Cream teas and fun for all the family will be on offer at a unique garden party on Saturday 27th August. It takes place at River of Life Church, beside Dumfries Railway Station, from 2 – 5pm. Everyone is invited to sample traditional treats, home-baking and a sumptuous chocolate fountain. Professional manicures and facials will be available as well as crafts and cards, tombola, face-painting and a whole host of children’s activities, including a bouncy castle.

Admission is £1 for adults and 50p for children under 16. Proceeds from the event will split between the A21 Campaign which aims to prevent people from being trafficked and protect and support victims, and City Hearts, and Sheffield based charity which runs a ‘safe house’ as a refuge for girls from around the UK escaping from prostitution or domestic servitude.

This event is being hosted by Women Connect, who meet together regularly to support one another and to raise the profile of key issues. The issue of human trafficking was discussed at a recent meeting and inspired the group to do something about it. According to member Ali Spellacy, “This whole thing has really shocked us. We want to do something to make a difference and hope our garden party will be a start.”

Here’s Ali’s interview with Mark Smith on Drivetime earlier this week:

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32783 Police Identity Posters

Police in Dumfries and Galloway are launching a poster campaign in an effort to identify the body of a man who was found in woods in the Canonbie area of the force on 20 December 2011. As yet, after exhaustive world wide enquiries the man has not been able to be identified. Detective Constable Stephen Bell who is leading the enquiry said “We have now had a poster created which outlines the details that we want the public to consider and hopefully we can get people thinking again about this case. The poster will be going out across the force, neighbouring forces and across the UK as appropriate. We are targeting the local area through public buildings, cafes, restaurants, hotels and shops in an effort to keep the case current. W hope to target passing travellers through the area who may well have come across this man, have spoken to him or given him a lift. We have a lot of questions to be answered, and he must have got to Canonbie somehow. Did he get a lift, take a taxi or a bus? Hopefully this poster may jog a memory and bring in that vital piece of information which will bring closure to this case.”

In another development police can now reveal that the body of the found man has been released for burial. Arrangements are being made to have the remains buried in what is commonly known as a ‘paupers grave’. However no details of the man can be attributed to the grave at this stage until he has been identified. Detective Constable Bell is working with the authorities to make the final arrangement to lay the body to rest.

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has used her time in Scotland to visit the global headquarters of a charity which specialises in landmine removal.

She is visiting the country with her partner Brad Pitt as he shoots the film World War Z in various locations.

The pair are long-standing supporters of the Halo Trust’s work.

Jolie took the opportunity to visit the trust’s headquarters in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, on Saturday for the first time.

She was given a briefing by senior Halo staff on the current landmine problem and heard about the kind of work they are doing.

She said: “It was a privilege to visit the Halo headquarters and meet their committed staff.

“In the aftermath of war, Halo’s mine-clearing efforts are fundamental to a safe return and community building.”

The Jolie-Pitt Foundation has provided “hundreds of thousands of pounds” worth of financial support to Halo, funding humanitarian mine clearance teams in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Guy Willoughby, co-founder and director of the trust, said: “It was a great opportunity for us to talk through the projects and also plan our demining priorities for the future – identifying which communities in different countries are most in need of our support.”

Halo is one of the world’s oldest and largest humanitarian landmine clearance organisations and tackles the problem of landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

Police report that the missing youth Samuel Gale has been found safe and well in Edinburgh. The public and media are thanked for their assistance in this matter.

Police report that concerns are growing for a missing youth from Castle Douglas. Samuel Gale 16 years, from Gelston, Castle Douglas., he has not been seen since 05.00 hrs on Thursday 18^th August 2011. At that time he was thought to be at his home address.

Samuel is described as about 5’4” tall, slim build with medium length dark hair, tanned complexion and thought to be wearing a white tresspack camping styled jacket and dark jeans. He may also have a dark blue hooded top and a small red and green rucksack.

