The Villagers Newspaper September 2018

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The Voice of Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre & St Fillans • SEPTEMBER 2018

St Fillans Festive Weekend goes to the Movies!

See pages 6/7

Editor’s Bit Many thanks this month are due to Bruce Montgomery and Caroline (aka. Mousehole Films) for the fantastic photos and report of St Fillans Weekend Festival. All ages seem to have had a wonderful time over the three days, although it does seem a little strange that we did not get any photos of the adult Saturday evening... perhaps Bruce’s comment that St Fillans really knows how to party might explain it!

We were lucky enough to get four tickets for the Sunday Lunch (many thanks again Bruce) where we enjoyed a great meal and renewed our own connections with the fabulous Allander Jazz Band.

Only three more months for you to send your entry for the “A Day in the Life Of” competition, as you will see we stretch the rules slightly to include a weekend this month! We are flexible and would particularly encourage our younger (i.e. under 25) readers to have a go - and be part of the Year of the Young Person as well. We are a community newspaper and will only continue to exist if we get support from all the villages; remember it really doesn’t take long to write a diary entry or a postcard!

JJ

PLEASE COME ALONG TO THE WORLD’S BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING in aid of

MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Friday 28th September 10am-12noon at

BALQUHIDDER VILLAGE HALL Donations of baking welcome

contact Carolyn Brooks 07752 175444 or 384232

Sunday 30 September Strathyre Village Hall 11am - 3pm Because every slice of cake and cup of coffee helps us make a huge difference to people facing cancer.

Choir Occasional

Come along and have a sing with us!

We are starting up again on Thursday 20th September at Balquhidder Village Hall 7.30 - 9pm

4 October : Workshop with Sylvia McGowan Great Fun -Everyone Very Welcome!

2

Strathyre News

Strathyre Crossing

Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford has written to Transport Scotland, calling for a new crossing to be installed on the A84 road through Strathyre.

Following a meeting with locals, Mr Crawford has backed residents’ calls for new infrastructure in the area that will ensure a safe crossing on the 30-mph road.

Mr Crawford has cited several changes in recent years that would warrant a rethink of how pedestrians access the road, including: an increase in the village population; increased pupils at the primary school; increased visitors to the area with new holiday homes, the new cycle route, shops and the local Broch Café.

Commenting, Bruce Crawford said: “The shape of Strathyre has changed in recent years and it is only right that pedestrian safety in crossing the trunk road is taken into consideration. There are now more people than ever visiting the area, living in the area, and, crucially, we have more pupils attending the local primary school than before.

“I was pleased to meet with local residents to discuss this issue and it’s clear that there is a local desire for this road to be made safer for pedestrians. I have written to Transport Scotland to ask that they consider these factors and I look forward to working with the local community in campaigning on this issue.”

Rec Ground Update The Rec Ground is now well on its way to becoming “mended” after the huge amount of work undertaken by the Stuc Committee, with more than a little help from their friends. We are delighted that we have reached a stage where the area is now very usable - and as we can see from the photos the villagers were not slow to take full advantage of this! Which is exactly what all the hard work was for.

What you are looking at is lots of people enjoying the Munro Hotel Fun Day, which was organised by May and Steve Rooney, along with some very helpful volunteers, and what a day it turned out to be. As always with May and Steve this was a fundraising event with all proceeds going to selected village events and around £900 was raised, so well done to them and all who helped before and on the day. May has asked that I thank everyone who participated in the many events and all who kindly gave donations to tombola, raffle, food etc. Your generosity is very much appreciated. If all goes well this could be an annual family day in the village. Thank you to the Stuc for providing marquees and the Village hall for tables and chairs.

Although we are at this stage, we still have work to do before we are satisfied that we have done all we can to the enhancement of this lovely area so work is still in progress. We have recently planted some donated perennial flowers to add some colour to the bank, which was scarred during renovations. I would like to give a special mention to someone without whose help we would not have been prepared for the event to take place, and that is our resident landscape gardener, Gary Mc Donald, who worked tirelessly for many days, providing his own equipment and expertise to get the all important grass in order for the fun day, Gary you are a star.

Now that we are making progress we hope that the village will make as much use of the area as possible but please remember that it will need to be maintained to keep it in usable order and once again I ask if you would be interested in helping in any way let us know. The Stuc Committee will not always be available as we are now committed to the organisation of next years race, which will be a celebration of our 30th race, and we would wish to make it a very special one.

Wullie D

Strathyre Darts League It seems incredible that after the wonderful summer we have enjoyed I am now looking at winter activities, but here we are! The Darts League in the White Stag will commence on Thursday 8th November and run through till the spring of 2019 (March/April) if anyone is interested there will be a list of players in the pub which you can add your name to, or get in touch with myself or Emma and we can enrol you.

Games will be played on Thursday evenings from 7pm onwards and all are welcome - the more the merrier. Closing date for names will be Saturday 29th Sept to give us time to set schedules for games to be played.

Cost will be £2 per week and ALL weeks must be paid whether in attendance or not once you have signed up and your games are organised.

Wullie & Emma, Organisers 3

A Battle Won Travel back in time as costumed actors bring to life the main events of William Wallace and Andrew de Moray’s victory in 1297 at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Come and see them for free on: 8/9 September 2018 15/16 September 2018 22/23/24 September 2018 Displays will be at 11:15am; 12:00pm; 12:45pm; 1:30pm; 2:30pm; 3:15pm and 4:00pm.

Re-enacting the victory at The Wallace Monument

The National Wallace Monument Abbey Craig Hillfoots Road, Causewayhead FK9 5LF Performances are held outside the Monument and are Free.

Admission charges payable only for entering the Monument.

Call 01786472140 for information

CLACHAN COTTTAGE HOTEL ONE OF SCOTLAND’S ICONIC SETTINGS ON THE SHORE OF LOCH EARN The Clachan has been here for a long time, tending to travellers and residents alike - and is now the largest hotel in the area, boasting deluxe bedrooms and amazing loch view rooms.

Summer’s here at last - but after sundown when the evenings get chilly, snuggle up in front of our blazing log burner... Try our ‘smoked venison with grilled wild mushrooms’ accompanied by one of our 20 trendy gins. Sample our fresh scallops from Loch Broome - and finish off with an old favourite: home made sticky toffee pudding, smothered with butterscotch sauce.

Hotel residents can take advantage of our free bikes or canoes to really explore the surrounding countryside. This gives our overseas visitors the chance to see Cycle Route 7 without the hassle of travelling with bikes.

Weddings and small functions are hosted by the Clachan.

Our stunning setting provides the perfect backdrop for those all important videos or photos.

Clachan Cottage Hotel • Lochside, Lochearnhead • Perthshire FK19 8PU info@clachancottagehotel.co.uk • 01567 830300 4

Performances which are scheduled to take place in the open areas surrounding the Monument may be rescheduled (or cancelled) in the event of inclement weather.

Postcard for Summer 2018 This year when we came back to Scotland we went for another mini holiday with Grandma and Grandad.

First of all, we went to see the Kelpies.

We had seen them before from the motorway, but it was much more fun to go and actually get to see them close up as they really are ginormous especially when we could go inside. The lady told us all about how they were built and how much they cost, we think it was five million pounds. She also told us about the horses being used in olden days on the canals and this was one of the reasons why the man had wanted to design horses heads. If you haven’t been to see them you should as our Grandad hadn’t been, and he was glad we had all gone and had such a good afternoon.

We then went glamping for a night at the castle where our Mum and Dad had got married. It was a good job the tent was big as we were all sleeping in it as well as the two dogs. We had a barbecue at night and then in the morning we had to walk for ages to find the rose garden.

Our Mum had told us there should be a rose there with their names on it, but we found lots of Lisas and one Neil but not together, so we weren’t very happy, and it was raining.

Love, Ally and Amber

Suffragette Stories Last month Michael Cowie had written about the stories his Gran had told them about the Suffragettes and the burning of properties in the area and the following article sheds a little more light on the people involved.

Issue Number 19 of the Friends of Perth & Kinross Council Archive Newsletter contains an article entitled February 1914; Arson in Upper Strathearn – Comrie area. The article includes a reproduction of a note within the Jack Elliott papers that makes clandestine reference to the arson attacks by militant suffragettes on three mansions in Upper Strathearn – described as the ‘Bonfires of the West’.

The three mansions were Aberuchill Castle, the House of Ross and Alltan-Fhionn (by St. Fillans – damage estimated at between three and four thousand pounds). According to the article, ‘ “The first lost a wing whilst the other two properties were

completely destroyed, at a combined cost of over £10,000. Papers left nearby referred to women’s right to vote, the Cat and Mouse Act or A Warm Welcome to LLoyd George.” There was a fourth target, Dalveich by Lochearnhead, but this arson attempt failed.

