An Update from South Ayrshire's Provost and Depute Provost
South Ayrshire's Provost, Iain Campbell, and Depute Provost, Mary Kilpatrick, attended a variety of civic engagements over the previous months.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the town twinning agreement between Ayr and St-Germain-en-Laye, the mayor of the French town visited Ayr for a ceremony to mark the milestone. A special commemorative bench was unveiled, and a French flag was flown outside of County Buildings. This was followed by an event organised by the Ayr Town Twinning Association which was held at Belleisle Conservatory, and an anniversary dinner at Dumfries House the following evening.
Ayr also celebrated more than two decades of friendship with twin-town Newnan, Georgia USA. Mayor Keith Brady visited in June and a ceremony was held to acknowledge the bond between the two towns. The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra (AFO) put on a performance of traditional music to welcome the visitors from the USA to Ayr.
Provost Campbell also attended the AFO's summer concert at the Ayr Town Hall and was treated to more of their fantastic traditional music.
It's important to Provost Campbell to recognise the achievements of young people in South Ayrshire. He attended the finals of the Scottish Young Musician competition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. South Ayrshire was represented in the solo competition by Maria Ludkin-Finnie from Belmont Academy. Belmont Woodwind Ensemble were the winners of the Scottish Young Musicians Open Ensemble of the Year 2024, and the South Ayrshire Brass Ensemble were runners up in the Scottish Young Musicians Brass Ensemble of the Year 2024.
In another celebration of musical talent, Provost Campbell visited Ayr Town Hall for the Teacher Development Fund Music Project Celebration Event. This was a celebration of teacher development through music in Ayrshire with teachers and children from Dalmilling Primary - Extended Learning Facility, Doonfoot Primary - Communication Support Base, Girvan Primary - Support and Wellbeing Department, Hillside School, Cumnock and Invergarven School describing their experiences and giving musical performances.
He also attended the South Ayrshire Council Music Service Summer Serenade at Ayr Town Hall, where the South Ayrshire Schools Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir performed a programme of classical and popular music, and the West of Scotland Schools Orchestra (WSSO) Symphony Orchestra Concert in Ayr Town Hall where 12 of the 90 performers on stage were South Ayrshire school pupils.
Another significant anniversary which was recognised by South Ayrshire Council's civic office was the 60th anniversary of D Day on Thursday 6 June. Provost Campbell attended a memorial service and engagement at the British Legion, both in Maybole, to mark the anniversary.
Depute Provost Kilpatrick attended the awards presentation for this year's Ayr Golf Festival. The event is always a highlight in South Ayrshire's golfing calendar and this year was no different, with a fantastic turnout of competitors. Another golfing highlight was the yearly competition between the Church of Scotland and Church of England. Provost Campbell and Depute Provost Kilpatrick attended a dinner to mark the occasion at the Chestnuts Hotel in Ayr.
Another event to return this year was the Summer Family Fest with Armed Forces and Pipes in the Park, which was attended by Provost Campbell. It was a fantastic day with activities for families, as well as a celebration for Armed Forces Day.
Provost Campbell and Depute Provost Kilpatrick Glasgow visited Troon for this year's annual Glasgow Taxi Outing on Wednesday 19 June. This year marks the 77th Outing, which see Glasgow taxi drivers volunteer to take children with additional support needs on a trip to the seaside. As part of this much-loved tradition, drivers decorate the taxis and take the children on a tour of the city before heading to Troon where a parade is held.
Depute Provost Mary Kilpatrick visited Invergarven School for the launch of the Invergarven Family Garden. A polytunnel was installed at the school as part of the latest Developing the Young Workforce launch. The pupils will be able to learn about how food is produced and how to maintain a healthy diet by growing their own fruit and vegetables.
Both Provost Campbell and Depute Provost Kilpatrick attended the Wellington School Speech Day prizegiving and Leavers' Reception.
Acknowledging South Ayrshire's history is of the utmost importance to the Provost and Depute Provost. At the invitation of Chair of Italian Garden Improvement Group (I.G.I.G.), Provost Campbell and South Ayrshire Council Chief Executive Mike Newall visited The Italian Garden in Glasgow to see the Arandora Star Memorial. This is the world's largest permanent memorial to the 805 victims of the tragedy, and the invitation was received following the unveiling of a headstone in Girvan this April in memory of Francesco D'Inverno who died in the tragedy.
Provost Campbell also welcomed a group of North American visitors to Dundonald Castle to engage with its history. This was part of a bespoke Clan Cochrane Tour of Scotland, with many of the visitors holding links to the clan who were owners of the castle from the 17th century up until the 1950s.
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