Alyth Voice. It s our 10th Birthday! THE VOICE FACTS & FIGURES

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1 Alyth Voice 112th Edition, May 2007 Tel Minimum Circulation address: Website: It s our 10th Birthday! IN THE BEGINNING the Crooked Dreel and Concealed Hinge Society created the front and the back. And the front was without form, and a name; and darkness was upon the face of the editor. And the spirit of Alyth moved upon the face of the editor. And the editor said, Let there be a Voice: and there was a Voice. Monday 5 th May 1997 saw the first edition of the Alyth and 1,000 copies were circulated, with the plea for a catchy title for Alyth s very own newsletter. The opening paragraph asked Why have an Alyth newsletter? What can it provide that you can t get from other papers? The Crooked Dreel and Concealed Hinge Society believed that there was room for a monthly paper of sorts to let the townspeople know what was going on in the town. Also allowing local people an opportunity to express views and opinions in a way that other papers don t. Ten years later, the Alyth Voice, named and produced by Alyth people, continues to go from strength to strength. Wholly dependent on volunteers, the table showing facts and figures (right), reminds us of those who were responsible for the birth and development of the Voice into the successful community newsletter it is today. Forty more volunteers aka Voiceteers, deliver door to door each month. The word volunteer is the crucial part to the Voice. Everyone s time is given free, and generously, and ten years later the Voice team are still heartened by the response from the community of Alyth. Grateful thanks goes to Voiceteers Eleanor Anderson, Cathy Arnott, Tom & Diane Colville, Fred Connacher, Rae Crawford, Liz & Peter Davie, Helen Dewar, Margaret Dick, Seonaid Don, Joyce Fairweather & Gordon Balfour, Sheila Fisher, Ruth Fotheringham, Billy Gordon, Francis Hall, Gordon & Thelma Henderson, Bob Lindsay, Shealagh McDonald, Helen McDonald, Jim & Janey MacFarlane, Kyle Macintyre, Margaret MacKenzie, Margaret MacLagan, Marjory MacPherson, Wanda Mollison, Lynn Muir, Lynn Murray, Barney Nairn, Edith Payne, Sue Pople, Anne Rhind, Claire Richmond, Hayley Sinclair, Morag Strachan, Davina Thomson, Dawn Tosh, and Hazel Tripney, and all of the past Voiceteers who have helped over the years. Financed by advertising, the second edition contained just 14 adverts, but today over 70 adverts are placed each month, thus helping to ensure the Voice remains free of charge to every household in Alyth and the immediate district. Thank you to all the advertisers, whose support is critical to the Voice; your business is much appreciated. Our only other source of income is donations, which are received through the collection boxes in shops around Alyth, or often handed into our treasurer. Each month around 50 Voices are posted all over Scotland, England and as far as the Isle of Wight; again donations are received from the recipients to offset postage costs. Our international fame, particularly with ex-pats is largely due to the Alyth Voice website, designed and maintained by Derek Todd. If you haven t visited it so far, take a look - it s great! Without a reliable printer, there would literally be no Voice, so many thanks to Angela Macdonald and the team at Blair Copy Shop for their patience over the years. And finally, thank you to you, for your submissions, support, encouragement, constructive criticism(!) and help in many ways, month in, month out. Alyth certainly found its Voice - so celebrate! Here s to the next Come & share some birthday cake with us on Saturday 5th May, around 11.30am, Airlie Street THE VOICE FACTS & FIGURES No. Pages 2 then 8 Year/Min. Circulation May ,000 8 May ,000 8 May ,100 8 May ,100 8 May ,200 8 May ,200 8 May , May , May , May , May ,600 Editorial Board The movers and shakers! Julie Brown, Sheila Donald, Simon Ingram, Jessie McLean, Kevin Smith, Callum Strachan, Rob Tindall Julie Brown, Sheila Donald, Billy Gordon, Simon Ingram, Sandy McCurdy, Jessie McLean, Kevin Smith, Callum Strachan, Alix Tindall, Rob Tindall Sheila Donald, Billy Gordon, Simon Ingram, Jessie McLean, Jim O Brien, Callum Strachan Billy Gordon, Jessie McLean, Jim O Brien, Paul Prettyman, Callum Strachan Billy Gordon, Jessie McLean, Jim O Brien, Paul Prettyman, Callum Strachan Will Burns Brodie, Jessie McLean, Margaret Mackenzie, Marjory MacPherson, Freida Murray, Barbara Prettyman, Jim O Brien, Paul Ramsay Will Burns Brodie, Jessie McLean, Margaret Mackenzie, Marjory MacPherson, Freida Murray, Barbara Prettyman, Paul Ramsay Will Burns Brodie, Freida Murray, Margaret McKenzie, Jessie McLean, Marjory MacPherson, Paul Ramsay Natalie Gray, Michael Kay, Freida Murray, Margaret MacKenzie, Marjory MacPherson, Paul & Barbara Prettyman, Paul Ramsay, Derek Todd Michael Kay, Margaret MacKenzie, Marjory MacPherson, Margaret Stanford, Paul & Barbara Prettyman, Paul Ramsay, Irene Robertson, Derek Todd Michael Kay, Margaret MacKenzie, Marjory MacPherson, Margaret Stanford, Paul & Barbara Prettyman, Paul Ramsay, Irene Robertson, Derek Todd

2 Useful Telephone Numbers Airlie Street Hall (contact-fiona Dorchester) Blairgowrie Police Station Perth Police Station Hydro-Electric Emergencies Scottish Gas Emergencies Scottish Water Alyth Post Office Alyth Health Centre Alyth Primary School Blairgowrie High School Alyth Environmental Group NHS 24 new 24 hour health service Anti-social Behaviour Team If you offer an emergency or breakdown service, send the Voice your name and number. Alyth Voice Team Paul Ramsay Editor paulramsay@bamff.demon.co.uk Irene Robertson Compositor/Secretary admin@alythvoice.co.uk Margaret Stanford Advertising advertising@alythvoice.co.uk Paul & Barbara Prettyman Distribution Margaret MacKenzie/ Marjory Macpherson Advertising Michael Kay / Treasurer michaelkay1@tiscali.co.uk Derek Todd Webmaster dhtodd@tiscali.co.uk In order to avoid disappointment please ensure that articles/ads for publication are submitted before the 21st day of each month. Note: The views expressed in the Alyth Voice are not necessarily those of the team nor can they accept any responsibility for accuracy and spelling of any article. ARTICLE SUBMISSION to the Voice Please note ALL articles must be accompanied with a name and address BEFORE they will be published in the Voice. On request, the name and address may be withheld from publication. Any submission without these details will NOT be included. *~*~* Dates for Your Diary *~*~* MAY Due to the advance notice of these dates, check for changes! 2nd Open for the season Alyth Museum 3rd AGM - Airlie St. Hall Alyth Parish Guild 3rd Writers Group/Craft Group Alyth Community Wing 5th Coffee Morning - Airlie St. Hall Alyth Samaritans 5th Jewellery Making Demo-Isobel Deans Hobbies, Airlie Street 5th Ceilidh - Town Hall Alyth Playgroup 8th AGM - Lesser Town Hall Alyth Halls Committee 10th Drumderg Fund Mtg - Ogilvy Rms Alyth Comm. Council 10th Basket Quiz - Airlie St. Hall Alyth Parish Church 12th Coffee Morning-A.S.H. (free transport see p.5) Freedom Coach 12th Caring Cuppa - Burnside Court Red Cross Week 12th Community Festival - Jubilee Park AYP 13th Christian Aid Service & tree planting Alyth Parish Church 13th Afternoon Tea, Airlie Street Hall Christian Aid Red envelope Door 2 Door Collection Christian Aid 15th Possible ACC election - Town Hall Alyth Comm. Council 17th AGM - Airlie St. Hall Alyth in Bloom 17th Bingo Tea - Town Hall Alyth Scout Group 17th Writers Group/Craft Group Alyth Community Wing 19th Coffee Morning - Airlie St. Hall St. Ninian s Church 19th? Wrestling Show - Alyth Town Hall Scottish Wrestling Ent. 23rd AGM - Town Hall Alyth Comm. Council 26th Coffee Morning - Airlie St. Hall Alyth Primary PSA 27th Songs of Praise Celebration St. Ninian s Church 28th AGM - Guide Hut Alyth & Dist. Pipe Band VOICE TEASER What is a Midzer? Answer to last months Teaser- What is a Steepies? Bread soaked in milk Strathmore & The Glens PO Box 6621, Blairgowrie PH12 8YF -: sue@strathmoreglens.sol.co.uk 2 CHRISTIAN AID WEEK th MAY 2007 What s happening When? SUNDAY 13th MAY > Christian Aid Service - Alyth Parish Church - 11am followed by tree planting >Christian Aid Afternoon Tea, Airlie Street Hall, 2-4pm Collectors come along for your Christian Aid supplies. Tea, scones, children s colouring competition, DVD, sapling sponsorship, etc Open to everyone - ALL ages welcome! Admission FREE SUNDAY 13th MAY - SATURDAY 19th MAY Red Envelope door-to-to collection WITH reference to our informative article in the April issue, we expect you have now seen the posters etc, highlighting the forthcoming events, and we ask you to vigorously support them. Come along, bring others, share the specialness of people meeting people while we endeavour to create a new awareness of Christian Aid. The Christian Aid Alyth banner will be raised and our children will be waving the promotional bright red balloons and the red envelope door to door collection will be underway!! Please do your best to Help communities grow their own future make Christian Aid s seven days in Alyth AMAZING!! And give what you can. Nan White, local organiser (on behalf of C.A. Action Group) LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATES PRESENTED L-R: Right Rev. Alan McDonald, Mr. R. Ball, Mr. J. Martin, Rev. Sheila Kirk The Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, The Right Reverend Alan D. McDonald visited Alyth Parish Church on Monday 23rd April 2007 to meet members of the congregation, and present long service certificates to Mr. Robert Ball and Mr. John Martin. Mr. Stanley Sim s fifty years service as an Elder was also recognised. Following a short address, the congregation enjoyed tea and a chat with the Moderator. ALYTH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 200 Club April 2007 Winners 50 No. 169 Mr. I. Wheatley 30 No. 53 Mrs. M. McKenzie 20 No. 3 Mrs. G. Brough Thanks to everyone who has returned their renewal form for the year May-April. Some numbers still available, please call me if you would like to join. Liz Gordon (Tel: ) Image by D. M. Phillips Community Markets will recommence on 28th April in Blairgowrie Wellmeadow. Anyone interested in taking a stall should contact Sue on

