1

Alyth Voice 90th Edition, May 2005

Tel/Fax: 01828 632545 Minimum Circulation 1525 E-Mail address -alythvoice@alythvoice.co.uk Website: www.alythvoice.co.uk

PERTH CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Don’t know which way to turn?

Do you, or someone you know, need help or advice on any of the following?

Consumer, Employment, Housing, Benefits, Debt,

Family or Disability issues

Perth CAB can help you Our advice is free, confidential,

impartial and independent. Our service is available at:

Alyth Health Centre New Alyth Road

This is a drop-in surgery where the adviser can assist with straightforward enquiries

using our comprehensive electronic information system on a laptop.

For complex enquiries or form filling,

APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE between 1 pm - 2pm

and can be made by contacting the Bureau on telephone number

01738 - 564304. Listed below are the dates the

service is available:

Tuesday 26 APRIL 2005 1.30pm -3.30pm

Tuesday 31 MAY 2005 1.30pm -3.30pm

Tuesday 28 JUNE 2005 1.30pm - 3.30p

See also page 4

Alyth Musical Society

The audience sang along to the popular songs such as ‘Get me to the church on time’; ‘Wouldn’t it be lovely’. Choreographer Craig Alam, who also played the part of Freddy Eynsford Hill, sang ‘On the street where you live’ beautifully. We have a very talented bunch of performers in our musical society, Eliza Doolittle never had it so good until she arrived at Alyth Town Hall. Well Done Alyth Musical Society and thank you all.

Rudi Gruneberg and the chorus performing ‘Get me to the church on time’

Alyth Musical Society has done it again., they played to a packed

Hall at every performance and what a performance they put on !!!

Thank You all for a very enter-taining show. I went along on opening night

(Tuesday) and liked the show so much I took my other half back on Friday 22nd April and enjoyed another good night out, as usual the cast were superb the props and performances excellent. The costumes were fantastic and made a colourful display on stage. Claire Gruneberg put on a wonderful performance as Eliza Doolittle and Alan Calder McNicol’s por-trayal of Henry Higgins was superb, as was Ken Black’s performance as Colonel Pickering.

My Fair

Lady

Alan Calder-McNicoll as Henry and Claire Gruneberg as Eliza

2

Alyth Voice Editorial Team Paul Ramsay 01828 632992 Editor/ Chairman Email : paulramsay@bamff.demon.co.uk Freida Murray 01828 632545 Secretary/ Publication/ Advertising Administrator Email: freida.murray@homecall.co.uk Barbara Prettyman 01828 633725 Distribution Paul Prettyman 01828 633725 Distribution Margaret MacKenzie Advertising Marjory Macpherson Advertising Michael Kay 01828 632252/632690 Treasurer mike@atcalyth.freeserve.co.uk Natalie Gray 01828 633951 Features Email :nat@nrghome.fsnet.co.uk Derek Todd Webmaster derek@toddalyth.freeserve.co.uk In Order to avoid disappointment please ensure that Articles/Ads for pub-lication are submitted before the 21st day of each month. Note: The views expressed in the Alyth Voice are not necessarily those of the Editors, nor can they accept any responsibility for accuracy/spelling of any article.

Useful Telephone Numbers

Blairgowrie Police Station - 01250 872222 Perth Police Station - 01738 621141 Hydro-Electric Emergencies - 0800 300999 Scottish Gas Emergencies - 0800 111999 Scottish Water - 0845 6008 855 Alyth Post Office - 01828 632301 Alyth Health Centre - 01828 632317 Alyth Primary School - 01828 632462 Blairgowrie High School - 01250 873445 Alyth Environmental Group - 01828 632907 NHS 24 -new 24 hour health service - 08454 24 24 24

If you offer a Emergency or breakdown Service e.g. Plumber, Electrician, Locksmith, Glazier, Central Heating or any other trade, Please send us your name and number for our useful numbers sec-tion.

2

Strathmore & The Glens

If you would like to know more about the work of the Partnership please visit our website at -www.strathmoreglens.org

PO Box 6621, Blairgowrie PH12 8YF

Community Markets 4th Saturday of the Month

from 23rd April Blairgowrie Wellmeadow

10am - 3pm

We ask all our readers to please acknowledge any copyright, when they are sending in articles taken from other publications or downloaded from the web.

Dates for Your Diary

May 14th Coffee Morning Alyth Brownies May 21st Coffee Morning St. Ninian’s Church May 28th Garden Fete Alyth Parish Church June 11th Coffee Morning Mother & Toddlers June 12th Duck Derby Alyth Scout Group June 12th African Children's Choir Alyth Parish Church June 14th Alyth Show Aberbothrie July 16th Coffee Morning Alyth & Dist. Ploughing Soc. July 17th Time to Remember day Alyth RBLS

Voice Teaser What is a Souter?

Answer to last months Teaser- What are Fernitckles? Freckles

ALYTH & DISTRICT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Notice of Office Bearers and Committee Members after the Annual General

Meeting held on Thursday the 24th of March 2005 Office-Bearers Chairperson Mr.Michael Kay Telephone Alyth 632252/632690 e-mail mike@atcalyth.freeserve.co.uk Vice-Chairperson Mrs.Flo McNeil Telephone Alyth 632986 Secretary /Treasurer Mrs. Nancy Kay Telephone Alyth 632690 Committee Mr. S. Eno, Mrs. K. Donaldson, Mrs. O. Last, Mrs. J. McGill, Mrs. M. McNicoll and Mr. C. MacDonald

Will businesses in the Alyth & District Business Association area please note that their subscription renewals for the year 2005 are now due. If any business did not receive the March 2005 newsletter can they please contact the Chair-man on 632252/632690 for this oversight to be corrected.

Cajun Pork Roast Ingredients: 10 lb Boneless Boston Pork Roast 3/4 c Chopped Garlic 1 ts Chopped Parsley 2 Tb Steak Sauce (Lea & Perrins) 1 x Seasoned Salt (Dry Rub) 3 Tb Brown Sugar 1c Chopped Onion 1/2 c Tiger Sauce 1/2 c Worcestershire Sauce 2 1/2 Tb Dry Mustard 6 oz Tomato Paste Instructions: MARINADE: Combine chopped onion, chopped garlic, chopped parsley with the Tiger Sauce Worchestershire sauce, steak sauce and dry mustard. Mix well. Make slits into roast and rub sauce well into and over the roast (a baste- ing syringe works well to place suace into slits). Allow to sit in the refrigerator for 6 hours (or overnight). TOMATO SAUCE: Mix tomato paste and the brown sugar very well and set aside. Cook roast in a covered grill until the internal temperature of the roast is 170 degress. Brush with Tomato Sauce when done and serve. NOTE: Tiger Sauce is a brand name of sweetened hot sauce.

Do you have a favourite recipe you would like to share?

Send it into the Voice and we will print it.

MMMRRR B B BILLYILLYILLY G G GORDONORDONORDON

‘Alyth Community Council’ in Association with ‘Alyth & District Business Association’

would like to make a presentation to Mr Billy Gordon on the occasion

of his retirement.

We ask the people of Alyth to show their appreciation to Billy for his contribution to this Community over all these years.

Donations can be handed in to Michael Kay Hairdressers

13 Airlie Street , Alyth By 30th May 2005

Arrangements for an official presentation will be

announced SOON!!!

