Neil Mcphail says

Does anyone remember the mission services on Kames Bay?

I remember sitting on the slope next to the burn and getting sweets and singing - has anyone got clearer memories of this?

Morag Brown says

Does anyone know anything about the old wishing well and why it is not really signposted? Didn't even realise it was there.

Sandy Morton says

Mission services on Kames Bay and the Newton sands which I remember were organised by Sandy McDonald who went on to become the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Equally of note - his son was the last Doctor Who.

Sandy Morton says

It is probably as well that the wishing well is no longer functional - I can remember finding a dead sheep in the burn which supplies it - I think Conway McCulloch was present at the same time.

Conway MacCulloch says

Don't be a scaremonger Sandy. If as you say we found a dead sheep, it was over 50 years ago. The old burn comes out of a pipe on the other side of the steps down to the Wishing Well which is spring water.

Conway MacCulloch says

Don't be a scaremonger Sandy. If as you say we found a dead sheep, it must have been over 50 years ago. The old burn comes out of a pipe on the other side of the steps from the Wishing Well which is spring water.

Morag Brown says

We have been searching for a landmark near the Hush Hush where during the war something was erected from Millport to Rothesay to stop boats coming up the Clyde during the war. There is supposed to be a ring and it is like finding a needle in a haystack!!
Anyone know its exact location and can it be seen when the tide is in? Need some local knowledge.
Thanks.

Phil Dodd says

Born in 1955, I spent ALL my childhood summer holidays at Millport. I spent the whole month of August there with my family every year up until I joined the RAF in 1972. After that I still spent some holidays in Millport until our family holiday flat was sold.
I remember seeing an old cannon buried in the sea wall at the West Bay and have always wondered how it came to be buried there. It was visible in a hole in the ground at the west end of the football pitch and right up against the small wall that divided the recreation field from the seashore. The end of the barrel was visible along with some sort of control wheel and the left wheel which was an old wooden spoked wheel. The remainder of it was underground and the right side of the it must have been under the wall so can anyone satify my curiosity as to why it was buried and a wall built over it.
Thanks
Phil Dodd

Morag Brown says

It's still there Phil and unfortunately and sadly not signposted. People pass these valuable treasures every day and aren't aware of them. It's so sad.

We found the rings for the wartime boom yesterday near Skate Bay. Very difficult to find and again not signposted.

Does anyone know why all these landmarks aren't signposted?

Effie Kerr says

Morag Brown Re Wishing Well.
I am Effie Kerr and my late husband Walter Kerr Photographer kept the wishing well neat and tidy regularly. He wrote to N. Ayrshire as long ago as 1989 and asked if it could be maintained as the site was deteriorating. He then contacted our then MP Brian Wilson who took up the matter in 2001 and the final letter told Walter that to repair the water pipe which seemed to be broken would be too expensive. I still have all the correspondence concerning this which we had hoped would get the well repaired but it is now eleven years since first begun and no further forward.
Effie

Morag Brown says

Effie,

Thank you so much for the information. It must be so difficult for you to see things that mattered to you so much going into decline. These treasures should in my opinion be maintained for posterity! It is often sad that our Councils' decisions usually comes down to money.

I have seen much of your husband's work in books and also the video of Millport which was fascinating. You must be very proud of him.

We love to find out about the history of the area and am keen to learn more and these photos have been wonderful. I am not from Millport but love it so much and want to learn as much as I can. My husband's family had a flat for years above Mapes and spent all his childhood holidays there and we now have a flat of our own.
If anyone can help me I would be grateful.

Thanks again Effie. If there is anything that I can do to help maintain the Wishing Well please let me know as I would be happy to do it.

Phil Dodd says

Effie,

I too remember Walter. As I remember he owned and ran the local photographer's shop where we all got our films to take our holiday snaps. Didn't he also own the old Clyde Puffer the "Saxon"? I remember the Saxon delivering coal to the island but I see from internet research that she was broken up in 1967. See http://www.ibiblio.org/maritime/photolibrary/displayimage.php?pid=28045&fullsize=1

I also remember helping my family to wash the car at the wishing well as it was pure water and much easier than filling and carrying buckets of water out from the tenement flat.

