Events

Rugtime in Kippen

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The colours, textiles and furnishings of the East have always held a huge attraction and for many years I have loved entering the Aladdin’s cave which is the Nomad’s Tent premises in Edinburgh.  Full of colour and interest, it would gladden the heart of any rug lover or house furnisher who wants something a little different.  I have also found it to be a wonderful source of wedding and birthday presents as things range in value from a few pounds to a serious investment.

Five years ago, I heard that the Nomad’s Tent sometimes creates a similar visual feast out of Edinburgh and thought that our barn near Kippen might be suitable.  Fortunately, it proved to be so and so this October, we will hold our third selling exhibition.

The Nomad’s Tent was started in 1983 by Rufus Reade when he brought his first bales of kilims home from Turkey.  28 years later, now under the ownership of Andrew Haughton, The Nomads Tent continues to buy from ethical sources wherever possible. The experienced and enthusiastic team have travelled far and wide to bring you the practical, beautiful, sometimes quirky and often amazing work of dedicated craftsmen from around the world.

We love people to come and have a look at what is on display, whether they intend to buy or not.

At the same time, we shall have hot drinks, scones and soup available, with donations going to Music in Hospitals, This Scottish charity provides professional musicians to bring pleasure and entertainment to people all ages in hospitals, homes or hospices.  Many of these are in Stirlingshire.

On Tuesday 17th October, Rufus Reade himself will give an early evening talk entitled “Chasing the Donkey: Rushing round Turkey in Search of Rugs” which is an amusing account of the creation of the Nomads Tent. Further details on 01786870347 or kirstycuthbert@outlook.com

So, come and visit, have a browse, do some shopping or just come to support a very worthwhile charity.

Shop open 10am -5pm Friday 13th October – Sunday 22nd October

Talk at 7pm on 17th Oct, cost £10 including wine in aid of the Makhad Trust, supporting the Bedouin to maintain their traditional way of life.

Kirsty Cuthbert, The Myreton, Glinns Road, Kippen, Stirling, FK8 3JL

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Events

Fayre Weather Friends

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Hundreds of people turned up to show their support for the Kippen Street Fayre despite the typical Scottish ‘summer’ weather.

Rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm for the annual event which included a street parade, fun dog show, sausage-making demonstration and live music. The stall holders turned out in force with many new faces alongside the seasoned regulars.

People came from far and wide with one French tourist winning the prize for the furthest travelled.  The dog show, sponsored by Doune based vets Struthers and Scott, was very popular, especially the best tricks category which saw some great comical moments.

As always, the children entered into the spirit of things for the fancy dress parade which was based around the theme of Scottish Historical Characters – real and mythical. Reece Crawford steamed through the competition to scoop first prize in the Primary 1-3 category for his interpretation of The Flying Scotsman, closely followed by Florence Hood who came as Flora Macdonald.   Alfie James won first prize in the Primary 4–7 group for his Oor Willie costume with the group award going to Jenny Gardner, Holly Kenn and Maddie Anderson who came as the three witches from Macbeth.

Last year’s King and Queen passed on their crowns to the new regal kids on the block – Queen – Chloe Watt and King – Ryan Hawick who were ably assisted on the day with their attendants Alice Brownley, Teagan Finlay, Joe White and Ewan Milligan.

Nine year old Lily Bell also had her moment in the spotlight when her chilli, coriander and lime sausage recipe was picked as the winner in the sausage competition. Local butcher Cameron Skinner made her ‘Thai Twist’ sausages on the day as part of a demonstration which raised more than £70 for Kippen Contact the Elderly group.

The raffle went down a storm and raised more than £500 which will help support local organisations and charities.  A big thanks to the all the local businesses who donated prizes including  the Woodhouse, The Cross Keys, Rhubarb Lime, The Inn at Kippen, Briarlands Farm, Blairdrummond Safari Park, McQueen Gin, One Allan Park Wellbeing Clinic and Old Leckie Farm.

Old Play and Alan Stewart’s Ra Band, along with the lovely singer Anna McEachern, kept the crowds entertained and were eventually rewarded with glorious late afternoon sunshine.  The Kippen Street Fayre Organising Committee would like to thank everyone who came along and helped make the day a great success (despite the rain)!

