Mill issue 14 November/December 2021 by Mill Magazine

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Culture and lifestyle for Renfrewshire The Jim Goodwin interview Renfrewshire’s resurging music scene The progression of Paisley Karate star Amy Connell

Please take this magazine away with you

CONTENTS FEATURES 04 WORDS FROM THE EDITOR 06 RENFREWSHIRE INSPIRATIONAL AWARDS 08 WHAT’S ON Events across Renfrewshire 12 WEE WOBBLERS 14 I AM ME SCOTLAND 16 THE GLENNIFER The rebirth of the legendary Glenburn venue 18 THE SECRET WORLD OF FOXES Local photographer Kirsten Ferguson on her incredible images 22 MAKING LUXURY SUSTAINABLE Ingliston Country Club & Hotel’s ecological advances 32 CIRCLE Inside Renfrewshire’s new recovery hub 38 ALIVE AND KICKING Renfrewshire’s flourishing music scene 48 THE PROGRESSION OF PAISLEY Historical reflections from The Heritage Centre

INTERVIEWS 24 JIM GOODWIN Our sitdown with the St Mirren gaffer 64 AMY CONNELL Renfrewshire’s Karate medalist discusses her career, family & more

LIFESTYLE 28 HEALTH & BEAUTY 34 INTERIORS 35 PROPERTY Market report from Corum CULTURE 54 LITERATURE 56 ENTERTAINMENT FOOD & DRINK 58 RENFREWSHIRE’S FOOD NEWS 60 DINNER at Lynnhurst 62 LUNCH at Scoff & Patter

INTRODUCTION

WORDS FROM THE EDITOR Well, I don’t think it’s any stretch to say that the prognosis is a little brighter than when I was constructing the editor’s note for last year’s November/December issue. Although there are still some necessary precautions in place, the life that many of us wilfully took for granted and the vibrant towns and villages that host it have been rekindled. Now, merely meeting a friend for coffee or a quick pint is tinged with a newfound excitement as the memories of what it was like to have these simple pleasures withheld lingers at the back of our minds. So, with everything from seasonal markets to our own individual wintertime traditions lurching back into life, we’re naturally full of gratitude. As not only does it make our job a little easier, it also ensures that the wonderful spirit of our unique local community is not only intact, but thriving. Shining an extended spotlight on our local musicians and a duo of the region’s sports personalities, it’s an issue that intends to show you that even when things were in disarray, Renfrewshire’s locals wouldn’t be disheartened for long and in actuality, we’ve emerged through the other side with plenty to be grateful for. See you all next year (or on our snazzy new website in the interim!). All the best,

Published by Mill Magazine Ltd. 2014 Mile End Mill, Abbey Mill Business Centre, Paisley, PA1 1JS.

Amy Connell cover photo by Graeme Hewitson

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Robert Blair Keep in touch with Robert and the Mill team via social media or email editor@millmagazine.co.uk

To advertise in Mill, please call 0773 998 9969 or email paul�millmagazine.co.uk 4 MILL

Editor: Robert Blair Design & Sales: Paul Dickson Beauty Editor: Susie Cormack Bruce Interiors Editor: Kike Pavlik Men’s Fashion Editor: Josef McFadden Sub Editor: Alistair Forrest Contributors: Keira Brown, Bovine, Ali Burden-Blake, David Cameron, Gary Clark, Elizabeth Van Dyke, Kirsten Ferguson, Johnny Graham, Thomas Graham, Graeme Hewitson, Szymon Kubiak, David Weir

This magazine is kindly sponsored by Correctair Solutions (Scotland) Ltd, correctair.co.uk

Produced on environmentally friendly chlorine-free paper derived from sustained forests. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All prices are correct at time of going to press but subject to change. The content of all advertisements in this publication is the responsibility of the advertiser and is received in good faith. Mill Magazine cannot be held responsible for any erroneous advertising content. The opinions expressed in Mill Magazine are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or publishers who cannot be held responsible for actions taken as a result of the content of this magazine. © Mill Magazine Ltd 2021.

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WHAT’S ON

As the first annual event approaches, here’s all the relevant updates on the forthcoming ceremony and judging process.

evised as a means of celebrating the unparalleled community spirit that permeates through our population, the first annual Renfrewshire Inspirational Awards will be here before we know it. Set to be held in digital format on Sunday 28th November – there are plans for a physical event when it comes time for the sequel – it won’t be long now until our judges Steven Thompson, Made In Paisley’s Caroline Gormley and Quality Cards & Gifts’ David Shan are casting their deciding votes. With that in mind, we’d appreciate it if you could get any final nominations submitted via our online form before Monday 15th November. As a reminder, the categories are as follows and anyone from Renfrewshire is eligible: • Inspirational Photographer • Inspirational Young Citizen • Inspirational Citizen • Inspirational Senior Citizen • Inspirational Charity Organisation • Inspirational Community Organisation • Inspirational Community Enterprise. 6 MILL

Having come aboard to lend her expertise and unrivalled enthusiasm, Leah Canning, architect of the lauded Inverclyde Inspirational Awards, had the following to say about the origins of her creation and the excitement she feels about its new sister ceremony. “The Inverclyde Inspirational Awards was established in 2019 with the purpose of rewarding local individuals, groups and organisations who have done incredible work within the community. To be expanding into Renfrewshire in collaboration with Mill Magazine shows that others have seen the success of the 2020 and 2021 awards in Inverclyde and want to bring the awards to the local area to celebrate those around them. We are looking forward to hearing all about the wonderful work going on in Renfrewshire and we want to be shouting about all the locals, groups and other organisations who deserve the recognition for their work.” So, if you know someone who meets all that criteria, then why not fill out a nomination form and give them the recognition that they truly deserve? For more information or to fill out our entry form, head to millmagazine.co.uk and our social media channels as well as facebook.com/renfrewshireinspirationalawards.

FEATURES

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WHAT'S ON

FRI 12 NOV

We pick out some of the highlights taking place on your doorstep this winter.

THE GIN EVENT AT OLD SWAN, PAISLEY

A staple of their calendar that never fails to sell out, The Old Swan’s eternally enjoyed gin night is returning in November. As anyone who’s attended before will know, guests will be provided with four premium gins and Fevertree/Schweppes mixers alongside an excellent grazing platter and more. Tickets for this special evening are available behind the bar now.

SAT 20 NOV 10am

BGCP COMIC & TOY MARKET

Although it might not be on the grand scale of comic con, BGCP are looking to tide Paisley residents over with their comic & toy market. Held at The Paisley Centre between 10am-4pm, traders will be on-hand to sell everything from comics, art, action figures, t-shirts and a whole lot more.

WED 1 DEC 11am

ART BY THE BURN FESTIVE MARKET

From 11am-7pm, the car park at Houston’s Fox & Hounds will be transformed into an eclectic festive market. Boasting 16 Art and Craft traders, live painting demos, hot drinks, and delicious pub grub, organisers have promised that there will even be a few treats in store for the wee ones.

SUN 21 NOV 1pm

EARLY BIRD CHRISTMAS GIFT AND CRAFT FAIR

If you're looking to get a morsel or two of that coveted festive cheer in advance, then look no further than Kilbarchan's Early Bird Christmas Gift and Craft Fair. Held at The Guide Centre on Barn Green, the event will play host to over 20 stalls from local crafters and will provide refreshments too. Tickets for the fair are priced at just a paltry £2! 8 MILL

WHAT’S ON

Anchor Mill Paisley

THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE COMMUNITY

An employee of Morrisons Anchor Mill since it opened in 2005, Jamie Kerr is setting a heartwarming example with his monthly platelet donations to the NHS. Being a platelet donor is my proudest achievement in life. Initially, I’d started giving blood as a way to give back to the special baby care unit at the RAH. My partner and I had a beautiful daughter, Rubi, who was a patient there before she lost her fight for life, receiving both blood transfusions and platelets. After a few years, I was asked If I’d be willing to donate platelets at the blood transfusion unit at Nelson Mandela Place and naturally, my answer was yes. On the 7th October 2021, I was honoured to give my 50th donation. I can be there for anywhere between an hour to two hours, so I always schedule my trips on my day off! The process is a little different from giving blood, as you’re hooked up to a large machine that filters the blood and separates the platelets. The red blood cells are then returned to my body, while the platelets assist in the medical treatment of seriously ill people. To date, my platelets have been used to help cancer patients, a new mother who’d had a tough time and tiny babies across Scotland. I attend the unit every three to 12 weeks and always donate either two-to-three units. My goal is to provide 100 units as at that stage, I receive my “ruby” badge! Platelets can help to improve a patient’s quality of life, so if you have a few spare hours, why not give them a call and donate your blood or platelets to help someone out? It’s pain free, honest. I don’t even like needles! To find out more, visit scotblood.co.uk

DATES FROM 27 NOV

CHRISTMAS AT MRS PARTY

With the season for yuletide festivities approaching, there’s a lot going on at Johnston Street’s Mrs Party. “Our little elves will be arriving in true Mrs Party style in a variety of options and personalised to suit every budget. Get booked in to start your Christmas countdown. Christmas balloons and Christmas eve boxes will be available for collection and delivery right up until the 24th. What’s more, Santa Claus is coming to Mrs Party on Saturday 27th November as well as the 4th, 11th and 18th of December. These are pre-booked and personalised visits only. Covid safe and ASN friendly. Prices vary depending on magical gift options. Please email mrspartysanta@gmail.com with your names and ages of children and preferred date to visit and one of Santa’s elves will get back to you!”

SAT 4 DEC 10am

ACCORD CHRISTMAS FAYRE @ COATS PAISLEY

Situated at one of Renfrewshire’s most awe-inspiring buildings, the Accord Christmas Fayre is a sure fire means of kickstarting your festive cheer. Featuring stalls for jewelry, bric-a-brac and toys as well as a sure to be sought after area for baked goods and a tearoom, it’s an event that’s got a little something for everyone. In case you thought the kids had been left out of the equation, we can assure you that they’ll be more than catered for courtesy of a Santa’s grotto and festive face painting too!

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WHAT’S ON

10-11 DEC

THE WIZARD OF OZ

What’s more unmistakably Christmassy than the panto? For one weekend in December, Jazz Hands Glasgow will be decamping to Renfrew North Parish Church for a festive retelling of the legendary 1939 fantasy film. Written by James Barry, the team have promised “many panto elements – bright costumes and scenery, over-the-top characters, witches, cheesy jokes, visual jokes, songs and dance!”

FRI 17 DEC 7pm

Taking place from 7pm-1am, this forthcoming event at Johnstone’s most revered hotel is sure to provide that slice of festive luxury that you’re after. Complete with a three-course meal with cocktails & canapes on arrival, entertainment for the evening will be provided by none other than the Splash showband. With tickets priced at just £49.50 per person, head down for a fantastic night of dining and dancing.

FIRE EXIT AT THE BUNGALOW

Considering the heritage that it has in the legendary 70’s subculture, it seems only fitting that The Bungalow are welcoming some bonafide Renfrewshire punk royalty to the venue this December in the form of Fire Exit. Supported by Skaledonia, Sequence 369 and Scunnurt, it’s sure to be a celebratory evening filled with high-octane output.

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FESTIVE PARTY NIGHT AT THE LYNNHURST

NOV & DEC

CHRISTMAS AT BARNHILL FARM SHOP

There’s loads of festive fun for all the family at Barnhill this Christmas with indoor markets every weekend from 27th November. Complete with story time with Mrs Christmas, games, brunch with Santa and late night shopping every Thursday in December. We can assure you that yule be sorry if you miss it!

