The Irvine Development Corporation (IDC), a quasi-fascist development quango, was given complete control of Irvine from 1966 to 1996 in order to transform it from a sleepy old town into a "New Town," a thriving, bustling hive of modernity. Like all totalitarian regimes the IDC regularly pumped out self-glorifying propaganda, like this film from 1971, from its command bunker at Perceton House.
Friday, 8 June 2018
EDGAR ALLAN POE AND THE HORROR OF IRVINE
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| Edgar Allan Poe and the school he went to as a boy |
Edgar Allan Poe is in many ways the most internationally respected American author, being both creatively unique and the fountainhead of so much that followed, unlike other well-known US authors who seem to trail after their European models.
A key period in Poe's life happened when the great writer was at the impressionable ages of 6 and 7, when his guardians brought him to the town of Irvine, where he stayed for over a year and almost two.
Poe's own parents had both died when he was an infant, and he had accordingly been adopted by the Irvine-born tobacco merchant John Allan. The Allan family came to Irvine in 1815, at a time when Britain was actually at war with the United States, and the Allan family stayed in the UK until 1820, when they returned to the United States.
In Irvine Poe stayed with "his aunt" John Allan's sister Mary Allan at Bridgegate House, a two-storey tenement building, before going down to London sometime in 1816 to join his guardians.
During the almost two years he spent in Irvine, he attended the the old burgh school at Kirkgatehead, on a site now just outside the main gate of the old parish church. It is said that the teachers used to send the pupils into the neighbouring graveyard to write down epitaphs. At this time, Irvine was also haunted by a notorious gang of body snatchers. Doubtless these themes of death and forcible resurrection must have impacted on the future writer's highly sensitive mind.
Another influence was Dean Castle in Kilmarnock, which Poe is believed to have visited several times. At that time the castle was a burnt-out ruin, having been destroyed by fire in 1735. This theme of a great house destroyed by fire, was to surface in Poe's tale "The Fall of the House of Usher."
As for Poe's poetry, it is hard not to think that he was influenced by the great Ayrshire poet Robert Burns and what is perhaps his most famous poem, "Tam O'Shanter" which tells the tale of a drunken man hotly pursued by witches from a ruined church.
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| Dean Castle around 1790 |
Friday, 6 April 2018
IRVINE MURDER FILE
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| Convicted murderer James Culinane in prison. He claims he is innocent. |
Over the years there have been a number of terrible murders in the Irvine area. Unfortunately some of them have gone unsolved, meaning that the killers may still be at large today.
This is an incomplete account that I hope to add to as my research progresses. Please feel free to add comments below about other Irvine murders that you feel should be included.
1976: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SANDY DAVIDSON (UNSOLVED)
Four-year-old Sandy Davidson disappeared from his family's garden in St Kilda Bank in the Bourtreehill area of the town.
On April 23rd, Sandy and his wee sister Donna (2 years old) had been left to play in their garden with their Afghan hound Kissie. When Kissie escaped from the garden Sandy went off in search of the dog. But only the dog came back.
When questioned, Donna said "A bad man took him away." The police surmised that Sandy had been driven off in a car.
A search could reveal nothing, and as the days turned into weeks, rumours began to circulate, one being that the gypsies had taken him, as there was a camp of gypsies near Irvine at the time. Who knows, maybe Sandy is still alive somewhere, but it seems unlikely.
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| Searching for Sandy in the rubble of newly built houses in Bourtreehill |
1976: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF PATRICIA BLACK (UNSOLVED)
22-year-old Patricia Black from Saltcoats disappeared on Friday, October 8th. She had been visiting Irvine and had phoned her mother around 5pm, saying she was going to get a bus home. That was the last that was heard of her.
Again a massive search produced nothing, not even a body.
Over the years, theories emerged that Sandy or Patricia or both were the victims of some sick serial killer, like the notorious "Bible John."
One theory was that Angus Sinclair, a double murderer and serial rapist was guilty. In 1961 he had been found guilty of murdering seven-year-old Catherine Reehill, as well as raping other kids. Strangely he was a free man in 1976, and would be charged with murder again in Edinburgh the next year but that case collapsed.
