Bannockburn NewsIssue 27: August / September 2009

Established 2004

Prize CompetitionSponsored by: SPEED PROPERTY Page 8

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Local fashion designer and en-trepreneur Iona Crawford may

only be 23-years-old; however, she is already turning heads on the international fashion scene, as her self-titled label is proving to be a success.After winning the womenswear

category of the “London Calling Competition” and being short-listed for Young Designer of the Year, Iona has been described as “one of the most avant-garde young designers emerging today” by Vogue magazine. Her recent successes have also led to a great amount of press attention, with the Scotsman, the Sun and the Daily Record publishing features on the up-and-coming designer.So far this year, Iona has already

exhibited her work in the top fash-ion capitals of the world. Her label has taken her to Paris, London, New York and Tokyo; and as we go to print, Iona has returned to Japan’s capital to launch the “To See the Sky...” collection.As well as being a success in de-

sign, Iona’s entrepreneurial skills have not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year she was made a busi-ness ambassador to Stirling by the Lord Provost .Iona, who lives and works from

her studio at Craigend Farm, is the daughter of the owners of Mc-Naughton’s the butcher on Ban-nockburn Main Street, and she highlighted her parents as being key in her recent achievements.She emphasised the importance

of their support, especially when faced with the tricky decision of

choosing to study medicine after earning top grades in her higher exams, or alternatively following her dream of going to Art school.She said: “I was really lucky that

my Mum and Dad were totally be-hind me; ninety-percent of parents would have forced their children to be a lawyer or a doctor.”Iona, who attended Bannockburn

Primary School and later Stirling High, identified her love for cloth-ing stemmed from a young age: “I suppose I have always had an in-terest in fashion. Mum tells stories of how I always loved shopping.“I must have been three when I

decided that I wanted a denim jacket for my fourth birthday. My family always brings up the fact that I wore leggings and hats. Yeah, I went through a hat phase,” she added.After graduating from Edinburgh

College of Art, Iona worked with Scottish Enterprise where she was given the inspiration to take her talent to the next level and create her own fashion label. She explained her decision: “I guess in the industry you either start your own label or work for a big fashion house. “I went to see Business Gateway

and spoke to the Princes Trust and things just spiralled.”She continued: “I think I’ve al-

ways had a business brain from my Dad. It [her fashion label] just grew arms and legs and it has tak-en off. It got to that stage where I couldn’t really stop it.”Iona’s label focuses on using top

quality material, mainly cashmere, merino and leather. The sur-roundings of the local area have

provided her with great inspiration for many of her designs.In particular, life on the farm has

ignited Iona’s creativity, and this is reflected in the drawings and paintings she produces in her spare time. Several pieces of her work are also featured at Scottish Art Galleries.Looking ahead to the future, Iona

said that she is looking forward to having her work displayed across the world in front of industry pro-fessionals: “When the reception is good, it feels amazing. There is no better feeling than doing a cat-walk show.”She added: “I love the freedom

of running my own business and I like the people; it is really inspir-ing.“I am pleased that I chose fashion

design but I sometimes joke with my parents that I will go back and do medicine!”The Bannockburn News wishes

Iona good luck with what seems to be a fashion label destined for success.

Iona started her own label

Local girl goes global with fashion labelBy Greg Christison

THE HISTORIC CHARACTER

The Second Account of Andrew Mor

Lieutenant Meldrum

Success for local sports teams

Bannockburn & St Mary’s Primary

News

For more information please visit: www.ionacrawford.com

Bannockburn NewsPage 2

Contact Us

Editor Greg ChristisonEmail: bburn-news@talktalk.netPhone: 07903 197863Letter: The Editor, Ban-nockburn News, c/o 68 Benview, Bannockburn, FK7 0HYTreasurer Gordon Jackgordonj@harleyfinancial.co.ukAdvertisingAll enquiries to the Editor or Treasurer

Bannockburn News wel-comes your comments, ideas and contributions.

Please feel free to contact ei-ther Greg or Gordon using the details below.

Hillpark, Bannockburn01786 818282

Opening times

Monday- Saturday6am - 2pm

Sunday9am - 2pm

Visitors to the Allan Church cannot help but notice a large, beautiful plaque in the church

vestibule which commemorates a man named George Meldrum. Many people who have lived in Bannockburn for years ask who exactly this man was.

