September2017

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Fowlis Wester, Madderty and Monzie linked with Gask

Minister: Rev. David DennistonOFFICE-BEARERS Fowlis Wester, Madderty and Monzie

Session Clerk Sheena Crawford 01764 654270 Deputy Session Clerk, Fowlis Wester Robert Simpson 01764 655488 Deputy Session Clerk, Madderty Ann Cramb 01764 683311 Deputy Session Clerk, Monzie Archie MacIntyre 01764 652796Treasurer Alex Haddow 01764 683484 Assistant Treasurer Fowlis Wester Gillian Philip 01764 653564 Assistant Treasurer Madderty John Peock 01764 683332 Assistant Treasurer Monzie Archie MacIntyre 01764 652796 Gift Aid Convenor Gillian Philip 01764 653564Property Convenor Fowlis Wester James McColl 01764 683446 Property Convenor Madderty Jo Guest 01764 683470 Property Convenor Monzie Rob Gilchrist 01764 653170 Property Convenor Manse Neil Bremner 01764 653331 Superintendent Madderty Sunday School Bessie Lyall 01764 654505 Sunday School Teacher Madderty Elizabeth Cameron 01764 683264 Sunday School Teacher Madderty Sheena Crawford 01764 654270 Sunday School Teacher Madderty Osla Guest 01764 683470Presbytery Elder Neil Bremner 01764 653331 ‘121’ Youth Ministry Contact Bessie Lyall 01764 654505Social Committee Chairperson Sheena Haddow 01764 683484 Safeguarding Co-ordinator Sheena Crawford 01764 654270Depute Safeguarding Co-ordinator Colin Crawford 01764 654270Guild Heather Moir 01764 683328

Gask Session Clerk Stuart Cameron 01738 638932 Presbytery Elder Angus Harrison 01738 730326 Property Convenor Ron Mackie 01738 730202 Treasurer Craig Robson 01738 580667

Parish Magazine Editors: Fowlis Wester News Tim Carmichael 07906 135203Madderty News and Guild Heather Moir 01764 683328 Monzie News Archie MacIntyre 01764 652796 Gask News and Guild Judith and Jim James 01738 730378

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Message from the Minister

Beechview

Abercairney

Crieff

PH73NF

DearFriends,

Someoneoncequipped ‘TherearemanypeoplewhoserveGod...mostly in

anadvisorycapacity!’

FunnyhowwealwaysthinkweknowbestandwonderwhatGodisplayingat

whenthingsdon’tgoaccordingto(our!)plan.Wegetfrustratedandagitated

and anxiousbecausewe thinkwehaveit allsortedout and it seemsto us

that theplansand Pmetablewe dreamt up arebest,and thenGod failsto

keeptothem!

Whatishethinking?!?

IamsurethatnotafewfarmersgotmorethanaliSlefrustratedandanxious

duringtheharvestseasonwhen therainkept fallingand(at thePmeofmy

wriPngthis)thereseemedtobeliSleprospectofaprolongeddryspell.

Yet,on8thOctoberwewillsPllcelebrateHarvestandgivethankstoGodfor

his provision and faithfulness... even if we somePmes feel he could have

donewithsomeadviceontheweather!

Earlier thisyear IwonderedwhatGodwasthinking, for I reckoned thatwe

had a good plan for the way ahead which we would be unfolding in our

congregaPonswithconversaPonsonourrelaPonshipswitheachotherwithin

our linkedparishes,andthoughtsonpaSernsofSundayworship,andplans

forabigeventreflecPngonourhistory,onourstoriesaspeopleoffaith,on

HisstoryandonHisstories(theParables). A goodplan andawellworked

outPmetableandthen...itallwentawry!

The person who had been workingwith uson this project, and who was

employed by the central church offices, le[ her post, the responsibiliPesI

haveinShetlandratherdominatedmuchofmyPme,andaseriesofpersonal

andfamilyhealthissuespreventedprogressfrombeingmade.

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‘God,why?!’

