Category: Events

On Saturday the 14^th of December ‘Classics @ Kippen’ put on a ‘Christmas Celebration’ in Kippen Parish Church. After weeks of election mania and with the Christmas stress fast approaching it was so good for us all to take a bit of time out and have a change of focus! Such is our following that we now have a committed audience who come from all around and, despite foul weather and the lure of a cosy night in watching the final of ‘Strictly’ on TV, we were absolutely delighted to welcome over 200 people to this event. According to all reports, the audience was not disappointed and was well rewarded with a beautiful programme of Christmas words, music and carols presented by 5 singers, 2 readers, 2 brass players, a pianist and an organist all from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The church was beautifully decorated for Christmas, the stage was set and, for the first time, we were able to use our new theatre lights (which we bought with the proceeds of our last concert) which made a huge difference to the ambience and overall performance. The atmosphere was wonderful, and I think it’s safe to say there was something in the programme for everyone. The concert opened with classics from Handel’s Messiah and musically journeyed through some seasonal art song, favourite Christmas songs and audience carols finishing with the usual ‘cheesy’ Hollywood numbers which everyone loved. The readings brought an added dimension and were both thought provoking and funny ranging from Dickens and Pam Ayers to some very moving ‘Letters to Santa’ and culminating in the poignant ‘In Memoriam’ by Tennyson, which is surely in itself a message for our time. (Do look it up if you don’t know it). The audience had a great time but so did the students. They always love coming to Kippen. Not only are they fed incredibly well, (students will do most things for good food!) and spoiled rotten over the weekend, they also love having the opportunity to perform and a C@K concert is fast becoming a sought after and very desirable ‘gig’! We were also thrilled that the school really enjoyed using the staging after the concert for their end of term concert and church service and are delighted that the lighting and staging is a community asset for everyone.

We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this event happen. Thank you all so very much. You know who you are.

We are also delighted to announce that we raised £3200 for our designated charity which this time was the ‘Start Up Stirling Christmas Appeal’. This hopefully will have made a huge difference to those in our area who struggle to make ends meet, not only at this time of year but all year round.

People always ask me when the next event will be. I never know the answer to that but, rest assured, there will be something on the horizon in the not too distant future. Watch this space! If you want to be added to our mailing list, please do so via our website classicsatkippen.co.uk

Kathleen McKellar Ferguson (Coubrough)

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The annual Whist Drive to raise money for Cancer Research will be held in the Village Hall on Friday 7th February at 7pm.

Entrance money will be collected as you arrive (£3 per head with no charge for those hosting tables). If you would like to reserve a table please contact Stuart Thomson on 01786 870529, 07736 362011, or stuartsthomson@aol.com

Whist lessons or practice your skills will be held in  the Reading Rooms on Wednesdays 22nd and 29th January and 5th February at 7.30pm.

Naomi Hirst.

A great spectacle of giant vegetables, beautiful flowers, artwork and photography, baking and preserves was on show. A particularly large number of entries for the industrial section and handicrafts was greatly welcomed.

Many thanks are due to all those who supported the flower show this year. With the real threat of cancellation, Gillian Cassidy stepped in to rally the team of volunteers and Angus Hepburn signed up a host of bakers and helpers for the cafe. A wonderful spread of cakes was donated, and much appreciated by visitors. Thanks, are given to the judges and Walter? Surname for their specialist input and advice so generously and graciously provided year on year. Rhubarb and Lime, the Cross keys, the Inn at Kippen, the Woodhouse, Benview Garden Centre, McNicoll’s shop and Skinner’s butcher are thanked for raffle prizes. Above all, thanks are due to the exhibitors without whom there wouldn’t be a show. It was good to see many people entering for the first time and gaining confidence to make an entry also into the garden competition. Here’s hoping this wonderful, community event will go from strength to strength. Make a note in your diary for August 2020.

We would also like to give a special thanks to Shonah Escombe for all her hard work and dedication in making this show the success that it is.

Gillian Cassidy

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As part of a nationwide fundraising event, Micky and Naomi Hirst hosted a coffee morning at a Glentirran on Friday 27th September to raise money for MacMillan. We had a wonderful response from village folk and friends from further afield and raised over £1670. All those who came enjoyed the wonderful spread of goodies laid out on the kitchen table.

Once again, Kippen answered the call and I was very touched by the offers of home baking and produce which were donated. Thank you all so much. And thank you to my band of lady helpers who made tea/coffee, served at the tables and did a mammoth clearing up job.

