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Archive: 2001 Articles

Double Boost for Stranraer
STRANRAER received a double boost this week with encouraging news for the upgrade of the Lochryan trunk roads and the development of Stranraer harbour ...28 Dec 2001

New Technology for Jobseekers
NEW TECHNOLOGY has been installed at Stranraer Jobcentre offering local jobseekers instant access to hundreds of thousands of vacancies ...28 Dec 2001

Detective Chief Superintendent awarded
Tom McCulloch of Dumfries and Galloway Police on Thursday was awarded The Queen's Police Medal by The Queen at Buckingham Palace...20 Dec 2001

Family are hoping for a Christmas miracle
THE RETURN home of an elderly member who suffers from dementia...20 Dec 2001

Exhibits Recovered From Depths of Stranraer Museum
DO YOU FANCY staring into the eyes of the last ever wild boar killed in Wigtownshire?...13 Dec 2001

Redeveloping Stranraer Academy - a Priority
REDEVELOPING Stranraer Academy was confirmed as a priority in the council's schools investment programme at a full council meeting in Dumfries on Tuesday....13 Dec 2001

Motorcycle Helmet Takes Show by Storm
A STRANRAER-made motorcycle helmet has taken the Motorcycle Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham by storm...06 Dec 2001

Two Local Police Officers Commended
TWO officers who helped recover half-a-million pounds worth of drugs were among those commended by the Chief Constable of Dumfries and Galloway Police...06 Dec 2001

Stena Line Not Switching
THERE IS NO possibility of Stena Line switching from Lochryan to Troon...29 Nov 2001

Glenluce Schoolboy Wins Flight
WHEN lucky Chris Rae told his classmates he had won a flight from West Freugh, half of them did not even believe him!...29 Nov 2001

Children In Need Party
CROWDS flocked to Stranraer’s Millennium Centre on Friday night for a memorable Children In Need party...22 Nov 2001

Christmas Vigil
STRANRAER’S Castle Green is to be the venue for a special Christmas Vigil this year...22 Nov 2001

Argos and New Look coming to town
STRANRAER'S Bellevilla House will be demolished to make way for a million-pound retail site ...15 Nov 2001

Children In Need
ALL roads lead to Stranraer's Millennium Centre on Friday for a night of Children In Need fundraising fun...15 Nov 2001

Harry Potter & Stranraer!
STRANRAER will be at the centre of a world record attempt on "Children In Need" night ...8 Nov 2001

Free Press Wins Award
A TOP COLOUR PRINTING AWARD has been won by the "Stranraer and Wigtownshire Free Press"...8 Nov 2001

Top Health Facilities
HEALTH CARE facilities at the new £10 million Garrick complex in Stranraer will match the best anywhere in Scotland, a top regional health administrator said this week ...1 Nov 2001

Former power-lifting champion wins pools
Raymond Fraser made a lift with a difference last week - a cheque for over six thousand pounds......25 October 2001

PUDSEY BEAR is on his way to Stranraer!
BBC film crew coming to town on Friday, 16th November to film at the Millennium Centre......25 October 2001

Manchester United Signing
Former Stranraer girl has joined the army of behind-the-scenes staff at the English footballing giants.....18 October 2001

Community Fund award of £25,000
EVENTS in Stranraer, Portpatrick and Cairnryan have been given a boost with a Community Fund award.....18 October 2001

SNAPSHOTS of Lochryan's history
Brought to life on a series of display boards around the Loch.....11 October 2001

Funds raised for Macmillan Cancer Relief
COFFEE was drunk in many locations on Friday to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Relief and to ensure their place in the Guinness Book of Records for the World's Biggest Coffee Morning.....11 October 2001

Best cheddar in Britain
THE WORKFORCE at the Caledonian Cheese Company in Stranraer do not have to say cheese to smile....04 October 2001

Stranraer may get McDonald's
FAST FOOD chain McDonald's could be in with an outside chance of coming to Stranraer after all.....04 October 2001