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FEATURES

A Head

START

After successfully recovering from a year in lockdown, Wee Wobblers are back and have further expansion on their minds.

lthough some cycling statistics would suggest that the number of kids on bikes is plummeting, it’s a far cry from what founder Scott McIntosh and his team of instructors at Wee Wobblers are experiencing. Initially inspired by a search for a class for his own daughter, Scott soon acknowledged the gap in the market and sought to fill it. From there, this Paisley-born company has grown arms and legs. “I got started in November 2017 with trial classes, then we really began in January in 2018 at the Lagoon in Paisley,” he recounted. “To be quite honest with you, I thought that’s where it’d stop but I realised that people were coming from Kilmarnock and all over because there’s not an awful lot of lessons about.

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“From there, I slowly started training people and opening up other areas. So, we went from a Saturday morning in Paisley to running classes in Renfrew on a Sunday. Then, we added Parklands, Newton Mearns, Hamilton and Tollcross. It’s all grown quite organically through word of mouth, so that’s been great. It’s either family, friends or Facebook! “I think we’ve trained upwards of 1,300 kids over the four years and that’s with 12 months out due to Covid. From block-to-block, we’re constantly selling out, but we limit the class to eight kids. You could do a cynical money grab and increase numbers, but they wouldn’t get the same service.” Focused on “teaching them to balance first and foremost”, Scott’s classes for two and up and over sixes are intended to ensure that they “stay safe while keeping others safe too”. For the company’s founder, the excitement of witnessing a student take off on the bike for the first time never fades. “Yeah, it’s fantastic as you get to know them all. You can feel some of them pulling away and they’re off.

Other times, It can take a wee bit of perseverance but once they get it, they don’t forget. “When I started this, we had people saying ‘that’ll never take off, who would pay to do that?’” Scott proclaimed. “Well, it’s definitely been a success so far. I know that I like my kids being involved in groups, so it’s definitely a great way to do it. It’s just a case of following the programme, but it’s their hard work that gets them there. It sounds soppy, but you really get a lot back from it. As for the future, we want to reach a stage where when someone says ‘cycling class’, you immediately think of Wee Wobblers!” To sign up or find out more, visit weewobblers.co.uk

FEATURES

L E T TH E F E S T I V IT IES B EG IN!

Discover our calendar of festivities.

From sparkling party nights to fun events for the family, there’s something magical for everyone to enjoy.

Festive Party Nights Delicious 3-course meal, glass of prosecco and entertainment.

Christmas Day Dining Dinner with all the trimmings, and a special visit from Santa with a gift for the little ones!

Christmas Panto Fun

THURSDAY 23RD DECEMBER Start the final countdown with some festive cheer! Includes 2-course meal, a ticket for Cinderella pantomime and return transport to the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow.

Plus…Hogmanay celebrations, festive dining menus and more! TO FIND OUT MORE & ENQUIRE VISIT BOWFIELDHOTEL.CO.UK/CHRISTMAS

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FEATURES

ERASING THE STIGMA In the wake of underrepresentation and discrimination of people with disabilities, I Am Me Scotland have unveiled a groundbreaking and engaging new education platform.

ou’d think that by this point in human history, everyone would be willing to treat one another with compassion, empathy and decency. But as the Renfrewshire based charity I Am Me Scotland knows, this can often not be extended to people with both visible and hidden disabilities. Having launched a new educational resource celebrating Down’s syndrome awareness month, founder Carol Burt-Wilson MBE takes us inside their new platform and the rationale behind it. “There’s a gap in education around equality, particularly when it comes to disability and prejudice-based bullying,” she informs us. “We have been developing an online platform that seeks to tackle this and one of the most recent resources that we have been focusing on is Down’s syndrome awareness. We have been working with seven amazing children with Down’s syndrome to develop the lesson and it’s now available on our education platform. The lesson 14 MILL

Still taken from I Am Me Scotland’s Down’s syndrome awareness animation

includes a short film and a new animation enabling the children to educate their peers about their gift of an extra chromosome.” Rather than being an isolated programme, I Am Me's campaign coincides with the ongoing nationwide effort to get an archaic law that allows the abortion of babies with Down's syndrome and other disabilities right up until they're in the birth canal. “It would surprise you how many people don’t know this exists,” says Julie Telford, mother of Charlotte who is among the stars of the I Am Me’s film. “It’s a discriminatory law that was created in the 60s when things were very different and it’s not been changed to reflect that. I believe in every woman’s right to choose, but there has to be updated information about what it’s like to have a child with Down’s syndrome. There are differences, but it’s a far cry from the 60s when kids were still being sent to institutions. Now, children thrive and

they’re actively involved in a lot of mainstream activities. This law means that even kids with a cleft palate could be terminated at 40 weeks, so it needs to be overhauled.” “We are hoping the interactive educational resources help create a better understanding of disability,” Carol continues. “The children’s voices are held all the way through, so it’s a peer-to-peer learning experience. The goal is for those young people to help to change future attitudes around disability, in order to move away from the stigma that currently exists. If children are being educated on issues around discrimination, bullying and hate crime at primary school and have a better understanding of disabilities, then it can help to foster understanding and create a new generation of people who can celebrate diversity.” To access I Am Me Scotland’s new education platform, visit iammescotlandeducation.org.uk

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MILL 15

Hitting Reset During a transformative period for Glenburn landmark The Gleniffer, Co-owner Gemma Hanlon talks us through their reimagining of the space as a community hub.

or decades, The Gleniffer has stood as a staple of Paisley that was primarily known for its cheap hotel rooms and affordable function suite. Despite that, there was always a lingering sense that this vast building could be something more. Since taking over the premises in July of 2020, co-owners Gary McCaw and Gemma Hanlon have set out to maximise the potential of every square inch of space. Although the renovation may have been beset by Covid-induced delays and she had to get used to working from a makeshift “office in bedroom six”, Gemma maintains that it wasn’t nearly enough to discourage them from realising this Glenburn Road staple’s potential. “I grew up in Glenburn myself, so The Gleniffer is a place that’s always been here. It was where everyone’s 16 MILL

dad disappeared to at the weekend so if you wanted pocket money, you knew where to go (laughs). When we came in and started seeing the renovation and the plans for the place, we knew it was an opportunity that we couldn’t say no to.” No longer content with a more BnB-oriented business model, Gemma and Gary have strived to make the new incarnation of The Gleniffer as inclusive and adaptable as possible across food, drinks and everything in between. “Myself and Gary go to places like Giffnock all the time as I’m glutenfree, so it can be hard to find options,” Gemma proclaimed. “So, we’ve essentially made the sort of place that we go to on our doorstep. We couldn’t not have a gluten-free menu and we have a really expansive vegan offering as well.

“We actually had someone come from just outside of Edinburgh, just because they’d read about the glutenfree menu. He visited with a table of four and then he came back with a booth of 21 people. It’s heartwarming for me as I know that I used to have to travel for food, so we’ve taken on the bad situations that we’ve had and ensured that our customers never have to experience that.” From incorporating breakfast items into the lunchtime offering through to serving an array of house favourites, the pair have left no stone unturned in ensuring that visitors can have a person-specific experience at The Gleniffer that goes right down to the finest detail. “I think people are quite surprised when we get enquiries through and they find out how varied our menus are and everyone we can cater to.

FEATURES

“THE GLENIFFER WAS WHERE EVERYONE’S DAD DISAPPEARED TO AT THE WEEKEND SO IF YOU WANTED POCKET MONEY, YOU KNEW WHERE TO GO!”

Even when it comes to things like the wine menu, everyone’s really excited about how we’ve paired them with the food. We just wanted everything to be perfect. It means that we've had to change things a few times, but that’s part of developing. Even with the rooms, you used to be able to get your breakfast in the morning but there wasn’t the capacity to have a nice evening meal or a few drinks. That’s all changed and now, we can cater them from dusk till dawn! “The idea of what the place should be is still as when we started,” Gemma declared. “It’s all about the freshest food and the best, smiliest service. The feedback that we’re getting is that our staff are amazing with kids as well, so that’s been lovely to hear.” Providing everything from cocktails in Browns Bar & Bistro

to comedy nights, live music and dinner with the family in the Polson’s Restaurant, The Gleniffer has become a real destination for Renfrewshire at an exponential rate. Yet even more heartening for Gemma, this rebirth has been resoundingly received by the local community that she grew up in. “Beforehand, it had a good following for the bar and the events suite but they didn’t have anything during the week. Plus, it mainly used to be a lot of older gentlemen that came in. Nowadays, the regulars are still here but they’re bringing their wives for a nice glass of wine too. There’s a buzz here 24/7, even during the week. So, that’s been great to see. The clientele has definitely shifted. We’re still getting people that have been coming here for years, but there’s a lot more diversity too.

Myself and Gary came down one night and we saw a group of young boys at one table, girls drinking cocktails across from them and then an older couple at another. “We want it to be a community hub,” Gemma says. “If someone’s going for a coffee with their friend? ‘Oh I’ll meet you at The Gleniffer.’ Going for a meal? ‘I’ll get you at The Gleniffer!’ Growing up in Glenburn, I know that wasn’t really the case before. So, it’s great to be able to provide a space where everyone can come and get what they’re after and it's touching when people come in to say ‘I’m so happy that there’s something like this on our doorstep.” The Gleniffer, 9 Glenburn Road, Paisley, PA2 8TA. To book a table call 0141 884 2670 or visit the website, thegleniffer.co.uk MILL 17

FEATURES

Patience - red fox watches for movement in the tree above

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FEATURES

The Secret World of Foxes

Recently recognised by National Geographic for her breathtaking work, local photographer Kirsten Ferguson takes us inside the process of capturing images of her favourite subjects.

ike many, I have observed urban foxes in my local area and a few years ago, I began documenting them through a series of photographs. It is true to say that foxes polarise opinion, many view them as pests, regard them as scavengers and they are often labelled as vermin. Others harbour a fear of them, perceiving foxes as unpredictable and dangerous. Foxes are indeed wild and as with every wild animal, they should be treated with caution and respect. In my view, foxes, and their behaviour, are still very much misunderstood and these incredible animals are unfairly demonised. In a rural setting, it is unusual to see foxes as they are elusive and largely remain mostly out of sight. The phenomenon of the urban fox is manmade, as their natural habitat has been disturbed and removed in the wake of ‘progress’ through housing, industrial development, etcetera. As a highly adaptable species, foxes have successfully modified their behaviour in order to exist in the new version of their world and this has made them far more visible than their rural counterparts. I have now spent over ten years watching and photographing foxes, but this most definitely developed during lockdown in 2020. I have had the great privilege of watching successive generations of the same family unit over a number of years and I was able to spend more time doing this with the foxes in my local area over the last 18 months.

Ball games - young red foxes compete for possession of a plastic ball. Young foxes display puppy like behaviour, playful with each other but also vying for dominance.

A leap of Faith - young red fox hones it’s hunting skills with a common frog.

During my time photographing them, I have come to the realisation that foxes are incredible parents; both the male and females are heavily involved in the rearing of their young. While still in the den (earth), the female vixen will remain with the cubs, allowing the male dog fox to handle the responsibility of supplying food. As the youngsters grow and move out of the earth, the parents support each other to look after their young. Adult foxes are incredibly tender with their children and while it is wise not to anthropomorphise their behaviour, it is clear that good parenting skills are universal. Just like humans, there are times where the boisterous cubs, vying for attention, can test the patience of their parents. Certain aspects of fox behaviour are often misinterpreted and there are tales of urban foxes seen in the early morning or twilight carrying a small MILL 19

FEATURES

Mother’s Pride - a young fox cub shares an intimate moment with mum.

Young red fox and wild poppies - this cub nuzzled into the flower heads and curiously watched passing bumble bees.

