Gelignite cartridges recovered at Saltcoats beach

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 29th May 1970.

EXPLOSIVES WASHED UP ON BEACH

An area of the beach north of Saltcoats bathing pool was closed to the public for three hours last Thursday afternoon as Police and officials from I.C.I. Ardeer Factory combed the area for sticks of gelignite which had been washed ashore.

More than 200 sticks of gelignite which had been dumped in the sea by I.C.I. were recovered by the search party while Police cordoned off the area until it was decided it was safe.

A spokesman for I.C.I. Nobel Division said that the gelignite cartridges had been "drowned" in very deep water out in a designated area, but unusual conditions of storm and tide had caused them to be disturbed.

Staff from Ardeer had searched the shore after high tide last Friday and had retrieved the major number of cartridges which had been exposed to water and were not sensitive.

For several days the beach was surveyed to make sure it was safe, and on Sunday it was feared that more cartridges had been washed ashore when Ardrossan Police received a report that a metal cylinder had been seen on the north shore between Ardrossan and Seamill.
But when a Police Constable arrived he discovered that the object was just a used Naval hydroplane.

Waverley excursion from Largs to Inverary

Waverley excursion from Largs to Inverary

Naval hydroplane found on North Shore

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 29th May 1970.

EXPLOSIVES WASHED UP ON BEACH

An area of the beach north of Saltcoats bathing pool was closed to the public for three hours last Thursday afternoon as Police and officials from I.C.I. Ardeer Factory combed the area for sticks of gelignite which had been washed ashore.

More than 200 sticks of gelignite which had been dumped in the sea by I.C.I. were recovered by the search party while Police cordoned off the area until it was decided it was safe.

A spokesman for I.C.I. Nobel Division said that the gelignite cartridges had been "drowned" in very deep water out in a designated area, but unusual conditions of storm and tide had caused them to be disturbed.

Staff from Ardeer had searched the shore after high tide last Friday and had retrieved the major number of cartridges which had been exposed to water and were not sensitive.

For several days the beach was surveyed to make sure it was safe, and on Sunday it was feared that more cartridges had been washed ashore when Ardrossan Police received a report that a metal cylinder had been seen on the north shore between Ardrossan and Seamill.
But when a Police Constable arrived he discovered that the object was just a used Naval hydroplane.

The 1970 sailings to the Isle of Man

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 29th May 1970.

This years first Isle of Man sailing from Ardrossan Harbour was made last Sunday, and the first Friday night crossing will take place on June 12.

Formal verdict after docker's death in Burns & Laird car-park

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 20th February 1970

FATALITY AT HARBOUR

An Ardrossan Docker was fatally injured when he lost his balance and fell under the wheels of a tractor at Ardrossan Harbour last Friday.
Mr. John Muir (58), 33 Clyde Terrace, Ardrossan, had been working on containers in the Burns & Laird Lines car park when he fell in front of a tractor being driven by his son John (29), who lives at 98 Glasgow Street.
He was killed almost instantly.
A Police spokesman said later: "It was a million-to-one chance."
*********
From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 29th May 1970.

FORMAL VERDICT AT INQUIRY INTO HARBOUR DEATH

While men were loading containers on to the M.V. Lion at Ardrossan Harbour last February, an Ardrossan man fell under the wheels of a tractor driven by his son, and was killed.

John Muir, a 29-year-old docker of 98 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, told a fatal accident inquiry at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday that he was driving his tractor slowly forward in the Burns & Laird Lines car park when he heard a shout and felt a slight bump as if he had gone over something.
"I jammed on my brakes and when I turned round I saw my father lying on the ground."

His father, John Muir (58), docker, 33 Clyde Terrace, died instantly from a fractured skull.
He had been standing on the trailer of another tractor, joining the shackles of the gantry crane onto the trailer when his son drove his tractor alongside and the accident happened.

Another witness, Mr. William Walker (57), 35 Oak Road, Ardrossan, who was one of the men working at the ferry said that after he had secured his shackles to the trailer he jumped to the ground.
"The next thing I heard was someone saying : "Oh God, John Muir has been run over."

