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Keeping you informed

April 2012

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Keeping you informed

Welcome Welcome to the April edition of ewords.

In this edition you will find information about upcoming events in Kilmarnock and Cumnock – including the fabulous Global Market and Cumnock May Fair; exceptional employee achievements and a selection of photos of the fabulous new area office in Cumnock.

ewords is your magazine – get in touch if you or your colleagues have any good news to share!

Please do not print this magazine.

Disclaimer…

East Ayrshire Council makes no claims about the suitability of the information contained via links or connectivity to third party websites contained within this publication. We do not accept responsibility for any loss which may arise from reliance on such information nor do we guarantee that these links will always be available.

April 2012

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Contents Family history at your fingertips Childcare vouchers Scottish Education Awards 2012 Apprentices do a blooming good job in Onthank Cumnock Area Centre opens its doors Organisational Development - just a click away Ayesha’s Appeal Crosshouse Primary pedals into first place Equality Week 2012 Teachers join business leaders in enterprise push Recycling news Gordon’s time to shine East Ayrshire’s youngsters prove their worth with new Modern Apprenticeships Global Market makes a welcome return to Kilmarnock Take advantage of FREE Saturday parking Cut price offers for employees A little bit of luxury… without the big price tag!

Ready, steady, grow: Garden for the Games Dean Park events Spotting the first signs of cancer Save a life - Join the NHS organ donor register Health and Safety update Cumnock May Fair - Boswell in the Square Exhibitions Transforming our relationship with the communities we serve Litterbugs cost communities dearly Council takes bronze!

Retirements

Family history at your fingertips Our very own Burns Monument Centre has become one of only three family history centres able to access Scottish family records covering 500 years of fascinating history.

From ancient records dating from 1513 to those of the present day anyone can now access digitised records for a flat fee of £15 per day.

Full details of the resources available within the Burns Monument Centre are available from www.burnsmonumentcentre.com or for further information please call 01563 576695.

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Keeping you informed

April 2012

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Apprentices do a blooming good job in Onthank Onthank is in line for a beautiful new garden thanks to The Apprentice Challenge 2012.

The challenge, organised by Ayrshire Business in the Community, gives apprentices a chance to take part in a community project which will benefit tenants and residents in East Ayrshire.

This year Paul Miller and Jamie Cumming, who are joinery apprentices, have been showcasing their skills by designing and manufacturing six planters for Onthank Tenants and Residents Association.

The Association has provided plants and trees for the site on Amlaird Road, which they will maintain, and the new planters will finish the area off nicely.

Childcare Vouchers The Council’s Childcare Voucher Scheme is now being administered by Sodexo Motivation Solutions Ltd following a tendering exercise.

Don’t worry if you are part of the scheme - a plan is currently being developed which will ensure that you will have a smooth transition from the current provider Computershare Voucher Services.

A Per Circular regarding the new provider will be issued shortly and information will be available on the intranet.

Childcare Vouchers allow you to agree a reduction to your gross salary to pay child care costs to registered carers.

This means the amount of salary sacrifice agreed is free from tax and National Insurance deductions. If both parents are working for the Council, then both can be eligible to participate in the scheme.

Scottish Education Awards 2012 Tom Campbell, a technical teacher from Kilmarnock Academy, and a team from Doon Academy have seen off stiff competition to reach the finals of the Scottish Education Awards 2012.

Tom has been shortlisted for the coveted Teacher of the Year Award for his passion and talent for teaching; while teachers Doreen Murray and Aileen Wood from Doon Academy with Lynne McDowall from EAST have been shortlisted for the Literacy Across Learning Award, for putting pupils at the heart of the learning process and giving them a chance to excel in an engaging learning environment.

Good luck to Tom, Doreen, Aileen and Lynne who will be attending the glittering award ceremony in the Hilton Hotel, Glasgow on Tuesday 12 June. We will let you know how they get on!

Keeping you informed

Ayesha’s Appeal Equality and Diversity Officer, Alyia Zaheed’s niece, Ayesha Siddiqui, was diagnosed with leukemia a year ago, when she was just six years old.

April 2012

Cumnock Area Centre opens its doors Cumnock’s fabulous new £10m Area Office opened its doors last month bringing together housing and social work employees with the NHS, Driving Test Centre, Passport and voluntary sector employees.

Her family is working urgently with Anthony Nolan to try and find her a bone marrow match.

