Pitlochry Life August 2023

PITLOCHRY LIFE

August 2023 Issue 399

The Best of Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire

Pitlochry - Aberfeldy - Dunkeld - Birnam - Kenmore

Kinloch Rannoch - Blair Atholl

The Pitlochry Tipple

This month Ewan looks at history, and the current state of gin in the UK.

Your Community

All the news from our MPs, Clubs, Groups and Churches.

Willie's Wonky Computer

Willie looks at the recent iSpoof website scandal and the operation to bring it down.

School Term Times

We have all the term times for 2023/4, so you can plan ahead for holidays.

The Pitlochry Garden

Sheila is way ahead of you and looks at planting bulbs for next year!

Recipe

This month we have three of the best ice-cream sauces, ever!

Advertising

Debbie - 07545299491

Photography & Design

Lynsey - 07305577953

Editor

Willie - 07906375953

www.facebook.com/pitlochrylife

Pitlochry Life

Manse Road, Moulin

Pitlochry PH16 5EP

info@pitlochrylife.co.uk

www.pitlochrylife.co.uk

WELCOME

Top Things To Do

We have a great selection of the top things to do for a great day out, in and around Pitlochry.

Sudoku

Our Sudoku is also online this month, play every day and keep your brain active!

Fitness With Alan Clinch

Alan looks at all the reasons we need vigorous exercise!

The Pitlochry Crossword

Lesley is back, to test your crossword ability, along with local and Scottish knowledge!

Welcome to the August edition of Pitlochry Life. August typically means summer school holidays so it is great to see the town really busy again, we just need good weather to top it off…

August sees The Secret Garden at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, with Sherlock Holmes on the case soon after that! We have lots of LIVE music every weekend at The Old Mill and Atholl Palace Hotel. This month The Pitlochry Tipple looks at the history of Gin and current trends in the industry, in our fitness column Alan looks at why vigorous exercise is needed, and Willie in the computer pages looks the recent iSpoof scandal. As this is the garden’s peak, it’s time to think about next year and get ready for planting bulbs. This comes round earlier every year I’m sure! Meanwhile Lesley has produced a great crossword, or if you prefer the old favourite sudoko. Give it a go - you may be surprised!

Topically for all our visitors and locals alike we also look at Things to Do in Pitlochry and Perthshire in 2023. Some may be well known but others a wee surprise. With so many hospitality venues here in the town why not indulge yourself with breakfast, lunch or even dinner whilst soaking up the summer atmosphere.

Have a great August and see you next time.

Wonky Computer

The Pitlochry Garden

SEASON 2023 SUMMER

Until 29 September Auditorium

BOOK NOW!

Until 22 September

Is Gin Still The Tonic?

Once called ‘mother’s ruin’, gin was incredibly popular back in the 1700’s when it was deemed safer to drink than unclean water and cheaper to drink than the heavily taxed imported spirits such as French Brandy. Unfortunately, this was then linked to social disorder and high death rates as it was consumed mainly by the poor. Of the 15,000 drinking establishments in London at the time over half were gin shops. The Gin Act 1736 imposed higher taxes for retailers and riots on the streets. It was abolished in 1742. The Gin Act of 1751 was more successful and brought gin shops under the control of local Magistrates.

Beer Street and Gin Lane are two prints issued in 1751 by English artist William Hogarth in support of what would become the Gin Act. Designed to be viewed alongside each other, they depict the evils of the consumption of gin as a contrast to the merits of drinking beer.

Gin today is legally only gin if bottled at 37.5% abv or above and it must have juniper as the biggest % ingredient. A far cry from the use of turpentine and sulphuric acid which were used to flavour as late as 1913.

2013 saw a review of the law which allowed distilleries to buy in their grain neutral spirit (GNS) allowing numerous smaller distilleries to open and buy in the spirit so no need to build a full-scale distillery and avoid some paperwork i.e. distillers licence.

At its peak in around 2019 there were over 1200 different gins available in Scotland. Some distilleries produce many brands so this does not equate to 1200 gin producers. The growth in gin sales was phenomenal. Consumption per UK capita in 2013 was 0.38 litres which rose to 1.2 litres in 2019 before dipping to 1.07 litres in 2022. 2023 is estimated to grow again to 1.16 liters. (Courtesy of Statista 2023)

The market has changed though. Sales are driven by the more ‘classic’ juniper led premium brands which have now become firm favourites in the ‘gin cabinets’ of the UK. The highly flavoured and coloured gins which appealed more to the ‘theatrical’ area of the gin market have seen a steady decline in sales with sadly quite a few ceasing to trade, McQueen’s Gin, for example. Many retailers have reduced the shelf space given to gins to reflect the drop in sales, however, the forecast is positive and perhaps a gin resurgence is about to happen again, but on a smaller scale than the 2013 boom.

No matter what, gin remains a very interesting part of the spirits market and is a big export from the UK with sales of £541.4M in 2021 (latest figures). When you consider that this value excludes duty circa £7.54 per 70cl bottle at 37.5% abv and VAT at 20%, it is a big number at around 33.8m bottles. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on becoming a gin convert and indeed whether ‘gin is still your tonic’.

Ewan McIlwraith Robertsons of Pitlochry & The Bothy Tasting Room 44-46 Atholl Rd, Pitlochry PH16 5BX www.robertsonsofpitlochry.co.uk

Dunkeld Cathedral Art Exhibition - 29th July to 31st August

The 53rd Annual Exhibition will open at 10am on Saturday 29th July in the Duchess Anne in Dunkeld. We will be open every day from 10am - 4pm and 12pm - 4pm on Sundays until 31st August. We will have a wide selection of paintings, prints, wooden items, stained glass, willow work, cards and even some lovely decorated bird boxes which can be hung in the garden. We are holding a Preview Evening on Friday 28th July from 6-8pm and if you are in the area, please drop in to see us. All work is for sale and can be seen on our website: www.dunkeldartexhibition.com All enquires to Dunkeldart@aol.com

Hearing Aid Drop-in Clinic - 1st August

Hearing Aid Drop-in Clinic at Pitlochry Community Hospital. Do you or someone you know use NHS hearing aids? Do you need new batteries supplied and/ or fitted? Do you need the tubing replaced on either your mould or open fit NHS hearing aids? If yes, then NHS Tayside volunteers will be here to help you on Tuesday 1st August 2023 between 10.00am - 12.00 noon at the Pitlochry Community Hospital.

Scottish Country Dancing - 12th & 27th August

Pitlochry Town Hall 7.30pm.

Come along and listen to some of Scotland's Best Scottish Country Dance Bands or watch, or even join us on the dance floor

Dancers £10.00 Spectators £3.00

Saturday 12th August The Glencraig Band

Saturday 27th August Marian Anderson's Band

Further info from June on 01796 473488.

Pitlochry Litter Action Group - 8th August

The tourist season is well on the way. It would be nice for residents and visitors if the town is really clean with no litter disfiguring the streets and green spaces. If you agree that this is important do join our team of litterpickers. All equipment is provided including gloves, black bags and grabbers. We do try to separate recyclable waste from the other litter.

Litterpicks take place on the second Tuesday of the month and we meet at 10.0am in the Recreation ground carpark.

The next litterpick is on Tuesday 8th August.

Dates for litterpicks in 2023 are: September 12th, Octoer 10th, November 14th, Decemer 12th. We would like to thank those residents of Pitlochry who are not members of the litterpicking group and who also pick up litter when they see it. We know you do this and we are very grateful. For further information contact Roger West (rogerwest7@btinternet.com) 01796 474255 or Catherine Holmes (c.p.holmes47@btinternet.com) 01796 473400.

Pitlochry Life

Pitlochry-Confolens Twinning Quiz Night - 11th August

Friends of Confolens, Pitlochry’s Twin-town Association, invites you to a Quiz Night on Friday 11th August at 7.30pm in The Tryst, Pitlochry.

This is to raise funds so we can host a visit of a delegation from France in October. We are halfway to our target, following June’s whisky-tasting and July’s “Let Them Eat Cake!”, and FoC are very grateful to all those who supported these events. It’s great to see the twinning coming back to life, as Pitlochry plays its part in restoring the Auld Alliance.

The Quiz Night promises to be a great opportunity to explore the links between the two towns. We’ll be setting questions in English about Confolens, and in French about Pitlochry. Automatic translation apps are encouraged!! The event incorporates a cheese and (bring your own) wine. Tickets £5 at the door.

La Soirée Quiz promet d’être une excellente occasion d’explorer les liens entre les deux villes. Nous poserons des questions en anglais sur Confolens et en français sur Pitlochry. Les applications de traduction automatique sont encouragées !! L’événement comprend un fromage et (apportez le vôtre) vin. Billets 5 £ à la porte.

For more information about the twinning email tgmcewan@gmail.com

Moulin Hall - Coffee Morning - 12th August

Moulin Hall Trust are holding a Coffee Morning on Saturday, 12th August from 10 am to 12 noon in aid of Hall funds. Cost £3.00. Please do come along and support us.

Music in Rannoch - 16th & 20th August

Wednesday 16th August at 7.30pm in the Old Church, Kinloch Rannoch.

Games Week Concert. The Aberfeldy Gaelic Choir. Music for full choir, quartets, duos and solos. £10 at the door. Children free. Refreshments available at the interval. Easy parking. Extra Concert. Sunday 20th August at 5.00pm in the Old Church, Kinloch Rannoch. 1 hour exactly, no interval. Sadie Fields (violin). Sadie will play a variety of pieces for solo violin including J.S. Bach’s Partita in D minor, some Scottish folk pieces and a contemporary work “Karitza” by Lithuanian-Scottish composer Ruta Vitkauskaite, who will be in the audience. No charge, but there will be a voluntary pay-as-you-feel retiring collection for Music in Rannoch's funds.

Pitlochry Garden Share - 19th August

Volunteers needed! We are always looking for more volunteers to help in the gardens. Get in touch if you want to get involved or to learn more. We share the tools, skills, the harvest and a good blether! Any help is welcome, even if it is just a few hours a month. The largest garden, at Moulin, is now a Community Garden. We have various projects planned there, including the installation of a composting toilet and a new shed. If you fancy helping with this, or with gardening, contact us at pitlochrygardenshare@gmail.com or find us on Facebook

Food grown by the community for the community!

Reduce your food bills. Meet like minded people. Look after your physical and mental health. Strengthen your community. Eat local and seasonal fruit and vegetables

Our next stall in Pitlochry will be on Saturday 19th August, on the main street from 10am to 12 noon. Come and have a chat. We will also be sharing any excess produce.

Continued on page 14

summer!

Come and join us at Blair Athol Distillery this

Enjoy a tour around our historic and charming distillery or visit our exclusive Mash Tun Bar for a perfectly crafted whisky cocktail.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Dunkeld & Birnam Art & Crafts Fair - 25th to 27th August

Dunkeld & Birnam Art & Crafts Fair takes place in The Drill Hall The Cross Dunkeld from 25th to 27th August. We have new exhibitors with miniature houses, woodturning and puppets, silver jewellery, candles and melts, art, quirky felt, designer hats, unique knitwear embroidered childrens clothes, collectible bears and Harris Tweed. Come and meet the makers from 10am to 5pm each day. Admission free.

