The Bridge, October 2024

Birnam Book Festival 26 – 27th October at Birnam Arts. Our volunteer run community festival is back! See page 3 for the menu of this feast for your imagination!

Bungying and Walking Fundraiser. See page 9

Editorial 2

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

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Advertising rates from £7.32 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

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Download Online: www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk

I remember when the boys were growing up we had an occasional sort of the toy cupboard. I would create three piles: broken; charity shop; and ‘granny box’. I’m not sure if life will offer me the opportunity to actually be a Granny but my granny box is for the treasures from the boys’ childhood that I have no intention of parting with. These treasures include our favourite books that we read together every day ‘Each Peach Pear Plum’; Richard Scarry’s ‘What Do People Do All Day?’ and, of course, ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’. These books hold a special place in my heart.

Last year’s Open Doors Festival took me through the doors of Innerpeffray library to visit Scotland’s first lending library. It is the most amazing place and holds some fascinating books including a copy of the Great Bible dated 1540 which has two full-page woodcuts by Holbein. Other books date back to 1476 which, interestingly, is the year that Caxton is thought to have brought the first printing press across the water from Bruges. Over these centuries our connection and love of books remains and today we are blessed with them in great abundance. What better way to celebrate this than with our own book festival held over the weekend of 26th and 27th October. This year’s theme of ‘Legends, Lore, Stories and Song’ offers us a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our own story and how we tell it. See front cover and page 3 for more information.

Another opportunity to connect with our story is at the Community Fayre on the 5th October when groups will come together to share what they are doing in our community. This year the fayre is also celebrating Silver Sunday and International Day of Older Persons (IDOP). Many of the groups and organisations who provide the

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 October 2024, 7.30pm at Birnam Arts. All welcome! If there are important developments before that we shall of course be in touch.

As advised in the September Bridge, there are two new documents for comment regarding Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing.

First, the Transport Scotland report on their consultation on the Preferred Route exhibition they held at the end of January. https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/consultation-report-preferred-route-exhibition-pass-ofbirnam-to-tay-crossing-a9-dualling

There is also a hard copy of this at Birnam Arts for ease of reference. It contains a summary analysis of responses to them (page 16 onwards) and an Appendix J (page 50 onwards) with 85 verbatim written comments to them (anonymised) on aspects of their Preferred Route announced in December 2023 and for each one a response from TS. We’ll have discussed this at the 26th September CG meeting and will do so again in October.

URGENT: IF YOU SUBMITTED WRITTEN COMMENTS TO TS ABOUT THE PREFERRED ROUTE AFTER THEIR JANUARY EXHIBIT AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR RESPONSE IS, PLEASE LOOK AT THIS REPORT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ALTHOUGH NO NAMES ARE SHOWN IN APPENDIX J, ITS VERY LIKELY THAT YOU WILL RECOGNISE YOUR OWN COMMENTS.( IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE NOT SENDING INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES ). WE’D BE VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW IF YOU DO THIS AND IF SO WHAT YOU THINK OF THE TS RESPONSE GIVEN. PLEASE EMAIL ALASDAIR, SEE BELOW. THIS WILL BE A GREAT HELP IN OUR FURTHER ENGAGEMENT WITH TS ABOUT THEIR PREFERRED ROUTE DESIGN.

Second, the Transport Scotland docs on their August exhibit about progress on detailed design of this A9 section.

https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/exhibition-materials-community-engagement-eventsaugust-2024-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing-a9-dualling/ There are hard copies of a brochure about this at Birnam Arts along with paper feedback forms. The TS consultation period for comments on this exhibit is open until 6th October and we hope might be extended.

Analysis of the results of the the A9 Community Group’s own survey of responses to the TS Preferred Route is still under way. If you still want to respond to that please see the QR code here or get a hard copy at Birnam Arts reception. (Still only around 100 received, compared with over 700 who voted at the end of the CoCreative process in June 2018).

For all Transport Scotland contact details/links including their DMRB Stage 2 assessment and Preferred Route, see the June Bridge, also available on our A9 dualling page in the online Bridge, link below.

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 07927 175121 awylie2002@yahoo.co.uk

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

wide range of activities on offer in the community are run by volunteers who need additional help to ensure they can continue to operate. The Community Fayre will provide an opportunity to promote all the worthwhile work these groups do and to recruit more volunteers. It will also offer an opportunity to find out more about our ‘Local Place Plan’ that is currently being developed (see page 9). The Fayre runs from 11am to 2pm at Birnam Arts - please pop in if you can.

One of the big events in the village that relies on volunteers is Santa Day. There is a Quiz Night to raise funds towards making the day as successful as always. So please get your teams of four together and make your way the Royal Dunkeld Hotel on Saturday 12th October clutching your £20 to pay the team entrance fee and support the volunteers putting on this wonderful festive day for us all to enjoy (see page 8).

Last week thinking of Santa day as we basked in the heat seemed a bit odd. This week it is Baltic and it’s feeling as if snow isn’t so far away. Maybe it’s time to light the fire and pull out a favourite book from the shelves …

Sally Robertson

Bank of Scotland

Have you got a banking question? Are you a Bank of Scotland Customer?

Following the closure of our branch of the Bank of Scotland in The Cross in person banking support is now being offered Chloe from the Bank of Scotland on Thursdays in the downstairs meeting room at the Community Coworking Space (Old Doctors Surgery) between 9:30am and 3pm.

Arts News

Birnam Arts:

Concerts & Events • Café • Shop • Gallery • Beatrix Potter Station Road, Birnam PH8 0DS 01350 727 674

Tickets and details: www.birnamarts.com

WHAT’S ON AT BIRNAM ARTS

Legends, Lore, Stories and Song 26-27 October 2024 at Birnam Arts

We’re delighted to announce that our Birnam Book Festival programme is confirmed for 2024, with most of our events from the cancelled 2023 festival being run again this year. We are grateful to all of our performers for coming back for 2024 and we’ll be presenting authors and storytellers, blended with music and creativity. Our programme features Chris Brookmyre, Margaret Bennett, the Witches of Scotland podcast, Heal & Harrow, Ambrose Parry, Jamie Jauncey, Philip Parris, Kate Leiper, Morag Anderson, and more. Our patron Fiona Valpy, will also be joining us to talk about her new release, The Sky Beneath Us.

We are excited to present this feast for your imagination! Our book festival is an inclusive event for all ages, with workshops, lively discussions, inspiring authors, and great music. A warm welcome awaits you.

Join us to explore legends and lore with themes around the Scottish witch trials still resonating today. See how these play out among the shadows of Birnam Wood, where Macbeth’s characters dwelt. After the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio, marked in 2023, now we uncover the real stories of Macbeth’s Tayside locations.

Our Festival showcases literature from Scotland and beyond in our beautiful corner of Perthshire, nestled among hills and woodlands by the great River Tay. From William Shakespeare and John Ruskin to Beatrix Potter, this area features strongly in literary history, and also captivates contemporary authors, poets, songwriters, and artists.

If you booked tickets for 2023, these will be valid for 2024 performances. Please simply bring your 2023 confirmation with you for entry.

If you booked a children’s workshop for 2023, please contact arts@birnamarts.com to arrange transfer of your ticket to the 2024 event. These will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Birnam Book Festival is a volunteer run community festival. The committee thanks you for your support and patience and we look forward to welcoming you to Birnam Arts on 26th & 27th October 2024.

Birnam Art

See Birnamarts.com for full details of all the following events.

Tues 15 Oct / 6pm - 7.30pm

Scottish Dance Workshop

A mixed-form dance workshop featuring old-style Scottish folk dances, Cape Breton Step dancing, and Highland dancing! Ages 14+ With Laura Scott and live Fiddle from Ed Pearlman

Tues 22 Oct 7.30pm

Hollie McNish

After a run of sold out shows Hollie McNish is back with a brand new book, Lobster and other things I’m learning to love. A Sunday Times bestselling writer - expect strong language and adult content, gift-wrapped in gorgeously crafted poetry.

Birnam Arts open 7 days:

Café: 10.00-16.00 | Shop: 10.30-15.30

Booking Fees apply to all events Birnamarts.com / 01350 727674

Kitchen Assistant Vacancy

See: birnamarts.com/About-Birnam-Arts#vacancies

The ideal candidate will assist in the smooth running of the kitchen, supporting meal preparation and maintaining cleanliness.

Duties:

• Assist cooks with food preparation and cooking tasks.

• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards in the kitchen area.

• Wash dishes, utensils, and cooking equipment.

• Ensure all food safety regulations are adhered to.

• Help with stock rotation and storage of deliveries.

• Support the team in maintaining an organised kitchen environment.

• Support the Front of House team as appropriate

Previous experience working in a kitchen environment and basic food preparation knowledge and techniques is desirable but not essential. If you have a strong work ethic, a passion for food and great service. We’ll teach you the rest!

Applicants for the post should submit a CV and covering letter to: manager@birnamarts.com

EXHIBITIONS

10.00 to 16.00 daily / Free Entry

Until Sun 14 Oct: James Mackintosh Exhibition: The Chapter House Museum Trust Featuring the lives of the notable MacIntosh family of Inver.

Sat 19 Oct – Sun 24 Nov

Experimental Artist: Publishing Exhibition: Louisa Preston Linked to Louisa’s research project into self-publishing practices in rural and remote Scotland.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/CLASSES:

Sat 19 Oct / 10.30 – 11.30

Artist Talk: Louisa Preston Louisa will talk about her exhibition and practices.

Sat 19 Oct/ 13.00 – 15.00

Zine Making: Louisa Preston

Classes:

There are many weekly classes for all ages available at Birnam Arts – please visit Birnamarts.com for further information.

Dunkeld & Birnam Traditional Youth Music Group

By the time this is printed our junior and senior bands will be just about to play in the exciting James Macintosh concerts performed at Birnam Arts over the weekend. Being involved in our community and performing at local events has been an integral part of our young musician’s development and we’re always busy organising opportunities for future concerts – we already look forward to the next one.

