Blairgowrie & Rattray Hub Magazine - Autumn 21

Autumn 2021 

Sponsored by Stagecoach 

Blairgowrie & Rattray 

Hub Magazine 

In this edition 

Cover Image Courtesy of John Siwek 

PERTHSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS MANTALK WOMEN’S WALK AND TALK 

GAME SQUARE HILL KIRK: BLAIRGOWRIE’S “BATTY” GRAVEYARD 

PLUS ALL THE USUAL INFO ON EVENTS AND THE COMMUNITY 

MAGAZINE PRODUCED BY THE 

Blairgowrie & Rattray Development Trust Ltd 

BRDT 

SC039702

In this Issue... 

Welcome 

Community Groups 

Blairgowrie & Rattray Development Trust News 

Rotary Club of Blairgowrie 

Blairgowrie & Rattray Community Council 

Blairgowrie & Rattray Access Network (BRAN) 

Tayside Woodland Partnerships 

Booklore Community Bookshop 

Blair In Bloom 

Heat Project 

History 

Blairgowrie and Rattray Genealogy Centre 

The Hill Kirk Graveyard 

Constabulary Duty to be Done 

Blairgowrie & Rattray - Our Heritage 

News and Articles 

Culture Perth & Kinross 

In My View 

Climate Cafe 

It’s Braw 

Hill Kirk: Blairgowire’s “Batty” Graveyard 

Game Square 

Nest Creative Spaces 

Granny Pat’s Autumn Recipes 

Blairgowire Lyric Choir 

Women’s Walk and Talk 

Mantalk 

ProCom - Summer Acitivities & Walkathon 

Strathmore Men’s Shed 

Royal Voluntary Services 

Blairgowrie & District Freedom Coach Association 

Marion’s Stitching for Apples Galore 

Rattray and District SWI 

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 

The Uniform Exchange 

Bookmark Book Festival 

Blairgowrie and East Perthshire Tourist Association 

Perthshire Open Studios 

Autumn Reading List 

Macular Society 

Recycling in Blairgowrie and Rattray 

First Aid Perthshire - Defibrillator Registration 

A Howler for Hallowe’en - Margaret Drummond 

Starter Packs & Smalls for All 

Blairgowrie Riding for the Disabled 

Guiding Blairgowrie & Rattray District 

Support for Care & Wellbeing Services in Rural 

Perth & Kinross 

Garden Matters 

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Church Notices 

Blairgowrie Players 

Mary’s Meals Blairgowrie Support Group 

Awrabest! Retirement of John Corrigan 

Leaves - Janet McKenzie 

Sports & Activities 

Blairgowrie & Rattray Community Football Club 

Rattray Tennis Club 

Blairgowrie Badminton Club 

Blairgowrie Tennis Club 

Blairgowrie Golf Club Gold Medal 

The Blairgowrie & District Hillwalking Club 

Interviews & Contributors’ Articles 

Cllr Bob Brawn 

Cllr Caroline Shiers 

Murdo Fraser MSP 

John Swinney MSP 

Pete Wishart MP 

Business & Contacts 

Useful Phone Numbers 

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Please send any adverts or any questions 

about advertising with us to this address. 

Email mag@brdt.org.uk 

5% reduction in cost for 4 Editions (annual) 

Dates for this year’s Hub Magazine 

Accepting Articles 

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& Adverts from ... Available ... 

Winter 01/10/21 - 22/10/21 

66 

2nd Last week 

of November 

Spring 14/01/22 - 04/02/22 Last week of 

February 

Summer 08/04/22 - 29/04/22 

Autumn 24/06/22 - 15/07/22 

Last week of 

May 

Mid August

Welcome to the 

2021 Autumn 

Magazine 

There’s another full edition of the magazine 

awaiting you in the following pages. Lots 

of events are happening or have happened 

locally and we are delighted to bring you news 

of a number of these. Thank you to everyone 

who has contributed to this issue and 

apologies to those whose articles were not 

included due to lack of space. Some of these 

pieces will appear in future Hub editions. 

Perthshire Open Studios, which allows you 

to visit artists and makers in their studios, is 

happening again this year between 4th and 

the 12th September. The article in the centre 

pages gives more details of the Orange route 

and the Lemon route which cover the studios 

in the local area. More information and a list 

of local participants is on page 34. 

Other events which are planned include It’s 

BRAW which runs from 21st to 29th August. 

The Blairgowrie and Rattray Arts for Wellbeing 

(BRAW) week evolved from the Rattray Arts 

Festival and more details are on page 19. 

Forthcoming too is the Bookmark Book 

Festival on the weekend of 9th and 10th 

October and information about ticket sales is 

on page 32. 

Have you heard about Mantalk (page 25), 

Women’s Walk and Talk (page 25) and the 

Mens’ Shed (page 27)? These are new or 

established groups which allow people to 

meet and talk. All welcome new members and 

are inviting people to come along to try them 

out. 

Other interesting articles in the Hub include 

news about Game Square which is an online/in 

person gaming club for all ages (page 21) and 

some wonderful information about the bats 

which reside in the Hill Kirk Graveyard (page 

20). 

Thanks, as ever, to our wonderful advertisers 

who make the publication of this magazine 

possible. We value your support immensely. 

And a final thank you to Brian Smith who is 

standing down as a Hub volunteer. Brian has 

organised the delivery of the magazine since 

March 2020 and is handing over this task to 

Wendy Mackey. 

We would welcome volunteers for our 

magazine team who are a very small band 

of people. They are - 

Eileen Ferguson - who co-ordinates the team 

and manages the throughflow of articles and 

adverts for the magazine at mag@brdt.org.uk 

Marie Soutar - sends out invoices to 

advertisers. 

Wendy Mackey - the new organiser of the 

band of volunteers who distribute 5,000 

copies of the magazine to local households 

and businesses free of charge. Wendy would 

welcome additional volunteers to help deliver 

the magazine. 

Margaret Drummond – seeks out articles 

and writes and contributes to children’s 

corner. Margaret is also our proof reader. 

John Siwek - our talented graphic designer 

who puts the magazine together in an 

attractive and appealing format. No easy 

task. We would ask prospective contributors 

to heed the guidelines – no more than 

500 words, good resolution (and separate) 

photos, and breaking up messages into short 

bursts. This makes lengthy pieces easier to 

read. 

Your continuing support for this community 

magazine is greatly appreciated and we 

welcome constructive feedback. 

Many thanks and good wishes 

Eileen 

Important Note - This community magazine publishes articles, notices and information 

submitted by a range of local groups and individuals. The Trust takes every possible 

precaution to ensure the content provided is appropriate. All article authors are 

responsible for the accuracy of text provided. 

Page 3


Development Trust Ltd 

One Voice for the Community News 

Dear Reader, 

Welcome to the Autumn 2021 Edition of the 

Hub Magazine in this wonderful season of 

mists and mellow fruitfulness. 

We are ever grateful to local resident David 

Gow who offers the Trust his beautiful 

photographs for our Hub magazine and 

website. This one is particularly poignant and 

symbolic, displaying all the beauty of autumn 

in the image of Jock alongside trees cloaked 

in the shades of the season. 

The Paper and Digital Hub Magazine 

We are delighted once again to publish 

this paper copy which will be delivered 

through your door by our dedicated delivery 

volunteers. There is also an online version on 

our website www.brdt.org.uk/hub-magazine 

so anyone can read it no matter where they 

are. 

Spread the word and send the link to friends 

or relatives wherever they might be in the 

world. It may inspire them to visit our lovely 

town one day. 

Thank You Stuart Nichol 

After two and a half years 

in the Chair, Stuart stepped 

down at the end of July but 

has stayed on as a Trustee 

focussing on a range of 

partnership projects with 

other groups in the town. Stuart supported 

and led BRDT through a particularly 

challenging period of Covid restrictions and 

lockdowns. 

Whilst the work of many groups and 

volunteers focussed on frontline work that 

was vital to keeping vulnerable people safe, 

as always, the Trust was quietly beavering 

away in the background raising funds and 

generating income streams to keep these 

projects afloat and operational. 

New Chair Teresa 

Donaldson 

Teresa was delighted to 

take over the Chair at the 

Board meeting in July and 

grateful for the support 

and confidence of fellow 

Trustees. 

With ten years’ experience in the third sector 

as an employee and a Board member and a 

background in finance and administration, 

she is keen to focus on good governance, 

procedure and policy. These inputs will 

complement the work of her fellow Trustees 

who are concentrating on project delivery, 

partnership working and other key initiatives. 

Teresa is ardently in favour of community 

cohesion and believes that the residents 

of a community should be involved in the 

development of their own place. She is very 

much looking forward to supporting BRDT 

going forward. 

New Faces – Karen Hicks 

We are very pleased to 

welcome our very skilled 

and experienced Finance 

Officer, Karen Hicks who 

lives in Alyth. 

Karen moved here with her Scottish partner 

in March 2019, to a Victorian cottage in Alyth. 

In the midst of renovating their new home, 

it burnt to the ground in February 2020 and 

then Covid hit the world. Tough cookies… 

they bounced back and moved to a beautiful 

farm where they walk their gorgeous dog Alf 

and sometimes the cats come too… why not? 

Alf is a complete star…winning the ‘Most 

Appealing Eyes’ competition at the Alyth 

Page 4 BRDT Magazine - Autumn 2021

show in 2019, held in Blairgowrie. You can 

see why…what a mesmerising charmer he is. 

Karen has fallen in love with her new home, 

made loads of friends through clubs and 

joined in activities such as biking and hiking, 

knitting, sewing, painting and country 

dancing. She is a Piano teacher, plays 

the cello and is also a multimedia textile 

artist. Believe it or not… this is just a small 

selection of Karen’s interests and skills! 

Our Volunteers 

Much of what we do at the Trust is 

simply not possible without our amazing 

volunteers. The fantastic Booklore 

Community Bookshop team has been 

working hard throughout the summer. 

Please pop in soon… Booklore is a 

sanctuary, and a great place to browse and 

enjoy a blether with our friendly volunteers. 

You might even end up buying a book! 

Hub Magazine Advertisers 

A big thank you to all our advertisers 

because we know how difficult it has 

been for businesses over the last eighteen 

months. We wish you every success as we all 

strive to recover from these difficult times. 

Our advertisers make a positive difference 

in our town - income received from 

advertisers is invested in community 

improvement projects. 

Community Groups 

of the community both now and for the 

future. The Community Action Plan is a live 

and living document that will be updated and 

continue to address the needs and wishes of 

the local community on an ongoing basis. 

Mount Ericht Community Garden 

Fundraising by the Trust and the hard work of 

Blair in Bloom volunteers ensures we remain 

on the right track to create a wonderful 

community garden for our town. The first 

crop of potatoes is looking spectacular. 

If you are interested in volunteering at Mt 

Ericht, please get in touch through the 

Blair in Bloom Facebook page. 

Phone 07901 700787 or email 

blairinbloom@aol.com 

Finally, many thanks once again to all our 

contributors, advertisers and the Hub Mag 

Team who compiled this excellent Autumn 

edition. 

Happy reading and stay safe 

Best wishes from Everyone at BRDT 

T A Y S IDE 

Local independent retailers 

provide the best value! 

WHICH Magazine Report 2019 

Thank you to everyone who took the time 

to complete the Survey for the review and 

refresh of the Blairgowrie and Rattray 

Community Action (CAP) whether online or 

the paper copy delivered with your summer 

Hub Magazine 

The CAP Team are now busy analysing the 

results of the Survey, along with 

information from the stakeholder group 

meetings and Forum meetings - no mean 

feat! All information captured will be 

brought together in a report on the outcome 

of the responses - the views and aspirations 

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Page 5

Rotary Club of 

Blairgowrie 

This has been an odd year 

for the Rotary Club of 

Blairgowrie, as it has been 

for everyone. Bob Ellis is 

our only Club President 

not to have chaired a face 

to face meeting, but we 

hope that Phil Seymour, 

to whom he handed over 

at the start of July in a 

Covid compliant outdoor 

meeting, will fare better. 

We have met weekly 

on Zoom – it has its 

limitations, but expanded 

our horizons by enabling us to have joint 

meetings with clubs in India and the USA. 

Community Involvement 

We are trying to Make Rotary Relevant with 

real community involvement. This month we 

reached the heart of our community – almost 

literally - with a smart and potentially 

life-saving oasis in Perth Street. The Rotary 

Club of Blairgowrie donated the defibrillator, 

the Community Council organised the 

makeover of, and children’s artwork for, 

the telephone kiosk, and Pete Richardson 

from First Aid Perthshire will maintain the 

defibrillator itself. The bench was restored by 

Rosemount Joinery and Millers Painters and 

Decorators. A great community effort! 

Wellmeadow has been replanted by Blair in 

Bloom with plants donated by the Rotary 

Club. 

By the time you read this some of our 

members will have completed the 

Wellmeadow Walkathon. 

Despite the pandemic we have been able 

to continue our fundraising events. In June 

we held a successful Charity Golf Day at 

Blairgowrie Golf Club, as well as running a 

Charity Shop in Howes former store. 

Our Drive it Day, scheduled for the 22nd 

August, is fully subscribed and will raise 

money for Alzheimers Scotland and Bowel 

Cancer UK, as well as for our own charities. 

Around 100 classic cars will assemble at 

Blairgowrie Golf club before departing at 

10.00am for a drive through the scenic East 

of Scotland. Because of the changing Covid 

restrictions we are still finalising the details 

Future plans 

We continue to work with other groups in 

the community – we have joined in the Litter 

Picks, and have supported the marvellous 

work done by Proactive Communities with 

the Saturday Lunch Club, as well as BRAN, It’s 

BRAW to talk, the Riverside Venture Group 

and Apples Galore. The corner bed in the 

The Environment is Rotary International’s 

new area of focus, and one which we in 

Blairgowrie are keen to support. Next year 

sees the club’s 75th Anniversary, and we are 

looking at ways of making environmental 

issues an important part of our programme 

of events. 


If you would like to know more about us, or think that you might like to be involved with us, 

or wonder if we could help you, please contact our secretary Deborah Rogers, email 

secretary@blairgowrie.rotary1010.org, or look at our website www.blairgowrie.rotary1010.org 

or our Facebook page. 


Community Council 

(BRCC) 

The Blairgowrie and Rattray Community 

Council sets out to represent the local 

community. It is not political, nor religious, 

and is in place to discuss and present issues 

either directly to PKC or through our 3 

excellent PKC councillors. 

We recently gave our full support to the 

community’s request to commemorate 

the life and work of the Late Sir William 

Macpherson and this was agreed by PKC. 

It has been agreed to finance the Electric 

Xmas Tree for the Wellmeadow and due 

to the perseverance of Robin Duncan in 

approaching local companies some generous 

donations have been made and the deposit 

has been paid. These donors will be thanked 

when the tree is put up. 

The defibrillator in the High Street is now 

operational and great thanks go to Kim Wood 

who organised the primary school children 

to design the flowers now shown on the box. 

Local contractors, Rosemount Joinery, Ericht 

Electrical, Bob Millar Decorator and Pete 

Richardson of First Aid Perthshire have all 

given their services free of charge - thank you 

very much. Donations at the Wishing Well in 

the Wellmeadow all go to the upkeep of the 2 

defibrillators in town. 

The problems of Clunie Loch had been 

highlighted and Carla Sutherland has been 

an active member of the Clunie Loch Steering 

group. The steering group have worked 

closely with PKC and have made a significant 

change to reducing and preventing the 

appalling human behaviour we saw rise 

during lockdown. Carla Sutherland created 

a competition for local schools to undertake 

artwork for bright, educational signs. The 

winning artwork is being replicated and made 

into permanent signage to be displayed 

around the loch. 

Robin Duncan and Bob Brawn walked around 

Glenalmond Road/Hatton Road, Rattray with 

staff from PKC. This was to discuss property 

issues raised by local resident Pete Ritchie. 

We have been promised action - watch this 

space. 

Laird Aggregates are planning to expand 

their operations outside Blairgowrie and the 

Community Council will be monitoring how 

the community is to be protected when and if 

this project proceeds. We are in conversation 

with local residents who have voiced their 

concern over the scale of this development 

and we will support them as much as we can. 

There has been debate as to whether bonfire 

and fireworks night should proceed this 

year, however the Community Council have 

been proactive and supported this annual 

event. After much discussion we will be 

proceeding with the fireworks on Saturday 

6th November, but the venue will now be on 

the river as has been the case on Braemar 

night. 

There is a meeting with PKC roads 

department in late August where we will 

walk around the town and highlight the many 

issues that have troubled the community pre 

and post lockdown. 

Changes are taking place in the Community 

Council. We have seen Phil Seymour resign as 

chair, and Carla Sutherland being appointed 

as interim chair until the next elections take 

place in a few weeks’ time. PKC required 

us to have elections for some new council 

members. We had 10 vacancies and as we 

had 8 new members up for election an actual 

election was not required. 

We would like to thank Phil, Kim Wood and 

Carla Sutherland for their contributions over 

the last year and we welcome the 8 who 

will be joining Robin Duncan, Morag Young, 

Sandy Thomson for a team of ten. The new 

members are David Cuthill, Scott Macgregor, 

Linda Miezite, Colleen Patterson, Gina 

Purrman, Pete Richardson, Bob Stewart. 

The next upcoming meeting is on 9th 

September. At present this will be a Zoom 

meetings and contact should be made to 

sec@brcommunitycouncil.org.uk 

Members of the public are welcome. 

Page 7

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Access Network (BRAN) 

Our volunteer group tend to the town’s 

core footpaths keeping them accessible & 

inviting for locals & visitors to enjoy. Find an 

illustrated leaflet detailing the Path Network 

at https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/15353/ 

Blairgowrie-path-network . 

The fabulous summer weather has brought 

an abundance of growth but our dedicated 

mowers, Ally Donald & Grahame Mustard, 

rose to the challenge & have been in action 

every week along the various trails including 

Ardblair, Bluebell Wood, the Knockie and 

River Ericht paths as well as Kirkland, Cargill’s 

Way, St Fink & Loon Braes. 

