News
The Laigh Hills Park Working Group has been accepted onto the January vote for the Tesco Bags of Help scheme for an orchard project in the Laigh Hills.
Voting will take place from 2nd January to 28th January and we will be notified by the end of February 2017 confirming the amount of funding that we will receive. The project with the highest number of votes across the Stirlingshire region will receive £5,000, the second placed project £2,000 and the third placed project £1,000.So can I urge you to vote whenever you go to Tesco. You should get a voting token whenever you have any transaction in store – it doesn’t matter how small and you do not have to buy a bag. But you will probably have to remind the person on the checkout to give you a token.
There is also plan to spend money gathered from house developers over the years to improve the play park area of the Laigh Hills - you should be able to see the proposals on the Dunblane.info website. We have also just heard from the Scottish Rural Development Programme that we have been awarded significant funding for our bid to further enhance the footpaths through the park under the Improving Public Access option.
We will need to have a strong Friend of the Laigh Hills Group set up in the near future to help determine how the park is managed, be the eyes and ears to report any problems that need to be repaired and undertake some to the management work in the Park. So if you are a dog walker, parent, cyclist, walker or any other user of the park who cares about its well being please do get in touch with Alan Booth 01786 824791 to take things forwards. In the meantime, as well as voting yourself, can you can urge friends and relations to vote early and often for the Laigh Hills Orchard project at Tesco.
Alan Booth
This Christmas, Dunblane Boys Brigade collected over 2 tonnes of food and other items for those in need. Read the Stirling Observer article below
Tonnes of help for those in need
A fantastic amount of food was amassed at a festive collection drive. The Boys' Brigade in Dunblane organised their traditional Christmas collection for Start-Up Stirling's crisis foodbank and amassed over two tonnes of items to help the neediest family situations across the area.
More than 50 BB boys and leaders were on hand at St Blane's Hall in Dunblane on December 22, and donations were non-stop from beginning to end as local people dropped off food, drink, toiletries and cleaning supplies over a three-hour period to help keep the shelves stocked at Start-Up's warehouse right into the new year.
The enthusiastic youngsters helped by opening donations, labelling items, sorting into storage containers - and even running to local businesses in the High Street to ask for extra boxes and containers when donations were so plentiful, capacity ran out. All the goods were transported to Start-Up Stirling's foodbank and weighed,with news coming through on the following day that over 2,000kg of goods had been donated.
James Forrest, age 14, has been helping at the annual event for the last four years. He said: "At BB, we have been learning about vulnerable groups in our community, and it is nice to do something practical and really useful for people, especially at Christmas, although we collect donations every month at BB, too."
BB captain Paul Christmas said: “It was fantastic to again see such great support from Dunblane and surrounding areas for this. We love the fact that the event has become a true tradition now and we are proud to partner with Start-Up Stirling regularly”.
Road closures between 9am & 6pm on Sundays 15th, 22nd and 29th January and 5th February 2017
B8033 Dual Carriageway
- southbound carriageway from Fourways Roundabout to the junction of Sunnyside
- northbound carriageway from the junction of Sunnyside to the access to the Police Station.
- When the northbound carriageway is closed the southbound carriageway will be open and when the southbound carriageway is closed the northbound carriageway will be open.
Beech Road and Stirling Road: for their entire length. Emergency vehicle access will be maintained BUT general vehicle access to the station will be from the Springfield Terrace/Tesco car park
Further details and alternative routes here
Stirling Rd "Access for all" Project
The project has been enhanced thanks to the involvement of local school children, some of whom are pictured below - read more.
Further details of the plan here
Project Background
In Early 2014, Stirling Council obtained funding from the sustainable transport charity SUSTRANS to improve the street layout on Beech and Stirling Roads. Since then they have been working with local residents, your Community Council, Dunblane Development Trust and Discover Dunblane to make the area more pedestrian and cyclist friendly. There has also been a focus on the needs of those with mobility difficulties, and vehicular access for station users, businesses and local residents.
A public consultation on concept plans took place in November/December 2014. Many of the comments received reflected a desire to get an environment that works well for all and been used by the Project Steering Group to finalise the plans.
Summary report from consultation events
Expanded report from consultation events
Comments summarised in pie chart slide show
Comments made by consultation event attendees
Any further questions?
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You will need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 0845 277 7000 / 0845 277 7000 or 01786 404040 / 01786 404040 and ask for Transport Planning and Access.
Andy Murray has been voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for a record third time! This tops off a fantastic year with Andy winning Olympic gold, his second Wimbledon title and he became tennis' world number one.
