news from the institutes

AMULREE. Competitions: Christmas cracker – H Gamble; decorated biscuit – H Gamble. BISHOPSHIRE. Jeanette McLellan welcomed members to the Christmas meal at the Well Country Inn. Competitions: wrapped Christmas parcel (to be donated to Salvation Army) – 1 M Nisbet, 2 M Paton, 3 S Herrington; flower of the month – J Martin. BURRELTON AND WOODSIDE. Held its Christmas party at the Burrelton Park Hotel with entertainment provided by Margaret Gordon and a quiz. DULL AND DISTRICT. President Pam McDiarmid introduced Doug and Hilary Law and Susie Lumsden who sang songs, and Dorothy Procter who recited poetry. Competition: wrapped Christmas parcel – 1 P MacDiarmid, 2 E Alexander, 3 D Procter. FOWLIS WESTER. Wilma Brown introduced George Blues, the owner of Scruffy Dog Cider, based at Keillor, who spoke about his cider making business. Competitions: Christmas card – 1 A McColl, 2 A Hubbard, 3 H Walker; cheese straws – 1 H Walker, 2 W Brown, 3 A Hubbard. KILLIN. Michael Crowe, his wife Lynne and restaurant manager Jinny welcomed 25 ladies to the Courie Inn, Killin. It raised £567 for the Robin House Children’s Hospice in Balloch. KINGLANDS. Members and friends enjoyed their Christmas meal at the Tayside Hotel, Stanley. Competition: Christmas table decoration – 1 S McGhie, 2 J Chalmers, 3 E Lennon. KINROSS. Vice-president Sylvia Herrington introduced Jill from Flora Alba who gave a demonstration on making Christmas wreaths. Competitions: three jam tarts – 1 J Gardiner, 2 A Rogers; small floral arrangement – 1 A Martin, 2 N Smith and M Sutherland; flower of the month – 1 J Martin, 2 C Stewart, 3 A Rogers. MADDERTY. President Emily Watson introduced June McGrath who brought along examples of her sugarcraft flowers and demonstrated how to make them. Competitions: fatless Christmas mincemeat – 1 F Haggart, 2 C Craig; Christmas tree decoration – 1 I Robertson, 2 F Haggart, 3 C Craig; flower of the month – 1 F Haggart, 2 C Craig, 3 I Robertson. PITLOCHRY . Dr Jennifer Anthony gave a talk titled Care in the Atholl Medical Centre. RATTRAY. Muriel Brown welcomed members and visitors and introduced PC Alistair Crowe who spoke about online scams and how to be as secure as possible when using the internet and social media. Competitions: an apple plate pie – 1 M Brown, 2 L Howkins, 3 A Simpson; security tip – 1 J Edwards, A Simpson, 3 F Ness; flower of the month – A Simpson. RHYND. Norah Winyard welcomed members and introduced Edith Christie who demonstrated how to crochet. Competitions: truffles – 1 H Ryan, 2 F Todd; trinket box – 1 F Todd, 2 A Boyce; flower of the month – F Todd. At another meeting she introduced Perth Film-makers Club, which screened a number of their productions. Competitions: jar of chutney – 1 M Ballantine, 2 F Ashton; holiday snap – 1 M Ballantine, 2 – A Castle; flower of the month – M Delziel. SILVIE AND RUTHVEN. President Joy Reid welcomed everyone and introduced May Webster, who showed how to make marzipan fruits and a Christmas rose. Competitions: most items in a bluebell matchbox – 1 M Irvine, 2 M Bruce, 3 J Reid; individual lemon meringue pie – 1 M Bruce, 2 J Reid, 3 M Irvine; flower of the month – 1 R Nicolson, 2 H Urquhart, 3 L Messer. STANLEY .MrsC Lammie welcomed members and introduced Joe Richards who spoke about antiques. Competitions: an old coin – 1 K Baldie, 2 N Whitfield, 3 M Nicoll; knitted twiddlemuff – 1 N Whitfield, 2 E Valentine, 3 K Baldie; flower of the month – 1 J Gill, 2 C Lammie, 3 E Valentine.

STRATHALLAN. President Janet McConnell welcomed members and introduced Nikki Sinclair of Blackford WI who gave a demonstration and talk on nail varnish enamel flowers. Competions: EB Dalgleish Quaich for a pin cushion (any craft) – J Shanks; animal made from fruit and/or vegetables – 1 J McConnell, 2 L Buchan, 3 C Taylor.