In addition, our regular work party sessions 

bring our trusty volunteers together for some 

fun & frivolity whilst tackling overgrowth, 

fallen trees & litter. We have been busy 

enhancing the Knockie woodland path with 

the help of Webster’s mini digger & assisted 

with the upkeep of Hill Kirk graveyard. The 

photograph shows our beaming volunteers 

after a satisfying morning tidying Loon Braes. 

We cover 32 kilometres of paths. The annual 

value of our labour equates to nearly £15,000. 

It’s some feat, only achievable through the 

efforts of our volunteers & the goodwill of 

local businesses & landowners. We are very 

grateful to them all. 

If you can spare a little time why not join 

us and help keep Blairgowrie & Rattray 

beautiful. Simply message us on Facebook or 

email our Chair, Ian Richards at 

ian_richards2007@yahoo.com and we 

will send you work party invites without 

obligation. We’d love to hear from you. 

TAYSIDE WOODLAND 

PARTNERSHIPs 

Into the Woods 

Or what is happening with the new woodland 

group. 

Well, we have applied to become a charity 

with the grand name of “Tayside Woodland 

Partnerships”. 

Our steering group does include members 

from Angus and Dundee as well as Perthshire 

so is truly a Tayside initiative. 

Thanks to Blairgowrie and Rattray 

Development Trust and Blair in Bloom, 

we now have a tree nursery and will have 

transplanted 200+ tiny oak seedlings there 

by the time you read this. Offers have come 

in for all sorts of help such as free tree 

protectors and stakes. So a big thank you to 

all the people who are helping us to get going. 

Although we are small at the moment, we are 

building links with other organisations and 

have heard from some landowners who are 

interested in having trees on our land. 

Our first woodland, on Blackhaugh Farm in 

Spittalfield, will be planted with a variety of 

native trees to coincide with the COP26 event 

happening in Glasgow in the first half of 

November. You may have heard of COP26 – a 

huge global coming together of governments 

to tackle the climate emergency. 

Perhaps we could call the newly planted 

wood Copse 26. 

If you would like to get involved or just 

know more about what we are doing, please 

contact Len Seal on: lenseal210@gmail.com 

Page 9

Blairgowrie & Rattray Development Trust 

BOOKLORE COMMUNITY BOOKSHOP 

13 Upper Mill Street, Blairgowrie 

We in Booklore extend our thanks to all the volunteers who 

staff the shop to ensure it stays open for customers Monday 

to Saturday 10.00am to 4.00pm 

Thanks are also due to all who bring books to us for resale, 

be it a few they’ve finished reading or house clearances. 

We need these donations to keep our volunteer run shop operating. All books are sanitised 

and stored prior to going onto the front shelves. 

In addition to books, we also have a lovely selection of hand crafts all produced by volunteers 

in the shop and we have some very talented individuals. Do pop in regularly to see what’s 

there as it changes seasonally. We have a selection of prints of the Wellmeadow area for sale 

too which make great gifts. 

The shop displays a selection of leaflets on the surrounding area, both for activities 

and general information. We are an IKnow partner so come and ask our volunteers for 

suggestions for things to do and visit locally. 

We look forward to greeting our customers old and new. As people return to venturing out 

into the world you’ll be sure of a welcome from our volunteers. 

I probably say this all the time, but I have no idea where this year has 

disappeared to. By the time the autumn edition of The Hub Magazine 

arrives on your doormat, we will be planning for bulb planting and 

hanging basket take-down! It has been lovely to see the hanging 

baskets this year and the containers looking so good – a real feel of 

normality after such challenging and uncertain times. I hope though 

this is the only year that we see the Christmas lights and the hanging baskets up together! I 

have to give a shout-out to Scott MacGregor (B&R Illuminations) and Samantha Stewart 

(Pro-Comm) for their help in putting up the baskets. It’s not everyone who volunteers to come 

out at 6.30am on a Sunday morning to assist us. 

We took the decision this year not to enter the Beautiful Scotland competition, but we 

are expecting the judges to come for a look around and chat about the projects that have 

happened since their last visit. There is such a huge amount of pressure on judging day, trying 

to get every little detail just right. As a group, we felt we did not need that pressure this year. 

With all the Covid-19 restrictions that have been in place, it has been challenging enough 

trying to keep on top of things. I have to say 

the volunteers have been amazing and I am 

proud beyond measure of all of them. 

Rattray Church Bed 

Replanting of the Rattray Church bed is 

almost complete and looks so much better 

without the huge pampas grass dominating 

it. Edging with mono-block rescued from 

Coronation Corner has still to be done around 

the Church bed, plus the Thistle bed and 

both herbaceous/shrub beds at Ardblair. 

Sustainable planting has been done in both 

the Reform Street stone beds and at the bed 

opposite the bridge, which is sponsored by 

The Rotary Club of Blairgowrie for which we 

are extremely grateful. Hopefully all this new 


planting will survive and thrive to make much more of an impact next year. 

The Mount Ericht Walled Garden continues to be fore-front in our minds. As I write, our 

potato crop is ready to harvest. It has also been possible for the Project Management Team to 

meet face-to-face on site, rather than via Zoom. We continue to look at ways to fund raise for 

this project and to plan its layout. 

If you are interested in volunteering with Blair in Bloom, please get in touch at 

blairinbloom@aol.com 

Of course, none of this could happen without 

core support from BRDT – two members of 

the Board, Len Seal and William Wilson, take 

a very active role providing management 

oversite and more importantly, drawing on 

their wealth of experience to advise and 

guide. 

Martin Mathers has been project manager 

since the start, but he has been joined by 

two team members, Craig Thompson and 

Shannon Chang. 

Craig recently joined The Heat Project as our 

lead energy advisor. He comes from Hillcrest 

Homes, where he has been helping to deliver 

energy advice to social housing tenants for 

the last four years. He comes with a wealth 

THE NEW HEAT PROJECT TEAM ASSEMBLES! 

One of the longest running projects delivered by Blairgowrie 

and Rattray Development Trust is The HEAT Project. Since 

2017, we have continued to provide free independent home 

energy advice to households in and around Blairgowrie and 

Rattray. 

In that time, HEAT has delivered direct energy saving advice to over 500 households in North 

Eastern and Highland Perthshire, helping households, private landlords and tenants to 

achieve significant savings in energy bills, and has helped many households to install new 

insulation and alternative heating systems. 

The HEAT Project is now supported by Ofgem’s Energy Redress fund until 2022. The project 

is also funded by the Safe Deposits Scotland Charitable Trust. Our advice extends to heating 

and hot water advice, supply and tariff switching, condensation and dampness, renewable 

technologies, keeping your home warm in winter and saving you money. 

The HEAT Project Team, left to right, William 

Wilson, Craig Thompson, Shannon Chang, 

Len Seal, Martin Mathers and Lucy (front 

seated) 

of knowledge and experience, and he is already helping people to save energy and money. 

Shannon works one day per week, managing our website and social media – a key tool to 

inform people about how to save energy and money and how to find financial support. 

Finally, HEAT depends upon the “backroom” help provided by BRDT, not least the financial 

support provided by Karen Hicks, the BRDT Finance Officer. 

For more information, please see The HEAT Project website https://www.theheatproject.org/ 

Page 11

Blairgowrie Rattray and District Genealogy Centre 

Brief history of Rattray Parish 

Church–200 years, (1820 – 2020) 

The Genealogy Group was approached 

in 2019 by Mr. Archie Blair, a member of 

Rattray Church’s congregation, to help him 

research the history of the Church as part 

of the celebrations of its 200th Anniversary. 

It appears from records that there have been 

ecclesiastical buildings on the site of the 

present church and graveyard for at least 

1,000 years. By 1819 the second church was 

declared ‘beyond repair’ and it was decided 

to build a new church. An advertisement 

inviting estimates for building a new church 

was placed in the Perth Courier dated 30th 

March 1820. An architect, William Stirling 

of Dunblane, was appointed. Stones for the 

building came from the quarry on Parkhill 

Estate, timber from Perth, and the slates 

from Clunie. The old church was demolished 

and the stones used to build the walls around 

the new graveyard. 

The church has a distinctive square tower of 

Italianate design, and a clock. Above the clock 

is a bell that is 19 inches in diameter. The 

bell is apparently French and 18th century in 

date, and may originate from a French man 

of war. The clock was made by Benjamín Parr 

of Grantham in 1814. 

The present church was opened and 

dedicated in August 1821. The Rev. William 

Herdman was the Minister (1813 – 1838) 

when the decision was taken to build a new 

church. His two sons were also called to be 

Ministers at Rattray for a total of 50 years 

from 1844 to 1894. A plaque commemorating 

all three can be found inside the church and 

their graves can be found in the churchyard. 

Rev. W. Herdman was the first occupant of 

Rattray East Manse, which was built in 1815. 

In 1880 the Elder’s Box was removed from 

below the pulpit to accommodate the organ 

and the choir. 

The two beautiful stained-glass windows, 

were gifted by Mrs Alexander Stewart 

of Edinburgh in 1912, in memory of her 

husband and his brother both born in the 

History 

Parish. They were 

Alexander Stewart, 

an accountant, who 

died in Edinburgh in 

1896 and his brother 

John Stewart, a 

shoemaker, who died 

tragically following 

a gun accident in 1852. The windows were 

installed during the ministry of the Rev. John 

Hunter (1894 to 1915). In 1913 Rev. Hunter 

completed a survey of all the memorial 

inscriptions in the Churchyard. In January 

1916, a memorial tablet also gifted by Mrs 

Stewart of Edinburgh, was unveiled In the 

Church, to the memory of the late Rev. John 

Hunter. 

For the celebration of the 100th Anniversary 

on 10th October 1920, the service was 

conducted by Rev. Wyllie Smith of Bendochy 

and after the service the War Memorial on 

the west wall by the front door was unveiled 

by Mrs. Clerk-Rattray. There are three WWl 

war graves and three WWll war graves in the 

churchyard. 

In May 1924 the Church tower was struck by 

lightning and caught fire, and a mark where 

the lightning struck can still be seen on the 

clock face at the number Vlll. 

For the 150th Anniversary a programme of 

re-decoration and renovation was set in 

motion and a Service of Rededication was 

held. The cost of repairs was £1500.00 exactly 

the same amount paid for the original 

construction of the church. 

Sadly, due to Covid 19 restrictions, the Church 

has been unable to celebrate its 200th 

Anniversary. 

ALWAYS WANTED TO FIND OUT MORE 

ABOUT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY? 

The Genealogy Centre Volunteers can help. 

CONTACT US - 

blairgowriegenealogy@hotmail.co.uk 

Or find us on Facebook 


THE HILL KIRK GRAVEYARD 

Kirk Wynd, Blairgowrie 

“It looks just a wee bit better now”, said a 

smiling visitor, who wanted a wander around 

the Graveyard. “I last came here four years ago, 

but couldn’t get around much. But now... it’s 

lovely.” 

You will see from the photos of BEFORE and 

AFTER, that the grounds are in a bit better 

shape now than before. Apologies, we did ask 

a few fawns if they would do a curtesy for me 

in the recent photo, but to no avail! 

Maintenance of the graveyard is difficult 

as there are only volunteers, giving up 

their free time to do their best to keep the 

Graveyard looking respectable and respective 

of the people who “reside” there. The local 

neighbours do the best they can but need 

the ongoing assistance from BRAN, the 

local volunteer path maintenance group. 

Individuals from within BRAN, who give their 

time separately, also help keep the Graveyard 

under control. 

Recently, one of the neighbours erected 

a squirrel feeding box, which has proved 

attractive to our rare red friends. 

Those of you who read these articles, will 

be aware that the lower section of the 

Graveyard is kept rather uncontrolled, as it 

is the feeding ground of some rare bats. To 

note that and give some information about 

it, Jean Oudney, our local Bat Ecologist, had 

some help to erect an excellent sign at the 

start of the lower section giving details of the 

ecology there. 

As this is written, it is mid July, lovely weather 

…..but grass still keeps growing ……..One day 

the grounds are immaculate, a week later it 

seems, and plans are afoot for yet another 

mow….it feels non stop at times. However, 

in the late evening summer sun, the 

glorious steeple of the Kirk is a lovely sight 

surrounded by the grounds below. 

CONSTABULARY DUTY TO BE DONE 

By Alisdair Drummond, Retired Chief Inspector, Tayside Police and Perth & Kinross Constabulary 

Continuing on my theme of Road Safety in the last Hub Magazine, the following Chief 

Constable’s General Order to the Force in the late 19th century caught my eye. 

‘Serious complaints are being made as to the glaring manner in which Cyclists are defying the Law 

on the Perthshire Highways, particularly riding on sidewalks; failing to keep to the proper side of 

road; failing to exhibit a light one hour after sunset; failing to sound a whistle or bell when meeting 

or overtaking any person or machine. The attention of the Police is therefore drawn to the matter 

and it will be their duty to keep special lookout on highways and report for prosecution all Cyclists 

found in the act of infringing the Law.’ 

Continued on next page 

Page 13

However, this ‘menace’ was to fade into insignificance with the advent of the motor cars, 

reportedly “scorching” through the County in excess of twelve miles per hour in contravention 

of the Light Locomotives on Highways (Scotland) Regulations. Timing of the speed of motor 

cars became the ‘in thing’, with milestones as distance markers, an ordinary pocket watch as 

the timer and a policeman on a pedal cycle in hot pursuit to enforce the law. 

Primitive indeed, but I when I began my police career in the early sixties I have vivid 

recollections of participating in speed traps using a system that didn’t seem much more 

advanced. The method was one police constable in a car with a calibrated stopwatch, another 

with an identical stopwatch a measured quarter of a mile ahead, and a third a few hundred 

yards further on acting as ‘the stopper’. A calculation of time against distance revealed the 

speed of the offending vehicle and appropriate action was taken against the driver. 

All quite time consuming and labour intensive compared to the later technological and much 

more accurate methods of fixed speed cameras and hand-held machines (nicknamed the hair 

driers) which had a much more dramatic effect slowing down speeding traffic. 

Blairgowrie & 

Rattray 

WOW 

Our Heritage Blairgowrie and Rattray’s website was launched on 

Friday June 25th with the exciting new Timeline which shows the 

history of the area from 500 million years BC to the present day. 

Initially, ten categories were chosen by the group to populate the 

timeline. These include: Cleaven Dyke, Inchtuthil, Donald Cargill, The 

Beech Hedge at Meikleour and the Strathmore Meteorite. Other 

articles and the expansion of existing ones are planned for this 

frequently updated timeline. Lots of information, researched by a 

dedicated and hardworking team and including original photographs 

and video clips, can be found on this website. New categories to be 

added soon include ‘The Berries’ and ‘The Mills’. 

There is an opportunity on the website to leave feedback, which we hope that locals and 

visitors alike will do in order to enable the information contained within the Timeline to be as 

accurate and comprehensive as possible. 

The group are still hoping to hold a pop-up event in Blairgowrie Library in the Autumn/ 

November but, obviously, the situation surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic will dictate 

this happening. 

As always Our Heritage Blairgowrie and Rattray has the ultimate goal of the exhibition of the 

heritage of our town to be housed in a permanent building for all to visit, peruse and enjoy. 

Please visit our website and find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Details below. 

Our Heritage Blairgowrie and Rattray 

@ourheritageblairgowrieandrattray 

Find out 

more... 

ourheritageblairgowrie 

wow@ourheritageblairrattray.scot 

www.ourheritageblairrattray.scot 


News & Articles 

Culture Perth and Kinross 

Museums & Galleries 

To complement the ‘All Aboard! The Railways 

of Perth & Kinross’ exhibition at Perth 

Museum & Art Gallery this summer, Alyth 

Museum will be looking at the role of railways 

in Strathmore, from Stanley Junction to 

Craigo. 

The Strathmore Line was an important 

‘lost line’. It was the Caledonian Railway 

Company’s mainline south linking 

Carlisle, Stirling, Perth and Aberdeen. In 

addition, several branch lines served local 

communities, including Alyth and Coupar 

Angus. In the early 1960s, some of the fastest 

steam trains on the Glasgow to Aberdeen 

service travelled along the Strathmore line. 

Railways of Perth & Kinross – The Strathmore 

Line is on at Alyth Museum until 26th 

September 2021. The museum is open 12 – 

4pm every Friday, and 10am – 12.30pm and 

1 – 4pm every Saturday and Sunday. 

Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries 

Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries have 

gradually returned the popular Bookbug 

sessions in a physical format at six libraries 

across the region. Mums, dads, grandparents, 

or carers can now enjoy rhyme, story, and 

song sessions with their child at the AK Bell 

Library, Blairgowrie Library, Breadalbane 

Community Library, Loch Leven Community 

Library, Scone Library and Strathearn 

Community Library. 

Details of the sessions can be found here: 

https://bit.ly/cpkwhatsonlib 

Recording the Pandemic – Perth 

and Kinross Covid-19 Collecting 

Project 

The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the most 

significant historical events of recent times. 

For the last eighteen months, the pandemic 

has impacted almost every aspect of our 

lives. It has been a time of enormous change 

for us all, full of new challenges, different 

ways of living, working and keeping in touch 

with friends and families - with many ups and 

downs along the way. 

In May 2020, Culture Perth and Kinross 

launched a collecting project to record 

the impact of the pandemic in Perth & 

Kinross so that future generations can 

Blairgowrie Station in 1929 

learn about our experiences. Staff across 

the organisation have created a ‘Covid-19 

Collection’ containing photos, objects, 

diaries, newsletters, leaflets, poems, and 

other records. The Collection will show 

how people and communities have been 

affected and how they have supported each 

other. The Collection will be preserved and 

made available to researchers in the Perth 

& Kinross Archive and Perth Museum & Art 

Gallery. 

Culture Perth and Kinross would like to 

ensure that the Collection represents 

communities across the region and invite 

you to contribute. If you have documented 

the year through photographs, diaries, or 

other ways, please consider depositing them 

in the Collection. And if you or your local 

community have done something amazing, 

please let us know – we would love to include 

this too! You can get in touch by emailing 

covid19collecting@culturepk.org.uk or 

telephoning 01738 444 949. 

Further information is also available on 

our website https://www.culturepk.org.uk/ 

covidcollecting 

We also have an online survey where you can 

share your experiences and views about the 

pandemic. Over 500 people have completed 

the survey so far, and all responses will be 

added to the Collection. You will find it here 

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CPK- 

COVID-19 and can complete it anonymously 

or include your name. 

