The number one message is to stay at home
With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, I completely understand that it is harder to resist the temptation to leave the house for reasons other than our daily exercise, to pick up food or medicine, or for essential work.
But the number one message for protecting yourself and others remains very firmly – stay at home!
While there have been some disappointing reports of people travelling to various villages in Strathearn for a day out, the vast majority of folk are following the advice that has been given and I thank you for that.
Indeed, as adversity so often does, this crisis time has really brought the best in people to the fore.
I find it really uplifting to hear stories of communities and individuals whose simple acts of kindness not only provide real practical support for people that need it but are powerful moraleraisers for the rest of us.
One such story seems to have gone‘viral’– if I can still use that phrase – in the past week as media outlets around the country have picked up on the Muthill community larder.
The traditional red phone box used to have a vital role at the heart of every village and, in Muthill, it does again.
A disused phone box has been given a new lease of life as a vital drop-off and collection point for villagers in need.
Stocked with donations ranging from tinned goods to chocolate lollies, toiletries, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as things like jigsaws and books, the community larder operates on the basis of‘give what you want, take what you need and leave what you don’t’.
I have been very aware from people contacting me that it is not just individuals who can find themselves struggling. Many businesses are facing extremely difficult times.
A range of support packages has been put in place and these are being amended and added to as time goes on.
I very much welcome the second phase of funding which the Finance Secretary has just announced to protect businesses.
Around £220million of further grants is being made available for businesses – including the recently self-employed – to help them deal with the ongoing impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The new package of measures includes £120 million to extend the Small Business Grant scheme to ensure that, in addition to a 100 per cent grant on the first property, small business rate payers will be eligible to a 75 per cent grant on all subsequent properties.
A further £100m fund is also being made available to protect self-employed people and various micro and SME businesses who are ineligible for other Scottish Government or UK government schemes.
Applications for the £100m fund will be open by the end of the month, and the new arrangements for the Small Business Grant will be in place to receive applications on May 5.
It is really important that we look after the economic as well as physical health of our communities and that is what the Scottish Government is trying its very best to do.
Finally, a word to all the NHS and other care workers, funeral directors, bin collectors, shop staff and all the other people filling roles on a long and varied list of those who are working through this difficult time, either directly tackling the threat and spread of the virus or helping the rest of us keep going.
I thank you all.
A new chapter in the history of Crieff Choral Group is to begin later this year.
Director of music Peter Rutterford has announced his intention to step down from the role in September.
The well- known figure was appointed to the position in 2002 and has previously served as director of music for the Staff Band of the Royal Marines and with the Sultan of Oman’s Royal Navy.
Closer to home, Peter is also musical director for Perth Choral Society and chairman of Perth Festival of the Arts.
Under his baton, Crieff Choral Group has performed two concerts a year and meets for regular rehearsals between September and March.
A spokesperson for the group – which was started as an evening class in the 1970s by former Crieff High School music teacher Alistair Barr – said: “To the delight of the audience and choir alike, Peter has always engaged wonderful professional singers to perform the soprano, alto, tenor and bass solos .
“To g e t h e r w i t h the accompaniment of the City of Perth Sinfonia, the audiences have always been amazed at the extraordinary high standard of the quality of singing, musicality and professionalism of Crieff Choral Group.
“Of course, this is due to the weeks spent rehearsing with the choir to ‘note- bash’ each part, practice sections and movements and help everyone to check the harmonies and dynamics making the piece come alive with loud and soft features.
“These concerts look effortless, but a lot of time, dedication, guidance and support is spent to make the choir ‘concert ready’ to create a wonderful performance.”
The latest March concert was cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
I t w o u l d hav e been Mendelssohn’s Lauda Sion and Mozart’s Spaur Messe.
The spokesperson continued: “It would also have been the opportunity for Crieff Choral Group to formally thank Peter in front of the choir and audience for all his time, commitment, hard work and professional expertise.
“It has been a tremendous musical journey taken jointly between Peter and Crieff Choral Group and the choir has asked Peter to become an honorary member to reflect the 18 years spent together.”
The lighter programmes in November have included Songs from the British Isles, The Broadway Shows, A Night in Vienna, Songs of the Seas, An Evening of Music Hall Songs, A Night at the Opera and a Victorian Christmas.
In addition, the repertoire of Gilbert and Sullivan has been tapped into, with performances of The Pirates of Penzance, the Mikado and, most recently, last November’s
Trial by Jury.
These November concerts have been accompanied either by Melvyn Turnbull, whose wife Jennie sings in the choir, or their talented son Jamie on piano or organ, depending on the venue.
In the March concerts, the choir has performed a classical repertoire covering a selection of the greatest composers across the centuries.
Pieces sung from the Baroque era were Bach’s Magnificat and Vivaldi’s Gloria.
From the early classical times, the choir sang Handel’s Coronation Anthem and The Messiah, and Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Litaniae Laurentanae K195 and his Requiem.
And, bridging the gap between the classical and Romantic period, the choir performed Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonnelle.
Modern composers have also been conducted, with the choir singing Rutter’s Requiem and Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man Suite to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice in 2018.
Ulrike Wutscher will take over the reins from Peter in September.
An Austrian professional mezzo-soprano living in Stirling, she is currently assistant director of Vienna-based choir DaKor and director of the University Choir of Stirling.
A keen recitalist and concert singer, Ulrike has also worked with the Rosenethe Singers at Dunblane Cathedral.
She regularly sings with the Scots Opera Experience and has performed across Britain and in Europe.
The Crieff Choral Group spokesperson said: “Ulrike is a professional singer who has performed a large repertoire of pieces across the classical to modern periods in concerts in England, Scotland and Austria, and is a singing and ensemble teacher.”
Coronavirus-related restrictions permitting, Crieff Choral Group will begin autumn term rehearsals on Monday, September 7, in Morrison’s Academy’s Fermtower Hall from 7.30pm.
The first part of the evening will be the AGM. New members are welcome, especially tenor and bass singers. There is no audition.
For more information, see the website www.crieffchoralgroup. co.uk.
It is really important that we look after the economic as well as the physical health of our communities