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Bride-to-be has lucky escape

BRIDE-TO-BE Francisca McLoone escaped death by inches when a lamp-post crashed through the back window of her car. And in a second accident later, a toddler was thrown underneath a car but, amazingly, escaped serious injury. Francisca (39) was driving from her home in Gourock to collect her wedding dress from a shop in Glasgow. She was on Shore Street when she saw lamp-posts on an oncoming lorry tilt to the side. She said: “I heard one of the lamp-posts catch on a parked delivery van, wondered if I should brake or keep going to get away from it, and then heard it bounce on the car and smash through the back window. “I tried to drive away from it before I pulled over and stopped.” Francisca, who is infant head teacher at St Aloysius College, Glasgow, was shaken but uninjured. “If you think about what could have happened it is a bit frightening, and it is not something I would want to repeat, but these things happen,” she said. “I’m a bit shaken, but otherwise all right - but my wedding dress is still in the shop!” Francisca, of Victoria Road, is to marry Moray Davidson at St Ninian’s Church, Gourock, later this month. Later, a two-year-old boy was injured when he was involved in a collision with a car on Gourock seafront. At first it was feared the youngster was trapped under the car but, by the time emergency crews arrived, he was being cradled in his mother's arms. The accident took place on Ashton Road, near Victoria Road around 7.30. The boy was treated at Inverclyde Royal Hospital for a cut lip and bruising to his face and allowed home. The driver of the car was treated for shock. Traffic inspector John Malcolm said: "The boy had a lucky escape. It could have been a lot worse. "Although we are not blaming the driver in this case, we would urge motorists to be aware that, with the lighter nights, more children are about and there's a greater risk of them running from between parked cars."

Published: Saturday, 6th April, 2002 00:00

Traffic lights 'causing chaos'

TEMPORARY traffic lights are making motorists see red. They have been put up while essential repair work is carried out by Transco on pipes between Larkfield Road and Weymouth Crescent, Gourock. But massive delays are being caused at rush-hour because only six cars are getting through at a time. Peter Harte, who runs Harte Bus company, said: "The lights are constantly causing huge tailbacks. We had to put on an extra bus on Sunday because we couldn't keep to our timetable, and yesterday morning people were waiting half an hour to go through the lights. "It's a four-way junction and the lights were only letting six cars through at a time before they changed." He added: “I can understand things having to be done, but there should be someone there to keep an eye on the traffic." Traffic Inspector John Malcolm, who received numerous calls from the public complaining about the problem, said: “It is a matter for the local authority and Transco to resolve." He added: "At peak times the contractor who set up the temporary lights should be there to monitor and adjust them, in order to avoid serious disruption." Francoise Vanbuuren, communications manager for Transco, said the works were part of a mains replacement programme which involved 265 metres of pipes. She said: "We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption." She added that the work was expected to be completed by the end of the week. Eddie McCarron, Inverclyde Council's network manager, transportation and roads, said: "The council is disappointed that Transco failed to meet its promised deadline to complete the work by Friday 1 February. To help ease traffic congestion we have asked Transco to operate the lights manually at peak times."

Published: Wednesday, 6th February, 2002 00:00

Searching for unsung heroes

OLD soldiers from Gourock Ex-Servicemen's Club are looking for someone to take their place as the town's 'unsung heroes'. They work behind the scenes to make life easier for former comrades in Erskine Hospital, as well as supporting other local charities. The modest club members reluctantly accepted Gourock Garden Party's award for businesses and organisations last year. Now, the search is on for another local group to win this year’s trophy. Garden Party organiser Jim Hunter said the committee is looking for nominations from local people. "The Ex-Servicemen's Club was a worthy winner of the award," he said. "They do a tremendous amount of charity work and are extremely generous allowing their premises to be used for other fundraisers. They also organise the annual remembrance parades. "Now we are looking for another local group worthy of the award." Nominations can be made to Councillor Hunter or other members of the Garden Party committee, made up of members of the towns three community councils and Horticultural Society. The presentation will be made at this year's combined Garden Party and Fancy Dress Parade in Gourock Park walled gardens on Sunday 16 June. Nominations are also being sought for the individual 'unsung hero' award. Garden Party stalwart Robin Bannister was last year’s winner.