Unfortunately no match has yet been found so they have started ‘Ayesha’s Appeal’ to add as many people as possible to the bone marrow registers.

Noreen (Dar) Siddiqui, Ayesha’s mum, was a former head girl at James Hamilton Academy and now needs your help to raise £150,000 in order to increase the register by at least 3000 people.

You can donate by clicking on: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Ayeshaappeal

Organisational Development just a click away Visit the new easy to navigate Organisational Development intranet site - http://intranet/od where you will find full information on all the services available to you.

If you have any enquiries regarding corporate training please email: organisationaldevelopment@east-ayrshire.gov.uk If you have any enquiries regarding health and safety training please email: handstraining@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

The new purpose-built library is proving incredibly popular with the community.

It is twice the size of the old library at Ayr Road and includes a learning suite for lifelong learning classes and computers with internet access.

The centre also incorporates the Registrar’s Office and a large Marriage Suite which has hosted its first, very happy ceremony – the wedding of Cumnock couple John and Mandy Hodge.

Over 200 employees are now based in the building, having moved from five other offices, some of which were outdated and in remote locations.

Employees are benefitting from improved working conditions and the handy town centre location.

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Keeping you informed

April 2012

Equality Week 2012 The Council, in partnership with its Community Planning Partners, held a hugely successful Equality Week last month.

Equality Week 2012 was aimed at promoting equality of opportunity and ensuring that people from different groups do not suffer discrimination. It also provided an opportunity to learn more about the diverse communities that live in East Ayrshire, challenge misconceptions about different groups of people, promote community relations and develop innovative ideas to achieve equality and promote diversity.

The programme was packed full of events, seminars and workshops covering topics such as gypsy travellers, lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older people, sign language, disability sports clubs, equality and human rights, a multi-cultural event celebrating diversity and lots more. Over 700 people of all ages and backgrounds attended throughout the week.

Equality week 2012 was developed in partnerships with local and national organisations.

Thanks go to all those across the wide range of partner organisations who assisted in making the events so successful.

If you have any ideas, suggestions for events or want to get involved in Equality Week 2013, please contact: Alyia Zaheed Corporate Officer (Equality and Diversity), Council Headquarters, London Road, Tel: 01563 576244, e-mail: alyia.zaheed@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Crosshouse Primary pedals into first place Congratulations to Crosshouse Primary pupils who pedalled into first place in the national initiative – The Big Pedal!

Run by Sustrans, (http://www.sustrans.org.uk/), the Big Pedal encouraged parents, pupils and

teachers to leave the car at home for a three week period and cycle to school.

Points were awarded each time someone cycled and the whole school really got behind the initiative.

Their fantastic efforts were rewarded they were crowned Scottish champions and third in the whole of the UK! Shortlees Primary, New Farm Primary and Kirkstyle Primary also took part in the 20 in Scotland.

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Keeping you informed

April 2012

Recycling news Changes to the black box kerbside collection.

Electrical items that are smaller than a four slice toaster can now be recycled from the kerbside in your black box.

Textiles can also be collected from the kerbside if tied loosely in a carrier bag and placed alongside or on top of the black box.

Extended opening hours for Western Road Recycling Centre, Kilmarnock Western Road Recycling Centre’s weekend opening hours will be extended from Saturday 20 April 2012 until end October 2012.

Coming soon… an appointment system to be introduced for recycling centre access.

A large number of commercial vehicles have been trying to access the Council’s recycling centres to dispose of waste. As a consequence, from June this year no vans, liveried vehicles or cars with trailers will be able to access the recycling centres without a prior appointment with Waste Management Services at Western Road.

Appointments will be granted where it can be demonstrated that the waste products to be disposed, either to landfill or for recycling purposes originate from domestic as opposed to commercial circumstances. Waste Management Services eserve the right to visit the premises of the appointment holder to assess waste to be deposited.

Further details of how the system will be introduced will be published in due course.

New opening hours are: 8am – 3.50pm Saturday and Sunday 8am – 6.50pm Monday and Thursday 8am – 4pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday

Furniture redistribution schemes Instead of throwing old furniture away, why not donate your well looked after items to our local furniture schemes?

Two successful schemes currently operate within East Ayrshire – the Cumnock and Doon Valley Gift Furniture Scheme and the Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company.

Both schemes will collect donations free of charge.

