Blairgowrie & Rattray Hub Magazine - Winter 2021

Winter 2021
Sponsored by Stagecoach
Blairgowrie & Rattray
Hub Magazine
In this edition
Cover Image Taken By John Siwek
BLAIRGOWRIE PLAYERS PANTO CHRISTMAS BOOK SUGGESTIONS
FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GIANTS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
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
Blairgowrie & Rattray Community Council
Rotary Club of Blairgowrie
The HEAT Project
Blairgowrie & Rattray Access Network (BRAN)
Booklore Community Bookshop
Blairgowrie & Rattray Illuminations Comittee
Blair In Bloom
Blairgowrie & Rattray Christmas Wish Tree
Proactive Communities
History & Heritage
Blairgowrie and Rattray Genealogy Centre
Blairgowrie & Rattray - Our Heritage
The Hill Kirk Graveyard
Constabulary Duty to be Done
Culture Perth & Kinross - Museums & Galleries
News and Articles
Blairgowrie High School News
Lipreading and British Sign Language Classes
Friendship Cafe
Blairgowrie & Rattray Business Association
16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women
Bookmark Book Festival
Granny Pat’s Christmas Recipes
The Ericht Scottish Country Dance Club
Blair Ukes
Rattray & District SWI
Macular Society
Mindspace - Peer Support in Blairgowrie
Blairgowrie Lyric Choir
Re-use, Recycle, Be Kind!
Cateran Eco Museum - Following in the Footsteps
of Giants
Blairgowrie & East Perthshire Tourist Association
Strathmore Men’s Shed
Walking Home From Tesco - Janet McKenzie
All Right On The Night - Margaret Drummond
The Freedom Coach
Blairgowrie & District Senior Outings
Climate Kind - Christmas
Nest Creative Spaces
Christmas Book Suggestions
Blairgowrie Riding for the Disabled
In My View
Review & Reach Your Business Goals With GrowBiz
Blairgowrie Players
Blairgowrie & Rattray Highland Games
Neighbour Food
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Guiding Blairgowrie & Rattray District
Apples Galore
Garden Matters
Church Notices
Sports & Activities
Blairgowrie & Rattray Community Football Club
Rattray Tennis Club
Blairgowrie Tennis Club
Blairgowrie Badminton Club
Blairgowrie Hockey Club
The Blairgowrie & District Ramblers
The Blairgowrie & District Hillwalking Club
Interviews & Contributors’ Articles
Cllr Bob Brawn
Cllr Caroline Shiers
Murdo Fraser MSP
John Swinney MSP
Pete Wishart MP
Cllr Tom McEwan
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about advertising with us to this address.
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Dates for this year’s Hub Magazine
Accepting Articles
Magazine
& Adverts from ... Available ...
Spring 14/01/22 - 04/02/22
Summer 08/04/22 - 29/04/22
Autumn 24/06/22 - 15/07/22
Winter 01/10/22 - 21/10/22
Last week of
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Last week of
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Mid August
Last week of
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Welcome to the
2021 Winter
Magazine
It’s the time of year when Blairgowrie and
Rattray gets festive. The Christmas lights
‘Switch on’ plans are in place and further
details of the event are on page 10. And to get
you even more into the Christmas mood, the
Blairgowrie Players Panto this year is Aladdin.
See page 43 for more.
When it comes to Christmas shopping, if you
want to ‘Go Green’ then there are suggestions
for ways you can be more environmentally
friendly from the Climate Café on page 36.
Shop local is one of the themes and BARBA
has planned a special event involving local
shops and businesses on page 23.
Finally, news of a different way to support
families in the town is on page 11. The
Christmas Wish Tree will allow you to put a
smile on the face of a youngster who would
otherwise go without this Christmas. Many
other articles are included in the magazine
and these are only some of the highlights.
It seems appropriate at this time of year to
say a big thank you to all the community
groups, individuals and advertisers who have
supported the magazine over the past twelve
months. We’d also like to thank everyone who
has been involved with the production of the
magazine as well as the many helpers who
deliver it to every household in the town. And
finally, we’d like to thank you…. our readers.
This edition of the magazine has been one of
the best supported and sadly we have had to
cut or omit some articles so that more can
be fitted in to the 68 pages we are allowed by
our printers. Apologies to those whose hard
penned words haven’t been included.
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 organiser of the huge
band of volunteers who distribute over 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.
On behalf of the magazine team may I wish
you all compliments of the season and all
good wishes for 2022.
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

Blairgowrie & Rattray
Development Trust Ltd
One Voice for the Community News
It’s been interesting times in branching out
back to “real life” as far as we can whilst the
pandemic lingers on. The Board have been
able to resume in person meetings with the
first one taking place under the blistering sun
at Mt Ericht gardens. This was refreshing in
many ways, not least that some of our newer
board members had never previously met
each other face to face!
The Board are continuing to develop and
strengthen the governance and sustainability
of The Trust. A strategic review session was
recently undertaken with the support of
Development Trust Association Scotland.
This was an interesting opportunity, attended
by board members, staff and volunteers to
look at ways we can build on opportunities
for ensuring continuation of the Trust and its
ability to support the wider community.
We are delighted to welcome the ProActive
Communities team to BRDT with formal
agreement having been made to incorporate
their activities under the umbrella of the
Trust. This provides excellent opportunity for
completely “joined up” working throughout
Blairgowrie & Rattray and will ensure that all
local groups and organisations have access to
support and information through the anchor
organisation for the town.
The Trust, with Blair in Bloom, is continuing
work to take forward the renovation of
buildings and development of ground at the
Mt Ericht gardens. Roof repairs to one of the
derelict buildings are due to be completed
by the end of the year. Funding has been
secured to undertake feasibility studies and
plans for further renovation of the buildings.
As always, none of the work of the Trust
would be possible without our dedicated
teams of staff and volunteers involved in
our wide range of projects and activities –
from our board and Booklore members, our
HEAT energy advisors to our Hub magazine
deliverers and all those in between, a huge
vote of thanks for everything you do!
You can find out more about the Trust
projects on the following pages:
The CAP Review - Below
HEAT energy advice - page 7
Booklore - page 8
Mount Ericht Gardens (with Blair in Bloom)
- page 10
ProCom - page 12
THE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN IS READY
A big thank you to everyone who commented on the public
consultation to determine what the people of the town
wanted to see improved over the next five years. All the
comments and observations have been pulled together and
analysed and brought to together in the final plan.
The Community Action Plan (CAP) sets out the likes and
dislikes of those living in Blairgowrie and Rattray, has a
stated vision of what the town wants to be like in the future
and has five main themes under which actions are listed:
• The Local Economy
• Town Enhancements - roads, traffic and parking
• Environment and Heritage
• Community Organisations, Facilities, Activities and
Events, and
• Access to Services and Transport.
Page 4 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Over the next few weeks, the plan will be
made available and promoted through as
many ways as possible, including printed
hard copies. Many local organisations will
be asked for their views on the number of
printed copies that may be needed to avoid
unnecessary printing.
Once the plan has been widely circulated,
the next step will be to hold an event very
early in the New Year to bring people and
organisations together to get started on the
Community Groups
‘Action’ element. A new start to a New Year.
Details of how that will be done will be
shared in the coming weeks.
Meantime you can access the plan at
www.discoverblairgowrie.co.uk/cap - if
you want to get involved or make a
comment, please do so at the one point for
communication in the town:
admin@discoverblairgowrie.co.uk
Blairgowrie & Rattray
Community Council
(BRCC)
It’s been another difficult year for the
community and the wider world due to
COVID-19 and the resulting restrictions.
Meetings have continued to take place online
and Zooming is no longer just a quick way of
getting around.
Despite this, the Community Council has still
had a role to play and has taken many issues
forward.
BRCC voiced the very strong opinion of the
community when it came to the new recreation
centre, and ensured that there were six lanes in
the new pool and not just five. This will be a key
factor in the success of the new facility when
it opens and will undoubtedly have a positive
knock-on effect on the town. We have also
made suggestions around operational hours
and access for the community and look forward
to seeing these adopted when it opens.
With the help of the ever-supportive Rotary
Club, we managed to buy the phone box on the
High Street, have it refurbished and installed a
new defibrillator. Pete Richardson, of First Aid
Perthshire, has very kindly agreed to look after
the new defibrillator and keep it in working
order for the town.
Meanwhile, in Rattray, deteriorating council
properties are next on the list to fix. Councillor
Bob Brawn has undertaken to ensure
improvements will be made along with lighting
on the Ferguson Park pathways and new traffic
calming measures along Glenalmond Road. We
look forward to these happening in the very
near future.
BRCC member, Robin Duncan has ordered a
new Christmas tree for this year. We’re playing
our part in tackling climate change by going
eco-friendly, with a metal framed, LED lit,
reusable tree for the Wellmeadow. Various
sources of funding have been secured and this
will be a great addition to the town’s Christmas
lights.
This September we received an impromptu visit
from a resident of one of our twinned towns,
Mr Guy Houston from Pleasanton, California.
He came over to take part in the Cateran
Yomp and brought a letter from the Mayor,
Carla Brown, with him. In it she expressed a
desire to build a stronger relationship between
the two towns and told us of their Highland
Gathering which takes place annually, on the
first weekend in September. Scott MacGregor
of BRCC will look into ways in which we can
expand on our connection with Pleasanton.
Thank you to Scott for co-ordinating the civic
reception.
Keeping the public informed about what’s going
on and where help has been available has been
more important than ever over the last year
or two, so well done and thank you to our local
press for keeping our community up to date
with all of the many different way in which the
community can access support, should they
need it.
Looking forward, Blairgowrie and Rattray
Community Council continue to play an
important role within the community. The role
of the community council, and its councillors
remains vital to the vibrance and success of
the town and I look forward to seeing what this
next year holds for this community council.
Scott MacGregor
Chairman
Page 5

Rotary Club of
Blairgowrie
We are delighted to be meeting up face to
face again, in our new venue, the Blairgowrie
Golf Club. Same day – Wednesday and time –
6 for 6.30pm.
All visitors are welcome, but please do
contact our secretary Deborah Rogers - email:
secretary@blairgowrie.rotary1010.org so that
we can let the caterers know the numbers
for the meal. We are also investigating hybrid
meetings; we know that not all our members
are happy or able to meet up face to face.
And hybrid meetings would allow us to have
speakers from further afield.
also supported by Bentley UK, who displayed
and entered their new models, Milford
Engineering, Classic Restorations, Morris
Leslie and the Cameron Group, as well as club
members, to all of whom we are incredibly
grateful. This is the 4th time our small club
of 25 members has run this event, which
has now raised around £100,000 for various
good causes. Special thanks must go to club
member Colin Stewart and his wife Anne, the
“driving force” behind the event.
Games Night
Drive it Day
Drive it Day was finally held on 22nd August,
having been postponed twice because of
Covid. Over £30,000 was raised: Bowel Cancer
UK and Alzheimers Scotland each received
£12,250 with £6,125 for the club’s own
benevolent fund which supports the local
community.
In October we invited community groups
to enter teams for a Games Night, held in
Rattray Bowling Club. 8 table top games were
played, and after 7 rounds Blair in Bloom won
the first prize of £100. A “hybrid” team from
Nest, Blair in Bloom and Rotary were runners
up, winning £50. Our local community was
well represented, with teams from BRAN,
SWI, the Tennis Club, the Highland Games,
ProCom and Blairgowrie Rotary. Everyone
had great fun, and we have been asked to do
it again; watch this space!
75 cars of all types and ages, from a vintage
Bullnose Morris to a modern Lamborghini,
gathered at Blairgowrie Golf Club in the
morning, drove to St Andrews for a picnic
lunch at the West Sands and ended up at the
Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry, for High Tea.
Everyone enjoyed the spectacular scenery
and had a great day out.
The cars were waved off from the Golf Club
by the Provost of Perth and Kinross, Dennis
Melloy. The drivers were truly generous with
their donations, as was our main sponsor
Graham Environmental Services. We were
Page 6 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

End Polio Now
Once again, we have been planting purple
crocus corms in the Wellmeadow, made
easier by Blair in Bloom cutting the turf for
us. In total Blairgowrie Rotary bought 32,000
corms: 4,000 each were donated to the
local Bloom groups, PKC bought the 4,000
for the Wellmeadow, and Coupar Angus an
additional 6,000. Local Primary schools will
receive some, and members have bought
quite a lot! The money for the corms goes to
End Polio Now, Rotary’s campaign to finally
eradicate polio. The crocuses are purple,
because that is the colour pinkie fingers are
stained to show that polio vaccine has been
received. Two years ago we were almost
there, but Covid and the Taliban takeover in
Afghanistan, one of the last areas where polio
was endemic, has made the immunisation
campaign difficult and dangerous.
Future plans
The plans for our 75th Anniversary are well in
hand – that’s for the next issue!
Page 7

Blairgowrie & Rattray
Access Network (BRAN)
BRAN tend the town’s core footpaths keeping
them accessible for all to enjoy. Find an
illustrated leaflet detailing the Path Network
at https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/15353/
Blairgowrie-path-network
Our volunteers have been busy all year
strimming, trimming & lopping the growth
as well as litter picking & even joinery. You
may have seen them along the River Ericht
path, around the Ardblair Trail or perhaps, at
Loon Braes. Brian Campbell, our unassuming
Work Party leader, has done an excellent job
of organising the regular group tasks. Ally
Donald & Grahame Mustard have worked
tirelessly mowing the grass along the entire
network – that’s some feat.
Our volunteers are a fantastic bunch, full of
enthusiasm & fun. Without their dedication
& commitment our footpaths would become
overgrown & unusable – a tragedy for the
town & for path users. We wish to say a huge
BRAN thank you to each & every one of them.
Our activities will continue throughout the
Photo shows L to R Val, Brian, Keith, John, Ian,
Helen & Alasdair setting off for a tidy up of
Loon Braes on 24 Sept 21
winter months including servicing tools
& equipment. We are keen to expand our
network of volunteers in readiness for spring.
Consider contributing a little of your time to
this invaluable cause & have a chat with our
Chairperson, Ian Richards, on 07787 317022
or email him at
ian_richards2007@yahoo.com
We’d love to hear from you.
Blairgowrie & Rattray Development Trust
BOOKLORE COMMUNITY BOOKSHOP
13 Upper Mill Street, Blairgowrie
It has been fabulous to welcome so many customers
into Booklore over the past few months- both regular
purchasers and also some people finding us for the first
time (which is always special). We are so pleased to also
welcome visitors to the town stocking up on holiday
reading and finding out a bit about where they come from and what they think about the
area.
Huge thanks, as always, go 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 extended to all
who bring books to us for resale, be it a few they’ve finished reading up to 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. We stock a huge variety of books, from
paperback/hardback fiction to cooking, biographies, crafts, nature, gardening, classical fiction,
sport, health and children’s books. We also have a collector’s section in addition to shelves
of Scottish books. There’s something for everyone. Pop in regularly as our stock can change
frequently.
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. Pop in and pick up a unique
Christmas gift for a loved one and buy a few books to keep you going over the Festive season
at the same time. A hot cuppa and a book, the perfect way to spend a few hours in the
winter.
Page 8 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Page 9

