A Perthshire golf club is honouring one of Britain’s most successful female golfers “Wee Jessie” Valentine died in 2006 But her legacy paved the way for generations of girls and women golfers The six-times Scottish Ladies Champion was voted the world’s number one lady golfer in 1937 She designed a range of Dunlop golf clubs for women the Perth-born legend became the first golfer to receive an MBE for services to the sport Jessie, known fondly as “the Fairway Maid of Perth”, was made an honorary member of the Blairgowrie Golf Club in 1969 And now the club has collated a series of photographs reflecting her honours-strewn career a Blairgowrie member and former chief executive of the Hong Kong Golf Association joined other family members and guests for the unveiling of the “Jessie Valentine Wall” in the clubhouse dining room Jessie’s biographer Dr Eve Soulsby was also there to reflect on her remarkable contribution to the game She said: “In my opinion Jessie is the greatest Scottish lady golfer 5ft 2in Jessie was the daughter of Craigie Hill professional and coach Joe Anderson She was also granted honorary membership at her beloved Craigie Hill and inducted into the Scottish Sporting Hall of Fame Crowned Scottish Ladies Champion six times in the 1930s and 1950s she represented Great Britain and Ireland in six Curtis Cups And after winning national championships in New Zealand and France she won the British Ladies Amateur at Turnberry in 1937 Her career was put on hold during the war years She drove an ambulance while her fiancé and future husband George – a Perth motor dealership owner councillor and St Johnstone director – was held as a prisoner of war Jessie turned professional at the age of 45 to take over the reins of a Perth sports store from her father The diminutive golfer with the “spirit level backswing” went on to write a book And in 1967 Jessie received the Frank Moran Trophy awarded to “the Scot who has done most for the game of golf.” Her enduring standing in the sport she loved was reflected when Jessie was invited to play at the opening of the Jack Nicklaus designed Monarch’s course (later named the PGA Centenary Course) at Gleneagles And in 2019, Perth’s most famous golfing daughter was honoured with an exhibit at the former Museum and Art Gallery. Blairgowrie ladies captain Margaret Marshall said the photographic tribute to Jessie was inspired by a gallery wall paying homage to Old Tom Morris and golf in general in the Links Clubhouse at St Andrews the family and Eve have been very supportive,” she said “And we have gathered some marvellous photographs capturing Jessie’s extraordinary life and career.” and it was a big moment for her when she was made an honorary member in 1969.” Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Blairgowrie Golf Club in Scotland has commemorated the achievements of Jessie Valentine a former member who was a dominant force in the ladies amateur game either side of the Second World War trophies and equipment that reflect her impressive career in the game recently joined other family members and guests for the unveiling of the ‘Jessie Valentine Wall’ in the dining room of Blairgowrie’s clubhouse Ladies captain Margaret Marshall said the restaurant at Blairgowrie had long been named after Jessie but a visit to the Home of Golf sowed the seeds of the project “In the Links Clubhouse at St Andrews I noticed the gallery wall paying homage to Old Tom Morris and golf in general I thought we could have something like it to remember Jessie,” she explained the family and Eve have been very supportive and we have gathered some marvellous photographs capturing Jessie’s extraordinary life and career.”  and it was a big moment for her when she was made an honorary member in 1969.”  the daughter of Craigie Hill professional and coach Joe Anderson became the first golfer to receive an MBE for services to the sport – reflecting an extraordinary career spanning three decades Six times Scottish Ladies Champion in the 1930s and 1950s Jessie represented GB&I in seven Curtis Cups – and famously holed a long putt on the 18th green of the King’s Course at Gleneagles to secure a point to tie the match with the USA.  After winning national championships in New Zealand and France in 1937 Jessie won the British Ladies Amateur at Turnberry Her career went on hold during the war years when she drove an ambulance while her fiancé and future husband George Jessie had to turn professional at the age of 45 to take over the reins of a Perth sports store from her father She went on to design a range of Dunlop clubs for women and wrote an instruction book called ‘Better Golf the 5ft 2ins golfer with the ‘spirit level backswing’ known fondly as ‘Wee Jessie’ and the ‘Fairway Maid of Perth’ had added two further British Ladies titles to her collection in 1955 and 1958 “a wonderful ambassador for golf and Perth,” received the Frank Moran Trophy for “the Scot who has done most for the game of golf.”  was invited to join celebrities playing at the opening of the Jack Nicklaus designed Monarch’s course at Gleneagles having continued playing at Blairgowrie well into her 80s England Golf is reporting that April was a record-breaking month for scores submitted through the World Handicap System with over 1.4 million scores submitted in England during what was the sunniest April ever recorded Following the news of the theft of over £2 million of stock from its Manchester warehouse last weekend Worldwide Golf Brands reports that the business is 'back up and running' with minimal disruption to the vast majority of its customers the business growth agency for UK and Irish golf clubs has launched a new marketing system that has delivered rapid advances in the service they deliver GolfBusinessNews.com (GBN) is for the many thousands of people who work in the golf business all around the world We cover the full range of topics both on and off the course We aim to supply essential information both quickly and accurately in a format which is easy to use We are independent of all special interest groups Click here to sign up for our free twice weekly golf industry news summary View the latest newsletter here 5/7 High StreetDorchester-on-ThamesOxfordshire OX10 7HHUnited Kingdom publisher@golfbusinessnews.com © 1999-2025 e.GolfBusiness.com Limited | All Rights Reserved. | GBN Privacy Policy Growing numbers of older people are creating enterprises in everything from baking to biodiversity – but does the freedom make up for the graft she decided to launch her own business – a professional decluttering and organising service She had read about decluttering and, fascinated, quickly created a website and advertised. Her first clients were friends. Three-and-a-half years later, Johnston, from St Monans in Fife, is now fully retired from nursing, and feels delighted with the success of her new venture “It’s something I really enjoy doing,” she said with most jobs lasting at least four hours I can fit my working sessions around my life Kari Johnston Photograph: Kari Johnston/Guardian CommunityJohnston was among the Britons who shared with the Guardian why they had set up their own businesses after passing the big 60 The number of self-employed individuals aged 60 and older hit a record 991,432 in 2023 according to analysis of Office for National Statistics data by the digital community Rest Less and 35% of new businesses in the UK are now started by people aged 50 and above Many respondents said they had launched their own businesses to pursue creative passions or a better lifestyle often after decades in unsatisfactory or highly stressful employment Others said they had simply seen no other option after either becoming too frail for regular employment or having been unable to find work close to state retirement age with several complaining of age discrimination While many said they had to keep working to stay financially afloat others said it had been their choice to stay active and seek fulfilment through entrepreneurship Johnston was among various people who said that spending more time with people was a main motivator in setting up shop at an age when many of their peers were readying themselves to exit the workforce “I like meeting the varied people who contact me for help,” she said “I thought decluttering would feel completely different to nursing but I actually provide some kind of therapy it’s about how people feel about their stuff I possibly get more satisfaction from what I do now than I did from nursing.” I’ve never done anything like this beforeGeoff Carss initially trained as a geologist and had worked in software engineering and corporate sales Dismayed over increasing biodiversity loss but also a general lack of accuracy in reports on the topic Carss began to think about better ways of measuring levels of biodiversity around the world Carss decided to launch a tech company and developed a way to use sound and AI to measure biodiversity Photograph: Geoff Carss/Guardian Community“The aim is to provide land managers nature-based NGOs and others with a better understanding of the impact they are having on biodiversity by automatically analysing vast quantities of audio captured by mini recorders An AI checks the recording every three seconds and then identifies what has made a sound – a robin and the company is now in the process of hiring additional software engineers and business developers It’s been deeply satisfying to set up and lead a tech startup aged over 60 A desire to be creative pushed Sibylle Hyde to launch her own business after retiring from teaching economics last year “I am a qualified upholsterer – I had taken classes since the 1990s I thought: ‘Why don’t I become a cycling curtain-maker?’” Sibylle Hyde in her home workshop Photograph: Sibylle Hyde/Guardian CommunityHyde set up her local curtain-making business in May dropped some leaflets in her neighbourhood and made a website “I have a garage and a small workshop at home and I’ve only spent around £1,200 so far on tools: a trailer for my bike and some Ikea table tops I clip together for very long curtains,” she said thanks to recommendations and some repeat business I’ve been having around £250 worth of business a week Despite the long hours it takes to make custom Roman blinds from scratch I’m too young for going from 100 to zero“You need to be careful that the work doesn’t impact your health I’ll do this for as long as I’ll be able to and am thinking of offering upholstery workshops for kids.” Doing something useful in retirement also motivated Andrew Hall when his laboratory research career at Newcastle University ended in 2016 “I had been exploring the reasons why some children with cancer become resistant to treatment,” he said Andrew Hall Photograph: Andrew Hall/Guardian Community“When I retired