We welcome a wide variety of instrument players to be involved in our junior and senior bands, and encourage fiddle and accordion players, string, wind and brass, guitarists, pianists and more to join. You do need to be able to play at least a little to take part in the bands, but you don’t need experience in trad music.

Classes and bands run weekly during term–time at Birnam Arts and open to anyone aged P5 – S6. Weekly tuition for fiddle and accordion is free, and we provide the instruments.

½ hour group lessons - Mondays 4-6pm

Junior trad band (P5-S2) - Mondays 6:30-7:30pm

Senior trad band (S3-S6) - Mondays 7:30-8:30pm

We rely entirely on funding and donations to keep our group accessible to all and thank SSE Renewables, National Lottery, Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust, Basil Death Trust, Scops Arts Trust, The Lang Foundation, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Enchanted Forest for their funding, and all of the local residents and groups who have generously donated money and instruments.

We happily take a variety of instruments, but are currently looking for guitars of all sizes. If you have any of these hanging around your home and would like for them to be put to good use, we will happily take them. Plans for expanding tuition for learning to play other instruments are underway so watch this space for news about extra classes.

Our local community has already given tremendous support and encouragement through donating instruments, time and money, attending concerts and involving us in local events. We couldn’t ask for more.

Email dbtradgroup@gmail.com or call 07958 324 766 for more info

Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition

We would like to thank everyone who supported the Art Exhibition held in the Duchess Anne in August. From setting up, hanging pictures, stewarding and sponsoring our advertising it takes a good number of people to make the Exhibition run for over a month. Thanks also to all the artists who come to visit Dunkeld and bring their friends to see us. Sales were brisk and we have given a donation of £4500 to Cathedral funds.

Film Club - “The Florida Project”

Sunday 13th October 7:30pm

Birnam Arts

Halley lives with her six year old daughter Moonee in a budget motel along one of the commercial strips catering to the Walt Disney World tourist clientele outside Orlando, Florida. Set over one summer, the film follows precocious six-year-old Moonee as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother, all while living in the shadows of Walt Disney World. Halley systematically begins to alienate one by one the people who are her unofficial support by responding with disrespect to anything she feels is against her. As such, Halley begins to take more and more extreme measures to maintain the life she leads with Moonee.

The Kiln Creative

The Kiln Creative

Weekend Workshops: Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd September

6 Week Block: 18th September to 23rd October

Private

Private group classes available to book

For more information and bookings: www.thekilncreativepottery.co.uk

Fraser Mills - NICEIC registered

All domestic and commercial work undertaken

Tel: 07545 078968

Email: fm.electrical143@gmail.com

FM-Electrical.co.uk

Locally based

Rivendell provides high quality care and support for you and your elderly relative. Based in Birnam and Dunkeld our homely environment provides a safe and fun community spirit. Our trained staff provide care and support for all your needs 24 hours a day, we are always there.

So, if you are looking for social contact, a safe and supportive environment, support with health or medical needs then contact us. Our mission is to provide a home for life, so come and live life with us.

Please phone 01350 727413 and speak to Gina or email: manager@rivendellcarehome.co.uk.com for more information.

Murthly

Village Hall Hire

From £10 per hour

Events hall and kitchen facilities for Birthday parties, Indoor sports, Dances, Gatherings, Quiz Nights and more.

Contact: murthlyvillagehall@outlook.com Tel: 01738 710408

Raise your level of wellness, reduce pain, stress/anxiety & re-align where you are in life. Health & Wellbeing Hub

pennybaird5@icloud.com

Little Dunkeld • 07342 979393 Zerobalancinguk.org

Three Churches Charity Shop

Three Churches Charity Shop

High Street Dunkeld

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am - 4pm

High Street Dunkeld

Opening hours:

Tuesday to Saturday, 10am - 4pm

If you are interested in volunteering, please enquire in the shop for more info.

Clothing and shoe sale continues for one week, 3rd - 8th September. Last chance to grab a bargain.

If you are interested in volunteering, please enquire in the shop for more info.

Find us on Facebook at 3 Churches Charity Shop

Find us on Facebook at 3 Churches Charity Shop

Lyndsey Douglas

Local Jewellery Designer and Maker

ornaichjewellery com

ornaich jewellery@gmail com

Òrnaich Jewellery

ornaich jewellery

Dog Chaperone for Weddings

Ad Hoc / One Off Dog Walks for One Household at a time Day or up to 1 Night Dog Sitting Cat and Hen Visits 07774 294610

Hello@solopaws.co.uk On Facebook and Instagram

Glack Dog Kennels

Heated Kennels Day & Long Term Stays

Elizabeth & Keith Lumsden 01350 728849

E-mail: bizzabooks@gmail.com

gapdunkeld@gmail.com

Feast Catering

hello@feast-catering.com 07593 619464 / 07540 054323 ... Dunkeld & Perthshire ...

Sports, Health and Wellbeing

AIMS:

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

Perth & Kinross Dementia Cafe Awareness Day Wed Oct 2nd 2024 10am-12.30pm

The next Dementia Morning takes place as usual in the North Church Hall , High Street Perth . It is a special cafe this month as many of the caring societies and organisations have been invited to take stalls in the large hall adjacent to the small hall where the cafe takes place . These include Telecare Services, CAB, Carers Support , Macnabs solicitors, PLC Financial Team , Housing and the Community Mental Health Team .

All those with memory problems who seek reassurance or those who already have a diagnosis of dementia are very welcome to attend . The team , who have run this very successful meeting place for 16 years are drawn from the professional disciplines to answer any of your questions and offer support to all. The professional staff and volunteers work together to ensure that everyone is given a warm welcome and are looked after with a cuppa and biscuit or cake. We cater for those who require gluten free products.

The atmosphere is upbeat and encouraging. In case you cannot come in October, this Cafe is open on a monthly basis , always on the 1st Wednesday of the month. The November Cafe will therefore be open on Wednesday 6th November .

We look forward to seeing you whenever you can manage to attend

Dalguise Meditation Group

Meditation has all sorts of benefits – increased focus and calmness, the opportunity to see things from a different perspective, a greater feeling of freedom and harmony, among many others. Whether you have never tried meditation before, or whether you have an established practice, why not come to one of our meetings and find out what we do?

Meetings take place every other Tuesday in Dalguise Village Hall from 10.30 to 12.30. In October, the meetings are on 8th and 22nd. We enjoy sitting and walking meditations, discussions and refreshments. There are no charges, no formalities and we have no religious affiliations.

If you aren’t able to attend in person, you might be interested in going on our mailing list, to receive interesting and helpful articles about meditation and mindful living, on the intervening Tuesdays. If you would like to know more about our meetings or about meditation in general, please do contact faithanstey@ gmail.com

New Defibrillator

New Defibrillator Now Located Outside Davidson’s Chemist, Bridge Street, Dunkeld.

With the help of a grant from The Griffin Fund we have installed an additional defibrillator outside Davidson’s Chemist, Dunkeld and thanks to them for allowing us to use their building. We have had tremendous help from The United Lodge of Dunkeld who have continued to support our defibrillators and donated a further £1,000 to ensure that we can continue to maintain our 9 local units. We are extremely grateful to them for this. All the defibrillators are registered with “The Circuit”, the national defibrillator network. (You will see the locations of these shown separately here in The Bridge). The batteries and pads in the units need to be replaced on a regular basis and this incurs costs. We have sourced all our defibrillators from Lucky2BHere (a registered charity here in Scotland) and they hold any funds we are able to raise so that we can obtain the replacement parts quickly and easily when they are needed.

Graham Rees, a local volunteer for the defibrillators said “Having easy, immediate access to these potentially life-saving devices is a fantastic local resource and I cannot thank the United Lodge of Dunkeld enough for their very generous support to help with the essential maintenance the units require. If you would like to make a donation to support our defibrillators, please do not hesitate to give Graham a call Mob: 07836 777850

Breadalbane & District Riding for the Disabled (SCO47991)

The first half of the autumn term was not without its challenges!! Uncertainty over new riders, unavailability of a pony and some torrential rain on Monday

mornings has stretched our flexibility. However wet weather provides a great opportunity for horse care and grooming and our riders always seem to go home happy after their time with the ponies. Our four new riders have all picked up the reins very quickly and are very enthusiastic. A variety of new layouts in the arena has helped all riders to improve their steering skills and gain more control of their pony. Trotting is always a highlight of the lesson and one or two now manage to rise to the trot perfectly.

By the time this is in print half-term will be upon us and the end of riding for this year. Sadly we will have said goodbye to one or two of our riders who have really outgrown us but it is lovely to hear that they hope to continue riding elsewhere. Everyone will have been given a rosette marking their progress since April.

Helen Webb, our chairperson, was due for her one year assessment as a coach and this was carried out by Petra Humphrey, our regional coach. As expected Helen sailed through her assessment and Petra was very complimentary about the group as a whole which is hugely encouraging.

A big thank you to any readers who came and supported us at the Pitlochry Highland Games. We hope we may have inspired some new volunteers to join our group. Anyone who might be interested should contact Vicky on 07786 262329 or email breadalbanerda@gmail.com

A date for your diaries – we plan to hold our AGM on Monday 18th November. Time and venue will be confirmed in next month’s newsletter.

Bridge Matters

The winners at our Hairy Coo Swiss Teams tournament on Sunday 15th September were The Cateran Rustlers. Captained by Dinah Scott, Kerr and Karen Noble with Liz Grant, they scored 83 victory points. A local team winning against top visiting players from all over the country!

Well done The Rustlers!

A Dundee four, The Cowgate Clan, were runners up with 73 victory points.

