Voice of the People
RSVP WALKING GROUP
Walk leaders with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme organise and lead three walks every week, starting at various places across Stirling and Clackmannanshire on Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get extra exercise and have a chat along the way, contact Anne Marie on 07935 911156 for more details.
HANDYPERSON SERVICE
Handyperson volunteers carry out small/minor maintenance jobs in older people’s homes in the Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Callander and Clackmannanshire areas. The service is co-ordinated by registered charity Volunteering Matters. There is no charge and donations are gratefully accepted. Volunteers welcome. For details during the current climate call 01259 928088.
COUNCIL ON DISABILITY STIRLING
The office in Cameronian Street is open and available for all disability related work or enquiries. During the pandemic, CoD continues to operate successfully by phone for all types of benefit form completion and follow up work to tribunal if required. Whilst CoD is not yet offering face to face appointments, the situation is monitored continually and staff look forward to re-introducing this as soon as it is practicable. A wealth of information on services can be found on the website at www.councilondisability. org . All updates on face to face reopening will also appear here. Please phone 01786 462178 or 07521 186159 or email advisor@ councilondisability.org.
ROCKTALK
Stirling’s talking newspaper for the blind is free to visually impaired members of the community. Contact Mike Milne at enquiries@rocktalk.org.uk or 01786 816673.
NEURO CENTRAL
Neuro Central aims to ensure that people in Scotland who live with neurological conditions, as well as their carers and families, have access to high quality services, therapies, information and support in a friendly, relaxed environment so nobody has to feel alone. Meetings are held on the first and third Monday of the month at Stirling County Cricket Club from 11am-1pm. Precautions will be taken to ensure, as far as possible, the safety of our members, volunteers and therapists. Further information is on the Facebook page, by calling 07526 281747 or on the website ‘neurocentral.org.uk.’ As usual, everyone welcome. If you would like a cuppa, please bring your own cup.
ALZHEIMER SCOTLAND
Contact dementia advisor Donna Paterson at dpaterson@alzscot.org, 01786 8311 or 07733 302772.
TOWN BREAK
The charity group supports people with early to moderate stage dementia to live well. For more information in the current climate, contact 01786 641841 or email admin@townbreakstirling.org.
ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION (STIRLING BRANCH)
Face to face monthly meetings are held at the King Robert Hotel, Glasgow Road, Whins of Milton on the first Wednesday in the month. All regiments welcome. If you would like any further information please contact by emailing the secretary at secretary.aashstirlingbranch@ btinternet.com or by contacting the chairman by phone 07940 828434 email: james21healy@outlook.com.
STIRLING CITY CHOIR
Weekly rehearsals have resumed on Tuesdays from 7.30-8.30pm in Park Church (former St Columba’s). The Spring Concert which will take place on the evening of Sunday, April 10 in the Church of the Holy Rude will be a performance of Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace’. Further details available via the website at www.stirlingchoir.org.uk or through the Facebook page.”
FORTH VALLEY TOP TOES
Part of the Braveheart Association non-profit charity providing personal footcare service to adults who are unable to cut their own toenails. Cost is £15 per session which covers overheads and the customers’ nail care kit. It offers basic nail clipping and filing every six-10 weeks by a team of trained NHS approved volunteers but do not provide other podiatric treatments. The clinic meets at the Bellfield Centre, Stirling Community Hospital, Livilands Gate, Stirling on Thursdays from 9am-12.30pm. To book an appointment contact the Forth Valley Top Toes team on 07596 375674/01324 633505 or email louise.bleazard@nhs.scot.
STIRLING LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
The 2021/22 season meetings are being held online, via Zoom. Meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month at 7pm. Registration details can be found on the current season section on the webpage. Online tutorials are available on the Zoom website. For more details on the society, please visit the About Us page.
STIRLING AND DISTRICT FLORAL ART CLUB
The club is returning to in-person meetings after two years of lockdown restrictions. Meetings have been organised on April 12 and May 10 - at 2.30pm. Please note the club is moving to a new venue - Park Church Main Hall, Park Terrace, Stirling. The entrance is from the side door. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Meetings cost £7 for visitors. Contact honorary secretary Mrs Sarah Murdoch fore more information on murdochsarah@btinternet.com.
CARSE OF STIRLING ROTARY CLUB
Last week saw Rotarians gather at the Golden Lion Hotel for a social meeting. This is where everyone gets together to socialise and enjoy a meal. The planned ten-pin bowling night, which was pencilled in for the same week, has been moved forward to a slightly later date in the year. Members are still working hard, doing the many pieces of preparation that are needed for events like the annual Kids Out Day. Whilst the future can’t be predicted, it is hoped that events like these can go ahead and planning is going ahead. The club is also starting a piece of work, which involves linking-in with Ukrainian refugees; more to follow as this develops. Anyone interested in more information on helping people, both locally and abroad, can either pay a visit to the Golden Lion Hotel on a Wednesday at 6.30pm or get in touch through social media channels, by searching for ‘@carserotary.’
