Flashback to our South Ayrshire stories from 10 years ago

Who can you spot in these Advertiser photos from December 2013?

Children were stunned when a helicopter carrying none other than Santa landed in their school playgrounds in December 2013. And Santa received a roaring welcome when he arrived in a Royal Navy helicopter at a few lucky South Ayrshire primary schools last week. Dundonald Primary children, pictured, had letters ready for their important visitor when he touched down.

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Monkton’s Tony Sockell, 14, who was based in the Troon detachment of the Army Cadet Force, was presented with a Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) certificate by Mr David Scott.

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Aladdin panto characters helped celebrate Ayr Gaiety’s first year of being back in showbusiness with a theatre shaped cake in December 2013. The Gaiety, which opened in 1902, nearly shut forever when financial problems saw the lights dim in January 2009 but theatre operators had major plans following its resurrection. 

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Postman Charles “Chik” Kincaid was Santa’s helper for the last time at Christmas 2013.

Chik was set to retire from his walks from Maybole and Girvan delivery offices after 16 years delivering festive cards and parcels. It was estimated that he had delivered around 1.8 million letters, cards and parcels in that time.

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Christmas concert fun at Glenburn Primary in December 2013.

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Children shone during Doonfoot’s glittering nativity play in 2013. The audience were treated to star performances from P1 and P2 children during the play.