Author: laurahendersonsite

There have been significant changes since the last issue of the Wee Vine. FirstBus withdrew from a majority of their school contracts within the Stirling area, leaving Stirling Council to re- tender them. Subsequently, the Balfron depot lost the bulk of its school contracts to Carr’s of Loch Lomond. This has had a major impact on the depot, which provides employment for residents from many surrounding villages. This, along with the recent news that the FirstGroup is now planning to sell off its UK bus division, raises huge concerns over the long-term future of not only the depot itself, but also rural bus services in this area. We have written to Bruce Crawford and other elected representatives seeking assurances regarding the future of public transport in the Western Villages.

The C12A Friday /Saturday evening pilot buses to Stirling (18.40 in Kippen) were withdrawn on the 18th May due to low patronage. The 19.10 Stirling to Balfron Friday/Saturday B10 has also been withdrawn. Timetables dated 18th May, available at the bus station, reflect the changes.

Buchlyvie Community Council, supported by Arnprior, Balfron, Kippen, Gargunnock and Killearn, wrote again to Stirling Council urging them to make Sunday transport on the B12 route a priority. They have advised that they are looking into the possibility of trialling a pilot Sunday Service and will update us when a formal decision has been made.

First Balfron have two excellent tickets on offer. A First Weekly Ticket costing £25 allows unlimited travel 7 days a week between Stirling and Glasgow. This is an excellent buy for locals commuting to work.

They also have a Family Day Ticket: where 2 adults and up to 2 children can travel anywhere in Scotland on the First network costing £14. Both tickets can be purchased online or on the bus.

Val Brand

I get anxious at heights. I think it goes back to childhood sitting in my bedroom window. The window was wide open, and I was leaning a bit too far out – I almost fell. I don’t mind hiking up high hills when I’m looking up, but my knees shake the moment I turn around and see the heights to which I’ve climbed. I love being at heights looking toward the horizon, seeing the distance, feeling on top of the world. However, ask me to gaze over the edge to look for a path of descent, look out a skyscraper to the pavement below, or walk on a glass floor high above, and I will freeze, feel sick, need to close my eyes, and do some deep breathing.

When I signed up to abseil off the Forth Rail Bridge for Strathcarron Hospice, I knew it wasn’t a thrill I was seeking but a challenge, a stretch to my comfort zone. I remember doing the abseil 12 years ago and the utter fear I had at the top, and vividly remember the experience of both looking up to where I had been and down to where I was falling.

For me abseiling and facing my fears, is a leap of faith. I know I wouldn’t choose to do this on a whim, just for fun. I believe in the strength I gain from trusting my fears to God and the peace to face uncomfortable situations. I believe God is with me wherever I go, whatever I face. My trust in God is greater than my fears, my own personal strength, and a love that knows no end.

I am grateful that people generously give to Strathcarron Hospice and many other charities that help people face unknown, scary, devastating times. I am grateful for the opportunity to honour the giving of time and care of all the staff and volunteers who are there when fear and heartache rule. May God bless those who are comforted and cared for at challenging times. May you be a blessing to others in your life so when someone is afraid, lonely or worried, so they know they are not alone. I find it an honour to be a presence of God’s love here and now if anyone should need it.

Blessings & Courage to do the hard things of life, Ellen

Kippen Kirk Sundays 11.15 am (except last Sunday in July when at 10 am, and last Sunday in August when in Norrieston Church, Thornhill at 10 am)

Messy Church BBQ at Gartmore Village Hall on Sunday 18^th August from 3-5 pm.

Thanks,

Ellen

Not exactly award-winning material … just fun …. intentionally appealing to a “happy” gathering.

I belong to Kippen … the village I call home

Once a kingdom … it’s now the place where people love to roam.

It’s lovely and quaint … as big cities ain’t … as anyone here can see

At the end of the day … I’m just happy to say … that Kippen belongs to me.

With appropriate credits to Will Fyffe.

Written and first performed (mucho con gusto) by Michael Flint at the Cross Keys Inn on Wednesday, 15th May 2019.

Please find below a link to the June edition of the Stirling Council Community News Sheet.

https://my.stirling.gov.uk/media/8858/community-newsheet-june-2019.pdf

This month we have information on

• Your Stirling: You Decide – the results
• Consultations –Stirling Council, Scottish Government
• Dementia Friendly Stirling
• Funding
• Volunteer Awards

If you would like your information included in the next issue out end of July, please get in touch.

Community Engagement Team

01786 233076

We are looking for volunteers who can dedicate a few hours a week to provide the following:

Support people with dementia living in the community by providing informal support on a regular basis at a time that suits them.

To accompany and support people to attend regular groups and meetings.

What we can offer you;

• Full induction training and ongoing support

• Comprehensive training on travelling with assistance dogs

• Out of pocket expenses

• Registration to PVG scheme

For more information please call the Befriending Co–ordinator on 01786 476797 or 07745711460.

Town Break is a Scottish Charitable Organisation

Charity Registered in Scotland SC020526. Registered Office, 3 Whitehouse Road, Stirling, FK7 7SP

One day in May 2019, two residents of Kippen (June Waley and Irene Chapman) had the pleasure of meeting some Canadian visitors from Kippen, Ontario.  Elaine (Bell) Ford and her three adult children, Deborah (Ford) Clarke, Karen (Ford) Tuckey and Randy Ford were visiting us because their direct ancestors emigrated to Canada from Kippen in 1836.