It's been a few years since I visited Millport, but I would much rather see the old facilities and attractions maintained and restored rather than new ones added and the old allowed to rot. In my opinion, the loss of the boat hire businesses was a big blow to Millport. There used to be 3 boat hirers on the go, but one of the jetties had completely disappeared the last time I visited. I also remember when the sea filled the harbour and boats could use the whole area, but gradually it filled with sand so that there was always a corner that was high and dry and nobody bothered to clear it out.

Perhaps it is just because I was smaller at the time, but I remember the Newton beach being a long way below the promenade but again, the last time I visited, the sand had built up and was not much below the promenade. Does nobody clear the build up of sand?

Effie Kerr says

Phil Dodd re the Saxon. The Saxon was certainly owned by a Walter Kerr but he was a cousin of Walter Kerr coal merchant who was my Walter's father. It is quite confusing with all Walter Kerrs and none of them had a middle initial.

Effie

Neil Mcphail says

I remember Saxon Kerr he taught me how to play golf when I was at school and we went on a Friday afternoon to the golf course. He also kindly gave me his old clubs as I only had a couple but sadly they were stolen.

Site Admin says

Effie Kerr says:

With reference to a recent query about Seaside Mission in Millport (Neil Mcphail: "Does anyone remember the mission services on Kames Bay? I remember sitting on the slope next to the burn and getting sweets and singing - has anyone got clearer memories of this?"). This is a photograph from Walter's archives and shows the Mission at Kames Bay. The leader with his back to the camera is Mr Reid who was a member of the small church in George Street now into a house. Mr Reid lived in Carlton House. Bute Terrace where he and his wife ran a boarding house.

Neil Mcphail says

Thanks Effie
The photo brings back wonderful childhood memories . You must have a wonderful history of Millport in photograph as I can remember Walter was at every event that took place on the island and must have captured a great social history of Millport. I remember being presented with my BB Queens Badge by Walter in the mid 70s, an award that he himself had attained. Again thanks for the memories.

MARION LIVINGSTONE says

I too remember the seaside mission when I spent most of each summers here on holiday. This was on Newton Beach close to the Crocodile Rock - my sisters and I can still sing some of the songs we learned then though we've forgotten some of the verses. For many years I had a collection of bookmarks which I received for answering correctly bible quiz questions. A Baptist church upbringing in Renfrew obviously had some effect!

Phil Dodd says

I too remember the seaside mission, but not favorably. I was brought up - also in Renfrew, by a strict church going mother, and weekly attendance to church & Sunday school was compulsory. Our month's summer holiday to Millport was an escape from religion for a while but then someone started seaside missions!!!!

MARION LIVINGSTONE says

Like Phil Dodd my church and Sunday school going in Renfrew was enforced - by my grandmother in my case.

However we found the Seaside Mission a much lighter and more enjoyable form of religious participation than the stark and 'dire consequences' attitude of the Baptist church so we enjoyed it whilst here for most of the summer holidays.

Sandy Morton says

In the photo of the Peepel at the top of this article is the guy third from the left Bill Aitchison our local optician?

Angela Giorgetti says

It is, and the girl on the left is Rae Duncan.

Site Admin says

Read the whole story of Skiffle on the Beach, Millport 1957 and how the original group re-assembled in September 2009 here!

Sandy Morton says

Thanks Suzy - greatly enjoyed.

Murdoch Harris says

Can person remember Captain Kerr was the B.B also, the Ref Morris and family

Sandy Morton says

Murdoch - I can also remember you - puts you in illustrious company with the other two mentioned!

Colin Stewart says

Hello Effie
Do you remember my grandfather Davie Stewart and his wife Phoebe who lived above the Ritz cafe? Phoebe's brother in law was Lesley Lynne who put on shows from around 1907? to the 1920's.
Colin Stewart cstewart1952@gmail.com

allan sinclair says

I remember Mr Reid at the seaside missions and also the halls in George street St Andrews which is still there, not forgetting Andy Mcracken a local joiner and very popular with the locals.

allan sinclair says

The Finlayson Cup Millport not much has been said about this event started by the Millport Finlayson Family I hope to Kick off! Pardon the pun. Memories and ties linked to this every summer event which drew large crowds in the summer at West Bay park, a competition by invite to teams in the west of Scotland played a knockout competition, the final being played in the Glasgow Fair.

allan sinclair says

Re Finlayson Cup: Bud Finlayson and Mrs Finlayson presentation.

allan sinclair says

Millport team reedited spot the locals and friends?

allan sinclair says

Centenary year celebrations 1964 Sandy Morton will remember this that's his old canoe.

allan sinclair says

I didn't make it this time - I think the first one I attended was before you were born! Big thanks though to all who made it work - my grandson had a brilliant time.

