The
VILLAGERS
NOVEMBER 2010
Price
40p
T he Vo i c e o f B a l q u h i d d e r, L och earn h ead , S t rat h yre & S t F illans
Pin-Feathers*
by Old Nyati
*Once in demand by Victorian miniaturists, the tiny pin-feather comes from the leading edge of a woodcock’s wing and only two such feathers occur on each bird (one on each wing). This month Old Nyati gives us a glimpse into the years of the First World War, 1914-18.
It was just an old autograph book, but how many times had it escaped being thrown away? Being so near to Remembrance Day it seemed appropriate to highlight some of the entries from it. All I know is that it belonged to one of my aunts and was passed on to me long ago. The aunts were all in the medical profession; nurses, sisters and a matron, and my childhood memories recall that they all seemed to have had operations for gall stones, so it must have been a family weakness!! I remember being shown the removed stones with great interest; sort of marble-sized lumps of conglomerate material. But what of the old book; entries indicate years spent in field hospitals in France and recovery camps in the U.K.
The cross - Unidentified British Soldier - drawn by Capt W Clark.
W. Martin Mclean. 1/5 Cameronians, France, 1914. “A wee reflection from Bonnie Scotland and for the sake of auld lang syne.” “Two Ways!” by J. Johnston (Sgt) 9/5/18 Military Hospital, Catterick. What can we make of this? “….wherefore I schemed to stay behind…” What remorse! Did he not go ‘Over the top’ with his men? My imagination runs away with those words; he was obviously wounded and in hospital. Read the full poem, in all its moving glory, on page 2.
“... all the boys of the shell shock ward” Wounded 1918. Hugh Hammond (Jock) Denny, Stirling. (Perhaps there are still relatives in the area.)
Reading the book Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks gives some idea of the horrors that went on. So what do we make of it all? Those verses, the handwriting, the names and the places! They were brave men who fought for their country and they were young, like some of you. But be in no doubt of this……….. “ WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.”
EDITOR’S NOTE The 18th AGM of the BLS Newspaper Association will be held on Wednesday 16 February 2011 at 7.30pm in the Sandison Hall, St Fillans. The constitution of the BLS Newspaper Association requires that we announce the date of the AGM in both the November and December issues of The Villagers and arranging this for next year has concentrated my mind on the fact that I will be standing down from the post of editor and am still hoping for an enthusiastic villager to pop up in my place. I feel very strongly that a community newspaper serves a vital purpose and in our case we bring together four very different communities. The style of any newspaper is set by the editor and there are as many styles as there are editors and this is evident in the variety of community newspapers which are published within the National Park area. Each one is individual and they also change over the years according to the needs and wants of their communities. There is no hard and fast rule about the size, number of pages or content and now, after almost eighteen years of publication maybe it is time for change at The Villagers too. I hope that a new year will bring new faces, new ideas and new targets to our publication. I would certainly be very unhappy to see The Villagers close down so this is a rallying call – the next editor is hiding somewhere – please help to winkle him or her out into the open. Marguerite Kobs
Weather
Report
The following readings were taken at ‘Bramblings’, Auchtubh, Balquhidder for the month of September. Average max. temp. Actual max. temp. Average min. temp. Actual min. temp.
16.3 ºC 20.7 8.0 -1.0
61.3 ºF 69.0 46.4 30.6
Rainfall: 20.7 cms 8.3 ins Strongest wind gust: 42mph on 6th Sept 2
Here is that poem from the front page, in full:
Two Ways!
I loved not death; I had no mind To miss the glory of my prime, Wherefore I schemed to stay behind And I will take my toll of time, Till time itself before the end, Shall loiter. Friend shall say to friend: “For all his prudence and his strength, How he begins to fail at length! His footsteps falter in the street,” Or it may be “the summer heat Has tired him,” or “the winter cold.” I am the lad who will grow old! But to the last I shall recall Another lad - my mate - my chum A lad who lingered not at all At the first rally of the drum, But with strong heart, with eager breath, Thirsting for life, drank deep of death. Now, neither days nor years he’ll know, Nor flagging purpose, nor the slow Stagnation of the nerve or brain. There is no glory that shall wane For him, nor any love turn cold The lad who never will grow old!
Balquhidder
Christmas Market Sunday 5 December 11.00am till 4.00pm.
Come along to Balquhidder Village Hall for Tea, Coffee, Lunch, Home Baking... Christmas presents you can’t buy anywhere else and a super Raffle!
CHAS
COFFEE MORNING Saturday 13 November Callander Kirk Hall 10.00am - 12 noon Proceeds in aid of Children’s Hospice Association of Scotland
Sgt J Johnston Military Hospital Catterick 9. 5. 18
Look to this day for it is life, The very life of life. In its brief course lie all the realities And truths of existence; The joy of growth, The splendour of action, The glory of power. For yesterday is but a memory, And tomorrow is only a vision. But today well lived makes every Yesterday a memory of happiness. And every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day. One of several translations of an ancient Sanskrit poem by Kalidasa
The St Fillans Bit There can’t be many males who, in their distant childhood, didn’t have a train set, played for hours with it and still have fond memories of a pretty basic engine and three coaches jerkily circulating an oval track, with maybe a single siding and a station to stop at. I’m certainly one of those so was intrigued when I heard that Ron Wellens has a rather more elaborate ‘train set’ to play with. In 2003 whilst in hospital Ron decided that he needed a new hobby to fill the hours of recuperation and, as he’d been a model railway enthusiast years before,
then trains it was to be. What started as a way of passing a few hours became a serious interest and a room in the house was set aside for a layout together with a room-filling raised baseboard set up, made professionally by a specialist in England. Ron decided that his railway would be based on the era 1948-68 so that it would be primarily steam but with latitude to run a few of the ‘new fangled’ diesel locomotives. The result seven years later is truly awe inspiring with some 30 locomotives available to pull over 300
items of rolling stock over a complex track system. Countless hours have been spent building trackside features – houses, factories, even an army base – and dozens of cars, lorries, tanks, guns etc bring the various trackside settings to life. In OO scale – that’s just 4mm to a foot – the detail is very intricate and time consuming but well worth the effort. Wife Jan tolerates Ron’s devotion to his railway and helps out by making houses and the like and has just finished a superb warehouse. The problem now is that more space is needed, but I’m pretty sure that Ron’s idea of knocking a hole through the lounge wall so that trains can run through the living room will get a firm wifely veto.
A Collection of Foulness
Ron’s trains
Two AA Red Rosettes for Fine Dining Winner of Good for the Soul Award
Meantime, Willie Phillips has found a novel way of highlighting the ongoing dog poo problem in the village and embarrassing the culprit who allows his/ her dog to foul Willie and Margaret’s driveway on a regular basis. Pictured here is just a few days’ collection of poo bags (supplied by Willie) festooned on the gate post with a rather specific note of his intent if the problem continues. I gather the driveway fouling stopped very soon after. Sad that it has to come to this, but a great idea. Continued overleaf
From 1st November open Thursday Evening until Monday Lunch inclusive. ‘Fishy Friday’ and ‘Make Sunday Special’ still available.
