The Crieff & Comrie Quair

The Crieff & Comrie Quair TM

Crieff, Comrie & District’s Community Magazine • November 2026 CRIEFF | COMRIE | ST. FILLANS | MADDERTY | FOWLIS WESTER | GILMERTON 1

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The Crieff & Comrie Quair tel/text: 07436 793785 e: crieffandcomrie@thequair.com facebook.com/TheQuair

IN AUCHTERARDER

IN AUCHTERARDER WHERE LEGS AND FEET MATTER WHERE LEGS AND FEET GREGOR McCOSHIM FCPodSMATTER MChS GREGOR HCPC McCOSHIM FCPodS MChS REGISTERED HCPC REGISTERED ROUTINE CHIROPODY ROUTINE CHIROPODY WALKING/RUNNING INJURIES WALKING/RUNNING INJURIES ORTHOTIC/INSOLE MANUFACTURER ORTHOTIC/INSOLE MANUFACTURER LEG/FOOT HEALTH ASSESSMENT HIGH ASSESSMENT STREET, LEG/FOOT206 HEALTH AUCHTERARDER, PH3 1AF 206 HIGH STREET, TEL: 07932 725211 AUCHTERARDER, PH3 1AF EMAIL:TEL: grm@mccoshim.plus.com 07932 725211

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www.grmpodiatry.co.uk Comrie Allotments Association

Interested in having an allotment plot? Our plots are located at Cultybraggan Camp and available to residents of Comrie. Half and full plots are serviced with water close by and surrounded by beautiful scenery. To find out more please email: comrieallotments@gmail.com

Have you spotted your first Christmas tree yet? I saw my first fully decorated one before the October school holidays! Now, I like Christmas as much as the next person, but that did seem impressively early. Perhaps some people are simply too excited to wait. Or maybe, once the nights start drawing in, there is something rather appealing about filling the house with twinkling lights. For the rest of us, November is traditionally the month when thoughts begin to turn towards Christmas. The clocks have gone back, daylight is suddenly in short supply and the festive calendar starts filling up. But before we get there, November has plenty of traditions of its own. Bonfire Night falls on Thursday, 5 November this year, bringing memories of bonfires, fireworks and, for those of a certain vintage, potatoes wrapped in foil and cooked in the embers. On Remembrance Sunday, 8 November, communities throughout our area will gather at local war memorials to remember those who served and sacrificed in conflicts past and present. Armistice Day follows on Wednesday, 11 November, when at 11 am we are invited to pause for two minutes and remember. As the Christmas shopping list grows, remember to have a look through this month’s Quair. Our local shops, makers, tradespeople, cafés, restaurants and businesses have plenty to offer. Supporting them keeps money within our communities and helps the businesses which, in turn, support local events, organisations and publications such as this one. November bows out on Monday, 30 November with St Andrew’s Day. And by then, even I will concede that it is probably safe to put the Christmas tree up! Alistair and Linda The Crieff & Comrie Quair is an open access monthly magazine which is delivered FREE to over 6,400 homes and businesss in the Crieff & Comrie area - that's from the county boundary west of St. Fillans to Madderty in the east. Copies for visitors are also made available each month from our outdoor dispensers in Crieff and Comrie. The extra print run is dependent on the normal fluctuating seasonal demand. As well as being a Community Magazine, The Quair is an excellent source of information for visitors. We also produce The Atholl & Breadalbane Quair. Each month, between the two magazines, we print an average of 15,000 and deliver more than 13,800 copies directly to homes and businesses throughout Highland Perthshire and Strathearn. Local voluntary groups and organisations may submit articles, free of charge. All contributions are carried subject to space being available. We ask that any article reaches us by email by noon on the specified copy date, is factual, non-political, under 400 words, and not likely to offend. Copy Date - The copy date for advertisers and organisations to submit an advertisement or article for the December 2026 edition is noon on Wednesday, 11 November. The Magazines are due to be distributed week commencing Monday, 30 November 2026.

Strathearn Harriers - Full details of all club races and events are on the club website at www.strathearnharriers.org.uk. The club welcomes runners of all standards. Crieff and Comrie are great places for running, particularly if you like trails and hills. 4

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Christmas Lunches at Blair Castle

Starters - Roasted parsnip, chestnut and truffle soup - Chicory, pear and Arran Blue salad - Prawns in a Blair Castle Whisky Marie Rose sauce - Chicken liver and port pâté - Smoked Arbroath mackerel pâté with lime and coriander - Sundried tomato and butterbean pâté

Gather your family and friends this December for a relaxed Christmas lunch in Blair Castle’s grand

Mains

ballroom. Picture roaring open fires, sparkling

- Free-range turkey, basted in Drambuie, sage, rosemary, orange and mace butter

Christmas trees and our pianist playing softly as you

- Sirloin of beef with Blair Castle Whisky peppercorn sauce - Roast hake with cranberry, chestnut and herb crumb with buttered leeks

settle in for an afternoon of Highland hospitality.

- Wild mushroom and chestnut wellington (All served with roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and bacon, honey-roasted carrots and parsnips, and spiced red cabbage with apple)

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Desserts

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- Plum pudding with brandy butter

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- Whisky cranachan trifle - Chocolate orange yule log - Scottish cheeseboard (With tea and coffee to finish)

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Strive: Making the Most of the Senior Years at Morrison’s Academy

At Morrison’s Academy, we believe that education is about more than achieving excellent qualifications. Strong academic results are an important measure of success, but so too are the skills, experiences, confidence and character that enable young people to make the most of the opportunities and challenges that lie beyond school. This premise is at the heart of Strive, Morrison’s Academy’s new two-year senior phase programme for pupils in S5 and S6. The senior years are a distinctive and important part of a young person’s education. While strong qualifications provide an essential foundation for future opportunities, today’s young people also need to be able to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, lead, adapt, solve problems, understand themselves and make confident decisions. Strive is designed to bring these elements together. Whether pupils are preparing for university, employment, further study, apprenticeships or another pathway, the programme brings greater breadth and depth to their academic learning through a rich range of experiences beyond the curriculum. It is about ensuring that pupils leave Morrison’s Academy not only with strong qualifications but the skills, confidence and sense of purpose to take their next steps. Bringing together the academic and wider experiences of S5 and S6 into one coherent journey, Strive recognises that the value of the senior years extends well beyond the classroom. Alongside their academic pathways, pupils will have dedicated opportunities to explore leadership and character, entrepreneurship, employability, service and contribution, careers and life beyond the school. Supra-curricular learning, work experience, internships, independent learning and shared experiences will form an important part of the journey. Together, these opportunities will challenge pupils to step outside their comfort zones, discover new interests, develop practical skills and gain a deeper understanding of

themselves and the world around them. The Strive Diploma provides a comprehensive framework for this journey. It is not intended to compete with academic qualifications, but to complement them. The Diploma recognises that a successful school experience should leave pupils with more than a set of results; it should give them a richer understanding of themselves, a stronger sense of what they can contribute and the confidence to take their next steps. Across S5 and S6, pupils will be encouraged to engage fully with the programme, achieve their academic goals, explore opportunities beyond the curriculum, develop key employability skills, contribute to their school and the wider community and take on meaningful leadership roles. They will also be encouraged to reflect on their progress, experiences and achievements; building a personal profile that captures the growth taking place alongside their academic studies. Importantly, Strive’s unique approach is about celebrating both the journey and the destination. Combining academic ambition with personal development and real world preparation, the experiences, challenges, successes and shared moments of their senior years should create memories that pupils carry with them long after they leave Morrison’s Academy. Strive offers something distinctive: academic ambition alongside purposeful preparation for life. It is an invitation to engage, explore, develop, contribute, lead, reflect and celebrate; encouraging every young person to strive for their highest while giving them the experiences and confidence to thrive beyond school.

80 re-entries it was a fantastic day! We were very lucky with the weather making it a perfect day for shooting, only made possible by all who support it. The total amount raised was £4245.07 which was a great result. We would like to thank the ongoing support to our community from our local landowners, Sir Ian Lowson, Lord Cadogan and Sir John Kemp-Welch. Many thanks also goes to all who sponsored the shoot. We look forward to seeing everyone back next year on Sunday, 12 September 2027. Results as follows… Open - 1st H Gillon 2nd M Davis 3rd I Smith Ladies - 1st Edith Barnes 2nd C Watson 3rd E McGregor Local - 1st F Walker 2nd L Bottomley 3rd P Anderson Under 18 - 1st A Cochrane 2nd B Coull 3rd M Muir Continuation - Winner A Cochrane Congratulations to all of the above…a very well done.

KILLIN MCLAREN HALL

Amulree & Trochry Community Association Annual Clay Pigeon Shoot

The Annual Clay Pigeon Shoot was held on Sunday, 13 September 2026 at Clashcat in Amulree. With 100 entries on the day and nearly 8

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Comrie in Colour volunteers sought

Do you enjoy the outdoors? Do you have some spare time? Would you like to help enhance the local environment? Comrie in Colour is a volunteer bloom group and part of the Take a Pride in Perth and Kinross Association. We care for public garden areas throughout the village of Comrie. Our work includes weeding, planting, pruning and general maintenance. No experience is necessary, and tools are provided. We usually meet on a suitable afternoon at 2 pm, weather permitting, and work for approximately two hours. Volunteers are welcome to come along

when they can and help for as long as they are able. Our working season runs from March to October. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact us at comrieincolour@gmail.com or call 07906 292565. Crieff Needs You - The Crieff Gleam Team is a community group of volunteers making their contribution to helping keep the streets and green spaces of Crieff litter free ... something we all want to see and enjoy. A small and dedicated group meet at The Square at 2 pm on a fortnightly basis, alternating between Saturday and Sundays (see next litter-pick dates below) but more volunteers would be very much appreciated and made very welcome. Any dates that you can offer your assistance for 1 hour would be very much appreciated. All equipment will be provided - gloves, bin bags, a visibility waistcoat and litterpick grabbers - so there is no need to bend down should you have any mobility issues. All ages are welcome, with any volunteers under 12 being accompanied by an adult. All collected bags are sealed, marked with a ‘Litter Picked By Volunteers’ label and

prompt vehicle collection is arranged. Should you not be able to join The Crieff Gleam Team on a Saturday or Sunday, please do consider being a solo picker at your own convenience. Simply pick and bag any litter you find on your travels, and place in the many public litter bins around 10

the town. Let Mark know about your efforts and you’ll be added to the Crieff Gleam Team social media posts via Crieff Community Council. Please be assured, every little piece of litter binned helps keep Crieff a clean and beautiful place to live, work and enjoy. Next Crieff litter-picking dates - Sunday, 1 November, Saturday, 14 November, Sunday, 29 November, Saturday, 12 December In the event a scheduled date requires rescheduling or cancellation, details will be announced via the Crieff Community Council Facebook page and the James Square noticeboard. For further details, please email Mark Hunter at markhunter0706@gmail.com.

Volunteers Needed in Crieff ! The Crieff Poppy Appeal is just around the corner, running from Tuesday, 20 October until Wednesday, 11 November, and we need your help to support our veterans and Armed Forces community. Whether you can spare a couple of hours during your weekly shop or a few days over the three weeks, every bit of time makes a massive difference right here in Strathearn. How you can get involved - *Poppy Sellers: Collect donations at local supermarkets or on the high street. *Drivers: Help drive and distribute poppy boxes to local shops and schools. *It’s a fantastic way to give back, meet friendly locals, and support a wonderful cause. Ready to join the team? Get in touch directly with our local organiser: Irene Anderson (Crieff British Legion), 07746 625944.