64 players had came to BirnamArts for a full 30 board afternoon competition. The theme was ‘cows’ and there were prizes, donated by Dunkeld business HairyCoo.co.uk for the best dressed. Winning pair for dress were Penny Edwards and Diane Brown from Perth Bridge Club. £1010 was raised for CRUK. This event was part of the nationwide Festival of Bridge. https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/festival-of-bridge-scotland COMING SOON

Spoons’ third Café Bridge Day in Dunkeld and Birnam is coming soon. Tuesday 22nd October is the day when once again 100 bridge players will be landing in Dunkeld and Birnam to play 25 deals between 5 venues. This year, the third that Spoons have organised, will involve Dunkeld House Hotel, The Taybank, The Royal, BirnamArts and Corbenic Cafe.

The charity this year is Scottish Charity Air Ambulance and Spoons hope to raise over £1000 from that exciting bridge day!

Spoons are grateful to Cycling Without Age who will once more be helping transport any with walking issues between the venues.

Football, Netball, Tennis, Basketball, Badminton…

The list is endless and the choice is yours! And now is the chance to maximise your sporting opportunities as the new membership year for Dunkeld and Birnam Sports and Leisure Hub has begun. Memberships of either the Tennis Club or the MUGA or both are available from our website https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/DunkeldandBirnamSportsandLeisureHub or just google ‘dunkeld and birnam sports and leisure hub’ to find the website.

An adult membership for either the Tennis Club or the MUGA is £35 for the whole year. This gives you free access to the Tennis Courts or the MUGA –which is a bargain! If it is a MUGA membership you want you can even pay in 5 monthly payments of £7. Under 16s can get a free membership of the MUGA, and can join the Tennis Club for a mere £5!

There are also a number of combined Tennis and MUGA membership packages available for adults and families.

All adult memberships automatically include membership of the Sports Hub, which gives you a say in how our fantastic sports facilities are run. We welcome new ideas for use of the MUGA and we can be contacted through the website.

2024 Hairy Coo Champions! Dinah Scott, Kerr Noble, Liz Grant, Karen Noble

Sports, Health and Wellbeing

Craigvinean Surgery

Dunkeld PH8 0AD

Drs Hewitt Charles Jack & Evans

October 2024

Our colleague Carol, recently reached the milestone of having worked at the Surgery for 25 years. An achievement the GP Partners marked by presenting Carol with a long service gift to thank her for all her hard work through the years. I am sure you agree, that her hard work and dedication has been an asset to the local community these past 25 years!

Medical Student in the practice

We welcome Charlotte Williams, a final year medical student at Dundee University, to see general practice with us from 21st October for 4 weeks. Students can learn much from these consultations but you can opt out if desired. Please speak to the receptionist if you have any concerns.

Patients are asked to please note that the surgery will be closed All Day on Monday 7th October

If you seek healthcare advice on this date please contact NHS24 on 111 In case of emergency dial 999

Dunkeld Surgery Community Advice Hub

October sees the introduction of an advice hub based in the Surgery on Thursdays throughout the month. The Hub will give you the opportunity to take advantage of advice from various community support organisations.

Please see below our Calendar for October:

Date Guest and Ti me

Guest and Time

Thursday 3rd October Heat Project - 10am-12pm CATH Project 1pm-3p m

Thursday 10th October Voiceability 2pm- 4 30pm

Thursday 17th October CAP 11am- 1pm

Thursday 24th October

Thursday 31st October

Care Project: Advice on Personal Assistants 10am-12pm Scam Awareness 1.30-3.30pm

PKC Employment support tea m 9.30am-3pm

Guest Information:

HEAT PROJECT – Provide free energy advice to households to enable them to become more energy efficient and reduce bills

PKC SCAM AWARENESS - Advice and information on avoiding scams and dealing with cold callers

CATH - Support with filling in forms eg PIP, Universal Credit VOICEABILITY- Provide free advocacy regarding benefits access and support people to be heard in decisions about their health, care and well -being.

CAP- Free, expert debt help Ad vise on the best route out o f debt and support to become debt free.

DUNKELD AND BIRNAM COMM UNITY DEVELOPM ENT TRUST CARE PROJECT WORKER - Eilidh Wild is the Care Project worker for the trust and is on hand to help with recruitment of personal assistants for those needing extra care.

PKC EM PLOYM ENT SUPPORT TEAM - Job advice and help for those who have learning disabilities, acquired brain injury, mental health issues or are on the Autism spectrum Just drop by the Surgery during the times detailed above to speak to members of these support teams.

Craigvinean Hospital Drivers

Last month we ran an article which mentioned that Faith could be contacted directly to arrange transport This was wrong, the process for booking transport is as follows: Phone the Surgery, the receptionist will take your details and requirements, the receptionist will contact Hospital Cars, your designated driver will then contact you to make arrangements.

Please do not contact Faith directly.

Community Developments

Community Development Trust

The Trust continues to be very active on a range of issues- addressing the key local issues identified in the 2022 Community Action Plan. The Trust also works closely with a range of local organisations, making links between groups and, for example, providing banking support. Beth, our Community Development Officer, is also very active in making links to other community groups regionally and nationally. Recent meetings have taken her to Gairloch and Glasgow for the Scottish Development Trust Association. We have also recently set up a Trust websitehttps://www.dbdtrust.org - this provides all the information about the Trust- and a Facebook page.

Community Fayre

Saturday 5th October 2024

Plans are well progressed for the Community Fayre which coincides this year with the UN International Day of Older People. We already have a lot of interest from various groups but it is not too late to get involved- pleased get in touch with Beth to book a table (077292327729 or email dbdcdt@gmail.com). There will be plenty of games and activities on offer and a great opportunity to learn more about what is going on in the local area. Please come along anytime between 11am and 2pm!

Local Place Plan

The Local Place Plan is being progressed in a collaboration between the Development Trust and Community Council. The Local Place Plan is a really important opportunity for the local community to influence the Perth and Kinross Local Development Plan which sets the high level framework for planning for the next 10 years.

The issues identified in the 2022 Community Action Plan form the core of the Local Place Plan, updated with progress to date and any new issues identified by the community.

A range of extremely useful feedback and comments was received at the stand at the Highland Games. We are now kicking off wider community consultation to define the key issues which we would like to define in the Place Plan. The key themes that are emerging are around parking, paths and access around Dunkeld and Birnam; housing; and a renewable energy project. However, it is really important that we hear as many voices as possible, from everyone in the local community so please get involved! Come along to the Community Fayre on 5th October or email Beth at dbdcdt@gmail.com.

PH8 CARING SUPPORT Bungying and Walking Fundraiser

What an epic weekend ! Eilidh duly took the challenge and launched herself into the void on Saturday 14th September while John made the 18 mile hike from Strathardle to Dunkeld the following day. We are within touching distance of our goal of £1500 and are confident we’ll get there. Many, many thanks to all those who supported the effort and to our support team ( Beth, Dennis, Stuart and Tim). Also to all those at The Bridge for helping us publicise the event The photos, we hope, speak for themselves.

Housing

Access to affordable housing, for rent and purchase, continues to be a key issue- as evidenced by the 2022 Community Action Plan, recent surveys and feedback to the Local Place Plan. This is also a very contentious issue with diverse views being held by the community- understandable and valid concerns about the impact of development alongside the clear necessity for affordable housing.

Following the open meeting on 19th August, the Development Trust Trustees have decided to set up a new housing group, the Community Led Housing Group. This small group, which will formally be a subcommittee of the Trust, will have a clear remit agreed with the Trustees and consist of Trustees and other interested members of the community. The group will report to the wider community on a regular basis. We are very keen for the Community Led Housing Group to have a wide participation with as wide a range of views and interests as possible. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Beth at dbdcdt@ gmail.com.

Development Trust AGM

We are also thinking ahead to the Annual General Meeting which will be held in November. The Trust

has a clear remit to progress key development issues on behalf of the local community. The Trust is also formally a membership organisation regulated by the Scottish Charity commission where the members take the key decisions including appointing Trustees at the AGM. We are always on the look out for new Trustees to join the board and hopefully broaden the range of people involved. Please get in touch with Beth if you want to chat through how you can get involved!

Care Group

The Care Group goes from strength to strength with a number of Personal Assistants already in place. Alongside the work of recruiting and promoting the role of Personal Assistants in providing domestic support, the current focus is on developing a Befriender Service. Volunteer Befrienders visit local people who would otherwise be socially isolated. This can make a real difference to someone’s quality of life. The Befrienders also gain hugely from developing friendships and providing invaluable support to the local community. If you have a couple of hours to spare each week or fortnight and want to make a real difference to someone’s wellbeing, please get in touch with Eilidh on eilidhwild84@outlook.com or mobile 07432569447.

Thought for the Month

I was touched to get my last copy of The Bridge and see a far too kind tribute to mark the 40th. anniversary of my Ordination to the Church of Scotland ministry (once I got over the shock of seeing my mugshot on the front!) A big thank you to John Russell and Sally for putting that in. Then my next thought was ‘where did that go?’ 40 years - and nearly 24 of them spent here in Dunkeld – how time flies when you are enjoying yourself ….. and I don’t say that facetiously, I mean it! The passage of time is a strange thing. As you get older, birthdays and Christmases come round with increasing speed. Another year is gone in a flash yet there are times in life when it is the seconds and minutes that hang heavy. I often say to Brides and Grooms that the 30 minutes before their wedding begins will feel like a fortnight as they wait nervously and then the service is over in a blink. Before you know it, it will be your 1st. Anniversary. We humans are unique in measuring time the way we do, marking off life by different events and landmarks or lamenting how little time we seem to have for what we want to do. Consequently, we are unique in fretting about it and not cherishing the moment. Dogs and cats don’t lie awake at night pondering how short time is, they just bounce up and enjoy the day! We, though, have a habit of wishing we were at some other stage.

When we are younger we are terrible for wishing our lives away. I wish I could leave school, get a job, finish my training, I can’t wait till the kids are a bit older. Then we get to the stage of looking back nostalgically to what has been and regret the passing of time because we haven’t enjoyed what we had. We don’t take time then to enjoy the moment.