Young red fox - this one is around eight weeks and has developed the distinctive amber coat, the guard hairs are still visible, giving them a fuzzy appearance.

animal in their mouth. These sightings are often wrongly assumed as foxes taking a family pet such as a cat or rabbit. In reality, this generally accounts for the vixen moving her young cubs to safety if she has identified that the current earth/den is under threat. Watching young cubs taking their first tentative steps out of the earth has been an experience I have enjoyed viewing a few times over successive seasons. Their playful curiosity mirrors that of domestic puppies and their interactions with each other are highly entertaining to watch. If you don’t own a dog and have ever found dog toys in your garden, chances are that you are being visited by playful fox cubs. In my photographic work, I strive to create images that invite debate, discussion and curiosity. I trained as a fine artist painter, so I have a good understanding of the aesthetic principles of composing an image. I always work with the available natural light to create my pictures and I am fortunate that the locations where I photograph have conditions that create interesting and dramatic lighting. With all wildlife photography, ethics are of the utmost importance to me and it is vital that the subject is not disturbed in any way in the pursuit of obtaining a shot. Working with a telephoto lens allows me to capture moments without getting too close. 20 MILL

Mill Magazine have been supporters of my work for some time, and as a direct result of their generous online support, I was offered a chance to exhibit a selection of 12 images in the POP gallery in Paisley’s Piazza shopping centre in March 2020 in association with Paisley Museums. In September of this year, my image A Leap of Faith was selected as the editor’s pick on National Geographic’s “Your Shot” on Instagram and is about to go into print in National Geographic’s animal newsletter. As an enthusiastic amateur wildlife photographer, I am so grateful to have these local and international platforms to showcase my work. In my view, the red fox is an iconic symbol of Scottish or British wildlife and if my images do anything to dispel misconceptions about them and help others to understand their plight, then I’m satisfied that I have done some good. For more of Kirsten’s phenomenal work, please visit Facebook and search Kirsten Ferguson Photography.

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FEATURES

MAKING LUXURY SUSTAINABLE From polytunnels to innovative plans for the future, Gary Clark from Ingliston Country Club & Hotel outlines how they’re melding hospitality with ecological responsibility.

f you have visited Ingliston Country Club & Hotel, you will know they do not do anything by halves. This is particularly applicable to their sustainability programme, whereby they employ many different methods to contribute to a greener, safer environment. We spoke to Gary Clark, one of the directors at Ingliston who outlined the measures already in place, not to mention the new additions coming soon… “Our environmental/eco agenda continues with as much enthusiasm as ever with our estate nurseries bursting with an abundance of herbs and plants from our polytunnels, which are used by our chefs in the kitchens,” Gary proclaims. “All plants throughout the estate are also grown onsite by our dedicated grounds team. “Ground preparation is also well underway for fruit-bearing orchards and with thriving beehives now 22 MILL

on-site, we look forward to a wonderful harvest of honey this coming summer and an abundance of pollination from our busy bees. “We are extremely proud to have one of the largest solar panel installations in Scotland providing us with a vast amount of the energy we use throughout the estate,” he continues. “Those of you who have visited will know that Ingliston is beautifully illuminated in the evening and this is actually assisted by the sun. Our extravagant Christmas lights are no exception and can be enjoyed as we approach the festive period. “We have recently introduced electric car charging points within our main car park in a continued effort to support a cleaner environment. All light bulbs throughout the estate are energy efficient and we now ensure all water bottles within the accommodation are reusable glass bottles in order to

save on plastic waste. Not stopping there, we also reuse the horse manure (of which we have plenty) as a nutrient-rich fertiliser! “Next on our green agenda is an exciting new feature in Palominos Restaurant with the installation of a Nordic moss wall which will not only be an appealing visual, but comes with a number of environmental benefits such as natural insulation and improved air quality. Maintaining a sustainable and eco-conscious business while preparing and safeguarding for the future is right at the heart and passion of Ingliston,” Gary concludes. “Come and join us, whether you wish to eat, sleep or play there is something for everyone.” Ingliston Country Club & Hotel, Old Greenock Road, Bishopton, PA7 5PA, 01505 864333, ingliston.com

FEATURES

MILL 23

FEATURES

Jim

Goodwin During a rare international week break, the gaffer caught up with our editor – and lifelong St Mirren fan – to discuss top six ambitions, career highlights and more. 24 MILL

INTERVIEW

How do you handle the pressure of stewarding the top six ambitions that the club has at the moment? It was something that I spoke about with the board from the minute that I took the job, really. I think that the club has underachieved in the past, even going back to my days as a player. The top six always eluded us for one reason or another, but I felt we had a good enough group to do it. This is my third season now and I feel that we’ve gradually made improvements on the recruitment side that have put us in a good position. Obviously, last year was the best finish in the league for a long time and we hadn’t made it to two semi-finals in one season for decades, so we want to continuously build off that. We’re not getting carried away, but we’re doing alright. I know we live in a world now where people want instant success and can be quick to be negative, but it’s just about being realistic about where we’re at and not getting too down when things aren’t going our way or too excited when they’re going well. On the subject of negativity, are you glad that social media wasn’t a thing you had to deal with during your career as a player? It’s too easy for people to voice negative opinions, but it’s not something that we let bother us too much. I don’t have social media, but I know that it can impact some of the younger boys. I think their generation seems to take criticism a little more personally than we did. It’s not like I’m going back 30 or 40 years, more like 10 or 15, but when I was playing first team football down in England, you weren’t really able to read about what people thought about you. Now, some of the things people write on these platforms can be quite nasty. Sometimes, I think the boys need to be reminded that the only opinion that really matters is mine as manager as I’m the one who picks the team. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and I encourage that, as long as it’s constructive and done in the right way. At the end of the day, most of them are more than capable of handling that and the better we’re doing on the pitch, the nicer things people will write about them. We all want what’s best for the club but I think nowadays, certain sections of society, not just football fans, find it easier to be critical. That’s just life.

“I’VE BEEN VERY LUCKY FOR SO MANY THINGS TO HAPPEN TO A KID FROM COUNTY WATERFORD, SO I’M ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR IT”

As someone who’d previously played for the team, how does it feel to see new players come to Paisley for the first time in the same way that you once did? I think people that are new to the club are always pleasantly surprised about the facilities initially, with the training ground and this new stadium. I think they’re also taken aback by the size of support that we have. I’d always like it to be bigger, I think Paisley is a wellpopulated area and we could generate more. There’s probably far too many buses going to other stadiums and we’d love to try and stop that and grab the imagination of young people in the community. It’s something we were doing before Covid, I was spending a lot of time going to local schools, reading to kids and just trying to get the club out there. That’s ultimately what we’re always trying to do. Season tickets are up on last year and we always want to see that grow. As someone who’s been a part of special moments in St Mirren’s history, are you always looking to provide more of them from the manager’s position? Yeah, definitely. When I think back to the league cup-winning season in 2013, we felt a real connection between the club and the town back then. I think you could see that by the amount of people we were bringing to the semi final and the final, there must’ve been 20,000 there at Hampden. It’s the job of myself and the board to put out better teams that’ll get better results and encourage those people to come back on a regular basis. Cup runs like that can really help bring us together but I have to say that during the lockdown period, I worked closely with the trust and we felt that was an opportunity for MILL 25

INTERVIEW

the football club to give back to the community and make them realise that we don’t take the support for granted. It’s not a one-way street, so we and the club delivered hundreds of meals to the local people that needed it most. I have a close affinity with the fans and the club. Having spent five and a half years as a player and three as a manager, I'll be due a testimonial in 18 months (laughs). They’re the ones who pay really good money to come and see their team and they want to be entertained. We all get that, nobody wants to entertain people more than myself and the club. Where does that 2013 league cup win rank high among your personal career highlights? It’s up there, without a doubt. From a club perspective, it’s definitely my biggest. It happened when I was 32 when you’re getting into the latter stages of your career and you’re not really expecting another big moment, so I probably appreciated that more than any other. I’ve been very lucky for so many things to happen to a kid from County Waterford, so I’m always grateful for it. After the game, I was burst so I didn’t even end up going into Paisley, but I know a lot of the boys did. The next day, I met them all in the town and we kicked on for a fantastic couple of days on the lash (laughs). When you’re at a club like ours, you appreciate those moments even more. So when you do it, you need to really relish it. We’re capable of doing it again and that’s what we need to keep believing.

Jim celebrating winning the cup with his daughter

Who are some of the best players that you played with at St Mirren? Steven Thompson, Paul McGowan, Davie Van Zanten and wee [John] McGinn. Good lads and good teammates. No egos, all just wanting to work hard for the team. Who was the hardest player? Darren McGregor was a monster, man. Certainly a guy that if he got a hold of you, you’d be in trouble! Who has the worst music taste at St Mirren? Our physio Kevin Bain is absolutely shocking. I like a bit of country music now and again, but Kevin listens to everything and anything. His clobber matches it as well. He belongs in Texas or something (laughs). He’ll go in the huff with me but I need to speak the truth.

26 MILL

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MILL 27

FEATURES

I Should Coco Glistening eyes, flushed cheeks and red, red lips, that’s the look for the festivities from Chanel and we are loving it. This new collection also celebrates Chanel N°5’s 100 year anniversary – the new lipstick packaging embossed with a golden 5 while the eyeshadows carry the scent bottle motif – meaning this limited edition collection will be on the Wish List of any Chanel beauty lover. Prices start at £24, available at Chanel counters and online now.

BEAUTY

Our resident expert Susie Cormack Bruce is back with her winter wonders.

STRAIGHT UP Loving that this genius 2-in-1 hair straightener and curler from celebrity stylist and afro hair specialist Dionne Smith comes in three ceramic plate width options – mini (shown here), midi and maxi – meaning there’s one to suit every hair length, texture or control preference. So, what size are you sizing up? £80 online at signaturebydionnesmith.com

28 MILL

PARTY ON! If you’re looking for the perfect stocking filler for any party loving pals, this little cutie from Next will fit the bill. Featuring Eyeko Black Magic Eyeliner (0.4ml, full size), Too Faced Hangover Setting Spray (30ml, travel size), Benefit Gimme Brow + Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in Shade 3 (1g, deluxe sample) and Philosophy Amazing Grace Ballet Rose Eau De Toilette (15ml, deluxe sample) it comes with a dinky £12 price tag. Available instore and online at www.next.co.uk

GOTTA HAND IT TO THEM Until the pandemic, hands were always the bridesmaid but never the bride when it came to beauty routines but we’re now all much more hand hygiene and protection aware. One of the best smelling sanitisers is from organic Scottish brand Ishga, with a full size and a travel size spray in its new Protect gift set, £57. There’s also a Hydrating Hand Cream, shampoo and body bar which all come housed in 100% vegan leather tassel washbag. There are four other sets to choose from but we promise your digits will be delighted with this one. View and buy online at uk.ishga.com

Discover ReWear

FEATURES

Our new range inspired by nature

2 for 1 from £89 with single-vision lenses to the same prescription

Book an eye exam at specsavers.co.uk Paisley 5 Moss Street Tel 0141 848 9192 Cannot be used with any other offers. Second pair from the same price range or below. Both pairs include standard 1.5 single-vision lenses (or 1.6 for 169 Rimless ranges). Varifocal/bifocal: pay for lenses in first pair only. Excludes SuperDigital, SuperDrive varifocals, SuperReaders 1-2-3 occupational lenses and safety eyewear. Additional charge – Extra Options. MILL 29

HEALTH & BEAUTY

expert

HAIR

ECO-FRIENDLY EYEWEAR Frank Michael, owner of The Salon in Linwood, takes us inside his career...

There’s a sustainable vision for Specsavers Paisley with new ReWear frame range.

How did you start? I first started my training in Daly’s on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow before making my way to Fraser's on Buchanan Street.

