Emergency One, the UK’s leading manufacturer of specialist fire and rescue service appliances, has received a funding boost for 12 new trade apprentices. The £72k cheque from The The 9CC Group is the latest phase of a pioneering four-year £1.5 million investment in young Cumnock and Doon Valley residents, taking the current total to 20. The apprenticeships initiative has been seed funded by an advance payment of £120K community benefit following an agreement negotiated by The

Members of East Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet recently took an extensive tour of areas of Cumnock and Doon Valley following the conclusion of the Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership (CCLP) projects which, since the first investigations in 2016, have been instrumental in transforming landscapes and communities left devastated by the collapse of the opencast mining industry in the area. Since the inception of the first projects in 2020, nearly £6.5million in funding and in

Review by Euan Ruddick South Ayrshire anxiety specialist Alan Currie has produced something that feels both personal and practical with his new anxiety trilogy. The collection appears to be shaped by years of listening to people, understanding how anxiety works and explaining it in a way ordinary readers can connect with. What immediately stands out is that the books do not appear to talk down to people. Anxiety is often written about in heavy clinical language that can leave

The new venue, based at 3 The Cross, Prestwick, KA9 1AJ, has confirmed the date following a major transformation of the former Jel on the Cross premises. The Vintage is being run by new licensees Jack and Rachel Sullivan following a refurbishment of the Prestwick venue. According to Scottish Licensed Trade News, the couple have taken over the venue as part of a £210,000 refurbishment project backed by Heineken-owned Star Pubs. The team say they are looking forward to welcomin

Almost 200 illicit vapes have been seized following a major multi-agency operation across North Ayrshire. Police Scotland Ayrshire joined officers from North Ayrshire Trading Standards alongside a specialist consumer protection dog and handler during visits to several licensed premises and vape shops yesterday. The intelligence-led operation focused on tackling the illegal sale and storage of nicotine products within local communities. A specially trained detection dog named

There was a time when every new route announced at Glasgow Prestwick Airport felt uncertain. Now another city is preparing to join the departures board, and it adds even more momentum to the airport’s growing recovery story. Ryanair is set to launch a new seasonal route from Prestwick to Turin in northern Italy from December 2026, with flights expected to operate weekly during the winter season. The move adds Turin to Prestwick’s expanding network of international destination

At the recent meeting of Full Council elected members agreed that a letter will be sent to the Scottish Government requesting a review of existing environmental health and antisocial behaviour legislation to explicitly include pets and other animals. Image - Southern cross vet The agreed motion means that the Council will urge the Scottish Government to review and amend existing environmental health and antisocial behaviour legislation to: explicitly include pets and other an

This June, two Ayrshire men will take on a powerful 44-mile walking challenge in support of Ayrshire Cancer Support. John, known to many as Tucker, will be joined by Stewart as they set off from Drongan and make their way through Dalrymple, Kirkmichael, Patna, Dalmellington and Cumnock, before finishing at the Toll Bar for a well-earned refreshment. But this walk is about far more than distance. For John, every mile will be walked in memory of his brother William Hunt, who sa

An Ayrshire resident has credited her longevity to “good behaviour” and an active lifestyle on the eve of her 100th birthday. Jean Dunlop will celebrate her extraordinary milestone on Saturday surrounded by friends and family at Renaissance Care’s Malin Court Home in Maidens when she will be presented with her telegram from King Charles II. Looking back on a life well-lived, Jean said: “My secret is, that I behaved myself! I had a good lifestyle, I liked to keep active and mo

There are birthdays, and then there are milestones that make us stop and reflect. On 30 May, Andrew Kennedy will celebrate his 100th birthday, marking a life shaped by courage, hardship, service, family and quiet determination. Andrew’s journey began in the small village of Duthil, near Carrbridge in Invernesshire, before life took him to the Isle of Arran, where he lived at Largiemore House in Whiting Bay under the care of Miss Thomson. Alongside Joe McClean and Lilly Wilson