from the university I felt I still had some fuel in the tank and wanted to provide patients with rare forms of cancer the option of being linked up with academic research groups and pharmaceutical companies with new ideas that may help with their treatment..” Hall decided that it would be better to fund his service by charging companies to find patients for clinical trials With three colleagues and financial support from family the platform provides a free trial matching service for nearly 2,000 registered patients who are found with targeted advertising on social media and Google Setting up shop so late in life has been “fascinating” though more flexible than a nine to five job After a decades-long career as an IT systems specialist where she established a sourdough bakery in her own home to help pay the bills “Since they changed the state pension age I have no choice but to keep working and need something which fits around my six-year-old twins [at time of interview] and their home education to get it to the local shop at nine o’clock.” Lacking capital and support for older people starting a business Kath has been unable to rent business premises and up here in Scotland nobody is providing small workshop spaces which is the difference between surviving and not surviving.” Kath with a batch of her bread Photograph: Kath/Guardian CommunityDespite enjoying bread-making working in a physical job is taking its toll but on the flip side you don’t get bullied by bosses and colleagues “I’d always wanted to be a baker and it’s very satisfying work but I do this primarily to bridge the time until state pension age James O'Brien is Leading Britain's Conversation Tens of thousands of council workers will be balloted on strike action from Thursday in what a union is calling the biggest vote of its kind in years Unison said a vote will be offered to more than 80,000 workers across all of Scotland's 32 councils Staff will choose whether to stage walkouts as they continue a dispute with local authorities over pay It follows a recent consultation in which 92% backed strike action Local government employer body Cosla has offered all council workers in Scotland a 3% increase for 2025-26 less than half of the union's request for a 6.5% pay rise Unison Scotland co-lead for local government said: "Dedicated council staff have seen the value of their pay fall for more than a decade as wages failed to keep pace with the cost of living Read more: Divorce rates plummet to lowest level in 50 years ‘due to cost-of-living crisis’ Read more: English, Muslim, European – and Proud of Every Part of My Identity, writes Sir Sadiq Khan dwindling resources and significant staffing shortages "Cosla's offer only adds to the real financial hardship faced by employees council tax and energy bills continuing to soar "Strike action is always a last resort but local government workers have been underpaid and undervalued for far too long "Cosla and the Scottish government need to step up and offer a decent wage increase that reflects the value of these workers." chair of Unison Scotland's local government committee added: "Staff have indicated overwhelmingly that they've reached their limit They can't afford to shoulder the burden of real-terms pay cuts "Local government workers are the glue that holds communities together and provide essential services on which everyone relies "The Scottish Government and Cosla must recognise their worth and respond with a fair pay offer that values these essential workers." See more Latest News See more World News See more More Topics The Rosemount is the star of the show and is in the Top 100 the Lansdowne is of a similar style and also very enjoyable while the Wee Course is a lovely 9-holer made up of four short holes and five par 4s Many tournaments have been held here with probably the most famous being in 1977 when a young Greg Norman won his first European title Beautiful light shines down through the trees on the Rosemount Course At 90th spot in the Top 100 UK&I Course Rankings in association with Peter Millar the Rosemount Course at Blairgowrie is a golfing haven through the pine Header Cell - Column 0 Header Cell - Column 1 Address theblairgowriegolfclub.co.uk reservations@theblairgowriegolfclub.co.uk tree-lined oasis of golf that is far more about strategic play than brute force the trees beautifully separate the holes rather than simply intimidate the golfer and this is a very pretty place to enjoy a day’s golf – Experience one of the most peaceful UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 90 He said afterwards that the site was “the most beautiful inland green I have ever seen.” This was, of course, way before the Braid reworking, but there is no doubting that this is a glorious site of mature and extremely attractive woodland. The course itself can best be described as heathland and is one of the best such layouts in the UK Swathes of pine and silver birch separate the holes and this leads to a happy feeling of seclusion as though you are playing in a world entirely of your own the exercise of finding the fairways is far more about accuracy than strength Your reward for success will be the chance to play from a perfect lie If you find the fairway and have a strong short game is also extremely enjoyable and highly regarded Gillian ChristieGolf Monthly Top 100 PanellistThe signature hole at seventeen definitely leaves a memory - good or bad depending on the score I had a two so it’s one of my favourite holes on the course the rest of the holes seem to merge into one… all very similar being tree lined with long second shots into bunker guarded greens Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts Gordon RossGolf Monthly Top 100 PanellistNo real standout memories or memorable holes Tim GormanGolf Monthly Top 100 PanellistThe course is very private with tree-lined fairways creating a tunnel effect but one that is inviting and pleasing to the eye This unbeatable golf resort (and so much more) is the perfect place for any discerning golfer to visit The King’s and Queen’s are packed with history and charm while the PGA Centenary hosted the dramatic 2014 Ryder Cup The Championship Course has staged The Open eight times and is also co-host each Autumn to the Dunhill Links a links for the connoisseur that is distinguished by its superb It also has a super-tough closing three holes that will live long in the memory Relax and unwind in a very informal family-owned hotel offering a delightful combination of professional service and comfort with a true concern for customer care and environmental standards This 140-year-old Victorian inn is situated in the heart of Perthshire and is surrounded by stunning Scottish scenery - Blairgowrie is just a 5-minute drive away He specialises in course reviews and travel and has played over 1,250 courses in almost 50 countries he played all 21 courses in East Lothian in 13 days One of Rob's primary roles is helping to prepare the Top 100 Courses of the UK&I as well as the Next 100 where he is missing two in Scotland and two in Ireland He has been a member of Tandridge for over 30 years where his handicap hovers around 15 You can contact him at r.smith896@btinternet.com you will then be prompted to enter your display name Hugh Mullen and his son Cameron raped a 16-year-old who was intoxicated and unable to consent. Hugh Mullen, 41, and Cameron Mullen, 21, committed multiple rapes against the 16-year-old victim, who was intoxicated with drink at the time. A judge told Mullen senior at the High Court in Edinburgh: “Rape is always a serious crime with devastating consequences for the victim.” Lord Lake said: “Your victim was young and clearly vulnerable. She was drunk, very drunk, and unable to look after herself. You took advantage of that.” The judge pointed out that the teenager was raped multiple times and added: “It would have been a terrifying ordeal.” He said that a victim impact statement showed that the consequences of the crime “are continuing and are significant”. The judge said Mullen has shown no remorse. Mullen and his son both denied raping the girl during an earlier trial but were found guilty of carrying out the sex attack on her at a house in Blairgowrie, in Perthshire, on April 11, 2023. They took the girl to the address after meeting her in Perth city centre, where she was subjected to repeated rape while she was intoxicated and incapable of giving or withholding consent. The father was also found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice on April 12, 2023, at police headquarters in Dundee. The teenager said in evidence that she was socialising with friends and drinking before the attack on her. She said she could remember being on a bus before being taken to a house in Blairgowrie. Speaking about the journey she said: “The driver asked if I was alright. The younger one said ‘she’s my sister’. They helped me off the bus.” She said after they arrived at the property: “The younger one took me upstairs – he had his arms around me. The older one was behind me.” She said that she passed out in the moments before she realised that she was being sexually assaulted. She said: “When I came to, the older one was on top of me.” Mullen senior told the court that the sexual assault allegations levelled at him were “total lies”. He said: “None of that happened. I was in the living room. They were upstairs.” He denied that he earlier induced the girl away from her friends by offering her free cannabis and held her up along with his son on the way to the house where the attack took place. He said the girl managed to get off the bus on her own and added: “She was arm in arm with my son.” He denied encouraging his son to have sex with her. Defence counsel Mark Stewart KC said Mullen continued to deny committing the rape and added: “I accept this is a very serious offence.” He acknowledged that Mullen senior has “a significant criminal record”, which includes theft and serious assault charges, but not previous sexual offending. The father, a prisoner in Perth, was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely following his sentencing. His son, who was on remand at Polmont young offenders’ institution, will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow next month. STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" The road between Blairgowrie and Alyth is set to close for up to three weeks for more emergency gas works The A926 reopened last month after a six-week closure to allow SGN to carry out gas repairs But the gas network operator has announced the road will close again on Sunday as further emergency works take place The closure earlier this year caused a lengthy diversion via Coupar Angus for vehicles Some residents feared there would be a delay to the road reopening in