Page 15

W IRE 

PET FOOD & HEALTH 

PRODUCTS 

Welton Road Blairgowrie PH10 6NB 

( Just after Tesco’s Fuel Station ) 

WORK BOOTS & 

CLOTHING 

Garden Wire 

Netting 10m rolls 

£15.00 

HORSE FEED 

POULTRY FEED 

Bucktons 

Superior Fat Balls 

Box of 160 

£16.99 

PET BEDS & VETBED 

FENCING PRODUCTS 

HANDTOOLS 

WILD BIRD FEED 

GARDELLY FLOWER BULBS 

NOW IN STOCK 

3 MIXED PACKS FOR £10 

NOW STOCKING 

JR NATURAL DOG 

TREATS 


Page 17

In my view . . . 

As I write this article towards the end of 

July, sadly things do not look as optimistic as 

regards the pandemic as they were when I 

last wrote this column. For a time, it looked 

as if about now all the restrictions that the 

people in England had to endure would be 

lifted and that the same would be true for 

Scotland a few weeks later. However, as I 

write this, sadly the number of people who 

have Covid has grown and with it the number 

of hospitalisations. However, thankfully, 

the number of deaths is a small percentage 

of what it was earlier in the year due to 

the roll out of the vaccines. There is a lot of 

discussion in the media as to what is the best 

way forward, with some scientists predicting 

that if we are not careful then the admissions 

to hospital might end up in the thousands in 

the future. 

The UK Government want to make people 

more accountable for the decisions that 

they make, rather than using the law to 

punish those who are being irresponsible. 

But are they right or wrong in this? One thing 

that we can be sure of is that we are living 

in an age of unpredictability. Before the 

pandemic, most people thought that their 

lives were going to carry on as normal. That 

life expectancy was going to rise and if they 

looked after themselves and their health, 

then they would live to a ripe old age where 

they could enjoy a long retirement. 


However, with the pandemic all that changed. 

There was a possibility that anyone could 

catch Covid and even if someone were to 

overcome that, they could end up with long 

Covid. Then there was the insecurity with 

some jobs, where previously people doing 

them had thought they would have those jobs 

until they chose to retire. Businesses which 

had looked secure were no longer that way. 

People whom we thought we would see and 

interact with for many years into the future 

we no longer had that certainty about. And 

as a result, people began to question what 

were the really important things in their lives. 

People also began to appreciate so many 

things that they used to take for granted. 

There were some who thought – perhaps 

for the first time – what was life really all 

about? The result of that was that many 

people began to value their family members 

and friends even more than they had done 

previously. Realising that a life without strong 

meaningful relationships was perhaps a life 

half lived. Perhaps at the same time they 

became less judgemental towards others and 

more appreciative of what every relationship 

had to offer. Perhaps many of them seriously 

considered what they wanted to have 

achieved when they looked back over their 

lives. Above all, perhaps many people realised 

that time was a precious commodity and that 

they should ensure that they did not waste a 

minute of it. 

Ian K 

But not all humans. 

Don’t lose what you love 

to climate chaos! 

“It is human activity which is 

destroying the biodiversity of 

our planet and it is human 

activity which is causing 

runaway climate change. 

In fact, it doesn’t take long to realise that 

it’s a minority of us humans who have been 

responsible for the vast majority of carbon 

emissions. 

Those of us living in industrial parts of the 

world have burned the coal, driven the cars, 

travelled on the planes and consumed the goods 

which have released the emissions to such very 

dangerous levels. 

All the while, others in the global South have 

seen none of the benefits but are living with the 

consequences every day. 

Bangladesh’s carbon emissions amount to 0.5 

tonnes per person per year, compared to 5.7 

tonnes for each of us in the UK.” 

*Traidcraft Exchange. 

The climate emergency is here + now in the 

global North 

Many of our local groups are taking action, 

especially on biodiversity, but it needs all 

of us to use fewer resources and “stuff” 

as we don’t have time to waste! We can 

also demand that global businesses and 

governments are held accountable for their 

severe impact on the earth. 

Check your own carbon footprint 

https://footprint.wwf.org.uk 

Or look at 

http://wwf.org.uk/carbon-report-2020 

www.climatecafeblair.org.uk 

info@climatecafeblair.org.uk 

Thank you from Blairgowrie, Rattray and 

District Climate Café! 


As well as the exhibition, there will be four 

workshops run by artists and a competition 

with a £100 voucher for artists’ materials up 

for grabs. The competition is open to anyone 

in the area and there is also a children’s prize 

of a £25 voucher for under 16s. 

Other events lined-up for It’s BRAW! include a 

number of taster sessions run by the team at 

Nest Creative Spaces. 

Amongst the creative skills you can try out 

are rag-rug making, needle felting, French 

knitting, bead loom weaving and decoupage. 

IT’S GOING TO BE BRAW! 

All set for week-long showcase of the arts in 

Blairgowrie and Rattray 

There are also two outdoor sessions which 

involve a gentle walk along the river before 

returning to Nest to create a piece of art in 

whatever medium you are inspired to do so. 

Musicians in the area are hosting a number 

of sessions over the course of the It’s BRAW! 

showcase week. 

The fourth It’s BRAW! festival takes place 

from Saturday, August 21, to Sunday, August 

29, and features arts and crafts workshops 

and a variety of entertainment and concerts. 

Blairgowrie and Rattray Arts for Wellbeing 

(BRAW) week evolved from the Rattray Arts 

Festival, which this year will be held on 

Saturday, August 28, and Sunday, August 29, 

in Rattray Church Hall as part of the wider 

event. 

Rattray Arts Festival celebrates the talent 

and skills of local creative artists with an 

exhibition of original paintings and selected 

designs by local sculptors, jewellers, 

silversmiths, stained glass artists, potters and 

a weaver. 

It also raises thousands of pounds for charity 

with 20 per cent of all sales over the weekend 

kindly donated by the artists. This year the 

chosen charitable beneficiary is Scotland’s 

Charity Air Ambulance. 

The guest artist this year is John Stoa and 

other featured artists include Kristine 

Blackbourn, Liz Dulley, Stuart Eno, Lesley 

Garside, Tina Gliddon, Kay Gwynne, Lindsey 

Harrow, Michelle Hewitt, Hsiaoling “Sara” 

Houston, Lorraine Irvine, Astrid Leeson, David 

Mackenzie, Wendy Mackey, Dougie Mackie, 

Mark McCallum, Janet McCrorie, Greg McNee, 

David Merrie, Sabrin Miller, Jonathan Mitchell, 

Susan Moslin, Catherine Mylles, Marion 

Paterson, Rosemary Patterson, Anick Pitcher, 

Ricky Pitcher, Ashleigh Slater, Trevor Taylor, 

Graham Wands and Jenny Whyte. 

Bob Stewart and Sol Christie will be 

performing an evening of country classics 

on Saturday, August 21, and Bob will also 

be performing traditional Scottish songs on 

Thursday, August 26. 

Rebecca Stewart will perform an evening 

of Gaelic songs on Tuesday, August 24, and 

there will be two free, open music sessions 

on Sunday, August 22, and Sunday, August 

29, which everyone is invited to come along 

to and join in with. 

All the music events will be streamed 

online as well as taking place in person as 

organisers use technology to ensure that 

the event is accessible to as many people as 

possible. 

And the Blairgowrie Players will be hosting 

one of their popular murder mystery 

sessions, ‘Death by Radio’. 

For more information or to purchase tickets 

see the festival’s revamped website 

www.itsbraw.scot 

Page 19

Hill Kirk: Blairgowrie’s 

“batty” graveyard 

If you go up to the graveyard today you are in 

for a big surprise … no bears await you but in 

the Hill Kirk lower graveyard a fabulous new 

sign has been erected. This is its story…. 

The lower Hill Kirk graveyard situated on a 

steep slope above the River Ericht 

Pic: J. Oudney 

In 2018 I decided to do my honours research 

project on bat activity in Tayside graveyards. 

This project provided an opportunity to 

survey some of the graveyards to find out 

what bat species were using the graveyards. 

Graveyards are often places free from the 

damaging effects of fertilisers and pesticides 

and contain undisturbed (apart from any 

new occupants being interred of course!) 

permanent grassland and large mature 

trees with holes which provide roosting 

areas for bats, birds and insects. They are 

also important for humans, providing a 

quiet, tranquil place to sit or walk and (often 

because of the large mature tree cover) an 

essential dark place for nocturnal wildlife 

away from the damaging artificial lights. 

There were many interesting findings from 

the project, but one that was most exciting 

was recording calls of all five species of bat 

found in Tayside in the lower graveyard of the 

Hill Kirk. At dusk, the pipistrelles congregate 

above the lower graveyard and they can be 

seen dancing in the sky, chasing their tiny 

insect prey. Standing there watching them 

outlined against the sky is very peaceful 

but it is only with the help of specialised 

equipment, a bat detector which converts the 

ultrasonic echolocation calls to a level that a 

human can hear, you get the full picture of 

the activity and noise that we are normally 

oblivious to. 

Later, an experienced ear might detect 

a different call, much quieter and softer 

than the deafening pipistrelles. This is the 

Brian Campbell, Alan Slade and Jean 

Oudney installing the sign. Pic: J. 

Oudney taken by D. Balloch 

Whispering bat which is more correctly called 

the brown long eared bat: a moth specialist 

which flies low to the ground seeking out 

the moths from the bushes and grass or 

inside the tree canopy. These are beautiful 

gentle bats with huge ears which they use 

to listen to the rustle of a moth’s wings, or 

its footsteps on a leaf. The dark area of the 

Hill Kirk, sheltered from the omnipresent 

streetlights by the surrounding mature trees 

and the slope of the hill, provides a dark 

sanctuary for these slow-flying bats who are 

vulnerable to predators that hunt them in the 

streetlights. 

An experienced bat enthusiast may also be 

lucky enough to hear the rarest of our local 

bats, the Natterer’s bat, a bat similar to the 

brown long eared bats but with shorter ears. 

Natterer’s bats feed on many different insects 

and spiders, using a very long echolocation 

call - the longest frequency of any British bat 

- that gives a very detailed “sound picture” 

of the bush or tree that enables them to 

pick out an insect hiding in the foliage. Then 

the bat uses its tail membrane to bash the 

foliage, catapulting the insect into the air 

for the bat to catch. The final bat found here 

is a Daubenton’s bat, more usually found 

hunting low over the river for aquatic insects 

but which will also hunt through the nearby 

woodland. 

Tayside Bat Group have paid for an 

information sign to explain why the 

graveyard has been kept “wild” with minimal 

maintenance and describes some of the 

wildlife found there. We hope that this sign 

will help locals and visitors appreciate the 

wildness of the graveyard that allows the 

human residences to share their final resting 

place with their local wildlife, keeping the 

circle of life alive in our oldest graveyard in 

Blairgowrie. 


Game Square is a non-profit 

multi-generational gaming group based in 

Alyth which encompasses all types of gaming. 

We cover everything from board games, card 

games and video games to role play games 

and wargames. The club is open for everyone 

ages 13+ and to all ability levels. We also 

welcome under 13’s but ask that they are 

accompanied by an adult. 

Game Square was founded by 3 friends who 

all have shared interests in gaming. The idea 

was spurred on by the lack of other groups 

locally providing anything like this. With initial 

funding from the Alyth Development Trust, 

the club got underway and since our opening 

event, an all age friendly scavenger hunt, 

we have provided games each week either 

outdoors at the Market Square or available 

online through our Discord online platform. 

We currently have a solid regular group of 

attendees with plenty of room to grow! 

While we are still in the grips of restrictions, 

the club is adapting to run outdoors. When 

we are allowed to meet inside again, we will 

have better capacity for even more games. 

Games Square is a group for everyone and 

accessibility is one of our principal interests. 

Folks have had a rough time over the last 18 

months and we aim to provide a place for 

GAME SQUARE 

people to relax and socialise again as we try 

to adjust. 

Currently we run a board & card games 

group, a regular Dungeons and Dragons game 

and, even occasionally, video games at our 

outdoor events. Online we host a Minecraft 

Realm which is available to our members 24/7 

who have a copy of the game themselves. 

When we are indoors, we will have more 

space for folks to run games of their own as 

well as having more directed events. Even if 

you have never been into games before we 

would encourage you to come along and try 

something. Whether it’s poker, chess or call 

of Cthulhu, there is a game for everyone! 

If gaming in any capacity is of interest to 

you, or you want to come along to socialise, 

then we’d love to have you join us! We have a 

Facebook page & group which you can find by 

searching GameSquare on Facebook and you 

can e-mail us on 

GameSquareTeam@Gmail.com 

Game Square would like to give special 

thanks to Café in the Square, Alyth 

Development Trust, The Arnold Clark 

community fund, and to our members. 

We look forward to meeting you and playing 

games together! 

Page 21

A Hokey Cokey Year 

For the next few articles we will give more 

details about what we do and introduce 

our trustees. First up is Tracie Dick, Nest’s 

Facilities Coordinator and Business Manager 

who has experienced a business baptism of 

fire over the last four years. 

“I can’t believe it’s been that long, Nest’s been 

my first major venture into being self employed 

and running a business. It’s my chance to 

explore and develop my ideas about my craft 

and sustainable practice. 

After a delayed move to new premises last 

June and reopening in July, we were in, then 

out, then in again and have moved around 

most of the furniture at least twice! Now 

located at Blairgowrie’s heart, more visible 

to our community and visitors travelling 

through and staying locally, we have started 

looking for different ways of providing creative 

opportunities. Our research into online 

workshops led to a new service providing online 

activities. I have found crafting with groups 

online quite challenging, at home by yourself 

rather than round a table with each other but 

we’re doing our best to keep them socially 

engaging. The pandemic opened people’s eyes to 

the importance of being with others, especially 

sharing conversations about why/how we make 

beautiful and useful objects. 

I continue to look at how we can keep growing, 

working collaboratively with local groups 

and businesses and sharing ideas for the 

community. Going forward we’re looking at 

promoting the reuse of materials creatively 

during workshops, and making our own craft 

kits and expanding the creative services we 

offer. At the end of the day we are a business 

and an income is essential to survive, but also 

to fund the activities and services we provide 

and the benefits this brings. I work hard keeping 

in touch with other community organisations 

and projects in Perthshire and providing 

opportunities for them to use the many skills we 

can access here at Nest. 

Autumn will see us continue supporting It’s 

Braw, BaRI food initiative, the Climate Café, 

Perth and Kinross Council creative activities as 

well as taking part in Perthshire Open Studios. 

Away from Nest I am a carer, a crafter and 

self confessed Crochet Geek. After crocheting 

all sorts over the last 11 years I now focus on 

Thistles made with Shetland wool, Highland 

Coos and cactus, that I sell in the Nest shop. I 

lost my crochet mojo over lockdown, making a 

couple of things for myself that I rarely get time 

for but it is on its way back. 

I am excited to see what we can achieve at 

Nest in our new premises, developing new 

collaborative relationships with local businesses 

and organisations and offering new services and 

activities for all to enjoy. 

My pipe dream? If finance was no object I 

would buy a large building, and create a larger 

creative space for makers, indoor market and 

just an exciting and vibrant place to be .” 

Visit our website for our upcoming activities 

nestcreativespaces.co.uk 


GRANNY PAT’S 

AUTUMN RECIPES 

The apple season will be upon us soon. Here 

is a way to use them. 

APPLE SCONES 

You will need: 

225g self raising flour 

50g caster sugar 

1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon 

Pinch of salt 

50g butter 

1 eating apple, chopped finely 

Milk to mix 

Rub the butter into the flour and salt quickly and then add the apple and cinnamon. Mix 

together then add milk until you have a soft dough. Roll out to approximately 2cms thick 

and then cut into scones with a small round cutter. Place on a baking sheet and cook at 240 

degrees C or fan 210 degrees C for around 10 minutes until well risen and brown. Best eaten 

on the day they are baked. Obviously, you can double, triple or whatever the recipe and 

freeze for up to 3 months. 

I recently unearthed the recipe below. It was from my mother-in-law circa 1969! 

GINGER BEER 

You will need: 

For the starter.........15g dried yeast 

600ml warm water 

1 rounded teaspoon of dried ginger 

1 rounded teaspoon caster sugar 

Dissolve the sugar in 1/3 of the water. Whisk in the yeast and leave in a warm place for 10-15 

minutes, then add the rest of the water and the ginger. Put the mixture into a jar (a Kilner or 

large jam jar) and cover loosely. Put somewhere not too cool (but not the fridge!). Each day 

for a week add 1 rounded teaspoon ground ginger and 1 rounded teaspoon of caster sugar, 

stir and re-cover. Then, in a large jug or bowl, dissolve 350g of granulated sugar in 600ml of 

boiling water, add the juice of 1 lemon then stir in 1.5 litres of cold water and the liquid from 

the top of the starter. Bottle and cork loosely. This ginger beer should keep for 3 weeks. The 

remains in the jar are what we called a Ginger Beer Plant and by repeating the weekly process 

of adding the ginger and sugar daily you can have over 2 litres of ginger beer every week. To 

me the 350g sugar in the final product seems a lot, maybe experiment with using less….be 

aware though that the natural fermentation may cause the corks to pop, hence do not cork 

too tightly. It is very delicious though. 

HAPPY AUTUMN COOKING! 

Page 23

BLAIRGOWRIE LYRIC CHOIR 

It’s that time again, when BLAIRGOWRIE LYRIC CHOIR is pleased to use the pages of the 

splendid HUB magazine to announce ….. precious little! 

Three months on from the last edition, and we are still unsure how The Crummy Covid is 

going to finally release us from its persistent shackles. In the good old PC* days, the purpose 

of these HUB articles was to provide information - for existing choir members, for potential 

members, for supporters, and just for the general interest of the wider readership. However, 

as things stand, information - certainly, reliable information - is in seriously short supply. 

Understandably, HUB articles must be submitted to a publishing timescale, in this case one 

that requires them to be written before the end of July. Unfortunately, the next Scottish 

Government announcement is not until 9th August so, for “information”, read speculation. In 

terms of hard information, we can say with some certainty - 

Re-start date: unknown 

Re-start venue: unknown 

Next concert: unknown 

Music for re-start: unknown 

All in all, not very helpful! 

