Scottish Fiddle Orchestra to Perth

Jun 17 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTH couple John Johnston and Jean Black hope to cultivate interest among local music-lovers for a project to create a food garden for mentally and physically challenged children in a South African village.

Proceeds from ‘Music for a Summer Evening’ at Methven Castle next Saturday will go to Jean and John’s Enkuthazweni Food Garden Project.

Jean explained: “After we retired from our respective professions we bought a house in South Africa and planned to spend the Scottish winters in warmer climes.

“After spending their first winter in Port Alfred, which is a beautiful seaside town on the Indian Ocean, we felt we would like to put something back into the local community by becoming engaged in a ‘hands on’ project.

“John’s hobby has always been gardening so we were delighted to be put in touch with Enkuthazweni School, where the headteacher dreamt of the field adjoining the school being turned into a food garden.”

Enkuthazweni is a school for mentally and physically challenged children aged between seven and 18 years and receives no funding from the Government. The school is in the Nemato Township on the outskirts of Port Alfred, home to some 23,000 people predominantly living in corrugated iron shacks.

Jean continued: “The field, knee-high in weeds, was transformed into a vegetable garden within three weeks. The garden is now well established and provides an assortment of good vegetables to ensure these underprivileged children receive a nutritious meal on a daily basis.

“The garden project also enables basic gardening skills to be taught to the boy learners while the girls learn basic cooking skills in the kitchen.”

Next Saturday’s fund-raiser for the food garden project features Paul Tierney (baritone), Nicola Auchnie (fiddle) and Perth’s popular piano accompanist Maureen Rutherford.

Music for a Summer Evening starts at 7.30pm, with the audience members asked to make a minimum donation of £10 per person. Seating is limited and should be booked – telephone 01738 840016 or email enquiries@methvencastle.com