Stylish, value-conscious glasses wearers in Paisley can now choose specs specifically designed to reduce environmental impact with the launch of Specsavers’ ReWear range, now available in the Moss Street store in Paisley. Each frame in the 24-strong collection is created from recycled, discarded water bottles and a range of other bio-based materials that are friendly for the environment, meaning that specs wearers can strive to do their bit for the planet while remaining fashion conscious. With accreditation from the Global Recycled Standard and Control Union, which develops services around the sustainability of industry supply chains, the glasses, priced at £89, take style cues from the natural world. Frame names such as Lavender, Elm, River, Rain and Sandalwood evoke the colours and textures of our eco systems, which are further brought to life in the specs themselves. Store director, Gail Thompson, says: “The new ReWear range is not only an affordable way to look stylish while wearing glasses, but also a big step for us in reducing the impact that our products have on the environment. “Everyone in the store is hugely passionate about supporting sustainable causes, so we’re pleased to be able to offer a series of frames that can hopefully make a difference in showing our respect for the planet.”

How long have you been a hair stylist and how have things changed over the years? I have been a stylist for 44 years and things have definitely changed over the years. When I first started, perms were in and there wasn’t a lot of demand for colour. Now, it's all colour and you only see a few perms. What’s your most asked for celebrity look? Jennifer Aniston What's your go-to product? And why? Go to products would definitely be Schwarzkopf, they’re the best all round. On top of that, Olaplex is brilliant when it comes to repairing damaged hair. One thing you’d advise all clients to do? Always use a good shampoo and conditioner for coloured hair. In terms of hair trends, what’s been your favourite during 2021? Choppy cuts are great for those who want something a little less high maintenance. All you need to do is just add some texturising spray and it looks great. What’s the best thing about owning a salon in Linwood? I’ve been in Linwood for 41 years and I’ve got to know a lot of lovely clients in that time. In fact, I think of them more as friends. 30 MILL

Further information about ReWear is available at specsavers.co.uk/rewear or call 0141 848 9192.

Oh how we’ve missed you We are open for business and excited to see you again.

ACCORD CHRISTMAS FAYRE 10am till 3pm, Saturday 4th December Coats Paisley, High Street, Paisley PA1 2BA Charity Number SC013682

FROM THE

GROUND UP W

hen you think of the spaces which are synonymous with recovery from mental health, alcohol and drugs, it’s likely that your mind immediately goes to clinical environments and harsh striplighting. But as we meet the team at CIRCLE, the new hub that’s been created in the centre of Renfrewshire, it’s clear that they are not adhering to any of these stereotypes. In reality, the entire ethos behind this new space is based around eschewing the old methods in order to create a space where the process of recovery is aided by an environment that’s been built to the service users’ specifications. From liaising with psychologists and ensuring the walls were painted to their recommendations and regulating the temperature in order to provide the most therapeutic and soothing environment through to 32 MILL

the array of activities it offers on a weekly basis, nearly everything about Renfrewshire’s soon-to-be launched CIRCLE – right down to its name – has been devised by focus groups. “CIRCLE is operating through a peer-led model,” the team informed us over a coffee, “from the workers all the way through to the service users.” Renfrewshire’s Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service was Reviewed in 2018 and identified a real gap of recovery opportunities in the area. This Service will be the first of its kind in Renfrewshire and is a truly groundbreaking development for our region. CIRCLE is fully supported by the Alcohol and Drug Partnership and builds on the work of the Alcohol & Drug Commission to further strengthen the support in Renfrewshire for people in recovery. Now, CIRCLE is taking the lead with

an approach which acknowledges that mental health and addiction go hand-in-hand when it comes to recovery. “It’s amazing, this place is a complete blank canvas and it’s all about what the service users want to see. Being in recovery, we know that you can feel invisible, but CIRCLE aims to reiterate that our service users are here and they’re contributing to society again. The feedback that we got from those who were involved in choosing the name has been amazing too, they said that being a part of the process has renewed their confidence on account of the fact that they were not only heard, but their ideas were actually used. “Recovery is such a fluid thing,” they continue, “things are always consistently changing and sometimes you even go back to stage two from

Photos by Digitalpict Photography, digitalpict.com

By taking a revolutionary approach to recovery, CIRCLE is about to become a force for positive change in Renfrewshire.

FEATURES

stage one, but we’re here to support service users through the entire journey. That’s why, for us, mental health, addiction and recovery go hand-in-hand. Undiagnosed mental illnesses can be a huge factor, but once you’re in recovery, the numbness subsides and your memories, good or bad, begin to return. “Through what’s called a ‘traumainformed practice’, we can help them to process everything and provide the right support through counselling in all its forms.” With an occupational therapist on the staff, family-oriented activities and a litany of training and skillbuilding opportunities that are hard-woven into their itinerary, CIRCLE are seeking to provide the most robust service possible. To the extent that they’ve even laid out plans for the hub to become a unique social space. “We’ve got football nights and all sorts of things like that planned,” the staff enthusiastically declared. “Normally, you’d need to go to the pub if you wanted to get that communal experience of watching the game and that’s just one of the ways in which recovery can feel quite isolating. Here, we can create a safe space where people can get that experience without having to worry. “It’s just all about giving choice,” they elaborated, “we’re well aware that it’s different for everybody, but we’re a big believer in the idea that ‘we all came on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now’. Removing stigma and barriers is really important to what we’re doing too, as well as ensuring that service users know that recovery is possible. When you’re in various services for a long time, it can feel as though it’s not feasible. We just want everyone that comes here to feel as though we are all approachable and ready to help. We know the importance of the freedom to speak your truth and discuss your feelings.

“REMOVING STIGMA AND BARRIERS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE’RE DOING”

“The days of bottling things up are gone and we’re here to let people not only speak, but be heard.” Not content to rest on their laurels, their use of “navigator” roles will ensure that their reach will extend far beyond Paisley and look out towards the rest of Renfrewshire. “This is not intended to be Paisley-centric, the goal is to engage the community as a whole and reach out to everywhere. It’s all about building a visible recovery community.” “I am excited by this innovative and unique approach to both mental health and alcohol and drug recovery in Renfrewshire,” says HSCP Interim

Chief Officer, Christine Laverty. “In collaboration with partners, people with lived and living experience have been at the heart of the design and planning of CIRCLE and this will continue as the service develops and expands. Enhancing recovery opportunities is a key priority in Renfrewshire and CIRCLE will play a major part in doing so.” With service users proclaiming that CIRCLE is “unlike anything we’ve ever seen”, this hub is sure to become a credit and crucial resource to not only Paisley , but Renfrewshire as a whole when it opens its doors. CIRCLE, Whitehaugh, Paisley.

MILL 33

John Lewis

But Baby it’s

COLD OUTSIDE! As temperatures get chillier, our interiors expert Kike Pawlik advocates for turning your home into a ‘winter wonderland.’

inter is just around the corner and the cold may be coming ruthlessly, but it is nonetheless a perfect time to start thinking about decorating your home for the holiday season. Winter is a season typically associated with white colours, projecting freshly fallen snow, purity, and calmness. Let winter wonderland take over your home décor with this beautiful snowy colour, as well as filling it with neutrals that bring harmony and peace to your home this season. Walking into winter wonderland décor will create a truly cosy and magical atmosphere that you can really relax in. It is ideal for winter holidays, not to mention charming and refined. Living space is central to the house and brings everyone together. White warm blankets, decorative pillows, knit stocking, stools and a white faux fur rug will all help to create a winter wonderland look. Of course, the main decoration is usually a tree and the perfect addition to craft this look would be a stunning flocked Christmas tree with white and metallic ornaments, wrapped in golden, warm lights. Lighting is key to ambience. Fill your home with candles and make them scented for that extra touch. It’s also a good idea to swap out your bulbs with warm, dimmable options which can create the ultimate relaxing atmosphere with a flick of a switch. Let the continuous theme flow from room to room. To cultivate your wintry paradise, touches of gold will bring elegance and charm to your home décor, especially if you apply it to your dining room. Ornaments with golden tones, candles, and even plates with touches of 34 MILL

Dunelm

goldy shy are allowed to mix with the beautiful white will make your décor very sophisticated. To add some crispness, dress your dining table with white napkins wrapped with a little silver ribbon or pine cones with little sprinkles of artificial snow, even a white tablecloth will make a difference. Compliment this with a magnificent centre piece like a wreath or an array of silver candles. When it comes to a bedroom, applying this theme will create a more peaceful and dreamy

Ice bucket, £49.50, Oliver Bonas

PROPERTY & INTERIORS

Placecard holders, £5, Matalan

Tabletop nutcracker, £12, Matalan

Gold-baubles, £12.50, Marks & Spencer

Flutes, £16.99, TK Maxx

Plate, HomeSense @ TK Maxx

space. To achieve a winter wonderland,add white pillows, white bed covers and adorn your side table with silver or gold candles. Put some fairy lights on the windowsill and a fluffy white rug for extra cosiness and warmth. Don’t forget the essential that is a mistletoe. It is a traditional winter decoration covered with white berries, making it an attractive focal point while adding a touch of greenery to your home. Plus, there are few things more exciting than being caught by surprise under a sprig and receiving a kiss. Another essential in keeping warm this winter is with a fire. A log burner is top of the list for a winter wonderland home. So long as you can feel the heat on your toes while watching your favourite movie with your loved ones, that’s all that matters. During the winter season, it’s vital to transform your home into a place where you feel happy, warm, and snuggly. So, hurry up – it’s getting cold! Regardless of what colour and theme you will choose this winter, I truly believe that we are all dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know… Kike Pavlik is a Paisley-based interior design student at The Glasgow School of Art. Follow her on Instagram @kike.pavlik.

TruGlow Candles, lights4fun.com

Dobbies Garden Centres

MILL 35

PROPERTY & INTERIORS

FINDING YOUR PLACE As the demand for family homes continues to surge, Corum talks us through the ins and outs of the thriving market.

t’s no secret that the Scottish property market has boomed since emerging from the first lockdown back in June 2020. In its wake, swathes of motivated buyers entered the fray with greater square footage, garden space and home offices appearing at the forefront of their wishlists. The need for more functional homes has created a massive spike in demand for family properties, particularly in leafy, well-connected areas such as Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm. In these locales, qualities such as relaxed family living, excellent schooling and great transport links have become revered attributes. The biggest challenge the market faced so far in 2021 is simply not having enough supply to meet the 36 MILL

demand. But after a busy spring, that is starting to change with homeowners now seeking to capitalise on the increased value that their homes are achieving – and why wouldn't they? House prices in Scotland are up by around 10.7% versus this time last year. In Renfrewshire the increase is even greater, with prices experiencing a 15% upswing from where they sat last year. There has arguably never been a better time to achieve a strong return on your property, with the vast majority of sales of family homes going to closing date with a frenzy of bids coming through. The current state of the market is giving sellers options to consider, and we would highly recommend engaging with your local Corum branch to have a no obligation discussion about how your home sits right now. For more info, contact Corum, 2 Windsor Place, Main Street, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3AF, 01505 691 400, corumproperty.co.uk.

FEATURES

MILL 37

The Paisley Community Website

FEATURES

ALIVE In a special bumper edition of “The Sound of Renfrewshire”, we spotlight a handful of the figures who’ve proved that our music scene has flourished in the face of adversity.

