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Autumn 2022 Issue <strong>24</strong> £1<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong><br />
news & resources for the community of Kippen<br />
INSIDE<br />
● Special Feature ● Clubs ● Community Affairs<br />
● Did You Know ● Police Report ● Supporters<br />
theweevine.org<br />
www.theweevine.org 1
Welcome<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong><br />
Editor<br />
Denis Bradley<br />
Editorial Group<br />
Ali Thom<br />
Naomi Hirst<br />
Rick Dekker<br />
Stuart Thomson<br />
Original Design<br />
Rick Dekker<br />
Layout<br />
Stewart Hislop<br />
Proof Reading<br />
Annabel Griffin<br />
Printing<br />
Mixam<br />
Website<br />
www.theweevine.org<br />
Contact us at:<br />
enquiries@theweevine.org<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong>, <strong>The</strong> Windings, Fore Road<br />
Kippen, FK8 3DT<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong> is produced quarterly and<br />
distributed within the Kippen area.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong> magazine accepts no responsibility<br />
for the return or the condition of unsolicited<br />
manuscripts, art and photographs.<br />
Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the<br />
accuracy of the information contained within<br />
the magazine, the publishers, printers and their<br />
agents cannot accept responsibility for the errors<br />
or omissions. Views held by contributors are their<br />
own and do not necessarily coincide with those of<br />
the editorial team.<br />
We also reserve the right to edit or refuse insertion<br />
of any article submitted.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong> magazine is published by <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong><br />
<strong>Vine</strong>, which is a not-for-profit organisation.<br />
Welcome to<br />
issue <strong>24</strong> of<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong><br />
So much has happened around the world since<br />
our last issue.<br />
In Kippen we were sorry to learn of the damage to<br />
Skinner of Kippen and wish Cameron and staff a<br />
speedy return to normal.<br />
We have updates from the Windfarm Panelpage<br />
7, Village Hall-Page 8, Community Council-<br />
Page 16, Woodland Group-Page 17, Reading<br />
Room-Page 18, Kippenways-Page 23, Kippen for<br />
Ukraine-Page 20 and Risk and Resilience-Page 26<br />
So, it is a busy issue again. We hope everyone<br />
will enjoy the Autumn Events- Halloween and<br />
pumpkins and of course Christmas and New Year.<br />
Our next issue is scheduled for the second half of<br />
January and contributions will be needed by 31st<br />
December.<br />
Your feedback about the <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong> is important<br />
to us so please get in touch with your comments/<br />
ideas for this year. Instances of Covid togetherness<br />
especially welcome.<br />
Email to enquiries@theweevine.org or text/<br />
Whatsapp to 07736 362011. If you wish to donate<br />
go to https://theweevine.org/donations/ If<br />
you would like your photograph featured on the<br />
front cover, send to enquiries@theweevine.<br />
org (minimum size 1 MB). This should feature a<br />
seasonal picture at time of printing.<br />
Autumn on Fore Road - Cover Photo -<br />
by Denis Bradley<br />
Index<br />
Special Feature 3<br />
Clubs 5<br />
Community Affairs 7<br />
Did You Know 22<br />
Police Report 27<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong> Supporters 31<br />
2 www.theweevine.org
Kippen Community Orchard<br />
Special Feature<br />
To mark this Jubilee year, and now sadly in remembrance of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,<br />
we are planting more fruit trees in the orchard behind the Church. <strong>The</strong>re are currently three<br />
established apple trees and<br />
a plum. We have seven trees<br />
to plant in the orchard and<br />
a Prunus Royal Burgandy<br />
which will be planted in the<br />
garden by Moira Turner and<br />
her family in memory of<br />
Winnie Dunlop.<br />
I was keen to make this a<br />
community event, as the<br />
church garden is a place<br />
where people are welcome:<br />
to stroll through, walk their<br />
dogs, or sit in reflection<br />
and admire the view.<br />
Accordingly, I have invited<br />
some groups in the village<br />
to participate and contribute<br />
to the purchase of the trees<br />
if they are able. <strong>The</strong> Friends of Kippen Kirk Trust have kindly agreed to underwrite the cost of<br />
the trees but several of the groups have offered to pay for ’their’ tree. <strong>The</strong> groups involved are<br />
Kippen Primary School, Kippen Playgroup, Kippen Heritage, Kippen 4 Ukraine, and Friends of<br />
Kippen Kirk. Margaret Oswald and Julie McEachern would like to plant a tree in memory of their<br />
mothers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> date for the planting<br />
is Sunday afternoon, 23rd<br />
of October at 2.30pm. We<br />
hope that many of you from<br />
the village come along and<br />
join in what will be a happy<br />
afternoon in memory of our<br />
wonderful Queen. <strong>The</strong>re will<br />
be refreshments in Church<br />
House afterwards with cakes<br />
contributed by our Ukrainian<br />
friends who are living in the<br />
village. <strong>The</strong>re will also be an<br />
opportunity for a Church tour<br />
with background history by<br />
Dr Tom Begg, and a chance to<br />
learn more about <strong>The</strong> Friends of<br />
Kippen Kirk Trust.<br />
Please put the date in your diary and join us in the church orchard.<br />
Naomi Hirst<br />
www.theweevine.org 3
Special Feature<br />
Cameron Skinner<br />
As most of you will be<br />
aware, Skinner’s premises<br />
in the Main Street suffered<br />
serious fire damage in<br />
early July, despite the<br />
attendance in the early<br />
hours of several fire<br />
appliances. Although most<br />
of the shop facilities had<br />
been transferred to the<br />
Woodhouse, the premises<br />
in Main Street provided<br />
refrigerated storage and<br />
product preparation<br />
facilities where the prizewinning<br />
“Skinner of<br />
Kippen” delicacies were<br />
prepared.<br />
Cameron has not allowed<br />
this major setback to close his business. Although his Main Street premises will remain<br />
closed for some time, he has borrowed sufficient working space elsewhere to allow for<br />
a full range of his products to be available at this premises in the Woodhouse, as can be<br />
seen in the accompanying photo (kindly provided by Blue Juice).<br />
Cameron is currently<br />
exploring a number<br />
of options to allow<br />
him to resume the<br />
full scope of his<br />
former operations.<br />
Further details will<br />
be made available in<br />
a future edition.<br />
Cameron is<br />
extremely grateful<br />
for the widespread<br />
community support<br />
(expressed in a<br />
number of ways)<br />
that he and his<br />
family have received<br />
since the fire.<br />
Stuart Thomson<br />
4 www.theweevine.org
Kippen Tennis Club (KTC)<br />
Clubs<br />
As Roger Federer retires from professional competitive tennis, his legacy continues to<br />
inspire millions all over the world. Here at KTC, we are delighted to report continued<br />
enjoyment from tennis at all levels.<br />
Welcoming players of all ages and abilities, KTC<br />
has continued to run a great programme of<br />
activities throughout the summer and autumn.<br />
Of note, the children’s tennis camp in August<br />
was well attended and tennis lessons for all<br />
levels are continuing on a Friday evening and<br />
Saturday afternoon. We are especially pleased<br />
that the new tennis tots’ class at 3:30pm and<br />
adult beginners’ class at 8:00pm on Fridays are<br />
proving successful.<br />
In addition, matches have been played for interclub competitions (singles and doubles);<br />
a Ladies Day was held in July with Karen Dekker and Nikki Thomas getting through to the<br />
singles finals. As well as great tennis, the lunch was delicious, and it was very refreshing to<br />
be able to host once again inside the Clubhouse with lively and healthy competition over<br />
whose egg sandwiches were best! <strong>The</strong> Men’s play is ongoing.<br />
Match play of the Summer League sponsored by Dunlop with other clubs in the area as<br />
