The Bridge March 2022

Bridge The

Edition 384 March 2022

Local News, Events and Information for the Dunkeld & Birnam Area www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk

This Issue:

Community News

1,5,6,16

Messy Music

4

Editorial

Sports Hub Classified:

2

5

7,8,9,13,14

Nature, Camera, Action - 3

3 Churches in the Community 10 - 11

A celebration the life and legacy of Perthshire’s indigenous 18th century fiddle maestro, the 17th Niel Gow Festival will take place over the weekend of March 18th–20th.

See page 4 for more information.

Community News

Illustrator in Residence for Birnam Book Festival

Birnam Book Festival is back from 20th –22nd May at Birnam Arts and we have an exciting announcement: Kate Leiper will be the festival’s inaugural Illustrator in Residence.

Kate is an award winning Edinburghbased illustrator and artist, fascinated by myths and folklore and inspired by animals and nature. You can see her magical work in ‘An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales’ and ‘An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Mythical Creatures’. She appeared at our last Festival with Karine Polwart, illustrating live via screen projection as Karine narrated ‘A Wee Bird Was Watching.’ Look out for details of Kate’s plans with us in May, including a collaboration with James Robertson for ‘The Book of the Howlat’.

(These books are all available at The Birnam Reader.)

Fiona Ritchie of the festival committee says: ‘We're so pleased to have Kate as Birnam Book Festival’s first illustrator in Residence. When she's not in the studio, Kate enjoys meeting book readers and illustrators of all ages, and working with communities. She is keen to return to the beautiful surroundings of the Birnam Book Festival and has some great ideas that will get people excited about books and illustrations. We hope you'll help us welcome her back!"

Kate Leiper will be appearing throughout the Birnam Book Festival. The full programme will be available soon at www.birnambookfestival.co.uk. Keep up to date with our line-up announcements on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

_____________________ Community Action Plan Launch Saturday 5th March Birnam Arts 2-4pm

Speakers, live music, children’s activities, a delicious Aran cake and refreshments.

We hope you will be able to make it!

For more information about the Community Action Plan and the launch event please see p16.

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www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk

Notes from a Councillor

12

Loch of the Lowes

16

Notice Board

15

Red Squirrel - Adrian Blundell

News from our Community Council Connect Column

17

17

United Lodge of Dunkeld - 16

Stick on the Fridge Classified

18

19,20

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Copy Dates for the Next Issue: Friday 11th March publication Friday 25th March _________________________

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The Bridge

Edited by volunteers for the people of Dunkeld, Birnam and the surrounding villages since 1974.

Thank you for all your support.

The Bridge Contacts Editor: Sally Robertson

E-mail: editor@dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk _________________________

Advertising Manager: Kirsty Gowans Tel: 07967 117149 E-mail: adverts@dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk Advertising rates from £7 per month. Contact the Advertising Manager for details. _________________________ Please e-mail your article to the editor at: editor@dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk or post to: The Bridge Dunkeld & Birnam Community Co-Working Space Lagmhor, Dunkeld PH8 0AD _________________________

NEW!!!

Facebook Page Dunkeld & Birnam, The Bridge _________________________ Download Online: www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk _________________________ Scottish Registered Charity Number SC009867

Editorial

As I’m reading over the March copy, I’m reminded how the Niel Gow festival in 2020 was one of the first of our annual events to be a casualty of the pandemic. Over the past two years covid has wreaked havoc on the lives of our small community’s -its people, businesses and events. Rural community is fragile at the best of times and the pandemic has been an additional heavy strain for most of us. As we start to emerge, I hope everyone will use every ounce of energy they have left, and every penny hidden down the back of the sofa to support our recovery. Take opportunities to come together and enjoy music, art, a meal with friends or a drink down on the banks of the Tay. So please get your diary and put in the dates of the Niel Gow Festival; The Book Festival; the Birnam Games; Santa Days and whatever else takes your fancy – all these opportunities to get together and be a community again rather than locked away behind closed door and shutters.

On 26th March between 8:30 and 9:30pm a country wide event called ‘Earth Hour’ takes place. We are invited to turn off all our lights to show we care for the planet and its future. (see page 10) So why not take this opportunity to also stop for an hour and just look up at the heavens and wonder – and wonder whatever you want. I know it has been and continues to be difficult time – but, despite all our difficulties, we are still fortunate to be part of this wonderful community. Thank you for being part of it.

Sally Robertson

Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group

Working constructively to get the best community outcomes from the A9 dualling proposals

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 31st March 2022 at Birnam Arts and by Zoom, at 7.30pm unless otherwise notified. All welcome!

Since our last CG meeting in October, Transport Minister Graeme Dey, whom we briefed last July, has unfortunately had to resign for health reasons.

We are waiting to hear when his successor, Jenny Gilruth MSP, will be able to come for a visit so that she can get familiar with the design issues and options for Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing, in the context of the Community Preferred Route.

It is ever more clear that, meanwhile, there is a strong case for pressing ahead for interim improvements at all of the junctions on this stretch of the A9 .Safety risks persist at all of them (recognising the recent road markings and surface lighting improvements at Dunkeld junction following pressure on TS by the Junctions Action Group).

Indeed, during the last two summers they have worsened at Dunkeld Junction: with increased visitor traffic the tailbacks of vehicles waiting to turn north have got much worse, as has the difficulty of crossing the A9 from the Strathbraan side to get to Dunkeld. Nighttime safety issues persist at Birnam junction in particular, for traffic coming north at night seeking to turn right into Birnam.

We hope very much that the new Transport Minister will take a fresh and urgent look at these issues as well as at the need to progress improvements at the station, starting with the platform heights, which do not need to wait for A9 dualling decisions.

And a reminder that the Scottish Government and COSLA have recently launched the consultation on reduction of car use by 20% .It is open until 6 April 2022.

https://www.transport.gov.scot/consultation/consultation-on-the-20-reduction-in-car-km-route-map/ Apart from individuals who’d like to respond, the A9 Community Group will provide a forum for discussion of this and any related government and/or local authority initiatives. ____________________________________________________________________________

As always you can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com, and to have your details added (or removed from) our mailing list; Also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.

Please Like and Share it.

Or just phone me!

Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

Our page on "The Bridge" website, including key documents for download is: http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/community-council/a9-dualling

The latest Information from Transport Scotland is at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing/ https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-tay-crossing-to-ballinluig/project-details/

Arts News

Birnam Arts in March 2022

The days are getting longer, and there’s more reasons to stroll into Birnam Arts. With the slowly warming sun, a late morning coffee or lunch outside on the terrace is becoming more possible each week. The menu and daily specials are there to tempt you, from fresh daily house-made soups served with your choice of bread, to the fabulous range of sweet baked in-house treats, the Café is waiting for you.

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WHAT’S ON – PERFORMANCES | WORKSHOPS | EXHIBITIONS:

DOUG ALLAN – Nature, Camera, Action SAT 12 MAR | 7.30pm

What do Mars Bars, David Attenborough, and keeping your camera working at 7500m on Everest have in common? Join us for an evening of tales with one of the world's bestknown and respected photographers, Doug Allan.

THE ANNUAL NIEL GOW FESTIVAL 2022 FRI 18 MAR – SUN 20 MAR | Various times

Delighted to be hosting the annual festival this spring. See Birnam Arts website for full programme of concerts and events.

CUA FRI 8 APR | 7.30pm

Minutiae of melody arrangements and threepart uncompromising harmonies puts this Irish trio at the forefront of contemporary cuttingedge folk.

STAND BY SAT 9 APR | 7.30pm

The brutally authentic story of four Police Officers struggling to remain in control as the community they serve disintegrates around them. Written by a former Police Officer, this immersive production shows the modernday Police service laid bare.

JACK DOCHERTY – NOTHING BUT FRI 15 APR | 7.30pm

Following rave reviews and a sell-out run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021, Jack Docherty, the BAFTA awardwinning star of Scot Squad and Absolutely, is taking his critically acclaimed play Nothing But to Birnam!

YES! YES! UCS! TUE 26 APR | 7.30pm

It’s 1971, and Aggy McGraw, fresh out of school, gets an office job at Upper Clyde Shipbuilders just a week before it’s threatened with closure. With nothing to lose she is swept up in the U.C.S. ‘Work In’, joining workers and local communities to fight for the Right to Work - a victory that changes her life forever!

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WORKSHOPS:

Tickets through birnamarts.com

VEGETAL LIGHT: a workshop in embodied photography SAT 5 MAR | 10am - 3pm

Join artist Rowan Lear as she returns to Birnam Arts to lead a playful and experimental workshop in embodied photography, as you explore the woodland around Birnam and Dunkeld and make plant-based photographic developer and process your film. Automatic cameras and one roll of black and white film will be supplied. The day will include a lunch break.

Limited tickets available through our website, or by visiting our Box Office.

EXPLORE THE NATURE OF CLAY TUE 8 MAR to 12 APR [6-week block] 9.30am –12pm or 2pm – 4.30pm

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Ceramicist Anna Olson will lead this course to help you create expressive ceramics with minimal impact on the environment, looking at the process from scratch to methods of building form and creating texture. Tools and Materials will be provided.

Keep an eye out for Anna’s next course, Creating Expressive Ceramics – details coming soon.

KID’S MUSICAL THEATRE WITH COLLEEN NICOLL THU 4.30 – 5.15pm age 5 – 8 5.30 – 6.30pm age 9 – 12

A combination of essential theatre skills for all children who love to perform! This class is packed full of exercises especially designed to boost self-esteem, confidence, and creativity within your child. They’ll learn new Singing, Acting and Dancing techniques as well as working on a variety of show extracts.

Ongoing Classes

As well as these special events, our ballet classes, tai chi, yoga, Heels Over Head dance, and Pilates sessions will continue through March, with new terms being planned to work around the Easter break. You’ll find the latest information about what’s on, times and costs on our website: birnamarts.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In the Gallery :

WEIGHTS OF RESPONSIBILITY With Jenny Pope, Louise Ritchie, and Susie Johnston MAR 4 – MAY 1, 2022 | 10am - 4pm

A celebratory installation of sculptural works with Jenny Pope, Louise Ritchie and Susie Johnston exploring a playful subversion of objects, skin, and expectations of contemporary womanhood. Birnam Arts will host a finissage for Weights of Responsibility on Sat 30th from 12 – 2pm.

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE ARTISTS TUE 8 MAR | 7.30pm on Zoom

The three artists will come together again on International Women’s Day to discuss measuring the immeasurable and the merits of dancing on the ceiling, with opportunity for Q&A from the audience.

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GIFT SHOP

New stock arriving each week. If you haven’t been in for a while, consider visiting for that treat for someone you love. There are gifts to tempt you, from natural, Scottish made soaps and toiletries; Harris Tweed handbags and accessories; a range of men’s heritage and classic accessories and of course a range of traditional and much-loved toys for loved ones of all ages.