Naomi Hirst

14^TH DECEMBER AT 7.30PM

“CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION”

KIPPEN PARISH CHURCH

Kathleen McKellar Ferguson presents an evening of Christmas music and carol singing with students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Tickets £15 & £12 (under 16’s free) info@classicsatkippen.co.uk

Wine and mince pies will be served at the interval

Proceeds to “Start Up Stirling Christmas Appeal”

Highly anticipated annual local Christmas Market with lots of unique stalls, perfect to pick up Christmas gifts

Shirley Lamb (Mrs Claus,) Santa and all of her elves would like to take this opportunity to thank all who helped and donated to last year’s ‘Charity Fundraising Santa’s Grotto’ held in December 2018.

The total sum raised was £850 which was split between ‘Start-up Stirling’ and the ‘Neonatal Unit, Forth Valley Hospital’.

They would also like to announce that this year’s event will be held on the 30^th November and the 1^st December.

Each day will run from 2pm until 6pm. The venue will be at ‘Linton’, Fintry Road, Kippen. Telephone contact 01786 870231.

For those perhaps visiting for the first time the children will have a full 10-minute personal visit with Santa, at which you are invited to take as many photos as you wish to get that one special image, ending with a personalised gift. There will also be some photo opportunities around the tent and garden. For adults, there will be the opportunity to socialise and donate to home baking stall, mulled wine and soup and take part in a raffle. You do not have to bring a child to participate. Just come and enjoy the social occasion and view the lights and help raise funds for this year’s Charity.

Due to an increase in the labour cost of the toymaking elves the cost per child this year will be £6.

This year all proceeds will be given to Start-up Stirling.

Please telephone Shirley, as soon as possible, to book you choice of time as places fill up quickly. Some visitors from previous years have already booked up slots for this year.

Many thanks in anticipation of your support.

Shirley & John Lamb

The organising committee for this Annual Appeal will have its first meeting on Monday 11th November at 8pm in the Reading Rooms to plan for the 2020 event. We are delighted that Mary Kenyon has agreed to be Chair for the 2020 Appeal and we welcome her on to the committee.

The annual Whist evening will take place in the Village Hall on Friday 7th February. Please put this date in your next year’s diary and come along and support this fun village event which, in recent years, has been growing in numbers as the younger generation are keen to come along. We’re delighted about this as it helps to keep this important fundraiser alive and kicking!

In January there will be some beginners and ‘brush-up’ lessons in the Reading Rooms – dates will be posted in the Village, and Kirsty and I will hopefully be giving some Whist lessons in the Primary School as before for the P7 class.

Naomi Hirst

As we pass the Vernal Equinox, Spring is coming to Burnside Wood. Frog and toad spawn can be seen, and buds are starting to appear. With the approach of Spring we are reverting to a 10.00 start time for our Woodland Mornings with a mid morning break and light refreshments provided. Our work mornings are scheduled for Sunday 7 April, 5 May and 2 June, meeting at the football pitch. We normally have a break in July, but this year are hoping to get a bit of work done on 7 July if there are sufficient volunteers. There is always plenty to do in Burnside Wood to maintain it for conservation, recreation and education. Tasks for 2019 include:

• deciding whether to retain and repair the pond platform or to replace it with a smaller structure
• strimming along the sides of the main paths to prevent encroaching vegetation
• maintaining the main paths and associated structures
• removing tree saplings from the fen

If you are interested in finding out more about the Kippen Community Woodland Group or getting involved, please come along to one of our work mornings, attend our next meeting on Thursday 25 April at 8pm in the Cross Keys, email kippenwoodlandgroup@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.

Paula Watson

Secretary, Kippen Community Woodland Group

Another highly successful year for raising funds for Cancer Research UK. The annual Whist Drive was held on Friday 1st February, with a recent record of 42 tables playing. £5,678 was raised from the Whist Drive, with a further £513.79 raised from the sale of Christmas cards, sale of diaries and collecting cans. The committee are most grateful for the continued support of local businesses in donating prizes for the raffle.

Sara Prince was this year’s president who guided us through the committee meetings, sold raffle tickets, contacted local businesses and welcomed everyone on the evening. Then there was then the mammoth task of folding hundreds of raffle tickets for the draw. She was ably assisted in this task by husband Glen.

Once again Kirsty organised 3 Fridays of Whist lessons for the P7 class at the Primary School, in the weeks prior to the Whist. They were very quick learners and many of them came with parents to play on the night. It’s wonderful to see so many young carrying on the tradition of this long-established event.

The winning players were, 1st lady Roseanne Ditch and 1st Gent Carol Wells.  Young winners were Kelsie Hewines and Grant O’Donnell.

A very big thank you to all who were involved in the event for making it such a success.

Naomi Hirst