CLEAN UP 10th August 2011

Twelve hardy souls braved the elements yesterday to continue the campaign spearheaded by our very own, formidable Jen (''Mrs'') Brooks, to 'Weed and Clean' Hyndland's Old Station Park. The results are there for all to see; as Jen Sellar put it ''It's amazing what we can achieve, it really is the case that many hands make light work''. Visible progress is being made to the physical appearance of the Park but what really must be experienced is the warm glow (despite torrential rain!) generated by being part of something worthwhile, building Community spirit through Community action.

Our neighbourhood kids have, since the unveiling of the play equipment, the chance to be more active in a safe and informally supervised place, and, indeed, children have been involved in all the Weed and Clean events organised by Jen's Gardening Group. Jen, may and Margaret have done a masterful job of engaging with Glasgow City Council, its employees and agents, creating of the Park a crucible for joined-up working. Crucially, adults can now get involved, and if it's a case of getting down to the Park and getting dirty or wet then there's always a hot shower waiting in your comfortable and adjacent abode.

This is Community work with a purpose; I urge you to get involved, one hour at a time. I promise you'll feel the better for it.

Neil Johnston

Chairman

Friends of Old Station Park

PINK PEDLARS - LONDON TO GLASGOW CHARITY CYCLE RUN RAISES OVER £10,000

(Colin Cox writes about a highly successful fundraiser which used Old Station Park for its grand finale)

The Pink Pedlars (no, not a typing error) are a four-man team of cyclists, all in their sixties, and their four-women back-up team (their wives - ages not given and not asked) who completed the gruelling trip from London to Glasgow in mid-July in only five days and far exceeded their target figure of £10,000 for three related good causes.

The funds were raised for BLESMA, which is the limbless ex-servicemen's association, REACH, which is the equivalent for limbless children and for Oscar, a local child who was born without one arm.

The local welcome party organisers, Malcolm Wilson and his son Jamie, who is Oscar's dad, decided that Old Station Park was the ideal finishing line for the adventure.

A warm West End welcome was duly organised, with a police car escort (flashing blue lights and all) from Gilmorehill and another police car stopping the traffic at Byres Road, all to be met by cheering crowds of friends and local people and the sound of pipes.

After a traditional champagne shower for all who came in range of the intrepid cyclists as they crossed the finishing line, everyone was treated to champagne (in glasses this time), canapes and pizza slices, courtesy of Marco Stevenson of Tabak and Pizza-Magic.

This was essentially a family affair, but the family generously opened it up to all-comers which turned it into a community event.

All in all, a classic example of what FOSP is intended to be about - promoting the creation of a resource for the use of every section of the community, in whatever way they choose to use it.

Well done, the Pink Pedlars!

Colin Cox

Project Team Leader

FOSP

31st July 2011

PIZZA COMPETITION OPEN DAY 2011

The judge might think it funny but just look at the serious expression on the contestants faces!

They were aiming to get it right!

Neil,

Rather belatedly, I'm afraid, I wish to put in writing my comments on the FOSP Gala day last month.

As you know, Hhillhead Sports Club has been a regular attender at this annual event. This year's event was considerably better for us than those that preceeded it. The organisation ensured that we had a constant stream of children, young people and adults looking to participate in our sports taster sessions. Even the persistent rain that set in towards the end of the afternoon did not dampen our younger enthusiasts' appetites. From our point of view the day was a resounding success.

Please pass my thanks to all concerned.

Tony Green

Chairman

Hillhead Sports Club

A FEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE OPEN DAY 25th JUNE 2011