VOLUNTEER WITH US

We are looking for the help of a few good people, as we expand our hours back to 7 days a week and add more shows into the calendar. Our Gift Shop is hoping to recruit some volunteers to help cover two extra days of shifts and have some fun in the process. Your friendly manner, willingness to provide a great customer experience, and bring your basic IT skills will help make your volunteer shifts of around 2.5 hours, flexibly 1 or 2 days a week a rewarding experience. Contact Gift Shop Manager, Rachael Livingstone at rachael@birnamarts.com to learn more.

We’re also looking for some help with getting the word out about our fabulous lineup of shows each month. If you are willing to help with poster distribution in your local area, or a little further afield, please contact Steph Hand at arts@birnamarts.com or come in when we are open and have a chat.

Our winter hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, with the Gift Shop and Beatrix Potter open 10:30am to 3:30pm. The Box Office is open 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

We look forward to welcoming you to Birnam Arts. For more information and tickets are available through our website – www.birnamarts.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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Arts News continued

Celebrating Inspiring and Creative Women

Birnam Arts is celebrating the achievements of some incredible women through March, in line with International Women’s Day, and invites you to take part in one of two creative workshops. As we prepared the calendar, March was seen as an ideal time to offer some new visual arts experiences, with different opportunities to explore and express your creativity.

The first experience is with artist Rowan Lear, the 2021 Studio-Artist-in-Residence.

Rowan will lead a playful and experimental workshop in embodied photography.

Together, you’ll explore the woodland around Birnam and Dunkeld with cameras, taking inspiration from the multi-sensory world of plants, before steeping and making plant-based photographic developer and processing your films.

Automatic cameras and one roll of black and white film will be supplied. You will break for a one-hour lunch before returning to the workshop.

VEGETAL LIGHT: a workshop in embodied photography SAT 5 MAR | 10am – 3pm

Limited tickets available on a sliding scale through our website, or by visiting our Box Office. ** NOTE: Actual cost per person, per session is £80. This class has been subsidised

by Birnam Arts and Creative Scotland.

The second experience is a 6-week course with ceramicist Anna Olson, starting 8 March – International Women’s Day. Through the course you’ll create expressive ceramics with minimal impact on the environment. You will learn how to begin the process from scratch, recycling clay, making plaster batts and damp boxes, learning about moisture management, methods of building form and creating texture. You will also be encouraged to consider the aesthetics, function, and transformational qualities of clay. Tools and Materials will be provided: terracotta red, plaster, and glaze.

Please wear old clothing and/or a protective apron. Additional Fees: the cost of firing will vary depending on the work produced.

Explore the Nature of Clay TUE 8 MAR to 12 APR [6 Week Block] 9.30am –12pm or 2pm – 4.30pm

Anna is also preparing a new course, ‘Expressive Ceramics’ – details coming soon.

The third experience opens 4 March. The new exhibition – Weights of Responsibility – will feature the works of three Scottish artists – Susie Johnston, Jenny Pope and Louise Ritchie. Together, they present a celebratory installation of sculptural works exploring a playful subversion of objects, skin, and expectations of contemporary womanhood.

The exhibition will be on display from 4 March until 1 May. As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, Kate Bell (Birnam Arts’ Visual Arts Programmer) will be joined online for an evening In Conversation With Susie, Jenny and Louise. Together they’ll discuss measuring the immeasurable and the merits of dancing on the ceiling, with opportunity for Q&A from the audience. at the end. More information and tickets available at birnamarts.com ** NOTE: The evening has been subsidised by Birnam Arts and Creative Scotland.

We hope that you’ll join us for one or more of these wonderful, creative, and inspiring events. ____________________________

The Niel Gow Festival 2022

It is now over a year since the life-size bronze of Niel Gow by artist David Annand was installed on the Birnam side of Dunkeld Bridge. Sadly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, any celebrations had to be deferred. Until now that is!

A celebration the life and legacy of Perthshire’s indigenous 18th century fiddle maestro, the 17th Niel Gow Festival will take place over the weekend of March 18th–20th. The festival hub Birnam Arts, where it all starts on the Friday night with a solo fiddle concert featuring Iain Fraser, Ryan Young, Paul Anderson, Gordon Gunn and Charlie McKerron.

Afternoon and evening concerts at will also be happening at Birnam Arts on Saturday19th and Sunday 20th March. There will also be opportunities for budding fiddlers to learn from the masters in one-hour workshops on the Saturday and Sunday morning. And this year, a “Gow Gathering” beside the bronze memorial will precede the annual guided walk on Sunday morning, from Little Dunkeld to Niel Gow’s home village of Inver.

In 2019, Alistair J. Hardie and friends, “Kist of Musick”, presented a show based on the life of Nathaniel Gow, one of Niel Gow’s sons. This year they return with a world premiere - a tribute to Niel Gow himself, in words and music. The narration, by well-known Scottish actor John Shedden, gives and account of Gow’s life, with musical interludes performed by fiddlers Alastair Savage and Alastair J. Hardie, accompanied by Donald Gillan (‘cello) and John Kitchen (keyboard). This very special Saturday lunchtime performance is guaranteed to educate and entertain, and one not to be missed!

Artistes appearing this year include: Marie Fielding; Roddy Matthews; Iain Fraser; Ryan Young; Charlie McKerron; Paul Anderson; Hannah Fisher; Sorren Maclean; Graham MacKenzie; Muriel Johnstone; Gordon Gunn; Suzanne Fivey; Ruairidh MacMillan; Alistair McCulloch; Alistair J. Hardie; Alastair Savage; Marc Clement; Brian McAlpine; Adam Sutherland; Douglas Lawrence; Maureen Rutherford; Riddell Fiddles; The Junior School of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; Dunkeld & District Strathspey Society.

Full details are available on the Niel Gow Festival web site, and tickets are now available from ____________________________ Birnam Arts. (Tel. 01350 727 674 or email info@birnamarts.com)

Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition

The AGM will be held in The Chanonry in Cathedral Street on Wednesday 23rd March at 2.30pm. The Chanonry is the cottage just past the Manse, also on the left.

This will be a short business meeting to decide dates and the way forward for an Exhibition to run at The Duchess Anne in August. This will be the 52nd year of the Exhibition.

Due to lack of stewards it is likely to be another 3-4 week event which will be open from 10am - 4pm each day. If you would like to hear more about the Exhibition, please come along on 23rd or email DunkeldArt@aol.com. ____________________________

The Spring Dunkeld & Birnam Art & Crafts Fair

The Spring Dunkeld & Birnam Art & Crafts Fair takes place in the Drill Hall theCross Dunkeld on Sat 30th April and Sunday 1st of May gone 19am to 5pm each day.

New exhibitors and old friends. Demonstrations. Free entry.

Enquiries 01350 727968 ____________________________

Pitlochry and District Choral Society

Although we have been rehearsing under difficult circumstances due to Covid restrictions, we are hoping to perform our Spring Concert on Sunday April 24th in the Church of Scotland. This, of course, will comply with any current restrictions.

Under the direction of our conductor Colleen Nicoll and our accompanist Andrew Johnston, we're going to perform Schubert's Mass in G and Schubert's Magnificat.

We are also very fortunate to have 4 excellent soloists joining us for our concert.

Tickets will be available nearer the time. For further details and updates please refer to our website at: pitlochrychoral.co.uk

____________________________ Messy Music

Messy Music is a chaotic and joyful combination of music, craft and snacks. Children from Nursery – P3 get together on a Tuesday afternoon at 3.30pm in Little Dunkeld Church…. There is adult supervision! Our time together can include singing, percussion time, cutting out and sticking, a chat with a puppet called Gus, eating some home baking, drawing and happily leaving an exhausted Messy Music team of helpers at 4.45pm We restart on Tues 22nd Feb for 6 weeks and our topic in these sessions will be Noah’s Ark – when we hope to build an ark – possibly out of cardboard rather than wood but who knows with the Messy Music team!! Our numbers are limited so we would like people to book. If you would like to know more or book, please email Hazel Murch at____________________________ hazel.murch@gmail.com

International Women’s Day launch of “The Bold and Brilliant Women of Dunkeld and Birnam” children’s book

This 8th March to celebrate International Women’s Day, a new children’s book is being launched, celebrating the lives and contributions of the women who come from, live and work in our villages. This book has been prepared for the children at the Royal School of Dunkeld, each of whom will be gifted a copy. The book has been written and illustrated by two local women and is delivered in partnership with Birnam Book Festival and kindly supported by the Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund.

The book tells the stories of 24 women, offering a snapshot across ages, backgrounds, professions and life experiences. By telling these women’s stories the book celebrates their lives and seeks to inspire this and future generations to believe in themselves and who they are. The children at the school will be invited to respond to the book, reflecting on their own bold and brilliant lives and the women who inspire them in the community.

An event bringing together the book and the children’s contributions will take place at the Birnam Book Festival on 22 May 2022, 1130-1230 at the Birnam Institute.

Copies of the book will be available to buy at the event. For more information about the book or the event, contact the author, Caroline Wilding: caroline@csrobinson.co.uk

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Sports, Health and Wellbeing AIMS:

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1: To transform the lives of people in the villages and surrounding areas through sport and leisure.

2: To promote the various sports and leisure activities in the Dunkeld & Birnam area.

3: To support the building and maintenance of sports facilities including a sports hall.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– All sports and leisure clubs are invited to join 'The Sports Hub.' Membership is free.

Please send details of your club's activities and events to editor@dunkeldandbirnmamnews.co.uk for inclusion in the hub page of 'The Bridge.'

For more details see: www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/sport ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Sports and Leisure Hub

With the funding all in place for our exciting MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) Project, the next few weeks will see activity starting on the site to get ready for the start of the construction.

Planning Permission granted by Perth and Kinross Council includes the felling of a number of trees. We regret this necessity but included in the plans is some replacement planting. It is essential that the tree felling is done before the bird breeding season begins, so this will be carried out shortly.

We also need to demolish the existing brick store and the practice court fence in preparation for the contractor's arrival and we aim to get the new car parking area between the burn and Craigvinean Surgery ready before the MUGA construction starts so that existing users will still have somewhere to park once the current car park becomes a building site.

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New FitSteps Dance Fitness Class

Jess, a gold standard FitSteps instructor, has recently started teaching FitSteps at the Guide Hall in Little Dunkeld on Thursdays at 6.30pm. Jess is a professionally trained dancer who unsurprisingly has a passion for dance and a love for fitness! Jess starting dancing from the age of three in East Sussex England where she grew up. After her education she was successful in getting a place at a musical theatre school in Kent and completed three years full time training in dancing, singing and acting. Her performing career has taken her all over the UK, to Belgium and to Greece. She moved to Dunkeld with the intention of staying just for the winter but over a year later she has predictably, completely fallen in love with it. Jess looks forward to her class every week and loves to see everyone leave with a smile!

