Prestwick Olympian named Gay Games ambassador

Prestwick figure skating star Lewis Gibson has been unveiled as an official ambassador for the Valencia Gay Games ahead of this year’s event in Spain. The LGBTQ-inclusive competition features 39 sports and is expected to attract around 9,000 participants from across the world. The two-time Olympian publicly came out before competing at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 and has continued to promote inclusivity within sport. Gibson said he was “honoured” to take on the ambassador role and added that […]

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Top North Ayrshire baby names revealed

New figures released by the National Records of Scotland have revealed the most popular baby names in North Ayrshire for 2025. Luca was the most commonly registered boys’ name locally, given to 11 newborns across the area, as Hudson and Leo followed closely behind. For girls, Ella topped the list with 13 registrations, ahead of Isla, Amelia and Freya. The figures showed that 513 boys and 519 girls were registered in North Ayrshire over the past year. Noah and Freya […]

26/05/2026 28

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Restaurant apologises over noise complaints

A West Kilbride restaurant has issued a public apology following complaints about noise from a recent event. Ttap confirmed it had received feedback from members of the local community after the function and admitted there had been noise throughout the evening. In a statement, owners said they “did not fully comprehend the extent of the disturbance” at the time. Ttap, which opened earlier this year in the North Ayrshire town, also stressed that hosting private events is not standard practice […]

26/05/2026 19

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Drongan pair to tackle charity walk

Two Ayrshire men are preparing to take on a 44-mile charity walk this June in support of Ayrshire Cancer Support. John, known locally as “Tucker”, will be joined by Stewart for the challenge which begins in Drongan before passing through Dalrymple, Kirkmichael, Patna, Dalmellington and Cumnock before finishing at the Toll Bar. The fundraiser is being held in memory of John’s brother William Hunt, who sadly passed away at the age of 24. Money raised will support Ayrshire Cancer Support […]

26/05/2026 14

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Ayrshire College hosts mental health screening

Ayrshire College hosted a special screening event at its Kilmarnock campus as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2026. The screening of Scottish film The Low Road took place on Thursday, May 14, and brought together more than 60 organisations from education, health and community sectors. The event explored topics including trauma, grief, suicide prevention and recovery. College staff said the programme was designed to encourage open discussion and strengthen partnership working around mental health support. Following the screening, guests […]

26/05/2026 20

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Taxi driver thanks passenger after diagnosis

An East Ayrshire taxi driver has thanked one of his passengers for helping to “save his life” after a conversation about prostate cancer led to an early diagnosis. Brian Kelly picked up Prostate Cancer UK volunteer Tam Hewitt during a taxi journey across Glasgow in the summer of 2024. During the trip, Mr Hewitt spoke about the importance of PSA blood tests and raising awareness around prostate cancer in older men. Although he had no symptoms, Mr Kelly later asked […]

26/05/2026 27

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Holy Fair makes return this weekend

The countdown is on for the return of the Mauchline Holy Fair, with organisers promising the biggest celebration yet when the historic event returns this weekend. The annual fair takes place on Saturday, May 30 across the East Ayrshire town, bringing together live music, family entertainment, heritage and community spirit in honour of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns. The free event recreates the atmosphere of the traditional fairs Burns himself would have attended, while blending modern attractions and performances for […]

25/05/2026 146

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Soaring bank holiday heat for Ayrshire

Ayrshire is expected to enjoy more warm and sunny weather this bank holiday weekend as temperatures across Scotland continue climbing during the latest heatwave. Forecasters say much of the west coast will stay dry and bright, although north-west parts of Scotland could see breezier and cloudier conditions later in the weekend. Health officials are also reminding people to take care in the heat, especially older residents and vulnerable groups, with advice including staying hydrated and avoiding the hottest part of […]

25/05/2026 17

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Dunlop celebrates 100th birthday

Jean Dunlop MBE is celebrating her 100th birthday at Renaissance Care’s Malin Court Home in Maidens this weekend, surrounded by family and friends. Jean, a former head teacher at Ballantrae Primary School, said she credits her long life to “good behaviour” and staying active. She will also receive a congratulatory telegram from King Charles as part of the celebrations. Born in Portpatrick on May 23, 1926, Jean was awarded an MBE in 2000 for services to the community. Her birthday […]

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