Another suspect was serial killer Robert Black, who lived in Greenock at the time. He worked as a courier, driving all over the country, allowing him to find victims far from home. He was later sentenced to life for the murders of three girls - Susan Maxwell, Sarah Harper and Caroline Hogg.
1994: THE MURDER OF SHONA STEVENS (UNSOLVED)
On November 10th, Shona Stevens, a 31-year-old single mum was bludgeoned to death. The scene of the crime was again Bourtreehill. Shona lived in Alder Green, Middleton Park, with her mum Mhari Smith and seven-year-old daughter Candice Stevens. She had once lived in South Africa.
The murderous assault happened when Shona popped out to the shops. Walking down the path that ran along the back of her home, between 1pm and 1.30pm she was subjected to a frenzied eight-minute attack that left her unconscious, according to experts.
Airlifted to hospital, she died three days later. Unable to live at the scene of the horrendous murder, her mum Mhari and daughter Candice moved away to Mhari's hometown in Skye.
2007: THE MANSLAUGHTER OF WILLIAM STEWART (SOLVED)
William Stewart, aged 50, a barber in the Irvine Indoor Market, was killed by his partner Carol Stewart, 38. He was reported to be an alcoholic and she was a heroin addict. The couple, who lived in Fleming Terrace, often argued.
On the day of the murder they started fighting in the kitchen. According to Carol, William grabbed her by the throat and she then tried to hit him with a kettle. Next she threw a coffee jar at him and then she grabbed a knife and stabbed him near the top of his left shoulder. This severed an artery that killed him. Carol then disappeared for a few days.
She was sentenced to six and a half years for culpable homicide, a relatively light sentence in my opinion.
2009: THE MURDER OF STEVEN WILLIAMSON (SOLVED)
On April 15, 37-year-old Stephen Williamson was murdered by his flatmate James Cullinane at the home they shared at 204A Livingstone Terrace.
Cullinane, a former telecommunications worker, had travelled the world with his job until 2005 when he was diagnosed with epilepsy and returned to Ayrshire. During the murder, there was a third person in the house by the unlikely name of Audrey Hepburn, who was a friend of one or both men. She testified against Cullinane, who claimed that she was in fact the murderer.
Getting into a fight, Cullinane repeatedly struck Williamson on the head and body with a knife and rammed items of clothing into his mouth and threatened to suffocate him. The fatal wound was a stab wound through the heart.
Cullinane was sentened to "life" imprisonment with at least 14 years behind bars before being eligible for parole, but still maintains his innocence.
2010: THE MANSLAUGHTER OF CRAIG KIRKWOOD (SOLVED)
on 26 June 2010, a group of around 30 teenagers, including Craig Kirkwood, aged 17, decided to celebrate the end of the school year by "camping out" on Irvine Beach.
During the course of the evening the group came into conflict with a group of gypsies or "travellers" who had been living at an unofficial site nearby for more than a week. When some of the teenagers started shouting abuse at the gypsies during the early hours of the morning, one of the gypsies, Martin Stewart, 25, got into his pick-up van and drove at them, hitting Craig, who it was claimed had taken no part in the original disturbance.
Stewart later handed himself into police and was sentenced to an extremely light sentence of five years and three months.
on 26 June 2010, a group of around 30 teenagers, including Craig Kirkwood, aged 17, decided to celebrate the end of the school year by "camping out" on Irvine Beach.
During the course of the evening the group came into conflict with a group of gypsies or "travellers" who had been living at an unofficial site nearby for more than a week. When some of the teenagers started shouting abuse at the gypsies during the early hours of the morning, one of the gypsies, Martin Stewart, 25, got into his pick-up van and drove at them, hitting Craig, who it was claimed had taken no part in the original disturbance.
Stewart later handed himself into police and was sentenced to an extremely light sentence of five years and three months.