"FitSteps is an energetic, upbeat dance fitness class featuring all of your favourite 'Strictly Come Dancing' dances. It is designed to give real, measurable fitness results. It is suitable for all ages and abilities and you don’t need a partner. You will have so much fun you won’t even realise you are getting fit!"

Classes are not a serious technical dance class - it's all about having fun and improving your health and fitness at the same time. If you are interested in learning something new whilst improving your physical and mental health, come along and give it a try. Jess is looking forward to seeing you!

For more information visit: FitSteps Dunkeld, Scotland Facebook group (£6 per class or buy 6 consecutive classes for £30) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Community News continued

Dunkeld Community Archive

Friday 11th and Saturday 12th March (Free entry) - Our next event will be a celebration of our young Kickstarter’s amazing work in the archive. The premier of Steven’s animation of Dundonnachie & the Bridge Toll Riots of 1868 will be shown along with a Mini Art Exhibition of Iman’s original paintings. These paintings will be sold in a Silent Auction and there will be cards and prints also available for sale.

Friday 18th and Saturday 19th March (Free entry) – To help celebrate the 17th Niel Gow Festival we will host an exhibition about all the talented Fiddlers in Dunkeld, including a document kindly loaned to us by Blair Castle Archive showing the signature of the great man himself.

Friday 20th and Saturday 21st May (Free entry) – For the Birnam Book festival we will have an exhibition about the Newfoundland Forestry Corps and their connection to this area. A book written by Ursula A Kelly called ‘The Foresters Scribe’ will be available and a talk about the research to produce this book will be held at 2pm on the Saturday in the Archive.

The Foresters' Scribe is the first comprehensive study of the Newfoundland Forestry Companies (NFC) of the First World War. It adds a long-overdue and essential chapter to the Great War history of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Over a century has gone by since the NFC was formed in 1917, yet little is known of this small unit of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Its members were men recruited for woods work in the United Kingdom. Their assignment: to cut and mill Scottish timber to supply wood for the war.

JUBILEE EVENT (Combination of Free & Ticketed events) - Plans are coming together for our Platinum Jubilee Celebration & Living History weekend on the 4th and 5th June 2022. The following is the line-up so far, but we would be delighted to hear from anyone in the Community who would like to add something, or publicise their event to help make the weekend something to remember. The National Trust for Scotland have very kindly allowed us to use Stanley Hill park for our event.

Saturday 4th June 10.15am Parade across the Bridge and into Stanley Hill Park by the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry including ‘C’ & ‘E’ Squadrons, their Pipe Band, Horses and ‘Jackals’. They will be joined by the ‘Scots at War’, ‘Great War Society’ & ‘Erskine Regiment’ re-enactment groups.

Stanley Hill Park will be open to the public all day where there will be camps set up showing what it was like for the soldiers during the Battle of Dunkeld in 1689, the Boer War, and both World Wars. There will also be a Medics tent showing the difference between treatments in WW1 & today. The Fire Department will be joining us to show ‘old & new’ equipment. There will be an arena hosting a program of events throughout the day including a Musket Display, Pipes & Drums and Battle reenactments. We are also welcoming Vikings from York who will host a ‘War Game’ in the Duchess Anne. Tickets will be made available for folk who would like to join them in a battle (Dunkeld was ‘sacked’ by Danes in 904). Craig Herbertson

(singer/songwriter) will be performing throughout the day in the park.

At 7pm the Birnam Arts will host a play, written and performed by the Birnam Institute Players, about Beatrix Potter. Tickets will be on sale soon through Birnam Arts.

Sunday 5th June Most of the active Army will retreat, but everyone else will remain to entertain you throughout the day in Stanley Hill park.

At 3pm Dunkeld Cathedral will host a narrated story of the church, with music including the Scottish Plainsong Choir Capella Nova and our very own Church Choir and Handbell Ringers. Tickets will be available soon through Birnam Arts.

At 7.30pm Birnam Arts will host a narrated story of Niel Gow with music from Pete Clark and Jamie Jauncey. Again, tickets will be available through Birnam Arts.

The Community Archive will be open throughout the weekend with an exhibition about ‘Royals visiting Dunkeld’, including photographs from Queen Victoria’s Jubilee celebrations in Stanley Hill park in 1897 and a home-made banner from this jubilee celebration which went on to be ‘re-cycled’ and used at King Edward VII’s Coronation in 1902.

As always, we would welcome any new volunteers. Please get in touch if you find yourself with some free time and want to get involved in our exciting projects. No experience necessary, just an interest in history and the community. archives@historicdunkeld.org.uk 01350 727786 12 The Cross, Dunkeld, PH8 0AN. ____________________________

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Community News continued

Dunkeld and Birnam in Bloom

Those venturing out will see that we continue to have work parties during the winter months to keep everything ship shape!

Birnam - We continue to upgrade the wild garden at the end of the Old Hostel Walk. New spring bulbs have been planted in the bed near to the bungalow. Much rubbish from the storm has been gathered up.

Snowdrops are now coming into flower in the walk along with some aconites and the daffodils are starting to pop up here and there. The snowdrops in the park are in full flower, early as usual.

We have new gravel delivered today 9th Feb to top up the footpath between the walk and the park, (which has become very bare) and we hope to start to spread that shortly.

Also in progress is an extension to the footpath, to hopefully take the path over the worst of the mud and further into the edge of the park. (The ground is very soft in this area and does not drain well.) We are hoping to get approval for a micro grant from Community Council to cover some of the costs involved, and the remainder paid for by ourselves out of limited funds, so any donations towards this would be greatly appreciated. As with everything else over the last two years, we have been curtailed in fund raising so any donations are very welcome.

We have also started to clear the footpath along the roadside by Hostel Walk, which has been sadly

neglected and is covered by huge amounts of leaves and detritus from several winters. We hope to move wild flowers from another area and plant them along the fence side, once we have got everything cleared.

Those using the footpath from the end of Torlee Road to the kissing gate path down to the riverside, will notice we have covered the mud with chippings kindly donated

by SSE from local tree removal, which makes the path along the verge very much improved. The snowdrops which we transplanted last year from another area are now showing themselves along the fence side. More are scheduled for moving “in the green” from another area, to complete the length of the verge, after flowering. The many sacks of daffodils which we planted in the Autumn of 2020 are already peeping through. We have also planted another hundred wildlife friendly hedge plants, to replace those that didn’t survive the delay in the original planting, again due to Covid. There are Dog Rose, Gelder Rose, Hawthorn, blackthorn, bird cherry and hazel, to name some of them. We look forward to seeing what it all looks like in a few weeks time, when everything starts to come into leaf.

We are still hoping that this path could be improved further, but legislation regarding, width, trees and surface type are at odds with a natural, woodland type path, which would still provide safety without involving tree loss, an impermeable surface and massive cost. If anyone is more versed in submitting plans, costing and dealing with “planning” bodies we would appreciate the help? ____________________________

Little Dunkeld & Dunkeld

The raised bed at the road junction has been repaired courtesy of Alistair Brewster, and with the ivy in the process of being cut back, we can see the lovely stone again.

As we try to recycle us much as possible, we have split and replanted the crocosmia from the raised bed into the bed opposite to replace the large flax which could not cope with the wintery winds on this exposed corner.

The containers by the bridge and North Car Park are full of daffodils, as is the bed by the British Legion and we look forward to their cheery, warm yellow heads welcoming Springtime.

Davidsons (chemist) at Blairgowrie had packs of bulbs beginning to shoot and have kindly donated them to us and other local “in bloom” groups. We immediately planted them last week – aconites and crocus in Birnam and Tulips in St Ninian’s Garden- they will add even more interest to our displays. Our thanks go to Davidsons for this unexpected contribution.

Our next meeting for the Dunkeld and Birnam group will be the 22nd Feb – if you would like to join us, please give Linda or Liz a phone.

Liz 727203 or Linda 727288 ____________________________

Support Choices

Support Choices is an independent organisation which give free independent information and advice to people about social care and Self-directed Support in Perth and Kinross. We offer a free independent service, helping people through the process of getting the support they need. We aim to ensure people have the right information to make informed choices and we are independent of all other services (Social Work, NHS, Support Providers etc).

We can help at any stage of someone’s social care or Self-directed Support journey.

Support Choices recently received funding from National Lottery which is helping us to update information materials, purchase tech to keep us connected while we are out and about in communities and to hold drop-in events across Perth and Kinross keep an eye out for these coming to a venue near you in Spring/Summer!

The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “National Lottery funding can make amazing things happen in local communities across the country. This project delivered by Support Choices, is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause or to help others. National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work and to help communities thrive.”

We’re excited that this funding will help us to reach more people who are seeking solutions and need a bit of help to get things moving in the right direction, like this family: “It’s been very positive indeed – I just feel cared for, literally – I feel cared for as well as being confident that [my wife] is being cared for.”

If you or someone you know would like to talk through social care or Self-Directed Support options, you can contact us on 01350 729130 or by email on info@supportchoices.co.uk. ____________________________

This space could be selling for you!

Contact the Advertising Manager adverts@dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk 07967 117149

Can you help us find our forever home?

We are a local family with young children in school in Dunkeld looking to buy a sizeable family house with a minimum of 4 bedrooms and a garden.

We are chain free and willing to take something on that needs a bit of TLC, all things considered!

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Very exciting news coming soon.

Watch this space!

Start Here Travel Independent travel agent based in Birnam

No-obligation quotes available.

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Worried about fuel bills and the Climate Emergency?

Stay warm and save the planet by working with us!

Join us from as little as £5 for a morning or afternoon at the community coworking space.

Free to join Centrally located between Dunkeld and Birnam Tea and Coffee Included E-mail coworkingdunkeld@gmail.com

Ready to Burn Dry Hardwood Logs, Softwood, Peat & Kindling Household Coal & Smokeless Ovals Woodlets Pellets in 10kg bags

Fraser Mills All domestic and commercial work undertaken Tel: 07545 078968 Email: fm.electrical143@gmail.com FM-Electrical.co.uk Locally based • Not vat registered

Chattan Tea Room & Post Office

Welcome back to our cafe and Post Office, we have indoor and outdoor seating available.

We offer freshly prepared breakfast and lunches as well as fresh home baking and excellent coffees.

Our other services include: takeaway, fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh seasonal flowers and plants, pre order service, afternoon tea, cakes to order, kindling and logs, groceries and local produce, gifts, stationery and cards.