Blairgowrie & Rattray Illuminations Committee (BRIC)
The Christmas lights remaining up
throughout the year seems to have created
a bit of a talking point with visitors during
the summer and a useful conversation
starter with us locals. Our decision not to
take the lights down was made at a time
when government COVID advice was against
such close work. Thereafter, the Committee
voted to leave them up unless PKC suggested
otherwise.
Even without the wear and tear of being
brought down and re-erected, our display
has still suffered from traffic fumes and
weather. BRIC volunteers began checking
bulbs and retrieving timers in early October
in preparation for this year’s festive season.
In addition, thanks are due to TJB Landscapes
for providing a cherry picker (and Tam!) to
uplift a faulty bridge light for refurbishment.
More generosity from Algo will supply a
forklift allowing us to complete checks and
replacements on 13-14 November - early
drivers take care!
No new lights this year, but BRIC has paid
PKC for a new socket on Allan Street that will
save us the considerable present expense
of paying an energy company connection
charges. In a similar cost-cutting exercise, we
are hoping to replace rope-lighting on Santa’s
sleigh as part of an ongoing facelift.
Ho! Ho! Ho! The annual Switch-on community
event will go ahead this year in the
Wellmeadow on Saturday November 27th.
The traditional stalls, performers and Santa’s
grotto will be there from 4pm and we’re
hoping to provide a special family activity to
prolong the fun after the Christmas lights go
on. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and
the local press for details.
A much brighter future awaits us next year!
Thanks largely to Sam Stewart of Proactive
Communities, a major National Lottery
grant has been secured for replacing the
heavy, circular Wellmeadow shapes. A local
benefactor has also donated a substantial
sum earmarked for Rattray’s display. In
addition, the Tesco Community Grant (blue
tokens) scheme will contribute to enhancing
the lighting of the Ericht Bridge - the corridor
that connects our two communities. And,
finally, we have already committed funds to
replace the dowdy Leslie Street shapes. A
busy year ahead!
At present, we are shorter than ever of
volunteers. Our ageing group desperately
needs more helpers: even an hour or two
every few months - to support the raffle,
collecting cans, a bit of lifting, rewiring,
holding a ladder, fitting plugs, selecting
new lighting shapes, press reports ….. not
necessarily committee meetings! Please
phone or message old Keith (07891289549) or
young Scott (07950213546). Please!
Autumn is well and truly with us and we have
been busy bulb planting. We have continued
the crocus walk along Elm Drive, which is
always a colourful show in March/April. We
have also added to the purple/blue and
white crocuses opposite Tesco, with thanks
to The Rotary Club of Blairgowrie for their
donation of the purple/blue bulbs. These
are to highlight their campaign to eradicate
polio. Mixed with the white bulbs, they also
represent support for Motor Neuron Disease.
The Meeting Place in Croft Lane had a spruce
up with the woodwork now painted silver and
blue. There are some sleepers to be replaced
and this will be done when funds and time
permit. It certainly has given the site a much
needed facelift.
The planting in Coronation Corner has
developed well and once the spring bulbs are
planted, it should be a real showpiece. The
Page 10 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

plan is to purchase a couple more benches
when we can.
The Community Garden at Mount Ericht
produced a great crop of potatoes recently,
some of which Little’s Restaurant used. The
remainder were given to the BaRI food store.
An apple tree workshop was held in the
garden recently, organised by the Climate
Café, where Andrew Lear – known as the
Appletree Man – educated us in looking after
fruit trees. He was delighted to see the old
apple tree we have at Mount Ericht, which he
advised us is an old variety called Catshead.
He thought the tree was at least 50 years old
and will return towards the end of February
to show us how to prune it to ensure the best
crop next year.
Work should start towards the end of
November to re-roof the smaller building at
Mount Ericht, which will become a storage
facility, small kitchen and toilet. Funding
was secured partly from The Mushroom
Trust for this. At a recent talk to Rattray &
District SWI, I was able to show them a map
dated 1867 which showed the garden was
the kitchen garden for the main house. From
other records we have seen, we are confident
the ground has only ever been used for
horticultural purposes.
Our popular quiz night returns on Friday 26
November at Rattray Bowling Club, so if you
wish to take part please email
blairinbloom@aol.com to reserve a table.
Numbers are restricted to 14/15 tables to
keep within Covid 19 regulations.
Best wishes go to you all for a happy, healthy
and peaceful Christmas and New Year and we
look forward to 2022 with renewed hope and
excitement.
The ‘wish tree’ will hold a selection of gift tags
describing a present that a local child would
like to receive this Christmas.
A group of organisations in Blairgowrie and
Rattray is working together to help bring a
little bit of festive cheer to families in the
local community this Christmas.
Proactive Communities, as part of Blairgowrie
and Rattray Development Trust, and in
collaboration with Blairgowrie and Rattray
Community Council, Cllr. Caroline Shiers and
Blairgowrie Tesco, is organising a special
Christmas Wish Tree to support families in
the town.
It will be located in Tesco on Welton Road in
the town and the idea is that members of
the community help children’s wishes come
true by taking a tag, purchasing the gift
and returning it, with the original tag, to a
designated drop-off point for Santa to collect
and deliver to the youngsters on Christmas
Eve.
Perhaps you are not having a secret
Santa this year? Perhaps you’d like to give
something back or simply put a smile on a
young person’s face this Christmas? Whatever
the reason, please keep an eye out for more
information on this special project in the local
press and on social media and, together, let’s
brighten someone else’s Christmas Day!
For more information or to get in touch, send
an email to Samstewart1504@gmail.com
Page 11

£15,000 FUNDING BOOST FOR
PROACTIVE COMMUNITIES
FOOD PROJECTS
There have been a number of developments
for Proactive Communities since the last
edition of the Hub magazine.
In September, a formal agreement to
incorporate the activities of local group
Proactive Communities and the Blairgowrie
and Rattray Development Trust (BRDT) in a
partnership was signed.
The move sees Proactive Communities
become the primary operational and
communications arm of the Trust, supporting
the town, delivering projects and working
with other groups to deliver the priorities
arising from a review of the community
action plan, publication of which was
imminent as the Hub went to press.
And in October, Proactive Communities
was awarded £15,000 by Perth and Kinross
Council to enable it to continue its valuable
support work in Blairgowrie and Rattray,
specifically its popular Saturday Lunch Club
and Blairgowrie and Rattray Independent
(BaRI) Food Store initiatives, until the end of
March next year.
The Saturday Lunch Club provides soup and
a cake to dozens of residents in Blairgowrie
and Rattray each weekend and since it was
launched last year volunteers have delivered
thousands of lunches - including nearly 100
festive meals and meal kits on Christmas Eve
- to local people.
The project also offers frozen meals cooked
by local chefs.
The ingredients used come from a variety
of sources including the two local Co-op
Stores foodshare, FareShare Go via Tesco
and FareShare Community as well as local
growers such asTaybank Growers and Blair
in Bloom, supporting the BaRI Food Project’s
efforts to reduce food waste and food
poverty.
And that food is also available from the BaRI
Food store, currently based at Rattray Hall
on Wednesdays from 4pm to 6pm and on
Saturdays from 1pm to 3pm.
A range of items is available including
fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, cereal,
pasta, sauces and tinned soup and fruit and
vegetables.
The Saturday Lunch Club and the BaRI Food
Store are open to everyone.
Proactive Communities also provides
community engagement, working with
142 groups, clubs and organisations in the
town to help them support their volunteers
and members. Through this, Proactive
Communities 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.
This work is ongoing and in recent weeks
has seen a particular focus on supporting
the transition back to face-to-face meetings
and events for many groups and signposting
to appropriate funding streams where
necessary. Such community engagement has
also helped a new informal Women’s Walk
and Chat group get going.
And the team at Proactive Communities
would also like to congratulate chair Phil
Seymour on his nomination for a Local
Hero award at the Scottish Parliament in
recognition of his tireless efforts as chair
of the Blairgowrie and Rattray Coronavirus
Coordination Group throughout the height of
the pandemic last year.
For more information on the BaRI Food
Project, the services it offers, and community
engagement, see the website
www.discoverblairgowrie.co.uk or email
admin@discoverblairgowrie.co.uk
Page 12 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Page 13

History & Heritage
Blairgowrie Rattray and District Genealogy Centre
Making Sense of the Census
Every ten years Genealogists eagerly await
the publication of the Census. The Census
information must not be disclosed until a
period of 100 years has elapsed and the
National Records of Scotland (NRS) plan to
have the 1921 census available online in the
latter part of 2022.
death in infancy or childhood was sadly only
too common in the past, further children may
have been born within the 10 year period and
not appear in the census.
The Census is a valuable source of
information when researching Family History.
According to NRS the Census “provides
a snapshot of the people at a particular
address on a given night” and a census has
been taken every ten years since 1801, with
the exception of 1941. At the moment,
census records may be accessed online for
the years 1841, 1851, 1861 and so on up to
and including 1911.
A new census was due to be taken in Scotland
in 2021, but, while the Office for National
Statistics went ahead on 21 March 2021 in
England and Wales, as did the Northern
Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, the
NRS postponed the Census in Scotland due
to the Covid-19 pandemic, and this is now
planned to take place on 20 March 2022 – a
date for your new 2022 diary.
Census information is recorded under
headings and provides an excellent resource
for genealogists trying to piece together
fragments of family history. For example:
Road, Street and Number or Name of House
This makes it possible to tell exactly where
ancestors once lived. Some streets listed no
longer exist. For example, here in Blairgowrie
and Rattray, we no longer have streets such
as Cherry Row and Constable Street (and of
course many others).
Name and Surname of each person
Name spellings can be variable, so if a
surname such as Rattray can’t be found, it
may easily be that a name variant has been
recorded, and there are search options on the
NRS site to help. This section can reveal how
many children were in the family, but, since
Relation to Head of Family, Rank, Profession or
Occupation
Usually this has been recorded as the man of
the house, his spouse, sons and daughters,
but may easily include other family members,
as well as servants, lodgers and boarders.
There were, of course, many different ranks,
professions and occupations, and here in
Blairgowrie and Rattray a good number of
people were working in the Mills along the
Ericht. Some of the recorded job titles may
be of interest, such as tenters, tow reelers,
dalenders, and wrights. The industrial
revolution brought many local changes.
For example, in 1841 the occupation of
hand loom weaver had been popular, but
by 1861 this had switched to power loom
weaver. Another item of interest is that
the 1901 Census showed the occupation of
fruit grower for the first time in our area.
Opportunities for women were generally very
limited and typically included servants of
different kinds, shop keepers, house keepers,
mill workers and dressmakers. Very sadly,
individuals described as paupers are often to
be found throughout the censuses.
Where born
The 1841 Census usually reveals only whether
or not the individual’s birthplace was in
Scotland. From 1851 onwards, the county
and parish of birth has been recorded,
and this is particularly helpful detail for
genealogists to add to their research.
However, if the individual was not born in
Scotland, the birthplace continues to simply
appear as England, Ireland, etc. Occasionally
our volunteers come across an unusual
birthplace recording, and the English Channel
Page 14 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

is an interesting one - presumably on board
a boat. The birth place records in the 1871
Census, taken when the Industrial Revolution
was in full swing, shows people were coming
from all over the UK and Ireland to work in
the Blairgowrie and Rattray Mills. Of course,
had the Census been taken during a berry
picking season it would have been fascinating
to see the diversity of birthplaces.
Other details of interest to genealogists
include: in the 1861 and 1871 Censuses
the number of children aged from 5 to 13
attending school and the number of rooms
with 1 or more windows - this gives an
indication of the atrocious living conditions
people often experienced at the time.
The 1911 Census included the heading
“Particulars as to Marriage”, and at this
time, married women were also asked about
duration of their marriage, children born
alive and children still living.
Who knows what we can expect from the
1921 Census which was taken on 19 June
1921. There are already a few items we know
to look out for such as information about the
individual’s place of employment and name
of employer. Also for the first time, under
the heading “Marital Status”, divorce will be
included as an option. Our Genealogy Centre
Volunteers are looking forward to finding out
more.
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 committee of our Heritage Blairgowrie and Rattray have recently
held two in-person, rather than Zoom, meetings aimed at bringing the
hope of a Heritage Centre for the town closer to fruition.
Blairgowrie &
Rattray
Unfortunately, the next pop-up has been postponed until the Spring
of 2022 when it is hoped that things Coronavirus - wise will be looking
better. The theme will be Education. Check the website and social
media in due course for dates and times. The venue, with thanks to
Culture PK and librarian Craig Dennis, will be Blairgowrie Library.
Due to the hard work of committee members, categories are
continually being added to the Timeline, including local sporting
events – curling, cycling, archery and more.
Please do not forget to visit Our Heritage website for updates or if you have information on
any of the categories added to the Timeline or you wish to make a comment or offer help.
Find us on the website, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as below.
Our Heritage Blairgowrie and Rattray
@ourheritageblairgowrieandrattray
Find out
more...
ourheritageblairgowrie
wow@ourheritageblairrattray.scot
www.ourheritageblairrattray.scot
Page 15