2011: THE MURDER OF GRANT MUIRHEAD (SOLVED)
Stephen Broadfoot, 27, a cousin of Rangers striker Kirk Broadfoot, killed Grant Muirhead, 33, his girlfriend's ex, with a knife on New Year's day.
Broadfoot had been living with Aimee Dickie, 31, and her eight-year-old son, whose father was Mr Muirhead. On Boxing Day, Dickie and Broadfoot had quarrelled and fought physically. Hearing about this, Muirhead decided to confront Broadfoot and went to his address with one other man to back him up.
When they arrived, Broadfoot went to the kitchen for a knife. During the resulting fight, Broadfoot repeatedly struck and stabbed Muirhead on the head and body, and then slashed his throat from ear to ear. He claimed self-defence.
Broadfoot had been living with Aimee Dickie, 31, and her eight-year-old son, whose father was Mr Muirhead. On Boxing Day, Dickie and Broadfoot had quarrelled and fought physically. Hearing about this, Muirhead decided to confront Broadfoot and went to his address with one other man to back him up.
When they arrived, Broadfoot went to the kitchen for a knife. During the resulting fight, Broadfoot repeatedly struck and stabbed Muirhead on the head and body, and then slashed his throat from ear to ear. He claimed self-defence.
He was sentened to "life" imprisonment with at least 14 years behind bars before being eligible for parole.
Saturday, 17 March 2018
AYR ADVERTISER: AYR IS TOP OF THE LIST FOR SEX OFFENDERS IN AYRSHIRE
From the Ayr Advertiser:
AYR tops the list for the highest number of sex criminals in Ayrshire – with 74 offenders recorded as residing in the community.
Shocking new figures reveal that as of February this year, 340 paedophiles, rapists and sex pests are currently known to be living in Ayrshire.
Figures, released by Police Scotland under the Freedom of Information act, state Ayr tops the list for registered sex criminals living in the community – higher than both Kilmarnock and Irvine.
However, the MP for Ayr, Carrick, and Cumnock has said only a small number pose a risk to the public.
There are currently 74 registered sex offenders in Ayr, with the KA7 area, including Alloway, housing 24, while the KA8 area has 50.
The Annbank and Mossblown postcode area (KA6 5) has three.
Three sex offenders live in Prestwick (KA9 1) with another three resident in Monkton (KA9 2).
Nine sex offenders live in the Troon and Barassie postcodes, with six in KA10 6 and three in KA10 7, while another four live in Symington (KA1 5).
A total of 17 registered sex offenders live throughout the Carrick area.
Maybole has nine offenders, with eight in the KA19 7 area, also including Kirkmichael, Crosshill and Straiton, with one in KA19 8 area, which also covers Kirkoswald and Minishant.
In the south of Carrick, the Girvan postcode of KA26 9, including Maidens, Turnberry, Barr, Daily and Old Daily has two, while the KA26 0 postcode, which also takes in Barrhill, Pinwherry, Pinmore, Ballantrae, Lendalfoot and Colmonell has six.
Dalrymple and Coylton postcode area of KA6 6 has two, with another two in Tarbolton (KA5 5).
The figures, released under the Freedom of Information act give numbers of Registered Sex Offenders resident in the post code area as of February 9, 2018.
Conservative MP Bill Grant said: “I realise that the thought of someone being a risk to a loved one or family member would be distressing.
“The figures appear to reflect the population spread in Ayrshire, rather than to indicate that a particular community has a greater problem than another.
“Anyone with information indicating a child could be at risk of harm should contact the police or social work department.”
Friday, 16 March 2018
They Serve Us: Ayrshire's MPs (2) Alan Brown, SNP
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| "Best no tae smile, Al." |
The most obvious point about Brown is his sheer nondescript appearance. In fact he is so bland, boring, and unremarkable that I suspect even his immediate family members have trouble remembering who he is, although the comically dark eyebrows probably help to remind them.
He is neither handsome nor ugly, neither young nor old, and wears the same kinds of boring suits that say "jumped-up local councillor," which is more or less what he is, having been washed into the Westminster Parliament, along with a lot of other SNP driftwood, on the 2015 electoral tsunami.