BUT - let us not be unduly despondent. The one certainty is that we WILL re-start, something 

that will happen just as soon as we are once again able to sing indoors without having to wear 

masks. Hopefully, clarity in that regard might be given on 9th August - indeed, maybe you, 

dear reader, are nodding your head knowingly even as you read this? - but nothing is certain. 

Sadly, one must conclude that our leaders are not enthusiastic choristers, or they might have 

shown greater appreciation of the pleasures and health benefits that are to be gained from 

choral singing. (Cue rant about the relative dangers of massed ranks of singing (?) sports fans 

versus small groups of (mostly) double jabbed choristers? Perhaps a rant better left unsaid!) 

As noted, our re-start date is Ms 

Sturgeon-dependent. Our re-start venue is 

dependent on whether Rattray Hall, where 

we have rehearsed for some years now, 

remains available. Our next concert is 

dependent on when we finally do re-start 

and on what size and density of audience 

we might be allowed to entertain. And 

our selection of music is dependent on 

whether our concert is for Christmas 

(looking increasingly unlikely) or next year. 

And, realistically, on how rusty we all are. 

So, one and all, and especially choristers, 

please keep your eyes open for future 

announcements - specifically our restart 

date and time, and the venue for 

rehearsals. Meanwhile, in keeping with 

the spirit of optimism that we have battled 

to maintain through the whole Crummy 

Covid experience, why not rouse the 

old tonsils, have a quick gargle (strictly 

non-alcoholic!), and try warbling up and 

down a few scales before we meet. Or has 

isolation finally skewed my senses? 

* Pre-Covid - in the event that anyone should 

be unsure 

CRIGHTONS 

CYCLES 

New & Used Cycle Sales 

including E-Bikes 

Repairs & Servicing 

of all types of bikes 

Parts & Accessories 

Extensive range of 

bikes for all the family 

87 PERTH STREET, 

BLAIRGOWRIE PH10 6DT 

Tel. 01250 874447 



Women’s Walk & Talk 

We are a relatively, new group which 

emerged as a result of several women 

requesting a group similar to Mantalk. 

At the moment, we meet up at the Riverside 

Car Park at 6.30 on Thursday evenings. We 

have a small, regular group but have had 

quite a few women that have dipped in 

and out of the group. There is no obligation 

to commit every week. You will be very 

welcome. 

We all go through good and bad times 

in our lives. Whether it’s a bereavement, 

a worry, health issues, bullying, missing 

family or whatever crops up, sharing it can 

help. It can be difficult to speak openly to 

family and friends as often we feel we don’t 

want to burden them with our problems. 

Sharing with someone in a similar situation 

or with a stranger, can often be easier. 

Some of us are good listeners, others can 

offer experience and practical advice. Our 

walk is usually along the riverside, enjoying 

the scenery and usually up the hill and 

round into the town but it depends on how 

we feel as a group. 

Please do not feel that your issue is 

too small, some of us just need time to 

ourselves or some company for a walk and 

a few laughs. You will be very welcome and 

it’s your call if you want to share an issue, 

nobody is pressured, for some, a private 

conversation or phone call might suit but 

be assured we will do our best to support 

each other. 

Janine 

07483 220567 

We decided to start the Mantalk group in 

the hope that we can offer some support 

to men who may be struggling. This can be 

anything from having a bad day through 

to being suicidal. Unfortunately, our local 

area has been hit with the devastation of 

men not able to get help. Sean, Brendan, 

John, John and I hope that we can offer 

something. We believe that some of the life 

experiences we have had can hopefully help 

some men. If we can help anyone then it’s a 

success. 

Everyone takes different paths at different 

stages of their life. 

At our group we realise every single person 

is at a different stage. However everyone 

is treated with the same respect no matter 

what. Wherever you are just now we aim to 

offer a place where men can go and let off 

some steam, laugh, cry, talk, listen or just 

come for the coffee and cake! 

We meet on Tuesday nights at 6.30 pm at 

the Wellmeadow Boxing club, The Haugh, 

Ashgrove Rd, Blairgowrie, PH10 7ER. 

If you think you could benefit from coming 

along then please do or if you know 

someone who may, then point them in our 

direction. 

Or if any men are out there just looking 

to get out the house and meet with some 

guys for a good bit of crack then join us. As 

we’ve always said the group’s not just about 

dealing with issues, we want men to be 

able to sit and be comfortable talking with 

other men about anything. This may start 

by talking about football, what was on the 

TV, Covid, or anything else or there maybe 

life shares. There are no plans and we take 

Continued on next page 

Page 25

each group as it comes, some guys sit and 

don’t say much, some speak a lot, there are 

no rules. Do it your way. 

If you’re sitting on the fence and thinking, 

should I go or should I not, then take that 

step forward and pop down. If it’s not for you 

then that’s fine but you’ll have been to see 

what it’s all about at least. 

Terry 

mantalk2021@gmail.com 

SUMMER ACTIVITIES PROGRAMME 

AND WELLMEADOW WALKATHON 

ARE A HUGE SUCCESS 

The Wellmeadow Walkathon 

fundraiser and the summer 

activities programme in Blairgowrie 

and Rattray run by Proactive 

Communities with support from 

Perth and Kinross Council, have 

both been hailed as a huge success. 

Over the school summer holiday 

period, families in Blairgowrie and 

Rattray had the opportunity to enjoy 

an exciting line-up of free weekly 

activities as well as a free packed 

lunch or picnic with every event. 

One of the most popular sessions 

was a chance to meet the some of 

the huskies from Bowland Trails with 

championship dog-sledders Mary and 

John Carter. 

There were also fun sports activity 

sessions run in conjunction with 

Active Schools coordinator Caroline 

Lawrie, try tennis sessions with 

Rattray Tennis Club, crafting sessions 

with volunteers from the Nest Creative Spaces team and a guided walk up Knockie with 

volunteers from Blairgowrie and District Hillwalking Club. Families were also able to help 

create two new bird box trails in the town at Lochy Park and Davie Park. 

The summer activities programme was part of Proactive Communities’ Blairgowrie and 

Rattray Independent (BaRI) Food Project which aims to tackle food poverty, food waste and 

food education in the town. 

The BaRI Food Project, working with Perth and Kinross Council and Tesco and the 

Co-operative’s Fareshare scheme, offers a range of different subsidised services available to 

everyone in the town including the weekly Saturday Lunch Club – which has now delivered 

an incredible 5000 lunches - prepared meals, ‘give and take’ community larders and a twiceweekly 

subsidised food store. 

It also provided hundreds of food parcels to 

local residents throughout the two lockdowns 

and in the run-up to Christmas last year, 

as well as ‘lockdown lunches’ to families of 

school-aged children. 

Proactive Communities is also behind the 

Volunteer Support Group which works with 

141 groups, clubs and organisations in the 

town to help them support their volunteers 

and members. The Volunteer Support Group 

offers practical advice and help in a range of 

ways, including facilitating online meetings 

for committees and supporting their social 


media presence and other communications 

with members. 

In recent weeks, Sam Stewart from the 

volunteer support group has been working 

with the Hart family on the Wellmeadow 

Walkathon, a 24-hour community event. 

Susan Hart is walking or cycling 5km every 

day for six months from June 2 to December 

2 in memory of her son Jordan, who died 

by suicide in November last year just days 

before his 17th birthday. 

Along with her husband Gavin and daughter 

Bethany, the family is hoping to raise funds 

for a series of benches in the town. 

The benches will be ‘happy to chat – happy 

to listen’ benches, providing a space where 

people can come together and talk, helping to 

reduce social isolation. 

The Wellmeadow Walkathon supported 

Susan, Gavin and Bethany in Jordan’s 

Challenge by raising funds as well as 

awareness of the stigma that often still 

surrounds mental health. 

Nearly 200 people from 50 local community 

groups, organisations and businesses took 

part in the Walkathon, raising an incredible 

£8000. The Hart family thank everyone who 

took part or supported the event in any way. 

For more information on the BaRI Food 

Project, the services it offers, and the 

Volunteer Support Group, see the website 

www.discoverblairgowrie.co.uk or email 

admin@discoverblairgowrie.co.uk 

We are preparing for opening our Shed, 

next to the Lime Tree restaurant in Coupar 

Angus square, as soon as possible. To this 

end we are creating our new workshop in 

the previous sitting area giving us a better 

layout for individual or group projects. The 

new sitting room has been decorated, carpeted and greatly enhanced by the 6 x 1 metre 

rural mural created freelance by one of our talented men - fortunately being talented is not a 

requirement for Shed membership! 

Covid restrictions have not prevented us getting together but have helped us be innovative 

using a new gazebo, hot plates etc. together with the benefit of the local Davie and Larghan 

parks. Having our own food freshly prepared on Saturday mornings at 10.00 has been enjoyed 

by a dozen or so men fortnightly but the great pleasure has been to be together with men 

whose company we enjoy. 

If you would like to join with us at any time then please let me know - you will be made most 

welcome - ericgalloway1@live.com 

Page 27

Born to Volunteer with the Royal Voluntary Service - 

Mary from Rattray, Blairgowrie 

It could be said that the Royal Voluntary Service is in my genes. My 

mother delivered “Meals on Wheels” until the day she died in her 

eighties, and I believe that my grandmother was involved during the 

war, with my mother taking her by rowing boat on the Norfolk Broads 

to some appointments! 

I became involved with “Meals on Wheels” some 45 years ago when I married and moved to 

the Glen with my husband. When Meals on Wheels ended, I remained a volunteer, and it was 

then onto supporting the digital switch next. I attended training, but fortunately was never 

called upon for assistance as I was a technophobe and probably would not have been much 

help. We were also trained to assist in an evacuation crisis which was a distinct possibility 

then, as it was before the Perth flood defences were strengthened. 

The COVID crisis has stretched everyone, and I have been delighted to do my little bit to help 

as a Royal Voluntary Service volunteer. I have been making companionship calls to some 

isolated people for a regular chat which has been a real pleasure as I now feel that I know 

them, however the need is reducing now as they begin to receive visits from friends and 

family. 

My other volunteering roles are as a shopper for those who can’t get out, and as a driver 

to take clients to and from medical appointments. Shopping can present a challenge when 

you can’t find what is on the list! So far, all my clients have been lovely and pleased with the 

results; but a mobile phone is very useful when staring at a row of options and not knowing 

which one to choose! My car is a work horse and not as spic and span as I would like for the 

transport role, but again the clients are always kind and appreciative; so far no complaints. 

The Royal Voluntary Service has many ways of helping people to lead independent and 

fulfilling lives and there are many different roles for volunteers who are always needed. The 

staff in the office in Perth are helpful and supportive and I would thoroughly recommend 

becoming a volunteer. It is something that fits well round a busy life as you can do as much or 

as little as you have time for. 

Blairgowrie & District 

Freedom Coach Association 

The current Treasurer intends to retire 

in April 2022 so the Association wants to 

identify a successor as soon as possible. 

The ideal person would have experience 

with spreadsheets and Excel software. The 

incoming Treasurer will be offered assistance 

and advice for the handover. For further 

information, and to apply for the role, please 

contact Jim Gibb, Chairman, at james.gibb37@ 

hotmail.com or phone 01250-875262. 

The Association, a Registered Scottish 

Charity, was established in 1981. There is a 

small Committee of volunteers and the sole 

employee, Charlie Bisset, is the driver and 

administrator. The Freedom Coach provides a 

valued service for the elderly and/or disabled 

of Blairgowrie and the surrounding area. 

It is a measure of the popularity of the Coach 

that individuals, organisations and companies 

often make donations. We also benefit from 

fund-raising events and occasional legacies. 

Although the Coach operates on a ‘not for 

profit’ basis it is essential that our reserves 

are built up to replace the Coach every few 

years. The present one cost around £80,000. 

Before the Covid-19 restrictions the Coach 

was in use most Mondays to Thursdays 

for group outings. On Fridays, individuals 

were picked up from home, taken to local 

shopping areas, and returned to home. 

Maximum capacity is 15 but less when 

wheelchairs are carried. Bookings are made 

through Charlie Bisset on 01250-874246. At 

the time of writing, it is not yet clear when 

the restrictions will be eased enough for the 

Coach to resume normal operations. 



Marion’s stitching for 

Apples Galore 

This summer, a pleasant surprise for the 

apples team was when Marion Nellies 

suddenly turned up with 50 cloth bags for 

our 2021 apples. A friend had given her 

some remnants of cloth, and so she set to 

with her sewing machine and made the 

bags from them. 

Marion hails from Glasgow, where her father 

worked at the Singer sewing machine factory 

in Clydebank. As a child she came with her 

family to Blair to pick berries, and stayed at 

Tin City in Essendy. Later she got married 

and settled here. When her mother retired, 

she bought each of her three daughters a 

sewing machine, and Marion made good 

use of hers to make and mend clothes for 

her family. Then years later her mother’s 

wonderful Singer treadle machine came 

Marion’s way, and she has been busy with it 

ever since. 

Another lovely surprise this year was a 

local couple’s gift of 500 plain white cotton 

bags for the apples. These cloth bags are 

more durable than plastic and better for 

the environment, and we are hoping that 

people who take bags of apples from the 

Wellmeadow fence will return their empty 

bags to the fence to be re-used. Only if we run 

out of cloth bags will we revert to recycled 

plastic bags. We would quite like to decorate 

these white cloth bags with a picture of an 

apple, and a suitable slogan, maybe “Local 

apples taste better”, or “An apple a day ...”, or 

“Eat local, avoid waste”, or “Eat local and save 

food miles”. So, if you can help decorate the 

bags that way, just get in touch. 

This autumn we plan to redistribute surplus 

local apples as usual, saving on the costs 

and food miles needed to bring apples in 

from abroad. As we go to press, it looks as 

if there will be less apples than last year, 

but there will still be plenty of work for 

the apples team. So anyone with too many 

apples can bring them to 10 Balmoral Road, 

or can phone to tell us where to collect them. 

Unfortunately, our usual apple-press service 

is not functioning currently, so no local 

apple-pressing event this year. But there may 

be apple-pressing at Dunkeld Community 

Orchard on the 3rd or 4th Saturday in 

October, so check nearer the time. 

Can you help with the apples work, 

September - November? If interested, please 

contact one of the team. 

Elaine 07843 430925, Graham 07795 928062, 

Jane 07564 114759 

Kristin 07505 506892 or 872634, at 

10 Balmoral Road, kb@phonecoop.coop 

Rattray and District SWI 

Rattray and District SWI have a varied 

programme for the new season which 

begins in September. Speakers include “The 

Handbag Lady” Irene Kirkwood, the Queen’s 

piper Derek Potter, a presentation about 

the future of Blairgowrie and Rattray by a 

representative of Blairgowrie Development 

Trust, a talk on genealogy by Wilma Philips 

and a floral art demonstration by Gloria 

Mitchell. 

The first meeting is on Monday 20th 

September at 7pm. The speakers Ursula 

Stewart and Edith Christie with a talk 

entitled “Cruising”. 

At this time it is not possible to say if we 

will meet in person or on Zoom because 

of the Covid situation. If we can meet new 

meetings will be held at Rattray Bowling 

Club. There will be an announcement in the 

Blairgowrie Advertiser nearer the time. 

Please join us for evenings of fun and 

friendship. New members will be made 

most welcome.For more information email 

rattraypress-secyswri@hotmail.co.uk or call 

01250 874493. 

Page 29

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based 

Violence is an international campaign to challenge 

violence perpetrated against women and girls. The 

campaign runs every year from 25 November, the 

International Day for the Elimination of Violence 

against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day. 

You may recall last autumn when orange ribbons 

were attached to the Wellmeadow railings and many 

Blairgowrie shops ‘oranged’ their window displays 

from 24th November until the 10th December, orange 

being the colour of the campaign. Jean Campbell, the 

local Soroptimist who initiated the local event in 2020, 

is hoping that this can be repeated in 2021, thus raising awareness about violence against 

women, the incidence of which has sadly risen during the pandemic. 

THE UNIFORM EXCHANGE 

Do you have any unwanted school uniform items? 

Uniform Exchange is a Blairgowrie based initiative that recycles quality 

school uniform, passing it from one family to another. 

We offer all uniform FREE! 

If you wish to donate or request items please contact Jocelyn. 


Email – uniforms@sustainable-way.org 

Uniform Exchange – wear and share 

A friendly and efficient local firm of solicitors and estate agents 

Property purchases and sales 

Wills and executries 

Family law 

Powers of Attorney 

Miller Gerrard, Solicitors & Estate Agents 

The Studio, 13 High Street 

Blairgowrie PH10 6ET 

Telephone 01250 873468 

Email mg@millergerrard.co.uk 

Website www.millergerrard.com 


Page 31


BOOKMARK is not the only place where the death of Christine Findlay 

is deeply felt. There was much that Christine contributed to this 

world, but the BOOKMARK Book Festival will be forever grateful 

that she not only came up with the idea to have such a festival in 

Blairgowrie but had the will and the energy to establish it. 

We were delighted to be able to tell her that a short story competition 

in her name, the Christine Findlay Prize, will be an annual award 

given at Blairgowrie High School. The winner will be announced in 

October at our Festival, which this year will be dedicated to her memory. Christine knew of 

everyone who is coming and loved the idea that this year we have a theme: Going Abroad and 

Coming Home. Let it be one of the most successful yet. 

Bearing in mind that any decision about the venue cannot be taken until at least August 9th, 

BOOKMARK is delaying our Ticket Launch for our Festival, and discussion with Richard Frazer 

and Olga Wojtas, from July 10th to August 21st. Both our guests really wanted a ‘live’ session 

to pick up the Camino trail again and we are a little more confident that we can join them in 

person in late August! This will be an opportunity to buy tickets, including the Early Bird Pass. 

The Festival will run only for the Saturday and Sunday (9-10 October). Andrew Crummy will 

be talking on Saturday 9 October about designing The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry. He has also 

been involved with eighteen other ground-breaking tapestries, including The Prestonpans 

Tapestry, and The Great Tapestry of Scotland. I single him out because you can visit Verdant 

Works in Dundee to see The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry. It is an astonishing work of art which 

I cannot recommend highly enough. 

