Every two months FREE KILLIN NEWS KILLIN & DISTRICT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER Issue No. 34 Sept 1996 Floral Award Winners International Gathering Of The Clan Gregor Children's Section: Hanging Baskets, 1st Equal Robert Grant and Stewart Grant. Window Box, 1st Gordon Bates. Domestic Section: Hanging Baskets, 1 st Mrs Farmer - Manse Road, 2nd Mrs Campbell - Main Street, 3rd Mrs Lewis - The Glebe. Window Boxes, 1 st Mrs Hibbert - Golf House, 2nd Mrs Mudd - Grey Street, 3rd Mrs Inglis - Monemore. Flower Tubs, 1st Mrs Farmer, 2nd Mrs Mudd, 3rd Mrs Hibbert. Commercial Section: Hanging Baskets, 1st Maragowan Caravan Site, 2nd Killin Crafts, 3rd Capercaillie Restaurant. Window Boxes, 1st Killin Crafts. Flower Tubs, 1st Capercaillie Restaurant, 2nd Killin Crafts, 3rd Killin Memorial Service and Commemoration - Rob Roy's grave, Balquidder Doctors Surgery. The Clan Gregor Society's Annual Michael Newcomen (of the White Cockade Gathering took place at Killin this year Society). Entertainment was provided by All winners will be notified of the date of between 27 July and 5 August. This time Roger Sharp on accordion and Pharaig the prize giving. The Killin Tourist it was designated International Gathering MacNeil. the storyteller, both of whom are Association would like to thank all those Year and so. aside from participants from familiar to the Killin folk. who entered the competition and a special Scotland and England, there were many thanks to PC Ian Ramsay for being the visitors from the United States. Australia, The Society was also delighted to take an judge. New Zealand and Canada. active part in the Killin Highland Games which were opened by our Chief Sir Gregor During the course of the nine days there MacGregor of MacGregor Bart, and a were coach trips to Glen Orchy/Glenstrae number of events were attended by Major and Glen Lyon, both areas associated with Malcolm and Mrs MacGregor. the Clan Gregor in antiquity; another trip to the ancient settlement of Tirai in Glen The traditional Clan Service and Lochay, led by Gregor Hutchison proved Commemoration was held on Sunday 4 both popular and entertaining. August at which Bishop Gregor MacGregor of Inverness presided. This was attended There were also genealogy sessions by many Scottish members of the Society as throughout the week and a trip to Edinburgh well as those from overseas. to visit various libraries. The sessions were led by Richard McGregor and Peter The Clan Gregor Gathering would not Lawrie, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of have been such a success if it had not been the Clan Gregor Society; and joining the for the welcome and co-operation of the Edinburgh expedition was David and people of Killin. We would like to thank Sheena Osler and Fergus and Linda most sincerely everyone who helped in any MacAdam from Killin, both of whom have way and most particularly the staff of the MacGregor connections. Killin Hotel for being so accommodating and the Killin Highland Games Committee Talks were given by Rennie McOwan. for all their help. Sheila Pitcairn (the genealogist) and Richard MacGregor Killin Community Council Strathfillan Annual General Meeting Community Council The AGM of Killin Community Council still "finding it's feet" and hoped that was held on 8 August in the MacLaren things would improve. Hall. Dr Mairi MacColl was in the chair. Cars and traffic dominated talk at the An apology was received from Stirling She then announced her wish to retire last Strathfillan Community Council Councillor Kenneth Campbell. No from Chairmanship and Membership of meeting. Hillwalkers cars parking along members of the public were present. the Council. She received a warm vote of the verges at Portnellan obstruct thanks from the members for her years of visibility, especially for those pulling The business of the previous meeting was service to the community. out from side entrances. There have continued with great praise for the new been a spate of crashes and near misses. children's play area in Breadalbane Park. Financial Statement. The Treasurer A similar situation is developing at Those using the play area are advised to provided a balance sheet for the year to 31 Inverarnan. The car park in Crianlarich, keep the gate closed and use only the March. This showed the finances to be beside the public toilets is becoming opening which has a dog grid. Toilets very healthy and it was agreed that some blocked up with cars left overnight or were very much required; it was reported distribution of money to good causes should that the Round House and the area behind be undertaken. over the weekend. Kenneth Campbell, the Hall were being used as toilets. our local councillor agreed to take these Mr Aitken announced his wish to retire