What’s New | NEW CUMNOCK NOW AND THEN

New Cumnock Golf Club

I am grateful to Robert Scott for contributing photos of New Cumnock Golf Club and its members from a few years ago.

More to follow

Craigdullyeart Hill to Ellergoffe Knowe

I was visited by a friend who wanted to see what the old road to Kirkconnel looked like now (July 2016). I was under the impression that the road beyond the iron gate was closed due to the opencast and the conveyor belt. Apologies for the hurried nature of the photos. Also, if you decide to go and look yourself, the road beyond Glen Farm is ‘difficult’.

Knockshinnoch 1950

Beasts of the Lagoons

I decided I had better have another walk over the Lagoons last week and even turned back to get my camera. It seems that the lagoons have been overrun by beasts and I enclose what I saw.

The Burning Moon Effect

Last week on the night after the much publicised ‘burning moon’ I was attracted by the redness of the night sky at the back of my house. I took a few photos but realised that the sky was even redder when looked at from Mansfield Road. I enclose some of the photos.

Unknown Football Team

George Gilbert sent me this photo of an unknown football team. I would be grateful if anyone who knows the team and the year could contact me.

I have had an email from Roddy Currie who has identified all the players and information on the photo. This photo of the Glens   was    taken at Connel Park on the 27th Jan 1957, 5th round – Scottish Cup
The score   was 2 – 2 and we lost the replay at Kilsyth  on 10th Feb 1957, 3 – 1.   The team   in the photo are:
Murray,   McNaught, Carruthers, Jackson,    Stirling,   Templeton,
            Cathcart, Donnelly, Thorburn, McCulloch,   Graham.

Mason Avenue

Last week I turned into Mason Avenue and was surprised at the change to the street.

Mr Tam Johnstone

That’s a Big Bird

8.00am on Saturday 4th April 2015

The Lagoons in April 2014

Last April I took a walk across the lagoons from the Castle to the Leggate. I took my camera with me and these are the photos I took. Unfortunately, for various reasons I did not put them on the website at that time but here they are.

Accordion Band

Stuart Brown has sent me two photos of an accordion band performing at Cumnock Carnival and New Cumnock Gala Day in 1963. Any information on this band would be welcome.

New Cumnock Gala Day 1963 John Watson 2nd Left A McNesh 2nd right089

Thistle Accordion Band Cumnock Carnival 1963090

More Photos From Alex Jess

Alex sent me a lot of photos last year and I have just discovered that I misplaced some of them. Here they are in Alex own words.

New Cumnock Flower Show

I am grateful once again to Patrick and Mary Dornan for the following photos which I believe were taken at a New Cumnock Flower Show in the late 1960’s.

Dux Medal Boards from the Town School

Robert Hart has very kindly donated photos of the Dux Medal Boards from the Town School. I understand that these boards that show the names of Dux Medallists are no longer displayed in New Cumnock Primary School and are in storage.

New Windmill

A new windmill has been erected above High Park Farm. While taking photos of it from what used to be Farden Avenue I thought the area might be of interest to those of you who no longer reside in New Cumnock.

Glebe Street Photo

The photo above was taken around May 1978 at the back door of Dougie McHarg’s house in Glebe Street.

Back Row: Billy McCracken, Alex Gallagher,Jim Burgoyne and Dougie McHarg

Front Row: Drew Stewart, Jim Allan and Billy Ferguson

Many thanks to Jim Allan for sending in the photo and to Dougie McHarg for the additional names.

Town School Football Team – Circa 1950

Back Row: Mr Dow H.T., Hugh Hill, D. Welsh, Cameron Gibson, Hugh Harrison, P. Riddell, Mr Richard ‘Dickie’ Bell.

Front Row: Sam Purdie, Jackie Bingham, Hugh Lorimar, Hamish Rae, Jim Dunlop

Old Invoice from 1898

The invoice below was spotted for sale on ebay by Stuart Brown. It is made out to Lady Menteith of Mansfield.