Published: Tuesday, 5th March, 2002 00:00

Summer starts here with a giant splash

HUNDREDS of swimmers are expected to take the plunge when Gourock's outdoor pool opens for the season tomorrow. A carnival atmosphere is promised at the event which begins at 10am. Inverclyde Royal's hospital radio will be making an outside broadcast and two clowns will be displaying their juggling and stilt walking skills between 10.30 and 11.30am. Singer Alana Wright will be on hand to entertain the crowds with her karaoke between 1.00 and 3pm. There will be no charge for swimmers on the opening day. Prizes, fun and games will also be on offer. This year the pool is being opened three weeks earlier than usual because of good weather in previous Mays. Operations manager Nicky Waterson of Inverclyde Leisure said: “We usually open on the last Saturday in May and usually the fortnight before is scorching and then it rains." Mr Waterson said opening day normally attracts a few hundred swimmers and he is anticipating a rush in the morning and a quieter period in the afternoon as football fans disappear to watch the Scottish Cup Final on television. Gourock pool opened in the early 1900s. It was given a major refurbishment in 1935 when the bather and spectator capacity was increased and in 1969 a water heating system was installed. The pool contains heated salted water from the Clyde with temperatures maintained at a minimum of 84 degrees. Opening hours at the pool are 10am until 4.30pm at weekends, 9.30am until 8.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 8.30am until 8.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Published: Saturday, 4th May, 2002 00:00

Vandals attack pavilion

MINDLESS vandals caused hundreds of pounds of damage at Gourock Park games pavilion. More than 30 windows were smashed at the George Road clubhouse over the weekend. Fire extinguishers were set off inside the pavilion then thrown out onto the grass playing fields. Powder from the extinguishers, for use at electrical fires, looked like smoke and nearby residents called out fire services. Some of the broken windows had metal reinforcement so considerable force must have been used, said investigating officials. Parts of equipment, including football nets, were missing and objects had been thrown onto the neighbouring YAC clubhouse where a window was also broken. The vandals struck on three consecutive days. On Sunday night workmen were there from 7.00 till midnight patching it up.

Published: Wednesday, 3rd April, 2002 00:00

Experts called in to check embankment

FOUR experts from neighbouring councils have been called in by road bosses at Inverclyde to help repair a collapsed 50-foot embankment. The two geo-technicians from Glasgow City Council and two surveyors from Renfrewshire will be examining the soil and make-up of the mound at St Columba's High School in Gourock and will advise officials about what to do. Last week theTelegraph revealed that householders in Oxford Avenue and Burnside Road were worried the moving pile of earth might damage the foundations of their homes. Ronnie Small, head of transportation and roads at Inverclyde Council, said: "Geo technical experts from Glasgow City Council and survey experts from Renfrewshire Council were drafted in last week and have been monitoring the slope and associated playing fields. "There will be a report to the council on their viability. A new pipe is being laid along Burnside Road to replace the burst pipe adjacent to the school playing fields that caused the damage." He added that work has been hampered by heavy rain and that no decision about the slope and playing field could be made until the geo-technical work is completed. Brian Fowley, acting head teacher at St Columba's High School, said apart from some restricted access the school had not been affected by the on-going work. Dennis Stoddart, head of property services at Inverclyde Council, said the work was being undertaken with the highest priority being given to public safety.

Published: Monday, 4th March, 2002 00:00

Jubilee money will reunite gala beauties

CARDWELL Bay Community Council has received £3,000 from Inverclyde Council to help fund an event to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Councillors agreed at last week's policy and strategy committee to award the grant after considering an application by Cardwell Bay Community Council on behalf of the three community councils in Gourock. The event will bring together former Gourock Gala queens, princesses, pages and attendants from the past 50 years. It will take place in the Walled Gardens in Gourock Park on the evening of 15 June, the day before the annual Gourock Garden Party. It is expected that between 500 to 700 people will go along.