far afield as Strathblane to Linlithgow has resulted in Ladies maintaining their position in<br />
the 2nd Division. Men fielded two teams playing in both the 1st and 3rd Divisions. Matches<br />
are now in progress for the Autumn League.<br />
We are hugely indebted to Diana McCall for once again this year not only finding beautiful<br />
flowers for our tubs which have bloomed radiantly this summer, but also looking after<br />
them so well - huge thanks!<br />
We continue to welcome new and existing members. Find out more and sign up to<br />
membership and lessons via: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk<br />
Again, ahead of KTC marking its 40 th Anniversary next year, please let me know if you have<br />
any photographs or memorabilia from its earliest days 1982 onwards!<br />
With best wishes, Annabel Gaywood (President 2022-2023)<br />
Kippen Curling Club<br />
<strong>The</strong> new season got off to a good start with our opening bonspiel on<br />
Wednesday 14th September. It felt strange dressing up in thermals<br />
on a warm autumn evening, but once inside the ice rink we were<br />
glad of the extra layers. We were delighted to have three new<br />
members joining us: Rebecca, a new recruit who played a fantastic<br />
first game, Gavin who has joined from Fintry, and Wendy who we<br />
were delighted to welcome back after an absence of some years. We are always looking<br />
for new members, beginners or seasoned players, so please contact the secretary, Dougie<br />
Chalmers at kippencurlingclub@gmail.com if you would like to know more about starting<br />
curling or joining the Club.<br />
www.theweevine.org 5
Clubs<br />
Kippen Bridge Club<br />
If you would like a game of card<br />
But think bridge might be over-hard<br />
<strong>The</strong>n wander up one night, and find<br />
Your worries can be left behind.<br />
Each Tuesday night, in Kippen’s Inn<br />
You’ll find us waiting to begin.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Keys on Thursday – just the same –<br />
You’ll see us starting up the game.<br />
At 8 o’clock, or close thereby<br />
Just drop on in and give a cry.<br />
A friendly social evening then<br />
With lots of help – you’ll come again.<br />
And if more serious is your cue<br />
We have just joined the SBU *<br />
A monthly tournament will ensue.<br />
If that appeals – just join the queue.<br />
We also can compete online<br />
With other clubs, if we design<br />
To do so – options opened up<br />
To play in Scottish League or Cup.<br />
But every other night is still<br />
A friendly night for Jack (and gill)<br />
We’d love to see you – come on in<br />
For bridge (and maybe, double gin!)<br />
Stuart Thomson<br />
KIPPEN BOWLING CLUB<br />
Well, another season<br />
has come to a close<br />
and some of us are<br />
looking forward to<br />
indoor bowling at<br />
Fintry. Thankfully<br />
we have managed a<br />
normal season this year with a full range<br />
of club nights, open competitions, team<br />
matches and opportunities to play at other<br />
clubs.<br />
One of the highlights was our ladies’ triples<br />
team of Sandra Hillhouse, Glen Hughes,<br />
and Eileen Mayhew (pictured left to right<br />
at Ayr) winning our District Championship<br />
thereby qualifying to play in the prestigious<br />
Scottish National Championships at Ayr. A<br />
great achievement both for themselves<br />
and for the Club.<br />
We managed to attract several new<br />
members to the Club this year and I am<br />
sure they have enjoyed the experience in a<br />
friendly atmosphere. As we approach the<br />
winter months, we can only look forward<br />
to the new season commencing in April<br />
2023.<br />
John Anderson, President<br />
01786 870 001<br />
6 www.theweevine.org
Community Affairs<br />
Kippen Community Trust Funding<br />
A meeting of Kippen Community Trust Funding Panel (Windfarm) was held at the Village<br />
Hall on Thursday 30 June 2022. As well as routine business, updates to on-going projects<br />
were discussed and new applications assessed.<br />
Examples of successful enduring campaigns include, but not limited to:<br />
• Reading Rooms upgrade - work commenced and remains on-going<br />
• Scouts’ storage shed - now successfully completed<br />
• Play Park upgrade: Phase 1 - in progress, awaiting quotes<br />
Kippen community village green - sycamores removed, new trees and a path are still to<br />
be put in place<br />
• Village Hall kitchen refurbishment - now successfully completed.<br />
• Panel members reviewed and evaluated the following new applications:<br />
• Arnprior Nursery Garden Project – approved<br />
• Kippen Scottish Women’s Institute – approved<br />
• <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong> Support – approved<br />
• Kippen Heritage Kirkyard restoration – approved<br />
• KSDL Play Park upgrade Phase 2 – approved.<br />
<strong>The</strong> fund can support a wide variety of community projects in the Kippen area; residents<br />
are encouraged to submit qualifying applications for consideration as soon as practicable.<br />
Deadlines for members of the community to submit applications for 2022/23 are:<br />
• 30 September 2022<br />
• 31 January 2023<br />
• 31 May 2023<br />
• 30 September 2023<br />
If anyone wants further information about applying for Windfarm money they can contact<br />
Margaret Beaton on margaret.beaton@yahoo.com or 870536 or Caroline Thompson<br />
on carolinewthompson@gmail.com or 07880-717493<br />
<strong>The</strong> date of next KCTF meeting is scheduled for 27th October 2022.<br />
Friends of Kippen KirkTrust (FKKT)<br />
A date for your diary!<br />
Arrangements for the Burns Supper in the Village Hall on Saturday 28 January 2023<br />
are progressing well. Speakers include local resident Aileen Green who will propose<br />
the Immortal Memory; the Toast to the Lassies will be proposed by the advocate Greg<br />
Sanders of Rhubarb Lime fame, and the reply will be made by Ruth Davidson, the former<br />
MSP. <strong>The</strong> Address to the Haggis and recitation of Tam O’Shanter will be by Stirling’s bard,<br />
Neil Benny. <strong>The</strong>re will be songs, and we hope to have a short recitation from one of the<br />
pupils of Kippen Primary. Cammy Skinner will be doing the catering as usual. <strong>The</strong> last<br />
Village Burns Supper in 2019 was a sell out, so let Mary Lawson (870202 or 07884423797)<br />
or Micky Hirst (870283) know if you and your friends want to book tickets in advance.<br />
Michael Hirst, Chair FKKT<br />
www.theweevine.org 7
Community Affairs<br />
Kippen Village Hall<br />
<strong>The</strong> summer months have continued to see many of our regular users enjoying the<br />
facilities that the Hall has to offer, particularly our shiny new kitchen downstairs! <strong>The</strong><br />
Hall also played host to the Feis Fhoirt Ceilidh where folks enjoyed listening to the very<br />
talented young musicians as well as a good jig around the dance floor! <strong>The</strong> Kippen Heritage<br />
“Valuation Day”, or should we say Kippen’s very own Antiques Roadshow! saw many of us<br />
dusting down those treasures and finding out what they might be worth!<br />
Our online booking system seems to be working well and is certainly making the<br />
administrative side of running the Hall a lot smoother both for users and our team. We<br />
still have lots of capacity out with our regular bookings so please do spread the word and<br />
consider using your Village Hall for functions, events, gatherings for family and friends,<br />
etc. You can check availability and book directly via<br />
https://hallbookingonline.com/kippen<br />
Like all older buildings, the Hall regularly needs maintenance and repair, and we continue<br />
to look at ways of raising funds to cover these costs. <strong>The</strong> rising energy costs are also<br />
a concern, as they are for all of us. To help with this, we are looking for additional<br />
Committee members who have expertise, or an interest in marketing, fundraising and/<br />
or applying for grants. If you’d like to find out more please email us at kippenvillagehall@<br />
gmail.com or drop us a message on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/<br />
kippenvillagehall/).<br />
Lastly, here’s a reminder of the regular weekly activities in the Village Hall:<br />
Mon 19.00 Yoga<br />