AND

KICKING

t’s no exaggeration to say that over the past year and a half, the world of music has been cast asunder. Through a combination of logistics and shifting priorities, the industry found itself in the unfortunate position of being the first to formally shut down and the last to return. Along the way, scores of artists found themselves rudderless and suddenly robbed of the ability to do the very thing that ignites their spirit – perform. Left with the ill-fitting substitute of online sets and live streams, it would’ve been incredibly easy for them to get disheartened. Or worse, throw in the towel. After all, these people were being implored by some to retrain or compromise on their dreams, even when 99.9% of the world’s population was using music, both past and present, to alleviate their own feelings of anguish and boredom. Yet just as our region has proven in other areas such as commerce and hospitality, our musicians have demonstrated that this extended absence wasn’t the deterrent that it

could’ve very easily been. Fortified during bedroom writing sessions and on zoom calls with bandmates, Renfrewshire’s artists made it clear that they wouldn’t abandon the artform that they held dear so hastily. Instead, they formulated plans for how they could not simply pick up where they left off, but improve upon their standings and make 2021 an important milestone in their story. From instances of togetherness in the name of a good cause to landmark gigs, pivotal releases and artists that are honing their craft, Renfrewshire’s music scene has a lot to heap praise upon as the winter months take hold. So, as a celebration of their resilience, ingenuity and the incomparable magic of music, we dedicate these pages to a selection of our artists that you should be rallying around in the weeks to come. After all, if they reach the dizzying heights of some of our most renowned musical exports, then you won’t want to miss the chance to say that you’ve been supporting them since those all-important early years. MILL 39

FEATURES

NEW NOISE

You may not be acquainted with these new Renfrewshirebased artists yet, but you certainly should be.

WASHINGTON The owner of a demure and nonchalant flow that is instantly hypnotic, Washington is an MC whose style is sure to leave an imprint. Propelled into the wider consciousness of Scottish hip-hop after his April 2021 track Yungin was picked up by BBC Radio1 XTRA, one listen to the track or an offering such as the Hannymoon and Gillieson-aided Lay Down will tell you all you need to know about his dexterous flow and innate star power. Having moved to Paisley from Zimbabwe at the age of 11, Washington is an artist who has the bars, demeanour and adaptability to any given beat that’s required to continue to climb up the ladder and put himself on the map.

THE NOISE CLUB SASHA KALOHERIS

At just 17 years of age, Sasha Kaloheris is already exhibiting every sign of becoming a stalwart of the music world. Eager to finetune her live set at every turn and armed with an effervescent quality to her sound that makes it practically bound towards you, her debut single, Bad Days has racked up over 10,000 spins on Spotify at time of writing. With its follow-up on the horizon, we can guarantee that this young artist has no intention of plateauing and will be aiming for even greater success this time around.

ZOE TAIT

Otherwise known as The Ladybugg, Zoe Tait has been a lynchpin of the local gigging scene for recent years, but it’s clear that she has no intention of stopping there. As exhibited on the riveting, Jake Bugg-influenced Why from last year, her songwriting talents and the panache with which she delivers each and every syllable proves that she has talent to spare and we’re excited to see where she goes from here. 40 MILL

Rising from the ashes of a litany of local bands from Paisley and Johnstone, The Noise Club sees each member of the group pursuing the music that they feel they should’ve been making all along. Where most bands tend to start out in practically undetectable manner, this self-assured post punk outfit came roaring out of the gates in the form of a support slot with Glasgow indie standouts The Dunts at Oran Mor. Now, the group are making their debut on home soil at Callum’s Cavern on Saturday 6th November and if we know them like we think we do, it’ll be a raucous evening to say the least.

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Buy tickets from

BUNGALOW

15 Shuttle Street, Paisley PA1 1YD 0141 889 9976 | www.bungalowpaisley.co.uk MILL 41

FEATURES

ARBO

MYA BROWN

Although she may not originally hail from this neck of the woods, this talented singer/songwriter has nestled into the area nicely and has been energised by her new surroundings. Possessing a staggering and versatile voice that can veer from strident rock to tender ballads, all signs suggest that she’ll be releasing new music in the weeks and months to follow. In the meantime, you’d be remiss not to head down and catch one of her sets.

Atmospheric, innovative and affecting, Arbo is among the most exciting prospects in Renfrewshire. Plying his trade in the realm of dance music and electronica, his sound takes heed of the blueprints of pioneers such as Four Tet and Nils Frahm while remaining unmistakably his own. Having written and recorded music at a prolific rate across 2021, we estimate that the coming 12 months will represent this multifaceted artist’s breakout year.

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JOHN

RUSH

Paisley’s very own John Rush on his forthcoming appearance at Glasgow’s most iconic venue.

Photo by David Cameron

n Wednesday 24th November, Glenburn-born singer/ songwriter John Rush has a date with Scotland’s most famous tiled ceiling. A massive milestone in any career, John is heading to the Barrowlands to support Hipsway during what’s been a massively prosperous spell in his career. Here, he talks us through his feelings as he gears up for the gig. “I mean, it’s just iconic. it means a lot of different things I suppose. Sweaty nights, arguments, laughs, everything. It’s like a Tennents advert in your heid everytime you think about The Barrowlands, really (laughs.) “I remember going to see Supergrass with a mate when I was maybe about 22-23 and I can’t really remember the gig, but I just remember the night as a whole. I’m sure my mate found himself in a bin at one point! I think when you’re young and full of confidence, you think you’re going to play everywhere. But as you get older, it feels more like a pipe dream and it’s like ‘och well, now I’m playing my pal’s pub round the corner and that’s fine too’. It came out of the blue, it’s something that I definitely didn’t expect to happen at this time in my career. So, being offered to play it is unbelievable. “I get nervous before gigs and that’s just part and parcel of the experience, but I’m not scared of doing it. I’m excited, but I know as soon as I step on there with the band, I’ll do what I normally do. Hopefully (laughs). As I’ve gotten older – and certainly from the Beneath The Apple Tree album onward, my songs have become a lot more personal and they almost feel like wee diary entries. So, the idea of bearing my soul to the Barrowlands is a wee bit nervewracking, but I’m confident that it’ll be alright. “I’d been asked to support Hipsway before and I ended up not being able to do it as I had a gig elsewhere. Now, I’ve got a chance to do it properly and I have a band with me now, so it’ll sound a lot different than it would’ve before. We’ll be doing what we always do, having a laugh with the audience and playing our songs. Don’t make eye contact with me during the gig, because I will talk to you!” Keep up with John – and get all the latest news on his forthcoming EP – via.facebook.com/johnrushmusic

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Barnhill Farm Houston Road, Inchinnan PA4 9LU MILL 43

Linzi Clark talks us through the process of recording her first full-length body of work and the personal journey that it took her on.

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Photo by Bovine, Insta @thebovinething

nown for her candour, creativity and transfixing vocal performances, Paisley-based singer/songwriter Linzi Clark has received a lot of fanfare in recent months and with good reason. Previously seen as the enchanting voice behind electronic duo DRIFT, the past few months have seen her re-route her attention towards the release of her forthcoming debut album, All I Have Now. A spellbinding collection that never compromises on self-reflection and regularly soars to the heights of understatedly anthemic, it’s a collection of songs that any musician, seasoned or unproven, would be immensely proud of. Although it started from modest beginnings, Linzi couldn’t be happier with how these songs have evolved thanks to the help of an elusive local mastermind. “It was born out of the songwriting masters that I did at uni. Part of that was about producing a big piece of work at the end of it and I opted for an album. At the end, I had this demo album that wasn’t good enough to be released, but I knew I wanted to do something with it. Eventually, it just became this thing that was looming over me and I uploaded a video of a track from the record, ‘The Kitchen’, to Instagram. Soon enough, Bovine (local musician, producer and digital artist) got in touch and said ‘this is really good, is there a recording of it?’ So, I responded ‘no, but I need to record a whole album’ and from that, I roped him into working on this with me (laughs).It actually happened quite quickly, we got it done across like five-to-six weeks. Working with him was great as it totally took away all my fears. When you’re speaking to someone who can make it sound like whatever you’ve envisioned, it’s just so good. “I’d send over a voice note, Bovine would listen to it, work his f ****g magic and send me a guide track. Then, I’d come back with my vocals. It all just worked so well. I’m notorious for not replying to messages, but I got back to him really fast (laughs).” Formed of 11 tracks of introspective folk, All I Have Now is a rich tapestry of her experiences. And

LINZI CLAR

FEATURES

for Linzi, the process of recrossing the threshold into moments long since past has been a rewarding one. “A lot of the songs were written at completely different times, which is something that I really like about the album. It all sounds like it’s part of the same world, but it’s all little snapshots. It essentially spans the last three or four years of my life all in one,” she reveals. “The narrative and the meaning of some of the songs have changed too. It’s interesting, as having to talk about it makes you really reflect on what these songs are about. It gives a bit of clarity as you’re not just writing it then and there. I never set out to write a song about something, you only realise when you look back.” Featuring everything from tales of internal triumph and stage fright to romantic misadventures and a subtle appearance from her dad on the backing vocals of Moments Gone, crafting All I Have Now has clearly been a cathartic experience for Linzi. What’s more, she’s learned a lot about herself as an artist and a person along the way. “I’ve realised that collaborating is so important to me. I’ve also had this big revelation that the things that I thought were my weaknesses are actually my strengths. Like, maybe the fact that I’m not really technical means that I’ll do things that people might not necessarily think will work,” Linzi contends. “I still struggle with getting into the mental space of thinking of myself as an artist and I think that can be a good thing too. So, it turns out that staying true to my vision is the way to go. I’ve learned that I can have my own wee world, but I can have someone help me and that’s ok. “Now that the songs are out there, it sounds so much more real,” she says. “I still can’t get over hearing my songs on the radio. It’s something I’ll never take for granted, they just sound so much better on there somehow (laughs).” Not content to let this record exist in a vacuum, Linzi is planning to launch the project with a show at Glasgow’s Hug & Pint on the 30th November and it’s fair to say that she’s cautiously excited. “I’m really looking forward to it. I’m a bit concerned that it’s going to have some sort of breakdown onstage or something (laughs). It’ll just feel like the final thing. I see the album in two stages. First, getting it out there. Then, playing the songs live with a band. I think I’m going to manifest that it’ll be a good life moment for me. I don’t want to get stressed by it, I just want to have fun!”

All I Have Now will emerge on Friday 5th November.

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FEATURES

HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE

Fresh from launching a compilation to raise funds for the Paisley-based autism and learning disabilities centre, The Gateway’s Dan Drennan talks about the album and what music means to the service.

t Renfrewshire’s The Gateway, music is not inconsequential. For this award-winning service, the artform is among one of the many things that they enlist to help improve the emotional wellbeing of adults with autism and complex learning disabilities. Having recently celebrated their tenth anniversary, Gateway staff member and local musician Dan Drennan fused the day service’s tangible connection with performance and his own network of peers in order to create Friends of Gateway. Featuring contributions from The Vegan Leather, Arbo, Linzi Clark, Quinny, and Falkirk’s Pleasure Heads as well as music from the service’s in-house band, The Gateway Clash, all proceeds from the digital album go straight to the centre and for Dan, it’s been a joy to bring to fruition. “The idea probably came to me around March. When I was younger, charity compilations were a big thing in the DIY Scene. One day, I was scrolling through my laptop and found one that was released for testicular cancer and I thought I could do something similar,” he recalls. “It was actually a complete coincidence that it happened to come on the anniversary. We’re doing a lot for it this year, we’ve even got The Great Gateway Bakeoff coming up soon! “We were lucky that everyone that we asked to submit a track was onboard with helping the centre out. 46 MILL

As someone who’s involved in music, it was really cool to be able to combine the two. Particularly as we had tracks from The Gateway Clash on there. At the end of the day, it’s more about getting people backing the centre than creating this great work of art. By the same token, it’s cool to be able to say ‘look at all the people who are backing what we do here’. Sadly, we don’t have Orange Juice or Arab Strap, but there’s plenty of great Scottish talent on there (laughs).” As for the joy that music brings to those who attend The Gateway, Dan has seen the positive impact that creativity and making music can have firsthand. “We see the benefits in front of us. There's one of our guys in particular where it just has an amazing effect on his confidence. He’s normally quiet and shy, but then you get him up to sing and he absolutely belts it out. “We’ve actually been writing songs with The Gateway Clash and that’s been so cool,” Dan proudly declares. Ideally, we’ll have an actual EP of their stuff by some time next year. For now, any money that we raise from the compilation will be going towards maintenance of our equipment!” Friends Of Gateway is available now via Bandcamp here: gatewayclash.bandcamp.com/releases

A LL O U R Y E S TE R DAYS

The Progression of Paisley From the foundations being laid on our most famous landmark to the industrial revolution turning the town into a centre of commerce, the Heritage Centre’s David Weir looks back on key moments in the history of Scotland’s largest town.