More Trotter Family Photos

The first photo is of an unknown little girl and was addressed to Mrs George Trotter, Mansfield Village.

The second photo is of Robert Trotter, son of Martin Trotter.

The third photo is of an unknown house in New Cumnock. Does anyone recognise the house?

The fourth photo is of an unknown man

Trotter Family Photos

I have received two photos from the Trotter Family collection and a link to the Trotter collection on Flickr courtesy of D’Arcy Hande whose grandmother Mary Trotter was born in New Cumnock.

One is of a young men’s group, taken ca 1900-1905, I expect. It may be a Baptist group, and possibly a choir, since the man standing in the middle, Michael Donnachie, was quite musical, I am told. On the far right, marked (unfortunately) by an X is Martin Trotter (1881-1907), my grandmother’s brother who emigrated to the U.S. and died shortly thereafter at Pittsburgh. (The Martin Trotter who most who live there now will remember was actually a younger half-brother, named after his deceased sibling.) I wonder how many of the others your viewers might be able to identify.

The other cabinet portrait of the four young people is probably a family group from New Cumnock. At first, I thought they might be Trotter relations, but I am now less convinced of that. Can any of your viewers identify these folk?

The link to the Trotter genealogy is: TrotterGenealogy

Class Reunion

“ We Happy Band of Brothers “ with apologies to Shakespeare and the “ girls “ who comprised 80% of the class.

Class of 3AB 1953-54 New Cumnock J.S. School ‘ mid term ‘ reunion.

Last Sept., when we met for our annual reunion, we decided to hold a mid term reunion to accommodate anyone, who for one reason or another, increasingly age related given our advancing years, had not been able to attend last time.

The event this time was held in the Dumfries Arms Hotel and those present were Jessie Clegg, Jim Findlay,John Nairn,Morag McKechnie, Margaret Boyle, Isobel McEwan, Jean Watson, Molly Grey, Grace Fergusson and Jean Fitzsimmons.

These are all maiden names where appropriate and in no particular order and will afford their contemporaries who have not seem them for some time an opportunity to put faces to names.

Regrettably I could not attend, having an appointment at the Orthopaedic Dept. Ayr Hospital, which sort of underlines the rationale of the thinking outlined above.

George Gilbert

Cairnhill School

I am again grateful to Robert Hart for donating photos of Cairnhill School and also photos and information on the Richmond Cup and the Sports Cup from the Bank School.

Bank School Cups

Cairnhill Dux Board

I am very grateful to Robert Hart for donating the two photos of the Cairnhill Dux Medal Board from Cairnhill P.S.

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List of Mining Deaths

Ian Allan is compiling a list of people from the village who died in the mining industry, the attached list still need dates and locations for the opencast deaths, also there are more names to be added and more feedback is needed from family & friends who lost loved ones in the industry. The list is to support the work being done by Jimmy Carmichael for the miners memorial. If you have information that will improve the list can you please contact Ian at: iasafety@aol.com Please click on mining deaths nc below

mining deaths nc

Coming in the next few days

A new Postcard collection and messages scanned in a high resolution. Many of the postcards have already appeared but there are rarer ones never seen previously.

The Craigman Mine photos can now be viewed on the sidepanel.

A walk up Polquheys Road on a nice Summer’s day. Can be seen on the sidepanel.

Off Piste

This group of photos was taken off the usual recognised pathways and shows the original and now disused railway track to Connelpark. Displayed on the sidepanel.

The Inhabitants of Afton Road

George Gilbert very kindly sent me a list of the inhabitants of Afton Road at the time he lived there in the late 1930’s until the early 1950’s. People did move in and out over this time and the names represent a snapshot of the inhabitants there around the late 1940’s.

Here are inhabitants of Afton Crescent as it was known then just after the war, as far as my memory serves me. The even nos. were replaced by consecutive odd nos. when it changed to Afton Rd. I don’t quite know why this was done unless they intended at some point in time to build in the empty opposite fields and don’t know why it was ever called a Crescent in the first place since it was a linear development.

