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Daily Record
05-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Members delighted with Ayr Model Boat Club's open day success
The five-hour event was a showcase and allowed the public to talk to members and find out more about the club and its activities. Members of the public were given permission to come aboard when Ayr Model Boat Club held its annual 'Open Day' sail at Newton Park Pond. And among the interested ranks were some serious figures from the maritime world. The five-hour event was a showcase and allowed the public to talk to members and find out more about the club and its activities. And Kenneth Ireland, club secretary, was delighted with the turnout. He said: 'Our Open Day was a success and we had a good turnout from interested/curious members of the public. 'And the Captain of Calmac vessel Glen Sannox was one of our visitors who I met and spoke to at length. He's possibly a future member!' Kenneth, who has previously built a WW2 destroyer and a Clyde-based firefighting tug boat, said: 'We're at the pond on Wednesdays and Sundays from around 1pm to 3.30pm depending on the weather. And we have our own wee clubhouse where we meet up, so people are welcome to come along.' Ayr has a long history of having a model boat club. Ayr Model Yacht Sailing and Power Club was formed on March 8, 1910 at a public meeting held in the YMCA rooms, High Street, Ayr. However, little is known of the history of the AMYC after 1937. Interests vary from electric powered vessels to steam-powered craft and yachts, and the size of the models varies from tiny to enormous, with most being around 600-1000mm in length. At the moment the club is in the process of updating its website and a social media page will be set up later in the year. In the meantime, to find out more go to or telephone Kenneth on 07730 890128.
Daily Record
24-04-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Open Day invite as model boat club prepares to set sail once again
The Ayr Model Boat Club is to host its annual 'Open Day' sail at Newton Park pond on Sunday, May 11 from 1pm until 4pm. And members have issued a special invite to the public to come along and find out more about the club and their activities. Kenneth Ireland, club secretary, said: 'Like every club, our numbers are on the decline and we are trying to encourage more young people to come along and join us. 'So the Open Day is the perfect way for people to come along, have a chat with us and find out more about Ayr Model Boat Club. ' Currently, there are 30 members at the club with around 15 to 20 still building and displaying their magnificant vessels. Kenneth, who has previously built a WW2 destroyer and a Clyde-based firefighting tug boat, said: 'We're at the pond on Wednesdays and Sundays from around 1pm to 3.30pm depending on the weather. And we have our own wee clubhouse where we meet up, so people are welcome to come along, have tea and a biscuit, a natter, compare models and all the rest of it. 'There's a great social side to it and there's plenty of enjoyment to be had. 'If it's a decent day there are always quite a few members of the public sitting around with their children and watching all the models as they sail along.' Ayr has a long history of having a model boat club. Ayr Model Yacht Sailing and Power Club was formed on 8th March 1910 at a public meeting held in the YMCA rooms, High Street, Ayr. However, little is known of the history of the AMYC after 1937. And Ayr Model Boat Club was formed on March 10, 1982 at Newton Park. Over the years, the main interest has been in scale models, mostly radio controlled, although some members do build static models too. Interests vary from electric powered vessels to steam-powered craft and yachts, and the size of the models varies from tiny to enormous, with most being around 600-1000mm in length. At the moment the club is in the process of updating its website and a social media page will be set up later in the year. In the meantime, to find out more go to or telephone Kenneth on 07730 890128.
