Diary Dates
FVA Halloween Pop Up: Tuesday 28th October 11.00 – 13.00. Join us for spooky cakes and other frights as All Hallow’s Eve approaches.
McLean Hall 70th Anniversary Party: The hall celebrates its 70th birthday in November. To mark this significant anniversary, the Hall Committee are holding an afternoon tea on Saturday 15th November to which members and Fearnan residents are invited.
Fearnan Indoor Bowls: Everyone is welcome to a new season of Indoor Bowls starting on Monday 6th Oct. 7.30-9.30pm in Fearnan Village Hall. Contact Angela on a.kininmouth@outlook.com
Fearnan Service of Remembrance: a Service of Remembrance will be held at the Fearnan War Memorial on Sunday November 9th. Please gather at the Memorial at 10.50. The FVA will serve tea and coffee in the Hall immediately after the service.
MacMillan Coffee Morning
Linda writes:
The annual MacMillan Coffee Morning was held on the 20th September in the McLean Hall. Everyone who attended was very generous with their donations and enthusiastically tried competitions, bought raffle tickets and goods from the sales table.
We also had external donations, raising a fantastic grand total of £470.
There were lots of prizes and winners on the day! The hampers which were kindly donated by the Kenmore Bakery and the Courtyard were won by guests. Fran Gillespie won the star prize of a bottle of whisky and Seb Page was delighted to win a bottle of wine. Alan Patterson, using much skill and judgement, won the Connie the Caterpillar cake by guessing almost exactly how many coffee cups were on a poster.
Well done, winners! Many thanks to all of our guests and those who donated goods, and to the great team who contributed with setting up, baking, helping on the day and clearing up. Your efforts were much appreciated by everyone.
Ian Marshall
We were saddened to hear of the recent passing of Ian Marshall.
Ian, a former Royal Marine Commando, moved to the area in 1989 and with his wife Winnie ran the Aberfeldy Spar for 3 years before moving to Fearnan in 1991. Ian and Winnie were very close, and when Winnie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, Ian’s love for her really shone through in the way he stimulated and cared for her. Ian ensured she remained as independent and active for as long as possible: he pre-walked ramblers’ walks she was going to lead; he bought a bright yellow car she could find in the car park; he held her hand on entire walks; and instructed her actions while out cycling. Over this tough time their joint love for each other and the outdoors, and their ability to laugh in the face of adversity was evident to all who knew them. Winnie passed away in August 2006 and following her death, Ian applied himself quite resolutely to raising public awareness of this dreadful disease both locally and nationally. He lobbied our MSP, John Swinney and, together with a fellow walker, undertook a trek to Annapurna Base Camp to raise money for Alzheimer (Scotland)
Ian was always very generous of spirit and would find great satisfaction in helping others. In 2011, he helped Sheena Stanbridge (a Fearnan neighbour at the time) to achieve her goal of walking from Loch Tay to Stirling (50 miles) while her bone marrow donor was walking from Kilmarnock to Stirling to meet her. Ian was a ‘mentor’ and trainer to Sheila and her sister for this challenge which not only raised funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust but also improved Sheila’s health both physically and mentally. They started with a walk round Taymouth Castle, which completely exhausted her, but with Ian’s support and encouragement she graduated not only to the Ptarmigan Ridge but later achieved her goal, with an emotional meeting of donor and recipient at the Wallace Monument.
Over the years of his retirement, Ian fuelled his seemingly unquenchable appetite for challenge by becoming something of an intrepid hill walker and mountaineer. Even after a long day on the hills, still possessed of an abundance of energy, he would appear at the weekly Friday night sessions of the Fearnan Scottish Country Dancing Club.
From Commando, to carer, to supporter and mentor of others, Ian was very much a man of action and compassion, and we miss his infectious energy as well as his cheeky sense of humour.
Glenlyon and Loch Tay Community Council Elections
Glenlyon and Loch Tay Community Council is in a precarious position. Stella (Glenlyon), the Secretary/Treasurer and the Chair Sue Dolan Betney (Fearnan), are not re-standing at the forthcoming election. Willy Graham (Lochside), and Jenny Robertson (Fortingall), will re-stand but this leaves FOUR vacancies to bring the full compliment up to six. One for Glenlyon, one for Fortingall and two for Fearnan.
The current Chair asks you to give serious consideration to the future of this CC and consider standing for election. It would be very sad if the last job Stella and Sue had to do was to wind up the CC.
By joining your local community council, you can get involved in topics that affect your area. From a proposed housing development to maintenance of local paths, you can have your say as a local community councillor.
People who are over 16 years old, live in the community council area, and are on the electoral register for the community council area, can join their community council.
Submit your nomination by 4pm on Thursday 25 September 2025.
Find out more www.pkc.gov.uk/communitycouncilselections
Fearnan Village Association 