3 ALYTH COMMUNITY YOUTH FESTIVAL SATURDAY 12th MAY FREE entry - FREE transport - FREE activities* ALYTH Youth Partnership is proud to present the 'Alyth Community Youth Festival'. The event will take place at Alyth Diamond Jubilee Park, Saturday 12th May 2007 from 11am - 2pm (weather permitting). The event will showcase various clubs and projects available to young people from Alyth and the surrounding area. Activities on the day will include a skate/bmx/in-line competition open to all (helmets must be worn), sponsored by the Alyth & District Business Association, with a trophy and prizes on the day. There will be graffiti art taster sessions which is sponsored by the start Oot Festival. Bouncy Castle, BBQ, Beat the Goalie, and much more. Live music will be provided by local band 'Killing Icarus' and a DJ. There is also lots of games and other activities available too. It is FREE to come along and participate in most activities* and a nominal fee on a small selection of games. There will be a FREE minibus available doing a circuit from Blairgowrie > Coupar Angus > Meigle > Alyth leaving on the hour from 11am - 2pm to encourage young people from around the area. We hope this event will encourage a good turnout on the day especially if the weather is nice. If the weather is forecast for rain then the event will postponed to a later date. Paul MacFarlane, Youth Worker, Alyth Youth Partnership ALYTH YOUTH PARTNERSHIP GIRLS GROUP DIARY MAY 3rd Games Night 10th Swimming 17th Fondue Night 24th Healthy Snack Night 31st Art Activity (TBA) JUNE 7th Cafe Night 14th Climbing Wall 21st Beauty Night 28th Megabowl - Session Ends COLLECTION BOXES Contained in April THANK YOU VERY MUCH, your generosity keeps us in print! ALYTH ON AIR? NEW community radio stations are starting up all over the UK, and maybe it's time for Alyth to join in. Radio stations are a great showcase for the community. Local musicians can record their work and get on air. Drama groups can broadcast plays, musical societies can perform. Recently a small group met in Coupar Angus to discuss a radio station for East Perthshire. If people are interested and we can raise some money, that could happen within a year. But the internet gives us a real opportunity to get started now, without spending much money at all. There's a way to help people build up their skills and broadcast their work for people all over the world to hear. It's called podcasting. A podcast is just a recording which someone places on the internet for other people to hear. You can save podcasts onto ipods and other small, portable music players. Here's how it could work in Alyth, Coupar Angus, Meigle and Blairgowrie. Alyth has a strong community and there should be loads of material for a community news bulletin, backed up by some longer radio features on anything topical. We would set up an Alyth Podcast Club to go out and get the interviews, organise some original background music and make the programmes. Every month maybe every week we would put about half an hour's worth of radio onto the internet for the world to hear. That means every Alyth exile anywhere could tune in and find out what's happening in their home town. Doing this would help people learn all the skills you need to make community radio. Those skills include presenting, reporting, editing sound using computers, scripting, and microphone technique. While all this is going on, members of the Podcast club would join with people in Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie, Alyth and Meigle to raise funds and get ready for the launch of Strathmore FM... How can we make this happen? If you're interested, please contact me at Shelligoe Media. My is media@shelligoe.biz and my number is Jimmy Black 3 ALYTH COMMUNITY COUNCIL AT the time of writing, the Community Council is coming up to the last monthly meeting of 2006/7 term, Wednesday 25 th April. The last weeks are usually a relatively quiet period in our relationship with Perth & Kinross Council. There is much less going on, by way of communication. Of course, plenty of other reading material has been coming through the door. The elections for the Scottish Parliament and for Perth and Kinross Council! I hope that all who are eligible will turn out to vote on 3 rd May. It is possible that we (the Community Council) will be having our own mini-election. Should more than three valid nominations have been received on Tuesday 24 th April then Alyth will have its own election on Tuesday 15 th May. Voting for the three new Community Council Members will take place in the foyer of the Town Hall between 2pm and 4pm, and again at 6pm to 8pm. The AGM will be held on Wednesday 23 rd May at 7pm and followed immediately by the first monthly meeting of the new term. That first meeting will commence with the election of officers. However, I must draw your attention to another date, Thursday 10 th May. On that date at 7.30pm in the Ogilvy Rooms, the Community Council is holding a meeting of great interest, in particular, to local voluntary organisations. I will be explaining details of a funding scheme for the town. This scheme will be administered by the Scottish Communities Foundation and will be distributing substantial sums of money to local bodies for local projects. The money is being donated by the energy company Scottish and Southern Energy. This scheme is not just a one-off but will continue over some 25 years. The Scottish Communities Foundation will be seeking the advice of a local advisory group, when dealing with applications for grants. This is the purpose of the 10 th May meeting. In addition to the explanations being made, three members of local voluntary groups will be elected to join three members of the Community Council to make up this influential advisory group. See the advertisement below. Jim Adam, Chairman ALYTH COMMUNITY COUNCIL invites representatives and supporters of ALL of Alyth s voluntary community groups to a meeting in the OGILVY ROOMS Thursday 10 th May 2007, at 7.30pm A G E N D A 1. Explanatory statement by Jim Adam 2. Election of three members from Alyth s voluntary sector to serve on a DRUMDERG FUND ADVISORY GROUP For further information ring Jim Adam on DAVIDSONS CHEMIST 9 AIRLIE STREET WE will be having our front shop refitted starting about lunchtime on Saturday 12th of May. We will be open for business as normal until 5pm, but we hope you will all bear with us over that weekend and I hope you will all see the modernisation as a great improvement in what Davidsons can offer. We are also having the dispensary refitted to give us a better working space. This will be happening during June. I hope you will all support myself and most of all, my staff, through all the changes. Thanks in anticipation, Aileen Douglas, Pharmacist/Manager LOCKED IN ROCK AT ALYTH MUSEUM ALYTH Museum opens again on Wednesday 2nd May. In it you can enjoy a wealth of pictures and objects reflecting life as it was in and around Alyth. New for 2007 is an exhibition about fossils called Locked in Rock. Take this chance to find out more about fossils; the ancient remains of once living plants and animals turned to stone. And, if you have enquiries about fossils you can contact Mark Simmons at Perth Museum on or by mjsimmons@pkc.gov.uk Alyth Museum in Commercial Street is open May to September, Wednesday to Sunday 1-5pm. Admission is FREE!

4 CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GOLDEN WEDDING JIM & JANEY MACFARLANE ALYTH & DISTRICT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Notice of Office Bearers and Committee Members after the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday the 22nd of March 2007 Office-Bearers Chairperson Mr. Michael Kay Telephone Alyth / MRS COOK WILL BE VERY PROUD MANY of the Voice readers will remember Alex, youngest son of David and Elma Mitchell, Burnside Court Alyth. His musical talent was prevalent at Alyth High School in the 1980s under the instruction of music teacher Mrs. Cook, and who can forget the marvellous performances of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat? The following press release describes Alyth s home grown success at its best. THE formal opening of the 4.2 million Music School at the Loughborough Endowed Schools in Leicestershire took place on Tuesday 13 March. The Master of the Queen s Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CBE, unveiled the commemorative plaque as the final act of the exciting day of celebrations. Over 130 guests attended the lunch, concert and opening ceremony at which nearly 200 musicians from across the campus of three schools (Loughborough Grammar School, Loughborough High School and Fairfield Preparatory School). A fanfare of 27 trumpeters greeted Max as he arrived and this fanfare was repeated later from the balconies of the spectacularly designed building. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies said: This must be one of the loveliest buildings available anywhere in which to encounter music as young people. This is a space where music happens; it is alive! There is a magical feeling; Ah! It s going to be good, making music here. Alex Mitchell, the first Director of the new joint tri-school Music School has a clear vision for the future of music in this impressive and architecturally exciting building. Whilst aiming for excellence, where a range of high quality music making will enable pupils to develop and to experience music education (and everything that that conjures up) at its best, he is keen to keep his eye on the wider picture. I would like all pupils, not just the high flyers, to leave here raving to their friends that they had the most amazing experience of music at their school! It is not my belief, says Mr Mitchell, that there are simply those who can and those who cannot do music. It is my experience, however, that there is something for everyone, and I would like to fly the banner of Music For All in a non-elitist and welcoming environment, whilst challenging our gifted and talented musicians through opportunities which will continue to extend them as performers, composers and academics." WELL DONE ALEX! LOYAL CONSTRUCTION Vice-Chairperson Mrs. Flo McNeil Telephone Alyth Secretary/Treasurer Mrs. Nancy Kay Telephone Alyth Committee Mr. S. Eno, Mrs. K. Donaldson, Mr. G. Jamison, Mrs. J. McGill, Mrs. M. McNicoll and Mr. C. MacDonald Will businesses in the Alyth & District Business Association area please note that their subscription renewals for the year 2007 are now due. If any business did not receive the March 2007 newsletter can they please contact the Chairman on / for this oversight to be corrected. 2nd left: Alex Mitchell ALL TRADES SERVICE Renovations, New Builds, Extensions, Decking, Patios Tiling, Painting, Plumbing, Electrical NO JOB TOO SMALL For a free estimate call us NOW on