3

Diana and Herne came to be seen by medieval villagers as fertility deities of the crops and fields Diana became the Queen of the May and Herne became Robin Goodfellow (a predecessor of Robin Hood) or the Green Man. The Queen of the May reflected the life of the fields and Robin reflected the hunting traditions of the woods. Our modern celebration of Mayday as a working class holiday evolved from the struggle for the eight hour work day in 1886. May 1, 1886 saw national strikes in the United States and Can-ada for an eight hour work day called by the Knights of Labour. (This was in response to people working manual labour for 10, 12, 14 hours a day or more...like modern day sweat shops). In Chicago police attacked striking workers killing six. The next day at a demonstration in Haymarket Square to protest the police brutality a bomb ex-ploded in the middle of a crowd of police killing and injuring some of them. The police arrested eight anarchist trade unionists claiming they threw the bombs.

To this day the subject is still one of controversy. The question remains whether the bomb was thrown by the workers at the police or whether one of the police's own agent provocateurs dropped it in their haste to retreat from charging workers. The Police fired back on the crowd, killing and injuring protestors and then began a campaign against the active Left, raiding unions, organiza-tions and arresting activists.

In what was to become one of the most infamous show trials in America in the 19th cen-tury, but certainly not to be the last of such trials against radical workers, the State of Illinois tried the anarchist workingmen for fighting for their rights - being agitators and encouraging revolution) as much as being the actual bomb throwers.

Only one of those arrested was even at the demonstration -- and he was on the speakers' podium. Albert Parsons, August Spies, George Engle and Adolph Fischer were found guilty and executed by the State of Illinois. In Paris in 1889 the International Working Men's Association (the First International) declared May 1st an interna-tional working class holiday in commemoration of the Haymarket Martyrs. The red flag became the symbol of the blood of working class martyrs in their battle for workers rights. Mayday, which had been banned for being a holiday of the common people, had been reclaimed once again for the common people.Ironically, Can-ada, The United States and South Africa are among the few countries in the world who do not recognize May Day.

Some laughs sent in to the Voice- Just for Laughs Q: What is your date of birth? A: July fifteenth. Q: What year? A: Every year.

Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact? A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks

.Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke that morning? A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?" Q: And why did that upset you? A: My name is Susan.

Q: And where was the location of the accident? A: Approximately milepost 499. Q: And where is milepost 499? A: Probably between milepost 498 and 500.

Q: Trooper, when you stopped the defendant, were your red and blue lights flashing? A: Yes. Q: Did the defendant say anything when she got out of her car? A: Yes, sir. Q: What did she say? A: What disco am I at? ———Keep them coming folks……….

Well it’s true, he has given up his day job………!!!!

Do you really think he will go into acting full time ?

May Day, Labour Day, or Beltane?

The 1st of May Many Meanings to Many People The birds are singing at their heartiest before and

around dawn. Everyone can rise early with the

birdsong and wash their face in the dew.

For the Celts this was Beltane,meaning 'bright fire' or 'lucky fire' is held on May 1st (May 15th in

Scotland) they used to turn their flocks out onto

their summer grazing and the gods were invoked for

their protection until Halloween. Celebrated with

bonfires, the crowning of the May Queen and Robin

Hood plays. Jack-in-the-Green Sweeps' Festivals,

Morris and maypole dancing.

The international working class holi-day; Mayday, originated in pagan Europe. It was a festive holy day celebrating the first spring planting. The ancient Celts and Saxons celebrated May 1st as Beltane or the day of fire. Bel was the Celtic god of the sun. The Saxons began their May day celebra-tions on the eve of May, April 30. It was an evening of games and feasting celebrating the end of winter and the return of the sun and fertil-ity of the soil. The May eve celebrations were even-tually outlawed by the Catholic church, but were still celebrated by peasants until the late 1700's.

While good church going folk would shy away from joining in the celebrations, those less afraid of papal authority would don animal masks and various costumes, not unlike our modern Hal-loween. The revellers, lead by the Goddess of the Hunt; Diana (sometimes played by a pagan-priest in women's clothing) and the Horned God; Herne, would travel up the hill shouting, chanting and sing-ing, while blowing hunting horns. This night became known in Europe as Walpurgis-nacht, or night of the witches The Celtic tradition of Mayday in the British isles continued to be cele-brated through-out the middle ages by rural and village folk. Here the traditions were similar with a goddess and god of the hunt.

As European peasants moved away from hunting gathering societies their gods and goddesses changed to reflect a more agrarian society. Thus

ALYTH & DISTRICT BUSINESS

ASSOCIATION

The Chairman, Office Bearers and Committee of Alyth & Dis-trict Business Association are giving their full hearted support to the Alyth Branch of the Scottish British Legion in their “Times to Remember” Parade and Events culminating in the rededica-tion of the War Memorial on the 17th of July 2005. The management team are asking all businesses with display windows to mount a “World War 11” display theme window for this period and suggest also that business proprietors(s) and staff may be willing to dress up in period dress from this era. It is hoped that as many will be involved as possible with this con-cept idea but an awareness of “Health & Safety” at work must be uppermost. Flyers about the above will be delivered to all businesses shortly. Please can we have all your support for this memorial event.

4

The Easter Window Competition sponsored by Alyth & District Busi-ness Association was a new competi-tion this year it was judged by Mrs. Margaret Aitchison, Alyth’s Citizen of the Year 2004 and Mr. Martin McGuiness, Alyth’s Young Citizen of the Year 2004 over the period 21st to 24th of March and after much delib-eration, thought etc they decreed that the winners were: -

1st Shear Success, 12 Airlie Street, 2nd Hobbies, 19 Airlie Street, 3rd The Singing Kettle, 14 Airlie Street

The Winning Window

All were presented with a framed Certificate Thanks must be expressed to the judges for all their care and diligence in their judging and also to all the entrants who had excellent displays and hopefully encouraged people to get in the Easter mood. What a shame that they all cannot be winners. Thanks to all who took part. Michael Kay Chairman ADBA

Easter Window Competition

Alyth Environmental Group

April Meeting Report. The small group who attended the April meeting at the Losset Inn, spent a lot of time looking at maps. The map showing land ownership is com-ing on well with large areas ac-counted for, work will continue on this for a few more weeks. The other map studied was one brought in by Countryside Trust Project Officer, Andy Barrie for group members to draw in a selection of walks in and around the Alyth area. He and P&K’s Jane Pritchard will use information from both maps when they hold meet-ings to discuss the implications of the Land Reform Act and The Access Code with interested parties later.

Niall Lobley, P&K’s Ranger will lead a bat spotting walk in the Den on the evening of 18th May, time yet to be announced.

The stART Festival was a great suc-cess from the groups point of view, most of the 22 decorated boxes were taken home by the makers but we still have a small number to hang in the Den. Clive has replaced one of the four

damaged limes on the school field from available funds but we have yet to hear about the other three.

The group were pleased to receive a cheque from the Quiz League for which we were grateful and say a BIG THANK YOU.

Tasks have been planned for the rest of the year starting at 2pm and are as follows: 8th May - A selection of jobs in the Den including restore benches, thin out beech and burn brashings. 19th June - Clear and strim Trodlem path. July& August – No Tasks. 18th Sept – Ditch and gorse clear-ance on middle path to Hill of Alyth. 23rd October – Additional work at Alyth School. 20th November & 18th December – Hedging at sewage works. All above are subject to cancellation and rearranging if the weather is not suitable on the day. There should be tasks to suit all, so if you fancy helping at one or all please watch out for further details in future re-ports. If you have ideas for other tasks please contact a group mem-ber. The next meeting will be on Thursday 12th May at 7.30 in the

PERTH CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

RURAL OUTREACH SERVICES

ALYTH HEALTH CENTRE

April, May and June 2005

Rural Perthshire now has access to the full range of services operated by Perth Citizens Advice Bureau. Fully trained advice workers will be available on a 'drop-in' basis and can assist with free, independent and impartial advice on any type of en-quiry.