STIRLING FOLK CLUB
Fil Campbell and Tom McFarland from Co. Down, have been performing as a duo since the early 90s. The combination of two vocals, guitar and percussion, and a mix of topical original songs and well chosen contemporary and traditional songs with lots of choruses, plus the Irish gift of chat and craic, has brought them around the world many times. Monday, March 28 brings them to Stirling Folk Club at 7.30pm in Stirling County RFC, Bridgehaugh. Tickets are £12 at the door.
BRIDGE OF ALLAN AND DUNBLANE ROTARY CLUB
Not surprisingly given the circumstances that have prevailed, it hasn’t been possible to hold the (usually) annual debate between the club and students from the University of Stirling Debating Society for two years. So it was with pleasure that last Thursday, members were again able to welcome students to the Westlands Hotel. As has been the custom, the event opened with a serious debate, namely that “This House Believes that Austerity has been Europe’s Worst Policy of the Century.” Opening, Homoud Mahadin argued that fundamentally, austerity fails to achieve its goals, namely fiscal stability. In a period of austerity, consumer confidence, and investment decreases. Consequently, government revenue is reduced and the economy often enters a deflationary spiral, resulting in a failure to turn the economy around. Opposing the motion, Clemens Ziesik claimed that austerity is not inherently a failed action; it is the circumstances and timing of its introduction that can be at fault. Exercised at a time when other measures have failed, austerity can be the only means of restoring stability to the economy. Following interventions from supporting speakers and the audience, a vote was taken, resulting in the motion being heavily defeated. After refreshments, the (at least in theory) less serious motion was that “This House Would Not Get Married”. Opening, James Southern maintained that marriage was a failed institution. Who, in his or her right mind, he asked, would willingly enter into a contractual relationship that had a 42 per cent likelihood of being a failure? Relationships have more chance of failing when, as with marriage, they are bound with unnecessary legal and financial commitments. Opposing, Ciaran Shearer argued that marriage provides the culminating declaration of a deep, loving relationship. It also provides a positive framework for raising a family. Adding her support, Ugonna Oleh argued that, as all life is full of risk, why not go for the best option and cement a relationship - in this case marriage which offers the warmth and stability of family life. Arguments, perhaps not surprisingly, often of a lighthearted nature, were then put forward by other speakers and members of the audience. When the motion was put to the vote, there was no ambiguity about the result: the motion was defeated with the audience almost unanimously in favour of marriage. President Russell said that he was delighted that the club was able to welcome students back for the debate, and thanked all the participants for an entertaining evening. Club meetings are held in the Westlands Hotel, Dunblane at 6.15pm on Thursday. It is also possible to attend by Zoom. Non-members are welcome; anyone wishing to attend should contact club secretary Stuart Brown at secretary@dunblanerotary.org. uk. The club’s programme can be found on the website: www.dunblanerotary. org.uk or on Facebook: www.facebook. com/dunblanerotary.
ROTARY CLUB OF STIRLING
Christmas comes but once a year and when it comes it brings good cheer! The delayed Christmas lunch was eventually held on March 18 and certainly brought much needed good cheer; of course it is hoped to have a second equally enjoyable lunch in December. President Robin Sutton welcomed a good turn out of Rotarians, partners and guests, but had hardly got going when the fire alarm sounded, and everyone ended up standing in King Street. Fortunately it was a dry day and lunch had not arrived on the table. Other activities continue, the three Flowering Cherries are now planted at Riverside Primary School commemorating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. A second collection for Ukraine at the Thistle Centre raised a further £1000 to add to the £3000 already collected. The club is taking part in the Gavel competition next week, a lighthearted selection of games with other Rotary clubs. Next week’s meeting is a fellowship/business gathering
OCHILS MOUNTAINEERING CLUB
Last weekend was a successful club meet in Glen Feshie. With the fabulous weather, members were out walking on various Munros and Corbetts in the Cairngorm and Glen Feshie area. There was also ski touring on Cairngorm and rock climbing at Kingussie. With the longer days the climbers in the club are arranging indoor climbing sessions at The PEAK and some outdoor climbing at local crags. Plans are being made for a club alpine trip to Switzerland in the second half of July. Details of forthcoming family meet at Kinlochleven at the start of April and the Lochinver meet in mid April are on the Club website, at www.ochils. com, or check out Ochils Mountaineering Club on Facebook for current activities.
STIRLING STAMP CLUB
The next meeting of Stirling Philatelic Society is at 7.30pm on Monday, March 28 at the Allan Centre, Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan. This will be a display by Andy Napier on Fiji. Visitors and new members welcome. The society website is nzstamps.org.uk/sdps.