Royal Silversmith helps Perthshire group raise £50K

Crown jewel creator helps push fundraisers over target

A group of Highland Perthshire fundraisers have surpassed the £50 000 mark for cancer care for the first time, aided by a donation from a silversmith of royal jewels.

Last week’s Pitlochry Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee morning, attended by nearly 100 people at The Green Park Hotel, saw local organisers achieve the milestone.

Amongst the prizes donated for funds was a special silver bangle crafted by a world famous silversmith and engraver who has long been connected with the royal family.

Malcolm Appleby, MBE – who has a studio in Grandtully- made the orb for the investiture crown of Prince Charles back in 1969 and designed a special table piece for Bute House, home to Scotland’s First Minister.

His Silver candlesticks lit up the Queen’s coffin as she lay in state at St Giles’ Cathedral in 2022 and his renowned Banchory Bangle designs raise thousands for charity, Children First, each year.

A regular donor to charitable causes, his addition to the Pitlochry coffee morning prizes, alongside items such as Aberfeldy malt whiskies and kind give-aways from Perthshire businesses, helped the group surpass their targets.

And dedicated organisers thanked the local business community and long-time hosts The Green Park Hotel for helping them make a difference for cancer patients and families.

Local benefits

The funds will help the specialist palliative care operation at Cornhill Macmillan Centre at Perth Royal Infirmary, as well as assisting with training and the Macmillan Buddies programme.

“It is incredible to have surpassed the £50 000 mark. People, including Malcolm Appleby, are very generous when donating. Businesses support the general raffle with vouchers and season tickets, local shops donate prizes, people are very supportive,” said Isi Watt, one of the 20 active Highland Perthshire Macmillan fundraisers.

“We do 4 events per year, but the businesses donate each time,” added fellow fundraiser, Fiona Dowson.

Thanks to Green Park hosts

The annual Macmillan Coffee morning has been hosted at The Green Park Hotel for close to two decades, with the hotel playing its part by providing a dining room, extensive buffet lunch, refreshments and staff.

Hotel Co-Owner Alistair McMenemie even compered the raffle which, along with crafts sales, helped raise £4283.43, tipping the group’s total tally over £50 000.

“Almost everyone will be touched by cancer. I think people appreciate what we do and they give generously. If you do a collection in the street, people come up and they just want to tell you their story,” said fundraiser, Margaret Viner.

Group member Helen Evans agreed: “Maybe they, themselves, have been touched by cancer or a family member, or close friend. You hear people say: I am a survivor. People tell us that Macmillan has helped them, so it is good to know that this is all worthwhile.”

Community event

The Green Park Hotel proprietors expressed happiness for the fundraising volunteers, for surpassing their charitable targets.

“The Macmillan Coffee Morning is now an annual highlight in the Pitlochry calendar,” said Alistair McMenemie.

“Doing this each year is a way of us showing pride in the community and we are delighted to support it.”