Ayr-based luxury textile brand Begg & Co is set to reach a major new international audience after being selected as one of 14 UK brands to feature in a new retail destination in China. The company is part of the newly opened Boundless Matro Boutique Village in Suzhou, an ambitious lifestyle and retail development designed to help British and international brands enter the Chinese market without the cost and risk of traditional standalone stores. Begg & Co joins a prestigious

Primary school pupils from across Ayr have been given an insight into future careers in healthcare at a special event held at Ayr Town Hall. Nursing, midwifery, allied health professions and medical staff from NHS Ayrshire & Arran attended the careers event on 14 May, which was organised by the Rotary Club of Ayr. The event brought together Primary 7 pupils and gave them the chance to learn more about the wide range of roles available within the NHS. In the weeks before the e

An Ayrshire-based renewable fuel company has donated £1,000 to Strathendrick Pipe Band Association to help support its activities for the rest of the year. Land Energy, which produces sustainable wood pellets and briquettes, made the donation to assist the Blanefield-based band with ongoing costs, including travel, instruments and uniforms. Strathendrick Pipe Band Association was formed shortly after the Second World War by demobbed Home Guard members. Since then, it has cont

The first ever Provost’s Enterprise and Innovation Challenge was held at Ayr Town Hall, showcasing the very best of South Ayrshire’s entrepreneurial spirit! Young people from across South Ayrshire secondary schools participated in the challenge set by Provost Iain Campbell – to come up with an innovative new product or service and present a pitch in front of a panel of judges. The competition was tough, with all teams creating thoroughly researched proposals consisting of

A Troon woman who spent much of her life working, volunteering and supporting her local community is preparing to celebrate her 100th birthday on 29 May. Annie Longley Malcolm Macdonald, known as Anna, was born on 29 May 1926 at 44 Rannoch Street, Cathcart, Glasgow. Before her marriage, Anna worked in offices for Glasgow City Council and British Oxygen. In 1952, she married Calum Macdonald and later became a full-time mother to their two children, Alistair, born in 1959, and

South Ayrshire’s Depute Provost, Mary Kilpatrick attended a ceremony recently in Glasgow for the presentation of the Victoria Cross medal of Fusilier Dennis Donnini by his family to the Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum for safekeeping and public display. The ceremony told the story of Dennis Doninni VC who was in 4/5th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers and was sadly killed in action on 18 January 1945. Donnini was the youngest recipient of the VC in World War 2. Displaying t

Doug Maclean - Aviation Editor One million kilos and rocketing upwards. Since Ayrshire Daily News started reporting on the successful introduction of direct freight flights between Prestwick and China I have always stressed the export potential of these unprecedented scheduled flights. As exporters came forward with enquiries it became apparent that seafood was an almost perfect cargo to take out of Prestwick. Again the Prestwick airport Board acted swiftly investing in expen

Doug Maclean - Aviation Editor Exactly one year ago today on May 16th 2025 Ayrshire Daily News broke the story about the AERALIS company looking to build the Red Arrows replacement jet at Prestwick. It was a major boost for the aviation industry in Scotland creating 600 jobs and decades of work. AERALIS had an innovative and highly efficient plan to use well known companies with industry proven major parts like engines, undercarriages and ejection seats blended with their mo

North Ayrshire Council’s Customer Service Centre located at Bridgegate Irvine and the Housing Advice Team at Galt House are moving to Cunninghame House on Monday 18 May 2026. A new system will also operate for customer appointments and upon arrival to the ground floor entrance (facing the Rivergate Shopping Centre), members of the public will be required to check-in. Walk-in appointments are also still welcomed, and these will operate via a digital self check-in ticketing sys

Loudoun Academy was a hive of activity last week for Eco Week and Mental Health Awareness Week, with the young people taking direct action to tackle environmental issues around the school and focusing on their wellbeing. The school had a full programme of activities encouraging young people and staff to look after the planet and their minds. The events focused on ‘Small steps. Big Impact. Together’ and included a mental health walk at lunchtime, a bake sale in aid of ‘SAMH fo