ABOUT US
Creating Meaningful Impact
We are fortunate to have a strong team of individuals from all walks of life who bring their unique expertise and resources into everything we do. The Trustees are all local residents with a range of skills and interests. They are all volunteers, dedicated to making Dunkeld, Birnam and district a better place to live and to visit.
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The DBDDT Board of individual trustees are elected each year the AGM.
The board meets once a month to review progress and discuss new initiatives.
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Please read our current constitution here.
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Minutes from our monthly board meetings can be found here.
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Meet the Trust Team
Representing the community are ten volunteers and one employee from all walks of life. If you would like to get involved with any aspect of the Community Trust please contact us.
Acting Chair
Dr. Jan Silburn
Hello I’m Jan Silburn, long term Birnam resident. My husband and I came here in 1976 and have raised our three children here. For many years we were the local GPs, a job we loved as we were involved with every part of the wonderful local community. Over the years I have served on many voluntary groups and have a wide understanding of how the many groups interact. I am also interested in local history.
I still care passionately about the community and have recently become increasingly concerned about the housing situation for younger people and families as house prices rise well above the national average. The aging population cannot access Care as there is no accommodation for carers and essential workers. My priority for the Trust is to secure the stability of our community, by providing affordable housing and exploring opportunities for secure jobs locally. There are opportunities for the many active groups to work together, sharing expertise and resources to maintain our vibrant caring community.
Treasurer
Stuart Paton
I'm Stuart Paton, I live with my wife and two teenage daughters in Strathbraan, about one mile beyond Trochry. I moved here from Aberdeen about 13 years ago. I have been involved in a wide range of community endeavours including chairing the Community Council from 2017-2021, Chair of the Sports and Leisure Hub for a number of years and co-led the MUGA project, and I am now actively involved in the Arbortreum project which is looking to develop an all accessible path at Stanley Hill. I am a keen hillwalker, skier and cyclist (both road and mountain biking- hence the attraction of living in Dunkeld), active tennis player with the Dunkeld club and member of various outdoor organisations including the John Muir Trust, Scottish Wildlife Trust and Mountaineering Scotland.
Secretary
Jane Bremner
I was born in Edinburgh, I studied Zoology at Aberdeen University and then went on to work in Cancer Research at various labs, completing a PhD in Radiation Biology at the MRC in Harwell. After 15 years I took the dive into education and ended up teaching in a large state secondary school (all boys) in Oxfordshire where I taught the three Sciences and a bit of Maths. During this time we spent 3 years in Italy where I worked at a lab in Bologna – the biochemistry lab was in a room full of frescoes! Our oldest son was born in Italy. From there we moved to Oxfordshire where we lived for the next 32 years and our other two children were born there.It was always our intention to come back to Scotland and we finally achieved this in 2019. We have never regretted a minute of moving to Dunkeld. The community is really special – so friendly and welcoming. You can get involved with so many different things – but there is no pressure if you don’t want to. My main involvements have been The Field, The Community Orchard and now the DBTCDT. I also volunteered for a while in the 3 Churches Charity Shop and the Corbenic Shop. I have just started as a volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau in Perth.
Trustee
Lachlan McEwan
Hello, I'm Lachlan MacEwan. I have lived in Dunkeld & Birnam my whole life. I attended the Royal School of Dunkeld and Breadalbane Academy in Aberfeldy. After working for a number of years and then being made redundant, I decided to set up my handyman business 'Lachman Friday' in 1991. The business has had to adapt over the years and Gillian joined the business in 1999. Gillian and I married in 2003 and we have two sons, Ramsay and Callum. I have been involved in the local community for many years, through the PPG at the school, the community council and the Dunkeld & Birnam Events group (Santa Day). I enjoy living in Inchmagrannachan and it is important to me to be involved in the community, so that my family and other local families can have a community where we can live and work, well into the future.
Community Connector
Beth Taylor
Hello, my name is Beth Taylor and I am the Community Connector for DBDCDT. I have lived in the Dunkeld area since 2000 and have been involved in several community ventures, businesses, organisations and voluntary groups during the last 24 years. I feel we are very lucky to have such a great community and I am delighted to be able to support this in my role as CC. Please get in touch with any questions, suggestions or issues you have about the Trust and how we can help dbdcdt@gmail.com
Acting Vice Chair
Roseanna Preston-Jones
I grew up in Dunkeld & Birnam, attended the local primary and Breadalbane Academy in Aberfeldy. I chose to move back to the village in 2019 after living and working abroad in the US and in London for many years. I love the surrounding forests and walks and feel fortunate to raise my family in this vibrant, safe community. My husband and I own Redwood Wines in Dunkeld and we relish in meeting locals and visitors alike. I am a keen hand weaver and passionate allotmenteer. With my creative background I wish to contribute my design & marketing skills to the community trust and it's groups.
Trustee & Chair of The Care Group
John Gilruth
I’m a retired social work manager, having spent the last 20 years of my career in Perth and Kinross. I’ve lived in Dunkeld for the last 10 years, but have various forebears who also lived locally. My interests are gardening, fishing, writing , walking and making stuff happen in communities . I’m passionate about the work of the Trust with a particular focus upon trying to increase the range of care and support available locally.
Trustee
Anne Cameron
I grew up in Dunkeld attending the Royal School of Dunkeld then Breadalbane Academy in Aberfeldy. I have worked with the NHS and P&KC Social Work dept in varied administrative & community support roles covering the North Perthshire locality. I am now a qualified Paralegal with Macnabs Solicitors in Pitlochry. I have two grown up sons and enjoy spending quality time with my family, friends and walking my two labradors, Bracken & Amber.
Trustee
Kirsty Binnie
All about Kirsty Binnnie