Café Opening Times Monday to Saturday 10am - 4pm Closed Sunday Post Office Monday to Saturday 9am - 5pm Post office closed 1pm-2pm Hot Meal Wednesday Starting the first week in November Call us on 01350 727342 Find us on Facebook & Instagram

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s in the Commun e h c r u h C e ity hre

A Lenten Reflection on Hope

Once again, we are entering the season of Lent, the forty-days that lead up to Easter, a time that was traditionally spent in fasting and repentance. For many of us these days this may only mean giving up chocolate for forty days (a difficult enough task!) but for me it has often seemed an opportunity to also spend time reflecting on the difficulties we face. Each of us must make this journey in our own way but for me it has often coincided with some problem arising that is usually resolved by my coming to terms with how things are rather than how I want them to be. Inevitably, difficulties don’t just disappear by their being ignored, however I have often found that reaching a point of genuine inner surrender at times produces an outcome that is completely unexpected and beyond anything that might have been hoped for.

In this context, the recent passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu brings to mind the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. During the aftermath of the apartheid regime the Commission showed many examples of how, if it is possible for an open acceptance to be reached, goodness will ultimately be stronger than evil. One story particularly struck me. In 1990 a by now elderly woman gave evidence to the Commission and was forced to face the police officer who having been sent to arrest her husband had shot her son at point blank range. Later the same officer would force her to witness the death of her husband. When the presiding officer of the Commission asked what outcome would help her, she astonished all present by saying that she hoped that the now discredited police officer would accept her forgiveness and agree to take the place of her missing son, asking him to visit her house so that she could share with him the love that still remained.

During the twentieth century global warfare produced many martyrs from all faiths and none. In this context three names come to mind: St Maximillian Kolbe, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Anne Frank, whose stories remind me that my worst present troubles are but nothing in comparison. Anne Frank was a mere 15year-old Jewish schoolgirl caught up in world events that deployed cruelty at an industrial level. She would probably have remained just another nameless victim had it not been for the irony that the diary she kept would survive to be published and read by millions. So, as we look forward to another spring and a hopeful easing of the difficulties that we have all been experiencing with Covid, I conclude this short reflection with some timeless words taken from Anne’s diary: I see a world gradually being turned into a wilderness.

I hear ever-approaching thunder which will destroy us too; I can see the suffering of millions. And yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think it will all come right and this cruelty will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.

In Lent it is realistic to reflect on our difficulties, but we must recall that each Spring brings with it a new start.

For Christians Easter represents the message of hope but whatever our beliefs, hope is something that all are able to share.

Roderick Campbell Guion OCDS ____________________________

Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Service

To mark the start of Lent there will be an ecumenical service at St Mary's Birnam at 7pm on Wednesday March 2nd. All are welcome. ____________________________

Online Services

Online worship continues and can be accessed on our YouTube channel ‘Dunkeld Cathedral online.’

A fantastic team of people puts in a lot of work to produce the end result. Everyone involved is well

aware of the commitment this requires but also recognises what an important development this has been. It continues to be under review as we decide how to develop this ministry.

It would be helpful to have any feedback or comments from people who watch so please send them to RPenny@churchofscotland.org.uk ____________________________

Church of Scotland Services

March 6th. 11am. - Communion Service in Little Dunkeld 1st. Sunday in Lent

March 13th. 11am. – Morning Worship in Little Dunkeld Led by the Revd. Annie Hogg

March 20th. 11am. – Morning Worship in Little Dunkeld 2.15 - Service at Amulree Kirk

March 27th. 11am. – Morning Worship in Little Dunkeld

April 3rd.

11am. – Morning Worship in Little Dunkeld.

We are now able to have teas and coffees after the service but we are still required to take contact details for Track and Trace.

Members of the congregation are still required to wear masks, including while singing and we have to socially distance household groups. Hand sanitisers are placed at the door and people are encouraged to use that on entry and exit. ____________________________

The Meeting Place

The Meeting Place has started again in the Duchess Anne on Friday mornings from 10 – 12noon. All welcome. ____________________________

Men's Breakfast

The sizzle of sausages and the smell of bacon rolls once again emanates from the Chanonry fortnightly on Wednesday mornings. The Men’s Breakfast starts at 9am and will be meeting on the 8th. & 22nd. March and April 5th.

If you would like more details please contact Peter Mackie at Petermackie46@gmail.com ____________________________

Thursday Youth Group

A group for P. 7 and S. 1 meets in the Duchess Anne on every Thursday between 7 and 8.30, once again meeting in person. For more information, please contact William Hogg (727053) or Fraser Penny (727249) ____________________________

Booking Halls

Anyone who would like to book either the Duchess Anne or the Chanonry for meetings and events should contact Jill McCrory on chanonrydunkeld@gmail.com ____________________________

Kirk Session

The Kirk Session has its regular meeting on March 8th. at 7.30pm. Elders will be notified of the venue nearer the time.

We have also have a couple of extra meetings, the first on February 24th and the second on March 3rd at 7pm. to progress the Forward Planning exercise we are engaged in. Many thanks to all those who returned the questionnaires which have been fed into the picture.

The task for the Kirk Session now is to set out plans for where we see ourselves going in the next few years in developing the life of the congregation. While there are many changes to cope with in the church nationally and locally this is an exciting time as we seek to discern God’s will for our ministry. ____________________________

Earth Hour

To mark Earth Hour the Cathedral floodlights will be switched off at 8.30pm. on March 26th. It is a moment when we can show we care for the planet and its future. This may seem like a small, insignificant gesture, but it is a reminder that we have to look after this magnificent world we have been given and not take it for granted.

____________________________

In recent years a number of pilgrimage routes have been established in different parts of Scotland. These routes encourage not just walking, but walking with a spiritual purpose in mind. Kathy Stewart, a member of Dunkeld Parish Church, recently walked the St. Cuthbert's way and found it a very rewarding experience. She reflects here on the experience.

The Joy of Walking

My love of walking, and taking time in nature, grew from the pain, sadness and loneliness of grief and was introduced to me by someone who has since become a precious friend. I quickly discovered from these initial shared doggy walks, that there was a joy to be found also venturing out on my own as I would never know quite what I might see; often it was on the days where I least felt like walking that I was charmed the most with the beauty of my surroundings. Fast forward a few years, many more walks that grew in length, challenge and I found myself setting out as a pilgrim on St Cuthbert’ Way with my friend where the 62 miles/100km ahead of us would take us from Melrose onwards into Northumberland before arriving on the holy island of Lindisfarne. The chance to step away from normal life and media is to be commended to all. Time to walk in all sorts of weather (we had to get to our next overnight “shelter”), to talk deeply, to share the WOWS from hilltops and autumn splendour, to walk in silence all lends itself to something rather remarkable – space to think and to let ideas and feelings bubble up in a way that our hectic world often suppresses. The chance to talk, really talk, and to have time to think and return to these conversations was one of the most precious aspects of this journey. When we take the time, slow down and open our eyes, it is truly remarkable how mother nature can teach us so much, can soothe hurts and bring clarity and understanding where once there was muddle. The endorphin high of clocking up the miles each day, of the fresh air and just the beauty of our world is to be commended to all. Making space to walk in nature whether for a short jaunt or something more adventurous will not disappoint. As you watch sunrise and sunset, shelter under an aged tree in heavy rain, watch a butterfly dance from flower to flower or just soak up a view or the fresh air, you will return refreshed and uplifted, clearer in thinking and maybe just wowed a wee bit by the wonder of our world. It’s worth a try!

By Kathy Stewart, February 2022

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The Meeting Place

The Meeting Place Open Again!

10-12 Fridays Duchess Anne

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s in the Commun e h c r u h C e ity hre

Weekly Services

Church of Scotland:

Church Services and Contacts:

Dunkeld Cathedral at 11am.

Every Sunday from Easter Sunday to Remembrance Sunday.

Little Dunkeld Kirk at 11am.

Every Sunday from the Sunday following Remembrance Sunday to Palm Sunday.

Scottish Episcopal Church: St Mary’s Birnam at 10am.

Every Sunday.

Roman Catholic:

St Columba’s, Mass 6pm Every Saturday

Monthly and Occasional Services

Church of Scotland, Amulree Third Sunday of the Month 2.15pm

Servite

There is a Communion Service in the lounge at Servite at 3pm. on the first Sundays of March, June, September and December. ____________________________

St Mary’s Episcopal Church Service Time: 10am

Said Eucharist (communion) every Sunday Beautiful organ music instead of hymns for the duration of the virus.

Brilliant sermons too!

All are welcome in this space. https://www.stmarysbirnam.org.uk/ ____________________________

Contact Details:

Church of Scotland:

Congregational Office Bearers: Minister: Rev. R.Fraser Penny,B.A. B.D., Cathedral Manse, Dunkeld, PH8 0AW Tel: 01350 727249 e-mail: r.fraserpenny@gmail.com Session Clerk: Mrs. C. McNicoll Tel: 01350 727500 e-mail: mcnicoll431@btinternet.com Treasurer: Mr. John Gray Highfield, Brae Stret, Dunkeld, PH8 0BA Tel: 01350 728697 e-mail: gray.john17@sky.com Covenant Officer: Mrs. Ann Bryce Tomnagrew House, Dunkeld PH80BX Tel: 01350 723228 e-mail: j.bryce@farmline.com Organist & Choir Leader: Mrs Hazel Murch Tel: 07867 642954 e-mail: hazel.murch@gmail.com Parish Office: Mrs Jill McCrory The Chanonry, 07808 703641 email: chanonrydunkeld@gmail.com www.dunkeldcathedral.org.uk ____________________________

St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Birnam

The Rector: Reverend Lesley-Ann Craddock Priest in Charge of St Mary’s Birnam and Dunkeld St Mary’s rectory, St Mary’s Rd, Birnam, PH8 0BJ Tel: 07903 020509 email: lesley.craddock@btinternet.com Part time = Friday, Saturday & Sunday I can also be found dwelling nr LochNess 01456486663

Treasurer: Penny MacGregor and Charles Cox Vestry Secretary: Adrian Freer Tel: 01821 650536 email: adrianfreer@btinternet.com Organist : John Walker B.Mus, FRCO, LRAM, ARCM. Tel: 01350 727755 (www.stmarysbirnam.org.uk) ____________________________

St Columba’s Roman Catholic Church

Catholic Church Priest: Fr Emmanuel Adindu MSP Tel: 01796 472174 e-mail:___________________________ stbridespitlochry@dunkelddiocese.org.uk

St Bride’s Catholic Church Rie-Achan Road, Pitlochry PH16 5AL

Our Lady of Mercy’s, Home Street, Aberfeldy, PH15 2AL

We celebrate the presence of the Risen Lord amongst us during these Masses: St Columba’s Birnam, Saturday Vigil Mass at 6.00 pm.

Our Lady of Mercy, Aberfeldy, Sunday at 9.30.