Experienced advisers have access to the full national information system on a laptop computer and can offer all the backup of the main bureau in Perth's New Row if required.

Problems with housing, employment, relationship, consumer issues, debt, benefits or legal matters can all be researched on our comprehensive

What if Dr. Seuss Wrote Computer Manuals?

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port, And the bus is interrupted as a very last resort, And the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort, Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report! If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash, And the double-clicking icons put your window in the trash, And your data is corrupted ‘cause the index doesn’t hash, Then your situation’s hopeless, and your system’s gonna crash! If the label on your cable on the gable at your house, Says the network is connected to the button on your mouse, But your packets want to tunnel to another protocol, That’s repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall. And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss, So your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse, Then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang, ‘Cause as sure as I’m a poet, the sucker’s gonna hang! When the copy of your floppy’s getting sloppy on the disk, And the mi-crocode instructions cause unnecessary RISC, Then you have to flash your memory and you’ll want to RAM your ROM, Quickly turn off your computer and be sure to tell your mom!

From -Wildman's Weird Wild Web

The Difference Between Men And Women Shoppers

information system. We offer an independent, free, confidential service with impartial advice on your enquiry. Our objective is to help you access all the information you need to make an informed choice of your options. You can drop-in at the advice session and see an adviser to discuss the issue.

We can also offer practical help with form filling in addition to providing information and advice. There are specialist services in Money Advice, Employment Advice, Immi-gration and Nationality issues as well as Welfare Benefits.

If necessary, you can be referred to a specialist adviser. Our money advis-ers can help with all aspects of debt including bankruptcy, trust deeds and small business debt. The employment advisers can help with applications to and representation at employment tribunals. If you require expert advice and assistance with welfare benefit claims then a specialist appointment can be arranged. For these complex enquiries or form filling, please con-tact the Bureau Administrator

on 01738 - 564304

5

ARNOLD WHITEARNOLD WHITEARNOLD WHITE

JJJOINEROINEROINER ANDANDAND C C CONTRACTORONTRACTORONTRACTOR

All types of Joinery/Carpentry work

i.e.-Extensions, Loft Conversions, Double Glazing, Conservatories,

Kitchens. Harwood & Laminate Flooring,

Fitted Furniture

1 Strathmore View Telephone Alyth 01828 632467 Perthshire Mobile:07736248718 PH11 8JD

RENDEZVOUS **HAIRDRESSER** Margaret or Paula

would be happy to advise on that new look for 2005

59 Airlie Street, Alyth. Tel: 632097

Open Tues - Sat

Gift Vouchers Available

DAVIDSON CHEMIST

9 Airlie Street, ALYTH.

Tel 632302 Prescriptions dispensed

Delivery service available

Mrs Susan Marsh (Cert Ed) Cherrybank, Lands of Loyal

Tel: 01828 633501

FURNITURE STORE PERTH STREET, BLAIRGOWRIE

(Adjoining Shell Garage) COME ON IN AND HAVE A BROWSE

BEDS– from £69; 2 and 4 Drawer Divans; Metal and Pine Beds; Mattresses; Headboards; Pine Bedroom Furniture;

Ex-Catalogue Suites; Pine and Beech Look Bedroom Furniture;

Dining room Sets and all types of furniture and furnishings. Stock Changes Weekly

Open 7 Days –Sunday 12 am-4 pm ALL AT DISCOUNT PRICES

HOPE PARK HOUSE BLAIRGOWRIE

Residential home for older people DAY CARE

LONG STAY CARE SHORT STAY CARE (respite) SEPARATE DEMENTIA UNIT

Tel: 01250 872349 for details of charges

and arrangements to view

Alyth Springs TherapiesAlyth Springs TherapiesAlyth Springs Therapies Westfield Estate Alyth Tel: 01828 632450

Reg. Holistic Reflex Therapists

Sore Neck/Shoulders, Sports Injuries, Stress, Anxiety. Sandra Gould AMGCP NARH

Joan Taylor SRM, Reflex Zone Therapist Specialised Clinics Monthly For Management of Pain,

Arthritis, Stroke, ANAH Disorders & Menopause.

For a Full Range of Therapies see our web site- www.alythsprings.co.uk

GEORGE W. RENNIE 2 St. Malcolm’s

Wynd Kirriemuir Tel: 01575 573292

Mobile: 07711 818238

Repairs Spares & Servicing Washing Machines, Cook-ers, Tumble dryers & Vacuums.

also Cycle Repairs & Spares

For All your garden machinery requirements.

SALES, SERVICE, REPAIRS, HIRES all makes.

Sharpening service. Main Dealer for Westwood, Jonsered, Echo

Stockists of Honda, Husqvarna, Castel, Stihl,

Kawasaki and more. Collection and Delivery by arrangement.

ALSO Gates, Railings, Balustrading etc.

Steel workers and fabricators

CONTACT: Blair Eng.

HIGH STREET RATTRAY

BLAIRGOWRIE

Licensed Grocers

National Lottery outlet. Video & DVD rental.

New Services: Irvines Butcher Meat Dry Cleaning: Shoe Repair

Credit/Debit card facility now available .

FREE HOME DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE Telephone Orders Welcome

73-75 Airlie St.

Alyth

LUNANS Airlie Street

Proprietors Jason Donald & Debbie Richmond

NEWSAGENTS & STATIONERS

A great selection of boxed & individual cards at competitive prices.

Good range also of beautiful cards for that special person or occasion.

ALL YEAR ROUND NEWSPAPER DELIVERIES

and for the VERY EARLY BIRDS Rolls and Filled Rolls

Shop open from 5.30 am

Registered Childminder

Bracken Clark Has Full and Part Time

Vacancies Monday-Friday 8 am to 6 pm

Tel: 01828 633884

RELAX & REVIVE

Aromatherapy Massage Swedish Massage St Tropez Tanning

Mini Facial Instant Manicure Instant Pedicure (Waxing coming soon)

AIRLIE GARAGE ALYTH

Telephone: 01828 633363

Servicing, Mechanical &, MOT Repairs Welding & Steam Cleaning

Panel Beating, Spray Painting and Restoration.

All Jobs Considered

Free Estimates Tyres at competitive prices

Winter Tyres Studded and Wheels Balanced Breakdown Recovery and Car Transportation Service

Quality Used Cars For Sale Open 9 am ‘til late

COLIN & CATHY FORD Number 5 Toutie Street, Alyth

CHIROPODY SUGARING,FACIALS

EYELASH/BROW TINTING PEDICURE, MANICURE

by CREATIVE NAILS **Late Nights Tues. & Thurs.**

For an Appointment Tel:01828 632297

BIG GAV BARONY VIEW

GROUND MAINTENANCE HAY STREET

ALYTH Time to Book Your Scarifying (Moss Removal)

Tree Surgery Service Now Available Hedging, Patios, Gravelling, Fencing, Dykeing

And all other types of ground maintenance Telephone: 07739 833595

Traditional Acupuncture in Blairgowrie

Acupuncture can help a variety of symptoms and health problems

Free 15 minute consultations available in Blairgowrie to discuss whether acupuncture may be helpful.