Paisley Cross looking towards the George A. Clark Town Hall during the laying out of Dunn Square, 1894.

48 MILL

FEATURES

Ferguslie Thread Works, Paisley

n 1163, Walter Fitzalan, High Steward of Scotland, founded a monastery in Paisley, bringing 13 monks from Wenlock in Shropshire to set up a community and build a church. The church was dedicated to St James, patron of the Stewart family and to St Mirin, the missionary who, according to tradition, erected the very first church in Paisley. Paisley, already a village by this time, was a good site for a monastery with natural resources from the river, surrounding fields and woods. The village and monastery prospered with local tradesmen being employed at the new development. The monastery, which served as the parish church of the area, was awarded the distinction of an abbey in 1245. The Scottish Reformation of 1560 instituted massive societal changes and soon, the Protestant Church of Scotland

Gauze Street at corner of New Smithhills, showing business premises of Newtown Dispensing Laboratory, a tobacconist, John Ross, and the George Temperance Hotel.

MILL 49

FEATURES

Paisley Abbey

33-35 High Street, July 1901

PAISLEY’S CONNECTION TO THE STEWART ROYAL FAMILY WAS REINFORCED WHEN JAMES IV ISSUED A CHARTER MAKING PAISLEY A BURGH OF BARONY IN 1488

Lawn Street / Gauze Street, Paisley

Old gentleman working at a weaving loom

50 MILL

replaced the Catholic denomination as the national church; naturally, this ended the monks’ time at the abbey. The nave of the church was walled off and served as Paisley’s parish church for around three hundred years. However, during this time, the Abbey fell into decay. A number of attempts were made to repair the building until in 1912, a major restoration programme saw the Abbey brought back to its former glory and this is what we see today. Paisley’s connection to the Stewart royal family – Robert II, the first Stewart King was born in Paisley – was reinforced when James IV issued a charter making Paisley a Burgh of Barony in 1488. As a consequence, this allowed Paisley to trade freely and permitted craftsmen to work within the burgh boundary. As a burgh, Paisley was also given clearance to hold markets at the new market cross and to retain the profits within the burgh, resulting in the town gradually taking over from Renfrew (the older burgh) as Renfrewshire’s newly established centre for trade and commerce. By the mid-18th century, Paisley’s population had grown to around 7,000, largely due to the expansion in the weaving trade which dominated the town into the early 19th century before its decline in the latter stages of the 19th century. The town had originally been built

FEATURES

gifting a little bit of love at christmas Shop local. Shop unique. Shop personal.

30B High Street, Paisley, PA1 2BZ | Tel: 0141 889 9920 www.whitecartcompany.co.uk

MILL 51

FEATURES

Gauze Street

Aerial view of Paisley taken from the roof of Blackhall high flats in October 1960, showing Anchor Mills, in the distance are church spires, Paisley Town Hall and Paisley Abbey.

on the west bank of the River Cart, but construction had now begun on the east bank to provide much needed housing. Most of this land had previously been the Abbey gardens. This “New Town”, where streets were named after aspects of the textile trade, soon attracted many silk manufacturers. As the New Town was outside the burgh boundary, they initially paid no taxes. However, complaints from the Burgh’s businessmen led to legislation in 1835 that saw it brought under the remit of the burgh. Christian Shaw of Bargarran (of witch trial fame) had started a business in the early 18th century manufacturing silk thread in Johnstone and by the 1780s, there were more than 20 similar enterprises in Paisley. Demand for silk thread declined amongst the weaving community in the late 18th century and the Napoleonic Wars further interrupted the import of silk for thread manufacture, eventually leading James and Patrick Clark to place a cotton thread as a substitute. As cotton thread was much cheaper than silk, it began to be widely used in sewing. The introduction of the sewing machine in the 1850s further developed the market for cotton thread and Paisley now had two manufacturing businesses in the shape of the Clarks of Seedhill and the Coats at Ferguslie. Both firms continued to grow, eventually merging into J & P Coats in the 1890s and morphing into a dominant force in 52 MILL

Anchor Thread Works, June 1887

world thread manufacture. At its height, the threadmills employed around 10,000 people. Changes in the business and in the demand for thread led to the demise of the thread industry in Paisley, with the last mill closing in 1992. To this day, it remains a pivotal period in the history of our town and the region as a whole. For more information and help with local or family history enquiries, please contact the Heritage Centre at Unit 907, Abbey Mill Business Centre, 12 Seedhill Road, Paisley, PA1 1JS. Phone: 0141 618 5275 and by email at: heritage@renfrewshire.gov.uk. Due to the current Covid restrictions access to the Heritage Centre is by appointment only on contact details above.

I Am Me Scotland

EDUCATION WEBSITE iammescotlandeducation.org.uk

The I Am Me Scotland Learning Platform is an inclusive, accessible Health and Wellbeing learning hub for schools and groups across Scotland. The lessons are developed with children and young people to educate about the importance of diversity and inclusion. Learning through health and wellbeing promotes confidence, independent thinking and positive attitudes. Lessons are available from Early Years through to S6 and include disability awareness, keeping safe, mental health, bullying, hate crime and upcoming lessons will include lessons around safety and substance misuse. The lessons are fully interactive and available for classroom or home learning, with teacher lessons plans included.

We are looking for a sponsor for the learning platform. If you can help, please email iamme@renfrewshire.gov.uk I Am Me Scotland

@iammescotland

@ iamme@renfrewshire.gov.uk

www.iammescotland.co.uk

TO C L AL

Winter Afternoon Tea Here at Brew we have been working hard behind the scenes to relaunch our Afternoon Teas! Starting the 1st of November we will be oﬀering our Winter Afternoon Tea available until the end of December. A perfect treat for a loved one or to catch up with friends with some festive food and we also have options for Gluten Free and Vegan! To book, get in touch by giving us a call on 0141 563 1435 or pop by the store and our staﬀ will be more than happy to help. We require a minimum of 24hrs notice for bookings and spaces are limited. 3 County Place, Paisley PA1 1BN | brewpaisley.co.uk

MILL 53

CULTURE

LITERATURE

Curated by Keira Brown, Renfrewshire Writers Forum Coordinator.

BOOK REVIEW

BE GUID TAE YER MAMMY By Emma Grae

From journalist and fiction writer, Emma Grae, comes this moral tale of legacy, family values, relationships and secrets that are intrinsic to many families. Be guid tae yer Mammy, published by Unbound, is a life-affirming tale set in Glasgow, and written in Scots, that opens the door for you to discussions around family dynamics, illness and the significance of living life. Kate and her granny Jean seemingly have nothing in common. Jean’s great claim to fame is raising her weans without two pennies to rub together, while Kate is an aspiring scriptwriter whose anxiety has her stuck in negative places which grind away at her self-esteem. With family politics, drama and court cases all affecting the Stirling family’s perception of Jeannie, it’s easy for there to be ill-feeling on all sides. However, what Jean’s family don’t know is that she dreamed of being a film star and came a hair’s breadth away from making it a reality. It’s only through her correspondence with Hollywood star, Lizzie, that her family come to realise the life she almost had, away from weans, a drinking husband and an oft selfish family. Now in her nineties, Jean is a force to be reckoned with. However, a fall and a formidable age along with family circumstances means it’s not long afore she is to be found in a care home. This in itself presents many surprises along the way. A heart-warming though routinely unsettling family tale, Emma Grae’s book is a blessing in terms of tying generations to each other, harnessing a respect for each other despite the sizable gap. Be guid tae yer Mammy is out now, published by Unbound.

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Passionate Paisley

by Elizabeth Van Dyke There’s a place far away I hope to get there one day Where the streets glisten in the pouring rain From the Lowlands to the Gleniffer Braes The River Cart in all her glory Ancient castles rewind their stories The Buskers, Arts and Town Centre Piazza, pubs, bistros, the weather Wellies in tote, umbrella in hand My journey begins, I wander this land The Abbey, Coats and Barshaw Park This town will certainly warm the heart Dreams alive, replay in my mind To a place far away, oh, to be there one day To feel, to love, to see All there is... about Paisley

Elizabeth is a songwriter and poet from Chicago, USA, who is looking forward to visiting Paisley for the first time. We hope to see her in 2022.

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MILL 55

CULTURE

ENTERTAINMENT

TV THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT

CINEMA HOUSE OF GUCCI

First hinted at during the conclusion of The Mandalorian’s second season, The Book Of Boba Fett will see the iconic bounty hunter take centrestage. Starring Temuera Morrison in that legendary titular role, you can expect blasters, cinematic production values and maybe even a disintegration or two. On Disney+ 29th December.

Billed by star Tom Holland as the conclusion of the “homecoming” trilogy that began in 2017, No Way Home picks up from the events of the previous film in which Peter Parker’s secret identity was unveiled by Jake Gyllenhall’s Mysterio. Suddenly exposed to the public, Spider-Man seeks out the assistance of Dr Strange in order to rectify the problem. Given that Marvel is currently experimenting with different timelines and multiverses, this is sure to cause further problems and is rumoured to even see previous web slingers reprising their roles. Out 17th December. 56 MILL

CINEMA THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS

The first instalment in the series since 2003’s The Matrix Revolutions, the revolutionary sci-fi franchise is back and this time, they’re taking a different tack. With Neo living an apparently quotidian life in San Francisco under the name Thomas A Anderson, the fabric of his reality is once again warped when Morpheus re-emerges and offers him the red pill once more. Sporting a massive cast that’s set to include newcomers to the series such as Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff and Priyanka Chopra among others. In cinemas 22nd December.

©Marvel

Starring the unanticipated but by no means unwelcome duo of Lady Gaga of Adam Driver, House of Gucci is slated as Ridley Scott’s retelling of the relationship between Patrizia and Maurizio Gucci. As the heads of a fashion empire, their marriage is fraught with tumult and deception which eventually ends in death. Featuring supporting performances from Al Pacino and Penelope Cruz, the film, which is based on Becky Johnson’s book that chronicled the tale, is one of the cinematic events of the year. In cinemas 24th November.

CINEMA SPIDERMAN: NO WAY HOME

©Disney+

©MGM

The phenomenal films and binge worthy box sets to check out as the temperature plummets.

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FOOD & DRINK

FOOD NEWS

The latest news, products and additions to Renfrewshire’s vibrant culinary scene.

FESTIVE GINS AT M&S PAISLEY ALEO IN JOHNSTONE Quickly receiving plaudits for its excellent desserts, freakshakes, paninis, wraps, smoothies and more, Aleo has promptly become a favourite for Johnstone locals. Handily positioned right on the high street, it’s a place that is racking up brilliant reviews as though they’re going out of style and we implore you to head down and see why. 65 High Street, Johnstone, PA5 8QG.

For those who like to find themselves a seasonal imbibement for the holidays or would like to give one as a gift, then look no further than M&S’ new range. Available in clementine and sugar plum variations, these gin liqueurs are everything you’ll need to give your holiday season that extra dose of flavour. Wallneuk Road, Paisley, PA3 4BF.