Elsbeth Campbell

 

Police Report

Police Report

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PC Steven Graham and PC Scott Craigie are the Police Scotland Ward Officers for the Forth and Endrick area, which incorporates Kippen and surrounding areas. They are based at Balfron Police Office, and can be contacted at the office, on 101 or at ForthEndrickCPT@scotland.pnn.police.uk 

They regularly publish information and appeals online. The local Twitter feed can be found at @StirlingPol, and the local Facebook page can be found at ‘Forth Valley Police Division’.

The current ward priorities for the Forth and Endrick area continue to be Antisocial Behaviour, Road Safety, Theft and Community Engagement and Reassurance.

Antisocial Behaviour

Recently, there has been very little antisocial behaviour reported in the Kippen area. Of the few incidents reported to police, all were minor in nature and localised. None of the incidents resulted in prosecution.

Road Safety

Since the last edition of The Wee Vine, there have been several minor road traffic collisions recorded on the roads in and around the Kippen area.

The Central Scotland Safety Camera Partnership and Police Scotland have continued to perform speed enforcement and hi-visibility patrols in and around Kippen, resulting in a number of motorists being given advice regarding their vehicle or manner of driving, or prosecuted where appropriate. Regular such patrols and checks will continue in an effort to improve road safety and driver behaviour.

Theft

There have been no thefts reports in the Kippen area since the last issue of The Wee Vine.

However, local residents are reminded of the importance of being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity to Police Scotland or CrimeStoppers anonymously, no matter how trivial it may seem.

Community Engagement and Reassurance

As well as regular high visibility patrols in the area, PC Graham and PC Craigie attempt to regularly visit Kippen to carry out road safety duties, including speed enforcement, assist with local community issues and visit community partners within the Kippen area.  These visits are backed up by our colleagues within Balfron Police Office, who regularly carry out routine patrols within the area.

The following is an initiative being run within community policing that we would like to highlight.

DOORSTEP CRIME / BOGUS WORKMEN

What is Doorstep Crime?

Bogus Callers: Will attempt to get into your home or obtain personal details by pretending to be someone they’re not, including:

Council Staff

Meter readers

Charity collectors

Police officers

in reality, they are criminals trying to steal your cash and valuables.

Rogue Traders: Usually cold callers, offering to make repairs or carry out work on your house, garden or driveway.  In reality they charge inflated prices for shoddy or often completely unnecessary work.

We do not recommend dealing with cold callers for property maintenance and repairs to your home and garden areas.

Contact your local council to see if they operate a trusted traders scheme or similar, where you will find a list of accredited trades people.

Below is some useful advice and considerations.

Think:

Be on your guard if someone turns up unexpectedly.

Be aware of methods used by criminals to distract you such as being asked to make a phone call, to use your toilet, for a glass of water, or being asked to check your water or gas supplies.

Do not keep large amounts of money at home.

Does your premises or garden really require work to be carried out.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Be vigilant for vulnerable neighbours who may fall foul of these criminals.

About calling the police when you see anything suspicious.

Never let someone you don’t know into your house, if you’re not sure don’t answer the door.

What can I do?

SECURE:

Use a door chain or bar: Always put the chain on before answering the door, and keep it on while taking to callers

If you have a door viewer- use it.

Keep rear, side doors and windows secure.

Don’t feel embarrassed- genuine callers expect you to be careful

Ask for identification, whether you expect anyone or not.

Remember- ID’s can be fake and shouldn’t be relied upon.

Don’t assume a caller is genuine because they are wearing a uniform

Obtain a written quote before agreeing to any work

If you have any doubts, tell the caller to come back when someone else is home, genuine callers won’t mind rearranging

IF IN DOUBT KEEP THEM OUT

Don’t feel pressurised into agreeing to immediate work- Never listen to scare stories, beware of traders who suddenly appear after storms or floods and claims of low prices if you sign up immediately.