THE HILL KIRK GRAVEYARD
Kirk Wynd, Blairgowrie
The Neighbour Group, who voluntarily look
after the Hill Kirk Graveyard in Kirk Wynd,
are about to make the last cut and tidy up of
the grounds as it is currently mid October as
we pen this article. On this occasion the local
volunteers BRAN, who maintain the local
pathways so superbly, will be here to assist
on this final cut. They generously come up at
least three times during the growing period.
This is much appreciated.
With limited visits to this historic graveyard
this year due to Covid it has felt quieter this
summer. However, while mowing on a few
occasions, we met a number of newcomers
to the area who were just walking around,
getting to know Blairgowrie and Rattray.
The Graveyard takes its toll on the machinery,
due to the many bumps and lumps and a
number of “hidden” gravestones, all of which
challenge us. The Neighbourhood volunteers
have been allocated some monies to get
a much needed new lawnmower this year
and we will now be able to rotate the use
of the mowers, the first of which was kindly
donated by one of the neighbours.We are
very grateful to Samantha Stewart who did so
much work on our behalf to get this money.
Thank you Sam.
We are also planning some additional signage
around the Graveyard, supplementing the
main gate sign and the new Environmental /
The photo shows Autumn at the Kirk
Graveyard. This was provided by our
excellent local photographer Dave Gow.
Bat sign adjacent to the lower section of the
graveyard. A local businessman, Greg Crole,
of Crole Signs is kindly assisting with this
project. Thank you Greg.
Hopefully we will have signs showing the
detail of the oldest gravestone (1691) as
well as an acknowledgement of Sir William
Macpherson’s help at the start of the
Graveyard project. These will be erected on
the lower gates which lie very close to the
Macpherson Clan “lair”.
If anyone wishes to help this very small
group of volunteers NEXT summer, with
the mowing, once every 3 weeks or so, but
usually in a rota, please drop an email to
derekballoch@hotmail.co.uk……all help will be
gratefully appreciated.
CONSTABULARY DUTY TO BE DONE
By Alisdair Drummond, Retired Chief Inspector, Tayside Police and Perth & Kinross Constabulary
‘Tis the season to be jolly! Well, as old records
show, back at the beginning of the 20th
century a fair number of Blairgowrie folk
seemed to have been jolly all year round
or, in other words, drunk and incapable.
Surpassed only by Crieff, by far the biggest
proportion of arrests were due to the demon
drink. The Blairgowrie Police ‘drunk barrow’
which was specially made to carry the
inebriated who were picked up off the street,
was in constant use. With straps to secure a
recumbent body and narrow enough to get
through closes, it gave good service till the
1920s and when abandoned by the law it was
rather appropriately acquired by a local hotel
for carrying beer barrels.
History & Heritage
However, it wasn’t just the civilian population
who headed for the pubs when they got
their pay, because in 1849 a Perthshire
Police Sergeant and three of his men were
severely fined and reprimanded for drunken
behaviour. Between them they were reported
to have consumed such a vast amount of
spirits that the Sergeant was incapable of
signing the men’s daily reports. To compound
the offence, another of the drunken
foursome forged his signature and promptly
deserted the Force, taking with him a new
pair of uniform trousers. The Chief Constable
was determined to make an example of them
Page 16 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

and only the Sergeant’s previous good conduct prevented his dismissal. He was subsequently
fined 20 shillings, while two of his partners in crime were fined 3 shillings each and another
had his pay reduced from 14 to 13 shillings per week. A heavy levy for a bevvy!
Culture Perth and Kinross
As the nights draw in and the seasons
begin to change, this Autumn, we have
two exciting exhibitions opening to tempt
history buffs, museum lovers and visitors
young and old.
Travel back in time with ROMANS: Edge of
Empire as we explore what it was like to live
on the very edge of the Roman Empire for
Romans and Celts.
Way back before Scotland was Scotland and
Perthshire was Perthshire, the land belonged
to Celtic tribes. The Caledonians, Maetae and
later, the Picts. ROMANS: Edge of Empire
will explore what life was like for Roman and
Celtic lives on the north-western edge of the
vast Roman Empire.
To accompany ROMANS: Edge of Empire,
there is also a new exhibition drawing from
the work of craftspeople who have been
commissioned to create replicas of rare
and unusual Roman artefacts found along
the Antonine Wall, including a Roman wine
barrel, an Iron Age ‘tartan’, and an African
style portable cooker, amongst others. Each
object reveals stories of how individuals and
communities (now and in the past) can break
down boundaries and create a space where
they belong. Visitors will be able to come and
get hands-on with history and learn more
about the communities on the Wall then and
now.
The exhibition, The Antonine Wall: Beyond
Boundaries, is part of the Rediscovering
the Antonine Wall Project, supported by the
National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic
Environment Scotland, which encourages
local communities to develop and deliver
Museums & Galleries
projects to engage with the World Heritage
Site on their doorstep.
ROMANS: Edge of Empire and The Antonine
Wall: Beyond Boundaries is at Perth Museum
and Art Gallery until 6th February 2022.
Details can be found here:
https://bit.ly/cpkromans
Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries
As part of the Climate Perth and Kinross
programme, Culture Perth and Kinross
Libraries and Perthshire Organic Gardeners
will be launching the Perthshire Seed Library
with a series of events and drop-in sessions
this November.
Seed Libraries are an exciting new way of
enabling communities to share and save
native and heirloom seeds
Want to discover how you can join the library,
support healthier soils, respond proactively
to climate change, and build a community
of fellow gardeners? Then come along on
the 20th of November as Culture Perth and
Kinross launches the Perthshire Seed Library.
We are launching the Blairgowrie Seed library
on Saturday 20th November with an event
for the local community.
The session will give you lots of information
about how you can save seeds, request seeds
plus give you information about relevant
library services.
Continued on next page
Page 17

• Saturday 20th November, 11am – 12.30pm,
Blairgowrie Library
• Booking is essential due to the limited
spaces available.
• Tickets are available via Eventbrite.
Details can be found here - https://www.
culturepk.org.uk/whats-on/perthshire-seedlibrary-information-session-and-seed-drop-offat-blairgowrie-library/
We’d like to take this opportunity to highlight
a couple of our services that might benefit
people who struggle to get to the library,
and to introduce some new additions
to the library in Blairgowrie that we are
implementing over the next few months.
RVS Books On Wheels
All the Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries
work in partnership with Royal Voluntary
Service to deliver books to people who are
unable to visit their local library. Throughout
Perth and Kinross, RVS Books on Wheels
volunteers visit more than 200 people at
home.
Who can use Books on Wheels?
• If you are unable to visit your local
library because you are housebound,
recovering from illness, have mobility
difficulties, visual impairment or are a
carer at home, we can bring the library
service to you.
How does this service work?
• When you contact us to join, your local
library staff will discuss your interests
and requirements. In addition to our
regular stock, we have an extensive
collection of large print and audio
books available. We will select items
for you and arrange for a local RVS
volunteer to deliver to your home
monthly.
Books to Go
Books to Go is our personal shopping
service, and is available to anyone.
It is especially useful for people who are
uncomfortable coming into public spaces
now, and also for those who struggle to find
time to browse the library but are happy to
have a regular order of books made up for
them.
To find out more about either of these
services, contact Blairgowrie Library by email
or telephone and we’ll be delighted to assist
you in using this service.
Hublets
We’ll also be introducing Hublets into
Blairgowrie Library, and we’re very keen to
share some information with you. The Hublet
is a tablet that can be used anywhere within
the library building with an adult library card.
You can use them to access digital resources
in libraries. You can use them to surf the
web, check your email, catch up with social
media and search the library catalogue.
The devices also have the PressReader app
installed to allow you to read any of the 1000s
newspapers or magazines on offer.
To find out more about Hublets, Books on
Wheels or Books to Go, contact Blairgowrie
Library by email or telephone and we’ll be
delighted to assist you in using this service.
Email: Blairgowrielibrary@culturepk.org.uk
Telephone: 01250 871305
Opening hours
Tuesday 0930-1300 1330-1900
Wednesday 0930-1300 1330-1730
Thursday 0930-1300 1330-1730
Friday 0830-1400
Saturday 0930-1300
Find us on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram -
@CPKLIbraries
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!
Exclusive ranges of quality cards including
Scottish Artists, Blank cards & Humour
Oor Wullie/The Broons/Kelpies Art Plaques
Velvet Tartan Scarves Pewter brooches
‘Funny place names’ Tea towels & Books
Delicious flavoured Scottish made chocolate
Large range of Fair trade gifts and Incense
Quality Christmas cards and Calendars
Friendly, experienced staff, happy to help.
Page 18 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Blairgowrie High
School News
CashforKids Schools
Challenge
This year we took part in the inaugural Cash
for Kids Schools Challenge - a competition
for schools that guaranteed any funds
raised would be returned to school for
the benefit of young people. Through the
multitude of fundraising events organised
by our Senior Prefect Team and our Events
Group, we raised
a phenomenal
amount of cash -
£3,096.58. Of the
6 finalists in the
competition, we
came second which
resulted in Cash
For Kids adding a
further £2,000 to the funds the team have
raised. The senior prefects will now begin
consultation with pupils about how the
cash should be spent to benefit our school
community.
Headteacher, Mrs Leslie, congratulated all the
very hard-working fundraisers and thanked
everyone who took part, whether that was as
a participant, a spectator or a donator. Such
a lot of fun was had in the school as learners
and staff embraced the competition.
RRS SILVER
AWARD
ACHIEVED
Blairgowrie High School is delighted to
announce that at the accreditation visit
on 5th October the assessor granted us
our Silver Rights Aware award which is the
second stage of the Rights Respecting Schools
Award.
This national Award recognises a school’s
achievement in putting the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNCRC) into practice within the school and
beyond.
There are three levels to the Award:
• Bronze: Rights Committed
• Silver: Rights Aware
• Gold: Rights Respecting
Schools involved in the Rights Respecting
Schools Award work towards the recognition
that they have embedded children and young
people’s rights in their school’s practice and
ethos. Schools are required to implement
three evidence-based strands that cover
the leadership of the school, knowledge and
understanding of children’s rights, ethos
and relationships and the empowerment of
children and young people.
Next step? Going for GOLD!
Above Left: Mrs Leslie and only some of the
many fund raisers who helped us achieve 2nd
place in the Tay FM Cash for Kids Challenge.
Above Right: Mr Henderson, Caitlin Downey,
Emma Gatehouse and Lily Tosh preparing for
their fund-raising bungee jump.
Page 19

Page 20 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Page 21

Do you struggle with a Hearing Loss? Lipreading classes can help
I qualified as a lipreading tutor eight years
ago and am now teaching in Blairgowrie,
Perth, and Dundee.
At the beginning of the pandemic in March
2020 all Lipreading and British Sign Language
classes were stopped, so during this time I
knew I had to keep in touch with my students
by emailing, texting, telephoning, writing to
them, or visiting them at their homes and
occasionally going for coffee with them when
it was safe to do so.
During this period communication has been a
very difficult time for my students especially
when the wearing of face masks became
compulsory. The clinic for cleaning and retubing
of hearing aids was stopped, collection
of batteries for their hearing aids now had
to be given out by telephoning audiology for
them to post out to them. Many of them were
getting someone else to phone for them or
writing into audiology. If their hearing aids
are damaged, once again they would have to
post them to audiology and wait for them to
be returned, so during this period for them
isolation has been very difficult.
During the early part of this pandemic, I put
together a “Keep in touch box”, for all my
students in Blairgowrie, with the thanks from
Blairgowrie Tesco, ASDA Dundee, and Coop
Perth Road Blairgowrie.
Since then, I regularly send out a variety of
lipreading activities for them to do which
included mirror exercises of lip patterns.
These letters are hard to recognise, for
example- sh/ch/j - try, “The world’s cutest
sheep were in the back of the farmer’s cheap
jeep”….
Other lip patterns were p/b/m for example: -
“Polly and Molly bought beetroot from Bert”.
Pictures were sent showing British Sign
Language letters where the students had to
work out not only the letter but also work out
a twelve-letter word only using each letter
once, other British Sign Language lessons
were provided by Paul McLellan, BSL Tutor
and they included Christmas songs.
I will be resuming lipreading classes in
November 2021 and all lipreading classes are
free. Funding has previously been provided
by Perth and Kinross See Hear, Proctors,
Blairgowrie Rotary club, Tesco, Greggs the
baker and students’ raffles. Deaf Action
provide funding for Perth and Dundee
classes.
If you are interested in joining a Lipreading
class, contact Susan Brown on 07940333924
or email susanbrown1957@hotmail.com
If you are interested in joining a British Sign
Language (BSL) class, contact
thebsltutor@gmail.com
A THANK YOU FROM THE TEAM
AT THE FRIENDSHIP CAFE
(Aly, Hannah, Helen and Sheila)
We, the team, have decided to close our
Cafe which met every Thursday morning for
the past nine years in the Balmoral Road,
Rattray. Yes, we had some great mornings
with singing, dancing and fun. We made
friendships that still continue today.
Just think no more Hokey Cokey....... we had
first class entertainers who enjoyed playing
for us and wanted to come back because of
the tremendous welcome you gave them. You
contributed to the morning with our famous
“Rattray You’ve Got Talent Show” and our
local primary schools joined in showing their
various talents.
Thanks to all those volunteers who helped in
the setting up of the hall and clearing up after
our morning. Thanks too to those that helped
in the sink department (cups & saucers!).
Also, thanks to all those who handed in
baking (which we really enjoyed) plus jams,
pickles, apples and plums. We, the team,
enjoyed our mornings too.
Hoping to see you all around around and
about. Wishing you good health, stay safe
and our thanks for supporting our Friendship
Cafe.
Seasons Greetings to All
Aly Muir (organiser)
Kristin - Vic - Myra - Susan - Willie - Agnes -
Susan - Johanna
Page 22 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

BLAIRGOWRIE & RATTRAY
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
A date for your diary:
Tuesday 7 December
Christmas Late Night Shopping – we are
planning another evening of late night
shopping as per the previous 2 years to
include:
• Shops open until 7pm with nibbles and
drinks
• Raffle – get a ticket for every purchase
made between 4pm and 7pm on the day
from those taking part
• Mulled Wine & Mince Pies
Shop Front Improvements
We have been working with local businesses
and PKC to make full use of the Open For
Business fund with 20+ premises taking
advantage of the grant available from PKC.
We hope you have noticed the repainted
businesses in the town recently.
Shop Local Gift Card
PKC has been working with Scotland Loves
Local on their Gift Card and, after discussion,
we hope to introduce a Scotland Loves Local
Thank you to everyone
who supports our local
retailers and businesses
and who shop local.
Without you, our high
street and our town
would suffer.
Gift Card that can be used in the town. Details
were imminent at the magazine deadline
so please look out for info in the shops &
businesses and social media.
Creating Experiences
We have been holding regular sessions on
zoom on a Tuesday evening to look at making
more of events that are happening around
the town. If you are organising an event
and want to talk to some business owners
and community groups, please do check the
What’s On Calendar on Discover Blairgowrie
for Tuesday evenings. The sessions are
currently fortnightly.
Not Just Shops
The Business Association is open to all
businesses be you self-employed, work
from home, are a tradesman etc. Please get
in touch with our Facebook page or email
admin@barba.org.uk for more info.
Have an amazing Christmas & New Year
and thanks for Shopping Local
16 Days of Activism to End
Violence Against Women & Girls
Violence is wrong and evidence clearly
shows that the majority of victims of
violence are women and girls. This is
recognised internationally by the annual
16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against
Women from the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women
Day, 25th November – Human Rights Day,
10th December. Last year local Soroptimist
Jean Campbell was delighted with the
positive response she received from the
local shopkeepers who demonstrated their
support by ‘oranging’ their window displays
and Jean is hoping they will all do the same
again, this year. She will visit all shops
shortly and hand out posters for display. The
photograph shows one of the orange displays
from last year.
Page 23

