The AGM of Shinty Memories Scotland will take place on the evening of Tuesday November 12, at 1930, via Zoom. This is an open meeting for clubs already involved and also any new clubs which might be interested in establishing links with the national group.

Anyone wishing to join the meeting MUST inform the Secretary Hugh Dan MacLennan on hughdan1@hotmail.co.uk to enable participation links to be sent nearer the time.

Shinty Memories Scotland needs more support now than we ever did and the scale of the challenge we face continues to escalate while we continue our recovery from the rigours of the COVID pandemic. Like other areas of shinty we are still having to meet some very significant challenges. Our activities have had to be realigned significantly to meet the new world of post-covid meetings and activity. This has placed a great strain on the groups and our national resources. It remains our intention to grow and expand the network of groups currently in place under the umbrella of Shinty Memories Scotland, currently chaired by David MacMaster of Caberfeidh. John MacKenzie MBE (Scotland and Newtonmore) and Iain MacPhee (Ballachulish and Lochgliphead) are the project Ambassadors. We are currently seeking SCIO charitable status.

The national group was formed to support the network using the sport’s archives and other resources to help people with dementia and living with other issues such as depression and loneliness. The work is also contributing towards the Camanachd Association’s new Heritage Committee’s activities and Shinty’s Story – Sgeulk na Camanachd at the Bught Park.. Shinty Memories Groups are open to anyone and when they are set up, they can be supplied with sets of cards and other materials which are prepared from various archives using images of players, trophies, pitches and badges. Various activities such as quizzes, fund-raising veterans’ matches are being organised along with the annual golf tournament.

We are greatly encouraged to see the formation and expansion of groups in places such as Inveraray where the Memories group is being woven into a fantastic five-year development plan. There is also good work being done in Inverness, Lovat, Beauly and at the West Highland Museum this September, to name but a few.

We were delighted to receive a massive boost at the Tulloch Homes 2021 Camanachd cup final with the presentation of a cheque for £7,500 which was raised with a special Golf championship at the Craigie Hill Golf Club in Perth. The late and much-missed Hugh MacMaster of Kilmallie and Fort William was a key figure in all of that and a new trophy was played for in his honour at this year’s golf championship.

There can be few clubs or families who are not aware of people who living with the challenges of mental health issues such as dementia. Shinty Memories Groups are now building sets of resources to be used to help people improve their recall, communication skills, self-esteem and confidence. A new handbook is available to help with the operation of groups. Shinty images can be digitised for use of the project and safe return to owners. If you would like to know more about setting up, joining or helping with Shinty Memory Groups, make a donation to help with costs, or can help supply materials for the memory boxes, please contact:
John MacKenzie 07795 544 189 shintymemories@gmail.com
David MacMaster 07599 247306 shintymemories@gmail.com
Hugh Dan MacLennan 07515 287040 shintymemories@gmail.com