No 1 – Masons

No 2 – Walkers

No 3 – McLatchies

No 4 – Barbours

No 5 – Cunninghams

No 6 – Gibsons

No 7 – McDonalds

No 8 – Allans

No 9 – Gilberts

No 10 – Grays

No 11 – Glendinnings

No 12 – Robsons

No 13 – Hendersons

No 14 – Wilsons

No 15 –Jacksons

No 16 – McKechnies

No 17 – McEwans

No 18 – Gibbs

No 19 – Raes

No 20 – Turners

Roadmen’ Cottages at bottom of hill – Both Backwoods

Private house at top of hill – McFarlanes

Fire Engine Accident 1966

John McNeish who was a part-time firefighter with the New Cumnock Fire Brigade has donated the Cumnock Chronicle report from the tragic event in 1966.

Connelpark – where nobody locked their doors

If you have not already seen Connelpark – where nobody locked their doors by Alex Jess it is worth a look. Several characters from the past are mentioned along with several photos.

New Cumnock H. G. School/Castle School – Class III AB – Nov. 1950

Photograph and information donated by George Gilbert

Back Row: G. Gilbert, M. Brown, I. McEwan, J. Findlay

Middle Row: K. McPate(P.E. Teacher), E. Murdoch, I. Baird(English Teacher), M. Gray, Mr John Miller(Head Teacher)

Front Row: M. Boyle, J. Fitzsimmons, A. Craig, G. Ferguson, J. Clegg, J. Watson, M. McKechnie

Above is a picture of Class 3AB Town School circa 1950-51.

Last month we held our annual reunion at Lochside for the 22nd. time having first reconvened in 1991 on the occasion of the 50th. anniversary of beginning school together in 1941-42.

This year we were given a tour of the new Town School with all it’s impressive new facilities and a great deal of discussion followed amongst ourselves trying to identify the various class rooms we used to inhabit and the teachers we encountered therein.

Some of the current staff were a bit bemused when we referred to missing items such as the pegs in the cloakroom for our gas masks and the adhesive tape on the windows to counteract bomb blast, not to forget the iconic map in almost every room with it’s large red areas of the then British Empire.

Nine of us were present, all three boys and six girls as we still euphemistically refer to ourselves. The Headmaster John Miller and English teacher Ivy Baird are long gone but not sure about gym teacher K. McPate.

This class was a distillation as it were of two classes, which are both featured on the photo album of Town School – N0s.75 and 76. There are names which occur simultaneously in two of the three pictures. The reason for this was, that in our time there were sometimes two intakes per year and Primary Classes lasted for 8 months as opposed to a full year, consequently there took place a merging of two classes in our first year of secondary, the older class, which was entitled 1X, being retained in a holding unit, for want of a better description, for a few months until the younger class P7 finished.Both classes were then merged and pupils were streamed, as happened in these pre – comprehensive times, into the various AB and C classes – AB being languages French and Latin and C technical subjects. Like the proverbial curate’s egg this system had it’s good and not so good elements though I suspect the jury is still out on whether the system which followed offered any great improvement.

Notice the fact that girls far outnumber boys which perhaps supports the theory that girls at this age are cleverer than boys.

One noticeable change for the better is that most of the girls in the picture were perfectly capable of going on to University, as happens nowadays, whereas none did, opting instead for a variety of reasons for vocational courses or immediate employment. I suppose this is more of a welcome societal change rather than as a result of changes to the educational system which followed.

On a personal note and for the record I am grateful to New Cumnock J.S. School or Town School as it was popularly known for providing me with a very good basic education, and to the village and community of New Cumnock for giving me what I like to think are a decent set of values.

The Glen Afton Route has been added to New Cumnock Pathways

Please note that New Cumnock News is in operation again.

