A community organisation set up in Maybole more than 40 years ago has frozen all its activities, including the town’s gala and Christmas lights.

Following this year’s successful gala, however, the office bearers decided that it was time to stand down and allow others to have the opportunity to bring fresh thinking to the Association.

However, with no one stepping up to get involved, the work of the group has been put on hold.  

When local government was re-organised in 1975 it meant that Maybole Town Council disappeared to be replaced by Strathclyde Regional Council and Kyle & Carrick District Council.

When set up in 1975, Maybole Community Association continued the Town Council’s Attractions Committee’s function of organising galas, concerts, etc. and gradually took on a slightly different role of taking up issues in the town.

When community councils were being proposed, the Association played a key role and also met with neighbouring villages to discuss the way forward and liaise on boundaries.

Over the years, the Association became mainly involved in organising events dealing with matters which involved bringing together the various community groups within Maybole in an effort to improve community life.

The big annual events during the past 40 plus years were the Gala, the Christmas Bazaar and Santa’s Grotto, the Queen of Carrick Dance, school quizzes, Maybole Mastermind and the Kildoon Hill race. More recently, it took on the organisation of the Christmas Lights switch on.

Many individuals and dozens of local groups were involved in lots of events which played a major part in the community life of Maybole.

Senga Mason, chairwoman of the association, told us:“Regrettably no-one came forward at the meeting prepared to be an Office Bearer knowing that the present committee were standing down

“The decision was therefore made at the meeting for all activities of the Association to be frozen and put on hold for a minimum period of six months and a maximum of 12 months That decision will be reviewed again at that time.”

She added: “No business will be conducted during that timescale. This decision means that there will be no Christmas Light Switch On and potentially no Gala next year.”

All of the equipment owned by the Community Association will be put into storage and when the decision is reviewed next year consideration will be given to the  equipment being passed to other groups in the town.

In the past two years, they applied for a grant for Christmas lights and were awarded £11,000 for the lights that are on local lamp posts. This year they were awarded £4,000 for tables, seats and gazebos for the gala day.

The Christmas tree and lights at the Greenside were donated by a local businessman and this will not be happening this year.