Balmullo Community Council Newsletter 2016,
Photo by Andrew Falconer—Beamish Mueseum
[issue four]
Online newsletter www.issuu.com/ balmullo
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PITCAIRN PRACTICE Reception staff, and everyone works across both sites and is managed by our Practice Manager; Marie Ferguson. The Practice is supported clinically by Health Board e m p l o y e d Community Nurses, Health Visitors, M i d w i f e , Phlebotomist, Podiatrist and Pitcairn Practice is a long established and Physiotherapist, and all provide services from successful Doctors surgery in the North East of the Practice. Fife. The Practice area covers the rural We hope to contribute regularly to the Balmullo populations of Balmullo, Leuchars, Newsletter with articles relating to Health Guardbridge, Dairsie, St Michaels and beyond Promotion, the services we provide and any up to outlying villages. and coming Practice changes. We have two purpose built surgeries: the main We also have a website that provides site is in Balmullo, and our branch site is in important and useful information about the Leuchars. Practice and links to health related topics. We have two GP Partners, Dr Ann Mitchell and www.pitcairnpractice.co.uk Dr John Kennedy, and a part time salaried GP, Dr Jennifer Kennedy, who all provide medical We are pleased to welcome new patients to the practice whether new to the area or just care to our registered patients. seeking the convenience of a nearby local As a Training Practice we are involved with the surgery, just pop in and ask at reception about training of future GP’s at both undergraduate registering with us. We look forward to seeing and post graduate level. you! Our Practice Nurses, Angie & Diane and Healthcare Assistant Kay, provide the mainstay of basic healthcare services, e.g. blood tests, blood pressure monitoring, ECG’s, smears and smoking cessation. In addition Angie & Diane are instrumental in monitoring our patients with chronic diseases such as Asthma, COPD, Diabetes and Chronic Heart Disease. We have 5 Administrative/
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Balmullo
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS
Chairman Colin Finlay 870578 colinfinlay52@gmail.com
Secretary: Sue Smith 870221 secretary@balmullo.net
Treasurer & Newsletter Andrew Falconer 870496 anfalconer@tiscali.co.uk
Minute-Secretary: Ann Falconer 870496 anfalconer@tiscali.co.uk
Vice-Chairman: Alison Jeffrey 870674 alison@balmullo.net
Councillors: Ina Cameron
fife
councillors
John Normand janormand1@gmail.com Gwenyth Mitchell 870010 gwenyth@balmullo.net Peter Lomas 870848 pil77@btinternet.com
870253
twaauldgoats@btinternet.com
Maggie Taylor 07872 423841 cllr.margaret.taylor@fife.gov.uk Tim Brett 01382 330905 cllr.tim.brett@fife.gov.uk Bill Connor 077 1866 8792 cllr.bill.connor@fife.gov.uk
Useful Contacts Burnside Hall Keeper Lynn Murphy 870466 GALA Committee: 077 8033 5250 http://balmullogala.weebly.com Community Police Officers 101 PC’s Susie Martin & Ewan McIntosh Non Emergency Police Contact 101
Statements made or opinions expressed in this Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the Balmullo Community Council or any of its officers.
Dog Warden 0345 155 0022 NHS24 111 M.P. Stephen Gethins 657765 M.S.P. Rod Campbell 844971 Doctors Surgery Balmullo 871164 Balmullo Primary School 659451 Bell Baxter High School 659459 Madras College 659402
Advert Prices - Small £5, Half Page £10, Full Page £20. You can rent advertising space on a month by month basis or on a longer term basis. The Balmullo Newsletter has a circulation of 700 and is hand delivered FREE of charge. TO ALL ADVERTISERS – Please check your advert. If you would like to remove it or change it in any way, please let us know.
#Balmullo Life
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ANNOUNCEMENTS We would like to make it clear that the comment in the February newsletter which stated that “The flooding at Pittormie Farm is particularly bad, but unfortunately the farmer in question is unapproachable” was made by a Fife Council manager. It was an error of judgment for us to print it without making that clear. Fortunately, further discussions and meetings have taken place in an amicable manner and progress has been made towards resolving the problem.