Robert Bell and his wife Margaret (Doig) were natives of the parish of Kippen and sailed to Canada from Fort William, with their 10 children, having had a somewhat rosy picture of their potential future painted for them by the Canada Company under the leadership of Dr Dunlop.

Arriving in the neighbourhood of Egmondville in Ontario, Robert purchased 200 acres of land (at $3.50 an acre), and the family settled down to make a living.  Times were hard at first – a 20-mile round trip twice a week to get provisions along a trail blazed by themselves, and through a forest populated by bears, wolves and the occasional Indian.

However, over time, civilization approached, including a visit by Lord Elgin (Governor General) accompanied by the Postmaster General who were searching for prospective sites for Post Offices.  Robert Bell approached them with a view to founding such an office.

“What would you like to call your office?” asked the official.

To save his life, Bell could think of no name but Stirling.

“Stirling!” exclaimed the Postmaster General – “that’s too Scottish to please the Irish settlers in the district.  How would Mullingar do?” he asked.  “That’s too Irish to please the Scots” replied Bell, greatly daring.

“Perhaps then, you could suggest a better one?” said the official.

Bell could think of no name save that of his old parish in Scotland, and he hesitated to suggest it for fear that it, too, might be deemed to be too Scottish, but the official was evidently in a hurry.

“Kippen” said Bell, because he had not expected to have the privilege of naming the office and could think of nothing better.

“Fine” said the official, and so Kippen it was, and on November 1, 1855 the post office was opened in Kippen, Ontario, Canada.

Elaine (Bell) Ford, the great great granddaughter of Robert Bell, was raised on the Bell Homestead in Kippen, Ontario, Canada.  Both Elaine and her daughter Deborah were married in the St. Andrews United Church, in Kippen, Ontario.   History tells them Robert Bell and Margaret (Doig) were married at the church in Kippen, Scotland in the early 1800’s.

Making the heritage trip to our fine Kippen, Scotland was a trip of a lifetime for Elaine and her family and they tell us, they ‘found everything they were looking for and more’.  ‘The people we met in Kippen were wonderful, so friendly and helpful.  It was a pleasure to experience Kippen first-hand. We enjoyed our visit to the kirkyard, walking the streets of the town, enjoying your views from the lookout and frequenting the pubs our ancestors would have also enjoyed. We take great memories of your fine Kippen back to Canada with us. Thank you.”

A new offence will be introduced for littering from a car, the Scottish Government has announced this month.

The new law will be introduced through the Circular Economy Bill, and its announcement follows a consultation on the Scottish Government’s littering strategy.

The proposals will make it easier for police to issue fixed penalties, and to make use of litter control areas and street litter control notices.

Commenting, Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford said:

“Roadside litter is a mark on our beautiful countryside, and spectacular urban settings.”

 “My office has previous received complaints from people living in rural communities in particular, who are sick and tired of their local roads being used as dumping grounds by careless and selfish people in their cars.”

 “My message to those people is this: keep your litter in your car and dispose of it in a proper bin.”

 “With nearly seven tonnes of litter being collected from the roadside on the M8 and M9 every month, this is a big problem and it’s clear that a new criminal offence is required.”

 “People in towns and villages across the Stirling area will welcome a change in the law, which will hopefully also change the attitudes of the few road users who are responsible for roadside littering.”

Stirling MP Stephen Kerr has started a campaign to get the A811 from Stirling to Balloch “Trunked”; taken into Transport Scotland’s control instead of the local Council’s.

This means the road will be considered an important route and will receive more funding for repairs and upkeep.

Stephen has already written to the Scottish Government’s Transport Secretary, Michael Matheson, asking if he will consider trunking the A811. The response was long but could be surmised as “No”. In order to show the local level of support for this move, the MP has now started a petition, which has already gained the support of businesses from across Stirlingshire.

Stirling MP Stephen Kerr said:

It was disappointing that the Scottish Government refused to trunk the A811, clearly, they do not believe there is significant support for it. To show them otherwise I’ve set up a petition, which you can sign here: www.stephenkerr.org/a811

Please do sign then share amongst your friends and family, let’s show the Scottish Government there IS support locally for this and get them to change their mind.

The Scottish Football Supporters Association, working with the Scottish Malawi Partnership, recently visited Lilongwe and Blantyre in Malawi. The main objectives were to explore the opportunities that might exist in the communities to establish football links between the two countries.

As part of the development visit, SFSA Ambassador Jimmy Bone and Co Founder of the SFSA Paul Goodwin, supported grassroots football through a series of coaching sessions throughout the country, as well as having meetings with The British Council, the Malawi FA and the League.

Kippen Primary School heard of the initiative and donated football kit that was no longer in use. Patricio Kulemeka, from Play Soccer Malawi, was on hand along with Jimmy and Paul to donate the kit to a very deserving school, Nachilambo Primary School in Bembeke district, which is south of the capital city of Lilongwe. Patricio said, “Scotland has a very special place in the minds of the people of Malawi and kind gestures like this are really appreciated, so thank you everyone at Kippen Primary School”.

Paul Goodwin said, “It was a very humbling experience to see how little equipment the school had and yet to see how enthused the kids were for their education and, of course, for football. It was a small gesture but one that was hugely appreciated”

The SFSA is working on plans that will hopefully see them back in the country in early 2020, and if there are any schools or clubs  that have usable kit or football boots that they would like to donate to teams or schools in Malawi, then please get in touch with Paul . He can be contacted by email at paulgoodwin@scottishfsa.org