History
The West Kilbride Amenity Society was established in 1971, when Scottish local government was being reformed into larger administrative units. West Kilbride Parish was administratively still in the District of Cunninghame.
Formed to provide a unified forum for the residents of West Kilbride, Seamill and Portencross, with Steering Committee membership representatives drawn from each of the foregoing. Its organisation and activities predated the advent of the West Kilbride Community Council, which came into existence after incorporation into the District of Cunninghame and Strathclyde Region.
The Society's aims are to stimulate interest in the character, history and attractions of the West Kilbride area and to encourage the preservation, development and improvement of features of amenity and historic interest. It is a charitable organization (Scottish Charity No. SCO11125) and one of the oldest continuously functioning voluntary civic organisations in West Kilbride. It is closely affiliated with the Scottish Civic Trust and the Ayrshire Federation of Historical Societies.
In 2008 the name of the Society was changed to West Kilbride Civic Society
The photograph of the Oyster Catcher in our heading was taken by David Palmar.
Current West Kilbride Civic Society Committee
The Society is administered by a Steering Committee consisting of 5 elected office-bearers and up to 7 other committee members. The current committee, elected in October 2008, is composed of:
Chairman: Walter V. Kolon (Lt.Col., Ret) - Portencross
Vice Chairman: Alan Hodgkinson - Portencross
Treasurer: George Blyth - West Kilbride
Secretary: Henry Thomson - West Kilbride
Membership Secretary: Mrs. Chris Fisher - Seamill
Events Secretary: Miss Patricia Anslow - Seamill
Web Site Co-ordinator - Mrs Betty Stanger - West Kilbride
Member: Graham Findlay - Seamill
Co-opted Member: Mr George Donohoe - Seamill
Former Chairmen
Major J.G. Logan 1971-74Miss E. Webster 1974-76
Mr. W. Strang 1976-78
Miss E. Webster 1978-79
Mr. D. Armstrong 1979-83
Mrs. P. Gourlay 1983-85
Miss P. Anslow 1985-88
Mr. D. Armstrong 1988-91
Mr. J. Ferguson, OBE 1991-94
Mr. D. Armstrong 1994-97
Mrs. S. Douglas, MBE 1997-2006