Hveoaicdeeor fhtehre People
STIRLING ROTARY
Rotary club of Stirling meeting of January 20: President Philip Allison opened the meeting by recording the passing of Robert W Inglis past member and secretary of the club as well as president from 1991-92. The speaker was Ken Stewart from the Rotary club of Callander, for 30 years consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Stirling Royal infirmary. Ken had a short working visit to Zimbabwe which made a deep impression on him and he had hoped to return there to work, but by the time he was in a position to do this it had become a more difficult place to work and so he turned his attention to Malaysia. Apart from providing clinical services he had a strong interest in teaching, passing on his consultant level skills to doctors in training. In the event he ended up in Kota Baharu in the north east of the country, a substantial town with a good general hospital, 800 beds and a good clinical record. Kota Baharu was a pleasant place with a less extreme climate, and friendly inhabitants. Along with his clinical work he set up a training course with strict standards working with junior doctors and nurses. Exams on theory and practice had all to be passed at a high standard and the hospital came to be highly regarded. Ken was also able to pass on his many years of experience in the labour ward and the theatre, an invaluable legacy, and the basis of a continuing service to the community.
CARSE OF STIRLING ROTARY
Last week saw the club get together at the Golden Lion Hotel for a social meeting, quiz night and meal. After a feed and some chat, the club had the pleasure of Secretary Robin Mair compering the entertaining after-dinner quiz. This comprised a series of general knowledge questions and a challenge to get as many correct as possible. A clear winner emerged, in the form of President Chris Elder. For a supreme display of knowledge, he was rewarded with a bottle of wine. We’d encourage anyone who’d like to join us in socialising whilst helping people, both locally and abroad, to either pay us a visit on a Wednesday night, or get in touch through our social media channels, by searching for ‘@carserotary.’
INNER WHEEL OF STIRLING
Our next club meeting is on Friday February 3. For more information see us on Facebook or IW website district 1.
STIRLING & DISTRICT FLORAL ART CLUB
The club meets monthly in the Main Hall of Park Church, Stirling FK8 2NA on Tuesday afternoons. The 2023 meetings are on Tuesdays: February 21, March 14, April 11 and May 6, all at 2.30pm. Further information available from the Honorary Secretary Mrs Sarah Murdoch. E-mail: murdochsarah@btinternet.com.
STIRLING BURNS CLUB
The club returns to the Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling, for their 128th Annual Celebration of the Bard on Friday, January 27, at 6.30pm. Tickets from the hotel, any committee member or from club secretary Patrick Mcdermott by phone, text or Whatsapp on 0797 383 4173. Full details on the Stirling Burns Club facebook page.
STIRLING LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Next meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Albert Place at 7.30pm. The topic for the meeting will be a presentation by Dr Adrian Maldonado on ‘Crucible of Nations: Central Scotland in the Viking Age’. Entry free of charge – doors open 7.15pm.
FRIENDS OF THE SMITH
Monthly Stirling Smith lectures on
Wednesdays at the Smith, Dumbarton Road, at 7.30pm, doors open 7pm. Admission by cash at the door, £5 adults, £4 Friends members, £2 students. Admission includes tea or coffee and biscuits. Brochure with details of the lectures available from the Smith.
FAMILY HISTORY DROP-IN
Next drop-in session at St Ninians Library, Mayfield Centre, on Thursday February 2 from 10am–noon. The dropins are open to anyone looking for some advice on family history research with volunteers from Central Scotland Family History Society available to offer help and are run in conjunction with Stirling Council Libraries and Archives. Booking preferable - phone the library on 01786 472069 to book a time-slot.
STIRLING FOLK CLUB
Session evening on Monday, January 30, at 7.30pm in Stirling Rugby Club at Bridgehaugh. All welcome to bring their voices and instruments to sing or play. Come along to play, or simply to listen to the local talent. Admission £2.
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 would like extra exercise and a chat, contact Anne Marie on 07935 911156 for more information.