problems to Stirling Council, with our The Council had asked again for litter bins from the post of Treasurer and also from suggested solutions. at the entrance to the Park. Stirling had the Council. He also was given a vote of replied that there was no money to provide thanks for his years of work in this capacity. May Clements and Lamond Gosden are them from the budget for the work done. putting together a plan to improve road The following new office-bearers were safety in Tyndrum-including an off the A barrow, or trolley of some kind, was elected: Chairman: 1 MacGregor, requested to help the village officer, the Vice-Chairman: P Christie, Treasurer: road bus stop for coaches travelling previous one having gone missing. It was F Kennedy, Secretary: H MacDonald, south and double yellow lines. also pointed out that some better provision Joint Convenors of Breadalbane Park: was needed when Jake Green was on J Gauld and A Walker, Councillors The stairs leading from Willow Square, holiday. Continuing: K Taylor, D MacRobbie. Crianlarich beside the railway bridge to the main road are in a dangerous state. The retiring Chairman, Dr MacColl, After prolonged discussion S Aitken The Council is to be pursued until repairs proposed that Stirling Council should be pointed out that efforts should be made to are made. asked to put up traffic lights on the Dochart recruit new Councillors as the total number Bridge for a trial period during the summer. must not fall below seven. The proposal was seconded by Pat Christie. John Riley has been voted Vice Chairman and was carried on a vote. Under "Any Other Business" a number of of the Association of Scottish smaller items of business were dealt with Community Councils. It appears that The Chairman reported that Community and will be taken up at the next meeting on Community Council elections are to be Council Elections had been postponed and Thursday 10 October. postponed until a date to be set by Stirling would probably not now take place until Council. They were due this autumn. mid-summer 1997. Dr MacColl and S Aitken thanked the members for their help and support in the The local PTA had got permission to past and wished them well in the future. develop the new unused site of the old play- area as a nature garden and small natural woodland. VIC TROJAN Chairman's Report on the year's activities of the Community Council was given by Dr MacColl. She expressed satisfaction at the new entrance to the Park and the Plumbing, Heating, Electric excellent new children's play area. She Work and General Building expressed her regret that so much time and ARTIST money was wasted on - workshop - forums Sign Writing - area committees and publications of all Speciality Animal Studies sorts from innumerable bodies, none of Wester Lix, Killin Perthshire The Old School house which appeared to achieve any concrete Ardchyle, by Killin. Perthshire FK21 8RF results. She felt that the new Council was Tel: 01567 820341 01567-820535 2 Comings And Goings In The Glen numbers, there still appears to be a shortfall. Is it due to ticks, natural population fluctuations, changing This Spring a flock of Black Tailed climate, or is it invasion of heather by Godwits flew into power lines near bracken, overgrazing of berry-bearing Moirlannich. Unfortunately, only one plants, acid rain, may be even Chernobyl, of the ten survived, the others being (some keepers and shepherds are still decapitated or de-winged. But for this reported to "glow" after dark!), or just accident it would probably not have an increase in raptors; probably it is due been known that these rare seasonal to a combination of factors. The grouse migrants from North Africa and India season brings a lot of money into the had visited Glen Lochay. Has anyone local economy and this safeguards the ever seen them here before? hills as we know them, to walk amongst and to admire. Maybe its time for grants Once again the Osprey has been in the for bracken spraying, we may even see area for most of the summer. A pair the blue and white EC sign on the high have been seen on several occasions, tops. Or will the only grouse to be seen sometimes carrying nesting material, be on a bottle in the bar? sometimes fishing, but there is no Pine Martin evidence of a nest. Hopefully the red squirrel will not become a rarity. The mixed woodlands Another bird which would seem to be poke! In the 1940's and '50's local on the lower slopes of Glen Lochay seem rushing headlong towards the "rare estates would have shot 500 brace or to be sustaining a reasonable population. species" list is our Red Grouse. The more. What can be the reason for this The newly planted mixed woodlands large wicker pony panniers will stay drastic decline? Although the natural also have this in mind.