Cumnock and Doon Valley Gift Furniture Scheme: Tel: 01292 550525 Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company: Tel: 01294 468 360

Teachers join business leaders in enterprise push Teachers travelled from secondary schools all over East Ayrshire for a seminar with business leaders in Grange Academy, Kilmarnock – another step forwards in East Ayrshire’s ambitious £1million push to make school leavers ‘business ready’.

The Council’s Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) was launched in February 2011. As a result, schools have opened Business Enterprise and Skills Centres (BESCs) to develop pupils’ skills for the world of work.

Through a series of economic workshops, teachers had the opportunity to find out more about the jobs future for local young people and the five main growth areas - food and drink, tourism, manufacturing, renewables and marine and coastal opportunities.

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Keeping you informed

East Ayrshire’s youngsters prove their worth with new Modern Apprenticeships Two local young people - Stuart Queen and Craig Martin – have secured Modern Apprenticeships in joinery with local company Transition Interiors, thanks to the Skills Development and Employability Service.

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Gordon’s time to shine Gordon Cunningham from the Active Schools team will be donning a gold uniform this June and pounding the streets with a torch.

But this isn’t any old torch – he has been selected by the London Olympic Organising Committee from thousands of nominees as a torchbearer, relaying the Olympic Flame through East Ayrshire. As one of only a handful of torchbearers for East Ayrshire this is a once in a lifetime experience and a real honour for Gordon.

The torch will reach East Ayrshire on Friday 8 June. There will be community viewing areas along the route and we will let you know the safest place to stand nearer the time.

The Skills Development and Employability team run two schemes for 16 to 19 year olds – Get Ready for Work and Targeted Pathways to Apprenticeships. The schemes, which are funded by Skills Development Scotland, help young people to access training and paid work experience and to develop job seeking skills.

Stuart and Craig showed great skill and enthusiasm during their work experience with the company and boss Kelvin Murray was so impressed he asked them to join his workforce.

To find out more about training, placements or the support available to businesses contact: 01563 503000/ http://www.eastayrshireworks.co.uk

Your vote : your voice Have your say on 3rd May Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm

Keeping you informed

Global Market makes a welcome return to Kilmarnock You won’t need your passport to enjoy tastes from around the world this May because Kilmarnock is welcoming back the fantastic Global Market!

Featuring over 50 traders from around the world, the global shopping experience will include an amazing French patisserie, Dutch cheeses, German speciality sausage, Spanish paella, Greek deli produce, Belgian chocolate and from further afield – wild boar and ostrich from South Africa, Thai and Indian food and much, much more.

Apart from mouth watering food there will also be traditional crafts from countries as far apart as Finland and Peru.

Kilmarnock's Cross will also be transformed into a spectacular floral display.

The market will be open from 9am – 6pm Thursday 10, Friday 11 and Saturday 12 May and 10am – 4pm on Sunday 13 May.

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Keeping you informed

A little bit of luxury… without the big price tag!

Looking for a treat without breaking the bank? Well look no further than Kilmarnock College which offers a wide range of hair and beauty treatments in purpose-built student training salons and great deals on lunches at their training restaurant.

Aqua Spa offers tailored beauty treatments such as Sothy’s Facial Treatment – a luxury facial that will put you into a state of relaxation and Cosmeceuticals Coffee Berry Facial – the latest anti-aging facial peel which aims to provide excellent exfoliation and rehydration for the skin giving an improved and more youthful appearance. As well as offering specialist therapies, the College also offers traditional treatments such as body massage/ aromatherapy, tanning, waxing, and nail enhancements.

Whether you’re looking for a cut and blow dry, colouring or long hair styling, the dedicated team of student stylists on hand at Hair@KC will listen to your every need and recommend the right style for you. With prices starting from just £2, the talented team of students is equipped with the right skills, experience and hair technologies to ensure that they deliver the best possible results.

Call 01563 523501 to book an appointment or visit http://www2.kilmarnock.ac.uk/about/salons for more information on the treatments available.

The Gallery Restaurant, run by the hospitality students under the expert guidance of their lecturers, provides guests with a vibrant, high-quality dining experience.

A delicious three course lunch costs just £7 or if you are looking for a little less at lunchtime the courses are also individually priced. The restaurant is open Monday to Friday and tables can be reserved between 12pm and 12.30pm.

Look out for The Gallery's themed lunches where you can visit America, China and the Orient all for just £5.

Call 01563 523501 Ext 4119 or 4120 to make a booking or visit http://www2.kilmarnock.ac.uk/about/restaurant for more information.