The Four Seasons Hotel, St Fillans
01764 685 333 www.thefourseasonshotel.co.uk
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Continued from page 3
That links nicely into the intention of the Village Store to stock pet foods. Frank and Liam are asking villagers who are pet owners to give them an indication of the type or brands of food they use and the volume so that they can investigate wholesale supplies at a decent price. As a 2-dog and 3-cat household we are very aware of the cost of food for the livestock (although I try not to work it out) so unit cost will be important, but it’s a good idea and could work with support from pet owners. Thanks to Kay Naitby for updating the position on the village bus shelters. She has been in contact with P&K Council who were considering the future of the shelters and was pleased to learn that there had been good representation to the Council from villagers stressing the need for, and usage of, the shelters and that as a result P&K are intending to either refurbish or replace with new. Good news. Also replaced this month and now fully operational is the cooking range at The Achray. As part of their continuous investment in the Hotel, Alan and Jane have installed a ‘state of the art’ induction cooking range and said goodbye to the ancient gas stoves. If, like me, you haven’t got a clue what induction heating means, it is (I believe) a system whereby heat is transferred directly and quickly to the pan – but only when the pan is in contact with the stove. In other words the normal heat loss associated with burners running without pans on them are eliminated and 90% of the energy used goes straight to the pan. The only other user of the same system in Scotland right now is The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh. Alan says that the £10,000 outlay is a bit of a sting but that energy bills will be reduced dramatically – and the chefs love the system with its fine control over cooking.
Cyclists line up for the start of the cross country race
the Pug-h-Mug (that’s what it says here!) to Tom Grant, the Ronnie MacPherson Quaich to Neil Campbell and the Peter Ash Tankard to Ronnie Shaw. The car park held a fine display of zimmers and motorised wheel chairs and I’m told that the lunch finished in plenty of time for the Seniors to be tucked up in their rugs for Countdown. Somewhat more energetic were the 40 cyclists who turned out on 10 October to compete in the Margaret J Gordon Trust cross country event, now in its 4th year of running and still sponsored by The Drummond Hotel, who looked after the riders before and after the race. The course is some 18 miles of hard going in the hills behind the village and it’s hard to believe that the winner, Billy Matthews, covered the course in just 1 hour 26 minutes, with the Ladies winner just 3 minutes behind! Couldn’t even do that on the level with me electric bike! This year’s race was dedicated to cyclist Grant Laing of Dundee who died in July this year whilst riding his mountain bike and at just 42 years of age. The prizes were presented by Annette Spence, Grant’s partner. Mary from The Four Seasons tells me that Chef Peter Woods has returned to the fold and is continuing with the Fishy Friday suppers and Traditional Roast Sunday Lunches. A new innovation is ‘First Sunday Supper For a Tenner’ which, not surprisingly happens on the first Sunday of the month and consists
of a main course plus a pint or a glass of wine for (you guessed it) £10. The Four Seasons is now open winter hours, which means from Thursday evening till Monday lunch inclusive. And, of course, Christmas Day Lunch and the 6 Course Hogmanay Dinner & Ceilidh are on offer but must be pre-booked. On the Tartan theme, I’m glad to report that there will be a Burns Supper in The Sandison on Saturday 29 January 2011. There was a bit of uncertainty but Jim Brierley and team have agreed to organise the event yet again. New volunteers for the next supper contact Jim – you’ll be greeted warmly. Finally, just one volunteer is needed to take over the role of Editor of The Villagers when our incumbent, Marguerite, stands down after the AGM in February. I wasn’t convinced that she really meant it when she indicated her intention earlier this year as she has done such a fine job for many years and is one of the major factors in the success of the newspaper. However, determined she is and at the time of writing no volunteers have emerged. There is absolutely no reason why a St Fillans villager should not be the new editor, in fact it’s probably our turn, so even if you are only half interested do contact Marguerite (details on the back page) and she will explain the role. It’s a simple fact that no Editor means no Villagers – and that’s not being dramatic. John Murray
Achray House
Hotel, Restaurant & Lodges
Golf Seniors
The 2010 season at The Golf Club ended with the Seniors Prize Giving Lunch on 15 October. St Fillans has a very active group of Seniors who compete weekly over the summer, with a turnout of 40 players not unknown. Moss Pugh awarded the various prizes which included the Eclectic to Gordon Strong, 4
Why not try our new Autumn menu, mixing old favourites with new dishes such as Haggis in filo pastry with Irn Bru chilli jam (the new national dish?) Breast of pheasant with a smoked salmon mousseline over whisky sauce www.achrayhouse.com
01764 685231
Open daily for lunch and dinner Taking bookings for festive lunches
BOOK SIGNING... An informal gathering at the Thursday upholstery class as Catriona MacGeoch signs copies of her newly published book Sulaisgeir. Further copies will be available to purchase at the Balquhidder Christmas Market on 5 December.
Strathendrick Singers Strathendrick Singers perform in different villages around the area and this December will sing for the first time in the newly refurbished
St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Aberfoyle.
The Village Store St Fillans
Newsagent • Off-licence • Top-ups Tobacco • Groceries • Gifts Hot Pies to take away Hardware • Oil • Fishing Tackle & Permits Café • Dunfillan Coffee Soup • Toasties • Baking • Packed Lunches
Sunday 12 December at 7.30pm
The programme includes carols from home and abroad and some traditional works by Charpentier, Johnston and Hearne Candlelight, mulled wine and mince pies Tickets: £10 (£7 concessions) from Philip Gaskell 01360 661011, choir members, and at the door.
