Scottish Artist / Playwright John Byrne 79, visited Paisley today and took time out to respond to Karen Campbell’s email, knowing John once lived and grew up in Ferguslie Park. But not in Karen’s wildest dreams did she ever expect John to take up her offer only for John to respond days later where he agreed to a quiet walk through the park that was arranged for Wednesday March 27th.
Karen who was hoping John would visit Glen Coats Park and lend his support for the up and coming Ferguslie Park funding grants earmarked for the local groups and where the locals themselves will vote on Saturday to see who wins those funds. So when Karen’s group who recently won the Lord Provost award for their efforts in the community spotted John in the distance, she could hardly believe her eyes he was actually coming back to his place of birth.
As we watched John walk up Blackstoun rd, Demi Donnell said. “£25.000 has been allocated for the local groups in Ferguslie Park and each group put in their bid for part of that funding. Then it’s up to the locals who live in Ferguslie to vote and pick three of those groups, to which ours are only looking for £4000. And if we win, over the summer holidays that money will be used the fill Glen Coats Park with big inflatable’s to entertain all the children over the holidays.
John soon arrived with wife Jeanine Davies along with their dog and they where nothing but gracious throughout the day as the group members walked through the park explaining how the locals where fed up with the fly tipping and overgrown footpath, they decided to take action and clean it up themselves.
John who grew up at No88 Dalskieth Rd as well as Candren Rd & the Crescent left Ferguslie back in the 60s to pursue his career in the arts. Though Jeanine said, “The last time we came back to Paisley was to pay our respects for jerry Rafferty, where John did said after his lengthy absence, “I never recognised the place, it had changed so much”. Much like when asked about Ferguslie Park he responded. I don’t recognise any of this, not even a land mark. I’ve never been in this park before or even saw the old pond”. In fairness to John, when he was a boy the park was high fenced off and still the private grounds of the Paisley thread mills Coats family, where now it was open to the public.
At this point Jeanine couldn’t resist the tree rope swing that in stood beside what use to be the Coats family giant rockery which overlooked the long gone frog pond. Jeanine said, “It would be nice to see the old pond back in the park and the thing about frogs, they seem to remember these old ponds and they will come back”.
Then out of nowhere Jeanine, handed Karen a donation for the group to buy flowers for the park, which left Karen speechless as Jeanine insisted they take it. If it wasn’t praise enough this kind heart couple to respond to the Pals of the Privies request for John to champion their cause. This gift was far more than anyone could have expected… Now it’s up to the residents to get out this Saturday and vote to which this lot are hoping it’s the Pals of the privies..
AUTHOR: david cameron
AUTHOR EMAIL: defiantpose@talktalk.net
AUTHOR URL: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmzUzm96
SUBJECT: [Renfrewshire News] Submit photos
IP: 88.145.81.75
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[1_Name] => david cameron
[2_Select reason for contacting us] => Photos for the site
[3_Your Email address] => defiantpose@talktalk.net
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[5_Where was the event?] => Scottish Artist / Playwright John Byrne 79, visited Paisley today and took time out to respond to Karen Campbell’s email, knowing John once lived and grew up in Ferguslie Park. But not in Karen’s wildest dreams did she ever expect John to take up her offer only for John to respond days later where he agreed to a quiet walk through the park that was arranged for Wednesday March 27th.
Karen who was hoping John would visit Glen Coats Park and lend his support for the up and coming Ferguslie Park funding grants earmarked for the local groups and where the locals themselves will vote on Saturday to see who wins those funds. So when Karen’s group who recently won the Lord Provost award for their efforts in the community spotted John in the distance, she could hardly believe her eyes he was actually coming back to his place of birth.
As we watched John walk up Blackstoun rd, Demi Donnell said. “£25.000 has been allocated for the local groups in Ferguslie Park and each group put in their bid for part of that funding. Then it’s up to the locals who live in Ferguslie to vote and pick three of those groups, to which ours are only looking for £4000. And if we win, over the summer holidays that money will be used the fill Glen Coats Park with big inflatable’s to entertain all the children over the holidays.
John soon arrived with wife Jeanine Davies along with their dog and they where nothing but gracious throughout the day as the group members walked through the park explaining how the locals where fed up with the fly tipping and overgrown footpath, they decided to take action and clean it up themselves.
John who grew up at No88 Dalskieth Rd as well as Candren Rd & the Crescent left Ferguslie back in the 60s to pursue his career in the arts. Though Jeanine said, “The last time we came back to Paisley was to pay our respects for jerry Rafferty, where John did said after his lengthy absence, “I never recognised the place, it had changed so much”. Much like when asked about Ferguslie Park he responded. I don’t recognise any of this, not even a land mark. I’ve never been in this park before or even saw the old pond”. In fairness to John, when he was a boy the park was high fenced off and still the private grounds of the Paisley thread mills Coats family, where now it was open to the public.
At this point Jeanine couldn’t resist the tree rope swing that in stood beside what use to be the Coats family giant rockery which overlooked the long gone frog pond. Jeanine said, “It would be nice to see the old pond back in the park and the thing about frogs, they seem to remember these old ponds and they will come back”.
Then out of nowhere Jeanine, handed Karen a donation for the group to buy flowers for the park, which left Karen speechless as Jeanine insisted they take it. If it wasn’t praise enough this kind heart couple to respond to the Pals of the Privies request for John to champion their cause. This gift was far more than anyone could have expected… Now it’s up to the residents to get out this Saturday and vote to which this lot are hoping it’s the Pals of the privies..
[6_Anything else you want to tell us?] => If you have any use for this, edit as you see fit.
By the way don’t contact any of the councillors as Ferguslie don’t seem get on with them….. If you speak to anyone tory councillor John McIntyre always takes the time to visit the meeting where the rest don’t …. Or better still contact GLENCOATS PARK facebook for a quote 😉
[7_Direct link to where we can pick up photos] => https://flic.kr/s/aHsmzUzm96
[entry_title] => Submit photos
[entry_permalink] => https://www.renfrewshire24.co.uk/submit-photos/
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