The Crieff & Comrie Quair by Alistair Barr

The Crieff & Comrie Quair TM

Join the BIG conversation about Crieff's future...

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The Crieff & Comrie Quair

IN AUCHTERARDER

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tel/text: 07436 793785 e: crieffandcomrie@thequair.com w: www.thequair.scot September brings with it a welcome return to routine. Schools are back after the summer break, and across Crieff, Comrie and the surrounding villages, clubs, societies and community groups are once again in full swing. Whether your interests lie in sport, music, art, gardening, history, walking or volunteering, there are countless opportunities to get involved, make new friends and enjoy everything our local community has to offer. As life settles into its autumn rhythm, it is worth reflecting on how fortunate we are to live in this beautiful part of Perthshire. Surrounded by wonderful countryside and welcoming communities, we have opportunities to enjoy the outdoors while benefiting from the many organisations that enrich our lives socially, emotionally and physically. Much of this is made possible by volunteers who generously give their time to keep local traditions alive and ensure there is something for everyone. Although Christmas may still seem some way off, September is when many local groups, charities and businesses begin preparing for the festive season. Fairs, concerts, markets and fundraising events are already being planned, and before long our diaries will begin to fill. If your organisation is arranging a Christmas event, now is the perfect time to tell the community about it. The Crieff & Comrie Quair is pleased to publish news, event details and photographs from local clubs, charities and community organisations free of charge, helping to spread the word throughout the PH6 and PH7 postcode areas. We also encourage our readers to support the local businesses whose advertising helps make this magazine possible. Thank you to everyone who contributes to, advertises in and reads The Crieff & Comrie Quair. We wish you a happy September and look forward to sharing more of your community news in the months ahead. listair and Linda

The Crieff & Comrie Quair is an open access monthly magazine which is delivered FREE to over 6,350 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 13,500 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 October 2026 edition is noon on Wednesday, 9 September. The Magazines are due to be distributed week commencing Monday, 28 September 2026. 4

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Crieff ’s Fibro Warriors - Crieff ’s Fibro Warriors is a support group for anyone suffering from Fibromyalgia in the Strathearn area. We have a Facebook group and we meet in Crieff Baptist church on Tuesdays at 1.30 pm. For more information contact Claire Scott at clairegrieve@hotmail.co.uk.

Crieff Choral Group - Rehearsals for Crieff Choral Group’s winter concert will begin on Monday, 7 September, at 7.30 pm in Strathearn Arts, Comrie Street, Crieff. This year’s winter concert, which will take place in November in Comrie Parish Church, will feature a selection of classical choir favourites. New members are always welcome, with no audition required. Rehearsals take Perth Citizens Advice Bureau place every Monday at 7.30 pm. You can reach Perth CAB for Advice on: FREEP- To find out more, visit the group’s website at crieffchoral.co.uk, check out hone: 0808 196 9440 - 10am - 3pm Monday their Facebook page, or get in touch with the secretary. to Friday. (Free from landlines and mobiles) E: advice@perthcab.org.uk W: www.perthcab.org.uk RSABI (previously The Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution) - RSABI is a unique Scottish charity with roots going back to 1897. To learn a little more about how RSABI operates, please see the website at www.rsabi.org.uk

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The Dunkeld and District Strathspey and Reel Society

The Dunkeld and District Strathspey and Reel Society meet every Monday, during term time, in The Royal School of Dunkeld, between 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm, where we enjoy playing traditional, and contemporary Scottish music together, under the guidance of our musical director and conductor Pete Clark. We are a friendly group, and welcome players of all instruments that work within an orchestra setting. There is the option to either join as full member, or just come along when you can and pay on the night. For information, or to learn more about our group, our website is www. dunkeldstrathspeyandreel.org Dunkeld and Birnam Art and

Crafts Fair

The Duchess Anne Hall on Saturday, 5 September from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sunday, 6 September from 12 pm to 5 pm. New faces and old friends. Demonstrations. Free entry.

Bertie Bus - Bertie Bus is a vital community service supporting individuals in Crieff and the surrounding area who may face mobility challenges or find it difficult to get out independently. Through weekly outings, library runs, shopping trips, and special events, Bertie helps service users remain active, connected, and involved in local life. For many passengers, these outings provide much more than a lift from one place to another. They offer friendship, independence, conversation, and the chance to enjoy experiences that might otherwise be difficult to access. Powered by a dedicated team of volunteers, Bertie Bus continues to strengthen community bonds across the Strath. The impact of volunteers - Events like the summer lunch are only possible thanks to the commitment of volunteers. Whether helping behind the scenes, assisting passengers, driving the bus, or supporting regular outings, volunteers play a central role in everything Bertie Bus does. The summer

lunch is a good example of that spirit in action. It brings together practical help, careful organisation, and plenty of goodwill to create an enjoyable day for service users and volunteers alike. Earnsong Choir - The choir started again on Monday, 24 August. We meet every Monday, during school term in the White Church, in Comrie, 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. So come and join our friendly choir, who love singing together. We would love to see you.

Looking for an afternoon out?

We are a small Whist Club, who meet on a Wednesday afternoon in Cameron Court. So why not come along, just turn up, and join us for a friendly game of whist, 2 o’clock until 4 o’clock. You may not always win a prize but you will always get tea/ coffee, cake and biscuits. There is no membership fee but £2 fee each week.

Comrie Community Woodland

Our Woodland is thriving on a north-facing hillside 300 metres west of Cultybraggan Camp on the 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 until 2021 when twenty thousand native trees were planted, with hundreds more planted since. Reviews and studies of trees, plants, fungi, birds, insects, mammals and other creatures have taken place and the species count now exceeds 700! Responsible visitors, subject to the 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. Our regular summer Woodland Weekly Wanders happen every Thursday at 7.15 pm when everyone is welcome to join at the shelter near the main gate. More details on Facebook. 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 until 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!

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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

the town. Let Mark know about your efwhen they can and help forts and you’ll be added to the Crieff for as long as they are Gleam Team social media posts via Crieff able. Our working seaCommunity Council. son runs from March to Please be assured, every little piece of litter October. binned helps keep Crieff a clean and beauIf you are interested and tiful place to live, work and enjoy. would like more information, please contact us at comrieincol- Next Crieff litter-picking dates - SunSunday, 6 September, Saturday, 19 Sepour@gmail.com or call 07906 292565. Crieff Needs You - The Crieff Gleam tember, Sunday, 4 October, Saturday, 17 Team is a community group of volunteers October, Sunday, 1 November, Saturmaking their contribution to helping keep day, 14 November, Sunday, 29 Novemthe streets and green spaces of Crieff litter ber, Saturday, 12 December free ... something we all want to see and For further details, please email Mark Hunter at markhunter0706@gmail.com. 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 ap- Strathearn Harriers - Full details of all club races and events are on the club webpreciated. All equipment will be provided - gloves, site at www.strathearnharriers.org.uk. The bin bags, a visibility waistcoat and litter- club welcomes runners of all standards. pick grabbers - so there is no need to bend Crieff and Comrie are great places for rundown should you have any mobility issues. ning, particularly if you like trails and hills. 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

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Strathearn Arts - Strathearn Arts (Strathearn Artspace SC044319)

Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries is a registered charity which aims to promote and adComrie Library vance the arts, culture and heritage through participa- Bookbug sessions - Held every Friday morning from 9.30 am to tion and enjoyment of the creative arts. 10 am. These fun, interactive sessions are suitable for pre-schoolSee www.strathearnarts.org for more details. ers from baby years. Why not drop the older children at school or nursery, then pop along to the library with your wee ones? No need to book. Café Books - Do you love to read? Join us at Café Books to chat about new authors, share your own favourite books and be inspired to read more. Café Books is held at Comrie Library on the last Thursday of the month from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Family history - Are you interested in researching your family history? Join our Family History Group. This informal session meets every four weeks on a Thursday afternoon from 2 pm. Using your own device is recommended, but we do have two network computers available if required. These sessions are free. Please contact the library for more information. Books on Wheels - For individuals in the Comrie and St Fillans area who cannot get out and about to visit the library, books can be delivered straight to your door each month. For more information, please get in touch with Comrie Library. AK Bell Library, Perth - Perth’s AK Bell Library will close to the public and staff from Monday, 24 August to Monday, 14 September for essential maintenance work. During this time, the building’s original boilers will be removed, meaning the library will be inaccessible throughout the three-week closure. Library users can continue to browse and borrow books, use services such as People’s Network PCs and use Princh printing at the 11 other Culture Perth & Kinross libraries, including Auchterarder Library, Comrie Library and Strathearn Community Library. Full details of the closure of the AK Bell Library can be found at www.culturepk.org.uk/akbellclosure. Opening hours - Thursday: 2 pm to 7 pm; Friday: 10 am to 1 24 hour callout pm; Saturday: 10 am to 1 pm Perthshire Contact us - 01764 657860; comrielibrary@culturepk.org.uk Comrie Cancer Support - We are a group which meets regularly to offer mutual support to anyone affected by cancer. We Call have coffee etc., we chat, we share, and we learn from each other’s experiences through what can sometimes be a difficult time for Email rdhlocksmith@hotmail.com the sufferer, their spouse, and for other friends and family memFacebook bers. 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 You can see all of our advertising Dundurn Church Hall Annexe - 5.30 pm - 7 pm. details, and read The Quair Magazines Any further information can be obtained by calling: Agnes Drysonline, at www.thequair.scot dale on 07732 345675 or Lorna Ramsay on 07789 9878385.