Practitioner is fully qualified and insured and is a member of the British Acupuncture Council.

Judith Bryden MA(Hons)LicAc.MBAcC. Contact Judith at 01250 876345 or

07762 188418 (mobile)

6

Established 1975

MURRAY PENNYCOOKMURRAY PENNYCOOKMURRAY PENNYCOOK

PLUMBING & HEATING GAS, OIL & SOLID FUEL

Clar-Innis, Meigle Road, Alyth

Tel: 01828 632135 Mobile: 07850-733-481 Oil –Gas –Solid Fuel

Corgi & SNIPEF Registered Rhones - Lead Work –Drains

Free Estimates

GEO’s BAR &

THISTLE LOUNGE AIRLIE STREET, ALYTH

Tel : 632276 Fax: 633939 e-mail: thisletopia@aol.com

Lounge available for meetings FOOTBALL ‘LIVE’

on Digital & Five

THE ALYTH TRADITIONAL

FISH BAR Telephone Orders Welcome

01828 632000

Fish Suppers £2.50 on Wednesday From 5pm-7pm for OAP’s

Monday– Thursday 4.30-9 pm Friday 4.30-10 pm Saturday 4.30-10 pm Sunday 4.30-9 pm

GRANGEMOUNT CATTERY Aberbothrie, Alyth

SPECIAL DIETS CATERED FOR INDIVIDUAL HEATED CHALETS

Set in the quiet rural setting of beautiful Strathmore PERSONAL ATTENTION

FROM THE OWNERS DENNIS & LIBBY MELLOY

Tel -01828 632284

David Scott LtdDavid Scott LtdDavid Scott Ltd FUNERAL DIRECTORSFUNERAL DIRECTORSFUNERAL DIRECTORS & MONUMENT AGENTS& MONUMENT AGENTS& MONUMENT AGENTS

Also Golden Charter Pre-Paid Funeral Plans

7 Toutie Street Alyth Open Tuesday Mornings 9 a.m.-11.45 a.m.

Or by appointment Our staff are happy to assist with all enquiries

A 24 hour service is maintained on 01828 633 433

Walls & Floors 21, Commercial Street

Paints & Papers, Ceramic Tiles,

Carpet Tiles, Carpets, Vinyls, Laminate Flooring,

Decorating Sundries, Rugs. Decorating Advice Given

Shop Hours Mon-Fri 8.15—5.30 Sat 8.30—5.00

Tel: 01828 632879

Carpet Care Carpet Care Carpet Care Carpet, Upholstery and Leather

Cleaned and Protected Call

Neil Stewart for a Free Quote:

01828 632771 or 01250 875216

Mobile: 0771 391 5546

PETS PANTRY 19 High Street Blairgowrie

Tel: 01356 623006 Keith Nicol

Advertising This is a £6 Size

If you wish to change your existing Ad contact Freida Murray on 01828632545

Please inform us of any changes.

If you do not tell us to take your ad out then we will assume there is no change and continue to run it and

invoice you each month.

Stone-

Exten-

Renova-

R. D. BuildersR. D. BuildersR. D. Builders

For Free Estimates Tel: 01828 632231 or Mobile 07729924784 19 Tay Road Alyth, Perthshire PH11 8EB

Stonewo

rk

Extensio

ns Ren

ovations

Harl

ing Etc.

Charles A Davidson

Blacksmith, Welder and Fabricator

Gates and Rails made, erected and repaired All fabrication and farm work undertaken

Tel: 01828 632948

Mobile: 07957 766 546

Treefellas Tree care Specialists

Hedging, Dangerous Trees, Pruning, Limbing

Chipping & Splitting In conjunction with

Big Gav Barony View, Ground Maintenance

077398 33595

MUIR DRIVING SCHOOL

Dave Muir DSA Approved Driving Instructor

Pass Plus Registered Intensive Courses Available

MURDO FRASER MSP MID SCOTLAND & FIFE

For help and advice.

Look for details of regular surgeries in the local Press, or you can contact Murdo on 01250 874782 to arrange a meeting; or write to him at- Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP; or email him at - murdo.fraser.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

4WD Specialist Cars & Light Goods Vehicles Servicing and Repairs Bike & Car MOT Testing Tyres & Exhausts Bike & Car Oils

2-4 ST ANDREW STREET, ALYTH

Specialist Cleaning Repair & Restoration Antique christening gowns, antique lace, cloths and napiery, samplers etc. All expertly cleaned. Rust spots removed. If you are frightened to wash it, send it to me….. Jeanette McGill (Antique Textile Specialist) Phone 01575 530 289

Registered Childminder

Full-time & Part-time vacancies available for

Summer School Holiday Period. 3 months old upwards

Tel: 01828 633744

ROBERTSON’S DAIRY BALKEERIE

BY GLAMIS FORFAR Tel/fax 01307 840431

Suppliers of milk, cheese, butter, cream, eggs, yoghurts, rolls, and many other dairy products to

Private Houses, Hotels, Restaurant, schools, Nursing Homes, etc. in Alyth, Blairgowrie,

Coupar Angus, Burrelton, Woodside, Meigle, Newtyle and Auchterhouse

7

LOCHSIDE LODGE &

ROUNDHOUSE RESTAURANT

Bridgend of Lintrathen, By Kirriemuir 01575 560340

Just 10 minutes from Alyth alongside Lintrathen Loch, Winner of Scottish Thistle Award for “Flavour of Scotland”

Lunch served Tuesday – Sunday & Dinner served Tuesday -

Saturday Lunch from £ 11.50 and Dinner from £25.00

For further information and to make a reservation, please contact us

on 01575 560340 or visit our website www.lochsidelodge.com

Glenisla Golf Course &

Restaurant Alyth

Tel 01828 632445

· Golf memberships available - no joining fee

· Fully licensed restaurant - New menu - Sundays roasts a speciality

· Function room - Weddings/Birthdays/Christenings etc

· Accommodation bed & breakfast & self catering

www.golf-glenisla.co.uk

This the first of what will become a regular feature from Tayside Police, in particular from our local commu-nity policeman constable Graham Jack and will reflect on local crimes, crime prevention issues, and personal safety advice over the coming issues of the Voice. He will endeavour to keep the news up to date, topical and associated with local crime and other issues as they arise. For those of you who might not know me let me introduce myself. My name is Constable Graham Jack. I am a Community Safety Officer with responsibility for the Alyth, New Alyth, Meigle, Strathardle and Glenshee areas. Besides this, I specialise and investigate instances of wildlife crime throughout the Tayside Police area. I have nearly 25 years of City and County Policing experience behind me, the last 22 years in the Blairgowrie Section itself, which includes the Alyth and New Alyth areas. I have a very wide and varied knowledge of national and most local issues which are important to all residents. Part of my duties are to provide a high profile uniform presence on the streets of the areas I have responsibility for, helping provide reassurance to all residents especially the more elderly and vulnerable. I am tasked with building bridges in local communities, working with all groups including Community Councils, Local Councillors, Tenants Association, Schools and Education Groups, Youth and all other groups covering all ages and social standing in the communities I serve. When I am not on duty, each of the four shifts working from Blairgowrie have an officer responsible for the Alyth area. If a matter is urgent or you wish to report a crime please contact Blairgowrie Police directly otherwise contact me on the numbers appended below.