Ballinluig Bazaar - 26th August

The next Ballinluig Bazaar will be on Saturday 26th August. The Bazaar is a craft fair running from 10.00am until 3.00pm in the lovely Mid Atholl Hall at Ballinluig. Many of last year’s crafters have rejoined us after winter months developing new products and there are some new faces and ideas too. We use the Mid Atholl Hall because of its excellent facilities and its easy access from Aberfeldy, Dunkeld and Pitlochry. Remember also that Ballinluig Bazaar is completely indoors. There may be gales and snow outdoors but you are well protected as you enjoy our crafts.

Contacts: Jenny 01796 473129; Judith 01796 473003; Julie 01796 482274.

Killiecrankie Village Hall - 26th - 27th August

An exhibition of artwork by Maria Barr (1950 – 2012) will be held in Killiecrankie Village Hall on 26 and 27 August 2023. It will be open from 10am till 3pm on both days.

Maria specialised in watercolours and drew inspiration from the Scottish landscape. Her paintings were featured in exhibitions in Scotland, England and Australia, and were sold to collectors at home and overseas. A wide selection of her work will be on display including photographs that demonstrate a particular talent for portrait painting and murals.

This image, “Pitlochry from Moulin Moor”, is one of the original watercolours to be displayed.

The Open Kitchen - 27th August

The Open Kitchen arose out of the Pitlochry Garden Share. We get together on the last Sunday of every month at the Atholl Centre, Pitlochry (this month, on 27th August) between 3 and 6pm. Using produce from our gardens (depending on the time of year of course!) we get together, share recipes, eat and enjoy each other’s company.

We also look at ways to reduce food waste and preserve food (e.g. making jams and chutney). All are welcome. But please do let us know if you plan to come along, so we have some idea of numbers. For more info send an email to theopenkitchen22@gmail.com

Dunkeld & District Strathspey and Reel Society - 28th August

Highland Perthshire and, especially, Dunkeld have a wonderful and continuing history of great traditional Scots music, from the time of Niel Gow in the eighteenth century to the present day. DDSRS, our local fiddle orchestra, meets most Monday evenings in the Royal School of Dunkeld, except in mid-summer, and our 2023 -24 season will start on 28th August at 7.30pm. We play an interesting variety of traditional Scottish music, old and new, under the expert direction of the wellknown local fiddle player and composer Pete Clark.

We love to welcome players of fiddle, cello, double bass, accordion or woodwind, who have the option either to join as full members, or to come along when you can and just pay on the night. We are a friendly bunch who enjoy each other’s company and the shared pleasure of making music together.

Further information at www.dunkeldstrathspeyandreel.org

Pitlochry & District Climate Cafe - 7th September

"With every purchase, try to be more mindful. Educate yourself. Read the ingredient list, read the brand story. Ask yourself, where is my money going?" Ric Kostick, cofounder 100% Pure. A Climate Cafe brings people together from across communities and workplaces to talk, share, learn over a cup of coffee or tea, maybe act on solutions too. Climate Cafés take place the second week of the month - Tuesdays, 1pm and Thursdays 7pm. There will be no Climate Cafes in August. The next one will be Thursday 7th September 2023, 7pm for Climate Reality Talk with Jess Pepper, Founder of the Climate Cafe Network. Jess, who is our local Climate Reality Mentor and helped inspire people in Dunkeld, Blairgowrie, Aberfeldy and other communities to create their own Climate Cafes will be presenting her inspirational presentation which began with her training with former Vice President Al Gore (An Inconvenient Truth, 2006). She will focus on climate change solutions that are already available, and ways we can take action. Venue: Atholl Centre, PH16 5BX. For more information contact Carol Aitken on new email address pitlochrydistrictcc@gmail.com

Tayside Biodiversity Partnership, Mini BioBlitz for our neighbourhood. This mini online bioblitz will help discover which of the Top Ten easily identifiable species such as hedgehog, house hparrow, oxeyed daisy, might be found around Pitlochry. Some will not be present in the habitats here so they are not asking us to find all ten, but they hope it will be a good introduction to future citizen science surveys we can all take part in. The survey started Saturday 1st July and runs until Sunday, 13th August and everyone within the community can take part too.

Go to www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiversity-village-communities-mini-bioblitz?tab=about

PITLOCHRY HIGHLAND GAMES - 9TH SEPTEMBER

Since our last Games both Committee Members and Volunteer numbers have decreased. We are looking for people who would be interested in joining us on the Committee or helping out on Games Day.

If you feel you would like to assist us, or require further information please contact: June Templeman on 01796 473488 or email : secretary@pitlochryhighlandgames.co.uk

Pete Wishart MP - Perth & North Perthshire - SNP

Big changes are coming to the Westminster constituencies of Perth and Kinross. After almost 20 years of relative stability, the constituency map of our country area is to be redrawn. After two years of consultation, Perth and North Perthshire and Ochil and South Perthshire will be replaced by Perth and Kinross-shire and Angus and the Perthshire Glens.

Just to complicate matters the Boundary commission have included parts of the Strathallan council ward in the new Stirling and Strathallan constituency, as well as the Perth and Kinross-shire seat. I will leave it up to you to decide whether this makes much sense or is particularly helpful. The changes come because the UK Government decided to equalise the size by electorate of all the 650 constituencies across the UK. This means that Scotland will lose two seats, Wales will lose an unbelievable eight seats, whilst England gains the extra ten. As a result of taking two seats out of Scotland, practically every constituency, apart from the island ones, has been impacted. My current Perth and North Perthshire constituency is to be split in two, with Highland and East Perthshire joining the west part of Angus, whilst the city of Perth is now joined with most of South Perthshire and all of Kinross-shire, as well as Scone and the Carse of Gowrie.

As a result of the changes, I have put myself forward to seek the SNP nomination for Perth and Kinross-shire. I am obviously disappointed that this new constituency won’t include Highland Perthshire, including Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Dunkeld. I have had the pleasure of representing this area since 2001. Over that time I have grown a deep affection for what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful constituencies in the UK, boasting scenery, culture and community spirit that is second to none.

The next UK election will have to be held by January 2025, but the expectation is that it will take place in either the spring or autumn of next year. It will be an immensely important election.

One last thing to note is that the next Westminster election will be the first general election to use the UK Government’s vote-suppressing voter ID measures. You will now be required to come to the polling station with authorised ID to show who you are. The Electoral Commission have said that thousands of people lost their right to vote when this was applied at the English local elections because they didn’t have the correct ID. So, one last appeal- check the websites to see what is required, or even better sign up for a postal vote today.

If there is anything my office can assist you with then please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 01738 639 598 or emailing pete.wishart.mp@parliament.uk

Murdo Fraser - Mid Scotland & Fife - Conservative

The Scottish Parliament is now in its summer recess which allows MSPs to spend some time with their families and friends, go on holiday and generally refresh the batteries. However, the recess is not all about relaxing, MSPs will still be working. I will be meeting and speaking to constituents in August at various locations during my Summery Surgeries tour.

One topic that is sure to come up for conversation will be the dualling project on the A9 Perth to Inverness road. There have been renewed calls recently for progress to be made from many people, including Neil Greig, Policy and Research Director at road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, who has stated he would like to see the road dualled as a priority.

Mr Greig, who is also part of the A9 Safety Group, wants ‘urgent action’ to dual the road following a ‘huge spike’ in fatalities last year. A total of 13 people lost their lives in 2022 on the road

Walk

With

Me…

A Grand Day Out!

A scenic drive, a train journey, a fabulous moorland walk and possibly the best High Tea ever? Let’s go!

Ok, we are going to drive to Rannoch Station, catch a train one stop north, then walk back across the moor to Rannoch Station Tearoom, for a real treat.

You need to plan this as there are no trains on a Sunday morning and Rannoch Station Tearoom is closed on a Friday. You also need to equip as for a hill walk, carry some light refreshments and do not go without midge repellent on the moor. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on trains and up to two dogs per adult travel free. Drive north from Pitlochry towards Killiecrankie on the A924, ignore the A9 and continue straight onto the B8019. After 3 miles turn left at the bridge over the River Garry (still B8019) and follow this road along the banks of Loch Tummel to Tummel Bridge. At the T- junction there, turn right onto the B846. The road passes Dunalastair Reservoir to Kinloch Rannoch. Keep going on the B846 along the banks of Loch Rannoch to the very end at Rannoch Station. From Pitlochry this is 37 miles, but it is a no hurry - no worry drive so plan for about 1 hour 30 minutes at least; longer if you plan to stop at the likes of The Queens View. The station car park is free. If you forgot the midge repellent - buy some now in the Tearoom!

Take a morning train, either the 08.46 or the 11.09, north to the next station, Corrour, which is the highest railway station in the UK. Our walk begins here, 11 miles on part of an ancient track known to generations of cattle thieves and drovers as Rathad nan Eilean – The Road to the Isles. Allow 4 – 5 hours at an easy pace.

Take the main track east from the station (there are no roads) for 1 mile to the Loch Ossian Youth Hostel where you will find a new track on your right, it heads south briefly, then turns eastwards for a slow climb to Peter’s Rock (plaque there explains who he was). Make sure you take this track, it runs parallel to the south shore of the loch, but is not the one closest to it.

After 1.5 miles you will come to Peter’s Rock, and from here the path turns south and you can take in some of the longest, clearest views of Rannoch Moor, Blackwater Reservoir and mountains in every direction.

There is a Munro, Carn Dearg, just above you to the left and a great detour if you’re feeling strong. You can walk back down a long ridge parallel to the path from the top and re-join farther along.

Otherwise, keep to the path and about 3 miles later you pass the ruin of Corrour Old Lodge, once Scotland’s highest shooting lodge, at 1723 feet above sea level. It’s been uninhabited since 1899, but still makes a good place to stop for some refreshments amongst the remains.

Follow the same path down, and you will eventually cross two bridges. Then 2 miles downhill to the B846. Turn right onto the road and less than 2 miles later you will arrive back at Rannoch Station. You can see the station from many miles away, don’t be tempted to cross the moor, stay on the path.

The Tearoom is open every day, March to October (except Fridays), 8.30am to 4.30pm where you can enjoy a very well earned refreshment, great food and some terrific home baking.

For more walks, keep an eye on our website at www.pitlochrylife.co.uk/getout

between Perth and Inverness – the highest total in 20 years. Mr Greig highlighted how this total is ‘really bad’ when comparing the deaths to the overall amount of people killed in road accidents in Scotland for the whole of last year – 174 according to figures released by Transport Scotland.

He described the notorious A9 as a ‘killer road’ and stressed its unwanted reputation is now back ‘with a vengeance’ because of these numbers. Unfortunately, Mr Greig is right. There have been 335 people killed following road accidents on the A9 between Perth and Inverness since 1979, and more will sadly die until the whole project is completed. The project is estimated to cost around £3 billion, but we have only seen 11 miles of road dualled so far.

Mr Greig rightly feels that dualling the road would improve junctions and prevent head-on accidents. He also thinks more roadside stopping places, nicer laybys and more toilets should be provided along the route to tackle driver fatigue.

It was good to hear cross-party support from fellow MSPs, who agreed that we need to see some progress with the dualling project, at a recent meeting of the Public Petitions Committee at Holyrood, when we also heard from A9 road safety campaigner, Laura Hansler. She is campaigning to have a national memorial built in memory of those who have died following accidents on the A9 between Perth to Inverness.

It is an issue that won’t go away, and I’ll make sure I keep pressing for the whole dualling project to be finished in its entirety.

Meanwhile, I was delighted to hear that Pitlochry was listed as the sixth most welcoming UK town or city through the 2023 Booking.com list of favourite UK destinations – another feather in the cap for the town.