BALMULLO COMMUNITY COUNCIL speeding, but including 30 who were driving the wrong way down the Pusk road. Citizens’ Advice hold advice drop-in sessions on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month in the Burgh Chambers, Queen Street, Tayport from 1.30 – 3.30 pm. The Job Club is held every Wednesday at the Dolphin Centre, Tayport from 1.30 – 3.30 pm.
Fife Council has indicated that they expect the new car park at Leuchars Station to be ready The decision by the Reporter went against Fife by the Autumn. There have been delays as Council’s planning application for a new school Scottish Power has to move an overhead at St Andrews Pipeland site. Fife Council power cable. considered this judgement and decided not to The next meeting is in Burnside Hall at appeal, but re-open the planning application. 7.30pm on Monday 9th May 2016. Police Scotland reported that over 100 drivers were charged with offences during the A copy of the Minutes will be available on the Guardbridge roadworks period, mainly for shelves at the Post Office.
POINTS FROM THE SECRETARY’S EMAIL
SUE SMITH
Fife Cares Newsletter for Spring 2016 is communities that had a plan in place during available. This quarter it features safety last winter’s flooding. matters and is well worth reading. The Freedom Programme for domestic abuse The Spring 2016 Emergency Resilience sufferers holds help and advice sessions in Newsletter points out the advantages to Tayport for North-east Fife and Dundee. WHAT’S ON? MAY 5TH WRI OUTING – VISIT TO EDENMILL BREWERY & DISTILLERY TOUR. 3.30 PM AT HALL CAR PARK. 9TH COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING. BURNSIDE HALL 7.30 PM. ALL WELCOME. 15TH BALMULLO GALA FUN RUN JUNE 1ST BURNSIDE HALL COMMITTEE MEETING. 7.30 PM. 2ND WRI MEETING. INTER-INSTITUTE VISIT. BURNSIDE HALL. 7.15 PM. 4TH/5TH BALMULLO GALA 5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT. 11TH BALMULLO GALA DAY. 13TH COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING. BURNSIDE HALL 7.30 PM. ALL WELCOME.
RUNNING AN EVENT? EMAIL : ANFALCONER@TISCALI.CO.UK
11.06.2016 IS GALA DAY :¬`)
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BALMULLO S.W.R.I.
ANN FALCONER
President Mrs. Ann Falconer welcomed enjoyable evening and Ann Falconer gave a members to the meeting on Thursday 7th vote of thanks, noting that the Centre would provide an interesting venue for a future April. outing. Jill Dhanjal and her helpers laid on an Our guests for the evening were Margaret and excellent supper and the usual raffle was Susan from the Scottish Antique & Arts Centre, Abernyte which started as a small concern 19 drawn. years ago and has gradually grown over the Competition winners years. The business now has 125 independent 2 Rock Buns 1st Linda Hamilton traders based at the centre and they provide a 2nd Jan Redpath very varied and interesting selection of goods 3nd Mary Campbell for sale. Various extensions have been added Small Antique 1st Mary Campbell to the original building, including an award2nd Winnie Whyte winning restaurant and food hall. 3rd Linda Hamilton The ladies brought along a selection of 16 very Flower of the month Mary Campbell varied antiques and gave us a quiz, with members trying to guess the country of origin, The next meeting on Thursday 5th May will be age and value of each item. The answers were an outing to tour the Eden Mill Brewery. very surprising and often humorous, with Mary Transport has been arranged with volunteer Reilly and Penny Wiles eventually being drivers and members should meet at Burnside declared joint winners. Everyone had a very Hall car park at 3.30 pm. RECIPE OF THE MONTH
FRUIT TEABREAD
Ingredients 6 oz (170g) currants 12 oz (340g) self-raising wholemeal flour 6 oz (170g) sultanas 1 level teaspoon baking powder 6 oz (170g) chopped dates ½ pint (250ml) hot tea 1 egg Juice of 2 oranges Finely grated rind of 2 oranges
ANN FALCONER
Method Put the fruit, rind and juice of the oranges into a bowl and pour over the hot tea. Stir well, cover and leave overnight. Prepare a loaf tin with greased grease p r o o f paper. Stir the flour, baking powder and egg into the fruit mixture, then mix well. Place the mixture into the tin and bake at 150oC (300oF or Gas mark 2) for 1½ hours. Leave to cool on a wire rack. Serves four to six.