According to the above-mentioned article: “Four women had been seen arriving at St. Fillans station the day before, two of them went west and two to the east. After the fires, two women were spotted boarding the train at Killin by Sgt. Heggie and followed from Dunblane to Glasgow by Detective Macpherson. There the women

separated but one was pursued and arrested after leaving an office in bath Street. ‘Rhoda Robinson’ was charged at Dunblane, removed to perth Prison but released on bail. Charges were later dropped from lack of evidence.

Extensive inter-police force enquiries revealed that her real name was Annie Rhoda Craig (nee Walker) …

Ethel Moorhead, another suffragette, allegedly connected with the burning of the Srathearn mansions, was arrested at Traquair House, near Peebles, on 17th February. She was taken to Carlton jail, Edinburgh, where she went on hunger strike and was the first suffragette to be forcibly fed in Scotland.”

Mrs Stirling Boyd (owner of Allt-anFhionn) was the Vice-Chairman of the Anti-Suffrage League. Mrs Clement Harris was a Vice-President of the Crieff Woman’s Suffrage Society and was probably involved in some way with the Strathearn arson attacks – sending a signal between suffragette activists using a Marconi wireless system.

5

St Fillans Festive Weekend 17 – 19 August 2018

The

St Fillans Bit

Danny and Gabe Bean, part of the Mousehole Film Team, on arrival at the Hall

Some of the pebbles painted on the day

Working on the Engine

Great fun

That’s it over for another year - and ‘thank goodness’ say the members of the Festive Committee, to whom I offer my sincere thanks for a huge amount of work done. Thanks are also due to all the Villagers who assisted in both the set up and dismantling of the marquees in the playing field and in laying out and cleaning up in Sandison Hall after our festive screenings of the documentary movie The Village on the Loch. Friday night was as close to a “premiere” as we could get, with elegantly dressed ladies and dinner suited gentlemen in attendance.

Sandison Hall was filled to capacity. On arrival we walked on a red carpet, were photographed against an Oscar like backdrop, then poured a glass of bubbles to suitably set the scene. Once the showing started, the audience were captivated by the professionalism of the production and depth of the subjects covered, not to mention the star quality of the villagers taking part. There are numerous requests to have a DVD copy available for purchase and Mousehole Films hope to make that happen in the future. Once again, our sincere thanks to the Mousehole Team, and also villagers Caroline, Gabriel, Danny and Ade for their enormous effort in making this production and for their kindness in allowing us to show it as part of the weekend celebrations.

Mousehole were even good enough to create a shortened version for our younger villagers which they showed on Saturday morning.

Simultaneously with the shortened showing, the St Fillans exhibition of history and artefacts was made available by Jim Brierly for anyone who had missed it last year or simply wanted another look.

Saturday activities in the playing field featured a western theme with both young and not so young dressing the part. On arrival, villagers and guests were offered the chance to add to our stock of painted pebbles destined to decorate our planned playpark. Some impressive artworks were created by folk who said they could not paint. We now have 125+ completed pebbles with more to come, all to be laid out in part of the playpark in due course.

Lunch was our traditional BBQ, after which the younger ones were sent off on a Treasure Hunt while other were entertained by Liam Rennie, a young singer from Lochearnhead. Thank you for a great job Liam, we were all impressed! On their return, the younger ones were invited to add colour to an outline of an old western train. This was no small job: an engine, two carriages and a caboose, each on a four by two foot board, thus measuring 16 feet by 2 feet when put together.

With all painting finished, and after an ice cream cone, we played a game which involved racing round a track on a horse’s headed space hopper, picking up a horseshoe and throwing it western style at a pole. All a source of great fun and hilarity. This was followed by a classic Piñata, when the horse proved to be too well built and took a great deal of beating with a stick before it would divulge its contents.

The afternoon then drew to a close and all present went home tired but happy.

Saturday evening, after a Jambalaya provided by the Golf Club, we were entertained first by villager Rico Hollas who played and sang and then by the Rocka-Hillbillies from Edinburgh. They treated us to a mixture of 50s US Rock interspersed with some Country & Western. What a night!

Sunday saw a long-awaited return of the Allander Jazz Band. While we were enjoying another wonderful buffet from Tullybannocher, villager Gabriel Bean performed his Table Magic to the fascination and awe of everyone who saw him.

Thank you, Gabe! The Jazz Band told me they last played St Fillans in 2009 and demonstrated that they have lost none of their ability to swing. Another great day punctuated with a successful raffle and auction where it wasn’t entirely surprising to witness a husband and wife competing for the same lot. The less said about that the better!

So that’s it - all in all a great weekend. Too early to comment on the monies raised for the community (as I write this it finished only a couple of days ago), but we can already confirm that our initial objective of raising not less than £500 for the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance will be achieved.

Bruce

Going to have to hit it harder!

6

Rocka Hillbillies

Allander Jazz band

Images from the Day

7

SEEING STARS

by Keith Wilson

With children back to school it is perhaps time for grown-ups to enjoy themselves, so The Four Seasons Hotel is offering several events over the next few months to cater for all tastes and budgets.

Continuing with our Sunday Brunch offering on 2nd September, our new Head Chef, Scott Murdoch, will be putting his own slant on what has proven to be a highly popular event. Whether it be eggs benedict, pancakes or traditional roast, there is something to please everyone. Scott, having started with us back at the beginning of the season as a Chef de Partie, (there was always a hidden talent there!) and being promoted to Sous Chef in the spring, I am now delighted to be announcing his appointment as Head Chef.

On Friday 14th September we are hosting a port and cheese evening in The Tarken.

With tickets at £20, there will be cheese galore to try and a few ports to sample, all just far enough in advance of Christmas to help you plan your Christmas menus.

On Friday 28th September we are partnering with Great Grog for our popular Autumn Game food and wine matching evening. With five courses to enjoy and five accompanying wines included, ticket prices are £75 per person with discounted accommodation rates also available. Call the hotel directly on 01764 685333 to check availability.

And before we know it we are into Oct - Beatles month, a celebration of the visit by the Fab Four in October 1964. Friday nights in October will see us hosting a wide and varied selection of beatle events that includes singer Lewis Cedar providing us with his repertoire of Beatles songs. Sunday Brunch will also feature on Sunday 7th.

November will see us celebrating St Andrews night, there will be another wine and food matching evening early in December and then we are into Christmas celebrations. Scott will be working on menus for all of these over the next few weeks.

I am also delighted to say that our clutch of awards continues to expand with my recent nomination for Business Woman of the year (less than 50 staff) in the Scottish Women’s Awards, so thank you to all who voted.

We look forward to seeing you here at The Four Seasons over the next few weeks.

Susan F Stuart, Director

SEPTEMBER Cassiopeia was a queen in ancient Greek mythology.

According to legend she boasted that she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs angering Poseidon who sent a monster to ravage the kingdom.

Cassiopeia’s vanity caused her to be bound to a chair and placed in the heavens so that as she revolves around the north star she sometimes is in an upside-down position.

Cassiopeia is a distinctive constellation - it looks like the letter W overhead. It is very easy to spot this month.

Cassiopeia was the constellation that the supernova (exploding star) known as Tycho’s Star appeared in, in 1572. It was as bright as Venus and remained visible for well over a year. The great Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe carefully observed the supernova although today all that remains are a few wisps of gas visible only in large telescopes.

Coming soon... the return of the

Christmas Tree Festival Saturday 8 December at Balquhidder Village Hall and Church WATCH THIS SPACE! 8

Balquhidder Church News MUSINGS FROM THE MANSE

A Note from St Angus It is a huge privilege to have been tasked with the monthly message on behalf of St Angus’s Church but sometimes the responsibility weighs heavily as I ponder on what I can possibly say….

Well, when stuck for a Christian message, what better place to find one than in the Bible! John’s Gospel has many pure nuggets to quote, but one which I particularly like is John chapter 3 and verse 16: “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

What always strikes me is God so loved the WORLD – not just his chosen people, the Jews but the whole world in all its complexities. Maybe sometimes we who go to Church like to think we have a monopoly on God’s love but it is my firm belief that God’s love reaches out to EVERYONE, Jew, Christian, Muslim, sceptics, atheists – the whole of humanity in all its diversity. It reaches out in compassion, forgiveness, and in longing for us to turn to Him and tap into that all-encompassing love. Why do so many of us resist a love which is so accepting of each one of us, whatever our spiritual state? Of course, that love may want to change us for the better but it is not conditional on us being anything other than what we are right now. Don’t miss out.

