Who would have known back in February 2016, when I was first asked to write an Ardrossman article, that I would still be doing it eight years later?
I was initially approached after someone at the Herald office read my 'Ardrossman' blog and thought it would make a good story for the paper.
For those of you who don’t know, although originally from Clydebank, I latterly lived in a wee village called Ardross in the Scottish Highlands before coming to Ardrossan. The name Ardross-man was a pun on this (thanks to John from TACT for coming up with it).
This is now my 200th article and over the years I’ve discussed a huge array of subjects with you.
Initially, my articles were mainly about the Barony St John Church and halls in Ardrossan which we had purchased as a base for my charity, The Scottish Centre for Personal Safety.
We tried to trace the families of old Bibles found locked away in pew drawers in the old church building. We also revealed the history behind the church’s stained-glass windows, its weather vane, its clock and its organ.
Additionally, I wrote about the other items we discovered in both the church and hall including coins, books and Christmas cards, plus church accounts dating back to 1901. And old Victorian advertisements found in the church, my favourite being Dr Richardson’s Magneto Galvanic Battery – which always sounds like a Marvel superhero comic to me.
As time passed, I expanded these articles to cover my charity and the reasons which led me to buying the Barony buildings. I covered the opening of the Barony St John Centre in 2016 by international martial arts star Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace – who, later that day, became the second William Wallace to visit Ardrossan Castle.
I’ve also talked about the fantastic history of Ardrossan and the Three Towns; local heroes and legends such as Betsy Miller, Britain’s first female sea captain; Sarah Vincent, the last woman to be executed for witchcraft in Saltcoats; the Devil of Ardrossan; the historical first transatlantic radio link; Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show; and William Wallace. The list goes on.
Over the last year, my thoughts have turned to improving our towns and the welfare of our communities.
I’ve written articles about the planned extension of cycle lanes and shared paths to the detriment of disabled and elderly pedestrians; the removal of food waste bags and dog poo bags – the beginning of a slippery slope; food reductions in supermarkets; and the difference between of art and graffiti.
I’ve also revealed more about my personal woes, from my mobility issues due to arthritis and fibromas, to my hand operations due to Dupytron’s Contracture (also known as the Vikings’ Disease). This latter article generated a huge response as locals with Dupytron’s realised they could be descended from Vikings.
I’m hoping to continue writing for you for the foreseeable future, and I hope you continue to find my articles interesting and enlightening. If there is anything you would like me to focus on in future articles, please let me know.
Feel free to email me on Alan@ScotCPS.org.uk or if you would like to know more about my charity, its work and successes, please visit our website at www.ScotCPS.org.uk.
Until next time, stay safe.
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