Sandy Morton says

Thanks for the memory Allan - the Viking longship was great fun!

Site Admin says

Sandy Morton says: Effie was a keen Curler and this was taken in the Curling bothy some years ago - kids at the side are Marke Nelson and Andy Mullen immic! Others in the photo from L to R are Willie McIntyre, Alasdair McCallum, Anne Watt, Cameron Stevenson, Effie and Walter. Guy sitting is Donnie McLeod from Bute.

Neil Mcphail says

My best memories of Millport are of the freedom we had as kids.

I can remember in the scheme 30 or so kids playing kick the can, going down to the beach at kames bay and spending the whole day there and walking over the hills and having great adventures.

Millport has changed a lot over the years but the ability for a safe free childhood has not gone . We used to walk to the old tip and build a bike then cycle it home , build a raft and sail it for as long as we could , thats what Millport needs to get back to A SAFE PLACE FOR KIDS.

Forget country and western and all the excuses for a piss up get back to good old kids fun and see how the island takes off .

To much in Millport is aimed at drinking but not enough to what Millport has to offer . I am glad I spent my childhood in Millport but would not want to now.

Gordon Hart says

I have happened across this website by chance - really an idle thought at an idle moment. My name is Gordon Hart, I live in Cape Town South Africa but my grandfather was Andrew Dickson who, when he retired, lived at Nithsdale in West Bay.
Both my mother and father's families holidayed every year in Millport and the late Donnie MacLachlan was my godfather.
I spent a few summers in my childhood visiting my grandfather and got to know Sandy Wright who was the same age as myself and the son of Ronnie Wright who we saw regularly in South Africa when he visited as master of various Union Castle boats. Campbell Maclachlan although a little bit older was also a friend and in the summer he returned to Millport from Singapore the 2 of us caused confusion delivering fish around the island for Donnie but speaking with strange accents!!!
Boating was always my biggest interest and I remember the Talisman and the car ferries that used to call at the old pier. I worked in Edinburgh for a short while when I was studying and helped Donnie with Peter Kaye's 2 boats - I remember helping stranded islanders get home on Xmas Eve one year when the ferry's door jambed open and couldn't operate. Also first footing the lighthouse keeper on the Wee Cumbrae.
I am convinced that I have photographs of the great flood of Millport during a winter storm and will do my best to scan and send onward to your site.

Are Sandy and Campbell still with us?

Regards

Gordon Hart ghart@icon.co.za

Sandy Morton says

Thanks for the post Gordon - I remember your grandfather well and with affection, he taught me a lot about fishing and how to out think the trout!

Sandy & Campbell are very much still with us - they live next door to each other too.

Janine Donald says

Re the mission at Kames Bay. A wee man with a squeeze box used to start off at the pier in the morning and gather up children - pied piper like - all the way along the promenade until we all got to Kames Bay. The great attraction was actually the sweeties. And they were quality sweeties - not hard & rubbishy like the ones in lucky bags! You got a sweetie for singing, learning a piece from the bible, sitting up straight, anything really. You got better prizes for depicting passages from the bible. Once I won a prize for representing Cain & Able - I took along the wooden cane from a fishing net & a bell from my bike!

Lots of the songs had actions - Deep & Wide, Running Over, etc. Sometimes you repeated the song with bits of the song missed out and actions only. Don't know why but it seemed fun at the time! When it was wet the service was held in the church hall in George Street. I didn't like that so much as you couldn't see what was going on at the front! The service at Kames Bay was more like a theatre performance!

allan sinclair says

Bill Murdoch (Willie) who played for Millport was an actor played in Taggart an many more below

allan sinclair says

In case you are all wondering , Bill Murdoch played for for the local footbal team in goals he never let on he was a screen star both on tv and the big screen and a fine keeper to boot !

allan sinclair says

The newton bar staff prop tommy and milly council ,duncan sinclair, tommy blair

allan sinclair says

typical tropical 1970s---