Good as New Sale Saturday 12 October 10am - 2pm YMCA Brook Street Broughty Ferry

On Saturday there will be a Good as New Sale in the YMCA on Brook Street from 10 am - 2 pm.

The money raised from the sale will be split between two good causes:
Grove Academy's Support for Learning Base and 
St Stephen’s Kindergarten Project in Meru, Kenya. 

Grove Academy has been involved for a number of years developing an exchange programme for teachers and pupils at a school in Meru. Former Depute Head Teacher at Grove Academy, Sheila McLuckie, linked in St Stephen's and West Church with the exchange. After a visit to Meru, St Stephen's began fundraising for the improvement of facilities at a Kindergarten in Meru.

Broughty Ferry Lifeboat Coffee Morning

Lifeboat Jam and Cake for Tea

On Saturday I attended the Broughty Ferry Lifeboat Coffee Morning at Stephen's and West Church Hall. My wife Rowena and I enjoyed the home baking and coffee as well as the opportunity to chat with friends and acquaintances. You can see that we also took advantage of the opportunity to buy some takeaway cakes and jam.

This was a well supported event by members of our community who clearly appreciate the admirable work of our volunteer lifeboat crew and all those that work in the background to ensure that the lifeboat and its crew are well equipped and funded. It's often not appreciated that our Lifeboat does not receive City Council or Scottish Government funding; is relies entirely on donations and fundraising to operate their boats and undertake their rescues. 

Lightning Strikes St Stephen's & West Church Spire

Around about 5pm tonight a mighty thunder clap and crashing sound gave me a shock as I sat at the kitchen table emailing on my laptop computer. The intensity of the lightning flash and the volume of the thunder bolt made me think it had been a close call. When I emerged from my house a few minutes later, I realised how close the lightning had been! Six doors down from my home, the spire of Saint Stephen's and West Church was being doused by fire fighters. The smell of burnt wood wafted in the air. The roof of the spire had obviously been badly damaged with sarking and slates torn off. The arcing lightning seems to have run down the spire and then bounced onto the main roof, grounding through the cast iron roof gutters and down pipes, some of which were hanging out of position precariously. I hope the Kirk Session have good insurance cover for their church roof.