Brown has never distinguished himself in his political career in any way, and his name is also boring and forgettable. Indeed, with a name like that, he may as well be called "John Smith". The fact that he is married with two children and is a life-long supporter of the local football team makes him seem even more dull.
He is neither handsome nor ugly, neither young nor old, and wears the same kinds of boring suits that say "jumped-up local councillor," which is more or less what he is, having been washed into the Westminster Parliament, along with a lot of other SNP driftwood, on the 2015 electoral tsunami.
Brown has never distinguished himself in his political career in any way, and his name is also boring and forgettable. Indeed, with a name like that, he may as well be called "John Smith". The fact that he is married with two children and is a life-long supporter of the local football team makes him seem even more dull.
If there was a competition to choose the dullest MP at Westminster, he would be in with a great chance, even though his wife is reportedly American.
Probably the most noticeable thing about him for people not from Ayrshire is his thick Ayrshire accent, which was even commented on by Russia Today.
This makes him sound somewhat unintelligent to outsiders, an impression reinforced by his limited input into parliamentary debates, where he never says anything of interest or out of the ordinary -- or maybe the journalists just can't pick it up.
Most of his fellow members of Parliament probably put him in the same mental pocket as Mhairi Black, the young SNP MP from Paisley, as yet another unintelligible Scottish MP sent South by the SNP merely to make the point that Scots don't belong in the UK.
Most of his fellow members of Parliament probably put him in the same mental pocket as Mhairi Black, the young SNP MP from Paisley, as yet another unintelligible Scottish MP sent South by the SNP merely to make the point that Scots don't belong in the UK.
Sadly, Brown is too boring to even reinforce this impression much. Now, if only he were a sour-faced, lesbian school leaver with a voice like an echo in a coal mine, like Ms. Black, he might stick in the English craw much more and help widen the schism between the two nations. But alas he is only a grey shadow with a pair of eyebrows on the SNP benches.
Anyway, this is no way to represent the constituents of Kilmarnock and Loudon.
Anyway, this is no way to represent the constituents of Kilmarnock and Loudon.
Thursday, 1 March 2018
AYR - A TIMELINE
1197 A castle is built by the River Ayr
1205 King William the Lion creates a burgh at Ayr. The town has weekly markets.
1230 Dominican Friars (Black Friars) establish their monastery in Ayr.
1261 Ayr is granted an annual fair. Ayr is a busy port with a population of about 1,500.
1301-1312 Ayr is occupied by the English.
1315 A Scottish parliament meets in Ayr.
1534 Loudon Hall is first mentioned.
1545 The Plague strikes Ayr but it soon recovers
1647 The Plague strikes Ayr again. The town now has a population of over 2,000.
1652 Oliver Cromwell's men build a fort at Ayr to control the West of Scotland.
1760 Sir Thomas Wallace creates Wallacetown. Wool and linen are produced in Ayr.
1788 The New Bridge is built.
1796 Ayr Academy is founded.
1801 Ayr parish has a population of almost 5,500. Newton has a population of 1,700, giving a combind total of 7,200.
1823 The Burns Monument is erected.
1826 The streets of Ayr are lit by gas.
1830 The Town Buildings are erected.
1840 The railway reaches Ayr from Glasgow.
1842 Ayr gains a modern water supply.
1893 The Carnegie Library is built.
1901 Ayr has a population of 31,000.
Electric trams begin to run in the streets of Ayr.
1911 A pavilion is built.
1931 The trams stop.
1936 McAdam's Monument is built.
1951 The population of Ayr grows to 44,000.
1965 Craigie College is founded.
1971 The Ayr by-pass is built.
MAP OF AYR IN 1775
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| Click to enlarge |
The 1775 Armstrong map shows the town of Ayr as a developing market town with a military past and a few budding industries.
The dominant feature is the Fort, which was constructed in the Commonwealth period in the 1650s when Cromwell's troops occupied the town and used it as a key base to control the West of Scotland. Following the Restoration in 1660, the Fort was closed and fell into disuse, with its buildings being dismantled or gradually becoming part of the town.