Don’t agree to buy from the first person who calls- do you really want or need these goods or services

Don’t pay cash up front- never pay for work before it is completed and do not hand over large sums of money

Shop around if you decide you need work done- Get a minimum of three quotes from reputable traders or recommendations from people you trust

Cancellation rights- Any job over £42- traders are required to provide written notice informing the consumer that they have a 14 day cooling off period during which time the consumer can cancel the contract.

Should you require any further information please log onto

http://www.policescotland.co.uk

or contact Police Scotland via 101 or Trading Standards at your local authority on the following numbers

Clackmannanshire Council (01259) 450000

Falkirk Council (01324) 506070

Stirling Council (01786) 404040.

Competition

Wee Vine Seats Competition.

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The winner of the £20 voucher gifted by the Inn at Kippen is Raymond Ainslie pictured receiving his voucher.

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Second place went to the Sullivan Family, who won Hug-A-Hog at Arnbeg Farm.

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Competition Answers:

Seat No 1: Opposite Hairdressers in main street Sandy Spowarts Memorial

Seat No 2: Next to old curling pond Doris and Denovan Memorial

Seat No 3: Fore Road on left after Oakbank and just before Dalveen

Seat No 4: At the Fork in Cauldhame point end

Seat No 5: Top of Oakwood outside the old Police Station now called Fasgad

Seat No 6: Outside Football Pavilion Jack Dunlop Memorial

Seat No 7: As you enter Football park on right at top end of pitch

Seat No 8: Next to the path in the woods above Football pitch

Seat No 9: Bottom of Football pitch on right Will Johnstone Memorial

Seat No 10: On the right up Burnside just before turn off for gun club Doctor Campbell’s memorial

Seat No 11: On Burnside Road just after 30 mile an hour signs on the right

 

Bunty's Thoughts, Uncategorized

Bunty’s Thoughts

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After her house became overrun with book sculptures of hedgehogs and trees Bunty has now turned her creative talent towards knitting scarfs for charity.

Bunty is pictured wearing her prototype…. albeit it would wrap around 3 of Bunty.

If you would like to donate a ball of wool (unused) for Bunty’s scarf creations you can contact Ali on 07748 651564 for details of where you can drop off.

Ali Thom

Editorial

Welcome to issue 2 of The Wee Vine

Rick Dekker

We would like to thank everyone involved in the production and delivery of our first issue. Also many thanks to everyone who contacted us with feedback we do appreciate your comments.

This edition has a foodie feel to it with a story from Kippen Primary School, a recipe from Mark Silverwood from the Inn at Kippen, report on Kippen Burns Supper plus an alternative take on a Clooty Dumpling recipe.

There is a special report on the concert given by Ayman Jarjour held in Kippen Parish Church plus Club News from around the village and of course The Kippen Street Fayre plus much more.

We hope as many of our readers as possible will enter the Kippen Seats competition.

Once again thanks for all of your stories and information as without it we would not be able to publish.

Our next issue is scheduled for the end of July and the deadline for inclusion is 30 June.

Special Feature

Music for Syria

Rick Dekker

On the evening of Saturday 4th March Kippen Kirk was filled almost to capacity with people coming together to enjoy a performance by a Syrian classical guitarist, Ayman Jarjour, a musician of world renown. Ayman has played with the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra and the Syrian Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also performed widely across many continents. He holds a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School in New York and a Bachelor’s degree from the Royal Conservatory of music in Madrid. Having lived and taught in several countries Stirling is now his home.

During the set-up, John Fulton had the chance to imagine himself in concert.

The evening began by projecting powerful images of the reality of the horrors experienced in war-torn Syria, a refugee camp and finally the smiling faces of two young men now settling in the Forth Valley and volunteering as coaches for a young lads football team.

Ayman invited requests before embarking on his chosen performance which demonstrated his immense talent. He played pieces from a wide range of composers from many nationalities.

Refreshments were a wonderful taste of Syria, prepared by a refugee woman now living in Stirling and wishing to show her gratitude for the welcome, friendship and support that she and her family have received as they begin a new life in Scotland.