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Friends of Crieff Cemetery - While researching the

Front Cover Picture

gravestones in Crieff Cemetery, we found some further interesting history at another burial site elsewhere with connections to Crieff. Within the churchyard walls of The Parish Church of St Cuthbert’s in Edinburgh lies the grave of Thomas Morison, the founder and benefactor of Morrison’s Academy in Crieff. Born in Muthill in 1761, Thomas Morison had strong family connections to Crieff, as his mother was a native of the town. He trained as a stonemason and worked in Auchterarder before moving to Edinburgh, where he established his own highly successful building business. Morison played a significant role in the development of Edinburgh’s Georgian New Town and is credited with carrying out building work on a substantial portion of this prestigious expansion of the city. Despite his professional success, Morison never forgot his roots. In 1820, while searching for a suitable site for an educational institution he hoped to establish, he died before his vision could be realised. Following his death, the trustees of his estate decided that the school should be built in the area of his birth, leading to the foundation of Morrison’s Academy in Crieff. The purpose of the institution was clearly set out in Morison’s will. He instructed his trustees to: ‘Erect and endow an institution or institutions as to them shall appear best calculated to promote the interests of mankind, having a particular regard to the education of the youth and the diffusion of knowledge.’ Sources: British Newspaper Archive; Our Heritage, Morrison’s Academy

Our great thanks to Morrison’s Academy for sending us this month’s lovely cover image. The photograph was taken by Malcolm Cochrane. 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.

New School Year, New Working Routine at Can Do Crieff ?

With the schools back and summer coming to an end, many people are getting back into their usual routines. For those who work from home, this can be a good opportunity to consider whether a change of workspace could work better for them. Can Do Crieff provides a shared workspace in the heart of the town, used by local people, freelancers and those working remotely. It offers an opportunity to work locally rather than from home or further afield, while also providing the social interaction that can sometimes be missing when working alone. Can Do Crieff is a social enterprise, with income from the workspace helping to support the work of Crieff Community Trust and Strathearn Arts. So, by choosing to work locally at CDC, members are also contributing to the wider community. Find out more at www.candocrieff.com or message us via candocrieff@gmail.com and we will be happy to show you around.

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Crieff Rotary - Rotarians were a bit concerned in July about the devastating wildfire across parts of the Cairngorm National Park, which had led to the shortterm evacuation of part of the village of Nethybridge in Strathspey. This was because, as reported in last month’s Quair, we had sent three youngsters from Crieff High School off to the Abernethy Adventure Centre on Speyside for their week with the RYLA (Rotary Young Leaders Award) challenge - and that centre is located less than a mile from Nethybridge. Thankfully, it turns out that the Abernethy complex was not threatened by the fire and, indeed, we were very pleased to learn that, through the tireless efforts of the many firefighters and other volunteers, there had not been any damage to properties in the local village. Our RYLA candidates are all now safely home and back at school, but we are hoping to tempt them to one more visit to a Rotary meeting to tell us how they got on and share any photos they may have taken during their various exciting activities. Later this year, we will be accepting applications from anyone who will be aged 16 or 17 on Wednesday, 30 June 2027 to attend the 2027 RYLA event, with interviews being conducted in December. Further details can be found on the Rotary District 1010 (North of Scotland) website at: www.ryla1010.com/ rotary-club-information which reveals that the girls’ camp will be from 3 to 10 July and the boys’ camp from 10 to 17 July next summer. We will report next month on our important Charity AM/AM Golf Day at Crieff Golf Club, where more than 20 teams were scheduled to compete for our superb trophy while helping us raise valuable funds to bolster our charity account. As always, the aim of every Rotarian is to help those who are somewhat disadvantaged compared with ourselves, but we still need more like-minded people to join us and those who do will find it both reward-

ing and fun to be a Rotarian! this concert, as well as our next one on Crieff Rotarians continue to meet twice a Wednesday, 14 October which will feamonth at the friendly Meadow Inn in Bur- ture Richard Scholfield on saxophone and rell Street. For further information about Iain Clarke on piano, who as the ScholfCrieff Rotary, please scan this QR code, or ield-Clarke Duo will be showcasing the visit its website, or email the Secretary at rich and diverse repertoire of the classical Secretary@crieff.rotary1010.org. saxophone. Strathearn Music Society - Our new, If you are looking for more information blue 2026-27 brochure is now being dis- about any of our concerts or other activitributed to members and a copy can be ties, then visit the Strathearn Music Sociobtained on application via the Strathearn ety’s website at www.concertsincrieff.co.uk Music Society’s website at www.concertsin- or follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter) crieff.co.uk. There will be a classical cham- @concertscrieff. ber-music concert once a month, apart Photograph - Djordje and Andrea Gajic from December, from September through to March on a Wednesday evening, plus a special event on a Sunday afternoon next April and a café-style jazz evening on a Friday in June. As usual, the venue on each occasion will be Crieff Parish Church at the corner of Ferntower Road and Strathearn Terrace. The season tickets allowing attendance at the first six concerts for the price of just four are on sale and can be obtained at the door ahead of each concert or via an application when using our website. Crieff and Strathearn Museum We will start our new season on Wednesday, 16 September with the exciting vioCross Paths with History lin/accordion duo ADlibitum bringing us popular pieces from Albéniz, Bach, Majku- CRIEFF & STRATHEARN MUSEUM siak, Ravel, Schnittke, Semionov and Vivaldi. Violinist Andrea Gajic and accordionist Djordje Gajic were originally booked for Becoming a Member: £15 per annum doorsto only open Crieff Volunteering: & Strathearn MuseumOur are delighted say thatstay they have our March 2026 concert but had to withagreedthanks a Heritage walkdedicated in co-operation with The Drover’s toTrail our volunteers. Visitdraw, so they are now as eager as ourselves Tryst, to take place on Saturday 17th July. This special walk will ing: Come in and share your own stories to be performing in Crieff this month. highlight several of the historic places in Crieff, sometimes where of Strathearn. Please come highlighting in and talk to us. At Crieff Parish Church, the doors will terrible things have happened, sometimes where have made great strides to improve life for us all. The walk open at 7 pm with the concert starting people at St James Episcopal Church Muthill will be led by our own Marnie Gauld and David Ferguson. To book 7.30 pm. Tickets priced £16 (Students £5) Our Open Weekend will be on Saturday, your place on the walk, please go to : www.droverstryst.com can be obtained at the door or via EventandfindSunday, 27 Sepwhere 26 you will lots of information. All the Drover’s Tryst walks brite (a small booking fee applies in the lattember, whenon line, we and will for 2021 are now bookable take place in May and July. ter case), but anyone under 18 is admitted display local history Although Crieff & Strathearn Museum have not been able to hold free when accompanied by a paying adult. pictures, books and old events that we had planned throughout the last year or We look forward to welcoming you the to public photographs and invite so because of the Pandemic, we have not been idle. Zoom has local people to share allowed us to hold monthly meetings, and we have been working behindtheir the scenes applying forand grants, planning future events, memories stospeaking to the Scottish will Civic Trust, and carrying out on-line ries. There be chiltraining. We can tell you that we are pressing ahead with dren’s activities too and acquiring the “John McGregor Collection” - a unique record of a Flower Festival, professional photographs dating so fromlots 1900 to 1930. These were taken in and Muthill, mostly more than 100 years ago toCrieff come and enjoy. Crieff & Strathearn Museum is a registered charity in Scotland: SC 048238

showing local views and buildings, and also others picturing groups such as local pipe bands, or family weddings. These will

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A Summer of Highland Games

The annual Highland Games season is now well underway, bringing a vibrant mix of tradition, sport and celebration to communities across Atholl, Breadalbane, Strathearn and wider Scotland. Each gathering has its own distinctive character, often set against some of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes. As with all events in The Quair, please always check dates, time and details in advance before travelling. Saturday, 29 August - Birnam Highland Games. Games Park, Little Dunkeld. With a history dating back to 1864, this muchloved traditional gathering includes Highland dancing, piping, running, cycling and heavyweight events, together with the popular pipe band parade through Dunkeld. Visit: www.birnamhighlandgames.org Saturday, 12 September - Pitlochry Highland Games. Recreation Ground, Ferry Road, Pitlochry. One of Scotland’s bestknown Highland Games, featuring running, cycling, jumping, solo piping, heavyweight events, Highland dancing, tug o’ war and pipe band competitions. The traditional parade of pipe bands through Atholl Road is always a highlight. Further details: www.pitlochryhighlandgames.co.uk Whether you’re a regular spectator or a first-time visitor, we hope you enjoy the fun, spectacle and deep-rooted traditions these events bring to our communities.