St Bride’s, Pitlochry at 11.30 pm.

Holy Days of Obligation: Mass Times St Columba’s Birnam, at 9.30 am.

Our Lady of Mercy, Aberfeldy at 12.30 pm.

St Bride’s, Pitlochry at 6.00 pm.

Weekday Masses: Our Lady of Mercy, Aberfeldy, Tuesdays at 9.30 pm.

St Bride’s, Pitlochry, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 9.30 am.

Lent and Easter During Lent Stations of the Cross will be observed as follows: Our Lady of Mercy, Aberfeldy, after the Tuesday Mass.

St Bride’s, Pitlochry after the Friday Mass.

St Columba’s Birnam, before the 6.00 Saturday Vigil Mass. ____________________________

We're missing all our Messy Church friends and families, but hope to see you soon.

How poor nutrition can impact us all

Did you know it’s Nutrition and Hydration Week this month? This is a worthwhile campaign and most of us could benefit from advice on eating better.

Nutrition and poverty For some, poor nutrition is a choice. Others, though, including many of those who seek help from Christians Against Poverty (CAP), feel they have no choice but to skip meals and are not getting a nutritious diet – not through choice, but because of necessity. 6% of CAP clients say that debt meant they had to sacrifice meals on a daily basis. A much higher proportion of clients – over one in three (37%) – report skipping meals on, at least, a monthly basis. In many cases, parents will ensure their children eat first, even if they themselves then have to go without.

The spiral of poor nutrition The NHS website says that a lack of proper nutrition can lead to someone feeling tired all the time, feeling weak, getting ill more often and taking longer to recover from illness. This can make it difficult for someone in this position to go to work, or work productively, which can lead to them not being able to earn and falling further into debt, particularly if their work hours are unpredictable.

There are also some great, healthy recipes, for example, at bbc.co.uk/food. Why not try something new this month? Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK charity that works with local churches to deliver debt help, budgeting guidance, support to find work, life skills groups and more. Visit capscotland.org to find out more.

____________________________

Lent with Ignatius of Loyola and St Mary’s Birnam

Be inspired by the eventful life of Iñigo of Loyola, later known as Ignatius.

Maybe his trials and discernment could help you in your search for fulfilment in life.

Follow the life of the Spanish courtier turned priest this Lent.

It is 500 years since he converted to Christ yet his story still has the power to move us.

Prepare for Easter by dedicating time this Lent to pray using focused daily reflections.

Join the online experience for daily prayer using pictures, Scripture, Music and episodes from the life of Ignatius.

During Lent we invite you to share your experiences weekly in a group either in person or online.

If you are interested in joining in, you can access it online directly from the Ignatian Spirituality Centre Glasgow, or , you can have a study book to go through yourself, or, you can come along to St Mary’s Birnam on Saturday Mornings 10:30 am starting from 12th March.

Yes it is quite a Catholic study, Yes it is very inclusive, yes it is for everyone.

Contact me. Lesley-ann 07903020509 for info. I have the books!

____________________________

12

Notes from a Councillor

I just don’t know where the time goes! We are already well into February and hurtling towards summer at a great rate of knots and I wonder what Mother Nature will have in store for us going forward?

Storms Arwen, Malik and Corrie caused chaos for many, me included. Thousands of people were without power in some cases, for nearly a week. This is very worrying especially given that we are steaming head long into a society that is going to be significantly more reliant on Electricity.

Discussions are well underway for the setting the forthcoming Council budget. Every year we seem to see more challenges placed on the finances. With house prices, utilities and inflation on an upward trend and the warning that our water bills will see a rise of 4.5%, it will require some imaginative and clever measures in order to keep our Council tax in check but still keep the good level of service that we have had to date. You will be pleased to hear that we have decided NOT to implement the Scottish Government’s controversial plans for the workplace parking charge.

You may have noticed trees being felled in the Perth/Luncarty area. This is preparatory work for the cross Tay Link road. The works are being done now in order to prevent delays later on. Work would have to stop if birds were nesting in these trees, so it was decided that it would be better to clear the trees now before birds decided to nest in them. There is a programme of tree planting planned to

replace these as the link road project progresses Last year we saw an unprecedented rise in the amount of visitors to our Lochs and countryside as people took their holidays at home rather than abroad. Although the majority of these visitors discovering our beautiful Countryside were very welcome, they brought with them other problems that we had not experienced on this scale before. Fly tipping, littering and general vandalism and damage to the Lochs and surrounding area was beginning to get out of hand. We placed money in the budget and employed seven Countryside rangers who carried out regular patrols of the worst affected areas, liaised with the Police and spoke with visitors, handed out helpful advice and made a huge difference to alleviate would was potentially becoming a huge problem. This service will be in operation again this year, if you see any of our Rangers out and about, please say hello and let them know if you see any anti-social behaviour.

On a personal note, this year sees the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands war and I will be attending many remembrance and reunion events throughout the year. I left the UK on HMS Invincible on the 4th April 1982 and returned 5 months later to meet my Son who had been born 2 days after Liberation day on 14th June. It may seem like a long time ago but I remember it as if it were yesterday. I am still in touch with most of my fellow shipmates and I am looking forward to catching up with them and “swinging a few lanterns”, reminiscing and paying our respects to those that didn’t come home.

Ian James

Telephone & Fax: 01796 472494 Mobile: 07800 577259

07875 762498

JOHN SWINNEY, MSP for PERTHSHIRE NORTH can be contacted at: 17-19 LESLIE STREET, BLAIRGOWRIE Tel: 01250 876576 SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT, EDINBURGH EH99 1SP Tel: 0131 348 5717 e-mail: john.swinney@parliament.scot

Cath’s Dog Walking

Dog Walking and sitting Service in Murthly, Bankfoot and Dunkeld area.

Either group or solo walks daily as well as dog sitting Prices: £10 per hour weekdays and £12 per hour weekends

Struan, Coulterenny, Cairneyhill, Bankfoot, Perth. PH1 4AQ Email: admin@potterplumbing.co.uk

Available 7am until late each day I am insured, hold Canine First Aid Level 4 and current PVG Clearance Email:cathhendry@icloud.com Telephone: 07934217252

JD Cox Plant Hire

Pete Wishart MP:

Member of Parliament for Perth and North Perthshire pete.wishart.mp@parliament.uk Perth Office: 63 Glasgow Road, Perth, PH2 0PE. Tel: 01738 639598 North Perthshire Office: 17-19 Leslie St, Blairgowrie, PH2 6AH Tel: 01250 876 576

Mobile: 07836 615626

Email: diggercox@btopenworld.com

COUNCILLOR ANNE JARVIS (CONSERVATIVE) 01738 475000 Email: AnneJarvis@pkc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR IAN JAMES (CONSERVATIVE) 01738 475000 Email: IJames@pkc.gov.uk Mon-Fri 8.00am to 5.00pm Sat 10.00am to 11.00am

COUNCILLOR GRANT LAING (SNP) 01738 475000 or 07881 500501 Email: GLaing@pkc.gov.uk

Dunbraantay Laundry NOW OPEN!

Our Services: • Service Wash/Drying/Ironing • Self-Service Machines • Laundry Products • Equine Rug Wash & Pet Beds • Holiday Cover Cleaning Service • Self Catering, Holiday Homes, Private Homes & Small Businesses

Any questions or to discuss individual or business requirements, please contact: Kelly or Rosanagh on mob: 07871 695461 email: dunbraantaylaundry@yahoo.com Facebook: @dunbraantaylaundry Opening times: Tuesday - Friday 9am to 1pm Perth Road, Birnam PH8 0BH (behind the post office)

Perth Arms We are Hiring at The Perth Arms, High Street, Dunkeld This small but very busy family run pub in the centre of Dunkeld is seeking the following staff members: *Chef de Partie (full time) *Kitchen Assistant (full/part time) *Bar Staff (full/part time)

If you have a passion for food and great customer service, and if you want to work in a small, enthusiastic team with great work/life balance, please call us on 01350 727270 or send your CV to The Perth Arms, High Street, Dunkeld, PH8 0AJ Please note that all these positives are live-out

Corbenic Camphill Shop

19 Bridge Street, Dunkeld PH8 0AH

corbenic_camphill_shop

Opening hours: Wednesday – Sunday 10-5

BMR Bob’s Mechanical Repairs

As well as showcasing the beautiful products handmade at the workshops which form a part of everyday life at the Corbenic Community, we sell a range of gifts, household items, stationery and art equipment, as well as books and toys. We also sell Weleda and Laura Thomas products, and local handmade soap and candles.

Try our engine carbon clean machine!

SERVICING MOTS CARBON CLEANING DIAGNOSTICS REPAIRS 24HR RECOVERY

In our basement you can find a wide range of wholefoods. You can also stock up on eco-products for your house, from laundry liquid and hand soap to floor cleaner. Just bring your own container or buy a refillable bottle in store!

CARS BOATS SMALL PLANT MACHINERY QUADS OFF ROAD BIKES

01350 727276

Join our team at The Den at Heartland Kids’ Club Childcare Practitioner / Supervisor Required (£12.95 per hour) We are seeking a Childcare Practitioner in our Out of School Childcare service based at Pitlochry High School.

This is a part time, permanent position offering 24.5 hours per week during term time, plus full time during our 5 weeks Holiday Club.

Applicants should have an HNC in Childcare and Education, or SVQ3 in Social Services (Children and Young People) or equivalent, and relevant experience in childcare.

Ideally The Childcare Supervisor should have an awareness of ‘My World Outdoors’, with experience of delivering outdoor play and learning, and the ability to develop and implement nature-based activities for the kids' club.

Deputy Childcare Supervisor Required (£11.00 per hour) We are seeking a Deputy Childcare Supervisor in our Out of School Childcare service based at Pitlochry High School.

This is a part time, permanent position offering 9 hours per week during term time, plus full time during our 5 weeks Holiday Club.

Ideally applicants should have an HNC in Childcare and Education, or SVQ3 in Social Services (Children and Young People) or equivalent, however relevant experience in childcare and the opportunity to do a work-based qualification (funding available) that allows you to have the relevant qualifications set out by SSSC will be taken into consideration.

If one of our job vacancies sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you.

Please email us at thedenrecruitment@gmail.com for a full job description and application form.

Visit our website to learn more about The Den: www.thedenatheartland.com Registered SCIO Charity Number: SC049188.

Dunkeld Cars

Looking for a local taxi, airport transfers, wedding hire, highland tours and more?

We provide the premier service you are looking for.

Eco-friendly electric taxis and a 9 seat minibus for all your needs.

Call 07419 115736

Visit www.dunkeldcars.co.uk @DunkeldCars

• Patios • Walls • Paths • • Steps • Driveways • Turfing • • Raised Flower Beds • • Artificial Grass • All types of Garden, Stock and Deer Fencing Treework & more...