Telegraph
17-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
SNP faces backlash as Scottish shipyard loses out to Poland on state ferry contract
The Scottish Government has triggered outrage after revealing that a £175m ferry contract has been awarded to a Polish shipyard instead of struggling local manufacturer Ferguson Marine. A contract to build seven electric vessels for ferry operator CalMac has been handed to the Remontowa yard in Gdansk, which triumphed over four other bids including one from Clyde-based Ferguson Marine. The Scottish yard was brought under government control by the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) in 2019 and has received hundreds of millions of pounds of state aid. Russell Findlay, leader of the Scottish Tories, said the decision to send business overseas rather than support the struggling state-owned shipyard was a 'hammer blow' for employees and a result of SNP 'incompetence'. The contract was awarded by state-controlled procurement firm Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL). CalMac has also been under the direct control of the Scottish Government since 1990. Unions also criticised the decision. Alex Logan, the convenor for the GMB union at Ferguson Marine, said: 'This contract should have allowed the yard to seize back a reputation for excellence unfairly torn away. We had a worldwide reputation for building small vessels and sending this work overseas makes no sense.' Mr Logan questioned the logic of the SNP failing to award the contract to Ferguson Marine after pledging to invest in the modernisation of the yard. He said the Ferguson Marine workforce had been 'used as a political punch bag' over a number of years. Sue Webber, the Scottish shadow transport secretary, said the decision could prove to be 'the death knell' for Ferguson Marine. She said: 'It should be a given that a nationalised shipyard wins a Scottish Government contract. It's a measure of how badly the SNP have mismanaged Ferguson's that ferries, which should be built on the west coast of Scotland, are to be made in eastern Europe.' Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish transport secretary, said the decision represented a milestone in modernising the fleet of CalMac. CMAL said the five bids were assessed against various technical and financial criteria by its own experts and outside marine specialists. Kevin Hobbs, the procurement company's chief, said it was required to select a yard that would both serve the needs of islanders and 'deliver the best value for the public purse'. Delivery delays Ferguson Marine handed over the first of two new CalMac vessels six years late in January. Remontowa has built vessels for CalMac before, though not for more than a decade, having most recently delivered the MV Finlaggan in 2011. CMAL also overlooked a bid from Birkenhead-based Cammell Laird and one from Cemre of Turkey, which is in the process of building the next four ships due to join the CalMac fleet. Cemre recently revealed that the first delivery, originally expected this month, had slipped to June, depriving remote islands of vital links upon which their economies depend going into the tourist season. The seven electric ferries to be built in Gdansk will be deployed on short sea crossings to islands including Bute, Mull and Gigha.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SNP faces backlash as Scottish shipyard loses out to Poland on state ferry contract
The Scottish Government has triggered outrage after revealing that a £175m ferry contract has been awarded to a Polish shipyard instead of struggling local manufacturer Ferguson Marine. A contract to build seven electric vessels for ferry operator CalMac has been handed to the Remontowa yard in Gdansk, which triumphed over four other bids including one from Clyde-based Ferguson Marine. The Scottish yard was brought under government control by the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) in 2019 and has received hundreds of millions of pounds of state aid. Russell Findlay, leader of the Scottish Tories, said the decision to send business overseas rather than support the struggling state-owned shipyard was a 'hammer blow' for employees and a result of SNP 'incompetence'. The contract was awarded by state-controlled procurement firm Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL). CalMac has also been under the direct control of the Scottish Government since 1990. Unions also criticised the decision. Alex Logan, the convenor for the GMB union at Ferguson Marine, said: 'This contract should have allowed the yard to seize back a reputation for excellence unfairly torn away. We had a worldwide reputation for building small vessels and sending this work overseas makes no sense.' Mr Logan questioned the logic of the SNP failing to award the contract to Ferguson Marine after pledging to invest in the modernisation of the yard. He said the Ferguson Marine workforce had been 'used as a political punch bag' over a number of years. Sue Webber, the Scottish shadow transport secretary, said the decision could prove to be 'the death knell' for Ferguson Marine. She said: 'It should be a given that a nationalised shipyard wins a Scottish Government contract. It's a measure of how badly the SNP have mismanaged Ferguson's that ferries, which should be built on the west coast of Scotland, are to be made in eastern Europe.' Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish transport secretary, said the decision represented a milestone in modernising the fleet of CalMac. CMAL said the five bids were assessed against various technical and financial criteria by its own experts and outside marine specialists. Kevin Hobbs, the procurement company's chief, said it was required to select a yard that would both serve the needs of islanders and 'deliver the best value for the public purse'. Ferguson Marine handed over the first of two new CalMac vessels six years late in January. Remontowa has built vessels for CalMac before, though not for more than a decade, having most recently delivered the MV Finlaggan in 2011. CMAL also overlooked a bid from Birkenhead-based Cammell Laird and one from Cemre of Turkey, which is in the process of building the next four ships due to join the CalMac fleet. Cemre recently revealed that the first delivery, originally expected this month, had slipped to June, depriving remote islands of vital links upon which their economies depend going into the tourist season. The seven electric ferries to be built in Gdansk will be deployed on short sea crossings to islands including Bute, Mull and Gigha. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Swinney and Starmer navigate delicate balancing act on Ukraine
As President Donald Trump reshapes the world order on live TV, it has enormous potential to impact on domestic is already Holyrood, First Minister John Swinney has welcomed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's efforts to build a "coalition of the willing" to provide security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire has also backed the UK government's £1.6bn missile deal for offer of support from an SNP leader is particularly notable given the party's history of caution on UK military interventions a statement to MSPs, the first minister also suggested the US decision to pause its military aid to Ukraine runs the risk of emboldening Russia, which he described as "the aggressor".These guarded remarks probably still go further than UK ministers in questioning America's position. Swinney was careful to acknowledge the "delicate balance of diplomacy" the PM has to first minister's statement was a rejection of comments by the SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn who suggested Sir Keir was "weak".There is not complete unity between the Scottish and UK governments on the emerging international first minister has repeated his opposition to a second state visit to the UK for President Trump in the current is of no great consequence as the visit is not imminent and the SNP leader also envisages circumstances in which it could be King has also suggested a preparatory meeting with President Trump at either Balmoral or Dumfries House both of which are close to Trump golf resorts in Scotland. Trident question The Conservatives pointed out that it was not for Swinney to set and foreign affairs are under Westminster control although Holyrood politicians are entitled to express their more substantial point of disagreement between the governments is on nuclear UK has repeatedly committed to renewing and maintaining the Clyde-based Trident nuclear weapons system in order to deter Russia from deploying its own nuclear SNP - long opposed to nuclear weapons in principle - argues that the money would be better spent on conventional weapons to help Ukraine defend itself against Keir has said that position was "wrong-headed" and in need of review. The UK and other European countries have supplied considerable quantities of conventional weapons to Ukraine since Russia's invasion three years United States has contributed even more but President Trump's decision to pause that assistance and reclaim previous spending through a minerals deal with Ukraine has dramatically changed the minerals deal remains unsigned following last week's jaw-dropping bust-up between President Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr the days since then, the prime minister has been making determined efforts to offer UK leadership where the US is stepping Ukraine, everything is moving at enormous speed towards a destination that is far from UK and some other European countries seem prepared to commit soldiers and air crews in Ukraine to supervise a peace deal with Russia, if one can be trouble is they want the United States to offer security guarantees, a military backstop to underwrite their engagement. These guarantees have not been made explicit but almost certainly involve the US being prepared to step in to support Nato allies if they were attacked by Russia while monitoring the is the basis of the Nato alliance - which President Trump has said he continues to support - the principle that an attack on one member is an attack on his visit to Washington, the prime minister announced plans to increase UK defence spending by billions of pounds over the next couple of seems that much of this cash will be diverted from overseas development is a worry to those who advocate for aid as life-changing investment that boosts the UK's standing in the may also be of concern to the civil servants who work to deliver these programmes for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office - many of them based in East Kilbride. 'Defence dividend' If defence spending continues to rise in the coming years that would put pressure on other budgets and potentially squeeze funding for essential public addition to announcing a new missile supply deal, Sir Keir also met small and medium-sized firms working in the defence sector to help them gain better access to the supply rearmament of Europe was probably not foremost in the Labour leader's mind when he prioritised economic growth in last year's election will be those who are extremely uncomfortable with talk of some kind of defence dividend for UK businesses prime minister's leadership on Ukraine received cross-party backing in the Commons on Monday and at Holyrood on his political opponents at least, Sir Keir stock has risen after a difficult start to his not clear if that will help to improve the prime minister's dire opinion poll ratings and when dealing with someone as unpredictable as President Trump, there is plenty of scope for things to go wrong.
