Where do we meet?
Forfar Inner Wheel is part of Inner Wheel District 1, and we meet at the Royal Hotel, Castle Street, Forfar DD8 3AE. Meetings are held at 6.45pm for 7pm on the third Wednesday of most months. As a trial this year the January and February meetings will be at lunch time – 12.30pm for 1pm. The December meeting is to be replaced by an outing for club members. No formal meetings are held in July & August but coffee mornings, fundraising and social events continue throughout the year.
Our Club
Forfar is amongst the oldest clubs in our District. Chartered in 1950 we celebrated our 75th Birthday last year. We currently have 27 members. As well as the monthly meetings members enjoy coffee mornings in each others’ homes. A regular newsletter is sent out after each meeting and we particularly enjoy fund raising eventsd for local & international projects. A highlight each year is out theatre trip to Pitlochry .
Our Town – Forfar
Forfar is the county town of Angus and is the administrative centre of Angus Council with a Sheriff Court. The population is over 16000. Known in the past for production of linen & jute, this has been replaced by polypropylene manufacture, Strathmore water and Ramsay ladders, in recent times. It is well known for locally produced Forfar Bridies & also Forfar Athletic Football Club.
The town is surrounded by rich farmland in the Vale of Strathmore. Another attractive feature is Forfar Loch Country Park, used for walking, the Park Run and the location of local rugby, cricket and sailing clubs. The Angus Glens are close by for more serious hillwalking. Close by is Glamis Castle the childhood home of the Queen Mother and birthplace of Princess Margaret – see pic below. Forfar is easily accessed both from north and south by the A90 so Dundee & Aberdeen are within easy reach.
Glamis Castle
Mary’s Meals Fundraiser
A wonderful afternoon tea was hosted at the home of our member, Sybil Nicoll, in November – fundraising for Mary’s Meals. Over 30 ladies attended – friends and members – and a fun aftetnoon was had by all.
Forfar hosts 2025 Rally
Top Table guests
Around 100 members and guests arrived in Forfar to celebrate the annual Rally for District 1. Meeting up with friends is the key to a successful Rally and the 2025 Rally was no exception. District Chairman Jean Hale presided over the day’s proceedings, welcoming guests from around District 1 and Districts around GB&I. Invited guests were made very welcome on the top table and at tables throughout the function room. Association President Heather Sheerin was unable to attend but Julie Ramsay (District 2) the Association International Services Chairman attended and gave Heather’s address. The 2025 Rally was a really special event in Inner Wheel calendar. Here are a few photos to see what happens in a Rally.
RNLI Coffee Morning
DC Jean writes “I am totally gobsmacked by the generosity of everyone who attended or donated to yesterday’s Inner Wheel Coffee Morning held in my home in aid of the RNLI! An amazing £1050 was raised – and I thank you all for your generous donations, your help, your baking and your raffle prizes. The Inner Wheel helpers worked so hard as a team so we could raise this amount for my District Chairman’s Charity this year. Well done & thank you all – a great morning of fun and friendship.”
RNLI cheque from District 1
Forfar members joined DC Jean to present District 1’s cheque to RNLI after a year of fundraising. A total of £7.703 was handed to RNLI to assist with the amazing lifesaving work and saving lives at sea.
Poster using IW Toolkit
The Toolkit from Membership & Development has been adapted by Forfar member DC Jean to produce a promotional flyer. At a recent shopping event members were on hand to promote Inner Wheel. Prospective member Fiona (left) joins Kate and Lynda from the Forfar Club.
Centenary Rally
We were delighted that Anneta Anderson, a member of our club, was District Chairman for the centenary year of Inner Wheel. Pic. shows Annetta with members of the club who attended the Rally in May.
Pitlochry Theatre visit
Our annual visit to the Pitlochry Festival Theatre is always a highlight of the year.
Club President
Forfar Inner Wheel President
2025-26
Susan Oliphant
Committee Members
President – Susan Oliphant
Vice President – Annetta Anderson
Secretary –Marjorie Kerr
Treasurer – Lynda Stobbs
International – Norma Seaton
Club Correspondent –
Membership & Development – Susan Oliphant
Christmas Cheer
Members enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea at the Stag Hotel in Forfar as their Christmas Meeting. All agreed it was a splendid treat for the festive season – a lovely afternoon of friendship & fun.
ORANGE THE WORLD
Members have held several events – a quiz with an orange theme, a winter walk to Reid Park, circulating posters around Forfar shops and businesses and raising awareness of the OTW campaign with endorsement by Forfar Rotary Club on their social postings. The OTW campaign ends on 10th December but hopefully the message to stop violence towards women and girls will continue.