Tue 09.30 Playgroup (term-time only)<br />
18.30 Fitness Class<br />
19.30 Badminton Club<br />
Wed 10.00 Strength & Balance Class<br />
16.30 Rainbows (term-time only)<br />
Thu 08.30 Fitness Class<br />
10.15 Toddlers<br />
Fri 09.30 Playgroup (term-time only)<br />
Sat 08.45 Fitness Class<br />
Ruth McLaren,(On behalf of KVH Committee)<br />
8 www.theweevine.org
Kippen Smiddy<br />
Community Affairs<br />
Over three days in August, Kippen Heritage volunteers worked with conservators from<br />
the National Trust for<br />
Scotland to restore<br />
the six generation<br />
Blacksmith’s forge<br />
at the Cross. Tools<br />
were cleaned and<br />
inventoried, mould<br />
was treated and the<br />
Smiddy was generally<br />
spruced up, ready to<br />
welcome visitors back<br />
on our Open Days.<br />
Valuation Day<br />
Enormous thanks to<br />
our volunteers, to<br />
Lyon and Turnbull<br />
and to everyone who<br />
came to the Kippen<br />
Heritage valuation<br />
day in the village hall on Saturday 20th August. We hope that those of you who came,<br />
enjoyed the afternoon and we’re pleased to tell you that we raised almost £600 towards<br />
the repair and refurbishment of the old Kirk and Kirkyard.<br />
Membership of Kippen Heritage<br />
We are a voluntary organisation which helps to preserve and share the history of the<br />
village of Kippen.<br />
In the past year we’ve had an archaeological dig at the site of our local hill fort, inviting<br />
children from Kippen Primary School to participate and an open afternoon to show the<br />
community what we are doing.<br />
We have an ongoing programme of events to raise money to repair and restore the Old<br />
Belfry and Kirkyard in the centre of Kippen. This year we have had a Plant Stall, an Antiques<br />
Roadshow-style Valuation Day, an on-going funding website at JustGiving and successfully<br />
applied for grants from Kippen Community Trust.<br />
As well as all that, we have published a series of booklets on Kippen’s history and supported<br />
organisations such as Kippen Primary School and the local SWI with information from our<br />
archive and talks.<br />
If you’d like to get involved in the fascinating story of Kippen, come and join us! We are<br />
looking for a variety of volunteers and, in particular, individuals who might be interested<br />
in joining our Management Committee to continue our current initiatives and to bring<br />
more good ideas to the group.<br />
If you want to find out more, please contact us at kippenheritage.org.uk.<br />
www.theweevine.org 9
Community Affairs<br />
Kippen Parish Church Guild<br />
“Look Forward in Faith” - “<strong>Wee</strong> Seeds, Big Trees”<br />
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it,<br />
but God has been making it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6)<br />
Finally, after a long break we hope to be able to meet in person. <strong>The</strong> first meeting which<br />
will have taken place is a joint meeting with Norrieston Guild on 5 th October when Rev<br />
Ellen Larson Davidson planned to speak on the <strong>The</strong>me.<br />
All welcome, those who have been before and those who have never attended, men and<br />
women, at future meetings at 2.00 p.m. in Kippen Church, Fore Road:-<br />
8 th November 2022 - Readings, Ella Hyam and Ann Hillis: Afternoon tea<br />
13 th December 2022 - Look out for the posters<br />
Further information is available from Joanna M. McPhail 01786 870681 or<br />
joanna.mcphail@btinternet.com<br />
It’s Showtime!!<br />
This term Primary 1/2, along<br />
with Primary 2/3, have been<br />
learning all about the circus. <strong>The</strong><br />
have been producing beautiful<br />
artwork (as pictured) and putting<br />
on grand performances during<br />
P.E. We have had tight rope<br />
walking, rhythmic gymnastics<br />
with streamers, dancing,<br />
balancing, throwing, catching…<br />
tiger taming- you name it we’ve<br />
done it.<br />
<strong>The</strong> class have all done incredibly<br />
well at making the transition<br />
back to school after what was<br />
a glorious summer holiday. <strong>The</strong><br />
Primary 1s have hit the ground<br />
running, adjusting to all the new<br />
routines, and demonstrating all<br />
the school values. Well done<br />
Primary 1!!<br />
10 www.theweevine.org
Primary 3/4<br />
Community Affairs<br />
During Term 1 we have been studying Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.<br />
We have enjoyed exploring the different characters involved in the story and following<br />
Charlie’s adventure into the mystical world of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. We have<br />
created artwork inspired by the factory, designed our own chocolate Wonka bars, and<br />
created newspaper reports explaining the historical event that took place on the day that<br />
the chocolate factory finally opened its doors. We also used drama techniques to complete<br />
‘Hot Seating’ tasks in order to interview and question characters from the story. As a class<br />
we explored the musical accompaniments that complement the story. We have learned<br />
to play songs such as ‘Pure Imagination’ and the ‘Oompa Loompa’ story song on both the<br />
xylophone and keyboard. We have thoroughly enjoyed exploring our musical techniques<br />
and learning the lyrics that connect to the story. We designed our own chocolate rooms<br />
and used compass directions<br />
and coordinates to direct<br />
characters from the door<br />
of the chocolate room to<br />
different delicious areas.<br />
Josh, P3<br />
“I liked designing our chocolate<br />
room coordinates. I made<br />
directions for Mr Willy Wonka to<br />
find the chocolate river, candy<br />
cane forest and lollipop flowers.<br />
I decorated mine with liquorice<br />
flowers and edible toadstools.”<br />
Shyloh, P4<br />
“I have really enjoyed listening<br />
to our Charlie and the Chocolate<br />
factory story. We created a Willy<br />
Wonka themed marble maze. It<br />
was so much fun to design.”<br />
Amelia S, P4<br />
“We learned how to play the<br />
Oompa, Loompa Song and<br />
Pure Imagination song on the<br />
keyboard. It was lots of fun to<br />
practise these songs. I have been<br />
practising these at home too.”<br />
www.theweevine.org 11
Community Affairs<br />
Primary P4/5<br />
Class P4/5 have had a fantastic start to the new<br />
school year! We have had lots of fun exploring and<br />
learning about the weather. We have been exploring<br />
how meteorologists observe and predict the weather.<br />
We have made our own weather instruments<br />
and have been making our own observations and<br />
measurements of the local weather. We were the only<br />
people in Kippen to be excited about heavy rainfall<br />
- desperate to check our rain gauges! To extend<br />
our knowledge we have also undertaken a number<br />
of practical experiments to illustrate the water<br />
cycle where we have been able to practise making<br />
predictions and seeing if these were correct. Making<br />
a shaving foam cloud burst with rain was a fun, if not<br />
messy, demonstration of the water cycle. We have<br />
also explored<br />
extreme weather events, and thought about the<br />
impact on life, land and buildings. <strong>The</strong> children have<br />
designed and built extreme weather shelters for<br />
some Lego figures and have had fun testing them<br />
against the elements - with a hairdryer and watering<br />
can! Our weather theme has run through our<br />
literacy, where we have written instructions of how<br />
to build rain gauges, and also written imaginative<br />
stories imagining life as a water droplet. We have<br />
also used online libraries to explore non-fiction<br />
weather books, discovering lots of interesting<br />
weather facts. In addition, we have been learning<br />
how to describe the weather in French. Along with<br />
their new French names, the children have definitely<br />
found an enthusiasm for all things European!<br />
We have been<br />
practising<br />
ball skills and<br />
football this<br />
term for PE. We have been fortunate enough to have<br />
had fair weather, and so we have been outside on a<br />
Friday playing football in the sunshine. It’s fair to say<br />
that everyone is becoming more confident with a ball<br />
at their feet. Well done!<br />
As well as all of this, we are, of course, doing maths<br />