An ancient heritage commemorated

Thanks to everyone who came along to the evening service on the 15th August.

Look out for notice of next year’s

St Angus Service in The Villagers

Soaking up the Sacred I see a major disconnect between modern living and both the natural world on one hand, and the spiritual world on the other. A few years ago, I lived in the east of Edinburgh and often got the bus into the centre of town. I liked to sit on the top deck for the view. On the left there was the popular summit that is Arthur’s Seat alongside the amazing geological phenomenon of the Craggs, a favourite haunt of students and tourists. In the distance, was the vista of the Pentland hills, one of my favourite places for walking. Gazing out to the right of the bus you could appreciate the fabulous Georgian architecture of this beautiful and majestic city, something I never tired off. All in all, it was an enjoyable and uplifting twenty-minute journey. However, when I scanned around my fellow passengers I was always the only person looking out of the window. Everyone else was fixed on some form of screen (phones, tablets, laptops). In my head I was shouting “Hey look at what you are missing!” Interestingly, when I have shared this story with others I have never faced accusations of being a technophobe rather, people have always responded by acknowledging the point I am making. It has been said that humans have addictive personalities. So perhaps next to tobacco, alcohol, drugs, gambling and sex, we need to put smart phones and computers, given that phrases such as “detox, and “withdrawal-symptoms” are now being mentioned in relation to social media usage.

We certainly live in the age of screens and we are rightly, if humorously, being called “screen-agers.” There is a paradox here. Never before has the human race been so “connected” yet so “disconnected” at the same time. The modern world is miraculous in many ways. The wonders of science and technology have enriched and invigorated and transformed our world beyond recognition. Who among us would want to live in a different age? But the natural world is miraculous too. We emerged from it and for 99.9% of human history we were embedded in it and very much a part of it.

Despite the gains and plusses of urban living, we are in danger of losing something very valuable. Of course, even in the countryside there is no escape sometimes from modern habits. I remember climbing Ben Ledi a number of years ago with my family.

On reaching the top, the panoramic view of distant lochs and peaks was magnificent.

The summit was busy, but the genuine outdoor fraternity are very good at giving each other space and time. It seems to be an unwritten code and it happens naturally and intuitively. However, the wonderful silence was suddenly broken by one man who had plonked himself down at the bottom of the cairn and was calling a friend on a mobile phone. “You’ll never guess where I am” he exclaimed in a very loud voice, “I’m on the top of Ben Ledi!” Having caught the gaze of several others and registered the shaking of heads, rolling eyes and exhaled sighs, I was pretty sure I wasn’t alone in thinking to myself “if you don’t shut up pal, you’ll be at the bottom of Ben Ledi in a few seconds!” Of course, no-one said anything, but the moment was ruined.

We are currently witnessing the selfie phenomenon in our culture. It’s all about “ME!” Here is a photo of “ME!” and in the background, apparently, some scenic beauty. Here is a photo of “ME!” and in the background, apparently, a place of great historical interest.

And so, it goes on. I think this cultural habit speaks volumes about contemporary society. It seems to me as an observer in these matters that we are in the midst of an identity crisis. In the Bible the question of “who we are” is answered in terms of relationship: Our relationship with God, with others, and indeed, our relationship with the environment. A friend of mine remarked recently about a forthcoming holiday as being a time when he can “soak up the sacred.” What a great phrase! We need to cultivate times when we can do that in silence and quiet reflection. Then we may intuitively discover who we are and what really is important in life. “In God we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17: 28). That affirmation is a good place to start.

Russel 9

Pin-Feathers* *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 is writing to a fellow contributor to The Villagers.

To Russell Moffatt

The Flask.

Dear Russell, It was with great interest that I read your article in The Villagers last month, I must say I do find them interesting. It was your reference to your family, Clan Moffatt. I am not very far from the town of that name here in the borders and it was the content of your story which I found interesting.

You will see from my photographs that I am a great enthusiast of collecting and shooting with vintage weapons and accessories. it was some years ago that I was trawling eBay looking for any old gunpowder flasks (such as you could see me using to load a muzzle loading shotgun).

I came across a flask on offer in auction identical to the one shown in my photo by the famous Sheffield maker G & J Hawksley. It had the addition of a small silver shield inlaid into the leather bearing the crest and motto of the Clan Moffatt. Living in this area it seemed to be a good thing to place bids on it. I had swotted up on the inscription and learnt from some locals that way back in time the clan Moffatt was numerically at a very low ebb, hence perhaps the translation from Latin that “things can only get better”.

I was fairly determined in my bidding but dropped out at around £300, which was well over the odds for that type of flask without the provenance. However, the bidding if I remember correctly ceased at over £600. I always hoped that it went to a member of the Moffatt family, or did it go to America?

Perhaps there is a chance that you, or anyone else, may know something of this story! It would be a fitting sequel.

Yours very sincerely.

Old Nyati

Callander Ramblers Club

Sponsored by Caledonian Country Wear

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 incallander. co.uk/ramblers.htm in the Ben Ledi View and on posters around Callander.

New members and guests are always welcome. Here are some dates for your diary: SEPTEMBER • Sat 1st 8:30 Hill: Ben Our (733m) Contact 01877 382924 • Wed12th 9:30 Stroll: Walk in the Park, Drymen area (4 miles) Contact 01877 330055 • Wed 19th 9:30 Stroll: Strathyre Forest (5miles) Contact 01877 384227 • Sat 22nd 8:30 Ramble: Cochno, Slacks & Loch Humphrey (81/2 miles) Contact 01786-841240 OCTOBER • Wed 3rd 9:30 Stroll: Historic Stirling (5miles) Contact 01877 330444

We meet in Ancaster Square, unless otherwise indicated. Please bring wet weather clothing, appropriate footwear and a packed lunch. And please let the walk leader know if you plan to join the walk via the contact number given!

Visitors and non-members welcome.

Old Nyati having a blast.

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Weekend Head Massage Certificate/ Diploma Courses in Balquhidder GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

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www.indianchampiscotland.com 07796 327765 10

Callander Ramblers Perhaps the first thing to say about Callander Ramblers is that membership is by no means confined to people who live in Callander; the very disparate members (meant in the nicest sense of the word) come from as far afield as Dunblane, Kinlochard and even Balquhidder. The second thing to note is that they are not affiliated to the official Ramblers movement, therefore are not bound by lots of rules - in fact the only rule seems to be that we do not go walking if it is going to rain (or if Paul thinks it is going to) and on the walks themselves there is always time for a coffee stop.

The “walks” are divided between Strolls of 4 to 6 miles with no great height to be gained, Rambles which are 5 to 9 miles and might include some up-hill parts, LDPs which are long distance paths which are attempted over a number of weekends and hills. Hills are sub-divided into Wednesday hills which are not too strenuous and Saturday hills for the fittest/youngest members. The long distance paths so far achieved include The West Highland Way and the Mary Queen of Scots coast to coast walk, which was actually compiled by Paul Prescott the present Chairman.

Several very enjoyable trips have also been organised by members to Majorca, Ullapool and Shetland amongst others. The walks are led by a different member each time and this has the benefits of providing walks in different areas, with local knowledge enabling stories, interesting facts and gossip all to be imparted on the lunch stops.

Membership is certainly a bargain at £5 per year currently and this contributes to some of the costs if a bus is needed for a linear route, although on most occasions we manage to share cars and costs. We cover very varied terrain and see some lovely views. Could you be inspired to come and try one of the forthcoming walks?

You (and, for some walks, well behaved dogs) will be made very welcome!

Balquhidder, Lochearnhead & Strathyre Horticultural Society are holding their annual

AGM

on 7 November 2018 7.30pm at The White Stag, Strathyre The Committee would like to welcome as many people as possible to try and support this local annual event.

We are short of help - and the future of the Show is in doubt unless we can be sure of some extra hands for 2019!

If you enjoy growing, making, baking... or if you’d just like to help, please come along.

Schedules for 2019 will be available at the meeting.

Hope to see you there!

Are you looking for funding?

Then SAVE THE DATE: TUESDAY 2 OCTOBER 2018 Stirling Council and Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise (SVE) will be holding a funding fair in Bridge of Allan Parish Church Halls on Tuesday 2 October. You can drop in and meet a variety of funders between 3 pm and 6.30 pm.

Funders include the Big Lottery, Foundation Scotland, Robertson Trust, Corra Foundation, Climate Challenge Fund and many more.

If you work with a community or voluntary organisation, social enterprise or charity and you are looking for funding to deliver projects within your community here is your chance to meet potential funders face to face to discuss your project and what sort of funding might be available.