But now, lookingback, I cansee thatwhat seemedunwelcomeat thePme

has perhaps been meant. It has given an opportunity for some slower,

gentlerprogresstobemade,achancetoreflectmoreandplanbeSer.

So now we are resumingour planningandour conversaPons; but perhaps

nowfromamorestableandsteadyplace.So,watchthisspace!

AsthePsalmistsaid,‘MyPmesareinyourhand.’(Psalm31:15).

Yourministerandfriend,

DavidDenniston

Iwouldbeverypleasedtobekeptinformedofanyonewhoisinhospitalorwhorequiresavisitathomeoranyotherpastoralma8ers.Themostreliablemeansofge<ngaholdofmeisonmymobilephone07903926727orbyemailDDenniston@churchofscotland.org.uk

DavidDenniston

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Thinking about ‘Membership’ of the Church?

If you are not formally a ‘member’ of the church and you would like to think about what it might mean to Profess Faith and be Confirmed then there will be four discussion evenings at which we will explore what it means to Profess Faith in Jesus, be confirmed and become a full part of the life of the church.

These will be held on Thursdays 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th October from 7pm to 8pm in Madderty Session House.

If you know someone who may be interested then let them know or, better still, bring them along! Attendance at the group does not commit anyone to anything! The group will also be open to (and of interest to) existing church ‘members’ who would like to renew their understanding of the basics. More information from David Denniston, or just turn up on the first evening.

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The Four ChurchesCOMMUNION SERVICES 2017

30th July Fowlis Wester United Service 10.00 am17th September Fowlis Wester 10.00 am17th September Gask 10.00 am29th October Monzie United Service 10.00 am

CHURCHES TOGETHER CALENDAR 2017

8th October Harvest Festival - United Service Monzie 10.00 am Harvest Festival - Gask Church at 11.30 am

12th November Remembrance Sunday: Monzie Church 10.00 am Fowlis Wester - Short Service - 10.45am Madderty Church 11.30 am Gask Church 11.30 am Madderty War Memorial - 3.00 pm

3rd December Advent United Service - Madderty Church 10.00am Advent Service at Gask 11.30am17th December Carol Service at Gask 4.00 pm24th December Watchnight Service at Fowlis Wester 11.15pm31st December United Service with Gask at Madderty Church 10.00am

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BAPTISMS

18th June 2017 Louis Christopher Cramb Fowlis Wester

25th June 2017 Emily Margaret Anne Niven Gask

16th July 2017 Emilia Armstrong & Scarlett Armstrong Gask

1st October 2017 Murray Kelso Fowlis Wester

WEDDINGS

27th May 2017 Cara Berkley & Angus Roberts Fowlis Wester

3rd June 2017 Laura Johnstone & Douglas Porteous Fowlis Wester

1st July 2017 Claire Thackery & Cameron Duncan Fowlis Wester

15th July 2017 Alison Rennie & Stuart Young Madderty

29th July 2017 Lisa Vannucci & Oliver Guest Edinburgh

5th August 2017 Emma Gray & Dane McGregor Fowlis Wester

23rd Sept. 2017 Elizabeth Wood & Peter Sunnucks Fowlis Wester

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FUNERALS

1st June 2017 John Hall Gask

9th June 2017 Margaret (Puddy) Comrie Madderty

18th July 2017 Jack Alexander Monzie

6th July 2017 Frances Davidson Monzie

27th July 2017 Helen Robertson Monzie

24th August 2017 Donald Moir Madderty

MEMBERSHIP ROLL OF CONGREGATION

Gask Church 85 Fowlis Wester, Madderty & Monzie 257

LOCAL NEWS FROM FOWLIS WESTER, MADDERTY MONZIE & GASK

Harvest Thanksgiving - Sunday 8th October

Our Harvest Thanksgiving Service this year will be a United Service at Monzie Church on Sunday 8th October at 10.00 am. A retiring collection will take place for Perth Autism Support. There will also be the opportunity for anyone who wishes to bring along non-perishable food which will then be donated to the local foodbank.

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We extend a warm welcome to anyone who would like to come along and any donations for any of the above will be gratefully received.