New Cumnock Community Action Plan

A meeting was called inviting residents to attend the Open Day Event today, Saturday 28th September 2013 and to vote on a Community Action Plan for New Cumnock. The following photos and handouts tell the story. It seemed a very successful day and well done to the organisers for making the effort.

The Community Action Plan flyer inviting everyone to the Open Day Event

Everyone received a welcoming sheet and instructions on what to do in the hall

The opposite side of the welcoming sheet gave information on how to vote and the necessary red coloured detachable dots for voting

The Themes sheet gave information on the areas to vote and priority projects and actions

The second sheet of projects and actions

Helen Lamont at the Welcome Table

A demonstration of resusitation techniques by St Andrew\'s First Aiders

CPR taking place. Gette Fulton standing on the left observing

CPR completed

The New Cumnock Primary School Display

A closer look at the school display

School display board

Oops! Someone has collapsed!!

First aiders rush to help

The patient is helped onto a stretcher

The patient being carried away

The Auld Kirk and Village Heritage Trail Display by Bobbie Guthrie

The Parish Church Display

The Vibrant Communities Display

Entertainment was provided during the day. This is Los Peros performing. Sorry about the quality of the photo

The Baptist Church display. George Weir seated on the left.

The Access to Services voting board

The Environment and Recreation voting board. The red and blue dots show how people have voted.

The Local Economy and Tourism board

The Star Development Group Community Futures. This is the second sheet as the first was filled.

The Community Facilities and Activities voting board

Mainstreet and regeneration voting board

The Swimming Pool display

The Swimming Pool suggestions head

Cumnock Academy Art Display

A closer view

More paintings

Lagoons Maintenance

Yesterday, Wednesday 25th September, I was walking on the lagoons and noticed some tracks and noise in the distance. It seems that the ecology of the lagoons is maintained after all. The water that flows under the wee bridge that links the lagoons to Connelpark was being impeded by a build up of stones, gravel and silt where it flows into the Connel Burn. This in turn was creating a build up of gravel and silt back to the lagoons and affecting drainage. The photos show the work undertaken.

Walking down the path to the wee bridge that joins the lagoons to Connelpark there was obvious activity in the form of tracks and noise

More tracks

The wee bridge

The bridge looking a bit worse for the wear

The burn that flows from the lagoons is being deepened by clearing out gravel and silt

A closer view

No easy feat to get a digger along a banking

The other side of the wee bridge is also being cleared of gravel and silt

The clearance goes all the way back to the farmer\'s field

The other access route for the digger

The path to the Connel Burn

The Connel Burn where the water from the lagoons flows into it. There was a small island in the middle which allowed the burn to be crossed at this point. As you can see the island of stones, gravel and silt has been cleared.

The smaller burn on the right flows into the Connel Burn. The gravel and silt was building up at this point and slowing the flow of water from the lagoons.

Some of the gravel and silt from the Connel Burn on the spot where I was standing

Looking back from the Connel Burn to where the digger was working

A tractor and trailer at the top of the field

A view of the tractor and digger

A closer view

The path to Connelpark indicates the track the digger took

Looking from the Connelpark side

Alex Jess 3

Alex has kindly donated a further group of photos to the website, consisting of personal photos and a group taken during a winter walk across the lagoons.

Cairnhull Skill

The following poem was kindly donated by Jim Campbell(Hamish). He wrote the poem for a Burns Supper that he chaired and has donated it to the website.