George was my great-great uncle who arrived from Torryburn, Fife with his parents in 1816 when he was only a few months old. His father, also George, was a weaver who would have been at-tracted to Bannockburn by the great success of the Wilson Mills.

Between 1819 and 1837 four boys and three girls were born in Bannockburn to George and his wife Margaret Mitchell. One of the boys, Sandy, became the President of the SCWS in the 1870s; one of the girls, Catherine, was my great grand-mother.

For a time young George worked, like his father, in the Wilson Mills. Then in May 1837 he enlisted in the Army in Glasgow and was immediately sent to join the 26th Cameronians in the East Indies.

He was appointed Regimental School Teacher but, tiring of that unexciting role, he transferred to the ranks and fought in the Opium Wars against China.

Promoted to Sergeant at Nankin, George re-turned with the 26th to Edinburgh in 1843 and in 1846 in Dublin he became Sergeant Major. His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Hemp-hill, strongly recommended George for a Commis-sion and in 1854 George received his Ensigncy.

The previous year, while stationed in Gibraltar, George had married Mary Back, originally from Exeter, who was 24 years old; George was 37.

Newly married, Ensign Meldrum, now the Adju-tant of the 26th Cameronians, sailed to Canada and in 1854 a daughter Annie was born in Mon-treal.

In 1855 he purchased his Lieutenancy for £700; an enormous sum the equivalent today of almost £48,000.

A son, George Alexander was born in Bermuda in 1854 and a second boy, Robert James, in Dub-lin in 1860.

The regiment returned to Edinburgh in May 1861 when Lieutenant Meldrum, as Adjutant, played an important role in the decision to introduce the “One o’clock Gun” ritual which was first observed in June 1861.

George played a part in the writing of the army manual for the newly introduced Lee Enfield rifle and it was while attending a musketry course in Fleetwood in 1862 that he fell ill and had to return to Edinburgh Castle.

Lieutenant Meldrum died on the 29th March 1862 of Rheumatic Fever; he was only 45 years old.

George was buried in the Grange Cemetery in Edinburgh with full military honours; the streets

were thronged with people witnessing and crowd-ing-in on the funeral procession.

Among the mourners was Major-General Walker CB, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Scot-land.

George’s widow Mary was pregnant at the time of his death and a girl was born in Alloa four months later.

The army granted Mary an annual pension of £40 equivalent to less than £3,000 today.

Annie, George Alexander and Robert James dis-appear from the records until the 1871 Census.

In 1867 Mary married her cousin Charles Philip Back in Exeter and there is no evidence that the three older children lived with their mother and step-father or even visited them in England. The youngest child, Poppy died with her mother in London when only nine years old.

Tantalisingly, in the 1871 Census Annie is a pupil at Aberdona Villa School in Dollar; her two broth-ers are boarders at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh.

The unresolved mystery remains as to who paid the school fees of these three children of George and Mary Meldrum. Where did they stay during the school holidays?

The even greater mystery, of course, was where George obtained the money to buy his commis-sion in 1855.

Annie Meldrum became a Governess and mar-ried John Frater in Edinburgh in 1883; one of the witnesses at the wedding bore the wonderful name Strawberry Bain.

George Alexander Meldrum married Jessie Brown Marr and their son Robert Marr Meldrum became the President of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1951. Robert’s daughter Aileen married the Honourable Robert Moncreiff of Tullibole Castle.

Peter Meldrum, brother of Lieutenant George, Sandy and my great-grandmother, had a grand-son John Oldroyd Forfar who won the Military Cross at Walcheren in World War II for his bravery as a Captain in the RAMC attached to the 47th Royal Marine Commandos; he was later Profes-sor of Paediatrics at Edinburgh University.

The Bannockburn Meldrums were quite an inter-esting lot; should anyone in the village know any-more about the family, I would be delighted to hear from them. Jake Stewart 01464 820055.

Lieutenant MeldrumThis edition’s “The Local Character” has been altered to “The Historic Character” after we received this interesting piece from the great-great nephew of a former resident of the village.

THE HISTORIC CHARACTER by Jake Stewart

The plaque at the Allan Church

For more information on Lieutenant Meldrum, see the September edi-tion of the Allan Church Newsletter.