The way life is now, it is easy to get caught up in a hamster wheel of activity. People justify themselves by how busy they are and how much they cram into a week - but it is not good for us. Prayer, people and appreciation of the things around us are neglected because ‘we don’t have the time and we have to be busy to be of any worth.’ The stress levels rise and all joy in life drains away because there is no time to enjoy it. Busyness is the measure of value but then you miss so much. You rarely hear of someone saying at the end of life ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office.’ Far more likely to be the opposite – I wish I’d spent more time on the people and the things that really matter.

There is a wonderful passage in John’s Gospel where Jesus tells us to graft into him, the true vine, to let his life feed our spirits. That section ends with words about love and joy – ‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete….. love one another.’ Because when the balance is wrong, we end up dried, withered branches useless for anything. We may become resentful of others we feel are imposing these burdens on us and life is devoid of any joy.

That sounds to me like a good antidote to stress levels today – graft into the true vine then our time will be enriched with his joy.

Fraser Penny

Church of Scotland Services

October 6th 11am. – Morning Service in the Cathedral.

6.30pm – Prayers for Help & Healing in St. Mary’s, Birnam October 13th 11am. - Morning Service in the Cathedral.

October 20th 11am. - Morning Service in the Cathedral.

Normally there would be a service in Amulree on the 3rd Sunday of the month, but it is quite likely, because of a road closure, that it will have to be on October 13th. instead. The Kirk Session will make a decision at its meeting on September 24th. and put a notice on the Cathedral website.

October 27th 11am - Morning Service in the Cathedral.

November 3rd 11am - Morning Service in the Cathedral.

6.30pm – Prayers for Help & Healing in Little Dunkeld

November 10th 10.45am - Remembrance Service in the Cathedral.

Please not the earlier start time. This will be the last Sunday service in the Cathedral for the year.

12.30pm - Act of remembrance at the War Memorial.

The main ceremony will be down at the roadside so that those who aren’t able to climb up to the memorial can attend.

Tea and coffee are served after the morning service each week in the Chanonry.

Prayers for Help & Healing

On the first Sunday of the month there is a short service held jointly between the Parish Church and St.Mary’s Episcopal Church at 6.30. This follows the pattern of the weekly service of healing in Iona Abbey and lasts about 45 minutes.

It is a very gentle, quiet time of worship and prayer for specific things people may mention if they want to, or you can simply join in the service and have your own time of prayer.

The next one will be on October 6th in St. Mary’s and then November 3rd, in Little Dunkeld Kirk. All welcome from any church or none.

Alpha

Interested in exploring openly the basics of Christianity? The Wednesday Worship group is running Alpha over the next couple of months. Themes are introduced by a video then through friendly, open conversations different aspects of belief and faith will be explored. There will be a chance to share your thoughts and hear what others think. You can say anything you like, or nothing at all. Everyone is welcome no matter your background or beliefs. Meetings are in the Chanonry on Wednesdays and start with a light meal at 7pm with the video and discussion session starting at 7.30pm.

For more information contact Fraser Penny on 01350 727249, or Calum & Kirsty Leese on 07925 550412 or 07854 211892

Kirk Session

The next regular meeting of the Kirk Session is on November 12th. at 7.30pm. in the Duchess Anne.

Fellowship Group

Fellowship Group – ‘Exploring faith and life together’ Two Fellowship Groups meet, fortnightly, one on a Tuesday evening at 7pm and the other on Wednesday mornings at 10.30am, both in the Chanonry. This session we will be studying Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The dates for the next few weeks are: Tuesday group – October 1st ,15th. & 29th. Wednesday group - October 2nd, 16th & 30th. If you find it difficult to come in person, it is possible to join by this zoom link:

Meeting ID: 898 7502

Passcode: 809745

Men’s Breakfast

The smell of bacon and sausages will once again be wafting out of the Chanonry as the Men’s Breakfast gets started again. It starts at 9am and meets fortnightly. Upcoming dates are October 2nd, 16th & 30th.There is no need to book; just turn up and enjoy and all are welcome.

Induction in Pitlochry and Blair Atholl

The Rev Mark Foster, currently minister of Pilrig St. Pauls in Edinburgh, has been elected as minister for the newly linked charge of Pitlochry and Blair Atholl & Struan and his induction will be on Thursday October 10th at 7pm in Pitlochry Church. A welcome social will be held in the Tryst immediately afterwards. Friends from Dunkeld and Birnam will be made very welcome.

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

Church Services and Contacts:

Kirk Session

The next regular meeting of the Kirk Session is on August 13th. at 7.30pm. The venue is still to be decided.

The Meeting Place

The Meeting Place is in the Duchess Anne on Friday mornings from 10 – 12noon and will run up until the Art Exhibition starts. All welcome.

Fellowship Group –

‘Exploring

faith and life together’

The two Fellowship Groups ended the current sessions with a meal together on June 19th. They will both start up again in the Autumn.

Youth Group / Messy Music

Both of these have stopped now over the summer and will start again in the Autumn.

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

Local Pilgrim Walks

Two local reflective walks have been set up by the Cathedral Pilgrimage team.

These walks are gentle reflective walks which allow for times of silence, of prayer and gentle conversations. Walkers have commented that ‘It was peaceful, interesting and thought provoking’ , ‘wonderful, spiritual, leisurely paced’. The walks are gently guided by one of the team. We hope to have material ready for self guided walks in the near future. There are two walks -

St Colme’s Walk which is the longer of the two and will last around three hrs. It includes one short steepish path so good footwear is advised! The walk takes you along the River Tay, then up through the woods to Polney Loch and on to St Colme’s Well. It starts and finishes in the Cathedral grounds.

Birnam Oak Walk: This is the short walk and will take just under two hrs and takes you over the bridge to the orchard, then follow the river to the famous Oak and comes back via St Mary’s church where there is time for quiet reflection.

The next walks will be

Saturday 14th September 10am 3 hrs to St Colm’s Well starting in the Cathedral Grounds

Friday 27th September 10am 1.5 hrs to the Birnam Oak starting in the Cathedral Grounds

For further information please contact Rosie Mackie at rosiemackie2@gmail.com

3 Churches Charity Shop

The 3 Churches Charity is doing very well indeed, both in sales and in valuable donations. A huge thank you to those who buy, those who donate and those who volunteer.

Sometimes we may receive a lot of clothes donations all at once, and when this happens, because of limited storage space, we may need to ask for your understanding if we cannot accept your clothes donations for a couple of weeks. So, thank you for your patience.

Our customers continue to tell us how much they love our shop and recently they add that they like the way it is laid out too. This is useful to us. Thank you for your feedback. We would really appreciate one new type of volunteersomeone who is used to selling on Ebay... this would only be needed a few times a year. If you can help, please contact our Chairman Anne Graham on 07751593421.

Weekly Services

Church of Scotland: 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

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: Alison Gillies

The Chanonry, Cathedral Street, Dunkeld PH8 0AW Tel: 07736 423198 e-mail: sessionclerk@dunkeldcathedral.org

Treasurer: Mrs Louise Luke

The Chanonry, Cathedral Street, Dunkeld Tel: 07773 604372 e-mail: treasurer@dunkeldcathedral.org

Covenant Officer: Mrs. Ann Bryce Tomnagrew House, Dunkeld PH80BX

Tel: 01350 723228 e-mail: annbryce228@gmail.com

Organist & Choir Leader: Mrs Hazel Murch

Tel: 07867 642954 e-mail: music@dunkeldcathedral.org

Parish Office: Mrs Jill McCrory

The Chanonry, 07808 703641 email: office@dunkeldcathedral.org www.dunkeldcathedral.org

St Mary's Episcopal Church, Birnam

Sunday Service 10 am - Holy Communion with hymns, music and sermon, followed by refreshments.

The church is open daily for visitors, and prayers are said at 5.30pm on Fridays and 9.30am on Saturday.

The Servite service is now held monthly on the last Saturday of each month at 2pm and is led ecumenically by members of the three churches in Dunkeld and Birnam. It is not a communion service.

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 Loch Ness 01456486663

Treasurer: Charles Cox

Vestry Secretary: Adrian Freer

Tel: 01821 650536 email: adrianfreer@btinternet.com 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

Roman Catholic Churches

Dunkeld is a village with a long history of Christian worship and we are pleased to continue that worship at St Columba’s in Birnam.

Parish Priest:

Fr Emmanuel Adindu MSP

(Missionary of St Paul)

Tel: 01796 472 174

Email: stbridespitlochry@dunkelddiocese.org.uk

Serving St Columba’s RC church in Birnam/ Dunkeld, St Bride’s RC church in Pitlochry and Our Lady of Mercy RC church in Aberfeldy.

Follow us on Facebook at: St Bride’s RC Church, Pitlochry We celebrate the presence of the Risen Lord amongst us during these Masses:

Sunday Masses:-

Saturday Vigil 6pm St Columba’s Birnam

Sunday 9.30 am Our Lady of Mercy Aberfeldy

Sunday 11.30 am St Bride’s Pitlochry

Weekday Masses:9.30 am Tuesday - Aberfeldy

9.30 am Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - Pitlochry

Holy days of Obligation:9.30am Birnam

12.30pm Aberfeldy

6.00pm Pitlochry

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available prior to mass in St Columba’s. Please phone Father to arrange it.

If there are any parishioners who are housebound and wish the Sacrament of Holy Communion, let Father know and this will be arranged.

St Columba’s, St Mary’s Road, Birnam PH8 0BJ St. Bride’s, Rie-Achan Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5AL Our Lady of Mercy, Home Street, Aberfeldy PH15 2AL Father Emmanuel in.

Five easy ways to tackle poverty in your community

September is often a month of change. Whether you’re sending your kids back to school, heading off to university, or preparing for higher energy bills over the winter, change usually comes with cost. Here are some tips on saving money this September. Starting university?

With 14.4 million of us living in poverty in the UK, there are people facing crushing financial difficulty in every community, including our own. Adults. Pensioners. Children. Too many are in crisis because of circumstances entirely out of their control, from household income that doesn’t cover the basics and the unaffordable cost of living, to mental ill-health and bereavement. If, like us at Christians Against Poverty (CAP), you’re not okay with this devastating reality we’re living in, then here are five easy ways that you can make a difference.