BOOKMARK 2021
Going Abroad and Coming Home
October 8-9
In memory of Christine Findlay
Postscript
News & Articles
Two days before BOOKMARK 2021, we were honoured and delighted to be given a headline in
The Scotsman by Sarah Devine: Area Focus, Blairgowrie. In a lively article detailing some of the
visiting writers, Sarah remarked that it is a reminder of looking ahead to the future. ‘With that
in mind,’ she concluded, ‘those dreaming of a property in a spellbinding setting…should take
heed and head forth to Blairgowrie and Rattray.’
After encouraging words from the Provost, Dennis Melloy, Billy Kay got the Festival off to a
terrific start with his talk, including voice recordings from all over Europe, on the influence
of the Scots Abroad. So much of his event resonated throughout the weekend; not only in
Andrew Crummy’s enthralling words on the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry and Chair Lesley
Riddoch’s comments, but also during the next day listening to historical novelist Shona
MacLean and horticulturalists Jim Jermyn and Ken Cox.
We travelled near and far: Chris Schüler took us along the Amber Route (thanks to Victor and
Son for lending us some amber nuggets!), Ewan Morrison into a recognisable but frightening
future, James Robertson into Scotland’s past and present. Our final event was sensational: the
moving words, songs and music of ‘Jock’s Jocks’ and memories, by Andrew Hodge and retired
policeman John Alexander, of the seasonal workers who flocked to Blairgowrie’s Berry fields.
We were all so thrilled by the writers and chairs who stood by us and made BOOKMARK 2021
happen.
Our Book of the Year 2021, Merryn Glover’s Of Stone and Sky was announced (‘I’m in orbit!’
said Merryn), James Robertson spoke about the young writers shortlisted for the Christine
Findlay Prize – a new annual collaboration with Blairgowrie High School to commemorate
BOOKMARK’s founder who sadly died in July – John Swinney, Deputy First Minister, presented
the prize to Keira Doig.
Many thanks to our principal sponsors & supporters, Event Scotland, The Gannochy Trust,
Proctor’s, the Findlay family, Wood Leisure, the Campus team, Horsecross Perth for their
professional technical set-up, Waterstones Perth for providing a bookshop, Jillian and team
at Something Special Flowers, for transforming a school hall into a little Botanic Garden, The
Ivybank Lodge, where we accommodate our authors. Booklore, Adventure into Books and
our first-class library set up mini box offices. All the BOOKMARK team are volunteers, and the
Festival could simply not happen without them.
Our aim is to provide a Book Festival that is friendly, informative and good fun. It doesn’t
matter if you’re not a reader - all anyone needs is an open mind! It’s not often that Lady
Macbeth is thought of as inspirational, but her words, echoing through the centuries from
nearby Dunsinane Castle, ‘Screw your courage to the sticking place and we’ll not fail’ certainly
ran true to us all on the BOOKMARK Team.
Our final 2021 event is a celebration of George Mackay Brown, with popular poet Jim
Mackintosh, November 6th, 2 pm at St Catharine’s Hall, Blairgowrie. For tickets, visit
www.bookmarkblair.com
Gail Wylie
Page 24 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

GRANNY PAT’S
CHRISTMAS RECIPES
Two simple recipes for starters for the
Christmas meal. I have not given quantities,
just guidelines as you may be making 1 or 20
large or small portions!
PRAWN AND AVOCADO COCKTAIL
You will need:
(NB This will need to be made close to serving so that the avocado does not discolour).
Crunchy lettuce such as Iceberg or
Little Gem, chopped
Celery, chopped
Lemon wedges to serve
Quick Marie-Rose sauce:
For about half a pint (300ml)
4 heaped tablespoons mayonnaise
1-2 tablespoons Worcester Sauce
1 drop Tabasco sauce (optional)
Cooked king prawns or smaller if preferred
Cucumber, diced
Avocado, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly with a fork or small whisk.
Place the lettuce on your chosen individual serving plate or in a wine or martini glass, scatter
the cucumber and celery over the lettuce and then add the avocado and prawns, chopping a
few and leaving some whole for a garnish. You can add the Marie Rose sauce at this point or
serve it in a separate dish for your guests to help themselves. Garnish with reserved prawns
and lemon wedges. I quite like this without the prawns!
HOT-ROAST SMOKED SALMON STARTER
You will need:
Hot roast smoked salmon fillets, one per person if being generous.
Lettuce leaves (either Little Gem or ready washed selection), sliced red pepper, diced tomato and
cucumber, thinly sliced fennel bulb (optional) or celery, salad dressing of your choice.
Lemon mayonnaise - add lemon juice and lemon zest to taste, to mayonnaise and serve separately
in a bowl.
Lemon slices to serve.
Place the lettuce on individual serving plates, add tomato, pepper, cucumber, etc in an artistic
fashion and then flake over the hot roast smoked salmon. Dress with your chosen salad
dressing and pass the lemon mayonnaise separately.
Both of these starters can be accompanied by brown bread and butter but I usually give this a
miss on Christmas Day knowing what is to follow!!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS COOKING
Page 25

THE ERICHT SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE CLUB
Due to Covid, arrangements for classes and dances will differ from previous years.
Classes are to be held in The British Legion Club, 9 George Street, Blairgowrie, PH10 6HA.
Dances are to be held at Alyth Town Hall, Albert Street, Alyth, PH11 8AX
Annual Dance
Friday 18th February 2022
Band: Marion Anderson
Interval: Tea & Supper
Venue: Alyth Town Hall
Time: 7.30 pm
Cost: £7 / £3 for Non Dancers
There will be Covid arrangements in
place. Please bring your own cup.
Classes
General Class
Tuesday 7.30 – 9.30pm
5th October – 14th December 2021
4th January – 22th March 2022
Venue: The British Legion Club, 9 George Street,
Blairgowrie, PH10 6HA
Teacher: Carol Bisset
There is currently no beginners class but all abilities are welcome and will be catered for,
including those who may not have danced before, so do come along and give it a try.
There will be Covid measures in place. Please bring your own refreshments.
Contact details available on the website: erichtdance.co.uk or Alan Thom 01828 628747
Rattray &
District SWI
Rattray and District SWI are meeting at
Rattray Bowling Club, Middle Road Rattray
at 7 for 7.15pm. For more information
email rattraypress-secyswri@hotmail.co.uk.
Are you interested in joining an informal
beginners’ ukulele group?
We meet in Blairgowrie every couple of weeks
to strum a few simple tunes.
At the moment, we just have a few enthusiasts
meeting at someone’s house, but if there’s
enough interest we could hire a suitable room.
Our repertoire is quite variable, from traditonal
songs like ‘Mairi’s Wedding’ and ‘You are My
Sunshine’, to pop classics, such as, ‘Blowing in
the Wind’, ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ and ‘Singing
the Blues’.
It’s good fun!
Come and join us.
Email rgferguson99@gmail.com for more details
Here are the dates of our forthcoming
meetings:
Monday 6th December: Christmas
meeting with a craft demonstration by
Tracie Dick of The Nest
Monday 17th January 2022: Speaker is the
Queen’s piper Derek Potter
Monday 21st February: Speaker from
Blairgowrie and Rattray Development
Trust
Monday 21st March: Speaker Wilma Philip
on genealogy
Monday 18th April: Floral demonstration
by Gloria Mitchell
Monday 16th May: AGM and Rural Review
Page 26 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

News & Articles
The Blairgowrie Macular Support Group is now meeting face to face again and we need
your help!
Our Support 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 meet on the first Monday of every month at 2.00pm in St Catharine’s Centre, George
Street, Blairgowrie.
Can you help by telling people about the Group? Perhaps you are a member of another club
or organisation and you could ask everyone there if they know about sight loss and macular
degeneration and tell them about the Support Group in the town.
We are very much in need of 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 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
Page 27

BLAIRGOWRIE LYRIC CHOIR
Old Mr Handel said it in a hitherto unheard
little choral number in1741 “Hallelujah”.
Now, a mere 280 years later, we in
BLAIRGOWRIE LYRIC CHOIR are delighted to
say it again - HALLELUJAH!
We’re back - SINGING! And what a pleasure
it is. After over a year and a half of enforced
silence, when not even a mildly innocuous
pianissimo was permitted to leak from
our lyric less lips, we have gathered
our collective loins, our tonsils, and our
yodelling skills to once again celebrate
the pleasure of singing with like-minded
friends. With the easing of restrictions and
the co-operation - very much appreciated
- of our landlords at Rattray Community
Centre in Balmoral Road, we restarted our
weekly Tuesday evening rehearsals in early
October and are now in full fortissimo flow!
For anyone out there who thinks they
might like to try singing in a choir, may we
extend a very warm welcome. We know
that some potential singers are wary of
coming forward because they have no
musical training, probably can’t read music,
and think they might not fit in. But no!
Musical training and the ability to read
music are certainly assets, but the only
real requirement is a pleasant voice that
will blend with others. And “pleasant” is
a deliberate choice of word. Dame Kiri Te
Kanawa and Luciano Pavarotti have/had
wonderful voices, but they simply wouldn’t
blend in. Blairgowrie Lyric Choir would have
to turn them down! (Not that we actually
have auditions.)
Our choir sings a wide range of music of
a mostly light nature. Being a choir rather
than a choral society, we don’t generally
dabble in oratorios and the like - though
that does not preclude classical “classics”
such as Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus,
Bruckner’s Locus Iste, or Faure’s Cantique
de Jean Racine. However, we more than
balance these with what are generally
perceived as less “heavy” favourites such
as Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah (there’s that
word again!), the ever popular You Raise Me
Up, Auld Lang Syne (who knows the gorgeous
original tune?), Cole Porter’s Night and Day,
and songs from the musicals.
Frustratingly, but to be safe and sensible, our
popular Christmas Concert will once again
not happen this year, so our plan, Covid
willing, is to work towards a concert next year
- probably in April or May. With that in mind,
it gives us lots of time to prepare - and lots of
time for any new members to get acquainted
with other choir members and with the
music. Remember, you closet singer you, that
the process of actually learning new music is
one that we do together as a choir, as slowly
as necessary and with whatever assistance is
necessary. It’s fun!
So - BLAIRGOWRIE LYRIC CHOIR meets on
Tuesday evenings between 7.00pm and
9.00pm in Rattray Community Centre in
Balmoral Road. New members will be very
welcome and can simply turn up on the night.
Alternatively, our secretary’s phone number
is 01250 872682. She will be delighted to hear
from you!
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
Page 28 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Re-use, Recycle, Be Kind!
We are all aware of the need to reduce
the amount we throw in the bin which is
often relegated to landfill and that we must
become less of a ‘disposable society’. And this
pandemic has demonstrated the need to be
kind to each other – and ourselves!
Local Soroptimist Jean Campbell is once again
thanking the kind folk of Blairgowrie and the
surrounding area for donating lightly-used,
clean, household items, which she transports
to Starter Packs Perth; for the warm clothing,
sleeping bags and toiletries which have gone
to the Churches Action for The Homeless
(CATH) Day Centre; for the lightly-used bras
and new pants which go to Smalls for All; for
the baby equipment, clothing and toys which
went to Buttons and Bows, Perth (a baby
bank service) and for the many, many items
donated to the appeal by the Perth & Kinross
Association for the Voluntary Sector (PKAVS)
for Afghanistan refugees expected in the
Perth & Kinross area. It should be noted that
PKAVS was overwhelmed by donations and
this brief appeal has closed.
The photograph shows Caroline Moore
(Buttons and Bows) who was delighted
to receive all baby & toddler donations
especially the beautiful hand-knitted items.
Special thanks go to Thrifty One, Alyth;
Blythswood Care, Blairgowrie; Ericht Lodges,
IvyBank Lodge, Peel Farm Coffee Shop,
Blairgowrie Tennis Club, Rattray Tennis Club,
friends, neighbours and local residents – you
know who you are! All kind, generous and
concerned about our need to re-use and to
recycle!
Jean also wants to once again thank Kay
Seal, BARI (Rattray Hall), All Things Fair
and the Computer Shop in the High Street
for continuing to collect blister packs for
recycling, all making a difference!’
Page 29

News & Articles
FOLLOWING
IN THE
FOOTSTEPS OF
GIANTS
Eagle-eyed readers may have spotted the
‘giant’s hand’ emerging from the hillside on
the Coire Lairige at the Spittal of Glenshee
in recent weeks.
The 9,000 sqm installation, called The
Awakening, is the latest offering from the
innovative Cateran Ecomuseum, one of only
two museums without walls in Scotland.
It has been co-designed by talented Taysidebased
artist Martin McGuinness - whose
acclaimed portrait of Hamish Henderson
formed part of the launch of the Cateran
Ecomuseum in 2019 – and long-term
collaborator Fraser Gray.
Inspired by the Glen’s many Finn mac
Cumhaill stories, The Awakening will be in
place for 10 weeks until around the middle of
December, coinciding with the COP26 climate
summit in Glasgow.
It is located on the Dalmunzie Estate side
of popular long-distance walking route the
Cateran Trail, just off the A93 Snow Road and
within the Cairngorms National Park.
Clare Cooper is a co-founder and co-director
of the Cateran Ecomuseum.
She said: “The Awakening is a unique, oneoff
installation, offering an authentic and
memorable experience that is truly special.
“It is one of a number of initiatives that are
taking place this year as part of our Museum
of Rapid Transition programme, ‘From Deep
Time to Our Time’, which aims to show how the
story of our past can help guide the story of
our future through a focus on the Ecomuseum’s
landscapes and their constantly changing
geological, climate and human story.
“Engaging people with their heritage has huge
potential to help people build more regenerative
and resilient lifestyles and mobilise climate
Photo by Clare Cooper
action and while The Awakening is in place on
the hillside we will be organising a number of
events aimed at attracting both visitors and
local people to the area.”
Clare continued: “One of these events took
place on November 1, the first day of COP26
and also the date of Samhain, the great Celtic
festival where the door to ‘the other world’ is
open, and featured a symbolic ceremony where
the giant was woken by the sound of a Pictish
war horn, the Carnyx, sounded by musical
archaeologist and wind instrumentalist John
Kenny.
“The Cateran Ecomuseum’s poet in residence
Jim Mackintosh has written a new poem for
the occasion, and storyteller Lindsey Gibb has
re-imagined a new tale about the giant, both of
which were debuted at the ceremony.
“The event, which also featured pupils from
Kirkmichael Primary School, was inspired by
old Scottish giant lore which tells us that Finn is
asleep under the mountains with his warriors
ready to be awoken at a time of great portent by
this signal so that he can come to our aid.
“Given the extent of the climate crisis which we
are all facing, it seems particularly appropriate.”
For more information, see the website
www.cateranecomuseum.co.uk or search for
Cateran Ecomuseum on social media.
Page 30 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

New campaign to highlight
Blairgowrie and East
Perthshire
A new social media marketing campaign to
encourage visitors to the Blairgowrie and
East Perthshire area this autumn and beyond
is being developed by the area’s destination
marketing organisation, thanks to funding
from VisitScotland.
Working in collaboration with the Cateran
Ecomuseum, Outside Media Group, CraicN
Communications and the local community,
the Blairgowrie and East Perthshire Tourist
Association (BEPTA) is delivering the targeted
campaign as part of wider efforts to develop
strong visitor propositions that recognise the
latest consumer trends post-COVID-19.
The new campaign will centre around The
Awakening, a 9,000 sqm installation of a giant
hand sited on the Coire Lairige at the Spittal
of Glenshee and inspired by the Glen’s many
Finn mac Cumhaill stories.
It will also feature the many and varied
attractions in the Blairgowrie and east
Perthshire area, including accommodation
providers, food and drink offering, and
activity providers.
Murray Scott from the Angus Hotel is chair of
BEPTA.
He said: “We are absolutely delighted to have
received this funding from VisitScotland and
to be working with the wonderful Cateran
Ecomuseum on this.
“BEPTA’s primary role is as a marketing
organisation for the region. We aim to provide
aspirational and inspirational content to
encourage potential visitors to choose this area
over others for their next trip, and this project
will enable us to demonstrate that BEPTA and
tourism in the area is back in business after
what has been a very difficult couple of years.
Photo by Mike Bell
our website and will go a long way towards
helping us remind the wider world just how
much this area and the businesses and
organisations we have here have to offer, and
will hopefully help to ensure a sustainable
recovery for the industry.”
Murray added: “Building on the appetite for
staycations and rediscovering Scotland, we’re
aiming to encourage people who live within twoto-three
hours travel time of Blairgowrie and
east Perthshire to visit the area using a range of
channels to showcase The Awakening and the
wider area, increasing visitor numbers in what is
traditionally a quieter time of year for tourism.
“We have a fantastic range of independent
shops, cafes, restaurants, attractions and
accommodation and activity providers here and
host a variety of events throughout the year.
“Through BEPTA, tourism businesses and
organisations in Blairgowrie and East Perthshire
are building collaborative working relationships
for the benefit of the wider community, and
the Cateran Ecomuseum and The Awakening
provides us with a brilliant opportunity to
shine a spotlight on this beautiful area and its
historic and dramatic landscape at what is a
particularly stunning time of year.”
As part of the campaign, BEPTA is running
a number of competitions with some
fantastic prizes up for grabs. Find out more
– including details of how to enter to be
in with a chance of winning - by searching
for VisitCateranCountry on Facebook and
Instagram
“As well as the social media campaign, this
funding also allows us to significantly revamp
Page 31

