In response to my letter to my local Councillors at PKC I have had a phone
call from Cllr Hayton who is deputy leader of the Council.

He has spoken with various councillors and officers and confirms what Liz
Connacher told us that at the present time there is no intention In Perth
Council to implement the license requirement for Free arts events.

He did of course conceded that he couldn’t speak for the Councillors who
might be elected at the May elections. However, his view is that there would
not be change to Licensing in Perth without a full consultation of
interested parties. He did hope that Perth would continue to take a
reasoned and fair approach. He said he is willing to make the issue a
personal election pledge.

This is very re-assuring as far as it goes, but I would urge artists not to
be complacent and make sure that at any opportunity you ask any local
election candidates where they stand on the issue to make sure that any
incoming Councillors are fully aware of its impact if implemented.

If this does get implemented – and Ayrshire Council have reportedly already
declared that they intend to – the effect on all of us will be huge. I
also urge artists in other counties to approach their own Councillors to
make them aware of the situation. The petition set up in Edinburgh reached
11,000 signatures in about 3 days which shows the amount of concern there
is right across all the arts.

I recently edited the footage Genie and I shot in the autumn of 2011 of Perthshire sculptress Debbie Dobson. We both like the final result and hope that you will too! Features cool soundtrack music by Tracing Arcs (The Go-Between).

Yesterday Phil and I walked by the Tay to the Hilton, where we joined a few friends. We were there to see the commemorative bench and newly planted tree from family and friends of Gordon McNeill-Wilkie. It’s a wonderful time of the year to be walking alongside the river Tay, and if you fancy trying out the new bench it’s by the swimming pool.

Here’s a few photos I took on the day.

Most of you will know that Gordon McNeill-Wilkie passed away peacefully on the morning of 23rd March. There was a get-together up at Lethendy on Sunday 17th April, which was well attended. Many of the people gathered there to celebrate his life were still in a state of shock, and I think I have to include myself amongst them. I do realise, though, that Gordon is still with us in spirit.

Here’s that wonderful poem he left us with:

One

Eons ago we forged this tryst
At a different place in time

Knowing that love would always unite us
Two beings of light entwined

Two halves of one, both finding the joy
That only soul love can define

The links in a chain that can never be broken
By darkness, nor death, nor all time

Gordon McNeill-Wilkie