Ardrossan Herald: What made the headlines in May 2003?

Who can you spot in these pictures?

Generous pupils at St Anthony’s Primary School in Saltcoats helped boost the coffers of an international charity to the tune of £900.

The money was raised for SCIAF, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, a charity who help people throughout the world.

A bric-a-brac sale, organised by primary seven pupils and supported by pupils of all ages from throughout the school, was staged just before the Easter holidays and weekly collections held during Lent helped generate the money.

Our picture shows primary seven pupils (from left) Cara Ness, Dominic Sharkey, Nathan Bethan and Stephanie Malone with the £900 cheque which is going to SCIAF.

MORE than £100 was on its way to the Variety Club of Great Britain children’s charity thanks to an Easter fun day held in Mackays’ Saltcoats store.

Dozens of Three Towns kids enjoyed a chocolate egg hunt, games, home-baking and a colouring-in competition as employees at the Dockhead Street branch showed their commitment to the store’s chosen charity for 2003.

Jordan Boyce, 11, and Emma Coyle,13, received large Easter eggs for winning the drawing contest, which around 60 youngsters entered.

JANE Kerr stepped down from her role as the chief legal officer, district and licensing, with a glowing tribute to the people she has worked with.

Jane has retired from her position as the depute clerk to North Ayrshire District Court, the Justices Committee and Licensing Board after 13 years in one of the civil service’s toughest posts.

The 54-year-old from Kilwinning, pictured bottom left, said: “I had wonderful support from the staff in Townhouse, administration, clerical and the solicitors. They were a great group of people to work with and I was really lucky in that regard.”

The JP added: “It was such a different job from normal local authority work and there was a tremendous amount of public contact. It was an extremely broad span and I enjoyed it very much.”

Angela Dunbar, chairwoman of the Justices Committee, said: “Jane will be missed very much."

THE Labour Party in North Ayrshire were picking up the pieces after losing FOUR of their seats in a dramatic 2003 local government election.

Stevenston South, Garnock East, Beith and Arran all fell as the reeling group’s stranglehold within North Ayrshire Council was weakened – although with 21 of the 30 councillors they remain in firm control of the administration.

Nationalist Nan Wallace captured the ward at the bottom end of Stevenston – which has been in Labour control for more than two decades – by a tantalising 27 votes, as the decision to adopt John McCubbin as candidate ahead of veteran member Sam Gooding apparently backfired on Labour.

Former Strathclyde Regional Council convener Jimmy Jennings lost to Conservative Ian in Garnock East, while Beith’s Robert Reilly also tasted defeat at the hands of Independent Jean Highgate and Arran politician John Sillars had his eight-year term as councillor on the island ended by Tory Margaret Currie

Probably the most spectacular result went to independent Elizabeth McLardy in the West Kilbride seat. She scooped 1232 votes, more than any other candidate standing in the entire district.

Postman Pat Dignam, from Saltcoats, and his colleague Joe Conaghan, from Ardrossan, said a fond farewell to staff at the Royal Mail in Saltcoats.

Pat was hanging up his mailbag after 35 years and Joe, who delivered mail to customers around the Sorbie Road area for 14 years, was also retiring. Both recently celebrated their 65th birthdays.