The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Community hero Lesley named Citizen of the Year by Rotary
Perthshire community hero Lesley Whitwood has been named Pitlochry and District Rotary’s Citizen of the Year.
Lesley, of Grandtully, plays a part in a wide range of community groups in the area.
She moved to the small village eight years ago, after retiring from teaching in the south of England and got involved in amateur dramatics.
She was then taken on by Pitlochry Festival Theatre to become a “describer” for people with impaired sight.
A keen golfer and active member of a local ladies group, she realised there was a need for someone to teach golf to youngsters.
She took a course to become an accredited teacher and has been working with children for the past six years.
Lesley is lady captain and junior coach of Strathtay Golf Club and was, until recently, junior convener of Aberfeldy Golf Club.
In addition, she plays the guitar and double bass, and is a member of a local group who entertain the community and visitors with acoustic music at the Birks Cinema each week.
Lesley loves singing and is vice-chairwoman of Pitlochry and District Choral Society.
She is a dedicated member of her church group as a lay reader, taking services regularly at Strathtay, Kilmaveonaig and Pitlochry and running a house group in Aberfeldy.
As if all this was not enough, Lesley also finds time to knit and sew items for Open Studios, Pitlochry Gallery and various fundraising stalls.
She is also on the Grandtully Community Village Hall committee, helping to run the Burns Night supper, as well as helping to provide lighting for the outdoor Christmas tree.