And – in our recent conversation, Christine and I had a happy time talking about our favourite 

writers (and the works that make us, two people not prone to weeping, cry). Here are our top 

five. Plus a Heaney poem (one of those mentioned re crying) to read. 

Sunset Song, Lewis Grassic Gibbon All of Charles Dickens The poetry of T S Eliot 

All of Kazuo Ishiguro, particularly Klara and the Sun The poetry of Seamus Heaney 

Postscript 

And some time make the time to drive out west 

Into County Clare, along the Flaggy Shore, 

In September or October, when the wind 

And the light are working off each other 

So that the ocean on one side is wild 

With foam and glitter, and inland among stones 

The surface of a slate-grey lake is lit 

By the earthed lightning of a flock of swans, 

Their feathers roughed and ruffling, white on white, 

Their fully grown headstrong-looking heads 

Tucked or cresting or busy underwater. 

Useless to think you’ll park and capture it 

More thoroughly. You are neither here nor there, 

A hurry through which known and strange things pass 

As big soft buffettings come at the car sideways 

And catch the heart off guard and blow it open. 

Seamus Heaney 

Janey Lambie, Gail Wylie and Christine 

Findlay (left to right) 

Photo taken by Clare Damodaran / 

Blairgowrie Advertiser 

Gail Wylie 

BOOKMARK Chair 


Blairgowrie and 

East Perthshire 

Tourist 

Association 

The Blairgowrie and East Perthshire 

Tourism Association (BEPTA) is a marketing 

organisation for the area, promoting the 

region, its attractions and accommodation 

and service providers to visitors under the 

banner of ‘Visit Cateran Country’. 

It works closely with local businesses in the 

tourism industry as well as wider regional 

and national organisations including Perth 

and Kinross Council and VisitScotland, the 

national tourism marketing organisation. 

In May, BEPTA held its AGM online, where 

Murray Scott from the Angus Hotel was 

re-elected to the position of chair, and 

work continues to make the most of the 

opportunities available to the tourism sector 

while at the same time encouraging visitors 

to act responsibly during their stay. 

A new regular industry newsletter now goes 

out to every month to tourism businesses 

in the area, highlighting members’ news, 

upcoming events, funding opportunities and 

much more. You can sign up to receive it by 

emailing admin@visitcaterancountry.com 

BEPTA is also involved in the early stages of 

setting up a new action group which will look 

at funding opportunities which could be used 

to develop rural infrastructure projects in 

the area. A range of potential projects along 

the A93 corridor have been identified in the 

first instance, including highlighting the A93 

tourist route to Royal Deeside, upgrading 

the laybys along the route with information 

boards, interpretation panels and picnic 

areas, chemical toilet disposal facilities for 

campervans, and the installation of electric 

charging points. 

Remember, BEPTA membership is free 

throughout 2021. 

Our members benefit from being listed on 

the Visit Cateran Country website and we will 

also promote any offers you have or events 

you are hosting on our social media pages 

and in our monthly newsletters. So tell us 

what’s new - do you have any special offers 

or new developments that you would like to 

highlight? 

There is also a dedicated members’ Facebook 

group where we highlight any events, news, 

or meetings which come to our attention and 

where you can virtually network with other 

businesses in the area. To get involved in 

the discussions, search for ‘BEPTA Members 

Group’ and simply ask to join. 

And we’re working on the Visit Cateran 

Country website to ensure it is as up-to-date 

as possible. 

Please take a moment to have a look at your 

listing on the site and let us know if all the 

information is correct - does it contain the 

right contact information for example and 

the most up-to-date news on your products 

and services? And if you don’t have a listing 

and run a tourism business in the area and 

would like to become a BEPTA member, 

please get in touch! 

We’re always looking for accommodation, 

activity and attraction providers to join the 

board of directors as well, so please get in 

touch if that is something you think you 

might be interested in. 

And if you have any concerns or ideas about 

tourism in Blairgowrie and East Perthshire, 

please do not hesitate to get in touch by 

emailing us on 

admin@visitcaterancountry.com 

We look forward to hearing from you! 

Above Image by BEPTA/Mike Bell 

Page 33

Perthshire is once more shining as a hotspot 

for creativity as local artists open their doors 

for Perthshire Open Studios (POS) on 4 – 12 

September. 

Over 200 individual artists across 145 venues 

in the Big County will be welcoming visitors 

to view their art and craft in a nine-day 

celebration of artistic endeavour. 

Perthshire Open Studios has been running 

since 2008 and is now one of the largest 

events of its type in the UK. Professional and 

amateur artists and makers open the doors of 

their studios, workshops, galleries and homes 

to visitors to showcase their creations. While 

there is no obligation to buy, most or all of the 

pieces on show will be for sale. 

With venues as far north as Glen Lyon, as far 

east as Invergowrie, as far south as Kinross 

and as far west as Callander, the event truly 

covers the length and breadth of Perthshire. 

A broad range of artistic disciplines is also 

represented, with traditional painting of 

all subjects joined by ceramics, jewellery, 

printing, textiles and glassmaking. 

To help visitors navigate the massive amount 

of choice on offer, the organisers have 

helpfully divided the venues into coloured 

routes, for example the Orange Route which 

takes in Blairgowrie and Rattray areas or the 

Turquoise Route centred around Kinross. 

A new website has been launched where 

visitors can see profiles of all the artists and 

venues taking part, and they can download 

route maps to help them plan their visit. 

It’s an exciting time for Perthshire Open 

Studios president Glenys Andrews, after 

last year’s event had to be cancelled due to 

Covid-19. “We are excited to be back after what 

has been a very difficult time for artists and 

makers. After such a long period of isolation 

I think artists and makers are really looking 

forward to meeting people again, showing them 

around their studios and talking to them about 

their work.” 

Anick’s Garden Studio 

Local artists open doors once again for Perthshire Open Studios 

Organisers are also hoping for a bumper 

turnout of visitors as overseas travel is 

still restricted this summer. Glenys added: 

“Everything will be organised in line with Covid 

regulations and guidelines, but we can promise 

visitors a fantastic range of arts and crafts of 

every kind right across beautiful Perthshire and 

Kinross-shire.” 

As well as exhibiting in their own venues, 

many POS artists will have work represented 

at two showcase exhibitions taking place 

during the event. 

The showcase at The Bield, Blackruthven on 

the outskirts of Perth will run from Saturday 

28 August until Sunday 12 September. It 

will provide a taster for the work of many 

participating POS artists as well as hosting 

four exhibiting artists and a special show of 

work from Featured Artist, internationally 

renowned designer and wood sculptor Angus 

Ross. 

New in 2021 is a showcase based at Birnam 

Arts in Dunkeld, open from Friday 3 

September until Sunday 26 September. It too 

will offer a sample of work from POS artists as 

well as pieces from Angus Ross. 

All information about Perthshire Open 

Studios, including directions and opening 

times for individual venues, can be found on 

the POS website at 

www.perthshireopenstudios.com 

Nest Creative Spaces 


Spotlight on local artists! 

The following artists are participating in the 

Orange and Lemon Routes centred around 

Blairgowrie and Rattray. 

Venue 1: Gillian Hunt, Enochdhu 

Photographic artist specialising in in macro 

work with flowers and bumblebees 

Venue 2: Dave Hunt, Enochdhu 

Vintage and fine art photography 

Venue 3: Andrew Hunter, Enochdhu 

Painting capturing the unique light and drama 

of the landscape in oils and watercolour 

Venue 4: Emily Crookshank, Glenshee 

Contemporary printmaker, reflecting 

experiences from the surrounding landscape of 

the Cairngorms 

Venue 9: Lynne Fleming, Grange of 

Aberbothrie, Alyth 

Paintings of land, sea and skies with a sprinkling 

of flowers and the occasional dinosaur 

Venue 10: Momentum Pottery, Alyth 

Three artists specialising in ceramics, 

contemporary willow basket making and stone 

carving 

Venue 11: Ron Dickens, Leck, Alyth 

Highly detailed hardwood carvings with a 

variety of finishes 

Venue 12: Jonathan Mitchell, Glamis 

Paintings featuring detailed and atmospheric 

depictions of rural and urban Scotland 

Butterstone Artists 

Venue 13: Manus McGinty, Meigle 

Paintings inspired by local and foreign 

landscapes and architecture 

Easter Logie Studio 

Venue 5: Mark McCallum, Bridge of Cally 

Paintings reflecting the ever-changing mood 

of remote locations, dramatic skies and vast 

beaches 

Venue 6: Woods and Wire, Smyrna, Alyth 

Sculpture inspired by nature, myth and fantasy 

created from wire and repurposed materials 

Venue 7: Tea with Jud, Rattray, Blairgowrie 

Colourful hand-thrown pottery 

Venue 8: Barn at Mains of Rattray, Blairgowrie 

Nine artists exhibiting in a rustic barn setting, 

showing work in various media 

Venue 14: Longleys Studio, Meigle 

Watercolour and acrylic landscapes inspired by 

countryside and seaside. 

Venue 15: Ainetheon Arts, Coupar Angus 

Painting in a variety of media in 

representational and abstract forms 

Venue 16: The Quarto Press, Coupar Angus 

Letterpress printing using mostly traditional 

metal and wood letters and decorative elements 

Venue 17: Seona Cathcart, Blairgowrie 

Painting and drawing – nature inspired themes 

with bold imagery 

Venue 18: Nest Creative Spaces CIC, Blairgowrie 

A creative community hub supporting over 40 

local artisans working in textiles, jewellery and 

wood 

Page 35

Angus Ross - featured artist at 

Perthshire Open Studios 2021 

Ruth and Lesley 

Sarah Cave Silversmith & 

Lelley Makes 

Venue 19: Anick’s Garden Studio, Blairgowrie 

Painting and drawing – recording wildlife and 

farming of rural Perthshire 

Venue 20: Sarah Cave & Lelley Makes, Blairgowrie 

Hand raised silverware and elegant jewellery, 

and textiles created from discarded jeans 

Venue 21: Lesley & Ruth, Glengarry 

Passion for colour expressed through stained 

glass, mosaics, upholstery, textiles and clock 

making 

Venue 22: Easter Logie Studio, Easter Logie, 


Collective of artists showing traditional and 

contemporary art and sculpture 

Venue 23: Butterstone Artists, Butterstone 

Collective of artists exhibiting in a range of 

styles and media including painting, woodcraft, 

stained glass, textiles, printing and papercraft. 

Venue 24: P J Anderson Art, Dunkeld 

Intricately-drawn portraits of wildlife in graphite 

and charcoal 

Venue 25: S.R. Jewellery, Dunkeld 

Jewellery as works of art, with collections 

inspired by countryside living and changing with 

the seasons 

Venue 27: Birnam Arts, Birnam & Dunkeld 

Vibrant arts centre and gallery hosting 

exhibitions of contemporary art installations 

Venue 28: Grigorio’s Art, Birnam 

Drawing and painting exploring pattern, texture 

and colour celebrating Mother Earth 

Venue 29: Mridula Basi, Birnam 

Drawing and painting featuring figurative, 

zoological and botanical studies in varied styles 

and media 

Venue 30: Caputh Studio, Caputh 

Three artists whose work is inspired by local 

landscape and the botanical world, working in 

watercolour, textiles and ceramics. 

Venue 31: Designs by Inez, Spittalfield 

Fused glass dichroic jewellery 

Venue 32: Walkin’ Café, Spittalfield 

Local artists displaying work in painting, 

drawing, photography, textiles and jewellery 

For further information contact: 

Kathryn Kirkwood 

kathryn@abbotshallcomms.co.uk 

07900 274548 

Venue 26: Kat n Kat, Dunkeld 

Friends and artistic collaborators creating 

jewellery in silver, copper, brass and enamel 

jewellery, and stunning textiles using vintage 

fabrics, Harris tweed and wool. 


AUTUMN 

Reading 


Autumn - a time of fabulous colours, darkening 

evenings, mists and murk. A time to put aside all the 

frantic activity of summer and settle into a comfy 

chair by the fire with a good book. Here are a few we 

think you might enjoy: 

Weather is of course a year-round topic, but the changing seasons seem to 

heighten our love-hate fascination with it. Very British Weather (Met Office) 

gives us an insight into all manner of weather phenomenon, including 

the rare formation of hair ice - you can find hair ice on rotting twigs and 

branches at the Den of Alyth in the right conditions. Alternatively, you 

could hone your forecasting skills with Introducing Meteorology: a guide 

to the weather (by Jon Shonk): this gem of a book is science-based, highly 

accessible and hugely interesting. 

Once you’ve mastered the vagaries of the weather, what about a crafting 

project? Weekend Makes: Stash Knitting (by Emma Osmond) has some great 

projects from hats and scarves to cushions and hot-water bottle covers. If 

your wool stash needs a bit of a top up, The Workbasket (15 Allen Street, 

Blairgowrie) always has a great selection. 

Autumn also brings us National Poetry Day on the 7th October. There are 

many collections to recommend, but it seems particularly apt to suggest 

two new collections of the poems of George Mackay Brown (this year 

marks the 25th anniversary of his death): Carve the Runes and Beyond the 

Swelkie. Orkney was his home and inspiration; his words vividly portray his 

community and its many characters. 

Of course, the darker evenings also call for some page-turning fiction. If you 

like intrigue, war stories, railways, the north-east of England and the 

north-west of Scotland, The Night Before Morning by Alistair Moffat has 

it all. Reminiscent of John Buchan’s 39 Steps, the story is set in December 

1944, when a horrifying twist in the war means Britain is now occupied. 

Amid terrifying danger, a gripping tale of the fight-back ensues. 

With the mists swirling and Halloween approaching, we also thought a 

couple of atmospheric tales might be just the thing. The first is a classic: 

Daphne du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn – plenty of nefarious goings on the 

Cornish moors in this tale of smuggling and murder. The second, just 

new out in paperback, is Jenni Fagan’s Luckenbooth, which featured in 

Bookmark’s Meet the Author event in June (see www.bookmarkblair.com for 

information on other events coming up). Inventive, dark and disturbing, the 

tale is set in No 10 Luckenbooth Court: when the tenement is cursed by the 

devil’s daughter, a century of chilling misfortune unfolds for its residents. 

Confession: I kept all the lights on when reading both of these books! 

And for children? We’ll be offering a whole heap of suggestions for children in the next 

Hub magazine (just in time for Christmas!). You can also find suggestions on our website 

(www.adventureintobooks.co.uk), and of course you are very welcome to pop into 

Adventure into Books, Booklore or the library – we’re all very happy to talk books and make 

recommendations. 

Page 37


Do you have macular degeneration or 

other problems with your sight? 

The Macular Society is here to help you. We 

can provide advice, information, support, a 

friendly phone call and a listening ear. We 

also have a local Macular Support Group in 

Blairgowrie. At the moment we are meeting 

over the phone every month but we hope to 

be back to face to face meetings soon. 

Our telephone groups offer help in 

understanding macular disease and coming 

to terms with sight loss. They also help us to 

ensure that everyone is kept up to date with 

all the current news and information. But 

most importantly, they allow people with 

macular disease to continue to take part in 

social activities, helping to reduce feelings 

of loneliness and isolation during these 

difficult times. We would love to have some 

new members and would encourage anyone 

interested to join us. 

We also have these Support Groups right 

across the country. If you know of someone 

in another area who might benefit let me 

know and I will link them with their nearest 

Group. 

We are looking for volunteers to help 

facilitate with the Group. Could you give 

a few hours every month to help at our 

meetings? Perhaps you could phone 

members to remind them about the calls or 

thank a speaker after a meeting? We depend 

on volunteers to help us run our Groups, 

so if you have a few hours to spare every 

month please get in touch. 

For more information about the Blairgowrie 

Macular Society Support Group, the 

telephone conference calls or anything that 

I can help with, please contact Laura Gray, 

Senior Regional Manager, Macular Society 

on 07948 352 967 or email 

laura.gray@macularsociety.org 

Another recycling effort is taking 

place in Blairgowrie & Rattray! 

Local Soroptimist Jean Campbell is indebted 

to Kay Seal for supporting the recycling of 

blister packs – the packs of silver paper 

& plastic we get pills in! Jean also wishes 

to thank BARI in Rattray Hall, All Things 

Fair and the Computer Shop in the High 

street in Blairgowrie as this is where you 

are invited to drop off your EMPTY blister 

packs (minus contact details or boxes!). Kay 

or Jean then collects them and transports 

them to the chemist shop, Superdrug, in 

Perth High street. 

Superdrug has teamed up with brands 

Buscopan, Dulcolax and TerraCycle UK to 

include collection boxes in every Superdrug 

Pharmacy so your empty medicine blister 

packets can be recycled. For every blister 

packet collected, TerraCycle will donate 

points to Superdrug pharmacies to be 

redeemed into financial donations towards 

the Marie Curie charity. 

Once collected, the empty blister packets 

are separated by polymer type and cleaned 

(if necessary). The material is then extruded 

into plastic pellets to make new recycled 

products. 

Start collecting your little packs now, take 

them along to any of the drop-off points 

mentioned above and start making a big 

impact! 

The photograph shows Jean with a recent 

collection of empty blister packs ready for her 

next trip to Perth. 


East of Scotland Farmers Country Store, Forfar Road, Coupar Angus 

Tel: 01828 627264 

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00 Sat: 08:30-13:00 

Page 39

First Aid 

Perthshire 

A HOWLER FOR HALLOWE’EN 

by Margaret Drummond 

Defibrillator 

Registration 

If your Business or 

Community Group has an 

AED - Automated External 

Defibrillator – could you 

kindly register this with: 

www.thecircuit.uk 

This is the national network 

of registered defibrillators. 

Once it is registered the 

Ambulance Service can tell 

anyone the location of the 

nearest available defib. On 

the website you can state 

times that the defibrillator 

is available – this will save 

critical time for the casualty. 

A defib is required when 

someone’s heart has gone 

into spasm, no blood is 

pumped to the brain & 

the casualty becomes 

unconscious and stops 

breathing. Call 999. By 

performing CPR until the 

AED arrives, blood is being 

pumped to the brain to 

keep it alive. Once the AED 

arrives, switch it on, it will 

tell you what to do and 

where to place the pads 

on the casualty. Follow all 

the instructions until the 

ambulance arrives. 

