Largs Viking Festival: Memories of event from 2004

Civic exchanges were made as North Ayrshire Provost Drew Duncan, second right, met the Largs Viking Committee, Norwegian Consul Grethe Knudsen, second left top, and Norwegian delegate Froy Lovasdal, second left.

The opening parade and ceremony were well attended.

However, there were were NINE arrests on Saturday night after large scale youth disorder broke out at the Viking Fair. Around 20 youths were causing problems at the waltzers. The ”News” understands that police closed the fair at 10pm on Saturday evening following a catalogue of incidents. The police decided in the interest of public safety that they ceased operation. 

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A total of 30 Largs Academy pupils were the talk of Scottish education after receiving A-mazing results in their Higher Maths, this week in 2004.

The school was celebrating after all 30 pupils in its top Maths class achieved A grades - more than half of which scored band one - while a further eight in its second-top class also achieved the grade.

This week the teacher behind the success, Mr Robin Wark, kept a promise to perform the classic Scottish comedy song, “Wee Cock Sparra” for his prize pupils.

Headteacher Arthur Jones said: “I am delighted for the pupils and for Mr Wark. I said earlier that my gut feeling was that it was unusual for this kind of thing to happen. I would think it’s unusual for a school like ours to have achieved this but we will be doing it again.

”Five years ago when the pupils started in secondary, we set them according to ability with the intention of initially getting them to sit their Standard Grades at Christmas in S4 - the Scottish Qualifications Authority abandoned that option before they reached that stage but we set them anyway and put them on to Higher work quicker than usual.”

It was Principal Maths teacher Robin Wark who taught the high-flying pupils and helped them attain the staggering feat of 17 band 1 A passes (85 per cent -100 per cent) and 13 band 2 A passes.

Robin Wark (Image: Newsquest)

Nevertheless, he believes that the pupils were the real stars: “I just did my job,” he says. “Essentially, they are just an amazing group of children. We have had them for five years - as a group they are just exceptional. Their ability, their motivation, everything. From day one, I don’t think I have had to raise my voice once."

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NHS Ayrshire and Arran were holding a public meeting in Barrfields Pavilion Theatre in Largs to find out what people think about care for older people.

Mrs Rita Miller, vice-chair of Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board was to be in the chair on Monday, September 13. Answering questions about the proposed withdrawal of care beds from Brooksby Hospital was Dr George Duncan, Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine.

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The Millport Country and Western Festival was celebrating its tenth anniversary.

With a fantastic events line-up, the schedule included a possible record-breaking line dance, and an incredible western re-enactment on Saturday afternoon, and a vast array of bands, discos, dance instructors, street entertainment, stalls and opening parade.

The tranquil surroundings of the Isle of Cumbrae will be transformed into the rootin-tootin Nashville, Tennessee - a paradise for Country and Western lovers everywhere. The stars and stripes were certainly flying at full mast throughout as Clint Eastwoods and Wyatt Earps descend upon Cumbrae - as well as a few courageous Red Indians. The big parade included the Largs Supertroupers, Perthshire Brass Band and of course, cowboy and indian floats.

There were also Harley Davidsons and classic American cars on show. After that, the big battle re-enactment was taking place on Millport seafront with the Texas Rangers Western Group battling against the North Carolina and Southern Highlander soldiers in a spectacular display. There were even re-enactments of bar room brawls performed at various locations around the island if any no-good customers walked into town.

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Largs Flower Show attracted a large crowd of the horticulturally inclined to admire the displays at Dunn Memorial Hall and, pictured below, with Brisbane Queen Natalie Gillespie, centre, are some of the main prizewinners.

In sport, the return of Scottish Cup winning pair Stephen Quigg and Archie Halley as managers seems to be an inspired move as their first full season got off to a flyer. Thistle matched the spectacular flying circus overhead for thrills and spills and could have won by more in their first league game against Darvel at Barrfields on Saturday as they triumphed 4-1.

One of their new signings was James Marks who was to go on and have a big impact at Largs Thistle, and in the West of Scotland.

Marks in action for Largs Thistle at Beith (Image: Newsquest)