Club News Soroptimist handover
Crieff Accordion and Fiddle Club
Members and guests met in the British Legion for the April meeting.
Bill Ewan and Gerry Boxall were backing players for the evening and there was no shortage of local players.
On accordion were George Brunton, Stewart Smith, Irene Anderson, Chic Boath, Fred Davidson, Robert Dykes Jim Clelland and Janet Graham.
Gordon Walker, Kathleen Smith, Anna Fraser and Stewart Reid also entertained on fiddle, playing with various accordionists.
Bill Anderson played drums for some of the players.
Cyril Thomson entertained the crowd with a couple of Scottish songs during the evening accompanied by Bill and Irene.
The guest band was Peter Stewart and Joan Blue.
A very good selection of music was chosen which also featured some piano solos and stories by Joan.
The evening ended with local players invited up for a stramash.
A very successful concert was held featuring Eddie Rose and Sandy Lindsay, realising a sum of £390.
The next meeting is on Thursday next week, where the guest band will be led by James Coutts.
Crieff Probus Club
On April 18, Crieff Probus Club was privileged to welcome Professor David Purdie as its speaker on the subject of Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford.
Professor Purdie was educated at Ayr Academy and Glasgow University where he graduated in Medicine. He then had two years at sea as Ship’s Surgeon on the SS Canberra, then the P&O flagship and a troopship and hospital ship for the Royal Naval Reserve.
Back ashore, he followed an academic medical career and was latterly Clinical Dean of the Leeds University School of Medicine. He retired from medical practice in 2007 as a Professor Emeritus.
He is presently a Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, (IASH) of the University of Edinburgh. IASH Fellows conduct research in the fields of Classics; Philosophy; History and English Literature. Professor Purdie’s own field of interest is the literature of the 18th Century Scottish Enlightenment – particularly those of Burns, Sir Walter Scott and the philosopher David Hume. He is the Editor-in- Chief of the fourth Edition of the Burns Encyclopaedia and the Editor of new Editions of Sir Walter Scott’s novels Ivanhoe and The Heart of Midlothian.
Professor Purdie’s talk highlighted Scott’s importance both as writer of prose, poetry and song and as a leading figure during the period of Scottish Enlightenment.
Scott’s early interest in literature came through his collection and publishing of folk songs from the Scottish Borders.
After this he began to write acclaimed epic poem before moving on to write the Waverly series of novels, which were the progenitors of the concept of the historical novel, a fictional narrative set against the background of historical fact. Scott’s influence spread beyond his literary works and he can be credited with defining much of what is now perceived as Scots identity, largely through his choreography of King George IV’s visit to Edinburgh in 1822, where the kilt was promoted as Scotland’s national dress.
The question and answer session gave Professor Purdie scope to discuss the merits of his current, sometimes controversial and difficult work in editing Scott’s novels to enable them to be more accessible to a modern audience.
Members were unanimous in their praise for Professor Purdie’s excellent talk and the vote of thanks was proposed by Gordon Campbell.
Embroiderers’ Guild
A fascinating talk was given by Moira Anne Dickson about her inspirations for stitching at the April meeting of the Embroiderers’ Guild, Perth branch – which is attended by members from Strathearn.
Some beautiful work was shown. All butterflies have now been handed in ready for the installation in Perth Museum and Art Gallery. There will be a launch of this display on June 3.
On Saturday, April 22, members jointly hosted the Regional Day with Dundee at West Park Conference Centre.
There was lots of beautiful embroidery to see, two interesting lectures and an opportunity to spend our pennies with specialist traders.
The next meeting on May 13 will take the form of an open afternoon.
There will be tea and cakes, a bring and buy, book stall and examples of stitching.
It’s £3 admission at Oakbank Community Centre, Perth, from 2-4pm. Everyone welcome.
Madderty Church Guild
Madderty Church Guild held a successful soup lunch in Madderty Community Hall on Sunday, April 30, following morning service in the church.
A total of over £200 was raised for Guild funds. These funds are used to support the local church and the projects of the Church of Scotland Guild.
Grateful thanks were expressed to all the helpers for providing food and serving it and to all those who came to support this event.
Strathearn Group SWI
Mrs I Robertson welcomed all to the meeting held at Fowlis Wester.
Doreen Arnott and friends entertained, which was enjoyed by all. Mary Docherty is new group secretary. Judges were M Folan and K Huggart, from Earn Valley.
Hostesses were from Comrie and Fowlis Wester.
Community competition - 1 Fowlis Wester, 2 Madderty, 3 Comrie.
Fresh flowers in a cup and saucer - 1 M McGregor, Muthill, 2 I Robertson, Madderty, 3 A Hubbard, Fowlis Wester.
Card any craft - 1 A McColl, 2 A Hubbard, 3 W Brown all Fowlis Wester.
Grace Thomson Trophy for Knitting - A Bremner, Madderty.
Rose Barnes Trophy for Sewing - E Watson, Madderty. Chairman’s Choice - A McColl, Fowlis Wester. McGill Crichton trophy for most points - Fowlis Wester.
Soroptimist International, Crieff
SI Crieff members held their AGM recently when president Janice Wilson handed over the chain of office to Mahri Lawie, with Pat Mowatt becoming president elect and Anne Gilzean becoming vice-president for the 2017-2018 session. On the same evening, the club inducted three new members: Carol Buchan, Hazel Brown and Audrey Whitten.
Mahri’s charities, for which club members will be working this year, are Strathearn Art for Experience, and Green Routes to Wellbeing.
Anyone wishing to know more about Soroptimist organisation and SI Crieff should call Mahri on 01764 679593 or our membership officer, Janice, on 01764 652532.