Appointments are not necessary, just come along when it suits you between 3 and 6.30 pm.

In addition, a Gift Aid workshop will be taking place to answer all your questions about Gift Aid and its relevance to your organisation. This workshop will have limited places and must be booked in advance.

Further details will be available closer to the time from Jean Cowie at Stirling Council cowiej@stirling.gov.uk and from Lee Stevenson and Rachel Johnston at SVE: leestevenson@sventerprise.org.uk racheljohnston@sventerprise.org.uk

Please keep in touch with us. http://stirling.fundingscotland.com 11

BOOK REVIEW If We Were Villains M.L. Rio I have a confession to make: I am a huge Shakespeare fan! I love everything he has written, but especially his plays, and I have made many trips to Stratford on Avon, London and anywhere the RSC are performing to catch up on the latest interpretation of whichever play is showing.

It helps a little if you enjoy Shakespeare to get into this book.

However, it is possible to miss out the short tracts from the Bard which intersperse the book and still understand the twists and turns of this whodunnit.

The story takes place in an elite college for the performing arts in Illinois, USA. The main characters are drama students in their final year at the college. They are a close-knit group: seven inseparable friends looking forward to leaving the college with an excellent report and a future guaranteed in their chosen field. From the beginning we know one of them has died, possibly murdered - and the storyteller has recently been released from serving a 10-year prison sentence. It is intimated that the truth of what happened was never revealed, and this is the basis of the story.

The events leading up to and after the death are well described. Better still is the way the dynamic amongst these friends is depicted, sometimes with references to characters from Shakespeare’s plays and so a quote or two. It is about love, friendship and obsession. But as tension rises in the build up to the final act, literally and metaphorically, the cracks start appearing in their relationships with one another. If you have ever read The Secret History by Donna Tartt this has some similarities to that excellent book. This is clever and richly layered.

And I wasn’t expecting that ending!

12

Kasia’s Co okin’...

Strawberry Cream Roulade This roulade is very fresh and light, soft and full of fresh strawberries.

A perfect summer cake.

For the sponge: 3 large eggs Pinch of salt 50g caster sugar 3.5 tbsps. of plain flour 2 tbsp potato starch (or corn starch) 1/4 tsp baking soda All ingredients should be at room temperature.

1. Add baking soda to the flour and starch, mix together.

2. In a separate bowl whip the egg whites and salt in the mixer until stiff peaks form. Add sugar, spoon by spoon, mixing constantly until all sugar dissolves.

3. Add egg yolks and continue mixing until incorporated.

4. Add flours and gently mix using spatula.

5. You will need a tin 33 x 26 cm, lined with baking paper. Transfer the dough into the tin, level with a spatula and bake for 8 minutes in 190C. 6. Once baked and still hot, move the sponge onto the kitchen towel, remove the paper. Quickly roll the sponge altogether with the towel.

Leave it like that until cold. This will help to avoid cracking of the cake.

Strawberry cream filling: 600 g strawberries (separately 300g + 300g) 250 ml double cream, chilled 5 tsp of gelatine or 5 leaves of gelatine 1/3 cup of icing sugar 1. Blend 300g strawberries with the hand blender until smooth.

The rest of strawberries need to be cut into slices, keep them aside.

2. Place gelatine and a small amount of water in a pot, use only enough of water to cover the gelatine, place on the hob and warm until dissolved. Don’t cook as the gelatine will lose its properties, when too hot.

3. Whip the cream and add the sugar. Slowly add the mixture to the strawberry sauce, gently mix. Add 3 tbsp of cream mixture to the gelatine, mix well. Mix together the cream and gelatine, add sliced strawberries.

4. If the filling is too loose place it in the fridge for a while. Unroll the sponge, take the kitchen towel off and spread the filling on the sponge. Roll the roulade gently.

Keep the roulade in the fridge for 2 hours. Sprinkle with icing sugar.

Enjoy - and smacznego!

Kasia Sujanova

Scottish Wildlife Trust CALLANDER LOCAL GROUP TALKS PROGRAMME 2018-19 Meetings start at 7:30pm, Kirk Hall, S Church St, Callander FK17 8BN Tuesday 11th September ‘18 Scottish Wildcat Conservation David Barclay, RZSS, Cat Conservation Project Officer Tuesday 9th October ‘18 50 for the Future Susan Davies SWT Director of Conservation Tuesday 13th November ‘18 Curlew Conservation Irene Tomankova RSPB, Conservation Scientist Tuesday 11th December ‘18 Drumardoch Estate – Environmental Stewardship on an Upland Business Neil Cameron, Drumardoch Estate Tuesday 8th January ‘19 Trossachs Water Vole project: how are they doing?

Steve Willis, FES Project Officer Trossachs Water Vole Project

Tuesday 12th February ’19 Red Kites in Scotland Duncan Orr-Ewing RSPB Scotland’s Head of Species and Land Management Tuesday 12th March ’19 Management of Healthy River Systems Jonathan Louis River Forth Fisheries Trust Project Officer Tuesday 9th April ‘19 Gardening with Wildlife + very brief AGM Suzanne Burgess, Buglife Scotland Manager Suggested donations to cover costs: Members £2, non-members £2.50 students free incl. tea/coffee & biscuits Local Contact: Lesley Hawkins 01877 339080 mlhawkins@tiscali.co.uk General information available on swt.org.uk

Local History:

The Balquhidder Angling Club

by Owen McKee

Ross McLaren, who is the nephew of Mary Malcolm and Tina Twaddle - two (now deceased) natives of Lochearnhead, has passed to me a hand-written minute book for The Balquhidder Angling Club which was instituted in 1913. It makes interesting reading!

Following on from last month, here are some more entries from the book.

5th July 1914 This day a competition was held on Loch Lubnaig. The committee decided to give four prizes - 7/6, 5/-, 3/- & 2/6 amongst the six competitors who had entered. The prize-winners in order were J. McLaren, D. Fergusson, Robt Fergusson Jr and George Brough. The prize of 2/6 was presented by Mrs Moxon for Mr Smith. Gamekeeper. Mr Graham, Auchtoo succeeded in getting boats for the day free of charge.

31st March 1914 The Annual General Meeting of the Balquhidder Angling Club was held on the above date. Mr Robert Graham was called to the Chair. The minutes of previous meeting were read and approved of. The accounts for the past year were examined and found correct, showing a balance in hand of £1-1441/2.

It was unanimously agreed that Rule 2 should be altered to “Residents in the Registration District of Balquhidder only eligible as members” It was agreed to hold a competition on Loch Lubnaig on Saturday 16th May and another on Loch Voil on 30th May.

16th May 1914 This day a competition was held on Loch Lubnaig. Ten competitors came forward. The committee fixed prizes as follows - 1st 12/6, 2nd, Reel (Presented by Mr Malloch, Perth), 3rd 7/6, 4th 5/-. 5th 1lb Tea (Presented by Mr James) and 1/-. The day was unfavourable, and sport was poor only one competitor having over a pound of trout. The prize winners were -1st. P. McGregor 12/6, 2nd James Stewart, Reel, 3rd and 4th John Fergusson and Robert Graham (Equal), 5th J. McLaren. Heaviest trout, James Stewart 2/-. Best fished boat -P. McGregor and R. Graham, Hector Graham had a grilse of 8lb.

The committee fixed the prizes at 10/-, 8/-,6/-, 5/-, 4/-,3/-.2/-, and in addition prize-winners had choice of articles presented by Mr Hill ,Grocer, Messrs Glen & Son. Drapers, McCallum and Fergusson, Dapers, McLaren, Butcher.

T & J McDonald, Drapers, Melrose & Sons, Ironmongers, Fergusson, Bakers. The club is indebted for the zeal of Mr John McGregor, Rusgachan who obtained the prizes. Mr Peter McGregor, Tighnadalloch presented a Thermos Flask. Mr Graham succeeded in getting boats for the competition free.

26th June 1914 A night competition was held on Loch Voil on above date. There were nine competitors.

Fishing began at8.30am and ceased at 4am.

Up to midnight the weather was fine but about two o’clock rain began to fall heavily.

Prizes were fixed at 10/-, 8/-.6/-, 5/-, 4/- and a bottle of whisky (presented by Mr John McDougall, Kingshouse) for the heaviest trout. Prize-winners were 1) Robt Graham 2 1/2lb) 2) Hector Graham (1lb 13oz) 3) P. McGregor (1lb 12oz), 4, George Brough (1lb 8oz), 5.J. McLaren (12oz). Heaviest trout Robert Graham. All the boats were free except Rhuveag for which a charge of 5/- was fixed. Hector Graham having no boatman received his fee of 2/6.