Cllr Stewart Donaldson

Strathearn Ward - SNP I was absolutely delighted that the Green Flag was awarded by Keep Scotland Beautiful to MacRosty Park. Two groups are to be congratulated. The Friends of MacRosty Park have dedicated so much effort over the years. They’ll be so pleased to see the Green Flag return. In addition, there is Athol Curtis, the Greenspace Ranger, and the volunteers he has brought in to assist. The Park is an immense asset for Crieff, Strathearn and wider afield. Sometimes I think people almost take it for granted. The Green Flag gives the Park the recognition it deserves. Opened way back in 1902, it is a treasure that we must never neglect and indeed need to cherish for decades to come. In my previous article I said I would comment on both the Libraries Review and the Tourism Visitor Levy. On Libraries it took a long time. I’m glad that resolution has been achieved, giving security to the rural libraries in Birnam, Scone, Auchterarder, Alyth, and of course Comrie. I very much want to thank the Friends of Comrie Library, for their campaign locally, and for the wider role they played across Perth and Kinross. The papers that came to Council were helpful, setting out all that is involved in the provision of library services. There was broad support for moving to a Community Services Hub Model. For Comrie that means greater use by community groups of the existing premises in Drummond Street, the building being available for a variety of purposes, and open for longer. For Crieff the Review may also have positive implications. One point that came over to me clearly was the comparison with other Scottish local authorities: both in terms of staffing, and the recurring spend on materials in libraries, including book funds, events, and reader development activities. Going forward we want not just an Adequate Library Service but aim to go beyond that. On the Visitor Levy we are about to proceed to a period of three months consultation; the Council having agreed to do so at its meeting just before the summer recess. There will probably be more on this next month. I think most of you know that I support a Visitor Levy. The benefits for tourism, and residents as well, in Perth and Kinross are immense. In so many ways it is Local Funding Meeting Local Needs. However, I am aware that there are different views on this but believe strongly in the need for residents and groups to participate in the Consultation. And as an Administration we really are open to ideas and criticism. We want to hear from you. Another matter that I will come back to next month is on the review being carried out in Comrie by Caledonia Housing Association of both sheltered housing at Tay Place and Almond Place, where there are some 40 tenants, and of the very sheltered housing at Cameron Court. The focus is above all on the latter. As I write the Board of Caledonia meets very soon. Finally, the main event at the Crieff Film Festival, the showing of Chariots of Fire was an excellent evening. The film had some of its scenes shot in the Sma’ Glen and at Fowlis Wester. Moreover, there was a moving talk by Gillan Charleson, sister-in-law of the late Ian Charleson, who of course played the lead role of Eric Liddell: a name that matters so much to Crieff. 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.

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Foulford 9 Hole Golf Course Par/SSS: 27. Course Length: 916 yards. Fancy a game of golf but short of time? Why not come and play Foulford Par 3 Course? Great fun for all the family amid the beautiful scenery of Highland Perthshire. No bunkers but lots of water hazards. Club hire available. Address: Sma’Glen, by Crieff, PH7 3LN How to Get there: Five miles north of Crieff on A822. Contact Details T: 01764 652407 e: foulford@btconnect.com

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Pete Wishart MP

Perth and Kinross-shire

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

Pete Wishart MP

Perth and Kinross-shire - SNP Since my last column, students received their exam results, with Higher A-C passes reaching record levels this year, a real testament to the hard work put in by pupils and staff alike over the past year. To all the readers whose son or daughter got the result they were hoping for, many congratulations. It’s a fantastic achievement and one to be proud of. I know, too, that results day isn’t always a good news story for everyone, and if you know a young person who didn’t quite get what they were hoping for, please do remind them that plenty of support is available. Skills Development Scotland run a dedicated helpline and can talk through options, whether that’s resits, alternative routes into college or university, or apprenticeships. Results day is one moment in time, not a measure of someone’s worth or their future prospects, and there’s always a way forward. On a different note, if you or someone in your household receives Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and uses the Motability Scheme, it’s worth taking a few minutes to check where you stand. Changes to VAT and Insurance Premium Tax on Motability leases came into effect for most of the UK from 1 July and will extend to Scottish customers receiving ADP from September. Motability has confirmed that, without any action taken beforehand, these changes could add around £1,100 to the cost of a new lease, alongside other changes such as reduced mileage allowances and higher excess mileage charges. Anyone who places a new Motability order before the September deadline will keep the current, more favourable terms for the full length of their lease. Anyone who orders after the deadline will face the new charges and allowances for the entire duration of their lease instead. With an estimated 11,335 people receiving ADP in Perth and Kinross alone, this is likely to affect a good number of families across Crieff, Comrie, and the surrounding area particularly those in rural communities who rely on their vehicle for essential journeys such as medical appointments or work. If you’re eligible for the scheme, or thinking about renewing your lease, it’s worth looking into your options sooner rather than later, as the difference over a three- or five-year lease can be significant. My office is happy to help if you have questions about your eligibility, your lease or how to proceed. You don’t need to work anything out on your own. Just get in touch and we’ll do what we can to help you through it. You can reach my office on 01738 639598 or 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 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. 20

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Advertising Information

Café Comrie

Please note that all advertisements carried by The Crieff & Comrie Quair are done so with the understanding that any claims, statements or information given are the sole responsibility of the advertiser in question. We cannot be held liable for any commercial or consumer disputes, problems or difficulties arising from their workmanship or services.

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, 15 August 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.

• Traditional Scottish breakfasts • Baked potatoes • Hot filled breakfast rolls • Home made soups • Freshly made sandwiches & toasties • Croissants • Mackies ice cream • Twinnings tea selection and fresh ground coffee • Daily special board • Takeaways Available Summer Opening Times will vary. Please check our Facebook & Instagram accounts for details Café Comrie, Drummond Street, Comrie, PH6 2DW Tel: 07702 903309 e: Cafecomrie07@gmail.com 21

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 am. Our services are currently led by a variety of guest preachers and after worship, there is always a lively time of fellowship over refreshments. With the arrival of autumn we again have a range of weekly activities which include two exercise classes (general mobility/ balance for seniors and Tai Chi), our Wednesday Soup and Sandwich community lunches start on Wednesday, 9 September, and we continue with our Men’s Group, Book Club and our summer rambling excursions which finish at the end of September. For those who want to explore and deepen their faith in smaller group settings, we have a bible class and house group. Having run a successful Alpha course earlier this year, preparations continue to provide further courses for enquirers about the Christian faith as well as for committed Christians seeking to explore their faith further.

Over the summer months, we have also taken the opportunity to upgrade our facilities. This work is now complete and we are very pleased with our newly enlarged kitchen, freshly decorated multi-purpose hall and the provision of more toilet accommodation. Full details of our worship services, mission outreaches and other planned events can be found on our website, www.muthillparishchurch.co.uk. One particular event to note is our Chat and Tunes for Cancer concert on Friday, 25 September which will provide a display of local talent. Entry is free with donations in aid of Cancer Research UK. Our church building, which has flexible accommodation, including a large comfortable sanctuary with AV facilities, a medium-sized hall and two smaller lounges, is available to hire for private functions throughout the year. Our grounds also have good parking. Anyone is welcome to our Sunday worship as well as to any of our regular activities where you can be assured of a warm welcome. 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 and philosophies 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 these troubled times. For further information please contact Diana on 01764 670399 or Gordon on 07510 454342. ‘The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.’ Baha’u’llah In Crieff, the early morning gathering in the Crieff Community Garden for prayer for the people and plants in the garden and beyond will take place weekly on Wednesdays at 7.30 am and monthly 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 harmony and appreciation. 22

‘Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the drops of one ocean.’ Baha’u’llah

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

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 and 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 to 2.30 pm. Come along for some tea, coffee and home baking. Everyone very welcome. For further information on any of these events, or to get in touch with the minister, John Burns, pls 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- struggling with debts and debt manage- St James Episcopal Church, Muthill 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. Please note that due to ongoing flood defence repair work, St Margaret’s Church in Comrie is not currently being used. Sunday Mass is being said in Comrie Rural Hall.