daily, and have been making autumn art, weather<br />
mobiles and thinking about the Harvest. We are<br />
working hard and looking after each other along the<br />
way. We look forward to more fun ahead!<br />
12 www.theweevine.org
Primary 5/6<br />
Community Affairs<br />
This term, P5/6 began by reading Kensuke’s Kingdom, an adventure story written by<br />
Michael Morpurgo. In this, we followed the story of Michael, who had fallen overboard<br />
and ended up on an island with a Japanese man called Kensuke. Linking art to the story so<br />
far, we painted ‘<strong>The</strong> Great Wave off Kanagawa’ by Hokusai, paying particular attention to<br />
how he showed the movement of the water.<br />
After we finished the book, we stuck with the theme of being stranded and began to<br />
investigate a STEM based topic, ‘Escape from a Desert Island’. During this, pupils have<br />
investigated buoyancy, as well as creating their own designs for buoyant crafts which they<br />
could use to escape their island. Pupils have also written stories about ending up stranded<br />
on an island, as well as creating maps of the islands which they have imagined.<br />
Throughout this term we have focused on writing descriptively, creating a class lollipop<br />
stick thesaurus to help us to up-level vocabulary and working hard on our individual writing<br />
targets. In numeracy, as well as working on addition, subtraction and multiplication, we<br />
are also exploring patterns in maths and coordinates in maps. We have been working on<br />
our teamwork and problem solving skills in P.E., working together to ensure that we do<br />
well when playing a variety of games in a pair or group.<br />
As the weather begins to get colder, we have also painted atmospheric autumn leaf<br />
pictures to brighten the corridor up with.<br />
www.theweevine.org 13
Community Affairs<br />
Primary 6/7<br />
Primary 6/7 have started Term 1 with a book<br />
study of the novel’ Wonder ‘by RJ Palacio.<br />
<strong>The</strong> story tells of the experiences of a young<br />
American boy August, who is born with a facial<br />
deformity. After a spell of home schooling, he<br />
then starts school. His relationships with peers<br />
and adults are explored and P6/7 have been<br />
looking for evidence in the text to support<br />
discussion in reading group. <strong>The</strong>y have<br />
explored the theme of kindness and created<br />
artwork which highlights acts of kindness.<br />
In Numeracy, P6/7 have been learning about<br />
place value and reading /writing numbers to<br />
millions and have challenged themselves by<br />
showing more than one way of doing the same<br />
sum.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y have enjoyed a range of art activities<br />
including creating a display of Tinfoil Art and<br />
a Bee Art Display where they had to observe<br />
and record fine detail of bees.<br />
Our IDL topic this term is Italy and so as well as discovering aspects of history and geography<br />
of this country, the class have been exploring Italian artists, Italian food and some famous<br />
inventors and scientists. As part of<br />
a languages focus throughout our<br />
school, the class created an Italian<br />
Café with sample menus and some<br />
role play, ending with a cooling ‘gelato’<br />
at the end of the day.<br />
Harry on reading ‘Wonder’: “I’ve found it really<br />
interesting finding out what other people go through<br />
and what their lives are like.<br />
Erika on the tinfoil art: ‘It was a bit tricky at first as there<br />
were lots of stages, but I am really pleased with how<br />
it turned out.’<br />
14 www.theweevine.org
Roll Up, Roll Up …the Circus is in Town!<br />
P2/3 class have had a super exciting start to their term, as we have<br />
been learning all about the circus! After watching lots of amazing<br />
circus acts, and reading some hilarious circus stories, we explored<br />
all the sights, sounds, tastes, and even smells of circus…not just the<br />
yummy popcorn. In PE we have been perfecting our circus skills,<br />
trying out balancing tricks and juggling, along to some very jolly<br />
circus music. As news reporters, we imagined what might happen<br />
if a circus elephant, left the circus and strolled into Kippen. This<br />
inspired us to write some very exciting news reports describing<br />
what the funny elephant got up to! We have written instructions<br />
explaining how to wash an elephant and realised we would need a<br />
‘jumbo’ sized sponge! <strong>The</strong>re is a mini circus tent in our classroom,<br />
where we have performed our own puppet-circus acts, with lights<br />
and music, and because we are such fantastic performers, we will<br />
invite some other classes to watch our show! It’s been a brilliant<br />
start to the year!<br />
Community Affairs<br />
www.theweevine.org 15
Community Affairs<br />
Kippen Community Council (KCC) held its first<br />
meeting after the summer break on Tuesday 13 th<br />
September. On this occasion the meeting was held<br />
in the Village Hall while work was being completed<br />
in the Reading Rooms. <strong>The</strong> remaining meetings of<br />
2022 will take place in the Reading Rooms on 11 th<br />
October, 8 th November and the 13 th December.<br />
Members of the community are, as always, very<br />
welcome to attend. We can also be contacted by email (kippencommunitycouncil@gmail.<br />
com).<br />
KCC has been actively involved in a variety of issues which affect our community including<br />
problems associated with roads and the application to site an anaerobic digester at Mains<br />
of Boquhan, Kippen.<br />
Roads Department<br />
KCC has collated all of the responses from residents regarding issues with roads,<br />
pavements, drains etc. <strong>The</strong>se were subsequently passed on to Stirling Council Roads<br />
Department for comment. Stirling Council have asked that should residents notice any<br />
problems, they report them either by calling Stirling Council Contact Centre (01786<br />
404040) or by completing an online form (stirling.gov.uk/online-forms/roadside-defects).<br />
Emergencies should be notified by phone.<br />
Some of the issues raised by residents have already been addressed. <strong>The</strong>se include<br />
covering up the information about toilets and fuel on the blue road sign approaching<br />
Kippen Station Roundabout as these are no longer available in the village. A request has<br />
also been made to make the same modifications to the sign when travelling east from<br />
Arnprior. In addition, give way markings have now been repainted at the junctions of<br />
Oakwood and Castlehill Loan, and also between Burngreen and Castlehill Loan. We would<br />
ask that you please take care at these junctions as there I still a lot of speeding and corner<br />
cutting. <strong>The</strong> situation is further exacerbated by the general increase in traffic, including<br />
construction traffic, which is still accessing the Dawn Homes site. Care should also be<br />
taken when travelling to and from Burngreen, Dawn Homes and <strong>The</strong> Old Nursery as the<br />
road markings are faded.<br />
Although some of the items submitted by KCC to Stirling Council have yet to be<br />
addressed, it is our understanding that these will be attended to in due course. Some<br />
road maintenance, including resurfacing, is budgeted in advance and as a result some<br />
problems may not be resolved during this financial year.<br />
Anaerobic Digester<br />
KCC represented the community at Stirling Council’s Planning Panel which was convened<br />
on 30 th August to decide whether the proposal to build an anaerobic digester at Mains<br />
of Boquhan Farm, Kippen should be approved. Despite 97 objections from the local<br />
community, the application was approved.<br />
Further information about KCC<br />
Additional information about KCC can be found on our website (kippencommunitycouncil@<br />
gmail.com). We also post information on the Kippen Village, Community and Action Group<br />
Facebook pages.<br />
16 www.theweevine.org
Community Affairs<br />
Kippen Community Woodland Group<br />
<strong>The</strong> Group has, once more, been busy in Burnside Wood.<br />
At the beginning of July we cut back branches which were hanging<br />
over the main paths to stop these brushing against those using<br />
the paths.<br />
In August we<br />
were back<br />
