Word of donations has travelledareandwide

It’s surprising how far a word can travel.

Last year I wrote to community newsletter ‘Across the Glens’ to thank the people of Kirkmichael, Cally Crafters and St Ninian’s Church Alyth for all their donations to Cornton Vale Women’s Prison near Stirling as they supported the Mothers’ Union (MU) programme to help prisoners.

Development worker Petrina Menzies submitted this to the Blairgowrie Advertiser not knowing that it would also find its way into the Perthshire Advertiser and the Perthshire section of the Daily Record’s website.

So now folk in the glens are known nationally for their kindness and care for others.

What an accolade.

A surprise outcome from this was that Petrina received two phone calls from people in Perth who had read about us and had items they wished to donate.

So, as soon as COVID restriction allowed, she went to Perth to collect bags, towels and pants from two unknown ladies in Perth.

So it really is amazing how far “a little word” can travel.

The trustees of the MU in this Diocese (St Andrew’s) are so appreciative of the continued support which is shown for this programme.

Additionally, the prison staff are delighted and grateful as it means so much to them to be able to help the prisoners in ways which they cannot.

During the various lockdowns, in addition to the prisoners and staff not being able to see their families, there has been building work.

The old building was not fit for purpose any longer and was in need of repair so it was decided to build a replacement one.

The new one will be smaller and more appropriate for the long-term prisoners, some of whom have mental health issues.

So as the new one is going up the old one is being pulled down, which is creating quite a logistical challenge.

Male and female prisoners who have committed minor offences now go to Polmont near Falkirk.

Long-term male prisoners go to Glenochill where there is a very successful Family Hub which enables a wider range of family-prisoner meetings.

It had been hoped that more of these could have been built but that now seems to be in abeyance.

In the meantime the MU keeps on “rolling up its sleeves and tackling whatever needs to be done wherever it can”.

That is why we are so appreciative of the continued support shown across the glens – and beyond – as we try to rehabilitate and rebuild other people’s lives.

Now that lockdown restrictions are easing I will be able to take the January/February collection to our liaison member in Dunblane who will pass them onto the prison staff at Cornton Vale.

Getting 40 pairs of pants, 50 towels, 81 bags, eight ‘shoppers’, two rucksacks, assorted purses and other related items into my car will be a pleasurable challenge!

So once again, thank you to everyone who has contributed – all of these items will make someone’s life better.

Jean McPherson Richardson St Andrew’s MU

In the last 30 days between 9am and 11am, gas plants dramatically outperformed renewables on 20 days.

On 10 days, gas produced over 50 per cent of our electricity and on 21 days, gas electricity was supplying over 40 per cent to the grid.

Renewables could only manage two days over 40 per cent and on 16 days it was under 20 per cent.

Gas electricity is keeping the lights on, not unreliable, expensive wind electricity.

Clark Cross (Friarton)

And for the uber-picky, Perth Railway Bridge is actually the Tay Viaduct.

P Johnstone Crieff Road Perth