30th May 1914 A competition was held on Loch Voil on above date. Fifteen competitors took part and considering the dry season and low level of the loch, good sport was obtained there being a total of 43lbs of trout The prize winners were - 1. Robt Fergusson (5lb 12oz), 2. P. McGregor (4lb. 12oz) 3. John Fergusson (3lb 14oz) 4. J. McLaren (3lb 12oz) 5. James Stewart (3lb 8oz) 6. H. McDiarmid (3lb 2oz) 7. R. Graham (3lb 1oz) 8. Archibald Fergusson (3lb) Heaviest trout J. McLaren Best fished boat P. McGregor and Hector Graham.

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Balquhidder, Lochearnhead & Strathyre Community Council Minutes of a meeting held at Lochearnhead Village Hall on Wednesday 8th August 2018 Please note that these minutes have not yet received formal approval and should be considered as a draft version only.

Present: Malcolm McNaughton (MM), David Johnston (DJ), Paul Hicks (PH), Loraine Telfer (LT), Adrian Squires (AS), Jeanette Stewart (JS) Apologies: Angus Cameron (AC), Richard Eastland (RE), Ruth McLusky (RM).

In attendance: Cllr Martin Earl (ME), Theresa Elliot (TE), Stirling Council; PC Will Diamond (WD), Police Scotland; Billy Ronald (BR), National Park. Mr J Heron and two other members of the public were present.

1) Approval of Minutes It was proposed by LT and seconded by JS, that the minutes of the meeting on 27th June 2018 should be accepted and this was approved unanimously.

2) Declarations of Interest DJ declared an interest in an item that he wished to raise under planning matters - see item 6(d) below.

3) Police Report During the period from 27th June to 7th August, there were ten incidents of anti-social behaviour in the area. On 1st July, an incident occurred at the Lochearnhead Shears event where a male was acting in an aggressive manner, challenging people to fight, and vandalised the marquee to the cost of several thousand pounds. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. On 7th July, an incident occurred at Balquhidder Braes Caravan Park, where an allegation of an assault was made. The suspect was apprehended and interviewed, but there was insufficient evidence for a formal charge.

On 14th July, an incident occurred at Loch Voil, Balquhidder, where a call was received about persons camped on the shore. Upon police arrival, the male was aggressive and tried to fight with officers. He was arrested and found to be in possession of a Class A drug. He will attend court at a later date. On 14th July, four persons were found to be camped illegally beside Loch Voil. They had built a fire that caused damage to the environment and left all their property behind. They have been charged with littering and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. On 27th July, a male was apprehended on South Loch Earn Road after he became aggressive towards officers who were carrying out enquiries into a missing person. He was taken into police custody and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. A second incident occurred in Balquhidder, where a male smashed two windows at a house. When police arrived, the male became abusive towards them. He was later issued with a Recorded Police Warning. On 28th July, two males were charged under The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Camping Management Byelaws, 2017, in relation to being camped illegally at The Broch car park on the shore of the River Balvaig, as well as having set a fire which caused damage. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. On 1st August, an incident occurred on Loch Voil where a group of fishermen fell out with one another. One person was arrested and charged in relation to his threatening and aggressive behaviour, as well as an assault causing injury. He will appear in court at a later date. On 4th August, two males were found camped at the ‘1769’ lay-by on Loch Lubnaig. They were given advice in relation to the bye-laws but failed to heed the advice and were found there again a few hours later. They were charged under The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Camping Management Byelaws, 2017, in relation to being camped illegally. They were also charged under the Alcohol Byelaw for consuming alcohol in a public place. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. On 5th August, four males were found camping beside Loch Voil. They were charged under The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Camping Management Byelaws, 2017, in relation to being camped illegally, as well as having set a fire which caused damage. They were also found in possession of an air weapon in a public place, without a certificate.

On 27th June, a motorist was found to be driving at 54mph in a 30mph zone, in Lochearnhead. and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Later on the same day, a second motorist was found to be driving at 46mph in a 30mph zone. The motorist was issued with a Conditional Offer to pay a Fixed Penalty, but failed to pay it and a report has since been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Overnight between the 17th and 18th July, five outboard engines were stolen from the Drummond Boat Hire at Loch Earn. Efforts were made to steal another six engines, but the perpetrators may have been disturbed. If anyone has any information regarding the theft, please contact PC Diamond. During this period, PC Diamond was present at the Lochearnhead Highland Games and Police Scotland, together with partner agencies, provided a stand with water safety information. He also attended a critical incident debrief on 2nd August and represented Police Scotland alongside Killin Mountain Rescue and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. These debriefs are held regularly after any serious incident and a number of learning points have been made as a result. A day was also spent working in Edinburgh when the US President, Donald Trump, visited and WD was one of several thousand officers who worked at various events and demonstrations across the country. Finally, WD has been involved in several discussions with Cllrs Martin Earl and Jeremy McDonald in relation to road safety. They are in the process of setting up a multi-agency meeting at which they hope that the community council will also be represented.

MM asked if we could hear the final results from some of the court cases that are notified. WD replied that there could be a significant delay in some cases before results were known. ME suggested that it might be more helpful to be given some general general indication of the scale of punishments being given currently for certain offences and WD gave some recent examples. ME queried whether the increase in cases over the past few weeks was due to weather or other factors. WD confirmed that there had been more reports this year than previously, but could not offer any definitive reasons as to why. ME asked if there was any evidence of displacement and WD replied that, whilst no accurate figures were recorded, some people, when advised about the camping bye-laws, had indicated their intention to travel further North (for example, to Loch Tay) to avoid the area covered by the bye-laws in the national park.

4) Matters arising 4a) Holiday Lodge at Balquhidder. PH reported that Stirling Council Roads Department had indeed been consulted regarding a previous application made for this location (2010/0192/DET) and submitted some comments. These were then revised for the latest application (2018/0099/DET). The applicant had since submitted a revised set of plans with a new, centrally positioned point of access that appears to meet the sight-line requirements. AS mentioned that no decision has been made as yet for this particular application.

4b) Waste bins - road end collections. PH reported having received confirmation from the Business Improvement Team Leader at the Stirling Council Department for Environment and Place that the Waste Service is currently rolling out road-end collections where identified properties meet the ‘previously approved criteria’. A commitment had been given that each property would be evaluated on an individual basis, with an appropriate period of notice given to residents, ward councillors and community councils of any proposed changes for their area. The ‘pull-out’ service for residents that meet the set criteria would continue to be offered. ME commented that he was concerned about a ‘gradual creep’ whereby this policy would be introduced piece-meal to reduce its overall impact. He advised the community council to remain vigilant about this. DJ mentioned that there is considerable concern in Stronvar about the potential impact of this policy. ME suggested that we should ask the Waste Service to specify what the criteria are - including the criteria for the ‘pull-out’ service. DJ also queried whether the original policy had, in fact, been approved, since it had been dropped before formal approval could be sought.

Action: PH to ask Waste Service for details of ‘agreed criteria’.

5) Lochearnhead Pavement In July this year, AC met with Stephen Kerr, MP, and asked if he could find out what was happening with the progress of a project to build a hard shoulder on the South side of the A85 in Lochearnhead. It transpired that a preliminary survey had been carried out and various objectives identified, such as the felling of some mature trees and the installation of ‘tactile paving’ at some points. There are still questions as to who owns the various parcels of land that will be required to construct a pavement, but enquiries are continuing with the Land Registry office. The North-West Area Manager for Transport Scotland, Mr Norman Hutchison, has proposed a site meeting within the next six weeks or so, dependent on the outcome of enquiries with the Land Registry. Cllr Martin Earl has been involved with this (on behalf of Stephen Kerr) and AC and PH have agreed to attend the meeting if possible once a date has been agreed. JS added that she had recently seen an elderly resident stumble on this stretch of road and is concerned that it is very dangerous. ME suggested writing to Mr Hutchison to confirm our interest in having a meeting. WD asked if Mr Hutchison could also be reminded of the need for crash barriers and snow gates on Glen Ogle. This was agreed. Action: PH to write to Norman Hutchison, Transport Scotland.

6) Planning Matters 6a) Installation of Smart Meter Network, Strathyre. This matter had been raised at the previous meeting of the community council on 27th June when no concerns had been voiced and it was decided that no comments were required. Since then, Mr J Heron had received notification of the application and had come to the meeting to share his concerns. He mentioned that the structure appears to be sited right on the cycle track, but AS pointed out that the mast would be placed beside the track itself. A query was then raised about a provision in the National Park Local Development Plan that, wherever possible, existing masts should be used for additional aerials. JS added that smart meters have already been installed in Strathyre and appear to be working. Why is a new mast needed? Could the existing mast at the school not be used? It was agreed that we should ask for a month’s extension to sound out opinion from the community. Action: AS to request an extension for further consultation with the local community.