March However, SGN said the work was “complete” A statement from SGN announcing the latest closure said: “Our gas network in the A926 between Rattray and Alyth requires further emergency repairs “To access our gas pipe and carry out our work safely the road will be closed on Sunday April 20 between the Rattray and Alyth “A signed diversion route will be in place for motorists “Bus routes will be diverted – please check with your operator for more information on service diversions “We know this will cause further inconvenience and we’ll be working as quickly as possible we expect our work to take between two/three weeks to complete.” Perth and Kinross Council says a revised shuttle bus timetable The local authority’s website says: “SGN’s gas network in the A926 between Rattray and Alyth requires further emergency repairs “To access the gas pipe and carry out work safely the road will be closed from Sunday 20 April for up to three weeks “There will be no shuttle bus journeys to Alyth/New Alyth on Sunday “A revised timetable will operate from Monday A Blairgowrie butcher has had to close her business permanently after a car smashed into its shop window Wendy Donald had run her successful and well-liked store from the town’s High Street since the summer of 2023 after taking on the former Ewarts of Blairgowrie butchery In October 2024 a Ford car careened into the front of the premises causing enough damage for the shop to close it was thought the shuttering would be temporary But Wendy has now made the difficult decision to liquidate the business Wendy thanked her staff and customers who have supported the business for the last 18 months and said despite the closure she was optimistic about what the future holds she said: “Last year we made the difficult decision to close our butchery business following unexpected damage to our premises “While this marks the end of a cherished chapter we are profoundly grateful for the years of loyal support from our community “I remain proud of what we’ve achieved and optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead.” Corporate rescue firm Begbies Traynor has been appointed liquidators for the business At the time, Wendy said the man involved in the incident had been “very apologetic”. Wendy is an assessor Craft Skills Scotland a specialist training provider in food and drink industry She is also an ambassador for Quality Meat Scotland the public body responsible for helping the Scottish red meat sector Last year The Courier reported how Wendy’s company was supplying Blairgowrie strongman John Beattie. The Scottish Viking battled back from serious illness even being told he’d never lift a barbell again The dad-of-two spent more than a month in hospital – some of it in an induced coma – after suffering organ failure Wendy’s butcher supplied John with its best meat products to support his protein-rich diet An eight-house estate in Blairgowrie which includes an “exceptional” family home has gone up for sale Ava Estate is an exclusive development just a stone’s throw from the centre of the Perthshire town The main property – Ava House – was constructed within the last year with an additional Tesla battery storage unit beside the house the hall leads to an open-plan kitchen with breakfast and dining rooms The dining room comes with doors that open to the garden patio and grounds The kitchen connects to a large utility room Next to the breakfast room is the living room Completing the ground floor is a double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom Each bedroom is accompanied by a three-piece en-suite shower room Ava House is complemented by a detached barn that can be used as a games room or office an en-suite bathroom and ample living space There is also a workshop and a triple garage block The garden spans more than an acre and is enclosed by a wall which was built into the stone wall in 1850 Ava Estate has seven other separate properties set on more than three acres of land comprising three four-bedroom detached homes and four two-bedroom detached cottages According to McEwan Fraser Legal – which is marketing the estate for sale – these properties generate an “impressive” annual rental income through various types of lets The estate has a guide price of £2.85 million Elsewhere in Perthshire, a modern five-bedroom home built in 2018 near Gleneagles is on the market for £1.15m Meanwhile, a 12th-century castle that was once home to the Queen of Scotland is also on the market A Prince’s Trust loan helped Blairgowrie woman Dawn Page start her own business when she was just 21 she was eligible for a £5,000 loan – a small fortune to her then But after acquiring premises and buying equipment she was left with just £50 Hair and Beauty Clinic is a fixture in the Perthshire town with a wide range of services and four members of staff Dawn has taken the biggest step since starting her business by moving into new premises double the size Recalling setting up the business she said: “When I was 21 I was travelling to Dundee every day for work – I didn’t even drive “The boss I worked for would ask me for a lot of advice about her business It made me think there was a need for me to be in business for myself “And I was also fed up with cold mornings waiting for the bus “I thought there was a gap in the market in Blairgowrie and the Prince’s Trust loan gave me enough to get started “I still lived at home at the time – I just thought I had nothing to lose “After paying for equipment and a month’s rent I had £50 left from the £5,000 loan.” Over the past 15 years the business has grown from offering nail polishes, manicures and spray tans to add a range of aesthetic services. These include non-surgical face treatments, non-surgical fat removal and even a Japanese head spa Its popularity meant larger premises were required The business moved from Upper Mill Street to the former McNabs estate agency office in Allan Street last weekend It now offers hairdressing in addition to its beauty treatments Dawn said: “It’s around double the size of what we had before a brow bar that can double up as a skin bar and nail bars “The reaction has been great from clients – they say it doesn’t feel like Blairgowrie “Why shouldn’t local people experience what you can get in a city “The premises are perfect – I actually looked at this unit when I started out but my baby business couldn’t afford it “It’s also meant I’ve added another member of staff which gives me a lot of satisfaction as I like being able to give people jobs.” Drivers faced delays on the Blairgowrie to Perth road after a crash on Wednesday afternoon Tailbacks built up on the A93 Perth Road at the Meikleour crossroads Emergency services were in attendance with drivers warned to avoid the area A spokesperson for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received the call from police to assist them at 4:21pm “We dispatched two appliances from Blairgowrie.” A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Around 4.15pm on Wednesday police received a report of a two-vehicle crash on the A93 near Meikleour “The occupants were checked over at the scene and recovery was arranged.” The troubled Blairgowrie Recreational Centre scheme has been hit with another blow – a leaky swimming pool The new facility – already 100% over budget and five years behind schedule – has been delayed again as workers try to fix the problem “Given its importance to the community handover of the building will not happen until we are satisfied it is ready to open we are working with the contractor to repair a small leak from the pool “Once outstanding issues are resolved we will announce an opening date for the new facility the existing recreation centre remains operational.” A source close to the project told The Courier the pool had “flooded” earlier in January The latest hold-up follows multiple delays to the facility’s opening date The venue was originally due to open in 2020 When planning permission was granted in 2022 the price tag had risen to £24m Inflation caused this to spiral to £36m By then, the opening date had shifted to December 2024 In December, pictures revealed the new Blairgowrie Leisure Centre taking shape a spokesperson for Live Active Leisure said: “A few of our staff had the opportunity to get a sneak peek at the brand-new Live Active Blairgowrie venue this week the team are currently undergoing training and the finishing touches are being added to this fantastic facility.” The new centre will feature a swimming pool dance studio and external artificial sports pitch it will replace the existing 40-year-old centre on the campus of Blairgowrie High School Pupils and the wider community will be able to use the facilities A family jewellery and watchmaking shop in Blairgowrie is to close after 71 years of serving the community Victor and Sons on Allan Street will close at the end of March put the shop on the market last year as they planned to retire But no one has come forward to take the business on started the jewellery and watchmaking business in Coupar Angus in 1954 The Blairgowrie store was then opened in 1977 who has helped run the company since the pair married 40 years ago told The Courier: “We gave the business a year to sell last year “It would be lovely if someone could keep it going because Blairgowrie will miss it and it’ll be a shame “We are so grateful to customers over the years and it’s with a heavy heart we have made this decision “We’ve had many good friends through the shop and seen several generations grow up and become loyal customers.” Michele says many of their older customers visit the shop twice a year to have their watches set The clock is ticking for locals to visit Victor and Sons before it closes The business is running its first-ever sale through February and March as the closing date looms All stock is reduced by 20% with further reductions of up to 50% on certain watches Michele says the shop has “never been busier” She added that customers are “sad to see us go but glad we’ll have time to ourselves” They hope to be able to spend more time pursuing hobbies following their retirement It follows a new barbershop opening in Blairgowrie earlier this week A 15-year-old boy has been winched to safety after a helicopter was called to a river rescue in Blairgowrie the coastguard and a mountain rescue team were called to the River Ericht on Wednesday night The teenager was pulled to safety before being taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee by ambulance One woman who lives in Blairgowrie told The Courier: “I stay close to Hill Street and heard the helicopter flying over the town at around 1am “At first I thought it was a plane but the noise continues to grow louder “It must have been flying very low along the river “My husband and I heard it a few more times as it was coming back and forth “I don’t know where the incident was but I’m glad to hear the casualty was rescued from the water.