Sheena CrawfordSession Clerk

Social CommitteeThe kirk’s annual barbeque was held in July at Madderty Hall. Despite being all prepared for the rain that had been forecast, we had a dry day – for most of the time! There was a good turnout and a profit of £260 was made for kirk funds.

Then in August we had our usual coffee morning in St Andrew’s Halls in Crieff. Again, this was well supported and raised a profit of £850. The social committee are very grateful to those who contributed to this by donations, helping out on the day (and the night before!), or coming along to support.

We will be having our usual Cake & Candy stall at Madderty Hall’s Christmas Fayre on Saturday 2nd December. We will be intimating a request nearer the time for donations of baking for this. We usually always have a wonderful festive table of goodies, thanks to all who provide for this.

The social committee have several short, friendly meetings a year. We would warmly welcome anyone who would like to join us, or who would like to run an event for the kirk. Please call Anne Cramb (683311) or Archie McIntyre (652796).

Christian Aid

During Christian Aid week at the end of May we raised £219.50 from retiring collections at each of our church services.

Neil and Kath Bremner took part in the Tay Bridge Walk and raised the magnificent sum of £220.00. We are very grateful to those who supported these causes.

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Gift Aid

I am sure that everyone already knows how much Gift Aid benefits the funds of the Church.   We get an additional 25% from HMRC for each donation given by those of you who have already signed a Gift Aid form.  You will see that there is a Gift Aid form included in this month’s magazine as we would like to update our existing files.  Could everyone who is still a tax payer and would like the Church to benefit from this extra revenue please fill in the enclosed form and return it to myself, Alex Haddow or any elder.  For those of you who haven't previously filled in a Gift Aid form it would be appreciated if you could please consider doing so.  We have previously issued individual annual letters giving a total of each person’s Gift Aided donations.  HMRC do not require us to do this but if anyone would still like to receive a letter please indicate this on the form. 

Gill Philip (Gift Aid Convenor)

DIY – Drop In Youth

The Drop in Youth group meets fortnightly in Madderty Hall from 7.30-9pm and is for all young people of secondary school age.

After Easter, the group continued to explore the topic of mental wellbeing. There was a visit from Kirstie Smith who talked to us about reflexology, and we all experienced hand massage which was a real treat. We also explored the subject of mindfulness and had a go at putting this into practice by eating chocolate mindfully!

We had an evening during which the group made a flower arrangement which was included in the Guild’s Festival of flowers. We would like to thank Sheena Crawford and Bessie Lyall for their help and support on this evening.

The summer term was finished up with a BBQ at Madderty Hall. We started our new autumn term with a games and pizza night which everyone enjoyed, and we are learning about the charity Mary’s Meals and hope to contribute some rucksacks filled with useful items to benefit children abroad.

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If you would like any more information about the group please contact Anne Cramb (683311) or Sheena Haddow (683484)

Super Adults Outing

The Super Adults outing this year was to Anstruther. We had never been to Fife with the “ Outing “ before and we chose a good day for it even if we had to dodge the showers!

The first port of call was the Scottish Fisheries Museum. This rather unprepossessing building from the outside held such a wealth of information about fishing off the Scottish coast down the ages. We could learn about the different styles of fishing boat used and the lives of the fisher folk who followed the shoals of herring as they moved south down the east coast. As well as the remains of fishing vessels on view there was also an active boatyard doing a complete restoration of a wooden fishing boat using the traditional skills of the marine carpenters. It was really well organised.

Some of us had time to enjoy the delights of Anstruther's shops before we all met in the Waterfront restaurant for our tea. Good though the rest of the afternoon was this was surely the highlight as we had a truly scrumptious feed.

We were glad to have the company of the minister and his wife Jane for our visit to the museum and thanks are due to Sweeneys for once again providing a comfortable bus for our journey. Thanks are also due to the MacLagan fund for their financial support which is very much appreciated.

Madderty Church Remembrance Book

There is a Remembrance Book available at Madderty Church.    If anyone would like to place an entry in it to remember a family member please contact the Session Clerk.