On this map we can see some of the buildings inside the fort have been converted into a brewery.
Between the fort and the river, the sugar house testifies to Ayr's far-flung trading connections, as sugar was imported from the West Indies.
Another notable feature of the town are the twin piers on each side of the River Ayr that protected the harbour mouth from shifting sands. This river harbour, like the one further North at Irvine, would have had to have been regularly dredged.
It also noticeable on this map that the New Town of Ayr, on the North of the river, is almost as big as the Old Town. This was an area that grew up around the town's coal trade, which "fuelled" its exports and led to other industries, like the lime kiln shown on the map that produced quicklime. Ayrshire is rich in shells and limestone which can be used in making quicklime.
When Daniel Defoe, the famous writer, visited Ayr around 70 years before this map was made, he saw the town as run-down and decayed:
On this map we can see some of the buildings inside the fort have been converted into a brewery.
Between the fort and the river, the sugar house testifies to Ayr's far-flung trading connections, as sugar was imported from the West Indies.
Another notable feature of the town are the twin piers on each side of the River Ayr that protected the harbour mouth from shifting sands. This river harbour, like the one further North at Irvine, would have had to have been regularly dredged.
It also noticeable on this map that the New Town of Ayr, on the North of the river, is almost as big as the Old Town. This was an area that grew up around the town's coal trade, which "fuelled" its exports and led to other industries, like the lime kiln shown on the map that produced quicklime. Ayrshire is rich in shells and limestone which can be used in making quicklime.
When Daniel Defoe, the famous writer, visited Ayr around 70 years before this map was made, he saw the town as run-down and decayed:
"The capital of this country is Air, a sea-port, and as they tell us, was formerly a large city, had a good harbour, and a great trade: I must acknowledge to you, that tho' I believe it never was a city, yet it has certainly been a good town, and much bigger than it is now: At present like an old beauty, it shews the ruins of a good face; but is also apparently not only decay'd and declin'd, but decaying and declining every day, and from being the fifth town in Scotland, as the townsmen say, is now like a place so saken; the reason of its decay, is, the decay of its trade, so true is it, that commerce is the life of nations, of cities towns, harbours, and of the whole prosperity of a country: What the reason of the decay of trade here was, or when it first began to decay, is hard to determine; nor are the people free to tell, and, perhaps, do not know themselves. There is a good river here, and a handsome stone bridge of four arches."
However, it seems by this time the town was enjoying growth with a successful mixed economy and an industrious population of between four and five thousand.
Friday, 23 February 2018
AN ODE TO THE IMMORTAL BARD OF AYR
William McGonagall, the Dundonian poet is famous for his "bathetic" poetry, which although hilarious, is also occasionally moving, as we see in this tribute to the greatest of the Scottish poets, Robert Burns.
Contributed to the Ayrshire Post by "Sir William Topaz McGonagall," 24th April 1897
Ye sons of Scotland, my heart often mourns
When I think of the treatment of Robert Burns;
Because, while he was living, . . . .
The people unto him were seldom giving.
Alas, by the people, you were neglected,
Which caused your spirits to be dejected,
And made thee in agony, for to groan
With hunger and sorrow, sad and forlorn.
Oh, pity the sorrows of a poor poet
When in want of bread;
And help him while living,
For he requires no help when he’s dead.
Immortal Robert Burns of Ayr,
There’s but few poets can with you compare;
Some of your poems and songs are very fine –
To Mary in Heaven is most sublime.
And, then again, in your Cottar’s Saturday Night,
Your genius there does shine most bright,
And fills the readers’ hearts with delight,
As pure as the dew drops of night.
Your Tam o’Shanter is very fine,
Funny, racey, and divine; . . . .
And from John O’Groats to Dumfries
All critics consider it to be a masterpiece.
And, also, you have said the same,
Therefore you are not to blame;
And in my own opinion both you and them are right,
For your genius there does sparkle bright,
Like unto the stars of night,
Which I most solemnly declare
To thee, immortal bard of Ayr.