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Crieff Rotary - After a rather hectic few weeks, club activi- Comrie Sing-a-long - Comrie Sing-a-long is now in its 15th ties were quieter during October while we prepared for our next big event, the annual Young Chef competition when up to eight youngsters from Crieff High School and Morrison’s Academy will be competing to produce the best two-course meal under the watchful eyes of the professional judges. The standards achieved each year by these youngsters always amazes us and inevitably causes the judges great difficulty in determining the winner. It will be clear to those who read these articles in each edition of The Quair that Crieff Rotary supports the development of the young people in Strathearn through this and other competitions or, as reported last month, by sponsoring teenagers to attend the annual Rotary Young Leaders Award activities at the Abernethy Adventure Centre on Speyside. However, the aim of every Rotarian is to bring together people who want to make a practical difference in our community, develop friendships and use their skills to help others. Whether you can spare a few hours each month or take on larger projects, there is a place for you within Crieff Rotary. We still need more like-minded people to join us - and those who do will find it both rewarding and fun to be a Rotarian! Crieff Rotarians continue to meet twice a month at the friendly Meadow Inn in Burrell Street. For further information about Crieff Rotary, please visit its website, or email the Secretary at Secretary@crieff.rotary1010.org. Crieff in Leaf - Crieff in Leaf is holding its AGM on Monday, 23 November at 3 pm in Can Do Crieff in Lodge Street, to which anyone interested in our work to brighten up Crieff is very welcome.

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year. If you have never come to try us out - maybe 2026 is the right time. We meet in Comrie and Dundurn Parish Church in Burrell Street, Comrie and we have plenty of parking, ramp access, wheelchairs and assistance. We start singing at 2 pm, large print song books are provided. It is up to you whether you sing, tap your feet, shake a tambourine or just listen - no special skills are required. Our songbooks are full of old, well-loved songs and hymns and rhymes, you will probably have sung them ‘at your Mother’s knee’ or to your own children. The Sing-a-long team will serve afternoon tea at 3 pm and hopefully send you on your way happy, well fed and ready for the rest of your day. We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of every month…there are posters and banners up in Comrie and I can send you a personal invitation reminder if required. There is transport available within Comrie. (Sorry, just Comrie). Our goal is to bring people together, create a warm and friendly event where everyone is welcome, where you can meet old friends and make lots of new ones. Please contact Màiri for more information, on tel. 07707 727137.

Front Cover Picture

Our great thanks to Philip Braham for sending in this month’s front cover, taken in Glen Lednock. Philip is an artist living in Crieff, whose paintings and photographs respond to the Perthshire landscape. He was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 2021, and retired from teaching at the University of Dundee in 2025, but maintains close links as Associate Reader in Fine Art. His artwork can be seen on his website: www.philipbraham.com If you have something suitable you would like us to consider for the front cover of The Quair then please feel free to send it to us at crieffandcomrie@thequair.com stating your name and providing a short narrative about the photo. Please note that by sending your photo you are also agreeing to let us use this for any Quair activity. Comrie Cancer Support - We are a group which meets regularly to offer mutual support to anyone affected by cancer. We have coffee etc., we chat, we share, and we learn from each other’s experiences through what can sometimes be a difficult time for the sufferer, their spouse, and for other friends and family members. All are welcome. And we are finding the meetings warm and dynamic, working as we had hoped. We meet on the second last Tuesday of each month throughout the year in Comrie and Dundurn Church Hall Annexe - 5.30 pm - 7 pm. Any further information can be obtained by calling: Agnes Drysdale on 07732 345675 or Lorna Ramsay on 07789 9878385. 12

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The Library of Innerpeffray

The Library of Innerpeffray closes for the season on Saturday, 31 October, but do join us for one or more of the events coming up and you can still enjoy a visit to the grounds throughout the winter months. Why not come and see our new Place in the Past Viewpoint? This is an accessible vantage point that looks across the Strath and the river Earn and highlights wildlife and the Roman history of Innerpeffray. During the winter the collection of books at the Library receives its annual audit and dusting, and a new exhibition is put out ready for re-opening on Wednesday, 3 March 2027.

Dates for your Diary

Thursday, 29 October 7 pm - The Law and Criminal Insanity: Sheriff Principal Gillian Wade KC. In 2026, the Library was delighted to add two pocket watches with connections to the Drummond family to its collection. One of these also bears a fascinating historic connection to the first legal case which defined the defence of insanity in English law in 1843. We are delighted to have Tayside Sheriff Principle Gillian Wade speaking about the history behind this legislation. Tickets £10. Friday, 6 and Saturday, 7 November ­- Innerpeffray Festive Fayre. 10 am to 4 pm. A chance to browse unique, bookish gifts inspired by the Library’s collection in the Schoolroom at Innerpeffray. A range of carefully curated arts and crafts by local artisans will also be available, so come prepared to shop! Sunday, 15 November 7 pm- Dead Men’s Eyes: Ghost Stories by M.R. James. Master storyteller Robert Lloyd Parry of Nunkie Theatre returns for another night of pleasing terror. Two tales of the restless dead, by the master of the English ghost story. Event begins promptly at 7 pm - no late admittance. Tickets £20. Suitable for ages 14+. Saturday, 21 and Sunday, 22 November - Festive Wreath-Making Workshop. 2.30 pm to 5 pm. Such a popular event that we are running it twice: come and learn how to make a spectacular wreath using locally

gathered seasonal plants. Led by Gwyneth Hardy, who was executive producer of the Beechgrove Gardens for 30 years. Tickets £35. Wednesday, 25 November 1 pm - Annual General Meeting of the Governors of the Innerpeffray Mortification Scottish Charity SC013843. An open meeting to review the activities and accounts for the Library for the year ended 31 December 2025. All welcome. Sunday, 29 November 3 pm - Words and Music for Christmas in the Library. Gather round the Library fireplace and join Joan Taylor and friends for a cosy afternoon of music and readings with a Victorian Christmas theme. Tickets £15. Sunday, 6 December 3 pm - Carols at Innerpeffray in the Chapel. Join us for the 25th anniversary concert of this Innerpeffray festive institution. Carols and readings from the Innerpeffray Singers and guests, led by Joan Taylor. Wrap up warm! the Chapel is an atmospheric but unheated venue. Tickets £15. Trustee Recruitment - The Library is run by Scottish Charity SC013843, The Innerpeffray Mortification, who are responsible for the care and management of the Library and we are currently recruiting for new trustees. If you are interested in helping keep this historic treasure alive, we’d love to hear from you. We are currently particularly interested in adding skills in financial management and marketing/ promotion to our Board of Governors. For more information or to arrange for an informal chat, please contact the Chair, Martyn Wade, c/o the Library by email or phone as below. Call for Volunteers - Our friendly volunteer team are crucial to the running of the Library of Innerpeffray. Whether you would like to be a visitor guide, join the gardening team, do behind-the-scenes admin or help out with our programme of events, we’d love to hear from you. We do a number of behind the scenes sessions during the winter, it is a good time to get involved. Email info@innerpeffraylibrary. co.uk or call the number below. 14

From March to October, the Library’s regular opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 2 pm to 5 pm. Contact us on 01764 652819 or visit our website at www.innerpeffraylibrary. co.uk for more details. Slow Karate: St Fillans - Are you an adult interested in learning new health benefits or perhaps want to reconnect with the art of Karate - then Slow Karate might be something you would want to try. Slow Karate involves performing traditional Karate techniques at a reduced speed to maximise proper breathing, technical precision, body alignment and muscle control. Very similar to Tai Chi. FILLANS My name is Alex DuncanSLOW andKARATE I am- ST a 4th Are you an adult interested in learning new Karate health beneÞts or perhaps wa Dan Black Belt in Shotokan and I - then Slow Karate might be something you would want to try. runKarate classes in the Sandison Hall St Fillans Karate involves performing traditional techniques onSlow a Wednesday evening fromKarate 6 pm to 7at a reduce breathing, technical precision, body alignment and muscle control. Very pm - cost £5 pp per class and all monies name is Alexto Duncan I am a 4th Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Kara areMy donated the and Sandison Hall CommitSandison Hall St Fillans on a Wednesday evening from 6-7pm - cost £5 p teedonated to help the upkeep oftowards the hall. to thetowards Sandison Hall Committee to help the upkeep of t If you are interested and would like further If you are interested and would like further information please contact me information please contact me on 07936 WhatsApp or Message. 515262 either by WhatsApp or message.

Crieff Bridge Club - Crieff Bridge

Club has resumed for the winter. We meet every Tuesday in the Crieff Golf Club with play starting at 6.30 pm. We are keen to welcome new members and if you are interested in joining us please contact our secretary, Donald Smith by email at smithdonald@tiscali.co.uk.

Can Do Crieff Open Days Have you ever wondered what it is like to work at Can Do Crieff ? Perhaps you work from home and would like a change of scene, are looking for somewhere local to work, or simply want to find out a little more about what the space has to offer. In November, we will be holding two open drop-in sessions at Can Do Crieff, giving anyone interested the chance to come along, have a look around and chat to us about the different ways you can use the space. The sessions will be held on: Thursday, 12 November - 9.30am - 12.30pm Monday, 16 November - 2.00pm - 4.30pm There’s no commitment needed and no need to book. Just come along when it suits you, have a look around and ask any questions you might have. Can Do Crieff is a warm, friendly, shared workspace on Lodge Street (under Strathearn Arts) in the centre of town, used by local people, freelancers and those who work remotely. It offers an alternative to working from home or travelling further afield, while also giving you the opportunity to work alongside other people. So, if you’ve been curious about Can Do Crieff, please pop in to see us during one of our open sessions. Everyone is welcome and we would be delighted to meet you. Find out more at www.candocrieff.com or email candocrieff@gmail.com if you have any questions.

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Crieff and Strathearn Museum

The museum has now closed for the winter after a successful season, with almost 3,000 visitors coming through our doors. Our displays on the Picts and Girl Guiding in Crieff proved particularly popular, as did our small Rob Roy display. With his wooden statue now standing outside the museum, Rob Roy has certainly been making his presence felt! Our first programme of early-evening talks was another highlight, and we will be running a new series next year. A warm thank-you to all our speakers and to everyone who came along. It has been lovely to see so much interest in the stories of our area and beyond. Behind the scenes, thoughts have already turned to 2027. There are plenty of exciting ideas for exhibitions and events, and work will continue throughout the winter to bring them to life. We have also acquired two large glass display cases, courtesy of Angus Alive, which will help us show more of our collection to its best advantage. We look forward to sharing more about our plans in the coming months. Before then, however, there is a little Christmas magic to look forward to. As in previous years, the museum will transform into Santa’s Post Office, opening at 12 noon on Saturday, 28 November. Children will be able to chat to Santa’s helpers and see their letters being dispatched to the North Pole. Fowlis Wester SWI - Our first meeting of the year was ably entertained by Jandy Stevenson, who gave many insights into her working life with trusts and various businesses. The things people get up to trying to avoid paying tax were an eye-opener! Competitions Jug of flowers - 1. Audrey McColl; 2. Helen Newton; 3. Morag Lindsay 1 lb Gingerbread - 1. Heather Walker; 2. Frances Haggart; 3. Wilma Brown The hostesses were Carol Page and Audrey McColl. The next meeting is The Centenary Celebration.