75th Birthday celebrations with Rotary
President Susan welcomed members of the Forfar Rotary Club to their meeting to celebrate 75 years of Inner Wheel in the town. District Chairman Jean brought greetings from Association President Heather Sheerin and from all members of District 1 before presenting the club with its 75th Anniversary Certificate. The club had also received a congratulatory message from HRH Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh – who of course is also Countess of Forfar. The message congratulated Forfar Inner Wheel on its birthday and remembered the contribution the club has made to the local community over the years. Rotary President Scott helped to cut the birthday cake and he then presented Inner Wheel with a beautiful friendship candle and a gavel to use at their meetings – from Forfar Rotary – in recognition of this milestone in the club’s history. A very happy evening was had by the members of both clubs – a delicious meal was served in the Royal Hotel – and entertainment was provided by Joe Wishart of Montrose.
Afternoon Tea – again for 75th Birthday!
Members chose a special outing to celebrate the 75th Birthday of Forfar Inner Wheel – with a visit to Lands of Loyal Hotel for a sumptuous afternoon tea. 21 members enjoyed a delightful afternoon of chatter and Inner Wherl friendship in a glorious setting with fabulous food! How better to celebrate being 75!!! Here’s to many more years of friendship & service, girls
Rotary Classic Car Rally
ForIn June we served tea at the Rotary Classic Car Rally – with President Susan getting thre honour of starting the race!
Jean attends European Rally in Denmark
Jean along with 5 other members from District 1 attended the 3rd European Rally in Aarhus, Denmark – of course a fabulous time was had by all
Successful Fashion Show
A very successful Fashion Show was held at the Royal Hotel, Forfar on 28th September. Fashions and models were from Moira’s boutique, Forfar. Fundraising reached £1,725 for local charities.
Donations to 9 Charities
Nine Charities received donations as a result of our Fashion Show. they were – Deirdre Knight Centre, 3rd Forfar Scout Group, All Souls Food Project, Forfar in Flower, Scottish Fire & Rescue Comminity Project, Lochside Connections, Guide Dogs for the Blind Forfar, Lippin Care and Forfar Action Network. A total of £1,800 was distributed and President Susan thanked Moira’s of Forfar for contributing to the very successful fashion show.
Contact
For more information on Forfar Inner Wheel or any of the clubs in District 1 please contact
District Chairman Lynda visits Forfar Club
Our members were delighted to welcome District Chairman Lynda Taylor to our September meeting – one of her first club visits of the year. Good Luck Linda for your DC year.
Rotary President Mike’s Visit
The club were delighted to welcome Rotary President Mike Cumming as their speaker. As well as updating the club on what Rotary have planned for the year, Mike entertained us with tales from his many years in the jewellery trade – in London, Nottinghams then his shops locally in Forfar & Arbroath.
Donations for Ukraine
In response to the current ENERGY EMERGENCY in Ukraine due to ongoing hostilities, Forfar Inner Wheel & Rotary Clubs held a joint campaign in the town to collect suitable items – batteries, generators, hot water bottles, toches & head lights, strings of fairy lights – as well as suitcases and bags- to facilitazte recipients in Ukraine to pick up necessary supplies from aid collection points – many of whom have been bombed out tof their homes. An excellent response came as always from the public.
Fire Safety Talk
In January our meeting was held at lunch time to meet with members wishes during the winter months. Our speakers were Neil & Kenny – two firefighters from local stations at Forfar & Kirriemuir. They gave us an informative talk about Fire Prevention and Safety at home. The ladies raised many issues from fire extinguishers to tumble driers and electric blankets and we were given many hints on what to do to keep ourselves safe. I am sure we all went home to check plugs, leads and chargers! Thanks for such an interesting afternoon.
Inner Wheel Day – 2026
Members presented our local Women’s Aid centre with a selection of Cosy Socks to celebrate Inner Wheel Day this year. Supporting Women’s Aid is tied into the theme of the Orange the World Campaign. The socks were collected at meetings in November & December and were happily accepted by the staff down at the Women’s Aid Centre in Arbroath.
In previous years we have met for a club coffee get together or collected foodstuffs for the local Food Project at the Lowson Church.
DC Jean Hale
The club were delighted that one of their own members was District Charirman last year. Jean in turn appeciated all the help & support she had received from her fellow members and presented the club with a new banner for their use when she came on her club visit in October.
During the year Jean produced a monthly blog – the last 2 Editions can be read here.
Golden Girl – Morag
At the August Assembly held in the Invercarse Hotel, DC Jean Hale was delighted to present Forfar Golden Girl, Morag Sandler with her Certificate for 50 years volunteering. Morag said she has been with Inner Wheel for 56 years. Jean was full of praise for Morag’s active role in the Forfar Club. Morag is seen in the photo with DC Jean and Forfar President Susan Oliphant. How lovely for our club to have a GOLDEN GIRL!
TASH Collections
Our club have been involved with TASH at Errol for some time – making periodic donations of sanitary items, gifts for teenage firls, warm bedding and blankets, as well as suitcases. This us sent out to Ukraine ready for shipment to war torn Ukraine. The ladies also donated cash (collected in Smartie tubes) to go towards transport costs. This is just part of the Forfar Club’s commitment to this important international charity.