Over the last few weeks, members of our community have shared some wonderful and very varied Lockdown Moments and the theme continues with our first videoed Moment.

On a fabulous day in early June, with the Loch as smooth as silk, Stuart Brain took to the water.  He tells us:

“Basically, I have never paddled the Loch in such magical conditions. The Loch and air were both clear and calm, it was a bit like paddling in mid-air, which was actually quite disorientating.  Fortunately, I stayed on the board (there was still lots of snow melt in the Loch). Sitting at the deep point of the Loch was almost other worldly. It was hard to believe that there was almost 155 meters of water underneath my board!”

The first of Stuart’s videos is taken from the south shore:

And if you enjoyed that, hold on tight because the next one takes you out into the middle of the loch ……..

Many thanks to Stuart for sharing these amazing videos.

Keeping to the theme of the Loch, there have been some fantastic sunsets recently, and Alistair Grier took this amazing picture of sunset over the loch.

And from the sublime to the ridiculous ………

Contract Tracing Scams

These days, wherever there is a scheme, there is a scam.  The Communications Regulator, Ofcom, has issued advice pointing out that scammers could use the Contact Tracing Service as a method of obtaining personal or financial information from victims.

Of course, it’s important that if you receive a genuine call from Scotland’s Test and Protect, you should be able to trust it and act on the information you’re being given. If you do receive a call from them, they will: introduce themselves and state the reason for the call; address you by your name; ask you for details of your movements and who you have come into contact with.

On a genuine call, contact tracers will never:

• ask you to dial a premium rate number (for example, those starting 09 or 087);
• ask you to make any form of payment;
• ask for any details about your bank account;
• ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts;
• ask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone;
• ask you to purchase a product – including a test;
• ask you to download any software to your device or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet; or
• ask you to access any website that does not belong to the Government or NHS.

If you do receive a call from somebody claiming to be from the contact tracing service, and they ask you to do any of these things, hang up and report the call to the Police, via 101.

David Kelloe

Both current and former residents were saddened to hear of the passing of David Kelloe last month. David and Shenac were the owner-managers of the Tigh an Loan Hotel in Fearnan for almost 30 years, and during a time when the hotel and its bar were the focus of much of the social activity of the village. Long term residents still reminisce about happy times spent with friends at the Tigh an Loan Hotel.

In 1974, David and Shenac moved from their home in Edinburgh to take over the running of the hotel where Shenac had grown up.  

Both were much involved in village life and, in the mid-70’s, David was instrumental in the formation of the first village association, established to counter plans to develop the field between the hotel and the school. He was on the McLean Hall Committee, serving both as Secretary and then as Chair of the Committee from 1987-90.

David was also Chair of the group that organised and built Fort Fearnan – the predecessor of the Play Park.

It was quite a substantial ‘play park’ as you can see from the photo and was constructed by army cadets who stayed in the village hall during the 2-week construction period.

He was an enthusiastic member of Kenmore Curling Club, and particularly enjoyed it when the temperatures dropped low enough for the games to take place outside on the curling pond in Taymouth Castle grounds.

Shenac and David retired from the Tigh an Loan Hotel to Forfar in 2003  – just over a hundred years after Shenac’s grandfather, John Stewart, first took it over. The hotel was sold, and the site was subsequently re-developed.

David retained his links with Fearnan and he and Shenac came to several village events in recent years, including a Strawberry Tea in the Hall, where this picture of him with his grandson Jamie was taken.

He was the proud grandfather of six children, regularly visiting Stuart’s family in Killin and enjoying visits from Alastair’s family in Edinburgh.

David died peacefully at home.

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