An Aberdeenshire women’s group, which has been fundraising for local charities for more than 40 years, has just handed over their latest donations.
The British Legion Women’s organisation in Stonehaven has mustered between £5,000 and £9,000 every year for a variety of causes.
This year, they have raised £8,500 and will be sharing the cash with SSAFA, the Gurkhas fund, the British Legion Club, the Royal British Legion of Scotland War Graves, the Wheelchair Fund and the ex-servicemen’s club.
The group’s chair, Sheila Elrick, doesn’t have an exact figure on how much they have raised since being founded in 1972.
But she said: “It must be nearly £50,000 in the last ten years alone! We don’t like to make a fuss about it, but this year we decided to invite the Press and Journal to pass on the good news.
“I have been the chair for about 12 years off and on, but I wanted to let people know about what we are doing – a lot of people probably don’t know we do this.”
With only 16 members, the ladies raise significant funds by holding bake sales, raffles and tombolas. Recently, they have started a weigh-in club where a £1 penalty is paid if members have put on the pounds.
Treasurer, Vi Cheyne, added: “You would think, going by what we have raised, that we were all putting on the pounds – but we still pay up even if we have lost!”
The group also caters for funeral teas and bus groups who visit the Stonehaven British Legion Club and are always looking for new members.
Mrs Cheyne said: “We are a sociable bunch and meet every week [on Thursday] upstairs in the Legion on Market Street.
“We would love to see more ladies come along as our numbers have really dwindled recently.”
For more information or to join the group, contact The British Legion Club, Market Street, Stonehaven on 01569 763655.