Part one
Trainer Lucinda Russell, pictured at her Milnathort yard with Perth’s Erin Walker and Grand National champion One For Arthur prior to the team’s 14/1 success at Aintree
April •Actor Andy Gray officially started Perth Autism Support’s first-ever Superhero Stroll on the North Inch.
•Inchture Church was described by Right Rev Dr Russell Barr, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, as “quite stunning” following a £500,000 refurbishment.
•Perth Islamic Society submitted a change of use application with a view to eventually moving to a new site on Jeanfield Road in a scheme said to be worth more than £1m.
•Lucinda Russell’s Milnathorttrained One for Arthur produced a stunning Grand National win. The eight-year-old out-jumped 39 rivals to pen his and jockey Derek Fox’s names in the history books.
May • The Scottish Conservatives won 17 of the 40 available seats split across the local authority’s 12 wards at the local authority elections. The Scottish National Party slipped from 17 elected representatives to 15. The Scottish Liberal Democrats returned four seats, one fewer than last time around. Scottish Labour lost three of its previous four seats. The rest of the local authority - which includes 20 newcomers - comprised three independent members, two fewer than following the poll in 2012.
• Tributes were paid to Ken Drummond, who passed away at the age of 75. Ken was one of the four founding members of Letham FC in 1960 and, as the last of the founders still involved with the club, he was very much the heart of the community – giving 57 years’ service to the beautiful game.
• The controversial Scone North housing development was granted in principal planning consent by Perth and Kirnoss Council, potentially paving the way for 700 homes.
June • Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart retained his seat at Westminster by 21 votes at the General Election — after two re-counts. The SNP politician secured a total of 21,804 votes. Runner-up Ian Duncan’s haul of 21,733 saw the vote substantially swing to the Conservatives. Tory Luke Graham polled 22,469 in Ochil and South Perthshire to dramatically oust previous incumbent, the SNP’s Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, who returned 19,110. Mr Graham increased his party’s vote by more than 20 per cent .
Pete Wishart MP celebrates retaining his seat
Protestors rally against the Scone North development