A Remarkably Lively 90 Year Old

 Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday, Cortachy Rural,

Happy Birthday to you.

Friends of long standing,

party food,

well prepared 

and presented;

honoured guests, 

good company,

happy memories.

Cortachy's Honorary President, Lady Airlie, and SWRI National Chairman, Isobel Robertson, cut the cake. 

Members,

present

and 

 past.

The Rural family

Cortachy Castle Gardens

A gentle stroll,

through scented azaleas,

to the pond.

Magnificent blooms

Generations

of members, 

Forget me not . . . fond remembrance.

 A happy group

in a sweetly scented garden.

Cortachy Rural's 90th Birthday Party 

 ended with tea and shortbread, 

 laughter

and sincere thanks for all our blessings. 

AGM & Prizegiving

President Patsy Paton welcomed members to the AGM and prize giving evening.Tickets and trophies from the Federation show were presented as were the prizes and trophies for the institute’s monthly competitions.

The former Boath / McKay Quaich for teenagers which has not been in use for some years was presented in its new role, as the prize for our new, regular ‘Flower of the Month’ competition.

Elsie Nicoll and Jane Butterworth from Memus & Fern institute counted the ballot papers for next session’s committee and the new officials were announced.

Patsy Paton congratulated successful members, thanked retiring secretary Susan McLaren, the session’s outgoing committee members and our guest scrutineers for their services and invited the company to enjoy a scrumptious supper.

Competitions –

Painted flowerpot – 1, Sandra Boath, 2, Helen Atkinson, 3, Ella MacKay.

Individual savoury tart  – 1, Sandra Boath, 2, Helen Atkinson, 3, Margaret Mackie.

Flower of the Month – 1, Margaret Jack, 2, Marion McDonald, 3, Helen Atkinson.
Gypsy Creams - Margaret Mackie.      

Prizewinners

Federation -

Caroline Lang Bulb Salver - Susan McLaren

Institute -

Caroline Lang Salver (Federation Show points) – (joint) Sandra Boath, Marion McDonald;
Jubilee Salver (most points in Fed Show bulb section) – Patsy Paton
Wardhaugh Mitchell Industrial Trophy - Sandra Boath, runner up - Patsy Paton

Mrs Winter’s Horticultural Trophy - Sandra Boath, runner up - Ella MacKay.

Boath McKay Flower of the Month Quaich - Margaret Mackie

A.C.W.W. Women Walk the World

Members of Angus Federation of SWRI were blessed with sunshine for a walk from Kinnordy Loch, though Kirrie Den into the wee red town.

Monday morning was a bright sunny, dry day and it was a joy to walk out through the countryside and to enjoy the beauty of the well kept park that lies at the base of Kirrie Den where the burn snakes its way through a steep ravine forming a naturally sheltered spot, much loved by generations of Kirrie folk. The walk was a sociable event with a staggered start, and some early - and energetic - birds set out from Kirrie and met the later starters from Kinnordy, eventually joining up with the final contingent.

The walk was part of an Association of Country Women of the World 'Walk the World' initiative and after pausing - and posing - for a photograph at local sculptor, Bruce Walker's World globe sculpture, holding flags representing the countries of the World, walkers adjourned to the Old Parish Church hall for a cup of tea, kindly laid on by members of Kirriemuir SWRI. Thank you, ladies for that.

A.C.W.W. World President, May Kidd, spoke very briefly of the plight of women throughout the world, referring to babies dying of HIV in Africa, female infanticide in India and street children living in sewers in Bucharest. May brought along some useful countrymen to the event, one of whom took photos, and the other one minded a Jack Russell at tea time. Her lovely grandchildren Blair and Eve provided a window into the future generation of country men and women, behaved impeccably at the table and added an element of entertainment to those who sat with them.

The youngest walker of all made the journey in her pram, pushed by her very enthusiastic mum.

Thanks to Grahame Hammond for the photograph.

Congratulations and Celebrations!

Congratulations and celebrations to the folk of the Angus Glens for two great, recent community efforts.

Cortachy SWRI’s showing of ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ in Memus Hall on Friday 19^th April raised £574. (Tickets £423, raffle £151) Treasurer, June Rae, summed up her reaction in one word, “Excellent!”

President, Patsy Paton, thanked members for supplying the supper, members and friends for arranging the film show and raffle and the community for supporting the event and sharing in an enjoyable and sociable evening. 

Patsy said, “The night was a great success and a credit to all who were involved. The money raised will go to institute funds for future projects. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the effort in any way.”

A week later, the Glens’ community Spring Fair in Memus Hall on Saturday, May 27^th  drew exhibitors and customers from throughout Angus. Treasurer, Jane Butterworth, said “It is heartening that we can attract such a range of stalls from Cortachy School and Memus WRI to artists and craftspeople from Edzell, Kirriemuir and Forfar to come to our community hall and that the public travels some distance to support the sale. We particularly appreciate the work of the ladies in the kitchen who keep the customers fed throughout the event. Our homemade soup is an attraction in its own right.”   

Memus Spring Fair

Rachel & Iona Leslie cast an appreciative eye over the vintage jewellery heading for the fair

The annual Memus Spring Fair will be held in Memus and the Glens Hall DD8 3TY (next to the Drovers Inn) on Saturday, 27^th April 10 am – 2pm.

As well as a range of stalls including home baking, produce, attic treasures, jewellery and craft materials will be a café serving morning coffees and soup and crusty bread lunches.

Tea, Women and Song

Cortachy's co-operative effort 'Autumn', placed 2nd in the Federation show

President Patsy Paton welcomed members and our guests from Northmuir institute and extended an invitation to the showing of ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ in Memus Hall on Friday 19^th April at 7.30 pm.

The ladies of Northmuir concert party entertained us for the evening with songs from musicals and the pop charts of past years, amusing poetry, a quiz and a selection of taste and try recipes to be sampled.

A bring and buy table provided a range of treats and made a sizeable contribution to institute fund raising efforts.

Marion MacDonald thanked the ladies of Northmuir nstitute for a varied and entertaining programme.

The evening finished with a tempting supper prepared by Caroline Lang, Aileen Pearson and Mary Friedrich.

Thank you to Susan and Pat for help reporting the meeting.

Competitions -
Decorated Hard Boiled Egg – 1, Ella MacKay, 2, Aileen Pearson, 3, Sandra Boath.

Plain Gingerbread – 1, Patsy Paton, 2, Sandra Boath, 3, Caroline Lang.
Flower of the month -1, Patsy Paton, 2, Margaret Mackie, 3, Pat Harrow.

Exotic Night Out

Cortachy SWRI film night with supper is on Friday, April 19th, 7.30 pm. 

The film is ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’

Buffet supper is included in the £5 cover charge

All guests welcome.