in the fen<br />
area removing saplings to preserve<br />
this important habitat. Litter was<br />
also removed from the wood and the<br />
football pitch thanks to some young<br />
volunteers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> work morning at the beginning of<br />
September was cancelled due to lack<br />
of availability of members. We are<br />
hoping to get some work done ahead<br />
of our October work morning to repair<br />
a section of the pond boardwalk and<br />
to remove a tree which is leaning over one of the paths. Dawn Homes has very kindly<br />
provided us with some aggregate which we shall use to repair paths in the western part of<br />
the wood when we have sufficient volunteers to help to wheel barrow it.<br />
Woodland work mornings continue to be held on the first Sunday of the month with a<br />
start time of 10.30. All equipment is provided, and we would encourage local residents to<br />
become involved.<br />
Committee meetings are<br />
held quarterly, and the<br />
next meeting will be our<br />
Annual General Meeting<br />
on the evening of Monday<br />
14 November. Please get<br />
in touch via FaceBook or<br />
kippenwoodlandgroup@<br />
gmail.com if you would<br />
like to come along to the<br />
meeting, find out more<br />
about the work of the Group<br />
or receive details of our<br />
activities.<br />
Finally, we learnt in August of<br />
a proposal by Stirling Council<br />
to designate Burnside<br />
Wood as a Local Nature Conservation Site. Stirling Council is inviting comments on the<br />
proposed designations by Monday 21st November 2022 via the Engage platform. Further<br />
information can be found on engage.stirling.gov.uk/projects/lncs<br />
Paula Watson, Secretary<br />
www.theweevine.org 17
Community Affairs<br />
Reading Room<br />
Work on renovating the Reading<br />
Room finally got underway in late<br />
July. As with all projects of this<br />
kind, unexpected – and unwelcome<br />
– discoveries were made, in<br />
particular, an outbreak of dry root<br />
in the old kitchen. While this was<br />
treated relatively quickly, the effect<br />
was to delay the project completion<br />
until mid – end October. All village<br />
residents and other users of the<br />
Reading Room will be advised as<br />
soon as a firm re-opening date has<br />
been set.<br />
Following completion of the<br />
renovations, the Reading Room will<br />
have a noticeably different internal<br />
layout. <strong>The</strong> new and enlarged<br />
kitchen will be at the back of the<br />
building and will be equipped with<br />
a large cooker, stainless steel work<br />
surfaces, a double sink and other<br />
items. Access to the main room<br />
will be via a new door so that the<br />
existing passage entrance will not<br />
be obstructed.<br />
Following the sale of the summer<br />
ice table, that room has become<br />
generally available and will be very<br />
suitable for social functions and meetings. It will also have a French window giving direct<br />
access to the garden. It is intended that suitable furniture will allow a broad spread of new<br />
users to enjoy the facility.<br />
Finally, all the lavatory facilities are being re-arranged and improved.<br />
Access to the Reading Room is being brought in line with current legal requirements with<br />
the building of a new sloping ramp which will be suitable for all wheelchairs. While this<br />
ramp will become the main entrance for wheelchair users, the existing ramp at the rear of<br />
the building will be retained as an emergency exit.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Management Committee would like to thank all users of the Reading room for their<br />
patience and understanding during the renovation period. <strong>The</strong>y also have no doubts that<br />
the end result will be a greatly improved village facility.<br />
Ricky Muir-Simpson<br />
18 www.theweevine.org
Community Affairs<br />
It was great to see the Rainbows after the summer holidays<br />
again. Before the summer holidays we said goodbye to 5<br />
Rainbows, and I wish them all the best in their new adventures.<br />
This year we welcomed 5 new Rainbows.<br />
1st<br />
Kippen Rainbows have had a great start, we have been out<br />
on a woodland scavenger hunt and hidden some rocks we<br />
painted. We made cress heads, and we made armpit fudge.<br />
After being involved with Rainbows for 3.5 years, it is time for me to move on. I started<br />
Rainbows back in the village 3 years ago for my oldest daughter to enjoy the activities. My<br />
youngest daughters will be of a Brownie age next year and therefore this will be the last<br />
year of me running Rainbows.<br />
Rainbows has been a<br />
big success and I have<br />
enjoyed organising all<br />
the activities. I have<br />
learned a lot in the last<br />
3.5 years, and I will miss<br />
the Rainbows. <strong>The</strong>ir<br />
enthusiasm and their<br />
laughter.<br />
For Rainbows to be able<br />
to continue I am looking<br />
for someone who is<br />
willing to take it over. It<br />
doesn’t have to be on the same day and time. This can be changed to suit the volunteer(s)<br />
who will be taking it over. At the moment I am running the meetings on my own and rely<br />
on Parent Helpers, however if there are 2 volunteers there will be more possibilities with<br />
what you can do.<br />
If you are interested in running Rainbows, please get in touch via email kippen.rainbows@<br />
gmail.com or phone 07784499683. It would be a real shame if Rainbows would stop.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Gargunnock Brownie leaders will also be stepping down next year. If running<br />
a Rainbow unit isn’t your thing but maybe Brownies are. Please contact Jackie jackie_<br />
campbe11@yahoo.co.uk, and she can discuss things with you.<br />
www.theweevine.org 19
Community Affairs<br />
Kippen for Ukraine Update<br />
Kippen for Ukraine (K4U) has now been in place for over six<br />
months with its core aim being to explore and be pro-active<br />
in ways to support Ukrainians individually and collectively.<br />
<strong>The</strong> K4U group has worked both with potential hosts and the<br />
council’s resettlement team to match individuals and families<br />
within the village and is delighted to report that several Ukrainian<br />
families of the same friendship group now reside with us in<br />
Kippen. This has been a real success as they are able to continue<br />
their friendship while supporting each other as they adjust to<br />
their changing situation.<br />
K4U has also created several support groups to assist both hosts and Ukrainians with<br />
aspects such as transportation, sourcing material needs, catering, befriending, fundraising<br />
and language support. <strong>The</strong>re have been several fundraising initiatives and, with the<br />
assistance of the Reading Rooms, a hub for new Ukrainians is being established.<br />
Looking ahead<br />
Whilst we are delighted with what has been achieved to date, we still have hosts in the<br />
area that are waiting to be matched with Ukrainians. <strong>The</strong>re are still many Ukrainians<br />
awaiting a match. If you would like to consider registering as a host, this can be done via<br />
the Homes for Ukraine website. If you would like to discuss whether this is a possibility for<br />
you, please telephone June Waley on 01786 870 454. K4U continues to use its close ties<br />
with the council to try to assist with the matching process of families with hosts.<br />
It is now becoming clearer where the needs are and how K4U and the local community<br />
can help the Ukrainians to adjust to life in Kippen. In the short term, the group intends to<br />
focus its efforts on the following needs:<br />
• Transportation to and from Stirling/car sharing.<br />
• Fundraising to assist with material needs, use of the Kippen Reading Rooms hub, social<br />
and recreational activities, and events.<br />
• Support with language development through lessons and conversational opportunities.<br />
• Collection of toiletries for hub hotels where Ukrainians await placement with hosts.<br />
Kippen for Ukraine also looks forward to hosting more fundraising opportunities and<br />
events that will allow our Ukrainian friends to share their culture with the people of Kippen.<br />
Kippen locals wanting to help and support<br />
