\Strathblane

\Drymen

Walk in the park Led by trained volunteers. Meet outside the Winnock Hotel, Thursdays at 10.20am. Email fran.crumley@lochlomondtrossachs.org for more details. SWI news The next meeting will be held on Thursday, May 10 at 7.30pm in the village hall. This meeting will be the AGM. The business will be followed by a buffet supper. Members are reminded to bring their voting papers and any contributions for the buffet. Competitions for the evening are an individual sweet and a table decoration. Senior Citizens’ Association The trip this year is on Tuesday, May 8 to Largs. The coach leaves Drymen Square at 11am, stopping at Cardwell Bay outside Gourock for a wander round the shops and lunch if you want it, before arriving at Largs around 2pm. There will be time to explore before meeting up again in Nardini’s for High Tea at 5pm. Bus leaves Largs at 6.30pm and will be back in the Square by 8pm. Due to cancellations there are now four seats available for non-members - the cost for non-members will be £15. If you fancy a day out please ring Linda on 01360 660706. SWI news Results from April 26: NS 1 Betty Laing and Joy Kirkland; 2 Margaret Neufeld and John McGregor; 3 Irene Hardie and Jean Aitken. EW 1 Margaret English and Barbara Ross; 2 Jane Crawford and Flora Hunter; 3 Duncan Stewart and Trish Duncan.

\Fintry

Kirk Sunday service will be at the usual time of 9.30am and will be conducted by Mrs Margaret Baxter. A creche is available. Tea/coffee after the service. The famous afternoon teas are on tomorrow (Saturday) from 2-4pm in the session house. All welcome. Councillor’s surgery Councillor Alastair Berrill will be in the Menzies Hall on Wednesday, May 9 at 7pm.

\Gargunnock

Young at Heart Low-impact dance fitness classes for 50 year-olds and over on Tuesdays in the community centre from 10.45-11.30am. Contact Janice on 07565 182259. SWI news Next meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 15 at 7.30pm in the community centre. There will be a business meeting and flower arranging demonstration. Church The service on Sunday at 10.30am will be conducted by Rev. Lynne Mack.

\Gartmore

Circle dance Group meets every second Thursday of the month in Gartmore Village Hall, 2-4pm. Gartmore Church Sunday service is at 10am with Rev Scott Brown. Tea and coffee will be served after the service. All welcome.

\Killearn

Walking group Thursdays 2-2.45pm, alternate weeks between Blanefield and Killearn. Call 07867 672513. Otago Active adults strength and balance class, Tuesdays 9.30-10am and 10.10-10.40am in the church hall, £2. Call 01786 448308. Adult fitness Dance-based exercises and routines on Tuesdays from 7.30-8.30pm in the village hall. Take a mat, cost £5.50. Contact Yasmin on 07979 856837 or email yasmin@ throthegrapevine.co.uk. Strictly Seniors Over-60s dancebased fitness classes on Fridays from 10-11am in the village hall. Cost £5.50. Contact Yasmin on 07979 856837 or email yasmin@ throthegrapevine.co.uk. Kirk Service on Sunday at 10.30am will be led by the Rev Alan Dunnet. There will be a short celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion immediately afterwards. There will also be activities for children attending, accompanied by an adult, and a creche if required. At 2pm there will be a service in Abbeyfield to which there is an open invitation. Kirk session will meet on Tuesday May 8 at 7.30pm. On Thursday May 10 there will be Messy Play at 9.30am for preschool children accompanied by an adult. Great British Tennis Weekend Try tennis for free at Killearn Lawn Tennis Club on Sunday, May 13. To book or for more information go to www. lta.org.uk/gbtw. Carbeth Guthrie Estate New term at Forest School started on April 28. Join every Saturday for pre-school explorers, school-age discoverers and holiday clubs. Contact 01360 771968. Health centre Surgery will be closed on Monday, May 7.

\Killin

Walk in the park Led by trained volunteers. Lasts 15 minutes to one hour. Next walk is Wednesday, May 9. Meet at 10.20am at McLaren Hall car park for golf club walk (car share). Contact Cathy Scott on 01877 330055 or cathy. scott@lochlomond-trossachs.org. Strength and balance Exercise class for older adults on Wednesdays in the Killin Hotel 1.30-2.30pm, followed by 10-minute walk. Councillor’s surgery Councillor Evelyn Tweed will be in the primary school on Tuesday, May 8 at 7pm.