CAIRNHULL SKILL

“OOR WEE SKILLS, THE BEST WEE SKILL

THE BEST WEE SKILL IN AYRSHIRE

THE ONY THING THAT’S WRANG WAE IT

IS THE BALDY HEIDED MAISTER”

REMEMBER THAT WEE DITTY MONY YEARS AGO

WHEN BACK HAUNDED AFFECTION FUR WEE PEARSON WE DID SHOW

HIS WEE RID FACE AN SILVER HAIR AND VOICE THAT ROARED LIKE THUNDER

BUT I AYE RECALL HE WIZ AWAYS FAIR, BAR YIR HEID WIZ FULL O’ DUNDER

OOR WEE SKILL OPENED BACK IN SIXTY-ONE, WHEN WEANS THERE WUR A PLENTY

NO JIST LEARNIN, HAVIN FUN, CLASS SIZES WERE TWO TIMES TWENTY

I JOINED MASEL SOME YEARS AGO, TWO SCORE AND TWO TO BE EXACT

I APPLIED MASEL AND KNUCKLED DOON, YE HUD TAE THAT’S A FACT

THE METRE STICK, THE KNUCKLE JAB AN THE TAWSE

INSTRUMENTS O CORRECTION WE WUR TELT

BUT GETTING BELTED FUR FLINGING SNAWBAWS

WIZ THE WURST PAIN EVER FELT

THEY SAY WE ARE AW JOCK THAMPSONS BAIRNS WELL HE FULLED A WHEEN O’ CLASSES

FAE CONNEL PARK TAE CASTLE MAINS BONNY BOYS AN LASSIES

I HUD SEVEN YEARS AT THAT WEE SCHOOL WAE MUNY TWISTS N TURNS

SOME PLAYED SERIOUS AND SOME THE FOOL BUT WE AW LOVED RABBIE BURNS

CAN YOU REMEMBER JIMMY JOHNSTON, ASKED ONE DAY BY A BAIRN

“MR JOHNSTONE SIR” THEY SAID CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE BURNS’S CAIRN

WELL NEVER STUCK FOR WORDS WAS JIMMY, N ALWAYS HAD A QUIP

QUICKLY TURNED AND ANSWERED “LIKE A BIG STANE WALNUT WHIP”

NOO WE AW HUD A WEE SHOT AT BURNS, TAM O SHANTER TAE A RED RED ROSE

WE AW STOOD ON THE STAGE AS TURNS, DETERMINED NO TAE LOSE

TAE SEE YIR NAME IN THE CHRONICLE, WELL MAN THAT WIS GREAT

NO IN THE POLIS COLUMN, BUT FUR YIR BURNS CERTIFICATE

NOO JUMP AHEID TAE PRESENT DAY THE SICHTS THAT SKILL HUZ SEEN

OPENING TERM SIXTY WAN TAE TWAE NOO TWO THOOSAND AN THIRTEEN

WE ALL HAD CHERISHED MEMORIES OOR WEANS HUV GOT THEM TAE

BUT TIMES HUV CHANGED AN SO HUV WE SO HERES WHIT I WILL SAY

THE OLD SKILL IS NOO THE NEW SKILL A WONDROUS BUILDING DOON THE TOON

WAE SMART BOARDS AND A NEW WILL OOR KIDS WILL BLOSSOM SOON

THE SKILL IS LIT FAE DUSK TAE DAWN WAE WONDROUS GADGETS THERE INSIDE

BUT THERES NAE TOON SKILL SHEDS NOO, FOR ROMANCERS THERE TAE HIDE

THE SHEDS HAUD MONY MEMORIES, TOO MANY STORIES TAE BE BELIEVED

AND IT PROBABLY WIDNAE SURPRISE YI HOW MANY IN THERE WERE CONCEIVED

AVE MIND O LONG HOT SUMMERS AND YARD HIGH SNAW AS WEEL

PARADES WAE FLOATS AND DRUMMERS AND HOWKING TATTIES FAE A DREEL

PAPERS, TATTIES, MILK OR HAY TAE WORK YI HUD A WILL

GUID HARD GRAFT WAE LITTLE PAY, N AW BEFORE YI WENT TAE SKILL

SO THERES MA SPIEL FUR AW TAE HEAR MAY I PRAY YI CHARGE YIR GLASSES

AND TOAST THE TOAST WE AW HAUD DEAR “HONEST MEN N BONNY LASSES”

Andrew Galston Article

An early Andrew Galston article has been found from 2005 and added to the existing collection.