If you have not already done so and are interested in helping, please complete the Kippen<br />
for Ukraine form which can be found at https://forms.gle/2CmTfeoakbsEAU4u5. It takes<br />
one minute. Please look out for information on our upcoming initiatives and events.<br />
If you have any queries with regards to hosting, supporting Ukrainians or donating to<br />
Kippen for Ukraine, please contact kippenforukraine@gmail.com. If you would like to be<br />
added to our mailing list for updates and have chosen not to complete the form, email us<br />
and we can add you to our mailing list.<br />
<strong>The</strong> K4U Core Group.<br />
“It takes a village to welcome a refugee.”<br />
20 www.theweevine.org
Community Affairs<br />
Classics at Kippen<br />
Kathleen McKellar Ferguson presents a “Christmas Celebration” in Kippen Parish Church<br />
with John Logan & students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.<br />
Saturday, 3rd December at 7.30 pm<br />
Tickets: Adult £15 / Concession £12 / Under 16’s admission free<br />
Tickets available via info@classicsatkippen.co.uk<br />
Refreshments will be served at the interval<br />
Proceeds in aid of MND (Scotland) & Parkinsons UK (Scotland)<br />
www.theweevine.org 21
Did you know<br />
<strong>The</strong> Children of Arnprior Nursery would like to thank the<br />
Kippen Community Trust and Falk Renewables for their grant.<br />
Thanks to the grant we have been able to purchase All in One<br />
Waterproof, wellies, sunhats, bikes, balance bikes and bike<br />
helmets for all children to use at the nursery.<br />
All these items will greatly enhance our learning environment<br />
and will help us being a more inclusive nursery.<br />
<strong>The</strong> bikes and balance bikes are used on a regular basis. <strong>The</strong><br />
younger children are enjoying the balance bikes and the older<br />
ones the bikes without stabilisers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> waterproof and wellies have been very useful in the garden and going on our field<br />
walks. Especially now the weather is turning they will give us the opportunity to do more<br />
outdoor activities in all weathers.<br />
Here are some of our amazing models showing some of the items we have purchased.<br />
22 www.theweevine.org
Did you know<br />
KippenWays Community Green Travel Pathways Initiative - Update<br />
<strong>The</strong> KippenWays Community Group was formed last year to improve the access to and<br />
quality of community pathways around Kippen. <strong>The</strong> current focus of the Group is on<br />
improving a section of the existing right of way between Kippen and Gargunnock between<br />
the end of Glentirranmuir Road and Boquhan Bridge. In our last inclusion in the <strong>Wee</strong><br />
<strong>Vine</strong>, we highlighted the results of the community survey conducted last summer and<br />
mentioned our intention to progress outline design subject to obtaining funding. We<br />
are pleased to report that financial support was forthcoming from the Falck Renewables<br />
Kingsburn Community Fund, which is administered by the Kippen Community Trust with<br />
support from Foundation Scotland. <strong>The</strong> funding enabled us to appoint Transport Planning<br />
& Engineering (TP&E), Cycling Scotland’s social enterprise consultancy, to carry-out the<br />
work.<br />
An options appraisal was completed by TP&E in December last year and the outline design<br />
in May this year. <strong>The</strong> next step is detailed design and obtaining planning consent. <strong>The</strong><br />
Paths for All Ian Findlay fund has been identified as a potential source of funding and the<br />
Group has been invited to submit an application following submission of an expression<br />
of interest. Further discussion is required with the landowners and quotes need to be<br />
obtained from three contractors prior to submission of the application for funding.<br />
<strong>The</strong> proposed improvements we are working on address the most important reasons<br />
cited in a summer 2021 survey for not using the path, with the access, surface, and safety<br />
of crossing the Boquhan field being the greatest priority identified.<br />
<strong>The</strong> route forms a section of the aspirational Kings Highway (https://alynsmith.scot/<br />
kingshighway/) and by virtue of existing tracks and minor roads, provides connections<br />
with Gargunnock and Stirling to the east, Balfron and Killearn to the south west and<br />
Arnprior to the west.<br />
Would you like to take part in the work of this group? – Are you new to Kippen? – Getting<br />
involved is a great way to get immersed in the community in an environmentally positive<br />
activity!<br />
Our current work includes pulling together the application and general running the group.<br />
People with social media skills would prove very useful. We are intending to hold our first<br />
Annual General Meeting on 20 October 2022. If anyone would like to find out more about<br />
the work of the Group or be kept informed of our activities, follow us on Facebook or<br />
email kippenways@gmail.com<br />
Angus Warren, Chair<br />
www.theweevine.org 23
Did you know<br />
Stirling Council Media Release<br />
Plan for biomethane near Kippen plant given the green light<br />
A plan to build a biomethane plant<br />
near Kippen has been given conditional<br />
approval by Stirling Council’s Planning and<br />
Regulation Panel.<br />
Graham’s, <strong>The</strong> Family Dairy, are seeking<br />
to install the facility on a 1.9-hectare site<br />
northeast of Mains of Boquhan as part of<br />
their plans to achieve net zero by 2035.<br />
<strong>The</strong> proposal would see dairy and<br />
agricultural waste from three of Graham’s<br />
sites broken down through an anaerobic<br />
digestion *process to produce biomethane<br />
and digestate – a nutrient-rich substance.<br />
<strong>The</strong> biomethane would provide a<br />
renewable source of heat for soft cheese<br />
production and a fuel replacement for<br />
Heavy Goods Vehicles, while the digestate<br />
would be used on an adjoining farm owned<br />
in place of fossil fuel derived fertiliser.<br />
<strong>The</strong> development includes digester tanks,<br />
a plant room and a number of other<br />
structures, including absorption towers, a<br />
flare and a digestate store surrounded by<br />
a 3m high wall.<br />
Alterations would also be made to the<br />
junction where the existing road meets<br />
the A811.<br />
In a report submitted to the Planning<br />
Panel, Council Officers stated that the<br />
proposal complies with Stirling’s Local<br />
Development Plan.<br />
Following a hearing at yesterday’s (30 Aug)<br />
meeting, the application was approved,<br />
subject to a number of conditions.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se included: a pre-construction noise<br />
impact assessment, limits on when HGVs<br />
can move at the site, a restriction of the<br />
operation of the flare stack to a maximum<br />
of 10 minutes per month, a road safety<br />
audit and the approval of management<br />
plans relating to lighting, noise, dust and<br />
the environment.<br />
A total of 97 objections were lodged about<br />
the application, including from Kippen<br />
and Gargunnock Community Councils, out<br />
of 103 comments received. <strong>The</strong>se were<br />
considered when applying the conditions.<br />
Questions were asked by the panel over<br />
SEPA’s regulatory responsibilities, in<br />
relation to the environmental impact of<br />
the plant. Responses were considered in<br />
determining the application.<br />
A recording of the meeting can be viewed<br />
here: https://stirling.public-i.tv/core/<br />
portal/home<br />
To read the report and download the<br />
agenda papers, follow this link: http://<br />
minutes.stirling.gov.uk/PDFs/<br />
Planning&Regulation/Agendas/<br />
PlanRegAgenda.pdf<br />
<strong>24</strong> www.theweevine.org
Did you know<br />
www.theweevine.org 25
Did you know<br />
RISK AND RESILIENCE<br />
Much has been said regarding Risk and Resilience in the village, particularly during the<br />
activation of our plan at the onset of the Pandemic.<br />
Our plan, written in 2017, now needs to be updated to reflect the experience gained<br />
during the Lockdown, and also to reflect the more general risks which have followed in its<br />