2 local AED’s have been 

successfully used recently. 

TIME SAVES LIVES 

Email: 

firstaidperthshire@gmail.com 

Mobile: 07399 566533 

A silly old spook who in life was a Duke 

Decided to haunt his own castle. 

Being newly departed he was keen to get started 

But didn’t expect so much hassle. 

You see on all floors there were heavy oak doors 

Which he knew all good ghosts should float through 

And the baronial hall with its three foot thick wall 

Was a challenge he looked forward to. 

But to Duke’s consternation all his flotation 

Resulted in cranial thumps, 

Till out of his skull with a headache so dull 

He retreated to nurse some huge lumps. 

An ancestral spectre, his great-uncle Hector, 

Tried to make him feel much less uptight 

Saying “Just keep your cool, we’ll appoint you chief ghoul 

In charge of the bumps in the night”. 

But refusing to be beat, Duke pinged off a tweet 

That went viral on ghostnet.uk, 

“I’m finding this haunting incredibly daunting, 

Please help me someone straight away”. 

He rejected solutions like strapping on cushions 

Till ‘spooks-R-us’ sent him their mailer, 

So now he howls himself hoarse, even scaring the ghosts 

With his brand new unearthly loud-wailer! 

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Starter Packs & Smalls for All 

“Who knew the positive power of the Blairgowrie 

& Rattray Hub Magazine”, asked local 

Soroptimist Jean Campbell. Since having two 

pieces published in the summer edition of 

the Hub, one about Smalls for All and one 

about Starter Packs, Perth, highlighting 

the opportunities to recycle/re-use items 

rather than relegating them to landfill, she 

has been overwhelmed with donations of 

curtains, crockery, cutlery, bedding, towels, 

kitchenalia – all types of household items, 

adult and children’s clothing plus a beautiful 

cot and pushchair, and toiletries, all of which 

in turn have been distributed to charities and 

voluntary organisations in Perthshire. 

In addition to the above she has also received 

many slightly - used/new bras and new pants 

for Smalls for All, a charity based at West 

Calder, West Lothian. She was delighted 

to deliver 435 bras and 147 pairs of pants 

recently but has already started the next 

collection, having received 39 bras and 23 

pairs of pants last week. She says, “Do keep 

them coming!” 

and coffee being delivered to the Churches 

Action for The Homeless (CATH) Day Centre. 

Children’s clothes were also handed over to 

Social Flock, Perth. 

Many thanks go to local residents, to David 

& Debbie (the Wee Coffee Shop), Gary & his 

family (Ivybank Lodge), Kay (Ericht Lodges), 

Blythswood Care, Thrifty One Alyth, friends, 

family and neighbours, all of whom got 

in touch with Jean and donated items for 

onward dissemination. 

If you want to find out more about the 

items she collects, contact Jean (07947 604 

597). And of you want to find out more 

about Soroptimist International, a service 

organisation for women with a social 

conscience, see the website www.sigbi.org 

The Care and 

Wellbeing CIC 

Open for New Members! 

Helping shape care and wellbeing in 

rural Perthshire 

Photographs show the volunteers at Starter 

Packs, Perth; Jean delivering a carload of 

items to Starter Packs; the recent load of bras 

& pants for Smalls for All; the pushchair being 

delivered to Buttons & Bows, Perth (the cot 

was already delivered) and clothing, toiletries 

Support, resources, guidance, promotions, 

opportunities, events, networking and more for 

care and wellbeing practitioners who believe in 

compassionate, professional and flexible services. 

www.careandwellbeing.scot 

Page 41


Blairgowrie Riding for 

the Disabled is under 

starter’s orders to 

welcome back riders 

– and we can’t wait to 

see everyone! 

We’re finalising our plans to reopen for 

activities now that social distancing rules are 

being relaxed and are hopeful that we’ll be 

back open for business in the next few weeks. 

Rhona Christie, chair of Blairgowrie RDA, 

said: “We’re really excited to be taking the last 

few steps that will enable us to open up again 

for our riders. It’s been a long and difficult 

18 months for the charity as we have had no 

income from lessons since lockdown began in 

March 2020. 

“But throughout that time, we’ve had incredible 

support from the local community – our virtual 

balloon race in June was a great success, we’ve 

welcomed new volunteers to our team and we’ve 

received a number of generous donations from 

local groups and individuals. 

It’s hoped that lessons for local 

schoolchildren will restart in early autumn 

and we’re excited to announce that we will 

also be able to offer private lessons for adults 

with disabilities now that our lovely new 

horse Claire has joined our herd. 

As well as preparing for reopening, our group 

has been busy with other activities, including 

taking part in the Wellmeadow Walkathon 

in July to raise funds for ‘Happy to chat, 

happy to listen’ benches in memory of local 

youngster Jordan Hart. 

Rhona said: “As a charity that supports people 

with a range of physical and mental health 

issues, the Walkathon is a cause that is very 

close to our hearts and we were very proud to 

be involved in this fundraising venture.” 

An event not to be missed is our coffee 

morning at Airlie Hall in Alyth in September 

(we have some amazing bakers among our 

volunteers!) and look out for our charity shop 

in Howe’s store in Blairgowrie in October, 

when there will be some real bargains on 

offer. More details will be posted on our 

Facebook page. 

The volunteers and ponies at Blairgowrie 

RDA at their training session ahead of the 

group reopening for lessons 

“Thanks to them – and the hard work of our 

volunteers – we are in a very good position to 

continue our work in the community and are 

looking forward to celebrating our belated 

Golden Jubilee in 2022. We’re sure it will be 

worth the wait!” 

Our volunteers – and ponies – have recently 

completed two days of training to ensure that 

our visitors will be welcomed back to a safe, 

secure and fun environment. 

Remember, too, that you can help fundraise 

for our group without it costing a penny 

through the Co-op’s Local Community Fund 

and Amazon Smile – visit 

https://blairgowrierda.co.uk/support-us/ 

to find out more. 

If you’re interested in finding out more about 

Blairgowrie RDA, including volunteering or 

lessons, visit our website at 

www.blairgowrierda.co.uk, where you’ll also 

find details about how to join our popular Clip 

Clop Club 100 draw and much, much more. 

And check out our Facebook page at 

www.facebook.com/BlairgowrieRDA where we 

share lots of photos and updates. 


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Page 43

Guiding Blairgowrie 

& Rattray District 

Each of our groups 

are meeting face 

to face again, most 

settled into our 

new ‘long term 

temporary’ home 

in the Welton Road and it has been great 

getting the girls together again to give them 

a degree of normality, whatever the weather. 

Over the summer, Rainbows and Brownies 

have been able to run Badge Days and catchup 

meetings which have been so much fun. 

The new term starts with the re-opening of 

schools after the summer holidays when all 

units can get back to providing a safe and fun 

environment for girls. Rainbows are presently 

running a waiting list for starting the Guiding 

journey but there are a few spaces available 

in the older groups. The younger your 

daughter is when you register her at 

www.girlguiding.org.uk the better chance 

there is of getting a place when she turns 5. 

We were delighted to have been awarded a 

grant from the Gannochy Trust to go towards 

the rebuilding of the Guide Hut on Emma 

Street. This is our first successful grant 

application post- Covid, hopefully the first of 

many! 

between the fundraising for the new guide 

hut and Future Youth Zone, a youth charity 

based in Dagenham. A huge thankyou to the 

cyclists, none of whom were in the spring of 

their lives! 

The first of the medals for completing the 

130 miles have been distributed to some 

of our Brownies. These girls completed the 

mileage using a wide variety of modes of 

transport, from feet to sledges, bicycles to 

skis and even kayaks. A huge thankyou to all 

those who took part and also to everyone 

who sponsored the participants, it really was 

much appreciated. 

On 28th July we were delighted to take part 

in a photo opportunity in the Wellmeadow, 

along with many other groups in the town, 

after receiving money from Peter Ritchie 

raised from sponsorship of a recent race 

he took part in. Rainbows, Brownies and 

Guides were each in receipt of £330 to be 

spent on activities for the girls which is much 

appreciated by all. 

Here’s to our next term of Guiding in 

Blairgowrie & Rattray with fingers crossed it 

continues undisturbed by the C word! 

We were also very happy to be part of 

fundraising for our Centenary Challenge. 

A group of cyclists from The Worshipful 

Company of Master Distillers took on the 

challenge of travelling the full 130 miles 

round the Guiding Perth & Kinross owned 

sites, setting off from Auchterarder at 6am 

heading to Craggan, then to Dunkeld and on 

to Pitlochry then Blairgowrie, meeting the 

rain on the way to Perth before reaching 

Milnathort, finishing back in Auchterarder in 

the early evening. Some of the Leaders met 

with the cyclists at various point during their 

journey, getting the easy job of providing 

refreshments and facilities. A total of £10,300 

was raised by the cyclists which was split 


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Find me on Facebook at Blairgowrie Reflexology 

Page 45

Support for Care and Wellbeing 

Services in Rural Perth & Kinross 

The Care and Wellbeing Community 

Interest Company (CIC) is an extensive 

network of care and wellbeing practitioners 

offering locally based, compassionate and 

personalised professional services across 

rural Perthshire and Kinross. A membership 

organisation originally set up as a cooperative 

and established with support from GrowBiz 

Scotland in 2015, the CIC supports and 

develops community-based social care and 

wellbeing solutions and services across 

rural Perthshire. It is partly funded by Perth 

& Kinross LEADER, a rural development 

programme. 

As a friendly and mutually supportive 

network of professionals working across rural 

Perthshire and Kinross, we also focus on the 

delivery of new and innovative approaches 

to care and wellbeing, offering people more 

choice, flexibility and personalised support 

from practitioners in their own area. 

The CIC is always happy to welcome new 

professional members who will enjoy 

and benefit from the offers such as peer 

support, learning and development events, 

personalised professional guidance, 

newsletters, advice, networking, information 

resources, funding opportunities, 

promotions, news, updates, and promotion 

through directory listings on the CIC website 

and the innovative Rural Enterprise Directory 

Scotland (www.reds.scot). 

Our members offer a wide variety of 

services across all areas of the care and 

wellbeing sector. So, if you provide any 

kind of wellbeing, therapeutic, social care 

or assistance service, or are an owner of a 

creative or tourism business already offering 

or interested in providing wellbeing services, 

then we’d love to hear from you. 

Recently the CIC Board was delighted 

to welcome two new Directors — rural 

Perthshire residents Jane Ward and Diane 

McLeish, both of whom bring a wealth of 

experience and knowledge. Jane, provides 

support for older people living at home in 

the Blairgowrie area, has a background in 

nursing, caring for family members, and 

working in elderly care. Diane has 25 years’ 

experience in a senior position in the public 

sector, enjoying a career in local authority 

and the NHS with a focus on community 

development and public health. 

Diane McLeish 

Jane Ward 

Development Coordinator Lorna McCurrach 

says: “This is an exciting time for the CIC with 

new members signing up, a refreshed and 

comprehensive membership package and a 

new, easy to use website.Tackling the impact of 

Covid on our communities is no better reason 

to focus on care and wellbeing, whether it be as 

a career change, improving your own health or 

seeking the right support and care for a loved 

one. Joining the CIC is helpful in so many ways 

for your professional practice and effectiveness 

as self-employed practitioners or small business 

owners.” 

For further information log on to the 

website www.careandwellbeing.scot If you 

are interested in becoming a member email 

hello@thecareandwellbeing.coop. 

We will be delighted to chat with you. 

For all other information please contact Lorna 

by email coordinator@thecareandwellbeing. 

coop or telephone 07752 843893 

The Card Gallery (Hallmark) 

23, Allan Street, Blairgowrie. 01250 876444 

“It’s the Thought that Counts” 

Come to us for new design cards and 

gifts that are a little bit different! 

We are working hard to lower our carbon 

footprint so visit us to see new ranges of 

ethical and sustainably sourced gifts 

Copper Water Bottles; Rice Husk Cups (Plastic Free) 

Driftwood Photo Frames Organic Air Fresheners 

Recycled, sustainable and fair trade products 

Personalised Soy Wax Candles 

Served by friendly, experienced staff 


Gardening then and now 

Back in time gardening really was a chore 

large gardens and estates would be tended by hand 

no mini diggers, vans, or trailers 

all hand digging, maybe a horse and cart 

vast areas cut by scythe long before the mower or strimmer 

Gordon Croll 

Garden Matters 

Young gardeners up at night to stoke the boiler 

plant composts mixed monotonously by hand 

groups of gardeners hoeing borders and tending flowers, fruit & veg 

leaves raked up by the million long before blowers 

out in all weathers, now that’s not changed 

Apprenticeships went on for years and no college back then 

head gardeners had status, but little reward 

knowledge and skills were second to none 

it seemed like a hard life, but that was the norm 

how things have changed 

Everyone seems to be gardening 

and that can’t be bad, although not to the old standards 

gone are the gardening squads and the old ways 

it’s away on the ride-on, out with the sprayer 

out with the plants and lawn and down with the gravel 

In fairness there are still some fine gardens 

keen gardeners and volunteers too 

cutbacks and priorities result in untidy areas 

lockdown provided opportunities to see to the garden 

children encouraged towards the outdoors 

Yes, gone are the days of council gardeners galore 

few and very far apart and struggling to cope 

even with trucks full of machinery 

wildflower meadows; sustainable planting 

that’s how it now is 

We can all have our say and many do 

how can we help in some small way? 

push for change and volunteer 

tidy our own patch; that’s a start 

yes, it’s still tough for the professionals 

enjoyable and creative for the keen amateur 

Gardens continue to offer pleasure 

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areas of beauty and productivity 

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Page 47

Church Notices 

Blairgowrie Parish Church 

(Church of Scotland) 

www.blairgowrieparishchurch.org.uk 

Keeping Up With the Joneses? 

I believe the expression is “keeping up with the Joneses”. At the moment, it seems more apt 

for us as a church to change that to “keeping up with the latest COVID protections”! As I write 

this article, I’m just back from a morning where a team of us have been in the sanctuary 

re-arranging all seating to comply with the one metre social distancing now in force at Level 0. 

The halving of the distance now means that we can accommodate double the previous limit 

of sixty-six. So, that’s great news for those who had difficulty with our booking system, as we 

have more scope to accept members and visitors who arrive without a reservation. To help 

ensure the safety of those attending, we continue with our strict sanitising routines and the 

wearing of face coverings. 

Other encouraging steps have been that we have been 

able to hold communion and marriage ceremonies in 

the last month or so. What a delight it was to see both 

weddings take place as they were postponed so many 

times. 

What’s next? Well, we now await further proposed 

changes due in August to see what they mean for worship 

and use of other parts of the church building. 

Meanwhile, on the property front, a planning application has been submitted to replace the 

windows in the session room and the flat roof above the session room. When the roof is 

completed, the lights illuminating the stained glass window in the Sanctuary will be replaced 

with LED lights. New emergency lighting has been installed in the upper and lower halls and 

some of the units are integral in the lighting, making the kitchen much brighter. Work has 

also been completed on the Manse drive which was flooded recently. Many hands made light 

work when a few Saturdays ago members of the congregation gathered to dig out and replace 

the gravel. Well done all the helpers. 

Family early morning services have taken place in the hall at 9.30am through the summer 

holidays and will continue fortnightly to the end of September. The next Messy Church is on 

22nd August with the theme “Our World”. Sunday School is scheduled to restart after the 

October holidays. 

At the beginning of the summer holidays Messy Church and Sunday school had a picnic at the 

J J Coupar Recreation Park, families brought their own picnic and took part in games, races 

and played with the parachute. 

The Scottish Episcopal Church 

East Perthshire Group of Churches 

St. Catharine’s (Blairgowrie), St. Ninian’s (Alyth), 

St. Anne’s (Coupar Angus); All Angels, Ballintuim 

www.abcsaints.co.uk 

The church contacts are David and Janice Cameron on 01250 873272 

Riverside Methodist Church 

Minister: Rerv Nik Wooller 01250 870899 Website: www.riverside-methodist-churhc.co.uk 

E.mail: revnik@live.co.uk 


St Stephen’s R C Church, John Street, Blairgowrie 

Parish Priest: Gregory Umunna, M.A., Ph.D. 

Telephone: 01250 872171 

E.mail: peacegreg2002@yahoo.com 

Web: www.st-stephens-blairgowrie.org.uk 

Mass Times 

St. Stephen’s: Vigil Mass Saturday 6.30 p.m. 

Sunday 9.30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Tuesday 10 a.m. 

Wednesday 7 p.m. 

St Luan’s, Alyth: Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. 

Church community celebrates with Christopher 

Local young man Christopher Doig spent his formative years in 

Blairgowrie, growing up in the town with his sisters Kasia and Natalia, 

and attending Hill Primary before moving to St Columba’s High School in 

Perth. When he returned in July after fourteen years of work and study, it 

was to thank publicly his parents, Alexander and Kamila Doig, local clergy 

and the church community in which he was raised for their influence, 

guidance, encouragement and support. 

On 21st July the Rev Christopher celebrated his first mass as an ordained priest in the church 

he attended as a boy. At the age of thirty two, he had taken his priestly vows the previous 

week in Aberdeen and returned to his home parish of St Stephen’s, to give thanks and rejoice. 

He was given a warm welcome by Fr Gregory Umunna, Parish Priest, who concelebrated the 

mass with Chris, and reminded him how he would be with all types of people at all stages of 

their lives during his priesthood. He would act as a father to all through happy times and sad. 

Pat McCarthy spoke on behalf of parishioners of the joy they felt in seeing ‘one of their own’ 

take up this vocation. Four further members of St Stephen’s presented him with liturgical 

robes to accompany him wherever he would work in the future. 

When Christopher left Blairgowrie as a young man he took a degree in Hispanic Studies at the 

University of Aberdeen and for a time worked for a Spanish utility company in Glasgow. He 

had remained close to the church, however, as a member of The Catholic Students Society in 

Aberdeen and later working in the church office of St Mary’s Aberdeen. 

