Voice of the People
INNER WHEEL OF STIRLING
On February 3 President Marjorie welcomed speakers from Neuro Central. The charity, run by volunteers, was founded in 2016 by friends who have neurological conditions. Funding has provided professional service sessions including acupuncture, podiatry, mental health first aid, living better with neurological conditions and more. Funding now in place to offer parts of programme in Stirling in Spring 2023. Details of sessions, volunteering and more neurocentral.org.uk or Facebook.
CARSE OF STIRLING ROTARY
Business meeting and meal at Golden Lion Hotel last week. Preparations for 2023 Kids Out Day in June underway. We narrowly missed going through to the next round of The Gavel sporting competition, however, Crieff Rotary Club were thoroughly deserving of win. To join in socialising whilst helping people, locally and abroad, visit on a Wednesday night, or get in touch through social media by searching for ‘@carserotary’.
ARTS SOCIETY STIRLING & FORTH VALLEY
Meeting Thursday February 16, Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, Stirling at 10.50am for 11am. Lecturer Cindy Polemis, art historian, guide and lecturer, on ‘Hogarth and Europe: How William Hogarth and artists across Europe captured the new social, philosophical and economic ideas of the 18th century’. All welcome, artssocsfvmembership@ gmail.com for more or visit: www. theartssocietystirling.org.uk.
ROYAL SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
Athlete Alex Moran is speaker on Wednesday February 15, part of the Inspiring People talks programme. In August 2021, Alex and Mike Coppock completed the first ever Island Munros Triathlon, in 32 hours and 22 minutes, scaling 13 Munros with 6,461m of ascent, covering 309km between them. Open to all: tickets for face-to-face talks free for RSGS members, students and under 18s and £10 for general admission. Book online at rsgs.org/events, some may be available at door for cash only. Begins 7.30pm at University of Stirling, Logie Lecture Theatre FK9 4LA.
RSPB FORTH VALLEY GROUP
Meeting Thursday, February 16, at 7.30pm with speaker Gordon Rae on ‘Wild at Heart - a Photographer’s Journey.’ Venue is Hillpark Community Centre, Morrison Drive FK7 0HZ. Refreshments served. All welcome.
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
Royal British Legion Scotland (Stirling Branch) monthly meeting of members on Tuesday, February 14, at 7.30pm in the Kilted Kangaroo, Upper Craigs, Stirling. All serving and ex-serving MOD personnel welcome. More information contact 01786 609770.
ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION
Royal Naval Association (Forth Valley Branch) AGM on Monday February 20 at 7.30pm in Royal British Legion Club, 3 Dundas Street, Grangemouth. Members encouraged to attend. All serving and ex-serving RN personnel welcome. More information phone 01786 609770.
ARGYLLS MUSEUM
Winter Lecture series sees former Argyll Colonel Alastair Campbell take a fresh look at the Crimean War of 1853-1856, and the crucial role of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders. Lecture at 11am on Saturday February 25 in Colours Room in Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Kings Old Building, Stirling Castle. Tickets via argylls.co.uk (not including access to Stirling Castle). Entry free to Museum Guardians, serving members of the Armed Forces and members of the Regimental Association, Dinner Club and Historic Scotland on presentation of valid membership card but tickets must be pre-booked via Stirling Castle website. Non-concession holders charged full castle admission fee.
COUNTRY DANCING
Strathendrick Scottish Country Dancing Club meets Tuesday evenings in Masonic Hall, Dunmore Street, Balfron 7.30-9.30pm. New members welcome, some experience preferred. Details from Alan 01360 550256. Charity dance in aid of Robin House (CHAS) in Killearn Village Hall on Friday March 17 at 7.30pm, dancing to David Oswald’s band - tickets £10 including supper. Prize draw.
STIRLING FOLK CLUB
Daria Kulesh mixes her Russian roots with Western folk influences. On Monday, February 13, she and Tristan Seume, one of the UK’S leading acoustic guitarists, are guests at the club in Stirling County Rugby Club on Causewayhead Road at 7.30pm. Tickets £13 on the door.
STIRLING STAMP CLUB
Stirling Philatelic Society meets at 7.30pm on Monday, February 13, at the Allan Centre, 25 Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan FK9 4AT. Display of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia by Alan Blakeley. Visitors and/or new members welcome.
FORTH VALLEY DISABILITY SPORT
AGM on Monday February 20 online from 6.30pm. All welcome. To attend or for more information email: info@fvds. org.uk.
STIRLING & DISTRICT FLORAL ART CLUB
Meets monthly in Main Hall of Park Church, Stirling FK8 2NA on Tuesday afternoons. The 2023 meetings are: February 21, March 14, April 11 and May 6, all 2.30pm. Further information from honorary secretary Sarah Murdoch, email: murdochsarah@btinternet.com.
FAMILY HISTORY DROP-IN
Drop-ins open to anyone looking for advice on family history research. Volunteers from Central Scotland Family History Society available to offer help. Run in conjunction with Stirling Council Libraries and Archives. Booking preferable - phone 01786 472069.
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. For extra exercise and chat, contact Anne Marie on 07935 911156 for more information.
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. Service co-ordinated by registered charity Volunteering Matters. There is no charge and donations gratefully accepted. Volunteers welcome. For more details call 01259 928088.
COUNCIL ON DISABILITY STIRLING
Office in Cameronian Street open and available for all disability related work or enquiries. COD continues to operate successfully by phone for all types of benefit form completion and follow up work to tribunal if required. Whilst not yet offering face to face appointments, staff look forward to re-introducing this as soon as practicable. Information at www. councilondisability.org. Phone 01786 462178 or 07521 186159 or email advisor@ councilondisability.org.