OPENING HOURS:
7.00am - 5.30pm every day Late opening (Fri/Sat/Sun) till 7.00pm
01764 685309
LADIES’ NIGHT BODY SHOP PARTY
Thursday 11 November 7.30pm Clachan Cottage Hotel Lochearnhead Entry Fee £2.00
Tea, coffee and cake on arrival Please bring your own drink along if you would like to! As this is a Fundraising Event all proceeds will go to the BLS Playgroup
‘Casino Night’ Friday 19 November 5
“QUIZ NIGHT”
Lochearnhead - A Great Result! The Scout Station was the venue when some 40 people turned up on a very wet night for the Annual Quiz on 21 October. Organised by St Angus’s Church, Lochearnhead, Alan Clarke set and posed the questions, ably assisted by Joan, and the ladies prepared lovely food for the interval. We are very grateful to Maurice Baker, who welcomed us to the “Waiting Room” of the old station with a roaring log fire and off we went. Some challenging questions ensued but it was an evening of fun and laughter with nobody really minding who won or lost. The great winner was the Falls of Dochart Retirement Home in Killin who benefited from the whole proceeds of the night amounting to a magnificent total of £405.00 and this will be spent on “treats” for the residents. We are grateful for the continuing support of the local people. Lawrie Hopkins Secretary
Walks in the Forest My September sojourn back to my old haunts in this area proved to be a delightful experience. I saw a comma butterfly in Strathyre on several occasions and as I had not seen one so far north before, I was quite excited. I spent at least four hours every day walking in the forest around Strathyre and could hear and see crossbills moving around in the trees and feeding on the seeds of cones. One day as I walked along a path that was fairly high up the hill, my dog was following interesting scents and I kept giving my usual two short notes on the whistle to bring him back and when I was reaching the end of the path a bird, perched high in a tree and not possible for me to identify, was singing the exact same notes at regular intervals. One of my greatest pleasures was walking to Don MacCaskill’s stones and seeing the excellent sign for the walk in the forest and also the new information board. The Forestry Commission must be congratulated for the money and manpower it has provided to erect the stones and to install the useful notices. They are a fitting tribute to a very special man who had a great influence on many people involved in conservation and wildlife management. I met tourists who
Comma Butterfly
were gaining pleasure from walking the path and learning about Don from the notice board. It is worth mentioning that Irwin Campbell, who was involved with the work on the broch in Strathyre, carved the cup and ring marks on the stones. I hope that many local people will keep the path open by walking it regularly and enjoying Don’s beloved forest. Aquila alias Kath Egerton
Crossbill
More Notices from Church Magazines For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility. This evening at 7.00pm there will be hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
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Broadband Update
Tullybannocher News
Well, we are yet again coming to the close of our season, another year nearly gone already, so thought we should take this opportunity to give you our last few details of things to come. We have two live music nights left, both of which are selling out quite quickly so if you want to book that Christmas get-together for a few friends or work colleagues then give us a call. On 20 November we host the return of local group Tarneybackle who always produce a fun filled evening with their extensive repertoire of folk songs sung with their amazing harmonies. Following that on 4 December we see the return of the one and only Peter Davenport (the originator of Jazz Nights at Tullybannocher) with his Reunion Band. Both of these events are priced at £17.50 per head, which includes a full buffet, but please phone us and book on 01764 670333 or 685323 to ensure a place. We are now onto our winter opening hours so do phone if you are planning on travelling down for a meet with friends to ensure that we are open and for your diaries, apart from the live music nights, we close for the season on 7 November. Thank you to all of you who have supported us this year and watch this space for details of our re-opening in 2011. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all in advance!!
Statement of the blindingly obvious: Our area suffers from elderly and unreliable telecommunications and a serious lack of line and exchange capacity. These factors, coupled with the distances many properties are from the exchanges, means that significant parts of the area cannot get modern (or frequently any) broadband provision. With more and more TV, business, government, education and general internet services assuming that everyone has urban broadband speeds, places like our four villages will become ever more disadvantaged. The forthcoming digital TV switchover also means that there is likely to be even worse TV coverage than at present, with however no effective online alternative available. The Scottish government’s recent Outreach project offered technologies that were antiquated, ineffective, were expensive and often didn’t work hereabouts. BT’s recent ‘upgrade’ of the telephone service to Balquhidder has made very little difference to the quality or reliability of their services and actually costs more than it could have done to provide the whole area with modern broadband. Nice one, BT. What can we do? There are several things happening at the moment: The Scottish Government has just published a new report on broadband
provision, entitled Digital Ambition. It actually seems rather unambitious and lacking in detail, but it is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/ Doc/127313/0105923.pdf There are government initiatives in the Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland to trial new services, but nothing in our area. The irony is that we could go a long way by some rather simple changes, such as improving local line quality and exchange capacity and by installing a remote broadband connection point in Balquhidder. There are two immediate things we can do: Firstly, see if we can get ourselves onto the government’s horizon for support. Bruce Crawford, our MSP, is the obvious point of contact and has I believe already been active in this area, so any and all support he can get from his constituents will, I’m sure, be most helpful. Secondly, see if we can get ourselves onto BT’s rural initiative for its next-generation Broadband Infinity fibre-optic services: So please go to http://www.racetoinfinity. bt.com/ and register - it’ll tell you that they won’t consider exchanges with fewer than 1000 subscribers but a very high vote for our local exchanges can only increase the pressure on BT to do something. We hope. Richard Harris
Jo and Liz
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Christmas Services
at St Angus’s Church Lochearnhead 14 December - 6.00pm “Preparing for Christmas” Community Carols in Lochearnhead Village Hall 25 December (Christmas Day) 9.00am Christmas Communion in St Angus’s Church Lochearnhead
26 December (Boxing Day) 5.00pm Christmas Carols in St Angus’s Church, Lochearnhead followed by sherry and Christmas cake
Church News Balquhidder
Remembrance Sunday is on 14 November this year. Traditional services with a piper, wreath laying and prayers will be held at the War Memorials in all three villages: in Lochearnhead at 10.45 am, in Balquhidder at 12.00 noon, followed immediately by the Sunday service, and in Strathyre at 3.00 pm. Our Christmas Card The retiral collection at the Harvest Thanksgiving service on 10 October raised £60.00 for Christian Aid. On 5 December, the Church will have a stall at the Christmas market in Balquhidder Hall. Our lovely Christmas cards will be on sale, plus items suitable for gifts. We shall also be selling a selection of books, CDs and DVDs. The aim is to raise funds for the Church winter fuel bills. As most folk know only too well, heating costs have soared and we need to ensure the comfort of the congregation every Sunday as well as the safety of the Church building in the depths of winter. Jean Edwards
RIDDLE ME REE My first gets us off to a colourful start My second is in treacle and counterpart My third could start hub, raft, lose, lot and limb My fourth is in Aunt Joan but not Uncle Jim My fifth is a creature whose numbers have dropped My sixth is in slowing down but not in stopped My seventh is a treat for us during the day My last is in strategy but not Saturday My whole joined with others – one of a kind Back in our past... but ever brought to mind.
Enjoying wonderful views over Loch Earn and the surrounding countryside
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
RETAIL THERAPY NIGHT at The Wee Mindin’ Come on a spending spree to jumpstart your Christmas Shopping!
Friday 26 November from 7.00pm
Glass of wine and nibbles on arrival As this is a Fundraising Event 20% of all sales on the night will go to the Strathyre Christmas Party
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Lochearnhead Village Hall Committee invites you to a
Hogmanay Dance The hotel is family run with ten en-suite bedrooms, lounge bar, restaurant and residents’ lounge. Relax in our bar, soak in the stunning views from our terrace and enjoy your drink or bar meal. For something that little bit more special, try our menu in the Lochview Restaurant.
Reservations - Tel: 01567 830229 Fax: 01567 830364
email: info@lochearnhead-hotel.com www.lochearnhead-hotel.com 8
on 31 December starting at 9.00pm
There will be a licensed bar and ‘The Session’ will be playing, as in previous years. Please come along and support this fundraising event. Information will be on posters or you can call
07900 576 320
for more information.
