Kingussie’s Iona Gallery goes global
Traveller and author Mary Wheildon regaled a good turnout with her tales and images of travels to far ‘away places with strange sounding names’ from the 16 chapters of her recently published ‘To Beach or not to Beach?’
Mary presented an evening of photographs, with tongue-in- cheek tales of catastrophes, memories, lessons and reflections of her lifetime of travels.
She has been coming to Kingussie for much of her adult life and was well known to many of her audience, all of whom were delighted to join the newcomers on a warming trim ‘away’ from a cold winter’s night.
They shared the images, the concerns, the adventure, the fear for the future and so much reassuring humour.
Portraits of ‘ordinary’ people at home in distant places told tales of international significance. and human concern across all the seven continents.
A superb illustrated talk also benefited two well-deserving charities.
Kingussie’s social enterprise Caberfeidh Horizons has progressed for nearly 20 years, growing from small beginnings, to be a major force for good in the community.
The author thanked Helen Armour, the general manager, for help with administration on the night.
The other charity to benefit from Friday’s ‘excursion’ is Mary’s Meals, which grew from a family back garden in Dalmally, Argyll, to a force now feeding just short of two and a half million children every day in some of the poorest countries in the world.
Hungry children go to school, they receive a meal and education. They have a future.
Ms Wheildon thanked Patsy Rimell for helping to set up the evening. They have both been ambassadors for the cause from its earliest days.
Said Mary: “An evening of friendship and entertainment is an enjoyable way of keeping Mary’s Meals growing. There are so many hungry children…”
Her book is available to buy - £20 including a donation to Mary’s Meals- at Caberfeidh Horizons Bookshop at 16 High Street, Kingussie, or via Mary on m_e_wheildon@hotmail.com