The freedom that comes with moving away and starting university is exciting, but finances can soon spiral out of control. Visit capuk.org/budgeting for help creating a budget, so that you can make sure there’s money allocated for fun and social activities as well as important costs like food and rent. Back to school?

Contact your MP

Following the general election, your local MP has now had a few months to settle into the new term. It’s a great time to ask about their priorities and plans for the next few years. Use the following questions to start a conversation about poverty: What local organisations are you supporting to help tackle poverty in our area?

What specific actions are you planning to take (or already taking) to reduce poverty in our area?

What is your personal motivation to help local people who are facing poverty?

If you’re struggling with the cost of school uniform, get in touch with your child’s school to find out what support they can offer. Schools are legally required by the Department for Education (DfE) to make sure their uniforms are affordable for all students. This includes allowing supermarket own-brand options and making second-hand uniforms available. Buying from any store as opposed to a designated shop or school could save parents around £50 on average, says the DfE. There is also preloved uniform for free in the Locus Center.

Support your local CAP centre

Planning for Christmas?

CAP is committed to fighting poverty through free, face-to-face debt help, job clubs, life skills groups and financial education. Services are delivered through local churches based at the heart of communities like ours. To find out how you could support the work of Aberfeldy Parish Church of Scotland, please contact Angela Hanvey at angelahanvey@capuk.org.

Raise your voice on social media

Celebrations like Christmas can be great, but they’re never worth getting into unmanageable debt for. 16th September marks 100 days until Christmas Day and there’s nothing wrong with planning ahead. The closer we get to December; the higher prices will creep for festive ‘must-haves’ like toys and the latest tech. If you know there’s something you want to buy, it’s worth starting to shop around now, before prices go up. Make a list and tick things off as you go, helping you avoid impulse buys that you don’t really need.

Feeling the cold?

Social media is a quick and easy way to share the things that matter to you and encourage others to pay attention. Local groups are a great tool for discussing issues in your community. Not sure what to say? Follow CAP UK on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn for ready-made content that you can share.

Donate to a local food bank

As the colder weather approaches, and with the cost of energy still high, we’re all looking for ways to save. According to the Energy Saving Trust, limiting showers to four minutes could save households up to £70 a year, and avoiding using the tumble dryer could reduce costs by up to £75 a year, depending on where in the UK you live. For more advice, visit energysavingtrust.org.uk.

We hope that one day there won’t be a need for food banks in the UK, but right now it’s a vital service that many rely on. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to afford everything you need at the supermarket, consider adding a few extra bits to your trolley to donate to your local food bank.

Thinking longer term?

Check in with your circle

Make future Septembers a little bit easier by getting into the habit of saving regularly. Even a small amount adds up and can provide a safety net in case the unexpected happens, or just help you reach your goals. It’s UK Savings Week from 9th to 15th September, with a mission to help make saving simple, easy and rewarding, whatever your circumstances. Visit uksavingsweek.co.uk for tips.

Unfortunately, people often feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about experiencing poverty and, at CAP, we’re passionate about breaking this stigma. Financial difficulties can hit any of us, for all sorts of reasons, and nobody should have to go through it alone. There may be people in your circle who you don’t realise are struggling, so check in with your neighbours, friends, family members and colleagues and, where necessary, point them in the direction of the help they need. There are lots of brilliant, free sources of support available, including CAP. To find out more, visit capscotland.org/help.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK charity working with over 800 affiliated churches to deliver debt help, budgeting guidance, support to find work, life skills groups and more. Visit capscotland.org to find out more.

Sources: 14.4 million people in the UK living in poverty: Department for Work and Pensions, Households Below Average Income, 2022/23.

12 Community History & Learning

Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries

Bookbug session

Every Thursday 10.30am - 11am

Come and join us for a session of songs, stories, and rhymes for under 5s. Prebooking for each session is essential. Please get in touch with the library to book a spot.

Books on Wheels

For individuals who cannot get out and about to visit the library, this includes books in large print and audio formats. For further information, please get in touch with the library.

Recycling

All libraries accept used stamps and batteries for recycling.

OPENING HOURS:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 5pm - 7pm

Friday: 12pm - 5pm

Saturday: 9.30am - 12pm

Sunday: Closed

Birnam Library, Station Road, Birnam, DUNKELD PH8 0DS

Contact: 01738 459709 birnamlibrary@culturepk.org.uk

BIRNAM LIBRARY

Founded in 1883

Have your say at the Birnam Book Festival, Birnam Arts 26th and 27th October

Conversations are continuing about the future of Birnam Library. Volunteers from the community will be at the Birnam Book Festival ready to listen what you think about the future of the library. Please come along and share your thoughts. Also consider signing the petition created by local library supporters www.change.org/savebirnamlibrary

“Libraries are an essential part of Scotland’s social fabric, supporting and inspiring people to fulfil their potential, for over 150 years. It is against this proud backdrop that this strategy sets out its vision to ensure public libraries in Scotland remain at the leading edge to empower communities. Public libraries deliver a wide range of benefits which place them at the centre of the collective endeavour to improve literacy, close the attainment gap, promote health, champion wellbeing, pioneer sustainability, tackle social isolation, reduce inequality, and close the digital divide.”

Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025

Thank you

Dunkeld and Birnam Local Library Support Group

OPENING HOURS

Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm 12 The Cross, Dunkeld, PH8 0AN. www.historicdunkeld.org.uk archives@historicdunkeld.org.uk 01350 727786

We are pleased to announce the following historical talks for 2024/25. Tickets (£5) are available via Eventbrite or from the Community Archive. All talks will be held in the Duchess Anne Hall monthly on a Friday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Tea/coffee & biscuits will be served afterwards, giving people a chance to mingle and chat with the speaker.

11/10/24 – Lara Haggarty: Holinshed Chronicles ~ Macbeth

08/11/24 – Mike Taylor: Bristling with Guns ~ “Oi mate, you can’t put that cannon there”

06/12/24 – Euphemia Ramsay: A Gothic Ghost Story for Solstice

14/02/25 – Dr Andrew Paterson: Christian Icons ~ Making & Meaning

14/03/25 – Paul MacLennan: Dundonnachie ~ The Man Behind the Bridge Toll Riots

11/04/25 – Lesley Wilson: Local Stories from Local People

EXHIBITION

The MacIntosh Fiddlers of Inver - A Celebration of their Lives and Work

Our exhibition is now open at Birnam Arts, telling the story of James MacIntosh and his family, life and music through storyboards, photographs and memorabilia. The exhibition will run until Sunday 13th October.

All framed photographs within the gallery will be sold at the end of the exhibition. A4 are £25, and A3 are £40. Prints are also available for sale through Birnam Arts shop.

Two concerts will be held on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September. Please go to Birnam Arts for more details.

BIRNAM BOOK FESTIVAL

Legends, Lore, Stories and Song 26th & 27th October 2024

Come and find us at the Birnam Book Festival

Mid-Week Memories Club

Temporarily meeting in The Archive on a Monday from 3.30pm to 5pm.

A lovely group of folk, reminiscing over tea/coffee & biscuits.

We do have a taxi funded, so if you need transport please get in touch.

Young Archaeologist Club (age 8 to 16)

We meet fortnightly on a Thursday during school term in the Community Archive at 4pm. The next meeting is Thursday 24th October.

If you have an interest in history and archaeology, come along !

A huge thank you to The Crannog staff who entertained and educated our young people during our trip to see their new museum and Iron Age village.

Newsletter

To keep up with all our news and what’s on in Historic Dunkeld, sign up for our free monthly newsletter.

Sign up at www.historicdunkeld.org.uk

WANTED

Stories of men and women who served in any military force (Army, Navy, RAF etc.) who were from Dunkeld, Birnam and the surrounding areas. We are pulling together an exhibition in November to remember them.

Scottish Landscaping

Friendly reliable service guaranteed

Grass Cutting, Hedge Cutting, Strimming, Gravel laid, Fencing, Turfing, Slabbing, Tree Work and all General Maintenance

Free Quotes Given

Kilry: 01575 560411

Blairgowrie: 01250 798403

Mobile: 07834 258491

14 Environmental

Orchard

To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To Autumn by John Keats

We welcome members of our community as well as visitors to the area to enjoy the orchard and share its harvest. Nothing beats a home-grown apple so keep a look out for apples from a range of different varieties as they ripen over the coming weeks. We try to put out apples in crates by the roadside by the orchard as often as we can for the community to help themselves to but you are also welcome to come in and pick from those trees that have a “pick me” sign on them. Please pick from the trees with these signs on them as the different varieties ripen at different times. There are “cookers” and “eaters.” Amongst the first of our many varieties to be ready to pick are:- ‘George Cave’, ‘Discovery’ (dessert apple, red skin), ‘Worcester Pearmain’ (dessert, said to have a slight strawberry flavour!), ‘Rev W Wilks’ (early cooking apple, pale green skin, mottled/striped with orange/red, and white, juicy flesh), ‘Scotch Dumpling’ (very large cooker, mid-green skin flushed with orange) and the iconic ‘Bramley’ (cooker – may be kept right through to February). As many gardeners know, it’s been a challenging year weather-wise for growing. On the whole our apples are quite small this year but still very tasty and, of course, good for juicing.

At the time of writing we were eagerly anticipating “Big Apple Day” (28 September), our annual get-together to celebrate the apple harvest and share in the fruits (quite literally) of our labours. Thanks to everyone that supported this community event.

If you would like to get involved with occasional and/or regular jobs (from small/light to larger/heavier) please contact Katharine 01350 727048 or email dunkeldbirnamorchard@gmail.com During the winter we will be working steadily away, as and when the weather allows, to prune and care for our trees in the hope of another bountiful harvest and also to continue to look after this haven for wildlife. As ever, thank you to all our regular volunteers and supporters.