Scottish Aeromodellers Splash-in at Lochearnhead in September
Who said “If the wind don’t blow and the chain don’t break” ? Well, it did and it didn’t ! There were 2ft high waves coming ashore, pushed by a 20mph wind. Now consider the scale of that! A 1:4 scale model plane equates to full size with 8ft high waves and an 80mph wind, so no wonder the ducks were grounded! One or two brave souls flew despite the elements and there was a bit of carnage for the repair shop, but that’s what it is all about. Two days to compare notes and a good blether! Edward Chadfield
Active Scotland Outdoor Activities
‘Winter Boat Storage’ Take the hassle out of towing your boat away at the end of the season. Let Active Scotland take care of your winter storage needs by arranging for your boat to be stored inside until March. Towed from and returned to Clachan Cottage Hotel ready to start the 2011 season. Call 01567 830321 for details. Active Scotland Crieff Road, Lochearnhead 01567 830321 www.activescotland.com 9
McLaren High School News Rugby News It was our first U18s game of the season on 15 September against Alva. We started the game well and put pressure on the Alva line. Jacob Barnes scored first to put McLaren a try up. Alva came back strongly and got a converted try and a penalty to lead 10-5 at the break. After losing Andy Orr with an ankle injury, the rearranged side started to struggle and Alva dominated the second half winning 6 tries to 1. Eighteen McLaren players took to the field on 18 September to play against Crieff High School in a friendly match. The game kicked off with McLaren having the bulk of the possession and this continued throughout the three 15minute games. The Crieff team had size in their favour, but McLaren Seniors Come so Close! On 21 September, McLaren High School Seniors faced Our Lady’s High in the boys’ schools football Scottish Cup first round. Our Lady’s are from Cumbernauld and won this competition three years ago, so McLaren knew to expect a really good side. The game finished 2-2 and headed for penalty kicks, which Our Lady’s won. The team played well as a unit and everyone played their part. Scott Anderson was McLaren’s Man of the Match as he was outstanding and gave absolutely everything. Musical Achievements Three McLaren students were selected to take part in the Side by Side element of the RSNO concert entitled Maestro Music on 26 October at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow. They played in the orchestra alongside the professionals: Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky. Violin: Rachel Speirs Trombone: Harry Milligan Trumpet: Jamie Hall Jazz Workshop On 1 October the internationally acclaimed saxophonist Snake Davis came to McLaren High School to run a jazz workshop with some young musicians. The pupils sat enthralled through his demonstration of playing on saxophone, tin whistle and shakuhachi. The students then performed some blues for him before playing one of Snake’s own pieces. They were full of questions for him especially when he told them he had played with Take That, Eurythmics, M People and Paul McCartney, among others. All we can say is, ‘Haste ye back soon, Snake’! 10
Senior XV
their ball retention and overall support play let them down. McLaren revelled in this disorganisation and showed some expert handling skills and finished the game with a resounding 23-0 win. McLaren U-18 team played Denny High in the 1st round of the Scottish Cup on 5 October. The pitch at Denny was probably the best we have ever played on and the weather was ideal for good rugby. McLaren
dominated the game throughout and with good handling we scored 60 points by half time. We finished 112-0 winners and proceed to round 2. Try scorers were Ruairidh Leishman 5, Fraser Graham 2, Brendan Millard 2, Liam Campbell 2, Harry Cordner 1, Will Vernon 2, Adam Innes 1, Jamie MacDougall 1, Angus Waite 1, Josh McInnes 1 and Harry Milligan had 3 conversions.
Pakistan Food Pack Appeal
Black Watch Performance On 30 September, 45 pupils and 12 staff attended a performance of Black Watch at the SECC in Glasgow. The play about a group of young soldiers from Fife going off to fight the war in Iraq moved the audience from laughter to tears and left a lasting impression on all. All pupils agreed the acting, choreography and music were superb but that the biggest impact was made through the subject matter. A fantastic night was had by all who attended with the comments from the pupils ranging from ‘excellent’ to ‘brilliant’ to ‘awesome’.
Charities Pakistan Flood Appeal More than 30 boxes have been donated to the Stirling Mosque to be sent to Pakistan for the Pakistan Food Pack Appeal. Pupils and staff across the school all contributed generously to the appeal as part of the aid effort for the floods which have been devastating Pakistan since early August. It is hoped that the packs will be of benefit to some of the 2.8 million people displaced by the disaster. Special thanks to Mr Morrow from the school who kindly transported the boxes to Stirling.
Jeans for Genes/ Breast Cancer Awareness Mufti Day Congratulations to all pupils and staff at the school who raised £603.45 for the above charities during our Mufti Day on 8 October.
Alternative Alphabet A is for ‘orses B for pork
C for miles
D for mation Canapés at the European Day of Languages
European Day of Languages There were several events in the school to celebrate this day. Pupils read out tannoy announcements in Spanish, Hungarian and French. Lorna Leckie and her kitchen staff provided canapés and snacks from different European countries. There was a competition to design a poster on the theme Why Learn Languages? The winning entry was from Amber McLean, 1L. Congratulations to Miss Hamilton who won the staff competition in French (with full marks!). Dynamic Earth On 7 October all of S2 went to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. When we got there we went through galleries that took us through different times. We first went through a lift that took us all the way back to the big bang, and when we got out we watched videos on the big bang theory, the ice age and volcanoes. After that we watched a video about Biomes in 4D.
E for ‘ning Standard
F for vescent
H for consent
G for police
I for Novello J for oranges
K for Sutherland L for leather M for sis
N for lope
O for the wings of a dove
P for ming seals
R for mo
Q for snooker
The Club consists of a group of enthusiasts who meet regularly throughout the year to participate in a programme of strolls, rambles, hill walks and a Long Distance Path. Details are published on http://www. incallander.co.uk/r a m b l e r s . h t m in the Ben Ledi View and on posters around Callander. New Members and guests are always welcome. NOVEMBER • Sat 6th 8:30am Hill - Cruachan (Inversnaid) 536m James Kennedy 01877 387201 • Wed 10th 9:30am Ramble - The Strathblane pipeline 10 miles Helen Campbell 01877 382522 • Wed 24th 9:30am Stroll - Beecraigs Country Park (Linlithgow) 4 miles Jean Hammerton 01877 330105 DECEMBER • Wed 1st 9:30am Ramble - The Whangie 5 miles Jen Shearer 01877 330446
S for tunate T for 2
U for mism
V for la France W for twins
X for breakfast Y for mistress Z it again
Callander Rambling Club
Innerdouny Hill
• Sat 4th 8:30am Hill - Innerdouny Hill (Ochils) 497m Rob Smallman 01786 825877 • Wed 8th 9:30am Stroll - Mystery Walk 5 miles Peter Ireland 01877 330444
Interactivity at Dynamic Earth
Next we went in to a big dome-like room filled with reclining seats and watched another video about the search to explain the origins of the universe, taking us right up to date with current research at the Cern Institute in Switzerland – this was my favourite part as it was so realistic. After lunch we had a final workshop - where we took part in Rock E-bay! Lauren Allen S2 (Lochearnhead)
visit our website: www.mclarenhigh.co.uk 11
Strathyre Primary School News
Above: Strathyre Pupils with Mrs Fergusson; right: the children gather around Mrs F at her presentation during Harvest Sunday, and inset: Mrs F with her picture painted by Mrs Munro.
