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RSVP WALKING GROUP
Walk leaders with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme organise and lead three walks every week, starting at various places across Stirling and Clackmannanshire on Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get extra exercise and have a chat along the way, contact Anne Marie on 07935 911156 for more details.
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 is open and available for all disability related work or enquiries. During the pandemic, COD continues to operate successfully by phone for all types of benefit form completion and follow up work to tribunal if required. Whilst COD is not yet offering face to face appointments, the situation is monitored continually and staff look forward to re-introducing this as soon as it is practicable. A wealth of information on services can be found on the website at www.councilondisability. org . All updates on face to face reopening will also appear here. Please phone 01786 462178 or 07521 186159 or email advisor@ councilondisability.org.
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.
NEURO CENTRAL
Neuro Central aims to ensure that people in Scotland who live with neurological conditions, as well as their carers and families, have access to high quality services, therapies, information and support in a friendly, relaxed environment so nobody has to feel alone. Meetings are held on the first and third Monday of the month at Stirling County Cricket Club from 11am-1pm. Precautions will be taken to ensure, as far as possible, the safety of our members, volunteers and therapists. Further information is on the Facebook page, by calling 07526 281747 or on the website ‘neurocentral.org.uk.’ As usual, everyone welcome. If you would like a cuppa, please bring your own cup.
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.
STIRLING CITY CHOIR
Following this year’s successful Spring Concert, a performance of ‘The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace’ by Karl Jenkins, the choir is now on its summer break. Rehearsals resume on Tuesday, September 6 at 7.30pm at Park Church when the choir will be getting ready for the Christmas Concert as well as planning ahead for next year’s Spring Concert - a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. New members always welcome. More information on www.stirlingcitychoir. org.uk twitter: @stirling_choir Facebook: Stirling City Choir”
FORTH VALLEY TOP TOES
Part of the Braveheart Association non-profit charity providing personal footcare service to adults who are unable to cut their own toenails. Cost is £15 per session which covers overheads and the customers’ nail care kit. It offers basic nail clipping and filing every six-10 weeks by a team of trained NHS approved volunteers but do not provide other podiatric treatments. The clinic meets at the Bellfield Centre, Stirling Community Hospital, Livilands Gate, Stirling on Thursdays from 9am-12.30pm. To book an appointment contact the Forth Valley Top Toes team on 07596 375674/01324 633505 or email louise.bleazard@nhs.scot.
STIRLING LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
The 2021/22 season meetings are being held online, via Zoom. Meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month at 7pm. Registration details can be found on the current season section on the webpage. Online tutorials are available on the Zoom website. For more details on the society, please visit the About Us page.
STIRLING AND DISTRICT FLORAL ART CLUB
The club is returning to in-person meetings after two years of lockdown restrictions. Next meeting is on May 10 at 2.30pm. Please note the club is moving to a new venue - Park Church Main Hall,
Park Terrace, Stirling. The entrance is from the side door. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Meetings cost £7 for visitors. Contact honorary secretary Mrs Sarah Murdoch fore more information on murdochsarah@btinternet.com.
STIRLING POETRY SHARING GROUP
The group is restarting on the first Thursday of the month from the new time of 11.30am to 12.30pm in the Smith Art Gallery, Dumbarton Road, Stirling. All are welcome to come along to share and enjoy poetry being read aloud. Bring a couple of poems of any era or style if you wish to read, or just come along to listen. If you wish to hear a particular poem read, but do not wish to read yourself, the group will provide a willing reader. The Smith Cafe is open from 11am for the sale of refreshments. Further details from 07464 602207. Future Thursday dates are May 5, June 2, July 7, August 1 and September 1.
OCHILS MOUNTAINEERING CLUB
With the lovely weather last weekend there was much club activity with hillwalking on the Arrochar Alps, Crianlarich hills and in Kintail. With the longer days the climbers in the club are arranging some outdoor climbing at local crags at Cambusbarron, Kips Crag and Dollar Quarry. There’s still some indoor climbing sessions at The PEAK in Stirling. On the social front, the Thursday’s pub meet will take place at the Crossed Peels, Stirling from 8pm, non-members are welcome to attend. Plans are being made for a club alpine trip to Switzerland in the second half of July. The club has a guest speaker on Wednesday, May 4 at Stirling County Cricket Club starting at 8pm. The speaker is the well known ultra hill runner Debbie Martin Consani. The day hillwalking trip to Ben Vorlich (Arrochar Alps) on Sunday, April 24 went very well with a good turnout and even very sunny weather. The next day trip is on May 15. Details of forthcoming weekend meets at Glen Brittle campsite at the end of April and the Roybridge campsite at the beginning of June are on the club website, at www.ochils.com, or check out Ochils Mountaineering Club on Facebook.
THE FRIENDS OF THE SMITH
The Friends are delighted to be able to restart lectures after the lockdown.
Heather Carroll, Exhibitions Officer at the Smith, will be giving an illustrated lecture on The Art of Women in Politics in 18th Century Britain tonight (Wednesday) at 7pm for 7.30pm. Please note change of evening. Although denied the right to vote, elite women in 18th century Britain were able to exercise political power, through socialising with politicians, land possession, canvassing for candidates and also through art. However, art could also be used against women to diminish or ridicule their political influence. This lecture will look at some of the varied artwork surrounding these women from exquisite portraits to scandalous satirical prints. Examples will be taken from the Smith’s own collection. Entry on the door is £5 (£4 for Friends) and includes tea, coffee and biscuits.
CARSE OF STIRLING ROTARY CLUB
Last week saw Rotarians gather at the Golden Lion Hotel for a business meeting. Members are working hard on the preparation for the annual Kids Out Day at Bridgehaugh on Wednesday, June 8 with only around six weeks left until the big day. Things are going well and special thanks are due to Eddie Cramb and Jimmy Muirhead for their particularly dedicated efforts to date. The club also has a ten-pin bowling night to look forward to later in the week. Anyone who would like more information on helping people through Rotary, both locally and abroad, can either pay a visit to the Golden Lion Hotel on a Wednesday at 6.30pm or get in touch through social media channels.
STIRLING ROTARY CLUB
President Robin Sutton welcomed members and one visitor, past president of the club, at that time Mary Riley. More trees are being planted to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, on this occasion in the park at Bannockburn. Speaker was member, past president Stewart Wilson, who came to Stirling in 1978 to open a cycle shop. His theme was how retail activity had changed in the intervening years. In 1978 Stirling was a good place to open a small business, the town was busy with many small shops and only one other cycle shop, although at that cycling did not have the kudos it has now. The Thistle Centre, the first big Scottish shopping centre, was central to what is now a long-gone shopping pattern. People would travel from some distance preferring to shop in person where there were several large shops, it was a good day out. Hard to imagine now. Stirling University also helped to draw customers in. This pattern lasted for some years but by the time the Marches was built, the world of shopping was changing. On line shopping became the norm. In addition retail parks opened and large supermarkets, all taking business away from the town centre. The loss of Debenhams was a major event adding to damage to the town centre. There have been changes in the rating system, helping some but disadvantaging others. The sort of business opened by Stewart would be difficult to develop now.
STIRLING FOLK CLUB
The club meets on Monday, May 2 at 7.30pm at Stirling County Rugby Club, Bridgehaugh with an open session evening. Admission £2.