Cllr Stewart Donaldson

Strathearn Ward - SNP The Drummond Arms is again the focus of attention. At the last meeting of the Council’s Finance and Resources Committee it was made clear that a report will be going to the Council’s SIAG group: this to be on Wednesday, 4 November. SIAG, or rather the Strategic Investment Advisory Group, takes a long-term view on Council assets. However, it was made clear at Committee that there is a strong likelihood that the site will not be viable for affordable housing. Moreover, there has been no shift in the position with Historic Environment Scotland, with three separate rejections to date from HES. I do not sit on SIAG but need to find out more, but it is highly probable that there will be a report back to Finance and Resources in due course. Above all else, what we must avoid is a deadlock that goes on for several more years. That would be to the detriment of Crieff town centre, and efforts to bring about effective and sustainable regeneration. What was strongly positive was the Experience Crieff meeting at the Visitor Centre last month and organised very well by Karen Macartney and her team. At the event at the Centre, kindly hosted by David Yardley, there was a strong representation from a wide number of people within the town. What stood out most, though, were the preparations and planning for next year’s Tartan Festival, scheduled for Saturday, 15 May. It may be nearly seven months away, but I know it’s going to be a day to look forward to very much. More about all this over coming months. Another welcome development was on the Comrie to Trowan Core Path. I provided an update last month, but the latest is that what is a “shovel ready” project may soon see actual shovels in the ground! Phase 1 going east from Tomperran just outside Comrie to Invermilton is now ready for construction. Once the tender process is completed the indications are that work may start in late November, with completion forecast for end March 2027. Members of the Steering Group are delighted that progress is now being made. What so many have dreamt of for years may be on the way to becoming reality. Just as actual work on the Core Path begins, the Flood Protection Scheme concludes. The latest Newsletter provides a lot of detail. Full flood protection ought to be in place at end November. Thereafter, there may be tidying up work, on for example garden reinstatement. As for parking I have asked when the spaces at the Field of Refuge will be available again for local residents. On Cameron Court, work continues apace. The Keep Care in Comrie Group remains active. Indeed it is now issuing campaign materials. They’re not going to give up. Along with that Comrie Development Trust is looking in depth at the options available for Cameron Court going forward, and the tie in with the sheltered housing provision in Tay Pace and Almond Place. One thing that will assist is to obtain more information through Freedom of Information requests and the like. Finally, on the Visitor Levy the consultation period ends very soon: indeed, on Wednesday, 11 November. Once again, I would encourage readers to participate. They can do so via www.pkc.gov.uk/visitorlevy, There is a link there to the Consultation Hub. What was set out in the initial report to Council is not set in tablets of stone. Indeed, we very much want to hear your comments, criticisms, and suggestions. To contact me I’m on SDonaldson@pkc.gov.uk, at 2 High Street, Perth. By phone it’s best to phone my Council mobile on 07557 815544. Comrie Silver Circle - Comrie Silver Circle meets every Thursday at 2 pm in Comrie Parish Church Hall. Entertainment and afternoon tea at 3 pm. All Welcome. Phone Myra if you need transport 01764 670166. 16

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I can be reached at 63 Glasgow Road, Perth, PH2 0PE, by telephone on 01738 639598 or by email at pete.wishart.mp@parliament.uk

Perth and Kinross-shire - SNP Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the rising cost of energy. I know how worrying this can be for households across Crieff, Comrie and the surrounding rural areas, particularly when heating costs are already placing pressure on family budgets. I am especially conscious of the challenges facing households that rely on heating oil or other off-grid fuels. Unlike standard domestic gas and electricity tariffs, heating oil is not covered by the energy price cap, leaving households exposed to fluctuations in fuel prices. There are several schemes that may help residents manage these costs and make their homes warmer and more energy efficient. The Scottish Government has announced an additional £5.4 million in funding to supplement an existing £4.6 million allocation, bringing the total to £10 million. In April, the Scottish Emergency Oil Heating Scheme was also launched to provide assistance to eligible low-income households that rely on oil for heating. The scheme is delivered through Advice Direct Scotland. Other support may be available depending on your circumstances. The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment provides assistance with winter heating costs for eligible older people. Warmer Homes Scotland helps qualifying households improve the warmth and energy efficiency of their homes through measures such as insulation and heating upgrades. Depending on the work required, these improvements can be worth £10,000 or more. For those considering renewable heating, the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme offers grants of up to £7,500 towards eligible heat pumps and energy efficiency measures. An additional £1,500 may be available for rural and island homes, subject to the scheme's terms and conditions. If you are struggling with energy bills or have built up arrears, it is worth contacting your energy supplier to ask about available assistance. Suppliers including British Gas, ScottishPower and OVO may offer support to eligible customers. The Fuel Bank Foundation is another useful source of information for people experiencing fuel poverty. You can find out more at www.fuelbankfoundation.org. I would encourage anyone concerned about their heating costs to explore the support available. Eligibility varies between schemes, and funding arrangements can change, so it is important to check the latest guidance before applying. Keeping a home warm should not mean facing impossible choices over household spending. I hope this information helps residents across our local communities identify the assistance that may be available to them. I can be reached at 63 Glasgow Road, Perth, PH2 0PE, by telephone on 01738 639598 or by email at pete.wishart.mp@parliament.uk Probus Club Auchterarder - You are invited to join Auchterarder Probus Club which is a social forum providing fellowship and friendship for like-minded people. It is not affiliated to a central organising body. We are a broad church with retired and semiretired professional people and others and comprise farmers, ministers, senior armed forces people, surgeons and marketing folk and engineers from a wide background. You will be most welcome. We meet twice a month in the winter and once a month in the summer. Meetings are held in the Auchterarder Golf Club and start at 12 noon with lunch at 12.30 pm followed by a guest speaker. Future speakers include Members of Parliament, Senior Officers from our Navy and Army plus local traders who want to tell their story. If you are interested in joining us please contact our Press Officer by email at forbesmcnaughton@icloud.com 18

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Editorial and Event Information

All of our listed events are published in good faith. However, for a variety of reasons, things can sometimes change. This edition of The Crieff & Comrie Quair was sent for print on Saturday, 17 October 2026. Please therefore always check times and venues of events listed in The Crieff & Comrie Quair independently before going. We cannot be held liable for any mistakes, typographical or otherwise, by ourselves or changes made by Event Organisers.

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Muthill Parish Church - Our Mission in Muthill Parish Church is to achieve a closer relationship with God and, as an ever welcoming church family, to tell all we meet about the joys and challenges of following Jesus. Situated in the conservation village of Muthill, some three miles from Crieff, Muthill Parish Church is a Church of Scotland congregation providing all-age worship every Sunday morning at 10.30 hours. Our services are led by a variety of guest preachers and after worship, there is always a time of fellowship over refreshments in our newly renovated Bruce Hall. In November we have a special service for Remembrance on Sunday, 8 November and on Sunday, 29 November we have Holy Communion. The Remembrance Sunday service starts later than normal after the conclusion of the war memorial celebration allowing time for people to walk back to the church. As autumn continues, we have a range of weekly activities which include two exercise classes (general mobility/balance for seniors on Tuesday afternoons and Tai Chi on a Thursday mornings). Our Soup and Sandwich Lunches continue on Wednesdays at 12.30 pm with coffee available from 11 am and are open to the community. We further have a Men’s Group which meets over coffee on Wednesdays at 11 am. The Muthill Community Choir meets for rehearsals in our Bruce Hall on a Monday night starting at 7 pm. For those who want to explore and deepen their faith in a smaller group setting, we have a bible class which meets weekly on a Tuesday morning at 10.30 am and a house group which meets fortnightly on a Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm. Plans are also underway to hold a new Alpha course starting in January 2027 which will be aimed at enquirers about the Christian faith as well

as committed Christians seeking to explore their faith further. This will be followed by The Bible Course starting at Easter. Full details of our worship services, mission outreaches and the other organisational activities mentioned above can be found on our website, www.muthillparishchurch.co.uk. Our church building has flexible accommodation, including a large comfortable sanctuary with AV facilities, a medium size hall (Bruce Hall) and two smaller lounges. These are available for rental for private events throughout the year. Our grounds also have good parking. Everyone is invited to our Sunday worship as well as to any of our regular activities where you can be assured of a warm welcome.

unto that which will promote fellowship, kindliness and unity.’ Bahá’u’lláh.

Comrie Centre for Peace and Reconciliation

We are continuing to meet at the Chapel at Cultybraggan every Thursday lunchtime at 1 pm. You would be very welcome to join us then for a time of quiet reflection. Such reflection can support inner quiet and balance. In this way, when we consider the disturbing state of the world - instead of allowing fear or anger to take hold, we can be part of the solution. This opportunity is open to everyone, irrespective of faith tradition. Guidance for quiet sitting can be offered if needed. You are also welcome to sit in the chapel at other times - whenever you feel a need to be quiet and calm down. For further information, contact: Sister Candasiri 01764 670088; Su 07732 533361 or Diana Macpherson 07552 312386.

Crieff Baptist Church

The Baha’i Faith - The Comrie and

Crieff group is hosting an opportunity for open-hearted, joyful and hopeful conversations and reflection on quotes and prayers from all faiths, philosophies and beliefs every Tuesday, at 7.30 pm, in Comrie. These gatherings welcome all comers in the spirit of fellowship and friendship, uplifting our hearts and souls in our commitment to making the world a better place. The theme for October will be Faith. For further information please contact Diana on 07755 2312386 or Gordon on 07510 454342. ‘As ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be.’ ‘Abdu’l-Baha The early morning gathering in the Crieff Community Garden for prayer for the people and plants in the garden and beyond will take a winter break as the mornings grow darker, but will continue at 10 am on the first Saturday of every month. The gathering is open to all ages, backgrounds, faiths and beliefs or none in a spirit of fellowship, harmony and appreciation. ‘It behoveth man to adhere tenaciously 22

At CBC we have weekly services on a Sunday morning at 10.30 am in our building on Addison Terrace. We are a welcoming, friendly church and our services reflect this by being fairly informal in style, with participation from various members of the congregation each week. We have children’s groups which run during the services (during term time) as well and tea & coffee are served after the service for a time of fellowship. Each week there are various home groups which run through the school term where we study the bible, pray together and encourage and support one another. For more information on any of these, please just get in touch. Our warm spaces group (Coorie & Crafts) is on Mondays from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm. Come along for some tea, coffee and home baking. Everyone very welcome. Alpha Course - The Alpha Course is a wonderful opportunity to find out more about Christianity, to discuss faith and life and to invite friends and family along as we explore together. Starting on Thursday, 1

October, we are running an Alpha Course here at CBC. The course runs for 10 sessions from 7.30 pm to 9 pm. At each session we will watch a video from the Alpha UK team, discuss various topics around life, faith, purpose and the Christian message (with plenty of tea, coffee and home baking too!) For more information or to sign up, please visit www.crieffbaptist.org.uk/alphacourse. For further information on any of these events, or to get in touch with the minister, John Burns, please contact via crieffbaptist@ gmail.com; pastor@crieffbaptist.org.uk. Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all that’s happening in the church via our website (www.crieffbaptist.org.uk), on Facebook (Crieff Baptist Church) or on Instagram (crieff_baptist). Crieff Baptist Church, 1 Addison Terrace, Crieff PH7 3AT. Registered Scottish Charity SC053381

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number of Quaker Meetings in Scotland. Find out more at www.quaker.org.uk/meetings or www.discoveringquakers.org.uk. The nearest ones to Strathearn are Dunblane, which meets weekly on a Sunday at 10.30 am, and Perth, which meets fortnightly on the 2nd and last Sunday of the month at 11 am. A Quaker Meeting for Worship is also held monthly in Aberfeldy (dates are advertised locally and published in The Atholl & Breadalbane Quair). Children are welcome at these meetings, although advance notice is helpful. If you would like to know more, please contact the correspondence clerk at dunblane@quaker.scot.