Dunkeld and Birnam in Bloom

September has been a right mixed bag of weather to work in the gardens. We were very lucky on the day we chose to go round Branklyn Gardens and enjoy the efforts of another team of volunteers. We all thoroughly enjoyed the morning and of course came away with a boot full of plants!

We have now taken delivery of the new table and bench in Torwood Park.

I am sure the Birnam team will enjoy having their coffee there and I hope everyone else will also enjoy using it. We just need the gravel to be put under it, to complete the project. The new table for St Ninian’s to follow shortly and further updates later.

I hope the bedding plants hang on for a few weeks longer before we need to start removing and planting the Spring bulbs. Anybody who would like to come and join us in the gardens, please do. Groups can be found on a Monday morning at 10am in St Ninian’s Garden, Dunkeld and Torwood Park, Birnam.

Thank you

Moira (07931 758 456)

Gardening and Growing Club

Whether you potter with a few pots or garden an acre you are very welcome at our friendly Gardening and Growing club. £20 annual membership. Everyone welcome – first meeting FREE. Please come along and ‘try out’ being a member Annual membership £20

The Gardening and Growing Club is a group for anyone interested in learning more about a wide range of matters to do with gardening and growing in a relaxed environment where you can also chat and meet other people in the village interested in gardening and growing. During the year there is a mix of talks, visits to gardens, socials as well as the annual show in August. Whether you tend a few pots on your windowsill or garden a massive plot it really doesn’t matter – you are very welcome to join us.

Programme of Events 2024-25

6 October - Local Garden Visit, Eric Robb, Birnam Glen

Date tbc November - Wreath Making

11 December - Christmas Meal, Duchess Anne

12 February - Alan Horgan,

12

As the days get shorter our twice weekly stalls will cease but we will stock the Field gate stall on Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the winter. It may come as a surprise that we harvest a greater volume of crops over the winter than we do in the summer months. All out root crops,parsnip,carrot,beetroot and of Course leeks and onions should be available along with cabbage,Brussels and flower sprouts and kale until early spring.We lifted our main crop tatties in September and they will be available through October,they are a healthy crop of Cara and Alanis both popular and delicious varieties.Our fruit trees are laden with apples and the Autumn rasps are also abundant.

We have enjoyed having some new volunteers and hope they have enjoyed working and learning at the Field and taking our produce home to try some of the recipes we discuss over coffee and biscuits.

Our autumn tasks include scything and mowing rye grass on our fallowed plots and planting cover crops on bare soil to seal carbon in the soil and prevent leaching of nutrients over the winter. Harvesting will of course continue and as the mornings get cooler we welcome the. Cheery company of our volunteers on Thursday and Saturday mornings from 10am onwards.

Looking forward to seeing you at the field as the spectacle of the Autumn colours enhance its wonderful location.

Scottish Wildlife Trust talks are back!

The Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire branch of the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) is delighted to announce that another autumn/winter season of talks is about to get underway.

The monthly talks - held in the evenings at The Tryst on Bonnethill Road in Pitlochry - are chance to hear from experts in their field and also meet other people with a passion for the natural world.

You don’t have to be a member of the SWT, but why not join or just keep in touch with what’s on? You can sign up to hear about events and find out more about activities on the numerous reserves in our area and beyond. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org. uk/sign-up-to-our-mailing-list/.

If you are already a member and also want to hear about talks and events direct from the SWT, do remember to sign up to the mailing list and click the ‘Events and information from my local group’ option.

The first talk in our new season will be from Laura Plant, who will be revealing how cutting edge science is helping to track nature restoration.

Laura, who lives in Aberfeldy, works for UK-based technology company NatureMetrics. The business is at the forefront of developing techniques such as environmental DNA (eDNA), a system which uses fragments of DNA left behind by animals in the environment to track restoration progress and put nature into numbers!

Laura is a very enthusiastic speaker, and her talk will shed light on how eDNA is enabling new levels of biodiversity monitoring in multiple environments, from lochs and seas, to woodlands and peat bogs.

Date: Monday 21st October 2024

Time: 7.30pm - 8.30pm

Place: The Tryst, Church of Scotland, 13 Bonnethill Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BS. Suggested donation: £3 for non-members, £2 for members (you can donate in person on the day).

Why not save the date for our November talk too, which will be from Susie McNoughton on Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels - Monday 18th November, same time, same place.

Questions?

Contact our chairman Mark Aquilina on 07796 561844 or markandrosie@btinternet.com.

See you there!

Mon-Fri 8.00am to 5.00pm Sat 10.00am to 11.00am Posts, Rails and slats Ranch Boards, Garden Sleepers -Various sizes Loose Bark and Woodchip

May ‘Stick on the Fridge Page’

October ‘Stick on the Fridge Page’

Local Organisations - Contact Details

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. Phone 01350+

Organsiations - General

3 Churches Charity Shop 07751 593421 Anne Graham

Alcoholics Anonymous (Helpline) 0800 917 7650

Chapter House Museum 727786 Ruth Brown (in Dunkeld Cathedral, open 7 days) archive@historicdunkeld.org.uk

D&B Paths and Nature Action Group stewartpritchard@aol.com

Dunkeld & Birnam Historical Society 07584 434253 Dave Roberts daveroberts132@btinternet.c.om

Dunkeld & Birnam in Bloom 727288 Linda Speirs lindaladyhill@yahoo.co.uk

Dunkeld & Birnam Men’s Shed 07777 696953 Jackie MacLean dbmensshed@outlook.com

Dunkeld Masonic Lodge 724232 Tom Gordon secyonefour@gmail.com

Dunkeld Community Archive 727786 Ruth Brown (Mon – Fri, 10am – 3pm) archive@historicdunkeld.org.uk

Friends of the Cathedral 728697 John Gray friends@dunkkeldcathedral.org

Gardening and Growing Club (Horti) 07740 982465 Andrea Cox acox325@gmail.com

National Trust for Scotland 07548 757060 Karen Clark kclark@nts.org.uk

Royal British Legion 728811 Kevin Forsyth Kevforsyth@hotmail.com

RVS 01738 633975 Geoff Bird

(Supporting You At Home and perthsupportingyou@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk Home Library Service)

SWRI 723203 / 07881 531565 Evelyn Menzies Evelynhmenzies@gmail.com

SWRI Amulree 723203 Jane Anderson

The Field 07584 434253 Dave Roberts dblandtrust@btinternet.com

The Orchard 727048 Katharine Melville kmelville@ogoroad.com

The Meeting Place (Fri, DA) 07474 183042 Margaret Scott Tourist Association 723297 Adrian Blundell

Community Learning & Development

PKC CLD Staff 01738 459701 Cat Gordon/Alison May/ Robin Crawford dunkeldcomlearn@pkc.gov.uk

U3A 07714 103309 Sandra Cairncross smcairnx@hotmail.com

Sport Butterstone Hill & Trail Group 07761 673231 Adrian Davis wildoutdoorscotland@gmail.com

Clan Bowmen (Field Archery) 727911 / 07786 073686 Arthur Robert Hewines bobhewines@hotmail.com

Dunkeld & Birnam Angling Association secretary@dbaa.co.uk Billy Davidson

Dunkeld & Birnam Bowling Club 07977 911068 Gael Shaw Gaelshaw@btinternet.com

Dunkeld & Birnam Golf Club 727524 Jackie MacLean (Visitors Welcome) dunkeld@outlook.com

Dunkeld & Birnam Sports 07970 778525 Sally Robertson

Leisure Hub dbsportsleisurehub@gmail.com

Dunkeld & Birnam Tennis Club 07731 631563 Morna Mitchell mornaamitchell59@gmail.com

Glendelvine/Spittalfield Cricket Club 07816 982140 Andrew Ross (all ages)

Grass Track & Field Group 07736 724113 James Jarvis

Highland Perthshire Clay Shooting Club 07821940252 Ted Carr tedcarr@waitrose.com

Leisure Group (Sports Hall Project) 727361 Alasdair Wylie awylie2002@yahoo.co.uk

Over 35’s Rugby 07738 006738 Iain Gordon iainhg@aol.com

Running Club (8 – 12 year old,) 07761 673231 Adrian Davis (Mondays at 3.30pm) wildoutdoorscotland@gmail.com

Swimming & Alexander Technique 07778 778007 Jan Osband jmosband@gmail.com

Tai Chi 07551 029076 John Connelly dachutaichi@gmail.com

Tayside Orienteers 727048 Bill Melville billmelville@ogoroad.com Yoga 728783 Sue Atkinson atkinsue93@yahoo.co.uk

Music & Arts

BIPS 07872 505516 Melanie Brockway mbroc02@hotmail.com

Birnam Arts 727674 Manager admin@birnamarts.com arts@birnamarts.com

Birnam Arts Ballet (Mon – Thurs, Emma Gray age 4 upwards & adults) ballet@birnamarts.com Cathedral Tower Bell Ringers 742218 Iona Connor lowesfarm@hotmail.com

Dunkeld Strathspey & Reel Society 07531 520476 Duncan Thomson duncanwthomson@yahoo.co.uk Film Society 727740 Tom Barnard tom_barnard@btinternet.com

Just Singin’, 7.30pm Weds (BA) 07765 405203 Katie Dalgliesh www.justsingin.co.uk

Traditional Youth Music Group 07958 324 766 Karys and Gill dbtradgroup@gmail.com and Facebook Annual Events

Art Exhibition dunkeldart@aol.com Margaret Scott Arts & Crafts Fair (Apr, Aug & Nov) 727968 / 07743 400938 Na’an Meikleour poppyseednaan@yahoo.com Christian Aid Week 727867 Jim McCafferty Highland Games (August) 07880 588433 Duncan Sim duncan_sim@hotmail.com

Niel Gow Festival 07766 406313 Liam Manion (weekend closest to 22 March) LManion41@gmail.com For Children

Baby & Toddler Group 07546 128902 Lesley Singers

Caputh Baby & Toddler Group 07722 183546 Catherine Thomson (Tues, 9.30 – 11.30am)