Auntie Jean’s Cafe / One Stop Shop

All functions are catered for

We offer:

Barbecues

Snack Bar

Ice-Cream Van

“Now as the dawn breaks we make our way towards Ed-

wards army. They appeared as one mass apart from the van-guard who make an army on their own, glowing red in the morning sun and shining like an-gels. Continuing towards them we stop and kneel in prayer. We can see them laugh and sneer. If they think this rabble they see before them is giving obedience to King Edward, they are wrong. We give obedience to a higher power, to God.

We rise and we are the first division to rush towards them before they gain speed!

Now it begins. The arrows begin to fall on us as we close the gap. We heel in our pikes as the horses crash in. The noise is frightening as shafts break and horses and men start to die, but our line holds. The divisions of Stewart and Douglas and Bruce join us until we are one. Now the arrows that have been falling fast on both armies thankfully stop. Their sheaves are with the wagons still at Falkirk. Our arch-

ers have thrown down their bow staves and now move steadily forward through the ranks, ham-mers and axes in hand.

The zealous knights keep com-ing, smashing into our pikes. Horses rear and are turned back into Edwards lines. Unhorsed knights are attacked with glaive and hammer. If they fall an arch-er will lift the visor and dispatch them, even if they surrender. There is no surrender until the battle is won. Still they come, more foot soldiers now. As they finally get past the horsemen they are met with pikes as both armies push together. Anyone who lost footing never rose again, and the battle was now in the balance. We heard above the din a battle cry “On them! On them! They fail”. We repeat the cry and surge forward with redoubled effort. Troops joining Edwards army from the rear be-gan to flee and were followed by ever more soldiers.

Edward and his contingent were led from the field by Aymer de Valence towards the Castle.

Being refused entry by Philip de Mowbray, King Edward made his way by the “Round Table” to Linthithgow. Sir Giles de Ar-gentine rode straight for Edward Bruce’s line but was met by so many pikes he was overthrown and killed.

A great rout then ensued and many drowned in both the Forth and the Bannock or choked in the mud, or were killed in flight.

They fled by many more routes to the south, and many fled to the crags under the castle, so many in fact that the Scots did not pur-sue them, allowing the English King to gain his freedom

We stripped the battlefield and much spoil was taken: gold, silver, weapons, armour and clothes. We also took prisoners for ransom. By these means the Scots became free and rich for a time.

Page 3Bannockburn News

King Robert Hotel

Thursday 6th August 2009Wedding Open Evening

All brides welcome to come along and see our

NEW BALLROOM 6.00pm – 9.00pm

Saturday 19th September 2009Come along to the first of many tribute nights here at the King

Robert Hotel!To start we have the fabulous

TAKE THAT TRIBUTE BAND

Plus disco with our resident dj 7.00pm – 1.00am

Includes a three course set meal.

£20.00 per person (One person in every party of 15

booked will go free)(Book early to avoid disappoint-

ment)

Saturday 17th October 2009The sensational

MOTOWN MAGIC SHOWPlus Disco with our resident dj

7.00pm – 1.00amIncludes a three course set

meal£20.00 per person

(One person in every party of 15 booked will go free)

(Book early to avoid disappoint-ment)

Christmas brochures out now!

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY – WEEKEND

SPECIAL MENUServed from 12 Noon until

9.00pmEvery Saturday evening you can enjoy live entertainment

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of the above)

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01786 811666info@kingroberthotel.co.uk

Unfortunately our village could not find a spon-sor for this year’s Battle of Bannockburn re-

enactment and consequently celebrations of the famous victory appeared to be subdued, if not, non-existent. However, the Bannockburn News has learned that the event did not go unnoticed in a location over 10,000 miles away.

The town of Bannockburn in Victoria, Australia, organised the Battle of Bannockburn Country Fair four years ago to celebrate having the same name as our renowned village.

This year’s fair, which celebrated the 695th an-niversary of the battle, took place in brilliant sun-shine on Sunday 14th June at Victoria Park.

Attractions included highland dancing, food and craft market stalls, as well as lots of entertainment aimed at local children such as jumping castles, slides, train rides, merry-go-rounds and an animal petting nursery. The 42nd Battalion offered enter-tainment to the crowds in the form of marching and firing their muskets. Visitors to the event were also given the opportunity to participate in art ac-tivities and haggis throwing.

The day also offered the spectators the chance

to see vintage and antique motorcycles, sheep dog trials, the skills of a local archery club and the state emergency service displaying their equip-ment.

