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Newsletter proving popular as volunteers keep up the good work in Staxigoe, Papigoe and Noss





Four-year-old Kate Little with her stone tower.
Four-year-old Kate Little with her stone tower.

Community support in the Staxigoe, Papigoe and Noss area has expanded over the past two months to include a regular newsletter which is proving popular among all ages.

The light-hearted publication, issued every two weeks, was launched by the volunteers of Staxigoe, Papigoe and Noss Resilience Group to help keep local people engaged and entrained during the coronavirus crisis.

The community response has been supported by Sinclair’s Bay Community Council.

Family, friends and neighbours have helped each other with shopping, collecting prescriptions and other necessary errands, as well as socially distanced walks and chats.

However, the volunteers felt they needed to do a little more to pull everyone together. The idea of a Staxigoe, Papigoe and Noss Community Newsletter was discussed over a WhatsApp group and within days the first one was being printed off at the beginning of May.

A new Facebook page was set up to share news and add photos from weekly activities.

The newsletter is a combined effort with all 15 volunteers having a role to play – from coming up with ideas for content to creating the document, printing off 200 copies and then delivering it through letterboxes.

Initially it was a weekly publication but as lockdown has eased it has become fortnightly.

The quizzes have gone down well, with topics ranging from bugs/beasties to the seashore.

The latest edition, issued on June 29, has a garden theme.

An easy recipe section is included in each edition and lots of people have been trying out the featured tasty treats – Erin Anderson's peanut butter cookies and Pam Jack's Oreo fudge being two favourites, along with Sheila Anderson’s curried rhubarb chutney.

A plentiful amount of rhubarb was donated to the keen cooks by Sarah and John Brae from the Field Farm house.

The children’s section of the newsletter usually has an anagram and wordsearch – made up by 10-year-old Rona Taylor of Staxigoe.

Five-year-old Rory Davidson said: “My favourite bit is the jokes – they are funny!”

Marrie Coghill, an elderly member of the community, said: “I think the newsletter is great. A real effort goes in to make it interesting – it has been wonderful.”

Popular activities for youngsters have included building stone towers at the shore, creating nature pictures using stones, shells and leaves, practising skimming stones and the most recent challenge of making a “Scarecrowvid” – with 10 eye-catching entries, including NHS staff and Captain Tom Moore.

Winners were: Most topical – Rainbow kids, by Rory (5) and Isla Davidson (2). Most scary – Monsters, by Ellis Sutherland (9). Most elegant – Queen of Staxigoe, by Eilidh Taylor (5). Most comical – Donald Trump, by Rona Taylor (10).

They were presented with Scarecrowvid trophies last Friday.

Community spirit is paramount during lockdown – we are so lucky to live here.

Bus shelters in the area have taken on a new role over the past few months with books and jigsaws available for everyone to share.

Pat Ramsay, one of the resilience group volunteers, explained: "Cleanliness is vital during the pandemic so residents are advised to set aside their chosen items for 72 hours before enjoying them and we would remind all to wash their hands thoroughly after handling."

A team of very willing volunteers – the Aitkenhead family, David Craigie, Colin Davidson, Alan Plowman and Grant Ramsay – also tackled the job of strimming the grass at Staxigoe harbour, as the Community Payback scheme is not operating at the moment.

It was a tough job on a dreich Sunday morning and, albeit that it was an improvement, it was decided to approach Nordwall Landscaping to take on the job regularly through the season. Willie Mackay from Skitten/Field Farm also cut the grass on the Hill Road from the war memorial to the Staxigoe play park.

Staxigoe neighbours Denise Taylor and David Craigie enjoying a picnic at the harbour.
Staxigoe neighbours Denise Taylor and David Craigie enjoying a picnic at the harbour.

"Great teamwork has proved to be the best way forward and it looks tidy," Pat said.

"A fun time was had later that week, maintaining a physical distance between the picnic benches. Family groups met to enjoy the newly tidied area, bringing their own food and chatting from the two-metre spaces.

"The sun shone, which was a bonus.

"Community spirit is paramount during lockdown and hopefully this is evident in our neighbourhood. We are so lucky to live here."

She added: "In July and August, the plan is to have a summer edition of the newsletter with lots of family activities to keep everyone occupied and feeling more positive."

Staxigoe, Papigoe and Noss Resilience Group volunteers are Pat and Grant Ramsay, Deirdre Aitken, Leeanne Barclay, Lisa MacDonald, Mhairi and David Craigie, Pam Jack, Marion Budge, Jenna and Colin Davidson, Denise and Alan Taylor, and Katrina and Alan Plowman.


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