The jury returned a formal verdict.

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 5th June 1970.

Ten tankers were among the 56 ships to dock at Ardrossan Harbour during the week ended last Saturday.
The largest arrivals were the "Polystar" from Old Kilpatrick with fuel oil, and the "British Fern" with a load of spirit from Belfast.

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 5th June 1970.

Ten tankers were among the 56 ships to dock at Ardrossan Harbour during the week ended last Saturday.
The largest arrivals were the "Polystar" from Old Kilpatrick with fuel oil, and the "British Fern" with a load of spirit from Belfast.

"Caledonia" sets sail for Brodick

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 5th June 1970.

"Caledonia" sets sail

Eighty years ago last Friday the Caledonian Steam Packet Company inaugurated their service between Ardrossan and Arran with the steamship "Duchess of Hamilton."

Last Friday evening the present "Duchess of Hamilton" returning from a charter cruise, whooped her siren as she entered Ardrossan Harbour and saw her youngest sister the drive-on-and-off ferry the new "Caledonia," at her berth about to make her maiden run to Arran.

The new ferry had been expected to make her first run at 11a.m. that day but operational difficulties delayed her arrival at Ardrossan until just before 17.00

There had been a large number of spectators in the morning, many with cameras, hoping to be present on the inaugural run, but having to be content with crossing on "Glen Sannox."
In the evening there were not many spectators - a few boys and officials of the CSP Coy. and Ardrossan Harbour Company.

At 18.55 "Caledonia" slipped her moorings, reversed into the channel and set off at 14 knots for Brodick carrying 400 passengers.

She returned to Ardrossan just before 22.00 and took up her regular schedule on Saturday.

Unfortunately she encountered some difficulties on Saturday when she had trouble docking at Brodick due to strong winds, and she was unable to sail for more than two hours when generator trouble developed at Brodick.

Built in 1966 in Norway, "Caledonia" has a gross registered tonnage of 1156. Her overall length is 202 feet 6 inches, her beam measurement is 40 feet, and her draft is 10ft 11 1/2 inches. Her complement is 650 passengers and 50 private cars.

The first vehicle aboard "Caledonia" on Friday was a lorry belonging to Arran Transport Ltd.
The ferry carried 27 cars and five lorries which all drove on to the ship in a total time of 6 1/2 minutes.
There were a few teething troubles with ramp adjustments and passengers having to be brought by bus from Fairlie, but everything was amiable and good humoured despite the heavy rain and cold wind.

On her return interested spectators were officers from the Ardrossan-Belfast ferry "Lion," one of whom commented : "We're calling her the "Lion's cub" ... but who's her father?"
Again there were few spectators of the ship's arrival - Mr. W. Currie, chief engineer of the Harbour Company and some of his staff, Police Sgt. Allan, and half a dozen members of the public.

Among those who made the first return trip were members of the Clyde River Steamer Club.

Shipping alert for small Ardrossan dingy.

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 5th June 1970.

There was a shipping alert in the Firth of Clyde on Sunday when a small steel dingy, under 15 feet in length, left her moorings at Ardrossan.
The vessel was soon recovered.

1970 advert by Marine Radio Services for V.H.F. Radio and radar for smaller vessels

Ben Line Company postcard of BENWYVIS in service 1966-1972

Postcard showing an Isle of Man Company steamer leaving Fleetwood for the Isle of Man

Contributed by Jim McVeigh.

And a question for steamer enthusiasts.

Can anyone identify which vessel it is ?

Postcard showing Isle of Man Company steamers at Douglas, Isle of Man

Contributed by Jim McVeigh.

And a question for steamer enthusiasts.

Can anyone identify which vessels they are and also an approximate date and time when the image was taken ?

Sharks reported in Saltcoats Bay

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 5th June 1970.

A local canoeist got a shock on Wednesday when, as he was paddling peacefully in the Bay, what appeared to be two sharks came speeding towards him.
He wasted no time in heading for the shore where he called the Police, who are not certain whether in fact the "sharks" were not porpoises.