Clubs and organisations
Blairgowrie Civic Trust
On April 26 Chair Meg Luckins welcomed 25 members to the last meeting of this session which commenced with a short AGM at which the present Committee was reelected and the Treasurer,s report was approved. Meg Luckins then introduced the Speaker Murdo Fraser MSP who gave us an illustrated talk on the Royalists and covenanters,Scottish Revolution and Civil wars 1638-51.This fascinating and quite gory evening concluded with a vote of thanks by Chris McCleery.
Common Weal Perth and Kinross
Common Weal Perth and Kinross next meets at 6:45pm on Wednesday, May 10 at Blend Coffee Lounge, 274 High Street, Perth, for “coffee, cake and conversation” on various aspects of current affairs and politics. All are welcome to come along and take part. You can find out more about Common Weal at www.allofusfirst. org and follow the local Perth and Kinross group either on Facebook or on Twitter at @commonwealpk.
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. Some beautiful work was shown. All butterflies have now been handed in ready for the installation in Perth Museum. There will be a launch of this display on 3rd June. It should be amazing! On Saturday 22nd April, 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. Our 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. £3 admission at Oakbank Community Centre, 2 - 4pm. Everyone welcome.
Fair City Probus Club
Fair City Probus President Robert Proctor presented speaker David Stokoe of Perth and Kinross Council at the meeting on 26th April. His subject was City of Culture 2021. He explained Perth had decided to apply for the UK city of culture for 2021, there are 10 other cities to contend with, Paisley being the other Scottish bidder. The Perth team have visited Hull, the present City of Culture, and receive advice on the way forward. Applicants have to satisfy a number of criteria such as sustainable benefits to the community, employment opportunities, cultural diversity and inclusion of both the old (applause from the audience!) and young. Previous winners have all been large conurbations, Perth’s bid will emphasise the large agricultural area of the region, and will highlight particular infrastructure problems faced by all 30 million countryside residents in Britain. Initial bids have to be submitted by this week, the judging panel will announce about five cities that will proceed to the next phase in July, final decision is expected in November. Tom Morrison gave the vote of thanks. On 10th May George Stewart’s topic is ‘Desert War’.
Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers
On Tuesday, April 18, 12 members of the Forth & Tay Disabled Ramblers met at Divilla Forest to ramble through this magnificent wood.
Friends of Aytoun Hall, Auchterarder
Friends of Aytoun Hall is a charity limited by guarantee that exists to look after the Auchterarder community’s interests in the Aytoun Hall, the prime community venue in the Lang Toon. Over the past decade the charity has been successful in making the case for the building’s £1.4M refurbishment in 2009/10 and thereafter maintaining the community-owned inventory. Furthermore, the community, through ‘the Friends’, now has a say in the way the venue is maintained and operated through its connections with Perth & Kinross Council and by dint of the fact that the community owns the contents of the building. The Friends of Aytoun Hall AGM is scheduled for 7 th June and will commence at 7.30pm in the Council Chambers of the Aytoun Hall. Following the AGM, if nobody steps forward to join the Management Committee, it is anticipated that the committee, established for 12 full members, will be reduced to 5 full members and 2 co-opted members, the bare minimum. Thus the committee will be operating with a shortfall of 7 full members. This is worrying. There is a need for local people who are interested and care about the Aytoun Hall to step forward and join the Management Committee. Without ‘new blood’ to strengthen and freshen the committee, the only prospect is stagnation and eventually demise, with no formal mechanism existing for representing the community in respect of the future of the Aytoun Hall. An appeal is therefore made for interested local people, resident in Postcode PH3, to
Perth Bridge Club
Results : Thursday, April 27: Tayside Salver Round 3 : North/South 1 George & Gillian Roberts 58.33% 2 - David & Sheila MacLennan 55.36%, 3 - Sandy Scholes & Margaret Hunter 47.62%. East/West 1- Marilyn Thomson and Willie Young 63.10% 2 - Mike Halsey and John McCallum 50.00% 3- Eric Starrit & Sheila Vass 49.40% ,Tuesday, May 2 Meg Fisher Round 2 (Cross Imps) 1 - Brian Kitching and Richard Benstead +34.30 2 - Mike Halsey and Derek Stephen +27.80, 3 - William Sutherland & Betty Pow +12.30.