wake and from the effects of war in Ukraine.<br />
Risks are not restricted to sudden catastrophes or global pandemics.<br />
<strong>The</strong> local impact of serious national circumstances can extend from economic recession<br />
to simple shortages of commodities, stretching from food to energy supplies.<br />
Local Resilience teams can do nothing to prevent national events – but much can be done<br />
locally to mitigate their effects.<br />
Villages across Britain are taking positive action to offset the depressive effects of hardship.<br />
Some are running food exchange schemes and making use of their social centres.<br />
Whilst the need for these arrangements may not yet have arrived in Kippen, we have to<br />
plan for these circumstances.<br />
That is what Risk and Resilience plans are intended for.<br />
Our Risk and Resilience plans are prepared under the auspices of the Community Council<br />
and managed by a coordinator. Under these plans, local risk events are coordinated on<br />
the basis of using the Reading Rooms as a central hub which now has WIFI.<br />
Our village volunteers can be proud of their role during Pandemic and also for their<br />
performance in delivering Christmas lunches to the Over Sixties in 2020 and 2021.<br />
Volunteers are always needed, so any villager interested in risk and resilience should<br />
contact the coordinator, Jeremy Gaywood (870255).<br />
We can now build on that experience and plan for the future.<br />
<strong>The</strong> role of the Community Council, unavoidably reduced during the lockdown, can now<br />
become more formalised in its involvement by regular review of risks to the village.<br />
Villagers may take comfort as Kippen continues to be supported by a resilient volunteer<br />
team which stands by, ready to care for the community when risks threaten.<br />
Jeremy Gaywood<br />
26 www.theweevine.org
Community Engagement and<br />
Reassurance<br />
PC Graeme McNulty is a new addition to<br />
the Forth and Endrick Ward Officer role.<br />
Graeme has been a Police Officer for<br />
thirteen years, including five years within<br />
Balfron. For the last four years, Graeme<br />
has been the school-based officer at<br />
Balfron, Dunblane and McLaren High<br />
Schools.<br />
PC Steven Graham and PC Graeme<br />
McNulty are based at Balfron Police<br />
Office and can be contacted on 101 or at<br />
ForthEndrickCPT@scotland.police.uk. It<br />
is recommended that this email address<br />
is used by the local community for email<br />
contact however should not be used for<br />
crime reporting.<br />
Please remember that we regularly publish<br />
useful information and updates on social<br />
media, including appeals for information,<br />
updates about road closures and crime<br />
prevention advice. Our Facebook and<br />
Twitter pages can be found at:<br />
www.facebook.com/<br />
forthvalleypolicedivision<br />
www.facebook.com/policescotland<br />
www.twitter.com/stirlingpol<br />
www.twitter.com/policescotland<br />
<strong>The</strong>ft<br />
In September 2022, Police were made<br />
aware of a theft of lead from the church<br />
roof in Kippen. This is another clear<br />
example highlighting the complete lack<br />
of morals among thieves operating in our<br />
area. It is therefore important to be vigilant<br />
and contact the Police should anyone see<br />
anything suspicious. <strong>The</strong>se calls are always<br />
treated seriously and are all investigated.<br />
Please remember to follow basic home<br />
security rules and help to make it make it<br />
harder for the thieves.<br />
Please consider the following:<br />
• Use timer switches on lights and radios<br />
to make it look as if your home is<br />
occupied.<br />
• Ensure all doors and windows are<br />
Police Report<br />
secure when you leave and when you<br />
go to bed.<br />
• If possible, use secure lighting at the<br />
front and back of your property.<br />
• Make sure all garden tools and ladders<br />
are locked away when not being used.<br />
Don’t give the thieves the tools to break<br />
into your house.<br />
• Use a good quality lock on any garden<br />
sheds and outhouses.<br />
• Make a note of all makes models and<br />
serial numbers of expensive items in<br />
your home.<br />
• If your house is fitted with an alarm then<br />
please use it. This is a good deterrent<br />
should thieves manage to force entry to<br />
your house.<br />
• create a FREE and secure inventory<br />
of all your personal property at www.<br />
immobilise.com<br />
• If you note anything suspicious in your<br />
neighbourhood report it on 101.<br />
Fuel theft advice<br />
<strong>The</strong>re has been a rise in domestic and<br />
commercial fuel tanks, including one<br />
at nearby Killearn. It’s important to put<br />
measures in place to protect your fuel tank<br />
and make it extremely difficult for thieves<br />
to target your fuel.<br />
Please find below some tips to avoid<br />
becoming a victim of such a crime:<br />
Locate your tank in a safe location<br />
remembering that many thieves use<br />
Google Maps to find satellite images of<br />
fuel tanks.<br />
Consider locating your tank behind a<br />
garage or shed and away from roads.<br />
Positioning it close to your business or<br />
home will ensure it’s in clear view.<br />
Locate inside a security gate or cage with<br />
a good quality, robust fence, or cage to<br />
make life difficult for thieves.<br />
Install an alarm Consider fitting alarms to<br />
external gates surrounding your fuel tank<br />
or to the inside of a shed or outbuilding<br />
that is housing the tank.<br />
www.theweevine.org 27
Police Report<br />
Fit a fuel theft lock, thieves often come<br />
armed with tools so it’s worth investing in<br />
quality locks, locking fuel caps and antisiphoning<br />
deterrents to slow down the<br />
criminals and reduce the likelihood of<br />
success. Locks with a CEN or BSEN 12320<br />
Grade 6 classification indicate maximum<br />
security (Grade 1 is the least secure)<br />
Install outdoor security lighting positioning<br />
your tank in the bright light is an effective<br />
solution worth considering. With the<br />
majority of thieves striking at night,<br />
installing automatic security lighting will<br />
help stop criminals from targeting your<br />
fuel tank.<br />
Install CCTV cameras on your premises to<br />
dissuade anyone from targeting your tank<br />
as well as catch a thief in the act, providing<br />
the police with the evidence required<br />
to bring those to justice who choose to<br />
ignore the deterrent.<br />
Put up signage to highlight the security<br />
measures you’ve installed can help deter<br />
those up to no good. <strong>The</strong>se could include<br />
Private property, keep out, Warning<br />
CCTV in operation, all vehicles are left<br />
with minimum fuel, Security patrols in<br />
operation, All vehicles fitted with security<br />
devices etc<br />
Fraud is still very common, and it is easy to<br />
get caught out. <strong>The</strong> perpetrators are very<br />
good at what they do, and many people<br />
are fooled into giving away their money.<br />
Identity theft<br />
Identity theft is when criminals get access<br />
to someone’s personal information. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
then use it to steal their identity. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
could then pretend to open bank accounts,<br />
get credit cards, loans, and mortgages or<br />
to claim benefits. <strong>The</strong>y could even take<br />
over someone’s accounts and change the<br />
address. <strong>The</strong>y can steal someone’s name<br />
and reputation. <strong>The</strong>n can use this to make<br />
money.<br />
Here are a few ways which these criminals<br />
work:<br />
• <strong>The</strong>y search through rubbish to find bills<br />
or bank statements<br />
• <strong>The</strong>y target flats where shared mailboxes<br />
make theft easier<br />
• <strong>The</strong>y bribe or rob postal workers or<br />
purchase the information from other<br />
criminals<br />
• <strong>The</strong>y search through unattended bags.<br />
Warning signs<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are a number of warning signs to<br />
look out for:<br />
If you get bills or invoices for goods you<br />
have not ordered<br />
If you get collection letters for debt that<br />