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 more 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. 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 practicable. Information at www. councilondisability.org. 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 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. Next meeting at Stirling County Cricket Club 11am-1pm on Monday February 6. For information call 07526 281747 or at neurocentral.org.uk.
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.
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 call 07596 375674/01324 633505 or email louise.bleazard@nhs.scot.
STIRLING POETRY SHARING GROUP
Group meets first Thursday of the month from 11.30am-12.30pm in the Smith Art Gallery, Dumbarton Road. All welcome to share and enjoy poetry read aloud. Bring a couple of poems of any era or style to read. If you do not wish to read yourself, the group will provide a willing reader. Further details from 07464 602207. Forthcoming dates February 2, March 2.
FORTH VALLEY U3A
Retired or semi-retired? Wondering what to do? Would you like to meet new people and become involved in a new hobby, interest, or activity? Brighten your autumn and winter by joining Forth Valley u3a, run by members for members. More than 60 interest groups in Forth Valley all meeting in local venues. They include book groups, craft workshops, badminton, coffee clubs, current affairs, guitar, Mandarin, mah-jong, poetry appreciation, Spanish, scrabble, tai chi, and a walking group. The membership also gets together socially once a month for an afternoon event. More at www. forthvalleyu3a.org.uk.
STIRLING MALE VOICE CHOIR
If you are a male who has always fancied being part of a choir or has been in choirs before, there is no audition or test to join. Choir meets on Tuesdays from September to May at Logie Kirk Hall in Causewayhead from 7.30-9.30pm. All welcome. Contact secretary John Barbour on 01786 474166.
STIRLING CITY CHOIR
Rehearsals have resumed at Park Church with practice for the Spring Concert - a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah.new members welcome - come along or contact us through http://www.stirlingcitychoir. org.uk, twitter: @stirling_choir, Facebook: Stirling City Choir.
TORBREX COMMUNITY CHOIR
This choir rehearses from 9.45-11.45am every Tuesday morning in Park Church, Stirling and performs two concerts a year generously supporting a local charity. If you enjoy singing upbeat music, in a mixed voice choir, with a great bunch of gregarious people please come along.
GOING FORWARD
The Bridge of Allan stroke group meets on Thursdays in the Chalmers Hall, Bridge of Allan Parish Church at 1.45pm for 2pm. If you are a stroke survivor or know anyone who is, and would like to join with the friendly group for an afternoon of social interaction, stimulation, entertainment and tea or coffee and biscuits, contact Sandra on 07434 972818.
OCHILS MOUNTAINEERING CLUB
Some club members were ski touring on the Lawers range last weekend despite poor visibility. Others choose to ski at the Glenshee ski resort. With the short evenings the rock climbers in the club are arranging some indoor climbing at the local climbing wall, the Peak in Stirling. Sessions usually at 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Further indoor climbing being done in the international climbing centre at Ratho near Edinburgh and Perth climbing wall. The club hosts a talk by Robbie Phillips, a well known professional climber, on Friday February 3 at 8pm at Stirling County Cricket Club. On the social front, this Thursday’s pub meet will take place at the Crossed Peels, Stirling from 8pm, non-members are welcome to attend. Details of forthcoming meets in Achnasheen in January and Onich in February are at www.ochils.com, or check out Ochils Mountaineering Club on Facebook for current activities.
STIRLING, FALKIRK & DISTRICT RAMBLERS
Cloan Glen, Sunday, January 29, start 11am, moderate six miles/9.7km. Circular walk follows tracks and country roads through woodland and farmland, and a gradual climb through Cloan Glen into the Ochils, hopefully with some rewarding views over Strathearn on return. Starting point: Crown Wynd car park, Auchterarder (toilets available), Grid reference: NN945128, nearest postcode PH3 1GB. To book your place contact walk leader Hilary Thomson on 01786 472726 or 07834529694. For more information visit https://sfdramblers. wordpress.com.