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.10pm on Wednesday we received a report that a 15-year-old boy was missing in Blairgowrie “A search was carried out and he was traced at the River Ericht “He was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for treatment.” A coastguard spokesperson said: “Shortly after midnight this morning HM Coastguard received reports of a casualty with injuries sustained in a fall at Blairgowrie the HM Coastguard rescue helicopter was sent to the scene and deployed a winch paramedic to the casualty “The casualty was safely recovered by rope rescue and taken to hospital by the Scottish Ambulance Service.” The fire service said it sent two appliances and two water rescue teams just before 10pm The crews were at the scene for about four hours The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed an ambulance and three special operations response teams attended Tayside Mountain Rescue Team was also involved The opening date of Blairgowrie Recreational Centre has moved a step closer after a swimming pool leak was repaired Perth and Kinross Council has announced the leisure centre will open at the end of March or start of April The opening was pushed back in January due to the leak that caused flooding Work is now underway to fill the swimming pool and ensure the facility is ready to launch in spring A post from Perth and Kinross Council on Facebook said: “The previously identified issue with the new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre has been fixed and the contractor is in the process of filling the pool and carrying out final elements of the commissioning “We expect to be able to open the new centre to the public in late March or early April but look out for more updates as we get closer to opening day.” The £36 million centre was originally due to open in 2020 It will replace the existing 40-year-old centre on the campus of Blairgowrie High School The opening of Blairgowrie Recreational Centre has been delayed yet again after another leak was discovered in the swimming pool Perth and Kinross Council says contractors are working to resolve the issue before an opening date is announced The new facility has already been delayed several times, most recently in January when a leak was discovered in the swimming pool At the time, the local authority said the £36 million centre – originally due to open in 2020 – would open to the public in late March or early April, after this leak was fixed this has been pushed back again after further testing revealed a new “minor” leak in the pool Contractors are working to resolve the leak which has been traced to an area around the movable floor equipment in the pool Council leader Grant Laing has written to independent member Colin Stewart Councillor Laing said: “We are all looking forward to Blairgowrie Recreation Centre opening it is extremely frustrating that we have had to keep pushing back the opening date while contractors resolve these issues with the pool “Although this is not incurring any cost to the council and we will not accept handover of the building until we are satisfied everything is working properly “We owe it to our residents to learn exactly what caused these issues and if they can be prevented on any future construction projects construction director with BAM UK and Ireland said: “We’re disappointed that we have not yet been able to hand over the keys to Perth and Kinross Council and we have been working with specialist contractors to deliver it there have been technical issues and it’s right that we take time to correct these before it opens to the public “We are sorry for the delay and remain fully focused on getting the repairs undertaken as early as possible.” Blairgowrie Recreation Centre will replace the existing 40-year-old centre on the campus of Blairgowrie High School a retired chief inspector with Tayside Police in Dundee and an active member of the Blairgowrie community was an advanced driving instructor at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan He was also a former president of the Retired Police Officers Association Tayside branch it was there he met his wife Margaret when she was holidaying with her family from Dunfermline After leaving McLaren High School in Callander Alisdair worked as a motor mechanic in Dunblane He joined the police in 1964 and rose through the ranks Promotion took him to the Scottish Police College where he was an advanced driving instructor He was a traffic sergeant in Perth then a traffic inspector in Angus before finishing his career as a chief inspector at Tayside Police HQ in Dundee Known for his strong project management skills Alisdair dealt with everything from security for heads of state to policing industrial disputes He made media headlines for never being off sick during his 32 years in the police Alisdair worked in security for Dundee United then St Johnstone football clubs He was a member and past president of the Retired Police Officers’ Association Scotland (Tayside) and prominent in the community of Blairgowrie Alisdair was active in the Church of Scotland at local and presbytery level He was a long-time elder and served for 26 years as session clerk of Blairgowrie Parish Church A keen gardener, traveller and golfer, he was a past captain of Blairgowrie Golf Club and helped host the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup said: “When they visited him as youngsters his grandchildren thought grandad knew everyone in the town because when he took the kids out “He was extremely well-liked in the local community and definitely made his mark in Blairgowrie and beyond.” Blairgowrie residents say they “feel left in the dark” over Persimmon’s plan to build 152 houses behind their properties The developer has called the development Kinloch Brae Perth and Kinross Council’s planning committee narrowly green-lit the scheme in December Issues have been raised about the density of the homes flood risks and the strain on local services Dunkeld Road homeowners claim they have been “left in the dark” throughout the planning process He told The Courier: “They [Persimmon] did a survey on the traffic and when they presented us with the survey “They’d clearly taken it word-for-word from something else and they hadn’t even got it right “I don’t know how the town’s going to cope with it.” and neither has Persimmon,” added Dunkeld Road neighbour “We’re the closest to the building site it would’ve been only manners for them to meet with us “I sent an email to the council which was passed along and I didn’t really get any satisfaction at all.” The Blairgowrie beauty spot is regularly used for dog-walkers and has a mental health bench erected for locals to use The residents say all that will go once building starts The homeowners are “disappointed” at the lack of communication from Persimmon as they say nobody from the firm has reached out to them They also claim the company has failed to respond to questions when they have contacted them Persimmon says it is not aware of any correspondence from the residents The developer has promised to spend £800,000 on supporting local schools But residents feel the money also needs to be poured into other services in the town Many of them have lived on Dunkeld Road for more than 30 years They say it was inevitable that homes would be built in the field but did not expect them to be “crammed in” They also feel the lack of a right to a third-party appeal downplays the seriousness of procedural errors The council also failed to notify some neighbouring landowners of the project A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “A significant number of relevant material planning considerations were taken into account when councillors made their decision “This included education and healthcare matters with no objection raised by the NHS/Health and Social Care Partnership and contributions payable toward upgrades towards education facilities controlled via an existing legal agreement “It is fully appreciated that there are a range of views and that the outcome reached will disappoint some in the local community planning permission has now been granted and there is no third party right of appeal available to challenge the decision taken.” A Persimmon spokesperson said: “The Kinloch Brae development will deliver much-needed “The plans approved by Perth and Kinross Council incorporated feedback from the local community, including reducing the number of homes alongside a detailed drainage strategy to improve the area’s flood resilience “As well as creating affordable routes to home ownership for local people our investment in Blairgowrie will include more than £800,000 to support local schools “We are committed to ensuring the development meets the needs of the community and will be providing local residents with an update ahead of work beginning on site.” Pictures reveal the new Blairgowrie Leisure Centre taking shape Live Active Leisure has released images of the new facility planned for the Perthshire town The centre is scheduled to open early next year with no official date set yet Perth and Kinross Council originally predicted the site would be open by December 2024 A spokesperson for Live Active Leisure said: “A few of our staff had the opportunity to get a sneak peek at the brand-new Live Active Blairgowrie venue this week and the finishing touches are being added to this fantastic facility “We’ll be sharing more details in the new year The venue has cost £36m to build and was originally due to open in 2020 Blairgowrie Rugby Club has invited one last local VIP to “Take a Seat for Doddie” Supporter Len Seal visited Blairgowrie Rugby Club to try out its one-of-a-kind chair which was made from shirts associated with Doddie Weir’s sporting career The seat – the work of local upholsterer Jayne Strachan – recently raised £1,600 at auction in aid of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation but not before Blairgowrie community stalwart Len gave it his blessing Len was recently diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease the condition Doddie Weir battled before his death in 2022 Blairgowrie RFC’s Andy McOuat said they were honoured to welcome him “Len got in touch with us after hearing about the Doddie chair,” said Andy “He has recently been diagnosed with MND so the opportunity to ‘take a seat for Doddie’ and highlight the charity further was particularly apt.” Len has close links to Blairgowrie Rugby Club too He was one of the organisers of the Relay for Life fundraising events held there in 2013 and 2014 He had noticed some slight differences to the strength in his hand