Murdo Fraser always welcomes feedback from constituents. He can be contacted at The Control Tower, Perth Airport, Scone, PH2 6PL, by email on murdo.fraser.msp@parliament.scot or by telephone on 01738 553676.

John Swinney MSP - Perthshire North - SNP

Recently, figures revealed that a record number of young people in Perth and Kinross were in positive destinations.

The figures show that a record 95% of school leavers are engaged in positive destinations nine months post-school, be it in higher education, training, employment or an apprenticeship. This achievement is worth taking note of, especially in the post-pandemic climate, and with the wider economic struggles the UK faces.

These figures aren't just numbers on a page. They reflect real, tangible progress and the individual stories of young people making strides in their lives. Despite leaving school at a time of significant economic unrest, young people across Perthshire are excelling and realising their potential. This progress is a testament to the collective effort of dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and our hard-working young people themselves.

But we must also acknowledge the role of the Scottish Government in setting the stage for these accomplishments.

The government's decision to offer free bus travel for under-22s, and the introduction of free university tuition, have made substantial contributions towards easing the burden of costs and ensuring education and opportunity is accessible to all, including many in Highland Perthshire. In addition, the expansion of apprenticeships has opened new doors of opportunity, providing more young people with the chance to gain valuable on-the-job training.

The bigger picture in Scotland also mirrors the encouraging trend seen in Perth and Kinross. The

THE VERY BEST OF PERTHSHIRE UNDER ONE ROOF...

- Restaurant & Takeaway

- Fuel Station & EV Charging Points

- Clothes & Accessories Shopping

- Gift Shop & Gift Hampers

- Garden & Homewares Shops

- Whisky, Gin, Beer & Wine Cellar

- Deli & Food Larder

- Highland Cows to visit & Nature Walk

Opening Summer 2023 - New Open-air Garden Restaurant

Open daily from 8am to 8pm, just off the A9 at Bankfoot, PH1 4EB.

Call 01738 787 696 or book a table online at www.tasteperthshire.co.uk

proportion of school leavers finding positive destinations across the country is at its highest since records began, with a record high of 31.8% now in employment. Furthermore, the poverty-related attainment gap – the difference in success rates between those from the most and least deprived areas – has been brought down to an all-time low, down from 18.7 percentage points in 2009-10 to just seven percentage points. This is more than commendable; it's a monumental step forward for our nation.

However, while these findings are to be celebrated, we must remain vigilant and committed to addressing the deep-rooted issue of poverty. Only then can we truly see a day where every young Scot, irrespective of their socio-economic background, has an equal chance at success. In the face of the cost-of-living-crisis, the Scottish Government will continue to do everything in its power to provide the best start in life for young people across Highland Perthshire and the country as a whole.

GrowBiz

Speak to a GrowBiz Advisor this Summer

Are you self employed or running a small business in rural Perth and Kinross? Or would you like to get a social enterprise off the ground?

You can benefit from a free 1-1 session with a GrowBiz advisor. Called Enterprise Facilitators, they are here to help you start up, diversify, and grow.

Our Enterprise Facilitators are self-employed contractors themselves, and they understand the unique nature—and sometimes challenges—of living and working in a rural area.

You can ask an Enterprise Facilitator to help you make a funding application, give constructive feedback on a current project or idea, advise you on the best way to structure your business, and make recommendations on topics such as setting up your website, improving your social media, or switching to cloud accounting.

Here’s how you can arrange a 1-1 meeting:

Contact us: Email connect@growbiz.co.uk or phone 01828 627790 and let us know the kind of support you require. Client Services Manager, Corrie, will then match you up with the Enterprise Facilitator whose skills and experience best suits you.

Book a Thursday drop-in session: If you have a specific question in mind, or you need some support fast, you can book a 25 minute online drop-in session on Thursday lunchtimes. Visit www. growbiz.co.uk/events to reserve a day and time.

Visit our office: The GrowBiz office in Coupar Angus is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Come in and speak to a member of our team and they’ll talk you through the next steps.

For more support visit our website at www.growbiz.co.uk

Pitlochry and District Neighbourhood Watch

Readers will know that Neighbourhood Watch has, over the years, been drawing attention to all sorts of scams that crooks try – by email, text and phone – to persuade us all to part with our money or personal information. The sheer number and indeed sophistication of these scams can be quite frightening, and the more we can learn to identify them and do something about them, the better.

Trading Standards Scotland (www.tsscot.co.uk) issues a weekly Scam Share Bulletin giving details

Continued on page 28

Willie’s Wonky Computer Factory

iSpoof

You may have seen in the news recently that Teejai Fletcher, the mastermind behind the UK’s biggest ever fraud, has been captured and jailed for 13 years and 4 months at Southwark Crown Court. A further 120 arrests have been made so far in the UK, mostly in London.

In December 2020, Fletcher created a website called iSpoof.cc, only available through the Dark Web (don’t ask) and advertised it through an encrypted messaging app called Telegram (favoured by criminals worldwide). The site offered the ability to let criminals appear to be calling you from whatever number they chose - trusted banks, HMRC and any other official bodies they chose. That meant, for example, the number that showed on your phone could be your local bank, or even the number that appears on the back of your bank card. At one point, around 20 people every minute of the day were being contacted by scammers hiding behind false identities obtained through the website (this is called spoofing). The more common banks falsely represented included Barclays, Santander, HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, First Direct, Natwest, Nationwide and TSB.

The fraudsters would then try to steal money in several ways. These included requesting their victims' passwords, asking them to transfer money to a safe account, or getting them to hand over other information that could let fraudsters steal their cash. Sometimes they would mention a made-up transaction, which was meant to seem suspicious, to then worry their victims.

Almost 10 million calls were made globally via iSpoof, with about 3.5 million made in the UK. 350,000 of those lasted more than one minute and were to over 200,000 individuals. One victim was scammed out of £3million, while the average amount was £10,000. So far, 4785 people have reported being targeted to Action Fraud.

The fraudsters paid iSpoof on a monthly basis, with services ranging for £1500 to £5,000 each

month. iSpoof netted about £3.5 million in profit whilst the fraudsters are estimated to have made over £50million.

In June 2021, the Metropolitan Police, assisted by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in Holland and Ukraine, opened an investigation under the name Operation Elaborate. They infiltrated the website, which had 59,000 users and over 70 million rows of data, which also included the phone numbers targeted. The police were also secretly able to listen into phone calls.

In November 2022, the Met contacted 70,000 suspected victims (by text, strangely enough) and built their case. Fletcher was arrested, he appeared at Southwark Crown Court, pled guilty and last month was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months.

The enquiry continues and the police are confident they have sufficient information to identify and arrest many, many more of the fraudsters.

If you think you’ve been called by a scammer, never reveal any personal details and just hang up, no need to be polite. Then check online, or through personal documents, for the company or bank that called, and using the number you found yourself, call them to check if the call was legitimate. Never call the number provided by the caller.

You should also then call the 159 hotline and report the scam to Action Fraud, or visit their website at www.actionfraud.police.uk

If you have been a victim of iSpoof and have not been contacted by the police, Operation Elaborate is still ongoing and you can contact them through www.met.police.uk/elaborate

Remember, pond life evolves, this was a very clever and lucrative scam, and it’s only a matter of time before it starts all over again.

Be on your guard!

Willie

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of many of the latest scams that are being perpetrated, and you can sign up on their website to get that emailed to you every week.

Similarly, the CyberScotland Partnership, a collaboration between various organisations to improve Scotland’s ability to counter cyber-related crime, produces a monthly Bulletin that you can find on www.cyberscotland.com This gives sound advice on how to stay safe on line.

We’ve published this information before, but it’s always useful to know what to do if you spot something fishy.

Scams – In Scotland report all scams to Advice Direct Scotland by calling 0808 164 6000 (Mon – Fri 9a.m. to 5p.m.) or on line at www.consumeradvice.scot Fraud – If you have been the victim of fraud, report it to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Suspicious emails – You can forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and send links from websites which you think are trying to scam the public to the National Cyber Security Centre‘s scam website reporting service at www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/reportscam-website

Suspicious Text Messages – If you receive a suspicious text message you can forward it to 7726. The free- of-charge 7726 service enables your provider to investigate and take action if malicious content is found.

Stay safe!

Breadalbane & District RDA

Term finished with a wonderful session of games where the children rode through bending poles carrying cups of water in an exciting relay and played Grandmother’s Footsteps on horseback! There were happy faces all round (including the volunteers!) and the children were all rewarded with rosettes for their achievements during the term.

Although we will not be riding again until the end of August we will not be slacking during the next few months. We have a stand for both days of the Aberfeldy Show on 11th and 12th August where we will be selling cakes, jams, jewellery and bric-a-brac and we look forward to welcoming you there.

We will also be attending the Pitlochry Highland Games on September 9th so look out for the green sweatshirts and smiling faces. We are entirely funded by donations and fundraising events so any purchases at these shows will help to ensure that we can continue to provide local children with the opportunity to build confidence, improve coordination and balance and enjoy plenty of fresh air.

We are very lucky to have a fantastic team of volunteers but we are always looking for more so if you would like to join us on Monday mornings during the summer and autumn terms, please contact us via our website www.breadalbanerda.org.uk

Perth & Kinross School Holiday Dates 2023 - 2024

Well the kids will be back at school in August and we can finally get on with our lives in relative peace until at least October. Here are the term times for the coming year: they will let you plan your holidays, childminders, days out, days in etc. Watch out for the 2 occasional holidays and the dreaded In-Service Days. Check www.pkc.gov.uk/schools for any updates.

Monday 14th August 2023

Autumn Term

Tuesday 15th August 2023

Autumn Holiday

Winter Term

Christmas Holiday

Spring Term

Spring Holiday

Summer Term

Staff resume

In-Service Day

Wednesday 16th August 2023 Pupils resume

Friday 6th October 2023 All break

Monday 9th October 2023

Friday 20th October 2023

Monday 23rd October 2023

Friday 10th November 2023

Friday 22nd December 2023

Monday 25th December 2023

Friday 5th January 2024

resume

day

Monday 8th January 2024 All resume

Wednesday 14th February 2024

Thursday 15th February 2024

Friday 16th February 2024

Thursday 28th March 2024

Friday 29th March 2024

Friday 12th April 2024

Monday 15th April 2024

Tuesday 16th April 2024

Monday 6th May 2024

Thursday 27th June 2024

Easter Sunday - 31st March 2024.

In-Service Day

Occasional Holiday

Occasional Holiday

All break

In-Service Day

All resume

May Day Holiday

All break for summer

School closures are advised through www.pkc.gov.uk/schoolclosures

If booking next summer's holiday, the Autumn Term 2024 starts with two in-service days, Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th August 2024. Pupils will resume Wednesday 14th August 2024. For further information on schools, visit the Council website at www.pkc.gov.uk/schools

Email: ecsschools@pkc.gov.uk Tel: 01738 476200

Pitlochry Hospital Cars

We urgently need more volunteers to join our small number of drivers who take patients to PRI and Ninewells Hospitals for appointments.

In the first instance and for more information about what is involved please contact one of the coordinators listed below:

Ray Wilson telephone number 473031.

Lorna Dobbie telephone number 474009.

Nora Finch telephone number 474002.

Pitlochry Repair Cafe

Pitlochry Repair Cafe is taking a break over summer and will be back on Sunday 3 September for more repairs, cake and chat!

