Postie’s calendar raises £5k

A POSTMAN and amateur photographer from Eaglesfield has raised £5000 for the Stroke Association by creating a calendar featuring local wildlife, scenery and events.

Andrew K Murray, 57, who lives in The Meadows, presented a cheque for the sum to John Watson, from the Stroke Association in Scotland, in Annan last Friday.

Andrew has been creating calendars for charitable causes since 2020 – raising a total of £20,620 to date – but £5000 is the most he has ever raised for one charity.

The calendar was promoted in Eaglesfield village post office, as well as on Facebook and through word-of-mouth, and got a tremendous response. Andrew has thanked everyone who bought one for their support.

It features a rare red squirrel photographed at Eskrigg Reserve in Lockerbie, cost £10, meaning 500 people bought the 2026 edition. Other images show sleeping fox cubs, the South of Scotland horse trials at Twynholm and sheep in a snowy field in Eaglesfield.

Andrew is donating to the Stroke Association in recognition of a much-loved family member who had a stroke, aged just 26, and people affected by stroke in his local community.

He said: “My cousin’s daughter had a stroke in 2024, and I became aware that it’s not something that only happens to older people.

“Niamh recently joined the Stroke Association as a support coordinator, and I’ve learned so much about the condition, with around 150,000 Scots currently living with the impact.

“I would like the money to help develop new treatments and to ensure the 240 people who survive stroke every day in the UK make a good recovery.”

John Watson added: “Andrew has gone to extraordinary lengths to get these wonderful photos, and this is matched by his energetic fundraising efforts, which will help stroke survivors to get the best treatment and care.”

Andrew’s fundraising is part of Make May Purple, an annual initiative run by the Stroke Association to raise awareness of the condition and to generate funds to support people affected by stroke. To find out more, visit www.stroke.org.uk/mmp

Above - photographer Andrew K. Murray was delighted to hand over acheque for £5000 to John Watson, left, of the Stroke Association