Perthshire Butcher takes to the air for care causes

Trading haggis for helicopters to boost care investment

Award-winning Perthshire butcher and entrepreneur Simon Howie is to take to the skies for charity as part of the Auction he helped spark to life 18 years ago.

The businessman, also a licensed helicopter pilot, will take winning bidders across Scotland’s skyscapes in his modified, ex-military Gazelle chopper, as his principal donation to Perth Silent Auction.

The online Auction, which will support 3 local charities, begins at 10am on Saturday (13th) and Mr Howie’s airborne involvement as a lot donor sees his relationship with the event come full circle.

Fascinating back-story

Back in 2007, he was asked to become Chair of the Fundraising Committee established to raise funds for the construction of the £3.75m Cornhill Macmillan Palliative Care Unit at Perth Royal Infirmary.

It was in that capacity that he engaged with the businesses and individuals within the Rotary Club of Perth who, in turn, decided to inaugurate the Silent Auction to boost funding for the Unit.

Ever since then, the Rotary has run the Auction annually, raising over £500 000 for deserving local causes, and the Cornhill Macmillan unit will again be a beneficiary this year. See more, here.

Simon Howie, who has also donated lamb and signature black pudding, says the Auction has helped make a difference to lives locally and is delighted to play his part, in the air or on the ground.

“All credit to the full team at the Rotary for what they’ve done with the Auction over the years. It is something, as a business, that we are always pleased to support.

“If all businesses do what they can locally and can spread the load, you don’t need to do too much to make a big difference, and I am sure Macmillan are very pleased to be a beneficiary again.

“When Macmillan asked me to Chair the Fundraising Committee for the Palliative Care Unit all those years ago, the generosity I experienced was astonishing, really.

“The Unit is a wonderful resource, and Macmillan is a charity we all need to support because they are an important part of the fabric of care in Scotland.”

A Gazelle helicopter being used by the army

Scotland from the air

When not driving forward the ‘The Scottish Butcher’ brand, Simon enjoys flying, hence his donation of a one hour guided helicopter flight for 2, starting from his farm at Dunning.

Qualifying as a pilot at Scone and holding his licence for around 15 years, he derives genuine satisfaction from seeing the winners enjoying the spectacular views around Perthshire and beyond.

“It’s great fun,” he says.

“I really like meeting new people and seeing the joy they get when flying.

“Basically, I try to work around what they want. Some people might want to fly over their house, for example, and take photographs.

“We can do an arc that takes in the Perthshire countryside then up to Dundee, Forfar and round to Blair Atholl way. After that, we can go over the Forth Valley, Stirling Castle and then take in the Bridges on the way back.

“Some people love to see the mountains so we can go towards Kinloch Rannoch and see mountains that haven’t changed for millions of years. We could even manage Inverness and back, although that would be pretty much a straight line.

“I am happy to fly where they want,” he added.

Big Auction kick-off

Saturday’s online auction starts at 10am, with all lots going under the hammer throughout the day.

Anyone can bid by logging into www.perthsilentauction.co.uk