Dates for the rest of the year are Sundays 1 Oct, 5 Nov and 3 Dec. Sessions take place in Moulin Hall from 12-3pm.

Our talented repair volunteers have already successfully fixed over 180 items, preventing them from going into landfill.

To find out more, or If you're interested in joining our volunteer team, email repaircafe@sproutcommunity-eco-hub.com or find us on Facebook and Instagram @PitlochryRepairCafe. We are always looking for skilled repairers, especially textiles repairers, as well as receptionists. bakers, soup makers and cafe helpers!

Atholl Centre Pitlochry

Office hours

Atholl Centre Office open hours are Monday - Friday 10.00am - 4.00pm. Food Bank Referrals & self referrals all welcome. Please ask if you need some help to cope with the increased cost of living. NB: Emergency contact number: 07443 738240

Pitlochry Baptist Church

Summer Specials Fridays from 2-4pm

18 August — Strawberry Tea

29 September — Concert with Pitlochry High School Choir

Free tickets available for each event from…

Colin - 01796 470081 Nicki - 07543900641 Helen - 01796 473044

The Community Larder– is quite separate from the Food Bank; it is Open 24/7 for anyone to ‘give’ or ‘take’ food items along with other household items, avoiding food waste & supporting many with the rising prices at this time. New Fridge & Freezer Community Larder located by the back door of the Atholl Centre.

Changing Places Toilet

New and fully equipped Rest room facility for the disabled C.A.T.H. Churches Action For The Homeless

The outreach service will be at the Atholl Centre, Pitlochry on the first Tuesday of every month,

Pitlochry Life

T r a d i t i o n a l V a l u e s - M o d e r n T h i n k i n g

P r o p e r t y L e g a l S e r v i c e s

W i l l s , P o w e r s o f A t t o r n e y a n d S u c c e s s i o n P l a n n i n g

C h a r i t i e s & C o m m u n i t i e s

C o m p a n i e s & P a r t n e r s h i p s

A g r i c u l t u r e , E s t a t e s & R e n e w a b l e s

C o n t a c t o u r P r o p e r t y

T e a m t o b o o k a F R E E , N O O B L I G A T I O N

v a l u a t i o n

Tel: 01796 472606

Email: property@jandhmitchell.com

www.jandhmitchellproperty.com

The Pitlochry Garden

August

When you are basking in late, warm sunshine, it’s hard to think about planning for the excitement of spring but now is the time!

Planting bulbs is not such hard work, although I know places where a pickaxe, and not a trowel, is the tool of choice! Most bulbs get better as time goes by so they are a good investment.

You can plant bulbs in any number of containers and it still won’t break the bank if you have to throw them out in May to make way for summer bedding.

Anyone with a bit of space can plan more longterm. Take your colour cues from the erupting shoots, buds and leaves of deciduous shrubs and trees; for example, rosy apple blossoms, blood red rose thorns and shoots, scarlet peony shoots, dark purple catkins. There will be a shade of tulip to exactly match those tones.

Achieve impact by massing strongly contrasting colours and forms, for example blood red tulips piercing up through a sea of bright blue scilla. Low light suits colour combinations that will be washed out at other times: for example, chartreuse euphorbias, dusky purple hellebores and Tulip Spring Green or T Purple Pride. You can naturalise bulbs in spreading carpets under trees and larger shrubs. The vast narcissi tribe suit this and they can be partnered with all sorts of earlier and smaller bulbs like anemone blanda, crocus, snowdrops or aconitum. Suppose the shrubs are something like flowering currant and some pink and white rhododendrons: amplify the impact this will make with a pale

narcissus like N White Triumphator, some mauve crocus or leucojums, with a spread of pulmonaria to follow on. Later on you could continue the association with white borage, digitalis and dicentras like Snowflake or Bacchanal for extra colour.

If the predominant colour is yellow, say forsythia and Rhododendron luteum, pick that up with rich yellow daffodils and a wonderful touch of blue. Euphorbia polychroma, Primula vulgaris and Doronicum would make good companion plants to T Yokohama and Fritillaria imperialis maxima lutea.

Blue flowering bulbs are a boon in most situations; they provide contrast and can help separate pinks and yellows. They look even more intense in low light and most, like muscari and scilla, will naturalise easily. Camassia Quamash is a bigger plant but excellent on damp or shady ground. Begin planting with the little bulbs like crocus and scilla. Throw them down in pools and drifts and plant them where they lie. Try to get the narcissus and alliums in by the end of September, or the middle of October if the weather is wet.

Naturalised plantings last longer if bulbs are spaced out because they will increase quite quickly and spacing should avoid over-crowding as long as possible.

You can leave the tulips to last because they should go into cold ground. If you are a bit late then they will be a bit late but try not to plant into frozen ground!

Sheila Drummond

between 10.00am and 12 midday. We can provide support with Housing issues and Benefit queries/applications. We also provide support to access a range of available services. Please feel free to drop in for a chat.

Helen Kirkwood, Atholl Baptist Centre SCIO15113, Atholl Centre, Atholl Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BX

Further information from 01796 473044

Rotary Club of Pitlochry

This year, we celebrated our Rotary Club's 70th Birthday on the 27th June. Iain McEwan, Dougal Spaven and Bill Bright, were also lauded for being the longest serving - still activemembers of the club. 36 years of dedication to the club and service to the community!

We were delighted to once again take charge of the Car Parking at the Pitlochry Football Festival in June. Over 400 cars packed with budding Junior Footballers from all over Scotland were in town for the day, and the Rec was very well filled with Mums and Dads keen to enjoy a fine summer's day in Pitlochry.

Our Rotary Club of Pitlochry still has small grants available for local charities, organisations and worthy individuals. These are disbursed every three months and should be applied for stating reasons and projects to secretary@pitlochry.rotary1010.org when all applications will be considered.

Morrison’s Academy Expands Primary School to Meet Demand

Perthshire’s leading independent day school, Morrison’s Academy has announced that it will introduce a further Primary One class, resulting in two Primary One classes. The co-educational School in Crieff made the decision to expand its lower School offering following a period of sustained interest and unprecedented growth in both its Nursery and Primary year groups.

The expansion, which will create several new appointments within the Primary School ensures the School can continue to deliver the excellent education it is renowned for; where every child is known, encouraged and supported to achieve their full potential.

Morven Bulloch, Head of Primary School said: “Our Primary School is filled with light and laughter and our large, bright classrooms are home to welcoming, kind teachers and inquisitive pupils. We know every child. We know their strengths, their interests, their talents and their challenges and are able to tailor our teaching to meet the needs of every pupil.

“In our nurturing environment, our youngest pupils build confidence and flourish. Developing numeracy and literacy skills is a real priority during these formative years. However, we also believe that our Golden Thread subjects of STEM, Art, Music, French, PE and Outdoor Education are equally important in helping children to build other skills, find their passions and

Continued on page 46

Photo : Gordon Conacher cutting 70th Birthday Cake.

Ingredients

ice-cream sauce

Method

There's nothing better than an ice cream with a drizzle of your favourite sauce. They are really easy to make with surprisingly few ingredients and take no time at all. Be careful though, melted sugar is very hot, so wear oven mitts and long sleeves in case it splatters.

Caramel Sauce

210g white sugar

85g butter (salted or unsalted)

120ml double cream

Caramel Sauce

You need a thick bottom pan to prevent the sugar from burning. Also, use one with quite high sides, as when you add the cream to the hot caramel it will bubble up and you don't want it overflowing.

Assemble all the ingredients so you are ready to go, this is a fast process with no time to go looking for ingredients once you start, or the sugar could burn.

Heat the sugar on a low - medium heat, after a minute or two it will begin to melt, so stir vigorously with a whisk or wooden spoon and reduce the heat slightly so it doesn't burn.

It's important that every last grain of sugar melts, or later it can cause the sauce to crystalise, so use something like a wet pastry brush to clean off the sides of the pan so every last crystal is incorporated and melted.

Butterscotch Sauce

60g butter

180g dark brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

180ml double cream

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, plus more to taste

As soon as all the sugar has melted, it will be an amber colour, then immediately add the butter. Keep stirring over the heat until completely smooth.

Now take the pan off the heat, count to three and add the cream. It will bubble up, so be careful.

Whisk until smooth, let cool for a few minutes then pour into a warm sterilized glass jar. Allow to cool completely and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.

You can warm it slightly in the microwave to make it more pourable for use.

Butterscotch Sauce

Again, have everything measured out and ready to go. Melt the butter over a low - medium heat in a heavy bottomed pot. As it is just about all melted, add the dark brown sugar and stir with a wooden spoon until all the sugar it wet. It will look like wet sand.

Now stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt and increase the heat to medium. Stir infrequently for 4 - 5 minutes until it looks like molten lava. Make sure you get into the corners and scrape down the sides so everything is melted.

Add all the cream. Lower the heat a little and whisk cream into the mixture. Stir until any hardened lumps dissolve.

Gently simmer the sauce for about 5 minutes, or if you have one, until a sugar thermometer reaches 107 degrees celsius (225F). It will darken slightly, but won't be very thick. Don't worry, it will thicken as it cools. Just don't burn it.

Take off the heat and stir in the vanilla. Dip in a spoon, allow to cool enough to taste, then add up to teaspoon of vanilla and half teaspoon of salt, tasting as you go, until you get the butterscotch taste to your liking.

Pour into a glass jar with lid and this will keep in the fridge for up to one month.

Chocolate Sauce

150g plain chocolate, in small pieces

50ml double cream

2 tbsp golden syrup

knob of butter

pinch of salt

Chocolate Sauce

Put the chocolate and cream into a small, heavy-based pan over a low heat. Stir occasionally, until the chocolate has melted into the cream to make a smooth paste.

Stir in the syrup, followed by the butter and salt, to give a glossy sauce.

Keep warm until ready to serve, or just eat as is. This will keep in a glass jar in your fridge for up to 2 weeeks. (no chance)

develop a real and enduring love of learning.

“Led by a dedicated and well-qualified team of teachers, pupils enjoy the benefits of small, non-composite classes. The move to create two Primary one classes ensures that truly personalised education remains central to our offering, as well as helping our pupils settle into school life quickly.”

Andrew McGarva, Rector of Morrison’s Academy added: “I am delighted by the growth we are seeing in our School and look forward to welcoming all of the new families to our community.

“Morrison’s Academy is a special place and it is wonderful to see so many families seeing this too. Our reputation for delivering an excellent education in an environment which fosters strong values makes me very proud. Parents know that their children will be supported and receive a personalised education that sets them on a road to success.”

Heartland Film Society at The Birks

We’re taking a break this month, but will be back in September with a new season of exciting monthly films and a film festival weekend. In the meantime, check out the Birks own website for details of some really exceptional films and special events.

Do come and join us. The next season begins in September and for a £10 membership fee you can enjoy 12 months of reduced prices for HFS films, plus many other benefits.

Full details: www.birkscinema.co.uk

Just Singin` Birnam

www.heartlandfilmsociety.org.uk

Following our happy 20th anniversary celebration, the choir is now on holiday and looks forward to singing together again in unison and harmony on Wednesday 23rd August in Birnam Arts, Station Road, 7.30pm.

We have a wonderful programme for the new season welcoming returning tutors Amy Lord and Adelaide Carlow, and new-to-us song leaders Susie Kelly and Hannah Rarity.