Crieff Parish Church

www.crieffparishchurch.org At Crieff Parish Church we are a family made up of all sorts of people at all stages in life. We seek to teach and understand the message of the Bible and Jesus’ command to love one another. We are anything but perfect, but we aim as best as we can as flawed people to try and show and share that love to the local community. Members and friends who come to our church are involved in several local and national charities. Along with several other churches in the town, we operate in partnership to support the work of CAP Strathearn, a national organisation designed to help folks who are

ment issues. Others within our community of church assist with the Crieff Connexions food share arrangements and others still work with and support the Logos Youth Centre which offers a wide range of vital support and fun for the young people of our town. Internally we operate through several action groups in which members of the congregation partner with the Elders to shape the life of the church, which is part of the Church of Scotland. We meet for worship every Sunday at 11 am in the St Andrews Building at the top corner of Strathearn Terrace and Ferntower Road. As a church we seek to be opened up to God and opened out to others in worship, nurture and mission. So, if you are new to Crieff, if you are visiting the area or if you’re looking for a church, we would love to welcome you and get to know you. To find out more, why not send an email to crieffpc@gmail.com, visit our website www.crieffparishchurch.org or follow us on Facebook, which we are currently using to keep folks up to date. Our new website, developed by one of our members, was recently launched and tells you much more about who we are and what we do. Alternatively drop us a line at Crieff Parish Church, Strathearn Terrace, Crieff, PH7 3AQ. If you think we can help you, please don’t hesitate to be in touch. All are welcome in our church, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

www.stjamesmuthill.com stjamesmuthill@gmail.com Priest in Charge: Rev. Rachael Wright (from August 2026) We continue to meet every Sunday evening at 5.30 pm for a service followed by refreshments and chat. It’s usually said Evensong with hymns, exchanged for a service of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month. All are invited to come along. Muthill in Bloom continues to beautify our village and to gladden the hearts of passers-by. So we will be hosting a Flower Festival later in the year to share the talents of village folk and to welcome their displays which will tell the story of our many groups and organisations. See more church information on p16.

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. Glenartney Church - Services Minister: Rev Craig Dobney. The Manse, Sunday, 13 September, 3 pm Strowan Road, Comrie, PH6 2ES. Tel: Sunday, 11 October for the harvest 07864 366856 thanksgiving service 3 pm. All are welcome! Email: cdobney@churchofscotland.org.uk What3Words location for the church is Session Clerk: Mrs Pauline Booth. Tel: ///result.stag.slippery 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 24

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Jehovah’s Witnesses

26-30 King St, Crieff PH7 3HA Jehovah’s Witnesses hold meetings for worship twice each week. (Hebrews 10:24, 25) At these meetings, which are open to the public, we examine what the Bible says and how we can apply its teachings in our life. Most of our services include audience participation, much like a classroom discussion. Meetings begin and end with song and prayer. You don’t have to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses to attend our meetings. We invite everyone to come along. Seats are free. No collections are ever taken. www.jw.org/en

Seventh Day Adventist Church

Gwydyr Road, PH7 4BS info@crieffadventist.org.uk We meet every Sabbath (Saturday) for our worship services. At 10 am we have our Study Hour (with separate classes for adults and children). Our main worship service is at 11.20 am and we often have other events throughout the week. Our aim and vision is to be a community that reflects faith in God demonstrated by faith in our fellow men and women, thus honouring the command of the Lord Jesus found in passages such as John 13:34,35 ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ Come and join us...

Strathearn Episcopal Churches Crieff, Comrie, & Lochearnhead

Rev. Gennie Evans rev.gen@btinternet.com. Tel: 01764 650985 St Columba’s, Crieff; St Serf ’s, Comrie; St Angus’, Lochearnhead and St Fillan’s, Killin www.strathearn-episcopal-churches.co.uk Please check any service times listed independently before attending. If you see any out of date information, or feel that there any omissions, we’d be obliged if you could email us at crieffandcomrie@thequair.com

The Crossing Crieff

Who are we - The Crossing Crieff is a Gospel-centred, local, independent church. A Community who gather to Worship, learn from His Word, and fellowship. We believe in the power of studying the Word of God (the Bible) and having a community of people which is not just on Sunday. We meet twice a week for worship, bible study/teaching, and fellowship, in which we systematically go through the bible looking at the big picture of the bible and the individual events and stories and how it all fits together.

Service Times

Sunday Morning Service - 11 am for children service (all welcome), and 11.30 am - 12.30 pm for adult service, followed by tea, coffee & fellowship at Strathearn Campus, Pittenzie Rd, Crieff PH7 3JN Tuesday Evening Bible study - 5.30 pm for a meal and fellowship followed by a discussion-based bible study starting at 6.15 pm - 7 pm at Craiglynne, Dallerie Road, Crieff, PH7 4EG More Information Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about God or ourselves. Our details are Pastor: Allan Holleran Email: info@thecrossingcrieff.co.uk Web: www.thecrossingcrieff.co.uk Tel: 07864 803123 Address: Craiglynne, Dallerie Road, Crieff, PH7 4EG. Charity No: SC052382. Heartlands.church - At Heartlands. church, we’re not just starting another church service. We’re nurturing a rooted, relevant, real Scottish church family, shaped by the applied Word of God and made ready for the days ahead. If you’ve been longing for preaching with backbone and Bible, community without compromise, and a place where questions are welcome but truth isn’t watered down - this might be what you’ve been praying for. We’re not officially launched yet, but you don’t have to wait to get a feel for who we are. 26

Tune in from home to Kingdom. rocks - Our 24-hour online radio station, with heartfelt worship, daily morning and evening devotions, strong sermons, and stories and songs for the bairns with Jingle, Ben and the Music Town Gang. Check the broadcast schedule at Kingdom.rocks. Have a listen and see if you click. Come and see. Come and listen. You’ll know if it’s home. And now our broadcasting ministry has grown: One Broadcasting House. Three Signals - WLMP.AM - Appalachia Kingdom.rocks - across the United Kingdom Heartland.FM - here at home, for the Heartlands. robert@worshipingword.com; 07975 805323; Heartlands.church 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. We have an Awareness Day Event planned for Wednesday, 7 October this year. This event consists of staff from twelve individual services who can offer information and advice on the day. We also have social work, New Rannoch - day care/carers support and the Community Mental Health team attending. The café is facilitated by the Health and Social Care Partnership and access to both services is available for information, advice, and signposting to other services available. 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.

Spooktacular Haunted Halloween event at Auchingarrich: Friday, 9 October to Saturday, 31 October Join us every Friday and Saturday throughout October for one of Scotland’s most bewitching family Halloween adventures! Step into the hauntingly beautiful forest, where winding paths are draped in cobwebs, lined with eerie graveyards, grinning skeletons, lurking spiders, a bubbling witch’s cauldron and a chilling haunted house - all brought to life by a team of costumed performers delivering just the right amount of spooks for every age. Climb aboard the free, tombstone tractor and trailer ride to the forest entrance, enjoy bewitching welcomes, fairground games, free craft activities and photo spots with spooky props, and toast marshmallows with Count Dracula, plus 10% off meals at the Dizzy Duck Café. The Spooky shop will be open for you, once you’ve parked, to purchase and stock up on lightsabres, sparkle wands, glow sticks and marshmallows for toasting, before heading down to the haunted forest. You will be transported to the haunted forest by the tombstone tractor-taxi where the adventure begins! The tractor-taxi is included in the price of your ticket! Watch out! Zombies, Ghosts and Ghouls are hiding around every corner, waiting to jump out at you. The best way to protect yourself is to Shout or Scream at them loudly!!! Small Monsters: £8 pp; Large Zombies: £12 pp; Monster Family Ticket: £38 (two adults and two children). Quair readers can use the code CCQUAIR-SP26 when booking online to receive a 15% discount on admission. Spooktacular Gift Shop, Toasting Marshmallows, Hot chocolate and Crafting available in the Café and at the event. Book your adventure now by scanning the QR code on our advert on page 7 or at www.jotform.com/222570686231051. All proceeds from the event go to Perthshire Zoo, Auchingarrich, Comrie, Perthshire PH6 2JE. Perthshire Zoo is a registered charity, SC053939. www.auchingarrich.co.uk. Tel: 01764 679469. 27