Telecommunications mast at Auchtubh, Balquhidder. MM then raised a query about this new mast. He had been to the site and found a generator running there, but the mast didn’t appear to be providing a working signal for any of the recognised mobile telephone networks. DJ explained that different networks work on different frequencies so many of these applications cannot share the same aerial. MM stated that the community council should be given an audit of all the masts that exist in its area. DJ said that the Scottish Futures Trust is the body that oversees the installation of these masts. He added that no aerials can start operating until British Telecom has laid fibre to connect them to the wider network. So far as he was aware, this had still to be done at Auchtubh.

6b) Telecommunications mast, Lochearnhead. A similar application for a new mast to support the Smart Meter network in Lochearnhead has been made but responses were required before the community council had a chance to meet. Details had been circulated to members by email and AS confirmed that he had collated the responses and submitted an appropriate comment to the National Park Planning Authority. This amounted to an objection based on the anticipated visual impact of the new installation with the mast itself and the potential addition of safety barriers. He had also made reference to the provision in the National Park Local Development Plan regarding the use of existing masts, pointing out that there are already three that serve this area.

6c) Query regarding changes in planning policy. MM then asked BR if planning policy had changed recently in the National Park. He was particularly concerned about a recent application to build a holiday home on the edge of Balquhidder. AS was able to confirm that the latest Local Development Plan is now encouraging

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holiday homes because there is a shortage of accommodation for visitors. This appears to reflect a national policy from the Scottish Government. There was considerable discussion on different policies that appear to apply in different areas, especially regarding the contributions that have to be made towards social housing by those who wish to build new houses, whether singly or as a business venture.

6d) Calair Bridge, Balquhidder. DJ reported, on behalf of Community Broadband Balquhidder, that an application had been submitted to attach a broadband cable to Calair Bridge which is a listed building. He asked if the community council would consider writing a letter of support for this application. It is proposed that the cable should be pinned to the outside of the bridge. This was agreed and AS offered to write a short letter in support of the application. Action: AS to write short letter of support.

6e) Demolition of property on Glen Beich Estate.

AS reminded members that this matter had been raised at the previous meeting (item 8B in the minutes of 27th June). At that time, it was not clear whether or not a specific application would need to be made to demolish the property. He had been able to confirm that an application was required but, so far, none has been made for this particular property.

7) Correspondence 7a) Access to loch side at Lochearnhead. A further complaint had been made regarding the lack of access to the loch side in Lochearnhead, following a previous complaint in October 2017. (See minutes for 25 Oct 2017, Item 6A.) All of the land at the West end of the loch is privately owned and much of it is used to graze sheep at different times. When there is livestock in the fields, some gates are padlocked to protect the animals. Some organized groups have been allowed access to the land beside the loch shore and this has given the impression that locals are being discriminated against. PH reported that the National Park Access Officer had been contacted on the previous occasion, but was unable to progress matters as the complaint on that occasion concerned the former water sports centre where there was still considerable debris following an earlier arson attack. The landowner had made efforts to clear some of the loose debris, but the site still presented dangers and potential liabilities for the landowner should people be allowed to have open access. It was agreed that further enquiries should be made with the landowner to find out what progress had been made and to see if access could now be given to locals. The National Park Access Officer should also be contacted again to see if other options might exist to resolve this problem.

Action: PH to liaise further with landowner and NP Access Officer.

8) Matters From Ward Councillors 8a) ME mentioned that the current contract for the S60 (Shoppers’ Bus) service will be extended to March 2019. This will then be tied in with the contract for the C60 service so that a tender for both services will go out at the same time next year.

9) Any Other Competent Business 9a) Speed limit on A84. MM commented on the 50mph speed limit that is now in place on the A84 at Balquhidder Station. The limit starts on the northbound approach after the junction at Mhor 84 (Kingshouse). He asked whether this limit could be extended to include the junction. ME and WD said that this could be raised with Transport Scotland at the forthcoming multi-agency road safety meeting (mentioned at item 3 above).

9b) Undergrowth on Balquhidder Road (C33). WD asked if the council would be willing to contact Stirling Council about removing bracken at the side of the C33 (Balquhidder Glen Road). It was agreed that a suitable request would be made. Action: PH to contact Stirling Council.

9c) Provost Awards.

PH reported that he had made formal recommendations on behalf of the community council for Provost Awards to be given to David Johnston (for his work on behalf of Community Broadband Balquhidder) and to Moira Welch (for her dedication over many years as a postal worker in Balquhidder). He was pleased to say that both recommendations had been accepted and approved.

There was no other business and, at 9:20 p.m., MM declared the meeting closed. The next meeting is due to take place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday 19th September 2018 at Strathyre Village Hall.

Yet another busy month has come and gone! We would appear to have had our “summer” and it is clear that autumn is fast approaching – cooler temperatures and the nights are drawing in. With that, I would ask that everyone reviews the security ahead of the autumn/winter, as now is a good time to get any work needed done.

Get in touch if you want security advice and I’d be more than happy to discuss.

A breakdown of incidents over this past month are as follows: On the 14th July, a group of four persons were found to be camped illegally on Loch Voil, as well as having light a fire that caused damage to the environment.

In addition, they left all their property behind so have also been charged with littering. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

On the 27th July, a male was apprehended on South Loch Earn Road after he became aggressive towards officers whilst they were carrying out enquiries into another ongoing matter. He was taken into Police custody and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

On the 27th July an incident occurred in Balquhidder, where a male smashed two windows at a house. When Police arrived, the male became abusive towards them.

He was later issued with a Recorded Police Warning.

On the 28th July, two males were charged under The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Camping Management Byelaws 2017 in relation to being camped illegally at The Broch Carpark on the shore of the River Balvaig, as well as having set a fire which caused damage. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

On the 1st August, an incident occurred on Loch Voil where a group of fishermen fell out with one another. The accused was apprehended and taken into Police custody and charged in relation to his threatening and aggressive behaviour, as well as an assault to injury. He will appear at court at a later date.

On the 4th August, two males were found camped at 1769 layby on Loch Lubnaig. They were given advice in relation to the byelaws; however, failed to heed the advice and they were still found there a few hours later. They were charged under The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Camping Management Byelaws 2017 in relation to being camped illegally, as well as being charged under the Alcohol Byelaw for consuming alcohol in a public place. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

On the 5th August, a group of 4 males were camped illegally on Loch Voil. They were charged under The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Camping Management Byelaws 2017 in relation to being camped illegally, as well as having set a fire which caused damage. They were also found in possession of an air weapon in a public place, without a certificate.

Overnight between the 14th and 15th August, a pump and 1000 litres of diesel were stolen from a yard at Kingshouse, Balquhidder. That same night, efforts were made to steal an unattended trailer in Balquhidder. If anyone saw any persons or vehicles acting suspiciously, then please get in touch with me.

I have also been involved in a number of discussions in recent weeks regarding road safety in the area. Over the past year or so a number of discussions have been held looking at various different elements, but the one issue is that there has been little cohesion amongst the various issues raised, so as a result a meeting is planned with local councillors, the local BLS Community Council and the relevant Roads Authorities to raise the issues with them in order that work can be done to hopefully increase road safety within the local area.

If anyone has any information surrounding any of the crimes of note that I’ve highlighted, please get in touch.

As always, I can always be contacted on 101 or for those who prefer email, I can be contacted directly at william.diamond@ scotland.pnn.police.uk.

Regards, PC Will Diamond

15

Prefect Leadership Team 2018/19 Following applications being submitted and interviews being carried out, the new Prefect Leadership Team was announced as follows: Head Boy, Angus Parsons; Head Girl, Natalie Klaes; Depute Head Boy, Cameron McLay; Depute Head Girl, Megan Milligan.

Well done all of you!

Callander & West Perthshire U3A What a pleasure it was on 21st August to meet again leaders and members of C&WP U3A who enjoyed group meetings held in Killin and were now enrolling for the 2018/19 year. Recruiting for a new group, in addition to the existing four, was gaining a lot of interest. This was Geology, a new subject to join the Painting, Bridge, French and Current Affairs groups which had been meeting for the last two years in the Killin Hotel - an excellent venue for all group activities.

Barbara Legg Two days later, on 23rd August, the main membership of C&WP met for the AGM and registration for groups held in and around Callander. It was a very busy and friendly afternoon with 128 people in attendance who voted on a small change in the C&WP Constitution and also elected the new Committee. The Chairman, Ray Watkins, announced the successful application for a substantial grant to be used for equipment to enhance the Astronomy Group’s activities.