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Community News

Obituary - Donald Moir

Dr Donald Moir, who has died, was a very well known and well respected figure in our church community and especially at Madderty. His medical career as a consultant anaesthetist and his ground breaking work while at the Queen Mother Hospital in Glasgow, resulted in many papers, books and lectures, and a good number of tours abroad. He was greatly respected amongst the medical profession, and was one of the first recipients of the Gold Medal of the Obstetric Anaesthetists Association.

Those of us who knew him locally in church and community will recall his enthusiastic interest in Madderty Kirk and the history of church and community, his delight in so many outdoor pursuits and above all his kindliness, gentleness, contentedness, integrity and humour, along with his faithful attendance at worship and his keen interest in the wellbeing and Christian nurture of youngsters.

Lovingly and faithfully supported by Heather, not least through his latter period of compromised health, Donald will be sadly missed and fondly remembered.

Our prayers, sympathy and love are with our fellow member Heather, and the whole family.

Obituary - Margaret Comrie (Puddy)

Puddy Comrie, passed away peacefully on 31st May 2017 aged 102 years, in the tender care of Richmond House, Crieff. She spent 98 years of her life in the community of Madderty and was known and loved by many.

She was educated at Madderty Primary School then she went to Ross’s Commercial Technical College in Perth where she excelled.

When World War II broke out in 1939 she served for 6 years stationed at Dover and was involved with radar – tracing ‘doodlebugs’. On returning home from the war it wasn’t long before she was running the family home at Bellyclone following her mother’s passing in 1952.

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Bellyclone was always a meeting place for family and her many friends. There was always an ‘open door’ and a very warm welcome.

Puddy is greatly missed by her family and fondly remembered by her many friends.

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Madderty Church Guild

Strategy: Be Bold, Be Strong.  Theme: Go in Love

We mark with sadness the death of one of our members, Doctor Donald Moir, who attended regularly until ill health stopped him.

The new session starts on Monday 16 th October at 2pm in the Session House. Dates for your diary:

October 16th   Giraffe TradingNovember 20th Avril Duncan - Children’s Home in India.  December 14th 1.30pm. Members Christmas Lunch in Madderty Hall.

2018February 19th Crossreach - Work with Families around Scotland, Eliz. Hay.March 2nd   World Day of PrayerMarch 16th Presbyterial Council AGM at Letham St. Marks at 10.30am March 16th CrossreachMarch 19th Mercy Ships - Pat Duncan.April 16th Business and Syllabus meeting.June 14th Summer Meeting 7.30pm Dunbarney Church.August 15th Summer Get Together 7pm North Church Hall.September 1st Guild Annual Gathering, Caird Hall Dundee.

All will be made very welcome at these meetings.Why not ask a friend and come together? Elders have an open invitation to come to any or all of these meetings and I would be happy to meet anyone to chum them in. We make a good cup of tea and offer some good chat. Heather Moir.

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Crossreach

Crossreach Week runs from Sunday 24th - Friday 29th September starting with Social Care Sunday at Coldside Parish Church, Isla Street, Dundee DD3 7HT on 24th September at 4pm.

The Christmas and Calendar catalogue for 2017 is now available free from 0131 4544374

Madderty SWI

Madderty SWI meets in Madderty Hall on the first Wednesday of the month September to May at 7.30pm. We are always looking for new members, do come along you will be made most welcome. We have a good variety of speakers / demonstrators for the 2017/18 session.

Isobel Robertson.

Monzie Kirk News

Sadly, two long standing and well loved members of the congregation died within a few weeks of each other this summer. Both ladies were very involved in the life of the kirk and their loss is keenly felt by all.

Obituary - Frances Davidson

Frances died at home on 24th.June after a short illness. From Co.Cavan, she came to Edinburgh to train as a midwife and it was there that she met her husband, William, known to all as Bill. It was on his retirement and their move to Glenlea, Cultoquhey that a long and happy involvement with Monzie Kirk began. They both very quickly settled into the rhythm of kirk life and Bill acted as auditor of the kirk accounts for many years. Frances served on the organ rota at both Fowlis Wester and Monzie. She grew even closer to the kirk and its members after she was widowed and gave generously of her time and talents. Blessed with a gentle, warm personality, she was a friendly, encouraging presence whatever the occasion and her

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generous and positive outlook on life rubbed off on those around her. She took part in all church activities and any contact with her was always enjoyable.