Read more here
Dunblane figure skater Megan Carroll has won a silver medal at the British Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield.
Read more here
Come and Celebrate Christmas 2016 with the Dunblane Churches!
Sunday November 27th
10.30 am. All Age Advent Service, St Mary’s Church
11.30 am. Advent Christmas Service (Mince pies from 10.30), Dunblane Free Church
Sunday December 11th
5.00 pm. Radio Rainbow Carols for Christmas, Dunblane Christian Fellowship (opp. Station)
6.30 pm. Boys’ Brigade Carol Service (with BB Band) at St Blane’s Church
7.30 pm. Christmas Concert with Choir, Instrumentalists and Handbells, Cathedral (£5)
Sunday December 18th
10.00 am. All Age Nativity Service at St Blane’s Church
10.30 am. Sunday School Nativity Service at Dunblane Cathedral
11.00 am. Liturgy of St Nicholas of Myra (“Santa Claus”), Orthodox Church, off Ramoyle
4.00 pm. Candlelit Lessons and Carols Service, mince pies & mulled wine at St Mary’s Church
6.30 pm. Advent Celebration with Choir at St Blane’s Church
6.30 pm. Nine Lessons and Carols at Dunblane Cathedral
7.00 pm. A Christmas Celebration at Holy Family Church
Christmas Eve
4.00 pm. Crib and Christingle Family Service at St Mary’s Church
6.30 pm. Christingle Service at Dunblane Cathedral
6.30 pm. All Age Service with Film at St Blane’s Church
8.00 pm. Children's Celebration of Christmas at Holy Family Church
11.30 pm. Carols followed by Midnight Mass at Holy Family Church
11.30 pm. Watchnight Service (carols and refreshments from 11 pm) at St Blane’s Church
11.30 pm. Watchnight Service at Dunblane Cathedral
11.30 pm. Watchnight Service at Dunblane Christian Fellowship
11.30 pm. Midnight Service for Christmas at St Mary’s Church
Christmas Day
8.30 am. Quiet Communion Service at St Mary’s Church
10.00 am. Christmas Day Celebration at Dunblane Christian Fellowship (opp. Station)
10.00 am. All Age Christmas Service at St Blane’s Church
10.30 am. Family Service at Dunblane Cathedral
10.30 am. All Age Christmas Celebration at St Mary’s Church
11 am. Mass of Christmas Morning at Holy Family Church
11.30 am. Christmas Day Service (Mince pies from 10.30), Dunblane Free Church
New Year’s Eve
5.00 pm. Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, Vigil Mass at Holy Family Church
New Year’s Day
10.00 am. New Year’s Day Celebration at Dunblane Christian Fellowship (opp. Station)
11.30 am*. New Year’s Day Service at Dunblane Free Church
11.00 am. Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, Morning Mass at Holy Family Church
Orthodox Christmas; Saturday January 7th
11.00 am. Festal Liturgy at the Orthodox Church, Laighill Loan, off Ramoyle
* Subject to confirmation
Road closures between 9am & 6pm on Sundays 15th, 22nd and 29th January and 5th February 2017
B8033 Dual Carriageway
- southbound carriageway from Fourways Roundabout to the junction of Sunnyside
- northbound carriageway from the junction of Sunnyside to the access to the Police Station.
- When the northbound carriageway is closed the southbound carriageway will be open and when the southbound carriageway is closed the northbound carriageway will be open.
Beech Road and Stirling Road: for their entire length. Emergency vehicle access will be maintained BUT general vehicle access to the station will be from the Springfield Terrace/Tesco car park
Further details and alternative routes here
Stirling Rd "Access for all" Project
The project has been enhanced thanks to the involvement of local school children, some of whom are pictured below - read more.
Further details of the plan here
Project Background
In Early 2014, Stirling Council obtained funding from the sustainable transport charity SUSTRANS to improve the street layout on Beech and Stirling Roads. Since then they have been working with local residents, your Community Council, Dunblane Development Trust and Discover Dunblane to make the area more pedestrian and cyclist friendly. There has also been a focus on the needs of those with mobility difficulties, and vehicular access for station users, businesses and local residents.
A public consultation on concept plans took place in November/December 2014. Many of the comments received reflected a desire to get an environment that works well for all and been used by the Project Steering Group to finalise the plans.
Summary report from consultation events
Expanded report from consultation events
Comments summarised in pie chart slide show
Comments made by consultation event attendees
Any further questions?