If you enjoy singing with others please come and join our friendly mixed a capella choir - there are no auditions or music reading or solos and you will be made very welcome Please check out www.justsingin.co.uk for more information. You can also email to enquiries@justsingin.co.uk or phone Katie on 07765 405203 Have a happy and safe summer. Scottish Charity No 36400.

The Pitlochry Bonfire Group

The Pitlochry Bonfire Group are firing up for this year’s event! The Firework Display will take place on Saturday the 4th of November and we will be fundraising over the next few months. Look out for our Raffle stall at the Coop on the 11th and 12th of August with lots of great prizes donated by local businesses. Our Thrift Shop will take place from the 7th to the 13th of October. if you are having a clear out please put aside any items for this good cause. If you would like anything collected contact Morag Utyman on 01796 472952.

TOP THINGS TO DO IN PITLOCHRY & HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE

Welcome to Pitlochry Life Magazine’s top things to do in Pitlochry. Whether you’re local, new to the area, or just visiting, we suggest you try them allbecause they’re just fantastic! 1

and it’s where Scotland meets the Mediterranean, offering a Scots/Med food fusion menu from shellfish to venison. It’s another firm favourite with the locals and is now offering KIDS MEALS FREE during the summer school holidays.

Let’s start with a good walk - Ben Vrackie. Sitting in pride of place behind Pitlochry, it’s 841metres high (2757 ft) and is a fair hiking challenge! At 5 miles in total, plan to take about 5 hours to do it. You will need warm waterproof clothing - this is Scotland and even on a warm summers day the summit can be quite nippy! Ben Vrackie is also known as the speckled mountain, due to the quartz stones that once covered it; and, is a corbett mountain - a classification for mountains between 2500 and 3000 feet. The car park and walk starts and ends just behind the Moulin Inn, don’t worry it’s well sign posted.

2

After your walk you will need brunch, lunch or if you needed more than 5 hours dinner. A couple of our favourites are: Victoria’s Family Restaurant on the high street. Open daily it serves delightful brunch classics, great speciality coffees and cakes, through to chic evening dining. They make a great steak pie!! Fern Cottage is nestled just behind the high street

3 4

If a game of tennis or a relaxing spa is more your thing - then try the Atholl Palace Hotel. The Atholl Palace Hotel is a fantastic example of the Scots Baronial style, its size is magnificent and it overlooks acres of woodland grounds. There is a museum and games room too! The Lavender Spa will leave you relaxed and spoiled using the powers of natural spring waters. The leisure facilities include a spa bath, plunge pool, steam room, gym and large pool. Perfect to recover after that hike up Ben Vrackie.

Dinner at The Green Park Hotel overlooking Loch Faskally is a must. The hotel is owned by the McMenemie family who have been welcoming visitors to Pitlochry for several generations. The loch side view and soothing waters install a calming effect and relaxed ambience throughout the entire hotel. Many visitors return year on year, no wonder, it’s one of the best in Scotland!!

You can take an afternoon stroll over to the Killiecrankie Visitor Centre for a circular walk that brings you back to Pitlochry when you finish it. Killiecrankie is full of history - the great Jacobite battle of 1689. The only fight the Jacobites ever won. They had 1000 less men but had the better strategy. Although the Jacobite supporters of King James went on to eventually lose at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. You can have a look at the famous The Soliders Leap - an 18ft wide ravine where allegedly Donald MacBean jumped to save himself from the advancing army!! For lots of videos and information on the battle and re-enactments that take place through July see www.soldiersofkilliecrankie.co.uk. The visitor centre has all the history covered but also a very beautiful little cafe with a fantastic patisserie and delicious coffee, a beautiful setting to remember the battles and enjoy the natural world nearby. You might even see a red squirrel.

6 8

Perhaps take a drive along the B8019 to Queens View. Queen Victoria made Scotland the holiday destination that it is today and reportedly stood here to admire the waters. There’s plenty of car parking space and its an easy short walk to the viewpoint. It’s certainly a view that will take your breath away.

A full day might be needed to explore Blair Castle’s 30 rooms and majestic grounds. Home to the Dukes and Earls of Atholl, Blair Castle’s story leads you from Mary Queen of Scots’ visit through the Civil War of 1644, the 1715 Jacobites cause up to Queen Victoria’s visit in 1844 that led to the creation of the only surviving private army in Europe, the Atholl Highlanders. The Gathering in May is a real spectacle. The castles 9 acre walled garden and peaceful wooded groves set the scene for all this history. Beautiful and breath taking. They have several key events during the year including the horse trials and the Atholl Highlanders Marching parade.

Pitlochry holds some fantastic live music events, at The Atholl Palace Hotel and The Old Mill Inn - both hosting live acts on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Check out the listings in the magazine for what’s coming up. Some are ticketed but most are FREE. The bands are well known and they all have a fan following in Pitlochry.

Pitlochry is world renowned for its theatre and Pitlochry Festival Theatre has plays throughout the year, as well and a beautiful garden to explore and festivals, such as the Winter Words Festival. It truly is a theatre for all. Currently showing Noel Cowards Brief Encounter and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and Sherlock Holmes - Fancy yourself as Watson ??

9

The town is also renowned for its Salmon Ladder. A great feat of engineering allowing the salmon to by-pass the hydro electric dam. Built in 1951, at 310 meters long with 34 chambers a great example of green energy helping the environment without hurting wild life. The salmon return from their 6000 mile journey in the autumn and leap back up river to Loch Faskally to spawn. It’s well worth a visit anytime of the year and you can enjoy a wee cup of tea in the new SSE Visitor Centre.

We can’t not mention the water of Scotland - I mean its whisky. The Blair Athol Distillery sits at the entrance to the town centre nestled in the foothills of the Grampian mountains. The ancient source of it’s water - the Allt Dour - flows through the grounds from its beginnings on Ben Vrackie. There are small group tours daily with very knowledgeable guides telling the history of Blair Athol and its whisky. The tasting is just to die for, you’ll certainly want to take a few bottles home! For bookings: www.malts.com or 01796 482003.

- Cheers! Pitlochry Life Team

Pitlochry Station Bookshop

“This must be the only shop in the country that has not raised its prices.” So said a regular customer last week and he’s probably correct. We are used to receiving accolades but this latest one must make us even more unique and in the present climate of ever-increasing inflation should make us an attractive destination for visitors and residents.

Our prices are rock-bottom with most books still selling at £1 each and special books costing a little more and the best reason to visit us is that all our proceeds are donated straight to our six charities, a grand total of £400,000 so far.

If you are visiting the area, please take this chance to benefit from our ultra-low prices and our large selection of second-hand books in excellent condition. We are on Platform One of Pitlochry Station, situated just a short walk from the main street, Atholl Road. While you’re there take a few minutes to enjoy our lovely Victorian station, looking its best in the seasonal hanging baskets and flower displays courtesy of Pitlochry in Bloom.

Low prices and brilliant flower displays as well as friendly and helpful Bookshop volunteers and worthwhile charities, what a way to spend a feelgood hour on a summer’s day.

Pitlochry Library

Opening hours: Thursday 10am-1pm & 2pm-7pm, Saturday 9.30am-12.30pm

01796 474635 / pitlochrylibrary@culturepk.org.uk

Bookbug sessions are held at Pitlochry Library every Thursday from 9.15am-9.45am. 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 Pitlochry Library to book a spot.

Princh Printing. Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries have installed Princh, a new printing solution in libraries across Perth and Kinross, including Pitlochry Library. With Princh, it is now possible to print from any mobile device, tablet, or laptop from home or in one of our participating libraries. Just print, pay online and pick up your items. You can send your print jobs at any time from any place, and what's more, you no longer have to wait in line at the printer.

Details can be found on our website www.culturepk.org.uk/libraries/internet-and-computers/ princh-printing/

The Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre

School holiday fun has arrived. If you are at a loose end and looking for something to do with the family or some guests who are visiting, then come to the Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre. Located in Moulin Square, we are open Monday to Saturday between 2pm and 4pm with lots to see and do.

Come along to our wee museum and take a step back in time through our fascinating local history. There is something for everyone in the family, including a kids corner. Browse through some of our old records, fantastic Millennium Diary or Old school photos. Find yourself, a relative or old friend and relive the memories. Moulin Yarns are also here every Monday with their live spinning displays.

We have a new research corner, with reference books, some local and parish records on microfilmand old photos. So if you are trying to find old family connections, this is a must visit for budding historians and genealogists.

Continued on page 52

This Month’s Tricky Sudoku

How to play............

Fill the grid so that every row, column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

That’s all there is to it! Use reasoning and logic to solve the puzzle - there’s no maths or adding up.

Look carefully for what numbers can go where and with a little practice it will get easier!

For larger groups, we can arrange visits to the Centre, outwith out normal opening times. Please contact us to discuss further.

Calling out for Volunteers!! If you can help in any way with the Centre, then please contact us by email at pandmheritage@gmail.com our Facebook page “Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre” or call into the Centre some afternoon between 2 and 4pm.

Blair Atholl Bowling Club

In lovely sunshine we hosted Newtonmore in the middle of June in a highly enjoyable friendly match with both teams putting out 5 sets of triples. We managed to come out on top, winning 77 – 68, and were presented with a new trophy donated by Newtonmore. On 18th June we held the Tulloch Rosebowl 3 bowl pairs competition with 6 teams taking part. There was only a point separating each of the top 4. Runners up were Rhoda Robinson and Jim Haggart but winners on the day were Ian Page and Ronnie Anderson.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to hold the Golden Charter, mixed triples, this year as we couldn’t get enough people interested in helping out on the day. We will endeavour to do better next year. For the same reason we couldn’t host the Aussie Pairs which Pitlochry generously took on board.

We continue to hold Hat Nights every Tuesday and Open Nights every Friday, both starting at 7pm. If you fancy giving bowls a try then please pop along and we’d be happy to show you the ropes.

For more information contact Paul Figures 01796 481 506 or Linda Newns 07921 264 965.

Pitlochry Bowling Club

After a couple of dry months we welcomed the rain in July. It was not so heavy as to interfere with our games but enough to help the gardens. Our border in front of newly painted club house is looking beautiful. The amazing views we have can be enjoyed from outside or inside with a “liquid” rest. All visitors are most welcome to join us.

We have a very popular coffee morning with fresh home baking every Monday morning 10 till 12 noon. It’s not to be missed.

The bowling club hours are Monday to Friday 10am till 12noon and 2pm till 4 pm. Sundays 2pm till 4 pm. Saturdays are usually busy with club games but on the other days visitors are welcome to come and play. Bowls, teas and coffees supplied, £5 per head.

Some results of recent competitions:

The Jubilee Vase winners were Stewart Rutherford and Kevin Walsh.

Nomination Fab Four winners were Alex MacDonald, Helen McDade, Kevin and Kay McClure. We recently hosted teams from North Perthshire Bowling Association to play the Australian pairs. We all had a very enjoyable day of bowls. After playing knockout games the victorious winners were team Spitalfield, William Petrie (Tully) and Jock Tait.

Thanks to John Anderson for organising the day and to Stewart Rutherford Val Wilson and helpers for all day breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

Our popular Bingo nights are still on every other Monday night. August dates are 7th and 21st. 7pm for 7.30. Bar open and great prizes. All welcome.

Our club house is available to hire. If you are interested come in and speak to us.

If you would like further information on anything you can contact John on 07833664121 or Agnes on 07918122415.