ROCKTALK
Stirling’s talking newspaper for the blind, free to visually impaired community members. Contact Mike Milne at enquiries@rocktalk.org.uk or 01786 816673.
NEURO CENTRAL
Neuro Central aims to ensure 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. For information call 07526 281747 or at neurocentral.org.uk.
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 contact 01786 641841 or email admin@ townbreakstirling.org.
FORTH VALLEY TOP TOES
Part of the Braveheart Association nonprofit charity providing personal footcare service to adults unable to cut their own toenails. Cost £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. Clinic meets at the Bellfield Centre, Stirling Community Hospital, Livilands Gate, Stirling on Thursdays 9am-12.30pm. To book call 07596 375674/01324 633505 or email louise.bleazard@nhs.scot.
STIRLING POETRY SHARING GROUP
Group meets first Thursday of the month from 11.30am-12.30pm in the Smith Art Gallery, Dumbarton Road. All welcome to share and enjoy poetry read aloud. Bring a couple of poems of any era or style to read. If you do not wish to read yourself, the group will provide a willing reader. Further details from 07464 602207. Forthcoming date March 2.
FORTH VALLEY U3A Retired or semiretired? Wondering what to do? Like to meet new people and become involved in a new hobby, interest, or activity? Brighten your autumn and winter by joining Forth Valley u3a, run by members for members. More than 60 interest groups in Forth Valley all meeting in local venues. They include book groups, craft workshops, badminton, coffee clubs, current affairs, guitar, Mandarin, mah-jong, poetry appreciation, Spanish, scrabble, tai chi, and a walking group. The membership also gets together socially once a month for an afternoon event. More at www. forthvalleyu3a.org.uk.
STIRLING CITY CHOIR
Rehearsals have resumed at Park Church with practice for Spring Concert - a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. New members welcome - come along or contact us through http://www. stirlingcitychoir.org.uk, twitter: @stirling_ choir, Facebook: Stirling City Choir.
GOING FORWARD
The Bridge of Allan stroke group meets on Thursdays in the Chalmers Hall, Bridge of Allan Parish Church at 1.45pm for 2pm. If a stroke survivor or know anyone who is, join a friendly group for afternoon of social interaction, stimulation, entertainment and tea or coffee and biscuits, contact Sandra on 07434 972818.
STIRLING MALE VOICE CHOIR
No audition or test to join. Choir meets Tuesdays, September to May, Logie Kirk Hall, Causewayhead 7.30-9.30pm. Contact John Barbour on 01786 474166.
TORBREX COMMUNITY CHOIR
Rehearsals at 9.45-11.45am every Tuesday in Park Church, Stirling and performs in two concerts a year for charity.
OCHILS MOUNTAINEERING CLUB
Some club members were ski touring on Cairngorm, others hillwalking in the Trossachs and the Ochils. With the short evenings the club’s rock climbers are arranging some indoor climbing at local climbing wall, the Peak in Stirling. Sessions usuallu 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Further indoor climbing in the international climbing centre at Ratho near Edinburgh and Perth climbing wall. Club AGM on Wednesday March 1 at 8pm at Stirling County Cricket Club. On the social front, this Thursday’s pub meet at Crossed Peels, Stirling from 8pm, non-members welcome. Details of forthcoming meets in Onich in February and the CIC Hut & Milehouse Cottage in March at www.ochils.com, or check out Ochils Mountaineering Club on Facebook.
STIRLING, FALKIRK & DISTRICT RAMBLERS
Choice of two walks - Blackness to Hopetoun or Blackness to Society - on Sunday, February 12, meeting 9.45am, start 10am. Contact walk leaders or check website for important information about parking and meeting - https://www.ramblers.org. uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route. aspx?group=cf11&tab=walks. Walk 1: Blackness to Hopetoun, leisurely 6.5 miles; leaving Blackness follow woodland paths beside the shore. Views to Fife and bridges. Option to detour to view Midhope Castle and Abercorn Church. Short section on minor road then part of Hopetoun estate. Re-register by 9pm today (Friday) with leader Betty Brodie on 01324 556762 or 07936 380395. Walk 2: Blackness to Society, moderate 9.5 miles. Figure of eight walk through West Shore Wood, Abercorn and toward Port Edgar before turning to Society. Mostly good paths and tracks, but with tricky underfoot stretch along foreshore. Re-register by 9pm today (Friday) with leader Colin Thomson on 07702 636505.
STIRLING RAMBLING CLUB
Today (Friday) Powmill-crook of Devon-rumbling Bridge-nooks, Crannies & Countryside, C walk, six miles. Meet small car park adjacent to Powmill Milk Bar KY13 0QP to leave 10am. Turn right immediately after Milk Bar, parking on right. Follows quiet roads and lanes with views across fields. End with refreshments at ‘Milk Bar’. Email denis45taylor@gmail.com to book, leader Denis Taylor. Sunday, February 12, A Stroll Around Callander, Grade C, eight miles. Meet 10am at Ancaster Square in front of Church, Main Street. Parking behind church and in surrounding streets. Easy stroll taking in woodlands, passing Samson’s Stone, River Teith and Callander Meadows before return along old railway line. Contact Elaine to book stevensone02s@yahoo.co.uk. Leader Pat Butterworth. https:// stirlingramblingclub.wordpress.com/ walk-programme.