Local pipe bands and Celtic groups continually played throughout the day whilst at centre stage the Scottish once again were able to defeat the English with medieval re-enactment shows played out on the fields of Bannockburn.

The event is held annually and is organised by a group named the Lions Club. Its members work tirelessly every year to ensure a fabulous day out is had by all 2,000 visitors. It is understood that the club are planning a major event to celebrate the 700th anniversary in 2014.

Bannockburn News thanks our Australian coun-terparts for celebrating our historic village and wishes them good luck with future events.

The fair attracted around 2,000 people

Australians gather to celebrate our famous victoryInformation provided byJohn McNamara in Australia

The Second Account of Andrew MorAndrew Mor, a Captain in the service of Thomas Randolph, record-ed his memories of the Battle of Bannockburn, 1314. The following are excerpts from his second account.

The Battle of Bannockburn

”

Page 4 Bannockburn News

A family business here in Bannockburn since

1887Isa, John, Joe and David and all of our friendly staff, whohave been with us for many years, are here to make sure that your visit to McQ’s is

special every time!!

Quality food served on timeand with a smile - every day!

A wide choice of starters, morethan 20 main courses allfreshly prepared on the

premises plus sweets to make your mouth water!! And a

separate kids’ menu is always on offer no matter when you

choose to visit McQ’s.

Lunch served12 -2.30pm daily

Plusall day Sunday

12.30 to 7.30pm

Evening mealsFriday & Saturday

5pm - 8:30pm(last orders)

Fun Quiz on first Friday ofevery month in the lounge.

9.30pm start

Saturday Cabaret withthe best shows the UK

has to offerEVERY

SATURDAY!

Free Karaokeevery Thursday and

Live DJ every Saturdayin the Lounge

McQ’s Has Talent Night!Friday 18th September

Book now!

Call (01786)812256/812056

Tartan ArmsMain Street

BannockburnFK7 8LX

Situated near St. Mary’s pri-mary school on Park Drive,

the Bluebell Wood was a great place to build dens or hides. Loose branches and hedges, along with mossy bracken, made an impregnable castle or fort that Robert the Bruce himself would have had trouble capturing.

The hedgerows grew an abun-dance of brambles or blackber-ries, so we never ran out of food supplies. Besides these food supplies, there was a shal-low fresh water spring nearby which combined to sustain us throughout our hard fought battles.

Although the wood displayed a glorious carpet of bluebells in the spring, they hid a danger-ous boggy marsh, which we had to negotiate very carefully if we were to avoid getting stuck ankle deep, or even sinking, in the mud. Many a child had gone home minus a shoe or some-times a pair of shoes because of a misplaced step.

Some of the trees in the wood were on a very steep slope that provided an ideal place for a homemade swing. A good length of strong rope, tied around the centre of a thick length of wood,

and we were easily transported from our medieval castle to the jungles of Africa.

The track that cut through the middle of the wood was a short – cut to the Thunder Bridge, and the railway line that carried the trains from the Southern parts of the UK, to nearby Stirling and the North of Scotland.

I never knew who owned the Bluebell Wood. Was it Stirling Council, Bannockburn towns-folk, or Gavin Miller, the farmer who owned and worked the land around it? Maybe one of Bannockburn News readers can tell me.

The Bluebell Wood

The Bluebell WoodFormer Bannockburn

resident and mother-of-two Marie Kerr is calling all Bannockburn brides-to-be to put Sunday 13th September in their diaries now and head for the Al-bert Halls from 12 midday to 4pm for the Stirling Wed-ding Show.

“It’s going to be a great Show” said Marie, owner of Kingdom Photos of Kip-pen.

She continued: “It’s com-pletely sold out to exhibi-tors; both the upper and lower hall will be packed to capacity.

“The whole event is also being broadcast on TV!” she added.

The Bridal catwalk show is at 2pm so be sure to get advance tickets from the Albert Halls and save 20% on the on-the-door prices. We’ve got everything from dresses, cars, jewellery, make-up, hats, shoes, sta-tionery, venues, flowers and even a complete wed-ding day layout - and of course - photographers.

It should be a fun day out so we’ll hope to see you there!”