Vale of Atholl Pipe Band

We've been busy playing at various events, but the day we played at our Drum Major Bo's funeral is one that we will never forget. Bo played snare drum as a teenager in the band and then stepped up to Drum Major being involved with the band for over fifty years. He loved the Pipe Band and the Pipe Band loved him. He was always there to lend an ear and he always gave so much encouragement to the youngsters in the band. It was a privilege to play at his funeral.

The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and the Atholl Highlanders Pipe Band played outside the church as all the mourners headed in to the Church. After a lovely service, Pipe Major Ian Duncan played Bo out of the church with a lovely medley of tunes. The bands then combined as a massed band and played the hearse all the way down Atholl Road, with the Atholl Highlanders soldiers forming a guard of honour on each side of the hearse. A splendid send off for a very special person.

We had an early start for the European Championships in Aberdeen on the 24th June. The Grade 3 band was delighted to get a 5th place in their grade, but even more delighted to win the European Champion Drum Corps.

Our Highland Nights have been going extremely well, with large crowds and lovely weather, although the weather is beginning to be more like “Scottish” weather now!! We had a tremendous night on the 26th June when we were joined by the Knox Grammar School from Australia. Their performance was spectacular with over fifty of them parading including their marching team.

We're hoping to have Auckland and District Pipe Band from New Zealand join us on the 14th August which will be brilliant as they are led by local lad Adam Michie, who has now made New Zealand his home.

The band played at the first day of the Scottish Game Fair and just managed to beat the rain! We weren't quite so lucky at Kenmore, when a heavy shower came out of nowhere, but once again it was a great wee Games!

Our next competition is the Scottish Championships at the end of July in Dumbarton, then the World Championships on the 19th August at Glasgow Green. We're also playing at the Aberfeldy Show on the 12th August and Crieff Games on the 20th August.

Gillie McNab gmcnab00@aol.com 07733152223.

Edradour Pitlochry & Blair Atholl Pipe Band

The band had a great day out at Lochore Games, 2nd place in Grade 3 and 2nd in Grade 2. Following that we were at the European Championships in Aberdeen where unfortunately we didn’t make the prize list but everyone had a fantastic sunny day out.

Well done to pipers Lennox Munro and Annabel Charlton for their terrific results at Kenmore Games last month.

At our recent EGM the band approved its new Constitution and the following Trustees were appointed:-

Stewart Smart (Chairperson) Katrin Munro (Vice Chair) Christy Kelly (Pipe Major) Claire Scott (Secretary) Tracey Cudworth (Treasurer) Katy Scott (Quartermaster) Caitlin Charlton (Child Protection Officer) Sharon Kelly, Ryan King, Nicola Sinclair & Pauline Jamieson

Practices continue on a Wednesday evening in Blair Atholl for the World Championships in Glasgow, and at the end of the month the band head off to Switzerland for the Tattoo in Avenches.

If you would like more information on the band, please contact Pipe Major Christy Kelly 01796 472692 or Secretary Claire Scott 01796 481456 or follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Killiecrankie, Fincastle & Tummel CC

The Minutes of our last meeting, held on 17 July 2023, are now on the website www.kftcommunitycouncil.co.uk. If you would like to have Minutes of our meetings sent to you routinely, please join our mailing list. Just message info@ kftcommunitycouncil.co.uk to add your contact details.

Rannoch History Society

A group of members of Rannoch History Society met in the Village Hall on the afternoon of Tuesday 23rd May to assemble and read and enjoy some of the records of the village of Kinloch Rannoch and surrounding area of Rannoch. Many of these papers and maps and photographs are from the collection of the late Alec Cunningham, former Deputy Rector of Rannoch School and founder of Rannoch History Society. Others, such as the records of the North and West Rannoch Nursing Association, which was started in 1909, give us a vivid picture of the social history of the time. Albums of photographs of village events, of school and church life over the years, and pictures of the many estates and houses in the Rannoch area are an important part of the archive, and we were able to identify many people and places for the first time.

So a start has been made. It is hoped to organise and store safely the records which are in the Society’s hands. Just as important will be tracing other records held by people who might agree to have these listed, and possibly, to allow them to be consulted in the future. We will meet again in September to take things forward. Anyone who would like to join us would be most welcome. The date and time will be agreed and advertised later in the summer.

Blair Atholl & Struan Community Action Plan Update

As we have reported earlier, the Blair Atholl & Struan community has been involved in a Community Action Plan (CAP) process over the last few months. This has involved many of the local groups and lots of hard work by individuals who put up posters, delivered surveys door-to-door, managed the comments boxes in the local shops, spoke to children at school and shared messages on social media.

Then on 1st June, a “big conversation” was held in the village hall so that residents could come along to see the results of the 100 surveys that were completed and give their feedback on those and on the consultation exercise that had taken place at Blair Atholl school. As a result of all this activity, we now have a report for the neighbourhood, entitled Community Action Plan: looking to 2030.

We are grateful to all of you who contributed your ideas to the CAP and to those who supported it, but most especially to the team at Voluntary Action in Badenoch and Strathspey (VABS), who

Continued on page 60

FITNESS

with Alan Clinch

Why Should We Do Vigorous Exercise/Physical Activity?

Every few years the government and the fitness industry update the guidelines on what people should be doing in order to remain healthy throughout their lives – the current recommendations include ‘75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, such as running or a game of singles tennis every week’. So what does this actually mean in practice, and what about if we have other health problems or are ageing?

Vigorous exercise (sometimes called high intensity exercise/vigorous physical activity) requires higher than normal effort, usually resulting in a significantly higher heart rate and more rapid breathing. Exertion is described as hard to extremely hard – this means that you probably won't be able to say more than a few words without pausing for breath. Activities like running and cycling, tennis or badminton are usually classified as vigorous. That said, the difference between moderate and vigorous intensity is always going to be subjective (what is moderate to one person may be vigorous to another). It depends on individual levels of fitness, but for all of us, trying to increase our levels of vigorous activity is a good idea (As long as it’s medically appropriate). Generally, the types of activity that require vigorous effort for most people include: jogging or running, swimming fast, cycling fast (or on hills), racquet sports, football, dancing, or high intensity aerobics. Vigorous exercise could also include activities such as gardening - digging, hoeing, using wheelbarrows or manual lawnmowers, or shovelling snow.

Here are some of the recognised benefits of vigorous activity:

Lower risk of chronic disease: A lack of exercise can increase the chances of developing a chronic disease such as coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, and various types of cancer.

Improved organ health: All exercise, but particularly vigorous workouts, increases blood flow throughout the body. A 2017 review focusing on the link between exercise and Alzheimer's disease found that when people 70 to 80 years old achieved 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week within the last five years, they had a 40% lower chance of developing Alzheimer's compared to sedentary individuals in their age group. Improved mood: Again, it’s a subject I’ve mentioned before - another study found a significant link between vigorous exercise and fewer depressive symptoms among more than 12,000 participants, while moderate levels of activity and walking had limited impact on depression.

Weight loss: Research demonstrates that vigorous exercise can be an effective means of weight loss (and improved body composition), improving glucose/insulin metabolism, and increasing cardiorespiratory fitness, when compared to moderate levels of activity. Other studies have shown lower blood pressure and blood lipids (cholesterol) in people who exercise vigorously.

Want to know more about physical activity guidelines? Have a look at the NHS Inform website - www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/ keeping-active/getting-started/types-of-exercise It’s particularly important that you should check with your Doctor to ensure it’s safe to increase your activity levels. Although vigorous exercise is recommended, it’s not something to be entered into without guidance from appropriately qualified professionals: so if you haven’t exercised for a while, or have any medical conditions which might cause problems, be cautious. Remember, pain is a sign that something is wrong….

alan@pitlochrylife.co.uk

coordinated the process on our behalf, with backing from the Cairngorms National Park Authority. Of course, having a plan is one thing – putting it into practice is another. Thanks to you all, the Blair Atholl & Struan area now has an 8-year set of plans and aspirations, organised around three themes: A Socially Connected Community, A Climate Conscious Community and An Economically Thriving Community. This is where the work starts!

If you’d like to get involved or simply to find out more, contact the Community Council on blairathollstruancc@outlook.com or check our facebook page, where copies of the report will be made available @bascc

The Breadalbane Heritage Society

The Breadalbane Heritage Society’s summer programme of excursions to various places of interest in the area continued last month with an all-day visit to Mar Lodge Estate near Braemar on Royal Deeside. Members were guided by Andrew Painting, Conservation Officer for Mar Lodge with the National Trust for Scotland, along with one of the estate rangers, and shown the work in woodland regeneration that has been carried out recently in Mar Forest. Some members continued up to Clais Ffearnig looking at the montane scrub vegetation and ‘alpine’ plants typical of higher altitudes. This month sees the conclusion of the BHS’s summer programme with a three-night excursion on 21-24 August to the Upper Speyside and Inverness area, including visits to Culloden, Cawdor Castle and the Highland Wildlife Park at Kingussie among others. In September the regular programme of talks takes over, with a wide range of topics ranging from the folklore and archaeology of Glen Lyon and the history of the Black Watch to present and future plans for the exciting new Scottish Crannog Centre at present under construction on Loch Tay. During the inclement months of January and February talks are held on Zoom, otherwise at the Breadalbane Community Campus in Aberfeldy. Wherever possible winter talks are linked to summer excursions, and day outings for 2024 will include a tour of the Black Watch Museum in Perth and the new museum at the Scottish Crannog Centre. All details of each month’s talk will be given in this publication.

Membership of the BHS numbers is nearing 120 and has now more than recovered to its preLockdown levels. The BHS’s website https://breadalbane-heritage.org.uk features a video of local scenes of interest, and provides up-to-date information about talks and activities, events and publications. Ongoing Society projects include the maintenance of the Killiehassie private burial ground in Strathtay, and the recent publication, in association with the Aberfeldy Museum Group, of an illustrated leaflet, The Aberfeldy and Weem Heritage Trail, with a trail map and information on the many places of interest in the area. QR codes with information at each of these sites are currently being installed. The BHS also provides a free service of assistance with family history research. Recordings of all the recent talks are available on the website.

Pitlochry & Moulin Men's Shed

The Pitlochry & Moulin Mens Shed (PAMMS) provides a community space for men to meet, connect, chat and create. Our activities centre on those that groups of men can enjoy together to help reduce loneliness and isolation. Equally importantly, we aim to make them enjoyable. Our Men's Shed can give purpose to those who have either retired or who just have some time on their hands. Activities such as ours aim to improve mental health, knowledge, skills and confidence in an informal environment. Continued on page

We are located in the old Handam Shop in Burnside Road in Pitlochry, postcode PH16 5BP. Once in Burnside Road, you can’t miss us!

At present, we open every Thursday 2 - 4 pm and also operate as a warm space where people can gather for free in a warm, safe, welcoming place, where they can enjoy a hot drink and some company. We extend an invitation to adults of all ages to come along and join us.

For more information, please contact Peter or Ray via email on pammensshed@gmail.com

Tenandry Kirk, Killiecrankie

Interim Moderator: Rev. Neil Glover

Session Clerks: Marion Faulds - 01796 472415

Edward Elworthy - 07770842502

Every Sunday service at 10.30am

1st Sunday of the month Coffee/Tea following the service. All Welcome

There will be a short meeting in Tenandry Church at 2pm on Tuesday 15th August with a focus on reflection and prayer for the future of our church and other rural churches. All are very welcome.

Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem and Grantully, Logierait & Strathtay Parish Churches

Minister – Rev. Neil Glover - nglover@churchofscotland.org.uk 07779 280074

PA - Judy Ewer - judy.ewer@adwgls.org.uk 07836 565528

Regular Sunday Morning Worship - Please consult the websites for current information on our services

Dull and Weem Parish Church – 9.30am

www.dullandweemparish.org

Strathtay, Grantully and Logierait Parish Churches -10.30am

www.glschurchofscotland.org

Aberfeldy Parish Church – 10.30am

www.aberfeldyparishchurch.org

We ‘meet up’ at our weekly Zoom Service - details can be found on all the Church Websites.

1st Sunday of the month is a joint service with Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem, and Grantully, Logierait & Strathtay (GLS) - 10.30am

Church Based Activities

‘Warm Welcome Cafe’ and Stay and Play in Aberfeldy Parish Church on Tuesday mornings -teas, coffee, biscuits and home baking - all free.

Stay and Play 9.30 - 11.30am Warm Welcome Café - 10am - 12pm

If you would like to be involved in any way, please contact Judy judy.ewer@adwgls.co.uk

Aberfeldy Prayer Meeting - Aberfeldy Parish Church - 5pm every Wednesday evening in Farragon – all welcome to come along

Aberfeldy Alcoholics Anonymous - Aberfeldy Parish Church, Kitchen -7.30 - 9pm every Tuesday

Contact - 01887 820936

Aberfeldy Quilting Group - Aberfeldy Parish Church, Lawers Hall - Thursdays - 11.am – 3pm

This Month’s Easy Sudoku

How to play............

Fill the grid so that every row, column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition. That’s all there is to it! Use reasoning and logic to solve the puzzle - there’s no maths or adding up.

Look carefully for what numbers can go where and with a little practice it will get easier!

Contact Jane - 07771641390 or Annette - 07736384035.

Dull and Weem - Chit Chat Café – 1st Monday of the month in the Macdonald Room, Dull and Weem Kirk.

For further information please contact Liz Bruce - elizabeth_1_bruce@btinternet.com

Strathtay Coffee Break

The group meet every Wednesday in the John Kyd Hall, beside Strathtay Church at 10.30am - all welcome to come along and join in!

Strathtay Quilting Group – John Kyd Hall

7 - 9pm on 2nd & 4thTuesday of the month. Contact Marie MacLeod – stytchandturn@btinternet.com

The Scottish Episcopal Church in Highland Perthshire

Offers All a Warm And Inclusive Welcome

Part of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane

Rector: The Rev Canon Liz Baker 01796 472005: Email: bethmaybaker@yahoo.co.uk

Lay Reader: Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416: Email: lesleywhitwood@btinternet.com

Website: www.hplc.scot Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/ highlandperthshirechurches

Holy Trinity Church, Perth Road, Pitlochry -Contact – Robin Baker - 01796 472005.

Holy Trinity is open daily

Serenity Garden is open Daily

Sunday services 9.30am Holy Communion

No Service on 27th August Joint service at St Andrews Strathtay 11.15am

Garden Group meets every Tuesday at 10.30 am. All Welcome

4th August - Storytime in the Garden ‘Ollie and the Otter - A Scottish Osprey Story’ 10.30am, with activity. In partnership with Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Kilmaveonaig (St Adamnan’s Church), opposite former Tilt Hotel, Blair Atholl.

Contact - Mrs. Lavinia Gordon 01796 481230.

Kilmaveonaig is open daily

Sundays at 11.15am Holy Communion/Matins/ Communion by Extension

No Service 27th August Joint Service at St Andrews Strathtay 11.15am

St Andrew's, Church, Strathtay, opposite the local shop.

Contact - Ms. Lesley Whitwood 01887 840416.

Sundays at 11.15am Holy Communion/Matins/Service of the Word/Communion by Extension;

5th Sundays with Church of Scotland (see website)

House Group 10.00am Last Wednesday of the month

All Saints, Kinloch Rannoch Square Contact – Reverend Canon Liz Baker 01796 472005

First Sunday of the Month 9.30am Holy Communion

6th August 9.30am Holy Communion

27th August Joint Service at St Andrews Strathtay 11.15am

Zoom Services

Sundays - 6.00pm Evening Services (see Website), Thursdays - 10.30am Morning Prayer.

Pitlochry Life

*10,000 Copies each Month, with 1 magazine!

• Pitlochry Life - Delivered FREE to over 6,500 homes and businesses every month.

• 3500 Extra copies (max) each month for visitors to pick up from over 100 outlets.

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• Free magazine - no cover charge for readers.

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• Established - Perthshire’s favourite magazine has been running for over 30 years. Our advertisers stay with us - because it works and generates lots of business!

• Price - Pitlochry Life is a cost effective way to reach all the residents and businesses in the Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and surrounding areas and with big discounts - you can save more.

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*Up to 10,000 copies during Summer, 8,000 in Winter.

Advertising Rates - In Full Colour Hi-Definition (+VAT)

We offer a generous discounts for repeat adverts in blocks of 3 ,6 or 12 issues. To advertise in Pitlochry Life, to discuss your requirements, or for more information - please contact Debbie on 07545299491 or info@pitlochrylife.co.uk

Pitlochry Baptist Church

Atholl Road, PH16 5BX

Pastor: Rev David Barrie (pastor@pbcweb.net)

www.pbcweb.net

Our Worship Gathering takes place every Sunday from 10:30am at our building on Atholl Roadnext to the Tourist Information Centre and across the road from Heartland FM. If you’re exploring faith or looking for a place to call home, come as you are and join us. For the children, we have a full programme for babies through to teenagers. We look forward to welcoming you.

For quick & easy access to information on our website and social media pages, scan this QR code (the black and white box thing). Do this by:

(1) Open the Camera app on your phone. (2) Hold your phone so that the QR code appears in view. (3) Tap the notification to open the link in your browser.

Alternatively, if that gives you a headache, go to our website or check us out on Facebook and Instagram for current up-to-date information.

Holiday Club

After much consideration, it is unfortunate, but we have decided to cancel this year’s Holiday Club. However, we look forward to meeting some of the children again at the Friday Night Youth Club when schools return in August.

This month's highlighted event:

Stay&Play (babies and toddlers group) presents 'Baby Loves Disco.' Wednesday 2nd August at 10am in our building on Atholl Road. .

Summer Special Strawberry Tea with entertainment on Friday 18 August 2-4pm starting in our building on Atholl Road. Tickets are free but booking is essential as places are limited. Please contact Colin - 01796 470081 or Nicki - 07543900641 or Helen - 01796 473044 to reserve your place

Pitlochry Church of Scotland

Interim Moderator: Rev Fraser Penny 01350 727 249

Session Clerk: 01796 472791

Website: www.pitlochrychurchofscotland.org.uk

Sunday Service: Morning Worship at 10.30am.

We invite you to join us, whether you live locally or are just visiting the area. Worship begins with a warm welcome, followed by a mix of music and words, ancient and modern. Everyone is welcome for tea/coffee and juice in The Tryst after the service.

CrossReach: Have you, or anyone you know, been feeling lonely lately and would like some company? CrossReach offer twice weekly day care (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10.00 – 15.30) in The Tryst where you can take part in a varied activity programme, meet new friends and enjoy a homecooked three course lunch. To find out more, pop in, have a coffee and learn about our service and how to arrange a placement. For more information, please contact Lorna Smith, Service Manager on 07771 345244 or email lorna.smith@crossreach.org.uk

Wednesday Coffee and Chat: 10.30am – 11.45am. Everyone is very welcome to catch up with friends, neighbours and to meet new people over tea, coffee and biscuits in The Tryst Lounge. At present, donations are to go to Christians Against Poverty.

Continued on page 68

Table Tennis: meet weekly on Thursdays 2.00pm until 4.00pm in The Tryst Hall.

Concert: On Friday 15 September there will be a Concert in The Tryst Hall to welcome a new piano and showcase our musical talent. Further details to be available soon, please keep the date and join us. Tea/coffee and cake included in the interval.

Church Office: The Tryst, for all enquires and deliveries contact by email thetryst@btconnect.com or telephone 01796 474010. The office is open from 9.00 – 11.00am Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Emails and telephone messages are checked regularly.

For details and availability of The Tryst hire also contact by email thetryst@btconnect.com or telephone 01796 474010.

Blair Atholl & Struan Linked With Braes Of Rannoch And Foss & Rannoch

Interim Moderator: The Rev Grace Steele.

Phone – 01887 820025. Email - GSteele@churchofscotland.org.uk

Session Clerk Blair Atholl & Struan

Harold Ingram 01796 481275

Session Clerk Braes of Rannoch ~~

Session Clerks Foss & Rannoch

Robert and Elizabeth Anderson 01882632272

Blair Atholl & Struan Church - Weekly service in Blair Atholl Church at 11.15am.

Coffee Corner is back in Blair Atholl Church Hall every Thursday at 10.00am – 12.00. All welcome.

Summer Songs of Praise in Blair Atholl Church on Sunday 30th July at 7.00pm

Flower Show in Blair Atholl Church on Saturday 12th August 10.30am – 3.00pm Auction at 3.00pm. (Church open for entries 4.30pm to 8.00 on Friday and 8am to 9.00 on Saturday morning. Judging starts at 9.00am)

Services in Rannoch are held weekly, at 9.45am at Braes of Rannoch and 11.30am at the Old Church, Kinloch Rannoch.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Do you value having a good conscience? If so, you would benefit from the talk on Sunday 20th. You are very welcome to attend our meetings held at our Kingdom Hall in Moness Terrace, Aberfeldy. If you have a Bible, bring it with you; if you would like a Bible, we offer copies without charge. If you would like a lift to the meetings, get in touch using the information below.

Thursday 3rd August, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Nehemiah 3, 4, ‘Is Manual Work Beneath You?’, ‘“See Good for Your Hard Work” (Ecclesiates 2:24)’, ‘Why Our Clothing and Appearance Matter’.

Sunday 6th August, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Live With Soundness of Mind in a Depraved World’. A discussion: ‘Keep “the Flame of Jah” Alive (Song of Solomon 8:6)’.

Thursday 10th August, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Nehemiah 5–7, ‘Nehemiah Wanted to Serve, Not Be Served’, ‘Successful Evangelizers Assist One Another’, ‘They Work Hard to Serve Us’, ‘Choose Entertainment That Pleases Jehovah’.

Sunday 13th August, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Reject Worldly Fantasies, Pursue Kingdom Realities’. A discussion: ‘You Can Reach Your Spiritual Goals (Galatians 6:9)’.

Scotland Prestige Awards

Winner of Mortgage Broker of the Year 2022

Finalists in the 2019 and 2020 Scottish Mortgage Awards for both Best Mortgage Broker Edinburgh & Scotland categories and Shortlisted for the 2022 Awards for Best Regional Broker: Edinburgh and Best Regional Broker: Central Region

Thursday 17th August, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Nehemiah 8, 9, “The Joy of Jehovah Is Your Stronghold”, ‘You Can Contribute to Your Family’s Joy’, ‘The Role of “the Faithful and Discreet Slave”(Matthew 24:45)’.

Sunday 20th August, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Hold a Good Conscience in a Sinful World’. A discussion: ‘Elders—Learn From Gideon’s Example (Hebrews 11:32)’.

Thursday 24th August, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Nehemiah 10, 11, ‘They Made Personal Sacrifices for Jehovah’, ‘Sacrifices That Please God Today’, ‘Support Your Local Congregation’.