5 F R E E D O M C O A C H I WAS surprised when speaking to residents on the door step these last few months how many people in Alyth are tied to their homes due to disability and therefore are unable to go to the shops, the health centre, library or even just visit friends. One lady in Cambridge Street asked whether it was possible to get a small bus to go round some of the housing estates. I have since spoken to a representative of the Blairgowrie & District Freedom Coach Association about the possibility of the coach being available to do a regular run round Alyth picking up residents and returning them back home. I am pleased to say they are very enthusiastic about the idea and would welcome feedback as to how many people in Alyth would be interested in using the facility. At the moment the coach picks up residents in Burnside Court. The Freedom Coach Association are to hold a coffee morning in the Airlie Street Hall on Saturday 12th May (see p.8) to raise funds and will be on hand to speak to anyone who is interested. The Freedom Coach will be available to pick up & return anyone unable to get themselves to the coffee morning. Please telephone to book your seat. Dennis Melloy A NEW TOWN FOR STRATHMORE? WE are grateful to your correspondents for responding to us in a good-natured manner, entirely in keeping with the tone of our original contribution. Now it is our turn to offer a brief response. We should like to make it clear that we are certainly not xenophobic (ours was a point about employment policy); we do know something about the planning process; and we are absolutely committed to the future of Alyth. We too would like to use a leisure centre, but we are not as sanguine as Mr. Miller that it will be open to all membership costs may well be high. We also very much agree with the architectural points made by Louise Ramsay. Mr Adam is right to state that aspects of the Strathmore Golf Club proposal will be fully examined by the Perth & Kinross Council planning department before a final decision is taken by the planning committee, and we look forward to their decision. It may be an oddity of the planning system that Community Councils are asked to give a verdict on planning applications without having important background information, but it tends to confirm our belief that the CC extended their support to the scheme prematurely and without encouraging a wider debate on such an important proposal. It does not encourage confidence in the CC that the Chairman insists in his letter on describing the development as an 80-dwelling development when the application is in fact much larger, incorporating the additional chalets, a new hotel and leisure facilities (with implications for traffic) as he should have noted from the planning application and our article in the AV. Instead of the CC identifying access issues as its sole item of concern we might reasonably have expected it to at least acknowledge the detrimental environmental impact. Our opposition to the Strathmore proposal is based on the size of the development and the blighting of local countryside. Obviously the CC were, quite legitimately, convinced by the prospect of (an unquantifiable) economic benefit to Alyth, and we are as keen as anyone to see the town prosper, although we feel that development of derelict property in the centre of town and land on its periphery would have an equally important effect and meet some of the housing concerns that Jim Adam identifies. We certainly wish to acknowledge the time and effort devoted to local interests by Mr Adam and members of the CC, even though we may not agree on the effectiveness and function of these bodies generally. But if its members accept public office they should not be too upset when people criticise their decisions. That s democracy! Finally, we should like to thank the many people who have given us expressions of agreement on the streets and in the shops of Alyth - in one case in the form of a most supportive letter. We are grateful to them all. It was our desire to stimulate a debate on this major proposal and we seem to have succeeded! Nigel Dalziel John MacKenzie SOMETHING ABOUT MARY IT has been dry and warm now for at least three weeks, as I write (15 th April), and the forecast is for more of the same. All this suits the lambing well: nothing apart from heavy snow is worse at lambing time than constant wet weather. For all the time that they have been domesticated and living in the British Isles, sheep still are bound by their Mediterranean ancestry and find cold, wet weather a harbinger of pneumonia. The orphan piglets like this weather, too. Their mother, known to us as Stumpie, died of right-sided heart failure (I wonder if I have the wording right?), having given birth to six fine young piglets about a week before. We were able to catch the speedy little fellows and take them up to Tullymurdoch, where the kind Mitchell family had offered to look after them for a bit. This past Friday I drove up, collected the brood and brought them back to Bamff, where I released them into the pen that Jim Duncan had arranged for them (two well-strawed hutches, troughs, and a water bowl), complete with a net over the top to discourage predators. Mary, the beaver, who lives in a culvert under the old road that runs past the Quarry Cottages at Ardormie, has continued to defy my attempts to catch her but is well on the way to celebrity status, having been the subject of a programme on Radio Tay. I have had her in the trap twice and each time she has managed to get out. In the meantime she has continued to cut an occasional stem from the hedges that border and divide the gardens of the two cottages. Yesterday afternoon (Saturday, 14 th April) I painted the stems of the hedgerow trees with a special paint that I bought from a German company. This is supposed to discourage beavers from wanting to cut trees that have been painted with it. Having daubed all those trees along the two hedges, I can very well understand why: it is extremely sticky when wet and sets to a rubbery skin-like coat when dry. My left fore arm got splashed with the stuff, so I write from experience. While out watching for beaver with Ray and Alex Grimes from Birmingham, who were staying a week in our holiday cottage, we had the good luck to see an otter. Young Alex, who was looking around while his father and I stood silently waiting for the beaver to appear, noticed a tail sticking out from the undergrowth and beckoned us to come over. I thought he had seen a beaver, or possibly a water vole (there had been some sounds from the sprouting vegetation around us), when an otter leapt out of the cover, sprang across the ground, dived into the ditch and disappeared. We settled down to our watch again and about ten minutes later the waters swirled and a beaver appeared. It floated quietly for some moments, sniffing the air before getting a whiff of us. Then, with a splash, it crash dived. As it was getting too dark to see we left. Paul Ramsay 5 ALYTH POST OFFICE GALLERY Airlie Street Tel: ON DISPLAY Works in oils, watercolours, etchings and sketches. Prices range from to 395. Come in for a browse and a chat. GREETINGS CARDS New issues of National Geographic, Medici and Scottish National Trust cards now available. Also a wonderful new classic series of event cards, ensemble and Wordsworth greetings cards GLENMARKIE GUEST HOUSE, HEALTH SPA & RIDING CENTRE For a relaxing break look no further than Glenmarkie in Glenisla Peaceful surroundings, very warm welcome, comfortable accommodation, all with en-suite, providing Dinner, Bed and Breakfast Hot Spa Bath Special Three Day Breaks to incl: Accommodation (full board): Riding: Spa Bath: Health & Beauty Treatments For further details and price list/ brochure telephone NATURAL HEALTH & BEAUTY For All Your Beauty Needs Look No Further Top to Toe Beauty Therapy Alternative Health Therapy Permanent Hair Removal. No needles Harley Street Doctor visits every month to carry out wrinkle & line reduction treatments For further details and price list Contact Blairgowrie Beauty Salon GLENMARKIE RIDING CENTRE GLENISLA Peaceful, scenic and the ultimate place to be if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life TREKKING LESSONS PONY CAMPS RIDING HOLIDAYS PONY PARTIES PICNIC RIDES B & B FOR HORSE AND RIDER HEALTH SPA Tel: ** 10% off Trekking with this advert **

6 HAPPY 60 TH BIRTHDAY SEONAID Enjoy your retirement! Love from all the family xxxx 3RD PRIZE Below: Nancy Kay, J & M Kay, 13 Airlie Street, Alyth LABOUR BUILDING A SAFER ALYTH SCOTTISH Labour will implement a new range of tough community justice measure if it is re-elected in May says local Labour candidate Michael Marra. The new package, which includes new instant ASBOs, new Community Courts, Community Police Teams and a doubling of the number of Community Wardens, will build on the tough action taken by Labour when it passed Scotland s first Anti Social Behaviour Act. Speaking about Labour s proposals, Michael Marra, candidate for North Tayside said: "Labour is on the side of decent hard working families in Alyth. Four years ago we promised tough action to protect communities from anti-social behaviour and we delivered on that promise. The new powers are already starting to have an effect and bring relief to local families. But until anti social behaviour is off the streets of Alyth, Labour will continue to give the police the powers they need to tackle crime. Warning voters about the risk communities face if the SNP are elected in North Tayside, the Labour candidate added: "The SNP will not prioritise building safer communities in the way that Labour will. Their first interest is, and always will be, creating turmoil and breaking up Britain and costing local families 5,000 more." 1ST PRIZE Left: The Staff Athole Bakery 27 Airlie Street Alyth 2ND PRIZE Above: Muriel McNicol Hobbies, 39 Airlie Street, Alyth EASTER WINDOW COMPETITION THE Easter Window Competition sponsored by Alyth & District Business Association was this year judged by Mrs Seonaid Don, Alyth s Citizen of the Year 2006, over the period 4 th to 9 th of April. After much deliberation, thought, re-viewings etc, she decreed that the winners were: - 1 st The Staff, Athole Bakery, 27 Airlie Street, Alyth 2 nd Muriel McNicol, Hobbies, 39 Airlie Street, Alyth 3 rd Nancy Kay, J. & M. Kay, 13 Airlie Street, Alyth all were presented with a framed Certificate Thanks must be expressed to the judge for all her care and diligence in her judging, and also to all the entrants who had excellent displays and hopefully encouraged people to get in the Easter spirit. What a shame that they all cannot be winners! Thanks to all who took part. Michael Kay Chairman ADBA 6 Licensed Grocers National Lottery outlet. Video & DVD rental. Irvines Butcher Meat Dry Cleaning: Shoe Repair Credit/Debit card facility now available FREE HOME DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE Telephone Orders Welcome Tel No: Clinical Aromatherapist Liz Jenkins mifpa Uses therapeutic massage and essential oils to improve and maintain health. Conditions which may benefit from aromatherapy: Back/neck/muscle pain Rheumatism and arthritis Sleep disorders Constipation Headaches Stress related illness.and much more For more information or to book an appointment Tel Lands of Loyal Hotel Loyal Road, Alyth PH11 8JQ Try Our NEW Light Lunch Menu 3 Course Lunch Enjoy lunch in our highly acclaimed restaurant and relax afterwards in the comfortable surroundings of the oak-panelled grand hall. Available Midweek Only to 31 st May Airlie St. Alyth Booking Essential - For Reservations Call

