PRESTWICK

'Prestwick' is a town located in South Ayrshire on the central west coast of Scotland, approximately 30 miles to the south-west of Glasgow. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 15,478. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is approximately 2 miles south.
As well as being famous for being an aviation town, Prestwick is renowned for being the home of Open golf. The world's first Open golf Championship was played at the Prestwick Old Course in 1860 and the first twelve Open Championships were played there until 1872 (the Championship was not played in 1871). The town also hosts two other golf courses, St. Nicholas and St. Cuthberts. St. Nicholas is a traditional links course on the southern half of the town.
Prestwick in Old Norse literally means - "Priest town" or "Priest bay".

Contents

Transport

Aviation

Railway

Road

Education

History

Town twinning

See also

External links

Transport

Aviation

Prestwick has been at the centre of Scotland's aviation industry since the 1930s. Though a period of sharp decline through the 1980s and 1990s saw Prestwick Airport lose its status as Scotland's transatlantic gateway, it is once again a rapidly growing international airport that caters to a number of low-cost airlines, including Ryanair and Wizz Air. It is also a principal hub for air freight, with Polar Air Cargo operating a fleet of Boeing 747 cargo aircraft from its Prestwick base. In addition, BAE Systems, Goodrich Corporation, Spirit AeroSystems and GE Aircraft Engines have maintenance/manufacturing facilities adjacent to the airfield. Ryanair and Polar Air Cargo also have maintenance facilities at Prestwick.
Prestwick is also home to a Royal Navy Air Station, more popularly known as HMS Gannet, where Sea King search and rescue helicopters are stationed. Although the US Air Force no longer has a base at the airport, Prestwick continues to handle a large number of US military flights. It was at this airport that Elvis Presley set foot in the UK for the only time, when his US Army transport aircraft stopped for refuelling en route from Germany in 1960. In July 2005, Prestwick airport served as the main transport hub for visiting world leaders attending the G8 conference in Gleneagles.
As well as the airport, Prestwick is one of the cornerstones of the UK air traffic control system, controlling 70% of UK airspace. This is in addition to being one half of the Shanwick Oceanic Control centre, which oversees all North Atlantic air traffic on the European side.

Railway

Prestwick is located on the Ayrshire Coast Line between Glasgow Central and Ayr. The town is served by two trains per hour that call at both Prestwick Town and Prestwick Airport stations. Glasgow is approximately 50 minutes from Prestwick by rail. The line continues notionally farther south to Stranraer on the Wigtownshire coast, but a change at Ayr is usually required.

Road

Prestwick lies on the A79 road which runs directly through the town, but is normally reached via the main A77 trunk road between Glasgow and Stranraer, or the A78 Ayrshire coastal route to Largs andGreenock.

Education

Prestwick has four schools, three primary and one secondary, one of which is a denominational school, serving Prestwick and north of Prestwick. The schools are:

★ Prestwick Academy

★ Glenburn Primary

★ Kingcase Primary

★ St. Ninian's Primary- denominational Primary

★ Heathfield Primary- Officially in Ayr, on border of Prestwick and Ayr.
Prestwick Academy is the catchment secondary school for all the schools above. St. Ninians pupils can go to Queen Margaret Academy or Prestwick Academy. The primary schools in the outlying villages of Monkton and Symington also 'feed' the secondary school, along with Heathfield primary.

History

From Robert the Bruce to James VI, King of Scots, numerous Kings have traversed the coastal walks in and around Prestwick and Troon. Bruce is reputed to have been cured of leprosy by the waters of the well at St Ninians church. The well exists today behind the present St Ninians Church.

Town twinning

Prestwick is twinned with

★ Lichtenfels, Bavaria

★ Vandalia, Ohio

★ Ariccia,Italy

See also

★ Prestwick Academy

★ Prestwick Golf Club

External links

★ The Open Championship