Page 32 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Gillespie’s
Chartered Accountants
Accounting for your
future not your past.
Our priority is to deliver first class client service
Gillespie Inverarity & Co was established in 2001 and today,
we continue to build on our reputation for providing excellent
advice and first class service to our business and personal clients
alike. We have many clients in the local community and service
businesses, small and large, across many sectors.
• Compliance Services • Support Services • Taxation
• Consultancy & systems advice • Investments & pensions
Telephone: 01250 870718 Fax: 01250 870719
Web: www.gillespiesca.co.uk Email: info@gillespiesca.co.uk
Blairgowrie Branch
33 Leslie Street, Blairgowrie,
Perthshire, PH10 6AW
London Branch
Suite F Rooms 1 – 4 Symal House
423 Edgware Road, London, NW9 0HT
Fife Branch
Fife Renewables Innovation Centre
Ajax Way, Leven, KY8 3RS
Page 33

anter - all very harmonious enjoyment.
The reason that the sitting room is also a
waiting room is that we are in the process
of reorganising our workshop. Our very
talented team would be more than happy
to have extra help from anyone who would
be interested in setting up a workshop to
accommodate our varied equipment.
Our own captain Pugwash is involved in
restoring the two lifeboats from the North
Carr lightship in a warehouse in Dundee so
if involvement in that floats your boat then
please contact us.
Well that is Strathmore Men’s Shed up and
walking again - I don’t think any of us run
anymore!! We are back meeting at our Shed
next to the Lime Tree restaurant in the
square in Coupar Angus on Tuesdays 18.00-
21.00 approximately (unless you are ejected
earlier!)
Our sitting/waiting area is fully functional
and relaxing with the mural above really
enhancing the room for cuppas, craik and
With some gentle mocking one of us
mentioned that he is going to bring an
advanced Lego model for anyone who is
interested - he feels that the mockers may
end up being first in the queue!
Every second Saturday we get together to
enjoy a breakfast with whatever we bring
cooked by our resident chef - not Cordon bleu
but no bad at a’.
If you are interested in finding out more then
come along or email ericgalloway1@live.com
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Call the professionals today
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Page 34 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Walking Home
from Tesco.
(Almost Totally True.)
I’m walking home from Tescoit
isn’t very far -
but I’m huffing and I’m puffing
as I haven’t got the car,
a fact that I’d forgotten
as I piled things in my trolley
but with my backpack bursting full
I realise my folly.
‘Why did you buy that melon
and five hundred grams of butter
and a kilogram of sugar?’
I disconsolately mutter.
‘You only needed turmeric
and porridge oats and bread,
and now you’re really struggling
with the Back Brae up ahead.
‘Och, stop the wimpish moaning!
This is such great exercise,’
I tell myself. ‘Aerobic!
Good for heart and lungs and thighs.’
My lecture works. Miraculous!
My backpack weighs more lightly
and halfway up the hill
I’m feeling positively sprightly.
A car comes up. The driver,
whom I do not know, is hooting.
The next car’s driver wildly waves.
The next one up is tooting!
‘What clowns!’ I mutter scathingly.
‘Who are these stupid honkers?
Och, just ignore their childish games.
They’re obviously bonkers.’
The lights ahead now turn to red;
the next car up is stopping.
‘Auld biddy! See your bag? It’s burst!
You’re losin aa your shoppin.
Your melon’s stoatin doon the brae,
your sugar’s in the gutter
an - awfy sorry, missus -
we’ve just pulverised your butter!’
Janet McKenzie.
ALL RIGHT ON THE NIGHT!
By Margaret Drummond
Not enough drivers, not enough food,
Not enough fuel, it’s not looking good,
For Christmas is coming with shelves getting bare
As retailers struggle to stock festive fare
Last Christmas we all thought was just a one-off
That Covid would fade to little more than a cough,
And with vaccinations we seem to be winning
Though the ongoing problems keep our heads spinning
But we need our turkeys, mince and tatties won’t do
Though maybe to get one we’ll be joining a queue,
As folk cram their freezers with all they can chill,
It’s called panic buying - never mind the bill
And as rumours grow of a shortage of toys
How would we explain to our wee girls and boys
That Santa can’t bring them all they want on his sleigh
But he’ll leave an IOU for next Christmas Day
So let’s keep stiff upper lips and fingers crossed tight
That despite the gloom it’ll be all right on the night,
As we meet, eat and mingle with those we hold dear
And Christmas bells jingle out high hopes for next year
HAVE A GOOD ONE!
THE FREEDOM COACH
The Blairgowrie and district Freedom Coach offers
outings and regular shopping trips in the local area. .
Every Friday morning people are collected from home
and taken to the local supermarket, given time to do
their shopping before returning home.
Once a month a shopping service to two drop off
points in Perth is offered on a Tuesday morning. For
further details on how to access the shopping trips or
to discuss outings on the coach please contact Charlie
Bisset on Blairgowrie 874246
Pictured above on an outing to Quarrymill recently
L- R Charlie Bisset ( driver ) Jean Dargie, Chrissie Mitchell,
Muriel Wilkie, Esther Robertson, Moir Ferguson, Rita
Ewing, Doris Bernard and Margaret Macrae
Page 35

Blairgowrie and District
Seniors Outings
Blairgowrie and District Seniors Outings
(BADSO) has been raising funds and applying
for grants to fund outings on the Freedom
Coach for those in Blairgowrie and District
who it is felt would benefit. Our main aim
is to offer outings to those who have been
isolated and lacked social contact during
lockdown.
Booking as an individual
If you or anyone you know might benefit
from this offer please get in touch with Carol
or Charlie Bisset and they will try to organise
groups who are happy to go out together.
Tel: 01250 874246
Mobile: 07746567528
Email: candc.bisset@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you.
The BADSO group is linked to the Blairgowrie
and District Freedom Coach Association.
If you would like to organise a group:
1. Find out if your members are
interested in this service
2. Check dates with the Freedom Coach
for availability
3. Decide where you would like to go for
your outing
4. BADSO pays for the hire of the
coach but any other expenses are
the responsibility of the group i.e.,
coffees, meals, etc.
5. If there are wheelchair users make
this clear when you are booking
as the coach will then have fewer
seats. (The coach has a rear lift for
wheelchair or others unable to use
the steps.)
6. If people are comfortable sharing
a double seat, the coach can
accommodate up to 16 people.
7. People with significant mobility issues
would need to have a carer with then
as well.
8. Protocol on Covid hygiene would be
explained at time of booking.
Climate Kind - Christmas
“Before you go shopping,
you might like to support
the abundance of great
local shops, food growers,
producers and sources of
top-quality crafted gifts that
we have here in Blairgowrie
and Rattray.
Alternatively, be guided by
the suggestions here for
presents that would be a bit
different and special.
A Christmas free of
disposable stuff, especially
plastic, while a bit of a
challenge, would make a real
climate difference.
Every little helps!
With love from all in the
Climate Cafe.
Page 36 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

News & Articles
It’s been a busy summer with lots of UK visitors
to the town coming in to see us. We’ve hosted
workshops for Its BRAW, Perthshire Open
Studios and are expanding our gift shop. The
PKC Granny Square project was a roaring
success with over 3,000 being made! We are
holding weekly ‘sewing up’ events every
Wednesday from 10-2. Just pop along if you can
help.
We plan to start running workshops this Autumn/
Winter and details will be on Nest’s website and
our Facebook page. Sheila Roussel has joined the
team one day a week to run our Creative Wellbeing
workshops and create additional craft kits to help
us raise funds. Our gift shop supports around
forty makers all of whom will be revving up for
Christmas and producing seasonal craft products
demonstrating their skill. If you have a creative
project and would like our help, or if you’re a
crafter and would like to sell in the shop please get
in touch via our website or Facebook Page.
In this Hub edition, we meet Kelly McIntyre of Kelly
McIntyre Photography and Video Production who’s
one of the resident artists in our downstair studio
spaces. So, in her own words, she says “I’ve found a
filming niche that encompasses my values -being creative, compassionate and community minded.
I like exploring what’s going on in our community groups in Blairgowrie and around Perthshire.
Getting to make films about interesting people I meet and the amazing projects they’re involved
with is a bonus, it’s always an education. I’ve worked with PKC Rural Leader fund, PKAVS and
VisionPK making films about local groups such as the Blairgowrie Players and Community Action
Planning around Perthshire. Filming means I’ve had unforgettable experiences, amongst them a
flight at Balado airfield, a bungee swing at Highland Fling and I know I’ll always be welcome for a
soup and sandwich lunch at The Atholl Centre in Pitlochry.
“I love being a resident artist at Nest as I’m surrounded by creative people to share ideas with and
learn new skills. There’s always a buzz around the place with different volunteers, shop visitors and
various creatives popping by so there is always scope for skill sharing. It makes being a sole trader
less isolating, and I get to try my hand at whatever comes through that door.
“I’m forever in the treasure trove that is the remnant shop. I get lots of embellishments for
my Christmas wreath making at my family Christmas Tree farm Sholach Christmas Trees in
Blairgowrie. Halloween has given me the opportunity to experiment further with wreaths. I’m
making Halloween themed zombie apocalypse wreaths and have been dismembering freaky dolls
and painting gore on them. In these pandemic times it’s therapeutic and gets rid of negative energy
- creatively reusing and recycling materials that would otherwise go to landfill.
“My spare time is spent binge watching box sets like Breaking Bad, Dexter and Game of Thrones.
I love anything post-apocalyptic - zombies, viruses, EMP, aliens - The Road by Cormac McCarthy
is one of my favourite books and I’ve watched the film about six times. I should be a doomsday
prepper – stockpile tins of tomatoes and peaches in my underground bunker!”
Page 37

CHRISTMAS
BOOK
SUGGESTIONS
With Christmas jumpers starting to appear and listmaking
in full flow, we thought some ideas might
come in handy for anyone looking for a present
to delight younger members of the family. We’ve
included some well-tested favourites as well as some
new titles, with age ranges given as a rough guide.
If you would like more suggestions, please pop into
Adventure into Books, Booklore or the library – we’re
always happy to talk books!
Age: New to 3: some colourful books that can withstand a bit of chewing!
Elmer: Hide and Seek! by David McKee – Elmer is a classic favourite for babies
and toddlers, with her bright colours and clear shapes. Tying in beautifully with
a game of ‘peepo!’, this board book comes with sturdy flaps for little hands to
lift and discover as they listen to the story.
Don’t Tickle the Lion by Sam Taplin – Of course, DO tickle the lion…. You WILL
make it roar. From the creators of the ‘That’s not my…’ books series, this is a fun
story with lots of sounds to make and things to touch and explore.
Age: 3-6ish: picture books and stories
The Nicht Afore Christmas – translated into Scots by Irene McFarlane - A
marvellous retelling in Scots of Clement Moore’s Christmas favourite. I love the
description of Father Christmas: “His een - hoo they skinkilt! His dimples, hoo
merry! His chowks wis like roses, his neb like a cherry!....He had a braid face and
a wee roon belly that shuik, whan he lauched, like a bowlie o jelly.”
An Odd Dog Christmas by Rob Biddulph – This book is also set on Christmas Eve
when Odd Dog is stumped when she can’t find a present for her friend. While
she is wondering what to do she finds herself in the midst of the best sort of
Christmas adventure – poor Dasher is unwell and can’t pull the sleigh on the allimportant
night and Father Christmas needs some help! A charming tale with a
marvellous idea for a present (it’s on my Santa list for this year!)
Age: 7-9ish: chapter books for reading together and for children starting to
read by themselves.
Pages & Co: The Book Smugglers by Anna James – The latest Page & Co.
adventure celebrates books, friendship, adventure and cake. In other words,
all that’s good in life. Riding a magical train powered by imagination, Milo and
Tilly race through stories and Europe to save Milo’s uncle and Tilly’s grandfather
after they are both sent into a deep sleep by a cursed book. The first three
adventures are available in paperback and are also highly recommended.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie – This classic needs no introduction. There are certain
themes emerging in these book recommendations – of magic, flying, friendship,
peril and triumph – and Peter Pan is in many respects the original story of
magic, flying, friendship, peril and triumph. It remains a great story for children
of all ages – young and not so young.
Page 38 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

News & Articles
Age 9+: for independent readers – though these would also be great books
to read together!
Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston - I love, love, love this book. Amari
finds herself in a summer school for people with special, supernatural talents.
She needs to learn fast, and quickly work out who she can trust, if she’s to find
out what’s happened to her big brother and hero, Quinton. A truly magical
adventure story.
The False Rose by Jakob Wegelius – The sequel to The Murderer’s Ape sees the
Chief and Sally Jones (ship’s engineer and gorilla) facing another perilous
adventure. The discovery of a curious string of magnificent pearls causes our
two seafarers to head for Glasgow as they try to track down the owner of the
pearls. Here, they soon find themselves in the middle of a gang war that seems
to offer little hope of escape. A cracking, fast-paced read.
A couple of suggestions for the family:
Amazing Illustrated Atlas of Scotland by David MacPhail – Briming with fun and
informative facts about Scotland’s places, history, culture and people – all the
things that make Scotland such an amazing place. From our local author, David
MacPhail, this is a great book for children and families to explore together.
Tom Gates: Mega Make and Do by Liz Pichon – A perfect book for any holiday.
Jam packed with excellent things to do from drawing and games to stories and
monster-making. Hours of activity and entertainment.
Page 39

