Editor’s Bit A few thanks are in order to start off 2015. The first is to the three councillors who agreed to reveal more about their busy lives than just the usual names on the back page. I am sure some of you will have contacted them in their professional capacity and all three mentioned that being able to assist local people is one thing that does give them satisfaction in their roles. Interestingly all three independently mentioned how they feel they do work together well to try and promote concerns for our rural areas. The second thanks are to Ron, Maggie and Chris in Strathyre who are still speaking to me after I missed their New Year Dance in November and then put the wrong year and band in December! Fortunately they did say it was very good publicity as everyone in the village was talking about it. Many apologies. Thanks also go to Helen Clark who has been in charge of the finances for three years but this year’s accounts will be her last as she escapes on maternity leave! This leads neatly to the plea for lots of you to come to the AGM on the 11th at Mhor 84 and volunteer any help and expertise you can offer. David has been responsible for the production side of this issue as Gill has not been well but probably trying to do that, advertising, taking over from Helen, distribution and being the husband of the editor might be too much - and I would rather like him to continue in the last role.
Weather
Report
The following readings were taken at ‘Bramlings’, Auchtubh, Balquhidder for the month of December Average - max 42F 5.2C Average - min 32.2F 0.1C Rainfall - 163mm 16.3cm 6.5ins Strongest Wind gust 52mph on Dec 10 (Above figures up to 29th Dec only.)
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The St Fillans Bit bt John Murray Sadly I have to open this first column of 2015 by noting the passing of another villager. Jamie Bissett, son of Jim and Margot, tragically succumbed to a seizure at the age of just 32 on Christmas Eve 2014. A terrible blow to Jim and Margot and to fiancé Sarah. Jamie was born in Kirkcaldy and moved with the Bissetts to St Fillans in 1992. He attended the village primary school before moving on to Crieff High School and thence to Perth College where he obtained a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Many will remember his always cheery face during the times that he took appropriate holiday employment working in The Drummond Arms (as it was then). After graduating Jamie worked in various roles in the hotel trade before attaining the position of Restaurant Manager at the prestigious Murray’s Hall Hotel. Tiring of the relentless hours and pressures of hotel life (I’ve been there) he decided on a change of course and was living in Perth with Sarah and working on a new career in Caring at the time of his death. He was an eBay addict – buying and selling countless items – with considerable success at one time in selling Chinese Dog Coats! That is dog coats made in China not coats for Chinese dogs. Jamie’s funeral was held in Leven and there was a very moving turnout of villagers along the route through St Fillans and in force at The Field of Hope to pay respects as the cortege passed on its way. Sometimes even us atheists wonder about a higher power and during the Service a poem was recited which included the line “look for me in rainbows”. As the mourners left the service they were confronted by a full rainbow across the sky. Incredible. Jim & Margot want me to extend their thanks to all who sent cards, flowers and gave support at this most difficult time and to all those who turned out to say farewell in the village and who attended the funeral. Many will remember Alec Thomson who, with wife Hilary, ran the village shop way back in the 90’s. Sadly again I heard last week that Alec had passed away in Edinburgh. Alec was amongst the first folk I met when I moved to St Fillans in 1991 and we became good friends. He was very active in organising and supporting village events and was Chair of the Community Council for (I think) three years. In those days I was a dedicated smoker and it was not
Jamie
unusual for me to get into a panic at 9 p.m. when I only had 3 fags left and needed 2 for ‘breakfast’. To counter said panics Alec used to keep packets of fags in his flat above the shop and in response to pebbles thrown up at his window would throw a packet down. Real retail service. Happy memories. The more observant in the village will have noticed that STILL (or 10 foot man) the shining metal sculpture standing proud in the loch outside The Four Seasons did not survive the recent storms and now lies in Davey Jones’s Locker. Andrew and Mary are hopeful that when the weather calms and the level of the loch falls he can be recovered intact and resurrected to his full glory – possibly with heavier concrete wellies next time. The hotel reopens on 6th March at weekends for lunches, suppers, dinner & the Sunday Roast. Remember Mother’s Day Lunch on 15th March and the first Gourmet wine tasting dinner on 13th March. The consultation period for the National Park proposals for controlling inappropriate visitor use of the loch sides has finished and many of us look forward to seeing the results and how the consultation affects the draft proposals. Until very close to the deadline for input I gather the responses were pretty dire but did increase as