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Mid Strathearn Parish - Mid Strat- would love to see you there and you will be hearn Parish in rural Perthshire was formed in 2018 with the Union of the congregations of Fowlis Wester, Gask, Madderty and Monzie Churches. As a family of Christian people we offer opportunities for regular worship and aim to serve our community through caring and involvement. We seek to be welcoming, open, warm and friendly, and look forward to welcoming you to our services.

St Fillan’s RC Parish Church

Parish of St Fillan’s RC Church, Crieff & St Margaret’s RC Church Comrie Ford Road, Crieff PH7 3HN. Parish Priest - Very Rev Fr. Dr Tobias O. Okoro. email stfillancrieff@dunkelddiocese.org.uk A warm welcome is extended to all parishioners, friends and visitors. Please join us for any of the Masses and/or Services. Saturday Vigil Mass 5.30 pm in St Fillan’s. Crieff Sunday Mass 9.30 am in St Margaret’s Church. Comrie Sunday Mass 11 am in St Fillan’s Church, Crieff. Due to the ongoing flood defence repair work over the last year, St Margaret’s Church, Comrie has not been used and Mass has been celebrated in Comrie Rural Hall. All being well, we shall return to the church for Mass on the last weekend of September or beginning of October. However, people are asked to check the parish website and notices for accuracy. Grateful thanks are extended to the Committee of Comrie Rural Hall for agreeing to let us use the hall during this time.

Crieff Parish Church

www.crieffparishchurch.org Christmas is Coming and it’s only November - It almost seems a bit irreverent to be talking about Christmas in mid-November, but this edition of The Quair is the last opportunity for us to let you know about our community Christingle Service taking place in Crieff Parish Church on Sunday, 29 November from 6 pm. We

very welcome. Christingle is a cherished festive tradition celebrated primarily in churches and in some schools during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Originating from the Moravian Church in Germany in 1747, the custom was introduced to the United Kingdom in 1968 by the children’s charity, The Children’s Society. Today, it brings families together to celebrate hope and light through a family service centred around a unique, symbolic object: an orange holding a lighted candle. Every element of The Christingle carries a deep spiritual meaning The Orange represents the world. The Candle placed in the centre symbolises Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe is the Light of the World. The Red Ribbon tied around the orange signifies the love and blood of Jesus shed for us on the Cross at Easter. The Four Cocktail Sticks represent the four corners of the earth or the four seasons. The Sweets and Dried Fruits skewered onto the sticks represent the fruits of the earth and God’s seasonal blessings. During a typical Christingle service, and ours is no exception, the church lights are dimmed, and the candles are lit one by one. The glowing circle of light creates a warm, reflective atmosphere, usually accompanied by the singing of traditional carols. Looking beyond this into the Christmas Season Crieff Parish Church will host services each Sunday in Advent at 11 am - Sunday, 29 November, Sunday, 6 December, Sunday, 13 December and Sunday, 20 December. There will also be family worship on Christmas Eve at 6.30 pm and a short Christmas Day Service on Christmas morning - times to be confirmed next month. Crieff Parish Church is on the corner of Ferntower Road and Strathearn Terrace. www.crieffparishchurch.org 24

Parish Churches of Comrie and Dundurn, Church of Scotland

‘Following Jesus. Sharing Hope. Welcoming all.’ Service times - First Sunday of the month at Dundurn Kirk at 10.30 am with other Sundays at Comrie Kirk at 10.30 am. These times may change at certain times eg Easter and Christmas. Details of these times can be found on our Facebook page or by emailing sessionclerkcpc@btinternet.com. We live stream our Comrie Kirk services. These can be found via our YouTube channel or the link on our Facebook page. We currently have no streaming facilities at Dundurn Kirk. Minister: Rev Craig Dobney. The Manse, Strowan Road, Comrie, PH6 2ES. Tel: 07864 366856 Email: cdobney@churchofscotland.org.uk Session Clerk: Mrs Pauline Booth. Tel: 07803 461188 Email: sessionclerkcpc@ btinternet.com Office contact details and church hall bookings: comrie.dundurnchurch@gmail. com Facebook: Comrie & Dundurn Parish Church YouTube: Comrie & Dundurn Parish Church: @cdparishchurch

St James Episcopal Church, Muthill www.stjamesmuthill.com stjamesmuthill@gmail.com Priest in Charge: Rev. Rachael Wright

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The Pictish Witch

How a fascination with Scotland’s forgotten history led me to write The Pictish Witch - Scotland is an evocative place for the imagination to run wild. The landscape lends itself to it: rugged, untamed, full of mystery and myth. For me, it is this heady mix of wilderness and ancient history that fuels my imagination. Standing stones, legends, castles and ancient landscapes seem to whisper their tales to the wind. It was that fascination with Scotland’s past that eventually led me to write The Pictish Witch. In the heart of Perthshire, where I live, I am surrounded by history and folklore. Being a fan of Shakespeare, I was aware of the notable sites associated with Macbeth: Dunsinane Hill, Birnam Wood and one ancient stone very close to my home, the Witches’ Stane, reportedly linked to Macbeth. I have always loved Shakespeare’s Scottish play, steeped in prophecy and the supernatural, and exploring themes of ambition, madness and moral collapse. But if you know your Scottish history, you will know that Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and that of his wife, is far removed from historical fact. The historical Macbeth, Macbethad mac Findláech, is largely obscured by time. I’m often bemused that many people don’t realise he was a real person, who reigned as King of Alba for seventeen years, with his wife Gruoch by his side. The more I researched, the more I realised how little the Scotland of the eleventh century resembled the world Shakespeare later created. And the three witches? A marvellous theatrical creation from Shakespeare’s brilliant mind. Yet as I walked the footpaths of my home, looked across to Dunsinane Hill and ran my fingers across the Witches’ Stane, I began to wonder whether the real Macbethad may have known women who held

different kinds of power, women rooted in older traditions, the natural world, intuition and healing. The seed was sown, and The Pictish Witch evolved. It follows Eithne, a young woman learning ancient magic passed down through generations, whose life is turned upside down when she becomes embroiled in a deadly prophecy. Forced to journey across the wilds of the Highlands, she seeks the protection of one Macbethad of Moray. And so begins The Macbethad Chronicles, a four-part historical fantasy series inspired by the real people and places of eleventhcentury Scotland, woven together with Celtic folklore, mysticism and magic. The Pictish Witch, by E.L. Curley, is available from all the usual online retailers.

Crieff Probus Club - The speaker at Crieff Probus Club on Tuesday, 6 October was Roxanne Kerr, her talk entitled Trauma Healing Together. Roxanne is the founder and CEO of the Perth-based charity Trauma Healing Together (THT). THT, founded in 2020, supports over eighteens with mental trauma as a consequence of psychological trauma. All services are free for anyone in Scotland with mental trauma. Head Office is in Kinnoull Street, Perth and has a small permanent staff supported by a team of volunteers, many but not all of whom are previous clients of the charity. THT support is based on compassion and nonjudgemental practical help tailored to the individual. Roxanne’s presentation of the aims of THT, which evolved from personal experience, made for an informative, thoughtprovoking and entertaining talk that was much appreciated by Club members. The vision for THT is of an organisation that can reach out to all trauma survivors in Scotland . The mission is to provide op26

portunities for trauma recovery, irrespective of the causes of the trauma. The values enshrined include creativity, curiosity, collaboration, acceptance and autonomy. A survey by the charity found that 77% of survivors still experienced impacts on their lives, 78% were unhappy with NHS mental health provision and 67% have experienced more than one kind of trauma. A definition of trauma is wide, given it can vary from one person to another. It stems from an evolutionary response to threat and danger that is necessary for survival, sometimes referred to as the “fight or flight” response. Hence it is not the event that determines trauma but rather how the individual affected reacts mentally. Healing requires a safe environment, human connections and a voice. To help its clients THT offers various projects, principally: Pathways to Hope - A programme that supports healing and inspires hope. The programme aims to rebuild resilience and hope, enabling sufferers to move on from the impact of trauma. A formal diagnosis of trauma is not a prerequisite to access support. The programme offers 24 weeks of trauma-focused counselling and 16 weeks of group wellbeing sessions. The course is free and open to anyone over 18 who has experienced any type of psychological trauma, mentally or physically triggered. Stepping Stones Online Wellbeing Programme - A 6-week online programme that offers simple strategies to stay calm and grounded and opportunities to connect with like-minded people. The programme can be accessed via www.traumahealingtogether.org/stepping-stones. The Pathways to Hope programme also offers tailored help for ex-Forces personnel who are experiencing mental trauma. THT can be contacted at the above noted website or on 01738 248283. For more information about Crieff Probus Club and details of our forthcoming programme please go to our website, www. crieffprobusclub.org.uk.

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The Copy date for the December 2026 edition of The Crieff & Comrie Quair is Wednesday, 11 November at noon

28

Tayside And Strathearn Help for Ukraine (TASH )

Our charity to help civilians in Ukraine, based at Errol Airfield is busy storing and packing donated items for the intense cold that was experienced there last winter. As you can appreciate from the photo, snow lies for weeks on end and therefore nourishment in the form of Tinned food in particular is paramount. We are being asked for the following: Tinned Porridge, Soups, Tinned meat and fish, Canned fruit and vegetables. Packets of porridge, pasta , cup a soups, sugar, tea and coffee. Lack of light and heating makes Torches, Batteries, Mobile power points, 8-hour Tea lights, Candles and Hot water bottles essential commodities. Some people have no running water so wet wipes for washing, toiletries, and all manner of sanitary products are fundamental necessities. If you can manage to donate some of these , there are 2 collection points in Crieff, the Adventist Church, Gwydyr Rd on Tuesdays from 1 pm to 2 pm and Blythswood Local Charity Shop at 10 High Street on Tuesdays or Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm. Blythswood has specifically asked for Government Baby Boxes & Baby supplies including Nappies, and Wipes. For those of you in the Aberfeldy area, the Steamie has a collection point from where our van can collect and bring to Errol. If you would like more information about Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine, you contact us at info@tash4ukraine.org. uk. We are also on Facebook and Instagram @tash4Ukraine. Our next fundraiser is a coffee morning in the North Church, High St, Perth on Saturday, 14 November from 10 am to 12 pm.