Strathearn Talking News

Strathearn Talking News is your local talking newspaper - We are volunteers who read and record onto USB the Strathearn Herald. We also record the monthly open access magazine The Crieff and Comrie Quair onto our weekly USB once a month. Strathearn Talking News is a Charity (Scottish Charity No. SC015628) and in 2014 the Charity received a grant from Awards for All to go digital. Prior to that the newspaper was recorded and copied on to cassettes. We are proud to say that Strathearn Talking News has been providing a service for nearly 38 years for those in our community with a visual impairment and who find reading difficult. We provide a small USB player which runs off the mains electricity but it can also run on a battery which is automatically charged when the player is plugged into the mains. This makes it very easy to take into other areas of the house. The yellow on/off dial at the front is also an excellent volume control. The dial and the forward/back/ pause buttons are yellow to make them more visible. Every week our listeners receive the USB

in a padded yellow wallet through the post. When they have finished listening, the USB is put back in the wallet with the return address label on the reverse. No stamp is required as items for the blind and visually impaired are delivered by Royal Mail free of charge. The service is completely free. We record and copy from our own homes on a weekly rota, 52 weeks of the year. Listeners to the Strathearn Herald and The Quair will hear local news concerning Crieff and the surrounding villages as well as articles on a variety of interesting topics. The service provided by Strathearn Talking News allows our listeners to keep up to date with what is going on in their community. We are seeking volunteers who can spare

a few hours on a Thursday rota. We would welcome male and female readers with clear diction. The copying is not too technical and support is always provided. Please get in touch if you would like to be part of a small but dedicated team: • Maureen Anderson 01764 652406 • John McBoyle email johnmcboyle@yahoo.co.uk • Mike Duckworth email rmike.duckworth45@gmail.com We welcome enquiries from relatives and friends of people they know who may benefit from our free service. Phone: Maureen Anderson 01764 652406 For more information visit: www.strathearntalking news.org

Comrie Sing-a-long - Comrie Sing-a-

long is now in its 15th 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-along 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, 28

on tel. 07707 727137. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine

Our charity aims to send a 40 foot articulated lorry to Ukraine every 2 weeks containing the essentials to maintain health and well - being . All our deliveries contain Fundamental necessities which include: Food - Tins of meat, fish, baked beans, vegetables, and porridge in tins or packets. Tea and coffee, biscuits and energy bars. Toiletries - Toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gels, shampoo, soap and deodorants. Sanitary Products - Nappies, sanitary towels, Tampax, incontinence pads, wet wipes Heating And Lighting Priorities - Eighthour tealight candles, torches and batteries, hot water bottles and power packs. One of our 5 Ukrainian distributors is operating in an area without shops and therefore these deliveries are literally a Lifeline . We are very grateful to Blythswood Local Support Group at 10 High, St Crieff and the Aberfeldy Steamie who continue to collect items for TASH in your area. Our TASH van driver or volunteers bring these donations to our warehouse at Errol Airfield for sorting and packing. If you would like to, you can follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

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The Arts Society Tayside

Our brand-new lecture season is upon us! On Monday, 14 September, we hear about the Art of the Garden Indoors, followed by Monday, 12 October: Clocks in Art and Literature, Monday, 9 November: Sir Henry Wood, Master Musician, Monday, 14 December: A Load of Old Balls - their History and Design for Sport and Leisure, Monday, 11 January: Scandinavian Landscape Painters and Monday, 8 February: Decoding the Saints Medieval Saints and Their Symbols, with four further lectures from March to June 2027. On Friday, 23 October, we have a specialinterest day on silver from well-known BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Gordon Foster, to which, after the lecture, members will bring their own items for discussion. On Thursday, 21 and 28 January and Thursday, 4 February, we will run our usual series of Winter Lectures in Perth to be delivered by the National Trust for Scotland. Our summer 2027 house and garden visits programme is also taking shape with a visit to Kinnaird Castle and Dunnaird Castle and Gardens. 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. Please visit our website to see the full programme: theartssocietytayside.org.uk. Join now for the new lecture season and get the full value from your membership. 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, 14 September before 11 am for our first lecture of the new season, either to join for the full year or attend as a guest for £10. 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. 32

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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Remake is open Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, late-night opening Thursday until 6 pm. Want to find out more? Check www.remakescotland.co.uk Contact: info@remakescotland.co.uk or give us a call on 01764 655733. New Home for Remake? Our premises by the Visitor Centre has been purchased by a new landowner who has kindly extended our lease to the end of 2027. This does mean that Remake is having to find a new home. We are excited to be preparing for a likely move to Bargain Buys near the Co-op in Crieff. This move might be happening as early as this autumn. This means we could be closed for a short period of time around October or November during which we hope to still be accepting donations. Please check our website, Facebook and Instagram for any updates. Until then, we look forward to seeing you and offering all our usual services at our Reuse Hub by the Visitor Centre. Mending Circle - Let’s Make Mending Fun! Join us every Saturday morning from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm at our Reuse Hub. Got a big bag of mending in the corner that never gets done? Come and join our group of like-minded people breathing new life into their loved items. Repair Hub - Our next Repair Hub is on Saturday, 12 September, 10 am to 1 pm at Strathearn Community Library in Crieff. Bring along small electricals and household items, computers, appliances, clothes, textiles and accessories. All repairs done by volunteers and free (donations towards costs are welcome). Sewing machine repairs are by appointment only. Please email marieclaire@remakescotland.co.uk in advance to book your sewing machine in for repair. Remake Reuse Hub - Crieff Visitor Centre, Muthill Road, Crieff. Pop in to explore our fantastic range of preloved furniture, DIY, Vintage and homewares. We also have a large selection of secondhand crafts, knitting and sewing materials. Enough to inspire creative projects for all

ages. Want to donate large furniture items, clear a house or downsize? Please email jake@remakescotland.co.uk and we can also organise a visit and collection. Tool Library - Going camping this summer? Or getting into the garden work and home DIY? Why not borrow items from our community tool library! Over 400 items available and all rentals are donations based. Volunteering - Have some spare time and want to join a fun community team? We are always excited to welcome new members! Please get in touch via info@remakescotland.co.uk to learn more about the various roles available.

Your Crieff, Your Voice: Have Your Say

Work is well underway on Crieff ’s next Community Action Plan and Local Place Plan, and we have had a great response from the community so far. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their views. A key part of the process will be our Have Your Say Day on Saturday, 12 September, at Strathearn Community Campus and everyone in Crieff is invited. This will be a chance to have a bigger conversation about what we want for the future of our town. Even if you have already completed the survey, we would really encourage you to come along, share your ideas with others, hear different perspectives and build support for the things you feel strongly about. There will be two identical two-hour sessions, 10 am to 12 noon and 1 pm to 3 pm, and you only need to attend one. If you can’t stay for the full two hours, there will also be a drop-in area where you can share your views. This is an opportunity for the whole town to come together and help shape what happens next for Crieff. We hope to see you there. For more details, please visit www.crieffcommunitytrust.org.uk/crieff-communityaction-plans-and-local-place-plan/haveyour-say-day. 34

Lady Mary’s Walk parkrun - Every

Saturday morning at 9.30 am, Lady Mary’s Walk parkrun offers a free, weekly, timed 5k for anyone who wants to take part. Runners, joggers, walkers and volunteers are all equally welcome. There is no pressure to be fast and no need to see yourself as a ‘runner’. Coming along for a walk, supporting a friend, volunteering, pushing a buggy, bringing the dog (on a short handheld lead, please), or simply seeing what it is all about are all part of the spirit of the event. The parkrun offers one of Scotland’s most beautiful settings. It gives everyone a regular, free opportunity to get active while also welcoming visitors to enjoy Lady Mary’s Walk and spend time in Crieff ’s cafés and local businesses afterwards. Volunteers make the event possible each week, taking on roles such as marshalling, timekeeping, barcode scanning, handing out finish tokens, tail walking and parkwalking, setting up and packing away. No experience is needed and full support is given. The Lady Mary’s Walk parkrun team would like to thank all those who helped bring the event to Crieff, especially Strathearn Harriers, Friends of Crieff Hospital, Crieff Highland Gathering Charitable Trust, and The Blue Practice at Crieff Medical Centre. Whether you want to run, walk, volunteer, meet people or simply enjoy a coffee in town afterwards, everyone is welcome. Register once at the parkrun website, bring your barcode and come along on a Saturday morning.

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.