April issue: “ In the past few weeks several crimes to domestic property and thefts

have occurred in the Alyth area” reports constable Graham Jack. Thanks

to a member of the public reporting persons acting suspiciously last week,

persons were traced, stolen property was recovered and those responsible

have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

The swift actions by members of the public reporting persons acting

suspiciously at the time, result in the Police arriving at the scene quickly

and their early intervention can result in positive action which in this

instance helped detect those responsible and cleared up outstanding simi-

lar crimes in the same area.

The Police are always grateful to members of the public for supplying

information or intelligence resulting in the detection of crime and appre-

hension of offenders.

This is an excellent example of ‘Partnership Working’ - the Public and

the Police working together, helping make the community where you live

safer.

Constable Jack continues, “By reporting anything suspicious at the time

makes a huge difference to any police enquiry. Getting to the scene and

finding those persons in the area at the time makes these cases solvable

due to it being more difficult for persons acting suspiciously to make

excuses for their presence at that location at the time. It also gives the

Police the opportunity to search any suspected person or any vehicle they

might be using. Keep up the good work! We do need your help. I have

said before and I will say it again, report anything you consider suspi-

cious at the time. If the suspected persons turn out to be bona fide, they

won’t mind waiting to be checked and will have more than likely have

some form of identification on their person. Should you require any

advice or would like to speak to the Police in confidence, please contact

me directly either by telephone to Blairgowrie 01250 872222 or mobile

07736 082613. Leave a message and if I am not on duty or available I

will get back to you as soon as I return or stop and speak to me on patrol

in the streets Alyth”.

Graham Jack CSO Alyth

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than ten years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. "How old are you?" "I'm four and a half." You're never 36 and a half....you're four and a half going on 5.

You get into your teens; now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number. "How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16." You could be 12, but you're gonna be 16. Eventually.

Then the great day of your life; you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. You BECOME 21....Yes!!!!!

Then you turn 30. What happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk. He TURNED; we had to throw him out. What's wrong? What changed? You BECOME 21; you TURN 30.

Then you're PUSHING 40....stay over there. You REACH 50.

You BECOME 21; you TURN 30; You're PUSHING 40; you REACH 50; then you MAKE IT to 60.

By then you've built up so much speed, you HIT 70. After that, it's a day by day thing. You HIT Wednesday...

You get into your 80's; you HIT lunch, you HIT 4:30. My Grandmother won't even buy green bananas. "Well, it's an investment, you know, and maybe a bad one."

And it doesn't end there....

Into the 90's, you start going backwards. "I was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens; if you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half."

Happy aging!

The Aging Process...

8

The Countryside Connection Group of four small independent businesses have become favourites in recent years and they’re all near you. Time to get out and about now the spring is upon us; so make sure you take advantage of the best there is in the lovely countryside close to Alyth! The Courtyard at Peel farm, Lintrathen houses a high quality craft, gift and antique centre with reasonable prices asked for a big range of desirable items; jewellery, designer bags, toys, gorgeous Italian knitting wools. Hand-knitted gar-ments, country pottery, glassware, paint-ings and prints and unique furniture are just some of the goodies offered by over 30 exhibitors. Hannah Fleming took over the Coffee Shop at Peel from Mum Frances last year. Customers love the revamped rustic-style décor and Hannah’s yummy cakes and gateaux, homemade soups and snacks. There’s a farm trail to the deerpark and Reekie Linn viepoint a children’s play area and easy parking. Open 7 days 10am til 5pm and a farm shop open 12.30 pm til 5pm for local meat, eggs, veggies and preserves and other interesting items from time to time. Contact Hannah on 01575 560 205 Jack MacDonald shows a selection of his framed landscape “Limited Edition! Prints in a painterly style at Peel Courtyard and is well known as a national award-winning portrait andwedding photographer. Really close to Alyth now, at the

Byre Studio, East Kinclune, along the B951 a mile east of Lintrathen Loch, he and his wife Marion can take stunning portraits of you and your family, using both studio and outdoor locations in woodlands and on the hills. You have to see this work to appreciate just how different it is from your regular High Street Photographer. Try www.jackmacdonaldphotography.com or phone 01575 575 502 for a no—sales-pressure chance

to see the studio and portrait samples. Weddings have long been a speciality of the MacDon-alds, and now Lochside Lodge and Roundhouse Restaurant beside Lintrathen Loch, has wedding receptions on the menu. Four – soon to be six- en-

chanting bedrooms are available for guests, and the food is of International standard. Gail and Graham Riley are proud of the awards Graham has won for his cuisine. He is a Master Chef of Great Britain, and last October was winner of the Fla-vour of Scotland Scottish Thistle Award- a Na-tional Award from Visit Scotland which recog-nised his inspired use pf local salmon, game, An-gus beef and lamb. Ring 01575 560 340 to make a

reservation. And you do realise just how good Nether Craig Caravan Park is? You might need accommodation for visiting friends/family who are campers; cara-vans, motor homes and tents arr all beautifully catered for on this quiet, specious site with impeccable facilities for laundry and toilets, with a shop and disabled access. Owners Peter and Pat Channon’s welcome to visitors is very genuine, and it is not surprising that Nether Craig won the award for Best One Hundred Parks, were Gold Award Winners of the David Bellamy Conser-vation Award and have been given five stars from Visit Scotland. Ring 01575 560 204 if you’d like to have a look around, and watch the “Voice” for news of events during the summer. Country Connections members love their businesses and enjoy interact-

ing with the local community. It is their pleasure to share their enjoyment of life with customers who become friends and return again and again- so visit them all and join in the fun!

“Celebrating the start of a new season are Pat Channon of Nether Craig Caravan Park, Jack MacDonald of Jack MacDonald Photography, Hannah Fleming of Peel Farm and Gail Riley of Lochside Lodge and Roundhouse Restaurant.”

Country Connection

Thank you for getting it sorted

The three Tayside Councils (Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross) would like to thank people across Tayside for helping to get it sorted by using their local Recy-cling Centres & Points to recycle their household and garden waste. Recycling at Centres and Points has increased by around 30% since the launch of the Tayside wide campaign in October last year with more people recycling their food & drinks cans, paper, glass and other items than ever before. Perth & Kinross Council is continuing with their commitment to increase the num-ber of recycling facilities available and expand the range of materials they accept. In addition to taking part in your local Garden and Paper Waste Kerbside Recycling, your local Recycling Centres & Points enable you to recycle most of your house-hold waste which in some cases can be as much as 80% of your bin. Your local Recycling Points allow you to recycle food & drinks cans, paper, glass bottles & jars and textiles. Your local Recycling Centres allow you to recycle a wider range of materials including cardboard, electrical equipment and plastic bot-tles (such as fizzy drinks bottles, squash bottles and milk bottles). Recycling your waste instead of throwing it in the bin reduces the need for landfill, saves the earth’s natural resources and energy and also reduces the risk of global warming. For the latest information on what you can recycle in Perth & Kinross please contact the Environment Services Helpline on 01738 476476 or visit our new website www.perthshire.com/wasteandrecycling. For information on what is happening across Tayside please visit www.wasteawaretayside.org.uk

9

Megs Mini Market 3 Commercial Street Alyth

Tel: 07868649780

Large Selection of Plants Assortment of Fishing Tackle, Dry & Wet Fly's &Lours

Silver & Wooden Photo Frames All Sizes Artists Brushes and Paints

Bed Linen &Pillows, Beautiful Boxed Towels Electrical Goods for your kitchen–

Basins, Bins, Buckets, Brushes, Shovels, Mops & Much More Selection of Pictures

New selection of Handbags, Shopping Bags, Travel Bags and Holdalls

Please call in and have a browse.