Despite failing health in her last six months she did her best to keep going and see the best in both people and things right to the end. Her funeral, for which she had left detailed instructions, was a lovely uplifting event. Very well attended by family, friends and members of the congregation it beautifully captured her life and character. Her presence was truly felt there and it didn't take too much imagination to think one heard Frances give her usual farewell “All the best now.”

Obituary - Helen Robertson

Helen died in Crieff hospital after a lengthy illness on 20th. July. Brought up locally in Muthill, she joined Monzie Kirk after she married Peter, a member of the Robertson family whose Gilmerton pedigree went back generations, as did their connection with the kirk. Peter was a Kirk Session member and Helen was always his support. She was one of life's “do-ers,” a worker in every sense of the word, for family, friends, neighbours and the kirk. Always on the go, in and out of Crieff on the bus sometimes several times a day and lending a hand wherever it was needed. Many an “auld buddy” in Gilmerton had cause to thank Helen when she sent one of her daughters to their door with something tasty for dinner or tea. Never one to push herself forward, nevertheless she was a capable organiser and served on many committees, including being President of the Guild. Anything practical that needed done, whether cleaning in the kirk, washing and ironing communion linen, baking and cooking for kirk social events, Helen rolled her sleeves up and got on with it. Yet if you were to say to her that she was a stalwart of the kirk, she'd have laughed and said, “Oh I don't think so.” She simply did whatever needed done and thought little of it, never looking for thanks or recognition. Indeed, it would have embarrassed her.

Her funeral at Monzie Kirk was very well attended and her son-in-law spoke very movingly of her personality and outlook on life. Although quite unwell latterly, and struggling a bit without Peter, she didn't complain and made the best of things right up to the end.

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The following appeared in the Monzie Parish Supplement of May 1922, presumably written by the minister:

CONCERNING THE COMMUNION

Some observations are called for at this time, relative to attendance at Holy Communion. The services on 9th April brought forth the usual quota of reverent participants, the music was tender and affecting, the administration marked by that precision and dignity for which our Elders are justly celebrated, and last, but not least, the weather was temperate and, for this time of year, lenient. Yet there were flies in our ointment.

There were, unhappily, some absentees, for whose abstention no valid reason could be adduced. Members of the Congregation should bear in mind that nothing short of impaired health or clamant works of necessity and mercy should detain them at home on Communion Sunday. Monzie people have never been harried to come to Church, at least during the present ministry. In these last twenty-two years but one sermon on “Non- Churchgoing” has been preached to, or rather, “at” them.

The futility of such exhortation and reproof to regular attenders must be evident. It is of the nature of converting the converted and whipping the willing horse. Happily the Parish Supplement can reach those whom the Sermon cannot, and they are here and now reminded that in this Parish punctual attendance at Holy Communion has ever been regarded as a point of honour. The Minister feels that it is only necessary to emphasise this, in order to secure henceforth at the Tables the presence of every member who enjoys rude health, and can without detriment to his or her natural and lawful duties occupy their proper place in God's house. “Blessed are they that dwell there, they will still be praising thee. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand.”

The rare spiritual benefits conveyed in the Sacrament to faithful partakers cannot be held lightly, and only at soul's peril can preference be given on Communion Sunday to wanton and worldly occupations. It is our happiness to have some who are kin to the Psalmist when he sings, “My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.” These cover the immense distances which divide their abodes from the Church with laudable and affecting regularity. They bring gladness and refreshment to the Minister's heart, and mitigate a

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multitude of regrets for the absence of others. One member covers twenty-two miles, another twelve and yet another, and he an elderly man, nine miles. The push-bike has verily become a valuable instrument of grace.