Teas and home baking were enjoyed while circulating to sign up for the 33 different interest groups on offer and the hall buzzed with conversation as members met up again after the summer recess. Around 20 new members also enrolled which is encouraging and proves that the message of the U3A is spreading – we meet together to Learn, Laugh and Live.

The full timetable is on our website ‘Callander and West Perthshire U3A’ along with more details of what we do and how to join (for only £10 per annum).

Marguerite Kobs 16

www.mclarenhigh.co.uk

visit our website:

McLaren High School

Echoes from the Engine Shed

18 September 2018, 7pm (Touch Tour beginning 6.15pm) “A powerful collaboration between science, music and theatre” - The Edinburgh Festival List Book now to experience the five-star show Echoes as it comes to Stirling for the first ever music theatre performance held in The Engine Shed.

Created by award-winning theatre company electric voice theatre, Echoes features renowned Scottish contemporary musician Frances M Lynch and Margaret Cameron of the BBC Singers, and tells the stories of forgotten Scottish superwomen of science through the mediums of song, performance and spoken word.

The show will be specifically tailored for The Engine Shed audiences, with some of the characters and music featured in the performance drawn from local history. This includes marine biologist Nora Miller who took some remarkable underwater photographs when she was diving for specimens near Bermuda in the 1930s, and Stirling musician Shena Fraser, who composed extensively for children and adults.

Echoes from the Engine Shed is for anyone with a love of theatre, classical or contemporary music and science.

This performance marks the first part of a national tour and this is the only chance to see the show in Stirling.

The performance will be British Sign Language Interpreted and has Integrated Audio Description and an accompanying Touch Tour.

Tickets: Adults £10 Concession/ children £5 • HES members £8

Our website

www.electricvoicetheatre.co.uk/

Kay enjoying the great outdoors

Winter Wonderland Don’t panic! This is not the September forecast, though this photograph of 12-year-old Lochearnhead resident Kay Drysdale, is a reminder of the dramatic winter past.

LETi is celebrating Year of Young People 2018, so thank you, to Morrisons Academy pupil Kay, for letting us share this image of her enjoying the incredible wonders that nature can create during a cold spell. Who would have guessed that these impressive stalactites were on our doorstep along the old Glenogle railway line, which is now Sustrans National Cycle Route 7 and part of The Rob Roy Way. Humans have a tendency to mutter when they “can’t” get outside due to inclement weather. I bet Kay’s pet dog would never complain at the opportunity for an outdoor adventure. If we wear warm protective clothing and are able to get out, what is stopping us? Look what we might be missing.

The snow is picturesque and enables great photography, sledging, skiing, snow sculpture, snow ball fights and more. The rain ensures different sounds and smells and waterfalls are even more dramatic. The landscape and resident wildlife changes, as does the light. The wind is often invigorating and can leave us with that rosy glow of contentment.

Kay’s picture is a timely reminder for locals and holiday makers, that the outdoors can be enjoyed all year round and shared with family and friends. You could employ the skills of our local experts. Alan Sneddon offers Hidden Glen Landrover Safaris around Balquhidder and Andrea Hudspeth of Aquila Ecology in St Fillans can organise a bespoke walking tour in search of flora and fauna in any season.

This is a good time for tourists and family friends to book a winter break in our villages, from September 2018 through to April 2019. Please share our 4-village accommodation website: www.robroycountry.com. One email reaches all LETi accommodation owners and saves users time hunting for availability.

There are many reasons to enjoy digital technology in winter in the warmth and safety of our homes. Some of us might be missing out though, if we don’t use our phones and tablets to capture precious family moments as Kay and her family have done whilst enjoying the great outdoors together.

Thanks to Kay and parents Joanna and Andrew Drysdale for allowing us to share this image. Just looking at it would have helped us all to cool down during the recent hot spell. Keep it handy in case of an Indian Summer!

It’s well documented that fresh air and exercise can be good for the body, mind and soul. So a big thank you to Kay, for helping to inspire the next generation of outdoor fun and health enthusiasts.

17

A (Long) Weekend in The Life of...

The Broadband Volunteers As you may not be aware, there is a band of stalwart people who have been giving up their time over the summer to bring broadband fibre to Balquhidder glen. It’s been a long haul... and it’s not over yet...

Thursday The call is out for a 1km pull of pre-blown fibre from Bealach jetty, so we assemble at 7.30 on a still, midgy morning to catch the start of the digger driver’s shift. The reel is pointing back to Muirlaggan with just a kilometre on it so we pull off a loop and by the time we are 500m along the reel is free. A decent turn out – even The Editor is there!

Saturday A 9 o’clock start for a day of blowing from the Village Hall to Dhanakosa. Lots of faffing while we assemble all the kit, two compressors, the machine for feeding the fibre down the conduit and lining up the reel. Time to start everything up and we find that the brand new big compressor won’t start on its battery, so for the rest of the day we have to run it on jump leads attached to my car.

Finally we are off - Brandon feeding into the conduit, a towel man cleaning the fibre and three of us turning the reel and generally making sure that it comes off at the right speed with no surplus touching the ground or getting too tight.

Three kilometres is too far to blow at once so we blow to a break in the conduit 700m down the road in a field, and Andrew and Stuart have to coil the extra fibre in a large figure–of-eight on the ground. Once the 3km is all through we pack everything up, move to the field and start up again after carefully turning the coiled fibre over. Same process as before but this time we have to be extra careful that the fibre doesn’t tangle as it comes off the ground.

Now the fibre is at Tulloch and we repeat the whole process for the final blow to Dhanakosa. Mark pops inside and provides some welcome refreshments.

When the fibre finally arrives at 18

Dhanakosa, there is a surplus, so Brandon tries to reverse the process to blow some back to the hall but it won’t move - so that’s abandoned.

With everything back to the village hall and tidied away, I take Brandon back to St Fillans and finally get home for 8.30, wondering what happened to lunch.

Sunday We assemble at the old Post Office site for a blow across Loch Occasional to Stroneslaney. The conduit has been put in with a new water pipe and the dry conditions this summer must have been a great help putting it all in. It’s a single blow of around a kilometre and by now we are used to assembling everything so all goes smoothly. The faulty compressor starts with Richard’s portable power pack so the jump leads aren’t required today. Home for lunch, hooray.

Monday Another 7.30 start, at Monachyle Tuarach. This time we have a full 5km reel of pre-blown to pull back to where the previous reel finished. A good turnout three Andrews, two Davids, Jim, Stuart, Juan, Dick and new recruit Jamie canoed in from across the loch at Rhuveag.

Once the 1 km is pulled back we decide to pull it all off while we have a digger available to hold the reel up off the ground. So we eventually have 4km of cable draped over the hillside - and sore shoulders from turning the reel. Next step is to dig a pit to serve the hostel and the house and get the fibre across the river and heading to Monachyle Mhor.

The underpants brigade got busy (and wet)sinking a conduit into the river (no pictures, we’re British!) while the rest of us spent a frustrating time untangling a reel of 7mm conduit which had become slack on the reel while being towed

about. Backwards and forwards we walked, gaining a metre every time, until we had enough to serve the two houses.

Then, river crossing in place, we fed fibre under the river and pulled all 4km through and laid it out on the other side.

A quick tidy up and then we all ended up on the Monachyle Mhor terrace for coffee and Mhor sandwiches.

Lots of splicing, blowing, and connecting still to do... but fibre has reached Rob Roy’s first marital home – what would he think?

Clockwise from top left: Down at the loch; David digs a pit; ‘The Boss’; The ‘Ed’ on the pull; the technical stuff; setting up the reel; that pesky compressor!

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Ranger’s Review

by Gareth Kett

A few weeks back I was privileged to watch the skill and union between dog and handler at the Inverlochlarig sheep dog trials with my family.

It was a balmy summer’s day and I felt for the dogs who had to climb up a good couple of hundred metres over half a km or so just to reach the group of four sheep before, at the command of their handler’s whistle (or bellow!) bring the sheep back down the hill through a series of hurdles and into a pen, separating them into two pairs as they went. It was truly impressive in a striking rural landscape. The hot-dogs, coffee and cake, served from within a cattletrailer, were top-notch too.

To complete the scene a golden eagle flew majestically over as the competition was drawing to a close.

On the opposite side of the glen to the sheep-dog trial on the lower slopes I noticed a significant parcel of land enclosing a mix of young scots pines, birches, rowans and willow; the thickness of vegetation inside the enclosure, where sheep and deer were excluded, contrasting with the thin sward outside. Over the mountains to the south lay Glen Finglas and the Great Trossachs Forest, an area rightly frequently applauded for its large scale forest restoration project, but equally commendable are the plots of land set aside for woodland regeneration by landowners and farmers struggling to make a living off the land.