It’s been a long 20 months,
but Blairgowrie Riding
for the Disabled (RDA) is
thrilled to announce that
our group is FINALLY back
open for business.
Smiles, fun and laughter have been the order
of the day as children and adults alike have
joined us for lessons at Easter Rattray Farm –
it feels like we’ve never been away!
Our chair, Rhona Christie, said: “Our last
lessons were held in March 2020, so we are
very excited that we are back up and running.
Our volunteers have been incredible during
lockdown, making sure our ponies were well
cared for and kept fit and happy.
“It’s been a long time coming, but it’s wonderful
to be back.”
And Blairgowrie RDA is now bigger and
better, thanks to a generous donation from a
Carsie resident that has enabled us to greatly
improve our facilities. John O’Rafferty made
the bequest on behalf of his late wife Phyllis
in memory of their daughter Claire, who sadly
died at the age of four in March 1995.
Thanks to the family’s kindness, we have
taken on a new horse named in memory of
the youngster, who had cerebral palsy. We
have also installed a substantial shelter at
our field, which the ponies love.
Rhona said: “We were absolutely thrilled to
receive this legacy from John and his family.
Every donation we receive is very much
appreciated, but this gift in memory of their
young daughter is very special to us.
“With the addition of Claire – the biggest of
our five equines – we can now offer group and
Smiles all round from rider Daniel, who is
loving his lessons at Blairgowrie RDA
private lessons to disabled adults as well as
children. Horse riding with the RDA brings many
physical and emotional benefits – it boosts
confidence, improves communication skills and
helps to build relationships – and this donation
means that we will be able to expand our
services to the local community.”
In addition to restarting lessons, we’ve been
continuing our fundraising efforts, with
our charity shop in Howe’s in Blairgowrie
proving very popular. We also held a hugely
successful coffee morning in September and
were overwhelmed at the incredible response
from the community, with more than £650
being raised on the day.
And we would like to offer our thanks to a
number of local organisations and individuals
who donated to our group in recent weeks
– your support is greatly appreciated.
Remember, too, that you can help fundraise
for our group without it costing a penny
through Amazon Smile – visit
https://blairgowrierda.co.uk/support-us/ to
find out more.
From everyone at Blairgowrie RDA, thank you
to our local communities for your support
during these difficult past months – we can
now look forward to celebrating our Golden
Jubilee in style in 2022!
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.
Our kind donor John O’Rafferty and his
sister-in-law Joan Halley with Claire, named
in memory of his young daughter
And check out our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/BlairgowrieRDA where we
share lots of photos and updates.
Page 40 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

In my view . . .
BBC1 used to screen a new edition of “Top of the Pops” every week, each featuring a variety
of different kinds of music. These included: pop tunes; country and western songs; soul music;
rock music and novelty numbers. Millions of people used to watch every week and if they
did not like one tune, they could be reassured that most editions would feature one record
that they did enjoy. Since the demise of the weekly programmes, the only new editions of the
show have been screened during the Festive Season.
I suppose part of the reasoning behind this decision is that nowadays most people only listen
to the kind of music that they like. They are no longer prepared to tolerate hearing several
different kinds of music in the hope that during a programme they might hear a tune that
they do like. As a result of this, I am not as educated about popular music as I used to be. But
I see this as part of a move towards people only really taking an interest in subjects that they
already have an interest in.
One kind of music that has seemed to have fallen out of favour is the family friendly novelty
or comedy record. There used to be many such records that did well in the charts. One of
them was called “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.” The song was written by
Donald Yetter Gardner in 1944 when he was teaching second grade pupils and noticed how
many of them had missing front teeth. The tune was commercially released several years
later, performed by Spike Jones and His City Slickers and became a huge commercial success.
In the years that followed many other performers, including Nat King Cole, released their
version of the song.
Although for many people their childhood years are among the happiest of their lives, one of
the least pleasant memories of childhood (for me at least) concerned the pain of gaining and
losing my milk teeth and later getting my
adult ones, coupled with several visits to
the dentist.
The only thing the singer wants for
Christmas is a set of teeth. If only the
wants of more people at this Festive
season could be that simple. As I write
this, there is an uncertainty surrounding
Christmas this year with the possibility
of a shortage of items on shop shelves
that many people feel are essential for
enjoying a Merry Christmas. But surely
Christmas must be more than consuming
excessive food and drink? Should one
of the most important things not be
ensuring that we spend quality time with
the people closest to us, making sure that
they enjoy a Happy Christmas?
It is interesting that in the words of the
song, the one reason that the singer
wants to have their two front teeth is
so that they can do something positive
for others, by wishing them “Merry
Christmas.”
Ian K
Page 41

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Page 42 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

BLAIRGOWRIE
PLAYERS
We are delighted (oh, yes we are!) to be
back in December, subject to restrictions
in force at the time, entertaining
audiences with our pantomime, Aladdin.
2020 was the first Christmas season with
no panto in Blairgowrie since our first
one in 1974, which was also Aladdin.
This pantomime was also staged in 1982,
1990, 1999 and 2007, and our President
Graham Reid has been part of each one!!
The panto this year will once again be
directed by Pamela Howat. The cast is
a little reduced to allow for potential
social distancing on stage but what
they lose in numbers they make up for
in experience and enthusiasm. As we
have had to depend on ‘old hands’ this
year it has happily given some of our
younger members the opportunity to
step up into character roles, improving
their confidence and expanding their
experience of treading the boards.
Aladdin is a tale we all know a little
about, goodies, baddies, dirty lamps,
shiny lamps, colour, dancing, singing, bad
jokes and double entendre. If you don’t
know the tale, now is your opportunity
for enlightenment, buy a ticket, come
along and find out more …… however you
may end up none the wiser!
You will find us in Blairgowrie Town
Hall from Wednesday 8th to Sunday
12th December; Wednesday to Friday at
7pm and Saturday and Sunday at 3pm.
Ticket prices are Stalls £10 or £8 for16
and under, with all balcony tickets £12.
Importantly this year, all tickets will need
to be bought in advance, either online
through
www.ticketsource.co.uk/blairgowrieplayers
or from The Card Gallery on Allan
Street, Blairgowrie, between Monday
and Thursday only. All purchasers will
be required to give a name and contact
details to comply with the rules in force
at the time and there may be additional
requirements published to ensure all
government advice is being followed.
Keep an eye out locally and on social
media for further information.
We have been delighted to take our most recent
Murder Mystery on tour over October and
November, from Clunie Hall to Bridge of Cally
Hall, all the way to Perth to entertain at the
Scottish Community Drama Association AGM
weekend. A Murder Mystery is always a fun
event to both take part in and watch. It’s rarely
the same story twice! It may continue its travels
in the New Year!
We are delighted that we have managed to keep
our club going in spite of Covid! The majority
of our members have come back, most of our
youth members have stuck with us and our hope
is onwards and upwards to more and better
things as the next year approaches. Whilst we
have not brought in new members for Panto,
we are always happy to hear from individuals
who are interested in being involved in the
future in a variety of roles covering acting,
technical, costume, props, backstage and front
of house. Hopefully we can return to ‘normal’
in the near future. If you are interested in being
part of Blairgowrie Players, or just want more
information, please contact our Secretary on
blairplayers@btinternet.com.
Page 43

News & Articles
Page 44 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

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The Studio, 13 High Street
Blairgowrie PH10 6ET
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Email mg@millergerrard.co.uk
Website www.millergerrard.com
Page 45

Blairgowrie and Rattray
Highland Games
Volunteers from the Blairgowrie and
Rattray Highland Games committee have
thanked Ally and Lesley Donald for all their
hard work on behalf of the organisation.
The husband and wife team were presented
with gifts following their decision to stand
down as chair and treasurer respectively of
the committee to spend more time with their
family.
Ally took on the role of chair of the Games
committee in 2018 when it looked as
though the group might fold following the
resignation of the previous chair.
He presided over two highly-successful
events before the global coronavirus
pandemic forced the cancellation of the
Games in 2020 and 2021.
Ally said that the Games was in good stead
for the future and urged local residents to
get involved with the Games committee and
other volunteer groups and organisations in
the town.
He said: “The team behind the Games has been
fantastic and played a huge part in making the
event the success that it was in 2018 and 2019,
and the Games are in good stead for the future
despite the cancellations these past two years.
“The Games are an important part of
Blairgowrie and Rattray.
“There’s 10,000 people living in the town and
I would like to put out an appeal for people
to help out with any of the local groups and
organisations here.
“If there’s something you enjoy in the town then
go and speak to the organisers and get involved,
your help will be invaluable.
“It has been proven that volunteering is
beneficial to people’s mental health and
wellbeing which, particularly after the 18
months or so that we have had, is going to be so
important.
“I have really enjoyed being part of this great
local organisation with a great team behind
me.”
On behalf of the Games committee, vicechair
Pete Richardson presented Ally with a
number of gifts in recognition of his efforts
over the years, including a quaich, a speciallyengraved
bottle of whisky and flowers from
Something Special.
He said: “Ally and Lesley have done so much to
support the Games over the last few years and
these gifts are a small token of our appreciation
of their efforts.
“The Games has benefited hugely under their
stewardship, we have all enjoyed working with
them both and they will be greatly missed.
“We wish them both all the very best for the
future.”
The committee will be holding a meeting
in the next few weeks to agree new officebearers.
The 2022 Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland
Games will take place on Sunday, September
4th, and the road signs around the town are
being updated with the new date.
For further information and updates, see
www.blairgowriehighlandgames.co.uk or
search for Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland
Games on social media.
Image taken by Clare
McMicking, CraicN
Communications
Page 46 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

We are delighted that NeighbourFood Blairgowrie & Rattray has
continued apace since its move from Lesley Street, so a big “Thank
you” to everyone for your ongoing support.
We have continued to grow the selection of producers and products
(come and have a look online) there is no cost to join and no obligation
to order. It’s a great way to browse a variety of local businesses and
producers all in one place.
NeighbourFood will continue to offer a local delivery service for all orders within a 10-mile
radius of Blairgowrie or any PH10 postcode area or you can come and collect.
There will be deliveries on Thursday 23rd December and Thursday 30th December. We will then
have 2 weeks off returning for deliveries on the 20th January ready for Burn’s Night on the 25th
January.
New to NeighbourFood? Find out more at www.neighbourfood.co.uk/blairgowrie
If you have any suggestions on other local items or producers you would like to see on market,
feel free to email us. If there are any issues using the online market please get in touch.
Again, thank you everyone for your continued support.
Blairgowrie &
Rattray
Girl Guiding
Guiding in
Blairgowrie &
Rattray continues
to attract girls
to join us. Our
Rainbow (5 – 7yrs)
and Brownie (7 – 10yrs) units are running
with waiting lists but waiting times can
change regularly. There are some spaces
in the Guide (10 -14yrs) units. If you are
interested in joining any of these units,
please register your daughter on
www.girlguiding.org.uk and a leader will get
back to you. The earlier you register your
daughter for Rainbows the better the chance
of getting in age 5. Any adults interested in
joining us to help share our programme with
so many girls can use the same website.
Before the October holidays this year we
were delighted to have several girls achieve
Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. After lots
of hard work, Rainbows Bronze was earned
by Sophie Longden and Penelope Robertson
and Silver by Emily McArthur and Sophie
Longden. In Brownies, Bronze was earned by
Natasha Cameron and Faith Kemp and Silver
by Catherine Murrie. Well done girls!
Continued on next page
Page 47

Another award was presented this Autumn to
a Guiding Hero. Mark Hilditch was presented
with his Hero Award by our Deputy County
Commissioner, signed off by the UK Chief
Guide, to recognise all he does for Guiding
locally. Unsurprisingly he was surprised with
this presentation whilst cutting the hedges at
the old Guide Hut, grass cutting and dealing
with sadly rotting window frames in the old
building. Mark is known as Handy Owl for all
his hands on work. Importantly he also chefs
at many of our sleepovers so we need to keep
on his good side!
As part of their Promise to be kind and
helpful, Blairgowrie Brownies have been
choosing a charity to help each term and
for the Autumn Term their choices were the
Guiding Light Larder which is located at the
old Guide Hut on Emma Street and Perthshire
Gundog Rescue. Girls brought food donations
which were slowly added to the larder and
also donated old towels, etc for use by PGR,
whilst also having a pyjama party cake stall to
earn some money for this charity. Thanks to
parents for their support.
One of the Guide units enjoyed an activity
holiday at PGL Dalguise, the first such
event in 2 years, in the company of Guides
from Coupar Angus and Bankfoot. Fun
was had by all. The other Guide unit has
been experiencing life skills for the future,
including learning about money, savings,
budgeting, food groups and nutrition, whilst
also practising their DIY skills by making
wooden board games.
Guiding will be responsible for Santa’s Grotto
at the Wellmeadow Christmas Lights Switch
on event on 27th November this year. Santa
will be well looked after by an assortment of
elves, Christmas puddings and other festive
creatures! Come along and tell him whether
you’ve been naughty or nice and help us raise
funds for our replacement Guide Hut. We all
missed this event taking place last year so
let’s have fun this time around.
APPLES GALORE
The 2021 local apple crop is a little less than
last year, but there has still been plenty to
keep the Apples Galore team busy. So we
were happy this year to welcome two new
Rattray volunteers, Bill and Sheila (sometimes
plus grandson), to share the work of
collecting apples each weekday, rain or shine,
and distributing them early morning on the
Wellmeadow and the Boat Brae fences.
The team would like to thank the many
local apple-donors who welcome us to their
gardens and orchards to collect their apples
(and occasionally plums and pears), and also
the donors who bring their apples direct to 10
Balmoral Road. And thanks also to the appletakers
who have realised that we need the
empty apple-bags back (on the fence) so that
we can re-use them.
Some of the bigger 2021 apples, golf ball for
comparison!
The team are always happy for more
volunteers to share the work. So if you can
help in any way next year, please just get in
touch.
Bill 07751 320069 Elaine 07843 430925
Graham 07795 928062 Jane 07564 114759
Kristin 07505 506892
Page 48 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Gordon Croll
Garden Matters
for the environment
Over several years of writing gardening
articles for the Hub magazine, I have usually
written about reviewing the successes in
the garden and planning for the new year to
come for the winter edition.
Yes, we should reflect and plan ahead, but
as I consider my article COP 26 is coming to
Glasgow at which climate change and the
future of our planet will be debated. I have
never considered myself an eco-warrior,
although during my time in horticulture
there have been many changes which have
benefitted the environment.
When I began my career in the mid-seventies,
gardeners were using highly toxic pesticides
which were extremely harmful to the operator
as well as the environment.
Previous environmental conferences resulted
in pesticides becoming banned and while we
complained at the time, it was correct and
different approaches were introduced within
all sectors of the land-based industries.
Without bringing politics into my writing, it
should be said that Europe was responsible
for many of the products being withdrawn, as
well as the tightening up on Health & Safety, as
before the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974;
workers were subjected to serious risk in the
workplace.
Talking of safety; the garden can be one of
the most dangerous places given the number
of accidents due to trips, slips, falls, cuts;
machinery, electrical mishaps, I could go on.
Anyway, back to the thrust of my piece, we
can do more to help save the planet by using
battery operated machines, however I would
need a van load of batteries to keep me going
on a daily basis and what happens to the
batteries as they fail?
Most of the harmful chemicals have been
legislated out and the peat issue is resolving
with alternative products, which is good as the
peat bogs lock up so much carbon dioxide we
are told.
As the polar ice cap melts, the sea level will
rise by alarming levels, however fresh water
becomes scarce more often and so we should
consider ways of reducing water consumption
by storing water as we did in gardening over
the centuries.
I have written previously about the use of
mulches to retain moisture in the soil, while
watering when it is cool in the summer evening
and the old gardening adage of little and often
rather than a deluge. I often see brown lawns
during the summer months, but in raising
the height of cut and not scalping the lawn,
moisture stress will be avoided and some
greenness retained!
Yes, the vast majority of gardeners are mindful
of the environment, while those who go for the
more natural approach may do even more for
the environment.
Many of us recycle material from the garden,
such as paving slabs, stones, pots etc, but
plastic and polythene products can still be
difficult to recycle properly.
Different approaches to land management
have taken place over many decades and
again, much has been enforced as a direct
affect of financial restraints, resulting in
fewer workers and a greater emphasis on
mechanical operation, with many not happy
with maintenance standards.
In my last article I wrote about gardening when
labour was cheap, so now we must be efficient
and like the local authorities; perhaps we
should reduce the area of close mown lawns in
our gardens and create wildflower areas, thus
reducing time and fuel for maintenance and at
the same time encouraging wildlife.
Yes, traditional gardening is changing whether
we like it or not and just like the five decades I
have been in horticulture, I am sure there will
be many more changes in approach to come
for the good of the environment and our small
part in ensuring our survival.
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Page 49