Research in Stranraer Harbour
Results of a study commissioned by the Small Towns Initiative are likely to be known early in the New Year....27 September 2001

MSP Praises Castle Kennedy Primary School
ALASDAIR MORGAN, the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale, has spoken of his admiration for Castle Kennedy Primary School....27 September 2001

Multi-million pound leisure development
PLANS for a multi-million pound leisure development in the Belmont and Ochtrelure area of Stranraer moved a step closer to reality this week...20 September 2001

Christened at Leswalt Church
LITTLE James Muir was christened at Leswalt Church on Sunday, 9th September...20 September 2001

LITHUANIAN couple get married in Portpatrick
Rasa and Andrius Tapinas decided to get married in Portpatrick - after seeing it featured on the world wide web...13 September 2001

Gateway opened
A GATEWAY to Galloway north of Cairnryan has been opened...13 September 2001

STRANRAER'S latest industrial venture
A 6000 square feet factory to make timber frame buildings, opens for business tomorrow (Friday)... 06 September 2001

Portpatrick Folk Festival
THIS year's Portpatrick Folk Festival has spread its wings across the world as well as attracting the usual great range of talent from Scotland, England and Ireland...06 September 2001

Reduction in Crime
CRIME in two key categories has shown a dramatic reduction in the Stranraer area over the past few months...30 August 2001

Leswalt History Uncovered
HISTORY IS to be uncovered in Leswalt as a 2000-year-old fort, which is unknown to almost all locals will be unmasked as part of a two year clean-up in the wood...30 August 2001

Cancer Treatment Study
A LOCAL STUDY is being carried out aimed at bringing cancer treatment facilities to Wigtownshire...23 August 2001

Call to March
STRANRAER Against Drugs have issued a rallying call for support ahead of this weekend’s anti-drugs march...23 August 2001

Tourism Proposals
NEW PROPOSALS for the redevelopment of the region’s beleaguered tourism industry are expected to be launched before the end of the month...17 August 2001

Charity BBQ
“SHINE A LIGHT" charity in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council, Leisure and Sport section had a barbecue and Fun Day at Agnew Park, Stranraer...17 August 2001

Car Comp Winner
JANET SPROTT has just won a car — and she did not even realise her name was in the competition...08 August 2001

A Safer Stranraer
ANTI-CRIME measures built in to a new housing development in Stranraer will help to keep the occupants safer...08 August 2001

Academy Team missed Scottish Title
STRANRAER Academy’s young enterprise company have narrowly missed out on claiming the Scottish title of Young Enterprise Company of the Year...01 August 2001

Castle of St. John Restoration
STRANRAER’S Castle of St John could be the subject of a half-million pound makeover, if ambitious proposals get the go-ahead...01 August 2001

Filming for Beechgrove Garden
BATHED in sunshine, Stranraer's Gardens of Friendship made the perfect setting as filming began for the BBC's Beechgrove Garden last Thursday morning...25 July 2001

2nd Anti-Drugs March
PRESSURE GROUP Stranraer Against Drugs are to hold a second anti-drugs march through the town...25 July 2001

Bowling Visitor Boost
STRANRAER could be in for another visitor boost towards the end of the summer season...19 July 2001

Garden Drinks
DRINKERS IN STRANRAER will have four new beer gardens within the next month to wet their palate while enjoying this summer’s glorious sunshine...19 July 2001

West Sound Roadshow
WEST SOUND Radio are planning a massive open-air roadshow which will be held in Stranraer...11 July 2001

Drug Service in Media Spotlight
STRANRAER’S new drug service is set to be thrust into the national media spotlight ...11 July 2001

Security Window Invented
LOCHANS MAN Isaac Forsyth is on the verge of a major breakthrough with a life-saving security window system he has invented....05 July 2001

Canine Travels
IAN AND Joyce Campbell thought they would never see their Bearded Collie Chester again....05 July 2001