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Cut price offers for employees You too can benefit from a wide range of employee discounts.

Check out full details here ‘Employee Discounts’

A night at the theatre Continuing the money-saving theme - why not enjoy a night at the theatre without the hefty city prices?

Centrestage in Kilmarnock has a full programme of fabulous shows on offer which cater for all tastes.

‘Centrestage Music Theatre’

Take advantage of FREE Saturday parking A free Saturday parking trial has been introduced in Kilmarnock town centre.

The trial, which will run until Saturday 9 June, means that you can use all Council-run car parks and on-street parking in the town centre for free on Saturdays.

It is hoped that the free parking will improve Saturday trading for local retailers. Kilmarnock has a wealth of independent retailers and traders, a good mix of large national retailers and of course high quality restaurants and cafés. There really is something for everyone within our town centre.

Keeping you informed

Dean Park events

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The Scottish Outdoor Access Code If you’re planning to visit Dean Castle Country Park or any other part of the fantastic countryside in East Ayrshire, please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

The Code came in to effect in February 2005 and means that everyone has a right to access most land and inland water for recreation, education and for going from place to place, providing they act responsibly. The Code has three key principles for responsible access:

Classic cars return to Dean Park Dean Castle’s ever popular annual classic car show, in association with Ayrshire Classic Car Club, is taking place on Sunday 13 May between 10.30am and 4pm.

The free show features over 150 cars from across the years and across the country.

Building for the birds The next Conservation Family Volunteer Day will take place on Sunday 20 May. Starting at 11am and running until 4pm, volunteers will be building bird hides. If you fancy volunteering please contact the Rangers on 01563 554734 or rangers@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

• Respect the interests of other people • Care for the Environment • Take responsibility for your own actions Visit http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com to help you understand your responsibilities under the Code.

Outdoor Festivals Cumnock and New Cumnock Area Outdoor Festival will be held on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April. Full details are available here http://www.deancastle.com/events/viewEv.asp?e=6079 Irvine Valley Outdoor Festival will be held from Friday 11 May to Sunday 13 May. This annual festival offers a range of walks and activities throughout the scenic Irvine Valley.

Contact the Irvine Valley Regeneration Parrtnership for more details on 01560 322966 or email ivrp@btconnect.com

Ready, steady, grow: Garden for the Games If you want to celebrate the Olympic Games 2012, then look no further than your own front garden.

The Garden for the Games initiative is seeking local people to bring their neighbourhoods together with Games inspired gardening ideas.

Sign up at www.london2012.com/localleaders and receive updates with hints and tips and promotional material, including posters and decoration ideas.

Keeping you informed

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Health and Safety Update The new Corporate Health and Safety team is now in place.

Reporting to the Depute Chief Executive/ Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, Elizabeth Morton, Ian McArthur, (Health and Safety Manager) and his team are working to raise the standard of health and safety in East Ayrshire.

Protecting employees and service users is a top priority for the Council and to ensure this message is clearly understood, the Health and Safety team will work with managers to promote a positive and practical approach to health and safety management.

With the launch of major new safety initiatives like the Health and Safety Helpdesk, SHEenterprise incident reporting system and a review of safety standards, the team is committed to strengthening safety management arrangements.

The Health and Safety Helpdesk All health and safety enquiries should now be directed through the Helpdesk. This system will allow the team to adopt a more flexible approach by responding to service requests and allocating resources in response to calls as they arise.

Contact the Helpdesk on 01563 554825 or email: Health&Safety@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Incident Reporting Procedures The new incident reporting database, SHEenterprise will replace the IncVio.1 forms during 2012. This system will improve the speed and accuracy of incident reporting and allow managers to track incidents and generate their own reports. With training courses already underway, the system will be rolled out across the Council over the next few months.

Based at the Civic Centre (South), John Dickie Street, Kilmarnock the Health and Safety Team is: Ian McArthur Health and Safety Manager Bill Gibson, David Dorran, Laura McGinnis, Richard McAvoy and Fred Appleby Health and Safety Advisors Laura Appleyard and Michelle Stokes Trainee Health and Safety Advisors Maureen McSeveney Health and Safety Support Officer Jane Symington and Laura Allan Admin Support

A Health and Safety Advisor will be appointed shortly, to complete the team.

Spotting the first signs of cancer The very word strikes fear into people’s hearts but the Scottish Government’s new Detect Cancer Early campaign aims to improve cancer survival rates by increasing the number of Scots diagnosed in the earliest stages of the disease.