Mrs Fergusson Mrs Fergusson has left Strathyre to start her new job as Head Teacher in Aberdeen. The children put on a concert which they organised themselves. They had been busy rehearsing their own dances, songs, jokes and music at playtimes and lunchtimes, in the classrooms when wet, in the friendship hut and in the playground under Mrs Fergusson’s eye, but they told her they were rehearsing for the Youth Project talent show. On the day of their concert they put the chairs in the classroom in a big circle and sat Mrs Fergusson down. She got a wonderful surprise and thoroughly enjoyed herself. There was a presentation at the Harvest Service in the church where again the children sang and read their poems. Mrs Fergusson was presented with a beautiful picture, painted by Mrs Munro our Art Teacher and also received gifts of earrings, chocolates and a hanging basket full of bulbs. We will miss Mrs Fergusson but we wish her well in her new job. We also wish Mrs McDonald good luck as she starts her new job as Acting Head Teacher of our school, combining this with teaching her P4 - P7 classes. Mrs Dimmer will be teaching as well so that Mrs McDonald can fulfill all her duties. 12
Friday Walks As soon as the morning bell goes on a Friday morning (weather permitting, of course) the pupils and staff put on their jackets and fluorescent waistcoats and go for a brisk walk. The children all enjoy walking towards Keip Farm and seeing the beautiful view of Loch Lubnaig. Left: High visibility on a dark Friday!
Valley Furniture Recycling Project Don’t dump your old furniture, cookers, washing machines, fridges and freezers. The Salvation Army will recycle almost anything. Contact: 01786 479 262
sandra.clements@salvationarmy.org.uk
Above: Kim, Emily and Lottie in full swing with their tribute to Mrs Fergusson!
Beetle Drive The SPSP held a fundraising Beetle Drive and it was a very exciting, enjoyable evening. To say that some people were over-enthusiastic with rolling the dice might be exaggerating slightly but there were fewer spots on the dice after the event!
Eyes Down for The Drive!
Albert plants bulbs for Grounds Day
Grounds Day At the end of last term we had a Grounds Day. Everywhere was swept, cleaned, weeded and tidied up. Daffodil and tulip bulbs were planted; cakes were eaten and juice drunk; it all helped to make the day. Rhoda Keenan
Do you need a new home in Lochearnhead, Strathyre, Killin or Callander? If so,
Rural Stirling Housing Association may be able to help
The Association’s aim is to support rural communities by providing affordable good quality homes for people in housing need. We currently have 450 rented homes and around 30 of these become available for re-let each year. We also build some new homes each year. For more details and a housing application form contact us at: Rural Stirling Housing Association Stirling Road, Doune FK16 6AA Telephone 01786 841101 Email enquiries@rsha.demon.co.uk www.rsha.org.uk Registered as a Scottish Charity No. SCO37849 Please note that we encourage all applicants to also apply to Stirling Council’s housing list (Tel 0845 277 7000) Being on both lists is the best way to maximise your chances of being re-housed.
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There is an exhibition running currently in London’s Piccadilly celebrating the Pointer dog in art, in collaboration with The Kennel Club (KC). Among the jewellery, medals, trophies, bronzes and paintings in the show are depictions of the Glorious Twelfth and portraits of famous field trial champions. The exhibition is intended to show the breed’s working heritage. The above painting The Twelfth of August by Scottish artist George Stratton Ferrier (1852-1912) shows James Carnegie shooting over his own pointers on Balquhidder moor on the Stronvar estate.
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Scottish Water’s advice to beat the bogus callers
A Blast from the Past...
We thought you might enjoy looking at some interesting and patriotic packaging from yesteryear.
With the clocks going back darker nights are drawing in. Throughout Stirlingshire, vulnerable and elderly householders are all too prone to the menace of bogus callers – however remembering a series of simple steps could help to send them packing. Householders should follow our Three C’s rule: Card, Check and Call. Card – You can ask callers to pass their ID card or letter through the letter box in order to verify their identity. Check – Check the identity card carefully: Is the photo on the card the same as the person at the door? Does the ID card or letter contain the Scottish Water Customer Helpline number? Has the card been tampered with in any way? If you are not confident that they are a genuine caller, then send them away and report the incident to the police. Call – If you are in any doubt about the caller’s identity please call our Customer Helpline on 0845 601 8855. We advise customers to contact utility companies by using phone numbers found in telephone directories or the internet, but not from ID cards or letters, because these could be false. If you are still suspicious contact a neighbour or call the police. Peter Farrer, customer service delivery director for Scottish Water, said: “When householders receive a cold call from anyone claiming to be from Scottish Water, or another utility, they should not under any circumstances open the door without first checking the caller’s ID card
or letter – this should be passed through the letter box. All our employees carry identity cards, which they are more than happy to show when requested. The caller’s identity can be checked by calling Scottish Water’s Customer Contact Centre on 0845 601 8855. Scottish Water’s operatives and contractors will always be happy to wait while their details are checked. If you are on your own and feel that you need more support, call a neighbour or a friend. If you are worried about a caller, then please contact the police straight away.” Constable Derek Mitchell, of Central Scotland Police’ Interventions Unit, said “Central Scotland Police support and endorse any initiative which reduces the potential for doorstep crime. This type of offence tends to target the more vulnerable people in our communities. Our message is simple - Do not let cold callers into your home.” In a bid to help protect customers against bogus callers, Scottish Water is again offering an “Anti Bogus Caller Pack” which contains a personal electronic alarm, window sensor, door viewer, UV marker pen and guard bar. Packs are available to the first 50 customers contacting Scottish Water by e-mailing customermarketing@ scottishwater.co.uk or writing to us quoting Bogus Caller Pack, Customer Marketing, PO Box 8855, Edinburgh, EH10 6YQ. Further information is available on the dedicated page on our website www.scottishwater.co.uk/ boguscaller.
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Rangers’ Review By Graeme Auty
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Staggering October through into November sees the rutting season for the red deer. The rut is a period when the biggest and strongest stags gather up a group of hinds for mating. The red deer is our largest native land mammal and stags can weigh up to 190kg. Along with roe deer they are one of only two native species of deer in the UK. In order to maintain control over a group of hinds the stag is constantly driving away rivals, announcing his superiority over other males by bellowing out that unforgettable echoing roar. If you go to watch the rutting deer make sure you keep at a safe distance. If you take a dog, keep it on a lead. There are many great locations in the area to see and hear these magnificent animals but it is always recommended to keep at a safe distance and observe them with binoculars or telescope. You definitely DON’T want to get between the stag and his females! This is also one of the worst times of the year for collisions with deer on many of our busy rural roads as animals tend to move to breeding grounds at dawn or dusk. The shorter days and the clock change means this movement of deer coincides with peak time commuting traffic. Bonfire Fright Now we are once again into the season of bonfires and fireworks it is easy to overlook how such celebrations can have a traumatic effect on both wild and domestic animals. Noise from fireworks can cause panic in livestock and horses and has in the past resulted in serious
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Loch Lubnaig is an ideal place to see otters!