7 ALYTH HALLS COMMITTEE The AGM will be held in the Lesser Town Hall at 7pm on Tuesday 8th May OVER the past 12 months this local Committee has, as usual, been very busy managing both the Town Hall and Ogilvy Rooms on your behalf. A lot of work has been undertaken and in the past few years we have tackled/renovated many of the facilities including: concreting the cellar (now used to store amongst other things, the Alyth lights), the basement lounge (including a separate entrance), provision of a new office, re-housed the AMS wardrobe store and upgraded the gents toilet. Moving upstairs P&K Council provided a disabled facility and the Committee were responsible for the kitchen, main foyer (which now provides a good history lesson) and then the Bell Tower stairwell (never touched in living memory). Moving even more upstairs, the Council Chambers, Lesser Town Hall, ladies room and finally the access passageway have all been redecorated with the pictures/paintings re-hung with a theme of Chambers pre-1950 and Lesser Hall post The stage floor was recovered some 4 years ago. In all areas low wattage light bulbs have been fitted with many new decorative, but very functional light fittings. In addition all curtains except the stage ones have been replaced. BUT like the Forth Rail Bridge, there is still a lot to do for example, the basement stairwell, the main hall, new stage curtains, stage lighting, the sound system, the bell tower rooms, and we must address further energy saving. The above is a part roll call of the many activities undertaken by this voluntary committee. BUT we do need more new members, with maybe different ideas, BUT a common interest in the Towns heritage. One highlight of the year was the visit by the Duke & Duchess of Rothesay, recorded now for posterity in the main foyer. Finally I must pay tribute to all members of the committee who control the work programme, but in particular our Treasurer Jessie McLean (who collects the money making this rework possible) and Walla Mollison - who spends the money (wisely) on all of this essential work. Jim O Brien Be you an Alythian or new to the town, it doesn t matter, just come along to the Lesser Town Hall at 7pm on the 8th May, find out more and help us continue this valuable work on behalf of the town. Alyth Samaritans COFFEE MORNING 5th MAY 2007 Airlie Street Hall, noon Usual Stalls - donations gratefully received VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLD Starting next month, a diary extract titled Voyage to the New World will be published. Received from Katie Martin (letter below), it details the incredible journey of William Hardy to America in Also included is a signed reference for John McLaughlin and his wife Margaret Buick from Alyth High Kirk elders in Sterncrest Drive, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, February 2, 2007 Dear Town of Alyth, I m looking for a current connection to this wonderful framed document from My grandmother was Helen McLaughlin born in Bellefontaine, Ohio in Her daughter, my mother Margaret, was born in 1909, turning 97 in November. The small booklet, Voyage to the New World, was compiled for me by a good friend using original notes that I provided. She guessed at some of the words but did a lovely job and produced three booklets for my children to enjoy. John (Ian) became a weaver in Ohio and I have the wooden shuttle that he used going from farmhouse to farmhouse creating his bed covers. I marvel at the long trip to America and wonder at the reasons they left home. Might there be any Hardys, Buicks, McLauchlans or Andersons, Ramsays, Patersons, Deans or Keys still in Alyth? It would be a thrill to connect with them. My name is Kathleen (Katie) Martin, and my address is markajon@sbcglobal.net. So I don t delete indicate SCOTLAND or BUICK on the subject line! As you can see Robert McLaughlin added to the spelling of McLauchlan. Very sincerely, Katie Martin DAVIDSONS CHEMIST PRESCRIPTIONS DISPENSED DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE MINOR AILMENTS SERVICE AND ADVICE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL PHARMACIST 9 Airlie St, Alyth Tel RENDEZVOUS **HAIRDRESSER** 59 Airlie Street, Alyth. Margaret and Paula will be pleased to advise you on that new look for Spring Tel: Open Tues - Sat Gift Vouchers Available MEG S MINI MARKET 22 Commercial Street, Alyth Tel: ** OPEN SUNDAYS PM ** BEDDING PLANTS. SHRUBS. TOMATO PLANTS. BARK. COMPOST. TUBS. GARDEN TOOLS Large Selection of Household Goods PETS PANTRY 19 High Street Blairgowrie Tel: Keith Nicol COLIN & CATHY FORD Number 5 Toutie Street, Alyth CHIROPODY SUGARING, FACIALS EYELASH/BROW TINTING PEDICURE, MANICURE by CREATIVE NAILS **Late Nights Tues. & Thurs.** BUSINESS AS USUAL Tel: GEO s BAR & THISTLE LOUNGE AIRLIE STREET, ALYTH Tel : Fax: thisletopia@aol.com Lounge available for meetings FOOTBALL LIVE on Digital & Five 7 JIM MORRICE Saxophone, Flute and Clarinet Tuition Tel: Beginners Welcome! ROGER DECORATORS ALYTH PROMPT RELIABLE SERVICE WITH FREE QUOTATION Tel: SIMPLY THE BEST Established 1980 Electrical Contractor E.C.A. Registered and Approved Stewart MacDonald 8 Cambridge Street, Alyth PH11 8AW Telephone

8 PUBLIC NOTICES St. Ninian s Church COFFEE MORNING 19 th MAY 2007 Airlie Street Hall, noon Usual Stalls The Alyth Out of School Club is situated within Alyth Primary School. Opening Hours 8 9am & pm. Tel: Catherine Chalmers HOBBIES 31 Airlie Street SATURDAY 5TH MAY Jewellery Making Demonstration by Isobel Deans Come and be inspired by this fascinating craft using beads and silver wire in the shop from 2pm Susan Marsh is pleased to announce the following successes in the recent Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examinations: Grade 1 Piano: Alexander Ramsay Grade 3 Piano: Jonathan Coe Scottish Wrestling Entertainment Presents: **AMERICAN WRESTLING** *********SHOW********* Saturday 19th May Alyth Town Hall doors 7pm show 7.30pm Tickets 6 Adults & 3 kids (under 14yrs) Family Ticket for 4, 2 adults 2 kids 15 Lasts 2½ hours The show will consist of American & British Superstar wrestlers, including American Wrestling Star CJ Summers, IWW Stars Ballymun Bruiser, Bingo Balance, Bravehart, Chaz Phoenix, Red Devil, Body Snatcher, The Solution and many more great stars of TV Wrestling. Great night for all the family. Hotdogs, burgers, refreshments and official wrestling merchandise on sale. Further information? Tel. S.W.E. mobile Freedom Coach Association Transport for elderly & disabled in Blairgowrie & District COFFEE MORNING in Airlie Street Hall, Alyth on Saturday 12 th May am Usual stalls/raffle Donations accepted on Friday evening or on the morning ALYTH WRITERS GROUP Having got off to a good start on 22 nd March, Alyth Writers Group will continue meeting on Thursday 3rd & 17th May pm thereafter fortnightly at the same time. The venue will remain Alyth Community Wing in St. Andrews Street. Ring for further details. Everyone welcome. ALYTH CRAFTS GROUP After the successful inaugural session on the 22 nd March, the Alyth Arts Group will meet fortnightly in the Community Wing of Alyth Primary School, St. Andrews Street, from pm. The May sessions will be on the 3rd and 17th Everyone interested in craft work or painting or other arts is welcome. Some of the equipment for beginners will be available. For further information telephone ALYTH RAINBOWS are having a COFFEE MORNING on Saturday 2nd June in Airlie Street Hall 10am All Welcome ALYTH~in~BLOOM A.G.M. Thursday 17th MAY pm Airlie Street Hall All welcome ALYTH BOWLING & TENNIS CLUB The Ladies Committee thank most sincerely all members and friends who donated, participated and helped in any way to make the Coffee Morning on 24 th March such a success. Once again the amazing people of Alyth helped amass the magnificent sum of 808 after all deductions. Members and guests are invited to the Clubhouse to see the makeover the bar area has been given. Memberships are still available at 50 for a full membership and 40 for social. Why not come and look in? Alyth & District Pipe Band AGM Monday 28 May 2007 Alyth Guide Hut New Alyth Road Alyth 7pm ALYTH CEILIDH raising funds for Alyth Playgroup 5th MAY TOWN HALL 7.30pm onwards Music by The Glenside Band Tickets 7.50 inc. buffet & raffle from Tel: Nihoma on or at the door RED CROSS WEEK Alyth are having a CARING CUPPA Coffee/Tea morning on Saturday 12 th May, 10-12noon at BURNSIDE COURT Community Lounge. Come & have a cuppa and raise funds for the Red Cross in Tayside Raffle ~ Home-baking ~ Quiz sheets 8 Alyth Parish Church GUILD The Guild coffee morning on Saturday, 14th April raised A big thank you to everyone who helped and supported us in any way. The Guild AGM is on Thursday, 3rd May at 7pm in the Airlie Street Hall. Our speaker is Mrs Sylvia Jeffrey, Macmillan Cancer Support. This is the last meeting of the current session. All are welcome. Valerie Waring ~~~ BASKET QUIZ THURSDAY 10TH MAY at 7pm AIRLIE STREET HALL Fundraising towards replacing the hall floor. Bring your own supper (large or small) for your own team of 4. Tea/coffee will be provided. Raffle Tickets 10 per team of 4 from Audrey Young (Tel: ) ~~~ KIRK SHOP 2nd 7th July 2007 AIRLIE STREET HALL Details to follow soon of how/when to donate books, CDs, records, cassettes, household furnishing, toys, jigsaws, games, bric-a-brac NCT ANTENATAL CLASSES in Strathmore If you are expecting a baby, be it your first or last, then the course of antenatal classes hosted by the Strathmore Branch of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) are exactly where you should be heading. With a flexible agenda, set by the attendees, the classes offer the opportunity for prospective parents to meet and discuss any concerns they might have about what lies ahead and acquire skills and ideas for coping with labour, birth and life with a new baby. The classes, which are taught by a qualified NCT Antenatal Teacher and NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor, are being held in St Catherine s Hall, Blairgowrie on Wednesday 2 & 9 May, pm, Saturday 19 May, 10am 1pm Saturday 26 May 10am 4pm To book or for more information contact Louise Copeland, of the NCT Strathmore, on or nctstrathmore@fsmail.net WANTED TO BUY MUTTON Tel. Connie on