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area. We’re not a commercial business; we’re an inclusive community. What We Do.... Routes, Repairs & Reuse/donations - *Affordable access to cycling: Low-cost or free bikes are provided through donations, recycling and 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, and donated new and used parts such as lights, wheels, tyres etc. *Routes & Riding Community: Rides focus on inclusion and 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 and 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 rides are Sunday, 13 September with Gordon G and Pete F and Saturday, 26 September with Graham L & Pete F, again! The ‘Ride of the Falling rain’ in Islay was fantastic, with perfect weather. Riders from Crieff joined locals and other visitors and enjoyed the great cycling weather. Great hospitality as ever and Helen’s distillery trip was equally impressive. Time trials continue to be popular and chatty! ‘Graviemore’ in September is looking good with local support already exploring routes for us. Community focus - Bike packages continue to be supplied to families and individuals, thanks to the donations from the community. Direct donation via email is the best method if you want to make sure your bike reaches us. Forty-one bikes have been saved from landfill this month and we had a successful Dr Bike at Crianlarich & Killin. We continue Dr Bike and Maintenance courses just get in touch if you want to take part. A small donation is nice but not essential. Come and have a look if you need a ‘new to you’ bike, tyres, tubes, lights, chains etc. Grab a bargain to keep cycling! Finally - Despite being a charity, we often contribute to other causes and this month will be selling a popular local cyclist’s bike and returning anything raised to Macmillan Cancer Support. Look on our Facebook and Instagram to see the lovely Basso! Please get in touch if you want to know more or get involved in our adventures! Visit our website www.cyclecrieff.scot/about.html. www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100067081600855 E - cyclecrieff@yahoo.com 36

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Jim Fairlie MSP Perthshire South & Kinross-shire - SNP

By the time this lands on your doorstep, we’ll be into autumn, which is hard to believe. Where has the year gone? August is always one of the biggest months in the Strathearn calendar, and this year was no exception. Between the Comrie Fortnight and the Crieff Highland Gathering, there was barely a weekend without something going on. I hope everyone who managed to get along had a brilliant time. These events don’t organise themselves, and it’s always worth remembering the small army of volunteers and committee members who give up their time year after year to make sure they happen. They deserve a huge thank you. At the time of writing, I’m just about to head out on my summer constituency tour. I try to get round as much of Perthshire South and Kinross-shire as I can every year, but this time I’ve decided to focus specifically on local businesses. In Strathearn, I’ll be visiting Crieff Hydro, Cultybraggan Camp and the many enterprises that now operate out of there, along with a good number of new businesses that have opened their doors in the area recently. The reason I’ve chosen a business theme this year is, I think, fairly obvious - the cost of living crisis continues to pinch, and it’s our businesses who are often feeling that squeeze most directly. Local business is the lifeblood of the Strathearn economy. We’ve got so much to be proud of here, and plenty of strengths worth celebrating. But alongside hearing about what’s going well, I’m keen to properly understand how businesses are finding things at the moment - what’s working, what isn’t, and what’s keeping owners up at night. There is support out there already, things like the Small Business Bonus Scheme and business rates relief are welcome and make a real difference to many. But I want to hear directly from business owners about what further support they’re looking for, and importantly, what I might be able to do at a parliamentary level to help. This is truly the most important part of the job - getting out, using my role as an MSP to properly engage with local people and local businesses, and doing everything I can to give a helping hand where it’s needed. It’s easy to talk about supporting business from a desk in Holyrood, but nothing beats sitting down with folk and hearing it straight from them. I’ll update readers in the next column on how the tour went and what I’ve learned along the way, and in the meantime, if any readers need to get in touch with me, please do so by emailing jim.fairlie.msp@parliament.scot. Crieff Parish Church Guild Syllabus: Beyond the Walls - All meetings are at 2.30 pm unless otherwise stated. Wednesday, 30 September - Graham Crawford, Interim Moderator Wednesday, 14 October - Meeting at Muthill Guild Wednesday, 28 October - Douglas Lemon: Talk on Physio Wednesday, 11 November - Speaker from Cultybraggan Wednesday, 25 November - Buttons & Bows: Margaret Teven Wednesday, 16 December - Christmas Party. New members are very welcome.

Crieff & Comrie Sight & Hearing Comrie where you can meet new people, enjoy tea and coffee, hear from local speakLoss Support Groups

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ers, and share helpful hints and tips with 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 40

Lounge, Cameron Court, Almond Place, Comrie, PH6 2BB 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

Crieff Fifty Plus Club

Our next monthly meetings are on Wednesday, 2 September, Wednesday, 7 October and Wednesday, 4 November at 2.30 pm in St Columba’s Church, Perth Rd. The talk on Wednesday, 2 September is by Harry Arbuckle on ‘A Policeman’s Lot in the Sixties’, the talk on Wednesday, 7 October is by Iain Brown talking about ‘Crieff in Leaf’ and on Wednesday, 4 November is by Brian Wilton MBE on the subject of the Crieff Community Council. Annual membership of our club is £5, plus £2 for each monthly meeting. This includes coffee, tea and biscuits, so quite a bargain! There is also an opportunity to join any of our activity groups - Art, Quilting, Mahjong, Bridge, Indoor Bowls and Badminton. New members are always welcome, and we meet on the first Wednesday of the month, from September to May (except January), usually with a speaker on an interesting topic of general appeal. So come along and give us a try! Your first meeting is free.

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Amulree and Trochry Community Clay Pigeon Shoot Sunday, 13 of September

From 10 am - last entry 3 pm at Clashcat, Amulree PH8 0EE Entry £18 (Under 18s £7 ) Re- Entry £14 (Under 18s £5 ) Continuation £2 Prizes in all categories Soup - sandwiches - bacon rolls - cakes teas and coffees - fantastic raffle All proceeds this year from the Continuation will be donated to Amulree Village Hall. Comrie SWI - Comrie SWI’s first meeting of the session will be on Tuesday, 8 September at 2 pm in Comrie Rural Hall, Nurses Lane, Comrie PH6 2DZ. Speaker: George Carson ‘Hypnotherapy’ Competitions: 3 x Paper Flowers/ 3 x Truffles. All welcome. Info: Joyce 07771 741983; Carol: 07791 356170.

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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where our team of visitor guides can help you turn the pages of our historic collection and be enveloped in tales of past times. Our 2026 exhibition, ‘Signs of the Times’, explores the myriad uses of signs and symbols within the books of our collection. From books on mysterious subjects such as heraldry, emblems and allegory, to the history of printers’ marks and fine decorative bindings, this exhibition is a real visual delight. Dates for your Diary Wednesday, 2 September - Friends of Innerpeffray Library Talk. 7 pm. Squadron Leader Gus Macdonald will deliver a talk about Tornado GR4s and Close Air Support in Afghanistan. Tickets £10. Friday, 4 September - Festival: Poison Pen Workshop - Using Poisons in Fiction with E.S. Thomson. 2 pm. Join Elaine Thomson, author of the hugely popular ‘Jem Flockhart’ historic crime novels, for an afternoon of creative writing. This workshop will include a tour of the poisons of Innerpeffray, and expert guidance and inspiration from Thomson. Tickets £40. Saturday, 5 September - Festival: The Orchid Hunter’s Daughter. 2 pm. Innerpeffray Library is the inspiration for historical fiction author Jane Anderson’s The Orchid Hunter’s Daughter. Come to hear her describe what inspired her, and how it’s influencing her nextin-series on Scottish libraries. Tickets £10 or £4 ‘pay what you can’. Saturday, 5 September - Festival: Barvick Falls - Crieff-Based Fiction. 3.30 pm. Rob McInroy is the author of a historical crime fiction series set in Crieff and Perth in the 1930s and ’40s. He will be talking about his latest novel, Barvick Falls, which begins on the day WWII is declared. Barvick Falls has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger Award 2026. Tickets £10 or £4 ‘pay what you can’. Sunday, 6 September - Festival: Linocut Workshop with Linda Farquharson. 10 am to 4 pm. Join local printmaker Linda Farquharson for this one-day workshop, where you’ll learn the techniques of relief printing to create a selection of prints, cards and bookmarks. Tickets £95, all materials included. Wednesday, 14 October - The Ted Powell Lecture. 7 pm. Friends of Innerpeffray Library present this annual lecture, where new convenor Richard White will share his knowledge of the water of life, whisky. Tickets £10, members of the Friends free, but please book. Thursday, 29 October - The Law and Criminal Insanity: Sheriff Principal Gillian Wade KC. 7 pm. 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. 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 - Dead Men’s Eyes: Ghost Stories by M.R. James. 7 pm. 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. Tickets £20. Suitable for ages 14+. 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. Email info@innerpeffraylibrary.co.uk or call the number below. 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 652 819 or visit our website at www.innerpeffraylibrary.co.uk for more details. 44

Strathearn Horticultural Society: annual flower show

Saturday, 5 September - 1.30 pm. Annual flower show at St Fillans Catholic Church Hall, Ford Road, Crieff. Schedules now available. Please phone Janet on 01764 654229 or Susan on 07985 237990.

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 below 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!