Mark Blair 07850 014073

blairfencing@hotmail.co.uk www.blairfencingandlandscaping.co.uk

Letter to the Editor

Community Noticeboard

Dear Editor, I hope I can take advantage of your pages again to keep my favourite subject of the moment in the public eye. I took great pleasure in reading the article on the subject by my very old friend Ian Nimmo in the last edition. Ian and me grew up together in Station Road / Birnam Terrace, played together and raked all the hills and glens of Birnam / Dunkeld including fishing at the Hermitage so although he now lives in Fife he knows this area very well. I thank him for his support and include in these thanks the editor of the Bridge for her support in her editorial. Talking of support, I have to say that I have been very pleased with the number of local people who have taken the trouble to express their support to me personally although not wishing to go into print.

Fellow readers of the Bridge will have realised by now that I have no intention of quitting on this subject. I feel very strongly that this path should not have been left closed for nigh on 15 years, and see no need for the bridge to have been closed at all. The Hermitage and its surrounds, including the truly majestic conifer trees, are a major tourist attraction and I am only surprised that the Tourist Board have not taken more of an interest.

David MacDougall ____________________________

The Meeting Place – Open Again!

We are now open on a Friday morning at the Duchess Anne for a cup of tea or coffee, some lovely home baking and a get together. After the months of lockdown we are enjoying meeting up again and catching up with old friends and making new ones. All welcome between 10am and 12.

On Friday 25th March our Coffee Morning will be in aid of The Brian Tumour Charity. There is no charge - donations are welcome.

For any further information please contact Margaret at mascott47@aol.com

___________________________ Amulree Village Hall

Amulree Village Hall are resuming their Fund raising and are hoping to have a monthly coffee morning serving coffee, tea, cakes, plus scones and soup.

These will be on the last Saturday of the month with the first being on the 26th Feb from 10-2pm, the next will be on the 26th March.

Also hoping to start a movie family night and the first of these will be on the 1st April, timing and details to follow. Other ideas are in the pipeline, check out the website www.amulreehall.org.uk soon to see more.

The annual dance is scheduled to be on the 18th March with Callum Wallace 8-12, licensed bar and supper served.

Everyone welcome, please do get in touch if any queries.

___________________________

Royal School of Dunkeld

‘Casting the Past into the Future’ was a cultural heritage project which started last year with the P7 class at RSD (now S1’s pupils). This was a bronze casting project funded through the Living Communities Fund ( Gannochy fund managed by Culture PK for school heritage projects),’ lead by artist Helen O’Brien, in collaboration with The Mobile Foundry.

The P7 class designed and created wooden & plasticene plaques of their favourite natural and cultural elements of Dunkeld & Birnam, which they then helped the Mobile Foundry press into sand moulds, ready for the Bronze Pour.

Birnam Arts kindly let us use their outside space to set up the foundry, and 22 plaques were poured on a rainy day in June 21, which were then kindly cleaned up and patinated by Roddy Mathieson ( Mobile Foundry). The finished plaques have just been installed on the RSD school wall in the playground

Dalguise Meditation Group

Everyone is welcome who would like to learn to meditate, to consolidate a meditation practice they already have, or simply to join our friendly group for a period of quiet contemplation and thoughtful discussion.

We are non-religious, and non-commercial (i.e. there is no charge – plus free tea, coffee and biscuits too!)

for further information contact: faithanstey@gmail.com

Three Churches Charity Shop High Street Dunkeld

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10-4

15

(thanks to Robin Fairholm), at the height all the current and future children of RSD can see, touch and enjoy.

We finally had an official opening with the now S1’s to see and celebrate their amazing artwork, which we hope will be enjoyed and treasured by the school and wider community.

Please go and visit them to find your favourite! #kidsarethebestartists!

From Left to Right of RSD: 1 2 3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

Name of Image of: Creator

Owen Skye Torin Tyler Aidan Anna Kaiden Duncan Logan Corin

James Melody Drew Eilidh Chloe Michael Innes Struan Arthur Daisy Ruby

Osprey Birnam Oak Fiddle Hermitage Salmon Jumping The Bridge & the Tay The Fountain Larch Football Bike with a bin on the back – Recycling!

Totem ( with Fern Mohican) School & River & Heart Squirrel Flower Oak Leaf House War Memorial & Houses Bee’s Birnam Hill Deer Dunkeld & Birnam Memories

Doctors Surgery

Our Doctors Surgery will be open as normal with telephone consultations with the GP in the first instance.

To help keep our phone lines available for the GPs use, please consider using our online prescription service via our website rather than phoning in your requests.

Please consult our website for updates on our COVID vaccine clinics.

See page 7 for all the latest Doctors Surgery News.

Birnam Institute Library

http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/ business-showcase/1064-birnam-institute-library Opening hours: Thursday 5pm-7pm

Due to Covid19 restrictions, the library will not be open for browsing.

Birnam Library is situated in the Birnam Arts Centre, Station Road, Birnam, PH8 0DS Tel: 01738 459709

Donations welcome during opening hours

Can you spare 3 hours a month to help in our shop?

Call in for a chat or contact: Anne Graham: 07751 593421 Mara Maggio 01350 727585 Dianne Simpson 07796 920018 Marion Eglinton 07740 877504

Find us on Facebook at 3 Churches Charity Shop

RBS mobile bank visits Dunkeld and Birnam. Thursdays: Dunkeld, The Cross 14.50 pm to 15.20 pm and Birnam, Post Office 15.25 pm to 15.45 pm

A World Community

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Climate Café

Next Climate Cafés 3rd March and 7th April 7pm Zoom / Community Coworking Space.

Energy Saving Session with the HEAT Project on 14.00- 16.00 and 17.00-19.00 8th March (Coworking Space).

Tree Planting session on 1st April - contact: info@climate.cafe for more info and to book a place ____________________________

Loch of the Lowes in March

March marks the start of Summer Opening Hours at Loch of the Lowes visitor centre: 10:30 – 17:00hrs. We all hope we can open to the public every day, however, with Covid 19 in the mix of considerations, we would advise you to check our website or social media (details below) for up to date information about our opening days.

Since the Scottish Wildlife Trust purchased Loch of the Lowes way back in 1969, spring has been a very

exciting season. It heralds the return of migrating birds who’ve spent the last few months in warmer climes and are returning to breed in Scotland. The surrounding woodlands are loud with birdsong and on the water, great crested grebes, goldeneye and tufted ducks are wonderfully entertaining as they go about their courtship displays. Last year common sandpiper, sand martin, wheatear and chiffchaff had all been seen across Perthshire by the end of March.

March is also when we start scanning the sky in the hope of seeing our ospreys winging their way back to their lofty nest in the big Scots Pine.

Interestingly, in the 52 years we’ve been fortunate enough to have these iconic birds call Lowes their home, they have been returning increasingly earlier. In 1969, it was June before the first ospreys made an appearance but were too late (and probably, by their inexperienced, nest building behaviour) too young to breed. Happily, they returned the following year and since then we’ve enjoyed a succession of nesting ospreys at Loch of the Lowes.

When our famous, long lived, female osprey, affectionately named ‘Lady’, first chose to nest at Lowes (1991) she arrived in May. During her 24 years with us, her arrival steadily became earlier, with 20122014 being around 31st March. Since then, her last mate LM12 and his subsequent mates (LF15 and NC0) have been flying into view from the middle of March.

We all hope the male will return; he’s been a delight to watch here since 2012. He’s appeared as early as 17th March and last year arrived on 21st March, with his latest mate joining him 4 days later.

When will they appear this year? Fingers are firmly crossed and hopes are high to see them again.

However, we are always very mindful that these are wild birds with an enormous (up to 6,000 mile) round trip and many hazards to negotiate.

We look forward to welcoming you to Lowes in the springtime – even if there’s snow on the ground!

Follow all the action at Lowes on our website www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk Facebook: Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve and Twitter: @LochoftheLowes

___________________________ Earth Hour

Dunkeld Cathedral is participating in Earth Hour on 26 March by switching off the Church floodlights.

Historic Environment Scotland have participated in Earth Hour for many years with various of our national heritage sites switching off the lights as part of the WWF organised annual event to raise awareness of the climate crisis. The inclusion of Dunkeld Cathedral it is thanks to the church of Scotland agreeing to take part and to be involved under the HES umbrella.

We’re still waiting for confirmation on what other sites will be participating as safety of our staff and the communities within which our sites are located remain the most important consideration during the ongoing pandemic.

If you want to get involved you can find out more information on the Earth Hour Scotland website: https://www.wwf.org.uk/scotland/earthhour. People are asked to turn off the lights for an hour from 8:30-9:30pm.

You can also use this as an opportunity to find out about the environmental challenges our planet faces.

Joyce Kitching 0777 553 545 joyce.kitching@hes.scot ____________________________

Community News continued

United Lodge of Dunkeld Supports the Maintenance of Our Local Defibrillators

Tom Gordon, Master of the United Lodge of Dunkeld No. 14 (left) and Ian Ford, Provincial Grand Lodge of Perthshire West (right) presenting a cheque for £1,000 to Graham Rees on behalf of Lucky2BHere. Graham volunteers to oversee the maintenance of 8 of our local defibrillators. The donation was raised from charity fundraising events arranged by the masons, including a sponsored walk from Oban to St. Andrews. The cheque was made payable to Lucky2BHere who ringfence the money to be used exclusively for the maintenance and upkeep of these local defibrillators. Lucky2BHere is a registered charity who supply defibrillators and the equipment to maintain them, along with training to use them.

Graham Rees said, "I am extremely grateful to the masons for their very generous donation. We are lucky enough to have these 8 defibrillators in our area but it is obviously imperative that they are kept in good working order so that they are always readily available should they be needed. Defibrillators can save lives! The batteries and pads need to be replaced on a regular basis, even if the units have not been used, and this costs money. The location of the defibrillators can be found in a regular notice in The Bridge.

Again, a huge thank you to the United Lodge of Dunkeld No 14 for their support” If you would like to make a donation towards the maintenance of our local defibrillators then please get in touch with Graham - mobile 07836 777850 or email: shoetrees@btinternet.com All funds will be held by Lucky2BHere ____________________________

Community Action Plan Launch Saturday 5th March Birnam Arts 2-4pm

It’s hard to believe that a year ago we were just setting out on our journey towards creating a Community Action Plan (CAP). Thank you to everyone who took part and helped us to collate and distill all of your ideas into the PH8 Community Action Plan 2022-2027.

We are really pleased to tell you that the final report is now being made ready for publication and will be in your hands at the beginning of March. We invite you all to join us on Saturday 5th March at a launch event to celebrate our community’s first ever action plan. Come along to Birnam Arts from 2-4pm where we will have a special speakers, live music, children’s activities, a delicious Aran cake and refreshments. We hope you will be able to make it!

