DG One Leisure Centre, Dumfries will be closed between the end of business on the evening of Thursday 17 November and 5pm on Friday 18 November 2011.
This is a temporary closure to allow planned investigative work to be carried out at DG One.
Twenty eight of Scotland’s best potters are represented in the new “Fire and Earth” exhibition opening at Gracefield Arts Centre Gallery 2 on Saturday 19 November. Members of the Scottish Potters Association will be present from 11am until 3pm to answer questions and enjoy some seasonal refreshments with visitors. With 200 ceramics pieces for sale there will be a wide range of beautiful and unique Christmas presents available to buy.
The exhibition, themed “Fire and Earth”, features the use of clay in its widest array, from the beautifully functional, to sculptural installation. All of the potters exhibiting are members of The Scottish Potters Association which has been in existence for over 30 years. Its original aim “to raise the standards and awareness of the craft whenever possible” remains the main focus of the group. The association regularly meets to share techniques, ideas and experiences with each other and with the audience for Scottish crafts. Members range from students to professional full time potters and ceramicists and those who just share a love of clay.
Further information about the group is available at www.scottishpotters.org
Local potters taking part in the exhibition include Chrisitne Smith from Barnbarroch Pottery at Kippford, Hannah McAndrew from Kelton, David Alexander from Kirkpatrick Durham and Ruth Jones from Moniaive. Other exhibiting potters are from as far afield as the Isle of Skye and Arbroath in Aberdeenshire. One Scottish potter now based in France is posting her work over especially for the exhibition.
The Fire and Earth exhibition will run until 14 January 2012, but please note that the Arts Centre will be close from 3pm on Christmas eve until 10am on 4 January. Full opening details and directions on how to find the Arts Centre are available from the website www.dumgal.gov.uk/gracefield.
Police are making enquiries into the theft of a Land Rover, a trailer and two quad bikes overnight from Spango farm at Crawick, Sanquhar. Sometime between 2100 hours on Wednesday 9 and 0700 hours on Thursday 10 November 2011 a blue coloured Land Rover pick up, registered number WF 10 HPO, an Ifor Williams single axle quad trailer and two red coloured Honda 420 quad bikes were stolen from Spango Farm.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact police on 0845 600 5701 or any police officer. Information can also be left with the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court. Crime prevention advice can be found on our police website www.dg.police.uk
Stranraer, Cairnryan, Dumfries, Annan, Eastriggs and Gretna have been chosen as some of the areas that the Olympic Torch will be passing through as part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. The Relay will see communities across Dumfries and Galloway welcoming the Olympic Flame as it passes through the region.
Stranraer, Cairnryan, Dumfries, Annan, Eastriggs and Gretna are six of over 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by Torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay which is presented by Coca-Cola, Bank of Scotland and Samsung. LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in Dumfries and Galloway to devise the route.
Yesterday afternoon crowds of people crammed into the cafe at Gardenwise garden centre in Dumfries for the official launch of the People’s Project Dumfries calendar. Mark Jardine, director of the project, introduced the concept of the calendar, which aims to raise cash for local community projects which are designed to help develop and improve the town. He outlined some of the good work which has already been achieved by the organisation, as well as some of the plans for the future, which includes a pledge of £10,000 towards the creation of flood defenses for the Whitesands.
Queen of the South football club was there in force, endorsing the People’s Project’s catchphrase; “Helping to make Dumfries & Galloway the Queen of the South” .
Ruth Jardine, who took the photographs featured in the calendar, read a letter from Penpont resident, Joanna Lumley, apologising she couldn’t be there for the launch, due to preparations for her West End show which begins at the weekend. In the letter she expressed her feelings about the region, which are shared by her husband Stephen Barlow; “What a ravishing part of the world we belong to … we can’t wait to be back, north of the border, in the Queen of the South!
Pupils of New Abbey primary school, where Ruth Jardine teaches, read their poems about one of the images on the calendar – Sweetheart Abbey.
Copies of the calendar, which has an initial print run of 1000 are available from sponsors and in many outlets around the area for £4.95. All the proceeds are toward the People’s Project. Mark Jardine commented to Alive Radio’s Mark Smith that the calendars have attracted lots of interest already and he’s hoping they will need to commission a repeat print run to satisfy demand.
More info from www.peoplesproject.co.uk
Georgetown Library celebrated record breaking success last Thursday as they presented 103 children with Circus Stars Reading Challenge certificates. This is the highest number of children to complete the challenge in any single branch library ever.
Children with ages ranging from under four to 11 plus received their certificates and medals from local councillors Jack Groom and Alastair Witts. The Solway Sharks ice hockey player Struan Tonar and mascot ‘Sharkie’ came along to congratulate the children on their achievements. Region wide 426 children completed the challenge. The Circus Stars Reading Scheme followed fictional children who have signed up for a circus skills academy. As the children read books they gain new circus skills and move from Practice, to Rehearsal and then Show Time! Primary aged children were encouraged to read six books of their choice in return for collectable incentives.
Councillor Jack Groom, Chair of Area Committee, said, “The staff at Georgetown Library work so well encouraging young readers in the community. Tonight’s celebration shows the success of the reading scheme and the dedication of the staff.”
A new photographic exhibition opens on Friday in the Tolbooth Art Centre, Kirkcudbright. It is the annual print exhibition of the Royal Photographic Society. The 40 prints on display have been selected from a larger number of submissions from the Society’s 300 members resident in Scotland. The 40 photographers represented come from all over mainland Scotland from the Borders to Inverness.
The exhibition is touring venues throughout the country and goes on to Stranraer Museum from Kirkcudbright. The colour and monochrome prints cover a range of subjects inspired by nature, landscapes, building and interiors, and people, both at home and abroad. The quality of the photographs is first-rate following the high standard set by previous RPS exhibitions making the exhibition well worth a visit.
The exhibition runs until Saturday, November 12th. The Tolbooth in Kirkcudbright’s High Street opens from 11 am to 4 pm, Monday to Saturday and entry is free.
Police in Stranraer can confirm that missing person DYLAN CARGILL has been traced safe and well. Thanks to all agencies involved and the media for their support.
Police in Stranraer can confirm that missing person NICOLE YOUNG has been traced safe and well. Thanks to all agencies involved and the media for their support.
Police in Stranraer are growing increasingly concerned for the wellbeing of a girl who did not return home from school yesterday (Monday 24 October).
The missing girl is:
NICOLE YOUNG, aged 12 years, from St Ninians Avenue
Nicole was last seen wearing a Stranraer Academy uniform of black trousers and a white polo shirt, black cardigan and Ugg boots. However it is believed she has changed her clothing and possibly now wearing a red Adidas jumper with white stripes down the sides and jeans.
She is described as around five foot two inches tall, with a thin build and dark blonde shoulder length hair.
She was last seen at 09.00hrs this morning (Tuesday 25 October) near the rear of Stranraer Academy.
Anyone who knows Nicole’s whereabouts or has any information on where she has been is asked to contact police on 0845 600 5701. Information can also be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
BBC Local News Community Media Association