John Walker

Many thanks to John Walker for donating some of his family photos to the website. They can be viewed on the sidebar of the first page.

Thomas Holden

William Holden has contributed his father’s photo collection to the website so that the individuals in the photos might be identified.

More photos to be added.

House of Water

New photos of the opencast at House of Water have now been added to the sidebar.

Elizabeth McGhee

Thanks also to Elizabeth McGhee for re-submitting her photos plus a few more. They can be seen on the sidebar of the Home Page

Grace Roy

Grace has kindly re-submitted her photos and they now appear on the sidebar.

Tom Melvin

Tom has kindly donated his photo collection which can now be seen on the sidebar.

New Cumnock Pathways

The Afton Water path has now been added to the pathways.

The Dux Medal

Last year a relation of mine, whom I will call a wonderful lady from Lanarkshire, gave me a Dux Medal that had been obtained at a sale to raise hospital funds.

Dux Medals are the prizes given in Scotland to outstanding pupils who have excelled in academic studies at school. There are therefore, not many of these medals in existence and I had never seen one, let alone come close to winning one!

William Arthur was a wealthy farmer who farmed Wellhill Farm and married Elizabeth Houston of Garclaugh. They had no children and when William died in 1894 his bequest was to endow the building of a new Free Church in New Cumnock now known as the Arthur Memorial Church. He also left funds for half a guinea to be given at Christmas to the needy pensioners of the town.

The other part of his bequest was for the funding of a Dux Medal for pupils of the Bank School and New Cumnock Higher Grade School. A small bursary was also included with this prize.

The photo does not do justice to the actual medal. You will see that William Arthur’s face appears on the medal and his date of birth and death.

The reverse side of the medal gives the winner and school. Who was Robert Johnston? I believe there was more than one Robert Johnston in New Cumnock in 1940-41. If anyone has information on the winner of this Dux Medal I will be grateful if they could let me know.

The hallmark on the medal indicates it was made in Birmingham in 1940 possibly by Bowden & Co.

I would like to thank Mr Richard Bain for providing me with information on William Arthur.

Burns Supper Ticket and Programme

My apologies to Mrs Dusty Matthews for assuming she was a male! I have now amended the information to reflect this. I should have remembered Dusty Springfield.

Dusty Matthews has donated a ticket and programme of the Burns Supper her grandmother attended in 1966 while on a visit to New Cumnock.

The typing gives away the fact it was made before computers were available

Those of you who are thirty-nine or over, like myself, will recognise these names

More names from the past

Old Postcards

I am very grateful to Dusty Matthews of Florida who is related to the Lees family of New Cumnock. Her grandmother visited in the 60’s and also received the two postcards from Betty Lees. Dusty kept these items as they were valued by her grandmother.

This postcard of the Castle is from the mid 1960’s. On the right is the old Police Station that was demolished around 1965.

The BP sign of McKechnie’s filling station can be seen further down the road on the right, now the site of new houses. Also, at the bottom of the road you can just see the telephone box which is no longer there and there are no houses either on the left.

Glen Afton Park

The following photographs were taken at Glen Afton Caravan Park which occupies the site of the old Glenafton Sanatorium. The views are stunning which accounts for the number of caravans on the site. There are more photos, information and stories to follow.

Please click on photos to enlarge

The panel judges on the Carbuncle Award did not see these views

Looking up Glenafton

One of the few sanatorium buildings remaining. This one is due to be upgraded.

For more information on Glen Afton Park look at glenaftonpark.co.uk

More information on the sanatorium to follow.

NEW CUMNOCK POET ON TV

Ford Model T Tourer

The photo belongs to Bill Brown and is of his father William Brown who in the 50’s was under manager at Bank No 6 pit.
The car was bought in Manchester, England where it was manufactured about 1920 . It was bought by William with the intention of providing a special “taxi” service from the station to the sanatorium where William’s wife Agnes Wilson (Newmilns) had been a nurse.