The campaign provides the facts, figures and the means to help people spot the signs and symptoms of cancer as early as possible.

If you want to find out more information about cancer and the signs and symptoms, visit NHS Inform at www.nhsinform.co.uk or call 0800 22 44 88.

Save a life - Join the NHS organ donor register Would you be willing to take an organ to save your life?

If the answer is yes then ask yourself why you haven’t joined the NHS Organ Donor Register yet.

In the UK, 96 percent of people say they would take a transplant if they needed one, but just 38 percent of Scots have actually pledged to donate their organs when they die.

There are more than 600 people waiting for a transplant in Scotland right now. If it was your mum, dad, sister or brother, would you want someone else to save them?

If you agree with organ donation, don’t put it off any longer.

Join the register now and let others know your wishes.

Anyone over 12 years old can join the NHS Organ Donor Register. It’s simple and only takes two minutes.

Join online now at www.organdonationscotland.org or text LIFE to 61611.

Keeping you informed

Exhibitions The Lives of Great Photographers New summer exhibition at the Dick Institute Saturday 26 May to Saturday 25 August, Tuesday to Saturday, 11am - 5pm.

Including photographs by William Henry Fox Talbot, Julia Margaret Cameron, Eadweard Muybridge, Dorothea Lange, Tony Ray-Jones and Weegee, this exhibition highlights some of the most famous images ever produced.

This exhibition has been organised in partnership with the National Media Museum, Bradford www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk

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Enjoy

in Cumnock Cumnock May Fair Boswell in the Square

Saturday 12 May, 9am 1pm, The Square, Cumnock Kilmarnock College Exhibition Young People’s Gallery, Thursday 12 April to Saturday 2 June, Tuesday to Saturday, 11am - 5pm This exhibition is a sample of work from the HND Art and Design course at Kilmarnock College. Ten students have worked with Kate Davies, the Council’s Visual Arts and Media Officer and Chris Mackenzie, Art and Design lecturer at Kilmarnock College, to develop ideas for how to present their work and gain experience in planning exhibitions with cultural venues.

Ayrshire’s Reel History: Cumnock and Dalmellington Thursday 10 May – Saturday 11 August, Thurs – Sat, 11am – 5pm Following the successful exhibition, Ayrshire’s Reel History at the Dick Institute last autumn, this exhibition turns its focus to Cumnock and Dalmellington.

Explore the history of both communities through a series of archive film clips chosen to highlight different events, people and industries throughout the 20th century. The films clips will highlight social events in the region and ways of life which have changed dramatically in the last hundred years.

Festival of Museums Down Memory Lane, Saturday 19 May, 11am - 4pm, Baird Institute In conjunction with the Ayrshire’s Reel History exhibition, this free event will bring Cumnock’s past to life. There will be two reminiscence events, using objects from the collections to spur imagination, and old photographs to recall memories. For the younger visitor, there will be the opportunity to dress in Victorian clothing and be filmed as part of an interactive ‘green cloth’ experience.

On Saturday 12 May, the Square in Cumnock will be transformed into a bustling May Fair celebrating author James Boswell with crafts, heritage and storytelling.

Clowns, jugglers, cartoonists, and face-painting will give the town a celebratory feel, while children’s author, Vivien French, and illustrator Cate James, will be celebrating the art of storytelling with performances at 10.30am and 12 noon (free entry).

The event coincides with the Boswell Book Festival at Auchinleck House from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 May 2012.

Keeping you informed

Litterbugs cost communities dearly Over the course of just two days last month, 580 bags of litter were collected by Cleansing Services employees as they worked to clear the on/ off ramps on the East Ayrshire section of the A77. Large items such as tyres, carpets and oil drums were also removed from the roadside.

This annual clear-up requires employees to work in dangerous conditions to clear up after people who thoughtlessly dispose of their rubbish next to busy main roads.

The Council is investigating ways to identify the culprits as there are significant costs attached to this clear-up - road closures alone cost the Council over £5,000!

Transforming our relationship with the communities we serve A big thank you to everyone who took part in the employee consultation workshops - transforming our relationship with the communities we serve.

Following the workshops a report was prepared and approved by Cabinet on Wednesday 18 April. It is available here: ‘Transforming our relationship with the communities we serve’ Cabinet considered and agreed the values, guiding principles and planned outcomes of the new approach to working with our communities with the ambition of having stronger, more resilient communities, more efficient and responsive frontline services and better outcomes for local people delivered through a reduced revenue budget.