Anyone with any knowledge of Samuel Gale whereabouts or who have seen him since I8th August is asked to contact police on the usual 0845 600 5701 number.

Over 11,00 tickets were ordered online, and the crowd did not disappoint. YouthBeatz 2011 was a massive success also bringing in tourists to Dumfries.

The music festival which took place at Dock Park on Saturday 13th August included musical acts like Chipmunk and Basshunter, as well as our very own Emma’s Imagination.

Dock Park has never looked so busy, and it was great to see all the entertainment that had arrived. From laser quests to inflatable games, there was something for everyone.

Police in Dumfries are investigating a spate of vandalisms to cars across the town of Dumfries overnight. At this stage it appears that 18 or so cars have had windows smashed. Cars in Newton Road and Findlater Court in Lochside, Dumfries; Church Street; Terregles Street, Terregles Village; Maxwell Street; Ewart Walk and Barnett Road in Heathhall. Most of the cars have had one window smashed, however a number have had two smashed. At this stage police are seeking witnesses to any of the incidents. In particular they are keen to identify the occupants of a dark coloured saloon car which was seen near the scene of some of the incidents.

The 2011 Galloway Country Fair this weekend the 20th and 21st of August at Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate looks to be one of the most exciting yet with trade stands, craft stands, food halls, falconry, terrier racing, clay pigeon shooting, axe throwing, archery, stick making, fishing demo, lurcher show plus much more with main attractions all day, plus pipe bands and music.

The full programme of events and displays for 2011 is listed below

Archery
• Carriage Driving
• Clay Shooting
• Dumfries and Galloway Horse Driving Club
• Falconry
• Fly Fishing
• Gundogs Extravaganza
• Laser Quest
• Lurcher Show
• Sporting Arrows
• Stickmaking
• Stick Show
• Terrier Racing
• The Buccleuch Hounds
• The Quack Commandos
• Wood Turning Demonstrations
• VT10 Aerobatic Flight Display
• Axe Throwing
• Ferrets

**ADULT ADVANCE TICKET – £9.00 EACH
**CHILD (5-16) ADVANCE TICKET – £4.00 EACH
available until 15/8/11
**POSTAGE AND PACKAGING FREE OF CHARGE
**SECURE ONLINE PAYPAL ORDERING

**TICKETS CAN ALSO BE PURCHASED FROM THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
Drumlanrig Castle Shop 01848 331555
Buccleuch Sporting at Drumlanrig Castle 01848 600415
www.buccleuchsporting.co.uk/shop/gcfadvancetickets
Thomas Tosh 19 East Morton Street & 55 Drumlanrig Street Thornhill 01848 331553

ON THE DAY – GATE ADMISSION PRICES
Adults £10.00 5-16 year olds £5.00 Under 5’s FREE
All inclusive of entry to gardens and adventure playground
FREE CAR PARKING

For SATNAV use postcode: DG3 4AQ
E: jane@gallowaycountryfair.co.uk , www.gallowaycountryfair.co.uk

Police report that the missing man Alan Barrick  from Crocketford has been found safe and well today in Southend on Sea. The public and media are thanked for their assistance in this matter.

A special joint exhibition exploring the landscapes, buildings and people of Dumfriesshire opens at Dumfries Museum and Gracefield Arts Centre this weekend.

The exhibition at Dumfries Museum focuses on historical works, showcasing the way artists have recorded the county over the last three centuries. It compares romantic 18th century prints of historic monuments and idealised 19th century oils with 20th century works that reflect the contemporary colourist movement. It includes a dramatic depiction of the River Nith south of Sanquhar by an unknown artist which contrasts with a tranquil rendering of Rabbit Island, south of Brydekirk, by George Wright. Visitors can explore the jumbled closes and grand facades of 19th century Dumfries through the work of William Coston Aitken and Joseph Watson amongst others. Contrasting views of the Solway shoreline sit alongside the works of Christian Jane Ferguson which show both town and country scenes remarkable for their light and colour.

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