Memories of the Park

I was born and brought up in New Cumnock and first became acquainted with Cumnock when the new swimming pool opened in 1936. From the age of ten and upwards, it was my usual custom during the summer months to cycle to the park for a swim. At first the water was unheated and it was great fun to cavort until my fingers became white and threatened to drop off. A heating system made the experience more comfortable. There were always lots of people within the walls of the pool, some splashing around nosily, some swimming, some sunning themselves on the terraces. It never seemed to rain then but I suppose there must have been inclement weather at times. Memory tends to blot out unpleasant things doesn't it? Anyway, another source of adventure were the diving boards where there was always a queue of dare devils waiting to climb to their chosen height. I remember the first time I jumped from the top board, heart thumping, in to the water below. Such a height and so scary! And so satisfying!

At Swimming galas there were diving competitions as well as swimming contests. Johnny Stariski gained the applause of the crowd with his graceful swallow dives. Swimming contests between clubs brought visitors such as Nancy Riach who I think represented Scotland at that time. We watched her from afar and admired her speed and skill and were motivated to practise and improve our strokes. Cumnock Men's Polo Team was enthusiastically supported during their matches and the Ladies Swimming Formation team glided gracefully through the intricate patterns they created in the water. Meanwhile the café was doing great business supplying not only hot food but the usual crisps, ice cream, sweets, ice lollies and hot drinks.

As you will have gathered, the main attraction in the park for me was the pool but there were plenty of other things on offer. Coming from Lugar Bridge and into the park, the first attraction was the children's playground where I seem to remember a paddling pool for the toddlers. There were the usual swings, see-saw, merry-go-round and was there a maypole? Maybe not. The grassy area had plenty of space for picnics and the river flowing past provided other pastimes for youngsters who liked to paddle or guddle for beardies or skiff flat stones over the surface of the water. And always from ahead came the sound of the bathers in the pool.

Across the road from the pool could be heard the plop, plop of tennis balls as matches were being played in the courts behind the high wire fences. Beyond these were the putting greens where would be golfers practised their putts. In the field beyond there was plenty of space for all sorts of games and every year the Cumnock Gala procession ended there among crowds of people.

DDuring the summer months, the park was always busy with families out for a day together. Not only Cumnock families but some from far afield when facilities were provided for campers and caravans. Some returned year after year to the idyllic setting, sheltered by the slopes and trees and with the mighty Viaduct towering in the background. Even the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the park in 1956.

Now we have no pool, no putting green, no tennis courts, not tents or caravans but hopefully, the Woodroad Regeneration Forum will continued what they have already begun and restore the park to some semblance of its former glory as a place to be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Spending summer holidays at the swimming pool when every day seemed to be warm and sunny. School sports days when I won the championship I still have a photo with the cup though I shudder when I look at it now.

A big occasion every year was the visit of the " shows ". Lawrence's show was always a highlight of the early summer. In fact a member of the Lawrence family who remembers those times , Edwin Lawrence works as a reporter with the Ayrshire Post, Nile Court in Ayr. As a youngster I remember a bicycle event, the Cumnock Rally as I recall, which was held in the Woodroad Park annually. It must have stopped some time early in the war. It was a weekend event which drew cyclists from across Scotland who camped over a weekend and participated in two wheeled events. As I recall it was attended by a good crowd of locals.

Also during the course of the war the park was used as a camp by soldiers of many regiments with exercises undertaken in the surrounding area. In our home as many others also did, we entertained lads of an evening by way of giving them a taste of home comforts which helped ease their home sickness. My mother for years afterwards corresponded with at least two lads from Canada up until her passing in 1981.

I do remember a Capt. Sprools ( funny how some names stick in the memory ) of the REME who let may play with his revolver !! He appeared one night with a wounded hand resulting from live ammunition games in the woods around the park. After the war for years on the Fernie Brae there was evidence of slit trenches the remains no doubt of practice war games.