The Arts Society Tayside

On 12 October we had the pleasure of a most a timely lecture from Christina Faraday on Clocks in Art and Literature from c.1300 to the Present, and on 23 October we enjoyed a full day’s presentation on Silver from Arts and Crafts to the Present Day by Gordon Foster, the well-known silver expert from the BBC Antiques Roadshow. On Monday, 9 November our lecture programme continues. We will hear from Raymond Holden on Sir Henry Wood, Master Musician and on Monday, 14 December we have our Christmas lecture intriguingly titled A Load of Old Balls from Simon Inglis. The New Year kicks off on Monday, 11 January with Scandinavian Landscape Painters 1840-1910 by Caroline Levisse, and after that a further five fascinating monthly lectures to look forward to. For our full programme, please visit our website. On 21 and 28 January and 4 February we will run our usual series of Winter Lectures in Perth to be delivered by the National Trust for Scotland. The Arts Society Tayside is a not-forprofit, volunteer-run society, dedicated to providing its members with enjoyable and approachable experiences in the arts and supporting local good causes related to art. Each year we offer our 300 members ten absorbing and accessible morning or afternoon lectures on the second Monday of the month at Birnam Arts on a wide variety of topics, as well as a range of house, garden and gallery visits and interesting add-on days and lectures. Please visit our website to see the full programme: theartssocietytayside.org.uk. Membership is unchanged at £68 individual for the year, or £130 for a couple. Please contact us at tastmembership@ gmail.com or tastchair@gmail.com, or come along to Birnam Arts on Monday, 9 November before 11 am, either to join for the full year or attend as a guest for £10, refundable against membership if you join after the lecture. We look forward to seeing you.

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What to expect from a complimentary hearing assessment at The Edinburgh Hearing Practice

Most hearing centers will measure the quietest sounds that you can hear and based on this will make a recommendation. Although this type of hearing test provides useful information, by no means does it provide a full picture, we hear with our ears but it is our brain that understands speech! With this in mind, we have designed our test protocol to ensure that we measure your exact individual issues. First and foremost, we will listen to you. Hearing loss is personal and we take the time to listen to your experience. We recommend that you bring someone with you as they can often provide useful information and support. Our hearing assessments usually take about 90 minutes. We will ask some medical related questions so that we have a good understanding of your general health and history. Next we will examine your ears. We have the latest technology and can show you images of your ears on a screen if you are interested in seeing exactly what we are looking at. 30

We thoroughly Wecheck thoroughly your ears check using your state ears ofusing the art state video of the art video equipment and equipment keep the and images keeponthe your images records on so your werecords can so we can keep track of keep your track ear health. of your ear health. If your ears are If your blocked earswith are blocked wax yourwith hearing wax your test will hearing not be test will not be accurate. You’re accurate. in safeYou’re hands in atsafe the Edinburgh hands at the Hearing Edinburgh Hearing very latest audiometric very latestequipment audiometrictoequipment record the to quietest record the quietest sounds that you sounds can hear, that you but can alsohear, importantly, but also the importantly, way that the way that

both quiet and both in the quiet presence and in the of the presence dreaded of background the dreadednoise. background noise. Where appropriate, Where we appropriate, perform tympanometry we perform tympanometry to check howto the check middle how ear the is middle workingear (this is working is a really(this is a really simple comfortable simple test, comfortable and is nothing test, and to be is nothing nervoustoabout). be nervous about). At each stageAt weeach will stage explain wethe willresults explain really the results thoroughly reallytothoroughly you and make to you sure and that make everything sure that is everything is completely clear. completely clear. Occasionally we Occasionally may feel that we may onward feel referral that onward is required referral – this is required is unusual, – this but is you unusual, can trust but you us tocan always trustdo us to alway the right thing. the right thing.

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Comrie Heritage Group - This sea- down from her role. She has been a great Lady Mary’s Walk parkrun - August son has brought a wide range of visitors to the Camp, with a noticeable rise in guests from Germany. Some of this may be thanks to last year’s visit from the German Consul‑General in Edinburgh, who kindly shared news of the Camp through her own networks. Overall numbers look set to be very close to last year, with around 4,500 adults and 650 children visiting. Working more closely with Comrie Development Trust, the Camp’s owners, is already proving worthwhile. Comrie Heritage Group has now joined the Tayside Museums Forum and is taking part in more events run by Historic Environment Scotland, Museums & Galleries Scotland, and the Scottish Council on Archives. These links are helping us learn from others and strengthen what we do. CDT and CHG were delighted to take part in the national Doors Open Days weekend on 19-20 September. The Museum welcomed three to four times last year’s numbers, helped by re‑enactors who travelled from far and wide, and a NAAFI‑style food stall run by volunteers in authentic dress. A light‑hearted moment came when

support to our work at the Camp and in building links with the village, and we are very grateful for all she has done. Finally, our warm thanks go to all our visitors and volunteers. Your help and support mean a great deal to us. The Dementia Café - The Dementia Café is held in the North Church, High Street, Perth, on the first Wednesday of the month from 10 am until 12.30 noon. People living with Dementia, their families, caregivers, friends, neighbours, and anyone looking to gain an insight into Dementia attend the monthly café. The café offers a warm, inviting, safe place where people can meet, socialise, gain information, and have some refreshments. All are welcome.

Friends of Crieff Cemetery

We invite the public to come along to our War Graves Tour on Saturday, 7 November at 2 pm, when we will remember the service personnel memorialised or buried in Crieff Cemetery.

the author of these notes asked two groups in German uniforms what they would be doing, only to be answered - in perfect English - with strong Aberdeen and Glaswegian accents. Repainting of the Museum exterior is now underway, and the Comrie Fortnight displays from 19 August remain on show in Hut 46. Both the Hut and the Museum will close for the winter after 26 October. We end with a note of thanks and good wishes. Seona Anderson, CDT’s Heritage Development Officer has had to step 32

gave us plenty to celebrate at Lady Mary’s Walk parkrun. Throughout August, over 500 people volunteered, walked, jogged or ran the course, while later in the month we celebrated several of our volunteers’ major milestones at parkrun, including two celebrating 250 volunteering Saturdays and Linda celebrating her 500th! Every week depends on people lending a hand, and we would love to welcome some new volunteers. You don’t need previous experience or a running background. You could marshal along the route, hand out finish tokens or scan barcodes. We’ll show you what to do, and helping occasionally is always very welcome. To get involved, email ladymaryswalk@ parkrun.com with a Saturday you’re available, or speak to the Run Director at an event. If you would rather try the course, our free 5k starts at 9.30 am every Saturday. Register once on the parkrun website, bring your barcode and arrive a little early for a welcome and an explanation of the route. Walkers are especially welcome. There is no time limit, and our tail walker stays at the back, so there is no need to worry about keeping up. Come on your own or bring a friend, enjoy the riverside paths and join us for a chat afterwards. We’d love to see you.

Cultybraggan Camp History Project

The Project was founded in 2017 to preserve the history and the fabric of the camp, working wherever possible with the camp owners at the time. Our members include academics and volunteers who are dedicated to investigate and document in central resources all aspects of the camp’s past. We believe the camp is of importance to the nation and not just the local village. It is our ambition to create an online fund of knowledge to be preserved for hundreds of years and beyond. This includes all stories, documents, photographs and images, which will be assembled into a virtual museum. There may also be a virtual guided tour of the camp showing the various artefacts as one explores and possibly an ‘App’ for mobile phones. We continue in discussion with other organisations doing similar work to us, which is proving mutually beneficial. We are very conscious that a lot of currently existing web material is vanishing, to be lost forever. Those digital records and stories will prove very interesting in hundreds of years’ time. We are working with groups and universities to endeavour to create permanent national reservoirs of all this material. Our members are the experts at guiding tours, giving talks and supporting authors, historians and filmmakers, allowing them direct access to our resources and personnel. Now in our eighth year, we provide illustrated talks to many groups including organisations and institutes, colleges, schools, Probus, Rotary and Local History clubs. We can do these in person or online and in hybrid situations with an audience and online. We are planning a series of free online talks over winter - see the Events page of our website. If you’d like one of our talks delivered personally, please email us at tours@camp21.org.uk. There is a wealth of information for the public to view and download on our website at camp21.org.uk. C

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Cycle Crieff Charity SCO54428 - Our aim is to support all aspects of cycling in the area. We’re not a commercial business, we’re an inclusive community, for all.

What We Do - Routes, Repairs & Reuse/donations

Affordable access to cycling: Low-cost or free bikes are provided through donations, recycling & rebuilding. Need a bike but limited funds? We can help! Repairs & Workshop Support: A flexible community workshop offers servicing, self-repair space, guidance from highly qualified mechanics, plus donated new & pre-used parts such as lights, wheels, tyres etc. Routes & Riding Community: Rides focus on inclusion & social connection. Local routes and cuppas to longer challenges all offered by the community. Training & Education: ongoing ‘look after your bike’ workshops with families, individuals, Cubs, schools, refugees & Cadets. In-house training and Velotech funding. Volunteering! Want to contribute to your community? Flexible volunteer places available, full training and support. You get a free bike and kit! Crieff Cycle Community A’ (easy social), ‘B’ & ‘C’ Rides (plus time trials!) - There are regular bi-monthly social rides and rides instigated by local riders. The next bi-monthly social ride is on 8 November MTB with Rachel & Tracey and in addition a Remembrance ride. ‘Graviemore’ was a great success thanks to Ross and his pals and all riders joined the events. Rides were on the Friday, Sat & Sun! 18 riders enjoyed great conditions either on Gravel or MTBs. Community focus - We work with many groups but it’s lovely when others work to support the charity either through offering rides, bikes or time. Harry, Tom & Karol have decided to do a public presentation for the ‘Young Philanthropist Initiative’ in support of the Charity. If they are successful they will work with the Charity to help 10 young people receive a bike and kit. In addition they are working with riders of all ages, to include recipients on supported rides. The group met with the First Minister to highlight their work and community contribution. Finally - We always have a range of serviced and very cheap/free bikes available for the community. In addition we will have a couple of pre-xmas sales and be at the Morrison’s Xmas fayre. The stunning Basso has been bought by a local cyclist and the funds passed onto Cancer Research. Thanks for all of the interest and support. Please get in touch if you want to know more or get involved in our adventures! Visit our website https://cyclecrieff.scot/about.html Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067081600855 Email - cyclecrieff@yahoo.com 34

35

Crieff Community Council

After so many monthly Community Council (CC) meetings that reported ‘no update’ on the Drummond Arms and the Crieff Cludgie, the September and October gettogethers have really quickened the pace of both projects. The September meeting saw John Beveridge of Perth & Kinross Council (PKC) divulge that affordable housing was no longer a financially feasible option. Crieff ’s CC was thus asked to choose a small but representative group to discuss and recommend what should replace the Drummond after demolition. This recognition of the CC’s important role in the future of Crieff and its regeneration, was widely welcomed, and the requested group soon met and discussed the possible options that aligned with previously stated community wishes for the town centre. Very encouragingly, the seven-strong team was unanimous in its recommendation and, at the time of going to press on 12 October was expecting imminent discussions with PKC on the next steps. Progress does not just depend upon the CC of course, and PKC and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) will need to resolve their differences on façade retention, before HES will sanction further demolition of the B-listed building. The Crieff Cludgie project also reached an important milestone with the approval of its charitable status and Chairman Brian Wilton praised the relevant PKC departments and their officers for the considerable advice and input to the CC’s funding applications. Timings of the Cludgie construction works were not yet known but were hoped to be imminent. October’s CC meeting was also its AGM and election of officers. Brian Wilton was re-elected as Chairman, James Harrington as Treasurer & Data Controller. Laura Collins (CC’s planning guru) volunteered to become Secretary, an offer that was enthusiastically and immediately accepted - the first time the CC has had a secretary in

over three years. The CC introduced the concept of Crieff ’s Foodfest in 2023 and passed the baton to Experience Crieff who, with PKC funding have enlarged the event with the help of the CC’s Nikki Livett. A range of innovative offerings that capitalise on Crieff ’s’ ever-growing reputation as one of Scotland’s most underrated foodie hotspots. Well done Experience Crieff! Unlike the Halloween ‘Screech’ that the CC organised, the Jigsaw festival is yet to come. As Scotland’s first and only jigsaw festival, last year’s event was a resounding success with hundreds of visitors coming to Crieff to see and buy over 300 madeup jigsaws, content in the knowledge that there weren’t any missing pieces. One visitor had even been alerted to the festival by a relative in Jakarta who’d learned of it from social media! This year, it’s again in Crieff Parish Church, Friday, 13 November (10 am to 7 pm) and Saturday, 14 November (10 am to 4 pm). Hopefully there will be refreshments on offer on both days, a luxury tombola, a guess how many jigsaw pieces in a bottle, and a jigsaw stall from the town’s Fun Junction toy shop. The Festival’s special rigid but lightweight Correx jigsaw boards for 1,000 and 500pce puzzles will also be on sale. There will be an even greater spread of jigsaws this year with around 400 which will include an enlarged number for children and the elderly. As a reminder - the Parish Church is on the junction of Ferntower Road and Strathearn Terrace. Entry will be £2 and all profits will be donated to the Crieff Cludgie (SCO 55711).