Calling all brides-to-be

QMy neighbour has some overgrown plants that are now causing

havoc in my driveway. I have taken it upon myself to keep them in check but am now fed up doing it. Should I continue to trim her bushes or should I say something?

AYou see the problem is you’ve been so help-ful that your neighbour

is now taking you for granted. Some would say that you’re clearly a very nice person and that you’ll get your reward in

heaven. I disagree - I just think you’re a complete mug.

Your neighbour isn’t daft and has realised that she can put her feet up while you go chopping at her bushes.

I suggest you just rip the plants out and leave them on her door-step. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, why not move in next door to me - I’ve got plenty of odd jobs for a sap like you !

QThe wife hates me go-ing to the bookies. She recently told me if she

found out I was betting again

then she would leave me. Problem is, I have just had a big win. Should I tell her and let us live a life of luxury or should I keep it quiet?

AShe is just scared you’ll both end up penniless and living out on the

street. What she doesn’t realise is that gambling can often be fun and not everyone that has the odd bet ends up living in a card-board box!

The way I see it you have three options:

1. Tell her about the winnings, buy her something nice and promise you’ll never bet again.

2. Don’t tell her about the win-nings, keep them in a secret stash and have a few more bets since you’re on a roll.

3. Sling the greetin’ faced old midden out and spend the mon-ey on beer, fags and women that know how to enjoy themselves !

If you are interested in joining the Bannockburn News committee, please do

not hesitate to contact the Editor.

Page 5Bannockburn News

The top three Po-licing Priorities in Bannockburn

are still the same as the previous few months, which are as follows: 1. Youths causing annoy-ance and damage to prop-erty in Stein Square.

2. Parking in and around the school at the start and end of the school day.

3. Cars parking on double yellow lines at Main Street.

At the Community Coun-cil meeting in June it was raised that the parking in Main Street Bannockburn has not improved and driv-ers are still continuing to park on the double yellow lines.

By choosing to park on the double yellow lines this causes obstructions for other drivers and road us-ers, which could ultimately lead to an accident.

Can I therefore ask mem-bers of the community to use the designated parking bays on the opposite side of the road or alternatively use the car parks which are situated nearby.

Any driver found parking on the double yellow lines will be faced with a £30 fine as both Police and Com-munity Traffic Wardens are monitoring this problem.

Preventing knife crime

Central Scotland Police are undertaking an initia-tive aimed at catching those who carry knives and deterring those who might be thinking of carry-ing a knife.

Carrying a knife is not ac-ceptable and police will be adopting a robust approach in an effort to ensure the communities within Ban-nockburn and the Eastern Villages are safe.

Local officers will be tar-geting specific areas and offenders suspected to have been involved in the carrying of knives. This will involve an increase in the number of stop / searches being carried out.

If anyone has informa-tion with regards any per-son who carries a knife, please contact the Police on 01786 456000 - this information can be given anonymously and strictest confidence will be upheld.

Knife crime in Bannock-burn is low so let’s work together as a community to ensure this trend con-tinues.

ASBIT

Within Bannockburn the Anti-Social Behaviour Im-pact Team (ASBIT) still continues to patrol Ban-nockburn on Friday and Saturday evenings to pre-vent and disrupt youth disorder within the com-munity.

Officers who form part of the team work in plain clothes in unmarked Police cars and also in uniform whether it is in a marked Police car, on foot or on a bike.

Over the course of one weekend in June over 31 litres of alcohol were seized by Police in Bannockburn, which prevented calls of disorder being received by Police later in the evening.

Police will continue to monitor areas within Ban-nockburn where youth dis-order is known to occur. If you are experiencing youth disorder please con-tact myself or the Police on (01786) 456000.

Last edition’s “Reminisce” section prompted reader Mrs Elise Smith, who lives in Bramhall, Cheshire, to send in this

postcard of Bottom Park in 1958. Interestingly, Mrs Smith’s brother was sent the postcard by

their mother, whilst he was serving in the Royal Air Force in Singapore.

In response to last issue’s “Historian” piece on the Bannockburn Co-operative

Society, reader Frances Cochrane has sent in a couple of related pictures.

The first picture shows Willie Cochrane and John Todd with the Co-op milk horse and cart.

As the News understands, the horse was extremely firey and flighty. Willie had to take it out in the morning to calm it down before the butcher used it in the afternoon to deliver his goods.

The second picture is a commemorative tin celebrating 100 years of the Bannock-burn Co-operative Society.

