News

17/05/09 The bills have been paid for another year meaning the site will be available for the next 12 months. I would like to thank all those who contributed to funding the site either via PayPal or donating in person, without which, the site would not survive. Your generosity is most welcome and appreciated.
08/04/09 In an attempt to help people to sign the guestbook, I have created a help page to show what is required. Many people tell me they are unsure of the process and thus do not get involved in the chat etc. So please click the help link and discover how easy it is. HELP
27/03/09 Due to the amazing success of the latest release of the novel "The Black Avalanche", all of which are sold out - I have ordered a further 20 from the publishers. Please spread the word to keep them moving.
22/03/09 The site can now scan slides and negatives and produce digital or printed images from the resulting scans. if you have photos, slides or negatives which depict New Cumnock senarios or people from the village of days gone by please get in touch. Never assume your pictures will be of no interest to others, they almost certainly are!
20/03/09 The novel "The Black Avalanche" has been re-released and is available on Amazon. I am in contact with the publishers with a view of ordering in bulk and passing on the savings to the web sites visitors but nothing has been confirmed yet. See the PDF advert by clicking here
20/03/09 The web site has purchased a scanner which will allow slides to be converted to digital images or photographs. This opens up a whole new world of pictures to the site with over 500 slides currently available. If you have slides of New Cumnock or its people please get in touch by emailing ttadmin@btopenworld.com
21/10/08 Another successful presentation at the History Club by New Cumnock's best informed historian, Bobby Guthrie. A good turn out enjoyed Bobby's banter and well worded historic presentation. I met Bobby for the third time in a month, initiating rumours of us becoming the Ayshire version of Morcambe and Wise!
It was also a very successful night for the site as I collated over 50 new pictures. Many thanks to all who brought their pictures to be scanned and used on the site.
05/09/08 Just a reminder that the New Cumnock History Club will recommence on the 15th of September with yours truly opening it for the season. I will be presenting a selection of pictures from the site and inviting those that are in attendance to reminisce and discuss the various contents of the photos. The previous presentations have proven to be very successful and audience participation has been a huge hit. Please invite anyone you believe would be interested but may not have access to the internet.

I will be offering a scanning service before and after the meeting for anyone who wishes to donate pictures to the site. Simply bring your photograph and I will scan and return on the night.
The meeting commences at 19:00 hours and a cup of tea or coffee is available from local tea lady Billy Lees.

