When Rab C Nesbitt featured Millport Country and Western fest

String-vested Rab C Nesbitt was one of the famous visitors to the island for the popular half-hour show, which was broadcast nationwide around the UK, in an episode featuring the famous Millport Country and Western festival.

Gregor Fisher played the gallus Glaswegian chararacter with his philosophical rantings, alongside other comedy luminaries Tony Roper and Elaine C Smith, who all visited Millport for the filming.

The memory featured in the promotion piece for the 2001 festival in its seventh year. The venues were Confederate Army Headquarters (Royal George), the Tombstone Saloon (Kelburne Bar), Fort Apache (Ritz Cafe), The Golden Nugget Saloon (Garrison Amusements), The Nashville Bicycle Co. (Mapes) and many more tradespeople.

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We reported on the idea of a giant pulp mill being set up at Hunterston in the event of a £400 million initiative succeeding and bringing with it up to 600 local jobs.

The deepwater terminal was touted as frontrunner to secure a plant similar to Scotland's only other wood-pulp mill, down the coast at Irvine.

Clydeport confirmed that it had been contacted about the proposals and were in discussions.

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Largs was getting ready to jazz it up once again for a new festival despite criticism from local SNP councillors about the financial running of the event.

The Largs jazz spectacle was to return on the following year ater coming in June.

Largs Initiative chairman Ken Welch defended the festival and said it would be back bigger and better.

Councillor Bobby Rae (Largs East) hit out at the Initiative for using up a £6,000 underwrite from the Common Good Fund at the first time of asking, while other local events such as the Viking Festival did not use their underwrite.

Mr Welch said: "The jazz festival will return next year and the Vikingar! has already been booked. We are hoping to make it even better and double the size of it.

"We are still seeking sponsorship but we plan not to go via the Common Good Fund for the festival next year.

"We are looking at having jazz workshops in Largs next year so that people who are interested in playing an instrument can go along and take part."

Around 1,100 people came to the last jazz festival.

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A fun time was had by all at the recent Largs Colts under 8s barbeque, which was held at Kelburn Country Centre.

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THE Largs Initiative was set to re-launch the Largs Tartan in preparation for the Royal National Mod coming to town in 2002.

It was hoped that the project would have an important marketing and publicity role in promoting the town with television and national press descending upon Largs for the nationwide event.

Plans were already underway with an external company producing a range of tartan clothing.

The Initiative were hoping to have talks with the Mod organisers about using the design during the festival.

Initiative chairman Ken Welch said: "The Largs Tartan has returned. I think it is a fantastic idea, especially with the Mod coming next year.

"Ties, scarves and waistcoats will be available in a number of local shops, hopefully in time for Christmas.

"At some point in the future, we would hope to have Largs tartan kilts as well."

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The sun shone as Lady Watson Stewart opened Largs Flower Show in the Dunn Memorial Hall.

The exhibits displayed were of the expected high standard with spectacular displays of Floral Art, Dahlias, Chrysanths, Fuchsias, Pot Plants as well as Junior entries, hobbies and crafts, and baking.

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In a football farce at Beith Largs striker Steven Quigg was shown the red card but stayed on the park to score the winning goal which propelled Thistle into the quarter finals of the Kerr & Smith Cup.

In very rare and bizarre circumstances, referee Gordon McKay changed his mind about sending off goalscorer Quigg, but showed a second yellow card to veteran forward Derek Love - who went off the field protesting his innocence.