Gathering everyone together is always a great opportunity to discuss community action, and for those of you wanting to delve deeper into the CAP, discuss what is going to happen next, get involved as a volunteer or share your thoughts on what you’d like to see happen, there will be plenty of opportunity to open up these conversations.

In particular we would love to hear your thoughts on setting up a Community Development Trust to take forward Our Community Action Plan. A Development Trust is a community-owned and led organisation, working to combine community-

led action with an enterprising approach to address and tackle local needs and issues. To find out more about Development trusts head to the Development Trust Association Scotland’s (DTAS) website. A Community Development Trust could undertake some of the following activities to take action on our CAP priorities: Buyouts of land for community purposes (affordable housing for example) Generation of local employment and business support Community owned energy projects Broadband connectivity and digital participation To read more about proposals for bringing our Community Action Plan to life and to view consultation reports and background information please visit dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/PH8communitymatters We invite you to share your thoughts and comments on the proposed way ahead with us, using the contact details below or, come and speak to us at the launch event on 5th March. We are very happy to answer any questions you may have.

Contact our project co-ordinator, Sophie Cade on: ph8communitymatters@gmail.com Follow us on social media @ph8communitymatters to stay up to date. ___________________________

News from our Community Council

Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council Community Council Matters

Alan Wylie Community Councillor

If you would like to contact the Community Council you can do so by emailing: dbcc.correspondence@gmail.com or email the Chair on dbcc.chair@gmail.com.

You can also contact us via the messaging system on our facebook page.

Of course, if you have the opportunity, then please do chat to any member of the Community Council if you bump into them while out and about.

Meetings are held monthly at 7pm on the second Monday of the month. Date of next meetings: 14th February 14th March 11th April Venue: Online zoom meeting.

Please email us on the above address if you would like to attend and we will send you a zoom invitation.

To read the minutes of previous meetings and to find the agenda for forthcoming meetings, see: www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/community-news/ community-council ___________________________

Hello. I’m the new boy on the Community Council having been elected in November 2021. To be more accurate, I’m the new old boy, having been part of the Community Council between 2012 and 2016. Back then I held the positions of Treasurer and then Secretary. I live in the hamlet of Amulree, close to Glen Quaich and Loch Freuchie with my wife Megan and two terrier dogs, Hattie and Molly. A small and diverse community with a big heart.

When I was last on the Community Council a good deal of my time was spent on the many large wind farm developments that the area was being subjected to. I remember we had to contend with ten separate developments at the same time. Although we had no objection to wind farms as such, we were concerned that the area was being targeted by developers.

Thankfully, we were able to convince PKC and the Scottish Government that the area shouldn’t be turned into another windy city.

Six years on and although the subject of large wind farms is no longer on the horizon, there are many other issues that confront the community. Roads, parking, A9 widening, housing, wifi and the many facets of the

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Community Action Plan are all issues that confront us.

Rest assured, these are all topics that are constantly on the mind of the Community Council.

With so many issues to deal with, one of the first areas that the Community Council will be looking to deal with is the manner in which we communicate with the community. We’re looking to simplify the way we tackle issues by installing a more structured way in which we allocate responsibilities within the council.

The hope is that by assigning specific roles within the council, we’ll ensure issues that arise will be quickly dealt with. In addition, it will allow members of the community to be able to identify who they can speak to about an issue they want to draw to the attention of the Community Council.

The Community Council is a body of volunteers with the best interest of the community in mind. We want the community to better engage with us. For the past months during the pandemic we’ve been meeting online via Zoom and while this will continue for the foreseeable future, it’s hoped that we’ll soon be able to start meeting in person. Either way we want people to join us at our monthly meetings in whatever format we hold them. The second Monday of every month at 19:00 is the date to keep in mind. Full details appear on the Bridge website each month. We look forward to welcoming you all.

Alan Wylie

Connect …

Linking Asheville, North Carolina, USA and Dunkeld & Birnam

The Niel Gow Statue and Gathering: A Fiddle Legacy for the Appalachians

By Doug Orr

An early springtime greeting from your Asheville Twinning partners! We are delighted with the news that the annual Niel Gow Festival resumes in March after a pandemic interlude, and that the “Gow Gathering” will be taking place at the site of the new Niel Gow statue. While I wish we could have partaken in the festivities, we all lift a glass in celebration, but also in gratitude for the Niel Gow legacy and its lasting impact upon our Appalachian music traditions. We were pleased that Asheville Sister Cities could participate in the fund raising efforts for the Niel Gow statue with the proceeds from our 2020 annual Robert Burns Supper.

In many ways our financial support was simply repayment for a significant fiddle legacy transported across the sea to us through the migrations and bequeathed by Gow and his Scottish musical compatriots. It was a long and winding fiddle journey from the hills and glens of Scotland to our Southern Appalachians. As Fiona Ritchie and I chronicle in Wayfaring Strangers: The Musical Voyage from Scotland and Ulster to Appalachia, there were significant milestones along the way, as the fiddle was a part of the circuitous migratory path. When the emotional leavings took place through “Parting Rituals” and “American Wakes” there would be nights and even days of gatherings in bidding farewell to those family and friends embarking on the perilous journey. There was singing, stories, keening, glasses raised, and dance, with fiddle sounds echoing through the night. As the emigrants boarded vessels bound for America they were once again accompanied by the fiddle as ship captains considered the fiddler a hiring priority second only to the ship surgeon, because dance and music each day throughout the Atlantic crossing was critical for passenger morale and physical well being.

Upon arrival on the other side, often in Pennsylvania, many of the Scot and Scots-Irish immigrants would board Conestoga wagons to continue their journeys inland along the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road and toward the unknown recesses of the Appalachian Mountains. The ubiquitous musical instrument was the fiddle, which supplied music cadences for evening dances during the long overland trek. Along the way families would branch out and establish small homesteads amidst the mountain hollows and valleys. They possessed very few personal belongings; much of what they owned was in a single trunk. But the songs, stories and fiddle tunes were embedded deep in their hearts and reappeared hearthside and on the front porches of their modest log cabins. These intrepid settlers sometimes referred to the music as “way back yonder songs’ or “tunes from across the sea”. So many of the old songs and tunes would have been lost had it not been for the singers, fiddlers and collectors who preserved this vital inherited American music tradition.

Today the songs and fiddle tunes endure. There are numerous fiddle festivals throughout the summer months, and during our annual Swannanoa Gathering music camp at Warren Wilson College the fiddle is taught and classes much in demand throughout the five theme weeks (Fiona Ritchie and Pete Clark have served as instructors in different theme weeks.) Informal jam sessions continue deep into the mountain nights, with the fiddler in the lead.

Especially noteworthy has been the number of young prodigies who enroll in fiddle classes, including a past youth fiddle scholar Haley Richardson who is now the lead fiddler and musician for Riverdance.

Additionally, the fiddle has made its way beyond the Appalachian and Celtic music traditions into a wide variety of music forms.

This rich legacy of the fiddle, a gift to us from Niel Gow and many others across the span of Scottish music, most lost in the mists of history, brings to mind one of our many visits to Dunkeld & Birnam (which

began in 1987 and now numbers fifteen). In June 1995 Darcy and I traveled with the legendary and late Appalachian fiddler Ralph Blizard (recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor for artistic expression) and his wife Mildred to Scotland as his back-up musicians for a series of concerts, arranged by our Edinburgh friend and musician Ian Young. We based for several days in Dunkeld & Birnam, and included as much music as possible. I recall a music session one evening at the Atholl Arms Hotel pub with three fiddlers – Ralph, Dougie MacLean and American Kate Lissauer who was living in Butterstone at the time. As the euphoria of the evening’s music swept over us we suddenly declared that Dunkeld & Birnam and Asheville were hereby Sister Cities/Twins – a spontaneous proclamation without any official status, until it actually became a reality in the fall of 2018! The music had triggered a prescient vision as to a valued future partnership.

I was intent on introducing Ralph Blizard to his spiritual Scottish ancestors of the Appalachian music tradition and in particular Niel Gow. So we set about on a bit of a pilgrimage with Ralph to the Niel Gow cottage in Inver, his graveside in Birnam, and the Blair Atholl Castle to view Gow’s encased fiddle and his iconic portrait by Henry Raeburn. I vividly recall Ralph standing transfixed in front of the Gow painting. And for just a moment it seemed as if these two old fiddle masters, joined together over centuries of migrations and the wings of music, had caught each other’s eye in a symbolic acknowledgment of their enduring connection across the carrying stream of time and place.

So when we finally are able to view the Niel Gow statue, made possible by the untiring efforts of Pete Clark and so many of you, in my mind’s eye I will see our old friend Ralph and Niel Gow settling in for a fiddle session and drawing on their shared family tree of abiding old tunes.

Doug Orr

March ‘Stick on the Fridge Page’

01738 459701 Email: dunkeldcomlearn@pkc.gov.uk Cat Gordon/Kim McBain/Alison May 01796 483281 Meg Ross Email: megross@btinternet.com

U3A

Sport Dunkeld & Birnam Angling Association dunkeldangling@gmail.com Bowling Club

Secretary, Russ Jobson DBAA@live.co.uk Gael Shaw 07977 911068 Gaelshaw@btinternet.com Badminton johnrmoy@googlemal.com Field Archery 07786 073686 01350 727911 Glendelvine/Spittalfield Cricket Club (all ages) Neil Wimberley Website: www.glendelvinecricketclub.com Email: wimbo32@hotmail.com Golf Club (Visitors Welcome) 727524 Highland Perthshire Clay Shooting Club 07821 940252 Secretary Ted Carr Email: thecarr@waitrose.com Leisure Group (Sports Centre Project) 727361 Alasdair Wylie Curling 01738 454700 Claire Milne Tennis Club m: 07740 586064 or 01738 710484 Shona Smith Email: shonamh@googlemail.com Tayside Orienteers 727048 Bill Melville Running Club adrianrdavis@hotmail.com Adrian Davis Netball 723269 Tiffy Shedden Yoga 728773 June Mitchell Yoga 2 728783 Sue Atkinson Uver 35's Rugby 07738 006738 iainhg@aol.com Tai Chi 07551029076 John Connelly Music & Arts Cathedral Tower Bell Ringers Film Society Handbell Ringers Birnam Institute - Arts & Conferences Just Singin’ 7.30 Weds BI

