Latest news from Stonehouse

Nov 20 2008 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

MUSIC EVENT: Sounds of Scotland, sponsored by Strutherhill Motors, will make a welcome return to the Masonic Hall in Stonehouse on Saturday. Tickets, which cost £5 each, are available from Jim Payne and D. Lockhart. Please note there are only six tickets left.

BOWLERS: Stonehouse Bowling Club held their prizegiving and dance night on Saturday. President Tom Notman presented the prizes and trophies. He also thanked all the competitors for a good season on the home green and their success in winning the County Cup and the Larkhall and District League.

Prizewinners were: junior championship - Calum MacGregor; runner-up - Reece Notman; junior pairs - Greg Bowie and Blane Notman; runners-up - Emma Rogers and Calum MacGregor; club champion - Hugh Smith; runner-up - David Kelly; president’s prize - Neil McLeish; runner-up - Tom Notman; nomination pairs - Hugh Smith and Jim Robertson; runners-up - Tom Anderson and Ian Ewing; nomination triples - Ian Rogers, Andrew Gilmour and Andrew Murray; runners-up - Neil Pate, Jim Inglis and Tom Notman; handicap - David Kelly; runner-up - Steven Stewart; vice president’s - Willie Lambie; runner-up - Willie Reid; two bowl singles - Billy Syme; runner-up - Kenny McMinn; two bowl pairs - Derek Brooks and Steven Hamilton; runners-up - David Clark and Roy Russell; four bowl pairs - Derek Brooks and Ian Taylor; runners-up - John Stewart and James MacGregor.

BURNS CLUB: A The Airts Burns Club held their regular meeting in the Public Institute on Friday.

There was a harmony with music, song and verse. Those who took part were Willie Scanlan, Jack Goldie, Jack Frew, Faye Paterson, John Miller, Semple Hayley, Tom Smith, Andrew Henry, George Rundell, Jasmine Vallassis, Lauren Biscoe, Katriona McLachlan, and Margaret McInnes.

MASONIC: Lodge Union No. 244 held their AGM on Thursday, when the following office-bearers were elected: RWM - C. MacDonald; IPM - R. Jack; SW - W. Scanlan; JW - I. Hamilton; secretary - J. Loudon; treasurer - D. Templeton; dir. of cer. - J. Goldie; almoner - T. Smith; chaplain - J. MacGregor; SD - T. Riddoch; JD - S. Irons; jeweller - W. Cross; bible bearer - N. Kelly; sword bearer - S. McLuckie; director of music - J. Payne; organist - G. Millar; marshall - A. Mcluckie; standard bearer - B. Kelly; IG - W. Millar; senior steward - G. Ballantyne; junior stewards - J. Templeton, W. McLeish and R.Togher; tyler - J. Gilmour.

The Management Committee meet tonight (Thursday 20).

On Thursday, November 27, an MM degree will be conferred by Lodge Clydesdale No. 556, Glasgow. Notification is given that a ballot will be taken at this meeting.

A race night is being held on Friday, November 28, starting at 7.30pm.

RURAL: Stonehouse WRI meet tonight (Thursday) at 7.30pm. The guest speaker is Fiona Ross who will demonstrate the art of working with flowers. Competitions are best buttonhole and best fresh flower.

COUNCIL MEETING: Stonehouse Community Council met on Monday night.

The first item on the agenda was the election of office-bearers, which produced the following results: chairman - George Smith; vice chairman - Robert Craig; secretary - Robert Freel; treasurer - Willie Mackie; elected members - Molly Casey and Archie Paterson. Letters have been sent out to local organisations to fill the three nominated positions.

The question of non-attendance of the police at the meeting provoked a serious discussion about the amount of violent incidents recently in the village. Concern was expressed by a number of members regarding police attendance at incidents. It was agreed that a letter be sent to the police to clarify the situation.

Another point raised was regarding Hamilton Accies now being in the SPL. Members did not want to see all the police drafted to Hamilton to cover the big games and leave villages without enough police cover.

There was an angry reaction to the news that, yet again, there was a delay in the community hall project. It was not ‘on track’, as had been reported at the last meeting.

The existing halls in the village are in a woeful state and questions were asked about what the council would do to urgently repair the dilapidated halls.

Street lighting, and the lack of it in some areas, was raised. It was agreed to keep monitoring the situation.

A similar situation was agreed regarding the roads and pavements in the area. It was noted that some holes had been repaired though there was no confidence that the repairs would last.

It was unanimously agreed that Willie Mackie should be thanked for his work on the War Memorial and the ceremony of re-dedication, universally praised as a great success.

ST NINIAN’S: St Ninian’s Parish Church diaries are now on sale, priced £1.50 each.

Monies for the Sunday School pantomime should now be paid.

There will be a period of Advent reflection in the church on Monday, December 1, at 7.30pm.

Coffee mornings are held in the church hall on Tuesdays from 10am.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH: Rev Jim Allardyce conducted the service at Stonehouse Congregational United Reformed Church on Sunday. Organist was Colin Burt.

Next week’s service will be conducted by Rev David Laing.

The Christmas fair will be held in St Ninian’s Church hall on Saturday, November 29. Donations for the raffle should be handed in by next Sunday.

PATERSON UF CHURCH: A meeting of the Kirk Session will be held on Thursday, November 27, at 7pm.

The Communion service will take place on Sunday, November 30.