The thick vegetation in these plots provides valuable refuges for ground nesting birds such as skylarks, wheatears, stonechats, meadow pipits and sometimes even black grouse and curlew. As well as the trees, upland flowering plants such heathers, lousewort, milkwort and orchids provide Stoats

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Black grouse - one of a suite of birds that benefit from forest restoration areas. © wild-scotland.org.uk.

food and cover for numerous insect species, which themselves provide food for birds. Released from grazing pressure blaeberry, crowberry, cranberry and cowberry provide an array of berries for birds and small mammals.

Avian predators such as kestrels, sparrowhawks and merlins benefit from the abundance of small mammals and birds. There are quite a few of these forest restoration plots (that I am aware of ) in the Breadalbane area, collectively constituting very useful islands of thick habitat for birds to use in ‘hopping’ between larger areas of cover. One such plot can be seen on the north side of Balquhidder Glen as you approach Inverlochlarig. It’s worth stopping to take a look at if you are at the bottom of the glen. If you are interested in establishing a forest restoration plot please contact the National Park Land Management Team at landmanagement@lochlomondtrossachs.org for more information.

In what has been one of the busiest summers in the National Park’s history byelaw enforcement has once again dominated the summer work programme for the Ranger Service. The volume of visitors this summer has tested the new camping management system, but despite some issues associated with littering the overall picture has been one of success.

Vegetation is recovering well outside the permit areas and to lesser extent inside permit areas too, while anti-social behavior has decreased throughout the camping management zone. Far more family groups are visiting our lochshores and wildlife is continuing to benefit.

During in a mid-summer camping area inspection on Loch Earn I came across a family of stoats nestled amongst the rocks while earlier in the summer we recorded a family of goldeneyes on Loch

Earn – the first time that I am aware of that goldeneyes have bred on Loch Earn in the last decade. In previous years, late winter/early spring breeding behaviour has been recorded, but subsequent disturbance from visitors appeared to have prevented successful nesting. The goldeneyes almost certainly benefitted from areas excluded from camping. Our patrols have seen other wildlife around the lochshores including sparrowhawks, common sandpipers, red-breasted mergansers, goosanders, squirrels and deer in greater numbers than would have been expected in pre-bye-law enforcement years.

As the season approaches its final few weeks we are preparing to bid farewell to the great team of Seasonal Rangers that joined us back at in April. They are a team who have put themselves in potentially difficult situations every working day throughout the summer in order to make the National Park a safer, more enjoyable place to visit and a place where wildlife has room to live and breed, even along our busier lochshores.

Our thanks, in no particular order, go to Adrian Walters, Rhona McGowan, Marie Lewis, Rob Travis-Smith, Martin Kinnear, Helen MacDonald and Sarah BadmanFlook. Sarah has been seconded to the Trossachs & Breadalbane Team for the visitor season from the Land Operations Team. We’ve been backed up by a team of committed bank staff who have filled any gaps appearing due to illness or annual leave during the season.

As usual if you have anything you wish to discuss or any wildlife sightings to report you are welcome to drop into the Lochearnhead Office, or you can contact me by e-mail at gareth.kett@ lochlomond-trossachs.org, or call me on 01389 722044. If I’m not in the office please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

The Villagers’ Contacts Jill Johnston Editor Gardeners Cottage Balquhidder FK19 8PB 01877 384227

Gill Waugh Production Manager Stronvar Farm Balquhidder FK19 8PB 01877 384203

David Johnston Production Gardeners Cottage Balquhidder FK19 8PB 01877 384227

Andrew Poulter Advertising Coire A Chroine Balquhidder FK19 8PB 01877 384784

Copy Deadline Day is the 21st of the month. Send your contributions to: c o n t a c t @ t h e - v i l l a g e r s . o r g . u k

Please help us to get The Villagers to you as so on as possible!

Other Contacts...

Lochearnhead Contact:

Ali Ferguson 01567 830 405 St Fillans Contact:

Position Vacant!

Strathyre Contact:

Wullie Dalziel 01877 384 384 Mobile 07768 221661 Mail Order Distribution:

Andrea Poulter 01877 384784

DIARY DATES We e k l y A c t i v i t i e s Monday

Dynamic Meditation - Lochearnhead Village Hall - 10-11am - see page 18

Tuesday

Keep Fit - Lochearnhead Hall - 10.30 to11.30am Gaelic Playgroup - Balquhidder Hall - 10.30am to 12.30pm St Fillans Music Circle - Sandison Hall - 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Light lunch included.

Contact John Light (01764 685307) / Malcolm Gregory (01764 670493).

Country Dancing - St Fillans

Wednesday Yoga - Balquhidder Hall - 11.00am to 12noon (contact Ann Cobbett 01877 376291)

Youth Club - Lochearnhead Hall - 7.00 to 9.00pm Thursday

Darts League - The Inn & Bistro - 7.00pm Choir Occasional - starts again on the 20th Sept (Contact Gill 07778 702304)

Friday

Playgroup - Lochearnhead Hall - 10.00am-12 noon (Contact Mel Brydie 01877 384668)

CHURCH SERVICES Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre and St. Fillans CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

Balquhidder Parish Church Registered Charity No. SCO12316

SEPTEMBER 2018

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SWT Talk - Callander - see page 13

5

Magic Show - Strathyre - see page 4

8

STEM Festival Callander - see page 16

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MacMillan Coffee Morning - Balquhidder - see page 2

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MacMillan Coffee morning - Strathyre - see page 2

OC TOBER 2018 4

Singing Workshop with Sylvia McGowan - Choir Occasional Balquhidder Hall - 7.30 till 9pm. Great fun - all welcome!

Stephen Kerr MP 49 Borestone Crescent, Stirling FK7 9BQ 01786 475034 Councillor Martin Earl Stirling Council, Old Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET earlm@stirling.gov.uk 01786 233114 Councillor Evelyn Tweed Stirling Council, Old Viewforth, Stirling, FK8 2ET 01786 233101 Councillor Jeremy McDonald Stirling Council, Old Viewforth, Stirling, FK8 2ET 01786 233117

Sundays 11.30am Minister: Rev Dr Russel Moffat The Manse, Main Street, Killin FK21 8TN revmoffat@gmail.com Dundurn Church, St Fillans

Sundays 11.30am Minister: Rev Graham McWilliams Tel: 01764 671 045

ROMAN CATHOLIC Callander, St Joseph the Worker Sundays 11.30am Saturday Vigil Mass 5.30pm from May through to September Killin, in the Episcopal Church Sundays 2.30pm Father Jim McCruden 2 Ancaster Square, Callander Tel: 01877 330 702

SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH St Angus’s Church, Lochearnhead 1st Sunday each month: 11.30am Communion 2nd Sunday 5.30pm Evensong 3rd Sunday 11.30am Communion 4th Sunday 5.30pm Evensong 5th Sunday (if applicable) 5.30pm FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A reflective time to discuss contemporary issues in a spiritual context (Check with Rector for venue: 01764 655389)

Vestry Secretary - Maureen Lipscomb Tel: 01567 830234

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Cheques for advertising and mail order subscriptions should be made out to: The BLS Newspaper Association

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S U P P O RT Y OUR LOCAL S UP P LIERS !

Do you need an affordable home?

Rural Stirling Housing Association aims to support local communities by providing quality homes at affordable rents for families, couples and single people in housing need.

We currently have over 560 rented houses and flats. Around 40 of these become available for rent each year. We are in the process of building a further 23 flats in Callander and 12 flats & houses in Killearn. We currently have properties in the following communities: Aberfoyle • Doune • Kinlochard Stronachlachar • Balfron • Drymen Kippen • Tyndrum • Buchlyvie Gargunnock • Lochearnhead Callander • Gartmore • Strathblane Deanston • Killin • Strathyre We may be able to build in other communities in the future – please let us know if you want to live in a village that is not listed above. Information on local housing need and demand helps us plan for the future.

If you are interested in renting one of our properties when they become available please contact us: Rural Stirling Housing Association Stirling Road, Doune FK16 6AA Telephone: 01786 841101 Email: enquiries@rsha.org.uk Registered as a Scottish Charity No. SC037849

Printed by Graphics and Print Services, University of Stirling Tel: 01786 467209 email: graphicsandprint@stir.ac.uk Published by The BLS Newspaper Association

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Arc over Balquhidder Old Kirk Š Richard Harris. Photo taken 23.8.18