Back in 1990, Dr. Jimmy Begg and his friend, the late John Reid MBE, decided to publish a collection of their poems and short stories, with all proceeds donated to The Ayrshire Hospice, which had recently opened in 1989. An incredible 3,000 copies of The Dipper and the Three Wee Diels were sold, raising a remarkable £8,000 for the Hospice. Fast forward 34 years, and Jimmy has re-published an extended version of The Dipper with 280 pages, which Poetry Collection Returns
Capital Build Nearing completion...
includes much of his later work. John Reid’s family were delighted with this proposal. The Dipper an’ The Three Wee Deils – An’ a Guid Wheen Mair Poems (2024) is now in print and already available for sale at all Ayrshire Hospice shops (Ayr, Prestwick, Troon, Cumnock, Kilwinning, Girvan, Kilmarnock, Largs, and Saltcoats), as well as from Carn Publishing and Ayr Waterstones, with all proceeds going directly to support the work of the Hospice. Thank you to Dr. Jimmy Begg for his hard work and dedication, and to the late John Reid.
Flying without wings!
By Elaine Thomson Senior Fundraiser
Thirty willing participants, including several Ayrshire Hospice clinical staff, took to the skies to Zipslide across the Clyde in support of the Hospice, raising an incredible £15,284.04! Taking place alongside the River Clyde, beside the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, the participants were harnessed up before taking a short 150ft ride in the crane. From there, they made the leap of faith out of the crane cage into the Glasgow sky. The event sold out in a matter of days, and we can’t thank everyone enough for pushing themselves out of their comfort zone and supporting the Hospice in this way. A special thank you to Emma, who travelled all the way from Bangor, Northern Ireland, to take part in memory of her mum, Christine, who received hospice care.
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Don’t worry if you missed out Zipslide the Clyde is back on Saturday 30th August. If you’d like to take part, sign up on our website: www.ayrshirehospice.org
And we’ve even added some lovely, personal touches, like our new ironmongery pedestrian gate featuring a hummingbird motif. Hummingbirds symbolise
joy and resilience, qualities that embody the spirit of our Hospice as we move forward, bringing hope and strength to those in our care. This new space is not just a building, but a dedicated environment that supports the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our patients and their families. With a focus on dignity, privacy, and comfort, we are thrilled to be nearing the completion of a project that will enhance our ability to provide exceptional palliative and end-of-life care for many years to come. We can’t wait to open our doors and begin the next chapter in our mission to care for the people of Ayrshire and Arran.
April 2025 | EDITION 39
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