal.

His fellow club member, Johnathan Ramsey-Cousins has had the same level of dedication and he achieved the silver medal in the over 60 kg age band 3. Congratulations to Allan and Jonathan on their great achievements which should encourage other club members to strive for similar success. Beith Judo Club train every Tuesday evening in Beith Community Centre. The under 8 years meet from 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm whilst the over 8s meet from 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm. All visitors will be warmly welcomed.