9 Your Letters Don t have access to ? Alyth Library is now offering FREE access to the Internet for SURFING the WEB/sending S. Visit the library for more details... New Zealand mclaren29@xtra.co.nz 25 th March 2007 I would just like to say that after moving from Alyth to New Zealand in Nov '06 how much we enjoy reading the Alyth Voice online every month. It is great to be able to keep up with news even though our family back home keep us fairly well up to date. I would just like to take this opportunity to say a BIG hello to all family and friends back in Alyth with a special hello going to my dear mum or Granny Jean. Our address is above and we would love to hear from anyone who cares to us. Aileen, Graham, Stacy & Erin McLaren Isla Court, Alyth Thank you for the lovely cards and letters received while I was in hospital. Now recovering at home. Mary Russell 16 Parkside Road, Alyth THANK YOU I would like to thank everyone who has given me cards and messages of congratulations and good wishes on receiving my award in Perth. They were posted on to me by my grandparents and parents. I would also like to thank everyone for the encouragement given to me. Thank you all very much. Grant Duffy THANK YOU Joyce & Phil Taylor would like to thank all friends and neighbours of their mother, Violet, for their visits and support, particularly during her twilight months. Kind messages of condolence since her passing have been greatly appreciated by all the family. DISGUSTED I am quite disgusted of the dog fouling from the pathway from the beginning of the Meethill Road, which carries on all the way up the road to our residences and on our front door. You have to remember that school children have to go to school. And we do not want to have to trail dog s dirt all about our houses. You know who you are, so please pick it up, as I and others are fed up with it. Thank you. Airlie View Resident THANKS To everyone for their help and good wishes over these past weeks after my recent accident. Special thanks to those who gave assistance on the day. Would like to say I am on the mend and getting back into routine. Thanks again for your concern, it has meant a great deal to me. Angus Mustard window cleaner THANKS Jim & Janey MacFarlane would like to thank family and friends for the cards, flowers and gifts received on the occasion of their Golden Wedding on March 30 th. The good wishes of so many people were much appreciated. cnx123gl@yahoo.com CHIANGMAI, THAILAND 12/09/06 Part eight of Peter Webster s epistle MY MEMOIRS OF ALYTH In the clear summer evenings we would often walk up past West Pitnacree to Muirton then turn right past St. Fink and Tulleyfergus, on down past Westfield and The Den before reaching The Square for my favourite ice cream. After that we would head home to bed. I used to love listening to the wood pigeons cooing in the treetops and the general air of stillness that made a relaxing change from the bustle of city life. Some balmy summer nights I would lie awake listening as the overnight train from Glasgow to Aberdeen whistled its way through the Howe of Strathmore. It was so peaceful that I could follow its journey from before Coupar Angus all the way to Forfar. August saw the backbreaking task of cutting the hay in the small field at the front of the house. This was done by grabbing a bunch and then cutting it with a sickle, as a scythe was considered too dangerous. It was then pitched forked into a stack in the old fashioned way and tied with rope. Later in the year once it had dried out, one of the Robertson s would collect it for animal fodder. By the time I was nine I was hiring a bicycle and slowly perfecting my balancing skills and the stamina needed to climb the hills. I would do short runs to start with. Up to Muirton Farm or around the town. Occasionally I would go as far as Dulivaird Brig and return via Ruthven. Come a Tuesday I was often sent to Edwards for a Half Loaf as the Loaf that came the previous Thursday had somehow evaporated mostly into my stomach! To be continued... BELMONT OPEN DAY A VERY well attended Open Day at Belmont Castle on Saturday 21 st April was an unparalleled success. Several groups of people were shown round the facilities of the home, as well as the apartments of the residents. Craft work was on show and also for sale. The cake and candy stall did a brisk trade, as did the welcome tea-room. Tea, coffee and biscuits were available at no charge. Generous donations were made by the visitors. Belmont staff and friends of Belmont would like to thank everyone who made the day such a success. ALYTH CHORAL UNION MEMBERS of Alyth Choral Union and Blairgowrie Lyric Choir would like to thank the audience who attended their performance of the Messiah on Sunday 25 th March. The reception the choirs received from the enthusiastic and appreciative audience was instrumental in encouraging the choristers to give an exceptional performance. The young stars of the concert who sang so professionally and Angus Chamber Orchestra added greatly to a well received performance. Janey MacFarlane 9 ALYTH in BLOOM Can I say a huge thank you to everyone who supported and contributed to our Coffee Morning on Saturday 21 st April. The ladies in the kitchen did a sterling job as usual, as did the stallholders. Various shops and business establishments were most generous with vouchers etc., not forgetting the members of public who gave donations, raffle prizes etc. and just by being there with us on the day. The attendance was so great at one point we couldn t provide enough seats and tables, and we apologise to anyone who was kept waiting. Last but not least many thanks to the number of home-bakers who provided for the occasion with an amazing spread for the cake and candy stall. The total raised was 737. Well done everyone. Yours sincerely on behalf of the Committee, Marguerite McKenzie, Chairperson THANK YOU Alyth Gala Day would like to thank the Blackbird Inn & Alyth Quiz league for the kind donation, this is very much appreciated. This will be put to good use for this year s Gala Day on 10th June. C. Chalmers, Treasurer ABC MOTHERS UNION Alyth, Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus Mothers Union held their annual coffee morning on 17th March. We raised 394 which will go to finance our work with families at home and abroad. We support the Play Area for visitors children in Perth Prison, both with volunteers and money. We have contributed to relief funds for floods in Burundi and Kenya and droughts in Tanzania and Uganda, we have many enthusiastic members in these countries. Thank you to the people in Alyth who supported and helped us at our coffee morning. CONGRATULATIONS To John White and Company at Alyth Musical Society. He assures me he will still speak to us when he s famous in the West End! L.G. ALYTH HEALTH CENTRE Change of Computer System Further to our article in the April edition, thank you to all patients who have ordered their prescriptions early, this will ease our workload whilst the computer system is being upgraded. Prescriptions can still be ordered during May by calling the repeat prescription number: The GPs and staff thank you for your support during the next few weeks. We hope the changeover will go smoothly, with as little disruption as possible. Patient Questionnaire Thank you to all Patients who completed our "Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire" during March. The format of the questionnaire is designed for use across the UK and the national average score is 71%. I am happy to report that the Health Centre scored 79.5%. Thank you for all your kind comments and ideas for improvement. We will keep you updated in our Practice Newsletter, available at the Reception desk in June. Vicki Fuller, Practice Manager