His life’s journey took him in 2014 to theological studies at university in Rome along with 

preparation for the priesthood at Scots College in the eternal city. He has one further year of 

study to complete before returning to the Aberdeen diocese to being his full time work as a 

priest. 

Vocations to the priesthood are not unknown in Blairgowrie. Four 

previous sons of the town have been ordained in the past. Some might 

remember the last one – James Edward Quinn, born in 1892, ordained 

in 1917 and died in 1971, by that time known by his full title The Right 

Reverend Monsignor James Edward Canon Quinn. He will be a shining 

example to inspire the young man. 

Following the service of thanksgiving, Fr Christopher cut a celebratory 

cake and circulated amongst parishioners who enjoyed refreshments 

outdoors in the warm evening sun, thankful that social distancing 

rules allowed the church community to re-connect for such a joyful 

occasion. 

James Edward 

Quinn 

Rattray Church, Church of Scotland. 

www.rattrayksg.org.uk 

Minister: Rev. Linda Stewart Tel: 01250 872 462 

Check out Blairgowrie Rattray and District Genealogy Centre article (page 12) on the history of 

Rattray Parish Church as part of the celebrations of the church’s 200th Anniversary. 

Page 49

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Page 51

Blairgowrie Players 

We are delighted to be back rehearsing 

together in preparation for our Murder 

Mystery presentation, Death By Radio, 

as part of the It’s BRAW showcase week 

at the end of August. The kirkyard has 

made a very good rehearsal space to allow 

us to be outdoors. Finding somewhere 

to perform is the main issue we find 

ourselves with. 

In early August we ran a charity shop in 

Howe’s having had to cancel the planned 

event last year. Thanks to all the volunteers 

who helped during the week and also to 

those who came and shopped. Keeping a 

building like the Hill Kirk ticking over costs 

a great deal of money, even if we are not 

actually using it for rehearsals. 

The winner of our Musicals Quiz, which was 

distributed in several shops in town, was 

Catherine Harrison of Meigle. Thanks to 

everyone who took part. 

At the time of writing, we don’t know how 

our pantomime will progress this year. So 

much depends on the rules and regulations 

over the next few months, and also on 

the availability of the Town Hall which is 

still being used as a vaccination centre. 

Hopefully Aladdin will be able to magic up a 

solution. We do have lots of plans for future 

productions so if you are interested in 

joining our club, please get in touch either 

through Facebook or email us on 

blairplayers@btinternet.com. 

If you are interested in seeing the result of 

some of the Hill Kirk improvements, please 

look at a video from Kelly McIntyre on our 

Blairgowrie Players Drama Group Facebook 

page posted in late July. 

Mary’s Meals Blairgowrie Support Group 

We are so grateful to all who have continued 

to support us over the last 18 months. Our 

school in Kankhunkwe has suffered like all 

others throughout the pandemic. We were 

determined our work would not stop. We had 

to find new ways of reaching the children 

who eat Mary’s Meals as, sometimes, it’s the 

only food they receive in the day. Through 

our Covid 19 response activities we are 

now, thankfully, reaching virtually all of the 

children who rely on our nutritious meals 

with take home food rations. 

We are providing children with food at 

home, until it is safe for them to return to 

the classroom. Parents and guardians collect 

the food from a central distribution point, 

observing all necessary hygiene and social 

distancing measures. We are also distributing 

soap and handwashing guidance to help 

support communities’ resilience to the virus. 

We are working hard to ensure we are ready 

to continue with our normal activity once 

schools start to reopen. 

Without your wonderful support we would 

not have managed to raise our usual fund 

for this year’s feeding programme. The 

craft exhibition of arts and crafts held at 

East Balgersho barn and gardens, serving 

tea coffee and yummy cake boxes raised 

over £3,200. The plant sale is still continuing 

in Woodlands Park with new plants being 

added regularly. We would hope to have a 

pre-Christmas sale of our crafts, possibly at 

the end of November. This will no doubt be 

dictated by Covid and we are still looking at 

the possibility of a Ceilidh, of some kind, at 

the end of January. Keep your eyes and ears 

open and do not miss the big occasions. 

If you would like to be part of the support 

group or would like talks or film shows for 

your group’s entertainment please contact 

Margaret 01250 875086 

Margaret Young 

Mary’s Meals Ambassador. 


Awrabest! 

Friends and colleagues gather to wish 

John Corrigan a happy retirement 

Colleagues and friends wished Perth and 

Kinross Council’s John Corrigan all the 

best for his retirement at a special event 

in the Wellmeadow in Blairgowrie. John 

retired on July 14 after 30 years working 

with the council’s community learning and 

development team, 25 of which were in east 

Perthshire. 

As well as a collection, cards and gifts, John 

was also presented with a very special 

‘Awrabest blanket’ which was created by local 

people and organised by John’s colleague 

Jinty Smart. Jinty said: “We were wracking our 

brains to come up with a community-minded 

farewell gift for John. 

“He is such a people person with time for 

everyone so we thought it would be nice if the 

community gave some time back to him in the 

shape of a community blanket - big hugs from 

us all.We asked people to crochet or knit a small 

square which we then sewed together to make a 

big blanket which we presented to John.” 

A video was also made featuring 

contributions from local people, including 

messages to John and photos capturing 

memories of projects, events and activities 

that he has been involved in over the years. 

Councillor Caroline Shiers paid tribute to 

John, saying: “John will be known to so many 

across the local area. And for those who have 

not met John then you will probably still have 

benefited from some of the projects and 

initiatives that he helped get off the ground 

or support - the Strathmore Art Festival, the 

Hamish Henderson festival, GrowBiz, Number 5 

and Bookmark to name just a few. We are well 

served by dedicated community workers who 

work alongside community groups to deliver a 

huge range of activities and for 25 years John 

has been at the heart of this. 

The truly unique gift of a blanket made up of 

squares which were knitted or crocheted by 

people who had worked with John in so many 

capacities over the years, is a wonderful way 

for John to remember the contribution he has 

made. We all wish John a happy and well-earned 

retirement and I am confident we will see him 

pop up in support of community projects in the 

future.” 

John said: “It has been a tremendous honour 

and privilege to work in the communities of this 

wonderful area, and to have experienced the 

positive energy that these communities have 

shown through good times and more difficult 

times. Over the years I have seen community 

members step up to the plate time and again 

and make a positive difference for their 

neighbourhoods, and for the more vulnerable 

members within them. I’ve also had a really 

good time in the process. It’s been a great job 

and I know that I have been very fortunate. 

However, it is now time for me to head off and 

leave the job in younger hands. 

“Thank you to all whom I have had the pleasure 

to work alongside and awrabest.” 

This article first appeared in 

the Blairgowrie Advertiser. 

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of the 

wind. 

Janet McKenzie 

Page 53

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Page 55

. 

. 

B & 

R 

C F 

. 

. 

C 

BLAIRGOWRIE AND RATTRAY 

COMMUNITY FOOTBALL 

CLUB 

Blairgowrie & Rattray Community Football 

Club currently have 10 youth teams for boys 

and girls from age 6 to 15. 

Sports & Activities 

little slower than we would have liked, that 

is just the nature of what we are all trying 

to achieve, with the Goal, (if you pardon the 

pun) to have a first-class facility in our town. 

This year has seen the start of a number 

of new sessions within the club. There are 

recreational sessions on Tuesdays at 6.45pm 

to 7.45pm for ladies and on Friday evenings 

at 7pm to 8pm for over 35 men’s and boys 

born 2005, 2006 & 2007. These sessions are 

held weekly at Piggy Lane and are open to 

anyone who would like to come along to play 

or volunteer. 

Our 2015 team have been training weekly 

at the Recreation Centre with Live Active, 

however this age group will move over to 

the club shortly and the Recreation Centre 

sessions will continue for 2016 born players. 

The club have been running open sessions for 

girls from age 5 to 15 on Wednesday evenings 

at Piggy Lane. These sessions have been well 

attended and are continuing going forward. 

The sessions for age 5-8 are from 6pm to 7pm 

and from 9-12 and 13-15 from 6.30pm until 

8pm. The hope is from these sessions that 

we will have the numbers to start up a girls 

Under 9 and Under 11 team to add to our 

existing Under 13 and Under 15 teams. 

At this time our teams are looking forward 

to the new season and the challenges ahead. 

We would like to wish all our teams the very 

best for the coming season. A special mention 

to our 2008 team as they move to join the 

Dundee & District Youth Football Association 

and to our 2009 teams as they begin their 11 

aside journeys. 

The club is always open to new members and 

of course volunteers. More information about 

our different teams and activities can be 

found on our Facebook page 

https://www.facebook.com/ 

blairgowrieandrattraycommunityfootballclub/ 

BRCFC 3G COMMUNITY FACILITY PROJECT 

Now that we are all slowly getting back to 

some form of normality, our 3G Project 

becomes even more important so that all 

our teams and other organizations in the 

area have an all year round outdoor safe and 

secure area to train and play. 

Progress in the last few months has been a 

This project will offer much needed space 

to local groups for various activities and 

contribute to the plan to help change people’s 

lives for the better through football, physical 

activity and health and wellbeing initiatives 

for all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. The 

Community Club at this point wish to thank 

everyone who has been so supportive in 

moving this along 

At the point of writing this we are delighted 

that another major step forward has been 

achieved with our application for planning 

permission approved. 

By the time the time you receive the Hub 

magazine we will have appointed the main 

contractor for the works, and they will be 

in the process of getting started. A full time 

Club Development Manger could be in place 

who will assist in driving the number of club 

participants forward and be out and about in 

the area meeting with local groups to extoll 

the benefits of becoming part of the club’s 

future development 

The success of our club over the years has 

been built on our volunteers, who give of 

their time so willingly, some for an hour a 

week other considerably more than that. 

Once the facility is operational this will 

continue to be the case. Not for the first time 

we are appealing for volunteers to run the 

facility, it could be something simple like just 

opening and closing, cleaning the area of 

litter, taking online bookings, doing the PAYE 

for our employee, plus a host of other small 

tasks. If you feel that you would like to be 

part of this exciting new project helping to 

make it the best Community Football Club in 

the land then do not hesitate, either just lift 

the phone now or contact me as below. It can 

be as little as an hour a month or whatever 

time you can give. 

The coming months are both an exciting and 

important period for not only the BRCFC but 

the whole of the town. This project will be 

a vital part of the community coming out of 

lockdown, offering, engaging, and supporting 


people to become active through football. 

We hope that everyone of our community is 

getting over these terrible times, Stay Safe, 

Stay Well. 

Should you wish to discuss further 

anything on the project or get involved 

please do not hesitate to contact: Sandy 

Thomson 07511321405 or email me at 

sandythomson1949@gmail.com. 

Rattary Tennis 

Club 

The committee of Rattray Tennis Club, 

are delighted that coaching has returned 

to the club, after almost a 3 year gap. The 

coaching is organised and run by the Vice 

President David Anderson. David starting 

coaching ten juniors of all ages back in 

late July. David, who is a senior qualified 

coach to all ages, said that coaching for the 

future will be part of the excellent facilities 

currently offered and being enjoyed by all 

new and current members. 

BACK TO BADMINTON 

Blairgowrie Badminton Club, Live Active 

Leisure, Beeches Road, Blairgowrie 

With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions 

we are excited to confirm our plans 

to return to our “normal” pre-COVID 

badminton sessions from early September. 

We plan to resume our adult sessions on 

Thursday evenings 8-9pm and continue 

our junior (9yrs & up) sessions on 

Wednesdays “teatime” 5.30-6.30pm (*this 

may have to be moved to 5-6pm*). 

Of course, if appropriate, we will need 

to adapt our plans for any changes in 

restrictions but we’re keeping our fingers 

crossed that all will gain final approval. 

Please make contact with club secretary 

from around 30th August and you will be 

provided with further/confirmed details 

01250 876882 macdougas@gmail.com 

Sandi MacDougall 

Club Secretary 

The club also hosted, in conjunction with 

the PKC childcare Strategy team, a summer 

kids’ activities playday (returning in early 

August) which was very successful and in 

the same week hosted the annual Willie 

Turner tennis tournament which drew 

participants from all Strathmore league 

club. This too was very successful. 

As we enter the second - half of the tennis 

season, although some restrictions and 

conditions have eased such as one metre 

safe distancing and safe bubbles of up 

to 15 from different households, Rattray 

Tennis Club through their Covid officer 

Sandi MacDougall’s strong guidance, have 

maintained various measures in place to 

reduce the risk of the virus being spread. 

In order to maintain the excellent facilities 

at the club and to continue to develop and 

upgrade, the committee are raising funds at 

the local Blairgowrie charity shop on 23rd 

October 2021, please keep an eye open for 

this. 

The committee of RTC wished to take this 

opportunity to thank all members for their 

support, and welcome any new members 

who may be interested in joining. 

Bespoke celebration 

cakes and bakes for all 

occasions 

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Page 57

Blairgowrie Tennis Club 

Blairgowrie Tennis Club has had a busy summer, 

with senior teams playing in the Strathmore League 

and the Perth and District men’s and ladies leagues. 

They are now planning for the start of the Tennis 

Tayside Henderson Vases, a mixed league played all 

over Tayside and the men’s Singles Doubles league. 

The Perth and District are hoping to start the mixed 

leagues in the middle of August. 

The club was also fortunate to receive funding for 

the Summer of Sport to encourage young people to 

participate in activities. The tennis club have offered 

2 weeks of coaching with a 20% reduction for the 

10-4pm coaching. The cost was halved for a 2nd 

child. The first camp at the beginning of July had 34 

Juniors on a tennis course at the beginning 

of July supported by the Summer of Sport 

Funding. 

children of whom 13 were new to tennis. The 2nd weeks course on the 9th August had over 40 

registered and extra coaches had to be drafted in to assist with the additional players. As well 

as learning tennis skills the children have the opportunity to try out different sports such as 

golf, hockey, badminton, American tag, cricket and rounders. 

The juniors have continued to enjoy junior club night on a Friday evening, where the children 

have enjoyed fun games, rounders and a BBQ. 

The courts are also available for anyone to use on a Play and Pay basis by booking through 

www.clubspark.lts.uk/rally. Courts cost £8 per hour. 

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The Blairgowrie Golf Club Gold Medal- the Club Championship 

This is the trophy all members love to aspire to win, however for most it is beyond their 

ability. For some they can have some success whilst others - the few - make a habit of 

winning it. The trophy at Blairgowrie is not only beautiful, with an etching of Lethendy House 

engraved on it, but has a wonderful history. 

In 1889 the letter sent out to prospective Blairgowrie Golf 

Club members had three signatures added to this letter. 

However, there were several local residents who had 

already agreed to become members and one of these was 

Col J A H Gammell of Lethendy. What was most surprising 

about Col Gemmell was that he did not play golf although 

he did enjoy the social side and the camaraderie that 

surrounded the club. In fact, on one occasion when he was 

Captain (1899-1900), he set up a marquee so a party could 

be held for members. 

The first scratch medal played over the 9-hole course 

was the Delvine Silver Medal and was won by John L 

Luke with a 95. However, it was not until 1893 that Col 

Gemmell donated a gold medal to be called the Lethendy Medal and to be played for as the 

Club Scratch Championship. In 1893 this was won by R Gilroy of Broughty Ferry with a score 

of 84. The Championship was stroke play until 1949 when it became the match play we know 

today. The winner in 1894 is unknown, however Stuart Honeyman won the medal in ’95 and 

’96 and claimed that he would get to keep the trophy as Col Gammell told him these were 

the conditions. The committee were not sure of this so they went to Col Gammell and asked 

him what had been the arrangements. Col Gemmell confirmed that the medal could be kept 

if won twice in succession. It seems to have been common practice in these early days that 

when a trophy was won in succession twice or three times, it could be retained. Thankfully 

this practice ended otherwise new trophies would have to be found rather regularly. 

When Tom Morris Jnr won the Open championship in three consecutive years 1868, ’69,’ 70 

he got to retain the Belt, resulting in no Open Championship in 1871 because there was no 

trophy to play for. The Claret Jug was not donated until 1872. Three clubs paid £10 each to 

purchase the Claret Jug, these clubs were Prestwick, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh 

Golfers and the R & A. 

After S Honeyman kept the gold medal at Blairgowrie, Col Gammell came to the rescue and 

donated another, more valuable gold trophy, which the club members play for today. This 

trophy was first played for in 1897 with the winner being Henry M Ballingall (the story of the 

successes of the Ballingall family was told in the Spring 2021 Hub magazine). 

Since the inception of a Club Championship Trophy the serial winners are numerous and the 

league table is as follows: 

Stuart Honeyman - 13 victories in years from 1895-1927 

G S Campbell - 11 victories in years from 1992-2019 

Jim Wilson - 8 victories in years from 1931-48 

H R Honeyman - 6 victories in years 1920-26 

J F Morgan - 5 victories in years 1937-1963 

S H Graham - 5 victories in years 2002-12 

P R Chalmers - 4 victories in years 1898-1901 

D A Steven - 4 victories in years 1967-82 

Ian Davie - 4 victories in years 1969-83 

BRN Grieve - 3 victories in years 1990-2005 

D Cunningham JNR - 3 victories in years 1974-79 

Page 59

The Blairgowrie & District 

Hillwalking Club 

It has been a long road on the return to recovery from the Pandemic, but with light 

at the end of the tunnel, the Blairgowrie and District Hillwalking Club can now look 

forward to the old normal returning, or a “Back to the Future”. 

Current Government guidelines state that “clubs and groups can hold organised activities/ 

meets (with COVID officer and measures in place) for up to 500 people (adults and children 

but excluding the leader(s)) from any number of households, however we would still advise 

limiting groups to smaller sizes to make them easier to manage. From 19 July, you will not 

need to physically distance outside within your social grouping of up to 15 people at level 0, 

but you do need to continue to maintain at least 1 metre from all others outside”. 

During the last 18 months, when Scottish Government Guidelines allowed, the Club organised 

day meets to the hills with the main difference being transport to the venues. This was by 

individual members making their own arrangements to travel alone and observe social 

distancing. Looking forward, we have planned a weekend meet at Gairloch, which will 

hopefully see an end to the current restrictions and once more Club meets can be organised 

around venues suitable for coach transport. 

