Hveoaicdeeor fhtehre 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.
STIRLING CITY CHOIR
Weekly rehearsals have resumed on Tuesdays from 7.30-8.30pm in Park Church (former St Columba’s). 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. Next meeting is on 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.
STIRLING POETRY SHARING GROUP
The group is restarting on the first Thursday of the month from the new time of 11.30am to 12.30pm in the Smith Art Gallery, Dumbarton Road, Stirling. All are welcome to come along to share and enjoy poetry being read aloud. Bring a couple of poems of any era or style if you wish to read, or just come along to listen. If you wish to hear a particular poem read, but do not wish to read yourself, the group will provide a willing reader. The Smith Cafe is open from 11am for the sale of refreshments. Further details from 07464 602207. Future Thursday dates are May 5, June 2, July 7, August 1 and September 1.
SPIRIT MEDIUM
World-renowned spirit medium David Traynor will be appearing in Stirling this month. One of the UK’S leading mediums, David has toured the UK demonstrating his talent for many years, has appeared on TV and radio and published books on the subject of clairvoyance. He will be on stage at the Golden Lion Hotel, King Street tomorrow (Thursday) at 8pm and tickets, priced £20, are available from
David at 07812 019702 or by contacting Helen Henderson on 07771 647326. David will also be appearing in Aberdeen tonight (Wednesday) and Fort William on Saturday, April 23. For more details contact Helen on above number.
DUNBLANE ACCORDION AND FIDDLE CLUB
The next meeting will be tonight (Wednesday) in the Victoria Hall, Dunblane. Doors open at 7.15pm. The guest artists are the Susan Macfadyen Scottish Dance Band. All players (any instruments), and listeners are welcome. The final meeting of the season will be on Wednesday, May 16 when the guest artists will be the Ian Cruickshanks Scottish Dance Band.
LODGE STIRLING ROYAL ARCH NO 76
On Monday, April 25, the lodge will host Lodge Dolphin No.911, who will confer the Mark Ceremonial on one progressive candidate. Master Bro. David W Brown, invites all qualified brethren to attend in the Masonic Temple, New Road, Bannockburn at 7.30pm.
OCHILS MOUNTAINEERING CLUB
Some club members enjoyed winter activities with ski touring on Cairngorm, hillwalking on the Drumochter hills and the borders hills. The club meet in Lochinver was a success with many walks being done. With the longer days the climbers in the club are arranging some outdoor climbing at local crags. There’s still some indoor climbing sessions at The PEAK in Stirling. On the social front, Thursday’s pub meet will take place at the Curly Coo from 8pm, non-members are welcome to attend. Plans are being made for a club alpine trip to Switzerland in the second half of July. The club has a guest speaker on Wednesday, May 4 at Stirling County Cricket Club starting at 8pm. The speaker is the well known ultra hill runner Debbie Martin Consani. There is a day hillwalking trip to Ben Vorlich (Arrochar Alps) on Sunday, April 24, details on website. Details of forthcoming weekend meets at Glen Brittle campsite at the end of April and the Roybridge campsite at the beginning of June are on the Club website, at www.ochils.com, or check out Ochils Mountaineering Club on Facebook for current activities.
CARSE OF STIRLING ROTARY CLUB
Last week the club gathered at the
Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling for a social meeting. Rotarians are still working hard, doing the many pieces of preparation that are needed for events like the annual Kids Out Day. While the future can’t be fully predicted, it is hoped that events like these can go ahead. Anyone interested in information on helping people, both locally and abroad can either pay a visit to the Golden Lion on a Wednesday from 6.30pm or get in touch through social media channels, by searching for ‘@ carserotary’.
THE FRIENDS OF THE SMITH
The Friends are delighted to be able to restart lectures after the lockdown. Heather Carroll, Exhibitions Officer at the Smith, will be giving an illustrated lecture on The Art of Women in Politics in 18th Century Britain on Wednesday, April 27 at 7pm for 7.30pm. Please note change of evening. Although denied the right to vote, elite women in 18th century Britain were able to exercise political power, through socialising with politicians, land possession, canvassing for candidates and also through art. However, art could also be used against women to diminish or ridicule their political influence. This lecture will look at some of the varied artwork surrounding these women from exquisite portraits to scandalous satirical prints. Examples will be taken from the Smith’s own collection. Entry on the door is £5 (£4 for Friends) and includes tea, coffee and biscuits.
BRIDGE OF ALLAN AND DUNBLANE ROTARY CLUB
The talk about Andysmanclub by Alex Mcclintock and Billy Ramsay (his first to a group) was inspirational and emotional, but did not make for easy listening. It highlighted the very high levels of males in the UK who take their own lives. Of some 6000 deaths from this cause each year, some 75 per cent are male. Andysmanclub is a men’s mental health charity, offering free-to-attend talking groups for men that challenge the stigmas around male mental health. Following the death of her son Andy, who had suffered from mental health problems, his mother was jointly instrumental in establishing the club. It started off as a group in Halifax. That first night nine men turned up and spoke. There was, Alex maintained, ‘a magic in the room that night’ that everyone knew had to be shared. Those present knew that there were many other men across the country who were in need of, and could benefit from, this experience. From that beginning, the club has flourished, testament to the need for such support. There are now 69 clubs throughout the UK, with 23 in Scotland. The target is, ultimately, to be able to offer a club that is within 30 minutes travel of any given postcode. Club meetings are held on Mondays between 7pm and 9pm, the day chosen because it is on Monday that it is most common for men to take their own lives. Any male over the age of 18 can attend, with some 1700 attending on a weekly basis across the UK. Men find it particularly difficult to express their feelings; getting them ‘through the door’ in itself represents an important stage towards recovery. Sitting in a circle is used to encourage the exchange of experiences. While there is no compulsion to speak, sharing of experiences is encouraged as it restores confidence and offers scope to explore alternative avenues. Use of social media is an important element in spreading awareness of the club, and also provides an opportunity to offer access to help and support. The charity is funded entirely by donations from members and by the work of fundraisers. At present it has some 500 volunteers across the UK, often men who have recovered as a result of attending the club and go on to be mediators to ‘give something back.’ Rotary Club meetings are held in the Westlands Hotel, Dunblane at 6.15pm on Thursdays. It is also possible to attend by Zoom. Non– members are welcome; anyone wishing to attend should contact 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.
STIRLING ROTARY CLUB
President Robin Sutton welcomed members to the Easter meeting in the Golden Lion. The meeting was enhanced by an unexpected visitor from Stirling University, Maya Xverb who has a strong connection with Rotary as her father is a Rotary president in Prague. Her origins are interesting, Malta on one side and Turkmenistan on the other, although the family have lived in Prague for some time. Maya is in the middle of a four-year course at Stirling, studying marketing, psychology and finance. Her English is excellent easily understood by the members, certainly better than her understanding of some our accents. From members’ point of view it was good to hear the views of a younger age group. She has a strong interest in classical music, her favourite being Tchaikovsky, and she has recently become involved with a group of feminist artists. They seek to correct the traditional portrayal of women in limited roles by classical artists, illustrating a more realistic portrayal of women’s views and activities.
Maya clearly found society in the small city of Stirling very different from the much larger Prague. Other activities continue, a major revamp of the planters at Stirling station is due, and the club continues to support the Arion bus taking youngsters to swim.