36

Cllr Noah Khogali

Strathearn Ward - Conservative As we move into November, our thoughts turn to Remembrance Sunday, when everyone across Crieff, Comrie and St Fillans will come together to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to give us a future worth living. These occasions are an such an important opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of previous generations and, crucially, recognise those who continue to serve today, as well as their families. On a very different note, it was superb to see The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant in Crieff named the second-best restaurant in Scotland in The Times’ recent list of the country’s top 75 restaurants, as well as the best in Perthshire. It shouldn’t be news to anyone, as they already hold two Michelin stars, but this recognition is another fantastic achievement for the team. It also comes as Crieff celebrates its Food & Drink Festival, showcasing the fantastic local producers, independent businesses and hospitality venues we have across Strathearn. To have one of Scotland’s very best restaurants right here on our doorstep is something we can all be proud of, and it is wonderful to see Crieff continuing to build its reputation as a destination for outstanding hospitality. There is also some welcome news on the long-awaited Crieff to Comrie path. After many years of planning and hard work by the local community in particular, funding has now been secured for the first phase, with construction expected to get underway towards the end of November. The initial works will cover the section from the A85 near Tomperran towards Invermilton, with completion anticipated next spring. As always, if there are any local matters you wish to raise or if I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please feel free to contact me on - Telephone 01738 475000, email NKhogali@ pkc.gov.uk or at Perth & Kinross Council, 2 High Street, Perth PH1 5PH

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37

Jim Fairlie MSP Perthshire South & Kinross-shire - SNP

Living alongside our historic fast-flowing waters brings immense benefits - but as residents of the beautiful village of Comrie know only too well, it also brings immense challenges. That’s why, as your MSP, it has been a privilege to champion the Comrie Flood Protection Scheme and I was delighted to visit the village recently to see the £27 million project progress towards the finishing line. This major, long-awaited infrastructure development stands as a shining testament to what can be achieved when national and local government work together for communities. Funded and delivered jointly by the Scottish Government and Perth & Kinross Council, this project is an investment in human security, economic stability and long-term peace of mind. It will directly protect around 200 homes and businesses from the devastating impacts of future flood events. The residents of Comrie must be commended for their patience during the construction phase while the engineers and workers toiled diligently to deliver these vital defences. Together, we are ensuring that Comrie remains a beautiful, vibrant and, above all, safe place to live, work and visit for generations to come. The power of the local community once again came to the fore as I joined First Minister John Swinney and Councillor Richard Watters at Crieff Connexions charity and community hub during Challenge Poverty Week. In the heart of Strathearn, hubs like Crieff Connexions serve as a vital lifeline to translate people’s lived realities into practical community action. For a constituency like Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, a discussion on poverty cannot happen without an honest conversation about how people get from A to B. We heard from the local care worker who was ‘drained and demoralised’ having to catch a 5 am bus from Dundee for a full day’s work at Stracathro Hospital. She is one of a number of constituents who have benefited from the Transport to Employment scheme, funded by the Whole Family Support Fund as part of the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan. Thanks to this scheme, she now has support to take direct transport to her place of employment. This excellent collaboration brings together key regional bodies including Tactrans, NHS Tayside, PKAVS and Perth & Kinross Council’s Employability Partnership. Together, these groups are helping to make sure a lack of wheels doesn’t mean a lack of opportunity. Speaking to local people at the meeting, it is clear there is more we can do and I will be meeting with stakeholders to review the challenges and explore further options. If any readers need to get in touch with me, please do not hesitate to do so, by emailing jim.fairlie.msp@parliament.scot.

Crieff & Comrie Sight & Hearing enjoy tea and coffee, hear from local speakers, and share helpful hints and tips with Loss Support Groups

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others who understand the challenges of sight and hearing loss. Family members, friends and carers are also very welcome. Comrie Group - Every second Tuesday of the month, 10 am to 11.30 am. The Lounge, Cameron Court, Almond Place, Comrie, PH6 2BB 38

Crieff Group - In partnership with the Macular Society. First Monday of the month. 10 am to 12 noon. St Andrew’s Parish Church of Scotland, Strathearn Terrace, Crieff, PH7 3AQ. New members always welcome. We would also love to hear from anyone interested in volunteering locally or helping to raise funds to support the groups. For more information contact VisionPK; Telephone: 01738 626969; Email: info@ visionpk.org.uk

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Crieff Trefoil - Crieff Trefoil continues to meet throughout the year on the fourth Monday monthly - indoors over the winter and at various locations outdoors over the summer months. Our indoor autumn/ winter sessions began recently and are held at St Columba’s Episcopal Church, when meetings will once again this year be full of surprise activities. Each year we are tasked by UK Trefoil with attracting only one new member to each of our Guilds - could you be that one new member? Crieff Trefoil is a small, active, fun group but play an active part in the bigger Perth & Kinross County, Scotland and the UK with national and international opportunities, eg holidays at home and abroad, available for all members - why not give us a try? For further information Crieff Trefoil can be contacted by email at criefftrefoilguild@ gmail.com or by making an enquiry via the Trefoil Guild website www.trefoilguild. co.uk. Trefoil Guild Scotland and Trefoil Guild UK have public Facebook pages and are also on Instagram where you can see much of the fun activities we get up to you may be surprised! Crieff Lunch Club - Crieff Lunch Club is run under the auspices of the Royal Voluntary service and staffed by a brilliant group of volunteers from Crieff and district. We meet in Duchlage Court in Crieff every Thursday lunchtime in term time, and provide a 2 course lunch and tea and biscuits for a very modest cost. It is a great opportunity for folk living alone to come along, meet others and have a hot meal together. Transport to the lunch for those who live out with Duchlage Court can be arranged through Bertie bus. We are always looking for new clients and, of course, new volunteers to join our teams of volunteer helpers for about 2 hours, once a month. If you are interested in coming along or volunteering for the lunch club, please contact the RVS office in Perth on 01738 633975 or email perthsupportingyou@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.

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Crieff Drama Group - Remember, Remember the 5th of December! Saturday, 5 Decem-

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ber is the date for Crieff Drama Group’s short Christmas show for younger children. This year it’s entitled A Spanner in the Works written and directed by Fiona Wellstood. The Group strives to make its shows available to all, so tickets are a nominal £1 per seat and are bookable now. There’s no charge for infants who do not need their own seat. To book, either go online at www.crieffdramagroup. co.uk or pop into Fun Junction at 4 High Street, Crieff (cash only). Performances are at 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm at Strathearn Arts, Comrie Street. At all three shows there will be a special cash collection for Crieff at Christmas, the organisation that looks after and maintains the Christmas lights, so much a part of the Christmas celebrations in Crieff. The Group’s online booking system also incorporates a donation option so ‘cashless’ folk can donate too. As well as Santa and the Elves, expect to see a host of well-loved characters on stage plus some extra surprises. When we join them all at the North Pole, is everything going to plan? Definitely not! Productivity is down and there’s a backlog of presents to make and wrap by Christmas Eve. What will the elves do? Can Santa solve the problem with the help of his friend, Professor Sparks? And what happens when someone puts a spanner in the works? As usual at this traditional festive frolic, get ready to join in, shout out and singalong too.

Comrie Community Woodland

Our Woodland is thriving on a north-facing hill side 300 metres west of Cultybraggan Camp on south side of the road. The forty-five acre site was bought for the Community along with the Camp in 2007. Unique features are the irrigation system built in 1941 to supply water to the new POW camp below and the site’s overall shape - about 1 km long yet only 100 meters wide in places. It was used for sheep grazing till 2021 when twentyone thousand native trees were planted and many more since. Reviews and studies of trees, plants, fungi, birds, insects, mammals and other creatures have taken place and species count now exceeds 750! Responsible visitors, subject to Scottish Outdoor Access Code are always encouraged to report their own findings or just enjoy the site and views. Visitors see differences week by week from overall growth and natural effects of the seasons. Autumn colours can be spectacular. Looking beyond our woodland, you may see migrating birds purposeful flight across the sky. Third Sundays of each month are volunteering days when anyone is welcome to join us while we perform a variety of maintenance tasks. Projects include clearing paths, checking fencing, signage, bridges, benches and picnic tables and removal of vegetation threatening tree growth. We welcome volunteers of all ages and abilities with activities for children, accompanied by a responsible adult. Sessions start at 10 am and continue till about 3 pm with a break for lunch. We advise wearing sound, waterproof footwear and bringing a packed lunch and drinks. We have a good stock of all the tools needed and our regulars provide helpful guidance and instruction. There is limited parking at the site with plenty more at Cultybraggan Camp. See us online at www.facebook.com/groups/comriecommunitywoodland and direct any questions to woodland@comriedevtrust.org.uk. We look forward to seeing you! 42

Earnsong Comrie Community Choir

We meet every Monday, during school term in the White Church, in Comrie. As of Monday, 26 October our time to meet up changed to 7 pm until 9 pm. On Monday, 30 November we will be meeting in the Comrie Parish Church Hall at 7 pm until 9 pm, for one week only.

Notes for your diary

Sunday, 8 November - We are traveling to Kinross to be part of the Kinross Choirs. Monday, 9 November - Debra Salem will be our choir leader for this evening. Debra is a singer, songwriter so if you fancy joining us that evening, please come along. Our choir is very friendly and there is always a cuppa with either cake or biscuits half way through the evening. So come along and be part of our friendly choir, who love singing together. We would love to see you. Inner Link Club of Comrie - We meet at 10.30 am in the large Comrie Parish Church Hall on alternate Mondays starting Monday, 12 October. Do come and join us for a tea or coffee and chat before we hear our speaker’s talk. We will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Inner Link, Comrie. For more information please ring: 07927 318010.

Stay warm, safe

and cared for this winter at Dalnaglar Nursing Home, Crieff

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As we head into the colder months, we’re here to keep you warm, safe and looked after. You can enjoy the comfort and extra support we can give you, or simply relax in a safe place with hot meals, a brew, and a blether. It’s all right here for you in your community.