10 MODERN LIFE IS RUBBISH IN the past I used to think recycling was a good thing, but actually doing it was another matter. We had always separated organic waste from the rest and put it out on what was more of a sort of organic midden than an actual compost heap, and we were good about the bottle bank, but that was about it. Visits to the bottle bank can be quite lengthy. Anyone watching might reasonably come to the conclusion that the Ramsay family are all alcoholics. Wine and beer bottles, clear, green and brown definitely outnumber the jam and marmite jars as they smash into their respective containers. You may not believe me but I like to think that we are more hospitable than dipsomaniac. As to the other categories of recycling, I have only recently got properly set up for separating plastic milk and drink bottles, newspapers and tins, and stuff for burning (e.g. envelopes). We now have four bins in our bin cupboard, a box for papers under the table, bottle boxes in the passage and the compost bin under the sink. One of the bins is marked Landfill and I find that I now get a small fit of rage or guilt every time something has to go into that bin. If it is rage it is either directed at the person who bought the over packaged thing in the first place (e.g. Paul) or it is against Tesco for their habit of dressing things up in too many layers of packaging to persuade us that we are buying more than merely, four apples, or two avocados, or a toothbrush. Now that I am such a recycling queen (or possibly a recycling bore) I do get annoyed that there is nowhere for plastic bottles in Alyth, and that plastic recycling is only for bottles. If I get into the council I will try hard to get some improvements on this front. And what about those Goats Milk Yoghurt containers? They look as though they could be really useful for something, but what? I feel both guilt and rage as I chuck them into the landfill bin and visualise them not biodegrading for centuries. What will the archaeologists of the future think of us? The most profligate generation that ever existed: the generation that lived as though we had three planets at our disposal. (At least I understand that is true of us Scots. Apparently our eco footprint is so great that by the 3 rd or January or so we have used what the average Malawian uses in a year. Scottish businesses and households threw out more than 12 million tonnes of rubbish last year.) And yet most of us hate it. Scratch nearly any one of us modern women and you will find a thrifty old-fashioned Scots housewife lurking not far beneath the surface. Even the English are up in arms. The WI in England has been organising groups of shoppers to leave their packaging behind at the supermarket. What a great idea! Tesco should be left to clear up after itself if it chooses to go on with its policy of over packaging everything and encouraging the throwaway culture. Though it should be made clear it s not the fault of the people that work there. It s those invisible grey men on the board of directors that should be made to clear up after themselves. Control of supermarkets including legislation against over packaging would surely be a far better way of approaching the waste problem than incineration. (Needless to say this is Green Party policy.) In the meantime we can use consumer power and refuse to buy the over wrapped stuff. Next I am going to start making really good compost. Does anyone have any useful tips? Louise Ramsay ALYTH ON CANVAS DUNDEE artist John Stoa had never really seen Alyth as a place to paint until he was commissioned to paint the Auld Brig over the Alyth Burn several years ago. John had an exhibition of local landscapes, flowers and figures at Roseangle Gallery in Dundee about eight years ago. Anna Anderson, a former resident of Alyth, was showing her sister Maria, on holiday from Canada, around Dundee and looking for a bit of culture, dropped into the gallery. Anna asked John if there were any Alyth paintings, but he had to disappoint them. Although John has many Scottish landscapes especially around Tayside and Angus, he had never been in Alyth. Even in his early berry picking years, (nine to fifteen) it was always in the Carse of Gowrie that he travelled to. However Anna liked John s style and had always wanted a painting of the Auld Brig, so she offered John a commission to capture it on canvas. It was a touch of nostalgia for childhood memories as Anna passed over the bridge at least twice every day going to and from school. Although Anna now lives in Dundee her heart remains in Alyth. The commission was accepted and John did a bit of research in and around the village of Alyth, including the Den and up and over Alyth Hill. John was very impressed and returned in all seasons to capture Alyth on canvas from every angle and in all seasons. Soon he had nearly twenty paintings completed in oil, pastel, acrylic and watercolour. The following summer an exhibition was held at Dundee s Roseangle gallery titled, Focus on Alyth. Visitors came from many places following an article in the Courier, and a bit of exposure from John s new website Most of the paintings have now been sold to clients from all over the world from Canada to South Yonderup in Australia as well as Scotland. John continues to paint Alyth and sells these images locally through the Wellmeadow Gallery in Blairgowrie, but also keeps one or two in his studio for visiting clients. An interest in art had brought John and Anna together, but soon they also discovered they both had a love of gardening. John had been a professional horticulturist before taking up art in Anna needed a gardener and John needed a studio, so as Anna had a large room available a partnership was born. Anna s garden is now a glorious riot of colour with interest all year round, and John runs three successful art classes and monthly art workshops from his large studio overlooking the River Tay. Their business interests have also developed with Anna now running a B&B for professionals from Dundee University, Ninewells Hospital, and the Scottish Crop Research Institute at Invergowrie as well as attracting tourists from abroad looking for a different Scottish experience. Both Anna and John promote their business on the Internet with their own websites. John has his at to show his paintings, limited edition prints, information on his art classes and art holiday workshops. He has also put the garden on display on the website as well as their new allotment site, and every year all John s students get one of their paintings put on a special exhibition page for all the world to see. Anna is only just launching her new website at to promote her B&B rooms and also showing the garden, the panoramic views over the River Tay and John s paintings hanging on most of the room walls. They both return to Alyth quite frequently to climb over the hill, and gather more images to capture on canvas. 10 Image by D.M. Phillips Constable Mark Stewart with Alyth Primary School pupils following an antivandalism poster competition.

11 THE ORGANIC HUT South West Fullarton, Meigle Tel Wednesday 1pm 6pm Friday 1pm 6pm Saturday 10am 5pm Half mile south of Meigle on Dundee Road. Follow signs Visit us for a wide range of organic fruit and vegetables. Other organic goods include eggs, various teas, oatmeal and chocolate. We also stock Ecover products, soaps and recycled paper goods. Charles A Davidson Blacksmith, Welder and Fabricator Gates and Rails made, erected and repaired All fabrication and farm work undertaken Tel: Mobile: ROBERTSON S DAIRY BALKEERIE BY GLAMIS FORFAR Tel/fax Suppliers of milk, cheese, butter, cream, eggs, yoghurts, rolls, and many other dairy products to Private Houses, Hotels, Restaurant, schools, Nursing Homes, etc. in Alyth, Blairgowrie, Coupar Angus, Burrelton, Woodside, Meigle, Newtyle and Auchterhouse Ash Chimney Systems Professional Chimney Sweep Prompt and reliable a clean sweep guaranteed. Pots, Bird guards and Cowls fitted. Call Simon on or GEORGE W. RENNIE 2 St. Malcolm s Wynd Kirriemuir Tel: Mobile: Repairs Spares & Servicing Washing Machines, Cookers, Tumble dryers & Vacuums. Cycle Repairs & Spares by Post mary.rennie@tiscali.co.uk Drystone Dyking Stone Garden Features Stone Planters and Seating Wall Repairs and Pointing Patios, Paths and Decking Roof Repairs and Guttering Robert Miller Cherrybank Cottage, Leitfie Terrace, New Alyth, PH11 8NF Classified Alyth Pet Shop 17 Airlie St, Alyth Tel: OPEN: Mon Tues Thurs Fri - 9am to 4.30pm Sat - 9am to 5pm Wed - 9am to 1pm Large Selection of Tropical Fish, Accessories and Foods **Hi-Spec Dog Food Reduced to Cost Price to Clear** Tinned Foods for Dogs and Cats Pet Accessories THE BURNSIDE INN 4/6 Mill Street Alyth Tel: ***** Beers, Wines, Spirits Covered Smoking Area Beer Garden Children welcome Baby changing facilities Parties catered for - golf, fishing, etc ***** I&D Insurance Services We have secured special rates for All PH, DD and KY postcodes Extremely competitive premiums for both Household and Private Car Quotes provided without obligation. Going on holiday? Let us arrange your travel insurance. Your local broker serving your local community 16 Airlie Street Alyth IandDinsurance@aol.com 11 Newspapers Magazines Toys LUNAN Newsagent 8-10 Airlie Street Telephone All-year round newspaper and magazine delivery. A great selection of cards for all occasions Stationery, wrapping paper, gift bags and toys Shop Open: 5.30am pm Mon - Fri 5.30am - 4pm Sat 7.00am - 1pm Sun All joinery work undertaken For more information contact Derek Fairweather on Airlie Computers Simon Bogle FULL RANGE OF COMPUTER SERVICES FOR HOME & SMALL BUSINESS USERS Repairs - Maintenance - Upgrades - Networking New & Used Computer Sales - Tuition - Web Design Tel: Mob: 07732y am to 9.00pm. Monday to Saturday Envelopes Notepads Pens, Pencils Gifts CANINE CUTS DOG GROOMING STUDIO 3 High Street, Rattray, Blairgowrie Profesional & Quality Service 13 Years Experience 10% off to New clients with this advert Tel: Caroline Alyth Road, Rattray Telephone: Open 7 days serving LUNCHES SNACKS EVENING MEALS Food served all day Sunday Children welcome Function catered for