If not in stock, we will try and get it for you.

OLD STABLES - STB Four Star Bed & Breakfast

Self-Catering holiday homes Losset Road, Alyth PH11 8BT

Eileen McBain Tel: 01828 632547 www.oldstables.com

eileen@oldstables.com

'Walk Auld Alyth' Video £9.99 DVD £11.99

UK p&p £2.00

‘Images of Auld Alyth’ Unique presentation set melamine table mats

4 mats £24.00 p&p £5.00 6 mats £36.00 p&p £6.75

Birds Wordsearch

Classic Restorations

Pitnacree Street, Alyth Perthshire Phone: 01828 633293 Mobile: 07885 316689 Fax: 01828 632529

• Mechanical • Electrical • Panel Work • Ashframe repairs • Paintwork • Interior Trim

Jaguar XK140 Roadster Fully restored by our expert team of committed craftsmen

Email : charles@classicrestorations.co.uk

Bittern Flamingo Oriole Blackbird Goldfinch Owl Bluebird Gull Pelican Bluejay Hawk Pheasant Bobolink Heron Robin Bobwhite Hummingbird Sparrow Cardinal Junco Swallow Chickadee Killdeer Tananger Condor Loon Woodpecker Cormorant Meadowlark Wren Cowbird Mockingbird Eagle Nuthatch 9

Market Square Alyth

Perthshire PH11 8AA

Open Monday—Saturday 9 am—5.30 pm Sunday 12..30 pm—4 pm

Tel : 01828 632309 Fax : 01828 632609

Glenfernate Fresh Meats Enochdhu, Blairgowrie PH10 7PL

Tel: 01250 881 215 Fax: 01250 881 780

E-mail: sales@glenfernate.com www.glenfernate.com

Beef, Lamb & Venison Direct from a Local Perthshire Farm

delivered to your door Bred here and raised naturally with no intensive rearing, hormones or additives. Properly hung, cut and prepared on the farm. Just good meat that is tender and full of flavour with no fancy seasonings needed to give it taste. The venison is from our own wild deer from the same hills that the sheep and cattle graze. If you are not satisfied, we will replace or refund in full.

LAMB PACK £30 Leg of Lamb approx 1.5kg (3lb) 1kg (2lbs) Rolled Shoulder 450g Diced Shoulder 4 Dble loin chops 4 Leg Steaks 4 Noisettes 1 Pack Lamb Burgers (1/4 pounders)

BEEF PACK £35 3x450g(lb) Steak Mince 3x450g Diced Shoulder 1kg Topside Rst 1kg Silverside Rst 450g Braising Stk 230g Frying Stk 450gStk Saus. 450g Lorne Saus. 1 Pack Steak Burgers ( 1/4lb)

BBQ PACK £25 2 Packs of Stk Burgers 1 Pack of Lamb Burgers 1 Pack of Venison Burg. 1 Pack of Pork & Apple Burg. 1 Pack of Stk Saus.450g 1 Pack Lamb Saus.450g. 1 Pack Venison Saus 450g 1 Pack Pork Saus. 450g 1 kg Frying Stks appx.6 450g Lamb Leg Stks appx.4

Venison Pack £30 1 Haunch of Venison 1.5kg(3lbs) 2 Venison Stks. 3x450g Diced Ven. 3x450g Ven. Mince 450g Venison Saus. 1 pack Ven. Burgers

Plus free delivery in the local area We deliver every Friday in the Blairgowrie/Alyth Area. For more information, For a price-list with all our cuts and produce, or to place an order, Contact Ann, by Telephone, Fax or E-mail.

‘Glenfernate Fresh Meat are licensed Game Dealers’

Man's Legacy Look what I see from up here on the hill, the mountains, the forests, the sea, oh so still, it's a beautiful picture, it all looks so calm, I'd better enjoy it all, while I still can.

If we keep felling forests, it's perfectly clear, at the rate we are going, there will soon be none there, we empty the seas of their vast marine stocks, there soon will be nothing, but sand, sea, and rocks.

We were given this Eden, so we could survive, it was furnished with everything, to keep us alive, but we've mismanaged nature in such a big way, it's all disappearing, it's in danger today.

We've poisoned our rivers we've polluted our air, we've been thoughtless and ruthless we just didn't care, we paid no attention to conserve what we had, we're loosing so much--it's all very sad.

Perhaps it's too late to put everything right although we're aware--it won't fix overnight it's such a big mess and no matter how willing, it won’t be the same, as in the beginning.

Freida Murray

10

PUBLIC NOTICES

Alyth Community Council Notice

Copies of the Minutes of the Alyth Community Council monthly meetings are lodged in Alyth Library

Ian Miller Local Councillor. SURGERY AT ALYTH TOWN HALL (Old Council Chambers) on 1st TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 7.00PM OR CONTACT BY Tel: SNP OFF: 01250 876576 Home 01250 873304

P&K Council Tel: 01738 475018 E-Mail: imiller@pkc.gov.uk

ALYTH SCOUT GROUP 2005

FORTHCOMING EVENTS Sun 12th June-

Duck Derby, sailing from square, 6pm Frid/Sat 26/27th August-

Good as new/Jumble sale, Town Hall Sat 29th Oct- Coffee Morning,

Airlie Street Hall 10-noon Everyone most welcome to the above events. For tickets or further information please call - D. McNee, Secretary –632560 Can we encourage you to join our 200 club which will also assist in the raising of funds.

St. Ninian’s Church Coffee Morning

May 21st

Airlie Street Hall 10 am – 12 Noon

Usual Stalls

Alyth Out of School Club Opening Hours

8 am – 9 am &

3.15 pm – 6 pm Monday to Friday

For more details telephone 07718573511

Alyth Christmas Lights 200 Club

Winners of the April Draw £50 no138 Mrs L. Melloy £30 no 8 Mrs A. Robertson £20 no 19 Mr. D. McLaren Thanks to everyone who renewed for 2005-6. Some numbers still available. Forms available at P.O.

75th Birthday of the Local Branch

60h of VE/VJ Days 200th of the Battle of

Trafalgar

The Alyth Voice Collection cans total for April was £35.17

Thank you from the Voice Team. We are still looking for a

misplaced box!!!! Thank You for displaying our boxes- Costcutters, Megs Mini Market, Michael Kay Hair-dresser, Post Office and Spar.

Alyth Mother and Toddler Group Coffee Morning

June 11th Airlie Street Hall.

Any donations for raffle prizes or the bottle stall would be most welcome and appreciated.

On offer will be guessing Teddy’s Birthday, follow-ing the Whiskey Trail, Face Painting, Coffee Cake and More. We look forward to seeing you there. Please contact either Wendy: 01828 633032 or Nihoma 01828 633655 for any donations Thank You

2nd Alyth Brownies

Coffee Morning Saturday 14th May

Airlie Street Hall 10 am-12 noon

Sunday 12th June African Children's Choir

Alyth Parish Church

Saturday 28th May Garden Fete

Alyth Parish Church

Hospital Drivers Required Samaritans: the local organisation that arranges lifts to help folk get to hospital appointments could really do with more drivers. If you, or someone you know, could help to provide this valuable community asset, please speak to Mrs Eileen Colley on tel 632183.

Alyth in Bloom A.G.M.

Thursday 26th May 7 pm

Lounge at Geo’s Bar Airlie Street

All Welcome

Reiki Practitioner

Available for sessions in the comfort of your own home.

