Things had also gone well financially, the accounts showing a credit balance of £1,590. Principal items of income were £939 from fees, a profit of £475 from a 200 Club and a grant of £300 from the Fish Festival Management Group, a sum which still has
to be spent, however. Main items of expenditure were hall rents of £1,041 and £341 for trophies and engraving.
Office bearers and committee elected for season 2009/10 were: Chairman, Alan Beedie. Secretary, Chris Cook. Treasurer, Jenny Beedie. Committee: Fiona Anderson, Alison Beedie, Bett Beedie, Sandra Beedie, Mary Brebner, Fiona Dundas, Phyllis Muir, Carol Porter, Clark Simpson.
Mr Beedie was thanked for his work on behalf of the Club during the season.
Formed in 1975 as a means of expanding use of the Village Hall after it had undergone a major renovation, the Games Club is thriving at the moment although it has experienced its ups and downs and, while its constitution does allow for the admittance of other sports, the Games Club has only ever comprised carpet bowls and badminton. In its early days the carpet bowling section could boast a membership of around 30 meeting on a Tuesday night, while the ladies met also on a Wednesday afternoon. In the 1990s, though, there was a decline, with only a handful attending and the ladies' session ceased. In the last year or two there has been a revival, however, with 17 turning up on the night.
The badminton section has always had both junior and senior groups, for a long time meeting twice weekly and in the 1980s competing in the Brechin and District Badminton League. But it too has had its difficult moments and at different times the activities of both the youngsters and the adults have been briefly suspended. The two nights a week have been restored, however, and enthusiasm is high.
The carpet bowlers got back into action on Tuesday night at 7.30 p.m. and will be more than happy to welcome new members. The racquet brigade will swing into action on Monday, October 26.
Fund-raising is never far away from the thoughts of any organisation and to help keep their balance sheet in the black members have decided to organise a home baking stall at the Christmas Fayre in the Village Hall on Saturday, November 21.
Bowling Club
"The early bird catches the worm", so the saying goes, but it was a case of the late birds catching the sun when both the men's and ladies' finals were played on Sunday afternoon.
The ladies' final was between thirteen times winner, Bett Beedie and Fiona Dundas who was champion in 2002 and what a compelling contest it turned out to be. Bett won the first two ends but then Fiona settled down and, bowling very consistently, took the next five to lead 9-3 and after two were exchanged was still ahead 10-5 after nine ends. Sooner or later Bett was going to strike back and so she did with a double and a single followed by a full house of near perfect bowls to edge in front, 12-10. Fiona's riposte was both immediate and emphatic, delivering four equally fine bowls once more to gain the advantage, 14-12. Consecutive singles and Bett was level, 14-14. Fiona countered with three shots and Bett retaliated with a single. Fiona 17, Bett 15, the match now reaching that delicate and critical situation when one misjudgement can be the difference between success and failure. At the eighteenth end Bett ditched the jack allowing Fiona to throw a three quarter length and count three to be only one shot, but never an easy one, away from the crown. But still there was more drama to come. Fiona's first three bowls were all heavy while, drawing on her vast experience, Bett lay three shots, her third a toucher to within six inches of the white. Then, with astonishing nerve in such testing circumstances, Fiona played a magnificent bowl to trail the jack for two shots and with them the championship in a truly wonderful final good enough to have graced any green.
In the men's event four times winner Donald Dundas met Alan Black and if Alan were to take the title for the first time he would need to be at his very best and Donald not quite so. As it happened Donald ran up 13 shots before Alan got on the card with a single at the ninth end and after fifteen ends was only one shot away from victory, leading 20-2. It was not as though Alan was playing particularly badly, just that every time he played what looked like a winning bowl Donald bettered it. Still he hung on bravely to add six shots over four consecutive ends from the fifteenth to the eighteenth before inevitably Donald gained the one shot needed to give him the green championship for the fifth time.
So the Bowling Club's premier trophies in 2009 were won by husband and wife, Donald and Fiona Dundas, matching the successes of Doug and Bett Beedie in 1998.
Members are reminded that the presentation of trophies on Saturday, October 24 has a starting time of 7 p.m. for 7.30 p.m.
Mearns Coastal Parish
This Sunday, October 18 Harvest Thanksgiving services will be held in Johnshaven Church at 10 a.m. and St Cyrus Church at 11.30 a.m. The following Sunday, October 25 the Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated in St Cyrus Church at 11.30 a.m. and will be the only service in Mearns Coastal Parish that day.
Guild
At the leisure hour of the Guild in the Church Hall on Monday afternoon, Convener, Mrs Jean Cook, welcomed the management of McGregor Balfour Textiles Ltd who gave a most informative and humorous talk on the history of jute mills in Dundee, visits to India and how jute has been developed for new purposes. They were thanked by Mrs Cook.
The next meeting of the Guild will be held in the Church Hall on Monday, October 26 at 2.30 p.m. when the speaker will be the Rev Roslyn Duncan from Stonehaven.
Mill of Benholm
The charity which runs the tearoom at the Mill of Benholm is keen to let it be known that, thanks to volunteer help, it remains open Mondays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and they would very much like to continue to keep the facility open on Saturdays throughout the winter months and invite walkers, support and friendship groups to make it a venue for their meetings.
Over the summer months the Tearoom at the Mill has become increasingly popular with its regulars who have come to enjoy the varieties of soups, including Cullen Skink, and the breads, scones and tasty cakes made on the premises. There should still be many fine days ahead and even though it will begin to get a little chillier outside as the days shorten, morning coffee or light lunch can be cosily enjoyed in the warmth of the wood stove.
However, there is more to the Mill than food. The Artist in Residence, Cath Roberts, ran art and craft activity workshops during July, August and September and she can be contacted on 07814227482 for details of October and November. On Saturday, October 10 a knitting group began in the tearoom from 10.30 a.m. until noon and, suitable for beginners and experienced knitters of all ages, this will continue on the second Saturday of the month from that date. Elaine Morley on 01674 850870 will be happy to provide more details.
Patronage is required, though, to ensure that food continues to be served on Saturdays during the winter so why not put the Tearoom at the Mill on your list of favourite meeting places.
Beach Clean-Up
SHARK (Safe Habitat Alliance for Rural Kincardineshire) in association with Adopt a Beach and the Marine Conservation Society and supported by the Crown Estates and DEFRA invite volunteers from the community to a beach clean-up in Johnshaven on Sunday, October 25. Registration is at the Hardgate area at the foot of East Street at 11 a.m. and then working eastwards towards the Lathallan Burn. All necessary equipment will be provided and with complimentary refreshments being provided in the Lifeboat House once the tidying up is complete there is sure to be plenty of "fun for all the family".
Fish Festival Management Group
Groups and individuals resident in Benholm and Johnshaven are reminded that the closing date for applications for grant awards from the Local Community Good Fund is Friday, October 30. Applications should be made in writing to the Johnshaven Fish Festival Management Group (JFFMG), c/o Johnshaven Stores and include a brief description of the relevant activity.
The Local Community Good Fund was established by the JJFMG as means of sharing the profits of the annual Fish Festival amongst local organisations and community groups after it took over the running of the popular summer event from the Heritage Society in 2007 and this year the Fund has £1,600 available for distribution.
Village Hall Committee
The Annual General Meeting of the Village Hall committee will be held in the Village Hall (small) on Thursday, October 22 at 7.30 p.m. All welcome.