Published: Thursday, 2nd May, 2002 00:00

Roach under fire over debate ban

PROVOST David Roach's refusal to allow debate on a controversial resignation is "disturbing", it was claimed today by opposition Liberal Democrats.

Published: Tuesday, 2nd April, 2002 10:30

Councillors 'gagged' by Provost

PROVOST David Roach gagged councillors from voicing criticism of Inverclyde Council.

Published: Tuesday, 2nd April, 2002 10:30

David (70) died in POW camp

THE War Graves Commission is looking for help in tracing the family of a 70-year old seaman who died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in 1943. The Commission recently discovered the grave of Gourock-born Chief Engineer Officer David Tweedle Baldwin of the Merchant Navy in Indonesia and would like to inform surviving family members. CEO Baldwin sailed on the SS Baynain and is believed to have been taken prisoner in the Far East in 1942. He died of sickness at the PoW camp at Tarakan, East Borneo, on 23 July the following year. After the war, his grave could not be found and arrangements were made for his commemoration on the Tower Hill Memorial in London. But last year his grave was discovered in the Kembang Kuning Netherlands Field of Honour at Surabaya in Indonesia. It had been moved from the cemetery at Tarakan in 1967. The Commission believes CEO Baldwin's wife Mary may have predeceased him and the last contact they had was with his daughter Janet Moffat in 1955 who was then living in Innellan, Argyll. Judith Donald, from the Commission said: "When a grave is discovered for a war casualty who previously had none, the Commission makes every effort to pass on this information to the next of kin but, in this case, we have had no success in tracing family members. "It may that no members of CEO Baldwin's family remain in the area, but if anybody can help with contacts we would be most grateful." She added that it was that was not unusual for someone of 70 to be serving in the Merchant Navy during the war. Judith can be contacted at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on 01628 507109.

Published: Saturday, 2nd March, 2002 00:00

Pupils to visit college as part of Science Year

BUDDING doctors and dentists from two Gourock schools will get their chance to see operations being carried out and have a go at keyhole surgery next week. The pupils from Gourock Primary School and St Columba's High School will also learn about going into hospital and be able check to see if blood is reaching their brains when they attend special workshops at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. They will be among more than 300 young people from schools across the West of Scotland who will be visiting the college, which is being opened especially as a part of Science Year on Monday and Tuesday. Ross Lorimer, president of the college, said: "The college has been an enthusiastic participant in National Science Week for many years. Since this is science year, it is all the more important that we give our visitors first-hand experience of how science is important to us. "We are keen to help young people understand and appreciate the role that science and technology have today. Medicine, surgery and dentistry in Scotland want to improve services and maintain world-class standards. To do this we need to work together with high quality and skilled scientists and technologists. "The college is delighted to offer young people the opportunity to see that 'making people better' is only possible with the help of scientists and technologists whose work underpins continued improvements in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease."

Published: Saturday, 2nd March, 2002 00:00

Cal-Mac not axing car ferry service

CALEDONIAN MacBrayne will not be getting rid of its vehicle-carrying service between Gourock and Dunoon, the Telegraph can exclusively reveal. The company’s public affairs manager, Hugh Dan MacLennan, said: “Most of the stories about us getting rid of the car ferry were speculation. “We never said we would be doing that. “We were talking specifically about the possible removal of one ship, the Pioneer, and not the removal of the car facility. Even at that, it is only one option we are considering.” A 1998 report to the Scottish Executive by consultants Deloitte Touche on the feasibility of a passenger-only service stated that: “In Cal-Mac’s view, this option is not feasible in the long-term. “It (Cal Mac) feels that local communities will not support it and will turn to the vehicle ferry instead.” But a week ago the company stated, both in the Telegraph and in a number of national papers, that they were now considering changing to a passenger-only ferry to fund a new pay deal.

Published: Saturday, 2nd March, 2002 00:00