APRIL 200 CLUB DRAW WINNERS
£50 £20 £20 £20 £20 £20
Mrs Smurthwaite, Park View
Mr Wood, Summerhill Mrs Tulleth, Anderson Drive Mr Thow, Pitcairn Drive Mrs Leslie, Main Road Mrs Fairlie, Straiton Terrace
How to Join Our 200 Club? It's easy to join the 200 Club. Call or email Ina at twaauldgoats@btinternet.com or call 870253. It only costs £1 per entry per month,
£10 £10 £10 £10 £10
Mr Crichton, Park View Mr McQueen, Borthwick Place Mr Duncan, Pitcairn Drive Mrs Carstorphine, Park View Mrs Nicoll, David Wilson Park
and you can enter as many times as you like. We are currently trying to raise money for various Balmullo community activities and projects. - GOOD LUCK!
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OPEN Mon to Fri 9.30am-5pm; Sat 9.30am-4pm
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BEAMISH OPEN-AIR MUSEUM
A GRAND DAY OUT!
Beamish is described as “The Living Museum of the North” and there’s plenty to see and do for all ages, making it a very enjoyable day out. It is situated roughly half-way between Newcastle and Durham so requires a bit of travelling. We decided to drive down, stay overnight (plenty of accommodation nearby) and arrive at the opening time of 10 am. There is a large car park and an entrance building with shop, restaurant, toilets etc. 2016 prices are £18.50 (adult) £10.50 (child) & £13.50 (seniors) with discounts for family groups.
It’s a large site with good footpaths but plenty of free transport in vintage trams and buses, which stop at each area. Travelling clockwise you arrive first at the 1900’s Pit Village and Colliery. As well as being able to walk around a typical pithead with winding gear, tank engines, pit pony stables, etc. you can look into miners’ cottages with period furnishings and a real school which stirred old memories.
Next stop is the 1940’s Farm, with farmhouse, cottages, barns, livestock and lots of period tools & machinery. Very interesting for anyone who has a farming background. There are also plenty of animals for children to see.
Beyond the modern Regional Resource Centre lie the Fairground, with steam-driven Carousel and the Railway Station, which offers rides on a steam train, along tracks which run past the 1900’s Town. This issue’s cover photo shows the saddle tank locomotive standing at the platform. The Town is the largest area of the museum and has lots of interest. There are period houses, various types of shops, bakery, bank, pub, Masonic hall, park with bandstand, stables with horses and carriage collection and much more. There are plenty of options to purchase ice creams and snacks as well as a large restaurant with plenty of seating.
There is a factory where traditional boiled sweets are made for sale in the sweet shop and you can also see Edwardian breads, cakes and biscuits being baked to tempt you with freshly-baked treats to take home. There is a stationer’s shop with good souvenirs, served by a printer’s with working presses, and a Newspaper Branch Office. The Beamish Motor & Cycle Works is a replica 1900’s garage, with a collection of bikes, cars and motorcycles. On our visit last May, there were a chemist’s shop with dispensary and a photographer’s with working studio under construction.
BEAMISH OPEN-AIR MUSEUM
A GRAND DAY OUT!
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One of the most interesting houses contains a fully -equipped dental surgery, except that being over 100 years old the selection of instruments and drills are fairly rudimentary – not for the squeamish. It was notable that fillings were more expensive than extractions, so most people opted for the latter which gave a more permanent result. There is also a music-teacher’s house and a solicitor’s office.
The houses originally stood in Ravensworth Terrace in Gateshead and the pub is the Sun Inn from Bishop Auckland. All were painstakingly taken apart, transported and rebuilt, like most of the buildings here. As you wander around the Town, keep an eye open for the fleet of buses and trams which circulate frequently around the museum site.
The central section of the museum is a large green area, with various fields and pastures maintained in a traditional way. Farm workers can be seen using vintage tractors and other machinery or more commonly horse-drawn ploughs and farrows. The photo on the facing page shows an old, but wellmaintained Fordson tractor with a cheerful driver, off to do a day’s work on the farm.