Perth Filmmakers’ Club
Perth Film Makers Club at Crieff Drama Group Social and Film Evening. To mark the close of their season members of Crieff Drama Group held a social evening and film screening of their October 2106 Supper Season Theatre production of four one-act plays directed by members Elspeth Fleming and Kate Beauchamp at The Knock Castle Hotel and Spa, Crieff on Tuesday, April 25. Filmed during dress rehearsal in Morrison’s Academy Hall by a six-camera team from Perth Film Makers Club led by audio technician Jim McNeill, film positions and filming roles ensuring full stage coverage during performances. Editing of the twelve films used was carried out by David Cowie to produce a DVD of the performance. Graphics and layout for the presentation boxes was undertaken by Bill Smollett. At the evening’s close and on behalf of the group, Chair Helen Day thanked the invited members of the film team and, in return, was presented with a copy of the DVD by Jim McNeill.
Perth University of the Third Age (U3A)
The next U3A meeting is the AGM on
Perthshire Writers
On Tuesday, May 2 members enjoyed an informal Stovie Night in the company of friends from Soutar Writers and writing groups in Dundee and Caithness. The evening is always a highlight of the syllabus, with words and music aplenty, and this was certainly no exception. Thanks to Margaret Gillies Brown for her hospitality and to all those who provided a range of desserts to accompany the scrumptious main course! The group is now looking forward to performing “A Pocketful of Perthshire” in the Lecture Hall at Perth Museum and Art Gallery on Wednesday 17 May. More information about that and the group’s other activities can be found on the club’s Facebook page or its web site
RSAS Club News
Wellcroft: annual game against Wellcroft BC is on Tuesday, May 23, bus leaves Club at 11.30am. Golf: Tuesday, May 9, second qualifying round J.McKenzie Cup. Darts: Gents - Monday, May 8, League Ave Man / Sec Cup at RSAS Club. Ladies - Tuesday, May 9: League Ave Man / Sec Cup at RSAS Cup. Pool: Thursday, May 11, Handicap Team Cup second round. Dominoes: Friday, May 5 Tennents Pairs at RSAS Club Caley BC: Gents: Saturday, May 6, away v Newburgh BC, 4G 1L 2pm, transport leaves at 1.15pm; Wednesday, May 10 CT home v Perth BC, 3 gents at 6.45pm. Ladies: Club afternoon on Wednesday, May 10, at 2pm. Obituary: It is with some sadness
Unison
Perth Filmmakers’Club and Crieff Drama Club held a film show of the drama club’s autumn four act plays
Gaelic Society of Perth
After a very successful winter Ceilidh season, there will be no ceilidh this month but the 2017 Annual General Meeting of The Gaelic Society of Perth will take place at St Matthew’s Church Hall, Tay Street, Perth on Friday, May 12 at 7.30pm. All members of the society are invited to this meeting. Please note that the date is changed from May 5. Come and put your views forward and hear what the Society has been involved with this year and the plans for the future! The annual Gaelic Service will be held at the Congregational Church, Kinnoull Street, Perth on Sunday, June 4 at 3pm. The Rev. Angus Morrison will take the service. Further information can be obtained from the Secretary on 01577 864589, on our website. gaelicsocietyofperth.com or like us on Facebook - we are Gaelic Society of Perth. The next meeting of the UNISON Retired Members Section will be held on Tuesday, May 9 at the AK Bell Library in the Meeting Room. Please note the starting time of 10.30am. This morning’s talk will be given by Sarah Wilcock and Archivist Assistant with Perth and Kinross Council Cultural Service. Sarah will give a talk entitled “Researching Your Family History. This will be an introduction to the Local and Family History Department. Refreshments will be available for attendees and members are invited to bring guests along. The group is always keen to welcome new members to the retired group. Membership is eligible for anyone who has been a member of UNISON or NALGO and worked in local government.