Remember, remember... the effects of fireworks upon animals
injury as animals have bolted through fences and onto rural roads. If you are planning on having a bonfire night let people know so that they can make appropriate arrangements for their pets and other animals and don’t forget to check the bonfire for any animals such as hedgehogs which may have climbed inside mistaking it for a cosy place to spend the winter. WeBS update So far this autumn I have carried out two wetland bird surveys (WeBS) on Loch Lubnaig. At the moment the numbers of birds are still fairly low but with reasonable counts of mallard and some teal, goldeneye and mute swan. The coming months should see the expected arrival of more ducks and geese to the lochs in the area; hopefully there will be the return of the large flocks of goldeneye and the whooper swans seen on Loch
Lubnaig last year. One of the best locations on the loch to watch these new arrivals is from the track above Lochan Buidh and the shallow northern end of Loch Lubnaig. From here you can look down into the quiet reedy back waters around the Roinn Mhor peninsular where the river Balvaig enters the loch. This is also a great location to look out for otter as they move between the river and the loch. During one WeBS survey last winter I was very lucky to have a close encounter with one of our resident otters. As I sat silently beside the water’s edge, hidden by some dead bracken, I watched in amazement as a large adult otter slid into the shallows and swam straight towards me. I watched for nearly half an hour as the otter played and rolled over and over amongst the water weeds before emerging no more than 10metres away, totally oblivious to me being there; a truly unforgettable experience. As usual, if we are around at the Lochearnhead Office, please feel free to drop in, or to call Gareth or me if you have any queries, wildlife sightings or just for a catch up. Gareth is in most days but I am only part time and am on duty Thursdays and Fridays. You can call me on 01389 722115 or on my mobile 07764 371700 or alternatively you can email me on graeme.auty@lochlomondtrossachs.org or Gareth at gareth.kett@ lochlomond-trossachs.org.
Troops: Argylls of the past pose for their picture at the castle. Volunteers: Members of the Argylls march out of the castle on the start of the long journey to South Africa and service in the Boer War.
Left, Right, Left, Right... Swing Those Arms! By Matthew Shelley
Many a man remembers the day he crossed the drawbridge of Stirling Castle to become an Argyll and Sutherland Highlander. The regiment was intimately linked to the ancient fortress from its formation in 1881 right up to 1964. For some time I have been working with Rod Mackenzie, of the regimental museum, to create a modest temporary photo exhibition which honours the role of the Argylls in the castle’s history. It’s been fascinating to go through the archives of pictures and written accounts, getting an idea of what life felt like for the generations of youngsters undergoing the basic training which transformed them from civilians into soldiers. We hope the exhibition will be an opportunity for veterans to return and spend a little while recalling their own past. For many the overwhelming memories are of early mornings, awoken from thinmattressed iron beds by pipers, followed by square bashing, weapons training and cleaning their kit – and sometimes heading into town for the cinemas and pubs. We’ve called the exhibition Left, Right, Left Right. Swing Those Arms! which is a quote from T R Ward, recalling 1940. He went on: “Barked at by the NCOs, we were marched under the archway of the gatehouse at the main entrance to the castle many, many times.” The barracks were in the Great Hall, divided into three levels, with warmth supposedly provided by open fires or stoves. Carrying large buckets of coal round the castle was among the regular chores for recruits. The layout and organisation changed from time to time, but lots of Argylls remember the canteen, library, billiard room and officers’ mess being in the palace – currently being returned to how it looked in the 1540s. Food was hugely important. To some it seemed plain at first, but became fabulously delicious as the huge amounts of physical exercise changed their appetites. But there were lots of men, often from poor inner-city homes, for whom this was the best they had ever eaten. One National Serviceman recorded it all
in detail saying: “Once you had finished porridge or cereal it was back to the corridor for another empty plate to pass along the line of cooks for your main course. “This could be two rashers of streaky bacon, a fried egg, two thick English-style banger-type sausages, tomato puree, and a large spoonful of baked beans with lots of tomato sauce.” After toast and marmalade there was, he continued, tea with added bromide or coffee without. It’s clear that the castle brought highs and lows, after all the cells were frequently occupied by men caught brawling or committing other offences. I suspect that many people’s memories were made fonder by what followed. Argylls fought in the Boer Wars, both world wars and other conflicts like Korea. What I found especially sad was reading cheery letters home to reassure mum that everything would be fine but knowing it wouldn’t, that within weeks or months their lives had been snuffed out by bullets or bombs. In other cases army life opened up the world to young men who might otherwise have seen little beyond their own town or city. One former Argyll wrote: “Given a choice I would have opted out of National Service. Given no choice I enjoyed the whole experience …”.
Food: The meals were a hugely important part of every soldier’s day.
Left, right: Recruits march on the castle esplanade.
For me it’s been a privilege to have access to the archives. My employers at Historic Scotland have been very pleased to be able to collaborate with the museum to organise this display. It’s included in the standard entry price to the castle and is provisionally set to open on 18th November, but check the website for details. Visitors also have free entry to the regimental museum, which is based at the castle. See the websites at www.stirlingcastle. gov.uk/ and www.argylls.co.uk. 17
POLICE REPORT
Central Scotland Police
There when you need us
Strathyre school in the spotlight A couple of weeks ago the pupils of Strathyre school were once again in front of the cameras as a result of our road safety initiative. Following on from the work I have carried out and the unusual way I have approached the issue of speeding I was nominated by senior officers to represent Central Scotland Police in the annual Scottish Policing Awards ceremony organised by the Scottish Government. I have been nominated for an award in the “Making Communities Safer” category. The very fact that I have been nominated from our force is an honour but it gives me a great deal of pride to know that this has only been possible by the hard work of the pupils and staff who not only grasped the concept of what I was aiming to achieve but have put it into practice so successfully. Increase in licensed premises visits As part of my PACT priorities for the coming months I intend to increase the number of visits to the various licensed premises in the area. This is to provide guidance to licensees and staff and to ensure that they continue to deliver the high standards they have set over the past 12 months. I have no doubt that one of the reasons we have such a high standard of licensee is down to the fact that they all live within the community they serve. Any aspect of antisocial behaviour affects them directly as it does any other member of the community. The introduction of the Licensing (Scotland) Act on 1 September 2009 heralded changes around the licensing of alcohol. The new legislation placed responsibilities on the police at the time of license application and during the period of an existing licence. The responsibilities cover licences for individuals and/or premises. Police can present evidence-based reports to Licensing Boards in Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire if there are breaches of any of the five licensing objectives which must be adhered to. These are: prevention of crime and disorder; promotion of public safety; prevention of public nuisance; promotion of public health; protection of children from harm. In the past 12 months, there have been a total of twelve reports made to the licensing authorities. Six have been in Falkirk, three in Stirling and three in Clackmannanshire. In relation to premises, three licences were suspended; two were revoked; three received warning letters; one saw additional 18
conditions attached; and in one case the licence was surrendered. Two further personal licences were revoked. Issues detected by police and reported to licensing boards included under-age alcohol sales; immigration offences; sale of alcohol outwith operating hours; management failings; a door steward who was unlicensed; breach of conditions through the conduct of staff. Let’s all be boy scouts - be prepared! I have heard a lot about a phenomenon known as global warming, however I think it is better described locally as global raining. As we all know the weather in the UK and in particular our local area, can change dramatically in a matter of hours and in some cases minutes, bringing with it an increased chance of accidents and the associated problems. Now that Winter is here we should be thinking about how best to deal with it. A local villager recently described the four seasons as follows; SPRING - lasts for about 6 weeks, rains a lot and can be windy. SUMMER - lasts for about 1 week, rains a lot, some sunshine and can be windy. AUTUMN - lasts for about 4 weeks, rains a lot and will be windy. WINTER - lasts for about 41 weeks, snows a lot, rains a lot, will be very cold and icy, may have 1 or 2 days of sunshine and will be very windy. What does Winter mean? Snowmen,