Nursery at Royal School of Dunkeld 01738 454470 Royal School of Dunkeld Sunday School – Church of Scotland 727249 Fraser Penny For Younger People Girlguiding Dunkeld (Rainbows, 07770 324173 Trix Stephen Brownies, Guides, Rangers) (District Commissioner) The Black Watch Army Cadets 07429 113439 2nd Lt Craig Ross 1989ros@armymail.mod.uk Youth Group (for P7s & 1st years, 727249 Fraser Penny Thurs 7 – 8.30pm)

For Older People

Senior Citizens

727311 Ronalda Pattullo

Servite 07595 651446 Ivan Russell (Working Hours, Mon, Wed, Friday ivan.russell@caledoniaha.co.uk 1 – 4pm; Tues, Thurs 8.30am – 12 noon)

Local Organisations - Continued

Hall Bookings

Amulree Village Hall

07749 914906 Isabel Brady northamulree@btinternet.com

Birnam Arts 727674 Manager

Caputh Hall 07832 235607 Lorna Lyle Chanonry 07808 703641 Jill McCrory chanonrydunkeld@gmail.com

Dalguise Village Hall 07746 392268 Anne Cameron annedunkeld@gmail.com

Duchess Anne 07808 703641 Jill McCrory office@dunkeldcathedral.org

Health Community & Services

Birnam Library (Thu 5 – 7pm, Fri 01738 459709 Margaret Quigley 12 – 5pm, Sat 9.30am – 12 noon) birnamlibrary@culturepk.org.uk

Chemist (Dunkeld) 727210 Davidsons

Chemist (on Sunday) 01738 494610 Asda, Dunkeld Rd, Perth

Doctors 727269 Craigvinean Surgery

Dunkeld & Birnam Community Lachlan MacEwan Council dbcc.chair@gmail.com

Infinity Blu Dental Care(Birnam & Pitlochry) 729198 / 01796 470001

PKC Environmental Services 01738 476476

PKC Roads Dept 01738 475000 Registrar 01738 475121 3/5 High St, Perth perth-registrars@pkc.gov.uk

Tayside Police (non-emergency) 101

Dates

Dates for your Diary

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

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

May

May exhibition at Birnam Arts Conglomerates Jessica Ramm

1 Aging Creatively Workshop with Alison Price 60+, Free, but please book 10-12pm

2 Climate Café Community Coworking Space

4-5 10am to 5pm – Dunkeld Living History Weekend in Stanley Hill Park –Free Event

to 14 Oct James Mackintosh Exhibition: The Chapter House Museum Trust Featuring the lives of the notable MacIntosh family of Inver

3 8pm in Birnam Arts – “Dunkeld’s Dark Deeds“ performed by Lindsey Gibb at Birnam Arts – Tickets available from birnamarts.com

2 Heart of Scotland, Practical Conservation Day 10:00am-3:00pm East Schiehallion – see Loch of the Lowes for more information

4 “Macbeth: Death, Bane & Birnam workshop led by Actor Joe Arkley & Shakespearean specialist Tracey Irish 2pm – Duchess Anne Hall

2 Perth & Kinross Dementia Cafe Awareness Day Wed Oct 2nd 2024 10am-12:30pm North Church Hall , High Street Perth

5 Community Fair, Birnam Arts 11-2pm

4 8pm in Birnam Arts – Daniel Downie: A Historical & Hysterical journey through Scottish History – Tickets available from birnamarts.com

5 Service Help and Healing Little Dunkeld Kirk 6:30pm

5 Simple gardening tools & healthy posture FREE 2-4pm Blackhaugh Community Farm, Spittalfield 07375923198

5

6 Gardeners and Growers Local Garden Visit, Eric Robb, Birnam Glen

6 Prayers for Help and Healing St Mary’s Church 6:30pm

Dundonnachie: Fraud & Riot In Dunkeld workshop led by Actor Joe Arkley & Shakespearean specialist Tracey Irish 10.30am – Duchess Anne Hall ~

6 Making Pumkin/Squash & Orange Jam (bring clean jars if possible) FREE 2-4pm Blackhaugh Community Farm, Spittalfield 07375923198

5 4.30pm in Dunkeld Cathedral - The Scots Opera Project Present Wandering Oisin ~ A Celtic Folk Opera (Soprano Colleen Nicoll, Music by Esther Swift & David Douglas, Lyrics by Tony Bonning) – Tickets available on Eventbrite.

8 Heart of Scotland, Practical Conservation Day 10:00am-2:30pm at Garth Wood – see Loch of the Lowes for more information

11 Historical Society Talk Lara Haggarty: Holinshed Chronicles ~ Macbeth Duchess Ann Hall 7:30 – 9:30pm £5

8 Sho and the Demons of the Deep by Zoë Bullock Independent Arts Projects in association with National Theatre of Scotland £5 Children £12 Adults 1.30pm Dunkeld School: Free

11 Batsükh Dorj Mongolian Throat Singing 7:30pm

10 Orchard walkaround 2pm Katharine 01350 727048 dunkeldbirnamorchard@gmail.com

13 Film Society - ‘The Florida Project 7:30pm Birnam Arts.

10 Gardeners and Growers Club Falkland Gardens Visit acox325@gmail.com

10 Bookstall in aid of Christian Aid 10am onwards outside Duchess Anne

12 Santa Day - Quiz Night Fundraiser, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.00pm for 7.30pm, £20 per Team (max 4 per team).

10 3 Churches Charity Shop Table Top Sale Hobby/Craft Materials

14 Community Council AGM 7pm

11 3 Churches Charity Shop Table Top Sale Hobby/Craft Materials 11

15 Scottish Dance Workshop - mixed-form dance workshop Ages 14+ With Laura Scott and live Fiddle from Ed Pearlman 6-7:30pm

Bookstall in aid of Christian Aid 10am onwards outside Duchess Anne

11 Print Workshop with Jessica Ramm Free,but please book. 10am-12pm Birnam Arts

19 Artist Talk at Birnam Arts: Louisa Preston will talk about her exhibition and practices. 13.00 – 15.00

19 Oct

11 Viking Optics day 10.30am to 3.00pm. Loch of the Lowes lochofthelowes@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk

- 24 Nov Experimental Artist: Publishing Exhibition: Louisa Preston Linked to Louisa’s research project into self-publishing practices in rural and remote Scotland.

11 West Stormont Woodland Group, woodland picnic 12.00, followed by a guided walk Meet at the entrance to Taymount Wood contact@weststormontwoodlandgroup.scot

11 Scotland's Garden Scheme Birnam Bank Walled Garden PH8 0BW 10-4pm £5 admission - Children free

12 Paths and Nature Actions Action Group 2 - 3.30pm stewartpritchard@aol.com

21 Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire branch of the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) Talk Laura Plant on nature restoration 7:30 – 8:30pm. The Tryst, Church of Scotland, 13 Bonnethill Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BS

12 Songs and Silence Service at the Cathedral

13 Dunkeld and Birnam in Bloom, AGM 10.30 at Dunaird House, Birnam. 17-18 James V: Katherine £12 + Booking Fee 19:30 - 21:30 Birnam Arts

22 Hollie McNish ‘Lobster and other things I’m learning to love.’ 7:30pm Birnam Arts

26-27 Birnam Book Festival at Birnam Arts and other venues ‘Legends, Lore, Stories and Song’

17 Bookstall in aid of Christian Aid 10am onwards outside Duchess Anne 18 Orchard Group 10:30am Katharine 01350 727048 dunkeldbirnamorchard@gmail.com

November

22 Bridge Day at Birnam Arts £20 per player http://www.bridgewebs.com/bridgedays Miriam Drysdale 07747777601

24 Budapest Café Orchestra £18 + Booking Fee 7:30pm

Prayers for Help and Healing Little Dunkeld Kirk 6:30pm

6 Perth & Kinross Dementia Cafe Awareness Day Wed Oct 2nd 2024 10am-12:30pm North Church Hall , High Street Perth

25-27 The Dunkeld & Birnam Spring Art & Crafts Fair The Royal Dunkeld Hotel 10-5pm daily Entry is free

26 Paths and Nature Actions Action Group 10 – 11:30 stewartpritchard@aol.com

30 A9 Community Group meeting and AGM Birnam Arts 730pm June

8 Historical Society Talk Mike Taylor: Bristling with Guns – “Oi mate, you can’t put that cannon there” Duchess Ann Hall 7:30 – 9:30pm £5

8 Firelight Trio 7:30pm Birnam Arts

9 Arts and Crafts Fair The Drill Hall The Cross 10-5pm

2 Garden Opening Sunday 12 - 5 Pm Torwood House St Marys Road Birnam. Proceeds to local charities.

2 Service Help and Healing St Mary’s Church 6:30pm

10 Arts and Crafts Fair The Drill Hall The Cross 10-5pm

18 AGM Breadalbane & District Riding for the Disabled Time and venue tbc

7 Beaver Breakfast 5.00 – 7am. Loch of the Lowes - Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld, PH8 0HH (Visitor centre open 10.30am till 5.00pm daily) Tel: 01350 727 337 Email: lochofthelowes@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk

December

Gardeners and Growers Club Bradystone, Murthly. Propagation Workshop, Garden tour. acox325@gmail.com

Songs and Silence Service at the Cathedral

6 Historical Society Talk Euphemia Ramsay: A Gothic Ghost Story for Solstice Duchess Ann Hall 7:30 – 9:30pm £5

Kirk Session Meeting, Duchess Anne, 7:30pm

Beaver Watch 7 - 9.30pm. 30 Songs and Silence Service at the Cathedral

11 Gardeners and Growers Meeting – Christmas Event, Duchess Anne story of Dunkeld & Birnam Orchard and AGM Birnam Arts

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

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

16 Community News

Featured here: King Arthur; Queen of the May and can you spot the (future!) King Charles hiding in an oak tree?!

Notes from a Councillor

I’m beginning to wonder if anyone had sent the memo to Mother Nature to remind her that it was supposed to be summer somewhere between May and September? Lots of cloud, rain and chilly temperatures, what happened to global warming?