John Ross new NHS Leader
PORTPATRICK FARMER Mr John Ross has been charged with leading the National Health Service in Dumfries and Galloway ...27 June 2001

3rd Prize at Inventor Challenge
PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL in Stranraer scooped third prize at the national finals of the "Be an Inventor" challenge ...27 June 2001

Stranraer World Record
STRANRAER’S Bill McFadyen created a new world record for powerlifting at Polmont near Falkirk at the weekend ...21 June 2001

Letitia on Road to Recovery
LITTLE Letitia Brown was only 18-months-old when she suffered horrific burns after an accident at home ...21 June 2001

Exclusions Reduced
STRANRAER ACADEMY have announced a dramatic reduction in the number of pupils being excluded from school ...14 June 2001

Explosive in Glenluce
A REVOLUTIONARY explosive replacement as safe as a party popper but which can rip rock apart is set to be made near Glenluce ...14 June 2001

Molyneux raised Money for Charity
TOM MOLYNEUX swam a mile at the Ryan Centre pool in Stranraer to raise money for the Sharon Davies Cancer Appeal ...06 June 2001

Boost Plans are working
PLANS to boost Stranraer and The Rhins are working
...06 June 2001

Calf escaped Slaughter
AGAINST all the odds, the calf hiding in the woods near Dunragit appears to be winning it’s battle for survival ...30 May 2001

Baby Douglas' Fight for Life
CASTLE KENNEDY mum Clare Stroyan this week told of the night she feared her 14-month-old son was going to die ...30 May 2001

New Library for Sheuchan Primary School
Pupils at Sheuchan Primary School are a well-read bunch these days ...23 May 2001

Successful Entrepreneurs at Stranraer Academy
Richard Branson and the country’s leading entrepreneurs had better watch out if the achievements of Stranraer Academy pupils are anything to go by ...23 May 2001

Question Time for Candidates
GALLOWAY’S five Parliamentary candidates have agreed to put themselves into the firing line in Stranraer ...16 May 2001

Timber-Framed Kit Houses
WORK has started on a factory to make timber-framed kit houses on the industrial site in Stranraer ...16 May 2001

Help for Addicts' Families
DESPAIRING families of local drug addicts will soon have somewhere to turn for help ...09 May 2001

New Flood Prevention Scheme
COMPUTER models of land in the Portpatrick and Stranraer areas will be used to try to cut flooding ...09 May 2001

Bowling Away from Home
CHAMPION bowler Kath Stevenson is getting all set for what will be the most far-flung match of her career so far ...02 May 2001

Replacement Hospital for Stranraer
WORK IS TO start next year on a replacement for the Garrick Hospital in Stranraer ...02 May 2001

Isaac invented Security Window
LOCHANS man Isaac Forsyth is looking to bring jobs to Stranraer with a life-saving security window system he has invented ...25 April 2001

Jimmy Marshall's 80th Birthday
WELL-KNOWN Stranraer figure Jimmy Marshall had an 80th birthday party to remember ...25 April 2001

Funding awarded for STI
STRANRAER, Cairnryan and Portpatrick are set for a boost with the news that funding amounting to £375,000 has been awarded to the Small Towns Initiative (STi) ...18 April 2001

Portpatrick Lorry Pull
BETWEEN five and six thousand people are estimated to have packed into the harbour at Portpatrick for a charity lorry pull on Saturday ...18 April 2001

Boost for Wildlife Park
GENEROUS pupils at Stranraer Academy have handed a much-needed boost to Kirkcudbright Wildlife Park ...11 April 2001

Smiles not Tears
DISAPPOINTMENT has turned into smiles for four-year-old Niall Wilson ...11 April 2001

Anti-drugs March a Success
IT MAY have been the first anti-drugs march through Stranraer but it will not be the last - that is the message from the organisers of Saturday's successful protest ...04 April 2001

Another Lottery Winner
STRANRAER has done it again with the National Lottery!....04 April 2001

Stranraer anti-drugs march
ORGANISERS of this weekends Stranraer anti-drugs march are hoping for a turnout at least in the hundreds...29 March 2001