Whatever your winter needs, we can help. We’ll take care of everything to make sure you feel at home and truly cared for. Come along for a visit - we’d love to meet you!

Want to take a look? Call us on 01764 655231 or email Manager.Dalnaglar@bcgcares.co.uk @BCG Caring

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FRAMEWORKS (Formerly Aiton Fine Arts)

Gallery & Framing Mon - Fri 9 am - 1 pm, 2pm - 5pm Sat am - By Appointment Only 63 King Street Crieff PH7 3HB T: 01764 655423 E: frameworks63@hotmail.com

An Aberfeldy Watermill Bookshop Event: A Scottish Christmas with The Hebridean Baker Friday 27th November At 7pm In Aberfeldy Town Hall Join Coinneach for an evening of laughter and entertainment!

Tickets are £10 which includes a Welcome Drink and £5 off a copy of the new book.

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Booking is essential and tickets are available at The Watermill Bookshop or over the phone on 01887 822896. 44

Richmond Community - Our weekly health walk meets at Crieff Community Hospital, King Street, Crieff, at 10.30 am every Thursday. After each walk, participants are invited to gather in the day room for refreshments and conversation. The walks are beginner-friendly, with a shorter 30-45-minute route and a longer walk lasting just over an hour. Both are led by trained walk leaders, and the programme is Dementia Accredited. Our last monthly Health Walks on Tour for 2026 will take place on Thursday, 5 November. We will be visiting Perth for a walk alongside the river and then we will be visiting the Huntingtower Hotel for refreshments. We will meet at Crieff Community Hospital at 10.15 am for leaving at 10.30 am. To join the bus trips, please attend our regular Thursday walks. Our Friendship Group meets every second Friday at Crieff Community Hospital from 10.30 am to 12 noon. Upcoming sessions include bingo and games on the Friday, 13 November. Then, on Friday, 27 November, we will have a morning with Cary Hughes from Nature Connects making Christmas wreaths. Everyone is welcome to come along, join in, chat, and enjoy a cup of tea. Richmond Community also runs the Carers Café, held on the second Thursday of each month at Crieff Community Hospital. The next meeting will be on Thursday, 12 November. The café offers unpaid carers the chance to meet one another and speak with representatives from organisations including Perth & Kinross Council, PKAVS, and Carers Voice over tea, coffee, and biscuits. For more information on any of these activities, please contact Karen Hapka at karen@richmondcommunity.org or on 07587 088403.

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Crieff & Area National Women’s Register

New season gets off to a lively start - We began in September with our annual Planning Meeting, when members got together to plan a varied programme for the year ahead. With talks, discussions, books, walks, lunches and outings in the pipeline, there should be plenty to keep us busy. Our first regular meeting, Topics in a Bag, certainly got us talking. Members picked topics at random and the conversation ranged far and wide - from a row over a dog ban at a Hebridean community café

and the everyday items denied to people in Gaza, to £600 toothbrushes, what every child should know before leaving school, and the social conventions we’d happily do away with. We were all talked out by the end! We followed that with a more informal coffee morning at Crieff Visitor Centre, giving members a chance simply to meet, chat and catch up, as well as providing a relaxed welcome for some new faces. That variety is very much what NWR is about. We’re a friendly group of women who enjoy interesting conversation, learning something new and, just as importantly,

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each other’s company. Our meetings might involve a lively discussion, a guest speaker, a book, a quiz or something completely different, alongside more informal social get-togethers. Crieff & Area NWR meets regularly from September to June and we’re always delighted to welcome new members. If you’re curious about NWR and would like to find out more - or are interested in joining us - visit www.nwr.org.uk, where you can get in touch with your local group.

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Comrie & St Fillans Music Circle Subscription

Meetings are held at the Rural Hall, Nurses Lane, Comrie. All start between 12 pm and 12.30 pm on Tuesdays (except for the 2nd one in each month) and there is a light lunch before the subject for the day. We finish no later than 4 pm. Our autumn programme, consisting of audio and Comrie & video presentations by St Fillans Music Circle some of our members, is: Tuesday, 3 November - Alison Hunter My Favourite Schubert Tuesday, 17 November - Graziella Luhmann - Music from the USA Tuesday, 24 November - Carolyn McKeggie - Birds! Tuesday, 1 December - Jan Southorn Shakespeare Music Tuesday, 15 December - Christmas Party Requests We are a friendly club, open to all ages, and all are welcome. Membership costs £55 for autumn and £45 for spring. There is also the opportunity to donate £1 at each meeting which goes to support our local talent such as Comrie Kids Strings. Like most clubs, we are looking for new members. An introductory meeting is free. Please come along and give us a try. For further information, please contact Graziella Luhmann on 07500 083827. Comrie Probus Club - For all meetings we shall meet at the Comrie Parish Church Hall at 10.30 am for tea and coffee followed by the speaker of the day terminating at 12 noon. We shall commence the first of our 6 meetings on the 7 October with the last meeting on the 16 December. Dates are as follows 4 November - David Bushby - Pacific Crossing 18 November - Jonathan Sainsbury Keeping authentic to my vision 2 December - Jimmy Denholm Architecture 16 December - Andrew Scott - Kitchen Demo and Christmas Lunch Recommencing on the 13 January 2027 with 6 more speakers, to be confirmed. 48

remains unchanged at £40 for the 12 meetings and we are open to both Male and Female members, all are welcome so come and give us a try. If further information is required, please contact either Judith Rogers on 07772967160 or Malcolm Gregory on H 01764670493 or M 07752498187 Crieff Choral Group - Crieff Choral Group’s winter concert will take place on Saturday, 28 November in Comrie Parish Church. The performance will feature a selection of favourites by, among others, Tallis, Mendelssohn and Brahms, all chosen for their rich melodic texture and gentle harmony. The choir will be joined by soprano soloist Colleen Nicoll and accompanied by Gordon Murch on the piano. The concert starts at 7 pm, with doors open at 6.30 pm. Tickets are available through Eventbrite, from choir members and on the door, priced at £15 for adults. School-age children are free when accompanied by an adult. There will also be a cash only hamper raffle. After the concert, the choir will be back at rehearsals on Monday evenings at Strathearn Arts, 7.30 pm, preparing for their next concert in April 2027. To find out more, visit the group’s website at crieffchoral.co.uk, check out their Facebook page, or get in touch with the secretary.

Strathearn Horticultural Society

Thanks to all the exhibitors who took part in our flower show and to everyone who came along to support us. Our AGM will be on Monday, 9 November in Baptist church hall Addison Terrace Crieff 7pm

Dunkeld and Birnam Art and Crafts Fair

The Christmas Dunkeld and Birnam Art and Crafts Fair takes place in The Duchess Anne Hall, The Cross, Dunkeld on Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 November. Opening times: Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, 12 pm to 5pm. Lots of unique crafts. Demonstrations and free entry.

Painting and Decorating

MIKE MCDOUGALL AND SON MIKE MCDOUGALL AND SON Painting & Decorating Contact Phone: 01567 823177 | Mobile: 07775 832603 Email: mikemcdougall1968@hotmail.co.uk Address: Schiehallion, Manse Road, Killin, FK21 8UY Contact Phone: 01567 823177 | Mobile: 07775 832603 Email: mikemcdougall1968@hotmail.co.uk Address: Schiehallion, Manse Road, Killin, FK21 8UY

Madderty Village Hall Christmas Fayre Saturday December 5, 2026 10am to 1pm

Lots of lovely stalls including our finest local arts and crafts, home baking, food & drink, gifts and cards Cafe serving tea, coffee and festive bakes To find out more or book a stall, contact: enquiries@madderty.org.uk Madderty Village Hall, St Davids, Madderty, Crieff, PH7 3PJ 49

Brass Central Strathearn - We’re busy rehearsing and looking forward to a busy few months ahead! On Saturday, 7 November, we’ll be supporting the Royal British Legion during Remembrance Weekend in James Square, Crieff, from 10.30am. It’s always an honour to take part in this important community event. Then, on 26 November, we’re delighted to be joining the Kinross Kacophony Orchestra for a joint concert at Loch Leven Community Campus as part of the Kinross-shire Winter Festival. We also have a range of festive performances lined up: 21 November - Muthill Christmas Lights 28 November - Crieff Christmas Lights 5 December - St Dominic’s Christmas Fair 12 December - Co-op, Aldi & The Steading 20 December - Christmas Concert, Dunning We’d love to see you at one of our events. Please come along and support your local community band! And if you’ve ever fancied playing with us, new members of all ages and abilities are always welcome. Get in touch: info@brasscentralstrathearn.co.uk

Crieff Camera Club - Crieff Camera Club meets

in the small hall, Crieff Parish Church (St Andrew’s Halls), Strathearn Terrace on the first and third Thursday on every month (September to March inclusive) at 7.15 pm for a 7.30 pm start. Tom Ryan will give two presentations on Thursday, 19 November - ‘Through Glass’ followed by ‘Venice after Dark’. Submissions to the theme competition will be judged by Roy Robertson at the meeting on Thursday, 3 December. There will be no meeting on Thursday, 17 December. The membership fee is £40 for the session plus £1 per meeting which includes tea and biscuits. Your first meeting is free. Beginners and experienced photographers are welcome.

Crieff Parish Church Guild - The Crieff Parish Church Guild has a varied programme of meetings and activities planned for the coming months. Meetings are held in the Church Hall unless otherwise stated. The programme is as follows: Wednesday, 11 November - Speaker on Cult y Braggan Wednesday, 25 November - Buttons & Bows, Margaret Wednesday, 16 December - Christmas Party Wednesday, 27 January - Coffee or Tea at 10.30 am in the Church Hall Wednesday, 10 March - CrossReach speaker Wednesday, 24 March - Moyra Rodd, Crafts Wednesday, 14 April - Crieff Guild, to be confirmed Wednesday, 28 April - Speaker from CHAS Wednesday, 12 May - Speaker from Christian Aid Wednesday, 26 May - AGM and decision on projects Bingo Night and Raffle in aid of Rideaway charity - The Rideaway charity provides equine therapy for local school pupils. Join us on Friday, 6 November for a fun evening of bingo! Fabulous prizes and a great raffle! Kids’ game at the break. Doors open at 6.30 pm. Games start at 7.30 pm. British Legion, Crieff. All proceeds go to support our therapeutic riding sessions. We are a 100% volunteer organisation and rely 100% on donations and fundraising. A huge thank you to the British Legion for hosting us. Comrie & District Men’s Shed - The Comrie and District Men’s Shed incorporating She Shed is a welcoming local charity space for making, learning and connecting. Our accommodation has a range of woodworking, metalworking and craft facilities which allows development of practical skills in a friendly and supportive environment. We are actively looking for new members of any age over 18, who want to come and enjoy learning or teaching new skills. Alternatively you might just want to come and join us in a cuppa and a chat. At present we open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am to 2 pm/4 pm. We are also now open on Thursday (Projects) and Friday (Social/Games) evenings for everyone from 6 pm to 10 pm. Why not come out and see us at Hut 65 at Cultybraggan Camp. We held an enjoyable Race Night in October at the White Church in Comrie and would like to thank our Race Sponsors, Kelvin TOP-SET Ltd; Comrie Croft; Crieff Financial & Mortgage Centre Ltd; Kelly Accounting; Rob Roy Homes and Scotia Yarns. Thanks to all who bought a horse and those who made the effort to come out on a rainy evening and make it a success. Active group projects now include making “combs” to accompany mink trap rafts that are used as within the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative and construction of a jetty for a local pond. Several members continue with their own projects while others just pop in for a chat and cuppa. There are no costs for membership of the Shed. Look for our adverts elsewhere in this magazine, see our web site: comriemensshed.weebly.com, email: comriemensshed@gmail.com or just pop in during hours. We look forward to welcoming you. 50