isn’t yours or<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are transactions on your bank or<br />
credit card statements that you do not<br />
recognise<br />
Important documents such as your<br />
passport or driving licence may have been<br />
stolen.<br />
Take action<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are a number of steps you can take<br />
to avoid falling victim to identity theft:<br />
Keep all your important documents safe<br />
and secure<br />
When using a credit or debit card, make<br />
sure it’s never out of your sight<br />
Cash machines may have been tampered<br />
with. Your cards could be skimmed and<br />
cloned<br />
Never give out your personal details when<br />
you’re contacted by phone, fax, post, or<br />
email<br />
Always offer to ring back any suspicious<br />
callers but check the phone number you<br />
are given<br />
When throwing out documents which<br />
contain personal information try to shred<br />
them so that nobody could read your<br />
personal details<br />
Always check your bank and credit card<br />
statements. Report any transactions you<br />
don’t recognise, even small amounts<br />
Close all accounts you no longer need<br />
Move your mail when moving home by<br />
arranging with the post office to forward<br />
your mail to your new address<br />
Get organisations to send to your new<br />
address.<br />
28 www.theweevine.org
If you think you might be a victim of<br />
identity theft, don’t delay:<br />
Contact your bank or building society<br />
Keep a record of all communication<br />
Report the matter to the police<br />
Request a copy of your credit report (such<br />
as Equifax or Experian) - you can ask for<br />
incorrect information to be removed.<br />
Vehicle safety – Getting winter ready<br />
In the last two weeks of September 2022,<br />
PC’s McNulty and Graham have been<br />
conducting proactive road safety patrols.<br />
As a result of these patrols the following<br />
offences have been detected.<br />
Expired MOT x3<br />
No Insurance x1<br />
Failing to provide a roadside breath test<br />
(suspected drunk driving) x1<br />
Expired Vehicle Excise License<br />
<strong>The</strong>se are clear examples of persons not<br />
being prepared when taking to the road.<br />
Please follows the below safety advice.<br />
Prepare for the winter by keeping your<br />
vehicle well maintained before you take<br />
to the road. Take special care that brakes,<br />
tyres, lights, batteries, windscreens and<br />
wiper blades are in good condition. In<br />
addition, washer bottles need to contain<br />
an additive to stop the water from freezing.<br />
Tyres should also be checked weekly to<br />
ensure they are legal and at the correct<br />
pressure (consult your vehicle handbook).<br />
<strong>The</strong> minimum legal tread depth for cars<br />
is 1.6mm across the centre 3/4 of the<br />
breadth of the tread around the entire<br />
circumference. <strong>The</strong>y should also be<br />
checked for bulges, cuts or tears which<br />
weaken the tyre. Failure to maintain your<br />
tyres could lead to a maximum of £2,500<br />
fine and 3 penalty points per tyre.<br />
Make sure your windows are clean,<br />
properly demisted and clear of snow and<br />
ice before you drive. Also make sure that<br />
your roof is clear of snow as this affects<br />
drivers behind you and can also cause<br />
obstructions on your windscreen when<br />
braking. Be careful with low sun as it can<br />
Police Report<br />
make it difficult to see and a dirty, greasy<br />
or damaged windscreen can make this<br />
worse.<br />
All lights must be kept clean and clear<br />
and be in good working order, including<br />
registration plate lights. Use the help of<br />
someone to check that all of your lights<br />
are working.<br />
Consider keeping an emergency kit in your<br />
car for severe weather, this should at least<br />
include:<br />
•An ice scraper and de-icer<br />
•A shovel for snow<br />
•A torch and spare batteries<br />
•Warm clothes, boots and a blanket<br />
•Some food and a warm drink in a flask<br />
•A first aid kit<br />
•Battery jump leads<br />
•A map or device with offline maps for any<br />
unplanned diversions.<br />
In wet weather, stopping distances will<br />
be at least double those required for<br />
stopping on dry roads. Aquaplaning can<br />
be a frightening experience; this is where<br />
a wedge of water builds up between the<br />
front tyres and the road surface. If this<br />
happens, the safest solution is to remove<br />
pressure from the accelerator, allowing<br />
the vehicle to lose speed which will help<br />
the tyres regain their grip.<br />
Ice and snow can increase stopping<br />
distanced by up to ten times so keep well<br />
back from the vehicle in front. Anticipate<br />
when you will need to be stopping and be<br />
alert to other road users. When the roads<br />
are icy, drive at a slow speed in as high<br />
a gear as possible; accelerate and brake<br />
very gently<br />
www.theweevine.org 29
Supporters<br />
Across: 1 A Month of Sundays 9 Abeyant 10 Approve 11 Ore 12 Established 13 Light<br />
opera 15 Crab 18 Hoax 20 Preselects 23 Riding habit 25 Era 26 Leonine 27 Frosted<br />
28 Cinematographer<br />
Down: 1 Ayatollah 2 Over-egg 3 Travesty 4 Octet 5 Scabbards 6 Napkin 7 Another<br />
8 Speed 14 Parchment 16 Bystander 17 Plethora 19 And so on 21 Cheetah<br />
22 Indium 23 Relic <strong>24</strong> Befog<br />
30 www.theweevine.org
Supporters<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong> Supporters<br />
Without our supporters, there would be no <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong>. <strong>The</strong>y offer support in a variety of<br />
ways. All essential.<br />
Firstly, our financial supporters. Printing and other costs are totally met through the<br />
support of a number of local organisations. <strong>The</strong>se have all been affected to a greater or<br />
lesser extent by the current Covid crisis, but continue to provide support, which is greatly<br />
appreciated. Currently, these are (in alphabetical order):<br />
Acorn Cottage (03454986900}<br />
Arnbeg Farm Stay (01786 871121)<br />
Arnprior Swimming Pool (870481)<br />
Brian Reynolds Carpentry (870531)<br />
Cameron Skinner, Skinner of Kippen (870203)<br />
Central Auto Repairs (Glengyle) (870254)<br />
Classics@Kippen<br />
David Kirkwood, Fishmonger<br />
Falck Renewables<br />
John Coubrough & Son, Joiners &Funeral Directors (870737)<br />
McNicolls Country Store (870237)<br />
Munro Electrical Service (07951 913983)<br />
Stephen Paul Associates (870906)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cross Keys (870293)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Inn at Kippen (870500)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Woodhouse (870156)<br />
For those not familiar with the name “Falck Renewables,” this is the parent company of the<br />
community facility known as “<strong>The</strong> Windfarm,” to whom our grateful thanks are due for the<br />
significant support provided.<br />
Each of our financial supporters is entitled to use the magazine to publicise forthcoming<br />
events, or significant awards obtained. Anyone who would like to offer support in this way,<br />
can do so by contacting us at enquiries@theweevine.org.<br />
Secondly, many thanks to those who have supported this issue by contributing articles.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wee</strong> <strong>Vine</strong> is for Kippen, about Kippen and by Kippen. We would like to know about<br />
events as they happen, and also those which are planned. Also, organisations, clubs and<br />
their programmes and activities. Plus, comments, queries, photos, and anything else that<br />
takes your fancy.<br />
“Letters to the editor” on paper or electronically are welcome from all.<br />
And finally, those who support by offering help in many ways, such as the delivery of the<br />
magazine round the village.<br />
Stuart Thomson<br />
www.theweevine.org 31
McNicoll’s Country Store<br />
Licensed Grocer - Open 7 days<br />
• Large Freezer Section<br />
• 5 Metre Dairy Cabinet<br />
• Newsagent<br />
• Fresh Fruit & Vegetables<br />
• Fresh Bakery Rolls Daily<br />
• National Lottery Outlet<br />
• Post Office Services<br />
• Payments can be made by<br />
credit/debit cards<br />
• Contactless Payments Available<br />
Main Street, Kippen.<br />
Tel: 01786 870 237