724218 Iona O’Connor 727740 01828 628109 Margaret Davidson 727674 07545 219529 Carole Reid www.justsingin.co.uk BIPS howemarilyn@hotmail.com Marilyn Howe Birnam Youth Theatre Mon 5.00-6.30pm 727207 Dunkeld Strathspey & Reel Society 07531 520476 Duncan Thomson duncanwthomson@yahoo.co.uk Silversmithing Wed 7-9pm 727674 Arty Kids Wed (from 18thApr) 4-5pm 6wks 727674 Birnam Arts Ballet Tues/Wed/Thu age4up 727674 Ceramics Tues/Thurs 10am-1pm 7-9.30pm 727674 Scottish Country Dancing 01738 561676 / 01350 727380 Helen or Dinah

For Younger People Girlguiding Dunkeld (Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers):

Trix Stephen, District Commissioner Tel. 07770324173 Email guider@girlguidingdunkeld.org.uk 727760 Linda McDougall 727259 Fraser Penny 07429 113439 Staff Sergeant Craig Ross 07766 071854 Martina Wolfe 727259/727594 Fraser Penny/Deidre Gerrie

Hall Bookings Duchess Anne Chanonry Birnam Institute Dalguise Village Hall Amulree Village Hall Caputh Hall

07808 703641 07808 703641

Ivan Russell

Ronalda Pattullo Fiona Ritchie

chanonrydunkeld@gmail.com Jill McCrory chanonrydunkeld@gmail.com Jill McCrory 727674 07746 392268 www.amulreehall.org.uk caputhhall@gmail.com 01738 710 848

Janu ary

Bi rn Ma Fe am y s tiv Boo al k

For Older People Servite 07595 651446 Working Hours: Mon,Tues,Thurs,Fri: 09:00 – 13:30 Senior Citizens 727311 Friends of Rivendell 728885

r mbe Dece ight N Late mas t Chris ing e p O n ay aD Sant

Apri l

Youth Café Youth Club Wednesday pm DA The Black Watch Army Cadets Beaver, Cubs, Scouts Messy Church last Sunday in month

07546 128902 Lesley Singers Playleader: dbplaygroup@gmail.com 01738 454470 Royal School Dunkeld 727117 Heather Morton 01738 454470 07930 462944 Supervisor 727249 Tues 10-11:30am - Lorna 07832 235 607

For dates further ahead see: www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk

h Marc Gow Niel ival Fest

For Children Baby & Toddler Group Playgroup 9.20-11.40 Tues and Thurs Nursery at Royal School Puddleduck Nursery Royal School of Dunkeld Kids Club - After school care Sunday School - Church of Scotland Caputh Baby and Toddler Group

March 2022 4th - Exhibition: Weights of Responsibility Exhibition & Artist Tal 10am - 4pm May 1st Birnam Arts 3 Climate Café 7pm Zoom / Community Coworking Space 5 Community Action Plan Launch Birnam Arts 2-4pm 5 Vegetal Light: a workshop in embodied photography. 10am - 3pm Birnam Arts. Sliding Scale @ £10 (1 ticket) / £20 (1 ticket) / £30 (2 tickets) [Subsidised by Creative Scotland] Max: 6 participants 8 In Conversation with The Artists 7:30pm on Zoom Birnam Arts see P3 8-12 Explore the Nature Of Clay [6-week block] 9.30am –12pm or 2pm – 4.30pm 11&12 A weekend of events at the Archives see main section for info 12 Doug Allan - Nature, Camera, Action Birnam Arts 7.30pm 13 Film Club Elevator to the Gallows 1958 1:31m A 7:30pm Birnam Arts 18-20 Niel Gow Festival Exhibition in the Community Archive. 10-3pm 21 Historical Society talk by Ian Shields - The Battle of Dunkeld, Uniforms and Weapon 7:45pm 23 Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition 2:30pm Chanonry 27 Film Club Ladies in Black 2018 1:49m PG 7:30pm Birnam Arts April 2022 7 Climate Café 7pm Zoom / Community Coworking Space 8 CUA 7.30pm Birnam Arts 9 STAND 7.30pm Birnam Arts 10 Film Club the Personal History of David Copperfield 2019 1:59m PG 7:30pm Birnam Arts 15 Jack Docherty – Nothing But 7.30pm Birnam Arts 24 Film Club the Old Man and the Gun 2018 1:33m 12A 7:30pm Birnam Arts 26 Yes! Yes! UCS 7.30pm Birnam Arts 26 Earth Hour 8:30 – 9:30pm – Turn your lights off and think about the wonderful world we live in.

30th Dunkeld & Birnam Spring Art & Crafts Fair. The Drill Hall, The Cross, Dunkeld. 10am to 5pm. Free entry May 2022 1 Dunkeld & Birnam Spring Art & Crafts Fair. The Drill Hall, The Cross, Dunkeld. 10am to 5pm. Free entry 5 Climate Café 7pm Zoom / Community Coworking Space 15 Film Club Sweet Country 2017 1:53m 15 7:30pm Birnam Arts 20-22 Birnam Book Festival 2022 20-22 Book Festival Exhibition at the Archives ‘The Foresters Scribe’ by Ursula Kelly.

29 Film Club Tom Jones 1963 2:9m X 7:30pm Birnam Arts

ry ua br Fe

Annual Events Highland Games (August) www.birnamhighlandgames.com Christian Aid Week 727867 Jim McCafferty Flower Festival (bi-ennial) 724255 Sheila Mannion Art Exhibtion (June - August) 01738 710399 Margaret Scott Arts & Crafts Fair (June & Nov) 01350 727968 Na’an Meikleour Niel Gow Festival - Weekend close to March 22nd - petethefiddler@btinternet.com

BA = Birnam Arts Centre DA = Duchess Anne Hall, The Cross, Dunkeld

N ov em be r

Community Learning & Development PKC CLD Staff

Dates for your Diary

t us m g u a d A irn lan B gh es i H am G

01350 727288 Linda Speirs 727346 / 727657 01350 728697 John Gray 01738 787930 Sandy Love Email: slove59@aol.com 727255 Jan Silburn Horticultural Society daveroberts132@btinternet.com Dave Roberts Historical Society National Trust for Scotland North Perthshire Ranger Service - Office: 01350728641 727382 Jean Dickson The Meeting Place (Fridays DA) Email: evelyn.menzies@sky.com Evelyn Menziesl SWRI 01350 723203 Jane Anderson SWRI Amulree 01350 727786 Chapter House Archive (Mon 10-12 & 7-9, Wed & Fri 10-12) 727294 Vilma Morison Bridge Club (Tuesday 6.45pm BI) 01350 728884 W. Forsyth Royal British Legion 01350 723297 Adrian Blundell Tourist Association 723203 Jane Anderson Friends of BI (nb not bookings see below) 01738 633975 Kathleen Coffey WRVS 01738 710111 Liz Bowers German Shepherd Rescue, Scotland 07743 180228 Shiona Cameron Staffie Smiles Rescue 727048 Katharine The Orchard 728926 Dave Roberts @thefield Email: dblandtrust@btinternet.com 01350 727237 / 07751593421 Anne Graham 3 Churches Charity Shop

Octo Perth ber sh Amb ire er

Phone 01350+

Organsiations - General Dunkeld & Birnam in Bloom Guide Dogs for the Blind Friends of the Cathedral Probus Club

01796 470001 01350 729198 728826 Mr Greig, PS, BDS 727269 Craigvinean Surgery 727210 Davidsons 01738 643791 Asda, Dunkeld Rd, Perth 01738 476476 01738 459709 Margaret Quigley 01738 625411 dbcc.chair@gmail.com Stuart Paton 01738 475121 101

er emb Sept keld Dun am Birn and gged u Unpl

Listing for local voluntary organisations are free however The Bridge welcomes donations to cover the cost of these listings. Please send donations to the Advertising Manager, John. B. Gray at Highfield, Brae Street, Dunkeld, PH8 0BA. Many thanks.

Please contact the editor with amendments/additions.

Local Organisations - Continued

Health Community & Services Infinityblu Dental Care, Pitlochry Infinityblu Dental Care, Dunkeld Dentist Doctors Chemists Chemist on Sunday P&K Environmental Services Library PKC Roads Dept Community Council Registrar (3/5 High St Perth) Police (Tayside Non-Emergency)

July

Local Organisations - Contact Details

June

18

PETS Lost and Found If you have lost or found a dog, cat or other pet

AB Garden Services

Grass Cutting General Garden Maintenance Locally Based

Tel: 01350 727769

Mob: 07783 612399

Glack Dog Kennels Heated Kennels Day & Long Term Stays Elizabeth & Keith Lumsden 01350 728849 E-mail: bizzabooks@gmail.com

FACEBOOK: Missing Pets, Perth and Kinross 07432 368792

info@dogfriendlyperthshire.co.uk

This space could be selling for you!

Contact the Advertising Manager adverts@dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk 07967 117149

THE GARDENER 0777 546 0373

PAINTING & DECORATING Interior / Exterior Work Paper Hanging • Taping Phone Sandy Carr Bankfoot 01738 787547 Mobile: 07818 254520

email: sandytcarr@yahoo.co.uk

Dunkeld Plumbers Ltd.

Plumbers and Heating Engineers Unit 3/4, Birnam Industrial Estate, Station Road, Birnam, Dunkeld PH8 0DS Tel No: 01350 727258 • Mobile: 07557 366575 Email: dunkeldplumbers@mail.com

Michael Robertson Plasterer Plaster & Cement work All types of Cornice work and Ceramic Tiling

20 Stell Park, Birnam PH8 0QA

01350 727694 • 07742 091269 miketheplasterer@hotmail.co.uk

Call: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm Text: 7 days 8am-8pm

FREE ESTIMATES HONEST, RELIABLE SERVICE

Grass cutting, Hedge cutting, Strimming, Leaf collection, Weeding/dig over, Edging, Gravel footpaths, Aerating, General tidy-up.

All General Garden Maintenance work carried out to the highest quality on every job, everyday.

Gillian Vaughan Painter Decorator Interior / Exterior Feature walls Tel: 07841 116458 Email: thegirlcalledwill@gmail.com www.facebook.com/GillianWVaughan

Dunkeld Distillery Join our community led spirit Sign up at: www.dunkelddistillery.com

Follow our journey at: Instagram: @thedunkelddistillery Facebook: @Dunkelddistillery

ATHOLL STREET 01350 727556 Proprietor: Alasdair Wylie Dunkeld Horse Grazing & DIY Livery Call or Email Karen: 07759 701413 gapdunkeld@gmail.com

G & A Paddocks

DUNKELD BUILDERS LTD

New Builds, Extensions, Renovations and Restorations, Stonework, Drainage, Groundworks and jobbing.

Contact: 01350 727320 Kevin: 07876 744936 www.dunkeldbuilders.co.uk

Home Repairs and Improvements Carpentry : Plumbing : Tiling Glazing and Decorating NO JOB TOO SMALL FREE QUOTATIONS Chris Wylie No. 2 Millhole Road, Spittalfield, Perthshire. PH1 4JR Phone: 01738 710671 / 07845 055712