Getting set for Hamish Henderson celebration
The inaugural Hamish Matters festival takes place in Blairgowrie and Rattray this weekend.
The celebration of Hamish Henderson - the renowned Scottish poet, writer and folk archivist who was born in Blairgowrie on November 11, 1919 - sees a number of events taking place in the town.
On Friday, November 10, at 1.30pm, pupils from St Stephen’s, Newhill and Alyth primary schools will be in Blairgowrie Library performing some of Hamish’s work and songs that he collected.
Then on Saturday, November 11, there will be a free screening of the film Hamish at the Rattray Community Connect building.
The film starts at 2pm and tickets can be booked online through the Eventbrite website at www. eventbrite.co.uk/e/ hamish-film-screening-ticket.
And on Saturday evening at 7pm there will be a people’s cèilidh in Blairgowrie Town Hall featuring a range of talented musicians and songwriters including Perthshire’s acclaimed two-piece Mad Ferret, Iona Fyfe, one of Scotland’s finest young ballad singers, Gaelic singer Aileen Ogilvie, poet Jon Plunkett, Perth Gaelic Choir.
Local performers Hamish MacGregor and young piper Callum Douglas will also be performing at the event which will be compered by poet and Hamish aficionado, Jim Mackintosh.
Tickets for the cèilidh are £10 (£6 concessions) and are available from Blairgowrie Library, telephone 01250 871305, or from Rattray Community Connect on 01250 871538.
The festival has been supported by a grant from the Perth City of Culture fund and organised by a group comprising members of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council, Strathmore Arts, Perth and Kinross Council, Culture Perth and Kinross and local fans of Hamish. 30 - Exercise class for over 60s, Blairgowrie Town Hall, 11.15am, £3.50.
3 - Riverside Methodist Church (Blairgowrie and Rattray) monthly coffee morning, Wellmeadow Cafe, Gas Brae, 10-11.30am. All welcome. 3 - Meigle Christmas Lights switch-on, 5pm. Carol singing and a visit from Santa. All welcome. 4 - Meigle Christmas floral night, Meigle Church, 7pm. Entry £7. 5 - Special Treats Lunch Club, Royal Hotel, noon. Contact Shonaidh Beattie on 01250 870525 or email shocarjen@ btinternet.com for more information.