\Kippen

Toddlers Meet in the village hall on Thursdays, 10.30am to noon. Otago The exercise class takes place on Wednesday from 9.45-10.15am in Kippen Church House. Windfarm money The second deadline to apply for this money in Kippen is May 15. For application forms contact Margaret Beaton on 01786 870536. Cappuccino Chatter On Wednesdays from 10.30-11.30am in the Church House. Councillor’s surgery Councillor Graham Lambie will be in the Reading Room on Tuesday, May 8 at 6.45pm. Church Rev Ellen Larson Davidson will lead a family morning service at 11.15am on Sunday, which will include the sacrament of baptism. All ages welcome. Christian Aid Week Michael Hirst will have materials for the collectors at church on Sunday. Christian Aid Week is from May 13-19. Concert Torbrex Community Choir will give a concert of familiar light music in Kippen Church on Friday, May 11 at 7.30pm. Entry by donation for Stirling’s Young Carers and Crohn’s and Colitis UK. Community Council Members of the public may attend when the council meets in the Reading Room on Tuesday, May 8 at 7.15pm. Councillor Graham Lambie will consult from 6.45pm. Motorcycles Many took the chance to view the vintage bikes on Main Street on Sunday morning before their annual social run. Local organisers Davie Brown and John McNicol report a successful event for the 20 or so bikers with an enjoyable break for lunch at Culcreuch Castle. Sincere thanks go to all who helped raised £131.80 for Robin House Children’s Hospice. Display The flowering bulbs around the church have again been lovely this spring. First the snowdrops, then crocus, and for recent weeks the large wrought iron egg sculpture by the church door is full of colourful plants and foliage. In the high garden, laid down as a memorial to those taken in WWI, many shrubs and trees are covered in colourful blossom. Bowling In pleasant sunshine, though the wind was snell, the weekly points game began for the season on Monday. Points were gained by Sandra Anderson, Elspeth McNaughton, John Anderson, Donald Retson, Robert More, Willie Mills, George Goodall and Willie McLaren. The first competitive game, the Crown Triples, will be played on Sunday, May 13. Diary Dates The 31st annual Kippen Street Fayre takes place all day on Saturday, June 9; Sunday, August 19 is the 117th Flower Show and over that weekend, August 18-19, Kippen Heritage will be celebrated.

\Port of Menteith

School The annual Port of Menteith Primary School Plant and Home Baking Sale will be held tomorrow (Saturday) from 11am-2pm in the village hall. Any donations of plants or home baking greatly received. Please contact Lorna McGuire on lorna@ floristicdesigns.co.uk. Councillor’s surgery Councillor Martin Earl will be in the village hall on Tuesday, May 8 at 6.30pm. Parish Church Sunday worship will be a joint service with Aberfoyle at the Port Kirk, starting at 10.30am. The service will be led by Rev Dr Valerie Allen. All welcome.

\Ruskie

SWI news The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 8 starting at 7.30pm in Ruskie Hall. This meeting is the AGM and the business will be conducted by Dunblane SWI. The speaker for the evening is the Regional Cycle Training and Development Officer of Cycling Scotland, Marianne Scott. Competitions: three suggestions for the syllabus and favourite holiday souvenir. Hostesses: Isobel McGuire, Janice Oman and Heather Millar. Please remember to bring your voting form and your completed Doune and Dunblane entry form. Mini Makers Tuesdays in the kirkrooms, 9.30-10.30am. Art/creative fun for 18 months-five years. Councillor’s surgery Councillor Robert Davies will be in the vilage club on Monday, May 14 at 7pm.

\Thornhill

Playgroup Over-twos on Tuesdays 9.45-11.45am, Fridays 9.30am- noon, term time in the community hall. Norrieston Church Rev Ellen Larson Davidson will lead worship on Sunday at 10am. All welcome. Tea ‘n’chat The last Wednesday of the month coffee morning has resumed from 10am–12.30pm in the community hall. Anyone interested in having a stall can contact Belinda 01786 850692 or boghallfarm@btinternet. com. Gardening Society The annual plant sale will take place on Saturday, May 12 in the community hall at 2pm. Donations of plants can be left at the hall from 10-11am. Village update “Thornhill and Its Environs: A social history” by Stuart J McCulloch, was first published in 1996 and was a popular publication but now out of print. There are plans to update it and looking for material which could be used in a second edition due out in November this year. Do you have any good stories, old letters or documents about life in Thornhill and district and the people who lived there? The book will not feature material post 1950s and will not publish material involving people who are still alive or have close relatives still alive, except in exceptional circumstances. If you have anything please contact author Stuart McCulloch (maculafailte@yahoo.co.uk) or any member of Thornhill Views community newsletter team (thornhilleditorialteam@hotmail.co.uk).