Sunday 27th August, 10.30 a.m. A talk: ‘Why Live By Bible Standards?’. A discussion: ‘Keep Ready for Jehovah’s Day (1 Thessalonians 5:2)’.

Thursday 31st August, 7.00 p.m. Short talks, videos and discussions including: Nehemiah 12, 13, ‘Be Loyal to Jehovah When Choosing Friends’, ‘Imitate Jehovah’s Loyal Love’, ‘Reach Out For More Responsibility’.

Jehovah is the name of Jesus’s father; to witness is to share the truth. Enjoy a free study of the Bible at your convenience—ring or text 07 802 753 193. At www.jw.org you find the Bible’s answers to life’s questions.

St Bride’s Catholic Church

Parish Priest: Fr. Emmanuel Adindu

Rie-Achan, Pitlochry PH16 5AL Tel. No: 01796 472174

E-mail address: stbridespitlochry@dunkelddiocese.org.uk

Also served by St. Brides;

Sunday Masses:

St. Columbia’s, St. Mary’s Road, Birnam Vigil Mass 6p.m.

Our Lady of Mercy. Sunday 9.30am.

St. Bride’s. Sunday 11.30 am.

Weekday Masses:

Our Lady of Mercy. Tuesdays 9.30am.

St. Brides Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 9.30am.

The Baha’i Faith On The Future

Something to look forward to! The Junior Youth (ages 11-15) are making plans for a summer camp in Aberfeldy on the week-end of August 4th. If you want to join in, ring Mark for details on 07564 259830. This is open to any who fancy dedicating some of their time to sharing in service to the community, studying the principles we live by and - perhaps, if you ask Mark nicely!- playing baseball!

A prayer from the Baha’i Writings that we can all use to give power to our best intentions:“Lift up your hearts above the present and look with eyes of faith into the future! To-day the seed is sown, the grain falls upon the earth, but behold the day will come when it shall rise a glorious tree and the branches thereof shall be laden with fruit. Rejoice and be glad that this day has dawned, try to realise its power, for it is indeed wonderful!”

Feel free to contact Hilarie or Rachel on 07967 601423 or 07707 994812

The Pitlochry Crossword

ACROSS

7 Person principally presiding over some things in envelopes (6)

8 Pitlochry road with elders (6)

9 Sheriff! You’re apparently unsure (4)

10 Guide also not quite fabricated Perthshire village (8)

11 Output of Ian Rankine for example, audibly correcting (7)

13 Cuts reverse turns (5)

15 Fife village appears in lycra (ill-considered) (5)

17 I follow unsteady llama before golf in Highland village (7)

20 Restless mares put closer to the water source (8)

21 Make light of this northern town (4)

22 Milk dispensers from Huddersfield (6)

23 Warned excitable lad (6)

By Lesley

1 In favour of distant town (6)

2 Wait silently at first, beside river (4)

3 Garden chore produces small clang (7)

4 Tell off head of school with the sniffles (5)

5 A mutual arrangement around first of November - like at that time? (8)

6 Bad cat is jumpy, now and again misbehaves (4,2)

12 Lists the unusual plants (8)

14 A male to stir porridge (7)

16 Whitewater drips - a problem (6)

18 Measures part of Minch estuary (6)

19 See e.g. wild birds (5)

21 General walk in the water (4)

Answers for July on page 74

Cycle With Me! - The Circular Banvie Route – Blair Atholl.

Length: Approx. 9.5 miles

Great for: A moderate cycle with a great half-way stop for lunch in the woodlands!

Benefits: Conveniently starts at a car park. Great views of Blair Castle. Takes in woodland, moors and rivers. Estate tracks, so few vehicles.

Starting from Glen Tilt Car Park, turn left on the road outside the exit from the car park and head towards Old Blair. (If you are starting from the Museum Car Park in Blair Atholl, turn right out of the car park and then left after the bridge and follow the signs to the Glen Tilt Car Park).

In Old Blair, turn left at the crossroads and then right after crossing over the Banvie Burn (signposted). Keeping the burn on your right you will climb through woodland and then reach moorland, with plenty of chance to spot Buzzards and the odd Peregrine Falcon!

Follow the way marked path into woodland again and enjoy the gentle downward slopes, passing a turn off for The Falls of Bruar – a good place to stop for a picnic!

The route then bends round to the left continuing through woodland. After a sharp turn to the right and then a left hand turn at a mini crossroads it’s a straight cycle towards Blair Castle with views of The Pass of Killicrankie and Ben Vrackie in the distance. Just before the riding centre at Blair Castle, take the road to the left which will take you down a hill, round a bend and under a bridge through some cottages to bring you to where you started your cycle up the Banvie Burn. Retrace your wheels to bring you back to either of the car parks!

Sally

Last Month's Sudoko Answers

Answers to the July Crossword Across

Down

The Atholl Medical Centre

Ferry Road, Pitlochry.

Tel: 01796 472558

Mon - Fri 8.00am - 6.00pm (Doors open at 8.30am)

Except Wednesdays Closed 12.15 - 1.45pm

Out with Surgery Hours NHS 24 - 111

Prescriptions - tay.amcprescriptions@nhs.scot

Pitlochry Community Hospital

Ferry Road, Pitlochry.

Tel: 01796 472052

Pitlochry Post Office

Within Premier Store

63 Atholl Road, Pitlochry. Tel: 01796 474301

Blair Atholl Post Office Tel: 01796 481233

Ballinluig Post Office Tel: 01796 482220

Strathtay Post Office Tel: 01887 840203

Kinloch Rannoch Post Office Tel: 01882 632347

Pitlochry Library

26 Atholl Road, Pitlochry

Tel: 01796 474635

E-mail: pitlochrylibrary@pkc.gov.uk

Visiting Hours:

GP Unit - Contact for further info.

MIIU - Temporarily closed until further notice.

Kinloch Rannoch Medical Practice

The Surgery, Kinloch Rannoch.

Tel: 01882 632216

The Reception is open Mon - Fri 8.00am - 6.00pm

Surgery Hours 9-10.15am, 2-3pm and 4-5pm. For all urgent appointments please phone reception

Out with Surgery Hours NHS 24 - 111

Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri - Closed

Thurs 10.00am - 1.00pm & 2.00pm - 7.00pm Sat 9.30am - 12.30pm

Housing & Community Safety and Registration Services

26 Atholl Road, Pitlochry

Mon, Tues & Fri 8.45am - 12.30pm & 1.30pm - 5.00pm

Appointments arranged out with these days 01738 476000 (select option 2)

Registration of Births,

More Helpful Numbers to Hand

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HOROSCOPES

BY CHRISTINE CHALKLIN

For August 2023

The summer month of August looks like being a rather active period with some good astrological indicators. We have two full moons this month, one on the 1st in Aquarius and the second in Pisces on the 31st. The passionate new moon in the dramatic sign of Leo is on the 16th. Leo is the sign of courage and creativity, this is your time to reach out and be inspired by the abundance of innovative ideas that could come your way. Love planet Venus travels through Leo all month, although she is retrograde you can still enjoy being generous, affectionate and playful by soaking up this positive energy. Communication planet Mercury is busy in practical Virgo, but try to get plans and projects completed before the 24th, when Mercury enters the retrograde period. Mars, planet of action is in Virgo all month, patience and careful planning now will allow brilliant opportunities for new projects to get underway. Although August is usually a holiday month, the two important full moons in freedom loving Aquarius and intuitive Pisces, both offer the prospect to plan ahead and to remind ourselves to be authentic, listen to our inner voice and act accordingly.

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

Dynamic Mars, your ruler, remains in industrious Virgo all month, although August is traditionally a holiday month, prepare to focus your attention on practical projects as a completely new way of working comes to your attention. Your creative abilities are at their height as the Leo Sun and Venus suggest positive results.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 21

August is an important month as the radiant Sun and Venus both occupy the fiery and extrovert sign of Leo, suggesting that your creativity is strong and a generous and carefree mood is yours. Abundant Jupiter and maverick planet Uranus are strong in your sign, if you have any radical changes in mind, this is the month to get them up and running.

GEMINI MAY 22 - JUNE 21

As the Sun and Venus pass through the communication sector of your chart during August you’ll be looking at restructuring the way you think and how to expand your horizons. Important opportunities are coming your way and some significant decisions may need to be taken. Try to get your plans in order before Mercury, your ruler, goes into the retrograde phase on the 24th.

CANCER JUNE 22 - JULY 22

During August the Sun and Venus suggest that money making schemes are coming to the forefront, if you use this powerful energy wisely it should leave you feeling successful and prosperous all month. The powerful Leo new moon on the 16th raises your confidence and offers up opportunities for you to profit from your natural diplomatic skills.

LEO JULY 23 - AUGUST 23

This month starts with a challenging full moon in your opposite sign of Aquarius; the opportunity for dramatic change is all around you and some of your previous ideas may need reviewing. Love planet Venus is retrograde in your sign all month, indicating that you need to be flexible in your relationships. Be sure to use your intuition to make any necessary changes.

VIRGO AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 22

August looks like a rather changeable month as Mercury and Mars both occupy your sign and the Sun and retrograde Venus also suggests that it’s time to take a break and tune into your inner needs. A new phase of action begins after the 28th as Mars arrives in Libra, maximising your potential for an ambitious new joint venture.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 23

August continues with the emphasis on friends and social life, just perfect for the holiday season. Love planet Venus in Leo enhances the Sun’s vitality and gives you good insight where communication is concerned. The energy shifts as dynamic Mars arrives in your sign on the 28th, use your intuition to get to the heart of anything that has been bothering you.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22

Venus increases the Sun’s powerful and creative influence during August, suggesting that it’s time to ask yourself two important questions - where do you shine, and what makes you feel really happy and fulfilled? Energy planet Mars arriving in Libra on the 28th highlights your need to find a better balance and take more time out for yourself.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21

August is an important month as positive planetary activity is at its height. Abundant Jupiter and maverick planet Uranus are both in strong placement. Be sure to push yourself forward and make the most of a surge of self-confidence to lift your profile. The Sun and Venus both in Leo, suggesting a new and exciting career opportunity.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20

August brings some important financial issues to your attention; although the Sun and retrograde Venus are in optimistic Leo, facing facts professionally or personally will eventually make life so much easier for you. Dynamic Mars changes sign on the 28th, indicating that it’s good time to be ready to embrace new career opportunities.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 18

Relationships come to the forefront during August as a long term partnership demands your attention. The Sun and Venus are both in fiery Leo, indicating that passion, joy and creativity are more important than ever. The full moon in your sign on the 1st suggests that the opportunity for change is strong this month, but it may be best to keep your options open.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20

Embrace the powerful and fiery Leo new moon on the 16th as trends favour risk taking and forging ahead. Mars and Mercury are busy in practical Virgo, suggesting that you can be confident enough to forge ahead with the creative changes that have been on your mind. The Pisces full moon in your sign on the 31st offers deeper insight into a relationship issue.

Christine is a professional astrologer offering private consultations in astrology, life coaching and Bach flower essences.

NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH these challenging times, discover your unique birth map and take a refreshing new look at this important year ahead. Find out when positive and productive planetary cycles are working in your favour. Aim to reach your fullest potential in 2023 by booking an astrological reading now - Consultations are available on Zoom, WhatsApp or by telephone.

Christine Chalklin

Inspirational Astrologer and Life Coach

Email: christine_chalklin@hotmail.com Website: www.yourguidinglight.org

Mobile: 07813 483549 Find me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/restyleyourlife