The photo was taken inside Tweedie’s Garage just as it had been driven from Manchester but the car was normally garaged at the Leggat where Bill Brown lived.

It looks as though William Brown is wearing a double breasted overcoat as per a chauffeur…. and the cloth cap. The car is believed to be a Ford Model T Tourer probably built about 1919/20. The van that is just visible in the background was Davey (?) Scoular from Bridgend.

Castle School – P1 Class Photo 1936

This school photo of the P1 class of 1936 includes Bobby Rogerson in his first class. He refers to his first experience at the Toon School in Captain No2

Back row: ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?,?, Bobby Rogerson,?
4thRow:?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, John Shaw, ?, ?, ?
3rd row: All unknown
2nd row: Mary McCrorie, ?, ?, ?, Julia Glendinning, ?, Nan Faulds, ?, ?
1st row row: ?, ?, ?, Myra Gray, Mary Milligan, ?, ?, Susan Hunter, ? Houston, Martha Smith, ?
Seated: ?, ?, Nessie McKechnie, ?, ? Ferrans

Cairnhill Primary School – Class Photo 1960

Many Thanks to Sam Capstick for donating this photo of his class from 1960.

Back row: Mrs Guthrie, Teacher, Jim Weir, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Iain

Burgoyne, Sam McKnight, unknown, David Belford.

Second row: Janet McHallam, Janice Sloan,unknown,unknown,unknown Janie Capstick unknown, Lorna Shankland, unknown, unknown, unknown

Third row: unknown, unknown, Ann Cochrane, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Shona Crearie, unknown, unknown

Front row: Bobby White, unknown, unknown, unknown, Sam Capstick, unknown

The March Snow – 22nd March 2013

The weather is bad all over the UK and New Cumnock has not escaped this but it could be worse. These photos are for the ex-pats who are not living in New Cumnock.

Another view of the shops

The stepping stones

Looking towards the back of the community centre

The photos don\'t record the howling wind or my nipping fingers at this point

Photos taken between 11.45am and 12.15pm

The back of the shops from the Afton stepping stones

The roads are clear except where the snow has been blown on to it

The weather doesn\'t look too bad but it is deceptive. The weather is bad all over the UK today

Deserted shops at the Castle

The new surgery is taking shape

Work on the new surgery continues

Dam Divers

Please go to Dam Divers on the sidebar of the home page.

Glen Afton in Winter

Photos contributed by Alex Jess and others of the reservoir in winter. Also, some photos of the Burns Cairn picnic area.

Those of you who are unable to walk up to the reservoir for whatever reason may find these photos of interest.

The Bridge at the reservoir in December 2009

Not many people have seen the reservoir in winter

Looks very cold

Looking to the left of the bridge

Frozen reservoir - December 2009

The bridge has gone and access denied unless under supervision - Feb 2013

The bridge is due to be replaced by a newer and lighter structure

Looking down from the top of the reservoir. Work seems to being carried out on the approach

The fountain on approaching the reservoir was stolen some years ago. I wonder if it will be replaced?

Reservoir overflow in operation

Close up of the overflow. You do not see this in the summer months

Under the bridge and the Afton is clear of the reservoir

The approach area being worked on. Unfortunately the plaque giving information on when the reservoir was built was also stolen some years ago.

What\'s that?

A signpost of another route up to the dam

Looking back to the dam

Another photo looking back to the dam

If you have not been to Burns Cairn picnic area it is worth a look

The picnic area is a credit to New Cumnock Burns Club

The plaque near the entrance

Another view looking back to the car park

Picnic table overlooking the Afton

The plough

Afton Water by George Houston

I was really pleased to discover a small print of the painting Afton Water by George Houston(1869-1947). I doubt if many people in New Cumnock are aware of this painting or George Houston. He was born in Dalry and was a prolific landscape painter whose work sells for around £2K – £9K. The painting was made prior to 1912. Please click on the photo to enlarge.