Mid May 2003 proved a very busy time for Irvine and Kilwinning, with fame for a film-maker, secrets from a brain expert and the return of North Ayrshire's Provost all featuring in our news coverage at the time.

Who can you spot in this week's trip through the Irvine Times files?

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Irvine Times: Film maker Pat Carrigan was off to Cannes

Irvine film maker Pat Carrigan flew off to France to show off his anti-drugs movie Stigma at the Cannes Film Festival.

The short film had been wowing audiences in Ayrshire and Glasgow recently, and Pat - sponsored by Asda and other local businesses - jetted across to the famous movie event with Scottish Screen to try and make some new contacts in the film industry.

A few lucky members of the movie's cast accompanied him while he makes attempts to punt the movie to industry high-fliers.

Pat said before he left: "I'm thinking: 'I'm going to Cannes, oh my God.' I'm really looking forward to getting there and networking with people, trying to make new contacts and really trying to promote the film."

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Irvine Times: Brain expert Tony Buzan at St Michael's

BRAIN expert Tony Buzan visited future St Michael's Academy pupils and taught them how to flex their mind muscles.

Mr Buzan, president of the Brain Foundation and charity The Brain Trust, had written several books on how the brain works and was adviser to several governments.

He dropped into the Kilwinning school to share his secrets with primary seven pupils who would join the Academy for 2003/04.

He taught them about creative thinking, memory control and speed reading during the fascinating hour-long seminar.

Teacher Helen Convery said: "This was a real coup for us - in the field of learning and how the brain works he's an international megastar.

"The pupils loved it and he promised us he would come back next year."

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Irvine Times: Pennyburn Primary raised cash for LEPRA

Elizabeth Osborne, fundraiser from the LEPRA, charity posed with the big-hearted youngsters from Pennyburn Primary who raised money to help them with their work.

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Irvine Times: The Kiln Court celebration

Staff and residents of Kiln Court residential unit reached their 25th year recently. And to mark the occasion, they cut a special anniversary cake and presented Martha Hynd, who had lived in the home since it opened, with a bouquet of flowers.

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And for our last flashback story, North Ayrshire finally had a Provost again.

The main civic title in the area was changed from Convener by the new administration, which had been voted in earlier in the month.

Veteran local government man Drew Duncan would become the area’s first Provost in decades, and his fellow Irvine councillor Jane Gorman would become NAC’s inaugural vice-provost.

The announcements were made as the new Labour administration – including two extra Conservative members, one from the SNP and an additional Independent – held their first meeting since people went to the polls on May 2.

The Provost title had been phased out in the old Cunninghame District Council days.