Castlepark at 50: Former Provost Pat shares her memories

Pat and husband Robert were among the first tenants of the Castlepark estate when the houses were built in Irvine five decades ago.

It was Decimal Day, February 1971 when Pat and Robert and their two sons moved from their tiny room and kitchen to what felt like a mansion with three bedrooms in Castlepark.

“It was a big step for us, our families and lives were in Glasgow,” said Pat.

“Everyone wondered what we were doing, they had never been to Irvine, they knew nothing about the town but we were young and didn’t have a great deal of money, the chance to relocate to a new town was a great opportunity and we haven’t looked back.”

Families and neighbours remain firm friends in Castlepark.

Pat and Robert soon had baby number three and being a young mum, Pat found company and support from her neighbours in Castlepark.

“There has always been a great sense of community here in Castlepark,” said Pat.

“I had a Silver Cross pram and I would be pushing Martin into the town centre and stopping to talk to everyone.

“I was out so often that the wheels on that pram actually wore down and I had to write to Silver Cross to get them repaired.

“But it was great to meet the people in the neighbourhood, some of these people are still here, our neighbour Billy McKenna and his lovely wife Elma became good friends and have played an important part in our lives.”

A lifelong member of the Conservative Party, Pat was their political agent and soon moved into becoming a councillor in her own right in her own town. She became Provost in 2010 after the Bobby Rae had to step down from the council and the role.

The final vote on a new Provost was tied and a pack of cards was cut.

Pat picked the Six of Diamonds, securing the title as North Ayrshire’s civic parent for two years.

And when she became affectionately known as the First Lady of North Ayrshire, part of her plan was to focus on the people with in the Irvine community, and of course, Castlepark.

“The more I worked with the community groups and the people at the Castlepark Community Centre and Redburn Centre people like Sally Rogers and Rose Munro and Marjorie Dickie, I got to understand the amount of hard work and passion that these people have and genuine love for the Castlepark community,” explained Pat.

“Their work with running the centres, organising gala days and above all, caring for the people in this area and going above and beyond makes me proud to stay in Castlepark.”