If anyone collects memorabilia of this sort, the reader is prepared to give them the tin. If you are interested please phone the Editor.

Co-op response

The Co-op’s milk horse and cart

Commemorative tin marking 100 years of Bannockburn Co-op

Representatives of Hillpark and Milton Community

Council, Bannockburn Com-munity Council, Bannockburn Community Trust, along with local Councillors attended the unveiling of a new plaque at the village’s Telford Bridge on Mon-day 27th July.

The plaque, created and in-stalled by Art is an Option, com-memorates 250 years since the birth of Thomas Telford; who designed and built the bridge.

Mrs Isabel Farquharson and Mr Bobby Simpson unveiled the plaque after the ceremony opened with a speech by Mr Colin Blair, Secretary of Hillpark and Milton Community Council.

Bannockburn’s Telford Bridge has a new plaque

New plaque unveiled on Telford bridgeInformation provided byDanny McPhail

Page 6 Bannockburn News

Baxter’s Florists Flowers for all occasions Fresh and Silk Flowers Giftware

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Telephone orders welcome All major credit cards accepted

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morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea,The Tea Room is the place to be.

All our food is freshly prepared daily and we have a fantastic choice of home baked cakes and biscuits.

Enjoy the quiet atmosphere, the views to the Castle and our lovely garden.

Millhall Road, off Pike Road, STIRLING, FK7 7LD

In BriefBannockburn Riding for the

Disabled (BRDA) unfortunate-ly lost four ponies in the month of June to acute equine grass sickness. This loss is devas-tating for all involved and we must thank everyone for all their efforts in very difficult cir-cumstances. Our loss is not just the horses;

we are looking at a large finan-cial impact in terms of lost in-come. BRDA is currently used by 150 people a week, offering a wide range of equestrian ac-tivities for people of any age with disabilities. Help to secure the future of

the centre would be much ap-preciated. Donations would be gratefully received: to donate visit our website at www.ban-nockburnrda.org.uk. Alterna-tively contact Sara Smith (Cen-tre Manager) 07736731743.

BRDA AppealI am looking for relations of

Robert Vallance JP, or Chris-tina Lambie who used to run the telephone exchange at 32 Quakerfield. My aunt was married to their

brother Dixon Vallance who died as quite a young man dur-ing the 2nd World War. If you have any information, I

would be grateful. Thank you.eveduff@hotmail.com

Robert Vallance JP

Bannockburn Amateurs under 19s celebrate after their recent success in the Challenge Cup Final, in which they beat Camelon Juniors 5-4. The goals came from Christie, Gallagher and a hat-trick from Neilson.

Bannockburn Beavers Rugby Club prize winners last season: Back row (L-R): Robert McKenzie, Ross Currie, Sean Huntley, Sean Webb, Cameron Cowan. Front Row (L-R): Calum Hope, Calum Goreham, Aydon Stirling, Kieron Webb, Scott Currie

Bannockburn BeaversBannockburn Beavers, the mini

section of Bannockburn Rugby Club, are looking for young play-ers for the coming season.The team, which is based next

to St Mary’s Primary School, welcomes all experience levels and ages.Training is held by SRU quali-

fied coaches in a safe and fun environment.If interested please contact Co-

lin Alexander on 07957458265 or email colin_alexander@talktalk.net

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Page 7Bannockburn News

By Gillian & Emma (Tartan PIG)

The Primary 5 class at St. Mary’s Primary School in Bannockburn recently invited parents, grandpar-

ents and even great grandparents into their school to show them how they had turned their classroom into a ‘Great Hall’.

Primary 5 had been studying the Wallace and Bruce period of Scottish history and they brought to life some important characters of the time.

Their ‘Great Hall’ included exquisite art work, de-tailed plans of castles, news articles, secret panel stories and specially prepared workshops for their families and friends. A great time was had by all while a great deal of learning took place.

St Mary’s Primary travel back in time

Everyone had great fun during the three-legged race.

Primary 7 show off their Young Scot good-ie bags which they received as part of the transition process to High School.

On Friday 15th May Bannockburn Primary took part in a Scottish fancy dress three

legged race, organised by the School Busters group.

Everybody had to ‘choose a partner and be prepared’. The children received sponsor sheets home to raise money for Children’s Hospice As-sociation Scotland (CHAS), our linked school in Kitwanga and resources for the school.

