Kilmacolm rescue bid four gain awards FOUR men who tried to rescue a man from Auchendores Dam at Kilmacolm, have each been awarded a testimonial on parchment by the Royal Humane society.

They are Strathclyde fireman Mr Wilson Lauffer (22), of Alderwood House, Port Glasgow; Mr George Geddes (30), fitter"s mate of Leperston Farm by Kilmacolm; Keigh Chapman (17), schoolboy, of Myreton Avenue, Kilmacolm; and Mr Edward Orr (32), tester, of Hole Farm Road, Greenock.

The citation says that a 36-year-old non-swimmer fell into the water on 18 May while transferring from a moored dinghy to another alongside. Keith Chapman and Mr Orr swam out and dived until they were exhausted and had to return to the shore.

Then Mr Lauffer, a qualified skin diver, also searched without success but after resting he dived again, found the man"s body and brought it up. Mr Geddes swam out with a line and helped get the man into the dinghy and they were pulled to the shore. Artificial respiration was performed but failed to revive the man.

(28 November) One day strike will affect court GREENOCK Sheriff Court will be hit by a lightning strike this week as part of a national effort, but strike leaders are keeping secret about the day in order to cause maximum effect.

The stoppage is part of a week-long campaign of industrial action by civil servants seeking parity with private industry.

(29 November) Cargo ships held up by fog on river BOTH Caledonian MacBrayne and Western Ferries" services were operating normally this morning, but five cargo ships were stranded off Gourock by the fog.

Clyde Pilots said that fog was "absolutely dense" on the river, and that even with radar, it was out of the question for these ships to move because of their size and draught.

(30 November) Work to start soon on new play area WORK is ready to start on the first of three play areas in Devol housing scheme, Port Glasgow.

This was the assurance given to 65 Devol residents by the Scottish Special Housing Association at a recent meeting with housing management officials.

The provision of play areas was one of the main topics under discussion. The housing officials assured the residents that they were now in a position to start preparing in the immediate future one of the three proposed areas.

(1 December) Variorum TRIPLE-decker. Greenock Sheriff Court yesterday split itself into three with Sheriff Principal F. W. F. O"Brien presiding over a jury trial, Sheriff J. B. Patrick dealing with deferred sentences and other trials, and Hon Sheriff J. M. Fletcher taking the remainder of 83 listed cases in the library upsairs.

(2 December)