Church Notices
Blairgowrie Parish Church
(Church of Scotland)
www.blairgowrieparishchurch.org.uk
Since our last HUB update, we have been
busy. At the end of September our Kirk
Session decided, in line with Scottish
Government guidance, to remove aspects
of our COVID restrictions. This included the
online booking system, the one-way routes
and the marked off pews. Suddenly the
sanctuary looked much more like normal!
Of course, the wearing of face covering is
mandatory and we ask that a 1m distance is
maintained when moving around.
sun pipes. When the work is finished the hall
will be repaired and redecorated. Emergency
lighting has been installed in the hall which
has meant some upgrading of the lights.
The emergency lighting in the Sanctuary will
be started soon and while the scaffolding
is erected, the lighting will be upgraded to
energy saving.
Our Guild has restarted, initially meeting
monthly. As well as Messy Church, which
continued throughout lockdowns, our Sunday
School is underway once more. Refreshments
after Sunday Worship are back too!
Upcoming Services include Communion (7th
November), Remembrance Sunday (14th
November), Presentation of Long Service
Certificates (21st November) and the start of
Advent on 28th November.
Subject to Kirk Session agreement, Christmas
Services will be:
Reading and Carols on Thursday 16th
December at 7pm
Christmas Eve Family Service at 7pm
Christmas Morning Family Service at 10.30am
All are welcome to any of these services.
By the time this article is published,
scaffolding will be erected over the entrance
to the church hall to start the repairs on
the lower hall which has been leaking and
causing damage to the building. With the
new roof the windows in the session room
are to be replaced together with the leaking
The church gardens have flourished during
the summer and thanks go to the volunteers
who have maintained the grass and the
flower beds. The steep slope at the back has
been left to rewild with the children from
Messy Church sowing wild flowers which it
is hoped will flower next year. Messy church
has met at the church in the garden looking
at “Our World” making a picture from old
bottle tops.
Please check our website for updates and
further details.
https://www.blairgowrieparishchurch.org.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/BlairgowrieParish
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.
Page 50 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

The Scottish Episcopal Church
East Perthshire Group of Churches
www.abcsaints.co.uk
The Rev’d Kim E Lafferty was instituted as Rector to the four
charges of the East Perthshire Group of Churches on June
21st 2021 by Bishop Ian Paton at St Michael & All Angels,
Ballintuim. The Rev’d Canon Dr Alasdair Coles, who was
Interim Pastor during the interregnum, accompanied Kim
around the welcome services in the 3 other churches in the
afternoon following the institution
Kim says “I am settling in well to my new role as Rector and really enjoying getting to know the
area and the church folk. It is good to have our churches back open for services on Sundays. We
are now singing in our services as well, which really helps with the worship. Please feel free to join
us at any of our services, it would be lovely to see you”.
St Catharine’s, Blairgowrie 9.30 am every Sunday;
St Ninian’s, Alyth 11.15 am ever Sunday;
St Anne’s, Coupar Angus 11.15 am every Sunday;
St Michael & All Angels, Ballintuim 3 pm every 4th Sunday of the month.
Contact Rev’d Kim E Lafferty on 01250 874583 (office) or 01250 872715 (home)
abcsaints@btinternet.com
Scottish Episcopal Church Christmas Services
Sunday, December 19th Carol Services at
St Michael & All Angels, Ballintuim at 3pm & St Ninian’s, Alyth at 6pm
Christmas Eve Christingle Service 4pm at St Anne’s Episcopal Church, Coupar Angus
Christmas Eve Eucharist 11pm at St Catharine’s, Blairgowrie
Christmas Day Eucharist 11.15am at St Anne’s, Coupar Angus
Riverside Methodist Church
Minister: Rerv Nik Wooller 01250 870899
E.mail: revnik@live.co.uk
Website: www.riverside-methodist-churhc.co.uk
Rattray Church, Church of Scotland.
www.rattrayksg.org.uk
Minister: Rev. Linda Stewart Tel: 01250 872 462
Service Time: Sunday 11.15 and “all welcome”.
Page 51

Page 52 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Page 53

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Page 54 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Page 55

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B &
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BLAIRGOWRIE AND RATTRAY
COMMUNITY FOOTBALL CLUB
Blairgowrie & Rattray Community Football
Club are now in the process of putting
together a team for 2015 age players. We have
successfully recruited volunteers to take on
the team and signed our players too. We hope
to have them all kitted out and playing before
the end of the year.
Live Active are now running sessions for 2016
born players in Blairgowrie Recreation Centre
on Tuesday evenings. These sessions need to
be booked online via the Live Active website.
BRCFC Ladies Team are now up and running.
They are actively looking for new players
and anyone interested should contact
them directly via their own Facebook page
at https://www.facebook.com/Ladies-
Blairgowrie-Rattray-Community-Football-
Club-107646795035994/
All our BRCFC Goalkeepers have started
additional training with BGK Goalkeeping
Academy. This is proving popular with our
keepers and the club are grateful to BGK for
providing this extra opportunity.
We are currently planning our usual Christmas
Fair. This year it will be held on Saturday 27th
November from 10am to 2pm in The Gig.
Everyone is welcome and there will be lots of
stalls to help make a start to your Christmas
shopping.
The club have been working hard behind
the scenes with SSE and GS Brown to get
permanent power to our containers at Piggy
Lane. This is almost completed and we are
very much looking forward to ensuring that
all our teams in our ever growing club have a
place to train and play all year round.
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/
We would like to take this opportunity to wish
our players, coaches, volunteers and all our
supporters a very Merry Christmas and best
wishes for 2022.
BRCFC 3G PROJECT UPDATE
This time last year, the BRCFC highlighted
the importance in the development of the
Club, Town and East Perthshire of having
our own 3G all-weather floodlit playing area.
Here we are after the culmination of 4 years
of challenging work by the small committee
in realising this. Anyone who has been
around the Davie Park in recent months
will have noticed the enormous amount of
work that is going on to have this completed
- hopefully before Christmas. The old stand
has already had its makeover with a new roof
plus a tiered concrete standing area where
spectators can watch matches safely and in
the dry.
The project would not have been possible
without the financial support of both Perth
& Kinross Council and The Gannochy Trust.
Also you, the public, have been incredibly
supportive.
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 and abilities. No more travelling in
the winter to likes of Perth, Dundee or Forfar.
It will all be available on our doorstep.
Even as you read this article, plans for Phase
2 of the project have started and the work
of finding around £300,000 of funding has
begun.
As with most community groups, finding
enough volunteers to spread the work is
always difficult and we are no different. If you
can assist in anyway with this exciting project
and give of an hour a week of your time to
help in administration, being a key holder or a
kitchen helper for example, then we would be
delighted to hear from you. Contact us either
on our website brcfc.org.uk or 07511321405.
With the Scotland national team hopefully on
the brink of qualifying for a World Cup there
could not be a better time to become part of
the footballing journey whatever your age or
ability.
As the year is ending, we at the BRCFC wish
everyone of you a peaceful, happy Christmas
and look forward to greeting you at our new
facility at the Davie Park in 2022.
Stay Safe, Stay Well
Page 56 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Rattray Tennis Club
By the time this article reaches our followers
and readers the nets will be down, the end of
season tidy up will be complete and the gates
will be locked as Rattray Tennis Club will be
closed after another successful season.
As the committee and writer look back all will
remember another great season and year
for RTC. Despite the continued threat of the
pandemic, the committee worked together
and took all the essential steps to ensure that
all members and visitors adhered to the safe
rules play. This ensured that while everybody
enjoyed themselves, safety always came first.
The club opens normally towards the end
of April and it has the honour to hold the
first tournament of the year, the “Willie Bell”
which is played the first Sunday in May. This
tournament is open to all the other Strathmore
clubs in the area. It’s always a very successful
tournament, fiercely competed.
The “Wille Bell” is followed by the start of the
Strathmore League which begins the first
Tuesday in May and involves six teams. 2021
will be remembered as a very successful year.
Led by team captain Cath Robertson, the club
finished a very close second in the ladies and
gents’ doubles. Along with the overall doubles
performance this was a great result considering
Rattray is a comparatively small club. As
the season unfolds the club hosts a second
tournament, the “Willie Turner” which is open
to all Strathmore clubs. This is held on the first
Sunday in August. This year the club celebrated
as the two winners of the “Willie Turner” Anne
Gair and Alex Bruce were happy to keep the
trophies in Rattray hands.
The club re-invested a fair amount of funds by
getting the clubhouse re-painted and laying
some attractive vinyl on the floors and hanging
green screens all around. This gives the club an
inviting look and nice image.
RTC and the committee were delighted to
welcome back coaching for all ages which was
run by their Vice President David Anderson,
who is a qualified coach.
The year culminated in the club members
raising funds in October, on behalf of RTC
through a local charity Shop. The amount
raised exceeded everybody’s expectations and
will be used to maintain the upkeep of the club.
The committee wish to take this opportunity to
say a big Thank You to everybody who gave up
their valuable time to help out with a special
mention to Cath Robertson and Anne Gair for
their hard work and commitment. Without
them it would not have been possible. They
also wish to thank everybody in the town who
donated and took time to visit the charity shop.
The committee would also like to thank all
the members for supporting RTC and look
forward to welcoming back both new & current
members for next season which will again open
up towards the end April 2022.
In the meantime, have a lovely Christmas and a
prosperous New Year.
Alex Bruce President.
Walker with runner up William Forrest. Plate
champions are Anne Gair and Alex Bruce.
Trophies will be presented at the club dinner
to be held at Cargill’s on the 20th November.
Blairgowrie Tennis Club
Blairgowrie Tennis Club held a successful club
competition throughout summer with the
finals held at the beginning of September.
The Ladies championship was won by Cara
Davidson and the runner up was Bryony
Gulson. The Men’s champion was Fergus
The club held very successful camps in the
summer and were able to offer reduced cost
coaching due to funding received through the
Summer of Sport Funding.
Winter membership is now available and
gives play on the all-weather courts until
the end of March. For more details contact
blairgowrietennisclub@live.co.uk.
Page 57

BLAIRGOWRIE
BADMINTON CLUB
The new season of “Badminton in Blairgowrie”
began in the early weeks of September and
we extend our thanks to those Adults who
have already shown support for the Club by
their attendances at sessions on Thursdays
7-9pm and the Juniors at their sessions
on Wednesdays (in term time) 5-6pm. All
participating at Blairgowrie - Live Active Leisure
Centre on Beeches Road.
We hope we can look forward to re-connecting/
welcoming back our other members, some of
whom may still be following outdoor pursuits
till the temperatures drop.
Now, as we progress through the “new normal”
safe play and have the opportunity to again
enjoy our sport, we wish to have another
successful season in 2021-2022.
To continue to grow interest in our club we
would like to
• see the return of all our listed members
• be given the chance to encourage new
enquiries to join with us at our friendly,
mildly competitive, social Club.
(NB ....the word C.O.V.I.D has not been
mentioned anywhere in this article ....hopefully
that is a sign that all the challenges and
restrictions are disappearing as a result of us all
heeding advice on how to keep it away!!)
From all our office bearers (Kevin, Grant,
Phil), Committee and Sandi MacDougall Club
Secretary
Wish any further info? Just email
mailmacdougas@gmail.com
Tel: 01250 876882
BLAIRGOWRIE HOCKEY CLUB
Blairgowrie hockey club celebrated their
90th anniversary in August and were
fortunate to have lovely weather for the
weekend. With Covid restrictions being
lifted the planning committee were able
to proceed with the preferred plan which
started with a reception held at the
president Sheena McNaughton’s garden on
the Friday evening.
On the Saturday there was a junior festival
with young people trying out the game for
the first time. This was followed by players
young and old playing a game using the old
rules of bully off to start the game, roll in
when the ball goes off the side and offside
which was removed from the rules in 1996.
During half time a walking hockey game
was held to give the over 65yrs players
the opportunity for a game and 10 players
wielded their sticks. The younger players
took the field again and displayed some
great skills.
In the evening a dinner was held at
Blairgowrie golf club with an excellent dinner
provided by the club. The guest speaker was
Pauline Stott MBE who represented Scotland
and GB in the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics.
She kept the company entertained with tales
from her playing career.
The club are back to full training and league
fixtures and would welcome new players.
Training is on Monday evenings at Coupar
Angus MUGA 5.30pm for juniors to P7 and
6.30 to 8pm for secondary pupils and senior
players.
Andrew Dickson, from the former men’s
team and Kirsty Smith, the youngest
player cutting the cake.
Page 58 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