The next phase of this work will involve developing detailed operational arrangements for the implementation of the new approach and ensure all council staff embrace the new ways of working.

In response to feedback received at the employee workshops and in order to facilitate the transformation process, the Organisational Development Section will be hosting regular employee events designed to share best practice and provide a forum for employees to contribute ideas to the ongoing transformation process.

In addition, the introduction of short inter-departmental placements and shadowing opportunities, an idea put forward at one of the listening events convened to support employee engagement, will be incorporated within the EAGER process. We hope that this will continue to build upon and enhance our joint working, information sharing and innovative practice across Council and wider partnership services.

We will keep you updated on this important development.

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Council takes bronze!

The Council was presented with a Healthy Working Lives Bronze Award last week by NHS Ayrshire and Arran following a year of hard work by the Healthy Working Lives team.

Through emails, displays and stalls the team promoted a number of events during 2011, including No Smoking Day; Mental Health Awareness; Men’s Health plus Alcohol Awareness and Stress Awareness.

The team meets on a monthly basis to discuss results obtained from the Health Needs Assessment and from the NHS’s Health Events Calendar, to agree which health campaigns should be promoted.

An event calendar for 2012 has been developed, which will help the Council work towards the Silver Award, and is available on the Healthy Working Lives intranet site along with information on healthy living.

If you have any ideas or suggestions on promoting healthy living for Council employees, please contact one of the undernoted members of the Healthy Working Lives Group: Catriona Arter Human Resources Officer Anne Marie Harcourt FM Delivery Manager Amanda McInnes Principal Officer Resources Kevin Mitchell Lifestyle Development Officer, Mens Health Liam Wells ADP Co-ordinator Graham Boyd EIS Representative Lorraine Danaher Occupational Health

Keeping you informed

Retirements Over 300 years of Council service has been celebrated in style as colleagues bid a fond farewell to those who have retired recently.

Hugh Melvin

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George Park and Bobby McConnachie A joint retirement presentation marked 80 years of service

by George Park, Health and Safety Co-ordinator and Bobby McConnanchie, Project Safety Officer.

Their dedication to the Council was praised highly and colleagues wished them all the very best for a happy retirement.

With 35 years’ continuous service, Hugh Melvin, Principal Planning Officer, has hung up his high-vis jacket and will now be planning a full and active retirement.

Friends and colleagues partied the night away at his retirement do at Cumnock Rugby Club.

John O’Neil Elaine Gray John O’Neil, Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme Project Officer, has retired after 43 years’ continuous service.

He enjoyed a great send off at First Edition in Kilmarnock and is looking forward to an active retirement.

Elaine Gray, the Council’s Senior Librarian, has retired with 38 years’ continuous service.

Elaine was appointed as Library Assistant at the Dick Institute in 1974 and remained there until her retiral.

Her devotion to the library was highlighted at her retirement presentation and colleagues bid her a fond farewell at First Edition in Kilmarnock.

Benny O’Neil As caretaker - Benny was a wellkent face at the Civic Centre and London Road, where he worked before his retiral.

Colleagues and friends met him at Townholm Bowling Club to wish him all the very best in his retirement.

Felix Wright Felix Wright, Operations Manager from Outdoor Amenities, has retired with 27 years’ service.

Colleagues and friends joined Felix at Memory Lane in Kilmarnock to celebrate his achievements, his dedicated service to the Council and to wish him a very happy retirement.

Keeping you informed

April 2012 15

Alan Cochrane

Lynn Duggan

Alan Cochrane, Financial Systems Officer, retired recently with 10 years’ service to the Council.

Alan and his colleagues enjoyed a great night out at First Edition in Kilmarnock. He has bought lovely garden furniture with this retirement gift and is very hopeful that it will be a great summer!

Lynn Duggan, Clerical Assistant from Resource Support within Social Work Services, has retired recently with 12 years’ service.

Lynn was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Susan Taylor, Head of Children and Families and Criminal Justice to mark her dedicated service to the Council. She is really looking forward to her retirement. She is a keen curler and wonderful baker and is looking forward to spending more time on her hobbies.

John Sheridan John Sheridan, the Council’s Human Resources Manager, has recently retired with 43 years’ service.

Colleagues from throughout the Council joined John at Da Vinci’s in Kilmarnock for a warm send-off.