Mrs. Dickson, Headteacher of Bannockburn Primary said: “The children found it challenging and the event created lots of laughter and fun; it was good to see the children working well in pairs.”

Wednesday 20th May saw Primary Seven pupils headed to Edinburgh for the Choic-

es for Life festival (CFL). CFL is an event where children learn to make

appropriate choices in life. They took part in an exciting quiz and enjoyed a performance from the theatre group PACE about friends facing difficulties. At the festival there were many pop bands such as Sugar Crisis and the amazing MacDonald Brothers!

Mrs Tait who accompanied students to the event said: ”Everybody had fun and the show gave out a clear message about the correct choices everyone should be making.”

Bannockburn Primary

Page 8 Bannockburn News

Editorial Policy Statement:Bannockburn News is a free community newspaper, produced by volunteers for the people of Bannockburn. The views in it do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Group. The Editorial Group reserves the right to edit, shorten or not publish any article or letter. We will attribute contributions to the author and any vested interest will be declared where applicable. The newspaper is funded by our local businesses.

Prize CompetitionSponsored by: SPEED PROPERTYWell done to Mrs Wallace for winning last issue’s Prize Competition. The topic for this issue’s quiz is: Anagrams of television shows past and present.For your chance to win £25, simply fill in the competition form below and send your answers to: Prize Competition, Bannockburn News, c/o 68 Benview, Bannockburn, Stirling, FK7 0HY. The winning entry will be drawn at random by a member of the Bannockburn News committee. Closing date for entries: Monday 21st September. Good luck.

Last issue’s solutions:

1. Gone with the Wind 2. The Godfather 3. All about Eve 4. Amadeus

5. Around the World in 80 days 6. Ben Hur7. Bridge on the River Kwai 8. Casablanca 9. Chariots of Fire10. Dances with Wolves

11. The Deer Hunter 12. Driving Miss Daisy 13. The English Patient 14. Forrest Gump 15. Gandhi 16. Going My Way

17. Mrs. Miniver 18. My Fair Lady19. Slumdog Millionaire20. Schindler’s List

Name:

Address:

Tel:

Got pear (2)1.

Spies crumpet (2)2.

Doctor who (1)3.

Mele dream (1)4.

Ker tarts (2)5.

Fate the winch (3)6.

Me one wools (2)7.

Tea bather (1)8.

St shone imps (2)9.

Verity ric (2)10.

North is ming (2)11.

Fifty one murals (2)12.

Strand mime (1)13.

Toques ie mint (2)14.

Bright robe (2)15.

Dam yards (2)16.

Three Jack anon (2)17.

Respect in rooms (2)18.

When seek it talk (3)19.

Hours being (1)20.

After 29 years of search-ing for her father’s ashes,

former Plean resident Chris-tina Grindlay has contacted the Bannockburn News in an appeal to solve a devastating mystery.

Christina’s father, Peter Rae Miller died on the 9th August 1980 and his cremation took place at Camelon crematorium in Falkirk on the 13th of the same month.

Christina’s husband returned to the crematorium to put a

piece in the book of remem-brance. However, it was then that the family were told that Peter’s ashes were no longer there.

The remains had been signed out by Mr McRory, an employ-ee of Ronnie Lloyd’s Funeral Directors in Bannockburn and have vanished since then.

Christina said: “Unfortunately, as many will know, the com-pany Ronnie Lloyd Funeral Directors, who carried out the service, are no longer in busi-ness. Therefore no information is available to us.

“After a long search with the local Funeral Directors and the Cooperative Funeral Directors who took over Mr Lloyd’s busi-ness, we have been unable to find my father’s cremated re-mains to put him to rest with my late mother Margaret.”

She added: “If anyone has any information about the last days of Ronnie Lloyd’s Funeral Directors in Bannockburn and what happened to their premis-es and its contents, I would be very grateful if they could con-tact the Bannockburn News.”

If you have any information

at all, please do not hesitate to contact the Editor of the Bannockburn News and help Christina and her family finally put Peter to rest.

Peter Rae Miller’s ashes have been missing for 29 years

Appeal for informationin missing ashes mysteryBy Greg Christison

Have you got a story for the Bannockburn News?

Call us on: 07903 197863

or Email: bburn-news@talktalk.net