Your Banks and Braes of Bonnie Doon
Are sweet and melodious in its tune,
Because the poetry is moral and sublime,
And in my opinion nothing can be more fine.
Your Scots wha hae wi’ Wallace bled
Is most beautiful to hear sung or read;
For your genius there does shine bright,
And fills Scots hearts with delight.
Immortal bard of Ayr, I must conclude my muse,
And to write in praise of thee my pen does not refuse,
For you were a mighty poet, few could with you compare,
And also an honour to Scotland,
For your genius it is fair.
Thursday, 22 February 2018
AYR'S JEWISH COMMUNITY
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| Jewish refugees Lore Zimmerman and Susanne Schaeffer in 1939. |
Because the Scots share some of the characteristics from which the Jews benefit in the rest of the World, Scotland is not the easiest place for Jews to flourish in. That slot, alas, has already been filled.
Nevertheless, for around 100 years -- from the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century -- the town of Ayr was notable for having one of Scotland's few Jewish communities.
Nevertheless, for around 100 years -- from the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century -- the town of Ayr was notable for having one of Scotland's few Jewish communities.
Jews appear in Ayrshire as early as the 1850s. By the 1901 census -- one year before the community established a synagogue -- the number of Jews reported to be living in Ayrshire was 75. In 1904, Jews formed the Ayr Zionist Society, and soon after a Hebrew school.
In the 1930s, there were a number of kosher boarding houses for Jewish holidaymakers coming down from Glasgow. During this time the synagogue was at Sandgate and then at the kosher Invercloy Hotel (see below).
During the war, some Jewish refugees arrived, helping to boost the numbers of the community. In 1950, 160 Jews were reported to be living in the town. The Ayrshire Post reported on the arrival of five refugees in April 1939, staying at the Carrick Lodge:
"There was a young woman, a doctor and his wife, a young man who had been in a concentration camp and an eight-year-old girl and more were expected in the near future. [The landlady] made an appeal for offers of hospitality to the refugees and also for enquiries for domestics. Children’s clothing was also urgently required."
Following this, the number of Jews rapidly declined. By 1960, there were 68, and then by 1970, only 40. Soon after that the synagogue closed down, ending the history of Ayr's Jewish community.
LABOUR'S PUBLIC-PRIVATE FUNDING DISASTER IN NORTH AYRSHIRE
Every month, North Ayrshire Council pays over £1 million to service debts to a private contractor, as part of some extremely bad deals the Labour-controlled council signed in 2006. In that year the Labour council signed a Public Private Finance (PPF) deal that effectively borrowed £380 million pounds from a German-led consortium/cartel to pay the same consortium/cartel to build four schools and service them for 30 years.
The interest on this amount means the full figure is far higher. This piece of insane bookkeeping was part of New Labour's strategy for keeping vast, inefficient increases in public spending off the national books, and therefore effectively a form of fraud.
As the video above shows, the reason the terms of the contract were so bad for North Ayrshire taxpayers is because the normal competitive bidding process for PPF contracts was completely circumvented by using a consortium and a fake alternative bidder.
The result of this is that North Ayrshire taxpayers have a legacy of crushing debt in return for very little -- a handful of unnecessarily modernized schools -- that will have an impoverishing effect on the area for years to come. This, it seems, is the reason why Irvine's Xmas decorations were so dire last Xmas.
The interest on this amount means the full figure is far higher. This piece of insane bookkeeping was part of New Labour's strategy for keeping vast, inefficient increases in public spending off the national books, and therefore effectively a form of fraud.
As the video above shows, the reason the terms of the contract were so bad for North Ayrshire taxpayers is because the normal competitive bidding process for PPF contracts was completely circumvented by using a consortium and a fake alternative bidder.
The result of this is that North Ayrshire taxpayers have a legacy of crushing debt in return for very little -- a handful of unnecessarily modernized schools -- that will have an impoverishing effect on the area for years to come. This, it seems, is the reason why Irvine's Xmas decorations were so dire last Xmas.