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You will need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 0845 277 7000 / 0845 277 7000 or 01786 404040 / 01786 404040 and ask for Transport Planning and Access.
Family and friends of popular Dunblane woman Moira Lambert raise £30,000 in her memory. Moira passed away in the Beatson Cancer Unit in Glasgow in November last year, aged just 54, after battling melanoma for several years.
Text from Stirling Observer article
Family and friends of a popular Dunblane woman have raised £30,000 for charity in her memory in just one year. Moira Lambert passed away in the Beatson Cancer Unit in Glasgow in November 2015, aged just 54, after battling melanoma for several years. But memories of her have since inspired a massive effort for a fund set up in her name by husband John. While overwhelmed by the generosity and support, he isn’t surprised by how loved Moira was by those she knew. John said: “My dear wife was a very popular lady. She had a lot of friends and accumulated them and kept them for life. She had a long fight and suffered a lot of pain but she still was determined to lead a normal life. “Lots of people were surprised when they finally discovered how ill she was, but it wasn’t what she was about. She wanted to get on with life and do good things for everyone. We spent a number of years going in and out of the Beatson for Moira’s treatment. Eventually Moira passed away there last November so it was to acknowledge their support and care. The Beatson Charity does a lot of things for patients as well as supporting research and she fundraised for the charity while she was alive.” John said there were many people to thank for their support with the fund, particularly Rhona Scott, a friend since the couple moved to Dunblane more than 16 years ago, and Nicki Regan of Zoo salon in Stirling who helped organise events and promote the fund.
Much of the money was raised thanks to two events - a golf day at Dunblane New Golf Club in August which saw 18 teams take part, plus around 30 of Moira’s friends competed in the Great Women’s 10k race in Glasgow in June. The runners, led by coach Rhona, were particularly inspired by the fact Moira was not a runner herself before she took part in the Stirling 10k in 2011. A group of Dunblane ladies who had been meeting every Friday for 20 years - regularly joined by Moira - also held an afternoon tea and raffle in May in aid of the fund and as “a lovely way to remember such a special friend”.
Close friend Carol Lumsden also asked friends to donate to the fund instead of bringing gifts to her 60th birthday garden party. John said: “We are going to keep Moira’s fund going. Moira was a children’s panel member in Stirling and after talking to some of her colleagues our next fundraising effort may be something to help kids who are disadvantaged. “She was never slow to put her hand up and volunteer to help with anything in the community. She was a much loved and cherished daughter, a loyal friend to so many, a great mum and a loving and beautiful wife. “Her approach to her illness was to keep it private and to get on with life as normally as possible. Only her family probably realised the effort that took on her part and the bravery she showed to overcome constant pain. “In the end she did not suffer and received the best care possible at the Beatson Cancer Centre. We will always be grateful to them for their efforts in helping Moira combat this dreadful disease and in providing the best possible care during her last days. “Moira was an inspiration throughout her life and has now inspired us to do something quite special.” Donate at www.beatsontributefund.org/fund/Moira%20Lambert.
A Perthshire Film Company wants to find ex-German POWs for documentary about Cultybraggan Camp, Comrie.
Were you, or do you know, anyone who has a connection with Cultybraggan Prisoner of War Camp at Comrie, Perthshire?
Mousehole Films is making a documentary film about Cultybraggan, or Camp 21 as the German POW Camp was also known, when it was home to thousands of German and Italian POWs during the Second World War.
“We are keen to talk to anyone who was either a POW, or Guard, or local resident, with interesting stories about life at Cultybraggan”, says Director and Producer Adrian Bean. “Many POWs worked in the community during the war, on farms or in houses, and built up relationships with local families. Some POWs even married local girls and settled in Scotland and we’d love to hear their stories.”
If you have a story to tell about Cultybraggan, or know someone who might, or want to know more about the proposed film, you can contact the film’s Producers:
Adrian Bean This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (07831 448208)
Caroline Strong This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (07917 813110)
Or go to the company’s website mouseholefilms.co.uk
Adrian Bean and Caroline Strong
Producers
Mousehole Films
Dunblane Annual Windfarm awards 2016
Local Dunblane groups celebrated receiving funding from the Braes of Doune Windfarm Community Benefit scheme at the Braeport Centre in Dunblane on Friday 18th November. The Windfarm is owned jointly by Greencoat Capital Wind and a fund managed by Hermes GPE LLP and the scheme is open to all local groups. Applications are assessed by a committee of local residents nominated by the Community Council and Dunblane Development Trust.