Strathearn Arts What’s On

Buy tickets online at www.strathearnarts. org. Our welcome desk opens 30 minutes prior to each event, and you can purchase tickets for any upcoming show at this time. We do recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment, as popular events can sell out! Friday, 11 September - 7.30 pm. £10. Film: Sailm nan Daoine (Psalms of The People) (PG). This warm, moving documentary follows local Scottish-Gaelic psalm precentor Rob MacNeacail as he seeks to bring Scotland’s rich traditions of Gaelic psalm singing to new generations. Filled with humour and poignancy, we follow Rob’s journey across Scotland and Ireland, from Carlops to the Outer Hebrides to bring together communities old and new through the power of music. Saturday, 12 September - 7 pm. £40 per team. Strathearn Arts Quiz Night. Think you’ve got what it takes to be the ultimate quiz champion? Join us for a night of brainteasing fun, friendly competition, and fundraising - all in support of Strathearn Arts! Once again, Strathearn Arts’ Trustees are hosting a special quiz night, and we want you and your cleverest crew there. A fabulous raffle with extra special prizes up for grabs! Tickets cost £40 per team (not per person). Each team must be made up of 4 players only. Doors open 6.30 pm quiz will start promptly at 7 pm so please arrive early! Friday, 18 September - 7.30 pm. £25. Music: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons. Join locally born and internationally acclaimed violinist Ben Norris and friends for a refreshing and invigorating performance of Vivaldi’s magnum opus: The Four Seasons. Ben has been thrilling audiences up and down the country with his imaginative and enlivening interpretation of this piece and is delighted to be bringing it to Crieff. The concert will also feature other works by Vivaldi and Mozart. Thursday, 24 September - 7:30pm. £28 /£41. Age 14+. Comedy: Karen Dunbar. Bafta award winner Karen Dunbar is one

of Scotland’s best-known comedy actors and DJs. Starting off in the sketch show Chewin’ the Fat, she then went on to star in her own show, The Karen Dunbar Show, which received 4 nominations for the Golden Rose European TV Awards. Please note this is a brand new show. If you’ve seen Karen before, come back and see her again whilst enjoying some of her old classics! The Queen of Scottish Comedy will have you laughing all night long. Sunday, 27 September - 4 pm. £10 /£3. Film: The President’s Cake (12A). Hasan Hadi’s critically lauded drama, and Iraq’s submission for Best International Feature at the Oscars, follows in the life of a nineyear-old girl who must prepare her school’s cake for the birthday of dictator Saddam Hussein.

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. Comrie Community Orchard Apple Day

Comrie Community Orchard Apple Day will be on Sunday, 18 October. Save the date!

Small Classic Car Show

On Sunday, 25 October we will be holding a small classic car and bike show with some classic tractors in aid of Bertie Bus at North Dowald, Crieff off the Highlandman Loan in aid of the Community Bus service, Bertie Bus - www.bertiebus.org.uk. Light refreshments will be served and a raffle will be organised. Entry for vehicles is £5 and donations will be accepted on entry. Please support this worthy cause. All enquiries to Dr Mark Roycroft on 07825 176434 or mroycroft@ talk21.com.

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Comrie & District Men’s Shed

The Comrie & District Men’s Shed incorporating the 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 allow the development of practical skills in a friendly and supportive environment. We are actively looking for new members aged over 18 who want to come and enjoy learning or teaching new skills. Alternatively you might just want to come and join us for a cuppa and a chat. At present we open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 2/4 pm). We are 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 recently held an Open Day and Members’ Social on 1 August which was well attended. We supported Cultybraggan Big Sleep Out with a games evening for the families camping. The Shed (Men & She) entered a float into the last day of Comrie Fortnight, and although we didn’t get any prizes, everyone enjoyed the day. Yet to come, we are having a Race Night on Friday, 2 October at the White Church in Comrie from 7.30 pm to 11 pm. Come and enjoy the fun with family and friends. Spaces are limited, so please register your interest by emailing - comriemensshed@gmail. com or phoning 07917 358216. We may still have spaces on the night. The format will be 6 races with eight horses in each, plus an auction race on the night - come and grab yourself a winner! 47

Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries Strathearn Community Library

An Evening with Jess Smith - Libraries play a vital role in our communities. As a keen advocate of libraries, Scottish writer and traditional storyteller Jess Smith will give a talk at Strathearn Community Library on the importance of storytelling and the written word. Over the years, Jess has raised awareness of the travelling community from her own childhood experiences, using the power of story and place. She will recount some of these stories and share some tales from her most recent book, Button Bog. Suitable for ages 16 and over, the talk will take place on Tuesday, 6 October from 7.30 pm to 9 pm. Tickets are £5 and available online from Eventbrite and in person from Strathearn Community Library. Calling all poets - To celebrate National Poetry Day 2026 and this year’s theme, Wonder, Strathearn Community Library is inviting poetry submissions for its Community Poetry Exhibition. We welcome work from both emerging and established poets, with selected entries on display from Tuesday, 29 September to Friday, 30 October. Submissions should include your poem, a short biography and a few words about how poetry has influenced your life. Selected works will be featured in the exhibition, and contributors may be invited to perform at a special poetry evening on Thursday, 1 October with local poet Patricia Ace. The submission deadline is Saturday, 19 September. Email entries to strathearnlibrary@culturepk.org.uk with the subject line Poetry Exhibition, or deliver or post them to Strathearn Community Library, Pittenzie Road, Crieff, PH7 3JN. The library will curate the exhibition, and minor formatting changes may be made to ensure consistency and accessibility. Content will not be altered without the author’s permission. All submissions must include a contact email address or telephone number. AK Bell Library, Perth - Perth’s AK Bell Library will close to the public and staff from Monday, 24 August to Monday, 14 September for essential maintenance

work. During this time, the building’s original boilers will be removed, meaning the library will be inaccessible throughout the three-week closure. Library users can continue to browse and borrow books, use services such as People’s Network PCs, and use Princh printing at the 11 other Culture Perth & Kinross libraries, including Auchterarder Library, Comrie Library and Strathearn Community Library. Full details of the closure of the AK Bell Library can be found at www.culturepk.org. uk/akbellclosure. Bookbug sessions - These fun, interactive sessions are suitable for pre-schoolers from baby years. Sessions are held every Thursday, including school holidays, from 10.30 am to 11 am. No need to book. Family History - Are you interested in researching your family history? Join our Family History Group. This informal session meets every fortnight on a Friday morning from 10 am - noon. Using your own device is recommended, but we do have network computers available if required. These sessions are free. Please contact the library for more information. Tangled Yarns - Connect, share and learn with our friendly, informal knitting group. Needles and yarns are available for beginners or those re-engaging with the craft. Meets every Tuesday from 2 pm to 3.30 pm. Café Books - First Saturday of every month from 11 am to 12.30 pm, starting Saturday, 5 September. Opening hours - Tuesday: 10 am to 7 pm; Wednesday: 10 am to 6 pm; Thursday: 10 am to 7 pm; Friday: 10 am to 6 pm; Saturday: 10 am to 1 pm Contact us - 01764 657705; strathearnlibrary@culturepk.org.uk Comrie Heritage Group - The Group’s exhibition in Comrie Church Hall annex for the week ending 1 August generated plenty of interest, mainly from local folk, but with visitors spending noticeably longer than last year, not least due to a magnificent display on the Comrie Flambeaux, including Flambelles and Flambettes! The Comrie family display, including census records, took readers back to the origin of 48

the name, thought to have been in the 13th century. Over 400 adults and children were able to study local history and the Group’s volunteers much enjoyed the resulting dialogue with them. We aim to have this material again on display, so that it can be seen by visitors with Comrie surnames or ancestry visiting the village on 19 August, travelling here from Canada, the USA, Jamaica and England. The Group has welcomed almost 3,000 visits up to early August, including from Germany, Canada, the USA and Australia - even England! A noticeable number are impressed by the diverse land and building uses of the old Camp, including those from a large vintage motorcycle rally on 1 and 2 August and those who are now able to spend time at the Camp, with their campervans. Individual members of the Group have visited other sites, or are about to, as Churchill War Rooms, and Imperial War Museum in London, Scottish Military Museum near Livingston, and Museums Galleries, Scotland in Glasgow, to help formulate ideas for expanding Cultybraggan’s offer in terms of the camp’s stories, as well as local history. Online sources, such as tuition in curation, cataloguing and presentation, are also being ‘tapped’. At a very practical level, a damp remediation specialist is helping with advice on alleviating this problem in the east wing before plans can be prepared for its eventual use as an extension to the main museum and other museum huts. The long-running Scottish Doors Open Days, this year, on Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 September, organised by Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust, provide another publicised opportunity to attract visitors. Do come to see us then, or any day from Thursdays to Mondays, 10 am to 4 pm, until Monday, 26 October.