sledging, days off school and work, even higher fuel bills, shorter days, longer nights, unpredictable weather conditions. Depending on who you are Winter means many different things. To the driver it should mean only one thing, heightened awareness. You should always adjust your driving to the prevalent road conditions. Vehicle Condition In winter it is even more important to check that your vehicle is well maintained and is road worthy at all times. Ensure that your tyres have plenty of tread and are inflated to the correct pressure, including the spare. Make sure you know how to use the jack and that all the parts are there. Carry spare bulbs and fuses. Practise how to change them, don’t wait until you are stuck at the side of the road in sub-zero temperatures miles from anywhere. If you’re not sure ask your local garage or mechanic to show you how to do this and what tools are required for the job. It is also advisable to have your vehicle checked and/or serviced to Winter standards. Hail, rain and snow can dramatically reduce visibility. Use dipped headlights and reduce your speed. Over the coming weeks you will be able to pick up leaflets on winter driving from the local shops, schools and community halls. If you don’t see one let me know. PC Andrew Ward 01786 456 000 www.centralscotland.police.co.uk
Good Food - and a warm welcome awaits all. Award winning local chef. Eddie McAnally will be cooking the best of local produce. To make a reservation and enquire about our free transport service contact George at the Kings House. Reservations Tel: 01877 384 646 Fax: 01877 384716 email: hotel@kingshouse-scotland.co.uk www.kingshouse-scotland.co.uk
Scaffolding Tower for Hire 5.7m working height Quick erect, folding aluminium trade tower for inside or outside use. Easily transported. Outriggers & locking wheels. Manufactured to latest BSEN 1004 (Class 3) safety standard. Phone 01877 384232
The
Grumpy
Column
Please tell me that other people get irritated when folk use their mobile phones on the train. It starts with the ridiculous jingle and then they proceed to let everyone in the carriage know what their plans are for the day/week/month. They not only talk about their work, but, if you are really unlucky, you get a running commentary on their health - really more information that I need to know!! Why can’t the trains have a separate carriage for mobile phone users?? I would happily pay a bit extra to have a ‘quiet’ journey.
H
I wonder if anyone else is dreading the Christmas card list as much as I am! What about using the village halls to display cards? Anyone who wants to could put up one card wishing the whole village Happy Christmas, a Guid New Year, Season’s Greetings, Joyeux Noel, Fröhliche Weihnachten etc. If they also want to donate to charity instead of sending cards so much the better.
Farm Forum: One for the Mathematicians... Well here we are getting near the end of the farming year once more. The autumn sales are nearly finished and as usual have had their ups and downs. Sheep prices have been pretty buoyant but suckled calf prices have eased from last year’s levels. Sheep prices are up purely due to scarcity owing to the terrible weather in the late winter and spring and the reduction in the national flock. This reduction in the flock is likely to continue until policy makers in Brussels come to their senses and the organisations that represent us have the guts to say enough is enough. Any increase in prices will be more than taken up by the rise in feeding and fertiliser costs, not to speak of the imposition of electronic tagging of sheep. An EEC delegation has recently visited Britain and was apparently left in no doubt that EID rules had to change to avoid chaos in Scotland’s sheep sector. The least that is required is an amendment so that only sheep leaving the farm of their birth require to be tagged. The problem with bureaucrats the world over is that once they have made a decision, changing their minds means a loss of face along with admitting that their decision was wrong in the first place, regardless of the fact that they had no practical knowledge of the problem in any case! Believe it or not farmers are just about to be burdened with another piece of illogical legislation devised by the EEC. This relates to ramp angles – that is the angle of incline for the ramp leading onto lorries and trailers. The new angles have been a requirement on all vehicles constructed since 2007 but a derogation for older vehicles was granted by the Scottish Government until January 2012. However, following a visit by EEC inspectors this date has been brought forward to January 2011.
“Who needs a ramp, anyway...”
For anyone interested the ramp angle for sheep and cattle (other than calves) is 50% which is a vertical rise of 4ins in 8ins. For pigs, calves and horses the angle is 36.4% ie. a vertical rise of 4ins in 11ins. Now wait for it! There is still to be a derogation for farmers with their own vehicles transporting their own animals provided they are not travelling more than 50 km (31 miles). I am puzzled. Can anyone tell me what on earth the distance travelled has to do with the angle of the ramp? Maybe we could do a 90mile journey in three stages of say 30miles each and let the animals off and on again at the end of each stage; that would be six times up and down the ramp instead of two! If you had not read this in The Villagers you would not have believed it. Agricola
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View from the Park by Owen McKee I think we can safely say The Season is over and that there are mixed views as to whether it was a good one. In the area generally there are very few who would say it has been a bumper year with even those well oiled machines catering for the coach tour customer seeing a drop in numbers. One success was the promotion of the area under the ScottsLand banner. This had its birth in an idea by one of our board members, Bob Aitken, that we should mark the bicentenary of the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s epic poem, The Lady of The Lake. The festival, which embraced existing local events and introduced a few more, culminated in ‘The Chase’ which combined a competitive event and a fun family rally roughly following the route of hunt in the poem. It is hoped that local businesses can build on this year’s festival. As part of their induction into their role we took the new members of the Board
on a sightseeing tour with the aim of not only showing them the splendours of the Park but also to give them an insight into the fourth aim of the Park Authority i.e. the promotion of the economic and social wellbeing of our communities. This started with a visit to our biggest community, Callander. And what a start! There are gap sites galore and businesses for sale everywhere. And yet here and there can be seen signs that some at least are looking to a better future. Advantage is being taken of the Conservation Area Repairs Scheme funded jointly by the National Park Authority and Historic Scotland. So should we despair or should we be planning for the future? And there’s the rub. Planning. As most of you will know the National Parks Local Plan is slowly wending its way to finalisation. It has been a long and weary road with some tricky obstacles to be overcome. Communities screaming for affordable housing and then when attempts are made to provide sites the campaigns in opposition start. What’s the point in
providing housing they cry if there is no work for the occupants. We need workspaces but, cries the opposition, we are in recession and so it goes on. It is not difficult to see why it is necessary to be constantly reviewing the Local Development Plan and why the Scottish Goverment now dictates that it must be renewed every five years. No sooner will this one be in place than work on the next one will start. Planning applications reflect the state of the economy of an area and I can say that in the past few months numbers have been down to such an extent that the Planning Committee Meeting for October was cancelled. Enquiries however suggest that the worst is over and a gradual build up is anticipated. So let’s be optimistic. After all, Christmas is just around the corner. Have you not done your shopping yet? Shame on you. As always I can be contacted as follows: Taigh Na Bhuth, Lochearnhead, FK19 8PR 01567 830214 owen@thevillageshop.fsbusiness.co.uk
LOCHEARNHEAD POST OFFICE AND SHOP POST OFFICE AND PARCELFORCE SERVICES. CASH MACHINE (no fee) Greetings Cards ~ Stationery Films and Batteries Hot & Cold Drinks ~ Confectionery ~ Ice Cream Lochearnhead Souvenirs ~ Children’s Toys Signed books by Local Authors
~ ~ ~
POST OFFICE & SHOP HOURS Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 0900 - 1730 Wednesday 0900 - 1300 Saturday 0900 - 1230 Sunday Closed Post Office Post Box Collection Times: Morning - 12 noon Afternoon - 1600 (Except Saturday) Sunday - No Collection Telephone: 01567 830 201 enquiries@lochearnheadpostoffice.co.uk 20
The Lord’s Prayer NOW IN NEW GROUND FLOOR PREMISES AT: 6 Cross Street, Callander Tel: 01877 331417 www.beautysalonstirling.co.uk jasmine@beauty5808.wanadoo.co.uk Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Stone Therapy, Facials, Indian Head Massage, Spray Tan, Waxing, Nail Extensions, Manicures, Electrolysis, Tanning Booth, Make-up, Permalase. Monday-Saturday OAP Special on Wednesdays
for London taxi drivers
Our Father who art in Hendon Harrow be thy name Thy Kingston come Thy Wimbledon In Erith as it is in Hendon. Forgive us this day our Leatherhead And forgive us our by-passes As we forgive those who by-pass against us. Lead us not into Thames Ditton But deliver us from Ewell For thine is the Kingston The Purley and the Crawley For Esher and Esher Crouch End.
