Voice of the People
HANDYPERSON SERVICE
Handyperson volunteers carry out small/minor maintenance jobs in older people’s homes in the Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Callander and Clackmannanshire areas. The service is co-ordinated by registered charity Volunteering Matters. There is no charge and donations are gratefully accepted. Volunteers welcome. For details during the current climate call 01259 928088.
COUNCIL ON DISABILITY STIRLING
The office in Cameronian Street regrets having to close its doors for an indeterminate period due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Staff do not know how long they will be unable to see clients on a face to face basis. However, there will be someone in regularly to check the telephones, mail and emails. Please get in contact should you need assistance and COD will do its best to help you.
ROCKTALK
Stirling’s talking newspaper for the blind is free to visually impaired members of the community. Contact Mike Milne at enquiries@rocktalk.org.uk or 01786 816673.
ALZHEIMER SCOTLAND
Contact dementia advisor Donna Paterson at dpaterson@alzscot.org, 01786 8311 or 07733 302772.
TOWN BREAK
The charity group supports people with early to moderate stage dementia to live well. For more information in the current climate, contact 01786 641841 or email admin@townbreakstirling.org.
FRIENDS OF THE SMITH
All talks and events planned are cancelled until further notice.
ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION (STIRLING BRANCH)
Due to the current and continuing Covid restrictions, the branch will not be holding any monthly meetings but will let everyone know when these will resume. If you would like any further information about the branch please contact us by emailing the secretary on secretary. aashstirlingbranch@btinternet.com or by contacting the chairman by phone 07940 828434 or email: james21healy@ outlook.com.
PARKINSON’S
All Stirling and Clackmannanshire branch meetings have been cancelled until further notice. More details from Jim 01259 762734, Muriel 01360 850357 or National Helpline 0808 800 0303.
STIRLING CITY CHOIR
The choir has resumed rehearsals, using Zoom, on Tuesdays at 7.30pm. Current choir members who wish to participate should check their email for details. Any potential new members should contact the choir through the website www.stirlingcitychoir.org. uk The choir will be concentrating on Vivaldi’s Gloria at the start of the session. It is hoped that physical rehearsals will resume in St Columba’s Church Hall when government guidelines permit.
POPPY SCOTLAND
Because of the Covid-19 virus in the country at the moment, there will be no Poppy Scotland collection in the Thistle Centre or Marches this year, there will however, be an outside collection in Murray Place until November 7.
Collections are also taking place until Wednesday, November 11 at Morrison’s, Springkerse and until Saturday, November 7 at Tesco, Wallace Street, Stirling.
BRIDGE OF ALLAN AND DUNBLANE ROTARY CLUB
Thursday evening’s meeting, occurring shortly before Hallowe’en, was perhaps an appropriate occasion for a somewhat macabre subject. President-nominee Craig Mair, a well-known historian in the local area, recounted the story of 84-year old farmer Allan Mair (no relative of Craig!) who, on October 4, 1843, was the last person to be publicly executed at Stirling’s Mercat Cross. From contemporary evidence, Craig reported that Mair had little to recommend him; he was well-known for being foulmouthed, bullying and cantankerous. He was particularly harsh in his treatment of his common-law wife, Mary Fletcher, whom he frequently assaulted. In 1842, when Mair was 83, he and his 84-yearold wife were evicted. Following their subsequent move to Candie End, near Muiravonside, his violence to Mary came to a head. Neighbours, hearing particularly savage blows, called the police. The evidence was clear - Mary had been viciously attacked and was seriously injured. Although he claimed that it was the work of a neighbour, Mair was arrested and brought to Falkirk to be charged with assault. In the interim, however, Mary died from her injuries, and Mair was brought to the county prison at the Tolbooth in Stirling. His case was heard by Lord Moncreiff who, despite Mair’s ill-founded pleas of innocence, found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to be hanged. It was at this point that the story took a particularly gruesome turn. On the morning of his execution on a scaffold outside the courthouse, Mair was too frail to walk and was brought out seated on a chair. Out of compassion, perhaps, the hangman tied Mair’s arms only loosely. Still attached to the chair, he was dropped. But the rope failed to break his neck, and he was seen flailing with his arms, his eyes bulging. In desperation, the hangman jumped off the scaffold and hung on Mair’s legs until he was dead. But that was not the end of Craig’s tale: stories emerged of unusual occurrences in the Tolbooth - lights were seen to dim, and there were stories of a small, thin old man appearing, particularly on a Wednesday – the day of Mair’s execution. Many years later, during a renovation of the Tolbooth, a coffin containing Mair’s body was found under a slab. It was when he was removed to the nearby graveyard that these unusual events stopped. On behalf of members, Rotarian Hugh Mccrea expressed thanks to Craig for a fascinating and entertaining presentation. Rotarian Ivor Butchart then told members of the success of a project to raise awareness of the Rotary End Polio Now project. With the co-operation of Stirling Council, Dunblane Cathedral was floodlit with a purple light, the colour used to mark the little finger of each child that has been vaccinated against polio. In August, Rotary and the world celebrated a significant milestone, as the World Health Organization certified the Africa region, which includes 47 countries, free from polio. This leaves just Pakistan and Afghanistan as the two remaining polio endemic countries in the world. But despite this momentous progress, more challenging work lies ahead to eradicate the disease for good. Globally, more than 2.5 billion children have been protected against the disease reducing the number of cases by 99.9 per cent. Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million each year to support global polio eradication efforts and thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation every £1 we raise is matched 2-to-1 so is worth £3. More information on the club’s programme and activities can be found on the club website: www.dunblanerotary. org.uk or on Facebook: www.facebook.