Following the Senior Citizens Dinner/Party a Disco and Dance was held for Primary 5 to Secondary 2 pupils on Friday 18 December.

The twenty-five youngsters who attended enjoyed games and dances – congratulations to Laura and Bernie for being the best disco dancers. Andy and Daniel are to be thanked for providing the music.

On Saturday December 19 seventy-five children attended the pre-school to primary 4 party and had a great time playing games and dancing to the music of Gordon, Kate and Ewan Brown – thanks are due to this “trio”. Food and refreshments were served by committee and friends. Having not been there I heard many excellent reports from parents and Grandparents for days afterwards. Many thanks to Santa who visited these parties distributing gifts. He is due a good rest now – it’s just a pity the snow didn’t follow him to Tiree!

The senior pupils were issued with complimentary tickets to the Boxing Day Dance which by all accounts was a lively evening – oh to be young again! Finally, the parties would not be as successful without all the musicians, Iain and Fiona MacLeod, Andy and staff at the Co-op, Jessie Gray and her team at Tiree High for the Community Card Service, Nancy and Angus MacKechnie who transported folk to the Senior Citizens’ Party and also financial assistance/donations from the Tiree Association, AgriMarine Ltd, The Royal Bank of Scotland and many other individuals.

There is so much generosity and kindness around. If I have omitted anybody from the above list I apologise profusely. In a few months time the committee will be starting to organise its summer events and the ever popular Craft Fayre. Meanwhile they deserve a well earned break. Again grateful appreciation to everyone and I hope 2010 works out well for you all.

Ann Langley

More than a dozen members of Tiree Parish Church guild spent several hours filling shoe boxes with presents and wrapping them with Christmas paper before sending them off to children and poor adults in Eastern Europe.

The women worked tirelessly in the Resource Centre and filled an estimated 70 boxes for the recipients with items such as toys, toothpaste, warm gloves and hats, drawing pencils and pads, soap and sweets. The boxes were stacked for collection by Mark Armstrong who took them in the Wilson Carrier’s van to Oban where they were destined for the Blythswood shop before being sent off to Eastern Europe.

Two larger boxes also contained clothes sent in from the thrift shop at Barra. Catriona Rowan, who organised “operation boxes,” said:
“I would like to thank all the women who helped fill the boxes, and people who donated items. Also, Wilson Carrier’s who sent over empty boxes from Stead and Simpson shoe shop in Oban. “I am told that anyone who has seen the film of the children opening their boxes never forgets seeing their faces lighting up with joy. These children have nothing and are more than thrilled to get a present, expecially at Christmas time. “Some of the clothes are earmarked for an orphanage which I am hoping our guild will sponsor.”