Budgets are currently under immense pressure and many services that the Council has historically supported are being sidelined in order to fund the statutory services that we are obliged to provide.

You will no doubt have seen the press articles relating to the leisure offering in Perth and Kinross recently. At a meeting of the full council, the motion was to go with the basic PH2O build - 8-lane swimming pool, training pool, gym and sports hall and a few other things (café, soft play, studios). This will be built on the Thimblerow car park and involve the loss of parking. Leasing the Dewar’s Centre to the curling/ice sports users and a promise to investigate what leisure water facilities might be possible.

My concern was that a lease arrangement for the Dewars centre, will not be viable without considerable financial investment which the curling community would have to raise and whether other leisure activities might not be permitted in that building that may compete with the new offer.

The amendment wanted to see ice and a leisure pool added to the proposed facilities of an 8-lane swimming pool, training pool, gym and sports hall in a new build PH2O at Glover Street/Glasgow Road, which could be done without stopping use of the facilities at Dewar’s or the Leisure Pool (albeit parking would have been interrupted). It also tried to include diving and squash.

After much debate it was a very close vote with the Motion winning by 20 votes to 18.

A recent planning application to allow Verdant leisure to extend the Erigmore leisure park site in Birnam was refused by PKC planning committee and Verdant leisure appealed the decision with the Scottish Government.

On this occasion, the Scottish Government reporter agreed with us and dismissed the appeal. Hopefully meaningful discussions can now take place so that a more acceptable planning application is achieved.

If you have any concerns or issues, I can be contacted on 07761988308 or via my email address ijames@pkc.gov.uk. Ian James

News from our Community Council

Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council Community Council Matters

Community Council MemberAlan Wylie

‘Time Flies’! It’s hard to believe that summer (what summer) is all but gone and we’ve entered into autumn. Soon Christmas will be appearing on the shelves. Still time for those of us who look to avoid going away within the school holidays to find some sun.

The Community Council have been as busy as usual with various topics. Notably working with The Development Trust on the Local Place Plan which is a pre-curser of the Local Development Plan. In essence, we’re looking to fine-tune the issues raised by the community and published in the Community Action Plan back in 2022. This is a five year plan which focuses on six key strategic themes.

• Safe and active travel

• Housing for all

• Connectivity, accessibility and care

• Environmental and a greener future

• Community and culture

• A thriving local economy

Much has been done by The Development Trust and Community Council on these themes in two years, but there’s still much more to do. Both organisations will continue to work together in a constructive way to further the issues highlighted two years ago by residents. These take time but the time is now to kick-start a number of

Tel: 01250 876576

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT, EDINBURGH EH99 1SP Tel: 0131 348 5717

e-mail: john.swinney.msp@parliament.scot

those themes and with goodwill from all in our community we will succeed.

The Scottish Government Reporter recently dismissed the appeal of Verdent Leisure Limited in respect to its planning application to extend the Erigmore Caravan site. This application having been widely objected to by The Community Council and close to 100 residents of Dunkeld and Birnam. Common sense prevails.

We’ve been advised by PKC Roads Department of a scheduled road closure on the A822 west of Corbenic scheduled for 14th October for a period of two weeks and further work on the same road where traffic controls will be deployed during the same period. We’ve informed the council that this will significantly increase journey time for our rural residents and the need to allow school buses access and those of the emergency services. We’re pleased to inform that our attempts over the past few months to increase the number of community councillors has been successful and we look forward to announcing the new members at our AGM on 14th October.

Alan Wylie, Secretary & Deputy Chair Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council

Community Noticeboard

Growbiz

How can you benefit from GrowBiz support?

Are you self-employed or a small business owner in a rural area? Free support is available from GrowBiz Scotland. Here’s some ways we can help you this autumn:

Expert Advice: Whether you are in need of support with making a funding application, creating business strategy, making a climate action plan, or improving your digital skills, we have a team member who can help. Email connect@growbiz. co.uk to request an informal chat.

Events: GrowBiz’s online learning sessions and networking events are confidential spaces to share challenges and experiences, hear from fellow business owners, and be inspired and motivated to develop and grow.

Mentoring: Our award-winning programme trains volunteer mentors to help those who need a confidence boost, a listening ear, or some help with personal development to reach their full potential. If you’re interested in training to be a mentor or becoming a mentee, visit: www.growbiz.co.uk/mentoring

REDS: REDS is an online directory and interactive map for small businesses, enterprises and the self-employed in rural Scotland, providing free promotion, connection, advocacy and support. Find out more at www.reds.scot

GrowBiz also offers specialised services to social enterprises, young entrepreneurs, creatives, the food and drink sector and more. Find out about all services at www.growbiz.co.uk

Arts and Crafts Fair November

The Dunkeld & Birnam Christmas Art and Crafts Fair takes place in The Drill Hall The Cross on 9th and 10th November from 10am to 5pm each day. Crafts include woodturnig, leather (handmade shoes made to measure), silks, felt, harris tweed, Art, glass, knitwear, embroidery, slatework, soaps and skincare, homemade tablet, sheepskins, leather belts and silver jewellery. Demonstrations and free entry.

Repair Café

The Next Repair Cafe is on Monday 7th October, 3.00pm to 6.00pm Birnam Arts.

If one of your New Year resolutions is to get down to mending those things that need fixing then why not bring them along to see if we can help. Or maybe just pop in, have a cuppa and see what we do. You’ll be very welcome.

Food Share

Just a reminder that donations to the food share tables at the Duchess Anne and St Marys are very much appreciated!

Everyone is welcome to take things from the tables - it stops food going landfill.

Many thanks to donors who leave baking after coffee mornings and events and to the local shops and cafes who donate their surplus food.

Food Bank

Remember there is a confidential contact if you need help with food. Please phone 01350 700018 or email PH8foodbank@gmail.com

The Meeting Place

We meet in the Duchess Anne, church hall, every Friday from 10-12 for a cup of tea/coffee, delicious home baking and friendly company.

The Coffee morning at the end of September was in aid of McMillan and on Friday 22nd November we hope to be joined by a member of the Air Ambulance crew who will be available to chat. There will be a Cake & Candy stall and proceeds will go to SCAA.

All welcome

Maths Tutor

Maths Tutor for all levels school maths including Nat 5; Higher and Advanced Higher Maths: £15 - 40 minute lesson

Former Breadalbane and St Andrews Maths Graduate (MMaths) Scott Robertson offers friendly on-line support with all levels of school maths. Contact scottrobertson424@gmail.com 07809 294280 for more information or to book an on-line session.

Want to improve your Chess game?

Currently ranked in the top 1% of the worlds chess players on www.chess.com Scott Robertson offers friendly on-line chess lessons. Improve your tactics and strategy through game analysis. £15 - 40 minute lesson

Contact scottrobertson424@gmail.com 07809 294280 for more information or to book an on-line session.

The Highland and Strathtay Stronger Communities Team

As Community Investment Fund draws to a close after a very busy application period, we are delighted to announce that Warm Welcome Fund has been confirmed again this year. We will welcome applications for warm spaces only this year, warm packs will not be funded. As per last year’s process, there will be a workshop held where we will invite local groups to come along and discuss their ideas and agree how the funding should be split across the ward area. More information including workshop dates, application form and guidance will be available in due course. Keep an eye out for updates! Dunkeldcomlearn@pkc.gov.uk

NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation Funding

The charity aims to help people in Tayside live better for longer by funding activities and projects in the community to support innovation and prevention in the area. The funding deadline for June/July Assessment Panels has just passed, with the next round of applications to be in for 10 October 2024 to be considered in November/December. If you’re working with a local charity or community group who could benefit from accessing this funding, signpost them to the Charitable Foundation website. https://nhstayside.foundation/apply-for-funding/

Caputh Village Hall

The Caputh Village Hall Committee is an active and thriving committee heavily involved in the community.

We are looking for anyone interested in joining our team. We meet three times a year to plan events in the local community (with lots of tea and cake!)

Caputh Village Hall is the perfect venue for events; birthday parties, weddings, baptisms... anything goes! Hosting up to 100 people seated and 180 standing, a perfect setting in rural Perthshire. What more do you need?!?

Do email caputhhall@gmail.com for more information.

Opening hours: Thursday: 5pm – 7pm Friday: 12pm – 5pm Saturday: 9.30am – 12pm

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

Birnam Library is run by Culture Perth and Kinrossa charitable trust bringing art, culture, books, learning, creative communities and local history and heritage to people across the whole of Perth and Kinross. https://www.culturepk.org.uk/

I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to everyone who kindly donated to my summer Dirty Thirty run for this very inspiring Everest Base Camp challenge and helped me raise an amazing £1343 inc Gift Aid towards their trip.

I was inspired to run in order to fundraise for this incredible group of people with AIB (acquired brain injury)who are bravely challenging themselves to Base Camp this autumn and I wanted to help in some small way. It’s actually coming round pretty quickly - Early November!

Good luck with all the training, preparation and ongoing fundraising. Good luck too to Little Sherpa Foundations James Lamb, Trip coordinator and guide. This awesome challenge continues to motivate and inspire.

Heather Akers

Centre

Car Park toilets, Dunkeld Brodies Sawmill, Inver The Community Telephone Box, Butterstone

The Community Telephone Box, Willowbank, Birnam Amulree Village Hall

Caputh Village Hall

Dalguise Village Hall

BACC Office, Trochry

Auchnacloich Farm, Amulree

Dunkeld & Birnam Golf Club

Office Wall, Erigmore Holiday Park

Davidsons Chemist, Dunkeld

All these defibrillators are located externally and give 24 hour access

RBS mobile bank visits Dunkeld and Birnam. Thursdays: Dunkeld, The Cross 14.50 pm to 15.20 pm and Birnam, Post Office 15.05 pm to 15.25 pm

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

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

Contact: 01350 727320

Email: info@dunkeldbuilders.com www.dunkeldbuilders.co.uk

www.perthshirepetcremation.co.uk