COMING ATTRACTIONS... Paisley Craft Beer Co. will open soon in the town centre, offering a wide variety of craft beer from independent craft beer breweries, both local and from elsewhere in the UK and even the World. Far more than a simple shop, they are also aiming to have a small seating section to allow people to sit in and sample the beers as well. Watch this space!

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DID YOU KNOW? That Barnhill Farm Shop stock their own delicious brand of preserves? Using the finest, local, in-season ingredients, these products are cooked in small batches to ensure freshness and flavour. The recipes are old family favourites, passed down through the generations and are regularly enjoyed by the Barnhill family. The range includes marmalades, jams, ketchup and brown sauce, a variety of dressings and marinades, artisan bread, fruit cake, eggs, and a specially blended range of tea. Houston Road, Inchinnan, PA4 9LU.

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Advise of any dietary requirements at point of order Collect from 22b Lawn Street PA1 1 HF or delivery is available tastebudspaisley tastebudspaisley

MILL 59

FOOD & DRINK

DINNER AT THE LYNNHURST

Suzanne Oswald heads to a newly revamped Johnstone landmark and leaves with plenty to write home about.

fter a year of setbacks for the hospitality industry, it’s encouraging to see well-laid plans finally come to fruition and that’s exactly the case for The Lynnhurst Hotel in Johnstone – after months of planning and significant investment, the luxury hotel and wedding venue recently launched their new restaurant, dubbed ‘The Lowland’, with an enticing new menu to boot, and we were delighted to be invited along to test it out. Situated in the heart of Johnstone, barely a ten-minute drive from Paisley town centre, the stately manor is set within beautiful landscaped gardens – pleasing to the eye and perfectly Instagrammable in the right weather. Unfortunately, the stunning outdoor terrace was not an option on this dreich October night. On our first visit to the hotel, we’re given a friendly welcome before being guided to our seats. The restaurant itself has undergone an impressive refurbishment and is instantly warm and relaxing. With plush leather booths, tartan carpets and dimmed lighting, The Lowland is cosy yet stylish. 60 MILL

According to a recent statement, their aim is to focus on ‘quality, choice and amazing value’, and from a first glance at the à la carte menu, it seems they’re ticking all the boxes. There’s a plethora of tempting options – for both starter and main course – encompassing Scottish classics, Mediterranean gourmet flourishes, light bites, salads and more. To start, I opt for the Arran Whisky Cheddar Tart while my partner Gianluca delves into the Rosemary Roast Vegetable Bruschetta – a nice twist on the Italian classic. Beautifully presented with curly fresh leaves of salad, the tart is crisp and moreish; a hot layer of sharp melted cheese hides a bed of sweet caramelised onions – a combination I’ll never tire of. Gianluca’s bruschetta goes down just as well with generous helpings of roasted, juicy vegetables drizzled in a sweet balsamic glaze on top of a lightly toasted slice of ciabatta. When it comes to the main course, the decision-making gets tougher. There’s a couple of recommended dishes highlighted – the four-cheese macaroni and the chargrilled cajun chicken are stand-outs – while there’s also plenty to

to your front door Food flow is a new online food ordering service for restaurants and takeaways across Glasgow and Renfrewshire. We offer a fast ordering process and low prices. Download the app today! choose from the grill. On this occasion, I can’t see past the battered haddock, a popular choice judging by the many plates flying out across the room. A generous portion, it’s exactly how I imagined – the tender, flaky fish is coated in a thin, crisp batter while the triple-cooked chips, salty and fluffy, are up there with some of the best I’ve had in a while. Of course, there was still a lingering thought in the back of my mind about that mac and cheese, so at the risk of being totally gluttonous, we ordered a small portion as a side and what a decision that was. This was decadent stuff, a warming, hearty plate of cheesy goodness. If you go for the main course, there’s options to add toppings like chicken, chilli and vegetarian haggis, but we’ll maybe save that for next time. As a resident vegetarian, Gianluca has a couple of options available to him, but the vegan burger comes out on top in the end, packed with fresh salad, cheese, spicy mayo and a thick patty courtesy of Beyond Meat. If its rapid disappearance from the plate is anything to go by, it’s another triumph. Full but not yet defeated, we are tempted by the waiting staff to dive into round three. The double chocolate brownie is highly recommended and it’s easy to see why – it’s warm, gooey and wonderfully light, which as dessert lovers will understand, is a magic combination. There’s more to The Lynnhurst than its opulent hotel suites, beautiful gardens or wedding parties and our evening in The Lowland is testament to that. Offering familiar yet refined plates in stylish surroundings and at affordable prices, it’s a great location suited for dining at any time of day. The Lowland @ The Lynnhurst, Park Road, Johnstone, PA5 8LS, 01505 324331, lynnhurst.co.uk

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MILL 61

FOOD & DRINK

LUNCH AT SCOFF & PATTER

After seeing plenty of social media fanfare, Mill’s core team headed to Dargavel’s widely renowned eatery and they certainly weren’t disappointed.

As is customary, Paul indulged his carnivorous side by opting for a spicy chicken crepe. Unsurprisingly, he was delighted and commented on the fact that from the side salad to the main event, their recipes were impeccable. As if that wasn’t enough, the team them provided us with another meal in the form of their halloumi and Mediterranean vegetable salad. Unveiled with a choice of dressings and an appetising assortment of fresh produce, it was so tasty that I was compelled to take the rest of it home for dinner! Rounded off with a Mint Aero brownie for myself and a Kinder Bueno-filled cream cookie courtesy of Bad Bitch Bakes, our trip to Scoff & Patter is one that undoubtedly ratified its position as one of the finest cafés that Renfrewshire has to offer. A bustling community space with friendliness and immensely satisfying dishes to spare, we can only see this cafe going from strength to strength in the coming years. Scoff & Patter, 1 Dalgety Drive, Bishopton PA7 5LN, 01505 805448, Facebook @scoffandpatter

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Photos by Ali Burden-Blake, Insta: @aliburdenblake & Szymon Kubiak, Insta: @simon.k.photography

ince opening its doors in October 2019, Scoff & Patter has wasted little time in ingratiating themselves into the hearts and stomachs of both nearby residents and those who’ve come from further afield to sample their wares. A family business at its core, the busyness that its reputation has spawned does little to deter each new customer from feeling as valued as any regular. As you gaze upon its geometric wall decorations and head to one of its luxurious leather-bound booths, it’s clear that everything is precise, but it doesn’t diminish its genial charm. In fact, its aesthetical flair isn’t an indicator of price. In fact, Scoff & Patter is as affordable and generously portioned as any local café. Possessing a varied menu that encompasses both brunch favourites and more expansive cuisine, I am delighted when my “golden glow” smoothie is every bit as energising as I’d envisioned. Given that owner Carla follows a meat-free diet, I knew that the vegetarian breakfast was bound to be great and sure enough, it was among the best I’ve had in recent memory. Composed of veggie sausages, halloumi, mushrooms, beans, toast and poached eggs, it wasn’t just a bountiful plateful, but something that you could actively savour the flavours of.

Where to pick up Mill BISHOPTON JOHNSTONE Angelini’s Pizzeria & Café 76 Greenock Road, PA7 5JB Ingliston Country Club & Hotel Old Greenock Road, PA7 5PA Lorimers 70 Greenock Road, PA7 5JB

BRAEHEAD

Evans Cycles Soar, King’s Inch Road, PA4 8XQ Braehead Shopping Centre King’s Inch Road, G51 4BN Little Dessert Shop Soar, King’s Inch Road, PA4 8XQ

BRIDGE OF WEIR

Bernie’s Café Deli Main Street, PA11 3PN Harrods Dry Cleaners 8 Castle Terrace, PA11 3EF Hair Hair Prieston Road, PA11 3AH Ice Mania 13 Livery Walk, PA11 3NN The Coach House 31 Main Street, PA11 3NR The Lion’s Paw 1 Morrison Place, PA11 3NU Tulip Hair Design Unit 10, 23 Livery Walk, PA11 3NN

CROSSLEE

The River Inn Houston Road PA6 7AW

DARGAVEL

Scoff & Patter 1 Dalgety Drive PA7 5LN

ELDERSLIE

Butchers Steak & Grill 133 Main Road, PA5 9ES Elderslie Coffee Shop 11 Stoddard Square, PA5 9AS

ERSKINE

Bracken Bridgewater Place, PA8 7AA Look Opticians Bridgewater Place, PA8 7AA Pandamonium Play Centre 53 Kilpatrick Drive, PA8 7AF

HILLINGTON

Origins Fitness 22 Earl Haig Road, G52 4JU

HOUSTON

The Carrick Centre Coffee Shop Main Street, PA6 7HD The Fox & Hounds South Street, PA6 7EN The Houston Inn North Street, PA6 7HF The Paper Shop North Street, PA6 7HF Versari Beauty 13a Kirk Road PA6 7HW

HOWWOOD

Bowfield Hotel & Country Club Bowfield Road, PA9 1DZ The Boarding House Main Street, PA9 1BQ

INCHINNAN

Barnhill Farm Houston Road, PA4 9LS The Farm at No.12 12 Brownsfield Holding, Barnsford Road, PA4 9LZ

Aleo 65 High Street, PA5 8QG Johnstone Coffee Co. 71 High Street, PA5 8QG Johnstone Sports Hub Beith Road, PA5 0JA Johnstone Town Hall 25 Church Street, PA5 8EG Lynnhurst Hotel Park Road, PA5 8LS Morrisons 30 Napier Street, PA5 8SF Optical Express 28A High Street, PA5 8AH Quality Cards & Gifts 2 Houstoun Square, PA5 8DT Signature Permanent Cosmetics 6-8 Walkinshaw Street, PA5 8AB Spateston Inn Hallhill Road, PA5 0SA

KILBARCHAN Bobbins 25 Steeple Street, PA10 2JF Habbies 25 New Street, PA10 2LN The Trust Inn 8 Low Barholm, PA10 2ET

KILMACOLM Cairn 1 Lochwinnoch Road, PA13 4HE Carriages Bar & Restaurant Station Road, PA13 4DW Cross Café Port Glasgow Road, PA13 4ET Punto 4 St James Terrace, PA13 4HB

LINWOOD

Linwood Farm 1 Hillhead Drive, PA3 3FB Premier Inn Phoenix Retail Park, PA1 2BH The Salon 15 Napier Street, PA3 3AJ

LOCHWINNOCH

Castle Semple Café Lochlip Road, PA12 4EA Cucina Minucci 2 High Street, PA12 4DA Handcrafted Coffee 2 High Street, PA12 4DB Little Coffee Caravan A737, PA12 4JG Now & Then 8 Church Street, PA12 4AD RSPB Largs Road, PA12 4JF The Brown Bull 33 Main Street, PA12 4AH

PAISLEY

Abbey Mill Business Centre 12 Seedhill Road, PA1 1JS Alison Capaldi Hair 84 Arkelston Road, PA1 3TS Armstrong Massage Therapy 98 Arkelston Road, PA1 3TZ Bailey’s Antiques 34 High Street, PA1 2DQ Barga Paisley 25 New Street PA1 1XU Bella & Fella Sir James Clark Building, PA1 1TJ Bianco Nero Coffee Shop 27 Gauze Street, PA1 1ES Black & Lizars 6 New Street, PA1 1XY Blend Coffee Lounge 25b Causeyside Street, PA1 1UL