and arm recently He was diagnosed with MND after investigations at Ninewells The late Doddie Weir launched his My Name’5 Doddie Foundation in 2017 following his own diagnosis with MND It has since raised more than £18 million to fund research as well as £2m to support people living with the disease Former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright launched Blairgowrie Rugby Club’s Take a Seat for Doddie fundraiser earlier this month He and fellow cyclists stopped off in the town on their epic 800-mile charity cycle from Dublin to Edinburgh John Campbell made the winning bid for the Doddie chair it is now going to the Cramond Residences Nursing Home The Edinburgh home’s sports bar was recently opened by another Scottish rugby legend Andy Irvine A Blairgowrie barber has opened a new salon to give locals “more choice.” Michele Brown has opened The Wee Barber Shop on the town’s High Street The walk-in barbershop has been renovated and signifies Michele’s return to owning a business after taking a break from running salons to raise her five children The 51-year-old has lived in the town her whole life and studied hairdressing at Perth College before running and working at barbers in Dunkeld Michele told The Courier: “The shop has been totally renovated “I got the keys on Friday and I was in and open on Monday “You meet great and interesting people the skin fade haircut has been the most popular among clients She said there are a few finishing touches left and the shop is still a “work in progress” but it has already welcomed a flurry of new customers She added: “I rely a lot on loyal customers and people I know are the ones that are surviving on the High Streets these days because you can’t get it online “Having another salon will give guys more choice to go to.” The Wee Barber Shop is walk-in only and closed on Wednesdays and Sundays Michele is currently running a competition on Facebook where clients can win £50 worth of haircuts Elsewhere, a Perth and Dundee salon owner has decided to stop employing apprentices. Blairgowrie’s new Indian restaurant has shown customers what to expect as its opening date was also revealed Final preparations are underway to ensure Jahangir Balti and Tandoori Restaurant is ready to open The fully licensed eatery and takeaway will open on Thursday March 6 Home delivery will also be available from the restaurant The Courier got an exclusive first look inside the new business and a preview of its menu decided six months ago to open an Indian restaurant in Blairgowrie The Dundee-based father and son already own several restaurants across eastern Scotland has worked as a chef for 30 years and will run the kitchen at Jahangir He told The Courier: “We took over this place from our business partner after he passed away “I think it’s something Blairgowrie has been missing “We’ve had so many people asking “They need a good curry shop in this area.” and appetisers will be served at the new restaurant and takeaway The curry house offers a dine-in experience as it wants to gauge demand in the first week But the restaurant has confirmed it will be open until 10pm with potential late-night hours until 11pm on the weekends Elsewhere in Blairgowrie, the opening date for the new £36 million recreational centre has been announced Three young entrepreneurs are aiming to deliver a “five-star experience” after taking over a Blairgowrie hotel and restaurant have bought The Old Cross Inn and Restaurant on Alyth Road in Rattray after it was put up for sale The couple will run the venture with friend and business partner Liam Thomson who previously worked in hotels in St Andrews Alex and Ellie opened burger joint Sliderz in the town two years ago and will continue running that business but say they are ready for a new challenge told The Courier: “We felt like Sliderz was kind of plateauing “We just loved the building blocks of taking on something like this “Then when this came up we were kind of swaying but it felt right we came up and had all these ideas and everything fell into place.” Alex has always aspired to own a business and has a passion for food which he says he will bring to The Old Cross The restaurant menu will feature gluten-free options and high tea Alex said: “Blairgowrie has just been missing a place like this – one that does reasonably priced food “We also want to do some really nice frozen cocktails we’ll renovate the beer garden for summertime “We’ll just give it a breath of life.” The trio said they are “buzzing” to get started and have recently hired a new head chef Liam is determined to put The Old Cross on the map He said: “I really want the place to be a place where people are confident they’re going to get a really good experience “It’ll be challenging for me going from a five-star mindset to more casual and laid back but I want to implement that attitude of ‘every guest who comes in here is going to have a five-star experience’ “It’s scary giving up a stable career that I’ve worked hard for but it’s always been a dream of mine to have my own venue and if I can do it with people who are my best pals then why would I not?” The trio are planning to open the bar and hotel by mid-March and the restaurant by early April Elsewhere in Blairgowrie, a jewellery and watchmaker is closing after 71 years of business A town butcher is also closing after a car ploughed into the shop A long-standing Blairgowrie restaurant has announced it is soon to close based inside the former Riverside Methodist Church Owner Willie Little announced the closure on Facebook “We wish to extend a tremendous thank you to all of our loyal guests for your support throughout the Little’s journey “Thank you for all the memories over the years.” Many have taken to social media to wish Willie well in his retirement One person said: “All the best Willie Happy retirement and enjoy the well-deserved rest.” Another person said: “Happy retirement Willie “You brought fun and great eating to Blair A third person added: “Going to miss Little’s “Have made such good memories there with friends and family Earlier this year, Willie denied that the restaurant was set to become a gym despite Perth and Kinross Council giving Braw Fitness the green light to convert the building Little’s was put up for sale last year with Willie planning to retire He took over the restaurant in 2015 and set about a full refurbishment of the church The eatery then opened for business in 2018 and was crowned Restaurant of the Year at The Courier’s The Menu Food and Drink Awards in 2022. A Blairgowrie butcher shop has had to close temporarily after a car smashed into the building Wendy Donald Family Butchers says it needs to shut so the damage can be dealt with The business announced the move on Facebook It said: “With a heavy heart we write this post Due to the car hitting our building we are unfortunately going to have to close until the insurance can effect repairs.” Owner Wendy Donald previously told The Courier she thought she would need a new shopfront and display counter once the dust had settled “I would imagine we will have to close for a while for repair work to be carried out which will have a massive impact on my business,” she said She also expressed her thanks to locals who had sent messages of support Wendy Donald Family Butchers recently joined forces with local strongman John Beattie The shop announced it was supplying John with best butchery products to support his protein-rich diet The dad-of-two has bounced back from serious illness to return to the strongman circuit He will represent Scotland at the World Strength Games in Utah in the US next May Wendy Donald Family Butcher took over the former Ewarts of Blairgowrie premises last summer It quickly became a popular addition to the town centre who worked for Balmoral suppliers H M Sheridan in Ballater Simon Howie in Perth and Gloagburn Farm Shop Blairgowrie Rugby Club rolled out the red carpet – and a comfy chair – for former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright and the Doddie’s Grand Tour The rugby legend and his merry band of followers stopped off in Perthshire as part of an epic cross-country ride The group are raising funds for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation set up by former Scotland rugby player Doddie Weir to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease research Wainwright and fellow cyclists are pedalling a punishing four-day route covering more than 700 miles They’re due to finish in Edinburgh on Saturday February 8 – just in time for Scotland to take on Ireland at Murrayfield on the Sunday Friday morning’s Blairgowrie Rugby Club pitstop had a dual purpose The cyclists tucked into a hearty early breakfast laid on by the club and friends And while they were fuelling up, Wainwright launched Blairgowrie’s own fundraiser in memory of Doddie Weir Blairgowrie upholsterer Jayne Strachan has created a unique armchair made from rugby shirts associated with Doddie’s remarkable career It’s the subject of an online auction that will raise funds for the My Name5 Doddie Foundation Wainwright became the latest rugby great to add his signature to the chair on Friday And rugby fans have until Sunday to head to eBay if they want to get their hands Bidding in the Take a 5eat for Doddie auction had already reached more than £600 by Friday afternoon Jayne said she and her fundraising friends – Pam Guthrie-Dawber Rona Forbes and Kirsty Mundell – were grateful to Wainwright for his backing And she hopes the star-studded launch will help boost the Blairgowrie club’s support for Doddie’s charity “It’s a one-off,” she said “No one else will have one like it.” Doddie Weir set up the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation in 2017 following his own Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis his charity has raised more than £18 million to fund research Blairgowrie Rugby Club’s Andrew McOuat said the town was thrilled to have done its bit for Doddie’s Grand Tour “Our volunteers did a brilliant job feeding everyone and the cyclists were brilliant,” he said “A lot of younger ones came out to see them and they spent lots of time talking with them “We’re just hoping we make as much money as we can from the auction now.” To place your bid for the Take a 5eat for Doddie chair, click here. A castle near Blairgowrie that has been owned by the same family for seven generations is up for sale It is the first time Newton Castle has been on the open market since 1787 The A-listed castle was built on the site of a castellated manor house the remains of which are believed to form its foundations There is also a courtyard of traditional outbuildings with planning permission granted for conversion dining room and kitchen with ancillary rooms corridors and staircases are lined