GIFT VOUCHERS STOP PRESS: Another 3 ex-battery hens find sanctuary in a Balquhidder garden, courtesy of BHWT British Hen Welfare Trust.
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T H E V I L L A G E RS ’ TRADE DIRECTORY
We’ll send you or your friends ‘The Villagers’ £10.50 for 11 monthly issues (£19.50 for Europe and £25.00 for the rest of the world). All you need to do is to post the completed form to: BLS NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION, Tom-Na-Dair BALQUHIDDER FK19 8PB, SCOTLAND Cheques should be made payable to: THE BLS NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION Remittance enclosed £ .........................(do not send cash) Please send copies of ‘The Villagers’ starting on ................ for 11 months To: NAME .......................................................................................................................... ADDRESS: ........................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................POSTCODE .............................. SENDER’S NAME & ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE Please send copies of ‘The Villagers’ starting on ............................... for 11 months NAME ................................................................................................................................ ADDRESS .......................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................POSTCODE................................ 22
S U P P O RT Y O U R LOCAL S UP P LIERS !
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• DIARY DATES •
The Villagers’ Contacts BLS Newspaper Association Tom-na-Dhair, Balquhidder Lochearnhead FK19 8PB
Weekly & Monthly Activities Monday Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
BLS Lunch Club, Balquhidder Hall - 12.30-2.30pm
Keep Fit, Lochearnhead Hall - 10.30-11.30am Art Class, Balquhidder Hall - 10.00am-1.00pm Music Circle, Sandison Hall, St Fillans - 1.00pm - 4.00 pm Scottish Country Dancing, Strathyre Hall - 8.00pm Yoga, Balquhidder Hall - 11.00am-12noon Carpet Bowls, Lochearnhead Hall - 7.30 for 8.00pm
Friday
Email: contact@the-villagers.org.uk
Gaelic Playgroup, Balquhidder Hall - 10.30am-12.30pm Upholstery, Lochearnhead Hall - 10.00am-1.00pm
Playgroup, Lochearnhead Hall - 10.00am-12noon Ballroom Dancing, Lochearnhead Hall – 7.00-9.00pm
NOVEMBER 1 2 3 6 6/7 11 12 13 14 16 19 20 24 26
Balquhidder Bowls Club start of season Fireworks at Strathyre Primary School - 7.00pm Community Council Meeting, Lochearnhead Hall - 7.30pm Callander Strings - concert in the Kirk Hall, Callander - 7.30pm Cottage Contents Sale, Earnknowe, Lochearnhead - 2.00-5.00pm Body Shop Party - Clachan Cottage Hotel - 7.30pm see p.5 CHAS Coffee Morning, Kirk Hall, Callander - 10.00am-12noon ‘Spirit of Elgar’ concert at Dunblane Cathedral - 7.30pm Tickets: 01786 463639 Remembrance Day Services - see Church News p.8 Balquhidder Village Hall AGM 7.30pm All welcome. Please come and support your local hall committee Series Whist, Balquhidder Hall - 7.30pm ‘Tarneybackle’ at Tullybannocher Café - see p.7 Strathyre Village Association AGM - 7.00pm Retail Therapy Night, The Wee Mindin’ shop - 7.00pm - see p.8
DECEMBER 4 5 12 31
Peter Davenport’s Reunion Band at Tullybannocher Café - see p. 7 Balquhidder Christmas Market - 11.00am-4.00pm - see p.2 Strathendrick Singers at St Mary’s Church, Aberfoyle at 7.30pm - see p.5 Hogmanay Dance - see p.8
The deadline date for copy each month this year is the
24th. Please help us to get The Villagers to you on time!
All cheques for advertising or mail order subscriptions must be made out to ‘The BLS Newspaper Association’
Editorial Team Editor: Marguerite Kobs 01877 384 215 ‘Kalinka’, Auchtubh, Balquhidder Lochearnhead FK19 8NZ Business Manager: John Stewart 01877 384 664 Production Manager: Gill Allan 01877 384 203 Advertising Co-ordinator and Photographer: Alistair Barclay 01567 830 453 Co-editor and Lochearnhead Contact: Ali Ferguson 01567 830 405 Strathyre Contact: Susan Revie 01877 384 306 St Fillans Contact: John Murray 01764 685 487 Mail Order Distribution: Hilda Astbury 01877 384 681
The Villagers’ Photographer
Alistair Barclay is available to attend village functions and take photos if contacted in plenty of time. CDs of photos are also for sale. Please phone him on 01567 830453
CHURCH SERVICES Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre and St. Fillans CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Balquhidder Parish Church Registered Charity No. SCO12316 Sunday 12 noon Minister: Rev John Lincoln The Manse, Killin Tel: 01567 820 247 Dundurn Church, St Fillans Sunday11.30am Minister: Rev Graham McWilliams Tel: 01764 671 045
ROMAN CATHOLIC Callander, St Joseph the Worker Sunday 11.30am Killin, at the Episcopalian Church Sunday 2.30pm Father Jim McCruden 2 Ancaster Square, Callander Tel: 01877 330 702
SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH St Angus’s Church, Lochearnhead First and third Sundays of the month: Holy Communion at 11.15am. Second and fourth Sundays of the month: Evensong at 6.00pm Fifth Sunday of the month: please see church noticeboard. Vestry Secretary - Lawrie Hopkins Tel: 01567 830 238 Printed by Graphics and Print Services, University of Stirling Tel: 01786 467209 email: graphicsandprint@stir.ac.uk Published by The BLS Newspaper Association