With the generosity of many villagers, and those from further afield who made donations, the sum of £2,641 was achieved. With the added value of gift aid this will make a significant contribution to two charities. Ayman is involved with many charities working inside and outside Syria, to help refugees and people remaining in Syria and affected by the war.

One third of the proceeds have gone to Stirling Citizens for Sanctuary. This new charity has been established to befriend and support those Syrian refugees now settling in our area. Medical Aid and Support for Syria is also a new charity which aims to get medical supplies to areas of need in Syria. Two thirds of the donations have gone to this cause.

Thanks to all who helped with organisation and to all who attended and contributed generously to a memorable evening.

June Waley

Clubs

Kippen Football Club

Rick Dekker

The village football club has been running for over 115 years and has been a member of the Forth & Endrick Football Association since its beginning.  In recent years the club has enjoyed taking part in the Ronnie Mackie Cup.

Kippen FC are currently starting preparations for the upcoming season and would like to invite anyone wishing to play for us (16 and over only) or if anyone wishes to help with the running of the club please contact me through the village shop.

Craig McNicoll, Club Manager

Clubs

Book Club

Rick Dekker

“So please, oh please, we beg, we pray
Go throw your TV set away
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall”   Roald Dahl

If you think of yourself as a reader you may well be a member of one of the book clubs which have been formed in Kippen over the years.  Book groups are not a modern concept. Since the early 1600s women have been gathering to discuss literature and other topical issues.  Some of the earliest “book clubs” were simple Bible study groups such as the one Anne Hutchinson of Massachusetts formed in 1634 to talk about the local minister’s sermons.  In the elegant salons of Paris before the Revolution women gathered to debate Robespierre.  In the 19th century, as women found themselves excluded from intellectual debate and most universities, they formed clubs to deal with professional and educational discrimination.  Whatever the venue or the topic women have used book clubs as a forum for reading, learning and making their voices heard.  As long as there have been books, people have gathered to discuss them though historically these groups have been dominated by women.

In the early 19th century book clubs became havens for many American women.  Hannah Crocker praised her Boston reading group for “cultivating the mind”.  For the educationally disadvantaged black women of this time, literary societies were a great resource for them.

Freedom’s Journal, the first African-American owned newspaper in the US advertised “a society to meet once a week to read works adapted to literary improvement”.  The Female Literary Association of Philadelphia took the book club concept a stage further.  Members wrote an essay (anonymous) for each gathering and these were distributed and critiqued by the group.   Thankfully, our modern day book clubs don’t go this far!

The “book of the month” concept was created by Harry Scherman in 1926 and is a formula used by many book clubs today.  The Chicago Women’s Liberation Union of the time issued a pamphlet with guidelines on forming a group.  No more than 12 members; meeting in a woman’s home if possible; come with questions about the characters, plot, etc.; give each person a chance to speak one at a time (difficult for some of us I think when we all get going).  However, this framework closely resembles the pattern that present day book clubs use.

From the early American settlers and European society women to Oprah Winfrey, book clubs have evolved.  The longest book club was started in 1877 in Illinois and still thrives today.  We now have online reading groups, radio book clubs and bookshop discussion groups and these have all been a positive force in women’s lives.   They are an enjoyable forum for like-minded people to meet, discuss and indulge – “what’s the point of having a book club if you don’t get to eat food and drink wine?” (“The Middlesteins” by J Attenburg)

Anne Jenkins

Clubs

Bridge Club

Rick Dekker

In the last issue we described Cross Keys Bridge, whereby a select, but growing, few enjoy the twin delights of fine ale and a few hands of Bridge.   The offer to come and join us is still more than open – it’s even encouraged.  However, some folk have asked about lessons.

Having considered this a few of us, guided by our resident Guru – Stuart ‘broadband’ Thomson, are happy to run classes using the Scottish Bridge Union programme.   At present the best time for us would appear to be 7-9pm on a Thursday evening, and we could fit in a block of lessons in May and June, probably re-starting in mid-August.

If you would like to learn to play bridge or can play but would wish to undertake a structured course, all ages, all skills, only humour required,  please let me know ptr.singleton@tesco.net and if there is enough interest we will set something up, you never know it might involve ale and wine as well!

Peter Singleton