You can’t predict the future but you can prepare for it Many people in Scotland are missing out on a simple tool that makes it easier to manage their finances and health if life takes an unexpected turn. A tool for all ages A common misconception is that PoAs are just for the elderly. But any one of us could unexpectedly become incapacitated at any age, even if just temporarily. With a POA in place, you’d know that someone you trust could quickly step in and take care of your welfare, money or business.

Without a Power of Attorney (PoA) in place, it may be harder for family or friends to offer assistance if you become incapacitated through illness, accident, a hospital stay or even if you are overseas for an extended period of time. Even simple tasks like paying bills could prove problematic. You’ve got the power You can avoid such situations by setting up a PoA. This legal document gives one or more people authority to make decisions on your behalf about critical issues such as money, property, your business, or care.

If you’d like to know more, we’d be happy to chat – explaining the different options and keeping the process as simple as possible.

It’s simple to do, yet research for the charity Age Scotland suggests that over 1 million over-50s in Scotland do not have a PoA in place.

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Comrie & St Fillans Music Circle nating at 12 noon. We shall commence the

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, Comrie & consisting of audio and St Fillans Music Circle video presentations by some of our members, is: Tuesday, 22 September - John Southorn Opening Concert: Rossini Overture, Mozart Piano Concerto 17, Berio Fawn Tuesday, 29 September - Roger StrattonSmith An Italian Journey Tuesday, 6 October - Alison Hunter My Favourite Schubert Tuesday, 20 October - Eric Perks Caledonian Classics Tuesday, 27 October - John Southorn 1685 - A Great Year Tuesday, 3 November - Malcolm Gregory Music, but not as you know it. 8th edition 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 mobile 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 termi50

first of our 6 meetings on the 7 October with the last meeting on the 16 December. Dates are as follows 7 October - Nick Cooke -Pilgrim Paths 21 October - Paul Prescott - Appearance and Reality 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. Subscription 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

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Brass Central Strathearn - What a fantastic sum-

mer we’ve had! We’ve really enjoyed performing at both Dunning Fete and Drummond Gardens Charity Day. A huge thank you to everyone who came along to support us and cheer us on. We recently held a Come and Try Session and are delighted to have a few new members joining us. If you missed it but would still like to get involved, please get in touch. Our new starters are only just beginning, so it’s the perfect time to come along and join us. We’ll be back outdoors this autumn, performing in James Square, Crieff, as part of the Royal British Legion’s Remembrance Weekend commemorations on Saturday, 7 November. We’d love to see you there. We’re also busy planning our Christmas events, so keep an eye out for more details coming soon! Support your local community brass band and be part of the music. Contact us at info@brasscentralstrathearn.co.uk.

Cllr Noah Khogali

Strathearn Ward - Conservative As we continue to enjoy the summer months across Strathearn, I want to start by sharing some fantastic news for our ward. Following a recent assessment by Keep Scotland Beautiful, MacRosty Park has officially been awarded the Green Flag Community Award. The Green Flag is a benchmark of excellence and is a testament to the Friends of MacRosty Park and all the other people who work so hard to make the park incredible, often behind the scenes. They do a super job ensuring our local green spaces remain vibrant and welcoming for everyone, and I am delighted for all those involved. It’s also been a significant month for many of our young people who got their exam results in the last few weeks. I remember the nerves, and whether you are heading off to university, beginning an apprenticeship, or moving into the world of work, I want to offer my congratulations. It takes a huge amount of work and dedication to reach this point, and it is always heartening to see the hard work of our school leavers paying off. If you didn’t quite get the grades you were hoping for (I most certainly did not!), please remember that there are always multiple pathways forward, and I wish all of you the very best in whatever comes next. On a sadder note, it’s really disappointing that Perthshire community radio station Heartland FM has announced its closure after 34 years. Having merged with Crieff-based Radio Earn last year and moved its operations here to our high street in an effort to secure its future, the station has long been an invaluable platform for local voices and community connection. The station will be deeply missed. I want to extend my thanks to all the staff and volunteers who have kept the people of Perthshire entertained over three decades. As always, if there are any local matters you wish to raise or if I can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can contact me on - Telephone 01738 475000, email NKhogali@pkc.gov.uk or at Perth & Kinross Council, 2 High St, Perth PH1 5PH

Crieff Camera Club - The club meets in the small

hall, Crieff Parish Church (St Andrews Halls), Strathearn Terrace on the first and third Thursdays of every month (September to March inclusive) at 7.15 pm for a 7.30 pm start. On Thursday, 1 October Guy Phillips will give a presentation entitled ‘You Can Teach Monkeys to Fly Better Than That’. Tom Ryan will judge the Open Competition on Thursday, 15 October. 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.

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Pitlochry Concert

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Strathearn Ramblers Autumn Walks

Sunday, 13 September - Stroll. Taylor Park - Laggan Hill circuit. Leave Laggan Park Comrie 10 am. Pay drivers £1. Start Point Taylor Park Crieff 10.15 am what3words/// bonfires.scribbled.action. Distance 5.5 miles. Description This excellent and varied circuit takes in the beautiful Lady Mary’s Walk along the River Earn with a climb over Laggan Hill. Clear paths, tracks and minor roads with a gentle climb up to Laggan Hill and then an undulating section through fields Sunday, 27 September - Walk. Stirling Castle and Gowan Hill. Leave Laggan Park, Comrie, and Crieff Co-op at 9.15 am, meeting in Stirling at 10 am. Pay drivers £4. Start Point: Forthside Car Park, opposite Vue Cinema, Stirling (free on Sundays, Mon-Sat all day £4.10) what3words///line.solid.popped. Distance 6 miles. Description The outward route leads through the old town past historic sites and Stirling Castle to Gowan Hill and the Beheading Stone before returning down the Town Walk below the castle walls to the King’s Knot then taking a circuit of King’s Park, finishing down grand Victorian avenues. Sunday, 11 October - Stroll Rumbling Bridge, (5 miles) Sunday, 25 October - Walk Falls of Bruar and Glen Banvie, (11 miles) Sunday, 8 November - Stroll Birks of Aberfeldy and Dunskaig, (4 miles) Sunday, 22 November - Walk Auchingarrich Circular, (8 miles) Please contact Walks Co-ordinator Neil Harrower if you are interested in joining any of these walks or would like more information. Neil: 07992 228913

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What’s on at Bruar Deer People II Art Exhibition

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12 Sep-12 Oct

Discover the bold por traiture of renowned rural ar tist Ian MacGillivray.

Food Hall Tastings

• Stag Baker y | Deerness Smoker y �� 18 Sep • Kindness Baker y | Tiotree Preser ves | Connage Highland Dair y �� 19 Sep

Whisky Tastings

• Spey Whisky �� 24 Sep • Lindores Whisky �� 26 Sep

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coming weeks, the best way to keep up is A Taste of What’s Coming from guese treats and quick midweek meals. the Crieff Food & Drink Festival Thursday, 15 October - Show-Stopping Pa- online.

Foodies, take note! The Crieff Food & Drink Festival hits the town from Saturday, 10 October to Sunday, 18 October, bringing nine full days of culinary celebrations, expert demos and mouth-watering local flavours to Strathearn. Brought to you by Experience Crieff and sponsored by The Crieff Food Co., this year’s festival is packed with experiences across town, and new events are being added to the schedule every week! Masterclasses & Workshops - For those looking to get hands-on in the kitchen, places will be strictly limited for interactive workshops. Here’s a sneak peek at a few sessions already confirmed: Monday, 12 October - Shortbread Secrets: Master the art of traditional Scottish shortbread with family bakers at Campbell’s Bakery Wednesday, 14 October - Cooking for a Cause: Join chef Sam Heeney-Governo for A Taste of Love to Cook featuring Portu-

tisserie: Learn delicate afternoon tea techniques with former 5-star hotel pastry chefs at Ems & Co. Flavours Across Town & Finale Highlights - Venues right across Crieff are gearing up for a feast. You can test your culinary trivia at The Tower’s Food Pub Quiz (Wednesday, 14 October), soak up Bavarian vibes at G’s Bistro Oktoberfest (Saturday, 17 October), or indulge in a refined Glenturret Whisky & Lalique Chocolate Pairing (Sunday, 18 October). And that’s just the beginning! Festival-goers can also look forward to special menus and deals at local eateries, sweet treats at Gordon & Durward, daily gin tastings, fish filleting masterclasses, an Artisan Market at The Steading (Saturday, 10 October) and the Grand Bake Off competition and finale fun day (Sunday, 18 October). Stay Updated as the Line-up Grows! With many more events, venue collaborations, and booking links launching over the

Don’t miss out on tickets as they go live. Visit experiencecrieff.co.uk/events for the latest full programme, times, and booking details!

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