Over 140 stockists across Renfrewshire Bull Inn 7 New Street, PA1 1XU Burger & Keg 15b Gilmour Street, PA1 1DD Café Fairfull 12A High Street, PA1 2BS Café 77 Barshaw Park 77 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PE Caffè Pronto 96 Causeyside Street PA1 1TX Caffè Royale 71 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PE Cardosi Espresso Bar 65 High Street, PA1 2AS Cloud 9 Deli 9 Gauze Street, PA1 1EP Comicrazy 45 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AN Courtyard by Marriott Marchburn Drive, Glasgow Airport Business Park, PA3 2SJ Claire Reid Hairdressing 7 Mill Street, PA1 1LY DP Group 119 Renfrew Road, PA3 4EA Elixir Lounge 12 New Street, PA1 1XY Emulate Hair Studio Brick Lane, PA3 4DW Finishing Touches 7 Johnston St, Paisley PA1 1XQ Francis Hair Salon & Weave Bar 3 Johnston Street, PA1 1XQ Gael Interiors 4 Orchard Street, PA1 1UZ Gantry 12 New Street, PA1 1XY Graphic Hair Design 67 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PD Grumpy Monkey 22 Moss Street, PA1 1BA HeadLox UK 71 Neilston Road, PA2 6NA Hilton’s Hair & Beauty 8a St Mirren Brae, PA1 1UA Iain Stewart Hairdressing 97 Causeyside Street, PA1 1TU Iconic Fitness 10-12 Lawn Street, PA1 1HA Incube Shop 9b Gilmour Street, PA1 1DG Ironed Out 20 Wellmeadow Street, PA1 2EE Ivad Gifts 29 Gauze Street, PA1 1ES Jam Jar 16 Shuttle Street, PA1 1YD James Martin Hairdressing 74 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YP Japan Street Food 9 Renfrew Road, PA3 4AF Jewelfare 44A High Street, PA1 2DQ Kaoss Hair and Beauty 29 Gauze Street, PA1 1ES Karis Massage Therapies 5 Hunter Street, PA1 1DL KB’s Café 56 Kilnside Road, PA1 1RN Kenneth Edwards 45 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YN La Banca 63 Neilston Road, PA2 6NA M&S Food Wallneuk Road, PA3 4BF Meat in the Middle 8 New Street, PA1 1XY Moon Gemz Baby & Gifts 32 High Street, PA1 2BZ Morrisons Falside Road, PA2 6JE

Morrisons Thread Street, PA1 1GZ My Hair Guru 48 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PW Napier Hair & Beauty 136 Neilston Road, PA2 6QH Nibbles Takeaway 3 Johnston St, Paisley PA1 1XQ Nomads’ Coffee Shop 63 High Street, PA1 2AS Orchard Clinic 16 Orchard Street, PA1 1UZ Paisley Arts Centre 15 New Street, PA1 1EZ Paisley Physiotherapy 13 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AG Piazza Shopping Centre Central Way, PA1 1EL Pro-Life Fitness Centre 98 New Sneddon Street, PA3 2BD R999 Barbers 23 High Street, PA1 2AF Rainbow Turtle 7 Gauze Street, PA1 1EP ReMode 43b High Street, PA1 2AH Rowantree Café 165 Glasgow Road, PA1 3LF Scotts Café 5 St James Street, PA3 2HL Shoe 52 5 Mill Street, PA1 1LY Skirlies Café 4 Broomlands Street, PA1 2LR Tannahill Centre 76 Blackstoun Road, PA3 1NT Taste & C 35 Moss Street PA1 1DL Taste Buds 22b Lawn Street, PA1 1HF Tastys 29 George Street PA1 2LD Telfords 1 Stow Brae, PA1 2HF The Gatehouse Coffee Roasters Benn Avenue, PA1 1JS The Gleniffer 9 Glenburn Road PA2 8TA The Ladyburn 1 Ladyburn Street, PA1 1PH The Ugly Duck 38 High Street, PA1 2DQ The Wee Howff 53 High Street, PA1 2AN White Cart Company 30B High Street, PA1 2BZ With Love Flowers 48 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YH Woodlands Coffee House 44 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PW Zambretto 42 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AP

RENFREW

Andersons Jewellery Workshop 38 High Street, PA4 8QP Cardbox 5 Hairst Street, PA4 8QU Highland Cathedral Kilts 15 Hairst Street PA48QU Luna Rossa 1-3 Canal Street PA4 8QE Piccolo Mondo Renfrew 63 Hairst Street PA4 8QU Quality Cards & Gifts 17 Canal Street, PA4 8QE Renfrew Leisure Centre Paisley Road, PA4 8JL Renfrew Town Hall Hairst Street, PA4 8PF Savage Slice 50 Fulbar Street, PA4 8PD

Amy Connell After experiencing triumph and tribulations alike, Paisley’s own kumite karate competitor Amy Connell is looking ahead to the sport’s grandest stages.

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Photos by Graeme Hewitson, monumentphotos.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

LAST WORD

or the vast majority of us, martial arts is something that we offhandedly dabble in as a kid before realising that it’ll take a hail of hard work and dedication before we reach the heights of our silver-screen heroes. But for Paisley’s Amy Connell, her lifelong passion has turned into a chance to travel the globe and test her mettle against the world’s best. Along the way, she made history by becoming the first Scottish athlete to represent Team GB in Karate at the European games in Minsk. Rather than landing on the martial art at random, Amy’s journey to competing in kumite – “a fancy Japanese word for fighting” – has paternal roots. “My dad had a karate club and he’d been teaching for years,” Amy says with unmistakable pride. “Seeing as it was just part of our family and my sister trained too. I started toddling along at the age of three and it just stuck and soon enough, I was competing by the time I was eight or nine years old. I just fell in love with it from the moment I started and it’s snowballed from there. “My dad definitely loves that I’m so involved in it,” she says of carrying on her father’s legacy. “It’s funny because if it’d gone the other way and I didn’t want to do it, then he’d have been totally cool with that too. I think the fact that he didn’t is why I still love it as he wasn’t pushy at all. It was just an environment that I loved and once you start getting good at something, it just encourages you.” After winning tournaments on a local and national level during her adolescence, Amy entered the Scottish team at 14 and has been a mainstay ever since. After rebounding from a few setbacks in the form of injuries, Amy went on to achieve a bronze medal at the 2019 Euro championships. Now that the competitive schedule has resumed in earnest, it’s safe to say that she has no plans to plateau there. “I’ve been so grateful that I’ve been there in the Scotland team ever since. Then in 2019, I began to compete for Team GB as well. It was a big step-up for me as I’d been injured for a while, so to come back and be able to get a medal there at one of the biggest tournaments that we have was such a

special moment. It felt like I was back where I belong. Even travelling to Gaudalajara in Spain for the tournament, I just felt so proud,” she continues. “Particularly as it all stemmed from my dad’s club that my mum, dad and sister are all involved in. When you grow up with it, you never stop being excited to do what you love and represent your badge. Funnily enough, the tournament where I won the bronze was the first time that I didn’t have anyone in my family there (laughs). Maybe I need to do that more often! “Obviously, we had a big celebration when I got back and my teammates were all there supporting me as much as they could. We’re lucky that there's a really great group of people in the team and it’s nice to know that they have your back.” If you had been keeping your eye on the television this summer, there’s a good chance that you witnessed karate making its debut – and possibly final – appearance at the illustrious summer games. Sadly, the Olympic ambitions of Amy and the GB team didn’t quite come to fruition, but it’s done little to discourage her and the squad as they gear up for another busy calendar of events. “We were really close, but a mixture of things just got in the way,” Amy reveals. “There’s no excuses at all, but Covid hit and it made things even harder. I’m still really proud of myself with how far along I got with the qualifying process and it would’ve been an amazing opportunity, but it’s one of those things. “As it stands, karate isn’t going to be in the 2024 olympics but people seemed to really enjoy it this year, so maybe that’ll change somewhere down the line. “For us, the world and European championships are always the biggest goals to work towards and we’ve got the World championships in November,” Amy declares. “So, we didn’t have much time to dwell on it and it was good that we had something else to focus on. We’ve got tournaments in Birmingham and Poland in the lead-up to it, so we’re just building back up. A medal is always the goal at the World Championships. It’s been a different type of prep this time around, but I’m going to go out and give it my all.

“WHEN YOU SEE MORE PEOPLE IN RENFREWSHIRE DOING COOL THINGS, IT REALLY HELPS YOU REALISE THAT THEY’RE FROM JUST AROUND THE CORNER”

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LAST WORD

“I think nerves never go away to be honest,” Amy says when asked about whether she’s still daunted in the run-up to stepping onto the mat. “It’s good though, as you want that adrenaline buzz to kick in. I’d say you just get better at handling them, but everyone gets them at every level. If they say they don’t, they’re probably lying. Now, I’m at the point where I know how to channel them in a good way.” For Amy, karate still has a lot of room to grow in Scotland and in her opinion, it has played an indispensable role in making her who she is today. “When you speak to people, you find out that it’s something that a lot of them did as a kid and it’s just a case of getting people to follow through with it. I’m obviously a little bit biased, but I feel it’s a great sport all-round. It teaches kids balance, discipline and of course, self-defence. It definitely helped me. It’s great character building and it made me a more respectful and focused person.” Set to continue to represent her country in the years to come, Amy is proud to stand as one of the litany of success stories that are emerging from a boom period for Renfrewshire. In her mind, the past year or so has ensured that it’s a sign of things to come as courage begins to usurp the fear of the unknown for many people with big goals and aspirations. “With everything that’s been happening in the world, people are taking a bit more control

Q&A FAVOURITE RESTAURANT? Thai Siam FAVOURITE SCENIC SPOT? Barshaw Park FAVOURITE PLACE FOR A CUP OF TEA? Blend FAVOURITE PLACE FOR LUNCH? Café 77

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of themselves and their lives. I think it’s that temperament we have in the UK where we usually kind of hold back but now people are thinking, ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’ When you see more people in Renfrewshire doing cool things, it really helps you realise that they’re from just around the corner. A lot of the inspiring stories that we hear are usually from people in America but when you realise that people with the same accent and background are doing special things with their life, then it makes you realise that you can do it too.” Keep up with Amy’s quest for gold on Instagram @LittleConnell.

FEATURES

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AT THE GLENIFFER

Festive

New Year

PARTY NIGHTS With most people missing out on the traditional party nights last year, we’re bringing ours back with a drum roll this year! Book a night to remember this December for friends, family, colleagues – in fact, bring along anyone who wants to party this December! Stunning 3 course meal Tea & Coﬀee Resident DJ Lots of dancing In addition, part way through the evening we’ll welcome the amazing DRUMS & ROSES into the suite to perform some of the most well-known anthems of all times in their own unique way. What better way to party this December!?

Festive ights r Pa ty N

£28.00 on Per Pers

GALA BALL Possibly the biggest event of the year, and what better way to finish off 2021! Look out your best, get glammed up and bring in the bells with us in The Robertson Suite. You’ll arrive at a prosecco reception from 7pm, then sit down to a wonderful three course meal at 7.30pm. After dinner our resident DJ will take you through the decades with all the biggest party anthems, in the best build up to the bells in history! DRUM & ROSES will be taking to the floor at 11.30pm to bring in 2022 in their own unique, awesome style! Following the bells, we’ll serve homemade sausage rolls and party till 3am! Happy New Year!

Friday OUT 17th D SOLD ec Saturd ay 18t h Dec Doors at 6.4 5pm

y an 8 ma of less th Parties ted with other be sea rties small pa

The Gleniffer 9 Glenburn Road, Paisley PA2 8TA

The St James' Suite 5 St James Street Paisley PA3 2HL

T: 0141 884 2670 E: christmas@thegleniffer.co.uk www.thegleniffer.co.uk

New Y Gala Bear all

£39.95 Per P

erson Partie s of be sea less than 8 ma ted w small ith other y partie s

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Local businesses need you—now more than ever. Let’s all show them our support and spend local. www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/spendlocal