Now in its 10th year, the scheme has donated to numerous organisations, many on several occasions, and this year a total of 13 groups received a share of £14,945.
A wide range of activities will now be carried out with the assistance of these monies across diverse community groups, both young and old. Recipients this year include Dunblane Preschool Play Association, Dunblane Fling, Dunblane in Bloom, Dunblane Midweek Group, The Dunblane Centre, local athletes from Forth Valley Disability Sports & Dunblane Bowling Club.
The Windfarm Fund Administrators, Dunblane Development Trust, would like to thank the Committee of volunteers for once again devoting time and energy to selecting the winners. The Trust would also like to thank the army of volunteers within these groups who contribute so much to the Dunblane community and without whom a lot of activities just wouldn’t be possible.
Dunblane Bowling Club
Dunblane Cathedral Arts Guild
Dunblane Community Council
Dunblane Development Trust
Dunblane Development Trust - Dunblane in Bloom
Dunblane Development Trust- Midweek Group
Dunblane Fling
Dunblane High School Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
Dunblane Preschool Play Association
Dunblane Youth and Sports Centre Trust
Forth Valley Disability Sport
Society of Friends of Dunblane Cathedral
St Mary's Sustainability Squad
More...
On 20 Sunday November Andy Murray won the ATP World Tour Finals to end 2016 as the world number one tennis player.
Jamie Murray and his partner Bruno Soares end 2016 as the world number one doubles team
Flashback to Monday 7 November 2016 when Andy Murray became the UK's first world number one tennis player.
He also won the Paris Masters!
Children from local schools have been involved in creating artwork for Dunblane's town centre under the theme of ‘Dunblane’s Nature.’ Dunblane Primary, Newton Primary, St Mary’s Episcopal Primary, Dunblane High and Queen Victoria School were all involved
Artists Elspeth Bennie and Jane Marriot worked with pupils to create two signposts and 12 mosaic panels, which can be found on the Allan Water Bridge. The initiative has seen Stirling Council, Sustrans Scotland and the Dunblane community working together.
The art project complements the upgrade of the rail bridge at Dunblane Station, improvements to access to the area between Dunblane's railway station and the High Street and the strengthening works to the Allan Water Bridge.
Dunblane's Xmas Extravaganza is to be held on Thursday 24 November between 5.00pm and 9.00pm
Find out more on the Discover Dunblane Facebook page
This article is based on an article found in the Scotsman newspaper on 13 October 2016.
A 13th century chapel in Dunblane that lay hidden beneath mud and undergrowth for many years has been painstakingly restored and has opened as a visitor attraction.
Its trappings and church items, from books of worship to communion vessels, had surrendered to time, the identity of the body buried beneath a table alter similarly lost.
The chapel has been brought into the light, and has now opened as a visitor attraction, place of contemplation and even marriage venue.
It’s situated within the grounds of Old Churches House and has been painstakingly restored over a number of years by its owner, Alex McKie.
Volunteers stumbled across the building, then covered in mud and ivy, back in 1961 and while its original purpose was unknown they are said to have referred to it as a chapel.
They erected a wooden cross on the platform outside – which still stands today – and investigated the building further in the months that followed.
Those investigations revealed that a body had been buried in an east west position under the table alter, a position favoured ecclesiastically and one that pointed to the structure’s use for worship and burial.
Other clues were a well at the left hand side of the chapel, sufficient enough to provide a small bowl of water for communion, and small cupboards at the back, thought to have once held communion vessels and prayer books.
Rebecca Foster from Old Churches House said: “This small and charming chapel is, in many ways, a secret chapel, as it lay undiscovered for so long and has a fascinating story behind it.
“It was visited by the Queen in 1967 and Pope John Paul II gifted a unique spinning wheel in 1982, which we still have on display.
“When Alex took over Old Churches House – which was known as Scottish Churches House and used by church groups of all denominations for holidays, respite and meetings – the chapel was in a state of disrepair.
“We carried out a full renovation, installed new lighting and seating as well as fitting a reclaimed font from a Church in Selkirk.
Entry to the chapel is free and Mr McKie hopes it will join the list of Dunblane’s best known visitor attractions, including the 12th Century Cathedral, Dunblane Museum, the Leighton Library – Scotland’s oldest private library – and Andy Murray’s gold postbox.
He said: “There are always tourists teaming round Andy’s postbox and the cathedral is a huge draw.
“It’s all very accessible and so many visitors come to the area to learn more about Dunblane.
“We are very fortunate to have such a rich history here and we are delighted to be sharing it with the public.”