The Blairgowrie &
District Hillwalking Club
At last, after what has seemed like an eternity
we have eventually return to normality, well
almost!
The Club Annual September meet this year was
the first official weekend meet since September
2019, so it was a joy for all who attended to
resume a much-missed tradition. The venue
was Gairloch which provided an abundance of
high hills and low-level walks for all. Members
travelled to the Gairloch and surrounding area
and stayed in a variety of guest houses, hotels,
self-catering cottages and camper vans. Walks
completed were the Corbett’s, Meall Ghiubhais,
to the South of Loch Maree, Sail Mhor to the
West of An Teallach and Beinn Airigh Charn
to the North of Loch Maree. There were also
many low level and coastal walks tackled and
successfully completed. The weather was
favourable and excellent views were had from
all the summits in every direction. Several
members extended their stay and had mixed
weather and walking for the remainder of their
excursion.
As tradition would have it, the group convened
on the Saturday evening for a meal and social
drink when stories and adventures of the day
were shared. On this occasion the meal was
held at the Gairloch Golf Club where members
were made very welcome and served a most
enjoyable and substantial meal.
Over the period of the Pandemic, when
traveling was permitted, the Club followed
Scottish Government guidelines strictly
adhering to the advice given. Transport was
only permitted by members’ own cars.
On Sunday 11th October, for the first time
since February 2020, we were able to use a
coach and a good turnout of members made
use of this long-awaited mode of transport and
enjoyed a day out to Newtonmore. All walks on
the day started in the village centre and headed
out the “Glen Road” towards the Monadhliath
Mountains. There were three groups and the
The Blairgowrie &
District Ramblers
We are a friendly group of like-minded
people who like to go walking. We walk every
fortnight on a Saturday and all walks are
graded and checked beforehand.
On the summit of a Monadhliath Munro.
first of these followed the Glen Road up to the
upper carpark and continued North the Allt
a’ Chaorainn before ascending to the summit
of Creag an Loin. The return route was on
the footpath above the Calder Burn through
spectacular woodland of aspen and birch trees
and the waterfalls and gorge of the burn.
The second group headed up Glen Banchor
before turning north and following the Allt
Fionndrigh to higher ground. Turning south
they continued to climb to the summit of
Creag Liath, a Corbett in the centre of the
Monadhliath Mountains. The descent route
dropped down to Glen Banchor and the track
back to Newtonmore.
The third group also headed up the “Glen
Road” to the upper carpark also following the
Allt a’ Chaorainn before ascending to higher
ground and the ridge leading to the Munro,
Cairn A’ Chailleach. This group returned over
Geal Charn and dropped down and followed
the Allt Fionndrigh back to the carpark and the
track returning to Newtonmore. The smell of
the bog myrtle, the autumn colours, the strong
cool breeze and the sound of stags roaring on
the hillside reminded us all that summer is over
and autumn has set in.
New members and visitors are always very
welcome to join in one of the club walks and
can do so by completing the appropriate link on
the club web page at www.bdhc.org.uk . A full
list of future walks, reports from previous walks
and useful information regarding the Club is
also available on the web site.
At the moment we can only take two
households in each car to the start of the
walks and home again. If you felt that this
was something you would like to take part
in, why not come out for a couple of taster
walks? Contact Pat Fraser on 07843 786191 or
patriciafraser@btinternet.com who would be
happy to give you further information.
Page 59

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Page 60 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

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Page 61

Interviews & Contributor’s Articles
Cllr Bob Brawn
Scottish Conservative,
Blairgowrie and Glens Ward
As I write, Christmas approaches and
another year has passed us by.
Firstly, on a serious note, we have all read of
the terrible murder perpetrated by a rogue
Police Officer in London. However, I wanted
to take this opportunity of reminding the
community- especially female membersthat
the trust we have always had in our
Police Officers should not be diminished
because of this incident. Their task is to
“keep the Queen’s peace” and thereby
protect and serve us all, very often at great
risk to themselves and that will never
change.
Recently, I was privileged to chair the
Blairgowrie Common Good Fund committee
which approved renaming the Riverside
Park area as Sir William Macpherson Park, a
fitting memorial for a man who supported
the town in many ways. I’m sure a ceremony
will be arranged in due course. We’ve
already seen the official opening of the
Outdoor Gym by the Provost.
The Westpark development is proceeding
and appears to be on schedule for the Lidl
store to open by February end, with Home
Bargains opening two or three months later.
Whilst opinion remains divided, we must
maintain a balance between preserving the
surrounding environment and helping the
local economy- much needed jobs will be
created here with both stores.
Another major development for the town is
the proposed new Recreation Centre which
will be a modern, energy efficient building
at the cutting edge by incorporating the
Passivhaus design which will help reduce
running costs. I am pleased that at the last
Full Council, the outstanding funding of
£8.9m was approved and as I write, we are
now awaiting the formal planning process to
begin. And planning permission has already
been achieved for the new pitch at Davie
Park supplemented with approval by the
Blairgowrie Common Good Fund.
Road safety and speeding remains an
ongoing concern for us all and whilst the
means to improve that safety have been
put in place- speed cushions, reduced speed
limits, vehicle activated signs- there are many
who still ignore the signs. I would ask drivers
to take heed for the safety of all- pedestrians,
cyclists and other drivers alike. These
measures are in place for a reason. And the
road budget for this year is the highest ever
seen.
Our voluntary groups continue to serve the
community- returning this year are firework
displays planned for both the town and the
Glens; Blairgowrie Illuminations are finalising
plans for this year’s Christmas Lights; BEPTA
continue to market the town to draw much
needed visitors; BaRI continue their work
providing food to anyone who needs it; Blair
in Bloom continue to bring colour to the
town. And our Climate Café continues to work
with our community on important matters
related to climate change. With so many, I
don’t have space to mention them all but we
all know who they are.
So finally, although a little early, may I
wish you all the very best for the upcoming
Christmas season and let us all hope for a
happy and safer New Year.
E-mail - BBrawn@pkc.gov.uk
Mobile - 07557 815541
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Page 62 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Cllr Caroline Shiers
Scottish Conservative,
Blairgowrie and Glens Ward
By the time you receive your edition of the
Hub magazine plans will be well underway for
Christmas. The Christmas Lights committee
have been working hard to check all the lights
and to ensure the switch on event really
brings some cheer to the town after what has
been another challenging year.
In October at full council, we secured the
additional funding through the council
capital budget which means that the new
recreation centre will be built to the highest
possible environmentally friendly Passivhaus
standards. This means the facility will be
one of the first in the UK to be built to this
standard. It is so important that we don’t
just talk about climate change in an abstract
way but deliver practical changes. I continue
to raise with council officers the need for
the recycling centre in Blairgowrie to be
upgraded to make it as easy as possible for
households and businesses to recycle their
waste and reduce the amounts that go to
landfill. I know work is being carried out
to look at options and I hope we can see
progress soon.
Christmas is a time when the amount of
“stuff” we buy and waste we generate comes
in to focus. By choosing to shop locally and
to reduce the amount of waste we generate
we can all play our part. There are tips on
the council website. We have seen amazing
progress in the town this year through BaRI
food who have ensured thousands of tonnes
of surplus food from the supermarkets
are redistributed through the larders and
through their twice weekly food store. Look
out for details on how you can be involved
in that project. It is amazing to see what is
surplus and wonderful that the Proactive
Communities team continue to work so hard
to ensure it doesn’t all end up in the bin.
Proactive Communities are also working with
community groups to bring a bit of Christmas
cheer to local children who are in families
for whom money is tight this year. There
are many in our community who are really
struggling and if you can contribute towards
the Christmas gift appeal (see page 11) then
please do. We will ensure every donation will
go towards putting a smile on the face of a
local child and that is a real demonstration
of the kindness we know runs through the
community. We have also seen that kindness
through creation of Mantalk. This is an
amazing group giving local men a space to
go and be together, to listen or to talk but
especially not to be alone. Their work this
year has been phenomenal, and I wish them
all the best for the coming year.
Finally, thank you to every person who has
continued to ensure Blairgowrie and Rattray
is such a vibrant, friendly, and welcoming
town. Hundreds of thousands of volunteer
hours are put in by so many and it is very
much appreciated. I wish you all a very happy
Christmas when it comes and a healthy and
peaceful 2022.
I can be contacted at any time on
01828 640181 or by email at
carolineshiers@gmail.com
Murdo Fraser MSP
Mid-Scotland & Fife Region
Scottish Conservative and
Unionist Party
I was delighted to hear that Perth and Kinross
Council recently agreed a further £8.9 million
funding to secure the building of Blairgowrie
Recreation Centre.
Local residents will now be able to look
forward to enjoying the state-of-the-art
replacement leisure facility once it is
completed.
With an increased population in the area,
there was a demand for such a sports centre
and I’m sure the move to confirm its progress
will be warmly welcomed in Blairgowrie and
East Perthshire.
The Recreation Centre will be built to
Passivhaus standard, which will put it at the
cutting edge of design as well as making
it energy efficient at a time when climate
change is such a topical and important
subject.
The Passivhaus standard means it will be
Page 63

far more energy efficient and it will give the
building a lifespan of around 50 years. This
shows that the Council will be leading the
way in terms of sustainability and also being
environmentally-friendly.
Many people want to live fitter, more active
lives these days, so it is appropriate that
Blairgowrie and its surrounding area will
have a suitable leisure facility to meet these
needs.
I was also delighted to hear that Perth and
Kinross Council had secured £500,000 for the
3G football pitch at Davie Park, Blairgowrie,
as part of their capital investment. Work is
already taking place at the site and it should
lead to a first-class facility which will be
available to local residents - not just those
who play football.
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
Recently, I was privileged to attend the
official opening ceremony of the Scottish
Parliament.
Having first been elected in 1999, I have
been honoured to attend every opening
ceremony since the formation of the Scottish
Parliament. Saturday’s ceremony, however,
was a particularly joyful occasion.
It marked the first time that we could
welcome everybody back into the Scottish
Parliament building since the beginning of
the Covid-19 pandemic. It was wonderful
to see friends of all political persuasions in
person again, some for the first time in many
months.
It was particularly appropriate that this
opening ceremony paid tribute to those
who had made a difference in their local
communities. To that end, all MSPs were
invited to nominate a local hero to attend
the ceremony with them and take part in the
special day.
I was delighted to nominate Julie Dunbar,
who was a key volunteer for the Feldy-Roo
community group. Feldy-Roo was set up
during the initial Covid lockdown to provide
free hot meals to shielding and vulnerable
adults, and to help tackle social isolation.
It was great to see Julie and all the other local
heroes enjoy their day in Parliament, and I
was pleased that I could share the day with
her and her guest, Sheila.
The opening of Parliament brings with
it a spirit of renewal and an opportunity
for reflection. We welcome the new MSPs
from all parties, and as elected politicians
we renew our efforts to work in a positive,
collegial manner for the benefit of our nation.
Whilst there will always be spirited debate,
it is important that we can disagree without
being disagreeable. I was particularly struck
by the words of the Presiding Officer, who
urged us to ensure that our debate is civilised
and courteous. I wholeheartedly agree with
this sentiment.
With the Parliament now officially open, we
can look ahead to the Scottish Government’s
legislative programme. With the SNP now
entered into a formal agreement with
the Scottish Green Party, we can together
pursue the bold policies that we believe will
strengthen our communities and take our
country forward.
I am truly excited by the policies that the
Scottish Government will introduce in the
coming years, and I am reminded more than
ever of how fortunate I am to represent you
all in Parliament. It is an honour that I will
never take for granted.
John can be contacted on 01250 876576 or by
Email - john.swinney.msp@parliament.scot
Page 64 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

Pete Wishart MP
Scottish National Party
Perth and North Perthshire
The energy crisis that we are facing is of
considerable worry. Anybody who has
been forced to change tariff recently will
be aware of the hike in prices that will
impact every household and business in
Perth and North Perthshire.
The costs are spiralling at a dizzying rate
and may run into hundreds of pounds per
household with no end in sight.
Scotland produces our own electricity, yet
due to peculiarities of the national grid it is
costlier to export energy from Scotland to
England than it is to export it to there from
continental Europe. Many households
across our rural communities are not even
connected to the grid at all and depend
on fossil fuels entirely. We really need to
reassess the security of our energy supply
and quickly transition to secure and clean
distribution.
Fortunately Scotland is rich in natural
resources and has enormous renewable
energy generation potential including
90% of UK’s hydropower capacity; 10%
of Europe’s wave power; 25% of Europe’s
offshore wind resources and 25% of
Europe’s tidal-energy resources.
This week it was disappointing to
see a Scottish proposal to develop
carbon capture being overlooked. It is
long past time that we find a way to
utilise our resources producing even
more renewables generation as well
as developing its capture than we do
at present to mitigate against factors
affecting prices.
Overhauling our energy sector to reflect
our potential is a key priority. As world
leaders gather in a matter of weeks in
Glasgow for COP26 the opportunities are
manifest. We can continue to build on the
work that the Scottish Government has
done to meet our climate responsibilities
by taking advantage of the skills of our
people and the natural resources of our
country.
In the meantime if you are struggling
financially please feel free to contact my
constituency office at
pete.wishart.mp@parliament.uk or
call 01738 639 598 or contact the Welfare
Rights Team at Perth and Kinross Council
(welfarerights@pkc.gov.uk or 01738 476900
(Option 1)) and we will do what we can to
support you.
It was a very sad first week back to
Parliament following recess as a result of
losing two colleagues, James Brokenshire
and Sir David Amess. The circumstances
surrounding the death of Sir David has
been particularly difficult and is leading to
questions around the security of elected
members and parliamentary staff. I have
been heartened by constituents who may or
may not vote for me getting in touch to thank
myself and my office for our public service.
I am always grateful to represent such a
wonderful part of the country.
I expect that daily business will now be brisk
until Christmas as it will be an extremely busy
term. I will be taking my place to do what I
always have done - represent the people of
Perth and North Perthshire.
You can reach me by email at
pete.wishart.mp@parliament.uk or by
calling 01250 876576.
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Page 65

Cllr Tom McEwan
Scottish National Party
Blairgowrie and Glens Ward
Prior to the full council meeting in October,
I was very nervous about the fate of the
new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre. Council
officers were advising the project to be
delayed and the council leader Murray Lyle
was quoted in the Blairgowrie Advertiser
the day before saying it may take until
the spring of 2022 for the full capital
budget required for the project to be fully
committed.
This project has always been a top priority
for the SNP, the many sports groups, and
the residents of Eastern Perthshire. It has
in my opinion faced too many hurdles that
need not have been put in its way and
we could have been looking at a project
near completion, rather than one that
has not yet passed the planning stage.
The naïve reduction in its budget by £3M
in 2018 and a design brief that did not
meet the expectation of users started a
chain of events that soon told the Tory
Administration they had made a mistake.
In the face of the public backlash, the
constant pressure at council budget
meetings from the SNP finally forced
the Tory Council Administration to think
again and look for a design that did
meet the current and future needs for
sporting facilities in Eastern Perthshire.
The Users Reference Group setup in the
wake of this U-turn has been amazing at
taking this project forward. Consisting of
representatives of our local communities
and sporting groups, it has worked with
council officers to develop a design brief
and specifications of a facility that would
provide our High School with an excellent
PE Facility and one the communities of
Eastern Perthshire would be proud of
and use to help their health, fitness and
wellbeing.
This New Community-Driven design, the
move to a Passivhaus design and the cost
of construction inflation had increased
the necessary budget by £8.9M during
the intervening time. The Capital Budget
Update paper presented to Full Council in
October 2021 was advising Councillors to
delay committing to this budget increase
for the New Recreation Centre until 2022.
This was never a position the SNP Council
Group was willing to accept, and we drew up
a budget amendment that was affordable,
balanced and delivered on our promises for
the New Blairgowrie Recreation Centre in full
but also the development of PH2O in Perth.
By the end of voting on this paper I was
relieved to see the inclusion of the monies
for the New Blairgowrie Recreation Centre
in the Council’s Capital Budget, allowing it to
finally pass its final financial hurdle. Getting
this essential project to this stage has taken
far too long, involved too many uncertainties.
I have at times been angry and frustrated
with the delays and funding issues, confused
at why the Tory administration was treating
the project so negatively but finally relieved
and content that we have reached the
stage where building the centre can now be
planned with fixed dates and a believable
completion date.
Email - tmcewan@pkc.gov.uk
Mobile - 07984620264
https://www.facebook.com/SNPBlairCouncil17/
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Page 66 BRDT Magazine - Winter 2021

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