in tartan while the dining room is floored with flagstones an original glass-fronted display cabinet and a round room/cellar which forms the lower level of the castle’s west tower The first floor is accessed via a spiral stair in the castle’s eastern corner which works in tandem with a smaller spiral stair that connects the upper storeys at the western end sitting room and library are all on the first floor According to agent Savills the drawing room feels “almost unchanged since Georgian times” an open fireplace and a decorative glass-fronted cupboard The sitting room is accessed from the corner of the drawing room and is within the tower that rises above the wine cellar The library sits above the kitchen in a later addition to the castle where the ceilings are higher and the windows are larger Beyond the library there is a shower room and gun/tackle room The bedrooms are located on the second and third floors The first uses the adjacent tower bedroom as a dressing room and shares a bathroom with two further bedrooms on the second floor On the third floor there are two linked double bedrooms a bathroom and a sixth bedroom at the top of the tower Approved plans for Newton Castle include installing a bathroom off the main bedroom and enlarging the kitchen there is a U-shaped courtyard of outbuildings which incorporate a single-storey cottage on the western side partly walled garden and could be occupied by a housekeeper or a caretaker There is also a steading that has been converted into a study with a galleried library above and an 11-metre long games room which could also be used as a ceilidh barn The remainder of the steading is used as a garage and storage Planning permission has been approved for Newton Castle that would enable the properties to be adapted for use as an events venue with accommodation The buildings are set within about 11 acres of partly walled garden which is largely grass with mature trees The castle is up for sale from Savills for offers over £1,250,000 Elsewhere in Perthshire, a grand country home with an indoor swimming pool has had its price cut by £225k And a huge £745k country home in Killiecrankie with 6 bedrooms and 4 reception rooms is for sale A 34-mile diversion will be in place for six weeks due to 600 metres of emergency gas repairs on the main road linking Alyth to Blairgowrie The A926 is to shut between the Halfway House junction and Pictfield from 9.30am on Monday February 17 There will also be no access to the Aberbothrie road from Halfway House during this period It follows a temporary closure of the A926 last week for an emergency repair to the gas main A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “Further investigation has revealed that an entire 600-metre length of the gas main needs to be replaced “Due to its location in the middle of the road it would be dangerous to operate a contraflow system while engineers are working “We appreciate the inconvenience this will cause for many motorists but these works by SGN are vital for ensuring the safety and reliability of the gas supply we will be looking to bring forward any other works scheduled for this road so they can happen concurrently and there will be changes to public transport to assist commuters during this period.” The council’s recommended diversion for bus services is via Alyth This 34-mile route would also be the logical diversion for cars and other private vehicles Locals have been warned the 57/57A buses will not run between Alyth Passengers from Rattray can access these buses from Blairgowrie Wellmeadow during the expected six-week duration of the works The 6.35am bus from Alyth to Perth will now start from Rattray Cross at 6.48am instead Passengers from Alyth and New Alyth will be linked to service 57/57A at Meigle by a shuttle bus A reduced timetable will be in place and can be obtained from a driver or at bus stops No shuttle services will operate late evening or on Sundays Professional Jeweller Family-owned jewellery and watchmaking store Victor and Sons, based in Blairgowrie, is slated to close at the end of March after 71 years The Allan Street premises was put on the market by brothers Richard According to The Courier despite a heartwarming family history at stake The Blairgowrie store later opened in 1977 and it is now run by the brothers and George’s wife Michele She told The Courier: “We gave the business a year to sell last year It would be lovely if someone could keep it going because Blairgowrie will miss it and it’ll be a shame “We are so grateful to customers over the years and it’s with a heavy heart we have made this decision We’ve had many good friends through the shop and seen several generations grow up and become loyal customers.” Victor and Sons is holding a sale throughout the coming months before its closure – all stock has been slashed by 20% Photo credit A Bairgowrie farming family are handing over their redundant  blueberry fields to the local community Changing practices mean the crop at Ashgrove Mill is no longer worth harvesting commercially the Thomson family are inviting locals onto their land to pick the berries – and earn money for good causes while they’re at it More than 60 community groups and charities have been assigned ‘pick your own’ mornings and afternoons at the farm who will pocket the proceeds from all of the blueberries harvested during those sessions strawberries and other fruits here for more than 100 years says it’s a joy to see the fields full of pickers again And the success of this initiative has softened the blow of giving up on the blueberries “The thought of pulling out the bushes seemed like such a waste,” he said “We didn’t have other plans for the land so we thought this way someone else can benefit.” Peter and wife Melanie thought they were future-proofing the business when they switched their focus to blueberry production some years ago The raspberries and strawberries which had been growing since before Peter was born – and which had once put Blairgowrie on the map – were becoming increasingly unprofitable blueberries were still perfect for the Scottish climate ripening later than the English crop and extending the season in the shops But the advent of new varieties put paid to the Thomsons’ plans And now the blueberry market has also become swamped with cheaper – far less tasty – imports arriving from Peru to Zimbabwe The Thomsons’ focus now is on their cherry trees But they’re happy to go on pruning and maintaining the blueberries for the benefit of their neighbours in Blairgowrie Melanie says they love the hub-bub of the community pick-your-own sessions – an echo of the days when hundreds of pickers filled the fields “It’s a lovely atmosphere,” she said “It really brings out the best in people “And we’re part of the community here What goes on in Blairgowrie is very close to our hearts.” the venture raised more than £12,000 for local causes This year’s rota of 60 participating groups is nearly double the 37 who got involved last year So hopes are high that this year’s crop of blueberries will yield a bumper boost for the Blairgowrie community Lesley McDonald of Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust says this is an area where people work hard and look out for their neighbours “There are 150 volunteer groups in Blairgowrie,” she said “They really are the backbone of the community and this is something everyone looks forward to now “You should see the difference in people after a day at the berries,” she added “It’s like a different world out there in the fields The blueberry pick-your-own days will start on Wednesday August 14 and are open to everyone Sessions run from 10am-1pm and 3-6pm on weekdays The Thomas Thomson fields are at Ashgrove Mill Click here for directions and details of participating groups Officers confirmed a body was found in the Glenfernate area of Blairgowrie and the family of missing man Ross Kinghorn informed. Officers confirmed a body was found in the Glenfernate area of Blairgowrie at around 4.50pm on Tuesday and the family of missing man Ross Kinghorn informed. The 57-year-old was last seen on CCTV boarding a train from Linlithgow on January 16, 2023. Police said there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and formal identification is still to take place. A Police Scotland statement read: “Around 4.50pm on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the body of a man was found in the Glenfernate area of Blairgowrie. “Formal identification is yet to take place but the family of missing man Ross Kinghorn has been informed. “There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.” A Perthshire strongman is preparing to take on the world after battling back from serious illness And he’s doing it with a bellyful of best Blairgowrie butcher meat John Beattie has secured sponsorship from butcher Wendy Donald to help him train for the World Strength Games in Utah in the US next May It’s a prestigious invite-only contest And it will mark a major milestone for the Blairgowrie stone-lifter who’s known to his fans as the Scottish Viking It’s only a couple of years since John was told he’d never lift a barbell again The dad-of-two spent more than a month in hospital – some of it in an induced coma – after suffering organ failure his family were told to gather by his bedside as medics feared the worst But this Scottish Viking is made of sterner stuff he felt well enough to enter a strongman competition in Edinburgh And it felt like he was on top of the world that was my best competition ever,” John said doing something I’d been told I’d never do again “That’s when I thought ‘I’m not going to let this slip away’.” John is back in peak condition now, and working as a weights coach and personal trainer at Results gym in Blairgowrie And with partner Stacey and daughters Poppy he’s right back on the competition circuit too Competing for his country will be a dream come true for the Scottish Viking “It feels like putting a full stop on everything that happened,” he said but every day really does feel like a bonus.” You don’t get to that level in the strongman game without the right kind of fuel though John gets through about 5,000 calories a day when he’s training devouring four eggs and bacon for breakfast a couple of portions each of chicken and rice and mince and rice And that’s where Wendy Donald’s Blairgowrie butcher shop comes in John popped in to the unit on the High Street a few months ago in search of bone broth to add to his “monster mash” of rice He and Wendy got talking and it turned out he’d come to just the right place Wendy’s a big fan of bone broth and its health properties She stews it to her own recipe for 24 hours and has prepared it for people going through cancer therapy in the past But she’s also been a big fan of