A common excuse offered by the absentees is that they have “freens” visiting them. Let them bring their friends with them to the Table. Christ's gracious invitation is sufficiently large to cover them. Even then “there is room.” What has here been set down applies with equal force to every lord's Day. “Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhort one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching.” ”Let us be glad when it is said unto us - Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

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GASK CHURCH NEWS

Summer Songs of Praise ServiceA Summer Songs of Praise was held in Gask Church on the evening of the August 27th. The congregation had been asked if they would like to choose a hymn to be included in the service and thirteen hymns were selected. The Rev David Denniston introduced each hymn, sometimes including who had chosen it or why it had been chosen. The church was full and the singing was beautiful. We are very fortunate in Gask to be led (and one could almost say trained) as a congregation to sing together by our most able and committed organist Grace McFarlane. This evening was also chosen to mark our appreciation of Grace’s long and talented service as the organist in Gask which has extended over the last 60 years!

More than forty five years ago Grace trained a Gask Church choir which, on two occasions, won medals for singing in the Perth Competitive Festival and some of the choir singers of that time are still singing in the church services today.

Grace was given a Long Service Certificate, an inscribed crystal serving plate and a rose, named Grace, in appreciation of her service over the years.

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Gask GuildThe Guild continues to meet on the first Monday of the months of October, November, December and March at 2.00pm in Gask Hall. We arrange for a speaker for each occasion and enjoy a time of fellowship. This year the theme for the Guild is “Go in Love” and we try to follow it in our thoughts throughout the year.

We are delighted to welcome anyone who finds this afternoon meeting convenient.

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The New Convenor of Gask Parish Church Hall

Rebecca MackieAshfield, Madderty, Crieff PH7 3PGTelephone:01738 730289Email:grmackie@hotmail.com

All enquiries and correspondence concerning information and bookings should go to Rebecca Mackie. All cheques should be made payable to Gask Parish Church.

Notes on Gask Hall

The original hall was situated at the Cockit Hat near Clathy- a corrugated iron prefabricated hut, surplus to the 1st World War effort. Many of these huts were given out to Parishes to serve as Community halls after the war. These halls were fairly basic and needed a lot of maintenance and the hall at the Cockit Hat was just not adequate and probably not in the right place for the Parish. It was also was partially destroyed by fire. So the current Hall was built around 1935. The titles to the hall were in the name of the Trustees of Gask Parish. The hall is built from imported Canadian Timber. A very hard and durable wood. Now over 80 years old it looks as if it could stand for another 80 years.

It was a very popular hall for dances - it has a sprung floor - whist drives and concerts. Jimmy Shand played many times in this hall during the years after the second world war. These dances were very popular and over 100 would attend.

There was no electricity until the early 50s, so it was paraffin lamps and a coal fired boiler to heat the Hall. A local hall committee ran the hall and raised monies to keep it going. Stuart Cameron followed Ronnie Mackie as hall secretary and treasurer in 1968 and he has been the Hall convenor since then.

As the years passed dances and whist drives became less popular and folk were much more mobile and were going into town for their entertainment. For a number of years the School Meals were served in the Hall and this was quite a good source of income. But the school closed and that was that.

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By the early 90’s Funds were getting low and the Hall needed to be refurbished -the toilets were completely inadequate as was the kitchen. There was no easy way to fund all the improvements. The Church meanwhile had sold the Manse in the 70’s and the interest on the money accrued from that sale could be used for Church Fabric repairs. The challenge was to get the trustees of the Church of Scotland interested in taking on the hall as the Church was really the only organisation using the hall. Initially they were not interested, but we were able to get a capital grant from the Perth County Council and that was the trigger that made it possible. The Council put in £40,000 and the Church of Scotland released £70,000 and the Hall extension was built. Thirty Chairs were donated by the Church members. The ownership of the Hall was passed from the Trustees of Gask Parish to the Church of Scotland for the price of £1.

The roof was also renewed and more recently new heating and new windows have been installed. The car park was resurfaced with the help of the Auchterarder Wind Farm Trust. A new kitchen is now fitted and having that done the hall should not need any major spends for quite a considerable time.

