Cochrane's Column

We may not be in the same league as the Weirs (whatever happened to Colin and Chris?) but we have handed out over quarter of a million to scores of organisations in Largs, Cumbrae and Fairlie from brownies to bowlers, from schoolkids to fockers (Firth of Clyde rowers).

And my good news this week, folks, because that is what I do every week in Cochrane's Column is that we have another £50,000 waiting to be picked up between now and the summer.

Now, the dosh does not come from the personal bank accounts of myself and the trustees as we are unpaid, impoverished benefactors but is the annual community benefit provided by RES, Renewable Energy Systems who built and operate some of the wind turbines on the Largs Kelburn hills.

This year the fund  is available to support local environmental, educational, amenity or other appropriate registered, not for profit organisations.

Grants of between £500 and, say, £10,000 tops are only available for supporting  the principles of environmental, sustainability, energy efficiency, conservation and social sustainability. The 2018 Kelburn Wind Farm Fund application window is open until the 30th April.

Go online at http://www.kelburnwindfarm.co.uk/  and submit your application before it's too late.

One of the apocryphal tales I tell my adoring audience, as I look in the mirror, is of the time I broadcast on football for radio, particularly Westsound in Ayr (before it moved to Glasgow).

As is often the case in our accursed weather - and am I the only one that thinks we have had virtually two years of a continuous atrocious climate - the footie games were all washed out or iced off on many Saturdays.

On occasions I had to go into the Westsound radio studio to talk about football, eked out by playing musical requests to try to hold the listeners' interest.

I'm sure it was my turn to read out the request from our devoted man and his dug when the Sydney Devine classic, Tiny Bubbles, was to be played next. Reading from the badly scrawled request card I said, "The next record is for Mrs McGinty who is 111 (pause for gasp).

However, as Sydney crooned I realised my mistake and made an immediate apology.

"Sorry" I said, "Mrs McGinty is not one hundred and eleven, Mrs McGinty is ill."

So I plan to be in the audience this Friday when Scottish legend Sydney Devine brings his last (?) tour to Barrfields Pavilion Theatre. I've always been partial to a bit of 'Steak and Kidney.'

You probably know that the veteran crooner, one of Scotland's last variety 'giants' was devastated when his 58-year-old son Gary died in hospital this year but he has decided to go ahead with his first Scottish tour in almost 20 years.

Sydney who is 78 said:

"Two days after the funeral I got my guitar out and I thought, 'Hey, I've got some work to do here' because people who have booked for this tour will be depending on me to be at my best.

"I owe it to myself and I owe it to my departed son to go and give them the best show I could possibly do."

Interestingly, it was while he was travelling to Australia in the mid-60s with famous Scottish music performer Andy Stewart that he came across his most memorable tune, Tiny Bubbles. During a stop-off in Hawaii he saw a singer called Don Ho and heard the song for the first time.

Personally, of all his records which have sold millions over the past 60 years I reckon Ten Guitars is my favourite. I hope he sings it this Friday. You may never see his likes again.

My Thought for the Week: I may not agree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to shut up.

Coming soon in this column will be my personal look into the after life (after all, I'm nearly there).  This weekend two reputable spirit mediums are appearing in Largs.

Internationally-known Spirit Communicator Jane Dawson plans an  evening of  healing messages from "your loved ones and angels"  delivered in her unique warm, down to earth way.

Jane of Largs is an author and speaker who has worked all over the world, talking about her remarkable experiences and delivering her views on life after ‘death’.

On Friday, April 13 she is at Costa Coffee in Largs, to raise money for the Costa Foundation, which provides education for children in third world countries. Tickets at £10 can be obtained from local Costa staff.

On Sunday at Largs Spiritualist Church in the Brisbane Centre at 2.30pm is acclaimed Greenock medium Dominic Boag for the first time.  You have been foretold.