strongman competitions since she met Geoff Capes when she was a little girl in Ballater And so she was only too happy to sponsor John’s strongman career in the form of a steady supply of best butchery products The shop is now keeping him in fresh bone broth for free But it’s also supplying him with all the meat he needs for training at trade cost And Wendy is even stocking £20 Scottish Viking packs for anyone who wants to emulate John’s training regime (or just fill their freezer) “When John told me what he was doing “I’m delighted we can help him.” Police are planning a “significant presence” at a Blairgowrie gala after booze-fuelled assaults and anti-social behaviour at past events Braemar Day takes place in the Perthshire town this Saturday The event will feature music market stalls and fairground rides – followed by fireworks at the end Police Scotland has urged groups of youngsters to “behave responsibly” after issues at previous events there has been a minority of young people who have disrupted this by behaving in an anti-social manner consumed alcohol and been responsible for incidents including assaults and vandalism “This type of anti-social behaviour is unacceptable in the local community in what should be an enjoyable family-orientated day “The Blairgowrie Community Policing Team has been working with partners in the lead-up to the event and a significant amount of preventative and proactive work has already taken place “This will be coupled with a significant police presence throughout the day and into the evening with officers working alongside community wardens and staff from local youth groups.” It added: “We are specifically appealing to young people to behave in a responsible manner on the day and to keep themselves and others safe “We would also urge parents of young people to reinforce this message to their children and ensure that young people behave in an appropriate manner “Please be aware that Police Scotland will take a robust approach to any anti-social behaviour identified during the events “All of this is being done to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable day.” Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust (BRDT) says the event has been run by volunteers for more than 70 years and is a “much-loved community event” The trust also says hundreds of people from all over the world attend the event and the Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games the following day A spokesperson added: “The volunteers behind Braemar Day put in an enormous amount of work throughout the year organising and fundraising for this event and work with Police Scotland every year to ensure that it is a safe event for everyone to enjoy.” A mental health nurse was caught on dashcam coming “within a split-second” of causing a head-on smash Filipina Cruickshank was filmed driving her Jaguar XF into the path of an oncoming car on the A93 Blairgowrie-Perth road The 50-year-old overtook a Volkswagen Taigo when it was unsafe, Perth Sheriff Court heard In hair-raising dashcam video her car is seen fishtailing out of control as she accelerates back into her lane causing other drivers to slam on the brakes Cruickshank denied dangerous driving on the morning of July 4 last year and tried to blame the motorist she was overtaking for not slowing down She was found guilty after trial and banned from the road for a year told the court he had been driving to work through the rain at about 7.30am He said he was aware of Cruickshank’s car behind him as he left Blairgowrie but said she was not driving aggressively who works at an Edinburgh-based hearing care company said the speed limit was 60mph but he had slowed to between 40 and 50mph at a section prone to flooding and mudslides “I had to brake and pull into the side “All of this happened in the space of five seconds.” When cross-examined by defence solicitor Mike Tavendale Mr McMaster denied he had been driving erratically by speeding up and slowing down complained about Mr McMaster’s driving She said halfway through her overtake “his speed was still not reducing” Cruickshank blamed her car’s “traction control” for veering from side to side when she returned to the correct lane Asked if she accepted she had made a misjudgement overtaking at this point in the road because of the other driver’s behaviour.” She added: “I always look in my mirror and if I see someone overtaking I reduce my speed to make sure they pass safely.” Cruickshank said she was not in a rush to get to work but added: “A lot of people were depending on me that day because of the nature of my job.” said: “There was only one person whose driving was erratic in this case and that was the accused.” He said Cruickshank increased her speed in the face of oncoming traffic “The fishtail is also a danger to other drivers,” he said Mr Tavendale said his client accepted she was careless but denied her driving was dangerous He said Mr McMaster should have slowed when he noticed Cruickshank was overtaking Sheriff William Gilchrist said: “I can’t believe that a driver should assume the car they are overtaking should do anything to assist them.” He told Cruickshank: “This was within a split-second of being a head-on collision and if this had been a collision there wouldn’t be any question whether the driving was dangerous or not.” was fined £500 and disqualified for a year Mr Tavendale said as part of her nursing job she requires to visit patients outside of her workplace “This will have a considerable effect on her employment,” he said For more local court content visit our page or join us on Facebook Residents in Blairgowrie say they are “flabbergasted” after a £600,000 cannabis farm was found inside a disused hotel At least six police units descended the former Royal Hotel on Allan Street on Thursday night officers found about 1,000 cannabis plants It was one of three cannabis cultivations found in Dundee and Blairgowrie after tip-offs from members of the public The hotel shut in 2020 and locals say it has remained closed since shop and wellness centre Alba Bella in Blairgowrie told The Courier: “I’m absolutely flabbergasted at the discovery “You don’t expect this in a small town “Before closing it was such a popular hotel with locals as well as tourists who would use the shops.” One woman who lives nearby says she has seen lights on in the hotel in recent weeks She said: “It was a great hotel and recently we did wonder if folk had been living in there as we’d seen lights on inside in the mornings.” She says she saw six police vans on Allan Street just after 10pm on Thursday She added: “The car park at the side of the hotel is generally used by local businesses and they’ve been told they might need to move their cars later “I’m assuming that’s so they can remove evidence.” Another local said: “The police are guarding the building from several points “I’ve heard this cultivation may have been covering a few floors inside – that’s what people are saying.” Police say an investigation into the discovery is continuing The Tesco Superstore in Blairgowrie remains closed as a precaution due to a reported gas leak on Wednesday afternoon. Third party damage to a gas main in Terminus Street, Blairgowrie was first reported at around 2pm on Wednesday and some premises, including a Tesco Superstore and its petrol station, were evacuated as a precaution. A number of nearby roads including Gas Brae, Commercial Street and a section of Back Brae were shut down as a result of the leak. Almost 24 hours later, the public is asked to avoid the area as the store and roads remain locked down. Scottish Gas Networks shared a statement on X, writing: “Our engineers are on site dealing with third party damage to our gas main in Terminus Street, Blairgowrie. “To allow specialist repairs to be carried out and to ensure everyone’s safety, Gas Brae, Commercial Street and a section of Back Brae have been closed “The nearby Tesco Superstore and petrol station have been evacuated and closed as a precaution for safety reasons. “At the moment, it’s too early to say when the surrounding roads will re-open.” Police Scotland said: “Due to a gas leak in the Terminus Street area of Blairgowrie a number of roads are closed. “The incident was reported around 2pm on Wednesday, July 24. “Some premises have been evacuated as a precaution. “The public is asked to avoid the area.” A Perthshire rugby player viciously attacked a teammate during post-match drinks and left his ankle facing in a “very unnatural position,” a court has heard When Blairgowrie RFC star Calum Thom rugby-tackled new start Greig Forsyth to the ground onlookers thought it was just “rugby club theatrics” But the mood turned to horror as Thom repeatedly rained down blows It took five men to pull Thom away from his victim Thom, 26, appeared on indictment at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting Mr Forsyth to his severe injury and disfigurement at the team’s clubhouse at the JJ Coupar Recreation Ground on April 15 last year Fiscal depute Laurelle Johnstone told the court: “The accused had been part of the rugby team for three seasons but at the time of the offence he had suffered a shoulder injury and was unable to play “Mr Forsyth had recently joined the team and had been training with them for about six months.” spectators gathered at the club’s grounds to watch a match against Kinross RFC drinks were served for players and members at the clubhouse Thom was heard making comments about him as he chatted to two other men He stated: “I hate that guy,” and called him a “pr**k.” Mr Forsyth was standing speaking with a group of people “Mr Forsyth commented to the accused that he hadn’t seen him much at training “He lunged towards Mr Forsyth and tackled him to the ground “Mr Forsyth was flat on his back and the accused kneeled over him while repeatedly punching him on the face and body.” Thom kept saying: “I’ve not been at the training The fiscal depute said: “Witnesses made their way over having initially thought this was just some rugby club theatrics.” “Mr Forsyth’s ankle was seen facing off to the left in a very unnatural position,” Ms Johnstone said “It appeared to all that Mr Forsyth had been seriously injured and he was vomiting with pain.” An ambulance was called but when it got delayed a friend drove Mr Forsyth to Ninewells Mr Forsyth stayed in hospital for four days His left leg was operated on and screws were fitted to his broken fibula Sheriff Alison McKay deferred sentence for reports She told Thom: “As I’m sure your solicitor has told you this is a serious matter and it is not one I am prepared to deal with today.” For more local court content visit our page or join us on Facebook Plans to install electric vehicle chargers in Blairgowrie have been refused due to the Scottish Government’s ’20-minute neighbourhood’ policy Six EV charging points and 12 parking spaces were proposed in the Home Bargains and Starbucks car park on Perth Road A refusal statement said: “It would have an adverse impact on previously approved retail facilities and thereby on local living and accessibility for residents living within the existing and planned neighbourhoods it would not enhance and improve the vitality and viability of the local centre and decrease in the mix of previously approved uses.” The 20-minute neighbourhood scheme aims to ensure residents can access key services within a 20-minute walk or cycle The applicant has three months to appeal Perth and Kinross Council’s decision A similar refusal was made in April 2024, when plans for an Aldi store in Kinross-shire were rejected for breaching the 20-minute neighbourhood policy Perth and Kinross Council has rejected plans for a short-term holiday let in Birnam which received five objections from neighbours The application was for a garden room on Perth Road intended for private holiday rentals and visiting family members Concerns cited by the council include “inappropriate design and unsuitable materials” A statement from the decision notice said: “The loss of open space inappropriate design and unsuitable materials would impact negatively on amenity levels and introduce a prominent and visually incongruous feature into the streetscence The applicant has three months to appeal their decision through the Planning Authority for review Two Fair City artists from the 1800s could soon be commemorated with blue plaques in Perth city centre An application has been submitted to install the plaques on the exterior wall of a building on Watergate where Jessie Mann and David Octavius Hill were born and later worked together as pioneering photographers Jessie was one of the first women photographers in history A supporting statement on the planning application said: “There is presently no obvious visual evidence that these eminent photographers were born in Perth.” A proposal is now in the consultation period Plans to replace cabins at Altamount Chalet Park in Coupar Angus could lead to the removal of ten trees if approved by Perth and Kinross Council A supporting statement on the planning proposal reads: “The proposals see a disused section of the existing chalet park being revitalised through the removal of dereliction and reuse “The existing plots currently sit vacant and in much need of regeneration the proposed replacement chalets will provide a new lease of life which will be an improvement to the area for all those passing and residing nearby “We feel that the site is very desirable for modern holiday chalets to match the previously erected replacement chalets.” but the developer has pledged to plant three new trees for each one felled A report found a “minor risk of death or disturbance” to bats or protected species would be expected The planning proposal will be reviewed by Perth and Kinross Council before a decision is made Plans have been submitted to install a glasshouse within the derelict walled garden of Parkhill House in Rattray and changing rooms for the existing swimming pool The Victorian mansion is currently under restoration and the walled garden was deemed a suitable location for the glasshouse due to its historical purpose A statement on the planning application reads: “The house is located within remnants of the designed landscape at the edge of which there is now a derelict walled garden containing a modern swimming pool with its pumphouse “There is no indication of how the walled garden was used originally (ie remnants of raised beds fruit trees etc) although there is evidence that there might have been a heated glasshouse there.” The public consultation on the proposal ended on March 13 and the application is being reviewed Here are the links to the planning/appeal papers for the Perth and Kinross applications: Scottish PGA Professional Declan Gray is starting a new chapter in his career after accepting a new teaching role in Dubai After six years at The Blairgowrie Golf Club, where he was a long-time junior member, the 23-year-old former Perth Grammar School pupil has teed up a teaching professional’s role at The Montgomerie Club which was designed by European Tour legend and former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie “I have really enjoyed time at Blairgowrie and working with the team here,” said Gray who graduated with a golf degree from the University of the Highlands and Islands based in Dornoch “But I feel the time is right to move on and this is a great opportunity to gain experience working abroad “My degree, and the reputation of the UHI course and being on the doorstep of Royal Dornoch certainly helps on the international front I’ll be taking up a role as a teaching professional at the Montgomerie Club’s Academy as part of a six-strong team under the head pro David Laing Gray revealed he sought advice from his Perth-born predecessor at Blairgowrie who is now director of golf at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club in the UAE who spent time in the Middle East earlier in his career “I began by emailing heads of golf and pros just to let them know I might be interested in any seasonal roles that were coming up for the autumn,” explained Gray “I was in Dubai for a holiday earlier in the summer and touched base with a few people “Teaching golf is my passion and for the last four years I have been coaching juniors and helping ladies getting into golf It’s great to see the junior section at Blairgowrie I’ll be working with golfers of all standards Sometimes a translator will be required to overcome the language barrier a very good short game area and a nine-hole practice course And after the summer we have had here in Scotland managing secretary at The Blairgowrie Golf Club said: “Declan has been a great asset to the team here working alongside head professional Neil Cameon and assistant Graeme Leggat It has been a pleasure being able to support Declan in his educational and professional development We thank him for his dedication to Blairgowrie Golf Club and wish him well in his exciting new venture in Dubai.”  A painting worth more than £950 has been stolen from a charity shop in Blairgowrie depicting the Basilica San Marco in Venice was reportedly stolen from the window of the Cancer Research UK store last Thursday painted in 1995 by Scottish artist Nigel Grounds was marked up at £950 but is believed to be worth more Assistant manager of the Blairgowrie branch She said: “Cancer Research UK is supported by committed customers and volunteers in shops across Scotland who help our staff to generate vital funds to support life-saving research “It’s hugely disappointing when thefts from our shops occur The police were contacted after the painting was stolen and have launched an investigation “We would hope that it is still possible for the painting to be returned “The support of the community in and around Blairgowrie is extremely important to Cancer Research UK “Our work is only possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 5.55pm on Thursday officers received a report of a theft from a premises on Allan Street A Blairgowrie man has claimed a fire-damaged former launderette in the town looks like “something out of a warzone” also claims the former Blair’s Laundry building is “unsafe” and has been attracting anti-social behaviour He also fears uncovered asbestos is on the site The building has been unoccupied since a devastating fire on Emma Street in October 2022 Chris told The Courier: “Since the fire the site has been fenced off “There is asbestos on the site which hasn’t been cleared “It just seems like there is no interest and I know it’s not the biggest issue but residents have to look at it every day there are walls and windows blown out from the fire “It looks pretty derelict and there’s still debris lying across two of the pavements “It’s pretty grim – you’d think after two years something would be done with it Chris says he has complained to Perth and Kinross Council about the issue but nothing positive has happened He added: “I just want the site to be cleared so it’s safe and not attracting kids “It would be good if they make it not look like we live in the middle of a war zone “I’ve been told it’s low-grade risk asbestos but as far as I’m concerned it’s still asbestos “You can see it lying there and on windy days it seems to be flying about.” A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “Responsibility for the building and ensuring it is safe lies with the owners “Officers from both our building standards and planning teams have been monitoring the situation reviewing the condition of the security barriers to confirm they protect public areas “They have also been in contact with the owners regarding their responsibilities and will continue to do so should the local community notice any sudden or significant change in circumstances they should contact us.” Blair’s Laundry has been contacted for comment LOCALS have been left gutted after a beloved Scots restaurant announced it would be closing down Bosses shared the devastating news on social media that the popular eatery would be closing its doors for the final time Little's Restaurant, in Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross, will be closing down this week Restaurant owner Willie Little made the announcement today The restaurant was put up for sale last year amid the news the popular owner would be retiring Little's is based inside a former Methodist church and has become a hit with food lovers in the town A post on Little's Facebook page read: "It's with much sadness we announce that Littles last day of trading will be this Saturday, Oct 19. "We wish to extend a tremendous thank you to all of our loyal guests for your support throughout the Little's Journey. "Thank you for all the memories over the years. The Blairgowrie and Rattray Business Association shared the post saying: "This will be such a loss to the town Other locals wished the restaurant owner well after the announcement One said: "So sad to hear this but wish you all the best in what you do Willie and wish your staff all the best "We have many happy memories and fantastic food with you and many a chat with you when there." A second wrote: "Going to miss Little’s; best place to eat for miles around "Have made such good memories there with friends and family." A third replied: "This is such a shame "We were there just last week having another delicious meal "Thank you for the memories and best wishes for whatever you're going to do next." The food is amazing, the wine excellent and just as important front of house is second to none." 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