After 50 years of looking after this Hall, with the help of others of course, I would especially like to thank Ronnie Mackie in that regard. He has always been so willing to help and hopefully he will continue as Church Property Convenor to look after the fabric of the hall. I also include my wife Janette in my thanks as she has always worked and supported the hall as well. But I am ready to hand over to someone else and I am delighted that Rebecca Mackie has taken over as Hall Convenor.

Although the Church owns the hall it very much wants the Community of Gask to feel that the hall is there for them as well and we are delighted that the Community is now making use of the hall.

There are two Country Dance Classes in the winter months. There are Fitness Classes during the week, a ballet class and other social and charity occasions. Last year the amount the hall received in rents was over £3,000.

So in conclusion all I can say is that Gask Hall has been part of my life and never far from my thoughts for the last 50 years but I am sure the hall has still

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got a future here in Gask and it is for others to take it on into the next stage of its life.

Stuart Cameron

Thanks

The people of Gask Church and the wider Community would like to thank Stuart and Janette Cameron and Ronnie Mackie for their tireless, committed care of the hall which has always been a most useful asset. As well as the regular users from the community the hall has been used for the Daffodil Tea run by the Gask Guild, for over 60 years, for many weddings and wedding anniversaries, Christmas parties, Beetle Drives, fund raising events, the list goes on and on. Many, many thanks to all who have cared for it, kept it clean, and done the necessary repairs throughout the years.

Findo Gask Community AssociationOn the 20th August the community association ran their usual annual Litter Pick. This has occurred over the last three years and has been well supported by a cross section of residents. Each year we cover from the road end of the A9 to the Gask crossroads and from the bottom of the Ross Brae to the bottom of the Gask Brae. We notice throughout the year there is a lot of litter dropped, mainly from cars and usually the remains of people’s lunch packets and bottles. However there are some much bigger items collected, maybe as people are now required to pay for the recycling of things like car tyres.

The local council is very helpful in supplying litter picking sticks and in coming to collect the large pile of full plastic bags which are the result of our endeavours.

After the litter pick this year we held a new venture in Gask Hall – a Flower Show. It was a great success and there were many lovely exhibits from baking, knitting, flower arrangements, garden flowers, pot plants and vegetables. The children too had their own section. There was support and entries not only from Gask but also from Madderty. Best in show was won by Rowan Thake of Clathy for her flower arrangement in a kitchen utensil - a

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whisk! The Great Potato Challenge was won by Jim James, of Clathy, after a tense weigh-off with Sandy Wishart of Madderty.

Altogether is was an enjoyable, lively and thoroughly successful afternoon.

A letter from our Osprey Expert

6 Bards WayRowan CottageFK13 6 RR20.8.17

Dear Friends,

The Charlesfield ospreys were both at their nest in the first week of April, and, as I haven’t been able to watch as much this 2017 season, by the first week in July I saw 2 osprey baby heads being fed.

April; as in previous years the ospreys arrive back in first week – refurbish their nest, go fishing, and mate.

May; The eggs are laid and are incubated by the female for 90% of the time.

June; hopefully the eggs hatch out.

July; start seeing little heads popping out of nest. At this stage the male and female start to bring softer material back to the nest to build up the centre of the nest.

August ; the chicks are big by now and on the edge of the nest calling and wing flapping – it is called “helicoptering”.

September; by the first week the mother osprey is usually off on migration. By the end of September the father osprey is off too, having taught the young to fish for themselves and they leave and hopefully come back to the same area in 2 years time. Good luck to them.

It has been a pleasure writing about the “local “ ospreys for your church magazine, (I think my first “osprey stories” was in 2009) and meeting the church people with my black lab “Bramble” and being asked, “how are the birds doing”. But, very sadly on the 1st August 2016 I was diagnosed with lung cancer (Stage 4). I have never smoked, I was self-employed, working

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outside all year, in all weathers. So far I have had 12 months of chemotherapy at Larbert Hospital. So I would like to thank you all for all the years of being interested in your local ospreys since I started in 2003 recording all of their lives through their seasons with Bramble.

Kenneth Ferguson