Contact- Natalie on Tel: 01828 633951 or Mobile: 07901947233

Animals can also benefit from this soothing therapy.

Alyth District Ploughing Society

Coffee Morning Saturday 16th July

Airlie Street Hall 10 am – 12 noon

Attention All Voluntary Organisations in Alyth

The Voice Website would like to host an Alyth Voluntary Organisations Directory on our website- www.alythvoice.co.uk Would all voluntary organi-sations in the Alyth area please send the details of your organisation and contact details to the Voice. We will also place link to your own websites. You can send details by email to:-alythvoice@alythvoice.co.uk Or leave them at Alyth Post Office. Help Us to Promote Alyth across the World Wide Web.

TO LET 20 foot

Storage Container in Alyth

Tel: 07714207403

11

I&D Insurance Services

We have secured special rates for All PH, DD and KY postcodes

Extremely competitive premiums for both Household and Private Car

Quotes provided without obligation. Going on holiday?

Let us arrange your travel insurance.

Your local broker serving your local community 16 Airlie Street

Alyth 01828 633000

Email IandDinsurance@aol.com

Alyth Auto Centre Victoria Street Alyth

Car Service & Sales

Servicing and MOT preparation

Tyres, Batteries,

Exhausts, Brakes etc.

For Good Quality Service or Advice

Call us on- 01828 633613

Continued from last month— Excerpts from

THE HISTORY OF COMMON LAND IN SCOTLAND

by kind permission of the author Robin Callander

Process of Division The process established by the

1695 Act for the Division of Commonties was straightforward. It allowed a commonty to be di-vided at the instigation of a single pursuer or ‘any having an interest’, whether the other parties agreed or not. The pursuer submitted their claim to a share in a commonty at the Court of Session, producing title deeds to substantiate this. All other parties were then called upon to defend their rights with all nec-essary proof. The various claims were assessed by a judge, who then appointed a local commissioner to arrange the division if all the legal aspects were in order. The commissioner supervised a ‘perambulation of the marches’ to verify the extent and the boundary of the commonty.

It was at this point that most disputes arose, for although much encroachment had been practised throughout the 18th century with impunity, the value of land had risen due to the introduction of commercial farming. If the encroachments had taken place more than forty years before the case, then that land was deemed to be commonty no longer; but if it had been taken within that period, then it remained part of the commonty.

The forty year rule was based on a land law known as the right of prescription, which pro-claimed that anyone who had held a heritage or infeftment continually, peaceably, and without inter-ruption, for at least forty years, should never be disquieted or troubled by any person (not even the king) pretending to challenge his right. The great majority of disputes arose, how-ever, from the initial issue of who had rights to a share in the commonty. Most legal disputes stemmed from the fact that even the legal authorities had to conclude: “It is not at all times easy to ascertain whether the right be a right of common property, or merely a right of servitude”. The wording and terms of a title deed, even with the most genuine claim to a right of property, were often very ambiguous. This reflected the lim-ited nature and origins of the claim of any proprietor to a share in the commonty. The old deeds seldom named the commonty in question and the whole issue depended on subtle interpretations of the stylis-tic conventions used in the land owners’ titles to their own privately held lands. The distinction could hinge on, for example, whether their title said “with parts, pendicles and pertinences” or “with parts, pertinences and privileges”. The former was consid-ered to convey a right of property in a neighbouring commonty, while the latter would be interpreted as only a right of servitude.

Rules of Operation The system of rules for commonties

included a conventional souming or sharing of the principal resource uses between the land owners and this was repeated amongst the tenants of each estate.

With grazing, for example, the land owner’s extent might be shared between the tenants in proportion to the valued rent of their holdings and a specific livestock total decided for each, with recognised equivalents for different species (such as five sheep equaling one horse or cow).The most important use of the common lands was for pastur-ing sheep and cattle; those which were not slaugh-tered were wintered on their owners’ private prop-erty. Other functions included the privilege of tak-ing feal ( turf used for construction or manure), divot and fuel, the building of sheilings, the liberty to shootings, the quarrying of stone, and the mining of minerals. In questions as to the uses to which a com-monty might be put, the rule melior est conditio prohibentis applied, i.e. each owner, however small his share, had a veto, except perhaps in regard to outlay for necessary maintenance.

Normally nothing which was not sanctioned by usage could be done without the consent of all.

Other rules were even more clear-cut. No-one, whether land owner or tenant, could make financial profit out of the commonty. The resources of the commonty were solely for personal uses, and individuals could not, for instance, cut timber for sale or rent grazing to someone else. Such rules were also backed up by the accepted procedure by which any land owner, seeing another infringing the com-monty, had the right and responsibility to sue them at law. So what happened in Alyth?-

The Vanishing Commonties Thank you to the Alyth resident who handed in this article on the vanishing commonties. Unfortunately we don not know the author. The Commonties of Alyth

The parish of Alyth contained three commonties – The Forest of Alyth, The South Com-monty and the North Commonty, and also the inter-mixed run-rigs of Aberbothie and Bardmony. These commonties formed part of a tight cluster of such lands in Perthshire on the boundary with Angus, which were extensive though compact in their distri-bution. The parishes of Alyth, Glenisla, Kirkmichael and Moulin contained some of the greatest areas of commonty in the whole of Scotland.

It is indeed curious that in a climate of national acceptance of the division of commonties, generally with considerable eagerness, Alyth should stand out as an atypical example in which the major-ity of division processes were far more smooth-running. The Commonty of the Forest of Alyth

The commonty of the Forest of Alyth consisted of 7946 acres, and covered all the high moorland in the north of the parish. It extended over into Kirkmichael parish on the hill of Easter Bleaton on the west, and into Glenisla parish to include all of Black Hill and the Hill of Fernyhirst on the east. A summons of division of commonty was raised as early as 1719 and a state of process went before the Court of Session in 1726. It was not until 1760, however that further action was taken on the proc-ess. At the time considerable animosity was engen-dered between certain proprietors by the erection of shielings on ground to which they were attempting to establish rival claims. This was not uncommon elsewhere, but the forest of Alyth provides rather an extreme example of how the friction over rival shiel-ings could escalate into near warfare.

This is an instance of trouble being caused by commonty remaining undivided; although the landless cottar was less likely to have his views recorded than was the proprietor, the actual process of division seldom seems to have roused more than token resistance if any at all. In what must have been a fairly tense atmosphere, the action awakened in 1760 was carried forward despite the violent tactics of the local tenantry and a new plan of the forest was made in 1765. Nothing further was done until 1787 when a new summons was raised, reawakening measures in the court of session for division.

The South Commonty of Alyth The South Commonty of Alyth also known as the Muir of Mornity, consisted of 364 acres. An attempt had been made at division in 1780, but this had not come to fruition. A summons of division of commonty was raised in 1804 at the instance of the trustees of David Ogilvie, Earl of Airlie, against John Smyth of Balhary, In reply, a new summons of division of commonty was raised in 1805 by John Smyth and others against the Earl of Airlie and others for the division of both the South and North commonties. Little headway was made, the only positive step being an apparent agreement that the two commonties should not be divided under a single process. The process was allowed to lie over for many years, until eventually a Summary of the Mutual Process of Division of the South Muir of Alyth was issued in 1830. However, there was an-other long stagnant period until this was done in 1853, and at long last the commonty was eventually divided in 1858.