The last part to visit is 1820’s Pockerley Old Hall, with a ‘new’ house, home of the tenant farmer and an ‘old’ house over 500 years old, where traditional cooking and craft activities can be seen. There are terraced gardens and a ‘Georgian’ landscape with drystone walls, oak fences and a beautiful medieval church, St Helen’s, from Eston, near Middlesbrough. The church was due to be demolished due to vandalism until it was saved a n d r e b u i l t h e r e .
The church was not yet open but you could see the stones all numbered for the reconstruction. Nearby is Pockerley Waggonway with working replica steam locomotives like ‘Puffing Billy’. You are now back at the start point with all its facilities. The entrance price may seem significant, but everything afterwards (except food and drink) is free and the tickets are valid for one year if you fancy another visit to do the place justice. There is m uch m ore i n for ma ti on on - l in e a t: www.beamish.org.uk including details of public transport options and a range of hotels and B&B’s within a reasonable distance. Andrew & Ann Falconer We hope this article might inspire other readers to write something similar about their days out.
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THE FRESH AIR OF SPRING
William Wordsworth's 'I wandered lonely as a Cloud' (also known as 'Daffodils') and from the early days of primary school, has been a favourite poem of mine, in which I reminisce as he takes us on his magical trip, describing how he compares himself to a floating cloud as he wanders alone through the hills and valleys until he encounters a field of daffodils beside a lake. Wordsworth, who was born in the Lake District, often spent his holidays on walking tours, visiting places for the beauty of their landscape. In this famous poem, he mentions that the daffodils are 'fluttering' 'dancing' and 'twinkling' as he thinks of how looking at such natural beauty can bring such joy and pleasure to his heart. The days are now lighter and longer and it may feel like a cold crisp Spring day but to step outside and breathe in the fresh air has many health benefits. Walking and taking in spectacular countryside views combats stress without the need for anti-depressants, it raises our spirits making us feel happier and helps to improve our blood pressure and heart rate. Enjoying fresh air that is full of oxygen is important to strengthen the immune system as our white blood cells kill and fight bacteria and germs. I'm walking to lose that stubborn stone in weight I've gained from eating all those sweeter calorie foods during the last few months of the winter season. On those cold, wet and dark nights, Mr Choccy biscuit and his friends have been my comfort food as I curled up on the sofa watching TV. In winter, our bodies also lack vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin, as we go out less and when we do venture out, we wrap up in scarves and
CHRISTINA JACK
gloves so our skin has little exposure to sunlight. You too, can boost your vitamin D and get the fresh air your body needs by stepping out of hibernation, into the countryside as nature awakes for Spring. Why not devote one day a week, to take a few hours in the countryside to clear your mind. Make it an adventure and get close to nature, take with you binoculars, a notebook to sketch on, a picnic and enjoy some quality family time. You may think there's not much to see at this time of year but soon the fields will be full of lambs and the flower buds will be bursting open. The Springtime sees the return of many animals, birds and insects. The birds are easily seen as there are still no leaves on the trees. Think about it for a moment - what's stopping you to add walking into your life? Get your walking boots on and let your body reap the benefit of fresh air exercise and appreciate the natural beauty around you. A rewarding walk is just what the Doctor ordered so breathe in the fresh air, you're entitled to, it's a gift created by nature and is tax free! and..... On a dreary, rainy day, during the heavy downpours, still be cheerful. Always remember, as the days get longer and the sun feels warmer 'April showers bring May flowers!' and..... May heralds the beginning of the warmer months leading into Summer!
Get Involved. Join the Balmullo Community Council.