12 Cleethorpes, North East Lincs - 30th March Elaine.Illingworth@jacobs.com DEAR Sirs, I have attached a photograph that has been in my family for a lot of years, I am sure that you will recognise the shop, James Edwards the grocers. My family weren t sure where this was taken, but by looking at the address on the delivery boy s bike we were able to trace it to Alyth. The delivery boy is my grandfather Donald Robertson who was known to everyone as Dan, I believe he was born around 1890, he married Mary Allen who I believe was from Stirlingshire. When my mother Agnes (born 1923) and my aunt Mary were born they had moved to Strathtay near Aberfeldy, where I spent many a happy summer holiday. I have sent the photo to you because of the shop. Is it still in Alyth? I am hoping to visit Scotland later on this year and plan a visit to Alyth, as I have never been in that area. Hope the photo is of interest to you. Regards, Elaine Illingworth SCOUT REPORT NOW things are seldom what they seem to the casual observer. And so I would like to point out to any passer by, that the last time the Alyth Leaders got together, should not cause any concern for alarm. True the sight of us all falling over on the lawn and man handling inert bodies amongst great hilarity, could be easily mistaken for a the return journey from the local hostelry but fear not. This was the last of four evening training sessions on first aid and our instructor, Gerard Cameron, not unknown in Scout circles, decided that it would be more realistic coping with casualties outside. Despite his best endeavours, should anyone be as unfortunate as to suffer some traumatic accident, I would suggest your best bet for a speedy recovery would be to get run over by an ambulance. As Leaders we have to go through first aid training every three years and although this swallows a sizeable chunk of our time, it is like so many other walks of life, one of these things that just has to be done. None of us would pretend to be professional first aiders, but we feel we can cope better with the knowledge we have received. The national average for a leader in the Scout Movement is only three years and it is touching to note that every Leader in Alyth has exceeded the average already! But we would welcome fresh blood and if anyone is interested please get in touch. You can always check our website to give you an idea of what we do. The days of the enthusiastic adult in Scouting are by no means over. Just remember that it took an amateur to build the Ark, but it was a group of professionals that built the Titanic! I hope all who attended our concert in the Town Hall had an enjoyable evening. I know all the participants certainly did. The Beavers put on a programme of magical tricks. One of the highlights was the Beaver who was asked to pick a volunteer from the audience and chose his brother. Graham Arnold s play for the Cubs went down a storm and fortunately they remembered most of it. The Scouts played out a few campfire turns and if John Wheatley and the Stag Patrol ever have to go to hospital, I hope their operation goes a little more orthodox than the one they enacted. Doctor Lewis Dobie did sterling work and Bruce Arnott s laundry service certainly got his whites whiter than white. I ve been asked if we are going to do another bookfest in the summer, and the short answer is Yes if we can get a whole pile of books as our stock was severely depleted in the winter holidays. I would be glad to have any surplus books anyone might have. We have a few fund raising events coming off and I hope to enjoy your continued support. Our thanks to Sandy McCurdy and his band for putting on an evenings entertainment for us in the Town Hall. It is very encouraging to receive such support in time and talent. We will very shortly be off on the first of our camps this year and I just hope that the equipment that we ordered gets here in time as one of the items being despatched are midgie nets. I don t know if they will keep them off our faces, but if we put them on, we can always scare them away! Ron Kirkpatrick 12 THE PROPERTY SHOP ALYTH A & R Robertson & Black, W.S., 11 Airlie Street, Alyth, PH11 8AH Tel: Website: property@robertson-black.co.uk FREE VALUATIONS It s knowledge of your local patch, which makes the difference! BLAIRGOWRIE PROPERTY SHOP IS OPEN 7 DAYS! Call Mel on Alyth Arts & Framing 4 Mill Street, Alyth, Blairgowrie, PH11 8BJ Opening Hours Open. Mon. Tues. Thurs. Fri. Sat 10am - 6pm Closed. Wed. Sun Telephone: Mobile: or Tony Flavell & Ros Moran LOCHSIDE LODGE & Roundhouse Restaurant Bridgend of Lintrathen, Near Alyth Tel: enquiries@lochsidelodge.com Alongside Lintrathen Loch, this award winning Restaurant offers Lunch and Dinner using the best of the local produce and producing interesting dishes presented to the highest standard. Please phone for reservations and to check opening hours. Or visit our New Restaurant in the centre of Blairgowrie Situated within the unique setting of an Antiques Showroom, we are open for Morning Coffee and Pastries, Lunches and Afternoon Teas. Fully Licensed with a selection of fine wines. Open 7 days a week, Mon Sat 9.30am-4.30pm & Sunday 10am-4pm We are down by the River Roy Sim Antiques, Lower Mill Street, Blairgowrie Tel: for reservations or more details

13 Classic Restorations Pitnacree Street, Alyth Perthshire Phone: Mobile: Fax: Driving Made easy Mechanical Electrical Panel Work Ashframe repairs Paintwork Interior Trim Jaguar XK140 Roadster Fully restored by our expert team of committed craftsmen charles@classicrestorations.co.uk Contact Colin Sidley Home: Mobile: Text: PRICE to my mobile number for information colin.sidley@virgin.net Lessons available by the hour or in block bookings Pass Plus Registered Member of the Driving Instructors Association AIRLIE GARAGE ALYTH Telephone: Servicing, Mechanical &, MOT Repairs Welding & Steam Cleaning Panel Beating, Spray Painting and Restoration. All Jobs Considered Free Estimates Tyres at competitive prices Winter Tyres Studded and Wheels Balanced Breakdown Recovery and Car Transportation Service Quality Used Cars For Sale Open 9 am til late 4WD Specialist Cars & Light Goods Vehicles Servicing and Repairs Bike & Car MOT Testing Tyres & Exhausts Bike & Car Oils Stonework Classified MUIR DRIVING SCHOOL Dave Muir DSA Approved Driving Instructor Pass Plus Registered Tel: Mob: Gift Vouchers Available R. D. Builders Extensions Renovations Harling Etc. For Free Estimates Tel: or Mobile Tay Road Alyth, Perthshire PH11 8EB G CLARK PLASTERING & TILING Walls & floor tiling Harling Coving Plastering Dry Lining Ames taping Wet Dash NO JOB TOO SMALL FREE QUOTES TEL: or Carpet Care Carpet, Upholstery and Leather Cleaned and Protected Neil Stewart Call for a Free Quote: or CHIROPODIST H.P.C. REGISTERED TRISHA WALTON HOME VISITS GRANGEMOUNT CATTERY Aberbothrie, Alyth SPECIAL DIETS CATERED FOR INDIVIDUAL HEATED CHALETS Set in the quiet rural setting of beautiful Strathmore PERSONAL ATTENTION FROM THE OWNERS DENNIS & LIBBY MELLOY Tel: FURNITURE STORE Perth Street, Blairgowrie (Adjoining Shell Garage) Beds: Divans from 69. Pine Frames 55. MetalFrames 35 Mattresses: Single from 39. Double from 59. Also 3/4, Kingsize & 6ft Wardrobes from 169. Chest of Drawers from 75. Bedsides from 39 Suites from 395. Dining Sets from 99. Sideboards 105 All Waxed Pine at Rock Bottom Prices Tel: Open Monday to Saturday THE ALYTH TRADITIONAL FISH BAR Telephone Orders Welcome New Opening Hours: Monday 5pm 9pm Tuesday CLOSED Wednesday 5pm 9pm Thursday 5pm 9pm Friday 5pm 9pm Saturday 5pm 9pm Sunday CLOSED Specialised Dementia Care in a Domestic Setting. RESPITE CARE. RESIDENTIAL CARE. SELF CONTAINED DAY CARE UNIT All bedrooms en-suite: Beautiful Enclosed Gardens : Home Cooking & Baking with Choice of Menu: Trained Staff to promote independence and choice. Tel Balmoral Road, Rattray, Blairgowrie 13

14 WHUT WULL THE LASSIE MAK O US? By Dan Dewar, 9 Commercial Street, Alyth Fantastic Golf Offers MAY SILVER BALL SAVER Available 7 days a week Coffee and Bacon Roll on arrival 18 Holes on the Rannaleroch Course Soup and Sandwich Lunch after Golf Weekday: 2 Ball Ball Ball - 76 Weekend: 2 Ball Ball Ball - 96 Offer only available if booking a maximum of 7 days in advance May Golf on the Rannaleroch Course: Midweek - 26, Weekend - 32 Discounted Memberships Now Available from May Members Loyalty Cards offer 10% discount on Food and Beverages at The Golf Centre, Lands of Loyal Hotel, Alyth Hotel and Strathmore Arms at Glamis. Please call for a membership pack or to make a tee reservation Tel: Sample our hospitality! Great Menu Great Prices All Day Every Day Our Restaurant is open all day, every day, from 8am. Non-Members and Parties are welcome. The Main Menu is available all day and we have a Children s Menu and many Daily Specials. Bookings not necessary, however telephone if you would like to reserve a table. Dear Sheila, you are daein fine, yer weel-wrocht Sermons are divine nae doot there s some wha ll disagree, but there s a wheen weel plaised, like me! Tae them wha gripe an look askance come-on noo, gie the Lass a chance! She ll fill yer cup and quench yer thirst, and glean, for you, a Gowden Hairst! The lass can only dae her best tae win the maist, an lure the rest; but it s weel kent that Christ, Himsel, acknowledged: some wid gang tae Hell. So Sheila, whin the goin s tough, an aiblins, you rin oot o puff juist dra anither muckle braith an sodger-on, an keep yer faith! In Alyth, you ve a routh o freends wha, juist like you, are unco keen tae dae the very best we can tae fit-in wi The Faither s Plan! Ye re stuck wi us, a bunch o sinners - your job s tae mould us intae winners Ach! we re no bad, ah hope ye ll find, ( cause, we re the grist you ll hiv tae grind!) 9TH PERTHSHIRE (ALYTH) VOLUNTEERS IN April s Voice, a photo was printed of the above regiment, with a guesstimate of the date. We have now been able to more accurately date the photo some forty years earlier, with the help of Arch Ferguson. A pair of ivory field glasses were given to him as a boy, some 52 years ago, by Miss Lizzie Whitson who lived at Airlie Bank. The inscription reads Presented by Mrs. James Wedderburn- Ogilvy. Won by Sergeant David M. Robertson, 9th Perthshire (Alyth) R.V. 1862!! Can anyone shed light on these names or on the purpose of this troop? Please contact the Voice. FREE HOME FIRE SAFETY VISIT ROY Davidson of Tayside Fire and Rescue said, Every year domestic fires account for over 500 deaths and 11,000 injuries. Many of these could be avoided if people were fully aware of the dangers within their own homes and had a means of early warning from fire in the form of a domestic smoke alarm. A domestic smoke alarm is a warning device that detects smoke at the earliest stages of a fire. If there is a fire in your home it sounds a piercing alarm to warn you of the fire, allowing you time to escape. Many people killed in house fires each year are asleep at the time. A smoke alarm will wake you and your family up and give you vital extra time to escape during the night. Smoke alarms cost from as little as 5.00 and are available from DIY stores, electrical shops and many supermarkets and high-street retailers. People living in rented Accommodation should be aware that Landlords are not legally obliged to fit smoke alarms. Your safety is your own responsibility. WHY NOT ARRANGE A HOME FIRE SAFETY VISIT? Tayside residents can arrange for a firefighter to come to their home and assess any fire hazards that they find. During the visit the firefighter will give advice on how to make your home safer, what to do in the event of fire and what to do if you become trapped by fire. They will also fit a smoke alarm in your house, free of charge, if you don t have one and explain how to maintain it correctly. To arrange a free Home Fire Safety Visit, call Perth and Kinross s Community Fire Safety Team on