A75 & A77 Campaign
NEXT MOVES in the campaign for improvements to the A75 and A77 roads from Lochryan ports ....29 March 2001

Refurbished Pool reopened
REFURBISHED leisure pool at the Ryan Centre, Stranraer, officially reopened on Friday". ...21 March 2001

16 Years to find Sea Legs
IT TOOK Jackie the Jack Russell 16 years to find his sea legs. ...21 March 2001

BBC films second Series
THE BBC have confirmed that they will be returning to Portlogan this summer to film a second series of the drama "2000 acres of Sky". ...14 March 2001

Work on Hospital could begin next Year
WORK ON the replacement for Stranraer’s Garrick Hospital could begin as early as next year....14 March 2001

Portpatrick looking for Talkers
PORTPATRICK EVENTS is looking for talkers....07 March 2001

Passengers prefer Sailing
PASSENGERS prefer sailing between Lochryan and Ireland....07 March 2001

Stranraer could be Freight Centre
STRANRAER could become a major road-rail freight centre....01 March 2001

Doggy Blood Transfusion for 'Kate'
SPRINGER SPANIEL Kate is well on the road to recovery from a rare illness - thanks to a doggy blood transfusion....01 March 2001

Tesco's Charity was Macmillan Cancer Relief
WHEN Tesco nationally announced that their charity of the year 2000 was to be Macmillan Cancer Relief, the staff at their Stranraer branch embraced the charity with great enthusiasm and over the year managed to raise an amazing £2400....21 February 2001

Hand-Grenade for Valentine's Day
VALENTINE'S DAY went with a real bang in New Luce this year after local youngster James Martin presented his mum with an unexploded hand-grenade....21 February 2001

Health Centre work starts next Month
BUILDING WORK on Stranraer's new health centre will begin early next month....14 February 2001

TV again in Portlogan
TELEVISION cameras are set to roll again in Portlogan later this year with the filming of a second series of the hit BBC Drama "2000 Acres of Sky"....14 February 2001

Skilled Machinist Shortage
EXPANSION PLANS at Stranraer’s Grasshopper baby-wear factory are in doubt. For the company cannot recruit enough machinists to meet the demand....07 February 2001

Shaken but not Stirred
SHAKEN but not stirred – that was how local man Massimo Lisi felt when he heard that he had won a national cocktail competition....07 February 2001

Nicola played 'Midday Money'
VIOLET McCOLM sat down in front of the television at lunchtime on Tuesday, trembling with excitement ...31 January 2001

Hero Gordon McKnight
HEROIC Stranraer policeman Gordon McKnight, who rescued a man from a smoke-filled house has had his bravery recognised ... 31 January 2001

Better Chance for Accident Victims
ACCIDENT VICTIMS in Wigtownshire will soon have a better chance of survival... 24 January 2001

Stranraer Ready for Celtic
STRANRAER FOOTBALL CLUB are getting ready for their biggest pay-day of recent years on Sunday night... 24 January 2001

Gold-Dust Tickets for football match
GOLD-DUST TICKETS for the most anticipated football match of the year between Stranraer and Celtic will go on general sale this Sunday afternoon at Stair Park... 17 January 2001

Millionaire Irene McColm
IN THE TIME it takes Chris Tarrant to ask a question, Irene McColm discovered she was a millionaire on Saturday night... 17 January 2001

Medal hopes for curler McMillan
STRANRAER curler Hamilton McMillan will lead Britain's medal hopes in the sport in next year's Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in the United States... 12 January 2001

Scottish Cup third round
STRANRAER's Scottish Cup third round tie against Premier League Celtic will be played at Stair Park... 12 January 2001

Firefighters rescued
SIX STRANRAER firefighters were rescued by life-boat early on New Year's Day from the roof of their partly submerged tender... 03 January 2001

Wild Christmas shopping
CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS in Stranraer went wild in the aisles this year... 03 January 2001