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LEUCHARS AND DISTRICT GARDENING AND CRAFTS CLUB BILL DUFF The Club held it's AGM in March and although This was the last of this year's winter activities, there were two resignations we had three new we are now planning next winter's programme, committee members join us, so we are still in the meantime our next function will be our going. Summer Flower Show on 6 August 2016 in the In March we had Andy Smith give his annual Burnside Hall Balmullo, schedules of the Floral Art demonstration this year with a Spring various classes are available from myself tel. theme which was well received by the usual 870787 or Gwenyth Mitchell 870010. Before crowd some of whom were lucky enough to go that we have our gardens competition judged away with an exhibit from the raffle. The Club on Saturday 23 July with classes for Flower, are always appreciative of Andy and will be Landscaped, and Vegetable gardens and if you discussing whether to stick with a Spring are considering trying it out give me a call and demonstration for a few years before going I'll give you advice. back to Christmas. The garden is in a state of flux at the moment April saw our annual Quiz Night which was also as I had decided to give up the big barrels with well attended, in fact as there was a larger long carrots and parsnips and concentrate on attendance than last year we had to quickly set stump carrots and globe beetroot in half up additional tables and the quizmaster almost barrels but we had to spend most of March ran out of forms. This year's winners were going back and forward to Creiff after Ann's Muppets with 3 Proseccos and a Driver in mother died so I'm about a month behind. second place and a tie for third with Missing Never mind, I'm sure I can catch up when the Links, M & S, and Rat Pack. The booby prize weather brightens up and the Sweet Peas are went to Elmwood 30ts. all growing away in the greenhouse so I'll All in all a very lively and enjoyable evening concentrate on them first and use a rotovater with a few new faces, welcome, and we hope this year to turn the garden over. to see you next year, same place , same time, Happy gardening and I hope to see lots of you but not the same questions. and exhibits at the Show. BALMULLO BURNS CLUB I am Secretary to both the Balmullo Burns Club and the Leuchars and District Gardening and Crafts Club ( now based in Balmullo due to apathy in Leuchars ) and so have a good understanding of the health of local organisations. I have just read that the internationally renowned Auchtermuchty festival is to fold due to "not enough support from the community to continue", and that Freuchie Cricket Club are facing the same problem. I also have German friends who tell me their local Gala will probably not go ahead this year for basically the same reasons. So as our Chairman commented on the poor turnout at the AGM on Wednesday 16 March I now realise this is not a local phenomenon. At the AGM attended by the present committee and a few others, after discussion, the committee decided to soldier on for another
BILL DUFF year and organise a Burns Supper on 28 January 2017. This will be the 37th annual Burns Supper held in the village and may be the last. When I played at the first nothing was further from my mind than I may also play at the last and it will be sad to see it end. It may be that this type of function has seen its day and people have other interests to take up their time but if there are some out there who would wish to see a continuation of a club to celebrate and enjoy the poetry and songs of Robert Burns please, please, come forward and contact the committee before it is to late. Contact: President, Mary Campbell tel: 870328 Chairman, David Wilson tel:870306 Secretary, Bill Duff tel:870787
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WHITETHROAT AND BLACKCAP
ANDREW FALCONER
in short bursts and can be described as scratchy. From early May, they can be heard singing around Balmullo, usually at the roundabout, by Cuplahills track and from the hedges along Whinny Brae. The Blackcap (Sylvia Atricapilla) is also 13 -15 cm long with dusky-grey plumage, paler underneath. The male has a black cap but the female has a rusty-brown cap (see photos). Blackcaps prefer shady woodland or parks and gardens with dense undergrowth. The song usually identifies the rough position of the bird, often hidden in foliage. It has a very fine, melodic quality often going on for a few seconds, with flute-like notes at the end. The best way to get to know the Blackcap’s song is to see the singing bird This month we feature 2 more warblers which are summer visitors to Britain. They are fairly easy to identify but heard more easily than seen. The Whitethroat (Sylvia Communis) is 13-15 cm in length and both sexes are fairly similar. It has a long tail, yellowish legs, greyish-brown head and back, with paler buff-pink breast and rusty-brown lower back and wings. The obvious distinguishing feature is the white throat. It prefers scrubby bushes and hedges and sometimes flies up a short distance as it sings. The song is delivered and confirm its identity. They are not widespread around Balmullo but several times I have heard (and seen) one singing near the roundabout, flying back and forward across the bottom of Pitcairn Drive. They can also be found in the denser woodland at the back of Lucklaw Hill. Some Blackcaps are now wintering in the UK as the climate warms up. Photos courtesy of John Anderson, Crail