15 Market Square, Alyth, Perthshire, PH11 8AA Tel.: Fax: For New Season Plants, Bedding & Shrubs Special Offer on Compost - Levingtons 3 x 12; Murphy s 3 x 10 Large Selection of Gifts - Household and Garden Open Monday to Friday 8.30am pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 12.30pm - 4pm MURRAY PENNYCOOK Est Plumbing & Heating Gas. Oil. Solid Fuel Central Heating Installations Rhones. Leadwork. Drains Free Estimates CURL UP N DYE Our New Modern Hair Salon provides all you need to enjoy a new look Hair Extensions Brilliant Colours Trendy Cuts Award Winning American Products To look your best look no further than Curl Up N Dye 1 Leslie Street Blairgowrie MOBILE HAIRDRESSER LADIES GENTS CHILDREN OAPs Have your hair done in the comfort of your own home CUTTING PERMING EXTENSIONS ETC. Tel: Tel: CAMPBELL GERRARD FENCING CONTRACTOR TEL: MOBILE : ****** All types of agricultural and garden fencing & gates supplied and erected. ****** Patios, Decking, Gravel Work, Drystone Dykes and Landscaping ****** FREE ESTIMATES HOBBIES 31 AIRLIE STREET Tel: Come and Browse our Exciting New Stock David Scott Ltd FUNERAL DIRECTORS & MONUMENT AGENTS Also Golden Charter Pre-Paid Funeral Plans 7 Toutie Street Alyth Open Tuesday Mornings 9 a.m a.m. Or by appointment Our staff are happy to assist with all enquiries A 24 hour service is maintained on Tel: Mob: Meigle Road, Alyth, Blairgowrie PH11 8EX CAKES FOR ALL OCCASIONS 14 AIRLIE STREET ALYTH TEL: Glenfernate Fresh Meats Enochdhu, Blairgowrie PH10 7PL Tel: Fax: sales@glenfernate.com Beef, Lamb & Venison Direct from a Local Perthshire Farm delivered to your door Bred here and raised naturally with no intensive rearing, hormones or additives. Properly hung, cut and prepared on the farm. Just good meat that is tender and full of flavour with no fancy seasonings needed to give it taste. The venison is from our own wild deer from the same hills that the sheep and cattle graze. If you are not satisfied, we will replace or refund in full. BEEF PACK x 450g (lb) Steak Mince 3x450g Diced Shoulder 1kg Topside Rst 1kg Silverside Rst 450g Braising Stk 230g Frying Stk 450gStk Saus. 450g Lorne Saus. 1 Pack Steak Burgers ( 1/4lb) LAMB PACK 32 Leg of Lamb approx 1.5kg (3lb) 1kg (2lbs) Rolled Shoulder 450g Diced Shoulder 4 Dble loin chops 4 Leg Steaks 4 Noisettes 1 Pack Lamb Burgers (1/4 pounders) BBQ PACK Packs of Stk Burgers 1 Pack of Lamb Burgers 1 Pack of Venison Burg. 1 Pack of Pork & Apple Burg. 1 Pack of Stk Saus.450g 1 Pack Lamb Saus.450g. 1 Pack Venison Saus 450g 1 Pack Pork Saus. 450g 1 kg Frying Stks appx.6 450g Lamb Leg Stks appx.4 Venison Pack 30 1 Haunch of Venison 1.5kg(3lbs) 2 Venison Stks. 3x450g Diced Ven. 3x450g Ven. Mince 450g Venison Saus. 1 pack Ven. Burgers Plus free delivery in the local area We deliver every Friday in the Blairgowrie/Alyth Area. For more information, For a price-list with all our cuts and produce, or to place an order, Contact Ann, by Telephone, Fax or . Glenfernate Fresh Meat are licensed Game Dealers 15 Traditional Acupuncture in Blairgowrie Acupuncture can help a variety of symptoms and health problems Free 15 minute consultations available in Blairgowrie to discuss whether acupuncture may be helpful. Practitioner is fully qualified and insured and is a member of the British Acupuncture Council. Judith Bryden MA(Hons)LicAc.MBAcC. Contact Judith at or (mobile) Mrs Susan Marsh (Cert Ed) Cherrybank, Lands of Loyal Tel: BIG GAV BARONY VIEW GROUND MAINTENANCE HAY STREET ALYTH For all the usual garden services including fencing, gravelling and paving **For the Summer Sunshine** Custom-built Gazebos and Pergolas. Can fit any awkward corner. Made in pressure-treated larch which will never need treated or painted. *** Ponds built to suit any garden. *** Tel: Big Gav on ZAP TOOLS TOOL HIRE 89 Airlie Street, Alyth All kinds of gardening, building, decorating & cleaning equipment FOR HIRE & SALE Tel: /

16 BLUEBEARD IT S DIFFERENT A FORTNIGHT or so before the Election, it would be natural to expect a fair amount of debate in Airlie Street, but perhaps this year s candidates hadn t expected to have added competition, in the form of a 12 th century Count! From the first night to the last, never has the Musical Society produced so much stir in the shops, streets, homes, and no doubt telephone lines of Alyth. Bluebeard has certainly divided the community. It s not his manifesto which has caused the debate, but the fact he has come to town at all! Fifty nine Alyth Musical Society shows have graced Alyth Town Hall s stage, favourites such as Oklahoma, Kiss Me Kate and Showboat, but 2007 saw a world premiere in Bluebeard. A risk to throw in an unknown home grown show some would say, but a risk which showed producer/director John White and musical director Colin Grant in a new talented light. And a risk which was pulled off. Take a minute to think about what goes into inventing, writing, composing and producing a two hour musical with a cast of thirty one. Unimaginable? Now add a full time job. Unbelievable! It would be fair to say the opening scene was a little confusing to the audience had they not read the programme and realised Louise Adamson, Glenda Emile (centre) faces the gallows in scene seven Kean, Heather Tweddle and Karon West were playing dead wives, but once Sophie (Helen Marshland) and Emile (Christopher Duke) arrived in scene one, the storyline unfolded and led the audience through numerous scene changes, and it was easier to follow. Like all good theatre productions, the audience were drawn into good prevailing over evil, and although it wasn t evident until later in act two, the characters had woven a spell over even the most hardened heart, and great cheers rose up when Bluebeard (the baddie, portrayed convincingly by Alan Calder-McNicoll) was killed by Emile (the goodie), and then Sophie (the innocent maiden at the centre of all this ill-feeling!) and Emile embraced in a kiss. Whether this was the intention of John White is unknown, but from a serious tone through most of the production, a panto feel was obvious by the end and the audience left on an upbeat, having forgotten about the twenty scene changes and the tragic storyline! Local worthies gave a sterling performance as usual. Ron Kirkpatrick s Magistrate Morel was one of note, in a drunken scene portrayed extremely convincingly (below), while Sheila Fisher s distraught Mme Roux over the death of Collette (Danielle Borrett) was very natural. Isabel McCurdy s motherly gentleness made Mme Laurent, while Claire Mallinson was excellent as Angeline Laurent. The singing from every member was of very high quality, and although the music was brand new to the audience, the songs were enjoyable and easy to listen to. Finally, a word about the special effects very powerful with the smoke and the mesh screen, perhaps a few too many scene changes, but obviously necessary to follow the storyline. Ron Kirkpatrick (centre seated) as Magistrate Morel View more photos of the show at Considering the cast is completely amateur, the performance was another memorable show in Alyth Musical Society s long history. Well done to everyone involved in any way to bring a week s entertainment to a wee place like Alyth. And to everyone who said it s different, yes, it was different, but a change is as good as a rest! CHOIRS UNITE FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CONCERT 25 YEARS AGO the Alyth Kirk choir and the Blairgowrie Lyric Choir joined forces to perform Handel s Messiah. The Alyth Choral Union was formed from this occasion and the Lyric Choir joined in again on March 25th to celebrate the anniversary in singing The Messiah once again. The combined choirs were joined and ably supported by the Angus Chamber Orchestra, John Walker on Continuo and four brilliant soloists. David Marsh, bass, Chris Elliott, tenor, Maria Brown, mezzo-soprano and Natalie Montakhab, soprano. The choirs were well prepared by John Campbell (Lyric Choir) and James Robertson (Alyth Choral Union), the latter conducting the performance in Alyth Parish Church. The concert was marked particularly by the enthusiasm and commitment of the choirs, giving full voice to the splendid choruses, culminating in the dramatic final Amen, complete with trumpets (impressively situated in the gallery) and tympani. Images by D.M. Phillips Members of the original choirs still performing 25 years later David Marsh brought maturity and drama to the bass arias, aided in The Trumpet shall sound by some splendid trumpet obligato. Maria sang impressively, her rich tone bringing stature and dignity to her role. Natalie, despite her tender years was faultless and at all times assured, generous in her involvement with the sizeable audience, as was Chris, his vocal ease wonderfully enhanced by brilliant decoration. The soloists and the choir seemed to be urged on by each other and the concert concluded with a standing ovation. It is gratifying to find such energy, enthusiasm and quality in a relatively small community. Performing two concerts a year, the A.C.U would certainly welcome more members, particularly to participate in an invitation to exchange with a choir in France tentatively planned for nest year. ONE SWALLOW DOESN T MAKE A SUMMER Printed for Alyth Voice by Blair Copy Shop 16 Copyright alythvoice 2007 A solitary swallow was spotted near Alyth Parish Church on 12 th April, and then two more, a few days later. Could this be the sign of a good summer? Or just global warming!