The North Commonty of Alyth The North Commonty of Alyth (also

known as the Hill of Alyth) consisted of 120 acres. And was originally included in what was intended to be a joint process of division of both commonties which was raised in 1805 it was dropped from that process.

It was claimed that its inclusion with the process originally intended only to deal with the South Commonty was an artificial intrusion, and the pursuers of this policy had no eye to a division of this Hill of Alyth when they raised their process. It appears that there was no disagreement on the fact that the North Commonty should be divided, but although not unanimous, there was also a wide-felt insistence that the process of division of the North and South Commonties should be entirely separate and independent of each other. Despite this apparent agreement between the inter-ested parties, no immediate division took place. In 1812 Sir James Ramsay of Bamff was particularly anxious that a division of the North Commonty should proceed, so a printed signed summons of division of the Hill of Alyth was issued.

The wheels of the division process set in motion once more, and the pursuers issued a very full and detailed proof as of the North Muirs of Alyth in 1812, which contained a number if deposi-tions from old farm workers describing how they and other herders used to pasture cattle, sheep, and horses on the North Commonty without challenge. A printed Summons of Transfers for the division of the Hill of Alyth was issued in 1812, relating the legal procedure in great detail, alas, such was not the outcome, and bearing in mind the inter-minable wrangles which bedevilled the division of the South Commonty, it may be unrealistic and unwarranted optimism to suppose that it could have been so. The New Statistical Account written in 1843 complains that it was still undivided at that time. No definite evidence of the ultimate fate of the North Commonty (Alyth Hill) has yet come to light.

So it appears that Alyth Hill may still be a Commonty ???? Unless of course you know different!!!!

12 Copyright©alythvoice 2005

Alyth Folk

A & R ROBERTSON & BLACK W.S PROPERTY DEPARTMENT

As the only estate agents in Alyth, we are perfectly placed not only to help you sell your current house, but also to locate the type of property for which you have been searching. Spring is traditionally the time for change - itchy-footedness strikes at will, leaving many of us dreaming of removal vans and Welcome-To-Your-New-Home cards.

Remember, too, that the house which you have tired of will undoubtedly be somebody else’s dream home. So please pay a visit to one of our three local Property Shops and talk things over with a member of our Property Staff.

Or telephone for a - FREE VALUATION.

Valerie is waiting to help you in our Alyth office, tel: 01828 632116 Elaine is in our Coupar Angus office, tel: 01828 627542 And Shirley, Susannah and Judy will make you welcome in the Blairgowrie office, tel: 01250 875050

Printed for Alyth Voice by Blair Copy Shop

Tigh Na Leigh (Gaelic for the house of the Physi-cian) and pronounced 'Tie na lee' was purpose built for the local doctor by the Earl of Airlie in 1873 and served as the town doctor's home and surgery for more than 100 years.

Restoring the Victorian townhouse to its former glory and landscaping and planting the exten-sive garden have been a labour of love for the past 2 years for Bettina and Chris Black. During that time they have discovered a few treasures (clay pipes, marbles, horseshoes, rusty nails, medicine bottle stoppers, nurses calling cards) and have heard many a story from townsfolk who remember being treated in the now Reading Room. After years spent living and working in big cities, calling Tigh Na Leigh and the small town of Alyth their home is a wonderful experi-ence and they sincerely hope guests will enjoy the hospitality, the eclectic mix of contemporary and antique furniture and treat Tigh na Leigh as their home away form home Tigh Na Leigh is a small guest house which is pretty big on hospitality, great food and quality service. Formerly a Doctor's house in Victorian times, it has been extensively modern-ised to afford guests every comfort while retaining its original character. The house's setting, with relaxing gardens, provide memorable photo opportunities to remind guests of their stay. There are 5 very comfortably furnished

rooms available. You will find a TV & DVD player, tea/coffee making facilities, bathrobes, hairdryers &c in every room. The bathrooms are all en- suite, all have a shaver point, heated towel rails and end-less hot water to enjoy a lengthy shower or a nice soak in the tub. The Four Poster, which took ages to find is in the largest and most lavishly furnished room , the bathroom is a luxurious en suite and has a huge Jacuzzi/spa bath. We asked Bettina and Chris Why Alyth?

“From the day we moved here – nearly 4 years ago this has been the most asked question. Well – its beautiful around here was our immediate

answer.” After years in big cities (Chicago, London, New York & Toronto) this was a very big change and one we have not regretted. Tighnaleigh was a challenge – we wanted to create a haven, a home away from home and having stayed in enough hotels over the years, we set out to add all the bits that we think make it a perfect place to stay. It took quite a bit longer than anticipated

(we originally wanted to open in March 2003) but finally we are ready – YES we will open this year – in April. The website is already up and running www.tighnaleigh.co.uk and is only missing a few interior pictures. So when the sign is up – we are open as a guesthouse and hope you recommend us to friends, relatives or anybody who needs a place to stay in Alyth. We are certainly looking forward to our first guest arriving.”

Chris & Bettina Black

‘Tigh Na Leigh’ Airlie Street, Alyth, Perthshire

www.tighnaleigh.co.uk bandcblack@yahoo.co.uk

‘Tigh Na Leigh’ Airlie Street Alyth

found several. In 1541, for example, there was a tack to the fowler, John Sowter of Millhorn, detail-ing the kinds of bird that were to be delivered to the Abbey’s cellarer or steward, and the prices to be paid. Cranes and swans were worth five shillings each. Cranes were a delicacy and that, with loss of habitat, was the cause of their demise in these is-lands. It has been estimated that only one thousand two hundred Eurasian beavers survived throughout their range from Kamchatka (Siberia) to the British Isles in 1900. In the year 2000 there were estimated to be about half a million throughout Eurasia. This suc-cessful recovery of the beaver from the brink of extinction was due to legal protection (national and international) and reintroduction programmes, car-ried out both by private individuals, groups and nation states. Let us hope that this encouraging example can help the cranes of the world, many of whose species are affected by loss of habitat or persecution.

The water in the Old Pond has been flowing over the barrage that closes it for some time, as a result of the successful damming of the sluice, but a fit of spring activity has seen the beavers there extend their damming too: a small heap of horsetail has been gathered from the shallows: I expect they will incorporate this in raising the barrage. So far they have not built enough to hold the waters back in heavy rainfall, but I have no doubt they will get there in due course. Walking back through the Wet Wood I can see how the dams have raised the water table through the whole area. How long will it be before wetland vegetation replaces the arable weed flora that lives there now? Cranes (the Eurasian or Common Crane Grus grus, one of the fifteen species of crane) have been on my mind recently since I learned that they have been breeding in East Anglia these last few years after an absence of about four hundred. I looked through Rogers’s ‘Register of the Abbey of Cupar’ to see if there were any references to them round here, and

By the time you read this, the General Election will be over and summer will have come. This is the 21st April and I saw my first swallow, resting on a tele-graph wire as I drove past West Denhead, just out of Coupar Angus. In a day or two we should see them here at Bamff. The heavy rain of the night of the 17th April, and the next day, came after a relatively dry spell. I had expected the water to overflow the beavers’ dams in the area of the new ponds, but was glad to see that one had been built just high enough to contain the water, while the new dam, built last autumn, was just overflowing along its rampart. A spillway, ordinarily the path taken by the beavers when they walk out of the ditch and up round the side of the dam to get upstream of it, flowed freely. I had no-ticed some days earlier how high the lower dam had been built up. The recent rain made me wonder about the capacity of these animals to think ahead.

BEAVERS AND THE BIRDS OF HEAVEN by Paul Ramsay