The second meeting of the season took place on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at the Panmure Arms, Hotel Edzell. President Kathleen welcomed members and our speaker for the evening, Alison Summers, along with her husband who had kindly agreed to be the evening’s projectionist.
Alison was brought up in Perthshire, is a graduate of Edinburgh University, worked in education and has a keen interest in local history. To commemorate the centenary of the ending of the First World Ward, she published a short book, ‘The Home Front in Kirriemuir 1914-1918’ in 2018 and another covering the second World War in 2025.
Alison’s other interests include being a member of the Strathmore Speakers’ Club, being Convenor of the Saltire Society in Kirriemuir and contributing to the Journal of the Aberdeen branch of the Dickens Fellowship.
Alison became a volunteer for Playlist for Life after hearing a talk by its founder, Sally Magnusson. The charity was originally based in Glasgow but spread to the North-east of Scotland after a talk in Kirkcaldy by Ed Balls. Sally Magnusson had found that music had helped her mother to remain grounded for longer and brought back a sense of self when Alzheimer’s affected her. Research has shown that music helps to reconnect persons with themselves, improves mood and has a calming effect. Having personally witnessed the positive effect of music on people with Dementia/Alzheimer’s, I am a huge advocate for Playlist for Life and would also thoroughly recommend Sally Magnusson’s book, ‘Where Memories Go’.
There are three types of music to include in a Playlist For Life – Inheritance tracks, Identity tracks and the memory bump-music from the last 30 years.
There are helpful resources for making up a Playlist at www.playlistforlife.org.uk/resources. National Playlist day was on 18 September – why not get your Playlist ready for next year’s date?
As always, new members will be warmly welcomed. We would also be grateful for help with knitting and sewing squares into blankets. We also collect ring pulls, stamps and underwear in good condition for ‘Smalls for All’. If you are interested in supporting us, or becoming a member, please contact innerwheeldistrict1@outlook.com
Denise Donald
Club Correspondent
