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 70th Birthday in February 2020. We currently have 31 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 raising funds for local and international projects. A highlight each year is our theatre trip to Pitlochry in the summer.
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 Known in the past for production of linen & jute, this has been replaced by polypropylene manufacture, Strathmore water and Ramsay ladders, in recent times.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
Forfar outing to Pitlochry Theatre
Convention
Annetta & Jean travelled with a large contingent from District 1 down to Manchester for thr Convnetion. Contact was made with some of our link clubs – more pics. on District 1 main page
Christmas Carol Singing
On the week before Christmas, ladies from the club visited Lochbank Care Home for their annual afternoon of singing carols.
Christmas Cheer
Our Christmas get together was held at the Lands of Loyal Hotel in Alyth, with members enjoying a sumptuous Afternoon Tea.
CRAFT MORNING
Many hands make light work & this was certainly the case when a group of members tackled some “secret” craft projects recently – all to be revealed later!!!!
ISO’s Coffee Morning
Our club held a very successful coffee morning at the home of our International Service Organiser, Mavis Ogilvie in November. Over £500 was raised from donations and a raffle. This is to be sent to Ukraine for humanitarian aid.
The Forfar Witches
Our speaker in November was Shaun Wilson, who delivered an excellent talk on the “Forfar Witch Trials.” These trials took place between 1661 -1663 and involved over 40 of the town’s inhabitants who were imprisoned and tortured on suspicion of witchcraft. 22 women were found guilty of the crime and executed over the three year period. We were joined by 14 members of Forfar Tangent Club and a great evening of friendship was had by all. Pictured: Marjory Kerr Tangent President, Shaun Wilson & President Kate.
Inner Wheel Rose
A Margaretta Golding Rose has been planted in the Forfar Open Garden in celebration of Inner Wheel’s Centenary.
Club President
Forfar Inner Wheel President
2024-25
Susan Oliphant
Committee Members
Vice President –
Secretary –Christine Stewart
Treasurer – Lynda Stobbs
International – Mavis Ogilvie
Entertainment/Welfare – Mary White
Programme – Lynda Stobbs
Club Correspondent –
Membership & Development – Kate McFarlane
Additional committee members – Agnes Mackay; Christine Stewart; Jean Hale
Fashion Show at Forfar to raise funds for RNLI and local charities
A very successful Fashion Show was held at the Royal Hotel, Forfar on 28th September. Fashions and models were from Moira’s boutique, Forfar. Some lovely photos of the sold out evening are below. Fundraising reached £1,725 for RNLI and local charities.
Centenary Celebration & 72nd District Rally
It is hard to believe that the District 1 Rally was 4 months ago. This was a celebration of the Rally held at Carnoustie and the Centenary of Inner Wheel. In the photo below is Forfar members with Forfar’s District Chairman (2023-24) Annetta Anderson.
Annetta with Association President Anthea
Thank you flowers for Rally Convenor Susan
New Members
Three new members were inducted in Novemeber – Lesley Ducat, Marjorie Kerr & Margaret Nesbitt. And in February they were joined by Diane Roy. A very warm welcome to you all.
100 for 100
President Kate has pledged to complete 100 turns of her hula hoop on 100 days! Way to go Kate!
District Editor Jean has posted 100 times on the District 1 Facebook page – donation to MS Scotland
Past District Chairman, Agnes Mackay, has contacted over 100 musicians while organising the recent concerts and rehearsals of the Tayside Symphony Orchestra.
Chairman Jean visits her own Club
DC Jean was thrilled to be the speaker at her own Club – Forfar in October. You will see from the photo below that Jean presented the members with a Forfar pop up banner for use at events to promote the Inner Wheel Club of Forfar. Jean has been District Editor and Webmaster prior to her year as District Chairman so knows the importance of promoting Inner Wheel. Alongside Jean is President Susan Oliphant who is also currently District Treasurer but is a Past District Chairman and Member of Council. The team at Forfar has done so much for Inner Wheel. Read below Jean’s Journeys around the Clubs.
Jean’s Journeys
Jean’s Journeys is DC Jean’s Blog over a certain time period such as a month or 2 months,. Jean’s Journeys for July/August and for September has been circulated to members, on District 1 Facebook page and on District 1 News (find it at the bottom of the page) innerwheel.co.uk/district-1/
2024 District 1 Assembly
RNLI is the chosen charity for DC Jean for 2024-25. Four members led by Spencer Harris (on right of photo) gave a presentation to D1 Assembly in Dundee on 28th August. Members enjoyed hearing about all the different types of fundraising RNLI use to support all the lifeboats in UK. Saving lives is the priority of RNLI. A celebration of 200 years of RNLI was provided with a video that is available online on their website. Also Spencer is the contact for group visits to RNLI stations and also providing speakers for Club meetings. DC Jean and members of IW Forfar Club received long serving medals for volunteering and fundraising over the past 20 years as well as a garden party at Buckingham Palace in July to celebrate 200 years of RNLI.
Members gathered at the Invercarse Hotel, Dundee for the start of another Inner Wheel year. There were 4 peer groups, RNLI Presentation and a delicious lunch. 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 in the photo (above) with DC Jean and Forfar President Susan Oliphant. At the District Meeting, members were introduced to the new Executive Committee in particular District Treasurer Susan Oliphant (Forfar) who is also Forfar Club President. See the D1 page for full Executive Committee. The Taylor Brown Millennium Quaich (former District Golf Trophy) has been awarded to the Stirling Club for introducing 8 new members in 2023-24. Teresa Hill (photo above) received the trophy for the Stirling Club to take back to members for one year. DC Jean is keen to celebrate her year with a fun writing competition (poster circulated to members) and looks forward to visiting all the D1 Clubs starting in September. Jean has also created a Blog that is called ‘Jean’s Journeys’ and this is available on a post on the District 1 page under News and has been circulated to members via Club Secretaries. Also check out the other News posts on D1 page. Good luck for your year, Jean.
Inner Wheel Day
To celebrate our Centenary on Inner Wheel Day, the club placed advertisements on the digital display boards outside the Reid Hall – 2 versions!
Club members most generously donated 175 items for our local Lowson Foor Project & were invited along on January 10th on a visit & to deliver the goods!
Chocolate Tombola
A chololate tombola stall was held at our local farmers market – great fun morning – with £235 raised for local good causes. Another 100 for 100!
Annetta Anderson Immediate PDC
We were delighted that Anneta Anderson, a member of our club, was District Chairman last year. Pic. shows Annetta with members of the club who attended the Rally in May & who presented Annetta with these flowers.
Queen’s Piper
The speaker for our May meeting was Pipe Major Derek Potter RVM. The whole club were completely entranced by his captivating talk on his life – involving music, the army and his 4 year commitment as the Queen’s Piper. He finished off by playing us some wonderful tunes and encaptured us with tales and insights about his time in the Royal household – playing daily or at special events like weddings & balls
Contact
For more information on Forfar Inner Wheel or any of the clubs in District 1 please contact