Recent walks included a variety of walks in the Glen Esk, Balmoral, and Gleneagles areas and 

although not huge hills areas, these locations give fantastic views and good walking. There 

is always a huge variety of Flora, Fauna and wildlife recorded on the walks and members are 

always keen to spot rare plants and bird life. 

A new walk programme is being compiled and will soon be available for all to peruse on 

the Club web site www.bdhc.org.uk . Membership of the Club has remained stable and 

attendance to the restricted meets has been healthy. New members will always be welcome 

and an open invitation is extended to anyone who may have an interest in Hillwalking. We 

would invite potential new members to come along and join one or two of our walks as a 

visitor. To do this, all one needs to do is make contact via a link on the website and we will 

take it from there. The Club will give advice and guidance on the walks which are available 

and give recommendations on fitness levels and equipment. Various levels of walks are 

generally catered for, so there is no need to be super fit or be experienced mountaineers. 

Most new members start as novices and gradually work to achieve ambitions and aspirations. 

Image show a group on Cairn Lick in Glen Lee overlooking Loch Lee and Glen Esk with Mount 

Battock in the distance. 


Interviews & Contributor’s Articles 

Cllr Bob Brawn 

Scottish Conservative, 

Blairgowrie and Glens Ward 

Coming as no surprise, the Covid-19 

pandemic still dominates the news and 

impacts on our everyday lives. Whilst we 

can see that the vaccines are having the 

desired effect, many are still becoming ill 

and having to isolate. However, importantly, 

the number of deaths has thankfully fallen 

and continues to do so. And the basic rulesface 

coverings, social distance and regularly 

washing hands will make a difference as 

they always have. And to all who have not 

yet taken a vaccine I would urge you to do 

so as soon as possible. 

Everyone will appreciate the profound effect 

that this pandemic has had on the Council 

both financially and in its work practices. 

With the easing of restrictions, we are now 

playing catch-up to clear the backlog of 

works which have built up over the last 

sixteen months. As Convenor of Housing 

and Community Safety, I am aware of the 

number in the Housing Service; at its peak 

over 900 outstanding non-essential repairs 

but now reduced to under 600. I can only 

ask for your patience as efforts are made to 

clear the backlog across all services. 

The very successful Community Investment 

Fund has been relaunched and is now open 

for applications from community groups 

throughout Blairgowrie and the Glens. 

Application forms and criteria details are all 

available on the PKC website. Applications 

will be assessed by a panel independent 

from the Council with decisions in place by 

the end of September. 

The new eV Chargers for electric cars are 

now in place in the library car park and can 

charge up to four cars at a time and from 

what I have seen, they have already proved 

very popular. Further eV Chargers will be 

installed in due course at the new car parks 

at the Westpark site and the new Recreation 

Centre. 

The Westpark development has begun 

with initial groundworks for the future 

development of the commercial area. 

Although public opinion is still divided 

pretty much down the middle, it will bring 

much needed jobs to the area and, in time, 

much needed affordable housing and with 

that hopefully young families to help sustain 

the town. 

The Recreation Centre project is continuing 

to move forward with the planning process 

proceeding- as I write, the Pre-Application 

Notice is to be viewed by Councillors at the 

upcoming Planning Committee. 

Road repairs continue leaving much improved 

surfaces. But concerns over excessive 

speeding continue particularly in rural areas 

where there are limited or no pavements. 

With so many tourists now returning, this can 

be a recipe for serious accidents. I would urge 

all to always observe the speed limit. 

Finally, it would be wrong not to mention the 

pleasing sight of seeing so many visitors back 

in the town in these summer months after 

such a difficult period. A much-needed boost 

to all our businesses as they all try to ease 

their way out of the pandemic 

As always, good luck and Godspeed. 

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Mobile - 07557 815541 

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Page 61

Interviews & Contributor’s Articles 

Cllr Caroline Shiers 

Scottish Conservative, 

Blairgowrie and Glens Ward 

In July, John Corrigan retired after 25 years 

working for Perth and Kinross Council as a 

community worker in East Perthshire. John 

will be known to many of you and for those 

who have not met John then you will have 

benefited from some of the projects and 

initiatives that he helped get off the ground 

or support - START, Hamish Henderson 

festival, Growbiz, Number 5, Bookmark 

to name just a few. We are well served by 

dedicated community workers who work 

alongside community groups to deliver a 

huge range of activities and for 25 years John 

has been at the heart of this. We wish John 

a happy and well-earned retirement. I am 

confident we will see him pop up in support 

of community projects in the future. Thank 

you to John and welcome Mairi Todd as you 

move into your new role. 

Work has begun on the development at 

Westpark and I know there are a variety of 

opinions on this from those who welcome 

the additional choice of places to shop and 

facilities which will be provided to those 

who were upset to see the field dug up. I 

fully appreciate these concerns and it is 

important that we do what we can to ensure 

the provision of infrastructure surrounding 

this development and the new homes that 

will be built in the next phases. There is land 

allocated within MU5 (the reference in the 

local development plan which is online for 

anyone who wants to review it www.pkc. 

gov.uk/developmentplan) for open spaces, 

green routes and education and recreation 

use. I have urged the Community Council to 

look at how we plan what the community 

would like to see these sites become in the 

future. 

In early July there was an online public 

session ahead of submission of planning 

permission for the new recreation centre. 

The centre, which now has a budget of 

£24million and will be one of the first 

leisure centres built to state of the art 

Passivhaus environmental standards, will be 

a fantastic facility for the High School and the 

community to use. Important factors such as 

links to public transport routes, improving 

cycle storage facilities as well as maximising 

car parking are all hugely important 

considerations. 

The 3g pitch facility at Davie Park is also 

moving forward and with the new Reccie, 

West Park, Piggy Lane and the Campus means 

that we will have multiple spaces for active 

recreation and sport around the town to 

support the growing population. The green 

gym equipment at the riverside is already 

sparking major interest. 

I have recently written to NHS Tayside asking 

them to engage again with the community 

about health and wellbeing provision in 

the area. We need to ensure that as many 

services as possible are accessible locally. 

COVID 19 has put huge pressure on our 

healthcare services and our gratitude to 

those who work in the NHS can never be 

expressed enough. Delivery of measures to 

support people to lead active, healthy lives is 

so important. 

I can be contacted at any time on 01828 

640181 or by email at cshiers@pkc.gov.uk 

via Facebook or Instagram. 

Murdo Fraser MSP 

Mid-Scotland & Fife Region 

Scottish Conservative and 

Unionist Party 

As we gradually move towards a semblance 

of normality I feel it is important to highlight 

the vital role of the various Covid vaccines in 

allowing us to reach this stage. 

Large sections of the population should now 

have received both jags and with this in 

mind, we should pay tribute to the various 

organisations, groups and volunteers who 

are involved in the vaccination programme, 

including those who have helped at the Drop- 

In facility at Blairgowrie Town Hall. 

The roll-out of the vaccine at the Town Hall 

has been deemed a great success, with help 

being provided by staff from NHS Tayside, 

Perth and Kinross Council, Live Active Leisure 

along with a host of volunteers. 


It was a great idea to utilise Blairgowrie Town 

Hall with the original aim being for it to be 

used as a contingency measure to vaccinate 

local elderly residents. However, it later saw 

younger age groups receive the Covid jag. 

Although the Town Hall is owned by the 

council, it has been run by the Town Hall 

Association for several years. 

Many local residents told me how pleased 

they were at the prompt manner they were 

dealt with during the vaccination process. 

Also, the central location of the hall was ideal 

for many people. 

The roll-out of the Countryside Ranger 

Service to various areas of Perth and 

Kinross, including Loch Clunie, has been 

another local success story. Launched by the 

Conservative-run Perth and Kinross Council, 

the new service is an exciting and significant 

development for the whole region. 

It will greatly assist in the management of 

visitors and tourists who travel to areas 

like east Perthshire to enjoy and explore 

the lovely countryside. Many Blairgowrie 

Hub readers will remember the significant 

challenges and at times, unseemly behaviour, 

from some visitors last summer. 

It’s important that this doesn’t happen again 

but I’m confident that the move to appoint 

the Countryside Rangers will prove to be a 

key decision made to address these problems 

this year. 

Murdo Fraser always welcomes feedback 

from constituents. He can be contacted at The 

Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL by 

email on murdo.fraser.msp@parliament.scot 

or by telephone on 01738 553676. 

John Swinney MSP 

Deputy First Minister of Scotland 

Scottish National Party 

Over the past month, we have been blessed 

with fantastic weather. 

I hope that the sunshine, combined with the 

gradual easing of restrictions, has resulted in 

you all enjoying the summer months. I also 

hope that as many of you as possible are 

benefitting from the protection offered by 

the Covid vaccine. 

Summer is a particularly special time for 

children, with the holidays allowing them 

the opportunity to unwind from the daily 

responsibilities of school life and to socialise 

with friends. We are at the point, however, 

where we can begin to look ahead to the 

return of schools. I think we can all recognise 

the pandemic has been particularly difficult 

for children and that, as the future of our 

country, it is crucial that they are afforded 

every chance to live a happy and successful 

life. 

Accordingly, the Scottish Government is 

introducing policies that we feel will improve 

the prospects of young people. Since being 

re-elected, we have increased the School 

Clothing Grant to £120 per primary pupil 

and £150 per secondary pupil. This will 

ensure that 1850 children from low-income 

families across Perth and Kinross are able 

to afford quality school uniforms. We have 

also removed fees for musical tuition, with 

our £7m investment ensuring that no child 

will be denied the opportunity to learn how 

to play an instrument because of economic 

circumstances outside of their control. 

Additionally, we have announced that £6m 

of funding will be allocated to councils across 

Scotland to pay for extra charges that are 

incurred in some courses, such as equipment 

needed for home economics or the costs 

of a theatre trip. We have pledged £60m to 

refurbish every playpark in Scotland, thus 

ensuring that children have a future-proofed 

and safe place to play. 

And we have made the commitment to 

provide every child with their own tablet or 

laptop throughout school, equipped with 

an internet connection and full technical 

support. This policy is intended to help 

tear down the barriers to education and 

achievement that too many children face. 

I am confident that these policies will prove 

beneficial to young people, and I look forward 

to seeing their impact across Perthshire in 

the months and years ahead. 

John can be contacted on 01250 876576 or by 

Email - john.swinney.msp@parliament.scot 

Page 63

Pete Wishart MP 

Scottish National Party 

Perth and North Perthshire 

It has been fantastic to get out and about 

over the summer months and visit every 

corner of my constituency. Since I last 

wrote in the Blairgowrie and Rattray Hub 

Magazine, I have even been fortunate 

enough to get away for a short break, but 

not to the usual foreign shores, rather the 

equally sunny West Highland coastline. 

It has been a very different summer for 

most of us, but one that has seen many 

exploring corners of our own shores that 

we had been meaning to get to for some 

time or didn’t know existed. 

The rise in domestic tourism has been 

very much welcomed by those businesses 

who rely on tourism to stay afloat. 

Nevertheless, it is evident that a lack 

of overseas visitors and access to the 

EU single market for labour, has been 

difficult for many. The biggest issue that 

businesses across the constituency have 

been contacting me about remains Brexit. 

Whether that be those still struggling 

with exporting, the difficulties our 

supermarkets faced with supply chain, or 

hotels and restaurants struggling to hire 

the required workforce – Brexit is still 

taking its toll. 

Many hospitality and tourism businesses 

rely on workers who come to Scotland to 

work during the peak tourism season and 

return home again later in the year. Due to 

a combination of the pandemic and Brexit, 

the pool of workers who would normally 

be coming to take up these positions is 

largely non-existent. This poses a real 

problem for businesses and many have 

had to resort to scaling back operations 

because of this lack of labour. 

I have raised this issue with the UK 

Government, as ultimately it is their new 

immigration policy and failure to agree 

some continued freedom of movement 

that has caused such a problem in these 

sectors. At the time of writing this article, I 

have had no indication from UK Ministers 

that they intend to make any changes to 

the current system, and it leaves businesses 

without the answers that they need. This isn’t 

just a problem across Perthshire or Scotland. 

I know from colleagues right across the UK 

that sectors like tourism and hospitality, 

those which were some of the hardest hit by 

the pandemic, are those that are also being 

hammered by these labour shortages. 

In slightly cheerier news, the vaccination 

programme still continues apace, and 

we are very much seeing the benefits 

that it brings. Whilst there are still some 

restrictions on international travel and 

public health measures in place, at the time 

of writing we are in a very good place. The 

vaccines are reducing the volume of serious 

hospitalisations with COVID and they are 

also drastically cutting the number of deaths 

linked to the virus. It is likely that booster 

injections will begin in the autumn and I very 

much hope that we can continue with the 

excellent progress already made. 

You can reach me by email at 

pete.wishart.mp@parliament.uk or by 

calling 01250 876576. 

Jamie Duncan 

Aerial & Satellite 

TV Extensions 

All types of Satellites installed 

TV wall mounting 

Based in Blairgowrie 

Established 1999 

Phone: 

07736 551 665 

jdaerials@sky.com 


SCOTTISH SOLICITOR AND NOTARY PUBLIC 

YOUR TRUSTED ADVISERS 

PROPERTY LAW 

COMPANY LAW 

COMMERCIAL LAW 

EMPLOYMENT LAW 

WILLS & EXECUTRIES 

ESTATE AGENCY 

LANDLORD & TENANT LAW 

GUARDIANSHIPS 

POWER OF ATTORNEY 

DISPUTE RESOLUTION 

CALL NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION 

Tel: 01250 874485 

Mob/Legal: 07719 855856 Mob/Property: 07739 915043 

Email: farah@adams-law.co.uk or david@adams-property.co.uk 

Visit our website at: www.adams-law.co.uk 

David Scott (Blairgowrie) Ltd 

FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND 

MONUMENTAL AGENTS 

65 HIGH STREET, BLAIRGOWRIE 

PERTHSHIRE, PH10 6DF 

Telephone (01250) 876400 Fax (01250) 870064 

email: enquiries@dscottfunerals.co.uk 

Also at 7 Toutie Street, Alyth, PH11 8BP 

Tel: (01828) 633433 

Page 65

Business & Contacts 

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS 

Health Care 

Blairgowrie Community 

Hospital Reception ...................... 01250 874 466 

Strathmore Older People’s 

mental Health Team ................... 01250 877 843 

GP Unit ....................................... 01250 877 854 

District Nurses ........................... 01250 872 030 

Health Visitors ........................... 01250 876 668 

Blairgowrie Dental Care............. 01250 875 136 

Dundee Dental Hospital ............. 01382 660 111 

Ninewells Main Number ............ 01382 660 111 

Perth Royal Infirmary ................ 01738 623 311 

Royal Dundee Liff Hospital ....... 01382 423 000 

NHS 24 ..............................................................111 

CHEMISTS 

Boots ............................................. 01250 872 029 

Davidsons ..................................... 01250 870 282 

SURGERIES 

Ardblair Medical Practice ........... 01250 872 033 

Strathmore Surgery .................... 01250 872 552 

VETERINARY SURGERIES 

Blairgowrie Veterinary Surgery . 01250 872 061 

Thrums Veterinary Group .......... 01250 871 010 

LEISURE CENTRES 

Community Campus ................... 01250 871 967 

Live Active .................................... 01250 871 360 

SCHOOLS 

Newhill Primary School .............. 01250 871 941 

St Stephen’s Primary School ...... 01250 871 950 

Rattray Primary School .............. 01250 871 980 

Blairgowrie High School ............ 01250 871 200 

POST OFFICES 

Blairgowrie ................................... 01250 876 949 

Local Delivery Office .................. 01250 872 766 

ELDERLY ACTIVITIES 

Health Community Collaborative 

Hosptial Day Room ...................... 01250 874 466 

Adult Resource Centre ............... 01250 871 910 

Social Services Day Care ............. 01250 877 843 

Freedom Bus Adult Care Services . 0845 3011120 

Care at Home ........................... 01738 476 7000 

OTHER UESFUL NUMBERS 

Alzheimer Scotland 

Dementia Advisor ....................... 01738 562 358 

Anti-Social Behaviour Team ...... 01738 476 173 

Adult Care Area Office ............... 01250 871 910 

Blairgowrie Housing Area Office 01738 476 000 

Homelessness .............................. 0800 917 0708 

Blairgowrie Library ....................... 01250 871 305 

Blairgowrie Registration of 

Births, Deaths & Marriages.........01250 871 310 

Childcare Social Work Office ....... 01250 871 330 

Child Protection ........................... 01738 476 768 

Childcare, Family Info Service ..... 0845 601 4477 

Building Standards Warrants .... 01738 475 300 

Community Connect, Rattray ..... 01250 871 538 

Care at Home ............................... 01250 871 901 

Police .................................................................101 

Scottish Gas Emergencies .............. 0800 111 999 

Scottish Water ............................ 0845 6 018 855 

These numbers are provided for your 

convenience. If you have any corrections 

or suggestions for additions then please 

let Booklore know on Upper Mill Street 

(01250 871 120) 


WE’RE HIRING 

in Blairgowrie & Coupar Angus! 

• COMPETITIVE PAY 

• EXCELLENT BENEFITS 

• FLEXIBLE HOURS AND CONTRACTS 

It’s our people who make Balhousie Care 

Group amazing - the everyday heroes who 

are as committed as we are to providing 

innovative, award-winning, quality care 

based on our core company values: 

Inspiring Passionate Responsive Trusted 

We’re hiring care staff at our care homes in 

Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus. Permanent, 

bank and casual contracts available. 

Here’s what you’ll get: 

• Competitive salary 

• Flexible working 

• Training opportunities 

• Excellent benefits package 

If you’d like to be one of our everyday heroes 

contact careers@balhousiecare.co.uk 

Balhousie Coupar Angus, 

Meadowside Close, 

Coupar Angus, 

PH13 9FB 

01828 424930 

T: 01738 254254 

www.balhousiecare.co.uk 

Page 67

Great value, 

flexible bus travel 

We recently made some changes 

based on your feedback to make 

it easier to travel by bus. 

For full details of our refreshed 

fares and zones, please visit 

stagecoachbus.com.

Blairgowrie & Rattray Hub Magazine - Autumn 21

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