Everyone welcome
20/07/08 Hi folks! Just to advise you that I will be away for 16 days on training courses and may not be able to update the site during this period. I will endeavour to attend to any updates at the weekends. Thanks for your support and long may it continue - Appreciated
22/06/08 I won't be available from Monday 23rd of June till Saturday 28th of June as I am attending a Windows 2008 server course in London. I will have access to my mail but probably not the Guestbook. If anyone send pictures, stories, poems etc I will not be able to deal with them till I return - The Boss
21/06/08 Recently spotted on You Tube by Billy Nisbet, the Pathe News from 1950 covering the Knockshinnoch disaster Click to view
12/05/08 If you are having trouble posting messages on the guestbook please visit http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer and download and install the latest version of Flash. Beware of the ActiveX pop up which needs your permission to run before the install can take place.
08/05/08
 Many thanks to all those who have kindly assisted with the running cost of the site. The site is secured until April 2009 and the Guestbook until February of the same year. The more pictures, stories, memories that I place on the site, the higher the cost becomes and the same with the Guestbook but its all worthwhile and brings many people no end of pleasure, including me. Let's face it, I would have to get another hobby if it wasn't for the site. I hope you all enjoy the coming 12 months as much as I hope to. All the best - The Boss!
27/04/08 It is with great sadness that I have to report the sad passing of Mr. Andrew Galston known to all who read the Cumnock Chronicle as 'The Auld Yin'. I have like most of you, enjoyed Andrew's memories, which were regularly printed in the paper and had the pleasure of speaking with him on a couple of occasions and found him to be a true gentleman. To see the Chronicle tribute click here
18/04/08 I attended the Irvine Vics V Glenafton game tonight where I saw the Glens come back from a 1-0 deficit to win 1-2, comfortably it has to be said. I would like to thank messrs Timpany and Jess and Alison Ross for their kind donations to the web site.
01/04/08 Dane Love is presenting 'old inn's of Ayrshire' at the New Cumnock History Club on the 21st April 2008. Dane is the author of many excellent Scottish books and in particular, Ayrshire and its history. I will be offering a scanning service if anyone would care to donate pictures to the site. All welcome.
28/03/08 I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed towards the upkeep of the site, easing the financial burden of the annual costs which I incur for web space to store the many pictures and the guest book. Lang may yer lum reek!
21/03/08 The History Club met on the 17th of March with yours truly providing the pictures but the entertainment was as always, provided by those who attended. Many thanks to those who came along and made it a fantastic evening. My appreciation goes to those who submitted pictures, poems and information on the night, which of course will all appear on the site soon. Attendances continue to be high, adding atmosphere to the occasion and the banter was hilarious at times. A special thanks to those who contributed to the cost of the annual running fees the site incurs. I look forward to the April meeting and hope to see you all there.
21/03/08 It is with a sad heart that I have to announce the closure of my old school, Cairnhill Primary. Opened in 1960 and serving many thousands of pupils over the years, the school was a landmark and holds great memories not just for me but for many others. Full story courtesy of the Cumnock Chronicle
14/03/08 Due to problems with the current hosting servers, I have arranged the site to be moved to a more stable environment. Some of you may have noticed the site is often unavailable or receive JRUN errors when attempting to view a page. Having complained to the hosting company many times, we have now reached an agreement and the site will move on to a more dedicated platform, hopefully offering a more resilient service and a better all round experience for the visitor - you! The hosting company inform me that the transition should be seamless and that no or little disruption should be visible to the user. Unfortunately, this puts the cost of hosting the site up somewhat, but I hope that it will end all the connection problems etc.
08/03/08 The New Cumnock History Club meets at the Community Centre on Monday, 17th of March, where I will represent the web site once more. I will present around eighty photographs and invite those in attendance to interact and share their memories of each picture. I will also have my scanner with me if anyone wishes to bring pictures to share with us. The meeting starts at 19:00 but please arrive early.
I would appreciate it if local visitors to the site, would pass on the time and date to those who do not have access to the internet. Hopefully we can continue the wonderful successes of the previous two meetings and invoke and excellent turn out once more. Everyone welcome!
08/03/08 Finally after years of waiting, the building formally known as Halls Factory is being pulled down. Many people will be saddened by this news but with there being very little chance of finding an employer to take over the building, demolition is probably the best option for the village. You can read the full story from the Cumnock Chronicle here and I have pictures available here.
24/02/08 The Arthur Memorial Church Hall is gutted by fire. Click here for pictures.
22/02/08 The History Club was packed to the gunnels for the visit of Bobby Guthrie at the February meeting. Bobby spoke about the Covenanters, a subject he is very passionate about. With his extreme knowledge, wonderful sense of humour and presentation skills, he afforded us all a decent night out. The organisers Billy Lees and Alex Jess must be very proud of what they have achieved over the last few months with terrific turn outs, not just by locals but by many traveling from further a field.
Next month it is the turn of yours truly on behalf of the New Cumnock Now and Then web site, displaying many old pictures and reminiscing over all things nostalgic. everyone welcome and wee Billy makes a grand cuppa tea!
30/01/08 A jam packed History club had a great night of New Cumnock nostalgia presented by Stephen from New Cumnock Now and Then web site. So successful was it, that the club have invited Stephen back to their March meeting. He has much more unseen gems to show and urges anyone with old photo's to bring them along and he can scan them during the meeting. Instant history. - Words from Alex Jess and the Cumnock Chronicle.
23/01/08 New Cumnock Now and Then visits the History Club - Click here to view
27/11/07 Charity Branches Out - Click here to view