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at the rate of nine per cent per annum, from date composer Georg Philipp Telemann as well East of Eden: The Steinbeck Family & David Jack Connection until paid semi-annually, and if not so paid, such as some of his famous contemporaries. As

The streaming channel Netflix is currently showing a serial adaptation of East of Eden, the famous novel by American writer John Steinbeck, starring amongst others, rising UK actress Florence Pugh. The book and television series are set in the town of Salinas where Steinbeck was born and raised. Steinbeck’s maternal grandfather Samuel Hamilton emigrated to the USA from Northern Ireland in 1846, arriving in California in 1851. He married Elizabeth Fagen (Fagan), known as Eliza in 1849, eventually moving to Salinas in Monterey County in 1870. The couple’s daughter Olive Hamilton met and married Steinbeck’s father (also called John). In Steinbeck’s novel, one of his main characters is loosely based on his grandfather Samuel, and the character Sam Hamilton features prominently in the television series, the part played by ubiquitous Irish actor Ciarán Hinds. Steinbeck’s grandparents and parents lived in Salinas at a time when former Crieff man David Jack (1822-1909) ruled the roost economically in Salinas and wider Monterey County. Jack has featured in previous issues of this publication. In early episodes of the television series the Abbot Hotel in Salinas is featured. This hotel was purchased in 1873 by local businessman Carlisle Abbot, who reconstructed it and named it for himself. Abbot subsequently sold the hotel to the aforementioned David Jack before moving to Arizona. As a local farmer, it was almost inevitable that Steinbeck’s grandfather would come into contact with David Jack, the County’s largest and most active land owner and speculator, as well as moneylender. Evidence of contact with Jack can be found in a promissory note from Samuel and Eliza Hamilton to Jack on May 8, 1899, held at Stanford University in California: “18 months after this date, for value received, we jointly and severally, promise to pay to David Jack, or order, five thousand dollars in gold coin, with interest thereon from the date hereof, in like coin,

we reported in last month’s Quair, several members of the Strathearn Music Society were fortunate to attend a ‘Making Music’ concert featuring this ensemble at Dunblane Cathedral in August and readily testified to their skill and talent in producing a perfect musical programme. As always, this concert will be held at Crieff Parish Church on the corner of Ferntower Road and Strathearn Terrace where the doors will open at 7 pm, with the concert starting at 7.30 pm. Tickets priced £16 (Students £5) can be obtained at the door or via Eventbrite (a small booking fee applies in the latter case), but anyone under 18 is admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Following the November performance, there will be a short break before we resume our concerts on Wednesday, 27 January when Percussi Aeris, featuring the interesting combination of Chris Flynn on euphonium and Paula O’Malley on percussion. More details about this event will appear in the December edition of The Quair. If you are looking for more information about any of our concerts or other activities, then visit the Strathearn Music Society’s website at www.concertsincrieff.co.uk rich and diverse repertoire of the classi- or follow us on Facebook and X @concal saxophone. Their programme featured certscrieff. the works of composers Bach, Bizet, Borne, Debussy, Jolivet, Piazzolla, Ravel and Schulhoff, and provided our audience with a wonderful evening of music. Now we are eagerly awaiting our next concert on Wednesday, 25 November when we will welcome members of the famous Glasgow-based Telemann Ensemble with Neil Gillies on flute, Rona MacLeod on oboe, Kath Nagl on bassoon, Sharon Doyle on violin, Harold Harris on cello and Leslie MacLeod on harpsichord, performing a wide repertoire of classical works from 18th century baroque interest to be added to the principal, and become an act thereof and bear like interest. At the option of the holder of this note if any instalment of interest is not paid when due, then the whole principal sum shall become forthwith due and payable.” Samuel Hamilton Eliza Hamilton John Steinbeck referenced two of David Jack’s family in a couple of his works. His son Romie in the novel Sweet Thursday, a sequel to his better-known Cannery Row, and daughter Margaret, in the short story “The Harness”, in his novel, The Long Valley. The original note can be viewed here: https://purl.stanford.edu/np420qz6765 Many thanks to our regular local contributor for this article - Editor Strathearn Music Society - Our 2026/27 season continued splendidly last month with the Scottish-based Scholfield Clarke Duo which featured Richard Scholfield on saxophone, accompanied by Iain Clarke on piano, together showcasing the

52

Page Turners book group - We are a small, friendly book

group that meets in Crieff on the second Thursday of the month. For more details please contact: valerieincrieff@gmail.com or phone 01764 656063. Army Cadets - Ever thought about giving the Army Cadets a go? We are a youth organisation for children aged 12 to 18, run by volunteers, giving children opportunities to enhance their sports, try new things, and learn skills out in the field. We are also active DofE leaders, supporting everyone wishing to take part. Currently parading on a Wednesday in Meadow Place, Crieff, from 7 pm to 9 pm or in Auchterarder on Mondays from 7 pm to 9 pm. We are always looking for girls and boys to join and see what we can offer you. Check out our poster to the left with a QR code, which will give anyone who is interested more information to see what it’s all about. We hope to see many of you soon!

­ W www.corbeniccamphill.co.uk corbeniccamphill corbeniccamphillcommunity 53

Strathearn Ramblers Walks

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Sunday, 8 November - Stroll. Birks of Aberfeldy and Dunskaig. 4 miles. This stroll starts at the square in Aberfeldy and walks through the lower Birks to the upper Birks where paths circuit a gorge. There is some road walking and some climbing of steps up to the Falls of Moness. The stroll returns more gently through birch woods and pasture overlooking Aberfeldy. Leave Comrie Laggan car park at 10 am, and Crieff Co-op car park at 10.15 am. Meet at Aberfeldy Square 11 am. what3words ///driveways.vibrating.unto. Pay drivers £4. Sunday, 22 November - Walk. Auchingarrich Circular. 8 miles. This walk starts at Auchingarrich and continues with a short boggy climb up to the Torlum path, where the views are stunning, before dropping down to the Balloch road. A short road walk then takes us to the Glascorrie road, where a path will take us through woodland to a short road walk back down to Auchingarrich where we can stop for coffee and cake or soup! Leave Crieff Coop car park at 8.45 am, and Comrie Laggan car park at 9 am. Meet at Auchingarrich car park at 9.15 am. what3words ///insisting.changed.claw. Pay drivers £1. Sunday, 6 December - Xmas Stroll and Lunch. This will be a gentle there-and-back stroll from Comrie, with refreshments along the way, and then Xmas lunch. Fancy dress welcome. Leave Crieff Co-op car park at 9.45 am, and Comrie Laggan car park at 10 am where the walk will start. Further details will be sent out separately re price and booking nearer the time. NB. For further information about the ramblers or any of the walks, please contact Neil Harrower at Strathearn.ramblers@gmail. com or 07922 228913. 54

FESTIVE FUN AT C R I E F F H Y D RO

Join us for a packed festive season of family fun including ice skating under the stars, the much-loved Dick Whittington pantomime, a magical visit with Santa, and a free festive light trail through the Victorian Gardens.

Book your tickets today

CRIEFFHYDRO.COM 55

Logos Youth Project - For over 35 years Logos Youth Project has provided a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for young people living across Strathearn and Strathallan. From our hubs in Crieff and Auchterarder we deliver a range of activities including drop-in, after-school and lunchtime sessions, evening sessions, holiday activities, youth awards and much more, all of which are free to attend. Whilst some of our work is funded by Perth and Kinross Council, many people forget that we are still a charity and rely upon donations of time, skills and financial contributions to continue developing and delivering our service. Logos takes a personalised approach to each and every young person, valuing them as individuals and supporting them to reach their potential, body, mind and soul. Logos is a Christian charity that adopts a faith-in-action approach, working with young people from all walks of life, regardless of their personal beliefs, believing that fundamentally all young people deserve to be loved, supported and encouraged to thrive throughout their adolescent years. As part of our work, Logos hosts a “Youth

Voice” group, where young people are not only encouraged to share their views on matters in the project, their communities and the wider world, but also supported to work collaboratively to find real and positive solutions for the challenges they are facing. If you’d like to volunteer at Logos, please contact logosyouthbms@hotmail.co.uk or if you’d like to support us financially, please scan the QR code below. Charity Registration No. SC014482 Chris’s Gigs - We are delighted to welcome Kinnaris Q - the Queens of Trad to Comrie. Kinnaris Q are four dynamic, talented women who have forged an iconic sound like no other. They remain faithful to their acoustic traditional roots while pushing the boundaries of innovation. They are at the forefront of the contemporary traditional Scottish music scene and are renowned for their up-

beat, uplifting and energetic music. Come and be energised by four sparkling women with their compelling, powerful, fresh, euphoric, raw, enigmatic and highly emotive music. Saturday, 21 November - Comrie White Church. 8 pm. Tickets £20 from Hansen’s Kitchen and Ticket Tailor (search for Chris’s Gigs on Ticket Tailor).

The White Church Winter Craft Fair Celebrating 25 Years of Local Creativity! Join us at Comrie’s White Church for our much-loved Annual Winter Craft Fair on Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 November! Now in its 25th year, this cherished event continues to showcase the incredible talent of over 20 local artists and makers across two festive-filled days. Discover a stunning selection of handcrafted treasures, including candles, crochet, ceramics, paintings, prints, glasswork, festive décor, and an array of unique gifts and accessories - perfect for early Christmas shopping! Enjoy delicious homemade refreshments all served by the Scottish Women’s Institute (SWI) the ideal spot to take a break and soak in the community spirit. There will be a fantastic raffle with amazing prizes, all in support of the SWI! Whether you’re a returning visitor or a first-timer, there’s always something new and inspiring to discover. Come along and celebrate the creativity thriving right on our doorstep. The White Church, Comrie, PH6 2DW. Saturday, 7 November 10am - 4pm Sunday, 8 November 12pm - 4pm

A fabulously festive weekend for all ....

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AN EVENING ON BRUAR MOUNTAIN

Private Film Screening & Late-Night Shopping Thursday 10th December 2026 5pm - 8pm Join us for late night Christmas shopping and an exclusive appearance and film screening by the Turner twins, who have tested natural fibres against modern fabrics by climbing Mera Peak wearing replicas of mountaineer George Mallor y’s kit from 1924. Proudly screening the film before its small screen debut, the twins will also be here to answer your questions.

Film Screening - The Turner Twins

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Our charming atrium will function as ‘base camp’ for an evening of adventure. Enjoy watching the Turner Twins’ 27-minute film, with complementar y festive refreshments, followed by a live Q&A. The event will conclude at 6:30pm, with plenty of time left to do some Christmas shopping. Spaces are strictly limited, so please RSVP via our website.

Late Night Shopping

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If you prefer Christmas treats to snowy peaks, join us from 5:00 for Christmas shopping, along with delicious festive food from our Highland Winter Warmers cabin and our legendar y Barbeque. You could even complete your entire shop whilst your par tner enjoys the screening!

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